Archive for August, 2008
“Travelling is Learning, Phuket Leg, Part 1”
“SAME, SAME, BUT DIFFERENT”. I read this phrase in a black t-shirt worn by a co-passenger who turned out to be a Filipino. He explained to me that this phase is popular in Thailand. When Thais meet Filipinos, they will say, ”Thais and Filipinos are same, same”, to our kababayans with the purpose of establishing a friendly rapport. This happens during introductions or even during shopping time when a Filipino will haggle with a Thai sales clerk for discount on the price of an item.
Read More..>>“Travelling is Learning:Malaysia Leg, Part 2″
After my breakfast, Manny advised me to buy a ticket of the KL Hop-On, Hop-Off City Tour Bus ride. For only 38 RM, the ticket will allow me to have unlimited bus rides on the Hop-On, Hop-ff buses for 24 hours. The buses have a fixed route around the major tourist areas of Kuala Lumpur. You can get off at any point on the route, do shopping or simply walk around for souvenir photos and ride again on next Hop-On, Hop-Off bus to go to the other points of the route. I decided to buy the KL Hop-On, Hop-Off City Tour Bus ride because KL does not have an EZ-LINK like Singapore. Although they have several MRT lines, just like in the Philippines, they have not interconnected yet and you have to buy ticket every time you ride the MRT.
Read More..>>“Travelling is Learning: Malaysia Leg, Part 1″
A country’s historical past (referred to as kaagi in cebuano which according to modern-day historian Inquirer’s Ambet Ocampo is more appropriate word to use) plays a vital role in its development. Take the case of Singapore. As a former British colony, English language is widely used by the Singaporeans. Another legacy of the british colonial era of Singapore is its efficiency as a trading hub. Products from as far as the Malaysian peninsula (another former British colony) were brought to the harbor of Singapore using the railway system for shipment to Europe. The Railway System is a major monumental infrastructure established by the British colonizers and left behind after the colonial era.
Read More..>>Travelling is Learning:Singapore Leg, Part 2″
While on board the MRT East West Line, I realized that about 1/3 of the route was built underground as the train sped up into an underground tunnel the same way that majority of the train lines in Hong Kong are also built underground. This really fascinate me as back home in Manila the only underground portion of our MRT is that less than half a kilometer stretch on Aurora Boulevard in front of National College of Business and Arts. Yet, 30 years ago, we considered Singapore and Hong Kong as economic laggards as we regarded ourselves as one of the leaders in the region. But the reverse is true today, we are left behind economically!
Read More..>>“Travelling is Learning:Singapore Leg, Part 1″
I totally disagree with what my friend told me that one should not travel to foreign countries if he or she does not have enough budget to spend for a luxurious trip. I have always been a true believer that aside from formal education that one gets from schools, traveling is the second most effective tool for learning, for acquiring new knowledge.
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