Unlike most of Indonesia, Bali is Hindu. There are temples and shrines all over the island and giant statues swathed in black and white checkered cloth.

I was frankly unimpressed by Kuta and Legian beach, but I was overwhelmed when I came to Ubud. Ubud is just too pretty. I get now why people keep on raving about Ubud. This is one beautiful reason to come back to Bali.

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I was glad I did because Zuky was a great host. She’s very conscientious, always making sure that I’m alright. She even let me have her room while she sleeps in her flatmate’s room. She would text me every so often to check that I’m not lost, and she would quickly reply to my questions about how to go from one place to another.

Another great thing about staying with her is that I get to take public transportation, which I really wouldn’t have done if I was on my own. Since I arrived, I’ve ridden the X-trans, the angkot, the bus, the taxi, the ojek, the busway and even the train! Zuky really made this trip back to Jakarta memorable.

Jakarta, on the other hand, seemed the same, yet I know it’s very different now. Of course, I’m seeing it now from a different perspective; when I first visited Jakarta, I was only 14 and it was my first trip outside the Philippines. It’s also different when you’re traveling on your own, without an expat sister who drops you off at the hotel lobby to take a tour of the city and outlying towns, or without a car and driver at your disposal. Ah, I miss those times.

My reason for going back here (Jogja was actually already halfway to Bali) was to see the city again. Now that I’ve seen it… well, I’ve seen it. It wasn’t the city that made me enjoyed my stay here, it was the people I’ve me. Zuky made me feel so welcome, her house really seemed like my home. There was Aldy, the puppeteer at the Wayang Museum, who gave me a better appreciation of the wayang kulit and wayang golek. Then there were the strangers in the bus and trains who helped me find my stop, even if they speak limited English. I’m leaving Jakarta with fond memories of its people.

Originally published at Justwandering.org

If you’ve been following JustWandering’s Facebook page or Twitter account, you’d already know that I’m currently in Indonesia. I arrived in the country last Sunday from Singapore, and late this afternoon, I’m flying to the capital, Jakarta.

Jogjakata, as it’s also known, is home to Borubudur, a Buddhist temple and Prambanan, a Hindu temple. Both are UNESCO world heritage sites. It’s interesting to have these two huge temples in a country that’s now predominantly Muslim.

I haven’t explored the city proper, but I’m liking how laid back the vibe is. I can see myself going back, if I’m in need for another break.

Copyright 2006-2010 Nina Fuentes | Justwandering.org

Today I made two new discoveries: great Thai food along Bencoolen Street that would not burn a hole in your pocket and oh so yummy xiao long bao from Din Tai Fung.

Of course, a trip to Singapore means reconnecting with family and friends. As more and more Pinoys come here to work, a weekend would not be enough to meet up with all friends, former co-workers and classmates who are now based here. Luckily, I was able to meet up with Mr. Whattaworld and Ms Ahrvederyet before they fly off to Europe, and Kaoko and friends who are also here for the weekend.

I’ll be country hopping again in 11 hours, flying to a country that I haven’t visited since 1995. And I’m totally unprepared. This is going to be fun.

Summit Ridge

Situated on Kilometer 58 along the National Highway, the hotel is on the other side of the ridge — the side of the road opposite where the prime view of Taal was. Summit Ridge compensates for this with height: it’s built elevated from the road and rises up to 9 storeys high. The view down the lake is obstructed by the trees across the street on the 4th floor, but it should be clear from the higher level. Each room faces the lake and have a balcony, so even if you can’t see the volcano, you can still enjoy the fresh Tagaytay air. The window actually open in the room, so you can opt to let the mountain air cool the room instead of the air conditioner.

Summit Ridge lobby

Guests with cars can park their vehicle at the hotel’s outdoor parking, or they can opt to park it in the basement, sheltered from the elements. Walking into the lobby, we were warmly greeted by the hotel staff. The lobby was spacious and airy — like all the common areas within the hotel, there was no air conditioning. This allows the guests to enjoy the chill weather visitors flock to Tagaytay for.

View from the 4th floor room balcony. Gigantor and very obtrusive watermark not included.

