Traveling in style while on budget

Hi,

It's me again and I'm finally inspired once again to write something about traveling. As you all know, I travel cheap. I always go for the cheapest alternative possible. Here are some tips I can give all travelers out there.

1.) Full Service Carriers are not always more expensive than Low Cost Carriers.

This is a common misconception among everyone that's why they always opt for low cost carriers. While it's true that low cost carriers or LCCs are way cheaper when you buy them while on promotions however, full service carriers or FCCs can also be cheaper than LCCs when they are on promo.

Last year, Cebu Pacific went on sale. My friends immediately booked a ticket to Taipei for around 4,000 Php each plus baggage totaling over 5,000Php . The next day, I decided to check EVA Air and I was able to purchase a round trip ticket for around Php 5,000. I ended up pay less than what my friends paid for. I also got the best flight times, baggage allowance and food!

Another good example was when I decided to buy a last minute ticket to Singapore during Holy Week. Cebu Pacific, Tiger and Jet Star were all selling a round trip ticket for 15,000 Php above taxes excluded. Luckily, Malaysia Airlines was on sale and I was able to get a round trip ticket to Singapore for around Php9000 taxes included.

So there you go, don't discount FCCs. You'll never know, these airlines might be cheaper than LCCs. It's been a while since I last used a local LCCs. I got used to FCCs now. I guess it's true that as you experience something good you don't settle for less.

2.) Get a credit card that gives you lounge access!

Who doesn't want waiting in style? Most of us arrive in the airport 3 hours ahead of time. We might as well wait inside a lounge, get some food, or maybe some booze. There are several credit cards out there that gives you access to lounges but what I can recommend would be Citibank PremierMiles. It's very useful for me since you can use it in all Plaza Premium Lounges all over the world.

So far, I was able to use it in Manila (Terminal 1), Taipei (Terminal 2 Zone A1), Beijing (Terminal 3), Singapore (Terminal 1), and Kuala Lumpur (KLIA). All of these lounges are really nice except for the one in Manila ehem ehem. I like the fact that they offer free shower. It's really helpful especially if you're on layover then your next flight will be a very long flight. Free booze are helpful as well. I dunno but it helps me sleep on my next flight.

3.) If possible, always board last!

I don't know why but whenever the airline calls for boarding, everyone hurries to the boarding gate. We all have assigned seats. We are not operating under a first come first serve basis. I only experienced it once with VivaAerobus wherein we don't have assigned seats and you pay extra if you want to board first. Other than that, wait until everyone goes in before going in.

Your seat will be your life for the next few hours of your life of course you would want the best seat for yourself. Boarding last will give you the opportunity to choose the best seat among the vacant seats available. If you're lucky enough, you can get a whole row for yourself! Talk about flying in class. Imagine securing a whole row for yourself and your flight is 14hrs long. I was able to get one row for me when I was flying from Beijing to Los Angeles before!

That's all for not. I'll add more if my brain cooperates.

How Traveling Keeps Me Going

My Solo Trip to Chichen Itza in Mexico

When people ask me what keeps me going? I always say that life keeps me going. Being young and single, I see it as an opportunity for me to travel and meet new people. I'm not rich like other people but I try my best to afford all my travels. Trust me traveling can be cheap. Although I do get help from my relatives especially in the US, majority of the money I'm using to fund my travels are mine.

The thought of traveling keeps me going. When I'm depressed or feeling down, I read a travel blog or watch a trip report in YouTube. These materials quickly change my mood. I also book a ticket ahead of time then look forward to it whenever I'm down. I see to it that I have an upcoming travel to look forward to.

My World Travel Map + Colombia

As of this writing, I have traveled to 3 continents and 14 countries. It's actually below my goal. My age should match the number of countries I've been to but I'm slowly catching up. I'm planning my European & Northern Africa trip and I hope this will help me catch up or even exceed my goal. For 2017, I'm looking into visiting South America again. 

Cathay Pacific Delayed Experience

Last February 2016, My friends and I were lucky enough to experience the best delayed flight experience anyone could’ve experience. Both of our flights leaving and coming back to Manila were delayed. Nobody likes flight delays but if you’re not in a hurry and the Airline good compensation for delayed flight then you can turn a delayed flight to a wonderful experience.

Drinking some of my favorite drinks in the Cathay Pacific Lounge

Our delayed started when 2 of our friends who arrived in the airport early were transferred to the earlier flight because of the 3-4 hrs delay of our flights. Majority of the people on the same flight were transferred to the earlier flight. Some even got a free upgrade including the couple who were right in front of us.  You can just imagine how pissed we were when we were that close to getting a free upgrade. What we don’t know is that we’re about to experience the best flight ever.

Dinner at Cathay Pacific Lounge

After checking in, we immediately went to the boarding gate even if we know we had to stay there for the next 5 or more hours. Cathay Pacific immediately offered free sandwiches and drinks. After an hour of waiting, I asked them if there is any pay lounge within the terminal and they endorsed me to a pay lounge but I wasn’t able to find it. Fair enough after a few minutes they invited all the passengers to go to the Cathay Pacific Lounge.

