tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29367977794700294962024-02-19T16:38:38.190+08:00Ang Dakilang LakwatseraMJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-25321063335626021372010-03-26T11:42:00.006+08:002010-03-26T12:39:35.477+08:00Vancouver 2010<div style="text-align: justify;">Sorry I haven't updated my blog in a while. My family and I just migrated to Canada and I had been busy with all the preparations and stuff. Now I'm back and I am writing to you from Beautiful British Columbia (as the license plates here says :D). For my first post this year, I bring you some photos I took during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. What a memorable Olympics for Canada! I might be new here, but there's no doubt I had caught the Olympic bug. Go Canada!!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiA7QwcV7bZQGDZ4lFAMPw6uNJdCTUV9YoTUfU2SrP7PWl3sf7XQ8F6MLwNAtcVppKmgsJtFQ4BAroHnmkXGLZDA4d03A33j24mhcJLEQNR4RzBjHL5yL1yelhhhqp4xwdGWUrwPHR-l4/s1600/Olympic+Cauldron.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 368px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiA7QwcV7bZQGDZ4lFAMPw6uNJdCTUV9YoTUfU2SrP7PWl3sf7XQ8F6MLwNAtcVppKmgsJtFQ4BAroHnmkXGLZDA4d03A33j24mhcJLEQNR4RzBjHL5yL1yelhhhqp4xwdGWUrwPHR-l4/s400/Olympic+Cauldron.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452795297871327666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Olympic Cauldron (taken on Feb. 28, 2010)</span><br /><br /></div><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu-2jC_q-BEghzLW3Je9D3wilEvTsMzYxIZvL8r122TFmtO6d-IHG91i4OCOYq_FsxYuEjleIppEDuVyNy6GUQag4I9q24MJxozoYKwdWWQu11VQW_Sa-lIA0U3zgjYMYeGiih2_nEUU/s1600/Downtown+Vancouver.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu-2jC_q-BEghzLW3Je9D3wilEvTsMzYxIZvL8r122TFmtO6d-IHG91i4OCOYq_FsxYuEjleIppEDuVyNy6GUQag4I9q24MJxozoYKwdWWQu11VQW_Sa-lIA0U3zgjYMYeGiih2_nEUU/s400/Downtown+Vancouver.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452795291867997794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Olympic Countdown (taken on Feb. 28, 2010)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIFEyOK288L9unDmH6qO5g3shYVP3Ef3QWKpwmbiC-jnh55EE6MiWx2t_LEu6zIn4gXVp6RCkvhjTFv1jB6uvLYFORUVPhUEgWD0HxHLvQl8bCDSJ8SFSpcvse6X_XW2G3hOd3DEH7J0/s1600/Richmond+Torch+Relay.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIFEyOK288L9unDmH6qO5g3shYVP3Ef3QWKpwmbiC-jnh55EE6MiWx2t_LEu6zIn4gXVp6RCkvhjTFv1jB6uvLYFORUVPhUEgWD0HxHLvQl8bCDSJ8SFSpcvse6X_XW2G3hOd3DEH7J0/s400/Richmond+Torch+Relay.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452795281896280850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Richmond Torch Relay @ Richmond O-zone (taken on Feb. 9, 2010)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-EDzK_xMLs2d4iXaAnlF5fakn6vpBO_1gJYJID-3jYr89kxK_Aw92CHbXydB_vYHnnGNB2ezhGBVaFPZhY_ilddQ9QCBrVdKXyCDe460oqf3PeEdsqJkYSy8SFdWevCnhM5zwN95TLcE/s1600/Richmond+O-zone+Torch+Relay+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-EDzK_xMLs2d4iXaAnlF5fakn6vpBO_1gJYJID-3jYr89kxK_Aw92CHbXydB_vYHnnGNB2ezhGBVaFPZhY_ilddQ9QCBrVdKXyCDe460oqf3PeEdsqJkYSy8SFdWevCnhM5zwN95TLcE/s400/Richmond+O-zone+Torch+Relay+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452795004351424738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Richmond O-zone (taken on Feb. 9, 2010)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZTt-Ovf51GyHbU4MmMo1ZjbgWT7jc9j3RBQlnKSr99Ge3fLsD44WlfrGrgAkA6duAZp6Rc30A4UYIQwgnGXiRv5jMTe5ojYDRcmnT_qoq4YHyiRzEl31AYYKE337_7OKgw5E9hbhr_4/s1600/Richmond+O-zone+Torch+Relay.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZTt-Ovf51GyHbU4MmMo1ZjbgWT7jc9j3RBQlnKSr99Ge3fLsD44WlfrGrgAkA6duAZp6Rc30A4UYIQwgnGXiRv5jMTe5ojYDRcmnT_qoq4YHyiRzEl31AYYKE337_7OKgw5E9hbhr_4/s400/Richmond+O-zone+Torch+Relay.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452794994856801266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Richmond Torch Relay @ </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Richmond O-zone (taken on Feb. 9, 2010)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9E8XRBHnRq5dAMwVuduK0yU84LRouahyLk3frDpLFPF0Wo0OLselz4AmPuUXZdOFXL0IXeCuAQ1n3-D2QsqRv8gY8F2_NiOlkGFlq6bQIHlLDfTtw7LWWmNYn6O4wMNJm4ULInWnNhM/s1600/Robson.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9E8XRBHnRq5dAMwVuduK0yU84LRouahyLk3frDpLFPF0Wo0OLselz4AmPuUXZdOFXL0IXeCuAQ1n3-D2QsqRv8gY8F2_NiOlkGFlq6bQIHlLDfTtw7LWWmNYn6O4wMNJm4ULInWnNhM/s400/Robson.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452794988912511154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Crowd in Robson Street (taken on Feb. 28, 2010)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqbDRXt9-w10A7BDI8_x1HnGKOGm_AZh37zlyK5nsOHFbZg86aGd9RkHFWSxMbwuwcUnbB7WcK11qoxv66ioU9psDKyz9wPNAJP6UoRaZbhwolutTSIEQMBnmYEZwe9y33_H5Z27DnZo/s1600/Olympic+Village.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 153px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqbDRXt9-w10A7BDI8_x1HnGKOGm_AZh37zlyK5nsOHFbZg86aGd9RkHFWSxMbwuwcUnbB7WcK11qoxv66ioU9psDKyz9wPNAJP6UoRaZbhwolutTSIEQMBnmYEZwe9y33_H5Z27DnZo/s400/Olympic+Village.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452794983281481842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Olympic Village (taken on Feb. 28, 2010)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBB-0euDegt58phNbjGhehzy9dKg6g2ufxdh4GMkbT6zJjDVRsGdN6mowB4bWUKmWXvRiGmEYqtt5cIz1Gsy90HMHEksPHD3xsNGeeXGzdwagiVpxvM3847h95R5rvnQu4gs4TbZWwa8/s1600/International+Broadcast+Center.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBB-0euDegt58phNbjGhehzy9dKg6g2ufxdh4GMkbT6zJjDVRsGdN6mowB4bWUKmWXvRiGmEYqtt5cIz1Gsy90HMHEksPHD3xsNGeeXGzdwagiVpxvM3847h95R5rvnQu4gs4TbZWwa8/s400/International+Broadcast+Center.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452794976365638802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">International Broadcast Center (taken on Feb. 28, 2010)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1OMqES2q6n1GVj4DfaJRtowa7-_vhdSAkaGMcX80jc92IrHegBYvzTXXuXB6gR2gRbpQB2XHHxgJp9ydq3XjZFeU7IniR5d1JxA2DiSmRkY6f2_WfOBjzRLCY6HKAdx6gOZDjz5mtrU/s1600/By+the+lake.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1OMqES2q6n1GVj4DfaJRtowa7-_vhdSAkaGMcX80jc92IrHegBYvzTXXuXB6gR2gRbpQB2XHHxgJp9ydq3XjZFeU7IniR5d1JxA2DiSmRkY6f2_WfOBjzRLCY6HKAdx6gOZDjz5mtrU/s400/By+the+lake.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452794727224694498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">By the Canada Hockey Place (taken on Feb. 28, 2010)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkbUvQRrVzNXanvalfwTXbz_lvpAOcJ1wsYBCtbcR2lsKUApJZ6XpM9R61KWRQ69JbibsjRxoEJNKZ52zMZz1gszB0KUrXCoE-Qr31Y4y6i71uX4aH-CvFF6zSY_QCb1omSKh3_h5hXg/s1600/Canada+Hockey+Place.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkbUvQRrVzNXanvalfwTXbz_lvpAOcJ1wsYBCtbcR2lsKUApJZ6XpM9R61KWRQ69JbibsjRxoEJNKZ52zMZz1gszB0KUrXCoE-Qr31Y4y6i71uX4aH-CvFF6zSY_QCb1omSKh3_h5hXg/s400/Canada+Hockey+Place.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452794726250264082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">By the Canada Hockey Place (taken on Feb. 28, 2010)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDkNY5KqjMi5OUP44BYU-cvMOh1Z18OqWbIMIGfWPCok5zgRF5vtTt1CVdxkdvzDMfPkjHytIiXgSnM2z8pWAsJrL0XulrEOZCWhyLT570DQIDB21E9bEjHmasd2A6AcTdDLSPbBM0Ww/s1600/Canada+Hockey+Place+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 354px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDkNY5KqjMi5OUP44BYU-cvMOh1Z18OqWbIMIGfWPCok5zgRF5vtTt1CVdxkdvzDMfPkjHytIiXgSnM2z8pWAsJrL0XulrEOZCWhyLT570DQIDB21E9bEjHmasd2A6AcTdDLSPbBM0Ww/s400/Canada+Hockey+Place+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452794717218091570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">By the Canada Hockey Place (taken on Feb. 28, 2010)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuN8WIFeyVXeFfIRX1mD61xdh0rATo1j7FkV6TyXBEgxdYhBCim-qt53G2GG12jk9yfMwy1a2662Y6wzQwHVSw-8ldXj0Brf314zlemFzGq-HL6akyGXgYuIjH73yHi_B9lAx7SKspptc/s1600/Downtown+Vancouver+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 305px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuN8WIFeyVXeFfIRX1mD61xdh0rATo1j7FkV6TyXBEgxdYhBCim-qt53G2GG12jk9yfMwy1a2662Y6wzQwHVSw-8ldXj0Brf314zlemFzGq-HL6akyGXgYuIjH73yHi_B9lAx7SKspptc/s400/Downtown+Vancouver+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452794711417919906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Downtown Vancouver (taken on Feb. 28, 2010)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILG-VMvmzUUcwtN59sNuno1bOyxK0EzYmCPvy5XKcCuzfHqJQ3GdHTwVt_BOwrZ9SsOVPyxqTaKvdJYCCn34Z1FnNGIX2yAnXmXKxdeuOfU0y7zT6wZGoj9d0p41xm_eS_QDIuNrOJBU/s1600/DSC00107.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 313px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILG-VMvmzUUcwtN59sNuno1bOyxK0EzYmCPvy5XKcCuzfHqJQ3GdHTwVt_BOwrZ9SsOVPyxqTaKvdJYCCn34Z1FnNGIX2yAnXmXKxdeuOfU0y7zT6wZGoj9d0p41xm_eS_QDIuNrOJBU/s400/DSC00107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452794701733137682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Vancouver 2010 Jacket by HBC ... Go Canada!</span><br /></div></span></div>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com71tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-50148245945094557802009-12-31T11:57:00.003+08:002009-12-31T12:16:41.805+08:00Happy New Year!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GGfzuD_eN_QubhMcav4cnzOwLoBEE6r3k0fLzuJuPEpkDtqOKZctcSZC0dOqXQTlQNzVbqzrqnyLerRf-0x5PptFHwKy1FJ0fHaQvKWS4IxXoSQA4oIsU7ltgNx-nQgQS3u9stMbY0U/s1600-h/Edogawa+Fireworks+.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GGfzuD_eN_QubhMcav4cnzOwLoBEE6r3k0fLzuJuPEpkDtqOKZctcSZC0dOqXQTlQNzVbqzrqnyLerRf-0x5PptFHwKy1FJ0fHaQvKWS4IxXoSQA4oIsU7ltgNx-nQgQS3u9stMbY0U/s400/Edogawa+Fireworks+.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421248636129826002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Taken from the Annual Edogawa Fireworks Display (August 2, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let me be the first one to greet you a very very happy new year! Have a very blessed and peaceful 2010!<br /></div>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-39367714613307940422009-12-24T17:23:00.003+08:002009-12-24T17:26:36.661+08:00Merry Christmas!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://wendyusuallywanders.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/jesus_manger.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 498px; height: 355px;" src="http://wendyusuallywanders.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/jesus_manger.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Happy birthday to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!!<br />Merry Christmas everyone!!!</div>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-77157745474467057862009-12-04T14:08:00.015+08:002009-12-04T20:41:33.246+08:00My Guide To Tokyo<div style="text-align: justify;">As you may know by now, Tokyo is one of my favorite cities in the world. The energy of this city is unbelievable and everyone is up and about 24/7. In spite of these, it still remains as one of the most orderly and safest cities in the world. I was fortunate enough to have a chance to live in Tokyo for 6 months. During this time, I was able to explore the city and appreciate its unique charm. To help you plan your vacation, I listed some of the must-see places in Tokyo.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1) Harajuku/Omotesando/Downtown Shibuya</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">These areas are three of the most popular shopping districts in Tokyo. Harajuku offers cheap and trendy clothes and mostly caters to teenagers. In fact, the famous Takeshita Street in Harajuku is said to have the most concentration of teenage girls in all of Japan. Nearby Omotesando, on the other hand, offers high end luxury brands. Name it, Omotesando has it. When you go shopping, don't forget to check out the side streets of Harajuku and Omotesando. There are many hidden gems there. Lastly, Shibuya offers hip and trendy clothes and is just 5-10 minutes away from Omotesando by foot. It is also famous for its restaurants and nightlife.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Aside from shopping, Harajuku is also home to one of the most famous shinto shrines in Tokyo - the Meiji Shrine. It is a quiet sanctuary compared to the hustle and bustle of nearby Harajuku and Omotesando.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoxwB7tCbnLhNNHaP5o05wEmn1fLoWz8DpqMTkS2D2F3y679jksKyY1yYW-Ni7GuN0OyTTRYCICWBu9I7HHQC6EZGKD_IJWq9EWGNXbvGPtIY-Xbjm3iwBtBy0bdlHN5tB5yV3goYcOA/s1600-h/Harajuku+View.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoxwB7tCbnLhNNHaP5o05wEmn1fLoWz8DpqMTkS2D2F3y679jksKyY1yYW-Ni7GuN0OyTTRYCICWBu9I7HHQC6EZGKD_IJWq9EWGNXbvGPtIY-Xbjm3iwBtBy0bdlHN5tB5yV3goYcOA/s400/Harajuku+View.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411327204109772770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">JR Harajuku Station (taken on February 16, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_q-THs591Ddhehlu0YKIky2ugkrchyWjaZR6opdO_Be9kuZLVSPGfaNUQrPAjBgBa9HipzT70vlNe0tpMmUWcnlqtf8T2g4ruIviJkTNyZesMGozhVKx-1T1Si7ODJX_pLGj8W4DCKg/s1600-h/Harajuku+Takeshita+Street.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_q-THs591Ddhehlu0YKIky2ugkrchyWjaZR6opdO_Be9kuZLVSPGfaNUQrPAjBgBa9HipzT70vlNe0tpMmUWcnlqtf8T2g4ruIviJkTNyZesMGozhVKx-1T1Si7ODJX_pLGj8W4DCKg/s400/Harajuku+Takeshita+Street.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411326963071816802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Takeshita Street (taken on February 16, 2008)</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Access:</span><br />a) Harajuku and Omotesando: JR Yamanote Line Harajuku Station, Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Meiji-jingu Mae Station, Tokyo Metro Hanzomon/Ginza/Chiyoda Line Omotesando Station<br />b) Shibuya: JR Shibuya Station, Tokyo Metro Hanzomon/Ginza/Fukutoshin Line Shibuya Station, Tokyu Toyoko/Den-en-toshi Line Shibuya Station<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2) Shinjuku</span><br />Shinjuku is the home to some of the highest buildings and offices in Tokyo. Aside from this, it is also a popular shopping spot. But unlike Harajuku/Omotesando/Shibuya, Shinjuku caters to the older age group and has a large concentration of department stores. Other than shopping, Shinjuku is also famous for its nightlife especially the infamous red-light district Kabuki-cho.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiif4eCsgBCkuJ67-y6sat9MDw0IpZQMlcOTfsjwSQmcSFCQXQ9p-4TNibqV76Lrz_PNw8zm7z3UsSkuVp6yKqVVl8Picth0BXYNVVnDRlmh3MdI8TQrC8yU5Pdt64rrKrKTnzvoJFnJs/s1600-h/Shinjuku+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiif4eCsgBCkuJ67-y6sat9MDw0IpZQMlcOTfsjwSQmcSFCQXQ9p-4TNibqV76Lrz_PNw8zm7z3UsSkuVp6yKqVVl8Picth0BXYNVVnDRlmh3MdI8TQrC8yU5Pdt64rrKrKTnzvoJFnJs/s400/Shinjuku+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411327520937253842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Shinjuku (taken on December 23, 2007)<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-style: italic;">Access:</span><br />JR Shinjuku Station, Odakyu Line Shinjuku Station, Keio Shinjuku Station, Toei Shinjuku Station, Tokyo Metro Shinjuku Station<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />3) Akihabara</span><br />Home of the "otaku" culture, Akihabara is the place to go to find cheap electronics, games, gadgets, etc. On sundays, parts of Akihabara are closed to traffic to accommodate the large number of shoppers. The best time to shop is during holidays such as the golden week (May 3-5) and new years day since most shops go on sale. Make sure to catch the best deals.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Access:</span><br />Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Akihabara Station, JR Akihabara Station, Tsukuba Express Akihabara Station<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />4) Ginza/Tsukiji/Odaiba</span><br />Ginza is a high-end shopping district located in eastern Tokyo packed with shops and department stores. Just like Akihabara, parts of Ginza are closed to traffic on Sundays because of the influx of shoppers. A few minutes away from Ginza is Tsukiji, home of the world famous Tsukiji Market. 5-10 minutes away from Ginza is Odaiba, an artificial island famous for its great views of the city. This place also houses the futuristic Fuji TV office, a large ferris wheel and some good restaurants and nightlife.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitr1g9atZaWsX5f6mzUlT8uHu1qaiJ4wNy00d0EoocLjNzncl7BBNBAL4e1DK7AFp9ZfgdEUvyAsCEFVwVTBo0xQgNPpl0sqXz_yCx4bvR8QPzjM7kMEI0Ue-uHUCip3qnKDtDU5RJccs/s1600-h/Ginza+Clock.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitr1g9atZaWsX5f6mzUlT8uHu1qaiJ4wNy00d0EoocLjNzncl7BBNBAL4e1DK7AFp9ZfgdEUvyAsCEFVwVTBo0xQgNPpl0sqXz_yCx4bvR8QPzjM7kMEI0Ue-uHUCip3qnKDtDU5RJccs/s400/Ginza+Clock.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411326951777394258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Ginza Clock Tower (taken on January 31, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjix61m7icT0KsDY9-8jOMjtXvmEd3p2xlIxBORO1_amqMIiojo5pkzE1Cez0AeBejj6uAxe9DdnhmctEWGuflmNZKq6MFthEeI2y8xWpZIZYOLH8Ez0YC8GNmFojR87VYzV7l20e3RAcc/s1600-h/Tokyo+View+from+Odaiba.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjix61m7icT0KsDY9-8jOMjtXvmEd3p2xlIxBORO1_amqMIiojo5pkzE1Cez0AeBejj6uAxe9DdnhmctEWGuflmNZKq6MFthEeI2y8xWpZIZYOLH8Ez0YC8GNmFojR87VYzV7l20e3RAcc/s400/Tokyo+View+from+Odaiba.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411327645361188610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Odaiba View (taken on February 10, 2008)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDGFoZCRN3XHzIO7xNPCSuiArpBkn4vdOG-e7qWfH_ca1hEHro239IeZw9XlONOgGaVy2s64AwR-27GVqD2kSYzyu-lDF4KyfhbnrbaBksh9oJjJCWavx8gi_Cew10bnkmpoAKDRKVMY/s1600-h/Odaiba+Ferris+Wheel.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDGFoZCRN3XHzIO7xNPCSuiArpBkn4vdOG-e7qWfH_ca1hEHro239IeZw9XlONOgGaVy2s64AwR-27GVqD2kSYzyu-lDF4KyfhbnrbaBksh9oJjJCWavx8gi_Cew10bnkmpoAKDRKVMY/s400/Odaiba+Ferris+Wheel.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411327211380850242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Odaiba Ferris Wheel (taken on February 10, 2008)</span><br /></div></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Access:</span><br />a) Ginza: JR Yurakucho Station, Tokyo Metro Yurakucho/Ginza Line Ginza Station, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Higashi Ginza Station<br />b) Tsukiji: Toei Oedo Line Tsukuji Ichiba Station, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Tsukiji/Higashi Ginza Station, Toei Asakusa Line Higashi Ginza Station<br />c) Odaiba: Yurikamome Line, Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />5) Tokyo Tower/Roppongi</span><br />The landmark of Tokyo, Tokyo Tower, is a 333m high tower and is a great place to view Tokyo's cityscape. For more information, you can check out my <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/11/tokyo-night-views.html">post on Tokyo's night views</a>. A few minutes away by foot from Tokyo Tower is the ultimate nightlife district of Tokyo, Roppongi. This place is lined with bars and restaurants which is packed with both locals and foreigners alike. Roppongi is also home to high-end malls such as Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MBKHd1pdUk5CDLTaiBWJ30g-aZGgrg-r4lCr05BLVFl7id9UhySoNE6TqyHwcO8XU6JI6sYUKFCgkcGJwhpKGD2vOiowiEp7Pmf86tXqyYO9GJG9VxEKhSX5iB3Q1_2IwkB98EzYObQ/s1600-h/Tokyo+Tower+upclose.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MBKHd1pdUk5CDLTaiBWJ30g-aZGgrg-r4lCr05BLVFl7id9UhySoNE6TqyHwcO8XU6JI6sYUKFCgkcGJwhpKGD2vOiowiEp7Pmf86tXqyYO9GJG9VxEKhSX5iB3Q1_2IwkB98EzYObQ/s400/Tokyo+Tower+upclose.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411327539885624018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Odaiba Ferris Wheel (taken on January 20, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCL7RcrxFHG42RaGxeUMM0HQvT9oXQCw_VBbsnjppzLTjO2YXfypPxHfQq9LnKUVKLj_hBlRlmmSAYnzfV41K1U_RfU66CEZ28q-GiSA-UheO0-JeiCu852TXWdR_wRnLmAMQpdGLWC_w/s1600-h/Roppongi+Hills+Mori+Tower.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCL7RcrxFHG42RaGxeUMM0HQvT9oXQCw_VBbsnjppzLTjO2YXfypPxHfQq9LnKUVKLj_hBlRlmmSAYnzfV41K1U_RfU66CEZ28q-GiSA-UheO0-JeiCu852TXWdR_wRnLmAMQpdGLWC_w/s400/Roppongi+Hills+Mori+Tower.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411327213416107330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Roppongi Hills (taken on July 26, 2008)</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Access:</span><br />a) Tokyo Tower: Toei Oedo Line Akabanebashi Station, Toei Mita Line Onarimon Station, Toei Asakusa Line Daimon Station, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Kamiyachou Station, JR Yamate Line Hamamatsuchou Station<br />b) Roppongi: Toei Oedo Line Roppongi Station, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Roppongi Station<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />6) Asakusa</span><br />Asakusa is one of the older districts of Tokyo. It is home to the famous Sensoji temple - Tokyo's largest Buddhist temple. Aside from this, Asakusa is also known for cheap and delicious food.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBqMrWv_9kc4Nw6r70q4n4tS_NumPCOjskwbmtbDnB_vAXFYhwM4h4JtLNnyOsM8vTLxd_Mfj8LdNXOCgvVQOMaE3VQXSBav2DQd1MmiU3p4lrdnJ5dJsw3rxomNB54nOywHB86E9HC0/s1600-h/Sensoji+2nd+Gate.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBqMrWv_9kc4Nw6r70q4n4tS_NumPCOjskwbmtbDnB_vAXFYhwM4h4JtLNnyOsM8vTLxd_Mfj8LdNXOCgvVQOMaE3VQXSBav2DQd1MmiU3p4lrdnJ5dJsw3rxomNB54nOywHB86E9HC0/s400/Sensoji+2nd+Gate.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411327224802784162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sensoji Temple (taken on February 10, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zsB0HD4NzoVcihUwLfg7BLQylaqXLYw4QoALOaMDMv9OejU2PGaAYcYqNL6lGJbG5lqTHzhjKiS3OGq6Xi9cZ3ZDQ0-x_PjvpfIc3T7KcQbucphVb3bOcH11AcucupJBsy7CsthIfWQ/s1600-h/Sensoji+Temple+Pagoda.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zsB0HD4NzoVcihUwLfg7BLQylaqXLYw4QoALOaMDMv9OejU2PGaAYcYqNL6lGJbG5lqTHzhjKiS3OGq6Xi9cZ3ZDQ0-x_PjvpfIc3T7KcQbucphVb3bOcH11AcucupJBsy7CsthIfWQ/s400/Sensoji+Temple+Pagoda.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411327517295131954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sensoji Temple Pagoda (taken on February 10, 2008)</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Access:<br /></span>Tsukuba Express Asakusa Station, Toei Asakusa Line Asakusa Station, Tokyo Metro, Tobu Isesaki Line Asakusa Station<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />7) Marunouchi Area</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The Marunouchi Area is filled with offices, restaurants and some shopping areas. But the main attractions of this area are the Imperial Palace, Diet Building and the Tokyo Station. To fully appreciate the beauty of Tokyo, you can ride an <a href="http://skybus.jp/explains/index/00033">open bus that departs from Marunouchi</a> for 1200 yen. There are several tours available depending on your taste.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgxfa9V7ZRuyJgBdhmTCHj9UFpYxPHE3u16BH2DsVojYWrFgEo36yL5o4-amrvWZVHKoNZHYd7pzrojkiXhsSOrlmvQjXM2X20X0Qv5fDIjU_dhdnjeaMQ__A3KuCSzbYL_xGWSyzQUw/s1600-h/Imperial+Palace+5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgxfa9V7ZRuyJgBdhmTCHj9UFpYxPHE3u16BH2DsVojYWrFgEo36yL5o4-amrvWZVHKoNZHYd7pzrojkiXhsSOrlmvQjXM2X20X0Qv5fDIjU_dhdnjeaMQ__A3KuCSzbYL_xGWSyzQUw/s400/Imperial+Palace+5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411327207378582562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Imperial Palace (taken on July 20, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8421R_OTo95hoASsVD8RsQlA9_FZ-ka5dkqDbl4qlxn052_xZHd5-ANk4wAlN0s5vDFiUZOvIf8t1ZFzKvYM0GoHQ5cWq7L7A7uKPdBQh5Wx1bXhHLMVYd2m7QaFt1Y8AIKb6yN7G7A/s1600-h/Tokyo+Tower+From+the+Imperial+Palace.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 321px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8421R_OTo95hoASsVD8RsQlA9_FZ-ka5dkqDbl4qlxn052_xZHd5-ANk4wAlN0s5vDFiUZOvIf8t1ZFzKvYM0GoHQ5cWq7L7A7uKPdBQh5Wx1bXhHLMVYd2m7QaFt1Y8AIKb6yN7G7A/s400/Tokyo+Tower+From+the+Imperial+Palace.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411327535851878130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">By the Imperial Palace (taken on July 20, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cwNGNWv0zKjEtq7MjzCdoYIhDZiQ_SN3gSwHE6zcUDqLZb1U7ReStpDlJCHFG6SFYOMcO9agu6Ful_2hqWvLUYqEB8AHskKcO8yNwtk8J8zkR8wVJUH23Ti7lusy3c1XjY2J-ReG0A8/s1600-h/Tokyo+Station.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cwNGNWv0zKjEtq7MjzCdoYIhDZiQ_SN3gSwHE6zcUDqLZb1U7ReStpDlJCHFG6SFYOMcO9agu6Ful_2hqWvLUYqEB8AHskKcO8yNwtk8J8zkR8wVJUH23Ti7lusy3c1XjY2J-ReG0A8/s400/Tokyo+Station.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411327524051791986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Tokyo Station (taken on July 20, 2008)</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Access:</span><br />JR Tokyo Station, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line Tokyo Station<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />8) Tokyo Disney Land and Disney Sea</span><br />The Tokyo Disney Resort consists of two separate theme parks - Disney Land and Disney Sea. If you want to explore both, you have to allot 2 days minimum. Disneyland caters more to the kids while Disney Sea is more for the adults. Check out the official site of <a href="http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/index_e.html">Tokyo Disney Land</a> for more information.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPR71LwCuvP1DbbeAt8U79eYBvKyIGB-sZuWBka5ghLoOwnUv3HHj3xPBWHqNX84NHBR_qHx-P_9O9NVnqRjBm2l56KbC-EviKHuRaoeVEu8xheXXFVmfynr8Iu0dwe45HhwhtGt3yHmo/s1600-h/Welcome!.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPR71LwCuvP1DbbeAt8U79eYBvKyIGB-sZuWBka5ghLoOwnUv3HHj3xPBWHqNX84NHBR_qHx-P_9O9NVnqRjBm2l56KbC-EviKHuRaoeVEu8xheXXFVmfynr8Iu0dwe45HhwhtGt3yHmo/s400/Welcome!.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411326948339410402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Disney Resorts Entrance (taken on May 5, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-VnmHQONeqbjDIXjLFwtlPXKuyPv4pK-_rAdFfVJIqTlygxNc3yufE4rt41mzztglzudwljq0vXJVxBj-vedeEja9xP0OBjh5MXXWMkM3s9tFCcwoIsvB90gImoK7_UsTTD9l2c8UZs/s1600-h/Wide+angle+shot+from+Winai.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-VnmHQONeqbjDIXjLFwtlPXKuyPv4pK-_rAdFfVJIqTlygxNc3yufE4rt41mzztglzudwljq0vXJVxBj-vedeEja9xP0OBjh5MXXWMkM3s9tFCcwoIsvB90gImoK7_UsTTD9l2c8UZs/s400/Wide+angle+shot+from+Winai.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411326944220481858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Disney Sea (taken by my friend Winai on May 5, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKN-XwvojnlCfhJZugPOwaFp1PV2Qo_HG3HwjNP-bDEiLy5OWP-cjRh9tTzSCoEFDd9FbnkQ4LjU4QvBFTvAwAD5cnJu3Wb9nc4qyEbk9gIXDtwGBgrS80ChXkIGbbY0YOyhCJKvrz5M/s1600-h/Disney+Sea+Map.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKN-XwvojnlCfhJZugPOwaFp1PV2Qo_HG3HwjNP-bDEiLy5OWP-cjRh9tTzSCoEFDd9FbnkQ4LjU4QvBFTvAwAD5cnJu3Wb9nc4qyEbk9gIXDtwGBgrS80ChXkIGbbY0YOyhCJKvrz5M/s400/Disney+Sea+Map.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411326940256080770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Disney Sea Map (taken on May 5, 2008)</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Access:</span><br />JR Keiyo Line/Musashino Line Maihama Station<br /></div></span></div>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-86004817691448246412009-11-18T14:33:00.006+08:002009-11-18T15:47:01.461+08:00Tokyo Night Views<div style="text-align: justify;">Tokyo is one of my favorite cities in Japan. It's clean, safe and full of energy. Just like other big Japanese cities, it may seem dull during the day. But when the sun sets, the whole city transforms into a sea of lights filled with neons competing to get your attention. Here are some of the shots I had taken from different places in Tokyo at night.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJLjqGJSylSpCPqMgc0C-s1wgCO3aWaMG2VH6OQTIMFrXdnHLhNY52Y_QVShEYV9VIj5Kx9jYZS6E2p8jcdnIfl2C2oQMCvNfkUG-dK8t1g3BTbBemYB-G4l27IwQfsC2jLZI4yIfIVw/s1600/Rainbow+Bridge+and+Tokyo+Tower+on+sunset+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJLjqGJSylSpCPqMgc0C-s1wgCO3aWaMG2VH6OQTIMFrXdnHLhNY52Y_QVShEYV9VIj5Kx9jYZS6E2p8jcdnIfl2C2oQMCvNfkUG-dK8t1g3BTbBemYB-G4l27IwQfsC2jLZI4yIfIVw/s400/Rainbow+Bridge+and+Tokyo+Tower+on+sunset+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405332540559898514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Tokyo Tower and Rainbow Bridge from Odaiba (taken on February 10, 2008)<br /><br /></span></div><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwriRdHEoscACxQdPnGF5ai8LvbHw_plLGFYBT8UrXtsciPQBWdmZ_sxId6dPIyiwxTe9uxVNWC0AjTBjhwY3BER5-VHifERM4P_ybqwVOIwkMcsZk9bxFb5XOaqTNCTMX2st6a5PCoHQ/s1600/Fuji+TV+and+Aqua+City+by+night.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwriRdHEoscACxQdPnGF5ai8LvbHw_plLGFYBT8UrXtsciPQBWdmZ_sxId6dPIyiwxTe9uxVNWC0AjTBjhwY3BER5-VHifERM4P_ybqwVOIwkMcsZk9bxFb5XOaqTNCTMX2st6a5PCoHQ/s400/Fuji+TV+and+Aqua+City+by+night.