The Beautiful Canals in Amsterdam

I am in love with Amsterdam! I used to say that about Paris but when I saw the beauty of Amsterdam last year, I have been in awe.

I have always dreamt of visiting The Netherlands even when I was a young kid. I think I was only 5 years old when I made my bucket list of places to visit. Of course, that piece of paper where all this "wanderlust" nature started has been long gone, in my heart and soul, I know what they are.

Visiting Amsterdam last year for my birthday was something I have only dreamt about. So, you can imagine my amazement when I actually saw the canals in the beautiful city of Amsterdam in person. My friend and I were both awe-struck, to say the least. All we could utter was, "so pretty!" And yes they are!

Do you know why The Netherlands has plenty of canals? The country is below sea level. They need a robust irrigation system to divert the water out of the country through the canals to prevent flooding. The canals have been around since 17th century.  In Amsterdam, the canals reaches more than a hundred kilometres when combined and they are now used as ways to travel.

A view of the flower market in Amstel

This is near the Amsterdam Central Station

One of the beautiful canals in Amsterdam

This is near Hotel The Bird where we stayed in Amstel. 

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.

Our Studio Ghibli Experience

My daughter and I are avid fans of Studio Ghibli. We have both watched a lot of Studio Ghibli movies countless of times and we could repeat the dialogues over and over. You can now imagine how fanatic we are of Studio Ghibli!

So, it is a dream come true to visit the place where beautiful Japanese animation started. Well, technically, it's the museum but to be in that place is just magical! So, when we finalized the plan to travel to Tokyo as early as October, I booked our Studio Ghibli Museum entrance tickets in advance because you couldn't enter the museum without the voucher of the paid entrance pass and booking.

Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation production company created in 1985 by Hayao Mizayaki and Isao Takahata. It is the famous studio behind the animation releases like Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Grave of the Fireflies, The Cat Returns and many more. The English-dubbed version of the movies were dubbed by famous Hollywood thespians like Christian Bale (Howl in Howl's Moving Castle), Billy Crystal (Calcifer in Howl's Moving Castle), Kirsten Dunst as Kiki, Anne Hathaway as Haru in the Cat Returns. They are just few amongst the top actors and actresses who lent their voice in the English version which were all released by Disney.

I guess you can see by the pictures I have posted here how wonderful we felt stepping in the realms of our beloved Studio Ghibli Museum. I compare the feeling to stepping inside Disneyland, the happiest place in the planet. And yes, even if I am exaggerating, I cannot put into words the happiness my daughter and I felt being there, soaking all the wonders and beauty of the museum even for just few hours. It was worth it!

We started our journey in the morning of Dec. 4, 2013. We left Shinjuku around 9 a.m. and caught the JR Chuo line train going to Mitaka. It wasn't really hard to find because as soon as you exit the Mitaka train station, you could see the sign leading to the exit to Studio Ghibli area.  We just followed that direction and saw a very big, yellow and super cute bus that really stood out from the other buses around. It was the bus that would take you to Studio Ghibli. I forgot how much the fare was.

It was brief ride from the Mitaka train station to Studio Ghibli. We passed by residential areas and small stream and there are markers that show how far Studio Ghibli is which is fitting to Studio Ghibli's norm - cute and antiquated!

Alas, we reached Studio Ghibli and we started taking pictures here and there! There's a big Totoro stuffed doll inside a ticket booth for decoration purposes. The entrance was actually in the other direction where the big Totoro was. People just loved that area because of the photo op with Totoro.

Our voucher was exchanged to 3 film reels of famous Studio Ghibli movies which are ours as keepsake.

Picture taking is not allowed once inside so I can't share anything about the wonders we saw inside. The museum is like a big mansion with several rooms to explore. There is a coffee shop and playroom for the little tykes around. There is also a souvenir shop in the higher floor and I bought several keychains, pin and face towel.

I don't mind going back to Studio Ghibli, probably stay a bit longer and maybe watch some of the movies inside too.

If you're planning to visit Tokyo anytime soon, please include Studio Ghibli in your itinerary. It is certainly something you shouldn't miss. I bought my museum pass from UK and the voucher was sent to me via Royal Mail. Just visit this site for more info and depending on which country you are in. Don't forget to arrange for your Studio Ghibli Museum pass even before you arrive in Japan. There are also outlets that sell the tickets but you'll never know if the dates you prefer are fully booked if you buy during your vacation in Japan. I say, plan it and purchase it in advance that will fit within your scheduled vacation in the Land of the Rising Sun.

