Philippine Airlines Promo: 12 Cities. 7 Weeks. Unlimited Travel. Only with FLY ASIA PASS!

N.B. Updated with FAQs from the PAL website.


      I am quite baffled by this one, but it is a good deal if you're planning to visit all these countries listed here.  You'll just have to pay USD 270 for your FLY ASIA PASS and exchange them for tickets within two weeks.  The catch?  It is not inclusive of taxes and surcharges and you must complete your travel within seven weeks from day of first departure.  Travelling period is from 15 August to 30 December 2011 (outbound) and up to 10 December 2011 for inbound flights.  So, if you're intending to fly to Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong and Taiwan, your itinerary and fares will look like this:

Manila to Shanghai to Manila     -     USD 164.00 (Surcharges and Taxes)

Manila to Beijing to Manila        -     USD 164.00 (S/T)

Manila to Hong Kong to Manila-     USD 109.40 (S/T)

Manila to Taipei to Manila        -     USD 100.40 (S/T)

                        TOTAL (S/T)  -     USD 537.80 (S/T)

                            FLY ASIA FARE -     USD 270.00


      S/T Plus Fly Asia Fare TOTAL-     USD 807.80 (Fare/S/T)                                                                    
                                                                Exclusive of Philippine Travel Tax 
                                                                Php 1620 and Airport Fee
                                                                of Php 200 per route/per departure 
                                                                from the Philippines


     So, let's compare it with an ordinary PAL transaction for the following routes:

         Manila to Shanghai to Manila     -     USD 314.00 (Fare/S/T)
        Travel Dates: 16 Sept to 20 Sept

Manila to Beijing to Manila        -     USD 324.00 (Fare/S/T)

Travel Dates: 23 Sept to 27 Sept

Manila to Hong Kong to Manila-     USD 191.40 (Fare/S/T)

         Travel Dates: 08 Oct to 11 Oct

Manila to Taipei to Manila        -     USD 198.40 (Fare/S/T) 

Travel Dates: 28 Oct to 31 Oct

                        TOTAL          -     USD 1,027.80 (Fare/S/T)

      S/T Plus Fly Asia Fare TOTAL-     USD 807.80 (Fare/S/T)                                                                      

                                                               

     You get to save at least USD 200.00 on fares; it'll be greater if you go to more cities in the program.  But I think this only works for those who can afford to travel around Asia within a seven-week period.  You really save some dollars for your fares, taxes and surcharges, but what about for your accommodations, Philippine and airport travel taxes?  Yup, you'll have to shell out a lot of money.  And, I've tried booking for the Fly Asia promo, and the dates are almost always sold out.  Oh well...

 04 August 2011 Update:


     Since PAL made some tweaks to their promo mechanics, I'll need to make updates, too.  Before, it was pretty hazy as to how you'd avail of the promo.  I mean, PAL didn't say that you can book one way tickets to a certain country and return to the Philippines from another country covered by their promo.  So, if you're going to Hong Kong, you can link your stay to Macau and depart from there going back to Manila.  The same goes true with Shanghai and Beijing. However, it would entail a rather long journey from Shanghai to Beijing.  It is about 12 to 14 hours by sleeper train, or less than 6 hours by bullet train.  The bullet train costs about RMB 555 one-way but the line has been besieged by glitches over the past few weeks.

     Still, for most of their flights, you have to return to the Philippines and depart from there to your next destination.

UPDATES: FAQs

What is the advantage in buying Fly Asia Pass?
“Fly Asia Pass” promo allows travel aficionados to fly as much as they can in the key cities in Asia. 
 
Where can I fly with Fly Asia Pass?
You may fly unlimited round-trip to Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Macau, Saigon, Shanghai, Singapore, and Taipei from Manila. In addition, Fly Asia Pass holders may also fly unlimited between Manila and Cebu or Davao. 
 
Can I fly to the same city multiple times?
Yes. 
 
Can I fly itineraries with open-jaw, circle trip, multi-trip or one-way?
Fly Asia Pass is designed for unlimited round-trip travel to cities in Asia originating Manila, plus unlimited one-way or round-trip between Manila and Cebu or Davao. Open-jaw is permitted provided the origin and arriving city is Manila, e.g. outbound flight is Manila-Hong Kong and return flight is Macau-Manila. 
 
Can I originate from a domestic point other than Manila, Cebu or Davao?
No. 
 
Can my itinerary originate from a city in Asia going to Manila, Cebu or Davao?
No. Regional flights must originate Manila. Domestic flights can be Manila-Cebu/Davao or vice versa. 
 
When can I travel using my Fly Asia Pass? 
Outbound travel is from August 15 to November 30. All travel must completed by December 10. The last ticket must be flown within 7 weeks from the first travel or December 10, 2011 whichever comes first. Example: If your first travel is on September 1, 2011 the last outbound travel that you can make is on or before October 17, 2011. 
 
Where and when is Fly Asia Pass available for sale?
Fly Asia Pass is available for sale through PAL accredited travel agencies, ticket offices and contact center in the Philippines until August 7, 2011. You may also buy the Pass through www.philippineairlines.com. 
 