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405339160048245538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Fuji TV and Aqua City in Odaiba (taken on February 10, 2008)</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJMfUjMAaumlvDmghJ216HPg7eivkeAm6PR3Z8MlhqH_Fs7IR9r11bQEv4YyY37_gT0_I7tqjjlp6RQ-e84UkszW-3RfTU6A476HtnRQFqSlo1Qc_Mbju_DUH34mkM3nJme27HVHkCnc/s1600/Ebisu+Garden+Place+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJMfUjMAaumlvDmghJ216HPg7eivkeAm6PR3Z8MlhqH_Fs7IR9r11bQEv4YyY37_gT0_I7tqjjlp6RQ-e84UkszW-3RfTU6A476HtnRQFqSlo1Qc_Mbju_DUH34mkM3nJme27HVHkCnc/s400/Ebisu+Garden+Place+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405332536956923842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Ebisu Garden Place (taken on July 5, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmCjqmO12eFLLNU-pzj1liFTOhWJJsWAqKigJt4KJOUDEdt8MLf7-bRUXJaNUyRvtbHOFqjxhDEw8QHyGDe1CaPQmWmdwR1n9R2F9DI1Jbjk7Yq1oXvoJBzxKJh03-sVzYcpA3ogUm44/s1600/North+View%28Shinjuku+Buildings%29+at+night+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 369px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmCjqmO12eFLLNU-pzj1liFTOhWJJsWAqKigJt4KJOUDEdt8MLf7-bRUXJaNUyRvtbHOFqjxhDEw8QHyGDe1CaPQmWmdwR1n9R2F9DI1Jbjk7Yq1oXvoJBzxKJh03-sVzYcpA3ogUm44/s400/North+View%28Shinjuku+Buildings%29+at+night+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405332533717488642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Roppongi Area from Tokyo Tower (taken on March 9, 2008)<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyudmxhmP4peI1ZHxlNRSj5KtorR9DW6lYSv9hqam_cdCvORE39Vta0F3I_zNqF3KCEivpcRShEjmtP0iowUEWvkQcyPW2NsTcvg_W5jDE-tjSYT8wZ2WDfm4MohCV659Jg85iVuwQZ4k/s1600/Shibuya+Crossing+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyudmxhmP4peI1ZHxlNRSj5KtorR9DW6lYSv9hqam_cdCvORE39Vta0F3I_zNqF3KCEivpcRShEjmtP0iowUEWvkQcyPW2NsTcvg_W5jDE-tjSYT8wZ2WDfm4MohCV659Jg85iVuwQZ4k/s400/Shibuya+Crossing+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405332523367606338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Shibuya Crossing (taken on December 23, 2007)<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qJOrarw126MpR9bD3QrO58zq5jhWONW3Q6tqIYvB56uZHfefBWrQLwO4LMSpUmFC-XCZ1L55pQpxgRulgBlZKDW4sLfbcfraTbC0CAjgpBwLrIbfEJkqLHNS-yXazJ84r7j2psphPHY/s1600/Shinjuku+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 325px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qJOrarw126MpR9bD3QrO58zq5jhWONW3Q6tqIYvB56uZHfefBWrQLwO4LMSpUmFC-XCZ1L55pQpxgRulgBlZKDW4sLfbcfraTbC0CAjgpBwLrIbfEJkqLHNS-yXazJ84r7j2psphPHY/s400/Shinjuku+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405332122669786722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Shinjuku (taken on December 23, 2007)<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ErTopdek10hspWtogPtICRtfEOuy1ucq9GFuWZ2-XrjkFRK1JLWgRtaiVpiq7ogON5_IageoPx-Pew5Z65_CFuHwp4jn0MRBz5rbdWjVwLHOrGHkcGY5ax_FygIk7EqjYRX6GcVtmGY/s1600/Southeast+View+%28Odaiba+and+Rainbow+Bridge%29+at+night+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ErTopdek10hspWtogPtICRtfEOuy1ucq9GFuWZ2-XrjkFRK1JLWgRtaiVpiq7ogON5_IageoPx-Pew5Z65_CFuHwp4jn0MRBz5rbdWjVwLHOrGHkcGY5ax_FygIk7EqjYRX6GcVtmGY/s400/Southeast+View+%28Odaiba+and+Rainbow+Bridge%29+at+night+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405332113883754242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Odaiba Area from Tokyo Tower (taken on March 9, 2008)<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6tfZ9cFeEgYpKy-TJP3eZCkd7FK6Qwok_PRS1HIeQ026UXQR13nsYGtdTvo3xMyuvdVOd3yZSMBhuzKXrZbaYBqV3WA5rkmzM7EHNyrA6z6wGvxLpqKK6snlf5QN90q9OeMB5C8HHQas/s1600/Tokyo+Dome+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6tfZ9cFeEgYpKy-TJP3eZCkd7FK6Qwok_PRS1HIeQ026UXQR13nsYGtdTvo3xMyuvdVOd3yZSMBhuzKXrZbaYBqV3WA5rkmzM7EHNyrA6z6wGvxLpqKK6snlf5QN90q9OeMB5C8HHQas/s400/Tokyo+Dome+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405332112299565106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Tokyo Dome (taken on March 1, 2008)<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_XE0i6N4-4ceV1hChGnRdR0hoR9MhOVfE_x2dNKLCoqIgo3hQHzjPwQ8gu8JzyqlI61kc2RkwjNxc_CHF4IXTY0uC3wqvVcJ5HbW5Y7VmWxURvbMFTHUlQkzNLhFsrwl0TGDE77HJ8M/s1600/Tokyo+Tower+from+Roppongi+Hills+%28June+28,+2008%29+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_XE0i6N4-4ceV1hChGnRdR0hoR9MhOVfE_x2dNKLCoqIgo3hQHzjPwQ8gu8JzyqlI61kc2RkwjNxc_CHF4IXTY0uC3wqvVcJ5HbW5Y7VmWxURvbMFTHUlQkzNLhFsrwl0TGDE77HJ8M/s400/Tokyo+Tower+from+Roppongi+Hills+%28June+28,+2008%29+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405332107996612786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Tokyo Tower from Roppongi Hills (taken on June 28, 2008)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fgOr_SInFGgG5qdnnvyzn3ruFICbzuODt0RJLCRmxyftw_4QRhRGm23-qcJ2eUdbTVJEWyqFZh9C3CXKCLnphIh9eNpCOUwrl0zFeyZAQRX7STtTrG9WiTtVySlmMi-qgPD8kGyuxAk/s1600/Under+the+Tokyo+Tower+at+night.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fgOr_SInFGgG5qdnnvyzn3ruFICbzuODt0RJLCRmxyftw_4QRhRGm23-qcJ2eUdbTVJEWyqFZh9C3CXKCLnphIh9eNpCOUwrl0zFeyZAQRX7STtTrG9WiTtVySlmMi-qgPD8kGyuxAk/s400/Under+the+Tokyo+Tower+at+night.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405332096319006098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Tokyo Tower From Below (taken on March 9, 2008)</span></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Some places to see Tokyo's night views:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">1) </span><a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/05_info/index.html">Tokyo Tower</a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Entrance Fee:</span> 820yen to main observatory; 600 yen from main to special observatory<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Operating Hours: </span>9:00am - 10:00pm<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Access:</span> Please refer to link above<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">2) </span><a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.roppongihills.com/en/facilities/">Roppongi Hills</a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Entrance Fee:</span> 1500yen<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Operating Hours:</span> 9:00am - 1:00am (last entry is 12:00am)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Access:</span> Please click <a href="http://www.roppongihills.com/en/access/">here</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">3) Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Entrance Fee:</span> FREE<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Operating Hours:</span> 9:30am - 11:00pm (last entry is 10:30pm)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Access:</span> Shinjuku station (JR, Tokyo Metro, Toei Lines, etc.)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">4) Odaiba Seaside Park</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Entrance Fee:</span> FREE<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Operating Hours:</span> ANYTIME<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Access:</span> Shinkotsu Yurikamome Line Odaiba Kaihin Koen Station or Daiba Station / Sea Bus Odaiba Kaihin Koen Stop<br /></span>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-27557978390552239902009-11-12T13:27:00.007+08:002009-11-14T11:28:31.801+08:00Off To Albay<div style="text-align: justify;">After a whole day in <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/11/camsur-watersports-complex.html">CWC</a>, my friends and I spent the 2nd day of our Bicol weekend getaway in Albay. We left CWC early in the morning and since our friend's aunt lent us her van and driver, we just sat back and relaxed until we arrived in Albay around 2 hours later. Our first stop in Albay - the Cagsawa Ruins.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The Cagsawa Ruins is what remained of the church of Cagsawa after the Mayon Volcano erupted and engulfed the whole town in 1814. Now, this place is a primary tourist spot as it is one of the best places to view the star of Albay - the majestic Mayon Volcano. Unfortunately for us, we were not able to see the perfect cone shape of Mayon as it was a cloudy day. We were told that if we wanted to see the whole of Mayon, we should get there as early as 6 or 7am. Oh well, better luck next time.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYgtQtDhdZZQ6QIVuw5Txk3oPZg0RR4Jd-MNStzCVAe1o7926iK6zcazltwF0wjVvLOZGuUJGDyU_F-qkQtwo8sLd5ev5tzCz6tj9gz0eW6zqCKyTYj_pswWb6wGVs8zk-i50DQYHyXI/s1600-h/Cagsawa+Ruins+and+the+Shy+Mayon+Volcano.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYgtQtDhdZZQ6QIVuw5Txk3oPZg0RR4Jd-MNStzCVAe1o7926iK6zcazltwF0wjVvLOZGuUJGDyU_F-qkQtwo8sLd5ev5tzCz6tj9gz0eW6zqCKyTYj_pswWb6wGVs8zk-i50DQYHyXI/s400/Cagsawa+Ruins+and+the+Shy+Mayon+Volcano.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403085536277029938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Cagsawa Ruins (taken on November 17, 2007)</span><br /><br /></div><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: justify;">After Cagsawa Ruins, we proceeded to another famous place in Albay - the Hoyop Hoyopan caves. Hoyop is Bikolano for "ihip" or "blow". True enough, it was breezy inside the cave. This cave is famous for its stalactite formations and it is another good place to view the Mayon Volcano.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FYV22UayuuEnF512Qrg06PDMwBhd2NzrrO3coI5aFEUNbDHZ6CRa4xuVeLhQuZiU2X8JytbHjlUS2AIptrepPyOsgD8jLUaqPt4tK15EnEgOfwgfBN-E1HHmsE85qd6hqeqECVLV6IY/s1600-h/Hoyop+Hoyopan+-+Bungo.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FYV22UayuuEnF512Qrg06PDMwBhd2NzrrO3coI5aFEUNbDHZ6CRa4xuVeLhQuZiU2X8JytbHjlUS2AIptrepPyOsgD8jLUaqPt4tK15EnEgOfwgfBN-E1HHmsE85qd6hqeqECVLV6IY/s400/Hoyop+Hoyopan+-+Bungo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403085532899420178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Hoyop Hoyopan Caves: "Skull" (taken on November 17, 2007)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZMOYdr5zElCUvoRMiSk7_t0z3RNdyEO5ejzNtCwhsT3xqmD7WVMTtZe8Kvyq-YVptLjAgBaixFzNYfVb67d1ff_X8Qltx-9g7HFWzBAe7xqF6ICWliTjW2MdJBgARpjBe2yzKA4_khI/s1600-h/Hoyop+Hoyopan+-+Moses.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZMOYdr5zElCUvoRMiSk7_t0z3RNdyEO5ejzNtCwhsT3xqmD7WVMTtZe8Kvyq-YVptLjAgBaixFzNYfVb67d1ff_X8Qltx-9g7HFWzBAe7xqF6ICWliTjW2MdJBgARpjBe2yzKA4_khI/s400/Hoyop+Hoyopan+-+Moses.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403085379881638834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Hoyop Hoyopan Caves: "Moses" (taken on November 17, 2007)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD57tVGWYn4Z1vtPPC7Vfm_CqhJKiQVcitBkRyKjXzqsajT-EdFFMFoJI-xa3AxTwOnP7VqVYo3-V1lbUzDeufzb-bcNeeVbTibPJ9rU3BjKAs0ejg4Yil4wxoii96xJVUbA78q3RID98/s1600-h/Hoyop+Hoyopan+-+Elephant.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD57tVGWYn4Z1vtPPC7Vfm_CqhJKiQVcitBkRyKjXzqsajT-EdFFMFoJI-xa3AxTwOnP7VqVYo3-V1lbUzDeufzb-bcNeeVbTibPJ9rU3BjKAs0ejg4Yil4wxoii96xJVUbA78q3RID98/s400/Hoyop+Hoyopan+-+Elephant.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403085376113350738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Hoyop Hoyopan Caves: "Elephant" (taken on November 17, 2007)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MlmYQoBsZuSP3LkI9_smq5E5XMM9NvSg56-oYUko3VbeAWwc1YWMWDyEw9LXbJJeCLC1H2SRLgO2ufHZ-qbei9xoajumYDQ34mVb-JzJG1jl8zDG0i8kgJiH1hTQ6Dz0wFSRwZ81zjM/s1600-h/Hoyop+Hoyopan+-+Hand.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MlmYQoBsZuSP3LkI9_smq5E5XMM9NvSg56-oYUko3VbeAWwc1YWMWDyEw9LXbJJeCLC1H2SRLgO2ufHZ-qbei9xoajumYDQ34mVb-JzJG1jl8zDG0i8kgJiH1hTQ6Dz0wFSRwZ81zjM/s400/Hoyop+Hoyopan+-+Hand.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403085372051435122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Hoyop Hoyopan Caves: "Skull" (taken on November 17, 2007)<br /></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Since we had time before heading back to Naga, we stopped by Busay Falls. Busay falls is not as popular as Mayon or the Hoyop Hoyopan cave, but it is a great place to relax and enjoy nature. It sure was a great way to end our Albay daytrip.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DU_oJJoYq_xYFeR1I84RLJQjs3RIBQLDpuw7XEfwPDwvNIkKakqXISzUzuxY0-COKhkQamWuwsQbG4W4jUZgE4Q0JzNfLSOwhlVyKzrmol8QCIAhW6YOUQU01GHR9wmxoVlgNkv93is/s1600-h/Busay+Falls+4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DU_oJJoYq_xYFeR1I84RLJQjs3RIBQLDpuw7XEfwPDwvNIkKakqXISzUzuxY0-COKhkQamWuwsQbG4W4jUZgE4Q0JzNfLSOwhlVyKzrmol8QCIAhW6YOUQU01GHR9wmxoVlgNkv93is/s400/Busay+Falls+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403085358377299506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Busay Falls (taken on November 17, 2007)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally, we bid farewell to Albay and made our way to Naga to catch the 9pm bus of Penafrancia back to Manila. If you're riding <a href="http://pentours.blogspot.com/">Penafrancia</a>, I recommend riding its Comfortec Bus. Just add 100 pesos on the regular fare and you can sleep comfortably throughout the 8-hour journey.<br /></div><br /><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Access to Legazpi, Albay (from Manila):</span></span><br /><span class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost">a) By bus: Several bus companies such as Penafrancia, Victory Liner, Isarog Lines take the Manila-Legaspi Route daily.<br />b) By plane: Companies such as Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Zest Air have regular flights to Legaspi from Manila.<br /><br /></span></span></span><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Access to Legazpi, Albay (from Naga):</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost">Upon arrival in Naga, you may ask around for buses or vans taking the Naga-Legazpi route. Travel time is around 2 hours.</span></span></span><br /><span class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost"></span></span></span></div><span class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost"><br /></span></span></span><span class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Costs:<br /></span></span></span></span><span class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost">a) Entrance fee Hoyop Hoyopan cave: 20php<br />b) Entrance fee Cagsawa Ruins: 10php<br /></span></span></span></span>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-72822262444474506902009-11-03T16:24:00.004+08:002009-11-03T17:05:09.231+08:00CamSur Watersports Complex<div style="text-align: justify;">Around this time 2 years ago, my friends and I decided to head to Bicol for a weekend getaway. Since this was my first time to go to the Bicol region, I was so excited. We decided to head first to Camarines Sur to try out wakeboarding and spend the next day going around Albay.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We departed from Manila on Friday night via <a href="http://pentours.blogspot.com/">Penafrancia Bus</a> to Naga, the capital of Camarines Sur. After around 8 hours of travel, we finally arrived in Naga terminal where we were picked up by a shuttle which brought us to <a href="http://www.cwcwake.com/">Camarines Sur Watersports Complex or CWC</a>.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Upon arrival, we checked in and proceeded to the man-made lake for wakeboarding. Since we were all beginners, we started with kneeboarding. Unfortunately, towards the end, I was not able to graduate from kneeboarding. I could not even complete one round. Yeah I really need to practice hard! hahaha. Even if my arms hurt from all the wakeboarding, it was such a great experience and I would really recommend it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVB6bRak8Yiuou63xuzlh0RRZfThwWJtXp-2UkOut52QtDsrcp6et93PQjYAXC_AUPIjmgvgsj4xYU7Vr2VfuR2FU3iON0pppR1k9MTp_bTDYrPnvKAD52pUC8VMFP4PQYPgs0Sdx_86Y/s1600-h/wakeboarding.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVB6bRak8Yiuou63xuzlh0RRZfThwWJtXp-2UkOut52QtDsrcp6et93PQjYAXC_AUPIjmgvgsj4xYU7Vr2VfuR2FU3iON0pppR1k9MTp_bTDYrPnvKAD52pUC8VMFP4PQYPgs0Sdx_86Y/s400/wakeboarding.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399795858490362546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Wakeboarding in CWC (taken by my friend on November 16, 2007)<br /><br /></span></div><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixeHW1lQQlkd92o_nSLuRTg16Owy74ELcbP4O3L5dQ5k5QbkTDli3vdAcsnzht8BUhVro2guIVJ5EPD3dyGTAtY4stcjNquaSl76fl69QPoITaTJ1eZGBUPH5p5_tldhR-m72pI8wjbIk/s1600-h/kneeboarding.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixeHW1lQQlkd92o_nSLuRTg16Owy74ELcbP4O3L5dQ5k5QbkTDli3vdAcsnzht8BUhVro2guIVJ5EPD3dyGTAtY4stcjNquaSl76fl69QPoITaTJ1eZGBUPH5p5_tldhR-m72pI8wjbIk/s400/kneeboarding.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399795854737315154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Kneeboarding - beginners stage (taken by my friend on November 16, 2007)</span><br /><br /></div>After a whole day in CWC, we went to Naga City for dinner and some late night coffee bonding. After a while, we decided to head back to CWC and called it a day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Access to Naga (from Manila):</span><br />a) By bus: Buses such as Penafrancia, Victory Liner, etc take the Manila-Naga route.<br />b) By plane: Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Zest Air have regular flights to Naga.<br /><br /><span class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Costs:</span></span></span><br />You can check out the updated rates at <a href="http://www.cwcwake.com/">Camarines Sur Watersports Complex's website<br /></a></span></div>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-31603652805218848462009-10-22T09:44:00.022+08:002009-10-22T14:26:41.082+08:0010 Hours In Macau<div style="text-align: justify;">Last February, I went to Macau with my friends who are living in Hong Kong. We took the ferry from Hong Kong to Macau and arrived at around 12noon. From the port, we took a free shuttle to the Venetian where my friend and I met up with our other companions. Then, we all took the taxi to Senado Square where we started our Macau exploration.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Most of the attractions of Macau are contained around the Senado Square area. Some of the places we visited included the St. Dominic Church and the very famous St. Paul Cathedral ruins. There are many shops and food stalls around this area so you won't get hungry. Trust me :D<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakg27WYIo6kPC_29FqyEXaBkGjUtv-NavZ1aGNIkGnnWgesjyYvANAveIECSEwQevKEXORf6sgH08EyVwQXIaejujfGb8kYHm69ITv7SlJD7WC1IN7EwjxmYLsjQ02sbC88iFF3o_3lM/s1600-h/Ruins+of+St+Paul+College+5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakg27WYIo6kPC_29FqyEXaBkGjUtv-NavZ1aGNIkGnnWgesjyYvANAveIECSEwQevKEXORf6sgH08EyVwQXIaejujfGb8kYHm69ITv7SlJD7WC1IN7EwjxmYLsjQ02sbC88iFF3o_3lM/s400/Ruins+of+St+Paul+College+5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395235837660522898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">St. Paul Cathedral Ruins (taken on February 7, 2009)</span></div><br /><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW65SldB_qWtOeg6W2iqChpS7zdCblGxX59mTePkFcQZopZMZzErs2C7MfBQA1FxTRIoDS7GjPNI13fPfBtzZGvZY8xsRlVmH64CP-cvSqKkShkxRPTa3FXDaP5DDYPIW19RmCGyTpQ5I/s1600-h/Sto+Domingo+Church+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW65SldB_qWtOeg6W2iqChpS7zdCblGxX59mTePkFcQZopZMZzErs2C7MfBQA1FxTRIoDS7GjPNI13fPfBtzZGvZY8xsRlVmH64CP-cvSqKkShkxRPTa3FXDaP5DDYPIW19RmCGyTpQ5I/s400/Sto+Domingo+Church+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395235833457738722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">St. Dominic Church (taken on February 7, 2009)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span class="fullpost">After walking around Senado Square, we got hungry. So we chose to eat in A Lorcha, a Portuguese restaurant recommended by a friend. But when we got there, lunch time was over. So we had to return during dinner time. Luckily we were able to get a reservation since they were almost fully booked for the night. While waiting for dinner, we just decided to go to Macau Tower. Aside from the magnificent view the tower has to offer, Macau Tower is also home to AJ Hackett Macau Tower which is the highest bungee in the world. None of us jumped but we watched people jump while eating the pork jerky we bought in Senado Square. What a great way to relax! Hahaha!<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyvDPrxIQvjSYq9DyDsO4gjODB7HAuPH1Hhx1gnlV6dyE8rT6AkMavFXgmg-JDa5a8zSf5oX7hA_j3FWEZHCyxBgiY3Az6KX1dZA_smx60_kpbigTIksTlC4iJcq7a-JMs38kYHXyzm0/s1600-h/Outside+Macau+Tower++4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyvDPrxIQvjSYq9DyDsO4gjODB7HAuPH1Hhx1gnlV6dyE8rT6AkMavFXgmg-JDa5a8zSf5oX7hA_j3FWEZHCyxBgiY3Az6KX1dZA_smx60_kpbigTIksTlC4iJcq7a-JMs38kYHXyzm0/s400/Outside+Macau+Tower++4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395235566170417410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Macau Tower (taken on February 7, 2009)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUVH0JQWZxSx66yD3U6Z5L3orf8EcuCDnq7OBLsgNAfCjIBxg6mFrRrZl6-DjhcmV6E6wpDQNNIhipAmD0W-bwoQgoznTP7oL9_W9wuxR8XKxaqsfomaj8NO5n26z_gcHg64oXnncWHk/s1600-h/AJ+Hackett+Macau+Tower.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUVH0JQWZxSx66yD3U6Z5L3orf8EcuCDnq7OBLsgNAfCjIBxg6mFrRrZl6-DjhcmV6E6wpDQNNIhipAmD0W-bwoQgoznTP7oL9_W9wuxR8XKxaqsfomaj8NO5n26z_gcHg64oXnncWHk/s400/AJ+Hackett+Macau+Tower.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395235209519848066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Bungeeeeee (taken on February 7, 2009)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinE3Fk2MllffDmFvvLGDbH3gojb6GCJSTJkUlpXiJS1v29-TV6b4VCn82q4i7fh1psfdxYz6isRh8vvLWW-vvOn7Vktju4OlORseqcLGOVqnyHzOPKX5XJSFffG2rzupW1ZBnSHRK3TCk/s1600-h/Bungy!!!.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinE3Fk2MllffDmFvvLGDbH3gojb6GCJSTJkUlpXiJS1v29-TV6b4VCn82q4i7fh1psfdxYz6isRh8vvLWW-vvOn7Vktju4OlORseqcLGOVqnyHzOPKX5XJSFffG2rzupW1ZBnSHRK3TCk/s400/Bungy!!!.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395235204733357314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Bungee!!! (taken on February 7, 2009)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5vJBmO1ymUjiwLdpk5Kw1S9AvFRzHlK_LoMyAa4HIC8-HW4WiOVspxY9FRBPMYu9n54mqwUPXjaBmgZZQT88lFEwwshyX7EWcVeWJhFxCbM-joedLwqEIFb8o4zM4ExUMUCAyFeb88Q/s1600-h/Macau+Tower+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5vJBmO1ymUjiwLdpk5Kw1S9AvFRzHlK_LoMyAa4HIC8-HW4WiOVspxY9FRBPMYu9n54mqwUPXjaBmgZZQT88lFEwwshyX7EWcVeWJhFxCbM-joedLwqEIFb8o4zM4ExUMUCAyFeb88Q/s400/Macau+Tower+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395235196924511170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">View From Macau Tower (taken on February 7, 2009)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQS03jQlJTCWkecmqJrX1GWPtnM1jQZ3Tz2DmizjpdoP3Z08iIN4Ol6H00qLGZ5vx2OJDoEY9zl5blXBpiOKsz3_cG1jsvQyqREK07omKXqlAARCeDGQZle8P_nGLi-8hMilHpdJOrWU/s1600-h/Outside+Macau+Tower+11.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQS03jQlJTCWkecmqJrX1GWPtnM1jQZ3Tz2DmizjpdoP3Z08iIN4Ol6H00qLGZ5vx2OJDoEY9zl5blXBpiOKsz3_cG1jsvQyqREK07omKXqlAARCeDGQZle8P_nGLi-8hMilHpdJOrWU/s400/Outside+Macau+Tower+11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395235191335659682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Outside Macau Tower (taken on February 7, 2009)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span class="fullpost">At around 5:30pm, we returned to A Lorcha. While waiting for dinner time, we went to A-ma Temple which is a few steps away from the restaurant. This was also a great place to catch the beautiful sunset of Macau.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTFIQoHnyd48V7qdcEOzF_-k9iPztZu-so-T7MAFyQkVFZBQyVPHJjfARs2CjN129mCYQ9ObI8jZLTBa_Oatz8p3dEL6QXApsChwuLmRT4iT9koFS36sg33FkP5dLjW-onWl1ukth_MI/s1600-h/A-ma+Temple+.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTFIQoHnyd48V7qdcEOzF_-k9iPztZu-so-T7MAFyQkVFZBQyVPHJjfARs2CjN129mCYQ9ObI8jZLTBa_Oatz8p3dEL6QXApsChwuLmRT4iT9koFS36sg33FkP5dLjW-onWl1ukth_MI/s400/A-ma+Temple+.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395235575834106818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A-ma Temple (taken on February 7, 2009)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4fFJDbz1vkZHMZCi-cpSOx0QNEnn6QoCZmVXBYiRUKA6-zXyqjre8gwjMVceHDayYnMZK3W_NncgtMG3K-oJ7qwTU2XuMaJtLhDRRLNnwlUKudK6KAHpZvkqQBy1ia3-r1gC7rWn8xQ/s1600-h/By+A-ma+Temple+8.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4fFJDbz1vkZHMZCi-cpSOx0QNEnn6QoCZmVXBYiRUKA6-zXyqjre8gwjMVceHDayYnMZK3W_NncgtMG3K-oJ7qwTU2XuMaJtLhDRRLNnwlUKudK6KAHpZvkqQBy1ia3-r1gC7rWn8xQ/s400/By+A-ma+Temple+8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395235568304788210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sunset by A-ma Temple (taken on February 7, 2009)</span><br /></div><span><span class="fullpost"><br /></span></span>Then we had our much awaited A Lorcha meal, and it did not disappoint. The waiter recommended we have clams, prawns, Portuguese fried rice and lamb. The food was delicious and the staff are mostly Filipinos so they really took care of us. But if you plan to eat in A Lorcha, make advanced reservations as it is almost always full. You can contact them at +853 313 193. It is located at <span style="visibility: visible;" id="main"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">289 Rua do Almirante Sergio</span></span>, Macau. As it is a very famous restaurant, you can ask people around for directions.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBxr-QqDOZ-_MH0SfcBjxQ8Y0Pns9bz6nzmW0mtMbcQtrWKIapBz6Xt1DBrrRObk6mDt0BapgnDR4GX72zbjxmCD2WQeFmBtf8ZVmUit-fd8bvjeScy3t-v3uKvspDvdxGDnnMtikq8s/s1600-h/Alorcha+4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBxr-QqDOZ-_MH0SfcBjxQ8Y0Pns9bz6nzmW0mtMbcQtrWKIapBz6Xt1DBrrRObk6mDt0BapgnDR4GX72zbjxmCD2WQeFmBtf8ZVmUit-fd8bvjeScy3t-v3uKvspDvdxGDnnMtikq8s/s400/Alorcha+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395235829671702642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A Lorcha (taken on February 7, 2009)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRqCKv75WW5gI1ZtWrsJWOAohTKaUDkvR0YGsRily2UNSif11FGwh1ELsT1GHrzUNtmlTHLLAfYei95AkRYqDiuH5J36aIxnlGN5l2x4_g41s4waT1KFPQKtN_iDDGssioPn_TPxON5I/s1600-h/Alorcha+7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRqCKv75WW5gI1ZtWrsJWOAohTKaUDkvR0YGsRily2UNSif11FGwh1ELsT1GHrzUNtmlTHLLAfYei95AkRYqDiuH5J36aIxnlGN5l2x4_g41s4waT1KFPQKtN_iDDGssioPn_TPxON5I/s400/Alorcha+7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395235822942442450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Prawns (taken on February 7, 2009)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjod_oWcLE8kHv9CG6MPeqUWZjocjiMk4Cl0t5uGcFlaeoC-PQGtWA01L5hkfGS4h7uQF85nrZq-r98OWfwHrmxBW3qXfw79P5LdbDQi66dWIzyn8rJfRy3dW32EQy7sCampo0eQNZ-2ms/s1600-h/Alorcha+9.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjod_oWcLE8kHv9CG6MPeqUWZjocjiMk4Cl0t5uGcFlaeoC-PQGtWA01L5hkfGS4h7uQF85nrZq-r98OWfwHrmxBW3qXfw79P5LdbDQi66dWIzyn8rJfRy3dW32EQy7sCampo0eQNZ-2ms/s400/Alorcha+9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395235818517303554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lambchop (taken on February 7, 2009)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EUlY2RTWz5gqw9wvLL23fRfhFSbF4tBeywEPv8ssW2F8uF3Lb6t2j_fj5pjnG-GT49KGIAEl3Ueh6soHP8tDotCYyXKNO6F2xBKVwcxqQ5GO5PkVlJdFK-B6mv89dAkPFKMCDGV4oIs/s1600-h/Alorcha+10.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EUlY2RTWz5gqw9wvLL23fRfhFSbF4tBeywEPv8ssW2F8uF3Lb6t2j_fj5pjnG-GT49KGIAEl3Ueh6soHP8tDotCYyXKNO6F2xBKVwcxqQ5GO5PkVlJdFK-B6mv89dAkPFKMCDGV4oIs/s400/Alorcha+10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395235585733489010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Portuguese Fried Rice (taken on February 7, 2009)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPB2Qs1ydPTbzrD5NatzLjvdLTPtZG4SIXxHE0RrrlzXQZcju50pPpvs4ng2xZEZt1CIwJtXlBfDz3ShKadRaXpfsMyJaNN8hPgLLuOKn8RY-wUscui-5lFkPLFD3LjRya5-FR3e0K70/s1600-h/Alorcha+11.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPB2Qs1ydPTbzrD5NatzLjvdLTPtZG4SIXxHE0RrrlzXQZcju50pPpvs4ng2xZEZt1CIwJtXlBfDz3ShKadRaXpfsMyJaNN8hPgLLuOKn8RY-wUscui-5lFkPLFD3LjRya5-FR3e0K70/s400/Alorcha+11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395235584375034258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Prawns (taken on February 7, 2009)</span><br /></div><br />After our meal, we went to the Venetian, explored for a bit, then rode the bus back to the port.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVA7CPAJcTdhNdxv9iqRlif6dFutJM3e5koHBYTEmDjl-xz5iBmfFZPTDyDsr0DrTNjuOre0sWwk8uFG-yCuzsfrE4wnV15Nsxixd70ff1KQ9Ltt5iCmMil0GzMfZdqc6IRFOqpiUthI/s1600-h/Venetian+13.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVA7CPAJcTdhNdxv9iqRlif6dFutJM3e5koHBYTEmDjl-xz5iBmfFZPTDyDsr0DrTNjuOre0sWwk8uFG-yCuzsfrE4wnV15Nsxixd70ff1KQ9Ltt5iCmMil0GzMfZdqc6IRFOqpiUthI/s400/Venetian+13.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395235189823768258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Inside The Venetian (taken on February 7, 2009)</span><br /></div><br />We left Macau at around 10pm and went back to Hong Kong via ferry.<br /></div></div></div></div></span></div>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-41503086453061458092009-10-14T11:58:00.009+08:002009-10-14T13:47:57.214+08:00Typhoon In The Middle Of Summer<div style="text-align: justify;">Around three weeks ago, typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) struck Metro Manila and its nearby provinces flooding most of the country's capital. A week after Ondoy, typhoon Pepeng (Parma) made landfall in Northern Luzon killing dozens and destroying crops and infrastructures. When everybody thought typhoon Pepeng already left the country, it made a U-turn and hit the provinces of Northern Luzon once again causing great floods, landslides and killing hundreds of people. These circumstances reminded me of another flood and typhoon experience earlier this year. During the "summer" month of May (when it was supposed to be sunny and dry), we were greeted with typhoon Dante (<span style="visibility: visible;" id="main"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">Kujira</span></span>) during our trip to the Bicol Region.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />During that time, the Philippines was celebrating the Labor Day long weekend. Being summer and all, my friends and I planned to spend it in the beautiful Bicol region. Our initial plan was to spend one day in the butanding (whale shark) capital of the Philippines, Donsol and 2 days in the beautiful Caramoan Islands in Camarines Sur. We were expecting sunny weather since techinically it was still summer. However, a day before departure, we heard that there was an active low pressure area near the Bicol Region. Since we have already prepared for this and we had already bought our bus tickets, we decided to push through hoping it would be just a false alarm. But we were wrong.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Thankfully during our first day, the rain stopped for a while so we were able to push through with our butanding watching. We were lucky because even if the weather was not good, we were still able to spot 2 whale sharks. However, our guide told us that on a fine day, you can spot as much as 20 whale sharks. Butanding watching season is said to be from February to June, but the best time to go is around March to April, with the butanding festival being held around the last week of April every year.