Dr. Lilac's Travel Blog

LONDON, UK

2010-04-09T16:14:00.000-07:00

Everybody knows that London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. I've always wanted to visit the city and see first-hand how it is to be British. We had that opportunity 2 years ago and our trip was as exciting as I expected it to be...well, minus the weather. 2 out of the 3 days we spent in London were rainy and chilly. But we still had a great time!

Since the the dollar to pound rate was so low (and still is) we decided to take the "TUBE" most of our stay in London. The London Undergraound is the main public transportation in the city and neighboring areas serving about 270 stations. It was kinda confusing going thru the TUBE map. But we got to our destination in one piece and most of all on time and that's all we cared about. Time was precious. So much to see...So much to do...

Confused???

The "Underground" (the subway)

The black cab is an icon in England. When you see a black cab in a movie you always know it was shot in London. Or at least they want you to think it was set in London. The cab drivers are considered to be the best tour guides as they are required to know every street, big and small, of the city and its outskirts. Contrary to belief these cabs also come in different colors.

The black cab

Inside the cab

The red double-decker bus is another icon of London. Talk about space-savers! It was so much fun to ride one. Of course to take full advantage of the sights you have to sit on the top deck.

View from the top of the double-decker

On every street in the city are these red telephone booths. These boxes were first introduced by the UK post office in the 1920s, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.

Ellow?

Every corner of every street

The River Thames is a major river that runs through Southern England and most of London. It is the second longest river in the country. If you want to see London's major spots then all you have to do is ride the ferry boat through the river.

Resto-bar on the River Thames

The London Eye is one of the biggest Ferris Wheels in the world and the largest in Europe. It has 32 sealed and air-conditioned egg-shaped capsules. We didn't get to ride it though. We're scared of heights!

The Tower Bridge is one of the most famous landmarks in the world. It is located on River Thames and is close to the Tower of London, thus its name. Talking about icons this bridge is definitely the iconic symbol of London. The bridge consists of 2 towers at each end and are connected by 2 walk-ways. People often call this the London Bridge but the real London Bridge is the next bridge upstream.

Distant view of the bridge on the River Thames

Close-up

Going towards the walk-way

Second level walk-way

The real London Bridge

The Houses of Parliament or Palace of Westmister is the meeting venue for the houses of parliament of UK. On one of its ends is the world famous Big Ben which is actually the giant bell inside the tower, not the clock.

Houses of Parliament and Big Ben

Houses of Parliament up-close. Magnificent architecture (Gothic style)

Big Ben is hidden inside the clock tower

A block away from the Palace of Westminster is of course the Westminster Abbey. Several coronations took place in this church. This is also where the wedding and, unfortunately, the funeral of Princess Diana took place.

The massive door

Trafalgar Square is located in central London. At the center of the square is Nelson's Column and on each end are 4 stone lions. Fountains also adorn the square.

The guardian

The fountain

The Piccadilly Circus is a chic area kinda like London's version of Time Square, to me at least. Just like Time Square it has several neon signs, fancy restaurants, theatres, pubs, and shops. On one area of Piccadilly is a fountan dedicated to Eros (Cupid). However, this fountain was originally intended for Eros' twin brother, Anteros. Didn't even know he had a twin. I do learn a lot from my trips...

Time Square?

Fountain of Anteros/Eros

St. Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican church located on Ludgate Hill which is the highest point in the city. This church is the seat of the bishop of London. Today it remains as an active church but also a very popular tourist spot.

We couldn't make it to Buckingham Palace and watch the changing of the guards coz it started pouring on our 2nd day. It would've been a sight to see!

I felt 3 days was enough to enjoy London. However, I can stay longer if we had more time. As I've said, so much to see...so much to do...There's just never enough time.

Visit London

Petronas Towers, KL, MALAYSIA

2010-04-07T18:21:00.000-07:00

Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia. It is now becoming one of the fastest growing economic giant in South-East Asia. It is also home to the tallest twin buildings in the world, the Petronas Towers, which was the primary reason for our visit.

Our trip to KL was a very short one. We were headed to Siem Reap, Cambodia and decided to spend the night in KL to visit the twin towers.

After checking in we grabbed a quick lunch in one of the hotel's restaurants and headed to the towers. It was only about a 15-min walk from our hotel and I was greatly amazed by how it felt like I was walking the streets of Makati. Plus the locals look exactly like Filipinos. The weather was awesome, as always, since it's a tropical country and traffic was light. We took our time to enjoy the view and just take in some fresh Asian air (polluted or not, my lungs are used to this kinda thing).

After 3 blocks we could see the tip of the towers. Actually, we have a good view of the towers from our hotel.

View of the towers from our hotel room

We're almost there

And there they were. Tall and majestic. Very beautiful indeed.

The sky bridge

The entrance

Petronas is a 2-tower structure connected by a sky bridge on the 41st and 42nd floors. It has 88 floors where Tower 1 is fully occupied by Petronas and Tower 2 is leased by other companies. According to Wikipedia the towers are the tallest buildings in 1998 to 2004. Didin't even know that! On top are spires which in my opinion add to the towers' personalities. On the ground floor is a mall where you can shop til you drop (not a big fan!) or just merely sit on one of the benches and watch people walk by (big fan!). TRIVIA: The towers were featured in the movie Entrapment starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones in 1998.

The Kuala Lumpur Internatial Airport (KLIA) is one of the busiest airports in South-east Asia. According to Wikipedia it handles 35 M passengers a year. The airport puts great emphasis in allowing natural light to enter the building, thus, there are several glass walls and windows throughout the building. It has won several international awards including Best Airport for 2 consecutive years (2005 and 2006).

I'd like to go back to KL in the near future. And next time I will definitely stay longer!

Visit KL

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

2010-03-08T12:04:00.000-08:00

Siem Reap has recently become one of the most exotic tourist hot spots. It is home to the most famous mother of all temples, Ankgor Wat, which was discovered in the early 1920s. Thousands of tourists flock to this small town every year, thus, a multitude of hotels have sprung in the last 3 decades.

We decided to fly from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Siem Reap. The airport is small but very charming, clean and definitely exotic.

Our plane

A marble elephant stands guard at the entrance towards the immigration booths

The exterior

*****

The ride to our hotel was fascinating. We saw a loooot of motor bikes, tuk-tuks, and locals walking on foot going about their business. And of course, rows and rows of hotels from the lowest to 5 stars with impressive driveways and fountains on their front lawns.

*****

Our hotel was simply breath-taking! My husband got a very good deal for this accommodation. Angkor Palace Resort & Spa

It was green everywhere

The best part was that there were not a lot of guests so I had the pool all to myself at certain times.

Our room was huge. The bed was too firm for my taste though.

It had a little porch that can take you straight to the pool. Nice!

Read the reviews of this hotel

*****

First thing we did was go to the Old Market. We rode a tuk-tuk and it was such a fun ride- all bumpy and dusty but who cares? It reminded me of my home town :) The market was crowded. You can buy anything there: clothes, jewelry, food, paintings, etc.

This reminds me of our wet market back home.

Can you guess what these are?

*****

That night we went to Koulen Restaurant which is very famous for good Cambodian food and cultural dance shows (including Apsara dances).

Apsara dancer

*****

Siem Reap has so many temples and ruins that it was literally impossible for us to visit each and every one of them. So we decided to visit the Angkor Archeological Park near Siem Reap and chose 3 temples to visit. Angkor Archeological Park

Getting our tickets. $20 for a one-day pass

Entrance to the park.

*****

Our first temple was the Bayon Temple. This temple is known for its huge stone faces of the smiling Avalokiteshvara. Also carved on the walls are apsaras and warriors.

Bayon Temple

Apsara

*****

We then walked to our next temple. Along the way we saw more ruins, interesting walls with beautiful carvings and elephants!

A huge wall with hundreds of carved images

Ride the elephant for $10. It was so much fun!

*****

Our next temple was called Ta Prohm. This temple is known for giant tree roots springing from the temple ruins. Oh and you can also see shots of the temple in The Tomb Raider. Close to the entrance of the temple was a group of handicapped men playing some Cambodian instruments. These men were tragic victims of landmines that were left by the Khmer Rouge.

Please donate...

Look at those roots!

