Showing posts with label asia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label asia. Show all posts

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Guangzhou 2012: Guangdong Museum

Leave a Comment
On the same day that we roamed around the landmarks of Guangzhou, we also visited the interestingly-designed Guangdong museum.  Honestly, I am not a museum-going type of person but figuring that China has a very rich culture and history, I might as well immerse myself while I was there.

image


Read More...

Friday, October 25, 2013

Guangzhou 2012: Opera House and Canton Tower

Leave a Comment
Continuing my Guangzhou experience, I will focus this time on the sights and skyscrapers, which, for me, are the best part. In my previous post, I shared with you that we stayed at Hilton Hotel Tianhe. Though I didn’t get to take a lot of photos of my room, here is my shot of my view of Guangzhou from my floor-to-ceiling windows. I especially love that gold-colored glass building.

image


It was a bit of a gloomy day that time. At first, I thought it was just the typical smoggy skies of anywhere in China until it drizzled a bit. I didn’t mind. We just took a cab to where Guangzhou’s Opera House was. Thanks to our translator who wrote in advance the address in Chinese characters, we didn’t get lost.

Before we beheld the architectural beauty that was the Opera house, I managed to take a few photos of the surrounding business-gray buildings. They all almost looked the same.

image

image

The taxi dropped us off within a few steps from the Opera House. With it’s unique shape amidst the uniform buildings, you couldn’t miss it.

image

image

image

It looks like a space ship, if you ask me.

image

We weren’t able to go inside as it was closed. We just roamed around its perimeter and I found this artistically-wrought iron sculpture of a mother carrying her child. Also, we can see the Canton Tower in the background. We will be going there next.

image

Oh, but before the Canton Tower, we also went to the Guangdong Museum, which is very near the Opera House. I’ll be writing separate post for the museum.

image

Now, we’re on our way to the Canton Tower. It seemed so near but being very tall (2000 ft), it’s actually a cab-ride away.

image

We just enjoyed strolling around and looking a the directions.

image

The red brick road, which will hopefully lead us to our destination.

image

This one, I found unusual. What would be a statue of a peanut be doing around Guangzhou? Up to now, it’s an unsolved mystery.

image

We arrived at the base of Canton Tower and bought our tickets. There are different prices depending on the height you want to reach and if you want meals included.

image

The elevator ride was exhilarating (read: scary)! Here’s a view from the top.

image

… and then some more.

image

image

In this glass encasement, you get to have your photo taken by the camera propped overhead, and this photo can be claimed at the lobby.

image

One more shot of me beneath the Canton Tower!


image
Read More...

Friday, October 18, 2013

Guangzhou 2012: Where to Stay and Eat

Leave a Comment

Guangzhou is China’s most developed southern city.  I went here and would have forgotten that I was in China if not for the obvious Chinese characters everywhere.  Okay, okay, it’s impossible to forget.  But the reason for my saying so was that my stay here was ultra-westernized.  I stayed at a modern upscale hotel and ate western food.  For a little over a week, I won’t be an authority on Chinese culture and authenticity.  The best I could do is to share where I laid my little head to rest each night and where I had enjoyable nibbles (more like gobbles).  


I didn’t specifically choose this hotel but that you to whoever did.  This is by far my most favorite hotel that I have ever stayed at, including those during travels that I have done but not yet posted.  Hilton Guangzhou Tianhe. 


image


Read More...

Friday, October 4, 2013

Singapore 2012: East Coast

Leave a Comment
Singapore’s East Coast is mostly a residential area.  We went there so we could see what the city looks like in the suburbs.  What I can stay is that the area is clean and green and perfect for biking.

image


Read More...

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Singapore 2012: Universal Studios

Leave a Comment
Sentosa is not all about the beach and luxurious resorts. Sentosa is also the location of Universal Studios Singapore! I wonder if anyone can ever take a photo of the globe with all the letters of “Universal” captured in one perfect shot.

image

Read More...

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Singapore 2012: Sentosa Beach

Leave a Comment
I was looking forward to writing this post revolving around the beautiful pictures I have taken.  The exact reason why Singapore became one of my most favorite destinations is because of Sentosa.  It makes Singapore not just a finance center, all grayed out by the tallest buildings, but a city that marries progress and nature.

Sentosa is a small island easily accessible by train.

image


Read More...

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Singapore 2012: Marina Bay Sands

Leave a Comment
The Marina Bay Sands Hotel deserves a separate post because of the impressive facade that resembles a cerulean tidal wave carrying a surfboard.

image


Read More...

