Hongkong Trip

Feb 23: Just excited!!! Hehe. Waiting for the hours now..we are four who will be traveling to HK and all of them are my office mates. This were realized when Cebu Pacific offered a 50% fare discount on their international flights last November 2009. I thought I am going alone but when i told my officemates about the promotion they also booked. The cost for the roundtrip fare BACOLOD-MANILA-HONGKONG-MANILA-BACOLOD is only P4,800.00 per person. Imagine that is only the cost of a one way fare from MNL-BCD during peak season (Christmas). Indeed, low cost airlines had made the international traveling affordable to people like me. :)

Feb 15: It started only at the back of my house..then I was off to KK Malaysia and now on my 2nd trip abroad --> HONG KONG! Yay!! Once a British colony & a shopping hub of the world and also known for its towering skyscrapers! I can't wait anymore! Hehe. Eight more days and I will be setting my foot on its soil! I am very very excited!

(photo was copied from hong kong dummies at pinoy exchange)

Glimpse of Intramuros

I've been in the capital so many times in the past and yet I was not able to roam around during those trips even on the reachable historical landmarks in the City of Manila. I am still afraid of getting lost in a big city, being rob or be a victim of the evildoer which I always heard and seen on TV. However, on my recent trip I took the courage to go to Intramuros and sight see (that was last Saturday). Taking only enough money for the train fare I went to the nearest LRT/MRT station which is the Ayala Station and from there I ride on my own for the first time. I thought it was complicated especially on the train route going to my destination but I asked helped from the station guard who happens to be an Ilonggo also and there I made it. Thanks to him!

Below are some of the pictures I took on the short hour that I was there..it was a shame I was not able to see all those historical landmarks since I need to get back to my hotel and catch my flight home. Next time again...

THE FORT SANTIAGO

The Rajah Sulayman Theater

I made the 2 photos looks very old. Thanks to the editing software. Hehe.

It was good to see some Spanish word right at the entrance of the comfort room.
I was not able to take for the men's CR though..the area is so small & a lot of people are coming. Hmmp! :)




THE MANILA CATHEDRAL

Above the entrance of Manila Cathedral

Antique wood carvings on the door panel

PALACIO DEL GOBERNADOR




ANDRES BONIFACIO SHRINE
(Across Manila City Hall)

A Few Tips

45 days had passed since I climb the SE Asia's highest mountain and yet I still can't get over with it as every time my friends found out that I did climb they keep asking me about my preparations for the climb and how did I get to KK. They're interested to do it too.. Well for you guys who really wanted to climb here are my tips..

1. You need to book a ROOM or BED on the mountain hut at Sutera Sanctuary Lodge website, 2 or 3 months ahead of your scheduled climb as its a lot cheaper. Just check their website for the current price but take note it is still very expensive (well for me it is! hehe) and once you paid thru Credit Card, they can no longer refund you if ever you want to cancel (that is their policy) so make sure you will climb on the date you specified or you'll be sorry :(

2. As far as going to KK, you don't have a problem getting there as there are 2 airline operators from Philippines that has flight schedule to KK. One is Air Asia (daily from Clark) and Cebu Pacific (twice a week from NAIA 3). Just check their website for the airfare. Book also in advance if you are on budget.

3. If you want to stay in the city for a night prior to your Mt. Kinabalu Adventure, you got lots of choices for your lodge. From best hotels to backpackers/youth hostels lodge. The price starts from 20RM up. For me its good to stay in youth hostels coz aside from its cheaper you can meet a lot of friends from around the world there.

4. As for your physical preparation, I suggest u look for the tallest building in your area and then take the stairs up and down on that building maybe twice a week for two months. The trail on Mt. Kinabalu is only a series of steps/stairs and its not that hard to climb if u got a stronger legs. Jogging and walking is also okay and any exercise will do as long as it involves the lower portion of your body.

5. What to wear? A short and a shirt will do during the first phase of the climb. Then a pair of walking or hiking shoes. If u have a goretex shoes much better. Both of my toes were hurt during descent so I suggest u also bring a sandal to be used only for that purpose. Don't forget to bring a raincoat coz the weather up there is unpredictable. We never thought it would rain along the way since the weather when we started the climb is very sunny but the change is so sudden and I was not prepared. I should have bought a disposable raincoat at the base but I listened to my partner that I don't need it :(

6. Bring some medicines with u. Paracetamol, OTC pain killers, oral rehydration (to be mixed in your drinking water) and best if u can have some tablets for altitude sickness. That was my number 1 enemy as I climb higher.

7. Don't bring a lot of stuff with u as it gets heavier on your backpack and believe me it will make u miserable as u climb like what happened to me. Hehe. I bring along my DSLR camera but never used it there because of tiredness and altitude sickness.

8. What else? You need a spirit of determination..there came a point in my climb that i felt like giving up but because I am determined to finish and make myself proud, nevertheless, I continued. As sir Edmund Hillary said "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves."


If you still have some question just post it in the comment section.