Voluntourism

Travel to the fullest! And by that, I don't mean party like there's no tomorrow. Make your trip more meaningful by getting involved in 'voluntourism', or volunteerism while on vacation.

Just last January 28, we finally had the time to attend Hands On Manila's volunteer orientation at Powerbook's Greenbelt. That's where we got introduced to Hand On Volunteer Vacations (HOVV).

Hands On Manila Foundation, Inc. (HOM) is a non-profit organization which provides flexible volunteer opportunities for community service. HOM offers close to 40 projects every month, each led by the Sherpa or the volunteer leader. A 'Sherpa' is a Nepalese term which means mountain guide. Each project may involve five or more volunteers, and may last 2-5 hours.

HOM Volunteer Passport and newsletter, provided upon registration for the volunteer orientation.

How To Apply For A China Tourist Visa in The Philippines

Great Wall of China, here I come! Okay, not so fast. Why? Because the Chinese Embassy says so. But the ugly reality of visa hassles cannot kill the travel bug. A little patience will get you far, literally.

All visitors to China require a visa except for citizens from Brunei, Japan and Singapore. A Chinese visa covers almost the entire country. Almost because in some restricted areas like Tibet, an additional permit is required.

A Hike Up Victoria Peak

We didn't make any plans for our third day in Hong Kong but to buy train tickets to Beijing, so we slept until 10:00 AM. I was awoken by my sister's text message that said she's home safe. Actually earlier that morning, around 5-ish, we got up briefly to hail a cab that will take my sister to Central Station. And from there, she'll transfer to the Airport Express Line. She was in deep melancholy when she left, and she hated me for booking her flight back to the Philippines that early.

Victoria Peak's The Peak

Ocean Park, Hong Kong

We (my husband Shervin, my sister Gabe and I) did a mad dash through Hong Kong's MTR stations, from the Tung Chung Line to the Island Line. It was already 2:30 PM and we were still at Central Station, waiting for the train to Admiralty. Earlier that day we went to Lantau Island to see the Giant Buddha. It was a very brief visit, we didn't even have time to stop for lunch.

So there I was on the platform, drained and famished. The instant noodles I had for breakfast, obviously has long been digested by my stomach.

At Ocean Park's entrance

Tian Tan Buddha

When in Hong Kong, do not squeeze Tian Tan Buddha and Ocean Park in one day. First, transportation will take too much time because they're on different islands (and not entirely reachable by MTR). Second, half a day is just not enough for both.

Tian Tan Buddha looming in the fog.
I speak of this with such authority because we did so, and the result was ugly. However, if you only got three days to spend like us, then perhaps it's worth the attempt. Hopefully this blog and the next can help you make it happen.

Hong Kong and All Its Jazz

We awoke at 6:00 PM from a three-hour nap. Though we were able to recuperate from lack of sleep, we felt bad for sleeping in because we could have used the three hours on a walking tour.

Will our host, assured us that no time was wasted for it rained the whole afternoon. We didn't have any plans that evening so he said he'll show us around Kowloon after he feeds the cats.

Hongkong's skyline.
And he did take us to the 'feeding-of-the-cats' thing. He led us to a cluster of residential buildings, a fifteen-minute walk from his place. It turned out that Will had to feed the cats every evening while their owners were gone. We never found out who owns the pad (we didn't think it was appropriate to ask), but what we do know is that he or she is very lucky to have an astounding view of Victoria Harbour - day in, day out.

After his errand, we left the pad and walked to the nearest bus station. We hopped on a double-decker bus, our first for this trip. When you a got a guide taking you around, you're less stressed about where you're off to and what you're going to do next. Since we got Will, I didn't make much mental notes about commuting. Hence, I don't know where the bus dropped us off.

The Peninsula's dazzling Christmas lights, at the junction of Nathan Road and Salisbury Road. Hong Kong's very first hotel (1928).

A Tea House With No Name

The primary reason for booking our Hong Kong flight is that it was our cheapest option to enter China. We were able to score tickets with a 30% discount (fare was brought down to P1,995 MNL-HK) from their August 2009 sale. From Hong Kong, we will be taking the 24-hour train to Beijing.

We aren't big city fans, but we allocated three days for Hong Kong. Its dropping December temperature will somehow prepare us for winter in northern China.

