A Filipino Traveller’s Guide to Visiting Taiwan for the First Time

February 15, 2016, 8:00 am August 25, 2016, 5:43 pm

Jane Galvez Jane is a homebody, but the promise of an adventure of a lifetime inspires her to spend her weekends travelling. When she's not on the road travelling, she's writing about the places she's been to or planning her next exploit at Oh My Janey.

I know what you’re thinking: “Why Taiwan?”

It’s the first thing people asked me when they learned I’d be visiting the country. How do I even answer that easily?

For starters, Taiwan is one of the closest countries to the Philippine archipelago. It takes two hours at most to reach this little East Asian country. That’s just like flying to a province in Visayas or Mindanao if you’re coming from Manila! And yet, it’s one of our neighbouring countries rarely frequented by Filipinos.

A country filled with kind locals, cheap yet delicious delicacies, and exciting night markets, there’s really no reason not to include Taiwan on your travel bucket list.

Also read: 7 Scenic Destinations in Taiwan for Nature Lovers

So really, the simplest answer I can give to people asking why they should visit Taiwan—“Why not?”

How to apply for a Taiwan tourist visa

When applying for a tourist visa, you have the option of doing it yourself or hiring an agency to do it for you. If you decide to go through the application process on your own, fret not because it’s fuss-free as long as you have the proper documents.

Step 1: Fill out the online visa application form

The first thing you have to do is to fill out the online visa application form and print it out. Head on to https://visawebapp.boca.gov.tw to proceed with the application.

Check out these guidelines when filling up the form.

After completing the form, make sure that you submit it along with the other requirements within 15 days. By the end of the online application process, you’ll also be reminded until what date you can use the application form. If you fail to submit it before the indicated date, you’ll need to redo the application before heading to the embassy.

In my case, I filled out the form the night before I applied for my visa.

Step 2: Prepare for the necessary documents for your visa application

Here are the basic requirements when applying for a tourist visa:

Online Visa Application Form

Two (2) passport size photos with white background (1.5”x2”)

Passport valid for six months*

NSO-issued birth certificate

If applicable, NSO-certified marriage contract

If employed, certificate of employment

Photocopy of company ID

Financial statements (e.g. bank book, bank statement, bank certificate, ITR)**

When travelling on business, you might also be asked to submit the following:

For business owners, Certificate of Business Name Registration and SEC Registration

For employees, Certificate of employment

Invitation letter from the company that will sponsor your trip, complete with a Chinese letterhead and a clear outlined purpose of visit

A request letter from the applicant’s company

Submit both the original and photocopy of all documents. They will return the original copies, such as the birth certificate, upon the release of the visa.

Documents such as flight itinerary and hotel bookings are optional, but you can prepare it just in case.

* Make sure to also include old passports showing your previous travels, and visas from other countries.

** You do not have to submit all the stated financial statements, though you are welcome to do so. I only submitted a bank statement and still managed to get my visa application approved. But it’s still your prerogative and how much risk you’re willing to take.

Step 3: Submit your requirements in  person

Once you’ve completed all the requirements, go to Taipei Economic and Cultural Office located at 41F Tower 1 RCBC Plaza, Ayala Ave, Makati, 1200 Metro Manila to submit your application.

The filing of application can only be done from Monday to Friday, 8:45 AM - 11:45AM. Though they do have a cut off, they still accommodate the applicants in line even past 11:45 AM. Just get there early to avoid the queue, and be attentive to your queue number. If you happen to miss your turn, you’ll be sent  back to the end of the line.

The visa fee depends on the visa type you’re applying for. Check out the table below for details:

Step 4: Go back to claim your visa after three working days

After filing your application, saying your prayers, and lying listlessly on your bed every night, the only thing left to do is to claim your visa. Processing for a regular visitor visa takes 3 working days, but when you pay for the expedite processing, it only takes a day.

Releasing time is every Monday to Friday, 1:45PM to 4:45PM.

Visa-free for select Philippine passport holders

Some Filipinos are lucky, because they no longer have to apply for a tourist visa. Philippine passport holders who have a valid visa or a resident visa issued by U.S.A., Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and the Schengen Convention countries are automatically eligible for the visa exempt program.

If you’re one of them, you only need to visit https://niaspeedy.immigration.gov.tw/nia_southeast/ and apply to the “Advance Online Registration System for the Visitors of Nationals from Five Southeast Asian Countries to Taiwan,” in which you’ll be given an Authorization Certificate. You’ll be presenting this certificate at immigration, both in the Philippines and Taiwan.

Once you’ve claimed your visa, it’s time to go exploring!

Transportation in Taiwan

Before you go wandering, it’s best to understand how you can get around the country first. Don’t worry, it has an amazing public transportation system that can be one of the reasons you’ll fall in love with the country.

From Taoyuan Airport to Taipei

When coming from Manila, most flights are likely to land at Taoyuan Airport. So there may be various destinations around Taiwan, but first timers will most likely focus on Taipei first. So we’ll focus on the travel between this airport and the country’s capital.

Taoyuan Airport is still outside Taipei, but travelling to the city is quite easy. There are various modes of transportation that aren’t just cheap but also convenient.

Also read: 7D6N Taiwan Itinerary Covering Taichung, Tainan and Taipei

Via Airport Bus

From the arrivals lobby, proceed to the lower level for the bus stops. There are numerous bus ticketing booths in the ground floor, but to buy a ticket to Taipei, look for the Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport, or Kuo-kuang Line. Take Bus 1819 to reach Taipei Main Station, where you can make the necessary subway transfers.

To read a comprehensive list of routes, check out this guide.

Via Airport Taxi

Airport taxis are available 24 hours every day. You can find it at the west side of Terminal 1 and 2’s arrival lobby. Fares are meter based, but highway tolls are paid separately. For inquiries, direct your call to +886-3-3982832.

Via Car Rental

If you intend to drive around Taiwan, you’re in luck because car rental service can be found right at the arrival lobby of both Terminal 1 and 2. Chauffer services are also offered.

Taipei Metro: Efficient public transportation around Taipei

Image credit: Taipei Metro

Taipei’s subway system is incredibly organised and easy to navigate that even newbies will find it convenient. Even during our first visit, we didn’t have a hard time navigating the subway lines. It’s never too crowded even during rush hours, and no matter how busy, priority seats are reserved for seniors, pregnant women, and kids.

There are five lines we’ll simply call Brown, Red, Green, Yellow, and Blue lines. It doesn’t just cover Taipei, but also the outskirts of the city such as Tamsui and Tucheng District of New Taipei City.

The subway stations are also quite near each other, that even when getting lost, you’ll find a close subway station.

Taipei Buses: Travelling in and around the capital

If you want to go anywhere outside of Taipei, you can simply head to the Taipei Bus Station, proceed to the ticketing booth or information centre, and tell them where you’re going.  We did it a couple of times (when going to Yehliu Geo Park and to  Taoyuan Airport) and never got lost! Though of course, it’s still better to be prepared and have an idea which bus number you should take to reach your destination.

This bus route table is comprehensive enough to tell you which bus to take to any point in Taiwan.

Taipei’s Easy Card

Image credit: EasyCard Corporation

What makes travelling in and around Taipei incredibly convenient is its centralised payment method—the EasyCard.

The touch-and-go card can be used when boarding buses or trains. You can even use it in the provincial buses! It’s also a lot cheaper compared to using single journey tokens in subways, or paying cash in bus rides. The best thing about it? It can be used in all of Taiwan!

The EasyCard can be purchased via automated machines in many subway stations. But to be sure, head to the busy ones—or  the ones with transfer lines—to buy your card. It’s also reloadable in all subway stops!

The card only costs NTD 100 (PHP 140) and requires at least NTD 100 deposit. And once you no longer need the card, the card along with the balance can be refunded.

Also read: How to Travel Taiwan on a Budget

Gastronomic adventure in Taiwan

There’s no denying that Taiwan is the place-to-be for foodies. From its wide range of night markets to its thousands of specialty and cosy coffee shops, the country is perfect for food exploration.

The selection of restaurants and night markets is so wide that it’ll be difficult to decide where to eat. The following establishments and markets are good places to start:

1. Shilin Night Market

Image credit: Kimberly Vardeman

There are so many night markets in Taipei alone, and not going to one is like robbing yourself of everything good and yummy. Shilin Night Market is arguably the biggest night market in Taipei. Here, you can order 9 pieces of xiao long bao for as low as NTD 100 (PHP 140)!

For a street food adventure, you can also try Ximending, Raohe Night Market and Danshui Old Street.

Nearest subway station: (Red Line) Jiantan Stn.

2. Din Tai Fung

Nothing beats the original, right? Though there’s already a newly opened branch in Manila, make sure to drop by the place where the magic started. You can either head to the original location at Xinyi District or visit the one at Taipei 101.

Address: No.194 Second Section, Xinyi Road, Taipei 111-0021, Taiwan

Nearest subway station: (Brown line) Daan Station

Also read: Best Food in Taiwan You Should Not Miss

3. Modern Toilet

Image credit: Modern Toilet

If you’re up for something different, the Modern Toilet is a popular option for those in search of anything crazy and out-of-the-ordinary. It might be too much for some, but it can definitely count as one heck of an experience.

Address: 2F, No.50-7 Xining South Road, Taipei, Taiwan

Nearest subway station: (Blue line) Ximen Station, Exit 6

4. Any random cafe

Cafes are taking over Taipei, and you better jump on that bandwagon. Though Taiwan is famous for its tea, its capital is now thriving with hundreds of quaint and interesting coffee shops.

Some of the most recommended ones are Woolloomooloo (Xinyi District), Fika Fika Café (Zhongshan District), Zhanlu Coffee (Daan District), and Luguo Café @ ArtYard (Datong District).

Be prepared to spend half of your time in Taiwan eating and drinking. On the same note, be ready to go home gaining additional pounds.

Where to Stay in Taiwan

Despite being the capital, Taipei is still pretty small that any part of the city is easily reached via their subway system. So it’s not whether the hotel is nearby an attraction, it really relies more on the budget.

Here’s a handy-dandy guide to accommodations for different kinds of travellers.

For backpackers: Sunny Hostel

Located right next to 228 Peace Park, Sunny Hostel is a recently opened accommodation in Taipei. It’s within walking distance of tourist hotspots like Ximending, President’s Office, Liberty Square, and Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. The rooms are spacious and cleaned daily. They also have coin-operated washing machines and Mac desktop PCs for your domestic and work needs, respectively. We loved everything about it! Read my full review here.

For leisure travellers: Home Hotel Daan

A hotel that promotes local talents, Home Hotel makes sure that every guest feels right at home the moment they step inside the establishment. The hotel is beautifully designed with the decorations and furniture created by Taiwanese artists. Their stylish decoration is matched with top-notch service, delicious buffet breakfast, and convenient location. Check out their Facebook page to learn more.

For nights outside Taipei: Ino Home B&B Café

The smell of coffee welcomes you to this quaint bed and breakfast in Taichung, Taiwan. Though it only has two bedrooms, it can accommodate up to five guests.  It mostly functions as a coffee shop, but it’s still a perfect place to spend a quiet day outside Taipei. Head on to their Facebook page to know more about the B&B.

Mini Taiwan Bucket List

Image credit: Jirka Matousek

When in Taiwan, there are some things that you cannot not do.

Eat xiao long bao (everyday).

Drink bubble tea (daily)!

Hike up Elephant Mountain to witness the best view of Taipei.

Visit the temples and monuments while riding a bicycle.

Shop ‘till you drop at Ximending.

Night market hop!

Play with the raccoons at 228 Peace Park.

Hop on the Maokong Gondola cable car.

Take a dip at Beitou’s hot springs.

Spend an afternoon in a coffee shop—there’s a boom in Taiwan’s coffee industry!

Also read: 13 Unconventional Things to Do in Taiwan for A Smashing Vacation

I came to Taiwan with little expectations, and I left with hopes of coming back soon. It is truly an amazing country to visit—with its beautiful sights and people with even more beautiful hearts.

13 Bagay Na Pwede Mo Palang Gawin sa Taiwan Para sa Bukod-Tanging Bakasyon

July 22, 2016, 11:00 am August 25, 2016, 5:44 pm

Jane Galvez Jane is a homebody, but the promise of an adventure of a lifetime inspires her to spend her weekends travelling. When she's not on the road travelling, she's writing about the places she's been to or planning her next exploit at Oh My Janey.

Sa sunod na pagbisita mo sa Taiwan, iwan mo na ang guidebooks. Maliban sa mga sikat na atraksyon, marami pang kakaibang gawain at di inaahasang aktibidades ang maaari mong maranasan–mula  sa pagtalon sa mga talon at paglalangoy sa mga natural na pools hanggang sa paglalakbay sa mga kabigha-bighaning daan, pagmamasid sa kalangitan, at pati pagpapabasa ng iyong kapalaran sa manghuhula.

Kalimutan mo na ang mga paulit-ulit na travel tips na nababasa mo tungkol sa Taiwan, tulad ng pagkain ng walang sawa sa Shilin Night Market o pagbisita sa Taipei 101. Subukan mo naman ang mga gawaing nasa listahang ito sa sunod mong pagbisita kung gusto mo nang mas astig na bakasyon. At kung wala pa sa isip mong bisitahin ang bansang ‘to, baka magbago ang isip mo pagkatapos ‘tong mabasa.

Tinatamad magbasa? Panoorin mo nalang ito:

1. Mag-snorkel sa malinaw na dagat ng Bai Shaw Wan, Kenting

Kilala ang Kenting bilang popular na destinasyon sa Taiwan para sa  mga naghahanap ng tropical retreat. Matatagpuan ang Kenting sa timog na bahagi ng bansa, at makikita dito ang ilang mga beach tulad ng Kenting Beach at Nanwan Beach. Pero sinong may gustong magbakasyon sa beach na punong-puno na ng tao?

Ang Bai Sha Wan ay hindi kasikatang beach sa Kenting, at malayo ito sa matao at maingay na Kenting Town. Tingnan mo na lamang ang larawan na ito ng Bai Sha Wan na walang katao-tao o kahit isang nakaharang na turista.

Basahin din ito: A Filipino Traveller’s Guide to Visiting Taiwan for the First Time

Hindi lang basta tahimik na lugar ang Bai Sha Wan, may angkin din itong sariling ganda. Bilang isa sa may pinakamalinaw na tubig sa Kenting, tamang-tama ang lugar na ito para sa snorkelling. At dahil kakaunti lamang ang turista dito, makaka-renta ka lagi ng mga kagamitang panlangoy.

2. Magbabad sa hot springs ng Wu Lai

Mayroong hot springs, at mayroong hot springs na matatagpuan sa paanan ng kabundukan ng Wu Lai. Nasa tabi ng ilog ang hot spring at pinag-iinit ito ng mga bato sa ilalim nito. Maraming sikat na hot springs sa Taiwan, at karamihan dito ay nasa loob ng mga gusali. Pero bakit mo lilimitahan ang sarili mo sa indoor hotspings...

...kung maaari kang magbabad sa hot springs na may ganitong kagandang tanawin?

Basahin din ito: The Onsen Battle: Taiwan vs Japan

3. Mag-zorb pababa ng burol sa Kenting

Image credit: ecstacy1120

Ang Kenting ay sadyang para sa mga malalakas ang loob. Maliban sa beach activities at water sports, pwede ka rin mag-Zorb (o magpagulong-gulong sa burol habang nakasakay sa loob ng hamster ball), magmaneho ng ATV sa gubat ng Kenting, mag-paintball at marami pang iba.

Para sa iyong kaalaman: Matatagpuan ang mga gawaing ito sa 哈利波特草地飛球場.

4. Simulan ang dakilang road trip

Mula sa pinakamataas ng kalsada ng Taiwan na may taas na 3000 na metro...

... at sobrang kitid na mga daan sa gitna ng kagubatan...

... hanggang ilan sa mga pinakamagandang kalsadang makikita mo sa mundo,

Image credits: Fred Hsu

Taiwan na siguro ang isa sa pinaka road trip-friendly na bansa sa Asya. Maliban sa nakakabighaning mga tanawanin, ang mag-road trip sa Taiwan na siguro ang maghahatid sa iyo sa mga bukod tangi at sekretong mga lugar. Isa pa, ligtas at masistema ang trapiko sa daan, kaya hindi mo proproblemahin ang trapik o ang mga drayber na maiinit ang ulo.

Para sa iyong kaalaman: Ang mga sasakyan sa Taiwan ay gumagamit ng left-hand drive. Pero huwag mag-alala, masasanay ka rin agad. Huwag kalang masyadong ma-didistract sa magagandang tanawin.

5. Mamundok sa nakakabighaning Maolin forestry

Para sa malawak na lupaing sakop nito, nakapag-tataka na kakaunti ang bumibisita sa Maolin. Dagdag pa sa tanawin ng nagtataasang mga bundok, marami pang ibang kamangha-manghang tanawin dito—mga talon, lambak, sapa, hot springs, at mga mabubungang halaman at iba’t-ibang uri ng mga hayop.

Basahin din ito: How I Travelled 6 days in Taiwan for PHP 34k (All-In)

6. Sundan ito ng pagtalon sa mga valley waterfalls

Tulad ng nabanggit, may ilang mga talon sa Maolin na bukas para sa publiko. At syempre, walang ibang magandang paraan para tapusin ang iyong paglalakbay kundi lumublob, o kung kaya mo, tumalon sa malamig na tubig ng rumaragasang talon.

At kung hindi mo trip ang tubig, marami ka pang maaaring gawin dito tulad ng mahimbing na pagtulog habang nakikinig sa lagaslas ng tubig o kaya nama’y magkaroon ng sarili n’yong steamboat feast. Sa  katunayan, maraming taga dito ang gumagawa nito -- simula sa pag hugas ng mga gulay hanggang sa pag gawa ng gumaganang steamboat sa tabing ilog.

7. Mag-scuba dive kasama ang mga hammerheadhead sharks sa Green Island

Image credit: Taiwan

Image credit: Taiwan

Sa pag-iisip mga atraksyon sa Taiwan, hindi kaagad-agad dadako sa isip ang Green Island. Pero karapat-dapat lang na makakuha ng mas malaking atensyon ang Green Island dahil perpekto ito para takasan ang masisikip na mga siyudad sa Taiwan.

Tingnan mo, literal na malayo ang Green Island sa isla ng Taiwan!

