Macau is definitely famous for its casino but there are a lot of things to see aside from Cotai Strip also called, "the Las Vegas of Asia." Cotai truly looks like the Vegas Strip without the liberated (lol) people you can see in Las Vegas. For me, that is the only major difference of those two places 'cause a lot of the hotels are similar.

(4D4N) Macau Travel Itinerary; 'Cause it's more than a day tour

I've been to Macau twice, and to be honest, it's alright with me if I keep coming back there. Anyway, okay, andami ko na namang sinabi.

I was reminded of this place when I read somewhere that this is a free attraction in Macau. I searched this blog for an entry but it turns out that I haven't posted any information about this before.

Klook Link: Purchase your Macau pass here.

This is the ticket back in 2019. We paid 10 MOP for the entrance. I'm not sure about the information I've read that it's now free but I think paying 10 MOP for the experience was also worth it.

It's very easy to get here 'cause there's a bus stop in front. Just input the name of the place in Google map wherever you are in Macau and it shall provide the bus number and instruction for you.

Inside the Panda enclosure.

Haven't seen them awake. I don't know what is the feeding time but it's probably a good idea to time your visit by that time so you can see them eating rather than sleeping.

The first time I saw a panda was in Taiwan Zoo.

Taiwan: Taiwan Zoo

This post also showed the growth of my hair in a year and four months, with trims every 5 months. hahaha

Aside from the panda enclosure, there's also a mini zoo in this place. You can see monkeys, red pandas, and flamingos.

Red Panda in July 2019

Red Panda in March 2018

Our ticket in March 2018

March weather was pleasant, more than pleasant to tour around actually 'cause it was cold. We spent four days here back then and we walked and hiked but the cool weather made all our physical activities easy. I remember mostly staying indoors in July 2019 'cause it was hot and uncomfortable.

If you have more time to spare, take a look at the map of the area especially of Seac Pai Van Park. I think there's a trail here somewhere.

Macau Beyond Casinos Tour: Hac Sa Long Chao Kok Coastal Trail (黑沙海濱馬路)

Kai Kai and Xin Xin

and Tintin

By the way, there's a gift shop in this place. Must visit if you like buying souvenirs.

Klook Link: Purchase your Macau pass here.

(4D4N) Macau Travel Itinerary; 'Cause it's more than a day tour

Everything, in time. 💖

Personal Instagram | Travelling Through Food | Denden's Baking Room

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While it's easy to DIY Ho Chi Minh City, going to other tourist attractions like Mekong Delta, Cu Chi Tunnels etc. is more convenient and budget-friendly when joining a group tour. Since it's comfortable and not too expensive to join one, I knew from the get-go that we are joining a group tour. Lunch and a bottle of water is also included in the package.

I've done Mekong Delta and Cu Chi Tunnels during my first time in Ho Chi Minh so we decided to join the Buddhist Vinh Trang Pagoda with Mekong Delta Tour this time.

Cu Chi Tunnel Experience
Mekong Delta Tour

Klook Link: Book your Full-Day Excursion to Mekong Delta here.

Although it's not a requirement during the Immigration interview, I think it's better to book online especially when it's your first time going out of the country so you'd have a voucher to show the officer just in case he/she asks for it. Apart from the hotel booking confirmation and return ticket, this can serve as a proof that you're touring in Ho Chi Minh and returning to the Philippines after.

We were staying in District 1, HCMC and it was within the scope of free pick-up so we just waited at the hotel lobby for our service.

After an hour or more of driving, we had a stop over here in Mekong Rest Stop. Some spent the time picture taking (like moi), toilet break, and some bought and ate breakfast.

Weather in Vietnam is just like Philippines.

It was summer when we travelled and it was hot but there were clouds throughout the day and even a rain shower during the afternoon so it was bearable.

Souvenir Shop

The photos below are from Vinh Trang Pagoda of Tien Giang Province.

Laughing Buddha

There are several statues of Buddha in this area.

I like visiting temples so here are other Buddhist temples that I've gone to:

Buddhism
Temple
Buddha

Most of the posts are from temples in South Korea.

Reclining Buddha

The first time I saw this was in Wat Pho, Bangkok. I wasn't able to blog about it and I only knew that I didn't when I was looking for the link. Haha! Hope the universe leads me to seeing more Reclining Buddha in this life. 😂 I should probably post my tour in Ayutthaya 'cause there was also a Reclining Buddha there.

The design of the pagoda is a combination of Chinese, Vietnamese, and Cambodian. Our guide even said that it resembles Angkor Wat. What do you think?

Siem Reap, Cambodia: Angkot Wat Tour

Wasn't able to resist and bought an order of Chuoi Nep Nuong. This is banana wrapped in sticky rice then grilled. It is served with a coconut sauce but I decided not to get that since it was early in the morning.

After a short bus ride, we arrived at the port. Our tour guide explained the summary of all the places that we will be visiting that afternoon, we had a short toilet break, and headed straight to the ferry.

This was the our boat.

I honestly don't remember if it was the same kind of boat that we rode back in 2017. The river water was calm so no seasickness even if we rode boat and ferry multiple times for that tour.

On the way to Unicorn Island

Our tour guide explained well though I seldom paid attention. lol HAHAHA. I was looking at the view and I was thinking of Cambodia when we were here in Mekong Delta especially when he told us that heading upstream will lead us to Cambodia. Oh no. Thank you.

It's possible that I'm never going back to Cambodia but if I find myself there again, I would definitely opt to book tours via Klook as well and never DIY. HAHAHA. So much trauma for a few hours experience in Tonle Sap but I learned a lot during that trip. I wouldn't be the traveler that I am now if not for Cambodia. HAHAHA. I know that this is Vietnam tour but I can't not think of Cambodia whenever I talk about Mekong Delta. 😂😂😂 Grabe. Ramdam ko pa rin 'yung trauma habang sinusulat ko 'to.

These fruits are part of the package and visitors are serenaded with Vietnamese songs while eating. Bring extra money when going here 'cause there will be a lot of souvenir shops and tipping to do although it's not gonna be too expensive.

Rode the small boat through the smaller canals and palm trees of Mekong Delta. Quite the experience since I didn't get to wear that hat during my first time visiting here.

If you like royal jelly and bee pollen then stock up here 'cause my sister said that the bee pollen was a lot cheaper than buying here in Manila.

Definitely not for people with bee allergy.

Coconut candy and coconut products are also famous in this place. It's just that coconut products aren't that special for me since we have a lot of those in the Philippines too. haha!

Wine with Poisonous Snake

I haven't tasted this yet. A blogger friend of mine also went to Ho Chi Minh and she posted that their group was given free sample of this to taste.

One of my favorite photos in Ho Chi Minh. <3

There's a mini zoo in the vicinity of the restaurant. I think you can feed this crocodiles for a fee as well.

Fried Elephant Ear Fish or Giant Gourami is the main dish but there was pork and chicken dishes as well.

The food served here are the same for all tourists but it's more delicious than what I remembered having before. There's rice but there's also rice paper and rice noodles should you prefer to eat this wrapped like a fresh spring roll.

During the booking, you are asked to input your allergies and food restrictions if you have any for the restaurant to adjust when you arrive.

Rain shower after we ate our lunch so it took sometime before we were able to head back to the boat.

Back to Ho Chi Minh we go.

Going back to Ho Chi Minh took a longer time because of the traffic congestion but I was asleep most of the travel time so I didn't really notice the length.

We were again dropped off at our hotel.

It's good to choose hotels near the city center of Ho Chi Minh so you're close to most of the attractions.

Klook Link: Book your Full-Day Excursion to Mekong Delta here.

Everything, in time. 💖

Personal Instagram | Travelling Through Food | Denden's Baking Room

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A heaven for plant lover that won't definitely break the bank.

This post may be a little bit late 'cause there were probably a lot more plantita/plantito looking for plant suppliers/sellers during the pandemic compared to present but I wasn't actively blogging back then so I'm only posting this now.

If you're looking for affordable plants, garden soil, rocks, or any thing that's related to gardening or landscaping then you might want to check Violeta Village in Guiginto, Bulacan. Just type Violeta Village in your Google Map or Waze App and this is very easy to locate.

Hindi ako sigurado sa lahat ng meron doon pero marami at tabi-tabi naman ang tindahan kaya sigurado merong para sa'yo.

Isa lang 'to sa mga napuntahan namin at madalas balikan. Hindi ko nakuha kung anong pangalan ng tindahan nila pero marami silang roses. Maraming beses na rin kami nakapunta rito pero hindi ko na makita kung nasaan 'yung ibang pictures kaya ito 'yung pinakahuli naming punta.

Plant lovers heaven, isn't it?

Just have to bring lots of patience especially on your first time 'cause going around the stores takes time and is a bit tiring. Buong village ba naman e tindahan.

Hydrangeas

We don't buy this though but this is one of my favorite plants to see there.

