Sunday, October 30, 2011

Autumn in Beijing Day 2 - OLYMPIC GREEN

After the 2-hr bus ride from the Great Wall to the City, we took the subway to the Olympic Green station. These were the stuff we saw when we got out of the station:


i don't know what this is haha



huge musical instruments


And since we were so tired and hungry, we headed to one of the Chinese restaurants in the area.


the utensils were actually sealed


We had so much for dinner! It was so authentic yet very cheap! So worth it!:)


old Beijing restaurant


Beijing is the home of the 2008 Olympics. It's amazing how Beijing has transformed a huge piece of idle land into a perfect venue for the Olympics.


 Olympic Pagoda

 lights are changing colors

 the huge Olympic torch

 At The Bird's Nest (Beijing National Stadium)

 good architecture

I love this place!


the Water Cube (Beijing national Aquatics Center)

It was a tiring yet productive day. We headed back to the hotel in the middle of the cold weather. Had so much fun walking while seeing all the city lights.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Autumn in Beijing Day 2 - GREAT WALL OF CHINA

Sept. 17 - It's our 2nd day in Beijing! We got up early 'cause we got a long day ahead. Out on a cold weather, we braved the streets to find our way to the Beijing North Railway Station. Good thing a friend's co-worker was able to write down in English and Chinese characters, on a sheet of paper, some sentences asking for directions to the Great Wall, which we brought along with us. It really helped us a lot!




So we took the subway and went off at Xizhimen station. There we tried to ask a vendor in a mini grocery where the Beijing North Railway Station was. He understood what's written on our paper but he didn't know how to communicate his response to us. It took us "charades" to figure out! LOL! Then we found the station but all signages were in Chinese characters. But because we got a paper guide, we were able to buy ticket easily. Then we waited for the train. When the train was there, it took 15 minutes to unload 'coz it got so many passengers. When gates were opened, everybody ran to the train. We didn't know what's going on so we also ran! HAHAHA! So funny!










In the train, there were people selling Great Wall entrance tickets but we couldn't understand them. My seatmate got an iPhone and she's translating our conversation via Google Translate. Then two college girls overheard our English conversation. Luckily, they're Chinese girls who can understand and speak English! We became friends with them and we decided to make them a part of our group. They've been such a relief for us!


So we went off at Badaling Station. We bought snacks before going up the Great Wall. After a couple of hours there, we went down by riding a sliding car that's like a mini rollercoaster. Then we saw bears at the exit. We walked going out trying to find the railway station, but we found out that we went out at the wrong exit and the only way for us to go back to where we came from was by riding a bus. Gosh it took us two hours plus traffic and hot weather to get back to the city.



 while in line for tickets

ticket prices

 i love the Great Wall!

 Indeed a World Wonder!



 With our 2 new Chinese friends





 sliding car (when you;re lazy to walk down lol)

bears

Our Great Wall experience was so rewarding! I really enjoyed it. It's not everyday that one gets to see one of the World's Wonders, and I'm so lucky to have seen one at the age of 24!:) I wish to see more of the 7 Wonders soon!!!



Saturday, October 15, 2011

Once I was a Fan :))

I knew they were coming back here in the Philippines. A few months before their concert date, I've been seeing their posters around the Big Dome. I missed their past concerts here because those were the days I knew I still couldn't afford concert tickets 'coz I was still a student. But even if I knew about their upcoming concert here in the P.I., I didn't bother to look for tickets because I realized it's ok if I'll miss this concert. Two days before the event, I asked my source for complimentary tickets and he didn't promise.

September 29, just a few hours before the concert, I was informed that I've got 2 free Lower Box tickets! Then another friend called inviting me to join them in Upper Box A. But since I've got another friend joining me in the Lower Box, that's where I stayed. And when I got to the concert venue, I saw a lot of friends! Haha! See, I wasn't the only supporter!:))

Are you ready to know whose concert was this??? Uhm...WESTLIFE!!! lol! Yes, it's Westlife's Gravity Tour 2011 haha! It's been my favorite boy band since my grade 6 days! I even sprained my ankle in 2nd yr high school as i was jumping for joy while watching their newest music video that time! And everybody in school knew that because I was absent in class the next day! haha! In fact, when they learned about Westlife's concert here, a lot of them posted on my FB wall reminding me of the concert!:))

Well now on the bests part...I really had fun! It's probably one of the best concerts I've seen. uhm, maybe because they sang a lot of songs, plus I enjoyed the enthusiasm of the crowd. A lot of girls and gays were screaming for the boys to the top of their lungs haha! Westlife even chose a couple of fans holding interesting posters to join them on-stage! Lucky people haha! Yikes, it's been 14 years, yet they didn't look that old; though Mark definitely gained weight! LOL.


