Wanderlust Diary

I am ever fascinated with Egypt, there’s something so mystical about it that I can’t grasp about. I want to visit the Pyramids someday and see actual scarabs. If I would choose an ideal profession for me, it would be an archaeologist/historian. But, all I can do now is visit museums and listen in awe…I actually get so excited upon hearing that Louvre brought Grecian mythology last time, and of course I also got a chance to see Quest for Immortality at National Museum of Singapore during my recent visit!

I dragged my friends to accompany me to visit this, got a huge discount because my friend Reena has UOB credit card. Wait for the free guided tour so you can understand the background of the artifacts.
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My last trip was a solo flight to Hongkong. I realized something…I can travel alone but I dread eating alone! I don’t like not being able to order more choices because I could not finish them. Plus it much expensive with no one to share with..Boo!!!

I was all alone wandering around Hongkong, waiting for an adventure to unfold…yet again, my favorite store was haunting my mind as I step the Hongkong streets. My friends were all wanting me to avoid Mongkok area because of the acid attack however I couldn’t since I chose to stay at Comfort Lodge near Jordan station. It was a very good bargain, only $32usd, thanks for some points I’ve used at Agoda site.

Comfort Lodge was at the back of Prudential Hotel which I stayed a year earlier. I looked confused because initially I couldn’t see the entrance. After careful counting of street numbers, I urge myself to step in this quaint entrance and found myself inside a lobby/apartment where this good gentleman guided me to my room upstairs. It was just perfect for me, a small comfortable air conditioned room…with a toilet/shower…an overnight stay was quite tolerable…it was a bargain!

H&M was the store I always visited in Hongkong. First at Langham Place then next at Tai Ko area. I was grabbing stuff like crazy, was too excited to care how much, though I was choosing only from HKD 99 to 199 items, it was a lot that I let go some I think look good on me but I won’t wear often. Booo..

Shopping made me hungry..finding a good place to eat alone was challenging. I searched for food blogs which recommends certain food favorites. My first stop was Tai Ping Koon Restaurant in Tsim Tsa Tsiu area.

Their specialty is Baked Pork Chop Rice which was tolerable for a solo eater but I still couldn’t finish it! I was wishing that I could share it with someone and order more dishes. Oh well…anyways..food check: crispy yet tender…perfect pork chop! But heck, it was expensive! HKD 90+…no choice though.

After the meal, I wandered aimlessly seeking some shopping refuge. I went to the Fa Yuen Market but clothes there are for winter use only. Can’t wear them here in the Philippines. My next stop was shopping around Mongkok area especially Langham Place. I feel like my hand carry bag cannot fit the things I will be buying so I keep sacrificing some clothes.

Compare to shopping in Bangkok, I think in Hongkong, you still get to find bargains with good quality. But I miss getting “shopping high” in Platinum Mall Bangkok.

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It was an unusual trip for me, with a come what may attitude, my friends and I cut short our holiday celebrations back in the city and flew off to Cebu for our semi planned trip to Bantayan Island.

I was quite familiar with Cebu (thanks to my friends who usually bring me around the city) but outside Cebu, I’m clueless. We had to sandwiched our vacation, 1 night in Bantayan then the rest in Cebu because the island seemed so far from the city.

Hotel–check! Diplomat hotel in Cebu, Sta Fe resort in Bantayan
Transport--was still undecided at first (bus or taxi)..but upon rising the taxi, we just asked our driver to quote us his best price, our butts was glued to the seats! first was P 2,000 but going back, we got cheaper quote at P 1,500
Food–as long as there’s Cebu Lechon in one of our meals *happy*

Our ride to Bantayan was long and windy…I couldn’t sleep since I was seated in front. I turned on my Itouch, searching something familiar along the roads we passed by. My droopy eyes survived 2 hours of travel. I really hate it when I sit in front, I never get to sleep!

I noticed my voice became cranky..oh no…paos! Hard time talking the whole trip…I couldn’t speak well…I just smile and try to murmur.

Reaching the Hagnaya port, our taxi even asked for a tip for coffee (guess the junk food I was munching made him jealous) note: BBQ at the port, cheap!!!

After 2 hours of waiting to reach our destination, we sill had another 1.5 hours boat ride to the beach…was talking to my friend Reena the whole time, didn’t notice time flew so fast!

I caught a glimpse of our resort from afar (shoot! can’t swim, near the port!). We hurriedly went down the huge boat and heard someone screaming that they are from Sta Fe resort and the transport is free. Sta fe and Ogtong Cave resort are sister companies so guest on both resorts can use each other’s facilities minus the transport though (50 pesos per person).

It should be free, it was like 5 minutes away from the port! The resort reminded me of resorts in Puerto Galera, simple but clean but not much luxury to offer to guests. We wandered nearby to restaurants and tried some Portuguese cuisine, but I was disappointed with their “Paella” that tastes like curry rice..Booo!

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A brief vacation led me to visit something new in Cebu.

My good friend Gale suddenly had the urge to bring us to visit this so called 7 star hotel newly opened in Cebu. After hearing it couple of months ago, I was painfully curious about a 7 star hotel in the Philippines…(you sure??). While waiting at the lobby of Shangrila Mactan, I feel like a foreigner in my country. Locals were speaking in Cebuano while everywhere I look I see Koreans! Though I have been mistaken for a Korean for almost every time, I’m still a proud Chinese! =p

I have been used to speaking in language unknown to some prying neighbor, but here, I need to hold my tongue and keep some comments to myself!

I’ve been to Cebu quite a few times already, I feel I can navigate my way through the city….surprisingly, I have this urge to drive here though I don’t really like driving in Manila. Insane traffic! An array of Korean stores and restaurants was a familiar sight along a faintly lit road..which was also the route going to Plantation Bay if I remember correctly. A lot of Koreans seem to like staying in a laid back city like Cebu.

A quick left turn, we arrived at the hotel which seem to be awkwardly situated beside rural common houses. I was silently rooting for Shangrila Mactan to be better and I think I got my wish!

Imperial Palace was pleasantly new with the grounds still having evidence of concrete dusts around. The lobby reminds me of some British Indian hotel in Singapore (Raffles Hotel). Though it somehow lacks warmth around, the personnel seem to eagerly volunteer to take pictures for you anywhere you want way to go!

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