AS TOLD BY KARLA

Walking around Siem Reap + Apsara Dance & Cultural Show

2011-08-30T01:20:00.000+08:00

Sometimes it's nice to have a free day just to explore a certain place. That is what we did on our last day in Siem Reap.

From Prohm Roth Guesthouse, we exited to the riverside and not the Pub Street side which I featured in my previous entry. You can see the surroundings in the video posted above and the pictures below.

We went to the Old Market and Pub Street Area first. You can find lots of bargain items in Old Market. However, we bought most of our items from the Angkor Night Market. Tip: Khmer scarves like this are really affordable at 1 dollar each in Sothea Spices Shop (B 15, Angkor Night Market). He even gives a free scarf when you buy 5 scarves. Mr. Sothea also sells lipgloss. All his items come with a cute box. ^__^

After that, we hailed a tuktuk to the Killing Fields Memorial at Wat Thmei. If you want to visit the memorial, it is near the Jayavarman Children Hospital.

Having read reviews about the Blue Pumpkin Restaurant, we decided to give it a try. We were surprised to find out that the main branch is very close to the guesthouse we stayed in.

The top floor of Blue Pumpkin is very cozy. You can have breakfast, lunch or dinner in bed! :D

We took a rest first before we were picked up for our buffet dinner with Apsara Dance & Cultural Show in Koulen II Restaurant. In the video below you can see our journey to the restaurant while riding in a tuktuk/remork.

I had fun watching the show. The apsara dancers were so graceful. I don't think I can dance like that with my two left feet, hehe.

This dance reminds me of our very own tinikling dance. :)

The buffet dinner and show was a perfect way to end our last day in picturesque Siem Reap. :)

Yehey! Finally, I finished my Vietnam-Cambodia blog post. ^_^ I hope you guys enjoyed reading it. My upcoming blog posts will be about the Binondo Food Tour we did on the first week of August and Korean dining in Kkhachi Restaurant. Please watch out for it. Thanks and have a nice day to all. :)

Prohm Roth Guesthouse: A Recommended Guesthouse in Siem Reap

2011-08-29T01:14:00.001+08:00

In Siem Reap, there are a lot of accommodation options. Our main criteria was a guesthouse with a price within our budget and of course, a great location. I am happy that we made the right choice to stay in Prohm Roth Guesthouse. Below are the reasons why this guesthouse is highly recommended.

1.) Affordable and Clean Rooms - For only 15 dollars a night, we got to stay in a very big and clean room which has two beds, TV, refrigerator and bathroom. Pickup from the bus station is also free. :)

Sorry, the other bed was cluttered with our things.

TV and Refrigerator

2.) Cozy Interior - What I like about staying here is that it feels like staying at home. There is even a cozy second floor living room area.

Relax in a Lounge Chair

Second Floor Living Room w/ a View of Wat Preah Prom Rath Temple

3.) Friendly Staff - From the initial inquiry thru email, Meang was very accommodating. It was also nice that he knew some Tagalog words since he studied in Makati. Upon arriving at the guesthouse, he made sure that we knew our way around Pub Street and the Angkor Night Market by letting one of his staff accompany us. Meang also booked us really awesome seats for the Apsara and cultural show in Koulen II Restaurant. We were surprised but happy to be placed smack at the side of the stage that we could see the performance clearly.

Our seats were so near the stage. :)

Also, Meang's uncle, brothers and staff were also very friendly. They would always smile at us and greet us everytime we came back from the guesthouse. It was service with a personal touch. ^_^

Meang's Uncle, Mommy, Me, Meang's Brothers and Meang

4.) Great Location - If you want to be near Pub Street, Old Market and the Angkor Night Market, look no more. Staying in this guesthouse makes it so convenient to go to these places. You do not need to hail a tuktuk. You just need to walk for about 3 minutes and there you are in the Pub Street Area where there are plenty of restaurants. Here is a video so you can see how close the guesthouse is:

It is so easy to just go out to eat or shop, go back to the guesthouse and out again! ^_^

Only 3 minutes walk to Pub Street

Old Market

I hope this review of mine would help you consider staying in Prohm Roth Guesthouse. I guarantee that staying here is money well spent and you will get to experience warm Khmer hospitality.

For more information, please visit the Prohm Roth Guesthouse website at http://prohmroth-guesthouse.com. You can also send an email to Meang at prohmroth_guesthouse@yahoo.com / smart_khmer@yahoo.com or text him at +855 12 466 495. ^__^

Beyond Angkor Wat: Ta Prohm, Baphuon and Bayon Temple

2011-08-28T17:15:00.001+08:00

Ta Prohm – What one will notice about this temple are the trees. The trees are so massive that the roots began to overlap the temple walls. This is actually my favorite temple as one feels close to nature with its jungle surroundings.

Have you seen Tomb Raider? Some scenes were shot in this temple and even at this particular spot.

See how huge the roots are? I feel so small, hehe. :D

Can you spot the hidden apsara? :)

Baphuon – what is interesting about this temple is that it is dubbed as the world’s largest jigsaw puzzle. It involved piecing together 300,000 sandstone blocks for many years! Though the restoration was completed in April, going inside the temple was not allowed. I guess this is for safety reasons.

A large arch welcomes visitors of the temple.

Before going to the temple, one must cross the Rainbow Bridge.

Bayon – the distinct characteristic of this temple are the smiling faces. It is said to be the face of Avalokitesvara, a Bodhisattva representing compassion. However, some say the face is of King VII.

Can you count how many faces there are in the picture? :)

Up close and personal

My Favorite Picture

Again, I want to thank our tour guide, Vann Seila, and his driver, Ram, for the wonderful tour around the temples.

I hope you would consider his services. :) Tour guide service is only $25 plus $30 for the car with driver. Here is the contact number of Seila: +85512942356.

Have a happy long weekend to everyone! I hope it will stop raining soon. ^__^

Angkor Wat: A Pride of Siem Reap, Cambodia

2011-08-23T01:33:00.002+08:00

Did you know that in ANGKOR WAT,

..a man made moat surrounds the temple complex.

..there are five doorways at the main entrance. The middle is for the king and royalty. The two doorways at the end are for animals.

..a statue of Vishnu, Hindu Protector God, can be seen at the south side of the main entrance. Originally, Angkor Wat was created by King Suryavarman II to honor Vishnu.

..a library on each side can be seen as you walk across the long causeway. Symmetry is a noticeable feature in Angkor Wat.

..one of the most popular spots to take a picture is by the lake, which shows a reflection of the temple. It is said that the Angkor Wat is meant to represent Mount Meru.

..bas reliefs of Apsara dancers can be seen all throughout the temple. They also have different hairstyles.

..there are empty pools like this found in the Gallery of 1,000 Buddhas. Unfortunately, some Buddhas were stolen.

..stairs with metal railing were put up to help people climb up the tower and enjoy wonderful views like this:

..you can also enjoy the view from above by going on a hot air balloon ride as seen in this picture with the yellow hot air balloon in the background.

..you can have a photo taken for a small fee with people dressed in nice costumes. They will help you with trying the Apsara pose. :)

Did you know that you can learn this and much more if you hire a nice guide like Vann Seila. For inquiries, please send him a message at +85512942356. ^___^

PS. Please correct me if ever I wrote some wrong information. :) Our trip was last July so my memory is a bit hazy. I will try to blog about the other temples and places in Siem Reap hopefully before this month ends.

PPS. I wish I had a DSLR camera or a good Canon P&S. Hope I can have one before my next travel so I can take better photos next time.

A Long BUT Comfortable Bus Ride to Siem Reap with the Mekong Express Bus

2011-08-18T00:16:00.005+08:00

"Welcome to the Mekong Express Limousine Bus",

that was the steward's greeting to us on that day. Hearing the word "limousine", you might think that it is a fancy bus. Aside from having a toilet on board, it is just like any other bus. In fact, it is more expensive compared to Sapaco since we paid 23 dollars for the tickets. Later on, I learned that you were not paying extra for the facilities. You pay extra for the service.

