Fuxing Park
to Fuxing Park
Renmin Park
People's Square
Seeing cherry blossoms for the very first time got me so excited! Felt like a kid!
Thank God for the opportunity to see the beauty of His creation. Big Bonus: seeing it with my dear J.
09 April 2010
SHANGHAI SPRING
Love was in full bloom as we celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary in Shanghai, spring time!
Fuxing Park
to Fuxing Park
Renmin Park
People's Square
Seeing cherry blossoms for the very first time got me so excited! Felt like a kid!
Thank God for the opportunity to see the beauty of His creation. Big Bonus: seeing it with my dear J.
Fuxing Park
to Fuxing Park
Renmin Park
People's Square
Seeing cherry blossoms for the very first time got me so excited! Felt like a kid!
Thank God for the opportunity to see the beauty of His creation. Big Bonus: seeing it with my dear J.
SHANGHAI EXPERIENCE
For our sixth wedding anniversary, we took a break from Manila's 33-36C summer heat and headed to Shanghai's 7-13C spring swing!
My book for this trip: Love Letters of Great Men. I wonder if it's the same book as Carrie Bradshaw's in the SATC movie? Thinking out loud: J's love letters for me must be part of the collection! Haha!
We left Manila around 8pm. Landed in Shanghai's Pudong International Airport before midnight (Kudos to Cebu Pacific, that's earlier than the ETA). We arrived at an empty airport.
Where's every one else?
Empty bag carousel
Quick bite before heading to the hotel.
By midnight, Burger King was the only joint open in the Airport.
Love our quaint, super affordable business hotel.
Hotel's facade
Hotel Location: Da Du He Road. This must be the provincial part of Shanghai (it looks so '70s). Pro: It's 15 minutes away by bus from the Zhongshan Park MTR station.
Our bus stop. Here's where we start every 'pasyal' day.
We need to wait for Bus #67. Advise came from the hotel's friendly staff.
Classic Chinese visual! Shanghai's a biking community.
Bus #67, puno. We'll have to wait for the next one.
More on our honeymoon...
My book for this trip: Love Letters of Great Men. I wonder if it's the same book as Carrie Bradshaw's in the SATC movie? Thinking out loud: J's love letters for me must be part of the collection! Haha!
We left Manila around 8pm. Landed in Shanghai's Pudong International Airport before midnight (Kudos to Cebu Pacific, that's earlier than the ETA). We arrived at an empty airport.
Where's every one else?
Empty bag carousel
Quick bite before heading to the hotel.
By midnight, Burger King was the only joint open in the Airport.
Love our quaint, super affordable business hotel.
Hotel's facade
Hotel Location: Da Du He Road. This must be the provincial part of Shanghai (it looks so '70s). Pro: It's 15 minutes away by bus from the Zhongshan Park MTR station.
Our bus stop. Here's where we start every 'pasyal' day.
We need to wait for Bus #67. Advise came from the hotel's friendly staff.
Classic Chinese visual! Shanghai's a biking community.
Bus #67, puno. We'll have to wait for the next one.
More on our honeymoon...
20 March 2010
TRAVEL VISAS TO CHINA
We're heading to China for our 6th Wedding Anniversary. As part of the adventure, we're arranging the trip on our own. We successfully organized the last SG trip ourselves (no hitch at all), so we're doing it again. For budget travelers like us, that's a lot of savings (No more agency fees!).
Tickets: Check! We booked online.
We use the card with a very low credit limit.
Hotel: Check! We booked online.
We go to the hotel's official website, no third parties.
Visas: The start of an adventure...
If you're crazy enough to get your Chinese Travel Visas on your own (I know most Pinoys let their agencies handle this), get ready to do a lot of legwork.
All the Travel Visa requirements are in the Chinese Embassy website.
http://ph.china-embassy.org/eng/lsfw/hzqz/t171818.htm
We completed the requirements in two weeks (We're busy).
The most challenging task: the NBI clearance.
Who has time to go to the crowded NBI Carriedo office? Not us. We couldn't get it from the Megamall office since we're applying for the Travel Clearance for the first time. The Megamall branch accepts only renewals. During one lunch break, we checked out the NBI Quezon City Hall office (10 minutes from work), and the lines were horrific (Think Tutuban in December)! Umatras kami. We tried the NBI office in the Mandaluyong City Hall (10 minutes from home). Thank God, the lines are more humane there. At 8am, there were less than a hundred people. First step: Get Community Tax Certificates (aka Cedula) from the Mandaluyong City Hall. Cedulas from other cities won't be accepted. Step 2: Fill-up NBI form. Step 3: Pay PHP140 each. Step 4: Have your photos taken (via the NBI cam). We then waited for almost 2 hours for my clearance's release. J had to come back after a week (someone has the same name raw). We doubt that but what can we do, right? After a week, he got his clearance.
