2012 October: Cebu Pacific: Smile Magazine

After being published 4 times (April, May, August & September) for my first entry (Incheon), Smile Magazine published my 2nd entry (Busan) this October!  I was mentioned twice for this issue!  Thank you to the contributing editors, Katrina and Maya.

Page 08

Page 125

Disclaimer: The actual photo at the top of the column for Busan was not the one I submitted. 
I also acknowledge the photographer of the chosen photo used in the column.

These entries did not make it on paper:

Touchdown: Go out of the Gimhae International Airport and cross the street to reach the train station.  You can buy the transportation card known as Bee Cash from the convenient store nearby the train tickets counter.

Must-Try Experience: During Spring time, going to Jinhae, Changwon City is a must. Cherry Blossom Festival is celebrated on April in the area.

Hoping to get my copy this November, see you Kevin a.k.a. "cabin crew".

Updated Nov 1, 2012:

Yes, my entry can still be found on Nov issue, page 157.  Liking the new format of the trip journal.  Thanks again Smile magazine!

If you are interested to read online copies of Smile Magazine, visit this site. 

2012 September: Manila, Philippines: 33rd Manila International Book Fair

In 2012 National Book Development Board Readership Survey,

• 88 percent read; 80 percent of this 88 percent read books
• four out of five Filipino adults are readers
• 92 percent (of the 80 percent who read books) are non-school book readers
• the Bible (58 percent) remains the most popular book read, followed by romance books (25 percent), and cooking books (21 percent). 
• only seven percent of book readers are ebook readers (and 90 percent of readers still prefer printed books)

"The higher your education, the more likely that you will be reading non-school books. The more single you are, the more likely you are to be reading a non-school book," Linda Luz Guerrero said, vice president and chief operating officer of Social Weather Stations (SWS), 2012.

"We thought Internet seems to have been a distraction. The data shows it is not a distraction. It has no association. In fact, all Internet users are non-school book readers," Guerrero said.

Read more on: http://www.gmanetwork.com

Even if there is a decrease of the Filipino readers (2012: 88%, 2007: 92%, 2003: 94%), glad to see that many of us still visit book fairs.  Drop by the 33rd Manila International Book Fair in SMX Convention Center until today (Sept 12-16, 2012) for the widest collection of reading and learning materials on their discounted prices.

Entrance fee is 20php

ABPA: Asean Book Publishers Association

2012 September: Manila, Philippines: The Phantom of the Opera

Bought few months ago when it was still on 20% discount as offered, tickets for The Phantom of the Opera is available from 1820Php to 7280Php (https://www.ticketworld.com.ph).  Originated as a novel from a French writer, soon became a musical, then was adapted in film.  Catch the musical show in CCP Main Theater (CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo) Manila which started last August 25 and is extended until October 14, 2012.

Directed by Harold Prince, the musical is a classic!  The grand orchestra is participated by some Filipino artists.  The stage is amazing as expected, I must commend the scene when Phantom is rowing a boat going to the cellar or his hiding place.  The smoke effect is very good, the candle light-like and the boat moving alone are remarkable.

Chandelier that fell on the Stage

In summary, its about a Phantom, known as a ghost or the Angel of Music, who has fallen in love to a girl named Christine but soon also learned how to let go of that love so she can be with her childhood friend, Raoul.  For full text of the plot, visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom_of_the_Opera#Plot

the performers taking their bows

Outside the theater, there are memorabilia that guests can buy for their souvenir.  Posters and banners were all over the area waiting for photo opportunities.

In Text: “The Phantom wears a traditional evening tail suit and cape… The black silk in his suit comes from the United Kingdom and is used for all Phantom suits worldwide…”

 

Congratulations to all the men & ladies, the artists, and musicians behind this fantastic musical.

2012 Aug: Taguig, Philippines: The Mind Museum

Opened last March, I was able to visit this week the first world class Science museum in the Philippines – and true, it did not fail me.  Located in Bonifacio Global City, The Mind Museum is open at 600php for 3 hours on a set schedule or 750php for an all day pass.

The museum briefing will be discussed by Aedi, the robot.

Then you are allowed to learn on your own what each exhibit conveys - there are five galleries in this two-level building.

