HK Trip

I'm back! Yes, another travelogue!
We sistahs promised each other we would have one local trip and one international trip once a year. This is our international trip of the year!
Hong Kong and Macau!

We stayed at a clean but strange sort of Hostel in the heart of Cuaseway Bay. When you get down from the building, you are beside Stefanel, Armani and DKNY.
Read more to see tips and tricks in a five day HK trip!

Time Square! We were surrounded by malls, shops and brands!
There's Sogo, Watsons, WTC, Laforet, Timesquare and Fashion Walk!
Yeah, there brands and brand all over. it's something I noticed. HK fashion Designers are not as well known. i tried to find some local brands but all I see int he local mags are international brands.
If you don't want to spend that much in shopping, go to the bazaars. There are lots of them all over. Each station has it's own. Cuaseway has a few. Central has a lot. For cheap market, go to Tsim Sha Tsui.
If you want brands concentrated in one area, go to Macaua Four Seasons and Venetian. Fashion Walk and LCX and other Japanese fashion centers are located in Causeway Bay.
They have it all!
Yes, Japanese fashion is quite popular. Laforet and Sogo are close to each other here.
Beware: Hongers tend to discriminate Minalanders.

Food! Their cheap food might not convert well in our money value but let me tell you, it is so good! The food in the street is nothing you can eat in our street. Hongers have a different taste in fashion and food. Here we ate in the night market street where ever six o'clock, it is lined with tables and food is served hot. Yummy!
Caution! Not for the sensitive tunny for it may seem a little unsanitary.
Don't worry, I didn't get sick!

Disney Disney Disney!
Man, I felt like a kid!
I ate and ate and ate, rode rides, bought some souvenirs, ate again, drank this, ice cream there. Oh, yeah, ate and took home some Disney food to the hostel.

Hongers don't clap much after every performance. Disney staff who are Hongers don't smile much either. It mgiht be a cultural thing. Don't be offended. You can smile all you want. Hey, it's Disney land!

Yeah, people might say HK Disneyland is small but Disney is Disney. It won't disappoint.
Bring about HK$500 with you. That would cover food, beverages and souvenirs. Price range for drink is $20. If you go inside a fastfood area it can be only $18. If you buy it in the street cart, it can cost up to $24. Food price is about $40 to $60 per meal. Snack like the burger meal at Orbit Cafe is $56 with drink. Orbit is the cheapest so far.
The Mickey Tiramisu from Maxim Bakery is only $22.
Souvenir key chain or candies might cost about $50. Stuffed toys are about $200.
FWI: There is a HK Disneyland store in the Airport. It is cheaper because it is tax free but not all goods are available. Buy your goodies in Main Street. it's the most complete. If you want buzz Light year goods, buy it in Tomorrow Land.
Tip: Bring umbrella, extra shirt and comfy shoes/slippers.

The Venetian Macau

We had one day of Macau via Cotaijet. Ticket costs about $134 going and $170 coming back. Last jet leaves Macau at 11:30pm. Buss is free going to Venetian.
Don't worry about converting to Pataca(Macau Money). You can pay in HK$ but expect some change in Pataca.
The whole day, we spent it at the Venetian. there is so much to do. They have a food court if you find restuarants expensive. Food is about $50 to $90 per person. Serving is big so three people can share two orders. There is a wide choice of Aisan food and two western restaurants.
The venetian has twoo floors of stores. Everything is high end brand stores like Coach, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Bvlgari, etc. it was sale the time we went there.
Don't worry about entertainment. There have 3 canals where you may ride the gondola. Hey, it's venice. The wall facade immitates the old Venice world. There are lamp posts and shuttered windows. Most of them are just decoration.
The highlight of the Venetian is the street performers. They call it Streetmosphere. There are mimes, jugglers, stilk walkers, musicians, living statues and singers.
You'll never get bored!
To crown it all off, there is Zaia, the Cirque du Soliel performance only at the venetian. Licket is a little pricy. Get ehn at a travel anget's to get discount. Buy ahead of time. It's worth seeing! Show starts at eight. Ends at nine thirty. Buy some souvenirs if you wnat or just browse through their souvenir shop. They, you may take the bus back to the ferry port and go home. Passport ready!
Caution: Do not buy ticket from individauls selling you tickets outside teh ferry terminal. Go inside the terminal and buy it inside. Don't beleive the sellers who sell it for $100. It mgiht be fake. Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable. You need to show your Passport to buy.

