Archive for the ‘gimmicks, trips and adventures’ Category

Trip to Tagaytay 2012

Since last year I promised myself to take a trip every first day of the year to treat myself and Sean for the whole year of hard work.  Last year we took a dip in the warm and refreshing water of Pagsanjan Lodge’s pools with my brother’s family.  This time, since my mom didn’t allow us to spend New Year in Baguio City, me and Sean went to Tagaytay City instead.

We left the house at 11 in the morning on the first day of 2012.  We took the shuttle service at Star Mall in Mandaluyong.  We reached Tagaytay at exactly 3 pm.  I decided to go to Tagaytay Zoo first since we don’t have the hotel/inn yet.  We left the zoo at 5 pm and waited for a jeepney to Olivares where I saw few hotels.

Before reaching Olivares (Rotonda) we hopped out the jeepney and started querying for a cheap hotel.   Ok, my budget is just around 1 thousand pesos and hotels in the area costs almost 3k.  We ate at Burger Machine to fill Sean’s tummy.  I had a chat with a tricycle driver and he told me he know some cheap inns in Picnic Grove area.  It sounds good to me since our next destination is Picnic grove.  We found Amora’s House which costs us 1,800 per night.  We had a wonderful dinner (the most delicious tinola I’ve ever tasted) and slept soundly.

We woke up at 7, had our breakfast and headed the Picnic Grove.  I discovered that there’s a hostel in the area.  I inquired for the fee and it is the same with Amora’s.  I did horseback riding  and it’s my first time and first time to undergo fish spa. I’ve been seeing this for some time but never thought of trying it.  But because of Sean I did it!

Me and Sean had a wonderful time.  Sean even asked me, “Mom, where will be our next adventure?”  Now I am thinking where the next short trip would be… You have any suggestion?

Precious Jewelries

As I walked by at The Shoppe beside The Venetian Hotel in Macau, I couldn’t resist to stopped and took a pic at one of the stalls which sells precious jewelries like diamond rings, diamond necklace, bracelets, and watches.  Up to now I’m still wondering how much they are.  Yes, you’re right I didn’t took the chance to take a peep at the price ‘coz I know, it’s impossible for me to have it.  For now, I am contented on what I saw, but still dreaming of having one. :)

Camping I Will Never Forget

I was in Iba, Zambales last Oct. 26 to 28 to experience the Parents and Teachers Camping which occurs every year.  I heard that this camping is different from any other camping for it targets the social, spiritual, professional and physical aspects of each participants.  It was sponsored by Megacity Ministries, Inc. so it was absolutely free!

As we arrived at The Highlands, the venue of the camping, I noticed that it was perfectly organized.  And it’s amazing because we are about a thousand participants.  We were divided into 4 groups, the Countless, Ceaseless, Boundless and Endless teams.  I belonged to Endless Team which won the second place.  There were singing, talk, games and play (dramatization) in every sessions.  It was fun, informative and glorious.  It’s really different from the other camping I’ve been.  The host of the program was really witty and entertaining.  I like him.:)

One more lucky thing is that there were missionaries who gave free medical and dental services to some of us.  They served to 50  medical patients and 10 dental patients.  I salute them for their noble doings.

The games are really physical, bad thing that I wasn’t able to join because I have … :)  There’s only thing I didn’t like… it’s the bed… yes… I have to climb at the top of the triple deck bed!  But generally I liked it and I find it magnificent.  Kudos to Mega City Ministries, Inc.  More power to you and I wish that you continue to touch people’s lives.

