Magical Winter Lights Festival in Texas

The holidays may be over soon but that does not mean your whole family or friends cannot enjoy a few hours of fun before heading back to the reality of 2016.

If you are living in Texas, specifically near the Sam Houston Race Park, then you may want to consider spending the day before you all head back to school or work to enjoy the last few days of the holidays.  The Sam Houston Race Park is home to the Magical Winter Lights Festival held in Texas.

The Magical Winter Lights Festival in Texas features amazing display of famous landmarks all over the world decked in colourful illuminations that will surely captivate you. Kids will enjoy the magical area while the whole family and gang will be dazzled by the display of lanterns and everyone will have the chance to engage in fun activities.

Photo credit: http://www.magicalwinterlights.com/

Like most attractions, The Magical Winter Lights Festival also has live performances, music, and market to enjoy great sound, lights, and food!

The Magical Winter Lights Festival will be open until 10 January 2016. You have enough time to drive there and check out the amazing light displays and other attractions.

It is located at:

Sam Houston Race Park, 7575 North Sam Houston Parkway West, Houston, TX 77064

Operating hours:

Monday – Thursday: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Friday – Saturday: 1:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Sunday: 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM

For more information about this festival, visit their site:

http://www.magicalwinterlights.com/festival-info/

New Article Featured in Attraction Tix Blog

I'm so glad to share that my 2nd article is up in the famous Attraction Tix site's blog. It's about going around Dubai on a budget.

Attraction Tix is a famous online ticket specialist in the UK.  If you need tickets on attractions, tours, theme parks and experience holidays, then look no more and check out Attraction Tix's services and offers!

Read my post in Attraction Tix so next time you plan to include Dubai in your itinerary, you know what to do.

Click here for my post.

Hire A Campervan For Your Next Road Trip

The weather is getting colder and in some parts of the country, it is still pleasantly cold so there is still a chance to embark on that much awaited road trip with your family this season.

Engaging in a road trip does not have to be stressful and tiring. There are ways to overcome the stress and if you do not have any campervan and still raring to go, leave it to the experts and hire a campervan or RV for your road trip.

There are numerous sites proliferating the internet that offers packages for hiring a campervan for your holiday trip. One of the best sites out there is MyDriveHoliday.com. You can check out campervan hire from mydriveholiday.com and find the availability of campervan and RV rentals on your preferred travel dates and location. Not only that, mydriveholiday.com also provides you resources on various camping sites, from renting a motor home, find the right caravan parks, attractions, fun activities and more information for your travel in the following countries: New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the USA.

The site also provides 24/7 customer service so if you need more information or assistance with your booking, you can be assured that someone will be taking your query and provide you the aid and response you need. The customer service does not stop on your booking. If you happen to find your preferred vehicle unavailable, MyDriveHoliday.com will find the best match or provide you the option from their partner suppliers to ensure that you and your family will get that much deserved holiday you have been looking forward to.

Enjoy that road trip and make sure your travel is prepared and organized with the help of MyDriveHoliday.com.

Cape Cod Tourism Ideas and Tips

Cape Cod is known for its beautiful beaches and harbors, rich history and culture, and plenty of outdoor activity possibilities. The area attracts hikers, artists, golfers and tourists from around the world. Here are a few Cape Cod tourism ideas to help you make the most out of your visit.

The Beaches

The Cape Cod National Seashore boasts miles of sand beaches preserved in their natural beauty. Their high sand dunes and picturesque sunsets make the trips to the sea unforgettable. The bathing water is monitored by regular testing, and is known for its high quality. Cape Cod has a total of more than 550 miles of beautiful coastline for visitors to enjoy.

Pristine Nature

Several conservation organizations in Cape Cod make efforts to preserve the local nature and its resources, maintaining the environment in its pristine condition. A lot of emphasis is placed on recycling and other waste-reducing activities.

Outdoor Activities

From fishing trips to schooner cruises, sailing is one of the most popular activities in Cape Cod. Whale-watching is another exciting adventure, which hundreds of tourists undertake every day during the summer months. Miles of dedicated hiking and biking trails with breathtaking sceneries along the routes are available to those who prefer a more active vacation.  

History and Architecture

Besides its natural beauty, Cape Cod has a lot of other attractions for tourists to enjoy. Its lighthouses are great architectural landmarks, exciting to watch from both the land and the sea. Many of the buildings along the scenic Route 6A are former sea captain homes. When traveling the route, one can also visit Sandwich, a small historic town with a lot of character.

Culture and Art

The galleries of Cape Cod attract many art lovers to the area. They display the works of local and national artists, Saturdays in July and August being popular exhibit opening nights. Provincetown is one of the county’s oldest art colonies, with the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket having a rich art scene as well. A popular Cape Cod tourism feature, Heritage Museums and Gardens in Sandwich, are 100 acres of galleries, antique exhibits, concerts, and various other cultural activities.

