Travel Binge

My Arctic Adventure Part 1: The smallest Airport I have seen

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 18:17:00 +0000

Honningsvaag Airport (from Wikipedia)

During our trip to the "Top of the World" we had to go through some northern cities in Norway to reach our main destination North Cape. One of this is in Honningsvaag. We just had our carry on since we hopped from one propeller plane to another. I did not really notice anyone checking in their luggage :)

I was so surprised that when we landed, the airport looked like a small wooden barn! No such passport control, baggage claim or the like. It's not an international but a regional airport but nevertheless it looked cute :)

This was taken near the exit of the airport

After we walked a bit, a few steps or a few meters, maybe 50 meters? It was already the exit! I had to share this experience in this post because I wrote about it several years ago in an old Travel blog but since I failed to renew the domain, all the content was gone.

We used the Widerøe regional airlines, with propeller type aircraft, the type that the ground crew had to tie with a leather after landing so the wings will not move, then untie again prior to taxi and take off. I think the capacity of the plane that time was just 20 people or less. It was really a great adventure!

We can hardly fit inside the tiny regional plane

Jordan series Part 2: Ajloun Castle

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 19:29:00 +0000

Ajloun Castle, more formally known as Qal'at Ar-Rabad, is the major ancient monument within the Ajloun region. It towers above the green hills and can be seen from many miles away, betraying its strategic purpose as a military watch post that protected the trade routes in the 12th-15th centuries.

The Castle can be viewed several miles away

It was first built in 1184 by one of Saladin's generals, Izzeddin Usama Mungidh, to repel the Crusader threats to north Jordan (the Crusaders had already occupied south Jordan, from their massive castles at Showbak and Karak, and were driven out of TransJordan in 1188/1189). The Ajloun castle was expanded into its current configuration in 1214.

Inside the Castle

The castle is one of the best preserved and most complete examples of Medieval Arab-Islamic military architecture. Among its main features are a surrounding dry moat, a drawbridge into the main entrance, the fortified entrance gate (with decorative stone pigeon carvings), a massive south tower, and several other towers on all sides. The castle boasts a labyrinth of vaulted passages, winding staircases, long ramps, enormous rooms that served as dining halls, dormitories, and stables, a total of 11 water cisterns, and the private quarters of the Lord of the Castle (complete with a small stone bathtub and rectangular windows that convert into arrow-slits for defensive purposes).

View from the Top

From the top of the castle, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Jordan Valley and the highlands of north Jordan. Excavations have recently identified a church that was built on the castle site in the earlier Byzantine period, while restoration and conservation works have made all areas of the castle accessible and safe for visitors.

My personal experience

The Castle is really a sight to behold, however climbing up is not for the older generation. Some steps are uneven, rough or sometimes slippery so you need to go slow.

There are many levels. Actually I was able to go around 2/3 of the height cause I surrendered :) The oldest in the group stayed at the ground, another went almost halfway.

The last level with a few steps more but I decided to just stay

Another View from the top, thats why I decided not to climb the last steps cause you see the same

You need to cross this bridge before you get to the entrance

Entrance to the Castle

The Castle Museum

Slowly getting to the top

The last flight of steps before the castle exit

Jordan Series Part 1: Wadi Rum

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 05 Oct 2013 17:33:00 +0000

"This is a stupendous, timeless place, virtually untouched by humanity and its destructive forces. Here, it is the weather and winds that have carved the imposing, towering skyscrapers, so elegantly described by T.E. Lawrence as “vast, echoing and God-like..."

I just got back from a 20-day trip to Israel, Jordan and UAE and with all the rich content we all experienced I thought of sharing them here. Regular groups from the Philippines visiting the Holy Land (meaning Israel, although right now, the term seems to be used by surrounding countries like Jordan and Syria) usually stay only for two nights in Jordan. It's usually just a pass through and the usual places visited are Mt. Nebo, Madaba and of course, the main event, Petra.

During this trip however, since we had to cancel Egypt, we added cities in Jordan and it was a grand experience.

Let me start with Wadi Rum, made famous by Lawrence of Arabia.

The Valley of the Moon

The desert of WAdi Rum, known as the "Valley of the Moon", lies in the southern part of the Kingdom of Jordan. Of very ancient origins, it owes the description which has given it its fame to the constant action of atmospheric agents, which in the course of thousands of years have shaped the landscape, giving it a lunar character, creating the amazing scenery of sandstone rocks which rise suddenly in the midst of stretches of sand, magnificent lobster-coloured dunes, walls of rock scourged by the aid, pinnacles of stone, deeply carved valleys, ancient and dried up river beds. The name of thi sportion of the desert, Wadi Rum, refers speifially to one of these dry valleys, knows as Wadis, and to Jebel Rum, the highest mountain in Jordan.

This is the place where Prince Faisal Bin Hussein and T.E. Lawrence based their headquarters during the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans in World War I, their exploits intrinsically woven into the history of this amazing area.

The overall desert area of Jordan occupies around 80% of the land surface of the country, and continues on into Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. The differences between the northern and southern areas a substantial. The former is made up of volcanic basalt, which in some zones takes on a greyish colour, while the second is composed of sandstone and granite. And these are the principal elements which make up the desert of Wadi Rum.

It will take more than a day just to see all the interesting sites in this vast area. However, we only had two hours to see just one sixth of the place using pick ups instead of Camels.

At the entrance to the Wadi, near the modern visitors centre, you pass the fluted rocky hill known as the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, which gave its name to Lawrence's account of the Arab revolt. Nearby, in the lee of a steep cliff, are the remains of a Nabatean temple. Partially restored, the temple was probably used by Nabatean traders entering or leaving the wadi, presumably to pray for, or give thanks for, a safe passage.