FIRST DAY IN HONGKONG

It’s been a tiring night and that’s the reason why we woke up late.  We were able to stepped out the hostel at around 10:30 am and the three of the group went out already somewhere.  As planned, we will go to Ngong Ping 360 degrees where we will ride cable car and to the Monkey Trail but things had changed when my company chatted with some Filipinas living there.  They suggested that we should go to Macau.  Well it sounds good so we all agreed to go there instead of Ngong Ping 360.
Getting directions going to ferry to Macau wasn’t easy as we thought, we had several locals asked and we chose which one sounds best. hahahaha….  Until one girl (she looks in her early 20′s)  approached me while looking at my map at the middle of the crowd.  She asked how she can help me.  I told her we will go to Macau but we don’t know how to get there.  Guess what???? she was the one who helped us.
We bought the ticket at the sale price of HKD130.00 from the original price of HKD165.00, you just have to be a good seeker because there’s a lot of travel agency in the area.  It only took us an hour to get to Macau, toed at the immigration and we were given a month-long stay in their country.
From the Taipa ferry station we don’t know where to go to.  We saw the shuttle bus of the Venetian, the driver said it’s for free, we hopped in and reached the marvelous structure and architecture of the Venetian Hotel.  We just roamed and took some pics.  Just can’t believe my eyes what I saw in that grand hotel.
As we entered the other side of the hotel, there we saw a shopping center with humidors and the highlight…. a canal imitating the romantic Venice Canals.  I was even faked by the sky.  I thought we were already outdoor but to my surprised we’re still indoor.  Still can’t find a word to describe  The Venetian. :)
What I regret is that we arrived there late.  It’s almost 3 in the afternoon and we had no time to roam around the city.  We left Macau at around 7 in the evening and went back to Hongkong just to catch KFC before it closed.  Hahahahaha…
We were able to go back at the hostel at around 9 in the evening, rest for a while then headed the night bazaar.  It is lucky enough that we stayed in Mong Kok where the bazaars are.  We bought some stuff and tried their street foods which taste good, just don’t convert the price in peso or else you won’t bother to buy it.  Hahahahaha…
We went back to the room and called it a night…

First Night in Hong Kong

We arrived in HongKong International Airport or colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport.  That was 9:00 in the evening and we were 25 minutes earlier.  We were eleven and all first timers in HK.  So can you imagine how it goes??? Hahahaha… Luckily there are signages on how to get to the immigration department.  We toed the line… presented our passports to the officer and woolaahhh we were given 14-day visa.  It’s not important though, we will leave after 3 days after all.  Ok we passed the immigration… now the real adventure began.

We didn’t know which exit we’ll be heading to the bus station going to Mongkok MTR station.  Because from there it will be walking distance from the hostel we booked in.  I saw an information desk.. I fall in line and waited for my turn.  Good thing that the staff was so accommodating and led us to the right exit.  As we board on the bus, we didn’t know that the bus won’t give us change as we don’t have smaller bills yet.  Ok, I lost HKD 18.00 for that first night. :(

I told the driver to alight us to Mongkok MTR station and he said, ”Ok”.  I stood once to asked the driver if we were there yet.  He replied, “Not yet”.  I sat back and relaxed.  It’s over 45 minutes already and we are still in the bus, my brother approached the driver and to my dismay we passed by two stations.  Did the driver understand me at all???

We jumped off the bus go down to the MTR station as we were instructed.  Another problem… how can we get tokens??? Hahahaha…  We were like contestants in a reality tv show “Amazing Race”!!! Luckily this old lady cleaner helped us even though she don’t know how to speak English.  And good thing that my son’s Mandarin lessons helped a bit. :) We were then in Mongkok station… then what next???  We don’t know which exit to go to…  We exited anyways and wandered around the city at 12 midnight… Hahahaha!!!  How I wished I could buy hdmi cables, tie ourselves and glide from the airport to the hostel.  Hahahaha…

Ok we reached the Hong Kong Budget Hostel inMongKok at around 1:00 in the morning just to meet this sooooo unaccomodating owner  of the guesthouse!  His name is Jacky Chan and he is not so nice though his place is clean and nice, didn’t feel the hospitality of this person.  I just thought Hong Kong nationals are like him.   We were checked in, paid the amount of HKD344.00 each for 3 nights.  Mr. Chan led us to our respective rooms and called it a night.

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