From the Philippines to Malaysia - A Truly Asian Experience Part 1

This blog post has been due for quite some time now.  But as life goes it does get busy sometimes.  Ah but it feels great getting back to writing and releasing some stress.  And at the same time helping out other foodies and travelers with their quest for adventure.

We recently traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and explored the food, transportation system, and all the great tourist (and local) areas.  This little blog post, which I will break down to several posts, will show you part of our adventure in Malaysia.  Hope it will help in planning your own trip.  I suggest that for every trip you plan ahead, such as where to stay, how to get there, and what to visit, and of course plan your budget.  This assures you a safe and enjoyable vacation.

Air Asia flies out of Terminal 4 (as of the moment) and now is a great time to visit Malaysia.  They always have some sort of seat sale and you can never run out of great deals.  I would suggest signing up on their website by creating an account with Air Asia.  For our own tickets we purchased them about 6 months ahead of time and paid roughly P4,000 per person (round trip).  Take into account though that even though you're flying out of Terminal 4 you still have to pay P550 for the terminal fee and P1620 for the travel tax (economy seats).  Where this "terminal fee" and "tax" goes is another story though.

Terminal 4 is Manila's airport for local flights but part of the airport has been designated for Air Asia.  It's nothing really to talk about since it's basically a small room with a bathroom.  If you are hungry and want something to eat, Air Asia is selling food near the entrance.  Unfortunately you can't get any other food besides that because you are not allowed to cross over to the food court of the local flights.  No Papa John's pizza for you!

Waiting Area

Air Asia food stall.

The good thing about this terminal is that it is quite clean.  I guess the international media coverage of our airports is doing its job.  The bathroom is clean too because my wife approves of it.  If the wife approves of the bathroom you can bet that it is clean.

After a few minutes of waiting it was boarding time.  You board a small airport bus and ridiculous as it sounds the boarding took longer than the actual bus ride to the plane.  But security prevails and I wouldn't have it any other way.

For those who have never flown Air Asia, I can say that their staff if way more professional than other budget airlines.  The flight itself was pretty standard and took about 3 hours.

We landed in Malaysia about 10:30 in the morning at the newly built KLIA2 or otherwise known as the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2.  It's quite big and some of the areas of the airport wasn't finished yet when we were there.

The great thing about KLIA and KLIA2 is that it has great infrastructure.  You can either take a bus, take the train, a taxi, or rent a car to get to your hotel.  Please take note that in Malaysia they drive on the left side.

We decided to take the bus to Chinatown where our hotel was.  It cost about 12 Ringgit per person.  The bus is air conditioned and stops at several bus stations.  The bus ride to Chinatown took about 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours.

But if you want to experience the train it costs 35 Ringgit and gets you to the main train station (KL Sentral) in about 39 minutes.  For more information on the KLIA Express please click the link.  From KL Sentral you can pretty much get anywhere else you want to go.  It's way faster than taking the bus and from KL Sentral it's about another 5-10 minutes to Pasar Seni if you want to get to Chinatown quicker.

Dubai UAE - The Desert Safari Experience

If you're ever in the beautiful country of Dubai, UAE (either for work or vacation) one of the must do's there is the Desert Safari.  It's just one of those things that you should add to your bucket list when you go there.  I found myself speechless as I sat on the top of a dune, overlooking vast areas of nothing but sand. It's scary and awe inspiring at the same time.  You can just imagine being back in Biblical times wandering in the desert with your group.  It's simply amazing.  The sand itself is an amazing hue of red.  The type of sand so fine I think you can actually use it in an hour glass.

Sand as fine as it gets.

The current cost of the desert safari depends on the type of tour you'll be taking and which tour company you hire.  The cost ranges from 100 AED per person up to 400 AED per person (1 AED = about 12 pesos).  You can Google a dozen tour companies which offer the desert safari experience or you can ask your hotel for a good tour company. But the basic inclusions for the evening desert safari tour are:

• Hotel Pick up/drop off
• 20-30 minute desert safari drive
• Buffet dinner and BBQ
• Belly dancing show

The Desert Drive

The best part of the desert safari for me was the drive to the desert outpost.  From the city proper it'll take about 1-3 hours to get to the desert.  The tour company will pick you up in a Toyota 4x4 with built in roll cage for safety.  Once there you make a quick stop at a store at the edge of the desert so that you can buy some water.  I suggest you buy some water especially when you go there during the summertime.   Because you'll be going into the desert and water is a must!  The next stop will be at the campsite for dinner unless there is some random stop in the desert for some sand surfing.

In the desert the drivers will pick up some speed and literally ride the dunes.  They'll go up and down and left and right and slide down sand dunes.  It's pretty safe but your body will still pump out that adrenaline.  If you're prone to throwing up I would suggest carrying a plastic bag with you.  You can never be too careful and the drivers will thank you for it.  

Our driver drove over a dune and slid down the side while the wheels where spinning and we got stuck.  We had to get out of the car while it was basically on its side.  It took them a while to get the car unstuck. I took this time for some snapshots.

Car stuck in the sand.

Desert view.

I took below video of them trying to get the car unstuck.

It took them about 30 minutes to get the car out of the sand and we got going again.  After a few more minutes of driving we arrived at our camp site for the buffet dinner and BBQ.  Here you get the chance to ride a camel and get some henna tattoos while waiting for dinner to get ready.

The food itself was amazingly good, lots of BBQ, middle eastern food, and plenty of belly dancing and a guy twirling for over 20 minutes doing different things while twirling.  Man, that guy must have been dizzy doing that!  The twirling guy was one of my most favorite shows for the night actually because lets face it, twirling for that long would make all of us puke.

After enjoying the dinner and show it was time to head back home to the hotel.  Overall it was a very fun and exciting experience.  It's a must try when you get the chance.  Maybe it's time to book that Cebu Pacific flight and make Dubai your next destination.

Take a Hagod Spa Break

My wife and I are always on the lookout for new things and new experiences.  We also love relaxing and getting massages.  So this last weekend I got to spend some great leisure time with the wife at Hagod Spa in Makati.  It’s located just a short walk from Greenbelt 1 and the Asian Institute of Management.  Its exact address is The Colonnade Residences (Basement), 152 Don Carlos Palanca St. Legaspi Village, Makati City.

The spa itself has been around for about 10 years already and this is definite proof that they have something great to offer to its customers.  Its main entrance can be found at the basement of the building.  Please see pictures below.  Note:  They are in the process of renovating so as you can see in the picture they have a temporary sign on display.  The interiors of the spa will also be renovated soon for a better spa experience so we’re looking forward to that.

The waiting area is a small cozy place and is very quiet compared to some other spa’s we've been to.  Maybe this sign has something to do with it?  Either way, I love the fact that once you enter the spa it’s very quiet and relaxing.

The interior is a mixture of a traditional and modern Filipino home.  It even has an old chair in the corner where you could put up your legs and relax.  You know the ones with the long arm rests?  The furniture and floor all look antique and adds to the general ambiance and theme.  It kind of feels like you went home to the province.  It has that laid back mood and quietness that I generally associate with visits to my grandparent’s house.  All of that combined put me at ease right off the bat.

While waiting for our turn for the massage the staff gave us some complimentary hot tea.  It was made out of a honey/lemon/ginger type mixture.  It was nice, warm, and presented in a motive fitting tea set.  The tea is a small, but much appreciated addition to the whole spa experience.

Hagod Spa and Nail Services definite must try in my opinion is the Swedish massage.  It only costs P400 and is as relaxing as it gets.  The Swedish massage is a relaxing, full body massage that consists mainly of sliding (or gliding) strokes on the human body.   I personally prefer this over other types of massages which I find painful sometimes.  And as the name of the spa suggests you can also get your nails done there.

For reference, I have listed some of the costs and services below for your convenience.  For other services or updated pricing you may contact them at (02)893-3698 – 0939-939-5390.

Full Body Massage:

• Swedish Massage                              P400
• Shiatsu Massage                                P400
• Combination (Swedish & Shiatsu)      P400
• Aromatherapy Massage                     P400

They also have other services such as:

• Foot Spa with Foot Reflex                 P400
• Therapeutic Massage                         P1200 (or "Tuina" which consists of a 2 hour treatment of a traditional Chinese method using hot compress to relax muscles an reduce muscle pain.
• Executive Package                             P1500 (Body scrub, full body massage or a choice of foot spa with scalp treatment.

