Trippin': Shanghai, China [Travel Tuesday]

Note: It's Travel Tuesday! All Travel Tuesday posts are of course in the Travel Tuesday tag. 2007 was a big traveling year for me. Right after Japan, I headed to China. Here's a look back on that trip and my thoughts from back then.

I hate this bad habit.
May. 8th, 2007 at 1:37 AM

I just finished last-minute packing. I'm leaving for Shanghai, China in a few hours. Why do I always do this to myself? I resolved to start packing a day before for this trip, but it didn't happen. I always have to wait the night before I leave - okay, it's more like a few hours before - to get ready. One would think that being a frequent traveler I would be more conscious of this, but I'm not. Don't get me wrong though. Packing is like second nature for me. I simply have a tendency to procastinate. Oh well I'm tired. I'm glad I'm done. Later, people.

Current Mood: sleepy sleepy
Current Music:Silence in my room

Shanghai Noon

May 8 to 11, 2007. China wasn't what I expected. Maybe it was because I went to Shanghai instead of Beijing or Hong Kong, but I found it to be a very pleasant place. I didn't encounter any of the stereotypes I've been warned about, and this trip turned out to be another very unique experience for me. I don't think I can live there (the only country I said that about was Japan) but it sure is a good place to visit. 

Trippin': Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar and Mount Samat [Travel Tuesday]

Note: It's Travel Tuesday! All Travel Tuesday posts are of course in the Travel Tuesday tag.

A trip back to the past

My first Travel Tuesday post was all about my trip to Japan. This time around, I thought I'd post about a local travel destination that has gained popularity in recent years -- Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan -- plus a side trip to Mount Samat, which has always been a must-see Bataan landmark. I went on the trip with my then-fiance, now-husband and his family back in late 2012. Somehow I just never got around to posting this anywhere. 

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is a heritage park that aims to preserve historical Filipino houses and buildings. We stayed overnight there and then made a day trip to Mount Samat on the way back to Manila. At first, I was apprehensive because I'm not really into old, antique things and historical places. I'm more into urban adventures or chillin-at-the-beach type of vacations. To be honest, historical stuff just scares me because I feel like there are ghosts lurking in every corner! 

That is why I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this trip immensely. It was great seeing houses and buildings from the past and hearing about the history behind them. The place was gorgeous too, and though some parts of it were a little creepy when it got dark, the hotel area was new and only modeled after an old building so I wasn't that worried about ghosts, heh. 

I had fun on the trip we made to Mount Samat as well, because it was another historical place. We visited the Dambana ng Kagitingan National Shrine, which is dedicated to the fallen Filipinos and Americans during World War II. 

Without further ado, here are the photos. [Note: I did not include a lot of photos of our family. These are just the ones of me, the husband, and the scenery.]

Trippin': Tokyo, Japan - Day 4 [Travel Tuesday]

Note: It's Travel Tuesday! First, read Japan Day 1 and Japan Day 2. All Travel Tuesday posts are of course in the Travel Tuesday tag.

A late-night/early morning mini-adventure before saying goodbye

Thursday

Start of Day 4

After my midnight soaking, I finished packing and then I dressed up, ready to go to the airport. I hate packing at the last minute, that's why. Then I went over to Lowenz's room to exchange pictures and stories, and wait for checkout time because we didn't plan on sleeping anymore. Here he is, transferring pics from my notebook to his. 

He showed me the CD of the band he watched in Shinjuku. We listened to it for a while. He got to chat with the vocalist (the only member who spoke English) after the show, and he asked the band members for their autographs as well. He was also able to get a signed sketch of a Japanese artist he recognized. Cool, huh? 

Trippin': Tokyo, Japan - Day 3 [Travel Tuesday]

Note: It's Travel Tuesday! First, read Japan Day 1 and Japan Day 2. All Travel Tuesday posts are of course in the Travel Tuesday tag.

I love Tokyo!

It's hard to say goodbye.

Mar. 29th, 2007 at 12:11 AM

Last night in Japan.

Tokyo time: 1:10am.

Today was a totally different experience.

I went to Disneyland, felt like a kid again for a while, but immediately started feeling like an adult again when I saw the 3-hour wait lines.

I discovered that I don't really like any "classic" Disney character, save for the princesses.

I got myself lost on the way to the subway, but got to where I was supposed to go eventually.

I went with Rex to Ueno, where we looked through some interesting downtown shops, almost got flattened by a San-X bear, saw the beautiful cherry blossoms, had a street food dinner, and walked through a park with a pond.

I saw how one can never get bored in Japan when Rex took me to see the Tokyo Games Center.

I found out that I've gotten used to the cold, and my legs have gotten really strong.

I realized that there are just some people I can talk to for hours with, with comfortable silences in between, while there are some that I can never be that way with.

I fell in love with this country, and I'm so sad now that I'm leaving.

I gotta go.

We're going to go hang out in Lowenz's room to share pics and stories and wait for checkout time now.

Japan, mata aimashou!

Definitely.

Current Mood: sad sad

Current Music:Silence in my Tokyo Dome Hotel room

Wednesday

Start of Day 3

Ohayou! (Good morning!) I woke up early, said bye to Rex (whose talking Japanese cellphone woke us up), showered, toothbrushed, and dressed quickly, then had breakfast with Kaye, Edu, and Alex at Pier View, which had the international buffet. No more Yugyo-An Tankuma Kita-Mise (where the Japanese breakfast was). Bacon is heaven.

Trippin': Tokyo, Japan - Day 2 [Travel Tuesday]

Note: It's Travel Tuesday! First, read Japan Day 1. All Travel Tuesday posts are of course in the Travel Tuesday tag.

