el encuentro: paul y flip

it has been a while when i last had this feature and just in time to return as here's a head to head encuentro to two great travel bloggers who explores beyond the usual travel spots. both has an interesting weekly special post. paul has his "why travel tuesday" while flip has his "photo thursday". i haven't met both of them but their blog reveals the Filipino's heart for adventure and finding new great places.

                                                    "el encuentro" 

paul xymon garcia                              blogger                                              flip nomad

walkflypinoy                                          blog                                                  flipnomad

beijing, china                                 farthest north                                   beijing, china 

singapore                                       farthest south                                  bali, indonesia       

bukidnon, philippines                     farthest east                                   tennessee, usa

india-pakistan border                     farthest west                                       paris, france

mui ne to hoi an, vietnam             longest road trip       beijing, china to hanoi vietnam

paracale to calaguas, camnorte     longest boat trip                             manila to caticlan

kuala lumpur to delhi                    longest plane trip                                  manila to usa

varanasi to delhi, india                 longest train trip                          udaipur to chennai

annapurna base camp, nepal            highest point                                           khardung la

el nido, palawan                              deepest swim                       kayangan lake, palawan

annapurna sanctuary trek, nepal      longest trek                            mt banahaw traverse

annapurna sanctuary trek, nepal      hardest trek                                          klbber to ki

umbrella, lost 4 so far                   item/s lost in a trip          belt, money, credit card, atm

tibetan prayer flags                      item given on a trip traded a watch for a metal bracelet

tiny silk worms and crickets         worst food eaten        crocodile, snake and grasshopper  

travel feature questions:

dong ho: An unexpected travel experience where you thought would be a bad day but turned out to be a great experience.

paul: We waited for our train to Jaisalmer in the New Delhi Railway Station by queuing to buy all our other train tickets in India that we would need. Twenty minutes before the train departs, train station porters informed us that trains to Jaisalmer leaves not from New Delhi Railway Station, but rather from Old Delhi Railway Station, a few kilometers away.

We had 15 minutes to get there and it was evening rush hour in the fourth most populous city in the world. Our Indian host drove us as far as a few blocks outside Old Delhi Station. We strapped on our bags and ran through Delhi's chaos only to find the train has already left and we were 15 minutes behind it.

Contingency plans made and we headed up to Dharamsala, the Tibetan enclave in the Indian Himalayas where his holiness the 14th Dalai Lama fled 50 or so years ago to escape Mao's persecution. We discovered that his holiness, who for the better part of the year travels the world keeping a candle burning for the Tibetan cause, was actually in town and he was giving a lecture open to the public.

It was his holiness after all who said in his writings, “Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck." He is right.

flip: An unexpected travel experience where you thought would be a bad day but turned out to be a great experience. My trip to Nubra Valley, I was so grumpy because I got dizzy and sick sitting at the back of the car but it was one of the most amazing places I've ever been to.

dong ho: Why people should go beyond the usual path/route/trails?

paul: It is because the real magic of travel happens not in the places you mapped out in your itinerary. What leaves a lasting impression on you are those you discover along the way. It all has to do with the limitless possibilities being on the road offers. Knowing that tomorrow is going to be a lot different from today should be reason enough. It is for me.

flip: A lot of off the beaten path destinations are cleaner, cheaper, less touristy but at the same time less convenient because of the lack of facility that caters to visitors. It's both challenging and rewarding to go to an unpopular destination, but it's always worth it.

                                                        

note: 

1. farthest places reached are referenced from Manila (with Manila to Europe as West and Manila to Guam as East).

2. records here are subject to update. as we know travelers break their records from time to time. records here are updated as of this posting

previously featured:

edcel suyo and ferdz decena

chyng reyes and ga-el hilotin

allan barredo and oggie ramos

nina fuentes and upper viceo

angel juarez and james betia

lois yasay and monette fernandez
jerome baluyot and marky ramone

first day in yangon

forget ice cream. forget taxis with air-condition. forget fast internet connection. for now, Yangon may lag in many aspects but the way this country is changing in the past months would make our experience different when one comes in the coming years. 

on our first day in Yangon coming from a flight via Kuala Lumpur, we managed to get a van that would bring us around the city before heading far North to the historical site of Bagan. our goal for day one was:

- to get some of our US Dollar bills converted to Myanmar Kyat.

