National Carine-ographic

Gold and Geisha at Kyoto

2008-12-02T17:07:00.000-08:00

January 2007

It was my first and only time to experience staying in a backpacker hostel/ryokan. I lived in a dorm style room with shared bathrooms for a few nights. It was safe and clean but I just had to be careful with my valuables.

My bed

Kyoto is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million and was formerly the imperial capital of Japan.

Gion is the Geisha district in Kyoto. I was lucky enough to see real geisha's walking around and performing at the Gion theatre. Dont be fooled though, there are a lot of tourists in geisha costume due to the numerous "Geisha for a Day" tours.

At 2nd row of Gion theatre

One of the most outstanding Zen buddhist temple in the world is in Kyoto. The world renown Golden Pavilion is covered with pure gold leaves.

Its neighboring city, Nara, also boasts of its own temples specifically, Todajii, which houses Japan's largest buddha. By the time the Buddha was completed in 751, it had consumed most of Japan's bronze production for several years and left the country almost bankrupt.

Plan a trip to Kyoto/Nara if you are visiting Japan for this first time!

Kamakura with Mom and Alpi

2008-12-01T18:45:00.000-08:00

December 2006

When my mom visited me in Tokyo, Alpi took us to Kamakura (鎌倉市) which is a city located 50 km southwest of Tokyo.

Kamakura is famous for its Kōtoku-in, with its monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amida Buddha. A 15th century tsunami destroyed the temple that once housed the Great Buddha, but the statue survived and has remained outdoors ever since.

Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū (鶴岡八幡宮) is the most important shrine in the city of Kamakura. Both the shrine and the city were built with Feng Shui in mind. The present location was carefully chosen as the most propitious after consultation with a diviner because it had the Hokuzan 北山 mountain to the north, the Namerikawa river to the east, a great road to the west (the Kotō Kaidō 古東街道) and was open to the south (on Sagami Bay). Each direction was protected by a god.

(Old picture of the shrine)

(Wishes written at wooden plates and hung everywhere)

How can I not love Japan?

2008-11-27T19:26:00.000-08:00

November 2006

(The day I met Alpi...)

Besides the unique culture of Japan, how can I not love the country where I met my husband? I met Alpi Bacani on November 2006 on a cold Saturday in Shinagawa, Tokyo... and a year & 4mos later, he became my husband and 親友 (best friend).

I was assigned to work on a 3 month project in Tokyo, Japan and met lots of cool people.

When Alpi and I met for the first time, he took me on a short tour of Tokyo. We went to the Asakusa (浅草) district famous for the Sensō-ji Buddhist temple.

We also went to the Yasukuni Shinto shrine, built in honor of of kamikaze (suicide) soldiers, where they would say before death "See you in Yasakuni".

Ofcourse, Akihabara Electronic Town is a MUST when in Tokyo. It is a major shopping area for electronic, computer, anime, and otaku goods, including new and used items.

(Promo girls/boys in anime costumes at Akihabara)

It was the first time for me and Alpi to go to an ABSOLUT ICEBAR and it was too cool! We were only allowed to stay for 45 minutes because you can get sick but it was worth it. Everything was made of ice - sofa, tables, bar, glasses, paintings, everything! Awesome.

I want to go back to TOKYOOOO!

Italy Overdose

2008-11-26T21:34:00.000-08:00

October 2006

3 weeks around Italy!

1st stop: MILAN to meet Marga and Vito. It is the second largest city of Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy and one of the world capitals of design and fashion.

(Vito and Marga)

(On top of the Milan Cathedral)

(Michaelangelos Rondanini Pieta, and Virgin of the Rocks)

2nd stop: Lake Como is a popular tourist destination. It is a venue for sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. In 1818 Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote to Thomas Love Peacock: “This lake exceeds anything I ever beheld in beauty, with the exception of the arbutus islands of Killarney. It is long and narrow, and has the appearance of a mighty river winding among the mountains and the forests”.

3rd stop: Venice is world-famous for its canals. It is built on an archipelago of 118 islands formed by about 150 canals in a shallow lagoon. The classical Venetian boat is the gondola, although it is now mostly used for tourists, or for weddings, funerals, or other ceremonies.

(At Piazza San Marco)

4th stop: TUSCANY. I loved this place so much that I made it the theme of our wedding when we held it at Tagaytay.

(At the capital of Tuscany, Florence where the famous DAVID can be found)

(Castellina, Tuscany)

(At Bolgari, Tuscany)

5th stop: Pisa is a city in Tuscany and is known worldwide for its famous bell tower.

6th stop: The historical Pompeii. Pompeii is a ruined and partially buried Roman town-city near modern Naples. Along with Herculaneum, its sister city, Pompeii was destroyed, and completely buried, during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning two days in AD 79.

(Mt. Vesuvius)

The volcano buried Pompeii under many meters of ash and pumice, and it was lost for nearly 1700 years before its accidental rediscovery in 1748. Today, it is both one of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Last Stop and my favorite: The Amalfi Coast, or Costiera Amalfitana in Italian, is a stretch of coastline on the southern side of the Sorrentine Peninsula of Italy.

Renowned for its rugged terrain, scenic beauty, picturesque towns and diversity, the Amalfi Coast is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

I recommend Italy to all travelers and stay for at least 2 weeks :) 5 stars from National Carine-ographic.

