2013 Oct: Visa Application for Beijing, China

My last trip in China was in Shanghai on 2010. After 3 years, we'll be going back and this time to Beijing. Since personal visa application in the embassy is not a convenient experience (read my first time Chinese Visa application), we decided to get the travel agency service for this requirement.

I initially inquire at Reli Tours in SM Southmall Las Pinas and they quote me with a shocking 5000 service fee and a deposit of 1000 for the list of requirements. How come it is overpriced? Probably, because they are a partner agency of Japanese Embassy and not China. If I say yes, that would mean my roundtrip ticket is equivalent to the visa service fee and that will not be a smart traveler decision.

Thank you to pinoyexchange.com for recommending Asia Pacific Travel in Escolta, Manila. 

Asia Pacific Travel
G/F AIC Center Bldg., Escolta St., Brgy 291, Zone 027., Binondo, Manila
Tel #:3533127/3533729/3533697
Also, open on Saturdays: 8:0am - 12:00n

Going there: By commuting take a jeepney going to Divisoria.  This will pass Jones Bridge, AIC building is the first building on your right side.  

For private cars, you can take the street parking in front of the office/building. On your way back, since Jones Bridge is one-way, take the street going to Santa Cruz and take the Mac Arthur Bridge to reach Lawton area.

What are the requirements for second-timer applicants:
1. Passport with your old China visa.  
2. Photocopy of the identification page of the passport and old China Visa
3. Photo (2by2) with white background that should be paste (not stapled) on the form
4. Filled-up application form (available on web and in the office)
5. Itinerary can be attached (but also asked in the application form)
6. Others would say they need Invitation Letter (But I only prepared: round trip tickets and hotel reservations)

I prepared Certificate of Employment and Bank Statements (but these were not required for second-timer applicants).  After submitting all the documents, we only paid 1600Php, 1400Php for the actual visa fee and 200Php for the travel agency service fee.  After 4 working days, it is already available in their office. I was able to get my passport and visa (30-day stay) the following weekend and all transactions went well.  Thank you very much Asia Pacific Travel for making this easy for us.

2013: Philippines: Event: Korean Film Festival

On September 18-22 2013, Korean Film Festival will be held in Megamall Cinemas.  Six movies will be shown for free and glad that I was able to watch some of them (from youtube since I can’t wait for these dates). [Click for movie schedule]

Sunny

A girl group in their school days, seems to be a smaller sorority team, which deals with friendship, bonding, peer pressure, family issues and being the strength for one another. 

Love waits and stays and does not require anything in return.

Leadership thinks of people first before yourself and knows how to share.

A Werewolf Boy

Not a horror movie, but a fantasy love story just like Twilight but focused more on the shape shifter.  He is really not a werewolf by birth, but there are two doctors who used this boy on their study of creating a soldier, a strong individual, so something was injected to this boy.  He was locked up in the barnyard and he did not know how to speak, read, or eat properly. 

Until this girl showed his patience is studying how to pet a person, taught him to write, to wait and when to eat, more than that to live life, and to be happy.

It was scary at first, then you got to learn to feel sorry to the boy.  Suddenly, the last 10 minutes became breaking.  Words “Don’t go” was uttered by the boy, he was able to understand a written note “Wait, I’ll come back.”  Love was the first language he learned from human!  [Watch the trailer!]

2013 September: Leonardo Da Vinci: The Genius

Born as illegitimate and bastard in Tuscany, never hindered him from being the famous inventor, scientist, artist, engineer, musician and architect that we know today.

Visit the The Genius, An Inspirational Exhibition running from 1 September until 30 November 2013 in Mind Museum, Bonifacio Global City, Philippines.

Flight

Father of Flight – Leonardo was the first to look at the science of flight.

Some of his ideas found in his notebooks were not actually tested by him, but there are followers that preferred to test it.  [Watch Da Vinci's Parachute]

2013 September: 24th Philippine Travel Mart

The 3rd expo I’ve visited under this organizer.  I see it a bit tamer, low profiling of the places unlike the year when World Expo is celebrated (2012).  

Best outstanding booths are from Ilocos, Region 7, Bohol, Zamboanga.

Thanks to Cebu Pacific for bringing back the Piso Sale, but during the site they only offer domestic tickets.  Yey!  Surely, I got another international flight that morning.  For Philippine Airlines, they offered sale tickets to domestic flights too.  For another company, looks they decided to use Air Asia to over shadow issues with Zest Air even though they are sisters now.

Visit the event tomorrow, September 8, 2013 for the last day of the cheaper fares, accommodation and trips.

Travel More. Live More.  It’s More Fun in the Philippines!

Event: September 06-08, 2013, SMX Convention Center.

Website: http://www.philtoa.org/phil-travel.php
Previous events attended: 2012, 2011

Japan: Omiyage

Magnets and key chains are the most famous homecoming gifts bought by travelers.

Chocolates

If coming from  Japan, I would advise you get chocolates. Unique flavors of KitKat are popular here, like Ujimatcha Latte, Dark Chocolate, Cinnamon, Green Tea, Hojicha Roasted Tea, etc. 

Visit their page to know more about their available favors.

2013 Aug: Brewing in Manila (Part 2)

Let me continue my piece on Cafes Brewing in Manila. 

Tous Les Jours

History: In 1958, CJ began the milling business as a leading food and service company in Korea.  Since the, CJ has been developing various kinds of flour in top quality.  Tous Le Jours is the bakery of a whole new level from the beginning.  We use the top quality flour from CJ’s leading technology.  It is known to be a neighborhood artisan bakery.  Enjoy various kinds of bread freshly baked from the oven everyday.

Being a fan of Korea, the feeling inside the bakeshop brings back the days during my visit in Seoul, Busan and Jeju.  Reminds me so much of their rival bakeshop Paris Baguette.

