Trip it Tuesday Episode 5: Hole in the Wall

 

Buenos Aires, Argentina.  After attending a percussion party held monthly at the Konnex by La Bomba de Tiempo , one of the locals took me to this hole in the wall type of place that serves choripan.  Although I don’t have picture of the sandwich, I do remember it being really good.  There are not seats inside – just a small kitchen and 2 ladies working.  Looking back at my previous blogs, this picture is a repost from September 2009.

Trip it Tuesday Episode 4: Do-Re-Mi Stairs

 

This picture was taken in Salzburg, Austria where The Sound of Music was filmed.  The Do-Re-Mi steps are not as big as they are portrayed in the movie.   They are very short steps and not as wide as they looked.  Hollywood did a great job making the stairs look extravagantly large.

Trip it Tuesday Episode 3: Lake Como, Italy

I’ve attended over 25 weddings.  Of all the weddings - not being bias - the most beautiful wedding that I have attended was my sisters wedding (2006).  The general location: Lake Como Italy.  The ceremony was in a little church in Varenna.  After the ceremony, we took private water taxis to the opposite side of the lake where the reception was conducted in the city of Bellagio in the Grand Hotel Villa San Serbelloni.  Along the way, the water taxis took a detour.  We cruised around the lake to see the palace where Star Wars Attack of the clones was filmed (which is also the same palace where Casino Royal was filmed - years later) and George Clooney's estate. To say the wedding was posh would be an understatement.  The food, the location, the church… it was just absolutely perfect.

Picture above is the view of the lake from the Hotel.  In the picture are my sister, brother in-law, best man, and maid/man of honour.

Trip it Tuesday Episode 2: Train Ride to Madrid

This snap shop was taken on the train to Madrid from Barcelona.  I was seated with these patrons.  I wish I could remember the exact details of our conversation.  I’ll have to find my old travel journal entry. But what I do recall is the little girl’s curiosity was entertaining.  She tried to converse with me but she spoke Catalan and I don't understand nor speak Catalan.  As a fix, she asked her grandfather questions. In his broken English, he relayed and translated them to me. 

Trip it Tuesday

I started a new hash tag today on Instagram.  I hope to use it every Tuesday, on a consistent basis.  It’ll be based on photos that I’ve taken while on a trip.  The hash tag is #tripittuesday.   This photo was taken while I was riding on a canoe in Thailand.  I purchased a bowl of noodle soup for less than one US dollar.  The weather at the time: Sweaty Humid HOT.  Even while sitting down in the shade, I was sweating profusely.

Bali 2013

I went to Bali, Indonesia in May 2013 to attend my cousin's wedding.  Aside from the wedding, I had 7 days on the island in which most of it was spent lounging poolside and on the beach.  I guess depending on how one travels on their vacation, it's either a good thing or bad thing:  you're either the one who likes to go out and do stuff, or one who likes lounge all day in the sun, or one who tries to balance both.  I personally try to balance both and was able to do various activities such as parasailing.  In the end,  I had a blast on this trip due to the fact that I spent this vacation with my cousins.

Bali Locations : Benoa, Jimbaran, Kuta, Nusa Dua, Ubud

Australia 2010

Australia from Wackymango on Vimeo.

I’ve abandoned it and have returned to it.  It’s kinda like that toy you had as a kid: you play with it for a while, get tired of it, then when you find it after time passes, it becomes fun again.  But in reality, I didn’t get bored with it, I just didn’t know what to do with the material I had.

It took me two yeas and needless to say, its finally done. 

The links below are the previous posts on my trip to Australia.

http://wackymango.blogspot.com/2010/06/australia-day-2.html

http://wackymango.blogspot.com/2010/06/yarra-valley.html

http://wackymango.blogspot.com/2010/06/day-2-part-2-downtown-melbourne.html

http://wackymango.blogspot.com/2010/07/sydney-bound.html

Japan

Japan from Wackymango on Vimeo.

October 17-28, 2012
10 days in Japan compressed to 12 min and 21 sec. 
This was my first trip to Japan.  I've only passed through from connecting flights; earlier this year, I spent a night in Japan due to a flight delay.  With the airport located about an hour away from Tokyo, I didn't have a chance to explore.  

