Travel to Asia

Shangrila Mactan Island Resort And Spa

2009-12-21T00:49:00.001-08:00

The mactan island resort and spa. 200-300 dollars per day. quite expensive but gauranteed satisfaction. with many restaurants, seaside bars, sports bar, gym, ballrooms, coffee shop by the pool. Great seafood. International food. The pictures explain it all. During afternoons big fishes flock to the seashore to eat leftover bread from the restaurant, they literally surround you.

Tuburan, Cebu City

2009-12-19T03:08:00.000-08:00

This is tuburan. North of Cebu, a really quiet town beside the sea. All the houses here are made up of nipa, a type of grass and the interior of the houses are really cool and well ventilated. This part of Cebu is known for its many rivers and huge quantities of water. There are a lot of Cold springs here. A good place to retire and live among simple fisherfolk and enjoy the bounties of the sea.

Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan

2008-11-19T01:32:00.000-08:00

This is the university of my dreams. It was founded by christians long ago, and is located in the city of Taichung. This university has many interesting architecture, the chapel here was even designed by I.M. pei and the whole university is lined with huge trees. It is located on top of a hill and one has to take a bus ride that costs 1 nt dollar (1/30 dollars) or ride a scooter up. The university is really laid back and has many open areas, they even produce their own milk and the students can buy fresh cow's milk easily. Surprisingly most of the students here are female, maybe because of the more relaxed atmosphere, the school also has indoor cafes, dormitories, music clubs, and even christian activity areas. During early morning the students can take a good morning walk in the freshest air. Well i am not familiar with the courses being offered but i know that they have high standards and they offer engineering courses, botany, and even architecture( the architecture building is really cool and relaxing, even though the building is quite old.) So if you plan to study in Taiwan, this is one of the good universities here.

Shanghai !

2008-11-17T02:28:00.001-08:00

This is Shanghai, China. Cold, foggy, mysterious and land of contrasts. This is where one can find adventure. I was able to go to shanghai for two months(march-july) working under my cousin in an architectural firm as well as staying in his house located in the suburbs of the city, since he is an American citizen we happen to live in the more western part of town where there are a lot of expatriots. It was amazing, amazingly foggy mornings, crowded streets and busy gloomy faces of the people, there seems to be no one standing still everyone seems to be in a hurry to go somewhere. Some carry huge loads on bikes while others just carry it on their backs. I guess everyone is trying to grab the opportunity to make money since the city is still in its booming stage.

But for me, i was not part of the gloomy scene, i was here for adventure. The first day into my job i was sent out to check out ancient chinese artifacts and capture digital images for inspiration on a chinese interior design project. We had to capture images of chinese art, well the good chinese art and try to develop a more modern chinese theme to it. I didn't even bring a coat with me, i wore a t-shirt and almost froze to death, i wasn't able to talk, so my bro who accompanied me did most of the talking and interviewing. I was surprised that a lot of people didn't even wear coats, some were even shivering in the cold on their way to work. I was a bit saddened by the situation, maybe they didn't have enough money to buy a coat, or maybe they were just used to the weather.

There are many streets in shanghai where people make copies of ancient chinese bottles, books, jewelries, well almost anything, and if you know how to bargain, you get to keep most of the money in your pocket, its always about bargaining in China, well a rule of thumb is anything sold in the states will cost around 1/4 lesser in china, so do not be fooled. I saw many foreigners buying stuff for 1000 rmb when it costs only around 15 rmb.

Well the food here is great, the street food is great, specially the dumplings, the lamb barbeque, the real lumpia shanghia, and a lot more really cheap food you can check out at night.

Also shanghai is a city of foreigners, there are so many foreigners that it almost doesn't feel like china. As for foreign food, There is almost any type of foreign food here. Not only the ones run by chinese, also many are run by foreigners. I was able to visit an all french restaurant and the people were all french, as well as an irish pub where i grabbed some pint and a 0.2 meter high burger that ic ouldn't fit into my mouth, haha. So if you dont trust what the chinese put into their food, there is not problem at all, there are hoardes of western restaurants run by westerners.