Some parts were being renovated

*****

Saving the best for last- Angkor Wat. It was built in the 1200s for Suryavarman II. It was originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu and later converted into a Buddhist temple. The temple has an outer wall surrounded by a moat, an inner wall that serves as a fortress then finally the temple itself.

The moat surrounds the walls

Angkor Wat. Some parts are being renovated

Galleries inside the temple

Buddha with lots of offerings

Rear courtyard

Monkeys around the temple walls

Satellite images of Angkor Wat

*****

Ancient architecture and archeology are 2 things that really fascinate me. This trip was definitely a very memorable one. It was hot as hell but I enjoyed every single minute of our stay in Siem Reap. We're thinking of making a second trip. Still have lots of temples left to see.....

NIAGARA FALLS

2010-03-01T17:07:00.000-08:00

Niagara falls is located in Ontario, Canada and considered to be one of Mother Nature's most precious possessions. The falls actually lies on the border between Ontario and New York. Therefore, you can catch a glimpse of this magnificent cascading body of water from the US or Canada side. I prefer the Canada side. The view is better ;)

We decided to take a road trip as this was more fun and of course, economical. Took us 6 hours to get to the border then we spent the night at a friend's house in Milton, a suburb of Toronto.

Then from Milton it was about an hour's drive to get to the Falls.When we got there I was amazed by how touristy the area was. Lots of fancy attractions, restaurants, hotels, mini amusement parks and casinos.

We only had a day to spend there so we did not waste too much time. We headed straight to the bank to get our first view of the falls. And boy oh boy was it a sight to see!

The best way to get the most out of your Niagara experience is by riding the Maid of the Mist. It is a ferry that can take you so close to the falls that you can actually almost touch the falling water. Of course you need to don the very fashionable blue rain coat otherwise you'll be soaked from head to toe. We still got wet though but who cares! We got so close that we could hear the rumbling sounds as the powerful weight of the falling water hit the rocks on the bottom. It was a a very exciting moment. Kinda scary too since I kept thinking our boat would strike the giant boulders but nothing like that happened. Thank God! Maid of the Mist

After that "thrilling" ride we walked around the touristy area and just decided to act like tourists. We went into a haunted house, ate at a fancy colorful overpriced restaurant, went into some mini amusement parks and even the Lego exhibit.

Most people consider Niagara Falls as a romantic spot (not me). And we did see a lot of people getting married there. How sweet! Hope they don't decide to get married on the ferry. The bride's gown would be soaked. But then you can always don a fashionable white rain coat ;)

Overall, the trip was ok. The falls was absolutely phenomenal. I wouldn't spend more than a day there which is what we did. It was a quick weekend getaway for my husband and me. Just to get away from the bustling city and appreciate what Mother Nature has to offer....

Visit Niagara

MACAU

2010-02-11T15:10:00.000-08:00

Macau is a special administrative region of China. It is located about an hour away from Hong Kong by boat. It was colonized by Portugal in the 16th century until 1999. This explains why it has a strong European influence in its architecture and why most citizens have Latin-sounding names. Macau is very economically advanced compared to its neighboring countries. Despite its small size it has attracted wealthy investors and businessmen mostly geared towards tourism where gambling plays a huge part.

We only spent a day in Macau but I felt it was enough to get a glimpse of the beautiful region. Coming from
Hong Kong we took an hour-ferry ride via Turbo Jet. It was a smooth ride but it can be chaotic at certain times since a lot of locals travel back and forth during the course of the day.

Getting our tickets

Here comes our ferry

When we got to the Macau Terminal we immediately hopped on a cab and went straight to the center of tourism: Largo de Senado (Senado Square). The square is the former center of the Portuguese colony surrounded by government buildings, local establishments and St. Dominic's Church. But what makes this area very famous is the wave-pattern mosaic pavement that gives it a very "European" aura. The buildings are gorgeous and so colorful that it leaves a smile on your face as you admire every detail of its exterior.

The wavy mosaic pavement

Very colorful...

Shops/stores everywhere...From Gucci to Ralph Lauren and of course Starbucks.

