On the third day of the land tour, we visited the second largest city in South Korea – Busan. It is the largest port in the country and the sixth in the world! Most of your Hyundais, Kias, LG’s and Samsung’s are probably shipped from this port. Like most of the cities they have modern sky scrapers dotting the landscape.
The group briefly stopped by Jinjuseong Fortress where we admired the view of the river from the ancient fortress. Justin gave us a history of the place and how a gisaeng (a Korean geisha) sacrificed her life to kill a Japanese general. At that time (around the 1500’s), Korea was under Japanese occupation.
Justin showing us the place where the Gisaeng embraced the Japanese general and jumped into the water killing them bothA painting of the gisaeng heroineJinjuseong Fortress
Our tour guide, Justin Choi highly recommended the fish market where they cook you fresh shell fish and other sea foods. We did and we ordered a boiling hot pot with various shell fish and octopus! We also tried their fried bream. One Korean gentleman noticed that we didn’t know which condiment to use so he approached us and pointed at the containers and how to use them!
The restaurant waitress removing the meat from the shell fish
Needing a restroom break, we stopped outside Busan and stopped on the white sand of HaendaeBeach and admired the beautiful view of the harbor.
After about five hours on the road (luckily the bus has a big screen television, we watched Korean historical movies with subtitles of course), we checked in another nice hotel in Gyeongju. But this time, the weather was getting nasty –snow flurries and temperature dipping!
Trini and Lourdes Sumabat in our hotel lobby
Most of us wanted a break from the spicy Korean food so were all elated when we passed by a Burger King sign on our way to our hotel! After dropping off our luggage in our rooms we braved the cold weather and walked to the fast food restaurant despite the snow falling. After all our trouble to break the monotony of the daily menu we were disappointed with our Burger King orders – they were still spicy and not the American taste we’re used to!
The following day (4th day), we drove to see the Seokguram Grotto which was located on top of a steep hill traversing icy winding roads to reach it. Trini and others slipped and fell but fortunately no serious injuries occurred. Trini and I decided not to continue on to the temple as we were concerned of the slippery path so we went back to the village and did some souvenir shopping.
It was still snowing on our way to the templeTreacherous path to the grotto
Then we went to see the Bulgoksa Buddhist Temple and passed under the “scary” colorful four guardians. Next, we visited Andong Hahoe Village with their thatched roof huts. We looked inside a house commemorating Queen Elizabeth II’s visit here.
A 600-year old tree in the background. The white streamers are “wishes” the tourists tie around the tree’s perimeterThis house commemorates Queen Elizabeth II’s visit in Andong
After the day’s tour, we headed to our hotel in Pyeongchang (where the 2018 Winter Olympics was held). We had a fantastic view of the snowy slopes just outside the hotel.
Gorgeous view outside our hotel in Pyeongchang
We’re now back in Seoul and everyone heaved a sigh of relief! Finally, Trini and I are going back to Las Vegas, Nevada! No matter how nice the places you visit around the world – there’s no place like home!
Until the next adventure of these senior travelers….
From the capital city of Seoul, we joined another tour company to take us around South Korea heading south for a total of five days. There were sixteen people in the tour bus including us. Some were from New Zealand, Australia and a single lady from Mexico. The tour bus was meticulously clean and very comfortable. Justin Choi was our tour guide and he spoke perfectEnglish unlike our guide in the city whose heavy accent made it extremely difficult to follow whatever she was telling us.
The first day was cold and raining and fortunately we were prepared for this kind of weather. We drove to Gongju for two and a half hours. There we visited the tomb of King Muryeong and walked around the ancient fortress of Gonsangseon. Justin, our guide was very knowledgeable with Korea’s history that you felt transported to the era he was lecturing about.
Entering the very low entrance into the tombInside the chilly tomb
The main entrance to the tomb of King Muryeong
A mythical animal guardian – Jinmyosu
When we arrived at the ancient fortress of Gonsanseong, several in our group stayed at the lower level when they saw how steep the pathway was going to the center. Gassy, George, Ligaya and me went ahead and followed the group who walked faster as they were much younger than these senior citizens.
Along the way to our final destination for the day, we stopped by to watch two Korean young ladies perform. One gave us a rendition of a traditional Korean vocal and the other played a Korean violin.
Our group with the performers
Then we had a sumptuous Korean lunch called bibimbap (literary mixed rice). It came with different main ingredients and I opted for the “live” octopus. As always, there were spicy side dishes which can cause heartburn if you’re not used to it!
After the hot and spicy lunch, we went to Jeonju Hanok Village, a quaint and vibrant small town with small stores selling colorful traditional dresses. The clean streets were made of cobblestones and we really enjoyed just people watching and browsing the sidewalk wares.
All the hotels we stayed at had automatic bidets
The following day we drove almost two hours to the historical and very important city of Gwangju. This city is also called the Home of Democracy. On May 18, 1980 a democratic movement started here by a group of college students which led to the massacre of dozens of them. We visited the solemn National Cemetery honoring these students who sacrificed their lives for democracy.
