Mall Madness, Manga Dua, Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Terima Kasih Indonesia! (Day 3)

I only had a few hours left in Indonesia so I decided to check-out early and get a head start on the day.  Fittingly, the first mall I visited was Sarinah Department Store, the oldest mall in Jakarta.  Despite being a little long in the tooth, Sarinah is still a favorite among Indonesian mall goers.  It is a good place to buy souvenirs as there are floors dedicated to goods like batik, handicrafts and jewelry from all parts of the country.  The prices are a bit high compared to street vendors but the products sold in Sarinah are of better quality and guaranteed authentic.  There's also also a Mcdonalds & Chilis restaurant if you're hungry.  Across the street is a Lotus Department Store selling clothes and footwear.

To get here, take the BRT to the Sarinah stop, the mall is conveniently linked to the station.  From here, the bigger malls are an easy 7 minute walk away.

Jakarta...Monas, Kota, the Business District & Shopping Malls (Day 2)

Jakarta: A Society of Extreme Contrast and a City on the Rise

"Now where has it been?

I mean the good old wild days

...Forward....

...There something in the air..."

Pogo by Digitalism

For some reason, this song was stuck in my head throughout my entire stay in Indonesia.  The Big Durian, as Jakarta is fondly called, isn't a popular tourist destination, not even to the locals, but I was here to give it a shot and try to find reasons for you guys to visit.  A place I like to call the Muslim Manila, it is infamous for traffic, over-population, high pollution levels, corruption and making international headlines for all the wrong reasons.  But like Manila, the shopping malls are first rate and if you muster up enough courage to walk it's historic streets and seldom visited tourist sights, you just might enjoy your trip, like I did!

Despite the freezing aircon in the train, I managed to get a good sleep and woke up an hour before we reached Jakarta.  The train stopped at Gambir Station, Jakarta's main rail terminal located in the city center; an adequate fully functioning transportation hub connecting Jakarta to all of Indonesia's major provinces.  It has shops & restaurants as well as reliable transportation options to wherever you're going in Jakarta in the form of Blue Bird Taxis.  Taxi drivers in the city have a bad reputation but one company (Blue Bird) has been well recommended by locals and previous visitors as honest and reputable.  I've stuck to taking Blue Bird Taxis during my stay in Jakarta and I can tell from experience that their drivers use the meter, take you to anywhere you want to go without refusing and are courteous and professional despite difficulties in communication.

From Gambir station to your hotel, your best bet is to hail a Blue Bird cab depositing passengers in the station.  Don't worry there's a lot of them in Jakarta and trips to anywhere around the city won't take more than 30 minutes (normal traffic) and won't cost you more than IDR 50,000.  There's also a Damri bus from Gambir Station which goes directly to the airport for IDR 20,000, leaving every 15-30 minutes.

For travelers looking for a more comfortable option, you may pre-arrange a private car transfer with Jakarta Airport Transfer.

Business class on the sleeper train

Java...Prambanan, Borobudur, and Yogyakarta (Day 1)

Java: My First Solo Adventure / Spectacular Sights All Around

Spontaneous, not part of the plan, unexpected yet somehow ends in amazement.  The Piso Sale had me in a panicked frenzy as I swiped my credit card away to my target destinations.  The craziness resulted in one random moment (which I still I can't explain), where I suddenly had the overwhelming urge to go to Indonesia, alone, without any prior research, and so I made it happen and arranged my one-on-one appointment with Southeast Asia's Sleeping Giant!

After reading a bit about the country, I arranged an itinerary that would maximize my sightseeing and included the highlights of Java, the region of my fascination.  The plan was to fly early from Jakarta to see the magnificent sights of Borobudur & Prambanan then experience Yogyakarta's rich culture and finally get back to Jakarta in the morning via overnight train, all within 24 hours.  And if everything goes right (or wrong), my first solo backpacking experience will be something I'd never forget!

Highlights of Java

Dolphin Watching, Balicasag Island, Virgin Island & Tagbilaran City (Day 3)

I grew up with the sea just behind my house and with a grandfather who used to sail but for some reason (overprotective parents), I never once did venture out into the open waters.  Today was my chance, and a chance for my Lolo to return to the familiar environment  he used to tread.  