I love Palawan!

2008-09-11T17:56:00.000-07:00

El Nido 2006, 2008

I went to El Nido, Palawan for the first time on 2006 with my family, then again on 2008 with my husband.

At Lagen El Nido Resorts, El Nido Palawan

Palawan's almost 2,000 kilometers of irregular coastline are dotted with 1,780 islands and islets, rocky coves, and sugar-white sandy beaches. It also harbors a vast stretch of virgin forests that carpet its chain of mountain ranges.

We swam into a hole to get into this Secret Beach, Dad kayaking at the Small Lagoon

I recommend El Nido Palawan for honeymooners who want to enjoy each other's company in a serene beach setting! 5 stars from National Carine-o-grahic!

I love Boracay!

2008-09-10T20:32:00.000-07:00

Boracay - I don't know where to start! Too many trips, too many drinks, too many friends, too many memories ... and I love it!

So far, I have never found a beach that beats the powdery white sands of Boracay.

(At White beach, at Puka beach)

Boracay is a tropical island located approximately 315km (200 miles) south of Manila and 2km off the northwest tip of the island of Panay in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines.

(with my highschool friends-Marga, Trina, Arlene, with my work friends- Rach, Mash, Vane, Pat)

Boracay Island slowly ceased to be a private travelers hangout and eventually became a favorite tourist destination in the Philippines.

(Zipping during sunrise, eating at Manana with Kina, Arlene, Diego, Dric, Crissie)

White Beach is the main tourism beach. It is a bit over four kilometers long and is lined with resorts, hotels, lodging houses, restaurants, and other tourism-related businesses. I love the beach parties here especially during holidays!

(sunset party at Waling Waling, beach parties)

I go to Boracay almost every year... and I cant wait to go back again with my hubby!

Golden Triangle India

2008-09-10T18:39:00.000-07:00

March 2006

India's Golden Triangle is a tourist circuit which includes: Jaipur, Agra (including the Taj Mahal), and Delhi.

JAIPUR

We took a road trip across the desert to go to Jaipur. Our first stop was the Jaipur Amber Fort where the Maharaja once lived, with his 12 wives and no electricity! He would hold his meetings under the moonlight.

(Jaipur Amber Fort, more beautiful at night - now has lights/electricity!)

We also went to the City Palace where the current Maharajah lives and the biggest silver jar in the world. The following day, en route to Agra, we stopped by a Monkey Temple... with lots of monkeys everywhere!

(Biggest silver jar behind Pat and myself, Monkey Temple in between mountains)

Closer to Agra, we stopped by the Fatehpur Sikri which showcases both Hindu and Muslim architecture.

AGRA

Agra is known for the famous monument of love. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Itis considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Turkish, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles.

DELHI

We zoomed by Delhi straight to the airport to catch our flights. So no sightseeing and no pictures!

Click here for more pictures at my online album.

From wikipedia
Delhi has grown to be a cosmopolitan city. Its rapid development and urbanisation, coupled with the relatively high average income of its population, has transformed the city. Today, Delhi is a major cultural, political, and commercial center of India.

Goa, India

2008-09-10T16:41:00.000-07:00

March 2006

Patricia, Suzanne, and I went to GOA, India to experience its famous beaches and Portuguese influenced city.

In 1498, Vasco da Gama became the first European to set foot in India through a sea route, landing in Kerala, followed by an arrival in what is now known as Goa. Goa was the largest trading centre on India's western coast. The Portuguese arrived with the intention of setting up a colony and seizing control of the spice trade from other European powers. Later, in 1510, Portuguese admiral Afonso de Albuquerque defeated the ruling Bijapur kings with the help of a local ally, Timayya, leading to the establishment of a permanent settlement in Goa.

Goa is popular among European tourists for its beach parties and huge raves. We went to the beaches during the day so I was not able to see any party :( I rate the Goa beaches a 7/10. Nothing beats Boracay, Philippines!

Since this is a very famous destination for Europeans, a lot of them end up staying in GOA for good! They make a living out of trading and selling stuff at the markets. We were very surprised to see that all the market vendors were white!

If they travel all the way to Boracay .. I wonder if they will do the same thing? Hmmm... I dont think so. We lack the huge beach parties!

Scotch in Sheepland

2008-09-10T05:44:00.000-07:00

Edinburgh, Scotland

My cousins and I went to the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh, for the weekend. Which, by the way, should be renamed to SHEEPland.. because there are more sheep than people there! We took a bus tour and witnessed sheep after sheep after sheep.

Population of Scotland: 5 Million
SHEEP population of Scotland: 12.5 Million

Our bus tour included The Stirling Castle with views of the William Wallace Monument (made famous by the movie Braveheart), cruise ride on a loch or lake and Glasgow city with its wonderful architecture.

(William Wallace monument seen at a distance, Glasgow city)

However, the best part of our trip was the SCOTCH tour and eating at the same restaurant on the same table where JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter!

United Kingdom

2008-09-09T23:50:00.000-07:00

London and Around London, UK 2005

I met up with lots and lots of people in london...

(Cousins Cherry Pie and Rex, and their kids - Joshua, Chesca, and Jolo)

(Tanya, friend from woodrose and Chad, friend from dlsu)

(Ant from Citi and his friends, I met up with my ex Tom)

(Annalee my brother's friend, Jocson and Nicky)

I went to LOTS and LOTS of sights but the highlight of this trip was good company! So thanks to everyone coz I had a really good time.

