Friday, November 8, 2013

My Top 10 Southeast Asia 2013 Tour Pictures

Last October 18-29, 2013, I traveled in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Along the journey, I took pictures of the best places in my tour and here are my ten best pictures:


Clarke Quay, Singapore




Dinner River Cruise in Bangkok, Thailand




  Elephant Trekking in Phang Nga, Thailand





Melaka, Malaysia




Merlion and Marina Bay Sands, Singapore




Jumpshot in Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand




Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand




Paragliding in Phuket, Thailand



SG Sunset River Cruise




Singapore


Sunday, November 3, 2013

Adventures in Thailand!

Thailand is a country rich in adventures
It is one of the best places to spend your holidays. 
Here are some of the adventures that you can enjoy in Phuket, Thailand.



Adventure Travel and Tour
Save the Earth
Best tour

42/2 Moo 6 T.Kathu A. Kathu, Phuket 83150 Thailand
Tel (6676) 355966-7 Fax (6676 355967 
www.adventuretravelandtour.com
E-mail: info@adventuretraveltour.com


Duration 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
White Water Rafting
Elephant Trekking
ATV Riding
Swimming in sparkling waterfalls
Lunch with delicious Thai set
Visit Monkey Cave (Suwan Khuha Temple)


Prices range from 2,500, 3,000, and 3,500 Baht depending on the package. Best deal is Tour Code: REA

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7 points
Phi Phi Maya Bay & Khai Island
Happy Boat Travel
125/411 Moo 5, Rock Graden 5, Ratsada, Muang, Phuket 8300 Thailand
Tel/Fax 076-528730 Mobile 080-5269090, 086-4763977
E-mail: pom_3977@hotmail.com


Island hopping package
Phi Phi Ley Island
Maya Bay
Loh Samah Bay
Pileh Lagoon
Phi Phi Don Island (Ton Sai Bay)
Monkey Beach
Khai Nok Island

Tour package price is 3,000 Baht / Child - 1,500 Baht

You can also book at
Roong Aroon Tour (2544)
Tel. 076 373 166 Fax 076 373 167 Mobile 083-592-4758
e-mail: info.rtour2544@gmail.com
www.rtour2544.com

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Kapong Tubing Safari
Phuket Travel Tour
68/119 Moo1, Soi 14, Kwang Rd. Maneekram Village, Muang, Phuket 83130 Thailand
Tel 084-1853640, 089 909 0336, Fax 076 367119
E-mail:rsvn@phuket-travel-tour.com

Waterfall Package: Program A1
Waterfall Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 plus Bamboo Trekking
Tubing 30-45 minutes

Price 2,400 Baht
Child 1,500 Baht

Program A2: 
Elephant Trekking
Visit Rubber Plantation
Visit Rice fields
Bamboo trekking
Tubing

Price: 2,600 Baht
Child 1,700

Program A3
1 hour Elephant Trekking
Visit Rubber Plantation
Visit Rice fields
Bamboo trekking
Tubing
Waterfalls

from www.shoretrips.com

Price: 2,800 Baht
Child 1,900

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James Bond Sightseeing Tour
James Bond Discovery Sea Canoe
23/583 Moo2, T.Vichit, A.Muang, Phuket 
Hotline: 089-8667900, 087-3809390
Tel: 076 510 660 Fax: 076 510 659
Email: jbd_m@hotmail.com

Island Hopping
Moneky CAve
Phang Nga Bay
Koh Panyee
James Bond Island and Ping Gan


Price 1,800
Child - 1,400

You can also book at
Island Safari Co., Ltd.
Tel No. 087-894-5853 (GSM); 084-309 5225 (DTAC); 084-249-0075 (TRUE)
www.Lungkhaifruitsgaden.com
www.islandsafaritour.com

Programs vary -
James Bond Nature Tour (Price - 2,220 Baht)
James Bod Discovery Tour (Price - 2,400 Baht)
James Bod Adventure Tour (Price - 2,600 Baht)
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Best Rafting 4U
97/154 Moo4, Virat Hongyok Rd, T. Vichit, A Muang, Phuket 83000
Tel: 076-522-528 Fax: 076-522 788
E-mail: bestrafting4u@hotmail.com    www.bestrafting4u.com

Program A: White Water Rafting (Price - 2,500 Baht)
Program B: Rafting plus Elephant Trekking  (Price - 2,900 Baht)
Program C: Rafting Plus ATV (Price - 3,900 Baht )
Program D:  Rafting plus Elephnat Trekking plus ATV (Price - 3,800 Baht)



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Island Safari
Eco-Nature Tours
Phuket / Koh Samui / Krabi / Phang Nga
Mobile: 087 894 5853 (GSM), 084 309 5225 (DTAC), 084-249 0075 (TRUE)
Office: (076) 255 0212, 254 7101 Fax: (076) 255 044
www.islandsafaritour.com