- to buy longyi and htamein - traditional Burmese under garment

- to buy souvenirs as we might miss out dropping by these shops on our way back

- to make a quick stop at some tourist spots within the city.

we made three quick stops. a pagoda, a local food shop and a bazaar. 

Kaba Aye Pagoda 

built in commemoration to the 2,500th year of Buddha's nirvana in 1952, this pagoda remains a solemn place for worshipers. from a small parking area it leads to a long walkway of shops. like all the pagoda's in Myanmar, one has to walk barefoot when entering the walkway. 

the pagoda is composed of an outer and inner area for worship. the outer area has Buddhas on its corners with tables for offerings and donation glass box. the inner area is a more solemn area where a neon-lighted Buddha halo becomes the center of meditation. 

Kaba Aye Pagoda

location: Kaba Aye Road, Mayangon township, Yangon

GPS: 16' 51" 24 N, 96' 9" 16 E

height: 111 feet

date built: 1952

recommendation:

this is in between the airport and the city. so you can make a quick stop to this pagoda. might not be as grand as Shwedagon Pagoda but the place is solemn. though taking photos is allowed, please respect the worshipers by turning off the flash option of your camera.

Hla Myanmar (Shwe Ba) Restaurant

after a walk around Kaba Aye pagoda, we had to stop for lunch and we requested for good local food. our guide recommended us this somewhat isolated food shop but was full of locals.

our guide though got us a semi-private area reserved when we got to there. the place looked like a typical carenderia in the Philippines where one would order from pre-cooked meals. 

when served, a large vegetable salad comes first with condiments. since i'm not really into the kind of vegetables served, just few bites was fine. i picked this sweetened corn in tandem with spicy meat balls which turned out a good choice. 

Hla Myanmar (Shwe Ba) Restaurant

location: No 27, 5th Street, West Shwegonedine, Bahan Township, Yangon

GPS: 16' 48" 13 N, 96' 8" 44 E

specialty: local food

recommendation: 

ice cold Myanmar beer was good. also dont forget to try those fermented fish sauces. most meals comes with overflowing oil and less spice.

Bogyoke Market

reminded us so much of Ho Chi Minh's Ben Thanh Market where tourists would spend an hour or more moving around bargaining for souvenirs and antique items. a tourist landmark of the city of Yangon which name comes from the former general Aung San. formerly known as Scott's Market.

going around was easy with a main hallway from the main entrance which leads to several clusters of shops. the preferred currency is its local Myanmar Kyat (MMK) when buying items but most shops would also accept it in US Dollars (USD). 

the closest resemblance to this market in the Philippines would be the Zamboanga City barter shops. including the way one would bargain for the items. the famous local longyi and htamein would remind us of malongs.  

Burmese jade bracelets, rings and small figurines are among the most famous buys as these stones are considered precious and known as Myanmar gems. apart from these, the usual ref magnet, t-shirts, postcards and paintings are also available. so it's worth dropping by this market when you're in Yangon.

Bogyoke Aug San Market

location: Bogyoke Aung San Road, Pabedan Township, Yangon

GPS: 16' 46" 49 N, 96' 9" 20 E

date built: 1926

recommendation: 

Bogyoke market is closed during Mondays. among the best items to buy here are longyis and htamein, jade items, lacquerwares and souvenirs. we bought really cheap items at this shop whose owner can speak a little of Tagalog: Heyday Gems and Jewellery Shop. it's at the inner portion of the market.  

even a half day in Yangon can bring you to interesting spots. we did all these on less than 8hours. after buying items in Bogyoke market on our first day, around 3pm we started our trip North of Yangon to the historical site of Bagan. coming up next.

other helpful posts:

Guide to Going to Yangon - Mingalaba Myanmar

Why am i going to Myanmar?

mingalaba myanmar

"Mingalaba!" best way to greet the hospitable Burmese people. they will return you with the same greeting but with a genuine smile. before we share our experience of our trip, i hope that this guide will somehow help you prepare your trip to Myanmar through its main trade and transport hub, the city of Yangon.

why go to Myanmar (Burma)?
as it is now an open country, take advantage of exploring Myanmar as it is continuously growing yet has preserved its rich cultural heritage and natural resources. among its most important landmarks includes the temples and pagodas of Bagan and Shwedagon Pagoda. a country of hospitable people and in some ways unique even to its neighboring Southeast Asian nations. something you will discover when you'll be there and that there's still a lot to discover.

why go to Yangon?
the country's most sacred Buddhist site, Shwedagon Paya (Pagoda) lies on top of Singuttara Hill just within the city. i should say is also the most impressive landmark. though dominated by Buddhism, Hindu temples and Islamic mosque can be found around the city. it is also believed that Yangon has the most number of colonial buildings in Southeast Asia.

what to see in Yangon?
Shwedagon Pagoda* - most sacred and the grandest Buddhist Pagoda in Myanmar 
Sule Pagoda* - most accessible pagoda right at the city center is of political importance
Karaweik Hall Barge* - palace barge now a restaurant
Kandawgyi Nature Lake Park - a beautiful nature park where the Karaweik Hall is located
General Aung San Monument
National Museum of Myanmar
Yangon City Hall
Independence Monument
Mahabandoola Garden Park
Bogyoke Market
Old High Court Building*
St Mary's Cathedral
Rakine Jame Mosque
Mogul Shiah Jamay Mosque
Central Railway Station
*highly recommended sites when in Yangon (walking around Yangon will be posted soon)

when to go to Yangon?
not so different with Manila, dry season from November to May rainy season from June to October. special festivals:
March - Tabaung Festival (Nationwide Pagoda Festivals) including Shwedagon Festival
April - Burmese New Year

how to go to Yangon (by plane)?
most usual route are via the following regions and airlines:
Malaysia* - AirAsia
Singapore* - Silkair, Singapore Airlines
Bangkok - Thai Airways
Ho Chi Minh - Vietnam Airlines
*most preferred routes if coming from the Philippines via these countries

going around Yangon:
most preferred way for tourists to go around the city would be by taxi. there are no standard rates so the payment will be agreed prior to reaching your destination. going around within the city with a taxi would range from 3,500-5,000kyats (PHP150-250) there are no motorcycles within the city but bike is allowed. 

how to get a visa? 
for Filipinos it is required to get a visa to enter Myanmar with one month validity. no appointment required to go to Myanmar Embassy in Makati. visa processing is 3days. 

requirements:
1. passport
2. one photocopy each of two valid IDs. passport can be counted as one valid ID.
3. 2 passport photos 4x6cm (hard copy to be attached in the visa form) and a soft copy placed in a CD.
4. travel itinerary
5. visa application form (to be provided at the embassy)
6. entry waiver (to be provided at the embassy)
7. PHP1,100 visa fee

Myanmar Embassy (Philippines)
8th Flr Gervasia Building
Amorsolo St., Makati City
Tel: 02-8931944
-This is just right across Makati Cinema Square along Amorsolo St.

visa application tips:
1. best to have the passport photo and soft copy taken at Kodak (Makati Cinema Square branch) since they already know the Myanmar visa requirements. the shop opens at 10:00am but the photo can only be processed after an hour. after you get the photo, proceed to the embassy immediately so you can submit requirements  before noon time. 
2. one portion of the visa form will require your hostel/hotel address in Myanmar.

