Category: Asian Holidays


Family Playcations!

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Filed under: Asian Holidays, Travel, travels — 1 Comment
January 8, 2012

I love my family. We all live in a condominium building where space is gold and where we feel cramped as the kids grow taller and the adults grow wider 😦

Over time, we spilled over 2 more units in the same condo building but share THE SAME SQUARE dining table I bought when I was still living alone. How we fit or take turns at the dining table is a practiced skill!

And so family playcations is a tradition in this family. Summers and Christmas breaks are popular holiday dates for us, but we’re one family who also make good use of long weekends.

We took a vote and came up with this list of top playcations for us. Thought I’d share it with you as suggestions for your next family adventure.

 

#1 CRUISING TOPS THE LIST

 

To this day, our 3day, 2 night cruise sailing out of Singapore for Melaka (Malacca, Malaysia) holds truly fond memories for adults and elves. Royal Carribean’s Legend of the Seas had this $306 per pax, twin-sharing promo rate which we grabbed. All 5 meals and snacks included!

 

READY TO SAIL! Kids board Royal Carribean's Legend of the Seas

#2 HONGKONG DISNEYLAND AND MACAU

 

The FIRST family playcation out of the country is of course nothing less than memorable. When the elves were 5 and 2 visiting Disneyland (Los Angeles, USA) for the first time, they were too young to appreciate it. This time around, they knew exactly what they wanted, and how many “teacup spins” they needed!

From HK Disneyland to Macau. What a horrible ferry ride!

#3 NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS IN HONGKONG

We were back the year after. The fireworks at the Avenue of the Stars fronting the lovely HK Harbour is the highlight of the New Year’s Eve revelry, but the dinner prelude was just as exciting. No mercy was our mantra, as we stuffed ourselves with Peking Duck and other Chinese dishes at the Star Cafe. Just as memorable was walking with the thick Chinese crowd in the middle of the road at 2am to reach our hotel.

HONGKONG DISNEYLAND

#4  SSSSHHHH…..KIDS GO AWOL IN SHANGHAI

 

Shelly and I flying in to Shanghai from a month-long trip in Turkey and Greece.  The rest of fam flying in from Manila.  What a reunion!

 

The Bund. Shanghai, China

#5  WORLD EXPO IN SHANGHAI

 

Can’t resist this. It’s the closest we can get to a world tour.  Very educational for the children.  Very satisfying for the adult gluttons. 🙂

World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China

#6 BUTANDING ADVENTURE

 

It was a weeklong holiday. A road trip. We booked only for our first 2 nights in Donsol, Sorsogon where I brought the family to experience this awesome animal encounter. After that, we sort of felt our way through looking for places to stay in Legazpi City and Naga.

 

ONE BIG HURRAH AFTER THE FIRST BUTANDING ENCOUNTER! YEHEY!

#7 ALL 12 ABOARD FOR A JOURNEY THROUGH ILOCANDIA

 

Yes, 12. My family and my friend’s family. We flew to Laoag, then cramped ourselves into a van, and then a jeepney around Laoag and Vigan. Food Trip to the max.  Gee, now I miss their Pinakbet Pizza! 

 

Walking out of Malacanang of the North. And yes, we were 12 in the group!

#8 ROADTRIP TO BAGUIO

Not our “usual” Baguio trip. This time around, we explored the lesser-known destinations and relished the surprisingly enjoyable vegetarian joints in this city. Even the elves loved their “kamatis (tomato) pasta” in Oh My Gulay Resto!

Taken at Bencab Museum Garden.

#9  NEW YEAR IN BORACAY. WHY NOT?

Who’d dare argue against spending New Year’s in the lovely island of Boracay?  We spent all of 5 days here. What a great relaxing way to welcome and start the new year!

SUN AND SAND TO WELCOME AND START THE NEW YEAR IN BORACAY

#10 A NEW DISCOVERY: CLUB BALAI ISABEL

 

Again, we were lured by the promo package offered by this lovely resort along the shores of Taal Lake in Talisay, Batangas. A weekend that’s really value-for-money. The rooms have 2 big-sized beds, the resort has 3 swimming pools, a fish spa, food is good, service is excellent, and THE VIEWS! C’est magnifique!

GOOD FOOD, GOOD SERVICE, MAGNIFICENT VIEWS!

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The Female Monks of Zilukha Nunnery (Thimpu, Bhutan)

Filed under: Asian Holidays, Travel, travels — 3 Comments
January 5, 2012

 

 

Zilukha is the “biggest nunnery” in Bhutan, yet I would never consider it huge by any standards.  But it may have the best  location.  It is perched on a promontory overlooking the Tashichhoedzong or Thimpu Dzong and its surrounding golf course. From the roadside,  we walked up a wide dirt path to reach this nunnery with no gates, no doorbells, no guards.  Just sleeping dogs.  

 

 

The Path to Female Monkhood?

 

 

Female Monks?   Yes, many women — some young girls, even toddlers — from poor families enter the nunnery.  The ones I saw at Zilukha Nunnery in the Drubthob Goemba  were likely as old as 70 and as young as 4.  I was honestly surprised to find the young ones, and initially thought they were orphans under the care of the nuns.

