flip'n travels

For so many years I’ve been bluffed by my elementary teachers that our Banaue Rice Terraces is officially one of the wonders of the world. Until someone burst-ed my bubble and said “it’s the 8th” … WHAT? we only got SEVEN right?!

Then we got a chance to change history in 2007, we got nominated. However, our very own Pinoy Rice Paddies didn’t make it to the New 7 wonders of the World. Whereas the whole world voted and it was announced two years ago.

BUT IT’S NEVER TOO LATE

We can still practice our online voting brigade power and prove that the Pinoys’ people power can shape history once again. We managed to nail a year-after-year landslide victory in Miss Universe voting campaign for Miss Photogenic, so we can do this!

Last July 21, 2009 the Panel of Experts announced the 27 finalist and we are IN! Our Puerto Princessa Subterranean River has been shortlisted in the top 27.

photo by Reizel David

Together with other magnificent wonders of nature across the globe, it’s a neck to neck battle!

SO CAST YOUR VOTES NOW!

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and should be taken seriously, although I can’t say I follow this rule religiously. But because of a memory long forgotten, I begged my aunt to take me to the market to get congee, fried noodles and deep fried bread to kick our day off. I was telling Ron about the breakfast I had six years ago when I last visited Hong Kong. The taste of the food haunted me. And now that I am back, there is no way I will miss the morning with that hearty breakfast combo.

Congee typically is added with different ingredients. My favorite is congee with minced pork and peanuts. Other options would be pig stomach and intestines, pig skin, century egg, octopus, pork meat, or minced beef. This is normally ordered with deep fried bread on the side or, my favorite, fried noodles. With the taste so authentically Chinese, I know I have to count years to eat that breakfast again.

Now if one is not so used to that kind of breakfast, Hong Kong has cha chaan teng. It is a Chinese tea restaurant that serves a wide array of food and beverages. They serve clear tea, cold lemon tea (they even put lemon in water, coke and other sodas), coffee and, of course, Hong Kong styled milk tea. The menu ranges from dimsum to sandwiches, noodles to pasta, and bread to cakes. Western breakfast sets (American, continental) are also available and prices would range from HK$20 – HK$25.

Cultural bits: Clear teas served in cha chaan teng are used to rinse utensils before a guest uses them. This is very customary for Chinese so you don’t have to freak out when the person sitting next to your table suddenly decides to do a little dish washing before the meal.

Walking around Hong Kong can be very tiring. When Ron and I went to Ngong Ping Village, we had to climb 268 steps to get to the Big Buddha. Not only that, we had to go around the village to check out some of the other sights. We were perspiring, hungry and dehydrated, and what do we find? Strawberries in kebabs. Introducing frozen calabash! We seriously don’t know why it is named like that but we can guarantee it’s going to refresh anyone who walked around much as we did.

And like what Ron says, we are caffeine fueled creatures. We cannot believe that we can find the two-tailed siren nestling in the mountains. We needed to recharge.

DISCLAIMER: There will be no sightings, whatsoever, of a giant dancing  mouse in a tux in this entry. Please refrain from any form of regression or retardation.

Lantau Island is one of the recently re-promoted destinations in Hong Kong, one of the most popular spot in this island is (of course) Disney Land, which I missed during this trip. We opted going to the Tian Tan also known as the Big Buddha in Ngong Ping instead, the original pre-Disney attraction in this part of the country.

The cheaper way to go there is to take the bus bound to Tai O Village, where you literally have to go around Lantau Peak, that means 9 times the distance/travel time if you will take the shortcut which is the 360 Cable car from Tung Chung station. As thrill-seekers, we could have easily hopped into the bus but since there’s a storm signal when we arrived—of course we might as well get the dose of adrenalin rush so we decided to take the risk of traversing the mountains via glass boxes hanging on thin metal cable under storm signal number 1.

http://www.np360.com.hk/

We’re not sure if it’s true, but we heard rumors that there were actually cable car accidents in the past where it dropped in the ocean. That thought even added up to our itching to try the ride, Wooohooo….

The 25-minute cable car ride to the Ngong Ping plateau is a must for Hong Kong first timers. You’ll enjoy panoramic views of Tung Chung bay, North Lantau Country Park and trek trail and a bird’s eye view of the international airport. The Ngong Ping ticket price is HK$105 which includes round trip fare via the cable car, traditional Chinese village gift voucher worth HK$20.

HERE’S THE MAP TO THE CABLE CAR TERMINAL

After passing the village, you will see the peak where the 34 metres (110 ft) tall, 250 metric ton-heavy Buddha is enshrined. We walked up the hill with Buddhist pilgrims and tourists alike. I don’t fully understand the veneration of the temple but simply climbing up the 268 steps is magnificent enough to feel the solemnity of the place.