Is Fly Asia Pass all I need to make my trips?
Fly Asia Pass is not valid for passage. After purchasing Fly Asia Pass, you must exchange it with flight tickets that you will use for your trip.  (See 'Exchanging Fly Asia Pass for Flight Tickets' below for more details.) 
 
How much is Fly Asia Pass?
Fiesta Class (Economy) is USD270 while Mabuhay Class (Business) is USD1,070. Each pass is good for one person.   Fares are exclusive of government taxes, fees and surcharges.   
Can I transfer my Fly Asia Pass to other person?
No. Fly Asia Pass is non-transferable. Name change is not permitted. 
 
PURCHASING FLY ASIA PASS 
 
How do I buy my Fly Asia Pass?
You may visit any of PAL ticket offices or accredited travel agencies in the Philippines. Fly Asia Pass is also available through PAL Contact Center (02)855-8888 or online at www.philippineairlines.com. 
 
How do I purchase Fly Asia Pass online?
Buying Fly Asia Pass online is similar to purchasing regular ticket. Book one-way Manila-Fly Asia Pass on PR360/01Sep. This special flight number holds the inventory for Fly Asia Pass and does not reflect actual travel date. 
 
What forms of payment are accepted?
PAL ticket offices accept cash, invoice and credit card payments.
Travel agencies accept cash; credit card facility may or may not be available.
Contact center and online can only process Visa and MasterCard cards. 
 
What is included in the Fly Asia Pass?
The $270 (Fiesta Class) and $1,070 only cover air travel. Customers will have to pay the applicable surcharges, government taxes and Philippine Travel Tax for every ticket redeemed. Visit www.philippineairlines.com/flyasiapass for the applicable surcharges and government taxes.
Note:  Airport terminal fees are PHP750 for international departures and PHP200 for local/domestic departures. These fees will be collected at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Centennial Terminal 2).

Can I buy Fly Asia Pass for someone else?
Yes. Please note that flight tickets can be exchanged only under his/her name.  
 
EXCHANGING FLY PASS PASS FOR FLIGHT TICKETS 
 
Where can I exchange my Fly Asia Pass for flight tickets?
You may exchange your Fly Asia Pass with flight tickets at any PAL ticket office in the Philippines or by calling (02)855-8888 in Manila. 
 
When should I exchange my Fly Asia Pass for flight tickets?
You must exchange it for flight tickets within two (2) weeks of Fly Asia Pass Purchase. 
 
Can I exchange the Fly Asia Pass for flight tickets on the same day of Fly Asia Pass purchase?
Yes. If you have the final itinerary, you may exchange it on the same day of Fly Asia Pass purchase. 
 
Can I exchange the Fly Asia Pass for flight tickets online?
Fly Pass Asia may be purchased online but Fly Asia Pass can only be exchanged for flight tickets through the PAL ticket offices or call center. 
  
 
CANCELLATION OF FLY ASIA PASS AND CHANGES IN FLIGHT TICKETS 
 
Can I refund my Fly Asia Pass?
Yes. Unused Fly Asia Pass is refundable subject to USD50 refund service fee. 'Unused' means it is not exchanged for flight tickets. 
 
Can refund my flight tickets?
All flight tickets must be unused to qualify for refund. Refund is subject to USD150 refund service fee. All flight tickets become non-refundable after use of the first coupon. 
 
Am I allowed to rebook my flights?
Yes, you are permitted to rebook your flights only within the same travel period subject to rebooking fees:
- International: USD50 per transaction
- Domestic: PHP600 per sector plus VAT 
 
Can I change/reroute my flight tickets?
Yes. You may only reroute existing flight tickets subject to applicable fees but the number of tickets issue shall remain the same. Example: Exchange Manila-Hong Kong-Manila with Manila-Singapore-Manila. 
 
Am I allowed to add or insert another destination after exchanging my Fly Asia Pass for flight tickets?
No destination can be added after the Fly Asia Pass has been exchanged. 
 
What should i do if I wish to cancel my flight?
You must cancel you booking by calling (02)855-8888 in Manila at least 24 hours before you departure to avoid no show fee. You may rebook your flight ticket at a later date subject to rebooking fees. 
 
What happens if PAL cancels the flight due to weather or operational reasons?
Fly Asia Pass passengers enjoy the same benefits as the regular passengers, i.e. they will be accommodated on the next available flight.

     For those interested, here are the details of the Fly Asia Pass program from the PAL website:


N.B.  PAL tweaked/updated their mechanics.  I've highlighted the new details:

Fly Asia Pass Enjoy seven weeks of unlimited travel to select cities in Asia from Cebu, Davao and Manila from August 15 to November 30, 2011 with Fly Asia Pass. Fly Asia Pass offers best value for multiple  business and leisure travel.

• 3 domestic origins; 9 regional destinations



• Unlimited travel for only $270 on Fiesta Class or $1,070 on Mabuhay Class


• Fly to and return from different cities, e.g. fly Manila-Hong Kong and return Macau-Manila


• Special add-on fares to other international points


• Travel in comfort and style with Philippine Airlines

Fly Asia Pass Selling Period: 29  July - 07 August 2011  

Fly Asia Pass must be redeemed and converted into flight tickets within two (2) weeks from its purchase for the same passenger only. All tickets must be redeemed in one transaction.
Travelling Period: 15 August - 30 November 2011 (outbound travel). All travel must be completed by 10 December 2011.