My mom and I were impressed from the time a Mekong Express staff came to pick us up.in Nguyen Khang Hotel around 6:45 am. Both of us were worried on how to carry our heavy bags along Pham Ngu Lao! Fortunately, we did not have to worry. The staff immediately carried our bags without hesitation. By the time we boarded the bus, we were oriented about the trip and were given immigration forms to fill up. Not only that, there were also free cool towels, snacks and bottled water. What I like the most is having a steward who you can ask regarding the trip.

I was surprised that the Moc Bai border is just near Ho Chi Minh! I know, I know, it is 2 hours already but for me it is already fast. I guess I am just used to commuting from Cavite to Manila during my college days, hehe. :D We arrived there past 9:00am. There were no other people inside so the process was very fast. Just a tip though. You need to carry your bags when you go through the Moc Bai Immigration so prepare your things as soon as you catch a glimpse of the immigration.

We had a funny experience when we went past the Ba Vet Immigration in Cambodia. The officers in the quarantine section saw that we were Filipino and started asking us, "saan kayo pupunta?" ^_^ If I did not know that they were Cambodians, I would have thought they were also Filipino too because we look alike.

What is noticeable when you arrive in Ba Vet, Cambodia is that there are so many casinos near the border. Wow! I think my aunt would enjoy traveling here. :) We stopped for a 15 minute break in Flowery Restaurant. You will also stop in the same restaurant when you go back to Ho Chi Minh.

We were not even halfway through the trip so I tried my best not to get bored. I tried to catch up on some zzzzzzs and just spend idle time gazing by the window. I love the scenery as it is just like here in the Philippines.

I was surprised when the bus suddenly stopped. I thought that there was something wrong but no, the bus just had to cross the river via a ferry. :) Here is a picture I took of the river on the way back to Ho Chi Minh. I saw a man swimming there even though it is a rainy day. I wonder how deep the river is.

We arrived in Phnom Penh at about 1:30 pm to have our lunch break and ride a bus to Siem Reap. Fortunately, there is a Mekong Express office so we were able to leave our heavy strollers there. I had an upset stomach in Vietnam the previous day and was still feeling sick at that time so we looked for a familiar food. We were lucky to stumble upon a nearby KFC. :)

After our almost 1 hour break, we had another six hours of travel to Siem Reap! Fortunately, there was no idle time because we met Kuya Jr, a fellow kababayan who is currently working as a teacher in Phnom Penh. My mom and I got to chat with him, learning about his life in Cambodia and just exchanging point of views on certain issues. Chatting is such a good way to pass time that we almost did not notice that we were already near the last stop over, Kampong Thom.

We had another break in Kampong Thom then back on the road again. It was getting dark at that time and I was already excited to arrive at the destination. I think it took a lot of patience to survive the last few hours, hehe. Can you guess what time we arrive in Siem Reap? We arrived at 8:40 pm. If you count our travel time from 7:00am to 8:40 pm, it would be 13 hours and 40 minutes! I never would have thought I can last that long sitting inside a bus nursing a stomachache! I am thankful for that. :)

I am also thankful for a safe journey. Nowadays, there are news of bus accidents like what happened to the bus that fell in the skyway and the night bus accident. :( As passengers, we rely on drivers to take us to our destination safely. I saw how careful the drivers of Mekong Express were in both our long trips. I felt safe and sleeping was comfortable because I did not feel like I was in a rollercoaster like how some reckless drivers like to drive.

To sum it up, the bus ride from Ho Chi Minh to Siem Reap (and vice versa) was very long but it was a comfortable one. If you have enough time, I recommend that you take a bus to Cambodia. The difference between a plane ticket ($100+) and a bus ticket ($23) is high. Not only will you get to save money but you will also get to savor the views and the culture of the country as well.^__^

5 Things to do in Vietnam w/ a Limited Time

2011-08-10T01:56:00.018+08:00

5 Things to Do
Limited Time does not mean Limited Destinations ;)

Since we are finished with the walking tour of Ho Chi Minh in my previous post, here is another post about things to do in Vietnam. We only stayed for a few days so this post will be about things you can do with a limited time. Hope that this blog post will somehow be helpful to you.

1. Be a Millionaire for a few days!

Do not be surprised when you exchange your dollars and then become an instant millionaire. o_O The currency is really high in Vietnam so you will be eating food worth 20,000 and your taxi fare will be worth 15,000. Don't worry. These rates are all in Vietnamese Dong. :D

♫ I wanna be a millionaire, so freakin' bad ♫

2. Stay in the Backpacker's District of Pham Ngu Lao

Are you looking for cheap accommodation? Then just go to Pham Ngu Lao area and have your pick from the abundance of hotels. Another advantage of staying in this area is that there are lots of tour companies. Tour group pick up is usually in Pham Ngu Lao so you would not need to go far.

We stayed in Nguyen Khang Hotel and the place is very clean for only 20 dollars/night. Here are some pictures of the twin room that we booked:

Comfy Twin Room

Very clean bathroom! ;)

If you are arriving from a red eye Cebu Pacific flight, do not be surprised to find your hotel closed. It is usually the norm there. This is there reason why it is advisable to book accommodations in advance so that the hotel owner would be aware that a guest will be coming that night. Also, there are some accommodations like Nguyen Khang Hotel where you need to take off your shoes before entering. If you do not feel comfortable with walking barefoot, you can prepare socks in advance. :)

3. Watch the Golden Dragon Water Puppet Show
A good way to spend the afternoon or early evening is to watch the Golden Dragon Water Puppet Show. The show is held everyday with two time schedules: 5:00pm & 6:30 pm. It will last for 50 minutes with no intermission.

Cute statue ^__^

Mom in front of the theatre.

The show is in Vietnamese language but no need to worry. There is a pamphlet given out where you can see the program acts. There are 17 scenes beginning with the Raising the Festival Flag and ending with the Dance of the Four Holy Animals. You can book tickets at the hotel you will be staying at.

4. Try Vietnamese Coffee.

One of the specialties in Vietnam is coffee. You can see iced coffee being sold in a sidewalk stall or in cafes like Highlands Coffee. My mom & I tried the iced coffee in Highlands and it was pretty strong! If you are a coffee lover, do not leave Vietnam without trying out the coffee. ;)

Mommy

If you want to bring home coffee, you can buy some at Ben Thanh Market. You can choose from different brands and type. If you buy coffee beans, you can have them grind it. You can also buy a box of Trung Nguyen Coffee with sachets inside. To make your coffee experience richer, you can buy coffee filters like in these images.

5. Go on a Cu Chi Tunnel Tour

Do you want to experience going inside a tunnel? If you are looking for a simple thrill, the Cu Chi Tunnel Tour is for you. Step back to the past and experience going inside the underground tunnel which Viet Cong guerillas used as not just hiding spots but living quarters as well.

Tired and sweaty from the duck walk inside the tunnel, hehe :D

The tunnel was enlarged to accommodate visitors.

Apart from going inside the tunnel, there are also other activities like the film showing before the tour and checking out the traps. If you want to try a hand at shooting, you can try shooting real guns at the firing range. The cost of the activity depends on the gun that you will choose.

We were lucky that we had Mr. Binh, our half Filipino and half Vietnamese tour guide. He had interesting stories to tell being a war veteran. We learned a lot even while we were still inside the tour bus on the way to the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Just a tip though. Try to book your Cu Chi Tunnel tour in advance if you plan to do it on your first day. We wanted to go on the tour on our first day but then it was already fully booked. We had to change it to our last day.

If you have more time to spend in Vietnam, you can try other interesting activities. First, you can immerse yourself in the village with the Mekong 2 days tour. Also, you can spend time in Mui Ne where you can visit the red and white sand dunes. Going to Hanoi is a good option to try walking down the old quarters and book a Halong Bay tour or Perfume Pagoda tour. :)

EDIT as of August 23, 2011:
More suggestions from Ian = hunting girls in Ao Dai as a pic with them will complete your Vietnam experience... They are quite fascinating! You also try Saigon River Cruise. I would love to try it on a future visit to HCMC.

