Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Take the F.I.T. (Financial Intelligence Test) for a chance to win a UK Trip!
Be #FIT2BreakFree!
Begin your journey to Financial Independence by knowing your MONEY PERSONALITY and get a chance to win a UK Trip!
How to win?
Step 1: Log on to your Facebook account
Step 3: SHARE the quiz on your timeline to get an additional 1 point. SHARE your results on your timeline to earn another 1 point. The more points you get, the higher chances of winning!
But wait, there’s more!
Lucky participants will get a chance to win two (2) tickets each to a special block screening of Transformers: Age of Extinction at Greenbelt MyCinema every day starting June 9 until June 25! Winners will be chosen via electronic raffle.
CONTEST MECHANICS AND RULES:
1. Log on to your Facebook account and visit Brighter Life Philippines Facebook page (facebook.com/SunLifePH).
2. Take the Financial Intelligence Test (F.I.T.)
3. The Take the F.I.T. for a chance to win a U.K. Trip! promo will run from June 9, 2014 –June 27, 2014.
4. Sun Life of Canada (Phils.), Inc. Creative and Digital Marketing team will randomly choose the lucky subscriber who will win the trip to United Kingdom. United Kingdom trip includes VISA application fees, round-trip tickets, 3 days and 2 night’s hotel stay (excluding travel time). The winner will shoulder the expenses from point of origin going to Manila if not from Metro Manila.
5. All participants from June 9, 2014 – June 27, 2014 are eligible to win.
6. Employees and advisors of Sun Life, including their relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity are disqualified from joining the promotion. Promo is limited to Philippine residents only.
Let's go to England
>> Tuesday, June 25, 2013
This week, we're going to ... ENGLAND!
As we walk past Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, the River Thames, ...
let's pray for England.
Prayer Points:
http://www.worldprayermap.co.uk/northernandwesterneurope/uk.html
Travel Guide:
http://www.visitengland.com/
Schengen Visa Requirements Through the Spanish Embassy
>> Friday, February 01, 2013
Will be going on a trip to the Iberian Peninsula sometime this year.
Starting as early as now with the Schengen Visa preparations.
Don't want a repeat of last year's really stressful application at the Italian embassy wherein we got our visa ONE day before the departure date(?!)
Rundown of the requirements
1. Certificate of Employment
2. Latest ITR
3. Leave of Absence from Employer
4. Bank certificate with Statement of Account of the past 6 months
5. 1 passport size picture
6. Credit card Statement of Account of the past 6 months
7. NSO copy of Birth Certificate
8. 6 months valid passport
Everything checked?
18th TravelTour Expo 2011
>> Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Go around the world in 3 days!
With over 240 participating exhibitors!
Special rates for airline tickets and travel packages available only during the event.
February 18 to 20, 2011
Halls 1 to 4, SMX Convention Center, Seashell Drive,
Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City
February 18-19 (Fri-Sat) Open 10AM - 9PM
February 20 (Sun) Open 10AM - 7PM
Regular Entrance Fee: P50
Senior Citizen Entrance Fee: P20
For more information: http://www.ptaatraveltourexpo.com.ph/
ABS-CBN Kapamilya Studio Tours: See your favorite stars, watch your favorite shows LIVE!
>> Wednesday, June 02, 2010
See your favorite Kapamilya stars!
Watch your favorite Kapamilya shows LIVE!
For reservations, call +632 4163211 or +632 4152272 local 3622 or 3624
The ABS-CBN Studios is located at Mother Ignacia Street, Quezon City, Philippines
Studio Tour Fee*:
P150.00 per person
P120.00 per person for senior citizens
*Prices may change without prior notice.