<br /><br />In the middle of butanding watching, heavy rains started to fall. We had no choice but to go back. For the next few days, the rain did not stop. As a result, we were stranded in Donsol for the whole duration of our trip. All flights coming in and going out of Bicol were cancelled. Landslides slowed down traffic in the northern area of the region. And roads going in and out of Donsol were flooded so there was no way for cars and even buses to reach us. Since we were all working, we had to leave Donsol on time. Thank God the rain stopped and we were able to get out of Donsol. But in order to do so, we had to brave 7 floods in Donsol alone since all roads were still flooded. Thankfully, the people in our homestay in Donsol were nice and they sent a guide (Kuya Jay) to help us go out of Donsol. If any one of you is going to Donsol, you can contact Eve's Homestay at +639164155783. We finally got out of Donsol and took the bus out of Bicol from Legaspi City. When we arrived in Manila, we heard from the news that typhoon Dante left 27 dead in the whole Bicol Region and some provinces in the region were placed under the state of calamity.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-H9Jrdo6E99S_ORso3hYMiLrBzR8EZyN-O1fnA2xVdK6QBZPp6QJJgUY9OZO74RQQCT5yeHyVK09H_XwU-QGcKlkBCBk-dfLZphqrWqWuA0S_CxBeB8IU_TNaqrChnVQnVoJ78vpaZv4/s1600-h/flood+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-H9Jrdo6E99S_ORso3hYMiLrBzR8EZyN-O1fnA2xVdK6QBZPp6QJJgUY9OZO74RQQCT5yeHyVK09H_XwU-QGcKlkBCBk-dfLZphqrWqWuA0S_CxBeB8IU_TNaqrChnVQnVoJ78vpaZv4/s400/flood+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392321032267809138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Braving the floods (taken on May 3, 2009)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytB3JgaHtog58C0Ct00IhR3ZNR0t37rQykS4ta9ed0_k03QfaAKJkKTxiJ8AhK3B2nV0Ich8pMSefvTjbBy-_2a6PmkYsUfWepkObp6rscQ0VRTqHahcUXIN-d5Dk0Nm2j4parnGHrbg/s1600-h/flood+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytB3JgaHtog58C0Ct00IhR3ZNR0t37rQykS4ta9ed0_k03QfaAKJkKTxiJ8AhK3B2nV0Ich8pMSefvTjbBy-_2a6PmkYsUfWepkObp6rscQ0VRTqHahcUXIN-d5Dk0Nm2j4parnGHrbg/s400/flood+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392321038027574770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Carrying our bags (taken on May 3, 2009)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vIOi5-EWeJjm7LbrgQLcDWl1IcE5bGOWaQMqfxLyCpqNlLFgAwxVrD9BEESs-SilbaZyq2fq3KPJg46i3Ez544ure1DRVVEeGtxuxDu9WykhOFdBsofoFyIG-6sSwyPAkNkPDsFpcsg/s1600-h/flood+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vIOi5-EWeJjm7LbrgQLcDWl1IcE5bGOWaQMqfxLyCpqNlLFgAwxVrD9BEESs-SilbaZyq2fq3KPJg46i3Ez544ure1DRVVEeGtxuxDu9WykhOFdBsofoFyIG-6sSwyPAkNkPDsFpcsg/s400/flood+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392321048668098946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Boats (taken on May 3, 2009)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83vJSZlLHkAkMyKmmDZ1TXMVe5hQHNfO-AobPQnDOgeTCfQKQgBMESWQVJOc20F2QTL1wdEmwuxE5hhxNlv629WTAFxRfAoEVyRRNI2hCpONT5AEFD-urZ7IFQ_-XQ6FTzJMNq1J7u8o/s1600-h/flood+4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83vJSZlLHkAkMyKmmDZ1TXMVe5hQHNfO-AobPQnDOgeTCfQKQgBMESWQVJOc20F2QTL1wdEmwuxE5hhxNlv629WTAFxRfAoEVyRRNI2hCpONT5AEFD-urZ7IFQ_-XQ6FTzJMNq1J7u8o/s400/flood+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392321051592763074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Nipa hut near flooded rice fields (taken on May 3, 2009)<br /><br /></span></div>Typhoons hitting during the summer season is pretty unusual in the Philippines. I once heard in the news that because of global warming, the Philippines should expect a rainy summer and a even rainier rainy season. Typhoons Dante, Pepeng and Ondoy are just a preview of what the next typhoons will be. If we continue to abuse our environment, we would see worse and deadlier typhoons in the years to come.<br /></span></div>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-75070071899750684032009-09-30T17:01:00.009+08:002009-10-01T09:53:47.028+08:00The Wrath Of Ondoy (Typhoon Ketsana)<div style="text-align: justify;">Over 240 deaths... 4.6 billion pesos worth of damage... 80% of the Philippines' capital and surrounding provinces under water.. That is what Ondoy or typhoon Ketsana did to the Philippines. On September 26, 2009, the typhoon brought over a months worth of rainfall causing the worst flooding Manila and surrounding areas has seen in 50 years.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Here are some images from Time Magazine...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2009/manila_flood/flood_08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 611px; height: 404px;" src="http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2009/manila_flood/flood_08.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span class="fullpost"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2009/manila_flood/flood_02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 611px; height: 404px;" src="http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2009/manila_flood/flood_02.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2009/manila_flood/flood_03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 611px; height: 404px;" src="http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2009/manila_flood/flood_03.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2009/manila_flood/flood_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 611px; height: 404px;" src="http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2009/manila_flood/flood_01.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2009/0909/philippines_mud_0929.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 525px; height: 294px;" src="http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2009/0909/philippines_mud_0929.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">As of today, certain parts of the city are still flooded while thousands are displaced. Many are in dire need of food and supplies so your help is needed. Any kind of help is very much welcome. Here are <a href="http://spreadsheets.google.com/lv?key=tBMVeBvbdAtYRaRB6ErFWnA&f=true&gid=25">some ways on how you can send your help</a>. Thank you very much and I am sure your help will be very much appreciated by the Filipino people.<br /><br /><br /></div></span>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-10519024110683299052009-09-23T10:48:00.015+08:002009-09-23T15:38:48.864+08:00The Island of Corregidor<div style="text-align: justify;">The island of Corregidor was used as a military base to prevent Japanese troops from entering Manila Bay during the second world war. However, in 1942, the Japanese defeated the Filipino and American troops and finally took over Corregidor and then Manila. Three years later, Corregidor was regained by the US and Filipino armies and eventually, the Japanese troops were defeated and driven out of the Philippines. This place played a key role in the Philippines' history and this is why it is a must-visit for both Filipinos and foreigners alike.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnYm3XwkImxx3H8MsWFsgqJ74AXk311ymPFXcAEDJj0vvDDGqhB6PrPshsdWJzTZHhK-K8BJp918Cdc8HZOjaaf2Vqmt-rpqShoD0kJb4cN9LMk1_7B3COxsQK_D-BeqO0f6Dz3IRc_Q/s1600-h/Mt+samat+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnYm3XwkImxx3H8MsWFsgqJ74AXk311ymPFXcAEDJj0vvDDGqhB6PrPshsdWJzTZHhK-K8BJp918Cdc8HZOjaaf2Vqmt-rpqShoD0kJb4cN9LMk1_7B3COxsQK_D-BeqO0f6Dz3IRc_Q/s320/Mt+samat+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384542868569428290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Mt. Samat from Corregidor (taken on December 30, 2008)</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><span class="fullpost">One of the best way to get to Corregidor is by joining tours such as the one operated by <a href="http://www.corregidorphilippines.com/">Sun Cruises</a> as transportation within the island is limited. Day tour costs 1999php inclusive of boat to and from Corregidor, Corregidor island transportation, tour guide, and buffet lunch. You can also opt to stay overnight and they also have tour packages for that.<br /><br />We boared the <a href="http://www.corregidorphilippines.com/">Sun Cruises</a> in the CCP Complex, left Manila at around 8am and after an hour or so, arrived in Corregidor. Our first stop was the Malinta Tunnel. Malinta Tunnel served as the headquarters of Gen. McArthur and seat of government of the Commonwealth. To fully understand the importance of this tunnel, a light and sound show is shown inside the tunnel for an additional fee of 150php.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr23rA6p4vPE-pGqvDEUstbpnZ1tWqmgoksHgxL4mTtGbibXvwlVazre8528MvLr0bwP68U5yLRtCkcH51HkOcP6IkOYiCgs0gj84sBT1ATrMAqQcI6KvVwR5jK9EAqndXGY-W0knSzMc/s1600-h/Malinta+Tunnel++12.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr23rA6p4vPE-pGqvDEUstbpnZ1tWqmgoksHgxL4mTtGbibXvwlVazre8528MvLr0bwP68U5yLRtCkcH51HkOcP6IkOYiCgs0gj84sBT1ATrMAqQcI6KvVwR5jK9EAqndXGY-W0knSzMc/s320/Malinta+Tunnel++12.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384543393485026914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Outside Malinta Tunnel (taken on December 30, 2008)<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNY0qmLhavWLL1798pV1umkwAH7IR6xgsbLSoiukXaqX0YshtUVTA4G0LsR4Tjp_rvVlZD83ViT383AxbfKUMIDJjJYaN0d9rNO_g-I6xyZ32Njmav97qxKJts5zy92kD17cSI2fYXgM/s1600-h/Malinta+Tunnel++4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNY0qmLhavWLL1798pV1umkwAH7IR6xgsbLSoiukXaqX0YshtUVTA4G0LsR4Tjp_rvVlZD83ViT383AxbfKUMIDJjJYaN0d9rNO_g-I6xyZ32Njmav97qxKJts5zy92kD17cSI2fYXgM/s320/Malinta+Tunnel++4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384543751376361890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Inside Malinta Tunnel (taken on December 30, 2008)<br /><br /></span></div>After Malinta Tunnel, we proceeded to the Filipino War Memorial and the Japanese War Memorial. Having a Japanese War Memorial inside Corregidor might be disturbing to some, but there were also many Japanese soldiers who died when the Americans and Filipino troops gained Corregidor back.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWEVJTzHKLrp6JTgM2CZCET-tZ9xcd9SvUVr1g4z46oUeYRdX6JmHkIUNASwKeM5y7lwRS3kDRbAEWTD5Y3ZTwXg_RpmwaJt0ZkvRdnI90kqpSNwigUkIf32jsCDOm0CzyMRwAsAz6is/s1600-h/War+memorial+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWEVJTzHKLrp6JTgM2CZCET-tZ9xcd9SvUVr1g4z46oUeYRdX6JmHkIUNASwKeM5y7lwRS3kDRbAEWTD5Y3ZTwXg_RpmwaJt0ZkvRdnI90kqpSNwigUkIf32jsCDOm0CzyMRwAsAz6is/s320/War+memorial+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384543407399755426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Filipino War Memorial (taken on December 30, 2008)</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9awheF25bOFJ3G4BMsuH2tL54O80PEFbfmKTkT-JY792dLL8OsY3yHiMPyum8TQt7_es0ApvFAMSXLxQM3RFKu1szs0OE5kHQq0yvVgrdii_3j500-Nc3V-3ZVBy817vXIq6v9YTCtPU/s1600-h/War+memorial+7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9awheF25bOFJ3G4BMsuH2tL54O80PEFbfmKTkT-JY792dLL8OsY3yHiMPyum8TQt7_es0ApvFAMSXLxQM3RFKu1szs0OE5kHQq0yvVgrdii_3j500-Nc3V-3ZVBy817vXIq6v9YTCtPU/s320/War+memorial+7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384542879435204914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Filipino War Memorial (taken on December 30, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpgqfwm_slQFUFK49DoAzcPtqNXcwulOExj8m40GZmTcFdtnfqDimxvdsyYdxYteLhCiYHzUyEGUP-RvDFGDZJKqvhrHdMrzyF2B04wctmdcIuKhQOzMMQiXZUcw0PLN8SBc3JRX6P00/s1600-h/Japanese+memorial+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpgqfwm_slQFUFK49DoAzcPtqNXcwulOExj8m40GZmTcFdtnfqDimxvdsyYdxYteLhCiYHzUyEGUP-RvDFGDZJKqvhrHdMrzyF2B04wctmdcIuKhQOzMMQiXZUcw0PLN8SBc3JRX6P00/s320/Japanese+memorial+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384543773734156306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Japanese War Memorial (taken on December 30, 2008)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>After visiting the war memorials, we had our lunch and continued with our tour. We visited some batteries or places where military weapons were placed such as the Battery Way, Battery Hearn and Battery Grubbs. On the way, we passed by some army barracks which were ruined during the war.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKKHKtZ2W5e3N-7QrPR262yDF-svnaBbCCWaYYIqmFMfhBiboQPR6rqVO1voQ38u21Ubhq_RtasO5nvkUfGToY6qH_TQX2kcSU5fR3W68at1CLORj3zMpb87Fm4APhRHSdGPUC6zhfzE/s1600-h/Ruins+5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKKHKtZ2W5e3N-7QrPR262yDF-svnaBbCCWaYYIqmFMfhBiboQPR6rqVO1voQ38u21Ubhq_RtasO5nvkUfGToY6qH_TQX2kcSU5fR3W68at1CLORj3zMpb87Fm4APhRHSdGPUC6zhfzE/s320/Ruins+5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384542871594351010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Former army barracks (taken on December 30, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5X92Vk2AA6x4u-a0rDynQI5Z5gPpsGf2jS0mnWfjBYglsTXJ4AVQTsZw24GwYp_ER41Lm40BQlyTBe8kpcMJMi9OIT9jZ7G0M49qMqbRqKRh9_K6lgJZZwP9kbHO-cbaAbYnKrzvy5s/s1600-h/Canon+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5X92Vk2AA6x4u-a0rDynQI5Z5gPpsGf2jS0mnWfjBYglsTXJ4AVQTsZw24GwYp_ER41Lm40BQlyTBe8kpcMJMi9OIT9jZ7G0M49qMqbRqKRh9_K6lgJZZwP9kbHO-cbaAbYnKrzvy5s/s320/Canon+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384542849953935426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">In Battery Way (taken on December 30, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqU3XctgejMQ9HGHve1aSqMiv10jVmlyCiYAxXpKRgN0HAqIRIae3FJv3VXWe146DVvh8ld21bU245LS33xlmIWXU67iGn_FU9EVDfFYTnWBjN3EmJzIoHjldyY6hTS36DzmBrbv8qOA/s1600-h/Cartridge+room.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqU3XctgejMQ9HGHve1aSqMiv10jVmlyCiYAxXpKRgN0HAqIRIae3FJv3VXWe146DVvh8ld21bU245LS33xlmIWXU67iGn_FU9EVDfFYTnWBjN3EmJzIoHjldyY6hTS36DzmBrbv8qOA/s320/Cartridge+room.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384543748164124770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Cartridge room in Battery Way (taken on December 30, 2008)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-cBjR-ri1XTTzH8qBTMH58t93pd0k-h8PTiv2j7bhtenKnlAQ4cFewHr4w3Vxnnb5opnAdwB8Hv1ndy7wDRmjAqZq_v8tUTx2YjE7qHhpqUUD43bqe-zbGHSjk7Y38mvwV0ySiKUc7ys/s1600-h/Long+canon.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-cBjR-ri1XTTzH8qBTMH58t93pd0k-h8PTiv2j7bhtenKnlAQ4cFewHr4w3Vxnnb5opnAdwB8Hv1ndy7wDRmjAqZq_v8tUTx2YjE7qHhpqUUD43bqe-zbGHSjk7Y38mvwV0ySiKUc7ys/s320/Long+canon.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384542858906475954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">In Battery Hearn (taken on December 30, 2008)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQd0pLM_9K6swdj1VeKwOzfHVLilqyop_MYIEZ4WOM5JIZj97ytEDBuHu0pL8yz25hPqRXVN0dQMaYd1yNQHLDAF5ZChe0xRfbZenqm-kBl0K-_Ixw2di65_TgNmpf4Y2K7omejoHtAsI/s1600-h/Ruins+8.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQd0pLM_9K6swdj1VeKwOzfHVLilqyop_MYIEZ4WOM5JIZj97ytEDBuHu0pL8yz25hPqRXVN0dQMaYd1yNQHLDAF5ZChe0xRfbZenqm-kBl0K-_Ixw2di65_TgNmpf4Y2K7omejoHtAsI/s320/Ruins+8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384543765295435490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Former army barracks near the batteries (taken on December 30, 2008)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>Then, we proceeded to the Pacific War Memorial which was built by the US to honor both the Filipino and US armies who fought against the Japanese troops.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PjS1TimQv_fjeDrMtzk9m_9gQ4Z4V2xfdPfC1ZKG_0vpOPPnLbWPZUBIqABLqvt56MEi-i5ULlUhuqNmoguZ2juEUF87H5lfq9PbvVqdXixhpYqj_o5g49qLjuQQAyV43fuONGuiS5s/s1600-h/pacific+war+memorial+5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PjS1TimQv_fjeDrMtzk9m_9gQ4Z4V2xfdPfC1ZKG_0vpOPPnLbWPZUBIqABLqvt56MEi-i5ULlUhuqNmoguZ2juEUF87H5lfq9PbvVqdXixhpYqj_o5g49qLjuQQAyV43fuONGuiS5s/s320/pacific+war+memorial+5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384543762433312338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Pacific War Memorial (taken on December 30, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVbYowkKq87aA05sdW5WaEvDkyxFeOoISBswuQm4VTBD3StARMEmXu2a_r_XYcVSC_OlkqsFDCepX4ocBT98nUqOxI40RmlY-9s5ZsHqY2miB-ivIHPUkkdwxqwC8OOYD0Mzx64odlT0/s1600-h/pacific+war+memorial+22.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVbYowkKq87aA05sdW5WaEvDkyxFeOoISBswuQm4VTBD3StARMEmXu2a_r_XYcVSC_OlkqsFDCepX4ocBT98nUqOxI40RmlY-9s5ZsHqY2miB-ivIHPUkkdwxqwC8OOYD0Mzx64odlT0/s320/pacific+war+memorial+22.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384543389120041314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Outside Pacific War Memorial (taken on December 30, 2008)<br /><br /></span></div>The last stop of the tour is the Spanish Lighthouse which offers a nice view of the island.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_eSiKkl2H8D375LUKdmRf6Ya8zgu2oOrtySoGGY1FzHjS2dDvvbqBGjhfIh_bamss_mTI34eqrb3p_ZiYQM1wAxnqMtO-t5n3gpvsYGJ8I0pmepMIWkEBQ7cMUH930Wq1MqWYgftxhc/s1600-h/Light+house.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_eSiKkl2H8D375LUKdmRf6Ya8zgu2oOrtySoGGY1FzHjS2dDvvbqBGjhfIh_bamss_mTI34eqrb3p_ZiYQM1wAxnqMtO-t5n3gpvsYGJ8I0pmepMIWkEBQ7cMUH930Wq1MqWYgftxhc/s320/Light+house.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384550355617462914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Spanish Lighthouse (taken on December 30, 2008)<br /><br /></span></div>Corregidor is just around an hour away from Manila, but it was not until December last year that I visited this island. I wish I had visited this place earlier. But as they say, better late than never.<br /><br /><span class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our Itinerary:<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="fullpost">0800: Left via </span></span><a href="http://www.corregidorphilippines.com/">Sun Cruises</a> <span class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost">in CCP</span><span class="fullpost"><br />0915: Arrived in Corregidor</span><span class="fullpost"><br />0950-1030: Malinta Tunnel<br />1045: Filipino War Memorial<br />1115: Lunch<br />1210: Battery Way, Battery Hearn, Battery Grubbs, ruins<br />1310: Pacific War Memorial Museum<br />1350: Spanish Lighthouse<br />1430: Left Corregidor<br /></span></span>1545: Arrived in Manila<br /><br /><span class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cost: </span>1999php inclusive of tour guide, transportation, lunch buffet, boat to and from Corregidor</span></span>. Additional 150php for the light and sound show in Malinta Tunnel.<br /></div></span>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-59986338785632860412009-09-15T11:00:00.019+08:002009-09-15T13:26:31.993+08:00Vietnam-Cambodia-Thailand Overland<div style="text-align: justify;">Traveling overland is a cheaper but slower way to get around Indochina. But since my friend, <a href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> and I were traveling on a budget, this was the best way to go. When we were planning our Indochina trip, we had a hard time finding out how to travel from Vietnam to Thailand overland, particularly the Saigon-Siem Reap-Bangkok route. This is the reason why I want to share our experience with you. Hopefully this can help you plan your trip.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saigon to Siem Reap (Stopover: Phnom Pehn)</span><br /><br />We rode the Mekong Express bus that took us to Siem Reap with a 30-45 minute stopover in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Pehn. We reserved the bus through the travel agency inside our hotel and ticket price is 25usd per pax inclusive of breakfast, water and afternoon meal. The bus also has a toilet inside which is a real plus for me. We took the 7am bus to Siem Reap, so around 6:55am, someone picked us up from our hotel and brought us to the place where the bus was waiting.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFasiax9Rh1Fo1rszvKc6e52KWvJQsluFmAiVLu8BCr5Of6Q4luAJ0B0l-o_z-wCZFDExmdeO23rc1dHcCBFjSbevf_7Ulto72nAP87yR6g7wHkPAZwQrSEC5nAu3xJJbgYY86mHFzF88/s1600-h/Mekong+Bus+to+Phnom+Pehn.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFasiax9Rh1Fo1rszvKc6e52KWvJQsluFmAiVLu8BCr5Of6Q4luAJ0B0l-o_z-wCZFDExmdeO23rc1dHcCBFjSbevf_7Ulto72nAP87yR6g7wHkPAZwQrSEC5nAu3xJJbgYY86mHFzF88/s320/Mekong+Bus+to+Phnom+Pehn.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381550159093201666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Mekong Express Bus (taken on August 21, 2009)</span><br /></div><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGqpdWYvGOgVW4BgYqNpqUv8OAw3JZZ7Lp3F9ZZwpKqRaFGFh5jhsUdpjUCYkylaGf5zH1B0cBsBfm_yLmZnJH5-c4ADEvQzc5VwxVqky3yPDc6aMYZdVpgGmvbdCwQ1uaBRfedbt1RU/s1600-h/Mekong+express.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGqpdWYvGOgVW4BgYqNpqUv8OAw3JZZ7Lp3F9ZZwpKqRaFGFh5jhsUdpjUCYkylaGf5zH1B0cBsBfm_yLmZnJH5-c4ADEvQzc5VwxVqky3yPDc6aMYZdVpgGmvbdCwQ1uaBRfedbt1RU/s320/Mekong+express.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381550166245615650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Mekong Express Bus Contact Numbers (taken on August 21, 2009)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">At around 9am, we arrived at the Vietnamese border, Moc Bai. Here, we had our passports checked. Prior to this, the conductor of the bus had already collected all our passports and departure cards. He has also distributed the arrival cards for Cambodia. Then, we were asked to alight from the bus and bring our bags with us because these had to be checked. After passing through immigration, we went back to the bus.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdI1yaXJHA43mFAhSIwHlYmKcXUReZ0ZW_RELjiB4PJJDfE900FyEQMysqlCbSUvYMF4UPso4gzzmq0ypJZrGgE8hCl7UniU5KDxk9XG-j5Cw5UDftdfJKUNTVPObsQbyxB7ANTefkqo/s1600-h/Moi+Bac.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdI1yaXJHA43mFAhSIwHlYmKcXUReZ0ZW_RELjiB4PJJDfE900FyEQMysqlCbSUvYMF4UPso4gzzmq0ypJZrGgE8hCl7UniU5KDxk9XG-j5Cw5UDftdfJKUNTVPObsQbyxB7ANTefkqo/s320/Moi+Bac.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381550177927010866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Moc Bai (taken on August 21, 2009)</span><br /></div><br />After a minute or two, we arrived at the Cambodian border, Bavet. Once again, we were asked to alight from the bus, pass through immigration, and get back on the bus. Then we were back on the road. I think the whole immigration control from Vietnam to Cambodia took around 40 minutes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDIAyy7Gs4s8rA-GJnTMHoRoKXdakBZv3zA5DHmrhrq_GCI9q1_f0N3hayjCwhT1h9yrrq6Q9qzbd3u7wWdCjMeCucguyzTajQ0O-Ay-rbcI2wj16NF8nbftX18T1FaHHSfWjYhhFu4E/s1600-h/Cambodian+Border.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDIAyy7Gs4s8rA-GJnTMHoRoKXdakBZv3zA5DHmrhrq_GCI9q1_f0N3hayjCwhT1h9yrrq6Q9qzbd3u7wWdCjMeCucguyzTajQ0O-Ay-rbcI2wj16NF8nbftX18T1FaHHSfWjYhhFu4E/s320/Cambodian+Border.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381549822375820194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Bavet (taken on August 21, 2009)</span><br /></div><br />After 10 minutes from the Cambodian border, we had a short stopover for some early lunch. <a href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> and I were full, so we decided to walk around area (although there is nothing to see) and take some pictures. 20 minutes later, we were back on the bus and on our way to Phnom Pehn.<br /><br />30 minutes later, we arrived at the terminal of the Neak Loeung Ferry which is like a small roll on roll off boat used to carry cars and buses across the Mekong River.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSIh8pOxDm2ypFHqq-mp_ndwcACNzWaPdxtfyOw1lcyIPkbi9CDfFSJ48p-0MyIb-ZhJ5kxVjnM6r7LIFRwMMdvERY1Ks34_9AWsOw0EpBMTs0mu17qeRlU53bpKY1HlMeKNU6bY1PgQ/s1600-h/RoRo.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSIh8pOxDm2ypFHqq-mp_ndwcACNzWaPdxtfyOw1lcyIPkbi9CDfFSJ48p-0MyIb-ZhJ5kxVjnM6r7LIFRwMMdvERY1Ks34_9AWsOw0EpBMTs0mu17qeRlU53bpKY1HlMeKNU6bY1PgQ/s320/RoRo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381550439691401346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Neak Loeung Ferry (taken on August 21, 2009)</span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcttFdS5GQu4ULrWlq7bzljUeptco2RxgNPLMsmCljcm0j4qpLDu5snk76j4BOYOrHzgorc-gBAykmv0ianRFoW2vvcVY74T2KX5KJ0McAsoPu_7X5eQDThGYOMmhxoUu7xQlF6wKOTwY/s1600-h/RoRo2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcttFdS5GQu4ULrWlq7bzljUeptco2RxgNPLMsmCljcm0j4qpLDu5snk76j4BOYOrHzgorc-gBAykmv0ianRFoW2vvcVY74T2KX5KJ0McAsoPu_7X5eQDThGYOMmhxoUu7xQlF6wKOTwY/s320/RoRo2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381550443211343762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Neak Loeung Ferry (taken on August 21, 2009)</span><br /></div><br />We finally arrived at the Phnom Pehn terminal at around 1pm. All of us going to Siem Reap transferred to a minivan which took us to the other terminal of Mekong Express where the bus to Siem Reap is waiting.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWRMcYWx-65ggy29hMXTwv1wy_1VK0o6WF6OGzpekFG3FlXG2_ikoNGD6EWOHrU63cL03dy4o7iJC2p0LYXYWSIfHEObmlytHjcc_xCawvEaz5DPk5hlo8Zd1A3lNYjWfGG9qeQBGlzo/s1600-h/Van+to+Next+bus.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWRMcYWx-65ggy29hMXTwv1wy_1VK0o6WF6OGzpekFG3FlXG2_ikoNGD6EWOHrU63cL03dy4o7iJC2p0LYXYWSIfHEObmlytHjcc_xCawvEaz5DPk5hlo8Zd1A3lNYjWfGG9qeQBGlzo/s320/Van+to+Next+bus.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381550879349965378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Minivan to Second Terminal (taken on August 21, 2009)</span><br /></div><br />10 minutes later, we arrived at the second terminal and since the bus to Siem Reap will not depart until 2pm, <a href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> and I decided to take in as much as we can of Phnom Pehn in 40 minutes. Because of the limited time we had, we only saw the Sisowath Quay (where the terminal is located) and Royal Palace from the outside.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uU7eI1X8AbMEQVyKVLQJndYSk410TW9C5t9aEKjp_p6i5XUpxAX_vJ2FsN-N9DhkO4Uudx9hNYzSzR6ZfKtbsrH1o3X7CtNG5pxE1uFRTpPGU82uyI-tYMPO-_AQzyD2JFX_G6dWJUQ/s1600-h/Sisowath+Quay.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uU7eI1X8AbMEQVyKVLQJndYSk410TW9C5t9aEKjp_p6i5XUpxAX_vJ2FsN-N9DhkO4Uudx9hNYzSzR6ZfKtbsrH1o3X7CtNG5pxE1uFRTpPGU82uyI-tYMPO-_AQzyD2JFX_G6dWJUQ/s320/Sisowath+Quay.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381550460955380690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sisowath Quay (taken on August 21, 2009)</span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjASwLmDUTfraxSUsr5KM_Gl4wm8o56oQhYxfow5ERu2D0jQhyVENisHi8FlZQSm4XthayQheGF-Kwq-i27_1X7sjwSJ8alaNus-Uhe56hFRwEW_QMHMujxKvmyDXJt_kp_tPj_dA-_I/s1600-h/Royal+Palace.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjASwLmDUTfraxSUsr5KM_Gl4wm8o56oQhYxfow5ERu2D0jQhyVENisHi8FlZQSm4XthayQheGF-Kwq-i27_1X7sjwSJ8alaNus-Uhe56hFRwEW_QMHMujxKvmyDXJt_kp_tPj_dA-_I/s320/Royal+Palace.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381550450296502850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Royal Palace (taken on August 21, 2009)</span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNjhSVWyZwTpRDnVJ7olGITPbps08et1wyBD9CKZmmuXgDy0v_Z22G8Bss62S4spafi91dbEpCb1505xUk1DDOghFZSFQoJ-LxRCx6fmYlL1CkHUJqJ6_YJRJjNyhoVAelwnprMiazKQ/s1600-h/Near+the+royal+palace.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNjhSVWyZwTpRDnVJ7olGITPbps08et1wyBD9CKZmmuXgDy0v_Z22G8Bss62S4spafi91dbEpCb1505xUk1DDOghFZSFQoJ-LxRCx6fmYlL1CkHUJqJ6_YJRJjNyhoVAelwnprMiazKQ/s320/Near+the+royal+palace.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381550186159001714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Near the Royal Palace (taken on August 21, 2009)</span><br /></div><br />At exactly 2pm, our bus departed from Phnom Pehn and made its way to Siem Reap. At around 7pm, we finally arrived in Siem Reap. The whole trip (plus immigration control and stopovers) took around 12 hours.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi098KOL81d5KFT86lCfQtpig9nfPr7TJzTdJp1fYWKhziGCfoW3J2Un4Gx7rT6uiDDdHAW6szkNVa9XT2h9ZI5pCTwn8KH6fwN0vredoJN0Qpbn88X_CWda0Yr8tzqCvFlHMZ5mUn0dww/s320/Inside+the+bus.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381549828381473666" border="0" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Mekong Express Bus to Siem Reap (taken on August 21, 2009)<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVMUas8n18k_FErlo0sc7jn_L6o7RT-4uzZlmXOsiyQjKJ9t-Nao9UV4GZKSRrJdHyPqnGXWipz66RoIvSRxGqKZsSKjL8pTNtFWd8Gr3Yo2xK9V3WJ9cnVfIyXcKn0tBwUGSDlR8TKo/s1600-h/Toilet+in+Mekong+Express.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVMUas8n18k_FErlo0sc7jn_L6o7RT-4uzZlmXOsiyQjKJ9t-Nao9UV4GZKSRrJdHyPqnGXWipz66RoIvSRxGqKZsSKjL8pTNtFWd8Gr3Yo2xK9V3WJ9cnVfIyXcKn0tBwUGSDlR8TKo/s320/Toilet+in+Mekong+Express.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381550876022231074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Toilet of Bus to Siem Reap (taken on August 21, 2009)</span><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Siem Reap to Suvarnabhuni International Airport or Bangkok</span><br /><br />Since we were catching an 11pm flight from Bangkok to Manila the day we left Siem Reap, our hotel advised us to take a taxi to the Cambodian border, Poipet instead of taking the bus. It may be a bit more expensive, but it would be faster and scam-free. Based on a hotel staff's experience, traveling from Siem Reap to Bangkok normally takes around 6-7 hours, but if you take the bus, it might be extended to 12 hours or more because of the stopovers. He even told us that some drivers will not leave the stopovers unless the passengers buy something from the vendors. Because we were pressed on time, we decided to forego the bus and take the taxi to Poipet.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5i6wD3Q3aIUDiXjhejbfaMpGnLYNSdH8XCpdKbYg8Ox-S45wJe7ngWtnuXQCMM6vWfyx8L7Xz6rMaVGCQGebUe5LP8wfAOy91tnbI1oMYngypdoiG-A9jPvaRCsrDt440T6DgVaFO0E/s1600-h/Taxi+to+Poipet.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5i6wD3Q3aIUDiXjhejbfaMpGnLYNSdH8XCpdKbYg8Ox-S45wJe7ngWtnuXQCMM6vWfyx8L7Xz6rMaVGCQGebUe5LP8wfAOy91tnbI1oMYngypdoiG-A9jPvaRCsrDt440T6DgVaFO0E/s320/Taxi+to+Poipet.