tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62817534126344707012024-02-19T03:24:17.657-08:00Neil The Wanderertravel, food, adventureNeil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-76650482861235898482016-08-30T20:41:00.001-07:002016-08-31T05:49:29.732-07:00Asus Unveils Zenfone 3 Family at Zenvolution Event<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">After weeks of excitement and
anticipation, ASUS unveils today the complete line-up of the Zenfone 3 family,
ZenBook 3 and Transformer 3 Series – which are considered the newest premium
product innovations from ASUS. During the official Philippine launch at the
Sofitel Philippine Plaza, which is one of the biggest tech events in the
country this year.</span><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Led by ASUS
Global CEO Jerry Shen, ASUS unveils the all-new ZenFone 3 Deluxe, Zenfone 3
Ultra, and Zenfone 3.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Shen led the unveiling of the ZenFone
3 Max and ZenFone 3 Laser in the Philippines while </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">ASUS
Philippines Systems Group Country Manager, George Su</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> unveiled the all-new ASUS ZenBook 3 notebook
and as well as the ASUS Transformer 3 and ASUS Transformer 3 Pro 2-in-1 PCs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> “The highly anticipated ZenFone 3 series has
become a global sensation after its debut at Computex this year,” said ASUS CEO
Jerry Shen. “We deeply appreciate the loyalty and continued support from all
our dealers, media partners and consumers in the Philippines.” added by Jerry
Shen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The top-of-the-range ZenFone 3 Deluxe
is the ultimate expression of the ASUS smartphone technology, with an invisible
antenna design that combines premium aesthetics with exceptional performance; the
ZenFone 3 Ultra is a smartphone for multimedia lovers featuring TV-grade image processing
to deliver an incredible viewing experience; the ZenFone 3 is beautifully-designed
all-round smartphone with scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass with 2.5D
contoured edges; the ZenFone 3 Laser features a 13MP camera with a Sony IMX214
sensor and color correction with an ultra-fast 0.03-second laser auto-focus, and
is ideal for photography enthusiasts; the ZenFone 3 Max features a large
capacity 4100mAh battery that gives users up to 30 days of standby time, and
can also be used as a power bank to charge other devices; the ZenBook 3 is a
premium, prestigious laptop with unprecedented performance, featuring an ultra-thin
11.9mm profile and an Intel® Core™ i7 processor; the Transformer 3 Pro is the
world’s most versatile PC that delivers extreme performance, whereas
Transformer 3 redefines 2-in-1 PC computing with ultimate mobility. Both
feature unrivaled expandability, with a range of accessories that includes the ASUS
Universal Dock, ASUS Audio Pod, the VR/4K UHD-ready ROG XG Station 2 and ASUS
Pen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0R6PVDNHbrYglpAuXpbvKVQj_qmPZR5OnQBNlNRLlqxk8ryub9w6tVJRuWuIueBdMF1fY7iXYmnth6bEStWmLnhhCAIyNj238O8ILKFu2XZURIe72O0FUE8nFMo1SPeQKkpo-56TDF3v/s1600/01-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0R6PVDNHbrYglpAuXpbvKVQj_qmPZR5OnQBNlNRLlqxk8ryub9w6tVJRuWuIueBdMF1fY7iXYmnth6bEStWmLnhhCAIyNj238O8ILKFu2XZURIe72O0FUE8nFMo1SPeQKkpo-56TDF3v/s640/01-1.jpg" width="466" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zenfone 3 Deluxe</td></tr>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">ASUS ZenFone
3 Deluxe — World’s First Full-Metal Smartphone with Invisible Antenna Design<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe is the flagship
model of the ZenFone 3 series and the ultimate expression of ASUS smartphone
design. It is constructed with a strong and light aluminum alloy unibody with
an ultra-thin 4.2mm edge, and has a rear surface free of unsightly antenna
lines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The ZenFone 3 Deluxe features a
5.7-inch Full HD (1920 by 1080), high-contrast Super AMOLED display with a wide
color gamut of over 100% NTSC for rich, vibrant colors, even in harsh, outdoor
lighting. An ultra-thin bezel gives ZenFone 3 Deluxe a 79% screen-to-body ratio
for a maximized display in a compact package. Inside, ZenFone 3 Deluxe is the world’s
first smartphone to use the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 821 processor, Adreno™ 530
GPU, integrated X12 LTE modem, as well as up to 6GB RAM and 256GB ROM to
deliver the best performance and capacity for demanding apps, games, and media.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The ZenFone 3 Deluxe raises the bar
for mobile photography with its incredible 23MP camera featuring the latest
Sony IMX318 image sensor, a large f/2.0-aperture lens, and four-axis optical
image stabilization (OIS) for high-resolution, blur-free, and low-noise photos
in almost any lighting condition. It also features three-axis electronic image
stabilization (EIS) for steady 4K UHD videos. Coupled with the ASUS TriTech
autofocus system that automatically selects second-generation laser, phase-detection
or continuous autofocus to provide accurate and near-instant 0.03-second
focusing and subject-tracking, as well as exclusive PixelMaster 3.0 technology,
the ZenFone 3 Deluxe captures truly stunning photos and videos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The ZenFone 3 Deluxe has a built-in
fingerprint sensor that is perfectly positioned on the rear of the phone to sit
underneath the user's finger, and which unlocks the phone in just a fraction of
a second. Quick Charge 3.0 technology reduces battery recharge times, and a
reversible, next-generation USB-C port.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The ZenFone 3 Deluxe also excels at
audio with its powerful five-magnet speaker and NXP smart amplifier that
provides loud, clear, defined sound and also protects the speakers from damage.
When listening over certified headphones, users can enjoy Hi-Res Audio (HRA)
that provides up four-times-better sound quality than CDs. The finely-tuned ZenEar
S<span style="color: red;"> </span>earphones are also bundled with ZenFone 3 Deluxe
which has a value of PHP 2,995.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRsCZD0Tc3K9rgm6IsfcCMJbTUDZ3S_RU6DCZyMOpobkyzLkCUJFOgcPVQg0XepMIWCBPs25jUzhyaff3pir6s05jlZSheQ0oMMGsyfY70jm1rkFBsB05UGd-EBRW0-VEv3Kg9HiFeUoN/s1600/ZF3+Sapphire+Black+-+angles+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRsCZD0Tc3K9rgm6IsfcCMJbTUDZ3S_RU6DCZyMOpobkyzLkCUJFOgcPVQg0XepMIWCBPs25jUzhyaff3pir6s05jlZSheQ0oMMGsyfY70jm1rkFBsB05UGd-EBRW0-VEv3Kg9HiFeUoN/s640/ZF3+Sapphire+Black+-+angles+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zenfone 3</td></tr>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">ASUS ZenFone
3: Agility. Beauty. Clarity.</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Winner of the Computex 2016 d&i Award,
the ASUS ZenFone 3 is a feature-packed smartphone that brings premium design
and empowering performance to everyone. Built around a gorgeous 5.5-inch Full
HD (1920 by 1080) Super IPS+ display with up to 500cd/m2 brightness, the ZenFone
3 delivers an incredible visual experience that makes apps, videos, and games
look their best. With a narrow bezel, ZenFone 3 provides a 77.3% screen-to-body
ratio for a maximized viewing area in a slim and compact body. The front and
rear of the phone are encased with scratch-resistant, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
with 2.5D contoured edges that gently curve to make the sides of the phone
completely smooth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The ZenFone 3 is equipped with a 16MP
camera with ASUS TriTech autofocus that automatically selects between second-generation
laser, phase-detection and continuous auto focus to achieve precise focus in
just 0.03 seconds, resulting in sharp images in any condition. The ZenFone 3 is
the first smartphone worldwide to be powered by the new Qualcomm® Snapdragon™
625 octa-core processor — the first
Snapdragon 600 Series processor with 14nm FinFET process technology, which has
35% better power consumption — and an integrated X9 LTE modem. Dual SIM 3G+4G
Standby and 802.11ac MU-MIMO Wi-Fi connectivity. It also has PC-grade graphics
and up to 4GB RAM that together deliver outstanding mobile performance with
improved efficiency and battery life. The ZenFone 3 has a built-in fingerprint
sensor that's perfectly positioned on the rear of the phone to sit underneath
the user's finger, and which unlocks the phone in just a fraction of a second.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zenfone 3 Ultra</td></tr>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">ASUS ZenFone
3 Ultra: Unleashed. Unlimited. Unrivaled.</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Winner of a Computex 2016 Best Choice
Golden Award, ASUS ZenFone 3 Ultra is a smartphone designed for multimedia
lovers, featuring a 6.8-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display with a 95% NTSC
color gamut for rich, vibrant images even outdoors in harsh lighting. It is the
world’s first smartphone to have ASUS-exclusive Tru2Life+ video-enhancement technology,
which harnesses a high-end 4K UHD TV-grade image processor to optimize every
pixel in each frame before it is displayed, resulting in superior contrast and
clarity. ZenFone 3 Ultra also excels at audio with its two new powerful
five-magnet stereo speakers and a NXP smart amplifier that provides clear,
defined sound and protects the speakers from damage. When listening over
certified headphones, users can enjoy Hi-Res Audio (HRA) that provides up to
four-times-better sound quality than CDs and the world’s first smartphone with
virtual 7.1-channel surround-sound with DTS Headphone:X™. Like the Zenfone 3
Deluxe, the Zenfone 3 Ultra will also have a finely-tuned ZenEar S<span style="color: red;"> </span>earphones are also bundled with the unit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Like ZenFone 3 Deluxe, ZenFone 3 Ultra
has an incredibly slim and elegant full-metal unibody chassis — the world’s
first to have no antenna lines. An ultra-slim bezel gives ZenFone 3 Ultra a 79%
screen-to-body ratio, maximizing the viewing area while minimizing its overall
size and weight. ZenFone 3 Ultra is equipped with the same high-resolution 23MP
camera with the same ASUS TriTech autofocus system as ZenFone 3 Deluxe. Powered
by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 octa-core processor, Adreno 510 graphics, and up
to 4GB of RAM, ZenFone 3 Ultra delivers outstanding mobile performance. A
built-in fingerprint sensor is perfectly positioned on the front of the phone
beneath the display for the user’s finger to unlock it in just a fraction of a
second.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The ZenFone 3 Ultra also has a
high-capacity 4600mAh battery for long-lasting performance and Quick Charge 3.0
technology for rapid recharge times, 2 minutes of Quick Charging can provide 1 hour
of 3G talking time. ZenFone 3 Ultra even works as a power bank with 1.5A output
for quickly charging other mobile devices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrU9ydm01nt2HHH4Ggpybv-m-n_NciGP9wmm6bfsViq-oA4WS6WpqnVuK-74Pj5v-YZLblYwkb3adod2m95NhPo_59IDSmXhzHoozRK9OtrU_eZEj3Jtr8ZwWzHJvMbcUKCb2erMGIC-h/s1600/ZenFone+3+Laser+%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrU9ydm01nt2HHH4Ggpybv-m-n_NciGP9wmm6bfsViq-oA4WS6WpqnVuK-74Pj5v-YZLblYwkb3adod2m95NhPo_59IDSmXhzHoozRK9OtrU_eZEj3Jtr8ZwWzHJvMbcUKCb2erMGIC-h/s320/ZenFone+3+Laser+%25287%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zenfone 3 Laser</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">ASUS ZenFone
3 Laser: The smartphone for photography enthusiasts<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser has an
ultra-fast 0.03-second laser auto focus and advanced backlight (HDR) modes to
give users stunning photos. It has a 13MP camera with a Sony IMX214 sensor and
color correction for superb natural-looking images even in low-light or indoor
environments. Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) detects movement across three
axes (yaw, pitch, and roll) and compensates for movement accordingly to provide
smooth video recording. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The ZenFone 3 Laser has a stunning
metallic design that’s just 7.9mm thin. A hyperfine sandblasting technique
provides a gorgeous finish available in Glacier Silver and Sand Gold. It has a Corning
Gorilla Glass-covered display with 2.5D contoured edges that fuse perfectly with
its matching curved rear panel to give users a natural grip. It has a 5.5-inch
Full HD display with wide viewing angles and a high 77% screen-to-body ratio. Super-quick
fingerprint security with ZenMotion integration means ZenFone 3 Laser unlocks
in just 0.2 seconds, and gives users access to various functions or apps with
just a swipe or a tap of a finger.</span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHe97NOAWNcKNNNQhXOzStBPIpIwWjIUGHkpRobnTl6M2OLLdS6JdIh6Ndy04gJ-ZgjYimM2naL9_rjWOhKG4Ns_2_o_env4lHs9_P1pxS-ll-BUwDRhLnJXcrT2ekr_SsfxXqCZORJWyE/s1600/ZenFone+Max+%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHe97NOAWNcKNNNQhXOzStBPIpIwWjIUGHkpRobnTl6M2OLLdS6JdIh6Ndy04gJ-ZgjYimM2naL9_rjWOhKG4Ns_2_o_env4lHs9_P1pxS-ll-BUwDRhLnJXcrT2ekr_SsfxXqCZORJWyE/s320/ZenFone+Max+%25288%2529.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zenfone 3 Max</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">ASUS ZenFone
3 Max: A premium smartphone with maximum battery life<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The ASUS ZenFone 3 Max is designed to
help users get through the day, and features a 4100mAh battery with an incredible
standby time of up to 30 days. It also allows users to do more, giving them up
to 20 hours of 3G talk time, 18 hours of web browsing with Wi-Fi turned on, 87
hours of music playback, and up to 15 hours of video playback. The ZenFone 3
Max can also double up as a power bank to charge other mobile devices. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The 5.2-inch ZenFone 3 Max has an IPS
display, and a glass cover with 2.5D contoured edges that fuse perfectly into
its premium metal body to give a comfortable grip. It even features a rear
fingerprint scanner and 360-degree recognition for up to five sets of
fingerprints. It unlocks in just 0.2 seconds to give users quick access to its
various functions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5zAYwmfYwibs7cGifrBudu-7sFMBKQ5gu8q2Uf1Yke77jeU3KNkRiVDOD9SlqvkTOwBY-eF2gn9Z8k6JA3-aiNdI9sU7xHxO69YFJyqsXWtcz5QIy7X4W0flDAoTHFj3OFOBB2mWXHkE/s1600/UX390_Rose+Gold_1B+%252816%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5zAYwmfYwibs7cGifrBudu-7sFMBKQ5gu8q2Uf1Yke77jeU3KNkRiVDOD9SlqvkTOwBY-eF2gn9Z8k6JA3-aiNdI9sU7xHxO69YFJyqsXWtcz5QIy7X4W0flDAoTHFj3OFOBB2mWXHkE/s320/UX390_Rose+Gold_1B+%252816%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ZenBook3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">ASUS ZenBook
3: The World’s Most Prestigious Laptop with Unprecedented Performance<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The ASUS ZenBook 3 is the next-generation
ZenBook. It has been completely redesigned with a gorgeous, ultra-sleek 11.9mm
chassis that weighs a mere 910g. To achieve its amazing lightness without
compromising strength, ZenBook 3 is crafted from aerospace-grade aluminum
alloy, a premium material that is 50% stronger than the standard alloy used in
laptops. As well as being strong and light, this material is also supremely
elegant and features the signature ZenBook spun-metal finish. The ZenBook 3 is
available in three exclusive colors — Royal Blue, Rose Gold and Quartz Grey —
and a special two-phase anodizing process is used to create stunning golden
highlights on its diamond-cut edges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The ZenBook 3 delivers unprecedented
performance with up to an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of high speed 2133MHz
RAM, up to a 1TB PCIe® 3.0 x4 ultra-fast SSD, a next-gen USB Type-C (USB-C) port,
and powerful quad-speaker audio system by Harman Kardon. Its high-resolution
12.5-inch display has a wide 72% NTSC color gamut and an edge-to-edge covering
of tough, scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 4. A slim bezel design
provides an 82% screen-to-body ratio for the maximum display size with the
minimum footprint. The ZenBook 3 has an innovative cooling system featuring the
world’s thinnest fan design at just 3mm. This efficient cooling enables ZenBook
3 to achieve incredible performance in an ultra-thin from factor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The ZenBook 3 features a full-size
backlit keyboard with 19.8mm key pitch — the same as most desktop keyboards —
and 0.8mm key travel to deliver a comfortable typing experience. A
glass-covered precision touchpad provides smooth and accurate input and
incorporates palm-rejection technology, Smart Gestures, and handwriting support
for enhanced usability. A built-in fingerprint reader with Windows Hello
support grants users an instant one-touch access—allowing them to sign in and
unlock the ZenBook 3 quickly and securely without having to type their password
or PIN.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The ZenBook 3 provides up to nine
hours of battery life for all-day computing. When it’s time to recharge,
fast-charge technology brings ZenBook 3's battery up to 60% capacity in just 49
minutes.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4tYr37kE8ihC-8vMXObzqzyVH-mh-gZuMg1TaOyVlSP3e3qVp8FNRk-8k3USXSvUkAOZzT3um7_96ps7gzwy8pJqgHeC9CCHF7VZdSRSEqjpgK8oRH1B_mKt8vIFdku2O5i1VzZ0RhSY/s1600/Transformer+3+%2528T303%2529+%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4tYr37kE8ihC-8vMXObzqzyVH-mh-gZuMg1TaOyVlSP3e3qVp8FNRk-8k3USXSvUkAOZzT3um7_96ps7gzwy8pJqgHeC9CCHF7VZdSRSEqjpgK8oRH1B_mKt8vIFdku2O5i1VzZ0RhSY/s640/Transformer+3+%2528T303%2529+%25287%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></b></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></b></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></b></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">ASUS
Transformer 3 Pro: The World’s Most Versatile PC</span></b></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The ASUS Transformer 3 Pro is a 2-in-1
PC that combines unrivaled performance with incredible portability to create
the ultimate mobile device for work and play. Precision-crafted from aluminum,
Transformer 3 Pro is only 8.35mm thin, yet has incredible structural strength
and rigidity. The Transformer 3 Pro has diamond-cut detailing that accentuates
its elegant design, and it is available in gorgeous Icicle Gold and Glacier
Gray color options.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_26"
o:spid="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:468pt;height:273.75pt;
visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
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o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The Transformer 3 Pro has an
integrated metal kickstand with a stepless hinge that lets users set the device
at almost any viewing angle up to 170°. The included ASUS Transformer Cover
Keyboard is a backlit keyboard that provides laptop-grade 1.4mm key travel for
a comfortable typing experience, and is available in four attractive colors —
Stone, Charcoal, Taupe, and Amber — that perfectly complement the device. The Transformer
3 Pro has a beautiful 12.6-inch display with a 3K resolution of 2880 by 1920
and a 275ppi pixel density for pin-sharp, detailed images as well and a color gamut
of 121% sRGB for rich, vibrant colors. Powerful front-mounted stereo speakers
with audio by Harman Kardon provide spacious, defined sound for an incredible
listening experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The Transformer 3 Pro is powered by an
Intel Core i7 processor and has up to a 1TB PCIe x4 ultra-fast SSD and 16GB of high-speed
2133MHz RAM for the ultimate performance. Its versatile, reversible USB-C
connector supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 devices at speeds up to 10Gbps, and also
incorporates Thunderbolt™ 3 for unbelievably fast 40Gbps data transfers and
support for dual external 4K UHD displays. The Transformer 3 Pro also comes
with USB 3.0 and HDMI ports for convenient connectivity. A 13MP rear camera
lets users capture high-resolution photos and videos, and a front-facing camera
with Windows Hello facial recognition enables users to log in conveniently with
just a quick glance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The Transformer 3 Pro is the world’s
most versatile PC, with superlative expansion capabilities provided by a range
of accessories that extend its functionality and performance to give users a
new level of flexibility and convenience from a mobile device. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 24.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-para-margin-left: 0gd; text-align: justify; text-indent: -24.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 11.0pt;">l<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">ASUS Pen is a beautifully crafted writing and
drawing stylus that detects 1024 levels of pressure for completely natural note-taking
and sketching experiences with a high degree of control. Users can also capture
photos with Transformer 3 Pro’s high-resolution camera and annotate them
directly with ASUS Pen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 24.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-para-margin-left: 0gd; text-align: justify; text-indent: -24.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 11.0pt;">l<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">ASUS Universal Dock is a hub that provides a
full range connectivity ports, including USB-C 3.1, USB 3.0, HDMI, VGA, RJ45
LAN, and a 3-in-1 SD Card reader. It adds desktop-grade functionality to Transformer
3 Pro.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 24.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-para-margin-left: 0gd; text-align: justify; text-indent: -24.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 11.0pt;">l<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">ASUS Audio Pod is an entertainment accessory,
with four powerful speakers that deliver amazing 360° virtual 5.1-channel
surround-sound with rich, defined bass. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 24.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-para-margin-left: 0gd; text-align: justify; text-indent: -24.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 11.0pt;">l<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">ROG XG Station 2 is an external graphics card
dock that gives Transformer 3 Pro desktop-grade graphics performance, turning
