You won't survive in China if you don't know how to speak Mandarin, thanks to my friend, Dex, hehe. Here are some of the videos he made, nice edit!


The Best Peking Duck



Explore Beijing



Shanghai 1st Day



Dining out at Shangahai



Just Arrived at Beijing

We spent 2 nights on a train, from Shanghai to Beijing then the other way around.

The train ticket that we got from Shanghai to Beijing is just a seat ticket because all the sleeper tickets are sold out for that day, now I believe that you need to buy train tickets in advance in order to have a sleeper tickets. That's what been said on http://www.seat61.com Seat tickets are cheap ( 228RMB i think ) but not so comfortable ( literally, it was a pain in the ass! ) hehe, so we learned our lessons.

The moment we arrived in Beijing, we bought tickets going back to Shanghai for a soft sleeper tickets in advanced. It was great, nice bed, you have your own room, quite expensive ( 478 RMB for upper deck and 499 RMB for lower deck ) but all worth it. The food was great, an extra rice would only cost 1RMB ( cheaper than the price in Manila, hehe)


Subway is the cheapest and fastest form of transportation in Beijing, it only costs 2RMB, no matter what station you go or you will come from.

Watch our train video made by my friend:

Cebu Pacific flights going to Shanghai from Manila is usually during night time. ( if you have enough budget to take another airlines, please do so, i don't recommend this airline ). Arrival in Shanghai is around midnight, you can't expect to ride in Maglev train going to the city but taxi are always around.Taxi's flat rate is 11 RMB sometimes its 10.
If you plan to go to Beijing by train on next day, there is a small chance for you to buy a sleeper train ticket since tickets are already on sold for 10 days in advance before the day of departure. If you prefer to travel on your own, here is our own itinerary:



Day 1 - Shanghai
9:30PM - Depart from Manila
12:15AM - Arrive in Shanghai
1:00 AM - Stay on our friend's house ( 30 minutes ride from Pudong Airport)
2:00 AM - Party @ Windows Bar in Shanghai
5:30 AM - Breakfast @ City Diner
6:00 AM - Go home to sleep
10:00 AM - Wake Up call, buy tickets going to Beijing
11AM - 5PM - Roam around Shanghai
6:00 PM - Go to Shanghai Railway Station near People'S Square
7:30 PM - Train departs from Shanghai ( 11 hrs of travel going to Beijing) 228RMB for seat train tickets ( sleeper tickets are soldout ). Go to seat61.com to read more of train details.

The rest... spend a night on the train ( pain in the butt! )



Day 2 - Beijing

7:30 AM - Arrive in Beijing, go straight hostel, we stayed at Leo Hostel. Twin bedroom is worth 260 RMB, there are dorm rates that are much cheaper but with shared bathroom.
10:00 AM - Buy tickets going back to Shanghai for the next day ( RMB 499
for the soft sleeper train, this is recommended ) Eat breakfast
11:00 AM - 6PM - You can go to Forbidden City, Shanghai Museum, Beijing Olympic Statdium, walk around Quianmen Road

Entrance Fees:
Forbidden City - 40 RMB
Beijing Olympic Stadium - 50 RMB - its just a ticket to go see the stadium, there arent any games for you to watch.





7PM - Dinner, we tried a Pecking duck worth 90RMB ( single serving only )
9PM - Party at bar, goodluck if you can find english music, hope you'll enjoy.
12AM - Go home. Lights out.


Day 3 - Still in Beijing



6:00 AM - Wake Up Call
7:00 AM - Leave hotel and go on a tour to Great Wall ( 2 hours ride going to Mutianyu )( 260 RMB for the tour which includes transportaion only and no guide, that's the hotel rate, pretty expensive, entrance fee is included )
9:00 AM - Arrive on Great Wall.


9 - 12PM - Walk walk walk on Great Wall ( worth 56 RMB including cable car going up and tobogan slide going down the mountain, pretty fun! )
2:00 PM - Back to hostel.
3PM - 6PM - Watch dvd in hostel, hehe, we watched Borat although ive already seen it.
7PM - Back to Beijing Railway Station. Spend a night again on the train but we have the soft sleeper train, the food is great on the train restaurant.

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• March 2005 , PALAWAN

Day 4 - Back to Shanghai
7:00 AM - Arrive in Shanghai again
8:00 AM - Check in to the affiliate hostel of Leo Hostel which is Mingtown Etour Youth Hostel,

better room than Leo with same rate on twin room ( 260 RMB a night with private bathroom)
9AM-6PM - Shanghai Zoo to see a panda, walked around the city
8PM - Dinner with friends staying in Shanghai
9PM - Bar hopping ( 2 bars only, hehe ) We went to The Shelter and then back to Window's bar with Filipino waitresses.
4AM - Go home.Lights out.



Day 5: Still in Shanghai


12PM - Check out hostel but we still left our luggage.
12-5PM - walked around the city ( Nanjing Road, Pearl Tower, The Bund Grand Raffles Mall )
6PM - Picked up our luggage in hostel, had rest for a while
730PM - Back to our friend's house. Packed our things.
10PM - Arrived in Pudong Airport, terminal 2 if youre on Cebu Pacific


Day 6: Manila, Philippines
4AM - Back to Manila! whew!

