I was strolling around the net in my quest to look for a unique, cozy and feel good-vibes cafe around the Metro when suddenly this cafe caught my attention. Cafe Travel, from the name itself one will obviously assume that it is a travel themed cafe decorated with different things that represents different places on earth or stuff such as passport, plane, luggage, backpack and other usual traveler things. But it’s kinda not like it.
Cafe Travel is a Korean themed cafe located along Taft Avenue in Malate Manila. Yes! it is a Korean Cafe! 🙂 It first started in Korea and the owner thought of bringing it here in the Philippines which is something new for the Filipino customers. They currently have two branches here in the Philippines, one in Manila and the other one is in Cebu.
It is not the usual cafe with tables and chairs. The area is divided into cubicles with one table, pillows and no chairs. Since it is Korean-themed the set-up is of a Korean way. I kinda like this idea as it provides privacy to each customers. One can enjoy a somehow private area while chilling with your friends or loved ones :). Remember to always take your shoes off when you enter the cubicle or use the stairs.
They serve different iced and hot beverages and cakes. The food are kind of pricey but very worth it-large servings and it really tastes good. I wouldn’t mind paying 190 pesos for a slice or dark chocolate cake which is almost good for 2 persons.
Menu
Different Cakes at the counter area.
We tried their Tuna Pie, Dark Chocolate Cake, Travel Green Tea and Travel Caramel
They don’t have Wi-Fi which is good, so one can really have quality time with each other. Each cubicle has an electrical outlet so you can charge your phones or laptops if it runs out of battery.
The only things that I don’t like about the cafe are the writings on the wall and the loud sound of music. The walls are crowded with a lot of messages from those who has been there which makes the place looks dirty, not to mention those messages that contains foul words. I think it could have been better if those messages are written on a post it and pinned on the wall. I think it’ll add more color and “cute-effect” to the place. Hopefully the owner will have the wall repainted and strictly forbid the customers to write on the wall.
Look how dirty the wall is.
But overall, I enjoyed our stay in the Cafe. The food are worth it and the staff are courteous. When we entered the place the guard politely smiled, handed the menu and asked us to choose a table first before ordering.
If you are looking for a cafe that offers privacy, Cafe Travel is worth a visit.
Cafe Travel
Unit 3 2464 Archer’s Nook Center Taft Avenue Malate, City of Manila, 1004 Manila, Philippines
Schedule: Monday-Sunday 9am – 12am
Contact Numbers: 09052248003 / 09291559770 / 02)242-5871
Email: ctlp.taft@gmail.com
Facebook: Cafe. Travel
Minalungao National Park has been an instant nature-celebrity in social media recently. The turquoise-green water of Penaranda river walled by a 16 meter tall limestone circulating around the net has become famous. No wonder a lot of people are wanting to see this place. Let me share to you how to go to Minalungao National Park and other frequently asked questions.
HOW TO GET THERE (via Public Transpo)
The park is in Nueva Ecija, 2-3 hours away from Manila. To avoid heavy traffic build up, it is better to leave early in the morning.
From Cubao/Pasay, take a 5 Star or ES Transport Bus bound to Gapan/Cabanatuan. Alight at Gapan Nueva Ecija. Fare is P150 – P200, Travel time is around 2-3 hours.
From Gapan, ride a jeepney going to General Tinio (not sure about the fare, maybe around 30-50 pesos, one way). Then from General Tinio take a tricycle going to Minalungao National Park. Fare is P50 – P150/pax. Travel time is around 45 minutes to an hour.
If you want to have a hassle free trip, you can rent a tricycle from Gapan which will take you directly to Minalungao. Fare is P500 – P700 (depends on how good is your bidding “tawad” power is). Travel time is around 1-1.5 hours and the tricycle will be waiting for you on your way back to Gapan.
PARK RATES AND FEES
Entrance
Fee
P50/pax
Tricycle/Car
Entrance Fee
P30
Comfort/Shower
Rooms
P10/use
Cottage
P300
Bamboo Raft
P300 – P800
TIPS
Bring your own food and water.
Good for a day trip or side trip.
Not advisable to visit during rainy season as the road gets muddy and the water level is unpredictable and the current is strong.
Visit the park during weekdays to avoid heavy crowd.
SUMMARY OF EXPENSES (divided into 3 persons)
Bus
Fare (Back and Forth)
P300
Tricycle Fare
(two way)
P700 ( P233
each)
Breakfast
P120
Cottage
P300 ( P100
each)
Comfort/Shower
Room
P150 ( P50
each)
Guide
(optional)
P150 ( P50
each)
Total
P823
Please note that fares and rates may change without prior notice. Fares and rates are as of April 2016.
The water doesn’t look exactly like this. I don’t know what’s wrong with my phone, but this is the only picture that I have covering the whole river
“Leave nothing but footprints; Take nothing but pictures; Kill nothing but time”
The jade-like water sandwiched by a 16 meter tall limestone and rock formations is one of the famous scenic view in Minalungao National Park. Located in the Municipality of General Tinio (known as Papaya for the locals) Nueva Ecija, this 2,018 hectares park is a national treasure and said to be as one of the hardly remaining natural environments in the Philippines. This was declared as a National Park and protected area on 1967 by Republic Act No. 5100.
This is what the water really looks like
It was one boring day while I was scrolling through my Facebook feed when I saw the picture of Peñaranda River which immediately caught my attention. I then messaged my friends and we all agreed to visit Minalungao after our Hong Kong trip. We chose to go there on a weekday to avoid the crowd but there were already quite a lot of people. I can’t imagine how does the park look like on a weekend, might be as crowded as EDSA, aw! So I suggest that you plan your visit on a weekday if you want to enjoy and experience serenity (hopefully) with mother nature.
