The Electric Light Show Display of Nanjing Lu, Shanghai, China

10:30:00 AM Pinoy Boy Journals 4 Comments


STORY: No wonder the Chinese invented fireworks. In Shanghai, People's Republic of China, the streets are lit up, literally, at night. Its blinding colors makes everyone visiting the city, alive and excited.  Shanghai is also one of the fastest and booming cities of the world. With so many expats working on multi-million companies, the landscape of old world China is a thing of the past, this is the future of China. One of my most favorite places in all of Shanghai is Nanjing Lu

It is here where i usually spend my afternoons walking around, buying stuff i don't need and chilling on the cafes and restaurants. It is a huge avenue filled with too many establishments that fancy everyone. From banks, to souvenir stalls, clothing shops, massages, salons, bookstores, ice cream parlors, anything you could think of. Umbrellas do come in handy usually in the month of August when it rains every now and then, during the afternoon.

At night, the place becomes an absolute delight for photographers. Everywhere you go, whatever side you face, becomes photogenic - with colorful light displays, flashing LCD's and local night walkers. How much is the government paying for the electricity bill in Nanjing alone? 


There are rollerblades for rent for people tired of walking, and cart buses that will transfer tourists from one shop to the next near Xintiandi, and heaps of other key routes.

TIPS: Get off at People's Square Metro Station. After visiting Shanghai Museum and some of the best malls in the country, you may walk to the east of Nanjing Street en route for the Bund, passing by Nanjing Lu. 

RECOMMENDATIONS: Shanghai is popularly called as "Whore of the Orient", and single guys will be asked for all sorts of massages. Keep away from these hustlers as they are only eager to rob you off of your money. It's best to start the walking tour of Shanghai in the morning at Nanjing Lu, visit heaps of other places and return at night with its dazzling display of lights. The road is open till late.

Ni hao from Shanghai, China

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Let Your Mind Wander in Dapitan, Zamboanga Del Norte, Philippines

12:00:00 PM Pinoy Boy Journals 6 Comments


STORY: It was around four o'clock that afternoon. My skin was burnt from the sun rays over the Sulu sea. Aliguay Island was a stunner. Pink Sand? You got it! As the boat slowly docked on the port in Dapitan, Zamboanga Del Norte, suddenly, i begin to ponder more and more how blessed i was to be able to set foot in this province and discover all the wonders it possess. 

I rallied myself to prepare for my trip to Dipolog. I packed my stuff, hit the shower and checked everything inside the room to see if i left something. It's still a few hours away from Dapitan, and i wanted to watch the sunset from the boulevard. I lit a cigarette and waited for tricycle that i could hire to bring me to the next municipality. I watched for the very last time, this beautiful scene from the boulevard. I don't know how it happened, but somehow the beauty of the place have magnetized me to stay still for a few minutes, like i'm waiting for something to happen.

I sat for a bit.

Two little kids started walking pass by me. The little boy was accompanied by his older sister. Their faces, burnt too from the heat of the day. They're obviously from a poor family, stricken by poverty. Their tattered shirts must have been overused and ready to retire, still, they wear it proudly like it's their Sunday's best. The little boy started to come closer to where i was. He was looking at my little camera hugged tightly by a chest strap. I smiled and looked at this little boy whose amazement cannot be contained. I wanted to take a photo of him and show him how powerful this gadget is. His sister looked at me, emotionless, and tucked her little brother to her shoulder. 

As the two of them slowly fade away from where my eyes could see, i begin to wonder what their actions meant. I could ponder that these two kids were actually too shy to ask for a few pennies. Maybe, they're hesitant because i could be a con man and i would hurt them. A few minutes later, i saw the sister grabbing a few spare coins from her pocket and bought her little brother a cone of ice cream. They continued to walk.


Of all places, i was surprised to see someone selling a broom near the ocean. I would reckon it's possible that this man came from the market and eager to sell his wares. He looked very, very tired. His eyes looked of worries, of desperation, of helplessness. I looked at him, but he didn't look back at me. A few people have passed by and he would say a few words convincing them to buy his broom. He stops every now and then to fix his wares, with his shoulders falling from the dozen brooms held by a bamboo husk. He sat in one of the concrete benches a few meters away from me in the boulevard. He looked at nothingness. He wipes his sweat from his forehead. His white shirt, touched from the dirt of the broom. I was staring at him. I couldn't tell myself to look else where. After a few minutes, he stood up and fixed his wares again. He stretched his left arm and begin to hook the bamboo husk strap to his shoulders. His brooms are ready to be sold again.