 Book FLY ASIA PASS now!
 Read Frequently Asked Questions

To book online, search for one-way Manila-Fly Asia Pass for 01September* travel and indicate the desired number of passenger using the SEARCH box located on the left of this page. (*This is not the actual travel date.  You shall exchange your Fly Asia Pass with flight tickets of the chosen Asian cities.)

Notes:
Fares are exclusive of government taxes, fees and surcharges. 
The All Asia pass is exclusive of hotel accommodations. 
Passenger shall be responsible for arranging his/her hotel, transfers, land & sea accommodations and securing valid travel documents. 

You may exchange your FLY ASIA PASS with any combination of routes specified below. Also, refer to the table for the applicable surcharges and estimated taxes EXCLUSIVE of Philippine Travel Tax and airport terminal fee for Mabuhay and Fiesta class to be paid upon the issuance of the tickets:

Regional Routes

Routes	Fare	Surcharges in USD	Est. Taxes in USD	Total in USD
Manila-Hong Kong-Manila	FREE	90.00	19.40	109.40
Manila-Macau-Manila		90.00	13.70	103.70
Manila-Taipei-Manila		90.00	10.40	100.40
Manila-Singapore-Manila		150.00	23.20	173.20
Manila-Bangkok-Manila		150.00	23.60	173.60
Manila- Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)-Manila		150.00	18.00	168.00
Manila-Jakarta-Manila		170.00	20.00	190.00
Manila-Beijing-Manila		150.00	14.00	164.00
Manila-Shanghai-Manila		150.00	14.00	164.00

Above amounts are subject to change due to conversion rates. 

Domestic Routes  

Routes	Fare	Surcharges	ASF1	TSC2	VAT	Total in PHP
Manila-Cebu-Manila or Cebu-Manila-Cebu	FREE	500.00	15.00	50.00	68.00	633.00
Manila-Davao-Manila or Davao-Manila-Davao		700.00	15.00	50.00	92.00	857.00

¹ Aviation Security Fee
2 Ticketing Service Charge


Book and buy through www.philippineairlines.com using MasterCard or VISA credit card. Or, purchase tickets at any PAL ticket office and travel agents or call our reservations office at tel. no. (632) 855-8888.


When redeeming your tickets for unlimited travel, enjoy Zero% installment by using your Allied Bank or PNB Credit Card to pay for the applicable surcahrges and taxes. 


Travel Conditions:
Application:

• Valid for sales in the Philippines and internet 



• Valid for travel seven weeks (7 weeks) from first travel date or until 10 December 2011 whichever comes first. Passenger can visit same city more than once


• Passengers who availed of the Fly Asia pass are entitled to purchase the Special Roundtrip Add-on fares to U.S.A. & Canada, Australia, Delhi, Japan and Korea after the 1st FAP sector/ticket is flown.  

ADD-ON FARES available on Fiesta and Mabuhay class:

Fiesta (Economy) Class

Routes	Add-on Fares in USD	Surcharges in USD	Est. Taxes in USD	Total Fare in USD
Manila-Las Vegas/ Los Angeles/ San Francisco -Manila	570.00*	400.00		970.00*
Manila-Vancouver-Manila		400.00	45.10	1,015.10
Manila-Honolulu-Manila	370.00*	310.00		680.00*
Manila-Sydney-Manila	370.00	300.00	105.80	775.80
Manila-Melbourne-Manila		300.00	86.10	756.10
Manila-Delhi-Manila		320.00	5.70	695.70
Manila-Tokyo-Manila	270.00	150.00	32.50	452.50
Manila-Nagoya-Manila		150.00	31.90	451.90
Manila-Fukuoka-Manila		150.00	12.10	432.10
Manila-Osaka-Manila		150.00	33.80	453.80
Manila-Seoul-Manila	300.00	150.00	26.60	476.60
Cebu-Seoul-Cebu		150.00	26.60	476.60
Manila-Pusan-Manila		150.00	21.90	471.90

Mabuhay(Business) Class

Routes	Add-on Fares in USD	Surcharges in USD	Est. Taxes in USD	Total Fare in USD
Manila-Los Angeles/ San Francisco -Manila	2,670.00*	400.00		3,070.00*
Manila-Las Vegas-Manila	2,370.00*	400.00		2,770.00*
Manila-Vancouver-Manila	2,370.00	400.00	45.10	2,815.10
Manila-Honolulu-Manila	1,270.00*	310.00		1,580.00*
Manila-Sydney-Manila	1,470.00	300.00	105.80	1,875.80
Manila-Melbourne-Manila		300.00	86.10	1,856.10
Manila-Delhi-Manila	1,270.00	320.00	5.70	1,595.70
Manila-Tokyo-Manila	770.00	150.00	32.50	952.50
Manila-Nagoya-Manila		150.00	31.90	951.90
Manila-Fukuoka-Manila		150.00	12.10	932.10
Manila-Osaka-Manila		150.00	33.80	953.80
Manila-Seoul-Manila	770.00	150.00	26.60	946.60
Cebu-Seoul-Cebu		150.00	26.60	946.60
Manila-Pusan-Manila		150.00	21.90	941.90

*For travel between Manila and USA, fare do not include USD 24.50 U.S. Government Taxes and Fees including the September 11th Security Fee
Notes:
-Above ADD-on fares are inclusive of government taxes and surcharges EXCEPT Philippine Travel Tax and airport terminal fee.
-Travel period for the special add-on rates shall be the same as the FAP.  Subject to seat availability.
-For passengers who purchased the fiesta Fly Asia Pass and would like to upgrade the converted tickets to Mabuhay class, an upgrade surcharge of USD300/RT for each selected sector/s shall be assessed.