Huwag paloloko sa liit ng isla sa mapa, dahil punung-puno ang Green Island ng mga gawaing paniguradong bubuo ng pinakamasayang day trip ng buhay mo. Mag-dive at snorkel sa ilan sa mga napangalagaang coral reefs ng Taiwan, magbabad natatanging tubig-dagat na hot spring, at mamangaha sa ganda ng lighthouse na makikita sa isla.

Basahin din ito: How to Travel Taiwan on a Budget

8. Ubusin ang laman ng iyong pitaka sa Wufenpu Wholesale Market

Kalimutan ang mga sikat na shopping districts. Para sa mga true-blue shophalic, alam nilang pinakamasusulit ang pagsho-shopping sa paghahalughog sa mga discounted items sa wholesale markets. Wufenpu ang isa sa pinakamalaki at pinakasikat na wholesale market sa Taiwan, at marami kang makikitang mga lokal at mga turista na namimili dito. Sa katunayan, maraming online store owners ang kumukuha ng supplies nila sa Wufenpu.

Posibleng maguluhan ka sa mala-maze na pamilihan, kaya galugurin ng husto upang masulit mo ito.

9. Tumira ng isa o dalawang gabi kasama ang Taiwanese aboriginals

Sa halip na bumisita sa mga museo tungkol sa Aboriginals, subukan mo na lamang mag-homestay sa isang katutubong nayon upang matutunan mula sa kanila ang pamumuhay sa tribo. Maraming tribo sa Taiwan ang tumatanggap ng bisita tulad ng Wu Lai, Wu Tai at Chia Yi County.

Paalala: May ilang nayon na nangangailangan ng mountain permit bago makapasok, pero mabilis lamang itong makukuha sa kahit anong foreign-affairs na istasyon ng pulis.

10. Alamin ang kapalaran ng iyong love life mula sa isang manghuhula

Image credits: Maksim

Pero syempre, tandaaan mo lang ang mga magagandang bagay.

11. Magsaya kasama sa mga pagala-galang tupa sa Cing Jing Farm

Image credit: Carrie Kellenberger

Bakit kakailanganin mo pang pumunta ng zoo kung maaari kang makipaglaro sa mga pagala-galang tupa? Ngunit hindi sila kasing lambing ng inaasahan. Sa kabila ng palangiti nilang mata, lumalapit at nakikipaglaro lamang sila sa iyo kung mayroon kang pagkain. Pero syempre, isa pa rin itong pagkakataon na hindi mo dapat palampasin.

Maliban sa mga mababalahibong kaibigan, sadyang magandang puntahan ang Cing Jing dahil matatagpuan ito sa itaas ng bundok na may taas na 1,500 metro.

Basahin din ito: 5 Most Underrated Natural Attractions In Taiwan

12. Magrenta ng scooter at galugurin ng mga kalsada ng Taiwan

Image credit: Carrie Kellenberger

Walang duda, ang pagsakay sa scooter ay ang pinakamagandang paraan sa paglilibot sa Taiwan. Siguro nga hindi ito ang pinakaligtas, pero makakatipid ka rin dito at malilibot mo pa ang lugar na hindi madaling puntahan nang naglalakad o nakasakay sa sasakyan. Kahit umupa ka ng isang buong linggo para mamasyal sa bansa o kahit saglit na paglalakbay sa tabing dagat, ang pagsakay sa scooter ay kailangan mong subukan.

13. Mag-stargaze buong gabi sa Nan Tou

Image credit: Cpami

Hindi kalimitang kasama ang stargazing sa to-do lists ng mga namamasyal sa Taiwan, pero kaya nitong gawing mas mahiwaga at kamangha-mangha ang iyong bakasyon. Maraming local guides ang pumapayag dalhin ang mga turista sa lugar kung saan pwedeng mag-stargaze, at kung saan makakabuo ka ng mga mahiwagang alaala.

Dahil sa taas na lugar, sikat na stargazing site ang Cing Jing sa Nan Tou. Kaya kung mapapadpad ka sa Cing Jing, siguraduhing maglaan ng ilang gabi para sa stargazing.

Ngayong alam mo nang marami ka pang pwedeng gawin sa Taiwan, humayo ka’t sumubok sa mas kakaibang bakasyon sa bansa na hindi lamang puro street food at Taipei 101.

Isinalin galing sa (translated from): 13 Unconventional Things to Do in Taiwan for A Smashing Vacation

Exploring Japan: 9 Easy Day Trips from Tokyo

July 11, 2016, 11:00 am August 25, 2016, 5:46 pm

Farzana Fattah Farzana is a student at Singapore Management University who’s currently wondering what on earth she’s doing with her life. When not nerding out over the latest superhero movie or scrolling through memes on Tumblr, she is almost definitely researching random places across the globe and daydreaming about the next holiday destination. She is inspired by the variety of cultures in the world and hopes to travel to at least fifty countries in her lifetime to experience most of them.

Seen all there is to see in Tokyo and left with some time to spare? Here’s a little suggestion: take a day trip! Pry yourself from Tokyo and head to the surrounding prefectures because there is plenty to be discovered. Let’s view some of the best best day trip destinations near Tokyo!

Also read: 20 Essential Tips for Your First Time in Japan

KANAGAWA PREFECTURE

Kanagawa Prefecture is one of the best options for a day trip, in my humble opinion, because it is home to hidden gem destinations which are close in proximity to Tokyo!

1. Hakone

Image credit: Shao Hua

You’ve probably heard travellers raving about this place – and that’s not without cause, either. Hakone is not only blessed with stunning views of Mount Fuji, it’s ripe with history as well.

Image credit: Joseph Younis

The main attractions are the magical Hakone Shrine and Lake Ashinoko. Health freaks should also visit the Hakone Onsen or Owakudani; the latter is a great place to buy special black-shelled eggs which are said to be able to extend one’s life by seven years! Whatever you do, you know you’re in for a real treat here.

2. Yokohama

Ask anybody from this city and they’ll say that it’s better than Tokyo. Yeah, the Yokohama and Tokyo dwellers are hardcore rivals. Yokohama is famous for its culture and shopping scene, but other than that, it boasts some fascinating food-related museums like the Ramen Museum, Cup Noodles Museum and Kirin Beer Museums. Drop by these places to get to know these favourites a little better!

Image Credit: Wikipedia

If you’re here during spring or autumn, lucky you! Sankei-en Gardens will be in its full seasonal glory then. Kick yourself if you forget to bring your cameras.

3. Kamakura

This is yet another popular day trip destination outside of Tokyo! Once you see Kamakura Daibutsuden Kotoku-in, you’ll probably understand because The Great Buddha of Kotokuin is iconic. The numerous shrines and temples that dot this place will make any cultural buff ecstatic.

Image Credit: e OrimO

Once again, count your blessings if you’re here in autumn or spring, because Kamakura has some of the best spots to view cherry blossoms or the most vibrant autumn leaves too! You’re welcome.

4. Enoshima

Image Credit: tami_chan

Surf’s up! This small island is a perfect getaway during the summer holidays if you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. Shonan Beach is going to be your one stop for swimming, surfing or getting that perfect tan.

Image Credit: Ken Lee

That’s not to say that there isn’t much on the sightseeing front though, which isn’t the case at all! Take your pick from the Enoshima Bridge, the Enoshima Shrine, the Iwaya Caves or the Southern Coast. Whatever it is, you probably wouldn’t regret coming here.

SAITAMA PREFECTURE

No, I’m not talking about that infamous bald dude from One-Punch Man. Rather, it’s yet another prefecture that’s also right next to Tokyo.

5. Kawagoe

Image Credit: Andurinha

Fully immerse yourself in true blue Japanese culture at Kawagoe! Take a leisurely stroll down Kurazukuri Street, also known as the Warehouse District Street. If you’re lucky enough to be here in the third weekend of October, watch as the streets come alive and be treated to the Kawagoe Festival! Of course, this place is also a must for sightseeing, with the Kawagoe Castle, Toki no Kane (Bell of Time) and the Osawa House being at the top of the list.

6. Chichibu

Image credit: weboo

Oh. Oh. You’ve got to come to the Hitsujiyama Park during the last week of April to the first week of May. I’m pretty sure the picture above says it all.

Image Credit: Thomas

Of course, don’t miss the shrines! Mitsumine Shrine and Chichibu Shrine are probably the most prominent ones that you won’t want to miss.

TOCHIGI PREFECTURE

Tochigi is further up north from the Saitama prefecture. It may not be as popular as the others mentioned in this article, but this doesn’t mean that there aren’t any places worth seeing! In fact, the one place that you absolutely HAVE to see is...

7. Nikko

Image Credit: Po-Kai_HSU

Yes, I’m talking about Nikko! If you have already been here, congrats! You’ve stepped into what must be one of the most beautiful places in Japan. Nikko boasts shrines that are listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, such as Nikko-san Rinnoji Shrine and Toshogu Shrine. Spring or autumn-goers must must MUST drop by Chuzenji Lake, because the beauty of this wonder will amplified by the special colours unique to the season.

Image Credit: Reggie Pentinio

Some of the waterfalls are also worth visiting, especially Kegon Falls and Ryuzu-no-Taki. Literally looks like a postcard, doesn’t it?

Also read: 9 Places in Japan That are Totally Instagram-Worthy

YAMANASHI PREFECTURE

Yamanashi prefecture can be found bordering on Tokyo’s west side. You only need to know one thing, really – it’s one of the prefectures that Mt. Fuji calls home!

8. Kawaguchiko

Image Credits: Yoshikazu TAKADA

When in Kawaguchiko, drop by Lake Kawaguchi! Not only will you be able to gape up at Mt. Fuji, there are a few museums to explore and onsens – particularly the Fujiyama Onsen – to soak in. A trip here is not complete without visiting the Kawaguchiko Music Forest, for its romantic gardens and music box showcases will surely blow you away! Of course, for spectacular views of both Lake Kawaguchi and Mt. Fuji, head up the Kachi Kachi Ropeway.

Also read: Japan Summer Bucketlist: Climbing Mt Fuji is Something You Definitely Should Do

TOKYO PREFECTURE

You don’t even have to venture out of Tokyo for this one.

9. Mt. Mitake

Image Credit: Shao Hua

Hikers who are looking for the perfect hiking spot should avoid the famous Mt. Takao which attracts hordes of tourists. Well, let me present you with another alternative: Mt. Mitake! It’s gonna take you just 1.5h for you to reach there. Trust me, you’re going to be treated to views as spectacular as, if not more than, the views you will see in Mt. Takao.

Also read: Mt. Mitake: A Day Hike in Tokyo You Must Complete

It may be summer in Japan now, but autumn is approaching! Get those notebooks out and time to start planning, because you’re going to be in for one hell of a time.

Explore Shimokitazawa, A Part of Tokyo No Tourist Knows About

July 4, 2016, 2:00 pm August 25, 2016, 5:47 pm

Paula Nierras Paula travels through mini-universes to feed her insatiable wonderlust (not a typo). Wherever she goes, she takes down notes to bring home a good story. Or two. Catch her wonderings at The Schrödinger Cat Experiments.

Contributed by BS 85 Projects 

Penny Lane is in my in ears and in my eyes.

There beneath the blue suburban skies…

I sit, and meanwhile back. ♫♫♫

There’s a certain thrill to be told of (or chance upon) random secrets, albeit they’re as humdrum as everyday life. Those of the kind that seem to don’t add much value knowing them – the breaths in between big moments and spaces in between bucket lists. But like the small notes and pauses in music, they contribute to this bittersweet symphony that is life. They are just as real, as present, and alluring that they too merit our attention.

Also read: 24 Super Fun Things to Do in Tokyo on Your Very First Visit

In my travels, I mostly search for those in local neighbourhoods. And so in Japan, the quest for Penny Lanes all over the world continues.

There are places in Tokyo that are not-so Tokyo. Meaning, no swarms of salarymen in black suits nor of its antithesis – cosplayers bursting with colour; no chic buildings, life-sized robots, and grand shrines; no crazy scramble at the pedestrian crossing and at the train station. Figuratively and literally off the center of the Tokyo as we know it, that if you ride the wrong train from say, Shinjuku or Shibuya, you might as well be on your way to Mt. Fuji or some other place outside this Japan capital.

So far, I’ve spent some quality time in three of this not-so Tokyo districts – Kichijoji, Koenji, Shimokitazawa, guess which one’s my favourite? ☺☺☺

Shimokitazawa in Setagaya, Tokyo: You’ll probably have a hard time memorizing the name but don’t be discouraged. Liking it is a different story – it’s as easy as reciting your ABC’s.

Everything is in human scale. It’s big enough to spend an entire afternoon (or even a day) there, and compact enough to be able to leisurely stroll along its network of crisscrossing Penny Lanes. As usual, the establishments tend to cluster around the station (currently served by Keio Inokashira Line via Shibuya and Odakyu Line via Shinjuku), and gradually thins out as you go deeper into the neighbourhood.

Also read: 4 Days Tokyo Itinerary: Where to Go and What to Do

In a gist, Shimokitazawa has everything you look for in a trendy suburban district – and then some. ‘Cause just when you think it is all friendly and pretty, the naughty side pops out here and there. I tell you, even Mickey Mouse gets a PG rating.

I won’t spoil much of it because the “stumbling upon something” part is what I like most about this place, but let me name a few shops that are to me worth searching for should you happen to find yourself in this curious corner in Tokyo:

Exciting Bookstore by Village Vanguard

True to its name, it is an exciting store. But sorry to disappoint, it is not an R-rated naughty one! Haha! English names of Japanese stores can be quite funny because of their plainness or their too literal translations. It’s one of those things that I find endearing while travelling in Japan. Every corner or two, I giggle.

Anyway, what is so exciting about this shop? It’s this whole mess of books, trinkets, weird novelty items, food, mangas, clothes, accessories, home items, Star Wars, Adventure Time, Sailor Moon, Studio Ghibli, The Beatles, Pokemon, and so much more! It’s an impulsive buyer’s dream and nightmare, so don’t ever say I didn’t warn you.

B-Side Label

After all that admirable composure and restraint for not splurging at ABC Mart, Gu, Uniqlo, and even in second-hand stores, I managed to spend ¥2,000 on stickers. What. The. Hell.

That Sukajan shop

If you wanna bring home something unique and fashionable, you might want to consider the Sukajan – or the Japanese souvenir jacket. How trendy is it? Well, you might’ve seen some celebrities wearing this, and based on what I’ve read online, it’s a hot fashion item this 2016. I would have bought one had I not been a resident of one of the hottest places on earth. ???

Brownie points to me for mindful consumption. Yes! ✓✓✓

Also read: 5 Tips Every Budget Traveller in Tokyo Must Know

As for the rest…

It’s up to you to discover on your own. ?

Come dusk…

Some stores like the flower shop in the corner prepare to pack up for the day while the bar in the other corner starts to bustle. One by one, the shop lights are turned on, and all of a sudden, there are more people on the street. Every so often a guy with a guitar case pass by you. A line starts to form in front of a closed establishment.

I have yet to see this side of Shimokitazawa, but I heard it also rocks.

Also read: 4 Days Tokyo Itinerary: Where to Go and What to Do

4 Days Tokyo Itinerary: Where to Go and What to Do

January 7, 2016, 2:00 pm August 25, 2016, 5:50 pm

Ivan Lim Ivan loves anything vaguely related to the stars, the sun, and the universe. He’s rather proud of the fact that he has amassed more than 5000 Instagram photos, on which he has numerous legit (to himself) hashtags series, with two dedicated to eating and drinking. He’s partial to shower concerts and sometimes thinks in song lyrics and movie quotes.

The world’s most populous metropolitan area, Tokyo is a fascinating mix of modern commercial culture and ancient Japanese heritage. With its bright lights and constant stream of people, the sheer scale of Tokyo can be slightly overwhelming for first time travellers.

Whether you’re a seasoned Tokyo tourist or an intrepid first timer, read on for our definitive four day itinerary to take on the capital of Japan.

Also read: 20 Essential Tips for Your First Time in Japan

Day 1 - Of breathtaking views and an introduction to Japanese culture

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

1. Take in the stunning views from the top of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

The 243 metre tall building has two towers, each housing an observation deck on the 45th floor. The observatories are famed for their panoramic views, allowing visitors to see famous landmarks like the Tokyo Skytree, the Tokyo Tower, Mount Fuji, and Meiji Shrine just to name a few. The best part? It’s entirely free.

Tips: The South Observatory opens from 9.30am to 5.30pm, while the North Observatory opens from 9.30am to 11pm. If you’re intending to be around the vicinity later at night, you can save the North Observatory for later to marvel at the bright lights illuminating the Tokyo cityscape.

2. Enjoy a relaxing stroll on the grounds of Meiji Jingu (Meiji Shrine)

The Meiji Shrine is a shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji (the first emperor of modern Japan) and his consort, Empress Shoken.

Shinto (“the way of the gods”) is the indigenous faith of the Japanese people. As old as Japan itself, it remains today one of Japan’s major religion alongside Buddhism. Visitors to Meiji Jingu can take part in typical Shinto activities, like making offerings at the main hall, buying charms and amulets, and writing out one’s wish on an ema (a wooden plate to be left at the shrine for good luck and blessing).

Word has it that the Emperor Meiji himself designed the iris garden here to please the empress. The irises bloom in June each year, and that’s when the garden looks the most beautiful.

Tip: If it’s still early and you have some time to spare, walk over to Harajuku, which is just right beside Meiji Shrine. The symbol of Harajuku, Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) is the birthplace of many of Japan’s fashion trends.Take in the 400 metre long street lined with shops, cafes, boutiques, and fast food outlets. Try the most famous crepe stall on Takeshita, Marion Crepes. The strawberry flavoured one is highly recommended.

3. Sip classy cocktails on top of the world

Fans of the hit movie Lost in Translation can try to relive their magical movie moments in the iconic New York Bar, dramatically perched on the 52nd floor of Park Hyatt Tokyo. Aside from offering amazing views of Tokyo, the New York Bar is often considered one of Tokyo’s best cocktail bars.

Tips: Come before the sunset and leave before 8pm to avoid the hefty cover charge and only pay for your drinks.

Day 2 - Modern Tokyo: It’s all about Shibuya

Image credit: Richard Schneider

1. Take in the famous Shibuya Crossing

The busiest pedestrian crossing in the world, Shibuya Crossing is equal parts sensory overload and adrenaline rush. When the lights turn red at this busy intersection, they all do so at the same time in every direction. Traffic comes to a stop and pedestrians spill in from all sides, the epitome of organised chaos in the capital city of Japan.

2. Bask in the sights and sounds of Shibuya

If you love shopping, you could easily spend one day in Shibuya and still complain of not enough time. In light of the numerous perfect shopping places in Shibuya, we have kindly shortlisted three of which we really think you should not miss.