I must admit, I already liked Hong Kong even on the first half of our arrival day - and we haven't been anywhere else but the airport, IFC Mall, and Will's pad. Perhaps because it was my first trip overseas with my sister or maybe because we got a host who will provide us honest remarks about the various tourist options offered by this SAR (Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China). Hence, we avoid getting ripped off or spending money on destinations turn out to be a disappointment.

Transport Options from HK International Airport

Our Cebu Pacific flight bound for Hong Kong touched down at its expected time of 7:40 AM. Because of its popularity among Filipino vacationers, I thought getting past immigration would be swift. But heck no - or perhaps it was just that particular official, whom I want to proclaim "The Most Meticulous Immigration Officer of 2009".

After examining my passport and encoding it in his computer for more than five minutes, he asked "How long to Hong Kong?".

Was he trying to chitchat with me because he needed more time? Or was he really asking about the trip? Do I answer '2 hours'? I suddenly thought, he might be asking about the length of my stay. "I leave December 10", I replied.

I don't think he understood. He must have expected an answer which goes, '4 days'. He let me through anyway, that's what matters.

We then grabbed our backpacks from the belt, and searched for a currency exchange stall within the airport. We ended up with Travelex, where we changed US$200 to HK$1,413.40. Not bad. They accept pesos too but expect a bad rate. It's best to buy dollars (from trusted changers!) before leaving the Philippines.

Tip: When at the airport, exchange just enough amount that can take you to your hostel and pay for your first night. It's very much possible that money changers outside the airport offer higher rates.

Their cheery staff suggested we buy the Airport Express Travel Pass:
HK$220 for 1 Airport Express Single Journey + 3 consecutive days of unlimited travel on MTR + HK$50 refundable deposit
or
HK$300 for 2 Airport Express Single Journeys + 3 consecutive days of unlimited travel on MTR + HK$50 refundable deposit
Special offers for tourists, when you buy the Airport Express Travel Pass.
At the time of our visit (December 7 last year), if you purchase any of the above, you also get discount stubs for: Ocean Adventure, Wetland Park and Ngong Ping 360. So we all agreed to buy. My husband Sherv and I, who will be heading to China after four days bought the single journey. My sister Gabe on the other hand, who'll fly back to the Philippines from Hong Kong bought the roundtrip pass.

If you wish to take the Airport Express but not interested with the inclusions of the pass, you may just pay HK$100 to Central Hong Kong, or $90 to Kowloon. There is also the Airport Express Discounted Group Ticket ('group' meaning 2 persons above) which you can ask about at the service center.

Travel time from airport to Central Hong Kong via Airport Express: 25 minutes

A cheaper but slower option to get out of the airport is the bus. Just follow the sign that says "buses to the city". But before you get on, you need to buy an Octopus card. The Octopus card is a rechargeable stored value card that you can use to pay the MTR, buses, the Star Ferry, and HK's Tram. It can also be used at establishments like McDonald's and 7-11. To acquire this card, you need to pay HK$50 for deposit and HK$100 for the initial credits. For succeeding recharges, the cheapest you may purchase is HK$50.

Bus ride to Central Hong Kong is HK$40, Kowloon about HK$30+. Bus A11 for HK, and bus A21 for Kowloon. If it's your first time in the country, you may ask the driver about the place you are going to and where you can be dropped off.

Travel time from airport to Central Hong Kong via bus: 45 minutes day time, 30 minutes at night.

A taxi ride ranges from HK$250-$350 + bridge toll. Unless 4 people split the bill, it ain't worth it.

The Airport Express station at Central Hong Kong is just at the basement of IFC (International Finance Center) Mall. That's where our host picked us up. Will, my husband's colleague from U.S.A. has been living there for two years already to manage his own business. He and his fiancee offered their place to us as our accommodation for the next three days.

When we walked out of IFC to go to the taxi line, we shuddered as a harsh, cold breeze swept. The temperature was about 14°C. Thank goodness there was no queue for the cab. We hurriedly got it in.

Their building is located across University of Hong Kong, a 10-minute hilly ride from IFC. And their pad sits on the top most floor, which offers an unobstructed view of the harbor. We plopped our bags near the couch and took our seats. While Shervin and Will were busy catching up, I shut my eyes for a minute and suddenly felt fatigued. I didn't feel like talking to my sister who was mega-thrilled about travelling overseas for the first time.

In my mind I was thinking that we should go out once again and maximize the remaining half of the day. But the body was just so weak.