For payments:
Bank name: Banco de Oro
Account Name: ABS-CBN Broadcast Corp. for Studio Tours
Account Number: 563-002-199-1
Shows available:
Wowowee
ASAP
Showtime
Entertainment Live
The Buzz
Umagang Kay Ganda
For BIG Groups, kindly submit a request letter to the Studio Tours office located at the ground floor of the ELJCC Building, ABS-CBN Compound
For TFC Subscribers, you can place your reservations at http://tfcstudiotours.abs-cbn.com
Japan Travel: Tuna Auction at Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo
>> Friday, May 28, 2010
I wasn't able to go to Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo during my recent trip to Japan.
On April 8, 2010, the area was closed to tourists. Good thing it was reopened to visitors on May 10, 2010.
Hopefully, it would still be open to tourists when I get the chance to visit Japan again.
Below is the announcement regarding the reopening of the market to visitors. Rules have been set in place to allow tourists to witness the tuna auction while ensuring that the business operations are not disturbed.
As posted in the TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT website:
Announcement from the Central Wholesalers market regarding visitation to the Tsukiji Fish Market
Posted on 2010.04.30
From April the 8th 2010 the Tokyo Central wholesale market decided to close the Tuna auction observation area in the Tsukiji fish market. We would like to inform you though that as of the 10 of May (Monday) we will be reopening this area but with some changes to the visitation rules. These changes have been implemented for three reasons; the size of the facility, the influence on businesses and the safety of visitors.
Please follow the instructions listed below
1. Maximum number of visitors
140 visitors allowed per day on a first come first served basis
2. Visitor reception area
(1) The reception area is located on the ground floor at the "Data and information center for fish." (Next to the Kachidoki Gate, entrance)
(2) Visitor reception is open from 4:30 AM for visitor registration
3. Tour times
On order of arrival, visitors will be split into two groups of 70 for the tour of which there will be 2 conducted at the following times.
(1)First tour begins at 5:00 AM and finishes at 5:40 AM
(2)Second tour starts at 5:40 and finishes at 6:15 AM
4. Note regarding visits
When visiting this market please be very careful and show consideration so as not to disturb any of the market's normal day to day activities. If you wish to enter the intermediate wholesalers area nearby the Tuna auction observation area, please wait until after 9 AM! This is the same original procedure that was in place before the market was closed.
Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesalers Market – Tsukiji Market
Tel: 03-3547-8011(8013)
Found this wonderful website that offers tours to Tsukiji Market:
Tsukiji Fish Market Tour
How to tour Tsukiji Market on your own
Budget airline Cebu Pacific lowers fare for flights to Osaka, Japan and Incheon, South Korea
>> Friday, May 21, 2010
Gokongwei-owned airline Cebu Pacific announced that passengers can avail of one-way "Go Lite" fares of P1,999 for Manila-Incheon, Cebu-Incheon and Cebu-Pusan flights.
Manila to Osaka one-way "Go Lite" fare on the other hand can be availed at P2,999.
The seat sale happens on May 20 to May 23, and tickets are valid for travel from August 1 to October 30, 2010.
Flights from Clark, Pampanga are being offered at a one-way "Go Lite" fare of P1,499 to Bangkok, Macau, Hong Kong and Singapore.
One-way flights from Clark to Cebu are priced at P499.
The travel period for the flights from Clark is from July 1 to September 30, 2010.
Philippine Travel: How to get to Ongpin, Chinatown in Binondo, Manila, Philippines
>> Wednesday, May 19, 2010
When people say Chinatown in the Philippines, more often than not, they refer to
Ongpin. Ongpin is the main road in Chinatown.
Here’s how to get there:
The easiest way to go to Chinatown is by taking a cab. Just tell the driver to take you to Ongpin and drop you off in front of Binondo Church which stands at one end of Ongpin Street.
Taxi flag down rate as of this writing is P30 ($0.67) with increments of P2.50 ($0.06) for every kilometer thereafter.
But if you are the adventurous type, why not take the most common means of transportation in Manila which you can only find in the Philippines? The jeepney (or jeep which is how it is more commonly referred to). And to add to the experience, take the other modes of public transport as well.
If you are coming from Edsa, take the southbound MRT3 line (Metrostar Rail Transit), and get off at Taft Station which is the terminal station. Transfer to the LRT1 line (Light Rail Transit) on EDSA Station and get off at the UN (United Nations) Avenue Station. To get to the LRT1 line, turn right upon exiting MRT3 through the turnstile. In case you get lost or are unsure about which way to go, just ask any store vendor at the station or a train station staff if you can spot one. Tell him that you want to get to the LRT1 line going to UN Avenue.
While riding the LRT1, I recommend staying near the glass windows so that you can do some sightseeing of Taft Avenue. On your left, you will pass by De La Salle University and the University of the Philippines Manila which are two of the top schools in the Philippines. You will also see the Philippine General Hospital, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Supreme Court.
After getting off at UN Avenue Station, look for McDonald’s and go to that side of the road, then wait for jeeps with the word “Divisoria” plastered on the windshield.
Divisoria is an area near Chinatown where you can find hundreds of wholesale stores selling just about everything.
To hail a jeepney, just wave your hand at the driver to indicate that you want to get on. The fare from this point to Chinatown is P7.50 ($0.17)
If you don’t know where and when to hail a jeep, just look around, observe how the locals do it, then do as the Filipinos do. As far as I know, having lived in Manila all my life, there are really no rules as to where and when you can get on and off a jeep. Except for some areas where there are explicit signs that say “Loading/Unloading Area”. But even then, these signs aren’t always followed.
After you have successfully got on a jeep, congratulate yourself as in my opinion, riding a jeepney is one of the top things you should do when in Manila.
To pay the fare, give your payment to the driver and say, “Bayad po, sa Binondo Church”, which loosely translates to “Here’s my payment. I’m getting off at Binondo Church”. If you are a little too far from the driver, ask any passenger seated near the driver to help you hand in your payment by saying “Makikiabot po”, which loosely translates to “I would like to ask for your assistance (in handing my payment to the driver)”. Don’t worry if you don’t have the exact amount, the driver can give out change.
From hereon, keep your eyes wide open and look out the window as you would see several interesting sights as you take this downtown Manila jeepney ride. Sightseeing from a jeepney takes some challenge though if the driver of the jeep you’re on feels like he’s the king of the road and drives at breakneck speed. But for most of the time, traffic is heavy at Taft Avenue so I’m pretty sure that you would be able to take in some view. If you’re seated at the right side of the jeep, the sights you can spot on your left would be the relief map of the Philippines in Rizal Park (Luneta), and the walls of Intramuros. On your right would be the Philippine Normal University, and the Manila City Hall.
The jeep will ply two bridges. Upon reaching the end of the first bridge, you will see the Manila Post Office on your right.
Brace yourself for the second bridge, the Jones Bridge which will give you a spectacular view of the Pasig River. The Pasig River is a biologically dead body of water but efforts from the private sector has been ongoing to revive it. Albeit stinky with murky waters, you can actually take a ferry boat to see more of the historic buildings along the river.
When the jeep reaches the end of Jones Bridge, you will see the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch welcoming you to Chinatown. You are now on Quintin Paredes street. At the other end of this street is your target landmark, the Binondo Church.
When the jeep is almost near the church, to indicate that you want to get off, tell the driver “Para po sa Binondo Church” which loosely translates to “Please stop at Binondo Church”. You might have to speak a little louder to ensure that the driver hears you amid the traffic noise.
Get off as soon as the jeep makes a stop and go to the nearest sidewalk. Note that the jeeps don’t always stop at a favorable place for unloading, some would even stop at the middle of the road, so be alert and watch out for oncoming vehicles.
Once you reach Binondo Church, you are now at the center of Chinatown!
The mini-garden with the fountain in front of the church is Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz. Take note of the store signs of McDonald’s and Starbucks around the plaza, they’re in Chinese!
To go to the residential area where the old houses are, cross the street from Binondo Church to Philtrust Bank. The bridge beside the bank leads to the residential side of Binondo. The term “residential” is a misnomer though as the Chinese often operates their businesses in their homes.
If you intend to walk around the area, go there in the morning upto mid-afternoon when the place is bustling with business. I don’t recommend going there after sundown as darkness increases vulnerability to theft.
To see the wholesale stores that carry wares which are mostly from China, cross the street from Binondo Church to McDonald’s and walk further to the right. The narrow road beside Starbucks and the web of alleys adjacent to it is home to a myriad of stores that sell anything you can possibly think of. The place is often crowded so be careful of pickpockets. This road leads all the way to Divisoria. The jeep bound for Divisoria passes through this street but since the traffic here is often heavy, almost at a turtle’s pace, people just get off the jeep and walk.
If you plan to walk around this area, I suggest dressing down. I usually wear faded shirts with lengths that go all the way down to my pants’ pockets so that my wallet and cellphone are safely covered and somehow protected from stealthy pickpocket hands. Leave your valuables like earrings and necklaces in your hotel’s safebox. Jewelries are often targets of snatch and run thieves.
A friend who lives in the area doesn’t even carry a wallet. She just puts her money directly into her snugly fit jeans’ pockets to avoid getting her wallet snatched. The place isn’t as scary as it sounds. These tips are just meant to make your trip as hassle-free as possible. Better to be safe than sorry.
Lastly, to go to Ongpin which is the main artery of Chinatown, if you’re facing Binondo Church, the road to the right of the church is Ongpin Street. Walking the street from end to end would probably take 15 to 20 minutes. At the other end of the street is another church, the Sta. Cruz Church.
While Ongpin is lined with must-visit bakeries, groceries, and restaurants among many other establishments, I recommend taking some time to walk around the side streets connected to it as well. One side street worth seeing is Salazar Street which leads to Benavides Street where several family-owned restaurants have sprung up. Aside from dining at the bigger restaurants serving Cantonese dishes along Ongpin, sampling some Fujian style dishes in one of the smaller restaurants or food stalls along Salazar and Benavides streets is a different experience in itself.
Unfortunately, Manila’s Chinatown is fast losing its rustic charm as more and more old structures are being torn down to make way for modern condominiums. Nevertheless, be it antique houses or high-rise condominiums, the rich Chinese culture has been kept intact in this area which has been the home of Chinese immigrants for the past 500 years.
Japan Travel: Japanese visa requirements for Philippine passport holders
>> Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Inquired with Rajah Travel on how to apply for a Japanese visa for Philippine passport holders.
And the requirements are:
* Birth certificate
1. Required for 1st time applicants only
2. Note that the birth certificate must be from NSO and should be issued within one (1) year of the visa application date
* Original passport
* Application form; download here
* 2 pcs 2x2 picture; see photo requirements
* Daily schedule in Japan; see sample itinerary
* Original bank certificate or Bank book copy
* Income Tax Return / BIR Form 2316
* Employment certificate / Copy of business registration
As of this writing, visa processing fee is P1,500.
From what I know, applying for a visa is actually free, you are only paying for the processing fee of the accredited travel agency. See list of accredited agencies
A non-accredited agency gave me the tip that among the accredited agencies, Rajah Travel charges the lowest fee. Visa processing takes 7 working days.
[UPDATE] Contrary to what I hear about how difficult it is to get a Japanese visa, my visa came out 2 days after I submitted my requirements to Rajah Travel =)
Rajah Travel (632) 523-9449
Business hours M-F 8:30am - 5:30pm / Sat 8:30am - 12:30pm
The itinerary / daily schedule I submitted
Chinese New Year
>> Tuesday, February 05, 2008
It's Chinese New Year here in Taiwan and in the rest of the world where there are Chinese (which is everywhere) I suppose.
Read more...
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