I managed to get up and walk for a bit. This might be the last time i will see Dapitan and the ocean from this side of Zamboanga Del Norte. It was just too damn beautiful to miss. It was around half past five already. Still, i didn't feel the pressure to leave. I waited a while and saw these fishermen plowing their seeds of hard work. I walked towards them and managed to take this photo. I wished i could have come closer but i didn't want to disrupt their business. Everybody in this group was doing his part of the business. Each and every muscle moving, each and every finger up to pick up the net, and each and every sweat falling from their foreheads - all of which appeared to be slowed down by time and place.

These are real stories from real people. I figured, right at that moment, i was destined to be sitting where i was. I could be somewhere else, and doing all the extreme stunts an adventurous soul would do, yet, i sat in that concrete bench where i could see, hear, and feel. Their stories aren't about the highest mountains or the deepest sea. For my first story in Mindanao, i could have written something wild, adventurous and wacky. But i felt, i had to relieve this story here. All of a sudden, the outstanding view of Aliguay Island became nothing compared to that afternoon spent along Rizal Boulevard in Dapitan.

REALIZATIONS: I could fly, trek, be held by extreme adventure but my mind will always be wandering and pondering on the real essence of life. That, i think is the reason why i am destined to travel. 

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The Palestinian Fisherman of Maafushi, Maldives

10:00:00 AM Pinoy Boy Journals 0 Comments

Beautiful sunset overlooking the vast Indian Ocean
STORY: I've been soaking myself up in the beautiful waters of Maafushi in the Republic of Maldives. The weather for the first few days of my stay was absolutely fantastic. The sun was beaming over the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, and the best part, visibility was pretty damn good. I've been snorkeling for hours every single day, and i could feel my skin drenched in the salts of paradise, as i try to chase nemo and his friends. 

I've already expressed my intentions to go on an excursion. Shaniz, the manager of White Shell Inn, has been very helpful in making sure i spend my hard earned money well. Sadly, if i wanted to go night fishing, i will have to pay for the rental of the speed boat. You know, Maldives is a honeymoon territory, and people who arrive travel in groups. And i'm the one of the few who chose to visit the island solo. Yet, i couldn't let this trip pass by without me fishing. I've always wanted to fish right in the middle of the Indian ocean. That night, i still had no luck. Everyone in the hotel was going for excursions to five star spa resorts, but no one wanted to try line fishing. 

Palestinians on board the fishing vessel 

Early morning, the next day, i went back to Shaniz with a decision to pursue my love of fishing even if it means i had to pay $100 for my night fishing expedition. I overheard a few gentlemen inquiring about fishing. They left a few minutes after. They were staying at another resort called Arena. I went back to Shaniz, and asked if i could join this group of three so we could split the fare for the speedboat. He called them up immediately to finalize the trip, and luckily, they agreed. Later that afternoon, i was already introducing myself to these chaps from Qatar. 


Fisherman preparing the bait for us

We caught almost three dozen medium sized fish from the three points we parked. We started line fishing at around half past six o'clock, just as the sun is about to set. The group was fine, and the fishermen were very friendly and knowledgeable at what they do. Only missing is a cold beer, if only it was allowed in the local island. We knew that whatever fish we caught would be our dinner for the night, and i would be sharing it with my fishing buddies. 

These men are from Palestine. Two moved to Doha having completed their studies and are now currently working. One is still studying in Dubai. A few weeks ago, i was in Mirissa in Sri Lanka, when the news broke of the fight between Israel and Palestine. I knew i was in for a treat with my fishing buddies.

I intentionally wanted to veer away from the touchy subject because we're all on a holiday. The current situation in Palestine is at its worst in decades. Even if my heart wanted to know the real score, i wanted these folks to enjoy their vacation. Sure, you can read stuff on paper. But it's always a different experience getting the side of the people of the nation.

