tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19717881678159410602012-02-16T16:25:14.890+08:00Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.comBlogger821100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-57925866522515393862011-12-13T08:00:00.000+08:002011-12-16T11:44:48.650+08:00 <div style="text-align: center;"><embed allowscriptaccess="never" src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf" flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F581998745iCsfAH%3Finline%3Dtrue&inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D581998745%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fhome-and-garden.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F581998745iCsfAH&postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fhome-and-garden.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F581998745iCsfAH&audio=on&audioVolume=33&autoPlay=false&transitionSpeed=5&startIndex=0&panzoom=on&deployed=true" menu="false" quality="best" width="425" height="384" name="WebshotsSlideshowPlayer" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" wmode="opaque" loop="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer"></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/581998745iCsfAH">SM Mall of Asia Christmas Decors</a> </div><div><br></div><div>Passed by the SM Mall of Asia yesterday and today. Took pictures of their Christmas decors. Their cutest prop this year? - the "snow globe" with fake falling snow: people can go inside to have their pictures taken. I say it is cooler to get inside it then have your picture taken from outside. That way it looks like you got stuck inside a toy. </div> <!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-5792586652251539386?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-14638017445648732292011-02-13T06:00:00.000+08:002011-11-01T19:40:10.782+08:00 Feb. 12, 2011: Jean, Jon and I took a bus early in the morning to Clarkfield Pampanga for the 16th Phil. Hot Air Balloon Fest.<div><br></div><div>For the Facebook album, click: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1891678291241.111500.1220026971&type=1&l=a3b696da9c">THIS LINK</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="insertedphoto"><a href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/1M/2131"><img border="0" class="alignmiddleb" src="//multiply.com/mu/jingfrey/image/IksL328IH1+UriQ8OQF-aQ/photos/1M/300x300/2131/2011-0212-people-03.jpg?et=G5%2CVqGrwfILkTztGxaDLxQ&nmid=0"></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Videos:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iTr2N1VW4z0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5m3bR_otIPo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> <!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-1463801744564873229?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-58205968109928895292010-08-05T03:06:00.000+08:002010-08-14T02:18:10.091+08:00My P1i's touchscreen isn't working well anymore that I usually have to resort to using keyboard shortcuts. Not sure if I could have it repaired since I bought it more than 2 years ago, and if it could be repaired cheaply there is a chance I have to leave it with the service center .... so I decided to buy another phone.<div><br></div><div>Since it was important that my phone has wifi, I bought myself a Samsung and ended up ironically, with another touchscreen phone. Since I'm so used to the qwerty keypad, I now have to relearn typing texts using the usual cellphone keypad.</div><center><img src="http://a.imageshack.us/img641/2377/2010080501.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"><br>By <a target="_new" href="http://profile.imageshack.us/user/jingfrey73">jingfrey73</a> at 2010-08-13</center><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-5820596810992889529?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-70294057303397243102010-04-25T19:21:00.000+08:002011-11-01T21:45:37.128+08:00 April 23-25, 2010: Boracay<div><br></div><div>Facebook Album 1: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1573602499545.74528.1220026971&type=1&l=7256a13c04">CLICK THIS</a>.</div><div><span class="insertedphoto"><a href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/1M/2140"><img border="0" class="alignmiddleb" src="//multiply.com/mu/jingfrey/image/DJbuL3h05v2zKkvGmGUrMA/photos/1M/300x300/2140/Boracay-2010-0424-56.jpg?et=r%2Bftd7LeEZFVUgNMTuP6%2BQ&nmid=0"></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Facebook Album 2: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1573616979907.74530.1220026971&type=1&l=bb34803ece">CLICK THIS</a>.</div><div><span class="insertedphoto"><a href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/1M/2141"><img border="0" class="alignmiddleb" src="//multiply.com/mu/jingfrey/image/tm74hnTdG4d0vPwNTVkyNg/photos/1M/300x300/2141/Boracay-2010-0424-71.jpg?et=4WflakWIJciOhxSvzaCvOA&nmid=0"></a></span></div><div><br></div><div>Webshots Album. If you can't see the slideshow, <a href="http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/578302172IGnGIy">CLICK THIS</a>.</div><div><br></div><embed allowscriptaccess="never" src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf" flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F578302172IGnGIy%3Finline%3Dtrue&inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D578302172%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Ftravel.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F578302172IGnGIy&postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ftravel.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F578302172IGnGIy&audio=on&audioVolume=33&autoPlay=false&transitionSpeed=5&startIndex=0&panzoom=on&deployed=true" menu="false" quality="best" width="425" height="384" name="WebshotsSlideshowPlayer" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" wmode="opaque" loop="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer"><br><br><a href="http://travel.webshots.com/album/578302172IGnGIy">Shangri-la Boracay</a> <!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-7029405730339724310?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-45674265597774932462010-04-04T19:49:00.000+08:002011-11-01T22:14:31.325+08:00 Sam, Raffy, Jon and I at the Manila Ocean Park.<div><br></div><div>Facebook album: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1573539577972.74511.1220026971&type=1&l=3aaebfa9ed">CLICK THIS</a>.</div><div><span class="insertedphoto"><a href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/1M/2142"><img border="0" class="alignmiddleb" src="//multiply.com/mu/jingfrey/image/Fe47+27EF8Tl+G09ppCblA/photos/1M/300x300/2142/2010-0404-Resized-155.jpg?et=HY%2Bt8a%2CEMl%2CTr4oh3oPJ5Q&nmid=0"></a></span></div><div><br></div><div>Webshots album: If you can't see the slideshow, <a href="http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/578299970arflca">CLICK THIS</a>.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><embed allowscriptaccess="never" src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf" flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F578299970arflca%3Finline%3Dtrue&inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D578299970%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Ftravel.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F578299970arflca&postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ftravel.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F578299970arflca&audio=on&audioVolume=33&autoPlay=false&transitionSpeed=5&startIndex=0&panzoom=on&deployed=true" menu="false" quality="best" width="425" height="384" name="WebshotsSlideshowPlayer" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" wmode="opaque" loop="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://travel.webshots.com/album/578299970arflca">Manila Ocean Park - April 4, 2010</a></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Video #1: Agos & Dalampasigan (Waves and Shore)</div><div>If you can't see the embedded video, <a href="http://youtu.be/uKNq8kuAgjw">CLICK THIS</a>.</div><div><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uKNq8kuAgjw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br></div><div><div>Video #2: Bahura (Coral Reef)</div><div>If you can't see the embedded video, <a href="http://youtu.be/ofTD2bQSgIw">CLICK THIS</a>.</div></div><div><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ofTD2bQSgIw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div>Video #3: Laot (Fishing Grounds)</div><div>If you can't see the embedded video, <a href="http://youtu.be/xLJL7d5e4uA">CLICK THIS</a>.</div></div><div><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xLJL7d5e4uA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><div>Video #4: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;line-height: 18px;">Buhay na Karagatan (The Living Ocean)</span></div><div>If you can't see the embedded video, <a href="http://youtu.be/dIiwQqQbeeo">CLICK THIS</a>.</div></div></div><div><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dIiwQqQbeeo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><div>Video #5: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;line-height: 18px;">Ang Kalaliman (The Deep), Pagi (Stingrays) & Pating (Sharks).</span></div><div>If you can't see the embedded video, <a href="http://youtu.be/vTPnvoLhrYw">CLICK THIS</a>.</div></div></div><div><br></div><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vTPnvoLhrYw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-4567426559777493246?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-6697138044922559372009-06-07T23:47:00.000+08:002010-07-03T22:58:44.343+08:00<P align=left>A summer outing to Laiya.&nbsp; The idea was proposed by Joey.&nbsp; Then everyone got on board.&nbsp; Since it was already May, it was kind of hard to find an affordable&nbsp;place.&nbsp; We almost booked La Luz, but someone beat us to the last availabe slot when we were about to confirm.&nbsp; We ended up booking a cottage at <A href="http://bluecoralbeachresort.com.ph/">Blue Coral</A> resort for June 6-7.&nbsp; No one we know had been there before.&nbsp; We hope the place is as nice looking as it did on their website.</P><br /><P>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</P><br /><P>June 5 - Friday</P><br /><P>We were supposed to show up at the resort lunch time Saturday&nbsp;and leave before lunch Sunday.&nbsp; We decided to leave for Laiya&nbsp;early Saturday morning.&nbsp; That meant a number of us sleeping at the PNB dealing room.</P><br /><P align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:25&amp;security=xrH1LUv1kAaoNcgBL132Ug&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></P><br /><P>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</P><br /><P>June 6 - Saturday </P><br /><P>Joey and Teddy were hungry just before dawn, so we hopped into Joey's van and had a pre-dawn meal in some lugawan located at a street near Gil Puyat.&nbsp; When we got back to PNB, everyone's who's going on the trip had arrived&nbsp;so we&nbsp;all&nbsp;placed our baggages at the back of Joey's van,&nbsp;hopped into the van ourselves, and&nbsp;left&nbsp;PNB.&nbsp;</P><br /><P align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:17&amp;security=cG%2B3Nf5bxRc9UGvVDlqNyA&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></P><br /><P>When we got to Lipa City, a number of the guys said they were hungry.&nbsp; I spotted a restaurant along the road and suggested we breakfast eat there.&nbsp; The place was called Gotohan sa Barangay and the food was value for money.</P><br /><P align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:27&amp;security=a%2CO1ApGstfmUXkKYM8RXfg&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></P><br /><P>After a wrong turn,&nbsp;asking for directions more than once,&nbsp;and bumping into a rooster (which we hoped survived), we got to Blue Coral before lunch. Since our cottage wasn't ready yet, we couldn't check in.&nbsp; We decided to spend the time walking by the beach, passing&nbsp;through a number of resorts and climbed The Rock&nbsp;situated near&nbsp;the La Luz Resort.&nbsp; We were tired by the time we got back to Blue Coral.&nbsp; It rained briefly before lunch so we hung out at the bar near the pool.&nbsp; We finally got to check in before buffet lunch was served.</P><br /><P>Dennis, Joey, Ted, Menchie and Shayne&nbsp;headed out to the beach after lunch.&nbsp; The rest of us hung out at the pool having had enough of the beach on the walk earlier&nbsp;to La Luz and back.&nbsp; Dennis bought some squid from a vendor by the beach and asked the vendor to grill it and bring the food over to the resort.&nbsp; We had that and some beer for merienda.</P><br /><P align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:28&amp;security=SeVeHNZcMFDkDJLVjK2qHg&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></P><br /><P>Stayed in the cottage and watched cable TV after dinner but some of the guys decided to take another walk along the beach.&nbsp; Was asleep by the time the guys started playing poker.&nbsp; They said they drove out of the resort after their poker game to find a place to eat at midnight. They were snoring by the time I woke up before dawn.</P><br /><P>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</P><br /><P>June 7 - Sunday</P><br /><P align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:19&amp;security=BBEFFKIfQU2c4yzNqBWdlw&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></P><br /><P>Dennis, Ted and Joey were at the beach once they woke up.&nbsp; After&nbsp;breakfast, we packed our things,&nbsp;then took some pictures around the resort.&nbsp; We then checked out, paid the bill,&nbsp;dragged our bags&nbsp;to Joey's van and left Laiya.</P><br /><P>I&nbsp;don't remember&nbsp;who suggested it, but we all agreed we'd eat lunch at Tagaytay.&nbsp; We got there later than we planned because&nbsp;we missed a&nbsp;turn - again.&nbsp;&nbsp;Joey actually fell asleep on the wheel, and we didn't notice it - which is scary to think about.&nbsp; Good thing there&nbsp;were few cars along the superhighway.</P><br /><P>Dennis suggested we eat at <A href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tagaytay-City-Philippines/Taalena-Restaurant/43946542530?v=info">Taalena Restaurant</A>.&nbsp; We took pictures around the place as we waited for our table, which was located at the balcony overlooking Taal Lake.</P><br /><P align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:31&amp;security=%2CGuXIPaYXJEkuHON6lJZjA&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></P><br /><P align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:30&amp;security=7b57NlVtHbak9y87%2CyUJew&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></P><br /><P>After a filling meal, we took more pictures before leaving the restaurant.&nbsp; Stopped by the road to buy fruits from the street vendors.</P><br /><P>I had been seeing posters along the road announcing the opening of a <A href="http://www.contis.ph/">Conti's</A> outlet and since we're already on some kind of road trip I suggested we have dessert/merienda at that place - my treat.&nbsp; No one said no to that.&nbsp; We noted at the next poster that the <A href="http://www.contis.ph/">Conti's</A> outlet was at Nuvali Sta. Rosa&nbsp;so we headed there.&nbsp;I wanted mango&nbsp;bravo but Rey&nbsp;told me to try Mango tart&nbsp;so that's what I ordered.</P><br /><P>We headed back to Metro Manila after that.&nbsp; They were joking about having dinner at my place to complete the day (breakfast at Laiya, lunch at Tagaytay, merienda at Sta. Rosa) but I said no.</P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-669713804492255937?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-26119367799368119282009-05-10T23:56:00.001+08:002010-07-03T19:21:18.617+08:00<P align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:26&amp;security=oXTsEFWjk64bI76d5YeaMQ&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></P><br /><P>Aunt Dolly and Uncle Lou toured us around Batanes when Bee and I were there.&nbsp; In return, Bee and I offered to tour them and Aunt Veny around Tagaytay.</P><br /><P>We hired a van with a driver from one of Bee's friends.&nbsp; Bee picked our three guests from their hotel in Manila then they picked up Jon and I along South Super Highway.</P><br /><P>First stop was the <A href="http://www.ilogmaria.com/">Ilog Maria Honeybee Farms</A> which is owned by a distant relative of Bee's.&nbsp; There was a short video presentation about Bee Farming and about the corporation itself.&nbsp; Afterwards, we bought some products.&nbsp; Unfortunately, they were out of honey since the bees haven't been productive lately.</P><br /><P>Next stop was <A href="http://www.theflowerfarm.com/">The Flower Farm</A>.&nbsp; We didn't schedule a tour but they were kind enough to squeeze us in before another tour group arrives.&nbsp; It was fun listening to Aunt Veny and Aunt Dolly point out which plants they have or used to have in their respective gardens.&nbsp; Uncle Lou was interested in fertilizers.</P><br /><P>Last stop, where Bee and I treated everyone for a buffet&nbsp;lunch, was <A href="http://www.taalvistahotel.com/">Taal Vista Hotel</A>.&nbsp; They were full&nbsp;that they had to set up extra tables at the lounge area.&nbsp; Bee used to work there and&nbsp;we were able to get a&nbsp;table.&nbsp;&nbsp; Took some pictures of Taal Lake afterwards.&nbsp; I think I saw Rachel Rillo, but I'm not sure.&nbsp; Even if it was her, the last time we talked was in 6th grade, so I don't even know if she remembers me.</P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-2611936779936811928?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-87188782148852455462009-04-25T23:54:00.001+08:002010-07-03T17:45:15.958+08:00<DIV align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:29&amp;security=Ua47Dl0KEpG4SaeTi0DhsQ&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></DIV><br /><P>The van was full when Uncle Lou, Aunt Dolly and Aunt Veny brought Bee, Sam's mom, Sam and I to the airport.&nbsp; Aunt Fe and her sister Aunt Pacing met us at the airport to say goodbye.&nbsp; Aunt Fe brought some garlic for me to bring home, as well as Aryes tree seedlings, which my mom requested.&nbsp; I ended up having three bags of garlic - one from Aunt Zita, one from Aunt Fe, and one which I bought from the market yesterday.&nbsp; Aunt Dolly thought I was crazy to ask garlic from two aunts and still buy some from the market.&nbsp; Well...to be honest,&nbsp;I wasn't sure if those aunts would give me garlic to bring home. Ha ha ha!</P><br /><P>Met&nbsp;four classmates of my mom at the airport.&nbsp; I ended up calling my mom from my cellphone just so she could talk to them.</P><br /><P>I must bring mom back here just so she could reconnect with family and relatives.</P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-8718878214885245546?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-40076789878322820462009-04-25T23:38:00.002+08:002010-07-03T17:34:58.770+08:00<P>Bee arranged with Chico for another dive early morning, this time in Mahatao.&nbsp; It has to be early morning because there should be 24 hours from the time one surfaces to the water to the time one flies the skies.</P><br /><P>Bee took these photos from her Mahatao dive:</P><br /><DIV align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf flashvars="album_id=beeluciano:photos:5&amp;security=l9Xnto5iFbTh5KeKBKJ0tw&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></DIV><br /><P>Interesting to note that the undersea terrain reflects the topside terrain.&nbsp; The Basco underwater pictures showed a lot of rock, and Basco is a hilly place.&nbsp; Mahatao on the other hand has lots of white beaches and the underwater terrain is also sandy white.</P><br /><P>With Bee diving, we started our Batan sightseeing trip without her.</P><br /><DIV align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:63&amp;security=7q7P%2BWVt6JIgoMyCYZdiAg&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></DIV><br /><P>We first headed north&nbsp;to Tukon, Basco ... that high place where Radar Tukon, Basco lighthouse,&nbsp;and Fundacion Pacita could be found.&nbsp; Tukon is actually an Ivatan word that means hills.</P><br /><P>When we arrived at <A href="http://www.fundacionpacita.ph/">Fundacion Pacita</A>, the hotel guests were eating breakfast, so it would be rude to be going inside at that time.&nbsp; </P><br /><P>We just took pictures outside while Aunt Dolly, Aunt Veny and Uncle Lou chatted with Dina Abad.&nbsp; They told her that they were surprised to find out that there is scuba diving in Batanes.&nbsp; Apparently, Ms. Abad already knows Chico makes a living guiding tourists who want to scuba dive in Batanes, and work on conserving certain sites gets help from&nbsp;the Zobels who&nbsp;like visiting Batanes.&nbsp; Talk then turned to developing&nbsp;tourism ...&nbsp; and I heard Ms.&nbsp;Abad suggest that&nbsp;Aunt Dolly set up some type of bike rental place for the tourists.&nbsp; Aunt Dolly wasn't up for it.</P><br /><P>Near Fundacion Pacita is Tukon Chapel, which was also built by the Abads.</P><br /><P>We passed by Basco Lighthouse but it was early morning so it was locked and we couldn't climb up.&nbsp; There was this English guy who I saw earlier walking in the market who was going around Batanes on his own.&nbsp; He got to talking with Aunt Dolly and told her that&nbsp;if he liked the place he would return with his friends.&nbsp;&nbsp;He asked Aunt Dolly if he could join us around Batan island.&nbsp; Aunt Dolly told him that our trip isn't the usual Batanes tour and he should probably join the official tours. We left him at Basco lighthouse... I think he actually walked up there because I didn't see any other vehicle.</P><br /><P>Bee, who wandered around Basco on her own with the help of a tricycle she rented in Mahatao, was able to enter Fundacion Pacita.&nbsp; Proof that earlier is not always better.&nbsp; She took these pictures:</P><br /><DIV align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="album_id=beeluciano:photos:18&amp;security=oQwEmoGVARS%2CziSjpQxq%2CA&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></DIV><br /><P>Back in town, and wondering where Bee is,&nbsp;we passed by Basco Cathedral which was undergoing renovation.</P><br /><P>We then passed by Aunt Fe's house.&nbsp;&nbsp;We were there the night before when Aunt&nbsp;Fe invited&nbsp;Bee, Sam, Sam's mom and I&nbsp;to dinner at the Pension Ivatan Restaurant with the PNB manager and a couple of her staff.&nbsp; It was dark and I wasn't able to see the house clearly so I wanted to see how it looks like in the daytime.&nbsp; What we were able to see that night was <A href="http://www.pensionivatan.com/">Pension Ivatan Hometel and Restaurant</A>,&nbsp; which was&nbsp;situated&nbsp;across the street from the house and is&nbsp;built on&nbsp;the lot&nbsp;she owns and leased to Pension Ivatan.&nbsp; She told me that had I decided to stay in Basco instead of Mahatao, she would have set us up there.</P><br /><P>The old house Aunt Fe lives in&nbsp;was the same house my mom grew up in.&nbsp; Being on a hill, the front door is actually on the upper level (where Aunt Fe stays), and one goes down to get to the lower level - which is where my cousin Glen and his family lives.&nbsp; Aunt Fe has rented out some of the rooms.</P><br /><P>After bidding goodbye to Aunt Fe, we&nbsp;drove through the market where Aunt Dolly was approached by a&nbsp;woman selling some old Batanes gold jewelry.&nbsp; Families who need money would sell their old jewelry through people like said lady who in turn knows which people might be interested in buying.&nbsp; Sam's mom&nbsp;initially wanted&nbsp;to buy some pieces but she&nbsp;found the prices a bit high than what she was willing to pay.</P><br /><P>While waiting for Aunt Dolly and Sam's mom to finish looking at the jewelry for sale, I noticed that although there were lots of fish and vegetables for sale in the market, there was&nbsp;not much pork or beef.&nbsp; Since people here only get pork or beef when a farmer slaughters a pig or cow, what one would actually see on the stalls are&nbsp;announcements of&nbsp;when a pig or cow would be slaughtered so that those interested would come to the market on said date.</P><br /><P>Before leaving Basco, we passed by a goldsmith where Aunt Veny and Aunt Dolly&nbsp;picked up&nbsp;some pieces they had custom made.&nbsp; We were back in Mahatao in time to eat lunch at Aunt Dolly's house.</P><br /><P>After lunch, this time with Bee in the group,&nbsp;we headed southward, first to see the rest of Mahatao then to see the other towns.&nbsp; We revisited Homoron Blue Lagoon to take more pictures, then passed by Mahatao's White Beach.&nbsp;&nbsp;I wish we could stay longer but we were on a tight schedule.</P><br /><DIV align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:20&amp;security=RDtnbibxLbrtrQDxSBKkyA&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></DIV><br /><P>The town after Mahatao, and at the southern tip of Batan Island,&nbsp;was Ivana.&nbsp; My grandpa used to be a municipal treasurer here, travelling from Basco to work everyday.&nbsp; The new Ivana bridge is parallel to an older bridge that was built during the Spanish time.&nbsp; The old bridge is one of the few Spanish era bridges that are still standing.&nbsp; The oldest house still standing in Batanes, the Dakay home,&nbsp;could also be found in Ivana.&nbsp; Further down the road is Radiwan Point and&nbsp;the San Jose Church, which is large and very close to the sea that the church&nbsp;is very visible from the boats plying the Ivana-Sabtang route.</P><br /><P>Nearby is the Honesty Cafe.&nbsp; It actually looks like any sari-sari store or carinderia one finds in Metro Manila.&nbsp; The only difference is that no one mans the store.&nbsp; There is just a dropbox, and a list of items available&nbsp;with their prices.&nbsp; Ivatans expect people to be honorable enough to pay for whatever item they take from the store.</P><br /><P>Next to Ivana, and situated&nbsp;on the other side of the island, was Uyugan, where the first mass was held in Batanes.&nbsp; The place has some huts for those who want to swim at the beach.</P><br /><DIV align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:22&amp;security=FltVjhtUQRG79Z0UYBe4jg&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></DIV><br /><P>Somewhere in the middle of these towns is Racuh a Payaman, the wide communal pastureland.&nbsp; Every farmer that uses this land also helps in maintaining it.&nbsp; Because of the green rolling hills, this is also called "Marlboro Country".</P><br /><P>Since we were on the other side of the island, and Uncle Lou wanted to be on safer roads before it gets dark (his eyes aren't good as they used to be, so it would be dangerous for him to be driving), we&nbsp;took the Interior Road to get back to Mahatao.&nbsp;This is a cross country dirt road, and therefore&nbsp;kinda rough,&nbsp;but it was quicker than going around the island.&nbsp;</P><br /><P>Back in Mahatao, Aunt Dolly arranged for two masseuses to drop by and give massages to Bee and Sam's mom.&nbsp; After a few minutes' rest,&nbsp;spending some time walking around the neighborhood and&nbsp;watching the school kids play softball during break, I joined&nbsp;the rest (sans Bee and Sam's mom) in piling back into the van to head to <A href="http://www.facebook.com/people/Samurong-Cybercafe/1106589766">Samurong Cybercafe</A>,&nbsp;the internet cafe in Basco run by my cousin Joy.&nbsp; This is because Aunt Dolly's Globe connection at home was down and Aunt Veny wanted to check her e-mail account.&nbsp; Passed by the only gas station in the province, which is owned by Petron, and learned that prices per liter here are usually around PHP10 higher than in Metro Manila because of shipping cost.&nbsp; We spent about an hour at the cybercafe before returning to Mahatao.&nbsp;&nbsp;Stopped by the Mahatao Viewdeck (again) for some more pictures.</P><br /><DIV align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:33&amp;security=PhabvU91AZxX4pMeLWDOrA&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></DIV><br /><P>Before dinner, Sam and I walked at the beach behind Aunt Dolly's house and took pictures of the sunset.&nbsp; Aunt Zita dropped by&nbsp;to give me stuff to bring back to Metro Manila - woven keychains&nbsp;and a bottle covered by basketweave, both&nbsp;made by her son, and some garlic from their fields.&nbsp; There was also a bottle of turmeric (powdered yellow ginger) from Lola Loleng, which Ivatans mix into their rice.</P><br /><P>It was a tiring day, like yesterday, but it was fun.</P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-4007678987832282046?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-85165027915637706582009-04-25T23:02:00.002+08:002010-07-03T17:27:38.610+08:00<P align=left>Aunt Dolly arranged for Bee, Sam, Sam's Mom, and I to join a tour group to Sabtang Island.&nbsp; The tour group was coming from Basco and would pass by Mahatao on its way to the port in Ivana where we would be taking the boat to Sabtang.&nbsp; The driver made a brief stop at the "Blue Lagoon" so we could take pictures.&nbsp; In the olden days, the friars/priests used the clear waters at this semi-secluded place to take their baths.</P><br /><P>I kinda slept halfway through the boat trip to Sabtang.&nbsp;&nbsp;It's official, I could sleep through any trip - whether it's in a car, bus, plane or a boat.</P><br /><P>We landed at Sabtang's port which is located at the island's Centro.</P><br /><P align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:14&amp;security=%2B6q7Z48cNmvzktwb1lVuZg&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></P><br /><P>Was able to take a few pictures at Centro while waiting for the whole group to disembark from the boat and load into the jeepneys.&nbsp; The original tour group was packed into one jeepney.&nbsp; We shared our jeepney with a family of four.&nbsp; That meant there were only eight of us in a jeepney that could seat around sixteen to twenty people.</P><br /><P align=center>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</P><br /><P>First jeepney stop was in Savidug, a town near the coast lined with houses made the old way - stone and lime.</P><br /><P align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:16&amp;security=yoqZvHhAiNr%2BADSa5%2C%2CqJA&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></P><br /><P align=center>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</P><br /><P align=left>After that we went up the hills of Savidug and stopped at the Limestone cliffs&nbsp; where the view of the sea was spectacular.&nbsp; The guide said that some tourists, seeing the big waves, tried to surf there once ... but didn't take into account that the beach was mostly stone and crashing into it would be painful.&nbsp; Idiots.</P><br /><P align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:60&amp;security=sYUPytdZTJcDsaRh7%2BJOfg&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></P><br /><P align=center>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</P><br /><P align=left>Next stop was Chamantad Hills with its breath-taking view.&nbsp; This place was used as a location in the shooting of a movie ... not sure which movie it was though - the Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta one, or the Iza Calzado and Ken Chu movie.</P><br /><P align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:62&amp;security=KqDvuUPQoTRH271QcSd1ow&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></P><br /><P align=center>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</P><br /><P>The next town we went to was Chavayan, which was also near the coast and&nbsp;where there is a shop set up by the basket weavers that sells woven sandals, small baskets, and the famous headdress worn by Ivatan women - vakul.&nbsp; I don't know if the guys buying the vakul and trying them on are aware that it's a woman's headwear, and that the counterpart for males is the talugong which looks very much like the&nbsp; salakot with some kind of collar/shoulder cover.&nbsp; I think it's harder to find a talugong for sale than it is to find a vakul.</P><br /><P>Other stuff I saw being sold are the glass&nbsp;floats from Chinese fishing&nbsp;nets that the rough seas have torn away and&nbsp;brought to the shores of Batanes.</P><br /><P>I also saw old fashioned boat pulleys which I don't think is still commonly used elsewhere in the country.</P><br /><P align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:59&amp;security=YFykBUIeaDn6DNg04zYPow&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></P><br /><P align=center>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</P><br /><P>The jeepneys brought the tour group back to Centro where we had lunch in the school auditorium.&nbsp; We were supposed to go to the lighthouse and the white beach after lunch, but since it was raining, we only got to visit the Sabtang lighthouse as the jeepneys could not handle the already muddy road leading to the white beach.</P><br /><P align=center><EMBED height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:61&amp;security=oI2PD7qCYnaR4W%2C2K8ATnQ&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></P><br /><P>The seas were rougher on the way back to Ivana, and some actually got wet when the waves crashed into the boat.&nbsp; There were some squeals of fright by other passengers along with&nbsp;Bee's squeals of excitement at seeing flying fish.&nbsp; I didn't see the fish.&nbsp; I was sleeping when she started shouting.&nbsp; The fish were gone when I opened my eyes.</P><br /><P>Sabtang is a part of old Batanes that has survived modernization.&nbsp; I could imagine that Basco and Mahatao used to look like this ... rows and rows of stone and lime houses with vegetable gardens all around.&nbsp; It makes sense that it would be Sabtang that would challenge time ... it is said that many people of this island were courageous enough to challenge authority during the Spanish era that they had to be shipped to Ivana so that the Spaniards could keep a closer eye on them.</P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-8516502791563770658?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-10815722147620084962009-04-25T22:17:00.000+08:002010-07-03T17:17:30.391+08:00<P align=center><EMBED height=500 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:13&amp;security=Tq7aT9uoMv4prFykg0EE4g&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></P><br /><P>Sam and her mom Norma arrived a day later.&nbsp; We picked them up from Basco airport, and had another photo session at the Mahatao Viewdeck before going back to the Byers house and depositing their bags at their room.&nbsp; </P><br /><P>Showed Sam around.&nbsp; This time, the priest was in the church when we dropped by, so we had some sort of tour guide.&nbsp; Took more pictures near the stone houses.&nbsp; One of the residents saw us taking a picture of their house and we asked permission ... they actually invited Sam and I to go into their house.&nbsp; We declined and said we're good just taking pics outside.</P><br /><P>Bee had already contacted Chico Domingo, the only licensed Diver in Batanes, to take her diving in Basco.&nbsp; Sam and I hitched a ride on Chico's truck and since the two of us had no plans of diving, he dropped us off at Vavayat bridge while he and Bee got on the boat to take them to the dive site.</P><br /><P>While Bee and Chico were diving, Sam and went to the beach and took some pictures.&nbsp; Some strong waves actually had Sam rolling on the sand ... although it may not look like it in the pictures we took.</P><br /><P>Bee's pictures of the dive below.&nbsp; Uncle Lou, Aunt Dolly and Aunt Veny were excited to see them - they have never dived and prior to Bee's contacting Chico, they didn't know there are people diving for recreation in Batanes.</P><br /><P align=center><EMBED height=500 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="album_id=beeluciano:photos:4&amp;security=Bc8iZMPLfF7rvOO6zrQkFw&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-1081572214762008496?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-67363052672103085902009-04-25T21:59:00.000+08:002010-07-03T17:12:58.632+08:00<P align=center><EMBED height=500 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:12&amp;security=a%2BzBOtU%2BF07cC5gOu%2B9BGg&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></P><br /><P>After lunch, Aunt Dolly brought us to Lola Loleng's house, which was also near the church.&nbsp; </P><br /><P>Their house was one of the old stone and lime houses with thick walls, and separate buildings that serve as the kitchen and bathroom/toilet.&nbsp; There are no doors for the&nbsp;rooms inside; instead, curtains are hung over the arches.&nbsp; Slippers and shoes are left at the main door.&nbsp; The stone floor's clean enough that one can sit there if there are not enough seats.</P><br /><P>Lola Loleng is the only surviving sibling of Lola Cion.&nbsp; Although her eyes and ears are weak due to old age, she could still hear and see.</P><br /><P>Other pictures in this set:&nbsp; Aunt Dolly's house, her neighbors' houses, freshly harvested&nbsp;onions and garlic left in front of the houses to dry under the sun.</P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-6736305267210308590?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-35513116020982448772009-04-25T21:45:00.003+08:002010-07-03T17:05:42.109+08:00<DIV align=center><EMBED height=500 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=400 src=http://images.multiply.com/multiply/slide-show.swf quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="album_id=jingfrey:photos:11&amp;security=FN04dk2cx%2CyE2k5rdF5Wfg&amp;base_uri=multiply.com" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed></DIV><br /><DIV align=center>&nbsp;</DIV><br /><DIV align=left>Aunt Dolly, Uncle Lou, Aunt Veny,&nbsp;Aunt Fe, Glen, his wife Girlie and their kids were at the airport to welcome me and my friend Bee when we landed at Basco airport.&nbsp; I must admit, this is the first time I've felt really welcome in an airport ... and it was easy to feel at home, although I have not really learned to speak my mother's tongue.&nbsp; Good thing Ivatans speak&nbsp;Tagalog and English as well :-)</DIV><br /><DIV align=left>&nbsp;</DIV><br /><DIV align=left>After we had our baggages loaded up in Uncle Lou's van, since we are staying at their place, we got in the vehicle and headed off to Mahatao, my grandma's hometown, and where the Estandantes have lived for decades.</DIV><br /><DIV align=left>&nbsp;</DIV><br /><DIV align=left>We had a brief stopover at the Mahatao Viewdeck, which is along the winding road from Basco to Mahatao proper.&nbsp; Bee and I took some pictures there.</DIV><br /><DIV align=left>&nbsp;</DIV><br /><DIV align=left>At Aunt Dolly's house, Bee and I chose the room we would be sleeping in then we stepped out with our cameras to explore the place.&nbsp; The house was very near the Mahatao Port and the San Carlos Borromeo Church.&nbsp; Took some pictures of the tatayas, or fishing boats, then went inside the church which was newly renovated.</DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-3551311602098244877?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-14762332740459008672009-02-22T08:09:00.000+08:002009-04-12T21:10:51.138+08:00<P>Bee is used to having people from school drop by their family's farm in Bulacan for camping, field trips, or just hanging out, that she was surprised to learn that I haven't been there before.</P><br /><P>She was insistent that I visit and didn't mind if Jon came along.&nbsp; We visited their farm yesterday afternoon.</P><br /><P>Bee met me and my brother at Trinoma around lunch time, then she drove us to their farm, which is located in Bulacan.</P><br /><P>First to greet us was Bee's older brother Raymond, who waited for us in his car at the gate.&nbsp; Raymond and his wife Rowie live in the farm and manage the place.&nbsp; It is actually just a small rice farm with fruit trees, whose produce is just enough for family consumption.</P><br /><P>Next to greet us were their dogs.</P><br /><P>Since they were expecting us, they served lunch and I was surprised that they ordered lechon.&nbsp; We ate at the veranda where there is a large table that could accommodate all four of us (Rowie slept late).&nbsp; Apart from the lechon, their cook served lomi, pakbet and prawns.</P><br /><P>We took a short rest after eating before Bee toured us around the place.</P><br /><P>Sora, Rowie's golden retriever, tagged along.&nbsp; He seems to like Jon.</P><br /><P align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2205935980103007176vdTPwk"><IMG alt=DSC00004 src="http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/42252/2205935980103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width=350></A></P><br /><P>Rowie&nbsp;would later say that Sora isn't usually friendly with people he'd just met.</P><br /><P align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2801075410103007176VDMycx"><IMG alt=DSC00006 src="http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/13878/2801075410103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width=350></A></P><br /><P>In front of the house is a small lake.&nbsp; Bee says they once placed a turtle on the island at the middle.&nbsp; I'm not sure if the turtle is still alive since they left it to fend for itself.&nbsp; The lake is home to tilapia, and Bee used to like fishing at the lake when she was younger.</P><br /><P>Near the lake are a number of trees, young and old, but these are not fruit trees.&nbsp; The fruit trees would be found on the other side of the farm where the cows and chicken are.&nbsp; We didn't wander much since Bee told us that there are snakes in the area.</P><br /><P align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2290564020103007176zVpqnb"><IMG alt=DSC00008 src="http://thumb16.webshots.net/t/62/662/5/64/2/2290564020103007176zVpqnb_th.jpg"></A>&nbsp; <A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2643162900103007176teEIOz"><IMG alt=DSC00009 src="http://thumb16.webshots.net/t/62/662/1/62/90/2643162900103007176teEIOz_th.jpg"></A>&nbsp;&nbsp;<A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2116221350103007176pWGVTj"><IMG alt=DSC00010 src="http://thumb16.webshots.net/t/75/75/2/21/35/2116221350103007176pWGVTj_th.jpg"></A></P><br /><P>This is Sora looking at the rows of chicken coops:</P><br /><P align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2597213750103007176FsJJER"><IMG alt=DSC00014 src="http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/44035/2597213750103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width=350></A></P><br /><P>If he was a cat, or Balki (or was it Bingo?)&nbsp;- our dead dog who&nbsp;caught and killed chickens who wandered in our backyard,&nbsp;I would be worried. He he he.</P><br /><P>This was the first house built on this farm before the bigger one was built.</P><br /><P align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2546377710103007176WawRPN"><IMG alt=DSC00015 src="http://inlinethumb20.webshots.com/42131/2546377710103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A>&nbsp;<A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2621664970103007176xZPXUq"><IMG alt=DSC00016 src="http://inlinethumb48.webshots.com/43887/2621664970103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A></P><br /><P align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2917109660103007176wgAJVQ"><IMG alt=DSC00018 src="http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/43494/2917109660103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A>&nbsp;<A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2027829500103007176aMYUTg"><IMG alt=DSC00020 src="http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/43258/2027829500103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A></P><br /><P>No one lives there now.</P><br /><P>This is the main house viewed from the side.&nbsp; The pool is a late&nbsp;addition.&nbsp; Bee said that the area where the pool is used to be the place where visiting students would camp... I'm guessing they were scouts.</P><br /><P align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2513368140103007176WRTaqm"><IMG alt=DSC00021 src="http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/41622/2513368140103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width=350></A></P><br /><P>The path from the gate to the house.</P><br /><P align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2409456760103007176JPxKID"><IMG alt=DSC00023 src="http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/43925/2409456760103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A>&nbsp;<A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2457341460103007176jhjYpO"><IMG alt=DSC00024 src="http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/43121/2457341460103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A></P><br /><P>The garden in front of the house:</P><br /><P align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2560714990103007176zDjAZe"><IMG alt=DSC00026 src="http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/41632/2560714990103007176S425x425Q85.jpg"></A></P><br /><P>Bee's mom loved orchids.