Thoughts: Travel (Late) Updates

     I do not refer myself as the queen of procrastination for nothing.  I try to live up to my self-title every single day.  And so, true to my nature, I just realized that I have a lot of travel adventures that I still have not shared with you...because I am just plain lazy.

     Anyway, here are the places I visited this year (as far as I can remember) that remain to be discussed in this blog:

1.  Subic and Baguio - May 2011;

2.  Tagaytay - June 2011;

3.  Singapore and Malaysia - June/July 2011;

4.  Bataan - August 2011 (long weekend).

     I will try my best to wrap up my Taiwan travel adventures so I could starting posting about my Singapore and Malaysia travel adventures ASAP.  And every so often, I'll try to post about my local travels.

     So, please bear with me.  Until then!

Taiwan Travel Adventures 2011 - Day 4: Gundam and Super Dollfies Save the Day?!

     After spending the whole morning at the Longshan Temple vicinity, I headed to the Taipei Main Station in search for the Taiwan Storyland. I had complete directions for that; after all, it's in the Taipei travel brochure I got from the Taipei Main Station MRT information counter.  It says there that the address is at B2, No.50, Chung Hsiao W. Rd., Sec., Zhongzheng District, Taipei, just a minute from one of the Main Station exits. But for the love of everything cute, I could not find the damn place!  I was at the correct location; I was so sure of it. But it was nowhere to be found.  

     I entered the mall, I think it was called K-Mall if I'm not mistaken, or something. I wandered in the upper levels, since I couldn't find the Taiwan Storyland the entrance of which was supposed to be at street level.  I went to all the floors but I couldn't find it until I reached the toy section.  There was a store clerk who speaks very good English.  I asked him about the Taiwan Storyland, showed him my brochure and I got the shock of my life when I got my answer.  He told me it's already closed and the place where it's supposed to be is now occupied by a gym!  Whoa!  I was not expecting that.  

     I was really, really dejected.  I was like looking all over it for 30 minutes.  I was about to go down again when I saw a very familiar figure...it was Gundam!  Apparently, there's a Gundam exhibition of some sorts.  And even if I have not watched a single Gundam episode, Gundam is so popular and so, it lifted up my spirits!  Yay!  My time was not wasted at all.

     Funny thing about the Gundam exhibit:  I've seen a couple of families taking photos with Gundam, and believe it or not, the fathers were the excited ones, not the kids!  Hahaha!  Fan boys!  Well, thanks to those fathers, one of them obliged to take a couple of shots of me and Gundam.

   Aside from Gundam, I saw some very appealing life-like dolls of superior qualitiy.  I think they're called Super Dollfies.  God, I wanted to buy those but they look very, very expensive.  I love everything cute, including dolls.  The dolls look like anime characters.  So, so kawaii!  The shopkeeper was so kind and she let me take a couple of photos of the shop and of the dolls.  Apparently, you can dress up and put accessories on your dolls and arrange them like telling a story.  Hay, so cute! Kyaa!

The shop's window display

The dolls on the window display.

So, so beautiful in traditional Japanese clothing.

I want these dolls!

I want these dolls so bad...Megami boy with pampered princesses.

Opposites attract!  Cute loli-type girl with a rocker-like boy, holding hands!

Goths!

Are they emos or just plain rocker dude and chick?

Thoughts: Why the Heck is Google Asking Me to Register with AdSense?!

     When I checked my blog today, I noticed a sort of pop-up  message on my dashboard telling me that my blog's becoming more popular and that perhaps I should try out Adsense.  The message goes like this:  "It looks like your blog is popular and many popular blogs make money with AdSense. Try it now!"  And it happens every single time I open my dashboard.  

     Really.  My blog is getting popular?  I hardly get a 100 hits a day, how can it be popular?  That's just crazy.