it into a VR-ready gaming powerhouse or workstation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">ASUS
Transformer 3: The Mobile PC, Redefined<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The ASUS Transformer 3 is a stylish, ultra-slim
and compact 2-in-1 PC that provides users with the ultimate mobility, total
convenience, and amazing expandability. Precision-crafted from aluminum,
Transformer 3 weighs just 695g, is only 6.9mm thin, and has smaller dimensions
than a sheet of A4 paper. Its compact and elegant design is accentuated by
diamond-cut edges and an exquisite spun-metal finish. Equipped with the
detachable ASUS Transformer Sleeve Keyboard that has 1.4mm key travel, an
integrated two-position display stand, and a glass-covered precision touchpad, the
Transformer 3 provides comfortable typing and smooth, accurate input for the
best productivity and creativity experiences. The Transformer 3 is available in
gorgeous Icicle Gold and Glacier Gray color options. The ASUS Transformer
Sleeve Keyboard is available in four attractive colors — Stone, Charcoal,
Taupe, and Amber — that perfectly complement Transformer 3.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The Transformer 3 has a beautiful
12.6-inch display with a 3K resolution of 2880 by 1920 and a 275ppi pixel
density for pin-sharp, detailed images, as well as 450cd/m<sup>2</sup>
brightness and a color gamut of 121% sRGB for rich, vibrant colors. An ultra-thin
bezel provides an 80% screen-to-body ratio, maximizing the display area while
keeping the device compact and highly portable. Transformer 3 delivers superb video
performance with ASUS Tru2Life video-enhancement technology, which optimizes
every pixel in each frame before it is displayed, resulting in superior
contrast and clarity for the best, most realistic video quality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The Transformer 3 has an incredible
quad-speaker audio system developed in co-operation with audio experts Harmon
Kardon, an amazing feature for such a thin device. Each speaker is powered by a
smart amplifier to deliver rich, detailed, and immersive sound, even at loud
volumes. The Transformer 3 automatically adjusts the routing of low and high
audio frequencies to the correct speakers depending on the orientation of the
device, ensuring users will always enjoy optimum audio quality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The Transformer 3 is powered by 7th-generation
Intel Core processors, with up to a 512GB SSD and up to 8GB RAM to deliver fast
performance for work and play. Its versatile, reversible USB-C connector
supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 devices at speeds up to 10Gbps, and Thunderbolt 3
provides unbelievably fast 40Gbps data transfers and support for dual external
4K UHD displays. A built-in fingerprint reader and Windows Hello support lets
users sign in and unlock Transformer 3 quickly and securely without having to
type their password or PIN. The Transformer 3 also includes a 13MP camera for
capturing high-resolution photos and videos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Like the Transformer 3 Pro, the Transformer 3 is
also expandable with a range of accessories — including ASUS Pen, ASUS Universal Dock, ASUS Audio Pod,
and ROG XG Station 2 — that extend its functionality and performance, giving
users a new level of flexibility and convenience from a mobile device.</span>Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-1061395342582868152016-08-21T07:11:00.001-07:002016-08-21T07:11:23.125-07:00A Glimpse of Amaliensborg Slotspladt in Copenhagen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When asked to name some of the most beautiful palaces in Europe, most people mention the ones that they are most familiar with. The Buckingham Palace in London, the Royal Palace in Madrid, The Schronbrunn Schloss in Vienna and Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany are some of the most famous castles people give at the top of their minds.</div>
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In a region as vast and diverse as Europe however, it is almost inevitable to miss and/or overlook some of the gems that can be found in its far reaches.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px;">Take for example, the Amalienborg Slotsplads in Copenhagen.</span></div>
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Built in the early 18th century, Amalienborg is the winter home of the Danish Royal Family, situated at the heart of Copenhagen Denmark.</div>
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The complex boasts of four identical classical palace façades with rococo interiors around an octagonal courtyard.</div>
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The four buildings are</div>
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1.Christian VII’s Palace (also known as Moltke’s Palace, used as guest residence),</div>
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2. Christian VIII’s Palace (also known as Levetzau’ Palace, used as guest palace for Prince Joachim and Princess Benedikte),</div>
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3. Frederik VIII’s Palace (also known as Brockdorff’s Palace, home of the Crown Prince family), and</div>
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Christian IX’s Palace (also known as Schack’s Palace, home of the Queen and Prince Consort).</div>
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Actually, the four palaces were intended to be used by four noble families of Copenhagen but the fire at the Christiansborg Palace convinced the royal family to use Amaliensborg as their winter Palace in 1794. In return, the four great families were offered 40 years of tax immunity for their services to the Danish crown.</div>
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All palace facades sport a late Baroque, 18th century design and all facades are washed white, immaculate and stunning, catching any visitor off-guard.</div>
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The centerpiece of the complex is a grand statue of King Frederick V, attributed as the founde of Amalienborg. The statue depicts the Danish king in an equestrian pose.</div>
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According to historians and observers, Amalienborg boasts of the most spectacular example of Rococo (Late Baroque) architecture in all of Europe.</div>
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Inside the palaces are the Amalienborg museum which will give you an idea of the lavish lifestyle lived by members of Denmark’s royal family. The current Queen Margrethe’s photos and memorabilia can also be found inside the palace halls.</div>
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But Amalienborg is frequented by visitors to Copenhagen because of its famous changing of the guard ceremony.</div>
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Every day at noon, visitors can catch a glimpse of the changing of the guard.</div>
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According to the copenhagen.com, the ceremony is called “The King’s Watch” or “Kongevagt” when Her Majesty the Queen of Denmark is in residence. During this time, the guards are are accompanied by the Royal Guards music band.</div>
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The route, that starts at 11:31 at the barracks, goes: Rosenborggade, Købmagergade, Østergade, Kongens Nytorv, Bredgade, Sct. Annæ Plads, Amaliegade, and Amalienborg.</div>
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Meanwhile, it is called “The Lieutenant’s Watch” or “Lojtnantsvagt” if one of the Royal Princes is residing at the palace in the capacity of regents, and drums and flutes will be heard.</div>
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When the Crown Prince or Prince Joachim are in residence but not n the capacity of regents or when the palace has no residing member of the royal family, the guards march Copenhagen without musical accompaniment and this is called “Palaevagt” or Manor Watch.</div>
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I had the wonderful chance of experiencing the Lieutenant’s Watch during my visit to Copenhagen and I was thoroughly mesmerized by the richness of tradition still observed in this northern European country.</div>
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It was indeed one of the coolest things I have seen and experienced in Europe and if you have the chance to come visit Denmark, this item should be high on your bucket list</div>
Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-84774685014646510692016-08-21T07:02:00.000-07:002016-08-21T07:02:53.345-07:00Captivating Cartagena<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Standing in the middle of the road, looking up, I couldn’t help but smile at the marvelous vista right in front of me. Colorful houses in vivid hues, designed in architectural styles dominant in the Spanish colonial era. In almost every patio and portico, beautiful bougainvillea flowers bloom, and locals wearing friendly smiles spend the lazy afternoon resting in their rocking chairs, and they would wave at you as if you’re a long lost friend.</div>
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It’s supposed to be winter in the southern hemisphere but here, the sun shines brightly making you long for ice-cold smoothies, while lying cozily along the the Caribbean coast.</div>
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This is Cartagena de Indias, or simply Cartagena, a port city north of Colombia. It is one of the most popular destinations in South America and its offerings are limitless, attracting visitors from different parts of the world, from different economic classes.</div>
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Located at the coast of the Caribbean, Cartagena, with its colorful colonial houses has long been a playground for the rich and powerful elite. For art and history aficionados, the 400-year old houses and buildings, are a major attraction, not to mention, that jaw-dropping murals and paintings painted by the locals.</div>
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Those who are into architecture love the city for its massive churches, and colorful colonial-period houses and mansions. and for casual world travelers like me, it’s the mixture of all these makes Cartagena such an irresistible destination that you just have to visit at least once in your life.</div>
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I arrived in Cartagena, still feeling jetlagged from traveling all the way from the Philippines and then to Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro and then Bogota, Colombia. But all the exhaustion vanished at the sight of Cartagena’s impressive beauty.</div>
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My wanderings were concentrated in the Old Town, a Unesco World Heritage Site and my three days in the city weren’t enough for me to get a glimpse of of at least half of what this South American jewel has to offer.</div>
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Cartagena is a place that makes you drop all of your sightseeing routines and set ways. With virtually every corner and street boasting of a colorful sight, it is best to simply walk you way around the city and the Old Town, and go where your feet and eyes will take you.</div>
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But almost everyone will agree that in Cartagena, the first place you visit is the Centro Amurallado or the Old Walled City.</div>
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A Port City, Cartagena is surrounded by a 13-kilometer wall that both protects the city from the elements and from the raiding pirates during the 16th-18th century. You will spend roughly 90 minutes if you walk around the stone walls. Inside the walled city, almost all of the city’s highlights can be reached within minutes by walking.</div>
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At the Walled City, the first historical sight that will welcome you is the Clock Tower or the Torre del Reloj. The most original elements of the tower were built in the 17th century but over the years, its has seen several updates and repairs, and the clock it now sports is Swiss made, added in the early 1900’s.</div>
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Once inside the Centro Amurallado, be sure to check out the stunning 16th century church Iglesia de San Pedro Claver, named after the saint. The church has an imposing facade that lords over the plaza. In front of the church, are several fine dining restaurants where locals and travelers alike, stay drinking wines and dining expensive Colombian delights while waiting for the sunset.</div>
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Iglesia de San Pedro Claver</div>
<figure class="wp-caption alignnone" data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_4663" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-sizing: inherit; color: #555555; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16.9px; line-height: 1.3847; margin: 0px 0px 24px; max-width: 100%; width: 4032px;"><img alt="IMG_6649" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4663" height="504" originalw="672" scale="1.5" src-orig="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/img_6649.jpg?w=672" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/img_6649.jpg?w=1008" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%;" width="672" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 6px 0px; text-align: center;">Nightlife in front of Iglesia de San Pedro de Claver</figcaption></figure><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Around the wall city are several colorful plazas, houses and buildings that compete with each other in terms of beauty and elegance. One plaza that I really like is the Plaza Santo Domingo where you can find the Spanish consulate.</div>
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Another highlight destination inside the Walled City is the beautiful Cartagena cathedral dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria.The building was designed after basilicas found in Andalusia and the Canary Islands. Outside the cathedral, you can find Colombian artists selling portraits and water color-painted slices if rustic Colombian life.</div>
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Walking around the old town’s cobbled alleys, and admiring beautiful porticoes and verandas can take some time, since every houses makes an effort to stun admirers. You won’t have any difficulty finding a hotel, restaurant or souvenir shop inside the walled city, but they are a bit pricey. The up and coming bars and clubs are also located inside the walled city, just right after passing the Torre de Reloj.</div>
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If you want more value for your buck, a few blocks away from the wall city, travelers gravitate towards the hip, artistic, laid back, realistic, if a bit noisy, community of Getsemani.</div>
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Over the years, travelers have raised their eyebrows on Getsemani no thanks to its reputation as a sketchy community, where the poorer people of Cartagena live. It also had a reputation for prostitution and drugs but that reputation is slowly washing away as more and more restaurants and hotels open within this enclave, and police increase visibility in the area.</div>
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The result? An up-and-coming destination, that now attracts a serious load of travelers and tourists. Around Plaza Santissima de Trinidad, travelers, even those staying inside the walled city, hand around and mingle with locals for some authentic feel of Cartagena.</div>
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One of the most popular destinations in Cartagena, you simply cannot miss is the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas, one of the most impressive and solidly build fortresses in the Americas. Built in the 17th century, this fort was never taken, despite attempts by enemies.</div>
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Inside the fort is a complicated network of tunnels used by the soldiers of Cartagea to transport food and ammunition. Today, the fort remains intact and a trip to the castle’s highest tip, will reward you with a breathtaking view of Cartagena.</div>
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If you have some extra dough, you can also head south of Cartagena to Bocagrande, long considered as Catargena’s own version of Miami beach. The young, hip and moneyed Cartagenos flock to Bocagrande to dine in glitzy restaurants and stay in upscale hotels and condominiums.</div>
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Truly, Cartagena is a world class city that opens its arms to the everyone. It is a charming and colorful city that’s full of excitement and romance. It’s a city that makes you feel relaxed and complete at the same time.</div>
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If you ever get the chance to visit Cartagena, take it. You won’t ever regret it.</div>
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Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-67785173917139998272016-07-09T02:57:00.001-07:002016-07-09T02:57:44.580-07:00Maya Beach and The Search for a Parallel Universe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Saying that my teenage years were troubled may perhaps be the understatement of the decade.</div>
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I was missing classes, running with different cliques not necessarily good for me, giving in to vices just to fit in. I tried to join the drama club, because my life was full of well, drama. I dated people way older than me, so I could get that feeling of being loved and being secured.</div>
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And throughout those moments, I was in a constant search for a place where I belong and for people who would accept me for who I am. I wanted to get out and live in a parallel universe, so to speak.</div>
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It was bad enough that I needed some kind of intervention from well-meaning friends, who saw the potential in me.</div>
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And then, during my darkest hour, I found a new path that would inspire me to improve the way I was living, and go through life in a happy, positive way.</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;"><u style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Travel Inspiration</u></b></div>
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<a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/1e20f-445.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="" border="0" class=" aligncenter" height="535" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/1e20f-445.jpg?w=709&h=535" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="709" /></a></div>
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It was year 2000 and “The Beach” starring Leonardo DiCaprio was showing in cinemas. I had to skip a class just to see it.</div>
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Everyone I knew, thrashed the movie, criticizing the bad acting, the environmental hazard it posed to Maya beach, in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand, when the movie production set bulldozed the beach’s sand and planted several coconuts to make it more paradise looking.</div>
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Of course, I was also against tampering the natural beauty of the island but I saw past that and appreciated the message the movie was trying to convey. Lots of people dismiss it as a cheap escapist movie, but hey, it’s true.</div>
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We are all searching for ourselves and for a better life, and we have the means to make it come true.</div>
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The end credit showed a jump shot of the islanders with a caption “Parallel Universe”. And yes, they almost had it.</div>
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The movie, based on a book by Alex Garland, hit me like a tsunami. It became my most favorite movie of all time, not because it is the best, but because I can relate to it perfectly.</div>
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Years would pass, but it would remain to be one of the few movies that actually influenced me to hit the road and travel. It became my lifelong goal to go to places I’ve never been and meet the people that make those places unique and interesting.</div>
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I was able to travel to various countries, but my dream of stepping onto the shores of “the beach’ never wavered. It was like, every new place that I visit and conquer, was just a preparation for the feelings that would have overwhelmed me, once I finally get there.</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;"><u style="box-sizing: inherit;">Reaching “The Beach”</u></b></div>
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It took me 13 years, but I when I finally reached “The Beach”, I was just speechless. The feelings and memories I felt when I first saw the movie on a lonely night more than a decade ago, and during all those long years hit me like an avalanche, I had no choice but to cry.</div>
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If you ask me how I felt exactly at that moment, I won’t be able to give you an accurate description. It was surreal.</div>
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I just sat there on the shore, admiring the magnificent limestone formations that envelope the beach, oblivious to the noise of the common tourists that like me, were fascinated by Maya beach and by the movie.</div>
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It’s different now from the one I saw in the movie. There are no palm trees now, and there’s a convenience store at a hidden cove, 100 meters away from the shore. There are tsunami warnings, reminding everyone that this beach, also suffered devastation during the 2004 Asian tsunami.</div>
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But in many ways, it still is “the beach” that I dreamed of. I traveled hundreds of miles just to reach the island of Koh Phi Phi.and from there, I hired a longboat to get to the actual Maya beach</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;"><u style="box-sizing: inherit;">The search for a Parallel Universe</u></b></div>
