Awesome Abu Simbel

The most awe inspiring temple in Egypt are the two rock temples of Rameses II in Abu Simbel. It is a long bus trip from Aswan ( about 280 km from Aswan and a more than 3 hour trip). The tour operators also take the necessary security precautions against terrorists. The buses leave in a convoy escorted and guarded by the military. Each bus is also assigned one military personnel who rides with you on the bus.

But the long trip and some reservations about your safety, are amply rewarded with the truly awesome sight of the Abu Simbel temples. What makes the temples even more impressive is the fact these temples were transferred from another sight because of the building of the Aswan High Dam which would have submerged these monuments. Through the efforts of the UNESCO, the temples were transported 180 meters to its present site.

The breathtaking Abu Simbel monuments are definitely a MUST SEE in any visit to Egypt!

Pyramids by Night

Not to be missed during a trip to Egypt is the Light and Sound show at Pyramids of Giza. It is a spectacular performance featuring the ancient history of Egypt using stereophonic sound and laser lights around the majestic Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza.

The show leaves you breathless and wishing for it not to end. It is truly an amazing sight and is definitely one of the my unforgettable experiences in Egypt.

Pyramids: True Ancient Wonder

Highlight of a trip to Egypt is a visit to the pyramids of Giza. The three ancient pyramids, which are actually tombs for kings and queens, are truly a spectacular and awesome sight. It deserves its recognition as one of the seven ancient wonders of the world.

The sphinx which is near the pyramids and when seen against the backdrop of the pyramids is equally impressive.

You can also have the opportunity to go inside the great Khufu Pyramid. But it is a 30 minute crawl down a small opening and it is definitely not for the claustrophobic or those not in good health. At the end of the opening is a bare burial chamber which is not worth the effort going down and then up again to get out of the Pyramid.

Museums of Cairo

A visit to Cairo will not be complete without going to the Egyptian Museum. It houses the greatest collection of Egyptian antiquities and artifacts. Here you will see more than 120,000 objects and masterpieces, including jewelry, coffins and royal mummies, frescoes, and statues. You however, have to be prepared to sweat it out since the place is not air conditioned and is usually crowded with tourists.

The less popular Coptic Museum is also worth a visit. Cairo has a Christian history and so this museum is home to Coptic Christian artifacts and ancient art. This is a more relaxing museum tour since the place is smaller and there are less people.

Chaotic Cairo

First impression of Egypt may not be too good if you land in Cairo. You will be welcomed by horrendous traffic and the sound of horns as vehicles, many of vintage 60s, fight for space on overcrowded roads.

The sidewalks and streets are also dusty and full of people. The atmosphere is definitely chaotic! You will also get scared crossing streets because drivers have no respect for pedestrians. You need a certain amount of alertness and daring to be able to safely cross the streets.

But nevertheless, you can not help but like Cairo as you are exposed to its many old french inspired buildings, and the fact that this exotic city is home to many historical sights and museums that houses priceless artifacts and treasures.

Best Maki in Manila

One of my favorite comfort food is Maki, which is a Chinese noodle dish with a sweet and very sticky sauce. There used to be Han Yuen (am not sure if that is the correct name) at SM food court in Shoe Mart Cubao that served a very tasty version of this dish. But the food court has since closed down with the renovation of Shoe Mart Cubao.

Then recently I read in the Menu column of Margaux Salcedo in the Sunday Inquirer magazine about this new place in Greenhills offering this sticky noodle dish.

And this made my taste buds crave once again for maki. So I checked out this place called Maki House located at Sekai Center, Ortigas Avenue, San Juan. My verdict, the maki is even better than the one I used to have at Han Yuen. A big bowl cost P110 and it is so filling and good. It can actually be shared by 2 people if you are not that hungry or if you are having another dish to go with it.

The place has 2 versions: the original maki with just pork and the sticky sauce; and the the makime with pork, sticky sauce, and mami noodles. I prefer the original maki.

So if your in the Greenhills area, and you want to have something simple and yet delicious and filling, check out the Maki House. It is in same building where Masuki (a Binondo favorite known for its original Ma Mon Luk mami) is located.