If you want to see more pictures of my sightseeing, click here but I am posting some of my favorite ones.

(Big B)

(Tower of London)

(The London Eye)

China Part 3 : Xian with mom and Ria Chua

2008-09-09T23:04:00.000-07:00

Xian, China

The city has many important historical sites, and some are ongoing archaeological projects, such as the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang and his Terracotta Army.

The Terracotta Army are the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shi Huang the First Emperor of China. The terracotta figures, dating from 210 BC, were discovered in 1974 by several local farmers near Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China near the Mausouleum of the First Qin Emperor.

The figures vary in height (183–195cm - 6ft–6ft 5in), according to their role, the tallest being the Generals. The figures include warriors, chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians. Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried in the pits.

Discoveries like this make me regret not taking up archaeology...

More pictures at http://carinedelros.multiply.com/photos/album/4/Xian

China Part 2 : My first F1 baby!

2008-09-09T22:22:00.000-07:00

READY, SET, GO!

To feel the F1 vibe - the deafening sound of engines, the smell of rubber, the cheers of die-hard fans - was one of a kind!

We were lucky to find cheap but awesome seats! We were seated at the main grandstand which was at the start/finish line and in front of the pit stops! (pit stop pic taken from don)

The opening ceremony included a parade of F1 drivers and a performance by Jackie Chan.

In the end, Renault Formula 1 driver, Fernando Alonso won and I got to experience my first F1, baby!

China Part 1 : SHANGHAI

2008-09-09T20:23:00.001-07:00

Shanghai 2005

The two Chinese characters in the name "Shanghai", (上, shàng; and 海, hǎi) literally mean "up, on, or above" and "sea", respectively, evident of Shanghai's location next to the East China Sea.

Shanghai is uber modern compared to Beijing. With its high rise buildings, shopping malls, and chic clubs, this city is for the modern individual who wants to work hard and party harder.

(Overlooking the The Bund, Citigroup office lit up at night)

(Team dinner, Drinks at Xin Tian di)

But ofcourse, just like any other city in China, it boasts of its historical roots and landmarks. Shanghai and China in general is a must on anyone's list of countries to see!

Chennai at The Park

2008-09-08T18:41:00.000-07:00

Chennai (Formerly Madras) 2004-2007

Presenting the wonderful people I was with during trips to India!

PATRICIA HONRADE now known as Patricia SHANKS! She met her British husband, Nick Shanks, during her trips to INDIA!

ANN TAN ... soon to be... MRS.?? hehe!

Mark Medalla. Now a happy husband and father.

Philip Pichay. Couldnt find a picture with Phil at Chennai! Now, also a happy husband and father.

WOW, during my short 4 year stint in Citibank, a lot of us tied the knot and/or became a parent! THANK YOU CITI! haha!

The Park hotel was like my second home for 1-2 years. It was formerly a Bollywood studio so there were cool posters all over the hotel.

Chennai (Tamil: சென்னை formerly known as Madras), is the fourth largest metropolitan area of India and the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located on the Coromandel Coast Bay of Bengal, Chennai has a population of 4.2 million.

My 1st Taste of India

2007-12-03T03:24:00.001-08:00

Mumbai (formerly called Bombay) 2004

Its nice to visit a place where body art is part of their culture.

Its nice to meet people from different cities in India..in one room.

Its nice to experience my first Sheisha in India!

Eyes opened to Islam

2007-11-19T23:58:00.000-08:00

(Picture taken from google.com)

I had to go to Indonesia for work but only for a few days. I dont have pictures and I dont even remember what year I went ... but since this blog aims to document all my travels, I might as well write about it.

I went to Indonesia with my then boss Joseph Avendano and my mom, who wanted to buy wooden furnitures in Jakarta.

Here are a few things that I observed..

Muslim women strictly covered their hair and wore conservative clothes
The establishments that I went to (malls, parking lots, offices) all have prayer rooms so they can perform their salat or daily prayers.
All bathrooms have an area to wash your feet because when doing salat, it must always be preceded by ablutions (wudu') of ritually washing the face, hands, and feet.

I know this may cause a debate, but nowadays, I don't see the same dedication in Catholicism in the Philippines. This was the first time for me to visit a Muslim country, and it was nice to see firsthand the loyal and peaceful followers of Islam. Kudos.

I heart NY

2007-11-19T05:15:00.000-08:00

December 2004

While I was in Toronto, I decided to visit my Tita in New York for a few days ... which equals to free lodging! =) I was chatting with Lia when she told me that some of our college batchmates from De La Salle University migrated to New York. I immediately got in touch with them ...and voila!! .. another unexpectedly fun NY trip.

Thanks to ANGEL, ET, and DEBBIE for taking me out. I had loads of fun! =)

(At a Mexican Restaurant L-R Me, Debbie, ET, and Angel)

They took me to the ever famous Serendipity 3 .... and check out our big ass banana split!

4 women in New York City..I felt like we were in a scene of my favorite show! Till the next time we see each other again =)

New Years at Toronto

2007-11-13T22:02:00.000-08:00

December 2004

Right after Christmas of 2004, I went to Toronto to spend the New Years.

