Travelers Journal :: ßry™

Discovering the Entertainment Capital of the World, Los Angeles

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:39:00 +0000

First time here was not as good as the second time --- a chance to finally roam around and discover what's in the City of Angels --- the City of my all-time favorite TV series, 24!

First stop --- the LAX International Airport. Being the fifth busiest commercial airport in the world and the third busiest in the United States, LAX gives you a first glance how diverse Los Angeles is --- people of different nationalities, of distinct fashion statement --- a good starting point, that is!

As in my other trips, just to get the actual feel and photos of global landmarks of the places I visit, would complete the adventure! Topping the list is the Hollywood Sign! Looking from the Hollywood & Highland Center, the sign was quite small! Though I didn't manage to get as close as I've wanted to the Hollywood Sign, it was nonetheless a happy experience.

The Hollywood Sign from the viewing deck of Hollywood and Highland Center

Hollywood and Highland Center

Next is the Hollywood Walk of Fame where over 2,000 brass stars are embedded on the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. Printed on the stars are names of popular celebrities. There is one stall that sells tricked-photo with you and your name engraved on a star. Problem is --- it's too costly! me and my stinginess! hahaha!

The Hollywood Walk of Fame

Talk about glitz and showbizness, LA is the home of the Academy Awards. 3 ceremonies were held in the historic Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Aside from its stunning Chinese architecture, famous features of this Theatre are the concrete blocks set in the forecourt bearing signatures, footprints, and handprints of popular celebrities from the 1920s to the present day. The Kodak Theatre which is on the same block as Grauman's, is the latest home of the Oscar's. Too bad though as I didn't manage to get in. sigh...

Grauman's Chinese Theatre

Kodak Theatre

What makes LA lights shine even brighter is the Universal Studios Hollywood! This "Entertainment Capital of L.A." is a one-stop destination for those who would like to enjoy movies, shopping, drinks, food, and history of the movie industry. The Universal City Walk is a strip of restaurants, shops, and cinemas. Best spot here is ofcourse the Universal Studios Uniglobe -- which summarizes everyone's Universal fantasies.

The Universal Studios Uniglobe

Universal Citywalk

Now what completes L.A. tour for most people? Whatelse --- it's the visit to Disneyland Resort! Disney's theme park is actually situated in Anaheim, California but it's just so associated to L.A. that's why people oftentimes think it is located in L.A. There's just one thing I proved though, Disneyland is really a place for kids and young at heart to enjoy. And this one fulfilled childhood dream of mine ends this particular post for my blog. 'Til next time!

The Disney Tram will take you to the Disneyland Resort.

Sea World San Diego: As real as it gets

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:18:00 +0000

Would you like to see dolphins play around like kids right before your very eyes? Or perhaps a group of gigantic killer whales spy-hop and lift their entire bodies out of the water? Then Sea World San Diego is the right place for you!

Being one of the world's premier marine theme parks, SeaWorld is California's 200 acres of world-class dolphin and whale shows, exciting rides and up-close animal interactions. Although millions of its visitors are predominantly children, I would say that this place is also for those young at heart. I myself had a wonderful time here! To see live dolphins and whales perform in a fiesta carnival-like shows was truly an exhilarating experience. Imagine the gigantic whales and dolphins show off and enthusiastically mingle and play with the audience. As a warning, you should prepare yourself to get soaking wet if you happen to be seated in the first 14 rows as these highly-spirited creatures will vigorously splash waters to their audience during the show.

And talk about star performers --- the ultimate star at Sea World is Shamu. Right now, "Shamu" is a stage name given to one of the living orcas at Seaworld. The original Shamu died in August 1971.

Shamu slides out during "BELIEVE: The Shamu show",
the most popular show at SeaWorld, running 20 minutes
and showing up to six times a day.

Sea World special attractions

Sesame Street Bay of Play

Interaction with Beluga Whales

Journey to Altantis

Pet Show featuring dogs, cats and birds.

Dolphin Interaction Program

Seaworld San Diego boasts of its record high of more than 80 million visitors. And before I got older I finally had the chance to explore and experience its real adventure and thrills!

A break from travel writing

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:12:00 +0000

Since I am unable to catch-up and continue writing about my travel stints, I decided to take a break from travel writing for this particular post --- a break for a cause indeed.

I am guilty for being a contributor to global warming just by computing my carbon footprint for a one-way trip from Bangkok to San Francisco:

1 passenger , flying from BANGKOK (BKK) to SAN FRANCISCO, CA (SFO) ( 12,749 Km ),
in Premium Class (Economy Premium, Business, or First)
generates about 1,800.23 Kg of CO2

Calculate your carbon footprint using the United Nations ICAO
Carbon Emissions Calculator which is available at
http://www2.icao.int/public/cfmapps/carbonoffset/carbon_calculator.cfm

And to make this break truly for a cause, I urge everyone to learn more about global warming. This is the best time to involve yourself in today's most alarming issue of the humanity.

Visit COOL101 YouTube Channel at
www.youtube.com/user/upoucool101

www.youtube.com/user/upouCOOL101

A wet shopping thrill at Bangkok Floating Market

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:12:00 +0000

Voted as the Best City in the World in the 2008 survey by Travel + Leisure Magazine, Bangkok boasts of its culture and lifestyle as well as its colorful tourist destinations --- one of which is the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.

In a nutshell, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market describes the traditional "buying and selling" customs in Thailand particularly those communities along the river. It is located 110 kms west of Bangkok. So this "tourist craving" is actually not within the busy Bangkok Metropolis.

Colourful, lively, noisy, and crowded --- these are just a few elements that will surely add up to a fun-filled experience! It starts in waking up early as in 5:30 AM so you could travel from Bangkok (around 6:30 AM) and ensure to arrive at Damnoen Saduak at around 7:30-8:00 AM. The wet shopping craze begins with the long-tail boat hitch to the actual Floating Market. On your way to the market, you’ll pass old-style teak houses, orchards, spirit houses and local people who chose to maintain the lifestyle of their ancestors.

The end of the ling-tail boat ride rings the bell to signify a welcome treat for you by a totally chaotic, crowded 'khlongs' or small canals. But you have to be quick in flashing your cameras as every single second give you a prime shot of actions as starred by flat boats paddled by Thai women selling just like whatever is saleable --- fresh fruits, colorful hats, umbrellas, fans, t-shirts, bags, slippers, hot-served noodle soups and more!

Now what's the next big thing that awaits you if you are not quick? You'll definitely get wet!

If you are planning to visit Bangkok and would like to avail of the Whole day Floating Market tour package (inclusive of Elephant Show, Cobra Show, Crocodile Show and Thai Cultural Show) you may contact:

MABUHAY Travel Agency Bangkok

747/7 Bangkok-Nonthaburi Road 21/1

Bangsue, Bangkok 10800 Thailand

Tel.: +66-2-585-7873

Tel/Fax: +66-2-911-2098

Mobile: +6689-112-2098
or e-mail gracemabuhay@hotmail.com

A deeper experience at the Manila Ocean Park

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:28:00 +0000

A boutique mall…
A restaurant strip…
An open water marine habitat…

These and more are what you will experience at the Philippines’ first state-of-the-art oceanarium – The Manila Ocean Park!

This 8,000 square meters oceanarium held its soft opening on February 29, 2008. Although the construction is still incomplete, many foreign and local tourists are already visiting the theme park. I’ve been to the Sentosa Underwater World of Singapore, the Siam Ocean World of Bangkok and to the Aquaria Oceanarium of Kuala Lumpur but I must say that the concept and the location of the Manila Ocean Park is thus far the best (which might be dethroned in my mind by the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan.. I will soon be there!) First of all, the Manila Ocean Park takes pride of being situated at the Manila Bay, giving its visitors a real “oceanic feel”. The construction plan and design of the park is certainly worth looking forward to. I would definitely like to see the marine-themed mall and hotel, outdoor pools and restaurant strip which are expected to be completed by end of 2008.

As this is the first oceanarium in the Philippines, the Manila Ocean Park maximizes the opportunity to spearhead efforts in educating Filipinos on various initiatives on the conservation and preservation of Philippine marine life through symposium, multimedia presentations, research and special partnerships.

The 7 major sections of the oceanarium provide its visitors a good glimpse of about 20,000 marine inhabitants (approximately 300 species).

Agos (Flow) is the first part of the oceanarium where you can see water cascading from an artificial waterfall.

Bahura (Reef) showcases the very colorful Philippine underwater rainforest, thus giving a sampler of how beautiful the Philippine coral reefs are.

Laot (Fishing Ground) displays fishes of various colors and sizes.

Buhay na Karagatan (Living Ocean) showcases a 25-meter long underwater tunnel. This is one of the main attractions of the Oceanarium.

Ang Kalaliman (The Deep) features the barracuda - known for its toothy grin as the “Tiger of the Sea”.

Pagi - Overhang tank displays a variety of rays fly over while you're under this unique Overhang Tank.

Pating (Shark) give a face-to-face experience with the most feared predators of the sea – the sharks.

Although there are a lot of things that may be improved in the Oceanarium such as handling hundreds of visitors a day, I’m certain that the entrance fee of Pesos 400.00 (or US$9.00) for adults and Pesos 350.00 (or US$8.00) for Kids 4.5 ft and below is all worth it! I will surely go back to Manila Ocean Park once the entire project is completed since I am really intrigued by that Fish Spa. Imagine, plunging your feet onto the waters and letting these small fishes give you the foot massage. I waited for an hour but the queue is really long! Too bad for me...

How to get there: The Manila Ocean Park is located behind the Quirino Grandstand at the historic Rizal (Luneta) Park. It opens at 10 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends, and closes at 9 p.m. You can take taxi from anywhere in Metro Manila. Nearest LRT station is the United Nations Avenue. From there you can already take a walk and pass by the Luneta Park (that's like 15-20 minutes of walking). If you want to take the famous Philippine Jeepney, be sure to take those passing Kalaw or Taft Avenue.

The Manila Ocean Park will look like this early 2009!

Experience Thai history and culture at Siam Niramit

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:10:00 +0000

Are you an ardent fan of theater plays; or perhaps passionate about history and the arts? If yes, then Siam Niramit is a must see place for you!

If you are planning to travel to Bangkok, make sure to include Siam Niramit in your list of places to visit. This US$40 million investment showcases a world-class theatrical presentation of Thai history and culture. The theater itself can accommodate up to 2,000 guests and is a Guinness World Record holder for having the tallest proscenium (the arch around the stage) of 11.9 m.

Before the main show at the Siam Niramit Theater, visitors are given a pre-performance of Thai cultural dance at the multi-purpose grounds (in-front of the main entrance of the theater). Guests may also take photos with real gigantic elephants. There is also a traditional Thai massage sampler that lasts about 15 minutes. And if you happened to got carried away, a full Thai massage can be availed too. One section I like at Siam Niramit is the simulation of the ancient Thai village/community. Visitors can enter various models of Thai houses both from Northern and Southern Thailand which are surrounded by rice fields and canals. Visitors can also take a 5-minute ride of the small traditional boats. Aside from the mock rice fields, there is also the sugar and vegetables plantations.

The main event which is the stage play at the Siam Niramit Theater usually starts at around 8:00 p.m. When I entered this 2,000 seater theater, I was impressed with the murals which I already expected to be automated and retractable during the performance. The play is divided into three major acts namely: (1) Journey Back to History which presents Thai religious faith and ancient heritage of Thai civilization; (2) Journey beyond Imagination which presents Thai belief that life continues after death in a Fiery Hell or at a Blissful Heaven; and (3) Journey Through Joyous Festivals which presents various religious and colorful Thai ceremonies all throughout the year.

My favorite part of the show is the amazing transformation of the wooden stage floor into a flowing river where one of the performers plunged into the water and swam. Much to this, there were about four boats which sailed from both sides of the stage. So just imagine how great the stage concept is! And to present the seasons of planting and harvesting at the Central Plains, it also rained at the stage! This is one of my two most favorite highlights of the play!!! Next to that is the "blissfully-perfect" stage lighting and direction during the Blissful Heaven scene of Act 2. If I recalled correctly, there were 12 performers flying smoothly and freely as heavenly beings in this scene. The timing and lighting were just perfect!

Overall, the show and the place itself are worth experiencing for! It was indeed a good journey to the colorful and enchanted Thai history and civilization.

Siam Niramit is located at 19 Tiamruammit Road, Huaykwang, Bangkok.
The nearest MRT (subway) station is Thai Cultural Centre. Shuttle buses are also provided at the MRT station.

If you are planning to visit Bangkok and would like to avail of the Siam Niramit package (including dinner before the show), you may contact:

MABUHAY Travel Agency Bangkok

747/7 Bangkok-Nonthaburi Road 21/1

Bangsue, Bangkok 10800 Thailand

Tel.: +66-2-585-7873

Tel/Fax: +66-2-911-2098

Mobile: +6689-112-2098
or e-mail gracemabuhay@hotmail.com

San Francisco: The City by the Bay

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:12:00 +0000

Of the many places I’ve been to, only in San Francisco I found the best mix of hectic and placid sceneries. Being one of the most popular destinations in the world, San Francisco offers a wide-range of internationally-known tourist landmarks depicting its diverse, cosmopolitan history and lifestyle. I have all my personal reasons to consider San Francisco as one of my favorite cities – a potential place for me to settle in.

Now, how busy and calm this famous City by the bay can get? You’ll surely find more than enough reasons to enjoy every moment of your stay in this City. And for this particular post, I decided to highlight the serene exquisiteness of San Francisco.

First in the list is the relaxing and romantic view at the San Francisco Bay where the world’s famous Golden Gate Bridge reigns supreme. According to history, the bridge took seven years to build and was completed on May 27, 1937. When I first saw the Golden Gate, I was immediately looking for the gold color but in fact the bridge is actually painted in deep red-orange color. (So this is just a bit of clarification.) Both in the northern and southern parts of the bridge, viewing decks are provided. However, parking is an issue. You’ll rarely find a space to park your car. (Good thing I wasn’t driving! Haha…) If you want to get a panoramic view of the bridge as well as the San Francisco Bay, it is best that you park at the Marina area. What I like best being at the Marina is the chance to see the monochromatic blue shaded sky and the cool breeze of fresh air with pine scent. Mind you, this is a nice spot for a wedding ceremony. Imagine the panoramic view as your background in all your wedding pictures. (How's that?)

A panoramic view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

A closer shot of the Golden Gate Bridge.

A view of the San Francisco Bay at the Marina.

If you would like to get more closer to nature, take advantage of the serenity that San Francisco Botanical Garden can offer. You can just lie down the fresh grass and enjoy the air and smelt of flowers and pines. The Garden has various collections of plants from the Mediterranean, Chile, Cape Province, Australia, New Zealand, South-east Asia, and more.

A peaceful scenery at the San Francisco Botanical Garden.

