July 2008 Archives

By Lawrence Casiraya INQUIRER.net On a recent trip to Hong Kong, I visited a good friend of mine who lives with his family in Lamma Island, about 20 minutes by ferry from the mainland. It was my first time there and I had this wild guess that Lamma (not Llama as I earlier thought) is filled with somewhat luxurious beach houses for vacationing Hong Kong residents. As pictured above when I boarded down the ferry, it looks more like a quiet and peaceful fishing village, away from the hustle and bustle of mainland Hong Kong. Walking along the narrow and somewhat crowded streets, it reminded me of Sabang Beach in Puerto Galera. I learned that Lamma is famous for its restaurants. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo paid Sampan restaurant a visit during a recent trip to Hong Kong. Lamma Island is third largest island in Hong Kong, and is haven to artists and the rest of the bohemian crowd, hence its reputation as an enclave for hippies, which have attracted a lot of expatriates in Hong Kong who want to live somewhere tranquil. Residents aren’t allowed to own cars or other motorized vehicles, except for this one which is owned by the local government and obviously a utility vehicle. My friend and his family live in housing communities like the photo below, which reminded me of UP Bliss. The buildings don’t look much different from each other. I learned that a lot of Filipino architects have settled in Lamma after finding work in Hong Kong. But the main attraction on Lamma is the beach. I went there on a Saturday and there was a huge crowd. I was there for only a few hours so I didn’t go for a swim. Hopefully, next time I’m there for much longer I can. Also go trekking or ride a junk boat and take a tour of around Lamma and other nearby islands. Lamma should be worth your while if you ever find yourself bored with all the shopping in the mainland.

By Jerome Quinto Contributor On board the PR 211 cabin, I was seated face-to-face with an LCD screen, which lacks the brilliance and clarity of one. At first glance, I knew that the screen won't produce a stunning picture. The images flashed were smudge with pinkish light stains and were high in brightness and contrast. In short, it was not worth viewing at all. I didn't really enjoy the in-flight video and information clips. Thus I just indulged myself with the classical music piped through the complimentary headsets (which are not complimentary at all in the Pinoy sense since you can't take it home). The music was apt to the scholarly text that I had to read to catch-up with the lectures that my professor would give while I'm away. The piano, winds and strings ensemble saved me from the lack of activity over the long flight to Australia. Here's a photo of fellow Filipino pilgrims from the diocese of Malolos on-queue to check-in their luggage. Abobe is a photo of Father Ron with a youth minister of Malolos. Along with the music came three sets of meals. Early lunch and heavy afternoon snacks were served during the first leg of the journey (before the 45-minute stopover at Sydney airport) and a light snack upon arriving in Melbourne Airport. The meals were enough to satisfy my gastronomic need. Here you can see our packed in-flight lunch. During the flight, I cannot forget the recurring reminder from the Australian authorities that was being flashed on screen and announced through the public address system: It said, “Declare or Beware,” and went on to explain that the Australian government does not want in-bound passengers to suffer the penalties related quarantine and customs law. If you plan to travel to Australia, make sure that you visit the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. Here's a snapshot of the queue in Sydney airport transfer. It was a long flight but the hassles of the journey have been swept away by the gentle breeze that greeted me as I entered the Melbourne Airport. I believe you experience such feeling when step on a foreign land for the first time. Read my earlier entry here.

By Izah Morales INQUIRER.net Seeing the fluffy clouds from the plane, which looked like soft pillows, I felt like I was in dreamland. But I knew I was not dreaming when the plane landed on the runway of the Macau International Airport at Taipa Island one cloudy Monday afternoon. As we headed to the arrival area, I heard voices spoken in different tongues. I opened my little notebook and jotted down a few conversation lines in Cantonese and Portuguese. But then again, they were of no help. Only a handful of people understood English. I noticed that they understood my English better if I imitated the way they spoke. We later made our way to the hotel through a transport service from a travel agency, albeit most hotels do offer free shuttle services. When we arrived at the hotel, we checked in our luggage, grabbed a map and a booklet on some basic information about Macau from the concierge and went out to taste what it offered. We took the hotel’s free shuttle to go to the Macau Ferry Terminal. The shuttle passed by a bridge connecting Taipa Island and the Macau Peninsula. The beauty of Macau bloomed as the sun set. Photographers would surely fancy the dazzling lights from the bridge and the exterior of the casinos. From the Macau Ferry Terminal, we walked towards a department store called New Yaohan, where there was a bus stop. Each destination in Macau has a designated bus number. We took the bus number that was going to Fisherman’s Wharf. Later, we realized it was a mistake to ride the bus to the Fisherman’s Wharf since it was just a few meters away from where we were. The distance in the map fooled me. Nonetheless, it was a thrilling yet scary experience to be lost in a place, where you seem to feel like an alien. In Macau, shuttles have no conductors or people designated to collect your payment. In the Philippines, they were necessary. The locals who were riding the same shuttle told us to pay MOP (Macau Pataca) 2.50, which was the standard fare rate, in a box that was located near the bus entrance. I asked the driver if he was passing Fisherman’s Wharf. He didn’t understand a word I said. Fortunately, we recognized a Filipino who also boarded the bus. I approached her. She told us that we missed our stop and that we should get off the next stop. She then pointed at a button that we should press to signal the bus driver to stop. I took the map out and learned that we were in Lotus Square. We were lucky to have found fellow Filipino Vangie Soriano who understood us and could speak our language. She was riding the same bus that we took but was seated at the back. She helped find our bus stop, where a shuttle going to the wharf was passing by. We later found ourselves in the busy streets of San Ma Lo, where vendors offered you to taste pork strip. We also noticed clothes being sold in San Ma Lo. Here's a photo of the streets in Macau. Macau is in Asia but it is inspired by Mediterranean and European architecture. The buildings at the Senado Square gave us a glimpse of a different architecture that was shaped by 450 years of Portuguese rule. The lights at night gave a romantic appeal to the scenery. At around 11 in the evening, the city was still alive, thanks to numerous casinos operating in this place. By that time, we decided to go back to the hotel for a goodnight’s sleep. Here's a snapshot of the Senado Square I took The next day, we headed back to the Macau Ferry Terminal to join a group tour, which the travel agency arranged for us. Most of the tourists were Europeans and Indians, plus us three Filipinos. Our Portuguese tour guide Mario shared every bit of information about the tourist attractions in Macau. But what struck me was that Macau residents were free from paying taxes before the Portuguese hand over of Macau to China in December 1999. He said that only business establishments especially casinos were paying taxes. Casinos have become the lifeblood of Macau’s economy, which now attracts millions of tourists and gamblers from the world, thus earning the reputation of being the “Las Vegas of Asia.” Mario claimed there was now more money in Macau casinos than in Las Vegas casinos. Amid the grandeur of the Mediterranean-European architectures, the historical churches, and the amazing casino lights, the public housing system in Macau, which resembles tenements in Binondo and in Divisoria in Manila, was what struck me. Mario told us that he would show tourists not only the best but also the worst side of Macau. Here's a beautiful shot of the St. Dominic's Church at night. Visiting another country has allowed me to see the world differently. I learned the following: Before taking a trip abroad, you better have a checklist of the basic necessities for long trips. Number one, you’re passport should not fall under the six-month expiration window. Best to check when it will expire and have it renewed quick. It is your most valuable identification upon entering a foreign land. Also, don’t forget your plane ticket. Check this one before you start and finish packing. If you want a discounted plane fare, it is best to book a flight months before the trip. Research about the place you’re visiting. Search the web for basic facts like language, population, weather, geography, among others. And before you fly, have some of your local currency changed to foreign currency from a local bank. It is cheaper to change your local currency from a bank than at the airport. Don’t forget to bring extra cash, and yes, a digital camera to capture moments of your trip. Every trip has its own adventures and misadventures. It’s like a dish. You should be brave enough to taste every foreign dish served to you, as you enjoy the thrill and experience no matter how sweet, sour, spicy or bitter it is.