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381550469025291458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Taxi to Poipet (taken on August 23, 2009)</span><br /></div><br />We left Siem Reap at around 830am and arrived at Poipet at around 1030am. We then passed through immigration controls in both Poipet and the Thai border, Aranyaprathet. We finished everything by 1120am. Honestly, looking for a bus going to either Bangkok or the airport is not hard in Aranyaprathet. There are lots of bus reservation offices around. Just look for people who speak English and they will surely be happy to guide you. Buses to Bangkok leave every 1.5 hours but I am not sure of the airport bus' schedule. Luckily, we were told that the next bus to the airport leaves at 1230pm so we had time left to eat our lunch and do some shopping. Aranyaprathet has a big market selling clothes, bags, shoes, etc. There is also a bank where you can change your money.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKgXQNlbZL0OIWUGsC6d37lmEkGfiOnKe0iUrjdyuzLoBCkPOsXqLOKr0o-N24g-BfOCP54MXRyjMx8aju8whyphenhyphenwz8U2fGCKGsGkFW2VrFpn-J2pbcFJb20kwQITwZdrjcUZZ8slwLqY4/s1600-h/Poipet.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKgXQNlbZL0OIWUGsC6d37lmEkGfiOnKe0iUrjdyuzLoBCkPOsXqLOKr0o-N24g-BfOCP54MXRyjMx8aju8whyphenhyphenwz8U2fGCKGsGkFW2VrFpn-J2pbcFJb20kwQITwZdrjcUZZ8slwLqY4/s320/Poipet.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381550193195062626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Near Poipet (taken on August 23, 2009)</span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeDFB5dT9LMbapwNgxd88POjVDBtBcsmhW5id-_tfM-K1ftkk-h3PiKX5kQ98FcY_r8MAjhO7uV_3fVQRtUfDB1EaK2TqeBd8_6bCmgi0bLo6thnPMmRrEXCnPbioXm5g-IknBO2TDso/s1600-h/Approaching+Aranprayeth.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeDFB5dT9LMbapwNgxd88POjVDBtBcsmhW5id-_tfM-K1ftkk-h3PiKX5kQ98FcY_r8MAjhO7uV_3fVQRtUfDB1EaK2TqeBd8_6bCmgi0bLo6thnPMmRrEXCnPbioXm5g-IknBO2TDso/s320/Approaching+Aranprayeth.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381549801476826578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Approaching Aranyaprathet (taken on August 23, 2009)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2BFc5Bc3J3SBY1WJXpihVA0GsMA0IN2WGvyVtlKyBWHWz7ByInB8oiLs6IcagriHObRvMcZ3VjmlDfnZnlZSEgSbDkUIELBI8Og2rKEz6Tl0lkneOA1K9erilLJmFUXapIve8P4kaLg/s1600-h/Bus+to+airport.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2BFc5Bc3J3SBY1WJXpihVA0GsMA0IN2WGvyVtlKyBWHWz7ByInB8oiLs6IcagriHObRvMcZ3VjmlDfnZnlZSEgSbDkUIELBI8Og2rKEz6Tl0lkneOA1K9erilLJmFUXapIve8P4kaLg/s320/Bus+to+airport.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381549817108117618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Airport Bus from Aranyanprathet (taken on August 23, 2009)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDYgyYm-ybhlcPUD-2euT7L5yY_li7VLOtq5nyJdpBQObj4GOth653tD5iURX_Edhk7f6kwePqFgw8aomJTqmlFaH2WkaaQVj1IiLK6djCFOywAgSIUXS-5iWQqYlcQ-HO99aL0zhIN4/s1600-h/Inside+the+bus+to+airport.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDYgyYm-ybhlcPUD-2euT7L5yY_li7VLOtq5nyJdpBQObj4GOth653tD5iURX_Edhk7f6kwePqFgw8aomJTqmlFaH2WkaaQVj1IiLK6djCFOywAgSIUXS-5iWQqYlcQ-HO99aL0zhIN4/s320/Inside+the+bus+to+airport.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381549839167782274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Inside the Airport Bus from Aranyanprathet (taken on August 23, 2009)</span><br /></div><br />We left Aranyaprathet on time and arrived at Suvarnabhuni Airport at around 4pm. The airport bus costs 184baht inclusive of water and some crackers. It also has a toilet which is good for me.<br /><br /><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our Itinerary:<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Day 1:</span> <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/08/one-day-in-saigon.html">Saigon</a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Day 2:</span></span><span class="fullpost"><br />7am: Left Saigon for Siem Reap</span><span class="fullpost"><br />9am: Immigration control in Moc Bai (Vietnam border) then Bavet (Cambodian border)</span><span class="fullpost"><br />950am: Early lunch/stopove<br /></span><span class="fullpost">1pm: Arrive in Phnom Pehn<br /></span><span class="fullpost">2pm: Left Phnom Pehn</span><span class="fullpost"><br />7pm: Arrived in Siem Reap<br /></span><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Day 3:</span> <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/09/breathtaking-siem-reap.html">Siem Reap</a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Day 4:</span><br />830am: Left Siem Reap<br />1030am: Immigration control in Poipet (Cambodian border) and Aranyaprathet (Thai border)<br />1230pm: Left Aranyaprathet for the airport<br />400pm: Arrived in Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand</span><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Costs:</span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Saigon to Siem Reap</span>:<br />Mekong Express bus - $25 per pax inclusive of breakfast, water and afternoon meal<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Siem Reap to Suvarnabhumi Airport</span>:<br />Taxi to Poipet: $30 per taxi booked from our hotel<br />Bus from Aranyaprathet to Suvarnabhumi Airport: 184 Thai baht<br /></div></div></div></span>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-80277781971623314872009-09-08T11:46:00.013+08:002009-09-14T18:44:10.698+08:00Breathtaking Siem Reap<div style="text-align: justify;">After spending our first day in <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/08/one-day-in-saigon.html">Saigon</a>, my friend, <a href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> and I headed for Siem Reap in Cambodia. Since we traveled overland, it took around 12 hours (including stopovers in the border and Phnom Pehn) before arriving in Siem Reap. Basically our second day was mostly spent in the bus. So all the sightseeing happened on the third day.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Our hotel arranged our tuktuk and tour guide for us so all we had to do is wake up early to catch the sunrise in Angkor Wat. We arrived in Angkor Wat at around 515am, bought our 1-day pass for 20usd per pax and waited for a while for the sun to rise. I can say that the sunrise is really one of the highlights of this whole trip. The view is just magnificent and it was really a great way to start our exploration of the Angkor National Park.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHi9cePVCloVKcDAN6V0invVrbF9ZC71OpJGeNv-aEZi-VF0f1DUjYPbwJcJhqan5_HdDJOxRGD4brlPLc_YEQtHpnK1IpgngLcR5IGGhrcBXLq3XnZhj_iQvwXZ6z8M8amFE3tDZbZ8/s1600-h/Angkor+Sunrise.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHi9cePVCloVKcDAN6V0invVrbF9ZC71OpJGeNv-aEZi-VF0f1DUjYPbwJcJhqan5_HdDJOxRGD4brlPLc_YEQtHpnK1IpgngLcR5IGGhrcBXLq3XnZhj_iQvwXZ6z8M8amFE3tDZbZ8/s320/Angkor+Sunrise.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378943083432808930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Angkor Wat Sunrise (taken on August 22, 2009)</span><br /><br /><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: justify;">After watching the sunrise in Angkor Wat, we went back to our hotel to have breakfast and rest a bit before leaving for our next destination - Bantay Kdei together with our tour guide Mr. Huat and our tuktuk driver Mr. Sookra (who I both recommend!) Bantay Kdei is a Buddhist temple and is not as grand as Bayon or Angkor Wat but it is a good starting point.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmKIb8linSxQlh_AkZbRBNSbsEfKlTWIdNtrwy4RAM8az4b7H5zBeE-B_88cXweuyLKMNpS6_eLnCkokQX5fIWN8cF_Ty0_aQCL50G2oyXxUxk7-eEOXgK9cSYPhOv6YdO4YVnbN6EOc/s1600-h/Bantay+Kdei.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmKIb8linSxQlh_AkZbRBNSbsEfKlTWIdNtrwy4RAM8az4b7H5zBeE-B_88cXweuyLKMNpS6_eLnCkokQX5fIWN8cF_Ty0_aQCL50G2oyXxUxk7-eEOXgK9cSYPhOv6YdO4YVnbN6EOc/s320/Bantay+Kdei.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378958502154310626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Bantay Kdei (taken on August 22, 2009)</span><br /></div><br />After Bantay Kdei, we went to the nearby Ta Prohm which is famous for its massive trees and jungle-type feel. Our guide, Mr. Huat told us that the government made sure to retain the trees even if they are causing damage on the structure of the temple because they wanted to preserve the original feel of the temple. And it worked. But I think the main reason why this temple is very famous is because it is one of the location shoots of Tomb Raider.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnQu0oSnkYjH0FMiFH8zLtgB92ONtrJgK01Tn2koKzSvngrd7B_bELkUlzCr8xNN1ePVeoDcCqkVEofH6jtqK7RSixqDtPuRBf1cRKh27vf0jTXTYuxg9yOUYjq4CRnVnhxKXuYz_5OA/s1600-h/Ta+Prohm.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnQu0oSnkYjH0FMiFH8zLtgB92ONtrJgK01Tn2koKzSvngrd7B_bELkUlzCr8xNN1ePVeoDcCqkVEofH6jtqK7RSixqDtPuRBf1cRKh27vf0jTXTYuxg9yOUYjq4CRnVnhxKXuYz_5OA/s320/Ta+Prohm.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378958957322081394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Ta Prohm (taken on August 22, 2009)</span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qy6zeLKhei4cjL73gUDakf_nzrCZmbhstbjZZSMQhKvJPhJEYpHK4fPeOr-CPaULgNE935e8Y3qVf_VNU3iHX5diIVZ3c20dzTj8eoUz4mEQobK79uclN0BK2Wr8xGZLFt8yCeHwHHo/s1600-h/Ta+Prohm+Tree.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qy6zeLKhei4cjL73gUDakf_nzrCZmbhstbjZZSMQhKvJPhJEYpHK4fPeOr-CPaULgNE935e8Y3qVf_VNU3iHX5diIVZ3c20dzTj8eoUz4mEQobK79uclN0BK2Wr8xGZLFt8yCeHwHHo/s320/Ta+Prohm+Tree.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378958951580532738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">One of the more famous trees in Ta Prohm (taken on August 22, 2009)<br /><br /></span></div>Then, we proceeded to the center of all, Angkor Thom or Big Angkor in English. Here, we saw the forum of the king, temples such as the Baphuon and the majestic Bayon. Bayon is famous for its collection of stone carvings with smiling faces on it and it is located in the center of Angkor Thom. This is one of my favorites.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFY4zLf19f0b_I5EKysMRcy0BzZEnmWA-1g1Wg6IOUGnZZQ9y0_umriS8l3RV41XyqddwtEOCCJYivl79hyphenhyphennP9zRIIiNKFI-l5B1hqstAD67-LkJ0G-LCsuTIyWX3kkuzTZIPP0xLNOs/s1600-h/Bayon.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFY4zLf19f0b_I5EKysMRcy0BzZEnmWA-1g1Wg6IOUGnZZQ9y0_umriS8l3RV41XyqddwtEOCCJYivl79hyphenhyphennP9zRIIiNKFI-l5B1hqstAD67-LkJ0G-LCsuTIyWX3kkuzTZIPP0xLNOs/s320/Bayon.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378958942024857794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Bayon (taken on August 22, 2009)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZM9_IU1hi-iryVxMNlbsGEqBEMMdHIAE-J-VVQ4fceEp3sfEj9NCMTHr1bou314LTaTfFRRljdHMPx41voyMvmQgt__n5iy0b5jW9hD-8w4ZqxtLXjPiOCEeBvEwmgk4oaVP3Pzk3-Mw/s1600-h/Smiling+Faces+in+Bayon.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZM9_IU1hi-iryVxMNlbsGEqBEMMdHIAE-J-VVQ4fceEp3sfEj9NCMTHr1bou314LTaTfFRRljdHMPx41voyMvmQgt__n5iy0b5jW9hD-8w4ZqxtLXjPiOCEeBvEwmgk4oaVP3Pzk3-Mw/s320/Smiling+Faces+in+Bayon.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378958938817771090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">All smiles in Bayon (taken on August 22, 2009)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGKaZcvnQjNLc_A4BBmtuO6PCIoguwThPEck14iFzFL0ImncoKam-TxrMW6jng6NNwWMa_4Q9Y7NeblYLo79Q-Clss0OYFlw8mHEDJ1VtON6xw6Ehw2OwCZyfcm5zakacABeyfii7dwE/s1600-h/Inside+Angkor+Thom.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGKaZcvnQjNLc_A4BBmtuO6PCIoguwThPEck14iFzFL0ImncoKam-TxrMW6jng6NNwWMa_4Q9Y7NeblYLo79Q-Clss0OYFlw8mHEDJ1VtON6xw6Ehw2OwCZyfcm5zakacABeyfii7dwE/s320/Inside+Angkor+Thom.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378959537828557314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Inside Angkor Thom (taken on August 22, 2009)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">We finished Angkor Thom at around 130pm and proceeded to the grandest of all temples, the Angkor Wat. Because we arrived at around 2pm, there were not much people yet (which is good). Mr. Huat told us that the throngs of tourists usually arrive at around 330pm so if you want to avoid the crowd, come before 330pm :D<br /><br />Mr. Huat showed us around Angkor Wat and patiently explained the carvings on the walls of the temples. I was just so amazed with the skill involved in carving such intricate patterns. What is more amazing is that the people who carved the walls finished it in one go. Since the stones were already in place once carving starts, the workers had no choice but to concentrate and commit no errors. These carvings depict the story of Hindu gods and they were just amazing. After this, we went up the Angkor Wat. But since some parts are under repair, we cannot enter the top towers. <span><span class="fullpost">As we were leaving the temple at around 330pm, just like on cue, the tourists started arriving. Mr. Huat was right! haha. </span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0huR2tz8YNy8z1uHAKTITDm6t457TqNFARp5Y8sPaMUFt4K3ac54gnsWEPpBpeEXtqpLC2gDndUMT5wohJ8VYkqT3hbPvtKdRQF7a0LtZ7i8-CMKEDLT6szO6DBbKD0HsxoRj8OhuZ_A/s1600-h/Angkor+Wat.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0huR2tz8YNy8z1uHAKTITDm6t457TqNFARp5Y8sPaMUFt4K3ac54gnsWEPpBpeEXtqpLC2gDndUMT5wohJ8VYkqT3hbPvtKdRQF7a0LtZ7i8-CMKEDLT6szO6DBbKD0HsxoRj8OhuZ_A/s320/Angkor+Wat.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378964593286931250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Angkor Wat afar (taken on August 22, 2009)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuE3zI_JzdeNeRR6uDQh_cgjDcRnSUfrr3GwuEjOGQz571Ngos0Q2U6VR0QwTDxJcHdHn76yKXCxMBKrq7sS4BF_dD7LA6rq-pY0L1Shw9zoHVSS_DjgKr53Hi1B3nKehhFqSasVnx0E/s1600-h/Angkor+Wat+%28top%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuE3zI_JzdeNeRR6uDQh_cgjDcRnSUfrr3GwuEjOGQz571Ngos0Q2U6VR0QwTDxJcHdHn76yKXCxMBKrq7sS4BF_dD7LA6rq-pY0L1Shw9zoHVSS_DjgKr53Hi1B3nKehhFqSasVnx0E/s320/Angkor+Wat+%28top%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378964584266095858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">On Top of Angkor Wat (taken on August 22, 2009)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-e0bpASFZlz8cdSi_tqMrzrwc3KH7FEnkyYnQpv6chchYI7BR9x8kfQYmeKUO3xnYkppkZ9PjTg9wADA_NpePvjZgrU7hrjGQj7CeheEm2ZEV3KCThdt_fNNnOvzCWiB22q0vOUYVYXs/s1600-h/Carvings.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-e0bpASFZlz8cdSi_tqMrzrwc3KH7FEnkyYnQpv6chchYI7BR9x8kfQYmeKUO3xnYkppkZ9PjTg9wADA_NpePvjZgrU7hrjGQj7CeheEm2ZEV3KCThdt_fNNnOvzCWiB22q0vOUYVYXs/s320/Carvings.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378964601258372898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Carvings inside Angkor Wat (taken on August 22, 2009)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>Our last stop in the Angkor National Park is the sunset viewing spot of Phnom Bakheng which offers a panoramic view of Siem Reap. You can get here either on foot or by riding an elephant. I opted to walk while my friend rode the elephant up. Since we arrived here early, there were only a few people. Sunset is not until 6pm so for around 2 hours, we chatted with Mr. Huat and he told us about Khmer culture, history and many other things. He is really a knowledgeable guide and seems to really enjoy his job. As we chatted, we did not notice the growing number of people in Phnom Bakheng. Just imagine, all the tourists we have been seeing had all gathered here to view the sunset. It was just jampacked but the view was worth it. The sunset was gorgeous and it was a great way to end our Angkor National Park exploration.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dsa-R1GTpQenrRhG-b7xtsmAXtezGtYlL6125Qoc6MQ9-M_LGhcefczQLabnY8Gs1PSfOKkFgr4HngX6yMuuxxqJ777VvQ4cb_OGjA84CNSj5fwfmHPmAPidRae-xdgECyfr02kJltw/s1600-h/Phnom+Bakheng.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dsa-R1GTpQenrRhG-b7xtsmAXtezGtYlL6125Qoc6MQ9-M_LGhcefczQLabnY8Gs1PSfOKkFgr4HngX6yMuuxxqJ777VvQ4cb_OGjA84CNSj5fwfmHPmAPidRae-xdgECyfr02kJltw/s320/Phnom+Bakheng.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378964608583829026" border="0" /></a><span><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-style: italic;">Phnom Bakheng (taken on August 22, 2009)</span></span></span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_FD50fnnm6cK-0V9i3fYmHgclHlNKZnrDwwWXxMWcxRcS8M1U4CBK5VMVs1qCtzS5Plu023ZY7icFmxQ8I_KuPtdrtngyNmHFRyo0qsAoLvvCxCgMQzJ7Q3A1A213OcpzgT416FJQ1o/s1600-h/Sunset+in+Phnom+Bakheng.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_FD50fnnm6cK-0V9i3fYmHgclHlNKZnrDwwWXxMWcxRcS8M1U4CBK5VMVs1qCtzS5Plu023ZY7icFmxQ8I_KuPtdrtngyNmHFRyo0qsAoLvvCxCgMQzJ7Q3A1A213OcpzgT416FJQ1o/s320/Sunset+in+Phnom+Bakheng.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378964614914158482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sunset in Phnom Bakheng (taken on August 22, 2009)<br /><br /></span></div>After this, we asked our tuktuk driver, Mr. Sookra to drop us off in the center of the town where we did some shopping and had our dinner. What a wonderful day! :D<br /><br /><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where we stayed:</span><br /><a href="http://www.koolhotel.com/">Kool Hotel</a>. 37usd a night for 2 people inclusive of breakfast. We chose this because it is <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g297390-Siem_Reap-Hotels.html">number 2 of all hotels in Siem Reap in Trip Advisor</a>. (as of August 2009)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pros:</span> Great service, </span><span class="fullpost">friendly staff, </span><span class="fullpost">great rooms, comfortable beds, has a pool, safe, great value for money. Upon arrival, a staff will sit you down and explain your itinerary. The hotel arranges all your tours and transfers.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Cons:</span> Kinda far from the city center. The hotel provides free shuttle to and from the city center but only until 840pm. If you do not want to go home that early, you can hire a tuktuk to the hotel for around 1.5usd.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Overall Rating</span>: 5 out of 5</span><br /><br /><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What we ate:<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">First night</span>: We ate in our hotel. For around 8usd for 2 people, we had Khmer fried rice, authentic Amok (the specialty of our hotel), and stir-fried chicken Khmer style.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhj04ohLB5FF-eSwuModkbE0tM2LfC17PrnDiVcWJfiX9WiUwt940n4tLyIZml-McSJWNYLNVFPUbaCmRYJLQ-DozOruxwFjUdjmfq5COVRWEuh-X0GANAvLQ6v6mIIjX9FdlNxmb45o/s1600-h/Khmer+Fried+Rice.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhj04ohLB5FF-eSwuModkbE0tM2LfC17PrnDiVcWJfiX9WiUwt940n4tLyIZml-McSJWNYLNVFPUbaCmRYJLQ-DozOruxwFjUdjmfq5COVRWEuh-X0GANAvLQ6v6mIIjX9FdlNxmb45o/s320/Khmer+Fried+Rice.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378986836280653362" border="0" /></a><span><span class="fullpost"><span><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-style: italic;">Khmer Fried Rice (taken on August 21, 2009)</span></span></span></span></span><br /></div><span><span class="fullpost"><span><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMsID9qhhZXfLyA6pYa9KEt4stJjF8RsNtoGNW4MaEB2vBC_x4BiS3O6UWUqjueqjKpkEFC_D3M8afADpvPlLbS6Ai97sAGRhn7VL8yOij_J_PRMtKcikSzCSXK4Xw0vsxBZoZYeS3qI/s1600-h/Amok.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMsID9qhhZXfLyA6pYa9KEt4stJjF8RsNtoGNW4MaEB2vBC_x4BiS3O6UWUqjueqjKpkEFC_D3M8afADpvPlLbS6Ai97sAGRhn7VL8yOij_J_PRMtKcikSzCSXK4Xw0vsxBZoZYeS3qI/s320/Amok.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378986827592697954" border="0" /></a><span><span class="fullpost"><span><span class="fullpost"><span><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-style: italic;">Amok (taken on August 21, 2009)<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-style: italic;">Second night</span>: Khmer Kitchen in the town center. It is a famous Khmer restaurant so you can ask locals around for directions. We had Khmer curry, salad and Mchu Krearng (don't know what it is called in English) which a sweet/sour soup recommended by our tour guide Mr. Huat. Everything is around 7usd for 2 people.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh504HDBEsUz7T7BMBabIyeOX6DTylyc4LGmZrxtJo05_HeR7cbbYo4dZ1IZZIs3X7S96WXYVbRwJET1bFLqV7w3-eC7ueWHZcQQZzFWYzQKwGjZHU1lC6Z_ytJ3fF4HbgA0lGPor4iBPo/s1600-h/Khmer+Curry.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh504HDBEsUz7T7BMBabIyeOX6DTylyc4LGmZrxtJo05_HeR7cbbYo4dZ1IZZIs3X7S96WXYVbRwJET1bFLqV7w3-eC7ueWHZcQQZzFWYzQKwGjZHU1lC6Z_ytJ3fF4HbgA0lGPor4iBPo/s320/Khmer+Curry.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378986853744266050" border="0" /></a><span><span class="fullpost"><span><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-style: italic;">Khmer Curry (taken on August 22, 2009)</span></span></span></span></span></div><span><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOjelGIyuwi22FmaHm2ObJ9beKUV7wSkxG_0gwxl-2oTSzA_bzEvY59sjqw9GEC9ic6Y-48XcjiHTrwaW7mz2uqD0WwiA5wdaecNJK7OLxPVbNQgU-ISI98IGAvGWcmDA8yzrHZkQW14/s1600-h/Soup.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOjelGIyuwi22FmaHm2ObJ9beKUV7wSkxG_0gwxl-2oTSzA_bzEvY59sjqw9GEC9ic6Y-48XcjiHTrwaW7mz2uqD0WwiA5wdaecNJK7OLxPVbNQgU-ISI98IGAvGWcmDA8yzrHZkQW14/s320/Soup.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378986847012898914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;" class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost">Mchu Krearng</span></span><span><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-style: italic;"> (taken on August 22, 2009)<br /><br /></span></span></span></div><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our Itinerary:<br /></span>450am: Left hotel for sunrise viewing in Angkor Wat<br />5am - 630: Sunrise </span><span class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost">viewing </span></span><span class="fullpost">in Angkor Wat<br />630am: Went back to hotel for breakfast and some rest<br />10am: Bantay Kdei Temple<br />1040am: Ta Prohm Temple<br />1140am: Angkor Thom<br />2pm: Angkor Wat<br />4pm: Climb up Phnom Bakheng<br />430pm - 630pm: Sunset watching in Phnom Bakheng<br />7pm: Went to town center for shopping and dinner<br />9pm: Back to hotel<br /><br /></span><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Costs:<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Tour guide:</span> 25usd whole day (starting from Bantay Kdei) - group sharing. I really recommend our tour guide Mr. Huat. He speaks good English. Aside from this, he is very knowledgable and seems to enjoy his work very much.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tuktuk:</span> 13usd whole day + 5usd for sunrise = 18usd - group sharing. I recommend Mr. Sookra, our driver. Very friendly and nice fellow.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Angkor National Park Entrance Fee:</span> 20usd per pax<br /><br />* Optional: Elephant ride in Phnom Bakheng: 20usd going up and 15usd going down (you can choose either or both)<br /></span></div></div></div></span></div></div>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-42464824940247567772009-08-31T15:16:00.011+08:002009-09-08T14:51:13.832+08:00One Day In Saigon<div style="text-align: justify;">Around 2 weeks ago, my friend and travel buddy <a href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> and I went on a 4-day trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. Because we lacked time, we decided to just go to Saigon in Vietnam and <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/09/breathtaking-siem-reap.html">Siem Reap</a> in Cambodia. And since we will be traveling overland, we basically only have 1 whole day to explore each city.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Our first day was spent in Saigon. We arrived at around 1am from Manila and went straight to our hotel by taxi. Since it was already 1am and we were already tired, we just agreed to the $10 per person charge of our taxi. We arrived at our hotel 20 minutes later and hurriedly went to bed to prepare for a full day ahead of us.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzjqdUC-GCoLzq3Hv_7pey_yjyGsKvls_HqQGYfP46_qf4pRnFFYQKi6PtSPSst-NtiTRdLssUR8LjtJC6HMuAyCoCno5GdQrjG4fvU_I7EzJBbr_PsWAZ7wnXQHj1vrHHUjU3juq2F4/s1600-h/Motorbikes.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzjqdUC-GCoLzq3Hv_7pey_yjyGsKvls_HqQGYfP46_qf4pRnFFYQKi6PtSPSst-NtiTRdLssUR8LjtJC6HMuAyCoCno5GdQrjG4fvU_I7EzJBbr_PsWAZ7wnXQHj1vrHHUjU3juq2F4/s320/Motorbikes.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376045260880233074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The streets of Saigon (taken on August 21, 2009)</span><br /><br /></div><span class="fullpost">Since we only had a day in Saigon, we decided to take a half-day tour to Cu Chi Tunnels and spend the rest of the day exploring Saigon by ourselves. We booked the tour to Cu Chi Tunnels through the travel agency in our hotel and the bus picked us up at around 8am. On the way to Cu Chi, we stopped in a handicrafts shop where you can buy souvenir items. After which, we continued our journey and finally arrived at around 10am. After paying the entrance fees, our guide led us into the location of the tunnels. He showed us the traps created by the Vietcong or the Vietnamese Army and the different "rooms" inside the tunnels. There is also an area where visitors can try firing actual guns for a fee of around $16 for 10 shots. I was hesitant to try at first but glad I did. It was my first time firing guns and I enjoyed it. You can even keep the bullets as souvenirs :D We were also allowed to enter the tunnels (not recommended for claustrophobic people). It is really amazing how the Vietcong were able to build this kind of tunnel system. What's even more amazing is they built this without the use of heavy machines. For me, it's just plain brilliance.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5mj5D3jFTzNHpO0lkGizkJEqVQFyNrVefidNu4y3Qtt6OGMUyBsH9EcujCBa8Gw9u46X0nGWMyylGDyW0gNnxkeB-aVohWhYSeacT20Xsq7L18l9Rx6diuQwJV4bpgWTKWvkrm796Dw/s1600-h/Entrance.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5mj5D3jFTzNHpO0lkGizkJEqVQFyNrVefidNu4y3Qtt6OGMUyBsH9EcujCBa8Gw9u46X0nGWMyylGDyW0gNnxkeB-aVohWhYSeacT20Xsq7L18l9Rx6diuQwJV4bpgWTKWvkrm796Dw/s320/Entrance.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376045668712068210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">One of the entrances to the tunnels (taken on August 20, 2009)<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIyq1TkQ5pGj43ltefbO01elloCqqOSM35mXGxcqR3Opv2VniEOH7CYFgVm1lvbZIDwUYwPSc1abRUrp6R7GPMovfcl5Rffz5ZmygwErccKHK8ywcOAd7EAd6aK9S8lIDQQJyDm6aLkk/s1600-h/Trap+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 311px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIyq1TkQ5pGj43ltefbO01elloCqqOSM35mXGxcqR3Opv2VniEOH7CYFgVm1lvbZIDwUYwPSc1abRUrp6R7GPMovfcl5Rffz5ZmygwErccKHK8ywcOAd7EAd6aK9S8lIDQQJyDm6aLkk/s320/Trap+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376045698137234482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Swinging Trap (taken on August 20, 2009)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_Gyh6eByfVkrna3qYOMxDvlw3EbCrJ5_9ESYcnx79AQ86M6-hbRFRUgCsNK8mtVl3NuJY8QN-fNDn5b7jKuZAFxmFWaCZlMjS377HHGJCgYtvM8-O2eQDemtK8BIk55kqoU3g9HaCD0/s1600-h/Trap+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_Gyh6eByfVkrna3qYOMxDvlw3EbCrJ5_9ESYcnx79AQ86M6-hbRFRUgCsNK8mtVl3NuJY8QN-fNDn5b7jKuZAFxmFWaCZlMjS377HHGJCgYtvM8-O2eQDemtK8BIk55kqoU3g9HaCD0/s320/Trap+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376045696007033698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Folding Chair Trap (taken on August 20, 2009)</span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkAZ2FYWOI4Me4bBsnT7mgO0cfFJNFob1__0gcGEEnOaP1HeblyM4K9571Wn4MnQeEnV0f0mowS5hpXsAdYgjxENeEExGxk-ZvRluMrSS7LyNI0T0NOFqa2THr1QjZkQ9909izYrKKeA/s1600-h/Trap+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkAZ2FYWOI4Me4bBsnT7mgO0cfFJNFob1__0gcGEEnOaP1HeblyM4K9571Wn4MnQeEnV0f0mowS5hpXsAdYgjxENeEExGxk-ZvRluMrSS7LyNI0T0NOFqa2THr1QjZkQ9909izYrKKeA/s320/Trap+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376045685460594546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Booby trap created by the Vietnamese Army (taken on August 20, 2009)</span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8QLa1ur3-olr_5Ke3KX_BGRSlUKDpv0XOHfnoS8-aPqqTPpdoDjqrbhlPj7ZS1PdeI2tWTZhvs7Xec4ceOMRLHuYP5mo3k6ed_XkcmMrKM7p7swmUcHPUI8JK1NVRK0k9yosKocR8bs/s1600-h/Cu+Chi+Tunnel+Area.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8QLa1ur3-olr_5Ke3KX_BGRSlUKDpv0XOHfnoS8-aPqqTPpdoDjqrbhlPj7ZS1PdeI2tWTZhvs7Xec4ceOMRLHuYP5mo3k6ed_XkcmMrKM7p7swmUcHPUI8JK1NVRK0k9yosKocR8bs/s320/Cu+Chi+Tunnel+Area.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376045680878272098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Cu Chi Tunnels Area (taken on August 20, 2009)</span><br /></div><br />We got back to Saigon at around 2pm, and started walking around the city. Since the "must-see" places in Saigon are all in walking distance to each other, we decided to explore the city on foot. We visited the War Memorial Museum, </span><span class="fullpost">Reunification Palace, </span><span class="fullpost">Notre Dame Church and Post Office (which are adjacent to each other), Opera House, Dong Khoi shopping street, Ben Tranh Market, and even the police headquarters. Actually we did not really mean to visit the police headquarters, but we saw this neat looking building and mistaken it for another so we entered the complex. We realized people were looking at us but we kept on taking pictures until a policeman approached us and told us that we were in the police headquarters. Embarrassed, we thought of an excuse and made our way out. hahaha!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgll-OVkoa-N8tCfrHZrSNEU4sTn1XjWrkCNvnhaynxbDskdVxdHj5-siwK-F7hM5QsNBnPNvfBE6WbH_V35vgnS_IT1xdvOOZ7MGFyvdgrhMqhlic48fK13sg4F74HNbWbrCvLWewTBzk/s1600-h/Reunification+Palace.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgll-OVkoa-N8tCfrHZrSNEU4sTn1XjWrkCNvnhaynxbDskdVxdHj5-siwK-F7hM5QsNBnPNvfBE6WbH_V35vgnS_IT1xdvOOZ7MGFyvdgrhMqhlic48fK13sg4F74HNbWbrCvLWewTBzk/s320/Reunification+Palace.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376047369366634674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Reunification Palace (taken on August 20, 2009)<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QB4Uk_Iv3zgC4Qd7LDMryxZ8TwJG5_LnilN4eW_1LBbIfnuKjTuyn8JPAd_jSrJ3RSAWEo2k-vUOZhY3eFoqLDrvIJbV8JLiSZNdNumAghc-CRQEJxWCmBdGynfNr5_j0jioSNvPsC0/s1600-h/Reunification+Palace+View.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QB4Uk_Iv3zgC4Qd7LDMryxZ8TwJG5_LnilN4eW_1LBbIfnuKjTuyn8JPAd_jSrJ3RSAWEo2k-vUOZhY3eFoqLDrvIJbV8JLiSZNdNumAghc-CRQEJxWCmBdGynfNr5_j0jioSNvPsC0/s320/Reunification+Palace+View.