This trip initially was planned for Trini and myself; however, after her relatives learned that we booked this trip through a mutual travel agent (Cesar Gatchalian), our group grew from two to eight persons – Gassy and Beth Ayson, Tony and Lourdes Sumabat, and George and Ligaya Nolasco. We welcomed the addition since as they say “the more the merrier“!
Although South Korea was in the world’s spotlight a couple of months ago due to the declaration of martial law, which lasted only for six hours, it was very peaceful when we arrived. In Seoul, the capital of South Korea, we witnessed protesters and demonstrators all over the city in support of Ukraine, Israel, Palestine and other countries but we did not feel any danger at all. Police were positioned around the areas but there were no indication of any violence.
Our tour guide picked us up at our hotel and took us around Seoul. The city is home to almost ten million people. We were immediately impressed on how clean the city was. Although the volume of vehicles on the roads were heavy, traffic moved smoothly (contrast it to Manila traffic where it is almost always chaotic due to undisciplined drivers). We visited Susong Dong Temple where the grounds were decorated with colorful streamers and paper flowers. We had to remove our shoes to enter the temple and photography was not allowed.
From left to right: Bess Ayson, Ligaya Nolasco, Tony and Lourdes Sumabat, Gassy Ayson, Trini and me
The temperature was pleasant requiring only light jacket and/or sweaters and we all had our fingers crossed that this would last throughout our trip. But it was not meant to be since the weather turned from nice to ugly.
Our tour guide, Junee, took us to watch the changing of the guard ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace. The place was crowded and we saw a lot of tourists and locals alike garbed in the traditional clothes (called hanbok). The place looked vibrant with all these costumes.
The much awaited changing of the guard ceremony commenced with a blaring Korean music occasionally interrupted by a loud drum beat. There were several colors for each “platoon” of guards who marched to the music.
The stuffed animal on a stick was our tour guide’s to let us know her location
Next, we visited the National Folk Museum. At this time, the temperature was gradually going south as the breeze made it colder than what my app showed so we had to don our jackets and scarves to keep us warm.
Left to right: George and Ligaya Nolasco, Lourdes Sumabat, Beth Ayson, Tony Sumabat and Trini PeBenito
Our tour guide recommended we try the bulgogi (a Korean dish of marinated grilled beef) for lunch which we did. As usual, the side dishes were delicious if you don’t mind spicy food!
The restaurant was on the 4th floorThe ladies enjoyed the bulgogi and kimchiTrini and our tour guide in Seoul, Junee
For every tour, there is always a stop in a store so they can sell you something to take back home. In this case, our group visited a Ginseng Store. A store employee who spoke good English gave us a very interesting lecture on how the popular and “medicinal” ginseng plant are grown and harvested. Of course, their product which they claim can prevent diabetes, arthritis, dementia and all diseases under the sun are very expensive. I ended up buying ginseng cigars, yes, they do make them! Trini also bought a bag of hard candies made of….you guessed it – ginseng.
A warrior made of ginseng plantA “female” ginsengAlthough they claim ginseng to treat or prevent many diseases the US Food and Drug Administration still has not approved it
Our tour van dropped us off about a block away from our hotel. The shopping radar of the ladies immediately went up as soon as we got off the van! Of course, us guys just had to follow them and patiently waited until they were finished.
Below are more photos during our first day.
Lots of walking and steps
After our Seoul tour, we went to a five-day road tour outside of the city and I will talk about this in my next post.
A much needed respite was beneficial to Trini and me both after all the traveling we did in the last month. After coming back from Cebu, we stayed a total of nine days in an AirBNB condominium in Legazpi Village – close to Greenbelt, Glorietta and Landmark and three days at Ascott Hotel located in Glorietta 4. We didn’t do much except have lunch with friends and relatives, visit salons, shop at Greenhills, and dining out. It was a welcome break from the stressful airport environment.
We were on the verge of boredom when the date of my fraternity’s 75th Anniversary finally arrived! Our friends in the U.S., Dwayne and Lani McDavid who work with the State Department offered us their vehicle (a Toyota Fortuner) along with the driver to take us to Morocco Resort and Country Club outside of Subic, Zambales about 3 hours drive from Makati. Subic Bay is where the U.S. Naval Base was located before the Philippine-U.S. treaty expired forcing the base to close and revert to the Philippine government.
We went to the resort one day early since I screwed up our hotel schedule in Makati. Our driver picked us up in Ascott Hotel on Friday and arrived in the resort around 4:00 pm which allowed us to explore the resort grounds and facility. I noticed immediately that the 20+ year old hotel lacked maintenance and upgrades. At least the air conditioning system is in good working condition.
The following day, Saturday, February 22 my fraternity brothers started to arrive – some in their private vehicles but most arrived in a Victory Liner bus. Like me, some brought their spouses along. Right away, there was organized chaos. The Sigma Beta members signed rosters and picked up their souvenir items and name tags. The lobby became a waiting area since most of the rooms and villas were not ready yet! Brods saying hello to each other slapping backs and hugging glad to see each other again. Introductions were made (I’d be lucky to remember those names) and genuine display of brotherhood could be felt in the air.