My main purpose of visiting Japan was to attend a wedding. Meeting new friends, a visit to Kyoto, a congregation of all night drinking events, an elimination baseball game in the Tokyo dome, and a Halloween party in the district of Roppongi, was a bonus and made this trip memorable in more ways than one.  I can't wait to return.

Cambodia Bound

I’ve been away from home for 3 months, July 7^th to be exact; but on a technicality August 11.  I was home for less than 20 hours - just enough time to sleep for 8 hours and to switch the contents of my luggage.  In a few hours, I will be departing Singapore and will be heading to Cambodia for a quick holiday lasting 3nights.   Afterwards, I’ll be home for a week and preparing for my next excursion.  

While in Singapore – this time around – I was able to experience F1 Singapore.  A colleague of mine had a room at the Marina Mandarin.  The hotel sits in the middle of the racecourse.  With Balcony views of the race, the experience was one that will be memorable. 

Night At The Roxy

I haven’t posted in awhile as I’ve been busy and lazy all at the same time. I’m back in Singapore for business. I’ve been here for a week now and I took this photo on my way back to the hotel where I’m staying. Exotic sports cars parked in front of the Hotel. Today must be, “If You Own An Expensive Sports Car, Take Your Mother Out To Dinner At The Roxy Night.” To own one of these cars in Singapore runs roughly in the half a million US Dollars range. I don’t know why any one would want to own one here because you wouldn’t be able to drive it faster than 40 MPH in Singapore. But If you can, that I guess you must.

Pontian and Asian Gorilla Juice

Posted for January 25, 2012
After work, I had dinner at the Marina Parade Hawker center. It’s located directly across the street from the hotel. I went to a Stall called Pontian. It was Hella good. Chili and Black sauce with pork and Bok Choy, 2 fried wontons, and Asian egg noodles that had a bite like Italian pasta. It was also served with 2 more wontons in a clear vegetable broth on the side. Total cost for the meal.. $2.20 SGD. Next to the stall was a juice stand. I had Star Fruit Juice to go along with my meal. Star fruit – found in Asia - tastes similar to a green apple.



After dinner, I went back to the hotel. Not being able to find Ice Machines, I went to the Lobby bar and asked for a cup of ice. I still had my cup of Star Fruit Juice, but most of the ice had melted and it had diluted the last of my drink, which measured about 3 spoons. With the hamster wheel turning in my brain, I came up with an idea of creating a new variation of Gorilla Juice. For those who don’t know what Gorilla Juice is, it’s taking a new 40oz bottle of Olde English Malt Liquor Beer (OE) and topping it with Orange Juice. With the ice obtained from the bar at the lobby, I took a few cubes and put in the cup with the diluted Star Fruit Juice, then filled it with the OE. Baddah Bing, Asian Gorilla Juice.

Breaking In My New Flip Flops With Old Gawkers

Posted for January 24
Before I had arrived, I had set my mind on my first meal in Singapore - Hainanese Chicken Rice; and that’s exactly what I had last night for dinner. With the majority of all businesses closed, from the Lunar New Year celebrations, I was able to find a Hawker stand. It was ok, but good enough.

I woke up at 5 am and had breakfast at the hotel. After cruising the Internet, I got ready and walked the neighbor hood to the Geylang district. Not knowing how far of a walk didn’t concern me since I had the whole day to myself. I left the hotel at about 10:30 am.

After an hour of walking and with no map in hand, I reached the Geylang district with no issues. I saw a conjugation of old men and was curious to see what was going on. As I got closer to see what was going on, I quickly realized they were all gawking at the “working women” who were posted along the sidewalk adjacent to the main street. Just like the men who were ogling, the “working women” were old and dirty looking.

Feeling hungry from walking, I ate across the street. I had chicken rice and Tiger Beer. The chicken rice wasn’t that good, but it didn’t really matter as I was hungry and thirsty for a beer. After the meal I explored the area a bit more then headed back to the hotel.