 Nicky's hot!:))

 Shane's still the same


I loved their outfits which got a theme every segment. And those outfits were matched with the songs they sang for each segment. I also like the fact that they were taking photos and videos of the crowd and sharing it via their twitter accounts. And the boy band effect was just so alive! Super cool! They got a perfect opening song, which was "When You're Looking Like That" haha! They sang songs chosen from each of their albums. They also did a mash-up of Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Black Eyed Peas' songs.

 they're taking a video of the crowd

 their RnB/Pop Mash-up - and fat Mark! haha

 so near yet so far haha

 and another set of outfit!

the crowd was asked to turn on their mobile phone's as they sing "You Raise Me Up"

I was also touched when they sang one of my favorites, "Flying without Wings". Like every other show, the concert has come to an end. Their finale song was "Uptown Girl"...and it was really appropriate! I super enjoyed the show!:)

 Uptown Girl - the finale


This night definite made me relive my high school days!:)

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Autumn in Beijing Day 1 - COSMO

Part of our first day in Beijing was getting lost somewhere in Wangfujing and accidentally ending up at one of the most popular shopping places in Beijing, the Oriental Plaza. There we encountered the 2nd Beijing Wangfujing International Brand Festival. There were a lot of shops, and a lot of items on sale. However, we were not really up for a shopping spree since we're on a budget. Though fall and winter clothes were kind of expensive since the season was on transition from summer to fall.



 welcome arch

 the long shopping strip

huge golden abacus

At the end of a long day of walking around Beijing, we spent some time at the hotel lobby to use wifi! Facebook and Twitter are banned in China but good thing I got those uploaded as my mobile apps in my Blackberry, that's why I was still able to use them. I finally got in touch with my friends in the Philippines as I got my BBM and email working too.


this aquarium was so relaxing 

 outside the elevator doors

 reading the hotel rules

After relaxing for a while in our hotel room, we're off to have dinner at Houhai Lake. But before that, we headed first to Xidan Shopping Mall and shopped for scarves and shirts from H&M. It's the usual thing we do every time we go to a country with H&M, since we don't have one here in the Philippines. I just hope we can have it here soon!


 encountered these Kung Fu performers at the hotel lobby on our way out

 walking on a really cold weather

 huge overpass/walkway


 they said that's the longest escalator in Asia

It was so hard to find a cab so we decided to just take the train from Xidan to Ping An Li. Just by referring to our map, we walked to find the Houhai Lake. We knew we were there when we found this map:



We were at the Northwest part of the lake. Our friend Pam couldn't remember what side of the lake they went to the previous night so we just kept walking. we walked southward on the west side of the lake. However, when we couldn't see much bars, restaurants, and lights on that side, we went back up north and decided to walk southward on the east side of the lake. We kept on walking even if it's drizzling because we were so hungry and we just wanted to arrive to the cosmo place. Then we finally found a series of bars and restaurants. We chose to have Thai Food at Lotus Blue.


 service was fast and dishes were yummy

 dinner was quite expensive compared to our previous meals in the city

After dinner, we walked for a bit and tried some street desserts: fruits on stick coated with sugar and huge cotton candy. Then we all got sugar rush! haha!




Starbucks Chinese Version


Then we headed back to the hotel. However, it was so hard to find a cab because there were a lot of people waiting for a cab also, and there's no line...well yeah, we did it the Filipino way. But the worse was, no cab wanted to take us back to the hotel because it was kind of far from the area plus they couldn't understand us. Even if we're showing the business card of our hotel (with map), they still wouldn't take us there. It just so happened that there's this private car driven by an old man with his wife on the front seat, offering to take us back to the hotel. However, he's offering an expensive rate. We didn't agree, and we moved farther from them. But he didn't leave. He approached us again and bargained. Finally, we agreed to a certain rate and we finally got a ride back to the hotel.