This is a fascinating restaurant. I found out about it on our last night. I instantly announce we had to eat there.
Since we were already full from dinner, Achi Terry, Diki and I decided to get some poopie ice cream.
Yes, they serve it in a toilet bowl. Price of ice cream is about $45 each. It it big and you may have to share with someone and not even finish it. Drink is about $29. You may want to share this as well. Service is good. They charge 12% service charge.
There are two branches: Cuaseway Bay and Mongkok. We ate at Causeway Bay. It is at the 4th floor of Watsons. There may not be signs but you may ask people.

***
All in all, our HK trip was wonderful. A bit tiring but owrth it.
Caution: Culture Shock everyone. They may seem a little rude but that's just everyday for Hongers. When eating, they suddenly take your plate away, it's aqueue to get out. For them, it's eat then skidadle. They don't talk after eating or make friend with the next table.
Tips: Wear comfy shoes. Train rides are fast but you be standing a lot then running around the station can make your legs big. Oh, if you can, ride the tram wherever you can. If you ride the front of the second floor, you get a panaoramic view of the city. also, it is cheap. It consts only $2 any where.
Leave the hotel 3 hours before departure time. They won't let yuo in 1 hour before departure. It takes 1 hour to get tot he airport since it's in another island. It takes 1 hour to find your way around to check-in and then you wait int he pre-departure area for 1 hour. Lots to eat and lots of shops to see. It is a little pricey. Go to the thrid floor. Burger King is probably the cheapest meal to eat. Go buy a Ben & Jerry's. It's worth it. A scoop is $30 each. Yummy. I tried 3 flavors. We so stuffed by the time we borded.

Good luck travelers!
Hope this way insightful!
If you have comments and additional info, please comment!

HongKong Trip 09

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Donsol: Our Vacation in a World of Giants 3

Day 2, The Whale Shark Adventure

Giant 4: Whale Sharks of Donsol






Whale Sharks are known locally as Butanding. They span up to 40 feet in length. Donsol is a possible breeding ground. They are migratory so it's not every year you get to see a whale shark.

Pay 3,500.00 per boat (max 6people) at the DOT plus 100/person registration fee. They assign you a boat and Butanding Interaction Officer or BIO. You get to watch instructional videos too.
It rained the day before so we didn't see much Butanding but what we saw are worth it!


4 grueling hours of looking for a Butanding, our BIO was frustrated as us. He doesn't want his clean record broken. He direct and drives the boat himself. We spot several pods of dolphins and flying fishes but that was it. Several boats were following us. They too were desperate. The DOT had a 3 hour limit but our BIO assured us we were not going home until we saw something.

So, off we went to spot one in the deeper area of the cove since we get beaten by other boats in shallow waters. BIO didn't want to share sharks.

He drive the boat and hands it to the crew when he spots something.
We gear up.
Boat intercepts Whale shark.
Jump!
Ass lands on my head.
BIO say: "When I say look down, look down! Look down now!"
We do.
Oh
My
GOD!

*
*
*


It felt like communicating with God. It was huge!
BIO says it was only medium, 20 ft in length. But my! it was 2m wide! It was magnificent. Picture do not do it justice.
It sauntered below us in a slow gliding swim, very shark-like but I'm not scared at all. I hear my breathing, steady. I head my heart, excited!
It was exhillarating!
We begged BIO for another one.

In the mean time, the other boats reached us and jumped too but they didn't see anything anymore. We got to it first!!!

Second sighting: Spotter sees the dorsal fins out of the water.

BIO doesn't want other baots to beat us. two other boats race to the Whale shark.
BIO screams: Intercept! Intercept! i-neutral mo! Jump!
We jumped!

This was closer! This was just as big! It slowly, silently glided the plankton-rich ocean and avoided colliding with us by ducking under. Just a centimeter more and I could touch it already! I felt it's movement, I tried to reach under. To hell with the 3meter rule! Shark, shark!

Nope, it was elusive as a thought.