Firstly, visit the Shibuya 109, which has achieved somewhat landmark status over the years.  This mall mainly targets the female population, so if you’re a guy and you want to shop, head on over to the nearby 109 Men’s for your shopping fix.

Next, visit the 8 storey-tall Tokyu Hands. If you’re a fan of arts and crafts, this place will be love at first sight for you. Tokyu Hands is a DIY store that sells basically… everything. From travel items to gardening tools, stationery to beauty products, interior décor to art supplies, you never know what you can find here. It’s going to take a lot of self-control to leave without buying a little something just for the sake of it.

If you are a music enthusiast, you would want to check out Tower Records. The Tower Records in Shibuya is considered the flagship store among the 83 (and counting) branches of Tower Records, and now occupies nine full floors selling original CDs, books, and other artist merchandise.  

Tips: Have a small bite or a cup of coffee in the Tower Records cafe on the second floor. Sit by the window and you get a great view of the Shibuya streets.

Also read: 8 Fashion and Retail Spots in Tokyo Every Shopaholic Must Visit

3. Play Pachinko

Pachinko is a Japanese arcade style game that can be played in Pachinko parlours all over the country. Every year, Japanese people spend US $300 billion at Pachinko. To put that into perspective, that’s about twice the entire GDP of New Zealand.

Why, you might ask, are Japanese so obsessed with this little game of Pachinko?

Head into one of the largest Pachinko parlour in Shibuya, Pachinko Maruhan, to find out for yourself. We don’t want to spoil it too much now, except to say that it is an extremely simple game that oddly resembles pinball.

Day 3 - Old Meets New: Of real Japanese fishermen, a 7th century temple, and shops

Image credit: chensiyuan

1. Wake up before the sun rises to witness the famous Tuna Auction at the Tsukiji Fish Market

The largest and busiest fish market in Japan, one of Tsukiji Fish Market’s main draw is the legendary Tuna Auction that takes place before the sun rises most mornings. Before you go though, check this website to see if public access is permitted that day.

Entry to the auction is free on a first-come-first-serve basis, limited to 120 people, admitted in two tours of 60.

Registration starts from 5am, but people start queuing from 2am onwards. To be safe, try to reach there before 3am to be one of the 120 lucky people. They give out coloured vests to identity visitors, and if there are still spots available, you will get one. As soon as they run out of vests, you’re out of luck.

Tips: As there is no 24-hour public transport in Tokyo, you need to spend the night somewhere near Tsukiji market. Consider taking a three hour shuteye at the nearby Com Com Manga Café (a mere ten minutes’ walk from the site of the Tuna Auction). If you’re not intending to sleep, pop into the reliable Sushizanmai’s honten (main branch) right beside the fish market, which is open 24 hours.

Tips: Wear appropriate clothes and footwear as it can get quite smelly and messy. Be prepared to jump out of the way of incoming trucks and trolleys. Please remember to bring a jacket as the auction area is cold especially since the tuna are frozen. Bring a book or a magazine to read while waiting for the auction to start. There’s absolutely nothing to do while waiting.

No visit to Tsukjii is complete without a well-deserved sushi breakfast (to reward yourself for waking up in the middle of the night).

Tips: Go to Sushi Dai (Dai means number one in Japanese), but brace yourself for the crazy long queue (three hours is commonplace). Just a bit further down on the same street as Sushi Dai is Daiwa-Zushi, which is just as good as Sushi Dai. Fun fact: Daiwa-Zushi is run by the son of the owner of the Sushi Dai, and it is said that father and son fish together and frequently compete to see who can catch and make the best sushi in Tsukiji.

2. Explore Asakusa, the centre of Tokyo’s shitamachi (which literally translates into “low city”)

The Asakusa area can be easily explored by foot, and has been praised as a place where an atmosphere of Tokyo’s past decades lingers. The main attraction in Asakusa is the Sensoji Temple, a Buddhist temple built in the 7th century, claiming its place as Tokyo’s oldest temple.

Also marvel at the beauty that are the Asakusa Shrine and the Kaminarimon (Kaminari Gate) leading to Sensoji Temple.

Then, walk and eat your way through Nakamise Street. A shopping street that stretches over 200 metres, it leads from the Kaminarimon to Sensoji Temple’s second gate, Hozomon. Look out for traditional Japanese souvenirs like Japanese chopsticks, geta (Japanese sandals), wooden combs, and Maneki Neko (a traditional good luck charm in the form of a beckoning cat).

Tips: When was the last time you wrote a postcard? Buy some postcards depicting the sceneries of Asakusa in the Edo Period (a historical period of Japan between 1603 and 1868) and send a few to your loved ones back home.

Also read: Cuteness Overload: 10 ‘Kawaii’ Things to Do in Tokyo

Day 4: Relaxation the Japanese way: Of traditional theatre and hot springs

Image credit: Sergey Vladimirov

1. Appreciate Kabuki, one of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

Kabuki is a traditional Japanese form of theatre dating as far back as the Edo Period. Rich in showmanship, kabuki involves elaborate costumes and outlandish make-up. Most essential to kabuki is, however, the exaggerated actions performed by the actors.

Plots typically revolve around historical events, moral conflicts, love stories, tragedies, or other well-known stories. As even Japanese people find it hard to fully understand the old-fashioned form of Japanese language that is usually used in kabuki, it is reassuring to know that headsets can be rented for English narrations and explanations.

The Kabukiza Theater is one of the best places to see kabuki, with plays happening almost every day. Check out this website for show details.

Tips: One full Kabuki show typically lasts about four to five hours, which can be overwhelming for most people. As a kabuki program is made up of several acts, opt for a single act ticket (an act is about 45 to 60 minutes) just for the experience. Expect to pay around 2000 yen.

2. Pamper Youself at one of the Best Onsen Theme Parks in Japan – the Oedo Onsen Monogatari

What better way to conclude your visit to one of the most volcanically active country in the world than with a trip to an onsen (hot spring) in its capital city?

Oedo Onsen Monogatari is one of the most well-loved onsen in Tokyo. Not only does it house natural hot spring baths, this theme park is decorated with the intention to bring customers back in time to the Edo era. There are plenty of entertainment options, from fortune telling, carnival games, dining places, shopping, to overnight accommodation.

However, don’t let those distract you from the main appeal of this place: the onsen. There are numerous baths of different temperatures and sizes. Take your pick from outdoors or indoors, and try out the baths with the massage jets. The water, rich in sodium ions, is drawn from 1400 metres underground. The thermal baths here are thought to be good for relieving nerve, muscle and joint pain.

Tips: People with tattoos are not admitted. Expect to pay about 2500 yen. Consider the “Doctor Fish” foot bath, where small fish nibble away at the dead skin on your feet.

Also read: 7 Seriously Cool Hostels in Tokyo Under SGD 50

That brings us to the end of our 4 day itinerary of what to do and where to go in Tokyo! Tokyo has so much to offer, and it’s only inevitable that we left out some pretty swell places in our 4 day itinerary. If you have a few more days in this wondrous city, you might want to consider checking out the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (one of the most aesthetically pleasing green spaces in Tokyo) and the Akihabara district (an area famed for its countless electronic shops and in recent years the epicenter of Japan’s otaku culture).

Like all itineraries, allow yourself some freedom and flexibility. Discard some places that doesn’t interest you as much, throw in some others, be open to new and at times culturally shocking experiences, and you’re all set for your upcoming Tokyo trip to be your most fruitful and awesome one yet!

20 Hotels in Japan That are Highly Raved by Travellers

March 17, 2015, 8:00 am August 25, 2016, 5:51 pm

tsunagu Japan tsunagu Japan is an information platform made to transmit Japanese culture to the world. Our carefully selected authors introduce topics such as anime and manga, entertainment, fashion, and other pop culture items as well as traditional culture and cuisine, tourism and sightseeing information, and more. We want to bring all of Japan to you.

When it comes to choosing accommodations for holiday, many will probably make extra efforts in researching. This is understandable; who would want to spoil their well-planned holiday by staying in some dodgy places?

Last November, TripAdvisor Japan released its top “20 hotels chosen by travellers”. The ranking is based on the real experiences by travellers who left their reviews on TripAdvisor. This list is among the annual surveys conducted by TripAdvisor. Unsurprisingly, most of the hotels in the list are either four-star or five-star hotels. Well, let’s see what the travellers have to say about the hotels after their stays.

Also read: 8 Quirkiest Themed Hotels in Japan

1. Mandarin Oriental Tokyo

Tokyo

Type: 5 Stars

Image credits: mandarinoriental.com

“I travel about 7 months out of the year, staying at amazing locations and what I believed to be fantastic hotels. I have to state that the Mandarin Hotel Tokyo has taken the prize for the absolutely best service possible. Thank you for an amazing stay.”

Elizabeth, United States

Image credits: mandarinoriental.com

“I stayed 3 nights there and it is probably my favourite city hotel in the world. The view was breathtaking (the hotel is located between the 32nd and the 38th floors of a tower), the breakfast incredible, the concierge perfect …

Luxury, simplicity, good taste and world class service: it is how I can resume my experience in this hotel.”

Lester_B75, France

Address: 2-1-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo 103-8328, Tokyo Prefecture

Website: www.mandarinoriental.com

2. Hotel Mume

Kyoto

Type: Boutique

Image credits: tripadvisor.jp

“Mume is a special place, beyond a hotel. Hisako and her staff’s sole directive seems to be to make your stay in Kyoto incredible. And it will be. And when you leave, you will wish that you had more time to spend in Kyoto, and at The Mume.”

Fishskis, United States

Image credits: hotelmume.com

“Expectation exceeded 110%”

Janique123, Australia

Address: 261 Shinmonzen dori, Umemotocho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0064, Kyoto Prefecture

Website: www.hotelmume.com

3. Park Hyatt Tokyo

Tokyo

Type: 5 Stars

Image credits: tokyo.park.hyatt.com

“With 360 degree views from gym with full-line of equipment; bright skyline swimming pool in which I could walk in shoulder height water for core muscle strengthening coupled with elegant, modern with clean lines in the room; it felt like relaxing on top of the world. Definitely one of the best hotels for me as a worldwide traveller.”

Dragondragon52, Hong Kong

Image credits: tokyo.park.hyatt.com

“…definitely one of the best I’ve ever been to. Can’t find more words……if you can, get it”

Rikisandri, Italy

Address: 3-7-1-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku 163-1055, Tokyo Prefecture

Website: tokyo.park.hyatt.com

4. Palace Hotel Tokyo

Tokyo

Type: 5 Stars

Image credits: lhw.com

“The stay in the Palace Hotel Tokyo was one of the best hotels in terms of hospitality and service.

The rooms are perfect, the interior designers thought of every need and gadget you might have. Floor to ceiling windows with view of the palace compound are also not something that you get every day. Quite pricy – but that’s Tokyo, right? I’ll be back!”

AndreDienst, Bahrain

Image credits: destinasian.com

“This is by far the best hotel for us in Tokyo. I’ve stayed in the other high end hotels in the area and this is “the one” for me and my family so far. Not the biggest room in the city but very decent size and well appointed interiors. Love it that the rooms have balcony (very safe height of the railings) overlooking the Imperial Palace.”

Dorycook, Philippines

Address: 1-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda 100-0005, Tokyo Prefecture

Website: en.palacehoteltokyo.com

5. Intercontinental Hotel Osaka

Osaka

Type: 5 Stars

Image credits: ihgplc.com

“Stayed here with my wife on my Honeymoon and IC Osaka really went out of their way to make us feel special. Room was really huge and comfortable with nice amenities, and the hotel location was also really good and we walked to a lot of places from the hotel without having to take a taxi even once. I’ve also stayed at a lot of IC properties and this has to be the nicest one I’ve stayed at. Highly recommended.”

H0liday2, Malaysia

Image credits: youtravel.com.au

“The Intercontinental Osaka lives up to the chain’s reputation and image. Hotel is nicely appointed with lots of in-room amenities. Service is impeccable and staff is ready to assist your every request.”

CineMaker

Address: 3-60 Ofuka-Cho Kita-Ku, Osaka 530-0011, Osaka Prefecture

Website: www.intercontinental.com

6. Shangri-La Hotel

Tokyo

Type: 5 Stars

Image credits: shangri-la.com

“I’ve stayed in this hotel multiple times. Hands down, it is the best hotel I’ve ever stayed at. From the food to service to room to location, it can’t be beat.”

Mjoleksy, United States

Image credits: shangri-la.com

“This is a top notch hotel compared against any other place. Top hard product and a more than outstanding service. Just perfect. Would give six stars. Treat yourself with the tea ceremony if you have the opportunity.”

KaiserPinguin, Germany

Address: 1-8-3 Marunouchi | Marunouchi Trust Tower Main, Chiyoda 100-8283, Tokyo Prefecture

Website: www.shangri-la.com

7. Kozantei Ubuya

Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Yamanashi

Type: 3 Stars (Onsen Hotel)

Image credits: ubuya.co.jp

“Woke up early and found that Mt. Fuji was towering just before our eyes. Onsen on the balcony was great, just a little traffic noise from down below.

Breakfasts and dinners were of great quality, presented with beautiful Japanese traditional arrangements. This place is surely one of the best rewards for yourself and loved ones.”

Asianchef, Thailand

Image credits: ubuya.co.jp

“Kozantei Ubuya is one of the loveliest places we have stayed. Upon arrival you are given matcha tea with a Japanese Dessert to enjoy before they take you to your room. Our room faced Lake Kawaguchiko and it was simply awesome view. The rooms are well equipped. We highly recommend this resort. You will enjoy the view, food, hospitality as well as the facilities.”

AraleMelbourne, Australia

Address: 10 Asagawa, Minamitsuru-gun, Fujikawaguchiko-machi 401-0303, Yamanashi Prefecture (Kawaguchiko Onsen)

Website: www.ubuya.co.jp

8. Conrad Tokyo

Tokyo

Type: 5 Stars

Image credits: conradhotels3.hilton.com

“Our third stay at this hotel and still impressed. Warm and professional. The food is great. The only strange observation is the smell of smoke by the elevators in the lobby but you don’t have to stay there. Have a great dinner at one of the restaurants or enjoy room service.”

Hhajk, Sweden

Image credits: conradhotels3.hilton.com

“A great hotel, nothing to say. Stunning view, great service, beautiful rooms, stylish common areas, superb restaurants. Highly recommended, especially if you manage to get a room with a view on the bay. Only thing to have in mind is that you need a cab to go to most places: the Conrad is conveniently located but still you cannot walk to most places.

Scalpha, Italy

Address: 1-9-1 Higashi-Shimbashi, Minato 105-7377, Tokyo Prefecture

Website: conradhotels3.hilton.com

9. The St. Regis Osaka

Osaka

Type: 5 Stars

Image credits: starwoodhotels.com

“I chose this hotel based on its number 1 ranking on TripAdvisor and was not disappointed. The hotel is truly luxurious. Although the lobby is quite small and strangely arranged, it is very well appointed. The staffs, as all Japanese service staffs are, are amazing, obliging, smiling and all too willing to assist. The rooms are just stunning.”

syd_traveller_8807, Australia

Image credits: starwoodhotels.com

“The hotel staffs make this hotel, from the doormen to the butlers, to the front desk staff to the concierge (often one in the same), et al. Advice is happily dispensed, logistical problems are solved, and small, obscure requests are cheerfully dealt fulfilled. We would not hesitate to return.

Duchetti, Switzerland

Address: 3-6-12 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0053, Osaka Prefecture

Website: www.starwoodhotels.com

10. The Capitol Hotel Tokyu

Tokyo

Type: 5 Stars

Image credits: preferredhotelgroup.com

“We stayed for a week over the December holidays. Though we were already very favourably disposed before travelling to Japan, the hotel exceeded our expectations. The rooms are very spacious by any standards (and even more so by Japanese standards), elegantly decorated and very functional. The hotel is conveniently located at the centre of Tokyo with access – through its basement entrance – to four major subway lines, hence rendering easily accessible most parts of the city. We were mostly surprised by the very reasonable price which rendered the choice a great value for money.”

GourgourGT, Greece

Image credits: panoramio.com

“+ very nice modern hotel, rooms are huge by Japan standards, great view, subway station easily accessible in the basement of the hotel, friendly and helpful staff

– location is the only reason why I might not stay in this hotel as I like walking around my hotel area to see shops and stores and it’s a bit challenging to do that when staying in this hotel.”

Dorycook, Philippines

Address: 2-10-3 Nagatacho, Chiyoda 100-0014, Tokyo Prefecture

Website: www.capitolhoteltokyu.com

11. Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo

Tokyo

Type: 5 Stars

Image credits: fourseasons.com

“Rooms layout very functional yet designed elegantly. Concierge amazing and willing to help any requests. Hotel very accommodating to children. All this makes the hotel better than other five star hotels in Tokyo. If you want a combination of luxury, great service and a child friendly setting, this is the hotel to choose.”

KerryAdrianto, Indonesia

Image credits: fourseasons.com

“This hotel is quite small (7 floors) comparing to average 5 and 6 stars hotels in Tokyo. This little pearl is quite hidden next to the Tokyo central station and therefore we would recommend asking for “welcome service” at the train. The hotel is beautiful as all Four seasons hotels, but the big difference is great location, more family – boutique feeling and staff which recognize you second day.”

alexandra k

Address: 1-11-1 Marunouchi | Pacific Century Place, Chiyoda 100-6277, Tokyo Prefecture

Website: www.fourseasons.com

12. Hotel Niwa Tokyo

Tokyo

Type: 3.5 Stars

Image credits: hotelniwa.jp

“I was sorry to discover Niwa so late – after many trips to Tokyo and varied hotel experiences over the years. The staffs were great and accommodating, the Japanese restaurant was top notch, the rooms very comfortable and although it was close to the station, it was tucked away enough to feel cozy.”

Dishadisha, India

Image credits: hotelniwa.jp

“Excellent service, rooms are small but comfortable, free WiFi in the room, closest station is Suidobashi, about 5 min walk. Relatively closed to Tokyo station but in a taxi (about 1600 Yen- 6 to 7 min ride) – Food at the Lieu restaurant is delicious albeit expensive. Highly recommended.”

Claudia U, New Zealand

Address: 1-1-16 Misakicho, Chiyoda 101-0061, Tokyo Prefecture

Website: http://www.hotelniwa.jp/english/index.html

13. The Tokyo Station Hotel

Tokyo

Type: 4.5 Stars

Image credits: richint.com

“This was one of the best hotels we stayed in on our trip to Japan. An upgrade is advised to secure a large room, the entry level rooms are Tokyo small be warned, but the quality of the decor and great service were a stand out and the location is the icing on the cake – enjoy!”