The Story of the Universe: Its Beginning and Majesty

Smile Magazine on CNNGo

I've read another milestone for the Philippines in the travel world, Smile Magazine's June-July 2012 issue says:

More good news: Smile has been acknowledged by CNNGo as one of the 12 best airline magazines in the world. After six years of delivering the goods on travel, I'd say we've come a long way, and can go even further. We're looking forward to a longer journey with you! - Lance Gokongwei

Yes, you read it right - Smile Magazine made it to 7th spot, even higher than Lufthansa (Germany) and Qantas (Australia) magazines.


Snip from CNNGo:

Basics: What? Who? We didn’t see this chipper little underdog coming either, but Smile’s youthful (and authentically Filipino) charm won us over.

Perfect reader: A fresh-faced backpacker as excited about checking out Kalibo by tricycle as s/he is about navigating the markets of Saigon.

Words: No great prose, but zest for adventure prevails. In a recent issue, a phrase-based Vietnam guide, a two-woman Southeast Asia travelogue and an alluring snapshot of Cebuano cuisine all had us reaching for our passports.

Look: Nothing special, but frequent portraits of ordinary people having a good time echo the magazine’s spontaneous, low-key voice.

Gold star: Capsule guides to every city on the airline’s network include slang and breakfast tips from locals.

Black mark: The layout smacks of a U.S. teen magazine.

Final verdict: Smile proves in-flights don’t need to pretend to be Esquire or The Economist -- just to capture the spirit of the places they serve.

Personally, I love Smile because I’m an avid flyer of Cebu Pacific.  I love the articles to be short and sweet which always include wonderful pictures or funny cartoons.  The reformat that happened on the paper last October 2010, made it younger and more adventurous.  

The same as their review above, the “Trip Journal” section is lovely as it represents the voice of the travelers and not just the paid writers of the magazine.

Also, it is not always that I finished reading while still on-board, so it is a plus on me that this magazine can be carried outside the plane.  (Unlike Air Asia which has a note of “stop stealing”, since it is also available online: http://www.airasia.com/travel3sixty)

En Route of Air Canada made it to the top spot.  Read the rest of the magazines worth the read on http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/worlds-12-best-airline-magazines-523957 .

Congratulations to all the editors, directors and managers behind the Smile Magazine!  You are the one who made one of my dreams come true, to be printed on paper!  Happy to read your future releases, SMILE!

If you are interested to read online copies of Smile Magazine, visit this site. 

2012 August: 23rd Philippine Travel Mart

One after the other, three weeks ago I went to Travel Madness Expo.  Yesterday, I was in 

23rd Philippine Travel Mart.  Don’t expect anything international, because this exposition is exclusive for the Philippines! (http://philtoa.org/phil-travel.php) 

“It’s more fun in the Philippines” (http://www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.com/), the campaign ad of the Department of Tourism is all over the exhibit hall.  Go now to SMX Convention Center and visit this 3 day sale of Philippine tour packages (August 10-12, 2012 10am-8pm).

If you don’t want to line-up on the airline booths and you own a credit card, then just visit their website.  Most of the fares offered on the expo are just the same as what they have online. 

Itinerary: HCMC & Hanoi, Vietnam

Route: Manila to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) to Hanoi back to HCMC to Manila

Just take note that Cebu Pacific launched Manila-Hanoi last March 2012.

Itinerary (Travel Date - February 2011): Places to go, Things to see, What to do in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh?

Day 01: Saturday
Flight: Manila (MNL) to Ho Chi Minh (SGN)
Arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport Terminal 2
Cebu Pacific Flight No.: Flight 5J -7511 - http://www.cebupacificair.com


Day 02: Sunday
Flight: Vietnam Airlines, VN 0900  - http://www.vietnam-airline.com/
To: Hanoi, Vietnam (HAN) Arrival: 08:00

To & From Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi)
- located in the Soc Son District, about 40-45 kms from the city center.
- cost of transport to a city center hotel running about 200,000VND (US$14 = 630php) for the 45 minute trip

Accommodation/Hotel: Where to stay in Hanoi?