When it was our turn for the massage the staff led us through a short hall with curtains.  Behind the curtains we found a small but comfy therapy area where we could get undressed.  It was clean, the towels were fresh, and there was a small basket provided for us where we could store our belongings.

Shortly after getting dressed in the usual massage attire (shorts, and pretty much nothing else), we got a great 1 hour Swedish Massage by Hagod Spa.  At certain points during the massage they will ask you if you want to do some stretches.  Since I wanted to experience all of it I opted for the stretch and boy did they do a good job since the stretching involved some good acrobatics.

Overall we had a great time at Hagod Spa.  It’s a very affordable and above par spa experience.  Not only did we get to relax, enjoy, and get a massage; we also learned that a heftier price tag does not necessarily translate over to better service.

My Personal Safety Tips

I thought about writing this short safety related blog because I was speaking to an office mate earlier today and about  how she was pick pocketed inside of the groceries.  It was a learning experience for her and a definite reminder to me that there are people out there who will take advantage of you if they can.

I've lived in Manila long enough to understand that it can be dangerous if you don't pay enough attention to your surroundings.  Manila offers many things to watch out for such as snatchers, pick pockets, and even the random machete wielding person. Yes, I've experienced all of that and more.  Come to think of it, I've also experienced a Samurai sword wielding person.  But before you read on:  I am no expert in security.  But I do have some common sense and its kept me pretty safe so far.

I hope the few simple tips I list below will help you stay safe.

1.  I like to see hands.  By that I mean whenever I ride in a jeep, FX, or a bus I like to see where the hands of my fellow passengers are.  If you can see them, then they aren't doing something else.

2.  Personal space.  Everybody loves their personal space.  If somebody violates your personal space make sure to move away if possible to regain it.  Imagine you're riding in a jeep that only has a few passengers.  Then all of a sudden a stranger sits right next to you even though there is plenty of space to sit somewhere else.  Be alarmed.  Because either you're going to get robbed, pick pocketed, or molested. A normal person would try to keep their own personal space intact unless there is no choice (like a full jeep).

3.  Bring only the essentials.  This is pretty self explanatory.  Bring only the stuff you need to bring with you.  Leave the gold necklaces and non-essential gadgets at home.  No need to show it off too.  The less stuff you have with you the less stuff you have to pay attention to.

4.  Pay attention to your surroundings.  A lot of people fail to do this one.  I do too sometimes but I try not to do it often.  Always be alert and ready for anything.  Not paying attention usually gets you into trouble and makes you a bigger target for thieves and bad people in general.

5.  Know where you're going and how to get there.  Before leaving the house make sure you know where you're going and how you're going to get there.  This generally keeps you out of a lot of trouble.  Try to also keep plenty of change with you.  It just makes travelling a lot easier when you're not waiting for the driver or conductor to give you your change.

6.   Be assertive and look assertive.  The more assertive you look the better your chances are of not being picked to be a victim by thieves.  They'd rather go for the easier score.

7.  Control your situation.  As much as possible stay out of trouble.  Don't place yourself (and others) in situations and places that could be dangerous.  Withdrawing from an ATM?  Don't do it in a dark and desolate place.  Use your common sense and stay away from possible bad situations.

Your own safety should be a top priority in Manila and pretty much everywhere you go.  People like me, who commute daily to and from work must put up with a lot of different hazards on the street.  We have to put up with pollution, bad drivers, long lines, and other things but we can at least control some aspects of our own safety.

But the trick is to keep safe while still enjoying a happy fruitful life.  Keep safe everybody!

Travel Clearance for Minors (DSWD)

Travelling with children is always fun.  A bit of work if they are very young and you don’t have any help.  But their excitement makes it all worthwhile.

So why do we need to secure a travel clearance for minors?  To safeguard our children from human trafficking and because of RA 7610, which is otherwise known as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.  Read more about it here. 

And who needs a travel clearance?  Basically anyone below 18 years of age and travelling alone or with anyone other than their parent/legal guardian.

• A minor traveling alone to a foreign country;
• A minor traveling to a foreign country accompanied by a person other than his or her parents.

Below I’ve listed some of the basic requirements that you would need.