The 7 Pillars of Wisdom

This was actually at the back of the 7 pillars of wisdom

Moving deeper into the wadi, past the settlement of Rum, the scenery opens up, and it matches Lawrence's description of "vast, echoing and God-like". Broad sweeps of red sand wash up against the base of rocky mountains and cliffs underneath a curving blue sky.

Lawrence's Castle

Lawrence's Castle

You now begin to loop back towards the entrance of the wadi. A small, largely ruined, fort nestles up against a huge boulder - this is called Lawrence's Castle, but whether or not he ever used it is questionable. It doesn't look big enough to have served any defensive function. However it does provide you with a great view back up the branch of the wadi you have just descended.

Harriet and Paco in front of Lawrence's castle

In recent times, the desert of Wadi Rum was the scene of the deeds of the English Colonel, TE Lawrence, famous as Lawrence of Arabia, who collaborated in the organising of the Arab Revolt in 1917-1918, and was an important point of reference for the British troops of General Allenby.

Lawrence recorded his impressions in a book, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, a name which was attributed to a mountain with several pinnacles, on the road which leads to the desert.

Lawrence's Cave

We then visited Lawrence Cave and little did I know that he was gay! Apparently according to our guide, this is where he kept his "boys".

Outside Lawrence's Cave

Entrance of Lawrence's Cave

Inside Lawrence's Cave

Our guide did not want us to go further in since it was not maintained and there might be snakes inside.

The Mushroom

A photographer's delight. This natural rock formation was mentioned in the book of TE Lawrence. During the filming of the movie "Lawrence of Arabia" the cameras were mounted on this rock.

Red Sand Dunes

These are giant mounts of soft, red sand. We stopped at a spot where the mountain cliffs hung out over the sand.

Bedouin Tents

After the two hour tour under the scorching heat of the sun, we rested in one of the Bedouin tents. We were given a typical home made tea however I noticed it was sweet so I did not drink it all ( I am diabetic).

The Bedouin tent, called "house of hair" in Arabic, is weaved by the women with goats and camels hair and sheep wool. This tent is perfectly adapted to the desert life: it can be dismantled so Bedouins can move freely between areas of pasture; its multiple openings are adapted to the changes of wind direction; and it is biodegradable. Beautiful woven striped carpets furnish the tent and are the evidence of women's creativity despite the harshness of the environment.

Visiting Wadi Rum is certainly an exquisite experience not only for the body, but for the soul also. The spectacular handiwork of the Creator is as captivating here as in many places on earth, even leaving out the grandeur of it all.

The unique geology of the Wadi, its history, and its awesome vastness, are immanently splendid. These are only parts of the experience, but important parts. The experience also comprises watching a sunset or sunrise in the WAdi or setting your soul free in the tranquil nights of the Valley of the moon. Maybe one day I shall return and this time spend overnight in one of the numerous bedouin camps of Wadi Rum.

Below are photos of one bedouin camp we visited (to use the loo). There are other luxury camps however.

Helsinki, daughter of the Baltic

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 20:57:00 +0000

We reached Helsinki by taking an overnight cruise ship from Stockholm and crossing the Baltic Sea.

The predominant element of Helsinki, Finland's capital is the sea. This largest city of Finland's shoreline is adorned by around 100 kilometres of coast and over 300 islands of which many are accessible for recreational use.

One of the many cafes in Helsinki where customers just watch people go by

Compared to major metropolises, the beat of Helsinki is laid-back and relaxed. Most of the city’s tourist attractions and hot spots are within walking distance from each other. The public transport system is comfortable and reliable, and has been ranked among the best in Europe.

Possessing a strong maritime heritage, it is said that the sea gave birth to Helsinki and the harbours raised her.

Uspenski Cathedral

After we left the Pier, our first stop was the Uspenski Cathedral. The Uspenski Cathedral is a Russian Orthodox cathedral on the Katajanokka peninsula in Helsinki. It is the largest Orthodox church in western Europe.

The exterior of Uspenski Cathedral is not elaborately decorated, but is nevertheless striking with its deep-red brick walls and green-and-gold onion domes.

There are 13 onion domes in all, representing Christ and the twelve apostles.

The cathedral was built during the nineteenth century during a period in which Finland was part of the Russian Empire. The cathedral was designed by the Russian architect Aleksei Gornostayev, who died in 1862 before the cathedral was built.

As the largest Orthodox church in western Europe, the cathedral also impresses by its sheer size. The central dome is held aloft by four monolithic granite pillars.

Inside, the cathedral houses a rich display of icons and other typical Orthodox decorations, including an impressive array of chandeliers hanging from the vaulted ceiling. One of the icons is believed to work miracles.

The Senaatinotori (Senate) Square and the Neo-Classical Centre

In the 17th century the site which is now known as the Senaatintori or Senate square comprised a market place, a church and a graveyard. A great part of the city was destroyed during the Great Nordic War, and the reconstruction of the buiildings surrounding the square was stasrted in 1721. Today, the square is the scene for many cultural activities and all kinds of events.

Helsinki Cathedral

Senate Square and its surroundings make up the oldest part of central Helsinki. Landmarks and famous buildings surrounding the square are the Helsinki Cathedral, the Government Palace, main building of the University of Helsinki, and Sederholm house (Sederholmin talo), oldest building of central Helsinki dating from 1757.

The beautiful Cathedral and its green central dome is a dominant element in the Senate square. Services are held in the Cathedral not only for the congregation but also for the Parliamentary session and for universities.

The Government Palace, the University, the Cathedral and the buildings on the southern side of the square form a rare example of neo-classical continuity.