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I looked around me and wondered, are all these people also searching for a place to call their own? Perhaps not, but with the multitude of backpackers I can see, I am sure that yes, some are also doing some soul-searching and wondering how to proceed with their respective lives from here.</div>
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I was almost the same age as Richard, the main character in the movie, when I first dream of reaching the shores of Maya beach. And back then, both of us are troubled by the expectations of our family, colleagues, and lovers.</div>
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13 years ago, I was tempted once again to check out, jump ship and just hit the road, leaving all problems behind me.</div>
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But at 30, life has taught me valuable lessons.</div>
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You don’t run away from your problems, no matter how big they maybe. You must face them with courage and determination, and be prepared to accept the consequences of the things you do or do not do.</div>
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A better life or a parallel universe is always tempting but you don’t always have to go far for you to reach it.</div>
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That life, that place you’ve always wanted to belong to, may be right there in front of you all along. You just have to open your eyes to see it.</div>
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Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-9984264247450062512016-07-09T02:52:00.000-07:002016-07-09T02:52:14.224-07:007 Fun Facts About Bali You Probably Never Knew<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNeHJhjLMo4CAZQLkdUHNRk-L8xarW0ul7wwByca3srg_kmZfElmT2N7bQzkS0xEGWKHmvTZjsI_Wh7TJtNDHZgavG4U5IUjlsgVEqdFpZuiL7bTdYiD8g9qG2o8JMHhCrhxs2FERiCJf/s1600/bali-1182142_960_720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNeHJhjLMo4CAZQLkdUHNRk-L8xarW0ul7wwByca3srg_kmZfElmT2N7bQzkS0xEGWKHmvTZjsI_Wh7TJtNDHZgavG4U5IUjlsgVEqdFpZuiL7bTdYiD8g9qG2o8JMHhCrhxs2FERiCJf/s640/bali-1182142_960_720.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px;">Without a shadow of a doubt, Bali is the most famous of all Indonesian islands. It’s a place that boasts tropical beaches, breathtaking mountains, and friendly people. Those are just three of many reasons why tourists flock to the island each year!</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">You will have no doubt seen some pictures online of what Bali is like. But, how much do you really know about the island paradise? You should check out these seven fun facts to learn more:</span></div>
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<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Bali is home to the world’s most expensive coffee</b></li>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">In Bali, you can buy a type of coffee called </span><a href="https://kopiluwakdirect.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Kopi Luwak</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">. One intriguing fact about it is you won’t be drinking a typical coffee. That’s because Kopi Luwak gets derived from undigested coffee cherry beans! They get refined from the waste material left by civet cats. Why is that type of coffee popular? Apparently, civet cats only eat the ripest coffee beans!</span></div>
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<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">It’s a popular destination for honeymooners</b></li>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">It doesn’t matter where people come from in the world. The island paradise is the top destination for newlyweds from all corners of the globe!</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">As a honeymooner, your journey may start in a</span><a href="http://lhm-hotels.com/legian-bali/en/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">luxury hotel in Bali</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">. You could then explore the magic of the island with your new spouse. And let’s not forget the array of cuisines on offer for those romantic evening dinners! Of course, the only downside is you would need to leave and return home at some point!</span></div>
<figure class="wp-caption alignnone" data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_4425" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #555555; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16.9px; line-height: 1.3847; margin: 0px 0px 24px; max-width: 100%; width: 960px;"><img alt="Bali2" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4425" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/bali2.jpg?w=672" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%;" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 6px 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pixabay.com/en/bali-beach-travel-boats-holiday-237196/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;">Bali</a></figcaption></figure><ol start="3" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px; list-style-position: inside; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">Not all beaches in Bali have beautiful white sand</b></li>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">You might not think it, but some of the sandy</span><a href="https://thefilipinowanderer.com/2015/06/19/breathtaking-uluwatu-surfers-beach-bali-indonesia/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">beaches</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"> on Bali is actually black! The reason for that is simple. The sand got formed from the cooled lava of the Mount Agung volcano.</span></div>
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<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">Seafood lovers will enjoy a veritable feast on Bali</b></li>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Do you enjoy eating seafood? If so, Bali is the holiday destination for you! An astonishing fact about the island is that its waters are home to over 3,000 species of fish!</span></div>
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<img alt="Bali4" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4433" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/bali4.jpg?w=672" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">5. </span><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">Bali relies heavily on tourism</b></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">As you can imagine, the scenic island of Bali attracts a plethora of visitors each year. And it’s just as well because tourism makes up 80% of the island’s GDP! Islanders have nothing to worry about for their economy. There’s no danger of people not visiting the island any time soon!</span></div>
<figure class="wp-caption alignnone" data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_4429" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #555555; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16.9px; line-height: 1.3847; margin: 0px 0px 24px; max-width: 100%; width: 960px;"><img alt="Bali3" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4429" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/bali3.jpg?w=672" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%;" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 6px 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pixabay.com/en/bali-silhouette-woman-motorbike-254077/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;">Bali Countryside</a></figcaption></figure><ol start="6" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px; list-style-position: inside; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">Bali islanders are fluent in many languages</b></li>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">As you explore the island, one thing will become apparent. The locals will talk in an array of different languages and dialects. Most islanders speak Balinese, Indonesian, and English. Many will also speak other languages too.</span></div>
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<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">Bali’s new year starts in silence</b></li>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">The first day of Bali’s new calendar is </span><a href="http://www.indo.com/culture/nyepi.html" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Nyepi</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">. Translating as the “day of silence”, it gets celebrated every Isakawarsa (Bali new year). For 24 hours from 6 am, light and sound must get kept to a minimum. The Hindu celebration also states that no-one is allowed out onto the streets or beaches. In fact, even Bali’s main airport closes during Nyepi!</span></div>
<figure class="wp-caption alignnone" data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_4436" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #555555; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16.9px; line-height: 1.3847; margin: 0px 0px 24px; max-width: 100%; width: 960px;"><img alt="Bali5" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4436" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/bali5.jpg?w=672" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%;" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 6px 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pixabay.com/en/rice-terraces-paddy-paddies-384665/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;">Bali rice fields</a></figcaption></figure>Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-78446857104646743862016-07-09T02:49:00.000-07:002016-07-09T02:49:14.636-07:00Discover Coogee Beach in Eastern Sydney, New South Wales<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3LK5D173gxYF7ftcetkHqv1Fng35aNNxKsrbN60YtLlG1jWFQ9CWK-TXw_znUKx9WwZ7GTSsNia0CCIyslXyjysKHGxJBRRUJKipNJ3YmGppgvMea7E0ZzA-WPVykGgdawwWG3n2_NU9/s1600/10891799_10152616117515735_7254241100715958357_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3LK5D173gxYF7ftcetkHqv1Fng35aNNxKsrbN60YtLlG1jWFQ9CWK-TXw_znUKx9WwZ7GTSsNia0CCIyslXyjysKHGxJBRRUJKipNJ3YmGppgvMea7E0ZzA-WPVykGgdawwWG3n2_NU9/s640/10891799_10152616117515735_7254241100715958357_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px;">Sydney locals are among the luckiest folks on the planet.</span></div>
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The city is one of the busiest economic centers in the world the quality of life here is something that others cities could only hope to imitate and achieve.</div>
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On top of that, Sydney is blessed with gorgeous beaches that makes balancing work and chill time so easy, breezy.</div>
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Take for example, the case of Coogee beach, located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hh3gTY0AQepic-kBXHQAQVPNs-VEeraRiKuo2nl18V880aFo3xTcgO5s01HdnyQPlFtVzHyVXozYUcQcyQmmWYkRXHUG97LjsmuVLh2e_iegfN-xLfuSHqzY0TlAsRoZtY0rcopoBPP7/s1600/10888725_10152616117710735_2250441134966411462_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hh3gTY0AQepic-kBXHQAQVPNs-VEeraRiKuo2nl18V880aFo3xTcgO5s01HdnyQPlFtVzHyVXozYUcQcyQmmWYkRXHUG97LjsmuVLh2e_iegfN-xLfuSHqzY0TlAsRoZtY0rcopoBPP7/s640/10888725_10152616117710735_2250441134966411462_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It only takes a 20-minute bus ride from Sydney Central to enjoy the beach life and party atmosphere Coogee has to offer.</div>
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A year-round destination for locals and visitors alike, Coogee gives everyone that inimitable beach side lifestyle that makes Sydney quite popular.</div>
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Coogee is a public beach and you can swim, paddle, snorkel to your heart’s content. The waves here are mild as compared tot he rough waters of Bondi so it is not surprisingly that this beach is preferred by families and casual, average swimmers.</div>
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<a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/coogee1.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="coogee1" class=" wp-image-2315 aligncenter" height="700" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/coogee1.jpg?w=532&h=700" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="532" /></a></div>
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Like other main beaches in Sydney, there are lifeguards patroling the main beach so you can have some sort of peace of mind.</div>
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For food lovers, the streets around the Coogee and Randwick (the suburb) are teeming with bars, restaurants, souvenir shops so there will be no shortage of areas to dine and drink.</div>
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Just a note though. Sydney is generally a pricey city so everything seems expensive. The bars and restaurants near the beach are understandably expensive. Don’t fret though since there are lots of convenience stores where you can get your beer cheap.</div>
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<a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/coogee5.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="coogee5" class=" wp-image-2316 aligncenter" height="430" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/coogee5.jpg?w=566&h=430" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="566" /></a></div>
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No matter if it’s a weekday or weekend, Coogee is full of life and visitors.</div>
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One of the reasons for this is the fact that Coogee is the starting and/or endpoint of the famous 6-kilometer Coogee to Bondi Coastal Walk, one of the must-do activities whenever you visit Sydney.</div>
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This walk traverses the eastern shore of the city from Bondi to Coogee while passing the Bronte and Clovelly beaches and Gordon’s Bay.</div>
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<a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/coogee7.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="coogee7" class=" wp-image-2318 aligncenter" height="696" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/coogee7.jpg?w=529&h=696" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="529" /></a></div>
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Coogee beach is indeed of the treasures of Sydney. And if you ever have the chance to come visit the city, don’t miss the chance to take a splash in this gorgeous and picturesque beach.</div>
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<a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/coogee4.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="coogee4" class=" wp-image-2319 aligncenter" height="653" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/coogee4.jpg?w=496&h=653" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="496" /></a></div>
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A year round favourite with beach-going Sydneysiders and visitors alike, you can walk, surf, swim, snorkel, laze on the sand, shop, eat and drink here to your heart’s content.</div>
Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-54269362181346464942016-07-09T02:40:00.000-07:002016-07-09T02:40:21.424-07:00The Luxurious Tastes of Italian Cuisine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFn-SptvSuDCX6GJiOFiXL5ZhmLTv-O1yl3iYNUzu1rRHE8fyAGLk95pAxfXNn91z5wRwAXyKj8X0x3-zVoV5-oWW2KEQBtMYFhQ5G3qIvZJ9bA0az0b7WWArxMlo832wO2eYa2yVLg9M4/s1600/food-vegetables-italian-restaurant-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFn-SptvSuDCX6GJiOFiXL5ZhmLTv-O1yl3iYNUzu1rRHE8fyAGLk95pAxfXNn91z5wRwAXyKj8X0x3-zVoV5-oWW2KEQBtMYFhQ5G3qIvZJ9bA0az0b7WWArxMlo832wO2eYa2yVLg9M4/s640/food-vegetables-italian-restaurant-large.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px;">Italy is known for many things, especially in the context of holidays. When people think of holidays in Italy, they think of glorious art museums. Or luxurious gondola rides. Many will think especially of the Leaning Tower of Pisa!</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">But in this article, we’re going to be looking at something else. Something the Italians do </span><i style="box-sizing: inherit;">extremely</i><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">well. And that, my friend, is food. Of course, this could be said about many countries in Europe. The trick, of course, is to find out what it is they do better than any others.</span></div>
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<img alt="italian-pizza-restaurant-italy-large" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4326" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/italian-pizza-restaurant-italy-large.jpg?w=672" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></div>
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<a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/italian-pizza-restaurant-italy-3498/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;">Pexels</a></div>
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Sometimes, this means consuming some of the food and wine you may already be familiar with. Many people will try to go for really exotic dishes, things with names they can barely pronounce to the waiter. But a great test of a country’s prowess when it comes to cuisine is to test its ability to make things you’re familiar with.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Don’t assume you’ve tried the best of any of these until you’ve tried them in Italy!</span></div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;">Gelato</b></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">You may have seen some places in your hometown serving both gelato and ice cream. Many people don’t really know the difference. Nor do they take the time to appreciate the difference when they’re eating it! It’s not just the Italian word for “ice cream”.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Gelato has more of an “elastic” texture. It’s churned slower to keep it denser (a lot of ice cream is just air). It can also be a </span><a href="http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/nutrition-gelato-compared-ice-cream-2157.html" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">healthier choice</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"> as it has less fat content than ice cream.</span></div>
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<img alt="800px-CHIANTI_glass_&_bottle" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4332" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/800px-chianti_glass__bottle.jpg?w=672" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></div>
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<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CHIANTI_glass_%26_bottle.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;">Wikimedia</a></div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;">Chianti</b></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Italy is certainly famous for its wines. Chianti wine is Italy’s most famous variation. The “Chianti region” is known to be </span><a href="https://thefilipinowanderer.com/2016/05/21/fun-facts-about-tuscany-you-might-not-know/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tuscany</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">, as this is where the signature grapes are grown. If you’re looking for </span><a href="http://www.emiliadelizia.com/wine-tours-in-italy/chianti-wine-tours/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">things to do in Florence</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">, you could go on a luxurious Tuscan wine tour!</span></div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;">Coffee</b></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Ever wonder why a lot of the coffee you can buy at home has the word “Italian” in their names or descriptions? It’s because coffee producers all over the world wish to emulate the rich taste of the Italian stuff. The most famous delivery method for this stuff is in a shot of espresso, known as </span><i style="box-sizing: inherit;">caffee</i><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">. It’s deep, dark, and gives you one heck of a buzz!</span></div>
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<img alt="cappuccino-373205_960_720" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4340" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/cappuccino-373205_960_720.jpg?w=672" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></div>
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<a href="https://pixabay.com/en/cappuccino-coffee-cup-italian-373205/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;">Pixabay</a></div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pizza Margherita</b></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">No, I didn’t get the words the wrong way round. Outside of Italy, people usually call it a </span><i style="box-sizing: inherit;">Margherita pizza</i><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">. But in Italy, it’s a </span><i style="box-sizing: inherit;">pizza Margherita</i><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">. And if you think you know the Margherita, think again. Too many people think it’s the “plain” pizza option. Not so. In Italy, pretty much every food business has its own special sauce it uses on these </span><a href="http://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2014-12-01/10-best-pizzerias-in-italy-rome-naples-venice" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">pizzas</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">. It’s one of the best ways to experience the unique sauce flavours of Italy.</span></div>
Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-36346433303192127042016-06-27T21:41:00.001-07:002016-06-27T21:41:45.737-07:00ASUS Philippines and Top Filipina Photographer Shaira Luna Partner Up to #SeeThePhilippinesUpClose<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Shaira Luna, the country’s most sought-after lenswoman
of this generation, is all set to showcase a whole new mobile photography
experience – one that urges Pinoys from all walks of life to <b>#SeeThePhilippinesUpClose,</b>
from all sorts of new and incredible perspectives, exclusively using the iconic
<b>ASUS ZenFone Zoom.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The ZenFone Zoom is in fact the world’s thinnest 3x
optical zoom smartphone, packing a powerful camera that can even take photos
with up to 12 times magnification. To this, Luna adds: “This feature alone says
a lot about the photography prowess of the phone. It can easily capture the
country’s most unique elements in stunning close-ups, even from far distances.