I got back at about 3:30 pm. My feet were hurting and I had a small gash (strawberry) on top of my left foot caused from the sandals rubbing on my feet. I wanted to break in my new slippers/sandals, so I wore them and walked in them for a total of 10+ miles. The pain was so intense, that even walking bare footed in my hotel room caused pain. I sat in one of my chairs with my feet raised for half hour then decided to go swimming. I figured dunking my feet in the pool would help alleviate the pain, and cleansing my sweaty self in the pool would be refreshing.

After 2 hours in the pool, I cleaned up and had dinner at a place called Ajisen. I’ve never heard of it but found out they’re a global chain famous for their ramen. I was tired, thirsty, and was craving for Ramen. I ordered the Aso Volcano Ramen, which was a spicy soup base with pork, egg, and other good stuff. After dinner I walked for just a bit – with shoes this time - and ran into a bar next to my hotel. I took a peak inside and found it filled with old service girls. I closed the door right away and headed back to my to my room.

I went to bed at 9

Cravings

The area that I’m staying at must be posh. The reason why I have come to this assumption is because of the fact that I’ve seen more Ferraris, Porsches, and Maseratis in a 5 day span than in the past 3 years.

I noticed a Japanese restaurant tucked in a small plaza near my hotel while I was exploring yesterday. I’ve been craving for Sukiyaki in the past 3 months, so I decided to head over there and give it a shot. Prior to walking into the restaurant, I peeked around the plaza. There was an electronic store and several other restaurants- Korean, Filipino, and Churrascaria. Seeing the Churriscaria, with a huge sign in their front patio stating the pork knuckle was their specialty of the evening, I had to take a look. I spoke to the waiter. He explained the menu, their specials, and their happy hour. The happy hour consisted of a bottomless glass of wine with appetizers for $22 SGD. I had a huge smile on my face and was tempted, but because I was craving for Sukiyaki, I said thank you and I’ll return later.

Waraku Restaurant has 3 locations in Singapore. The one I dined in is located near the Roxy Center in the Katong area – behind my hotel. Priced at $17.80 SGD, I ordered the Udon Sukiyaki with a bottomless cup of green tea that was priced at $1.30 SGD. The soup base was delicious. Not salty, nor too sweet. However, the meat was a bit tough. That was expected, as Singapore is not known for having top quality meat. Overall, I enjoyed the sukiyaki and would return if my craving returns.

Layover in Japan

Posted for January 23

On Saturday January 21^st my brother in law picked me up at 7:45am to take me to the airport. At the Airport (SFO) I had a meal at Andale with a couple beverages and boarded my plane at 11am. I stayed up for most of the flight watching movies and had a couple 5 min power naps in between. I don’t’ know what it is about Airplane food, but it makes me super gaseous. Thank goodness they’re usually non-scented.

I arrived in Japan on Sunday January 22^nd at about 4:45pm Japan Time (1 hour behind the scheduled land time of 3:45pm). As I waited at the gate for my connecting flight, an announcement of the flight being delayed was made. There were mechanical issues that were being resolved. After an hour and a half I boarded the plane and dozed off in my seat while waiting for take off. An hour later, I woke up to another public announcement asking all passengers to disembark. We were instructed to go to a designated area and obtain information for accommodations for the evening.

Put up at Hotel Nikko Narita a shuttle bus was also provided. Check in was a breeze. Breakfast and dinner was included with the accommodations. The room was small and the bathroom appeared to be a pre-manufactured room. The toilet had a beday. Yes I used it. On my bed was a complementary Pajama. I have to give it to the Airline Staff at the Narita Airport; everything was taken in care of with no hiccups.

The room was super hot. I opened the curtains and put my hand on the window. It was cold. I couldn’t figure out how to turn the heat down so I turned it off. I figured the window was cold enough to cool the room.

Later on the evening I awoke from my room phone ringing and the alerts from my cell phone. My plan of cooling the room worked as I found my self tucked under the down comforter. The alerts from my cell phone were from messages left by a friend of mine who was going to pick me up at the airport in Singapore. I tried to text him back but my phone was not cooperating. I called the front desk to obtain the message left in the phone of my hotel room. The message was to obtain my Airline Ticket at the front desk. I immediately went down to kill any anticipation of what, when, where and how the arrangement for the flight to Singapore were planned. Looking at the ticket, it was scheduled to depart at 10:30 am.