Czar Alexander II, and the figures of Lex, Pax, Lux and Labour

In the middle of the square is the statue of czar Alexander II, who was favourably inclined towards reforms and highly appreciated by the people of Finland. The statue was sculpted by Walter Runeberg. The figures below feature Jurisprudence (Lex), Peace (Pax), Light (lux) and Work (Labour).

Rosa, Aida and Nenet laze at the park

Temppeliaukio Church

Outside the Church

My face was overexposed due to the flash. Taken inside the Temppeliaukio Church

The Temppeliaukio Lutheran Church is built into solid rock with unfinished granite walls. It was designed by Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and completed in 1969.

The ceiling made from copper and glass

More than 700 people can be seated under its beautiful cupola made of copper and glass.

The interior, designed by the architect brothers, repeats the shades of granite, the most common type of stone in Finland: red, mauve and grey. The benches are made of birch. The crucifix, candelabra and font were forged by artist, Kauko Moisio. The textiles were designed by textile artist, Tellervo Strömmer. The organ, built by Urkurakentamo Veikko Virtanen, has 43 stops. The exterior of the organ was designed by the architects of the church.

The Temppeliaukio church is a popular concert facility and wedding church. There is a split-level platform for the choir, and floor space is reserved for an orchestra. The Temppeliaukio church has no bells. Recorded bell tunes composed by professor Taneli Kuusisto chime through the speakers on the exterior stone wall.

The stone wall surrounding the church has been constructed of quarried stones held together with steel bindings.

Close up of the granite rocks which was used to build the church

Based on the number of visitors, this church is the most popular architectural sight in Finland.

Taken outside the Church. Some people try to climb the rocks to get to the rooftop of the church

Sibelius Monument

In the Sibelius park is the world famous composer Jean Sibelius' (1865-1957) monument by Eila Hiltunen. I noted that the composer died on the year I was born :)

Face of Jean Sibelius (circa 1910) in cast stainless steel

The Sibelius Monument, recembling organ pipes, is made of welded steel with the bust of the composer on one side. The monument is one of Helsinki's most popular statues and one of the most well known tourist attractions. The monument is 8,5m high, 10,5m wide and 6,5m deep. It is built of over 600 pipes and weighs 24 tons.

More of Helsinki

They say Santa comes from Finland :)

The famous store of Finland

Shopping and Pedestrian street of Helsinki

Fish, Fjords, Fire and Fantastic Bergen

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:18:00 +0000

Fish, Fjords, Fire some words to describe Fantastic Bergen. Lots of seafoods, waterways between mountains, and watching out for causes of fire due to the various wooden structures.

History of Bergen

Bergen was founded in 1070 by King Olav Kyrre. The town was favorably situated in relation to shipping traffic and was for a long time the country’s most important commercial, shipping and industrial town. Moreover, Bergen became a commercial and shipping town of European significance and for a while, during the Middle Ages, Bergen was also the largest of all the towns in the Nordic countries. Bergen is the only town in the whole of Scandinavia which has followed a classical European pattern of development. In the twelfth century the economic boom broke through in Lubeck, which was the first town on the Baltic to become a centre for international commerce. After a while, the town also influenced circumstances in Bergen which now became the natural geographical and economic centre for the maritime empire known as the Might of Norway. Trading from the north with import of grain and export of fish laid the foundation for growth during the first centuries.

From the fourteenth century and onwards for several centuries, the Hanseatic merchants dominated trade. The Hanseatic merchants established one of their four most important trading stations in Bergen, the German Office on the Wharf. In the period from the last half of the nineteenth century until the First World War, there was strong growth in trade and industry resulting in an increase in population; from 17,000 inhabitants in 1855 to 103,500 inhabitants in 1920 (Bergen Town). It was not until the beginning of the 1830s that the population of Oslo exceeded Bergen in number.

The town has fallen prey to conflagrations throughout its entire history. Buildings of the Church and State were usually constructed in stone and could therefore be repaired after damage by fire. The homes of the citizens of the town, on the other hand, were timber constructions and therefore had to be built up again from the foundations. The Hanseatic merchants were those most observant of tradition in relation to architecture. When the Wharf was rebuilt after the great town fire of 1702 for example, only a few small changes were made.

Hanseatic Bryggen

In the late Middle ages the Hanseatic League established the German Kontor in Bryggen (the waterfront), which became a thriving center of international trade. The characteristic parallel rows of buildings, with their seaward-facing gables represent a building tradition dating back almost 900 years. The old wooden buildings along the harbor front in Bergen were placed onUNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1979.

Situated next to the Fish Market

There were tons of Fish and other seafoods at the market and our guide who met at the Tourist Bureau right on this fish market, emphasized that Norway is the world’s fourth largest exporter of seafood.

Taken at the Fish Market with the wooden houses as backdrop

If you are coming to Bergen, you have to learn at least two Norwegian words. These words are Bryggen and Vaagen. Bryggen is the name of the world famous waterfront in Bergen. If you ask someone for the waterfront, you’ll probably get a diffuse answer. If you ask for Bryggen, you’ll get a smile and the direction Vaagen is the local name for the harbor (port).

You also find clothes and accessories in the Fish Market

So many fresh fruits in the fish market

Many restaurants in the fish market

The Fish Market is considered the center of Bergen. Bergen center area covers parts of Sandviken (Ladegaarden) in north, Nygaardshoyden in west, Nygaardstangen in south and Mount Floyen in east. At Nygaardshoyden you’ll find the University of Bergen. At the Nygaardstangen area you’ll find Norwegian State Railways, including one of the cargo terminals in Bergen.

Our guide led us to see the various wooden buildings from centuries back, marveled at the clusters of cozy, wooden houses so characteristic of Bergen.

Over the years, Bergen’s wooden buildings have been ravaged by numerous fires. As you walk around town our guide pointed out whole blocks of the original city that were destroyed by fires, replaced with buildings of different architectural periods.

