Are you feeling the urge to just get away from it all and pack you things to go on a much deserved or long overdue vacation? Yes? So, what’s stopping you then? More often than not, the reason would be budget constraints.
The good news is travelling in this day and age is no longer just for the Rich and Famous. An average person or a regular employee can go on trips not only domestic ones but international trips as well.
Whenever I travel, I always make it a point that I do a lot of research so that I can make the most out of my trip without blowing off my entire year’s savings. This is why I’m very thankful that there are now quite a number of budget airlines that service the Philippines, my country of origin. These airlines include Air Asia, Tiger Airways and Jet Star. The destinations are interesting enough even if limited.
I decided to go on a trip late last year and was able to work around a limited budget for my trip. My destination of choice was Kota Kinabalu or KK, as it is popularly known, is the state capital of Sabah in Malaysia. It is fondly described as a “pleasant Borneo surprise” as it is unexpectedly set between the magnificent South China Sea and rich tropical rolling hills.
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Sagada…….a breathtaking place where the sky kisses the earth. Located at 5,000 feet above sea level in the Cordillera mountain range of Luzon in the Philippines, it is far, far up from the smog and the noise of the cities below. This little Shangri-la is a tourist’s favorite, since it is not as crowded as Baguio City yet the cool weather and the plush scenery is just as pleasing. It is also famous for its world-renowned hanging coffins, 60 underground caves and charming waterfalls.
How to Get There
You could reach this mountain-top town in two ways: from Baguio, take a bus going to Sagada and pass through Mt. Halsema Express. It will take 6-7 hours, but along the way you would pass Benguet and the Chico River. From Banaue, you will take 2 jeepney rides and the trip will take 2-3 hours. During that time, you would pass Bontoc and get a view of the Banaue Rice Terraces, dubbed as the eight wonder of the world.
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So you’re in Japan, but you don’t speak a word of Japanese. Fear not, here are a few essential phrases which will help you get by when you visit Japan. There are a lot of phrases that is useful to know. If you plan to go to Japan and you are not fluent, remember that it is also helpful to bring a Japanese-English dictionary to better understand what your Japanese counterparts are saying to you. One thing to remember is that the japanese have distinct ways of speaking, depending on who the speaker is addressing and the situation. Nihonggo can either be formal or informal, such as when talking to friends or family the informal form is usually used. Most of the phrases here are in their informal form. When speaking in a formal event or to one’s elders, it is imperative to use the formal way of speaking.
PLEASANTRIES
Good morning - Ohayou
Good evening - Kombanwa
Good day - Konnichiwa
Good night - Oyasumi
How do you do? - Ikaga desu ka?
Nice to meet you - Hajimemashite
I am very well - Genki desu
Thank you - Arigatou
Many thanks - Domo arigatou
Goodbye - Sayounara/ Ja ne
Best regards - Yoroshiku
By all means - Douzo
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Pressured by the needs of the world’s fastest growing economy, the Chinese government has opened the Hangzhou Bridge to the public, proudly proclaiming it’s status as the world’s longest road bridge. Spanning 36 km. (22 miles), the USD 1.7 billion bridge spans Hangzhou Bay to link the financial hub of Shanghai with the port city of Ningbo to the South in the eastern province of Zhejiang (to give you an idea of the length, imagine that if the bridge was transported across the English Channel, it would span the distance between England and France). Thus, the road distance between the two key cities in the Yangtze delta is reduced by 120 kilometers, and travel time is cut by two and a half hours.
A ceremony, attended by Premier Wen Jiabao, was held in the middle of the cable-stayed bridge to mark its official opening (a cable-stayed bridge, practical for spans up to a kilometer in length, is second only to suspension-type bridges as the longest spanning bridge design.). The bridge is reinforced to withstand the annual monsoon winds which blow from the Pacific Ocean and pound the east coast every summer. Additional safety precautions include banning vehicles with large loads and carrying any dangerous chemicals from crossing the bridge.