where to stay in Yangon?
high end: The Strand Hotel, Traders Hotel, Chatrium Hotel, Inya Lake, Park Royal Hotel, Sedona Hotel
mid: Green Hill Hotel, Clover City Center Hotel, Panda, May Shan Hotel
budget: Motherland Inn, YMCA Yangon, Ocean Pearl Inn

other essential information:
currency: Myanmar Kyat or MMK (pronounced as chiyat)
estimated equivalent: USD1 = MMK870 = PHP42
plug type: European Plug, Schuko Type
power supply: 220-240V (same with Philippines)
drive: majority of the vehicles are left-side drive but road follows right-side traffic

important tips:
1. majority of the money changing booth and banks would only accept crisp, stamp-free and no fold USD bills. preferably USD100 bills to get a better exchange rate while smaller bills might be changed but with a lower equivalent.
2. it is best that you find these crisp, stamp-free and no fold US bills while you're in the Philippines. i recommend Czarina Foreign Exchange over Sanry's Foreign Exchange. if in case you're already in transit, you can check Forex shops in the airports of Malaysia and Singapore. 
3. money exchange booth at the airport are reliable. as of our visit there were three and just pick with the ones that offer the better rate.
4. don't change all your money to Kyat (MMK) as hotels and some establishments would still require USD. for souvenirs, local restaurants and transport, Kyat (MMK) is still preferred but USD is also accepted.

i hope that this will help you plan your trip to Yangon. up next, our experience of going around Myanmar.

why am i going to myanmar?

around November last year over an internet chat. Ron opened up of planning to go to Myanmar. the conversation was short and actually sounded more like a football game.

Ron: ano game? 
Dong: game. 
Ron: fight? 
Dong: fight! fight!

going to Myanmar was not even on my bucket list but because for quite some time, i've been wanting to travel with the cool tandem travelers Ron and Monette of Fliptravels, saying yes was easy.

as days came, chat room for this trip grew adding Jerome, Robbie and Marky. who immediately booked for the same flight to Yangon. soon after, we convinced Gay and little Luna to join the trip and finally Melo, who confirmed just few weeks before the departure date.

despite being part of Southeast Asian Nations, i knew less about this country. but i am not the first one in the family to go to Myanmar. way back 2008, my mother went there for a quick trip. but still knew very less about the country except for the stupas and the jade jewelries. 

i rarely have a deeper reason to travel. it's usually just because i want to travel. on this particular trip, i simply want to enjoy it with fellow travel bloggers and to see Myanmar.

what i know about Myanmar before the trip:
Aung San Suu Kyi
Military Junta
Ruby and Jade Stones
Hkakabo Razi

what i wanted to see in Myanmar:
Temples of Bagan
Mt. Popa 
Pagodas in Yangon

what i expect to happen in Myanmar:
long fun road trip with other travelers
amazing temple views
to be little Luna's temporary dada

here begins this long eskapo series. escape and explore Myanmar.

lagu towels

summer is here and the roads lead to islands and coastal beaches around the country. every year i would go for a pre-summer beach trip or as one would call it a summer kick-off beach trip. i chose Nagsasa Cove this year to beach camp with friends.

as more and more people hit the beach, the result could be seeing dirty beaches. but more than that is the effect of coastal erosion and unintentionally taking away of sands every time we hit the beach. most of these goes to the drain or attached to the towels.

just in time as Philippine beaches becomes more touristy, Lagu has developed a towel that would repel sand. i got  the chance to test it on this trip and was quite good. since it comes with a large size, i even used it as a sand mat while taking vertical night photos. 

these towels are also allergen free and best yet these are also quick dry. this summer, in partnership with Lagu Towels i'm giving out two of these towels from the contest posted in my Facebook page. the contest was to answer 

"where they are going this summer and why they deserve a Lagu towel?" 

the two winners of Lagu towels goes to the following entries as chosen by Lagu representatives:

I plan  to go in a secluded beach in Pangasinan which I rarely get to do because I'm always hiking in the mountains. I'm dying to take a Lagu towel with me because  it repels sand which help preserve the beauty of the place. I share the same belief with the people behind Lagu I love and enjoy nature and I want more people to enjoy it as well so I do whatever I can to help to reduce my impact to the places I visit.  - Christine Fernandez 

I'm planning on a road trip this summer in Panay Island and spend more time at the beaches of Antique.  The province of Antique is still largely unexplored by tourists, and I haven't seen much of this province featured in travel shows or even in travel blogs. So I thought I'd go and see for myself.