Half of our bounty: yellow fish, angel fish, snapper and barracuda

I just caught my first fish after 40 minutes. It was pretty bad, i know. The past few weeks, people going on this excursion caught nothing. One of the chaps was pretty lucky, spotting a fish every 10 minutes. The others were so unlucky, they didn't catch anything on our four-hour trip. Nobody wanted to leave as we're all eager to catch as many fish as possible. That was the goal, to begin with. Luckily, the boatman agreed to extend an additional hour without any sort of added payment. We caught so many fish that night, that we could already feed all the guests in the hotel, or even in the whole island.

It was almost 9PM when we decided it's time head back home to Maafushi. Apart from the lights from neighboring resort island miles away, only the stars serve as our guiding light. As expected, we arrived back in Maafushi safe and sound. This has got to be the calmest boat ride I've ever experienced. Fishing in the deepest parts of the Indian ocean is an adventure in itself, and i'm glad i had a chance to experience it. 

Initially, the Palestinians wanted to eat dinner at their resort and just give away all the fish. 

"I caught these fish myself with blood, sweat and tears. I will eat what i caught for sure", i said. We agreed to enjoy our bounty for the night. While nemo and its friends were being grilled at the resort restaurant, we all went back to our rooms to wash up and prepare for dinner. 

The boys pose with the night's harvest

Minutes later, we were already enjoying the fruits of our labor. Although the cool breeze of the night, made our fish less warm, we enjoyed the succulent fish nonetheless. One of the chaps brought his sisha for us to enjoy. 

These chaps are technically kids, almost half of my age, and already traveling by themselves. 

After enjoying our hearty meal, the guys asked me, "What's your religion, Jerik?". 

When you're traveling, chances are, you will encounter people from all walks of life, with different religious beliefs. The night was special. In a strict Muslim country as Maldives, I've had the finest talk about Islam and faith from my new found Muslim friends. We enjoyed chatting about Palestine, Gaza and Hamas. We even discussed about Israel and its unbelievably tough soldiers. The rest of the night was a cultural, religious and political debate of the current situation in the middle east. What i found interesting is that when i told them i want to read about Palestine, they told me not to google it. 

It was one of those instances that i was thankful i was traveling. I've been reading news about the Palestine-Israel war, and by just simply hanging out with the crew, i got the best history lesson anyone could ever ask for. The trip to several Muslim countries has molded me to become a more understanding Christian.

Fishermen guide from Maafushi, Republic of Maldives

REALIZATIONS: I wondered if circumstances would change if we would just stop with all the judgement, and listen to our Muslim brothers are saying instead. They are also people who want to live and love. There would always be differences in thoughts and opinions, and arguments are bound to happen. But if we will just listen and respect, i reckon we will live in a world where peace is at its end.

I told them one thing with pride and delight. I am Christian, you're Muslim. We are brothers. My religion is very simple, my religion is kindess. Regardless of where you are from, we are all neighbors in this world. We need to look after each other.

It was my turn to puff the shisha they brought. We were all listening to Pharell Williams' Happy on their iPhone, and singing at that. What-a-night!

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Aweeesome 5 travels in Quezon City, Metro Manila

3:30:00 PM Pinoy Boy Journals 26 Comments


ULTIMATE BLOG CARNIVAL REWIND:
It was during the month of May when my friends came over to the Philippines to have a vacation. One epic trip for them, and one hell of an experience for me. The story is about two years old but I still consider it one of the best and most memorable trips of my life. That’s why when the theme "Best one-day itineraries" was chosen for this month’s blog carnival, I have to give it to this one for my story.

If you’re expecting an action packed one day itinerary, you’re not going to find it here! There are no itineraries, no tourist hot spots, no plan at all. Actually, this was the laziest trip ever in my life!

Meet the Aweeesome Five!
Brian (New Zealand)
Anieka (England)
Baz (Australia) 
MM (Philippines)
 and of course, me (Jerik) from the Philippines!


Sit back, relax and enjoy the story how we all made the most out of a 24 hour trip to one of Metro Manila’s most popular city, the home of the stars, the city of new horizons! Quezon….City!!! lol :)



12mn. "Tambay sa Bahay" - NSEV, Commonwealth Avenue
 When you’re a north kid and you want to drink, chances are you’ll head to Makati for your Jack Coke fix. But if you’re not in the mood to party and travel all the way down south, take the party with you at home. We’ve been going out every night this week and tonight we decided to crash a little early.  We set up and watched a sloppy movie called "Pineapple Express!"


