Macau ~ Impulsive Getaway ~ 15-16 April 2011

Once upon a time there were two friends who thoughtlessly jumped in a ferry to Macau… the end. (Kidding!)

We have always talked about going to Macau but sadly there was always something that hinders us from pushing through. However last April we just went for it. It was so impromptu that we didn’t have any extra clothes or a place to stay in – Bex is to blame! We were working late that night and realized we didn’t have to work the next day…

Jcel: “Let’s go to Macau!”

Bex: (without thinking) “Okay, let’s! Tonight!”

… and so we went. We were both so giddy with excitement and adrenaline rush that we didn’t really care what was going to happen or whether we have any place to stay in. It was only half way to Macau where Jcel started panicking. She had this inkling feeling that the hotels won’t take us in this late. But Bex kept saying it all part of this “impulsive adventure” we were about to embark so she went along with it.

Day 1 (or Night because we got there around 9pm)

• First stop – Lisboa. Checked to see if they have rooms but said that they are fully booked. Boo! – BTW, Jcel was creeped out on how their reception area was filled with Dragon statues… actually; they were more like gargoyles ready to attack you. There were ancient vases and other antiques plus the ceiling was painted in GOLD! It was not a good sight.
• Then we tried Metropolitan, Sands and Holiday Inn – all rejected us. –
• As we were walking, thinking what to do, we came across a travel agency, so we decided to go in to ask for help but as we enter, we noticed that there was nobody there and so we started taking hotel pamphlets. Then an old man suddenly arrived and we asked him if he could help us get a hotel for the night but he just ignored us. For the second time, we approached him again and asked him for a hotel. He then looked at us (In a creepy way BTW) and ignored us again. FREAK! Lol and so we decided to leave.  
• After what seems like eternity of walking around, we had an idea to call every hotel on the pamphlets we took from the agency, after 2 rejections, we called up The Landmark Hotel and what a blessing it was, finally they took us in. Thank God, it was already 11pm and we were almost considering sleeping in the park that night, honest!
• As soon as we got to our room, first thing we did was order room service. We were starving! It tasted good at first but as we were getting full we started dissing the food one by one. Probably rank it at 5/10.
• At around 1am we went out and played a few slot machines and so we did. We went to the elevator, pressed the floor to the casino and it opened up to this gianormous Pharaoh! Jcel had to be literally pulled out of the elevator! In the end, she got out and managed to take pictures with the huge Pharaoh. Bex got lucky with the slot machines and left with a bucket of coins! Jcel lost, pfft!
• After the casino, we went to The Cave bar and had a few drinks and THEN we called it a day.

Day 2

• We forced ourselves to wake up at 9am because we have complimentary breakfast and didn’t want to miss it. We were the only person in the restaurant actually. Guess people in Macau sleep for breakfast, LOL. The food was great and we had an amazing view (a completely dead quiet Macau). After eating we went back to our room and continued our sleep.
• As soon as the sun was shining we started to get ready for our long day. But first thing’s first, LUNCH!
• We went to Hard Rock Hotel and had buffet lunch at The Wave. (Too many stories at this part of our trip which we agreed not to get into it. LOL)

• Then, we went to get tickets for The House of Dancing Water and Zaia. 2 words: BOTH AMAZING! We didn’t want to spoil any surprises so we won’t tell the details. It’s the kind of shows you’ll need to see for yourselves. But we can promise that you’ll enjoy.
• After the shows, we had dinner in Café Deco and off we went to go back to HK. We were extremely exhausted and slept off the whole trip back.
• Got home at 2am.

Wow that felt short when we break it down like that. We actually thought we’d have a novella-like post about this trip. Oh well… albeit the super quick and kind of rushed trip it was extremely fun and memorable to both of us. 

P.S

We try to make this blog as informative as possible for your future travel references, please see below. (Prices in HKD)

Location: Macau

Ferry: $360 each (roundtrip)

Accomodation: The Landmark Hotel (Approx. $2000)

Zaia: $580 each (varies depending on seats)

The House of Dancing Water: $380 each (varies depending on seats)

The Wave (Hardrock lunch buffet): $300 each

Café Deco: $ 200 each (approx.)

Tagaytay Trip 2011

March 25th, 2011

The first time I was in Tagaytay was way back Feb 2009 when I attended a friend's wedding. So when a friend of mine (Ate Ana) suggested that we go to Tagaytay, I said Yes with excitement. The only problem was that, it's hard to go to Tagaytay without someone to drive you there. Thankfully, my friend Edsel was so kind to go with me. It took us around 2 hours (less the hours we spent in Cavite - I need not to mention). We stayed in a budget hotel [5R Hotel]. It was Php1200 per room, but Edsel used his charm and made a deal for 2 rooms for just Php2000. Coolio! 