     So, because I'm a curious cat, I tried signing up for Adsense.  I didn't try to understand it's rules; what I know is that ads are sometimes pesky, but with Adblocker and Noscript, I hardly see any ads on webpages I visit.  But I still tried signing up.  I thought it will make the pop-up message go away but it did not.  The successful sign up page told me that my application's awaiting approval and I think it'll take 48 hours.  And if there is something weird appearing on my page, that might be Adsense's doings. 

     And who clicks on the ads anyway?  I know I don't.  And Adsense says I could make money by placing ads.  Really?  Like a dollar a month?  Honestly, I have couple of readers, most are the people from PinoyExchange's Taiwan travel forum, but I don't think I get a lot of page views that could generate serious bucks.  But at the end of the day, I tried signing up.  Just so I'd know how ad placements work.   

     I know, I know, curiosity killed the cat. So, let's see.

Taiwan Travel Adventures 2011 - Day 4: Monga Film Locations

     I found a Taipei travel guide at the Taoyuan International Airport about places I should visit in Taipei.  Apparently, the filming locations of the hit Taiwanese movie, Monga, around the Longshan Temple MRT station is quite popular.  And why not?  The movie stars Ethan Ruan and Mark Zhao as teenage gangsters in the oldest district in Taipei, Wanhua.  The place is also known as Bangka or Monga to the locals, hence the title of the movie.  The film is set somewhere in the 80s, when cheesy Air Supply songs like Making Love Out of Nothing At All ruled.

The lead stars of Monga.

Mark Zhao and Ethan Ruan are second from the left and second from the right, respectively.

     I re-watched Monga before coming to Taiwan because I wanted to familiarize myself with the must-see places.  If I remember correctly, Bopilao, whose architecture dates back to the Qing Dynasty, was restored, and a lot of memorable scenes from Monga were shot there, including the scene at the restaurant.  It's sort of a museum right now.  And it was thanks to Perladipace's blog that I found about the filming locations of Monga.

     So, with enthusiasm, I made my journey to Longshan Temple in search of Monga's filming locatioon.

     I first went to Bopilao. If you're facing the main entrance of the Longshan Temple, it is just on the right side past the shops that litter the streets.  Up ahead you'll find a red brick building with arched passageways at the corner of an intersection.  It's going to be at the left side of the road.  Walk along the building straight ahead until you reach the entrance.  It's free admission, but I was not able to go inside because I went there on a Monday.  And on Mondays, Bopilao is closed.  Dang it.

It may seem familiar to you because it's the Longshan Temple!

Movie screen cap of the huge gang fight scene.

The restored Bopilao area.

     At least I saw some people filming on site; the second one I've witnessed in Taipei.  I guess it's an era-piece because the actors were wearing costumes popular some decades back.  And I have a short video here:

Photos from Bopilao:

     It is a good thing that some of the Monga film locations were shot outside Bopilao.  I found a poster on  Bopilao, a map of Monga's filming locations.   I took a photo of it and I used it as map to find the places mentioned there.  Also, before going to Wanhua, I asked the hostel staff to write down the names, in Chinese, of the temples featured in the movie and gave me directions going there.  Yes, they know the names of the temple as they all have seen Monga.  It's that popular in Taiwan.  After all, Monga was submitted as a nominee for the Oscar's Best Foreign Picture.

The poster I found at Bopilao which I used as my map for

location hunting.  Click on the photo for full resolution.

     So, I tracked down on foot the two other temples, aside from the Longshan Temple, in Monga.  The first one was quite easy to find because Eric from the Hostel gave me directions.  However, if what I found was not the same temple, well, then, I am very unfortunate.  Moreover, I could not remember how I got there; every now and then I'd ask someone to tell me if I'm headed the right direction.  Eric from the Hostel told me that I should only ask directions from store clerks, like in 7-11, the police...you get the drift, but not from passersby because they might be tourists like me who also do not know where to go.  Tee hee.

     This is the first temple.  I think it's called Qingshui Temple, or something.  It was about 15 to 20 minutes on foot from Bopilao.  I was walking really slow because I was afraid I might miss my landmarks.  If I remember correctly, my landmarks were a grade school, a pedestrian overpass, and a gas station.  And yes, the temple was almost deserted, and I felt really weird taking the temple's pictures; like a voyeur.  Hehe.