 

 

Zilukha Nunnery

 

 

Our tour guide explained that some of these children were left behind by their poor parents.  A refuge from extreme poverty.  Yet I wasn’t exactly sure it is a refuge.  The nuns we found here can certainly do with some comforts.  Having seen the magnificence of the Dzongs in Paro, Thimpu and Punakha,  the Zilukha Nunnery appears almost like a disheveled garage or storage room in one of these dzongs.  The shrine is very small, and the nuns pray and chant their mantra in a narrow space where a giant prayer wheel occupies easily a tenth of the entire room.  The nearby one-storey building serves as their sleeping quarters and I can imagine these nuns must sleep in cramped quarters there.  

 

 

The Living/Sleeping Quarters of the Zilukha Nunnery

Entrance To The Prayer Room

 

 

Once we stepped inside the Prayer Room,  we felt almost guilty barging in as the nuns were busy praying and chanting.  The elder of the nuns allowed 2 photos of them doing their spiritual chores — chanting mantras and spinning prayer wheels.  The area is a bit cramped.  Two lines of nuns face each other while a giant prayer wheel is spun by one of the younger, stronger nuns.  The 4 year old happily , yet quietly sat on the lap of the grey-haired nun.   This nun with greying hair, looking so undecided between chanting and chewing her betel nut, while caring for the toddler-nun.  I spotted red-stained teeth,  and some chewed bits threatening to drip on the sides of the older nun’s mouth.  

 

 

Just Two Photos Inside the Prayer Room.

Two Lines of Nuns Facing Each Other in This Narrow Corridor.

 

 

I wish I was able to take a better shot of the grey-haired nun and the toddler nun.  I dared not appeal for a 3rd shot, guilty as we were to have arrived at a sacred hour.   As young girls enter the nunnery to escape poverty as well as to gain education,   I wonder if some of them feel “forced” to take this option.  Sure, they are here to seek “enlightenment” but I am more inclined to think they are here or were sent here  to escape from the harshness of  a difficult, deprived life.  

 

 

This Is The View From Zilukha Nunnery. Not Bad!


As with the monks,  people seek spiritual guidance from these nuns.   As such,  they spend their time gaining spiritual knowledge to prepare them for this religious work.  Some of them may have felt deprived in their early life, but they all look forward and appreciate the newfound social status to be gained from being a nun.  In a country like Bhutan where Buddhism seamlessly blend with everyday life and the national character,  monkhood has its place.  

 

 

Please do check my other blogs and photos on Bhutan  here in WordPress. Or try my blog series on Bhutan in TravelBlog. Here is the link :  http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/liliram/Trips/17606

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Chimi Lakhang: The Divine Madman’s Village and Shrine

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Filed under: Asian Holidays, Travel, travels — 8 Comments
January 1, 2012

Excuse me…… Did you just say THAT PHALLUS belonged to one of your saints?

 

 

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Yes, THAT is the phallus of one of Bhutan's Favorite Saints. I kid u NOT!

 

 

Flanked by hundreds of prayer flags, Chimi Lakhang is a good half hour leisurely walk across fertile rice fields. We passed farmers harvesting their rice and traipsed paddy fields cutting across a village where houses are painted with…..errr, phalluses of one of Bhutan’s favorite saints.  Either that, or you find hanging phalluses swinging by house corners, intended to drive away demons.  

 

 

Do You See That Hanging Phallus? It's Meant To Drive Away The Demons.

Chimi Lakhang. A Modest Shrine to Bhutan's Favorite Saint & Divine Madman

 

 

Chimi Lhakhang is dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kunley or Drukpa Kunleg (1455 – 1529) also known as ‘The Divine Madman’. He “distinguished” himself for his outrageous behavior and teaching style. Legend goes that the saint used to hit the evil forces with his penis (or cohabited with them) to distract, subdue, and eventually turn them into protective deities. Trust me, this is serious stuff in Bhutan. My own guide claims the Divine Madman “took away the shame” —- i interpret this to mean “malice”—– from them. In many Thangka paintings, the saint is shown holding a “wooden stick with penis head”.

 

 

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The Power of the Phallus. He is also the Fertility Saint. Guess Why!

Gho-clad Boys Coming Home From School

In Bhutan, I Saw Many Men Caring For Their Babes. Nice.

 

 

The Lhakang is just a small pilgrimage site in a rather rural setting. We passed old, modest houses and children posing for photos,  hopping, running around, and playing “kitchen” like many other children in the world. Makes you think children are the same all over UNTIL society/culture imposes itself on them. We were welcomed in a small kitchen where the women were frying rice grains much like our local “pinipig” or rice crisps. The young monks we met at the Lhakang were likewise playing — running and jumping around, swinging by the window sill, or up above munching an apple while seated on a branch of the Buddha tree.

 

 

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Children Are The Same All Over the World.

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I Was Right Underneath This Mini-Monk

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Those Are Not Just Rice Crisps. They're MOUNTAIN Rice Crisps.

 

 

This is also a pilgrimage site for childless couples. Well, that “Thunderbolt of Flaming Wisdom” (as they call the saint’s phallus) ain’t called that for nothing. As fertility saint, he is perhaps the only saint in all religions of the world excused for his sexual exploits and inclinations, for which his phallus is identified with its creative power and ability to distract and subdue demons. Think about that!

 

 

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Just A Half Hour Walk To Get Here, Past Paddy Fields

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Walked past many of these houses with painted phalluses!