&nbsp; When she died, their cook took care of the plants.</P><br /><P>Raymond told Bee that there were ripe tamarinds that we could pick... when we finally found a tamarind tree (Bee is not familiar with the fruit trees herself), we could not knock a fruit from it.&nbsp; We then gave up then made futile attempts to knock down fruit from star apple trees.&nbsp; Bee's brother probably had a good laugh at us.&nbsp; He then told one of the workers on the farm to get a ladder and pick some ripe star apples.&nbsp; We ate some for merienda, Jon and I would later bring home a handful.</P><br /><P>We had planned on going fishing but ended up spending the rest of the afternoon in the pool.</P><br /><P align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2934197980103007176ROBHlj"><IMG alt=DSC00033 src="http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/41372/2934197980103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width=350></A></P><br /><P>When night came, the bamboo torches near the pool were lit up.&nbsp; The torches have citronella which drive away mosquitoes.</P><br /><P align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2581379810103007176ofqEzc"><IMG alt=DSC00035 src="http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/43828/2581379810103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width=350></A></P><br /><P>Since we would be going home to Laguna, Jon and I prepared to leave before 8PM.&nbsp; I was first at the shower, then Bee was next, so Jon and I spent the waiting time taking pictures at the veranda.</P><br /><P align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2907554200103007176PGmVut"><IMG alt=DSC00043 src="http://inlinethumb48.webshots.com/39215/2907554200103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A>&nbsp;<A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2397079360103007176NZcOiK"><IMG alt=DSC00046 src="http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/41858/2397079360103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A></P><br /><P align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2511755900103007176MhkeYI"><IMG alt=DSC00048 src="http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/45290/2511755900103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A>&nbsp;<A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2116840930103007176pecklh"><IMG alt=DSC00049 src="http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/41744/2116840930103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A></P><br /><P>We have a big bell like the one above at home, which we only ring to greet the New Year.&nbsp; Bee's folk use this bell to call workers to the house.</P><br /><P>We left the farm around 8PM, passed by Bee's house near the main road to drop off lechon leftovers, then passed by a store selling what Bulacan is famous for: chicharon.&nbsp; We ate dinner at Trinoma before parting ways: Bee back to Bulacan, Jon and I to Laguna.</P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-1476233274045900867?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-2371027711167805862009-02-22T06:44:00.001+08:002009-04-12T18:46:54.018+08:00<P>One could not ignore the noisy loudspeakers coming from the main avenue early yesterday morning, inviting everyone to watch the parade for the Sampaguita Festival.</P><P>Jon and I were supposed to leave early to meet Bee at Trinoma, but when I looked for him, he was already outside taking photos so I followed&nbsp;him out&nbsp;and ended up taking videos since it's hard to capture moving subjects on my simple digital camera.</P><P align=center><OBJECT height=344 width=400><PARAM NAME="allowScriptAccess" VALUE="never"><PARAM NAME="movie" VALUE="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vzebnao--LY&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1"><PARAM NAME="allowFullScreen" VALUE="true"><embed allowscriptaccess="never" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vzebnao--LY&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="344"></embed></OBJECT></P><P>Apparently, despite the festival being about the sampaguita flower, the participating baranggays each made&nbsp;a rooster, which they paraded along the avenue.</P><UL><br /><LI>Note: I replaced the music being played on the street with some other dance music, since it would be ugly to retain said music after editing.</LI></UL><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-237102771116780586?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-51497187067276284352009-01-10T23:39:00.001+08:002009-04-10T16:03:29.184+08:00Sam and I planned the Batanes Trip last November. When we booked our plane reservations December 1, Jon and Sam's mom also decided to join us. We planned to go there April 22-26 this year. I invited Bee to join us but she couldn't commit yet.<br /><br />Last December 25, when I told Aunt Hilda about my trip, she thought of joining us, and she'll probably bring along Dana and Chloe. Even then, I was thinking that if we could stay at either Aunt Fe or Aunt Dolly, 7 people would still be alot.<br /><br />Last Monday, Bee called to say she wants to go to Batanes. Aunt Hilda hasn't told me if she was pushing through with her plans, but I was wondering how Aunt Fe and Aunt Dolly would do taking in 8 people between them.<br /><br />It seems that I am not the only one planning to go to Batanes.<br /><br />Mariel is thinking about going to Batanes but during the Holy Week, and she told me that Joy has plans to visit the Philippines end of March and attend a high school reunion in Batanes on April 1. When I mentioned that to Glen, it was the first time he heard about Joy's plans.<br /><br />I've been bugging Glen a lot lately since he is the only cousin who's decided to stay in Batanes.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-5149718706727628435?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-43196931782278873102008-09-14T19:06:00.001+08:002009-01-13T04:49:20.688+08:00<!-- Start WxSticker --><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 271px; background-color: #FFF; border: 1px solid #999;"><tr><td colspan="2"><div style="height: 35px;"><a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/98642.html?bannertypeclick=htmlSticker"><img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/htmlSticker1/language/www/global/stations/98642.gif" alt="" height="35" width="271" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align: top;"><div style="width: 101px;"><div style="height: 22px;"><img src="http://icons-pe.wxug.com/graphics/smash/htmlsticker/html_linkT.gif" width="101" height="22"></div><div style="font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; background-image: url(http://icons-pe.wxug.com/graphics/smash/htmlsticker/html_linkBG.gif); text-align: left;"><div style="padding-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport//1972/1/1/PlannerHistory.html?bannertypeclick=htmlSticker">Plan your trip</a></div><div style="padding-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?ID=XXX®ion=XX&lat=9.30000019&lon=123.30000305">Local Radar</a></div><div style="padding-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/98642.html?bannertypeclick=htmlSticker">Detailed Forecast</a></div><div style="height: 12px;"><img src="http://icons-pe.wxug.com/graphics/smash/htmlsticker/html_linkB.gif" width="101" height="12"></div></div><form action="http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast" method="get" target="_blank" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;"><input type="hidden" name="bannertypeclick" value="htmlSticker"><div><input name="query" type="text" value="Find Weather" onFocus="this.value=''" style="width: 85px;"></div><div style="padding-top: 5px;"><input name="GO" type="submit" value="GO" style="width: 50px; background-color: #008; color: #FFF; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; border-top: 1px solid #CCC; border-left: 1px solid #CCC; border-right: 1px solid #000; border-bottom: 1px solid #000;"></div></form></div></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><div style="height: 139px;"><a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/98642.html?bannertypeclick=htmlSticker"><img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/htmlSticker2_cond/language/www/global/stations/98642.gif" alt="" height="139" width="170" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></td></tr></table><br /><!-- End WxSticker --><br /><p><strong>The Youtube file:</strong></p> <p> <object height="344" width="350"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XQdMdaLgLnU&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <embed allowscriptaccess="never" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XQdMdaLgLnU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="350" height="344"></embed></object></p> <hr> <p><strong>The Webshot albums</strong></p> <p><embed allowscriptaccess="never" name="WebshotsSlideshowPlayer" pluginspage="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer" src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf" width="425" height="384" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" loop="false" wmode="opaque" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" quality="best" menu="false" flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F566570968oaUCFB%3Finline%3Dtrue&inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D566570968%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566570968oaUCFB&postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566570968oaUCFB&audio=on&audioVolume=33&autoPlay=false&transitionSpeed=5&startIndex=0&panzoom=on&deployed=true"></embed><br><br><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/album/566570968oaUCFB">Silliman Hall - Sept.3, 2008</a> <hr> </p> <p><embed allowscriptaccess="never" name="WebshotsSlideshowPlayer" pluginspage="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer" src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf" width="425" height="384" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F566568475WIvjWv%3Finline%3Dtrue&inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D566568475%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566568475WIvjWv&postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566568475WIvjWv&audio=on&audioVolume=33&autoPlay=false&transitionSpeed=5&startIndex=0&panzoom=on&deployed=true" menu="false" quality="best" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" wmode="opaque" loop="false"></embed><br><br><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/album/566568475WIvjWv">Silliman University Farm and Marine Lab - Sep. 3, 2008</a> <hr> </p> <p><embed allowscriptaccess="never" name="WebshotsSlideshowPlayer" pluginspage="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer" src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf" width="425" height="384" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F566567286uAjpdR%3Finline%3Dtrue&inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D566567286%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566567286uAjpdR&postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566567286uAjpdR&audio=on&audioVolume=33&autoPlay=false&transitionSpeed=5&startIndex=0&panzoom=on&deployed=true" menu="false" quality="best" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" wmode="opaque" loop="false"></embed><br><br><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/album/566567286uAjpdR">A.Y. Reyes Zoological and Botanical Garden</a> <hr> <embed allowscriptaccess="never" name="WebshotsSlideshowPlayer" pluginspage="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer" src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf" width="425" height="384" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F566550145QadwdM%3Finline%3Dtrue&inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D566550145%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566550145QadwdM&postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566550145QadwdM&audio=on&audioVolume=33&autoPlay=false&transitionSpeed=5&startIndex=0&panzoom=on&deployed=true" menu="false" quality="best" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" wmode="opaque" loop="false"></embed><br><br><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/album/566550145QadwdM">Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete City - Sep. 3, 2008</a> <hr> <embed allowscriptaccess="never" name="WebshotsSlideshowPlayer" pluginspage="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer" src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf" width="425" height="384" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F566567788XMwpHq%3Finline%3Dtrue&inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D566567788%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566567788XMwpHq&postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566567788XMwpHq&audio=on&audioVolume=33&autoPlay=false&transitionSpeed=5&startIndex=0&panzoom=on&deployed=true" menu="false" quality="best" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" wmode="opaque" loop="false"></embed><br><br><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/album/566567788XMwpHq">Campanario de Dumaguete</a> <hr> <embed allowscriptaccess="never" name="WebshotsSlideshowPlayer" pluginspage="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer" src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf" width="425" height="384" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F566567290iPBuCh%3Finline%3Dtrue&inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D566567290%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566567290iPBuCh&postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566567290iPBuCh&audio=on&audioVolume=33&autoPlay=false&transitionSpeed=5&startIndex=0&panzoom=on&deployed=true" menu="false" quality="best" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" wmode="opaque" loop="false"></embed><br><br><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/album/566567290iPBuCh">Negros Oriental Arts and Heritage - Sep. 3, 2008</a> <hr> <embed allowscriptaccess="never" name="WebshotsSlideshowPlayer" pluginspage="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer" src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf" width="425" height="384" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F566547152zNNXck%3Finline%3Dtrue&inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D566547152%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566547152zNNXck&postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566547152zNNXck&audio=on&audioVolume=33&autoPlay=false&transitionSpeed=5&startIndex=0&panzoom=on&deployed=true" menu="false" quality="best" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" wmode="opaque" loop="false"></embed><br><br><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/album/566547152zNNXck">Negros Oriental Restaurants - Sep. 2008</a> <hr> <embed allowscriptaccess="never" name="WebshotsSlideshowPlayer" pluginspage="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer" src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf" width="425" height="384" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F566547154UthYWf%3Finline%3Dtrue&inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D566547154%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566547154UthYWf&postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566547154UthYWf&audio=on&audioVolume=33&autoPlay=false&transitionSpeed=5&startIndex=0&panzoom=on&deployed=true" menu="false" quality="best" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" wmode="opaque" loop="false"></embed><br><br><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/album/566547154UthYWf">Balinsasayao Nature Park - Sep. 4, 2008</a> <hr> <embed allowscriptaccess="never" name="WebshotsSlideshowPlayer" pluginspage="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer" src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf" width="425" height="384" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F566576557bHQrdO%3Finline%3Dtrue&inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D566576557%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566576557bHQrdO&postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566576557bHQrdO&audio=on&audioVolume=33&autoPlay=false&transitionSpeed=5&startIndex=0&panzoom=on&deployed=true" menu="false" quality="best" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" wmode="opaque" loop="false"></embed><br><br><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/album/566576557bHQrdO">Apo Island, Dauin - Sep. 5, 2008</a> <hr> <embed allowscriptaccess="never" name="WebshotsSlideshowPlayer" pluginspage="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer" src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf" width="425" height="384" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F566570675wtvhaW%3Finline%3Dtrue&inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D566570675%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566570675wtvhaW&postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566570675wtvhaW&audio=on&audioVolume=33&autoPlay=false&transitionSpeed=5&startIndex=0&panzoom=on&deployed=true" menu="false" quality="best" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" wmode="opaque" loop="false"></embed><br><br><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/album/566570675wtvhaW">Sidlakang Negros Showroom - Sep. 6, 2008</a> </p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-4319693178227887310?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-35056969603156824952008-09-14T17:30:00.002+08:002009-01-01T21:47:49.003+08:00<p>Orange-yellow buildings.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2744170930103007176xMHfjm"><img alt="2008-0906 314 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb48.webshots.com/42031/2744170930103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>They're probably the first structures to catch anyone's eye when on the boat approaching Apo Island.</p> <p><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2002184020103007176mBACqL"><img alt="2008-0906 336 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/28489/2002184020103007176S200x200Q85.jpg" align="left"></a>Once you get off the boat and pay your fees at the registration office, they're not in plain sight though and you wonder how to get there.</p> <p>The locals would point you to go leftward if you're facing the registration office and walk past the cliffs, which by the way would have water dripping down its rocky face all day if it had been raining the previous night. You eventually find yourself in some sort of sand pocket and think you've reached a dead end.</p> <p>Look closely at one corner and you'll find a passage hewn out of the rocks.</p><br clear="all"> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2811482050103007176YGxvdf"><img alt="2008-0906 306 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/41818/2811482050103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>Go through that passage and you'll find yourself in a cove where Apo Island Beach Resort is.</p> <p>The resort is well known to, and caters mostly to divers. In fact, diving fees could be found at the back cover of their menu.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://profile.imageshack.us/user/jingfrey73" target="_new"><img alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/2413/20080906006smallay4.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>They serve food on shaded tables along the beach where you can watch the sea while you eat. The servings are enough for one person. The food tastes good but the menu isn't extraordinary. The choice of cold drinks are limited since electricity is still not always available. <div align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2309919480103007176cvmGRk"><img alt="2008-0906 310 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/40445/2309919480103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></div>There was one fly who kept buzzing around while we ate, prompting Bee to cover her glass of fruit juice with the water glass. <p></p> <p>The Baluarte, or the large formation of rocks jutting out to the sky, gives the cove partial shelter, and that is why guests at the resort have an awesome view of this magnificent landmark.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2759920250103007176ddbTLJ"><img alt="2008-0906 315 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/44060/2759920250103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>The sand is white but not fine. The shore slopes slowly to the sea, inviting one to first wade into the water, and then take a swim.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2249129630103007176JUpAue"><img alt="2008-0906 324 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb60.webshots.com/42427/2249129630103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>The birds called Maya would be hopping along the shore, and there's this dog who decided to accompany me while I walked around taking pictures.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2589973900103007176ePgoQK"><img alt="2008-0906 335 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/40997/2589973900103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p></p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-3505696960315682495?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-113903121786401742008-09-14T16:00:00.002+08:002008-12-07T09:43:32.373+08:00<p>Apo Island, is not only a resort area and diving spot. It is also home to a community that is slowly coming to terms with living on a "protected area" and a tourist spot.</p> <p><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2475499160103007176oaVnfl"><img alt="2008-0906 342 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/44440/2475499160103007176S200x200Q85.jpg" align="left"></a>The influx of divers raring to discover Apo Island's marine life has given the locals different opportunities to make a living.</p> <p>The stretch of beach facing Dauin proper is lined with boats that ferry people from Apo Island to the mainland and vice versa. Tourists could rent one for a round trip arrangement, and depending on the size of the boat, the fee could be anywhere between PHP1,500 and PHP3,000 - the more people share the boat, the cheaper it would be per person.</p> <p>As all tourists to the island will land on this beach, this is where the ambulant vendors of T-shirts with "Apo Island" designs hang around. The t-shirts cost arount PHP200. It could be higher or lower, depending on your haggling skills.</p> <p>Acutely aware by now of what marine loving tourists would need had they come unprepared, locals rent out life vests, footwear fit for the rocky beach of the sanctuary, and if the tourist is looking for specific kinds of marine life like the sea turtle or the jack fish, he or she can hire a local to show him/her where to snorkel for around PHP150 - 200. </p> <p>Some locals, in exchange for buying their wares, would gladly guide you around the island at no extra cost. You can trust them to look after your bags as they consider it detrimental to the island's reputation (and eventually bad for tourism) if a visitor would get robbed during his/her stay there.</p> <p><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2156940150103007176BhAxPE"><img alt="2008-0906 298 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/31520/2156940150103007176S200x200Q85.jpg" align="right"></a>Most tourists to Apo Island are divers and usually stay on the rented boats if they are out of the water. They would probably set foot on the island only to eat at one of the two resorts. Bee and I were not diving but snorkeling, so we actually get to go through Apo Village to get from the shore we landed on to the marine sanctuary. Since I backed out of snorkeling due to the sharp rocks, I ended up taking more interest on what's on the island.</p> <p>The small town chapel is the first thing you see once you get past the registration office. The absence of a priest's living quarters and the distance of the parish from the city allows the priest to only come around once a month. A lay minister takes over on most Sundays (presumably holding paraliturgical celebrations).</p> <p> <div align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2138550530103007176KafvTy"><img alt="2008-0906 290 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/42036/2138550530103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></div>Small, clean houses line the small streets. Mud puddles would form after a heavy rainfall so one should walk carefully so as not to slip on the mud. <p></p> <p><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2870498530103007176MktTJU"><img alt="2008-0906 296 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/37015/2870498530103007176S200x200Q85.jpg" align="left"></a>Here and there are stalls selling vegetables to the locals or trinkets to the tourists - and none of those products are probably grown or made on the island.</p> <p>Electricity is not always available, and for potable water, the locals have to either collect rainfall or import water from the mainland. Our guide said that according to the older folk, there used to be potable water from small inlets, but said sources have disappeared with the denudation that happened before the island became a protected area in 1994.</p> <p><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2406106760103007176ytURRM"><img alt="2008-0906 285 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/41668/2406106760103007176S200x200Q85.jpg" align="right"></a>The current mangrove trees show their youth as they quite thin ... they were planted only recently. The original trees were cut down for timber.</p> <p>Tilapia live within the waters where the mangrove trees are planted, but the locals only catch them for food if weather does not permit them to fish in the open sea. They don't like the Tilapia as it feeds in murky waters.</p> <p>Near the Marine Sanctuary, but before the path leaves the mangrove trees, are small cottages that I believe could be rented by tourists who want to stay overnight on the island. I am not sure however if these cottages are maintained by the local government or owned by individuals.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2453151490103007176mrsmeE"><img alt="2008-0906 288 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb60.webshots.com/43003/2453151490103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a> <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2454266470103007176LgEDts"><img alt="2008-0906 289 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/28982/2454266470103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>The Municipality of Dauin holds its Kinaiyahan or Mother Nature Festival every September 10, and Apo Village makes it a point to participate every year. The festivities start as early as September 6 and the village folk were loading the drums and props they would be using on their fishing boats.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2024455520103007176uBaVYM"><img alt="2008-0906 299 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/43637/2024455520103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p align="center"><br><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2706466680103007176rppsxH"><img alt="2008-0906 300 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb60.webshots.com/43771/2706466680103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>Watching their community spirit at work uplifts one's mood.</p></p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-11390312178640174?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-13248568191909795142008-09-14T16:00:00.001+08:002008-12-07T05:20:00.589+08:00<P>Apo Island is part of Dauin&nbsp;and not Dumaguete City. You get there by taking a boat from Malapatay beach.&nbsp; The first thing you do upon setting foot on the island is pay the entrance fee (PHP100 for non-Dauin residents) and other charges that will apply to the activity/ies you plan to do on the island.&nbsp; The fees go to the maintenance of the island.</P><br /><P align=center><IMG alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/2397/apoisland02tu0.jpg" width=350></P><br /><P>Apo Island has been a protected area since 1994 and its marine life has benefited from this.&nbsp; It is now a popular dive site, and for non-divers like me,&nbsp;one can always snorkel.</P><br /><P><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2398713420103007176fiyGhe"><IMG alt="2008-0906 293 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/33592/2398713420103007176S200x200Q85.jpg" align=left></A>One treks across the island from the landing site to the part that faces the sea in order to get to the marine sanctuary. Once you see a path through&nbsp;mangrove trees, you know you are almost there. </P>If you plan to snorkel, make sure you have in hand the receipt given to you when you paid your fee, otherwise, the authorities on this side of the island will charge you a snorkeling fee again.<BR clear=all><br /><P><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2117393700103007176fmREYM"><IMG alt="2008-0906 265 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb34.webshots.com/43681/2117393700103007176S200x200Q85.jpg" align=right></A>One signpost clearly points the way to where snorkelers should start.&nbsp; There are small "huts" nearby that visitors could rent and use if they want a place to eat or just sit and enjoy the sea.&nbsp; As it was a Friday and there are few visitors, we get to stash our things in one of the huts with a local volunteering to look after them.&nbsp; Some students from the island's school were in one of the other huts, practicing a number they are going to present at the coming fiesta (Sunday).</P><BR clear=all><br /><P>&nbsp;</P><br /><P><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2300944390103007176BgCAYA"><IMG alt="2008-0906 268 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/43817/2300944390103007176S200x200Q85.jpg" align=right></A>Visitors are advised to stay near the beach.&nbsp; Ideally, one should not wander farther than the boat in this picture.&nbsp; Note how rocky the beach is.</P><br /><P>The authorities decided to build a cement path going down the beach into the water ... which sounds like a good idea if one wants to avoid the sharp rocks ... unfortunately, I found that I prefer to step on the rough rocks than on the slippery cement ramp.</P><br /><P><BR clear=all>&nbsp;</P><br /><DIV align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2700899810103007176PixOFq"><IMG alt="2008-0906 273 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/43357/2700899810103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width=350></A> <br /><P></P></DIV><br /><P>The fear of slipping and getting hurt by the rocks made me back out of snorkeling.&nbsp; Even Bee had trouble getting into the water.&nbsp; Once she managed that one, she was snorkeling and swimming as far as she could manage.</P><br /><P align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2158402130103007176TpNCRa"><IMG alt="2008-0906 267 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/41721/2158402130103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A></P><br /><P>I decided to stay put on terra firma and take pictures instead.</P><br /><P align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2256430000103007176KzckfG"><IMG alt="2008-0906 291 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/41308/2256430000103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width=350></A></P><br /><P>According to Bee, the fish she saw at Apo Island were bigger than those in the Dauin Marine Sanctuary, but she found the fish in the latter place to be more colorful.</P><br /><P>You could not find the pawikan, or sea turtles, in Dauin Marine Sanctuary, though.&nbsp; The pawikan lay their eggs on Apo Island, and locals could point you to areas where you could find one or two swimming around.</P><br /><P></P><br /><P></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-1324856819190979514?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-38681166389112585672008-09-14T15:50:00.001+08:002008-09-14T21:59:24.661+08:00<p>Things have been going so fine this day that there has to be a glitch somewhere.</p> <p>We asked Harold to recommend restaurants in Dumaguete City. One of his recommendations was Boston Cafe. Bee and I decided to eat there this evening. Bee called Harold on the phone and was given directions how to get there. While they were talking, Harold would interchange Boston Market with Boston Cafe.</p> <p>The cafe was supposed to be walking distance from the hostel, and one of the Boston Cafe flyers we found pegged on the corkboard (people could peg flyers and calling cards on the corkboard to advertise services and establishments) even had a map of the place ... it was at the corner of Hibbard Avenue and E.J. Blanco, and along Piapi. Bee and I stopped by the front desk to once more ask directions.</p> <p>I didn't mind walking but Bee would rather take a tricycle, so we did. The driver didn't speak Tagalog or English and worst, didn't know where Boston Cafe was. He was driving in what we thought was the opposite direction so we told him to stop and we flagged down another tricycle driver to ask him if he knew where Boston Cafe was and if he could tell our driver how to get us there. We still ended up lost so we told the driver to drop us off at the Mercury Drug Store.</p> <p>Bee was already stressed out but I still managed to keep cool even when it started to rain hard. We decided to ask directions from the people in the drugstore. One of the customers spoke perfect taglish (he he he - I never thought I would be joyful to hear someone speak taglish) and she immediately recognized the name as she associated the cafe with pizzas. She told us to tell the driver to park in front of Foodnet, a place every tricycle driver in Dumaguete is familiar with. We thanked her profusely as she stepped out of the drugstore with her kid in tow.</p> <p>We waited for the rainfall to turn into somewhere near a drizzle (but not quite) before stepping out and flagging down another tricycle with instructions to drive us to Boston Cafe which is in front of Foodnet. As we stepped out of the tryke, there was no doubt that we were in front of Boston Cafe, but the spa and Bamboo Wall that Harold said were landmarks to look for were nowhere in sight.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2620294700103007176NtuBnk"><img alt="2008-0906 256 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/14892/2620294700103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Boston Cafe looks like a country inn from the outside that I was a bit surprised to find out from the menu that it served Italian food like pizza and pasta.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2967582600103007176fDtgmK"><img alt="2008-0906 259 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/43319/2967582600103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>The chairs had big backrests but didn't look sturdy that Bee requested to be given a different, stronger chair. The waitress obliged and pulled a heavier wooden chair from the outside.</p> <p>While we were looking over the menu, I couldn't help but ask the waitress if Boston Cafe had a another outlet. She said that they have a branch along Piapi.</p> <p>Bingo! <img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/shade.png"> We were in Boston Cafe's main branch ... Harold was giving us directions to another outlet which is why we couldn't see any of the landmarks he gave us. The waitress then said that the branch is actually called Basil Tree. It was at this point that I got annoyed with Harold and his directions. It's hard to find a place if you have the wrong name to start with. To clarify things: Boston Cafe USED to be called Boston Market, its branch along Hibbarb Ave. is called Basil Street.</p> <p>Anyway, I jokingly pointed out to Bee that the moral of the story is: the next time someone says a place is walking distance, we walk.</p> <p>We ordered a pizza because the lady in the drugstore seemed to think the pizzas here tasted good. We also ordered pasta and salad.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2379755280103007176IYAsnA"><img alt="2008-0906 262 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb36.webshots.com/43875/2379755280103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>It's a good thing we ordered pasta and salad. They used the right mix of herbs and spices on those dishes. The pizza was a disappointment. I only ate one slice and Bee didn't even finish the slice she took. It's like eating 3M pizza.</p> <p>According to Bee, the dough wasn't good to start with and they didn't use mozarella cheese. I had a problem with the toppings, but she was right, it starts with the dough. We ended up asking the waitress to pack the rest of the pizza so that we could take it back to the hostel and give it to the lady at the front desk. We figured the staff would like the pizza since they recommended the restaurant.</p> <p>Bee had earlier asked the waitress where we could eat dessert as the Boston Cafe menu didn't have dessert. She recommended eating at nearby Sans Rival. Unfortunately, Bee and I were too full for dessert when we finished our pasta and salad. Sans Rival Pastry Shop of Dumaguete is actually well known.</p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-3868116638911258567?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-38583508087453191882008-09-14T15:02:00.001+08:002008-09-14T19:41:28.210+08:00<p>Near the entrance of Balinsasayao Nature Park is a body of water that, although smaller than Lakes Balinsasayao and Danao, is no less beautiful.</p> <p>Kabalin-an pond has a charm of its own with the trees growing out of the waters giving it an enchanted look.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2671399150103007176DwNUGM"><img alt="2008-0906 229 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/40572/2671399150103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>Around the pond are small huts and picnic tables that visitors can rent.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2038601450103007176AgNBui"><img alt="2008-0906 230 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/40445/2038601450103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Boulders litter the place and some have odd formations. Bee, who is proving to have more imagination than I do, calls this the rhinoceros:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2370029280103007176SNutRh"><img alt="2008-0906 238 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/38047/2370029280103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>This one she calls the turtle.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2104144490103007176DViBPl"><img alt="2008-0906 247 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb60.webshots.com/40443/2104144490103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>There is a small wharf at the edge of the pond, as one can take a boat ride around Kabalin-an.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2768724700103007176UMbpeX"><img alt="2008-0906 250 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb36.webshots.com/30307/2768724700103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Colorful flowers could be found growing around the place and as Bee was having fun taking pictures of them, I decided to take pictures as well.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2860448210103007176KgwCtw"><img alt="2008-0906 252 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/41751/2860448210103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>The sun was setting as we left the Nature Park, and I think our trip back to the city was faster than our trip up the mountain. Apart from gravity, I am guessing another reason is that Mang Danny wanted to be out of the mountain road before dark as the way is not lighted at night and may be dangerous.</p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-3858350808745319188?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-27634787869942169012008-09-14T14:49:00.001+08:002008-09-14T18:56:03.736+08:00<p>It was sunny, instead of the rain one of the other guests at Harold's predicted, so Bee and I were able to spend the rest of the afternoon at Balinsasayao Nature Park.</p> <p>The Nature Park is the gateway to the Twin Lakes - two small, but deep crater lakes situated between four mountains and separated by a narrow mountain ridge. Lake Balinsasayao, which is near the mountain that bears the same name, is the bigger of the two. The other lake is called Danao, a word which actually means "lake" in the local dialect.</p> <p>We went through the Sibulan access road in going up to the nature park and it is tricky. I advise getting a driver who knows where the road turns, and have a vehicle that can withstand a bumpy ride. The road is paved and cemented in some places but gravelly in other places. One wonders who decided which part of the road gets cemented. If I observed it correctly, the parts of the road that turns around the hills and mountains are the cemented parts. I guess I should be thankful there is even a road that vehicles can pass. A decade or so ago, one had to trek up the mountains to get to the lakes, and that could take two days.</p> <p>Upon reaching the Nature Park entrance, one pays an entrance fee per head. At this part of the mountains, getting a cellphone signal is a hit or miss thing... sometimes you get a bar or two, most times you get no signal at all.</p> <p>To go to Balinsasayao Lake, one goes farther up but vehicles are only allowed up to a certain point. From there on, a boatman or boatwoman will greet you and lead you down a stone staircase going to the lake. You pay a separate fee for the boat ride, by the way. </p> <p>Bee hates walking and hates stairs the most, which is why she wasn't pleased with having to go down the stone steps. You go down farther than you went up from the park entrance.</p> <p align="center">Veni, vidi, vici. I came, I saw, I conquered.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2139626070103007176mcreGw"><img alt="2008-0906 176 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb34.webshots.com/42017/2139626070103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Bee in what I dub her conquistador pose as she took a short break at the part of the steps where one finally gets a glimpse of the lake.</p> <p>At the perimeter of the lake are shaded picnic tables where one could eat. Moored at the edge of the lake and near the stone steps are the boats.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2758117400103007176LMGQSm"><img alt="2008-0906 177 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/20349/2758117400103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>Our boatwoman told us to wear lifevests before assisting us into the boat we rented. Correction - the boatwoman assisted Bee and had no inkling by the way I clambered on board that I feared going into big bodies of water. I think she thought I wouldn't have a problem getting in a boat as I had no problem going down the stone steps. Bee would later comment how poles apart we are in that she loves the water but hate climbing, while I fear the any body of water larger than a small swimming pool but negotiated the stone steps like a mountain cat. Ofcourse, I think using the term mountain cat is exaggerating things as I would probably lag behind and give up earlier than a person with a fitter body.</p> <p>A typical boat ride should first take you across the Balinsasayao lake to the mountain ridge. This is where you climb out of the boat and go up another set of steps to the elevated hut/tower/cottage (whatever you want to call it).</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2261541650103007176PINOfh"><img alt="2008-0906 185 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/40529/2261541650103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>This watchtower of sorts happens to be on the mountain ridge that separates the two lakes, and therefore gives one a view of both Lake Balinsasayao and Lake Danao.</p> <p>I missed going up to that watchtower as Bee was not keen on climbing up and down another set of steps. I didn't push Bee to do more climbing in much the same way that she didn't push me to swim far from shore in Dauin. Besides it was her birthday. We asked the boatwoman to just paddle us around the lake.</p> <p>A forest growing on the mountainsides surround the lake. It is estimated that more than a hundred species of trees and more than a hundred species of birds could be found there. I saw a couple of very tall trees stretching out from the lower rocks and reaching a height of twice that (or more) of the trees growing on the upper rocks above it. I think those were Almagica trees - the tallest kind of tree to be found in the Philippines.