tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30467219672795215072024-03-14T20:23:34.755+08:00kin.voyageUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-12001758753898273332016-08-19T21:32:00.002+08:002016-08-19T21:32:33.502+08:00Mamalison Island <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We explored the islands and took some drone shots.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-7700616293362072692016-08-19T13:12:00.000+08:002016-08-19T13:12:00.808+08:00Off to Malalison<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We are currently in Culasi, Antique, waiting for out boat to Malalison Island. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-67383532915509826152016-07-16T18:00:00.000+08:002016-07-20T18:20:32.512+08:00Hang Loose<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">July 16, 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Flowhouse Manila</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was glad to know that Flowhouse Manila is open once again, and that I can again give flowboarding another stab (they closed for several months </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">since January)</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">. I actually had a liking for it in the three times that I 've have tried it. In fact, I think I prefer flowboarding more than wakeboarding. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I rode for two, 1-hr sessions this time. I could see that I am improving. Hopefully I can do this more frequently now.</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-17150828417578234892016-06-10T14:48:00.003+08:002016-06-10T14:48:22.915+08:00In Transit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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June 10, 2016, 3:45pm<br />
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I am currently (with three colleagues from work) in Narita Airport on a 4-hour layover. The onward flight is to Minneapolis, then to St. Louis, via Delta Airlines. We took the 747-400 from Manila, then the 777 to MSP.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-65970800353955502132016-04-16T15:00:00.000+08:002016-07-20T18:21:35.850+08:00Company Picnic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">April 16, 2016</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every year the company I work with conducts a summer outing, with my colleagues in attendance. This year the picnic, which is usually overnight, was held in Club Morocco Resort, in Subic, Zambales. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">I always attend these company picnics, as it's a great way for me to connect with my colleagues, especially those from the different departments. It also means that I have one trip guaranteed for the year, although I don't have a choice to the venue. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We set out early in the morning from the office, around 5 am. There were two buses full plus a coaster of employees who were attending. I was in the coaster, and we were the first to leave as the advanced party. I have the drone with me, and I will be taking some footage to used for a presentation later in the evening. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We arrived just before noon due to some traffic in NLEX, and the fact that the bus did not go through SCTEX, but rather went through Bataan. I took some aerial photos as soon as we arrive. There was some scary moment for me when I flew the drone one time; the wind was blowing strongly that I can see the drone drifting until I wasn't able to see it. I increased its altitude until I was able to locate it again, then struggled to land it near the pool. On my mind, the words "oh no, <a href="http://kinvoyage.blogspot.com/2016/03/a-rock-and-hard-place.html" target="_blank">not again</a>" kept repeating over and over until I landed it safely.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The resort was good enough. The place is spacious, and we have the whole resort for ourselves. The pebble beach is nothing to write home about, but the view of the Subic Bay is great. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were a lot of team building activities lined up throughout the day which kept everyone busy, but we all had the chance to lounge in the pool to cool down and drank a few beers (the temp is scorching so nobody went to the beach well until sundown). More activities were done in the evening. There was a bonfire at the beach after dinner, and more beers flowed until late at night. I was so tired after that I slept until 9 am the next morning. We went back to the metro just before lunch time.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-51017145815816873282016-04-09T11:30:00.000+08:002016-04-12T00:40:32.183+08:00Avgeek<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I took so many photos during <a href="http://kinvoyage.blogspot.com/2016/04/air-force-city.html" target="_blank">the visit to the Clark Air Base</a> that I think a second post is warranted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I saw two more A10 Thunderbolt deep in the apron, but I gt shooed away by a US serviceman, so I just took a photo using the zoom lens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can't get enough of the FA50 aircraft of the Philippine Air Force. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's a video of it being towed to the tarmac as well.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrGqix3AH_QkZZH3nyhC84NCy27GUfV56uqMfONIEr7ieC8fvCS3Ht-GlkEDwsAJ3-e1CBHF5BVSwx8-ZVKasMWNjaHXxG0dsn4A4J8-Kg6YFCprPc24GthrS6WDZa-tJj6F9jqnQEoXV/s1600/Aermacchi+S211+PAF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrGqix3AH_QkZZH3nyhC84NCy27GUfV56uqMfONIEr7ieC8fvCS3Ht-GlkEDwsAJ3-e1CBHF5BVSwx8-ZVKasMWNjaHXxG0dsn4A4J8-Kg6YFCprPc24GthrS6WDZa-tJj6F9jqnQEoXV/s640/Aermacchi+S211+PAF.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before the FA50, the only jets in the PAF inventory are the Aermacchi S211, bought in the late 1980s-early 1990s. They look so small now. It is armed with small unguided 2.75-inch rockets</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibl5Ea66_GE8pBGKNxW9Nmp__HLC4ch6msEHOp4ocnHtLaZ8WW4UiFqkyH55IPybDQ2YiEgsdekduCbGymLW9Gc6ag45htyxo6npLWfI6SjlLzGO8JBCp5dp4-Wwzv7B97vpcyRXOVBN1q/s1600/USAF+E3+Sentry+AWACS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibl5Ea66_GE8pBGKNxW9Nmp__HLC4ch6msEHOp4ocnHtLaZ8WW4UiFqkyH55IPybDQ2YiEgsdekduCbGymLW9Gc6ag45htyxo6npLWfI6SjlLzGO8JBCp5dp4-Wwzv7B97vpcyRXOVBN1q/s640/USAF+E3+Sentry+AWACS.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The E3 Sentry AWACS aircraft with its distinctive radome, which contains the radar. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PmZVUhpjT4tTCv1gVRpBe3i3C-jP7nHNnahIVqyxh0qtqpnCk5vZta0iYZ0X1O9e3N0SCx4lVfVcfZ41J_tP7sHDdATZTOAHDI4DKOEfwy9Ny5T8YaSmLr_panEilBQtNAkXl44q6lOg/s1600/P8+Poseidon+ASW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PmZVUhpjT4tTCv1gVRpBe3i3C-jP7nHNnahIVqyxh0qtqpnCk5vZta0iYZ0X1O9e3N0SCx4lVfVcfZ41J_tP7sHDdATZTOAHDI4DKOEfwy9Ny5T8YaSmLr_panEilBQtNAkXl44q6lOg/s640/P8+Poseidon+ASW.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The P8 Poseidon anti-submarine warfare aircraft, which will replace the P3 Orion. If it looks familiar, it's because it is based on the Boeing 737 passenger jet.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jNUJ0alkq-Ts9hNzuhyphenhyphen8WGE2RKLbihqyKPm214XX3JRHJZH-RVrEAXTl0JfD_XRM4uidYwpJNWKWRtWJGE0IiHxcSK0hcG5r1FtkLE-1TxFmwrbRAltYNmxdo_C2In1w1pkJ31noQlDZ/s1600/V22+Osprey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jNUJ0alkq-Ts9hNzuhyphenhyphen8WGE2RKLbihqyKPm214XX3JRHJZH-RVrEAXTl0JfD_XRM4uidYwpJNWKWRtWJGE0IiHxcSK0hcG5r1FtkLE-1TxFmwrbRAltYNmxdo_C2In1w1pkJ31noQlDZ/s640/V22+Osprey.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The V-22 Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft that enables it to take off vertically like a helicopter.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1KxnIpGxNillwUr34dJa-iA40Ihf_ngAvTaAreo8onYGC0k95QiyA5N6Y0B3OX48OoyIObx1lp4RVMRI5yZrpuki24rvK3iqr4zMGfIngtuyv76IL-EgrLkUTMndYSaUONIw8lXlgamE/s1600/HIMARS+launcher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1KxnIpGxNillwUr34dJa-iA40Ihf_ngAvTaAreo8onYGC0k95QiyA5N6Y0B3OX48OoyIObx1lp4RVMRI5yZrpuki24rvK3iqr4zMGfIngtuyv76IL-EgrLkUTMndYSaUONIw8lXlgamE/s640/HIMARS+launcher.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">US personnel posing in from of the HIMARS rocket launcher.