I also forgot to put this activity. Try Xin Chao, a circus and acrobatics show that runs every Saturday and Sunday at 6:00-7:00 pm. My mom and I found out about it through a woman and teenager giving out flyers. Unfortunately, our puppet show schedule was conflict with the circus. :( Still, I hope you could catch the show especially if you are just staying in Pham Ngu Lao area since it is held at the park.

A Walking Tour of District 1 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

2011-08-05T02:58:00.006+08:00

7 Stops in One Day
July 10, 2011 - Date of Our Walking Tour

Are you planning to visit Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam? If you are staying in the backpackers area of Pham Ngu Lao, you can actually just walk to some key tourist spots in the city. Yes, you do not need to join a city tour. All you need is a pair of comfortable shoes and courage to cross the busy streets! ;)

To assist you in making your own walking tour, I got this map from Vietnam Markets Website. I edited it to put markers in every stop.

As you can see, I marked two purple X on the map. This indicates where you will start. In Pham Ngu Lao, there are actually two entrances to the popular backpackers alley. The first is on the side with the Pho Quynh Restaurant at the corner. The other entrance is near the street. You might not notice this entrance at first. A reminder is that these entrance is near the ABC Bakery and travel agencies. It has a sign with names of hotels.

First Stop: Ben Thanh Market

If you are staying in the backpackers area, you will notice a park along the main road when you go outside the alley. Do not cross yet. Just walk straight along the main road for about 7-10 minutes. You will pass by establishments such as Allez Boo Bar and Highlands Coffee. There is still a park near the Statue of General Tran Nguyen Han. Cross the road to go there. Then cross another road to Ben Thanh Market.

Ben Thanh Market is just on the left side of the Statue of General Tran Nguyen Han.

Crossing the street can be a bit difficult here so it is best to cross the road with other people. My mom and I were very thankful because a local Vietnamese girl told us to come and cross with her because she saw that we were hesitant and afraid. Thank you! :)

If you get hungry from all the walking, Pho 2000 is just in front of Ben Thanh Market! ;)

Second Stop: Saigon Opera House

Since you are already on Le Loi Street, you will go straight again until you see the Saigon Opera House. The landmark is Continental Hotel on the left and Caravelle Hotel on the right. If you want to get closer, you have to cross a main road.

Third Stop:Uncle Ho Statue and Ho Chi Minh City Hall

To go to our third stop, we need to go back a bit to Le Loi street. It is easier if you have not crossed the street yet from the Saigon Opera House. The landmark here is an elegant, white building named Rex Hotel. Just beside it is a mini park where you can find the Statue of Uncle Ho. At the back is the City Hall.

A view of the Statue of Uncle Ho and the City Hall. It is said that the view is better at night. :)

A glimpse of Rex Hotel at the back. Hope I will have the money next time to stay there, hehe. :D

Fourth Stop: Vincom Center Shopping Mall

From the City Hall, turn right to Dong Khoi street. Then, go straight until you see Vincom Shopping Center. Notable landmarks near this shopping center are Asian Hotel and Parkson.

Cute penguin trash can outside Vincom Center!

My mom is excited to go inside the mall, hehe. :D

Fifth Stop: Ho Chi Minh Post Office

Just a short walk from Vincom Center is the Ho Chi Minh Post Office. There were lots of tourists there when we arrived. If you are looking for nice trinkets, you can buy some here. :)

The exterior of the post office looks really nice.

I love the look of the phonebooths! ^_^

Sixth Stop: Notre Dame Cathedral

Just across the Post Office is the Notre Dame Cathedral.

The Notre Dame Cathedral has a beautiful structure. Too bad that we were not able to catch the mass that day.

Seventh Stop: Reunification Palace

Around the back of the Notre Dame Cathedral is a street leading to a park. Just follow the path to the park. You will see the Reunification Palace at the end.

On that day, the weather was unpredictable. Sometimes it is sunny then it rains then back to sunny again.

This was the tank that crashed into the gate of the Reunification Palace. I already feel sick at this time.

The entrance ticket, which costs 15000 VND, comes with a free guided tour. The tours are grouped according to language.

My mom and I wanted to go to the nearby War Remnants Museum but we had to cut our walking tour short because we were both not feeling well. :( The two of us just rested in Nguyen Khang Hotel while waiting for the 6:30pm puppet show.

I hope that in someway, this walking tour post has helped you in making your Vietnam itinerary. :) Take care and God bless to everyone. Good Mornight from the Philippines! ^______^

Awesome Bargains in POWERBOOKS POWER SALE

2011-08-04T20:38:00.007+08:00

Up to 75% Off
July 29- August 21

When I was younger, my sister Larla and I used to collect pocketbooks like Sweet Valley, Babysitters Club and Fear Street. Nowadays, I admit that I do not buy books that much anymore because it can be pretty expensive. So imagine my surprise when I saw a Meg Cabot book in Powerbooks for only 100 pesos. Yes, 100 pesos only. Another great thing about it is that it is a hardbound book! :D It turned out that the time that we went to Makati to celebrate my mother's birthday was the day that Powerbooks started the Powerbooks Power Sale. This sale is until August 21.

In Powerbooks Greenbelt, the books are divided into different prices. Even though it was so tempting to buy a lot of books, I settled with five books. Can you guess how much the total bill is?

The total bill is only 450 pesos for 5 books! Such a bargain right? :D Twitterville and Meg Cabot books were only 100 pesos while the Pretty Little Devils book was only 50 pesos. However, here is the biggest discount of all:

Imagine, from 1,00 pesos, the Twitterville book is now only 100 pesos! I can say that we were so lucky to visit Powerbooks Greenbelt at the right time! :) Also, do not worry if you like a different genre. There is a wide variety of books such as Stephen King and Dean Koontz hardbound books. There are even autobiographies.

So please catch the Powerbooks Power Sale before it ends on August 21! Take care everyone! ^___^

Happy 51st Birthday to My Mom! ^___^

2011-07-29T03:31:00.003+08:00

Age is nothing but a number. At 51, you still feel young and look beautiful. You still enjoy hanging out, watching romantic teen movies and being mesmerized by Jang Geun Suk. Happy 51st Birthday to my travel buddy, friend and mom Mary Rowenna Brazil! I love you! ^____^

The music I used is Ahmir's cover of Just The Way You Are. Check out more amazing covers in Ahmir's official youtube page.

PS. Sorry if I have not updated this blog for a long time. I am busy with my homebased online job on weekdays and I try to avoid going online on weekends. Hope you guys would understand. I will try to update Vietnam and Cambodia travel stories soon.

A Meaningful Saturday in CHILD HAUS

2011-07-05T02:24:00.006+08:00

June 25, 2011

PCSO Complex, E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City
Pex Volunteer Group Child Haus Outreach Program

"One hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, how big my house was, or what kind of car I drove. But the world may be a little better, because I was important in the life of a child." ~ Forest Whitaker

Last June 25, I had the chance to meet a strong group of children. They did not have the biggest of muscles nor the abilities of superman. What they have is strong fighting spirit. Because everyday, these children have a battle to face. A battle with a serious disease which has deprived each of them a normal childhood.

Child Haus Kids, Parents and Volunteers Waiting for the Program to Start.

These children came from different provinces in the country. Some are from Bicol. Others live as far away as Davao. What is common among them is that they all live in one place: Child Haus. As a home for indigent patients seeking for medical treatment in Manila, the free lodging in Child Haus has been a very big help.

Danica and Princess

Jean and I

At first glance, one might think that the Child Haus Kids are too weak to engage in physical activities. But they proved us wrong! They were so eager to participate. In fact, they love playing games and of course, winning! ;)

Preparing for the Calamansi Relay Game

Go John and Gian!

They can also groove to the music as seen by this dance showdown between John and volunteer Christian aka Jabawockee. If you see John in person, he is such an active kid. You would not believe that he has a disease affecting his Langerhans cells.

Even the mothers joined in on the fun in the Going to the Market game. I was really happy to see them smiling and having a great time. I know that these mothers are also going through a very tough time, having to leave their husbands and other children behind for the sake of taking care of their sick child. It was nice to see them forget their problems for awhile.

John and Blessie start the Going to the Market Game.

Go Mommies!

I was also happy to see the volunteers bonding with the kids and each other. Can you believe it was the first time that some of us met? Yes, not all of us knew each other personally! Angeline and I only posted about the event in Pinoyexchange and the Pex Volunteers Facebook Group Account. We were so overwhelmed by the number of people that wanted to help. From only less than 10 members in the first outreach program in Little Sisters of the Poor, our group has now reached 129 members as of today. I do wish that the other members would be more active though so we can meet each other. :)

Princess and I as partners in the Newspaper Dance Game.

Thank You Angeline for being the Best and Most Hands On Co-Organizer! ^_^

Thank You Teachers for Your Help in Facilitating the Games and Activities! ^_^

First time Volunteers and Newfound friends Kian & Rusty proves that it is never too young to start volunteering!

Kenneth and Active Volunteer & Mountaineer Bry

Group Picture of the Kids and Volunteers. DAGHANG SALAMAT! ^______^

The most touching part for me was when the Child Haus kids performed for the volunteers. Here are some videos:

May Bukas Pa

Kenneth's Song Number

Victor and John's Duet

Thanks To You

Indeed, this was a day that I will never forget. Not only did I meet brave children but kind people as well. It was not an easy feat when Angeline and I started organizing this outreach program. We stumbled a few times. Fortunately, hard work does pay off well in the end. The Child Haus Outreach Program would not have been a success without all of YOU!

I would just like to link two companies which supported this program. The first is Pascual Laboratories. Thank you to Ma'am Anna Maria Lourdes Pascual-Cenzon, DSCC Director, for accommodating our solicitation request. Second, we would like to thank Team Pex for their donations and to Admin Nakura for attending the program.Without Pex, I do not think this group would have been able to connect with each other.

If you are interested to join Pex Volunteer Group, please feel free to do so. Just go to our facebook group and click join. Most members usually post upcoming volunteer activities and create events. It is up to the member to choose whether to attend a particular event or not. The next event will be a Haribon Tree Planting on July 30. Please coordinate with Angeline for the said activity as I will not be able to make it.

Before I end this long blog post,. I just have one wish to all blog readers. Let us pray that the patients in Child Haus may soon find a new home. If you have seen the news last year, they had to leave but they were extended for six months. Now the deadline is almost up. May they soon move to a better home.

Thank you for reading and God bless to everyone! Keep Smiling! ^____^

Reliving the Spirit of Bayanihan through Habitat for Humanity

2011-04-20T00:36:00.004+08:00

April 16, 2011 (Saturday)
Bernardo Compound, Brgy. Pinagbuhatan Pasig City

If you think of the word "Bayanihan", you might have images on your mind of citizens back in the days helping a family move their house to another location. Habitat for Humanity has a goal of bringing back this Bayanihan spirit by offering volunteer activities wherein one can help families have a new home. I was blessed to be given an opportunity to take part in a build with the Pex Volunteer Group.

Before we started our tasks for the day, Engineer Noel Sanchez gave us a brief orientation. He gave us information about the medium rise buildings and also reminded us to always wear our hard hats as it is a construction site.

Engineer Noel Sanchez

The Pasig site is different as instead of individual homes like the one in the Caluan site, two medium rise buildings were built. These buildings help minimize the space in the populated metro and can also serve as a home to more residents.

Afterwards, we were given our tasks. I was first assigned to transfer hollow blocks with majority of the Pex Volunteer members.

Ate Mills, Ate Jen and Ate Mariel unloading the hollow blocks. Kuya is fixing the pile.

I admit, I really had a hard time with transferring hollow blocks. :( Having a small frame made it difficult for me to carry two hollow blocks at a time. I was embarrassed that I can only carry one at a time. Also, I lack exercise since I am just currently working at home. No wonder I was so exhausted after only a few trips! :s

I was glad that after awhile, the group tried another method of transferring hollow blocks. Since members of another group were present, we tried to make a long train of members. Transferring hollow blocks became easier after that. :)

Easy transfer through Bayanihan.

Group picture of the girls

After lunch break, everyone had new tasks to do. Some were assigned outside to use the shovels while others like me were tasked to create hollow blocks.

Bry and Angeline hard at work but still smiling while working. :)

Making hollow blocks is like making puto bumbong, hehe :D

It was not easy to make hollow blocks. So I was really proud that after a long time I was able to make my first hollow block, hehe. ^_^

Finally! My 1st hollow block! ^_^

Yehey! I managed to make 3 hollow blocks. :)

Before the day ended, Engineer Sanchez gave group leader Angeline this cute, small hollow block souvenir.

And of course, we would not forget to take a group photo before leaving.

The Pex Volunteers with Engineer Sanchez ^_^

Though I was exhausted by the end of the day, I was glad that I joined the Habitat for Humanity build. Not only did I get to help build a home but I also met new people. It was great to see new faces in our volunteer group! :D The experience also made me appreciate my job more. Although working at home can be boring, it is not as hard as being a construction worker. They are paid so low but their job is really difficult. They are exposed not just to the heat of the sun but to the potential dangers of the construction site. Kudos to these hardworking workers! I admire you guys for being able to do this difficult job. :)

If you want to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, you can contact Ms. Marcia Yogyore at this email address: marcia.yogore@habitat.org.ph. They are looking for volunteers for their Pasig site this May.

Also, please feel free to join Pex Volunteers. Everybody is welcome! :) We have an upcoming Real Life Foundation Feeding Program volunteer activity on May 7 (Saturday). I hope you can come and join us. ^_^

Take care and God bless to all! :)

ISLANDS BANCA CRUISE: Gilutungan Island & Pandanon Island, Bohol

2011-03-21T03:45:00.006+08:00

Before my sister and her family went back to UAE, we had a short trip to Cebu last March 4-7. The highlight of the trip was the Islands Banca Cruise.

There are actually two packages that you can choose from: Islands Buffet (3 islands package) or Islands Banca (2 islands package). We wanted to get the islands buffet package but we were not available on the said dates so we chose the latter instead. Each package is inclusive of the following: Boat Rental, Steward Services, Use of Towels, Life Jackets and Corkage Fee. The total cost is P5,547.00 for 11 persons (9 adults and 2 children). Please take note that this amount is exclusive of the entrance fees for the islands and snorkeling gear. I also advise that you should book early because we only had an outsourced boat (no bean bags & ipod docks) since we booked late.

Estimated Time of Departure: 11:00 AM

Meeting Place: Kawayan Marine located in between Shangri-La and Hilton Resort in Punta Engano, Mactan.

Since it was almost lunchtime, we decided to eat first. We were lucky that my aunts bought lechon, liempo, puso and pancit. However, I tried not to eat too much to avoid having an upset stomach.

Eating Time inside the Boat! :D

A few minutes after we finished eating, we finally arrived in Gilutungan Marine Sanctuary. The entrance fee is P100/person. I actually find it funny how there was an entrance fee when we were just in the middle of the sea, hehe. A few of us snorkelled while the rest fed the fishes.

My nephew Nichos and my brother-in-law Ramon

Say hello to the fishes!

Me, myself and I

My sister Larla and I getting ready to go back to the boat.

After that, we had some fun posing for pictures in the boat.

Posing with my mother

My cousin Arvi and I imitating Jack and Rose in Titanic :D

It was quite a distance to Pandanon Island, Bohol but the wait was worth it. The place is really beautiful with its white sand. ^_^ The entrance fee is P150/person.

The boat stewards helping my niece Nichole to go down the boat. :)

My mom and Nichole wore matching hats for the day. :)

When we got to the beach area, I realized how the island is like a private paradise. Though there were many visitors that day, it was still not commercialized and had a genuine feel to it which I really liked. :)

It was a good thing that my sister had an underwater camera so we were able to take some underwater shots like the pictures below.