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2846485930103007176IibLxf"><img alt="2008-0906 192 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/43975/2846485930103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>We took pictures of the scenery as the boatwoman paddled across the calm waters. The only sounds to be heard were our hushed voices, the dipping of the paddle in the water, the clicks from our cameras, and the chirping of birds.</p> <p>In the 1980s, cutting of the trees threatened to lower the water level of the lakes. These days, with the trees protected within the Nature Park, water could sometimes rise so high that a few picnic tables are submerged in the lake.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2838968670103007176DiRlMM"><img alt="2008-0906 202 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/44163/2838968670103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Bee wanted to take a dip in the lake but the boatwoman told her she could not. I think someone drowned in the lake not long ago and the locals realized it was difficult to pull out someone from the depths of the lake. Bee had to be contented with dipping her feet in the water, which the boatwoman allowed.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2047579800103007176veEuvI"><img alt="Bee_TwinLakes_small" src="http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/22351/2047579800103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>I jokingly, but half-seriously told Bee that if she does anything to tip the boat and put us in the water (which she just might do to have an excuse to take a swim), I wouldn't forgive her.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2662403240103007176RAYqCU"><img alt="2008-0906 206 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb37.webshots.com/41892/2662403240103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>We got back to where the boats were moored just before sunset. Mang Danny told us on the way to the Park that some boatmen/boatwomen don't like going into the lake after sunset because they believe in the presence of the supernatural.</p> <p>Since her camera was still in the dry box being carried by the boatwoman, Bee grabbed my camera and took the picture below after we got out of the boat. I must admit, it is a postcard worthy picture.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2472239230103007176jcKgcW"><img alt="2008-0906 207 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/36623/2472239230103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>The sun would be setting in a few hours as we climbed back up the stone steps to where the van we rented was parked. I lagged behind Bee, deciding to take a few more shots of the lake before leaving it.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2220534590103007176KLbCXU"><img alt="2008-0906 210 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/12666/2220534590103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-2763478786994216901?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-88467651695091382772008-09-14T09:53:00.001+08:002008-09-14T15:17:16.219+08:00<p>Next stop after snorkeling at the Dauin Marine Sanctuary would be Twin Lakes. That would mean going to Sibulan, located north of Dumaguete. Dauin is south of Dumaguete. You're probably thinking: we had to pick a site on the opposite pole of the city? We didn't really have a map of the area so we were not able to plan our trips geographically.</p> <p>When Bee and I finally got hungry, we asked Mang Danny for a good place to eat for lunch. We were already in Sibulan so he suggested we stop by Jo's by the Sea. It is a relatively new resort/restaurant located at the foot of a property with a 35-foot statue of the Virgin Mary in its large garden/grotto. That property belongs to Josephine Ng, who is also the owner of the Jo's chain of restaurants (the restaurants bear her name).</p> <p>After putting on a t-shirt over our bathing suits, we walked into the sea-side restaurant.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2211595260103007176KYdOxi"><img alt="2008-0906 156 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb36.webshots.com/43427/2211595260103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>Jo's offers a majestic view of the sea, and since it was a weekday and not that many people are in the restaurant, Bee and I took one of the fishing boat-inspired tables that is usually reserved for groups of eight. Not only is the table unique and colorful, it is nearest to the sea.</p> <p>The tables nearer to the counter were smaller and also looked like small bancas, but they weren't near the sea.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2924089020103007176mYvLsd"><img alt="2008-0906 159 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/11509/2924089020103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Next to the counter was a long washstand where four people could wash their hands at the same time. I find it quaint that they put a lot of thought into the design of their washstands. The Silliman Avenue restaurant had faucets fashioned like bamboo poles and sinks that look like giant clams. This restaurant had big jars on top of the faucets, giving the illusion that the water came from the jars instead of the visible pipes. Once again, I found detergent bars on the soap dishes.</p> <p>Their restroom is relatively clean though far from the restrooms one is used to find in decent Metro Manila restaurants/fastfood chains.</p> <p>Chicken barbeque is the restaurant's specialty, so we automatically ordered one barbeque each.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2577039000103007176lOVoHx"><img alt="2008-0906 154 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/23490/2577039000103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>Bee added prawns, sinigang na bangus, and grilled squid to our order. It was Bee's birthday so I told her I was paying for this lunch as a treat. The prawns, squid and chicken tasted great. The bangus (milkfish) however wasn't fresh and we didn't finish it as I was getting an allergic reaction. I usually start to feel itchy at the lips and tongue after eating seafood that isn't fresh ... this would be the first time that I got it after eating bangus. I don't think the restaurant has a proper freezer.</p> <p>We watched fishermen doing their job as we ate lunch. First they laid out their nets, then they started pounding the water with a long piece of wood to startle the fish and drive them towards the nets. Finally, they pulled out the nets that had captured some fish.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2423671770103007176uIQuOv"><img alt="2008-0906 151 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/43945/2423671770103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a> <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2552512430103007176fGjwpB"><img alt="2008-0906 153 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/14905/2552512430103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2338072860103007176CyNdFO"> <img alt="2008-0906 155 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/5973/2338072860103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>In the middle of the place was a chicken coop. I am beginning to think that every Jo's restaurant have pet chickens on display.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2127826420103007176VtyISa"><img alt="2008-0906 162 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/41294/2127826420103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Nearby is a children's playground and a snack bar. Only kids are allowed on the swings. <img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/smile.png"></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2889708450103007176HmsodZ"><img alt="2008-0906 164 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/43549/2889708450103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a> <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2450972260103007176UmygEG"><img alt="2008-0906 163 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/40557/2450972260103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>A path between the playground and the restaurant leads down to the shore. We went there to take some pictures.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2334321020103007176ijxXFp"><img alt="2008-0906 166 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/13757/2334321020103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>Bee wanted to take a swim but it was not allowed.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2284338410103007176CTocTi"><img alt="2008-0906 169 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/44066/2284338410103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-8846765169509138277?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-22243506806015073202008-09-14T05:47:00.003+08:002008-09-14T11:06:26.459+08:00<p>First stop today was the Marine Sanctuary in Dauin, a municipality south of Bacong and therefore a bit farther from Dumaguete City.</p> <p>The beach was a bit isolated when we got there, with only a handful of men manning the post. Some of them are probably fishermen, as there is a fishing boat nearby. At mid-morning we saw a diving boat at a distance, and some foreigner who was previously walking on the shore was later seen in a sailboat - he must be a regular in the area as the locals called out to him as he passed by. There are a few shaded tables with benches, and a couple of structures with a "shower" and a toilet. It was only during lunch time that more people trickled into the beach - some students going home from school and a family out on a picnic by the sea.</p> <p>The sand is a bit coarse and grey. The shore slopes gently into the water so that the water level rises slowly as you go farther into the sea. This is good for someone like me who has skipped half the swimming classes in school and therefore hasn't learned to swim. <img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/smile.png"></p> <p>The guard reminded us not to go beyond the rope stretched out across the sanctuary, which they need not tell me by the way as I prefer to stay close to shore.</p> <p>When I "snorkeled" in Boracay, I only had goggles and would just lift my head out of the water to breath in air ... I was just at the side of the boat so I didn't have to worry about swimming. This time, I had to actually do some paddling of my own while hanging onto a lifebuoy (humor me please, that's the only way Bee could get me into the water) and had a snorkeling mask with a mouthpiece. Problem is, I had trouble adjusting to breathing in and out through the mouth, so I still ended up lifting my head out of the water most of the time, expelling water that got into my nose. I did consider junking the mask altogether, but stuck to it anyway.</p> <p>A dozen feet or so from the beach, one could already see colorful fishes swimming underneath. Nearer to the rope, I saw schools of fish swimming by. Bee saw some species she hadn't seen before and got excited. She actually swam across the rope where the view was more beautiful. I got out of the water early as I noticed the water getting higher and the current getting stronger. As I sat by a fishing boat waiting for Bee to get back, her "15 more minutes" got extended by another 5 I think.</p> <p>One could really appreciate the efforts made to maintain the marine sanctuary, and I wouldn't mind paying the snorkeling fee. What I found a bit funny however is that they actually have different rates for snorkeling, diving, diving with a camera, and diving with a video camera.</p> <p>Bee regretted not bringing her camera's underwater casing along. I was contemplating on buying my camera an underwater casing.</p> <p>Note however that this isn't one of those "resort-type" beaches. The "shower" in the small square cubicle I got into was actually a faucet raised above the head. There was also another faucet just below the waist to make it easier to wash the legs and feet. The door on the opposite side of the same structure led to a small toilet that does not have a water tank - that is, you have to pour water from a bucket to flush it. If you're in Dauin to snorkel, then you wouldn't mind such basic amenities as you would spend most of your time in the water anyway.</p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-2224350680601507320?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-70293233926264594622008-09-14T03:14:00.002+08:002008-09-14T08:03:01.257+08:00<p>Harold had invited Bee and I to Reggae Wednesday Night at Hayahay Restaurant. Bee was coughing bad and didn't feel like stepping out.</p> <p>Around 9PM, I decided to call Jon and consult him regarding Bee's non-stop coughing. By a series of questions over the phone, Jon decided Bee had bronchitis and recommended that we buy Tuseran which will address both her cold and incessant coughing, therefore allowing her a good sleep. As usual, Bee was self-medicating and had been trying out different medicines - changing medicines if one doesn't work. She said she would eventually move on to trying Tuseran even if Jon hadn't recommended it. He he he.</p> <p>We stepped out of Harold's Mansion in order to buy the medicine from a pharmacy. Since we were already out, we also decided to eat out.</p> <p><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2714446550103007176PiycMv"><img alt="2008-0906 148 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/41897/2714446550103007176S200x200Q85.jpg" align="left"></a>Bee suggested we eat dinner at Jo's Chicken Inato. Bee had eaten at a Jo's restaurant in Cebu and liked the chicken so much that when we passed by Jo's at Silliman Avenue earlier that day, she intended that we eat one meal there.</p> <p>Jo's was closing down when we got off the tricycle, but the staff were accomodating enough to let inside. Only the grilled chicken (or barbecue) was still available from the menu, which was okay since Jo's is actually known for the chicken barbecue.</p> <p>We were led to the second floor where we ate at the open-air terrace. We would have liked to eat at the closed off area but they already shut down the air-conditioning. </p> <p>The chicken bbq is meant to be eaten by hand, which is why Jo's had washstands on opposite sides of the room. They only have detergent soap though.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2487034900103007176BxSggn"><img alt="2008-0906 004 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/40959/2487034900103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>If you want to eat using a spoon and fork, just request a pair from the waiter/waitress.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2975659310103007176FEXyKA"><img alt="2008-0906 147 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/43136/2975659310103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>This is a live chicken. I wonder what it would think if it found out what the restaurant is famous for. </p> <p>The chicken was indeed delicious, and that's largely due to the marinade they use. After we finished eating, washed our hands and paid our bill, the staff showed us out through a side door. The main doors of the restaurant were already closed.</p> <p>Apparently, that particular restaurant in Dumaguete City is the original, or first, Jo's restaurant. The Jo's in Cebu is just a branch.</p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-7029323392626459462?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-28111472895349798072008-09-14T01:45:00.001+08:002008-09-14T06:55:46.390+08:00<p>Back in Dumaguete City, but before driving us back to Harold's, Mang Danny stopped by Panda Ice Cream Haus and told us to try their fried ice cream ... which Bee and I haven't tasted before.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2828721430103007176GpxDUy"><img alt="2008-0906 145 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/22517/2828721430103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>I thought it was like the "hot" ice cream that was popular around Manila when I was a kid. It wasn't.</p> <p>Although Panda's is the first place where I heard of and tasted it, fried ice cream is actually found in different parts of the world. Panda's serves the Asian variant, which is ice cream "wrapped in special dough" (most likely similar to batter used in tempura), and then deep fried fast.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2982581240103007176ZrhuJN"><img alt="2008-0906 001 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/17219/2982581240103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>You have to eat it before it totally melts inside the fried dough... otherwise it gets messy to eat. If you want to try it, lots of people recommend ordering the pandan flavor.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2065663710103007176jKwBYW"><img alt="2008-0906 003 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/43706/2065663710103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Although popular for the fried ice cream, Panda mainly sells the usual ice cream that you scoop onto a cone or cup. The available flavors incorporate fresh fruits grown in Negros Oriental and nearby provinces. Panda boasts that its ice cream has low fat and less sugar. The ice cream house also sells its own pastries and soya milk.</p> <p>The Panda website: <a href="http://www.pandaicecream.net/">www.pandaicecream.net</a></p> <p>Panda actually has its own jingle - cute.</p> <p>Bee bought Mang Danny a fried ice cream before we left the ice cream house.</p> <p>~*~*~On a separate note~*~*~</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2597799540103007176ZhbehA"><img alt="2008-0906 146 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/42263/2597799540103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>This sign made Bee chuckle ... simply because we've been into at least three cafes/restaurants in Dumaguete City this day and ALL of them have this sign at the counter.</p> <p>Bee is inclined to think that there may be people in the city who tend to skip paying. Alternatively, I think that people there are used to having a waiter/waitress taking their orders and delivering their food to their table, and ofcourse the customer pays after eating ... in my version, the sign is a way of telling customers that the particular establishment employs "self-service", which includes ordering and paying first at the cashier.</p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-2811147289534979807?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-19473714742429533442008-09-13T23:28:00.001+08:002008-09-14T04:39:35.128+08:00<p>South of Dumaguete City is the municipality of Bacong, home of Negros Oriental Arts and Heritage's Stonecraft factory, or NOAH for short.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2399525790103007176fDhmMv"><img alt="2008-0906 130 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/42605/2399525790103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>NOAH started out with stone crafts similar to the marble pieces from Romblon... which were usually name plates, paper weights, vases, candleholders and pen holders made of jade, riverstone and the like. Fascinated with mosaic and jigsaw puzzles, the owners eventually experimented with creating multicolor designs using the stones. This stonecraft proved to be more popular and became their main export product.</p> <p>A typical piece starts with a paper design on a wooden base, with metal strips tracing the outlines.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2816306410103007176HFMvbN"><img alt="2008-0906 133 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/5468/2816306410103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>Large chunks of jade and other stones are piled up in the courtyard.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2781461430103007176YueQLW"><img alt="2008-0906 131 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/43057/2781461430103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a> <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2290418960103007176IrefsP"><img alt="2008-0906 132 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/41290/2290418960103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>These stones would be cut and shaped for use in the designs. The cut stone should ideally be exact to the shape it will cover on the design. However, there would still be spaces between the stone pieces and the metal outlines. These spaces are filled up with powder/grains of the same stone. The fillers are grounded up "rejects" and pieces too small to cut up.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2290213590103007176OyMSBP"><img alt="2008-0906 135 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/15614/2290213590103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Once the design inlay is finished, the stone is polished and laminated. The other pieces like mechanisms for clocks, or legs for tables, are then added for the final product.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2392642180103007176OXZdgb"><img alt="2008-0906 136 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/40454/2392642180103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>NOAH still manufactures the usual pen holders, vases, candle holders and and paper weights made of single stone (no mosaic work). In addition, they have branched out to making jewelry like necklaces, earrings and bracelets made of stones, shell and coral stringed together.</p> <p>Oddly, their shop also sells trinkets and keychains that seem to be manufactured elsewhere (probably even imported from China).</p> <p>You would find their products in most Filipiniana sections of Metro Manila department stores, like Rustan's.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2713274290103007176XnKOoq"><img alt="2008-0906 138 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/43295/2713274290103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2783365480103007176ovIFTQ"><img alt="2008-0906 139 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb21.webshots.com/41428/2783365480103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>NOAH's website: <a href="http://www.noahphil.com/">www.noahphil.com/</a></p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-1947371474242953344?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-88969066966403079252008-09-13T21:40:00.002+08:002008-09-14T03:22:31.991+08:00<p>Mang Danny parked near Rizal Park and I got out to take a few pictures of the Dumaguete Belfry. Bee was too tired to step out.</p> <p>In 1811, the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral was built and beside it, the belfry - also called the Campanario de Dumaguete (belfry).</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2882042250103007176VLWXlS"><img alt="2008-0906 118 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/42338/2882042250103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2367547070103007176pvGpae"><img alt="2008-0906 125 (Small)" src="http://thumb16.webshots.net/t/50/750/5/47/7/2367547070103007176pvGpae_th.jpg" align="left"></a>The lower part of the belfry is much older, as it was built upon one of the four original massive watchtowers that in the 1760s (alternate dating would be between 1774-1776) were used to look for and warn against approaching slave raiders and/or pirates. The upper layers, which now constitute the belltower were actually added in 1867 (Click the picture of the marker on the left to see a larger version of it).</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2028854820103007176juDyhO"><img alt="2008-0906 102 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/43017/2028854820103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>The bellfry, made of coral and brick, was restored in 1987, during which the garden and grotto of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was added at the base.</p> <p>Based on older pictures I found in the "Fortress of Empire" book, I think people lit up candles and said prayers at the base of the Campanario. I guess that the stands for candles in front of the grotto were placed there after the 1987 restoration.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2826235490103007176DPZFWf"><img alt="2008-0906 124 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/44181/2826235490103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>When lighted up at night, the belfry looks beautiful.</p> <p>I am not sure if the building below is connected to the Cathedral as it stands adjacent to the belfry. I took its picture because I found the architecture reminiscent of the bahay na bato. I think it is relatively new though, and houses the Medjugorje Peace Centre.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2595982830103007176GIDjpx"><img alt="2008-0906 121 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/33078/2595982830103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-8896906696640307925?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-91168771254793077352008-09-11T20:11:00.001+08:002008-09-12T00:46:06.373+08:00<p>Rizal Boulevard is supposedly named after Jose Rizal because the Philippine hero had strolled there once when he was exiled to nearby Dapitan.</p> <p>This stretch of road follows the coast line, and the trees and lamp posts lining it makes the boulevard a charming sight. People here simply call it the Boulevard.</p> <p>Many hotels, restaurants, banks and other commercial establishments could be found here and on adjacent roads. The night life is also generally centered on this area. It is therefore ideal for the tourist to book a hotel along the Boulevard since everything would be at walking distance. Naturally, the room rates of hotels along Rizal Blvd. are a bit higher compared to others in the area.</p> <p>Bee and I were looking for a smoothie and strolled into Cafe Manila.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2304055780103007176JYgTfo"><img alt="2008-0906 002 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/34768/2304055780103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p> <p>Their smoothies are not that special, but their pastries are good - and relatively cheap compared to the prices you'd get in a mall in Metro Manila. Bee and I liked the Tiramisu. The pineapple turn-over was too sweet.</p> <p>After eating at Cafe Manila, Bee and I walked out to the Boulevard and sat on one of the benches facing the sea. Nearby is the landmark commemorating the landing of the first sisters of St. Paul of Chartres in the Philippines.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2616379810103007176QrypBy"><img alt="2008-0906 046 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/10948/2616379810103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a> <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2963625710103007176fnSlhO"><img alt="2008-0906 079 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/7299/2963625710103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2769807620103007176VaeKic"><img alt="2008-0906 080 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/13502/2769807620103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a> <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2627920590103007176VlMsaR"><img alt="2008-0906 081 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/41675/2627920590103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-9116877125479307735?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-74672517735731454342008-09-11T18:37:00.001+08:002008-09-12T00:02:04.133+08:00<p align="center"><embed allowscriptaccess="never" name="WebshotsSlideshowPlayer" pluginspage="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer" src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf" width="350" height="384" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" loop="false" wmode="opaque" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" quality="best" menu="false" flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F566567286uAjpdR%3Finline%3Dtrue&inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D566567286%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566567286uAjpdR&postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566567286uAjpdR&audio=on&audioVolume=33&autoPlay=false&transitionSpeed=5&startIndex=0&panzoom=on&deployed=true"></embed><br><br><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/album/566567286uAjpdR"></a></p> <p>Silliman University's Center for Tropical Studies (Centrop) is doing it's share in preserving endangered species in the A.Y. Reyes Zoological and Botanical Garden.</p> <p>Located in Daro, Dumaguete City, this mini-zoo is being aided in its efforts by a number of associations and other zoos like the Melbourne Zoo and the UK's Chester Zoo.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2899042560103007176hSxscN"><img alt="2008-0906 094 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/41008/2899042560103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a> <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2600775170103007176ddYvbs"><img alt="2008-0906 095 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/43964/2600775170103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>After paying a small entrance fee at the entrance, one climbs up a walkway that goes above and through the pens housing the Lagsaw, or Philippine spotted deer.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2753692450103007176FnQTsH"><img alt="2008-0906 101 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/6573/2753692450103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Their spots enable them to blend in perfectly with the dry leaves and the shadows cast by trees that my friend Bee exclaimed in surprise when she realized she was already face to face with one of the deer. He he he!</p> <p>There are other cages after the walkway. Housed within them are crocodiles, monkeys, a large snake, bats, birds and wild pigs.</p> <p>Centrop has something to be proud of recently. It has finally been able to breed within the zoo the critically endangered Pugngan or Negros bleeding-heart pigeon.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2543828320103007176MpBtTA"><img alt="2008-0906 113 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/10099/2543828320103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>According to the caretaker in charge of the pigeons, the Pugngan in captivity had lain eggs but never actually remained with the eggs for the whole incubation period. If this behavior is prevalent amongs the species, then it is probably a factor on why the population of the Pugngan has drastically decreased. Ofcourse the biggest factor would be the dwindling forest area that served as their home.</p> <p>To solve the breeding problem, they decided to try putting the eggs in the nest of the Luzon bleeding-heart pigeon. Apparently, the Luzon bleeding-heart pigeon would take care of all the eggs placed in its nest along as they are placed there at the same time its own eggs were lain, or even one day before it lays its eggs. Because the zoo had been able to find a host for the Pugngan eggs, the first batch of Pugngan eggs hatched last month. All but the youngest of the hatchlings are still alive.</p> <p>Although the zoo is primarily concerned with the preservation and breeding of the bleeding-heart pigeons, it has a pair of the endangered Visayan Tarictic hornbill. A batch of hatchlings from the pair have been recently transferred to another zoo as the place can only accomodate a certain amount of birds. The male of the species (above) has more color than the female.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2900506000103007176OOqEXO"><img alt="2008-0906 126 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/42459/2900506000103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2687685880103007176TFbmOz"><img alt="2008-0906 127 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/38599/2687685880103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Another group of endangered animals in the zoo are the wild pigs.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2890614140103007176ScXyKC"><img alt="2008-0906 137 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/42002/2890614140103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>The pigs in the zoo are shy creatures, and are cuter than their domesticated cousins. One of the pigs also gave birth recently.</p> <p>This sign actually made me think of food... which made me feel guilty considering I was in a zoo.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2172598180103007176IbSVgV"><img alt="2008-0906 129 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/41457/2172598180103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>As the place is also a botanical garden, scattered around the area are tall trees labeled with their local, english and scientific names. Some of the trees I have only heard and seen of only as part of furniture, or maybe seen as street names in Metro Manila.</p> <p>I have to say though that I would rather call the tree below "sugar palm" than use its other name: "idiok"... the latter is way too close to the english word "idiot".</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2147548770103007176RLrhCY"><img alt="2008-0906 143 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/40039/2147548770103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width="350"></a></p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-7467251773573145434?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-15169966929675320772008-09-06T19:04:00.001+08:002008-09-12T00:01:17.879+08:00<p>At Bantayan, Dumaguete City, and near the Silliman beach, is the <a href="http://su.edu.ph/marinelab/about.html">Silliman University Marine Lab</a>. According to its <a href="http://su.edu.ph/marinelab/about.html">website</a>, it was established in 1974 as a marine research facility.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2686946430103007176YdcOiK"><img alt="2008-0906 083 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/6104/2686946430103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>There are several buildings and structures in the area, but Bee and I checked out the Discovery/Information building first.</p> <p><strong><u>Discovery Building</u></strong></p> <p>Right outside the building is displayed the skull and jaw bone of a sperm whale that beached in Siquijor. SUML recovered the bones from Siquijor in 2000 and it took nine hours to transport it to Dumaguete by pumpboat.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2526939060103007176hDnlFM"><img alt="2008-0906 031 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/41388/2526939060103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Inside the Discovery/Information building is the Our Seas, Our Life exhibit. There are stuffed marine animals on display, as well as a collection of sea shells.</p> <p>Different types of turtles:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2695114690103007176XYphcs"><img alt="2008-0906 029 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/42090/2695114690103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a> <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2490892980103007176Gnyego"><img alt="2008-0906 033 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/12192/2490892980103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Bone from a whale shark:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2841017300103007176PaHWlH"><img alt="2008-0906 032 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/44288/2841017300103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Dugong skeleton:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2950344760103007176SpLySe"><img alt="2008-0906 037 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/38748/2950344760103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Armored Sea Robins:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2963822410103007176aCOSDa"><img alt="2008-0906 040 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/41260/2963822410103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Starfish:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2866565410103007176psMxrZ"><img alt="2008-0906 041 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/42315/2866565410103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a> <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2647155350103007176UCOOdq"><img alt="2008-0906 042 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/29096/2647155350103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a><br><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2488239000103007176UkSWZc"><img alt="2008-0906 043 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/11969/2488239000103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a> <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2979808480103007176VHKnuV"><img alt="2008-0906 044 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/41333/2979808480103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Giant clam shells:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2011237620103007176QYUNRy"><img alt="2008-0906 047 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/42784/2011237620103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Puffers or Balloon fish:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2664052020103007176dBohkb"><img alt="2008-0906 048 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/15808/2664052020103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a> <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2683777840103007176aqNERx"><img alt="2008-0906 050 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/16374/2683777840103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Crocodile:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2212833720103007176sceSjY"><img alt="2008-0906 051 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/21134/2212833720103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p><u><strong>Culture Tanks</strong></u></p> <p>A path behind the Discovery building leads you to the culture tanks. A number of them are used for rearing the Giant Clam.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2902672200103007176BkEMpj"><img alt="2008-0906 055 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/42792/2902672200103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a><br><br><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2247400910103007176GArLxf"><img alt="2008-0906 058 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/31440/2247400910103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a> <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2892006700103007176kWpILB"><img alt="2008-0906 059 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/7046/2892006700103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>The rest have colorful fish like these:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2724497610103007176kAqwOM"><img alt="2008-0906 062 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/43211/2724497610103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a> <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2155197260103007176knlxbo"><img alt="2008-0906 063 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/8323/2155197260103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Old tires like these are used in making the artificial reefs:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2725906890103007176whkJPf"><img alt="2008-0906 052 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/39448/2725906890103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>There were Philippine crocodile pens nearby but Bee didn't want to go anywhere near them.</p> <p><u><strong>Whale Bone Museum</strong></u></p> <p>We found ourselves looking into a room full of whale bone upon opening the door of the building behind the tanks.</p> <p>Smack in the center and dominating everything is the skull/jaw bone of a Bryde's whale:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2061576360103007176QZzkVk"><img alt="2008-0906 064 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/10563/2061576360103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Lots of huge whale bones are stacked against one wall:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2622206630103007176yUGiCP"><img alt="2008-0906 067 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/41950/2622206630103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Silliman University boasts that this room actually has the second largest collection of whale and dolphin bones in the world.</p> <p>The melon headed whale is a large dolphin.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2132284440103007176iuexqg"><img alt="2008-0906 068 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/33182/2132284440103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p><strong><u>Marine Lab Building</u></strong></p> <p>Near the public parking area is the new marine lab building, built in the late 1990s with funds from USAID.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2864983440103007176bWbKBj"><img alt="2008-0906 071 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/40937/2864983440103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>On the ground floor is an aquarium containing colorful small fishes, live coral and anemones.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2619918320103007176lWghKg"><img alt="2008-0906 073 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/30624/2619918320103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a> <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2089556400103007176fgYQlY"><img alt="2008-0906 075 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/40177/2089556400103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a><br><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2933928070103007176OtdYtf"><img alt="2008-0906 077 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/38860/2933928070103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a> <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2352575410103007176XPPjCM"><img alt="2008-0906 082 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/19881/2352575410103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>There is also a small room with a collection of sea shells.</p> <p>The laboratories are upstairs.</p> <p><strong><u>Coconut Trees Rule!</u></strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2559938690103007176cOTdWC"><img alt="2008-0906 070 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/25923/2559938690103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Rows of coconut trees are found outside the New Marine Lab building, and the lowly pedestrian is advised to watch out for falling coconuts.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2635072140103007176rlAQMW"><img alt="2008-0906 069 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/41312/2635072140103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-1516996692967532077?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-15741845988898076072008-09-06T19:03:00.001+08:002008-09-08T00:43:57.827+08:00<p>Dumaguete is called a University town because of the number of universities found within the city. The largest of those, as well as one of the country's largest, is <a href="http://www.su.edu.ph/">Silliman University</a>.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2462879990103007176ymgqBp"><img alt="2008-0906 010 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/41789/2462879990103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>It is the oldest American university in Asia, established soon after USA bought the Philippines from Spain. It got its name from Dr. Horace B. Silliman, who provided the funds to establish the school.</p> <p>Between the Administration Building and Guy Hall is the Historical Marker which was laid down in 1960.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2751068290103007176TpbQhJ"><img alt="2008-0906 012 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/7846/2751068290103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a> <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2046279950103007176rJmMAd"><img alt="2008-0906 011 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/5742/2046279950103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a> </p> <p>Behind the marker is the Silliman University church. The seal of the university is seen on the reverse side. The gate ones sees when facing the university seal is the "Gate of Service of Silliman". Beyond that is the sea.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2480468990103007176NpnMEF"><img alt="2008-0906 025 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/24947/2480468990103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Nearby and also facing the sea is Silliman Hall, the first and oldest building in the campus (built in 1903).