A highlight of our tour in this lovely city is going up the Funicular to the top with a breathtaking view of Bergen.

Entrance to the Funicular

The Fløibanen funicular in Bergen is one of Norway's best-known attractions. Fløibanen can be found in the heart of Bergen, 150 m from Fisketorget – the fish market – and Bryggen wharf, and it takes just 10 minutes to walk to the lower station from where the cruise ships dock along Bryggen.

The journey up to Fløyen (320 m above sea level) takes 5–8 minutes. The journey is an experience in itself, and at the top you can enjoy fantastic views over Bergen. At the top, in addition to a spectacular view of Bergen and its surrounding fjords, there is a restaurant and a series of paths through the forest.

Playground at the top of Bergen

Toddlers waiting by the playground on the hill

At the end of the tour we all tried to find a specialty of the place, a pastry called Skillingsbolle.

Literally, it is a bun which could be bought for one skilling (coin) in the old days. It is a bun with cinnamon and sugar on the top. In polls, it’s popular to ask where to buy the best Skillingsbolle. Unfortunately, when we got to the bakeshop it was sold out and we had to wait another hour for next batch but did not have the time. We however tasted one during one of our breakfast buffets but it was not baked in that original bakery.

Mcdonalds in Bergen designed to look just like part of the Old Town

A famous chain of Cafe in Norway

Water from this source makes you younger

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:04:00 +0000

Tvindefossen Waterfall

After our Flam train and Fjords adventure, and upon leaving Voss, we drove by one of the famous waterfall in Norway, Tvindefossen. When we learned from our driver that people believe you will get younger if you drink the water from this source, we all wanted to go down and trekked towards the waterfall.

Tvindefossen waterfall is 12 km from Voss, usually said to be 152 metres high, but likely only 110 metres, is formed by a small stream, the Kroelvi, tumbling over a receding cliff. It is famous for its beauty. Buses sometimes stop for people to admire it. It was painted in 1830 by Johan Christian Dahl. The water at Tvindefossen waterfall acquired a reputation for rejuvenation and revival of sexual potency that made it one of the most important natural tourist attractions in western Norway, with as many as 200,000 people a year from the U.S., Japan and Russia visiting and filling containers with the water. Beside the waterfall just outside Voss centre, set in lovely surroundings, you can find a campingsite.

However it will take so much time to walk and touch the waters and besides it was too slippery so we contented ourselves in just taking photos. Perhaps one day, I will go back and try it, when I am not in a hurry.

The waters of norway are really pure and tastes great! I would say its healthy spring water.

Changing of the Guards at Fredensborg Palace

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 19:09:00 +0000

The palace from afar

The palace up close

Fredensborg Palace at Lake Esrum enjoys a special status among Danish palaces as the royal couple's most used residence. The beautiful 18th century baroque palace is often the venue for important official state visits and events in the Royal Family.

Fredensborg Palace Gardens are among Denmark's largest historical gardens.

The summer residence of the Danish court, it was originally a hunting seat, built between 1719 and 1722 for Frederick IV.

Kit Mananghaya and I at the palace grounds

We were just supposed to stay a while here but all of a sudden we heard music and it was the time for changing of the guards!

From afar we saw the new guards coming to replace the current ones

We just had to stay and watch. Imagine the march of the soldiers to the tune of Oliver's "Consider Youself" It was so cute!

This second video is the continuation and somewhere towards the last half I somehow heard the tune from the Muscial Les Miserables. It was simply fabulous! The best changing of the guards that I witnessed.

The new guards in tow

We all can't help it but we just had to take photos with the guards :)

Frolickin around Tivoli Gardens

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 16:10:00 +0000

Entrance of Tivoli Gardens. I took that photo not from the web

Love the flowers around the park

Tivoli Gardens is a famous amusement park in Copenhagen. The park opened in 1843 and became one of the most popular theme parks in Europe. It offers a mix of attractions, gardens, and restaurants. Although always continually evolving, Tivoli maintains its traditional feel and quaint charm. Tivoli is part of early theme park history; Walt Disney modeled Disneyland after Tivoli once he'd experienced its magic.

The park is known for its wooden rollercoaster Rutsjebanen. Another attraction, Himmelskibet, was unveiled in Tivoli in 2006 and is the world’s tallest carousel. Tivoli also plays host to a variety of concerts and performing arts and is an integral part of the cultural scene in Copenhagen.

Millions of people fill the gardens, dine in the 40 restaurants, enjoy the entertainment, ride the amusement rides, play the games, or just sit and eat ice cream and people-watch from mid-April to late September each year.

As successive generations of avant-garde Danes put their stamp on the place, including Lin Utzon (the late Jørn “Sydney Opera House” Utzon’s daughter), Per Arnoldi, Wilhelm Freddie, Søren Robert Lund, and 3XN Architects.

The big changes got under way two years ago with the opening of the Nimb complex—a cross between a Moorish Taj Mahal and a Christmas tree. Altering the iconic 1909 Bazaar building by architect Knud Arne Petersen (who was also director of Tivoli from 1899 to 1940) made the hordes of abonnine (elderly season-pass owners) nervous.

We spent some time watching the peacock flirt till it opened its feathers

Cant help but admire the beautiful flowers in the huge garden

We went to the entrance the evening we arrived since it was walking distance from our hotel, however it was raining and decided to go again the following day after the tour.

Hans Christian Andersen who started it all

Amusement rides are not free. It was explained to us that they want the entrance fee (around $18) to be lower since not all people going will take the ride.

Cafes abound however it was hard to choose since we were not able to change enough danish kroner. Stuff are not exactly cheap, its scandinavia!

Towards the late afternoon, we just dreamt of coffee and dessert and chose one cafe. They did not serve ice cream so Coret went out to buy us the goodie.