Fast Facts/Helpful Info:
- Pick up free brochures for tourists from numerous stands dotted in the airport and malls. My top picks:

Hong Kong Visitor's Kit, Hong Kong Walks and Hong Kong Cultural Kaleidoscope.
- At the time of writing, HK$1 is more or less P6.00.
- Filipinos (visa not required) are permitted to remain for 14 days from the date of entry. Onward tickets are rarely inspected, but us Filipinos have them anyway (as required by Philippine Immigration).
- Electricity is also 220V, but uses the UK plug (three-pronged with a rectangular tip).
- Time zone, same as Philippines.
- Phone country code, +852.
- Vehicles are right-hand drive.
- Most restaurants add 10% service charge to your bill. If it's not included, tipping is discretionary.
- Convenience stores, big supermarkets and pharmacies charge HK$.50 for each plastic bag.
- Remember, you may claim your HK$50 refund once you return your Airport Express Travel Pass and/or Octopus card. Unless, you want to keep your card as a souvenir.
- Hong Kong is a tourist-friendly destination. But always be wary - especially after we have heard about the recent acid attacks at its famous tourist spots.

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Travel Romance: Temporary Residence Visa for Foreigners with Filipino Spouses

"This is a story of boy meets girl. But you should know upfront, this is not a love story..." - or something like that. A quote from 500 Days of Summer. Just thought of throwing that in.

For the love of travelling, you end up in far-flung places to maybe party, soul-search, sight-see, and even work for perpetual travellers. And somewhere along the way you find another 'love', and this time it's a person. Summer fling gone serious.

Intercontinental newlyweds will be put to the test.
Inconceivable to some, it really is possible. But after these intercontinental couples tie the knot they deal with harsh bureaucracies after. Then you witness a fairytraveltale turn rough. Certified documents to submit, proof of relationship, and passport name-change (for women) to name a few. All these for a residency visa.

Visa Extension for Foreigners in the Philippines

So let's say you've fallen in love with the Philippines and you've decided to stay longer than 21 days (that's never enough for a country with 7,000+ islands!) and your visa's about to expire, how do you go about the extension? Since we don't have any land borders shared with other countries, you can fly out and in again for a visa run. But hey, you wouldn't really want to do that since the cost of the flight might just be the same as the amount to pay for a visa extension, plus it's just going to give you another 21 days.

Now before you head out to the nearest Bureau of Immigration office, make sure that your passport is still valid for 6 months. If the expiration of your visa falls on a weekend or holiday, you may apply for the extension beforehand.

For visa extension fees, you may visit Bureau of Immigration's website. I have to warn you however, that even though the breakdown seems to be straightforward (and updated?), the amount they'll charge you may be different. So come prepared, bring extra cash.

If you intend to stay in the country for a long time, like a year, you might want to look into this very helpful site: http://www.living-in-the-philippines.com. It will provide you a rough estimate of how much it's going to cost.

For the satellite offices, you can check this list.

When in Manila, to avoid the chaos at the main office in Intramuros, the Paranaque office is a good option. It's situated on the ground floor of Great Mall of China (Neo Chinatown) along peaceful Bradco Avenue near Mall of Asia. I have accompanied someone here about four times already and the process only usually takes about 20 minutes. Unless some liaison officer from a travel agency came before you, who's applying for a minimum of 5 visa extensions in one go, then you might have to wait a while.

Satellite office at Neo Chinatown, Bradco Avenue near Macapagal Highway.
When you get there, you will be asked to fill out a form. No other documents will be asked. They will photocopy the front page (your personal info), and the page where your visa-on-arrival is stamped. A pricey P3.00 per page.

After accomplishing the form, you then submit it (together with your passport and photocopies) to the 'receiving counter'. The attendant will print out a statement of the amount of the visa extension. The statement is final, and you cannot argue with him/her why you were charged for an ACR (Alien Certificate of Registration) even if you didn't ask for it - and they didn't really provide you with an ACR.

If it's your first time to apply for an extension, no worries because you will not be charged for an ACR yet. Also, you will be paying for 38 more days. If you add that to the initial 21 days, that's a total of 59 days. Meaning, you pay for the first two months.

After paying at the cashier, you just wait for your name to be called. And there you go, you can again set off roaming around the beautiful islands of the Philippines and talk to people back home about it as if it's the last frontier in South East Asia. Of course you exaggerate a little, after going through immigration hassles.

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9 Countries for 2009: 'Best Of' Snippets Part II

If you can't play the video, it may have been removed because of its soundtrack. You can view it here instead.
Here you go, Part II of Pinay Travel Junkie's 'Best Of' video. Rush (and amateur) editing quite obvious, but I'm mighty proud. I forced myself to finish the second part just because I mentioned 'to be continued' on the first one.