</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2098024900103007176CUKWKM"><img alt="2008-0906 013 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/43830/2098024900103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a> <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2709812490103007176FiGMxk"><img alt="2008-0906 014 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/7644/2709812490103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2479731070103007176zKOJBB"><img alt="2008-0906 018 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/41535/2479731070103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>According to the <a href="http://www.su.edu.ph/">university's website</a>, its walls were made of local coral blocks and solid iron posts; its ceiling was made of metal sheets taken from a New York theater, and the upper floors were made of timber imported from the US West Coast.</p> <p>Silliman Hall houses the Anthropology Museum which you can visit for a small entrance fee.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2920252040103007176ZcJpwF"><img alt="2008-0906 019 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/13645/2920252040103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>There is a small room on the first floor that has illustrations of the items on display on the second floor, with brief descriptions of their function.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2275231430103007176uNdnia"><img alt="2008-0906 016 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/40982/2275231430103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>The real exhibit is on the second floor where one finds a collection of baskets, weapons, and pottery which were either dug up, or are still in use by the indigenous people of the Philippines. There are also a few items from other cultures in the world.</p> <p>Except for an old bench, an old table and a chair, nothing could be found at the attic. Bee found it spooky and wouldn't climb the stairs leading to it with me.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2187925430103007176OcQZOE"><img alt="2008-0906 017 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/42039/2187925430103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>In front of Silliman Hall is the bust of Dr. Horace Brinsmade Silliman.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2478076680103007176YfJJMY"><img alt="2008-0906 021 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/37397/2478076680103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p> <p>Near the entrance to the Museum is a cafe where Bee and I rested for a while. Bee decided to practice taking artistic pictures.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2357005790103007176mOQKjA"><img alt="2008-0906 024 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/42923/2357005790103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></a></p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-1574184598889807607?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-38427412820692312042008-09-06T19:02:00.000+08:002008-09-07T21:20:41.876+08:00<p>Bee found the <a href="http://www.haroldsmansion.com/">Harold's Mansion website</a> via <a href="http://www.google.com/">Google</a>.</p> <p>To its credit, it is a favorite place for Peace Corp volunteers, backpackers and divers. It is also listed in Lonely Planet. You won't have a problem finding it as travel agents, residents and tricycle drivers in Dumaguete know the place.</p> <p><strong><u>Harold</u></strong></p> <p align="center"><img alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/7599/20080906364smallud7.jpg" width="350"><br>By <a href="http://profile.imageshack.us/user/jingfrey73" target="_new">jingfrey73</a>, shot with <a href="http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=DSC-W70&make=SONY" target="_new">DSC-W70</a></p> <p>Harold is a very friendly person. Even before we got to Dumaguete, he would reply to our queries sent via text messages and e-mails, although I think he prefers texting as he is often on the go.</p> <p>The first time he meets you, he would ask why you are in Dumaguete, and based on that, suggest places you may want to check out.</p> <p>He would also teach you how to go about on your own if you do not intend to avail a tour package from his establishment. He would introduce you to other guests, invite his guests to Reggae Wednesday nights at Hayahay and maybe even go to his lakehouse for a bonfire.</p> <p>If you are a diver like him, you may even end up comparing notes and planning a diving trip.</p> <p>I believe a big factor to his hostel's popularity would be his personality.</p> <p><u><strong>The Place</strong></u></p> <p>The website already lists the hotel and accomodation rates, and the current add-on for tax is 10%. They have relatively cheap rooms, although you might find cheaper inns/hostels/lodges in Dumaguete if you surf the web. Harold's Mansion prefer payment in cash. I have also noticed that they do not automatically write out a receipt. You have to request for one. I am not sure if this is the practice in other, similar hostels/inns in Dumaguete as well.</p> <p>Free airport pick-up is a boon for first time travelers to Dumaguete. This is a service provided by most hotels/hostels/inns in the city. However, you have to arrange your own transportation when you leave and go back to the airport. If someone lets you hitch a ride to the airport, then that's good. The next cheapest way to get there is to ride a tricycle for PHP8 a head.</p> <p>As claimed on their site, you get a free breakfast - just go to their 2nd floor cafe and look for the side table for the bread. They have two toasters for use of the guests. Go to the counter to get some marmalade, jelly and margarine. That's what the "free continental breakfast" actually is. You can get as much bread, jam, marmalade and margarine as you want, as long as it's during the breakfast hours.</p> <p>If you want to eat something more than that, you have to order from their menu and ofcourse pay. Their breakfast meals are priced somewhere in between Jollibee and Pancake House - sorry if the comparison makes sense only if you are a Manileno.</p> <p>If you brought along food that needs refrigeration, you may ask them to put it in the hostel's refrigerator. If you need to microwave food you brought (from outside the hotel) they will charge you a small fee for microwave use. We wanted to heat the home-made foccacia bread that Bee brought in an oven toaster, we had to settle for microwaved bread instead.</p> <p>Coffee and tea is free and available all day. Tea would be a Lipton sachet dunked in a cup of hot water. Coffee is brewed. If the coffee's gone, just ask the counter lady's help to brew you a new batch. Although brown (the muscovado kind which is ideal for coffee) and white sugar are on hand at the side table, you have to ask the counter lady for your sachet of creamer.</p> <p>Internet access is free and unlimited if you have a gadget that has wi-fi. Otherwise, you only get 30 minutes a day of free internet using one of the two PCs in the cafe. Just ask the staff for the username and password used to access the internet. I think you pay by the hour if you exceed the 30 minutes. If you want to burn a CD, you have to pay a different fee for that, but it includes the blank CD. The cafe, and therefore the PC use, is not open/available 24 hours. I think they close shop around 11PM.</p> <p>Rooms of the same rate are not necessarily of the same quality. We reserved a twin airconditioned room and the first room assigned to us had a weak aircon unit and a very slow fan. With both gadgets on, it still took a long while for the room to cool. It is a good thing that we were given another room with a stronger aircon unit. The first room we had also had a small bathroom - you can't open the door the whole 90 degrees because it would hit the toilet. If you are a big person, it would take a lot of maneuvering to get inside the bathroom. The sink was also outside of the bathroom. The final room we got had a slightly bigger bathroom... as the sink was inside to begin with.</p> <p>Hot and cold water would be for the shower only, because that is where the heater is connected. You control the heat by tinkering with the heater dials instead of the faucet (the way you do in some hotels).</p> <p>Harolds provides each guest a towel and soap, which they will replace everyday upon request. You don't necessarily get a new roll of tissue the moment you check in, but you can always call in for more tissue from the front desk. You may also request for more hangers.</p> <p>According to the more discerning Bee <img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/smile.png">, the bed has nice sheets. I found the pillows soft but medium sized, and the mattresses were a bit thin although of a good quality.</p> <p>The TV sets have cable, and I think their service provider is Skycable, which is the local service provider that has the most english language channels. The place has no problem getting a Globe signal.</p> <p>You could buy a Haroldsmansion t-shirt if you want a souvenir of the hostel... or if you ran out of clothes to wear. He he.</p> <p><u><strong>Arranged Tours</strong></u></p> <p>Harold would tell you how to go to the interesting places on your own, but you may also choose to get his services.</p> <p>Harold has a van with driver (Mang Danny), which you can rent for the day. The prices differ depending on where you intend to go, but you get the van for the whole day. If you like to dive, Harold could arrange a boat for you, which may include a diving guide/instructor.</p> <p>If there are other guests going to the same place as you are, Harold may put you together in one trip so you could just split the bill evenly.</p> <p>If you did not bring your own equipment, you can rent a snorlking mask and flippers at the front desk.</p> <p>Harold's tour rates are a bit expensive, though not as expensive as those offered by travel agencies. If you asked the locals, you may get tips on cheaper deals especially if you are travelling in a group, since they charge for the use of the vehicle and a fixed tour guide fee instead of charging per head.</p> <p>If you don't mind not riding an airconditioned vehicle, then I recommend you just take the tricycle to go around spots in Dumaguete City as they only charge PHP8 per head. It is adviseable to get a vehicle with a driver familiar with the roads if you are going to high places like Twin Lakes where the roads are tricky and could be dangerous if you made the wrong turn.</p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-3842741282069231204?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-27340437717700480442008-09-06T19:01:00.001+08:002008-09-07T18:13:45.530+08:00<p>For domestic destinations, I have always been booked on <a href="http://www.philippineairlines.com/">Philippine Air Lines (PAL)</a> with one exception where I flew Air Philippines when PAL pilots were on strike. That Air Philippines plane felt like a rickety bus that I would choose PAL over Air Philippines anytime. I haven't flown <a href="http://www.cebupacificair.com/">Cebu Pacific</a> yet.</p> <p>For the trip to Dumaguete, Bee and I chose <a href="http://www.cebupacificair.com/">Cebu Pacific</a>, as it was almost PHP500 cheaper. Travel insurance isn't included, however, and since we wanted that, we paid additional PHP250. As the travel insurance option was never raised when I flew PAL, I think PAL automatically includes this in its fare. If so, then at this point, the difference between PAL and Cebu Pacific was now only almost PHP250.00.</p> <p>When we got on the plane, I found the seats in Philippine Air Lines more comfy in comparison, although I am not sure whether PAL uses the same kind of plane when flying to Dumaguete. The PAL focker plane I took to Bicol on my first ever plane ride had better seats if my memory hasn't failed me, and that plane is smaller than this one.</p> <p>During the flight, no free snack was served. If you are hungry, you have to buy from the stewards/stewardesses pushing the food cart along the aisle. That would probably cost you around PHP80.00.</p> <p>The landing on Dumaguete airport wasn't smooth and was probably the bumpiest I've experienced.</p> <p>As we got off the plane, i was thinking that my boss was right: flying PAL would have been better.</p> <p>It's cool though that Cebu Pacific gave away 3 bag tags on the plane ride home, via a "bring me" game.</p> <p align="center"><img alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/1543/20080906009smalljg2.jpg" width="350"><br>By <a href="http://profile.imageshack.us/user/jingfrey73" target="_new">jingfrey</a>, shot with <a href="http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=SONY+ERICSSON+P1i&make=SONY+ERICSSON" target="_new">SONY ERICSSON P1i</a></p> <p>I won the last one since I got a cellphone charger in my bag.</p> <p>Also, even though Cebu Pacific has a reputation for late flights, the 2 trips I took with them were on time.</p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-2734043771770048044?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-72249000328408044712008-09-06T19:00:00.022+08:002009-01-01T21:54:31.528+08:00<P><EM>(Click the links to other entries for more details)</EM></P><br /><P><STRONG><U>Day 1 (03-Sep-2008) - The University Town</U></STRONG></P><br /><P align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2409469450103007176lhhnGx"><IMG alt="2008-0906 026 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/44008/2409469450103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A></P><br /><P>Bee wanted to maximize our stay in Dumaguete so we chose&nbsp;a 7:10AM plane trip going there.&nbsp; Which meant I have to be at the NAIA Terminal 3 at around 5:00AM ... 6:00AM at the latest.&nbsp; My mom was worried that leaving the house before sunrise might be dangerous, so I dragged my brother to accompany on the trip to the airport just to make her happy.</P><br /><P>Left the house a few minutes after 4AM since I decided to unpack/pack my luggage for one last time.&nbsp; The bus left after 4:30 because the driver/conductor wanted it to be at least 80% occupied.&nbsp; It also picked up more passengers along the way, so the delays meant I was still checking in my bags at the <A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/318/Flying_Cebu_Pacific_to_Dumaguete_City">Cebu Pacific</A> counter when the boarding call came.</P><br /><P>Despite its reputation for delayed flights, <A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/318/Flying_Cebu_Pacific_to_Dumaguete_City">Cebu Pacific</A> landed at Dumaguete airport on time.&nbsp; The&nbsp;place looked like the airport in Kalibo, with no luggage carousel.&nbsp; You get to watch the men bringing the luggages down from the plane and to an area at the arrival station.&nbsp; Once you spot your own luggage, you only have to come forward and grab it from the staff.&nbsp; You still have to show your stub at the exit though, and the guard will check if the sticker on your luggage has the same number as your claim stub.</P><br /><P><A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/319/Harolds_Mansion_Dumaguete_City">Harold's Mansion</A> provides free airport pick-up, and waiting for us at the airport was Mang Danny with Harold's van.&nbsp; We contracted him for a day tour and after checking in,&nbsp;eating brunch, and changing rooms, we got back into the van and went to the following places:</P><br /><UL><br /><LI><A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/320/Silliman_University_Dumaguete_City_03-Sep-2008">Silliman University's Anthropology Museum at Silliman Hall</A> <br /><LI><A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/321/Silliman_University_Marine_Lab_03-Sep-2008">Silliman University (SU) Marine Lab</A> <br /><LI><A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/322/A.Y._Reyes_Zoological_and_Botanical_Garden_03-Sep-2008">SU's A.Y. Reyes Zoological and Botanical Garden</A> <br /><LI><A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/323/Rizal_Boulevard_Dumaguete_City_03-Sep-2008">Rizal Boulevard</A><BR>(since we got hungry and thirsty around 2PM and decided to eat at a cafe) <br /><LI><A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/324/Dumaguete_Cathedral_and_Belfry_03-Sep-2008">El Campanario de Dumaguete</A> <br /><LI><A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/325/Negros_Oriental_Arts_and_Heritage_03-Sep-2008">Negros Oriental Arts and Heritage (NOAH)</A> <br /><LI><A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/326/Panda_Ice_Cream_Haus_03-Sep-2008">Panda Ice Cream Haus</A> <br /><LI><A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/327/Jos_Chicken_Inato_at_Silliman_Avenue_03-Sep-2008">Jo's Chicken Inato at Silliman Avenue</A></LI></UL><br /><P>That was a satisfying first day... used my camera a lot and my batteries almost ran out of charge by the time we got back to the hostel.</P><br /><P>~*~*~*~</P><br /><P><U><STRONG>Day 2 (04-Sep-2008)&nbsp;- Bee's Birthday</STRONG></U></P><br /><P align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2838968670103007176DiRlMM"><IMG alt="2008-0906 202 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/44163/2838968670103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A></P><br /><P>The original plan last night was to see the twin lakes, then if we have time, check out Dauin and maybe snorkel.&nbsp; Mang Danny thought it wasn't adviseable as we might be too tired to snorkel after the Twin Lakes visit.</P><br /><P>When we woke up, we realized it rained while we were sleeping and that&nbsp;mroe rain was in the weather forecast.&nbsp; It was bad news&nbsp;as going to Twin Lakes is not adviseable when it is raining.&nbsp; I suggested to Bee that we go to Dauin first since she likes snorkeling anyway.&nbsp; Then, if it looks like it will be a sunny afternoon, go to to Twin Lakes.&nbsp; Which is what we did.</P><br /><P>The day's itinerary therefore was:</P><br /><UL><br /><LI><A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/328/Dauin_Marine_Sanctuary_04-Sep-2008">Snorkeling at one of Dauin's Marine Sanctuaries</A> (not sure if we were at the East or West side) <br /><LI><A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/329/Jos_By_the_Sea_04-Sep-2008">Jo's By the Sea Resort and Restaurant</A> <br /><LI>Balinsasayao Nature Park <br /><UL><br /><LI><A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/330/Lake_Balinsasayao_04-Sep-2008">Lake Balinsasayao</A> <br /><LI><A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/331/Kabalin-an_Pond_04-Sep-2008">Kabalin-an Pond</A></LI></UL><br /><LI><A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/332/Finding_Boston_Cafe_04-Sep-2008">Boston Cafe</A></LI></UL><br /><P>With the exception of the Boston Cafe incident, Bee had fun on her birthday.</P><br /><P>~*~*~*~</P><br /><P><U><STRONG>Day 3 (05-Sep-2008)&nbsp;- Apo Island</STRONG></U></P><br /><P align=center><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2844453940103007176lnyMyz"><IMG alt="2008-0906 312 (Small)" src="http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/42862/2844453940103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A></P><br /><P>There were at least 4 of us going to Apo Island today, so Harold arranged a trip for us last night.&nbsp; We were at the lobby at 9AM, and found out that the other guests joining us were Tom, Jack, and Aira.&nbsp; The sixth person on the team is Patro, the diving instructor.&nbsp; Mang Danny drove all 6 of us to Malatapay where&nbsp;Patro took charge the moment we got on the pump boat.</P><br /><P>It was raining again that morning so Patro wasn't sure if the boat could drop Bee and me off by the beach.&nbsp; If the waters wouldn't allow docking, I was keen on staying on the boat and probably read a book rather than try diving. He he he!&nbsp; Anyway, luck would give us sunshine by the time we approached the island and so Patro dropped us two snorklers on the beach before the rest of them headed for deeper waters for diving.</P><br /><P>Hung around the following places on the island this day:</P><br /><UL><br /><LI><A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/341/Apo_Island_Marine_Sanctuary_05-Sep-2008">Apo Island Marine Sanctuary</A> (I chickened out of snorkeling at the last minute) <br /><LI><A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/342/Apo_Village_05-Sep-2008">Apo&nbsp;Village</A> <br /><LI><A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/343/Apo_Island_Beach_Resort">Apo Island Beach Resort</A></LI></UL><br /><P>Left Apo around 4:30PM.&nbsp; Harold recommended eating at Hayahay restaurant Wednesday night, which we didn't do because we ate at Jo's Chicken Inato.&nbsp; Decided to try the food there tonight, but when the tricycle dropped us off at the entrance, we liked the ambiance of nearby Lab-as better and&nbsp;ate there instead.&nbsp; The two restaurants have the same owner, by the way.</P><br /><P>~*~*~*~</P><br /><P><U><STRONG>Day 4&nbsp;(06-Sep-2008) - Pasalubong shopping</STRONG></U></P><br /><P align=center><EMBED name=WebshotsSlideshowPlayer pluginspage=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer src=http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf width=350 height=350 type=application/x-shockwave-flash flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F566570675wtvhaW%3Finline%3Dtrue&amp;inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D566570675%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566570675wtvhaW&amp;postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&amp;shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F566570675wtvhaW&amp;audio=on&amp;audioVolume=33&amp;autoPlay=false&amp;transitionSpeed=5&amp;startIndex=0&amp;panzoom=on&amp;deployed=true" menu="false" quality="best" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" wmode="opaque" loop="false" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed><BR><BR><A href="http://good-times.webshots.com/album/566570675wtvhaW">Sidlakang Negros Showroom - Sep. 6, 2008</A></P><br /><P>Harold recommended that we check out Sidlakang Negros on our first day.&nbsp; Bee and I decided to go there this day to shop for souvenirs and gifts.&nbsp; Once there, we realized that only 20%-30% of the shops are open, with the remaining 80% either under construction or awaiting for the arrival of inventory for sale.&nbsp; The showroom will be fully open by mid October of this year.</P><br /><P>We enjoyed shopping and looking around the three shops that were open.</P><br /><P>Ate lunch at nearby Nerisse afterwards.&nbsp; The food there tastes good, by the way.&nbsp; And Bee liked their garlic peanuts... a lot.</P><br /><P>Aira, Bee and I had the same 4:25PM flight back to Metro Manila, so we met at the lobby around 3PM.&nbsp; Danny initially told Aira we could hitch a ride back to the airport, but there were some change of plans.&nbsp; We considered taking tricycles, then Harold offered to drive us there in his truck.</P><br /><P><A href="http://jingfrey.multiply.com/journal/item/318/Flying_Cebu_Pacific_to_Dumaguete_City">Cebu Pacific</A> had a short "bring me" game during the flight.&nbsp; They gave away three bag tags.&nbsp; </P><br /><P align=center><IMG alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/1543/20080906009smalljg2.jpg" width=350><BR>By <A href="http://profile.imageshack.us/user/jingfrey73" target=_new>jingfrey</A>, shot with <A href="http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=SONY+ERICSSON+P1i&amp;make=SONY+ERICSSON" target=_new>SONY ERICSSON P1i</A></P><br /><P>The first one to show a SMILE magazine got the first one, the person who had a 5-centavo coin got the second one, and I got the third one because I was the first to show a cellphone charger.&nbsp; Bee was actually surprised I won... I think she was more surprised to find out I got the charger in my bag.</P><br /><P>Cebu Pacific was on time again, but our brothers were both stuck in traffic so Bee and I hung around at NAIA 3.&nbsp; Bee asked me to take a picture near the luggage carousel.</P><br /><P align=center><IMG alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/636/20080906366smallpu3.jpg" width=350><BR>By <A href="http://profile.imageshack.us/user/jingfrey73" target=_new>jingfrey</A>, shot with <A href="http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=DSC-W70&amp;make=SONY" target=_new>DSC-W70</A></P><br /><P>Then she took this picture with my camera...</P><br /><P align=center><IMG alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/2666/20080906367smallji3.jpg" width=350><BR>By <A href="http://profile.imageshack.us/user/jingfrey73" target=_new>jingfrey</A>, shot with <A href="http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=DSC-W70&amp;make=SONY" target=_new>DSC-W70</A></P><br /><P>and took a similar picture on her camera, and spent the succeeding minutes comparing the two.&nbsp; She ended up deciding she wanted a new camera since her camera&nbsp;doesn't have some of the features like mine does (starting with ISO 1000).&nbsp; That's what taking a photography class does, make a person want a newer camera - he he he!</P><br /><P>Bee's brother arrived a few minutes before Jon.&nbsp; Jon took&nbsp;a taxi going to the airport, but NAIA 3 is like the other terminals where&nbsp;taxis from the outside aren't allowed at the arrival area, so he got off at departure area, met me at the arrival area, where we took those expensive taxis to the nearby&nbsp;bus station.</P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-7224900032840804471?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-6967839297899973392008-06-22T18:45:00.001+08:002008-06-22T23:38:06.503+08:00<p>The Philippines has four areas nominated for the New 7 Wonders of Nature.</p> <ol> <li><strong>Tubbataha Reef</strong><br><img alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/2544/tubbatahathumb290x218su0.jpg"><br>Site Description: 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.<br>Current Ranking: 3<br></li><br /><li><strong>Chocolate Hills</strong><br><img alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/6583/chochillsthumb290x218ju8.jpg"><br>Site Description: 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.''<br>Current Ranking: 4<br></li><br /><li><strong>Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park</strong><br><img alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9213/puertoprincesathumb290xgt2.jpg"><br>Site Description: 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.<br>Current Ranking: 5<br></li><br /><li><strong>Mayon Volcano</strong><br><img alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/7360/mayonthumb290x218xa2.jpg"><br>Site Description: Mayon Volcano is an active volcano on the Filipino island of Luzon, 15 km northwest of Legazpi City.It is classified by volcanologists as a stratovolcano (composite volcano). Its symmetric cone was formed through alternate pyroclastic and lava flows. Mayon is the most active volcano in the country, having erupted over 47 times in the past 400 years, and is a part of what is called the Pacific Ring of Fire.<br>Current Ranking: 9<br></li></ol> <p>Click here to visit the site: <a href="http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/nominees/asia/">http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/nominees/asia/</a></p> <p>The process is still in the initial stage where places around the world are nominated and the most votes increases the chance that a site is included in the final 21. All you have to do is register to be able to vote. Your registration entitles you to seven votes. That means you can vote for all four nominees and add 3 more places from other parts of the world of your choice.</p> <p>You have until December 31, 2008 to make sure that at least one Philippine site is included in the final 21 which will be announced on January 2009.</p> <p>The real voting for the New 7 Wonders of Nature will take place in 2009 through 2010. The site has scheduled to announce the winners on the summer of 2010.</p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-696783929789997339?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-21647110661518026302008-05-04T23:23:00.002+08:002008-06-01T20:24:37.913+08:00<P>Boss Mon, Rhoda and Che took the 7:30 am PAL flight to Manila, so they left the <A href="http://davao.marcopolohotels.com/"><STRONG>Marco Polo Hotel</STRONG></A> at daybreak since they should be at the airport around 5:30 am.&nbsp; I was therefore alone in the room when I woke up around 6:30am.</P><br /><P>Ted texted me at 7am to ask if I was going down for breakfast.&nbsp; I replied that I would be down in 30 minutes.&nbsp; He told me that he and Boss Dan were taking a short tour of the city. </P><br /><DIV align=center><A title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target=_blank><IMG src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7698/20080504002smallfb0.jpg" width=350 border=0></A></DIV><br /><P>I was at the Cafe Marco around 7:36.&nbsp; Didn't see anyone from PNB there so I started texting Ted, Milette and Rey.&nbsp; Boss Dan and Ted were still on their way back to the hotel, Milette was just leaving her room, and Rey had just woken up.</P><br /><P>Sign that the ACI convention is over:</P><br /><DIV align=center><A title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target=_blank><IMG src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2521/20080504001smallnw9.jpg" width=350 border=0></A></DIV><br /><P>I walked around the lobby, then went back to Cafe Marco waiting for any of the guys show up.</P><br /><P>The staircase landing:</P><br /><DIV align=center><A title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target=_blank><IMG src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1643/20080504003smallfz2.jpg" width=350 border=0></A></DIV><br /><P>Finally saw Boss Dan and Ted at the lobby and we went to Cafe Marco together for breakfast.&nbsp; Milette, Dennis, Mr. Ayes and his family eventually showed up and joined us.&nbsp; </P><br /><P>There was talk of how the "No smoking" rule in Davao City has ruined the trip for most delegates who were smokers.&nbsp; The curfew didn't help either.&nbsp; It only heightened the difference between Davao City and Boracay - ACI's favorite convention place where the ambience is more relaxed vs. the formality of holding the convention in a hotel within a city, like Davao.&nbsp; I have a feeling that it will take a loong time before ACI reconsiders returning to Davao City.</P><br /><P>Was back in my hotel room around 9:30.&nbsp; Having nothing to do, I decided to take pictures of the room:</P><br /><DIV align=center><A title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target=_blank><IMG src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/73/20080504004smallik5.jpg" width=175 border=0></A>&nbsp;<A title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target=_blank><IMG src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/6212/20080504c001smallqf7.jpg" width=175 border=0></A></DIV><br /><DIV align=center><A title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target=_blank align="center"><IMG src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3232/20080504c002smallvx5.jpg" width=175 border=0>&nbsp;</A><A title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target=_blank><IMG src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/8607/20080504c003smalldk5.jpg" width=175 border=0></A></DIV><br /><P>According to the hotel's website, the Guest Room&nbsp;"<EM>average room size is 340 square feet / 32 square meters, and all rooms are designed to the requirements of today's corporate travelers.</EM>"</P><br /><P>Those requirements would be met by a television set with cable channels, a memo pad with pen, a wake up call service, a safe, lots of drawers, slippers, towels changed daily, a hair dryer, and about 10 hangers - half of them big enough for coats, the other half is the kind that has clips for trousers or skirts.&nbsp; No iron and ironing board though.</P><p>There is a Business center near the lobby. Which reminds me of something that happened yesterday morning while we were waiting for the bus to take us to Eden Park. Rhoda, Neil, Cezar, Steve, Henry and I were hanging around near the center of the lobby where there is a table with a computer. Cezar sat on the chair in front of the computer, grabbed the mouse, and started clicking the computer desktop. A hotel staff approached him and asked if he wanted to use the internet, since the service is available at the Business Center. Cezar replied in the negative, after which the staff politely told him that he is sitting in the hotel's Assistant Manager's desk, and could he please vacate the chair. It was so funny that I jokingly asked the staff to please repeat it so that I could capture the moment on my camera. He did not ofcourse, and we all left the desk.</p><br /><P><A title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target=_blank><IMG src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1162/20080518003smallck4.jpg" width=200 align=left border=0></A>Like most 5-star hotels, Marco Polo provide its guests daily with 2 sets of shampoo, lotion, bath foam, shower caps, toothbrush with toothpaste, small soap, big soap, tissue roll, and boxed tissue in the bathroom.&nbsp; You also get 2 sets of coffee mix along with packets of sugar, 2 bags of Lipton tea, and 2 bottles of water. </P><br /><P clear=all>Although Rhoda and I should have a room with two beds, the hotel ran out of double occupancy rooms and we got a single occupancy room with one bed and one cot.&nbsp; I slept on the cot (see picture above with bed - the cot is on the right).&nbsp; Makes me wonder if we should get some refund for that.</P><br /><P>The Deck looking like there was no party last night that ended early this morning with people jumping into the pool:</P><br /><DIV align=center><A title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target=_blank><IMG src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3352/20080504015smallgq9.jpg" width=350 border=0></A></DIV><br /><P>The view of Davao City from the hotel window:</P><br /><DIV align=center><A title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target=_blank><IMG src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2042/20080504012smallgy9.jpg" width=350 border=0></A></DIV><br /><P><A href="http://www.davaocity.gov.ph/"><STRONG>Davao City</STRONG></A> is not attached to any province like most cities in the Philippines are.&nbsp; Apart from being the Philippines' largest city, it is also one of the largest cities in the world in terms of land area.</P><br /><P>Under Mayor Duterte, Davao City has morphed into probably one of the cleanest and safest&nbsp;cities in the Philippines.&nbsp; You could say you can feel safe walking the streets at night, as long as you don't break the curfew.&nbsp;&nbsp;The threat from communist or Muslim insurgents is there ofcourse, but they tend to be active in other Mindanao cities, leaving Davao City relatively peaceful.&nbsp; </P><br /><P><A title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target=_blank><IMG src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2735/20080504c012smallzu6.jpg" width=200 align=right border=0></A>One thing I like here is that on every corner, you could see a pair of trash bins.&nbsp; It contrasts so much with Manila where one would be lucky to even find a real trash bin ... when Jon and I went to Bambang last month, I couldn't find any trash can, even in the LRT stations, that I was able to throw my trash only when we got back to Pacita.&nbsp; Laugh all you want.&nbsp; I am a Scholastican and was taught not to litter.</P><br /><P clear=all>I thought we were supposed to leave the hotel for the airport at 10:45,&nbsp;which seemed ages away, so I decided to step out to take more pictures.</P><br /><P>The Marco Polo Hotel facade:</P><br /><DIV align=center><A title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target=_blank><IMG src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5117/20080504c008smallkz3.jpg" width=350 border=0></A></DIV><br /><P>The Marco Polo is a landmark in Davao City apart from being considered the best hotel there by most people.</P><br /><P><A title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target=_blank><IMG src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1175/20080504c014smallnx6.jpg" width=200 align=left border=0></A> The hotel is located at the corner of C.M. Recto Street and M. Roxas Avenue.&nbsp; There is a 24 hour police station in front along M. Roxas.</P><br /><P clear=all><A title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target=_blank><IMG src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/9634/20080504c013smallre5.jpg" width=200 align=right border=0></A><A href="http://www.alsonsproperties.com/commercial.html">Aldevinco Shopping Center</A> is across the hotel on the C.M. Recto side.&nbsp; This commercial center is well known for Davao souvenirs, especially ethnic ones, and has been around since the 1960s.</P><br /><P>Since Aldevinco attracts foreign and local tourists, you will find hawkers outside the building selling fake sunglasses, watches, and the like. There is also the occasional beggar.&nbsp; The beggars won't bother you.&nbsp; It's the hawkers that won't leave you alone, especially if they&nbsp;noticed that you came from the&nbsp;Marco Polo.&nbsp;</P><br /><P><A title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target=_blank><IMG src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7291/20080504c011smallqx8.jpg" width=200 align=left border=0></A>Near Aldevinco, and also along C.M. Recto, is the <A href="http://www.addu.edu.ph/">Ateneo de Davao University</A>.&nbsp;The school opened in 1948 initially offering grade school and high school education.&nbsp; It started offering college courses in 1951.&nbsp; It became a university in 1977.</P><br /><P>Typical of Jesuit run schools in the Philippines, ADDU offers excellent education and graduates from its College of Law have been landing in the top ten of the bar exams. </P><br /><P>I was outside taking the above pictures when I got a text message from Boss Mon around 9:54.&nbsp; He had forgotten to take home his two boxes of pomelo and requested if we could bring them to Manila.&nbsp; He added that we don't have to bring them if it would mean being charged for excess luggage.&nbsp; At about the same&nbsp;time, Boss Dan and Milette were looking for me, since the shuttle to the airport was leaving earlier than expected.&nbsp; As I was rushing back to the hotel (at this point, it's starting to sound like the Hong Kong trip), I texted to them Boss Mon's request, including the number of the pomelo boxes' claim tags.&nbsp; The two of them got the boxes from the concierge and told me they would bring them since they each have only one luggage.&nbsp; Texted that to Boss Mon who then asked what time we would be arriving at the Manila airport so he could meet us and get the boxes.&nbsp; All these was going on while I was going up to my hotel room, bringing down my luggage, and checking out of the hotel.&nbsp; I was finished by the time the shuttle showed up.</P><br /><P>We were at the Davao airport just before 12:00 noon.&nbsp; After checking in our luggage, Dan and Milette decided to browse through the souvenir shops since they didn't have time to buy enough "pasalubongs" for their families.</P><br /><P>We saw Philippine actor Gabby Concepcion and took some pictures:</P><br /><DIV align=center><A title="2008-0504c 015 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2503446137/"><IMG alt="2008-0504c 015 (Small)" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2309/2503446137_94114e8d41_m.jpg" width=175></A>&nbsp; <A title="2008-0504c 017 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504278512/"><IMG alt="2008-0504c 017 (Small)" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2410/2504278512_1717a7a1dd_m.jpg" width=175></A></DIV><br /><P>The kid is not his ofcourse, nor Milette's. Another fan was having her photo taken with him and asked him to hold her baby.</P><br /><P>We resumed browsing through the shops after that.&nbsp; I ended up buying some dried seafood like squid, danggit and the little fish (fingerlings) called palad.&nbsp; Also bought pork chicharon.&nbsp; What really&nbsp;got my interest were the fish chicharon.&nbsp; Bought two just so me and my folk could taste them.</P><br /><P>Danny and Milette&nbsp;were hungry and went into a small restaurant to order lunch.&nbsp; I was still full so I just bought a bottle of juice.&nbsp; A trader from another bank joined them and they talked about Boss Mon instigating the jumping in the pool early that morning.</P><br /><P>I checked my cellphone and realized I got a text message from Julpha which she sent at 11:28.&nbsp; It was already 12:31.&nbsp; She told me that the pomelos were newly harvested and would be good to eat only after 3 to 5 days.</P><br /><P>After eating, the four of us got into the airport proper where the three of them immediately headed to the smoking lounge.&nbsp; I waited for them at gate 6, where we would board our 1:45 PAL flight to Manila.</P><br /><P>We boarded the plane on time.&nbsp; We were on the same row, but Dan and Milette took the seats near the window, I was seated in the middle column but near the aisle.&nbsp; Thought I had no seatmate but he showed up just before the plane closed its doors and prepared for flight.</P><br /><P>He was fair with sandy blonde hair that Milette thought he was a foreigner and wouldn't understand Tagalog.&nbsp; I had my doubts since he wasn't tall ... I thought he looked more like a Spanish mestizo.&nbsp; He made the sign of the cross when the plane started to move, and I was 50% sure he was Filipino.&nbsp; I was right.&nbsp; When we landed at NAIA and waiting for the plane to stop, he started talking to me in Tagalog with a heavy Davao accent.&nbsp; He asked me if we were in a group of people Davao for some sort of convention because the plane was noisy.&nbsp; I first thought he meant the people were noisy, then I realized he meant that the space underneath the plane where the checked in luggage were was unusually noisy because of too many baggages.&nbsp; He then launched into stories of airplane accidents and the reason he was nervous of the rattling noise.&nbsp; I think he has a phobia of plane flights.&nbsp; When he excused himself and headed to the restroom, I told Milette he was Filipino. If I made a bet, I would have won.</P><br /><P>I was at the NAIA luggage carousel at 3:30pm, which meant we landed ahead of time.&nbsp; Jon was already outside waiting for me to come out (I texted him yesterday requesting him to fetch me at the airport&nbsp;today). Taxis are not allowed at the arrival area so we had to walk towards the departure area to get a taxi.</P><br /><P>I had wanted to stop by the Ayala Mall and watch Iron Man, but with 3 bags and a box of pomelos, entering the cinema or eating at a restaurant would be bothersome, so we just headed to the BBL station and rode&nbsp;the bus for home.</P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-2164711066151802630?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-23759251137195541052008-05-03T23:56:00.000+08:002008-05-31T22:28:30.403+08:00<p>The hotel staff probably placed this note in every room this morning, especially those situated near the pool:</p> <p> <div align="center"><a title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1484/20080518004smallfg1.jpg" width="350" border="0"></a></div> <p></p> <p>The private function being referred to would be ACI's Fun Night.</p> <div align="center"><a title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/8606/20080503006smallzn9.jpg" width="350" border="0"></a></div> <p>Although The Deck was reserved from 6pm to 12 midnight, dinner was scheduled at 7pm. With about an hour to spare, I hung around the hotel room watching cable TV while Julpha and Rhoda ate Halo-halo at the hotel's Lobby Lounge.</p> <p><a title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2614/20080503007smallyx7.jpg" width="200" align="left" border="0"></a> Julpha and Rhoda returned to the hotel room and we went down to the Deck at the 4th floor together around 7pm. It was Dennis who told us to come early so we could choose a table that is in the airconditioned room, since most of the tables woule be in the open air. Nice idea, and even if we didn't care about air-conditioning, at least there would be a roof on our heads just in case it rains.