A movie marathon wouldn’t be complete without a few bottles of San Miguel each and three huge bags of Tempura and Oishi Crackers with chilli vinegar ( Anieka's personal favorite) on the side. Amount of money spent, less than P300 or $6! An excellent way to show your foreigner friends a unique Filipino experience is actually to spend less and laugh more!


12nn."Casa de Jerik" - NSEV, Commonwealth Avenue
So, it was about noon when we woke up at my house, Case de Jerik. Later, I found out that Brian was already awake by 9 am but was shy to wake me up. For foreigners going to the Philippines, you’ll be getting more sleep that you can ever have in a day. We all headed straight to the dining room and all four of them joined my family of six over lunch. What we had: Ilokano Pinakbet, Nilagang Baka, Fried Tilapia and a bottle of coca-cola no less. True Blue Pinoy Meal!!! I am pretty sure they’re surprised at how the whole family eats together. I wanted to show them how we Filipinos, value our homes and our families. They often tell me over cigarette break after a meal that they eat lunch out almost all the time, or while watching TV in their room. In the Philippines, you have to stop whatever it is you’re doing and eat together!


2pm. "La Mesa Eco Park" - East Fairview
It was Sunday and it was scorching hot outside. None of us wanted to travel all the way to Manila. We wanted to stay in for the day but I reckoned it’s best to at least go somewhere near. With the most brilliant idea being Lamesa Eco Park, off we go there. It was a fun afternoon for all of us. A few minute drive to East Fairview Subdivision, you'll be awarded with a cool breeze and a relaxing atmosphere!



In the middle of the city, lies a reservoir and a park where one can breathe fresh air. It was a very light day and we all didn’t have an itinerary so we just walked wherever like the Lopez Picnic Grounds, Shell Flower Terraces and Super Ferry Boating Lagoon among others. Stopped every now and then to take photos, and laughed at everyone’s antics. 

 We all sat for a bit and talked about the trip so far. They were nearing the end of their three-week journey to the Philippines and we're all getting emotional. Of course not! It was good bonding for us, one i am sure each and everyone of them will never forget. The country is getting there in terms of making the nation go green through the government and other group's  effort to materialize the plan to make the Philippines safer and cleaner!



4pm."Somewhere we don't remember where" - Commonwealth Avenue
After leaving La Mesa Eco Park, we got a bit hungry. I wanted to make sure my friends got the best of this day trip. I was actually thinking how it was almost non-sense what we’re doing. If you live along Commonwealth Avenue, you’ll see a few stalls of this burger joint. Although it’s not as cheap as Scott’s Burger and its infamous buy 1 take 5, it’s Burger Machine time for us!!! And we absolutely loved our merienda here. For fun, we all ordered but 1 take 1 burger . And although, passers-by were all looking at us like what the hell we're doing, we didn’t care. The smiles of my friends were enough to answer my question if they’re having a good time. The burgers in the Philippines are out of this world at less than $1 for two. As i always say, only in the Philippines!



5pm. "Cruising the highway" - Fairview / Commonwealth Avenue / Philcoa
While on the road, we decided to cruise along the highway. Commonwealth Avenue is said to be even wider than Edsa. Although the highway is a killer, the latest implementation of 60 km max speed should help make the highway safer for pedestrians. While riding MM’s car, we blasted 107.9 for some cool electronic music which Baz likes, then changed it to 89.9  for some cool pop tunes which Anieka loves, then changed it to 107.1 for some rockin’ hits which MM loves, Brian was looking for some cool hip-hop beats while I was looking for some country music. Ha ha ha. In the end, we turned off the radio, and started talking non-sense. We let Brian drive the car and although we were all nauseous after, it was still a fun ride.

