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To Ger Or Not To Ger

Filed under: Asian Holidays, Travel, travels — 6 Comments

June 2, 2013

To Ger or Not To Ger? It was a no brainer for us city folks. We love Nature, we’re quite open to new adventures, but…….

A REAL nomad family lives here. Spent time with them and had lunch in this ger.

This is LUNCH. Milk tea, homemade bread, biscuits, dumplings.

No sleeping in the “ger” for us. These circular tents are meant for nomadic families. About 70% of Mongolians still live in them. They’re used to it. It suits their lifestyles. Us? We’d stay a day with a nomad family, watch them cook, eat lunch with them, check their livestock grazing somewhere in the field, and pray to God our bladders will hold till it’s time to head back to our hotel in the city.

Homemade dumplings, STEAMED. Then the same boiling water was used to make our coffee. No kidding! More…… the excess hot water was used to clean the dishes.

Lone horseman herding the livestock. Busy on his cellphone!

Say what you like, but sleeping in a ger is out of the question 🙂 I can’t imagine myself walking out of the tent in the middle of the night just to pee. That wooden structure they call “toilet” does not suit me. And I do need my hot shower so forget it. Come to think of it, neither would it do for “during the day” pee breaks. One of us checked it out, described it, and the idea “locked our bladders shut” till we got back to our hotel.

They call her “something” which sounds like Kirle, or Girle. Whatever. She cooked lunch for us, and charmed us with her simplicity.

This is Kirle’s ger. A small circular tent with 3 beds around the stove which serves to warm the residents inside. Outside are the makeshift livestock pens.

There are other options. Around Terelj National Park, we found many tourist ger camps where “modern gers” are available. The toilets are still outside the tent, but you can sleep inside while possibly listening to animal sounds just around the camp. Could that be a yak, a fox, a horse or a goat? Once you grow tired of “feeling and sleeping like a nomad” there’s the tourist hotel right outside. You like the idea? Suit yourself. Different strokes for different folks. 😉

The “modern” way to stay and sleep inside a ger. Western toilets but still outside the tents. And a modern hotel just a few steps away.

Another tourist ger camp. I expect more tourist camps to sprout out in the vast Mongolian plains.

Tags: Ger, Ger Camp, Mongolia, Nomads, Ulaan Bataar, Ulan Bator

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Stainless Chinggis, No Less!

Filed under: Asian Holidays, Travel, travels — 5 Comments

May 31, 2013

Stainless Steel gleaming, shining bright on this sunny day just 50 kilometers out of Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia. The world’s largest equestrian statue is right here. Chinggis Khaan looking like the fierce warrior he was, ruling over what was once the world’s largest contiguous empire!

Look at those kids run, imagine them screaming……… Chinggis must be amused!

World’s Largest Equestrian Statue. And in stainless steel!

Unlike the old temples and museums in disrepair we visited in Ulan Bator, this giant equestrian statue is new, modern and very impressive. It also chose its site (allegedly where they found the golden whip) very well. Unobstructed, it was quite a sight from a distance. We took the elevator through the horse’s tail, then walked towards the horse’s head where we came out to see Chinggis Khaan and his golden whip up close. Around the giant statue are the sacred mountains, vast fields where animals graze, and a cluster of gers.

Chinggis Khaan and His Golden Whip. Allegedly, the golden whip was found somewhere here. One of those fascinating tales from Mongolia!

See that ger camp? I won’t be surprised if the giant equestrian statue is soon surrounded by MORE gers in the coming years.

Inside, there are 2 museums dealing with the Great Warrior, his Mongolian empire, some artifacts, and more. We were lucky to get admitted just when a batch of teens were leaving…… And to exit just when a batch of kids were admitted. The latter group ran around like their energies were at an all time high. By the time they stepped outside, they were screaming and running like some monster was chasing them. Kids!

Out of nowhere, this gate towards the giant statue alerts you some 50 kms out of UB

On your way to the statue, you’d likely stop to take these photos of livestock grazing. Lambs, goats, yaks, horses, cattle having a reunion!

And if you’re here visiting, you might fancy renting Mongolian costumes 😉 Let’s see…… This must be Attila the Hun and his (aging) concubines. :))

Attila the Hun and his concubines?