</p> <p>The food was still being brought out to the buffet tables when we got there, so we went around taking pictures:</p> <p clear="all">Near the pool:</p> <div align="center"><a title="2008-0503c 028 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2503416861/"><img alt="2008-0503c 028 (Small)" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2189/2503416861_c0992ec004_m.jpg" width="175"></a> <a title="2008-0503c 029 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2503416939/"><img alt="2008-0503c 029 (Small)" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2346/2503416939_cb1ac2e231_m.jpg" width="175"></a></div> <div align="center"><a title="2008-0503c 030 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504249574/"><img height="75" alt="2008-0503c 030 (Small)" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2135/2504249574_745a232f2e_s.jpg" width="75"></a> <a title="2008-0503c 031 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504249652/"><img height="75" alt="2008-0503c 031 (Small)" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3132/2504249652_4fa1ac9ce7_s.jpg" width="75"></a> <a title="2008-0503c 033 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2503417185/"><img height="75" alt="2008-0503c 033 (Small)" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2211/2503417185_77ba349272_s.jpg" width="75"></a></div> <p>Near the buffet tables:</p> <div align="center"><a title="2008-0503c 034 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504249768/"><img alt="2008-0503c 034 (Small)" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3077/2504249768_4f7b7d6186_m.jpg" width="175"></a> <a title="2008-0503c 035 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2503417305/"><img alt="2008-0503c 035 (Small)" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2400/2503417305_a0bf8608ae_m.jpg" width="175"></a></div> <div align="center"><a title="2008-0503c 036 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504249938/"><img alt="2008-0503c 036 (Small)" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/2504249938_5b6dd456ce.jpg" width="350"></a></div> <p>By 7:30 we were already eating though the other delegates were only arriving. A band played while we were eating and in between sets, raffle prizes were being given away. The smaller prizes where giveaways from Reuters. No wonder we didn't get a Reuters item in our goodie bags yesterday. Reuters opted to give out raffle prizes. He he. </p> <p>Around 8pm, we went to the hotel entrance since our order of pomelos from Winkool Fruit Mart had arrived. Since there were a lot of boxes, the concierge suggested that the hotel keep them in storage rather than deliver them to our rooms. It was fine with the others but Rhoda insisted on bringing her boxes of pomelo to our room even if she had to bring them up herself - which she did. The rest of us kept the claim stubs the concierge gave me.</p> <p>Around 9:30, we got tired of listening to the band, so Rhoda, Julpha and I walked towards the poolside. We saw a group of Marlboro promo girls enter and they started giving freebies to anyone who smoked (the poolside is a smoking area). The eventually guards realized they had crashed in on the party and told them to leave. ICAP gave free drinks to clients in one corner of the Deck, but delegates thought it was an open bar care of ACI so everyone flocked there (even other brokers, I heard).</p> <p>By 10:30pm, a lot of the raffle winners were from Eastwest that Dennis, who was on the stage calling out the winners, had to explain to the audience that Eastwest sent a huge number of delegates, therefore increasing the chances that winners will be from that bank.</p> <p>The raffle was over around 11pm, and Rhoda and I decided to leave the party and go to our rooms. Rhoda will be taking the first flight to Manila tomorrow and had to leave the hotel early in the morning (make that dawn). She wanted to start packing her things tonight rather than do it tomorrow.</p> <p>The view of the Deck from our hotel room:</p> <div align="center"><a title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3306/20080503c039smallor0.jpg" width="350" border="0"></a></div> <p>A closer look at the place where the stage is:</p> <div align="center"><a title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3185/20080503c037smallzg3.jpg" width="350" border="0"></a></div> <p>The pool. The bar is on the left side:</p> <div align="center"><a title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://imageshack.us/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3540/20080503c040smallvg9.jpg" width="350" border="0"></a></div> <p>----- May 4 ------</p> <p>I heard that the guards had to request the remaining delegates to leave the area around 3am this morning. By then, Boss Mon had dared a lot of people to jump into the pool. Once he took off his shoes and shirt and jumped in, the others reportedly followed.</p></p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-2375925113719554105?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-58386437182479176762008-05-03T17:00:00.002+08:002008-05-31T20:51:09.927+08:00<p>Matina probably has the largest concentration when it comes to shops selling durian candies.</p> <p>The most popular is Lola Abon's Durian Candy located at 23 San Miguel Village. Thanks to this shop's popularity, a number of other durian candy makers have set up shop in San Miguel.</p> <p>Julpha did not bring us there, however. She brought us instead to Linda's Special Durian Candy at 26 San Antonio Village.</p> <p>Linda's is popular among Davaoenos, and some swear her candies are better than Lola Abon's. The durian bar in particular has chewy durian bits. If you love the durian fruit, you'll love the durian bar. The shop is not easy to find, however. If people you ask don't know the place, just ask where the basketball court is in San Antonio Village. You'll find Linda's nearby. It is only a couple of blocks from the main road if you take public transportation.</p> <p>The shop is owned by Erlinda Y. Ibanez, and it is a quaint one. The living room serves as the store, with the candies at one corner and the cashier's booth near the front door. A pile of baskets are near the candy shelves for use of the candy shopper. The cashier's booth has some jewelry displayed under the glass, and the rest of the living room is piled up with bags and giant stuffed tigers that you wonder if she sells them as well. The only free space would probably be the sofa. On the wall near the door, you'll find photos of celebrities/actors having their pictures taken at the shop ... which means that the place is popular among non-Davaoenos as well.</p> <p>The candies here sell fast, and we had to wait for a newly made batch to be packed. For candies, you'll find durian yemas and durian sticks apart from the durian bars. They also have langka yemas. If I didn't worry about packing the stuff for the trip back to Manila, I would have bought durian tarts or even the pies as well. I bought PHP900 worth of candies since Boss Dan asked me to buy our desk's "pasalubong" to the dealing room. He promised to pay his share when we meet later at the hotel. I had no intention of letting him pay though since buying the candies is nothing compared to the group's paying for more than half my hotel and plane fare to Davao City (I wasn't an official PNB delegate so I have to pay for my trip).</p> <p>Another shop that sells good candies is Anobei Sweets Enterprises whose address is 258 GSIS, Matina. This is where Teddy buys the candies he brings back to Manila whenever he visits his family in Davao City. I think the owner of this shop is related to Linda as the durian bars taste the same and the contact person according to the <a href="http://davao.da.gov.ph/List%20of%20Growers.html">Department of Agriculture website</a> has the Ibanez last name.</p> <p>We had already left the shop and walking towards the main road when Rhoda suggested that I ask Boss Mon what pasalubong he wants to buy. We actually stopped on the street and I called him from my cellphone. He said "pomelos", which meant we didn't have to walk back to Linda's. Julpha took care of his request by adding two more boxes to our order of pomelos.</p> <p>As it was already 4:30 pm, we directed the taxi we flagged down to bring us back to the Marco Polo hotel.</p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-5838643718247917676?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-80725725329279393902008-05-03T15:36:00.001+08:002008-05-31T19:34:11.569+08:00<p>Back at the Marco Polo hotel, Julpha met Rhoda and me at the lobby. She gave us the amount we would pay once the boxes of pomelos we ordered arrive. There was an issue when Rhoda found out that Dennis ordered PHP2,000 worth of pomelos. Rhoda had agreed to advance payment for Dennis' order thinking she would only pay PHP1,000. Through text, I told Dennis/Rey that Rhoda would not shoulder the additional PHP1,000. The three of us then got into a taxi and headed to Victoria Plaza. I tagged along because I had nothing else better to do.</p> <p>Rhoda had planned on shopping for pearls which a friend in the US requested her to buy and bring with her when she goes to that country later this month. Although Aldevinco Shopping Center is near Marco Polo Hotel (you only cross a street to get there), we went to Victoria Plaza in Bajada because Julpha said the pearls are much cheaper there compared to the "tourist prices" in Aldevinco.</p> <p><a href="http://www.traveldavao.com/Malls.html"><img alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2958/thevictoriaplazaextag5.jpg" align="left"></a>The <a href="http://nickilo.wordpress.com/2007/09/22/malls-of-davao-victoria-plaza-exterior/">two-level Victoria Plaza was built in the 1990s and was the first mall in Davao City</a>. Like Harrison Plaza in Manila and Metropolis in Alabang, the place has a lot of booths, most of them selling jewelry, usually cultured pearls - namely freshwater pearls, south sea pearls, and mikimoto pearls. As I said, prices for the pearls here are much lower than in Aldevinco, and you can also barter for an even lower price. In some stalls, you can ask them to customize jewelry for you by picking the pearl/s then the style of earring/necklace/bracelet. They do this while you wait.</p> <p>The plaza has seen better days and the newer malls look better. However, the compound itself has some good restaurants. This is where <a href="http://www.traveldavao.com/Restaurants.html">Cynthia's Lechon House and Restaurant, as well as Ahfat Seafood Restaurant</a> could be found. It is said that Ahfat is one of Lucio Tan's favorite restaurants.</p> <p>For the computer geek, Basti's Brew is a WiFi hotspot. After a few stalls of pearl shopping, I got thirsty and Julpha told me there are coffee shops outside. I didn't go very far because Basti's is housed within the plaza with an entrance from both inside and outside the building. I ordered a coffee shake to go, but I would have lingered on to surf the net from my phone if I had not promised to rejoin Julpha and Rhoda as soon as possible.</p> <p>If you want Durian coffee, you have to go to Blu Gre Cafe though, which is in Landco building, situated across from the Plaza.</p> <p>Around this time, Dennis is looking for Julpha, Rhoda and even me just to settle the pomelo issue. He first suggested that Rhoda borrow the extra PHP1,000 from me which I refused to agree to, so Dennis found another way to pay for the fruits, but he couldn't get hold of Julpha or Rhoda - simply because they ignored his phone calls as they were busy looking at pearls. Actually, they conveniently left out the part that we left the hotel. Rey texted me to ask where I was, and I admitted the three of us were in Victoria Plaza. He he he.</p> <p>Julpha and Rhoda have gone through the pearl shops on the ground floor when I rejoined them, so we went to the upper level. There were fewer shops selling pearls there but we found one that had the lowest prices. Rhoda even bought a necklace/bracelet set for herself.</p> <p>When we left the shop, our next stop was Matina where we bought Durian candies.</p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-8072572532927939390?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-54386289682275375802008-05-03T10:30:00.001+08:002008-05-20T05:25:17.838+08:00<A title="2008-0503c 024 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504249018/"><IMG height=180 alt="2008-0503c 024 (Small)" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/2504249018_35410342af_m.jpg" width=240></A> <br /><P>3,000 feet above sea level.&nbsp; That's how high <A href="http://www.edennaturepark.com.ph/">Eden Nature Park Mountain Resort</A> is.&nbsp; Which is why the walk from the parking area to the Activity Center where one registers may have you panting, because although it is a short distance, it means going UP.</P><br /><P><STRONG><U>GUIDED SHUTTLE TOUR</U></STRONG></P><br /><P>At the Activity Center, there were cabs waiting to take us on a guided shuttle tour around the 40 hectare property.&nbsp; If you do the math, a 45-minute tour of a 40 hectare place would mean doing it at a FAST PACE.&nbsp; Since my camera isn't exactly top of the line, I quit trying to take still pictures from the vehicle after my initial shots ended up as blurry figures.&nbsp; I just turned on the video function and hoped I get something.&nbsp; Another reason I had problems taking pictures or videos was that I was seated in the middle.&nbsp; The people seated&nbsp;at the sides&nbsp;were blocking any clear shot I could have gotten.&nbsp; Anyway, I did manage to get some nice pictures and videos.</P><br /><P><br /><OBJECT height=350 width=350><PARAM NAME="allowScriptAccess" VALUE="never"><PARAM NAME="movie" VALUE="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z8-iRj__Jq8&amp;hl=en"><PARAM NAME="wmode" VALUE="transparent"><br /> <embed allowscriptaccess='never' src='http://www.youtube.com/v/Z8-iRj__Jq8&hl=en' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' width='350' height='350'></embed></OBJECT></P><br /><P>The Shuttle Tour wasn't supposed to make any stops, but since we were ahead of schedule, the drivers decided to stop at Lola's Garden, where finally we were able to get some decent pictures.&nbsp; The Shuttle Tour, therefore,&nbsp;isn't the best way to go if you are in Eden Nature Park to get some pictures.</P><br /><P>There are many photo opportunities in the park, and the owners (the Ayalas of the south, and not related to the Spanish Ayalas) did a good job of bringing back to life a deforested area.&nbsp; </P><br /><P>Yup, it was a sadly deforested area when the Ayalas took over the place in the 1970s.&nbsp; They took it upon themselves to replant trees.</P><br /><P><A title="2008-0503c 026 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504249246/"><IMG height=240 alt="2008-0503c 026 (Small)" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/2504249246_a823ff353e_m.jpg" width=180></A> &nbsp; <A title="2008-0503c 027 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504249338/"><IMG height=240 alt="2008-0503c 027 (Small)" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2250/2504249338_3b626e3097_m.jpg" width=180></A></P><br /><P>They also planted flowers, vegetables and herbs.&nbsp; Some of the flowers were actually brought down from the higher levels of Mt. Apo.&nbsp; The vegetables and herbs are used as ingredients in the Resort's restaurants.</P><br /><P>The place offers a lot of other activities to those who have time, like fishing, horseback riding, hiking and swimming.&nbsp; It has cottages for anyone or any group of people who want to take a retreat, or maybe hold a seminar.&nbsp; The place is even accepting reservations for wedding receptions.</P><br /><P>Apart from fish and horses, deer and birds could be found in the resort.&nbsp; The peafowl more or less wander around freely.&nbsp; One peacock was even sounding out its mating call while&nbsp;the Shuttle Tour&nbsp;was still in progress.&nbsp; If you thought a rooster's crow is painful to the ears, wait till you hear a peacock's mating call.</P><br /><P><A title="2008-0503c 025 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504249144/"><IMG height=180 alt="2008-0503c 025 (Small)" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/2504249144_83543be4e8_m.jpg" width=240></A></P><br /><P>The shuttle brought us back to the Activity Center.&nbsp; Nearby is a flight of stone steps going down to the Vista Kiosk and Restaurant.&nbsp; Took some picture while waiting for lunch to be served.</P><br /><P><STRONG><U>VISTA KIOSK/RESTAURANT/PARK</U></STRONG></P><br /><P><A title="2008-0503c 001 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504247706/"><IMG height=180 alt="2008-0503c 001 (Small)" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2210/2504247706_89977bb47c_m.jpg" width=240></A></P><br /><P><A title="2008-0503c 013 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504248154/"><IMG height=180 alt="2008-0503c 013 (Small)" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2356/2504248154_e977179e2f_m.jpg" width=240></A></P><br /><P><A title="2008-0503c 016 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2503415803/"><IMG height=180 alt="2008-0503c 016 (Small)" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2242/2503415803_b0d0a63c8f_m.jpg" width=240></A></P><br /><P><A title="2008-0503c 018 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504248424/"><IMG height=180 alt="2008-0503c 018 (Small)" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3285/2504248424_7994af0289_m.jpg" width=240></A></P><br /><P>At least four peafowl were wandering through the Vista Kiosk, though none were allowed inside the restaurant.&nbsp; We realized it was their mating season when&nbsp;a peacock began dancing with its feathers upon seeing a peahen.</P><br /><P><br /><OBJECT height=350 width=350><PARAM NAME="allowScriptAccess" VALUE="never"><PARAM NAME="movie" VALUE="http://www.youtube.com/v/KLFEOv1GsA0&amp;hl=en"><PARAM NAME="wmode" VALUE="transparent"><br /> <embed allowscriptaccess='never' src='http://www.youtube.com/v/KLFEOv1GsA0&hl=en' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' width='350' height='350'></embed></OBJECT></P><br /><P>Near the restaurant was the Vista Park, which is a&nbsp;playground.&nbsp; This is where you would also find the "Indiana Jones" rope ride.</P><br /><P><br /><OBJECT height=350 width=350><PARAM NAME="allowScriptAccess" VALUE="never"><PARAM NAME="movie" VALUE="http://www.youtube.com/v/zHM5CmNd9QE&amp;hl=en"><PARAM NAME="wmode" VALUE="transparent"><br /> <embed allowscriptaccess='never' src='http://www.youtube.com/v/zHM5CmNd9QE&hl=en' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' width='350' height='350'></embed></OBJECT></P><br /><P>Lunch was finally served around 11:30 am.&nbsp; It was buffet style and the salad greens tasted good.&nbsp; Unfortunately the main meals did not.&nbsp; I think the restaurant did not have enought time to prepare as the beef was still a bit hard and the fish fillet tasted as if it was not fully defrosted when it was cooked.</P><br /><P>Took more pictures after lunch:</P><br /><P><A title="2008-0503c 019 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504248536/"><IMG height=180 alt="2008-0503c 019 (Small)" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3114/2504248536_85fbf8c361_m.jpg" width=240></A></P><br /><P><STRONG><U></U></STRONG>&nbsp;</P><br /><P><STRONG><U>ACTIVITY CENTER</U></STRONG></P><br /><P><A title="2008-0503c 020 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504248616/"><IMG height=180 alt="2008-0503c 020 (Small)" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/2504248616_74d3834b3d_m.jpg" width=240></A></P><br /><P><A title="2008-0503c 021 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504248704/"><IMG height=180 alt="2008-0503c 021 (Small)" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2504248704_17d77b867a_m.jpg" width=240></A></P><br /><P>Going down from the Activity Center to where the buses are parked proved to be harder than going up&nbsp;the slope ... go too fast and you will find yourself rolling down.&nbsp; That would hurt and will be messy since the ground is still muddy from the rain.&nbsp;</P><br /><P><A title="2008-0503c 022 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504248794/"><IMG height=180 alt="2008-0503c 022 (Small)" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2226/2504248794_83a5b9305a_m.jpg" width=240></A></P><br /><P>This diorama of a Bogobo family is found at the foot of the slope.&nbsp; Bogobos are natives of Mindanao.&nbsp; The influx of settlers from Visayas and Luzon forced to move inland and up the mountains.&nbsp; There are few Bogobos left, and those who remain rarely wear their native dresses in their daily lives.&nbsp; Soon, their culture will also start to disappear as they assimilate the culture of the settlers.</P><br /><P><A title="2008-0503c 023 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2503416381/"><IMG height=180 alt="2008-0503c 023 (Small)" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2289/2503416381_d5f1578193_m.jpg" width=240></A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-5438628968227537580?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-68112125546656778092008-05-03T09:30:00.000+08:002008-05-19T23:56:30.487+08:00<DIV align=center><IMG alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2619/20080503004smallxi4.jpg" width=150>&nbsp; &nbsp;<IMG alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/9991/20080503002smallqh8.jpg" width=150><BR>By <A href="http://profile.imageshack.us/user/jingfrey73" target=_new>jingfrey73</A>, shot with <A href="http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=SONY+ERICSSON+P1i&make=SONY+ERICSSON" target=_new>SONY ERICSSON P1i</A></DIV> <P>Took a "nap" and woke up at 6:00 am to a rainy Davao City morning.</P> <DIV align=center><IMG alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/9338/20080503003smallfe6.jpg" width=350></DIV> <P>Watched the news on cable while waiting for my turn at the bathroom but nothing was really registering in my brain.</P> <P>When Rhoda and I were both finished, we went down to Cafe Marco where breakfast is served. We saw Cezar and Neil and ate with them.</P> <DIV align=center><IMG alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/9926/20080503001smallcc9.jpg" width=350></DIV> <P>We were almost finished when the rest of the PNB gang came down, which also meant that although assembly time for the Eden Nature Park Tour was 8:00 am, only Rhoda and I from PNB were there.</P> <P>While waiting for the bus, Gidget was distributing stubs which would serve as our bus tickets. We learned that there will be two buses. Rhoda and I decided to board the first one instead of waiting for the rest of the PNB crew and board the second bus. Once inside the bus, someone from the tour company began collecting the stubs and replacing them with stickers which would serve as our lunch stubs at the resort. Rey texted me that he wasn't feeling well and that only Tryke would join the tour - and would I also please look after the kid. Tryke boarded the bus with Dennis' son in tow. Apparently, Dennis had also decided to stay at the hotel.</P> <P>We were on the road by 8:40. The trip would take about an hour. The tour guide would point out interesting places as we passed by them. In between, he would say trivia like:</P> <UL> <LI>there are a number of people in Davao with Japanese ancestry, some of them descending from the Japanese the Americans brought in before the war to build infrastructure ... the same Japanese that built Kenon Road in Baguio City</LI> <LI>Davao City has the largest brewery in Asia</LI> <LI>the city's top export is the banana</LI> <LI>Davao's top export used to be abaca, but demand for it waned after nylon became the choice material for making cords and ropes</LI> <LI>40% of the flowers exported by the Philippines come from Davao</LI></UL> <P>He also instructed us a bit on Philippine Eagles:</P> <UL> <LI>they are blue eyed, making them unique among raptors</LI> <LI>they are diurnal - another way of saying that they hunt during daytime</LI> <LI>the females are larger than the males</LI> <LI>courtship usually takes three months</LI> <LI>they are monogamous</LI></UL> <P>For most of the trip, the scenery was like that of Manila, only with a lower skyline. It was only upon reaching the foot of Mount Apo that we saw a lot of greenery and colorful flowers outside the window.</P><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-6811212554665677809?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-92072556074194704102008-05-03T04:30:00.000+08:002008-05-19T23:54:50.836+08:00<DIV align=center><A title="2008-0502b 014 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504225898/"><IMG height=180 alt="2008-0502b 014 (Small)" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/2504225898_eec539ff67_m.jpg" width=240></A></DIV> <P>May 2, 2008</P> <P>At around 10:00 pm, delegates assembled at the Marco Polo hotel lobby to wait for the vans that will take us to Urban club. </P> <P><IMG alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/4221/urbanclubxr7.jpg" width=150 align=right><A href="http://profiles.friendster.com/urbanclub">Urban Club</A> is located within the Wheels and More Drive compound, J.P. Laurel Ave. cor. T. Palma Gil St., Bajada. The Wheels and More compound (sometimes referred to as "Autoshop") actually has a lot of restaurants/bars to choose from, and each has its own crowd.</P> <P>Urban Club is a popular, "happening" place among the young ones, and is sometimes considered Davao City's equivalent of <A href="http://profiles.friendster.com/embassyparty">Club Embassy</A> - a popular hang-out of rich kids, celebrities, and social climbers in Metro Manila. Actually, DJs from Club Embassy would sometimes pop in at Urban Club.</P> <P>I think the entrance fee to the club is PHP 100.00, which includes two free drinks. No one cares about the rate tonight though since the tab will be picked up by ACI. All the delegates just had the doorman stamp us with the Urban Club logo on the wrist and got in. We (PNB) placed 3 tables side by side and ordered food and drinks.</P> <P>We were able to get tables since we were among the first to get there. In a few minutes the place was SRO. The waiters had a hard time remembering who ordered what that we had to actually watch each waiter going out of the kitchen just in case they have our order but delivering it to the wrong table.</P> <P>Teddy ordered at least 4 dishes, but the only ones I liked were Crispy Pata and Crispy Tenga. One dish was cooked in a different way than we imagined, and one dish had beef that was hard to chew.</P> <P>Left the place around midnight because the others in the (PNB) group wanted to go back to the hotel and sleep ... their decision was a bit abrupt - I had just poured out some wine into my glass when Che told me they were leaving. Not wanting to be left alone, I left with them.</P> <P>May 3, 2008</P> <P>I still ended up sleeping at around 4AM ... Rhoda and I spent the rest of the "night" talking. We weren't sleepy.</P><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-9207255607419470410?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-51632614281270548862008-05-02T21:30:00.001+08:002008-05-19T17:41:53.353+08:00<P><OBJECT height=350 width=350><PARAM NAME="allowScriptAccess" VALUE="never"><PARAM NAME="movie" VALUE="http://www.youtube.com/v/Auyr8wXEwQc&amp;hl=en"><PARAM NAME="wmode" VALUE="transparent"><embed allowscriptaccess='never' src='http://www.youtube.com/v/Auyr8wXEwQc&hl=en' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' width='350' height='350'></embed></OBJECT></P><br /><P>ACI Philippines holds its annual conventions during the summer.&nbsp; Usually it's Boracay.&nbsp; There had been one year when it was Mactan in Cebu.&nbsp; This year it's Davao City.</P><P>To give the delegates more time to&nbsp;tour Mindanao's premier city, the convention proper is held tonight, the first day of the 3-day event.</P><P>Dinner was supposed to start&nbsp;at 7:00 p.m. at the Marco Polo Ballroom but it was only that time that people started trickling into the venue.&nbsp; Actually, some delegates were only just arriving from the airport.&nbsp; I thought I lost my food stub for tonight's dinner since I couldn't remember where I absent-mindedly placed it while I was talking to Rey about today's transactions.&nbsp; That was after I got a call from Shayne who we realized had not yet left the PNB dealing room because she hasn't finished balancing the figures on the blotters.&nbsp; By then, she had already called Rey at least twice.&nbsp; Poor kid, she didn't hear part of the instructions I gave her before Boss Dan and I left for the convention.&nbsp; She called in again 30 minutes later to say that it's almost 7:30 and she's going home.</P><P>Took some pictures when everybody from PNB had taken a seat at our table.&nbsp; Ted was&nbsp;tired of sitting waiting for dinner so he accompanied&nbsp;me&nbsp;to the lobby to follow up on the extra bed I requested for the hotel room I was sharing with Rhoda.&nbsp; We saw Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte at the hotel lobby hounded by reporters while we were walking back to the ballroom.&nbsp; Mayor Duterte is one of the guest speakers at the ACI convention.</P><P>Dinner, and the program,&nbsp;started right after Mayor Duterte entered the Marco Polo ballroom.&nbsp; He was followed by ING's economist/strategist, Jose Mario Cuyegkeng.&nbsp; The third and final speaker was Sudipto Lahiry,&nbsp;Bloomberg's Senior Specialist for Southeast Asia.</P><P>Took a break after dessert and since there were a lot of people in the restroom near the ballroom, I went up to our hotel room instead.&nbsp; As I rode the elevator on the way&nbsp;back to the ballroom, I got interviewed by the only other passenger, who happened to read from my ID that I came from PNB.&nbsp; He was interested in the PNB-Allied Bank merger.</P><P>When the elevator stopped at the 4th floor, the elevator was filled by military people.&nbsp; Which made me a bit nervous, since I was thinking that if any insurgent decided to ambush them, I would be too near for comfort.&nbsp; He he he!&nbsp; I think that whenever I find myself standing near a uniformed soldier, whether I am in Manila or any other place in the Philippines (Note: I would learn later from the <A href="http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=4301&amp;Itemid=190">Mindanews</A> that AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, was having dinner at the Marco Polo with his Malaysian counterpart on the topic of Malaysia's pulling out of its peace-keeping forces in Mindanao).</P><P>Saw that the convention was over when I got out of the elevator since people were pouring out of the ballroom.&nbsp; Others were still holding on to their luggages since they went straight to the ballroom the moment they arrived at the hotel (either they really took late flights or their flights were delayed).</P><P>The night wasn't over though since ACI booked Urban Club for the night cap.</P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-5163261428127054886?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-55939011991523266102008-05-02T18:59:00.000+08:002008-05-19T16:29:15.480+08:00<P><IMG alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1007/20080518001smallbb5.jpg" width=350><BR>By <A href="http://profile.imageshack.us/user/jingfrey73" target=_new>jingfrey73</A></P> <P>Got the tickets, and the "IDs" from ACI for the convention in Davao last Tuesday. Five of the delegates, two of them actually brought a son each, were already in Davao since yesterday, which was Labor day holiday. The remaining three, including myself, followed today.</P> <P>Rhoda went directly to the airport from her house, while Boss Danny and I would be coming from the office. The bank car was scheduled to take us to the airport 11:30 am since we were on the 1:45 pm flight.</P> <P>OPICS had an unscheduled break-down, which IT would prefer to call maintenance, so we weren't able to start loading deals till 11:15 am. It was around 12:00 noon when we finally got into the car that was going to take us to the NAIA airport.</P> <P>We landed at the Davao airport as scheduled and it was raining heavily. Got wet even before I was able to hop into the Marco Polo hotel shuttle service ... and it must have been an old van for rain to drip slowly through the roof and onto my seat. Good thing I was wearing a jacket with a hood. Nestled between mountains, storms almost never hit Davao City, but it is not spared from heavy rains.</P> <P><IMG alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2954/20080504c009smallhy4.jpg" width=350></P> <P>At the hotel, we were told to go to the Mindanao Borneo room near the lobby where the ACI secretariat and hotel staff are handling registration. For some strange reason, the lists posted on the board do not have Boss Dan's or my name on it, and neither does it list more than half of the remaining PNB delegates. Since the two lines for actual registration is long, we first lined up to get our food stubs and freebies from the secretariat.</P> <P><IMG alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/9126/20080518002smallbl1.jpg" width=350><BR></P> <P>The freebie bag, made of batik cloth, included:</P> <UL> <LI>a "Welcome" pamphlet that lists the events scheduled for the convention as well as the tourist spots in and around Davao City</LI> <LI>a pair of beach sandals from Bloomberg</LI> <LI>a baseball cap from Tullett Prebon</LI> <LI>a small bag from Amstel</LI> <LI>a summer kit from ICAP containing lip balm, sun block spray, and after-sun spray by Watson's... it also had a small pamphlet listing Davao City's "places to go"</LI></UL> <P>We got in line at both registration lines before the hotel staff found our names on their lists ... those lists were not alphabetical nor were the delegates grouped by bank. We already know our room numbers even before the staff told us, since Boss Dan's roommate Ted and my roommate Rhoda arrived at the hotel earlier than we did and had already checked in.</P> <P><IMG alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" src="http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7121/20080502roomdq0.jpg" width=350></P> <P>Rhoda was already in the room when I arrived and she told me of our little problem of only having one queen-size bed. We requested to be either transfered to a room with two beds, or have an extra bed brought into the current room.</P> <P>Julpha from our Bankerohan branch came over to the room to talk to Rhoda and plan their shopping tomorrow.</P> <P><A title="2008-0502b 002 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504225396/"><IMG height=180 alt="2008-0502b 002 (Small)" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2166/2504225396_785cb577a7_m.jpg" width=240></A></P> <P><A title="2008-0502b 001 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2504225480/"><IMG height=180 alt="2008-0502b 001 (Small)" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2373/2504225480_7315366fff_m.jpg" width=240></A></P> <P>She brought along boiled white corn on the cob, large guavas, and a box of pomelos.</P> <P>The three of us left the room around 6:30 pm, Julpha headed home while Rhoda and I proceeded to the Marco Polo Ballroom for the Dinner and Convention Proper.</P><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-5593901199152326610?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-45625914041603957312008-04-09T06:17:00.004+08:002008-05-10T21:53:03.532+08:00<a href="http://www.manilaautoshow.com/">The Manila International Auto Show</a> at the World Trade Center at Pasay City (Philippines) is an annual thing.<br /><br />This year, I got 7 complementary (as in free) tickets from Milette, which I in turn gave to my brother.&nbsp;&nbsp;He gave 5 to a fellow doctor who went to the show with his wife and in-laws.&nbsp; I told him to give the ticket to another friend, but the person he knows who also likes cars has a booth in the show and does not need a ticket.&nbsp; That's why I was back in the Motor Show April 6, mostly taking pictures of him with the sexy girls the organizers placed beside the cars.&nbsp; I brought my own camera this time, and since he borrowed my 2GB memory stick that I had to&nbsp;make do with the 256MB stick that originally came with my camera,&nbsp; I insisted on using his camera rather than mine whenever he requests me to take a picture of him with a car or one of the sexy girls (he got the 2GB memory).<br /><br />I could continue onto showing pictures of cars at this point ... but I'd rather start with what I call "Fun" photos:<br /><br />Mag wheels of different colors:<br /><A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2243595980103007176pbOrxK"><IMG alt="2008-0406 020" src="http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/40454/2243595980103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A><br /><br />Boys like big trucks with loud horns:<br /><A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2142577360103007176IvSRnM"><IMG alt="2008-0406 023" src="http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/21672/2142577360103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A><br /><br />Wonder if he knows Wall-E, or maybe C-3PO:<br /><A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2072479450103007176WeMWKg"><IMG alt="2008-0406 025" src="http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/30081/2072479450103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A>&nbsp;<br /><br />This car on display was so dusty, one could write on the hood:<br /><A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2445016430103007176mzhLaL"><IMG alt="2008-0406 132" src="http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/41985/2445016430103007176S425x425Q85.jpg"></A>&nbsp;<br /><br />One&nbsp;booth placed two gun-toting mannequins in front of the custom-armored vehicle it was selling.&nbsp; Making funny poses beside them was something my brother couldn't resist:<br /><A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2435661420103007176clpUwJ"><IMG alt="2008-0406 133" src="http://thumb16.webshots.net/t/52/652/6/61/42/2435661420103007176clpUwJ_th.jpg"></A>&nbsp; <A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2056631840103007176MeoLdH"><IMG alt="2008-0406 134" src="http://thumb16.webshots.net/t/58/658/6/31/84/2056631840103007176MeoLdH_th.jpg"></A>&nbsp; <A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2214343180103007176KbAQzT"><IMG alt="2008-0406 135" src="http://thumb16.webshots.net/t/69/469/3/43/18/2214343180103007176KbAQzT_th.jpg"></A><br /><br />My brother's friend owns one of these shelves showcasing scale models of cars:<br /><A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2928396250103007176lsciLL"><IMG alt="2008-0406 055" src="http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/6121/2928396250103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A>&nbsp; <A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2471250430103007176fChtrW"><IMG alt="2008-0406 056" src="http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/30824/2471250430103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A><br /><br /><A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2637355390103007176vfJdhN"><IMG alt="2008-0406 057" src="http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/22806/2637355390103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A>&nbsp; <A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2697503560103007176lilJPs"><IMG alt="2008-0406 107" src="http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/41028/2697503560103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A><br /><br />Barbie must be jealous of this collection:<br /><A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2280341490103007176KmjNcN"><IMG alt="2008-0406 105" src="http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/32038/2280341490103007176S425x425Q85.jpg"></A><br /><A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2565144310103007176puNImp"><IMG alt="2008-0406 106" src="http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/41435/2565144310103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A>&nbsp; <A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2922062960103007176aHygTQ"><IMG alt="2008-0406 104" src="http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/12740/2922062960103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A><br /><br />BMW wants to start them young.&nbsp; They make toy cars too:<br /><A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2126113190103007176ZaiGTq"><IMG alt="2008-0406 007" src="http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/28258/2126113190103007176S425x425Q85.jpg" width=200></A><EMBED src=http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/CIMP/Jmx*PTEyMDc2Nzc2NzkyMjEmcHQ9MTIwNzY3NzY5MjI1OSZwPTEwNjYxJmQ9Jm49.swf width=0 height=0 type=application/x-shockwave-flash flashvars="" allowscriptaccess="never"></EMBED>&nbsp;<br /><br />And now, for the rest of the pictures, click any of the albums below to see more pictures:<br /><br />The solar car put together by De La Salle students was in the exhibit:<br /><EMBED name=WebshotsSlideshowPlayer pluginspage=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer src=http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf width=375 height=350 type=application/x-shockwave-flash loop="false" allowscriptaccess="never" wmode="opaque" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" quality="best" menu="false" flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F563014066leUlAf%3Finline%3Dtrue&amp;inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D563014066%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Frides.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F563014066leUlAf&amp;postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&amp;shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Frides.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F563014066leUlAf&amp;audio=on&amp;audioVolume=33&amp;autoPlay=false&amp;transitionSpeed=5&amp;startIndex=0&amp;panzoom=on&amp;deployed=true"></EMBED><BR><BR><A href="http://rides.webshots.com/album/563014066leUlAf">Sinag Solar Car 2007</A>&nbsp;<br /><br />There are more vintage cars this year.&nbsp; The Lamborghini from last year was nowhere in sight.<br /><br /><A href="http://sports.webshots.com/album/563025057yRoZeR">Cars</A><br /><EMBED name=WebshotsSlideshowPlayer pluginspage=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer src=http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf width=300 height=300 type=application/x-shockwave-flash flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F563025057yRoZeR%3Finline%3Dtrue&amp;inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D563025057%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fsports.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F563025057yRoZeR&amp;postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&amp;shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fsports.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F563025057yRoZeR&amp;audio=on&amp;audioVolume=33&amp;autoPlay=false&amp;transitionSpeed=5&amp;startIndex=0&amp;panzoom=on&amp;deployed=true" menu="false" quality="best" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" wmode="opaque" allowscriptaccess="never" loop="false">&nbsp;</EMBED><br /><br /><A href="http://rides.webshots.com/album/563025362kbpkOV">Jeeps</A><br /><EMBED name=WebshotsSlideshowPlayer pluginspage=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer src=http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf width=300 height=300 type=application/x-shockwave-flash flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F563025362kbpkOV%3Finline%3Dtrue&amp;inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D563025362%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Frides.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F563025362kbpkOV&amp;postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&amp;shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Frides.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F563025362kbpkOV&amp;audio=on&amp;audioVolume=33&amp;autoPlay=false&amp;transitionSpeed=5&amp;startIndex=0&amp;panzoom=on&amp;deployed=true" menu="false" quality="best" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" wmode="opaque" allowscriptaccess="never" loop="false"></EMBED><br /><br /><A href="http://rides.webshots.com/album/563025067Yrtgea">Bikes &amp; Scooters</A><br /><EMBED name=WebshotsSlideshowPlayer pluginspage=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer src=http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf width=300 height=300 type=application/x-shockwave-flash flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F563025067Yrtgea%3Finline%3Dtrue&amp;inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D563025067%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Frides.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F563025067Yrtgea&amp;postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&amp;shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Frides.