7pm."Refueling back at home" - Commonwealth Avenue
It's dinner time!!! We ate what’s left of lunch and then dinner - very Pinoy! I swear my friends love Nilagang Baka, Tapa and Adobo of course. We ate so much! They told me they never ate so much in their life. And Brian can eat Chicken Adobo every day of his life.I see how they slowly become more familiarized with the local culture. "Nagmamano na sila sa Dad and Mom ko." And as soon as they arrive at home or before leaving the house, they let my parents know about their whereabouts.



9pm. Tomato Kick, Maginhawa St. UP Village
I thought of taking these kids to some cool indie joint to get a taste of what the movers and shakers of the country are doing, "New Age Pinoy"! Off we go to one of Quezon City's most popular chill out places - Tomato Kick. Earlier that week, we all met up Jay of Kamikaze in Saguijo and found out he owns a tattoo shop just beside tomato kick. We settled for a bit, and just relaxed while drinking ice-cold beer! I told them about the film industry and how amazing young directors are becoming at par with the best in the world. I also told them about the music in the country and of course Philippine television which at this time around, i was part of.


If you’re a Filipino, you love to make “tambay” so that’s what we did. We ordered each a big bottle of Red Horse Beer and listened to cool rock music. We also browsed through amazing titles for sale and even inquired for a tattoo that night.



11pm. "Rock Band" in Blue Skies - Katipunan
The night is young, so after a few hours stay in Tomato Kick. I got a text message from my French friends tagging us on a night of Rockband in Katipunan. We went for the kill and played Bohemian Rhapsody. Although I could probably here ourselves performing our own beats, it was a wicked time. And everyone was having a grand time! What an epic night! The Philippines is a musical country. Most of the people can carry a tune, play instruments and are dead crazy about all sorts of genres of music. I was looking for a videoke place nearby but i thought playing rock band was more international, for the lack of a better word.


We ended up ordering some more beers. They were playing a couple of alternative tracks, until I personally requested it’s time for some Beastie Boy beats. So while I played the drums, it was time for some Intergalactic Planetary...


It was a lovely monday morning the next day, we were in our terrace and tanning. ha ha (Everyone's looking at us!)

My best 1 day itinerary didn’t involve amusement parks or historical monuments. I actually didn’t leave the vicinity of this city. This day wasn’t just about going to a tourist spot and have the usual photo taken. It was so much more than checking the list of must sees in the lonely planet book. This day was about living it for the day in the Republic of the Philippines. But what made this trip special for me was because I felt good showing my friends what it’s like to live like a local north kid. Ask anyone traveling to the capital city, he/she would most probably speak of Manila and Makati but not Quezon City. Now, i think i did my city proud! Apart from telling them that some of the biggest TV and movie stars in the country today live in the same village as i am, i also told them that they shouldn't be afraid of the village guards roving with their riffle. It was bittersweet when i gave them a ride to the airport a few days after but I knew the trip was worth it! It was surely one of the best days of my life! One for the books, kids!



Theme: Best One-day itineraries 
Host: Karlo De Leon of The 4AM Chronicles

26 Comments:

The Great Day Trip to Macau

12:00:00 PM Pinoy Boy Journals 19 Comments


STORY: Macau is a pretty interesting country to visit. Sadly, only a few are able to experience the real charm of this place because of lack of time. Most travelers en route to Hong Kong, consider the Special Administrative Region of China, Macau as a side attraction. Apart from its glaring Casinos, there's pretty much nothing else to do for adventure-seekers. However, the country is filled exciting excursions that will surely tickle every traveler in search of a worldly experience. Now, I won’t be preaching here what else is there to do besides the superb Venetian Hotel and Grand Lisboa but there are a few more places to check out and must do's to experience to get the real Macanese flavor without going the extra mile. 


Spend all your money.
The best bet tip you’ll ever receive from those who just came to Macau is to bring money, and lots of it. Not because it's expensive but chances are, you will spending more than you should have. Actually, transportation is free if you’re coming from the airport or the port (just make any of those hotel casinos as your point of origin). Food is well-prepared and flavorful yet still affordable. Shopping ranges from affordable to super expensive. You can buy cheap shirts for less than $5. The problem is you want to spend all your money here. With all the zings in the world, the greatest Macanese experience is to buy your dreams and make the splurge. 

