Khaosan Road - Mecca for Backpackers

Khaosan Road in Bangkok has been the Mecca for backpackers since the 90's. It has been featured in some movies like the Leonardo Dicaprio's The Beach and has been mentioned in a few novels. Believe me. It’s really a melting pot of different races. The vibrant noise at night and lights from different resto bars just makes me go loco! It has been a popular choice for travelers/backpackers because of it's cheap accommodation. Who would resist staying in the area where you can have a decent bed for 150Baht? Plus the fun itself staying in the area.

Oh Yes! I love Khaosan Road

The busy street

Packed with people from different races

Khaosan Road at daytime seems like another quiet part of Bangkok. All you can see is a picture of tuktuk drivers talking and offering their services and tired people with puffy eyes buying some cold drinks at the nearby 7/eleven store getting ready for whatever day tours they have in their itinerary and the rest..perhaps they're sleeping.

See how quiet it looks like.

So where are the vendors?

At night, the street is filled with vendors selling clothes, shoes, accessories, food and offering services from Thai massage to hair braids. The street is also busy with people wandering around the area to look for thing that they can find. And as for me, I got to see and experience life! I got to try the things I wanted to. Like connecting with other people in terms of culture and of course... my favorite part- good food.

Let the partee begin!

Jes @ Khaosan Road

If you are looking for a place to stay in Bangkok (especially for those who have tight budget), I recommend staying at Khaosan Road. There are lots of budget hotels and guesthouses you can choose from. Or at least stay for a night to party! :)

Mc Donalds - Sawasdee

EXOTIC DINING in THAILAND - exposed!

Thailand has been known all over the world for it's exotic food. It's printed in books, featured in television shows and scenes in movies. I had my first encounter of it when I was traveling to Aranyaprathet by train. A woman was selling food placed in the basket when I noticed that there is a pack of fried grasshopper for sale. I was speechless and my eyes brightened only to realize that some Thai passengers laughed at me because of my impression. Well, forgive me for my ignorance but I really couldn't explain what I felt when I saw the food. It doesn't look appetizing for me, infact, I lose my appetite because of that.

Looks appetizing?!

The second encounter and the most disgusting one was in Khaosan Road. We were on our way back to the hostel from shopping when we passed by this food stall selling exotic food like cockroach, grasshopper, praying mantis, scorpion and worms. The people flocked to his stall to take pictures of the fried insects..aheemm..food I should say. He was selling it for 20 Baht per pack. Jes who was so curious with how it taste like bought a bag of huge grasshopper and ate it in front of the crowd. I took pictures of him and video. A white guy even came to ask him how it tastes like and he said it taste like dried fish. I couldn't bear to see him eating and enjoying the food. The words that came out of my mouth were "EEWW" and "YUCK". I remember telling him not to kiss me unless he brush his teeth 5x and gargle. Honestly, that food doesn't have any smell at all but just the thought that it's an insect makes me feel like vomiting. I asked Jes why he didn't try the scorpion or the cockroach. He said, he already knew how it would look like or feel like since he saw that in Fear Factor. He knew that there will be juices which he can't stand at all. Hahaha, afterall, he isn't really that brave enough to eat exotic food. Besides, grasshoppers are not really that dirty since they only live in grass and rice fields unlike cockroaches wherein you really can see them in your house.

A bag of exotic food for 20 Baht

Jes' Fear Factor moment

Jes eating a grasshopper.

Nonetheless, it was still a Fear factor experience for Jes since he was able to try eating an insect. And I, the cowardly have this nice article to write about that experience. Well, who knows..at the right time, I will try to eat something exotic too. A monkey's brain? or a fly perhaps. Geezz.. I don't know..only time can tell.

Disneyland Hongkong - Are you IN? or OUT?

Disneyland Hongkong is situated at the Lantau Island. So after our visit to NgongPing, we took the MRT - Disneyline. The view outside was spectacular! It was a huge castle with nice garden. We bought our tickets and of course, took alot of pictures. For us not to get lost, we took a copy of Disney map. Disneyland is divided into different parts. 

Outside of Disneyland

Disneymap

We were able to witness the parade at the Main street USA which is the first part of Disneyland and there were lots of dancing and singing and the Disney princesses where waving at us. I'm not really a huge fan of parades but since we paid for the ticket, we stopped and checked on it.

