One of the well-known tourist attractions in the Bicol Region would be Mayon Volcano which is located in the province of Albay. And if you happen to be in Albay to take a peek at… More
MACAU 2016 – DAY 3
Day 3 (November 8, 2016)
Its our last day we already felt at home.
Then a quick stop over at Sofitel and tried playing casino at least. We didn’t win! I don’t know if we just don’t understand the game or I don’t really have what they call beginners Luck. Hehehe
Since I really wanted to use some of my extra cash to buy pasalubong, I eagerly looked for Money Changer but to no success. There was a bank that don’t accept PHP and the one at the center of the square have a really high exange rate.
I almost gave up on the idea.
By some stroke of luck, I was able to pass by a souvenir shop with a Filipino attendant who told me that they accept Peso! I was really thankful! Aside from the fact that I can use my extra Php, their exchange rate is really low and that’s not all they exchanged it for Hongkong Dollars!
What an Amazing Bargain!
one last bite my dear egg tart.You will be missed.
And so, time passed so fast. There was only few hours left before our flight back home. As all good things must come to an end. We went back to our place, packed our bags and left.
So long and goodbye…
oh wait!
♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣
FEW HELPFUL TIPS
- Have your Money exchanged here in PH (its more expensive there based on my experience)
- Take advantage of the free water in Hotels Drink while you are there (and take home some bottle if you want 🙂
- There are always free show’s at the hotels (Wynn Palace Fountain Show is a Must!)
- Skittles at 7/11 is a lot cheaper than in MNL (I think)
- Taste the chocolate/strawberry shake at McDonald’s ( I hope they still have it)
- Bus is the best/cheapest way to commute, make sure to KEEP YOUR COINS it will be very useful!
- If you are going to buy souvenir at Senado Square visit the shop I mention above. They are cheaper and accepts PHP!
- Don’t be shy to say Hi to our Kababayan’s and ask for directions when needed (they are very helpful) -Ate cha
- Plan ahead for your daily itinerary and the routes of your destinations to maximize the time(Some stops are near multiple tourist spots) -Ate cha
- Masarap daw ung Curry Fishballs and I agree!They are located on the side of the streets near the Ruins)
and most of all
NEVER BE AFRAID TO GET LOST, EXPLORE AND DISCOVER.
MACAU 2016 – DAY 2
Day 2 (November 7, 2016)
Walking is our best friend! And what better way to start the day than to walk, and so we did. Our first stop for the day was Guia Fortress, so our initial plan was to walk to the central bus terminal (with a side trip at Lisboa Hotel).
Little did we know that we are bound to walk to Guia Fortress as well! Which I believe took us about an hour of walking, that felt like forever! We kept on asking for directions, looking at the map and we still have no idea where we are. It came to a point where we are physically exhausted and terribly lost but we have to keep moving. All thanks to kuya guard at Lisboa (who said that the fortress was just near-define near kuya)!
We tried to imagine how far we have gone….
Surprise surprise! the moment we reached the Guia Fortress IT WAS CLOSED!
Yesterday the fountain show was under renovation and now after a long walk we failed to check Guia Fortress schedule (which was closed on Mondays!).
No point in crying over spilled milk, we moved on to our next destination. A’ma Temple.
A’ma Temple is known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Now, from A’ma Temple we had a little struggle going to Macau Tower since the bus stops are very confusing plus it’s too hot in the middle of the day!
First Stop: The Venetian!
We had our lunch there and man!was it expensive!
Next Stop: The Parisian
It was a new Hotel with the same group company as the The Venetian! No wonder the design was also as intricate.
I enjoyed walking down the hallway it was so huge with classical music on the background it felt like I would encounter Ma. Antoinette at any moment! Haha
BTW there is a Kiosk of Lord Stow’s in between the hotels, the Egg Tart was worth every penny of its price!
