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.

2013 May: Indonesia: Bali: Pura Taman Ayun

Last destination we have for the day is Pura Taman Ayun.  Too bad that the temple ground is actually not open to the public.  There are only high platforms where the tourists can see the featured structure inside the gates.

Pura Taman Ayun (Mengwi Water Temple) - This very pleasing temple was built in 1634 by the King of Mengwi as his family temple. The terraced courtyards of the temple are set in very well maintained grounds, surrounded by man-made waterways and entered over a bridge. Mengwi is about 8km east from the town of Tabanan. [http://wikitravel.org/en/Tabanan]

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]

2013 May: Indonesia: Bali: Ulun Danu Beratan

Next stop, it took us around less than 2 hours before we reach Ulun Danu Beratan from Ubud.  I’m aware there are mountains in the area, but I did not know that the lake is actually at the top of the mountain.  Think of it as Baguio, we drove by the mountain side until we went higher and higher.  When we get out of the car, it is already windy and cold.  Bad that it is cloudy, cause it is giving a sad theme on the photos.    

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, or Pura Bratan, is a major Shivaite and water temple on Bali.  The temple complex is located on the shores of Lake Bratan in the mountains near Bedugul. Water temples serve the entire region in the outflow area; downstream there are many smaller water temples that are specific to each irrigation association.

2013 May: Indonesia: Bali: Tirta Empul

After considering a list of agencies, I booked for rockybalitours because he is the only tour guide who would agree on my itinerary.  His friend Agung picked us up at the hotel as early as 8am.  

It took us around 1.5 hrs to reach our first stop (from Legian).  

Tirta Empul Temple (Indonesian: Pura Tirta Empul) is a Hindu temple in the middle of Bali Island, Indonesia, famous for its holy water where Hindu Bali people go for purification. [Reference]

This is also one of the featured destinations of Samantha Brown's Bali.  The same as one of Kris' and Zsa Zsa's destination too.

Entrance fee for an adult is 15,000Rp (60Php, 2013).  We roam around the area on our own.