Hong Kong: the Fragrant Harbour

The name "Hong Kong" is an approximate phonetic rendering of the pronunciation of the spoken Cantonese or Hakka, meaning "fragrant harbour".

The reference to fragrance may refer to the harbour waters sweetened by the fresh water estuarine influx of the Pearl River, or to the incense from factories lining the coast to the north of Kowloon, which was stored around Aberdeen Harbour for export before the development of Victoria Harbour. (Wikipedia)

With its etymology, it is no wonder why many Filipinos flock to this city for work, business and pleasure.

And I’m not an exemption. The moment I got my first round trip ticket (Cathay Pacific) from my kumare, I never stopped checking the sights of HK via google.  

And nine years with eleven visits (I hope my counting is correct) although I have not seen much of HK for reasons beyond my comprehension, HK still brings a special sense of excitement and joy.  I think it is visiting the place with my best friend – almost like a sister that makes each trip memorable and more than just visiting the internet-suggested places.

Wonderful Worlds of Whampoa Hong Kong

Taken from the Peak Tram at Victoria Peak.

Taken from the Peak Tram  around 2 P.M.  I was actually dreaming of a perfect shot
but what I got was a smoggy Hong Kong.  

I was expecting for a clear and postcard shot of this part of the city and I got this.

Wonderful Worlds of Whampoa, Hong Kong is the perfect place to visitand shop with your family. The shape of this shopping plaza which looks like a ship attracts the visitors in large numbers.

Rising over Hong Kong's commercial and entertainment district of Kowloon is the Gateway, a Marco Polo hotel. Housed in Harbour City – Hong Kong's largest shopping complex – Gateway hotel the ultimate in leisure accommodation and shopping experience.

Hong Kong restaurant offers a stunning array of cuisines from around the world.

Lavender garden boxes along Kowloon Area

Hong Kong is a veritable shopping paradise, shopping areas throughout Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Territories, gathered in a fashionable shopping malls and large department stores, there are bustling open-air market.

The magnificent Tsing Ma Bridge, the world's longest span suspension bridge carrying both road and rail traffic, is the key connection between Hong Kong and its international airport on Lantau Island. 

Hong Kong Disneyland bus station.  Visitors can take the buses for free
if they want to check/ take photos of the famous Disneyland Hotel and Hollywood Hotel.

The entrance of Hong Kong Disneyland.  This photo was taken around 4 p.m. on a weekday and it was raining.  The atmosphere was just perfect for an afternoon visit.  Less visitors.  More space. More fun. :)

It was a big surprise to see less people in Disneyland. But there were lots of "elbow" spaces. 

Taken right after the fireworks. 

The Main Street after the firework.

Disney @ nite.

One rainy Disney...

A blast of Disney past. 

Whoa, who would think HK Disneyland would be this spacious? We had fun. No rush. 

The drummer boys.

The Main Street Parade.  The Celebration in the Air.

Greetings from the Princesses.

And from the Lion King too.

Though I am not so "fan" of Buzz, but this float is amazing.

And I just love Lilo.

They are Pinoys.... i was told by a buzzz....

Nice one...fresh from a fairy tale book.

and another one...felt like Sinulog, actually.

And just in time for Panagbenga.

And our Ati-Atihan Festival... :)

A Magical Ride...

My place.  My time. My space.

While waiting for the Disney Bus

Pahiyas Festival of Lucban Quezon

A display of various arresting colours designed like chandeliers made of leaf like materials called kipping decorated most of the façade of the houses.  Curiosity sank in when I saw throng of people walking on one direction. Even the day was filthy hot with no available shade of comfort we joined the throng and found ourselves bathed with various arresting colors.

Lucban celebrates the Pahiyas Festival every May 15 in honor of the patron saint of farmers,St. Isidore. This festival showcases a street of houses which are adorned with fruits, vegetables, agricultural products, handicrafts and kiping, a rice-made decoration, which afterwards can be eaten grilled or fried. The houses are judged and the best one is proclaimed the winner. (wikipedia)

Called longganisa in the Philippines, the sausages are flavoured with indigenous spices, with each region having its own specialty. Among others, Lucban is known for its garlicky longanizas (derecado)

The houses are judged and the best one is proclaimed the winner.

Every year, tourists roam the municipality to witness the decoration of houses.

This garden landed this house to third place. 

Kiping, a rice-made decoration, which afterwards can be eaten grilled or fried. 

Longganisa lucban is a garlicky slightly sour sausage that is quite similar to chorizo de bilbao, the famous garlic sausage from Spain.

Lucban is starting to get noticed because of their impressive hats. Visit Lucban and feel like Queen Elizabeth - no rush!

Speaking about the colorful houses, the usual decoration used of the Lucbanins is the brightly colored rice wafer, called kiping. Besides San Isidro Labrador – the patron of the farmers, Lucban Pahiyas is not Lucban Pahiyas without kiping. (wowquezon)

Making kiping is a time-consuming process. Its name came from “Kipi” or “Kinipi” which describes how laborious the process of making one. It undergoes many steps before it can be used as a decoration for the festival. (w0wquezon)

A replica of the Lucban Church made of coconut husks. 