We wanted to be there as early as possible and to avoid heavy traffic so we depart from Cubao on a 5-star Bus bound for Gapan/Cabanatuan at around 5:00 AM. We arrived in Gapan at around 8:00 AM. Our plan was to take a jeep going to General Tinio and tricycle to Minalungao or rent a tricycle from Gapan to Minalungao, whichever comes first. Right after we stepped off the bus a tricycle driver offered to take us directly to Minalungao for 400 pesos. It was quite expensive so we declined, then he lowered it to 350. We thought that it was for a two-way trip so we agreed. We made a mistake when we didn’t ask if it’s for a two-way or one-way trip and yes! it was 350 one-way which obviously makes it 700 pesos for a two-way ride.
It was all our first time going to this part of Nueva Ecija and we were quite excited. Adventure is what we are looking for but little did we know that a very unexpected adventure awaits us on our way back home, I’ll tell you more about it later.
We reached the park at around 10:00 AM. It’s quite far and some roads are steep and bumpy and some parts are under construction. Going to the park on a rainy season is not a good idea as the road gets surely muddy and water current in the river might be too strong so it’s kinda dangerous for you to swim.
There were already a lot of people when we came. The park has a parking area, one eatery, comfort and shower rooms with a P10 fee per use. Bamboo rafts are also available for rent if you want to have picnic in the middle of the river (this one’s good for a group of friends or family) and the rental fee ranges from P300 to P800.
The dry part of the river which serves as a parking area
Bamboo rafts available for renting. Life jackets are also provided (i think if you only request for it)
A kid named Christopher offered to guide us so as first-timers, we all agreed to have him as our tour guide. He brought us to different picture-perfect spots. He also led us to the cave which is not really an adventure-like. The guides don’t have a specific rate, so we gave him P150.
The steel hanging bridge. The other end of the bridge leads to what they call “1000 Steps”. If you are up for hiking and has a reliable knee, you can climb up the hill with 1000 steps. There’s a big cross on top of the hill and you can make a wish.
Bamboo bridge made for an easy passage
Inside the cave which is sadly ruined and vandalized.
So after all the photo ops and sight seeing….it’s swimming time! yey! We rented a cottage just right beside the river, we paid P300. The scorching heat of the sun made us more excited and eager to plunge in the water. Now this is where first of the unexpected adventure happened. My partner put his 9-day old iPhone 6s+ in a zip-lock bag and brought it with him in the water. He was not comfortable leaving it in the cottage unattended due to a lot of people are also occupying the cottage just right beside us. After around 30 minutes of enjoying in the water he noticed that his 9-day old phone was also swimming inside the zip-lock bag! The water came inside the zip-lock bag! We all don’t know how because it was zipped twice plus another lock outside, there were no holes either. We tried to revive the phone put it into a plastic of dry uncooked rice and after a couple of hours it still won’t turn on :(. Good thing the phone is insured so we’re just now waiting for a replacement.
Keep swimming! keep swimming!
It was around 3:00 PM when we head back home. This is where the second unexpected adventure took place. While on the road, a heavy rain suddenly poured and yet the tricycle driver didn’t pull over so we can take cover or maybe he was thinking that the rain would stop so we ended up soaking wet! Third unexpected adventure: in the middle of nowhere with zero visibility the tricycle ran out of gas. We were on the road, under a heavy rain soaking wet and shivering. I was scared because the lightning could hit us any moment on the road, good thing the driver pushed the tricycle and we hid under a tree. He managed to get a gasoline by the help of his fellow tricycle driver but this time the engine won’t start. No matter how hard he tried it just wont turn on. We waited for an hour until a help came. 🙁 We had no choice but to endure the cold in the bus. It was a 2 hour trip back to Manila and we were all soaking wet inside an air-conditioned bus! But nevertheless we were still thankful that we were able to go home safely (except for the iphone).
One last pahabol picture! ^_^
So there you have it! That’s the story behind the unexpected Minalungao adventure. Overall, our Minalungao National Park trip was indeed fun and full of adventures, very unforgettable.
Ball Pit Manila, a playground-themed Cafe exclusively for kid-dults (adults) is surely a place for relaxation and de-stressing, just in the heart of the city. One can dive and swim in a pool filled with 80,000 white plastic balls, drown all worries and stress and leave it there.
This adult playground-themed cafe is a 20 square meter pop-up installation inspired by an art installation popular in the US and London. Located just in the heart of Makati, this cafe will only run for a limited time (March 1st till the first week of May). Exclusively for adults only (16 years old and above), an ideal escape for those who are exhausted from their works and stress brought by the busy life in the city.
We found this place while strolling around the net looking for a cool place to visit on our rest day. There is a Php349 fee for those who wants to swim in the pool of balls good for an hour but if there are no guests waiting I guess it’s ok to stay as long as you want. The fee also includes two rounds of regular coffee or iced tea. You have to book your visit in advance as they don’t allow walk-ins. You can book through their website at www.ballpitmanila.com. They currently have a promo, Php299/pax for an hour of swimming in the pool of balls with free coffee or iced tea.
Shoes are strictly not allowed in the cafe and in the pit. You have to take it off and store in the cabinet provided. You also need to bring and use fresh socks (meaning not yet worn). They also have an available socks if you forgot to bring one (I believe it is for sale, I forgot to ask).
Our cute and colorful socks! ^_^
If you get tired playing or your 1 hour play time in the pit is over you can stay in the cafe for as long as you want and try the food available in the menu. You can also play selected card and board games.
Look how cozy it is!