I was given a gift certificate for a Twin Classic Room, which was good for 2 or even up to a family of 5. Aside from the standard closet with personal safe, personal fridge, twin beds, phone, desk and TV, we were thrilled to see a sofa that can seat 3 (with plenty of pillows!) and I, personally, was elated to see two fluffy pillows on the beds. Being an Internet addict, I was quite pleased to see a wireless router underneath the desk. This ensures that I get a strong wi-fi signal at any point of the room.

Comfy beds and fluffy pillows

The ensuite toilet and bath was roomy: there was enough space for two people puttering inside at the same time. There was no tub, but this means there’s a roomy shower stall (plus, you don’t have to clamber into the tub whenever you have to shower — I hate that!) The shower was the rainfall kind, which was directly overhead. If prefer the handheld shower head, fret not, because they have that too!

Pardon the mess. View from the beds with the TV, personal fridge, sofa, desk and wi-fi router

We rested after our day spent driving from Manila to both ends of Tagaytay. While Sunshine slept, I was torn between checking Facebook and channel surfing on the 32-inch LCD TV. As I told Shine, it’s only when I travel that I get to watch regular TV. It doesn’t help that there’s more than 30 channels to choose from, including Discovery Channel, History Channel, National Geographic and Discovery Travel & Living.

Annie’s breakfast buffet

The following day, we went down to Annie’s, Summit Ridge’s in-house restaurant. It’s run by the same people running Classic Cuisine or C2. The restaurant looked like your typical hotel restaurant, but there was one aspect of this restaurant that I’m sure has endeared a lot of guests: flannel blankets. There were colorful blankets draped over the seats for guests to use in case it gets too chilly inside the restaurant. There was something different in how they do breakfast here too. One might be terribly disappointed to see only breads, fruits, jams, flavored buttered, fruits, cereals, juices, coffee and tea in the buffet. But that disappointment will melt away once the server presents you the plated buffet menu. You are given a choice between American, Continental and Filipino breakfast plates, and you can order as much as you want, and can even modify the contents of each plate. The reason why it’s plated is to ensure the quality of the food; each plate is prepared and cooked individually as ordered. The Visayan choice of the Filipino breakfast was a hit with its beef tapa, fried dilis and danggit, eggs, ensalada and rice, while the West Coast Platter of the American breakfast was also very much appreciated.

Summit Ridge’s swimming pool

After breakfast, we checked out the hotel’s outdoor facilities. There was a garden, which might be used for outdoor functions, and a swimming pool, which might be a great way to cool off in the summer. Right beside the hotel is the Promenade, which is a small shopping complex with restaurants, cafés, fastfood, supermarket, hardware, money changers and even a CD-R King. This is very convenient for guests without cars, since it can be pretty hard to go around Tagaytay without your own car.

The Promenade, Tagaytay

It was then that I realized there is merit in staying in Tagaytay for the weekend: without the need to beat the SLEX traffic, you can take your time to savor the sights, the food and the company of good friends.

Thank you Summit Ridge and Robinson’s Land for the gift certificate! For Summit Ridge rates and promos, visit their website at www.summitridgehotel.com.

Summit Ridge
Km. 58 Maharlika West
General Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City
Telephone: +632 240-6888
Mobile: +63922 852-6800
E-mail: reservations@summitridgehotel.com
Website: www.summitridgehotel.com

Originally published at Justwandering.org | Subscribe via your favorite RSS reader.

Kape de Mutit from Kalinga Brew

So what makes Café Alamid so special? “It starts off with the alamids picking the ripest and finest berries to eat, by smell. The animals stuff themselves with it and excrete them all in the morning as the beans cannot be digested.”

It is in their digestive tract that miracles happen. “The stomach acids and enzymes affect the chemical structure of the beans.

Source: Inquirer.net

I didn’t know where I can buy this strange brew, so I ventured out to Kultura to check if they have it. They don’t have Cafe Alamid, but they do stock Kape de Mutit. It’s the same civet-harvested coffee, but this one was harvested from the Kalinga and Ifugao provinces. Aside from the word “civet,” I knew this is the same coffee because of the price tag: Php 499.75 for a mere 70 grams, whereas the other coffee are selling for only Php 99.75.