This Rural Village Gave Us A Glimpse of How Ordinary Bhutanese Live.

Please do check my other blogs and photos on Bhutan  here in WordPress. Or try my blog series on Bhutan in TravelBlog. Here is the link :  http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/liliram/Trips/17606

 

 

And by the way,  with all we’ve seen and experienced in Bhutan, we missed something big time.  Not sure if we could have mustered the nerve to watch, but here’s one interesting read for all of you.  Tell me what you think 😉

http://bhutan-360.com/the-naked-dance-of-jampa-lhakhang-drub/

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Punakha Dzong: Living In A Dream

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Filed under: Asian Holidays, Travel, travels — 4 Comments

From Druk Hotel in Thimpu, we drove a good 2 1/2 hours just to get here.  On our way, we passed Dochula Pass with a grand view of the Himalayan mountain range at over 3,000 meters elevation. Then we weaved around the mountains going down, passing cherry blossoms, poinsettia and magnolia trees.  We made a brief stop at Chimi Lakhang and took our lunch in a lovely cafe overlooking paddy fields animated by men and women harvesting rice and gho-clad school boys gingerly walking around the rice fields.  

 

Punakha Dzong. Where Kings are crowned. Site of the recent wedding of the world’s youngest monarch.

 

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Punakha Dzong Where 2 Rivers Merge

 

 

The fortress cum monastery is home to 600 monks, and sits at the confluence of two rivers with the lovely mountains as backdrop. You need a few minutes to savor this view, pinch yourself and get reminded this ain’t a dream, before crossing the bridge adorned with prayer flags.

 

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Then the 2 rivers merge, bubble and froth as ONE RIVER.

 

As we crossed the bridge, we had our first glimpse of Punakha Dzong’s first courtyard. Climate here is milder, elevation not as steep as in Paro. The wooden staircase leading to the second courtyard is steep though. The same stairway can be pulled up in case of an invasion. Some security feature for this 17th century monolith.

 

 

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The Approach Via the Lovely Bridge Crossing A "Lively" River

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The Wooden Staircase Can Be "Pulled Up" In Case of An Invasion

 

 

As we climbed past cherry blossoms, we heard the faint chant and shuffling of hands and fingers from a small group of monks. Nearby, logs crackle from a bonfire set up in the middle of the vast courtyard. What a lovely, nearly surreal sight! This experience is so dreamlike it is deeply embedded in my memory.

 

 

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Logs Crackle in A Bonfire Set Up in the Middle of the Courtyard

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Monks Chanting " Oh Mani Peme Hummmmm"

 

Buddhism is NOT a religion, according to our guide. He claims it is a philosophy, a lifestyle, where Buddhists firmly believe that KARMA rules, among others. Where much of sufferings in life are rooted in wordly desires and material attachments. I certainly have no problems with these. The universe can definitely do with less hostility, and more compassion, more caring for each living creature.

 

 

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Two Playful Monks Running Around the Courtyard

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What A Lovely Sight!

Do check out my other blogs on Bhutan here in WordPress. Or my blog series in TravelBlog: Mystique of Bhutan. Here’s the link: http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/liliram/Trips/17606

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Thimpu Dzong, Where Kings And Abbots Rule

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Filed under: Asian Holidays, Travel, travels — 5 Comments
December 22, 2011

It is the first Dzong we have visited in Bhutan.Trashichodzong or Thimpu Dzong literally translates to Fortress of Glorious Religion. Buddhism truly makes its mark on Bhutanese culture. But nowhere else have I witnessed Church and State work so in harmony. No quarrel between the Church and State in this tiny Kingdom in the Eastern Himalayas.

Trashichodzong or Fortress of the Glorious Religion in Thimpu, Bhutan

From the time the country’s capital was moved from Punakha to Thimpu, 3 kings have held office here. The present King was crowned at age 27, making Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck the youngest monarch in the world. His father, the good if not better-looking Jigme Singye is still very much visible, and still young (and hot) at 55. The local folks simply love them and speak adoringly of the royal family.

The Hunk. I mean the 4th King: Daddy Oh of the Present (5th) King

The Fortress houses the State offices including the King’s office and Throne Room, as well as the monastery where the Chief Abbot shares the same rank and place as the King. In Bhutan, this does not seem to be a problem.

Bhutanese Art in The Beams, Ceilings, Walls, Windows, Eaves, Doors, etc.

I remember walking down a path of willow trees and rose gardens which must have had their last full bloom a month or so earlier. A pity this trip was pushed down towards yearend as hotels were fully booked for the King’s wedding last October 13, and the festivals in October-November made it impossible to book a trip earlier. Truth is my other friends gave up on Bhutan, leaving just me and another travel companion. Thank God I refused to give up on this chance to see Shangrila. Yes, no less. Even at minus one degree to 6 degree Celsius!

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We passed some guards (few, actually, considering that they are guarding the King and Chief Abbot) as we climbed the stairs to get into the courtyard. What spilled before our eyes was nearly unreal. We “owned” the courtyard exclusively but for a couple of monks and a single photographer, who like us, seemed mesmerized by the beauty of the Dzong. Om Mani Peme Hum. That’s the oldest and most well-known Tibetan Buddhist mantra taught by our guide, Sonam Norbu. You hear the monks chant it, as I often heard Norbu recite it as he paid his respects to their Buddha of Compassion. It took awhile for me to remember the mantra, strange language that it is. Until I managed to link the mantra to “Oh, money, penge (meaning to ask) hmmmm”. My apologies. They sure sound so irreverent and so contrary to Buddhist teachings, but the “joke” made it easy for me to remember. (Forgive this old lady. Peace xoxoxo)

Resident Pigeons Rule the Courtyard!