Cupcakes and pasta
An electrical outlet is also available for those who want to charge their phones if it gets empty of taking a lot of Instagram-worthy pictures and videos.
They are also open for pre-nup / shoots, conferences, parties, team buildings and other events. Please check their website for the packages and the costs.
Overall, it was such a refreshing and fun cafe experience. Believe it or not, it was my first time playing in a ball pit. I grew up in the province and we had no Malls back then, no playgrounds filled with these balls. I really enjoyed it a lot and it I felt like I was a kid again. Ball Pit Manila unleashed the kiddie force that has long been sleeping inside of me 🙂 .
Ball Pit Manila’s Location and other info
Address: Unit 202, Campos Rueda Bldg., 101 Urban Ave., Makati (Near Makati Med and just right beside Red Planet Hotel) Website: www.ballpitmanila.com Facebook: ballpitmanila Instagram: @ballpitmanila Twitter: @ballpitmanila Operating Hours: Mon-Sun: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM E-mail: ballpitmanila@gmail.com
Mag-Aso a 75-meter high waterfalls that creates a smoky-like foggy effect with a clear turquoise green water is a perfect summer getaway and must-see destination for nature lovers, like me. The refreshing air, cool ambiance, relaxing gush of the water and beautiful green trees and flowers will surely take all your stress away. I remember during my college days this used to be our bonding place and escape from the busy college-life. Kabankalan is a first class and second wealthiest city in Negros Occidental. It is also tagged as one of the cleanest city Negros Occidental.
[Looking for a place to stay in Bacolod…click HERE]
My last visit to Mag-Aso Falls was back in April 2015 when I went home for my sisters wedding. My college mates and I had a mini reunion (we were only 9 in our batch so it wasn’t that hard to call for a reunion) and of course where else should we go? Since it was summer time, we all agreed to visit Mag-Aso Falls.
There were quite few renovations and additions to the camp but it’s refreshing ambiance was still the same. The swimming pools greeted us as we walk towards our cottage and it’s as if inviting us to plunge in the water. There were two pools in the area, one for the adults and one for the kids. The water that fills the pool also comes from the falls so there is really no need for you to wear proper swimming attire like swimsuit or trunks but if you really want to, by all means you are free to wear those.
There are different cottages stationed in the area. There are also few picnic tables that you can use in case the cottages are fully booked. As of the moment, there are two villas available if you want to stay overnight. Restrooms are also available but there’s a one-time 2 peso charge, I guess this will be use for the maintenance and/or salary of those who are maintaining the comfort rooms. Don’t lose your ticket as you will be showing it to the person in charge whenever you have to use the comfort rooms.
The falls itself is located at the lower part of the area (another perfect moment for hikers). The management made some stairs with railings down to the falls so it’ll be easier and safe for everyone but it’s still kind of fun because you’re like in a mini roller coaster. Going down is very easy but going back up will probably numb your feet.
It was summer time when we went there so the water was not that strong. Sorry for the picture quality.
As the water cascades down the twin cliffs, it creates a smoky-like effect (aso is the local word for smoke) and the perfect turquoise green water is cold and relaxing. Beware though as there are lot’s of stone in the shallow part of falls and they’re slippery. For those who know how to swim (unfortunately not me) there is also a part where you can swim and enjoy.
View of the waterfalls from above. As you can see, that turquoise green water below is very clear which kinda creates a smoky effect as well.
HOW TO GET TO MAG-ASO FALLS FROM BACOLOD-SILAY AIRPORT
Mag-Aso Falls is located at Sitio Dug-anon, Barangay Oringao, Kabankalan City. It is 2-3 hours away from Bacolod City.
From Bacolod-Silay International Airport, take a van (Php150/pax) or a taxi (Php500) going to the Ceres Liner South Terminal.
From the Ceres Terminal, take a Bus with a Dumaguete-Mabinay Route.
Inform the ticketing officer to drop you off at the Oringao old Public Market or Mag-Aso Falls.
From there, take a tricycle or a motorbike (if you’re alone) to Mag-Aso Falls. It is a 15-minute ride. Take note that some parts of the road are very steep and bumpy.
Please take note that the Bus will have a short stop over at Kabankalan Ceres Terminal but that isn’t your destination yet. If you want to roam around the City and explore it first you can definitely do so. To go to Mag-Aso Falls from Kabankalan City.
Ride a tricycle going to Kabankalan Public Market or tell the driver to drop you off at the Jeepney Terminal going to Oringao or Mag-Aso (all tricycle drivers know where it is).
Tell the jeepney driver or “kundoktor” to drop you off at Mag-Aso Falls.
From there, take a tricycle or a motorbike (if you’re alone) to Mag-Aso Falls. It is a 15-minute ride. Take note that some parts of the road are very steep and bumpy.
If you want to have a little bit of an adventure you can also hike all the way up to the falls. Just like us during college days, we used to hike it back and forth.
ENTRANCE FEE AND COTTAGE/VILLA RATES
The entrance fee is 50 pesos for adults while children up to 7 years old are free. Cottage rates depends on how big it is, it ranges from 200-300 pesos for day-stay. If you want to extend and stay overnight, they also have 2 Villa’s amounting to 1000 pesos per night good for as many persons as you can fit in, good for barkada overnight stay. You can also bring a tent with no extra charge. As for the picnic tables, I don’t have a specific price information if it is for rent or free if all cottages are full. I’ll update you once I got an answer from a friend working in the City government ;).
ARE WE ALLOWED TO BRING FOODS?
Definitely YES! I highly suggest that you bring your own food,in fact bring everything that you will need such as water and any other essential things. There is only one store in the area and there’s really nothing much in it.