New York - My Favorite Fall Destination

The slight drop in temperature and the cool breeze blowing to my face is a pleasant respite from the extreme summer months of the UAE. We normally don't go anywhere aside from the Philippines during summer because of our work and the request of relatives back home to visit them. So, our family annual trip' destination usually falls on the beautiful, cool weather of autumn.

We have spent autumn in Munich, Istanbul and New York. I would say, New York tops my autumn go to place. The weather can be chilly and balmy at night but I love the cold weather. Autumn in Europe is fine too but I just don't feel that certain autumn charm that New York has.

Here are the reasons why I love New York in autumn:

1. The trees in Central Park are bright and colorful with different hues of orange, red, yellow and brownish/burnt sienna tones of leaves.

2. The sky is clear and sunny and the air is crisp.

3. Nice time to have picnic at the park.

4. People watching while enjoying a hot cup of joe.

5. I don't get tired walking around in boots!

6. The city is bustling again because summer campers are back.

Don't you just love NY in autumn? I think I am biased. I just love the place no matter what season of the year.

Singapore - The Lion City

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I have been to this small but nice country twice. The first one was in 2002 and the second was in 2008. I haven't been back since then and I would certainly like to go back for a brief R & R with my family, when time permits.

The country is small and if you need to go around Singapore City, you only need to book a max of 5 days and 4 nights to see the whole place.

There are plenty of places to see there like the famous Sentosa Island and the cable ride at Vivo, Merlion Statue, Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, the Botanical Garden, Esplanade, the recently opened Universal Studios (which was still under construction when my family and I visited Singapore last 2008), the Resort World (casino and a nice hotel), and the Marina Bay Sands with the infinity pool on top of the hotel, overlooking the city of Singapore. When you love shopping like I do, the best places to go to are Bugis and China Town. Orchard Road is for the high-end shoppers. I normally don't buy antyhing there.

Food is cheap in Singapore and so are the hotel accommodation. The first time my husband and I went to Singapore, we stayed in Marriott Hotel which was centrally located at the corner of Orchard and Scotts Road. It is like a tall pagoda in the middle of a bustling city. I love that hotel. It is very beautiful and right beside the MRT station and walking distance to restaurants and malls. The second time we stayed at YMCA International Guest House at Bencoolen St. It is facing the Canning Park and a church is close by. It is close to Dhoby Ghaut MRT station and a walking distance to Orchard Road.

If you love to dine out and experience the various food of Singapore, go to Clark Quay for some nice dining experience. Eat by the river and enjoy the skyline of Singapore.

The weather is similar to the Philippines. It gets a bit humid and rainy at the same time. It is best to go there during November until February where the weather is still cool and plenty of events to celebrate like Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa, Christmas, New Year, and the grand Chinese New Year.

We're looking forward to visit the country again. We will explore the new attractions next time.

Best Islands To Go To

I am not a big fan of the beach area. Large body of water scares the hibbie jibbies out of me. However, it is nice to share the beautiful islands worth visiting as mentioned in Yahoo Travel's list of World's Best Islands written by Jennifer Miranda. The list is taken from the result of the 16th annual World's Best survey. And here are the top notchers:

No. 1 Santorini, Greece

This island haven took the number one slot because everything is just brighter: from the white-washed cube houses set on cliffs above the Aegean Sea, the bluest of blue sea, and the wonderful sunsets that light up the caldera.

Bali, Indonesia
No. 2 Bali, Indonesia

Bali is well-known around the world as the island paradise. And true to its name, Bali is still untouched by industrialization but at the same time, it is teeming with beautiful and luxurious beach resorts around its coastal areas.

Bali has been ranked the number 1 island every year since 1998 but was beaten by Santorini this year. So why go to Bali? This lush tropical island, located in South East Asia lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, is very rich in culture, arts, architecture and traditional medicine.

Cape Breton, Canada
No. 3 Cape Breton, Canada

I have not heard of Cape Breton yet but a quick look in the internet gave me a better understanding why this beautiful island is always on the top list.

The island has beaches backed by cliffs, has forested headlands and beaming with plenty of lighthouses. The local culture is a hodgepodge of Scottish, Acadian, Irish, African and native Mi'kmaq influences.

Boracay, Philippines
No. 4 Boracay, Philippines

This small islands in the Visayan area of the Philippines is surrounded by white sandy beaches and plenty of luxurious hotel properties like the Shangri-la. Boracay is the included in the list for the first time and is becoming famous world-wide.

Great Barrier Reef, Australia
No. 5 Great Barrier Reef, Australia

World-famous Great Barrier Reef in Australia is always in the top list. The reef is teeming with sea life such as baleen whales, leatherback turtles, gian clams and 400-odd species. The island is surrounded by cerulean water and corals. Around the shores are different kinds of hotels and island resorts.