Jamie35_5, United Arab Emirates

Image credits: flyertalk.com

“Understated entrances from the side exit of Tokyo station, but once inside, you’re in a different, much more upscale world. Rooms are lush and comfortable, although wished the bathtub and bathroom could be slightly larger but then again, this is Japan. Location is fantastic too amidst Tokyo station and its assortment of food / retail outlets.”

Jacjac29, Malaysia

Address: 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda 100-0005, Tokyo Prefecture

Website: www.thetokyostationhotel.jp

14. Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo

Tokyo

Type: 3.5 Stars

Image credits: ryumeikan-tokyo.jp

“It’s a Hotel which offers convenience, cleanliness and Service at an affordable price. Feeling is New and Contemporary. Staffs are courteous. Location is Excellent at 5 minutes walk from Tokyo Station. Book early to avoid disappointment and to get best rates. I will be back for sure.”

Sunil D, Singapore

Image credits: orbitz.com

“This hotel is in an excellent location — close to the subway lines and a major shopping area. The service, cleanliness, amenities and design of the hotel are all outstanding. Helpful, efficient staff and spacious rooms are two particular highlights. We will stay here again on our next trip. This is a gem of a hotel that you’d tell your friends about.”

DJR1111, Canada

Address: 1-3-22 Yaesu, Chuo 103-0028, Tokyo Prefecture

Website: ryumeikan-tokyo.jp

15. Sierra Resort Hotel Hakuba

Hakuba-mura, Nagano

Type: 4 Stars

Image credits: sierrahakuba.com

“The hotel staffs were very welcoming; although a bit challenged with communicating in English. The hotel grounds were beautifully landscaped and you could even sit in the lower lobby and gaze at the forest in the evening while enjoying a glass of complementary local wine. The resort had two new smaller ‘private’ onsens in addition to their main men-women separate onsen. Our trip to Hakuba and the stay at the Sierra Resort Hotel was amazing.”

TerraNomad, China

Image credits: sierrahakuba.com

“This property is so beautiful. The staffs are fantastic and English speaking. Whatever I asked for or requested they helped in every way. The beds where comfortable, very clean room. Not great internet connection but you have to think about where you are.”

Lee E, Australia

Address: Ochikura Kogen, Kitaazumi-gun, Hakuba-mura 399-9301, Nagano Prefecture

Website: sierrahakuba.com

16. Sheraton Hotel Hiroshima

Hiroshima

Type: 4 Stars

Image credits: starwoodhotels.com

“The location is perfect when you’re travelling as it is right by Hiroshima Station. The rooms are very modern and clean. Buffet breakfast was nice with loads of choices. Staff was attentive too.”

kaymet, United Kingdom

Image credits: starwoodhotels.com

“Obviously western style this Sheraton is super modern, well designed and very comfortable. At an upper floor we had a fantastic view over the city (and no noise at all from the train station below). Delicious European pastries are available for breakfast or tee. For a brief visit in the city, this is probably the best place to stay.”

FloBerndt, Germany

Address: 12-1 Wakakusacho, Higashi-ku, Hiroshima 732-0053, Hiroshima Prefecture

Website: www.sheraton-hiroshima.jp

17. Oriental Hotel

Kobe, Hyogo

Type: 4 Stars

Image credits: orientalhotel.jp

“Simply put one of the best hotels I’ve stayed in Japan. Rooms are tasteful decorated and very spacious. The breakfast buffet was great with a good selection of both European and Asian cuisines which are freshly cooked. Location was good only 15 minutes from Sannomiya JR which provides excellent links to Osaka. Would definitely stay here again in the future.”

Karimohm, Thailand

Image credits: plandosee.co.jp

“A very nice and charming hotel, about 600 m from Sannomiya station. The rooms are very nice. Huge by local standards. Very good wi-fi. Good airconditioning. Great breakfast. Fantastic service from the staff, which was very helpful. The price was very reasonable too, which came as a surprise, considering the services and room size.”

Arvid59, Norway

Address: 25 Kyomachi Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0034, Hyogo Prefecture

Website: www.orientalhotel.jp

18. Aqua Alpine Hotel

Hakuba-mura, Nagano

Type: Boutique

Image credits: aquaalpine.com

“Super friendly and helpful staff, clean rooms, delicious food…overall a great stay at the Aqua Alpine! This lovely hotel is very conveniently located, only a few minutes by foot from nearest ski resort. I’ve stayed here before and would definitely stay here again!”

EvMarAm, Japan

Image credits: aquaalpine.com

“Everything you could want from a hotel in a ski resort – great food, comfy beds, heating, soft carpets, a well-stocked bar and a crackling log fire to cosy up in front of. Staff were friendly, knowledgable and attentive without being intrusive and it’s only a short walk from the slopes. Bailey’s hot chocolate made my day.”

thecurlsunfurl, United Kingdom

Address: 22203-151 Kamishiro, Kitaazumi-gun, Hakuba-mura 399-9211, Nagano Prefecture

Website: www.aquaalpine.com

19. The Peninsula Tokyo

Tokyo

Type: 5 Stars

Image credits: tokyo.peninsula.com

“We went through mails several times to check all the facilities in the room was suitable for our baby going with us. I feel so released to stay with them. Most of their staffs were so nice, but it is really a busy hotel with lots visitors, and I would like to be more patient especially in the heavy hours.”

he237, Taiwan

Image credits: tokyo.peninsula.com

“We had a full dressing room which was amazing, bathroom was amply large with every amenity you could think of at your fingertips. Sound proofing of the room was exceptional I never heard any road noise despite being in the centre of Tokyo. Bed and linen were excellent – every morning with the blackout curtains I could have slept all day! “

tripticnz, New Zealand

Address: 1-8-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda 100-0006, Tokyo Prefecture

Website: tokyo.peninsula.com

20. Royal Park Hotel

Kyoto

Type: 3 Stars

Image credits: sg.hotels.com

“I really recommend this place, transports are expensive in Japan and if you stay here you will save some money, and you can explore by foot all at this area. Many places to eat, the market is also close to the hotel, and after a tired day it feels good to have a nice bed to sleep.”

Lucy1616_12, Portugal

Image credits: yado.knt.co.jp

“The hotel is brand new and has a dark but nice design throughout the hotel. The staff is quite helpful and can speak English quite well. The rooms are small, which is standard in Japan, but layout is very good. Restaurants and shopping are next door and the subway is a very short walk away from the hotel. All in all I can highly recommend this hotel to any visitor to this beautiful city.”

Mr_selo, Austria

Address: Higashiiru Kawaramachi Sanjodori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8004, Kyoto Prefecture

Website: www.rph-the.co.jp

Also read: 16 Things Japan Does Better Than Your Country

Contributed by tsunagu Japan.

Cuteness Overload: 10 ‘Kawaii’ Things to Do in Tokyo

December 24, 2015, 2:00 pm August 25, 2016, 5:52 pm

Peter Schimke Peter is a freelance writer and author of the novel ‘Beyond Blue’. He has travelled extensively over the past decade and for some reason ends up where there are no tourists to be found. Cocktail bars, bookstores and skate parks are the places you might run into him. He currently calls Singapore his home, as he his banned from Shinjuku, Tokyo (after publishing his book).

If you don’t know what ‘kawaii’ is, then you should start paying attention. ‘Kawaii’ literally translates into ‘cute’, but stands for so much more. The word has its very own lifestyle – everything can be ‘kawaii’, even you.

If you’re visiting Tokyo, never miss the chance to experience all things ‘kawaii’ in this bustling metropolis.

1. Chill out at Kiki & Lala Café

Image credit: Valeri-DBF

Just a few minutes walk from Shibuya station, this café is the ‘kawaii’ overkill. There is simply nothing that isn’t themed. It is so popular that you might even have to wait to get in. But don’t be fooled, people will stand in line for hours in order to get in, as the café awaits with selfie opportunities and pink-everything. Besides coffee and desserts in the colours and shapes of Kiki & Lala, you can also buy all kinds of merchandise that you didn’t know existed.

2. Enjoy anime shopping at Mandarake

Image credit: Dushan Hanuska

If you know anything about manga and anime at all, then this store is on destination list for Tokyo. Mandarake is the biggest manga and anime store in the world. You can get anything from books and films to costumes and games. Even if you are not into those all, it is well worth visiting the store and walking through the endless corridors filled with outlandish stuff.

Also read: Places in Tokyo to Enjoy a Budget-Friendly Trip

3. Watch short anime films at Studio Ghibli Museum

Image credit: 威翰 陳

It is the most famous Japanese animation studio and loved around the world – not only by anime fans. Films like Princess Mononoke, Ponyo and Spirited Away have enriched the imagination of kids everywhere. The Studio Ghibli museum was designed by Hayao Miyazaki himself and offers an insight into the world of how these films were made. One can also watch a few short films that were not released. If you have seen and liked any of their films, you should take the ‘kawaii’ time and go.

4. Take a purikura photo

Image credit: jpellgen

Let me warn you that once you take a purikura picture, it probably won’t be the last one. If you are a Japanese schoolgirl, it is a must-do activity after school. However, the trend is widening amongst travellers and the average visitor. It is a unique photo opportunity in any aspect. Choose colours, backgrounds, funny gimmicks and much more in order to pimp your photos.

5. Visit the Hachiko statue

Image credit: jpab29

Yes, it is a statue of a dog but the story behind it is super ‘kawaii’. There used to be a dog that came to pick up his master every day at Shibuya station, even after his master had died in 1925, the dog kept coming to the station for ten more years – until he sadly died himself. In honour of his dedication, the city put up a statue of the dog next to the station. Earlier 2015, the new statue was revealed at campus of the University of Tokyo. The legend of the dog is huge in Japan, so don’t fail to pay your respects.

6. Go café-hopping at Shimokitazawa

Image credit: Cafe Hammock Tribe

This Tokyo neighbourhood is filled with curious cafes, starting with the Rabbit Café and the Rainbow Café. All of which are of course totally themed and styled. The Darwin Room is another spot to hit up. Here you cannot only find out more about the evolution, but digest all the information in the ‘kawaii’ café. On top of your café list for Shimokitazawa should be Café Hammock Tribe. Inspired by the beach and Asian cuisines, one can relax here perfectly – guess in what?

Also read: Top 15 Cafes to Visit in Tokyo

7. Munch on animal doughnuts

Image credit: Valeri-DBF

It is vegetarian friendly – don’t worry. Doughnuts at Floresta in Koenji have suddenly become the hype in Tokyo. Japanese always have been crazy about doughnuts, but the animal doughnuts are a level higher. Fully glazed in all kinds of colours, each single piece is either shaped or decorated as a cute animal. Well, to be fair – some of them don’t look like animals at all, but rather like a strange comic character.

8. Rent a kawaii kimono

Image credit: Tokyo Kawaii Musée

Have ever wondered what it would be like to walk around in a kimono? But you have never dared to go into a proper shop? Well, now you have the chance to rent a ‘kawaii’ kimono. Unlike the traditional ones, these ‘kawaii’ versions come in more colourful patterns and prints. Tokyo Kawaii Musée is a specialised kimono rental service with hundreds of different specimen. Take a look and try a few.

Also read: 13 Experiences Every Traveller Must Have in Japan

9. Get a dose of anti-loneliness

Image credit: Alícia Roselló Gené

The Moomin café has been around for a few years, but suddenly blow up in 2014. The point of going to one of these cafes is that you won’t be eating alone; you will have a plush companion sitting opposite you. Your partner will be Moonin, who is a character from a Swedish comic and extremely popular in Japan. The café wasn’t created just for fun, but rather to help people who always eat alone.

10. Dress up like a lovely maid

Image credit: Maison de Julietta

Instead of going to a maid café in Tokyo, you can become one yourself. Maison de Julietta specialises in maid-makeovers, including hair, makeup and costumes. Perhaps not every guy loves the idea of becoming a maid, but you will be surprised how many girls are totally into it. If you want to take some crazy pictures in very strange costumes – here comes the perfect opportunity.

Also read: Tokyo Bucket List: 20 Challenges For Your Next Trip

How to Plan a 4D3N Hong Kong DIY Trip

December 9, 2015, 8:00 am August 25, 2016, 5:54 pm

Tristan Jay Correa TJ is working as a program producer in a radio station but his alter ego “Travel Jock” keeps his feet uncontrollable as if wanting to explore the world with freedom and independence. His heart and mind are currently battling if he should stay on a stable career with limited vacation leaves or embark on a risky journey of travelling the wo​rld with no limits. He just started his simple blog Travel Jock.

My Christmas gift for my brother Terence is his first out-of-the-country trip. I want him to experience a first world country in an affordable budget. Hong Kong is a developed Special Administrative Region of China where it boasts commercialism and tourist-friendly aura. It is a fusion of modern and cultural complexity - from skyscrapers to temples, from cheap shopping haven to signature brands, and from Chinese cuisine to diverse gastronomic desires. True enough, he enjoyed. So I want to share how we did our 4 days, 3 nights Hong Kong DIY  trip.

1. Book a promo fare

Thank you to budget airlines we can fly to Hong Kong for affordable prices. If you are living in the Philippines or any Southeast Asian Country, you can avail of budget tours or promo fare from Cebu Pacific, Air Asia and Philippine Airlines. There are as low as PHP 2,000 all-in round trip fares if you get lucky.

#TravelJockTip:  They throw promos around 12 midnight so if you are insomniac, make sure to visit their websites.

Also read: 8 Tricks to Successfully Grab Cheap Promo Flights in the Philippines

2. Book an accommodation at your preferred location

Hong Kong is not that big so whether you choose any location, you can still work your way anywhere through their gold standard transportation system. I stayed in Tsim Sha Tsui area and this is also my recommendation because you can have good but affordable hotel or hostels. Tsim Sha Tsui is also a shopping haven where you can find a street of signature brands and another street of giant bazaar with cheap products. It’s a walking district worthy of your time. It's also where you can find the Avenue of Stars, similar to Hollywood’s walk of fame.

#TravelJockTip: You can book through Agoda.com or Booking.com, there are good deals especially for credit card holders.

3. Research for attractions or tourist spots

Avenue of Stars

The Avenue of Stars is HK’s version of Hollywood Walk of Fame. Catch Bruce Lee’s statue and other Asian stars' commemorative plaques and enjoy a panoramic view of the skyscrapers. You may also check the Promenade and the Clock Tower here.

#TravelJockTip: At 8 pm, you can catch the Symphony of Lights for free at the Promenade.

Hong Kong Disneyland

Of course, the happiest place on earth is also franchised in Hong Kong, and you don’t wanna miss it for your second childhood especially if you have kids along with you. For HKD 499 (PHP 3,500), you can enjoy a whole magical day. Access it thru MTR Disneyland Resort Station. More details at Hong Kong Disneyland.

#TravelJockTip: Don’t miss the parade and fireworks before it closes at 9 pm.

Also read: Hong Kong Disneyland: Magic for the Whole Family

The Peak

Image credit: Hstoffels

The highest peak in Hong Kong Island, The Peak boasts the amazing view of HK’s skyline. Enjoy the thrilling ride of the Peak Tram going to the highest point bundle with Sky Terrace ticket for HKD 83 (PHP 500).

#TravelJockTip: Bring a jacket or sweater to protect you from the cool breeze.

Image credit: Filzstift

Image credit: Jakub Hałun

Ngong Ping 360

Explore Ngong Ping Village with the renowned Big Buddha, Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping Piazza and Wisdom Path. Your journey starts by 25-minute cable car ride from Tung Chung that costs HKD 165 (PHP 1,000). It will give you a perfect bird’s eye view of Lantau Island.

#TravelJockTip: If you don't have a big budget, just simply take a bus for HKD 30 (PHP 180). Buses also start at Tung Chung Terminal.

Also read: Morning in Hong Kong: 10 Things to Do Before Your Hotel Check-In

Visit the nearby Macau

If you have an extra day, make sure to visit Macau with just an hour ferry away. The fare costs between HKD 130-170 (PHP 790-1,000) for a single trip. Explore the best casinos and hotels like The Venetian Macao, Grand Lisboa, MGM, Wynn, etc. Don’t forget to see the historical attractions such as the Ruins of St. Paul, Monte Fortress, St. Dominic Church and Senado Square.

#TravelJockTip: Ride the free shuttle service of casinos from Macau ferry terminal.

Ocean Park

Image credit: Jackl

I didn’t go to Ocean Park because I’m not really fond of theme parks but it is also something special. With HKD 345 (PHP 2,500), you can enjoy marine-life theme park and fun rides.

4. Familiarise yourself with the transportation system

The best transport system in the world and has been the standard, Hong Kong’s  Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is very impressive with its interconnected subway, touch and go fare system called the Octopus, on-time trains, glass doors blocking the tracks and friendly signage.

From the airport, you can take a bus or the Airport Express Train to the city proper but for those who don't mind spending more, you can take a taxi.

Bus

Popular double-decker bus offers great views of the city and very comfortable with a space for your luggage. Bus routes cover almost all of Hong Kong. Fares are based on distance travelled and exact amount is required if paying by cash. Octopus cards are accepted on all buses in Hong Kong.

Ferry

Image credit: Daniel Case

It’s nice to experience short distance ferry from Hongkong Island to Kowloon since HK is a coastal city. You get a good view of both islands for an affordable price. You may want to check out Star Ferry.

Image credit: Minghong

Tram

Image credit: Leesia

These double-decker streetcars have been travelling through Hong Kong’s busiest thoroughfares since 1904, and they continue to be an affordable and fun way to get around. No matter how far you travel, each tram ride costs a flat fare of HKD 2.30 (PHP 14). Exact amount is required if you are paying by cash.

#TravelJockTip: Review the bus and train stops and check what Exit you should take.

Also read: Hong Kong Bucket List: 20 Things Every Traveller Must Do

5. Make an itinerary

There are people who want spontaneity in their trip, but if you happen to be like me who plans everything, here’s my sample itinerary.

#TravelJockTip: Research the attractions you want to visit and check the location, put together in one day the attractions with the same location to have a good time management.

6. Pack light

Since it's 4 days, you can pack light and plan your clothing. I maybe the semi-backpacker type, but I tried to wear stylish comfortable clothes. If your day will start in a cold area, plan to wear sweater or jacket, but if you are planning to go to theme parks or have a walk in the city, try rubber shoes and comfy t-shirts.