A bit of trivia on Attila the Hun:

Fierce warrior he may be, but Attila didn’t die fighting. Rather, he died drinking and choking. And right on the night of his marriage! He drank, collapsed, nosebled and choked on his own blood. Just like that…… Tsk Tsk .

Tags: Chinggis Khaan, Genghis Khan, Mongolia

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150 Leopards On A Ger, 80 Foxes On A Coat

Filed under: Asian Holidays, Travel, travels — 3 Comments

May 30, 2013

On our first full day in Ulaan Bataar, we visited the Winter Palace Complex of the last Monggol King. The Palace itself was built in 1893, looking more Russian than Chinese nor Mongolian nor Buddhist. Around it though are temples in the style of Chinese pagodas complete with “Spirit Shields”, a standard feature of Buddhist temples in Mongolia. The king assumed the title Bogd Khaan in 1921 when the Chinese were expelled from Mongolia, and ruled as religious leader along the likes of the Dalai Lamas of Tibet. But not for long. The last Bogd Gegen died in 1924 and soon after, many of his personal possessions were auctioned off by the next ruler of communist Mongolia.

The Bogd Khaan TPalace Complex

There are several temples and gates around the Winter Palace. From here, one can walk towards the Zaisan Hill to view the Memorial Shrine honoring Russian soldiers.

The two-story wood-framed Winter Palace — home to the 8th and last Mongol king and his consort Dondogdulam for 20 winters — was then turned into a Museum. On display are the royal chambers, the elaborately decorated thrones, and a plethora of art and cultural relics as well as gifts to the Mongolian kings since the time of Zanabazar from all over the world. One such gift was an incredible “ger” (a circular tent used by Mongolian nomads) covered with the skins of 150 snow leopards given on the occasion of the Bogd Khaan’s 25th birthday in 1893. Imagine that – 150 leopards! Yes, that elusive animal…. snow leopards. All 150 of them. Do I hear environmentalists howling?

150 Snow Leopards to keep you warm? Whoa!

They could have found a bigger space to put this on display.

How I wish this incredible gift is displayed in a bigger space, rather than cramped in this corner. One can’t even take a photo of the entire ger, nor go around it. The birthday gift is from a certain Sangilig Dorj, a man from the old Setsen Aimag (somewhere east of the capital). Who’s this guy? Must be someone who needs some favors big time then. 150 snow leopards? Quite a monumental effort, don’t you think?

80 foxes’ fur on your back?

A royal throne — gift from a Chinese emperor in Beijing. Must have been transported on the back of a camel for that lonnnng walk over desert sands.

There’s more. How heavy could this fur coat be? This time, imagine 80 foxes. Another gift from the Qing emperor of China for Zanabazar, the 1st Monggol monarch. For some reason, I am reminded of the movie 101 Dalmatians. Cruella De Ville must have descended from these monarchs. My apologies. But I just can’t reconcile peace-loving Buddhists accepting these gifts which smack of animal cruelty. Neither do I find kings draped in such garments a pretty sight. 😦

A typical Buddhist (or Chinese?) gate.

Don’t you think this Winter Palace looks Russian than Mongolian, Chinese or Buddhist? Well, it was built by a Russian architect. So there……..

Well….. Those were the times. I hear Mongolia runs tours to see snow leopards in their habitat. Not for me. Winter time, I’d likely find it a chore walking around draped in thick winter clothes. And should one of them elusive leopards decide to attack, I’d be dead meat as running would be next to impossible in such wardrobe. That said, I’m content visiting Museums. There are no heaters here but walking around here with our coats on our backs is certainly more comfortable than searching for elusive animals in the wilds where one can literally see their “breaths”.

A pair of royal thrones to take care of those royal posteriors.

Quite an interesting Museum, really.

Tags: Bogd Khaan Temple, Mongolia, Ulaan Bataar, Ulan Bator, Winter Palace

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All My Bags Are Packed …….. Off To Mongolia!

