Tokyo, Japan: Nezu Shrine Azalea Garden

Nezu Shrine Azalea Garden

Shikoku, Japan: The Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden

I have several parks on my list but most are still without blooming flowers.  Gladly included Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden the day before going to Matsuyama.

Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan: Ritsurin Park

Ritsurin Park has been awarded the highest rating of 3 stars in the French travel guide book Michelin Green Guide Japan, meaning it is ``worth the trip.'' (First published in March 2009.) Ref: https://www.my-kagawa.jp/

Spring: Japan: Mie - Nabana no Sato

What to expect on your future visit in Nabana no Sato Flower Park?

Tulips 

If you have not experience seeing a sea of tulips, this place is a must for you.  You'll be totally amazed on the wide horizon of seeing tulips around you.

2017 May: Japan: Fukuoka: Kurume: Ishibashi Cultural Center

Ishibashi Cultural Center
〒839-0862 1015 Nonaka-machi, Kurume-shi, Fukuoka

Japan: Fukuoka: Wisteria Tunnel in Kawachi Fujien

Kawachi Fujien
2-2-48 Kawachi, Yahata-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture 805-0045
http://kawachi-fujien.com/
河内藤園
〒805-0045 福岡県北九州市八幡東区河内2-2-48

2015 Nov: Japan: Nagoya: Tokugawa Garden

Destination: Tokugawa Garden (1001 Tokugawa-cho, Higashi-Ku, Nagoya, Aichi 461-0023)

Travel Date: November 15, 2015

Open: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (Last entrance at 5:00 p.m.) *closed on Mondays

Garden Entrance: 300 yen for adults

Access: Morishita Station on Seto line or Ozone Station on Meijo subway line.

Website: http://www.tokugawaen.city.nagoya.jp/english/01_direction/index.html 

"Tokugawa-en", a Japanese garden in the middle of Nagoya.  One of the suggested sites on where to chase koyo during November.

In the early Edo period (1603-1867), Tokugawa Mitsutomo (1625-1700), second lord of the Owari branch of the Tokugawa clan, established a vast residence called the Ōzone Shimoyashiki. After his death, the property was passed on to the families of his three retainers Naruse, Ishiko and Watanabe, until the Meiji Restoration of 1867, when ownership was returned to the Owari Tokugawa.

2013 May: Indonesia: Bali: Bali Botanic Garden

Bali Botanic Garden is a place for research, conservation, education and recreation. It provides a place where you can relax in beautiful and peaceful surroundings while learning about the use of plants in the daily lives of Balinese people as well as many interesting tropical rainforest plants and birdlife. [http://balibotanicgarden.org/]

We decided to walk around the area, instead of driving along the way.  It may be tiring but I decided to grab the opportunity that I can take photos of the area.

The aisle includes different species of plants and flowers.  Plus, statues of characters from Ramayana.

The Ramayana, is one of the great epics of India and Nepal, consists of 24,000 verses in seven books and 500, and tells the story of Rama (an avatar of the Hindu Supreme-God Vishnu), whose wife Sita is abducted by the king of Sri Lanka, Ravan. Thematically, the Ramayana explores human values and the concept of dharma. [https://en.wikipedia.org]

2011 November: South Korea: Paju: BCJ Garden

That day’s challenge is to find where 49 days (Pure Love) and City Hunter were filmed.

From Myeongdong, it is around 80 minutes by train to reach Wollong Station.  If you notice, Paju is the address of my next destination but as advised in Trip Advisor, Wollong Station is closer to the garden.  After the station exit doors, on your left, you will see cabs on queue.  I gave to the driver the address I found on the internet.  It took him around 10 minutes to figure out with his GPS on where we are going.

Good thing he has GPS, or else it will make me freak out.  We were driving 30 minutes on the road with the thought of – Is this right? Is this safe? Will I still be able to get back?  There are very few buildings, huge area for fields, far-away mountains, less vehicles around and from very wide highway, we ended with two-lane road.

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.

Taiwan: Day 4: Visiting Lavender Farm

Woke-up early and had breakfast from Dante’s Coffee, I loved bagel and cream cheese.

This day is my Taoyuan challenge. I’ve been wanting to see the farm used in Leo and Yshin’s series, Lavender. After doing the research, I found that it was Tomita Farm located in Taoyuan. But, when I reached the place and due to unexpected drizzle, I decided to visit only Tashee Blooming Oasis (few more minutes and you will also see Tomita Farm).

From Taipei, I dropped off at Ximen MRT Station. From my research, travelers were advise that from Taipei’s Gueiyang Street (貴陽街) in front of the Soochow University annex (located between Ximending and Presidential Office, east of Zhonghua Rd), board a Taipei Bus (台北客運) or Taoyuan Bus (桃園客運) bus to Dasi. I waited for Bus 9103 on the school side. Below is a sample bus ticket that you will received from the driver, and which should be returned upon drop off.