On our way to tagaytay...Listening to Roxette's "It Must have been love, but it's over now!" :)

Supposedly, we were to have dinner with Ate Ana but since Edsel and I were caught in traffic and went on a detour we arrived in Tagaytay at 11pm. So we just decided to meet up with them in the morning. Edsel and I were famished so we went to grab something to eat at RSM. The food was great, we ordered Pancit, Shanghai Spring Rolls and Sisig. They have a live band, they were alright but not the best and most especially not the type of band that I go for. The annoying part there was that, they kept asking for tips from the people. With raised eye-brow, Edsel was not happy about it. Which meant no tips for them. 

March 26, 2011



I was unable to sleep immediately, it was very windy that night and could hear it from my room. It was 2am when I went to check my facebook but unfortunately the connection was terrible! Frustrated, I just decided to sleep realizing it was already 3:30 in the morning. The next thing I know, Edsel was knocking on my door shouting "Room Service". I'd so wanted to go back to sleep, but I'm only going to be there for the day so I dragged myself out of bed and wasted no time.



Ooppss! the date in my camera is wrong it should be 26th March, 2011 :)

It was still very windy which made me realized that It was not wise to be wearing skirt. We had breakfast at Leslie's in one of their Kubo's facing Taal Volcano. The View was magnificent! You definitely would not want to forget your camera if you decide to dine there. But aside from the view, I heard numerous praises from other people that they have one of the best dishes in town. But I only had the chance to taste one dish, so - I couldn't say if all their foods are all that great. But this "Sinigang na Tanigue" deserves a two thumbs up! :)





      Sinigang na tanigue for breakfast @ leslie's

                           

Just after breakfast, We met up with my  friends and had lunch at one of the local restaurants near the Rotonda. Ate Ana brought food with her which she cooked for me. Yes, she is that sweet! She brought "Ginisang Pusit" and "Sugpo" (Squid & Prawns) . Yummmmmy! Aside from the Pusit, we ordered Sisig, Spring Rolls and lechon Kawali.



After lunch, we headed straight to People's Park which is one of the famous spots for tourist in Tagaytay. It's a good place for picnics and other activities such as horseback riding and of course the Zip Line. I was too afraid to try it and at my current state, I just don't think it's advisable. lol :)

If you plan to visit Taal Volcano, some hotels offer tour packages which basically includes almost everything, the boat ride, horseride, guide etc for more or less Php2000 (per head).

It was dissapointing, because I really thought there was more to Tagaytay than just the views. But maybe cause I was only there overnight and could not fully appreciate it. But yeah, nothing much to see or do. Too bad, my time there was limited as I was scheduled to return back to HK the next day. I hope one day I can go back and get to go around Tagaytay and see more of it. Hopefully soon. :)

My candid moments with Ate Ana :)

Even if Tagaytay did not live up to my expectations, I did have a wonderful time bonding with my friends especially that we only get to see each other once in a blue moon. :)

Till Next time! :)

 Cheers!

-= Bex =-

Baguio - The City of Pines 2011 Trip

My visit to Baguio was a start for me to pursue what I love doing most which is to TRAVEL. I was excited but at the same time I was also nervous, as it was my first time to travel by my self and the thought of the long ride to Baguio which took around 6 to 7 hours was scary for me. It sure made my tush numb! I Left Manila at around 10:00am and arrived in Baguio at around 5:30pm. Here are some pictures I took while I was on the bus on my way to the "City of Pines" using my Mobile Phone, so forgive me for the so-so quality. 

I stayed in "Philippine Baptist Theological School", also known as PBTS. I originally wanted to book their “Vacation Cottages” but as it was a peak season at that time; their best rooms were fully booked. So I would suggest booking ahead of time, a month or so, if ever you decide to stay there. 

Day 1 [March 21, 2011]

- SM Baguio

- Café by the Ruins

I made sure I was going to enjoy my stay in Baguio, even if it meant going to places alone. I took a taxi to SM, there was a little traffic near Burnham Park but aside from that all went well. Taxi was cheap, cost me a little less than ₱100.  In the afternoon, Genesis, our pastor’s brother In Hong Kong, was kind enough to meet with me. So, my first day started with me going around SM Mall. :) 

We decided to take a visit at Cafe by the Ruins - thinking it was one of those historical places in Baguio. Well, we were fooled! It was in fact a restaurant. It had me by the word "RUINS" and did not think of the word "cafe" (hahaha) plus, the only ruined part was the front-yard. Anyways, we decided to just go inside and order something to eat. The place was rather relaxing and it was really nice.

 Day 2: [March 22, 2011]

- Carnival [Burnham Park]

- Lunch [at Gerry's Grill (SM MALL)]

- Shopping 

- Movie [Red Riding Hood (SM mall)]

On the 2nd day, Kuya G and I originally was going to go boat riding in Burnham Park, but it was not very wise to do it at 11am in the morning. It was just way too hot. At that time, they had in Burnham Park a some sort of a carnival where you can rent out and Play Table tennis, so we did that instead. It was ₱100 an hour plus ₱50 deposit. I was exhausted after the game - I was literally gasping for air and I was seeing stars too! lol After an hour of sweat, we decided to have lunch at Gerry's Grill which is located inside SM. I must have been so tired and hungry I didn't think of taking a single picture of that place. Later that day, we went to see a movie. 

