Soul Searching in Seoul: Day 2 - Nami Island

Our 2nd day in South Korea started early. Really early. We got our wake up call at around 5:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. Manila time!). Ms. Julia required us to be at the lobby before 7:00 a.m. along with our luggage. I was expecting only a handful from our group that would be able to make it at the appointed time. But lo and behold, almost everybody was packed and ready to go 15 minutes before time! After a hearty breakfast at the Paradise Hotel, we proceeded to our first destination.



Nami Island

God’s Little Garden by the Han

If you’ve watched the popular Korean TV drama, “Endless Love 2: Winter Sonata,” then you’ll probably know what Nami Island is all about. Most of the romantic scenes were shot here, featuring the island’s beauty during autumn and winter. While my mom would have wanted to see the place packed with snow as it had been in the TV drama series, we were instead treated to Nami Island’s springtime splendor.

Our trip to Nami Island (also called Namisum or Namiseom)from Incheon took around an hour and a half. Travelling from Seoul to this garden pot takes only about an hour as it is only 63 kilometers away from the capital. Upon reaching the Gaepyong Wharf, we were whisked by our guide to the ferry as the leaf-like island is situated in the middle of Cheongpyung Lake. The placid cross took only about five minutes.

Nami Island's Tall White Pines

I was immediately smitten by the island’s beauty upon alighting the boat. While Nami boasts of no mountains or hills, it is blessed with trees that could rival Seoul’s skyscrapers in making an earnest stretch for the heavens. Contrary to what some say that it could only be appreciated if one has watched Winter Sonata, Nami Island is a sight to behold sans the TV drama. One need only to have eyes, bespectacled or otherwise, in order to willingly nod to the claim that the place has been carefully sculpted by nature.

Walking through the Namiseom’s main pathway is like strolling down a hall walled by tall White Pines and birches and decked by trunks and leaves that roof passersby from the sun. It is simply magnificent. Treats for the eyes, and for the soul as well, could be found along the way. Nature lovers, and lovers in the strict and simple sense of the word, would delight in the beguiling blend of the elements.

One of Namisum's mode of transportation

For those who would want to spare the soles of their shoes for a later stroll in the city, nature-friendly walking aids can be rented for a minimal fee. I didn’t resort to one, though, as I was already happy enough to slowly discover every corner of the island by foot. I was even lucky enough to come across a squirrel (or at least that’s what I think it was) jumping from one tree to another.

I would have loved to spend a whole day in Nami Island, but our tour guide only gave us 2 hours to go around this garden by the Han. For those who are not chained to a tour package, a stay at one of the island’s cottages could provide a good retreat from the city hustle. You don’t have to worry about amenities. Nami Island offers the essentials that a traveler usually needs or demands – souvenir shops, money changers, and great places to eat.

Cherry Blossoms at Full Bloom in Namiseom

How to Get to Nami Island by Bus or Public Transportation

A quarter of a day wasn’t enough for me to really feed my senses of all the scenic spots that Nami Island has to offer. That’s why before I left Namisum, I made some inquiries as to how one could go about visiting the place by public transportation. The easiest way to go to Nami Island by bus is through Namisum, Inc.’s shuttles. Its Seoul office is located at Insa-dong. The buses are parked at the nearby Topgol / Pagoda Park. Getting to the Namisum Seoul office and the bus stop / pick-up point is easy. Via subway, take line 1 and go to Jongno 3(sam)-ga Station. Exit 1 or 3 will lead you towards the pick-up point or Naminara Republic’s Seoul embassy (office).

The shuttle bus departs Insa-dong at 9:30 a.m. Make sure that you make a reservation first either via phone (+82-2-753-1247) or e-mail (namibus@naminara.com). The roundtrip fare costs KRW 15,000 or around Php600. Not bad at all. The drop off point would be at Gapyeong Wharf. This is also the meeting point for the return trip to Seoul at 4:00 p.m.

For other information on how to go to Nami Island from Seoul by public bus in case the Naminara shuttles are already fully booked, you may visit http://www.ti21.co.kr/ (East Seoul Terminal).

Nami Island draws around 1.5 - 2 million visitors each year. Needless to say, a trip to South Korea would never be complete without gracing the grounds of Naminara Republic.