(Photo credit: yahoo image)

Amsterdam’s Top 3 High-End Eateries

Photo credit: tanamatales.com but I added text

Amsterdam is one of the best places to take a weekend break, not only because of the liberal and relaxed nature of the Dutch people, but mainly due to the fact that there’s so much to see and do! From cafés and canals to amazing architecture and exciting culture, Amsterdam is a must-visit city this summer, and as the capital of Holland, it certainly lives up to its reputation.

Offering mesmerising beauty, world-renowned coffee shops, art galleries, live music, street acts, bicycles and so much more, there’s never been a better time to visit Amsterdam. One of the best things about the city is the amazing food, and there are vibrant and diverse restaurants, pubs and bars around every corner.

Considering the size of the city, Amsterdam packs one hell of a punch, and because it attracts millions of tourists, the food industry has to be on its best game all year round. Let’s take a look at some of the best high-end restaurants in Amsterdam.

1.     La Oliva

If you like wine, stunning décor, Basque-style tapas, and generally a great night, then La Oliva is the place for you. This fantastic restaurant can be found in Egelantiersstraat in the heart of the city, and with main meals costing around 20 euros, you certainly get a lot for your money here. One of this restaurant’s special dishes is something called pintxos, a selection of bread-based delights with various toppings and flavours.

If you’re looking for something a little more filling, then there is a full European menu on offer, including succulent steak, homemade chips, great pies and a variety of pasta dishes. Furthermore, the wine list is also extensive, meaning you can simply come to La Oliva for a quiet drink.

2.     Beddington’s

Named after the head chef and owner, British-born Jean Beddington, this restaurant is a joy to behold. After opening her first restaurant in 1983 in Amsterdam city centre, Jean used her worldly experience – including influences from her time in Japan, England and other parts of Europe – to create Beddington’s.

As one of the most creative and stylish digs in Amsterdam, this restaurant can be found hidden down a quiet side road, away from all the hustle and bustle of the tourist hubs of the city. If you’re looking for signature dishes to try out, then the sweet potato mash is the one for you – with the spuds freshly grown in Jean’s own private plot.

Due to its clientele, which are mostly business types, prices are a little steep, however well worth it. Overspending on your accommodation is also much wiser than overspending on your travel and you can effectively control your flight spend by using an online flight comparison website. Cheapflights is a good place to start.

3.     De Kas

De Kas – or ‘the greenhouse’ – is a local favourite in Amsterdam. Not only is the entire restaurant housed inside a specially made greenhouse, but the food is some of the best in the city. One of the best things about De Kas is where it gets its produce. The restaurant is actually split into two parts – one half for growing vegetables and fruit for sides and desert, and the other is where people are seated! If the food you order isn’t grown here, then it’s sourced from local farms with high quality cattle.

Ease In The Application Of Visa In Japan For Southeast Asians

The news about Japan's move to relax application of some Asian nationalities who wish to visit their country for tourism is well accepted by everyone. I am one of those who are very ecstatic about the news because my family and I have been planning a vacation in Japan for some time. For some reason, it gets getting delayed or shelved temporarily due to the tight visa application process. So, effective July 1, 2013, the ruling for some Asian nationalities like the Philippines, Malaysians, Thais and Indonesians can apply for multiple entry visa. While citizens of Thailand and Malaysia can now visit Japan to a maximum of 15 days without having to apply for a visa but the visa may not be extended. Meanwhile, Filipinos and Vietnamese citizens can now apply for a multiple-entry visa valid for 3 years which was normally granted to few privileged countries.

Japan's move to entice travelers to visit the country is really a brilliant one as more and more Asean nationals are enjoying the perks of traveling. There is a significant boom on the travel industry in the Asean region and Japan will benefit from this.

My family and I are already considering a trip in the offing this May 2014, just in time for my daughter's move to college. It is her request to travel to Japan before she goes back home in the Philippines and I am willing to give her that gift so I can also fulfill my bucket list.

There are plenty of beautiful places to see in the Land of the Rising Sun. My daughter and I have been brushing up with our conversational and reading skills in Nihongo so our immersion trip with the culture will be very appreciated. Not only that, we will time the vacation during the Sakura festival because my daughter and I love Cherry Blossoms so much. I have seen them bloom in New York but my daughter has yet to see them up close. And what better way to view those magnificent flowers is to visit where they originated! Another attraction my daughter will not let pass is the chance to visit the Studio Ghibli. For those who are new to anime, Studio Ghibli is the famous animators behind the films' Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, Totoro and so many more which were dubbed by famous Hollywood actors and actresses. Thinking of all the things and places we will see in Japan is already making me excited!

