Macau in One Day

From Hongkong, we decided to proceed to Macau directly from the airport in order to make it to our appointment. Ferry tickets are handily available at the Hongkong International Airport Terminal 2. Just make sure that you give your baggage tags (if you have any) to the staff so they can get your bags from the airline and load it to the ferry.

What's more convenient? SkyPier is just a train-ride away from the airport.

At the SkyPier waiting for boarding.

TurboJet departs every 15 minutes to Macau from 0700H to 2359H daily. Economy class fare on a weekday service is HKD151 or around Php900.

Economy class with very comfortable seats and spacious leg room. I wonder how the VIP cabin looks like.

As soon as I felt that we were moving, I put my eye mask on and went to sleep. My thirty-minute nap was interrupted when the ferry finally docked at the terminal. After the appointment, I suggested we go to Senado Square to have my favorite street food and visit Ruins of St. Paul for the nth time. There's something about this place that I would never get tired of visiting over and over again.

One of the two original stores that we frequent whenever we are in Macau.

The choices are overwhelming. I wanted to get them all!

But it can only fit some.

Patiently waiting for our meal.

Its dinner time! A big bowl of sausages, squid balls, golden mushroom,
fish balls, beef balls with cheese and mozzarella balls. Yum!

After resting a bit, we walked again to have a look at Ruins of St. Paul before heading back to Hongkong.

Along Senado Square where you can buy souvenirs and pasalubong.
My favorite? Almond cookies and Beef jerky.

Ruins of St. Paul -- Worth the 30-minute ferry ride, about 15-minute standing in the bus
and 10-minute walk from the bus station not including getting lost.

Manila ✈ Hong Kong ✈ Manila

I broke my promise.

Halfway this year, I made a promise to myself that my Singapore trip in June would be my last out of the country trip in order to save my vanishing bank account. I was successful for a few months until we had to go to Macau and Hongkong to run some errands.

Good thing November 30 was declared a holiday and I only had to file for a two-day leave. We arrived early at Terminal 2 and was surprised that there's not much people traveling this time. Then it occurred to me that the Holiday season is in a couple weeks time when most travelers flock the airport to be with their family come Christmas and New Year.

For Manila - Hongkong, we boarded an Airbus A320-200 with very spacious leg room.

Lunch is served thirty minutes after take off.

You can choose between Chicken Inasal

Boneless Chicken Inasal which was grilled perfectly.

or Beef Steak.

Four days in Macau and Hongkong and we were back at Hongkong International Airport to catch our flight back home on-board PAL's B747-400. The flight was full with balikbayans who are coming home to the Philippines.

Dinner at 37,000 feet above sea level.

I had fish which I did not like but had to finish because I was starving.

At HKIA where being stranded is a welcome option.

Mexicali

I was chatting with a friend who is now based in Mexico and he was telling me how beautiful Cancun is and other things why I should (and the rest of the group) should visit him there. And then I realized that I cannot afford it. Oh well.

Later that evening, DB and I were strolling at the Mall of Asia and he asked me if I wanted to have dinner at Mexicali. It occurred to me that since I cannot afford a trip to Mexico (for now *high hopes*) the next best thing would be to indulge myself with Mexican food!

So here's what we ordered

Chicken Enchilada with Mexican Rice

Arroz ala Cubana -- Finished it to the last bite.

Ground Beef Taco Salad -- Fresh vegetables with taco and beef. Yum!

Affordable and delicious Mexican food within my reach. I wonder when can I afford a trip to Mexico. Hmmm..

~o~o~o~

Mexicali

Ground Level, Mall of Asia

Pasay City, Metro Manila

Philippines

Tel.: (632) 556-0810

Churros con Chocolate at Dulcinea

Best eaten hot (and not too oily) and dipped in thick and mildly sweetened chocolate.

The best Churros con Chocolate this side of the planet.

~o~o~o~

Dulcinea

North Wing, SM Mall of Asia

Pasay City, Metro Manila

Philippines

Tel.: (632) 836-8496

A Dream

I rode a plane that will take me to a place most people call paradise.

The ride was very smooth, I slept like a baby, and woke up a couple of hours to this view.

Hello Batanes!

Landed at Basco Airport where a van patiently waited for our arrival to tour us around the place.

The town of Basco from a far.

Basco Lighthouse is located in Naidi Hills with lush greens overlooking the open sea. Amazing sight indeed!

The most prestigious resort in Batanes -- Fundacion Pacita, which I called home for a few days.

With a very beautiful manicured garden at the back.

So serene and so romantic.

Then the sun set in. How time flies when you're having a good time!

Kring..Kring..Kring.. *alarm beeping*

Sigh. So it was just a dream! A very nice one at that. If only I can go back to sleep and spend a few more hours in Batanes. But who knows, maybe someday I will.