Just approximately two blocks away from the San Francisco Botanical Garden, you will find the Japanese Tea Garden where you will find Japanese maple trees, fragrant wisteria, camellias, cherry trees, rhododendrons and more. There is also a Tea House where you can sit for a while and sip a hot cup of Japanese Tea. Souvenir items are also available at this shop. One interesting spot in the Garden is the Drum Bridge or Taiko Bashi in Japanese which is a perfect half-circle in shape. Japanese history will tell that this kind of bridge had been a part of Japanese villages during the 1890’s. The main attractions (at least for photo fanatics like me) are the Temple Gate and the five-storey Pagoda which both came from the Panama-Pacific Exposition of 1915.

A five-storey Pagoda - a Buddhist shrine. In Japan and other Far Eastern countries,
pagodas were often built over a sacred relic. The Sorin (spire at the top of a pagoda)
has nine rings which represents various heavens of the gods.

The Temple Gate will lead you to the Cherry trees lane.

The Main Pond showcases a series of dwarf trees and Japanese Maple trees.

Blue skies, cool fresh air and relaxing sceneries…. These are just a few of the many reasons why San Francisco makes it easily to everyone’s heart.

More about San Francisco - soon on Travellers Journal.

Strolling at the SM Mall of Asia - The Philippines' largest shopping complex

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:52:00 +0000

I spent my last weekend in Manila and I had the chance to stroll at the SM Mall of Asia (MoA). Thanks to my best friends Tyrone and Grace (they are my friends since Kinder, since 1987 to be exact) for agreeing to meet with me at MoA. I had a truly wonderful Sunday at MoA.

To my foreign visitors and fellow bloggers, here are bits of information about MoA so that in case you will have the chance to visit Manila, you already have one interesting place in your list.

The SM Mall of Asia is the Philippine's largest shopping complex. According to Forbes Magazine, it is the 3rd largest shopping mall in the world in terms of Gross Leasable Area, after the South Dongguan Mall (China) and Golden Resources Mall (China). It has been operating for two years now after its official opening on May 21, 2006. Mall of Asia will never fail a visiting tourist as it offers a unique shopping mall ambiance. It cannot be gainsaid that one of its best attractions is the Esplanade, where you can have a relaxing view of the Manila Bay and a nostalgic feel of the romantic sunset by the bay. Unlike any other malls in the world, MoA is situated by the bay and is separated from the usual busy city district. It is located at the famous Roxas Boulevard in Manila, Philippines and is built on 19.5 hectares of reclaimed land area. MoA's architecture is equally interesting as it drifted away from the traditional box-type designed shopping malls. There are portions of MoA where you can feel the natural lighting and air specifically at the restaurant strips, IT centre, and the Esplanade. It may not be easy for slow walkers to roam around as it houses over 600 shops and 150 restaurants. Talk about shopping, you can find both local and international items here. If you like high-end and/or branded goods, you can also find them here. Now if you find yourself hungry after more than an hour of strolling, pick a restaurant of your choice offering Filipino dishes and fusion cuisines. Parking is never an issue at MoA, over 5,000 parking slots are situated outside and inside the shopping complex. Public taxis, jeepneys and vans are also readily available. Thus, transportation is not a big problem for commuters.

Aside from the relaxing view of the Manila Bay and the romantic sunset, MoA has got a lot of other attractions to offer! First in the list is the SM Science Discovery Center. This 313 million pesos (or $7 million) Science Center is the first of its kind in the world. It has a digital planetarium which showcases a wide range of science instructional movies. The planetarium is the ultimate attraction at the SM Science Discovery Centre as it can easily convince its visitor for its being ultra high-tech and interactive. It also houses several technology and science-themed exhibits such as Life Clock, ImagePort, SMART Media City (you can play computer games here), Transportation Nation, Spaceship Earth and Robot Inc (where I've seen Astroboy, my favorite cartoon hero when I was 4).

Among the science themed exhibits, I particularly enjoyed the following:

1. Virtual Reef - a digital oceanarium. Its main attraction is Mr. T, a talking cartoon titan fish. I'm sure the voice over talent could see the visitors via camera as Mr. T can naturally talk to each visitor and respond to every question they might like to ask. You bet, I had fun with this fish as my friend cracked a series of jokes with Mr T.

2. City Science - it provides an audio-visual learning of various skyscrapers all over the world and the whereabouts in major cities such as New York, Paris, London, and more.

If you happened to be a nature lover and would rather take advantage of the Manila Bay and the Sunset, the Ferry Service will be a nice treat for you! The cost per ride per person is approximately $2-3 only. During the Christmas Season, fireworks displays are also showcased by the bay. In fact, MoA has been chosen several times as the venue for World Pyro Olympics.

And if you are movie fan, there are several Digital movie houses at MoA one of which is the IMAX Theater which is the first of its kind in the Philippines and is one of the world's biggest IMAX screens in 3D.

Now if you feel like being sporty, try the Mall of Asia's Ice World, the Philippines first Olympic-sized ice skating rink of 61 by 30 meters. It is described as the biggest of its kind in Southeast Asia.

The SM Prime Holdings has recently celebrated its 50th Anniversary at MoA's SMX Convention Center. SMX is a 3-storey building of 46,647-square meter size and is described as the Philippines' largest privately run exhibition and convention center. It can accommodate up to 6,000 people. Soon to rise in MoA complex is a luxury hotel in partnership with the Radisson Chain of Hotels.

The SM history reveals a very rich legacy and a triumphant venture since the first SM branch. Whatever information is documented and made available to the public will never match the real-life experience and memories that only Mr Henry Sy himself can share.

(PHOTO: Me and Mr Henry Sy, owner of the SM Prime Holdings. Mr. Sy is known as Asia's mall magnate who remained among the world’s super-rich, according to Forbes magazine’s annual billionaires list. He placed 843rd with a net worth of $1.4 billion)

Football fever rises up in Geneva and Vienna

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:30:00 +0000

Wonderin’ how the football craze heats up in and outside the football stadiums of Austria and Switzerland? It’s definitely worth experiencing for! Unfortunately, just like you maybe – I don’t have the chance to do so! (now that's quite frustrating! and if you happened to travel just to see the matches -- POWER TO YOU!)

As widely reported, EURO 2008 football matches continue to heat up in Switzerland – taking place in Geneva, Bâle, Berne and Zurich. In Austria, matches have been held in Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Klagenfut. With the finals in Vienna taking place on Sunday, 29 June, I’m sure football fanatics started to have sleepless nights.

Talk about football craze and its relation to the welfare of the society; let me share you some pieces of information. Football stars have committed themselves to helping the United Nations in its various work and development goals. For example, Ronaldinho and Kaká are Ambassadors Against Hunger for WFP, David Beckham is a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, Michael Ballack is a Special Representative for UNAIDS, Roberto Baggio is an Ambassador for FAO, and Ronaldo, Zinédine Zidane and Didier Drogba are Goodwill Ambassadors for UNDP. Also, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has been running a three-week anti-discrimination programme, “Unite Against Racism”, which aims to demonstrate equality in sport. It’s a "zero tolerance" for UEFA towards any form of racism, discrimination or violence in football.

Now let me share you some photographs courtesy of my organization's global Intranet site. I enjoyed looking at these pictures and I hope you’d also do. Needless to say, I direly wanted to be right there and feel the actual vibes! Grrr… (my eldest brother would surely enjoy these pictures as he was a former football player at the national level!)