The coffee is branded as Philippine Coffees (fair trade coffee), which comes from small farms around the country. The inscription on the side of the box reads, “they benefit micro entrepreneurs engaged in natural coffee farming practices and are paid fairly to ensure their sustainability.” I don’t know where else in Metro Manila you can buy this coffee, but I’ve seen a couple online stores selling them for the astonishing price of $50 for 100 grams.

On the gift front, I found these cute shirts for kids and palengkera bag at Bench. I love how Pinoy-pride themed items are now in vogue. Gone were the days of tacky souvenirs — now you can get these awesomely designed stuff in most local boutiques, not just the Filipiniana stores.

Pinoy themed shirts from Bench

The shirts are from Bench’s Pinoy Lab line, which features apparel for kids, tweens and adults. The straw bag was designed by Rey Anthony Villanueva for the Adobo Design Competition. So cute no? The bag was priced at Php 279.00, while the shirts were around Php 300.

Copyright 2006-2010 Nina Fuentes | Justwandering.org

My travel haul from Robinsons Galleria

Saizen is what you would call a hyakuen shop. It’s the local franchise of the Japanese Daiso chain, and the perfect example of where you can find great travel paraphernalia.

Hyakuen shops are Japanese discount dry goods stores that sell everything from kitchenwares and household goods to stationery and gifts, all at one price: 100 yen (hence the name, hyakuen).

Source: Magnetic-rose.net

You can find a whole range of items inside the store, including things for your trips. Here are my Saizen finds:

Inflatable pillow, compressed washcloth, compressing bag and plastic zipper bag

There’s an inflatable pillow, which is great for those long bus rides or when you’re sleeping underneath the stars; compressed washcloth, which inflates when you take it out of the packaging; compressing bag, which lets you fit everything in your backpack or luggage easily (no vacuum? Just roll it or sit on it!), and; plastic zipper bag, which comes in the regulation size for your toiletries. Everything is priced at Php 85 in Saizen. This travel haul costs a total of Php 340.

My other travel find was upon Kaoko‘s recommendation. As we were about to check in for our flight back to Manila from Macau, she whipped out this luggage scale. I’ve seen this kind of luggage scale before, so I thought it was nothing special. That is, until she hooked her bag into it and weighed her luggage. It works the same way as similar luggage scales, but what’s great about this scale is that it has a marker, so you won’t have to twist yourself into an awkward position just to see the weight of your bag. As an added bonus, the scale also comes with a tape measure that can measure up to 1 meter so you can check if your luggage meets the cabin requirements. The scale is lightweight, so while it takes up space in your bag, it doesn’t drastically add to its weight.

Travelon Luggage Scale from Handyman

The Travelon Luggage Scale is priced at Php 499 at Handyman. With the 20% discount the store is offering, the price has been marked down to Php 399.

Saizen has branches in Robinson’s Galleria (Ortigas), Alimall (Cubao), Marquee Mall (Pampanga) and Trinoma (North EDSA). Handyman has branches all over the Philippines.

August is the month for great sales and bargains at all Robinsons Mall nationwide! Enjoy amazing discounts on premium international and local brands. Choose from a wide array of apparel, shoes, bags and accessories; from fashion items to electronics, from toys to gadgets and many, many more. Stay updated with sales, promos and events by liking the Robinsons Malls’ page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RobinsonsMalls

Thanks to Saizen for the invite to their Trinoma Branch last July 30 and to Robinsons Mall Galleria for the invite last August 1.

Originally published at Justwandering.org | Subscribe via your favorite RSS reader.

View from the People’s Park in the Sky

Not that I need much reason to go back — I’ve gone with friends up to Tagaytay on a whim and would go in a heartbeat. The place is overly commercialized and very touristy, but it’s only 2 hours from Manila (1.5 hours on a good day) and you get that much needed change in scenery (not to mention the cool mountain air).

My friend Sunshine has been to Tagaytay before, but she haven’t had the chance to check out a lot of places. I took this chance to take her to some of my favorite places in Tagaytay. First stop in the trip was the People’s Park in the Sky. I’ve only been here once before, and I was looking forward to going back and exploring more.