As for cheap designer good, one should ask the locals for the market. The market usually moves every few months to different locations. They sell brand like gucci, prada, and a lot more, but they are all fake. And it isn't illegal in China.

This is China, land of the fog, grit, and surprisingly...fun.

Maribago Blue Waters Resort (Cebu, Philippines)

2008-11-13T04:27:00.000-08:00

The maribago blue waters resort! only 30 minutes drive from cebu city. It is one of the best resorts in cebu and has 5 star standards. If you happen to visit cebu this is one of the places you must visit. The whole beach is filled with pure white sand without any stones, it is always well maintained by the staff. There are around 3 big swimming pools and other smaller ones. The huts and cottages are really comfortable with designer beds and furniture. The beach resort even has a man made island that can serve as wedding place or can accomodate concerts. The entrance is only 600 pesos(12 dollars) rooms are around 3000 per night (60 dollars) as for the food it depends what you buy. There are great seafood as well as drinks just by the sea, there is also a formal dining area by the pool. There is even a big chess set located on the beach, as well as open areas for beach volleyball. The resort also offer spa's and island hopping tours, 3000 pesos( 60 dollars) for a day's rent of the boat. Also various beach equipment are available at the store room at the beach.

The three guys in the picture are me and my friends trying to skimboard on the shoreline. Hope you have the time to try it out! come to cebu now!

Cebu white sands - Moalboal

2008-10-20T02:42:00.000-07:00

This is a popular dive spot in the Philippines. The corals here are amazing and full of color, for the first 20 meters the water level is relatively the same, then there will be a sudden steep drop, this is where the divers go to find beautiful corals and fishes. There are people that are willing to teach beginners to dive. You will be surprised to find a lot of tourists from America, Korea, Africa, and Germany in this remote part of Cebu. The place is quite untouched and undeveloped to preserve the natural beauty of the beach. The place is south of Cebu, taking a bus or hiring a van would be a good option. It is only 2 hours from Cebu city.

Taiwan art museum - Taichung city, Taiwan

2008-10-20T01:58:00.000-07:00

This is a museum of fine arts i visited during my visit to Taiwan. Taichung is one of the major cities in Taiwan, the city has really wide roads and the streets are literally covered with trees just like the city of Taipei, it is just 1.5 hours bus ride from Taipei. It is quite cheap, the ride cost only about 150-200 nt dollars (5-6.6 dollars). Upon reaching Taichung take a taxi to theTaiwan art museum. The entrance is free, once inside one can rent a small locker to deposit your bags for around 10 nt dollar (about 30 cents). Here you can enjoy local taiwan art, as well as art about an earthquake that killed 3000 people almost ten years ago, this reminds the people of Taiwan to build even stronger buildings for the future generations. Like Japan, Taiwan also has a lot of earthquakes, so it is quite common to experience several strong earthquakes per year. Museums are common throughout taichung, be sure to visit the natural science museum and others too while staying in Taichung. The museum have huge grounds and is a great place for families to have picnic.

Visit Asia : Island Hopping in Cebu Philippines

2008-10-18T22:25:00.000-07:00

If you find yourself in Cebu, or any of the 7,107 islands for the matter, do not miss out on the simple joys of Island hopping.

The first step is to hire a "banka", a traditional boat made out of sturdy bamboo - it is a medium-sized pump boat that draws its design from that of the outrigger canoe. In modern times a motor engine is attached to it to provide speed. It is actually quite cheap, roughly 40-50 dollars for a tour that will take you from one small island to another - or fish sanctuaries if you prefer to snorkel. On good days, which is quite often, you can see dolphins swimming alongside your boat.

The boat can accommodate around 20-30 people and will stop at fish sanctuaries where there are a lot of colorful corals and lots of different fishes. The men in the picture are your friendly tour guides.

These are rock fishes, and lobsters, that can be bought in the island and cooked fresh. There are also a lot of other choices such as fishes, shells, clams, and sea urchins.

Most of the island around Mactan, where all the good resorts are, have cabins that can be rented out to tourists who want to stay overnight and experience a less-touristy accomodation. But be sure to ask for an extra blanket because the weather can get real chilly at night.