This is the Cafe we chose to rest and have a cup

I ordered this cafe mocha forget the price it must cost one dinner

Interior of the cafe

Coret got us a pistacchio flavored ice cream

Coret savoring the much sought after ice cream

Nice place to rest right? Cause its near the WC!

And another photo at the exit shortly before dinner

Our grand city tour of Copenhagen

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 19:40:00 +0000

Second day in Copenhagen was a grand city tour. The Grand Tour of Copenhagen covered all the major sights of the Capital.

We passed the old Stock Exchange and across Kongens Nytorv, where we viewed the Royal Theatre, world-famous for its Royal Ballet.

The tour continued past the colorful harbour district of Nyhavn to Amalienborg Palace - winter residence of the Royal Family.

This is followed by a visit to the Gefion Fountain and the Little Mermaid, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale.

We then pass one of the many magnificent churches and the Rosenborg Castle, where the crown jewels are protected by the Royal Guard.

The Gefion Fountain

Bebette, Lap, Coret, me, Senny and Kit at the Gefion fountain. A lutheran church at the backdrop

The little mermaid is truly little

The Little Mermaid unclose

They call her the twin of the Little mermaid but sexier

Was so tempted to buy some dansh goodies but didnt have kroners then. 20 kroner is more than USD 3!

Amelionborg Palace

Changing of the guards

I took the opportunity and posed inside the the gard post

at the Palace grounds

Our guide and the motor coach

This is where the Queen and her party wait for the ship. The first one is a smoking area where the Queen waits. She smokes. The smaller one is a non smoking area where all her guests wait.

In front of one of the monument in the palace grounds

I love this group picture along the streets of Copenhagen

Guess what? Yes its the red light district

Colorful houses along the river in Copenhagen

Walking along the colorful harbour district of Nyhavn

These houses were built originally for the Royal Navy, now they are apartments for rent

Copenhagen, here we come!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 18:12:00 +0000

at NAIA 1

We left Manila May 18 and arrived the following afternoon in Copenhagen. It was cold and rainy but I loved the cool weather after coming from the scorching heat of Manila.

I was lucky enough to be chosen to be upgraded for the 9 hour trip MNL-Dubai and I badly needed that to have a restful sleep after weeks of exhaustion and sleepless nights working.

To top it all, I received a surprise cake from the staff of the airline! Unfortunately they did not have a bag which can fit the width of the cake so I could sense it turned over while I was carrying it to change plane in Dubai.

We arrived in Copenhagen the following day after a 3 hour stop-over in Dubai.

bringing our luggages to the motor coach

Coret waited for us at the airport since past 8am since she arrived from NY

We went straight to the hotel to check-in and refresh ourselves. Nenet met us as she arrived the day before from NY

Hotel Richmond

The hotel was basic but it had the right location at the center of the city, walking distance to the restaurant and more importantly Tivoli Gardens.

Cinema building at the center of Copenhagen

After some rest, we walked before dinner time to the restaurant, passing through some interesting places like this brightly coloured bldg which happens to be a cinema.

Tivoli Gardens

After dinner we went to the Tivoli Gardens and checked out the entrance prices. Since it was rainy and evening, everyone decided to just go back the following day and go back to the hotel.

Back at the hotel, we all decided to stay at the lobby, have some free coffee from the reception and partake of the now "upside down" cake given to me by the airline.

Our Scandinavian and Russian Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:03:00 +0000

Above: The Little Mermaid
Below: The Gefion Fountain

I just arrived from our trip to Scandinavia and Russia which started May 18. I had wanted to blog on some days but being the tour manager of the group plus some work after the tour, it left me without a chance to write.

Our first stop was Denmark. During our first city tour, I cannot help but reminisce the very first time I travelled in Scandinavia with my late parents. It was shortly after college and we spent a month or so going around Europe. Since then I was able to visit a couple of times helping Dad with his tour.

The first time however will always be memorable. I thought of posting some old photos with the one I took just recently right on the same spot in Copenhagen. I had to stop for a while when I was there and uttered a prayer for my late parents who have opened my eyes to world travel.

I will continue to share some snippets about this trip in future posts. In the meantime below is a collage of our travel adventure.

To Travel is worth any Cost or Sacrifice

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 02 May 2013 02:36:00 +0000

Still, despite all this, traveling is the great true love of my life. I have always felt, ever since I was sixteen years old and first went to Russia with my saved-up babysitting money, that to travel is worth any cost or sacrifice. I am loyal and constant in my love for travel, as I have not always been loyal and constant in my other loves. I feel about travel the way a happy new mother feels about her impossible, colicky, restless newborn baby - I just don't care what it puts me through. Because I adore it. Because it's mine. Because it looks exactly like me. It can barf all over me if it wants to - I just don't care. 'Eat, Pray, Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert

If traveling is your first love, as it is mine, you will understand exactly what Gilbert means with the above quote. It is worth any cost or sacrifice because travel brings much more to life. For me, this is the absolute truth. Travel makes life more exciting, gives us a feeling of being alive, and allows us to experience life in a more profound manner. Each experience I have had while traveling enhances my knowledge of the world, where I get to understand more cultures, which has made me a better and stronger person.

I guess five years after my late father passed away, the one who opened my eyes to the Art of Travel, it made me decide to follow his course. After a couple of businesses I went into after "retiring" from the financial world, I end up with my true passion, Travel.