Who's afraid to go to Siquijor? If you are, this pictures might change your mind...

How to go there:

From Manila, take a flight going to Dumaguete.
From Dumaguete airport, take a tricycle (P10 fare each person) going to Pier near Siliman University.

Take ferry going to Siquijor. Schedule of ferry from Dumaguete to Siquijor are 6AM, 10AM and 2PM. The first trip of ferry going back to Dumaguete is 6AM, you can still catch the plane if you have booked a 830AM flight of Cebu Pacific going back to Manila.

You can contact the mobile number of the tricycle driver who helped us find a place: 09276932095.
He took us on a Japanese style resort, we took a 2-storey cottage with terrace, bath tub, hot water, tv worth P3000.00 a night, good for 6 persons but we're 10, it was a very nice resort.



You won't regret the white sand beach ( same quality as you see in Boracay and Palawan). Perfect place to relax but not to party. You can roam the whole island in just one day, you can go to their tourist spots.

LAGO DE ORO is situated 115 kms South West of Manila on the shore of South China Sea and on Zobel highway just 2 hours drive from Makati.


FACILITIES

• 38 Hotel Rooms Restaurant
• Swimming Pool Beach
• Sauna Bath / spa bath Mini Sheep Farm
• Helicopter Landing Pad Oyster Farm
• Cable Ski Park

THINGS TO DO

• Waterskiing / wakeboarding
• Swimming ( Beach or Pool )
• Snorkeling / Diving
• Fishing in the Sea
• Boating or rent floating bamboo
• Billiards / table tennis

TIME TICKETS: ( as of August 2008)

• 1 Hour 485.00
• Morning Session 990.00
• Afternoon Session 990.00
• AM &PM Session 1525.00

LEARN TO SKI

Beginners Ticket 530.00

Prices include Ski Equipment and Life Jackets


Monday to Sunday
9:30 AM to 12:30 noon
1:30 PM to 4:30 PM

EARLY OPENING OR LATE CLOSING
Any guest requesting early opening / late closing can be arranged.


WATER SKI PROMO
Php 2100.00 per person

Includes:

• 1 Night Accomodation
• 1 whole day pr 2 half days ticket skiing
• 3 rice toppings with juice

Please note that they only have 4 hotel rooms per day alloted at this promo.


Telephone: +63917-504-2685
+63926-710-4754




RELATED LINKS:

• Wakeboarding in Bicol (CWC )

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• Best of Mt. Pinatubo Photos
• December 2005.MT PULAG, BENGUET
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• March 2005 , PALAWAN

Fed up with your teen whining on a family holiday? Here are some tips:

1. Involve them in the planning. Make sure there are one or two activities that appeal to their age.

2. Give them important tasks, such as mapping the route or researching the local attractions on the net.

3. Pick a destination that caters for all tastes or one that offers a new experience for the whole family.

4. Teens value their independence, so discuss curfews and limits before you leave. It may help clear the air.

5. Bring one of their friends along - if you can afford it.

• Best of Mt. Pinatubo Photos
• December 2005.MT PULAG, BENGUET
• Kota - Kinabalu ITINERARY
• Jan 2006 - MT KINABALU, MALAYSIA and BRUNEI
• March 2005 , PALAWAN

A trek through the Langtang region will take you to 4,700 meters (15,419 feet) with excellent views of both the Annapurna region to the west and the Makalu region to the east. The trek also passes by Buddhist monasteries and a nature reserve renowned for animal viewing.

Perhaps the best thing about the 14-day trek is that it begins near, or even in, Kathmandu. This makes it very easy to organize and is an excellent option for those pressed for time or looking for an easy introduction to trekking in Nepal.




Nestled in the Khumbu region, home to Sherpa and Tibetan Buddhist cultures, there are many reasons to visit this area of Nepal besides getting a glimpse of Chomolungma, as Everest is known to the people who live around her.
Treks in the Khumbu typically range from 17 to 25 days, depending on the route. Though it was once popular to begin treks into the Khumbu from just outside Kathmandu, heavy Maoist activity in these areas has forced most trekkers to fly to Lukla, which sits at 2,680 meters (9,380 feet).

From Lukla, most trekkers head straight for Namche Bazaar and then on to Gorek Shep, a small town that provides unparalleled views of Mt. Everest. Going all the way to Everest base camp or making the route a loop by visiting the Gokyo Lakes (highly recommended) will both add days to the trip.


More Links:

• Best of Mt. Pinatubo Photos
• December 2005.MT PULAG, BENGUET
• Kota - Kinabalu ITINERARY
• Jan 2006 - MT KINABALU, MALAYSIA and BRUNEI
• March 2005 , PALAWAN

The major trek in the west of Nepal is the Annapurna circuit. Reaching a height of 5,300 meters (17,388 feet), the circuit spends traverses the incredible mountains and glaciers of the Annapurna Conservation Area.

