Macau Trip: Macau Museum

The Macau Museum is located in Mount Fortress, which is adjacent to the Ruins of St. Paul’s. The three-level museum is dedicated to the history and culture of Macau, and contains vast objects of historical and cultural values. Formerly the barracks of the Fortress that converted into a weather observatory, and become a museum and was inaugurated on April 18, 1998.

Macau Trip: Mount Fortress

After the Ruins of St. Paul's, and visiting the Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt, the next to explore is the Mount Fortress which is just adjacent to it.  I traversed a green path that lead me a winding steps to a spacious platform at the top.

Macau Trip: Ruins of St Paul’s

My little adventure in the inner streets of Macau ended at the steps of Ruins of St Paul's. I settled there for awhile and intently people watch while sitting at the ledge of the steps. It was a delight and entertaining watching tourist antics on the steps. Right after I settled in, I do the same thing: taking and having photograph in front and on the steps of the famous landmark. 

Exploring the Streets of Macau

I fell in love the moment  I have a glimpse of the old streets of Macau while riding in a bus. Despite the aging walls, the old cobblestones street alleys, there is something that I find the place unique. You just have to be there to truly fell the rich history of the city. The blending of the Chinese and Portuguese culture is so evident in every corner of its streets.

Hong Kong Trip: Fooling Around Madam Tussaud Wax Museum

My Trip to Hong Kong and Macau

One of the attractions at The Peak is the Madam Tussaud Wax Museum, It is located at the second level of the The Peak Tower. Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeow, and Pierce Brosnan awaits you at the entrance lobby where the ticket booth is located. Entrance to the museum costs HKD 160.

Ryan Cayabyab at the Esplanade Concert Hall

I finally set foot inside the Esplanade Concert Hall. In my list of task for this year,  I included on my list that I want to see what is inside the Esplanade because I am intrigued of how the interior be look like every time I passed by the building. 

Pinoy Sunday

This is my second time to have watched an indie film with pinoy theme here in Singapore, the first one is Serbis. 

Pinoy Sunday is a film made in Taiwan by a Malaysian writer and director, with Filipino actors that plays out primarily in Tagalog. How's that? The theme of the movie is universal, it tackles the story of the migrant workers. In this particular movie it evolves around the two characters of two Filipino working in Taiwan, on their off day.

Singapore Flyer

 I finally got the chance to experience being inside the capsule of the world's tallest observation wheel, the Singapore Flyer. Since the day I arrived here I made a mental note to visit and experience the flyer only because it was designed by my former office Arup. For me there is nothing exciting riding in a ferris wheel when I was a kid, so I never have tried one ever since. So because I was not too eager to try  and just waiting for the right timing, it takes me 3 years to finally be in there. 

Weekend Indulgence : Overnight in Johor Bahru, Malaysia

 It came out as a last minute decision. Though I was looking for a diversion to break the restlessness of the monotonous week days, going out of Singapore did not cross my mind at first. I was thinking of visiting a local place that I was aiming to visit but none appeals to me and my body was longing for a change environment. So I thought I have to go out somewhere that is just a short travel and just chill out and do nothing to clear out and be freed of my present state of restlessness. Beach bumming was the option but I don't want to travel far since it will just be an overnight option.  So I decided to stay in a hotel in Johor Bahru with a pool and a health club and within the city center. Although the room rate is much cheaper compared to Singapore hotels, the rate of the hotel I intend to stay is out of my budget. So I explore other areas outside  of the city center, and boy I was lucky to find one. It has jacuzzi right inside the room! 

Hong Kong Trip: Disneyland Resort

Choosing which place to visit between the Ocean Park or Disneyland when after you visiting Ngong Ping is easy. Disneyland is just a station away from Tung Chung station, then a disney train awaits you at the station. 

Another reason I choose Disneyland is that I want to find out how it differ to Universal Studios. The entrance fee is HKD 350. 

The resort is divided into four themed areas. Upon entering the gate, the Main street USA will be the first. Attractions included the City Hall that serves as the information and I guess the admin offices. Several restaurants and refreshments, and shop buildings completes the buildings lined along the main street. The buildings decor where identical to small town America in the late 1800s. An excursion-style steam train that encircle the resort has a station at the Main street and at Fantasyland.