Sicily, Italy
No. 6 Sicily, Italy

An island with 300 days of sun per year is a magnificent vista of coastal houses, resorts and hotels with a back-drop of cliffs. Sicily is becoming famous and one of Italy's favorite destinations.

Sicily boasts of its culinary scene, rich history and beautiful ocean-front scenery.

Big Island, Hawaii
No. 7 Big Island, Hawaii

This island in Hawaii is rich in lava rock and hot magma especially when Kilauea erupts, making it one of the hottest islands to go to (no pun intended!).

Big Island is a tropical island with mostly rural lifestyle like farmers' markets and cowboy culture. The island is surrounded by black/greenish/white sand beaches.

Kauai, Hawaii
No. 8 Kauai, Hawaii

Another beautiful island in Hawaii has made it into the top list of Best Islands. Kauai has lush vegetation with beautiful waterfalls spill from jagged cliffs and deep green valleys.

Maui, Hawaii
No. 9 Maui, Hawaii

Hawaii is a country with beautiful islands located in the Pacific. It is not a surprise to see another beautiful island of Hawaii included in the list. Maui is a well-known tourist destination especially by the rich and famous. Maui boasts of luxurious resorts and spas and ocean-front hotel properties frequented by the Hollywood A-listers.

Galápagos, Ecuador
No. 10 Galápagos, Ecuador

The wild islands of the Galapagos continue to entice travelers from across the globe. Galapagos is in Ecuador and is famous for its gigantic iguanas, tame sea lions, blue-footed boobies and huge Galapagos turtles.

Take a cruise and explore this exotic island for few days. Relax in the beach area of San Cristobal, Puerto Ayora, Bartolome and Espanola.

I Love Paris

Paris is famously known as the City of Light. I have always dreamed of seeing the place for myself and my family and I was lucky enough to have that privilege.

The City of Light is very picturesque. Even the people are friendly. They have good food (love their crepes!) and the place is teemed with pantomime! There are plenty of places to visit like Euro Disneyland, the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur de Montmartre, the Champs Elysees, L'Arc de Triomphe, Louvre Museum, Musee d'Orsay, Montparnasse Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, cruise in River Seine, Le Jardin des Tuileries, Latin Quarter, Catacombs of Paris, Madeleine Church, The Opera, Trocadero, Champs du Mars Parc, Invalides, Palais Royale, Place Vendome, Place de la Concorde, Jardin Du Luxembourg, Pont Neuf, Saint Germain des Pres and so much more.

I cannot stop gushing about how beautiful the place is. I will just let the pictures say the words...

Places To See In Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey is a place rich in culture, art and history. There are so many places to see while in Istanbul. Some places are just around the city while the others are in the outskirts. Below is the list of places of interest in the beautiful city of Istanbul.

The Sultanahment Mosque or famously called Blue Mosque - It is called the Blue Mosque because of its  interior blue Iznik tiles.

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia - This beautiful church is adorned with magnificent frescoes and mosaic tiles which were covered in plaster when Turks conquered Istanbul and ordered the conversion of the church into a mosque.
Galata Tower - The tower is a prominent fixture in the Old Pera or Beyoglu District. It was used as an observatory tower to aid the Turkish defense during the 1300s. For the tourist, this tower offers an great 360 view of the Asian and European side of Istanbul.

Obelisk Monument
at the Hippodrome

Hippodrome Square and the Obelisk - Chariot races took place in this square. Elections were done via chariot races in the Hippodrome during the Byzantium days. In one area of the Square stands the granite Obelisk carved in Egypt and brought in Istanbul around 1450 BC by the Byzantine emperor Theodosius.
Grand Bazaar - This is a vast shopper's delight, housing more than 4,000 shops selling various goods from carpets to spices to wares. It is a big labyrinth of shops constructed in 1464 upon the order of Mehmed II.
Basilica Cistern - The underground water reservoir is right beneath the Stoa Basilica. It has 336 columns of either in Doric and Corinthian  style which hold the high ceiling.
Topkapi Palace - This place used to be the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. The palace is situated between the Golden Horn and the Marmara sea of Istanbul and offers a great view of the Bosphorus.
Dolmahbace Palace - This extravagant palace is like a mini Versailles and has many French influences in its designs and interiors.

Istiklal St. in Taksim

Istiklal Street in Taksim - This is a well-known pedestrian street is the melting pot of people of all walks of life. It is teeming with cafes, pubs/bars, restaurants, movie theaters and shops and has a tram running in the middle of the quaint street. St. Anthony Church (a Catholic church) is also located along this street.
Museums - Rahmi M. Koc Museum, Istanbul Modern Museum, Kariye Musem, to name a few.