Filed under: Asian Holidays, Travel, travels — 3 Comments

May 19, 2013

Yesterday, I’ve packed for yet another trip to strike off my bucket list. I’ve always wondered about this once-upon-a-time biggest ever empire. Think Genghis Khan. Or do I say Chinggis Khan? The capital is Ulaan Bataar….. or do I say Ulan Bator? Hopefully, I’ d know which is which in the coming days.

Direct flight via Korean Air Lines from Incheon Airport to Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia

Caught the connecting flight in Incheon Airport but flight was delayed. It was midnight and cold at 9 Celsius by the time we landed in the coldest capital of the world. The handle of my luggage broken as I lifted it off the carousel, my bag and I survived the trip. Flying in is my only option. Trashed earlier ideas of riding the Trans-Siberian Train from Moscow, stopping by Ulaan Bataar, on its way to Beijing, China. After all, I can’t imagine what I’d do on 5 days of train travel other than reading books on the longest railway in the world.

Chinggis Khaan Airport in Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia.
All those repetitive letter AA’s!

Our hotel in the financial and transport hub of Mongolia smacks of Soviet “efficiency”. Super duper big-sized beds in an equally big-sized room which provides the smallest complimentary bottles of water. The big beds complete with duvet and lamps at every corner do not match the old, unstylish tables, chairs and sofa. And the rooms don’t come cheap at US$220 for this very new hotel with a sofa looking like it had seen better days. Days old, and we must be among the first (complaining) guests. 😦

Just a couple of days old, Corporate Hotel is huge. Lotsa space for a standard twin room. $220. Big beds, big toilet, poorly styled tables and chairs and closets.

Fact is, it ain’t cheap in Mongolia. We’ve checked the transport system and decided to forego all DIY plans. Hotels are expensive and taxis and buses are hard to come by. Once we went to check out the Museum and asked the taxi to wait to ensure we get back to our hotel before the chill hits us. The temp goes from warm 32C down to a chilly 9C in a few hours. Walking is an option. But mind the temps.

The UB skyscape is fast changing……….ongoing construction everywhere. High rise buildings for a country where 70% of population still live in gers.

Sukhbataar Square. Literally means “Red Hero” for the guy who proclaimed independence for the country back in the 1920s.

Thing is there isn’t much to see within the capital. There seems to be a construction boom within the city as many high-rise buildings threaten to mark the skyline. I wish they build more roads especially the SINGLE 2-way lane to and from the airport! I remember arriving nearly midnight in Ulaan Bataar and getting a tad impatient with the midnight traffic on way to our hotel. The way back is another story. It was another near-midnight flight out of UB , same midnight traffic and a driver from hell! The man from Fiji riding in the same van with us said he’d never said the “S” word so many times in a single hour. He went further and said they’re under a million in their island country and felt he’s an endangered specie. At one point, he screamed and begged “Ladies, please start praying…..” Thank God for this man’s sense of humor, the hellish drive to catch our flight slipped by easily on the nerves.

Visit a couple of temples, if you like.

Outside of the Museums, a couple of temples and Sukhbaatar Square, your best bet is to hire a private car or van or join an organized tour to visit the must-see destinations outside the city. We’ve checked out those tours on offer, but learned the interesting sites are coupled with way too many stopovers at gem, cashmere and souvenir shops. So we decided to compose our own itinerary with the hired van, and do the city tour, museum visits and shopping activities on our own.

National Museum. But we enjoyed the old Natural History Museum with those dinosaur eggs and skeletons more.

Watch this page for blogs on the following. Or better still, just click on any of these links!

Terelj National Park

A Day With Nomad Family & Meditation Temple

Chinggis Khan Giant Statue

Chinggis Kuree Ger Camp & Mini Naadam

Gandantegchinleng Monastery Complex

The City Life

Natural History Museum (Dinosaurs!)

Zaisan Hill & Memorial Shrine

Winter Palace of the Last Monggol King

Mongolia!

Tags: Chinggis Khan, Genghis Khan, Mongolia, Sukhbaatar Square, Ulaan Bataar

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A SUMMER BREAK IN PHUKET

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

May 16, 2013

Whenever I thought of Phuket back then, I thought it was just a single destination area where one chooses which beach corner to claim for a getaway. I didn’t realize that Phuket is Thailand’s largest island and that there is a variety of beach resorts to choose from. Neither did I know that it is the jump-off point for smaller islands like Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Lei, James Bond Island, Maya Beach, Koh Lanta, Monkey Island, etc.

