The beef brisket, surrounded by steaming wanton noodles in a bowl, is the face of Hong Kong’s staple meal. It personifies Hongkong’s day-to-day, fast-paced lifestyle. My favorite is that usually cramped little noodle store in Hong Hum. The aroma of slow-fired soup, ready to further mollify the chewy beef and noodles, is just so alluring and irresistible. There’s no need for any verbal interchange as the man on the counter, who doubles as the main ‘chef’ may not speak English. Like my simple digi-cam, it’s a “point-and-shoot” thing when ordering my favorite mouth-watering beef brisket. I point my order in a brochure, and they’ll shoot-it-to-the-bowl. I tweak with my chopstick, tangle with the noodles, pay the bill, and off I go. The beef brisket---its always one of my finest Hong kong experience.

Lutong Macau

First time to visit Macau in February with wife Ruby.
It was meaningfull because it was Chinese New Year and up coming Valentines Day.
It was so cold at that time.
I didn't underestimate, I brought my thick, heavy jacket.
I found Macau pleasant to visit.
Macau pace is not that fast, compared to HK.
Macau is a one hour trip by turbo jet from HK.
Macau is gambling land.
It has large Chinese and Portugese influence.
The sites to visit in Macau are the casinos, of course.
Others are the Senado Square, perhaps the site of political auhtority Macau's past.
There is a rich Roman Catholic history, so you see churches, the most prominent of which is the Ruins of Saint Paul.
I have learned one thing.
When you visit HK, drop by Macau.
You can first enter Macau, spend one day there.
Macau is a small place, easy to go around.
The key to be mobile is always to refer back to the ferry station.
There are a lot of free shuttle buses there that will take you to the sites.

Then travel to HK, and exit back home from HK.
The currency in Macau is Patacas, more or less the same value as the HK dollar.
HK dollar is accepted currency in Macau.

The Merlion

The Merlion stands a sturdy symbol of Singapore's financial ferocity.

The first time we went, we missed the Merlion. This time, we couldn't let it pass.
When you go to the Singapore flyer (another tourist must-experience in Singapore), you proceed next to the Merlion just nearby.

Remembering NY

New York can easily be the big apple of one's eye.
Once one gets to New york, there is a peculiar sparkle.
It's a bustling place, fast pace.
It doesn't sleep.
In my first visit there many summers ago, I stayed for a couple of days before proceeding to nearby New Jersey.
I was toured around by my Tito Bobong.
I also rememberbeing invited to dinner by an aunt, on my wife's side, Auntie Linda who was then working as a nurse.
But you can't visit all the sites in New York.
I wish to come again and visit those places that I missed.
I remembering riding in that ferry boat that brought us to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
We walked the busy streets of Manhattan, and ate their hotdogs.
We took that double deck bus tours where the tour guide told us the story on how Staten Island got its name.
It was said that the captain of a sea voyager, who was apparently at sea for so long a time, wasn't sure if he finally saw land in the horizon.
So he asked: "Staten Island?"
Only he (the guide) got the joke.
Anyway, we went to the Emprie State Building and passed by the United Nations Headquarters.
News York's got character.
It was a wide contrast as I was then coming from a six-week educational activity in sleepy Dallas.

Han River

I really had to have my photo taken beside the scenic Han River in Seoul.
We took a quick visit very near the river even if it was already dark.
The D90 camera of my friend Bonipart however, did a fairly wonderful job.
River Han is one of the largest rivers of the Korean Peninsula.
It definitely uplifts the beauty and grandeur of Seoul.

Taal Vista Lodge Tagaytay

I recently attended the three-day 34th Top Level Management Conference of the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).
The venue was at the plush Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay City.
This was I think the former Taal Vista Lodge.
I was surprised, or if not amazeed, at the massive facelift of Taal Vista Hotel, which is now run by the SM group, which has ventured into the hotel industry.
There is an expansion going on, with the contruction of new hotel rooms, new convention facilities, among others.
I was holed up in a pretty large room, that had one large, king-sized bed and one single bed.
The bathroom was spacious.
I took some pictures just to show the improvements on this hotel.
I recommend this for a quick get-away from the busy metropolis.
I say "quick getaway", because Tagaytay is not far away from Manila as Baguio is.
Tagaytay is a summer destination in the Philippines.
It is perhaps the coolest place to be, outside Baguio City.
Baguio is 280 kilometers away from Manila.
Tagytay is only sixty kilometers away, down south.
Its just an hour-and-a-half drive from Manila
By the way, it is at Taal vista where you can have the best view of Taal Lake and Volcano.
If you havent been to Tagaytay for five or ten years, there's been a major face lift of the city.
Tagytay was not what it was five or ten years ago.
There are now many restraurants, places to stay.
The lastest to build is the Robinsons group which just opened about a month ago.
Robinson built a big grocery store, with condominiums ore condotels nearby.
I frequent Taygaytay because I have some cases pending in that single sala court there.

Four seasons Bangkok

There is a modest and convenient place to stay for many Filipinos visting Bangkok.
This is the Four Seasons International House located in Soi Petchburi 19, Petchburi Road.
Once, during a brief visit to Bangkok with the family, we sought recommendation.
Our friend Nikki said there is a place where many Filipinos frequent and stay when in Bangkok.
We went to the internet and looked for Four Seasons and we were pleseantly surprised to get a very affordable, discounted price, perhaps because it was not peak time.

I think we only got it at an equivalent (in pesos) of P2,400 per night when we booked in www.hotelthailand.com an internet hotel booking agency.
From the airport, which is around forty kilometers outside Bangkok, the taxi fare is about 600 Baht.
Four Seasons International House is located near a commercial center.
Taxis, the metro rail,and even Tuk-tuks are accessible.

If you stay at Four Seasons there is a free half-day tour in one tourist destination of our choice within Bangkok.
We availed of this half-day complimentary tour and selected the Grand Palace.
We enjoyed the free tour, accompanied by guide who took our pictures.
The necessary amenties are available at the Four Seasons.
There is WiFi connectivity, by buying consummable internet cards at the reception.
Bufffet breakfast is free.
We noticed there were many Filipinos staying, and there were Filipino meals served also.
Maybe you can check Four Seasons in one of your Bagkok trips.