Food Glorious Seafood in Coron

Fresh seafood is so abundant and cheap in Coron that it will be a sin not to indulge yourself by eating to your heart's content. On the boat tour around Coron that we took, our party of five gave our boatman P1500 (US$31.00) for our lunch. He went to buy fish, meat, fruits and vegetables from the local market and cooked for us during our lunch stop in pretty Banana Island.

We feasted on a heavenly meal of fresh fish, steamed crabs, vegetable salad, fruits, and grilled pork and chicken. The grilled fish really tasted so good because it was fresh and was grilled in its own juice! Writing about it now makes me crave about eating again this seafood feast.

Another unforgettable meal were the king crabs. We bought king crabs to bring home to Manila from a wholesaler at a shop near the public market. Price tag was P200 per kilo (US$4.00). You have to order 1 day in advance and the store will pack it for you so that you can bring them with you on the plane.

The elderly couple who owns the crab store were so nice. They gave us drinks while waiting and ask us to join them eat crabs which they had just finished cooking.

We could not resist sampling the king crabs which we bought so we went to a nearby restaurant to have some cooked. It was steamed in 7 Up softdrinks, and the taste was excellent and fresh. Truly a satisfying meal!

If you get tired of local food, and your taste buds are after good European and Western food at reasonable prices in Coron, the place to go to is Bistro Coron. This restaurant is almost always full at night with its clientele of foreign and local tourists.

Such are the delights of eating in Coron. I love Coron because it is a complete package... beautiful white sand beaches, amazing natural landscapes and seascapes, nice people, and plentiful fresh seafood. What else can anyone ask for in a tropical paradise destination!

Island Hopping in Coron

There are more than 60 islands around Coron so you can actually have an entire island all to yourself to enjoy the sun, the white sand, and the clear and clean aquamarine waters.

The more popular and accessible ones are CYC, Banol, Banana and Malacapuya Island. Specially nice is Banana Island from where you can cross over to two other islands which are connected by a sandbar. These two small islands ( unfortunately I forgot their names) have beaches on both sides ( front and back). It has also a view of the limestone cliffs of Coron. The scenery is totally awesome that you have the feeling of wanting to make the place HOME!

Getting High on Kayangan Lake

You have to trek up on path carved out of limestones for about 15 minutes to get to Kayangan Lake. It is a difficult climb but mercifully wooden handrails have been provided to make the trek easier.

But what awaits you is a lake so beautiful that makes the climb well worth it. Kayangan Lake has been consistently voted as the cleanest and greenest lake in the Philippines. And deservedly so, because it is truly a pretty and awesome sight. The water which is a mix of blue and green color is so clean and cool that one can not resist taking a dip.

One can stay for hours and enjoy the sight of a lake so serene and pure set against a backdrop of limestone cliffs and green vegetation.

Hot, Hot, Hot at Maquinit

After a hike up Mt. Tapyas or a boat trip around Coron, nothing beats a dip in the warm waters of Maquinit Hot Springs. Its 40 C waters will surely invigorate your tired body and muscles.

Bathing in Maquinit Hot Springs is even more relaxing because the place fronts the passage to Coron Bay and is surrounded by mangroves. Thankfully, its two pools appear to be a natural part of the landscape and the base of the pool is sand and stones.

To get to Maquinit, you can take a 15 minute tricycle ride from the town or you can ask your boatman to bring you there when you take boat tour around Coron.

Mount Tapyas: Stairway to Heaven

Climbing Mount Tapyas in Coron is a tiring but exhilarating experience. You have to go up 700 steps to reach the top of Mount Tapyas. It's a good thing that there are a few shaded rest stops where you can sit and relax before reaching the summit.

Your efforts will be rewarded with a heavenly treat of a 30 feet tall cross at the peak and a breathtaking view of the limestone cliffs, the mountains and sea, and Coron town.

To avoid the heat, best to do the hike after 3 pm. After enjoying the view, reward yourself with a warm bath to soothe you tired muscles at Maquinit Hot Springs.

Twin Lagoons of Coron

Not to be missed during a trip to Coron is a boat ride around Siete Pecados. It is in this area that you will be awed by the towering limestone cliffs that dominate Coron's aquamarine waters.

Exceptionally beautiful are the two lagoons which are separated by limestone cliffs. But you can still swim from one lagoon to the other through a hole during low tide. You will be totally mesmerized by the tranquility of the place, the clean waters, and the tall limestone cliffs. This is what communing with nature is all about.