Picking up souvenir shirts and name tagsBrothers registering for the event
Some of the brods went inside the restaurant and ordered cold beer while waiting for their rooms. I didn’t recognize many of them since the last time I saw them was more than 14 years ago – during our fraternity’s 60th Anniversary held in Punta Fuego, Batangas.
Our brods toasting to our beloved fraternity – Sigma BetaOur significant othersA mass was held inside the resort
After the mass, an election for new Board of Trustees was held and future recruitment discussed due to the status of our fraternity. Sigma Beta stands for Society of Builders since its members are all civil engineers. Our beloved fraternity was founded in 1950 by Brother Napoleon Roque along with 16 charter members and have since survived despite the tumultuous years banning fraternities due to their “hazing” initiation rites. Today, there are still a couple of hundred brothers but infusing new “blood” is crucial if we want to survive.
Brother Enrico Ballesteros facilitating the meeting
At around 6:00 pm, the brothers assembled for a group photo wearing our Barong Tagalog (the embroidered long-sleeved formal wear for men).
A whole young cow slowly being roasted courtesy of brods Peter and Paul AngelesLechon baka (cow)
The affair was unforgettable – whole cow slowly being roasted while we nibbled at appetizers! San Miguel beers chilling in coolers filled with ice; assorted juices extracted from local fruits in glasswares “sweating” from the warm weather. Tables decorated with different colorful faux flowers. The pool nearby dotted with floating lighted bouquets. There was even a “sorbetero” (ice cream vendor) with his authentic ice cream cart.
The ice cream vendor
To ensure that people danced all night, the event major coordinator Brod Enrico Ballesteros hired DI’s (dance instructors). This is common in the Philippines. A male or female DI goes around the tables encouraging guests to dance with them, and dance we did!
The pretty “usherettes”The DI’s (dance instructors)
Part of the program was to recognize the newly elected Board of Trustees. There was also a somber moment when the list of our “fallen brothers” slowly scrolled down the screen. The brothers were recognized individually by batch and walked under an arch. Individuals were also awarded plaques for their unwavering support, guidance and dedication to the fraternity. The Beta Hymn was also sang by all the brothers.
Janine, the co-host of Ed Hitosis. Janine is also a great singer!The newly elected Board of Trustees
Dancing the “night away” would not have been possible without the awesome REO Brothers with their wide repertoire of Oldies music- The Beatles, Eagles, and many others.
Trini Pebenito dancing the cha-cha with a DIArwin Lauchenco swinging with a pretty DIAnother group photo in the stageThe spouses who attended with their husbandsLine dancingI’d rather drink than dance!Group photo with the Sigma Beta black shirt
Another awesome band took over after the REO Brothers played non-stop for almost two hours! This time they played contemporary music I felt was more for the younger generation but what was important were they were “danceable“.
Ray Gruenberg showing his smooth moves with a DI
We had two wonderful bands that played after the other
The event organizers really put in a lot of effort to make the evening very memorable – FIREWORKS!
Despite a brief shower, the party continued on. During a break by the band several of the brothers showed off their vocal skills onstage belting out a modern hip hop to popular ballads. Brother Booker Decena even surprised us with his combination of guitar and vocal skills!
Booker Decena surprised us with his number
As it was getting late and the “youngsters” were still enjoying the fraternity bash, Trini and I decided that it was past our bedtime. After saying “good night” to some of the guests we went to our room for a much-needed sleep.
The following morning was scheduled for a “yacht cruise“, another generous contribution by our twin fraternity brothers – Peter and Paul Angeles. There were a lot who opted to join this cruise but some stayed behind and continued with what was a more enjoyable activity than the water – imbibing more San Miguel beer.
The Sigma Beta cruisers on deck the yacht with the aquamarine Sigma Beta shirtJet skiing!Sipping red wine is better than swimming – Gloria, Ding and Ray
The cruise took three hours and by the time everyone got back it was also lunch time! More beer, more fun, equals camaraderie.
The cruisers continuing the fun on solid groundGrilled pompano and squid
All things must come to an end! The departure time finally came. Those with their own vehicles left around noon while the ones who took the bus stayed until 2:00 pm. The 75th Anniversary celebration lasted a little more than 24 hours but to most the memories will last a lifetime! Never have I been to any Sigma Beta reunion that was as grand and impressive as this one! But to me all these are secondary, what is more important was that I got to spend time, bond, and re-connect with many of my fraternity brothers. Many of them are decades younger and some older than me but we all share a common ground – our love and dedication to Sigma Beta Fraternity. We have parted ways and hope that our paths cross again. In the meantime, social media is just a click away!
We arrived in Mactan-Cebu International Airport at 1:30 pm after a delay of more than an hour in Manila. Cebu is another beautiful place that we’ve not seen in more than 20 years. The city continues to grow and evolve into a tourist Mecca due to the rich culture, historical places around the islands and the colorful and vibrant festivals all year round.