The circuit takes between 16 and 20 days from Pokhara, Nepal’s third largest city. Though the elevations are just as high as in Khumbu, the Annapurna Circuit begins near sea level and allows more time for gentle acclimatization.

The Annapurna circuit is popular because it allows trekkers to pass through diverse terrain, from jungle to high alpine, and passes through a region dominated by Tibetan Buddhist culture. At one point, trekkers even have the opportunity to look into the heavily restricted Mustang Region, which extends all the way into Tibet itself.




The Annapurna circuit itself does not actually go to the common base camp of Annapurna. It is the Annapurna Sanctuary trek, which also begins from Pokhara, that leads to the base of this impressive 8,091 meter (26,545 feet) mountain.


The trek takes between eight and ten days, round trip from Pokhara, and can be a real trial for the unacclimatized. The base camp, at 4,157 meters (13,638 feet), can also be reached as an extension from the Annapurna Circuit.

At the edge of the base camp is the memorial to Anatoli Boukreev. Boukreev, one of the world’s great mountaineers, was killed in an avalanche on the peak in 1997. For lovers of mountains and mountain lore, the experience is moving, to say the least.




If you are looking for something a bit more remote and much less traveled, the trek to the base camp of Mt. Kangchenjunga (8,586 meters, 28,169 feet) may be just the thing.

It is best to plan at least 20 days to reach the base camp of the world’s third highest peak and return. Unlike the other treks on this list, the amenities on the Mt. Kangchenjunga route will be basic. While a tent is not required, expect meals of daal (lentils), rice, chapati (an unleavened bread), and the occasional vegetable curry.


Well off the beaten path, the Kanchenjunga Circuit is a great way to spend time with local Nepali people far away from the hordes of other trekkers who flood more popular treks in peak seasons. For more information on the Mt. Kanchenjunga Circuit, check out Andris Bjornson’s excellent guide at Matador Trips.

Author: David DeFranza

The Terracotta Army are the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Shi Huang Di the First Emperor of China. The terracotta figures, dating from 210 BC, were discovered in 1974 by several local farmers near Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China near the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor The terracotta figures were manufactured both in workshops by government laborers and also by local craftsmen. The head, arms, legs and torsos were created separately and then assembled. Studies show that eight face moulds were most likely used and then the clay was added to give them individual facial features.Once assembled the intricate features such as facial expressions were added. It is believed that their legs were made in much the same way that terracotta drainage pipes were manufactured at the time. This would make it an assembly line style of production, with specific parts manufactured and assembled after being fired as opposed to crafting one solid piece of terracotta and subsequently firing it. In those days, each workshop was required to inscribe its name on items produced so as to ensure quality control; this has aided modern day historians in verifying that workshops that once made tiles and other every day items were commandeered to work on the terracotta army. Upon completion, the terracotta figures were placed in the pits outlined above in precise military formation according to rank and duty.

The terracotta figures are life-like and life-sized. They vary in height, uniform and hairstyle in accordance with rank. The colored lacquer finish, individual facial features, and replica weapons and armor used in manufacturing these figures created a realistic appearance. The original weapons were stolen shortly after the creation of the army and the coloring has faded greatly. However, their existence serves as a testament to the amount of labour and skill involved in their construction. It is also a confirmation of the power the First Emperor possessed that enabled him to command such a monumental undertaking as this army's manufacture.The terracotta figures were manufactured both in workshops by government laborers and also by local craftsmen. The head, arms, legs and torsos were created separately and then assembled. Studies show that eight face moulds were most likely used and then the clay was added to give them individual facial features. Once assembled the intricate features such as facial expressions were added. It is believed that their legs were made in much the same way that terracotta drainage pipes were manufactured at the time. This would make it an assembly line style of production, with specific parts manufactured and assembled after being fired as opposed to crafting one solid piece of terracotta and subsequently firing it. In those days, each workshop was required to inscribe its name on items produced so as to ensure quality control; this has aided modern day historians in verifying that workshops that once made tiles and other every day items were commandeered to work on the terracotta army. Upon completion, the terracotta figures were placed in the pits outlined above in precise military formation according to rank and duty.

The terracotta figures are life-like and life-sized. They vary in height, uniform and hairstyle in accordance with rank. The colored lacquer finish, individual facial features, and replica weapons and armor used in manufacturing these figures created a realistic appearance. The original weapons were stolen shortly after the creation of the army and the coloring has faded greatly. However, their existence serves as a testament to the amount of labour and skill involved in their construction. It is also a confirmation of the power the First Emperor possessed that enabled him to command such a monumental undertaking as this army's manufacture.

Source: Wiki

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NASUGBU, BATANGAS. It was a first time that Mapua Mountaineering Club ( MITMC ) had organized an orienteering competition. This was held in Caleruaga near Mt. Batulao and Evercrest last July 13, 2008. We wanna thank Mr. Bobby Relos for all his hardwork in making this event possible and of course that includes all the sponsors, MITMC alumni and members who also had devoted their time for this event.

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http://forexpinoy.blogspot.com