The other boats jumped too and swam beside us but we were directly on top of the Whale shark. Our BIO was good. We had the expereince of a lifetime.

Encounters with a whale shark or dolphins are priceless. You should treasure it. These gentle giants are definitely worth seeing.
They are worth saving.
Butandings are indicators if the waters are still healthy. If we pollute the waters, they might not be back anymore.

Tips:

• The usual: Sunblock, Shades, hat/bandana, Underwater camera.
• In the DOT, request for Kuya Romell as BIO. He's good and he had his own boat.
• When in the boat, always be ready and alert. When the BIO says gear-up, get your masks on in 5 seconds or less and sit on the side of the boat.
• Bring fresh potable water. The sea can be dehydrating. Also bring some snacks. Offer the crew some.
• Tip the Crew and BIO. They may be paid by the DOT but it can make their day. 300 pesos is alright for the whole crew.
• Do not litter. Scoop up trash you see in the water even if it's not yours. Save the Whale sharks and the dolphins!
  

Donsol: Our Vacation in a World of Giants 2

Donsol, still Day 1

From Legazpi terminal to Donsol Terminal, it takes 1.25 hours give or take 10 mins. It is 65.00 per person. Give an extra 25 and they will drop you in the resort where you are staying.
We stayed at Amor Beach Farms. Not a 5 star pace but it's clean and the food is good. The people are cheerful and helpful too.

Donsol has dark sand but it is fine and swim-able.
















That night, we went Firefly watching. To have this, inquire at the DOT office. It is located beside Vuitton Resort. They charge 1,200.00 per boat. Max boat capacity 4 persons. Bring off lotion.

See fireflies in their multitude. Can't photograph them. Camera wasn't strong enough. Using flash might scare them. The night river tour with firefly watching is worth it. Ask your guide all sorts of questions, including scary stories!

Tips:

• Food costs around 150.00 per meal per person plus drinks. Tap water is potable and may be requested any time. If you have sensitive tummy, you can buy mineral.
• Put lots of sunblock before going out of the sun.
• There is a rocky span on the beach before the sandy part. Bring swimming shoes if you have them.
• have Off-lotion in the night!
  

Donsol: Our Vacation in a World of Giants

Hi, Maita ere to share my travel experiences to Donsol. It's a Worth-it trip. If you have a Bucket list, this you must add. We swam with Giants and viewed some and became some!
I'm adding costs and tips to help you all out there what to expect. I know it helped me to read other people's experiences before travelling to places.

So at 5 am, we went to NAIA3 to board Cebu Pacific bound for Donsol. Got a good package. Make sure to eat a heavy meal in the terminal. Prices on board's a rip-off. c2 350ml is 50 pesos each. It only takes 45 mins so read the inflgiht magazine. By the time you're half way, it's time to land.


Day 1!
Giant 1- Mayon Volcano

We arrive at Legazpi Airport. Of course, we had to picture, picture right away. Mayon was getting cloudy on the spot.


Giant 2- Bell Tower

What was 4 tourists to do at 8am in the morning? See the sights!
We had to have more memories and we had to have it stored. With one trusty camera, we haggled the tricycle driver to drive us to the Cagsawa Ruins (Bell Tower) to view Mayon Volcano. We ended up with Super shooting galore with Kuya Rolly.


Trivia: Mayon Volcano has the most perfect cone in the world. It is still active. The most recent eruption was 1998. The Bell Tower still stand.
Giant 3- US! Take not: not photoshop! This picture is raw!
My tower! I'm not letting go!

Tips:

• Don't be afraid to haggle. These people are nice but they do want to make a profit. Haggle. They can understand Tagalog and bits of English. Trike ride from Airport-Cagasawa (30 mins)-Legazpi Terminal= 50/person.
• There is a mall, Banks, and lots of restaurants in Legazpi. Try outunique restos and withdrw money here.
• When in Cagsawa ruins, look for Kuya Rolly.(that's him, the thin guy) Give him your camera and ask him for a tour and take artistic shots. Give him tip= 100.00 It's worth it!
• Wear sunblock!
  

