Showing posts with label must visit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label must visit. Show all posts

The City in Heaven: Ngong Ping Village, Hong Kong

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

My mom and me, we put always ourselves in the midst of an adventure. Being away from her for 303 of 365 days of a year, she makes it a point to treat me into a "date" every way and time possible. The summer of 2012, her way of pay back is a trip to Ngong Ping Village.

Ngong Ping Cable Car is a visually spectacular 5.7km cable car journey, travelling between Tung Chung Town Centre and Ngong Ping on Lantau Island. Visitors will enjoy panoramic views of the Hong Kong International Airport, South China Sea, the Tian Tan Buddha Statue, as well as the flora and fauna of North Lantau Country Park. (Source: Ngong Ping 360 Website)


Why you should visit Ngong Ping Village?

Well, let the pictures speak for themselves. Keep scrolling down, my friend. 




PROMO CODE: BetterOnApp

1. The 5.7km 360-degree View Cable Car 

You will be able to ride a 5.7km cable car wherein you can choose a gondola with a 360 view. YES. 360, left and right, top and below are GLASS. If you are not afraid of heights, you should try this and see the amazing view in a bubble-like experience.


Not only will the view be 360 degrees, but also, you'll experience going into foggy clouds like this one in the picture. It's certainly straight out of the Wizard of Oz movie.








2. Walk in the heaven-like village of Ngong Ping









3. Learn about the culture through the Buddhist Temples


Visit the Po Lin Monastery and buy their famous wooden bracelets sold near the Tian Tan Buddha.




3. Go up the 268 steps of "Big Buddha" 

This Buddha is as high as 34 metres and can be seen as far as Macau in clear day!!









HK CENTRAL STATION to NGONG PING VILLAGE

Step 1: In HK MTR Central Station, ride in the Tung Chung Line (Orange Line) to Tung Chung Station.

Step 2: In Tung Chung Station, walk to the Ngong Ping Cable Car terminal. 
I suggest you buy/book your tickets prior to arrival because the line can get super long.  (Read details (and rants) below.)

Step 3: Ride the cable car to Ngong Ping Village. You can choose a gondola (a standard one or a 360-degree view gondola. Prices are different. See details below.)

Step 4: In Ngong Ping Village, explore the area. There are maps like the one below. Make sure to visit the Tian Tan Buddha and other landmarks mentioned.





NGONG PING VILLAGE to HK CENTRAL STATION

When returning to the city center, follow the routes you took backwards.

Step 1: Ride the cable car to Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal. 

Step 2: In Tung Chung Station Cable Car terminal, walk to Tung Chung MTR Station.

Step 3: In Tung Chung Station, ride in the Tung Chung Line (Orange Line) to HK MTR Central Station. 



There are stores there offering local street foods like Beef Offal and hot pot balls with curry sauce. There are some noodle houses in there perfect for the cold temperature in the place. 

However, because the village is isolated and a tourist destination expect the prices to be higher compared to the usual. If your on a budget trip, I suggest you buy snacks in Tung Chung before riding the cable car. 



1. SNACKS

If you have read the previous paragraph, you should have known by now the number one travel must have if you are a budget traveler (like me). SNACKS. Buy your snacks in Tung Chung before riding the cable car. 

2. WATER 

Yes, water. AND LOTS OF IT. If you are planning to go up the Tian Tan Buddha, I suggest you bring something for hydration. The way up the Tian Tan Buddha is really tiring.

3. JACKET

Ngong Ping Village is in a high altitude. High altitude, meaning lower temperature. It is windy and chilly all throughout the year just like in Tagaytay and Baguio (kaway kaway sa mga Pinoy jan!)




BOOK/BUY TICKETS ONLINE. It will be easier. I promise. Believe me. When we went there, we spent 2 hours in line. And that's two hours of standing up. Two hours of hunger. Two hours of boredom. So, basically, two hours of wasted time.

You can book in  platforms that offer legit tickets. Keyword is LEGIT, beware of fake ones out there. 

You can try booking with Klook. I have not tried booking for a ticket for Ngong Ping via Klook. But I have book for other activities using this app and I can say nothing but good reviews. 

They offer discounted tickets, free meal voucher and line-free transactions. 

So, you have to choose in a standard cabin and a crystal cabin.

