* Exchange rate of USD to Baht is 30.80 at the airport. * Foods are great specially buko juice and fruits, even cheaper than Manila. * They drive on the right side just like Singapore, UK, Australia etc. * You can buy a cheaper jewelry in the gem factory. * People don't speak English very well, it can be a challenge for tourists. * Don't go to Grand Palace wearing shorts. They do implement dress code and they won't allow you to * enter unless you wear skirt. * I've never seen different color variations of taxis except in Thailand [View Full Entry]

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For our trip, we stayed at Sukhumvit Suites, Sukhumvit Soi 13 serviced apartment which my friend found in the internet i.e. www.asiarooms.com. When we arrived on Thursday night, we had to pay the whole 4 days 3 nights stay. Since it is privately owned, the owner doesn't accept credit card. The place is nice and cozy with free wifi connection, a veranda and master's bedroom overlooking Bangkok. There is also a washing machine if you want to do some laundry. The only thing so annoying and gross was the condom found by my friend in the kettle when she tried to [View Full Entry]

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On our second day in Thailand, we went to a place where you can rent and ride the elephant. We paid 500 Baht for an hour ride. Hmmm....everything worked fine until the older elephant i.e. 180 years old became grumpy and started making war with the younger elephant i.e. 80 years old. How can you not be angry? Imagine at age 180 instead of enjoying your life and retiring in some forest, there he is carrying 3 people. It was crazy when it started making a powerful, king of the jungle roaring noise and started tossing my friends to and fro. [View Full Entry]

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After enjoying our breakfast at Apo Idon, we headed off to our Pagudpud tour using the rented tricycles (P600 each). First stop was Patapat viaduct, beautiful site if only without the vandalism on the road side. As you can see from the pix, there is some annoying vandalism like "Karla cute" captured in our digicam. I don't mind if we change it to "Neth cute" haha but who the heck is Karla? Second site to visit is the Blue Lagoon beach which we later discovered should be the perfect place for swimming if only there is a rest house nearby. Most [View Full Entry]

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In the morning when we woke up, the reality started to hit us. We were not so wise when we chose to explore the resort at night. For one thing, we were not familiar with the place and it was so dark we can't see the damn place! The water was salty that it won't make any difference whether you wash yourself or not after swimming. A combination of toothpaste and salt water is even worst, and you have to bear with it 3 times a day. The resort was very far from the shore and was isolated. It seems to [View Full Entry]

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The same day after our Vigan tour, we checked out from the Northview hotel and began the two hours journey to Pagudpud. We took the bus from Laoag to Pagudpud. We paid P70 per person, i don't mind paying more just to be comfortable but there was no other choice. It was a typical provincial bus, no aircon, the seats were not comfortable, the windows were manually operated and worst of all there were some jerks sitting near me. No aircon means that your hair will scatter in all directions because of the wind (good thing i have something to cover [View Full Entry]

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Our third stopover before Vigan was the Baluarte of Chavit Singson. It looks like a mini zoo to me with variation of animals like horse, tiger, ostrich and snake. In between the picture taking, there was a not so friendly ostrich who likes to scare people. It will take you a while to find a good spot because the poor animal will keep on following you. From there we also bought a local delicacy known as tinubong (rice pudding inside the bamboo). They sell it for P100 for 3 pieces. Our final stopover was the pottery house. What comes to your [View Full Entry]

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There is always a first time for everything. It was my first time in South Africa and i have mix emotions over it. Do i need to inject myself with anti-malaria or just an off lotion will do? Do i have to bring tear gas in case of rape? What about my last will and testament? I have to travel 15 hours to attend a one week workshop, i've got to see something else. The plane landed at Johannesburg airport at around 7am. The first thought in my head was oh my gosh there are so many black people. What are [View Full Entry]

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After the feast that we have at Cromwell, we went to North view hotel to spend the night. We've seen this hotel by the way from the brochure in the airport. We rented a suite room that can fit 6 persons. The room rate is P2500 per night with an additional P350 for the extra bed. It is also inclusive of breakfast for four persons. There was a pool where we have our night swimming. It was a bit awkward though when you share it with people who are making out in the pool. Yeah, there were visitors who just rented [View Full Entry]

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Cromwell as we later discovered is better known as Chicken Ati-Atihan. It is where we spent our first and last lunch in Laoag. The foods are great and inexpensive. I highly recommend it. Now that we have finished a volumptous feast, we are ready for tomorrow.... What to eat: * Chicken ati-atihan (don't ask me how they've come up with that name, i have no idea). * Pork sinigang (i don't eat pork, but i can live with the soup) * Buko shake (so perfectly good) * Buko juice * Chicken skin (not recommended for the health conscious. It's self explanatory!) [View Full Entry]

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