Elizabeth In Ecstacy!

I forgot to ask Norbu, but all Dzongs here are painted like white monoliths adorned with intricate woodcarvings and handpaintings on beams, pillars, eaves and window frames. The colors — dominated by golden yellow, rusty orange (saffron, according to my friend Elizabeth) and black, tinged with red, blue, black and green — are almost standard. There also seems to be a standard Bhutanese architecture and layout, but for the size and number of dochey (courtyard) and lhakangs (temples). What makes it even more amazing is that these palace-like structures were built without written plans or blueprints. Everything is committed to memory. Say what? Amazing, indeed.

Bhutan: Where Nature and Culture Reign

Inside the temple, my friend Elizabeth was almost ecstatic to find the thousand mini buddhas she has been reading about. Those, and the thangkas (silk painting with embroidery) which left her drooling in its beauty. Have to admit I do not share the same appreciation, not knowing much about Buddhism nor the art of thangka-making.

Thangkas Found In A Store. For Sale. Not Cheap.

As we made our way back to the courtyard, we basked once more in the peace and quiet within the courtyard. The tranquility was not disturbed but was instead enhanced by the now familiar dong dong chimes of the prayer wheels and the fluttering of wings by the resident pigeons. And I thought this only happened in the movies! Truly, today is one AWE-spicious day!

[Do check out my other blogs on Bhutan here in WordPress, as well as my series on TravelBlog : Mystique of Bhutan . Here’s the link……….. http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/liliram/Trips/17606 ]

A Bad Shot of An Illuminated Thimpu Dzong 😦

The Bhutanese Men Wear Gho. The Women Wear Longer Skirts Called Kira.

To contact my tour guide Sonam Norbu, send an email to ubron_11@yahoo. com

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Bhutan: Flying Into The Land of the Thunder Dragon

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Filed under: Asian Holidays, Travel, travels — 16 Comments
December 14, 2011

Definitely ONE OFF MY BUCKET LIST. I am still feeling OLD and TIRED, having just arrived from this dream trip to Bhutan. Not up to writing up my adventures yet. But this I must say. The flight into Bhutan is one for the books. What introduction to the Land of the Thunder Dragon, home of the concept of Gross National Happiness. As they say, HAPPINESS IS A PLACE. And that place is called Bhutan.

 

 

How many times have I been on a plane? A helicopter? A train? A boat? I didn’t give much thought about flying into Bhutan. But I sure know that this little Kingdom lies in the Eastern Himalayas right there above India, near Tibet. Snow-capped mountains shining like a jewel filled my plane’s window as we made the approach on our Airbus A319.

 

 

I imagined a small airport, and it was. After all, it is a small country. That explains why I found the US$756 round trip fare from Bangkok too pricey. And I was even told Druk Airlines — the only airline allowed to fly in and out of Paro Airport — gave us a hefty discount! Well, discount my foot I thought! From Bangkok, it took 2 hours to land in Dhaka, Bangladesh for a brief stopover. A few passengers got off, with just as few joining us on the 1 hour trip to Paro.

 

 

From my window seat, I saw how rugged the landscape is. Those lines down below must be the roads zigzagging around mountains. From a distance, I saw mountains in different hues of blue, even near-green, capped by the white snow shining like a golden tiara under the glare of the sun.

 

 

Then the plane made its approach. I could almost feel the pine trees brushing the soles of my feet as one of the highly-trained 8 Druk airlines pilots maneuvered the plane between 2 mountains ………… then actually leaned, veered to the left, turning really, really left, and landing in this short airstrip with a Dzhong or Monastery right there at the end of the runway!

 

 

Phew! What a flight. Leaning and swerving around mountain peaks and into the valleys was just insane!! And I have just landed. How exciting can that be? Well, more excitement follows as I begin my series of blogs on Bhutan starting with this and this.  And don’t forget to check out my most awesome hike ever. The hike to Taktshang or Tiger’s Nest Monastery is NOT for the faint-hearted, but I’m mighty proud to say I survived it! 

Btw, did I tell you that Druk pilots land VISUALLY (no radar), and literally lands the plane on a wing and a prayer? Oh yes, AND I KID YOU NOT!!!

 

This piece was written in a record time of 10 minutes to join this year’s final month’s blog carnival “The Journey is the Destination” hosted by one of the bloggers whom I deeply admire, Kara Santos of TravelingUp.

 

Do check out subsequent blogs on this happy place.  I have been on a roll. And for good reason!

 

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Eating Around Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)

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Filed under: Asian Holidays, Food Trip, Travel, travels — 14 Comments
November 17, 2011

Just have to write a separate blog about this. Food is most certainly part of the adventure and guided by Filipino expats living in Ho Chi Minh, we found a few dining places worth visiting.

 

Be W.A.R.N.E.D.