We got home before midnight because we needed enough rest for our next day's destination: Great Wall of China.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Autumn in Beijing Day 2 - OLYMPIC GREEN

After the 2-hr bus ride from the Great Wall to the City, we took the subway to the Olympic Green station. These were the stuff we saw when we got out of the station:


i don't know what this is haha



huge musical instruments


And since we were so tired and hungry, we headed to one of the Chinese restaurants in the area.


the utensils were actually sealed


We had so much for dinner! It was so authentic yet very cheap! So worth it!:)


old Beijing restaurant


Beijing is the home of the 2008 Olympics. It's amazing how Beijing has transformed a huge piece of idle land into a perfect venue for the Olympics.


 Olympic Pagoda

 lights are changing colors

 the huge Olympic torch

 At The Bird's Nest (Beijing National Stadium)

 good architecture

I love this place!


the Water Cube (Beijing national Aquatics Center)

It was a tiring yet productive day. We headed back to the hotel in the middle of the cold weather. Had so much fun walking while seeing all the city lights.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Autumn in Beijing Day 2 - GREAT WALL OF CHINA

Sept. 17 - It's our 2nd day in Beijing! We got up early 'cause we got a long day ahead. Out on a cold weather, we braved the streets to find our way to the Beijing North Railway Station. Good thing a friend's co-worker was able to write down in English and Chinese characters, on a sheet of paper, some sentences asking for directions to the Great Wall, which we brought along with us. It really helped us a lot!




So we took the subway and went off at Xizhimen station. There we tried to ask a vendor in a mini grocery where the Beijing North Railway Station was. He understood what's written on our paper but he didn't know how to communicate his response to us. It took us "charades" to figure out! LOL! Then we found the station but all signages were in Chinese characters. But because we got a paper guide, we were able to buy ticket easily. Then we waited for the train. When the train was there, it took 15 minutes to unload 'coz it got so many passengers. When gates were opened, everybody ran to the train. We didn't know what's going on so we also ran! HAHAHA! So funny!










In the train, there were people selling Great Wall entrance tickets but we couldn't understand them. My seatmate got an iPhone and she's translating our conversation via Google Translate. Then two college girls overheard our English conversation. Luckily, they're Chinese girls who can understand and speak English! We became friends with them and we decided to make them a part of our group. They've been such a relief for us!


So we went off at Badaling Station. We bought snacks before going up the Great Wall. After a couple of hours there, we went down by riding a sliding car that's like a mini rollercoaster. Then we saw bears at the exit. We walked going out trying to find the railway station, but we found out that we went out at the wrong exit and the only way for us to go back to where we came from was by riding a bus. Gosh it took us two hours plus traffic and hot weather to get back to the city.



 while in line for tickets

ticket prices

 i love the Great Wall!

 Indeed a World Wonder!



 With our 2 new Chinese friends





 sliding car (when you;re lazy to walk down lol)

bears

Our Great Wall experience was so rewarding! I really enjoyed it. It's not everyday that one gets to see one of the World's Wonders, and I'm so lucky to have seen one at the age of 24!:) I wish to see more of the 7 Wonders soon!!!



Saturday, October 15, 2011

Once I was a Fan :))

I knew they were coming back here in the Philippines. A few months before their concert date, I've been seeing their posters around the Big Dome. I missed their past concerts here because those were the days I knew I still couldn't afford concert tickets 'coz I was still a student. But even if I knew about their upcoming concert here in the P.I., I didn't bother to look for tickets because I realized it's ok if I'll miss this concert. Two days before the event, I asked my source for complimentary tickets and he didn't promise.

September 29, just a few hours before the concert, I was informed that I've got 2 free Lower Box tickets! Then another friend called inviting me to join them in Upper Box A. But since I've got another friend joining me in the Lower Box, that's where I stayed. And when I got to the concert venue, I saw a lot of friends! Haha! See, I wasn't the only supporter!:))

Are you ready to know whose concert was this??? Uhm...WESTLIFE!!! lol! Yes, it's Westlife's Gravity Tour 2011 haha! It's been my favorite boy band since my grade 6 days! I even sprained my ankle in 2nd yr high school as i was jumping for joy while watching their newest music video that time! And everybody in school knew that because I was absent in class the next day! haha! In fact, when they learned about Westlife's concert here, a lot of them posted on my FB wall reminding me of the concert!:))

Well now on the bests part...I really had fun! It's probably one of the best concerts I've seen. uhm, maybe because they sang a lot of songs, plus I enjoyed the enthusiasm of the crowd. A lot of girls and gays were screaming for the boys to the top of their lungs haha! Westlife even chose a couple of fans holding interesting posters to join them on-stage! Lucky people haha! Yikes, it's been 14 years, yet they didn't look that old; though Mark definitely gained weight! LOL.