City Collection: Stamps

In a techie age we experience today in communicating and sharing photos with one another , it’s nice to experience and relive the old way we might had not noticed anymore.  Here is my stamp collection from the postcards sent from cities visited over the years.

You got to see the culture and tradition on those stamps.

You got to remember if there is an event celebrated during your visit.

Tip: Travel in Style: What to wear

Reading Tessa Prieto’s thought online - when even if it is heavy to carry set of scarves or hats, there are cases that you have to bring those for you to look a better when having photographs taken while travelling.  You’ll never know if you will still be able to comeback on that same spot in your lifetime.

Go to the following topics

How to tie and ways to wear a scarf

Why use multi-functional headware

Fedora Hat over baseball caps

How to choose a comfortable walking shoes

Where to buy warm clothing in Manila for cold city visits?

What to wear during spring, autumn, or winter?

Be careful on thermal wears

How to start minimalist travel and pack less

The key here, accessorize and travel in style!  A word of caution: don't over do it. One or two key pieces is enough to do the trick! ~ urbannomadusa  Accessories can give one piece in your wardrobe multiple looks. ~ bridgetteraes

How to tie and ways to wear a scarf

You can wear scarf in any season.  It can give accent in your very plain tops.  Printed scarves can be mixed and match with different tops to give a different flavor from your previously used tops.

How to wear it?  There are more than 25 ways to wear a scarf, following are my most wanted ways to wear it:

2013: 2nd Travel Madness Expo

Unlike previous travel expo’s, this one seems to be quiet.  Less exposure in media, social networking sites, not displayed in the event’s list in MOA, and no banners in front of SMX.

It opened yesterday and we’re able to visit it on a rainy Saturday afternoon.  In spite of the weather, there are still lots of guests in the event.

Comparing to other expo’s, participating airlines has boomed in numbers - Air China, AirAsia Inc., Cathay Pacific & Dragon Air, CebuPacific Air, Japan Airlines, Jetstar, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Tigerair Philippines, Zest Airways, Inc.

Some of the participants that I was not able to notice are All Nippon Airways, Eva Air, and Korean Air – but there are a lot of package tours going to South Korea.

Itinerary: Bali, Indonesia

Travel Date: May 04-07, 2013

2013 May: Indonesia: Bali: Ngurah Rai International Airport

There is only one drop off point for Domestic and International for taxi cab from the city.  Don't take the porter service since you have to pay them. You have to walk a bit longer going to the International Check-in.  For those taking 5J 280 which is as early as 8:05am, you may want to see Rotiboy, Roti'O, Starbucks, Burger King for breakfast which are all on your way to the terminal-proper. 

Get inside the terminal. After the check-in counter process, proceed to the second floor.  Prepare 150,000Rp (600Php)/pax for the Passenger Service Charge (seems like Terminal Fee and Travel Tax in NAIA). Sticker will be pasted at the back of your boarding pass.

Pass by the validation counter so he can scan your sticker.  Fall in line on the Immigration counter; make sure that you have already filled-up the Departure Card.  After which, make sure that your passport and boarding pass has been stamped with the departure date.

From what I understand, it is hard or local banks in Manila are not accepting Rupiah, so better spend your excess money if you still have any.  Roam around the Duty Free area (check on cheaper watch, bags, clothes, batik).  Check books on sale at Periplus book store, you may want to buy a guide for your next destination.

City Collection: Bali, Indonesia

Added to my collection, I bought small city mugs for 200,000Rp.  (If I bought it on Starbucks near beach walk area, they are willing to give me a free coffee drink, how nice of them).

2013 May: Indonesia: Bali: Paroki St. Fransiskus Xaverius

St. Francis Xavier Church
Link: http://www.kutafx.com/peta-lokasi-gereja-fx/
Location: Jl Kartika Plaza, South Kuta

This Catholic Church in Kuta, also known as FX or St. Francis Xavier Church, is easy to find by cab.  There is one English mass for the week, which is scheduled on Sundays 6pm.

Travel Date: May 06, 2013

2013 May: Indonesia: What Bali has to offer?

Bali has better cityhood than Boracay, but Stations 1, 2, 3 has better sand than Kuta-Legian-Seminyak.

Streets

Multitude fast motorcycles, flock of Blue Bird taxi cabs, few horse rides (known in Philippines as "kalesa") are what to expect in Kuta-Legian area.  The government has applied one-way street system, so taking cabs would mean longer travel before you reach your destination.  But don't worry fares in Bali is not as expensive as we have in Manila.  Their flat rate is just 5,000Rp (20Php, 2013), and their meter is not that high.  You might be stuck in traffic for more than 15 minutes, paying less than 25,000Rp (100Php, 2013).

In taking the road to Ubud, you'll recognize how green the island is.   Flower like bougainvillea and trees like Indian tree is all over aisle.   Going further, there are tall old trees on the both sides of the road, while passing by rice fields and traditional houses.

Their intersections and rotundas are with huge sculptures of their gods and goddesses.

2013 May: Indonesia: Bali's Makam and Restorants

More than the beach, Bali is a food paradise.  Not just good tasty food, but it is affordable (compared to Manila) with an unexpected ambiance and appearance.  Let me share to you our chow experience during our stay in Bali.

Crewey Fishing Tackle

Location: Poppies Lane 2 Gang Ronta No. 23 Kuta-Legian

Food: 8 out of 10

Value: Affordable (71,000Rp (290Php))

Atmosphere: 7 out of 10

Orders: Mie Goreng (fried noodles), chicken sate

We saw this restaurant while going to beach walk area.  Very simple, no fuss about it, decent and affordable, but the food is very tasty for the hungry.