Sunday, June 14, 2015

Australia: Visa Application

Most of the advise online is still to get a visa first before buying a ticket.  But what can I do if the fares are on sale?!

I bought my 5J ticket on 28-Oct-2014 during the Peek-a-BOOK Piso Sale for 7,060 php base fare RT. Now, how will I get the visa?




2015 Feb: Singapore: Itinerary

2015 Feb: Singapore: Itinerary

Travel Date 

Feb 13-16, 2015 (near Chinese New Year celebration)

Accommodation: Where to stay in Singapore?

Fragrance Hotel - Bugis 
Location: 33 Middle Road Singapore 188942 
Contacts: +65 6336 9888, web@fragrancehotel.com

Trip Report




Itinerary: Places to go, Things to see, What to do in Singapore?



Sunday, March 22, 2015

2015 Jan: Philippines: Negros Occ: Talisay: The Ruins

The Ruins - Talisay
From Lacson St., take Bata-Libertad or Magdalaga-Libertad jeep. Head to Silay-direction.
Drop-off at a corner, block before Pepsi.
This is the tricycle terminal going to Ruins. (100/way)
Entrance 95/pax



The Owner Owned by Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson, sugar baron. Married to Maria Braga. With 10 children.

She died after an accident with the doctor arriving from Silay after 4 days. (2 days on chariot, "kalesa" from Talisay to Silay, vv).

He then was re-married to Conception Sison Diaz, with 3 children. [Reference]

The Mansion
It has 8 rooms for unmarried children with first floor for the sons and second floor for the daughters.  

The second floor has a viewing deck to see his sugar cane farm and where he watches good view of the sunset.


2015 Jan: Philippines: Negros Occ: Bacolod: Campuestuhan

How to get to Campuestuhan

From Lacson St., take Mandalagan-Libertad (side of Robinsons). 
Drop-off at Alisbo Memorial.
From the corner, take a jeepney with:
1. Homesite-Cent. Market
2. Sta. Fe-Cent. Market
Drop-off at Lopues East centro
Look for Jollibee/Grace Pharmacy (opposite street).
Find G&C shuttle (going to Campuestuhan)




We are in doubt if we should stay for a night (to experience log accomodation, with no other site to visit) there or visit it as day-tour only (to cover other places).


2015 Jan: Philippines: Negros Occ: Exploring the Capitol side of Bacolod

Exploring the Capitol side of Bacolod

From Lacson St., take a jeepney (Sign board: Bata-Libertad, Magdalaga-Libertad), make sure to ask if passing by SM Bacolod.  



Drop-off at Pope Tower.
This is a tower in a reclaimed site, dedicated to Saint John Paul II.
Entrance: 20php/pax (2015)







From the roof top, you can see baywalk, Campuestuhan, Bacolod cityscape.






Take a tricycle (15php, 2015) going to Bacolod Cathedral.











You may opt to check the Museum (but too sad that the Secretariat Office is close and we did not continue to go upstairs for the Museum)




Next, take a jeep (Magdalaga-Libertad) going to Negros Museum.


Open: Monday t0 Saturday 9am - 6pm 



This houses the  JGM Gallery of International Folk Art and Toys. Which includes different toys and dolls from different countries like Malaysia, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Myanmar.  I like the most is the collection for Matryoshka Dolls from Russia.




For me, sharing this personal collection to the public is good for us to gain knowledge on toys other countries have, especially for those who are non financially-able to reach this foreign land. So I suggest that the "no photography" should be replaced by "no flash photography" - with this you'll invite more visitors most of the tourists would share photos on SNS and blog sites. 





The upper floor is the permanent exhibit which shows traditional items from Old  Filipino Days.  *Warning: Be careful in going down the stairs since it is too slippery.






Just outside is the Museum Cafe (looks like owned by an English man). 



Take a walk until the next block to reach Provincial Capitol and Lagoon.  This turns as a practice ground and extended classroom during weekends as students meet to do their dance rehearsals and other activities.







Take jeep  (Magdagala-Libertad) from (St) to go back to Lacson St.




You may opt to drop at Bob Caffee to another set of sweets.  


View this link for the: The Taste of Bacolod.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

2015 Jan: Philippines: Negros Occ: Silay

*Apologies, I have mistakenly added wrong signature on the photos with Batangas instead of Negros Occidental.

Silay - Home of some of the restored traditional houses near Bacolod City (after Talisay).