A taste of Business Class

We were so happy because the lounge was so nice. Free flowing of drinks, food, desserts, and so on. My supposed drinking session in Lan Kwai Fong was spent inside Cathay Pacific Lounge. I tried all the food offering available and tried different cocktails and hard drinks as well. It’s been a while since I experience waiting inside a lounge. I usually travel Economy. The last time I was able to travel business was when I was with my Mom way back when I was a kid. Being able to experience lounging made me a happy kid once again. We spent a good 2 hours inside the lounge before we went to the plane.

Owning the plane

Once inside the plane, we found out that there are only a little over 10 people inside a huge Cathay Pacific Plane. We owned the whole plane. We were literally roaming around trying all kinds of classes. We were free to sit anywhere. The crews were very accommodating. They are willing to give us extra food if we want. We can even request for the whole 1 liter bottle of soda. I wasn’t able to enjoy the inflight entertainment because we were busy roaming around the airplane. We were given souvenir playing cards before leaving the aeroplane.

Delayed Flight

On our way back to the Philippines, we found out that our flight was 12 hours delayed. Instead of leaving around 8pm at night, our flight was moved morning the following day. When we arrived in the check in counter, the attendants informed us that our flight was delayed. They gave us two options. The first option was to be transferred to Philippine Airlines for free. The second option to wait for the flight but we will be given free hotel and meals. We obviously picked the latter option. Who will say no to free accommodation and buffet dinner and breakfast? 

Photo Op inside the Airport Hotel.

We immediately went to the hotel to check in. We freshen up a bit then we immediately proceeded to the buffet restaurant to eat our dinner. It was so good we forgot that we were there because our flight was delayed. A supposed inconvenient event turned into a great experience. After the dinner buffet, we decided to roam around the hotel and we also went back to the airport to roam around as well. We were supposed to swim but the cold weather refrain us from doing so.

Come flight day. We weren’t able to go to the buffet restaurant for breakfast. We were given meal vouchers to be spent in side the airside area of the airport. After checking in, I went immediately to Popeyes then rushed to the boarding gate.

Overall, my experience with Cathay was amazing. I cannot thank them enough for pampering us. I don’t think I will receive the same experience if I flew budget. One thing I learned about this experience is that if the price of a full service carrier and budget airline is almost the same or there’s a small difference. Always go for full service airlines. I fly budget most of the time but given the choice I’ll fly full service.

Cathay Pacific Review

Taken from MilesMethod

Cathay Pacific (CX) is the flag carrier of Hong Kong. It is one of the best airlines in the world with a massive list of destinations available. Their service is very much comparable to Singapore Airlines. I really can’t decide which of the two are the best but every penny spent is definitely worth it for Cathay Pacific.

I have tried Cathay Pacific twice. The first one when I was a kid (1^st Plane ride). I can still remember that even if I was so young I know I was very happy with my experience. The 2^nd one was a sudden trip early 2016 when we were able to get cheap tickets to Hong Kong (7k Php all in with tax). Both of my Cathay Pacific segment this year were cancelled but it was one of the best experience ever. Cathay is indeed one of the best airlines to experience delays. I don’t like delayed flights but Cathay Pacific pampered us so much that instead of getting mad it made me love them. I’ll discuss our delayed experience in a separate post.

Why I love Cathay Pacific

1.) Price – Like other full service airline, Cathay Pacific can be a bit more expensive than low cost carrier but you will really get what you paid for. It can go really low to the point that it’s even cheaper than low cost carrier. I got mine for a little over 7,000 Php for a round trip ticket to Hong Kong. This already includes the travel tax (1,620) and the Airport Fee (550).

2.) Comfort – Luckily for me I was able to experience the Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class. The economy is very much comfortable with ample leg room. I can survive a long haul flight with their economy seat specs. Their Premium Economy is almost the same with their economy seats but it has more leg room and it has a leg rest. The business class is obviously the best of the three class types I’ve tried. If you have the budget, you should definitely go for it.

3.) Service – Cathay Pacific’s service is superb. It exceeded my expectation. Their flight attendants were so nice and even their lounge attendant were very attentive to my needs. I have no bad feedback regarding their service. They have a lot of options to give you in case your flight gets delayed.

4.) Food – In-Flight and lounge food were so good I’m glad I didn’t eat before my flight. Even way back in 1996/1997, I can still remember how much I love their food. For a short haul flights, the pie they provided can definitely fill your stomach.  Their lounge serve good dimsum and noodles.

5.) Entertainment – InFlight entertainment was really good. It will definitely keep you busy during long haul flights.

6.) Destinations – They have a good network.