Just a reminder, do not wander far from the camp and be careful as there are cliffs and sharp stones. Also, it would be much better if you bring an insect repellent just in-case you will need it.
Disclaimer: Pictures were taken almost a year or 2 years ago. Will update it when I have the chance to visit the place again.
[Looking for a place to stay in Bacolod…click HERE]
If you’re reading this, then this is probably your first time travelling abroad 😉 but if not then thank you for still dropping by. Travelling abroad for the first time is kind of exciting but for sure there are a lot of things brewing on your mind and you can’t help to feel a little anxious. Lots of questions, maybe’s and what if’s rumbling on your mind. Just relax, take it easy, and read these guides and things that will help you on your first travel abroad. These are purely based on my research and most are on my personal experiences.
NOTE: You are reading this post at your own risk. Information found here are true and correct to the best of my knowledge but it is much better if you check and confirm it with the concerned departments.
PASSPORT
Of course you cannot go out of the country without this. Having a passport nowadays is a must as it serves as one of the primary ID’s accepted here in the Philippines and other countries. But using your passport as an ID alone might be a boring idea. You don’t want to wait for it to expire without getting any stamps, right? So might as well use it and travel around the world. You have to ensure that you have a valid passport before even planning your trip. 😀 Securing a passport nowadays is made easy thru the online appointment system (which what i did) and DFA sites are scattered around the key cities in the metro. Please check DFA’s website for further information on how to get a passport.
As for me, i got my passport last January 2014 and it took 2 years before I was able to travel outside the Philippines. It was my first out of the country travel experience. The feeling was so exciting and nerve wracking. I have done so much research and read a lot of blogs everyday (haha, yes! I am that excited on my first travel abroad).
VISA
Depending on the country that you want to visit, VISA is probably one of the most challenging and time-consuming part. There are a lot of VISA-free countries out there that you can visit but if you really want to go to the US, Europe or any other countries that requires a VISA then you might want to consider processing this in advance.
I haven’t tried processing this one yet as the only places that I’ve visited so far is Hong Kong and Macau so I’m not really familiar with the process yet. I suggest you check with the embassy of the country that you want to visit. The process and requirements are listed on their websites so it’ll be easier for you to check.
PLAN THE DATES OF YOUR TRAVEL
Assuming that you already have a passport and you’re travelling to a VISA-free country, the next important thing that I can suggest for you to plan will be your travel dates. This is one of the important part of your trip to consider especially if you’re working. You need to file a leave and wait for it to be approved so might wanna plan this part first. But if you’re going to a country that requires a VISA then I think you have to set your travel dates first as you might be needing these in your VISA application. Please check and confirm further information on the embassy of the country that you want to visit.
Also, you might want to do a little checking on the weather of the country that you want to visit. Like me when I went to Hong Kong it was rainy and foggy so the weather was freezing and so the stunning views were blocked by the fogs. But still I enjoyed it. If you want to enjoy the most out of your trip, weather is indeed one of the things that you might want to check.
PLANE TICKET
Assuming that you have already accomplished all three things mentioned above, then plane ticket will be next one. Booking for a plane ticket is made easy nowadays. Just grab your smartphone and book a flight right away, but beware of the high fare though :). If you are are a budget-traveler like me then seat sale is our best choice. Travelling and exploring the world doesn’t need to be that expensive,right?
For me, since I already have a passport, booking a plane ticket is what I do first. Lucky if there is a seat sale but if there’s none, I am booking my flight way “way” before my travel dates. Then from there, I will file a leave at work and force my manager to approve it lol, (reason for the leave: I already have a plane ticket booked for this trip, haha).
HOTEL RESERVATION
I suggest that it is BEST to book an accommodation on your destination before your flight. Having trouble with the immigration might be the last thing that you want to happen so make sure that you have a copy of your hotel accommodation ready. You will also need to fill out an immigration card in which you will be ask to indicate your address abroad.
What if I will be staying at a friend’s house? It will be much better if you have an invitation letter with the address of your friend’s house abroad. Also, make sure to have your friend’s contact number just in case they ask for it.
WHAT TO DO AT THE AIRPORT AND IMMIGRATION PROCESS
Be sure to be at the airport at least two hours before your flight. But based on the traffic and airport situation that we currently have, it will be much better if you allot more than that to be on the safe side. You don’t want to miss you flight and get left behind by the plane because you’re stuck in the traffic, so be as “reasonably” early as possible.
After passing through the first security check, I suggest that you settle the travel tax first. Travel Tax counters are located at the far left hand side (if you’re facing the check-in counters) of the airport. The fee is Php 1620, keep the receipt after paying and proceed to the check-in counters. (Click HERE for more information on what to do at the airport for first time travelers).
As for the immigration, it will be better if you bring the following just in case you will be subjected to a secondary inspection:
Latest COE (Certificate of Employment) – if you are employed
Latest ITR (Income Tax Return) – if you are employed and don’t have a COE or if you run your own business
Business Registration Permit – if you are self-employed
Birth Certificate (NSO)
NOTE: Do not show these documents to the immigration officer if not ask. Just give them your round trip tickets, hotel accommodation voucher and company ID first. Answer the questions honestly and be polite, don’t forget to smile :). Answer only what is being ask and be straight to the point. Don’t be afraid, just relax.
HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD I BRING
The amount of money that you will bring depends on the country you’re visiting. For instance, during my Hong Kong trip I brought HKD 3000 for a 4-day trip. If you are going to a country with high cost of living of course you’re gonna have to bring sufficient amount of money depending on the length of your stay.
