Grace Dela Mar's Switzerland holiday

Grace Dela Mar
traveler, adventurer, soon-to-be bride

1. What brought me there - planned vacation. Switzerland is one of the countries i really want to explore especially the Jungfrau region

2. What I expected  scenic view, i'm still in awe

3. What I saw 

a small village that is surrounded with a beautiful scenery -- waterfalls, steep cliffs, snowy peaks.. picture perfect

4. Must-try meal  rösti!

5. Most awesome thing I saw 

everywhere in Lauterbrunnen (or i may say Switzerland) is awesome

6. You should not miss visiting or going to - Jungfraujoch (on top of Europe)

7. Thrilling budget find  watches and Swiss army knives :) 

8. Notable tips from the locals  we always ask for food and there's a meat shop/butcher shop near the hotel that we stayed and the staff of the hotel recommended to try the grilled sausage. yummy!

9. Must avoid traveler's trap - none

LITTLEMISSTEAPAT TRAVELS TO MELBOURNE

PATRICIA HERBOLARIO ON MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
20, blogger

1. What brought you there?  My mom had work-related duties there and I simply had to go because I took Australian Studies as an elective one semester ago. Nothing could have stopped me from going, I went there during final's week!

2. Must-try meal  Fish and chips are wonderful in Australia! They taste so different from the others I've had! The fish tasted fresh and the potatoes were out of this world! And the $2 sushi rolls! Hahaha!

3. You should not miss visiting or going to  The Great Ocean Road, it's a whole day trip to see the 12 Apostles but it is totally worth it. You'll see a lot of sights along the way! Ask your tour guide to bring you to Loch & George, it's a hidden beach with an amazing story!

4. What I saw  is that Melbourne perfectly preserves the old and new. You'll see architecture and buildings from the 1800's but you'll see Starbucks right beside it. They still use trams but I've noticed that a lot of people walk around since there's a lot of  things to see in Melbourne, especially in the main square. But be warned, the weather changes DRASTICALLY. In the  morning, it's summer. in the afternoon it rains and in the evening, it will be freezing! Plan your outfits wisely!

5. Most awesome thing I saw is a tough call between The Old Gaul or the Library. Both are totes a must visit! The Old Gaul has a tour where you can be "a prisoner", but it's really a tour of the gaul. The Library, on the other hand, is just breath taking! There's floors and floors of books and the Great Hall of it is just unforgettable! There's a free museum inside with Ned Kelly's armour - the National Hero...sort of :-)

6. Thrilling budget find ANYTHING DAIRY OR STEAK! Go to a Coles, it's bargain-world! 5 gallons of ice cream is like $8! Cole is also perfect for pasalubong! Try the Coles Chocolates, they taste like Cadbury but less the price!

7. Notable tips from locals They told me to have vegemite!!! Hahaha! No, thank you! Luckily, they also have coffee for breakfast, especially Flat White! I tried it and Flat White has been my coffee mix ever since. I ask for it in every café I go to in any country! (call that addiction)

8. What I expected For life to be super fast-paced but it wasn't! Melbourne is so chill and laidback! I want to settle there someday :-)

9. Must avoid traveller's trap  Don't buy souvenirs in the city, EVER! Go to Victoria Market in the weekend instead, there's more choices and it is so much cheaper!


More on Patricia! Check out her blog at http://littlemissteapat.com

Charming Busan, South Korea

Lop Ponciano & siblings with their new found friends in Busan, Korea watching the 2014 World Cup at Thursday party bar. They have foosball, tv for watching sports, beerpong and reasonably priced drinks. :)

Lop Ponciano on Busan, South Korea
Lead Vocalist, The No Name Band
Owner/Therapist, Ponciano Clinic (with complimentary Chinese Medicine treatments and non-invasive liposuction) located at Rm. 915 Medical Plaza Bldg., San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas

Lop's sister, Juts

Lop's brother Ivan

 
1. What brought me there:

Groupie at the Kyani Convention at Bexco Convention Center

Kyani, Convention at BEXCO Convention Center...  a mostly expense-paid trip.

2. Must-try food: 

A. When in Haeundae Beach in Busan, try Turkish ice cream!!! The texture is very different from all the ice cream I've tasted... It's more chewy, almost like bubble gum but after my first lick, I wanted to bring home the whole cart!! It's that good!! 

We found it on one of the alleys in front of the sea animal aquarium one afternoon. It's really a must try for only $3 / KW3,000.00.  

B. It's a small restaurant ran by a curly-haired, bespectacled and thin ahjumma (mature woman) I forgot the name but the location is very fresh in my mind like it was yesterday. Hihi!
forgot the name but the clams, pajeon, and noodle soup are good! We ordered one of everything. Hehe! It's good to eat their food with sake especially on a cold night.
Go to the street on the right side of Haeundae Grand Hotel. It's the first restaurant to the left. It's small and it's between a convenient store and a Japanese restaurant.  

C. For more seafood options and when you have more time to go farther, go to Gwangalli Beach and there's the Millak Hoe Town Market and you can satisfy your seafood cravings there.
 