Hong Kong Trip: Exploring Ngong Ping 360

 Just as I planned before coming to Hong Kong, exploring Ngong Ping 360 is the first on the itinerary. From the hotel where I billeted, I took an mtr from Chai Wan station of the Island (blue) line to Central station then transferred to Tung Chung (orange) line and alighted at the end of the line station Tung Chung. The Cable car terminal is adjacent to the mtr station but about a two minute walk from exit B of the station. The bus station is at the foot of the terminal too. I took the cable car, and the ride cost HKD275 two way.

Ngong Ping 360 is a main tourist attraction in Lantua Island. It consists of Ngong Ping Cable car ride experience, Ngong Ping Cultural Village, and home to Po Lin Monestery, and the Tian Tan Buddha.

My Trip to Hong Kong and Macau

Victoria Harbour

Like what I said in the preceding post, I treated myself for four days vacation trip to Hong Kong and Macau. I left Singapore in the afternoon of Saturday and supposed to arrived Hong Kong at around 8 in the evening but because of the airline re-timing, I arrived way past 10 in the evening at the Y-Loft Hotel where I was billeted for the duration of my trip. Because of that I decided to stay in the hotel for the night instead of the initial plan of a night tour at the Central district that include the famous Temple Street night market.

A Birthday Trip to Hong Kong

I have never been out of the country for months now, three months to be exact. So I decided to treat myself a birthday trip. I'll be going to Hong Kong, Macau, and hopefully Shenzhen this weekend. It sounds like a long vacation, but it's not since will cover only four days more or less. I'll be arriving Hong Kong in the evening of Saturday until late afternoon of Wednesday. I am not sure how much I can cover the number of places I want to see and check during these four days but I am pretty sure I can maximize my time. 

I have a hard time finding a hotel to stay in Hong Kong. It was only last night that I finally find one. I didn't realize that hotels in Hong Kong is quite expensive even those nice few budget hotels. Should I have known beforehand that this would be the case, I have had booked a room on the same day I booked the flight. Though I have already found two hotels with reasonable rates, I waited until a week before the departure that I decided  to book a room, so the result was that the rooms that I have selected were no longer available. So I have no recourse but to book an expensive hotel since I don't want to stay in the infamous hostels at Tsim Sha Tsui area. Though the hotel room is pricey but it is located beside a mtr station somewhere in Kowloon area. This is the most expensive hotel so far that i'll be staying. I hope that the room and the service will be proportionate to their rate.

During the trip I want the see the following attractions in Hong Kong; The Peak, Giant Buddha, Noah's Ark, either Ocean Park or DisneyLand, the Avenue of Stars for the Symphony of Lights, temple night market, all in two days! A day in Macau and another day in Shenzhen but it is only I still have time.

This trip is not on my task list this year, but what the heck :).

Exploring Palau Ubin Singapore

Last monday was a national holiday here in Singapore being Labor day falls on a sunday. So I took the opportunity to finally explore Palau Ubin located off the north eastern end part of Singapore. For a background, Palau Ubin is an interesting place to visit and explore since its present condition reflects a typical village in Singapore way back in the 1960's. 

The journey begins at the Changi Ferry Terminal where I took a bumboat for 2.50 sgd. The bumboat is allowed to carry 12 passengers only, if someone carry a bicycle that included in counting for the number of passengers. The boat ride is about 15 minutes. Upon alighting from the boat at the Ubin jetty and walk through towards the island, you will be directed to the island main center. Within the vicinity are shophouses, mostly bicycle rental shops and eating establishments. 

The Royal Wedding Live Stream Links

Source

There are a lot of channels and live broadcasts you can choose on for the wedding of Prince William and his fiancee Catherine Middleton. For those who are planning to watch it online, I am pretty sure by now you have already chosen which live streaming site you will going to watch and just waiting for the time to start.

But for those who are still clueless or still searching for the link to a live streaming site, here are some. 

Enjoy  commoners! :)

The Royal Channel

The BBC News Royal Wedding Live

Livestream