Marriott Vacation Club in Mai Khao, Phuket.

JW Marriott Hotel and Spa

We stayed in Marriott Vacation Club in Mai Khao Beach which is near the airport. It is nearly an hour away from where the action is (Patong Beach, Karon Beach, Kata Beach, NaiYang Beach, etc) but we don’t mind as you have everything you need in this more quiet corner of the island. Perhaps not so for the party crowd and the shoppers, but we’re neither so the “remoteness” is perfect for us. Besides, there’s a free shuttle to the sister-hotel (JW Marriott Phuket Club) where one can enjoy charming sunset views. For retail therapy and other dining outlets, just a stroll away is the Turtle Village. We highly recommend the Coffee Club here not just for the coffee and desserts, but also for their Pad Thai, Thai Prawn Rice and Curry Dishes. We went there for 2 consecutive dinners. And guess what, we ordered nearly the same dishes.

Check out these links:

Holy Cow, We’re in Mai Khao

Oh, So ChiChi in Ko Phi Phi

Sunsets In Phuket

Prawn Rice. Ohhhhh such goodness!

Lunch was in this place with this view in Phi Phi Don.

We devoted an entire day visiting some islands on a speedboat. Booked the tour online via AsiaWeb. No hassles. They picked us up from our hotel, brought us to the Royal Phuket Marina, enjoyed unlimited drinks and fruits on the boat, had an authentic Thai lunch in Phi Phi Don, snorkeled and enjoyed the islands. Some may still have the energy to shop and party later that night, but not us. After a good dinner at Turtle Village, we just wanted to crawl into our beds.

Snorkelers Haven

Just another beach.

AsiaWeb bundled up the speedboat tour with a choice of airport transfers, or a city tour or a night with the ladyboys. We chose the city tour where we had the van & driver all to ourselves visiting temples, the old part of town and about 4 beach areas. The beach resorts especially Patong Beach underwhelmed us. Overhyped, if you ask me. But maybe I’m saying this because I’m extremely biased in favor of our Boracay (yes, despite the rowdy crowd and the trash), the islands of El Nido and other parts of Visayas. But I love how the Thais do this tourism business nearly seamlessly.

In the end, we simply breezed through the beaches. Declaring ourselves beach-fatigued, we skipped the stroll on the sandy shores and only managed one temple visit and a drive around the old town. No need to get sand between our toes. We had enough of that when we did the islands. As for shopping, we were just interested in food items! Can you blame us?

Tags: Karon, Mai Khao, Marriott, Patong, Phi Phi, Phuket, Thailand

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My Resurrected Canon G12: SUNSETS IN PHUKET

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

May 13, 2013

The day my Canon G12 “died”, I was in high spirits literally “shooting the breeze” in Chamantad Viewpoint in Tinian Cliffs in Sabtang, Batanes. Standing by the promontory facing the Pacific Ocean, I let that breeze slap me in the face. I took in all the ocean spray as well. Refreshing. I took it all. And so did my Canon G12 which jammed soon after I took a video and more snapshots of the cliffs and the rocky coast. It “died”. I began to mourn its “demise” only when I reached chaotic Manila. Took me some days to bring the camera to the Canon Center for repairs. Sob 😦

My Canon G12…. a faithful companion in my travels.

The entire lens had to be replaced, costing 8,500 pesos. Luckily, the 3 year warranty is still good for a couple more months. When I picked up my cam, it was as good as new and didn’t cost me a cent. Just in time too for my recent unplanned, unscheduled trip to Phuket. Sunsets in Phuket every single day we were there never passed without my memory catcher getting into action. Though it is only a Point & Shoot cam, I fell in love with my Canon G12 again. What a lovely travel companion!

SPOTTED With My Canon G12: Bromance in Phuket Beach.