Reservation, Payment and Ticketing:

• Fly Asia Pass (FAP) must be converted into tickets no later than two weeks (2 weeks) after payment.  This is valid for one-time ticket issuance only. 



• Unconverted FAP tickets are refundable subject to USD50 refund service fee.  


• All destination cities selected must be finalized and confirmed before ticket issuance. 


• Ticketing must be completed within 48 hours after confirmed reservations are made. 


• Individual tickets will be issued per itinerary for tickets issued in the PAL ticket offices.


• Extension of validity is not permitted.


• Unlimited transfers in Manila is permitted.  Stop-over is permitted in Manila.

Changes/Refunds

• Changes are permitted  (only within the travel period)
  • International - USD50 per transaction. 
  • Domestic – PHP600 per sector  plus VAT



• No-show surcharge shall be applied based on existing policy.


• Rerouting is permitted provided value is equal or higher than the original value paid.  Rerouting from international to domestic or vv is not permitted. 


• Refunds:
  Before Departure: permitted at USD150.  All tickets issued must be presented for refund on or before 30 November 2011 only.
  After Departure: fare and surcharges are non-refundable.  All unused tickets must be presented for refund for Government taxes.
  Note: Even only one sector has been utilized, fare and surcharges are non-refundable.     Government taxes are refundable subject to the current general service fee.

Other Discounts

• Child/Infant discounts
  Child’s fare: 100% of the adult’s fare
  Infant’s fare: 50% of the adult’s fare

Others

• Mileage accrual applies


• Passports must be presented when purchasing the FAP as well as when tickets are issued

A Short Weekend in Subic, Philippines - Part I

     I had a sudden official leave Friday last week.  My superior asked me to attend a seminar in Subic in his stead late Thursday.  The seminar was to start at *gasp* 8:00 a.m. that coming Friday.  From Manila, Subic is about 3.5 hours to 4 hours away by public transportation (bus) on the regular route, or 2 hours by car or by bus via SCTEX.  That would mean I have to wake up really early to be on time, and to make sure that I would not be late, I was chauffeured to Subic.  I still had to wake up by 3:00 a.m. to prepare for an overnight stay in Subic.  So, yay.

     I have been to Subic for like 5 times already but it was my first time to go there via SCTEX.  I was so amazed.  The view is just lovely.  There was a mountain range that I did not know existed, the sky was clear and the view was just picturesque.  The most fun parts of SCTEX were the mountainous/hilly areas which were cut through the middle to pave for the highway. 

     Here are some of my SCTEX pictures:

This path carved in the center of a mountain reminds me of the parting of the red sea.

Taiwan Adventure: Day 1 - Taipei 101

MRT CITY HALL STATION and TAIPEI 101

  

     The Longshan Temple and the Taipei 101 are accessible via the MRT on the blue line, hence, I did not change trains going to Taipei 101 from Longshan Temple.  After alighting from the train, I asked the Information where the shuttle buses for Taipei 101 pick-up passengers.  I saw the place all right, but it was only 10:00 in the morning and there were no shuttle buses yet so I just walked to Taipei 101.

     Along the way, my eyes feasted on the beautiful commercial buildings, the wide, empty streets (it was a Saturday), and the peaceful and extremely sunny skies.  On the downside, it was very hot and humid and even my umbrella couldn't offer me enough shade.  Nonetheless, I had a great time walking around the area.

     I passed by the Discovery Center of Taipei and there were a lot  of preschool-aged kids on a field trip and who seemed to be waiting to get inside.  The kids were so adorable in their white and blue shirt and shorts with their baseball caps.  Too bad I didn't take their pictures.  

   

     After a long walk, I finally reached Taipei 101 but the mall was still closed and I had to wait for it to open.  When it finally did, I proceeded to the food court to eat and to savor the airconditioning.  The food court was small but the varieties offered were great.  I rounded up the area twice before deciding where to dine.  IMy lunch was tasty and the meal I chose could have fed two persons, so unfortunately, I wasn't able to consume it all.  And oh, I was so amused by the colorful receipts issued to me with the Taipei 101 logo at the end.

     I then proceeded to the ticketing counter for the observatory but I realized that I only have around NTD 600.00 with me as I haven't exchanged my dollars yet.  I searched for a money changer but decided not to exchange my money.  There was a transaction charge of NTD 200.00, and that was way too high.  So, I skipped the observatory; I was afraid of heights anyway and I didn't want to go there by myself.