While deciding what to do next, a Filipino hotelier at the Parisian heard our conversation which eventually ended our predicament. He highly recommend that we visit Wynn Palace Hotel (There in Cotai).
So we did!
WYNN PALACE HOTEL
And it was like the ultimate gift of the day!Giving us everything that we missed the other days!
The Wynn Palace Hotel Cable Car ride was from outside all the way up to the building’s entrance (did I say its Free!)
MACAU 2016- DAY 1
2nd week of October 2016
The weekend after my tremendous heartbreak, (BREAKING MY YEARLY PLEDGE TO GO OUT OF THE COUNTRY SINCE I WAS 23) I decided to spend my grieving days at my Aunt’s house. Fast forward to Sunday afternoon, my cousin suddenly sat by my side and asked me casually if I wanted to go to Macau or Malaysia. My heart leaped. I don’t want to get my hopes up but then we went on with the plan. We decided Macau as our destination because the last time my cousin and I went to Honkong we were not able to visit Macau. I was cool with it, because I’m the one-country-at-a-time-kind of lad. haha! Anyway! So we booked our flight the same date (well almost the same as our Hanoi Trip). After that, we found a cheap accommodation via Air B&B. and that’s it!
Before I knew it, we are already lost in Macau.
After arriving at Macau international airport we were instructed by our contact from Air B&B to ride the bus 26 outside the terminal. Oblivious with the bus cycle in the city, we hop on the wrong bus no. 26 and landed at the other side of the country. Good thing we are able to find someone who can talk English!(after 3 attempts) most of them don’t know how to speak English and this hard truth unfolded again as we were about to eat our dinner after safely arriving at our place. We were served with bread even if it was not included in our order, it was with the power of pointing and nodding that we are able to communicate and order food. But then, there was a sudden uproar between the two service crew which seems to involve our orders, No need to speak their language it was obvious that the extra sandwich that was served to us was actually meant for another customer!
Day 1 (November 6, 2016)
We got up early in the morning to visit the nearby church plus it’s also Sunday. After being thankful for the safe trip and all the blessings we received (special mention my brother!) we head out to the Ruins of Saint Paul.
It was about 5-10 minutes walk from our place.
This unconventional route led us to some lovely shots.
Kudos to my cousin Ate Cha! For her hidden talent in Photography! All my solo shots (and more to come) are taken by her.
Then, we head out to Monte Fort which was just beside the Ruins.
After Exploring Monte Fort, Senado Square was our next destination which was actually just a few steps away from both Monte Fort and The Ruins.
Walking in Senado Square was quite entertaining!
Aside from the beautiful Spanish architecture, you can see different kinds of shops (Local and International Brands) and stores that offers free taste of their products from cookies to jerky! ♥
Make sure to taste the almond cookies!
our lunch! it was worth it! Sweet&Sour Fish Fillet and Chicken Curry Steak 🙂
With stomach full, we went directly to Fisher Mans Wharf with slight view of the Gran Prix route on our way there.
We didn’t know what to expect since there was really no good review about the place.
Despite of its beautiful European aesthetics, some of the shops are closed, there were only selected restaurants that operate, and there is nothing much to do there. Ironically I was able to enjoy the place even more (Less crowd and exquisite surroundings)! It was perfect for pictorial!
The following photo’s are all taken by my super supportive cousin turned IG photographer!
As the day was about to end, we then walked towards Macau Ferry Terminal to ride a free shuttle bus going to Wynn Hotel and watch their fountain show. Sadly, after reaching the hotel we learned that the fountain show area was currently under renovation.
It was like unrequited love all over again, when I finally decided to accept the fact that my long-awaited trip to Vietnam won’t materialize. 💔
Travel is the only luxury I allow myself to indulge into. Given my current employment status/my salary, it is indeed a luxury. I always try my best to make ends meet with my modest income, the bills I have to pay, my needs (sometimes wants) and other responsibilities upon my shoulder without jeopardizing my cherished budget for travelling.