#TravelJockTip: Don’t pack your jacket, just hand carry it to give ample space for other stuff.

Also read: 10 Useless Things You Should Stop Packing For Your Trip

7. Have fun

Bring smile and patience for untoward incidents. Prepare plan B and C just in case something comes up.

Note: Budget will depend on the number of people and the places you to eat. Be prepared with more or less PHP per person. It should be enough with your pasalubong (souvenir gift).

Contributed by Travel Jock.

Macau for FREE: 17 Fun Things To Do that Cost Absolutely Nothing

July 26, 2016, 8:00 am August 25, 2016, 5:55 pm

Charmaine Acha Charmaine loves random weekend trips, technology and coffee. Guided by her travel mantra "chill and travel", she enjoys unplanned escapades without compromising leisure. Her free hours are spent reading a book, watching movies or thinking about her next possible adventure.

The moment my boyfriend snagged a cheap flight to Macau, I immediately reacted, “Macau again?! Why?”. We’ve been to Macau in 2012 and going there AGAIN didn’t quite appeal to me. I thought I’d regret visiting Macau again, but I guess, like LOVE, it is sweeter the second time around. *insert flying hearts here*

But seriously, I truly enjoyed Macau so much more than expected. Why? Because we experienced a LOT of FUN activities there for FREE. Don’t be discouraged by Macau’s reputation as an expensive city because I tell you, it’s NOT! Read on to know the fun things you can do in Macau without spending a single dollar or peso.

Also read: 3-Day Macao Itinerary: Top Things to See and Do to Experience the Best of the City

1. Hop on a free shuttle

Major hotels in Macau have free shuttle services to and from the airport, border gate or ferry terminal. It was already quite late when we arrived so there were no more free shuttles, but we hopped on one on our last day, from The Venetian to the airport.

Free shuttle services usually run from 10:00 AM to 10:30 PM. Also, you don’t have to stay at one of the hotels to ride their free shuttles. Just hop on a shuttle at a hotel that’s near your location.

2. Drop your luggage at any major hotel or casino

Arrived too early for check in? No worries! Most hotels and casinos have free luggage service where you can just drop your things even if you’re not staying in that particular hotel. Yay! Say goodbye to your heavy stuff for a while and enjoy your free time luggage-free!

3. Go hotel hopping

If you’ve dropped your luggage in a hotel at the Taipa area, it would be wise to hop from one hotel to another! Hotels are interconnected and some are just walking distance from each other. From The Venetian, walk your way to other resorts and hotels nearby like the City of Dreams, The Galaxy, The Parisian (still under construction), Sands Cotai Central, Sheraton, Holiday Inn, St. Regis, Grand Hyatt, Four Seasons and many others.

Don’t be intimidated by the luxurious ambience of these hotels, just walk into their lobby and explore! Most of the hotels also have shopping centres of their own, which brings us to #4.

Also read: 5 Amazing Hotel Experiences in Macao That’ll Make You Come Back for More

4. “Window Shop” till you drop

Frugals like me rejoice! You can definitely window shop to your heart’s content in Macau! I did this all the time. From glistening jewelleries to super expensive designer clothes and bags -- I can only stare in delight and slightly (really just slightly) wish to buy them. *wink*

5. Act like a PRO gambler in a casino

Yes, you can act, feel and experience the life of a real gamer or gambler at any grand casino in Macau. You can enter for free even if you do not intend to play, so long as you’re 18 and above. Do note that some casinos observe a strict dress code so ask or observe before you enter.

6. Do your own walking tour

There are so many guided city tours available in Macau, but why pay for a tour guide when you can just walk around the city on your own? With a trusty map by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), you can follow the trail that leads you to different sites and attractions. Thanks to our Airbnb host for providing all the materials for us.

7. Hunt down all the heritage sites of the Historic Centre of Macau

Not to brag about it, but BF and I managed to visit 24 heritage sites scattered around the UNESCO inscribed Historic Centre of Macau. We only missed the Guia Fortress. Would you believe that? It was like a treasure hunt game for us.

Also read: Macao beyond Casinos: 9 Beautiful Heritage Sites That You Should Visit

Here’s a detailed map for your DIY Historic Tour:

8. Catch REAL Pokemons

Pokemon Go is coming really soon in Asia. While you’re patiently waiting for its official release, you can catch – I mean spot – REAL pokemons in Macau!

Look, here’s Squirtle!

We actually found this cute turtle in a pond outside the Casa Garden

I choose you Krabby!

At a seafood restaurant in the Old Taipa Village

9. Sample delightful delicacies

Who doesn’t love free food? As you walk towards the iconic Ruins of St. Paul’s, many vendors would invite you to taste their products. Don’t be shy -- pick, taste, and if you don’t like it, just walk away. Of course, don’t forget to say thank you!

Also read: 10 Delicious Food You Must Eat in Macau

10. Get free souvenirs

As you explore the city, you’ll also get free souvenirs along the way. Free CDs, free pens, free discount cards or free fans. I got a free fan at Gongbei Port, and a CD at the Museum of Macao.

The fan not only saved my life from the sweltering heat, it also makes for a good souvenir since I don’t want to buy a memorabilia for myself. Yes, #FrugalForever!

11. Step into mainland China at Gongbei Port, Zhuhai

And talking about Gongbei Port where I got my saviour fan, did you know that some nationals can cross the border from Macau to Zhuhai, China through this port? Unfortunately for us, Filipinos are not eligible for a Visa on Arrival, even for day trip to its Special Economic Zone (S.E.Z.). Well technically, we already stepped into mainland China when we exited Macau and entered the Zhuhai border even though we did not get to pass through.

The visa requirements change from time to time so it’s best to check your respective embassies. For Filipinos, click here.

12. Exercise in a playground

You may join the locals in sweating out those extra calories with the use of their public park facilities. How I wish we have the same number of free workout facilities in public spaces here in the Philippines.

Also read: 12 Kid-Friendly Parks and Play Spaces in the Philippines

13. Learn Tai Chi from the local masters

Locals practicing Tai Chi in a public park is a common sight in Macau. Why don’t you join them? This is another fun and unique way to burn those fats. We did not dare to disturb the locals who were doing Tai Chi when we were there, but it’s definitely worth a try!

14. Study in a public library

Bibliophiles and geeks, this one’s for you! At Sir Robert Ho Tung Library, there are rooms and spaces for you to read a book, study and contemplate. Plus, there’s free WiFi and electricity if you ever need to plug your laptops, tablets and other gadgets for studying purposes. The facilities are totally for FREE. BF and I wish to live in Macau because of this.

15. Visit museums

Museums with nominal or even free admissions are aplenty in Macau. At first I thought visiting museums in Macau is boring, but I was wrong. Their museums are highly interactive, visually-pleasing and never BORING. We ended up staying for long hours in museums. To know the official list of museums in Macau, click here.

16. Catch the sunset at Fortaleza do Monte (Mount Fortress)

After your photo ops at the Ruins of St. Paul’s, head straight to the Mount Fortress located just beside the Ruins. On top, you’ll see the remains of old cannons and watchtowers which were used in the 17th century to protect the city from foreign invaders. Today, visitors here may enjoy a panoramic view of Macau, do some exercises or wait for the stunning sunset. Mount Fortress also houses the Museum of Macau, so if you’re too early for sunset viewing, you may kill time and learn something concurrently inside the museum.

17. Get LOST

Seriously?! Who wants to get lost? Yes, getting lost while travelling could really test your limits -- physically, mentally and emotionally. But for me, the pain is truly worth it! This is the BEST and most unconventional way of experiencing the REAL Macau. You get to explore the remote alleys with quirky finds, taste authentic, non-commercialised food, and best of all, you get to truly immerse in the locals’ way of life, behind all the glitz and glamour of this grand city.

Also read: 7 Exciting Events and Festivals in Macao You Don’t Want to Miss

There you have it! I hope these free activities will add more colour and excitement to your Macau trip soon! Enjoy! :)

10 Foodies-Approved Yummies in Macau That Leave You Wanting More

September 5, 2014, 11:00 am August 25, 2016, 5:55 pm

Evans Tang Evans Tang is an idealist who is deeply passionate about life. He loves good food, travelling, reading philosophy, writing, playing music, exercising, and hanging out with loved ones. He is the co-founder of Eat and Travel With Us, a Food and Travel website based in Singapore.

Getting around Macau is so easy that it makes a food trail a must-do activity. Besides, most hotels provide free shuttle services. Galaxy Hotel (on Taipa Island), in particular, provides shuttle services to many places in Macau. Otherwise, you can always grab a cab easily at the airport, ferry terminal, hotels, or even along the roads.

Now that we've got the transport settled, it's time for the real stuff: 10 Foodies-Approved Yummies that show you what Macau food really is! I've categorised my recommendations according to the four main locations: Taipa Village, Senado Square, The Venetiao Macao, and Sands Cotai Central.

Taipa Village

1. Seng Cheong Restaurant (誠昌飯店)

Seng Cheong Restaurant (城昌饭店) is a popular Chinese restaurant located at Rua do Cunha Street in Old Taipa Village. It is known for its signature dish: the Crab Congee. It also serves Frog Leg Congee. Raevian and I ordered the Deep Fried Squid Balls, the Deep Fried Salted Frog Legs, and for me, a bottle of ice-cold San Miguel Beer.

The fried squid balls were quite good but the fried frog legs were sinfully delicious. Fried to a crisp, they are juicy and tasty and I really enjoyed the wonderful flavour of the meat. The San Miguel beer (founded in Philippines but brewed in Hong Kong) has a bittersweet flavor with a smooth texture, and goes perfectly with our fried finger foods. It is also very cheap. We did not order the crab congee as even the small serving (HKD 150 / approx. SGD 24) was too much for two people. However, we regretted this on hindsight and will definitely order it the next time we visit Macau.

28 – 30 Rua Do Cunha, Taipa, Macau

官也街28-30 號

Tel: (853) 2882 5323

Opening Hours: 12pm to 12am (daily)

2. Koi Kei Bakery (鉅記手信)

If you have a sweet tooth for pastries, Koi Kei Bakery will be heaven for you. This purveyor of almond cakes, egg rolls, crunchy peanut candies and beef/pork jerky is renowned for its delicious pastries. What I like about them is their innovative spirit in coming up with new varieties of pastries that combines tradition with modern flair (e.g. Almond Cake with Shredded Pork, Almond Cookie with Chocolate, Pheonix Egg Roll with Seaweed and Shredded Pork). In addition to producing more types of tasty pastries, this approach also helps to cater to the taste of the younger generation and preserve the existence of traditional Chinese pastries.

Koi Kei has sixteen branches in Macau, seven in Hong Kong, and while writing this article we found out they have one in Singapore too! It’s cheaper to buy the pastries in Macau than in Hong Kong. We’ll be visiting the Singapore branch soon to check out the prices there. Raevian and I visited the Taipa (Macau) branch and bought several boxes of the “Phoenix Egg Roll with Seaweed and Shredded Pork Jerky Gift Set”, the “Long Egg Roll” and the “Almond Cookie with Lard”. The varieties that we bought were hand-produced and were slightly more expensive than the factory-produced ones. Based on tasting the samples in the store, my advice is to get the hand-produced pastries as they taste a lot better for the little extra money you pay. As for the egg rolls and almond cookies we bought, the only complaint we had was that we couldn’t buy more due to our limited luggage space! Koi Kei pastries are delicious and you must definitely buy some if you’re in Hong Kong / Macau.

46-50 Rua Do Cunha, Taipa, Macau

官也街46-50 號

Tel:（853）2882 7839

Opening Hours: 10am to 9pm (daily)

3. Tai Lei Loi Kei (大利來記)

Tai Lei Loi Kei (大利來記) serves the best pork chops I’ve ever tasted. Combine that wonderful slice of grilled meat with the crisp toasted bun, and you get a little piece of Pork Chop Bun heaven. The pork chop slice is sweet, fresh, succulent, tender, and it filled my mouth with savoury juices. The only thing that can taste better than a Tai Lei Loi Kei pork chop, is a Tai Lei Loi Kei pork chop bun. The toasted bun is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and whomever that came up with the idea of the pork chop/bun combination is truly a gourmet genius. (There is also a branch in the Venetian indoor mall, but it doesn’t taste nearly as good as the one at Taipa Village)

18, Largo Governador Tamagnini Barbosa, Taipa, Macau

氹仔巴波沙前地18號

Tel: (853) 2882 7150

Opening Hours: 6.30am to 6pm (daily)

4. Pui Kei Café (沛记)

Pui Kei Café (沛记) is a hole-in-the-wall establishment famous for its signature dish, the “Crispy Pork Chop Noodles”. However, it does not have regular opening hours so you may not find it open when you visit.

25 Rua Do Cunha, Taipa, Macau

官也街25號

5. “O Santos” Comida Portuguesa (山度士葡式餐廳)

This cosy restaurant serves authentic Portuguese cuisine at a reasonable price. The menu is straightforward and the restaurant provides good service.

20 Rua Do Cunha, Taipa, Macau

官也街09 號

Tel: (853) 2882 5594

6. Mok Yi Kei (莫義記)

Do remember to save some space in your stomach for the desserts at Mok Yi Kei. This well-known dessert store is famous for its durian ice-cream and sawdust pudding. It also has a wide variety of other desserts to indulge your gustatory senses.

9 Rua Do Cunha, Taipa, Macau

官也街09 號

Tel: (853) 2882 5440

Opening Hours: 7am to 11pm (daily)

Directions to Taipa Village

The above six eateries are all situated near each other in Taipa Village. In fact, five of them (“Seng Cheong Restaurant”, “Koi Kei Bakery”, “Pui Kei Café”, “Mok Yi Kei”, and “O Santos Comida Portuguesa”) are all located on Rua Do Cunha street, and the remaining “Tai Lei Loi Kei” is just a five-minute walk away from Rua Do Cunha. Therefore, it would make sense to try all of these eateries in one visit.

Method One: You can easily reach Taipa Village by walking from Galaxy Hotel. It will take about fifteen minutes. Click here for directions. If you are unsure, you can check with the friendly Galaxy Hotel staff. There used to be a shuttle service between Galaxy Hotel and Taipa Village but it has been discontinued.

Method Two: Otherwise, you can catch a cab from the airport, the ferry terminal, your hotel, or simply flag a cab along the streets. Raevian and I found the Macau cab fares reasonable and they only charge by the meter (instead of quoting you a random overpriced amount like in some countries).

You can refer to this map to get a better idea.

Senado Square

7. Wong Chi Kei (黃枝記粥麵)

Wong Chi Kei (黃枝記粥麵) is situated at Senado Square, which is about 5 kilometres away from Taipa Village. Raevian and I took a fifteen-minute cab ride from Taipa to reach here. This famous Chinese restaurant has a long history with its first shop opened in 1946. Its signature dish is the famous “Braised Egg Noodles with Shrimp Roe”, which we ate with prawn dumplings. We also tried their deep fried dumplings.

17 Largo do Senado, Macau

澳門議事亭前地17號

Tel (853) 2833 1313

Opening Hours: 8am – 12am (daily)

8. Magaret’s Cafe e Nata (玛嘉烈蛋挞)

This bakery is famous for its Portuguese egg tarts and is a strong competitor of Lord Stow’s Bakery and Cafe (see below). Many people rate this as a must-try in Macau.

Gum Loi Building, Rua Alm Costa Cabral R/C

Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, Macau

新馬路馬統領街金利來大廈17B地舖

Tel: (852) 2871 0032

Opening Hours: 6.30am to 10pm (Closed on Wednesdays)

Directions to Senado Square

Wong Chi Kei and Magaret’s Cafe e Nata are both situated at Senado Square.

Method One: You can take a shuttle bus from Galaxy Hotel to “San Ma Lo (新馬路)” (Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro). From there, just walk two minutes to Senado Square.

Method Two: If you are going from Taipa Village, you can grab a cab from the Rua do Cunha taxi-stand in Taipa Village to reach here. It will be a fifteen-minutes ride. You will travel across the bridge from Taipa Island (where Taipa Village is situated) to Macau Peninsula (where Senado Square is situated).

Method Three: Lastly, you can catch a cab from the airport, the ferry terminal, your hotel, or just flag a cab along the streets. We found the Macau cab fares reasonable.

The Venetian Macao

9. Lord Stow’s Bakery and Café

Raevian and I made sure to try the famous Portuguese egg tarts sold by Lord Stow’s Bakery and Café as we had read many rave reviews online. We visited the branch at the huge Venetian mall. Personally, I am not a big fan of egg tarts, as they taste a little too rich for my liking. However, Lord Stow’s egg tarts made me a convert. All their egg tarts are served freshly baked from the oven.

The flaky puff buttery crust, combined with the hot creamy egg custard in the centre, brought life back to a guy who had spent the past two hours trudging through endless rows of luxury brand shops. The egg tart has a perfect balance of flavours, with the savoury crust perfectly complimenting the sweet aroma of the egg custard. The only thing better than one Lord Stow’s egg tart, is six Lord Stow’s egg tarts; captivated by the delicious taste, Raevian and I bought half a dozen Lord Stow’s egg tarts for our breakfast the next day. However, I would recommend eating them upon purchase, as they are served freshly baked.

The Grand Canal Shoppes, Venetian

Level 3 Unit 2119a

Tel: (853) 2886 6889

Opening Hours: 10am to 11pm (opens till 12am on Friday and Saturday)

(The Original Bakery)

1 Rua da Tassara, Coloane

Tel: (853) 2888 2534

Opening Hours: 7am to 10pm daily

Directions to the Venetian Macao

You can easily reach Venetian via any of the free shuttle services provided by the various Macau hotels. Also, Venetian, Four Seasons, Sands Cotai Central and City of Dreams are all within walking distance of each other. Once you reach the Venetian mall, you can use the mall directory brochure to find your way to the cafe.

Sands Cotai Central

10. Yum Cha at Sands Cotai Central

Yum Cha is a dim sum restaurant situated at the Sands Cotai Central, which is a casino resort consisting of Conrad Hotel, Sheraton Hotel, and Holiday Inn. We were looking for a breakfast venue and were dangerously close to choosing McDonalds when we saw this restaurant. We decided to give it a try as we knew it’s difficult to find bad dim sum in Macau/Hong Kong. Indeed, the Yum Cha dim sums were all up to the mark. We ordered standard dim sum fare: har gao (shrimp dumplings), siew mai (pork dumplings), century egg congee, shrimp rice roll, and carrot cake. All of them tasted pretty good and I especially liked the century egg congee. Overall, we had a satisfactory breakfast. Most importantly, it passed muster with Raevian, as I have long learned that a hungry Raevian is an angry Raevian.