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFUJDtDe0MYANkbfhCKOXlURmOt_uEfpB8iA1lw4BmhMtjc5E5kWl3I4xJtxh0S1nqw942O-tdPH1XeEtzntnxJ9uk6CkVrNH-JXRpxOrh__Nqmcw3j6paQAJaUb2KRuqvpy3tOTM9J8l/s1600/AGM-65+Maverick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFUJDtDe0MYANkbfhCKOXlURmOt_uEfpB8iA1lw4BmhMtjc5E5kWl3I4xJtxh0S1nqw942O-tdPH1XeEtzntnxJ9uk6CkVrNH-JXRpxOrh__Nqmcw3j6paQAJaUb2KRuqvpy3tOTM9J8l/s640/AGM-65+Maverick.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The AGM-65 Maverick missile under the pylon of an A10 Thunderbolt. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-4652386729031227322016-04-09T11:00:00.000+08:002016-04-12T00:40:16.983+08:00Air Force City<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ndV0BgfrotuZIZg3y2iqDZ27mO1pWmX-OWb7817gKjif8gI7FodLH8TJ_0GbO_Q3m6f7yKErs-CwN5DAreODFD4taamv3FJQZ7iWNXhR2z_snIZaEPnwNCDdiG3vKoRDoWqvJsHYYAU_/s1600/20160409_111018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ndV0BgfrotuZIZg3y2iqDZ27mO1pWmX-OWb7817gKjif8gI7FodLH8TJ_0GbO_Q3m6f7yKErs-CwN5DAreODFD4taamv3FJQZ7iWNXhR2z_snIZaEPnwNCDdiG3vKoRDoWqvJsHYYAU_/s640/20160409_111018.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The visit to Clark Air Base in Angeles City this Saturday is apt, as the nation is commemorating the Day of Valor, celebrating the Filipino bravery during the World War II. What a better way to celebrate that by viewing military aircraft that was displayed at the end of the <i>Balikatan</i> military exercises (between the US, Philippine and Australian forces) in Air Force City in Clark?</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFM_irJvIz94dOm1T_rSX4CPHNiheM7ay98AlhfijQDpEAHfLz2TJgidGsVHjnTvxLwDfx4ApDyHmqyuYV-8RvjjiXe3TGXlMTe2Y_hmtAbsBnEkamLScX1mTSppEsNI-6y7vEVOWE7dsg/s1600/20160409_111731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFM_irJvIz94dOm1T_rSX4CPHNiheM7ay98AlhfijQDpEAHfLz2TJgidGsVHjnTvxLwDfx4ApDyHmqyuYV-8RvjjiXe3TGXlMTe2Y_hmtAbsBnEkamLScX1mTSppEsNI-6y7vEVOWE7dsg/s640/20160409_111731.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">KAI FA-50 aircraft</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We set out early, me and my friends from the UP Astrosoc, James and Ramon, (plus two friends of James who tagged along), driving to Clark via NLEX. We arrived there around 10 am, and after registering in the visitor center, went to the hangar to view the aircraft on display.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xaqhbeKk4Z83ZRln5GB1VlmZDOYx7Uqw1WJB2x-vK3oHTnNq1miqzox8YOLS5amISLlUtUtb-y7MNb18k-ZgiLZ0feJq0CpP3OSQVE3t3dolBqYufhEm-FT9E66JS3syKC5jWLAm_hH1/s1600/20160409_113722%25280%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xaqhbeKk4Z83ZRln5GB1VlmZDOYx7Uqw1WJB2x-vK3oHTnNq1miqzox8YOLS5amISLlUtUtb-y7MNb18k-ZgiLZ0feJq0CpP3OSQVE3t3dolBqYufhEm-FT9E66JS3syKC5jWLAm_hH1/s640/20160409_113722%25280%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AugustaWestland A109 Power helicopter</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Among the highlights were the recent purchases for the Philippine Air Force: the KAI FA-50 lead-in fighter trainer, the Italian-made AugustaWestland AW109 Power helicopter, and the PZL W3 Sokol helicopter, made in Poland and used for SAR missions. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbTKhYJhDiojaHDoF1QH1WSHxwifu4qiyGH2h-_mTK04eBlgtu_hn1ErCpqkGSOgy-TvvR8KCErLzz-uMH7LqLMw82lCoZEx6PsEslG1FmjwiH2m8H-xEBm_lOf0MgfY_hh5wuB7DFrzP/s1600/PZL+W3+Sokol+PAF.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbTKhYJhDiojaHDoF1QH1WSHxwifu4qiyGH2h-_mTK04eBlgtu_hn1ErCpqkGSOgy-TvvR8KCErLzz-uMH7LqLMw82lCoZEx6PsEslG1FmjwiH2m8H-xEBm_lOf0MgfY_hh5wuB7DFrzP/s640/PZL+W3+Sokol+PAF.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The Polish-made PZL W3 Sokol SAR helicopter</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was particularly glad to see the South Korean-made FA-50, as it is the first supersonic aircraft for the PAF since the F5 jets were decommissioned more than a decade ago. I think I was fangirling when I saw the two aircraft being towed to the tarmac after doing some flybys over the airbase. I can almost hear Kenny Loggins singing Danger Zone in my mind while I was watching the aircraft flew overhead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I chatted some of the PAF personnel while it was being towed, and I think they were happy with the purchase as well.