Nichos

Me

Of course, we also did not forget to take a final group shot before we left the island at 4:00 PM. :)

Though I am not fond of going to the beach, I really had fun that day. I guess part of the reason is that we rarely go on outings like these and going on a banca cruise was a new experience for us. :) I also would like to commend the helpful boat stewards who assisted us in any way that they can. They were very attentive right from the start up to the very end when we docked in Kawayan Marine. ^_^

Kudos to Islands Banca and its wonderful staff! I hope there will be more wonderful trips in store for Islands Banca! :)

Getting and Giving an Award + 7 Random Facts about Me

2011-03-21T01:57:00.004+08:00

I want to give a big THANK YOU to SIS BACHUCHOY for giving me this award. I really appreciate it! :)

Since I am accepting this award, I have to do the following:

1.Thank and link back the person who gave me this award
2.Share 7 things about myself
3. Award 15 great bloggers I know
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award

For number 1, I have already thanked her in my inroduction. ^_^

For number 2, here are some random things about myself:

1. I am a homebody. As much as possible, I avoid going out because going out means I have to spend money and spending money means I am going to be broke soon. LOL :D

2. I like the colors purple and pink so that is why my email address is purplink.

3. I enjoy listening to songs even if I don't understand the lyrics because it is in Korean, Japanese, Spanish or French! As long as I like the melody, understanding the lyrics does not matter to me!

4. I do not eat food that has mayonnaise or dressing. When I order a cheeseburger, I always tell the cashier that I want it plain. Only bread, patty and cheese.

5. I did not expect to pass the nursing board exam on the first try since I did self study. In fact, I was so scared that I failed the board exam so I cried after the first day of exams.

6. Even though I am already a licensed nurse, I did not pursue my profession. In my heart, I always had a different dream. :( I am working homebased as of the moment but I am hoping that I can find the right job for me.

7. Lastly, I am really short. I think my height is only 4'10 or 4'11. That is why sometimes people think I am still a student and calls me "Nene" even if I am already a professional, hehehe. :D

For Number 3, here are the bloggers that deserves this award:

1. Larla - The top spot of course goes to my fashionista sister, Larla. Even if she is already married and has two kids, she still manages to dress well. My niece, Nichole, is also following the footsteps of her mommy, hehe. :)

2. Chyng - I like how she is such a gutsy blogger who still manages to look good while travelling to different places. :)

3. Mrs. Kolca - She is always up to date with fashion and can sew a pretty skirt too! :)

4. Shy - This new mommy always looks blooming in her photos. Congratulations Shy! :)

5. Sheng - Her personalized accessories and crafts proves how stylish she is. :)

6. MarLiestravels- They are such a cute couple! :)

7. Wella- She is up to date with the latest happening in the metro. :)

8. Madz - Reading her blog always makes me hungry, hehehe :D

9. Jennifer - She loves KPOP like me! :)

10. Rose - This fellow Cebuana always has interesting posts to share. :)

11. Kimmy - She is not only a wonderful mom but also a great teacher. :)

12. Rosey - Her nail art designs are so beautiful! :)

13. Kay - This pexer shows how colorful her life is in her blog. :)

14. Anne - A blooming new mom with wonderful posts about life and food. :)

15. Yen - She can blog about different but interesting topics. :)

I hope that you guys like the award. You all deserve it! ^___^

By the way, I am happy that Nuffnang ads has been showing in my header. So far I have seen two ads which are Smart Bro and Myra-E. Unfortunately, it only shows up in the wee hours of the morning, hehehe. But it is still a start and I am still thankful to earn a few pesos. :)

The Entrepreneur in Me: Thoughts on Our New Online Shop, BEACHY WEAR ATBP.

2011-03-15T00:07:00.003+08:00

Ever since I was young, I was always interested in business. Can you believe I even offered to do my classmates' assignments for 5-10 pesos?!? *shy* Now that I think about it, that was pretty embarrassing. However, it showed how interested I was in earning money at such a young age. During my college years, my sister and I also opened an online shop, Pageturners and More, wherein we sold secondhand books. Unfortunately, we were not able to continue our business since my sister left for UAE and I was busy with my nursing duties.

My past sidelines did not require a capital but now I had to part ways with some of my hard earned money. It is because my mom and I decided to become partners in our new online store.

Beachy Wear Atbp.

Official Facebook Account:http://www.facebook.com/beachy.wear

Official Multiply Account: http://beachywear.multiply.com

Since summer is fast approaching, we decided to sell swimsuit coverups and board shorts. We also sell other items like bracelets, intimate apparel and secondhand books.

Swimsuit Coverups - 200 pesos

Swimming Board Shorts - 160 pesos

Bracelets - 40 pesos each (3 for 100!)

Intimate Apparel - 200 pesos (except for Wonder Bras w/c are priced at 350 pesos)

Some Secondhand Books are priced as low as 10 pesos! ^__^

So far, business has been okay for our first week. :) We managed to sell seven swimsuit coverups and two Boracay dress. But what made me happy was the fact that not only we got a repeat customer but our other customer from Camarines Sur left us this good feedback in multiply:

We were also lucky to have a reliable courier which is OCS. They offer the cheapest rates from Cavite to Manila and other parts of Luzon.Plus, I love the fact that there is free pick-up of items from our house so we do not need to commute to go to their office. But what impressed me the most is how they were able to accommodate my pick-up request even if it was afternoon already. And what is more impressive is the fact that my customer was able to receive her item the very next day even if it was all the way from Cavite to Camarines Sur! What a fast delivery! :D

Overall, I am thankful that we are just a few sales away from regaining our initial investment. I pray that the coming weeks would also go well. Before I end this post, please have a peek at our multiply or facebook and feel free to contact me if ever you like something. I would also appreciate if you can refer our online shop to your friends. Thank you and have a nice day to everyone! ^_^

P.S. Thank you very much to Bachuchoy for giving me a Stylish Blogger Award. I really appreciate it. I will also tag on my next, next post as I want to make a new post for tagging.

A Wedding in Lipa: Ate Larla and Kuya Ramon

2011-03-01T05:18:00.005+08:00

Here comes the bride, all dressed in white....

February 26, 2011 marked one of the most awaited days of my one and only sister, Larla. It was the day of her church wedding. Though she and Ramon has already been married seven years ago in a civil rite, they want to be married this time with God as their witness.

Though we are currently living in Cavite, it was decided that the wedding will be held in San Sebastian Cathedral in Lipa, Batangas. It was the practical choice as Kuya Ramon comes from a large clan with ten siblings in his family. Besides, most of our relatives are in Leyte (father's side) and Cebu (mother's side) so only a few can attend.

My uncle Vic, my cousin Arvi, my aunt Stella, my mom, my grandma, my aunt Eo at the back, me and my cousin Jace

My cute niece, Nichole, was one of the flower girls ^_^

The wedding was almost perfect except for one thing, the priest was 30 minutes late! :( All of us had finished walking down the aisle and were already in our respective seats when we found out that there was a problem with the schedule of the official priest. Fortunately, Kuya Ramon's brother was able to find a proxy. :)

The reception was held in Luntian Resort. Thanks to the help of our family friends, Roddy and Ricki, the program went smoothly. My favorite part of the program was eating time, hehe. :D

Overall, it was a day full of joy as not only did my sister's dream to walk down the aisle came true. but I also had the chance to reunite with my relatives I wish Ate Larla and Kuya Ramon the very best and may the blessing from God strengthen their marriage. ;)

Thailand Day 6: OMG! I saw Bae Yong Jun! :D

2011-02-25T03:57:00.003+08:00

February 7, 2011
"THE LAST DAY"

On our final day in Thailand, I saw Korean actor Bae Yong Jun!!! :D For those who are not familiar with his name, he was the leading actor in Endless Love: Winter Sonata.

But before that fateful meeting, my mom and I had the chance to visit Jim Thompson House, less than 5 minutes walk from Lub D Siam! ;) The entrance fee is 100 baht which includes an English guided tour.