Try out authentic Chinese street food.
Although expensive restaurants offer the most exquisite menu on the table, the street food along Senado Square proves to be a wealthy experience in the taste bud department. I love everything I ate. The prices are dirt-cheap and serving is ample for two, most of the time. The aroma of freshly cooked beans, dimsum and other stick food are enough to whet anyone's appetite. Take my word for it. With an empty stomach, head here and let yourself go ga-ga over the food variety you will see.



Pray. 
The architectural style of the churches are predominantly European baroque. Some are Goan (India), Oriental and tropical features. All of them, worthy of a picture-perfect postcard shot.


You can see the influence from the panels of terra-cotta and Eastern motifs carved on the facade of the structure. And there’s no greater place to pray than in Macau’s arguably number 1 tourist spot, The Ruins of St. Paul Cathedral. Step 66 times and get yourself amazed to one of the most beautiful churches you will ever see. 

There's a kid in you who wants to play.
Surprisingly, tucked in little corners are novelty shops that sell stuff for kids and the kids at heart. These items are mostly limited-edition, so chances are, once you've spotted something you fancy, never let it go. If only i had a few more bucks to spend, i would have taken home something to bring home to my little nephew. These toys are great for your souvenir collection.

Join the festivities.
For ten days during February (Chinese New Year), you will get to see long dragons and lions dance on the streets. An assortment of lanterns, flowers and entertainment performers come alive in the most important squares of the city. Learn to put your hands together and close them while saying "Kung Hei Fat Choi".  Also, don't forget to offer "Lai Si" which are red pockets containing money. All of these are the best ways to wish people good luck and prosperity.If it's alive during daytime, wait till you see the celebration at night as colorful and lit lanterns are everywhere.

REALIZATIONS: A day is not enough in Macau. But if you're pressed for time, you could spend one whole day here to get the best of your trip. Whether you're excited to visit modern casinos or go back in time through the small fishing villages on the other side of the coast, there's more fun in store for you in the gaming capital of the world. Plan ahead and get off-the beaten path as much as possible. That way, you will easily manage your time wisely while getting the most out of every experience you will get. Have fun in Macau!

19 Comments:

5 Helpful Tips to Navigate the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

7:00:00 AM Pinoy Boy Journals 2 Comments

Murugan Statue of Batu Caves, Malaysia
ALL-TIME FAVORITE POST FROM 2008 RE-BLOGGED: When i went to Kuala Lumpur  for the first time, i had the opportunity to visit one of KL's most astounding landmarks. Back on that day, i had a choice whether to travel to Genting Highlands or the Batu caves. I chose the latter because it was the perfect place to be blessed. I still have a month worth of travels ahead of me so i need all the prayers. 

To get to Batu caves, one may ask the hostel/hotel concierge for directions, travel agencies along Bukit Bintang have information regarding bus schedules to and from the area, or you can do it your way which i did.

After a few minutes of walking from my hostel, i arrived at the Batu Caves.

Entrance to the limestone hill of Gombak district
1. How to get there?
Batu Caves is 13 kilometers north of the capital city. In order to get to Batu Caves, you must need to arrive at the bus station in Lebuh Pudu. Hop on the number 70 and 349 bus, which leaves every 30 minutes. You can also hire a taxi which will make your trip a whole lot easier or if you must, bus number 11 and 11d leave for the spot as well. There are also buses bound for Batu caves at the infamous Puduraya Bus Terminal. The route is open from 7AM till 9PM. You can also hire a taxi, agree on the price and relax on your way there.

2. What to bring?
If you think going to the caves will be a breeze, it's not! It was noontime when i arrived, and it was scorching hot. I wore a black shirt, which was really not a good idea. 

Try to wear light clothing, preferably cotton. Carry with you a small backpack or a sling bag, and a good pair of sunglasses. Bring the essentials like a bottle of mineral water, some mint, and don't forget to charge your camera batteries because you will be surely taking so many photos. All of these are available at the peak, but mind you, it's going to be ridiculously expensive.

Steps leading to the cave complex of Batu
3. Keep fit
It's 272 steps to get to the entrance of the cave. And climbing up via steep, narrow steps is practically a challenge. You can stop after a few hundred steps just like me, and like everyone else. Batu Caves is 400 meters long and 100 meters high, so be prepared. Sleep early and avoid smoking.