Compare the photos above with these screen caps from Monga.  It's the same temple, so yay!

     Anyway, the first temple was the one more prominently used throughout the film.  It was present from start to finish.  After all, this is the home turf of the gang.

     The second temple was quite a challenge.  I had to return to Longshan Temple because my directions start from there but I could not find the second temple. I think I was walking farther and farther away from the second temple my first time trying to find it.  I was able to reach a place where there are flyovers on a really big road.  But hey, after 30 minutes or so, I found the second temple. And guess what?  It was really near the Longshan Temple!  I was just stupid.  I was like, OMG!  I wasted energy, walked under the sun and looked like a complete mess.

I got lost here.  Good thing there's a sign pointing to Qingshan Temple.

     Good grief!  But here it is, the second temple and it's called Mengjia Qingshan Temple.  I think this is the more popular temple of the two because, first, they were more people in the Qingshan Temple.  Second, there are a lot of signs pointing to the temple (but I couldn't follow them properly that is why I got a little lost). Third, it was more grandiose from the outside.

     While looking for the Qingshan Temple, I was able to find the Herb Alley.  Lucky me!  It was just behind the Longshan Temple if I am not mistaken.

Drying the herbs on the sidewalk.

Screenshot of the Herb Alley from the movie.

     And of course, I have photos of the Huaxi Night Market where the huge gang fight culminated in the movie.

Yup, this is the gang fight.  These people passed by the Longshan Temple in the screen cap above.

Huaxi Night Market, without the gang fight.

     I was not able to find the Snake Alley and the narrow alley where some of the smaller fights in the movie occurred.  I was too exasperated by the time I got back to Longshan Temple, and it was midday already, so I wrapped-up my Monga movie location hunting.

     If you want a primer or brochure for the Monga filming locations, use this one I just found over the internet.  I think this is the brochure I was looking for but did not find at the Longshan Temple MRT Station.  It's in PDF but here's the link: http://www.taipeitravel.net/UserFiles/File/MONGA_ENG.pdf

     Probably, I would not have gotten lost if I had that brochure when I went to Monga.

         

   

Thoughts: Biometrics System in Malaysia

     For some weird reason, the Philippine Government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, has just informed us that Malaysia is now enforcing a biometrics system for foreigners going to their country.  I mean, the government did the announcement quite late.  Malaysia has started taking fingerprints since 01 June 2011, or for over two months now.  

     

     When I went to Malaysia last July, I was shocked when the immigration officer at the Malaysia border coming from Singapore, told me to place my two index fingers in their biometrics machine.  I mean, don't get me wrong.  I know it is probably for the deterrence of crimes and such, for the common good.  But now, Malaysia does not only have my immigration files, but they also have my fingerprints.  Are they going to store all our finger prints forever?  And our government has just informed us of this development.  

     For anyone who is interested, here's the info released by the Philippine government regarding this matter:

http://www.gov.ph/2011/08/11/philippine-embassy-informs-filipino-travelers-of-malaysias-new-registration-procedure-for-foreigners/

An August 11, 2011 press release by the Department of Foreign Affairs

The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur wishes to inform all Filipino travelers to Malaysia that all foreigners are now required to undergo Malaysia’s National Enforcement and Registration System (NERS), the biometric finger print registration of foreigners, upon entry to Malaysia.

Malaysia’s NERS took effect on June 1, 2011.

In the new procedure, which applies to all foreigners entering Malaysia through designated checkpoints, travelers are required to place their two index fingers on the glass plates of the electronic fingerprint scanning machines at immigration counters.

Biometric data of travelers will be captured, will be kept in the Department of Immigration’s database and will be used for verification process upon exiting the country.

Under the new system, all foreign nationals aged 12 years and above must submit to the biometric procedure.