St. Dominic's Church was one of the main places of worship during Portuguese rule. It is a very spectacular structure inside-out with its cream-colored stone exterior and green-shutter windows. It also has a museum inside exhibiting paintings, sculptures and other religious artifacts.

The exterior.

The interior.

Another very popular tourist attraction is the ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral. It was built by the Jesuits in the 17th century and was the largest catholic church in Asia at that time. However in the 1800s it was destroyed by a fire and was never reconstructed. What a shame :(

Ruins Of St. Paul's Cathedral

Statues in front of the cathedral

As you go up the steps towards the ruins you see a magnificent view of Macau.

Macau is a very beautiful tourist destination. It exemplifies the clash between Asia and Europe but the result is a very harmonic offspring that is today one of the strongest regions in Asia.

Visit Macau

LOURDES, FRANCE

2010-02-03T16:59:00.000-08:00

Lourdes is a small town in south-western France on the foothills of the Pyrenees. It is most famous for the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to St. Bernadette in 1858. We went on a pilgrimage there in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Marian Apparitions.

Easiest way to get there is by train from Paris. It was about a 4-hour ride. It was comfortable plus you get a glimpse of the countryside. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. The train was clean, new and there were no rowdy passengers what-so-ever. Thank God! Peace and quiet while admiring the snow-capped mountains, fields and french cottages. You can also get there by plane but we found it more enjoyable and of course more economical to "train" it.

When we got off the train it was chillier than I expected. I should've known since the town is on top of hills and mountains. DUH! But I can layer ;) The town is gorgeous! No sky scrapers, no traffic, no pollution. Just your typical quaint french town.

Lourdes is one of the most visited pilgrimages in the world. Every year millions of pilgrims come and visit the Grotto where The Virgin appeared before St. Bernadette. A spring started to flow from the site of The Virgin's apparitions and ever since then hundreds of people have experienced miracles from touching or drinking from the spring. St. Bernadette

The Grotto

The Rosary Basilica was built on top of the cave where the apparitions happened. It is one of the most magnificent architectures I have ever seen. The Rosary Basilica

The entrance to the basilica is decorated with beautiful murals of the Holy Family in a mosaic pattern.

Inside the basilica is even more glorious than the exterior. Mary is shown in yet another bautiful mosaic pattern hovering over the altar. Behind the altar are artworks depicting the Sorrowful Mysteries.

The view from the top of the basilica is absolutely phenomenal. A gilded crown lies on top of the dome and beyond that you see a part of the beautiful town of Lourdes.

A river flows on the left side of the basilica giving the whole place a very magical feeling.And on this same side crowds of people gather to collect water from the miraculous spring. I saw several pilrims filling huge jars of spring water. We bought little bottles with Mary's image on it and filled them with the water, and later gave them as gifts to our family and friends.

Every night at 9:00 the sanctuary holds an event called the Torchlight Procession where thousands of pilgrims participate. It starts at the grotto and ends in front of the basilica. Then the rosary is prayed. The mysteries are recited in different languages. It was definitely a sight to see all these pilgrims holding their candles and embracing the spirit of the moment. I was very moved. Thousands of people from all over the world, one faith. Torchlight Marian Procession

Outside the Sanctuary is a strip of hotels, restaurants, pubs and shops. Tourism /pilgrimage is a huge part of this little town's economy so it is but natural that the locals would cater to the tourists'/pilgrims'needs. Most of the shops sell religious items from images of Mary to images of saints, rosaries, medallions, crucifixes, etc.

A huge population of the pilgrims are the sick, disabled, handicapped, etc. You see them everywhere in wheelchairs, gurneys, crutches, etc. These people come with the hope that they would be healed through the miracle of the holy spring. There are hospitals/hospices reserved for sick pilgrims. These are located in the sanctuary itself where the sick can be comfortable and cared for by abled staff.

Overall, this trip was my most memorable ever. Lourdes was the last stop of our Europe trip. And I was glad we saved it for last. Being around people with this intense faith was very inspiring. Never had I felt a place to be as holy as this. God's grace does dwell there. You see it on everybody's face. Even the sick radiate an aura of peace and calmness despite the suffering they were enduring. Being in that place just changes people, gives them hope and envelopes them in God's grace. I was definitely a changed person. I went to Lourdes as an excited tourist but left as a touched pilgrim.