Lost in translation in Shibuya

Everyday here is a freakin' adventure.
Mar. 28th, 2007 at 7:38 AM

Quick update.
Tokyo time: 8:45am.

Yesterday was just awesome.
I bonded with Kaye, my fellow journalist.
I ate ice cream outside, in freezing weather.
I got my picture taken with Hachiko the dog.
I had my Lost in Translation moment in Shibuya.
I ogled weird stuff in Don Quixote.
I went broke over a bunch of bento stuff.
I nearly died on a very Amazing Race-like adventure to get on the last train (my muscles are still aching).
I stayed up nearly all night talking with Rex, my childhood friend.

I'm exhausted, but smiling.
Leaving for Disneyland now. 
Later.

Current Mood: happy happy
Current Music:Silence in my Tokyo Dome Hotel room

Tuesday

Start of Day 2

This was an A Day in my Life project.

Different country, same face in the morning. I don't look angry on purpose! My face just scrunches up when I wake up automatically. 

The time. Yep, it was pretty early.

I went to the window and realized that I was having a Lost in Translation moment right there.

Trippin': Tokyo, Japan - Day 1 [Travel Tuesday]

Note: My first Travel Tuesday post has to be about Japan. It's my favorite country aside from my own, the Philippines, and I can't wait to go back there. It's a hard country to travel to (visas, astronomical travel expenses, it goes on and on), and I feel very lucky to have been able to go there. It only seemed right to me to look back on that trip -- my favorite to date -- for my first travel entry. These are my thoughts from way back in 2007. Here we go.

Freezing in Tokyo

Greetings from Tokyo!
March 27, 2007 at 2:25am.

Konnichiwa!
Tokyo time, 3:25am.

So far, I've:
Had Japanese talking to me like I was one of them only to say "ok" when they find out I'm a foreigner.
Eaten a meal where I had no idea what it was that I ate, but it was delicious.  
Giggled with Kaye and Erika over the tons of cute boys here.
Bought Pocky.
Warmed myself up with hot chocolate from McD's.
Gotten tricked by a vending machine.
Walked around for two hours, totally lost.
Stalked a cashier named Kobayashi at an AM/PM store.
Seen porn, like, everywhere.
Shivered uncontrollably in the super cold (for us Pinoys) weather.

I'm so tired, but it's been so fun.
Time for bed.

Sayonara.

Current Mood: cold cold
Current Music:Sound from my Tokyo Dome Hotel room TV - CNN



March 26 to 29, 2007. Japan was every bit as amazing as I thought it would be. It was the first time I went to a country that I didn't want to leave, and actually felt homesick for. Now I need to take Japanese language lessons and think of a way to live there for a year at the most. 

Tokyo is so dynamic! It has character in every nook and cranny. It's rich with tradition, but at the same time, it's so modern, clean, and colorful. It felt like a pretty safe city, and we didn't feel wary venturing out by ourselves - even at night. I wasn't prepared for the very cold climate however. It was less than 10C there, and us Filipinos are used to 25 to 30C temperature, with our coldest being 15C! I brought jackets, sure, but they were flimsy ones that I had to layer to get warm. That was fine though, I was able to adjust to that. The major booboo I made was not bringing sneakers. I wore my peep-toe flats because it's such a hassle taking my shoes off at the airport for the security checks, and I brought heels because we were told to attend the conference in business attire. Because I already had two pairs of shoes, I decided to forego sneakers. I thought, hey, it's summer here and I'm not wearing any hot footwear for the airport, plus it's spring there, it'll be nippy, but doable. Hell no. I was so used to going around humid and balmy Southeast Asia that I forgot it was totally different in the Northeast. My toes got cold, and flats are not at all helpful in catching trains. I'll get to that later. 

The Japanese are so nice. They'll help you out when they can, they're very polite and really quiet, plus they're so cool-looking. The only problem is communicating with them - the language barrier can be a bit hard to hurdle at times. Still, I didn't feel as lost as when I was in Taiwan, and I didn't feel any attitude like in Singapore. They're just that approachable I guess.

The company also makes a trip memorable, and I was lucky that I went on the trip with my co-journalists Edu (Manila Bulletin), Lowenz (Inquirer Online), Kaye (Speed), and Armin (Gadgets) plus our hosts from Epson Philippines Alex and Erika. They're a pretty good set of people - nobody was difficult or anything, which was great. Lowenz is my friend and ex-officemate too, so we go way back, and Kaye and I have been travel buddies for several trips already. 

I have to stop myself now, because I can go on and on about Japan for days. It's no wonder that I'm only posting about the trip now, because I've really been overwhelmed by the pictures, the stories, and the whole experience. I'll have to post this entry in parts, because it's going to be extremely and insanely long. There, I gave you fair warning! This trip was my best one ever, and I hope I can go back to Japan some day soon. 

Alrighty, let's get to the kwento!

Monday

Start of Day 1

First time on Japan Airlines. I was so excited to be going to Japan that I didn't mind the lack of movies and in-flight entertainment. I just read the magazines and listened to my Walkman.

Spicy Japanese nuts and crackers were the snack! I love these things. I ordered the JAL signature drink, Sky Time Yuzu, which tasted like a weird citrusy soda. I liked it.

Trippin': The Start of Travel Tuesdays

One of my many obsessions is travel. I didn't care much about it when I was younger, save for my yearly two-month vacations at my mother's ancestral home in Bicol and occasional trips to my father's hometown in Ilocos. I became a journalist in my twenties though, and I had no choice then but to travel a lot for work. It made me love travel in a way that I never thought I would. It opened me up to new cultures and experiences, and ever since my first ever out-of-the-country trip to Singapore, I've been bitten by the travel bug.