Tag: Photos

After some hygiene fix (and without breakfast), we immediately boarded a Khlong boat at the Hua Chang station to see the first stop of our Day 3 Tour in Thailand, the Golden Mount (Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan or simply Wat Saket). Some Quick Facts and History Seating on an artificial man-made hill, the Golden Mount is one of Bangkok’s most popular landmark and sacred pilgrimage site. It features lush greeneries and overgrown trees on its foot and a 58-metre golden chedi that houses a Buddha relic on the summit. The temple was built during the Ayutthaya period as ... Read more

We never expected that our confoundment still had a part 2. The Grand Palace was already the perfect stunner but the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (commonly Wat Pho or officially Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhlaram Ratchaworamahawihan) still marveled us. Though not equally overwhelming and dazzling, the temple offered some great three-dimensional artwork and excellent masterpieces. The Reclining Buddha The most visited attraction within the Wat Pho compound is the Reclining Buddha (Phra Phuttha Saiyat or Phra Non). It depicts Buddha’s parinirvana which means the death of an enlightened being. The 46 meters long by 15 meters high Buddha image’s core ... Read more

After our sightseeing along the Chao Phraya River and a simple local breakfast at Tha Chang Port, we headed to the Grand Palace. Well, the reason why we took the boat was to reach the Grand Palace, and since cruising Chao Phraya River with locals is an awesome activity as well, I piled it to my list of activities completed. Important Reminders The Grand Palace opens daily at 8:30AM so be sure to be there before the mob rushes, because if that happens, you’ll find a hard time looking for an empty space for your photo ops. The palace closes ... Read more

Angkor Wat is one of the destinations you must see before you die. December 2 this year, I crossed out one of the entries in my bucket list and saw it from the moment it was pitch black until it slowly revealed itself as the sun lit the surroundings. Seeing the world’s largest religious monument was truly hair-raising and exhilarating experience. I wasn’t alone but with a mob who were also waiting for the one of the most anticipated sunrise ever. The Angkor Wat deserves a good space in this blog that is why I feature it in Freedom Wall Shutter. ... Read more

The Erawan Shrine (ศาลพระพรหม or San Phra Phrom) seats at the intersection of Ratchaprasong and Ratchadamri Roads in Pathum Wan district, Bangkok. Unlike any other Thai temples in city, the image, which is a Thai depiction of the Hindu god of creation, isn’t sheltered with a big mondop. The shrine was built in 1956 by Erawan Hotel to counter the negative karma caused by laying the hotel’s foundations on a wrong date. The shrine was once a subject of great controversy when a man was killed by bystanders last March 21, 2006 after hammering the statue. The Erawan Shrine (ศาลพระพรหม or ... Read more

Our first stop for the day 2 of our Indochina tour was the Grand Palace. To reach the place, we boarded BTS at National Stadium station and got off at Saphan Taksin station. Sathorn Pier was just few steps away from the west exit of Saphan Taksin. We hopped on a boat, and then it turned into an instant cruise in Chao Phraya River. The fare was cheap at TH฿15/pax. We took the boat with the orange flag which we pre-determined to make a stop in Tha Chang Pier (N9), the closest pier to the Grand Palace entrance. (Boats with blue ... Read more

If you want to witness something spectacular this season, try visiting Ayala Triangle in Makati City. A symphony of lights, dubbed as Ayala Triangle Gardens Lights and Sounds, is shown every thirty minutes from 06:00PM to 09:00PM. This dazzling musical show is presented every Christmas season. It is now one of Makati’s most anticipated holiday offerings. Ayala Triangle Lights and Sounds Show The lightshow started last November 20. It is composed of more than 800,000 pieces of colored LEDs linked by up to 45,000 meters of wirings. So before these LEDs dim their shimmer, be sure to be there not later ... Read more

I only got a chance to see Aurora Park in Laoag during my last night. I spent the first day of my solo Ilocos Tour in the south of the city (Paoay and Batac). My second day was allotted for my visit to Vigan while I spent my entire third day in Pagudpud and its neighboring towns. I returned early after my trip in Pagudgud to see what’s within Laoag. It was already dark when I reached the city so I wasn’t able to check the Museum so I just took a stroll in the nearby Aurora Park. Here are the photos I ... Read more

Built way back the Manila – Acapulco galleon trade era, the Calle Crisologo houses in the city of Vigan continue to subsist. Thanks to the efforts of the local government, the National Historical Institute, and some concerned citizens in preserving these extant architectures – which allows the current, and I hope the future generations, to personally behold these pieces of history. Though there are traces of degradation, since some of its materials are made of wood which wither in time, I still wish that these wonders will endure another century. These edifices made Vigan to the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, ... Read more