March 9: Our first trip to the Chinese Embassy
Address: The World Center, 330 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, Makati
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 9-11am
We arrived at the Embassy at 815am and was 115th. I guess, you have to be there around 7am to get a better number.
After 3 hours of waiting, our number was finally called. We submitted our passports and documents to the Pinay officer. Just as we thought we'd breeze thru it, she points out that the birth date on my NBI clearance does not match the birth date on my passport! Oo nga! Arg! My bad! I didn't notice that. Lesson: check your NBI clearance's details! Also, our bank certificates were supposed to come with original receipts or debit memos! Double arg!
All that waiting for nothing? We had to come back with the complete requirements. At one point, we were tempted to ask for an agency's help already (sayang kasi oras) but decided to complete this on our own. We're no quitters.
So we went back to the NBI Office at the Mandaluyong City Hall. I told them about the typo. I didn't have to pay again (Yey!). They checked my file and released my clearance (with the correct bday) in less than an hour. Then we went back to the banks to ask for copies of the debit memos.
Mar 16: Trip #2 to the Chinese Embassy
We arrived before 8am and was 85th. Had breakfast at the Starbucks downstairs while waiting for the Embassy's 9am opening.
I love Starbuck's banana bread. J had corned beef pandesal.
We were called a little past 10am. And was finally cleared! We were told to claim our visas after 3 days. YAHOO!
Mar 19: J picks up our Visas
He arrived at the Embassy a little after 8. And was served a little after 10am. Fee: PHP1,400 each (for single entry)
Now, we're all set! Shanghai Spring, here we come!
So was it worth the PHP3,000 we saved on agency fees? Big sigh.
I choose to see the bright side. Despite all the hassle, we're proud to have done it on our own...without losing it. People can really go crazy with all the red tape, the waiting, the human errors, etc.
If a couple can laugh together through an errand as STRESSFUL as this, I believe they're really meant to travel through life together.
Doing the most annoying errands are worth it, basta't kasama kita.
Tickets: Check! We booked online.
We use the card with a very low credit limit.
Hotel: Check! We booked online.
We go to the hotel's official website, no third parties.
Visas: The start of an adventure...
If you're crazy enough to get your Chinese Travel Visas on your own (I know most Pinoys let their agencies handle this), get ready to do a lot of legwork.
All the Travel Visa requirements are in the Chinese Embassy website.
http://ph.china-embassy.org/eng/lsfw/hzqz/t171818.htm
We completed the requirements in two weeks (We're busy).
The most challenging task: the NBI clearance.
Who has time to go to the crowded NBI Carriedo office? Not us. We couldn't get it from the Megamall office since we're applying for the Travel Clearance for the first time. The Megamall branch accepts only renewals. During one lunch break, we checked out the NBI Quezon City Hall office (10 minutes from work), and the lines were horrific (Think Tutuban in December)! Umatras kami. We tried the NBI office in the Mandaluyong City Hall (10 minutes from home). Thank God, the lines are more humane there. At 8am, there were less than a hundred people. First step: Get Community Tax Certificates (aka Cedula) from the Mandaluyong City Hall. Cedulas from other cities won't be accepted. Step 2: Fill-up NBI form. Step 3: Pay PHP140 each. Step 4: Have your photos taken (via the NBI cam). We then waited for almost 2 hours for my clearance's release. J had to come back after a week (someone has the same name raw). We doubt that but what can we do, right? After a week, he got his clearance.
March 9: Our first trip to the Chinese Embassy
Address: The World Center, 330 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, Makati
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 9-11am
We arrived at the Embassy at 815am and was 115th. I guess, you have to be there around 7am to get a better number.
After 3 hours of waiting, our number was finally called. We submitted our passports and documents to the Pinay officer. Just as we thought we'd breeze thru it, she points out that the birth date on my NBI clearance does not match the birth date on my passport! Oo nga! Arg! My bad! I didn't notice that. Lesson: check your NBI clearance's details! Also, our bank certificates were supposed to come with original receipts or debit memos! Double arg!
All that waiting for nothing? We had to come back with the complete requirements. At one point, we were tempted to ask for an agency's help already (sayang kasi oras) but decided to complete this on our own. We're no quitters.