The park was formerly known as the Palace in the Sky, an unfinished palace of former President Ferdinand Marcos, which was supposed to serve as a guest house for former US President Ronald Reagan during a state visit. Unfortunately, Reagan didn’t come, and Marcos fell out of power and the palace is now just a shell of its former glory. The palace is empty, save for shops selling all sorts of souvenirs, and the grounds were littered with tourists, cats and livestock. It’s the view that makes people come back, not the palace. Built atop Mt. Sungay, it’s the highest point in Tagaytay and offers stunning 360° views of the plains, lakes and mountains that surround Tagaytay.

What’s in Just Wandering’s future? Passing the time at Bag of Beans with some Tarot readings

From there we proceeded westwards, passing Mendez crossing for an early lunch at the Bag of Beans. This has been an instant hit with me, and I try to go everytime I find myself in Tagaytay. Known for their English pies, the Bag of Bean has a full menu from breakfast specials to hearty entrees. They also have rich desserts that tickle the tastebuds and coffee-based concoctions featuring the locally produced Barako beans. What makes the place endearing though, is not just the food, but also its relaxing ambiance. Set in a makeshift garden, Bag of Beans was able to create an atmosphere that can melt the stress away. Once inside, you won’t even notice that it’s right beside the busy National Highway. The dining area is mostly al fresco, but they have recently expanded to offer more covered dining areas if you don’t want to be too close with nature.

We would have stayed there all afternoon, if we weren’t too conscious of the time. From Bag of Beans, we continued driving towards Nasugbu for Paradizoo. I realize now that we ended up at Residence Inn’s mini zoo rather than the Paradizoo Theme Farm. On the way up to Tagaytay, I remembered this place a friend of mine went to before where she and her nieces fed bunnies. I Googled it, and found out that it was at Paradizoo. There was a map in the site I found, but I wasn’t able to save it on my phone. So as we were leaving Bag of Beans, I asked for directions. The boy who was selling souvenirs told me that it was just down the road, on the left side. I was puzzled by this, because I remember the directions in the map said to turn right at some point. After about 2 kilometers, we saw it on the left side, as the boy said. It bears the same name, rather, the same domain name. Is it a mini version of the farm or is it just a total rip off?

Sometimes you just have to do the touristy stuff.

The entrance fee was only Php 100 for adults. Just inside the entrance were two cages: one for a tiger cub and one for a lion cub. Like all touristy places, you get a chance to have your picture taken with the big cats while feeding them. It’s Php50 for the bottle feeding, Php 199 for the photo if you want to buy it. The great thing about them is that you’re allowed to take photos on your personal camera. The cubs know the routine already, and they will circle you as soon as they’re out of the cage before settling on your lap for the feeding. After the cats, we went through the house where the reptiles are. I pretty much breezed through, not entirely comfortable with snakes and lizards, and emerged outside overlooking the lake.

Zip lines have been a big hit in the Philippines and you’ll be sure to see one in many destinations around the country. Residence Inn has a small zip line and cable car system that takes you from one end of the property to the other. There were shops, kiosks and a restaurant outside, as well as several more cages of animals. Bunnies, birds, monkeys, big cats, goats, miniature horses and even a llama can be found in the property, and you can feed them with fruits or veggies that you can buy for Php 20 a bag. Overall, the experience was okay, but nothing spectacular. Or maybe I’m just too old for it already.

Zipline at the Residence Inn

Being night owls neither one of us slept earlier than 5am. By 4am, both our batteries were running low. We headed back towards Tagaytay’s center to check in at Summit Ridge. In Tagaytay, it’s the accommodation that are facing the lake that gets the most attention. If you’re on the other side of the road, you’d have to come up with something special to entice people. Summit Ridge compensates for this by building a high rise (not too high though, only 10 floors high), and having all rooms face the gorgeous lake. The views were partially blocked by the foliage, but overall, it’s still a pretty sight to see.

We rested and napped, and by 8pm, we were out again for dinner. We explored the shopping center right beside the hotel, but ended up driving elsewhere for the Tagaytay must-eat: bulalo. We went to Leslie’s. Because it was a Sunday night and after the dinner rush, the restaurant was almost empty. We shared a bowl of their original bulalo, and savored the warm broth and tender beef that is perfect for the city’s cool weather. After dinner, we hopped next door for tea and dessert. As we were digging into our cake, the fog rolled in. It was fascinating to see it coming towards us, and seeing our surroundings get hazy. It was a different story on the drive back — visibility dropped dramatically, and Sunshine had to drive with the hazards on. Lucky for us the Summit Ridge was distinctly different, else we’d have driven past it without noticing. The fog lights on the corners of the building helped out make out its shape in the thick fog.