 

Nha Hang Ngon

Our first lunch in Ho Chi Minh was in Nha Hang Ngon. Coming in cold, we were initially struck by the prices quoted in thousands. You see, US$1 here is equivalent to at least 20,000 Dong. Our expat friends suggested we drop the 3 zeroes and multiply by 2 to get the peso equivalent. So that means 100,000 Dong is approximately 200 pesos. Hmmm, that’s pretty neat.

 

Lunch at Nha Hang Ngon (Ngon means delicious)

Now going back to the menu in this place, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the prices are in fact very reasonable for a place oozing with local ambience, food so fresh and resto crew smiling 24/7. Nha Hang Ngon (“ngon” means delicious) has a quaint architecture and the periphery of the building is lined with foodstuff from appetizers to soups to mint-flavored dishes, to various barbecued meats and vietnamese rolls to desserts. It was a chore to choose from among the foods on display. Our version of “turo-turo” (point – point) where a diner does the mandatory circling of all food stalls and orders which ones should be served on their table.

 

Turo-Turo, Vietnamese Style. More Veggies, Less Meat.

The Refinery

Fine dining in Ho Chi Minh? Try The Refinery. It is the former headquarters of an opium factory which now houses a French Bistro, a Frenchy Bar and a Vietnamese outlet serving fusion cuisine. We tried the latter. Hoa Tuc is also a Saigon Cooking School much like we have CCA back in Manila. The red motif all over the place is very Frenchy, but the portions are not. No way we’d get small Frenchy portions with our Vietnamese dinner here.

 

Formerly an Opium Refinery in Saigon. Say what?

Want some cooking lessons? Then eat what you cook!

 

We left the ordering to my friend’s expat daughter and her friends. And what a selection! We enjoyed our sugarcane drink, our minty soup which tastes a bit like its Thai equivalent, the variety of barbecued meat, the fish in some savory sauce, the birthday noodles (3 of us were birthday celebrants), the crispy floured squid in tamarind sauce, the many vegetables, and the decadent , moist chocolate cake! If that dinner won’t energize you for a few rounds of walking, I don’t know what will.

 

Dinner at Hoa Tuc @The Refinery

Pho 2000

Naturally, we were also drawn to try this chain noodle house — rare in that it benefits from a Presidential endorsement. Ex-President Bill Clintonn once tried this Pho 2000 noodle house and raved about its Pho. No wonder his photos hang on all its walls. We tried the seafood pho, the beef pho, the chicken curry with baguette, their equivalent of the halo-halo (with fresh fruits rather than ours which are cooked in sugar syrup) , their coffee. The one we tried was at the corner of BenThanh Market.

 

Found one near Ben Thanh Market!

Ben Thanh Market

Yeah, right. This is a market where the shopper in you gets resurrected. While shopping for our Vietnamese coffee, cinnamon slippers and dried jackfruit slices, we found a few stalls serving desserts. Easy to grab one of those rice cakes, but we found the cold desserts most refreshing. Fresh fruits like cubed granada, papaya, watermelon were mixed in with gelatine and ice shavings — just right to make one forget all that heat and humidity inside this crowded shoppers’ paradise. We didn’t hesitate to claim a stool and partake of these sweet desserts to refresh ourselves. Besides, all that walking and shopping drained us of all energy.

 

It's Halo Halo without the syrup. Just plain fresh fruits, milk & ice!

 

Also, don’t forget to buy the fruits. Either have them as your dessert, or have them for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I kid you not. Fresh custard apples (Atis) so solid you can just peel off the moon crater-y skin and eat the fruit like an apple. Or the macopas, and the mangoes. There were also big-sized chicos and tiny apples (manzanitas) which we enjoyed.

 

Grab a pack and go!

 

 Food Courts At The Malls

Then there are the food courts to be found in the Malls. If you wish to have a quick fix in an airconditioned place, check out the food courts in the malls. I tried one of their hot pots, in an effort to stay “healthy”, but really, I soon discovered that it is easy to eat healthy here in Vietnam. Their food is more veggies than meat. And all that mint must explain why I didn’t meet any local with an unpleasant body aroma. Drenched in sweat in a hot, humid market, or exposed to the sun while scootering or biking around the city, I was expecting some body scent to alert me of sweaty bodies. Can’t explain it, and neither can I explain why I didn’t find too many flies in the wet market where I found seafood on display. Must be the hygiene or level of sanitation. Or all that mint. Tempts me to use my mint breath fresheners all over my body!

You may also want to check out my blog on Ho Chi Minh……..

 

And do try that beer too!

Vietnamese Coffee Rocks! (They have weasel and squirrel coffee beans too!)

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Atis with Every Meal. Eat Them Like An Apple (Without The Skin)

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Typical Banh Mi (as in Panini?) Vendor

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Tonle Sap Lake in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Filed under: Asian Holidays, Travel, travels — 3 Comments
October 2, 2011

(This is not a Travel Blog.  You won’t get any travel advice, driving tips, food guide in this blog. Watching the news, I simply remembered. And felt compelled to write this piece for those who have shown me kindness and impressed me with their dignity as a people, no matter the circumstances.)

Flood water rising at the Lake. So many lives lost. My heart goes out to you, kind people from Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Ton Le Sap Lake.

The same typhoon ravaged our country and took property and lives along its path. Nature on a warpath. We stayed home, waiting for the storm to subside, glued to our TV screens.  Watching, our hearts ached. We remember.