Cabbages and Condoms: Dining for a cause

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:05:00 +0000

Now you might find the title of this post as something odd. I got the same reaction when my friends in Bangkok thought of dining in at Cabbages and Condoms Restaurant which I never thought to exist in Bangkok metropolis. Since I find this place quite interesting not only for its name but also for its theme, I decided to write about it for my blog.

Jay and Raquel, swaggering. Who let these creatures out?!

According to its history posted at the entrance lobby, Cabbages and Condoms (C&C) Restaurant was established by the Population and Community Development Association (PDA) of Thailand to increase awareness on HIV/AIDS and to promote better understanding of family planning. I should agree to their claim that the restaurant has attracted international attention. Almost 90% of the guests were foreigners (that includes us obviously). The ambiance is good. At the main lobby, diners will be welcomed with family planning and HIV/AIDS-themed displays. Thai mannequins (dressmaker's dummy) wearing clothes made up of real condoms and oral contraceptives are the first attractions. There is also a Santa Claus-themed mannequin. They serve authentic Thai dishes and delicacies at a not-so-expensive price. Diners may choose between outdoor and air-conditioned areas to dine in. The food is also good. They also sell Thai handicrafts and C&C souvenirs. All proceeds from the restaurant are used to fund the social development programs of PDA. So that's a real dining experience for a cause!

Antti and Twinkle, soon to wed couple this July.

Now let me close this post with the following humorous and witty quotable quotes I read while at C&C:

"Our food is guaranteed not to cause pregnancy"
"Sorry we have no mints, take a condom instead"

"Stop Global Warming, use condoms"

Cabbages and Condoms (C&C) Restaurant is located at Sukhumvit Soi 12, Bangkok. (200 m from the main sukhumvit road)

Distance learning while travelling

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:30:00 +0000

Eversince I started blogging, I decided that the concept for this blog would be a compilation of my past and recent actual travel experiences. Thrilled I was for the recent increase in traffic for my blog, I decided to also feature someone else's travel experiences which I will be doing soon after collecting pictures and information from my friends and fellow bloggers.

Last weekend, I got a mail from a fellow blogger (an inspirational blogger to be precise) from the U.S. asking me "what's in a life of travel writer?". I never thought that I projected myself in this blog as a travel writer. For the benefit of those who are interested to know (if there are many), this blog is my latest prized hobby. I may have travelled a lot but I am not a travel writer. But if given the chance, why not?! I think it's a good and fun profession. Right now, I'm happy with my job and on top of blogging and working hard, I still go to school through distance education. Even my former boss thought that I doubled as a travel writer! hahahaha! But thanks though, it's a compliment I guess. Atleast my posts impress a bit on my readers.

Just so to keep this post as relevant to travelling as possible. I thought of seriously answering the question "what's in a life of a travel writer?" And based on my own situation at the moment, I thought of using the concept of distance education in a life of a travel writer. The main idea is that IF I were a real travel writer by profession, I would choose to subscribe to distance education at the same time. After all it pays a lot to earn another degree, Masters or a diploma while travelling and writing - a highly dignified traveller I will be. hahaha. Now what's the relationship between distance education and the life of a travel writer? It's the portability and flexibility of learning. Let me share with you my reply to the discussion forum for my Master's elective course on Foundations of Distance Education. WARNING: It's a bit long but I hope you'll find it useful and informative.

========

Prior to your enrollment in this program... what was your definition of distance education? Make a research on the definitions of distance education. List them down. Be sure to cite your resources properly. Compare your definition and those which you were able to read in the various references you listed. What differentiates distance education from conventional classroom-based instruction? What is common to distance education and conventional classroom-based instruction? What differentiates distance education from private self-study? What is common to distance education and self-study? Post your reply in this forum.

MY ANSWER:

Prior to my enrollment to this course, I have been made aware of the concept of distance education (DE) – what is it about and how is it carried out. Thanks to my work places at [....] which has the Distance Learning Centre and the [....] which emphasizes strongly on staff development and learning. In addition, the [....] has projects both completed and in-progress focusing on the importance of education and learning that includes the concept of distance education.

One of the positive impacts of rapid technology development in the society is the emergence of a “space” not just to share information but also to achieve fundamental results like what a traditional classroom-based learning environment could offer. Distance education is an opportunity to balance the needs of people in their quest for continuous learning while maintaining their personal and professional commitments. It is a concept where learning does not need to take place inside a classroom but through the use of various multimedia technologies.

My above definition of DE is fortunately supported by definitions given by various resources as follows:

Wikipedia defines distance education as “ a field of education that focuses on the pedagogy and andragogy , technology, and instructional systems design that aim to deliver education to students who are not physically "on site". Rather than attending courses in person, teachers and students may communicate at times of their own choosing by exchanging printed or electronic media, or through technology that allows them to communicate in real time. Distance education courses that require a physical on-site presence for any reason including the taking of examinations is considered to be a hybrid or blended course or program”;

The Philippine Daily Inquirer in its news article dated November 11, 2007, reports distance education as “ Distance education is unlike the usual classroom setup where students and teachers are supposed to be present regularly for education to take place. Distance education still follows a certain curriculum. While students are usually left to study at their own pace, learning materials have deadlines.”;

The Sustainable Development Department of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) summarizes the concept of distance education as “intentional processes of teaching and learning in which physical space separates instructors and learners. Learners and instructors communicate through various media, and an educational organisation exists to design, facilitate and evaluate the educational process.”

In addition to the above, distance education has been widely defined on World Wide Web as:

The formal process of distance learning. This term has traditionally implied the higher education level. www.directdegree.com/s/DistanceEducationGlossary.shtml
means an educational process in which persons removed in space or time from the learners conduct a significant proportion of the teaching through one medium or a combination of media. www.thepubliclibrary.edu.ag/pubEduGlossary.htm

a form of learning in which the instructor and student are in different locations and communicate through traditional and non-traditional means. www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/admin/1994/glossary.html

A planned teaching/learning experience that uses a wide spectrum of technologies to reach learners at a distance and is designed to encourage learner interaction and certification of learning. www.uwex.edu/ics/design/glossary.htm
Education program whereby students may complete all or part of an educational program in a geographical location apart from the institution hosting the program; the final award given is equivalent in standard and content to an award program completed on campus. www.newsweekshowcase.com/distance-learning/glossary.php
The process by which students and teachers can communicate through information technology. It allows courses to take place without the necessity for the students and teachers to be physically in same location. alt.uno.edu/glossary.html

The major difference of distance education from conventional classroom-based instruction is the fact that learning does not have to take place inside a classroom. Geographically speaking, the learner and the instructor communicate from two distant points taking away the concept of a daily/regular face-to-face interaction. While distance education uses a self-paced approach, like conventional classroom-based instruction, distance education uses an established curriculum which will be carried out during the entire course.

Finally, in distance education, an instructor or facilitator portrays a key role in ensuring that the established curriculum and set of modules are utilized effectively and in a timely fashion. The instructor uses a defined institutional standard in evaluating the participation of a DE student all throughout the course through web discussions, examinations and special projects. Unlike in special study which is mainly carried out by fulfilling the requirements as set out in a study guide, the instructor and evaluation elements of distance education are not present.

IMAGES from Microsoft Clipart

BLOG STATS - Travellers Journal :: ßry™

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0000

It has been more than three months since I started this blog and I must say that I do enjoy it a lot. My returning visitors would notice that I even changed the layout of my blog. Writing articles as well as ensuring a nice layout is quite an "outlet" for me. But what's best about blogging is reading comments both published and unpublished from people from different parts of the world!

During the first month of this blog, here's how the traffic went which was not bad at all!