Bulalo: perfect for the chilly Tagaytay evenings

The weekend was for relaxation, so after a full night’s sleep, we took it slow and just spent the morning at the hotel. Breakfast was included with the room, so we headed down to Annie’s, Summit Ridge’s in house restaurant. It was a buffet breakfast, but only the breads, fruits, cereal and beverages were spread out. Turns out they have a plated buffet, wherein you’d have to order a breakfast set from the menu, but you can order for as many plates as you want (but not in one go). This is done so that your food will come out hot and fresh from the kitchen.

Afterwards we walked around the property, mainly to check out the swimming pool. The pool looks inviting, but since it wasn’t heated and the temperature was still pretty low, we just took pictures and walked towards the Promenade. The Promenade is a small commercial complex with shops and restaurant. There’s also a supermarket, ATMs, forex, and salons. There’s even a small bazaar selling local goods from various parts of Cavite. We ended up buying souvenirs, household and personal items, even some plants for the garden. After stowing our shopping in the car, we headed back up to our room to pack up and check out.

Healthy veggie chips from Cavite

We were taking the Aguinaldo Highway back to Manila, but we drove past it to buy pastries to take back to Manila. Loumar’s is another Tagaytay favorite of mine, and like the Bag of Beans, I make sure to drop by the shop every time I’m in Tagaytay. There was no need to check what’s on offer, I already know what to buy: one box of buko tarts, one box of apple tarts. Loumar’s have expanded their products to include English pies (sadly out of stock), and mini cheesecake to keep up with the competition.

Save for the Paradizoo stop, there wasn’t any real rush for us to go anywhere that weekend. I guess that’s the beauty of staying overnight in Tagaytay. While Tagaytay can easily be done in a day, staying for the weekend gives you more time to relax and enjoy the environment. Definitely doing this again!

Originally published at Justwandering.org | Subscribe via your favorite RSS reader.

Seair’s 19-seater Let-410

Eight lucky bloggers will be chosen to join an all-expense paid bloggers’ tour of Boracay from September 10 to 12, 2010. The contest is pretty simple: just blog why you should be chosen to join the tour. Easy peasy, right?

Now go write that blog entry! Bear in mind that the contest ends on August 20, 2010, and for your entry to count, you must post a link on Seair’s Facebook Page (you have to Like it first before you can post!)

For more details, here’s the entire contest mechanics:
1. South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) and Microtel Inns & Suites will be choosing eight lucky bloggers to join an all-expense paid bloggers’ tour of Boracay from September 10 to 12, 2010. This includes round-trip tickets from Manila to Caticlan and accommodation at Microtel Boracay.

2. To be selected, you will have to write a blog entry telling us why you should be chosen to join the tour. Each blog entry must have a link to the SEAIR website , the SEAIR Facebook Fan Page , and the Microtel Philippines website .

3. You can publish your entry from 12:00 a.m. of July 26, 2010 to 11:59 p.m. of August 20, 2010. Only one entry per blog will count.

4. To let us know about your blog entry, post it as a link in the SEAIR Facebook Fan Page . It has to be posted from 12:00 a.m. of July 26, 2010 to 11:59 p.m. of August 20, 2010. Once it is acknowledged by our administrator, your entry is counted.

5. Three winners will be selected by a panel of judges based on which is the most compelling. The top three entries with the highest scores from the judges will be invited to the tour.

6. Three winners will be selected by fans based on the number of “likes” to the link. The three entries with the most number of “likes” by 11:59 p.m. of August 25, 2010 will be invited to the tour.

7. One winner will the selected by the SEAIR Adventure Club. The entry with the most number of votes from our resident travel bloggers will be invited to the tour.

8. One winner will be selected at random in a manner to be determined by the organizers.

9. We will notify the eight (8) winners on August 27, 2010. In case any of the winners cannot make it, we will invite the one next in line.