Soul Searching in Seoul: Day 1 - The Best and the Worst

It has been a long and lingering wish of mine, especially of late, that my 100th plane ride would be on a legacy airline. That wishful thought was almost certain to remain within the confines of my mind, given that the next flights that Gin and I were able to book involved budget carriers Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific. However, by some twist of fate, that fancy of mine was granted life! Flying on an airline that has more than 5 inches of leg room is already something for somebody who made Cebu Pacific the airline of choice (my wallet’s choice, to be exact). But to fly on a 5-star, Star Alliance-member, and Skytrax 2010 Airline of the Year awardee is pure and simple bliss! Never mind that I’m traveling economy. As long as I have been unbound from Airbus A320s and other single-aisle aircrafts, I’m already near Nirvana.

Asiana Airlines

My Incheon-Seoul, South Korea trip came about due to mom’s addiction to Korean telenovelas. I’m not really a fan of them, but I must admit that I have been chained to the TV before by some of it. The first (and only) Korean TV/drama series that I was able to watch from episode 1 to eternity was Endless Love 2: Winter Sonata. I’m not sure if there was really endless love there, but there sure was an endless crying from episode ten to end. But for some reason, I got stuck to it (probably due to pity as the lead star was close to being dehydrated from continuous crying). So in a way, this trip would be a treat since one of the sites where we will be taken to would be Nami Island, the place where the poignant scenes of Winter Sonata were shot.  This would also be the first time that I will be travelling on a guided tour courtesy of Rakso Air Travel and Tours.  Rakso is one of the few travel agencies which specializes in Korean tours/vacations.  The travel agency's Ms. Melai Makasaieb was also very helpful in facilitating and processing my South Korean Visa application.

That relaxing South Korea trip that I had in mind started out ironically stressful. We left the house at around 9:00 a.m., thinking that we have enough elbow room for our 12:45 p.m. flight. However, it turned out that a good portion of Roxas Boulevard was closed. Things turned a little bit chaotic once we stepped in at the Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Just recently, the NAIA Terminal 1 has been voted by travelers as the fifth worst airport in the world. Imagine that! I was first indignant about it, opining that the survey or the ones who took it did not know what they were talking about. But after just spending a few minutes inside the terminal, I began to realize why it was branded as “a bombed out ruin.”

NAIA Terminal 1: One of the worst airports in the world (allegedly)

We entered the airport at around 9:45 a.m. By the time we reached the waiting lounge/gate, it was already 12:05 p.m.! The line leading to the check-in counter was very long. But that wasn’t the mold in the cake. What really ticked the bomb inside my head were the long lines at the immigration counters! It was terrible! The line resembled tape worms knotting their bodies to each other! There were many empty counters. While I’m sure the persons manning the same needed a break, airport and immigration officials should have prepared for such a contingency, especially since the holiday season demands reasonable foresight in managing the lines. We spent almost two hours just to have our passports stamped!

Our stress levels dropped dramatically upon boarding the aircraft. The seats at Asiana Airline’s Airbus A330 was comfortable enough to induce some sleep, even if it’s economy. At chow time, we were made to choose between chicken and seafood. Not much of a choice, but they already satisfied my palate.

Chicken meal at Asiana's Manila-Incheon economy section

The in-flight entertainment was superb. A touch-screen LCD graced each of the seats, letting us choose which among the various shows in the 40 channels that were available would keep us company all throughout the 3-hour and 30-minute flight to Incheon. I chose Ms. Jolie :)

Excellent in-flight entertainment options

At touchdown, we came to see why the Incheon International Airport was voted as the 2009 Skytrax best airport in the world. The contrast was not that hard to notice, especially since we just had a harrowing experience at Asia’s worst airport just a few hours ago. The Incheon air terminal was an architecture to behold, both from the inside and from the out. I really hope that Philippine air transport officials would take notice of how far we have been left behind by our Asian neighbors in terms of building and maintaining world-class air terminals that would really inspire both locals and foreigners alike to say, “Mabuhay!,” upon touchdown. Our air facilities at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport has a lot of potential. Authorities should not hesitate in phasing out NAIA and opening up a grand and modern air terminal in Clark, Pampanga. Nobody builds airports right at the heart of the capital anymore. A quick glance at the addresses of the air terminals in the region would readily show that they are around 40-60 minutes away from the main city.