Should I exchange my money here in the Philippines before my trip? As for me, I had my money (Philippine Peso) exchanged (to HKD) here before I leave. I just want to be on the safe side since it was my first time travelling abroad and I’m not quite certain of the exchange rate abroad and I don’t want to consume time looking for a good money changer there.
So these are all for now. I believe I have covered all the necessary details, if not then feel free to ask or suggest in the comment section below. Will be updating this if I encounter any other things on my next travel abroad. Again, please be reminded that these guides are mostly based on my personal experience. It is much better to check the with the embassy for the immigration’s process and requirements.
If you’re visiting Hong Kong then you just might as well visit Disneyland or it is probably one of the main reason why you’re in (want to go to) Hong Kong, or if you are reading this then you might have already read my magical Disneyland experience (if you haven’t read it yet click here).
In this post, I will be sharing the directions on how to get to Hong Kong Disneyland and other frequently asked questions.
HOW TO GET TO DISNEY LAND FROM TSIM SHA TSUI
Many budget friendly hotels are located in Tsim Sha Tsui area. In our case, MTR was just few walks away from our hotel so it was very convenient for us. We allotted our whole second day for Disneyland only so we woke up early went there just few minutes right after they open and stayed up until the fireworks display. Here’s the directions on how to get to Disneyland from Tsim Sha Tsui:
From the MTR Tsim Sha Tsui station take the train bound to Tsue Wan (red line).
Alight at Lai King station and transfer to a different train bound to Tung Chung (orange line).
Alight at Sunny Bay station and transfer to Disney Resort line (pink line).
Disney Resort Train has only one stop so when it stops get out of the train and after few walks, taadaaah! you’re in Disney Land!
The fare is HK$19 – oneway (deducted from the Octopus card)
WHAT TIME DOES THE PARK OPEN
The park opens everyday from 10:00 AM to 8:45 PM. Please take note that the schedule may change anytime so I suggest that you check the park’s schedule on their official website (click here) first before going or planning your trip. Also, some attractions may open late or close early so if you want to visit them all make sure to check the schedules online.
HOW MUCH DOES THE TICKET COST AND WHERE TO BUY
There are two types of tickets and you can purchase depending on your choice/need. If you’re planning to explore the park in just a day, you can purchase a 1-Day Ticket:Standard Day or if you need two days to explore this magical kingdom you can purchase a 2-Day Ticket.
1-Day Ticket:Standard Day Cost
HK$539 : General Admission (Ages 12-64)
HK$385 : Child (Ages 3-11)
HK$100 : Senior (Ages 65 above)
For online purchase: Standard Day Tickets are valid for one visit during a 6-month validity period from the purchase date. Standard Day Tickets are valid on all dates during the validity period.
2-Day Ticket Cost
HK$739 : General Admission (Ages 12-64)
HK$525 : Child (Ages 3-11)
HK$170 : Senior (Ages 65 above)
For online purchase: 2-Day Tickets are valid for visit on any 2 days within a 7-day period. First visit must be on or before the last day of the validity period printed on the back of the ticket. Ticket Tag or Photo ID is required for Park admission.
Where to Buy Tickets
There are two ways to purchase a ticket, first is you can purchase from the ticket booths located at the park second is through online (credit card payment). Ticket prices are the same but the only advantage of purchasing online is that you don’t have to wait on the line, just go directly to the ticket booth and claim your actual Park ticket. Guests must be the authorized holder of the credit card used in the Website purchase. Guests need to present the credit card used in the Website purchase together with the confirmation number issued for the Website purchase to redeem the purchased tickets. Upon HKITP’s request, Guests need to present personal identification documents to verify their identities as the authorized holder of the credit card used in the Website purchase.
IS IT ALLOWED TO BRING FOOD INSIDE THE PARK?
Yes, but it depends on the kind of food that you’ll bring. Rice meals and meats are not allowed inside the park. You have to pass two security inspections and the guards are thoroughly inspecting the bags even up to the smallest pockets so don’t even try to sneak something not allowed. However, water, chips and bread are allowed. There are many restaurants & refreshments and food kiosk inside the park but the food are very expensive so make sure to eat a lot before going to the park and bring a bottle of water and something to fill your stomach (like bread and/or chips) but if you have money to blow then you can eat anything you want there by all means :).
IS THERE A MONEY CHANGER AND CHARGING STATION INSIDE THE PARK?
Yes there is a money changer and charging station. Just go to the City Hall located at the Main Street USA. I don’t have the information about the exchange rate but maybe it’s a little bit higher. If your phone ran out of battery you can charge it there for free. Just present a valid ID and bring your own charger with you. Don’t worry about about the three prong adapter, they have lot’s of those :). You can leave your phone there while charging and just present your ID when claiming it.
WHAT TIME IS THE DISNEY PARADE AND FIREWORKS DISPLAY
As far as I know there are two sets of parade, one in the afternoon at 3:00 PM the Flights of Fantasy Parade and the second one is at 7:30 PM Disney Paint the Night Parade (which I liked most and one of the highlights of my Disney experience).
Fireworks display is at the closing part which is 8:45 PM. It is a 10-15 minute display at the Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. Make sure to be there in front of the castle at least 30 minutes or more before the fireworks display starts as the area easily gets crowded. It’s up for you to find a very good viewing (for video/picture) spot.
NOTE: The time or type of parade may change depending on the weather and Disney Management. Like in our case, it was kinda rainy when we went there so for the 3:00 PM parade instead of Flights of Fantasy it was replaced by Mickey’s Rainy Day Parade but we were still able to see different Disney characters.
So there you go folks! So far these are the things that I think might be helpful for you as I also had these questions in my mind before.