10. The decision of the organizers in final. Good luck to everyone!

Originally published at Justwandering.org

Morning traffic in Ho Chi Minh city

She was standing on the curb, about to ride her scooter, when she called out to me in English. “I saw you on the other street,” she said. “You’re in the wrong part of town. Did you just arrive in Hoi An?” I was never the type to start a conversation when I travel, so to have someone engage me in conversation can be a treat, specially after traveling solo for a couple of days. I was just to ecstatic to be talking to somebody that even when the word “tailoring shop” was thrown into the conversation, I shrugged it off, and instead hopped into the back of the scooter when she offered to take me to the Central Market, where her shop was.

As we were riding through town, I recalled a similar ride in Ko Phangan, Thailand. The lady at the travel agent offered to take me with her when she went to eat lunch. I don’t know how to ride a bike and that was my first time to ride a motorcycle. She took me to this place where the locals eat, and though I can’t remember what we had, I remembered I was so grateful for her generosity and hospitality.

This encounter was different though. My new friend’s charming demeanor slowly melted when we got to the market. She was getting a bit impatient while I was eating my late lunch at her friend’s stall, and when we got to her sister’s shop, it has completely vanished. She wasn’t rude, you just can’t help but feel so used, specially since after going through the tailor’s catalogs and materials, she was pushing me to her friend who makes custom shoes, and even to an old lady who was doing mani & pedi.

I had another similar encounter in Hue, but not as bad as that encounter in Hoi An. I was making my way to the Citadel, and came upon this bridge. There was a no entry sign and most of the traffic were going in the opposite direction. I stop to ask a shopkeeper if I can go through this bridge and she said yes. Before I can leave she invites me to sit down under the tree for some drinks. The sun was pretty high up, so I figured I’d take her up on her offer and wait until it’s a little cooler before proceeding. Like the lady in Hoi An, she was very curt when I paid for my drink.

As I recounted these encounters to Carlo, a reader who’s been to Vietnam before, he describes the Vietnamese as very enterprising. I, on the other hand, would describe them as very good sales people who lack after sales service. But this is not to say that the Vietnamese are just after your money nor do they fail in customer service. I had more positive encounters in Vietnam, except that it’s the negative experiences that you remember sometimes.

On my first day in HCMC, the guesthouse staff gave me a dragon fruit, mainly because they have some (their standard breakfast is a baguette and a banana, so this is a treat). She even opened it for me, because I was just staring at the fruit, figuring out how to eat it. The guesthouse staff in Hanoi were also very nice. They were all so attentive, specially Ms. Chau who was treat everyone like they’re a part of her own family.

Of course, there might be some biases there, since these were service people. Luckily, I got to chat with some Vietnamese who weren’t in the payroll of any hostels I’ve stayed in or were in any way getting money from me, and they were genuinely nice. There was the couple who was in the same tour as I was in Hue. They were on a holiday, and we were soon chatting about nice places to see around Vietnam as we sit along the banks of the Perfume river. There was also the Vietnamese family who shared their baon (packed lunch) with me and another foreigner during our lunch on board the boat.

The most memorable though was the businessman who was on the same overnight bus to Hanoi. We were waiting at the bus company’s office in Hue and as soon as a bus rolled to the curb, the people at the office swarmed towards it. As the staff inside the office were suddenly busy, I asked him if this was the bus to Hanoi. He said yes, but we would be getting on the second bus. The bus had some empty seats, so the staff told some of us remaining passengers that we can hop on board.

After two hours of mad honking and swerving, the bus pulled up to a small restaurant. As the local passengers took seats, I spot the businessman and asked if this stop was for dinner. He said yes, and as the restaurant was filling up, I asked if I can share the table. There the usual small chit-chat, but the dinner progressed in comfortable silence. I realize there’s really nothing noteworthy with this particular encounter, but it just shows that even when the Vietnamese can be very aggressive when they’re trying to sell you something, you don’t have to be wary all the time when you’re in the country because there are those who will show you kindness and flash a genuine smile.

This is my entry for the Blogsherpa Blog Carnival. This round, Encounters, is hosted by Camden Luxeford of The Brink of Something Else. The Blogsherpa is a project of Lonely Planet that displays bloggers posts about destinations or interests on lonelyplanet.com. Read the other entries here.