This was my FIRST TIME to experience winter. It was extremely cold, the temperature would fluctuate anywhere from -10 Celsius (14 Farenheit) to -20 C (-4 F). I remember there was even a snow storm and I was told people would wear hard core snow climbing gear just to avoid getting frostbite. YIKES.

Luckily, I visited my Tita Sandra in New York for a few days and missed the snow storm. PHEW! (I will write about my short NY Trip after this post!)

I was very happy to meet new friends ... most especially PAM, whom I still keep in touch with. I was also glad to see Chad Diaz, an old college barkada who currently lives in Canada, and Cholo, a very good friend of Ivan who is another college buddy of mine.

From Toronto, we drove to the Niagara Falls ... and it was even colder at the site! Everything was turning into one big ice cube. Niagara Falls is located at the border that separates Canada and the U.S.. It is the most powerful waterfall in North America.

It was generally too cold for my taste... but at least I was able to try my first winter sport - snowboarding! It was fun but I didn't know how to break so I would just fall on my butt to stop. And the result was.... a painful ass the next day! Oh, btw, thanks PAM for lending me that gorgeous blue snowboarding suit! =)

My 1st Taste of China

2007-11-13T01:38:00.000-08:00

Beijing, China 2004

My first taste of China was marvelous.... and has no connection to the picture below. But in China, they eat bugs as snacks and I found this yummy meal at a wet market.

The wet market I went to was close to our hotel. I joined my dad on his business trip to Beijing for a few days ... thanks Dad for letting me tag along!

We were also walking distance to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.

The Forbidden City was home to the emperors of China.. including their wives and concubines. The Forbidden City is the world's largest surviving palace complex and covers 72 hectares. It consists of 980 surviving buildings with 8,707 bays of rooms.

The Tiananmen Square is widely known for the 1989 protests also knows as the Tianenmen Square Massacre. The series of demonstrations led by activists, students, and intellectuals against the goverment resulted in a military crackdown which left many dead. (Famous Photo below right entitled "The Unknown Rebel" taken from wikipedia.org)

The Great Wall is the world's longest human-made structure, stretching over approximately 6,700 km (4,160 miles) in total. It is also the largest human-made structure ever built in terms of surface area and mass. At its peak the Ming Wall was guarded by more than one million men.It has been estimated that somewhere in the range of 2 to 3 million Chinese died as part of the centuries-long project of building the wall.

GREAT WALL MYTH BUSTED!!!!

Ripley's Believe It or Not! cartoon from May 1932 explains the fact that the wall is "the mightiest work of man, the only one that would be visible to the human eye from the moon" and Richard Halliburton's 1938 book Second Book of Marvels makes a similar claim, but it is not true. This belief has persisted, assuming urban legend status, sometimes even entering school textbooks. Arthur Waldron, author of The Great Wall of China: From History to Myth, has speculated that the belief might go back to the fascination with the "canals" once believed to exist on Mars. (The logic was simple: If people on Earth can see Mars's canals, the Martians might be able to see the Great Wall.)

* some text taken from wikipedia.org

Daytrip to Macau with Pawie and Mark

2007-11-08T21:36:00.000-08:00

From Hong Kong, we decided to do a daytrip to Macau.

(Me, Mark Soriano, Pawie Achacoso) (Pawie and "his friend" at a bus in Macau)

The Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, shortened to Macau or Macao, is a small territory on the southern coast of China. It is 70 km southwest of Hong Kong and 145 km from Guangzhou.

The city was the oldest European colony in China, dating back to the 16th century. The Portuguese government transferred sovereignty over Macau to the People's Republic of China in 1999 and is now run as a Special Administrative Region of the PRC. Residents of Macau mostly speak Cantonese natively.

Broadly, Macanese refers to all permanent inhabitants of Macau. But narrowly, it refers to an ethnic group in Macau originating from Portuguese descent, usually mixed with Chinese blood.

* taken from olamacauguide.com

Hong Kong

2007-11-08T04:34:00.000-08:00

2004, 2005

Despite the challenging work and demanding employees, I had fun in Hong Kong. At night and during weekends, we made it a point to eat somewhere nice ... a form of reward for the exhausting day. I've tried a lot of restaurants/bars in Hong Kong and I love them! I believe Hong Kong has even better Chinese food than in Mainland China!

I enjoyed the company of my colleagues, Gino, Ron, Pawie, Mark, & Ann from Manila, AND Kim & Eric from Hong Kong.

I remember going to Lan Kwai Fong for the first time with Gino and Ron....and a year later, having lunch there everyday with Mark and his friend, Jocson. Lan Kwai Fong is a small square of streets which is the country's most popular and well known area for a night out. It has numerous bars, pubs, clubs, and restaurants.

(at Lan Kwai Fong)

I had a wonderful time trying restaurants with Ann & Pawie, and was very delighted when Kim and Eric joined the fun. I remember learning the Chinese Dice Game from Eric, which they would normally play while drinking at a bar.

(1st pic: Mark holding dices for the dice game, 2nd: At Red)

Reminiscing makes me want to go back to HONG KONG!!! :)

On Business

2007-11-06T23:30:00.000-08:00

2003-2007

I started working for a financial institution on December 2003 under a project implementation team. Luckily, our team's scope was the Asia Pacific region which required us to travel around Asia. It was exciting at first but after a while, it became physically tiring.