To get to the beach resorts, one should catch a flight to the Mactan International airport and from there take a cab to the resort of choice, most resorts have island-hopping tour packages. For four/five star stays, try Shangri-La Mactan, Plantation Bay or the Hilton Mactan Resort, other great notable resorts are Maribago Blue Water Resort, and Hadsun.

Visit Asia : Taiwan Land of Majestic Mountains

2008-10-18T21:41:00.000-07:00

Taiwan truly lives up to its nickname "Formosa" or Beautiful. Nature and wildlife live in undisturbed harmony with the more than 20 million people that call Taiwan home. The mountains in this island state are almost perpetually green and are especially lush during the Spring. I've been to Taiwan several times since my mother is a Taiwanese, and one of the things that never fail to give me a natural high is taking a trek through the heavily wooded areas of Taiwan's mountains, losing myself in nature's unabashed beauty. On these excursions, I almost always take a dip in the many creeks and streams that flow through the mountain, the water is always refreshingly cool and one is certain to see abundant traces of marine creatures. For those who are more adventurous, packing up and staying overnight is definitely an exhilarating experience, just be sure to bring the right gears.

Hunting for wild pigs is also being done in some parts of Taiwan but this is not for the inexperienced as Taiwan's wild boar's have an uncanny sense of smell and can easily detect hunters miles away. There are over a hundred mountains that are over 3000+ meters high, these are great for the mountain climbers. In my travel around Asia I haven't seen many mountains that maintains an atmosphere of untampered solemnity, maybe it is because the people here are very careful in maintaining the natural balance of things. Up north, one can usually encounter snowfall on the country's higher peaks, on a good day, snowfall can be waist deep. For those who may not be ready for hardcore mountaineering, do not worry, a lot of camping tours are willing to take people up the mountains for a fee and my uncle happens to be one of them, and there usually comfy accommodations and great food thrown in the deal. Travel to Asia now and experience Taiwan first hand.

Travel to Asia : Suzhou China

2008-10-17T00:33:00.000-07:00

The city of Suzhou is fast becoming a city of skyscrapers, according to some residents seven years ago Suzhou was just flat farming land. But today, one has only to scan the horizon to be greeted by a jagged, uneven array of urban symmetry.

Upscale condominiums and buildings are being built at a rate that seems to reflect the unbridled growth of China as a whole. What is different with Suzhou though is that everything seems to be perfectly orchestrated, not evident in some parts of China, the streets are wide and well-maintained, there is thought put into City planning and even Architectural greats such as I.M. Pei have designed buildings here.

Even though the landscape is changing really fast the city still retains its rich cultural past. Many emperors had palaces here. The large imperial gardens show the power of the emperors in ancient times.

It will be a delight to immerse oneself in both old and new here, a fusion of yesterday and tomorrow. Suzhou is a proud example of what we can get when we hold onto the past while moving towards the future.

Exceptional must go cebu beaches

2008-10-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

Here are some good resorts recommended in Cebu city. They offer food and lodging. ( these are the best resorts in Cebu so this means all of these resorts are great, and have nice facilities.)

Club Kontiki - a room costs about 600-1600 pesos, a favorite resort for divers.

Bahia resort- a room is about 1200 pesos, a clean and well done resort with sea-water swimming pool.

Tambuli beach resort- rooms ranging from 3000-500 pesos a really wonderful place to stay, a really well landscaped resort, with more than 20 swimming pools and a few km of white shoreline.

Cebu beach clu- connected with tambuli beach resort.

Cebu white sands- rooms ranging from 6000-11000 pesos, beautiful gardens, big swimming pools and a fair beach.

Maribago bluewater beach resort- One of the best resorts in Cebu rooms are at 9000-16000 pesos, with a really huge shoreline and a small man made island to go to.

costabella tropical beach resort- rooms are at 3000- 9000 pesos. good resort ,swimming pools, and other beach related facilities.

Hadsan cove- 1000- 2000 pesos rooms . nice ocean view.

Quantum resort- 2500 pesos rooms.