I like pie. Do you like pie? | This brain fart is brought to you by Justwandering.org

Heritage Hotel’s Hainanese Chicken Rice

After lunch, it was down to business. Lynette of the STB gave a short presentation about Singapore. Not much words needed to be said about the island state — all of us know that there’s so much to do in such small territory. There are activities and attractions for all types of travelers and all types of budget, so you can be sure that there’s something that’s distinctly YOU in Singapore. That’s why the Singapore Tourism Board has launched a new website: yoursingapore.com. The site showcases Singapore’s top rating events, cultural festivals, and of course, favorite tourist attractions. One nifty feature of the site is that it lets you organize your trip from home so you can make the most out of your trip to Singapore.

Lee of Contact Singapore talked to us about working in SG. As the years pass, more and more Filipinos are finding themselves in Singapore. Some are there for work, some are there as tourists, while some are there as tourists looking for work. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced last week that there’s as much as 100,000 jobs for foreign workers — an announcement I’m sure was met with much cheering from Filipinos who are looking for opportunities to work overseas.

Lee of Contact Singapore answering a question with Aileen listening with rapt attention in the background and Jay staring intently at something on the table

Lee explains that in Singapore they value skills and performance. If you can do your job and do it well, you are rewarded, regardless of race, gender or age. He also shared stories of Filipinos who are working in Singapore, like this OFW who works in Singapore from Monday to Friday, and spends weekends in Manila, thanks to the proximity of the two countries and cheap airfare.

He also shared that for Filipinos who are interested in looking for a job in Singapore might want to apply for an Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate or EPEC. This is basically a pass that lets you stay in Singapore for a year while you’re sending out applications and attending interviews. Though this is a much more convenient option to going on a visa run to Malaysia or Indonesia every 30 days, you *do* need to apply for the certification beforehand and you have to be qualified and present the required documents. Applications can be lodged online and is free of charge.

Thinking about working in Singapore? Visit the Contact Singapore website to learn more about opportunities in SG.

Originally published at Justwandering.org

Gloating aside, this year’s travel mart will be held on September 3-5 at the Mega Trade Hall of the SM Megamall in Ortigas.

“In line with the new administration’s vision for a better Philippines, we are constantly finding ways to promote Philippine tourism,” said Cesar Cruz, PHILTOA president. “The 21st Philippine Travel Mart is the perfect venue for Filipinos to be aware of endless tourist attractions and destinations the country has to offer.”

The Philippine Travel Mart will feature booths of different tour operators, regions & provinces and various tourism sectors, offering travel packages to fit the Filipino traveler’s budget.

For complete list of exhibitors and other information about the travel mart, visit their website at www.philtravelmart.com.

Copyright 2006-2010 Nina Fuentes | Justwandering.org

Vietnam was pretty cheap. Dining at the restaurants can set you back around Php 300, while dining in the streets or markets can go as low as Php 40. Accommodation is also relatively inexpensive. My rooms range from $15 to $18, all with air conditioning and a fan, with ensuite toilet & bath, cable TV, a closet and even a small fridge. While the xe om is the most popular way to getting around town, I prefer to hop on a cab. The taxis in Vietnam are well kept with good air conditioning. Meter starts at VND 9,000 for the small cars, VND 10,000 for the sedans and VND 12,000 for the vans (depends on the company). Be careful about the taxis though; there are rogue taxis that use a very fast meter! They use the same name as the big cab companies, only changing one letter and using almost identical hotline numbers.

Krabi, on the otherhand, is pretty expensive (as expected). However, in the midst of the Thai and Italian restaurants, there are small street stalls selling noodles and rice. I stayed in Ao Nang beach, and it’s small enough to walk around. You can take the tuktuk around town, but to go beyond, you’d either have to ride the government songtheow (with routes to Krabi and other places) or hire a taxi (taxis in Krabi are Toyota Fortuner. Sosyal!)

Bangkok and Kuala lumpur are only in the itinerary for transit and shopping.

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Chyng deliberately disqualified herself by saying outright that she wouldn’t take her guests around Manila, while Cornelio started with Manila, yet ventured out of town and had his itinerary spread for more than a day. I intentionally limited the itinerary to one day and only within Metro Manila. Why? Because most of those who travel to Manila only transit here — they fly in only because Manila is the main international hub and they use it as the jump off point to exploring places outside Manila.

