Tromsø, Norway: Cathedral of Our Lady

Cathedral of Our Lady, Tromsø 

Nagoya, Japan: Mikokoro Catholic Center

Mikokoro Catholic Center

Philippines: Pilgrim Churches to visit in MuntiParLas area

 

Pilgrim Churches in Muntinlupa, Paranaque and Las Pinas

Sapporo, Japan: Guardian Angels Cathedral

Guardian Angels Cathedral

Philippines: Churches to visit in Laguna, Batangas, Quezon

 

Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church

Alaminos, Laguna (Diocese of San Pablo)

Kagawa, Japan: Cathedral of the Assumption

Cathedral of the Assumption

カトリック桜町教会

Japan, 760-0074 Kagawa, Takamatsu, Sakuramachi, 1-chome 8-9

https://www.sakuramachi.catholic.ne.jp/

Open: 9-12nn, 13-17pm

Osaka, Japan: Catholic Tamatsukuri Church

Catholic Tamatsukuri Church

Nagasaki, Japan: Miura Catholic Church

Miura Catholic Church

South Korea: Yakhyeon Church

2014 February Visit

Do you still remember Father Adriane from Love Letter (Jo Hyun-jae as Lee Woo Jin) in 2003 MBC series?  He shed a tear during his ordination in Episode 1.

Before leaving for this trip (Feb 2014), I bump into Yoona’s series Prime Minister, it is her wedding scene, and I suddenly remember the church – I said in an instant, I’ll find it and will be there in case it happened to be in Seoul.

2015 June: Sydney: Ultimo, Haymarket, Town Hall

After my visit, I can say it is not for all.  It will be mostly appreciated by those who love applied science or students coming from intensive science subjects in their lower years. 

Powerhouse Museum

Location: 500 Harris Street, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia

Site: http://maas.museum/visit/powerhouse-museum/

Located in the old Ultimo Power Station building adjacent to Darling Harbour, the Powerhouse Museum is the flagship venue of Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS). Its unique and diverse collection spans science, technology, design and decorative arts, engineering, architecture, health and medicine, fashion and contemporary culture.

Seems to small from the outside but has a lot to offer on their underground levels which stores the permanent exhibition. 

2015 June: Sydney: Churches

There are a lot of churches in the city. It's not only the catholic churches that have intricate designs, there were Anglican and others as well.  On the Pitts, you can also see the Scientology Church (Read). 

We're able to attend the Sunday mass in St. Peter Julian's Church.

St. Peter Julian Haymarket

Location: 641 George Street, Sydney   NSW

Site: http://www.stpeterjulianhaymarket.org.au 

Sunday  Mass  Times:  9.30  am,  11.00  am  (Chinese),12.30  pm,  3.30  pm  &  5.00pm  (Korean)

Gospel MK 14:12-16, 22-26 - June 07, 2015

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing,

broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body."

2014 Jan: Philippines: 3 Churches to Visit in Tuguegarao

Iguig Calvary Hills and St. James the Apostle Parish

How to get there:

Take a tricycle (10ph/pax) going to Don Domingo Van Terminal. Take the van going to Iguig (25ph/pax) its about 30 minutes, remind the driver to drop you off on Calvary, because we missed it even if we have reminded the driver and the conductor.  So we have to walk back by around 10 minutes.  From the main street, we walked another 10 minutes inside a smaller street.

Behind the cross is the river - The Cagayan River, also known as the Rio Grande de Cagayan, is the longest and largest river in the Philippine Archipelago. [Reference]

We were welcomed by an old brick church (feels like the one from Fr. Adriane's drama). This is St. James the Apostle Parish.  They say that the place became one of the pilgrim sites specifically during holy week.

Going back: 

Find your way back to the main road, vans going back to city centre with sign boards "Tuguegarao City" will be passing by.

Saints Peter and Paul Metropolitan Cathedral

Located in Rizal Street.  It is another made of brick church.  On our visit, they are still restoring the church and noticed that they allowed shops inside the church grounds.

Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat

How to get there:  Take a tricycle going to “parkingan” (parking area, terminal) going to Piat.  Take the van and it will take less than an hour to reach town of Piat.

2014 Jan: Philippines: 5 Churches to Visit in Iloilo

Jaro Cathedral (Our Lady of the Candles National Shrine)

Take a jeepney with “Jaro Ikot” as a signboard, drop by the corner of E Lopez St, before the jeepney takes right turn at Graciano Lopez Jaena Park and walk to the church’s entrance gates.  Otherwise the “Ikot” means it will still go to other areas before returning to the park, and passing the front area of the church.

I would say, “where modern meets the old architecture”.  The 2 bell towers are newly constructed and the front walls of the church are being restored with cements.

The walls and good looking ceilings in the church are newly painted with green, blue and yellow.

Philippines: Albay: Misibis Bay

Misibis Bay, known for its luxurious service!  Where top artists like Kris Aquino, Zac Efron, Sandara Park (2NE1) to name a few who stayed for vacation and work there.

2012 March: Busan: Namcheon Cathedral

Namcheon Cathedral in Pusan/Diocese of Pusan 

Location: 70-1, 70-4 Nam Cheon 1 Dong, Busan, 600-094 South Korea

How to get there:  Take Line 2 (GREEN) Namcheon station.  The closest exit is #2 which is accessible only by taking the long stairs.  (The elevator is available from other exit but we were not able to see pedestrian lanes on the streets.)

Make sure you study the location on maps.google.com.  This is just close to KBS station building.

Unlike the Roman Catholic churches here in the Philippines, the one in Namcheon has a different structure that makes it unique in my eyes.  High ceiling on the right and these walls are used for the Station of the Cross.  (It is about a week before the Holy Week 2012 and we saw  group of aunties doing their prayers on the 14 stations.)  While the left wall is sliding and is designed with stained glass.

Outside area is designed with red walking area and everything is covered by greenery.

Based on my online research there is a daily mass (Tue/Thu at 12:15pm, Wed/Fri 5:30pm), but we did not see during our visit at 12:15pm.  Here is the schedule posted on the place (but in Korean).

Travel Date: March 29, 2012

Updated:
Other English Mass in Busan - you may check here or here or here.
Choryang Catholic Church
Location: Busan dong-gu 15, Choryangsang-ro 79beon-gil (Choryang-dong)
Phone: +82-51-467-1209
Services: Services in Vietnamese (Sundays, 2 p.m.), English (Sundays, 4 p.m.)

Related Article

• English Mass Service in Choryang Catholic Church, Busan: 4:00pm Sundays
• Seomyeon Catholic Church 

South Korea: Myeongdong Cathedral

Another plus on the location of my accommodation is it so close to Myeongdong Cathedral.  I can actually hear the bells ringing for its first mass.  Good thing that it is only drizzling that morning and I finally had a chance to take a photo of its façade - the church looks like a castle from outside, but feels old from the inside.

2011 November:



2016 November 13:

How to get there?

Line 4: Myeong-dong Station Exit 9, 10; Line 2: Euljiro 1(il) ga Station Exit 5, 6; Euljiro 3 (sam) ga 

Reference

 Mass Schedule

Reference

Filming Location

Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me (KBS2, 2017-18)

As seen multiple of times in Black Knight:

Episode 01, when Jung Hae-ra's time (Shin Se-kyung) was looking for an old tailor shop to get her dress.

Episode 02, when Hae-ra and her friend was looking for Sharon's (Seo Ji-hye) Boutique.

Episode 03, when Hae-ra together with Moon Soo-ho (Kim Rae-won) is on their way to the boutique.

And possibly in the future episodes as well. 