     With nothing much to do, I made an exit towards New York, New York.  But it was already in the middle of the day and the sun was scorching hot. I was tired and I wanted to take a bath, so I went back to Taipei 101 to catch a shuttle bus going back to the MRT station.  I promised myself that I'd go back  there before I leave for Manila.  I wasn't able to go back, though.  It was raining hard the last day I was in Taiwan.

       

     My lunch: pork cutlet with vegetable side dish, meat and fish ball soup and a refreshing lemon drink.  Good thing I asked the hotel concierge to translate "I'm allergic to shellfish/seafood," for me in my notebook.  The server changed my soup when she read it.  Apparently, there were squid balls in my soup.

 

Bicycles and taxi cabs neatly lined

Wide, almost empty streets

Taipei 101 and the blue sky

Thoughts: Busy, Busy, Busy!

     Since I returned from Singapore two weeks ago, I've been busy with work.  Really, no joke.  Well, I admit I was sort of lazy, too, but my continued failure to wrap-up my Taiwan travel adventures to make way for my Singapore adventures, is mainly due to my busy professional life.  Yes, I have a job.  

     I've rechecked my list of things to write about in my mind and I have yet to finish my Travel in Taipei, Follow Me experience which includes an impromptu Taiwanese food binge and hanging out on a Sunday afternoon like a local.  Also, I still have stories about my Monga (a popular Taiwanese film starring Mark Zhao and Ethan Ruan) filming location hunting and my unlikely rendezvous with Gundam!  Gundam?!  Yes, Gundam!

       And oh yeah, I also went to Beitou to indulge in a private hot springs bath just before I headed off to the airport.  See?  There's still a lot to write about.  So I'll try to finish my Taiwan travel stories before the end of July, hopefully.

     So, please bear with me.  Till my next post!

Taiwan Travel Adventures 2011 - Day 3: Danshui Joyful Life Tour

  

     This is the first tour lined up for the day.  I was supposed to meet my guide, Ms. Alice, at the Danshui MRT station at 8:00 a.m. and I just made it in time though I thought I was going to be late.  When I got there, Ms. Alice introduced me to another guide, Ms. Annick.  I was surprised to have two guides for the day.  I guess I was just lucky!

     We spared no time and then we headed off to the bus station to catch bus R26 going to Fort San Domingo.  I bought a Taipei one-day tourist pass, and what do you know?  The bus we rode doesn't accept payment from the pass so I had to pay coins.  I offered to pay the fare for my guides by they politely declined and told me they're supposed to pay for their own.

     Once we got to the Fort, we learned it was still closed and will not open until mid-morning.  A kind lady who works for the Fort told us so, and we asked her where to get some breakfast because we're all hungry.  We were told that there are a lot of eateries at the other side of the Aletheia University and so, we went to find those eateries.

     Well, we entered Aletheia University and it seems as if school's out because there were no students milling around.  It was a school holiday, I think.  The school grounds are well-maintained and it's quite a walk from end to end.  It was tiring to walk under the sun but the tree-lined campus grounds made up for it; the school's definitely pretty.

     When we reached the other side of the university, we tried to find an open eatery, and we were lucky!  My guides told me that there are always cheap but delicious food near campuses.  Yup, they're right and it is true in Taiwan as it is true in the Philippines, too!  But little did I know that my venture into finding something to eat will continue until dinner time.  Yes, my tour became a culinary tour of Taipei. Lol!

     So, for breakfast, since I could not understand the menu at all, Ms. Annick and Ms. Alice translated it for me.  We were given a piece of paper and we had to tick the items we want.  They ordered for me and it was egg-based, like an omelet, but more of a spring roll with egg and ham.  It was sort of heavy. I saw people eating it, so I wanted to eat those, too.

     After having some light snacks, we went back to the Fort and passed through the University again.  Outside, we saw a red, foreign looking bus with a of caucasian models shooting a beer commercial.  Lucky!  We pretended that we were not interested at all with the shooting but I managed to snap a couple of shots.

     Finally, we arrived at the Fort San Domingo.  It's on a steep hill, mind you, but an easy climb nonetheless. It's harder to walk going towards the University because it is steeper.  The Fort is one of the best places to view Danshui and the sunset.  There's even a marker telling visitors where to stand for picture taking to get the best panorama.  Cool, right?

     When we got into the Fort, we followed a Chinese-speaking guide and my tour guides translated the history of the Fort for me.  Apparently, it was called Hongmao Castle because the Dutch had red hair.  We toured the Fort and went to see the prison where we saw a rather large group of caucasian tourists with an English-speaking Taiwanese guide and  followed them around.  The guide had an American accent and for the rest of the tour, we stuck around with their group.  It appears that if you're in a large group, you can arrange for an English tour of Fort San Domingo with their administration office.

The guide from the Fort San Domingo office (in red),

has an American accent.  He's explaining about the prisons at the Fort

(the red walls on the middle of the room).

 This is where the prisoners used to stretch their legs.

Their own little corner of sunshine.

View of the mountain and river.

The Fort became an office for the British Consul.  And from the Fort,

you can see the house of the consul.

The Consul's residence. 

Canadian Exhibit at the  Consul's residence.

     While on the tour, we saw some stamps and stamp pads.  Apparently, we can collect stamp marks from the stamp stations not only at the Fort but also from other tourist attractions.  It's a great idea.  I had so much fun collecting stamp marks.  And they're all different!  So cute!