Children Rowing Home to Their Village

The kindness. The hospitality.  Vanak, our tour guide.  The boat men who took us along a cruise of the TonLe Sap Lake’s Floating Village.  The lady who sold us all those shawls.  The children  playing with their dogs, as they hopped from board to board in that floating village.  I even wonder about the crocodiles tended in that floating store cum restaurant.  Did they escape from those cages as water rose? Or how about the ancient temples we climbed, or rather crawled up and down in Siem Reap? How we even managed to lose someone in our group when we visited Angkor Wat!

Water World, Cambodian style!

The Floating School Houses In Ton Le Sap lake

I dread to think what happened to them.  To Vanak, our most efficient, kind and cheerful tour guide.

Residents of the Floating Village in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

I pray that they can rebuild their floating village.

God bless you, Vanak!

I wonder if the floating schoohouses cheerfully painted in white and blue are still there.

A Virtual WaterWorld!

The little children who have mastered the art of hopping from one floating house to the next. Effortlessly. Along with their dogs who’d hop along, just as cheerfully.

Till We Meet Again, People of Siem Reap!

The largest fresh water lake in Southeast Asia.  And the largest freshwater floodplain, depending on the time of year.  You see, Tonle Sap Lake dramatically floods and drains itself depending on the water flows which happen twice a year. I really hope they can all recover from this worst flooding in many years. God bless them. God bless us. 

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Cruising Without Breaking the Bank

Filed under: Asian Holidays — 1 Comment
February 23, 2011

Who says cruising can break the bank?  My family and I have been planning our own mini-cruise but had to wait till this great deal came along.  It was a dream come true for my family.  And it suited our budget too.

Royal Carribean’s Legend of the Seas is going to Malacca, Malaysia for the very first time! Just for the weekend. A very short cruise from Singapore to Melaka.   Of the 1,800++ passengers,  about 1,000 are Singaporeans who could have taken the road but opted to enjoy the pleasures a cruise ship offers.   When we checked out of our Singapore hotel before noon,  we called for 2 cabs to take us to the cruise terminal.   Just a 10-15 minute ride.  We planned on taking our brunch somewhere in the Terminal as we have not had our breakfast yet, having slept through most of the morning.  But the Royal Carribean crew welcomed us in , processed our papers seamlessly, and invited us to instead enjoy our lunch on board.   We dropped our bags in our 4 cabins (twin sharing for the 8 of us) and proceeded straight to the Windjammer’s Buffet for a sumptuous lunch.   My,  we weren’t shy at all as we enjoyed our first meal on the boat.  We ate the equivalent of a big breakfast, a big lunch and a big snack. Not content with that,  the kids asked for their Ben and Jerry’s ice cream (this one at an extra cost of US$4 each) on top of their desserts from the buffet spread.  Hmmmm.

 

To Swim, To Sleep or To Eat?

 

We enjoyed our tea and coffee on the deck, while the kids had more ice cream (the free ones this time, not Ben & Jerry’s) and prepared to cool in the pool.  There was an outdoor pool, and a Solarium.  The younger ones swam in the outer pool,  momentarily surprised that the swimming pool water is saltwater.  The older ones donned their suits , took a dip, and then slept in their wet bathing suits on the deck chairs.  Does that surprise you? I’ve seen that many times before.  Lol.

 

Library/Reading Room

 

Before long,  the Food and Beverage crew are grilling away some burgers and hotdogs. Pizzas from the oven.  Fries from the frying pans. The aroma is so inviting.  Dear God.   If one loses all control and discipline,  he or she would be rolled out, literally, off the ship.  Even if he/she actually swims laps in the pool!  We had to remind ourselves that our fine-dining reservation is for early dinner so we can enjoy our champagne at the Captain’s Welcome Night after the dinner,  and then a show at 8:30 pm.   We weren’t sure how long the kids (or the adults) would last.   But energy was at an all time high.   The first-time cruising experience for most members of my family must be like an adrenaline shot that kept those energy levels up despite the late nights, all-afternoon walking the day before,  swimming, and what-nots.

 

Monkey Towel??

The Atrium

Elephants On My Bed, Monkeys Hanging On The Wall

 

Having skipped the  sausages and burgers grilling away at the Top Deck,  we checked out the other facilities of the ship.    Martin putted away in the mini-putting link at the Sun Deck,  Patricia checked out the Library/Reading Room.   There was also a Spa and Parlor, which looked inviting especially for those who can really afford it.  (Not us . We trooped back to our cabins and were pleasantly surprised to find  the towels arranged like monkeys or elephants or dogs.   I had the same pleasant surprise when I tried other cruises,  but remember this is a first for the little ones.   I attempted to check how it was done, then later decided I’d never remember.  Cute-sy.  We managed a bath in the just as cute-sy showers and toilets.  (Tip:  Be sure to turn around a full 360 degrees while taking a shower. No sidesteps, no backsteps. Just turn around while the shower is on)

 

And they were singing O Sole Mio !

Fine Dining and Some Entertainment

 

For our first dinner,  Martin asked for freshly-squeezed orange juice.   We let him sign up for it too.  That was when we realized that this little boy does have a “signature”.  Not just your run-of-the-mill writing of his name.  He actually knew how to sign.   He must have practiced that signature several times before now.  I reminded myself  to refrain from telling him that he can actually shop on the boat and just sign for it.

