bicol PNR - Naga City Station

If your going to Camarines Sur,Naga City in particular, you have the option to choose to travel via land, air or by Bicol Express Train.

bicol express

Of the three, riding the train had the longest travel time but the most inexpensive.  Even if the airplane companies offers discounted fare, the insurance and other charges can sum up to more than Php. 1,000.00 ($25.00) and even up to Php. 2,000.00 ($50.00)*** if it was a peak season. By land, you can bring your own car or vehicle but you can consume at least a full tank.

The train departs at 6:30 P.M. and expected to arrive in it’s destination by 4:30 A.M. in the morning.   (Naga – Tutuban or Tutuban-Naga)

If security is your main concern on riding the Bicol Express, you don’t need to worry because  two police wearing a police t-shirt are roving and securing the safety of every one.

You have three options to choose on what you would like to sit/stay,  there were the reclining chair or what I called a bus type because it just look like you were riding on a bus.  The seats were divided by two big reclining chairs.  A wifi television will entertain you through the night until you doze in.

If you are travelling with your family, you can choose the family sleeper wherein you and your family can lie down during the entire journey.

 There is also the executive sleeper if you are travelling alone and you wanted some privacy.  You can even choose to stay on the upper deck.  ( I wonder what it feels like to stay there)

bicol express executive sleeper

 These three options were all air conditioned and I tell you, you have to wear something that can make you warm because my body was chilling the entire trip even I was wearing a jacket and a socks. ( I told myself that I should have brought my mittens and a blanket.  I used my towel, to serve as a blanket for me)

bicol express

It’s a way new experience if this is your first time to ride the Bicol Express Train .  I felt the excitement and thrill as soon as I  heard the sound of the horn indicating that our journey will start and a big bump (noise of the rail road).

Wash room/CR

Although, it is not my first time to ride a train because I used to ride the commuter train with my grandmother going to Alabang when I was a little bit young. The memories keep rushing through my head and makes me cry a bit.  I’m a little bit nostalgic and sentimental and in the same time ecstatic because it is my first time to ride the Bicol Express Train.

PNR Tutuban Station at 4:30 a.m.

 ***$40 to Php. 1.00 conversion.

Orlando, Florida is one of the best places to spend a romantic valentine get-away.  You can find Orlando Hotels  family friendly and the best part is it was very near at Disney or discover nearby theme parks and beaches.

If you love strolling and shopping, you can have the best shopping experience featuring branded names and designer outlets and dining at the prime restaurants.

Orlando was hailed as one of the world’s top destination and it’s no doubt about that because you can find whatever your heart’s desire.

orlando, florida

Places to visit in Orlando:

1.  A one time opportunity to visit Universal Studio.

2. Sea World – one of the top places to visit.  Enjoy the view of the acrobatic whale and cute penguins and visit one of the world’s finest water park.

3. Shopping to the max at The Mall at Millenia, luxury shopping at Winter Park and find bargain deals at flea market.

John F. Kennedy Space Center

4. Learn astronomy at the Kennedy Space Center.

5. Stroll the white sand beaches

Get the best travel experience, get the best vacation packages, plan ahead, visit  Facebook  and learn what beautiful things you can do in your Orlando trip.

]]> http://myjourneytolife.info/blog/dreaming-orlando/feed/ 0 http://myjourneytolife.info/blog/music-box-videoke/ http://myjourneytolife.info/blog/music-box-videoke/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:55:15 +0000 melandria http://myjourneytolife.info/?p=1372

Filipinos love to sing, where ever you go or whatever occasion you will attend to, singing will definitely be a part of that event.   Videoke bar or singing houses are very popular in Korea, it was called norebangs and many koreans goes to this singing houses to sober up after drinking.

In Taiwan and Japan, it was called KTV houses  or piano bars and here in the Philippines there are many karaoke machines that you can rent whenever you had an occasion to celebrate and sometimes lead to various killings because of violent reactions.

Too sad, sometimes this videoke or KTV bars are just front for gentlemen’s club which men goes to drink with some female hosts who will drink and sing for them.