Thaison Hotel II, HanoiLocation: No 7- 9  Hang Mam Str, Hoan Kiem Dist, Hanoi, Vietnam
Website: www.thaisonhotel.com
Email: infothaison2@thaisonhotel.com / booking2@thaisonhotel.com

2012: Travel Madness Expo 2012

Travel Madness Expo 2012 is happening on SMX Convention Center starting July 20 Friday until July 22 Sunday.

Know more about the team behind the expo in http://www.travelmadness.ph/.

Unlike the traditional annual travel open-market sale, The Travel Madness Expo shall offer both Tourism Boards and Travel Providers a wider and growing opportunity to take a step forward in this industry. Our main strategies circle on a foundation of professional and profitable relations through fair and equal trade endeavors.

Was it because of the rain or its just that tourism lost its hype?  Unlike the previous travel expositions held in SMX, this time it is more peaceful, less noise, fewer crowd and sad to see there is reduced promotion on domestic spots. 

I’d consider that the airline industry topped in number of participants.

Dragon Air, Eva Air, Seaair/Tiger Airways

Fly Zest (http://www.flyzest.com/index.php) use to have crowd before, but now there is none.  Qatar has a quiet booth as well.  Cebu Pacific (http://www.cebupacificair.com) has only few buyers compared to the previous season when they offer Piso fares or extremely much lower costs.  I appreciate that smaller airline as Jeju Air (http://en.jejuair.net/jejuair/en_EN/main/main.jsp) can participate in this type of event. 

The most attended airline on the expo’s first night is Air Phil Express.

For the agencies that offer their services locally and abroad, it is Uni Orient that has the biggest booth.

Whether you are decided to go for a trip, or just preparing and missing traveling – attending this type of event will help you expose yourself on bigger offers of Tourism either within Philippines or outside Asia.

2012: Travel+Leisure - World's Best Awards

Travel+Leisure released the results for the 2012 World's Best Awards

http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2012

Top Island in the World

Boracay, Philippines - Score: 93.10

Rank 1 (Rank 4 in 2011)

Top Cities in Asia
Bangkok - Score: 89.87
Rank 1 in 2011 and 2012 (Rank 1 the World) 

2012 April: Singapore: Well Spent Saturday

8:15am @ Botanic Gardens

Took Circle lane and drop-off at Botanic Gardens.

We walk around the park under the rain for about 2-3 hours.

Open:  5 am to 12 midnight daily  Admission Fee:  Free 

National Orchid Garden Open: 8.30am to 7pm daily (last ticket sale at 6pm) 

Admission Fee:  Adults   $5.00

2012 April: How to spend 10 hrs in Singapore

This is my third trip in Singapore and I’m doing this to keep in touch with my closest friends.  

2:00pm Official check-in time at Le Hotel, Clarke Quay

2:30pm @ City Hall Station

St. Andrew's Cathedral

Drop-off at Red/Green MRT: City Hall; Exit B

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 9.00am - 5.00pm

http://www.livingstreams.org.sg/sac/visitors.html

3:00pm @ Somerset Station

Had an afternoon snack with my friend Kim at Charlie Brown Café, Somerset (http://www.charliebrowncafe.com.sg/).  I love the food and I miss our chit chat!

2012 April: Singapore: Arrival at Le Hotel

Been waiting for this day!  After my provincial experience in Langkawi, I finally arrived at Changi Terminal 1, had to pass by 3-4 walkalators, go down by one level and lastly reached the Immigration section. 

After the exit gates, I exchanged some money.  Go up for the Sky Train going to Terminal 3, then go to the city.

First stop from the airport is Expo station.  Alight and visit City Point mall if you want to visit outlet shops.  I was able to buy an Esprit bag for with sister worth 34sgd (1100php, 2012).  Other outlet shops are Charles and Keith, Adidas, Coldwear, Nike and Lacoste

Since I carry heavy backpack, from the Raffles train station, I took a cab going to Carpenter street which is also accessible by Clare Quay station.  It was a good decision, since the pedestrian between the block and the station is an overpass and I don’t have to walk on it with heavy bags.  

Accommodation Review: Le Hotel Carpenter Street

This is my first time to stay on a plain room with shared bathroom.  Staying there in less than a day (actually less than 8 hrs stay in my room) is not bad.  The reception officer is a Filipino, some guests are also Pinoys, so it feels like home.