Imagine pro-level photography literally in the palm of your hands. That’s what
you get with ZenFone Zoom!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">#SeeThePhilippinesUpClose from the Lens of the Best<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The <b>#SeeThePhilippinesUpClose</b> campaign sets the
tone for a one-of-a-kind mobile photography experience that features the
country’s collection of vibrant sights, landscapes and people from exhilarating
and never-before-seen angles. And for ASUS Philippines, there was no better way
to curate this story, than through the images taken by renowned Filipina
photographer, Shaira Luna, using the ZenFone Zoom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Without a doubt, Shaira is the most celebrated
lenswoman in the country now, and is actually part of an ultra-exclusive group
of professional photographers who were personally handpicked to be represented
and managed by leading international agent <b>Jed Root</b>. Her talent,
passion, professionalism, and unique eye for photography ultimately make her
the perfect fit for the ASUS ZenFone Zoom,” shares <b>ASUS Philippines
Marketing Manager Jamie Zaldivar</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In her decade-long tenure in the industry, Luna’s
cinematic, nostalgic and story-telling type of photography has caught the
attention of numerous international publications across North America, the UK
and even Europe. To name a few, Luna’s impressive body of work has notably
graced The Interview Magazine, The Fashionisto, C-Heads, Cake Mag, and
Valentina. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Luna’s extensive portfolio has also led her to become
one of the country’s most sought after professional photographers. In the local
scene, she has shot numerous editorial spreads with some of the most popular
celebrities and personalities, and has worked with industry pillars and movers
and shakers alike. Luna has also been tapped several times to lead the regional
and local campaigns for various brands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In this day and age of social media, Luna has also
built an empire for herself. Present in almost all platforms, such as Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram and Tumbr, Luna’s following reaches far and wide, and across
all markets, undeniably making her this generation’s most influential
photographer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hRbsPRjvt4O6J5-aSYWiFuSMN0oGFq_hH5K_R-XghXveRJ-5PP5unH1iSs5Gk552OuBtZZcBvRGEVqcXckziQcu1XtphtGKuYCcUL7CxwE9yWMMkwOjrxClSxqum-if9dETQamX3XLvt/s1600/Zenfone+Zoom+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hRbsPRjvt4O6J5-aSYWiFuSMN0oGFq_hH5K_R-XghXveRJ-5PP5unH1iSs5Gk552OuBtZZcBvRGEVqcXckziQcu1XtphtGKuYCcUL7CxwE9yWMMkwOjrxClSxqum-if9dETQamX3XLvt/s640/Zenfone+Zoom+2.jpg" width="338" /></a></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Your Chance to #SeeThePhilippinesUpClose with the
ZenFone Zoom<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">To give the public the chance to experience for
themselves this marvel of a smartphone, ASUS Philippines will soon launch the
#SeeThePhilippinesUpClose online contest that puts the spotlight on images
taken exclusively using the ZenFone Zoom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Starting <b>May 30</b>, and every Monday thereafter,
Shaira Luna will posting a close-up photo of different Philippine-inspired
elements, taken by the ZenFone Zoom. Interested participants must correctly
guess in any of Shaira’s or ASUS Philippines’ social media accounts what is the
actual subject before ASUS Philippines reveals what the bigger picture really
is, a couple of days after.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Each Saturday, a weekly winner will be drawn for each
photo, and will bring home a premium item from ASUS. At the end of 9 weeks, the
participant with the most number of correct guesses all throughout the
competition, wins a ZenFone Zoom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlj4y_F19mTqFDz0GuZ7MWTnuSXXknWZ-R05UqXLbG1fU9AA6pa_xF_7_XhG5IcsGeub6DOgS2cxbjRAgbbKDU5mCOX2_mGfOBxYvNB-5JvjvFGWjZefRE71dQhDGTzcwfj56kIHnBnf0z/s1600/Zoom+Contest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlj4y_F19mTqFDz0GuZ7MWTnuSXXknWZ-R05UqXLbG1fU9AA6pa_xF_7_XhG5IcsGeub6DOgS2cxbjRAgbbKDU5mCOX2_mGfOBxYvNB-5JvjvFGWjZefRE71dQhDGTzcwfj56kIHnBnf0z/s640/Zoom+Contest.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">ZenFone Zoom:
The world’s thinnest 3X optical-zoom smartphone</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The ASUS ZenFone Zoom is one of the newest additions
to the successfully-growing product line in the ASUS ZenFone family. It is the
world's thinnest 3X optical-zoom smartphone with an innovative 10-prism lens
arrangement for up to 12X total magnification. It is powered by a 64-bit Intel<sup>®</sup>
Atom<sup>™</sup> processor with 4GB RAM, has a fantastic 13MP resolution and
lightning-fast laser auto-focus — ensuring no incredible moment is
missed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-59071860311543424262016-06-26T07:37:00.000-07:002016-06-26T07:37:19.055-07:00St. Stephen’s Cathedral: The Heart of Vienna<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsSVjuMNHcUti2jgz8VJLdIT7sgwmbiqy4FTohgeOxibjvMVF-fIMEE-mrWMdW_6YXw-G1Nbji5eE2zue-El5yhT95MNMQjUNh6sIfJwpki2X21-wtdDh2SvNtJ86dTgXoyEPuwrR1hhyphenhyphen/s1600/vienna1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsSVjuMNHcUti2jgz8VJLdIT7sgwmbiqy4FTohgeOxibjvMVF-fIMEE-mrWMdW_6YXw-G1Nbji5eE2zue-El5yhT95MNMQjUNh6sIfJwpki2X21-wtdDh2SvNtJ86dTgXoyEPuwrR1hhyphenhyphen/s640/vienna1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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View from The Top (Photo from <a href="https://pixabay.com/en/vienna-panorama-austria-228943/" target="_blank">Pixabay)</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px;">While the majestic Schonbrunn Schloss has become the most famous landmark Vienna in the eyes of the outside world, Viennese still consider one familiar structure situated in the very center of the city, to be the Austrian capital’s heart and soul, dating back to the 12th century.</span></div>
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The impressive Stephanskirche or St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Stephanplatz remains, to this day, the very heart of Vienna.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTLbtS-IoByA1hXsS9TMxuqZdvnGqDfInsSCDzLa33RPpa8sTIdrQYwZE10qp7yFvnKZve97eI5gkUaRkCNpSSfUsBm6qwema5KWUwNDQVIXRjoCGrGmMC8M6nwwtKzM381SWpIN7-_g1/s1600/vienna2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTLbtS-IoByA1hXsS9TMxuqZdvnGqDfInsSCDzLa33RPpa8sTIdrQYwZE10qp7yFvnKZve97eI5gkUaRkCNpSSfUsBm6qwema5KWUwNDQVIXRjoCGrGmMC8M6nwwtKzM381SWpIN7-_g1/s640/vienna2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://pixabay.com/en/architecture-building-vienna-612708/" target="_blank">Pixabay</a></div>
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A stunning Gothic cathedral that dominates Vienna’s skyline, St. Stephen’s Cathedral has been the national symbol of Vienna ever since its construction in 1147 AD. It bore witness to the growth of Vienna as a city, and as the seat of the Habsburg empire for centuries, until it suffered sever damage during the Turkish siege in the 17th century.</div>
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<a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/20992_10152810323110735_7492101731525997035_n.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="20992_10152810323110735_7492101731525997035_n" class=" wp-image-1330 aligncenter" height="767" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/20992_10152810323110735_7492101731525997035_n.jpg?w=583&h=767" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="583" /></a></div>
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Stephanskirche also fell victim to heavy fighting the second world war, with its roof as the main casualty. Citizens of Vienna rallied to repair the church, donating tiles, leading to its eventual re-opening in 1948. It is said that each Viennese citizen owns a symbolic tile of the church,as tribute to the love and devotion shown by the city and its people to the church.</div>
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In between, St. Stephen’s Cathedral went through several reconstruction and transformation including its redesign from Romanesque to Gothic in the 14th century, as ordered by Duke Rudolph IV of Habsburg. It also bore witness to other events including the funeral of music virtuoso Mozart.</div>
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<a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/11150208_10152810321940735_7032996897445869553_n.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="11150208_10152810321940735_7032996897445869553_n" class=" wp-image-1334 aligncenter" height="443" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/11150208_10152810321940735_7032996897445869553_n.jpg?w=583&h=443" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="583" /></a></div>
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The church is well known throughout the world by its diamond patterned roof and its tall, lean southern tower fondly called “Steffie”, which made it one of the tallest structures in Europe. The treasures inside the church also make it one of the most important places in history.</div>
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Within its catacomb lies the tomb of Prince Eugene of Savoy (1754), the Altarpiece of Wiener Neustadt, the pulpit by Anton Pilgram (1514-15), the sepulcher of Emperor Frederik III by Niclas Gerhaert (1467-1513), the watchman`s lookout, a self portrait of the sculptor, and the Gothic winged altar.</div>
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<a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/11136723_10152810321645735_3967529123812084682_n.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="11136723_10152810321645735_3967529123812084682_n" class=" wp-image-1331 aligncenter" height="641" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/11136723_10152810321645735_3967529123812084682_n.jpg?w=487&h=641" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="487" /></a></div>
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I visited the church this spring and it was indeed one of the most stunning architectural wonders I have seen. The roof is just so pretty that you can’t help but admire it.</div>
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No matter the time of day, tourists from within Austria and beyond, troop to the church to marvel at its fantastic design, and wander inside to see its altars and naves.</div>
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<a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/11038730_10152810183570735_3548466230291872848_n.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="11038730_10152810183570735_3548466230291872848_n" class=" wp-image-1332 aligncenter" height="727" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/11038730_10152810183570735_3548466230291872848_n.jpg?w=552&h=727" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="552" /></a></div>
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Its bluish altar also makes it one of the most unique churches I have ever visited.</div>
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I spent more than an hour inside the church, alternately praying and marveling at its gorgeous interiors. In that short timespan, I immediately realized why this church is so special to the Viennese. It is simply a jewel, in a city that is already one of the prettiest in the world.</div>
Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-66804730842447321102016-06-26T07:27:00.000-07:002016-06-26T07:27:04.483-07:00Inside the Real Alcazar in Seville, Spain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8yqjQ2nU_Z_k2_quFWWnjmKkHZuQ3HpzK5f5_n_w8ulELVF3D7yzYMPlY7qYYCZ1KHss4QCjTu-nhvYpF-BxmtPJ3ojNPOcSTEHwe0GnuUV539PKZ6D211HUw7A5SQEZklzYP8MCEgD3/s1600/seville-754966_960_720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8yqjQ2nU_Z_k2_quFWWnjmKkHZuQ3HpzK5f5_n_w8ulELVF3D7yzYMPlY7qYYCZ1KHss4QCjTu-nhvYpF-BxmtPJ3ojNPOcSTEHwe0GnuUV539PKZ6D211HUw7A5SQEZklzYP8MCEgD3/s640/seville-754966_960_720.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px;">Millions of people heard of the Alcazar in Spain for the very first time, following an announcement from the producers of the mega-successful “Games of Thrones” series that it would shoot parts of the upcoming fifth season inside the Spanish Palace.</span></div>
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The Alcazar will serve as the location of the main palace of the ancient city of Dorne.</div>
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The excitement is justified considering the big following of the series. But for travel enthusiasts, the Alcazar is oh so much more than just a series location.</div>
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<a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/sam_0211.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES" class=" wp-image-522" height="506" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/sam_0211.jpg?w=675&h=506" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="675" /></a></div>
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The Alcazar is a great reminder of the past kingdoms that have ruled the southern region of the Spanish peninsula, Andalucia.</div>
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The Reales Alcazares de Sevilla or simply, the Real Alcazar is a royal palace which sits on a what was previously a Moorish fort. It is the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe. In 1987, it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.</div>
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According to historical record, the Alcazar were primarily built for the Cordoban governors of Seville and construction began as early as 913 AD.</div>
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In the 11th century, rulers of Mulim taifa developed the original fort by building a palace called Al-Muwarak. This original construction can still be seen in the now western portion of the palace.</div>
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In the 12th century, Almohad rulers added an eastern palace around what’s now the Patio del Crucero and in 1248, Christian Fernando III moved into the Alcazar when he captured Seville in 1248.</div>
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Subsequent monarchs developed and re-designed the Alcazar such as Alfonso X who replaced much of the Almohad structure with a Gothic one.</div>
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Between 1364 and 1366, Pedro I built the Mudejar Palaco de Don Pedro which is the single most striking architecture and focal point of the entire fortress.</div>
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The Alcazar is an example of mudejar architecture, or the design personality of the Al-Andalus who stayed behind Andalucia after the the Christian Reconquisita but did not convert to Christianity.</div>
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I got the great opportunity to visit the Alcazar during my trip to Seville in September 2014.</div>
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If you have been traveling all over Europe, then chances are, you might have been saturated by the multitudes of palaces and forts and you might dismiss this Spanish palace as another, well, palace.</div>
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But for a first-time visitor to the continent, seeing the Alcazar up close was a magical experience. It was like stepping into a portal and getting a glimpse into the past. You can just imagine the Moors who used to occupy these halls. Then the Spanish monarchs who followed suit.</div>
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As I walked along the halls of the palace, I couldn’t help but notice the intricate designs, mosaics and tiles adorning the walls and ceilings.</div>
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The mosaics are so quite colorful and they feature geometric designs that are more Moorish than Spanish, again reminding everyone of the origins of this immense complex.</div>
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The great detail with which the walls, halls and ceilings were built make you instantly realize that this place was built with great care and supervision, fit only for the royals.</div>
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The entire Alcazar complex is huge and there’s a big likelihood that you might get lost inside its many patios, hallways and secret passageways.</div>
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Despite its immense size, however, there is no doubt that the centerpiece is the Mudejar Palacio de Don Pedro.</div>
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The halls on the second floor also has a display of the largest maps, tapestries that I have ever seen. They are so old that I am afraid of even touching it. Some of the tapestries depict the routes taken by Spanish voayagers during the era of exploration in the 1500s.</div>
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The outside pond/garden Estanque de Mercurio also had a great impact. After a leisurely walk along the many halls and patios inside the Alcazar, I stumbled upon this fountain and pond. Located near the gardens, this place just gives one a sense of peace and contentment.</div>
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There is water coming from the roof and as the sun’s ray passes through the falling water, it creates a mini rainbow that just took my breath away.</div>
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A few hours of visit is just not enough to get a good appreciation of the Alcazar’s many halls and patios. I stayed for only about two hours because of limited time and still, I wasn’t able to discover many of its hidden secrets.</div>
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But I guess, that’s the way, Real Alcazar is. No matter how much you try to explore it, it remains an enigma even to those who have walked through its corridors many times before.</div>
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And to satisfy that lingering curiosity, you just cant help but go back.</div>
Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-72621675909183230852016-06-26T07:21:00.000-07:002016-06-26T07:21:12.934-07:00Into The Blue: Diving Attractions in Guam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iBA8Ds-WGdlHc0IooiXpIC40QOPS3m_89EiOiFXT22k1LSDRg1Y78Zk1DxQEl-jWmZJqGCKYhU9NkBqgH0ThzPPul8SkevzzsgEO2k2uR586BytMqdN3mYy1hRMVpY0V6WOMTbj31mOT/s1600/guam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iBA8Ds-WGdlHc0IooiXpIC40QOPS3m_89EiOiFXT22k1LSDRg1Y78Zk1DxQEl-jWmZJqGCKYhU9NkBqgH0ThzPPul8SkevzzsgEO2k2uR586BytMqdN3mYy1hRMVpY0V6WOMTbj31mOT/s640/guam.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px;">I’ve always wanted to travel to Micronesia.</span></div>
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I think it is one of the regions that are so, so gorgeous, but they get very few attention from the global travel community.</div>
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For Filipinos, this region is actually very well-known, but not for travel purposes. For many, going to countries such as Palau, Northern Mariana and Guam is a stepping stone to landing a better job in the mainland US. But I think, that these countries also deserve attention for their landscapes and natural attractions.</div>
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They are part of Micronesia so countries belonging to this sub-region of course have very unique topography.</div>
<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_1227" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #555555; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16.9px; line-height: 1.3847; margin: 0px auto 24px; max-width: 100%; width: 561px;"><a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/blue-hole.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="Blue Hole" class=" wp-image-1227" height="844" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/blue-hole.jpg?w=561&h=844" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%;" width="561" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 6px 0px; text-align: center;">Blue Hole</figcaption></figure><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
My desire to travel to the region was even heightened as the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) in the Philippines released photos of its spectacular dive sites. As part of Guam’s tourism promotion efforts, it is inviting Filipinos to come experience the country’s major dive sites.</div>
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I may not be a good swimmer but I am fan of water activities.</div>
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Sure, the Philippines also has amazing dive sites like those in Anilao and Palawan but belonging to a unique sub-region as Micronesia, means that the marine biodiversity in Guam is something you have to witness.</div>
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One favorite dive site is the Blue Hole, a natural coral shaft with teaming marine life and visibility up to 100 feet (30 meters). Among the marine life you will encounter are the red-tooth triggerfish, titan triggerfish, crocodile needlefish and various butterfly fish. The site is also teeming with larger fishes such as Napoleons, and barracudas.</div>
<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_1228" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #555555; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16.9px; line-height: 1.3847; margin: 0px auto 24px; max-width: 100%; width: 709px;"><a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/gvb-scuba-diving-photo.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="Diving in Guam" class=" wp-image-1228" height="473" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/gvb-scuba-diving-photo.jpg?w=709&h=473" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%;" width="709" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 6px 0px; text-align: center;">Diving in Guam</figcaption></figure><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Barracuda Rock is equally captivating. It features great visibility, as do all of the open ocean sites along Guam’s west coast, and a boulder-strewn ocean floor, sometimes harboring colorful lobsters. Its caves are filled with red squirrelfish, hatchetfish, and big porcupine fish.</div>