• Duly accomplished application form. Click here for the form.
• Original (and photocopy) NSO birth certificate of the minor. 
• Passport of minor (and photocopy of the page with details and back page)
• Two colored passport size photos of the minor (taken within the last six months).
• Passport of travel companion (if not travelling alone).  Don’t forget the photocopy.
• A written consent of both parents (solo parent/legal guardian) wherein the travel details are laid out.  Meaning the travel dates, who is accompanying the minor, where they plan on staying in the foreign country.  Be as detailed as you can. 
• NSO copy of the marriage certificate of the parents.  They may not ask for it but might as well have it if they ask for it.

TIP:  I always make a checklist of the things that I need, especially when I’m filling out papers for visa applications and complicated transactions.  This way I don’t forget anything important.

There are other papers needed depending on the child’s situation.  If you have any special questions, you may check out the DSWD website using these links: PROCESS and FAQ.

Once you have the paperwork completed, decide on which DSWD office you need to visit.  Usually, it’s the nearest office near your home.  For us, we went to the main office at the corner of Legarda Street in Sampaloc, Manila.   You can find the office addresses in the FAQ site.

How much does it cost?

The processing fee is as below:

• P300 with validity of one (1) year. 
• P600 with validity of two (2) years.

Make sure to get your receipt.

When do I get the clearance?

It takes 3 working days.  So make sure to apply early and not a week before you need to travel.  The DSWD personnel may ask you for other paperwork that you can’t get ASAP.

How to get there

If you’re heading to the main office it’s quite easy getting there.  If you’re coming from Taguig, Pasig, or Ortigas, you can simply take a jeep/FX going to Quiapo and get off right across the street from the DSWD building.  If you’re not sure, you can simply ask the driver to drop you off there.  It’s just past Mendiola where they usually hold the rallies.  As for the cost, it’s not more than P50 per person one way if you’re coming from Pasig.

Before you go

Make sure you have all the papers ready and that you have all the original NSO copies, photocopies, and pretty much all papers with you.  You’ll need your money of course.  And go early.  I cannot reiterate enough that you have to go early.  If you arrive 9am prepare to stay there the whole day.  If possible arrive at 7:45 with all your papers ready to be handed over.  Does the minor have to come with you?  No, not really.  But I think it made my application easier when the social worker saw the minor with me.

My Experience at DSWD

I recently had to get a travel clearance for my sister in law who will be travelling with me and my wife to Malaysia.  Since we aren’t her parents or legal guardians we had to secure a travel clearance for her.  Not having the travel clearance is quite a hassle especially when you’re already at the airport.  This happened to me once with my younger brother and they are very strict about this.  No travel clearance, no travel.  So just go on ahead and get that travel clearance.

We arrived early at round 7:40 and went straight to the Travel Clearance section, which is on the 2^nd floor of the building.  Just take the stairs up and it is the first door on the right. 

Amazing enough we were the 3^rd to arrive but the two before us already had gotten the process done.  The social worker asked us to sign their registration form.  We waited for about 3 minutes before the social worker called us again.  There are plenty of seats so that you can sit down but the Clearance section is facing East so that means the rising sun would pummel you until 12 noon.  Not fun especially because the area is not air conditioned. 

The social worker reviewed the application form and took the photocopies from me.  The DSWD personnel are quite thorough with their work.  Every small detail of the presented paperwork was reviewed and when she saw some discrepancies she asked me about it.  Pretty impressive and I commend the DSWD personnel. 

The whole process took about 15 minutes and she gave me a claim slip.  But she advised that before I could claim the clearance I would need to present an Affidavit of Discrepancy because the middle name of the minor and the mother are not the same due to a typographical error.  (Note:  It cost me P200 to get a notarized Affidavit of Discrepancy from my lawyer.)  She asked us to come back in 3 days.  It was a Monday so we had to come back Wednesday.

My Experience at DSWD:  Day 2

We again arrived early for the travel clearance pick up at around 8:00am.  We were the 2^nd in line but it took over 3 hours before we got our travel clearance.  Apparently the signatory didn’t arrive so we had to wait for the person.  Once the signatory arrived the process went quickly.  We paid the P300 at the cashier.  The cashier is located at the bottom of the stairs and once paid we showed the receipt to the DSWD personnel and they gave us the travel clearance.

TIP:  Before you leave make sure you check the travel clearance for spelling mistakes.  This is very important because any issues or misspelling you will get held up at the airport.