Malaysia had amended its Immigration Law and Regulations to support and enforce the new biometric registration requirement at entry points.

Seat Sale: Air Philippines' Buy One Take One Promo

     Air Philippines is having a seat sale promo, BUY ONE TAKE ONE on ALL DESTINATIONS EXCEPT FOR CATICLAN and BUSUANGA.  Promo period is from 12 August 2011 to 14 August 2011.  Travel period is from 15 January 2012 to 31 March 2012 and 15 June 2012 to 15 July 2012. Free tickets must be redeemed on or before 28 August 2011.  The free tickets are exclusive of taxes and surcharges, BTW.

     I am still trying to figure out this promo, that is, if I'm going to make a huge savings or not, but I'll make updates later. 

UPDATES:

      I've tried mock booking for January 27 to 30, 2012, MLA to SG, roundtrip.  My total for one ticket is almost Php 9,000.  So, if I exchange it for a free ticket, I'd pay the following for taxes and surcharges, amounting to Php 3,211.00, for the free ticket:

Pax Service Chrg  483.00 
Pax Security Serv Chrg  278.00
Aviation Levy  212.00
Fuel Surcharge  2126.00
Service Fee Charge 112.00

     I say so because the promo states: "Free ticket is EXCLUSIVE of Taxes, Fees and Surcharges and will be collected from the passenger."  And the following fees are included on the "paid" ticket as per Air Philippines mock booking I made.

     So, if your ticket costs a total of, say Php 6987.00 for MLA-SG roundtrip for 22 June to 25 June 2012 travel, with fare base for Php 1,888.00 each way, add up the SURCHARGES and TAXES amounting to PHP 3,211.00, you'll end up paying for  Php 10,198.00 for both the "paid" and the "free" tickets, or for about Php 5,099.00 per person.  It's not really a bad deal, but it's also not a great deal.  I think a Php 5,099.00 RT tickets to Singapore is fair, considering that Air Philippines has free baggage and their terminal is at Terminal 2 of Changi Airport.  However, I also think that for a booking that you will probably use, at the very least, four (4) away, or up to eleven (11) months away, it's a little more than I expected.  See, I bought my MLA-SG tickets from Air Philippines last January for a June/July booking for just Php 3,000.00 per person.   

     Anyway, here are the details from the AirPhils website:

Buy One Take One PROMO.

MECHANICS AND CONDITIONS:

1. Passengers are entitled to a “ FREE TICKET ” every ticket purchased from 12-14 AUG 2011.
   
2.  Promo offer is not valid for flights to/from Caticlan (MPH) and Busuanga (USU). 
   
3. Domestic and International tickets cannot be combined in one (1) ticket. Separate ticket issuance must be observed.
   
4. Free ticket may be issued to another person for a different route or maybe used by the same person for a different route or for his/her return flight. Limited seats only for Free ticket per flight.
   
5. Free ticket is EXCLUSIVE of Taxes, Fees and Surcharges and will be collected from the passenger.
   
6. Free ticket is NON-REFUNDABLE, NON-REBOOKABLE.
   
7. Passenger must present valid ID and the purchased ticket when claiming for the Free Ticket from Airphil Express Ticket Offices only. Once Free ticket is redeemed, regular ticket purchased will all also become NON- REFUNDABLE.
   
8. Redemption period is until 28 AUG 2011 only. No claims for Free ticket will be honored after this date. Travel Period for Free ticket is the same travel period covered by the promo (15 JAN – 31 MAR 2012 / 15 JUN-15 JUL 2012).

Taiwan Travel Adventures 2011 - Day 3: NTU Education Tour, Part 2, and the Gongguan Night Market

View of the Taipei 101 from the NTUgrounds.

     As I have said a couple of posts back, I had an impromptu snacks tour during my trip to NTU.  And rightly so, my guides ushered me to where the locals buy two (2) of the most popular snacks/treats inside NTU before leading me to the Gongguan Night Market.