My rating 9.83/10.00

Life goes on

Me and my Hong Kong Squad last February 2016

It's been more than half a year since I last updated my blog. I started working again last October 2015 and still working until now. I haven't traveled outside Asia ever since I went back from the US. There's so much realization over the past few months. I feel like I've been a great person and I've changed for the better. So what happened to me since my last post?

1. I got a job that keeps me busy. So far, I'm still happy with it.
2. I've traveled to different places in the Philippines. I'll start posting my travels locally soon.
3. I went to Hong Kong for a little less than a week.
4. I was able to have the best flight experience ever! Thanks to Cathay Pacific
5. I'm currently planing to go back the US. I already booked a ticket but I'm still working on my itinerary. I'll be in the states for a month.

I guess this will be all for now. I just felt the need to update my blog. I'll be going back to my life as a traveler again.

Air China Review

From Planespotter

Air China (CA) is China's National Carrier. It may not be one of the best airlines in the world but I still recommend using Air China primarily because their fares can be very affordable especially for Mainland US destinations. I got my round trip ticket from Manila to Houston for less than 900$. With the price as one of my main consideration for choosing an airline, I'll choose Air China anytime.

So far I've tried Air China once. I was supposed to go back to Manila through Air China but I decided to extend my stay and use a different airline on my way back to the Philippines.  The price of the ticket was way below the usual flight ticket to Houston so I immediately bought a ticket when I saw the price.

Why I love Air China.

1.) Price - Air China can either be very cheap or very expensive. Most of the time it's very expensive but cheap tickets are not elusive. Just check their website from time to time and you'll be able to get a good price. Try using Air China for flights to the west,east or central United States. Flights to New York can be as low as 700$.

2.) Comfort - As compared to other airlines, Air China's interior is simple. Older planes can have small leg room while new bigger planes have bigger leg room. It really depends on the plane you'll b be using. I couldn't complain since the price says it all but if I paid the full amount I believe I have the right to demand haha.

3.) Service - Flight attendants from my flight from Manila to Beijing barely speaks English and they even served me the wrong choice of food. I decided to just eat it since it will be hard to talk to them. On the other hand, my flight from Beijing to Los Angeles was ok. I was seated at the back and the Flight Attendant was pretty attentive to all my demands. She even remembered my eating/drinking pattern.

4.) Food - Air China's food is ok. It's not as good as Singapore Airlines. I felt like the recipe for their savory meat meal are the same.

5.) Entertainment - Older and smaller planes don't have any inflight entertainment so imagine yourself in a 5hrs flight from Manila to Beijing without any entertainment. Newer and bigger planes on the other hand have superb inflight entertainment. 

6.) Destinations - Domestic network is pretty wide. International network is ok.

My rating 8/10.00

Singapore Airlines Review

Taken from PlaneSpotter

Singapore Airlines (SQ) is one of the best airlines in the world and i consider it as the best airline I've ever tried. It's Singapore's flag carrier and it has a good network of destinations. If i won't be considering the price, I'll choose SQ in a heartbeat.

So far I've tried SQ twice. One was sponsored by Google from Manila to Singapore. The other one was from Houston to Moscow to Singapore to Manila primarily because of the price.  Airline prices can be really unpredictable. I got it for a cheap price considering it's only one way and I booked it the same day I left.

Why I love Singapore Airlines.

1.) Price - As i've said, price can be unpredictable. What I can share with you is that Singapore Airlines' prices can be so low that i can be cheaper than low cost carrier. The one way ticket I purchased before was the same price as the promotion of another airline but i booked it a month ahead.

2.) Comfort - SQ's economy class is above average in my opinion. I love the legroom as well as the recline of all the seats.

3.) Service - SQ flight attendants are nice and attentive. I'm one demanding passenger and they were able to handle all of my requests. They also come to me as quick as possible whenever I press the help button.

4.) Food - SQ's catering in my opinion is way above average. I love the food selection. The number of food service is sufficient to the duration of the flight. A big plus for me is the availability of cocktails for economy passenger.  It really helped me sleep and relax throughout the flight.

5.) Entertainment - Although some old aircraft can have an outdated entertainment system, newer planes has superb entertainment system and a good variety of movies, tv series and so on.

6.) Destinations - Do I need to explain this further? You can literally go anywhere in the world through Singapore Airlines.

My rating 9.83/10.00

My Travel Profile

Me @ the Shanghai Rolex Masters

For some reason today, I felt inspired once again to write a blog of things that interests me.  For the past few years, I've been busy with school, work, and last but definitely not the least travel. I love traveling and if I can find a job that will enable me to travel, I'll take it in a heartbeat.

Chichen Itza in Mexico

I really wanted to blog about all my travel adventures but I guess it's currently piled up but don't worry. I'll be writing for every single one of it. I'm pretty sure that once I look at the album of that travel, I'll be able to compose a blog about it.  As of the moment, I'm thinking of making a blog about Airlines and the countries I've been to. I'm pretty sure it will be interesting since airline can be a factor in traveling. I'll be sharing my favorite low cost and full service airline as well as its destination and so on.