Incheon International Airport

Ms. Julia Lee, our tour guide, met us at the arrival’s area. I was curious as to how cold it was outside. Upon stepping out of the airport, I had a rude awakening of how cold 8 degrees centigrade was actually like. My ordinary jacket felt like a thin undershirt! We stopped by at a nearby restaurant for a sumptuous Bulgogi dinner before heading towards our temporary billeting in Incheon.

Authentic Korean Bulgogi!

The Bellevue Manila

When my sister told me that she and her fiancé will be billeted at the Bellevue Hotel for their wedding, I wondered why the name didn’t immediately light the bulb above my head. I guess I’m one of those who aren’t really familiar with the Alabang area, given the distance and the horrendous traffic jams that the road leading to it is notorious for.



Bellevue Manila's main chandelier

I was initially disappointed with their choice, considering that the original plan was for us to stay with her at one of my favorite hotels in the metro – Sofitel. But after browsing through the Net for info and photos of the Bellevue Manila, I discovered that the change wasn’t actually a bringdown.

We received our first hello from the staff at Bellevue’s old tower entrance. The old lobby was kind of small, but it was warm and charming. My sister then led us to another passageway leading to the new wing of the hotel. There was no congruence in the design of the respective lobbies of the two buildings, but the new one was more elegant and was still cozy enough to make the guests feel welcome.

The Executive Suite of the Bellevue Manila was fairly big. At 61 square meters, honeymooners might already think that a space like this is already spacious enough to pattern their first abode. The first thing that I checked out, as with every hotel that I visit or check in to, was the bed. I immediately jumped on to it, unmindful of the fact that I was slated to be the floor manager for the evening (meaning the lucky one designated to sleep on the floor). The pillow made me want to wink more than forty, but I immediately jumped out of the trance as my mom was already frowning at the mess that I’ve started to create.

The Bellevue Manila's King size bed

The size of the bathroom was surprisingly big. In fact, it was even larger than most of the standard rooms that I’ve seen in Hong Kong. A huge see-through glass adorns the wall adjacent to the tub. Although blinds cover the whole length thereof, paranoia-inspired thoughts of forgetting to close the covers while sitting on the toilet bowl made me cringe a bit.

While the bedroom could easily fit 5 people, I entertained the thought of sleeping at the receiving area or sala as it was quite big. However, the bride and the groom were pulling an all-nighter, ironing out the remaining details of their wedding the following day, so I decided to stick to the original plan.

I got up early the next day to go back home to get my sister and Gin. Too bad I wasn’t able to try their breakfast buffet. But judging from the picture of The Bellevue Manila’s Café d’Asie, as well as the length of time which took my mom and sister to finish their meal, I think that it can rival the dining rooms of the other five-star hotels that are known for its sumptuous meals.

Cafe d'Asie

Overall, I think The Bellevue Manila does live up to its billing as the premier hotel in Alabang. It is an excellent choice for those who might want to have an out-of-Manila experience without leaving the advantages or comforts of city life behind. Couples who have chosen the romantic Fernbrook Gardens as the venue of their wedding will also realize that the Bellevue Manila is the best place to run to after the reception as it is only 10-15 minutes away.

Air Asia Philippines to Fly in August 2011

Sorry Cebu Pacific, but it seems that there will be another “Juan” that would be dotting the Philippine skies soon.

Air Asia, the world’s largest budget carrier, has recently struck a deal with Filipino businessmen to form an affiliate in the Philippines. The first Air Asia Philippines flight is expected to take off by August of 2011. No pronouncement has been made yet if the new carrier will be using the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 as its hub in the country. Reports say that the company is considering either Subic or Clark as its base.

KooL in Kuala Lumpur (Part 2: Genting Highlands)

          We were supposed to start our second day in Kuala Lumpur by sneaking out of the hotel while the sun and the roosters were still experiencing REM. Unfortunately, our alarm clock wasn’t loud enough to kick us out of bed before the rest of Malaysia did. We usually rely on caffeine to shake the drowsiness away from our heads, but mild panic substituted for coffee that day.