If you have further inquiries or suggestions please feel free to write it down in the comment area and I will try to respond the soonest time possible as soon as I read it.
It’s as if it was only yesterday when I went to the magical world of Disneyland. This magical kingdom is probably every kids and kid-at-heart’s dream. When I was a kid I used to watch different Disney shows (even up until now, though not as often as before) and never have I imagined that it would come to a point that I’ll meet almost all Disney characters in person.
Disneyland is our only priority during our Hong Kong trip, haha. So we decided to spend our second day exploring the majestic world of Disney. We woke up early ate our breakfast and prepared ourselves. We wanted to be there when the park opens up until they close (very determined souls, lol).
We left the hotel around 9:30 AM and we were shocked by the cold weather, but that doesn’t stopped us from our goal. Hong Kong itself is very tourist friendly and they have a very expandable mode of transportation so it was kind of easy for us to navigate to our destination.
It was around 10:30 AM when we reached Disneyland and I couldn’t hide my joy and excitement. I was overwhelmed and never thought that right there and then I was in Disneyland. haha (sorry if masyadong madrama). There were a lot of people of course as expected.
The ticket booths are around 5-minute walk away from the main entrance. Before entering in the ticket booths are, we passed through the first security check in which our bags were thoroughly inspected up to the last single pocket. We bought a 1-Day Ticket which cost HK$539 each then went through the last security check and viola! a garden with a huge Mickey Mouse smiling face greeted us.
We grabbed a map from the shelves located just as before entering the Main Street USA. I suggest you get a copy of this map as this will be very useful in navigating around Disneyland.The park has 7 lands to explore, Main Street USA, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Toy Story Land, Mystic Point, Grizzly Gulch and Adventureland and yes! we were able to visit and experienced all 7 magical lands.
Each land has it’s own unique attractions. The queue for the rides are jam-packed so we were only able to experience few of them. As much as I really want to try all the rides but we don’t want to consume all day lining up waiting on the queue. Also, taking a picture with all the Disney characters in each land is kind of impossible because I think they don’t have a specific time when they’ll come out and when they do, it’s only for few minutes then they’ll leave again (yeah, they’re hiding somewhere and just coming out whenever they want for picture taking, lol and the queue is very long). Luckily we were able to took a picture with the three characters (for one whole day we only took a picture with three of them), Buzz lightyear, Baymax and of course Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
Let me share the story behind this picture with Mickey and Minnie. Around 11:00 AM we saw a very long queue of people patiently standing and waiting on the line, when we checked we saw Mickey and Minnie so we both rushed and went on the line but the Disney staff told us that the meet and greet is already done and that we have to wait for 3:00 PM if we want to have a pic with them then he told us to be there as early as 1:00 PM. We were quite sad and disappointed and somehow lost hope to have a pic with Mickey and Minnie. We already set an expectation to ourselves that we will be leaving Disneyland without a pic with them. But while we are resting and waiting for the 3:00 PM parade we noticed that there are already few people lining up though we’re not seeing any Disney character yet so we just followed the crowd and stand on the line only to find out that it was another meet and greet with Mickey and Minnie. Haha So there it is, luckily I was able to take a pic with Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Yey!
Second picture out of luck is with Baymax. While we are busy taking selfie with Mickey and Minnie we saw Baymax and the queue wasn’t that long so right after taking a picture with Mickey and Minnie Mouse we ran to Baymax’s picture taking area. Haha
This picture with Buzz lightyear is also out of luck. Haha Just right after we finished eating our lunch in a food court at Tomorrowland we saw Buzz lightyear walking towards the picture taking area so we rushed and stand on the line. Wew! Another lucky picture. Haha. So all these pictures with the three Disney characters are all out of luck.
Here are the different attractions in each lands:
Main Street USA
Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad – Main Street Station
Main Street Vehicles
Animation Academy
Art of Animation
Tomorrow Land
Space Mountain
Stitch Encounter (a real-like theater interaction with stitch which I was put on the spotlight because Stitch said that I am a space prisoner. lol Out of all people inside the theater I was the one that he spotted.)
Orbitron
UFO Zone
Autopia
The Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Fantasy Land
Sleeping Beauty Castle
Mickey’s PhilhasMagic
Fairy Tale Forest
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Cinderalla Carousel
Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad – Fantasy Land Station
Fantasy Gardens
Mad Hatter Tea Cups
It’s a small world
Mickey and the Wondrous Book
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Snow White Grotto
Toy Story Land
Toy Soldier Parachute Drop
Slinky Dog Spin
RC Racer
Barrel of Fun
Mystic Point
Mystic Manor
Garden of Wonders
Grizzly Gulch
Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars
Geyser Gulch
Adventureland
Festival of the Lion King
Rafts to Tarzan’s Tree House
Tarzan’s Treehouse
Jungle River Cruise
Liki Tikis
All seven lands has different Restaurants & Refreshments and shops.
A 3-D theater inside Mickey’s PhilharMagic
The Disney characters parade is scheduled at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM. The Disney Paint the Night Parade at 7:00 PM is the one i liked most. There’s also a charging station if your phone ran out of battery. Just go to the City Hall located at The Main Street USA, don’t forget to bring your own charger and a valid ID and the staff will charge your phone for free. You can even leave your phone there while charging and continue roaming around the park. If you’re going to claim your phone and charger just present a valid ID.