You know where this is

So far I've traveled to several countries in the world. I'm confident that the number of travel I had are above average. I just want to be an inspiration to everyone that traveling need not to be expensive. You can travel cheap and still do everything you need to do. So far I've utilized AirBnB, Couchsurfing, and other travel website to help me for my travel.

Willis Tower Chicago,IL

Anyway, here are the list of countries I've been to:

• China
• Hong Kong
• Macau
• Beijing
• Shanghai
• United States of America
• California
• San Francisco
• Los Angeles
• Texas
• Houston
• Austin
• San Antonio
• Dallas
• College Station
• Louisiana
• Kinder
• Vinton
• New Orleans
• Baton Rouge
• Arkansas
• Little Rock
• Tennessee
• Memphis
• Missouri
• St. Louis
• Illinois
• Chicago
• Northfield
• East St. Louis
• Ohio
• Cleveland
• Toledo
• Pennsylvania
• State College
• Philadelphia
• New Jersey
• Newark
• New York
• New York City
• Baltimore
• Maryland
• District of Columbia
• Washington
• Delaware
• Newark (University of Delaware)
• Other US States
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Seoul
• Vietnam
• Ho Chi Minh
• Malaysia
• Johor Bahru
• Kuala Lumpur
• Thailand
• Bangkok
• Indonesia
• Batam
• Taiwan
• Taipei
• Australia
• New South Wales
• Sydney
• Byron Bay
• Australian Capital Territory
• Canberra
• Victoria
• Melbourne
• Queensland
• Brisbane
• Gold Coast
• Cambodia
• Phnom Penh
• Mexico
• Quintana Roo
• Cancun
• Playa Del Carmen
• Tulum
• Yucatan
• Valladolid
• Chichen Itza
• Mexico City DF
• Mexico City
• Russia
• Domodedovo (Moscow)
• Colombia
• Bogota DC

As for the airlines used please see below:

• Full Service
• Cathay Pacific
• Philippine Airlines
• United Airlines
• Air China
• Qantas 
• Singapore Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Low-Cost Airlines
• Cebu Pacific Air
• Scoot
• AirAsia Thailand
• TigerAir Australia
• StarFlyer
• Viva Aerobus
• Interjet
• Airlines where I keep a mileage bank
• KrisFlyer (SQ) for StarAlliance
• JAL Mileage Bank for OneWorld
• Cebu Pacific
• BIG Loyalty (AirAsia)

My life in the United States

Life in the United States is way different from the Philippines and Singapore. It's a new perspective of life for me.  The world is indeed full of wonders. Diversity and uniqueness is very evident in every country and state I've visited.  Every single day I become more and more open minded.

What's the difference between life in Asia and America? I still think it's better at the same time harder to be here. Home is so far away unlike Singapore wherein you can just ride a 3hrs flight to go back. In the US, you need at least 11hrs if you're lucky enough to have a direct flight and almost 24hrs for connecting flight.

Just like Singapore, I gained a lot of weight in the US. I really think the the amount of servings normal americans consume is too much for a Filipino like me. A fastfood meal in the US is double or triple the calories of a fast food meals in the Philippines.  Cost of living may be expensive but I'm telling you, If you're earning here, it will be ok.

For the past few months, I've been to almost 20 states and numerous cities around the central and east United States. So far, I've made several valuable connections and friendship that I think will last forever.  Take note that all of these are unplanned. I have no plans of staying here. It just happened.  Now, as I prepare to come back to the Philippines, I'm getting ready for my next adventure. Hopefully, more learnings for me.

CHI-TOWN! The Bulls!

Millennium Park Bean 

Chicago is another city in the United States wherein I spent a significant amount of time. It's located in Central Time Zone of the US (Northern Part). Being in the North, it is expected that Chicago is a very cold city. When I say very cold, it's really very cold. We should thank the Chicago Wind for contributing so much to the freezing feel of Chicago. Just to give you an idea of how cold Chicago is during Winter, try going inside a freezer and feel it. It's cold right? but Chicago is colder than that. I went there towards the end of Winter but morning temperature can drop to -20 degrees Celsius. Those were the times I wouldn't bother going out since my multiple layer clothing still can't cope up with the cold. There were times wherein I'm already wearing 2 gloves and yet my hands are still freezing nearing frostbite.  Anyway enough of the freezing introduction of Chicago. Let's start with my blog.

Welcome to CHITOWN!

Chicago was actually my 1st stop during my 2 weeks travel adventure over the United States. However, I decided to do New York first then Chicago. During my 1st night in Chicago, I just went to my friends house to drop one of my luggage and eat dinner then I immediately went back to the Union Station for my trip to New York.

Downtown ChiTown

Fast forward to my legit 1st day in Chicago. It was 8am and I'm fresh from a long trip from New York. The moment I stepped out of the Union Station, the freezing wind of Chicago welcomed me. It was so cold that all I wanted was to get inside the bus going to my friend's house. I arrived my friend's house around 9am and I decided to rest first until about 12nn before going out again.