Genting Highlands

KooL in Kuala Lumpur (Part 1: Petronas Towers, Central Market, Merdeka Square)

     Every time Gin and I pass by the international check-in counters at the NAIA Terminal 3 on our way to the domestic section, we always say to ourselves that there will come a time when we will be lining up in that part of the airport. Well, after more than a year of wishing and preparing for that moment, the day that we will be flying abroad finally came.

     Kuala Lumpur wasn’t exactly our dream destination. However, dirt-cheap airfares to that part of the globe enticed us to forget Bangkok or Hong Kong. We initially booked our tickets at Air Asia for only P1068 roundtrip (no kidding). However, due to lack of uhmm parental consent, we forfeited 3 opportunities and decided to wait until the right time comes.

     After effortlessly securing the nod of Ginny’s sister as our willing and able chaperone, we finally bit the next promo that came our way. Quite surprisingly, it turned out that Cebu Pacific’s latest offer at that time was a P4,000+ roundtrip vacation to the Malaysian capital. Talk about a fated destination :)

Resort World Manila

     Our 8:55 p.m. flight was scheduled on a Thursday. We nearly missed our flight as we took an ill-advised stroll at Newport’s Republiq after we checked in. It was literally a photo-finish brisk walk towards the boarding gate! We tried to catch a few winks during the flight, but as usual, the in-flight games blew the natural adhesive away from our eyes as we scoured our wallets and pockets for the “show-me” games.

KL-LCCT

     Our plane landed 15 minutes ahead of schedule at around 12:15 a.m. We made a quick walk towards the airport in order to catch the last Star Shuttle bus. Our mini dash was cut short by the long but quick-moving lines at the immigration counter. It was there that I realized that Malaysia is indeed truly Asia as people from different parts of the continent made up most of the queues.

KL-LCCT Immigration Counter

     After exchanging a few thousand pesos at the 24-hour money changer booth at the KL-LCCT, we proceeded to Star Shuttle's booth and bought 20-Ringgit (MYR) tickets to Radius International Hotel. Upon arriving at the bus platform, we were greeted by the bus boy in Filipino! It turned out that he has Filipino roots as his father is from Palawan.

Decent Thee-Star Hotel

     The bus left around 2:00 a.m. and was only half-full. We arrived at the Bukit Bintang area an hour later. We encountered some minor check-in problems as the person manning the front desk thought that we were booked for only one night. After verifying our Asia Web Direct voucher, she immediately gave us our keycard and we proceeded to our room.

Radius International Hotel Kuala Lumpur

     Radius International Hotel is a fairly decent three-star hotel. Its location is superb as it is situated in the middle of Kuala Lumpur’s shopping and tourist area. The building could use some renovation, but it was already fine for our taste.

Early Morning Stroll Towards Petronas

    

     After an hour and a half of sleep, we tested our footwear’s mettle by taking the 20-minute walk from our hotel towards KLCC where the Petronas Twin Towers stand. It was still dark at 7:00 a.m. We thought that we would already be encountering many locals by then, but the streets were still rather empty.

Jalan Sultan Ismail

     Upon arrival at the towers, we were greeted by a fairly long line at the entrance of the Skybridge. We had to line up early as the tickets to the viewing deck are only limited. After two hours of waiting in line, we finally got our 15-minute opportunity to see Kuala Lumpur several thousand feet above the ground. The view was spectacular. Although we weren’t at the pinnacle of the structure, the Skybridge still provided us with a panoramic view of the city. It was definitely worth the wait.

View of the KLCC Park From the Skybridge

KL Monorail Joyride

     After having a Malaysian breakfast at Suria’s foodcourt, we headed back by foot towards the hotel to rest for a while. Gin and I then tried Kuala Lumpur’s famed monorail towards Bukit Nanas and took the interchange to Dang Wangi RapidKL station enroute to Putra Gombak where we will be buying our Go Genting tickets for the next day. Travelling via mass transit in KL was a breeze! Riding on a fully-packed monorail was a scary experience, though, as we felt like the train was just hanging unsteadily on the concrete rails.