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvB7pQY9T8_BOYQ1HxCphxUMGEejPHFG9R13qa5qr19PWUjlNFr-hfciEx9docQY8Z7IWDvOsv-4As0FkJU2R1PD2gxk8oy_7rcQ9UXWmV7M6gvbqlQ3dzD70XyDwONTdmatPMiUwKGhTI/s1600/20160409_113324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvB7pQY9T8_BOYQ1HxCphxUMGEejPHFG9R13qa5qr19PWUjlNFr-hfciEx9docQY8Z7IWDvOsv-4As0FkJU2R1PD2gxk8oy_7rcQ9UXWmV7M6gvbqlQ3dzD70XyDwONTdmatPMiUwKGhTI/s640/20160409_113324.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The CH-53 heavy-lift helicopter</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The US military displayed many of their wares too. Among them are the A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft, the P8 Poseidon anti-submarine warfare aircraft, the C-17 Globemaster II and C-130 cargo planes, an E3 AWACS early warning and electronic warfare aircraft, the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, several helicopters (the CH-53, which is the largest in their inventory, and the AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter), and a carrier-based transport aircraft. They also displayed the HIMARS rocket launcher system.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSQWA-yRPzLglrkWvLZ6bNg68lyqlu28Kh810ZG-V3u424dEaBsv3ZEmnMhIDMzyYEe0DzOzqJtsvFsTr62F9GksJq5AnDxLhbdgrFi3mG-KHI-0YSlbr_Xb2L2uCMoXArNWs0TYSD9JY/s1600/20160409_112553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSQWA-yRPzLglrkWvLZ6bNg68lyqlu28Kh810ZG-V3u424dEaBsv3ZEmnMhIDMzyYEe0DzOzqJtsvFsTr62F9GksJq5AnDxLhbdgrFi3mG-KHI-0YSlbr_Xb2L2uCMoXArNWs0TYSD9JY/s640/20160409_112553.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Inside the cavernous cabin of <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">CH-53 heavy-lift helicopter</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There was some talk that a B-52 strategic bomber will be displayed as well, but it was a no-show, so it was kind of disappointing not to see the 50-year old aircraft.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNow2GIsId134derxJkP1pGRKbQAB7EDNuhQm0p45JcNYw72NjJpXJ3PKB42g40SQmi6K9s-HTGHwE9GJPvkqBrk_C5ZPLT-0mlcDGTWfVxGP27GSrfDlQbSWx4SkHq0qqAaLXokWmUOT/s1600/C17+Globemaster.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNow2GIsId134derxJkP1pGRKbQAB7EDNuhQm0p45JcNYw72NjJpXJ3PKB42g40SQmi6K9s-HTGHwE9GJPvkqBrk_C5ZPLT-0mlcDGTWfVxGP27GSrfDlQbSWx4SkHq0qqAaLXokWmUOT/s640/C17+Globemaster.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The C-17 Globemaster strategic lift aircraft</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zckiIrkFWaq55Q3nLjuXbmgY0138jAqauyEPmUUZqpex6-U1q0bBkwVbfwEUdBpvwJ2apqhEHKFHKF7M47fPXDf_q1yOUM1PiNpNzUrz9V1QhuqcH8ZiXWy5OeR9ijis7ukklLd0sDst/s1600/A10+Thunderbolt+Clark.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zckiIrkFWaq55Q3nLjuXbmgY0138jAqauyEPmUUZqpex6-U1q0bBkwVbfwEUdBpvwJ2apqhEHKFHKF7M47fPXDf_q1yOUM1PiNpNzUrz9V1QhuqcH8ZiXWy5OeR9ijis7ukklLd0sDst/s640/A10+Thunderbolt+Clark.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The A10 Thunderbolt</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcyvw8axJr2LZ4N4FvQ-2qPuDW9GveBqDwVMgsj0-wQX4Z2h8Ol-2rjHY8Mbdv_I4jkx0t9ZiXYJWyfPxox5vfLZXhRrZAEGJxjAP5v41VG7oyYBFrtRNhGcSbx71_y-ZRDGnkeTwo2KE/s1600/HIMARS+rocket+launcher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcyvw8axJr2LZ4N4FvQ-2qPuDW9GveBqDwVMgsj0-wQX4Z2h8Ol-2rjHY8Mbdv_I4jkx0t9ZiXYJWyfPxox5vfLZXhRrZAEGJxjAP5v41VG7oyYBFrtRNhGcSbx71_y-ZRDGnkeTwo2KE/s640/HIMARS+rocket+launcher.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The HIMARS rocket launcher</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nx5EIxNKA9paQSNHtT7bod1zZ-VMoajkUcWjWgtCMQAWWuRuGz4VjgYRGPI5WCf_vhYGteUc27OLZ6YZBKgarG5J8SCPMT_zS0rb8pVHJXHbpxmKiIqMnNBmi_bWvpRIE7l6Z1I3F6-v/s1600/20160409_102938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nx5EIxNKA9paQSNHtT7bod1zZ-VMoajkUcWjWgtCMQAWWuRuGz4VjgYRGPI5WCf_vhYGteUc27OLZ6YZBKgarG5J8SCPMT_zS0rb8pVHJXHbpxmKiIqMnNBmi_bWvpRIE7l6Z1I3F6-v/s640/20160409_102938.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Inside the C-17</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the Australians, they showed their P3 Orion ASW aircraft, and while not on the display area, an A-4 Skyhawk attack plane. I went inside the Orion and was able to talk to the pilot and the weapons specialist, querying them them about the weapons and the sonobouys that they use to detect the submarines. I was also able to take some snaps while sitting in the pilot's seat while inside the cockpit.