     Later on, we went to another museum, the Customs Officer's Residence, also known as Little White House, which was nearby.  There wasn't much to see, at least for me, but you can collect stamps and it's great for picture taking.  Besides, the garden is well maintained and the view's great.  Just look at this century-old tree.  What a beauty.

     As we headed to the Tamsui Old Street,, we passed by a lovely church and the attendants encouraged us to take a look inside

     We arrived at the Tamsui Old Street around 11 a.m. and it was teeming with people.  My guides led me to some food stalls and I ate a Taiwanese sausage for lunch, which I downed with milk tea and plum juice.  The plum juice was surprisingly great!  Apparently, you shouldn't leave the old street without drinking one.

     Since we were running late for the next tour, we rushed to the MRT station to meet another tourist for the Yangmingshan tour.

   

Taiwan Adventure: Day 1 - Longshan Temple

DAY 1 
FINDING MY HOTEL

     The Evergreen airport bus has a stop very near my hotel in the Nanjing East Road MRT Station and Chungsan Road area.  I told the bus driver where I would like to alight but since I have extensively researched the area via Google maps, I was already familiar with the place. Before the driver could tell me we've reached my stop, I was already at the door ready to board down.  Thanks to Google maps street view, finding my hotel was hassle-free.

LONGSHAN TEMPLE

     After leaving my bags at the hotel, I had a quick breakfast (bagel and coffee) at a nearby Dante Coffee, a local coffee shop chain.  Afterwards, I bought an MRT Easy Card pre-loaded with NTD 200.00, and it turned out to be a bad mistake.  I should have bought a Taipei Pass instead since I used the MRT quite extensively during my three-day trip.  I could have saved a couple of bucks. 

   Anyway, I headed to the Nanjing East Road MRT Station and after asking directions from the Information booth, I successfully found my way to Longshan Temple.  It was already past 9:00 in the morning, as revealed by the LCD clock at the entrance of the temple, and the sun was starting to sting.  But it did not deter me from roaming around the temple.  Besides, I came prepared: I had a three-fold umbrella and a fan with me.  I noticed that I was not the only tourist; there were quite a number but they were all Asians.  I asked some college-aged Asian boys to take my picture, only because one of them had a dslr camera like mine.  Besides, they were all cute, very accommodating and polite.  They spoke very good English, too.  So, it was a win-win for me.   

     Boys were not the reason why I went to Longshan, so with a heavy heart, I thanked the boys and made my way inside the incense-laden temple where a multitude of faithfuls were praying and paying their respects. I uttered a short thank-you and keep-me-safe prayers, something that I always do whenever I visit a place of worship abroad, irrespective of religion.  Anyway, the solemn atmosphere in the temple deterred me from taking more pictures.

My breakfast: Bagel and Coffee from Dante Coffee

Longshan Temple

     To get to the temple, take the MRT on the blue line and alight at the Longshan Temple station.  There are two exits you could use to reach the Temple.  First, via the main street, as pictured below.  You'll have to pass by a small park beside the exit.  Just turn to your right and the Temple is straight ahead, around 180m away.  The second is through the underground mall.  You could also window shop if you decide to go through here.  The exit is very near the Temple; just turn left and you'll see the Temple across the street.

     And this is the other exit [the one with the yellow roof].  In case you get hungry, there are restaurants scattered in the area.

N.B.

Updated with additional info and better pictures. :-)

Taiwan Adventure: Day 1 - At the Airport

FIRST DAY, Saturday 
TAOYUAN AIRPORT, TERMINAL 1

    The plane landed at the Taoyuan Airport Terminal 1 a few minutes early, around 12:30 a.m.  People were on a rush to get their luggage and pass through the immigration to catch the last airport bus (Freego bus) to Taipei City which departs at 1:00 a.m.  I was in no such hurry as I had already set my mind to spend a couple of hours at the arrival hall of the airport and wait for the first Evergreen bus in the morning.  I did not book a hotel room for Saturday midnight considering that it would cost me a whole-day charge.  To reiterate, I was travelling alone and I needed to be more frugal.  Moreover, I’d rather spend the money for the organized tours I booked.  So, I waited and sat on the hard-cushioned seats, browsed the internet, thanks for the free wi-fi, until I fell asleep around 3:00 a.m.  Don’t worry, there was a lady guard on duty in front me so I was pretty much secure.

    When I finally woke up, it was already 5:00 a.m.  I freshened up quite a bit, and waited for the Evergreen bus counter, which I believe was operated by EVA Air, to open.  Its first departure to Taipei City was scheduled for 6:00 a.m.  The other counters opened earlier, but Evergreen has a stop very near from my hotel.  When my bus arrived, I was the sole passenger from Terminal 1; I noticed, though, that there were already some people inside who boarded the bus in Terminal 2.

    Here are a couple of pictures inside, and outside Terminal 1:

Arrival Hall

Express Buses

Express Bus Counters

I've taken the liberty to label the counters according to the service providers.

There is another counter at the far right (not in photo).