This popular tourist spot does not only showcase teakwood houses and antique furniture but it also lets us take a peek into the life of Jim Thompson, an American expat who revived the silk industry in Thailand. Unfortunately, Jim Thompson can no longer see the popularity of his home by the canal because he mysteriously disappeared in the Cameron Highlands on March 1967. :(

A spirit house

This lovely balcony faces the front of the canal.

You can also buy beautiful items made from silk in the Jim Thompson store.

Afterwards, we were off to Siam Ocean World located at the basement of the upscale Siam Paragon mall. For only 800 baht, we were able to avail of the glass bottom boat tour, back of the house tour, fish spa plus free popcorn and pepsi. :)

Though I have been to Manila Ocean Park before, I did not get bored of this place because:

I was amazed by the stingrays

It was my first time to see water rats

I got to experience many colorful fish swim around me

I saw myself on TV with some jellyfish

I had a close encounter with a shark

Best of all, I got the chance to see penguins in real life! ^___^

And as for my encounter with Bae Yong Jun, I admit that I have been sneaky with you guys. I did see Bae Yong Jun but it was not the real one, hehe. It was only a wax figure! :D

The wax figure was displayed at the lobby of Siam Discovery Mall to promote the newly opened branch of Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. I guess this is how popular Korean actors are in Thailand that he was used instead of a Hollywood actor. :) I wish that next time, I will meet the real life Bae Yong Jun! ^_^

Well, that's the end of my Thailand trip chronicles. :) I do hope that you enjoyed reading my stories about Thailand and that I helped in some way in planning your itinerary. Thank you very much for visiting my blog. Take care and have a nice weekend! ^_^

Thailand Day 5: Chatuchak Market

2011-02-24T01:30:00.002+08:00

February 6, 2011 (Sunday)
"SHOPPING ON A BUDGET"

Chatuchak Market is one of the world's largest weekend market. And what better place to shop than here! ;)

Aside from the usual clothes, shoes and accessories, you can also find handicrafts, gardening tools and even cute puppies for sale! ^_^ Don't worry if you get hungry as there are many food stalls scattered around the area.

The place was really huge! You can get lost around the maze of stalls, hehe. :D I suggest that if you plan to go here to allot at least 3 hours or more so that you can scout for good items.

Though I am not a shopaholic, I could not resist buying some items especially since it was cheap, hehe.

piano passport holder - 80 baht
red shorts - 99 baht
metal wire cloth headband - 29 baht
handpainted canvas shoes - 280+ baht (sorry, forgot the exact price)

My favorite is actually the handpainted canvas shoes. I have seen shoes like these in Multiply but it was expensive. Some stores sell it for P1,000+. So I was very happy to see an affordable version in Chatuchak! ^_^

If you want to go to Chatuchak, it is very easy thru BTS. Just go down at Mochit station and follow the crowd. The fare from Siam to Mochit is 35 baht. HAPPY SHOPPING! ^_^

Thailand Day 4: Ayutthaya and Bang Pa-in Summer Palace

2011-02-20T04:51:00.003+08:00

February 5, 2011 (Saturday)
"RELIVING HISTORY IN AYUTTHAYA"

Group Tour Package from Noi Tours (beside Sawasdee Inn Khao San)
Whole day Ayutthaya by van and Bang Pa-in Summer Palace
Cost: 600 baht for the Ayutthaya tour and 50 baht for the entrance to Summer Palace

Like the previous day, my mom and I also joined a group tour. The journey to Ayutthaya was not that long compared to going to Kanchanaburi. We arrived in about an hour to Chedi Wat Phu Khao Thong (Golden Mount). It is one of the tallest pagodas in Ayutthaya.

After that, we travelled to Ayutthaya Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To give you a brief background about Ayutthaya, it was the former capital of Thailand until the year 1767 when the Burmese came and destroyed the place. That is the reason why you can see many ruins here.

We went with our guide to the reclining buddha where he asked us to stick a coin in the Buddha's feet. He said that if our coin does not fall, then we are lucky and have powers.You only have three chances to stick the coin. Fortunately, my coin sticked to the Buddha's feet on my first try. :)

It was interesting how this woman in our tour group failed to stick the coin as hers always fell down. Coincidentally, she had a stroke of bad luck as her clothes were splashed with coke during lunchtime! 0_0

After that, we were left to tour that particular area of the park on our own. Here are some interesting pictures:

After that, the tour group had lunch. The menu was still the same with our free lunch in Kanchanaburi but this time we had free fruits. ^_^

The next stop was Wat Phra Mahathat. It is where you can find the Buddha head enclosed in the roots of a Bodhi tree. Also, you can see a lot of headless buddhas as the heads were stolen.

When taking a picture with the Buddha head, your head should be lower than the Buddha's head as a sign of respect.

Afterwards, we went to Wat Lokayasutha where the huge reclining buddha can be found. The reclining pose meant to represent the exact moment at which Buddha achieved enlightenment. I believe that the buddha has been replaced as the buddha that I have seen in other blogs looked different. You can see a picture of the old buddha in this link.

The last Wat or Temple of the day is Wat Phra Si Sanphet.This is where the royal palace once stood.

The chedi in the background is one of the three chedis located in the area. It housed the remains of the royal family.

This is my favorite Wat in Ayutthaya. As you can see, I had fun posing for pictures here, hehe.

By the way, if you would like to try riding on an elephant, this is where the starting point of the elephant ride can be found.

The last stop of the day was Bang Pa-in Summer Palace. Compared with the Wats, the place had more of a European feel. Also, it is so big that there are golf carts for rent (400 baht) which you can use to tour around.

Overall, I really enjoyed Ayutthaya. :) If you are planning to go to Thailand, I hope you can spare some time to visit this place.

By the way, I want to thank the great travel blogger Chyng Reyes for the tip about using flickr for my pictures. ^_^

Thailand Day 3: Floating Market, River Kwai and Tiger Temple

2011-02-17T09:35:00.034+08:00

February 4, 2011 (Friday)

3 Places in One Day o_0

Group Tour Package from Noi Tours (beside Sawasdee Inn Khao San)
3 in 1: Floating Market, River Kwai and Tiger Temple plus free lunch
Cost: 650 baht for the tour + 600 baht for the Tiger Temple entrance

Since these three places are outside Bangkok and far from each other, it is advisable to book a tour. There are many tour agencies in Bangkok but the rates in Khao San are usually cheaper as it is aimed toward the budget travellers staying in that area.

What to expect upon pick-up and departure

If you are not staying in Khao San, there are designated pick-up points depending on your tour agency. For us that were staying in Lub D Siam, we had to be picked up at Asia Hotel which is around 10 minutes walking distance. The pick up time was 6:30 am.

Expect the driver to pick up other travelers in different hotels until you reach the block next to Khao San. There, you will be grouped according to your destination so you will either stay inside the van or go to another van. After that, the driver will go around the block and pick up the remaining passengers that are staying in Khao San.

First Stop: Floating Market

Upon arrival at the Floating Market, a guide will gather the group and will put a sticker on your shirt to identify that you are part of the group. Please listen carefully to the guide especially on what time you have to be at the meeting place as you will be left behind if you are late.

We were given an hour to tour around the place. You either have the option to walk around the market or experience riding a paddle boat. The paddle boat ride will cost you 120 baht/person.

Though we only bought a few items as the goods were a bit expensive, the experience in riding a paddleboat is fun. There were so many tourists riding the paddle boats and longtail boats that it caused a traffic, hehe! :D

Also, do not be surprised if upon going to the meeting place you will be led to the longtail boat dock. It is part of the tour package that you will have a free ride. But what was not mentioned was that you will be led to the Cobra Show. You have the option to watch the show for a fee of 200 baht or just explore the area. After that, we were grouped again because other travellers only availed of the floating market tour.