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcLAhE0smUuRo_5rZU1FsQvGH0vMZiCgxjJRfOwQkpUPUrqv2y9l9dPoEyU6mEkV2ec01-Fc-aluaKSDjyH67vKwqPiH4AQWY-JwkCPYTG38P5d5lBKzOO6zbBKjGv8yu1J37qxDHNKFo/s1600/20160409_105019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcLAhE0smUuRo_5rZU1FsQvGH0vMZiCgxjJRfOwQkpUPUrqv2y9l9dPoEyU6mEkV2ec01-Fc-aluaKSDjyH67vKwqPiH4AQWY-JwkCPYTG38P5d5lBKzOO6zbBKjGv8yu1J37qxDHNKFo/s640/20160409_105019.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The P3 Orion ASW plane cockpit</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think the sunburn was all worth it today.</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-1596140499511939162016-04-02T13:07:00.004+08:002016-04-03T00:59:56.990+08:00The Aftermath<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiMSzmMsNFrbNR5BzVfSfZDrghdlV4ZP-606LjVUZGqZm7YtpPJ226C7xAfej3gBy90zf3p1ZwiYXwl6ziv4Klg2B_0NFp2Y7A3UkL93bHQiZlcUy6pzcFNJjtudnJ8UZZsvwvNb08Xfb/s1600/Faculty+Center+fire+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiMSzmMsNFrbNR5BzVfSfZDrghdlV4ZP-606LjVUZGqZm7YtpPJ226C7xAfej3gBy90zf3p1ZwiYXwl6ziv4Klg2B_0NFp2Y7A3UkL93bHQiZlcUy6pzcFNJjtudnJ8UZZsvwvNb08Xfb/s640/Faculty+Center+fire+7.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This post is not really travel, per se, but it's a bit of traveling back in time. I, with my friend James, went to take some drone photos of the University of the Philippines Faculty Center, which was gutted by a fire on April 1. Fortunately the guard and the building administrator gave us their permission to fly the drone from a road adjacent to the building. I promised the admin I'd send him copies of the photos, which he said could be useful in the investigation.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52A_6bZ7JH-lyHt_cCwdbvpNQTvGHDr393YiM_w89bvgHs8pzLA9mt-O-hFHSBpsgOebqmeKxaDt7HvfYx0OcSqRBN-9w5Xn8hfyHoH7ZPRLS5HPIAkNTITOTJNwPS6nBLtXBhgslAWYQ/s1600/Faculty+Center+fire+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52A_6bZ7JH-lyHt_cCwdbvpNQTvGHDr393YiM_w89bvgHs8pzLA9mt-O-hFHSBpsgOebqmeKxaDt7HvfYx0OcSqRBN-9w5Xn8hfyHoH7ZPRLS5HPIAkNTITOTJNwPS6nBLtXBhgslAWYQ/s640/Faculty+Center+fire+4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The building, colloquially</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> called FC by the students and staff, is one of the places in the university that is memorable to me. I used to work there as a student assistant when I was in college (Department of History). Almost all of my History professors hold offices there too, as well as my European Languages and social sciences professors. Almost all of my class cards, with good grades and bad, I claim them in FC. I spend a lot of time in FC in every enrollment period, waiting for the profs to give me a slot in the classes. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjleR6wu2A3Ys8xsoQ_jHTF1II6RfWA9vSnxgbJJLBGjVFjy1UHzKmH0_7Z-y9f7agliErf1tL9Q4ldbDQ8nBuy2ACa_kgT8B9dF7ZdO3skB2OlbsZBrZdjhO7QEdmgKOji4xy-bf-xsXiA/s1600/Faculty+Center+fire+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjleR6wu2A3Ys8xsoQ_jHTF1II6RfWA9vSnxgbJJLBGjVFjy1UHzKmH0_7Z-y9f7agliErf1tL9Q4ldbDQ8nBuy2ACa_kgT8B9dF7ZdO3skB2OlbsZBrZdjhO7QEdmgKOji4xy-bf-xsXiA/s640/Faculty+Center+fire+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The building is very important to the university too. It houses several departments, including History, Anthropology, Philosophy, European Languages, and Linguistics (you'd think Indiana Jones lives here with that amount of scholarship in a small building). I heard from my prof, and from our former department admin assistant, Ate Vicky, that a lot of manuscripts, rare books, thesis and dissertations, and student records were lost in the fire, which really was more tragic than just losing the building itself.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8fvpKOcb0CiBRktcuCvENesrx-YqquMC-V5kcOm9HS6FdtmKYbAd0pTE_sWhyphenhyphenBeFbGlDYY5Az-T3XBvWl-ctat4qDLDMlGJzQnf8zhPXrVSKtzzrJkqnMNqHPBJeaPAcHKdo05aGxWOr/s1600/Faculty+Center+fire+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8fvpKOcb0CiBRktcuCvENesrx-YqquMC-V5kcOm9HS6FdtmKYbAd0pTE_sWhyphenhyphenBeFbGlDYY5Az-T3XBvWl-ctat4qDLDMlGJzQnf8zhPXrVSKtzzrJkqnMNqHPBJeaPAcHKdo05aGxWOr/s640/Faculty+Center+fire+5.