edz_raya's Xanga

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 10:26:37 GMT

Life at 20+ continues....

www.kamote-kyu@blogspot.com

Canon EOS 30D

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 09:22:00 GMT

Went shopping in Kowloon (HK) and I tried asking for Canon EOS 30D in one of the street stores. I was qouted HK$6K which is equivalent to around PHP36K. The price is for a brand new unit the guy told me. That's suspiciously cheap...

I checked it at the HK airport duty free and the price is HK$12K which is around PHP80K. Thats the "real" price according to Deuts. Well, next time..

HAPPY 26th B-DAY to me!!! =) May 25, my b-day.. my return flight from Bangkok..

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Sat, 19 May 2007 16:29:30 GMT

Bangkok Tour

Everytime I go to other places, I always look for what makes that place different from Philippines.

Thailand is undoubtedly the tourist destination in south east asia. Malaysia comes next most probably. While there are many nice places in the Philippines, the capital city is a big problem as compared to Thailand. In Thailand, there are so many amazing spots you can visit right at the city which is very accessible. In the Philippines, the tourist spots are mostly in far provinces. Manila is a "dead" city except for shopping and nightlife. But shopping and nightlife are just "added value" for tourists, they dont really come just because of it. And every city on earth has shopping centers and prostitutes.

OK. The most common destination in Bangkok is around the Chaopraya River. This is like the Pasig River. Chaopraya river is very much alive unlike Pasig river which is relatively dead. The main terminal for the river tour starts from the Sathorn BTS station (mrt last station) where you can get Baht 100 for one day boat ticket pass. From anywhere in the city you can go to the Satorn station by train or taxi. From Sathorn to the other end of ferry terminal, you'll pass by various piers which serve as access point to various tourist spot. When you are done with one location you can walk back to the river pier and wait for ferry (passes every 30 minutes) to transfer to other locations. The Baht 100 is multiple pass so you dont worry about fares when jumping to other piers.

The tourist spots along chaopraya are mostly temples with amazing architecture. Among popular spots are: Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun. Here are some pics:

Wat Arun viewed form the Chaopraya River.

Wat Pho near Grand palace

Inside the Grand Palace

Inside the grand palace

One of many figures in Grand Palace

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Thu, 10 May 2007 05:04:04 GMT

Bangkok, Thailand

Random notes...

I am staying at the Ascott Apartments in the Sathorn area of the central business district. Its near the Empire Tower where I am visiting one agency. I know its the central business district cause KPMG, Deloitte and Pricewaterhouse offices are all over the area. I think KPMG is big occupying 2 levels of the giant Empire Tower. They even have K-cafe in the lobby which is operated by... KPMG. It seems CSR is a thing for the big four in this city. Signboards of Deloitte and PwC are evident along the main intersection.

Thailand is under monarchy and people here really rever the King and Queen. Portraits of the King and Queen are common sites in big places.

Just like Indonesians and Malaysians, you cant distinguish Thais from Filipinos until they speak. Thailand is buddhist country. Images of buddha or a goddess are in most office buildings, reataurants, hotels etc. At one of the entrances of empire tower you can see professionals lighting candles or laying flowers and pray before going up to work. Thais I think are wonderful peace loving people.

I feel safer in Bangkok than in Jakarta and even in some parts of Manila. Been around the business district and so far it feels safe to walk around.

Although taxi's here are much like in Manila, the airport, the bus system, the railway system are more organized here I think. And there are several tourist areas around the city which is safe to go by bus or MRT. I feel really hopeless sometimes thinking of Manila.

Will post some picture later.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 10:47:32 GMT

NEW ZEALAND- (April 17 to 27)

Waihiki Island- Maybe the most popular getaway destination from Auckland. It's a 30 minute by ferry from the harbour. A packaged tour costs NZ$45 (1:35Php) which includes ferry ride to the island and the two hour commented bus ride around the island. The driver is the commentator (very good).

Waiwera Thermal Spa Resort - Around 45 minutes drive from the city. This resort has variety of swimming pools with temperatures from 26 to 38 (???) degrees. Nice place minus the crowd..

Snowplanet Skiing - Along the way to the thermal resort is this man-made skiing ground (NZ$40 entrance). After trying I can say skiing is not my interest.. Had a nice experience anyway hehe..

Monday, April 16, 2007

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 08:39:52 GMT

Business Class- blogging at HK International Airport

It's all about money. In this life, you get all the good services and conveniences and luxuries if you pay more. Life is really not fair.

In business class (MNL-HK) you can pick glass(es) of wine of your choice, you eat rice (meryenda only in economy), you sit in bigger space, there is warm towel, you check in first, more entertainment choices.. and you have access to business lounges (with internet, food and wine bars, shower etc..).

Btw, Hong Kong to New Zealand is a 10hr flight and I need to spend 5 hours here at the HK airport before my connecting flight. The business lounge is a great idea but it should not be as exclusive as it is now.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Sat, 14 Apr 2007 13:39:17 GMT

New Zealand

If plans wont change I will fly to new Zealand this coming Monday. My first time in a non-asian country and my first time to fly in business class.. exciting hehe..

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Sat, 14 Apr 2007 13:30:58 GMT

Boracay --- pictures

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 10:53:40 GMT

2006 BAR TOPNOTCHER- University of the Cordilleras (wher I belong hehe)

Noel Malimban was maybe 25 when I was 21 and taking my review for the CPA board. I knew him as a reviewer in a CPA review school in Baguio though I never had the chance to attend his lectures.

He just topped the 2006 Bar Exams.

Btw, Makati CBD will be deserted atleast for the next 4 days. It's a long holiday...

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 03:26:44 GMT

BORACAY

I was in Boracay last week for our teambuilding. My first trip to the "paradise" island as some people call it.

What makes the beach special, I think, is the 7.8 km powdery white sand. That's all. We stayed at Boracay Regency right at the middle of the beach (Station 2). Station 1 and Station 3 are at the opposite ends.

Here is what it costs to be there:

Airfare- Max Php8,000/ Min Php4,000 per head (for Cebu Pacific the earlier you book your flight the cheaper you get)

Hotel- Boracay Regency (3 star resort?)- Php6,000/day for standard twin bed room. I heard cottages in Station 1 are much cheaper.

Food- Manila price (average 200/meal in a good restaurant)

Activities: All Terrain Vehicle- 600 to 1,400/head, Banana Ride- 250 each for group of 10, Parasailing- 2,400 each (max 3 person per ride), Island Hopping- 250 each (excluding lunch at Puka Beach, 500 each). We ran out of time to try scuba diving.

All in all, I spent Php18,000 excluding Airfare and Hotel (charged to my company as this is a teambuilding hehe). We landed at the Caticlan airport which is the entry point to Boracay. From Caticlan you'll take boat to the port of Boracay island (10 mins) and then another short ride by land to Boracay beach (10 mins). Some airlines fly only to Kalibo in which case travellers will take two hours bus/van ride to Caticlan.

Will post some pictures soon.