Directions to Sands Cotai Central

Similar to the Venetian Macao, you can easily reach Sands Cotai Central via any of the free shuttle services provided by the various Macau hotels. As mentioned earlier, Venetian, Four Seasons, Sands Cotai Central and City of Dreams are all within walking distance of each other. Yum Cha is located near the East Lobby of Sands Cotai Central, close to the Sheraton Hotel casino.

And that's a wrap! Don't forget to visit these places when you're in Macau! And feel free to drop us a comment on delicacies that we've missed!

Contributed by Eat and Travel with Us.

How I Spent a Deliciously Awesome Day in Hanoi on a Food Tour

July 1, 2016, 9:00 am August 25, 2016, 5:56 pm

Irene Justin Maligat Irene Maligat falls in love easily - with people, with places, and with experiences. Her main goal in life is to inspire and empower a lot of people through travel and the value of gratitude. She gratefully writes inspiring articles at Inspiring Grateful Travels.

When in Vietnam, try having a food adventure for one whole day.  

This is what I did during my trip to Hanoi, Vietnam. I wanted to experience dedicating a day during my solo travels to food. I wanted to try a food tour!

Also read: How I Travelled 2 Days in Hanoi for PHP 12,000 (All-In)

I wanted to take my travel experiences with food to a whole new level by stepping up from just having breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner at food stalls or restaurants in my itineraries. I wanted to experience buying food from the market, hearing country facts about the history and culture of the food, interaction with locals and other travellers,  cooking it for myself, realising the value and effort put into a meal, before actually eating and savouring it to the last bite.

As I was solo, I joined 2 food group tours with Vietnam Awesome Travel that took up almost 10-11 hours of my day. Here are some details about the tours and my awesome experiences as well.

From 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM, I went on my first food tour which was called Awesome Home Stay Cooking Class. My expense for this tour was around PHP 1,750+ (USD 35).

The food tour includes the following:

Pick-up and drop-off from/to accommodation & home stay

Short language lesson

Bikes for the wet market

Wet market shopping

Cooking lessons and food preparation  

Lunch

Recipes

The tour guide picked me up at exactly 8:00 AM. We headed first to one of the most popular coffee shops in old quarter and had the very famous, egg coffee. It tasted so good. It was really creamy, tasty, and smooth. As my other tour mates were asked to be picked up at around 8:30 AM, I had a great time chatting with the tour guide over coffee. We exchanged backgrounds, our travel experiences, and stories about past tours with guests. I really loved that the guide was friendly and accommodating.

After picking up 3 more Americans to complete our group, we had a 10-minute van ride to the home stay. After a few introductions, we were given a list of commonly said phrases in Vietnamese that would normally be said at the wet market. We were taught how to greet sellers, ask how much the products were, and how to haggle prices. It was really fun because we each had to recite and try to memorize the phrases.

When we were ready, we rode bikes to the market wearing the traditional Vietnamese hat. It was a 10 minute bike ride. The wet market was comparable to the ones here in the Philippines, there was just a lot of scooters or motorbikes around so we had to be careful when crossing. Our tour guide made us buy ingredients and haggle prices. It was really fun because the sellers were smiling or kind of making fun of us. I feel like this is how Americans feel when they try hard to speak Filipino in public places.

After the wet market, we rode our bikes back and started cooking and prepping our lunch. We made caramelized pork stew, spring rolls, banana flower salad, summer pork rolls, and stir fried vegetables. All of us had the chance to cook and prepare each item from the menu.  

Also read: A Look Into Hanoi’s Bizarre Local Markets

At our lunch table, the staff added sweet mangoes and some salads with noodles. EVERYTHING TASTED SO GOOD. The lunch was amazing as well as I had the chance to interact more with my tour mates. We enjoyed the fruits of our labour in front of an amazing view of the Red River and Eiffel Bridge.

Filling my day with an egg coffee, pleasantries with the guide and my tour mates, a language lesson, a fun Hanoi wet market experience, cooking and preparing varieties of Vietnamese food, and enjoying the food and company for around 6 hours was definitely worth it!

From 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM, I went on my second and last food tour for the day which was called Food On Foot Tour. My expense for this tour was around PHP 1,000+ (USD 20).

The food tour includes the following:

Pick-up and drop-off from/to accommodation & food streets

8 food stops

Can you imagine eating 8 times in just 5 hours? I couldn’t imagine it at first when I booked the tour but in the end, it was all worth it!

When I was picked up at 6:00 PM, I was still full from my morning food tour. I didn’t know if I could really stomach in more food but I already booked the tour so I had to maximize it. The street food tour group involved a lot more people compared to my morning food tour. We were 9 including our very enthusiastic guide.

In each food stop, our guide really shared a lot about the food. Its history, how it is made, how popular it is, how significant, and how we should eat them.

EACH FOOD STOP WAS DELICIOUSLY AMAZING! I even forgot that I felt full from my first food tour. We had vegetables with beans and sprouts, sugar cane, fish, vegetables, dessert, and a lot more.

I didn’t get the chance to write down all the things that we ate because I was busy getting to know my tour mates. They were from different countries like UK, Australia, Canada, and Belgium, and from varying age groups. It was really fun talking to each one. In each stop, we had a different seat mate so it was really a great chance to get to know each person in the group.

ALL THE FOOD WAS SO GOOD. The infusion of flavours in every bite was to die for. I never really liked vegetables but every vegetable dish we had, I couldn’t help but fall in love.

By the 6th stop, I was really getting full. Most of the dishes we had were from stalls at the famous streets in Old Quarter. Our 7th stop was at a restaurant. The order was a full course meal. I couldn’t really help but eat again because everything tasted so delicious. The restaurant had coconut wine and those who were brave enough were given a chance to try the Scorpion rice wine.

Our supposedly last food stop was dessert. We went to a popular stall which served different iced desserts. I’m glad that this was really light because I was definitely full.

We still didn’t want the night to end so we stopped by the famous coffee shop I went to in the morning. They had their egg coffees and I decided to try a chocolate cream dessert. THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR DESSERT # 2.

After my first food tour in the morning, I didn’t know anything else could exceed my expectations, but the second food tour was just as amazing and more. I learned so much from the guide, the food, and from the guest travellers as well.

Vietnamese Awesome Travel really provides its customers with the best kinds of experiences. We, as travellers, really have to maximize each of these moments and learn as many lessons as we can from it.

Also read: 26 Reasons to Fall in Love with Hanoi

Have you tried going on a food tour? Share your experiences in the comments!

How I Travelled 2 Days in Hanoi for PHP 12,000 (All-In)

January 13, 2016, 11:00 am August 25, 2016, 5:58 pm

Irene Justin Maligat Irene Maligat falls in love easily - with people, with places, and with experiences. Her main goal in life is to inspire and empower a lot of people through travel and the value of gratitude. She gratefully writes inspiring articles at Inspiring Grateful Travels.

Contributed by Inspiriting Grateful Travels

My last backpacking travel for 2014! Hanoi is a great city! Lots of culture, great food & foreigners! One trip I’ll always be grateful for. :)

Noi Ba International Airport

Even though my flights were red eye, I still got to explore the airport as shops inside close until the last flight of the night.

Noi Ba Int’l Airport

There were a lot of souvenir shops of local products and duty free stores. Seats are a little cramped and there are too many people at a time.

One thing I hated about this airport is that check-in took SO LONG. I never thought I’d have the SLOWEST check-in ever in my life. In the Philippines, average check in would be at least 5-10 minutes. For this airport, it almost actually took 15 minutes per person to check in. The line was too long, only 3 check-in counters were open and each person took that long. Good thing I was early so I was about the 10th or 15th person to check-in.

Hanoi Sports Hotel

Entering Hanoi Sports Hotel

I stayed at Hanoi Sports Hotel which cost me PHP 300 per night. I booked a dorm room where about 6 people are staying. There is a bed, safety deposit box, lockers and curtains to cover your bed. There is also a bathroom that is shared by all people in the room. It was very clean and comfortable so the price was worth it.

Bottom bunk at Hanoi Sports Hotel

When I booked my room, I reserved for an all female room, but when I got there, they did not have any left so I had to stay in a mixed room which was a first for me. It was really awkward, too, because we had to share one bathroom. There was a blurred glass door separating the shower and the toilet so if I was taking a shower, any guy could just come in and see my blurred naked self taking a shower! Good thing that did not happen!

When I arrived I could not sleep! A couple was doing something crazy in the bed next to me. I just arrived from the airport, and I was really tired but they were really distracting, and no one else in the room seemed to be bothered by it except for me. It was really crazy. Overall, hostel was good. People at the reception were really nice and very accommodating of my queries.

Crossing the street

Before the Synchronised Chaos

I really need to emphasize this, because crossing the street in HANOI is DAMN CRAZY. In my first morning when I started to explore, my first stop was Hoan Kiem Lake. I walked from my hostel to this place. There were a few pedestrian crossings so as per my traditional norms, I stick to those crossings.

Also read: 10 Crazy Things that Every Traveller Should Do in Vietnam

As I was nearing the lake, I had to cross a very wide road. I noticed that there were no pedestrian stop lights. Cars and motorbikes just kept on coming. Lots of motorbikes! I was literally waiting for the cars or motorbikes to lessen or stop but it was not happening! So I observed my surroundings again. Locals were just crossing even if so many cars or motorbikes were coming. I didn’t read anything about this in my research. When a few locals were by my side, I decided to follow them because I wanted to cross so badly already.

It was so crazy – cars and motorbikes coming at you and locals were just walking normally looking like there were no cars that were about to hit them. Following locals was a good choice because, I got to reach the other end. For the next attempts, I was alone, some I did well, but some I got nervous so when I knew some of the vehicles were close, I hesitated so some of them swerved a little. That is when I knew I was wrong.

Meeting my tour guides/foreigner friends later on, they advised me that this was their culture, “A Synchronised Chaos.” The vehicles adjust to the person walking. The person just has to go. “JUST GO.” That’s their advice. It was crazy. The vehicles or motorbikes calculate your walking pace and they are the ones who adjust their movement. So if you stop or hesitate, they miscalculate and swerve. The idea is to JUST GO and walk at the normal pace. CRAZY CRAZY WAY TO CROSS THE STREET!

Hoan Kiem Sword Lake

Image credit: taylorandayumi

This is overrated. I mean yeah, it’s beautiful but the pictures did not really exceed expectations for me. It’s just a big lake with a small tower in the middle. In the pictures, it looked pretty big but in real life, it’s not. I mean it has a good legend about a king, but scenic wise, it’s just normal for me. People around the lake jogged, were exercising, reading books and just relaxing. It was a good stroll in the morning.

Turtle Tower at Hoan Kiem Sword Lake

Vietnam Awesome Travel – Awesome Homestay Cooking Class

I availed this tour, because it had a lot of activities. To start off the tour, the guide treated me to an egg coffee in the morning. It was so yummy! It was coffee with whipped egg & sugar on top. It was way better than Starbucks and cheaper too.

Egg Coffee!

After that, we met up with other foreigners from the States who joined the tour. We arrived at the restaurant and were taught Vietnamese language for 30 minutes. We were taught how to greet sellers, buy ingredients at the market, ask how much it was and haggle the price. After the language lesson, we rode bikes to the market wearing the traditional Vietnamese hat.

Bike & Hat! Very tourist-y of me.

It was really cool! I haven’t biked in a long time and it was such a good exercise in the morning. The wet market looked like the ones here in the Philippines.

Our tour guide let us talk to the sellers in Vietnamese and it was so much fun! I kept saying “Ziam Za” which means “discount please,” and they kept on giving us! I think they were making fun of how we were speaking, but it was really a cool experience. After buying all the ingredients, we biked back and started cooking in the kitchen. We made caramelised pork stew, spring rolls, banana flower salad, summer pork rolls and sweetened mangoes. They were all so good! I didn’t expect Vietnamese to be so damn good!

Also read: 26 Reasons to Fall in Love with Hanoi

Awesome Vietnamese Food

Hanoi Kids

Hanoi Kids is a non profit organization that was founded by college students. This is really cool! College students take some time to tour tourists for free!

With my Hanoi kid, Lana! Brought her some goodies from Manila! ;)

They do this to practice their English. I availed their tour and my Hanoi kid, LANA, took me to the Temple of Literature & Thang Long Puppet Theatre. Lana was very nice and very informative. She didn’t bore me, because the facts that she said were really cool. Even though I did not have to pay Lana for her tour, I had to pay for the expenses of the taxi, entrance fees, etc., but it was all worth it! The company was really great. I brought her dried mangoes & key chains from Manila so she could remember me. She has gone on a lot of tours with foreigners. She even has a notebook where she lets all her tourists write something for her.

Temple of Literature

Lana took me to the Temple of Literature

This was really nice, but since I’ve gone to a lot of temples already this was already typical for me. But each temple has a story to tell, which was really good to know. I’m glad I had Lana with me to explain the legends or history of all the things in the museum, otherwise I wouldn’t enjoy it as much.

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

This was really boring! I almost fell asleep! I couldn’t really appreciate this, because the show was in Vietnamese and it was about the history of Hanoi. I didn’t read beforehand on the history so I couldn’t really understand what was going on. They were just puppets dancing on water for me. Lana would just talk to me a few times and say some of the meaning, but I really did not appreciate it. Even the other old foreigners in front of me were sleeping.

I am still grateful though for the effort of the musicians playing, and those people behind the curtains.

Thang Long Theatre Puppet Show

Controlling the puppets is a good concept. Maybe if I was Vietnamese I would appreciate it more. Advice to myself, read up on history before watching shows like these!

Vietnam Awesome Travel – Street Foodie Tour

This was really amazing! This is the first ever food tour I had in my life! We ate and walked for 4 hours! I met up with my tour guide and she let me meet my food tour group. There were foreigners from the UK, Australia, Canada and Belgium.

Meeting new friends during this food tour!

This was really cool. I had really fun and long conversations with a girl from Belgium. She has travelled from Saigon all the way up to Hanoi. She was really cool and very sweet. I learned a lot from her. Our tour guide took us to the best places to eat the best Vietnamese food.

Vegetables with Beef and Sprouts

BEST SUGAR CANE JUICE EVER!

They were all so damn good! The infusion of flavours in every bite was so delicious! I did not expect to like Vietnamese food but now I love it! It is a lot of food but it is healthy! That is what is good about Vietnamese food.

Mixed Vegetables

You don’t have to feel guilty about eating a lot because it’s almost all vegetables! Their fish sauce, “patis”, is so good! It heightens the flavour of the dishes! I love their patis more than I love ours here in the Philippines.

More Vietnamese food!

My Vietnam experience was really great! It was a great ending to #SoloTravel2014. This place is where I met the most foreigners (more than Bangkok). I learned so much from this travel, and it just makes me want to travel more.

Also read: What You Need to Know Before Travelling to Vietnam

Here are some Bucket List worthy items during my Vietnam trip:

Stayed in a mixed room hostel

Go on a food tour

Speak another language at a wet market

Cook Vietnamese food

Go on a party cruise at Halong Bay

Meet & have lengthy conversations from people around the world

26 Reasons to Fall in Love with Hanoi

November 3, 2015, 8:00 am August 25, 2016, 5:59 pm

Jane Galvez Jane is a homebody, but the promise of an adventure of a lifetime inspires her to spend her weekends travelling. When she's not on the road travelling, she's writing about the places she's been to or planning her next exploit at Oh My Janey.

In my four short days in Hanoi, Vietnam, I fell in love with a city that’s brimming with energy and culture - it reminded me of my home country, the Philippines. But it’s not just the familiar scenery that made the city stand out from other Asian destinations. Here, I’m spelling out 26 reasons why every traveller will fall in love with Hanoi. HAN

1. The bustling city is the capital of Vietnam

2. It has stunning French architecture visible in every inch of the city

Image credit: Oh My Janey

3. Strolling along the French Quarter is like a walk throughout history

4. The Old Quarter has its own charms as well

Image credit: Maryam Laura Moazedi

5. From its interesting display of livestock for sale down to the mouth-watering offering of street food,

Image credit: Oh My Janey

Also read: A Look Into Hanoi's Bizarre Local Markets

6. The Old Quarter is a place where every foodie will feel at home

7. There’s always a local coffee shop lurking around the corner,

Image credit: Nam-ho Park

Also read: 5 Hipster Cafes to Visit in Hanoi

8. With a heavenly glass of ca phe da (iced coffee) waiting for you

9. Hanoi is a city you can explore on foot,

10. Or on a motorcycle

11. Of course, the view of a street filled with motorcycles will always be fascinating

Image credit: Dragfyre

12. Have I mentioned the coffee? (Yes, but coffee!) It’s really cheap and really gooooood

Image credit: Tauno Tõhk

13. You’ll end up going for your fifth glass in no time. But who’s counting?

Image credit: Florence Luong

14. It’s not just the coffee. There’s also the yummy Trang Tien Ice Cream,

15. And the juicy Bun Cha,

16. The sweet Che,

17. And who can forget Pho?

18. Pho for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Perfect!

19. Let’s not forget the amazing sunset right smack at the centre of the city

Image credit: Oh My Janey

20. Amazing, right?

Image credit: Christopher Crouzet

21. Hanoi is just four hours away from Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

22. There’s also the quaint Ninh Binh province just two hours away

Image credit: Oh My Janey

23. Basically, Hanoi is quite near amazing places, besides being amazing in itself

Image credit: Bùi Thụy Đào Nguyên

24. Who wouldn’t want to explore this city rich in culture, art, and history?

Image credit: Jrwooley6

25. A city with some of the kindest and warmest people you’ll meet in your travels,

Image credit: Christopher Michel

26. Hanoi will be your home away from home

Also read: 5 Absolutely Free Things to Do in Hanoi for a Priceless Experience

If you are not convinced by these photos, why not go on a getaway to Hanoi and see its beauty for yourself?

What Filipino Travellers Have Been Missing Out in Vietnam

August 8, 2016, 8:00 am August 25, 2016, 5:59 pm

JM Nacino The girl who quit her corporate job and took an online freelancing job so she can be in her room with her cat and watch TV series for months. She eventually got sick of her daily routine so she bought plane tickets, took her backpack, passport and her TEFL certificate, kissed her mom and cat goodbye, and set out to see and engage with the world. Just like that, she became The Bum Traveler.