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376047364531906834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">View from Reunification Palace (taken on August 20, 2009)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFxBtaY8OzEqY0Fp-uHVOKlRuSjBrbLung-mMII7G1sz39KBSrp__2wpvJgLYOpbq87YCnVytvGgyC5n-2Vmr2_hjVllIKQ-kLAbyIVoKOXz9FTg3DBOHIl5-lxbpvgAMwNxYSEjFyHk/s1600-h/Notre+Dame.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFxBtaY8OzEqY0Fp-uHVOKlRuSjBrbLung-mMII7G1sz39KBSrp__2wpvJgLYOpbq87YCnVytvGgyC5n-2Vmr2_hjVllIKQ-kLAbyIVoKOXz9FTg3DBOHIl5-lxbpvgAMwNxYSEjFyHk/s320/Notre+Dame.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376047358457855634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Notre Dame Church (taken on August 20, 2009)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuGBql28JhEi_lprqz8-w7MJGFlEhBRzm-hYoLHfD33NihIPUJu-ZBuQCyDoivyusCcnPeos6ZHnNjXF-_PyS-8M-Gupqvevfbbgyh3SgTwUKUjry7mywv7o7eiIdd3irATFXjewo_6g/s1600-h/Post+Office.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuGBql28JhEi_lprqz8-w7MJGFlEhBRzm-hYoLHfD33NihIPUJu-ZBuQCyDoivyusCcnPeos6ZHnNjXF-_PyS-8M-Gupqvevfbbgyh3SgTwUKUjry7mywv7o7eiIdd3irATFXjewo_6g/s320/Post+Office.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376047342688239330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Post Office (taken on August 20, 2009)</span></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdAgDGUN01FwQVxNxPptL5-yD7zdrmTFjzpJMjPBOc5w18S2yl_dH8Y4ie8crWU397te_dNJVFnd8LKtXZBnCENqaYoUOay44pW3Nsf27LxR1WEepLIDixAI0QDCuw-FB627-Jgze_n8/s1600-h/Opera+House.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdAgDGUN01FwQVxNxPptL5-yD7zdrmTFjzpJMjPBOc5w18S2yl_dH8Y4ie8crWU397te_dNJVFnd8LKtXZBnCENqaYoUOay44pW3Nsf27LxR1WEepLIDixAI0QDCuw-FB627-Jgze_n8/s320/Opera+House.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376047353042369906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Opera House (taken on August 20, 2009)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFs-YCzze4GFr5sWTajZMMbvrM4QQhViuPwB3VbqLWGp7R0R9bkDag-UggT75NWc4eWHzhPUtNzCZF5NqxrfrGdOA4qiO7CEF5O0r-VyCqTMf46iks5ebpHNUB295tAPAuYig4_eZpFA/s1600-h/Police+Station.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFs-YCzze4GFr5sWTajZMMbvrM4QQhViuPwB3VbqLWGp7R0R9bkDag-UggT75NWc4eWHzhPUtNzCZF5NqxrfrGdOA4qiO7CEF5O0r-VyCqTMf46iks5ebpHNUB295tAPAuYig4_eZpFA/s320/Police+Station.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376048438389826034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Police headquarters (taken on August 20, 2009)</span></div><br />Even if we only spent a day in Saigon, I enjoyed exploring the city. The people are friendly, the sights are nice, the food is good and the energy of the city is just great. Crossing the street may be challenging (yes, even more challenging than Manila), but that what makes Saigon unique.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where we stayed:</span><br /><a href="http://www.ducvuonghotel.com/">Duc Vuong Hotel</a>. $22usd a night for 2 people inclusive of breakfast.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pros:</span> Clean, safe, cheap, friendly staff, good location (in the backpackers area), travel agency inside hotel. If you arrive past midnight, they can charge you half the price. Overall, good value for money.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Cons:</span> Small room, breakfast is just ordinary, maybe too noisy for some because of the location.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Overall Rating</span>: 3 out of 5<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Access to Cu Chi Tunnels:</span><br />Booked the <a href="http://tropicaltour.vn/EN/DetailTour.aspx?idl=1&idn=N2008116225820&idt=T2008116231039">tour from the hotel</a> for $6 per pax exclusive of tunnel entrance fee which costs around $5. Bus will pick you up from your hotel and drop you off in your hotel or in the War Remnants Museum located in the city center.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our Itinerary:</span><br />8am: ETD for Cu Chi Tunnels<br />10am: ETA at Cu Chi Tunnels<br />10am - 12am: Explore Cu Chi Tunnels (with tour)<br />2pm: ETA Saigon<br />2pm - 8pm: Saigon on foot - War Remnants Museum (did not enter anymore due to lack of time), Reunification Palace ($2 entrance fee with English tour guide; make take around 1 hour), Notre Dame Church, Post Office, Opera House, Dong Khoi Street (where we had our early dinner of pho), Ben Tranh Market<br /></span></div>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-65303408518850660162009-08-25T12:15:00.023+08:002009-08-25T18:03:28.050+08:00Eastern Kyoto<div style="text-align: justify;">Eastern Kyoto is where some of the most famous temples and shrines are located. There are so many sites worth visiting in Eastern Kyoto so it is best to allot a day or two just for exploring this region. Here are some of the must-see places in Eastern Kyoto.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1) Kiyomizudera (清水寺)</span><br />Kiyomizudera or "the temple of pure water" is undoubtedly one of the most famous temples in Kyoto. Kiyomizudera is declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This temple is famous for its veranda where you can have great views of the city. A small waterfall is located near the temple and people believe that if they drink the water or wash their hands with it, they will have good health. During spring and autumn, Kiyomizudera is lit up at night and this gives a whole different feel to the temple. This temple is open from 6am to 6pm (although I recommend going there in the morning to avoid the crowd) and admission fee is 300yen.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGUE-Z4F4zfuCoTbRw_4isC1d9s6Wg3ntstlx4QKlf8FMMgHvotmn-7lrqClLUXXfUePSsUfxn3X-Ksi0KaV4WBhV1jCX7NtJlviHSjyFmS6KwZQN7IMxwO8BLSKwn0hcjckKwUvIU4I/s1600-h/Kiyomizudera.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGUE-Z4F4zfuCoTbRw_4isC1d9s6Wg3ntstlx4QKlf8FMMgHvotmn-7lrqClLUXXfUePSsUfxn3X-Ksi0KaV4WBhV1jCX7NtJlviHSjyFmS6KwZQN7IMxwO8BLSKwn0hcjckKwUvIU4I/s320/Kiyomizudera.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373798470412544530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Kiyomizudera Temple (taken on November 24, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9A2APc0_Qjb9sgKdFCJQIvWSG-iXju317_VHPwFqhx1XCXC5J-W0fjEiBeja4nK039akgbv2NT3tet_QoQgXjtNHFMIsgOVPz5kJUaKNbuV9nKxOyP-IJrIXYas8OHD1t5fHsMucPBDs/s1600-h/Kiyomizudera+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9A2APc0_Qjb9sgKdFCJQIvWSG-iXju317_VHPwFqhx1XCXC5J-W0fjEiBeja4nK039akgbv2NT3tet_QoQgXjtNHFMIsgOVPz5kJUaKNbuV9nKxOyP-IJrIXYas8OHD1t5fHsMucPBDs/s320/Kiyomizudera+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373798457190772466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Kiyomizudera Temple (taken on November 24, 2008)<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUYWj3Mn07x9tQChSsLmB_iNulBYb6vzEDweF7uoBCInr2v0mpzGL92Udr0fv2lCFfm3KEt1FYr2i0aYk0XRcosc9w_zci5D7dXllS1ZRybjZj0662wZ7XVPg2YGKPE9Xc7IjqY83hrE/s1600-h/Kiyomizu.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUYWj3Mn07x9tQChSsLmB_iNulBYb6vzEDweF7uoBCInr2v0mpzGL92Udr0fv2lCFfm3KEt1FYr2i0aYk0XRcosc9w_zci5D7dXllS1ZRybjZj0662wZ7XVPg2YGKPE9Xc7IjqY83hrE/s320/Kiyomizu.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373798453745811250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Kiyomizudera Temple Waterfall (taken on November 24, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div>Access:<br />a) 10-minute walk from Kyoto City Bus Gojozaka stop<br />b) 10-minute walk from Kyoto City Bus Kiyomizu-michi stop<br />c) 10-minute walk from Kyoto City Bus Higashiyama-gojo Stop<br />d) 25-minute walk from Keihan Railway Gojo Station 25min. walk<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2) Nanzenji (南禅寺) - Philosopher's Path - Ginkakuji (銀閣寺) Area</span><br />The Philosopher's path is a scenic 2km path lined with sakura trees. Usually, visitors start their journey from Nanzenji (one of the most important temples in Kyoto) and then follow the Philosopher's Path until they reach the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ginkakuji or the Temple of the Silver Pavilion. This temple was modeled after Kinkakuji in <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/08/western-kyoto.html">Western Kyoto</a> but unlike its name, Ginkakuji is not covered in silver. However, Ginkakuji is under renovation until Spring 2010. You can still enter the temple grounds but the pavilion itself is surrounded by scaffolding.<br /><br />Nanzenji is open from 8:40am to 5pm from March to November and 8:40am to 4:30pm from December to February. Entrance fee is 500yen. Ginkakuji, on the other hand is open from 8:30am to 5pm from March to November and 9am to 4:30pm from December to February. Entrance fee is 500yen.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDrblsuPyt9OezVZoUcpshoHYZEGwM2LAVPhZI3qgCtZyLNplFezq91oXCsjXxpDM4g9Pap8sef6Gbl_nEfZ8l2u0iQq4Kimr3bbysfuVKiO-zWnm9dKBP8Gfwk64WhVGSm4qnfW7mdk/s1600-h/Nanzenji+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDrblsuPyt9OezVZoUcpshoHYZEGwM2LAVPhZI3qgCtZyLNplFezq91oXCsjXxpDM4g9Pap8sef6Gbl_nEfZ8l2u0iQq4Kimr3bbysfuVKiO-zWnm9dKBP8Gfwk64WhVGSm4qnfW7mdk/s320/Nanzenji+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373815878247743682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Nanzenji (taken on November 29, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8IOC_Z13gbd9E6E1q4ftjfW5Fw-dPfAicykYlx3Dd1Kr3xWSr2FzMuvnjig2t5HAVpmD_q3GDuPsEmSj33qjFK7q-1XsYJmzroUbNT5v95TDZQnVTOiAVK2U-GZOaaIPCub4TSDV5VI/s1600-h/Philosopher+Walk+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8IOC_Z13gbd9E6E1q4ftjfW5Fw-dPfAicykYlx3Dd1Kr3xWSr2FzMuvnjig2t5HAVpmD_q3GDuPsEmSj33qjFK7q-1XsYJmzroUbNT5v95TDZQnVTOiAVK2U-GZOaaIPCub4TSDV5VI/s320/Philosopher+Walk+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373815864919605682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Philosopher's Path In Autumn (taken on November 29, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1K_1Soz42FIFShqn7HInFGiG98C37iwQRjhabO-LAKEAeefowq7SsZTtAUHD79-tVa6I281axNKbdkD-TS-OvlmRqYcIZiLmoakM71VHXDB4kGxYFkgYfZCkwKNYRjgvBB03rW-cda8/s1600-h/Philosopher+Walk+9.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1K_1Soz42FIFShqn7HInFGiG98C37iwQRjhabO-LAKEAeefowq7SsZTtAUHD79-tVa6I281axNKbdkD-TS-OvlmRqYcIZiLmoakM71VHXDB4kGxYFkgYfZCkwKNYRjgvBB03rW-cda8/s320/Philosopher+Walk+9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373815858409983570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Philosopher's Path In Autumn (taken on November 29, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4s8U5lLbI6pktLxOBUNKWNWNFXl4POvwSYNpzCT2H3ZI8FAW1Xg7q0M4lWCk52XFF2Zu9E5uHn0Y-2EXelUj87kxL73yxnOrX2QeqPaBkBwHc9Ic1KTnaQDr5QsgYT5TT9VYu5pC_lo/s1600-h/Ginkakuji.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4s8U5lLbI6pktLxOBUNKWNWNFXl4POvwSYNpzCT2H3ZI8FAW1Xg7q0M4lWCk52XFF2Zu9E5uHn0Y-2EXelUj87kxL73yxnOrX2QeqPaBkBwHc9Ic1KTnaQDr5QsgYT5TT9VYu5pC_lo/s320/Ginkakuji.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373815848991517442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Ginkakuji Under Renovation (taken on November 29, 2008)</span></div><br />Access Nanzenji:<br />a) Subway Tozai Line Keage Station<br />b) Kyoto City Bus Hosshojucho Stop<br />c) Kyoto City Bus Nanzen-ji-eikan-ji-michi-mae Stop<br /><br />Access Ginkakuji:<br />a) 15-minute walk from Keihan Railway Demachi-Yanagi Station<br />b) 10-minute walk Kyoto City Bus Ginkakuji-michi Stop<br />c) 5-minute walk from Kyoto City Bus Ginkakuji-mae Stop<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3) Gion Area (祇園)</span><br />Gion is famous for being the home of Geishas and Maikos. Here you can see streets lined with traditional Japanese bars and restaurants. Gion also comes to life every year for the Gion Festival held the whole month of July.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0MyP3jOo9YJTK4HBG9ZJgRauQ1JnNBnyDdnV1JUmnXhV1Ti9d2qz3VDOeuNw3OsEXX_n-0ZU9ySE227dwWuykofF_ez5dQv0WidnJ4nA1otXBCllAFWoJEW-UyZND6D6Yrcwy1q1alg/s1600-h/Gion.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0MyP3jOo9YJTK4HBG9ZJgRauQ1JnNBnyDdnV1JUmnXhV1Ti9d2qz3VDOeuNw3OsEXX_n-0ZU9ySE227dwWuykofF_ez5dQv0WidnJ4nA1otXBCllAFWoJEW-UyZND6D6Yrcwy1q1alg/s320/Gion.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373825701832813202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Gion (taken on November 29, 2008)</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUdSBZPSTO4th-MdavbzViaxwYA634tSX2kW9aawAjz5sJ3idkXwPCKz-p-ddfPyPE-SW4LKn6Bx9i1T3GhGZH2p0A2iCM0n8VtgTnUknyh7ZToyt7QaKnlucKhwf12vkczjdV9HAP4s/s1600-h/Gion+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUdSBZPSTO4th-MdavbzViaxwYA634tSX2kW9aawAjz5sJ3idkXwPCKz-p-ddfPyPE-SW4LKn6Bx9i1T3GhGZH2p0A2iCM0n8VtgTnUknyh7ZToyt7QaKnlucKhwf12vkczjdV9HAP4s/s320/Gion+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373825697291417154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Gion (taken on November 29, 2008)<br /><br /></span></div>A short walk from Gion will take you to Yasaka Shrine which plays a vital role in the yearly festival. Entrance to this shrine is free.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sPokYy65rZkm4ums7ijNoPrNozFbqGCVft1EfR07vhSdc8KgYJaJHMK5C-R3phaMtFRoFA1rANfEP6AKHloRt2Y0nTk-8I9xMGm6-Aj0u1m6wS1ZqrsqTu2ltrsCkGsS1W0clTaKcJI/s1600-h/Yasaka+Shrine.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sPokYy65rZkm4ums7ijNoPrNozFbqGCVft1EfR07vhSdc8KgYJaJHMK5C-R3phaMtFRoFA1rANfEP6AKHloRt2Y0nTk-8I9xMGm6-Aj0u1m6wS1ZqrsqTu2ltrsCkGsS1W0clTaKcJI/s320/Yasaka+Shrine.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373825688202015618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Yasaka Shrine (taken on November 29, 2008)</span><br /></div><br />Aside from Yasaka Shrine, you can also walk to one of the oldest zen temples in Japan, Kenniji. The temple is open from 10am to 4pm and entrance fee is 500yen.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFLV64Dtj-xDQ3k6gKV5yv-697MtVsua369x14HGxF-ct9yvlPkm_K5Lqo7rAC3ZFAWeLrRZrN2CHl5fFQuGzcexabkYxSdj05r2eZCnhe2wh5rdMWhVa3kl2aObgh5opb5LpectLATM/s1600-h/Kenninji+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFLV64Dtj-xDQ3k6gKV5yv-697MtVsua369x14HGxF-ct9yvlPkm_K5Lqo7rAC3ZFAWeLrRZrN2CHl5fFQuGzcexabkYxSdj05r2eZCnhe2wh5rdMWhVa3kl2aObgh5opb5LpectLATM/s320/Kenninji+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373825684464998258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Kenniji (taken on November 29, 2008)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Access:<br />a) Keihan Railway Shijo Station<br />b) Hankyu Railway Kawaramachi Station<br />c) Kyoto City Bus Gion Stop<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4) Maruyama Park Area (丸山公園)</span><br />Located next to Yasaka Shrine, Maruyama Park is one great place to relax and take in the beauty of nature. There are also many temples around Maruyama Park such as Koudaiji temple and Chionin Temple.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Av0XUn7TtwtjUjpTolfUoHS0W9GD3W7vzBrxAU1fY0AEUOkiYqG47oRR_E_vKPDsgNCqaeauTQvEF92Tzpry-2NBE2iiU37ZgipeTrRn8_WcI5Cdw5b80mRRHZPCDeCHpCv4Ka6tAvo/s1600-h/Maruyama+Park+8.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Av0XUn7TtwtjUjpTolfUoHS0W9GD3W7vzBrxAU1fY0AEUOkiYqG47oRR_E_vKPDsgNCqaeauTQvEF92Tzpry-2NBE2iiU37ZgipeTrRn8_WcI5Cdw5b80mRRHZPCDeCHpCv4Ka6tAvo/s320/Maruyama+Park+8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373829357044277778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Maruyama Park Pond (taken on November 29, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGml3pbrRDJPcUeFMjyNWmpDPwaMoP3htXADE28tJ7yBU0zeyGBvJJ_3dn3ar61ED0z9gRPZcKyrgA4jem0HRAJEoQQtLSPig59IDs1WWhM7bRD-iN_uliLxlIzRQhj9Nu2hwCCxe9T2w/s1600-h/Maruyama+Park+9.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGml3pbrRDJPcUeFMjyNWmpDPwaMoP3htXADE28tJ7yBU0zeyGBvJJ_3dn3ar61ED0z9gRPZcKyrgA4jem0HRAJEoQQtLSPig59IDs1WWhM7bRD-iN_uliLxlIzRQhj9Nu2hwCCxe9T2w/s320/Maruyama+Park+9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373829350780122114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Maruyama Park (taken on November 29, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkxbAGXBIo6rCdiZASZsrIoHdp25-ft1CS2LpOQW0vHsqLgnzoAFfnFi_M9gwtxiY_dt3vwRbb_lgikFEUhe-7uaxgkWs_dQG04wpGNUaGDLE9x2IBoAp-ksznPS0aFrrzPWuvgEFHGk/s1600-h/Maruyama+Park+7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkxbAGXBIo6rCdiZASZsrIoHdp25-ft1CS2LpOQW0vHsqLgnzoAFfnFi_M9gwtxiY_dt3vwRbb_lgikFEUhe-7uaxgkWs_dQG04wpGNUaGDLE9x2IBoAp-ksznPS0aFrrzPWuvgEFHGk/s320/Maruyama+Park+7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373829347527542626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Maruyama Park Bridge (taken on November 29, 2008)<br /><br /></span></div>Koudaiji Temple is a famous autumn foliage viewing site and as it is located on a hill, it also offers great views of the city. A big statue sitting on top of a temple can also be found beside Koudaiji temple. Note however that the entrance fee to this temple and Koudaiji is separate. Koudaiji temple is open from 9am to 5pm and entrance fee is 500yen. During the autumn season from late October to early December, the temple is also open from 6:30pm to 9:00pm.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtJhFWBmELLlKcGvcHPk21Y-rUB26DL3UNPr2BQ9AWWSx3QdGX0QF3jHQHbGeepzRMMRs_qe79uzXA1KSt3i_U0TgeEoTB2Y6BHw8MEnfqmy63zMuuEb7SwPm2w3tjxDeQXjM7i8W-BQ/s1600-h/Koudaiji+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtJhFWBmELLlKcGvcHPk21Y-rUB26DL3UNPr2BQ9AWWSx3QdGX0QF3jHQHbGeepzRMMRs_qe79uzXA1KSt3i_U0TgeEoTB2Y6BHw8MEnfqmy63zMuuEb7SwPm2w3tjxDeQXjM7i8W-BQ/s320/Koudaiji+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373830714947839490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Koudaiji (taken on November 29, 2008)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nYKgAN_aV9PSeBcCJ6R71jl78IFM_49GvQOT04wZ2CXLd0-L1C9Ta_TzGRYS9ANUtFo5NsW0PqRZPxKSUzHGpnVDVQkFakMo__n94_FFPgAmcZNe6SxY2LLsk-xVMaBtNsisoPRJIYU/s1600-h/Koudaiji+4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nYKgAN_aV9PSeBcCJ6R71jl78IFM_49GvQOT04wZ2CXLd0-L1C9Ta_TzGRYS9ANUtFo5NsW0PqRZPxKSUzHGpnVDVQkFakMo__n94_FFPgAmcZNe6SxY2LLsk-xVMaBtNsisoPRJIYU/s320/Koudaiji+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373830706473658834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Koudaiji Inside (taken on November 29, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy58SEUZ9IsAoZCLoNOpiHB12hvkXAqVqTVsPC2eOedD9GiNJHdAAVqqCSaHl1jpphePfeMeYQQ6DHNQpC41DYKVaklalkg6dDdPX7TmuHMwWC4-JIX77xfX4NM8sodb6AVd2GvmV6f0s/s1600-h/Koudaiji+-+Big+Buddha+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy58SEUZ9IsAoZCLoNOpiHB12hvkXAqVqTVsPC2eOedD9GiNJHdAAVqqCSaHl1jpphePfeMeYQQ6DHNQpC41DYKVaklalkg6dDdPX7TmuHMwWC4-JIX77xfX4NM8sodb6AVd2GvmV6f0s/s320/Koudaiji+-+Big+Buddha+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373830697848851698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Temple beside Koudaiji (taken on November 29, 2008)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Aside from Kodaiji, Chionin Temple is also worth a visit when you are spending time inside Maruyama Park. It is very large and popular as well.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMNSxMh-LcQoNhn0Wq4X2B0TZigi_I_6Da85x3O0GpLCHyZSiLLDqwEtOALyfSZJIVTXWlpKV_fuTy8BV77nU3qwJuFF94uOsxjkOh6KslhMPwR4boQsug4I9RWrV_PP1lUVCSDG7ET8/s1600-h/Chionin+Temple+5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMNSxMh-LcQoNhn0Wq4X2B0TZigi_I_6Da85x3O0GpLCHyZSiLLDqwEtOALyfSZJIVTXWlpKV_fuTy8BV77nU3qwJuFF94uOsxjkOh6KslhMPwR4boQsug4I9RWrV_PP1lUVCSDG7ET8/s320/Chionin+Temple+5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373833342158995842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Inside Chionin Temple (taken on November 29, 2008)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Access:<br />a) For all: Kyoto City Bus Gion Stop<br />b) For all: Keihan Railway Shijo Station<br />c) Hankyu Railway Kawaramachi<br />d) Kyoto City Bus Higashiyama-Yasui Stop<br />d) Kyoto City Bus Chion-in-mae Stop (nearer Chionin Temple)<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-16264191726717648262009-08-17T16:25:00.026+08:002009-08-17T17:55:27.552+08:00Southern Kyoto<div style="text-align: justify;">Now that I have already shared the must-see places in <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/08/western-kyoto.html">Western Kyoto</a>, let us move on to Southern Kyoto. Southern Kyoto is often skipped by tourists due to lack of time, but it boasts some of the most unique and beautiful shrines and temples in Kyoto. Here are some of the must-see sites in this region:</div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">1) Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷大社)</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The highlight of any trip to this shrine is the climb up the hill near the temple. As you go up, you pass through thousands of torii gates lined on the path. The climb up the 230-meter hill may take around 1 to 2 hours, but it is truly one great and unique experience. I really recommend it to those who plan to visit Kyoto. Admission to the shrine is free.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXI5gIqn4o2jtU_w_1fYbm33i7lFgA3teTWbAe-Zk53tOj8_vZc_mjwvIjUfRg_398-_S8U2lFUmqEWGyy-Nxw2EjKLkFEG5PaX8OCyUIjqlhQrDKUnJGE_HHxuns5b-GF8sgOs5JTm_c/s1600-h/Fushimi+Inari+Torii.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXI5gIqn4o2jtU_w_1fYbm33i7lFgA3teTWbAe-Zk53tOj8_vZc_mjwvIjUfRg_398-_S8U2lFUmqEWGyy-Nxw2EjKLkFEG5PaX8OCyUIjqlhQrDKUnJGE_HHxuns5b-GF8sgOs5JTm_c/s320/Fushimi+Inari+Torii.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370855015881446114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Fushimi Inari Torii Gates (taken on October 12, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="fullpost"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVSvfKmIiiiIyeyvma4UR3pFZ1VyecgpYjFrU-je9gWbI2HzBShzPcP8hwetkfVE3FhOYd485J_Wjnv6_gvI1f2l3qvXjZ5hV83w4WvZZgXwV8kbekZZ4EUm2dvg1jvtN9Uk3orjw8tI/s1600-h/Fushimi+Inari+Climbing+Up.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVSvfKmIiiiIyeyvma4UR3pFZ1VyecgpYjFrU-je9gWbI2HzBShzPcP8hwetkfVE3FhOYd485J_Wjnv6_gvI1f2l3qvXjZ5hV83w4WvZZgXwV8kbekZZ4EUm2dvg1jvtN9Uk3orjw8tI/s320/Fushimi+Inari+Climbing+Up.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370855008366985794" border="0" /></a></span><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-style: italic;">Fushimi Inari Torii Gates (taken on October 12, 2008)</span></span><br /><br /></div><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="fullpost"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiO_3iF-vh5O_WhU8QY13KjXlfaRqwSoCwwI4AnC8saa1NP3ElI2u19wX3E9fDJm7hE27GP-bX4MxWN9zA__BA0M1uF_exIK9CX4v-XFn3FwxlaoHx1ghBUQZUUpEytxcDSm6cakgOMjU/s1600-h/Fushimi+Inari.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiO_3iF-vh5O_WhU8QY13KjXlfaRqwSoCwwI4AnC8saa1NP3ElI2u19wX3E9fDJm7hE27GP-bX4MxWN9zA__BA0M1uF_exIK9CX4v-XFn3FwxlaoHx1ghBUQZUUpEytxcDSm6cakgOMjU/s320/Fushimi+Inari.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370854998572263122" border="0" /></a></span><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-style: italic;">Fushimi Inari Shrine (taken on October 12, 2008)</span><br /></span></div><br /><span class="fullpost">Access:<br />a) Keihan Railway Fushimi Inari Station<br />b) JR Nara Line Inari Station<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2) Toufukuji (東福寺)</span><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">This is one of the temples in Kyoto where nature's beauty stands out. Toufukuji boasts beautiful gardens and is one of the most famous places to view autumn foliage in Kyoto. It is also one of the five major zen temples of Kyoto. Just a trivia for Japanese movie and drama addicts: this temple was used as a location of the movie Hana Yori Dango Final or Boys Over Flowers. The temple is open from 9am to 4pm and 830am to 430pm in November only. There are two entrance fees for this temple: one is for the garden which costs 400yen and another is for the bridge which also costs 400yen.<br /></div><span class="fullpost"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8BFn_RM6ZL5I7gcXUhvoWNk1pWPxr9NGbPCHJKsddGnFTyI8F7owFoYalv8BqGKCvWw27-99WX8HThDT2OTUC0y3XULiGesnmElGVcuBJmwr3I8sjXLjlkLbMqS72NF8YwFEyI9DnZM/s1600-h/Tofukuji+4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8BFn_RM6ZL5I7gcXUhvoWNk1pWPxr9NGbPCHJKsddGnFTyI8F7owFoYalv8BqGKCvWw27-99WX8HThDT2OTUC0y3XULiGesnmElGVcuBJmwr3I8sjXLjlkLbMqS72NF8YwFEyI9DnZM/s320/Tofukuji+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370855509957957474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Toufukuji Zen Garden (taken on October 12, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3ST2kgkUc2OzIiRbCFR9yIhQHorcVGAGy7KpjsSq6GafgybxqS6x5ow2-4iX1a0u4Vy4R8bs6gNZEdI8fzg6X2BV0hLg8xtRvcY_9Cd7-i2Jor_MVdbqQZRwnjGltOuWfOxknWnMuHc/s1600-h/Tofukuji+18.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3ST2kgkUc2OzIiRbCFR9yIhQHorcVGAGy7KpjsSq6GafgybxqS6x5ow2-4iX1a0u4Vy4R8bs6gNZEdI8fzg6X2BV0hLg8xtRvcY_9Cd7-i2Jor_MVdbqQZRwnjGltOuWfOxknWnMuHc/s320/Tofukuji+18.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370855501012861794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Toufukuji Bridge (taken on October 12, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFW9WoVqJkv6Ff9MhIl9uwHNkhR3GfNjr9YsFjUbfseY0CZ2JA-sTW_OYv4zsYNg-r80tQNoR6DMpSoN_UWxxhtgSJiqAcfynyeNOqboJlTj60xdX1gp_uT_x00v2NB4aG_PnNy1GPEc/s1600-h/Tofukuji+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFW9WoVqJkv6Ff9MhIl9uwHNkhR3GfNjr9YsFjUbfseY0CZ2JA-sTW_OYv4zsYNg-r80tQNoR6DMpSoN_UWxxhtgSJiqAcfynyeNOqboJlTj60xdX1gp_uT_x00v2NB4aG_PnNy1GPEc/s320/Tofukuji+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370855495543984034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Toufukuji (taken on October 12, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div>Access:<br />a) Keihan Railway Toufukuji Station<br />b) JR Nara Line Toufukuji Station<br />c) City Bus Toufukuji Stop<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3) Daigo-Ji (醍醐寺)</span><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="fullpost">This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best places to view cherry blossoms in spring. I have never been to this temple, but it is said to be one of the must-see temples in Southern Kyoto. This temple is open from 9am to 5pm and entrance fee is 600yen. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.daigoji.or.jp/index_e.html">the temple's official site</a>.</span><br /></div><span class="fullpost"><br />Access:<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">a) Kyoto subway Tozai Line Daigo Station<br />b) Keihan Bus Daigo-Sanpo-In Stop (ride from JR Yamashina Station or Keihan Railway Rokujizo Station)<br /></div></span></span>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-19728379440173974592009-08-10T20:05:00.017+08:002009-08-11T09:44:42.389+08:00Western Kyoto<div style="text-align: justify;">Kyoto is a very big city; it cannot be finished within a day. Moreover, the must-see places in Kyoto are spread far apart from each other, so you need to consider the long travel time when you plan your trip to this ancient capital. Because of this, it is advisable to divide Kyoto into regions and visit each region per day. One of these regions is Western Kyoto. Western Kyoto is abundant with beautiful temples and stunning scenery. Some of the must-see places in this area are:<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">1) Kinkakuji or The Temple of the Golden Pavilion (金閣寺)</span><br />Kinkakuji is declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most popular destinations in Kyoto. The temple is covered with gold leaf thus acquiring thus the name. It is open from 9am to 5pm daily and entrance fee is 400yen. Aside from the temple, you can also explore the temple grounds and appreciate the beauty of nature. For a more authentic Kyoto experience, you can also try having a matcha tea break for 500yen. To avoid the crowds flocking to Kinkakuji, it is recommend to arrive there first thing in morning.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbj2yMuUS5OMKiD7tHv-sqAwfExqF6hzAc08Y0pWjpPVkliXax7hDVdo8KMwj5b2QZPrmjEzgdhxhP-GHJjtcHFZYKaEl3RYt3Auezi1TELzaYsNHJzSraudncAKUciohY5c0Uv0BkwI/s1600-h/Kinkakuji.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbj2yMuUS5OMKiD7tHv-sqAwfExqF6hzAc08Y0pWjpPVkliXax7hDVdo8KMwj5b2QZPrmjEzgdhxhP-GHJjtcHFZYKaEl3RYt3Auezi1TELzaYsNHJzSraudncAKUciohY5c0Uv0BkwI/s320/Kinkakuji.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368316319100500850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Kinkakuji (taken on November 15, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9y0RmlQ-gLnk4r7Ry6INlzWRXlV_ZXKlfDrmWMWEqc02ZDIKTlh8oIgxWQRnWYbFoMhRQchCdjpeN5XqnO6hSIvekRN5L9HNmdU1UU5LYJ5rJR8yqVSmtxJdvRLCTorAd3eOjnIUVXE/s1600-h/Kinkakuji+From+above.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9y0RmlQ-gLnk4r7Ry6INlzWRXlV_ZXKlfDrmWMWEqc02ZDIKTlh8oIgxWQRnWYbFoMhRQchCdjpeN5XqnO6hSIvekRN5L9HNmdU1UU5LYJ5rJR8yqVSmtxJdvRLCTorAd3eOjnIUVXE/s320/Kinkakuji+From+above.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368316308226023906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Kinkakuji from the nearby hill (taken on November 15, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbQjrKBi-p-Ve_vaXuzjRtXmeec2v3Q5tcDd8jjOtxt5y2fjaDuXxYbcvHo9LL4U62ZIYtXinuytDd3R2fedCASOwEh4hAW2fnAyIfjelZp1hahAoNyGrvRaTaeufga5HAomf6e49IpY/s1600-h/Ginkakuji+-+maccha+drinking+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbQjrKBi-p-Ve_vaXuzjRtXmeec2v3Q5tcDd8jjOtxt5y2fjaDuXxYbcvHo9LL4U62ZIYtXinuytDd3R2fedCASOwEh4hAW2fnAyIfjelZp1hahAoNyGrvRaTaeufga5HAomf6e49IpY/s320/Ginkakuji+-+maccha+drinking+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368316306255744770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Matcha break in Kinkakuji (taken on November 15, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl1X_waFD7NaeHxNpT9Z_Ymd1B5JGVZUgX9HZx4QuF3-IJM1CiZgn6HDxuYYv9wsKz9eBzr9SJJf_eIwqpCp-g8ZNwv3x-zxbfVGitw7Knd1bacMYm0slTXDvr6Tter2pqRzO44hhJyU/s1600-h/Outside+Ginakkuji+with+Da+written+on+mountain.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl1X_waFD7NaeHxNpT9Z_Ymd1B5JGVZUgX9HZx4QuF3-IJM1CiZgn6HDxuYYv9wsKz9eBzr9SJJf_eIwqpCp-g8ZNwv3x-zxbfVGitw7Knd1bacMYm0slTXDvr6Tter2pqRzO44hhJyU/s320/Outside+Ginakkuji+with+Da+written+on+mountain.