Camiguin is another favorite destination in the Philippines not only among tourists but even among locals.  More often than not, the trip to Camiguin is usually a side trip to a tour of Cagayan De Oro.

One can access the province of Camiguin through any of the three available ports.  The major point of entry is through the Benoni port.  The other two minor ports are the Guinsiliban Port and the Balbagon Port.  If you would like to crossover to Camiguin, you can choose between water or air travel although water travel is more accessible as only a small aircraft can reach the island.  The most common route, as what I have mentioned earlier, the quickest way to set your feet on Camiguin is to catch any commercial flight from Manila to the province of Cagayan De Oro.  From Cagayan De Oro, visitors can travel for around one hour to two hours by bus to Balingoan Port which is about eighty four kilometres away from Cagayan De Oro.  Another way is to take the one hour ferry ride to Benoni Port which can be found in Mahinog.  The Benoni Port is seventeen kilometres away from Mambajao, the capital of Camiguin, which is accessible by jeepneys.  People who prefer to drive all the way to Camiguin can bring their own vehicles onboard selected ferry boats that travel from the Balingoan Port directly to the Benoni Port in Camiguin island.  But because of the numerous fees that have to be settled, some visitors just prefer to park their vehicles at the Balingoan port and commute to Camiguin.

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Posted in Attractions, Philippines |

South Korea has its own share of traditional snacks, from baked goods stuffed with bean paste to the steamed silkworm pupae. If you find yourself adventurous for some exotic delicacy or just hungry from a day’s sightseeing, then head for the nearest street food vendor (pojangmacha) and order up some tasty Korean treats.

Beondegi - stewed and seasoned silkworm pupae served by street vendors. They are also popular accompaniments to liquor in bars and are available in cans for grocery purchases.  The canned versions have a boiled hotdog aroma, which does not help in making the product appealing, but the deep-fried variety tastes like deep-fried peanut skin filled with a woody foie gras-like paste.
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Posted in Food, Korea |

Tourists who feel like they already had enough shopping in Singapore can simply dump their truckload of shopping bags at their hotel like the Inn At Temple Street Hotel Singapore, shed off their clothes, pack some tanning lotion, and hit the beach.  Yes, go to the beach!

Which beach?  How about Changi Beach?  Aside from taking a dip, visitors of Changi Beach enjoy lounging around by the Changi Coast Road to enjoy the scenery under the cool shades of trees.  Think blue green waters that glisten under the sun and gorgeous palm trees that sway with the wind!  One can rent a bicycle from the bicycle shop to tour the area while waiting for an amazing sunset.  Some are simply content to enjoy the cool breeze while sipping refreshing coconut juice or sugar cane juice and watch planes take off and soar in the horizon.  There are people who pitch tents near the small area for kids.  These play areas have a few swings.  Some people think that these play areas are the reason why not so many children frequent the beach area. Other attractions of Changi Beach include campsites, fitness stations accompanied by fitness equipment, and restrooms wherein some are complete with shower facilities.

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Posted in Attractions, Singapore |

“There is heaven in the sky, and Suzhou on earth.”

- old Chinese proverb

It is the famous explorer Marco Polo who once said that Suzhou is the Eastern Venice. A city 100 kilometers south of Shanghai, Suzhou is one of the oldest towns in the Yangtze basin and the cradle of Wu culture. The city greatly benefited when the Grand Canal of China was completed, placing it along a major trade route in the empire. Known for its spider-web of canals, picturesque gardens (several of which are UNESCÒ World Heritage sites) and its relevance in the silk trade, the city is an example of millennia of urban development which result in a harmony of beauty, commerce, and culture. As the economy rapidly developed, the city committed itself to the major demolition and reconstruction of its central areas, converting narrow streets, alleys and canals to multi-lane highways and shopping malls.

Here are some of the things you can do during your visit to Suzhou.

Stroll through the gardens - Built according to the style of Chinese paintings, there are a hundred private gardens, some of which are open to the public. The Humble Administrator’s Garden is the largest private garden in the city and has a tour starting every 5-10 minutes. Blue Wave Pavilion, the Garden of the Master of the Nets and Lion Grove are other gardens worth visiting, and all exemplify the beauty of Chinese refinement.

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Posted in China, Things to do |

Nepal, an independent republic since May of 2008, is an incredible destination for world travelers looking to experience a diverse culture. The area is full of incredible people, spectacular monuments, amazing architecture, and the occasional odd tourist attraction. Visitors will find plenty of welcoming people, tea-houses, and hotels during their travels as well. There’s really no reason to stay away from Nepal, especially if you’ve planned a safe trip in advance.