Remember the conversation you had with a foreigner while you were travelling in other countries? They know Manila and Boracay, and they would love to go there too. You know these places are good but there are other destinations that are better than them. You might tell them to go to Palawan for scuba diving, to Sagada to move on, oh I mean, for hiking. Or maybe Cebu to fully experience the cultural differences in the Philippines.

Well, that’s the same with Vietnam. I mean you may think Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi are not much different from Manila aside from the huge tunnels. Mui Ne is exactly like the sand dunes in Ilocos Norte; Ha long bay a mistier version of Hundred Islands, Pangasinan; Sapa is not much different from Baguio City either.

A backpacker from Australia once commented that Filipinos are allowed to have higher standards when it comes to sceneries because the Philippines is a whole new level of wonderful.

But then going to other countries like Vietnam, we usually go where everyone has gone to -- the  big cities! We do not see much of nature, culture, and man, have you tried their local food or you just settled with pho and banh mi?

Also read: What You Need to Know Before Travelling to Vietnam

When it comes to these three things, nothing is more authentic than Central Vietnam.

Da Nang is an interesting city to start your trip; it’s a mix of modern and traditional infrastructure. And you’ll be amazed that Ba Na hills go through four seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter) in just one day. Yes, you read it right! There are four seasons in this area in one day. Spring in the early morning, summer in the mid-day, fall by late afternoon, and winter by sunset. Fascinating, isn’t it?

Up for a little hiking? Challenge yourself to reach the summit of Thuy Son (Water Mountain), the biggest mountain of Marble Mountains. On your way to the top, you will see a lot of temples, shrines and pagodas. You’ll learn how different the Philippines  is, religion wise, from Vietnam. Once you reach the peak, you’ll be rewarded with a splendid view of the whole city of Da Nang and the famous My Khe White Beach.

The next day, you can visit the Citadel – Imperial City in Hue, where the kings of the last Vietnam royal dynasty were housed. And you should know, Hue is famous for its food. Do not leave without food tripping in Dong Ba Market. And yes, the food there are delicious and affordable.

Try Bun Bo Hue (Hue Beef Vermicelli Soup), Nem Lui (Grilled Ground Pork on Stick), Banh Beo (Steamed Rice Discs Topped with Shrimp), Bun Cha (Grilled Pork served with Hot Sweet Vinegar Sauce and Rice Noodles and Vegetables on the side), Bun Dau Mam Tom (Pork, Tofu and Rice Noodles which you can dip on Hot Fermented Shrimp Paste).

Technically, everything is relatively cheaper in Central Vietnam compared to other parts of the country.

On your way from Da Nang to Hue, you’ll either pass through Hải Vân Tunnel, the longest tunnel in Southeast Asia, or the Hai Van Pass, which gives you amazing views of Da Nang city, Lang Co and My Khe Beach.

Explore the old town of Hoi An by bicycle, one of the best ways to experience and engage with both locals and other travellers. Look how magical the old town transforms after the sunset. In the town, you can also find all the unique pasalubong (souvenirs) for your mom, dad, siblings, friends, partner, kamag-anak, katrabaho, kabaranggay, at kahit sinong maisip mo, wag lang si ex.  

Additional information:

Flights from Manila: Every day except Wednesday

Flights from Da Nang: Sunday, Tuesday, Friday

Normal Fare Rate: ₱12,000 – 15,000 including return ticket

Promo Fare Rates: ₱9,000 – 10,000 including return ticket

Hotel Rates: From ₱500 with breakfast

Hostel Rates: From ₱230 with breakfast

Visa: 21-days Visa-Free (No need to apply)

Also read: 12 Experiences Every Traveller Should Have in Vietnam

So next time you’re in Vietnam, skip the hustle and bustle of its cities and see the not-so-hidden-beauty of Central Vietnam instead!

How to Third Wheel Effectively on a Trip

July 11, 2016, 2:00 pm August 25, 2016, 6:01 pm

See Wah See Wah loves to immerse herself in the poetic side of life: art, literature, photography, and of course travelling - poetry (of the human condition) in itself. She believes that the world is endlessly inspiring and beautiful, and when her head isn’t in the clouds, she hopes to fill her life with all these things that makes life wondrous

Two’s a company, three’s a crowd… Bah! FYI, that’s sooo not true – who says you can’t have fun on vacation with your friends who, oh you know, happen to be a couple?? Trust me, you can do it, and no, it ain’t awkward at all!!

Okay… Fine… So it’s kind of sian that you don’t have your own plus one by your side, and you may think that that’s kind of a bummer for your vacay, but having been there done that for my recent trip, here are some neat tips and tricks I have to turn you into the most effective third wheeler ever!

First of all, you can practise your selfie skills like nobody’s business

From our very first meal together at Changi Airport...

To our lovely stroll by the White Beach,

And even when we went sunset sailing together!

Seriously, my selfie skills are so awesome right now.

You can find other people to be your plus one

After all, it’s always fun to make friends on a vacation, aye? From the older ones,

(spot my lovey-dovey friends in the background)

To them young ‘uns.

The world is your oyster, my friends, the world is your oyster.

In fact, you can find ANYBODY to be your plus one!

After all, why just stop at humans??

Meet my goatie plus one number 1!! And check out my friend in the background trying to crash our special moment. Who’s the third wheeler now, huh???

And number 2!! We’re going to be best friends forever already, I can totally feel it. Just look at how excited this cutie is!

While you’re at it… Inanimate objects make pretty good companions, too

Just look at the four of us! My two gorgeous friends… And me and my Sexy Chardonnay.

You can have nice things to yourself

For example, all you really want sometimes is your very own umbrella when it rains… And you can totally have that when you travel with a couple! They’ll be too caught up in their own world to bother about the rainwater splashing at them anyway, but not me, I’d like to keep myself dry, thank you very much!

You can be the girl’s best gal pal!

From taking totally girly shots,

To being a total tai-tai,

And of course, to doing lots of SHOPPING,  

Provide for your female friend what the guy simply just can’t do!

Unfortunately for him, of course, while he waits for us to do our totally girly things.

You can help to take care of their things while they frolic in the ocean!

They’ll totally love you for this one, seriously. Get into their good books for the next 1000 years with this neat trick and never have to worry about asking them for a favour ever again!

You can help them to take totally cute couple shots

Awww… Just look at my friends having fun!!

You can also help to take totally cute CANDID shots!

Like, for example, when they’re making pancakes together! Ahhh!! Squeals and dies. Hey, I helped a bit, okay??

Or how ‘bout this one? Messaging each other sweet nothings, maybe??? Yep, be a totally effective third wheeler and capture cute couple candid moments forever!

So the next time your friends who happen to be a couple as well ask you to go on a vacation with them, just be super buay paiseh and say YES! With my awesome advice for how to third wheel effectively, I promise you that you’re going to have the best time ever – really!

The Best Moments I Always Treasure When I Travel on My Own

July 8, 2016, 9:00 am August 25, 2016, 6:02 pm

Irene Justin Maligat Irene Maligat falls in love easily - with people, with places, and with experiences. Her main goal in life is to inspire and empower a lot of people through travel and the value of gratitude. She gratefully writes inspiring articles at Inspiring Grateful Travels.

We have always been told to live life to the fullest. Whether it’s to seize the day or find glory in a moment, we should always maximise every experience that the door of opportunity opens for us. When people travel, there will be moments that you will always remember. Here are just 5 of the best moments that I always remember and truly anticipate when I travel on my own:

Also read: 9 Life-Saving Tips For Any Solo Female Traveller

The Departure

People usually rant online that airline departures here in the Philippines are annoyingly difficult. But when I travel solo just to make the process more fun, I perceive it as a game show. I see it as accomplishing different levels to claim the top prize.

Before I travel, I always have this checklist. I make sure that I have all my documents for every level of the departure process. I’m on my own so I only have myself to rely on during the game. So the game goes like this:

Level 1: Enter the forbidden gates! Powers – Show ID & airline ticket

Level 2: Mandatory offering! Give up points – Pay PHP 1,620  

Level 3: Inspection! Powers – Show ID, airline ticket, & passport

Level 4: Written scroll! Skills – Write details on immigration card

Level 5: Battle at Immigration! Powers – Knowledge, confidence, & documents

Level 6: The Waiting Game! Skills – Patience & ability to withstand boredom

Level 7: The Walk of Reward! Skills – Motor skills & gratitude [This is the walk from departure area to the inside of the plane. I love this moment when your flight is called. You fall in line, walk to the plane, and take your seat. It’s a moment away from finishing the game.]

Level 8: The Departure!

When the plane takes off, it’s THAT big moment coming from a series of great small moments. Always be grateful for factors that lead up to any moment or experience. Each second has its own story. Feel and live it positively and gratefully as you can.

I always love the feeling of departing. You’re leaving a place you know very well off to a place which is unfamiliar. The feeling is truly overwhelming, and one of the best parts when I travel solo.

The Arrival

When my plane arrives and I look out the window, I always get this scary feeling. It’s not good or bad, but it’s a nervous scary feeling. Usually, the plan I have in mind gets jumbled in my brain. I ask questions like,

Will I do this first?

Will I eat first?

Will I exchange my money?

Will I buy that already?

And many more!

The completely organised plan I made usually turns into chaos at the moment I arrive. There’s no family member to keep me in check. There’s no friend to get excited and scared with. I’m on my own. There is this overwhelming feeling of the unknown, the unfamiliar. It takes over me for a few minutes. But when I calm down, I breathe a little, everything becomes clear again.

Also read: 10 Awkward Struggles Every Solo Traveller Has To Deal With

This is one of the best moments because I get excited. Eventually, I pace myself because it is something new. It’s like I’m a kid all over again getting a new toy. It’s very exhilarating.

Once the plane stops, I get my backpack, walk through a new airport, accomplish immigration requirements, and after all these…I start my metaphorical ramp walk. I feel like a model walking down the ramp into a void (world of experiences) that will either celebrate (excite) me or criticize (challenge) me. This is it. This is my moment. I have arrived.

The Unknown Path

When you travel, no matter how much you plan, no matter how specific your travel itineraries are, there will always be something that will not go according to plan.

I have always considered myself as an organised person. During my first few travels, I usually plan my travel details extensively. I don’t like missing out on anything because I always want to know what is going to happen.

But there will always, always be something that will surprise you. When you travel on your own, there will always be external factors that cause missed directions, surprising events, and unexpected moments. These unknowns were my pet peeves when I started travelling solo but eventually, I have realised that they were blessings in disguise for me to learn, to acquire values, to gain skills, and many more.

During my solo trip to Taiwan, I got lost on my first night. I walked miles away from my hostel in opposite directions. It was around 1am and I walked an unnecessary amount for around 45 minutes. The next day, my thighs got strained. Every step I took hurt badly. But I had to go on, I planned an itinerary (with a lot of walking by the way) and I didn’t want to waste any of it. So during my whole trip, I limped. I limped through long side walks under the hot sun, up and down flights of stairs, and crazy cross roads. Instead of complaining or feeling the pain, I endured through it. I thought about all the things I learned during those painful walks. I pushed myself. I became patient. I succeeded independently. I just made the best out of the situation. I never wanted to get injured on a walking travel. I never wanted to get lost. But that is where the path led me. In the end, I chose to maximise every second of it.

Let the unknown path lead you to where you’re meant to go. Let the unknown path lead you to who you’re meant to be.

The Push

When you’re solo, there are so many times that you will push yourself. Push yourself to ask for directions. Push yourself to start a conversation. Push yourself to try something you have never done before. These may be easy to some, these may also be difficult.

When you travel solo, you take all kinds of risks. Always involve yourself in the most confident way possible. Never deprive yourself of a good moment to infuse yourself in the culture, to strike up a great conversation, to learn, and to build relationships among people who have a common goal as you.

Sometimes when I get lost during my travels, I have no choice but to push myself to approach a stranger and ask for directions. When I was in Macau, I sometimes get ignored because some don’t know how to converse in English when I ask questions. But I still keep asking until I get the answer that I need. Without noticing, after doing it a lot of times, it gets easier.

When I was in high school, I was a shy type, always quiet. I usually let other people lead conversations but when I tried solo travelling, I find myself starting and holding conversations. I learned how to converse with different kinds of people not just when I travel, but when I get home as well. I find myself confident in establishing good connections with different social circles.

There will always be something new, something to make us get out of our comfort zone when solo travelling. It is up to us if we push ourselves to try those things and maximise every moment, every opportunity that is given to us because every single time we push, we pull in some of the best qualities we can ever gain.

“THE” Moment(s)

Image credit: Inspiring Grateful Travels

This is my favourite part when I travel on my own. It’s having those THE moments. It’s those moments that surprise and stun you. It’s those unexpected moments that leave you in awe and wonder. It’s those moments that make you realise that what you’ve pushed yourself to do was all worth it.

Whether it’s meeting new people, receiving gifts, getting lost, pushing yourself to do the unthinkable, departing a well known place, arriving at a path unknown, and many more, there will always be those “THE” moments that bring us to a level of high that we never expect.

Also read: 12 Safest and Cheapest Countries to Travel SOLO!

One unforgettable “THE” moment during one of my solo trips was when I, along with a few people I recently met, had the chance to star gaze. Living in the city, I don’t get to do this often because of pollution and basically, lack of time. The moment when we were all laying down on a mat at our home stay’s lawn and all the lights were turned off and the night sky turned on, the experience surprised me, it felt like magic. It was so simple. It was just the sky, it was a few acquaintances marvelling at something that was always there, it was simple, but it was magical. I couldn’t explain it. Even the feelings of the people I was with were so overwhelming, I couldn’t help but realise that simple things like these can make people the happiest.

There will always be “THE” moments when we travel. Whether solo or in a group, we just have to open our eyes to all the magical things that can happen. There’s always something special in every moment, we just have to open our doors for those special moments to be felt in our hearts.

Image credit: Inspiring Grateful Travels

What are your best moments when you travel on your own?

Real Struggles of Travel Junkies with Strict Parents

July 7, 2016, 2:00 pm August 25, 2016, 6:04 pm

Jane Galvez Jane is a homebody, but the promise of an adventure of a lifetime inspires her to spend her weekends travelling. When she's not on the road travelling, she's writing about the places she's been to or planning her next exploit at Oh My Janey.

Image credit: Captain Cook Cruises

In the ideal world, you can travel anywhere with anyone at any given time. But when your parents are as strict as mine, it’s never that easy to go out there and explore the world!

Do you have strict parents? I feel you! Here are REAL struggles we have in common!

Disconnecting when travelling? Absolutely not

For once, you’d love to turn off your phone, disconnect from the world for a day, and just be one with nature. But your parents just won’t have it. Just because they allowed you to go on your trip doesn’t mean you’re allowed not to call them for a day.

After climbing half day, your first order of business is not to pitch a tent or to cook a meal but to immediately search for a mobile signal just so you can call mom and dad to tell them that you arrived safe.

Also read: 10 Reasons Why Starting a Family Shouldn’t Stop You from Travelling

Impromptu travels are pretty close to impossible

Sudden weekend roadtrip with friends means you have to fully explain the details to your parents—where you’re going, who you’re travelling with, what time you’ll arrive, etc., etc. As much as you’d love to experience the thrill of random trips, you know you’ll have to face the ire of your parents once you get back.

Travelling alone? They’d LOVE to go with you

The thought of exploring new cities by yourself or unwinding at a beach alone just with your book is a dream that’s still far from reality. Just try telling them that you want to try solo travel and they’d most definitely say that they’re coming with you.

Quiet afternoons at the beach and getting lost and finding your way by yourself will soon be replaced with crazy mornings trying to get ready with every member of your family present in the room.

Also read: How to Plan a Successful Family Road Trip

They complain when you’re not home on weekends

52 weekends of adventure? Not for you, unfortunately. Weekends are considered family day, and they’d love it if you stay home. Or at least go mallin’ with them! You at least try to go on small trips with them or out of town roadtrips with the whole family. But to do it weekly? Goodbye, savings! Heck, your monthly salary wouldn’t even suffice.

Some stories from your travels are better left untold

As much as you’d love to tell them everything you’ve done and share everything you’ve experienced, you’re pretty sure that some of the stories will terrify them more than amuse them.

You wish that one day they’ll be more open to hear your stories—how you walked next to a cliff, how you befriended strangers, how you managed to survive the impossible.

Also read: 8 Simple Tips for Your First Family Trip Abroad

Someday, you wish they’ll understand your constant need to explore. One day, they’ll let you go, because they know you’ll always come back. And hopefully, they’ll share your love for travel, because there’s so much of the world you want to see with them.

10 Practical Tips to Survive Backpacking with Your Partner

June 27, 2016, 8:00 am August 25, 2016, 6:05 pm

Jayson Concepcion Jayson Concepcion is a programmer by profession but has a soul of a traveller. Aside from his ultimate dream of travelling around the world, he loves to eat, drink, listen to music, talk about aliens and indulge in his occasional secret guilty pleasure of singing love songs in videoke. His favourite superpower is to teleport from one place to another. I guess you know why. Follow his latest pursuits on his blog, Facebook and Instagram.

Oh how sweet and romantic it is travelling with your significant other. Walking down the beach while holding hands... Cruising on a slow boat while drinking good wine... Kissing until the sun sets... So romantic.

But some of you single folks may not know, that before those romantic moments there might have been some slight disagreements... By slight, I meant arguments like “WHERE THE HELL ARE WE?!”, “I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE PLACE?!”, “YOU FORGOT TO BRING WHAT?!”, “DON’T EVER TOUCH ME!”. (If you are a fan of The Amazing Race, you know what I mean).

Also read: This is How a Relationship Falls Apart When Lovers Travel Together…

Funny, but sometimes true. There’s no perfect relationship. Every couple has some misunderstandings, and their patience is always tested during travels. I’ve yet to meet or know a couple who smooth sailed their travels without fighting even for a little bit.

Well, what more if it is a DIY backpacking trip where you will set aside some comfort and do things you wouldn’t normally do as a couple?

Here, I enumerated some tips to help those couples who are planning to go backpacking or already doing it but need some adjustments. I will also give some money saving tips before and during your travels so you can enjoy your trip without thinking of going broke. Read on!

1. Understand your finances as a couple

Before going on a trip, couples must fully understand their financial capacity. If you need to put the numbers on an excel sheet, then do so. My advice is to create your own SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth), just like what our beloved politicians are doing but in your case, do it with full honesty. It will help you give an overview of your finances and how much budget you can allot for a trip.

You can also create an income statement where you will put your monthly income, less the monthly expenses and the total is your net income for a month. By doing this, you will know how much you can allot for a travel fund per month. You can even invest that travel fund in mutual funds, stocks or uitf if the planned travel is something big and is at least 2 years from now.