Isidore was born to very poor parents in Madrid, about the year 1070. He was in the service of the wealthy Madrid landowner Juan de Vargas on a farm in the vicinity of Madrid. Juan de Vargas would later make him bailiff of his entire estate of Lower Caramanca

The townsfolk trot out their beloved gigantes or giants. Measuring about 14 feet tall, the giants come in pairs, the mag-asawa or couple, a giant man dressed in the peasant's camisa chino or undershirt, and his wife clad in the native patadyong and kimona, a loose skirt topped with a flimsy blouse. Made from papier mache, the giants are borne on shoulders by those who have made it, a panata is made in return for a favor received. 

Buddy's - Dito parang laging Fiesta!

This is the Lucban Church in Quezon, which is almost 400 years old. Said the inscription: ” The first church, built in 1595, was ruined in 1629. The second church was constructed between 1630 and 1640, but was seriously damaged by fire in 1733. The present church was completed in 1738 and the convent in 1743.”

THANK YOU LUCBAN FOR A COLORFUL AND WONDERFUL PAHIYAS EXPERIENCE.

A Soothing Southern Palawan Summer Experience

(Courtesy of Daniel Ken Diamante)

THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO HOLY WEEK, i was scanning photos of previous trips and checking site that would save me from duplicate travel itinerary (puerto galera having the most reruns) and eventually freeing my hard drive from repeat photos.

Scouting for a spot is as challenging as looking for the most affordable fare and accommodation albeit not forfeiting comfort, safety and fun. After all, finding value for your money is identical to looking for a needle in a haystack with our current economic order.

The usual photo op in front of Puerto Princesa Airport... with tita ellen, john and fritz

 

The invitation of my housemate to visit the southern side of Palawan (he comes from Narra, Palawan) fashioned a distinct excitement.  While the mainstream is preoccupied with checking the north, the southern side puts up with a smaller amount of tourists downpour.  With less tourism programs on hand, we decided to urge our way down south.

 

A group picture after a short visit at the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm

Unlike our previous trips, my companions brought some school supplies for the Tagbanua tribe.  The Municipality of Aborlan granted the Tagbanua tribe their ancestral domain making them a conserved community.  I was dreaming for topless Tagbanua women and loin clothed men, but I met cool Tagbanuas with cellular phones, instead. We left the school supplies to the chieftain for their distribution, said our farewells and exchanged thank you.  From the tribe, we made a short trip to the Aborlan Talakaigan River Park and informed that the municipality is saving up for its restoration and hopefully for tourism.  But there is one thing that makes this municipality a big hit: the resorts (like the Camille del Sol Beach Resort) are up for sale at a can-be-arranged-rate.

  

Aborlan Talakaigan River Park

Market of Narra, Palawan

After thirty minutes of almost perpetual beautiful landscape we arrived in Narra, Palawan with almost no hint of exhaustion. Narra, Palawan (formerly called Panacan) was created by the National Resettlement Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) in 1954 to distribute land to previously landless people from other parts of the country.  Many settlements were established from the time of President Magsaysay and the place soon called NARRA.  With its populace focusing on rice farming, it has since come to be known as the RICE GRANARY OF PALAWAN till today. 

Thursday, April 21, 2011, all geared to check the first island of the four islands in our list, the Malunao Islet in Aborlan, we left Panacan on a fishing boat (instead of the usual trigger boat).  The Tourism Department of Aborlan prepared a hefty lunch of crabs, grilled yellow fin, tambakol, other fish species and agar-agar at the stilt in the islet of Malunao Aborlan and gave me my first sand bar experience.

Stilt houses on the islet of Mulanao, Aborlan, Palawan

The best way to harvest agar-agar for lunch and explore the islet of Mulanao

On our way to the Islet of Mulanao.  This is the entrance/exit of Aborlan, Palawan Port

A low tide escapade at Mulanao, Aborlan

A kodak moment...

Arena Island: a marriage of relaxation and adventure.

Friday, April 22, 2011.  When everything was all set, we boarded the same fishing boat for Arena Island: a private island which is a joint pioneering effort by communications leader and businessman Louie Morales and Palawan-born engineer Fuji Rodriguez. Touted as Palawan’s best kept secret, Arena Island is a tropical paradise paradox: secluded yet modern, lavish yet eco-friendly.   (Lily O Ramos)

The Isla Arena Resort: captivating and preserving

You will definitely have fun with the pawikans

The sunset is as captivating as the island itself

Estrella Falls is also a recipient of the 

Hall of Fame for the Cleanest 

and Greenest Inland Body of Water (River Category).

Saturday, April 23, 2011 with so much sea, sand and sun experience, the Estrella Falls trip was fitting to experience a complete summer escape. It is situated at the foot of Mt. Victoria, 6 kilometers away from the highway of Baranggay Malatgao, Narra. Estrella Falls is also a recipient of the Hall of Fame for the Cleanest and Greenest Inland Body of Water (River Category.) Even when the sun is up and scourging, Estrella Falls is always ready to offer a refreshing getaway.

The place is ideal for picnic and just the thing for cooling down. 

Even when the sun is up and scourging, Estrella Falls is always ready to offer a refreshing getaway.

The stillness of the night with stars leading our way 

and the competence of our boatmen gave us warm assurance of security.

Sunday came and we had to pack our things, we could not help but single out our respective best memories while sipping our last coffee.  The one hour drive to Puerto Princesa seemed slow and long with memories impeding us from going. I know this will not be my last one for Narra, Palawan.  For Palawan will always have something new to offer.