Now you might be wondering what are these balloon-like icons in the world map shown above. These are indicators of the countries of my blog visitors. Each country has 15 ISPs registered which had viewed my blog. Thanks to StatCounter as I was able to keep track of the traffic for my blog.

As of writing, my visitor map has become more populated showing visitors from the USA, Europe, Asia and even in Africa. Isn't that great?! How I wish StatCounter could combine the results of the first visitor map with the results of the following map:

Thanks to all who visited my blog particularly those who sent me messages. Thanks also to those who subscribed! I will definitely try to write more articles particularly those places you have suggested me to visit. To those in the UK (I think I got 3 of them who sent me a message) -- Yes, I will try to write a suggested itinerary which will serve as your guide in your planned visit to Bangkok and to Manila. I'd be more grateful to do that.

With these two visitor maps, it feels like I've been to all the cities where my blog visitors came from. (lolz!) 'Til my next post. Ciao!

Payback time to Philippine Airlines

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:55:00 +0000

I spent my last weekend in Manila to meet some old good friends during my high school years and to attend my nephew's first birthday. For the first time, I availed of the evening flights recently offered by Philippine Airlines (PAL) from Bangkok to Manila and vice versa. It really pays to be part of PAL's frequent flyer program. I get good service which includes priority booking, priority check-in and luggage handling and best of all I get upgrades and free tickets quite often which I experienced for the nth time during my flight last Friday night. And for this reason, I thought to write a few words about PAL which is my way of saying "thank you". (Photo shows a PAL A330-300 aircraft at Suvanaburmi Airport, Bangkok)

Perhaps 90 per cent of my travels within the Philippines, Asia and the US, I flew Philippine Airlines. I personally feel happy about flying my very own flag carrier which takes pride of being the first airline in Asia. For 67 years now, PAL has consistently delivered its warm Filipino hospitality to its customers. Despite many challenges, it has strived in maintaining its quest to become a world-class Filipino airline.

I wish to congratulate Philippine Airlines as it embarks on a $79-M aircraft upgrade due to be completed by the first quarter of 2009.

Trivia on Philippine Airlines, Asia's first airline:

PAL was launched on March 15, 1941 with a small twin-engine Beech Model 18 flying 212 kms. from Manila to Baguio City, Philippines with a full load of five passengers. To me, I think the best part of flying PAL is the fact that it has its own airport in Manila. While the security is quite rigid at the airport, I think I like the convenience of not having to walk a lot just to get in to the immigration counters and boarding gates. I'm sure people coming from a long flight would agree on this observation.

Philippine Airlines offers budget friendly tour packages (with hotel accommodation and airport transfers included) to different places in the Philippines, Asia and the US. For more information, visit PAL's website at www.philippineairlines.com

The following video is a 30-sec TV commercial of Philippine Airlines during 1980's. I was thrilled to have seen it again after almost 20 years. Thanks to YouTube!

The beauty of the Philippines is shining through....
Philippine Airlines

Boracay: named Asia’s best beach

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:15:00 +0000

Talk about beaches and other exotic tourist destinations, the Philippines gives you more than 7,000 options to choose from. Topping the list is the breath-taking four kilometer natural exquisiteness of Boracay.

Known as one of the Philippines premiere tourist attractions, Boracay (or Bora for young Filipinos) has been chosen several times as the world’s best tropical beach by The British TV Quick, the Australian newspaper the Sun Herald, the BMW Tropical Beach Handbook, and Harper's. In 2007, Yahoo travel selected Boracay as the best beach in the world, taking the first spot of the chosen 10 most popular beaches.

Boracay is famous for its white talcum powder-like beach front which oddly never gets too hot even if the sun blazingly envelopes the entire island paradise. (I personally had fun playing with the sand!) From the palm fringed shoreline, any visitor would surely be astonished by a relaxing view of its crystal clear blue- to turquoise-colored water. It is truly a startling experience to see how the monochromatic waters of Boracay fade from deep blue to clear white as you approach the beach front from an island hopping adventure.

Just before the sunset, you will enjoy the view of vinta and sail of different colors. These boats may be rented for a quick sunset island hopping or take photos of them at no charge. Banana boat riding is also available for an unforgettable group fun. If you want a fast paced adventure, perhaps jet skiing on Boracay waters would invigorate your sensations!

Boracay white beach is divided into three boat stations of which stations 2 and 3 are the most popular for backpackers and youngsters. In the evening, boat station 2 is filled with music and endless group chats. It is the most tourist friendly station as it houses a strip of not-so-expensive restaurants and mini supermarkets. Boat station 1 is where most of the high-end hotels are located at. It is the most tranquil boat station in Boracay.

Boracay gateways

All year round, the Philippine Airlines (PAL) offers tour packages from Manila to Boracay with flight and hotel accommodation included for as low as US$190. If you fly PAL, you will have to take a two-hour land travel from Kalibo Airport to the ports of Caticlan either by jeepney or bus. A ferry service is available which will bring you to Boracay Islands in 15 minutes. Expect Boracay waters to welcome you with a splash during the ferry ride so be prepared to get wet!

Other local airlines such as Air Philippines, Cebu Pacific and Asian Spirit fly directly from Manila to Caticlan Airport which saves you from the two-hour land travel from Kalibo. As of writing, Philippine Airlines has recently launched their jet flights straight to Caticlan which are less expensive than their flights to Kalibo.

Island activities

Boracay souvenirs ranging from native hats, hand-painted t-shirts, hand-woven neclaces and bracelets are just a few of the many items you could easily buy from any parts of the Island. The “IN” thing among young tourists is the henna and permanent tattooing. It is most advisable to take a half-day island hopping which will bring you to the Crocodile Island, Puka Beach (the white sand here is absolutely astounding!), crystal cave, and snorkeling areas among others. Each boat for an island hopping may be rented for as low as US$35.00. Don’t worry about buying dollars or Philippine peso, ATM machines are available in station 2.

Experience Boracay... experience a place
unlike anywhere you've ever been!

VIDEO CREDITS (from YouTube):
Video 1: Islands - Produced by the Department of Tourism Philippines
Video 2: One Team One Summer, ABS-CBN Summer Station ID Boracay Special - Directed by Tots Sanchez-Mariscal

Weekend in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Wed, 14 May 2008 07:30:00 +0000

A DELAYED BLOG POST

September 2007 - Kuala Lumpur or KL is the capital and largest city in Malaysia. It is the home to the Petronas Twin Towers, Malaysia's icon of economic prosperity and socio-cultural idealism. My stay in KL may have been quick (an overnight stay that was) but I made the most out of my free time to stroll around!

First destination? The Kuala Lumpur Bird Park or Taman Burung Kuala Lumpur. This park is a 7 to 16 hectares of enclosed aviary housing more than 50 species of birds, of which 90% are local breeds. Aside from having the opportunity to witness colorful birds in their natural habitat, a bird show presenting huge species of colorful parrots was quite fun. I felt like I was a kid again being immersed in an audience of grade school students (Haha!).

Just like in any country I've been to, the China Town or Chee Cheong Kai in the street of Petaling in KL offers a good shopping experience. You'll find Chinese herbs, handicrafts, textiles or just any item a trader could sell particularly those from China.

Next to China Town and Jalan Bandar is the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in KL. It was my first time to enter a Hindu temple and I must say that it was indeed a worthwhile experience. I was amazed at the wall decorations that depict the Hindu belief - a reality check that we are indeed living in a truly diversed world.

