In my previous article, I shared the different places like the Chocolate Hills, Bohol Forest and the Butterfly Farm which one can visit while touring Bohol in one day. But there are more attractions and activities that you can include in your day tour.

ENJOY BUFFET LUNCH DURING THE LOBOC RIVER CRUISE – The Loboc River is located about twenty one kilometres from Tagbilaran City. Aside from simply taking a look at the powerful river, visitors can extend their stay by joining a Loboc River Cruise Tour which usually includes buffet lunch. The fee that we paid the last time we were there was around P300.00 per person. As paying guests, you have the option to choose which boat to take. Since these boats belong to different operators, they serve different kinds of food and offer varied services.

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Posted in Attractions, Philippines, Things to do |

When people talk about the top tourist destinations in the Philippines, Bohol would surely be included in the discussion.

Beautiful Bohol is located in the Philippines and is very accessible either by water or by air.  Foreigners have the option to enter the Philippines either through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila or through the international airport of Cebu. The most common route would be to enter the Philippines through Manila and catch a connecting flight to the town of Tagbilaran which takes around an hour and fifteen minutes.  Some tourists even prefer to spend a few days in Manila to relax in hotels like the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel Manila. This is not the only way to go.  Budget travelers can take the twenty-five hour boat ride to Bohol. Another possible route is to take the plane ride to Cebu and catch a ferry to Bohol. A lot of visitors choose this route as they get to “shoot two birds with one stone,” so to speak.

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Posted in Attractions, Philippines, Things to do |

You find yourself in Thailand and your pockets are loaded with crisp Thai Baht bills that you just exchanged at the nearest money changer. You are ready to go on your much-awaited shopping spree. Now, the next big question would be “What to buy?”

Here’s a list of some of the wonderful things that you can buy during your trip to Thailand:

THAI SILK – It would be a shame not to buy some Thai silk when you visit Thailand. This particular kind of beautiful fabric, which is commonly sold by the yard, was made famous by Jim Thompson and it is available in an assorted of lovely colors, weights, thickness and patterns. Silk, perhaps, is the most popular among Thailand’s products. One unique kind of Thai silk is called Mat Mee which is actually tie-dyed silk.  If you have time, make time to visit Jim Thompson’s house which is located at the top of Surawong Road in Bangkok. Thai silk products include bags, pillow cases, beddings and drapes among others.

BATIK & COTTON – Aside from Thai Silk, it would also be nice to buy some cotton or batik products.  Cotton products of Thailand were produced by certain locals or tribal people.  Some nice pieces were even carefully embroidered using differently colored threads.
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Posted in Thailand, Things to do |

Jakarta, the vivacious capital city of Indonesia, is a favorite destination among thrilled visitors not only in Asia but in other parts of the world.  The culture is so rich with history and Indonesians are known to be people who give so much importance to their traditions.  Those who would like to catch with some rest and relaxation can do so while staying in any of the available hotels in the city.  One great example is the Allson Residence Hotel Jakarta.  But aside from immersing one’s self in this city’s unique way of life, tourists head over to Jakarta to do a bit of shopping.

There are various malls to visit in Jakarta.  But for those who would are budget conscious, there are other shopping options, of course.  One can visit the dry market or head to wholesale markets.  One of the famous wholesale markets in Jakarta would have to be Mangga Dua or Two Mangoes in English.

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Posted in Indonesia, Things to do |

As a major harbor city in South Korea, Incheon is blessed with beautiful beaches and numerous nearby islands available for visits. It is especially accessible from Seoul due to its proximity with the capital and the fact that the subway systems of both cities are linked. All of this gives visitors to the city plenty of things to do, from island-hopping to
heritage tours.

• Enjoy the cherry blossoms in Jayu Park: Jayu (freedom) is the first western-style park in the country, surveyed by a Russian named Sabatin back in 1888. It is made famous by the statue of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, as well as the 100th anniversary bronze tower commemorating the amity between South Korea and the US. During springtime around April, Jayu is covered in cherry blossoms, which is celebrated with military parades, a wedding festival, and other activities. Near the park is the country’s first modern meteorological observatory, built by the Japanese in aid of the Russo-Japanese War. If you stay in the park until dusk, you can enjoy the sea which gains a reddish tint at sunset.

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Posted in Asia, Korea, Things to do |

Would you be surprised to learn that even the Germans left their colonial legacy in Asia? In a continent full of Spanish, Portugese, British, and French influences, the landlocked country of Germany, which for centuries was a loose group of independent states until the late 19th century, was able to put its stake in the resource-filled lands of the East. The most distinctive place is the city of Qingdao (pronounced “Ching-daow”), which  was occupied by the Germans when all of China was being divided into spheres of influences among the European powers back in the 19th century. Today, Qingdao is one of the country’s economic centers and its 4th largest port, yet still retains much of its German heritage through its architecture and culture.

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Posted in China, Things to do |

Westeners who visit Tokyo may recognize the many karaoke bars which are present in every corner; after all, this sing-along system has spread throughout the rest of the world. They will also be familiar with the ubiquitous convenience stores, another Japanese export. What they may not recognize are the series of parlors that have saturated the length and breadth of the country but remain relatively unknown beyond it. They are distinctive by their vivid neon signages, loud electronic noises, and row upon row of shiny, flashing machines. They are the pachinko shops.

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Posted in Japan, Things to do |

Hue, Vietnam was once the capital of Nguyen emperors and was modeled after Beijing’s own Forbidden City. Cut across by the Perfume River, the old within a citadel lies on one side while the more modern habitats and establishments are built on the other. Hue today is more of a university town due to the concentrated number of students lurking in the streets. The city itself is very friendly to tourists, with a lot of historical sites and natural wonders to explore, and many of which are accessible by foot or by motorbike.

Here are some things you can do in Hue:

Climb up the Ho Quyen Tiger Fighting Arena - A relic of old-school animal cruelty, this arena once pitted tigers against elephants for the pleasure of the emperor and his more blood-thirsty subjects. Ho Quyen is built along the southern bank of the Perfume River, and consists of two circular walls, with a flight of stairs heading its way to the top. The arena is remarkably intact; even the tiger cages still have claw marks. The fights themselves, which have since been discontinued in the early 20th century, were fixed: the tigers were drugged and always lost to the elephants. As tigers symbolized rebellion and elephants represented the monarchy, it’s no surprise the emperor wanted a demonstration of his unshakeable supremacy along with fur-flying entertainment.

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Posted in Things to do, Vietnam |

One would think that a traveler has already seen all of Hong Kong after touring all the famous shopping areas, having fun at Hong Kong Disneyland or Ocean Park Hong Kong and doing the rounds in the main tourist areas of this pulsating city.  But actually there is still so much to see.  Those who would like to escape the bustling streets of Hong Kong can hop over to another island where it is more peaceful and laid back.  I’m referring to none other than Lamma Island.

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Posted in Hong Kong, Things to do |

Penang is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Malaysia, and with all the places to see and things to do, it’s not so hard to imagine why. Formerly the center of British Malaya, Penang has taken care to preserve its history while developing into a modern state at the same time. If you want a quick guide to your visit in this island-state, then read on.

1. Survey the island atop KOMTAR. This is the tallest building in Penang and it provides a 360-degree view of the island. An important landmark of the city, KOMTAR houses government offices, shopping centers, and an exhibition center.

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Posted in Malaysia, Things to do |