SPOTTED: Bromance in Phuket Beach. Thailand. May 2013

It is the same sun. But as a friend would say, sunsets melt your heart in different ways. In my case, I was only too happy my resurrected Canon G12 can capture these moments. For sure, there are better sunset shots. But I like mine, simply because they’re MINE. I alone captured the exact spot, the exact angle, at the exact moment, with the exact sentiment I felt on the exact second I pressed to take the exact shot! I owned that feeling. Does that make sense?

Sunsets are lovely. But I honestly love twilights more. TWILIGHT IN PHUKET BEACH. JW Marriott Resort and Spa

Just a manageable “crowd” in JW Marriott Resort and Spa. Phuket, Thailand.

In Phuket, we had the luxury of viewing the sunset without the crowd. That helps build up the mood, I guess. Calm, serene, quiet, almost sacred. As we headed back to our rooms, we caught a few more snapshots. It seemed the sunset shots were never enough. Truly, who can compete with Nature? The explosion of colors just as and as soon as the sun set was the highlight of our evenings here in Phuket. Thank God my good ol’ buddy is back in action. 🙂

A few more shots. Can’t seem to get enough of sunset and twilight shots here in Phuket, Thailand.

Just before going off to dinner. Can’t make that Pad Thai wait too long…..

View from the lobby of JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa

Tags: canon G12, Mai Khao, Phuket, Sunset, Thailand

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AN OPEN LETTER TO AGODA.COM

Filed under: Travel, travels — 2 Comments

May 10, 2013

Gentlemen:

I have confirmed bookings with Agoda under ID 28773745 as detailed below:

Hotel: Hotel MANU
Room Type: 2 Standard Twin Rooms for 4 adults
City/Country: Seoul/South Korea
Arrival: May 26, 2013
Departure: May 28, 2013
Payment Mode: Via PayPal

On May 9, 2013 I got a call from Hotel Manu that the hotel is overbooked and cannot accommodate me. I do not know how the hotel obtained my contact details but I contacted Agoda instead which offered Nine Tree Myeong-dong Hotel as alternative hotel. I accepted and looked forward to new hotel vouchers issued in my favor. It never happened. Despite a day-long email exchange and communication with at least 8 Customer Support Specialists from May 9-10, 2013, my frustrations piled up because Agoda insisted that I should make NEW bookings myself with Nine Tree Hotel and then just wait for my refund “for the room rate differentials”, without much explanation how I can be refunded for the 1st booking which Hotel Manu won’t honor.

As a paying customer in good faith, I wonder how and why it took over a month and nearer to my departure date to be informed that the Agoda-issued hotel vouchers cannot be honored. Worse, I have to arrange for the alternative bookings myself and suffer a 2nd charge on my credit card on the “vague” promise that I will be refunded. Nothing is clear. Nothing was resolved.

My patience is growing thin. But it isn’t easy to throw away US$418.52. Neither is it easy communicating with different customer support specialists who would take turns raising your hope, dashing your expectations and then leaving you spent and frustrated.

Day is almost over. I am still averse offering my credit card details. I mean, that explains why i use PayPal, right? More so now after this experience. I wonder how this episode ends. Hard lessons with an international brand like Agoda. People would still use them,for sure. Me? Need you ask?

Tags: Agoda, hotel booking site, Hotel Manu, Seoul, South Korea

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OH, SO CHICHI IN KOH PHI PHI

Filed under: Asian Holidays, Travel, travels — 5 Comments

May 8, 2013

Thinking James Bond 007 this morning as we boarded our speedboat to the islands off Phuket. Phi Phi today. The Beach. Monkey Beach. Vikings Cave. But no time to do James Bond Island. Funny how some of these islands’ claim to fame is by way of the movies shot in their lovely shores. I’ve seen the movies. Enough to get me all excited. And thinking James Bond….. No ferries for old ladies. Let’s have the speedboat, no less!

Royal Phuket Marina where the speedboats are parked.

There’s our speedboat (bottom left) with 675 hp engines. We flew!