Free Lunch

Do not expect a buffet lunch. Like the tour package that we availed in Shenzhen, the food will already be prepared on the table. I did not enjoy lunch as most of the food that were served were vegetables and I do not like vegetables. :c

2nd stop: River Kwai

After lunch, we were on the road again to Kanchaburi province where the Bridge of the River Kwai is located. The bridge is not just an ordinary bridge. The history behind it is that many lives were lost in building this during World War II. :( The prisoners of war were forced to build this bridge in one year instead of the estimated three years building time. This story also spawned a movie which the trailer can be found in this link.

Today, the area around the Bridge of the River Kwai has floating restaurants, souvenir shops, restaurants and the Jeath War Museum.

3rd stop: Tiger Temple

Before going inside the tiger temple, you will be asked to sign a waiver form stating that if ever something happens to you, the temple would not have liability. Don't be afraid of that! :) There will be guides to assist you in the picture taking with the tigers.

The line on the left is for free pictures while the line on the right is for special pictures

Speaking of picture taking, you have two options: free pictures or special pictures with a fee of 1,000 baht. In my opinion, I'm already satisfied with the free pictures. I mean, when I checked my digicam, I saw that the guide took 26 pictures! :D So save a thousand baht, be patient with the long line and get the free pictures instead. ;)

By the way, please wear proper attire inside the tiger temple so no sleeveless and shorts for girls. Also, you can get free bottled water near the line for the picture taking. ;) Too bad we did not have the chance to walk with the tigers as we only had an hour to explore the place. :(

After the tiger temple, it was time to go home. The last stop was Khao San Road so we had to ride bus no. 15 to Siam. We went down at Tesco Lotus to have dinner at Pizza Company. Then we retreated to Lub D where we fell into a deep slumber, tired from the jampacked day.

Thailand Day 2: Wat Pho and Grand Palace

2011-02-14T23:59:00.009+08:00

February 3, 2011 (Thursday)
PLEASE BE WARY OF SCAMS NEAR GRAND PALACE

Because of our hectic first day, we were not able to exchange most of our dollars into baht. We only exchanged a few dollars in the airport since the exchange rate was not good. MBK was not yet open since it was only 9:15 am so we tried our luck to go to Siam Exchange, a money changer that I saw on the way to Lub D.

When we got to the place, it was still closed but the employees were already inside. Fortunately, they opened early for us. ^_^

We were so thankful to discover this money changer as they had the best rates among all the money changers that we saw. If you will be staying in the Siam area, then you can find Siam Exchange very close to Bangkok Art and Culture Center. It is on the side of Asia Hotel.

On the way back to Lub D, we took a picture of the area around Bangkok Art and Culture Center.

See the stairs in the picture? You can go up there to go to MBK which is at the opposite side. If you want to go to Siam Discovery or Siam Paragon then turn left when you reach the top of the overpass.

After paying Lub D the remaining balance, we asked for advice about going to the Grand Palace. The original itinerary was to travel by BTS to Saphan Taksin then take the Chao Phraya Express Boat. But the Lub D staff told us that we can just take the ordinary bus to Wat Pho. She gave us the bus numbers (sorry, I lost the paper but I still remember bus 47) and even wrote in Thai to drop us off at our destination. The bus stop is next to MBK near the National Stadium.

We were also lucky that the woman that my mom talked to works in Wat Pho. She guided us to come with her as we got down the bus and crossed the street. She even led us to the ticket booth! :) By the way, the entrance ticket in Wat Pho costs 50 baht.

Aside from seeing the reclining buddha in person, I also could not foget Wat Pho as it was where I tasted the such delicious coconut juice! :D Please look for an old woman selling coconut juice for 20 baht near this area:

It was scorching hot that day so we bought hats from the sellers outside Wat Pho before we ventured to the Grand Palace.

Please be wary of scams near Grand Palace!!! I have read about this scam before so I also want to warn you dear readers that if ever someone approaches you and told you that the Grand Palace is close, please do not believe him. Also, be wary of tuktuk drivers. This is what happened on our way to the Grand Palace:

We were not sure where to cross the street so I asked a man standing in the corner where the Grand Palace is. However, he told me that the Grand Palace had a ceremony that day and he would just take us to other temples. He even wrote the destinations on our map. It was a good thing that I read about this before so we escaped from him by telling him that we will take our lunch first.

After that, we came across a gate to the Grand Palace but the guard would not let us in. He told us to go around. Apparently, I think it was the gate for locals as there were also people coming inside. I was confused as I had not read about this situation. As we prepared to go around, a family from Spain(?) approached us also with confused looks on their faces since the guard told them the same thing. They told us that they walked around but then a man approached them and said that there was a ceremony until 2:00 pm. Alarm bells started ringing inside my head of a scam. So I said , we should still go to see. As we approached a corner and saw a small gate, we saw the man that the family was talking about standing near the guard. Fortunately, behind the man's back,the guard was pointing the right entrance. Thank you very much to that helpful guard ! :D

The main entrance to Grand Palace is near the Royal Navy Club Restaurant. Entrance fee costs 350 baht which also includes the entrance to Vivanmek Mansion. If you want to avail of the free guided tour in English, here is the time schedule: 10:00, 10:30, 1:30 and 2:00.:)

Before I end this long blog post, I would just like to give some tips in visiting these temples:

1. Bring water because it is really hot in Thailand and you will need this for energy since the Grand Palace is huge!

2. Please wear appropriate clothes. For females, this means no sleeveless tops, shorts and miniskirts.
3. Wear shoes that you can remove easily like ballet flats because you will have to be barefoot as a sign of respect in entering inside a temple.

4. You do not need to join a group tour as you can easily go to Wat Pho and Grand Palace by yourself. Besides, its good to view the sights in a leisurely pace in order to appreciate the beauty of the place.^_^

Thailand: Lub D Siam Square

2011-02-13T20:06:00.009+08:00

One of the reasons why I enjoyed our 6 days Thailand trip was because of our hostel, Lub D Siam. Square. So I decided to blog about it first before continuing with stories about my trip.

What I love about LUB D:

1. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION - Lub D is located along the main road so no need to worry about walking into a dark alley when coming home at night. There is also a bus stop close to it. If ever you want to go to the Grand Palace or Khao San area, it is only 7 baht and a 10 minutes ride.

Also, the National Stadium BTS is just steps away! You can see how close it is to the escalator of the BTS by looking at this pic taken from the third floor of Lub D and from the patio.

Don't worry about being hungry! There are cheap food around Lub D. In fact, one food stall is right beside Lub D offering a rice meal for only 30 baht! There is also a 7-11 for those who want some midnight snacks of ham and cheese. :D

But the biggest selling point is its proximity to malls. MBK and Siam Discovery is only around 5 minutes walk while Siam Square, Siam Paragon and Tesco Lotus is around 6-10 minutes walk. So if you are a shopaholic, then you can drop your bags off at the hostel, rest a bit and then shop again, hehe.

2. VERY CLEAN - Lub D only opened last year so you can see how new the facilities are. I really like how everytime we go back to the hostel after sightseeing, our room was spotless. Cleanliness is very important in choosing an accommodation and Lub D makes sure that their guests are comfortable.

I also like how the toilet and shower are separated in the double deluxe room. :)

3. SAFE - Only hostel guests are allowed entry into the premises. A key card is used to enter the main entrance, the entrance to the accommodation area and of course, your own room.

4. MODERN DESIGN - Even though it is only a hostel, it does not look outdated. In fact, it looks modern and cool. I really like the colorful staircase railings and the outdoor patio. ^_^

What I don't love about LUB D:

1. NOT CHEAP - We got the double deluxe room for only 1,800 baht as there was a promo that day. But it can be pretty expensive for Thailand standards as you can book a budget hotel room at this price. I also found the non-promo rate for an econo deluxe expensive considering it is over 1,000 baht but there is no bathroom inside the room.

2. NO ELEVATOR - It might be hard for people who cannot walk properly to go up and down the stairs as there is no elevator. Don't fret though if you are carrying heavy things as the staff is willing to assist you. :)

3. BREAKFAST IS NOT FREE - This was not a problem for us as we had to be up early for two days in a row for our trip to Kanchanaburi and Ayutthaya. However, breakfast is still important in giving you energy for the day.