KL Monorail

     Our next stop for the afternoon was Central Market for an early pasalubong shopping. We again took the mass transit and alighted at Pasar Seni station. From there, we strolled along the river that divides Merdeka Square from the Central Market area. The shopping area is housed in a two-storey light blue building. Everything is a bargain here. We were able to buy key chains for only 1 ringgit a piece. It was a great buy considering that the same items cost twice or thrice as much in the malls.

Merdeka Square

     After completing our pasalubong hauls, we then proceeded to Dataran Merdeka for some photo ops. The most noticeable structure in the area is the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, a Mughal-style building which originally housed the colonial masters of Malaysia. The magnificent structure is a sight to behold at night as it is laced with luminous blue streaks. Facing the building is the Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) and the Royal Selangor Club.

Sultan Abdul Samad Building

     Our night stroll was cut short by a light drizzle that made us dash to the nearest LRT station. Theresa’s legs and feet were already crying bloody murder, so we decided to forego our KLCC itinerary and headed back to the hotel. We tried to fill our tummies first at KFC and McDonald’s, but they weren’t serving rice at that time so we ended up having our dinner at Secret Recipe. 

Cebu is Sweeter the 4th Time Around

I don’t know what it is in Cebu that made Gin say that it’s her favorite city outside of Manila.  Maybe it’s because Cebu mirrors Manila, minus the latter’s imperfections.  Maybe it’s because everything still seems simple and laidback in this place despite the ever expanding urban landscape around the city.  Whatever her reasons might be, I’m one with her in regarding the queen city of the south as a place that I’ll never grow tired of visiting due to a very special reason – this is the place where Gin and I officially became a couple :)

I went to Gin’s home at around 5:00am (late as usual) so that we could go together to the airport for our 8:00 a.m. flight.  Going to the airport on a Sunday was a breeze.  We arrived at the NAIA Terminal 3 fifteen minutes before 6.  This was our first time to leave the car at the airport’s overnight parking area as we usually entrust it to the guys at Park N Fly.  We didn’t encounter any problem at the check-in desk and we left Manila on time.  I wanted to catch some sleep during the flight, but the one-inch legroom made that 40 winks elusive.  It’s either the plane shrunk or I just got bigger.

Honey, I shrunk the plane!

Good Cabbies

Upon arriving at Cebu, we proceeded to the Arrival’s area to line up at the taxi stand.  Unlike at the NAIA, getting an ordinary metered taxi in the Mactan-Cebu International Airport is easy and convenient.  Our previous encounters with the city’s taxi drivers were horrendous, though.  There were times when the meter shuffled digits so fast that it made me wonder whether the device was displaying the fare or the odometer.  In this particular visit, however, the drivers were honest and courteous.  They even went the extra mile in providing me with contact numbers or suggestions on how to get a cab in the area around Marco Polo Plaza Cebu.

Answered Prayer!

Our first stop was the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño for the 11:30 a.m. mass.  This was the focal point of the day for me as it was here when Gin finally became my girlfriend! :)  I guess it is only fitting for me to receive her nod in this church.  Back in 2009 during our second visit to this basilica, we looked for a vacant pew where we could rest for a while.  After having caught our breath, Gin knelt down to pray.  As my knees are missing a few ligaments, I decided to remain seated.  In the middle of my silent conversation with God, my eyes shifted to Gin.  I looked at her for a long time.  It was at this point when I told The Big Boss of my hope and wish that the girl kneeling in front of me would become my partner in every crime that I intend to commit in this lifetime.  Nakulitan na siguro si Lord sa akin kaya He finally gave me His nod after 1 year and 8 months of trying to win Gin’s heart he he :)

Sto. Nino Church Altar

Bo’s Original

We then went to Ayala Center’s The Terraces for lunch at Mesa.  We were quite lucky to have the place virtually to ourselves as there were only about 5 persons having lunch in the place.  This doesn’t mean that Mesa’s dishes aren’t pleasing to the tongue, though.  Their sisig with egg tasted good, while the hito flakes with green mango was interesting to the pallet.