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368324442997853714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">"大" Sign on the mountain outside Kinkakuji - lit up during Obon (around 2nd week of August) as part of the Gozan festival in Kyoto (taken on November 15, 2008)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>Access:<br />a) Kinkakuji Mae Bus Stop<br />b) Kinkakuji Michi Bus Stop<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2) Ryoanji (龍安寺)</span><br />Kyoto is famous for its zen gardens and one of the most popular can be found in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ryoanji. People come here to relax and absorb the natural beauty of the surroundings. There is a temple and a pond inside the Ryoanji grounds that are also worth visiting. The temple is open from 830am to 430pm. Entrace fee is 500yen.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1UPtbTS0wWaLvz3PR39OmK-QtrPNLrMWPfW6GCyWjXsMkmIwvpwsqoGDqfh4r0bXlV-yK863nzqiwog2DzSIoCEL_pgxxzubCd9JVnoR8b62oy9R5Teu3PTOZP8ppUbH_xWDcS47g9M/s1600-h/Ryouanji+-+Rock+Garden.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1UPtbTS0wWaLvz3PR39OmK-QtrPNLrMWPfW6GCyWjXsMkmIwvpwsqoGDqfh4r0bXlV-yK863nzqiwog2DzSIoCEL_pgxxzubCd9JVnoR8b62oy9R5Teu3PTOZP8ppUbH_xWDcS47g9M/s320/Ryouanji+-+Rock+Garden.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368318271186890450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Ryoanji Zen Garden (taken on November 15, 2008)</span><br /></div><br />Access:<br />a) Ryoanji Mae Bus Stop<br />b) Keifuku Train Ryoanji Station<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3) Ninnaji (仁和寺)<br /></span>Ninnaji is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Western Kyoto. It is a famous Buddhist temple which once served as a summer home for the imperial family. Unlike nearby Kinkakuji, Ninnaji is often skipped by tourists making it less crowded. The temple is open from 930am to 430pm and entrance fee is 500yen. If you do not want to pay for the entrance fee, you can just explore the beautiful temple grounds.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SdPyxbuqCwGHmHQvs7B0dMURIulz-CvwsIXKUUEr6QhvVa2_YIH2oo6CLj3FNm4vD6HIxbqbZ9x3xWxzRmg27XdRs1qjQOXZ5nbqPIkQxIJ7zHbg_02n7pvreF8dLz5UUNGxZSbIYzw/s1600-h/Ninnaji+-+Outside.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SdPyxbuqCwGHmHQvs7B0dMURIulz-CvwsIXKUUEr6QhvVa2_YIH2oo6CLj3FNm4vD6HIxbqbZ9x3xWxzRmg27XdRs1qjQOXZ5nbqPIkQxIJ7zHbg_02n7pvreF8dLz5UUNGxZSbIYzw/s320/Ninnaji+-+Outside.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368324437663876450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Ninnaji Temple Gate (taken on November 15, 2008)<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oqq2lkLbyV_N87vRhGUtM0rojIPQMczNV8nga-7xT0KPXZggQWxTegVel6RfsqfwPgzNbaAvGpSehulwJ8CaweQymEd5JGRLrwJWTmC-kTqRzGC_tKqnHjyPCDiOdOZDuaT9rWfczPU/s1600-h/Ninnaji+-+Inside+6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oqq2lkLbyV_N87vRhGUtM0rojIPQMczNV8nga-7xT0KPXZggQWxTegVel6RfsqfwPgzNbaAvGpSehulwJ8CaweQymEd5JGRLrwJWTmC-kTqRzGC_tKqnHjyPCDiOdOZDuaT9rWfczPU/s320/Ninnaji+-+Inside+6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368324435744152450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Ninnaji Temple Grounds (taken on November 15, 2008)<br /><br /></span></div>Access:<br />a) Omuro Ninnaji Bus Stop<br />b) Keifuku Train Omuro Ninnaji Station<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Note: </span><span style="font-style: italic;">The three temples mentioned above are around 15-30 minutes apart from each other by foot. So if you have the time and energy, you need not ride the bus or train to get around.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">4) Arashiyama or Mt. Arashi (嵐山)</span><br />The Arashiyama Area is not covered by the Kyoto one-day pass, and this is the reason why it is usually skipped by visitors. However, Arashiyama is one of my most favorite places in Kyoto and I recommend going there especially during <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/08/autumn-in-kyoto.html">autumn</a>. This is one of the most beautiful places to do hanami (cherry blossom viewing) in spring or watching fall foliage in <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/08/autumn-in-kyoto.html">autumn</a>. Go there from December 12-21 and you can see lanterns light up Arashiyama in the evening.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UqZbAQVMRiyoifS8cDvmC63uhj7xNUjweLP6ek0wSz0Y_622jFmqvunO8qDsZFUNpKro_cl4qOCSSeexr1taz4imrVInPlQdhT2W0SxmOAj4lw9hzfNCta4HkflB5CN9rV1Sfqqn3cA/s1600-h/Arashiyama.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UqZbAQVMRiyoifS8cDvmC63uhj7xNUjweLP6ek0wSz0Y_622jFmqvunO8qDsZFUNpKro_cl4qOCSSeexr1taz4imrVInPlQdhT2W0SxmOAj4lw9hzfNCta4HkflB5CN9rV1Sfqqn3cA/s320/Arashiyama.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368328561060019938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Arashiyama (taken on November 15, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwvXF7egIwwtf8vfsGU0wYeybt3xTU_1Kapq9ntNh30jS7Pb0GNUQiMqN1I0tfapbXZ6QJUVsxambbLhgpGrrMsBFtCFLmaWSffSx44s2qv1nKF2ZlK7MxNMoa_ZP-N3nqRZ70c-zhiI/s1600-h/Arashiyama+Bridge.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwvXF7egIwwtf8vfsGU0wYeybt3xTU_1Kapq9ntNh30jS7Pb0GNUQiMqN1I0tfapbXZ6QJUVsxambbLhgpGrrMsBFtCFLmaWSffSx44s2qv1nKF2ZlK7MxNMoa_ZP-N3nqRZ70c-zhiI/s320/Arashiyama+Bridge.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368328556332146018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Togetsu Bridge in Arashiyama (taken on November 15, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCCtkr6TYSo9FCOIiWBVRYZZfyZRp1Evg8Ig-pDyh77CfNTqY8whSCVACrKDI4vZFsOWKyuUxi8O5xFF1lzSsUEZTwVGfCq5jniZQdp5D9ERCmJJyINfIJFgtMjX_RR15VvMH5NBllQE/s1600-h/ArashidenTrain.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCCtkr6TYSo9FCOIiWBVRYZZfyZRp1Evg8Ig-pDyh77CfNTqY8whSCVACrKDI4vZFsOWKyuUxi8O5xFF1lzSsUEZTwVGfCq5jniZQdp5D9ERCmJJyINfIJFgtMjX_RR15VvMH5NBllQE/s320/ArashidenTrain.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368328554597754834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Keifuku Train (taken on November 15, 2008)</span></div><br />Access:<br />a) Hanshin Arashiyama Station<br />b) JR Sagano Line Saga Arashiyama Station<br />c) Keifuku Train Arashiyama Station<br />d) Keifuku Arashiyama Eki Mae Bus Stop<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5) Tenryuuji (天龍寺)<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span>A short walk from Arashiyama and you will reach another UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the five great zen temples of Kyoto, Tenryuuji. This temple is known for its beautiful landscape and zen garden with Mt. Arashi in the background. Tenryuuji is open from 830am to 530pm from March to October and 830am to 5pm from November to February. Entrance fee is 600yen.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3QA2d4Wlv603Mfn-P7Egn8F4ewtpF4mHs8Pw3sc9SWV7aQ2NLD6Ri68yGvE4CTNXKcQlUEJk_sEqumtmGX_VfXribXwGQz4YFhwwzOwFfDMF2-WBmhur-wkz9cgGe0lhCfFE3Ef8tBE/s1600-h/Tenryuuji+-+Tenryuuji+Pond.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3QA2d4Wlv603Mfn-P7Egn8F4ewtpF4mHs8Pw3sc9SWV7aQ2NLD6Ri68yGvE4CTNXKcQlUEJk_sEqumtmGX_VfXribXwGQz4YFhwwzOwFfDMF2-WBmhur-wkz9cgGe0lhCfFE3Ef8tBE/s320/Tenryuuji+-+Tenryuuji+Pond.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368330739868080898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Inside Tenryuuji (taken on November 15, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMG49Ldww9Sjy7A1CNTiO5chkJT6AhP-gyYPd3k5jdIL0XilvPXWpNGOg5mKaYc52xzDGwNybqPtfTpYb4tndtnZHL20D-53vy0mr2-YpSq3V_omy7Wh0XlS_ZvbtgxcPcpIZD06MMN4/s1600-h/Tenryuuji+-+Inside+the+temple+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMG49Ldww9Sjy7A1CNTiO5chkJT6AhP-gyYPd3k5jdIL0XilvPXWpNGOg5mKaYc52xzDGwNybqPtfTpYb4tndtnZHL20D-53vy0mr2-YpSq3V_omy7Wh0XlS_ZvbtgxcPcpIZD06MMN4/s320/Tenryuuji+-+Inside+the+temple+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368330735275836434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Tenryuuji (taken on November 15, 2008)<br /><br /></span></div>Access:<br />a) Hanshin Arashiyama Station<br />b) JR Sagano Line Saga Arashiyama Station<br />c) Keifuku Train Arashiyama Station<br />d) Keifuku Arashiyama Eki Mae Bus Stop<br /></span></div>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-68254422585808525632009-08-01T14:37:00.020+08:002009-11-03T16:23:07.551+08:00Autumn In Kyoto<div style="text-align: justify;">I have not experienced autumn until last year when I was living in Japan. And what better place to spend my first autumn in than Kyoto. Kyoto is the former capital of Japan and the center of traditional Japanese culture. Because of its well-kept temples and gardens, Kyoto is considered as the most beautiful city in Japan. When autumn comes, Kyoto's beauty goes to whole new level. In fact, this place is regarded as the top fall foliage site in Japan. Best time to go is around the third to fourth week of November when fall colors are at their best.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Since I can't put into words the beauty of Kyoto in autumn, let me just share with you some photos I took last autumn and you be the judge.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQDzuujUj281JWAcK_gAhcbCNfyCiUYrKFnKAXPieck1GvgTPp28gDhz5cO55NBhgqmteCEMSInt7ZRp2Atp9PuWARwVEgVvwn6pSAlEBuDDuWk0JvBvppApK8b_-mJ5XaWbIMxLMfRg/s1600-h/Japan+%28Kyoto%29+Kiyomizudera.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQDzuujUj281JWAcK_gAhcbCNfyCiUYrKFnKAXPieck1GvgTPp28gDhz5cO55NBhgqmteCEMSInt7ZRp2Atp9PuWARwVEgVvwn6pSAlEBuDDuWk0JvBvppApK8b_-mJ5XaWbIMxLMfRg/s400/Japan+%28Kyoto%29+Kiyomizudera.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399789887982650914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Kiyomizudera Temple (taken on November 24, 2008)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5NzvWae9W2-h7YCLc-zLhNjjbTp1PQC2E2zrtoQ5E2-frD8pMpBJdD3kW5H1NJ6VfhWuR0YZMbaYRU_mTsBH1ZYLS-310eCPfE3tGtLzGSso7VwTCfghZDFs7cUTU0IK7WjmpIDDRWk/s1600-h/Arashiyama.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5NzvWae9W2-h7YCLc-zLhNjjbTp1PQC2E2zrtoQ5E2-frD8pMpBJdD3kW5H1NJ6VfhWuR0YZMbaYRU_mTsBH1ZYLS-310eCPfE3tGtLzGSso7VwTCfghZDFs7cUTU0IK7WjmpIDDRWk/s320/Arashiyama.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365181479928296290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Arashiyama (taken on November 15, 2008)<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjpwSdljZmAql5GMFqjyRA0y0M8pHw9czPSOgNStls-79U-tTgBZutANs5fKdgTU544PNLczlQwpQ8LVKRok4VHd1B_Mm8heC7agXkk-cmuCNqkU-pYfUYUfCx6mp3dTFdUCgsQ04fO0/s1600-h/Kyoto+From+Kiyomizudera.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjpwSdljZmAql5GMFqjyRA0y0M8pHw9czPSOgNStls-79U-tTgBZutANs5fKdgTU544PNLczlQwpQ8LVKRok4VHd1B_Mm8heC7agXkk-cmuCNqkU-pYfUYUfCx6mp3dTFdUCgsQ04fO0/s320/Kyoto+From+Kiyomizudera.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365180830248348610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Kyoto from Kiyomizudera Temple (taken on November 24, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3Yy519zk0O2mRpkUUJHadDBvHby6fmObgKcGDhYzzSazq21Tozr_wVfPZlo73vlDreEVCjXuMt9OEs0-r5ZnpEROL86ll-ZLHzCq18Lc3JR4JtQ72kBCBHEjKYbs3Z-ufkR4JEktQUI/s1600-h/Chionin+Temple.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3Yy519zk0O2mRpkUUJHadDBvHby6fmObgKcGDhYzzSazq21Tozr_wVfPZlo73vlDreEVCjXuMt9OEs0-r5ZnpEROL86ll-ZLHzCq18Lc3JR4JtQ72kBCBHEjKYbs3Z-ufkR4JEktQUI/s320/Chionin+Temple.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365181481820871330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Inside Chionin Temple (taken on November 29, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyrM6gWOEBdebZA24JGU96x3hRM9jvXm5CKOzaW6r7qwh5W8Cq2jDyezHWRFO9QH1e_OW0574-CM90ofG0EW8Mjn_ryH9ZZ8TSsgiXB_YuYdOGTANcifKXmuM7nopZ6mucVALR8-P5Ss/s1600-h/Inside+Ginkakuji.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyrM6gWOEBdebZA24JGU96x3hRM9jvXm5CKOzaW6r7qwh5W8Cq2jDyezHWRFO9QH1e_OW0574-CM90ofG0EW8Mjn_ryH9ZZ8TSsgiXB_YuYdOGTANcifKXmuM7nopZ6mucVALR8-P5Ss/s320/Inside+Ginkakuji.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365181342690459842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Inside Ginkakuji (taken on November 29, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMpAofQKTcriZBNQOVgmo1i1s_lggM5uFYqgMZLu-3MJCL7rkU4aU_uJi3LuIxMmbBdRI58Ei_-sxjJh2i1E-ELlWkR9KhjNJ2IWWifrrC4wOwaRj4s5SwHQwsqKTMrd2tms0ziRyhNA/s1600-h/Inside+Maruyama+Park+.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMpAofQKTcriZBNQOVgmo1i1s_lggM5uFYqgMZLu-3MJCL7rkU4aU_uJi3LuIxMmbBdRI58Ei_-sxjJh2i1E-ELlWkR9KhjNJ2IWWifrrC4wOwaRj4s5SwHQwsqKTMrd2tms0ziRyhNA/s320/Inside+Maruyama+Park+.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365181335748087954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">At Maruyama Park (taken on November 29, 2008) </span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8YbBVJHbdJXjF5xehqmZO4g02Fr2ShRhqAGxzg8XeOPqRw70xi7_6m9O6ZqCc5xHy-hxuBnl2vgnvBU0Bl_QXHDeTUWXvEUqpNNi8OH-f4HGkR27l898bcbcypne0dvLbFcccyTaOIY/s1600-h/Kenninji.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8YbBVJHbdJXjF5xehqmZO4g02Fr2ShRhqAGxzg8XeOPqRw70xi7_6m9O6ZqCc5xHy-hxuBnl2vgnvBU0Bl_QXHDeTUWXvEUqpNNi8OH-f4HGkR27l898bcbcypne0dvLbFcccyTaOIY/s320/Kenninji.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365181316183581058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Kenniji Temple (taken on November 24, 2008) </span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh867Fj03iIzvz2_duZAFJr7mhDpyheax77f4TBv63Cfhl05xE5dU5AGjRDGJ3RwMkGnKRKxrncWdtKmuSarEfZMeMrHK5AUsOOPeUBAIndZbZdwy6DKouaafutEEKjm68wrElnTyPsRz4/s1600-h/Koudaiji.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh867Fj03iIzvz2_duZAFJr7mhDpyheax77f4TBv63Cfhl05xE5dU5AGjRDGJ3RwMkGnKRKxrncWdtKmuSarEfZMeMrHK5AUsOOPeUBAIndZbZdwy6DKouaafutEEKjm68wrElnTyPsRz4/s320/Koudaiji.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365181310168623154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Kodaiji Temple (taken on November 29, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheA9CWEwqyitjDtBQzhNY7L5RM717nTg_zKtF__InQ71DIhB4rvZS_8Gd1JoCgY1z3IKHOWzjgrMtcMJjor71TUeRDb6BtVyaKQCXGpucvQ9Tc2FjRzAqWvmxgfywsh1hDOa3bmxwTIfw/s1600-h/Ninnaji+Pagoda.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheA9CWEwqyitjDtBQzhNY7L5RM717nTg_zKtF__InQ71DIhB4rvZS_8Gd1JoCgY1z3IKHOWzjgrMtcMJjor71TUeRDb6BtVyaKQCXGpucvQ9Tc2FjRzAqWvmxgfywsh1hDOa3bmxwTIfw/s320/Ninnaji+Pagoda.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365180828779829762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Ninnaji Temple Pagoda (taken on November 15, 2008)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJShRWeg-_PP70Xi50xUWa0yxyxbmgh8I9gVDBlDz3XrP67iTO28BT4D9kuopeZ3eK4gv4lVZxwXW3-s5j7VZH7EycFpn8eHJ1ujK9K8ApEIYxTKBaQbrTMFhZNS-FxfnPj4goRMYxlc/s1600-h/Outside+Koudaiji+.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJShRWeg-_PP70Xi50xUWa0yxyxbmgh8I9gVDBlDz3XrP67iTO28BT4D9kuopeZ3eK4gv4lVZxwXW3-s5j7VZH7EycFpn8eHJ1ujK9K8ApEIYxTKBaQbrTMFhZNS-FxfnPj4goRMYxlc/s320/Outside+Koudaiji+.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365180824945715410" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-style: italic;">Outside Kodaiji Temple (taken on November 29, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOCf3RFn3-CPBM2OfM4wKe48ShiJ02ZywkNYkKwVejceX0KlLeyjU4MqyTDbwWPF2_xTGc5-irQGwqUodPtV4fWtbwG9NxpziQjYujH0ZwIMPmzUHw06Ke2ZKQRLSV8_S5hS_de2PFKs/s1600-h/Tenryuuji+Pond.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOCf3RFn3-CPBM2OfM4wKe48ShiJ02ZywkNYkKwVejceX0KlLeyjU4MqyTDbwWPF2_xTGc5-irQGwqUodPtV4fWtbwG9NxpziQjYujH0ZwIMPmzUHw06Ke2ZKQRLSV8_S5hS_de2PFKs/s320/Tenryuuji+Pond.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365180811559555986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Tenryuuji Temple (taken on November 15, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoCQsTBEu4lS0lddgViMO_6CX23c6deFtQnJ1gvZMWaxBuymhIZnm9wGinfnegZ6ADiw429cut6OpvGOeK9hLGi8Q0ShMWX-PpTu4EzfNJqMwVLZLvFV18gON-WbzAbJ4J_c-eUWhAvc/s1600-h/Pond+in+Ryoanji.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoCQsTBEu4lS0lddgViMO_6CX23c6deFtQnJ1gvZMWaxBuymhIZnm9wGinfnegZ6ADiw429cut6OpvGOeK9hLGi8Q0ShMWX-PpTu4EzfNJqMwVLZLvFV18gON-WbzAbJ4J_c-eUWhAvc/s320/Pond+in+Ryoanji.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365180819269727506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Pond in Ryoanji (taken on November 15, 2008)</span><br /></div></span></div></div>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-23817618737426404812009-07-27T10:56:00.008+08:002009-07-27T11:54:53.016+08:00Exploring Ilocos Region: PangasinanRelated Posts:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/07/exploring-ilocos-region-ilocos-norte.html">Exploring Ilocos Region Day 1: Ilocos Norte</a></span><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/07/exploring-ilocos-region-ilocos-sur.html">Exploring Ilocos Region Day 2: Ilocos Sur </a><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/07/exploring-ilocos-region-la-union.html">Exploring Ilocos Region Day 3: La Union</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The last day of our backpacking trip across Ilocos Region was spent in Pangasinan. Pangasinan is the southernmost province in the region and the nearest to Manila.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />As I have mentioned in my <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/07/exploring-ilocos-region-la-union.html">previous post</a>, we stayed overnight in Lingayen, the provincial capital of Pangasinan. After breakfast, we went to the Lingayen War Memorial and the historical <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/06/summer-getaway-at-lingayen.html">Lingayen Beach</a> which played an important role during the second world war.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSzpPt2wC8pQx5ePgtUuaHOWuE0PYalzozH6Ju70YXcUhDVtMWFRmvPYqQFVX0M_Tp9kN8gpFlEojgi2gUtDWois-bop4LbOV197HjsPVYW8D3rdZy2L0DYaOLiILIVSkDpBsLW-7kUw/s1600-h/Lingayen+Gulf+Beach.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSzpPt2wC8pQx5ePgtUuaHOWuE0PYalzozH6Ju70YXcUhDVtMWFRmvPYqQFVX0M_Tp9kN8gpFlEojgi2gUtDWois-bop4LbOV197HjsPVYW8D3rdZy2L0DYaOLiILIVSkDpBsLW-7kUw/s320/Lingayen+Gulf+Beach.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362971962720060962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lingayen Beach (taken by me on June 26, 2007)<br /><br /></span></div><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvbAwsyxiclgfeVVvuF5aUTlrDncYoDJ_DJkBxUksxMKCALT7MJnLJCCOY3t59QfLOYPgpX8ER4_V99nW1zKmCb_8a9wixJaQm0PqJftAK0Esdk8xviUGRjqam9o5qjqOz6tOS_HiWT4/s1600-h/Lingayen.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvbAwsyxiclgfeVVvuF5aUTlrDncYoDJ_DJkBxUksxMKCALT7MJnLJCCOY3t59QfLOYPgpX8ER4_V99nW1zKmCb_8a9wixJaQm0PqJftAK0Esdk8xviUGRjqam9o5qjqOz6tOS_HiWT4/s320/Lingayen.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362971952688955090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lingayen War Memorial (taken by <a href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> on June 26, 2007)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">After this, we decided to go to Bolinao on the northwestern tip of Pangasinan. Bolinao is famous for its beautiful and virgin beaches. We were actually choosing between Bolinao and <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/06/hundred-times-fun-at-hundred-islands.html">Hundred Islands</a>, but because we needed one whole day to fully explore <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/06/hundred-times-fun-at-hundred-islands.html">Hundred Islands</a>, we decided to go with Bolinao. From Lingayen, we rode the bus to Alaminos, and from Alaminos, we rode another bus to Bolinao. The first thing we did when we got to Bolinao is to have lunch and then we visited the nearby St. James Parish.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdc-VYBZ3UHY5cjxl2eunGWzZV6w5j9keAilGZcgVMW4YHsTFuB-s1kf2zT2wnEEWe9y_aT9Z7vGU5oyNQinJ2h2snAijxkP8ruFYnt8Ha7k0I8MAWE5k3S6UH7w7aPny5ANQ2HHh33Q/s1600-h/St.+James+Parish+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdc-VYBZ3UHY5cjxl2eunGWzZV6w5j9keAilGZcgVMW4YHsTFuB-s1kf2zT2wnEEWe9y_aT9Z7vGU5oyNQinJ2h2snAijxkP8ruFYnt8Ha7k0I8MAWE5k3S6UH7w7aPny5ANQ2HHh33Q/s320/St.+James+Parish+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362976521261369778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">St. James Parish (taken by <a href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> on June 26, 2007)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">After this, we rented a tricycle for the whole afternoon and our driver took us to the Enchanted Cave, Bolinao Lighthouse and the beautiful Patar Beach. By the time we got near the beach, it was already raining hard but that did not stop us from enjoying beautiful Bolinao. The rain actually made this trip more memorable. At around 7pm, we left Patar Beach and took the long tricycle ride back to the town center. At 9pm, we rode the Five Star Bus in Bolinao back to Manila.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NFjqS68nYLdvy_A9r2P1Tfw7DlBqrjHrYDcfBjGo_jiN3AYRTx9s6tx0qN8Qp_EypBIUoHvyjF8JAw6KQZiyixaBWJSmR_P53f5pIIgdTyGRALkzpf5qILNzRj1rqIFU_LFRTuKYBe4/s1600-h/Enchanted+Cave+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NFjqS68nYLdvy_A9r2P1Tfw7DlBqrjHrYDcfBjGo_jiN3AYRTx9s6tx0qN8Qp_EypBIUoHvyjF8JAw6KQZiyixaBWJSmR_P53f5pIIgdTyGRALkzpf5qILNzRj1rqIFU_LFRTuKYBe4/s320/Enchanted+Cave+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362980485140093026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Entrance to the Enchanted Cave (taken by <a href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> on June 26, 2007)<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb81GetQvsdaZ1hD6Cevyx_HXwk1eDmpjgE3WuzWj-UqCIGxqxXhAMtWeWy_nfRKrW-BKwpMwgWKMkfWXwetNKyhqyYUh8YII6KmfIKhjp_lFysWhnRyiiq_BozXfuTxe3rog4kWIuKt8/s1600-h/Enchanted+Cave+6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb81GetQvsdaZ1hD6Cevyx_HXwk1eDmpjgE3WuzWj-UqCIGxqxXhAMtWeWy_nfRKrW-BKwpMwgWKMkfWXwetNKyhqyYUh8YII6KmfIKhjp_lFysWhnRyiiq_BozXfuTxe3rog4kWIuKt8/s320/Enchanted+Cave+6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362980481298858690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Clear water inside the Enchanted Cave (taken by <a href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> on June 26, 2007)</span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKus4LzZgsYQrkWnZW1n5rHN0FnvYWxwpeJsc25ZBwQZULK7Q0CAb3XKIzH9LUC0vJdvBMkOdzPRX44IZbwcPMPFGd0yvj5ZshRg_LIgzPlyK3Myz8tapph6UPGNG7cKI4gux62d_ZM10/s1600-h/Bolinao+Tour+Guide+hehe.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKus4LzZgsYQrkWnZW1n5rHN0FnvYWxwpeJsc25ZBwQZULK7Q0CAb3XKIzH9LUC0vJdvBMkOdzPRX44IZbwcPMPFGd0yvj5ZshRg_LIgzPlyK3Myz8tapph6UPGNG7cKI4gux62d_ZM10/s320/Bolinao+Tour+Guide+hehe.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362980475472367634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Our tricycle (taken by <a href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> on June 26, 2007)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizULZh_ov3RdLzkOw5W_hzvIQFIQGEqrseOg-Nj2MlTe2l_okm2C8HYTcrjqrokjz8ubEr_RRxBxYoiDWeyzJQlEwDAY0augD5l4KtT3UGV-zHZFePNMSoB6gGwVTcU073vzo6irRnIaI/s1600-h/Bolinao+Light+House.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizULZh_ov3RdLzkOw5W_hzvIQFIQGEqrseOg-Nj2MlTe2l_okm2C8HYTcrjqrokjz8ubEr_RRxBxYoiDWeyzJQlEwDAY0augD5l4KtT3UGV-zHZFePNMSoB6gGwVTcU073vzo6irRnIaI/s320/Bolinao+Light+House.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362980473414707826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Bolinao Lighthouse (taken by me on June 26, 2007)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggn8SG8DNRofL6IbMzddVZjpZs3mX5WFk5CJBkm_DG9KMcb1gwj4s3Hn5p0TyfYZD4xiMMo2XTHx1zjFm6Gy0yhb5Sb6Kat7lILCyWpg1JXppEFa1Kgds5CRfSV0KU19WhHKzDBw9fag0/s1600-h/Patar+Beach+View+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggn8SG8DNRofL6IbMzddVZjpZs3mX5WFk5CJBkm_DG9KMcb1gwj4s3Hn5p0TyfYZD4xiMMo2XTHx1zjFm6Gy0yhb5Sb6Kat7lILCyWpg1JXppEFa1Kgds5CRfSV0KU19WhHKzDBw9fag0/s320/Patar+Beach+View+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362980467133012786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Patar Beach (taken by me on June 26, 2007)<br /><br /></span></div>2 years ago, we did not know anything about Bolinao, and neither did we know that it would it be one of the famous destinations in Pangasinan now. Looking back, I am thankful to have seen this place before commercialism spoils it. But I am praying that day won't come.<br /><br />Access from Manila: Buses such as the Five Star Bus, Dagupan Bus, Victory Liner, Philippine Rabbit takes the Manila-Bolinao route daily. Travel time is around 6 hours.<br /></div></div></div></div></span></div>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-19325067571074798742009-07-22T16:57:00.017+08:002009-07-27T11:53:03.636+08:00Exploring Ilocos Region: La UnionRelated Posts:<br /><a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/07/exploring-ilocos-region-ilocos-norte.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Exploring Ilocos Region Day 1: Ilocos Norte</span></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/07/exploring-ilocos-region-ilocos-sur.html">Exploring Ilocos Region Day 2: Ilocos Sur</a></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/07/exploring-ilocos-region-pangasinan.html">Exploring Ilocos Region Day 4: Pangasinan</a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Day 3 of our Ilocos Region trip was spent in La Union. As I have mentioned in my <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/07/exploring-ilocos-region-ilocos-sur.html">previous post</a>, we stayed at Se-Bay resort which is right in front of the surfing beach of San Juan so we thought we will be able to try surfing. But to our disappointment, there were no waves! So we just decided to check out early and explore San Fernando, the capital of La Union.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmf79KbgKWpK5nO-W8ch4Fh_Q5mS0ONFQh3Bj8sYDb1LnYJ0O-ZaxxuDaSwpYEPRwSatMLI21TiAUFA_oZbPiVbMDWlXOgjtd4FfdS1LcIZNgg3hSaWvauvGH7GSS410id5GvodR5ZXM/s1600-h/San+Juan+Beach+View.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmf79KbgKWpK5nO-W8ch4Fh_Q5mS0ONFQh3Bj8sYDb1LnYJ0O-ZaxxuDaSwpYEPRwSatMLI21TiAUFA_oZbPiVbMDWlXOgjtd4FfdS1LcIZNgg3hSaWvauvGH7GSS410id5GvodR5ZXM/s320/San+Juan+Beach+View.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361214421102059394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">San Juan surfing beach (taken by me on June 25, 2007)</span></div><br /><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: justify;">We rode the jeepney from San Juan to San Fernando. (travel time is around 15- 30minutes) In San Fernando, we visited the famous Ma-cho temple. You can have a good view of the city and the beach from the temple.<br /></div><span class="fullpost"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnIin9AL8aRCCTmXJNMHgCWMqtvTIq-IAyBZek3p6A_aS-iG1NQufE1HS9No6vE9_hc2IzO093YrPb6dBQd8S0RqaW6G4_DFjP1sOaOm9An2RS_TL-hKV1IcOHhHu0exioo5fbllglnA/s1600-h/Ma+Cho+Temple.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnIin9AL8aRCCTmXJNMHgCWMqtvTIq-IAyBZek3p6A_aS-iG1NQufE1HS9No6vE9_hc2IzO093YrPb6dBQd8S0RqaW6G4_DFjP1sOaOm9An2RS_TL-hKV1IcOHhHu0exioo5fbllglnA/s320/Ma+Cho+Temple.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361214428832600834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Macho temple (taken by <a href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> on June 25, 2007)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99auACZ6Z8infQmS3TT6q0hruv7ZsMX2a-g6hYVl5Pnhv9K7i80ZT7nP-jbkW0-HEfFFG81rUgMPG5rE5h8qvMf25EqaOq5GIotGgr7GM65kH2EN-NrC-7Uz7gmrdfuTzgaFP2r0kOLk/s1600-h/Ma+Cho+Temple+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99auACZ6Z8infQmS3TT6q0hruv7ZsMX2a-g6hYVl5Pnhv9K7i80ZT7nP-jbkW0-HEfFFG81rUgMPG5rE5h8qvMf25EqaOq5GIotGgr7GM65kH2EN-NrC-7Uz7gmrdfuTzgaFP2r0kOLk/s320/Ma+Cho+Temple+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361214427344631858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Macho temple view (taken by me on June 25, 2007)</span></div><br />After Macho Temple, we went looking for the famous basi wine because my companions needed it for their thesis. So we rode the bus to Bauang and transferred to a jeep which took us to Naguilan which is famous for basi. Basi wine is made from sugarcane and is kept in basi jars until they are ready to drink.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzyJDvRtdG25gb_4LYyyqbXb-M0VWm1AEawq2LqPOIUQHsAtZcZ9-ceiSJt7pM7oaqL0anY65vW8o3yOt16aM9vU8aKdEISTm6kBEGXY4OC9-Cn66cOfFBVePKsd5S6fKrbeKE9SFJ3c/s1600-h/Basi+Jar.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzyJDvRtdG25gb_4LYyyqbXb-M0VWm1AEawq2LqPOIUQHsAtZcZ9-ceiSJt7pM7oaqL0anY65vW8o3yOt16aM9vU8aKdEISTm6kBEGXY4OC9-Cn66cOfFBVePKsd5S6fKrbeKE9SFJ3c/s320/Basi+Jar.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361214440265543362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Basi jars (taken by <a href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> on June 25, 2007)</span><br /><br /></div>After Naguilan, we proceeded to the town of Agoo and visited the famous Agoo Basilica . This church is one of the most beautiful churches in La Union and its nearby Agoo Miracle Site is believed to be where Mother Mary appeared to a little girl. From Agoo Basilica, you still have to ride a tricycle and hike for around 30 minutes to reach the apparition site.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6Sf54cswPUiac1F3_8a1h6HVgLtPFxIRRN7dx7Uxq_nBs3zYC3EPOD6TZ_c53LMzs8TBQJlvz2v3mzhszo2hGv28yER1dKbnDTUGAtmSiLcbnrz46eMdLNEqYUTn7w1IUcT7YkIqDAw/s1600-h/Agoo+Basilica.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6Sf54cswPUiac1F3_8a1h6HVgLtPFxIRRN7dx7Uxq_nBs3zYC3EPOD6TZ_c53LMzs8TBQJlvz2v3mzhszo2hGv28yER1dKbnDTUGAtmSiLcbnrz46eMdLNEqYUTn7w1IUcT7YkIqDAw/s320/Agoo+Basilica.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361215446270325154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Agoo Basilica (taken by </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> on June 25, 2007)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8j77aTSVThhBUYuP7twkgNEnbZGMOWCnT0jyJPoy47rrmZ75hfjFaQQFkqELYWIM-cjWrfK3BYd0MUHfGCDDmlrKMFaQv6RelIwRVz5s6XILKNgCSqpl8vUVUGZ67GX5qBoBUFUsKJM/s1600-h/Agoo+Basilica+Marker.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8j77aTSVThhBUYuP7twkgNEnbZGMOWCnT0jyJPoy47rrmZ75hfjFaQQFkqELYWIM-cjWrfK3BYd0MUHfGCDDmlrKMFaQv6RelIwRVz5s6XILKNgCSqpl8vUVUGZ67GX5qBoBUFUsKJM/s320/Agoo+Basilica+Marker.