Cute Tinkerbell! as if she’s really flying
Mickey Mouse
Beautiful Ariel of Little Mermaid
Characters from the movie Monster
Gorgeous Bell of Beauty and the Beast
One of the character from the Disney movie Cars
Sheriff Woody from Toy Story
One of the cool and amazing costumes of the dancers on the parade
The last part and highlight of our Disneyland adventure was the fireworks display. We were already dead tired for roaming around the park the whole day but we can’t leave without witnessing the famous Disney Fireworks display. Around 8:00 PM we went in the open area in front of Cinderella’s Castle and looked for a spot to sit and rest while waiting for the clock to strike at 8:45 PM (this is the time that the fireworks display starts). There were already a lot of people sitting and waiting so if you want to have a perfect viewing (video/picture) spot, be sure to be there at least an hour before the fireworks display as that area of the park easily gets crowded.
The show started at exactly 8:45 PM and I was again amazed and overwhelmed :). The castle looked stunningly beautiful while it was being illuminated by the sparkling lights (it was my first time seeing a real Disney Castle and fireworks so pardon me if I’m kind of madrama, haha dati sa mga intro ng Disney Movies ko lang to nakikita black and white pa).
It was indeed a magical and unforgettable day. My first time Disney experience. I wonder how does the other five Disney’s look like. Can’t wait to visit em all.
My first trip out of the country and my first Hong Kong experience. It wasn’t my first time riding a plane but it was my first time facing an immigration officer which to me was the scariest part of it all. I know a friend who has been offloaded twice at the airport so I was so afraid and praying that it won’t happen to me and thank God I experienced no issues with the IO. I was only asked two questions, how long have I been working, coz according to the immigration officer I look like a minor (I don’t know if it was a compliment or something that I should be scared of so i just smiled)second question was the health card that our company uses, maybe to validate if I’m really working.
CHECKLIST
Our flight was scheduled at 4:10 PM so after my shift from work around 11:00 AM, afraid of getting stuck in the traffic, I immediately went to the airport. Me and my partner lined up on the long queue for the first security check. We were a bit early for the check in as the counters opens 3 hours before the flight so we decided to double check our documents. Here’s what we brought:
Passports
Airline Tickets (back and forth)
Hotel Accommodation Voucher
Company ID
Money (in HKD)
and a Pen (yes you read it right, a Pen. You will be filling out different forms so it’ll be kind of a hassle if you don’t have your own pen, so it is very important.)
TRAVEL TAX
Since the check in counters were still closed we decided to settle the Travel Tax first. The travel tax counter is located on the left hand side from the check in counters. You have to ready you passport and the travel tax fee hand it over to the teller and keep the receipt as you will be showing it to the check-in teller. I suggest that you settle this one first before checking-in so you won’t go back and forth from the check-in counter to the travel tax counter and back to the check-in counter.
Travel Tax Fee = Php1,620
CHECKING-IN AND IMMIGRATION
We wanted to kill some time waiting for the counters to open so we decided to eat first as we haven’t eaten anything yet for lunch . By the time we got back the check-in counters were finally opened so we lined up on the queue. We handed out our passports, travel tax receipts and plane tickets going to Hong Kong to the check-in teller. We didn’t check-in any baggage as we wanna travel light, so the process just took around 5 minutes or so. We asked for the immigration form after the teller handed us our boarding passes. You will need to present this form to the immigration officer so if the check-in teller didn’t give you these, don’t forget to ask.
After filling out the immigration forms we headed to the immigration booth. As a first time out of the country travelers, we patiently waited on the queue feeling excited and nervous. When my turn came I handed out my passport, round-trip tickets, hotel accommodation voucher and company ID to the IO. As mentioned above, I was only asked two questions and finally my passport got it’s first ever stamp! yahoo! haha! sa wakas! We then head to the final security check and waited for our flight at the departure area.
DURING THE FLIGHT
Our plane took off almost 2 hours after our scheduled flight. As usual, the most common reason of the delayed flights in NAIA, air traffic! Few minutes after the plane took off, the flight attendant distributed the arrival cards. You will need to present this to the Hong Kong immigration officers. We immediately filled out the cards and kept it together with our passports.
This is what an Immigration Arrival Card looks like, distributed by the flight attendants at the plane few minutes after taking off.
ARRIVING IN HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND IMMIGRATION
Airport Express Train. Their subway trains are very long and big enough to accommodate a lot of passengers per ride.
The cold and misty Hong Kong weather greeted us as we got off the plane after it landed around 8:00 PM. We then followed the crowd and it lead us to a train which took us to the airport’s main arrival area (yes! Hong Kong International Airport is that big that you need to ride a train to go to different terminals). We headed to the immigration counters and presented our passports and arrival cards. The IO just asked me one question (how long are you staying here) and handed me back my passport.
OCTOPUS CARD AND AIRPORT EXPRESS TICKETS
After clearing the immigration we went to the airport express counter and purchased 2 standard Octopus cards. This is a must-have card whenever you’re in Hong Kong as it serves as your “prepaid credit card” which is accepted in all forms of transportation (Bus, MTR and some taxis) and even when purchasing at 7/11 and other convenience stores. We also bought Airport Express tickets which we used for the train going to our hotel.
This is what the standard Octopus Card looks like.
Octopus Card Cost
HK$150 each (HK$50 for the deposit and HK$100 consumable. The deposit and remaining balance is refundable when you surrender the card. If you ran out of balance you can top up at any MTR stations or in 7/11. HK$150 consumable was more than enough during our 4 days stay in Hong Kong.)
If you’re travelling with a kid you can also get an Octopus Card for your child which cost HK$70, HK$50 for deposit and HK$20 consumable. For further information about octopus cards you may access their official website here.
2 Airport Express Tickets Cost
HK$150 (group of two single journey tickets, HK$75 each)Apart from Octopus, you may use Single Journey Tickets to travel on the MTR. A Single Journey Ticket entitles you to one ride to a pre-selected destination on the day of purchase. The fare is based on the distance traveled.