STANDARD CABIN is the standard gondola cable car. Duh.
CRYSTAL CABIN is the 360-degree view cable car. Great view. Very instagrammable. But more expensive.

Try booking with Ngong Ping Standard Cabin in Klook by clicking here.
*This is not a paid advertisement. Just my personal recommendation.






[ COMING SOON ]


I couldn't really give you the exact expense breakdown that me and my mom had because it was a few years ago already. I could research but they I wouldn't be able to authenticate it. However, I would soon going to Ngong Ping. I'll update this post by then.

So that's it for this post. I hope this has been informative to you. Have fun in your future endeavors and always remember "Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures."

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Burot Beach Camping Trip for only PHP935

Friday, October 13, 2017
The landmark of Burot Beach. 
Sunset of Burot Beach, Calatagan, Batanggas

A long stream of hardships and brain-wrecking school stuffs would certainly make you say "Sana bakasyon na." (I wish it's vacation already.) Having all vacation plans cancelled and postponed, we decided to push it through for the sake of our sanities and our bodies that were screaming for BEACHHHH!

So that was our story. We originally planned to go to Borawan however, our friends cancelled on us due to prior commitments. Persistent to pursue this trip, we switched to a safer, cheaper and a more convenient destination, thus- drumroll please.. BUROT BEACH!





Burot beach is a remote beach located along the shores of Calatagan, Batangas. It is a 4 to 5 hour drive from Manila.



MANILA to BUROT BEACH

Step 1: Go to EDSA LRT-MRT Station.
Step 2: Find Kabayan Hotel.
Step 3: Behind Kabayan Hotel is the terminal of public van with a fare of P180 per passenger. Ask to drop you off at the Calatagan Market. It's schedule is from 6 am to 10 pm. However, in holidays and special occasions the operate for 24 hours.
Step 4: Ride a tricycle to Burot Beach for P150.


TIPS: 

  •  Now, if you have a load of camping and overnight stuffs with you, you might have to pay for an extra seat in the passenger van with the same passenger price. So I suggest cut off some load by buying fresh supplies (fish, meat, etc.) in Calatagan Market instead. Less hassle and less pricey.
  • The tricycle fare would rate by P50 per head. If you are a group of more than 3, tricycle drivers may charge you more. But of course, this is subject to change upon negotiation.

When we got off the passenger van, we met Kuya Vic. He is a tricycle driver that usually brings tourist to Burot Beach. We were so lucky to have him as our service for he offered us things that we weren't prepared for. He lent us his cooler and drove us to buy ice in the cheapest household store for us to save money. Then, he offered us a shower at his brother's vacant apartment units in place of the unmaintained toilet and bathrooms in the premises of Burot Beach. He told us to text him if we need anything from the town proper. Kuya Vic is really a God sent.


TIPS:

  • Burot Beach is a good 15-minute ride from the town proper. Get the number of your tricycle service so that in case of emergency, you can have him there in no time.
  • Or to be more at ease, get Kuya Vic's instead. (09267457816)

BUROT BEACH to MANILA

Just follow the route you took, and make it backwards.

Step 1: Ride a tricycle to Burot Beach to Calatagan Market
Step 2: In Calatagan Market, ride a van to EDSA MRT Station. 
Step 3: EDSA LRT-MRT Station to wherever you are going to.







Camping, camping. For overnighters, there are no hotel rooms or resorts or whatsoever nearby. So prepare to get rough out here. Thanks to Kuya Zen's amazing tent, pitching is easy peasy. It wasn't the usual ones where you got to break a gallon of sweat, it was instant poppp and ta-da! The only problem we encountered was the burning hot sand and the sun's scalding glare.


TIPS:

  • In camping, one should be prepared. Bring an old tarpaulin or a thick blanket for you tent to stand onto.
  • Bring a thick blanket for the inside of the tent because I'm telling you, sand as it may be. It's still uncomfortable to sleep on.
  • Bring another old tarpaulin or a broad dark colored plastic to block the sun's glare so you won't be like us: sauna like.
  • Oh yeah, pick a place near a tree for some shade.


No restaurants. No cafes. Na-ah. But they do have a convenience store (sari-sari type). However it is super expensive because they're the only store out there. That's called monopoly people. As per previous tip, I suggest you buy fresh supplies (fish, meat, etc.) in Calatagan Market. Less hassle and less pricey. Just bring non-easily spoilable foods such as canned goods, instant noodles, etc.