BANGKOK, THAILAND

2010-01-27T15:45:00.000-08:00

Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand. It is very similar to Manila. Even the people can pass for Filipinos ;) Other similarities to Manila are the traffic, pollution and over-crowding. However, just like Filipinos, Thais are very hospitable, always helpful to tourists and very polite.

Smog or fog?

*****

The Chao Phraya River is the major river that runs the whole of Bangkok and other cities in Thailand. A huge network of water taxis and ferries crowd the river which are filled with tourists but are mainly used by locals to go about their business.

*****

The Grand Palace is one of the most visited places by tourists. It is the official residence of the royal family so there are areas which are restricted to visitors. The complex is made up of enchanting temples, elegant halls and magnificent gardens.

Some of the temples are active places of worship. I did feel guilty taking snaps while the locals are praying fervently to Buddha.

The temples are very enchanting: gold-plated, magnificently tall and very artfully decorated inside-out. Some of the walls have fascinating murals that take you back in time. It is simply amazing how these people have created such exquisite architecture driven by their spirituality. The Grand Palace

*****

Wat Pho is one of the oldest and largest temples (Wats) in Bangkok and is home to the famous Reclining Buddha. The Buddha is about 40-feet long, has a gold-plated body and eyes made of mother of pearl. The Wat Pho complex is made up of several compounds: temple of the Reclining Buddha, a massage school and a functional buddhist monastery. We had the priviledge of experiencing the ever-relaxing thai massage from the students. After a long day of walking, it was definitely a treat. Wat Pho

The Reclining Buddha

*****

Khao San Road is a strip in central Bangkok where locals and tourists alike love to congregate and be merry. The strip has affordable accommodations, pubs, shopping centers, restaurants, internet cafes, exotic night clubs and massage parlours. This street is always crowded day and night. If you love the night life, then this is the place to be ;)

While walking along Khao San Road we bumped into a street vendor selling local crispy treats....

Did we try them?....No way!

*****

Our trip came to an end. It was an adventure worth-remembering. I was so awe-inspired by the temples that we visited. It still amazes me how faith can create such a magnificent form of art. Tourism is a huge part of this country's economy. Millions of tourists visit each year. We were not obvious foreigners though as we can pass for Thais. Some even tried to speak in Thai when they saw us. All we did was smile and bow ;)

Hope to see you again Bangkok! "SAWATDEE!"

SINGAPORE

2010-01-25T06:31:00.000-08:00

Singapore is one of the most industrial and prosperous countries in the world. It is a small country off of the Malay Peninsula, yet despite its size it is an economic giant.

Its name is derived from a Malay word "Singapura," which means Lion City.

The Merlion

Singapore is one of my favorite countries to visit. It is my gateway between the US and the Philippines. People are very polite, streets are always clean, and infrastructures are always modern. Discipline is one of the values that are emphasized the most. As you walk along the streets or wait for the train to come you would notice signs of fines for certain unlawful acts.

*****

One of our favorite places to visit to savor some local treats is the hawker center. Here you get to choose from a variety of small stalls selling a wide selection of food from noodles to barbecue. All of Singapore come here to gather whether they are by themselves or with their family. Hawker Center

*****

Going around the city is very easy. Public transportation is highly accessible and cab drivers are always helpful. Just don't forget to call them "uncle." The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) is the easiest and cheapest way to go for tourists. It is advisable to purchase a tourist pass for convenience. The pass has 3 options, 1-day, 2-day and 3-day passes. Tourist Pass

*****

Christmas in Singapore is very festive. Streets are highly decorated even though Christians are a minority in the country. And due to its large population of tourists and foreign businessmen the country tries to celebrate all the common holidays of the world.

*****

Sentosa Island is one of the most visited places by tourists in Singapore. The island used to be a military fortress but was converted into a a huge tourist attraction in the 1970s. It is composed of theme parks, 5-star hotels, beaches, luscious gardens, indigenous fauna and golf courses. Access to the island is by a cable car from the mainland. The island is also home to exotic pink dolphins which I had no idea existed what-so-ever. These mammals are fast becoming endangered species.