In places that you visit, there are things that you remember. And there are things you discover when you come back. I have been to Khao San Road at least three times, but this is my first time to have actually stayed there. I first knew about it after watching “The Beach” movie, where a character played by Leonardo DiCaprio travels to Thailand and eventually discovers a yet unexplored beach. He stays in a rickety hostel in Khao San. I'm guessing it's Khao San Palace, which I discovered early on, carries quite a negative reputation. I almost ended up there when I arrived without a booking. Khao San is widely-renowned as a backpackers' haven, and I'm pretty sure I was the only Filipino staying there during that time. That it attracts backpackers is not so surprising. From here, you can hop on a bus to Kho Samui, Kho Pangan, Kho Tao, and all these islands South of Thailand (also Kho Phi Phi, where I remember The Beach was filmed). I thought you can only go there by plane. In a way, that makes me feel glad to know it's more affordable to go there. I hope I can someday. And then there are things I remember about Khao San that never changed since the last time I was there. The scene is still jumpy, rowdy, and very much alive and almost feels like the strip is a world of its own, while the rest of Bangkok is quiet in slumber. The pad thai was still terrific, and at 25 baht (40 baht if you add chicken), it still is a lot better than anything I've ever had in Manila. Eventually, I spent my last few bahts on another round, this time with spring rolls (hey, it's my last night so let me splurge and pig out) and a tall Heineken, bought from 7-11. Yes, you can buy beer from there if you want to go cheap. Just don't bring it inside a restaurant or bar. But don't worry, you can go sit on the sidewalk and drink like the rest. You, and a hundred more souls from all over the world, are all part of this magical place. And one more tip: If you should be getting a Thai massage (which undoubtedly is in a Bangkok first-timer's checklist), try not getting one at night, unless it's fine for you to have your muscles kneaded to the tune of Axl Rose's Sweet Child of Mine.

By Jerome Quinto, Contributor INQUIRER.net I'VE always thought that a trip to Australia is as easy as climbing down a flight of staircases. Well, if a million steps down a thousand-storey building is for you a snap, the former rings true -- for you. For a Filipino (with the Pinoy passport, of course), going to Australia, or any developed country for that matter, starts with getting a visa. Well this wasn't a problem for me, though preparing the papers needed to get the visa is a hassle. Not to mention the agony of the waiting period where I'm caught between being prepared for the trip and likewise uncertain for I don't know whether I'm getting a visa or not. Good thing the dilemma wasn't that long. Just about three weeks (compared to a month or more for most). I don't intend to plot in detail the pre-departure process. Suffice it to say that IT IS NOT EASY and one should consider so many factors before one's flight. So how did I get "Down Under"? At the airport My journey to Australia isn't my first international flight (been to HK last July 2006 for the Asian Youth Day). Thus, our NAIA is no foreign ground for me. Security checks, X-rays, checking-in of luggage, terminal fee and immigration -- the long procedure one has to undergo in NAIA. Compared to my previous international flight, there was an added security check at the waiting area near the gate where we are supposed to board. My hand-carried pack was again subjected to the X-ray and manual inspection. The added inspection tried to ensure that we didn't carry anything illegal under Aussie regulations. Aboard the plane Our ticket was marked Fiesta Class (a.k.a. economy class). I was expecting a different kind of cabin service since it's a longer flight. I was thinking about what food they were going to serve, what kind of entertainment would be available during the eight-hour journey, what amenities would be offered to us. These questions just kept popping in my mind. (To be continued)