After a quick rest at the hotel, my next destination was the Menara KL Tower. Being the fifth tallest telecommunication tower in the world, KL Tower provides a 360 degrees arial view of the city. Just to share with you, although I couldn't remember where I exactly read this, the KL Tower has customarily been a place for marriage proposals. Not sure though if every proposals made here were successful.

As they say, your KL trip will not be complete without seeing the gigantic Petronas Twin Towers, the world's tallest twin buildings. According to Wikipedia, Tower 1 was built by Hazama Corporation and Tower 2 by Samsung Engineering & Construction. They were the world's tallest buildings from 1998 to 2004. At day time, the spectators will definitely be astounded by the architecture of the Petronas particularly its detailed steel linings and humongous steel bars. Wait until the evening breaks, the Petronas seems to be the main source of light of the entire city. The twin towers resemble like two strong beams of light coming directly from the grounds of KL. I was astonished at the beauty of the Twin Tower as I looked up at the sky from the hotel entrance. I couldn't wait for the morning to come, a chance for me to enter the Towers and go up to the bridge connecting Towers 1 and 2. The Petronas Towers is definitely a must see for everyone!

Just before my departure from KL, I had a chance to visit Batu Cave which is approximately 20-30 minutes drive from KLCC. Of all the tourist spots I visited in KL, I must say that this is the best for the reason that I appreciate to witness other religious beliefs. At the ground level, you will be welcomed by a gigantic statue of a Hindu deity. As you start your 272 stair-trekking to reach the caves, you will be entertained by monkeys who would play around with visitors. It might be good to bring some bananas and feed them if you are fond of monkeys. =) At the far top cave, there is a small Hindu temple which a lot of devotees consider as extremely sacred. To reach the caves is quite a tiring activity but I think all my energy spent paid off.

TRAVEL TIPS: The KL International Airports are located one hour drive away from the downtown. Shuttle bus and airport taxis are readily available. Shuttle bus would cost 10 Malaysian Ringgit per person from the airport to the Central Station in KL city. To enable access to the Petronas Towers you need to get a ticket (free of charge) from the Petronas Office as early as 7:30 a.m. You need to be quick on this as tickets usually ran out fast.

My Elite Choices to the New 7 Wonders of Nature

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Wed, 07 May 2008 07:01:00 +0000

From the organizers of the New 7 Wonders of the World comes another global venue to discover the incredible beauty and variety of our planet Earth - The New 7 Wonders of Nature. Established by the non-profit New7Wonders Foundation, the voting for nominees to the New 7 Wonders of Nature has officially started! See live ranking of the top 77 candidates.

Cast your votes now! The following are my elite 7:
Photos and descriptions were taken from

the New7Wonders official website

#1: Chocolate Hills

The Chocolate Hills is an unusual geological formation in Bohol, Philippines. It is composed of around 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills, all about the same size, spread over an area of more than 50 sq km The hills are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season, giving them the name ''Chocolate Hills.''

#2: Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located about 50 km north of the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. It features a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2 km. navigable underground river. A distinguishing feature of the river is that it winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea. It includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers. The lower portion of the river is subject to tidal influences. The underground river is reputed to be the world's longest. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water's edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels find their niche on the beach near the cave.

#3: Tubbataha Reef

Tubbataha Reef is an atoll coral reef in the Sulu Sea that belongs to the Philippines. It is a marine sanctuary protected as Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. The reef is composed of two atolls, North and South Reefs. Each reef has a single small islet that protrudes from the water. The atolls are separated by a deep channel 8 kilometers wide. Over one thousand species, including many that are endangered, can be found at on the reef. These include manta rays, lionfish, tortoises, clownfish and sharks.

#4: Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776 meters, and has an exceptionally symmetrical cone. A dormant volcano that last erupted in 1707, it is surrounded by five lakes: Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka, Lake Sai, Lake Motosu and Lake Shoji. It is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

#5: Maldives, Archipelago

The Maldive Islands make up an island nation consisting of 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean. They are located south of India’s Lakshadweep islands, about 700 kilometers south-west of Sri Lanka. The Maldives encompass 1,192 small islands, roughly two hundred of which are inhabited.

#6: Mount Everest

Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth, with the summit 8,848 meters above sea level. The mountain, which is part of the Himalaya range in High Asia, is located on the border between Nepal and Tibet, China.

#7: Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is a set of massive waterfalls located on the Niagara River, separating the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. While not exceptionally high, the Niagara Falls are very wide. The falls were formed when glaciers receded at the end of the last ice age, and water from the then newly-formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment on its way to the Atlantic Ocean.

Las Vegas: The city that never sleeps (at night)

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Sun, 04 May 2008 14:35:00 +0000

A DELAYED BLOG ENTRY

October 2007 - It was a quick stop by at the surprisingly cold Las Vegas – a city in Nevada that never sleeps at night! The weather was cooperative as it was only at that time we arrived in Las Vegas when the temperature changed from hot and humid to cold and breezy at 57.3 °F (14.1 °C). As they say, the first thing a visitor could do is to try his luck with a slot machine found at the reception lobby of the hotel. Thrilled I was, my first try with the $20 - no luck! Haha!

Roaming around during daytime would give any visitor an impression that Las Vegas is just an ordinary city – high rising hotels, light to moderate traffic situation, and bargain souvenir items everywhere. In fact, one may think that it is a dull city as nothing so special is happening at day time. BUT try to visit every hotel lobbies where as early as 8:00 a.m. you'll see people sipping their hot coffee while playing a $1-$10 slot machine. You'll be convinced that people do really come to Las Vegas to gamble. What a way to spend your leisure time!

Now what happens at night time? I need not to scribble further. As expected, Las Vegas is at its finest in the evening! The covered streets of Fremont is enveloped with glittering lights and buzzling music. I was amazed at the LED screen-ceiling presentations on Fremont Street. People are filled with so much energy (not unless you go back to your hotel room as a loser). The Las Vegas strip is so stunning and the architecture of the Ceasar's Palace Hotel is truly amazing!

Since I'm not a habitual gambler I must say that my first day in Las Vegas was not fun at all (Not to mention of me losing a $100 bill was as quick as 10 snaps in less than 10 minutes!!!). What I like about this city is the fact that shopping is not as expensive as in California. I enjoyed buying presents in all the malls we've been to. Food is also cheap. The roads that we passed through were all clean. Best of all, you can buy a detached house in this city for as low as $200,000- Well not for me to stay long and raise a family here but perhaps as a vacation destination (I may be too conservative but I think this is not a good place to raise your kids).

As a whole, I should charge our four-day stay in Las Vegas to experience. I may not have a tremendous fun like in my other trips but it was not that bad at all. After all, I won $400.- during my last night in Vegas! Thanks to the Wheel of Fortune at the Golden Nugget Hotel!

Trekking in the Lion City - Singapore

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:32:00 +0000

A DELAYED BLOG ENTRY

As they say, an Asian Tour is not complete without a quick stop in Asia's Lion City - Singapore. Being the smallest country in Southeast Asia (704.0 km² or 272 sq mi), in just one day, you would be able to visit most if not all of the tourist attractions in Singapore.

In August 2005, I got a chance to revisit this fascinating city all by my self. It was indeed a nice trip. Imagine travelling alone in a foreign country (what a liberation!). It was also my first time to fly a budget airline (a courageous move that was!). What's good about Singapore is the fact that the locals speak the English language fluently. I never had the feeling of being alienated or "home sick(ed)". The city itself (particularly the shopping malls' atmosphere) gave me the impression that I was just strolling in any of the malls in Manila particularly those in Makati City, Philippines.