Dr. Ting Patriarca, my niece, had a driver pick us up at the airport and took us to meet her and my older brother Nap Pebenito and my sister-in-law, Mary at their condo in Mandaue City (a city close to Cebu). We checked in at the Bai Hotel (courtesy of my generous niece). A modern hotel with awesome amenities and spectacular harbor and bay views!
The view from the condoMarc and Ting’s condominium in Mandani Bay
A street vendor selling water and cold beverages
The rooms were not ready and we were famished as it was already way past lunch time, so Ting took us to a place where you can watch the cooks grill all sorts of sea food – tuna, marlin, squids, etc. The healthy fare was delicious, especially, the grilled squid which was cooked to perfection – not tough but a little chewy!
Grilled sea food!
After the late lunch, we checked into our hotel. Our room was on the 12th floor with a sweeping view of the city! They have breakfast buffet that came with the room and the entire second floor was occupied for dining. There were so many options to choose from: Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, American, etc. Separate stations wrapped around the kitchen! The place is always crowded and the servers so busy that sometimes they forget to bring the coffee or beverage you ordered. Of course, you can get it yourself but the first thing they ask once they seat you is, “would you like some coffee?”, you say yes and off they go never to be seen again!
They even have a magtataho (taho vendor). Taho is a street food made from soft tofu, brown sugar syrup and tapioca pearls.
Our hotel room at Bai on the 12th floor
We rested a little bit and Ting told us they would pick us up again at 5:00 pm for an early dinner. That night we dined at a restaurant famous for their lechon (roast pig)! We chose a dish without the fatty crispy skin (as if that would make it healthier). Atty. Marc Patriarca, Ting’s husband, was there although he had to leave early to catch a flight for Manila. Marc works at the Bureau of Customs in the Port of Cebu City and would go home on weekends for family visits.
From left to right: Nap, Mary, me Ting and Trini
The following morning after we filled our bellies with the assorted dishes at the breakfast buffet, Ting picked us up and took us to a place I never thought existed in the Philippines!
TEMPLE OF LEAH – also called Little Taj Mahal as it was built by a very rich tycoon named Teodorico Adarna in memory of his late wifeLeah. But unlike the domed Taj, this mausoleum is built in Greco-Roma style architecture.
The road to the Temple of Leah was winding since it was located about 350 feet above sea level. Like other provincial towns and cities you can see political candidates’ faces plastered all over the side of the roads. You know Election Day is just around the corner.
The Temple of Leah is a “must see” when visiting CebuMy big brother, Nap and me with the city in the background
By the time, we were finished admiring this stunning creation it was almost time for lunch! Our driver, Toto (a native Cebuano), took us further to a higher elevation to a restaurant nestled on the hilltop called La Parisienne Sky! The terrace had an amazing view of cities of Mandaue and Cebu! Upon arrival we were greeted by a “French” staff complete with beret who greeted us “Bon Jour“! I asked her, “Parle vous Français” (do you speak French?) and she replied “bon jour”! At the table after ordering our drinks and when they were delivered I thanked the server “merci beaucoup” (thank you very much) and she replied, “bon jour”! It cracked me – the only words they know in French is bon jour!
The weather was so cool and breezy on the terrace
From La Parisienne, Ting directed the driver to take us to the Cross of Magellan which is located near the entrance of the famous shrine of the Santo Niño.
The exact spot where Magellan planted the cross in MactanThe original cross is encased in tindalo, another variety of wood
Unfortunately, I was not allowed to go into the church where the shrine is located since I was wearing shorts! I waited for them and people-watched!
Next was where Lapu Lapu killed Ferdinand Magellan in Mactan on April 27, 1521. Around that time the temperature was already much cooler due to the ocean breeze. There were few tourists, however, the place was used by students to practice their dance numbers. Magellan was a Portuguese navigator and was the first to successfully circumnavigate the world!
The spot where Magellan was killed
There was a guy who volunteered to take our photos (with our cell phones of course). He knew how to take great pictures and even did a few tricks with the phones like “drones” (video mode and moving it at certain angles to make it look like a drone took the photos!
The photographer made it look like Mary and Trini are wielding the swords!Ouch! Trini stabbed me!
That evening, we stopped by the Sheraton Hotel situated along the beach. As we made our way to the bar terrace we passed the infinity pools overlooking the ocean where the tourist were spending the last hour of daylight. We were lucky to find an empty comfortable patio set just steps away from the white beach (the sand transported from another location). We had a half hour to spare before the”happy hour” ended so we ordered from a very limited list of “buy one, get one” cocktails and beers. Trini also ordered a couple of appetizers – fried calamari, grilled sausages, pork and chicken which really filled us up to the point we did not eat dinner anymore. It was a very relaxing evening – a not-so-loud music playing in the background, well-behaved guests (still early?), good appetizers, great ambiance!
Today was allotted for the pasalubong day (buying stuff to bring home to friends and families)! We went to a marketplace called Tabuan where stalls are located selling different kinds of dried fish and other bottled and preserved fruits and meats. As soon as we got out of the van the smell of the dried fish overwhelmed us! Ting was right when she told us not to shower before going to the market because the aroma will stick into your clothes and body. How right she was!