Coron Captivates

It was in 2001 when I first went to Coron, Palawan. I joined the weekend getaway package of WGA, which leaves on a Friday afternoon on board a WGA ship for Coron and is back in Manila by Monday around 1 pm.

In 2001 there were not a lot of tourists. During this time I shared Coron only with a group of travel agents on fun trip sponsored by the local government. Since there were not too many people, the experience was very relaxing and intimate. Coron, with its towering limestone cliffs, beautiful white sand beaches, and pristine mountain lakes, totally captivated me. I promised to go back.

So I grabbed the opportunity to visit Coron again when a US based friend invited me to join him on a holiday in Coron last year. This time, since 4 airline companies ( Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Seair and Zest Air)were flying from Manila to Busuanga, gateway to Coron, it was easier and cheaper to get there.

There were also more tourists, both locals and foreigners. Nevertheless, the holiday was still enjoyable because of Coron's natural and unspoilt beauty.

Thai Foot Massage in Manila for US$5.00

One of my guilty pleasures is a thai foot massage on a lazy afternoon. I discovered the joys of a thai foot massage in Pattaya, Thailand. I have tried it in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand but still the best foot massage is in Pattaya. It thoroughly relaxes me and I normally fall asleep during the 1 hour massage.

In the Philippines, my first thai foot massage was in Cebu. The Queen City of the South has numerous spas offering body and foot massage at incredibly cheap prices. The one that comes closes to the foot massage in Thailand is offered by Ton Ton at the Fuente Osmena Circle. And the price tag, 3 years ago was P75 (US$1.50) for 30 minutes, and P150(US$3.00) for 1 hour. Unbelievably cheap!

And it's good that Ton Ton is also in Manila so I don't have to go Cebu to enjoy an authentic thai foot massage. I go to their branch in Shaw Blvd, Pasig ( in front of Pioneer Street). But they also have branches in Salcedo Village, Makati, and in Aurora Blvd, Quezon City ( in front of original Magnolia Ice Cream Parlor).

If you come between 12 noon and 6 pm, the 1 hour foot massage will only cost you P250 (US$5.00), but after 6pm, it becomes P300.00 (US6.00).

Burma, Of Women and Monks

Even as its most famous woman personality, Aung San Suu Kyi continues to be under house arrest, women have a strong presence in Burma. They enjoy equal legal rights with men. Birth of a baby girl is equally celebrated as that of a boy. Interesting practice of Burmese women is the use of a white paste to cover their faces.

With Buddhism as its predominant religion, monks occupy a position of respect in Burma. Every morning, monks and nuns walk the streets with their bowls to solicit food in time for their 11 am lunch.

Ironically, it is in religion where women take a back seat to men. There are areas around Buddhist shrines which are off limits to women. Birth of a girl also is regarded as indicating less religious merit than the birth of a boy.

Indein in Inle

Highlight of a boat tour of Inle Lake is a visit to Indein where there is an impressive collection of ancient stupas. To get to these stupas, you have to walk up a long stairway which is lined with hundreds of wooden columns. It is a tiring walk up but your efforts are rewarded with the exotic sight of stupas majestically standing on the hills in a jungle like setting.

Inle Lake

The Philippines has lakes similar to Inle Lake in Myanmar. So it was not really impressive for me. Nevertheless, Inle Lake still boasts of unique features like the floating islands ( flowers, fruits and vegetables are grown on these floating gardens), leg rowing boatmen, and the Padaung, tribe of long neck women.

Majestic Mingun Paya

Mingun Paya is actually just the cracked brick base of what was intended to be a really grandiose pagoda. Still it looms high and wide, and dominates the landscape of Mingun.

You can actually climb up this pagoda ( on barefoot!) to have a fine view of the village and the river. I did this and actually felt my feet burning from the heat of the brick tiles on my mid day climb.

Mingun in White

Almost did not make it to Mingun. The riverboat that goes to Mingun did not have the required 4 passengers to make the journey. Fortunately the following day, there were 8 tourists going to Mingun. And what I saw was the most amazing part of my trip in Myanmar.

The architecture of the white colored temples captivated me. The brick Mingun Paya was grand and awesome. It was an out of this world experience. Mingun was definitely the highlight of my Myanmar holiday.