As for us we brought marinated BBQ and cooked rice along with us. Next time though when we come back here, we'll just bring canned goods and a portable pan to go with it.




Burot Beach has this calm sea. If you are into surfing, you are mad to be at this place. But if like us, you're into beach bumming then, welcome to paradise! Build your own shelter. Cook your own food. And have no care about the world for just a day or two is a bliss.

What's special about this place? The sunset. I can have every money in the world, every gold in a palace, but one cannot buy this amazing grace from our Creator.


That amazing, Mr. Sun though? Speechless.

With the most amazing sunset as our witness.

Burot Beach has this landmark. This surviving, struggling and still standing tree a midst of all water that surrounds it. Wait 'til you see it in high tide. It seems like a lone island in the middle of nowhere.


If you were a sunset, I'd be your loyal everyday audience. Boom banat.

Pure Bliss.

Bonfire that costs us P250.


 I know it's ridiculous to pay for wood when you're in the midst of nature. But trust me, Pula tried to be "kuripot" and went all Tarzan in the woods behind us and came back with a nail splinter in his left foot. So don't you dare. (But then he was wearing a rather thin flip flops and has only a 4-inch scissor with him. So, your call.)

Swimming? Burot beach is not much for swimming. There are many dangers here. Scary and a bit traumatizing really. There are weeds underwater. For me, it's cool and kind of nice especially if I have a GoPro or any waterproof gadget with me, which I don't (but will have!!) But for Pula, he claims it's yuck and eww in the same sentence. Haha. Poor Pula. The water is super clear. However, overcrowding amongst weekenders and holiday spenders are most likely to lessen its beauty. 


TIPS:

  • No need for rash guards in here but yes for swim shoes. There are sea urchins near rocky areas so beware.





After two days and a night of plain vanilla nature, we're back to civilization and back to cravings for real food and bustling city life. We never expect to love the hardships of this trip but as we take a bite of our meals and reminisce that happenings of the previous hours in that paradise, we agreed to do it again and again until we've explored the corners of the world. 'Til our next adventure!
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Hundred Islands, Pangasinan Photo Diary

Friday, October 13, 2017
Straight out of a postcard: hundred islands of Pangasinan. Another university trip. (Yeah, I think our batch kind of spend too much time on vacay slash school trips. Haha.) These is another photo dump of amazing shots I've gathered in these really beautiful splotches of islands.

It was an amazing trip. My friends and I had the perfect blast of summer spending into the waters of Pangasinan.












We have to trudge into the shallow waters to pass through. The tour guides warned us of jellyfish so be sure your have your slippers or your swim shoes on.




Get ready to stretch you muscles to see the astonishing 360 view of the Hundred Islands.






















That an opportunity for jump shots.

So this is a photogenic fail because of the contrasting and such. L-R: Eliza, Charie and me.















This trip is part of our university tour so I have not much say in everything. Thanks to Pinoy Adventurista, I have found top island picks for Hundred Islands.

These are the islands that you should definitely visit!

Virgin Island

Rumored to had been the island where in locals offer virgins as a sacrifice during Hispanic times. It lived up to its name until now where no such thing is currently happening in real life. It has a tunnel-like rocky entrance and underground water at the end.


Century Island

No beach but it has a dome-like cave. It also served as a hiding place on World War II.


Cathedral Island

It has a natural grotto in a very large cave.


Crocodile Island and Turtle Island

It's in the name. It looks like a crocodile chasing a turtle.


Devil's Island

For daredevils, this is the island for you. It is a famous diving spot. This is the island that I regret not coming to the most. Because our boat was one of the last ones out of the shore, the beach area was too crowded to park the boat where we are in so the tour guide skipped it. I was so jealous of the stories that I heard from my other classmates who got the chance to jump on the steep cliffs.


Scout Island

Perfect for beach bumming and diving. It is also well known for its fine white sand.


Marcos Island and Imelda Island

It has the most emerald-colored waters where in you can dive into. It is named after the former Philippine president, Marcos, and his first lady, Imelda.


You can try diving, snorkeling, spelunking and if you're too lazy, just work on your tan and go beach bumming.



Check out the other photo diary of  Pangasinan-Baguio tour!
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