So we went back to the NBI Office at the Mandaluyong City Hall. I told them about the typo. I didn't have to pay again (Yey!). They checked my file and released my clearance (with the correct bday) in less than an hour. Then we went back to the banks to ask for copies of the debit memos.
Mar 16: Trip #2 to the Chinese Embassy
We arrived before 8am and was 85th. Had breakfast at the Starbucks downstairs while waiting for the Embassy's 9am opening.
I love Starbuck's banana bread. J had corned beef pandesal.
We were called a little past 10am. And was finally cleared! We were told to claim our visas after 3 days. YAHOO!
Mar 19: J picks up our Visas
He arrived at the Embassy a little after 8. And was served a little after 10am. Fee: PHP1,400 each (for single entry)
Now, we're all set! Shanghai Spring, here we come!
So was it worth the PHP3,000 we saved on agency fees? Big sigh.
I choose to see the bright side. Despite all the hassle, we're proud to have done it on our own...without losing it. People can really go crazy with all the red tape, the waiting, the human errors, etc.
If a couple can laugh together through an errand as STRESSFUL as this, I believe they're really meant to travel through life together.
Doing the most annoying errands are worth it, basta't kasama kita.
18 March 2010
TIP TO TOE
The first time I dragged J to a nail salon, I thought the experience would make his toes curl. I was so happy when he actually appreciated the pros' work on his hands and feet (Mas maayos nga!) -- he gave them two thumbs up!
And that was how our nail spa dates started. I'd come more often, like once every two weeks. He'd come with me once a month.
A: mani and pedi with massage and polish (optional)
J: just cutting and cleaning
What we have in common: We're not fans of foot spas (We don't get it, sorry.). We'd rather go for massages. We bring our books for our nail dates -- simultaneous Me Time and Couple Time (Yipee!).
Our neighborhood nail salon: The Nail Spa, 5F Shangrila Mall
Tel No (632) 6874991 (Call. They're always fully-booked!)
13 March 2010
WHO ARE THE PEOPLE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?
We finally met one of our more famous neighbors, Charlie!
The best thing about "him" -- he lives along the street behind us.
We could actually walk to his place! Yey!
Charlie's Black Angus Burger, around Php150
(Good burger.)
Charlie's Chili and Cheese Dawg, around Php150
(My fave so far!)
Charlie's Buffalo Wings, 6pcs, around Php150
(J says it tastes like my version, he really loves me!)
Charlie's Cheese Steak, Php 320
(Cheese lovers' delight!)
Charlie's Mini Frozen Braso de Mercedes, Php170
(It satisfied my Brazo cravings...mmmm!)
The happy neighbor
Love thy neighbor!
Charlie's Grind & Grill
16 East Kapitolyo Drive, Pasig
632-501-0137
The best thing about "him" -- he lives along the street behind us.
We could actually walk to his place! Yey!
Charlie's Black Angus Burger, around Php150
(Good burger.)
Charlie's Chili and Cheese Dawg, around Php150
(My fave so far!)
Charlie's Buffalo Wings, 6pcs, around Php150
(J says it tastes like my version, he really loves me!)
Charlie's Cheese Steak, Php 320
(Cheese lovers' delight!)
Charlie's Mini Frozen Braso de Mercedes, Php170
(It satisfied my Brazo cravings...mmmm!)
The happy neighbor
Love thy neighbor!
Charlie's Grind & Grill
16 East Kapitolyo Drive, Pasig
632-501-0137
06 March 2010
A JOKE A DAY KEEPS THE DOC AWAY...
I have a confession to make. For my Pap Smears, I require that J stays with me to hold my hand (Thank God for OBs who allow it!). This must be OA for most but hey, it helps me relax. To each her own.
Anyway, today, right after the procedure...
J asks my OB: "Is there an Orthopedic here, Doc?"
Doc: "Meron."
And she goes on checking the list of doctors.
J: "Parang nabali po kasi yung kamay ko."
Doc and Me: Laugh out loud.
Anyway, today, right after the procedure...
J asks my OB: "Is there an Orthopedic here, Doc?"
Doc: "Meron."
And she goes on checking the list of doctors.
J: "Parang nabali po kasi yung kamay ko."
Doc and Me: Laugh out loud.
CAFE ROMULO
Can we have lunch at Cafe Romulo every day?
To Do for 2010: Try everything on the menu!
Winner Monggo Soup!
One of the best Crispy Patas we've had.
They agreed to put the bagoong on the side (J's not into bagoong).