Hanoi Trip

Three sisters, one destination. Me, Aki ria and Diki Marie boarded the shuddering Cebu Pacific Plane praying the Maiden Flight won't end up like Titanic. I know back in our minds, we were singing "On a Maiden Voyage, One a Maiden Voyage..."
Thank God, we landed! And lived to get conned by a colorum "taxi." Yes, we are not the only country with colorum taxis and taxis who tamper their meters. The good people of Hanoi may prefer to use motorbikes but that doesn't stop road accidents. they are hell-drivers, very much like us!

So, we immersed ourselves in culture and history. Going around one of Hanoi's most important Lakes, Hoan Kiem. Hoan Kiem Lake is the center of commerce in Hanoi. The Old District surrounds the small pond-like lake. Legend says that the old emperor took a boat trip in the lake and a giant turtle appeared and gave him a golden sword which he used to win a war. After, the turtle took it back and was never seen. You can find a stuffed giant turtle in the pagoda in the middle of the lake. Strange such big creatures actually exist in the small lake. Whether the turtle is the actual turtle of the story, no one can confirm nor deny.

The shopping district is basically everywhere close to the lake. You can buy anything and everything if you can find the streets. The Old Hanoi were ruled by guilds. Each street had its own wares, its own guild. So, you may find yourself in a street full of Musical instruments, a street of shoes, lapidaries or a street of greeting cards. There are no malls so you can find Nine West in front of the Lake. It is a law in Hanoi not to demolish old structures especially in the Old District. but they are renovated. The downstairs are all turned commercial but the top floors retain their colonial touches. By the way, Vietnam was conquered by the French.

So you can see a lot of the French influences like architecture food and theatres. It was to our delight that Hanoi has an Opera House and we were fortunate to be at the last night of the Spring Ballet entitles "Chopiniana" and for the second part, West Side Story.

Vietnamese culture cannot be complete without a Vietnamese Theatre. In front of Hoan Kiem lake is the Water Puppet Theatre where the famous art form is performed with traditional music using traditional instruments are used. The Water Puppet performance are little segments depicting Vietnamese life and culture like Dragon Dance, Dance of the Phoenix, Planting Rice, Catching Frogs, The story of the Emperor and the Turtle (One where the emperor is given the Sword and its return). Of course there is also a segment where a Scholar returns home and the whole town celebrates.
Do you think Valentines Day is popular in Hanoi? Nothing can compare to teachers day. Flower prices rise tenfold during Teachers Day. Vietnamese revere their teachers. A one point in history, they were revered as gods.
To me and my two sis' delight, we found a place of reverence to one of the most important things in our life, Literature. We went to the Temple of Literature. It was built by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong in 1070. Later it was made into "University of the Sons of the Nation," Hanoi's first university. Today, we find the names of the scholars and teachers immortalized in stone on the back of stone turtles.

After seven days, we ready to go home. Bringing culture, memory and a whole bunch of silks, we arrived in Manila, tired and hungry. Nope, Cebu Pacific did not feed us in the four-hour journey plus one hour delay. And Hanoi Airport closes its restaurant at ten so no food for us.
But boy! What experiences we now carry, from the trip to the tours to going home, our Hanoi experience is incomparable. One day, we hope to return and tour more sights that were not part of the itinerary we set for ourselves. We would also wish to see Saigon, Ho Chi Min and possible take the train up all the way to Beijing. It is a ten-hour experience!

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A Street Lined with Silk

Day 4 in Hanoi

Silk Village to shop for silk.

Super Chocolate

Chocolate Buffet at Sofitel Metropole, $15 a person. Worth it? Yum! Super chocolate!!!!!!!!

Temple of Literature

Day 2 in Hanoi

The Temple of Literature or Van Mieu was dedicated to culture and history. Aritsans and scholars all came together in the temple to pay homage to literary heritage immortalized in stone.

Day 1

Hanoi Trip. Arrived this morning.
So far...
Hoan Kiem Lake and vicinity.

Colors!

More pics from Puerto. Very colorful. Just gotta love nature!

Puerto Gallera!

Me and Mom!

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Davao so far...

Here I am, in Sunny Davao. It is warm and simpering but it never fails to rain. Great for the garden, which is where I am! I am making masks for Nanay's 85th Bday! Here's a preview. They are a little shy in facing the camera!
Talikod!

Proud Mount Apo from the sea. Glowing in the sunset with its crown of clouds.