Family Travelogue: 2016

Monday, 24 October 2016

Boracay Island, Philippines: Yapak Beach/ Family Travelogue April 2008

Our last day in the island, flight back to Angeles City was in the afternoon. We went to the nearby beach in the morning called Yapak beach. It is also called Puka beach. You could find numerous Puka shells that could be used for accessories and ornaments. The eldest bailed out and continued to sleep. The island was not surrounded by fancy hotels though it is equally beautiful as the popular one with clear water and powdery sand.

Boracay Island, Philippines: Glass Bottom boat tour/ April 2008

Our visit to Boracay Island in April 2008 minus the daddy. We were still in Philippines then, Daddy has just started working in Singapore. We flew with Seair for a 45 minutes to 1 hour direct flight from Clark to Caticlan.

Boracay is a small island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It is famous for its white sand beaches and destination for relaxation. It was awarded as best island in the world in 2012 and 2016 by international magazines and agency.

Nayong Pilipino, Clark Free Economic Zone, Angeles City, Philippines

Nayong Pilipino is a Filipino Cultural and Historical Amusement Park located at the Clark Economic Free Zone in Angeles City, Philippines. It's miniature version of some of the regional provinces of the Philippines and its culture such as Cordillera Central Ilocos, Tagalog, Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao.

It could be more though, we have not covered all. It featured also the replica houses of the three filipino heroes: Emilio Aguinaldo, Jose Rizal and Apolinario Mabini. The Park has just been transferred then from Manila.

Hong Kong Disneyland Park/ Family Travelogue 05 January 2008

Today is Disneyland day. We woke up late, so exhausted the previous day. The youngest was the last to go up. This little girl was really energetic. She kept on moving, seems restless. We were checked in at one of the two Hong Kong Disney hotels, Disney Hollywood Hotel. The room was good for four, spacious enough and clean.

Hong Kong: Disney Hollywood Hotel, Victoria Peak/ Family Travelogue 04 January 2008

Looking back our very first Disney adventure. It was also my kids very first overseas travel. We were still living in the Philippines then, the nearest Disney Resort and visa free country is in Hong Kong. We had prepared a 4 day tour, my kids actually missed classes. This tour, we went to Victoria Peak, Disneyland and Ocean Park.

Our youngest was only six then, she was so hyper, bubbly as well and I believe we gave our kids happy childhood. It is very fulfilling for us parents to see our children growing happy and with a bit of confidence. It is our goal to take our children to as many countries as we could afford for them to be exposed to different values and culture and experience and understand the different ways of life. Year 2008 marked the start of our world travels together.

We had the formality as Singapore Permanent Residents in September of 2008. Daddy started working in Singapore in March 2008 and got residency approval for the whole family in August 2008. Mommy and the youngest moved to Singapore on 26 December 2008. Youngest attended Primary One in Singapore on 02 January 2009. The eldest completed high school in the Philippines in April 2009 and moved to Singapore after a week. The eldest is now full time employed and part time UNI student.

departing at NAIA airport. We lived in Angeles City then, we woke up early for 2 hours travel to Manila airport. I think only tiger airways flew from Clark then and no HK flights yet.

Hong Kong International Airport

Apparently, the youngest was unstoppable. We had our US$ exchanged to HK$. I suggest though to buy not much, there are many money exchange in the city. At present, I buy in Singapore, at the Raffles Arcade.

We also bought octopus cards at the airport and top up to our calculated metro/bus fares for the next four days. We then took a cab to Disney Hollywood hotel

Mickey bronze statue, Hong Kong Disney Hollywood Hotel

there are a few mickey bronze statues around the lobby. This once a upon a time little girl must be enjoying much.

Ooopps! we were starving to death. We were off to Victory Peak which is about an hour from the hotel by train. We got something to eat at the Hollywood & Dine, hotel's quick casual eatery. We did not enjoy the turkey, thought not fully cooked. But we were famished, no choice.

Entrance arch at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

There is a frequent free shuttle bus from the two Disney hotels to Disneyland Resort. The Disney monorail, located at the resort, is a metro line connecting Sunny Bay to the Disneyland Theme Park.

Hong Kong Disneyland main entrance arch

We took some photos first before we headed to Victoria Peak

the Peak tram, Victoria Peak, Hong Kong

I have a separate post on how to get to the Victoria Peak. Please check the link.

inside the Peak tram, Hong Kong

Victoria Peak is the highest mountain in Hong Kong known as Mount Austin or The Peak for locals.

The Peak, Hong Kong

The Peak is one of the major attractions in Hong Kong offering picturesque views of the city and the waterfront.

The Peak, Hong Kong

Time flies, our first born was just tiny baby and on this trip she was in her teens... and now all grown-up. We don't have to wait for our retirement to start travelling. Being with our family as often as we could, enjoying together the wonders of the world, there is nothing we could ask for.

There are coin-operated telescopes at the viewing deck. The youngest was curious what's this thing was, daddy helped her to reach the telescope. If you only knew how heavy she was then.

Peak Galleria, Hong Kong

With millions of visitors every year, the Peak Tower and the Peak Galleria were constructed adjacent to each other.

It was a very long day. We had no more energy to further document, our first day in Hong Kong post ended here. We had our Disney adventure the next day.

continued to Hong Kong Disneyland Park 05 January 2008

See related posts:

Aberdeen Harbour, HK

The Flash Ride@ HK Ocean Park

Crystal Lotus Signature Dimsum, HK Disney

See Also:

Resort World Sentosa
Singapore

Zurich, Switzerland

Singapore River

Munich, Germany

Family cycling

The making of Harry Potter

Universal Studios
Singapore

Shrimp Stew

Family World Travels

Saturday, 8 October 2016

Phuket/ Family Travelogue 21~23 August 2010

We went back to Thailand a year after a trip to Bangkok. This time it was in Phuket. It was again the birthday of the youngest, her 8th. We were able to find a very cheap flight at Jetstar then. It was only S$75 return plus prepaid baggage. We had stayed at the Cape Sienna Phuket, very near to Kamala Beach. We were fetched at the airport. There was a complimentary from the hotel to Kamala beach and Patong beach. Three to four times a days only, kind of. We hired Tuktuk when we went around Phuket.