OMW to Lake Michigan

Our first agenda was Lake Michigan and Lincoln Park because it's just a short walking distance from my friend's house.  Streets and pathways are still filled with snow because it's winter and it just snowed days before I arrived in Chicago. Anyway, we just strolled around and took pictures before going downtown to eat.

So what's for lunch? Of course, it's non other than the famous Chicago Deep Dish Pizza.  It's actually my favorite kind of pizza so I'm extremely excited to try the Deep Dish Pizza in Chicago. It's always best to try it where it originated right? or at least where it's named after haha. It was the best pizza I had for years. I'm willing to go back to Chicago and brave the freezing wind just to get a taste of this Pizza. We're very lucky because it's not very crowded and they offer lunch special (Solo Pizza, 1 Sides and Drink).

The Bean

Our next stop is of course the famous landmark of Chicago, "The Bean". It was a weekday so it's not that crowded. I suggest visiting during weekdays because weekends tend to be crowded.  Anyway, there are many good stuff/exhibits around the area. It makes Chicago a unique city.

After strolling around the Millennium Park, we decided to stroll around the Magnificent Mile. It's a looooonnngggg street filled with malls and stores. You can see Michael Jordan's steak resto, Underarmour, F21, Uniqlo, and other good stores. It's similar to Orchard Road in Singapore but the architecture is IMO better.  Trump tower is also along the road.

After strolling in Magnificent Mile, we decided to go back home and do some shopping in Walmart. We had a good chat over the night before we call it a day.

The famous transparent floor.

My 2nd full day in Chicago was spent all by myself. My 1st agenda was of course the Chicago SkyDeck. It's actually the usual skyscraper wherein you need to pay just to go up the top floor. However, what makes this Skydeck unique is the transparent edge seen above. It's really scary because when you look down you will really see what's below you. I myself had a hard time sitting down. It is not recommended for people with heights phobia.

After my trip to Skydeck, I decided to eat lunch at Panda Express because I'm very hungry and I'm very lazy to look for a good restaurant.  I immediately went to Buckingham Fountain afterwards and stroll at the lakeside.  The view was phenomenal however, I didn't like the fact that it's full of dog poop all over the place.  Beware of dog poop underneath the beautiful white snow LOL. The Buckingham Fountain was not operational because it's obviously freezing.


I tried going back to the bean but it's obviously crowded compared to the last time I've been there. People are everywhere. So I decided to just go back to Magnificent Mile to check out some stores and rest in Marriott hehe. After that, I decided to go home to rest and prepare for my next destination.

Next stop was the Snow Storm Music Festival in Navy Pier. It's a music festival wherein there will be several DJs playing while everyone is dancing their asses off. It was a fun party to cap off the night. ;)

My 1st agenda for my 3rd Day was to meet my best friend's sister. She took me out for lunch in Evanston, IL.  My best friend was unfortunately now based in San Diego, CA so I wasn't able to meet her. Hopefully, when I go to SoCal I'll be able to spend a day with her.  Anyway after my Lunch, I met up with my college friend Kathlene who took me around Chicago and some of the suburbs.

We went around Navy Pier, Glenview, and of course United Center. She brought me to her workplace and I was able to see Kraft Food's Headquarters.  She explained to me how's life in Chicago and what makes it better than other city or the Philippines. I had a great time. More talking than taking pictures haha.

I'm leaving Chicago at 10am so I don't have much time anymore to go around. I decided to just buy Garretts Popcorn before heading to the Union Station for my departure in Chicago en route to St. Louis, MO.

My Top 5 US Cities so far.

As you all know, I've been to more than 20 states here in the United States during my visit. Most of it are in Central and East Coast. I'm gonna rank my Top 5 Cities. I'm still going to California and Nevada so the Ranking will definitely change.

Cities out of the Top 5 are
-Houston, TX
-Kinder, LA
-Lake Charles, LA
-St. Louis, MO
-Memphis, TN
-Howe, IN
-Cleveland, OH
-Philadelphia, PA
-State College, PA
-Newark, DE
-Newark, NJ
-Baltimore, MD
-Little Rock, AR
-Dallas, TX
-Texarkana, TX/AR


5. New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans

New Orleans is a very interesting place. It has good food, tourist spots, and culture.  I loved every single thing about the place. I loved bourbon street. I love the historical value of New Orleans. It's a food heaven. I bet New Orleans cuisine is  present everywhere. Talk about the Gumbo, Cajun, Jambalaya, and so on.

4.) Chicago, Illinois

Chicago Skyline

Even though Chicago is one of the best place I've been to, I decided to make it ranked #4. Primarily because of the killer weather of Chicago. I'm not kidding when I say it's cold it's really cold. The wind in Chicago is definitely not helping. Talk about wearing two gloves and it's not yet enough.  The times when I had to wait for the bus to arrive were the times I wish I could teleport to the Philippines just to experience the heat.  Anyway, Chicago has a lot of great tourist spots. It also has Six Flags but it won't be open till May.

