Good Morning, Vietnam! (Part 1)

After the rollercoaster journey to NAIA Terminal 3, a successful check-in was made an hour before the boarding time. It was miraculous night  for heavy traffic along SLEX and EDSA on a Wednesday was inevitable.

With 11pm flight, we touched down past midnight with seemingly huge excitement: B39 (although only the 4 of us) was on a trip abroad!  The trip lasted for 2 hours where Vietnam is behind by one hour vs. Philippine time.

Not finding Vinnasun Taxi around, we ended up with Saigon Taxi going to District 1 at 160,000 VND.  Since Pham Ngu Lao Street is well-known haven for backpackers, we did not have the hard time to look for our place of refuge for the night: Red Sun Hotel. With Pham Ngu Lao Street, visitors have wide range of options for affordable accommodations within the heart of the city.

Red Sun Hotel is a homey place to stay recommended for friends and family who want to have convenient stay in District 1 without hurting their pocket.  It is located in the central district of Ho Chi Minh, perfect for travelers where  shops, restaurants, tourist spots can be easily accessed. The staff is very warm and accommodating --- a sudden feel of home in Vietnam.

Subsequent to catching up with kilig stories until dawn, we dressed up for Saigon breakfast: omelet,  bread, tomato dip and strawberry jam. It was a free and easy morning for Ho Chi Minh City tour.

The Reunification Palace


Our first stop was Reunification Palace. Formerly known as Independence Palace, this was designed as home and command center for the South Vietnam President . This  palace was noted for its role in 1975’s Fall of Saigon. Now, it boasts well-designed rooms, lounges, banquet halls, lobbies, War command room and President’s office.  It is one of the many places in Ho Chi Minh that  has been unchanged. There are also available rooms where tourists can watch a documentary film on the palace in English, Chinese, French and Vietnamese.

The Reunification Palace occupies a massive green plot in District 1 of  Saigon. The main gate on Nam Ku Khoi Nghia  located on the eastern side of the palace grounds serves as an entrance for tourists.

From the tourist district and backpacker’s area of Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien, walk east past  Ben Thanh Market, then turn left and walk north on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia to find Reunification Palace. It is open from 7:30-11:00 AM and 1:00 to 4:00 PM. The entrance fee is 30,000 VND.

The Vincom Center 

It is one of the most luxurious shopping centers in Saigon with various high-end brands to choose from. The commercial center houses fashion shops like Aldo, Charles & Keith, Nine West, Furla, Versace, Jimmy Choo, Bebe, Mango, Versus, Emprio Armani,Levi's, Just Cavali and many more.

After the expensive shopping in this 5-level mall with 3 basements, one can relax and dine with wide choices such as in Highlands Coffee, Carl's Jr., Armani Cafe, Pho 24, Seoul Garden, Thai Express, Kichi Kichi and NYDC or grab a dessert in Bud's Ice Cream of San Franciso to satisfy your sweet tooth's cravings. Vincom Center is located just across Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Opera House. 

The Benh Than Market

It is a popular market in District 1 of Central Saigon, a smaller version of Chatuchak Market in Bangkok. It offers hundred of stalls of souvenirs, shirts, bags, pasalubong, handicrafts and foods.

We had our souvenir shopping and scouted for bags. Don't forget to haggle when buying for items. As a tip, it is better and wiser to look around before buying and wear your most comfortable shoes and clothes.

Contacts:

Red Sun Hotel 

283/17 Pham Ngu Lao Street, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam District http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Redsun-Hotel/Ho-Chi-Minh/5918

Vietnam 3- Day Itinerary

Sharing the recommended 3 Day-Itinerary with the Option of Mekong (Floating River) and Vung Tau (Jesus Christ Statue) for the 3rd day. 

*Budget does not include Mui Ne Resort and shopping allocation. 

* Tours are booked thru VN Agencies

Have fun!

Boracay After Summer

Whether you are celebrating a happy heart or wallowing a broken heart, Boracay is an ultimate island destination for everyone. Showing off it's pristine and glistening beach decorated with crisp and white sands, Boracay Island is truly a heavenly paradise, claiming a 4th spot for World's Best Islands in 2011. 


As quoted from a fellow blogger, Boracay is a Disneyland for grown-ups. It is a place to party and go clubbing till dawn, to grab a favorite cocktail then chill by the beach, to follow your cravings for sumptuous meals and desserts, to get a beautiful tan while reading a good book, to bond with your friends and burn the calories thru water activities, to discover a sweet spot of heaven in the sands, to get a pampering massage while enjoying that famous shake, to swim to wherever takes you fancy, snorkel, island hop, dive and unwind to your heart's desire.