One day, I'll try this with the bagoong (PM sisters, lunch out?).
The big Fried Tilapia
.jpg)
This is the Honey Garlic Pork Spare Ribs (right?)
The rooms upstairs are charming!
Sorry, I didn't take photos. Just see for yourself.
Cafe Romulo is 10 minutes away from our office so my Master Plan looks doable.Right, J? (Thanks to MW for suggesting that we try Cafe Romulo.)
Cafe Romulo
32 Scout Tuason corner Dr. Lazcano
Tomas Morato, Quezon City
Telephone: +632 332-7275
To Do for 2010: Try everything on the menu!
Winner Monggo Soup!
One of the best Crispy Patas we've had.
They agreed to put the bagoong on the side (J's not into bagoong).
One day, I'll try this with the bagoong (PM sisters, lunch out?).
The big Fried Tilapia
.jpg)
This is the Honey Garlic Pork Spare Ribs (right?)
The rooms upstairs are charming!
Sorry, I didn't take photos. Just see for yourself.
Cafe Romulo is 10 minutes away from our office so my Master Plan looks doable.Right, J? (Thanks to MW for suggesting that we try Cafe Romulo.)
Cafe Romulo
32 Scout Tuason corner Dr. Lazcano
Tomas Morato, Quezon City
Telephone: +632 332-7275
04 March 2010
I MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY
Imagine the Petronas Twin Towers as a couple holding hands...
Tower 1: "Masaya ako pag kasama kita."
Tower 2: "Ako rin."
--Kilig exchange between Bea and John Lloyd in their recent box office hit, "I Miss You Like Crazy."
A & J also plan to hold hands forever.
A: Why do we love each other so much?
J: Baka sira-ulo tayo?
Both: LOL
KL, Malaysia
March 2008
Tower 1: "Masaya ako pag kasama kita."
Tower 2: "Ako rin."
--Kilig exchange between Bea and John Lloyd in their recent box office hit, "I Miss You Like Crazy."
A & J also plan to hold hands forever.
A: Why do we love each other so much?
J: Baka sira-ulo tayo?
Both: LOL
KL, Malaysia
March 2008
27 February 2010
SG TO-DO LIST
During our recent SG trip, I knew there was so much to do in so little time. So I kept a very short and simple Personal To-Do List. All the four items on my list were suggested by the Lonely Planet.
J helped make sure I get to tick each item off the list. Awww.
Tried the SG Flyer, the world's tallest observation wheel.
This was too tourist-y for him but he came with me anyway. =)
Wala pa 'to the first time we were in SG.
I had to have SG Chili Crabs again!
J is not into seafood so I had this all to myself! Yes!
Dinner with K and B at the Newton Food Court
Had SG's traditional breakfast, the Kaya Toast.
With Teh-C, tea with milk.
I've tried this in Manila. It's better in SG, hehe.
Finally had the guts to ask the Raffles Hotel doorman for a photo.
Considered buying the stuffed toy version of him -- Over!
Accomplished all four. Got to do even more! =)
J helped make sure I get to tick each item off the list. Awww.
Tried the SG Flyer, the world's tallest observation wheel.
This was too tourist-y for him but he came with me anyway. =)
Wala pa 'to the first time we were in SG.
I had to have SG Chili Crabs again!
J is not into seafood so I had this all to myself! Yes!
Dinner with K and B at the Newton Food Court
Had SG's traditional breakfast, the Kaya Toast.
With Teh-C, tea with milk.
I've tried this in Manila. It's better in SG, hehe.
Finally had the guts to ask the Raffles Hotel doorman for a photo.
Considered buying the stuffed toy version of him -- Over!
Accomplished all four. Got to do even more! =)
ANG INIT!
Manila's too-early and too-hot summer made me miss HongKong's December weather. The other day, it was 34C! Reports say with the El Nino, it could go as hot as 40C in Manila!
Wishing for cooler weather...
Photo above: December 30, 2009
Almost empty Avenue of Stars, HK
Our New Year's Eve Date
December 31, 2009
The very crowded Avenue of Stars, HK
I tried to take photos of the New Year fireworks.
But decided against multi-tasking.
Told myself, "Don't miss the moment! Enjoy the show!"
Wishing for cooler weather...
Photo above: December 30, 2009
Almost empty Avenue of Stars, HK
Our New Year's Eve Date
December 31, 2009
The very crowded Avenue of Stars, HK
I tried to take photos of the New Year fireworks.
But decided against multi-tasking.
Told myself, "Don't miss the moment! Enjoy the show!"
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