How to get there
  • In Bacolod, from Lacson St., take a jeepney (Bata-Libertad, Magdalaga-Libertad) from opposite side of Robinsons.  
  • Drop-off at Ceres Bus Terminal.
  • Take bright yellow ordinary Ceres bus (Victoria signboard), pay 15php going to Silay. 

In Rizal Street (National Highway), after an old church (San Diego Pro-Cathedral), drop off at Pink House.  This is our option on how to start the  Silay City Heritage walking tour.


Don Bernardino Jalandoni Museum (known as the Pink House)
Location: Rizal Street, Silay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines
Entrace Fee: Adult: 60php (2015), Student: 30php
Open: Tuesday – Saturday (9am – 5pm), Sunday (9am – 4pm)
Tip: Stay away during break if you want a welcoming athmosphere.  We had a short and quick trip on this private museum since it is near the guide's lunch break.


Sunday, February 1, 2015

2015 Jan: Philippines: Negros Occ: The Taste of Bacolod

Silay:

El Ideal

Food: Pancit Guisado, Double Decker chicken and tuna sandwich with melted cheese
Value: Affordable (230php)
Atmosphere: old restaurant, with wooden chairs and marble-made table.
Location: 118 Rizal St, Silay City Heritage Zone, Negros Occidental (near park and bus stop)
Personal Preference: 8 out 10








Bacolod:

31 Korea
Food: tuna mayo kimbap, kokiyo chicken
Value: affordable (249php, 2015)
Atmosphere: Not the galbi-cooking that I'm expecting, but the only one I've seen with the toy I've been looking for.
The video screen is showing tvN channel with the replay of MNET Awards 2014 in Hong Kong.

Location : Citywalk, Robinsons





2015 Jan: Philippines: Negros Occ: Bacolod: Go Hotels

Accommodation: Go Hotels Bacolod
Address: Lacson Street, Mandalagan  Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
Stay: Jan 29-31, 2015 (2 nights)

Price: Known to offer early bird booking, you can await for the regular rooms to be on sale from this hotel.  We got an overnight stay for 882php from travel fair in SMX (2014). Another overnight stay from online booking for 995php only.




Location:
Accessible from airport via commuting van service (150php/pax, 2015).  Indicate to the driver, so he can get inside the main gate.

Located near Robinsons Mall and in the middle of Lacson St. (main street in Bacolod).  

There is a back door (open: 6am-10pm), that is connected to Robinsons Mall for safer walk.

2015: Visit the Philippines Year [Soon]

2015: Visit the Philippines Year


2014: My Travels [Soon]

2014: My Travels

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

2014 Dec: Philippines: Manila: Christmas Lights

Christmas spirit in the hearts of every Filipino starts on the first day of September.  You should not be surprise when you hear greetings of "Merry Christmas" by then.  Some radio stations would start to play Christmas carols too.  Soon you'll feel the rush and the very terrible Christmas traffic is all streets of the metro.

Check out some lights and decors displayed in the city.

High Street


University of Santo Tomas 


Sunday, December 14, 2014

Japan: Tokyo: 4 days Autumn Itinerary


Travel Dates

29 NOV SAT 05:25AM NAIA T3 - 10:13AM NARITA T2
03 DEC WED 11:45AM NARITA - 03:45PM NAIA T3

2014 Dec: Japan: Tokyo: Christmas Illumination

Where to find Robert Indiana's LOVE in Tokyo? It is in Shinjuku I Land Tower.
JR Shinjuku Sta. (West Exit) - 10 min. walk OR Marunouchi Line Nishi-shinjuku Sta. - 2 min. walk





2014 Nov: Japan: Chiba (Tokyo): Disneysea

Tokyo DisneySea (東京ディズニーシー) is a 176-acre (71.22 ha) theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, just outside Tokyo. [Reference]

This year's theme is Disney Sea:  "Christmas Wishes".



Right after I pass through the ticket gates, I already saw Minnie's Photo-Op queue. I continue my journey and saw the start of the Holiday Greeting show, since it's too crowded, I went back and waited in the queue.




2014 Nov: Japan: Tokyo: Odaiba

Odaiba (お台場) is a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay, Japan, across the Rainbow Bridge from central Tokyo. [Reference]


What to do in Odaiba?

I wanted to go there initially because of Ooedo-Onsen-Monogatari, but due to the personal concerns on Fukushima and onsen; with heavy rain where most of the tourists would also go there, I have decided to skip it.  Instead below were visited on the island:

Rainbow Bridge



Odaiba Statue of Liberty
Transportation: Daiba Station (Yurikamome line), Exit 1.