Before jumping into your swimsuit/swimwear, there are few things to remember when in Boracay to preserve our Pinoy pride c/o "Boracay Yuppies":


1. Boracay is not Bora. Let us keep the island's name intact.
2. Don't bring home the sand. It's against the law!
3. Fishing on Fish Sanctuaries is not allowed.
4. Love Boracay. Never leave trash and cigarette butts on the beach.
5. Save energy. Reduce waste. Walk more!


Make Boracay a climate and environment-friendly destination.




Here is a snapshot of the Boracay itinerary for the long weekend. Excited is an understatement!

Malaysia, Truly Asia

Although my trip was re-routed to Singapore, I did not miss the chance to take an adventure: to explore Kuala Lumpur at midnight.

I landed the Kuala Lumupr's Low Cost Terminal (LCCT) in such a breeze. After a quick walk from the plane to being held in Immigration for a while, I went towards the transport terminals and saw a chain of restaurants. "Old Town" Coffee shop caught my attention which brews one of my favorite coffee in Asia.

I immediately headed to money changer after leaving the baggage checks counters.  As I moved towards the Arrival hall, there were taxi booths  available in the premises. I just needed to cite my destination for the fare quotation and coupon was released after my payment. Striding towards Arrival hall and Parking bay next to Coffee Bean, I hailed for the taxi cab at RM150 rate. It is cheaper to ride metered taxis during the day vs. late night where rates are increased by almost half.

The taxi driver was friendly. (Should I say extremely friendly and personal? ) He toured me around the city  till dawn. He was my official photographer yet I gave him a failing mark. I was able to capture the beauty of Malaysia by wandering randomly, sight-seeing and people watching. I had a whirlwind glance  of images of skyscrapers, palm trees, motorcycles and temples.

Finally, the driver took me to Petronas Towers with enthusiasm. Unfortunately, the symbol of Kuala Lumpur was hiding its majestic light. I only saw a version of the sleeping giant towers. I believe they are even more fascinating and overwhelming in the afternoon or  in the dusk where gleaming repetition of  curves and lines shimmer from afar.

Eat Pray Love in Bangkok ( A Guide for Solo Traveler)

    I never knew I would be riding solo in Bangkok.  Thanks to my gutsy and persistent heart, I was able to experience Bangkok to its finest even without company of my best friends. I knew it would be carefree and easy as I was able to familiarize myself with this City of Angels during my visit last 2010.

The Airport

    Boarding the plane at 9:00 P.M. on August 25 and arriving in Bangkok before midnight made me stay in the airport until sunrise for safety reasons. From there, I took advantage of the free time to get acquainted with Bangkok International Suvarnabhumi Airport BKK (pronounced as “su-wan-na-poom” which means “Golden Land”) .  It was an opportunity to explore the airport and search for  Foreign Exchange Booths, Shuttle Bus pick-up points, restaurants and Public Taxi terminal.  There are 7-11 and Family Mart convenience stores in airport where one can avail affordable snacks and goods. Moreover, I also needed to purchase a local network SIM card in Thailand to keep me connected throught out my stay. TRUE MOVE SIM costs around 349 Baht including 300 worth of call credit. IDD calls charge at around 1 Baht/min; Such a reasonably priced item for solo travel or long term stay.

                After a short power nap and snacks, I decided to take the taxi to Bangkok Loft Inn without availing the hotel’s free shuttle ride. To ride a cab, you just need to follow "Public Taxi" signs that direct to 1st floor of the outside airport grounds, which is one floor lower than the Arrivals, line up and state your desired destination at the service desk. One way metered trip to Tak Sin costs 440 Baht. This is way more expensive than the destination of Baiyoke Sky’s taxi which charges around 180 Baht. You also have to pay 45 Baht for Express Way and 25 Baht Toll plus 50 Baht Taxi Surcharge. It takes about an hour to Bangkok Loft Inn depending on the traffic situation.

The Bangkok Loft Inn

            This four-story boutique hotel offers their guests luxurious, cozy and elegant ambiance. Their contemporary styled rooms and amenities definitely give a graceful and comfortable stay which is also highlighted by their friendly and hospitable staff. A stone’s throw away from the Wongwian Yai BTS Skytrain, their location is convenient to all areas of the city without hailing a cab. Overall, I gave this Bangkok Loft Inn Boutique Hotel 8 out of 10 Stars.

City Tour

            I decided to reward myself a private tour courtesy of Tong who specializes in custom tours to explore the beauty and history of Thailand on a personal height. Thanks to Jerry, my personal tour guide, I was up to enjoy the sights tailored to my preference. It was definitely like having a good friend in Thailand. I never felt alienated, and I was truly blending in.