I'd be traveling light so I need a light-weight, quick-drying yet fashionable and luxurious towel like a Lagu Towel.  Its linen blend is perfect for our hot and humid summer---it's cool to the skin.  I love an innovative and well-thought of product like Lagu Towel...it's designed not only for its function but also for a healthier planet.  Lagu Towel is for worthy eco-citizens like you and me. -Luna Miranda

im also giving three consolation prizes to the following entries, who will each receive one Dispatch mini travel journal and a postcard from Myanmar.

I, Lakbay Diva, hereby solemnly swear upon receiving the Lagu blanket, will do everything I can to help preserve the sands – sands that has decorated our beaches with all its splendor and beauty; sands that has beckoned foreigners and locals alike to bathe in the seas; sands that has brought us close together as one community.

Furthermore, that this summer would be the best summer in my entire life as I will be traipsing in the Top Recommended beaches of Cebu namely: Moalboal, Oslob, Bantayan, Malapascua, and Camotes.

So help me Lagu  - Edwin

I'm planning to spend summer in south Mindanao and Puerto Princesa, Palawan! I'm excited! I think I deserve to have the Lagu towel because I love the beach so much and the scariest idea is for these beaches to be stripped off its beauty (although I don't think using an ordinary sarong would totally scrape the beaches off its sand). But, it would be a great help if the beach towel I use whenever I beach bum is beach-friendly and helps preserve the powdery white (or black in some cases) sand. - Laiza Limpin

I really love to have this Lagu Towel! Because of its features like sand repellent, which is so cool and it fits my needs. I always bring my typical towel whenever I travel but going home is always a problem with that towel because it's so wet and baggy, also it stinks. This coming summer vacation I'll be on Bora, which is my first time. I would love to bring Lagu towel with me and flaunt it with my friends. It's perfect for this getaway and I want the experience to be perfect. I'll be in Benguet also to conquer Bakun Trio, I want to bring Lagu Towel instead of my lame old goodmorning towels which I use after taking a bath. - Mc Pol Androuse Cruz|Weekend Sidetrip 

here are the other entries. thanks for joining and you will still get a Travel Notepadas a token for joining.

I will spend this summer at Ronco Resort Dolphin House on April 1-2 as my 1st team building for year 2013 with my new team mates; new boss. i deserve this towel because I'm working thru the Holy Week since we don't enjoy Philippine Holidays or US Holidays in my department and it's my birthday on MArch 23. I hope that I will get to bring this towel with me on our teambuilding. I'm happiest with my team because four of them are in their respective communities (Victory); I'm also closest with another one who has cancer; she will bring her child with her. I'm really looking forward to this occasion as my way of also building my relationship with my co-workers. - Carla Asperilla 

I have been traveling to Asia and the Philippines since 2008 and I am loving it. This is one of my many wishes that came true.

Underground River is my next dream destination. I hope this time around I am bringing Lagu towel with me to cut the hassle of bringing a used, wet and bad smelling ordinary towel.

This is reason enough that I am worthy of your quick dry, allergen free and sand repellant Lagu towel. :) -Joie Ilagan 

This will be one busy summer for me.

For now,  I already got confirmed schedules for Puerto Galera early April for our company Outing, a trip to Zambales with family in May, and a Subic business and leisure trip with colleagues. I am still making a final plans for a Sagada Tour with my wife and kids. And I need your Lagu Towel to go with me to all these trips. - Raul (Laur) Bernal 

I would spend my summer in Biri, Northern Samar, me and my friends would go there so see the incredulous "rock formations'  I want a "Lagu Towel" just so i can use it in Biri. :p - Gerald Paramio 

you will receive an email soon for the details of claiming the prizes.

you can buy these towels online through Lagu Towels online shop or check out the list of shops and resorts where you can find these towels.