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Posted in Nepal |

Every visitor of Hong Kong must also make time to visit the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery which is erected on the thriving hillside of the New Territories.  This particular monastery is a Buddhist Temple located at 220 Pai Tau Village in Shatin just outside downtown Hong Kong.  It is considered one of the most sacred sites in Hong Kong.

It is easy to get to this monastery.  If you come from any hotel in Hong Kong like the Acesite Hotel Hong Kong, you can simply head to the nearest MTR station and ride the MTR to Shatin.  You can get off the MTR at Shatin then head to Park Road.  You will see a shopping mall called IKEA at the top of Park Road. When you reach the entrance of IKEA, you will see a small sign that gives directions to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery.  From here, you can turn left to Pai Tau Street and walk on the ride side of the street then turn towards the small alley  beside the Shatin Cemetery and a building car park. Do not mistake the White Pagoda  at the left side of Pai Tau Road, for the monastery.  This White Pagoda is a cemetery and not a temple. When you see a beautiful entrance and escalators, it means that you are in the wrong place.

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Posted in Attractions, Hong Kong |

Gyeongju is a small city south of Seoul which once served as the historical capital of Korea. Much of Korean Buddhist art is concentrated here in the form of sculptures, reliefs, pagodas, temples and palaces. It is said that if you go to Korea without visiting Gyeongju, your understanding of the country will be incomplete.

Here are the major landmarks you must visit in Gyeongu:

Bulguksa Temple – regarded as a masterpiece in Buddhist art. Like many Korean temples, Bulguksa has the Gate of the Four Guardians, deities whose expressions range from smiling to teeth-gnashing. Together, the guardians symbolize the triumph of wisdom over ignorance. Two famous stone pagodas, Seokgatap and Dabotap, stand in front of the main rayer hall. Bulguksa has been destroyed and reconstructed over the centuries, the most recent one occurring in 1965.

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Posted in Attractions, Korea |

Brunei is a thriving country that is slowly starting to make its mark as a tourist destination in Asia.  Tourists go out of their way to cross the border to enter Brunei Darussalam to explore this wonderful country and have a bit of rest and relaxation in comfortable hotels like the Orchid Garden Bandar Seri Begawan Hotel.  This hotel is located in a strategic section of the city close to both leisure and business destinations.

After visiting numerous tourist attractions in Brunei like majestic mosques and interesting floating villages like Kampong Ayer, visitors must not pass up the opportunity to go on a food trip of different local delicacies that this prosperous country can offer.

Dishes that are served in Brunei are quite similar to the kinds of food that are offered in neighboring countries like Singapore and Malaysia.  Because of this, local Brunei cuisine is said to be a melting pot of sorts or a fusion of the different dishes of the surrounding countries.  You can have a Malay breakfast then enjoy extremely tasty Indian food for lunch and end your day with delicious Chinese food for Dinner.  This is how you can make the most out of your food tripping in Brunei.  There are a lot of spicy flavors and there in a regular sit-down meal, it is normal to have both rice and noodles.

If you would like to try some local food in Brunei then you need not look far as delicacies can be found in food stalls and in traditional restaurants in shopping centers.  But there is this one particular local delicacy in Brunei that all visitors must be adventurous enough to try.  I am actually referring to Ambuyat.

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Posted in Brunei, Food |

There used to be hundreds of varieties of snacks in Beijing during their peak in popularity; nowadays, the hundred or so types of food alternatives remain, recalling the days of gluttonous glory among residents in the Chinese capital. There are 3 categories of Beijing snacks: Han-style, Islamic- style, and Imperial-style ,with the latter dominating 80% of all snack items. There are some that go well with wine, while others that are perfect for breakfast or a midnight repast. But all of them, especially the ten snack items below, are worth sampling the next time you visit Beijing.

Youtiao - known in English as Chinese crueller, fried bread stick or sweetened fried bread twist, this long, golden-brown, deep-fried dough is commonly eaten for breakfast as a an accompaniment for rice congee or soy milk. Youtiao is lightly salted and can be split lengthwise into two pieces.

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Posted in China, Food |

Australia has a lot to offer tourists of all ages. In addition to a trip to the Sydney Opera House or any of the country’s eclectic beaches, visitors enjoy exploring all aspects of Australian culture. To some, this means jumping from amusement park to amusement park in an effort to determine which ones are the most fun.

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Posted in Australia |