Meanwhile, here in Naga City, there are many music bar who cater and offers good services for your singing pleasure.

karaoke bar

One of this is the Music Box which you can find in one of the prime hotels in the Metro and you get the chance to eat a sumptuous meal from Oyster Plaza.

As early as November, many people visit shopping malls to find Holiday treats for them and for their family and friends and when December came, many Christmas bazaars and extended shopping hours are already available for those who loves to shop for Christmas gifts and accessories.

Munich Christmas Market via web

Munich is no different from the Philippines, they have the best traditional Christmas markets that can be found on their squares and streets.  Their well known market is called Christkindlmarkt which is  located in Marienplatz, a world famous market.

Each year, beautiful and colorful lights are lined in the oldest and grandest buildings of Munich and the smell of yummy gingerbread is filling the romantic breeze of Christmas in the height of what they called the “Old Town”.  That’s why it was recognized as one of the best destination for a Christmas Vacation.

Hear the german carols, enjoy the winter festival and eat the best food they can offer.   Must try foods are:

• Dampfnudeln – This is a light, steamed dumpling often coated with vanilla custard. You can get it with a berry filling if you wish.
• Chocolate-coated fruit – This comes served on sticks and just screams out at you to take a bite. Choco-bananas, choco-strawberries and choco-peaches are all there.
• Another type of gingerbread, the name means “stomach bread”. A great tummy filler.
• Gebrannte Mandeln – Roasted chestnuts, coated with spices, sugar or chocolate. Simply delicious, this is the enticing smell that permeates over the Christmas markets.

Gebrannte Mandeln (via web)

Planning a holiday vacation takes a good thinking, first, it should be memorable of course, second, considering that everybody is busy, this vacation should be stress-free, how you can do that?  Book ahead on time, it saves you the hurry and gives you time to avail special early discounts.

Christmas travelers had many great places to choose from but of course, you would not just want to go to the North Pole to experience Christmas with Santa.

Munich- a great place for Christmas Vacation

• Munich,is one great destination where you can find best traditional Christmas crafts that will surely delight visitors and not to forget the majestic view of the Alps.
• New Zealand Bay,  summer in december, grab your bags and don’t forget your bikinis.
• Edinburgh, fireworks, bag-pipers singing Amazing Grace, great foods, truly a worthy Christmas treat to remember.
• Montreal, Canada, cold, snowy, A white Christmas to remember and not to forget sweet and yummy chestnuts.

Wherever you plan to go this Holiday season, make sure you bring that extra cash, you might perhaps buy a nice souvenir for your friends.  Have a Merry Christmas to all!

]]> http://myjourneytolife.info/blog/great-places-to-spend-christmas/feed/ 0 http://myjourneytolife.info/blog/best-deal-romantic-3-days2-nights-stay-in-palawan/ http://myjourneytolife.info/blog/best-deal-romantic-3-days2-nights-stay-in-palawan/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:31:34 +0000 melandria http://myjourneytolife.info/?p=1355 If given a chance, i would love to visit Palawan again and experience it’s full beauty.  Now, you can also had a chance to visit and enjoy Palawan with Metro Deal’s 3-Days/2-Nights Stay in Palawan, Roundtrip Airfare, Transfers, Underground River Tour for P5999 instead of P12000.  That’s a great deal if i may say.

If only, I had the money now, i will surely buy this deal so i can also visit my mom again.  Check out the deal for yourself.

Pasta Laing with Adorable Peachy

Laing is one of the most favored food by the Bicolano and maybe you have heard or read about Laing Pasta, Laing Pizza and Laing Ice Cream.

This is my version of Laing pasta.  For more information and recipe, Just tune in on this area.

So, whenever I had a chance to visit Manila, i make it to the point that i stop at Krispy Kreme and eat my favorite treats.  But I am very lucky on my last visit because I get a chance to have a box of Krispy Kreme for free. Geisler Maclang, one of the sponsors from our recently concluded Pinay Mommies community EB had given each mom a canvas bag with Krispy Kreme and shirt of Alaxan with Pacquiao on it as their share of sponsorship for us.

Krispy Kreme

I so love the delicious flavor of Krispy Kreme and I do hope i will get the chance to eat it again in the near future or somehow I pray that they will soon open a branch here.  It would be an assurance, that I would be their first loyal customers here.