Sunday, June 28, 2015

Australia: Sydney: Itinerary & Tips


Accommodation: Where to stay in Sydney?
Hotel in Sydney: Pensione Hotel Sydney, Haymarket
631-635 George Street, Haymarket, NSW, 2000 Australia

Hotel in Katoomba/Blue Mountains: Metropole Katoomba
Gang Gang St & Lurline St, Katoomba NSW 2780, Australia


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

Saturday, June 27, 2015

2015 Australia: Sydney: The Rocks

Inspired by Running Man's episode when they visited Victoria Library in Melbourne.  We have decided to visit State Library of NSW.

State Library of New South Wales
Location: Macquarie St, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
Link: http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/tours/index.html
Free Tour Schedule: Monday to Fridays at 10.30am


Sunday, June 21, 2015

2015 June: Sydney: Churches

There are a lot of churches in the city. It's not only the catholic churches that have intricate designs, there were Anglican and others as well.  On the Pitts, you can also see the Scientology Church (Read). 

We're able to attend the Sunday mass in St. Peter Julian's Church.

St. Peter Julian Haymarket
Location: 641 George Street, Sydney   NSW
Sunday  Mass  Times:  9.30  am,  11.00  am  (Chinese),12.30  pm,  3.30  pm  &  5.00pm  (Korean)


Gospel MK 14:12-16, 22-26 - June 07, 2015
While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing,
broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body."

2015 June: Sydney: I'm Free Tours

I’m Free Tours was started by Ross & Justine, two Sydneysiders, upon their return from travels around Europe. This small group is also made up of young Sydneysiders and Melbournians.


Read more reviews in: http://www.tripadvisor.com

Thanks to Danica our guide in Sydney Sights that we took at 2:30pm on a Saturday afternoon of June. 


It started at meeting point in Town Hall Square, on George St between Sydney Town Hall and St Andrew’s Cathedral. She welcomed the participants by asking the home countries we've been from and had small chats with the groups.  Good thing about this is even there are a lot of joiners, you can still hear her loud and clear.



2015 June: Vivid Sydney - Lights

Vivid Sydney is festival of light, music and ideas held in Sydney, Australia during end of May to early June.

Vivid Light transforms Sydney into a wonderland of 'light art' sculptures, innovative light installations and grand-scale projections for all to enjoy - for free. It is a magical celebration of light-design excellence and the world's largest outdoor 'art-gallery': a unique Vivid Sydney experience. [Read more on http://www.vividsydney.com/about-vivid-sydney]

Photos below were taken during the last weekend of the event on June 2015.

Martin Place


Sunday, June 14, 2015

Flavors of Sydney and Katoomba, Australia

Are you heading to Australia to try some of the must eat, cheap eats, best tasty restaurants?  Let me share some of the places we have visited that may also fill-up your hunger for Australian food.

Alexandria

The Grounds of Alexandria
Food: Seasonal greens 7.00aud (with olive oil and sea salt), David Blackmore full-blooded wagyu cheeseburger 21.00aud (with shed-made dill pickles, mustard seed onions, tomato chili jam & lettuce, all on a pretzel bun with fries), Citrus Fizz (zesty orange and lemon soda), Elderflower and Cucumber soda
Value: 42aud (1450 php)
Location: 7A, 2 Huntley St, Alexandria NSW 2015
Personal Preference: 9 out of 10, I loved the experience.

2015 June: Sydney: Pensione Hotel Haymarket

Affordable accommodation upon my research in Sydney are mostly found in Kings Cross. Good prices from airbnb are in Darlinghurst. But, accessible location would be in main thorough fare of George Street which is near the Light Railways in Haymarket, Townhall station and Wynyard station.

Pensione Hotel Sydney, Haymarket
Location: 631635 George Street, Haymarket, NSW, 2000 Australia

Price: DiscountedUpon comparing the official website, agoda and expedia, the lowest price for 1 shoebox room for 7 nights  (P25,567.53) is in expedia (with 10k php hot deal discount).

Check-in: Quick and easy - Check-in time starts at 3pm.  But if they found the room available they can let you in upon arrival. They would also need 100.00 aud as a deposit, just surrender the receipt upon check-out.

For early travelers, they have guest lounge where you can take a rest and freshen-up before you start the day.

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.