FISH, FISH EVERYWHERE!The vendor is sealing the fish we bought in plastic and boxed them for us
Lunch was at Choobi Choobi just across from our hotel. The food was good but the air conditioning system was not cool enough and I started to sweat while eating!
Tomorrow we will be flying back to Manila for a ten-day rest in the condominium we rented in Greenbelt. We plan on just relaxing, pamper ourselves with massages, facials, and just walk around the enclosed malls. And maybe contact a couple of friends who we promised to see when we get to Metro-Manila.
Our sincere appreciation to our niece Ting and her husband Marc for making our trip a very memorable and enjoyable one. This would not have happened without their generosity. I also had a wonderful time bonding again with my brother Nap and his wife, Mary. Nap is already 83 years old but looks younger than me and still very healthy and fit.
Baguio is a city in the Autonomous Cordillera Region. It is known as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines”, owing to its cool climate since the city is located approximately 5,000 feet above sea level. It’s also known as the “City of Pines” due to the numerous pine trees that surround the city. The last time we were there was more than 20 years ago and I can see a big transformation in the city scape – numerous condominium buildings have “sprouted”; they now have a big SM Mall (the biggest chain mall in the Philippines), colorful homes similar to the South American favelasdot the hillsides.
We arrived in Baguio City at around 7:00 pm. Driving in the Philippines at night is somewhat dangerous unless you’ve been driving here for a long time, but driving the long narrow winding road with increasing altitude after sunset is not for amateurs! I saw motorcycles without their head lights on barreling down the highway at high speeds not caring if the oncoming traffic can even see them! Slow overloaded trucks seem to clog the highway slowing following traffic. Fortunately, our skillful and safety-conscious driver knew how to maneuver these “obstacles”!
Finally, we reached Edy Retardo’s (another cousin of Trini) house in Mirador Hills a few kilometers outside of the city. But getting there was another challenge to our driver since the narrow (really narrow) streets with sharp turns and steep grades (I kid you not) were “treacherous” to navigate! Oncoming vehicles have to stop or back out for others to pass.
The steep street outside Edy Retardo’s houseTaking a break during the “climb”
The Retardo’s house is a two-story home with six-plus bedrooms upstairs and an additional rental unit below. The interior is constructed mostly of narrawood which is the country’s national tree. Unfortunately, the stately tree almost became extinct as a result of massive illegal logging! Had the government not intervened, this hardwood would probably be history by now.
Resting at the top of the street
After a somewhat restful sleep and a hearty Filipino breakfast, our group – Edy, Naida and husband Adal Singson, Bess and Patchie Antonio, Joan Borja, Trini and me – decided to visit the Lourdes Grotto which was a short (but laborious) trek from Edy’s house. Those with knee problems had to forego the more than 200 steps going up and down. But we did survive this short visit! I even rented an Igorot costume for a photo ops and tried my best to perform a native dance making a fool of myself!
The favela-like hillside. Favelas are slums or shanties in South America
After the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto visit, we all jumped in a mini-bus to take us to the city market. The fare with senior discounts only cost us 100 pesos (less than $2). The market is typical like most of those in other parts of the Philippines – crowded, various odors of fresh produce and other foods mingling in the air but to my surprise, the vendors are not as “aggressive” in forcing you to buy their wares as I was used to many years ago.
And the bargain hunting and haggling begins…The seniors are restingEating the corn they just bought from a sidewalk vendor
From the marketplace, we decided to walk to the SM Mall about a mile away! It should not been too bad if the road was not a steady incline! Danny and I were ahead of the group and waited until they caught up with us. Trini had been having problems with skin tags and warts and wanted it removed. They found a “skin clinic” that did a wonderful job and Trini is happy. While she was undergoing the laser Joan, Danny and I waited in Starbucks.
After the skin “surgery”, we took two taxis to take us to a hotel nearby that offers all-you-can-eat buffet – pizza, fried chicken, spaghetti, soup and salad – all for about $5 after the senior discount! By this time, we’ve mastered the art of pulling our senior discount cards from our bags!
The following day, I stayed home as I was not feeling well while the rest of the group went out. Trini went to see her alma mater – Baguio General Hospital. They went to buy souvenirs at the Philippine Military Academy (the equivalent of West Point).
They called me around noon and asked if I wanted to go with them to the elite Baguio CountryClub. After a couple of hours of additional sleep I felt much better. We agreed that they would pick me up in Starbucks in SM Mall. Another cousin loaned them a Toyota Fortuner (similar to a Toyota Highlander) where all seven of us squeezed in. Imagine how we felt being unloaded in front of the country club while people were staring at the number of passengers coming out of the vehicle! Our good friend in the U.S. Florence Bayquin (a widow of Trini’s cousin) sponsored us to get in the place since it was a membership facility. Florence also footed the bill at the restaurant – THANK YOU, FLOR, FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
Danny Morales and Adal Singson in the Igorot costumeAdal and Nayda at StonewallThe ladies shopping at the PMA Souvenir shopThe grounds of Baguio County Club
After buying the famous raisin bread in the club’s bakery, the ladies went inside the boutique to browse and came out with purchased items. This time, the senior discount cards were rejected!