Evergreen Bus Pick-up Point

From the Philippines to Taiwan

           My friends and I booked plane tickets to Taiwan for travel this June.  However, they weren’t able to join me to Taiwan due to unforeseen circumstances.  And it was only confirmed less than two (2) weeks before our intended departure.  So, yay.

          Seriously, instead of wallowing in depression, I was very enthusiastic to be travelling alone.  I know, I specifically scheduled our Taiwan trip to coincide my birthday, but still, travelling on my own, for the first time, seemed exciting.  And exciting it was!

AIRPORT TERMINAL 3: MANILA TO TAIPEI via CEBU PACIFIC

          I was more than three (3) hours early for my late evening flight.  In fact, I was the first one to check-in.  There was no open counter for Taiwan yet, but the friendly assistants not only allowed me to check-in, they gave me seat 1C, an aisle seat closest the exit door.  I requested for a good seat, after charming the staff, but instead, they gave me the best one; my prize for checking-in early.  See, joking with assistants and ground staff really do make the difference. 

          For the benefit of the interested, I’ve uploaded some pictures of the departure area.  I’ve often used Terminal 3 where the boarding gates for Cebu Pacific are located.  In fact, I use Cebu Pacific quite extensively.  Tickets are cheap when they're on sale, and I always buy my tickets on sale.

       Terminal 3, Ninoy Aquino International Airport

      Cebu Pacific Airlines international flights check-in counter.

     The seats at the boarding gates are cushioned, and one can catch a nap in here.  Quite comfortable, I should say.

     This is what my boarding pass looked like; a printed tape receipt like what you get at the stores.  I was so scared that I might tear it, worse, lose it.  Guess, this is part of the budget mantra of Cebu Pacific.

Living in an Archipelago and Travelling Beyond

     When I was younger, I hardly knew any place other than my home and my school.  It did not change for the better even after college considering that I started studying again, this time while working.  Simply put, I had no time for travelling.  However, after I obtained my post graduate degree, things got a little easier and I ventured into travelling.  I guess, that is what happens when you're living a simple boxed life.  Once gaining freedom, I simply threw myself out in the world.  So far, I'm loving every moment of it.

     The bigger box where I live in is the Philippines, an archipelagic country with around 7,100 islands to explore.  However, the fact that it's an archipelago makes travelling within  the country a little complicated.  Only a handful of places can be reached by plane; most are either by land or by sea, or, a combination of one or the other, or all three.  And, since the islands are scattered, time is the main concern, and of course, the money to burn.  But really, the Philippines has a lot to offer, if one gets enough energy to island-hop.  In my case, though, I know it was rather unpatriotic of me to spend time travelling to places other than in my own country, but well, it's something that I would like to fix in the nearest future, perhaps, next year.  But for now, I'll be focusing on travelling in Asia.

     Two years ago, my first Asian adventure was not in one of the beautiful islands of the Philippines, as you may have already gathered. Rather, it was in Bangkok, Thailand.  The next was in Singapore and Malaysia.  Last year, I went to Hong Kong and Macau during the first quarter, and again in Singapore in the last quarter.  This year, I visited Bangkok again in March, and I just came back from my trip to Taiwan.  In September, I will be going to Hong Kong again, and in November, to Beijing, China.  Looking at my itinerary for this year, I would have visited four countries by the end of the year.  And that's a lot.  So, I thought of chronicling my past travel adventures and misadventures, as well as my travel plans and preparations for the places I intend to visit, whether in or out of the Philippines.

     And, so I'll start with my most recent trip, my Taiwan adventure, in another post.  Till then!

 

Air Philippines' Seat Sale - MLA to SG (10 July to 11 July 2011)

     Air Philippines has a seat sale for their Manila to Singapore flights starting today until tomorrow!  Travel period is from 20 July to 30 August 2011.  I made a mock booking and it's almost Php 6,600.00 round trip per person.  The base fare is really low but the fuel surcharge, taxes and fees make the amount a lot bigger.  However, the flights are for July and August, and the fare is not such a bad deal.  Although there is the possibility that you might get cancelled flights because its our typhoon season now.  

     Speaking of their seat sale for Singapore, I've ridden with Air Philippines during my 30 June to 04 July 2011 Singapore trip.  I bought the tickets for Php 2,950.00, round trip.  And mind you, Air Philippines' flights to Singapore and back are way better than Cebu Pacific.  For one, Air Philippines lands and departs at Terminal of Changi Airport.  Imagine that!  Cebu Pacific, Tiger Airways and Air Asia (I think), land at the Budget Terminal.  And I've taken Cebu Pacific twice to Singapore.  And the Budget Terminal's really budget-looking.  I remember we had to board down the plane via stairs (at least I experienced walking down the tarmac), even if it was raining.  And there was no airconditioning once you get inside the platform going to the terminal premises inside.  I don't know if there is one now.  Also, there's nothing much to do at the Budget Terminal, unlike at the main terminals of Changi Airport.  The Budget Terminal has a double meaning slogan, and I'm not sure if its the same now.  It's something like, Budget Terminal, Feel the Difference.  Yup, we really felt the difference.

     So, thank God for Air Philippines because I wanted to feel different!  Heehee.  However, I wish that they's try to sell more sale tickets on sale considering that they have not even filled up both flights I was in.  We were just around 50 to 80 on both flights.  At least, they should make their marketing strategies stronger.