Shangrila mactan island resort- the next best resort after maribago blue waters.

comprehensive guide on traveling to different islands in the Philippines from Cebu

2008-10-16T08:07:00.000-07:00

FROM CEBU CITY
Going to Panay

Air travel
Cebu to Caticlan (Boracay): Asian Spirit or Seair (with daily flights around 2500 pesos)
Cebu to Iloilo City: Air Philippines, Cebu pacific, and philippine airlines (with daily flights around 2300 pesos)

Boat travel
Cebu to Iloilo city: Trans-asia shipping lines (560 pesos, 14-16 hours)
Cebu to Iloilo city: Cokalion shipping lines (520 pesos, 14-16 hours)

Boats usually leave at 7pm for boats leaving directly for boracay.

Going to Samar

Bus/boat
Cebu city to catbalogan and calbayog

Boat travel
Cebu city to calbayog: MWF Palacio shipping lines (340 pesos, 10 -11 hours)

Going to Siquijor

Boat travel
Cebu city to larena: Oceanjet fast ferry (two times daily, 630 pesos, 3 1/2 hours) via tagbilaran bohol.
Cebu city to larena: Supercat (daily, 700 pesos, 4 1/2 hours ) via tagbilaran/bohol and dumaguete/negros.
Cebu city to larena: Palacio (daily except for saturdays, 220 pesos, 7 hours) MWF via tagbilaran/bohol 8 hours.

Going to Palawan

Air travel
Cebu city to puerto princesa: Teusdays, thursdays, fridays, sundays (3000 pesos)

Going to Negros

Air travel
Cebu city to Bacolod: Air Philippines, Cebu pacific, or Philippine airlines with daily flights (1900 pesos)

Bus/boat
Cebu city to Bacolod: many ceres liner leave cebu for Bacolod daily from a southern bus terminal in Cebu. They then meet a ferry going from Tabuelan to Escalante and proceed towards Bacolod. the trip takes roughly 8 hours which costs around 350 pesos.

Cebu city to Dumaguete: take a bus from Cebu souther bus terminal headed for dumaguete, choose from airconditioned buses(200 pesos) to non airconditioned ones(300 pesos). The trip takes around 5-6 hours.

Boat travel
Bantayan to Cadiz: Island shipping (daily depending on weather and tides, usually at 6-7 am) the trip takes 2 hours. after arriving take a jeep which will go to Bacolod. anyone going to Dumaguete should take a tricycle from the wharf to a Ceres bus terminal.

Bato to tampi: rovi Navigation ( 40 pesos, 35 minutes)

Cebu city to Dumaguete: Oceanjet, or supercat ( 550 pesos, 3 1/2 hours)
Cebu city to Dumaguete: Cokaliong, or george and Peter lines ( 300 pesos, 6 hours)
Cebu city to Dumaguete: Aleson shipping lines ( only on Sundays 300 pesos, 6 hours)

Liloan to Sibulan: several times daily with outrigger

Oslob to sibulan and tampi: several times daily with car ferry

Toledo to san carlos: Aznar shipping corporation (120 pesos, 1 hour)

Tangil to Guihulngan: daily with small ferry

Tabuelan to Escalante: daily with Aznar shipping corporation ( 2 hours)

Going to Masbate

Boat travel
Bogo to Placer: twice a week by boat

Cebu city to Cataingan: Super shuttle ferry ( mondays, 10 hours)

Cebu city to Masbate: MWF Trans-asia shipping lines ( 370 pesos, 14 hours)

Maya to Esperanza: MWF with a big outrigger ( 2 1/2 hours)

Going to Mindanao

Air travel
Cebu city to Cagayan de oro: Asian spirit (MWFSS 2400 pesos)
Cebu city to Cagayan de oro: Seair (TTHS 1800 pesos)

Cebu city to cotabato: Seair (mondays, fridays 2700 pesos)

Cebu city to Davao: Air philippines, philippine air lines ( daily flights 2600 pesos)
Cebu city to Davao: Cebu pacific ( daily except weekends 2600 pesos)

Cebu city to Dipolog: Asian spirit ( MWF and sundays 2400 pesos)

