UPDATE: Editor’s note: Added video.

By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net

THE HUANG Pu River cuts through Shanghai, dividing it between ultra-modern Pudong and culture-rich Puxi. After a hurried lunch, I took a quick break from the first-day sessions at the Intel Developer Forum, which was at the Shanghai Convention Center in Pudong, located near the river.

Being the lone Filipino journalist, I bumped into a fellow journalist named Kema (editor of CNET Turkey) while grabbing a smoke outside. A first-timer like myself, I tagged along when he said he was crossing to the other side via this tunnel right (Editor’s note: The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel) in front of SCC.

What the heck, I thought, I’ve got a few minutes to kill and a bit of a walk would be a welcome treat because I was feeling the springtime chill.

Not much walking, however, because it was actually a train ride to the other side of the river. The ride cost 40 yuans (or RMB as they call it here).

Anyway, so much for sightseeing, I did expect to see the bottom of the river! It was more like a light show that reminded me a lot of Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey.” “Lightseeing” tunnel then, huh?

Here’s a video I took.

By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net

UPDATE: Editor’s note: Corrected blog post.

SHANGHAI, China–Shanghai is full of skyscrapers it’s a pain in the neck — literally.

Which isn’t surprising since it’s touted as China’s modern metropolis. The Orient Pearl Tower sticks out from among the rest because of how it looks. Yes, it’s that one next to Chairman Mao (Editor’s note: Thanks to our readers who noticed the error and pointed out that this is a statue of Chen Yi.) the statue of Chen Yi, who was Shanghai’s first mayor when the People’s Republic of China was founded .

It reminded me a lot of Malaysia’s Petronas Towers because everywhere you go, it’s just a head turn away. It’s actually a TV tower (third largest in Asia) but it stands out from among many skyscrapers because of its rocket-ship look.

The Orient Pearl is just right beside the convention center in Pudong where I’m covering the Intel Developer Forum, so each time I go out I couldn’t help but crane my neck up.

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By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net

CEBU, Philippines–I have never been to an SM mall this spacious. Not even that overly hyped Mall of Asia sitting near (no, on top of) Manila Bay.

While covering a Smart event held at SM Cebu, I got to kill some time in the recently opened North Wing. The picture above was taken from the second floor. Also this one below but from the other side — and on a different day, spot the difference yet?

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CHECK out this video taken by INQUIRER.net reporter Lawrence Casiraya, who interviewed Mang Eddie and Mang Nestor near the Guadalupe Bridge along Edsa in Makati City as they tried to catch some fish to eat or sell.

Online Videos by Veoh.com

By Joey Alarilla
INQUIRER.net

INQUIRER.NET reporter Lawrence Casiraya interviewed El Nido Resorts chef Rey de la Cruz and sampled the exotic delicacy known as tamilok.

While it looks like a worm, the tamilok is actually a mollusk that burrows inside the trees in Palawan’s mangrove areas. It’s supposed to be an aphrodisiac, hehe

Video taken by INQUIRER.net reporter Alex Villafania at Miniloc island on Nov. 17.

For more videos from our Palawan adventure, check out my earlier post. And go to iVDO on Yahoo! for more videos from INQUIRER.net and our partners.

LAGUNA has its own version of Marikina City in this quaint little town called Liliw, famous for its handmade shoes and slippers. Liliw is among a cluster of towns located at the southeastern side of Laguna and sits at the foot of mystical Mount Banahaw, partly hidden by clouds in the picture.

As mentioned in Wikipedia, Liliw has a shoe industry that can rival Marikina. There are two main streets lined with shops like these on both sides. I bought my Grandma two pairs of abaloryo slippers, with sequins and have a soft feathery feel, which I found out from her, can rarely be found elsewhere.

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By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net

IT was simply the hugest beach I have ever seen in my entire life. Boracay Beach isn’t even half the size of the beachfront at Surfer’s Paradise, the most popular stop in Gold Coast.

This is how it looks like once you step into the beach at Surfer’s Paradise. Notice how long the stretch of sand is before it breaks into the sea. The waves are simply astounding — no wonder they call it Surfer’s Paradise. I can spend an entire day just listening to the crashing waves.

After much prodding, I had to take a dip. Lunita, a fellow journalist from Singapore and an avid surfer, said it’s a must that anyone who visits the Coast should at least “be one” with the ocean by dipping one’s feet in the water. Our plan was to get in the ocean but we got there late and it was a bloody cold spring night, and the strong waves made me think otherwise. The waves are so strong you need to be a strong swimmer or else the undertow might throw you back into the sea.

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By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net

WHAT’S the difference between alligators and crocodiles? Apparently not so much says this guy at Hartley’s Creek Crocodile Farm in Cairns.

The video below shows him feeding these nasty-looking crocs while telling us guests a thing or two about these reptiles.

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