We were up early on a Tuesday for our Sea Tour costing P 1,800.  If you'll be arriving from Tagbilaran City, there is an additional P 1,000 round trip fee for land transfers because it's quite far.  We left the hotel around 5:00 am and were now headed to Panglao Island, this time for some sun, sand and splash!

After a long walk to the docks, we finally got to our motorized boat and on our way to the middle of the sea for Dolphin Watching near Pamilacan Island.  Dolphins are most commonly seen around 6:00 to 7:00 am which is the reason for the early start of the tour.  Despite being a weekday, there were a lot of bancas on dolphin watch, which according to our guide causes disturbance to dolphins and reduces the chances of seeing them.  After about 20 minutes of wait with no sighting, we decided to end the pursuit because my grandmother was feeling sea sick.  I was starting to feel bad and disappointed when two minutes into our retreat, we lucked out on seeing a gang of dolphins pop right across our boat!  They hoped, dived and dazzled in front of us for about a minute until  the other boats caught up and the dolphins disappeared for good.

Seeing the dolphins roam free in their natural habitat up close makes rising early worth it.  There is just more fun in seeing them unpredictable and in the wild compared to being in controlled environments like marine parks.

Early morning, lost at sea

The Countryside, Tarsiers, Chocolate Hills and Island City Mall (Day 2)

I remember a music video back in my youth (naks, feeling matanda, haha) entitled "Tara Byahe Tayo" sang by various local artists and promoted by the government under the Wow Philippines tourism campaign.  Back then, I wasn't in love with travel yet, but I think the beautiful images shown from our national attractions got ingrained into my subconscious  and explains why there is like a magnetic force pulling me to visit all of them.  Now, I cross one out one on the list, and boy was it worth the visit! 

The van picked us up around 9 am for our Countryside Tour costing P 2,400 as today we explore Bohol's most famous attractions.  Hearing a lot of good feedback from other people who've been here, there was a palpable sense of anticipation among the group.

First stop is the Blood Compact Site.  This is the sight of the historic treaty between Sikatuna and Legazpi known as Sandugo.  The ritual involved the Filipino and Spanish leaders drinking wine mixed with drops of blood drawn from the other as a sign of friendship.  It is a heavily visited area with tourists all lining up to have their photos taken.  The background set on top of a cliff also provides a dramatic view of the Bohol sea.  During July, the Blood Compact is celebrated by the townspeople in a feast filled with food and lively activities. 

Cheers!

Bohol... Arrivals, Dauis, Panglao City and Bohol Bee Farm (Day 1)

Bohol: The Famous Hills and Everything Else Untold

Bohol has always been famous for Tarsiers, the Chocloate Hills and Panglao Island.  To most tourists, it is a single day trip from Cebu with an overnight stay at the maximum.  They get to see the famous sights and possibly check out the beach before heading out.  However, one of the joys of traveling, is venturing into the unknown and making unexpected discoveries.  I wanted to see Bohol for all its worth, from the tourist spots, to the roads less traveled.

The Chocolate Hills

Erawan Shrine, More Malls, & Chinatown (Day 5)

This is our last day in Thailand and we were hoping to make it count.  Unfortunately, the "Incident" happened, which I won't discuss further, and instantly, I was on my own for the rest of the day.

I started my trip around 1 pm, after checking out and leaving my stuff at the hotel.  I hoped on the BTS to Chit Lom Station and made my way down to the Erawan Shrine.  Located below the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, the Erawan Shrine houses a sacred Hindu statue named Than Tao Mahaprom with hordes of followers paying their respects from morning til night.  It is adorned with flowers, incense and candles and is revered by Thais.