 

How can u diet while cruising?????

 

Having enjoyed our first dinner on board,  we proceeded to the Captain’s Welcome Night  to  errr,   meet the Captain.   Wine for the adults,  Punch for the little ones.   From cocktails, we went straight on to the Show scheduled that night.    Not content with that,  dear Patricia asked me to accompany her watch a movie in the theater lounge.    I had to will myself from sleeping ,  and snoring during the movie.

 

Melaka for the Day,  Then Back to the Boat

 

There were tenders the following morning to take us to Melaka’s jetty port.   I earlier blogged on this already and you can go check it out on what the family did for the day.  The boat departed from Melaka at 6 pm sharp but we got onboard way earlier than that.   Need I tell you?  The kids were eager to get back on the ship knowing fully well that it would be their last night onboard as we head back to Singapore.

 

We enjoyed another 5 star fine-dining, complete with a parade of chefs and restaurant staff singing “O Sole Mio”.  Amazing.  Not one of them is even Italian.   The staff assigned to our Table #11 at the Romeo and Juliet Lounge (yes, that is how it is called) is Chinese who really attended to us very well, especially to Patricia and Martin.  We so loved their Pumpkin Soup, Minestrone, Lamb Shanks,  Grilled Prawn , Alaskan Cod,  Five Spice Noodles,  Baby Shrimp Salad, Sherbet,  Sugar-free Mint Chocolate Cake, Pecan Pie, and so much more!  Get the idea now?  I know , I know.  So much food, and at so short intervals!

 

There were 2 shows in the theatre — one is called Acro-Magic, some acrobatic show combined with magic.  And there was a Musical starring a pianist by the name of Linda Gentille.  The shows were good but as you may have guessed,  the little ones were yearning to get back on deck and wait for their pizza, burgers and fries!  There was a full midnight buffet on deck and I was floored that some went on to enjoy their congees and fried rice dishes at that hour.   I have yet to digest my dinner and there is this buffet spread.   Surely,  most people who go on cruises must have gained at least 2 pounds .  And ours is just a short cruise!

 

Spa, anyone?

No, It Won’t Break the Bank

 

So now,  how much did it cost us to join this cruise?

 

This Singapore-Melaka-back to Singapore cruise for the weekend meant 3 days and 2 nights on the boat.  We got the interior stateroom which is the cheapest .  At twin sharing, it cost us US$306 each inclusive of port taxes and gratuities.    Remember that this all-in price tag includes 2 nights accommodations, 3 shows,  2 movies, 2 breakfast buffets, 2 lunch buffets, 2 fine dinners,  cocktails (@Captain’s Welcome Night), 2 midnight buffets,  endless snacks or in-between meals, unlimited coffee, tea and ice cream.  Plus the use of the swimming pools, Solarium, Library,  Rock climbing and putting on deck.  The cruising experience for big families like mine is truly a dream come true.  If you want some luxury, this is one way of doing it.  And without really burning a hole in your pocket.

 

Since we also got our Manila-Singapore-Manila airfare online,  it cost us US$270 each.  There are cheaper fares, like Jet Air which flies out of Clark north of Manila.  Or there could be better deals for Manila-Singapore round trips as low as US$100 depending on the Season or how lucky you are to snag a deal.  The single hotel night in Singapore was another US$75 triple sharing, so that’s only US$25 each.  Plus we took taxis from the airport to the hotel, then to the cruise terminal, as well as taxis in Melaka. Of course, you can save more if you walked in Melaka or if you took the subways in Singapore.

 

That sums it all up at US$610 as follows:

US$306 cruise (Royal Carribean’s Legend of the Seas. Interior Stateroom. Twin sharing)
270 airfare (Cebu Pacific. Leaving just past 6 am)
25 hotel night (Lloyd’s Inn. Budget Hotel 3 blocks from Orchard)
9 taxi/transpo (Metered taxis from/to the airport in Singapore. Cabs in Melaka fr port)
=US$610 per person for this 4 day, 3 night adventure.

With cheaper airfares (my niece just booked her friend on a manila-singapore return trip at less than US$100!), you can bring this down further.

 Oh, not to forget,  we had to pay for our Universal Studios tickets too, but that is entirely optional on your part.  Some of you may rather shop , or tour the sites in Singapore.  Or do the Zoo or Night Safari. Maybe visit Sentosa Island.  We’ve done all these before, so we chose to spend what’s left of the day when we arrived at the Universal Studios Singapore.   Just think US$610 per person (or lower) for a short cruise, a trip to Malacca,  and a night in Singapore.   You bet my family will be saving up for our next trip or next cruise.

More photos can be viewed in my TravelBlog site. Just click here. 

As for me,  I am only too happy for this reunion.


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Melaka Stopover

Filed under: Asian Holidays — 4 Comments

 

Malacca.   It is old Malaysia.   Not the ultra-modern Kuala Lumpur, the capital.   But Malacca or Melaka,  with vestiges of its Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese and British influences.  The place is so ethnically diverse — the stuff that makes it legendary.

 

 

And speaking of legends,  Hang Tuah is one legendary warrior/hero who lived during the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah of the Sultanate of Malacca in the 15th century. Touted as the greatest of all the warriors or “laksamana” , Hang Tuah was known to be a ferocious fighter. Judging by the many shops, streets, restaurants and buildings named after him, Hang Tuah is obviously held in the highest regard  in present-day Malaysian Malay culture.  Since I found him to be  the most well-known and illustrious warrior figure in Malaysian history and literature, I thought I should start my history lessons for my own little cruising warriors on Melaka’s famous hero.  But I am getting ahead of my story.