Sorry we don’t accept SENIOR DISCOUNT CARDS!With Adal Singson
That night, being our last night with the group, we stayed a little bit later to say our farewells. We bought a first class bus ticket (Victory Liner) for 9:15 am so we left at 7:00 am. The ride was very comfortable and only took four hours as it was non-stop. We said our goodbyes and see you laters and off we went!
It was a very memorable three days in Baguio and we felt sad leaving the place and the company we are so fond of.
FINALLY, after thirty years, our bucket list to visit the 7 modern wonders of the world is complete! It seems that we saved the best for last. Due to the distance of India and the negative stories we read about its cities, we intentionally delegated the Taj Mahal as the last wonder to visit. But how wrong those information were! It’s true that the streets are very congested (so is Manila, Rio, Beijing, Istanbul,etc). While some of the mega cities we’ve visited like Tokyo are cleaner and less chaotic, Delhi is not as bad as described by people who’ve never been here. We’re glad we have finally spent a few days in India, memories to cherish and tell our grandchildren!
The other wonders of the world below. I apologize for the poor quality of the photos:
1994: CHICHEN ITZA (MEXICO) with the Marasigans2005: THE GREAT WALLS OF CHINA2007, 2012, 2018: COLOSSEUM (Rome)2010: MACHU PICCHU (Peru), where I also celebrated my 60th birthday2018: The Treasury in Petra, Jordan2023: CHRIST THE REDEEMER (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
TAJ MAHAL: A monument of love which took 22 years to build and completed in 1653, in memory of the emperor’s beloved wife Mumtãz Mahal. The white marble came from Makrana in Rajasthan and the red sandstone from Sikri. Precious and semi-precious stones like jade, turquoise, lapis lazuli, sapphire, coral and diamonds were brought in from far-flung places like Tibet, China, Sri Lanka, Persia (now Iran), and Afghanistan. It is truly a wonder of the world! Just like the other six wonders of the world, this awesome monument takes away your breath and makes you wonder how they even began to conceptualize the project. The symmetry is perfect and the aesthetics would rival any modern structures today!
Before we had the honor to set foot in the great mausoleum, we visited a tomb not far from Taj Mahal – the Itmad-Ud-Daulah also known as “The Baby Taj” for its similarity to the Taj. This tomb was designed by Empress Noor Jahan for her father and was the first Mughal monument that used marble inlay work.
The Baby Taj MahalOur guide explaining amazing stone inlay
The last place we visited was Fatehpur Sikri – the Ghost Capital of Emperor Akbar also built in red sandstone which is abundant in this area. The fortress is a UNESCO world heritage site.
All the structures are made from red sandstone
I randomly took the below photos after we visited our last stop in Sikri just to show similarities of other cities in Asia with that of India.
Today, we fly back to the Philippines. I remember in one of our cruises the cruise director said: “When traveling keep an open mind and heart“. We did and we learned a lot about India’s culture and heritage that we will them treasure for life!
Our driver, Sunil, picked us up at La Meridien at exactly 10:00 am to drive us to Agra (about 4 hour drive, 220km). We took the expressway and was surprised to see all sorts of traffic – tricycles, bicycles, goats, and cows. Although the animals were along the side of the expressway, I was worried if they would suddenly cross which thankfully they never did.
The temperature started around the low 60’s F and was very hazy all day long. Sunil was a very safe and cautious driver who drove under the speed limit. I noticed the drivers never used their signal lights to change lane and usually straddles both lanes. I can drive in Manila but I don’t think I have the nerve to drive in India!
A warm welcome at Jaypee Palace Hotel
We checked in at our hotel, Jaypee Palace, where our tour guide, Deesh was already waiting. The hotel had impressive grounds and facility and made us feel like we were in the Colonial India era!
NAMASTE!
That afternoon, we went to the red sandstone AGRA FORT, built by Akbar in 1565 located in the banks of the Yamuna River with a view of the Taj Mahal. This was the time the Mughals ruled India. The fort seemed impregnable the way it was built – double wall with moats. This well-preserved fortress dominates a bend of the Yamuna. The interior boasts of grand buildings including the Royal Pavilion.
The Agra Fort occupying 97 acres
We drove on the other side of the river Yamuna to watch the sunset and admire the Taj Mahal from a distance. Sunil, our driver parked about a half kilometer away and we took the Tok-tok (similar to that in Bangkok) to reach our destination.
The reflection is caused by the screen of another cell phone. There is no actual water
Watching the sunset and the Taj from the other side of the river Yamuna
Our tour guide showed us a few tricks on how to use the cell phone. He made the Taj Mahal appear as if was reflected from the water when the reflection actually appeared from the screen of another phone! He was also a great story-teller narrating about the love stories of Mughal rulers. One emperor that was very interesting was Shah Jahan who built the Taj Mahal for his beloved wife – Mumtaz Mahal.
I saw this old lady sitting by a fence It’s not unusual to see cows roaming in the streets
Tomorrow we will actually set foot inside the Taj Mahal!