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Another interesting dive site is the Gab Gab 2 reef, which the Atlantis tourist submarine circles. It is one place where you will most likely see big fish such as giant trevallies, batfish, a nurse shark and a moray eel. If you look closely, especially in the round concrete structures on the reef, you can even find big stonefish.</div>
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For diving fanatics, Guam is also a perfect destination for visiting ship wreck. One famous shipwreck is that of German ship from World War I, the SMS Cormoran, which came into contact with a Japanese ship, Tokai Maru, during World War II. The Japanese ship was actually sunk during battle, and damage from the bombing can be seen on the ship. This is the only place in the world where wrecks from both world wars touch beneath the surface.</div>
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<a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/kitsugawa-maru.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="Kitsugawa Maru" class=" wp-image-1229 aligncenter" height="950" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/kitsugawa-maru.jpg?w=639&h=950" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="639" /></a></div>
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Equally interesting is the American Tanker, a concrete barge sunk after WWII. There are a few open rooms along the ship deck, as well as the superstructure itself, which can be safely entered by divers without special shipwreck training. You can find an emperor angelfish hanging around the rudder, and there are red snappers, titan triggerfish and assorted fusillears, butterflyfish and parrotfish around the wreck.</div>
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To ensure the safety of divers, Guam has two fully staffed recompression chambers run by the U.S. Navy and two hospitals – one military and one private to come to the rescue in case of any untoward incident.</div>
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As part of its efforts to bring in tourists to its shores, Guam is maintaining its various dive sites to preserve its natural beauty even as it opens these sites to avid diving enthusiasts.</div>
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Diving packages for all ages are also available to cater to a wider market.</div>
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It may not be soon, but I will take diving lessons so I can prepare for the time when I can explore Guam’s underwater treasures.</div>
Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-44054191587850713762016-06-25T05:37:00.000-07:002016-06-25T05:37:25.500-07:00A Few Things You Should Know Before Visiting Kuala Lumpur<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8_xKfdqPbgh_IfPUP4Mq4bBI7Lg5DksgrhsLsnxANdJUmk7CkrhyEvxeLPGNF5S4B4WIX9j4KHb1b_H2tJKdE0s3Nky0-keo_KfbRzzYhin83JdZrlKByO2MdkSz2st8laE4dTUN4PZT/s1600/KL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8_xKfdqPbgh_IfPUP4Mq4bBI7Lg5DksgrhsLsnxANdJUmk7CkrhyEvxeLPGNF5S4B4WIX9j4KHb1b_H2tJKdE0s3Nky0-keo_KfbRzzYhin83JdZrlKByO2MdkSz2st8laE4dTUN4PZT/s640/KL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pixabay.com/en/kuala-lumpur-petronas-twin-towers-170985/" target="_blank">Kuala Lumpur </a></td></tr>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px;">Malaysia is a dream destination for a lot of people. It is easy to see why it is on the travel bucket list for many people. I have been to the country before and I can see why people would want to visit it. Despite the </span><a href="https://thefilipinowanderer.com/2015/06/23/24-hours-in-kuala-lumpur/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">awfully long queue at the airport immigration</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px;">! A lot of people that aren’t native to Asia think that they won’t speak a lick of English. So that can put a lot of people off. The thing is, nearly everyone does speak English. So it is a great place to start off travel adventures. It doesn’t make it too ‘foreign’ in that way.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">You can get around using English and asking the locals. On the whole, they are a lovely nation and seem happy to help in my experience. Just don’t talk too fast or go off in an in-depth conversation with them. Keep it simple and they will be able to understand and help.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">You don’t need to worry about taxis or hiring a car when you are in Kuala Lumpur. The train system is amazing there. You can get a train from one of the airports and it will take you right into the heart of the city. You sometimes think that everything was built around the train system as it works so well. So when you are making a </span><a href="http://putra.sunwayhotels.com/contact-us" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Kuala Lumpur hotel booking</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">, choose one that has good access to a train station.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Then you can get around to the see the sights and visit all of the amazing markets. They run every couple of minutes, and they are super cheap. It makes it so easy to get around. So you can feel like you are able to fit in a lot on your trip. As you will be able to get around and see it all easily.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">On that note, markets are life in Malaysia. They are so vibrant and full of life. They are great to visit for a self-esteem boost too. Want to be told you are a handsome man that needs a </span><a href="https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/low-budget-watches-guide-men/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">handsome looking watch</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">, then they are the places to be. Be fully prepared to haggle at the markets too. The stall owners are prepared for this and will go in with a high price. It is a good idea to go for at least half of the first price they give. Then go from there until you are at a price you are happy with.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">One thing that you need to do in Kuala Lumpur is to try lots of the street food. As the name suggests, it is pretty cheap but truly amazing. You get to try all of the tastes of Malaysia. If you aren’t sure what to try first, it is a good idea to ask the locals. Maybe check with the hotel staff of where you are staying of where they would advise. They will have a better idea of the places that are popular and which areas might make you feel unwell.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 400;">Enjoy your trip!</span></div>
Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-9076901632008029352016-06-25T05:34:00.000-07:002016-06-25T05:34:24.171-07:00Taking A Trip Down Under? Here’s Everything You Should Do In Perth<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pixabay.com/en/perth-western-australia-city-1368337/" target="_blank">Pixabay</a></td></tr>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px;">It’s time for a trip down under. That’s right; we’re heading for </span><a href="https://thefilipinowanderer.com/2015/06/22/a-visit-to-st-pauls-cathedral-in-melbourne-australia/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Australia</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px;">. Specifically, I’m going to tell you about everything you don’t want to miss when visiting Perth. One of Australia’s finest cities. Though, as you’re about to find out it’s what lies beyond the city limits that’s truly worth discovering. Join me then as I uncover some of the best things to see and do around Perth. If you take this trip, the adventurers and romantics won’t be disappointed; that’s for sure.</span></div>
<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_4368" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #555555; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16.9px; line-height: 1.3847; margin: 0px auto 24px; max-width: 100%; width: 564px;"><img alt="perth4" class=" size-full wp-image-4368 aligncenter" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/perth4.jpg?w=672" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%;" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 6px 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://es.pinterest.com/pin/211669251210315195/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;" target="_blank">King’s Park and Botanical Gardens</a></figcaption></figure><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Kings Park And Botanic Gardens</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">You’ll have to </span><a href="http://www.burswoodcarrentals.com.au/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">search for a cheap car rental</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"> when you visit Perth because you are going to be doing quite a lot of traveling. There are a few things to do in the city of Perth. But, as already mentioned, the true cities lie in the wilderness. Okay, not so much the wilderness as a short car ride outside the center. There you’ll find Kings Park. It’s a gorgeous, picture perfect paradise that stretches for miles and is visited by well over six million people every year. There’s a lot to explore in this 400-acre wonderland. Make sure that you do stop by at least once as the sun begins to set. If you do this, you’ll get an enchanting view of Perth lit up at night. As well as that, don’t forget to journey along the elevated walkway through the trees. Below you’ll be able to see the entire park stretched out before you.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Perth Beaches</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">There are quite a few beaches that you’ll want to explore that I’d be hard-pressed to name just one that I recommend. Instead, I suggest you take a trip to as many as possible. Walk along the sandy shores or head for a swim in the shallow waves. Some beaches in Perth also offer surfing lessons. That’s some</span><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">thing you might want to look into because the Aussies sure know how to ride the waves. In the evening, you can settle down on the green not too far from the shore for a great BBQ. Or, drive down to the pier for a meal at one of Perth’s finest restaurants.</span></div>
<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_4373" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #555555; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16.9px; line-height: 1.3847; margin: 0px auto 24px; max-width: 100%; width: 564px;"><img alt="dd99cc6090feb266c44246339922acdc" class=" size-full wp-image-4373 aligncenter" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/dd99cc6090feb266c44246339922acdc.jpg?w=672" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%;" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 6px 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://es.pinterest.com/pin/470766967270402588/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Matilda Bay Boathouse</a></figcaption></figure><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Hire A Boat</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">If you’re a nature lover, you might want to see the sea life surrounding Perth up close and personal. Well, you can. You just need to </span><a href="http://www.bluesun2.com.au/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">hire a boat</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">, and you can do that down at the city bay. You’ll be able to take out one of the smaller boats by yourself or with your family. Then you can jet across the ocean waves looking for the perfect area to drop anchor. Dive into the sea just off the coast and you might just spot a few sea creatures.</span></div>
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<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_4363" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #555555; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16.9px; line-height: 1.3847; margin: 0px auto 24px; max-width: 100%; width: 564px;"><img alt="perth3" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4363" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/perth3.jpg?w=672" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%;" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 6px 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://es.pinterest.com/pin/554646510337007699/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Batthurst Lighthouse, Rottnest Island</a></figcaption></figure><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Rottnest Island</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lastly, you can finish your trip by taking a ferry over to Rottnest Island. There, you’ll have the chance to snorkel and scuba dive in crystal clear waters. It’s best to wait for the optimum weather conditions before you travel to this perfect paradise. Particularly, if you are planning on exploring the world below.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 400;">I hope you have found this a great incentive to take a trip to Perth this year.</span></div>
Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-9393786904674392132016-06-25T05:30:00.000-07:002016-06-25T05:30:02.005-07:00Fun Facts About Tuscany You Might Not Know<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdx_9nZkNPMgt_6oyyUTJAAzyWvQ1P6pV-hDz3wDYuGudlU4hp1D-IdpL3hxYtZlxlr2TjFbs-weR-JidPYzycMqf9f23nOlunDeviP83gbnp9jG07TkJkcYlIdJue190ZNz0jK7ICzKtq/s1600/tuscany-428041_960_720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdx_9nZkNPMgt_6oyyUTJAAzyWvQ1P6pV-hDz3wDYuGudlU4hp1D-IdpL3hxYtZlxlr2TjFbs-weR-JidPYzycMqf9f23nOlunDeviP83gbnp9jG07TkJkcYlIdJue190ZNz0jK7ICzKtq/s640/tuscany-428041_960_720.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Tuscany is one of the most beautiful areas of Italy with stunning landscapes that draw millions of visitors every year. It’s home to some fantastic wineries and has some good restaurants and interesting museums. Before considering whether or not you should vacate here, you should check out these fun facts which you might not know about the area of Tuscany.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">There is a film based on it</strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">You might not have heard of the move Under the Tuscan Sun which was released back in 2003, and is situated in the area of the Tuscany. Diane Lane plays Frances, a lady who buys a villa in Tuscany and moves to the area to restart her life. The film showcases some of Tuscany’s beautiful landscapes. In fact, it was one of five </span><a href="https://thefilipinowanderer.com/2015/04/06/5-movies-that-inspired-me-to-travel/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">films</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"> which inspired me to travel around the world! You should take a look at this flick if you want to see more of Tuscany.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">It has a ski resort</strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Another thing people don’t know about Tuscany is that it has a ski resort for adrenaline junkies to visit. As discussed </span><a href="http://www.eyeitalia.com/top-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-tuscany/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">here</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">, a lot of individuals think of Tuscany as more of a summer resort with its beautiful rolling countryside. However, Mount Amiata in Tuscany is now a popular choice for skiers and snowboards to stay, who want to enjoy the winter weather. Therefore, if you are looking for a more active holiday, you should consider staying here in colder months. </span></div>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Italy#/media/File:Speikboden_gebiet.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Image Credit</span></a></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Celebrities own properties here</strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tuscany is also a popular place with celebrities, with many owning properties in the area. Pretty Woman actor Richard Gere has a place here as well as famous musician Sting. A lot of celebrities also visit here every year. Therefore, if you stay in Tuscany to see the </span><a href="https://www.qualityvillas.com/italy/tuscany" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">beautiful Tuscan landscapes</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">, you may see a celebrity or two while you’re vacating in the area.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">There is more than one leaning tower</strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">A lot of people know that the leaning tower of Pisa is situated in the area of Tuscany and is a unique sight to behold. In fact, it draws lots of tourists every year who want a picture with the unusual tower. However, a lot of people don’t know that there is more than one leaning tower in Tuscany. As revealed </span><a href="http://www.headwater.com/blog/five-interesting-facts-you-didn%E2%80%99t-know-about-tuscany/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">here</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">, there are several churches which are also leaning, including the church of St. Michele dei Scalzi. So don’t forget to check these out too when staying in Tuscany!</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">It’s the home of Pinocchio</strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Another thing you might not realize about Tuscany is that it’s the home of Disney character Pinocchio. Before it was a Disney film, the story was written by Carlo Collodi back in the 1800’s. And according to </span><a href="http://www.world-travel-net.com/tours-activities/94-10-cool-facts-about-travel-to-tuscany-italy" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px -1px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">World Travel Net</span></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">, Pinocchio actually means pine eyes in Italian. Therefore, if you are visiting Tuscany with children, you can tell them all about the character being born here.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tuscany is one of the most popular areas of Italy, and worth considering visiting if you are traveling in Italy.</span></div>
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Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-40493880545983878132016-06-18T22:46:00.001-07:002016-06-18T22:46:32.743-07:00Inside The Warsaw Uprising Museum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px;">Warsaw is one of nicest cities in Central Europe. The architecture is impressive and the locals are some of the nicest people you will ever meet.</span></div>
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But behind the city’s calm veneer, lies a tumultuous past that continue to shape the way locals live and interact with the rest of the world. One of the darkest and bloodiest moments in the city’s history is the Warsaw Uprising in 1944.</div>
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The Warsaw Uprising was a solid testament to the Polish people’s resistance to the Nazi regime. During the event, thousands died as they fought against the Nazi Germany’s occupation of Poland.</div>
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As a memorial to those who gave their lives to the cause, the Warsaw Uprising Museum or Museum Powstania Warszawskiego was opened in 2004, as part of the 60th anniversary commemoration of the bloody event.</div>
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Occupying a former tram power station, the 2,000 square meter museum houses some of the most moving and important mementos of the uprising.</div>
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There are about 1,00 exhibits and 1,500 photographs including pictures of the brave men and women of Warsaw who fought against the Nazi forces.</div>
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But what really moved me is the dedicated exhibit for the young Polish soldiers who despite their age, contributed greatly to the uprising. Some of the young Poles delivered important mails and communications under the nose of the Nazi’s. Others served as medics and healed the wounded</div>
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A replica of the The Little Insurgent monument can also be found inside the museum. The actual monument is located inside the walls of Warsaw’s Old Town or Stare Miasto.</div>
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A Polish friend whom I visited during my visit to Warsaw insisted that I spend an hour or so inside the museum so I would have a better understanding of the city’s history and of its people psyche. He was absolutely right.</div>
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A great deal of exhibits inside the Uprising Museum brought me close to tears and silenced me.</div>
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There is the Hall of Remembrance, a tribute to those who perished in the war. There also the black and white photos of Warsaw before and after the Nazis burned it to the ground as retaliation. Fact: The entire Old City was obliterated by the Nazi forces and the old city that now stands is merely a a faithful reconstruction of the original.</div>
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A wall displaying the timeline of events is located right at the heart of the museum reminding visitors of the series of circumstances that led to Warsaw’s destruction.</div>
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You will also see a replica of the Warsaw sewers, which insurgents used to move around the city during the uprising.</div>
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One of the highlights of the museum is an exact replica of a B24 Allied plane used to drop supplies to the city.</div>
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Before you exit the museum, spare a few minutes to watch “City of Ruins” a short video showing the depth of destruction Warsaw suffered during the city’s liberation in 1945.</div>
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Visiting the Uprising Museum was one of the highlights of my visit to Warsaw. It opened my eyes to the true pain and suffering the people of Warsaw felt during the occupation.</div>
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The museum is also a great reminder to visitors and to the outside world of the need to be vigilant against any form of oppression. A reminder that never again should we let our freedom be curtailed and our voices stifled.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Opening hours:</strong><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Mon., Wed., Fri. 10 am – 6 pm, Thu. 10 am – 8 pm, Sat.-Sun. 10 am – 6 pm</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Admission:</strong><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />regular – 18 PLN, reduced – 14 PLN, groups – 10 PLN/person</div>
Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-4491377340286423322016-06-18T22:39:00.000-07:002016-06-18T22:39:22.977-07:00A Taste of Prague’s Famous Dish ‘Koleno’<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px;">As I shared to my readers before, I seldom post about food in my travel blog because, uhmm, I am technically not a foodie.</span></div>
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I mean, I love food, and I love eating and dining, but I am very picky with the food that I consume and I am even doubly picky when trying new things when I am in a foreign country. Specifically, I am very particular with the meat that I consume (I only eat beef, pork and chicken). I know, I know, it lessens my street cred as an adventurer but it’s something that I had to contend with early on, when I decided to start my travel blog.</div>
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During my recent trip to Prague, the capital of the Bohemian region, however, I practically threw caution to the wind in order to taste a delicacy that’s been one of my greatest motivations for visiting the city in the first place.</div>
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I just had to sink my teeth into Bohemia’s famous ‘Koleno’, or short for <i style="box-sizing: inherit;">pečené vepřové koleno.</i></div>
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When I was finalizing my European itinerary, I happened to catch an episode of Anthony Bourdain’s trip to Czech Republic and there, he raved about this dish, that is just too tempting, and too sinful, I simply had to try it. I immediately changed my itinerary and made sure that I will have a longer stay in Prague to get a taste of this famous dish.</div>
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Actually, there is no secret or mad science behind koleno.</div>
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Koleno is simply pork knuckles marinated in beer and herbs, cooked for too long (around 45 minutes to 1 hour), until it is very soft and red. You’ll know a good koleno when it just melts in your mouth.</div>
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It is often served as a large chunk of pork knuckles, bone in, accompanied by horseradish and bread.</div>
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The result is a spectacle of a dish that’s long been considered as the king of Prague’s cuisine.</div>
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Take a stroll along Prague’s Old Town at the Wenceslau Square and you will see traditional restaurants trying to beat each other with “the best koleno” in town.</div>
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This dish is considered too sinful because its high in cholesterol and fats literally.</div>
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On my final day in Prague, I just couldn’t care less about my diet, that I went to the nearest Czech restaurant near the old town square and ordered a huge serving of koleno.</div>
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Supposedly, each serving is good for one person. In reality, it is good enough for sharing between three friends. But since I was craving for it, it was gone in less than 30 minutes (hahaha).</div>
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It was just so tender and juicy, and the meat and pork skin were so soft, I never needed to use my knife. The best way to enjoy it is to savor each chunk of meat, and wash it with red or white wine, as it brings out the flavor of the marinated pork.You can also try ‘pivo’ or beer in Czech.</div>
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And since Prague is known to be one of the most affordable cities in Europe, you can surely enjoy koleno without breaking the bank. A good serving costs an average of 15 to 20 Euros.</div>
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It was definitely an unforgettable dining experience, I would have surely missed if I insisted on being too picky and choosy.</div>
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Koleno doesn’t get enough credit in travel books or guide brochures about Prague.</div>
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But I am telling you, this dish is one of the best reasons to pack your bags and fly to the beautiful city of Prague in Bohemia.</div>
Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-9847102642121104242016-06-04T20:55:00.000-07:002016-06-04T20:55:42.535-07:00A Visit To St. Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne, Australia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="line-height: 31.2000007629395px;">Whenever I travel, one of the first places I visit are the local churches.</span></div>
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I am not very religious but I have always admired the varying architectural designs of the world’s many churches. Also, churches reflect the mood and the style of the people who worship in them.</div>
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During my recent visit to Melbourne, I happily stumbled upon the massive St. Paul’s Cathedral located along the intersection of Swanston and Flinders Streets. You can say that these two are the most busiest thoroughfares in Melbourne and is considered as the central business district of the city.</div>
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This neo-Gothic style church was constructed in 1885 upon the location of what was previously a very small church. It mas made bigger and grander to accommodate the growing Anglican faith of the people of Melbourne.</div>
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It was designed by famous British English architect William Butterfield. The church is considered as his very last materpiece. It followed the neo-Gothic style of architecture which was prevalent during the late 18th to 19th century.</div>
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Inside, St. Paul’s Cathedral is a magnificent work of art with gorgeous pillars, domes and windows. The place becomes even more mysterious and captivating with rays of lights passing through the stained glass windows.</div>
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On that hot summer day, I went inside the church and prayed for protection and good health for my loved ones. I also prayed for the resolution of the many wars in the world. I also prayed for the strength to lead a righteous life.</div>
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After my prayers, I still couldn’t help but linger inside the church as I marvel as its beauty.</div>
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Below are some pictures of the cathedral:</div>
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Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-61999503191083543162016-06-04T20:42:00.001-07:002016-06-04T20:42:49.103-07:00Exploring Koh Phi Phi in Southern Thailand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6XE6jz5uJZ15hCGD_IUsdmlZc14vgnDrW9aLOXSjpDOed7I3wG2ZzIRwR5KFDAlmhSW5mpHCQGc_zXDnSvx6BzAnRQXWBOAqjJdVNTEEhf3Vg2iL8pqvV09IiW-3TjA6X7or8OUlbvuB/s1600/KPP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6XE6jz5uJZ15hCGD_IUsdmlZc14vgnDrW9aLOXSjpDOed7I3wG2ZzIRwR5KFDAlmhSW5mpHCQGc_zXDnSvx6BzAnRQXWBOAqjJdVNTEEhf3Vg2iL8pqvV09IiW-3TjA6X7or8OUlbvuB/s640/KPP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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You will feel it as soon as you take your first step.</div>
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At the Ton Sai pier, you will feel that palpable energy and buzz of thousands of travelers from all over the globe who know they are in for an unforgettable adventure.</div>
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After all, exploring the island group of Koh Phi Phi is one adventure every self-respecting adventurer must take at least once in his life. This is not an exaggeration.</div>
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Koh Phi Phi is the island superstar of Thailand and the things that justify its reputation goes on and on. But in a nut shell, this group of islands offer some of the most gorgeous white sand beaches in the world along with high visibility crystal clear waters, making it a mecca of surfers, divers and other watersport enthusiasts.</div>
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The island’s party scene is also renowned, rivaling the popularity of Haad Rin beach in Koh Pangan, another island heavyweight in Thailand’s long list of gorgeous island jewels, which hosts to the world famous or infamous monthly full moon parties,</div>
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Technically, Koh Phi Phi is a group of islands located near the Andaman sea and is governed administratively by the province of Krabi. There are six islands in the group, including Phi Phi Ley and Phi Phi Don, which is the most heavily populated.</div>
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The pier along with the hotels, hostels, restaurants, travel and tour shops are all located in Phi Phi Don.</div>
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The Maya beach, the site where the movie “The Beach” was filmed, and the Monkey island meanwhile are located in Phi phi Ley.</div>
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There are daily tours around the main islands of Koh Phi Phi but the most famous and frequent are tours around Maya beach.</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;"><u style="box-sizing: inherit;">Party Scene</u></b></div>
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Partying is mostly centered in Phi Phi Don.</div>
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Beachfront bars along Ton Sai beach, such as Slinky’s, Woody’s, Aloha and Tones, offer nightly entertainment to the endless list of tourists visiting Koh Phi Phi.</div>
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The party usually begins with fire dances and fire jump ropes and fire limbo rocks. Once the clock strikes 10 or 11pm, the beach becomes a virtual stage for tourists who are dying to let thei r hair down, or find a partner for the night.</div>
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Unlike Koh Pangan who comes alive and becomes busy during full moons and the days leadingto it, Koh Pangan hosts parties every night, thus explaining the non-stop flow of visitors.</div>
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And also unlike the said island, Koh Phi Phi is not famous fir its drug problem. The only thing the two islands have in common are the Thai-patented buckets, liquid death mixtures of rhum, whisky, tonic and red bull or anything you want to add.</div>
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There are also bars located inside the island. The most famous is Jordan’s Irish pub which shows UEFA and All English Premiere League non-stop, attracting a host of visistors from the UK and the Commonwealth islands.</div>
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Reggae bar meantime, features live Thai fighting (a very noisy affair)</div>
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Banana Bar is a rooftop bar which offers free movie showing. I got there on my first night and they were showing “The beach”. hahahah</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;"><u style="box-sizing: inherit;">Dining</u></b></div>
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Like everywhere else in Thailand, dining is not a problem due to the endless rows of restaurants and food stalls. But being and island tourist destination, prices are not necessarily cheap compared to those restaurants located in other parts of the country, say Khao San Road.</div>
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I had the opportunity of dining in some restos around Phi Phi Don and here are my recommendations:</div>
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<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">Basil Bistro (Thai owned, a bit out of the way, but the tomyum and the grilled food are superb.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tom Yam (Also out of the way, and very small but the green and yellow curry are to die for)</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">Unni’s (Reasonable price but very friendly and accommodating staff. Food is so-so)</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">Italiano (located in front of Harmony tours. The food is expensive but good)</li>
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If you’re really on a tight budget, go buy food at the stalls located along and inside the Tsunami village (named so because the area is composed of houses, devastated by the 2004 Asian tsunami)</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;"><u style="box-sizing: inherit;">Hotels</u></b></div>
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I can’t tell you much about hotels since I am a backpacker but I can tell you that you should make prior reservations in Phi Phi Don. The owners of the hotels and hostels love walk ins coz they can easily fluctuate prices and the average asking price is 1,300 to 1,500 Thai Baht for a small non-airconditioned room.</div>
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There are mixed dorm types offering 500 to 600 Thai Baht bunk beds.</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;"><u style="box-sizing: inherit;">Getting There</u></b></div>
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Reaching Koh Phi Phi is not necessarily an easy journey.</div>
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Sure you can easily purchase tours in Khao San Road for only 850 to 900 Thai Baht but the long road trip makes it really challenging.</div>
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From Khao San Road, you will take a 14 hour drive by Songserm double-decker bus Krabi.</div>
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You will then take a two hour ferry trip to Phi Phi Don.</div>
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If you’re not really willing to travel by road that long, you can take a flight from Bangkok to Phuket and then take a four three hour ferry to Koh Phi Phi.</div>
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Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-21495270988127498992016-05-29T04:48:00.002-07:002016-05-29T04:48:52.455-07:00Making A Wish To The Trevi Fountain in Rome<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_KRsJms2m6WCES8otCCy4BpZaSNWx3eBxiJ1vOAY15iPyjEKBIUBa8QWyG9IRULP2EUVjEXRx3kcl2S1KwYcEEliDSLHmLD2jCE9Pw-K5zZRX_cYE7hKEt2OSh-G3OaR7Eb4nkuIoYQk/s1600/trevifountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_KRsJms2m6WCES8otCCy4BpZaSNWx3eBxiJ1vOAY15iPyjEKBIUBa8QWyG9IRULP2EUVjEXRx3kcl2S1KwYcEEliDSLHmLD2jCE9Pw-K5zZRX_cYE7hKEt2OSh-G3OaR7Eb4nkuIoYQk/s640/trevifountain.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from http://www.trevifountain.net/images/trevifountain.jpg</td></tr>
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When I first made plans to come to Europe, I made a conscious decision to come to Rome, Italy.</div>
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A lot of my plans were still up in the air and I haven’t even figured out which other countries I will visit, or where will I stay, but I knew in my heart that I just had to go visit the Eternal City.</div>
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You see, I have had this long-time dream of traveling to Rome, explore its ancient, cobblestone streets, marvel at its landmarks dating back to Pax Romana, and even earlier. One of the places, I definitely wanted to see was the legendary Trevi Fountain, or Fontana di Trevi.</div>
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Call me a romantic, I don’t care, but I fell head over heels in love with the 1954 classic “Three Coins In The Fountain” starring Maggie McNamara and Louis Jordan among others. I saw myself in the hopeful characters who believe that love would come, no matter what. I have had so many heartaches and break-ups that sometimes I wonder, if there is really someone out there who will love me forever.</div>
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In that movie, it was shared that when you turn your back from the fountain and tosses a coin from your left shoulder, you will definitely come back to Rome. If you toss a second coin, the you will meet a Roman love. A third coin will ensure that you end up with him/her.</div>
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On my very first day in Rome, I ventured to seek out the legendary fountain to try my luck. <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;"></strong>I braved the very crowded Roman metro A and headed to Barberini, going northwest to Battistini. The fountain is located in one of the many small alleys in Trevi so there is no other way but to take a walk. From Barberini, you can navigate you way into the fountain going through Via del Tritone, Via in Arcione and then finally Via del Lavatore.</div>
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If you’re Italian sucks, and you can’t follow a map to save your life, just follow the throngs of tourists wearing big cameras on their neck and chances are they are seeking the fountain too.</div>
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Fontana di Trevi is the biggest Baroque fountain in the world and is the probably the most visited too. It was built in the 18th century at the end of the 21-kilometer aqueduct called Virgo, which supplied fresh water to the city. It was named after the Goddess Virgo who according to ancient legend, guided soldiers in search of clean water when they are thirsty.</div>
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Since the 1954 movie, the number of tourists visiting the fountain grew exponentially and on one cold spring morning, I became one of those admiring tourists.</div>
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Because of frequent visitors, the fountain is getting a much-needed restoration and a fiberglass gate is built around it, presently. You can still go near it, by joining the long queue, at the rightmost passageway, which is subject to control and inspection by the Roman Police, and you can walk through an elevated wooden platform.</div>
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After spending 10 minutes in the queue, I finally got my chance to come near the fountain and all I could say at that moment was “whoa”. it is an immense fountain with the most gorgeous sculpture of Neptune.</div>
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In the bright light, the white marble statues were luminous and are just a marvel to behold. The pool at the end of its fountain, glistens with the thousands of coins thrown by hopeful travelers and lovers hoping to come back to the city and find romance.</div>
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There are lots of activities at the very front, like crowds taking selfies, etc, so it is up to you to find your own inner peace and quiet, and continue on with your coin-throwing pursuits.</div>
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I had to ask a group of very, very tall Swedish guys, to give me some space, for fear of hitting their foreheads with my coins.</div>
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I made a silent wish to the fountain to let me come back to Rome, and threw a euro over my left shoulder and it made a small splash. I continued to gaze at the lovely fountain, and then a few moments later, I decided to really push my luck and throw a second euro into the pool. I wasn’t really looking for a tryst with a Roman lover, but you’ll never know.</div>
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In that exact moment, scenes of the movie flashed through my eyes and the lyrics of the theme song, sung by an uncredited Frank Sinatra, played in my mind.</div>
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“Three Coins in the fountain, each one seeking happiness. Thrown by three hopeful lovers, which one will the fountain bless?”, Sinatra mused,.I looked all around me, and wondered, out of all the people who made a wish to the fountain this day, how many would find their own happiness?I never got the chance to think of the answer as the loud police officer yelled at us to move forward since we’re taking too much time. I was near the end of the wooden platform, when my phone suddenly buzzed. Three new tinder matches, it showed, and I gave a hearty laugh.<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />I turned to face the fountain again, and gave it a silent thank you. I wasn’t sure if I was gonna respond to any of the matches. After all, I wasn’t really prepared for any romance at that moment, but I knew that the fountain was sending me a<span class="skimlinks-unlinked" style="box-sizing: inherit;">message.Never</span> give up hope. Love will come when you least expect it, and I think it was right on the mark.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">POST SCRIPT:</strong></div>
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The fountain receives an average of 3,000 euros a day and since 2006, the Roman charity group Caritas has been collecting the money. The charity group clean up the coins and use it to fund social services worldwide. In 2008, Caritas opened a low-cost supermarket for Rome’s needy.</div>
Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-42999737826036223892016-05-29T04:28:00.000-07:002016-05-29T04:28:00.265-07:00Backpacking Through The Mekong Region<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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More than just an inexpensive way to travel, backpacking is an exhilarating and enriching way to truly experience a destination. It compels travelers to go beyond their comfort zones, deviate from the usual tourist route, live the way locals do, and make friends along the way.</div>
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Cebu Pacific Air, with its low fares and network, empowers travel enthusiasts to satiate their wanderlust and explore the best backpacking destinations of Southeast Asia. The airline offers multicity tickets that allow you to fly to one country and depart from another, maximizing your trip.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Bangkok, the backpackers’ hub</strong></div>