I started to save as early as the start of 2016 since we booked our flight at the first quarter of the year (March 8 to be exact).Every time I have that urge to travel out-of-town, I would fight it with all my might thinking that I would spend an entire 8 days in Hanoi (Vietnam) anyway. I would tell myself that it would be an awesome trip so it’s worth the wait.Yes! We booked the flight for 8 days because we initially planned to cross broader to Laos, but eventually realized that we would not be able to bear the 20 hours ride given that it’s also in a foreign country so we finally gave up on that idea.
Longer travel time is synonymous to higher expenses, which means I need to level up my budget for this trip. I diligently saved money. I looked for different ways to earn extra income which was so unsteady, dedicated myself to overtime whenever I get the chance to do so. I have tightened my expenses as much as possible. Joining a giveaway on Instagram was quite helpful too!;)
Before I knew it October came without a sound. I was so busy with everything that is going on around me, plus the extra hustles that I put my self through and I didn’t realize that it’s a month before our trip and we are still Unprepared! Not with my travel money at least but with the fact that we still don’t have an accommodation,no itinerary and most of all no OOTD. 😱
Slowly the feeling of sadness crept in. But,I refused to dwell on the fact that there was a 90% chance this trip wont happen anymore. I still held on to the 10% possibility that it will. I cheered myself by looking at the photos of possible tourist spots that we could visit, Instagram and blog posts too. I browsed my closet for possible outfit knowing it’s winter in Vietnam by the time we visit. I saw the coat I bought last June with my friend. And then, it hit me again. Where did all our excitement go? When did it started to be a bother instead of anticipation? I really don’t know, all I know is that my supposed travel buddy won’t be able to make it anymore. Then, a slight tore in my heart was heard as I held on that coat and reminiscing the supposed plan we had. I snapped back to reality and prepared an itinerary the next day. (Note: it was already the second week of October 2016).
The itinerary I prepared has three versions. I came up with plan A, B and C just to show how eager I was to travel no matter what. Plan A was the original 8 days with my friend with a possible overnight trip to Ha Long Bay, Trang Ahn, Sapa or Ho Chi Minh. Plan B was a solo Itinerary for 8 days without any travel outside Hanoi since it’s my first solo travel abroad and I don’t want to make my mother all worried with the idea. Plan C was a 5 days trip with the hopes of cancelling my flight and scheduling it 3 days earlier so there would be a higher possibility that my friend could come with me. But soon enough all this plans fell apart. I immediately scrapped plan C after I confirmed that moving my flight would cost me more than half of what I could spend for this entire trip(Twelve Thousand Php to be exact, for a one way ticket!). Eventually tossing aside Plan B on the list too when I realized that 8 days would be too much if I will just stay in Hanoi given the fact that I am all alone too. I can’t even fill day 5 to day 8 of my itinerary. As with plan A, I never heard from my friend. And so I took a deep breath, halt, closed my eyes and prepared myself for the full crack of my heart…
it ain’t over til its over – Yogi Berra
Stumbled upon this song on Spotify and fell in love with it. I loved how Kacy sang it with peculiarity and ease plus the rhythm is very soothing despite its painful lyrics. oh! don’t even get me started with the lyrics. Instead, I posted the lyrics below and just highlighted the part I truly liked (I could have highlighted the entire song!haha)
I hope you guys enjoy this song as much as I do.