The next series of posts will mostly be the good side of our business trips or what we call WEEKENDS. I will not talk about what happened at work, which I consider the challenging part of the trip. Just remember... it was NOT all fun and games... even though the pictures may seem otherwise.

St. Petersburg, Russia

2007-11-06T19:54:00.000-08:00

May 2003

It is Russia's second largest and Europe's third largest city after Moscow and London. 4.6 million people live in the city, and over 6 million people in the city with its vicinity. Saint Petersburg is a major European cultural center, and important Russian port on the Baltic Sea.

Since we did not have a Russian Visa, we were not able to walk around (Im not sure if its safe to walk around anyway - especially at night). Instead, we took 2 tours sponsored by Celebrity Cruises which allows non-visa holders to enter St. Petersburg.

The first tour took us to see Churches in St. Petersburg, and the second took us to The Hermitage Musuem.

1. Churches
One of the most spectacular, and certainly the most colorful, is the Church of the Resurrection, on the Griboyedov Canal a short distance from Nevsky Prospekt. It is also known as the Church on Blood, because it was built to commemorate Tsar Alexander II, who was assassinated in 1881 where the church now stands.

2. THE HERMITAGE MUSEUM

The State Hermitage Museum (Russian: Государственный Эрмитаж, Gosudarstvennyj Èrmitaž) is one of the largest museums in the world, with 3 million works of art (not all on display at once), and one of the oldest art galleries and museums of human history and culture in the world.

Strong points of the Hermitage collection of Western art include Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Rubens, van Dyck, Rembrandt, Poussin, Claude Lorrain, Watteau, Tiepolo, Canaletto, Canova, Rodin, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Cézanne, van Gogh, Gauguin, Picasso, and Matisse.

Do you know any of the works below? Some I even remember studying in Art Class in highschool. It was awesome.

*some text taken from wikipedia.com

14 night Scandinavian Cruise

2007-11-06T17:48:00.000-08:00

Scandinavia, May 2003

14 nights. 7 cities. Unforgettable experience.

1. Harwich, England
Our cruise begins! From London, my mom and I took a train to Harwich where we boarded the Constellation. Although the cabins were small, it was complete. Who cares about the cabins when everything else in the ship was wonderful!

There were other Filipinos in the same cruise, thank God! We met the founders of Repertory Philippines, Baby Barredo and the late Bibot Amador, with their friends and family. I became close to Baby's daughter, Charlie, during and after the cruise! Good times! :)

2. Oslo, Norway
"Sail through the Oslo Fjord, and you sail back in time to 1050. All of this historic capital city's lavish history can be uncovered at the Viking Ship Museum and the Kon-Tiki museum, which serves as home to the Fram, a famous polar - exploration ship. Cross the drawbridge to the formerly impenetrable Akershus Castle and meander through the famous Vigeland Sculpture Park. In Oslo, don't forget to preserve your memories before returning to the present day."

3. Copenhagen, Denmark
Thank you to TIVOLI Gardens in Denmark - the 1st amusement park. We would not have Disneyland or any amusement park without this.

3. Berlin, Germany
The first thing my mom and I did was.. drink BEER! Beer in Germany is always gut.

4. Tallinn, Estonia
Surprisingly, Tallinn was a very nice city. We went to the historic town and I was amazed with the architecture of the buildings. I really felt like I was in the past, especially after seeing the locals walk around in costumes!

5. St. Petersburg, Russia
This deserves a whole new post. I will write and show pictures of St. Petersburg after this entry.

6. Helsinki, Finland
"Occupying a peninsula and several islands, Helsinki's unique location may be overshadowed by the capital city's stunning meld of old and new structures and some of the most spectacular bays you could hope to find. Strolling down broad, tree-lined streets, don't forget to take notice of the stunning neoclassically designed architecture in Senate Square."

7. Stockholm, Sweden
"No fewer than fifty bridges connect this Swedish capital's fourteen islands to its mainland. Undoubtedly, this was to ensure that the Swedes could enjoy every single inch of this magnificent city steeped in parks, museums, and palaces - the most famous being the 600-room Royal Palace"

This experience made me realize that cruise ships are the best way to travel if you intend to visit multiple countries in one trip. Thank you Celebrity Cruises for making this a memorable experience.

* Some text taken from celebrity.com

Her name was Constellation

2007-11-04T20:20:00.000-08:00

Scandinavia, May 2003

I remember being absolutely thrilled to go on vacation with Celebrity Cruises for 14 nights! Even more excited to know that one of the countries we would visit was RUSSIA. Oooh lala. This was unreal....

But first, lets talk about Constellation. She was beautiful.

"From stem to stern and on every one of her 11 decks, she radiates the elegance and ambience one would find in a grand hotel. Constellation boasts outstanding amenities, accommodations and services, all presented with the utmost taste and the inimitable Celebrity style. When you cruise on Celebrity's Constellation you are sure to desire everything - and want for nothing." True. True. True.

Our ship and new home for 14 nights was fantastic. She had 10 decks of everything you can think of,

Deck 1 - Cabins
Deck 2 - Cabins, Cinema & Conference Center, Restaurant #1
Deck 3 - Casino, Bar #1, Internet Cafe, Bar #2, Theater, Restaurant #2
Deck 4 - Shopping Center, Bar #3, Cafe #1
Deck 5 - Cabins, Library
Deck 6 - Cabins
Deck 7 - Cabins
Deck 8 - Cabins
Deck 9 - Spa, Gym, Pool, Cafe #2, Restaurant #3
Deck 10 - Kids Day Care Center, Conservatory, Disco Club, Golf Simulator

Click this link to take a Virtual Tour of the Constellation.

