BOH Tea Plantation: Just My Cup of Tea – Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

September 10, 2012 by 2 Comments
BOH Tea Center, Cameron Highlands

A French couple meandered in the middle of the tea plantation, squeezing their way in between the shrubs that make up the hedgerows. The man stopped upon finding a good spot and the lady asked him to just stay where he was. She grabbed the camera dangling from her neck and aimed a shot at him, who flashed a sincere smile. Before she could press the button, however, the man let out a loud sneeze. In utter embarrassment, he froze and she mildly beamed. Neither said a word. The lady walked toward the man and planted a deep, wet kiss. They both laughed as they prepped up to take another photo. The day just turned brighter for the two lovers. It was like a scene from a romantic comedy but it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cameron Highlands, Farms, Malaysia, Mountains and Hills Tagged With: , , , , ,

Soaring Spirits at Kilim Geoforest Park – Langkawi, Malaysia

September 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment
A speedboat gliding across the water

I had never seen that many eagles swarming and flying around in just one place. The Poor Traveler was at Kilim Karst Geoforest Park in Langkawi in the state of Kedah in the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands named after the main island in Andaman Sea. Langkawi means reddish-brown eagle in the local language, taking the name from the glorious birds of prey that abound in the island. The northeastern tip of the main island of Langkawi is covered in thick mangrove forests, dotted with spectacularly formed karst cliffs rising from its brackish water. Three rivers flow and meander across this region --- Kisap, Air Hangat, and Kilim. Together, they … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Caves, Langkawi, Malaysia, Rivers and Lakes, Wildlife Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

The Ruins of St. Paul’s and the Three Fires – Macau

September 10, 2012 by 1 Comment
The Ruins of St. Paul's by night

Everything comes in threes. As someone who loved playing baseball when I was a little boy, this has been my mantra. I usually give myself three chances to do something. Miss the third strike and you're out. If the Ruins of St. Paul's were a baseball player, that's exactly what would have happened. Except that even when it has been out of the game, the Ruins of St. Paul still managed to emerge as a major superstar. As I stood before the facade of the Cathedral of St. Paul, I couldn't help feeling like it was a déjà vu. It was my first time in Macau but the site was fostering an atmosphere that was familiar. As I moved farther from the structure to squeeze everything in my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Macau, Religious Sites Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Ngong Ping: Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery – Lantau Island, Hong Kong

September 9, 2012 by 3 Comments
Ngong Ping 360, Hong Kong

The northeastern monsoon brought with it a biting cold and I felt it pierce through my not-so-thick jacket when I hopped out of the bus. Nevertheless, even the dropping temperature was not discouraging enough especially upon setting eyes on the giant statue of Gautama Buddha sitting on an enormous lotus throne at the summit of a small plateau in Lantau Island, Hong Kong. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hong Kong, International Trips, Religious Sites Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Catching Up on the Action at Universal Studios Singapore

September 9, 2012 by 4 Comments
Hollywood Dreams Parade

'"Let's do it again," exclaimed my friend Astrid right after alighting her seat. "Come on, guys! Let's do it again!!!" "I just need a moment," I said to her. If only I had an out-of-this-world olfactory perception, I would probably smell adrenaline all over the place and a good fraction of it would be reeking from Astrid, who couldn't help but urge us to do it all over again. We were coming out of the Cylon Ride, one of the two Battlestar Galactica rollercoasters at Universal Studios Singapore. "Tell you what," said I, "Let's try Human next and then I'll see if I could ride this Cylon thing again." I couldn't. By the end of that minute aboard that frakkin' Human ride, everything … [Read more...]

Filed Under: International Trips, Singapore, Theme Parks Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Clark Airport Guide: How to Get There, What to Do Before Flight

September 9, 2012 by 13 Comments
Departure Area at Clark Airport

It's not always that I fly out of Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, more popularly known as Clark Airport (CRK). Living in Metro Manila, I still prefer flights that take off and land at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) because it is obviously more convenient to me. The air traffic congestion problem in Manila, however, pushed many airlines (AirAsia, Tiger Airways, Cebu Pacific Air, Airphil Express, and more) to fly to and from Clark, making this Central Luzon gateway probably the fastest growing airport in the country. Clark Airport is located two to three hours from Manila, depending on which part of the city you're coming from. If you're not very lucky, traffic can … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Airport Processes, Airports, Planning a Trip, Practical Tips Tagged With: , , , , ,

Restaurant Review: Casa Rap – San Jose, Batangas, Philippines

September 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Kalderetang Baka by Casa Rap

Only six months after my first visit to Casa Rap, a greenhouse-cum-restaurant tucked in a residential area in San Jose, Batangas, I found myself at its doorstep again. This time, with more friends. The Poor Traveler and his housemates were on a weekend getaway to Batangas with Taal Volcano dominating our first day itinerary. After traveling from Talisay to Lipa, we initially planned to start our second day with a trip to Taal Heritage Town. Unfortunately, we woke up way too late and way too hungry that we agreed to have lunch first before heading for the historic town. After building up the hype around Casa Rap, my housemates were convinced that it was the best place to have lunch at … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Batangas, Food Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Biri Island Rock Formations: Magasang and Magsapad – Northern Samar, Philippines

September 8, 2012 by 8 Comments
Another look at Magsapad Rock Formation and its rocky world

"Once upon a time, there were six giants protecting the Island of Biri from the monster waves coming from the Pacific. The two, who were stationed in the west, fell in love. They were Magasang and Magsapad. Since then, they were inseparable. Too much love caused them to forget about their duties as guardians and protectors of the island that the gods forced them apart, cursed not to ever touch again or they will turn into rocks. But their feelings for each other were too strong and irresistible that they kissed, all the while knowing about the consequences. Magasang and Magsapad turned into giant rocky hills in an instant. Today, they continued to defend the island from the northern and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beaches and Islands, Northern Samar, Philippines Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Biri Island Rock Formations and Bel-at Natural Pool – Northern Samar, Philippines

September 8, 2012 by 12 Comments
Top view of Bel-at Pool

The hum of the wind was beginning to weave a joyful melody in my head as it drowned the words that I was shouting to my friend Ces at the base of the cliff. I was at the summit of the Bel-at rock formation in the middle of the rocky shores of Barangay Progress in Biri, Northern Samar. "CEESSSSS!!!" I screamed my lungs out, hoping that she would hear me even when I was at the highest point of a giant rock and she at the very bottom of it. "Whaaat up?" she yelled back. "It's official!!!" I answered. "What is?" she shouted. "THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE THAT I HAVE BEEN TO!!!" I stood there and tried to take in all the beauty and wonder that surrounded me but even my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beaches and Islands, Northern Samar, Philippines Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Laoang Church and the Almuraya Fortress – Laoang, Northern Samar, Philippines

September 5, 2012 by 5 Comments
St. Michael the Archangel Church and Plaza Inmaculada Concepcion

I sat on a bench at the perimeter of the plaza and watched three boys play their version of Chinese garter. What drew my attention to their little game was that there could be an element of danger involved, which somehow got me worried. Their Chinese garter was not really a garter but a long bamboo stick. It's "luksong tinik" quite literally. None of them, nevertheless, minded it. The bubbliest of the three was Ben (not his real name). He was a determined, persistent fellow. He missed jumping over the hurdle successfully on his first try but tried and tried again but failed each time. Still, he asked his two friends to hold the stick on the shoulder level as he made another attempt to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historical Sites, Northern Samar, Parks, Religious Sites Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

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