3.) San Antonio, Texas/ Austin, Texas

I'm sure not a lot of people will agree but I really love San Antonio maybe because it's near my home base in the US. How I wish I can visit San Antonio every now and then. I strongly believe that San Antonio is the best Texan city followed by Austin then Houston. San Antonio is really good that if I'll be given a chance to choose what city in Texas I want to live in, it will be San Antonio. It's the most tourist friendly city in the Texas triangle (Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston). Public transportation was cheap and convenient too. Special buses have superfast wifi in it.

I also placed Austin as my 3rd favorite because of the uniqueness of Austin. I think young people will really enjoy Austin. There are a lot of things going on. You can go to the Capitol for some history. The artistic side of Austin is everywhere.  Food trucks are everywhere.

2.) Washington, District of Columbia

I always have low expectation when it comes to Capital Cities. Canberra, Australia made me feel that way. However, Washington DC was surprisingly good.  I only stayed there for a day but I felt like I stayed there for a week. Everything was good to see. Everyone looks professional too. There are also a lot of foreigners here because almost all embassies are here. The national mall was majestic. Lincoln Memorial was awesome and scary at the same time. The white house was small. I pictured it as a huge mansion. The Union Station was fantastic. I loved everything about Washington DC.

1. New York City, New York

NYPL

Despite being a very popular city, I was never a fan of New York. It's actually not included in my bucket list.  I hate expensive and crowded city. However, when I found an opportunity to visit New York I didn't think twice and I'm glad I went to New York. It officially become my favorite US City. I don't know why but it felt different from Tokyo. I expected it to be like Tokyo which I hate. I think I'm a bit biased to cities that host Grandslam tournament. I've always wanted to live in a city that hosts Grandslam tournaments.  Anyway, New York has everything I need in my life. Good atmosphere, sports, food, theme parks, park, and so on. Everything I want in life is in New York. I guess I need to start planing my way back to New York.!

This is New York!

TimeSquare

Last March 2015, I got the chance to visit and explore New York City. Despite all the encouragement I get from my parents and my sister to go to NYC, NYC was never a part of my itinerary because I think it will be very expensive to go there. However, when I decided to extend my stay and I found some good deals, I decided to go to New York City from my home base in Houston, TX. I also learned that NYC can be affordable if you plan it right.

I arrived in NYC around 6pm during my first night. It was already dark so I decided to go to Timesquare and stroll around.  Lucky for me, everything is still open till midnight.  I have 6 hours to kill before my bus to Washington DC departs and do what New Yorkers do.  Anyway, for the first few hours of my stay in NYC, I decided to eat where the New Yorkers eat. I found a good pizza house for a dollar per piece and of course "Halal Guys." I also tried going around broadway to check for ticket prices. I didn't go out of the area because it's already dark and safety is also a priority. United States is not as safe as Singapore so always take care of yourself.  Anyway, I just walked around and checked out the Empire State Building before proceeding to my bus going to Washington DC.
*BTW the weather during my 1st night was freezing it's around 1 degree Celsius. I went to Washington DC Around 12am and arrived there around 5:45am. I walked around DC until 4pm before going back to New York City. I arrived 9pm the next day.

During my 2nd night in New York City, I didn't do much. I just met up with my friend who I'll stay with during the duration of my stay in New York. He lives in Queens so we just went to his home from Time Square and shared a good dinner with his family. I also bought a 1 week unlimited train ride even if I'll be using it only for 4 days. It's not really that bad because one ride is 2.50$

Day 3 started in Queens. I learned that this area is full of Filipinos. It's pretty obvious because Filipino Restaurants are all over the place and of course Jollibee is just 1 block away from the station.

Based on my observation, NYC's subway system is old compared to the ones in Asia. I'm talking about Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, and Hong Kong. It's also complicated for someone like me. There are a lot of platforms you don't know where to go. Again, it's just me. I find it hard to navigate around.

Good Morning America

My first stop is Time Square since I need to buy tickets for the Broadway. I also passed by Good Morning America. Felicity Hoffman was their guest during that day. Anyway, I was able to get a ticket below 50$ to watch Matilda. I'll talk more about the play later as I go through this blog. After Time Square, I went to the Statue of Liberty.  I was supposed to take a cruise to the Liberty Island but I got lazy looking for the ticket office so I just hopped on the ferry to Staten Island. It's free and you can see the Statue of Liberty from there.  It's true when they say that it's just a small statue. I suggest that if you're going to choose the Free Staten Island Ferry go on a day with no fog or less fog. Luckily for me it's not very foggy that day.