I have been researching the internet with specific keywords like places to visit japan or japan's tourism or things to see and do in japan to yield results that will help me plan the whole trip and squeeze in everything we can in less than 15 days. I know that with the new rule for visa application for our nationalities, I can always come back and see more of what Japan has to offer.

Nihonde wa, koko de wareware wa kite! 日本では、ここで我々は来て! See you soon!

Universal Studios Singapore July 2012

Yes, finally! My daughter and I had an amazing time in Universal Studios Singapore last July 5, 2012. It was just a mere 10 minutes walk away from our hotel in the Resorts World Sentosa so going there was a breeze.

I paid S$74 for each of us for an adult one-day peak pass because our date of visit fell during the peak season. I bought it online few weeks in advance to ensure that our entrance was covered because you just don't know if it would become too crowded.

We were there around 11:00 a.m. There was gray overcast but I didn't anticipate heavy rain on that day. Good thing we bought rain coats so even if it was raining like cats and dogs, we managed to go around wearing our rain coats. The rain stopped around 1:00 p.m. so it was cool to roam around again and ride the other attractions.



There are 7 areas in Universal Studios Singapore namely:

• Hollywood - near the entrance, has souvenir shops and other food outlets like the Mel's Diner   and Hollywood China Bistro. We had lunch at the latter. It was quite pricey but it was delicious. Celebrity Cafe and Bakeshop is also in this place.
• New York - you can find the Lights, Camera, Action attraction here. This is where I had a pose with Marilyn Monroe and watched the Sesame Street characters performed.
• Sci-fi City - Transformers Ride and Battlestar Galactica Human vs. Cylon ride and the Accelerator are  in this area. 
• Ancient Egypt - The very scary Revenge of the Mummy ride is right here. Treasure Hunt is another slow ride which is okay for kids and even myself with hypertension.
• Lost World - Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure, Canopy Flyer, Dino-Soarin' rides are right here. Water World is also found in this area. 
• Far, Far, Away - The very fun and exciting Shrek 4D ride is in this area. I had so much fun in this simulator ride. Magic Potion shop is also here which is a merchandise store. There are some food outlets here too.
• Madagascar - The fun Madagascar: A Crate Adventure ride is found here. I love this ride so much although we all got wet because of Marty. No, I will not give any spoiler here :) You have to go to Universal Studios and enjoy the ride!

I managed to take pictures with Marilyn Monroe and Betty Boop. I was looking for the other characters but didn't catch them. Better luck next time!

The whole Universal Studios experience is so wonderful. My daughter  would like to go back and take her dad with her so she could try out the other rides we missed during our visit because of my condition. I wanted to take the rides but I was hyperventilating already just reading the description and looking at the other riders who got out of the rides. However, I know I missed so much on the other famous rides, I still look forward to go back and this time, with my hubby who is as adventurous as my princess.

I do recommend this place to everyone. It is a wholesome, family-oriented theme park in Singapore.

See Hong Kong in Few Days

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Hong Kong is not a very big place that you will need to stay for a week. I say, 2 nights and 3 days is enough to cover most of the tourist attractions there. However, if you are considering a side-trip to Macau or the Mainland China, then 4 nights and 5 days is the ideal.

Most of the tourist attractions in Hong Kong can be visited in a day excluding a full day trip to Disneyland. When we visited Hong Kong, we devoted one full day in Disney because of my daughter.  Since it was my second time to go there, we didn't bother enlisting with any of the local land tour agents. We did most of the sightseeing on our own and just took the train station going around town.

If you're the adventurous type and don't mind walking around or taking public transports, then here is a list of tourist attractions to see in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Island
Ocean Park
Disneyland
Hong Kong Park
Jumbo Floating Restaurant
Repulse Bay
The Peak
Victoria Harbour
Madame Tussauds
Happy Valley Racecourse
Stanley Market and Murray House
Western Market
Hollywood Road, Man Mo Temple
Asiaworld Expo
Sky City
Tai O Fishing Village
Giant Buddha/ Po Lin Monastery
Ngong Ping 360

Kowloon
Ladies Market
Kowloon Walled City Park
Temple Street Night Market
Yuen Po Street Market
Avenue of Stars
Symphony of Lights
Jade Market and Jade Street
ICC - Sky100 Indoor Observation
Clock Tower near the Star Ferry concourse
1881 Heritage
Sik Sik Yuen Wong Temple
Cheung Sha Wan Road Fashion Street and Apliu Street
Lei Yue Mun Seafood Bazaar
Dialogue in the Dark (Fun activities to do in the dark...use your "creative" imagination people!)

New Territories
Ping Shan Heritage Trail
Tsing Ma Bridge
Mai Po Wetlands
Ma Wan Park Noah's Ark
Sha Tin Racecourse
Hong Kong Wetland Park