Prepare for a very warm trip inside
4. Don't feed the monkeys
This sacred place for the Hindus is also home to long tailed-macaque monkeys. Even if peanuts and bananas are sold at the shops, don't even think about it! One funny but life-threatening experience i had was once i reached the caves. I bought a coca cola to quench the thirst. As i was drinking, i suddenly noticed the monkey slowly approaching me. I knew right there and then, they were going for my cola. With images of monkeys scratching my arms to rabbis and the movie Outbreak, i threw the can to their delight. I hurriedly went down after that. Gee!

Pigeons' day off around the Batu Cave complex
5. The view from below is better than the view from above
This is just my personal opinion but the experience could have been better if not for the cheeky stalls selling souvenirs and overpriced camera batteries. Moreover, it could have elevated the trip if it was the time of the Thaipusam festival, where about 800,000 devotees and visitors flock the Batu Caves to do penance and sacrifice.

World's tallest Murugan statue in the world

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A Comfortable Sleep at K's House in Kyoto, Japan

10:12:00 AM Pinoy Boy Journals 7 Comments


Voted as the world's #9 hostel as of September 2010, if there's one hostel you should be checking out when you're in Kyoto, it's K's House!

Before i left for Japan, i knew already of good places to stay. I browse over hostel websites but i am partial to reading reviews made by those who have previously stayed, especially bloggers. And K's House seems to top everyone's list. What a really nice hostel!


Access from JR Kyoto station
You should go out from Central Exit of JR Kyoto station, walk Karasuma-dori which has Kyoto Tower. Turn right at the intersection of Shichijo-dori and Karasuma-dori, and walk about 5-6 minutes, pass Kawaramachi-dori and turn left at the next street of Kawaramachi-dori then walk about 50 meter, you see the white building, that is K's House Kyoto.

It is about 10 mins walk from JR Kyoto Station to our hostel.
If you have heavy bags, taking a taxi is another choice. The cost is 540-660yen. Please show a photocopy of this map to a driver.


I stayed in a mixed dormitory room and slept in the lower bunk. A night costs 2300 Yen, roughly around $27. Of course, some hostels could offer a lower price but if it's service you're after, it doesn't get more valuable than K's House.

Actually this hostel is where i stayed the longest in Japan. The hostel is just comfortable and considering all elements such as accessibility, friendly staff, and a bunch of other stuff like internet service, etc, this place was a sure winner to me.


I switched rooms after a few days as advised by the lovely staff so i can get it cheaper. Stayed for a night at four people mix dorm, then transferred to eight people mix dorm.

The Dorm Rooms: They are not big, ventilation is pretty okay, air-conditioning is working but we didn't use it just because it was too cold anyway. Beddings were basic but comfortable. Wondered why i always oversleep?!

The Common Bathroom: Clean and high-tech. Toilets are amazing and are a good start to introduce yourself to modern Japanese inventions. Bathrooms are clean with hot shower.

The Staff: Friendly and very accommodating. They would often say hello and ask if i need anything. Whenever i have stupid questions like where am i?, they would still respond.

The Security: The doors are open up until night time, and there are people manning the hostel 24/7 so you're assured that it doesn't get isolated while you're sleeping. Dorm rooms are locked, with centralized key system you can use. 

The Price: For Japan, it's a good value out of your money. Hands down!

The Amenities: I brought with me instant noodles and cocoa. Every morning, i would cook my noodles and boil hot water. You can use all the supplies in the kitchen. There's internet on the second floor and one on the ground floor. On the second floor is a common area where i would usually sit down and chat with backpackers, exchange tips, that sort of thing. On the third floor is a TV with DVD room where you can just lounge and become a couch potato. There's a veranda where i would usually eat my breakfast amidst the chilly weather. Beside the lobby is a nice looking bar with competent prices. 

The Verdict: All in all, i give K's House a thumbs up. Highly recommended to all of you travelers heading to Kyoto. If ever i do come back, without a doubt, i'll stay here again! I miss the patio and my quiet mornings.

Backpacker's Hostel K's House Kyoto
Address: 418 Nayacho, Shichijo-agaru, Dotemachi-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan 
Phone Number: +81 75-342-2444
E-mail Address: kyoto@kshouse.jp

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