            The Tour began in  Vimanmek Mansion, hyped as the biggest golden teakwood house in the world located near Dusit in an attempt to blend in Thai and European architecture and style. This Teak Mansion was constructed in 1900 by His Majesty King Rama V as a royal palace for five years. Renovated and rebuilt, Vimanmek Mansion is now used as a museum to commemorate King Rama V by displaying his portraits, personal creativity and handicrafts, and to serve as an exhibit of Thai national rich legacy, history and heritage. This is open from 9:30 A.M.  to 4:00 P.M. with an entrance fee of 100Baht. However, photography is not allowed. Moreover, guests are required to keep all belongings in a locker with a fee of 20 Baht per locker and shoes must be removed upon entry. Visitors should also be accompanied by tour guide to explore the palace as no one is allowed to wander on his own. Proper attire must also be observed (at least knee-length). Although there are  available  sarongs guests can borrow that requires a refundable deposit of 300 Baht.  With Jerry’s tale of history of the Mansion and King Rama V, it was enlightening to realize that Thai people have deep devotion for their Kings and Queens.

       Passing by the Democracy Monument and Giant Swing, we headed towards Wat Pho which is famous for the beautiful golden Buddha that gauges around 46 meters in length and 15 meters in height with feet wrapped up with mother-of-pearl.  Walking around the complex leads to a part of the compound where the “Traditional Medicine and Massage School” is located. Scriptures of the Thai Massage were written on the walls and icons of different Thai massage were sculptured as invigorating and therapeutic massage to relieve stress and improve blood circulation. Access to Wat Pho charges you at  50 Baht, open from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and requires guests to take off their shoes inside the temple. Other attractions are Bangkok Chedis, Cambodian Style Chedis, Sitting Buddhas from Chiangmai, Wiharn and the Ubosot.

 Since Wat Pho is across Chao Phraya River, we grabbed the chance to watch and observe the rehearsal of Royal Kathin Barge Procession on 22^nd of October 2011 in Bangkok, which makes the royal barges of Thailand the last of their form in the world. This also stopped operations on crossing the river at that moment. Thus, we were also glancing at Wat Arun’s beauty from the banks of Chao Phraya River. The spectacular view of Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn) is perfect during sunset. Crossing the river with a 15 Baht- ferry and visitor's fee for foreigners is 50 Baht, guests can climb the steep stairs up to the upper terrace where the main tower measures 79 meters high with all four prangs meticulously designed with small pieces of ceramic from China. From the terrace, visitors can catch a glimpse of the an impressive view of Bangkok transverse the river with highlights of the Grand palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and  Wat Pho.

        

      

From the Market near Wat Pho, I had the chance to eat one of Thai amazing dishes: Pad Thai. Jerry said the best one can also be found in the streets. For only 50 Baht, I had one sumptuous Seafood Pad Thai. 

The owner asked me: "Masarap?" Definitely with thumbs up, I told everybody it was indeed scrumptious. Forgetting the allergies, I finished my spicy Pad Thai meal with a dash of smile.

Then we headed to The Peninsula Bangkok and catch our ferry to Saphan Taksin BTS Station. The trip reminded me of the Lunch cruise with Chao Phraya Princess and the luxurious hotels by the river that touted Bangkok as the Venice of the East.

From Saphan Taksin, Jerry taught me the BTS 101, fares ranges from 20-40 Baht. I requested him to take me to The Emporium and Benjasiri Park. To his wonder, he took me to The Emporium which is home for signature shopping and has direct access to Phrom Phong BTS Station. This shopping center was already been outshined by Siam Paragon and Central World. I asked Jerry to look for the bird sanctuary in the Benjasiri Park but to my surprise I only saw musical fountain and Thais performing yoga in their fly. Next time, I might grab an ice cream and bag of fusty bread to feed fish in the lake for a relaxing late afternoon.

           

Going back to Wongwian Yai Station at past 6 P.M. surpassing rush hour traffic, Jerry and I ended the City tour with distinctive stories and lovely photographs.

Back to our First Love (Teaser)

"One could fall in love many times during the course of a lifetime, but the first rush of love always holds a special place in our hearts."

Leap ahead, Intel.

Princess in Palawan

     As I think about another summer destination, I start to miss the beautiful and exceptional island of Palawan. Nothing compares to a well-deserved break after the glorious days in Intel.
     When I get the liberty to reminisce, I would write a detailed guide about Puerto Prinsesa wherein Dos Palmas getaway marked the most.

Inspire me

   It's April and I let a month passed before going back to blogging my travel whereabouts.Cobwebs are forming in my blog. In my mind, I got words to make them into phrases, sentences and paragraphs but I feel unable to arrange them into coherent thoughts. I miss blogging as much as I miss You. Inspire me once again.