Despite the cons, if ever I will have a chance to go back again to Thailand, I would still choose to stay in Lub D Siam Square. ^_^ I guess I will just have to save a little and choose comfort over budget.

For more info about Lub d Siam Square, you can visit their official website: http://siamsquare.lubd.com/. You can also watch this video that I took of the Lub D area at night:

Thailand Day 1: Flight Delay with PAL & Siam Niramit

2011-02-13T17:49:00.003+08:00

February 2, 2011 (Wednesday)
A "RUSHED" DAY

Upon arrival at the airport, my mom and I were very excited! We had carefully planned the itinerary for a long time and was looking forward to visiting many places. Unfortunately, the first day of our itinerary was completely spoiled because of the flight delay from Philippine Airlines. Our flight was supposed to leave at 10:30 am but we boarded the plane at around 1:00 pm. :(

Though we were compensated with a free lunch from KFC, what we were worried about was reaching Bangkok in time for our scheduled pick-up to watch Siam Niramit. We had booked in advanced from Asiatravel and it would be a shame if we had to coimute by ourselves since the tickets with pickup were expensive. Thankfully Thailand is one hour delayed from us but we still had to rush at the airport. We felt like we were contestants in the Amazing Race, hehe.

We arrived in Lub D Siam at 4:45 pm and had to rush with the check-in. Since the pick up place is in Siam@Siam Hotel, we still had to walk there costing us to arrive at the pick up place 5 minutes late. However, the staff from Siam@Siam told us to wait for the pickup in the lobby. At first, it was okay but I felt irritated that we had to hurry but then waited for more than 30 minutes for the pick up. Coupled with the traffic in Bangkok, we arrived at our destination at 7:00 pm. We only had an hour to eat and explore the area before the show starts at 8:00 pm. Too bad that I was not able to avail of the elephant ride. :(

I guess the good thing that we had with booking tickets from Asiatravel is that we were seated in a great area. Though we did not have golden seats, we were near the front row so we can clearly see the performers on stage. Taking pictures is not allowed during the show because before entering, you have to surrender your cameras. Do not worry because your cameras will be stored in a nice pouch for safekeeping and you will be given a number tag to claim it. :)

If you want to have an idea of how the show is like, you can watch this youtube video:

I wonder how this youtube uploader manage to video the performance secretly! 0_0

After the show, there is also another chance to take a picture with some of the performers. :)

Overall, I enjoyed Siam Niramit. ^_^ It was a nice show to learn more about the history of Thailand and one can see how they put so much effort to make it good like how elaborate the costumes are. Plus, the effects are simply amazing. Imagine how surprised I was to see a river appear on stage! Watch out also for the heaven and hell scene. This show is recommended for those visiting Thailand. ;)

Please help me win 2 tickets to Europe via KLM Royal Dutch Airlines by liking my dream ^_^

2011-02-01T00:37:00.003+08:00

Please help me win tickets for two to Europe just by clicking the like button:

1.) First, please go to http://www.myeuropeandream.com/.
2.) Just find my dream cloud. My username is kmbrazil and the title of my dream is "Is it a Dream or SOON TO BE A REALITY???"
3.)Then click my cloud
4.) After that, you'll see a like button. please click it.

Thank you very much! I appreciate your likes! :)

Below is my full entry. Due to my being busy with my work, I was only able to create my entry at the last hour before the contest will end! So please pardon any spelling mistakes or grammar lapses as I did not have time to recheck. :(

Is it a Dream or SOON TO BE A REALITY??? by kmbrazil

“Wow, this is the life!”, I thought to myself as I sat comfortably inside the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Plane. I stopped to look at my watch and my heart suddenly started beating fast. “Oh my God! Only 10 more minutes until we arrive to Switzerland!”, I said to my mom. I was that excited! I couldn’t believe that I will get to see real snow. Coming from a tropical country like the Philippines, I never imagined that I would have the chance to experience winter in a European country!

It was freezing cold when my mom and I got out of the airport. But it was a good thing that we were bundled up in thick jackets and wore boots. These became our handy companions as we toured around places like The Chillon Castle, Zermatt and The Swiss National Park. And who could forget eating those yummy Swiss chocolates? Certainly not us! We stuffed our faces with these oh so delicious chocolates before we went to our next European destination, Italy!

Venice was such a lovely sight! My mom and I went on a walking tour around the San Marco area. Being Roman Catholics, we also went to some churches like the Chiesa di San Sebastiano. We marveled at its stunning interior of wonderful frescoes and canvases. But the highlight of our visit was the Gondola Ride along the Grand Canal. The boatman was very friendly and even sang Italian songs as he toured as around. It was a boat ride that I would never forget!

My mom and I still had plenty of energy for our last destination, France! We first went to the Eiffel Tower and took pics along the Arc de Triomphe. We also visited the Louvre Museum where we saw in real life the classic painting of the Mona Lisa! Being fans of the Count of Monte Cristo, we did not forget to go to the beautiful 16th century fortress, Chateau d'If. Going to so many places in one trip made me doze off inside the the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Plane on my way back to Manila.

I was in such deep slumber that I did not wake up until I felt someone holding me by my shoulder saying “Karla, wake up, wake up!”, I looked up and saw my mom. And I was not inside my airplane but inside my room. As I scanned the room, I wondered “Was my European dream only just a dream? Or is it soon to be a reality? “

The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Threader OST - There's A Place for Us

2010-12-17T04:05:00.001+08:00

A few days ago, I watched the Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Threader. By the end of the movie I cannot help but be misty eyed especially when I heard the OST . I immediately researched on the net and found out that the song is called There's a Place for us sung by Carrie Underwood. No wonder the song is good! I truly hope that Carrie and the other co-writers of "There's a Place for Us" will win the Golden Globe award for Best Original Song for a Motion Picture. Here are the inspiring lyrics:

There's a place out there for us
More than just a prayer or anything we ever dreamed of.
So if you feel like giving up
Cause you don't fit in down here
Fear is crashing in close your eyes and take my hand.

We can be the kings and queens of anything if we believe.
It's written in the stars that shine above
A world where you and I belong
Where faith and love will keep us strong
Exactly who we are is just enough
Yes there's a place for us there's a place for us.

When the water meets the sky
Where your heart is free and hope comes back to life
Where these broken hands are whole again
We will find what we've been waiting for
We were made for so much more

We can be the kings and queens of anything if we believe.
It's written in the stars that shine above
A world where you and I belong
Where faith and love will keep us strong
Exactly who we are is just enough
Yes there's a place for us
Now there's a place for us

So hold on now hold on
There's a place for us

We can be the kings and queens of anything if we believe.
It's written in the stars that shine above
A world where you and I belong
Where faith and love will keep us strong
Exactly who we are is just enough
Exactly who we are is just enough
There's a place for us

Nice lyrics right? If you like the song maybe you will also like this wonderful performance in Skating with the Stars. The background music used is "There's a Place for Us "and even the skaters' costumes resemble the costumes used in the movie. Enjoy watching! ^_^

Thank You!

2010-12-17T03:18:00.001+08:00

First of all, I would like to say Thank You to All My Visitors! :) I know that I am guilty of neglecting my site these past few weeks so I really appreciate that I still get visitors at this rate. I hope that you guys find the information on my blog useful or answers your queries.

Second, Thank You to DaPino for making this nice layout. I have been looking for a simple but neat layout and after a long search, I finally found this one. Its also great that there is a retweet and share application after every post.

Last but not the least, Thank You to East Coast Wifey and Miss C for the awards!

I am flattered and extremely happy to receive such awards even if my blog is still a few months old. I will try my best to update this blog often with different contents. :)

These awards are actually supposed to be passed on to several bloggers . However,I do not want to tag just several people. I want to give this to all my fellow bloggers who will come upon this post as I believe that every blog is lovely. I mean, each blog has its own unique qualities and made from the effort of its owner. So please feel free to receive these awards from me.

Take care everyone and Happy Holidays! ^_^