2011 March: Boracay Island, Philippines: Lucky Lunch

Travel Date: March 17, 2011

Destination: Caticlan, Malay, Aklan
We started the day by strolling from Station 2 to Station 1. We had photos with Willy’s Rock (image of Mama Mary at the sea) and Fridays. On our way home, I ordered Banana Choco Vanilla at Jonas Fruit Shake for 120php.
Not yet decided to take the offer of free lunch at Astoria Resort, but we met again Brian along the way – past 11am that we visited the place. Although, I was already warned by my sister that in exchange of the free lunch, we might need to spend some time listening to their offer – it is same as time sharing, but I would not talk about that! The place is really good, nice swimming pool with many traditional but classic swings. The choice of furniture pieces at the lobby, restaurant, and garden are very modern and beautiful.

After that, we walk a little further at the main street to visit a church – Holy Rosary Parish Church. Near the area is the Post Office as well.

We took a tricycle (7php) ride going to D’ Mall. Rows of restaurants, summer clothes, magnets and other market stuff to see. There is also D’ Palengke, where I bought my beach hat at 150php, but this cost 250php at the beach front.

We moved to D’ Talipapa at Zone 7, this is located at the next block of Boracay Holiday Resort. There is also a passage from Station 3 going to this market place. This place offers summer clothes, restaurant, local products – piyaya, butter scotch, peanuts, etc. We had our dinner at Dos Mestizos, located at a street after La Carmela, Station 3. It is a Spanish themed restaurant that offers a very cozy and intimate place at night. We had Chorizo Hecho (Homemade Spanish sausage) and Croquettas de Quezo Azul (Blue cheese and bechamel croquettes). The chorizo is toasted, a little hard and so dark colored. My sister does not like the cheese, but I liked it. I can say that the place is very good for night photography, as it is decorated with candles and low light.

Dos Mestizos Remedios street, Sitio Manggayad, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan http://www.dosmestizos.com/

2010 June: Shanghai: Day 2: The Bund and Bee Home Hostel

Travel Date: June 13, 2010
Destination: The Bund and Yuyuan Gardens

Sunday morning, we ate breakfast at Burger King at the ground floor. We waited for the opening of the train rides going to the city. We bought MagLev tickets – these are for the Magnetic Levitation train which is considered the fastest train. (Per Wiki, The top operational commercial speed of this train is 431 km/h (268 mph), making it the world's fastest train in regular commercial services since its opening in 2004.) See more on: http://www.smtdc.com/en/jszl.asp.


LongYang Road station is the last station of the MagLev. We pulled our luggage in the escalator to transfer to the MRT terminal. We were not able to buy the card as this is not available from the counter. Even the machines are not releasing multi-ride card, or we just don’t know how does it work? So, we just took a one-way chip going to DongChang Road station.

There is an escalator going up to the street level at DongChang station. Bee Home Hostel is just easy to find and is simply 12 min walk away from the train station. One of the receptionists is not accommodating as he wanted us to wait until 12nn before we can check-in. We waited for an hour, it was like 10am, when we asked another receptionist, and he allowed us to go to our room.

We booked this hotel from www.hostelworld.com. We were given a room in 3rd floor, we took the stairs as there were no elevators in the building. The room is clean, it has broken cabinet, it has a small table and a chair, it was well lighted and has a window with good view of Shanghai World Financial Center.

After taking some rest, we started the adventure. We bought Shanghai Public Transportation Card for 100yuan (20 yuan for deposit and 80 yuan for usage)We went straight ahead to East Nanjing Road (Green Lane). Spend some time to see Church of Holy Trinity, too bad that it was closed and under construction. We went straight ahead to The Bund. Don’t worry about crossing the streets as there are pedestrian lanes across the main street. We took a lot of photos as it was a beautiful cityscape.

We roam and do shopping at Yuyuan Street Shops. (This is a Detour Task at Leg 11 for Amazing Race Asia Season 16: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amazing_Race_16)

From Yuyuan Gardens, we took a cab going to Shanghai People’s Heroes Memorial. Why I was pushing to see this place? It was one of the location shoot of Cheng Xu’s series Starlit. (http://www.crunchyroll.com/forumtopic-421668/starlit-jerry-yan-terri-kwan-alice-zheng-airing-jan-24).

Then we passed by The Bund again for the final photo-opportunity, before we take the trains going to Pudong area.