Bus route map from Taipei to Dasi: http://www.tpebus.com.tw/image/1011.gif

Bus time schedule: http://www.tpebus.com.tw/image/1011.html

From the bus station on Daxi town, I took a cab and it is almost a 15 minute travel for less than 160NT.

I paid 80NT on the Tashee Blooming Oasis admission fee, I got a 20NT discount from the Youth Travel Card.

Since I decided to go to the other farm instead of the one used in Lavender, I’m surprised that they still have Lavender plants.

I’m also amazed that the Love at the Corner series also shoot in the area.

Other series that I’m not familiar with the title but with the actors are Rainie Yang, 5566, etc.

They also offer the Lavender bottle and different teas.

I had vegetable pasta for lunch, more expensive that the usual.

At around 1pm, I left the area. It took me around 30 minutes waiting for a cab to return to Daxi bus station. The bus to Taipei arrived at around 2pm, if I missed it I need to wait for the 4pm bus.

I arrived at almost 4pm in Ximen, I looked for Far Eastern Department store to find the supermarket. I think it is cheaper to buy chocolate and tea pasalubong from supermarket rather than keychain or shirt from night market.

Travel Date: October 22, 2009

Summary of 7 days 6 nights Itinerary on 2009 Taiwan Trip

Day	Places to see	Food and Restaurants	Where to Sleep
Day 1	St. John Bosco Church Miramar (Ferris Wheel)		City Inn Hotel
Day 2	National Chiang Kai Shek Memorial NTUniversity Dr. Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall Taipei 101	Lunch @ Mr. J Restaurant	City Inn Hotel
Day 3	Taroko Guided Tour	Dinner @ Modern Toilet	City Inn Hotel
Day 4	Ta Shee Blooming Oasis Tomita Farm		City Inn Hotel
Day 5	Walking on Tianmu Area Fisherman’s Walking Area	P.S. Bu Bu Restaurant	City Inn Hotel
Day 6	National Palace Museum Taipei Story Land	Hello Kitty Restaurant	City Inn Hotel
Day 7	Taipei Fine Arts Museum Taiwan Storyland		City Inn Hotel

2009 Feb: Macau: Day 2: Macau by Day and Night

We normally take our breakfast from McDonalds along Alm. Ribiero and the one in front of Starbucks, Senado Square. We never tried taking our breakfast from local small shops (due to personal choice).

2008 August: Baguio, Philippines: Day 2

2008 August: Baguio, Philippines: Day 2


The following day, we took the complimentary one time buffet breakfast meal at Veniz Grill. We started our second day by taking a cab going to Lourdes Grotto. It was a long stairway journey going to the top. Then, we went down and took a cab going to Tamawan Village.

Too bad the huge dream catcher was destroyed by typhoon Karen a few days ago. Just outside the entrance of Tamawan Village is Arko ni Apo, where you can see art gallery and a small coffee shop.
We decided to pass the road less taken by tourists, we took a cab going to the Bell Church which is already outside Baguio and is just near La Trinidad, Benguet. This is a Chinese Church like the Taoist Temple in Cebu. Red is the prominent color of the place. During our visit, they do have a ribbon cutting ceremony of one of the pagodas.

From La Trinidad, we took a jeepney going back to Baguio City proper.

In the afternoon, we attended an English mass in Baguio Cathedral.



We pass again Session Road and re-visited SM Baguio to have a good view of the horizon before the sunset. We had an early dinner at Carlos Pizza.
We go back to the hotel early to catch the Beijing 2008 Olympics Closing Ceremony.

On our final day, we rise as early as 5am, check-out at around 6am. Since buffet breakfast is not yet set and Mc Donalds is still close, we left the building without taking breakfast and go straight to Victory Liner Baguio Terminal. We were able to catch the 6:30am trip and reached the Pasay station by 12:30 nn. Finally, we are back home.

Thanks to my brother who is with me on this travel, my mom for letting us go to this trip, to all the locals who we asked for directions, to all the bus, cab and jeepney drivers who helped us reached our destinations, to the hotel staff for taking care of our things. And most of all, to our Creator for not letting a typhoon or a hard rain in Baguio during our stay.

2008 August: Baguio, Philippines: Day 1: Quick Visit in Baguio

Thanks to the long weekend in Manila and finally I was able to visit Baguio. We reached the Victory Liner Pasay terminal by 9pm and had the ticket for the available ride at 12:30am. It has two stops, one in Tarlac and the other one is in Urdaneta, Pangasinan. By sunrise, we are already passing Marcos Highway. From the terminal, we took a cab going to Hotel Veniz. Be careful of the bystanders who are saying that Veniz is far and is fully booked.

Around 7am, we reached the hotel lobby. Since the check-in time is still 2pm, they let us leave our luggage at their small safety room. We just carry our valuables and started the Baguio adventure.

Hotel Veniz Lobby

Book Hotel Veniz, Baguio in Agoda