RSSMar|21|2010
Ben Thanh Market In Saigon
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Cities, Shopping, Travelogger
At the start of this month, I told you that I would probably be writing mostly about Saigon as I had tons of experiences that I would like to share. I did have a short break yesterday when I wrote about my Mount Pinatubo experience – which is in the Philippines. Let’s go back to neighboring Vietnam, shall we?
One of the attractions of Saigon is the shopping experience. Trust me, even those who normally shy away from shopping will have a blast in Saigon! The most popular shopping destination is Ben Thanh Market. It is located right smack in the center of the city and served as a landmark for me. When I got a little lost, I would always find my way back to this market and rediscover my bearings.
So what does Ben …
Mar|20|2010
Conquering Mount Pinatubo
Posted by Noemi as Adventure, Asia, Destinations, Eco-Friendly, Features, Nature, Travelogger
Many Filipinos still remember that fateful day in 1991 when a relatively unknown volcano erupted north of the capital. The eruption caused a lot of damage and killed hundreds of people. Its effects were felt far and wide, even affecting the global climate. Today, this volcano has become a destination for many a tourist.
The fact that it erupted fairly recently and that you can hike right up to the crater is too tempting to resist. Even more so, the sight that greets you at the end of the trek is enough to entice anyone – even those who wouldn’t normally go hiking. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.
That’s my first view of the crater. The eruption created this gorgeous lake, the depth of which is currently undetermined. I had seen pictures of this …
Mar|14|2010
Binh Soup Shop, Saigon
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Food and Drink, Historical, Travelogger
Going to Saigon? You will definitely find tons of soup shops around the city. They’re everywhere – and I mean everywhere. From the footpaths to medium sized eateries to classy dining places, they all have pho, the “national food” of Vietnam. My first – and best, I think – taste of real beef pho was at this corner eatery. We got to Saigon after midnight, starving. The shop was right around the corner of the first hotel we went to. Needless to say, it was bliss.
I did have another beef pho experience, and this time, it was more about history than the food. The soup was good, though not exceptional. However, the soup shop – Pho Binh – used to be the secret headquarters of the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. …
Mar|11|2010
Accommodations In Saigon (Ho Chi Minh)
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Destinations, Hotels, Travelogger
Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon, as more people call it) is full of hotels. Everywhere you look, you will find accommodations. The problem – if you can call it that – is choosing one. You may opt to go the “normal” route and search hotel web sites such as Asiarooms. I tried this before a month before our trip, but ended up undecided. Lucky for me, my friend found two options that were not that expensive.
You see, the countless hotels in Saigon offer good rates – anywhere from USD15 to USD40. The really big names, like Sheraton and Continental, are out of my league. I would have loved to stay at the Sheraton but it was just too much. Anyway, we ended up staying at Blue River Hotel for the first two nights, and then moved to Blue Diamond for the …
Mar|05|2010
Itching To Discover Saigon
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Cities, Destinations, Travelogger
In less than an hour, I shall be on my way to a country that I have never been to before. I have always wanted to visit Vietnam, if only for their food. Friends who have been there have said nothing but nice things as well. And, apparently, this is one place where I can be a millionaire – at least for a day or two. There aren’t many places where the Philippine Peso has a strong purchasing power, and Vietnam is one of them! For a mere PHP10,000, one call himself a Vietnamese millionaire!
So why am I itching to see Saigon (now called Ho Chi Minh City – HCMC for short – by the way)? As I said, Vietnamese food is to die for. Fresh spring rolls, the famous pho (noodle soup), …
Feb|28|2010
Aviation Safety and the Power Distance Index (PDI)
Posted by Noemi as Air Travel, Tips, Transport, Trivia
People often choose airlines based on ticket prices, service, perks and safety. When it comes to the first three factors people often base their decisions on research and actual experience. You can after all easily compare fares just by surfing online or asking your travel agency for quotations. Service and perks are also really easy to judge once you’ve flown in different airlines. What is harder to research though is safety records. Sure airlines have safety records that can be accessed publicly. Those with good safety records even advertise their record to encourage passengers to choose their airlines. However, what people don’t usually consider when choosing a flight is a factor called Power Distance Index (PDI).
Power Distance Index and its effect on aviation safety was discussed by Malcolm Gladwell in his book “Outliers“. There he explained why a plane manned by a …
Feb|23|2010
2009: Second Safest Travel Year
Posted by Noemi as Air Travel, News, Trends
I guess that’s just a bit of information that is not really of much to use the average traveler today. Yeah, last year could very well be one of the safest years of traveling – we’re very much alive despite going on several trips last year, right?
Now, enough sarcasm. The data may seem trivial to me (and maybe some of you) but I am sure someone will make good use of it. According to the International Air Transport Association, or IATA, in the year 2009, there was only 1 accident for every 1.4 million flights. That’s an impressive figure, isn’t it? However, the numbers only take into account Western-built jets. Then again, I don’t think I’ve ever flown in a non-Western jet. Have you?
Here are more details from Reuters:
IATA said the 2009 …
Feb|22|2010
Spend Your Holidays At Hogwarts
Posted by Noemi as Destinations, Family, Features, United States
I never really got into Harry Potter that much – I thought it too juvenile – but I have to admit that I read the first several books. Juvenile the series may be, but I simply cannot resist the idea of magic and all that. So when I heard about Universal in Orlando unveiling its very own Harry Potter theme park, I got quite interested. Walking through the halls of Hogwarts; strolling through the village of Hogsmeade; and sitting on a barstool at The Three Broomsticks – the thought of being able to do these (even if it’s really just all pretend if you think about it) is enough to excite any fantasy-loving person, don’t you think?
So anyway, the news is that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – that’s the name of the theme park …
Feb|21|2010
Syria Travel Warning Lifted By The US
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Warnings
The US State Department is known for issuing travel advisories to its citizens on a regular basis. While I understand the need for this and appreciate the rationale behind it, I am also iffy about their warnings, especially when it comes to The Philippines. I guess it’s because I am a local and I feel that I know more about the safety here than they do.
Anyway, I just read that the State Department has lifted the travel warning it issued on Syria. The New York Times reports:
The United States has lifted an advisory that warned American travelers about security concerns in Syria, officials said Saturday, as Washington tries to thaw relations with the Syrians, who are seen as crucial to peace in the region.
Syria’s foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, welcomed the decision and said “both …
Feb|16|2010
Some Vacation Photo Tips
Posted by Noemi as Tips, Travelogger
I just got back from a beach trip without my usual companion and I realized one thing: I am a really bad photographer. My camera’s a point and shoot and that is exactly what I do. Just point and shoot. Needless to say, I am looking up tips that can help enhance my meager photography skills. Let me share them with you – for those who are just like me.
Get close and personal. My camera only has 3x optical zoom – maybe that’s why. An expert photographer told me, though, that you should get as close to the subject as possible. And when you can, use your zoom lens. This will make the shot more striking.
Try going black and white or sepia. This is something I played around with two trips …