Oh, the kids would have loved this. Maybe next time. How I wish we have speedboats hopping from island to island in El Nido or Coron. Quite an adventure. Outside of that, I can’t say I’m really overwhelmed. The beauty of our own islands compare very well with the likes of Phi Phi. And it is just as hot and humid too. If it were cooler, I’d choose these tropical islands anytime of day, or year, over the Greek islands off the Aegean Sea. Just make it a tad cooler. Enough to make it bearable, but warm enough to still swim in its warm waters. Or maybe I complain too much. I must be SPOILED 😉

The monkeys in Monkey Island must have been waiting for boats to stop and throw ’em those bananas! Quite a show.

We had lunch here in Phi Phi Don. Calmer waters. Colorful boats. Relaxing.

We booked the tours via Asia Web. For 3,100 baht, you have the speedboat to island hop the whole day and a half-day tour of Phuket Island another day. The speedboat cruise includes lunch, unlimited drinks and fruits on the speedboat. You may choose to ride the ferry to see the same islands for far less (900 baht) but I’m telling you, the speedboat ride is an adventure by itself! Powered with 3 engines @225 hp for a combined power of 675 hp, we flew! In some of the islands, we were allowed to swim, snorkel, feed the fish ( I love this part best! ). In one spot, the current was so strong it was a struggle to swim back to the boat!

Snorkelers galore!

Hungry fish!

We saw the boat crew catch fish with their bare hands! It looked so easy as they grabbed the fish by the heads and threw them in a basket. We were kinda hoping that was lunch, but the tour operator had other ideas. Thai lunch was not bad, but it wasn’t spectacular. I wouldn’t trade our grilled seafood lunch in one of the El Nido islands. Neither was I overwhelmed with the sights. I prefer the beach, coves and seascapes of Palawan. But I’ve got to say the speedboats and the colorful traditional boats give the place tons of charm.

Off the boat for some siesta time in Rang Yai Island, nearer to Phuket.

Vikings Cave. Nothing spectacular but those birds’ nests fetch a hefty price!

And it sure helped a great deal that Hollywood movies were filmed here. The Beach starring Leonardo di Carpio was quite a hit — which explains the thick crowd when we visited Maya Cove. Personally, I prefer the more quiet beach of Rang Yai Island. The sands pale in comparison with Boracay and El Nido, but it attracted a more sober crowd.

The Beach. Thick crowd. Rowdy youngsters who got busy “throwing” their lady friends into the water. Boys will be boys!

This is more like it. Quiet. More serene. Huts around. Showers off one side with a pair of peacocks watching! This is Rang Yai Island, just a few minutes to Royal Phuket Marina.

But you’ve got to hand it to them Thais. They sure know their tourism industry. The tour was conducted systematically, the guides were very well-trained, you never grow hungry throughout the cruise, and there’s the element of “surprise” and personalized service the way the tour was handled. In particular, we were all pleasantly surprised to find exotic fruits on the boat — sliced pineapples, rose apples (macopa), local oranges, bananas — and to be offered local Popsicles at the last leg while viewing photos taken by the tour photographer. Nice touch. Everything was well thought-out!

Macopas is what we call them. Rose Apples to others.

BOND. JAMES BOND. Very chichi.

The marina looked very classy that one easily justifies the hefty price paid for this tour. Very charming. Very cleverly done. Indeed, it was so chichi in Koh Phi Phi! 😉

Tags: Koh Phi Phi, Marriott Vacation Club, Phi Phi, Phuket, Thailand, Villa Life

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Holy Cow, We’re in Mai Khao!

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

May 7, 2013

Monday delights. Left Manila at noon via Thai Airways, made a brief stop in Bangkok, then flew onwards to Phuket. It’s the biggest island in Thailand and we found our retreat here in Mai Khao. The beach resort is blessedly isolated and away from the tourist crowd. Very much self-contained with an option to do some retail therapy in the nearby TurtleVillage. But who wants to get out? A 2-room villa with its own plunge pool tempts you to stay in. In fact, we opted to dine in and used the well-appointed kitchen to cook our pasta pomodoro dinner to go with a bottle of good shiraz. L.U.X.U.R.Y. Pure luxury. This is the life! Happiness 🙂

JW Marriott Phuket

It is tempting to just stay IN in JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa

In the end, we decided to skip the shiraz. It can wait till tomorrow. We turned in early to prep for a whole day of activities tomorrow. The stroll around the lovely resort hotel can wait too….. and so with a dip in the plunge pool. It could have been perfect. Four friends around the pool, each holding a glass of wine, chatting like there’s no tomorrow, while keeping their heads dry and the rest soaking in the pool. Holy cow! We must be getting old. All we wanted to do after dinner is to climb into our heavenly beds.