This vacation made me realize that cruising is the BEST way to travel. It is a 5-star hotel that takes you to your destination each morning and treats you like a Queen.

Amo Roma

2007-11-04T20:19:00.002-08:00

Rome, Italy 2003

Im lazy to write and think now.. so I decided to switch roles with my readers. If you have been to Rome, or if you are bored enough to research, try (or guess) what they are.

1 - All Roads lead to Rome. True or False? LOL. Make a guess.

2 - Face away from the fountain, throw some coins behind your shoulder, and make a wish. What is the name of this fountain?

3 - What is the name of this painting on a ceiling of a church in the Vatican (1st picture)?

4 - In relation to my previous blog (The Mask), what is the name of the respiratory disease that became an epidemic between November 2002 and July 2003? Also causing brave people to continue to travel .. as long as they wore masks...

Im just trying this 'Name that' blog thing. Too lazy to write but I need to start posting again.

ENJOY!

The Mask

2007-11-04T20:19:00.001-08:00

In the year 2000 and 3 ... we travelled from Manila, Philippines to Rome, Italy wearing masks ... Find out why soon...

Masked Figure #1 (Right): Reputable Lawyer, Respected Citizen

Masked Figure #2 (Left): Unknown

New York for only 450!

2007-11-04T20:17:00.002-08:00

New York 2003

Roundtrip to New York - 450 USD

Blue Man Group Tickets - 70 USD

Eating Out - 500 USD

Portrait - 20 USD

Seeing family and friends = PRICELESS!

Kota Kinaba who?

2007-11-04T20:17:00.001-08:00

Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2003

My dad had a business trip in Kota Kinabalu. I just graduated from college, no job yet, so what the heck!- my mom and myself joined him in Kota Kinabalu, then we met up with Mark in Kuala Lumpur.

Kota Kinabalu is the state capital of Sabah, which is the 2nd largest state of Malaysia. Sabah is very near the Philippines .. so close that the Philippines and Malaysia have a dispute on the legal claim of the island.

Sabah is very rich in natural resources - it is one of the wealthiest oil producing countries and is located in the same area as Brunei. Hence, the dispute! (Kaching!)

Kota Kinabalu actually meas Mount Kinabalu which has the highest peak in Southeast Asia. I regret not climbing it, I was having too much fun by the beach and island hopping. A tip for anyone who reads this: CLIMB MT. KINABALU! :)

The Petronas Twin Towers and Sepang International Circuit can be found in Kuala Lumpur.

Nothing beats Manila.

My first trip to Europe (Part 3 of 3)

2007-11-04T19:25:00.000-08:00

April - May 1996

Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg is noted for its baroque architecture and Alpine setting. It was the birthplace of Mozart and the setting for the musical and film The Sound of Music.

"The hills are alive with the sound of music
With songs they have sung for a thousand years, The hills fill my heart with the sound of music

My heart wants to sing every song it hears
My heart wants to beat like the wings of the birds
that rise from the lake to the trees
My heart wants to sigh like a chime that flies
from a church on a breeze
To laugh like a brook when it trips and falls overstones on its way
To sing through the night like a lark who is learning to pray

I go to the hills when my heart is lonely
I know I will hear what I've heard before
My heart will be blessed with the sound of music
And I'll sing once more "

My first trip to Europe (Part 2 of 3)

2007-11-04T19:24:00.000-08:00

April - May 1996

Bonjour Paris!

Paris is the capital and largest city of France. It is widely regarded as one of the world's major global cities dubbed "the City of Light" (la Ville Lumière) since the 19th century. It is also widely known to be a romantic city, or the city of love.

Paris is situated on the banks of the river Seine in north-central France. The city hosts many museums and galleries, has an active nightlife, and is the most visited city in the world, with more than 30 million visitors per year.

Here are some attractions we visited in Paris, we did not have a lot of time (only a few days) so more to discover next time!

Champs-Élysées is a seventeenth century garden-promenade turned avenue connecting the Concorde and Arc de Triomphe. It is one of the many tourist attractions and a major shopping street of Paris. This avenue has been called "la plus belle avenue du monde" ("the most beautiful avenue in the world").

The Arc de Triomphe is a monument at the center of the Place de l'Étoile, commemorating the victories of France and honoring those who died in battle.

The most recognisable symbol of Paris is the 324 metre (1,063 ft) Eiffel Tower on the banks of the Seine.

The Louvre is one of the largest and most famous museums, housing many works of art, including the Mona Lisa (La Joconde) and the Venus de Milo statue.

Notre Dame de Paris (French for "Our Lady of Paris", meaning the church in Paris dedicated to the Virgin Mary), often known simply as Notre Dame in English, is a Gothic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in Paris, France, with its main entrance to the west. While a major tourist destination, it is still used as a Roman Catholic cathedral (archbishop of Paris). Notre Dame de Paris is widely considered the finest example of French Gothic architecture.

Palace of Versailles, the famous former palace of French kings.

Disneyland Resort Paris , the largest theme park in Europe. Errr.