Cebu city to general santos: seair ( tuesdays, saturdays 2000 pesos)

Cebu city to Surigao: Asian spirit ( tuesdays, thursdays, saturdays, sundays 1500 pesos)

Cebu city to Tandog: Asian spirit ( mondays, wednesdays, fridays, saturdays 2500 pesos)
Cebu city to tandog: seair (tuesdays, saturdays 2200 pesos)

Cebu city to Zamboanga: Cebu pacific ( MWF and saturdays 2700 pesos)

Boat travel
Cebu city to Butuan/nasipit: WG&A, Sulpicio lines, Cebu ferries (250 pesos 11 hours)

Cebu city to Cagayan de oro: Cebu ferries, Tran-asia shipping lines, sulpicio lines (400 pesos 10 hours)

Cebu city to dapitan/dipolog: Supercat (650 pesos 6 hours)
Cebu city to dapitan/ dipolog: Cokaliong, George and Peter lines ( 400 pesos 13 hours)

Cebu city to Davao: Sulpicio lines (mondays and fridays 1200 pesos 28 hours)

Cebu city to Iligan: Cebu ferries, sulpicio lines ( 550 pesos 15 hours)

Cebu city to ozamis: trans-asia. sulpicio (550 pesos 10 hours)

Cebu city to surigao: cokaliong, sulpicio lines, WG& A ( 400-500 pesos 7-11 hours)

Cebu city to Zamboanga: George and peter lines ( mondays and fridays 24 hours)

Going to Luzon

Air travel
Cebu city to Manila: air philippines, cebu pacific, philippine airlines ( daily 3000 pesos 1 hour)

Boat travel
Cebu city to Manila: sulpicio lines, WG&A (1500 pesos 22 hours)

Going to Leyte

Bus/boat
Cebu city to Isabel and tacloban: 6 hours to Isabel and 11-12 hours to Tacloban

Boat travel
Camotes islands to baybay: from Poro ( 250 pesos 1 1/2 hours)

Camotes islands to ormoc: from Bukog 3 hours

Carmen to Isabel: four hours

Cebu city to Bato: Kinswell shipping lines ( 250 pesos 4 hours)

Cebu city to Baybay: fast ferry oceanjet ( 400 pesos 2 1/2 hours)

Cebu city to Hilongos: fast ferry oceanjet ( 450 pesos 2 hours)

Cebu city to liloan: maypalad shipping corporation ( 200 pesos 6 hours)

Cebu city to maasin: cokalion shipping lines ( 400 pesos 6 hours)

Going to Bohol

Boat travel
Argao to Cabilao island: (tuesdays and saturdays 1 1/2 hours)

Cebu city to tagbilaran: oceanjet, supercat (150-400 pesos 1 1/2- 4 hours)

Cebu city to Tubigon: Oceanjet ( 250 pesos 1 hour)

Going to Camiguin

Air travel
Cebu city to mambajao: seaair (fridays, sundays 1400 pesos)

Going to Biliran

Boat travel
Cebu city to naval: My shipping (MWF 230 pesos 9 hours)

Philippine Fruits

2008-10-16T01:19:00.000-07:00

The Philippines is known for its wide variety of tropical fruits. It is known for dried mangoes, coconut jelly, and other fruit made products. Here is a typical fruit stand you will find located at the sidewalk of the road. The mangoes are specially sweet these days, it is said that only mangoes in Cebu and other stony islands produce the sweetest mangoes. Buy it fresh here, around 2 dollars for a kilo of mango or less on cheaper days. The pineapples thesedays are also very sweet specially if they are the ones from Cagayan or Davao city, don't eat too much though because pineapples are acidic. Aside from the major show stoppers there are also fruits like banana, coconut, avocado, Fuji apples, oranges, orambutan, and a lot of other native fruits. Most tourist guides can tell you where to buy them. They offer to stop for a few minutes on roadsides to give you time to choose some fruits. So be sure to try them out if you happen to visit the philippines, these fruits are good for you and good for a midnight snack. But if you want some dried mangoes or other dried fruits to take them home with you be sure to ask your tourguide where to buy them.