I came across this post and it just about sums up what I feel and believe in:

I am a strong believer that travel helps mold you and shape your core. It isn't just about airports, travel rewards or the stamps on your passport...To travel is an art form and if you embrace the different cultures, languages, nature and food then you are only enhacing who you are. If you are open to it, travel can transform your soul and bring out your passions and purpose in life. It can make you truly appreciate what you have or strive to have more. There is nothing more respectable than being a citizen of the world, someone who can marvel at the simple as well as the complex. Someone that captures joy every chance they get. Whether it is seeing the Sistine Chapel for the first time, a good glass of wine, watching the sun set, feeling the sand in between your toes, wise words from a cab driver, a handmade tapestry from the market or an impromtu soccer game with the local kids. Everywhere you look there is beauty, if you choose to see it.

Edinburgh Castle at night

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 19:01:00 +0000

Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock.

Last Dec. 2011, we arrived early evening so had the chance to visit the place only late at night. Used my Canon Digital SLR for this due to the low light.

The Top of the World

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:06:00 +0000

One day my dad said we will go to the top of the world. Where is that I said? North Cape! The hotel we got was in Skarsvag, better known as the northernmost fishing village in the world and described as the northernmost inhabited area in that region.

I learned later that the reason we were not able to find a hotel in North Cape was because there was none. The nearest hotel was in Skarsvag.

It was the only hotel in that tiny village, made up mostly of wood since the place is covered with snow most part of the year except for three months in summer. When I looked through their guestbook, majority of guests were Europeans, few Americans and only one Asian besides us, a Japanese couple.

The nearest village to North Cape is in Honningsvåg. We flew here from (if my memory serves me right) Oslo.

From Honningsvåg we travelled to Skarsvag and spent overnight. There was not much to see in Skarsvaag, except pure nature. Two friends and I tried going up a hill to see the so called Kirkeporten or Church gate as recommended by the receptionist in our hotel. We didn't even know what it was. Apparently it was close to a 3km uphill climb which was supposed to be only around 45 mins (to the nimble and fast healthy person) but we kinda got lost along the way so took us close to two hours perhaps.

under the Church gate or Kirkeporten

Apparently it was a huge rock formation and from there one can get a breathtaking view of the Arctic Sea.

We met a norweigian couple who we requested to take our photo right there on the hollow. I was surprised that the guy walked far so he can capture the whole rock formation with us. Unfortunately, I failed to inform him to do some lens adjustments, that was why we appeared like tiny ants amidst the grandiose work of nature.

Yes four of us were posing right there on the hollow of the rock

After we came back from that climb, we went around and found the northermost camping site in the world.

Everything was really "northernmost in this area". Dad and I found this sign as well so can't help but take this opportunity for a memorable photo.

This area is called the place beyond timberland. No trees can ever grown here nor even plants. That was why the vegetables we requested for our meal was too dear as it came from far cities.

A white reindeer grazing on what's left of the grass

We visited a Sami tent and store in the tiney village. They skinned some reindeers and made them into bags, hats and other souvenirs.

Sami Tent

The Sami people - also known as the Sámi, Saami, and more derogatorily known as 'Lapps' or 'Laplanders', are the indigenous peoples of northern Scandinavia, which is in the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. The Sami are one of the oldest indigenous groups in Europe.

Skarsvag has barely 170 population and is just 14 kilometers from North Cape. During winter there are snowmobile tours to North Cape, which was our final destination. I was able to ride one of these snow mobiles but unfortunately being summer, there was no snow.

To be continued....

The Story of Osiris, Isis and Horus: The Egyptian Myth of Creation

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 18:24:00 +0000

The Story of Osiris, Isis and Horus: The Egyptian Myth of Creation From Geb, the sky god, and Nut, the earth goddess came four children: Osiris, Isis, Set and Nepthys. Osiris was the oldest and so became king of Egypt, and he married his sister Isis.

Osiris was a good king and commanded the respect of all who lived on the earth and the gods who dwelled in the netherworld. However, Set was always jealous of Osiris, because he did not command the respect of those on earth or those in the netherworld. One day, Set transformed himself into a vicious monster and attacked Osiris, killing him.

Set then cut Osiris into pieces and distributed them throughout the length and breadth of Egypt. With Osiris dead, Set became king of Egypt, with his sister Nepthys as his wife. Nepthys, however, felt sorry for her sister Isis, who wept endlessly over her lost husband. Isis, who had great magical powers, decided to find her husband and bring him back to life long enough so that they could have a child.

Together with Nepthys, Isis roamed the country, collecting the pieces of her husband’s body and reassembling them. Once she completed this task, she breathed the breath of life into his body and resurrected him. They were together again, and Isis became pregnant soon after. Osiris was able to descend into the underworld, where he became the lord of that domain. The child born to Isis was named Horus, the hawk-god.

When he became an adult, Horus decided to make a case before the court of gods that he, not Set, was the rightful king of Egypt. A long period of argument followed, and Set challenged Horus to a contest. The winner would become king. Set, however, did not play fair. After several matches in which Set cheated and was the victor, Horus’ mother, Isis, decided to help her son and set a trap for Set. She snared him, but Set begged for his life, and Isis let him go. When he found out that she had let his enemy live, Horus became angry with his mother, and rages against her, earning him the contempt of the other gods.

They decided that there would be one more match, and Set would get to choose what it would be. Set decided that the final round of the contest would be a boat race. However, in order to make the contest a challenge, Set decided that he and Horus should race boats made of stone. Horus was tricky and built a boat made of wood, covered with limestone plaster, which looked like stone.

As the gods assembled for the race, Set cut the top off of a mountain to serve as his boat and set it in the water. His boat sank right away, and all the other gods laughed at him. Angry, Set transformed himself into a hippopotamus and attacked Horus’ boat. Horus fought off Set, but the other gods stopped him before he could kill Set.