Facts taken from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

My first trip to Europe (Part 1 of 3)

2007-11-04T19:23:00.000-08:00

April - May 1996

Munich, Germany

Munich is Germany's third largest city and capital of the German Federal State of Bavaria. Munich is a popular tourist destination and has been described as Germany's "secret capital". I remember Munich for its beer, castles, nudist park (too bad no picture!), plaza's and churches. Munich (and Europe) is just bursting with culture. I envy these countries who know their history and are proud of their roots.

Thank you to Tita Gloria for letting us stay at your place. Thanks to my cousin, Ria, and Tita Roselle for this great adventure!

Allow me to itemize what I remember about Munich and Germany:

1. BEER (BIER)
I have never tasted so many kinds of beer in my whole life but in Germany. Who ever heard of beer with honey? Well, it definitely was not available in Manila that time! Center picture below taken at Hofbrauhaus, which is a well-known beer hall located at the city center. It also operates the second largest tent at the Oktoberfest, perhaps Munich's most famous attraction. The Oktoberfest was first held on October 12, 1810 ... despite its name, most of Oktoberfest occurs in September.

2. CASTLES
We went to Neuschwanstein Castle (1st picture) which is the most photographed building in Germany, and is one of Germany's most popular tourist destinations. Neuschwanstein, the (relatively) modern fairy-tale castle of Bavaria, inspired the modern fairy-tale castle at Disneyland, Sleeping Beauty Castle. Neuschwanstein appeared in the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as a castle in the fictional land of Vulgaria and in season 1 episode 7 of the television series The Amazing Race.

3. NUDIST PARK (sorry, no picture!)
Tita Gloria's apartment was a 10-minute walk away from the English Garden. The Englischer Garten, is one of the world's largest urban public parks, and contains a nudist area! Ria and I were shocked to see flesh instead of grass. It was very memorable... especially the bouncing 'things'.

4. PLAZA's and CHURCHES
This was the only time where I finally applied what I learned in Art and History. You can actually tell what period the building was constructed through its architecture (medieval, renaissance, neo-classical etc). Its different to actually see and apply it compared to learning the concepts at school. Travelling is gut!

United States of Rewind

2007-11-04T19:22:00.001-08:00

April - May 1995

Looking at these pictures made me question, why would my parents take our family to vacation at the same places in the states over and over again? I guess if you're comfortable with a country and if you have a lot of friends there, it lessens the hassle. But it also lessens the THRILL of travelling.

Travelling requires a certain thrill. You need to feel the mystery of a country, culture, and religion. Your trip (for it to become worthwile) should uncover that mystery. Not all, but at least bits and pieces... just enough to make you smile before you sleep. Come back to my blog to see my future posts/travel of the mysteries I've unconvered throughout the years!

ALoHa Hawaii!

Pictures taken at Waikiki beach and at the Polynesian Cutlural Center (picture above). A must if you are in or near Waikiki!

Disneyland, USA again? I have an excuse. My dad had an Intellectual Property Convention to attend to that summer! If I even go near any Disneyland again... I will barf. But the live characters (seen in picture) were amusing.. much better than those scary mascots!

Kentucky Greens. Too bad the full statue was not included in the photo. The view is spectacular. This is the first time and place where I saw the Amish.

In a shopping mall in New Jersey (or New York? ). This photo foreshadows my future shopping trips in Manhattan!

*If someone can recognize this mall, please tell me if it is in NJ or NY at the comments section*

We celebrated my Mom's birthday in California with the Reyes family and family friends. Nothing like a good 'ol filipino party.

hmmmGoy, Hong Kong!

2007-11-04T19:20:00.002-08:00

1988, 1992, 1995, 1997

The words Hong Kong mean fragrant harbour.

Kowloon, one of Hong Kong's mainland regions, means Nine Dragons.

Hong Kong is very hilly and there are outdoor escalators in the Central district of the Island.

On 1st July 1997, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of China.

The Regent Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui has been designed so that the dragons can pass through and feed at the harbour. There is a fountain to attract them and huge glass windows to allow them to pass through!

Temples should always have hills behind them and face the sea for good luck.

Chinese lucky numbers are 2, 3, 6, 8 and 9. Unlucky numbers are 1, 4 and 7 (4 and 7 sound like the Chinese word for death)

People eat long noodles on their birthday so they may have a long life.

After the Handover, one of the celebrations was a concert called "The Event" with Wet Wet Wet, Michael Learns to Rock, Lisa Stansfield and All-4-One.

When the Chinese in Hong Kong marry, they go through two wedding ceremonies. The first is the official signing of the register and the bride wears a white western bridal dress. The second ceremony is the banquet which can take place up to two years later. The marriage is not recognised until the banquet takes place. During the banquet the bride wears the traditional red mandarin collared gold embroidered dress and a tea ceremony takes place where the bride and groom serve tea to the groom's parents.

Songbirds are favourite pets in many Chinese households and are bought for their singing abilities. People in Hong Kong "walk" their songbirds and take them with them to the teahouses.
An airplane lands or takes off every two and a half minutes at Hong Kong's airports.

Facts taken from World Info Zone.

Historical Pitstops

2007-11-04T19:20:00.001-08:00

April - May 1990

Phrases / memories that first come into my head when I see these pictures:

New York. Statue of Liberty. Ferry Ride. Gift from France. De Castro family. Right Hand - torch. Left Hand - tablet. Why am I wearing a bright pink vest? Fashion Disaster.