New Delhi and Delhi (Ravi, our tour guide said the proper pronunciation is DILLI) are two different places altogether. With New Delhi serving as the capital of the country and Delhi being the more substantial city within which New Delhi is a ‘territory’ designed by the British while shifting the money from Calcutta to Delhi. New Delhi is known to be a seat to the three arms of the Government of India – Legislative, Executive and the Judiciary. The city is the second most populous in the worldafter Tokyo.
Inside Indira Gandhi International Airport
We landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi a few minutes after 10:00 pm; however, by the time we got out of the airport and reached our hotel (45 minutes drive) it was already 1:00 am. At least our travel agent booked us at the Le Meridien (a Marriott-Bonvoy chain). It has a very impressive modern and spacious interior!
Our tour guide, Ravi, and driver Sunil picked us up at 9:30 am and since we already lost one day (we missed the connecting flight in Kuala Lumpur) it was an abbreviated tour itinerary. Still reeling from lack of sleep and the long flight (5 hours), we boarded our private tour vehicle. Our hotel is located in the “new” part of Delhi and we noticed immediately that the traffic was heavily congested. Ravi explained that it was a holiday (last day of celebration from the independence from British rule). We went to visit Hamayun’s Tomb, built by Human’s widow in 1562 and now a World Heritage Site. Built in India-Islamic style architecture it has a diameter of 47 feet at the base and 9 feet top.
HUMAYUN’S TOMB IN THE BACKGROUNDNotice the entrance sign above -separate for foreigners and Indian!The early morning mist makes the structure a little hazy
We drove past the government buildings and as expected there were traffic restrictions and plenty of uniformed men (I didn’t see any uniformed female) due to the holiday celebration. Traffic was chaotic and “beep-beeps” heard constantly!
Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace with barricades all overRavi, our tour guide
We were lucky to have our own private tour since we could hear all the interesting facts instead of straining to listen to a group tour guide.
Humayun’s Tomb is also referred to as the Taj Mahal of DelhiThe “groundskeepers” of the parkThe women are manually digging the weedsThe huge mosque can hold a mind-blowing 25,000 people
Jama Masjid is Delhi’s principal mosque, the place where the city’s Muslims traditionally gather for Friday communal prayer; Jama Masjid is Arabic for “Friday mosque.” The mosque is near the Red Fort, another of Shah Jahān’s buildings.
We had to remove our shoes to enter the mosque ground and Trini had to don a long black robe.
From the mosque we walked to the famous Chandni Chow Bazaars (once the the shopping avenue for Mughal royalty) lined along extremely narrow streets (and I really mean NARROW!) Motorcyles, rickshaws overflowing with their wares, tricycles and pedestrians all vying for the tiny square footage in the streets! WALK AT YOUR OWN RISK! I was grazed by a motorcycle while I was trying to capture these moments and the biker only mumbled something like an apology.
A Hindu-Nazi flag? The swastika is a sacred Hindu symbol representing good luck and prosperity
On our way to the bazaars we passed by a religious parade complete with their traditional music blaring from the speakers while soldier stood around to ensure safety.
Entering the narrow street where bazaars are located
By this time, we really needed to use the restroom. Ravi took us to a jewelry shop (more of a “shoppette” since it’s just a hole in the wall). I used the toilet while Trini browsed their products. It was the most expensive use of a toilet ever!
After all the traveling we did, it seemed Trini mastered the art of haggling! Or maybe the vendor just made it look that way?
We took a very uncomfortable rickshaw ride to meet our driver (there was no parking). The rickshaw driver kept pointing at tourist spots but we did not understand a word he was saying due to the traffic and pedestrian noise! The place was teeming with humanity (25 million people in the city).
There was a brief verbal altercation here due to a near mishap People in circles eating lunch in the middle of the road
Trini and I were worried that our guide would take us to a “sidewalk” eatery but were relieved to see a clean and upscale restaurant! This is the first time that we enjoyed Indian cuisine albeit a little spicy for us. I guess the food Ravi selected made a difference – we ordered the mutton tikka, buttered chicken, a vegetarian dish for Ravi, naan, rice and an assorted of pickled vegetables. I was disappointed that they did not serve any alcoholic beverages though!
We visited the Kashmir carpet store and learned a little on how they make cashmere rugs
We visited Mahatma Gandhi’s house and the spot where he was assassinated! Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who employednonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India’s independence from British rule. He inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. The honorific Mahātmā (from Sanskrit, meaning great-souled, or venerable), first applied to him in South Africa in 1914, is now used throughout the world.(WIKIPEDIA)
WIFI is slow, we’re in Agra now to see the TAJ MAHAL!
MURPHY’S LAW: “If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong”
After spending three relaxing and satisfying days with the Cuellos in Sariaya, Quezon and making new friends – Tess, Myrna and Helen, Voltaire drove us to our hotel in Makati at DUSIT THANI. We stayed there for two days before flying our for our trip to New Delhi, INDIA.