3. Must-go to:

My brother Randy walking on the shore of Haeundai Beach

A.) Haeundae Beach

I was told that it's one of the famous beaches in Korea... Uh, still nothing like our Boracay but it's all they have. Hehe.

The Westin Chosun Hotel, the place to be

Note: If you are to splurge on a hotel: choose WESTIN CHOSUN hotel. It's connected to the beach. As soon you step out the back entrance, you'll step on sand already and the view is not bad at all from your hotel room. Secondly, the hotel has a nice lap pool and American Indian Teepee (Indian tents made of animal skin) near the pool area where kids can play at. There's also a wooden swing, and barbecue grill and the view from there overlooks all of Haeundae Beach. 

View of Haeundae Beach from our hotel room

 

Lop and siblings playing beer pong

Lop & siblings playing foosball

Sometimes, too they have concerts and other events at the beach so explore, lose yourselves in the alleys (but not too lose) and make friends in the bars. There are a lot of friendly people there especially when we were watching the World Cup together. ;)

 

Exploring Dongbaek Island with siblings and good friend :)

B. Dongbaek Park also connects to Westin Chosun Hotel. It's a great place for jogging, walking, and picture taking. You can already see so much  just in this park. 

At the light house with my sister Juts and our friend Jaeseok aka Jessie (he had his internship at Philippine Bank inside the UP Campus. :)

 - Light House

Inside the APEC Memorial (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) where all the countries involved gathered for the meeting. :)

 - APEC Memorial (where the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation Leader's Meeting happened in 2005) Included in the meeting was former President Gloria Arroyo. 

Hanging bridge at Dongbaek Park

- hanging bridge
- a view of Haeundae
- and a whole lot of history. Which you can read about here .

C. go to Spa Land, Korea's most outrageous sauna in Centum City.

D. Haedong Yonggungsa Temple at Gijang-gun is also great! A lot of people head over there for the view and it's said to be the best in Busan if not the whole of Korea.

E. Visit my friend's family-owned noodle restaurant, "Yang Nam Noodle," located at Gyung Ju Si - Yang Nam Meon - Su ryeom Ri - 108-11. Look for Jessie and tell him Lop sent you.

4. What I saw:
Busan compared to Seoul is more laid back. (see a tour review of it here.)

But based on a research I saw, prices of goods are higher in Busan than in Seoul, but rent and restaurants charge lower in Busan. In terms of shopping, I was surprised that Busan was more expensive than in Seoul. Check this site out for a detailed comparison.
 
Though over all, I had more fun in Seoul probably because I mapped out my own itinerary with my friend Lorre. In Busan, most of my time was spent attending a convention. :)

5. Most memorable/awesome thing I saw....
It was the first time I've been to a red light district anywhere and my first time happens to be here.

Taking a groupie inside Lotte Hotel with an imitation of the Trevi fountain at the background.

 Also at Lotte hotel, my friend Jessie took us to the food court. You have to go around first and choose from all the food they have: soup, ramen, kimbap, tonkatsu, and all the other yummy food in big servings with side dishes all ranging from KW5,000-7,000 each.

6. Thrilling budget find:
I'd have to say good food for good price like the restaurant I mentioned before and at the Lotte Hotel food court.

Shopping in the subway...

Shopping again in the subway station at Lotte Hotel. We got a lot of freebies from Inesfree and Faceshop. :))
Yogurt drinks in different flavors, apple, strawberry, mixed berries, and coffee drinks all for KW1 each.

7. Local's advice?

 I didn't get any but I have some advice based on my experience.

 
When you get to the subway at Lotte Hotel, remember where you passed by because it's easy to get lost there without a guide.

8. What I expected:
I expected to be needing my adaptor for Korea but the hotel had outlets for the normal sockets. Yey!

I didn't expect to see more foreigners in Busan than in Seoul.

9. Travel tips: 
 
A. Trade your money at the bank. You get more won that way! B. Check out the way to your destination in Google maps so the taxi driver can't cheat you easily. Sometimes they'll take the long cut even if the place is just near by and you end up paying more.
C. Plan ahead, but be open to surprises!

Korean words that may come in handy:
1) Kamsahamnida - thank you
2) Hwajangshil odisoyo? - where is the comfort room?
3) chomgak ajuseyo - discount please.
4) Annyeonghaseyo - hello/ goodbye!

Freida Guerzon-David Turning Japanese in Tokyo, Japan

Freida Guerzon-David at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Japan. Large sake barrels on her right offered by brewers around the country.

Freida Guerzon-David at the Meiji Shrine in Shibuya Tokyo, Japan

Freida Guerzon-David
Adventurous mother of two

1. What brought me there: Business trip

2. Must try meals:

(a) Ramen and Curry – common/regular food (not just Sushi and Tempura – special/slightly expensive) originated from ancient China and India (now localized recipes, Japanese taste).