Trip stats for 2009 here.

Disclaimer: Again, the songs used are sooo not mine. Credits go to:
1. Foghat - Slow Ride
2. Supergrass - Alright
3. Jim Croce - I've Got A Name

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9 Countries for 2009: 'Best Of' Snippets

If you can't play the video, it may have been removed because of its soundtrack. You can view it here instead.
Part 1 of Pinay Travel Junkie's Best Of 2009 video. 'Best Of' may not pertain to the best choices in town, but they're the most unforgettable for me. Places I have been to and experiences which I found life changing (though my life didn't really change much).

Trip stats for 2009 here.

Disclaimer: Obviously, the songs used for the video aren't mine. Credits go to:
1. AC/DC - Highway To Hell
2. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - I Would Walk 500 Miles
3. Mungo Jerry - In The Summertime

What's on your 'Best Of 2009' list?

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Forget Climate Change

Smoke gobbling Manila. View of Malate, Paco and Sampaloc from Burgundy Westbay Tower's Roofdeck.
Streets of Manila turn into war zones every New Year's Eve. And the annual theme: Forget poverty, forget climate change.

Considered as one of the happiest people on the planet, the Filipinos greeted 2010 with a bang. Literally. Despite catastrophic Typhoon Ondoy's visit in 2009 (PLUS a few Christmas fires and sunken vessels), they lit up fireworks and spent as much as they can on Media Noche as if the past year was their most prosperous. That's the unfaltering faith of every Juan.

9 Countries for 2009: A Roundup

A lot of firsts in 2009. I finally saw snow (which I'm not a fan of), and a giant panda!
Supreme exultation! It dawned on me how grand the past year was as I run a flashback. Nine countries were ticked off Pinay Travel Junkie's 2009 travel list.

1. U.A.E.
2. Malaysia
3. Brunei
4. Indonesia
5. Singapore
6. Thailand
7. Myanmar (though it was only for a visa run)
8. Hong Kong
9. China

Applaud, applaud. Now I'm semi-broke. But the skills I've honed, the insights I've garnered, the people I've befriended made every dirham, ringgit, Brunei dollar, rupiah, Singapore dollar, baht, kyat, Hong Kong dollar, yuan and peso worth it!

Trip Stats for 2009
1. Plane trips, 6. All international. Hoping for more local flights this year.
2. Most visited countries a day, 3. How the heck did that happen? Read here
3. Bowls of Nasi Goreng and instant noodles I had in Indonesia and China, immeasurable.
4. Train rides, 4. Jakarta-Yogyakarta, HK-Beijing, Beijing-Xian, Xian-Guanzhou.
5. Couches I surfed, 7 (via Couchsurfing)
6. Mountain summitted, 1 (Mt Talamitam). Volcano climbed, 1 (Gunung Bromo). Caves spelunked, 2 (Sumaging Cave for the 7th time, and Callao Cave). I also sauntered along 13 beaches.
7. Travel gears bought, 3. A Conquer 65L bag, a portable stove (30 dirhams from U.A.E.), and a headlamp (5 dirhams also from U.A.E. BUT made in China) that's already broken I haven't even used it yet!
8. Favorite paid accommodation, New Hut Bungalows (Koh Samui, Thailand). Unpaid, Sandi's (a Couchsurfing host) house-slash-dormitory in Yogyakarta. Comes with free Indonesian home-cooked meals by his mum.
9. Most unforgettable unplanned visit, Qin Terra Cotta Army Museum (yet to be blogged).

First time I...
1. experienced snow in Xi'an, China.
2. saw a giant panda (woot!) at Ocean Park, Hong Kong.
3. rode a cable car (Ngong Ping), Hong Kong.
4. cruised (hopped on a wildly driven 4x4) along sand dunes in Al Ain, U.A.E.
5. backpacked for more than a month (I didn't count Europe because I stayed most of the time at my aunt's place in Germany)
6. have been unemployed for 8 months (and counting).
7. sunbathed topless at Lamai Beach, Thailand.
8. bought my own domain (actually, someone else paid for it).
9. got hitched (who knows if it happens again?!).

So what's in store for 2010? Truth is, as of the moment I can only vaguely plot my local travel plans while my Aussie visa is underway. So Pinay Travel Junkie will see more of the Philippines soon.

What's your itinerary for this year?

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