Mesa Restaurant

After our hearty meal, we strolled around for a few minutes to give our tummies a time to make some space for coffee :)  Gin and I have been craving for Bo’s coffee for quite some time now and it’s a delight to know that we’ll be satisfying our craving at the coffee shop’s city of origin!  I’m not exactly a fan of Bo’s Coffee since the ones that I’ve had in its Manila branches tasted quite bitter.  But the Mocha frap that we’ve had here tasted different.  It was sweet and blended very well.  Our first sip almost made us forget Starbucks!  Well, almost :)

Bo's Coffee Club Cebu

After a good and relaxing time at the Ayala Center, we went to SM North for CNT’s famed lechon.  We’ve been told that Alejo’s tastes better.  However, one of the taxi drivers that we were able to talk to said that we had to pre-order our lechon and that they’re only open from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Hence, we decided to opt for what seems to be the Cebu’s second best.

Marco Polo Plaza Cebu’s Blu Bar and Grill

With the sun already getting ready to hit the sack, we headed to Marco Polo Plaza Cebu for a quiet and relaxing dinner at the Blu Bar.  I was initially quite apprehensive in having our dinner date at the Marco Polo as it is quite far from the city center.  However, the hotel’s Blu Bar and Grill has a fantastic view of the city as it sits right at the top of the building.  Thinking that Gin would very likely enjoy the ambiance and the view, I decided to brave it out and stick to my original plan and choice.

Blu Bar and Grill

True enough, Marco Polo Hotel’s Blu Bar lived up to its billing.  Not only did it gave us a fantastic panorama of Cebu, we were also served by the restaurant’s warm and friendly staff.  It was truly a romantic evening, indeed :)  We wanted to stay longer, but we had a 10:40 p.m. flight to catch.

View from Marco Polo Cebu's Blu Bar and Grill

What an amazing and wonderful day it was!

Banana Leaf Asian Cafe

If you’re in the habit of taking a stroll in the restaurant rows of the numerous malls around the metro, you’ll notice that a good number of them are catering to a specific type of cuisine, most of which are Asian. Of course, Chinese restaurants dominate the gustatory landscape of Manila, just as Chinese goods are dominating the shopping landscape of just about every nook and cranny in the country. Coming in at a distant second are Thai dishes which many locals are starting to find grow fond of despite its spicy aftertaste. Dotting the rest of the dining areas are plates from neighboring Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, and even India.

Trying each and every menu that our neighbors in Southeast Asia have to offer may be a daunting (and expensive) task. Getting familiar with our local dishes alone can already be challenging. Heck, I can’t even remember the name of the last Filipino dish that I bought from a local eatery!

Having all the different menus in Southeast Asia brought and cooked in just one restaurant would definitely make our task of dipping our tongue around region easier. It’s therefore a delight to know that Banana Leaf Asian Café have all of these dishes in just one roof.

The Banana Leaf Asian Café’s branch that Gin and I went to for our usual Friday date was the one at Robinson’s Place Ermita. Most of the tables were already taken, but we were lucky to be seated at a cozy corner. The first thing that surprised me was the price. For a restaurant that made it to Philippine Tatler’s list of best restaurants in the Philippines, one would really be amazed to be able to order a dish that’s cheaper than a Big Mac meal. (Click here for Banana Leaf’s menu)

We ordered three of Banana Leaf’s bestsellers under the Appetizer section: Chicken Satay (P128), Deep Fried Pandan Chicken (P168), and Crispy Spring Rolls Thai Style (P118). Even though they’re denominated as “starters,” the dishes that we’ve ordered could already pass up for a main course. The serving was generous and unusually fast.

As expected and as attested to by Philippine Tatler, the food tasted great! Of the three, the Chicken Satay took my heart away. Gin picked the the Spring Rolls, but it didn’t get my mouth watering as it turned out that it was stuffed with veggies instead of meat! But it tasted good just the same. She was right on the Dalandan Juice, though, as it lived up to her billing as something that’s worth to try.

Overall, we were greatly satisfied with our time in Banana Leaf Asian Café. The food was great, and the ambiance was still cozy enough to warm our dinner date despite the fact that the place was almost packed. We give Banana Leaf a score of 8 out of 10 :)

The Scorecard:

Food: 8/10

Ambiance: 8/10

Value for money: 9/10

Service: 9/10

Cleanliness: 8/10

Toilet: N/A