If couples will just travel and travel without assessing their financial status then there is a high chance that they soon won’t have enough money for their next travel or worse, for their next monthly bill. So even if you’re backpacking, you still have to closely monitor your finances

2. Know your roles

In Suvarnabhumi Airport. Me taking the lead.

For couples, it is better to be a team rather than doing it all your own. Proper delegation of tasks gets the job done easily and efficiently. Couples, especially those who are together for a long time, should know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Thus, you can then assign the proper roles to the person who can handle it better.

There should be someone who can handle the money and monitor the expenditures. If you’re the leader type, then you should do the planning of the itinerary, but always hear out suggestions from your partner. You suck at directions? Let the other one handle it. Maybe he/she knows it better than you. Don’t own all the roles because being the bossy or the know-it-all-type won’t make your trip any better.

Backpacking as a couple is really not that hard as long as you know your role and trust your partner’s ability to execute the tasks.

Also read: Travel More for a Stronger Relationship

3. Be as one

Eating tempura at Rizal Blvd in Dumaguete City

Act as one, move as one, be as one. Decide on things together. A team that is disoriented is sure bound to fail. It’s better if you are a solid team that is moving in the same direction instead of one where there is constant bickering and whining. Ego and pride should be set aside for a harmonious backpacking experience.

When it comes to eating, enjoy the food together by sharing. For example, order two different dishes so you can try both. Or order one big dish and share it between the two of you. Not only is this economical, but you get to enjoy it together and give your opinion about the taste and texture.

You can also share some things to lighten the load (of course, except super personal stuff like toothbrush). For example, if you want to bring your own towel, then just bring one. That’s why prior to your trip, you should discuss the things that you should bring together. Also, men should carry the heavier backpack. Be a gentleman.

4. Be ready for anything

Eating street food in Night Market in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

There’s always a first time to everything. If your partner hasn’t backpacked before and you have, then it’s important that you take the lead and accustom him/her to the ways of a backpacker. Tell him/her that prior to your trip, one must be ready for anything like sleeping somewhere inconvenient, walking a lot, riding cramped vans/trains or even take menial jobs to get free food or lodging (if you guys are backpacking for long term).

If in case it’s both your first time to go backpacking, then don’t worry! I think it’ll be more exciting! Imagine both of you learning and discovering new things! It is a nice way to know oneself and bond as a couple!

5. Give a little freedom

Selfie in Soi Cowboy (red light district) in Bangkok, Thailand

Backpacking is in a way, an escape... a shout of freedom... a way to connect to oneself and others. Be whatever you want to be, no one’s there to judge. Well, except if you have a tight and over possessive partner. It’s almost certain that you’ll meet other people of different nationalities from different countries (especially if you’d stay in hostels) in your travels and they are likely to be friendly and even would chat you for a little. If you happen to be a person who doesn’t want your partner to talk to anyone else, then I’m telling you right now that you should learn to quit that attitude. It’s okay to be jealous if you think there’s something else going on but if it is just small talk like ‘Where are you from?’, ‘Where have you gone?’ or ‘Where are you travelling next?’, that’s pretty much just standard traveller’s conversations. Be open and join them in their conversation. You might even end up being good friends forever.

Also read: Top 5 Romantic Couples Getaways in Southeast Asia

If your man wants to drink and party a little, then let him. Join him! You must put complete trust and on the other hand, guys should not abuse that trust. Be loyal to your partner and don’t get too drunk! When my wife and I are in Thailand, she even accompanied me in Soi Cowboy and Patpong. Thailand’s infamous red districts! We even tried to enter an establishment in Soi Cowboy but we weren’t allowed inside. See, as long as there is trust, you both can enjoy the silliest things. But guys, if your woman lets you out drinking and partying the other night, then be ready to accompany her on her shopping frenzy. It’s give and take.

6. Care for each other

Wifey chilling in a hammock in San Juan, Siquijor

Backpacking can take a toll on one’s body. Even if you got vaccines prior to your trip and are very careful with your health, there will still be unfortunate times that you can get sick during your travels. The good thing is, there’s someone who can always take care of you and that is your partner. When your partner is ill, take the initiative to take care of him/her and be with their side. Cancel all the plans in the meantime and focus on getting better. You can still enjoy your day by buying fresh fruits and eating healthy in your room.

And guys, when you’re out for an adventure, don’t forget to be the gentleman and always think about the safety of your woman. Assist her when going up a hill, lend your hand when she needs it and carry the heavier bag, always.

7. Understand your partner’s fears

Atop the rocky limestones in Matinloc Island in El Nido, Palawan

My wife fears heights, roaches, spiders, ghosts, deep waters and angry dogs, among others. Yet she climbed with me in Sagada and atop the rocky limestone of Matinloc Island in El Nido. She went snorkelling with me in the deep waters of Apo Island. We conquered the island province of Siquijor which is known for witchcrafts and other sorts of black magic. One must understand and respect their partner’s fears but that’s not to say that you shouldn’t push them to conquer those fears. In your backpacking trips, I’m sure plenty of it will be encountered. Be your partner’s cheerleader and motivate them to do the things they never imagined doing.

Also read: My Wife and I Travelled 5 Days to Puerto Princesa and El Nido on a Budget

8. Support your partner’s interests

Surfing in Bacnotan, La Union

Similar to number 7, one must support their partner’s interests and activities in their backpacking trip. For example, if you don’t like surfing but that’s your partner’s sport or he/she really wanted to try it, then consider trying it also even if you totally suck at it. Or if your partner loves art but you don’t, then just try to appreciate the works and give your most honest opinion about it. It’s give and take. You can even set a day for one’s activities, then another day for yours. You don’t even have to like his/her interests at all, but at least show him/her that you support their interests.

9. Trust and be patient

Picture taking at Laiya, San Juan, Batangas

As mentioned in my intro, you will encounter problems that might lead to disagreements and fights, worse, break-ups or a tainted married life. Don’t let your anger take over you. If your partner won’t stop bickering, then don’t add fuel to the fire by retorting back angrily. Simply understand your partner and understand yourself. Did I really make a mistake? If so, then apologise. Calm your nerves and get back on track.

One of the problems that you will encounter during backpacking is the directions. If you are lost, don’t put the blame to your partner who’s leading you. Instead, try to help him/her navigate to the right way. Be patient in dealing with these kinds of situations and trust your partner in his role. If you will just be angry all the time, then you are going nowhere.

10. Enjoy every moment and avoid fights

Caught in the act Selfie at Nami Island, South Korea

Travelling is always an enjoyable experience and fruitful lifestyle to many of us. Being with your partner through these travels is more fun and strengthens your bond. Enjoy every moment and try not to get stressed of all the planning, the misadventures and travel hiccups you encountered. Charge them to experience and learn from your mistakes. You travel to enjoy and be happy so take things lightly and most of the time, your planned itineraries don’t really get followed. Plan ahead but be a little bit spontaneous.

Also read: The Ultimate Travel Bucket List for Couples: 20 Romantic Experiences to Complete with Your Other Half

Fights along the way are sometimes unavoidable but try to lessen them and don’t make them big. Negativity will only cloud a bad vibe in your travels. Act as one, be a team player and always be there for your partner.

How I Spent a Smashing Holiday in Kota Kinabalu for 4 Days & 3 Nights

June 22, 2016, 9:00 am August 25, 2016, 6:06 pm

Hannae Cuyugan Hannae is an adventurous traveller and a lover of life. She wants to witness sunrise and chase sunsets around the world. She is a foodie, fitness, fashion enthusiast and a beautyholic. She is the author behind the lifestyle blog site www.hANnaeYTHING.com.

Contributed by hANnaeYTHING

My Facebook memory shared a photo of my Kota Kinabalu trip last year and it prompted me to write about that exciting and memorable trip. An airline launched a direct flight from Cebu to Kota Kinabalu and we immediately booked a ticket and scheduled it on a long weekend. I know that this is a dilemma for someone who is a corporate slave like me. It should be planned on long weekends to maximise the trip.

Also read: 9 Long Weekends in the Philippines in 2016

Day 1

Our flight was delayed for two hours so we arrived famished at around 8pm. The hotel we chose was just in the middle of the city for convenience and proximity to malls and bus stops. We stayed at Le Hotel Kota Kinabalu. Our first agenda after we settled in our hotel room was to have dinner at the famous Nando’s Restaurant. It was actually my first time to eat there and they did not disappoint me. We ate at the restaurant located inside Oceanus Waterfront Mall. It has a nice view at the back although we were not able to appreciate it much because we already arrived late. Nonetheless, the food was great and the service too! We tried their Portuguese flame-grilled butterfly cut chicken with their signature Peri Peri sauces. I am not a big fan of spicy food so I chose the wild herb and garlic sauces but for those who love spicy food, this place is your piece of heaven!

A variety of sauces to choose from. We bought 5 bottles home.

We ended our first night over a cup of Starbucks coffee which is located inside Oceanus Waterfront Mall too and bought my City Mug collection.

The happy mug collector!

Day 2

We woke up early the next day because we were going to explore Mt. Kinabalu Park. It is Malaysia’s first ever UNESCO World Heritage Site. We went there before the earthquake hit KK last June 5, 2015. I am glad to know that the climbers can now climb up to Low’s Peak Summit as of December 1, 2015, but only up to 135 permits per day will be issued by Sabah Park.

We went there through a bus. We explored the park and the botanical garden. It was a day of walking around the vast Kinabalu Park and enjoying nature at its best.

Fees for Kinabalu Park and Kinabalu Botanical Garden.

We then headed back to the city to have a late lunch at The Chicken Rice Shop. It is one of the famous restaurant chains at KK but we were not impressed with the food. It is a bit pricey for plain tasting dishes.

The Chicken Rice Shop

Our next stop was the Old Town White Coffee Restaurant. I used to buy 3-in-1 Old Town Coffee in Zamboanga barter trade, and I really love it, but this one is the real deal! So much better than their instant coffee, and their laksa is also delicious. Prices of Malaysian goodies in Zamboanga is basically just the same as the price at Zamboanga Barter Trade so better shop at Barter Trade.

Our last stop was Fatt Kee which is located under Ang’s Hotel at Jalan Pantai. At 9:30 pm, the restaurant was still so full of customers. We have to wait for around 30 minutes to secure a table. The wait was worth it! Their chicken was such a tummy delight that even if we were still full, we were able to finish the whole platter of chicken wings!

Day 3

The next day we took our brunch at the Kedai Kopi Yee Fung restaurant, I swear this is the best laksa I ever tasted paired with their teh tarik. There are so many people, and we patiently waited for our table. Good thing, it is okay to share a table with anyone since their tables can accommodate up to 6 persons.

We went around Gaya Street Sunday Market to buy some ref magnets. When around Gaya Street, never miss buying Kelapa Pandan. This is a tiny buko with a very very sweet juice inside.

Sold at 2 Malaysian Ringgit each

We were already so full that we decided to just take out Hainanese Chicken from the famous 5 Star Hainanese Chicken & BBQ Restaurant which was also full packed with customers.

We went back to our hotel, checked out and headed down to Centre Point Shopping Centre to wait for the Shuttle ride going to Shangrila Rasa Ria. It is approximately an hour trip from the city to the hotel.

Our Malaysian themed room was big, the bed was so comfy and the entire room was so homey. Shangrila Rasa Ria is the home of the eco-friendly championship golf course and the magnificent Spa at Pantai Dalit Bay. Unique to the resort is the Nature Interpretation Centre, gateway to the Nature Reserve.

Also read: 10 Coolest Places in Malaysia for Your Next Staycation

We went out to chase the sunset at the beachfront and we were blessed to witness a sunset in front and a double rainbow at our back. It was so amazing!

Day 4

Woke up early the next day for our morning gym routine before a big breakfast buffet, but this time, we opted to run for more than an hour around the scenic land of Shangrila Rasa Ria. After too much binge eating, I believe that I need to burn those calories.

Breakfast with this view

They also made Teh Tarik in front of us. It was really cool!

After breakfast, we went back to the beach to chill and enjoy the view.

After lunch, we checked out and took a cab going to the airport. It was so nice of the cab driver to pass by the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque before proceeding to the airport.

Also read: Best Things To Do in Kota Kinabalu

If you want to plan your trip to Kota Kinabalu, here are a few tips I would like to share:

When going around KK, we opted to just roam around by foot because cab drivers do not use their taxi metre. Instead, they will dictate the fare.

For make up junkies like me, there is a Sephora store at KK Times Square and it comes out cheaper than HK or Singapore Sephora store.

For chocolate lovers like me (again), Cadbury chocolates are much cheaper at KK. I  bought around 20 pieces of Marvellous Creations Cadbury chocolates.

For days that our schedule is mostly exploring the city, we opted to stay in a small hotel since we just stayed there to sleep and it did not cost that much. This applies to all our trips, and it could save you a lot of money. However, when we checked in at Shangrila Rasa Ria, we stayed there all the time to enjoy all the amenities that they can offer. But if you do not intend to get a room there, there is also an option of taking a day trip.

Shangrila Rasa Ria staff can provide you with microwave oven upon request. We were able to enjoy the food from 5 Star Hainanese Chicken Restaurant that we bought earlier.

If you want to join Mount Kinabalu Climbing Summit, be sure to register ahead of time. You may visit www.MountKinabalu.com for more information.

Bring enough Malaysian Ringgit since most of the restaurants outside the malls do not accept Credit Cards.

During my first trip to KK which was a few years ago, I went island hopping at Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. If you wish to avail this, you can go straight to Jesselton Jetty and book directly. However, for diving enthusiasts, you may need prior arrangement with a dive centre. For more information, please visit www.sabahtourism.com.

Explore Malaysian food! They are such a delight to our tummies but don’t forget to bring anti-diarrhea medicines especially for those with sensitive tummies.

Life is too short, travel and explore!

The Strangest Day of My Life in Doha, Qatar

June 17, 2016, 4:00 pm August 25, 2016, 6:07 pm

Peter Schimke Peter is a freelance writer and author of the novel ‘Beyond Blue’. He has travelled extensively over the past decade and for some reason ends up where there are no tourists to be found. Cocktail bars, bookstores and skate parks are the places you might run into him. He currently calls Singapore his home, as he his banned from Shinjuku, Tokyo (after publishing his book).

I only spent one day in Qatar’s capital Doha, but this day had more curious sights to offer than many of my other trips. Flying from Japan to Europe, I had the chance to make a one-day stopover in Doha in 2007. Back then Dubai was just about to boom, appearing on people’s travel radars.

As I was just 21 years of age, I was very enthusiastic about my visit in this Golf state that was largely unknown to me. Actually that is an overstatement, as I had no clue whatsoever about Qatar and Doha. Nonetheless, I was excited and somehow expected to find the ‘little brother’ of Dubai. Little did I know that I was about to discover a few dirty secrets, which the country surely would love to hide, especially now that the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be held in Qatar.

Also read: 10 Must-Visit Attractions in Dubai

The Ghost Town

Image credit: PYONKO OMEYAMA

Arriving just before six in the morning, the light was about to wake up Qatar as my plane touched down. The request for my passport at the immigration was quickly followed by the demand for my credit card. As asked for what he would need it, the immigration officer answered without looking at me: “for money”.

Just outside the airport I was greeted by a herd of taxi drivers willing to take me anywhere. As I hadn’t done any research (my fault), I simply told the driver to take me to the ‘City Centre’, which I thought was a reasonable request. After settling on a price he drove on – not without complaining “you have more money, come on.”

Image credit: Francisco Anzola

My first impressions were great, seeing the sunrise as we drove along the Al Corniche, which is a circular road alongside the bay waterfront. Coming closer in the distance were tall buildings that I expected to be the city centre. But the closer I come, the more I feared a lingering thought to be become reality. The dozens of skyscrapers were entirely empty and some of them slightly unfinished. It was a scene out of a disaster movie, in which everybody had fled the city.

The taxi driver dropped me off at a mall called ‘ City Centre’. As he took my money, he politely added that it was not open yet. There I was wondering around in Qatar that was until now not more than a ghost town.

Where is everybody?

Image credit: pjmorse

On the way to the ‘City Centre’, we passed a few houses around which there could have been life. Walking alongside the bay front, I tried to make my way back. Although it wasn’t very hot yet, there weren’t many people around. Luckily I found someone selling juices and fruits, offering me an awesome breakfast by the water.

As I made it back to older part of town, I still didn’t see many people until suddenly there was a large group of men gathering at a square. They seemed busy trading something, so I naturally wanted to know what. In a country where the majority of women wear full hijabs, I was extremely surprised to see around hundred men trading illegal copies of porn – a lot of porn – nothing but porn. Not really sure how to take this sighting, I decided it was better leave the porn market to avoid any complications.

Want to go for a ride?

Image credit: Free for Commercial Use

I finally found some real shops, buying tea, dried fruits, and some spices for my friends and myself. I even found a nice little Indian eatery for an extended lunch break. The chatty owner even offered to take me on a tour through the country, but I politely denied as my flight to Europe was at 11pm that night.

However, it wasn’t the last ride offered to me. During the hot afternoon I went to inspect the little harbour at the bay front. Daydreaming around the big boat, I suddenly noticed a big and expensive car pulling up next to me. I jumped out of the way, believing to block some rich sheik from getting to his yacht. Rolling down the window, an elderly man of about 60 years appeared in front of me.

Questions about where I am from, what I do here, and how long I would stay, were quickly followed by ‘let me show you around’. Although normally my alarm bells would ring, I didn’t think I have to fear much from an old and seemingly rich Arab man. Maybe the locals are just really nice and want to show foreigners exactly that – so I went into his car for a ride.

After a minute or so, he told me to put my backpack down, which was lying up until then on my legs. Although I overlooked the first signs, it became very quickly clear that he had an interest in my legs. His hand followed his continuous gazes. At first I still thought I was misinterpreting something. I said “I hope you don’t expect anything from me in exchange for showing me around.” As he answered, “not if you don’t want to”, I knew I had to get out of the car. At the next traffic light I was up and gone, only slowly realising what just had happened. Guess where I had ended up by chance – at the ‘City Centre’ in the ghost town.

Also read: Middle East Travel: 6 Safe Countries for Your First Trip

Perhaps I only mention the most extreme experiences throughout the day, but it was curious how many strange things can happen in one day. The things I didn’t mention included an illegal taxi ride back to the airport and someone asking me to get him a visa for Europe after only talking to me for one minute. I wonder what Qatar is like these days – maybe I should have another look.