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A backpacker favorite, Bangkok consistently lives up to its reputation as one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the world. Eclectic in its offerings and highly accessible from other destinations, it is the usual starting point for many travelers who crisscross the region. Spending at least two nights here should be enough to explore the city’s lively street markets, spectacular temples, and the nightlife in the famed Khao San Road.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Sandy beaches and party nights at Thailand’s south</strong></div>
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Koh Phi Phi, often referred to as Thailand’s most beautiful island, is located in Krabi province around 12 hours from Bangkok or a two-hour ferry ride from Phuket. The island shot to fame among adventure seekers when the film “The Beach” was shot there more than a decade ago. Accommodations start from as low as 50-100 baht a night. Another Southern Thailand hotspot among budget travelers is Krabi, a group of islands off the Andaman Coast. From Phi Phi, it takes about 1.5 hours by ferry. It is a town visited by those looking for nature activities such as rock climbing.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">The cultural and laidback North Thailand</strong></div>
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Complementing the vivacious energy of the South, the Northern part of Thailand offers a more laidback charm with its cultural attractions, relaxing vibe, and cooler weather. Just twp hours by bus from Bangkok is Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Thailand and a stunning city filled with ancient temples and religious structures.</div>
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Three rivers—the Chao Phraya, the Lopburi and the Pa Sak Rivers—converge gere.</div>
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The most enjoyable way to get around the ancien ruins is by bicycle, although tul-tuks are also available to take visitors around the complex.</div>
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The largest and most culturally significant city in Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai can be reached directlt by train from Bangkok. Aside from its quiet and relaxing atmosphere that contrasts the shustle and bustle of the capital, a lot of people come here for jungle trekking, elephant encounters and adventuroys activities.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Scenic small-town life in Laos</strong></div>
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Laos’ appeal lies in its vast wilderness and rich culture. This country used to be isolated after years of war, but is now gaining cult status among travelers from all over the world. Vientiane, the capital, is accessible from Bangkok by train or by bus from Chiang Mai. The city serves as the starting point to other destinations in Laos. Spending one night here should be enough to recharge one’s energy because of the relaxing small town atmosphere.</div>
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After doing a round of the temples, a great way to<a class="rwjhyuggy is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.com/2015/07/13/backpacking-through-the-mekong-region/#44132204" style="-webkit-transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out; background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;" title="Click to Continue > by ShopDrop">experience<img alt="" src="https://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a> this river town is to watch the sun set by the Mekong River.</div>
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Meanwhile, Luang Prabang is a colorful hodgepodge of traditional Lao wooden houses and what remains of its French colonial past. Set underneath a temple-toppled hill, Luang Parabang is also known for its monks who line the streets to collect their only meal for the day.</div>
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A bit father away from Bangkok, it is a great take-off point for travelers who want to proceed to Hanoi in Vietnam.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Charming Cambodia</strong></div>
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Cambodia no longer evokes images of just majestic ruins and lost empires. From unspoiled beaches to a distinctive cuisine, the old Khmer kingdom continues to unearth more attractions for tourists and nomads alike.</div>
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There are several borders in Thailand that provicde crossing to Cambodia, the busiest of which leads to Aranyaprathet/Poipet in Northwesten Cambodia.</div>
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Siem Reap provides access to the Angkor Archaeological Park, a 400 square kilometrer forested complex of the magnificent ruins of the ancient Khmer empire.</div>
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The major temples like the Angkow Wat and the Bayon Temple of Angkor Thom can be explored within one day, but to visit the other smaller and hidden ones will require a couple of days more.</div>
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Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, can also be reached by bus from Siem Reap. The citym with its many museums, memorials, and pagodas, gives visitors a powerful glimpre of the country’s rich history and culture.</div>
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Other activities to try are river cruises, cooking classes, and checking out the street markets. From Phnom Penh, Ho CHi Minh in Vietnam can already be reached by bus.</div>
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There are many routes and ways to take when exporing these Southeast Asian gems, depending on the time each traveler has and how much they want to immerse themselves in every place they visit. The best way to make the most of every trip is to plan ahead and plan well.</div>
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Aside from booking flights early, securing the necessary travel permits or visas (if required) and packing efficiently, exciting things happen when one travels with an open mind.</div>
Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-17927376629716327762016-05-21T04:06:00.001-07:002016-06-04T20:44:14.946-07:00A Day in Freetown Christiania in Copenhagen<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="line-height: 31.2000007629395px;">It was my second day in Denmark, and against all the alarm signals blaring inside my head, I took a tentative step into the hidden, and as I later found out, sometimes, scary autonomous region of Freetown Christiania, a former military barracks area in the Christianshavn side of Copenhagen.</span></div>
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Freetown or Fristaden Christiania is a definite must-see in Copenhagen. From its humble beginnings as a former military barracks in 1971, it has grown to be an independent community with its own charter, the Christiania Law of 1989.</div>
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<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_1010" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #555555; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16.9px; line-height: 1.3847; margin: 0px auto 24px; max-width: 100%; width: 585px;"><a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/11133919_10152808198595735_9159812774940494355_n.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out; background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="11133919_10152808198595735_9159812774940494355_n" class=" wp-image-1010" height="776" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/11133919_10152808198595735_9159812774940494355_n.jpg?w=585&h=776" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%;" width="585" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 6px 0px; text-align: center;">Vor Frelsers Kirke or Our Savior’s Church, a few blocks away from Christinia.</figcaption></figure><br />
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Artists, musicians, social outcasts, gypsies and people of questionable habits have all gathered and formed the community. It’s hard to keep track of the number of people who live in Christiania, but rough estimates place the number of regular residents between 800 to 1,000.</div>
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Even with the questionable reputation of the people who live in it, however, the neighborhood continues to attract the interest and wonder of its global visitors.</div>
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Tourists who are after a different ‘trip’, travel to Christiania to buy cannabis and other controlled pharmaceuticals in Christiania’s Green Light District. Some residents grow their own cannabis at the comfort of their own backyard, and Copenhagen authorities seem to look the other way.</div>
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The main rule you should observe at all times? No cameras allowed to protect the identities of both Christiania’s residents and visitors. You’ve been warned.</div>
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Unfortunately, I learned of this rule only after I entered Christiania’s gates.</div>
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Like what any sane and curious traveler would do, I started taking pictures of the place as soon as saw its entrance gate. I continued to snap photos as I approached the entrance gardens and alternative sculptures until I passed the opening threshold.</div>
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Not a minute sooner, however, a guy, tall as a Viking approached me and ordered me to erase the pictures I took. It’s either that or he breaks the camera.</div>
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He wasn’t physically threatening me at all, but one look at his huge frame and bulking biceps, as compared to my humble 5’7 frame, convinced me that he could easily swat me like a bug, hahaha.</div>
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In short, I didn’t need further encouragement.</div>
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Without another word, I deleted the incriminating photos. My only consolation was he let me keep the pictures of the opening gardens of the community. But the rest of the pictures including of the weed stores inside the Green Light District are gone forever.</div>
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Fortunately, I had a good look of the place so I know how it looks like. There are stalls in the middle of the Green Light District offering smoke pipes, weeds, bags, tie-dyed shirts, and flags bearing the face of Bob Marley (how cliché, I thought). I don’t take drugs, but I know enough to see the paraphernalia used for such hobby. I saw glass tubes used for Ice (methampethamine), ecstasy, cocaine. It was crazy.</div>
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The prices are a bit expensive, but its Scandinavia so prices are really higher than the rest of Europe.</div>
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I wasn’t happy at all with the Viking guy ordering me to delete my photos, but to be fair he was only enforcing Christiania’s main rule so I eventually found peace in that fact.</div>
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Despite that incident, I later, got to realize how cool the place was after joining a mini musical jam among some of the residents and international visitors at the small hill near the Green Light District.</div>
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In a loose circle, we sang to some reggae songs and the rest sang traditional Danish folk songs. Some cannabis was obviously passed around our circle but I happily declined. I settled for some herrings and cheese.</div>
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Scanning the faces of the people gathered in that circle, I imagined myself living in Denmark, able to come back to this happy place again and again, singing song with some of the most amazing people you will ever meet.</div>
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I went back to my hotel pas midnight, and I still couldn’t shake the fun I had inside Christiania.</div>
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I also had an important realization about life, people, and their tendency to judge without knowing.</div>
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Boris, a German guy I was jamming with, said it one thought-provoking statement. “People in Christiania are happy, because they don’t give a f**k about what other’s think, or say”</div>
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People, in general, he said, are sometimes quick to judge others based on personal appearance and their religion, habits or sexual preference. There is very little we can do about it, because let’s face it, that’s life, and no matter the country or culture, there will always be people who won’t like you for who you are.</div>
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The subject of these judgments or can feel all the negativism or they can just shrug them off, and face each day with a smile treating each other with kindness. The people who live in Christiania, decided to band together and live in a place where everyone understands the others.</div>
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I won’t claim to really know everyone in Christiania, but the few residents and visitors I have met had a great impact on me.</div>
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And it dawned on me that if you can find positivism in a place condemned by others, maybe there is still hope for some kind of understanding and acceptance.We just have to keep searching and fighting for them.</div>
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<a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/11149371_10152808198000735_2316865211802953112_n.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out; background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="11149371_10152808198000735_2316865211802953112_n" class=" wp-image-1009 aligncenter" height="541" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/11149371_10152808198000735_2316865211802953112_n.jpg?w=716&h=541" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="716" /></a></div>
Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-89984591237912773152016-05-14T21:50:00.001-07:002016-05-14T21:50:32.609-07:00A Magical View of the Swiss Alps<div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 31.2000007629395px; margin: 48px 0px 24px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 48px; word-wrap: break-word;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXNwrd1SPQS-84QCyxGK8y0Frwl1rJL7QPSvaazkM9H9OlkojFKqiaYH61eIt5dhuLvOyo-K_nFwkUcXM8vo-MKT9B7XC_5AQPx924Q5xVKFXt9CAlomDtmxvDvVdp_N8RCwMkRscUlwN/s1600/12400630_10153382964805735_9073812852682859291_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXNwrd1SPQS-84QCyxGK8y0Frwl1rJL7QPSvaazkM9H9OlkojFKqiaYH61eIt5dhuLvOyo-K_nFwkUcXM8vo-MKT9B7XC_5AQPx924Q5xVKFXt9CAlomDtmxvDvVdp_N8RCwMkRscUlwN/s640/12400630_10153382964805735_9073812852682859291_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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It was 7 o’ clock in the morning and in 10 minutes, I would be landing at the Flughafen Zurich, the largest airport in the Swiss Confederation (Switzerland).</div>
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I have been flying from Hong Kong to Zurich for 10 hours on my way to Tel Aviv and I was scheduled to have a three-hour layover here in Switzerland, before my final journey to the Middle East.</div>
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There really wasn’t enough time for me to go out of the airport and explore this charming European city. I accepted this truth, as as soon as I purchased my ticket.</div>
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Still, minutes away from Zurich, part of me was hurting over the fact that I wouldn’t be able to explore Switzerland, even though I am literally in the country and I was flying over Swiss territory. Add to that, the fact that Zurich is actually called “Portal to the Alps”.</div>
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Since childhood, I have imagined myself playing in one of Switzerland’s famous alps, covered in powdery snow, not giving a care in the world. I have imagined myself skiing or driving down on snowmobiles in the Swiss countryside during winter. In fact Matterhorn, is included in my bucket list of must-visit places before I hit 35.</div>
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I have always known that I would be able to visit Switzerland, but that day, is not today. I was merely making a lay-over.</div>
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<a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/85720-040.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out; background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="" border="0" class=" aligncenter" height="743" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/85720-040.jpg?w=564&h=743" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="564" /></a>I was peeking at the windows and I could see the silhouette of country houses, farmlands in the Swiss countryside breezing past us and I couldn’t help but feel excited.</div>
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“This is totally awesome,” I was telling myself. It would have been a much more surreal experience had I been able to see a glimpse of the famous Swiss Alps. I guess fate had other plans.</div>
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Then it happened.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrwVRqgb533AoD7JF-eVRjvVvnQVG9E0JdOSA7IRSxbDzYPX-akj39qTffPieViDbVQBLFI-UaDfHeXQEvwoq9kDlvswH6RC3NizaAsYcDJwLdRtn_q6PGkBFo8Z8hRJBUJBICd6HO1Cj/s1600/1916966_10153382964915735_7430173415248797896_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrwVRqgb533AoD7JF-eVRjvVvnQVG9E0JdOSA7IRSxbDzYPX-akj39qTffPieViDbVQBLFI-UaDfHeXQEvwoq9kDlvswH6RC3NizaAsYcDJwLdRtn_q6PGkBFo8Z8hRJBUJBICd6HO1Cj/s640/1916966_10153382964915735_7430173415248797896_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Past green mountain tops, rivers and landscapes, without warning, the snow-capped peaks suddenly appeared in the horizon.</div>
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I literally caught my breath.</div>
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I could not accurately describe the emotions that filled me during those very few minutes. It was magical, Time stopped. It was totally love at first sight.</div>
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I would have cried if I didnt know I would look like a total weirdo to other passengers. To be fair, everyone was also silent, as they witness the grandeur of the Swiss Alps.</div>
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For five to 10 minutes or so, I flew over a totally snow-covered landscape broken only by rivers, roads and lower mountain ranges. I could not take my eyes off off it.</div>
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<a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/140ac-042.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out; background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="" border="0" class=" aligncenter" height="775" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/140ac-042.jpg?w=592&h=775" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="592" /></a>The flight attendant then announced that we would be landing in Zurich airport in a few minutes. That brought me back to reality of my predicament.</div>
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I was indeed in Switzerland but no matter how much I want to, I would have to stay at the airport and carry on with my onward flight to Israel.</div>
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Whereas I was totally sad about it, during the beginning of my trip, the latter part of the flight was just magical and joyous.</div>
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My experience seeing the Swiss Alps, totally lifted my spirits.</div>
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Those snow-covered peaks then became my inspiration to keep moving forward with my travels.</div>
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If I work hard enough for it, and if the fates allow, then one day, maybe soon, I would finally be able to visit Switzerland, the country, and not just the airport.</div>
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Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-34892443691512560942016-05-14T21:31:00.000-07:002016-05-14T21:31:08.466-07:00Up Close and Personal With The Eiffel Tower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="line-height: 31.2000007629395px;">It was barely 9am, but the busy Charles de Gaulle Etoile station at the heart of Ile de France, was already pulsing with life and energy. At both ends of the station, Parisians clad in the latest fashionable winter/spring clothes, marched hurriedly along a silent but frantic beat.</span></div>
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This is Paris, the most visited city in the world and if you are to judge with the throngs of people shuttling back and forth the metro, you will see that this day is not an exception. It seemed like tourists and travelers alike from virtually all points of the planet have come to adore and explore the city of lights.</div>
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What makes Paris, the destination of choice the world over, I never really understood until I set foot in the city, barely 24 hours ago.</div>
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With only my heavy backpack as my companion, and after spending an exorbitant amount of money, 23 euros to be exact, for a 24-hour whole-day transport pass that gives me access to all of Paris’ transport systems, I arrived in central Paris near midnight.</div>
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I wanted to explore the city at nighttime but my body simply shut down after a few nights of running after buses, trains and airplanes.</div>
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Today, After a good night’s sleep however, I am fully ready to discover Paris and all her beauty.</div>
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My first stop? The Eiffel of course.</div>
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All my life, I’ve been staring at postcards and wallpapers of Paris and its most recognizable landmark.</div>
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In the silence of my childhood room, I imagined myself dancing under Eiffel’s shadows on a cold autumn day, while dressed in the latest Parisian garb. I would bow in front of the mirror, as if addressing high-born monsieurs and mademoiselles.</div>