Day 3: [March 23, 2011]

My third day in Baguio was the busiest and the best day of all. We were being spontaneous... and went where we feel like going.

The Mansion House. It was built in 1907 as the official summer residence at the instance of William Cameron Forbes to serve as the residence of U.S. Governors-General. Since then, it has served as the holiday home and working office for each President of the Philippines during his or her visits to Baguio. The main gate of The Mansion is said to be a replica of one of the main gates at Buckingham Palace, London. Coolio! :) [Info from Wiki]

Wright Park. For P300 pesos, you can rent a horse for half an hour within the Park area. There are a lot of horses to choose from, they even have pink horses (lol). The best part is it's not that far from The Mansion, it's only in the opposite side of the road and around 5mins walk. 

Mines View. Truly amazing… simply unforgettable. As we all know, Baguio is well known for its magnificent view. The only downside is that, it gets really crowded and the place is quite small. Anyways, we rented out Igurot costumes for ₱10 and took pictures, with my own camera of course. As usual, the infamous dog, which you can take pictures with for ₱20. 

Famished, we decided to have lunch at one of the restaurants at Mines view. The Bulalo was HUGE and it cost around ₱300. However, I wouldn't say it was the best but it was good enough cause I don't get to eat bulalo in Hong Kong. So thumbs up for that one. :) 

Tam-Awan Village. It is a model Cordillera village. It consists of authentic Ifugao and Kalinga huts on hilly terrain. Located in Pinsao Proper, it's just a few minutes away from PBTS from where I was staying. We decided to go up the hill where you can see the whole village. I loved it! 

Strawberry Fields. It is Located in La Trinidad Benguet which is a few minutes away from Baguio City. It was tremendously awesome! My first experience to actually see strawberries right from the ground and actually get to harvest them myself. It was my farmville moment (hehe). They gave us a small basket and you can harvest as many strawberries as you want but of course you have to pay them after. A kilo of strawberries cost P150 which is more expensive than buying them directly from the stalls lined up in that area. But paying P150 for an experience is not too shabby! :)

All that in one day. Phew! But it was great! I had a blast going around Baguio. But it wasn't over yet, after getting all getting all our sweats out from picking those strawberries, we went back to SM mall where we had dinner and to end the night, we went for the last full show and watched a movie. :) How's that for my 3rd day in Baguio?!

Day 4: [March 24, 2011]

- Asin, Baguio [ Hot Spring ]

On my 4th day in Baguio, We went to a place called "Asin" Hot Spring Resort"... It's located in a barangay in Tuba Benguet, around 30mins from Baguio. The water in the pool is said to have therapeutic effects (I sure wasn't feeling it - teehee). We arrived there early but in just a few minutes, the place was packed. The downside of going there is that the transportation going in and out of that place is very limited, so you actually have to leave as early as 4:30pm to catch a ride back to town. We left at 5pm and well, we almost did not get a ride. So I think it's best to have your own car if you decide to go there or better yet, stay over night. :)

My fifth day was basically packing day for me. I bought so many things, that I had to buy an extra bag. And so, my time in Baguio has come to an end. It was a wonderful experience and an unforgettable one. Baguio is simply beautiful!! If you have not been there, I definitely encourage you guys to visit Baguio and make sure you visit every bit of the place, it's worth it!  

Cheers!

Bex

Book It! - May

I’ve recently finished reading Delirium by Lauren Oliver, finally! This took me awhile because the first few chapters were dreading. But as I progress the story begin to captivate me to a point where I couldn’t stop reading until it was already 3 in the morning!

As always I do not want to give out spoilers but it’s much like Romeo and Juliet, the-things-you-will-do-and-sacrifice-for-the-one-you-love, kind of thing. The twist is in the place and society they live in, although there are parts in the book that were misleading and will make you raise your eyebrows. But all in all, I enjoyed the book. Probably one of the books I would like to be made into a movie.

This is actually categorized as a Dystopian Fiction and Delirium is the first book I read in that genre therefore I cannot make any comparison. This is probably also the reason why I actually quite enjoyed it. But after this book I am now considering the Hunger Games series, also in the same genre, heard it’s better than Delirium.

* Dystopia - a work of fiction describing an imaginary place where life is extremely bad because of deprivation or oppression or terror)*

Current reads: Sleepless Nights by Sarah Bilston and The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordon (Book 1 of the Kane Chronicles).

Sleepless Nights is actually a Chick-Lit and although I enjoy reading Chick-Lits this one is just a snoozefest! I tried reading it but after a good 2-3 chapters I’m not left there… bored! Plus there are two protagonists switching back and forth narrating the story so it’s quite annoying. And the storyline is nothing special really. So I’m not sure if I’d want to recommend this but you can try.

Now The Red Pyramid, I enjoy! But since I only have the e-book for this so I had to read it at work and I can only read a few chapters every now and then. It is basically the counterpart of the Percy Jackson series. But instead of the Greek mythology it’s the Egyptian, hence the title. If you enjoy the Percy Jackson series then you will probably like this as well.

So far that’s the only update for my bookreads for the month of May.

‘Til next time,

Jcel♥