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F563025067Yrtgea&amp;audio=on&amp;audioVolume=33&amp;autoPlay=false&amp;transitionSpeed=5&amp;startIndex=0&amp;panzoom=on&amp;deployed=true" menu="false" quality="best" base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" wmode="opaque" allowscriptaccess="never" loop="false"></EMBED><br /><br />Below is a video I patched together from the pictures I took ... it took me a long time to find a good version of Zoom Zoom from the internet, as well as&nbsp;find&nbsp;music used for the Ford Focus and BMW advertisements:&nbsp;<br /><OBJECT height=355 width=355><PARAM NAME="allowScriptAccess" VALUE="never"><PARAM NAME="movie" VALUE="http://www.youtube.com/v/B7EAcLkAiuY&amp;hl=en"><PARAM NAME="wmode" VALUE="transparent"><br /> <embed allowscriptaccess='never' src='http://www.youtube.com/v/B7EAcLkAiuY&hl=en' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' width='355' height='355'></embed></OBJECT>&nbsp;<br /><br />Now, some things make you want to scratch your head ...<br /><br />Selling water dispensers in a motor show is stretching it:<br /><A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2468320330103007176ZfZVRF"><IMG alt="2008-0406 152" src="http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/39633/2468320330103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A>&nbsp;<br /><br />Maybe one could place a water dispenser in a vehicle and use it, but the booth below is selling products that I think one could only use inside a home trailer:<br /><A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2910121090103007176bxvSTn"><IMG alt="2008-0406 154" src="http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/24952/2910121090103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A>&nbsp; <A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2506403320103007176YHYIKW"><IMG alt="2008-0406 155" src="http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/28798/2506403320103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A><A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2933709750103007176RLjlmh"><IMG alt="2008-0406 156" src="http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/20640/2933709750103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A>&nbsp; <A href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2624861600103007176tEWnXd"><IMG alt="2008-0406 157" src="http://inlinethumb51.webshots.com/20466/2624861600103007176S200x200Q85.jpg"></A>&nbsp;<br /><br />My brother probably has a picture of every "show" girl in the place, plus he took a video of a group of them dancing to Britney Spear's "Gimme More".&nbsp; I wonder if he has posted them on the net?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-4562591404160395731?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-29240248658945662402007-11-28T23:45:00.000+08:002007-12-16T15:06:15.330+08:00Last day in Hong Kong and we haven't really bought anything for Mama and Tessie, nor managed to do anything on Papa's "to do" list like visit the street where relative Jose Basa used to live (Arbuthnot Rd.) and find monuments or markers related to the Philippine revolution against Spain.<br /><br />Shops at Causeway open at 10 AM. We had planned on buying Mama a coat/jacket and buying Tessie a wallet. Thing is, I didn't really find the jackets or wallets I had in mind in Mongkok. Jon said that compared to Causeway, it's easier to shop in Mongkok where every shop is on one street. But Mongkok stalls open AFTER office hours. If we want to make it back in time to check out of the hotel by 12:00 noon and check in our baggages at the IFC 2 terminal of the Airport express, we would have to rush our shopping once we got to Causeway.<br /><br />It was 8AM and we were still full from our McDonald's midnight snack and didn't want to stay in the hotel till it was time to go to Causeway. Jon had always wanted to ride the tram since we got there, so we decided to go to the Peak. Looking at the map of Hong Kong we got from the airport, we figured that the Tram station was near the hotel but didn't know what way to take to get there. We decided to ask directions at the lobby where the concierge pulled out a map and highlighted a path through the Hong Kong Gardens. Once we got to a fork, I was already heading left when Jon told me the map says we turn right. After a few blocks we figured we took the wrong road and we should really have turned left.<br /><br />When we did get to the Tram station, we realized that a shorter route would be to go through the MTR tunnels. Which ofcourse made us wonder if the concierge just wanted us to pass through - and see - the Hong Kong gardens. At the tram station, we bought the tourist tickets but were told the tour also starts at 10AM. It was 9:30AM, so instead of waiting for the 10AM tour, we hopped on to the next tram.<br /><br />At the Peak Tower, most of the shops were still closed, so we went outside and went to the viewing deck I saw from the Cafe Deco Balcony the other night. We took a lot of pictures there:<br /><div align=center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112277067/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 093 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2095/2112277067_ac5cb105e9_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 093 (Small)" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112277147/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 094 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2104/2112277147_36d50fc6c3_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 094 (Small)" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />We then decided to check the Peak Galleria. Two busloads of schoolchildren lined up outside the Galleria as we were getting in, and we ran into the kids now and then.<br /><br />More pictures taken on the Peak in these albums:<br /><div align=center><table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/f/img/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/asela.reyes/JingAndJonSHKPicturesThePeak"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/asela.reyes/R2Pmve2znSE/AAAAAAAAA20/xdsAS4pYCvc/s160-c/JingAndJonSHKPicturesThePeak.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/f/img/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/asela.reyes/JonSMiscHKTripPhotos28Nov2007"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/asela.reyes/R2Peku2zmFE/AAAAAAAAAnU/x5ABc0Tv6YM/s160-c/JonSMiscHKTripPhotos28Nov2007.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/asela.reyes/JingAndJonSHKPicturesThePeak" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Jing and Jon&#39;s HK pictures - The Peak</a></td><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/asela.reyes/JonSMiscHKTripPhotos28Nov2007" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Jon&#39;s Misc. HK Trip photos 28-Nov-200<wbr></wbr>7</a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><em>Note: The last picture in the second album was taken from the Hong Kong International Airport.</em><br /><br />We browsed the stores at the Galleria and were happy to find that souvenir items there were more than half-price cheaper than similar items being peddled in Mongkok. I bought some stuff I could give my officemates and a baseball cap embroidered with a dragon and the words Hong Kong on it. Papa actually wanted us to buy an umbrella that could be converted into a walking stick. Couldn't find anything like it. Almost considered buying him a wooden cane but decided a hat is easier to bring home than a cane ... and he collects caps just as much as he collects canes.<br /><br />At the Baleno shop, we saw a nice jacket which we bought for Mama. Jon saw some slacks and bought two. Our total purchases at Baleno were enough to earn us a free tote bag worth more than HK$100, which we decided later was just the right kind of bag that Tessie prefers.<br /><br />We were delighted to find that we had bought everything on our list and we didn't have to go to Causeway. We planned to go back to the hotel around 11:30AM and it was past 11AM when I saw the 9:18 AM text message from Milette that we should check out of the hotel just in time to catch the 11:30AM shuttle to IFC2. I totally forgot that we had a lunch meeting with Societe Generale guys at Harlan's.<br /><br />Since Jon and I were still at the Peak, there was no way we could make it to the 11:30AM shuttle and so I told Milette to go ahead. She texted back that she would wait for us ... which made me remember that with the amount of shopping she has done, her total baggage exceeds the 20kg ceiling and the only way to circumvent paying extra for that was to share with her with my baggage limit - as the total weight of the luggages carried by the three of us would not exceed 60kg. But that meant checking in the baggages together. Told Jon we should hurry back to the hotel, and we almost made it to the 11:15 tram trip if we didn't go to the wrong platform. We had to wait for about 15 - 20 minutes for the Tram to return.<br /><br /><strong>Back in the Tram</strong><br />Other tourists were having fun taking pictures of the city while standing on a tram that's tilted 45 degrees:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2113054888/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 107 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2309/2113054888_223e47e7c7_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 107 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Going <strong>dooooown</strong> from the Peak:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112277303/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 108 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2213/2112277303_3f4b6b1d8d_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 108 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Jon and I were almost running the moment we got off the Tram and we sped to the Pacific Place via the MTR tunnels. Jon was heading down towards the Marriott entrance near the Zen Restaurant when I told him there's another entrance at the 3rd level. Once we got to our rooms, we slammed our shopping bags into our luggages, made sure we didn't leave anything (we already packed most of our stuff last night), then ran out to the elevator to get to the lobby. We were already checked out by the time the 12:15 PM shuttle was ready to leave.<br /><br />On the trip to the Airport Express terminal, I mentioned to Milette that my brother and I did end up eating McDonald's last night, or rather, early this morning. Milette told me she was hungry last night and was wishing we would call up to suggest eating at McDo even if it was midnight. I sheepishly told her that I didn't think she'd want another midnight call. When I began telling her which food can be bought at McDo HK but not at McDo Phils., she told me to shut up. She didn't want to hear I was munching potato wedges and eating sundae while she was making do with the complimentary fruits on the side table. Ha ha ha!<br /><br />It was 12:40 when we checked into the IFC2 terminal of the airport, and 1:00 PM when we finally got to Harlan's. Ofcourse, Milette pointe to as the cause of the delay because I forgot we had a lunch meeting... but contrary to what she told them, I did not get lost ... I was just missing from the hotel when she was looking for me.<br /><br />Lunch was over by 2:30 PM. We got onto the Airport express and were in the airport by 3:30. Odd how I was waved through immigration fast while Milette was stopped for a body search. I guess they do body searches randomly. In a few minutes we were at the Duty Free area, shopping - again. Milette separated from us and we agreed to just meet at the gate where we are supposed to board the plane. <br /><br />I bought additional items from the Disney store, two pairs of health balls, and a package of teabags for Sam. Milette was looking for Polo cologne for her husband when we ran into her ... we pointed her to the section selling fragrances but she told us she only saw women's perfume/cologne there. Jon and I agreed to go back and help her find her Polo. By some stroke of luck, I ended up stopping on the aisle where the Polo colognes were displayed. Happy that she finally got something for her husband, Milette waved goodbye and we didn't see her again till boarding time. We were sitting at the boarding gate by 5PM and it wasn't long before passengers were told to start lining up. We were in line but got out when it was apparent that Milette wasn't yet in sight. At 5:30Pm she was running to the boarding area with the DBP traders ... all of them lugging huge shopping bags. They probably wouldn't know it's boarding time if I hadn't texted Milette.<br /><br />To Milette's relief, we weren't the last to board the plane... Ymae was. She got on the plane when just about every passenger had already settled in their seats.<br /><br />We flew out of Hong Kong at 6PM and were in NAIA Philippines at 8PM. Milette was going to be picked up by her husband Fred and she offered to drop us off at SM South Mall which was near her house. Fred was coming from PNB where their eldest daughter also works (for Philippine Airlines). Traffic was heavy since it was Wednesday (devotees flock to Baclaran church on this day), so we were standing outside the airport for quite a long time.<br /><br />We passed by Fred and Milette's house first to drop off their daughter and Milette's luggages, before the couple dropped us off at the FX Terminal at SM South Mall.<br /><br />After giving our thanks for the lift and saying goodbye, Jon and I got onto a van headed for Pacita... home sweet home.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-2924024865894566240?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-86990124919836525212007-11-27T22:47:00.000+08:002007-12-16T12:12:55.919+08:00As we were looking down the window of our hotel room last night, I thought that it would be nice to take a picture of the skyline as seen from our room. This is exactly what I asked Jon to do this morning before I went down to catch the shuttle bus to IFC2.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/asela.reyes/JingAndJonSHKPhotos27Nov2007/photo#5144208129704303858"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/asela.reyes/R2PmCe2znPI/AAAAAAAAAx4/TwSQ22DU_QY/s288/DSC09654%20%28Small%29.JPG" /></a><br /><br />When I left, he took a picture of himself in the same seat but from a different angle:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/asela.reyes/JingAndJonSHKPhotos27Nov2007/photo#5144208129704303874"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/asela.reyes/R2PmCe2znQI/AAAAAAAAAyA/H-oLLK67-G8/s288/DSC09657%20%28Small%29.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Jon spent the day checking out Causeway and bought Papa an electric razor. He didn't take many pictures.<br /><br />When I met Milette, she told me that Buddy's brother in law, who lives in Hong Kong and to whom she delivered a document from Buddy, called her up midnight for "small talk" that actually lasted for almost an hour. I was chuckling and chided her that it was a very long chat considering that she barely knows the person. She told me that the guy was rather talkative and she found it hard to end the conversation without being rude. He was nice though.<br /><br />At the workshop, found out that most of the participants also brought their cameras, and one session break was devoted to taking group shots like this:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112272687/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 053 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2228/2112272687_5737749f65_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 053 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Same pose, this picture from Nicole's camera:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2113050436/" title="DSC00338r (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2218/2113050436_7b60e375c8_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC00338r (Small)" /></a><br /><br />We all trooped to IFC 2's Lumiere restaurant for lunch ... most dishes were spicy and I was reminded of my DLSU classmate from China who said people from Southern China loved putting a certain type of chili pepper into their dishes ... he even had his folks send him those dried chili peppers from China so he could cook his favorite meals in the Philippines.<br /><br />Photos taken at Lumiere:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112272773/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 081 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2099/2112272773_741c538f1d_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 081 (Small)" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112272863/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 082 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2157/2112272863_c6da6dc5f2_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 082 (Small)" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2113050834/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 084 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2206/2113050834_b26a7c5875_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 084 (Small)" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112273099/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 083 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2358/2112273099_012180298d_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 083 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />After the last session, we all took a peak at BNP Paribas' dealing room. These are photos of us waiting for the go signal to enter the said room, and basically loitering in the halls. He he he!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112273183/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 086 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2362/2112273183_65ae2c7666_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 086 (Small)" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2113051094/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 085 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2224/2113051094_5be9d6bc4b_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 085 (Small)" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112273365/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 087 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2006/2112273365_4b34b730fa_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 087 (Small)" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112273443/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 088 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2297/2112273443_b34bfa1d95_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 088 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />After the Dealing room tour we passed by the Fanda store in the Worldwide Shopping Center where I realized any Filipino would feel welcome ... because apart from the remittance centers and shops selling cellphone cards, one could actually buy Filipino food there "turo-turo" style. Fanda sells perfumes at very low prices and some of the ladies bought their favorite scents.<br /><br />Milette and I planned to shop in the Mongkok flea market so I texted Jon to meet me at the hotel around 6PM. Milette bought a club sandwich and a salad from a stall at the MTR's Admiralty station, which she ate in her room. Jon and I took a quick bite at the nearby KFC - which has the criss-cut fries. You can't find criss-cut fries in KFC Philippines although Jollibee used to have them in their menu. KFC HK also has an odd version of coleslaw ... and remembering the lunch at Watermark, I decided that Hong Kong locals loved to put the coleslaw dressing on any fruit/vegetable mix.<br /><br />Met Milette outside Zen Restaurant, then the three of us headed to the MTR station. At Mongkok, Milette and I went our separate ways and agreed to meet at a street corner at 9PM.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/asela.reyes/JingAndJonSHKPhotos27Nov2007/photo#5144208129704303890"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/asela.reyes/R2PmCe2znRI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/Ka-imf8z29g/s288/DSC09659%20%28Small%29.JPG" align=left /></a>Mongkok has an area where one can find street stalls selling cheap items - clothes, wrist watches, leather goods, toys and souvenirs. If you are good at bargaining, you'd probably get the items at a cheaper price. A lot, if not all, of the "branded" items were knock-offs or imitations though. Jon found some decent polo shirts and bought a couple of them. Wandering off the flea market, we saw a mall where one of Jon's friends asked him to buy a certain toy. We went through the 7 floors of that mall and didn't find the particular model he was looking for.<br /><br clear=all /><br />At ten to 9:00, we started walking to the street corner where we were supposed to meet Milette and realized that the volume of people has doubled. It was hard getting through the pedestrian traffic, and from the way some people stuck together, it looked like a lot of them came there in tour groups. We got to the meeting place around 9:10PM!<br /><br />Jon and I were still full when we got back to the Admiralty station, so instead of going to McDonald's, we all headed back to our rooms at the Marriott.<br /><br />Around 11:30 PM, I started to feel hungry and asked Jon if he wanted to eat. He said yes. I had thought of calling Milette to ask if she wanted to go to McDonald's, but remembering her complain about Buddy's brother in law calling her at midnight, and looking at my watch that says it is almost midnight, I decided not to.<br /><br />Jon didn't mind going to McDonald's and ordering food to go. I just wanted to stay in bed and keep my feet up... I was wearing the shoes I bought at the Peak when we were shopping in Mongkok. Since it wasn't really quality shoes, my feet hurt even though I spent less time walking in Mongkok than I did at Disneyland. The difference was that my Rusty Lopez shoes had padding and the new shoes did not.<br /><br />Told Jon I generally wanted a salad, a sundae, and fries ... but to buy something that we couldn't buy in McDonald's restaurant in the Philippines. Which is why I had potato wedges instead of fries, and my strawberry sundae had walnut toppings. I got a burger and softdrink because McDonald's Hong Kong does not sell salads and one can't buy potato wedges without buying the burger meal.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-8699012491983652521?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-41075459375887356642007-11-26T23:56:00.000+08:002007-12-16T13:15:26.052+08:00Learned from Milette that breakfast is not included in the package, so I told Jon to find a place to eat as I rushed to get to the hotel lobby by 8:00 am so I could take the shuttle bus going to the IFC tower where the BNP Paribas offices are. Met the other participants to the workshop at the lobby.<br /><br />On the trip to IFC, learned from Milette that had she not left a message for me yesterday, I would probably have a hard time when I checked in because I was actually booked under a different surname. She was initially told that no "Reyes" was booked in the hotel. When she tried my first name, she was told that someone with my name was indeed booked there, but her surname was "F". Milette said that it was a good thing she remembered my "motherfucker" joke, so she remembered my middle initial. The hotel then changed my name details when they discovered the error.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2113042476/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 131 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2180/2113042476_d4a40739ba_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 131 (Small)" align=left /></a>Boyet and Reena, Filipino traders working in BNP Paribas HK and handling Philippine based banks, greeted us at the lobby of the IFC2 and handed out our visitor IDs. We then proceeded to the 63rd floor where the workshop is going to be held.<br /><br />The room has a nice view of the harbor so we took pictures.<br /><br />All the participants ate lunch together. We tried out the Watermark restaurant which was located at the nearby Pier.<br /><br />When the workshop was over, we all took a ride to The Peak where we ate at Cafe Deco, situated at the Peak Galleria. Since it would take a few minutes to prepare the food we ordered, Milette stepped out of the restaurant to check out the Galleria shops. She ended up buying shoes and a cheap, but genuine Samsonite laptop bag ... it was cheap because it was out of season - but people in Metro Manila don't care about laptop bags being out of season anyway. I saw a pair of shoes which I probably wouldn't buy in Metro Manila if I was looking for quality, but I decided to buy them anyway because the store has a pair in my size ... and it is hard to find cheap comfy shoes in large sizes in the Philippines.<br /><br />Cafe Deco uses candlelight for illumination, and I only have my phone camera with me, so the pictures I took were dark:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112264459/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 132 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2185/2112264459_22b502070b_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 132 (Small)" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2113042558/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 133 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2003/2113042558_cde981fcee_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 133 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />After dinner, we stepped out to the balcony and found it was cold and windy. The balcony offers a great view of the city but my hands were shaky from the wind and cold that my pictures were blurry:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112264535/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 137 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2153/2112264535_23ffd18fe5_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 137 (Small)" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2113042776/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 134 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2094/2113042776_47c356d7a8_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 134 (Small)" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2113042860/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 135 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2159/2113042860_d12f4fd081_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 135 (Small)" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2113042942/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 140 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2360/2113042942_0f3e9033a5_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 140 (Small)" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2113043024/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 139 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2349/2113043024_0b63ef56f2_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 139 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Across the Peak Galleria, we could see the Peak Tower with a lot of tourists lining up at the entrance. I also saw that one level of the tower is occupied by EA games - the makers of SIMS2, which happens to be my favorite video game. Also, we could see that there is a viewing deck just below the balcony we were standing on.<br /><br />This is a picture of us on the Cafe Deco balcony, taken from Nicole's camera:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112264929/" title="DSC00329r (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2246/2112264929_3ae4170ba7_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC00329r (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Told myself I would bring my camera the next day.<br /><br />While I was attending the seminar, Jon was touring Hong Kong by himself . He found out where the KFC and McDonald's restaurants are... and they were actually very near the hotel - if only we knew which exits from the Admiralty Station to take yesterday.<br /><br />He took these pictures using my camera:<br /><table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/f/img/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/asela.reyes/JonSMiscHKTripPhotos26Nov2007"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/asela.reyes/R2PblO2zlaE/AAAAAAAAAmw/rH5SCot8b3o/s160-c/JonSMiscHKTripPhotos26Nov2007.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/asela.reyes/JonSMiscHKTripPhotos26Nov2007" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Jon&#39;s Misc. HK Trip photos 26-Nov-200<wbr></wbr>7</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />The last 7 photos in the album were taken from our hotel room using his camera.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-4107545937588735664?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-31810011248867490222007-11-26T03:21:00.000+08:002007-12-16T09:54:42.775+08:00Milette was eating dinner with some friends in Zen Restaurant at the Pacific Place Sunday night and invited us to join them. Problem was, she sent the text invite 8:15 PM and I saw the message at 8:50PM because 1) I was watching the fireworks display, then 2) I was pre-occupied with taking pictures. Since we were still in Disneyland station at 9:00PM, I replied that we won't join her for dinner.<br /><br />It was around 10PM when we got back to Pacific Place and passed by Zen Restaurant. Peeked through the restaurant windows and didn't see Milette so Jon and I went back to our room to deposit the Disneyland souvenirs we bought. We went out again to buy dinner but after wandering around the Pacific Place mall we found that most establishments were closed... even Starbucks. Zen was still open, but based on the menu at the entrance, it was an expensive restaurant. Went to Admiralty station, but the food stalls there were also closed. Told Jon my feet were killing so we went back to our hotel room. We ate the chocolate mints room service left on the beds and watched cable TV. Voiced out my disappointment that mall restaurants close earlier in Hong Kong than they do in Metro Manila ... wondered how bored I'll be if I visit Cely in Australia, since shops/malls there close earlier.<br /><br />Jon actually drifted to sleep. When he woke up around 11PM, I asked him if he wants to eat ... told him I'd rather pay for dinner at the Marriott Cafe than walk around Hong Kong looking for a fastfood restaurant - my feet still hurt from all the walking around Disneyland. Found the Cafe prices reasonable and found out that they were open till early morning.<br /><br />Ordered a salad and a pizza. The servings were big and could actually feed three people. Which made us remember Sam, who was with us the last time we ended up eating in a hotel cafe. That was January of this year, when we watched the finale of the World Pyro Olympics at the SM Mall of Asia. It was hard to get a ride home then so we passed the time eating at the Heritage Hotel's lobby cafe. There seems to be a pattern developing here ... eating pizza in a hotel cafe at midnight after watching a fireworks display.<br />This is my blog entry for that night:<br /><a href="http://pinoytourista.blogspot.com/2007/01/sm-mall-of-asia-and-2nd-world.html">http://pinoytourista.blogspot.com/2007/01/sm-mall-of-asia-and-2nd-world.html</a><br /><br />Was delighted to find out that I could get a wifi signal at the cafe. First sight I visited? lg.org! Ha ha ha! It wasn't wap friendly though so I got tired of reading the message board after a couple of topics.<br /><br />Tried paying with my credit card, but found out that my credit was maxxed out so I payed in cash. I thought I still had some credit left, but I figured that the hotel has probably reserved that when I checked in - you know, for additional expenses I might incur during my stay.<br /><br />Disappointed that I couldn't get wifi in the hotel room when we got back.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-3181001124886749022?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-13342993837650977512007-11-25T23:52:00.000+08:002007-12-16T09:20:32.000+08:00After checking into the JW Marriott, Jon and I walked to the MTR (Mass Transit Railway) station to buy our tickets to Disneyland. Once again, we had to find a way to get smaller bills to even use the ticket machine. Disneyland is nearer to the airport so the trip was almost as long.<br /><br /><a href="http://weatherpixie.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" width="124" alt="The WeatherPixie" src="http://weatherpixie.com/displayimg.php?place=VHHH&trooper=37&type=" height="175"/ align=left></a> Read somewhere that November weather in Hong Kong is ideal: no more rains, and it's cool but not cold since winter doesn't arrive till middle of December. Decided that the coldest it would get in Hong Kong during our stay would be Tagaytay or Baguio cold.<br /><br />When I got to Hong Kong, I realized I didn't need to wear a jacket over my shirt because it wasn't that cold. I did wear a light jacket when we went to Disneyland as it got colder the nearer evening came. I found it amusing to notice that some locals riding the MTR were wearing thicker sweaters/jackets/coats. The trip to Sunny Bay station was long enough for me to figure out that the people who did wear those thick outerwear simply wanted to look fashionable as they even took time to complete the look - with the women it meant wearing the appropriate high heeled boots.<br /><br />At Sunny Bay station, we took the MTR line that plies the Disneyland route exclusively. Actually, the Disney experience starts the moment you board that train. All the windows are shaped like Mickey's head, and small figures of disney characters are displayed between seat partitions.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112993472/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 010 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2268/2112993472_02b7b2ba55_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 010 (Small)" align=right /></a>Once we got to the theme park, a big fountain in the middle of a wide promenade area greets visitors. Walk a bit more and you'll find the gates and the ticket booth. It's a Sunday, and therefore we had to pay peak day entrance fees. We saw the train chugging along as we entered the gates.<br /><br clear=all /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112993548/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 013 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2318/2112993548_5d322c0179_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 013 (Small)" align=left /></a>Hong Kong Disneyland is patterned after the one in California. Jon says the lay-out is the same, only on a smaller scale... driven home by the fact that <strong>Main Street</strong>, which leads to the Sleeping Beauty Castle, was short.<br /><br clear=all /><br />These crystal works are exquisitely beautiful:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112993602/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 017 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2080/2112993602_139e4b0edb_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 017 (Small)" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112216079/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 018 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2026/2112216079_450417d5a8_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 018 (Small)" /></a> <br /><br />If I ever return to playing Sims2, I'd probably try building this castle in the game:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112216145/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 019 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2353/2112216145_fb95443d98_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 019 (Small)" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112993818/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 021 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2229/2112993818_8575bce27f_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 021 (Small)" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112216273/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 020 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2172/2112216273_670bd92901_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 020 (Small)" align=right /></a><br />Had to take this picture because I love Winne the Pooh.<br /><br clear=all /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112216339/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 025 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2314/2112216339_b6908abc42_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 025 (Small)" align=left /></a>Next stop was <strong>Tomorrowland</strong>. Wanted to try Space Mountain but the wait was long. Took some pictures there then we walked onto <strong>Fantasyland</strong>. Wandered into Fantasy Gardens where we found people lining up outside the different gazebos so that they could have their pictures taken with the Disney mascots. We took some pictures in the garden but passed on lining up to meet the "Disney Friends".<br /><br clear=all /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112994018/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 032 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2277/2112994018_c37e55d967_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 032 (Small)" align=right /></a>Outside the garden, a group of musicians passed by and greeted us in Tagalog ... turns out they were all Filipinos. We later saw them playing music outside the Philharmagic building.<br clear=all /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112216517/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 033 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2117/2112216517_8c013ece37_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 033 (Small)" align=left /></a> We decided to watch the 3D Mickey's Philharmagic show. Couldn't really take pictures of the show since 1) It's discouraged and 2) my camera could'nt capture 3D anyway. If one took the 3D glasses off, one would only see two images of the same scene being projected.<br clear=all /><div align=center><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112994144/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 034 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2352/2112994144_ab0c33f69d_t.jpg" width="100" height="75" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 034 (Small)" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112216635/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 036 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2008/2112216635_f31dd8a09a_t.jpg" width="100" height="75" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 036 (Small)" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112216711/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 035 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2053/2112216711_174e64c158_t.jpg" width="100" height="75" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 035 (Small)" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112216787/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 040 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2090/2112216787_aa2abd6ab3_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 040 (Small)" align=left /></a>It was already dark when we walked out of the theater and into Adventureland. We realized that our first stop should have been Adventureland since the place is better seen during the daytime.<br clear=all /><br /><div align=center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112994410/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 044 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2158/2112994410_2f6c73339d_m.jpg" width="100" height="75" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 044 (Small)" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112217095/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 041 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2330/2112217095_a1cae6b241_m.jpg" width="100" height="75" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 041 (Small)" /></a></div><br />We were already in line for the Jungle River Cruise, and trying to take photos of Tarzan's treehouse from the pier when we realized it was almost time for the <strong>"Sparkling Castle Lights"</strong> show. We got out of line and rushed back to Main Street where most of the people have gathered in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle.<br /><br />Jon took a video of the show:<object width="300" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Kz0lGXDJKKQ&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Kz0lGXDJKKQ&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="300" height="300"></embed></object><br /><br />I took some still pictures with my phone camera:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112216945/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 119 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2007/2112216945_83fd7e6df0_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 119 (Small)" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112217019/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 120 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2212/2112217019_670e44eeea_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 120 (Small)" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112994680/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 121 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/2112994680_b837bb1beb_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 121 (Small)" /></a> <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112994784/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 122 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2286/2112994784_20bddecd07_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 122 (Small)" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112217335/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 124 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2361/2112217335_2b267a0b5d_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 124 (Small)" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112217445/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 125 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2367/2112217445_d67374a4c7_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 125 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />After the show, it was back to <strong>Adventureland</strong> and we got into the boat for the Jungle River Cruise. Tried to take pictures but it was impossible because of the moving boat, so decided to switch to Video mode. Too bad I made the decision too late ... there was little left to film:<br /><object width="300" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HOhsdD_FeTs&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HOhsdD_FeTs&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="300" height="300"></embed></object><br /><br />We then took the raft to Tarzan's Treehouse which is in the middle of Adventureland's lake. Scenes from the movies were depicted in dioramas to be found at all levels of the treehouse.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112995118/" title="DSC02607 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2267/2112995118_db0d58a953_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC02607 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />The Disneyland staff were rushing us to finish our tour of the Treehouse so that we could catch the "Disney in the Stars" fireworks. It was a subtle way to tell they want to start "closing shop".