HONG KONG TOURISM BOARD AND VISITOR INFORMATION
After securing the cards we went to their tourism board section and grabbed some brochures and maps. It’s free so don’t be shy to get some as those will be your guide in exploring Hong Kong.
FROM HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO TSIM SHA TSUI
Our original plan was to take a bus going to our hotel but since we arrived late we decided to take the airport express. We stayed at USA Hostel located in Tsim Sha Tsui. The exact address is Flat C2, Floor 13, Mirador Mansion | 54-64B Nathan Road, Tsui Sha Tsui. From the airport we took the airport express train and alighted at Kowloon station then we took the airport express shuttle and alighted at Holiday Inn which is few walks away from our hotel. We were so dead tired and sleepy so we just bought something to eat in 7/11, rest ourselves and called it a day.
If you want to take a bus you can ask the airport staff where the bus station/stop is and from there look for the A21 (Airbus 21) mark. Hop-in when the bus arrives and alight at Tsim Sha Tsui, 13th stop with the airport as the first stop.
TIP: Don’t be shy to ask the airport staff for the directions. It will be much easier if you have a print out of the Hotel Name and Address and you just show it to them when asking where to go next. Also, Hong Kong is very tourist friendly, streets are filled with arrow signs with English translations so you really won’t get lost. Just always bring a map with you.
For any question, suggestions, corrections or clarifications please don’t hesitate to write it at the comment section below or you may personally contact me here. Will be posting a lot of Hong Kong experiences and travel guides soon. Keep posted by following me thru email.
It was very nostalgic when we entered the walls of Intramuros. I felt like I was taken back to 16th century. Seeing those hundred year-old walls was so overwhelming and I was so amazed that I started imagining that I’m in the “calesa” (horse drawn carriage) and that the people walking around are wearing “Saya” and “Barong/kamisa tsino”. haha
It was raining when we visited the place so we asked “mamang kotsero” (cab driver) to drop us off at the Fort Santiago entrance. There were few modern establishments built in the area but the old Filipino-Spanish cultures and structures were still very visible. We also spotted many “guardia civil” (this is what the guards are called during Spanish era) along the road.
Intramuros (Spanish term for “within the walls) or also known as “Walled City” is one of the oldest and history-rich place in the Philippines. It was the original city of Manila and the center of the government, religion and military during the Spanish regime. Located at the southern part of Pasig River, the walls covered an area of 64 hectares of land that served as a protection and defense against any possible foreign invasions.
First stop in our itinerary was Fort Santiago. Fort Santiago or Fuerto de Santiago is a citadel first built by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, a spanish conquistador and founder of the city of Manila. This mighty fortress located at the mouth of Pasig River, served as the first line of defense of the then newly established city of Manila. Today, it is one of the top tourist spot in the Philippines housing a beautiful and relaxing park with benches and picnic tables, Jose Rizal shrine and a museum dedicated to our national hero (this is where Dr. Jose Rizal spent his last days before he was executed through a firing squad on December 30, 1896).
one of the two fountains located in the middle of the park
Lovely Doves that’ll make you feel like you’re in Milan (haha). My friend is really seizing the moment with the birds
a statue of the late President Osmena and Gen. Douglas MacArthur
These shoe prints embedded in the pavement greeted me as I entered the gate of Fort Santiago. I followed the shoe prints and it led me to a cell where Gat Jose Rizal was held during his imprisonment. These markings were placed in the area where he passed on his way to Bagumbayan from his cell in Fort Santiago marking his last walk to martyrdom. (I wasn’t able to take a picture of the cell with a statue of Gat Jose Rizal standing behind the bars)
A statue of Dr. Jose Rizal
Postigo De La Nuestra Senora Del Soledad ( Postern of our Lady of Solitude)
This gate was used by the Fort occupants as a passage to the Pasig River. In 1762 when the British soldiers captured the city, Lt. Governor-General Simon de Anda escaped here. He fled to Pampanga where he established himself as Governor-General of the Philippines while leading a resistance movement until the end of the British occupation.
Ruins of an old military barracks.
This cross marks the final resting place of approximately 600 Filipinos and Americans who died during the World War II. Their remains were found in a nearby dungeon and the cause of death were said to be suffocation and starvation.
An over sized head statue of Dr. Jose Rizal, with me as a photo bomber haha
As mentioned above, there is a small museum inside the Fort housing different things used by the Rizal family such as tables, chairs, paintings, books and many more. A replica of Dr. Jose Rizal’s book, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are also displayed in the museum (the original copies of these books are in Manila Museum). The entrance fee is only 10 pesos.
Dr. Jose Rizal’s book, Noli Me Tangere
Dr. Jose Rizal’s book, El Filibusterismo
Dining table used by the Rizal family
Dr. Jose Rizal’s suit jacket. Cute huh? Indeed our national hero is a small guy but with a very big and brave mind and soul
On our way out we also spotted some souvenir shops where you can buy different memorabilia’s and other locally made stuff. Roaming around the Fort will surely make you hungry (at least for me) but don’t worry, few mini-restos/eatery are also available in the area with a very affordable price.
My time travel was indeed full of fascination, learning, fun and amazement. For a couple of hours I got to see and experience how life was back then. We were colonized by the Spaniards for 300 years and I can’t imagine how hard it was for our forefathers to be a slave in our own land. Thanks to those who gave their lives and fought for our freedom.
Selfie with the Guardia Sibil
Please check my Facebook page for more awesome pictures.
Will be posting a travel guide soon as to how to go to Intramuros, entrance fees and hours of operations.
Thank you for virtually travelling to the past with me!