Street Parade at the Main Street USA

More Disney parades

The second part was Tomorrowland where we took pictures at the UFO zone and enjoyed the rides at Autopia where I get to drive the car. We then went inside this darkroom for a coaster ride named Space Mountain. The room was so dark and so far, that's the best ride ever in Disneyland. Because it is so dark, you wouldn't know if the ride will go down or up or roll or even move at the sides. The thrilling lights and music. Perfect!

T

TomorrowLand

UFO station at TomorrowLand

SpaceMountain Rollercoaster

We walked to the left part of Disneyland and hola! We saw this jungle like area with river and treehouses and that's when we came to realize that we are in the Adventure land. There's this part where you'll really get wet called Liki Tikis. You'll see jungle drumming and puppets. Awesome!

Adventureland

Likis Tikis

We also tried the Cinderella carousel and the listen to Pooh's stories at the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh while riding in this huge honey pot at the Fantasy land. We sure are like kids. We went to the main castle at the fantasy gardens and saw Mickey and Miney taking pictures with the kids. The queue was too long and since we were so tired, we just took pictures of them from afar and took the Disney train at the Fantasy land train station to the exit hall.  

Sleeping beauty's castle

blending in with the crowd @ Fantasy Land

Cinderella Carousel

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Disneyland is especially designed for kids and the kids at heart. So if you are looking for extreme rides, Disneyland is not the place for you.

CIRCLE LENS craze

Many girls especially in Asia longed to have big puffy eyes similar to the Anime characters. I mean, who wouldn't be? Especially those from South Korea who are not so blessed with double eyelids. Thanks to science, the said country was able to develop a breakthrough technology that can make the eyes look bigger. Hence, the birth of CIRCLE LENS. These lenses are contact lens but are bigger in diameter. There are 14.5mm, 15.0mm, 16.0mm, 16.5mm and the biggest that I have researched was about 18.2mm. It was April 2010 when I bought my first pair of Big lens or Circle lens. It's true that it will make your eyes look bigger because it does not cover only the black areas of the eyes but also part of the white. Critics said that its harmful to the eyes because it limits the amount of oxygen that your eyes needs to breath (I thought only the nose breathes!).. but if you come to think about it...what seems to be the difference between normal sized contact lens and the bigger ones? Debates here and there..science versus science.

my big eyes...thanksto Circle Lens (15mm)

In my own standpoint, as long as you clean it properly and use a good solution to clean it and make sure you sterilize your lens well, there wouldn't be any problem at all. There are millions of users around the world not just in Asia and so far, users have been satisfied with the beauty it gives. Just like any other beauty products or process, if you want to be beautiful you have to endure whatever it takes to be beautiful.

black doll eyes (15mm)

2009 Asian Tour - Cebu to Manila to Hongkong to Macau to Cebu trip

I have conquered Hongkong and wandered around the Vegas of Asia-Macau last October 2009. That was a very memorable trip because it took me 4 years to travel again outside the country with 2005 as the first. I went there with my good friend and former colleague- Jon S. Though the original plan was to go there with my boyfriend (we've bought tickets already) he has to cancel his flight with us since he got a very good offer from Kia for a trip to HongKong package with pocket money and posh hotel accommodation. I can still remember every detail of the trip because first, I have pictures that bring beautiful memories and of course, I am the official travel planner who made the itinerary and I made sure I keep the details.

Grounds of NgongPing 360

NgongPing 360

Our flight to Hongkong was scheduled at 4am but was a connecting flight to Manila. we enjoyed our little time exploring the huge NAIA airport. We arrived in Hongkong around 9am and enjoyed our little vacation and head straight to Ngongping 360-the Giant Buddha (please see separate article about directions going to Ngong Ping). Because we wanted to really save money and blend in with the locals, we rode the public transportation. It was really easy especially if you have been researching on the transportation of Hongkong for a month. :) We got to ride the cable car (which was Jon's first time) which offers a spectacular view of the Lantau island.

After NgongPing 360, our next itinerary was HongKong Disney land but going there, we rode the MRT- Disney line which was so cool! The windows of the train were shaped like Mickey Mouse. We were really amazed with what we've seen. It was like heaven for kids. Actually Jon was looking at the locals especially the cute boys and we really can't help but notice that 80% of the girls are wearing boots. so we bought our tickets and went inside and tried the rides and took as much as pictures as we want. (please see separate article about Disneyland)

MRT to Disneyland Resort

Inside the Disney Line MRT

Posing at the platform

WELCOME TO DISNEYLAND

Time for us to rest. So since we were in Lantau Island, we have to ride the MRT that will take us to Mongkok. It was already around 7PM when we arrived. I was so pissed off, because Jon's iphone doesn't have battery anymore and the address of the hostel that were staying in Chungking mansion was saved there. I felt dizzy already and super tired. So we went inside the building and looked for an internet cafe so he can charge his iphone. Thank God we were able to locate the hostel -New world Hostel. I was not feeling well as of that time. I was sick and Jon thinking I was just acting keeps on bugging me that he wanted to go to gay bars and Hell! I haven't researched on where the gay bars are. It was a nice hostel with a clean and decent room.

Even if we were so tired and I am sick, we woke up early like 3am to stroll around the streets of HongKong. We were actually aiming to go to the Avenue of stars and yes, we were able to reach that place by simply walking. It was not really far from the place where we stayed. Though there are no lights, we took advantage of the moment and took pictures as usual. It was so cold and I didn't bring with me my jacket and Jon was wearing sleeveless top. After gagging around and strolling around the Avenue of stars, we went back to the hostel to rest again.

Wandering at night

Just strolling around

Avenue of Stars

We rested for an hour and woke up again because were heading to Macau. Yes, we wanted to go to Macau so badly to see the Venetian hotel so we rode a ferry going there. When we arrived at Macau, we asked where we can ride a cab going to Venetian and a Kababayan told us just to ride the free bus going there. Well, if it's free, were IN. lol.. We followed the guide going to the bus and rode. Venetian hotel was situated in the other part of Macau. It was in a different island connected by a bridge. The structures are magnificent. Hotels here and there. We were stunned by the beauty of Venetian hotel when we arrived. It's really like I'm in Paris. The ceiling, the floor tiles, the walls, the shop, the casino..Perfect!

Macau is just a small country but very progressive. Just outside the Venetian hotel was this big hotel so we went there and checked what's inside the building. There were lots of people. Lots of locals and foreigners alike..all admiring what they see. Tried from the hotel hopping, we rode the free shuttle bus again and went to the the main island to see the ruins of the Basilica of St Paul.  But before reaching the place, we had to pass by this street market with a lot of food for sale and aheem.. free taste. We stopped by this store where I bought souvenirs. And since we have to catch the last ferry going back to HongKong, we hurriedly went back to the port.

Venetian Hotel

Ruins of St. Paul

When we arrived in HongKong, it was already dark. So we headed to the nearest 7eleven and bought food-microwave food, our official food in HongKong. hehehe.. :) Then it's time to SHOP SHOP SHOP!! We went to Mongkok to witness and experience the Ladies Night market and it was heaven for me! The streets were packed with foreigners and locals and vendors. What amazed me was that their stuffs for sale are so cheap! You just have to haggle. Thank God I have Jon who has very good haggling skills. We were supposed to go Victoria's peak but since we are so tired, we decided to rest.

Nathan Road

Lost?

3rd day- Ocean park day!!! Going there, we rode this two storey bus and since we haven't tried riding at the upper part, we hurriedly went upstairs and seated there. Yes, we were not contented with Disneyland's rides, we went to Ocean Park to see how beautiful the pandas look like and try the amazing rides. For me, Ocean park has better rides than Disneyland for adults. I had a blast! One thing I learned was pandas are so lazy! We just witness them sleeping and that's it. They look so harmless and cuddly that I wanted to hug them. We stayed there until 3pm and went shopping again where we came to this shoe store with very cheap shoes but good quality and fab style. So I grabbed 2 pairs, tried it and paid it. No regrets!

Lazy Panda

My favorite ride

MORE PICTURES! :)

HongKong at day time

Time to bid goodbye! My 2009 trip was a good one. Funny memories, unforgettable experience. I would want to go back there!