*****

Changi Airport is one of the biggest and busiest airports in the world. It has won several awards in the last 2 decades. I love coming to Changi. If my flight gets delayed or cancelled I never worry because there are so many things I can do there: shop, eat, watch movies, surf the web, take a shower and even sleep. Aside from being functional, Changi is very aesthetically appealing as well.

Visit Singapore! You will never regret it ;)

BORACAY

2010-01-24T08:13:00.000-08:00

Boracay is an island in the Philippines, specifically located in the the province of Visayas. According to Yahoo!Travel it is one of the world's most popular beaches in 2007.

Getting to the island can be a hassle for some as you need to either get there by plane or ship then ride a small boat in order to get to the island itself. And yet for some this can be a great adventure. We rode a small charter plane which seated 9 passengers. It was quite of a bumpy ride for me because we chose a date when a typhoon was lurking around the country....

We were a very adventurous couple. We did not book a hotel beforehand because we wanted to explore our options and choose the best accommodation for our 5-day trip. However, that feat proved to be very challenging because as soon as our boat docked rain started to pour and the wind was howling like a hungry banshee.

But at last we found a gorgeous beachfront hotel after a few minutes of haggling with the hotel manager. My husband just loves to haggle. Scheduling a trip during the monsoon season has its perks after all.

There were not a whole lot of people in the island due to the typhoon but we enjoyed ourselves tremendously without getting worried of placing a reservation in restaurants on time or fighting over securing a good spot on the beach. Speaking of the beach, it was actually barren as the desert. I attempted to brave the waves but failed so I just decided to hang out by the beach.

Our trip was phenomenal except for the occasional rain here and there but we were able to do some activities such as riding a bike around the island, snorkeling, boat riding, shopping and of course sampling all the restaurants we found appealing to our taste buds.

The trip came to an end. I left with a heavy heart but at the same excited to be going back to the bustling city. I highly recommend this island for those who love beaches. However, try not to schedule your trip between May and August ;)

Visit Boracay

ZAMBOANGA

2010-01-23T07:44:00.000-08:00

I was born in a southern city called Zamboanga, the City Of Flowers. Zamboanga came from the word JAMBANGAN which means "Garden," so I guess this is where the nickname came from. Our dialect is called "Chavacano" which is very similar to Spanish (FYI: The Philippines was under Spanish rule for 4 centuries). Zamboanguenos are very polite, hospitable, very hard working and most of all beautiful ;)

*******

The airport is small but given the population of the city I think the size is appropriate. The architecture symbolizes a great Islamic influence as the country was predominantly Islamic until the Spaniards came and spread Christianity.

*******

The common means of transportation is by Tricycle and Jeep. A tricycle is a 3-wheeled motor-operated bike with a car on its side for passenger/s to sit. Maximum capacity: 4.... driver, 2 on the passenger seat, 1 across the passengers and 1 behind the driver.

Tricycle

The jeep/jeepney is modeled after US military jeeps that were left in the country during WWII. Some can be very colorful, yet others can be simple. Maximun capacity: 19-23. Extreme maximun capacity: count less.

Photo courtesy of Padini

*******

The city has several beaches. Zamboanguenos love to hold family picnics on Sundays at these resorts. I had very fond memories of those growing up. My favorite private beach resort is La Vista del Mar which means "view by the sea." It is one of the most popular resorts with beautiful gardens and manicured lawns. It also has a gorgeous restaurant that serves sumptous local cuisines.

La Vista del mar

*******

The Boulevard is a strip of waterfront by R.T. Lim Boulevard where a lot of people love to park their cars and enjoy the sunset or watch the stars. I, for one, have done this many times. While enjoying the scenery visitors snack on peanuts, "balut" (boiled duck eggs), "chicharon" (crispy pork rind), and barbecue.

The Boulevard

*******

The holidays in Zamboanga are VERY festive. People spend so much time and money decorating their houses with lights and other Christmas decor they can find. At night streets are colorfully lit by hundreds of tiny light bulbs emanating from the houses, christmas carols can be heard from children going from house to house, and the smell of barbecue gives the festive air a homey feel.

City Hall

Photo courtesy of Dr. N. Dionio