Puka Beach, March 2011 Boracay

Summer 2011 Starts in Boracay

My love affair with Boracay would never end. As self-confessed beach bum, it is hard for me to put into words why I like this Earthly paradise so much. Everything about it is renewing for me: the sun that shines down on me, the pristine beach, the sweet spot of heaven with soul sisters…It reminds me that I am alive and living a good life.. almost like a therapy. Boracay Therapy? Who knows, in time I shall find out.

Nothing compares with Boracay sunset. Boracay is my second home of refuge: a paradise I'd keep coming back even twice a year.

                                                      

Waking Up in Sunny Singapore

Waking up in Sunny Singapore (Part 2 of 2)

After almost  9 hours of energy-boosting beauty sleep, I got up bright and ready for another sunny Singapore tour. Hands down to Orchard Road’s  Ngee Ann City, Ion and Paragon which boast the chain of  branded boutiques and famous brands like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Gucci, Prada and Chanel.  The Orchard Road is truly a shopper’s paradise.

Getting off the City Hall Station, it’s a long walk to endure from the Raffle’s Place to the famed theatre destination.  A modern architectural fascination of durian- like theatres called The Esplanade fronting the view of the stunning Central Business District’s skyline and dramatic Singapore River. It also showcases the premier Fullerton Hotel which used to be the country’s general post office. Across the Esplanade is the Merlion Park which features the half-lion and half-fish representation of the Lion City. The $1 ice cream sandwiched in chocolate wafers is a must-try. It’s the best way to beat the heat while walking across the Esplanade Bridge and gazing the view of Marina Bay.

                Barely couple of hours left to discover Sentosa Island which features not only Universal Studios but also home of one of its biggest casinos, Resorts World, and Singapore’s ultimate beach destination. From a taxi ride in City Hall to Vivo City Mall, it’s a hot afternoon trip via Sentosa train to the Beach Station. With the summer-like heat, it’s a perfect time for beach bumming! It is Singapore’s island getaway. It brags the infamous Siloso Beach, where you can sit by the beach with your towel and  sunnies or hop in the stretch of restaurants in the beachfront  like Café del Mar which is also a night spot at sundown. Also, a 10-minute stroll at the beach takes you to Palawan Beach, another spot for sports, swimming, sunbathing or  chilling and strutting one’s stuff.

                From Sentosa’s Carrot Land, head on back to Imbiah Station to witness amazingly beautiful landscape and another Merlion symbol. This features the Merlion Walk, Merlion Plaza, Imbiah Terrace and the Resort’s World Singapore Festive Walk.

               Ending the humid day with a cup of Frappucino in Starbucks at Dhoby Ghaut Mall. It was a journey of sweet memories--- a speedy yet fulfilling tour in a nearly perfect city with the nicest people. With great friends and welcoming company, Singapore is truly a home.  The trip, which was supposed to be a solo tour bound to be indulged by myself turned to be one of the most fulfilling trips in my life and was worthy of every cent. It was traveling with self-indulgence and independence and rekindling the bond. Definitely, I’d come back!

In a nutshell/ Next time:

1.                 Despite the hectic schedule, manage to have some shoe shopping. Some shoe brands are at least 30% cheaper in Singapore, I grabbed the opportunity to get a pair as my travel souvenir. Next time, I would purchase some more.

2.                 Because Singapore uses BS1363 three-pin rectangular socket, don’t forget to bring adaptor plug or purchase it at the nearest hardware store.

3.                  Due to all walking, it’s nice to wear flats at day and reserve stilettos for the night.Be ready for an unanticipated rain some time of the day.  Equip oneself with bottled water and map when traveling solo.

4.                 If you have the luxury of time, there are still a lot of places of interest like Singapore Flyer, Marina Bay Sands Skypark, Fort Siloso, Underwater World,

5.                 The next time I go to Singapore, I won’t miss throwing a coin to the Fountain of Wealth to attract more prosperity, just for fun and good luck.

6.                 Catch the 7:40 PM/8:40 PM shows at the Songs of the Sea, an extravaganza with art of singing, dancing, lasers, and pyrotechnics then proceed to Café del Mar to dance the night away

7.                 Visit Chinatown for foodtrips, sidetrips in Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and souvenir shopping.

8.                 Dine and spot the lights in 3 Quays: Boat, Clarke and Robertson. Catch the happy hour and party till dawn.  Try Singapore’s best: Chili crab

9.                 Save up for that much desired gadget in Funan IT Mall. Don’t forget the GST Refund.

10.               Visit Singapore during Great Singapore Sale where famous brands drop their prices.