 Nicky's hot!:))

 Shane's still the same


I loved their outfits which got a theme every segment. And those outfits were matched with the songs they sang for each segment. I also like the fact that they were taking photos and videos of the crowd and sharing it via their twitter accounts. And the boy band effect was just so alive! Super cool! They got a perfect opening song, which was "When You're Looking Like That" haha! They sang songs chosen from each of their albums. They also did a mash-up of Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Black Eyed Peas' songs.

 they're taking a video of the crowd

 their RnB/Pop Mash-up - and fat Mark! haha

 so near yet so far haha

 and another set of outfit!

the crowd was asked to turn on their mobile phone's as they sing "You Raise Me Up"

I was also touched when they sang one of my favorites, "Flying without Wings". Like every other show, the concert has come to an end. Their finale song was "Uptown Girl"...and it was really appropriate! I super enjoyed the show!:)

 Uptown Girl - the finale


This night definite made me relive my high school days!:)

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Autumn in Beijing Day 1 - COSMO

Part of our first day in Beijing was getting lost somewhere in Wangfujing and accidentally ending up at one of the most popular shopping places in Beijing, the Oriental Plaza. There we encountered the 2nd Beijing Wangfujing International Brand Festival. There were a lot of shops, and a lot of items on sale. However, we were not really up for a shopping spree since we're on a budget. Though fall and winter clothes were kind of expensive since the season was on transition from summer to fall.



 welcome arch

 the long shopping strip

huge golden abacus

At the end of a long day of walking around Beijing, we spent some time at the hotel lobby to use wifi! Facebook and Twitter are banned in China but good thing I got those uploaded as my mobile apps in my Blackberry, that's why I was still able to use them. I finally got in touch with my friends in the Philippines as I got my BBM and email working too.


this aquarium was so relaxing 

 outside the elevator doors

 reading the hotel rules

After relaxing for a while in our hotel room, we're off to have dinner at Houhai Lake. But before that, we headed first to Xidan Shopping Mall and shopped for scarves and shirts from H&M. It's the usual thing we do every time we go to a country with H&M, since we don't have one here in the Philippines. I just hope we can have it here soon!


 encountered these Kung Fu performers at the hotel lobby on our way out

 walking on a really cold weather

 huge overpass/walkway


 they said that's the longest escalator in Asia

It was so hard to find a cab so we decided to just take the train from Xidan to Ping An Li. Just by referring to our map, we walked to find the Houhai Lake. We knew we were there when we found this map:



We were at the Northwest part of the lake. Our friend Pam couldn't remember what side of the lake they went to the previous night so we just kept walking. we walked southward on the west side of the lake. However, when we couldn't see much bars, restaurants, and lights on that side, we went back up north and decided to walk southward on the east side of the lake. We kept on walking even if it's drizzling because we were so hungry and we just wanted to arrive to the cosmo place. Then we finally found a series of bars and restaurants. We chose to have Thai Food at Lotus Blue.


 service was fast and dishes were yummy

 dinner was quite expensive compared to our previous meals in the city

After dinner, we walked for a bit and tried some street desserts: fruits on stick coated with sugar and huge cotton candy. Then we all got sugar rush! haha!




Starbucks Chinese Version


Then we headed back to the hotel. However, it was so hard to find a cab because there were a lot of people waiting for a cab also, and there's no line...well yeah, we did it the Filipino way. But the worse was, no cab wanted to take us back to the hotel because it was kind of far from the area plus they couldn't understand us. Even if we're showing the business card of our hotel (with map), they still wouldn't take us there. It just so happened that there's this private car driven by an old man with his wife on the front seat, offering to take us back to the hotel. However, he's offering an expensive rate. We didn't agree, and we moved farther from them. But he didn't leave. He approached us again and bargained. Finally, we agreed to a certain rate and we finally got a ride back to the hotel.


We got home before midnight because we needed enough rest for our next day's destination: Great Wall of China.