New York. Twin Towers. 9-11. Emergency. Osama Bin Laden. War. Saddam Hussein. Oil = Money. Thirst for Power. Power corrupts. You can have it.

Virginia. Luray Caverns. East America's largest cave. Stalactite. Stalagmite. Batman.

Florida. Disney World. Theme Parks. Haunted Mansion. Space Mountain. Live shows (wholesome ones!). Never going back in the near future (only when I have kids already!).

Kentucky. Derby. Horse Race. Horses. Cowboys. Yeehah! Brokeback Mountain. I havent seen it, someone lend me the dvd?

Washington DC. White House. Current President: George W. Bush. See phrases of Twin Towers.

You say Arigato like I say Arigato

2007-11-04T19:18:00.000-08:00

April 1992

My uncle had a post in Tokyo so we decided to visit him one summer. 2 families from the Philippines flew to Japan to stay with 1 family for 1-2 weeks.

1st family - Tito Joe, Tita Roselle, Jerby, Justin, and Ria
2nd family - Dad, Mom, Kuya, and moi.
3rd family - Tito Graeme, Tita Ebeng, Anthony

All under one roof! Thats what makes us Filipino!

Basic Facts:

Official Name: Nihon or Nippon (Japan)- Land of the Rising Sun
Capital: Tokyo
Official Language: Japanese
Government: National Diet consisting of two legislative houses
Chief of State: Emperor
Head of Government: Prime Minister
Monetary Unit: Yen
Religion: Shinto, various sects of Buddhism, and Christianity coexist.

10 Interesting Facts:

1. Japan has about 1,500 earthquakes each year.
2. You can buy batteries, beer, wine, condoms, cigarettes, comic books, hot dogs, light bulbs, and used women's underwear from vending machines.
3. It is rude to blow your nose in public.
4. Japan's national anthem is the oldest in the world.
5. Japan has one of the highest life expectancy in the world
6. Elementary school students wear yellow caps
7. There are special slippers for the toilet
8. The cherry blossom (sakura) is Japan's unofficial national flower.
9. Japan is the birthplace of San Rio
10. Never stick your chopsticks upright in your rice. This is an old Japanese custom and is what is done when food is offered to the dead. When it is not an offering it is considered to be a very ill omen.

4

2007-11-04T19:17:00.000-08:00

April - May 1986

When I was 4 years old, there were only 2 countries in the world: Philippines and USA.

Like most Filipino's, I was brought up to think that it was better to live outside of the Philippines. That it was better to live in another country, a better country.. like the US. So my parents would take us there almost every 4 years during summer break until I was 16.

4 things I learned when I was 4 years old:

1. The weather can become cold. Thats why jackets were invented.
2. I loved e-v-e-ry-t-h-i-n-g about Disneyland.
3. 'Toys 4 Us' was heaven.
4.Chucky Cheese was the best restaurant in the world.

My theory on the 'American Dream' of the average Filipino

First, a short but very important history to understand what it is.

The history of the Philippines has four distinct phases, the pre-Spanish period, the Spanish period, the American period, and the years since independence.

Our malay roots flourished in the pre-Spanish period. Islam was introduced in the South and continues to be the dominant religion in Mindanao until today. On 1521, Ferdinand Magellan claimed the Philippines for Spain for 377 years.The Spanish period converted Philippines into Roman Catholicism and Filipinos into lazy crabs. There was no proper education for Filipinos, only the rich could attend schools. A lot of pre-Spanish history was destroyed. The Philippines, at this point, was an uneducated puppet controlled by the Spanish friars ... and if you dis-obey them, you will go to hell.

Some filipinos marked numerous uprisings and with the help of America, defeated the Spanish fleet on 1898. America - our "Saviors". The United States occupied the Philippines until 1902 but its presence in the government stayed at a much longer time. The Americans educated the Filipinos with American history, culture, language, pop-culture, etc. The uneducated Filipinos are now "american educated". Welcome Coca Cola, jucy fruit, and hamburgers! After 300 years of praying, the Philippines started to feel freedom again.

Today, I believe Filipinos associate America with freedom. Freedom from poverty, hard work, ex-boyfriend, wife, pregnancy, and scandals. "My job doesnt pay well.. move to the states. Im pregnant.. give birth in the states. I hate my husband.. get divorced in the states."

Freedom is everyones dream. So for Filipinos, to live in the states, to work in the states, to get married to an American... is their dream. The American Dream.

This is my theory. If you have a different one, please post it in my comments :)

And by the way, this is only my theory. Definitely not my dream.

About Writer and Blog

2007-11-04T19:14:00.000-08:00

I first held a copy of National Geographic when I was 8 years old. I would only look at the pictures back then. I was overwhelmed with the images of a different country, culture, and religion. For a long time, I wanted to become an archaelogist. I wanted to see real images of what I first saw when I was 8.

Then, I grew up.

I am now 24 years old working in a bank. Sad? Not really. Why? Because those images never left me. I continue to read National Geographic and have seen those images first-hand.

When I was 4 years old, my parents took me to my frist trip outside of the country. At 24, I've been to so many countries and learned so many things. Although I have a long way to go, I have more than enough to start a 'travel diary' ... which I will call 'National Carine-ographic".

Step into my life...