As seen from the skybridge

Chatuchak Market & Sunday Mall Hopping (Day 4)

After a disastrous 3rd day, we were hoping that a Sunday retail shopping therapy would give us redemption.  Around 10 am, we made our way to Chatuchak Market, Asia's biggest flea market.  With more than 8,000 stalls, it is not possible for you to cover everything in a day.  It can get very crowded, confusing, noisy, smelly and sweaty.  Also, the heat is brutal especially around noon.  To add to that, your chance of getting lost is high. Chatuchak offers the most variety of goods for sale that I have ever seen, however, most of the shops are open on the weekends only.  I really enjoyed my time in Chatuchak Market.  It offers something for everyone, it's rough around the edges, it abounds with eateries and food stalls, it's a sensory overload and  it's very accessible.  There are really good bargains to be had with a little bargaining skills.  If you happen to see an item you want, haggle and if you agree with the price, buy it because you probably will not be able to relocate the store once you head elsewhere.  Also, some of the stores have items that they sell exclusively.

To get here, take the Metro to Kampheng Phet Station.  You can also take the BTS to Mo Chit Station, but the Metro exit gets you to the most interesting section of the market already.

BTS Wong Wian Yai

The Floating Market, Bridge over the River Kwai and Tiger Temple (Day 3)

We got up really early today because we availed of an organized tour at a travel agency in Khao San Road  yesterday.  The tour covers Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, the Bridge over the River Kwai, and Tiger Temple costing 2,000 baht with free lunch, exclusive of admission fees.  Now before you crucify me for taking a tour, hear me out.  DIY to the floating market is easy, but getting to Tiger Temple is really complicated because transportation options are almost non-existent.  It's very far from Bangkok, in a remote location and we would have had to take a combination of bus and long walk or hitchhiking.  As bad traveler karma to me, I didn't enjoy this day and here's what happened.

We were picked up at the hotel lobby by a Toyota Hi-Ace, and assembled with other tourists at Khao San Road.  It took us an hour and a half to get to the floating market thanks to our driver from hell.  Despite repeatedly being told by other passengers to slow down, the racer was undeterred and got us to the finish line crazy fast!  

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is the largest of Thailand's many floating markets, but also the biggest tourist trap.  The market is filled  with boat vendors clogging the artificial canals selling stuff from fresh fruits and vegetables to full meals.  Boat tour costs 400 baht per hour per person plus compulsory tip at the end of the tour.  The boat can fit four to five people.  The market is exclusively catered for tourists and the price of goods are exorbitantly high, so haggle hard (400% or more mark-up).  Aside from the boats, there are rows and rows of shops selling souvenirs, toys & fashion items; there's even a snake show booth!  A quick heads up, boat vendors have "partner" shops they take you to where they get commissions from your purchases.

Getting back to land, I decided to check out the adjacent dry market, and the canal side activity.  To be honest, aside from the beautiful pictures which you can brag to your friends, there isn't much to see.  To me the place feels fake, overly commercialized, and overrated.

If you will be commuting to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market from Bangkok, take a taxi to the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai) and ride Bus # 78 which will lead you directly to Damnoen Saduak Terminal for 50 baht taking 2 hours.  Alternatively, a taxi from Bangkok to the floating market costs 1,500 baht.  

Floating Market

The Chao Phraya River, Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun and Khao San Road (Day 2)

I had just watched a scene in the Thai movie Bangkok Traffic Love Story where the female lead is going home from work, exhausted, but is made to suffer endless traffic.  She goes on switching from different types of transportation from taxis, tuk-tuks  to riding a ferry.  The ferry passes through along a lot of vivid images that stuck into my mind going into this trip.  Now, I got the chance to see them for real.

Literally, this is our first day.  We explore the district of Rattanakosin, the historic center of Bangkok.  This is home to most of the must see sights and should be part of every traveler's itinerary.

We had delicious breakfast at the hotel.  The main meal is set but we could help ourselves with as many breads, fruits, juice and milk as we like.