One of 2 villa bedrooms in Marriott Vacation Club in Mai Khao, Phuket.

That’s the plunge pool right outside the room in Marriott Vacation Club

This is NOT an advert. But MARRIOTT VACATION CLUB in Mai Khao, Phuket is a lovely place to stay in. The 2 bedroom villa with a well-appointed kitchen is a sanctuary for weary bodies and tired souls. The plunge pool is a bonus. Easily, the villa can accommodate 6 pax. Maybe even 8 pax. Best for families or good friends. You can even choose to stay in, buy your supplies from the nearby Turtle Village, cook and dine in. Tonight, that’s exactly what we did. Tomorrow and days after, we’d be in serious search for Pad Thai and some curries. 🙂

Who’s cooking dinner tonight?

Towel elephant on my dining table!

The Living Room. Marriott Vacation Club. Mai Khao, Phuket.

Tags: Asia, Mai Khao, Marriott, Marriott Vacation Club, Phuket, Thailand, TurtleVillage

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Nayong Pilipino (Filipino Village) In Clark Expo

Filed under: Philippine Travels, Travel, travels — 2 Comments

April 30, 2013

Nayong Pilipino translates to Filipino Village. This theme park near the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport sits in a 45-acre park within the Expo Pilipino Complex. Sorely in need of funding, I lament that it is not as “representative of the best in the country”nor as widely promoted as our other tourist spots.

Nayong Pilipino (Filipino Village) in Clark Expo Zone

The Barasoian Church where sunday masses are held 10 am .

I couldn’t remember the last time I visited Nayong Pilipino. And I’m referring to the old site near the Manila International Airport. Having a tourist site with replicas and miniatures of famous Philippine landmarks is a good idea. Locating it near an international airport serves travelers well, especially those with an extended layover. I am assuming THAT idea is intended to promote the country and perhaps encourage foreigners to explore more of the Philippines. As for the locals, I remember the old Nayong Pilipino as a must-experience for grade schoolers to introduce them to the beauty, history and geography of our country.

Si Malakas at si Maganda (The Strong and the Beautiful)

The Colonial Plaza includes the Rizal Shrine, Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine and the Apolinario Mabini Shrine.

I have a circle of visiting foreign bloggers who breeze through Manila on their way to the beach destinations in the Visayas and Palawan, OR to the rice terraces and colonial/heritage towns up North. Cebu and Bohol are popular destinations to view Magellan’s Cross, Tarsiers, and Chocolate Hills. Gaining popularity of late is Donsol for the whale shark adventures and while there, who’d dare miss our majestic Mayon Volcano?

Typical Filipino huts line the perimeter towards the Nayong Pilipino .entrance.

A representative Kalinga Village (Northern Philippines)

I am not confident this theme park highlights the best our country offers. I understand there’s a shuttle service from nearby SM Clark but if there was, ALL my foreigner-friends who flew in via Clark missed it. A free shuttle from the airport itself would have served the purpose better. (If there is, it should be promoted so as NOT to be missed!) Surely, extended layovers are better spent here rather than in the malls or duty-free shops.

Replica of the Rice Terraces of Banaue in Northern Philippines. With real rice planted!

On a hot and humid day, the shade from these trees are heaven-sent!

We went on a hot, humid day. Walking around without a hat or umbrella is guaranteed to give one a migraine. Luckily, we came prepared. But there were not enough markers and signs to tell the story, history and culture of the different regions represented here. I am not sure if there is a schedule of guided tours. I wish there is. And I hope they have good guides.

An Ifugao House

An Ifugao Village

I understand there is the issue of funding. The time I went, there were hardly any visitors. Now, those P100 admission fees from MORE visitors could augment the needed funding. A better-stocked cafeteria may likewise be a good source of revenues. So how about bringing in more visitors by offering free shuttle services on FIXED SCHEDULES from the Clark airport?