Philippine Airlines' Seat Sale - Downpour Deals (11 July to 16 July 2011)

     Philippine Airlines will have a Downpour Deals seat discounts for its domestic, regional and international flights.  And here's the list for the regional flights from PAL's website:

Downpour Deals for Regional FlightsRain, rain, I'm going away! PAL's Downpour deals to our passengers going to international and regional destinations! Available on Fiesta (Economy) and Mabuhay (Business) class.

Selling Period: 11-16 July 2011
Book and buy through www.philippineairlines.com using MasterCard or VISA credit card. Or, purchase tickets at PAL ticket office.

From Manila	Base Fare	Surcharges (YQ) + Est. taxes	Total (Fare+ YQ+ Est. Taxes)  in USD	Travel Dates (Outbound)
FIESTA (ECONOMY) CLASS Minimum/Maximum Days     Delhi Australia - No Minimum and 3 months maximum stay  China/Japan - 2 days/14 days  Other destinations - 2 days/8 days Fare Basis: WER70
Bangkok	USD 88.00	USD 173.00	USD 261.00	25Jul-15Oct11
Beijing	USD 108.00	USD 163.90	USD 271.90
Delhi	USD 308.00	USD 325.70	USD 633.70
Fukuoka	USD 308.00	USD 161.70	USD 469.70
Guam	USD 168.00	USD 90.36	USD 258.36
Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)	USD 70.00	USD 168.00	USD 238.00
Hong Kong	USD 74.001	USD 105.40	USD 179.40
Jakarta	USD 78.00	USD 189.40	USD 267.40
Macau	USD 70.00	USD 103.70	USD 173.70
Melbourne	USD 358.00	USD 385.20	USD 743.20
Nagoya	USD 308.00	USD 180.90	USD 488.90
Osaka	USD 258.00	USD 182.80	USD 440.80
Singapore	USD 78.00	USD 172.80	USD 250.80
Shanghai	USD 88.00	USD 163.90	USD 251.90
Sydney	USD 358.00	USD 404.70	USD 762.70
Taipei	USD 88.00	USD 100.40	USD 188.40
Tokyo	USD 308.00	USD 181.50	USD 489.50
From Cebu	Base Fare	Surcharges (YQ) + Est. Taxes	Total (Fare+ YQ + Est. Taxes) in USD	Travel Period Outbound
FIESTA (ECONOMY) CLASS Fare Basis: WER70
Tokyo	USD 358.00	USD 181.50	USD 539.50	25Jul-15Oct11

From Manila	Base Fare	Surcharges (YQ) + Est. taxes	Total (Fare+ YQ + Est. Taxes) in USD	Travel Dates (Outbound)
MABUHAY (BUSINESS) CLASS Minimum/Maximum Days   Delhi Australia - No Minimum and 3 months maximum stay  China/Japan - 2 days/14 days  Other destinations - 2 days/8 days Fare Basis: IM70
Bangkok	USD 348.00	USD 173.00	USD 521.00	25Jul-15Oct11
Beijing	USD 448.00	USD 163.90	USD 611.90
Delhi	USD 1,198.00	USD 325.70	USD 1,523.70
Fukuoka	USD 748.00	USD 161.70	USD 909.70
Guam	USD 668.00	USD 90.36	USD 758.36
Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)	USD 348.00	USD 168.00	USD 516.00
Hong Kong	USD 312.001	USD 105.40	USD 417.40
Jakarta	USD 348.00	USD 189.40	USD 537.40
Macau	USD 308.00	USD 103.70	USD 411.70
Melbourne	USD 1,488.00	USD 385.20	USD 1,873.20
Nagoya	USD 748.00	USD 180.90	USD 928.90
Osaka	USD 748.00	USD 182.80	USD 930.80
Singapore	USD 348.00	USD 172.80	USD 520.80
Shanghai	USD 448.00	USD 163.90	USD 611.90
Sydney	USD 1,488.00	USD 404.70	USD 1,892.70
Taipei	USD 308.00	USD 100.40	USD 408.40
Tokyo	USD 748.00	USD 181.50	USD 929.50

Notes:  ¹Inclusive of HKG security surcharge
-Fares are INCLUSIVE of surcharges and estimated taxes. Other airport fees and charges are not included. 
-Fare amounts are subject to change due to conversion rates. 
Conditions of Travel:

• Valid for sales in the Philippines and the internet



• Refund  - Ticket is nonrefundable. Surcharges attached to these fares are likewise nonrefundable


• Changes  
  Australia/Delhi flights - Change fee USD100
  Other regional points - Change fee USD75


• Children/Infant discount 
  WER70 - No child discount. Infant's fare charge 20% of the fare.
  IM70 - No child discount. Infant's fare charge 10% of the fare.


• Rerouting not permitted


• UTC and service class upgrade not permitted.


• Eligible to earn Mabuhay miles


• Free Baggage Allowance
  Economy (Fiesta) class:
  Guam - 1 piece
  Australia/Delhi - 23 kilos
  Other regional points - 20 kilos
  Business (Mabuhay) class: 
  Guam - 2 pieces
  Other regional points - 30 kilos


• Limited seats