Program F1
Elephant Trekking
Fish Spa
Elephant show
Monkey show
Thai Fruits on season
Price: 1,800 Baht

Program F2
ATV
Elephant Trekking
Fish Spa
Elephant Show
Monkey show
Thai fruits on season
Price - 2,200 Baht

Other package activities include:  Thai rice farming, Ox-cat riding, Buffalo photo, Thai lifestyle, Rubber tapping, Thai cooking, Thai boxing, Canoe, 4 x 4 safari












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5 in 1 Canoe in Phang Nga Bay by Luxury Boat
Phuket Patri Tour
10/383-4 Jomthong Thani, Vichit, Muang, Phuket 8300
Booking Tel: 07626 3558, 07626 4881 Fax: 0 7626 3559
Mobile: 08 1397 6078, 08 4188 0085 Email:ppt-tour@hotmail.com

Island Hopping @
James Bond Island
Kaho Ping Kan
Hong Island
Panak Island
Muslim Village
Lawa Island
plus buffet lunch
Price: 3,200 Baht


They also offer Sunset  Cruise by Luxury Boat

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Andaman Treasure Travel
101/156 Iravadee Village, Chalermprakiet, Rama 9, Rassada, Muang Phuket 83000
Tel - 076 261 391, 085-4770965, 086 682 5880
Fax  - 076 261 679 Email: galaxtiga@hotmail.com

Programs 
Dam Chewlan Lake (one day trip) Price - 3,700 Baht
Hot Spring Krabi (one day trip) Price - 3,700 Baht
Khaolak Adventures (safari) Price - 3,700 Baht



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Phuket Aquarium
Phuket Aquarium, Cape Panwa
51 Sakdidech Rd. Phuket 83000
Tel 076-391 126, Fax 076 391 406
www.phuketaquarium.org

Entrance fee: Adult 50 Baht / Child 20 Baht
Foreigners: Adult 100 Baht / Child 50 baht


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Phuket City Tour
Hotline: 081 797 9699 / 089 871 2469
Fax 076 521 763 / Mobile 081 797 9699, 089 871 2469
E-mail: toomtour@gmail.com    www.phuketluckytripalltour.com

Programs
L1 - Old Phuket Town or Orchid Farm (Price m-1,350 Baht)
L2 - Phuket Aquarium (1,390 Baht)
L3 - Phuket Zoo or Bord Park plus Elephant Show, Crocodile show, Monkey Show (Price - 1500 Baht)
L4 - Weekend Market or Phromthep Cape Sunset (Price - 1,350 Baht)
L5 - Elephant Trekking or Monkey Show and Snake Show (Price -1,550 Baht)
L6 - Horse Riding or elephant or Buggy Adventure or Paint Ball Gun (Price - 1,950 Baht)
L7 - Tiger Kingdom or Go Kart Speedway or Europe Horse Tour or Shooting Range (Price - 1,950 Baht)


  
Amazing Thailand!! =)


Friday, November 1, 2013

Seoul, South Korea (Day 3-4)


Seoul, South Korea

Day 3 
According to our itinerary, two days were allotted for campus visit and the other two days are for city tour and travel. And we enjoyed our two days of tour.


There was no definite plan for the tour that day. No package tour was made and we had no idea what to expect in our city tour.

But everybody agreed to visit the biggest palace in Seoul, South Korea.

Again, we boarded the train back to Seoul from Incheon. This time we knew how to use the train system in Seoul after two days of using it.


Gyeongbokgung Palace

The royal palace is located in northern Seoul, South Korea. It was constructed in 1395, later burned and abandoned for almost three centuries, and then reconstructed in 1867, it was the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon DynastyThe name means "Palace" [Gung] "Greatly Blessed by Heaven" [Gyeongbok].

The whole palace cannot be covered in 2 hours by foot. It was gigantic!

But we did not mind walking inside the palace. There were so many historical and magnificent structures inside the palace.

But the best part of it is that you can don the Korean attire for free. And we did!


I even took pictures with the Korean women wearing their traditional dress.


There were so many tourists that day.

And I was given the chance to have this picture with a Chinese national.

The palace was a sight to behold!

It was magnificent!!!




After staying in the palace for almost five hours, we went back to the hotel and again used the express train back to Incheon airport (one of the best airports in the world).


Day 4 (last day in Korea)


It was our last day in Korea. And from my understanding, the City Tour was paid by Far University Korea as part of our educational tour in Korea.

We had to bring all our belongings that day to the bus and go back to Seoul for the fourth time.

We were greeted by our Korean tour guide that morning and sped off to Seoul.