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It took me three decades before I managed to do it. When I got my schengen Visa, I made a hasty decision to come to Paris, throwing a wrench to my already set European journey. I just had to come and visit the city and come face to face with the Eiffel.</div>
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Now I was about to realize one of my lifelong wishes and I’m beginning to unravel.</div>
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I took a few tentative steps outside the Bir Hakeim Metro station (Line 6) metro towards the Champs de Mars. All the while, my hands were sweaty and my heartbeat was racing.</div>
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As soon as I got out of the metro’s tunnels, the Eiffel materialized, standing mightily over the Parisian skyline.</div>
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Standing 324 metres, it is literally the latest structure in all of Paris. Erected in 1889 for the World Fair, the Eiffel tower has become the most visited paid monument in the world. In 2010, it welcomed its 250 millionth visitor.</div>
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It has been a global icon, and with a good reason.</div>
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Looking at the lattice steel tower, one cannot begin to imagine how such a structure can stand. Tons of steel, held together by mere nuts and bolts, and it defies the law of gravity. It is freakin' amazing.</div>
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It has three levels with dining establishments in the first and second. At the third and upprmost level, you can get the most breathtaking view of Paris. Both stairs and elevators are available to ascend the tower.</div>
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There are a lot of good vantage points in Paris to view the Eiffel, with a majority of people judging that is the Trocadero across the river Seine which has the best view. But to be honest, for me, any view is just as spectacular.</div>
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The Eiffel is just larger than life and I just stood there frozen, with mouth agape, as I admire its beauty and grandeur. I looked around and I was comforted to know that there are hundreds of other people from all over the world, also standing completely still as they gaze up the tower. Admiration and wonder reflected in their eyes.</div>
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Truth be told, I teared up a bit, in honor of this moment.</div>
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I knew since childhood that I wanted to come visit Paris and see the Eiffel. But for someone who hails from a middle-class family, it was a bit difficult and unrealistic to prioritize travels over education costs, groceries and other more pressing needs.</div>
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There were a lot of challenges and hurdles along the way but I endured and pressed on with my dream.</div>
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Now, after traveling 20,000 kilometers across oceans and continents, here I am, standing at Eiffel’s feet and the feeling is just indescribable.</div>
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It’s like Christmas morning. It’s like seeing the dear friend for the very first time after years of being apart. It’s like breathing after struggling with the current deep under a dark perilous ocean.</div>
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And I wanna feel it over, and over and over again.</div>
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Still admiring its beauty, I made a silent promise, a vow really, that I will come back again someday.</div>
Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-86551087044526466572016-05-14T21:03:00.000-07:002016-05-14T21:03:38.273-07:00Lost in Tokyo, Literally<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 31.2000007629395px;">
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<span style="line-height: 31.2000007629395px;">It was nearly Saturday midnight and the cold Tokyo wind was beginning to send chills down my spine.</span></div>
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Tokyo’s night-dwellers, most of them wearing dark suits, others in outlandish clothes in varying shades of neon colors, were passing by and I, an outsider in this bustling and noisy city, had nowhere to go.</div>
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It was my fourth night in central Tokyo and against my better judgement, without any guide, I decided to explore its every nook and cranny, getting helplessly lost in the process.</div>
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Glancing at my faded Tokyo train and railway map, I could hardly read the stations and the railway lines I need to take to get myself back to Ariake Bay. I was shaking in panic.</div>
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Earlier in the day, I trooped to Ueno area from my hotel in Ariake near the bay area, to make a must-do pasalubong shopping for all friends and relatives who demanded gifts.</div>
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My 11-year old nephew, who’s been nagging me for a play station portable (PSP) even warned me not to go back to Manila without any gift at hand and I didn’t want to him.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 31.2000007629395px;">Unfortunately, it seemed that Tokyo was so high-tech for me that its highly complicated train and railway system left me dazed and confused during my first moments of solo exploration.</span></div>
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I have spent a good hour loitering around the Shimbashi station of the JR East line, but still could not find my way towards the connecting Yurikamome train that would take me back to Ariake.</div>
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And though I made attempts of ‘dokoni imaska Yurikamome’ to Japanese passersby, nobody stopped to give me detailed directions on where to go so I just decided to just explore Shimbashi.</div>
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Shimbashi is a business district and the newer skyscrapers are beginning to change the landscape of this busy area. Walking around, you would notice large neon signs for money exchange (largely because this is a transfer point of the major transport systems in Tokyo and because of the rich population of foreign visitors).</div>
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Skipping dinner for shopping, I also could not stop staring at the fancy restaurants around Shimbashi, some of them offering ramen and tsukumen at 1,400 yen (around P600) a cup.</div>
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But with my preference for raw fish, the sight of endless sushi houses in Shimbashi was truly agonizing especially for someone working on a dangerously limited budget.</div>
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Shimbashi is also 10 minutes near the shopping districts of Ginza and Shiodome so the idea of continuing my pasalubong hunting was tempting.</div>
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But with a measly 1,000 yen inside my pockets and a few dollars left after my earlier bargain-hunting, shopping was definitely no longer an option and I had to contend with just looking through the windows of fancy shops in the district.</div>
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As the minutes passed by, my mind was beginning to ponder on the possibility of missing all the trains and being forced to sleep on the cold pavement of Tokyo’s streets.</div>
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Under normal circumstances, I would not panic during such episodes, but my childhood has left me scarred and well-aware of the perils of losing my directions.</div>
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As a curious 5 year-old, I followed my sisters on their way to their grade school in the northern portion of Binondo, Manila one morning of 1987. It would be three weeks after that I would next see them.</div>
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Losing track of my sisters, I ended up being taken cared of by a rich Chinese family at the opposite side of Binondo.</div>
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While that family took good care of me, the thought of losing my family forever terrorized me so much that I would wake up in the middle of the night and cry while looking out the window of my adoptive family’s house. I would also refuse to eat with the company of the people I cannot understand at all (I would later realize that they were speaking in Mandarin). My parents found me after three weeks with the help of relentless announcements in newspapers and television programs.</div>
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I returned to my old life and family but I was never the same. Growing up, I would always follow map directions to a T.</div>
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But this time was obviously an exception.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">10:30 PM, (almost two hours later)</b></span></div>
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With very few precious time left before the Yurikamome line stops its operation, I summoned all my strength and courage to again ask Japanese strangers for directions on how to get to the Yurikamome line that would take me back to Ariake bay.</div>
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I know that if I don’t make it in time, I would be definitely be sleeping in the hard, cold streets of Shimbashi. Or worse, the roving patrolmen of the Japanese police may invite me for sake at the nearest police station.</div>
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My stomach already growling and my mind filled with the various doomsday scenarios, I hesitantly approached a woman sitting at the nearest bench at the JR station.</div>
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With strain clearly etched on my face, I asked her one last time for directions and to my luck, she quickly gathered bag and walked me through the confusing pathways around the station to the front gate of the Yurikamome line in Shimbashi.</div>
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And with a small smile, the lady said ”oyasuminasai” (good night) to me. I quickly boarded the last train and silently expressed my gratitude to her. I was sure that she was an angel in disguise out to save me from misery.</div>
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While my evening was not exactly good ( it was filled with misadventures as a matter of fact), I gave her a grateful bow and repeated the greeting because if not for her, I would have been totally lost in the streets of Tokyo and fail to find my way back home.</div>
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Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281753412634470701.post-9705735719970959412016-05-14T00:11:00.001-07:002016-05-14T00:11:38.846-07:00The Tubing Phenomenon in Vang Vieng, Laos is Dead<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDopPy_2Ow-ZEiMAx3t5NgIKIiHFNLGwoDAlZ4OSLxQmfZzgM0H1ymbvOGx2h8RXORNjK3aQEkviPI92F9lHIqyKggTLcV5EdrXLQwK2gM1Pbz7lVPgD9yhlYOd5rz1kZKETIrfxSaQpBe/s1600/tubing-in-VangVieng.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDopPy_2Ow-ZEiMAx3t5NgIKIiHFNLGwoDAlZ4OSLxQmfZzgM0H1ymbvOGx2h8RXORNjK3aQEkviPI92F9lHIqyKggTLcV5EdrXLQwK2gM1Pbz7lVPgD9yhlYOd5rz1kZKETIrfxSaQpBe/s640/tubing-in-VangVieng.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from http://onestep4ward.com/tubing-vang-vieng-laos/</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 31.2px;">Let me take this moment to offer a eulogy to a phenomenon, started by a few hedonistic travelers and perpetuated by word of mouth by the millions of backpackers who have gone and made a mess of the otherwise quaint town of Vang Vieng in Laos.</span></div>
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Yes folks, there’s no denying it, tubing in Vang Vieng is gone, kaput, dead.</div>
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Let me first clarify this statement. Tubing or floating down the Vang Vieng river is still going on, (although I saw less than 50 people doing it in two days). But the “tubing” or floating down the river totally stoned or drunk, while stopping at bars and drug joints or shackles along the river, is gone.</div>
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Tubing started when some of the locals floated down the river many moons ago. They were offered beerlao whilew floating down, and soon after, more locals followed suit. Foreigners passing through from Vientianne to the world heritage site of Luang Prabang heard of it and immitated the act. Soon, the phenomenon was passed around by word of mouth among travel circles and the tubing, as we know now, has its own following. This also gave the quiet town of Vang Vieng its own identity.</div>
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<a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/70be8-picture006.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="" border="0" class=" aligncenter" height="364" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/70be8-picture006.jpg?w=364&h=364" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="364" /></a>In the following years, guest houses catering to the crowds started mushrooming and they began offering other services. Name it, and they have it. Kayaking, caving, mountain trekking, and of course drugs.</div>
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This phenomenon has gone completely out of control in the past 10 years years, with at least one person dying every year, more, if you hear the local reports. You will often see heavily drunk tourist heaving and then passing out on the streets. There had been reports of robberies among drunk visitors as well.</div>
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Floating down the river using the inner tire tubes, is safe on its own but when you do it drunk or stones is totally a different story. Under the influence of alcohol or drugs, western tourists do it while trying the famous crazy swings and the slides of death, resulting in injuries, traumas and well, death.</div>
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Many wondered whether the Lao government will act on it, or it will keep its hands off attitude and just prolong the drug and alcohol-centered parties.</div>
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<tr style="box-sizing: inherit;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; padding: 6px;"><a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/7832d-picture008.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="" border="0" class=" aligncenter" height="665" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/7832d-picture008.jpg?w=508&h=665" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="508" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0470588); box-sizing: inherit;"><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; padding: 6px;">The empty Arena restaurant</td></tr>
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Last year, authorities finally lifted their fingers and demolished the shackles of bars located along the river. Bars are now forbidden to sell drugs, ecstasy or marijuana to tourists, most of whom are in their late teens or early 20s. Since then, tourism in Vang Vieng has decreased dramatically.</div>
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I read the stories and heard the reports but I was in denial. How could something of a cultural phenomenon that’s been going on since the 1990’s be gone in less than a year. I have been dying to go there for years and I was sure that despite the ban, several others would want to go there as well.</div>
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Definitely, something will have to remain.</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;"><u style="box-sizing: inherit;">The feeling is gone </u></b></div>
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<b style="box-sizing: inherit;"><u style="box-sizing: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></u></b>Despite warnings, I trooped to Vang Vieng to see for myself what became of the town. What I found is still the gorgeous vista of the hills and mountains enveloping the town.</div>
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<tr style="box-sizing: inherit;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; padding: 6px;"><a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/2a658-picture007.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="" border="0" class=" aligncenter" height="733" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/2a658-picture007.jpg?w=560&h=733" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0470588); box-sizing: inherit;"><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; padding: 6px;">A warning inside Oh La Land bar</td></tr>
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But everything else is different.</div>
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The town is completely quiet, with almost all guesthouses empty or not even half-full.</div>
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Kate, a British girl I was traveling with from Vientianne, noticed it immediately and declared what all of us in the traveling van were thinking. “This place is dying”.</div>
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Very few tourists are in sight. The restaurants are empty and some of the stalls are being dismantled.</div>
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Still, I rationalized that March is a low season because of the lower levels of the river, but the locals I asked, said the drought in tourists has been going on since October of last year right after the drug ban.</div>
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<tr style="box-sizing: inherit;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; padding: 6px;"><a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/9eebe-picture011.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="" border="0" class=" aligncenter" height="446" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/9eebe-picture011.jpg?w=584&h=446" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="584" /></a></td></tr>
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Many restaurants and individuals are trying to keep Vang Vieng alive.</div>
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Oh La Land, one of the bars here holds beer pong, and a semi open mic night, but very few tourists are coming in.</div>
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TV restaurants, which show reruns of Friends and Family guy are open, but they too are feeling the ill effects of the recent government actions.</div>
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I checked out restaurants such as Arena and Chaleun and they too are almost empty.</div>
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There is also the Jungle Party held every Fridays. I went there to check if the party scene was wild as ever, but unfortunately, what I found is the same setting as that found in the main bars. People drinking beers, while sitting down, while techno music is going on.</div>
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<tr style="box-sizing: inherit;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; padding: 6px;"><a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/85463-picture014.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="" border="0" class=" aligncenter" height="694" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/85463-picture014.jpg?w=530&h=694" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="530" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0470588); box-sizing: inherit;"><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; padding: 6px;">A former restaurant being demolished</td></tr>
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The party scene in Vang Vieng has often been compared to the Full Moon party in Koh Pangan, Thailand but what I witnessed is nothing close to that party. This has become a very lonely town indeed.</div>
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There are no rowdy tourists, high on drugs, since the party was being monitored by a few old men outside.</div>
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There are other activities in Vang Vieng other than tubing. You can do kayaking and caving among others, but without the fun atmosphere and partying scene, it’s only a matter of time, until everyone stops coming.</div>
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One supposed consideration for the ban and the demolition of the riverside bars and clubs, is that locals are against ‘tubing” and the rowdy crowds it attracts. But now, locals are singing a different tune.</div>
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<tr style="box-sizing: inherit;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; padding: 6px;"><a class="is-image" href="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/ff5b4-picture013.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ef7d0b; text-decoration: none; transition: color 350ms ease-in-out, background-color 350ms ease-in-out, box-shadow 350ms ease-in-out;"><img alt="" border="0" class=" aligncenter" height="713" src="https://thefilipinowanderer.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/ff5b4-picture013.jpg?w=541&h=713" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="541" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0470588); box-sizing: inherit;"><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: inherit; padding: 6px;">The streets are empty too</td></tr>
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A vendor I asked said they want the tourists to come back since the decrease in tourism revenues is hurting the village and their families.</div>
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I am in no way supporting the drug culture that comes hand in hand with tubing and the crowds it attracts. But I was definitely saddened by the near demise of this backpacker culture I have come to admire.</div>
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Like I said, tubing is not the problem but the crooks that took advantage of it. I wish the government did not demolish the river side bars and the slides, but they could have deployed marshalls similar to that in Koh Pangan, to avoid accidents and deaths.</div>
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It’s not clear whether the Lao government will re-open the bars and promote tourism in Vang Vieng again, but until then, the future of Vang Vieng and its people is not looking very bright.</div>
Neil Mugashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921355413219996039noreply@blogger.com0