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hopefully the University can build back better, and the academic community that has been nurtured by this building can bounce back. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgar8IVYhyphenhypheni2InXv-AjYJES86KtP1V8K_m4blBQh8jmL0JDK4-v0XPJHfdHGINWh5JjsOj36wuk44c-jEl5J_fjxElFEDFYrsEeArvNK1rrBlMavXQ39AYCBR0ciXzdNzEa-9qlMqWfVfN/s1600/Faculty+Center+fire+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgar8IVYhyphenhypheni2InXv-AjYJES86KtP1V8K_m4blBQh8jmL0JDK4-v0XPJHfdHGINWh5JjsOj36wuk44c-jEl5J_fjxElFEDFYrsEeArvNK1rrBlMavXQ39AYCBR0ciXzdNzEa-9qlMqWfVfN/s640/Faculty+Center+fire+6.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0ua4p9m0RM8rsmxazRM7HvS9-U604-oYTWLx0yrbj00D6w4bGYj5l112JF40SZ_6L3mvgWIlQJXmUHYnltn6iAwDBDijyayWdxdbV13EtiYnrXQ8CgD5ihgd0YbNnQIsecjqjNGIVTs9/s1600/Faculty+Center+fire+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0ua4p9m0RM8rsmxazRM7HvS9-U604-oYTWLx0yrbj00D6w4bGYj5l112JF40SZ_6L3mvgWIlQJXmUHYnltn6iAwDBDijyayWdxdbV13EtiYnrXQ8CgD5ihgd0YbNnQIsecjqjNGIVTs9/s640/Faculty+Center+fire+8.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's a video too: </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-39021364741774091082016-03-24T16:00:00.000+08:002016-03-27T21:22:04.919+08:00A Cruise in the Fragrant Harbour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoS4opjZnDHdwi0CqDNllrg8-B9Omnynx1kfheWewrMAl1gYP2C2HsUSEbufJsLcoUHJ3nfTVoBOhO8-D5QYiAslgxkjR6PO4DnMiWOJP8N2dP4KqVMagkMSnayEJDr1mMwohIUF_QdjH/s1600/20160324_180911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoS4opjZnDHdwi0CqDNllrg8-B9Omnynx1kfheWewrMAl1gYP2C2HsUSEbufJsLcoUHJ3nfTVoBOhO8-D5QYiAslgxkjR6PO4DnMiWOJP8N2dP4KqVMagkMSnayEJDr1mMwohIUF_QdjH/s640/20160324_180911.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Hong Kong Day 1</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGhdvsFNrXJlL1ZRwhw40eqtNd9aDv9-LI9o1C4h0TLuQ3I_Wc__OyAxpaJDJk9mb5dCCTfoaj45rboT9Q4gkNRx2LXEcF4zua4DIrxHsgLi_o_DFYaBo3TlukZ6ZiShyU7RsxTbCVi8o/s1600/IMG_20160324_072517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGhdvsFNrXJlL1ZRwhw40eqtNd9aDv9-LI9o1C4h0TLuQ3I_Wc__OyAxpaJDJk9mb5dCCTfoaj45rboT9Q4gkNRx2LXEcF4zua4DIrxHsgLi_o_DFYaBo3TlukZ6ZiShyU7RsxTbCVi8o/s200/IMG_20160324_072517.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the Holy Week I joined Arvy and his family on a trip to Hong Kong. Though it my third trip to HK, it's been five years since I've been to the former British colony (the last time was with my mom, in 2010). We flew via Philippine Airlines, on a morning flight on an Airbus A330-300. The flight was pleasant enough; it left on time, and the aircraft is spacious. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bus ride from the airport to Causeway Bay, where the hotel is, was a bit of a doozy. We were all standing for most of the 1-hour trip, and the driver was a bit of a speed demon, zigzagging along the freeway like he's racing to the john or something. It was rainy (and cold) when we reached Causeway Bay, and after a bit of navigation, reached the Park Lane Hotel (it was swanky!).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wIayG7NbkYDfBlDE4V_HHBEits-4o5jSFI-d8OEVQUTg4CfhVBomyeioo-_1W52IHhJNoneHC-2RTc4TbSKTiBAEI9X8Ru2-a54xSY_Z00d-ZuJe5S_cmhy98QE27sJLCGY3V67ShL4Z/s1600/IMG_20160324_130730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wIayG7NbkYDfBlDE4V_HHBEits-4o5jSFI-d8OEVQUTg4CfhVBomyeioo-_1W52IHhJNoneHC-2RTc4TbSKTiBAEI9X8Ru2-a54xSY_Z00d-ZuJe5S_cmhy98QE27sJLCGY3V67ShL4Z/s200/IMG_20160324_130730.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After resting for a bit and having a late lunch we took a cab to the Central Pier to take a cruise around Victoria Harbour. The historic harbor was instrumental for Hong Kong becoming a trading center, and it offers the best place to see the city from a different point. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cruise started around five in the afternoon and it lasted for about an hour, making a circuit around the harbor and stopping in three piers, in Central, Wan Chai and Tsim Tsa Tsui. It was rainy at times so the sky was overcast and there are times we stayed inside the boat, but most of the time we were on the deck taking pictures and admiring the view.