<br /><br />The fireworks had already started by the time we got back to Main Street and in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Jon started taking a video once we found a nice spot:<br /><object width="300" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jZMmi6oDT9w&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jZMmi6oDT9w&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="300" height="300"></embed></object><br /><br />I started to take some still shots at first:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112217523/" title="2007-1125-28-hk 130 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2315/2112217523_669fe444ec_m.jpg" width="100" height="75" alt="2007-1125-28-hk 130 (Small)" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112217659/" title="DSC02613 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2060/2112217659_dac0b162eb_m.jpg" width="100" height="75" alt="DSC02613 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Before deciding to take a video as well:<br /><object width="300" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/X7pBStm3JK8&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/X7pBStm3JK8&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="300" height="300"></embed></object><br /><br />We took more pictures of the castle after the show:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112995280/" title="DSC02619 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2407/2112995280_fb17782b33_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="DSC02619 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />The Ice Fantasy sculptures didn't look great during daytime, but they sure looked pretty when lit up at night:<div align=center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112217823/" title="DSC02627 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2321/2112217823_e6640b0689_t.jpg" width="100" height="75" alt="DSC02627 (Small)" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112217903/" title="DSC02628 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2307/2112217903_5210b27ab1_t.jpg" width="100" height="75" alt="DSC02628 (Small)" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112217971/" title="DSC02629 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2203/2112217971_b9fdec6a27_t.jpg" width="100" height="75" alt="DSC02629 (Small)" /></a></div><br /><br />These are from a shop window along Main Street:<br /><div align=center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112218047/" title="DSC02644 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2251/2112218047_c67a51e475_t.jpg" width="100" height="75" alt="DSC02644 (Small)" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112995670/" title="DSC02645 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2120/2112995670_4f15e303c8_t.jpg" width="100" height="75" alt="DSC02645 (Small)" /></a></div><br /><br />The Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad station at night:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112995740/" title="DSC02646 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2384/2112995740_d3c2a2f0c7_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC02646 (Small)" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112218261/" title="DSC02647 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2193/2112218261_a0e989297e_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC02647 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Leaving Disneyland:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2112218375/" title="DSC02650 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2110/2112218375_7a2cd75231_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC02650 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />More Pictures in the following Picasa albums:<br /><table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/f/img/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/asela.reyes/JonSMiscHKTripPhotos25Nov2007"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/asela.reyes/R2PXuO2zk6E/AAAAAAAAA4U/ibvc1A115NE/s160-c/JonSMiscHKTripPhotos25Nov2007.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/asela.reyes/JonSMiscHKTripPhotos25Nov2007" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Jon&#39;s Misc. HK Trip photos 25-Nov-200<wbr></wbr>7</a></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/f/img/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/asela.reyes/JingAndJonSHKDisneylandPictures"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/asela.reyes/R2PfMO2zmJE/AAAAAAAAAxs/Maumt3QMZ-Y/s160-c/JingAndJonSHKDisneylandPictures.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/asela.reyes/JingAndJonSHKDisneylandPictures" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Jing and Jon&#39;s HK Disneyland pictures</a></td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-1334299383765097751?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-9136520372384290842007-11-25T23:50:00.000+08:002007-12-16T01:31:08.635+08:00<iframe scrolling="no" width="425" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&amp;hl=en&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=114262327464517237862.00043f69c44ec0ac2b9ac&amp;om=0&amp;s=AARTsJra0aVgdzVD1stcHugaxySzQdTqAw&amp;ll=22.299897,114.051132&amp;spn=0.222352,0.291824&amp;z=11&amp;output=embed" height="350" marginwidth="0"></iframe><br/><small><a style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left" href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&amp;hl=en&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=114262327464517237862.00043f69c44ec0ac2b9ac&amp;om=0&amp;ll=22.299897,114.051132&amp;spn=0.222352,0.291824&amp;z=11&amp;source=embed">View Larger Map</a></small><br /><br />Left the house around 6AM and got to the Centennial Airport 8AM. After checking in our baggages, Jon and I bought sandwiches from Deli France and ate our late breakfast while we waited for the announcement that we could board the plane. Left Metro Manila 10AM and got to Hong Kong International Airport at 12:00 noon. <br /><br />Milette arrived the day before and just gave me written instructions on how to get to the Marriott from the airport. She told me to take the Airport express to IFC station then take a taxi from there.<br /><br />To ride the Airport express, i need tickets which is bought from a vendo machine. I realized that I should have requested for smaller bills at the bank as the machine wouldn't take my HK$1000 bill. I didn't want to use the HK$100 I had because I think I'd have a harder time getting change for the Hk$1000 from the taxi driver. Jon and I found a machine exchanging US dollars for HK Dollars and fed it US$50 just so we could have smaller HK$ to feed into the ticket machine. Jon and I were discussing what kind of ticket to buy when a very helpful local approached and thought we didn't know what to do and started pointing to the ticket machine and speaking what I think must be Cantonese. She would be the first of very helpful Cantonese speaking people we would encounter. He he he.<br /><br />As we were buying the tickets, we found out that there's no such station labeled as IFC, but figured out Milette must be referring to the Hong Kong station. The airport is located in Lantau island and it took almost an hour to get from there to Hong Kong station (which is in Hong Kong island).<br /><br />Milette instructed me to take a taxi to the JW Marriott Hotel, but my senses told me there might be a better way. We asked around and were told there is a free shuttle service from the station to the Marriott hotel. That saved me taxi fare plus the additional payment drivers expect to get per luggage (I was told I may end up paying more for the luggage than for the fare, he he). Downside ofcourse was we had to wait for the shuttle, whereas taxis were readily available. As we boarded the shuttle, I found out that locals know the hotel as "JW" and not "Marriott".<br /><br />Checked into the hotel around 2PM. Milette told me Friday that she wanted to visit Disneyland and that she'll meet us at the hotel when we arrive so that we could proceed to Disneyland right after we checked in. What was waiting for me though was another set of written instructions left by Milette ... who I assumed was having a blast shopping that she didn't think she could make the trip to Disneyland. She shouldn't have bothered leaving me instructions on how to get to Disneyland though, as that was one thing I made sure to etch in my mind even before leaving the Philippines. Ha ha ha!<br /><br />Before we were shown to the elevator and given our keys, the receptionist realized there was another envelope left for me ... this time by BNP Paribas, and it contained the schedule for the 2-day workshop. What I was thinking then was: "What fun, I'm getting around a foreign country relying on written instructions given by installment - it's like Amazing Race without the Race".<br /><br />Once we got out luggages to our room and decided who gets what bed, we rushed out to get to Disneyland so that we can make the most of the hours left.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-913652037238429084?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-3937738392191713812007-11-24T10:35:00.000+08:002007-11-24T11:01:05.122+08:00Milette gave me detailed instructions on how to get to the Marriott hotel from the airport. Dan told her I've already been there at least twice in my head with the maps he's seen me downloading and printing. They found out I've plotted the hotel, the IFC2, the airport, Mongkok, and Disneyland on a map. It's actually on the google map you currently see on top. Admitted that I've also downloaded the MTR map.<br /><br />:-)<br /><br />Amidst their chuckles, I told them it's a habit of mine to try to put the map of a place in my head before I go there so there's less chance of getting lost.<br /><br />When Milette wondered how much the entrance fee to Hong Kong Disneyland would cost and I automatically gave her the amount, they also found out I've been researching on costs. Ha ha ha!<br /><br />Dan joked that I shouldn't go around with a map less someone would think I'm planting a bomb. Right... just tell me it's a nerdy and uncool thing to do.<br /><br />I won't do that though - like I said, I try to put the map in my head so I don't need to be looking at it.<br /><br />Dan's comment just gave me an idea to put the jpeg and pdf docs in my phone. I may actually be needing to look at them.<br /><br />Ted asked me to buy a metal strap for his TIMEX expedition watch. Took a picture of it on my phone so I won't forget the color. His girlfriend Judy planned to ask me to buy chocolates that she could give as presents for Christmas, but scrapped the idea when she realized that the probability of Ted eating them is quite high.<br /><br />Edna of PNB Hong Kong asked how come I'm arriving Sunday while Milette is arriving Saturday ... that means I won't have enough time to shop. Told her Milette is staying with a friend Saturday night, so she doesn't have to pay extra for hotel accomodations.<br /><br />I realized I should have bought more Hong Kong dollars. I wouldn't get a very good exchange rate for my USD if I exchange them in the airport or at the hotel.<br /><br />Problem was, I only got my allowance this afternoon... which Budget almost slashed in half because they think that BNP will shoulder our meals. If I got the money earlier, I might have time to exchange it.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-393773839219171381?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-25390020246429751152007-11-19T11:56:00.000+08:002007-11-24T10:21:44.302+08:00Got another e-mail from BNP Paribas today. Attached is the final programme for the 2-day workshop on Foreign Exchange and Interest Rate Structures Workshop.<br /><table><tr><td colspan=2></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Day 1: 26 November 2007</strong></td></tr><tr><td>9:00 am - 9:05 am</td><td>Welcome & Agenda</td></tr><tr><td>9:05 - 10:45 am</td><td>Session 1:<br />Structured FX Products: An Introduction - 2007 Structured FX Market in Review</td></tr><tr><td>10:45 am - 11:00 am</td><td>Break</td></tr><tr><td>11:00 am - 12:15 noon</td><td>Session 2:<br />Structured FX Products<br />Product Offerings: Investment Applications</td></tr><tr><td>12:15 pm - 2:15 pm</td><td>Lunch Break</td></tr><tr><td>2:15 - 3:30pm </td><td>Session 3: Market Views and Strategies: The Year Ahead</td></tr><tr><td>3:30 - 3:45 pm</td><td>Break</td></tr><tr><td>3:45 pm - 5:00 pm</td><td>Session 4: Strategies: What the Corporate Side is Doing</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan=2></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Day 2: 27 November 2007</strong></td></tr><tr><td>9:00 am - 10:30 am</td><td>Session 1:<br />Interest Rate Structures: An Introduction - 2007 Structured Interest Rate Market Review</td></tr><tr><td>10:30 am - 10:45 am</td><td>Break</td></tr><tr><td>10:45 am 12:15 noon</td><td>Session 2: Interest Rate Structures:<br />Views and Products: Investments</td></tr><tr><td>12:15 pm - 2:15 pm</td><td>Lunch Break</td></tr><tr><td>2:15 pm - 3:15 pm</td><td>Session 3: Interest Rate Structures<br />Views and Products: Hedging</td></tr><tr><td>3:15 pm - 4:00 pm</td><td>Break</td></tr><tr><td>4:15 pm - 5:30 pm</td><td>Session 4: Economic Outlook</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td></tr></table><br /><br />BNP will provide a shuttle bus every morning from the hotel to the IFC2. No mention of return trips to the hotel. They assume people aren't going to go straight back to the hotel after the sessions are over.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-2539002024642975115?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-31714491315287774752007-11-17T23:59:00.000+08:002007-11-24T09:55:38.184+08:00Two blocks away and very visible from our front gate is Centro Pacita. It used to be an empty lot where the carnival people used to set up their rides during the October fiesta. At other times it served as a landing area whenever someone important visits the area in a helicopter. Some guy even used to practice golf there and I was wondering if he's hit someone with his golf balls accidentally. <br /><br />When cement was poured over the ground, joggers and promenaders took over the place. Occasionally, a group of people would set up stalls for a trade bazaar.<br /><br />This summer, the whole block was fenced in and printed on the fences were ads/pictures of what they were building: Centro Pacita. Hmmm... it looks like we're going to have a mini-mall near the house. That means noise. Lots of noise.<br /><br />Lately, with the opening of some stores, you'd hear loud music playing from there. This night, for instance, they had set up a sound system in the middle of the area:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2058537462/" title="DSC00023 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2108/2058537462_0808e0bae8_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC00023 (Small)" /></a><br />The sound system's the one on the right below the bright bluish light ... a bit to the left of the bright yellow light on the extreme right ... it's not that visible in this picture I'm afraid.<br /><br />Near Centro Pacita, if not part of it, is the building of Reysal Supermarket, which was constructed last year.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2058537548/" title="DSC00026 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2288/2058537548_587af39102_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC00026 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />The supermarket rents out stalls built on the side of the building near Pacita Avenue:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2057751069/" title="DSC00028 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2327/2057751069_5f26f1d5bb_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC00028 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />I know the supermarket will last. I'm just not sure about the others. A Steak House is opening soon ... I'm wondering if the food's going to be good. Hopefully, pedestrian traffic from the nearby Church will make sure people will go to this place. Hopefully this does not turn out to be another Plaza Pacita - where the Bistro and Ice Cream House closed shop after 3 years and were replaced by small stalls selling stuff like cheap clothes and pirated CDs/DVDs/VCDs.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-3171449131528777475?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-14701388704158607252007-11-17T23:58:00.000+08:002007-11-24T09:01:02.100+08:00Connected to Greenbelt 3 via an overpass/walkway is Greenbelt 5. The building itself is finished but the partitions inside separating shops are not. Only a handful (even less) of restaurants are actually open - and I think it's just a soft opening for most of them.<br /><br />Tested my new phone's camera inside:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2057750147/" title="DSC00002 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/2057750147_0907ef35da_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="DSC00002 (Small)" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2057750291/" title="DSC00004 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2347/2057750291_a0c330349c_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="DSC00004 (Small)" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2057750369/" title="DSC00007 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2127/2057750369_d582063bb0_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC00007 (Small)" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2058536478/" title="DSC00008 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2059/2058536478_0233cb463e_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC00008 (Small)" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2057750433/" title="DSC00009 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2276/2057750433_4e4ad96cb4_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC00009 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />This is the entrance from the garden that connects Greenbelt 3 and 5:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2058536808/" title="DSC00010 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2280/2058536808_3d2c30d5da_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC00010 (Small)" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2058536904/" title="DSC00014 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2265/2058536904_7c87f497b0_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC00014 (Small)" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2057750795/" title="DSC00015 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2419/2057750795_eca70e7dd3_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC00015 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />As you can see above, I was just familiarizing myself with the camera. I was wondering why the pictures weren't clear. Jon and I were laughing hard when I realized I hadn't peeled off the plastic cover on the camera!<br /><br />Passing by the Greenbelt Chapel where a mass was ongoing, I realized that there are ducks living by the pond!:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2058537012/" title="DSC00018 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2357/2058537012_9618fa8019_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC00018 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Nice ... but a bit of a distraction to church-goers:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2057750895/" title="DSC00019 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2362/2057750895_f4401c6e98_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC00019 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Greenbelt 3 is already decked for Christmas:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2058537300/" title="DSC00021 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2398/2058537300_c8a000e471_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC00021 (Small)" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingfrey/2057750093/" title="DSC00022 (Small) by jingfrey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2234/2057750093_6cd375cbb0_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC00022 (Small)" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-1470138870415860725?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-13702389515781017802007-11-17T23:42:00.000+08:002007-11-24T07:36:44.970+08:00It takes a call to inform the credit card company that I'm using my credit card overseas, and I can start charging in Hong Kong tomorrow if I want to. To use the card online, I just found out Thursday night that I have to wait 15 days (working or calendar? I forgot) for the activation key. Considering that I'm scheduled to leave in 10 days, and I was planning to use the card to buy my ticket online, I told them to forget it.<br /><br />Since the only thing I could do online was register for the Mabuhay Miles program, I ended up calling the airline ticketing office, in middle of the night, to book my brother's flight. Called the same airline where my flight was booked by BNP. Realized that the price on the internet does not include taxes that amount to about PHP2,000 more than what I thought I would be paying. I probably could have saved by using another airline, but I think it's better that we both take the same plane... less coordination needed. If I get lost once I step off the plane, we get lost together. He He He!<br /><br />The ticket is reserved in my brother's name till Monday, 19-Nov., so we decided to drop by the ticketing office this morning to purchase it. The office officially closes 12:00 noon. After a flat tire (it actually exploded, which made everyone in the bus initially think it was some sort of bomb) and a longer than expected walk (the lady I talked to on the phone said their office is near Dusit Hotel ... when she actually meant it's on the same street as Dusit but much nearer to the old Anson's building ... which is 2 or 3 blocks away from the hotel) we arrived at the ticketing office around 11:40 AM. Would have taken the taxi had I known their office was that far.<br /><br />Lots of people waiting for their turn ... our number's 575 and they were only serving 553. When we sat down, there's this toddler running around. By the time we stood up to walk to the counter that's serving us, the toddler was still running around ... this time he's managed to rip off some poster from the wall. <br /><br />There were different "lines" for domestic flights, international flights, and the senior citizens have their own line. You don't actually stand in line, you wait for your number. The slowest line would probably be the senior citizens'. They had to flash/announce a number thrice before the person holding it approaches the counter. Probably because the senior citizens couldn't hear the bell ... according to my brother.<br /><br />Anyway... the last time I had to get a plane ticket myself was around 1998 and I went to the ticketing office during work hours, which was why there was no line. After that, the plane tickets I used for MART conventions were just handed to me by the travel agencies. Which is why as I waited for our turn, I began to appreciate travel agencies. Also began to appreciate the domestic flight tickets ... international flights are usually electronic and your ticket is just one piece of thin paper that's easy to misplace because it looks like your other documents.<br /><br />By the time we stepped out of that building, it was almost 2:00PM. My brother must have been famished by the wait, because when I asked him to choose between a Japanese restaurant and a Chinese restaurant, he immediately answered he wanted to eat Chinese food. On another day he would have automatically picked Japanese.<br /><br />Stopped by Globe after eating lunch to have our phones activated for roaming in Hong Kong. My brother uses pre-paid, so he has to send a message to some number to activate his phone. The Globe guy checked my phone and told me he doesn't have to do anything - my phone's already set to auto-roaming. I have a post-paid plan and it seems all post-paid plans have auto-roaming. Checked what kind of phone model I could use in Hong Kong. He said a dual-band phone would do. That's good - just about every phone in the Philippines is dual-band, including the ones my brother and I use.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-1370238951578101780?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-74402850404441512832007-11-12T23:14:00.000+08:002007-11-22T01:30:23.391+08:00Just got a copy of the agenda for the BNP Workshop in Hong Kong:<br /><br /><strong>Fixed Income Workshop on FX and IR Structures</strong><table><tr><td><strong>Nov. 26</td><td>Monday</td><td></strong></td></tr><tr><td>09:00</td><td>09:15</td><td>Opening Remarks</td></tr><tr><td>09:15</td><td>10:45</td><td>Structured FX Products<br />An Introduction</td></tr><tr><td>10:45</td><td>11:00</td><td>Coffee Break</td></tr><tr><td>11:00</td><td>12:15</td><td>Structured FX Products<br />Hedging and Investments</td></tr><tr><td>12:15</td><td>2:15</td><td>Break</td></tr><tr><td>02:15</td><td>04:00</td><td>Discussion Groups</td></tr><tr><td>04:00</td><td>04:15</td><td>Coffee Break</td></tr><tr><td>04:15</td><td>05:30</td><td>FX Strategies</td></tr><br /><tr><td><strong>Nov. 27</td><td>Tuesday</td><td></strong></td></tr><tr><td>09:00</td><td>10:45</td><td>Structured Interest Rate Products</td></tr><tr><td>10:45</td><td>11:00</td><td>Coffee Break</td></tr><tr><td>11:00</td><td>12:15</td><td>Structured Interest Rate Products</td></tr><tr><td>12:15</td><td>02:15</td><td>Break</td></tr><tr><td>02:15</td><td>03:15</td><td>Structured Interest Rate Products</td></tr><tr><td>03:15</td><td>04:00</td><td>Retail Platform</td></tr><tr><td>04:00</td><td>04:15</td><td>Coffee Break</td></tr><tr><td>04:15</td><td>05:30</td><td>Economic Outlook</td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-7440285040444151283?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-28313063358009076792007-11-11T20:15:00.000+08:002007-11-11T21:41:23.545+08:00Realized that although I would be with Milette for the Hong Kong seminar, it does not necessarily mean we're gonna hang out all the time. I bet she'll want to shop every chance she got. I'd like to be able to see some sights if possible. That means dragging someone along ... my brother in this case.<br /><br />Managed to ask some travel money for Jon from 2 elder sisters.<br /><br />Now I need to get the exact schedule/details of the trip from Milette so that my brother could have the same flight arrangements and also, so that he could plan his day (what he's gonna do when I'm still attending the seminar).<br /><br />NOW I'm looking forward to Hong Kong. I've got someone nearer my age to hang out with.<br /><br />Our parents already know about the trip. Dad told me to visit the place where Jose Maria Basa lived. He's a historical figure and also a relative... I'm just not sure what the relationship is. I just know that my paternal grandfather was a Basa (my dad had always used my maternal grandmother's surname of Reyes and officially adopted it after the war).<br /><br />Looked it up on the net. Jose Maria Basa had a house on Arbuthnot Road. No historical marker on where exactly it was, though.<br /><br />Really need to see the BNP Paribas sched and where the hotel is. Then I need to see a map of Hong Kong. That way, I can more or less have a short list of places I can visit given my sched.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-2831306335800907679?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-5251662192668967782007-11-07T01:50:00.000+08:002007-11-21T23:34:52.588+08:00Boss Dan asked me Monday if I'm available 3rd week of November because he was going to include me (again) in the shortlist for the bonds seminar hosted by BNP Paribas. I said ok. I wasn't early enough to attend the meeting yesterday (my official time in's 8:30, they start around 8:20, however I DO TRY to be early) but apparently that's when they announced I'm the one going to Hong Kong.<br /><br />BNP Paribas was already asking for my passport number yesterday afternoon for the plane reservation ... except that I don't carry my passport with me all the time and neither did I list the number in my phone's notes or organizer. Got to bring my passport today to have it photocopied for my travel order.<br /><br />I think I leave Manila on Sunday, 25-Nov-2007. Since the seminar's till Tuesday (27-Nov-2007), I'm not sure if my return flight's Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. They asked me what time Sunday I want to leave. I chose 10AM ... Boss Dan told me I should take an earlier flight. Told him the only way I could get to the airport 2 hours earlier than 8AM on a Sunday is hire a Taxi ... and taxis coming from our place don't use meters, they operate like rental cars and the minimum I expect to pay is PHP500.<br /><br />Milette is attending too and leaves for Hong Kong a day earlier. She's the FX bonds trader that usually deals with BNP Paribas. I haven't got all the details yet and she's making most of the arrangements ... which is why I have no idea what Budget Office was asking me regarding the travel order they were preparing for me.<br /><br />This means ofcourse that I won't be the one to go to Natixis Singapore next year, as everybody in the desk should have a chance to visit and learn from counterparties.<br /><br />I find it amusing to note that both BNP Paribas and Natixis are French banks.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-525166219266896778?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-51518880990386110912007-10-10T16:02:00.000+08:002007-10-20T16:03:52.663+08:00In case you haven't read from the <a href="http://the-vineyard.blogspot.com/2007/10/postponing-singapore-trip.html">Vineyard</a> yet, the Singapore trip has been postponed.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-5151888099038611091?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-29202838137446851742007-09-26T12:30:00.000+08:002007-09-30T11:18:50.553+08:00From an <a href="http://the-vineyard.blogspot.com/2007/09/panic-time.html">entry in Vineyard</a>:<br /><br />Was looking at my desk calendar and realized I only have 3 weekends to prepare for the Singapore trip. Tentative departure date is October 17 and as promised, Natixis will shoulder accomodations. <br /><br />The agenda they prepared for me includes:<br /><br />FX Trading Profit & Loss Management<br />FX Trading Position Management<br />FX Orders and Customer Management<br />FX Options Pricing and Trading Practices<br /><br />Training Date : <br /><br />18th and 19th October 2007<br /><br />I spend the 20th hanging around PNB Singapore branch which is open on weekends, and go back to Manila on the 21st.<br /><br />Kept hearing "chocolates" and "tapa" today from Boss Dan and Ted. Cristy's excited planning for my stay there.<br /><br />And I haven't even started preparing ... from checking the documents I need to bring (not sure if just bringing a passport is enough), deciding if I want to be able to use my cellphone in Singapore, and confirming if I could use my credit card there, too... otherwise I have to buy SGD or USD (because the dealing room folks expect me to bring something/anything back ... it's freakin' tradition, what can I say?). This isn't like going to Boracay where I can just dump beach wear in a bag and rush to the airport with only 20 minutes to spare before boarding time (yup, I've done that). Crap ... where is that suitcase?<br /><br />Just realized another thing: unless my bro is reading my blog, none of the folks at home know about this trip. He he he! Hey, I don't have the plane tickets in my hand yet ... Budget Division still has to approve this thingamajig.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-2920283813744685174?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-44280355223084946882007-09-22T05:15:00.000+08:002007-09-30T11:15:20.505+08:00<em>(From an entry in <a href="http://the-vineyard.blogspot.com/2007/09/going-to-singapore.html">Vineyard</a>)</em>:<br />Natixis Singapore agreed to host one trader from PNB to spend two days in their office and see how they run their dealing room. Ted, Rey and I were the candidates to go there. The piece of paper with my name on it was drawn earlier by Boss Mon, which means I get to visit the Natixis dealing room in Singapore... IF Budget approves the expenses.<br /><br />Now, it's time to list down what I should get out of this trip other than being toured around by Cristy and shopping. Ha ha ha! To be honest, I wasn't that interested when the idea was first broached. I've been away from the thirds desk for a year, so I haven't really been dealing with Yannick or Carol. I expected that they'd give the slot to the third desk dealers.<br /><br />Last thing I heard ... Natixis is willing to pay for the accomodation. Ted had asked Amex if they have a similar program ... Amex said yes ... but they will only pay for the plane fare. That doesn't mean I get free plane fare as well ... this means they can send a second trader with me to Singapore ... either Ted or Rey. The only problem will be accomodations. Cristy says I can stay with her if we ran out of options.<br /><br />Wonder how this will turn out? It's a month from now, so I don't want to think about it till everything's been threshed out.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-4428035522308494688?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-2035793115810670002007-07-14T08:02:00.001+08:002007-07-14T08:02:41.237+08:00Added this site to <a href="http://technorati.com/claim/svxxeq7fx5" rel="me">Technorati </a>today.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-203579311581067000?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-37390699432997820092007-01-15T03:36:00.000+08:002007-07-14T20:39:43.494+08:00<strong>January 5, Friday</strong> <br /><br />January 5 marked the first day of the 2nd World Pyrolympics. The event was originally scheduled for December 2006 as the first pyrolympics was December 2005. At least the event pushed through despite a month's delay.<br /><br />A lot of restaurants facing the bay took advantage and closed off the balcony to non-paying people. It meant you have to eat at a restaurant to get to the balcony and see the show.<br /><br />Seeing a long line of people, we asked around and found out that if one buys a minimum of PHP100, the guards will allow you to watch the fireworks on the bridge going to the manila bay grounds. Given the number of people lining up, I didn't think we'll get a good place to see the show.<br /><br />Jon and I went to the ground floor near the parked cars where we had a good view of the fireworks nonetheless.<br /><br />Australia is the first of two entries for the night. Below is a part of their display:<br /><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cFFMeK4hgXQ"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cFFMeK4hgXQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object><br /><br />We ate at Bizu, the only decent restaurant open past 9PM.<br /><br />Roamed around the mall taking pictures of the Christmas decors that will soon be taken down:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/773789321/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1102/773789321_e3863faaed_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="DSC01059 (Small)" /></a><br />One of the several Tall plastic Christmas trees. At daytime, the skylight provides ample light.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/773789323/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1171/773789323_b4114b5e47_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="DSC01066 (Small)" /></a><br />The ceiling above the olympic sized ice skating rink.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/773789327/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1082/773789327_9787e855cf_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="DSC01069 (Small)" /></a><br />The carousel is part of the mall all year long, but it looks more festive with the added Christmas decorations.<br /><br />Had some coffee at <a href="http://www.boscoffeeclub.com/">Bo's Cafe</a> and realized that once you buy coffee there, you get access to one of those closed off areas that give a view of the bay.<br /><br />We didn't plan to watch for Poland's entry because it was getting late. However, as we were waiting for a bus, the show started. Everyone waiting for buses or jeepneys turned around to watch whatever is visible of the display.<br /><br />The fireworks as seen from the entrance of SM Mall of Asia:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/774041961/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1165/774041961_6d76f50316_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="DSC01156 (Small)" /></a><br /><br /><strong>July 13, Saturday</strong><br /><br />As July 13 was the last day of the 2nd World Pyrolympics, Sam insisted that we stay to watch.<br /><br />This time, it was not enough to eat in the restaurants located near the bay to be able to stay there. One must avail of their special pyromlympics packages ... where you pay a big amount to get seated at the balcony overlooking the bay. Once you've paid, you can stay there as long as you want (till closing time anyway) and some restaurants even have "eat all you can" packages. We found the prices really high ... and some of the restaurants, like Italianni's, are so far from the actual fireworks venue, that I wonder if I'm going to see much of the fireworks at all.<br /><br />We went to the grounds and decided we'll just watch the fireworks from the parking lot. As we were too early, we decided to eat first. Many of the restaurants are full, and when I saw empty corner seats on the mezannine of <a href="http://www.chaikofi.com/">Chaikofi Cafe</a>, I went in. Loved that corner ... it's a good place to hang out.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/774955920/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1366/774955920_85018a0d62_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="13jan 016 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />We had to rush out when the entry for China started. After China came the exhibition of the host country, Philippines. Below is part of the Philippines' fireworks display.<br /><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qup8zH6sceM"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qup8zH6sceM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object><br /><br />As many people went to the mall just to catch the last day, hundreds thronged out towards EDSA after the competition. It was like being part of a parade. There was even a group of bikers with loud music to keep things lively. It was impossible to get a ride home unless you want to stand in the bus the whole trip. Since we expect we'd be standing on the street a long time just to get a decent ride, I suggested that we might as well hang around at the Lobby Lounge of Heritage Hotel till after midnight, when we're sure we can get seats on the bus ride home.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-3739069943299782009?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-46512674089327943482007-01-15T02:46:00.000+08:002007-07-14T20:39:31.124+08:00I became aware of <a href="http://www.mvdoulos.org/">MV Doulos</a> when our Treasury Marketing people went there for a client call.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/774198322/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1019/774198322_ad6ae3e46b_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="13jan 002 (Small)" /></a><br />I was told that they have a bookstore on board and some books are on sale.<br /><br />I invited Sam and Jon to visit the ship with me yesterday morning.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/774294316/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1003/774294316_140a35c1cc_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="13jan 015 (Small)" align=left /></a>MV Doulos was at the Manila Pier and the taxi could only go as far as the gates. We had to walk a good distance to get to the ship. There is a cheap entrance fee to be able to get onboard. Being a Saturday, lots of people have also decided to visit the ship ... so it was already crowded inside. <br /><br />Going up the ship:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/774198352/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1306/774198352_bf19b906b2_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="13jan 004 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Only one floor of the ship is open to visitors, and it is the same floor where the bookstore is. Browsed around and there isn't much to select from. There are the reference books like dictionaries and travel guides, magazines, children's books, and spiritual books. On the books for sale bins, there are some novels, but nothing I fancied getting in line for to buy ... there were many people at the cashier.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/774198338/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1276/774198338_42aa681695_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="13jan 003 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />If I was looking for a good book deal, going there was a disappointment.<br /><br />We decided to just take pictures so as not to waste the entrance fee we paid.<br /><br />The upper deck:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/774198362/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1310/774198362_4808d9ed50.jpg" width="281" height="500" alt="13jan 007 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Doulos is owned and operated by GBA = Gute Bücher für Alle (Good Books for All). GBA is a charitable trust, registered in Germany:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/774198312/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1316/774198312_4d72a3b37d.jpg" width="281" height="500" alt="13jan 001 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />The exit ramp:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/774198394/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1311/774198394_59f0a57456_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="13jan 014 (Small)" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-4651267408932794348?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-52604685519142252622006-10-15T14:20:00.000+08:002007-07-14T20:39:20.067+08:00The <a href="http://pinoytourista.blogspot.com/2005/04/tagaytay-public-parks.html">last time Sam and I were at the Picnic Grove</a>, we saw a wooden bridge but didn't know how to get there.<br /><br />Since then, Sam has gone back and now she tells me that to get there, we follow the path through the picnic tables. I wasn't able to guess that before as the path goes down the hill.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753932537/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1093/753932537_d130615a89_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 063" /></a><br /><br />Once we've come to the bottom of the path, I know it's called the Eco-adventure Trail because of this sign:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753932545/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1111/753932545_79a5582bea.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="2006oct 076" /></a><br /><br />The path goes upward again from there, and I found myself taking a breath after some time, wondering when the trail will end.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753932567/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1158/753932567_b16dab8dac_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 069" /></a><br /><br />Before long, we realized we had to cross a suspension bridge to finish the trail.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753932573/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1343/753932573_c7098fd027_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 072" /></a><br />I am not fond of suspension bridges as (1) It sways, and (2) I fear that the wood is old and rotten, therefore it might break while people are crossing it. It didn't help that kids before us were stamping their way across it.<br /><br />Despite my fears, I did cross it (I'm the person who went snorkeling even if I don't know how to swim, remember?).<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753932603/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1078/753932603_220416043d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="2006oct 074" /></a><br /><br />The end of the trail is the other side of the Picnic Grove where you find the nice cottages and the View Deck Restaurant. As the name suggests, on top of the restaurant is a view deck:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753932629/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1322/753932629_38121aa556_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 077" /></a><br /><br />As in all places in Tagaytay that has view decks, this place allows you to take a nice picture of Taal Volcano.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/754814724/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1163/754814724_0ae2ed2172_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 079" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-5260468551914225262?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-72865617331188402112006-10-15T14:19:00.000+08:002007-07-14T20:39:07.900+08:00On the way to <a href="http://pinoytourista.blogspot.com/2006/10/return-to-sonyas-country-bed-and.html">Sonya's</a> the bus passed by a zoo. Sam and I decided to visit it next.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.residenceinnresorts.com/">Residence Inn Mountain Resort and Zoo</a> is small and more of a petting zoo. At the entrance, they sell fresh fruits and other food that the animals eat ... the animals that could be fed that is.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743217473/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1314/743217473_1a4e1bdd12_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2006oct 030" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743217489/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1110/743217489_ff23de58c7_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2006oct 033" /></a><br />Parrots and cockatoos are the first animals you'd see. Some of the birds are actually out of the cage - tied loosely to their perches. Visitors can take pictures with these animals.