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361215444968969922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Agoo Basilica Marker (taken by </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> on June 25, 2007)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUv90DT5RyrPflM0dLxYb9hTBoJ7xufxmgm8BGE1nSID1-v-JXReVucnt-wiM1i3GLbhqp3mQHE37lmkkhoCeE76tHMt535QI-NBtrdwu0bsQEA-gGWq719xFNrmTeIuPFYnm8gIlvNY/s1600-h/Agoo+Miracle+Site.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUv90DT5RyrPflM0dLxYb9hTBoJ7xufxmgm8BGE1nSID1-v-JXReVucnt-wiM1i3GLbhqp3mQHE37lmkkhoCeE76tHMt535QI-NBtrdwu0bsQEA-gGWq719xFNrmTeIuPFYnm8gIlvNY/s320/Agoo+Miracle+Site.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361215439407789394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Agoo Miracle Site (taken by </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> on June 25, 2007)<br /><br /></span></div>After Agoo, we proceeded to <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/search/label/Pangasinan">Pangasinan</a>, our last stop in our Ilocos Region exploration. We did not book an accomodation beforehand, so we asked the help of the people from the Department of Tourism in La Union, and they told us we can stay at the Hotel and Restaurant Management building of Pangasinan State University in Lingayen, Pangasinan. It was the cheapest airconditioned room we could get (900 pesos for 4 people) so we decided to take it. We rode the bus from Agoo to Dagupan, the capital of Pangasinan. From Dagupan, we then took a jeepney to Lingayen. The room offered to us was surprisingly good for its price, but the only catch is we were the only ones in the whole building and maybe the whole campus. Call me coward but because of this, I couldn't sleep the whole night. haha!<br /><br />So there you have it, our third day in the Ilocos Region. My next post will be about our exploration of <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/07/exploring-ilocos-region-pangasinan.html">Pangasinan</a>.<br /><br />Access Manila to La Union:<br />Take the bus to Laoag or Vigan and get off at La Union. (around 5-6 hours)<br /><br />Access La Union to Lingayen:<br />Take the bus to Dagupan then catch the jeep or bus to Lingayen. (around 2-3 hours)<br /><br />Access Manila to Lingayen:<br />Buses such as Dagupan Bus Lines, Five Star Bus Lines, Autobus take the Manila-Dagupan route. (around 4-5 hours) From Dagupan, take the jeep or bus to Lingayen. (around 30 minutes to 1 hour)<br /></span></span></div>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-8961310406849217842009-07-18T10:55:00.018+08:002009-07-27T11:53:50.330+08:00Exploring Ilocos Region: Ilocos SurRelated Posts:<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/07/exploring-ilocos-region-ilocos-norte.html">Exploring Ilocos Region Day 1: Ilocos Norte</a><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/07/exploring-ilocos-region-la-union.html">Exploring Ilocos Region Day 3: La Union</a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/07/exploring-ilocos-region-pangasinan.html">Exploring Ilocos Region Day 4: Pangasinan</a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Day 2 of our Ilocos Region trip took us to Ilocos Sur. From Laoag, we rode the bus to Vigan City, the capital of Ilocos Sur. The historic town of Vigan is declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it has preserved its old Hispanic architecture very well.<br /><br />Since this is actually a thesis research trip for my companions, our first stop is a salt-making facility on the outskirts of Vigan which they needed for their thesis. After that, we proceeded to Baluarte which is the home of the former governor of Ilocos Sur, Chavit Singson. This place has its own private zoo which can be accessed for free.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7SiLEk7i_dnDQmILpfvw-jCGM0mWuxw1c0j4bD3nsgy5dphWKAEx3T_u8SEGi-pY_Oooonc-SV8XClOoSJrUpUT1FDVAmbMOzo2teEi2oH2g3U0_omfU6IGF_AVbkBWkEnQIOm0UagY/s1600-h/Baluarte+View.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7SiLEk7i_dnDQmILpfvw-jCGM0mWuxw1c0j4bD3nsgy5dphWKAEx3T_u8SEGi-pY_Oooonc-SV8XClOoSJrUpUT1FDVAmbMOzo2teEi2oH2g3U0_omfU6IGF_AVbkBWkEnQIOm0UagY/s320/Baluarte+View.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359638671130578722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Baluarte (taken by me on June 24, 2007)</span><br /></div><br /><span class="fullpost">Then, we had our lunch in Cafe Leona in Mena Crisologo St., Vigan City. We were served with local signature dishes such as bagnet, Vigan longganisa, etc. We spent 680pesos for 4 people which might be OK for some, but not so okay for budget conscious travelers like us (haha call us stingy or what).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiMCXaQ9O4hoP9mtjcXfW0N0Y0XfvJ-p30ERH1lLjt0f4H7opTiVQnqqa2RDPBEtSPP-aFFLUIyx1ys5wscgSPXBl0kWPd42BJh-XNVL22NF4dnxQzeQBki8bQlfpIGqVc6efwRzVtr0/s1600-h/Vigan+Longganisa.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiMCXaQ9O4hoP9mtjcXfW0N0Y0XfvJ-p30ERH1lLjt0f4H7opTiVQnqqa2RDPBEtSPP-aFFLUIyx1ys5wscgSPXBl0kWPd42BJh-XNVL22NF4dnxQzeQBki8bQlfpIGqVc6efwRzVtr0/s320/Vigan+Longganisa.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359641232346599058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Vigan Longganisa (taken by <a href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> on June 24, 2007)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhp9flfWCALeBAR0Y-mg6W445BxIIas5-lzJRK_bcOXyrCkDLW_7iuvyZuOFVEPrPQuKilB9moB4JrDW90SC2ZxuKUE0FxsouUn1bJkEvALp9eRg2gUdPhHvUj17NGVL51IkZ0EliOvM/s1600-h/Pakbet.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhp9flfWCALeBAR0Y-mg6W445BxIIas5-lzJRK_bcOXyrCkDLW_7iuvyZuOFVEPrPQuKilB9moB4JrDW90SC2ZxuKUE0FxsouUn1bJkEvALp9eRg2gUdPhHvUj17NGVL51IkZ0EliOvM/s320/Pakbet.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359641242801255362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Pakbet (taken by <a href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> on June 24, 2007)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dto9C9H8Ukun0ms1xqzy1880NqIJLHkBhUCoxSU88HT2OyabIHM4sx-bq3j8q9JXpGDw25WQn_IVHDztVCbOFr5fJqGznDCl7iY4_YwfSJets8kM9M9ZAM4FJGvSAkfAAHOFz-8S6cw/s1600-h/Bagnet+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dto9C9H8Ukun0ms1xqzy1880NqIJLHkBhUCoxSU88HT2OyabIHM4sx-bq3j8q9JXpGDw25WQn_IVHDztVCbOFr5fJqGznDCl7iY4_YwfSJets8kM9M9ZAM4FJGvSAkfAAHOFz-8S6cw/s320/Bagnet+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359641238851535250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Bagnet (taken by <a href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> on June 24, 2007)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">After this, we proceeded to exploring Vigan City by kalesa (horse-driven carriage). A kalesa ride costs 150pesos per hour (as of 2007) and will take you around the city of Vigan. The kalesa took us to Bantay Church, Crisologo Museum, Padre Burgos House and the famous and often photographed Calle Crisologo. Our last stop was the <span style="font-style: italic;">pagbuburnay </span>or pottery making. Here, we were shown how jars were made from clay.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OH2nc-5ggPyfQDn9oIRY1jBAVTZ343QfrlwvJHfgWKgrve3LH4WUvWchiIbZv2zoLnrpJdRqZU2tCr_6gMgVA7ZE4G_OHhqG_XGTCGTauEhSaFkDONK-nlX6P-7dKv72A0aMHB3lhjs/s1600-h/Calle+Crisologo.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OH2nc-5ggPyfQDn9oIRY1jBAVTZ343QfrlwvJHfgWKgrve3LH4WUvWchiIbZv2zoLnrpJdRqZU2tCr_6gMgVA7ZE4G_OHhqG_XGTCGTauEhSaFkDONK-nlX6P-7dKv72A0aMHB3lhjs/s320/Calle+Crisologo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359644459231890626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Calle Crisologo (taken by me on June 24, 2007)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkb640N1RZKfxLhBWrSDZWC-1lOs_22kgpmkTcluNz09v0IxeqrrsAPgWsiVthfpBItktHfDSnNidzyqyt4rAcql4MN-tSgHMqulik0lzPlX6IsRiYhRjQn2YqLwFgAy0UMm09D0fOoxg/s1600-h/Bigaa.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkb640N1RZKfxLhBWrSDZWC-1lOs_22kgpmkTcluNz09v0IxeqrrsAPgWsiVthfpBItktHfDSnNidzyqyt4rAcql4MN-tSgHMqulik0lzPlX6IsRiYhRjQn2YqLwFgAy0UMm09D0fOoxg/s320/Bigaa.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359644456531518354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Origin of the name Vigan (taken by me on June 24, 2007)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyG7T_BG_Qu1IIM21V4BXTly_dNrWbRjL6fCHqpikTuiV69qwVcT0kcA8ftIyDwa5jPAAHrJ2UV51onPopVI0VZl0qWAyOHHxX-cCTuNmlGn2seTqLvTnTcl2ykNRzc34l8sYLpzP9aM/s1600-h/Bantay+Church.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyG7T_BG_Qu1IIM21V4BXTly_dNrWbRjL6fCHqpikTuiV69qwVcT0kcA8ftIyDwa5jPAAHrJ2UV51onPopVI0VZl0qWAyOHHxX-cCTuNmlGn2seTqLvTnTcl2ykNRzc34l8sYLpzP9aM/s320/Bantay+Church.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359644453461043730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Bantay Church (taken by me on June 24, 2007)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1OXwWEhXRqKqWoSy3U-bMY4VQAI3wVgk8fA5KFDM8STeP6gxry8kIHjKuu_nf1H0E9E-WR92skUM-1Q1p6mqEEIgQUqu9Agu975ad-sCsjjBjx_cAODeD2lr84XIqvIYv_B05aY-poc/s1600-h/Bantay+Belfry+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1OXwWEhXRqKqWoSy3U-bMY4VQAI3wVgk8fA5KFDM8STeP6gxry8kIHjKuu_nf1H0E9E-WR92skUM-1Q1p6mqEEIgQUqu9Agu975ad-sCsjjBjx_cAODeD2lr84XIqvIYv_B05aY-poc/s320/Bantay+Belfry+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359644448235242626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Bantay Belfry (taken by me on June 24, 2007)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAv3jy8SCAShjmTBnBfBlS50To7YVv4Zfuh6gxI2hkM-uVMp_r7l4Onrc3Xi-voc-cubbwXAKeGjSQM2b_mUjaLWDco4yU2wpLSxbjUKPIe62NTvbwE__XiQcoizJ1Koqe8QpSPTWEaTA/s1600-h/Pagbuburnay.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAv3jy8SCAShjmTBnBfBlS50To7YVv4Zfuh6gxI2hkM-uVMp_r7l4Onrc3Xi-voc-cubbwXAKeGjSQM2b_mUjaLWDco4yU2wpLSxbjUKPIe62NTvbwE__XiQcoizJ1Koqe8QpSPTWEaTA/s320/Pagbuburnay.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359644445020168962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Pagbuburnay (taken by me on June 24, 2007)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Before we left Vigan, we stopped by Vigan Cathedral in the town square. Then off we went to our next stop, La Union. We rode the Partas air-conditioned bus from Vigan to San Juan, La Union where we spent the night. The ride from Vigan to La Union is very scenic especially around the Solvec Point area. We left Vigan at around 5:30 - 6pm so we were able to catch the gorgeous sunset from our bus.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtY3CfMlbzqOM7LWDRzIxdbIHD_cdC515K0_-xGajLMIy1jYZDqDPjoViot4syIRCQ-njBHV3sN_PC53S55YJ9ugHbvl-_f0tmrZIdhuoGkK6DGiQHUy_RcAxMLiDfoyYBFjM_4xZSY0/s1600-h/Vigan+Cathedral.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtY3CfMlbzqOM7LWDRzIxdbIHD_cdC515K0_-xGajLMIy1jYZDqDPjoViot4syIRCQ-njBHV3sN_PC53S55YJ9ugHbvl-_f0tmrZIdhuoGkK6DGiQHUy_RcAxMLiDfoyYBFjM_4xZSY0/s320/Vigan+Cathedral.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359647365795961746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Vigan Cathedral (taken by me on June 24, 2007)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2SHLcwH7Cd7s37Hj58Zd3TruGw36qOdidvCD9vIAENGsNxaPN8G1q834njTtBnVc2KrjAnP9hcR-YNtm8I75kPwrePQBnRwabFU6fLG5AGy-J2_pnkLVHemJZuvlPVeT3CdPKjSYtH0/s1600-h/Solvec+Point+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2SHLcwH7Cd7s37Hj58Zd3TruGw36qOdidvCD9vIAENGsNxaPN8G1q834njTtBnVc2KrjAnP9hcR-YNtm8I75kPwrePQBnRwabFU6fLG5AGy-J2_pnkLVHemJZuvlPVeT3CdPKjSYtH0/s320/Solvec+Point+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359647354744410066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sunset at Solvec Point (taken by me on June 24, 2007)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">After around 3 hours, we reached San Juan, La Union. At that time, we did not have a place to stay yet, so we asked some people around to recommend a nice accommodation. They told us to go to Se-Bay. We actually did not like the place but because it was already getting late, we had not choice but to stay here. The only good part about this resort is that it is located right in front of the famous surfing beach of San Juan. So it is nice for day trips but I do not recommend this place for overnight trips.<br /><br />Access Laoag to Vigan:<br />Buses and minivans leave regularly for Vigan. Travel time is around 2 hours.<br /><br />Access Manila to Vigan:<br />Buses such as Partas, Viron Transit, Dominion Bus Lines take the Manila-Vigan route daily. Travel time is around 6-8 hours.<br /><br />Access Vigan to San Juan, La Union:<br />Ride the buses bound for Manila and get off at San Juan, La Union. Travel time is around 3 hours.<br /><br />Access Manila to San Juan, La Union:<br />Ride the buses bound for Vigan or Laoag and get off at San Juan, La Union. Travel time is around 5-6 hours.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-21681521303406277002009-07-15T10:18:00.025+08:002009-07-27T11:54:07.760+08:00Exploring Ilocos Region: Ilocos NorteRelated Posts:<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/07/exploring-ilocos-region-ilocos-sur.html">Exploring Ilocos Region Day 2: Ilocos Sur </a><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/07/exploring-ilocos-region-la-union.html">Exploring Ilocos Region Day 3: La Union</a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/07/exploring-ilocos-region-pangasinan.html">Exploring Ilocos Region Day 4: Pangasinan</a></span><br /><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/07/exploring-ilocos-region-ilocos-norte.html"></a><div style="text-align: justify;">I went with my friend, <a href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> and her thesismates MJ and JV in their thesis research/backpacking adventure to the Ilocos Region - one of the northermost regions of the Philippines. We only had 4 days so we only spent a day in each of the 4 provinces of the region (<a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/search/label/Ilocos%20Norte">Ilocos Norte</a>, <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/search/label/Ilocos%20Sur">Ilocos Sur</a>, <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/search/label/La%20Union">La Union</a> and <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/search/label/Pangasinan">Pangasinan</a>). Our first stop: the northernmost province of Ilocos Norte. Ilocos Norte is famous for being the hometown of the former president Ferdinand Marcos. It is also known for its beautiful beaches such as Pagudpod and picturesque sceneries.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />We took the night bus of Farinas Transit from Manila and arrived at Laoag, the capital of Ilocos Norte around 8am the next day. We were lucky my friend <a href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> knew someone from Laoag and he was kind enough to lend us his car for the whole day. So after eating our breakfast, we headed to the historical Paoay Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgb5xAO00rL5R_DMXOpscF_u_HrpCvbM9nh-snipB8SfCHTEMeZGS1lbPcwnpv3eHr_vHkkPBHyqzQHGJeoFKljg4tKKjZr5qlQ65o1VqUskGVDr5X-zzjMFaV5QH8plxiKHsQHr-1o9M/s1600-h/Paoay+Church.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgb5xAO00rL5R_DMXOpscF_u_HrpCvbM9nh-snipB8SfCHTEMeZGS1lbPcwnpv3eHr_vHkkPBHyqzQHGJeoFKljg4tKKjZr5qlQ65o1VqUskGVDr5X-zzjMFaV5QH8plxiKHsQHr-1o9M/s320/Paoay+Church.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358523254599477522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Paoay Church (taken by </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> <span style="font-style: italic;"> on June 23, 2007)</span><br /><br /></div><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiytfjNx5jQUb48yC0yH2w3c44QWjBpRWMJoAyRooBZCCXqeyyD9XyP-vrAaxXZUcPnBnsVPGGOcxmZ5BSjwnkC4gaSGSqN5yIAoscx7kQmoSsTxyEteWT_5EJXBaiXd56Ehnyd1Ckmg/s1600-h/Paoay+Church+Marker.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiytfjNx5jQUb48yC0yH2w3c44QWjBpRWMJoAyRooBZCCXqeyyD9XyP-vrAaxXZUcPnBnsVPGGOcxmZ5BSjwnkC4gaSGSqN5yIAoscx7kQmoSsTxyEteWT_5EJXBaiXd56Ehnyd1Ckmg/s320/Paoay+Church+Marker.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358523244307674162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Paoay Church Marker (taken by me</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> on June 23, 2007)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbJy3wtpw_3pmZmXKIwJ5mVkZ5OJszFGJlexWPA2GebeRbklz5aZHRV4QJz9UvpBUBOZlS01zDntc2iDeTbc0ffrQ03rR3wOHQCf10jo9GpGAX6KoNNFlaGCJhkr37ji6R_pH6X2zvCY/s1600-h/Paoay+Church+Painting.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbJy3wtpw_3pmZmXKIwJ5mVkZ5OJszFGJlexWPA2GebeRbklz5aZHRV4QJz9UvpBUBOZlS01zDntc2iDeTbc0ffrQ03rR3wOHQCf10jo9GpGAX6KoNNFlaGCJhkr37ji6R_pH6X2zvCY/s320/Paoay+Church+Painting.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358523642658439522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Paoay Church Painting in Malacanang of the North (taken by me</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> on June 23, 2007)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">After Paoay Church, we headed to the Marcos Museum and Mausoleum in Batac. This museum is where memorablias of the former president Ferdinand Marcos can be seen. But the main attraction of this place is mausoleum which houses the presevered body of the former president. Kinda creepy if you ask me. Take note that you cannot take pictures inside the mausoleum.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg243z0pWiw43JpfSxm4PoS0qt6ipQKd2dKc0y7B5fKKAJP9xh83QWKPbzJqEpmtCnWv8x3TUPOzF6lKUy5bLwYFsJNts39BfRpHWnppLe03OThy6hiWMX6gQZBmdOKsGklQaX185RTJ8E/s1600-h/Marcos+Museum+With+Marcos+haha.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 122px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg243z0pWiw43JpfSxm4PoS0qt6ipQKd2dKc0y7B5fKKAJP9xh83QWKPbzJqEpmtCnWv8x3TUPOzF6lKUy5bLwYFsJNts39BfRpHWnppLe03OThy6hiWMX6gQZBmdOKsGklQaX185RTJ8E/s320/Marcos+Museum+With+Marcos+haha.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358523624094770434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Wax replica of Ferdinand Marcos (taken by JV </span>on June 23, 2007)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Then, we headed out to the Malacanang of the North in Paoay. Take note that even if Paoay Church is named after this place, it is located in Laoag and not in Paoay. The Malacanang of the North was the official residence of the former president whenever they were around the area and was eventually turned into a museum. This place also has a beautiful view of Paoay Lake. Entrance fee is 20pesos and it is open from 9am to 5pm daily.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmR6X4A0dE1V3a6G58ppR7l3NEsFuWHRNAJe2YREy-oPfZMlFSdUgV-ghvc_m45FxghHMRsspmpDNs8na6ZAPoMioxUQf8h64e9Qn_Ikosk7Muv__xZGKDRjxLVMdysLZqQrGi9OdB1E/s1600-h/Malacanang+of+the+North.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmR6X4A0dE1V3a6G58ppR7l3NEsFuWHRNAJe2YREy-oPfZMlFSdUgV-ghvc_m45FxghHMRsspmpDNs8na6ZAPoMioxUQf8h64e9Qn_Ikosk7Muv__xZGKDRjxLVMdysLZqQrGi9OdB1E/s320/Malacanang+of+the+North.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358523629928965778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Malacanang of the North (taken by </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> <span style="font-style: italic;"> on June 23, 2007)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv80-FgBuiP49bbDS3dKoH2qlbmuZ2s5rSiQ_xeeHZWHn9byNhZdgg1Z5MbUB7pau5wlLVjTOU4IGSyt4e3ObOZKZHLdhAw2qfxPXia7fskVWfNiioFIT0zQUIuP3ioNvX_xywLtnJ93Y/s1600-h/Paoay+Lake.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv80-FgBuiP49bbDS3dKoH2qlbmuZ2s5rSiQ_xeeHZWHn9byNhZdgg1Z5MbUB7pau5wlLVjTOU4IGSyt4e3ObOZKZHLdhAw2qfxPXia7fskVWfNiioFIT0zQUIuP3ioNvX_xywLtnJ93Y/s320/Paoay+Lake.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358523638459807570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Paoay Lake (taken by </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://yenniie.blogspot.com/">Lor</a> <span style="font-style: italic;"> on June 23, 2007)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">After Paoay, we went back to Laoag to have our lunch and visited some of the famous sites in Laoag such as the Sinking Bell Tower, Laoag Church, Tobacco Monument and the Town Plaza. </div></div></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXlB60mPORC6os2yfETHDBJBp4wrYQTeha__L7LDmiAK6oQKc3U9UtL3g45LrWFfn15VVADPPIgdyxvEv4VWrh3Vv4f5K7Vg9gJ4R9xNMSE9foBvi-b5IyZAG5_UxMML2HCUbFIhGZlQ/s1600-h/Sinking+Bell+Tower+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXlB60mPORC6os2yfETHDBJBp4wrYQTeha__L7LDmiAK6oQKc3U9UtL3g45LrWFfn15VVADPPIgdyxvEv4VWrh3Vv4f5K7Vg9gJ4R9xNMSE9foBvi-b5IyZAG5_UxMML2HCUbFIhGZlQ/s320/Sinking+Bell+Tower+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358524765468265730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sinking Bell Tower: only half of the entrance remains (taken by me on June 23, 2007)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Then off we went to the highlight of the day - the scenic roadtrip from Laoag to Pagudpod. Do not sleep on the way because you will miss out the beautiful view. We stopped by the lovely Cape Bojeador and the Bangui Windmills before reaching the serene beaches of Pagudpod.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMKCv-nmf20nyIh5a2AtQe-c7Ug4ukpb7OL4UfOOFKPJ9zU0HZa-d4Fq-ZGk0pCdHMriM7uRGdX_rkudAdAHgiH59ZFc6cXpu-6bLmmbQwEpjowiF_78651W05mAWUYzrOz6ikiq5oqU/s1600-h/Cape+Bojeador+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMKCv-nmf20nyIh5a2AtQe-c7Ug4ukpb7OL4UfOOFKPJ9zU0HZa-d4Fq-ZGk0pCdHMriM7uRGdX_rkudAdAHgiH59ZFc6cXpu-6bLmmbQwEpjowiF_78651W05mAWUYzrOz6ikiq5oqU/s320/Cape+Bojeador+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358526409004674418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Cape Bojeador (taken by me on June 23, 2007)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iJplqrFZmD1jgE9GeaLu-yxxSFHAZZ2oyXJwic8T09yZMlQddLDI35htxKWJqtnE3ZE4rWgVFmp9wED5LpOycrC7ASl-D4j_ttSrcg7fW5IEVkhw_cPuM2MRQBGP4DrpLkTsr3yG948/s1600-h/Cape+Bojeador%27s+Amazing+View.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iJplqrFZmD1jgE9GeaLu-yxxSFHAZZ2oyXJwic8T09yZMlQddLDI35htxKWJqtnE3ZE4rWgVFmp9wED5LpOycrC7ASl-D4j_ttSrcg7fW5IEVkhw_cPuM2MRQBGP4DrpLkTsr3yG948/s320/Cape+Bojeador%27s+Amazing+View.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358526413540735746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Cape Bojeador's Amazing View (taken by me on June 23, 2007)</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZUGeko89Q4LkK0tNUpQ_NdXBWfxLQE3AieSwrCmzEsgcazu1z3ijV_-K7NXjxRsxs6lhq01cZit6sarJn5yiP4HLYj242xq7maRMEV08TZAt-LoPiq9F3I49cMNj5HU6nyxcp0SEEfU/s1600-h/Bangui+Windmills.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZUGeko89Q4LkK0tNUpQ_NdXBWfxLQE3AieSwrCmzEsgcazu1z3ijV_-K7NXjxRsxs6lhq01cZit6sarJn5yiP4HLYj242xq7maRMEV08TZAt-LoPiq9F3I49cMNj5HU6nyxcp0SEEfU/s320/Bangui+Windmills.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358526402942652642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Bangui Windmills (taken by me on June 23, 2007)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Tk2JvXM7WDrznw-Xoh1r4qyC9YBy6ysWCweo8_peKqU0REz8yTnI4BS1gIU8puyka8SETIrC2Mlm2_SFsqGHgwBaMh2q7QQbjKo_ocFNAKoHO1m0B_XoTBST5XvOJyucIzCesf_y2bE/s1600-h/Pagudpod+Beach+View+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Tk2JvXM7WDrznw-Xoh1r4qyC9YBy6ysWCweo8_peKqU0REz8yTnI4BS1gIU8puyka8SETIrC2Mlm2_SFsqGHgwBaMh2q7QQbjKo_ocFNAKoHO1m0B_XoTBST5XvOJyucIzCesf_y2bE/s320/Pagudpod+Beach+View+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358526418399142914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Pagudpod (taken by me on June 23, 2007)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3z7ddUltwsWc-Z3QOE4EMdx3EgKAZq_rkUTLseCgThzUWhBkr4grSbE2tzn76dCrrmSH2YiPgFKn3zmjuyyp-TDpcZ4-KO-VcyxrV0Bm1NqRfoOBtRAZo7N3JE4-yI0beVf51Y9MwwDU/s1600-h/Pagudpod+Beach+View.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3z7ddUltwsWc-Z3QOE4EMdx3EgKAZq_rkUTLseCgThzUWhBkr4grSbE2tzn76dCrrmSH2YiPgFKn3zmjuyyp-TDpcZ4-KO-VcyxrV0Bm1NqRfoOBtRAZo7N3JE4-yI0beVf51Y9MwwDU/s320/Pagudpod+Beach+View.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358526418144826530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Pagudpod (taken by me on June 23, 2007)<br /><br /></span></div>We just took a quick dip in Pagudpod and headed back to Laoag just in time for dinner. We had the famous Ilocos Empanada (yum!) and ate it in our hotel - La Elliana Hotel (Contact Number: +63777714876/+6377<span style="visibility: visible;" id="main"><span style="visibility: visible;" id="search">771-6008</span></span>; Addres: Brg. 5 cor Alban Ave. Rizal St. Laoag City). I highly recommend this inn because it is cheap and very clean.<br /><br />So there you have it, our first day in the Ilocos Region. Next stop: <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/07/exploring-ilocos-region-ilocos-sur.html">Ilocos Sur </a>.<br /><br /></div></div>Access from Manila: Buses such as Farinas, Autobus, Maria de Leon, Partas take the Manila-Laoag route daily. Travel time is around 9-10 hours.<br /></span></div>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-32469147889039873542009-07-09T16:49:00.013+08:002009-07-23T12:45:34.280+08:00Seoul!!!<div style="text-align: justify;">2 years ago around this time, I went with my sister and her officemates to Seoul. I was addicted to Korean dramas and k-pop during that time so I was really really excited to visit this city.<br /><br />Our first day in Seoul was spent touring around the city. We rode the hop in hop off Seoul Downtown Tour Bus which basically took us around the famous places in Seoul. A one-day pass costs around 10000won. We boarded in Gwanghwamun and went down in Namdaemun, Myeong Dong, Namsan Seoul Tower, Namsangol Hanok, Blue House and Dongdaemun. There were actually more than 30 stops, but because of the limited time, we only went down to these 6 places.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgA67KQBCgryK8aOxmi1FTY9defMe62zn_WMetkGB7PARfDvkqNg7OJEFa3YnREPPO57HsjYg0WaQPfg5uQ1-EXp-iNCc_ZLmcf6zj8cQoQk6KdtclXr-624yg86LTwI9K_CEGEAa7KEM/s320/Namdaemun+Gate.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356367506898768722" border="0" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Namdaemun Gate (taken by my sister's friend on July 13, 2007)</span></div><br /><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuI4N4IVUIEBb2gf1METWOhCkqxsPny9yhdtRwkBju79VXTfsRGnQffV-mSLFf4lion4h6Mernbplhh8Gj8LByUzY5peMT0Tn12MMz2mu5-z8PU2DdQJfFhaUt658lCyr5cEPr9aG59s/s1600-h/Namdaemun+Market+Streets.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuI4N4IVUIEBb2gf1METWOhCkqxsPny9yhdtRwkBju79VXTfsRGnQffV-mSLFf4lion4h6Mernbplhh8Gj8LByUzY5peMT0Tn12MMz2mu5-z8PU2DdQJfFhaUt658lCyr5cEPr9aG59s/s320/Namdaemun+Market+Streets.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356367508017015970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Namdaemun Market (taken by my sister's friend </span><span style="font-style: italic;">on </span><span style="font-style: italic;">July 13, 2007)</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UGkyBSMy3-tl4dL2vS_ee1_HHYy1klMEBcJsFJdQazUXU24d5a6dFBorXANgYfRYTIdR3jqC4jIazCQyLSJUCJlOKJOQ83-35qIv0MyeSR8dYKDoIeyKSfcko96LuGvWJFjthEefJpA/s1600-h/Food!!!.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UGkyBSMy3-tl4dL2vS_ee1_HHYy1klMEBcJsFJdQazUXU24d5a6dFBorXANgYfRYTIdR3jqC4jIazCQyLSJUCJlOKJOQ83-35qIv0MyeSR8dYKDoIeyKSfcko96LuGvWJFjthEefJpA/s320/Food!!!.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356367032737570306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Food in Namdaemun (taken by my sister's friend </span><span style="font-style: italic;">on </span><span style="font-style: italic;">July 13, 2007)</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6Gs55fcsXKvQKf_sgBCoxW0N5EbCZ_4zRKV0qd2I461ovmcQMSMdgI4Vl8CaK-X1kW4id3Y3NLOdNutVBchHfsxqYlH6OJsY7sepdiU3eAMzIryOZ4oMEOVjZ7N8xRwBo7OQnLIL2Fg/s1600-h/Lunch!.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6Gs55fcsXKvQKf_sgBCoxW0N5EbCZ_4zRKV0qd2I461ovmcQMSMdgI4Vl8CaK-X1kW4id3Y3NLOdNutVBchHfsxqYlH6OJsY7sepdiU3eAMzIryOZ4oMEOVjZ7N8xRwBo7OQnLIL2Fg/s320/Lunch!.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356367504257001250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lunch in Namdaemun (taken by me on July 13, 2007)</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUg-vXj7-Rz0YFLi_ZV4p3O8CJFXAWe-kGHmqomDotmMU6Y1bibalvfORPkGAEMkJWRUIW640M3twm7NmYYTrmgWoGuZaom1Rj2a_5Cs4RD769lYxn8Qv2JxFNFhehQNa3l6TdirYiuLY/s1600-h/Seoul+Tower+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 171px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUg-vXj7-Rz0YFLi_ZV4p3O8CJFXAWe-kGHmqomDotmMU6Y1bibalvfORPkGAEMkJWRUIW640M3twm7NmYYTrmgWoGuZaom1Rj2a_5Cs4RD769lYxn8Qv2JxFNFhehQNa3l6TdirYiuLY/s320/Seoul+Tower+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356367924341772994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Seoul Tower (taken by my sister's friend on July 13, 2007)</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38G881fHJfXxk7raK-KtudqfBMPtObhDi0IbiPlyhEIgtYn9SyKkkbcga1WlWamYjcNddNjGgWFzg8ENrVhMKFUjVjVTvDKBdSGfdvRX0Zi2Wvnrd6N7NpI9RjgOA8XkFprge0E3dvkE/s1600-h/Gwanghwamun+Buildings+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38G881fHJfXxk7raK-KtudqfBMPtObhDi0IbiPlyhEIgtYn9SyKkkbcga1WlWamYjcNddNjGgWFzg8ENrVhMKFUjVjVTvDKBdSGfdvRX0Zi2Wvnrd6N7NpI9RjgOA8XkFprge0E3dvkE/s320/Gwanghwamun+Buildings+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356367035421441890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Gwanghwamun (taken by me on July 13, 2007)</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrB94GRwbPCy2Hls-07chndbeslUq4i72BG-v3lNbuvU9a_faXWCLYSSbLHtO6C0euuvIk4nmoZOVawYLI31xOV58BQFbD3TFLPFJrZxE-UqksSUS3hwMlG_GPIBMEvt2bhHrj6xoJIdY/s1600-h/Blue+House+5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrB94GRwbPCy2Hls-07chndbeslUq4i72BG-v3lNbuvU9a_faXWCLYSSbLHtO6C0euuvIk4nmoZOVawYLI31xOV58BQFbD3TFLPFJrZxE-UqksSUS3hwMlG_GPIBMEvt2bhHrj6xoJIdY/s320/Blue+House+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356367029650992706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Blue House (taken by my sister's friend on July 13, 2007)</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRpx4mc1-7ERGhfrFiRaCvgcmQwGnYkN3c3Zcs_KgE9lM1x-dkqwH8W81Xp7gzRaSOvQ0qCsPv6OObQ7F8CBpxAmg2EFLyuWCjQ3Kzh86Xbn0mRCnq7MTAEwigHfTzE0Kty45yv6UcUg/s1600-h/Seoul+City+Bus+Tour+Route.