Back in Singapore

Posted for January 23

After 42+ hours of travel time, I’m back in Singapore. And this time it’s for 5 weeks - not 3 days. My connecting flight in Japan was grounded due to mechanical issues, so the Airlines provided accommodations for an overnight stay in Narita. I was bit bothered that I had stay the night in Narita, but I got over it fast. Hell, safety first right?! The reason why I was bothered was because I was going to miss the NFL NFC Championship Game (49ers vs. the NY Giants) on TV. As some of you already know, I’m a season Ticket holder. I’ve already had to give up my Ticket and now to miss the game on TV didn’t sink in too well. The arrangements I’ve made to meet with a friend in Singapore to watch the game, has been dismissed. My traditional 40oz of Malt Liquor that I drink before the games, which I brought me to Singapore will have to be consumed for other reasons. But as I mentioned, the safety of my well-being supersedes all.

New Years In Costa Rica

Due to the inebriated state we were in, I didn't capture enough footage nor have a steady hand. On the other hand, I made use of what was available.

New Years in Tamarindo Costa Rica from Wackymango on Vimeo.

Curiosity

Happy New Year folks! I wanted to start off the new year with this video that I stumbled on Vimeo.com. In the past few months, I've been asked why I've been traveling so much. And with that question I've been asked if I've gone through a life changing experience that led to this. To be honest, this video that I found is the main reason. I've alway been curious. So should you!

The Future Belongs to the Curious from Skillshare on Vimeo.

In Costa Rica

I'm too brain dead to write/type anything. So here are some pics fresh from Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

More Places To See

I’ve definitely more places to see. As you can tell with the locations marked of places I've been to, Europe is my favorite Continent. I need to start venturing off to the other large masses of land. Machu Picchu, the Mayan Ruins, the Pyramids, and Petra is still on my list.

SFO >> OGG

Posted for Sunday September 18

Upgraded to First Class. What an awesome way to start to my vacation! First stop, the Buena Vista Café. It has basically become a ritual for me at SFO. Get here early and get some Irish Coffee. After several glasses and a nice little conversation with a patron, I headed to my gate. Already fueled with the Irish Coffees, as soon as I took my seat in the plane I ordered a Mimosa. Why the heck not right?! Free drinks in 1st class! Half way through the flight and several more drinks later, it dawned on me that I’ll need to drive my rental in a few hours. I took one more drink and tried to sober up with 2 cups of regular coffee.

I arrived at the OGG airport and headed directly to my rental. With alcohol coming out of my pores, I was surprised they handed me the keys to my rental. Just before leaving the lot, they smiled at me and said, take a couple shot for us. I smiled and took off. The drive to Lahaina from the OGG airport is about 45 minutes. I was here in Maui 2 years ago for my Sisters wedding so I’m familiar with the area and I know what the drive is like into Lahaina. There’s a scenic stretch on a 2 lane highway that hugs the coastal cliff. An awesome view that becomes hazardous from drivers ogling at the oceanic Hawaiian Seas.

I got to my hotel, checked in, and met up with the bride and groom, along with their family, for some food at Da Kitchen. It was located right in front of my hotel. I had a meal on the flight, which I totally forgot till now, and was still hungry from all the drinking. I ordered a Loco Moco and a Hurricane to wash it down with. Mixed with Bacardi 151, the waiter cautioned me how the strong the drink is. My friends laughed as I said, don’t worry, my veins flow with 151. We waited a bit before our food arrived due in part that the Watier, Bartender, and Host was all the same person. Short staffed to say the least. I felt sorry for her and even asked her if I could help. She smiled at me and said that she’s ok. So I downed my drink and ordered another one.

After the meal and drink, I headed back to my hotel for a nap. An hour later I met up with some other friends and hung out at their hotel located 2 blocks away from mine. After an hour of hanging out, I headed back to my room, picked up a 6 pack of beer and Hawaiian nuts, and slept for the rest of the day. Dunzo at 4PM.