Osiris, Isis and Horus

The other gods decided that the match was a tie. Many of the gods were sympathetic to Horus, but remembered his anger toward his mother for being lenient to Set, and were unwilling to support him completely. The gods who formed the court decided to write a letter to Osiris and ask for his advice. Osiris responded with a definite answer: his son is the rightful king, and should be placed upon the throne. No one, said Osiris, should take the throne of Egypt through an act of murder, as Set had done. Set had killed Osiris, but Horus did not killed anyone, and was the better candidate. The sun and the stars, who were Osiris’ allies, descended into the underworld, leaving the world in darkness. Finally, the gods agreed that Horus should claim his birthright as king of Egypt.

Airlines in Social Media

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 17:06:00 +0000

I stumbled upon an interesting post on how more and more Airlines are using the power of social media to promote and serve their clients. The post zeroes in particularly on Instagram because it mentions that Lufthansa was one of those airlines not using this Ap however I have read some other posts which points to this German Airline as one of those high in media usage. Despite that fact, it gives us some interesting insights on how Airlines are adopting this new wave in communicating with their market.

A year ago, the mobile photo social network Instagram had less than ten million users. Yet it was growing faster than Facebook or Twitter were at comparable periods.

As a result, it attracted a fair amount of attention, and a few early adopter airline brands signed up, recognising the obvious link between travel and people taking and sharing pictures with their mobile phones. Fast-forward and the now Facebook-owned network has over fifty million users. However, most airlines still don’t have a presence and many that do are using it sporadically and inconsistently.

We scanned through Instagram to look for 20 airline feeds so we could put together a comparative report. In fact, even coming up with 20 airlines on Instagram wasn’t as straight-forward as we thought, as a number of major players are notable by their absence.
The infographic we’ve commissioned (see below) shows Air Asia leads in followers, bmibaby on activity and British Airways in likes. It also throws up a few questions about how most airlines use Instagram and how they could use it more effectively.

Classic Egypt with Cruise starts at only $545 (Luxury hotel and cruise)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 08:01:00 +0000

This is a good value tour considering at 7 days, staying at the 5 star Movenpick Pyramids hotel and a 3 day Nile Cruise using the Movenpick M/S Royal Lotus luxury ship, a trip of a lifetime!

The price starts at only $545 for land arrangements. Check out the places in the video below:

Classical Egypt (Guaranteed Departures - Jul 2012-Mar 2013 Slideshow: MBM’s trip from Philippines to 6 cities Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Edfu (near Idfu, Nile River Valley, Egypt) and Kom Ombo was created by TripAdvisor. See another Egypt slideshow. Create a free slideshow with music from your travel photos.

Israel's Memorial Day April 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 07:30:00 +0000

Yom Hazikaron is the national remembrance day observed in Israel for those who fell since 1860, when Jews were first allowed to live in Israel outside of Jerusalem's Old City walls. National memorial services are held in the presence of Israel's top leadership and military personnel.

The day opens with a siren the preceding evening at 20:00 (8:00 pm), given that in the Hebrew calendar system, a day begins at sunset. The siren is heard all over the country and lasts for one minute, during which Israelis stop everything (including driving, which stops highways) and stand in silence, commemorating the fallen and showing respect.

Many religious Jews say prayers for the souls of the fallen soldiers at this time. The official ceremony to mark the opening of the day takes place at the Western Wall,[8] and the flag of Israel is lowered to half staff.

A two-minute siren is sounded at 11:00 the following morning, which marks the opening of the official memorial ceremonies and private remembrance gatherings at each cemetery where soldiers are buried.[9] Many Israelis visit the resting places of loved ones throughout the day.

The day officially draws to a close between 19:00 and 20:00 (7–8 p.m.) with the official ceremony of Israel Independence Day at the national military cemetery on Mount Herzl, when the flag of Israel is returned to full staff. Scheduling Yom Hazikaron right before Yom Ha-Atzma'ut is intended to remind people of the price paid for independence and of what was achieved with the soldiers' sacrifice.

This transition shows the importance of this day among Israelis, most of whom have served in the armed forces or have a connection with people who were killed during their military service. According to official figures, the total number of fallen security personnel and terror victims from 1860 to 2012 stands at 22,993, with 126 killed since last Remembrance Day.

There are 10,524 bereaved families of security personnel, 2,396 orphans and 4,992 widows of the Israeli military and the defense establishment. Last April 2012, our group experienced hearing the siren and observing how everyone stopped for over a minute of silence and prayer. I caught this on my iPhone camera

below:

A most relaxing Nile River Dinner Cruise

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 18:41:00 +0000

One of my memorable experience during my last trip to Egypt was our Nile River Dinner Cruise. I whipped up a simple video on this below.

It was so relaxing after quite a hectic trip as we listened to old songs while we dined. The belly dancing show was superb but what I enjoyed most was the traditional Tanoura dance with all spinning of the male dancer. At times I didn't want to look for I got dizzy. He must have been trained well to be able to impeccably perform such a dance.

Travel Tips from Paulo Coelho

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 05:24:00 +0000

I just read this interesting post in the blog of Paulo Coelho. It caught my attention because unlike other similar suggestions, some of the thoughts are quite different, like avoiding museums!

There is particular tip he mentioned which I fully agree - "Don't try to see the world in a month!" I now recall the typical pinoy first time traveller who wants to see a lot of cities/countries in two weeks at the lowest price. They want to be able to say that they had been in those places but could hardly recall where they are or what they experienced when they go back to their home. I don't call them travelers. They are just boasters :)

My top 9 travel tips

I realised very early on that, for me, travelling was the best way of learning. I still have a pilgrim soul, and I thought that I would use this blog to pass on some of the lessons I have learned, in the hope that they might prove useful to other pilgrims like me.