9/11 Memorial

My next stop is the 9/11 Memorial. It's pretty hard to find because of the ongoing construction around the area. There's nothing much really but it's a good place to see especially if you want to see how it looks like now. After my short trip to 9/11 Memorial. I went back to Time Square to eat some Chinese Buffet because I'm very hungry.My next stop is the 9/11 Memorial. It's pretty hard to find because of the ongoing construction around the area. There's nothing much really but it's a good place to see especially if you want to see how it looks like now. After my short trip to 9/11 Memorial. I went back to Time Square to eat some Chinese Buffet because I'm very hungry.

After eating, I decided to go to FLushing Meadows because of the US Open. Nothing much to see again because Arthur Ashe is currently being renovated. Corona Park is a good place to see though.

Grand Central

After strolling around Flushing Meadows, I immediately went to Grand Central. It's a huge train station with a very nice interior. It houses the best Apple Store EVER! The food court in the basement is also awesome as well as the world foods.  You should not miss Grand Central!

Central Park

Of course, one should not miss the Central Park. This is by far the best park I've been to. It makes me want to stay in New York forever. It's a huge park filled with so many things. I can stay there the whole day. It was covered with snow when I went there. I wonder how awesome it will look like without snow. I bet it's better but a white covered park is not bad in the eyes.

My last agenda for the day was Matilda. It's a play filled with awesome child actors. It amazes how they were able to memorize a series of lines and act at the same time.  The play is basically the same as the Matilda movie but most of their lines are sung because it's a musical (obviously). I really enjoyed the play and I wanted to see more plays in New York. Hopefully when I come back. My day ended around 10:30pm. I didn't worry about going home because all trains and buses run 24 hours.  I just had a problem with the bus going home. I think it was delayed for about 30 mins.

Day 4 was my last day in New York before I go to Chicago.  It's the 2nd to the last snowfall in New York this season. The snowfall was so think that whenever if I open my mouth for a minute it will be filled with snow LOLJK. Anyway, I started my day a little late. My friend John took me around New York. Our first stop was Roosevelt Island. If you have an unlimited pass, you should try riding the tram since it will give you a great view of the city
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After our trip to Roosevelt Island, John brought me to the Public Library and Bryant Park. I can say that the library has a good ambiance for studying and relaxing. It makes me want to bring all my school notes and review it. It also has a good collection of books. The exhibit inside shouldn't be missed as well. Everything about NYPL excites me. Anyway, Bryant Park is just beside NYPL. It's also covered with snow just like Central Park. Anyway, I ended my trip to New York at Bryant Park around 3pm. My friend and I needs to walk to the station since I need to catch my trip to Chicago.

Overall, I'm very satisfied with my New York trip. I have no regrets at all. New York is officially one of the best cities I've been to.

San Antonio 10 years after

Me in front of The Alamo

Superman The Ride

Hi Everyone, it's me again and I just want to share my crazy adventure in San Antonio. San Antonio is 2 and a half hours away from where I stay in Houston and 3 hours away from Houston Downtown.

I booked my ticket again through megabus and good an awesome deal. I bought two round trip tickets from Houston to San Antonio and Houston to Austin. Both are day trips only meaning I'll leave Houston in the morning and leave immediately come night time. Anyway I booked the San Antonio route on a Wednesday then the Austin the Wednesday after. The SA ticket cost me 4$ while the Austin is 2$. Not bad right? With proper planning you can get awesome deal with Megabus.

Anyway, i have zero knowledge about San Antonio. All I know is that they have theme parks (Sea World and Six Flags). I've been to sea world 10 years ago so my goal is just to visit Six Flags nothing else.

When the day of my trip came, I woke up earlier than my alarm clock which is a good thing because I thought the bus leaves at 8am but the ticket says 7:30. So I quickly dressed up, got my stuff and run to the bus stop to downtown Houston. Luckily, I arrived 30 mins early.

On my way to downtown, I thought of the most spontaneous plan I've ever done alone. I thought of spending the night in San Antonio because the bus might leave me. Spending the night will also enable me to explore San Antonio like what a normal traveler do. I immediately sent several requests in Couchsurfing. Luckily, someone accepted my request (Thanks Erik for accepting despite the short notice). I immediately asked help from my cousin Lesley to buy me a new ticket since i left my credit cards in Houston as part of my financial controls.

Anyway the bus arrived 15mins late which means I'm missing the hourly local bus to Six Flags. I think it's a good thing because it gave me an hour to explore The Alamo and the Riverwalk. I must say San Antonio is the most tourist friendly Texan City hands down! It has a rich historical value! Definitely a place to visit and/or live in Texas!

Moving forward, I went to Six Flags via the Express Bus 94. Unlike other regular buses 93,94, and 100 are good buses with wifi. Bus 100 is my personal favorite. Once in Six Flags the single day pass will cost around 55usd. If you're planing to visit other six flags, i suggest getting the season pass which will cost you 75$. However if you're getting 4 or more then you'll get it for 64$. If your group is just 1-3, I suggest just look around and look for people buying season pass. "Kapalan nyo na mukha nyo makisabay na kayo" that's 11-33$ savings. Anyway, the park is full of roller coaster with Superman and Iron Rattler as my favorites.