     Me and my tour guides, Ms. Annick and Alice, walked towards the right side of the Main Library until we came to a small, cottage-like store packed with people.  The guides told me that NTU sells some produce from the NTU Farm and their by-products, including NTU's very own ice cream!  And they're selling like hotcakes!  When we got into the NTU store, the ice cream wafer/sandwich was sold-out and there were no more ice cream on cups left in the freezer.  Good thing we waited for a while because the staff restocked the ice cream on cups, about half a pint each, and they wiped out in mere minutes!

The NTU store.  

See how the locals spend their Sunday afternoons: outdoors!

     After buying the ice creams, we faced a little challenge finding an empty table where we could eat and chill.  There were tables and chairs outside, al fresco style, and a couple of picnic tables.  We found a vacant picnic table, and I had the opportunity to hang out as the locals do.  Not long thereafter, I met the cutest and the smartest Taiwanese I've ever met, pictured here:

      This boy's parents shared our table and the kid and I hit it off immediately.  All he did at first was to glare at me but after some time, he relaxed and even played with me.  He's just 2 years old but he can recite the English alphabet and can count in English.  So cute! And smart!

     While playing peek-a-boo with the toddler, I ate my ice cream, which was vanilla, and it was creamy and delish.  Then after an hour, I quickly forgot about the waffle my guides volunteered to buy.  Apparently, you buy it from a nearby store, if I remember correctly, or is it at the same store?  I forgot because I was buying the ice cream when the guides bought the waffle.  Anyway, our number was in the hundreds and it had a time for pick-up.  Yes, you buy the waffle then wait for an eternity because there are about a hundred people ahead of you.  It was worth the wait, though.  The waffle was perfectly done:  it was crisp outside and soft inside.  It almost melts in the mouth. 

     After we finished off our ice cream and waffles, my guides brought me food tripping at the Gongguan Night Market!  Yay!  

     Ms. Alice asked me if I have ever eaten any of the famous Taiwanese snacks.  I told her no, with the exception of the Hot Star Chicken and the waffle that we just had.  She was so shocked!  So, she and Ms. Annick dragged me to what they tell me is a very famous stall at the Gongguan Night Market selling a thick misua soup of some sorts and stinky tofu.  They swore to make me eat stinky tofu, which I did, and I even ordered the misua soup.  The stinky tofu was not so bad.  It was delicious but the odor is mildly off-putting.  I say mildly because apparently, the stinky tofu served at the stall was not as stinky as the ones I smelled at Jiufen.  I was not able to consume the soup because it was so heavy and the stinky tofu was filling by itself.

The popular stall selling stinky tofu.

The delightfully delicious stinky tofu and soup.

     After eating, for the second time in about two hours, we rounded up the streets of Gongguan Night Market and a lot of snacks along the way, including roasted duck heads:

     As the day went darker, the throng of people and cars got thicker.  And yes, there are a lot of young people at the market since it's so near NTU.

     Finally, we reached our ultimate destination, to a hugely popular bubble tea shop.  It's easy to spot.  Just look for rows of some more than 50 people and that'll be it.  There's even chalk marks on the ground to let people know where to line up.  Yes, if you see people lining up in Taipei, it's probably for some famous snacks.

     The guides told me that it's arguably the best bubble milk tea, and the secret? Brown sugar for the tapioca.  I was like, we've been doing that back home since like, forever.  So, the taste was way too familiar for my buds.  And the shop sign has a crazy long explanation why the written logo is long or something.. It's also on the plastic cups, like a logo. The guides told me that it's a strategy to deter copycats to copy the store's logo. Anyway, the bubble tea was yummy and worth the 30-minute wait.

My order being prepared.

My bubble tea.

    

     After finishing off our bubble teas, we went back to the Gongguan MRT station.  I had to board down a stop ahead since it's nearer my hostel.  And after saying my goodbyes and gratitude to Ms. Annick and Ms. Alice, I got off my station.  Sigh.  That officially ends my free Taipei city tours.