South Korea: Taejongdae (태종대)Resort Park, Busan

Wala naman ako masyadong sasabihin tungkol sa lugar na 'to. Ni-upload ko lang for reference kung sakaling may naghahanap ng mga murang halaman o naghahanap ng tungkol sa Violeta Village.

We buy this frequently though. The last time we went there, it was P 70.00/plant for these Philippine roses.

I am not greenthumbed nor I am able to keep a plant alive so we often go there to buy some roses.... for me to kill eventually. HAHAHA. But yeah, there's this one plant that we bought there way back 2020 and it's still alive up to this day.

I can't keep a plant alive but I enjoy looking at gardens filled with flowers so I'm always delighted to visit this place even if we don't purchase a lot.

Flower Farms and Fields I've visited link: here.

By the way, this place is also pet-friendly.

Join Lua as she explores and shares her experiences at different Pet-Friendly places in the Philippines.

Lua's Travelogue

She has a reel taken from this place but I am not able to embed it here.

Lua in Violeta Village

Everything, in time. 💖

Personal Instagram | Travelling Through Food | Denden's Baking Room

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Our first day itinerary were the places in Shibuya because we had to get the train passes we booked via Klook. While the unlimited subway passes can be claimed in most subway stations with QR code machines, the Tokyu 1-Day Pass can only be claimed here in Wander Compass.

Klook Link: Purchase Unlimited Subway Rides in Tokyo here.
This can be used at subway lines in Tokyo. Take note that this isn't accepted in JR lines.

Klook Link: Purchase Tokyu Line 1-Day Pass here.
This can be used going to Yokohama. It's cheaper than availing a per way ticket plus we were able to visit Gotokuji Temple on the same day since Setagaya Line is a part of this pass.

Japan Travel Sim? Purchase yours here.

Wander Compass Location: B1F concourse under Shibuya Station

After Hachiko Statue, Shibuya Crossing, and having breakfast, we looked for a toilet to freshen up. Fortunately, Wander Compass was across the toilet we found.

We were there a few minutes before 10 AM and there were already some people waiting for it to open.

For those booking this to go to Yokohama early in the morning, it will be better to get your pass a day before your Yokohama trip 'cause they open at 10 AM. If you're fine starting after 10 AM then you can get it on the same day 'cause the train line going to Yokohama starts in Shibuya Station anyway.

Wander Compass is a tourist information center. They provide a lot of services as well such as guided tours and luggage storage.

It was easy talking to them and we were able to ask some questions as well. They provided instructions regarding the Tokyu Pass and also taught us where to claim the Unlimited Subway Ticket Pass.

We got Tokyu Pass because we wanted to save on transportation going to Setagaya and Yokohama.

Klook Link: Purchase Tokyu Line 1-Day Pass here.

More information on Wander Compass

Following what they taught us in Wander Compass, we arrived at the machine dispensing the unlimited subway pass which we also availed from Klook.

Klook Link: Purchase Unlimited Subway Rides in Tokyo here.

A lot of tourists use Suica or Pasmo cards when traveling around Tokyo but we chose to avail this instead 'cause our itinerary was packed and we had to transfer lines and ride trains for a lot of times. Once you've prepared your itinerary, check if you're using the subway lines or JR lines in travelling around so you'd know if it'd be wiser to avail this instead of buying Suica.

Since we rode the train several times, we were definitely able to save money in buying this unlimited pass than paying for each ride. It was a little bit confusing at first though 'cause Google Maps show JR lines as well whenever we search but we got used to it eventually. Our hotel was also close to a subway station so this was really convenient.

We availed two passes for our trip:

72 hours (3 days)

48 hours (2 days)

You can claim the tickets at once and it will only start the count when you've used it at the train's ticket reader/scanner. The time of expiry will be automatically stamped at the back of the ticket for your guidance.

It was easy to claim the tickets at the machine. You only have to scan the QR code provided by Klook. I think the only confusing thing when availing this pass is trying to locate the machine that accepts QR code because Shibuya Station is a large maze. haha.

Tokyo Subway Lines Map | Machine Guide in Claiming Via QR Code

Klook Link: Purchase Unlimited Subway Rides in Tokyo here.

Klook Link: Purchase Tokyu Line 1-Day Pass here.

Klook Link: Purchase Shibuya Sky Ticket with 1 Day Unlimited Subway Pass here.

Thank you, Universe for giving us the chance to heal our 2020 heartbreak! Tokyo trip finally came true after three years and three months of waiting. 💖

Second Time in Japan: Places We Visited in Tokyo