 

Off the Cruise Ship, On to Melaka


We took a tender from the big boat to reach the Melaka Jetty Port.  Credits go to the crew of Royal Carribean’s Legend of the Seas for a seamless disembarkation and distribution of tender tickets.   Our family chose not to join any of the offshore excursions and to simply do the sightseeing on our own.  After all , we had plenty of time.  The ship docked at 7am, by which time we were nicely seated at the Windjammer’s Cafe for our buffet breakfast.  The ship departs by 6pm , so there’s plenty of time. By 8:30 am, we were riding the tender to shore.   All of 10 minutes or so, and we reached the no-frills jetty port.  By that, I seriously mean “no frills”.  One simply gets off the tender, helped along by strong muscled Malaysian jetty hands, onto a wooden boardwalk, and out in the streets.

 

It was refreshing that there were unbelievably no touts around the jetty port to harass us.  Sure, there were rickshaw or tricycle and taxi drivers offering to take us to the city center or to give us a tour of the city, but they were not pushy at all.   Without a single ringgit in our pockets, we negotiated with two taxi drivers to take us with our Singapore dollars.  We knew the rates they quoted were padded,  but we caved in.  Very easily, I must say.   There was a 9am Sunday mass at the St. Francis Xavier Church that we didn’t want to miss, even if the service was in Tamil.   And there was only 10 minutes to spare.  But it was a very short ride to the Church and we made it with a minute to go.

Stadthuys, ChristChurch, Bukit St. Paul, Porta de Santiago


After the service,  we walked along Jalan Kota , alongside the river, towards the red-bricked Stadthuys (in Dutch, this means Town Hall) and ChristChurch. It was tempting to linger and shop among the many stalls.   But no ringgit, remember?   So we walked towards Bukit St. Paul and climbed up the steps towards St. Paul ruins.   My buffet-fed family took the stairways  painstakingly slow,  and I didn’t know whether to worry or to laugh.

 

A little bit of history here.  The ruins of St. Paul’s Church was built by a Portuguese sea captain in 1521. This is meaningful to many of us Filipinos. I mean the year 1521.   It was in 1521 that the Portuguese Magellan, working for the Spanish monarchy,  discovered the Philippines.  This means that at the time our islands were discovered,  this Church was already standing on top of this hill overlooking the Straits of Malacca! The ruins included tombstones and some nice brickwork.   It is not huge,  but it was good to be reminded too that this was the last church St. Francis Xavier ministered before his death.

 

Atop this hill,  we had a view not only of the Malacca Strait but also of our cruise ship!  At the foot of the hill is Porta de Santiago, or what’s left of it,  which served as the gateway.  One can only imagine this fortress with a clear view atop the hill of any invading enemy ships. The Portuguese colonized Melaka by dividing and conquering Melaka’s sultan rulers.   And so the saying “Divide and Rule” truly rings true, ei?  A Mosque once stood here, was torn down, and replaced with a fort called “A Famosa”. The sole surviving relic of this fort is the Porta de Santiago. A silent reminder of what it was once.

 

 

The Sultanate Palace and the Story of Hang Tuah

Right on the left of the Porta de Santiago is the Sultanate Palace.  This houses a massive wooden replica of a sultan’s palace.   As it was high noon,  it was refreshing to get into this Palace Museum .  The airconditioning re-energized our sweaty bodies.

 

And this is where I bring you back to the legend of Hang Tuah. Hang Tuah is famous for quoting the words “Takkan Melayu Hilang di Dunia” which literally means “Malays will never vanish from the face of the earth” or “Never shall the Malay race vanish from the face of the earth”. The quote is a famous rallying cry for Malay nationalism.

 

 

Hang Tuah, you may say, is the Sultan’s favorite.  He acted as general, advisor, ambassador. As such, he stirred jealousy within the ranks.  One story tells of how a rumor was spread of Hang Tuah’s illicit love affair with one of the sultan’s stewardesses. The Sultan thus sentenced Hang Tuah to death without trial.  Another romantic tale tells of how this injustice prompted Hang Tuah’s childhood friend Hang Jebat to avenge his best friend’s unjust punishment and death. How? By wreaking havoc on the royal court and inciting rebellion.

 

There are many versions of this legend.  One version tells that Hang Tuah lived to a ripe old age because his executioner did not carry out his sentence. This version goes further to say that Hang Tuah was “recalled” to stop and kill his friend Hang Jebat when the latter rebelled against the Sultanate to avenge his friend’s “death”.   To this day, it is said that the many versions of the legend is a constant subject of discussion among scholars and students.  Loyalty and Justice.   You bet there are varying opinions on this legend.

 

As for Martin’s version? Hang Tuah is that soldier who was killed because of a gossip.   So what do you think, guys?  That was an epic fail in story-telling, huh?  Or maybe adults embellish stories so much so that many versions come off the same story.  Ten-year olds like Martin have no patience for long-winding stories.  The poor guy was gossiped about, and was killed. End of discussion.

More photos can be viewed in my TravelBlog site. Just click  here.  

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