Amir Khan's - Lagaan

I adore Indian Films! I adore Amir Khan and I super Love this patriotic movie. The story is about a young man who fought for his tribe's freedom from paying taxes. When I say "fought" I don't mean blood and swords. Instead, he challenged the British Colonizers in a form of a game-cricket. The wager? If they win, they shouldn't be paying taxes or lagaan for 2 years. If they lose, then they have to pay lagaan 3x. His tribe's men thought he was crazy and was leading them to more burden. They were so pessimistic that they would win since they don't even know how it's played. But with Amir's (character) dedication and optimism, he convinced his people that they can do it.

 I suggest you watch the movie for you to know more about it.

I would recomment this to everyone since it manifests heroism and patriotism. It reminds me of how our ancestors fought against the colonizers just to give us our freedom.

Remarkable Macau - Asia's Little Vegas!

Who wouldn't want to go to Asia's little Vegas? Who doesn't want to visit the famous Venetian Hotel? Who doesn't want to experience the life in MACAU?

When I went to Hongkong last OCtober 2009, I grabbed the opportunity to visit MACAU. From Mongkok, we took a ferry and arrived safely. As we arrived in the terminal, I asked a Filipino looking gentleman as to where we can hail a cab but to our surprise, he asked us where were heading to because there are just buses we can ride to for free. Hala! With no second thoughts, we said VENETIAN hotel and he pointed out where the bus is. We hurrily rode the bus and felt like a class A tourist. hahaa. I was really amazed with the structures and how clean the city is. The tall buildings, nice concrete roads and foreigners everywhere.

Finally, we arrived at Venetian Hotel and mann! we were starving. So we looked around to see the boutiques inside and checked where we can eat. 3rd floor area- that's where we finally get to see different choices of food. The hotel's food centre. There are a lot of choices! I felt like eating Japanese food at that time so I ordered one and to my dismay, the food sucks! It's too sweet.


After eating, we then went around the hotel to check around. It's really uber nice inside the hotel. The ceiling, the design..one can really feel that he/she is strolling around the streets of venice. Aside from taking pictures and filling our ignorance with photos, I get to try playing in the hotel's casino. Beginner's luck is true I might say coz I won! yaaayy! But of course, you won't expect me to win millions because I didn't bet for high stakes. I can still recall Jon being reprimanded by one of the securities for taking pictures. hahaha
So what do you expect? Pictures everywhere! heheh :)

With Jon with me..who wouldn't miss a thing (he even took a picture of the restrooms).

After conquering the Venetian hotel, we then went to check other hotels nearby. We managed to walk under the heat of the sun just to take pictures and see what MACAU is. We went inside this hotel/mall but I totally forgot the name and it was nice too but was not as totally good as the Venetian hotel. Tired of hotel hopping, we decided to visit the Ruins of St.Paul. Now, the problem is..we don't know where to go. I asked one local how to get into the place and if it's just a walking distance. To my surprise, he said it's in another island. Macau is also divided into islands just like Hongkong.













 So we headed back to the Venetian, took the free bus and luckily, the bus stopped at Hotel Elizabeth which is a walking distance to the Ruins of St.Paul. And geez.. I could still remember that I waiting for the WALK sign to LIGHT when some of the locals where just crossing the street -jaywalking. hahah and the best part..traffic enforcers where just across the street. That's a good one.



While heading to the Ruins of St. Paul, We passed by some nice structure which resembles the Spanish era. Then my thoughts came in. Macau was once a Portuguese territory thus explains the structures. We also passed by a road with a lot of vendors and where you can buy souvenir items. So I grabbed the chance to buy some.

After a long time of walking and sight seeing.. finally! We arrived at our destination.. The Ruins of St.Paul. I thought I had enough of walking already when you have to climb stairs to reach the top. I wonder how many calories where burned for that day. But then.. memories are all worth it.

Here are some of my keepsakes...

After a long and tiring day of walking and sight-seeing..we then headed back to the terminal to return back to HongKong. It was a nice experience. I wanna go back and try the bungy jumping next time. :)

Sunny Singapore

Singapore- one of the richest countries in Asia. Best known for the "Merlion" and now..the Universal Studios. A lot of Filipinos fly to the said country to look for greener pasture working as whatever job they can find. I was 19 when I first came to the country. I can still remember how amazed I was with the cleanliness, how disciplined the people are and how oftentimes I tend to forget that they're right-hand drive. I loved living in that country for 3mos doing almost the same routine--partying and enjoying the time of my life with my friends and being compensated for it.

It's nice to be back! 

6years after-I came back to that country with 2 of my close friends. There's a bit of a difference with how it looked like yet it's beauty still remained or should I say..enhanced.(Sounds as if I was referring to a person who underwent surgery. lol). I spent 2 nights on the last days of February in the Lion City. I stayed on the same district-Little India checking in to this backpackers hotel. I grabbed the chanced to visit the famous Sentosa Island and Clark Quay. Walked and be part of the crowd at Orchard road and of course..my favorite part..shopping. I And should I mention how excited I was to visit Universal Studios only to find out that they're now officially opened.  