We climbed the peak at exactly 12 noon so the overcast sky is still hot plus the pre-storm humidity definitely made our trek an “armpit bubbling” experience

Walk few more meters from the stair landing and you’ll find the Po Lin Monastery where visitors burn incense and pray. Right beside it is the (you guessed it) Po Lin Monastery Vegetarian Restaurant, meals cost between HK$40-60 . And since our budget is limited, we decided to fulfill our caffeine craving instead. YES–there’s a Starbucks in Ngong Ping Village. Bought few dumplings and sweet treats using the gift vouchers with a grande frapuccino and we are SOLVED for the day!

Getting There:  Getting to Ngong Ping Village by public transport is also possible. From Tung Chung town, you can take bus No. 23.  From Tai O village, bus No. 21 and from Mui Wo Ferry, bus No. 2. The New Lantao Bus Company currently offers a fairly interesting combo-ticket that gives you a one-way cable car ride up to Ngong Ping, as well as unlimited bus-rides on Lantau (for the same day) at a cost of HK$ 76.  If you are planning to combine the visit to Ngong Ping with Tai O, Mui Wo and some other places, buying such a ticket can be a good idea…

The ticket can be purchased at the Tung Chung Bus-Terminal, right next to the entrance to the cable car station (the booth is located right next to the escalator the climbs to the Cable Car Station)

Ngong Ping Village. Tel: 2985 5248. Opens: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM Daily

OK.. KAPALAN NA NG MUKHA!

Monette and I are both dying to buy this fabulously glorious  bag that we want need to use as our official backpack for all our travels going forward.

*queue choir of angels

THE CHARCOAL GRAY NORTH FACE TERRA 45 & 60!

(45 for Monette and 60 for me!)

Every time we pass by the malls, we are like kids in front of a candy store, pressing our noses against the glass window, mouth open, teary eyed, with a solo violin playing in the back ground! Dreamily looking at those 77 cm x 35 cm x 22 cm piece of heaven

Sabre 6, 420D rip stop nylon

High-volume capacity

Easy-to-use adjustable Opti-Fit suspension strap

Verti-Cool back panel PE sheet

Aluminum V stays Adjustable torso

Top-loading Sleeping bag compartment

Trampoline divider

Stretch woven side and front stretch pockets

Zip mesh pocket in lid Lash points

Trekking-pole tool loops

Side water-bottle pockets

Side compression straps

Adjustable sternum strap with Safe-T whistle

AAAAaaaaahhh!

WE DIED! … twice!… SERIOUSLY!

We could’ve bought it last week…

HOWEVER!!!

We are still positive that providence will hear our (*gulp) plea prayers. That somewhere in our small planet, a good heart will grant this call.

So North Face Philippines, R.O.X., Travel Club, Bratpack or anyone who believes in good karma, we know you’re listening!

We’re just an email away!

And OH! Admit it: you honestly believe that those backpacks will even look more stunning on us!

We promise, it will reach the far corners of the globe and will be featured on our photos in our blog. We will even try to ask DFA to have your logo replace our passport pictures.

Getting in Hong Kong from Macau is as breezy as it gets. Regular ferry trips are available from Macau pier to Hong Kong central which cost about 100 – 150 MOP. From this point on, the efficiency of the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) would guide any traveler to their point of destination.

MTR has seven lines including the Airport Express Line and the Disneyland Resort Line. This means that you can take the train from the airport to your destination without having to deal with airport metered cabs. The MTR cars are big and spacious and are made such as one continuous car so you can walk from one end to the other end. The voice prompts are very helpful for tourists who are clueless as to where their next stop is and travel maps are free at the information centers located at each station. Tourist attractions are conveniently located or very near the stop over. Interestingly, aside from the car doors, the boarding area is secured with a Plexiglas to avoid accidents. MTR runs from 6am to 1am daily. Fares range from HK$4 to HK$26.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MTR SITE MAP

with my sister and my mom!

NOTE FROM RON: Please excuse the outfit!

The Kowloon – Canton Railway (KCR) is also known as the East Line servicing the east side of the New Territories. As compared to MTR, it is more humble and very traditional, but still equals its efficiency. KCR runs from 5:30am to 12:30. Fares range from HK$3.50 to HK$12.50.

Buses are numbered according to its route and destination and names of the places are conveniently translated to English. Tourists should have the exact fares though when they board. Trams are also known as the double-deckers. They also have one of these going to the airport. Last one off the streets is at 11pm.

Taxis are colored red and green for New Territories and blue for Lantau Island. Rates start at HK$15, HK$12.50 and HK$12 for the first 2 kilometers respectively. Extra charges apply for tolls.

And who would ever leave out the cable cars? They are the most enjoyable transportation ever. The thrill of hanging by a thread as the cable car crosses the vast ocean and then afterwards passes over the mountains and then the ocean reappears after is enough to make the heart stop. This is not for the faint of heart.

Octopus Card is an electronic fare card that pays your way through MTR, KCR, buses, trams, ferries and the Airport Express. The card can also be used in convenience stores, supermarkets, vending machines and even fast food restaurants. Tourists can get the card for HK$100 with an available HK$30 balance. You may add balance as soon as the value runs out in every information center in all stations. So instead of juggling those coins, might as well get the card. It’s such a convenience!