Before we left Casa de Cuello, I went online to apply for a Chinese Tourist Visa in preparation for our visit to XI’AN to see the famous terra cotta warriors. We didn’t get the letter of invitation from the tour agency (which is a requirement for the visa application) until we arrived in the Philippines. After filling up the on-line form, I got to the part where I was asked -“Have you been to China before?“. If “YES” provide the passport containing the visa issued when you visited China. WHATTTT!?!?! Trini and I went to Beijing in 2004 or 2005 and the visa issued to us was attached in our old passports that we have back in the U.S. I immediately called our travel agent in California for advice and asked us if someone can access our old passports. Our son, Charles, has the house keys but sending the passports would be a challenge since our trip will be in three weeks. After much deliberation, we decided to cancel the China trip! Whether we will get reimbursed is still up in the air, our agent is still waiting for the Chinese tour agency to respond. The airline ticket, we will bet reimbursed with $75 per passenger penalty.Lesson learned: Always find out ALL the requirements before leaving for a trip! I could have done this months ago but got so caught up with the planning details of our trips that I assumed it would be the same requirement like India.
The two days in Dusit Thani was great as it was very close to Glorietta, Landmark, and Greenbelt malls! Exploring the malls was easy since they were all inter-connected. We love Greenbelt 5 with its high-end shops and al fresco dining although a little pricey even for an American standard lunch.
Our trip to New Delhi then Agra (TAJ MAHAL) was on January 26th. We were booked with Malaysia Airlines with a short layover in Kuala Lumpur. Upon checking in we were notified of a one-hour delay of our flight to KL which means that we only had less than hour to get to our connecting flight! That would have been doable, however, our flight did not leave Manila after 2 hours! So we were resigned that we won’t make it but maybe there will be another flight even though it means we will get to IndiraGandhi International Airport in New Delhi after midnight.
Upon disembarking, an airline staff already surrounded by passengers with inquiries was handing out vouchers and giving “instructions” as to what to do. She told us our flight will be the next day at 7:00 pm and that we are provided food and hotel room! We were so disappointed. Communication was very challenging with her and she was giving us confusing instructions. So we went to stand in line in the immigrationqueue and the unsmiling female officer told us “one at a time”, Trini explained our predicament and she pointed to an area so we can complete the MDAC (Malaysia Digital Arrival Card), which the lady from the airline failed to explain. So we tried to do that but the area was congested with passengers doing the same thing. Trini approached a Tourism booth with several guys “twirling their thumbs“. One of them grudgingly told me to use my cell phone and gave me the website. I’m not very good completing complicated questionnaires in my cell phone so I asked the other guy if he can help. He took our passports and asked me a few personal data and after a couple of minutes told me to open my e-mail. Voila! MDAC form completed! Again, they point you to a general area but doesn’t explain exactly what to do. We saw a uniformed young man standing near the turnstiles who finally told us to scan our passports.
The next hurdle was to retrieve our checked-in luggage since Trini’s medications (I carry mine in my backpack and a few spare clothes and underwear) are there and we were not planning to check it in. Off we went searching for the airlines baggage office. We took a number and waited. When our number was called, I explained to the lady (most of the airport employees were female!) that we wanted our luggage retrieved but she shook her head and said she can’t do that and that we will have to wait until we get to Delhi. With pleading eyes and holding my chest, I told her “It is urgent I get my medicine“. Her face softened and concern took over, she told me “please sit down and I’ll do my best to get them!” In less than an hour we were out of there.
Navigating the huge airport was another challenge as they have color-coded lifts (elevators). “When in doubt, ask” was our mantra. Blue elevator it is. By this time, the airport was chaotic and the airplanes seemed to have landed all at the same time with passengers who missed their flights running around in all directions! We squeezed in the lift and went down to the first level. But when I turned around Trini was gone! I got out but couldn’t find her so I wen back to the 3rd level where she was waiting!
Back to the first level but not knowing exactly where to meet the shuttle to take us to our hotel. It was like a game of “Door number 1 or Door number 2”? Finally, another lady (I told you this is a female-dominated airport) spotted us and waved us in the area where other passengers were waiting (how did she know?). The quest for the Holy Grail came to an end. We breathed a sigh of relief and allowed our blood pressure and adrenaline to slowly go back to normal.
Our driver, a male this time, took us outside of KL to a decent accommodation called NILAI SPRINGS RESORT HOTEL. We got there past 11:00 pm. Everything about the place is SPACIOUS but I noticed that the resort had seen better days! Paint was fading, window louvers falling apart, bathroom needing upgrades etc. But we didn’t care, we just wanted to get out of our stinky clothes and get some sleep. About 1:48 am, our travel agent in LA called me (I sent him a message about our problem) and assured us that someone will be picking us up in Delhi upon arrival.
The bulletin board is in KoreanFunny sign, just shows how odorous this tasty fruit is. Durian is a tropical fruit with thorny skin and “smelly” flesh. NILAI SPRINGS RESORT HOTELMost of the resort’s guests are from South Korea who came here to play golfThe hotel staff misting the “kalamansi” tree
The resort is all decked ready for the Chinese New Year! Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia with a population of more than 2 million. Home of the Petronas Twin Tower once the tallest structure in the world!
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