It was so darn hot when we went there yet really didn't care at all as long as I am able to take pictures and visit the old place that I used to call my home. 


My keepsakes...

Orchard Road

i soo love this part @orchard road

Jon and I goofing around at Clark Quay

Raiding the Angkor Temples at Siem Reap

We took advantage of our guesthouse -Bou Savy's package which includes the Angkor Temple Tour for inner circle. We have to pay US$20 for one day ticket and have our picture taken. Our driver then showed to us the map with our itinerary and asked us if we want to go to the other temples in the Bigger circle. Knowing that a one day tour is not enough, we declined the offer and went on with our tour. 

We passed by Angkor Wat and the driver told us that it's best to see in the afternoon. So we entered the South gate of the Angkor Thom. It was nice. Jes who is not a huge fan of temples and old structures was even amazed by this heritage that date back from the 9th century under the Khmer empire. Along the way, we passed by this huge elephant at the South gate of Angkor Thom. It was my first time to see an elephant but unfortunately, I wasn't able to touch it nor ride with it. The tuktuk driver took us to the first stop, the Bayon Temple and told us that he will wait at the Terrace of the Lepper King. Geez..we don't have any idea where that is and where to go. He asked us if we brought along with us a map and we courtly said NO. I was under the impression that he will take us to each of the temple but it isn't. Tourists have to walk to visit the other temples. It was a good thing that the tuktuk driver was so nice that he lent us his book with the map of the Angkot Temples. Funny thing is, it was in Japanese. Well, we still managed to use and understand some of it. The names of the temple were written in Roman alphabet. There are also a lot of tourists at that time to we just followed them. 

 THE TEMPLES:

                                                                     BAYON TEMPLE

Bayon Temple

I just wanna pose! :)

inside the temple

side view of Bayon temple

my moment!

nice carvings - outer gallery

feeling the beautiful work of art

Posing with the images

After taking lots of pictures at the Bayon Temple, we have to walk a few meters to reach the next destination - Baphuon. When we arrived at the place, we thought that we cannot enter the temple because of the on-going renovation. It turned our that you have to walk further to be able to reach the other side where you have to climb through a steep stairway.

                                                                      BAPHUON TEMPLE

Very BIG tree going to Baphuon

The facade of Baphoun Temple

Yes, I love  to climb

WELCOME

@ the side

Intruder!!!

This way to Baphuon

Clear view of Baphuon Temple

                                                                

It was already around 11AM and the sun is shining so bright and so hot! It's not really a long walk from Baphuon Temple but my feet is so dusty and my body is full of sweat. But that doesn't stop us from going to our next destination- The Elephant Terrace.

                                                         THE ELEPHANT TERRACE

Entrance of Elephant Terrace from Baphuon

Yes, another picture delight

resting under the cool tree shade

View of the Angkor grounds

my favorite part

elephants!

holding the tusk

pretty carvings

It's time for the Terrace of the Lepper King and I was looking at the map to check where it is located and to check the path but I couldn't find it. So I asked one of the APSARA personnel for directions and he just said to walk and go down. I didn't understand at first only to realize that the Elephant Terrace and Terrace of the Lepper king is just connected. So we went downstairs and were amazed by the beautiful wall carvings of the Terrace. It's just sad that some of the pieces are not complete.

                                                  TERRACE OF THE LEPPER KING

The border between the two terraces

Magnificent work of art

some pieces are missing

I super love this!

Entrance to the Terrace of the Lepper King

As agreed with the tuktuk driver, we have to meet him up across the Terrace of the Lepper King. However, we were so confused where to find him because what's across the terrace is a huge ground of market that seems like a hawker center and not to mention, parking area and waiting area for the tuktuk. Since we were so tired with all the walking and climbing, we stopped over this food stall to buy some refreshments. I had a glass of green mango shake for $2.50 and Jes bought 1liter of bottled water for $1.50. We then went to look for our driver at the parking ground. Luckily, he was able to see us immediately. We took a ride going to our next destination- Ta Keo.

Ta Keo as cool as it sound may not be as cool as how the name seems to be. Well, one has to have great stamina and endure heights. Yes, what you're thinking is right! CLIMB... You have to climb all the way up to the top! And it ain't just ordinary stairway, it's a steep stone stairway (with some broken stone-steps) and 3 storey high.

Lunch time: The tuktuk driver took us to this neat restaurant. Most of the drivers take their passengers there. I think they earn a certain percentage/commission every time they bring in tourists and they were given free food as courtesy. It's really like the practice here in the Philippines. The food was delicious. Thinking of it as I write this blog makes my mouth water. The chicken curry placed inside the coconut was superb. The spices and the curry sauce made the dish so delicious. One thing I don't like about that restaurant is the service. It was kinda slow and the waiter had a hard time communicating in English. Well, what really matter is the delicious food and the experience.

After lunch we went to a few temples and the most famous one was where the TOMB RAIDER by Angelina Jolie was shot. I took the time to pose without really minding what other people would say. Haha..  They don't know me and besides..I'm a tourist. '

Here are some picures:

The Grand Finale-- ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE