Here we go again. Just had to go back to Shanghai and cover more ground at the World Expo as well as spring a surprise to visiting friends who dropped by Manila on their way to China. What a pleasant time to be with friends who have become family over the years! The Pavilions I Missed Last Time Last time I was here with family, we covered all of 16 pavilions in 3 days in 3 zones: Asia (), Europe ( ) and the Americas ( ). While viewing the varied architecture and design of the many pavilions was a thrill by itself, it was quite an experience to actually get inside the pavilion (time permitting, what with the long lines) to view the exhibits and know the countries more intimately. We must have grown more ... read more

Our second day at the World Expo in Shanghai was just as exciting. Two metro rides to the Expo and we're off. This time around, we found the shorter route to the gate and decided to indulge the kids with a KFC lunch. (After the Cantonese lunch yesterday, and the Bi Feng Tang take- out duck dinner last night, they must be hankering for good old-fashioned chicken drumsticks and fries! ) Kids' Comment: Don't the VIP passes work at KFC? That drew a lot of laughs, and rendered us hungrier for our chicken lunch. We crossed the street to take the Expo shuttle bus to "Europe". Some helpful tip: Be sure to get seats near the exit doors. It can get really, really cramped as the bus makes several stops to take in more passengers. By ... read more

I have completed my blogs on Indonesia, to include some kind of a guide on what food to eat around there from Jakarta through Yogyakarta through Bali. So, why not one in my own country? I have been reading up on blogs about the Philippines and what you guys are eating, that I thought I should do this blog to guide you where to go and what to order. Feasting On A Lechon The celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain once visited the Philippines and tried our lechon. He then declared it is the best he has ever tried in all his travels. This roasted pig adorns almost every buffet table as families and friends celebrate occasions from birthdays to anniversaries to graduations to weddings to baptisms to fiestas. It is the equivalent of a royalty dish. It ... read more

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! I was hoping to bump into some TravelBloggers in Boracay as there were quite a number of tourists in this lovely island at the same time my family and I stayed to meet the new year. The weather forecast was not very encouraging. A WET new year's weekend, it threatened! But the sun was out and furiously beating down on us when we all arrived in the morning of December 30th for our 5-day holiday here. Must be quite a pleasant change for those guys who flew in from the harsh winter in Europe and North America. Arriving in Kalibo, Aklan and Taking the Boat to the Island Many choose to fly straight into Caticlan airport to take the 15 minute boat trip to the island. We have been here ... read more

What to eat in Indonesia? Long before we arrived here, we have been familiar with the world-famous Nasi Goreng and Sate Babi. Fried rice and barbecue to most. And then there's the famous sambal that goes with almost anything edible here. There are many places we tried, from high-end to the daily fare , and thought we should do a separate blog on what else, but FOOD! Bebek Bengil A trip to Ubud's rice paddies, art galleries and handicraft shops would not be complete without sampling the very famous, original Bebek Bengil . Those who have been reading my blogs would have guessed by now that between shopping and dining, the second option is my preferred activity. So, here's my non-food expert's take on Indonesian food. The literal translation is dirty duck but don't let that ... read more