Father Blanco’s garden circa 2006

Allan Reyes said he’d take his guests to Tondo so that they will see the real Manila, and erica yu-b said she’ll take them for a peek at Smokey Mountain so that her guests would help make the Philippines a better place. I understand what you guys are coming from, but let’s face it — those squatters is what the world already have in mind when they think about Manila. That is what’s often depicted in the media. I believe it’s every Filipino’s responsibility to make the Philippines a better place, not our guest’s.

I want our guests to see a different Manila. I want them to see beyond the chaos and see the beauty underneath grime. Yes, Manila is dirty and disorganized. But when you look hard enough and embrace all its imperfections, you’ll come to appreciate its unique charm.

Rizal Monument at the Luneta park

Most entries focused just on Manila. Intramuros, Luneta, Binondo, Divisoria and Quiapo are favorites haunts. Didi Paterno and Lily Ang were very specific about where they’ll take their guests to eat (and gave me a list of new places to try). Jesy A., cherry and feliz v agreed that the best way to cap off a Manila tour is to watch the sunset and unwind at MOA. Jo Tan goes the extra mile by taking his guests to Corregidor, while Nico Quejano got me curious about this Sto. Niño de Titi that can be found in Quiapo. Kris Ariza has both the Manila Ocean Park and Manila Zoo in her itinerary, as do KC Binay.

Mav, on the otherhand said she’ll show her guests what Broadway theater is like in Manila, though she never specified where. Jam puts some quirk into his/her itinerary, shouting “TAHO” and “PUTO” as soon as they leave the house. Or did he/she meant to say they’d buy taho and puto? April will be taking her guests to Luneta, as she sees that it is “reeking of history, Pinoy culture and the true face of reality what with the nearby squatter area.”

The Pasig River ferry at the Escolta station

There were those who looked beyond Manila; I did say Metro Manila afterall. Both Juned and Dante thinks one of the must do’s is to ride the Pasig River Ferry to Intramuros. Tina took her guests on both ends of the spectrum: shopping in Bangkal, Makati then moving on to Cubao X in Quezon City. Wheatcliff takes his guest all around the metro, from Manila to Quezon City to Makati, while quiam just focused on QC and Marikina.

Of all the entries, the one I like most is Rolly Nunez‘s that beautifully captures the totally of the Filipino culture:

A foreigner seeks for the culture, food, history and hospitality of the Filipino people. As a teaser, we will ride the cab or taxi down to Intramuros. I’ll treat him to the lokal “turo-turo” offering one day old, the famous “kwek-kwek,” and some dumpling experience for a small break. The walled city hp the best destination for them to introduce the richness of our values. It explains the artistry, talent, bravery, social apt, and among others. We will ride the “kalesa” or the more humane way instead of pallanquin. Like Magellan, we will circumnavigate the vicinity and let him enjoy the area while giving insights of the spots.

Next is the shrine of Dr. Jose Rizal or the Luneta Park. I’ll bring my old paper money and several coins which portrays our National Hero. And I’ll tell him some of his contributions for our independence. He is my idol and role model, for the love of our country after God. A small meal from the local “Mang Inasal,” the most famous marinated chicken. I’ll also explain how to eat it using hands and dipping it to “toyo-mansi”.

The next pit stop is the EDSA Shrine. We will ride the MRT from Taft to Ortigas. Displaying the unity of the people for the past decades. The shrine itself, the Ortigas Ilalim route of bus and the People Power Monument for the few to be proud of. A small snack from the “Mamang Sorbetero” will be special. A bun filled with ice cream is very excellent after walking a half kilometer long journey.

Then, we will use the mass transport system of bus from Ortigas to Cubao. A stroll from AliMALL will shaken up the hot senses from the sun.

After that, we will ride the jeepney routing Cubao and Montalban. “Patok” jeepney is the name of those who have loud music, colorful interiors, overspeeding and very fast jeepney. I’ll explain to him that it serve us by transporting merchant and goods from provinces to rural or urban areas and now, even passengers. We will alight at the Shoe Capital of the Philippines, Marikina. For me, it is our symbol of cleanliness and development. The Marikina River is a great facade for a small talk. And I’ll bring him to our house to accommodate and take care of him. Rest assured, he’ll enjoy the hospitality of us.

Congrats Rolly! I hope you enjoy the Imelda tour as much as I did

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