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRpx4mc1-7ERGhfrFiRaCvgcmQwGnYkN3c3Zcs_KgE9lM1x-dkqwH8W81Xp7gzRaSOvQ0qCsPv6OObQ7F8CBpxAmg2EFLyuWCjQ3Kzh86Xbn0mRCnq7MTAEwigHfTzE0Kty45yv6UcUg/s320/Seoul+City+Bus+Tour+Route.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356367916188825618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Seoul Downtown Tour Bus Route (taken by me on July 13, 2007)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">The next day we went to Lotte World (a famous theme park) and then proceeded to 63 Building to see Seoul at night from its observatory deck. You can also see Seoul from the Namsan Seoul Tower but we chose this building because my sister was a big fan of the Korean series My Girl, and some scenes from My Girl were shot here. But I am not complaining because the view from the building is great! Entrance fee is 7000won and the observatory deck is open from 10am to 12mn (last admission is 11pm).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNJVcdjiqrZ53QOpbvUVhHpmFN-lFIkVKf57Yaq-GXynPMUqVyTfJfrnafMxApqrpJSfbYtHBoA9Zdvx0jSL_wPnSxCNSl6Rbq-dznmaxh1DRoIAi9vXRpIlUNe065MK2JzAltzwaxFE/s320/Lotte+World+Castle+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356367038172897122" border="0" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Lotte World Castle (taken by me on July 14, 2007)</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jA3rzUppehX5I9XaCnhQieQ_XzU9xfHWgt6fOFh_SEflRyYdJEFqeg6lZSFv1CTgg3rvHGTrNkN6oDltcqgQENeXDHDoCWE9FuM0DyPxdMwdpdKk4aZt4YrkXVz0yMcPxB17RzQ5n20/s1600-h/Lotte+World+Rink+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jA3rzUppehX5I9XaCnhQieQ_XzU9xfHWgt6fOFh_SEflRyYdJEFqeg6lZSFv1CTgg3rvHGTrNkN6oDltcqgQENeXDHDoCWE9FuM0DyPxdMwdpdKk4aZt4YrkXVz0yMcPxB17RzQ5n20/s320/Lotte+World+Rink+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356367041974922338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lotte World Ice Skating Rink (taken by me on July 14, 2007)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfUHKwQnUFtwWWms-gpworcmAnoVu_4Lu9kiFy2WURRWdnhnn3U_vVYwFs6RSuFhKTwA_dI_cYJ6Gx8zrIFx_Ds4FVkggFN2mqrwM5M-HX8-lks0g0z2RA8h99WiFNsTUPkxw38OI9hc/s1600-h/Seoul+At+Night+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfUHKwQnUFtwWWms-gpworcmAnoVu_4Lu9kiFy2WURRWdnhnn3U_vVYwFs6RSuFhKTwA_dI_cYJ6Gx8zrIFx_Ds4FVkggFN2mqrwM5M-HX8-lks0g0z2RA8h99WiFNsTUPkxw38OI9hc/s320/Seoul+At+Night+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356367916907933378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Seoul at night from 63 Building Observatory Deck</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(taken by my sister's friend on July 14, 2007)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Our last full day in South Korea was spent in Nami Island. Ok why Nami Island? Well, this time, my sister's friend was a big fan of the Korean drama Winter Sonata and some of the famous scenes from this drama were shot here (sounds familiar?). Since this place is located outside of Seoul, we took the bus from Seoul to Chuncheon and went down at Gapyeong Bus Terminal Station. From Gapyeong Bus Terminal Station, we took a taxi to the port where we boarded the ferry which took us to Nami Island.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGD7N_mvOtU_PLNw7PtY5El_EqM_cUH-_no8Oo7kiIOfRmQvgX7vWbyzc9g_3NvntSLW-iOxy6bAKIiCnUBh66OPfTwSK6i-DcNoRKtwu0AbNrz47IXYoE_tnnY4O6v_gYrNc1jkigdE/s320/Nami+Island+Garden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356367513738887842" border="0" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Inside Nami Island (taken by my sister's friend on July 15, 2007)</span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSlUip5MCc1AObwRJal7lxzA2Cu39Yow5yJTZ5kDz5EkipfJEPJ-lEQYA6LcoUv0h-SCBI44uZt857CDXcFFiZyFUOS80Kh5H3i2SwP7hDOO6ysNun-ThCIUTnB185QAwnBW25pBLm5Y/s1600-h/Nami+Island+Ice+Cream.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSlUip5MCc1AObwRJal7lxzA2Cu39Yow5yJTZ5kDz5EkipfJEPJ-lEQYA6LcoUv0h-SCBI44uZt857CDXcFFiZyFUOS80Kh5H3i2SwP7hDOO6ysNun-ThCIUTnB185QAwnBW25pBLm5Y/s320/Nami+Island+Ice+Cream.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356367520478198322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Nami Island Icecream (taken by me on July 15, 2007)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We headed home the next day. Even if we only spent 4 days in Seoul and adminttedly had not explored it completely, I still fell in love with this city. I just love the energy (shops are open til 5am!!!) and food (kimchi and bibimbap!!!). I wish I could go back to Seoul again.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></span>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-48574066871372502132009-07-05T11:58:00.005+08:002009-07-23T12:23:42.527+08:008 Things To Do In Osaka<div style="text-align: justify;">"Why should I go to Osaka?", you may ask. For me, the main reason to visit Osaka is to experience the friendlier and warmer side of Japan. Osakans are known to be accommodating, funny and outspoken (in a good way). Yes, Osaka may be a little shabbier compared to Tokyo, but it will make you feel like you are at home. Aside from this, Osaka is synonymous to good and cheap food, so if you are a foodie like me, you must visit Osaka. Based on my experience in this city, I came up with a list of 8 things to do in Osaka. Here they are.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1) Eat in Dotonbori</span><br />Dotonbori is a whole street filled with restaurants and food stands. Here, you can get local Osakan foods such as okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake), takoyaki (octopus balls), kushikatsu (deep fried skewers) and battera (a modification of sushi). So basically, this is a street for <span style="font-style: italic;">kuidaore</span> or eating yourself to ruins which the Osakans love to do. Oh, don't you just love Osaka :D<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyweeN6OfRLh-jCNXrqxy81d4JRt0auKTb2KNAeoNcGgiFKZab4oOMAjUNJYpDMEIjSCihQ1kR9-aNXXu6lny7yCVNJNbXDZtd9jDXwpCTQsGorTRp9cM1OjHQJmyfSll4DpgR9z2RWS4/s1600-h/Giant+Crab+in+Dotonbori.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyweeN6OfRLh-jCNXrqxy81d4JRt0auKTb2KNAeoNcGgiFKZab4oOMAjUNJYpDMEIjSCihQ1kR9-aNXXu6lny7yCVNJNbXDZtd9jDXwpCTQsGorTRp9cM1OjHQJmyfSll4DpgR9z2RWS4/s320/Giant+Crab+in+Dotonbori.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354444148590861714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Big Crab in Dotonbori (taken on August 3, 2008)<br /><br /></span></div><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBM8oDxuLxqHGkg553l47ZTf4m8ODi2UwvT7C33T4KqfGJFWIC2EbMpTS9cEaBVLmMZcnrAM448fqbT3komGCG9HbD3HkPz87sIjVABxSFmJ_blnl658Fgu7VCOTGn7pW6XopgCmHjdo/s1600-h/Glico+Man.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBM8oDxuLxqHGkg553l47ZTf4m8ODi2UwvT7C33T4KqfGJFWIC2EbMpTS9cEaBVLmMZcnrAM448fqbT3komGCG9HbD3HkPz87sIjVABxSFmJ_blnl658Fgu7VCOTGn7pW6XopgCmHjdo/s320/Glico+Man.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354444151167867122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Near Dotonbori Bridge (taken on August 3, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGfqIqr_MKKKY-2h5CKW2ghQL5gh2bnki0a2m3E8iviTVB7Prf72y1MbD6VIafG22OVrK0ePFVmmpPYwHNG_T1mOill48u4zbv0AIWD3ZrncenjwPLYxgSk8NsOllz2daEabVzh9S-JU/s1600-h/Dotonbori+4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGfqIqr_MKKKY-2h5CKW2ghQL5gh2bnki0a2m3E8iviTVB7Prf72y1MbD6VIafG22OVrK0ePFVmmpPYwHNG_T1mOill48u4zbv0AIWD3ZrncenjwPLYxgSk8NsOllz2daEabVzh9S-JU/s320/Dotonbori+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354444150863480498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Dotonbori Street (taken on August 3, 2008)<br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Access:<br />a) Osaka Subway Midosuji Line Namba Station<br />b) Osaka Subway Midosuji Line Shinsaibashi Station<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">2) Shop</span><br />You can buy anything - clothes, electronics, kitchenware - in Osaka for a cheaper price (compared to Tokyo). Some of the popular shopping districts for clothes include the Shinsaibashi/Namba area (including Shinsaibashi covered street, Namba, Horie, America-mura, Ebisubashi, Midosuji Street) and Umeda. There are also underground shopping centers in these areas and you can easily locate them when you exit from the subway stations. For electronics, you can either go to Denden Town in Nipponbashi, or to big stores like Bic Camera and Yodobashi camera in Namba and Umeda respectively. For kitchenware, try Douguyasuji in Namba. Osaka has other shopping places like Tenjimbashi but they are not as popular as the ones in Shinsaibashi/Namba and Umeda.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SD-S3uAg6qTTs7aj-IgKfpa52BlRTp2qu6PhF0B08dDlEQIFEMCo5bkqzRkTejEnvUUyBYwuh2wHK86ruja0wcCa9FrhMiIpBundKTFkNR4jxkqXOyapXNyzKnUkttiSptnNucC3x2Y/s1600-h/Shinsaibashi+Dotonbori+Area+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SD-S3uAg6qTTs7aj-IgKfpa52BlRTp2qu6PhF0B08dDlEQIFEMCo5bkqzRkTejEnvUUyBYwuh2wHK86ruja0wcCa9FrhMiIpBundKTFkNR4jxkqXOyapXNyzKnUkttiSptnNucC3x2Y/s320/Shinsaibashi+Dotonbori+Area+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354452593793086578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Shinasaibashi Suji Covered Shopping Street (taken on August 3, 2008)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJEFB0R-2b0TwimtlFVh-3B_SwrXz0rTXCaWobF4bbleGixacbdN7FifjYA40u9dyHMzChboh4UD00be5pAwCbheNBGIGj0k2assE38G6zgHId1gohfFReOWrRCm0WmP-DTCCQlkFYMk/s1600-h/Inside+Shinsaibashi.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJEFB0R-2b0TwimtlFVh-3B_SwrXz0rTXCaWobF4bbleGixacbdN7FifjYA40u9dyHMzChboh4UD00be5pAwCbheNBGIGj0k2assE38G6zgHId1gohfFReOWrRCm0WmP-DTCCQlkFYMk/s320/Inside+Shinsaibashi.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354454188760081154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Inside Shinasaibashi Suji Covered Shopping Street (taken on November 30, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1g9mVw3wv5reijjBBg8xzDd-C3fd_yScTOTeXKhSyIByXqO_bAI-0vtr6_gPKNpFXuakgxyIXhPHw3mDVEiVmy_BheoQ1uNYcN6QuH016w7wloI4DMEIhztFDc03hz1VOayO7lREw1hs/s1600-h/Shinsaibashi.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1g9mVw3wv5reijjBBg8xzDd-C3fd_yScTOTeXKhSyIByXqO_bAI-0vtr6_gPKNpFXuakgxyIXhPHw3mDVEiVmy_BheoQ1uNYcN6QuH016w7wloI4DMEIhztFDc03hz1VOayO7lREw1hs/s320/Shinsaibashi.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354452589492183474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Near Douguyasuji (taken on August 3, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81tgAgK_A7MkBN2d2-_oa6uF2l2KDErH0QIk_qadXPKbC9HMk4fmpkh0BsCf5qQtb3KLwZuSIMRY5LcOEKXEiC2vLJVa-TPLWsQgMg7keYh8cZYL1nU6NtcAjiHd9Vi2h1rMkstFVGiA/s1600-h/Namba+Parks.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81tgAgK_A7MkBN2d2-_oa6uF2l2KDErH0QIk_qadXPKbC9HMk4fmpkh0BsCf5qQtb3KLwZuSIMRY5LcOEKXEiC2vLJVa-TPLWsQgMg7keYh8cZYL1nU6NtcAjiHd9Vi2h1rMkstFVGiA/s320/Namba+Parks.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354452578637723826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Namba Parks (taken on August 3, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0MNXd0vDsEV6Frl8dvfwrwMsZrIOzPCBHhiv9Dryz-yEVRx_1JZzVexj3zJJ0KR6dOAgukRbJZhcyrd3C_kAbd6tZvB2uaw0GnYIcV-VtLTf1c34SknuLcoUbNh3EmD8aHgSZBP4nVA/s1600-h/midosuji+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0MNXd0vDsEV6Frl8dvfwrwMsZrIOzPCBHhiv9Dryz-yEVRx_1JZzVexj3zJJ0KR6dOAgukRbJZhcyrd3C_kAbd6tZvB2uaw0GnYIcV-VtLTf1c34SknuLcoUbNh3EmD8aHgSZBP4nVA/s320/midosuji+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354452575752715410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Midosuji Street in Autumn (taken on November 30, 2008)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Access:<br />a) Namba-Shinsaibashi Area:<ul><li>JR Namba Station</li><li>Osaka Subway Namba Station</li><li>Nankai Electric Railway Namba Station</li><li>Kintetsu Namba Station</li><li>Hanshin Namba Station</li><li>Osaka Subway Shinsaibashi Station</li></ul>b) Denden Town<br /><ul><li>Osaka Subway Namba Station</li><li>Osaka Subway Nipponbashi Station</li></ul>c) Umeda<br /><ul><li> JR Umeda Station</li><li> Hankyuu Umeda Station</li><li>Hanshin Umeda Station</li><li>Osaka Subway Umeda Station</li><li> Osaka Subway Higashi-Umeda Station</li><li> Osaka Subway Nishi-Umeda Station</li></ul>d) Tenjimbashi<br /><ul><li> Osaka Subway Tenjimbashi-suji-6-chome Station</li><li> Osaka Subway Ogimachi Station</li><li>Osaka Subway Minamimorimachi Station</li><li>JR Tenma Station</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />3) Go Up Umeda Sky Building At Night</span><br />You can clearly see Umeda on top of the Umeda Sky Building. I recommend going here at night because the sight is just magnificent. Here are some shots of <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/07/osaka-night-views.html">Osaka at night</a>. Entrance fee is 700yen and the observatory is open from 10am to 10:30pm (entry until 10pm only).<br /><br />Access:<br />a) JR Umeda Station<br />b) Hankyuu Umeda Station<br />c) Hanshin Umeda Station<br />d) Osaka Subway Umeda Station<br />e) Osaka Subway Higashi-Umeda Station<br />f) Osaka Subway Nishi-Umeda Station<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4) See Osaka Castle</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">This is one of the famous landmarks of Osaka. This castle houses a museum just like that of <a href="http://angdakilanglakwatsera.blogspot.com/2009/06/short-trip-to-himeji.html">Himeji's</a>, and is open daily from 9am to 5pm. Admission is 600yen. If you do not want to shell out some cash, you can relax in the park around the castle grounds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfd1ajbFygYn32k8I4gUkadArn6W8PdOBNRoxRz8UJrDClXBFcTD_foPGxJLgz4JaypClxpE91iRE8zH9VVom0bxYKVQeKP-l8FHUu5yXPzHP0Zbxihyphenhyphen0XgDuFXOv-JbFNL_CA0IURwTQ/s1600-h/Osaka+Castle.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfd1ajbFygYn32k8I4gUkadArn6W8PdOBNRoxRz8UJrDClXBFcTD_foPGxJLgz4JaypClxpE91iRE8zH9VVom0bxYKVQeKP-l8FHUu5yXPzHP0Zbxihyphenhyphen0XgDuFXOv-JbFNL_CA0IURwTQ/s320/Osaka+Castle.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354463970940090466" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-style: italic;">Osaka Castle (taken on August 9, 2008)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYYpKbslrscpu7G8fK-OZIAF0opQKyvx1rUTZo8znlw4q0T0oL4nGvtuvqhNb8iLjdWfJV4cqQR-UM4todkpQm9oiJNEq-6kfNqJNCBiK5uhG6nRO0ugSlWf5tZdbjlUsXYDgBLNLemo/s1600-h/View+from+Osaka+Castle+7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYYpKbslrscpu7G8fK-OZIAF0opQKyvx1rUTZo8znlw4q0T0oL4nGvtuvqhNb8iLjdWfJV4cqQR-UM4todkpQm9oiJNEq-6kfNqJNCBiK5uhG6nRO0ugSlWf5tZdbjlUsXYDgBLNLemo/s320/View+from+Osaka+Castle+7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354807563674636306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">View From Osaka Castle (taken on August 9, 2008)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Access:<br />a) 9-minute walk from JR Osaka-jo Koen Station<br />b) 15-minute walk from JR Morinomiya Station<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5) Visit Universal Studios Japan (USJ)</span><br />Yes, THE Universal Studios, but with a Japanese twist - meaning everything is dubbed in Japanese haha! I have never been to Universal Studios in the States so I cannot make a comparison, though. I went to USJ one day before I came back to the Philippines, so this place was memorable to me. Come here during the Christmas season and see the beautiful lights from the giant Christmas Tree in the middle of the park.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYVGgQN6_L7jTuSMbCvTvDOOCNec9tg7tpOSpK7MAXh_97w5Ho2rrRqwyD31dtuXIJomloUdLU-R5_bMcXpa_V2kR1mGPS0Iaqab8GLesFPVCVHI6SV3AidUv5EPr6rnny73nu0HTpIE/s1600-h/The+globe+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYVGgQN6_L7jTuSMbCvTvDOOCNec9tg7tpOSpK7MAXh_97w5Ho2rrRqwyD31dtuXIJomloUdLU-R5_bMcXpa_V2kR1mGPS0Iaqab8GLesFPVCVHI6SV3AidUv5EPr6rnny73nu0HTpIE/s320/The+globe+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354804118429343490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Universal Studios Japan (taken on December 10, 2008)</span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIb5XLzbR87-i9xotjv3RRxrjZyKk6P8_kTyaGF16PuPqjrvkf7akUFfDi8tM_2bQ9X83RctIkEa2IYes11w5at_m5QDlcR39yMZ83ui1OVS81hsaY2oSI0xsHcLenx6UVgOUXs8h4YY/s1600-h/Giant+xmas+tree++7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIb5XLzbR87-i9xotjv3RRxrjZyKk6P8_kTyaGF16PuPqjrvkf7akUFfDi8tM_2bQ9X83RctIkEa2IYes11w5at_m5QDlcR39yMZ83ui1OVS81hsaY2oSI0xsHcLenx6UVgOUXs8h4YY/s320/Giant+xmas+tree++7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354804115626401250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Christmas Tree in Universal Studios Japan (taken on December 10, 2008)<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMakk4QzAxd9JRTcl3RIT7ZpzkNrvTH8LE_zAPFILGEut_DzdLh9ZILFcVaHEn0u07dqtv8cx-U941ErH5XhH-5RrXXV8bWlv8hg4oGUJpXWfEAOo1T3-oYxsQE-Fyybd4-Rd4n_cwWGc/s1600-h/Giant+xmas+tree+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMakk4QzAxd9JRTcl3RIT7ZpzkNrvTH8LE_zAPFILGEut_DzdLh9ZILFcVaHEn0u07dqtv8cx-U941ErH5XhH-5RrXXV8bWlv8hg4oGUJpXWfEAOo1T3-oYxsQE-Fyybd4-Rd4n_cwWGc/s320/Giant+xmas+tree+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354804108426675618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Christmas Tree in Universal Studios Japan (taken on December 10, 2008)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Access: JR Yumesaki Line Universal City Station<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">6) See Tsuutenkaku in Shinsekai and Eat Kushikatsu</span><br />The Tsuutenkaku is another landmark of Osaka located in Shinsekai. However, Shinsekai is considered a slum area so it is better to avoid it at night. You can go here during the day and enjoy the cheap food and shopping around the Shinsekai area. You can also go to the nearby zoo. This place is popular for Kushikatsu or deep fried skewers. There are several kushikatsu restaurants in this area and it is hard to choose one. However, I got a tip for you. Be it in Osaka or anywhere in Japan, look for restaurants with long queues as these are the most popular and considered the best :D<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJeQRxxKc6LHx36m00vK18ArvSO8QVPa6R8tjGoIKvzjV6Zkvx19eRy17ajdJtkYUXAcp3o2mx9jODTz_zHP7FTe5d9GaqXwTWIeG19-yxldCCgDIFDOJ4TMBri2l4i5NVAj1g6396lE/s1600-h/Shinsekai+Tower.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJeQRxxKc6LHx36m00vK18ArvSO8QVPa6R8tjGoIKvzjV6Zkvx19eRy17ajdJtkYUXAcp3o2mx9jODTz_zHP7FTe5d9GaqXwTWIeG19-yxldCCgDIFDOJ4TMBri2l4i5NVAj1g6396lE/s320/Shinsekai+Tower.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354807164763520130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Tsuutenkaku in Shinsekai (taken on November 1, 2008)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Access:<br />a) 10-minute walk from JR Shinimamiya Station<br />b) 10-minutes walk from Nankai Railway Shinimamiya Station<br />c) 3-minute walk from Osaka Subway Sakaisuji Line Ebisucho Station<br />d) 10-minute walk from Osaka Subway Midosuji Line Doubutsuenmae Station<br />e) 3-minute walk from Hankai Tramway Ebisucho Station<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7) Ride the Tempozan Ferris Wheel</span><br />This is considered as one of the biggest ferris wheel in the world. You can have a great view of the Port of Osaka aboard the ferris wheel. Entrance fee is 700yen and it is open from 10am to 10pm. After riding the ferris wheel, you can go to the nearby aquarium which is also considered as one of the world's largest. Entrance fee is 2000yen.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtohbiHo7FpzuAzUe5ZsUicfPJ_TeiEPqrRqZ6Uk3WsgXzrUoxoHsMjxEtKKG4fg0dbRWlpwvIupqaRjmHl38e290lDHwUxOsxyFi-702vZ4PcJbrynrudyy-9dtGs5JPzaO7XSJjqww/s1600-h/Ferris+Wheel+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtohbiHo7FpzuAzUe5ZsUicfPJ_TeiEPqrRqZ6Uk3WsgXzrUoxoHsMjxEtKKG4fg0dbRWlpwvIupqaRjmHl38e290lDHwUxOsxyFi-702vZ4PcJbrynrudyy-9dtGs5JPzaO7XSJjqww/s320/Ferris+Wheel+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354810879533035250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Tempozan Ferris Wheel (taken on November 15, 2008)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0blEdxMcva2NIJBVW2lzjNTQoOXKjabnJW1ka0moKwE0sF251WBMZr8z-JxyQaPr3amyXjqHh1U4Oj-qpu-x-Uf7tr8TN2RoA6wxPvzfUb7gHBQ9QX63cHaYGZRkT6CnR8kDWPOf4FKc/s1600-h/View+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 84px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0blEdxMcva2NIJBVW2lzjNTQoOXKjabnJW1ka0moKwE0sF251WBMZr8z-JxyQaPr3amyXjqHh1U4Oj-qpu-x-Uf7tr8TN2RoA6wxPvzfUb7gHBQ9QX63cHaYGZRkT6CnR8kDWPOf4FKc/s320/View+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354810883599490370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Osaka Port From the Ferris Wheel (taken on November 15, 2008)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONl1gyPozfN4x7rG7jhOFOmE6CL6cw6jAdRgI04nVp-yaT1Cw3AoY1EqUR-qoJb0ww9jkkAQ_vJIrxAxNlZdK6CHf3pyFnfDIMxNDzbInvf5OCPGInxAtaKa2hU9ol1OcPKdMUiyIKvo/s1600-h/Aqaurium.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONl1gyPozfN4x7rG7jhOFOmE6CL6cw6jAdRgI04nVp-yaT1Cw3AoY1EqUR-qoJb0ww9jkkAQ_vJIrxAxNlZdK6CHf3pyFnfDIMxNDzbInvf5OCPGInxAtaKa2hU9ol1OcPKdMUiyIKvo/s320/Aqaurium.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354810887352565634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Aquarium (taken on November 15, 2008)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /></div>Access:<br />a) 5-minute walk from Osaka Subway Osakako Station<br />b) Ten-minute by boat from the <span class="fc_bold">Universal City Port</span> in Universal Studios Japan<br />c) Bus #88 from Osaka Station, get off at Tempozan<br />d) Bus#60 from Namba Station, get off at Tempozan<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8) Osaka River Cruise</span><br />There are lots of river flowing in Osaka so one nice way to see the sights of the city is through a river cruise. There are four stops in this river cruise including Tenmabashi, Osaka Castle, Yodobashi and Osaka Amenity Park. For more information, check <a href="http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/access/info_ferry.html">Osaka River Cruise's Site</a> out.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihu-iTVVoD5_BBej5uKFZlncIiOSts45xUy46qtdTmxrwuzP3xKH_1AxbM5_Ncy_MdGOL-YpB7BOwcdotypu0BqJIO-sqEkkxSyb4maXSHhCNO7corzQtL3MJfPEqCZE0QLO23G8d3hgU/s1600-h/Ookawa+in+autumn+4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihu-iTVVoD5_BBej5uKFZlncIiOSts45xUy46qtdTmxrwuzP3xKH_1AxbM5_Ncy_MdGOL-YpB7BOwcdotypu0BqJIO-sqEkkxSyb4maXSHhCNO7corzQtL3MJfPEqCZE0QLO23G8d3hgU/s320/Ookawa+in+autumn+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354813241464046610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Ookawa River in Tenmabashi - one of the stops in the river cruise<br />(taken on November 15, 2008)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Access: Refer to <a href="http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/access/info_ferry.html">Osaka River Cruise</a>.<br /><br />Runner-ups:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1) Fireworks Festivals</span><br />If you go to Osaka around July to August, you may be lucky to chance upon the fireworks festivals held all over Japan every summer. The most famous festival in Osaka is the Yodogawa Festival usually held around the first or second week of August.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2) Tenjin Festival</span><br />This is one of the three great festival in Japan held in the last week of July in Osaka. This is a two-day event and is usually centered around the Okawa River mentioned above.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3) Baseball Game</span><br />If you love baseball, try going to a Hanshin (baseball team of Osaka) Baseball Game. I have never to been one though, but they say it is one great experience.<br /><br />So there you have it, feel free to add or comment on this post :D</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936797779470029496.post-34024550027537404182009-07-01T18:21:00.007+08:002009-07-23T12:24:14.161+08:00Osaka Night Views<div style="text-align: justify;">They say that Japan is more beautiful at night, and I could not agree more. When the sun sets, the streets of Japan transform into a sea of neon. This is true with big cities like Tokyo and Osaka, but I will save Tokyo for further posts. For the meantime, let me show you some of the nightscapes I took during my 4 month stay in Osaka. Enjoy :D<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18MqqtB8ISvIX5m9c4N0R5O6T1ph6CBDogBQ9tncam-B8ASaXIPosTZYt29Yp5Y1x8SCORMFPYksc0G86kHgxgJx-XMDPY_SlqFCXtKlL8rT59YpqqCLVFLepkW9MoeqCpGler-ynTm0/s1600-h/Osaka+Castle.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18MqqtB8ISvIX5m9c4N0R5O6T1ph6CBDogBQ9tncam-B8ASaXIPosTZYt29Yp5Y1x8SCORMFPYksc0G86kHgxgJx-XMDPY_SlqFCXtKlL8rT59YpqqCLVFLepkW9MoeqCpGler-ynTm0/s320/Osaka+Castle.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353437051644436162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Osaka Castle At Night (taken on August 21, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><span class="fullpost"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqCHNbntQVXUdHnPNWw2XibwYEPaYIAGEuRVrd-lnqcrgubwBiaXzjlnbW4kXC72hyphenhyphenHFdiuLmpA-r0O-Mz57UhPmnmBCUd3sWetyp5SEUu_eCfgaVdhGyTAS-wwnb2yRKL6uKN99_Opw/s1600-h/Glico+Man.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqCHNbntQVXUdHnPNWw2XibwYEPaYIAGEuRVrd-lnqcrgubwBiaXzjlnbW4kXC72hyphenhyphenHFdiuLmpA-r0O-Mz57UhPmnmBCUd3sWetyp5SEUu_eCfgaVdhGyTAS-wwnb2yRKL6uKN99_Opw/s320/Glico+Man.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353437045931198818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Glico Man in Dotonbori (taken on September 20, 2008)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DjWkhIvVq-HtEaiQlImHIOcjAFJRskJATPIyVviMTy_AM-H-7v8aKpia9NIj_RPY3kuOX5EkxWjHknqfI0XvMQltfPR9GKXWu0h07juZa296_4D6TP2IjcZGqudmkLXouxijc4JTdpQ/s1600-h/Umeda+from+Tenmabashi.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DjWkhIvVq-HtEaiQlImHIOcjAFJRskJATPIyVviMTy_AM-H-7v8aKpia9NIj_RPY3kuOX5EkxWjHknqfI0XvMQltfPR9GKXWu0h07juZa296_4D6TP2IjcZGqudmkLXouxijc4JTdpQ/s320/Umeda+from+Tenmabashi.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353437514167866946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Umeda From Tenmabashi (taken on August 14, 2008)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXO9ZuXTFeVd4aDMWjlTjlhIX94kHsLcBXHRqkEVUaA1w8zuu0KfVNKv1CnvgajIJ_gtnMdogxvEPQG_JjEiEG-3Sa66j1M3rTX8b9V0EDmtjHOfWeNOKA9wDxzuoAdOHIsGOC6eugEM4/s1600-h/Osaka+Business+Park.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXO9ZuXTFeVd4aDMWjlTjlhIX94kHsLcBXHRqkEVUaA1w8zuu0KfVNKv1CnvgajIJ_gtnMdogxvEPQG_JjEiEG-3Sa66j1M3rTX8b9V0EDmtjHOfWeNOKA9wDxzuoAdOHIsGOC6eugEM4/s320/Osaka+Business+Park.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353437038427481506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Osaka Business Park From Afar (taken on August 21, 2008)</span></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgK0BDa_F11IjybBcbgsTVmcRYazvoAQhrSuBX8BT6xqq-8PmEk9MprWE0VIhyphenhyphen4YQm0MQgo3-OSLT3SDfnkAOmttVHKTewusx_qDM0J1ZRxefkWNC6twc9P65FqsTI7yVmTt21AShODL8/s1600-h/Near+Osaka+Castle.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgK0BDa_F11IjybBcbgsTVmcRYazvoAQhrSuBX8BT6xqq-8PmEk9MprWE0VIhyphenhyphen4YQm0MQgo3-OSLT3SDfnkAOmttVHKTewusx_qDM0J1ZRxefkWNC6twc9P65FqsTI7yVmTt21AShODL8/s320/Near+Osaka+Castle.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353437511413117458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Night View From Osaka Castle Area (taken on August 21, 2008)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEO62gtn6SIicrozyHpCqvGHdND8MfDDfxSJER4oel-YCAfhyE3BqHg1ZwrUAWa0fm4KmEwDYJLrmPDjy2slI2YTfhLdZzBdB-sefv3Z1dZjcPEdA4FzPno9ND9CpLIP2PpGgVcSnRFo/s1600-h/Umeda+Sky+Building+4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEO62gtn6SIicrozyHpCqvGHdND8MfDDfxSJER4oel-YCAfhyE3BqHg1ZwrUAWa0fm4KmEwDYJLrmPDjy2slI2YTfhLdZzBdB-sefv3Z1dZjcPEdA4FzPno9ND9CpLIP2PpGgVcSnRFo/s320/Umeda+Sky+Building+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353437044326051650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Umeda Sky Building At Night (taken on August 23, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZJXczDeqM-50Y_VNpwm4_vfzKccOiwUQnf7a90tyEN4KzCN-SPGpDWcX-v0YFDqH-PN4hOlp6tONulMm_VMIxjE9spiZgCcznPu8COCXX6mqO3vrJQddv5Blluuw8bwXsboReyOH5jk/s1600-h/Fountain+Outside+Umeda+Sky+Building.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZJXczDeqM-50Y_VNpwm4_vfzKccOiwUQnf7a90tyEN4KzCN-SPGpDWcX-v0YFDqH-PN4hOlp6tONulMm_VMIxjE9spiZgCcznPu8COCXX6mqO3vrJQddv5Blluuw8bwXsboReyOH5jk/s320/Fountain+Outside+Umeda+Sky+Building.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353437037308154994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Fountain Near Umeda Sky Building (taken on August 23, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE77Co0KB_r_M04PsnUpegP9pokC2L2_iL8Z_XbXyGKol9m7_L_n5OoNpX9kRZEnmLo_HwGefMLPLsRxTsriiPFzF1XdyAs_e5cy3N9Zc4IzGqWWM5oLC6qZ2Na-wjgj1pNKOJpBQZI-w/s1600-h/View+from+Umeda+Sky+Building+4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE77Co0KB_r_M04PsnUpegP9pokC2L2_iL8Z_XbXyGKol9m7_L_n5OoNpX9kRZEnmLo_HwGefMLPLsRxTsriiPFzF1XdyAs_e5cy3N9Zc4IzGqWWM5oLC6qZ2Na-wjgj1pNKOJpBQZI-w/s320/View+from+Umeda+Sky+Building+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353437521562969106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Umeda From Umeda Sky Building (taken on August 23, 2008)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweJQT0axBm-7o173peidnu7eAgt6s5qW9HuIOmy1gWn7ciP8KPd2qOW0z2jbmH_8s1GyMQQNTOBZvHq7Ywijt9_mGaKXTFtdjLhGqwdIQCjWyrRvQ7wtfNv3UBaaz2RBdO8dV7yoqtrU/s1600-h/View+from+Umeda+Sky+Building+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweJQT0axBm-7o173peidnu7eAgt6s5qW9HuIOmy1gWn7ciP8KPd2qOW0z2jbmH_8s1GyMQQNTOBZvHq7Ywijt9_mGaKXTFtdjLhGqwdIQCjWyrRvQ7wtfNv3UBaaz2RBdO8dV7yoqtrU/s320/View+from+Umeda+Sky+Building+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353437505721099154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Northern Osaka From Umeda Sky Building (taken on August 23, 2008)</span></div></div></span>MJ Chanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07312973838960644670noreply@blogger.com17