Just like in any of my travels, to have a picture in one or two of my destination's well-known tourist icon(s) would complete the trip. Singapore may be a small country but it has a lot of good things to offer its visitors and I may not have enough time to scribble down all of them. Let me simplify my life by highlighting a few of my destinations.

Changi International Airport - Known for being one of the world's best international airports, what I like most about Changi is its accessibility to all types of transportation in the city. During this visit, I excitedly grabbed the opportunity of riding the MRT (mass rapid transit) which is conveniently connected to Terminal 1. The best service available at Changi Airport is the telephone service. Anyone can call a number in Singapore (including mobile numbers) using the public phones at no charge.

Hotels/Hostels - Tourists are given an array of choices where to stay but it is best to book in advance to avoid last minute hassles.

The Merlion Park - I've always been happy to meet the Merlion statue (haha). I think you would agree to me if I say that this is the most popular tourist attraction in Singapore. In case you do not know yet (but I'm sure you do), Merlion is a statue with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. It stands in front of the Marina Bay. Sound a bit churlish but to me, Merlion is an attestation of a fulfilling experience by seeing it personally since I only get to see it in the pictures or in my books when I was still in grade school.

The Esplanade Theatres - I've always been fascinated by the unique architecture of the Esplanade Theatres. Many Singaporeans casually refer to the Esplanade as "The Durian". Well if you look at it, the thorny design of the roof resembles like the durian or the jackfruit. Actually, the two roofs of the Esplanade also look like the magnified eyes of a fly. I think I read about this somewhere but I can't remember exactly which material was that.

The Sentosa Island - Just one frustration - I was not able to ride the cable cars. I had to look for someone who is also alone to take a ride with me but no luck! Perhaps next time (haha). At Sentosa, I only targeted for two things (1) the Underwaterworld; and (2) the Musical Fountain Show at night. The Underwaterworld is an oceanarium which has more than 2,500 marine animals of 250 species from different regions of the world. I am not sure if this is the first oceanarium in Asia but what I know is that just like the Merlion statue, I have always been fascinated by the Underwaterworld which I used to see and read about only in my books when I was in grade school (haha). What's best about this park is its 83 metre long travelator that conveniently tours the visitors along a submerged glass-windowed tunnel showcasing a vast range of marine life including stingrays and sharks.

I'm not sure about the others, but to me, the Musical Fountain Show is a relaxing treat from a full day of walking and sight-seeing. It may be good for kids only but I did enjoy it A LOT! hahaha... It's like watching a Disney show. The sounds and lights and the narration made by a ventriloquist and a clown makes the show entertaining. The music is definitely wonderful! At that night, an orchestra of Singaporean students performed before the actual fountain show started.

The above are just a few of the places I've been to during my revisit to Singapore. If you are a shopping fan, perhaps Singapore is not the place for you to enjoy. Goods are quite costly. I missed Bangkok all of a sudden! However, the food is great and I enjoyed the black seafood noodles. Ah and one more thing, I had an opportunity to meet my former English teacher in High School who is now residing in Singapore with her family for good.

Are you planning to fly to Singapore, soon? Make sure it happens. You won't regret it!

A glimpse of the Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm in Southern California, USA

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:10:00 +0000

A DELAYED BLOG ENTRY

October 2007 - Cruising down the Tehachapi Mountain Pass in Southern California in the United States gave me the opportunity to take this priceless shot of the Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm. Thanks to my mobile phone ofcourse for I was able to quickly capture a very good angle of the Wind Farm.

This unique scenery brought back an unforgettable childhood memory. It was indeed a sudden flashback as I recalled one of my favorite movies when I was about 7 years old -- Mac and Me, a family movie about a disabled boy and an extraterrestial. According to Wikipedia: "The decision to create it was based largely on the success of E.T. (1982). The title itself, Mac and Me, comes from the working title for E.T. — E.T. and Me." In this movie, I can recall a scene where the characters are traversing through the Tehachapi Wind Farm. Thanks to YouTube, I found a video clip of Mac and Me. After almost 20 years, it was indeed a great experience to personally witness an unforgettable scene in an unforgettable movie of my childhood! =D

A day in Saraburi Sunflower Fields and Khao Yai National Park Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:10:00 +0000

A DELAYED BLOG ENTRY

It was an unplanned weekend agenda for me in December 2007 to join my friends in their visit to some of the provinces in Central Thailand. In less than two-hour drive from Bangkok, we made our first stop at a vineyard in Saraburi (vineyard - a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice). A freshly prepared ice-cold 100% grape juice was a very good welcome starter! Not too far from this vineyard is the most popular destination in Saraburi during winter season --- the Sunflower Fields.

It was a delightful scenery of bright yellow and orange shades of 5 to 10 inches diameter wide sunflowers blending perfectly with the green base-like valleys. Striking against the cool wind are the sunrays that make the scene even more brighter. Imagine such a beautiful view (left and right) which I thought can only be seen in pictures and movies, while cruising down the highway. So during our stop, I got excited to plunge myself into the Sunflower fields. The ending -- I got yellow stains all over my jeans (haha!).

The day tour ended with a reinvigorating hiking at Khao Yai National Park. This park extends across four provinces: Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Ratchasima and Prachinburi. It was good to feel and inhale the fresh air coming from the mountains and forests which you will never experience in Bangkok! The steep way to the falls was the best part. We crossed a forest and a river and hiked-down to a viewing den just to get a closer view of the falls.

After such a refreshing day, the reality was that we needed to go back to Bangkok and get our lungs polluted once more (hehe).

The Sounds and Lights of Bangkok

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 08:45:00 +0000

The years have gone by so quickly! 2008 marks my 5th year of stay in Bangkok which is also the length of my employment outside the Philippines. I can still remember how exciting it was for me to work abroad. I gave up a flourishing career in the Philippine entertainment media just to try a different avenue that is to become an International civil servant.

The first 3 months of my stay in Bangkok was filled with pure observation of the city simply because Thailand has a completely different culture. I was very careful of my activities and interactions with people. The religion was not an issue for me. In fact it was a good opportunity to come closer and discover a different belief. The sophisticated architecture of temples, golden statues, spirit houses and early morning merit making for monks were my reminders that I am really in a different country.

While I still do not consider yet of staying longer in Bangkok, there are a few things which I will never forget should I decide to leave or be reassigned in the near future:

1. Thai Food - I must say that I am impressed with how the Thais prepare their food. It is basically everywhere. You step out of your place or Soi (small street in Thai), you'll surely find a mobile restaurant (Noodles in particular). My favorite Thai dishes which I always crave for if I am on vacation in Manila or whenever I travel are Som Tam (papaya salad), Pladook Foo (fried cattlefish with mango salad) and Tom Yam Goong (hot shrimp soup). The unique blend of sweet, sour and most importantly "hot or spicy" tastes of these dishes are always a craving for my taste buds. I eat a lot here and needless to say I gained 10kg since I stayed in Bangkok.

2. The Lumpini Park and Queens Park Emporium - My early Saturday morning habit is to jog or briskwalk in either of these two national parks. It is a lot of fun to exercise in Bangkok as you will never be alone. I got to meet a lot of people who are so engrossed about exercising and being healthy which I think is a good hobby. Unfortunately though, lately I do not go to these places that often since I started taking up my Masters.

3. Jatujak Market - This is a one-stop shopping place. It is a weekend market where you can find almost everything. From garments, house ornaments, sports gadgets to pets which include puppies, cats and birds. (hehe) I enjoy looking at the puppies being sold at a very cheap price. I even accompanied my visiting friends to purchase one.