[Verse 1]
You come and go and you’ll stay as you please
Convinced a moment’s time is all that I need
These temporary highs can’t make me believe
That your feelings are true
[Pre-Chorus]
Holding out your hand
While you turn your head
I don’t want half of your love
Empty words you’ve said
Bare unraveled thread
You know it’s never enough
[Chorus]
You can’t love me this way
You can’t keep me in chains
You can’t lead me astray
From an arm’s length away
[Verse 2]
You search for breathing space while I’m undersea
Tell me to wait so you can sort through your needs
Keep leaving trails that you’ll follow to me
I can’t let you get through
[Pre-Chorus]
Holding out your hand
While you turn your head
I don’t want half of your love
Empty words you’ve said
Bare unraveled thread
You know it’s never enough
[Chorus]
You can’t love me this way
You can’t keep me in chains
You can’t lead me astray
From an arm’s length away
[Bridge]
Your absence won’t define me now
Held up my end with breath I’ve found
Surrendered time to solid ground, solid ground
[Chorus]
You can’t love me this way
You can’t keep me in chains
You can’t lead me astray
From an arm’s length away
You can’t love me this way
You can’t keep me in chains
You can’t lead me astray
From an arm’s length away
You can’t love me this way
You can’t keep me in chains
The song is ultimately about realizing your own self worth and understanding that you can’t give all of yourself to someone that only wants to give so much of themselves to you. – Kacy Hill
Saan kumakapit ang makikinang na bagay?
Sa ilalim ng matamong mapupungay
Saan nananatili ang kislap ng mga tala?
Sa bawat patak ng lihim mong mga luha
Ang liwanag ng iyong puso
Nag kukubli sa damdaming pilit na tinatago
Sumisilip sa maiilap mong mga ngiti
Kaya saan nagsisimula ang pagsikat ng araw?
Doon
Doon kung saan may isang ikaw.
I came to learn that you can never rush your way into moving on.
For me it was a slow process (no actually slow is an understatement for what it really was) more like turtle steps.
Enduring every inch you take wishing that tomorrow you will be closer to throwing that huge rock stock on your chest or that heavy house on your back. And every day you are wishing that you would be able to stand straight again, but you will never be, at least not yet…
You will wake up each morning feeling worst that it was yesterday. But you will get up because you have to get up and you must get up.
Don’t force yourself to smile if you don’t feel like it.
Don’t talk if you just want to keep it to yourself.
Don’t force yourself to dress up, be sloppy and look trashy if you want to.
Don’t put your make up on
Don’t even comb your hair if you don’t feel like it, thinking it’s a waste of time cause you don’t need to look good cause you are not feeling any better anyway…at least not now, not yet…
And you don’t owe anyone an explanation, why you look that way, why you act that way.
You are the one who carries your own pain.
What other people say is the very least of the million other myriad of concerns clouding your mind at the moment. You are the one who carries your own pain, every slit in your vain, every stab in your heart, the swirls in your intestine; everything that is happening inside you is all yours to endure! You own every bit of the pain and they don’t have any idea about it. What they see in you right now is not even an inch closer to what you really feel inside.
A glimpse of pain is all they ever going to get. People will say they understand but you know that somehow they really don’t.They will say you’ll get over it,like its as simple as spitting out a gum after your chew and sucked every minty sweetness it had.
So,when they say they know, they understand, they get it, that you’ll get over it, it will be gone sooner or later, that you will be fine…remember that it’s okay to convince yourself that it’s not! Well not yet…
So while you are at it, be shitty, be emotional, hate love song, rom-com, love and anything attached to it. Hate the lovers on the street, the holding-hands couple at the park, hate all the crap you see around you and most of all hate yourself for daring to fall in love.
Loathe every part of it.
Then cry, every night or even day.
Cry with all your heart
Cry like you are going to cough your lungs out
Cry every minute and every moment that you feel like crying. But then grab a hold of those small pauses in-between your endless howling and take a tiny step. A very tiny step to move, from that soaked place you currently drenching yourself into, just a little step and you will get there…
I swear you will
If you love deeper, moving on would be longer and letting go would seem impossible…feel the iffy pain till it hurts no more. Once you went through everything and endured it all, the rest will be just be a piece of cake. Trust me my friend that huge rock that once burdened your fluffy heart will eventually be a shrinking stone that would let you know it’s there once in a while but it wont bother you anymore…never.
(feat Box Man) all photo credits to google images. :)