Breakfast Area

Bangkok..Suvarnabhumi Airport and Baiyoke Sky (Day 1)

Bangkok:  The Land of Legendary Street food / Venice of Southeast Asia

In the 90's my parents went to Bangkok on an organized tour.  They came back unimpressed, forever comparing the city to Manila.  My folks would say: "Bangkok is chaotic, dirty, has fewer malls, fewer sights and dangerous. Mas maganda pa ang Maynila diyan".  Fast forward to 2011, Bangkok has just been named the World's Best City by Travel & Leisure Magazine and Manila is not even on the list, so naturally, I became intrigued.  Could it be that Bangkok has rapidly progressed past Manila over the last decade, or were my parents unable to see the real beauty of Bangkok in an organized tour, or maybe the magazine got it wrong?  Whatever it was, I was going to find out and I was going to do it my way DIY!

Wat Arun

Lantau without the Buddha & the Mouse, Plus Goodbyes for Now (Day 5)

Our flight back to Manila was scheduled 5 pm, so we still had half a day in Hong Kong and we decided to go to Lantau Island.  This area houses the Tian Tan Buddha, Ngong Ping Village and Cable Car, the Po Lin Monastery, the fishing village of Tai O, a Citygate Outlet, and most famously, Hong Kong Disneyland.

Most of these spots can be found near the Tung Chung Station of the MTR where  there are easy connections on foot, bus or cable car.  To get to Disneyland, get off at MTR Sunny Bay Station, then transfer to a Disney train which leads to the park entrance.  It takes almost an hour to get to Lantau Island from the city center.

The long interchange at Central Station

Departures, Causeway Bay and Central (Day 4)

I woke up to the view of elderly people practicing Taichi on my window, and was half expecting my Lola to be among them (don't bet on it!).  We had breakfast at a nameless hole in the wall Chinese restaurant beside 7-Eleven and opposite New Yaohan.  Up front is a takeout counter and dine-in customers are served at the second floor.  There is no English on the menu, and the rude staff do not speak English either so ordering was an adventure.  Surprisingly, the food were delicious especially the siomai which tasted like it came from a top Chinese restaurant, and everyone in the group seemed satisfied with their orders.  After eating, we returned to the hotel, packed up and made the return trip to Hong Kong.

Priceless View

Senado Square, the Ruins of St. Paul and More Casinos (Day 3)

Today, I headed to Senado Square for a little sightseeing alone.  I walked to the street behind Hotel Sintra facing the Grand Emperor Hotel, then turned left at the corner from where its was a good 10 to 15 minutes walk before reaching the entrance to Senado Square on the right guided by signs.  I passed by a lot of clothing shops and some interesting European architecture along the way.  The Square is composed of fine, old Portuguese buildings teeming with retail shops and restaurants, mixed with Ongpin styled alleys and backstreets.  Vendors sell Chinese tapas (free tasting), egg tarts (Koi Kei Bakery is the most popular), local snacks, herbals and souvenirs.

Kanto ng Senado Square

Avenue of Stars, Ferry to Macau, and the Cotai Strip (Day 2)

Even though I slept really late last night, I woke up early to go jogging with my dad.  When I'm in travel, I make it a point to maximize my limited time.  I'm like a train with no brakes and unlimited fuel. 

We started through the Avenue of Stars at the Waterfront Promenade where our trail led us past the hand prints of famous Chinese personalities in the film industry and a statue tribute of would-have-been UFC Featherweight champion Bruce Lee.  I really appreciated just being able to soak in the peaceful early morning view of Victoria Harbour and its skyscrapers, while passing through some ultra expensive hotels in Kowloon.

We ended up at Hung Hom MTR Station which is amidst a swanky residential neighborhood where we took the MTR back to the hotel.  Everyone was now awake so we headed to a nearby Mcdonalds for breakfast.

Sunrise at the Avenue of Stars

Hong Kong... for the 5th Time, A Symphony of Lights & Tsim Sha Tsui (Day 1)

Hong Kong by heart...

I have been here before, it's all too familiar to me.  The lights, the sounds, the smell, the pace and the attitude all conjure an unmistakable identity.  I know this place more than I know most of the cities back home.  This is the first country I ever visited, the most I have visited and yet somehow the feeling of excitement over doing the same things and going to the same places remain.  Maybe it's because we were celebrating our parent's wedding anniversary or that this was my first time traveling with  my grandparents or just the fact that it's Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Island seen from Kowloon