4. Carrefour Rama IV - This is perhaps the biggest branch of Carrefour supermarket chain in Thailand and I would say that this is the most popular in Bangkok. I enjoy buying groceries from this shop since I get a free round-trip shuttle bus ride. A shopping so convenient!

There are quite a number of destinations in Bangkok since it is a huge busy city. However, you may not be able to visit them all in one day given the notorious traffic situation on the roads of Bangkok! This is an ultimate scene one can ever think about Bangkok. But once you got used to it then it becomes a fun all of a sudden and a part of your normal daily life in Bangkok. At night, the traffic jam becomes a nice scenery of lights as cars and other transportation queue up in a lane and form a pattern of lights and objects.

If you feel like partying in Bangkok, I would recommend the best hang-outs near my place (Ekamai Road) which includes "The Curve", "The Piano" and "Santika". As of writing, the most popular hang-out place both for teens and young professional Thais and foreigners like me is the Bed Supperclub located on Sukhumvit Soi 11. They have musical themes for each day. My most favorite is Thursday -- a night of 80's rock and disco music. Bed Supperclub is known for its unique design and concept. It is a restaurant at day time and a loud techno club at night.

If you are a shopping fan, Bangkok is a place for you! It offers both high-end and cheap but classy shopping experience. You can find cheap garments in Pratunam Market, Bobae Market, MBK Mall and Jatujak Market. You can also try Lumpini Night Market where you can find good Thai restaurants as well. High-end shoppers can enjoy discounts of signature items at Siam Paragon, Central, Central World, Zen, Gaysorn and Erawan. As for me, if I need to buy something special and expensive, I always prefer to shop at the Emporium. Shopping is not too busy and I think the merchants and items at Emporium are more organized compared to the other malls in Bangkok.

The above is just an overview about Bangkok. Just like any other places, you will get to discover more of it once you are actually in the place!

----------------------

Need assistance in planning your next travel to Bangkok? You may contact:

MABUHAY Travel Agency Bangkok

747/7 Bangkok-Nonthaburi Road 21/1

Bangsue, Bangkok 10800 Thailand

Tel.: +66-2-585-7873

Tel/Fax: +66-2-911-2098

Mobile: +6689-112-2098
or e-mail gracemabuhay@hotmail.com

The PHILIPPINES - It's more than the usual

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 07:04:00 +0000

It cannot be gainsaid that amidst political turmoil, the Philippine economy has continued to perform positively since 2005. The Economic and Social Survey 2008 published by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific reported that the GDP growth rate for the Philippines increased between 2006 and 2007 – from 5.4% to 7.0% which is a clear 2.4% increase. Thanks to continuously increasing volume of remittances from highly skilled overseas Filipino workers.

The United Nations Survey further stressed the following:

"On the upside, investment has rebounded dramatically in the Philippines: after declining 6.6% in 2005, it grew 1.4% in 2006 and 11.6% in 2007. The acceleration reflected a very strong investment in construction, especially public construction."

As a young Filipino who has great trust and optimism that the Philippines will regain its popularity and key position in the global arena, I must admit that I was moved by the findings presented in the United Nations Survey 2008. My hope that has long been shaken by the selfish and greedy acts by the highest political powers in the Philippines has once more been revived. Just like any Filipino citizen, I can be more patriotic and positive by doing my own little ways in promoting what others need to hear and discover about the Philippines.

The international news about the Philippines may cover more about the country's political instability and sadly only a little about its achievements in different areas such as sports, entertainment, arts and a lot more --- a mistake of a generalization about the Philippines from the international critic.

Recently, I have a lot of foreign friends who have surprisingly asked me where to go to in the Philippines for a short summer holiday stint. The fact that they are considering the Philippines as a holiday destination thrilled me that I even took time in preparing a suggested itinerary for them. A tour list in Manila, Boracay, Cebu, Vigan, Negros and more... I took time in picking the best destinations in the Philippines that a Filipino can be more than proud of. While I have already visited some of the key cities in the Philippines for work, I must admit that I have not yet been into some of the most-talked-about tourist spots in the Philippines (e.g. the diving sites in Negros and Palawan). Thanks to the powerful and boundless information on the Internet. Various pictures and video presentations are available which made me totally convinced that indeed, the Philippines is a haven of an undiscovered beauty and diversity. I have been travelling enough the world but I have not seen more of my own country.

The Philippines is indeed beautiful! It is more than the the honking and colorful jeepneys on the busy streets of Quiapo and Avenida, more than the classic and descriptive history that lies within the Walls of Intramuros, it is more than the white talcum powder-like sand of Boracay.

There is more for me to discover about the Philippines. There is more which the Philippines can offer you! Visit the Philippines -- It's more than the usual!

Introducing ßry™

noreply@blogger.com (ßry™) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:38:00 +0000

Welcome to my blog!

For my initial post, I thought that it might be more appropriate to introduce myself first. This blog is a journal of my personal experiences, insights and just anything about my travels which I find interesting and worth-sharing. I welcome all your comments and suggestions for all the articles that I will be publishing for my blog.

Now who is really this traveller writing for his blog/journal?

There's a lot for me to say who I am and I really don't know where to start. That's why I'd rather tell you some of the things in this world, life that I truly, deeply and utmostly like and hopefully you'll get a hint of my real personality... don't know how, but just give it a try!

I really don't talk much. But when I started to do so, my friends would not have a choice but listen, 'coz I won't stop then. (hehe) I am more fond of writing than reading. It goes without saying that I like to scribble my thoughts more than verbally expressing them.

I do love meeting people and making friends. Although, I have the tendency to become extremely selective. Once I get to know a person, he/she would feel my sincere appreciation of him/her. Oftentimes, people may not reciprocate the time and attention I offer, but I really don't mind since I've done my part and I don't expect anything in return.

As much as possible, I try not to fail in showing appreciation to others like giving praises and good comments especially if they truly deserve it. However, never could anyone force me to be nice with someone whom I really don't feel like talking to, especially those who are extremely UNSINCERE.. fakes out of my way please! My friends could count on my most sincere comments about everything including themselves. I have a tendency of becoming extremely bold about giving comments particularly constructive criticism just as much as I like my friends to criticize me if need be.

I will FOREVER love: number 22 (because it's my birthdate)... letters J B A (because these are the most common letters I've known since birth)... months of JULY, AUGUST, DECEMBER and my birthday month OCTOBER (because these are extremely memorable months to me)... my elementary, highschool, college, childhood and current FRIENDS (because they are highly instrumental of who I am now and who I was in the past)... and ofcourse meeting people who's got a lot of things to tell with sense (because new acquaintances are potential sources of learning and experiences in life).

i love my Family...

i Love God!

111 TO me, life is a gift from God. It is too short and unpredictable. There are things we might want that only us can make them happen.

222 Love is a gift we get from life. It flourishes when you share it with others or with someone special. It naturally dies when it is rejected and has to leave in its own timing. And when it leaves it may never come back. It comes in a special way that only sensible person can identify. And sometimes, love means letting go and setting someone free.

333 Success in career is just a bonus of all your hardworks. Money is just a tangible proof of your success. It fades easily especially if it was acquired in a wrong way.

444 Friends must be treasured. They MUST be chosen well not on the basis of their status in the society but on how they can help us make a difference in our lives. Friends mirror who we are as a person. It has never been easy to find real friends who could give more than what you can give as a friend. But ofcourse like any relationship, one has to be more understanding, more giving and more open-minded.

555 Of all the things said and done, handling all these is just too complicated. But with a great sense of responsibility, life becomes easy and dignified.