It was a long city tour.
First stop -

Seaworld












All of us enjoyed this tour, particularly the part where we had our massage by the Doctor Fish!

We took turns enjoying the sensation of the massage.

Second stop -

Sky Art Gallery
Aerial view of the city 



Third stop -

Wax Museum

Tea time with Abraham Lincoln














Fourth stop -

Ginseng House








Last stop - Namsangol Traditional Garden 


After the day-long tour, we boarded the bus back to Incheon airport. 
And we all went back to the Philippines, Bye South Korea! =)


Related link:

Day 1-2 in Seoul: http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/11/seoul-south-korea-day-1-2.html











Seoul, South Korea (Day 1-2)


There are so many rewards/benefits of being a teacher. 
Tangible and intangible rewards. 
But the best reward is the recognition coming from your own school and the students. 
And second to it is the FREE TRAVEL to KOREA! =)

October, 2011
Far Eastern University (FEU)
Manila, Philippines

Part of the incentive program of FEU for teachers for their excellence and dedication in teaching is that we are rewarded to travel abroad as part of the educational tour program. We are sent abroad to learn the teaching methodologies of our fellow teachers, the country's unique culture, their way of living and as well as to expand our perspective in life. 

Before this educational tour, some FEU professors were sent to Thailand and Taiwan. But we were fortunate enough to have been chosen to represent our University to Far East University, Korea.

Originally, we were supposed to be sent to Beijing, China. But we requested instead to be transferred to Seoul, South Korea. And the management was kind enough to oblige to our request. And this was the start of a beautiful, informative and fun-filled travel to Korea.  

Day 1 (October 20, 2011)

The flight was 12:05 midnight and it was a very early Korean Air flight!

Joining the the educational tour are the following professors from FEU, namely:
1. Prof. Helen Advincula
2. Prof. Buenvenida Santos
3. PH Joeven Castro
4. Prof. Benjamin Concepcion
5. Prof. Jose Dadulla
6. Prof. Sofronio Dulay
7. AVP Barbara Fernandez

8. Guidance Director Sheila Marie Jocson
9. Prof. Zhenya Lim
10. Prof. Joseph Lopez
11. Prof. Wilhelmina Martin
12. PC Luzelle Anne Ormita
13. Prof. Glorina Orozco
14. PH James Owen Saguinsin
15. Univ. Registrar Grace Sipin
16. Prof. Maricar Tan
17. Prof. Romulo Villanueva
18. Atty. Amado R. Villegas, Jr.





Arriving at the Incheon Airport, I immediately felt the change in the weather. This is Korea!

Oceanside Hotel in Incheon, Korea
From the airport, we were fetched by the hotel's transport bus. It was a 30 minute drive from the airport to the hotel.

I sensed the feeling of excitement and enthusiasm among my co-teachers. The 4-hour flight did not hinder the feeling of excitement instead it rejuvenated the innate passion to travel to Korea.

We stayed in the hotel for four (4) days. Some of us had to share rooms and luckily, I had to share the room only with Prof. Dulay (who happens to be a close friend from my department).

Anyway, we are here in Korea! But we were told to take a brief nap before embarking on our educational tour to Far East Korea. And we did.

After taking the brief nap, we fixed ourselves and went to Far East University. We were fetched this time by the university's bus and it was a 2-3 hour travel to the said university.

Arriving at the university, we were greeted with enthusiasm by the deans and professors of Far East University. Both universities presented their respective powerpoint presentations for their profile.



We toured the entire premises of Far East University. And the premises was so huge that some of us were not able to cover the whole grounds of the university.

On our part, we talked with the Dean of the Business Administration and the latter shared his insights, school's policies, and teaching methodologies.

It was a great experience for us!


After the educational tour, we proceeded to the university's golf course and took this photo.

Everyone was enjoying!


And then, we took our free lunch courtesy of Far East University at this restaurant!

We went back to the hotel and rested.


Day 2 

We were supposed to visit again the university the following day, but we were told that the university officials/staff were not available for a very urgent matter concerning the university.

So, we did not stay in Incheon. We went to Seoul!


And for the whole day in Seoul, we were sightseeing, shopping and touring the city.

Seoul is a sight to behold!













The tour will not be complete without tasting Seoul's street foods! 


We took pictures left and right of the different establishments, structures and spots in Seoul.

We did not mind the time. Time flew without us knowing.

Seoul captured our hearts! =)






















We stayed in Seoul until 8 pm and witnessed the nightlife in Seoul. And after that, we boarded the express train ride  back to Incheon. 


I left my heart in Seoul, Korea!

Related link:

Day 3-4 in Seoul, South Korea: http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/11/seoul-south-korea-day-3-4.html