1. Avoid museums. This might seem to be absurd advice, but let’s just think about it a little: if you are in a foreign city, isn’t it far more interesting to go in search of the present than of the past? It’s just that people feel obliged to go to museums because they learned as children that travelling was about seeking out that kind of culture. Obviously museums are important, but they require time and objectivity – you need to know what you want to see there, otherwise you will leave with a sense of having seen a few really fundamental things, except that you can’t remember what they were.

2. Hang out in bars. Bars are the places where life in the city reveals itself, not in museums. By bars I don’t mean nightclubs, but the places where ordinary people go, have a drink, ponder the weather, and are always ready for a chat. Buy a newspaper and enjoy the ebb and flow of people. If someone strikes up a conversation, however silly, join in: you cannot judge the beauty of a particular path just by looking at the gate.

3. Be open. The best tour guide is someone who lives in the place, knows everything about it, is proud of his or her city, but does not work for any agency. Go out into the street, choose the person you want to talk to, and ask them something (Where is the cathedral? Where is the post office?). If nothing comes of it, try someone else – I guarantee that at the end of the day you will have found yourself an excellent companion.

4. Try to travel alone or – if you are married – with your spouse. It will be harder work, no one will be there taking care of you, but only in this way can you truly leave your own country behind. Traveling with a group is a way of being in a foreign country while speaking your mother tongue, doing whatever the leader of the flock tells you to do, and taking more interest in group gossip than in the place you are visiting.

5. Don’t compare. Don’t compare anything – prices, standards of hygiene, quality of life, means of transport, nothing! You are not traveling in order to prove that you have a better life than other people – your aim is to find out how other people live, what they can teach you, how they deal with reality and with the extraordinary.

6. Understand that everyone understands you. Even if you don’t speak the language, don’t be afraid: I’ve been in lots of places where I could not communicate with words at all, and I always found support, guidance, useful advice, and even girlfriends. Some people think that if they travel alone, they will set off down the street and be lost for ever. Just make sure you have the hotel card in your pocket and – if the worst comes to the worst – flag down a taxi and show the card to the driver.

7. Don’t buy too much. Spend your money on things you won’t need to carry: tickets to a good play, restaurants, trips. Nowadays, with the global economy and the Internet, you can buy anything you want without having to pay excess baggage.

8. Don’t try to see the world in a month. It is far better to stay in a city for four or five days than to visit five cities in a week. A city is like a capricious woman: she takes time to be seduced and to reveal herself completely.

9. A journey is an adventure. Henry Miller used to say that it is far more important to discover a church that no one else has ever heard of than to go to Rome and feel obliged to visit the Sistine Chapel with two hundred thousand other tourists bellowing in your ear. By all means go to the Sistine Chapel, but wander the streets too, explore alleyways, experience the freedom of looking for something – quite what you don’t know – but which, if you find it, will – you can be sure – change your life.

The Classical Gems of Egypt, Israel and Jordan (A Holy Land Experience)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 16:01:00 +0000

The second video I made using Trip Wow engine. This time its one of our banner tour packages - the holy land experience of the Classical Gems of Egypt, Israel and Jordan

Christmas in Europe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 15:11:00 +0000

The Trip Wow video engine of Trip Advisor made it convenient for me to put together some of the photos during my trip to Europe last December. Enjoy the video below:

Christmas in Europe 2011 Slideshow: Mary’s trip from Philippines to 15 cities London, Paris, Rome, Florence, Munich, Venice, Edinburgh, Lourdes, Nuremberg, Assisi, Padua, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, San Giovanni Rotondo, Gargano Peninsula and Saint-Gaudens (near Sauveterre-de-Comminges, Midi-Pyrénées, France) was created by TripAdvisor. See another Italy slideshow. Create your own stunning slideshow with our free photo slideshow maker.

Petra: You have to see this before you die

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 03:08:00 +0000

After I wrote the post on A Rose Red City Half as old as Time, we were finally able to visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site last April 2012. The Sonnet written by John Burgon where the phrase "a rose red city half as old as time" was lifted from is found below as well as a short video of our amazing Petra experience. It has always been in the bucket list of many but some places must not remain forever here for it is just too beautiful not to see it soon.

It seems no work of Man's creative hand, by labour wrought as wavering fancy planned; But from the rock as if by magic grown, eternal, silent, beautiful, alone! Not virgin-white like that old Doric shrine, where erst Athena held her rites divine; Not saintly-grey, like many a minster fane, that crowns the hill and consecrates the plain; But rose-red as if the blush of dawn, that first beheld them were not yet withdrawn; The hues of youth upon a brow of woe, which Man deemed old two thousand years ago, match me such marvel save in Eastern clime, a rose-red city half as old as time.

Next departure of Classical Gems of Egypt, Israel and Jordan which will include a visit to Petra are as follows: Sept 4, 2012 Nov. 14, 2012 for inquiries please email travel inquiry@mbmclassictravel.com or call +63 2 904 0187

Photo Blog: Rothernburg O.D.T Sausages

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 12:56:00 +0000

Mouth watering tasty German Sausages in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Taken last December 2011 when I again visited after more than a decade.

The world famous Duomo of Florence

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 10:27:00 +0000

Last December, I was able to visit the center of Florence once again. In the latter years of Dad's tour passing this way, they would only go through the city via the Michaelangelo square which overlooks the whole of Florence, so I kinda missed admiring the churches and museums of the place.

What other popular symbol of Florence can you think of than the Duomo or the Cathedral of Sta. Maria de Fiore. It was raining when I went around and since the building is really huge, it was quite difficult to get a full shot of the Church.

The Duomo is a vast Gothic structure built on the site of the 7th century church of Santa Reparata, the remains of which can be seen in the crypt. The cathedral was begun at the end of the 13th century in the Gothic style by Arnolfo di Cambio, and the dome, which dominates the exterior, was added in the 15th century.

The front of the Cathedral with Christmas tree on the side