Malaysia: Langkawi

Wednesday, just arrived in Langkawi International Airport from KL via Air Asia for only 26MYR (300php, 2012).  What to expect on this type of booking?  The airline might possibly send notifications about rescheduling your flight so make your itinerary flexible.

Taxi is the main form of public transportation in the island.  Better buy a coupon at the desk in Arrival Hall, then hand it to the cab driver at the waiting area to go to your hotel.

I choose to stay in Best Star Resort because it is facing Cenang Beach.  Not much to say on the area, water is not so healthy and a bit dark.  I prefer more the islands in Kota Kinabalu.

2012 April: Malaysia: Overnight at Tune Hotel, KL-LCCT

An unplanned trip (or should I say just keeping the words I said a year ago)!  But since there is a low fare offered by Air Asia last year (May 24, 2011) thus, I'm here again at the airport even if it is just 17 days since my last Asian trip (Busan on March 28 – April 1, 2012).

I wanted to travel and I love doing it, so even if I have a busy work life I will always find a way to make them go together.  Right after work in Ortigas, I picked up my luggage at McKinley (had a quick afternoon snack with my sister) then head to NAIA Terminal 3. And YES, thank you to my April co-passengers who were able to read the in-flight magazine (catch my blog, mentioned on page 144 on Smile April and May edition).

Play Time at the Airport - Arriving 3 hours before my flight is really a carefree feeling.  Enough time to do my running while playing on those push carts.  Contrary on how I describe myself as a “suite case traveler in Asia”, this would be my first international flight where I only have a hand carry.  (The last time I tried it was on flight to Kota Kinabalu, April 2010 and I end up paying for my excess baggage).  Prior to actual check-in my bag is 7.5kgs, upon check-in it became 6.4kg!  How did I do it?  It’s a nice move to carry separately your DSLR while checking-in with light fares.  

Immigration - I don’t like being asked by the officer whose as if interrogating me – You are going to KL, yet your return flight is from SG, can’t you find a flight straight from KL?  Are you working there? No! "Are you working here?". I said "yes", showed my id and viola, she finally marked my passport and let me in. 

X-ray - Congratulations to my monopod, it was able to pass the x-ray as well.

What’s new @ T3?  Okay done with the prequel, now waiting on my boarding here at gate 110.  You'll not miss what's new in this area - there are now installed Samsung LCDs at boarding gates.

Past 12 midnight, we arrived at Kuala Lumpur Low Cost Carrier Terminal or KL-LCCT.  I still have few Ringgit back then, so I did not bother getting their money.  I immediately asked someone on how can I get to Tunes Hotel.  Honestly, I did not understand her answer.  Perhaps, because it was unclear, I'm not paying attention or I'm still sleepy.  I ended up walking for 10-15 minutes, passing 2 car parks, until I reached the hotel.  But you can actually take a service bus from/to Domestic Arrival area for only 1RM.

Tune Hotels - Hotel Review

Tune Hotels is the partner hotel of Air Asia.  Upon booking at their site, I was surprise as this is my first time to see a hotel where the facilities are being paid per service.  You want to have any of the following, you need to pay additional fee for each.

• Air Conditioning (12 hours) at 14MYR
• Air Conditioning (24 hours) at 20MYR
• Towel Rental + Essential Toiletry Kit at 6MYR
• WIFI Connection per device (24 hours) at 12MYR
• Breakfast Set at 6MYR
• Tune Hotels Insurance at 5MYR

Notice the minutes left on every featured you paid for.

Itinerary: First time visit in Hong Kong

Where to stay?
There are multiple inexpensive hotels and hostels in Kowloon area. But based on what I read most, it is okay to stay there if you are with some guys. But if you are traveling alone, or you are all girls they say it is better to stay in Hong Kong Island, which is a little expensive.  On my first to third stay in HK, my personal choice is to stay in Causeway Bay area.

On our fourth visit, I'll be trying to stay in Kowloon (specifically  near Austin and Jordan stations) for the convenience of near the port from Macau, near the shopping areas, closer to Disneyland and closer to International Airport.

Are you looking for trip plans or itineraries for Hong Kong, you are in the right page!