I left the park around 4pm since it's starting to be crowded. I went to a Dollar Store to purchase some hygiene kit and Walmart for some quick snack.  After that, I went to San Antonio Riverwalk to walk around and hopefully try some of the restaurants unfortunately all restaurants are too full so I just decided to eat at the mall nearby.  I decided to leave the Riverwalk around 8pm and headed to the Wonderland of the Americas to stroll around again while waiting for my host Erik.  Luckily he picked me up earlier than expected but the night didn't end yet. I decided to come with him since he has a soccer intramurals at University of Texas at San Antonio. UTSA is a great campus way better than my school hahaha. Anyway we went home a little before 12mn.  

Fast forward to Day 2, I woke up around 7:30am since my host needs to go to work around 8am. He just dropped me to the bus station to downtown. Anyway, despite my short stay with Erik, I really had fun. We exchanged good stories about anything under the sun. I cannot wait to go back to San Antonio to hangout with him more. Moving forward, I decided to go back to the Alamo to go inside the museum. The Alamo is free but you need to fall in line in order for you to go inside the museum. It's really worth it! I suggest everyone to visit it.  

After, going around the Alamo, I proceeded immediately to Six Flags to finish all the rides. I was suppose to meet my cousin's cousin hahaha but then I decided to go back to downtown before they arrived since the people are piling up Six Flags and the lines are too long for me to handle. I just went to the Riverwalk again and the Tower of the Americas before heading back home. I was supposed to ride with my cousin's cousin but then they decided to spend a night in San Antonio so I have no choice but to go back to Houston.

Coming up next week will be my trip to Austin!

My 2 weeks Out of Texas Adventure

Hi Everyone. As you all know I went on a 2 weeks trip to the city of Chicago, New York, Washington DC, and Dallas. With a short stopovers in cities such as Memphis, Little Rock, St. Louis, Toledo, Cleveland, State College, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Newark. Visiting a total of 18 States in the US. This trip will not be successful and worthwhile without everyone who supported and helped me all throughout.

 
I've been staying in Houston, TX since November 2014 spending all great holidays there. I was supposed to go back last January but then my Aunt from New Zealand told me to extend. Upon the approval of my Aunt in TX, my dad, and last but not the least my money, I decided to extend my stay in the United States until May. Don't worry, I'll be leaving the country 2-3 weeks before the last day of my lawful presence in the US to embark to a new journey in another country.

Anyway, I told myself that since I extended my stay, I need to maximize it and visit other states here in the US. I immediately checked different airlines for possible cheap flights but I was left disappointed because a flight to Chicago or New York will cost me at least 300 to 600 usd which is totally out of the budget. I was looking at the 100usd budget for a round trip ticket. Luckily, I came across this awesome website called Wanderu.com and tried searching for bus tickets and to my surprise I was able to look for extremely cheap tickets to great cities of the United States. FYI Wanderu is just a search engine and it will redirect you to another website where you can purchase your ticket. I decided to go for Megabus because it's cheap and I've tried it already during my trips to Austin and New Orleans.

Anyway, after checking all the possible dates and connections I came up with the best 2 weeks trip itinerary ever!  This will probably be the cheapest and longest bus ride ever but I didn't care because of the amount of savings I got. Just to give you an idea of the deal I got please see below. The plane cost below is based on the cheapest possible flight for now. It can be lower depending on the season. It can go up to double or triple. Nevertheless, you cannot beat megabus' fare!! That's 90% savings! Any American can say that I really got a huge savings with transportation alone.



Anyway, during my 2 weeks trip, I usually sleep at my friend's house or in the bus since it's a very long ride. Just to give you an idea, taking a bus to New York from Houston is like taking a bus from Manila to Beijing haha. Of course it's assuming there's a bridge connecting the Philippines to Mainland China.

Anyway for my itinerary please see below (detailed itinerary will be posted in a separate blog post)

Day 1 Feb 28
-Houston, TX
-Dallas, TX
-Texarkana, TX/AR

Day 2 Mar 1
-Little Rock, AR
-Memphis, TN
-St. Louis, MO
-Chicago, IL

Day 3 Mar 2
-Howe, IN
-Toledo, OH
-Cleveland, OH
-State College, PA
-New York City, NY

Day 4 Mar 3
-Baltimore, MD
-Philadelphia, PA
-Newark, DE
-Washington, DC
-New York City, NY

Day 5 Mar 4
-New York City, NY

Day 6 Mar 5
-New York City, NY
-State College, PA

Day 7 Mar 6
-Cleveland, OH
-Toledo, OH
-Howe, IN
-Chicago,IL

Day 8 Mar 7
-Chicago, IL

Day 9 Mar 8
-Chicago, IL

Day 10 Mar 9
-Chicago, IL
- St. Louis, MO
-Memphis, TN

Day 11 Mar 10
-Little Rock, AR
-Dallas, TX
-Houston, TX