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Ocean Park, one of the world’s greatest educational theme parks, is located in Aberdeen which on the South side of Hong Kong island. A lot of people, including Hong Kong residents and tourists from all over the world, flock to this theme park each year making Ocean Park a favorite destination among tourists not only in Hong Kong but in the entire Asian region.Just like any other theme park, Ocean Park, offers a lot amenities and services such as Souvenir Shops, Food Kiosks/Restaurants, ATM machines, Animal Shows, Aquariums, Aviaries, Observation Towers, and a wide selection of heart-pounding rides. What makes it extraordinary is that the entire park is divided into two major areas – The Lowland Gardens and the Headland – which are connected by a Cable Car.
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It’s 12am in Tokyo. You’re itching for the nightlife but all the bars you go to are now closed. Where do you go then? Where else but Roppongi. Roppongi is exactly where you want to be when you want to go out at night, with its many establishments open until the first trains start their first trips.
Roppongi is filled with restaurants, clubs, discos and bars to satisfy even the wildest party animal, with restaurant prices ranging from ¥150 to ¥30000($1.50 to $290) and bar prices from ¥400 to ¥5000($4 to $50). Among the numerous bars in the area, one of note is the Lexington Queen. This bar which features a wide variety of music, is usually dominated by a young crowd. If you’re looking for something more upscale and mature, try going to Heartland. Located at the bottom of Mori Tower, this bar’s patrons are usually attired in business suits. There is also no entrance fee for this bar. And if you’re checking out bars, you might as well go to Absolut Icebar Tokyo. With walls, bars, tables and even your own glass made out of crystal clear ice, if you’ve ever dreamed of being in an ice palace this is the next best thing.
Everything is ice!!
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If you are an anime lover, then you must know the works of Hayao Miyazaki. For decades, the legendary animator and visionary behind Studio Ghibli has produced many animated classics known throughout the world. Who can forget the post-apocalyptic eco-princess named Nausicaa? Or the perservering teenage witch in Kiki’s Delivery Service? Far different from the mainstream anime aesthetics of ninjas, beguiling vixens and space robots, Miyazaki’s vision is clean and simple, celebrating an imaginary 19th century Europe in all its architecture and mechanisms, and the joy of flight.
Ghibli fans, rejoice! For there is a place which brings to life the visual marvels that Miyazaki brings to the screen. The Ghibli Museum is a compound in the Mitaka suburbs, just 20 minutes away from the Shinjuku Station through the JR Chuo Main Line. Lovingly designed by the people behind Ghibli, the museum is a delightful attraction, part animation exhibit, part recreation center, and part Miyazaki tribute.
Approaching the entrance, visitors will be greeted by a stuffed Totoro and his smaller companions from the film of the same name. Ticket holders will immediately receive a prized item: clippings of film stock from various Ghibli animes. From there on, visitors are left to themselves: there are no set paths to follow, just interconnecting rooms which lead from one surprise to the next. Doubling back is inevitable, just to be certain that no section is left uninspected.
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Cravin’ for some cool livin’? Drop by at the beautiful mountains of the Philippines - Baguio City!
Located at 5,000 feet above sea level and with mild temperatures ranging from 9 o – 28o C (48o – 82o F) , this city is called the ‘summer capital’ of the Philippines because people climb to the city to escape the summer heat.
Imagine this: the cool breeze ruffling your hair as you drive by the roads of the mountainside. You gaze at the blue skies with low fluffy clouds above you. All around are fragrant pine trees and flowers of all the colors of a rainbow.
Nice isn’t it?
Well then, take it all in as you visit the many parks and places that abound this little paradise. (No need to fret too much; hail a taxi, tell the name of the place and they’ll take you there.)
But First: How to Get to Baguio
The trip to get to your destination matters. You could choose to go by bus, by air, or by car, depending on your taste and temperament.
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