<br /><br />Past the grotto, you'll find the monkeys and apes.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743217517/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1349/743217517_9beb9e41e2_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2006oct 034" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743217563/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1131/743217563_c358f86e09_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2006oct 035" /></a><br /><br />This is one agitated monkey. It screams at you when you stare at it too long.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743217573/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1320/743217573_87adf61287_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 036" /></a><br /><br />This zoo actually surrounds Residence Inn. Personally, I wouldn't choose staying at an inn which is in the middle of a zoo. How much sleep can one get if you could hear the growling of the big cats, chirping of the noisy cockatoos/parrots, and the noise the hyperactive monkeys make? Maybe the air conditioned rooms filter out the sound... maybe.<br /><br />The last time I visited a zoo was when I was doing a paper for Ecology during my college freshman year and had to go to the Manila zoo. I found the place depressing because I think the big animals do not have enough space to stretch out/roam in their cages.<br /><br />The animals' quarters are much smaller in Residence Inn.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743252819/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1199/743252819_60d97444c2_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 039" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743252839/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1119/743252839_ccdfadf9c4_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2006oct 042" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743252853/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1186/743252853_e48f5a817a_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2006oct 043" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743252873/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1066/743252873_f24b64176e_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 047" /></a><br /><br />The rooster and the peacock roam the place freely - they didn't need cages.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743217585/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1071/743217585_f7aa040fdb_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 037" /></a><br /><br />The hen roamed freely too. The pony was tied and kids can have their picture taken with him.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743252875/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1407/743252875_df3a15ac8e_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 049" /></a><br /><br />Seeing the llamas made me think of the Sims2 computer game.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743252861/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1318/743252861_8872d8e2a9_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2006oct 046" /></a><br /><br />At a lower level were bigger cages. Sam and I were both afraid of the steep hillside stairs that we never got past the owl cage.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743277511/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1024/743277511_1dee665ae7_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 052" /></a><br /><br />Near the entrance is the building where the reptiles and fishes are.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743277527/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1391/743277527_aacaa09120_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2006oct 056" /></a><br />This snake looked bored.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743277539/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1043/743277539_03cfef4ee2_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 058" /></a><br />This fish has an odd hump at the back.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743277555/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1180/743277555_5931b54dcd_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 062" align=left /></a>A tiger cub is also at the entrance ... but visitors must pay to take pictures of the tiger. If you do pay, the handler allows you to have your picture taken holding the cub.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-7286561733118840211?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-46097081535815873942006-10-15T14:10:00.000+08:002007-07-14T20:38:52.049+08:00When Sam and I started talking yesterday over the phone, we were planning to just go malling today ... but I joked about going to Tagaytay ... which is why I was up early today so that we could arrive at Tagaytay before lunch. We don't own cars so we used public transportation ... as usual.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743683460/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1010/743683460_7ea30d5163_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 028" align=right /></a>If deciding to go to Tagaytay yesterday wasn't last minute enough ... how about texting Sonya's Garden for lunch reservation while we were on the bus? You don't just walk in there ... you have to reserve a table. Placing a reservation via text will do. Hope they don't remember that last year I also made a lunch reservation about one or two hours before the timeslot I requested.<br /><br />Sam has never been there so I decided that we eat lunch there - my treat. It's funny that although her mom has been there more than once, maybe knowing Sonya personally, Sam has never set foot in the place.<br /><br />As Sonya's popularity hinges on word of mouth and it is not highly advertised, the bus conductor was not familiar with the place. Sonya's sign along the highway is not that big ... so there was a 50% chance that we'd miss seeing it. I was so worried we'd miss the sign that we got off the bus about a kilometer early. At first I thought Sonya's was nearby from where we got off, so we walked along the highway for a few minutes. After asking around we realized we needed to ride a jeepney.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/742826863/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1287/742826863_6dac4c6219_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 029" align=left /></a>After asking around, someone told us our destination was in Buck Estate. I forgot that Sonya's is located there. We had more luck finding people who knew where Buck Estate is than people who know about Sonya's Garden. Sonya's is not along the highway, so once you reach the entrance to Buck Estate, you take a tricycle to Sonya's.<br /><br />Things to remember when commuting to Sonya's from Metro Manila: Ride a bus that passes through Alfonso Cavite. Go down at Buck Estate. Take a tricycle to Sonya's. If you are already in Tagaytay, there are jeepneys that pass through Buck Estate.<br /><br />The menu's still the same from the last time I was there: You start with a bowl of salad greens with a variety of dressings/toppings to choose from. You mix your own salad. Fruit juice and bread baked from Sonya's bakery is served with the salad. Next comes a bowl of pasta, with two types of sauce and three or more toppings to choose from. Fried (?) sweet yam covered in caramelized sugar (camote cue without the stick and cut smaller) and sweet banana rolls (fancy name for a smaller version of the common turon) would be your dessert. They serve tarragon tea with dessert (hot water with a fresh sprig of tarragon).<br /><br />Visited the garden after lunch.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/742795395/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1052/742795395_86bf35c669_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 011" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/742795411/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1369/742795411_d219652984_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 004" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/742795429/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1154/742795429_57d6fbfb8b_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 008" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/742795437/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1089/742795437_c455226712_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 009" /></a><br /><br />Some plants were a bit shorter/smaller/had less flowers than the last time I was there. I told Sam that it was lovelier before the typhoon. There was a wedding reception being held in one of the "pavilions" and I realized that had the whole place been reserved for a wedding, we wouldn't get any table today. Sam is a wedding coordinator, so she's now added Sonya's to her list of wedding reception venues.<br /><br />Near the entrance, Sonya's has its own bakery,<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/742795527/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1188/742795527_2215451904_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 013" /></a><br /><br />souvenir store,<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/742795471/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1388/742795471_868e35a7c2_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 012" /></a><br /><br />SPA<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743683390/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1075/743683390_e99e4544f8_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="2006oct 017" /></a><br /><br />and you can even buy potted herbs.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743683384/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1041/743683384_aed8c676b6_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2006oct 016" /></a><br /><br />I dragged Sam towards the cottages nearby - last time I was there, only my niece and I were able to look at the place. When we returned bringing my brother and sister along, the gates were shut and we were told only those billeted inside could go in. Sam's lucky now that the gate's open (magic gate - sometimes it's open, sometimes it's not hehehe!).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743683418/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1371/743683418_7662b44d61_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2006oct 024" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743683402/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1120/743683402_cdb6fbde87_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2006oct 020" /></a><br />Very relaxing place ... we plan to stay in one of the cottages in the future.<br /><br />After taking all the pictures we want/can, we left for Tagaytay. Finding a tricycle to take you from Sonya's back to the highway takes some time though.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743721766/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1161/743721766_92c895e743_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2006oct 022" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/743683436/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1433/743683436_e9210fe631_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="2006oct 027" /></a><br /><br />See <a href="http://pinoytourista.blogspot.com/2006/10/residence-inn-mountain-resort-and-zoo.html">next blog entry</a> for what we did next.<br /><br />:-)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-4609708153581587394?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-65697608303345482782006-01-22T15:55:00.000+08:002007-07-14T20:38:39.527+08:00It was nearing sundown, the family scheduled one last stop for our Tagaytay trip: Palace in the Sky.<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jingfrey/TagaytayJanuary212006/photo?authkey=ge09-IngWSg#5074275095297752946"><img src="http://lh5.google.co.uk/jingfrey/RmtyUIPVf3I/AAAAAAAABhI/HEoYE94AMPY/s400/DSC02826.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The older folk rode a jeepney. My brother, niece and I had some workout walking up from the gate to the "palace" itself.<br /><br />The sun was about to set and we all began to feel the cold. We all headed to the top, which allows guests a 360 view of Tagaytay.<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jingfrey/TagaytayJanuary212006/photo?authkey=ge09-IngWSg#5074275056643047250"><img src="http://lh4.google.co.uk/jingfrey/RmtyR4PVf1I/AAAAAAAABg4/hdExtK4bRps/s400/DSC02824.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We all rode a jeepney going down to the gate where the van is parked.<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jingfrey/TagaytayJanuary212006/photo?authkey=ge09-IngWSg#5074275121067556738"><img src="http://lh3.google.co.uk/jingfrey/RmtyVoPVf4I/AAAAAAAACCo/9eIT0HLSfHA/s400/DSC02827.JPG" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-6569760830334548278?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-17690213934373324322006-01-22T15:54:00.000+08:002007-07-14T20:38:23.576+08:00The family was at <a href="http://pinoytourista.blogspot.com/2006/01/tagaytay-taal-vista-lodge.html">Taal Vista Hotel</a> till around 1:00PM, when we began to feel hungry and my oldest sister Cely agreed to try out eating at Sonya's Garden.<br /><br />It was a last minute decision, which could be a problem. To eat at Sonya's, one must make a reservation first. Sonya used to be either a client or an employee of PNB, and I had heard of her garden from office mates. The cellphone number to her place though was given by my friend Rachel who does not work at PNB. I made the reservation using my cellphone while we were boarding the van. Being everybody's first time going there, I texted Sonya's to ask for directions ... and this is how you get there:<br /><br /><blockquote>Going to sonya's garden ... From tagaytay rutonda head towards the direction of batangas. After passing Splendido and Royal Tagaytay Estate n Sunrise Hill - make a right on Buck Estate 2km<br /><br />Sender:<br />Sonya's G<br />+639175329097<br /><br />Sent:<br />21-Jan-2006<br />13:25:09</blockquote><br />We realized that Sonya's is not in Tagaytay, it is actually in Alfonso, Cavite. Because of the distance from Taal Vista Hotel to Sonya's, the restaurant had enough time to prepare a table for our group of eight (the family plus the driver).<br /><br />Sonya herself decided that my dad eats for free (maybe because we were a big group and he is a senior citizen in a wheel chair), so my sister only had to pay for seven people. <br /><br />We stayed at Sonya's for about two hours ... that time included eating lunch and checking out the garden.<br /><br />The garden was charming.<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jingfrey/TagaytayJanuary212006/photo?authkey=ge09-IngWSg#5074274519772135010"><img src="http://lh3.google.co.uk/jingfrey/RmtxyoPVfmI/AAAAAAAACCA/8O_8dBBD-QE/s144/DSC02808.JPG" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jingfrey/TagaytayJanuary212006/photo?authkey=ge09-IngWSg#5074274893434289906"><img src="http://lh6.google.co.uk/jingfrey/RmtyIYPVfvI/AAAAAAAACCc/9gR2T5V0mos/s144/DSC02817.JPG" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jingfrey/TagaytayJanuary212006/photo?authkey=ge09-IngWSg#5074274713045663410"><img src="http://lh4.google.co.uk/jingfrey/Rmtx94PVfrI/AAAAAAAACCM/6mzhg1zTdBA/s144/DSC02813.JPG" /></a><br /><br />There are many benches and chairs tucked here and there for guests to sit in.<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jingfrey/TagaytayJanuary212006/photo?authkey=ge09-IngWSg#5074273952836451634"><img src="http://lh3.google.co.uk/jingfrey/RmtxRoPVfTI/AAAAAAAABco/3BnqyfB7BiA/s144/DSC02788.JPG" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jingfrey/TagaytayJanuary212006/photo?authkey=ge09-IngWSg#5074274030145862994"><img src="http://lh5.google.co.uk/jingfrey/RmtxWIPVfVI/AAAAAAAACBc/dHdOsfE0e18/s144/DSC02791.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Some resting places were actually the size of a queen size bed.<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jingfrey/TagaytayJanuary212006/photo?authkey=ge09-IngWSg#5074274103160307058"><img src="http://lh6.google.co.uk/jingfrey/RmtxaYPVfXI/AAAAAAAACBk/wjSak4jzHms/s288/DSC02793.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Lunch at Sonya's consisted of bread and salad first, then pasta, then dessert. For both the salad and pasta, the dressings/sauces/toppings are served, giving the guest leeway on what combination s/he prefers. Fresh fruit juice was served with the meal, and tarragon tea was served with dessert.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jingfrey/TagaytayJanuary212006/photo?authkey=ge09-IngWSg#5074274274958998994"><img src="http://lh6.google.co.uk/jingfrey/RmtxkYPVfdI/AAAAAAAABd4/wY2_XlOdYWc/s288/DSC02799.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Every guest at Sonya's gets to eat the same stuff. The only choice is whether to order roasted chicken or not. It seems that the idea was Sonya's is a house always open to guests ... and guests can only eat what the host has prepared to serve. To add to the informal atmosphere, the china are never matched... which actually takes some planning if they want to make sure that no china used by any one guest is matched.<br /><br />While waiting for the older folk to finish lunch, my brother, niece and I took a fancy to the comfort rooms. They are unisex restrooms and the one near our table was rather large.<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jingfrey/TagaytayJanuary212006/photo?authkey=ge09-IngWSg#5074274339383508482"><img src="http://lh5.google.co.uk/jingfrey/RmtxoIPVfgI/AAAAAAAACBs/O2kdKDLxKbY/s144/DSC02802.JPG" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jingfrey/TagaytayJanuary212006/photo?authkey=ge09-IngWSg#5074274356563377682"><img src="http://lh5.google.co.uk/jingfrey/RmtxpIPVfhI/AAAAAAAACBw/wjvT1bM_Yn8/s144/DSC02803.JPG" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jingfrey/TagaytayJanuary212006/photo?authkey=ge09-IngWSg#5074274468232527442"><img src="http://lh3.google.co.uk/jingfrey/RmtxvoPVflI/AAAAAAAACB8/GIbtpH-Fc_Y/s144/DSC02807.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jingfrey/TagaytayJanuary212006/photo?authkey=ge09-IngWSg#5074274408102985266"><img src="http://lh5.google.co.uk/jingfrey/RmtxsIPVfjI/AAAAAAAABeo/qwdaGljIvcE/s288/DSC02805.JPG" /></a><br />Above is the sitting room inside the restroom.<br /><br />My niece and I checked out nearby Sonya's Country Bed and Breakfast. It's two or three cottages where guests can sleep. The garden was also pretty inside and with the cottages and the garden, the effect was European. We decided that the others should see this, but when we came back with my sister and brother in tow, the gate was closed.<br /><br />Since we liked the bread and the pesto spread, we bought some from Sonya's bakery before leaving.<br /><br />Sonya's accepts credit card payments by the way.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-1769021393437332432?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-14034164073220619412006-01-22T15:53:00.000+08:002007-07-14T20:38:08.183+08:00My sister Cely, who's in the Philippines with her daughter for a visit, decided to visit Tagaytay before going back to Australia. With the family packed into a rented van, we left Pacita at 10:30AM. When my other sister Sally (who lives in California) called my cellphone, she was surprised to find out we were in a van enroute to Tagaytay.<br /><br />It was around lunchtime when we arrived at <a href="http://www.taalvistahotel.com/home.shtml">Taal Vista Hotel</a>.<br /><br />The Tudor house, where the front desk is: <br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jingfrey/TagaytayJanuary212006/photo?authkey=ge09-IngWSg#5074273811102530802"><img src="http://lh6.google.co.uk/jingfrey/RmtxJYPVfPI/AAAAAAAABcI/8gZnasbNFAg/s400/DSC02784.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We just stayed at the viewing deck at the back of the Tudor House as the hotel does not mind visitors coming in just to view Taal Lake. The deck has a nice garden and it offers one of the clearest view of Taal volcano.<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jingfrey/TagaytayJanuary212006/photo?authkey=ge09-IngWSg#5074273441735343186"><img src="http://lh4.google.co.uk/jingfrey/Rmtwz4PVfFI/AAAAAAAABa4/lQxFBgmaQDI/s400/DSC02774.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jingfrey/TagaytayJanuary212006/photo?authkey=ge09-IngWSg#5074273218397043666"><img src="http://lh4.google.co.uk/jingfrey/Rmtwm4PVe9I/AAAAAAAABZ4/aRlQwbNgNr4/s400/DSC02766.JPG" /></a><br /><br />There was a dance troupe performing at the Cafe-on-the-ridge so we popped into the restaurant briefly to catch a number or two.<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jingfrey/TagaytayJanuary212006/photo?authkey=ge09-IngWSg#5074273390195735602"><img src="http://lh4.google.co.uk/jingfrey/Rmtww4PVfDI/AAAAAAAABao/_6AE_YkvmfE/s400/DSC02772.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Food looked yummy at the restaurant, but we had planned to eat lunch at <a href="http://pinoytourista.blogspot.com/2006/01/sonyas-garden.html">Sonya's Garden.</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-1403416407322061941?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-77073613628617875482005-04-16T14:59:00.000+08:002007-07-14T20:37:48.920+08:00After leaving St. Scholastica's Center of Spirituality, we went to Palace in the Sky and Picnic Grove at my insistence. I had heard of these places where some would go for a day out with their families, and wanted to see them. The only places in Tagaytay I've seen so far are religious retreat houses, Tagaytay Highlands and Antonio's Restaurant.<br /><br /><strong>Peoples' Palace in the Sky</strong> was intended to be a residence for the Marcoses during the latter half of the 1980s but it wasn't finished by the time the Marcoses were kicked out of Malacanang. It has been converted to a park by latter administrations. It still isn't finished and you'd tire of the place in a few minutes, unless you're a kid - then you'd have fun in the playground. From what I'd call the top deck, one gets a bird's eye view of Tagaytay for almost 360 degrees.<br /><br />The ticket booth at the entrance to the "Palace":<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752650879/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1297/752650879_3c7db4f984_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="05apr-TagaytayPalace009 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />This is the palace as seen from the entrance. Which means you have a long climb up if you don't pay for the jeepney ride:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752650871/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1033/752650871_f0ab69badc_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05apr-TagaytayPalace008 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />If the Palace was already high up a hill, you'd find that going to the shrine to Our Lady Mother of Fair Love means more steps going up:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752579907/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1313/752579907_2873e1698c_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05apr-TagaytayPalace004 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Shrine to Our Lady Mother of Fair Love:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752579919/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1154/752579919_549b941258_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05apr-TagaytayPalace006 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />View of the Palace from the shrine:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752579917/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1255/752579917_21f46f3362_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05apr-TagaytayPalace005 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />The palace has picnic areas, stalls selling souvenirs, a playground, and a room with pictures of all the presidents of the Philippines. Past the playground is an arch leading to stairs going down the side of the hill:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752579897/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1392/752579897_8f92a6bf33_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="05apr-TagaytayPalace000 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />The stairs lead to a small deck where you can also view Tagaytay. If you are afraid of heights, you may not want to look over the railing as you might feel that you are suspended over the air.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752579899/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1429/752579899_e52845f015_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05apr-TagaytayPalace001 (Small)" /></a> <br /><br />Going back up:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752579903/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1059/752579903_66b4a49e98_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="05apr-TagaytayPalace002 (Small)" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Tagaytay Picnic Grove</strong> is series of picnic tables on a hill.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753513890/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1393/753513890_cb98c80437_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05apr-TagaytayPark003 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />There is an area where kids could go horseback riding if their parents are willing to pay for it.<br /><br />Being on a hillside, it offers a view of the Tagaytay hills, and Taal Volcano.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753513884/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1057/753513884_dfde50be8d_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05apr-TagaytayPark000 (Small)" /></a><br /><br /><strong>A Dream Comes True</strong><br />When we were going back to Manila we sort of got lost ... we didn't know where the passenger buses or jeepneys bound for Manila were. By the time we started asking around where we are, we were told we were in Pala Pala. Remember the dream I was talking about earlier? I assumed I had dreamed about being told I was in Palawan because I only heard two syllables: Pa-la. I did not know then there was a place called Pala Pala.<br /><br />Sam and I finally ended up in Alabang Town Center where we wathced the movie <a href="http://box-o-donuts.blogspot.com/2005/04/movie-wedding-date.html">Wedding Date</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-7707361362861787548?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-80151326181421133462005-04-16T13:04:00.001+08:002007-07-14T20:37:33.405+08:00Sam paid for a retreat in her tuition but didn't attend... now the nuns want her to avail of it even if she goes on her own. She invited me to go with her. She scheduled it for April 13 - 15 at St. Scholastica Tagaytay. As April 13 came nearer, I was excited enough to have a dream that Sam and I were lost again, and when we asked where we were, I think the person in the dream said Palawan.<br /><br /><strong>April 13, Wednesday</strong><br />We planned to meet Wednesday morning near her place which is on the way to Zapote where we will take a jeep to Cavite, and a bus to Tagaytay. I left the house and was on the jeepney heading for the meeting place when I realized I forgot my wallet. Luckily I still had my coin purse so I was able to pay for the jeepney ride. Sam had to wait as I solved my little dilemma ... looking for an ATM.<br /><br /><strong>St. Scholastica's Center of Spirituality, Tagaytay</strong><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753284542/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1004/753284542_0014e2bb5b_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay000 (Small)" align=left /></a>When we got to St. Scho Tagaytay around lunch time, I immediately started "touring" the place. When the store was opened, I started buying some St. Benedict medals to have blessed and bring home. The nuns noticed this and "gently" but firmly reprimanded Sam. Take note that they reprimanded Sam and not me ... maybe because Sam was the student, and they felt they had "jurisdiction" over her. They said such activities are to be reserved on the last day. Sam assured them she'll be taking the retreat seriously the following day.<br /><br />This statue of St. Benedict is in the middle garden.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753284560/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1153/753284560_21f94ed1fa_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay007 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />The Main Building has many paintings depicting the life of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica. This is one of them:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753284574/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1178/753284574_cd667ceed1_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay010 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />This statue of St. Scholastica is located near the chapel, in a semi-secluded place:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752437179/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1437/752437179_53dfd27e64_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay015 (Small)" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752437181/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1003/752437181_fca23b021a_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay016 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />The refectory (where everybody takes their meals):<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752437175/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1347/752437175_cb6a9ac904_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay013 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />This door leads to our quarters:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753284566/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1106/753284566_3eac59d529_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay008 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Seen at the back of this picture is a "bahay kubo". To the left of this kubo are the nuns' dormitories which are off limits to guests:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752437201/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1098/752437201_47286ea649_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay017 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />A path leading to the nuns' quarters:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753296620/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1229/753296620_35f3796cd0_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay033 (Small)" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752879623/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1393/752879623_b6901e6841_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Benedict-medals (Small)" align=left /></a>Now, although St. Scho Tagaytay has a convent and chapel, it has no resident priest so the nuns have to attend mass in a church outside of the convent. That would mean that if you bought medals there, you still have to have them blessed somewhere. It just so happens that a group of parish priests from Pampanga were there for a week long seminar. I was able to have the medals I bought blessed that night without leaving the place.<br /><br />With the medals blessed, and that bit reprimand from the nuns, I announced I'd leave Sam alone to her "retreat" for the 14th and 15th. Sam mentioned about not having a bible and in a spur of the moment decision I gave her the bible I brought with me. It was an act of generosity, but I think there was also a bit of "yabang" in that act. However, when I was writing the dedication on the bible, I was already very sincere about giving Sam the bible as I have a spare bible that PJ had given me.<br /><br /><strong>April 14, Thursday</strong><br /><br />Took a few photos with Sam in the morning, before she started with the retreat stuff.<br /><br />Photos that got the nuns shaking their heads:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753284544/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1205/753284544_6233eedfae_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay005 (Small)" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753284558/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1009/753284558_303ac24ea7_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay006 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Sam spent the rest of the day at the chapel, the cave, the prayer room and the gazebo, bringing the bible and a small notebook with her.<br /><br />The prayer room above our quarters:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753296612/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1176/753296612_e4fa7fa2e7_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay030 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />The Chapel of the Sacred Heart:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752450137/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1084/752450137_af946077e1_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay039 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />The altar inside the Chapel:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752441749/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1415/752441749_228db4d48e_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay026 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />The main door as seen from inside the chapel:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752441759/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1196/752441759_ae58f22f4c_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay027 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />The main door of the chapel as seen from the outside:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753296588/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1252/753296588_e777b6925c_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay028 (Small)" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753296608/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1107/753296608_f895487b8a_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay029 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />There is a small, raised garden beside the chapel:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752450131/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1111/752450131_909801bf74_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay038 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Beneath the chapel is the Sacro Speco, a replica of the cave in Subiaco, Italy where St. Benedict stayed in solitude for three years.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752437209/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1061/752437209_02647ba550_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay019 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Stairs leading to one of the doors to the Sacro Speco:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752437213/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1412/752437213_3ae4712af5_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay020 (Small)" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752441719/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1287/752441719_9b45bb9122_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay021 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />A walkway connects a retreat house to the chapel:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752450141/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1026/752450141_5ea1f46141_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay040 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />This same walkway crosses a path leading to the Gazebos:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752450151/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1145/752450151_493e2951a3_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay042 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />The Gazebos:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752450125/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1060/752450125_57bc3ec7a4_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay037 (Small)" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752441745/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1400/752441745_49aadf0eb1_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay025 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />I did my version of a retreat and did some meditating while sitting in the pocket gardens around the place. Initially, I spent the morning writing notes to the recipients of the medals I bought on postcards ... reminiscent of the reflection exercises in high school. When I had finished that, I just sat in the gardens, thought of nothing, and enjoyed my surroundings. I still took the occassional picture. A "flying" lizard did catch my attention when it jumped from a tree behind me to the tree in front of me. It was the first time I saw that kind of lizard for real (I only know them from books or TV).<br /><br />Below and Behind the chapel is another garden with a fountain at the middle.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752441727/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1137/752441727_5077ba6b09_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay023 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />The back of the chapel, which is also the back of the altar:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753296632/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1133/753296632_04a78c20af_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay034 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Still part of the garden behind the chapel:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/752441743/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1130/752441743_bc42c4a588_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay024 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Sam would look for me when she wanted to eat, and that would be the only time we'd be together - eating in the refectory. She mentioned about praying and hoping to hear God's answer but not finding it. I asked her if she spent the whole time talking. Then I suggested instead of continuously speaking to God, she try staying quiet for a few minutes - then maybe she'd hear an answer.<br /><br />With my bible now given to Sam, good thing I brought a book with me to read. With no one to talk to and nothing else to do, I managed to finish <a href="http://box-o-donuts.blogspot.com/2005/04/book-rule-of-four.html">"Rule of Four"</a>.<br /><br /><strong>April 15, Friday</strong> <br />Sam told me that she thinks she heard God show her the answer she was looking for. She didn't tell me what it was and I didn't pry.<br /><br /><strong>Priests on retreat</strong><br />I mentioned about the priests earlier. Sam and I would discover how priests are when they're being themselves. They are as noisy as a group of guys could be - there were priests who loved cracking jokes, and during mass, some would just do a crazy dance impromptu to match a praise song. When someone made the mistake of extending a note when the rest have stopped singing, everyone was trying to stay serious while it's obvious they would rather be bursting at the seams and rolling on the floor with laughter.<br /><br />I have been to an all-boys school because my family would attend events at my brother's school, so I recognized these priests as older versions of the boys I saw. Sam, who hasn't been in an all boys school, was shocked to find that priests could be that noisy.<br /><br />The priests in turn were curious about us. They'd see us during meal times and at mass. Most were probably wondering what we were doing there, as there were only 2 of us. We were mistaken for participants in a search-in (ladies trying to find out if they would want to join the convent), novices, or even members of the staff. A couple of priests did approach to ask us what we were there for to straighten things out. They were surprised we were there on a retreat with no priest to supervise us. They did not think it is a proper retreat and when told about the "tuition reason", one even dared to joke that the nuns were doing a business on retreats.<br /><br />Apparently, St. Benedict's spot is a good place to air the pillows:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/753296616/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1049/753296616_1631a708af_m.jpg" width="240" height="162" alt="05Aprl-tagaytay031 (Small)" /></a><br /><br />Friday morning, staff from SSC Manila arrived for their retreat. A number greeted Sam, they know her either as student or officemate as she'd worked at SSC before entering the College of Music. A couple even remembered ME ... as I was a student volunteer at the Registrar's office. Sam and I left before lunch.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1971788167815941060-8015132618142113346?l=pinoytourista.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762546334619414471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1971788167815941060.post-25074690116556541422004-11-15T15:02:00.004+08:002008-06-01T09:31:36.169+08:00<strong>Friday, November 12</strong><br /><br />Really cut it close Friday morning ... twas almost boarding time when I arrived at the airport. The clerk, or whatever you call him, told me they were just about to close the counter. Point is, I didn't miss the plane and they were still open. There was this chubby lady in front of me with a familiar face ... and while I was waiting for my turn, I wondered if she was the comedianne on TV. Anyway, she took her time pulling out things from the bag that she hoped to hand carry but the airport guy said must be checked in. I found it amusing that most of her things were girly - that means in shades of pink and/or other pastel colors.<br /><br />Esther, Rhoda and Jeng were in the same flight I was. Arriving at Boracay, Jeng and Rhoda rode a separate ferry from the one Esther and I took. Esther and I had fun watching the two of them being carried on the shoulders of the ferry porters ... maybe because the water level was too high for them?<br /><br />People from the ferries walking towards the beach:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/745499649/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1433/745499649_56f6024e0f_m.jpg" width="166" height="240" alt="04boracay001" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/745665105/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1230/745665105_b847e1537b_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="willyHotel" align=left /></a>I thought we were booked at the Pearl. Apparently not, since I was back at <a href="http://www.willysbeachclubhotel.com/">Willy's</a>. Jeng and Rhoda were my room mates. Esther and Vikki were in a nearby room. I would say next door, but there's a staircase dividing our rooms.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/745499669/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1015/745499669_27b56537b2_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="62420049" /></a><br /><br />After lunch at Willy's, Esther, Jeng, Rhoda and I spent most of the afternoon buying souvenirs at the talipapa (wet market). We met Vikki there - she flew in from Cebu. Jeng, Esther and Rhoda went back early because Rhoda had a bad stomach. I stayed behind. Bought only a few t-shirts, wall decor and some magnets. Did not want to bring home food this time. I decided to find out how long it would take to walk from the Talipapa back to Willy's Beach Resort. It was LOOONG. However, if you're walking beside the beach, you don't mind it much because there are the people and establishments to distract you.<br /><br />We decided to walk a bit along the shore before going to dinner:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/746369998/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1013/746369998_01d0ddc069_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="62420052" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/746370004/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1026/746370004_76f13c7fc8_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="62420053" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763512@N02/746370018/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1106/746370018_dbcc0273d3_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="62420054" /></a><br /><br />Dinner was at <a href="http://www.walingboracay.com/">Waling-waling<