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Singapore 2012: Highlights of the City

Leave a Comment
Singapore is at the top of my favorite places to visit because there I can find everything that I need —- shopping, food, entertainment, and nature! It’s rare to find gems like this. Being a highly-urbanized city, it’s pleasantly surprising - or refreshing - to see that greens and beaches are just a few minutes away.

image


Read More...

Friday, September 20, 2013

Kuala Lumpur 2012: A Bustling Metro

Leave a Comment
Welcome to Kuala Lumpur!

Whenever I go to a foreign place, I prefer to just roam around the city or neighborhoods without a planned itinerary in mind. I prefer to see and experience the soul of the place and not just the famous landmarks.

image


Read More...

Siquijor 2011: The Church, Waterfalls, and the Beach

Leave a Comment

After our Dumaguete trip, we went to the island of Siquijor.  We rode on a couple of these mini jeepneys to get around.


image


Read More...

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Dumaguete 2011: Apo Island

Leave a Comment

Dumaguete is a city in Southern Negros. It is famous for Siliman University and Apo Island, among others. Apo Island is one of the top snorkel and dive sites and what’s unique about it is the abundance of pawikans or sea turtles. I actually saw one just near the coast! Too bad I didn’t have an underwater camera.


I hope my “on land” photos make up for it.


image


Read More...

Monday, September 16, 2013

Cebu 2011: Imperial Palace and Island Hopping

Leave a Comment

Part of my job is to get professional and industry updates. That year, the destination of an annual conference was in the Queen City of the South, Cebu! Specifically, it was in Imperial Palace, a 5-star resort in Mactan, which is basically an island surrounded by pristine white beaches.


image


Read More...

Bacolod 2011: All Around the City

Leave a Comment
I decided to go to my hometown, Bacolod City, for my birthday. Since my closest friends all live in Manila, I “forced” them to go with me for a mini vacation. They would pay for the airfare as their birthday gift to me, and I will pay for everything else once they get there.

Of course I had to act like a tour guide and show them some of Bacolod’s landmarks.

First up is Balay Negrense, which is technically not in Bacolod but actually in Silay City and is nearer the airport. It’s an old ancestral house-turned-museum and is believed to be haunted.

image


Read More...

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Hong Kong 2011: Victoria Harbour

Leave a Comment
Capping off our Hong Kong adventure is a nice walk to Victoria Harbour where a lights show happens every 8pm.  I didn’t take pictures of the actual show but the city lights are enough to take my breath away.

image


Read More...

Hong Kong 2011: Ocean Park

Leave a Comment
After our day trip in Macau, we continued our Hong  Kong vacation by going to Ocean Park.

image


Read More...

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Macau 2011: Historic Sites

Leave a Comment
Although Macau is very famous for its world-class casinos and hotels (which I’m going to cover in my next blog post), the Ruins of St. Paul is probably the most iconic landmark of Macau.

image


Read More...

Monday, July 23, 2012

Hong Kong 2011: The Peak

Leave a Comment
This is my first out-of-the-country trip with my sister!  We so wanted to go to Disneyland together, but we did that on Day 2.

On Day 1, we roamed random streets of HK and then went to The Peak, the highest point where you can see all of HK.  We got to ride the tram, which is bent upwards like 45 degrees or whatever. It was so uncomfortable.  BUt the view makes up for it.

We got to the top and immediately went to see Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum.

image


Read More...

Monday, May 28, 2012

Cagayan de Oro 2011: White-water Rafting

Leave a Comment
During our annual Teambuilding activity, we went to Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin.  When you go to CDO for a vacation, you should always take a sidetrip to Camiguin, but this is for another post.

In CDO, I think the only thing you can do other than food tripping is white-water rafting.

image


Read More...

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Bukidnon 2011: Dahilayan Adventure Park

Leave a Comment
I was sent to Iligan last year but during the weekend, we took a side trip to Bukidnon’s Dahilayan Park, where we heard has the longest zipline in Asia.

They had three lines that time and we tried them all.  Too bad I don’t have a digital picture of me in the longest one.  I have a video though.  But it’s for my personal viewing (dis)pleasure only.  This one was a shorter line, and the photo was taken by my friend.

image


Read More...

Friday, May 25, 2012

Cebu 2010: Camotes Islands

Leave a Comment
Our Team christmas parties are always out of town. Awesomeness.  That year, we were in Cebu’s Camotes Islands.

image


Read More...