(b) Okonomiyaki – Japanese savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients. The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning "what you like" or "what you want", and yaki meaning "grilled" or "cooked". Some okonomiyaki restaurants are grill-it-yourself establishments, where the server produces a bowl of raw ingredients that the customer mixes and grills at tables fitted with teppan, or special hotplates (Wikipedia)

Ramen and curry display in Tokyo, Japan

Do-it-yourself okonomiyaki at Aporo in Tokyo, Japan

3. You should not miss visiting or going to:

(a) Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu) located in Shibuya, Tokyo, is the Shinto shrine that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken. Meiji Shrine is located in a forest that covers an area of 700,000 square-meters (about 175 acres). This area is covered by an evergreen forest that consists of 120,000 trees of 365 different species, which were donated by people from all parts of Japan when the shrine was established. The forest is visited by many as a recreation and relaxation area in the center of Tokyo. Constructed in 1915 and completed in 1920. (Wikipedia).

(b) Tokyo Tower is a communications and observation tower located in the Shiba-koen district of Minato, Tokyo, Japan. At 333 metres (1,093 ft), it is the second-tallest structure in Japan (Wikipedia).

Freida Guerzon-David with friends at the Meiji Shrine in Shibuya Tokyo, Japan

Freida Guerzon-David at the Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower in Tokyo, Japan

4. What I saw:

A Megalopolis – a very large busy city with a great mix of modern and traditional culture (from Disneyland and earthquake proof buildings to century old shrines and temples).

Megalopolis Tokyo, Japan

A century old shrine in Tokyo, Japan

5. Most awesome things I saw:

(a) Shinkansen: Japan Rail's High Speed Bullet Train - The Shinkansen (new trunk line) is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen (515.4 km) in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of 2,387.7 km (1,483.6 mi) of lines with maximum speeds of 240–320 km/h (150–200 mph) - Wikipedia

(b) Mount Fuji (Fuji-san, 3776 meters) is Japan's highest mountain and the focal point of the sprawling Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Visible from Tokyo on a clear day, the mountain is located to the west of Tokyo on the main island Honshu, straddling the border between Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures (Wikipedia).

Freida Guerzon-David inside the Shinkansen in Tokyo, Japan

Shinkansen in Tokyo, Japan

Mt. Fuji in Tokyo, Japan

(c) At the Meiji Shrine:

-Traditional Shinto wedding processions with  colorfully costumed priests and shrine maidens

-Kids Celebrating shichi-go-san (traditional rites of passage for three- and seven-year-old girls and three- and five-year-old boys).

-Large number of sake barrels displayed by the side of the path (offered every year by sake brewers from around the country to show their respect for the souls of the Emperor and Empress in recognition of the encouragement given to the growth of this and other industries under the Meiji Restoration)

Traditional Shinto wedding procession in Tokyo, Japan

Traditional Shinto wedding procession in Tokyo, Japan with colorfully costumed priests and shrine maidens

Kids celebrating shichi-go-san in Tokyo, Japan

6. Thrilling budget finds:

(a) Toyoko Inn Hotel Chains - Budget hotel

Toyoko Inn Hotel 

Toyoko Inn Hotel room

(b) A Japan Rail Pass will probably save you money...

Train fares in Japan are expensive, and even if you are only planning a couple of inter-city journeys, a Japan Rail Pass can save money over normal tickets. 

A man purchasing a Japan Rail Pass in Tokyo, Japan

 7. Notable tips from locals:

Japan has an extensive and efficient rail network and you can pretty much assume that the trains in Japan will go to all the cities and towns you want to visit.  Travelling by train in Japan is easy, as the stations have signs and departure boards in English as well as Japanese.  Japanese trains are very clean and modern, and are amazingly punctual.  Two classes of seating are provided, ordinary class and 'green car' (1st class), the latter indicated by a green clover symbol next to the entrance door.  As you'd expect, green car seating has more legroom and seats are arranged 2+2 across the coach, whereas ordinary class seats are normally arranged 2+3.  However, travelling standard class is perfectly adequate.

There are six main regional railway companies, known collectively as Japan Railways, plus many local railway operators.  Japan train times: www.hyperdia.com (the English button is upper left).  Japan rail map.  Tokyo metro website (with map): www.tokyometro.jp. (Wikipedia).

Although it is not so easy to use because there are many complicated lines.

You should have a railroad map, and ask people or officers at the station for help and directions.

Tokyo railway map

8. What I expected: 

A very big,  busy and bustling city that also never sleeps (similar to New York). Since the country is very rich in tradition and the city is one of the most expensive areas to live in, it is not surprising to see a blend of old culture and modern technologies. There are still a lot of “young” people in Tokyo despite the country’s almost zero population growth.

9. Must avoid traveler's trap :

The movie title: Lost in Translation is a very apt description.

Many people in Tokyo are not good in English.

People are kind and are willing to help but the language barrier is difficult to overcome more often than not. And there are only a few signs in English in the city...

It will be easy to lose your way without a translator! Bring maps or ask someone to write in Kanji (Japanese characters) to help you around.