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gYznhsq0qSbM2O1_mA1KJ7eEX2sKeHuTI-h1n1Z8moo2lIOxT3cnomIFzW0n8kCuyjfnVH_yngDXlkl4-I3v6DUmR6d_XMmSqPRU8NGUee4nIKRoisB5fLz1Puq_cqasff-Vm551-R6z/s1600/Chinese+junk+Hong+Kong.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gYznhsq0qSbM2O1_mA1KJ7eEX2sKeHuTI-h1n1Z8moo2lIOxT3cnomIFzW0n8kCuyjfnVH_yngDXlkl4-I3v6DUmR6d_XMmSqPRU8NGUee4nIKRoisB5fLz1Puq_cqasff-Vm551-R6z/s640/Chinese+junk+Hong+Kong.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IuRqYyy4WYEhd5cLp5rNF43b0tV26BFNJW4Ir61V1UynPUUF4WAEbwrZDlUx_MJwG8HbaqiaYbpKBwfDOkmWZVuE_KIzb68jLTY-v2IMzoyeTOEdNYU10onYhp7PWXTW4P-Pr48Yh1-d/s1600/IMG_8675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IuRqYyy4WYEhd5cLp5rNF43b0tV26BFNJW4Ir61V1UynPUUF4WAEbwrZDlUx_MJwG8HbaqiaYbpKBwfDOkmWZVuE_KIzb68jLTY-v2IMzoyeTOEdNYU10onYhp7PWXTW4P-Pr48Yh1-d/s320/IMG_8675.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was able to pick out the interesting buildings and structures that frame the Hong Kong skyline as the cruise progressed, and I noticed there are a lot of changes from since I last visited. I also saw several Chinese junks lumbering along, as well as large cruise ships bringing in tourists, aside from the hulking container ships laden with goods.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As dusk approaches the skyscrapers started lighting up, the neon lights of the buildings giving color to an otherwise gloomy sky. The cruise completed the circuit as the boat docked in Central Pier, and we disembarked and made our way One Financial Ceter, to stop by the Apple Store, then to Central Station to catch the MRT to Causeway Bay and back to the hotel. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-19567107559328408582016-03-20T14:53:00.000+08:002016-03-20T22:25:50.393+08:00A Rock and a Hard Place<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is still painful to write.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I spent my Saturday exploring the Tinipak River in Tanay, Rizal, which is about 2 hours or so from Metro Manila. Tinipak River, which is located at the foot of Mt. Darait, a popular climbing spot near the metropolis. I woke up early to get a van from Starmall and the trip to the town was uneventful. I then got a motorcycle to go to the village of Daraitan - about 22 kilometers over paved and unpaved, rocky two-lane roads. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the rainy season this bridge will be unpassable</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The driver told me that it was his first time to bring a passenger to Daraitan, and I think he was regretting it when we drove over the rough road. We have to stop a few time to ask for directions too. After a while w</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">e crossed a wooden bridge to get to the village. After I then paid the driver, and registered in the <i>barangay</i> hall. I got a guide, Michael, who will accompany me on the hike.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looks like an alien landscape</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The from village the hike to the rock formations is about 45 minutes to one hour, depending on the stops you're making. There were a number of people, mostly in groups, at some point on the trail. We stopped several times for me to unpack and assemble the drone. I managed to fly it with no issues on the first two instances, although it has a bit of difficulty acquiring GPS signals, we being in a deep gorge. It is something that I should have taken as a foreboding for something later on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael made some small talk and commentaries about the place and the visitors while we were trudging along the trail. The sun was almost high up, washing the landscape with a harsh light and making it look like a setting for a sci-fi movie set on an alien land. I can feel the sunburn coming as we continue. White boulders are everywhere, as if strewn by an ill-tempered giant done playing with his toys. The surfaces are almost smooth, the products of millions of years of water flowing through, carving the the deep gorge where we are passing now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At last we reached the end of the trail, and the formations here are more impressive than the ones we so far passed. The gorge is very deep too (about 80 meters, according to the drone's data). I survey the place, admiring the magnificent view and surveying for a spot to launch the drop. I took some photos with my ActionCam and phone too. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I assembled the drone after finding a suitable area. I turned it on and and waited for it to acquire its GPS fix, which it did after a long time. I launched it and it's kind of difficult to control, it drifting from side to side. I managed to take many great dramatic pictures. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The real drama was when I was trying to land it. The plan was to let it hover a meter from the ground and then catch it, as there wasn't a lot of even surface in the area. We almost succeeded but then this idiot of a girl suddenly barged in while taking a selfie. She was almost hit by the drone; I was able to pull it just in time to avoid her face. The drone continued up, drifting on the side for a bit. I was struggling to control it, as it continued to ascend and drift. It veered to the right and clipped a branch of the tree growing at the top of the gorge. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My heart sank as I see it fall, tumbling down and hitting the side of the cliff, then splashing into the water. Michael and I clambered over the rock to reach the other side. He also called another guide, who dove into the water to search for the drone. We managed to recover the body, which was immersed in the whirling waters. The gimbal was smashed to smithereens, and the battery was lost. The camera module, </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">miraculously, did not fall into the water, and still intact with the memory card (and the priceless photos) inside it. It was a cosmic <i>consuelo de bobo</i>, if there was ever was one. </span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had to sit to gather my faculties while trying to dry the smashed drone with my shirt. I felt like crying, replaying the final moments before the crash and going over what should and shouldn't have happened. After a while I signaled to Michael that we should be going back. On the way we made a detour to a camping area with a clump of balete providing shade to rest. I took a dip in the river while I was there, hopefully to wash the regrets I had.</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">When we reach the village I hired a habal-habal to take me to town, then took a van back to the metro.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">This was a sad day.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-15676090528088544052016-03-06T11:00:00.000+08:002016-03-20T23:49:05.929+08:00Hoverboard Part Deux<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Soon after the flyboard session I did another round of hoverboard riding at Networx Jetsports. Hoverboards are a new-ish invention of Zapata Sports as well (not the silly-looking land version that seems to have an inkling for starting fires). This is more looks like what happens when a snowboard and a vacuum cleaner gets freaky on a Friday night - a contraption the size of a snowboard, attached to a ginormous hose connected to a jetski. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Like the hoverboard the jets of water propel you and the contraption. It is also more difficult to ride than the other, and so far I have only mastered the basics. I was able to let it jump out of the water too, and let it stay aloft for second or two. This was <a href="http://www.boardinggate101.com/2015/05/riding-hoverboard-in-subic.html" target="_blank">my second time</a> to ride it, and I think I am more confident this time. I didn't fall as much, and I was able to control the board more and make turns without much difficulty. It rode it for 11 minutes straight without falling once, as the video shows (I created it into a timelapse to shorten and make it faster). </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-87467389997147824282016-03-06T10:00:00.000+08:002016-03-20T12:15:20.534+08:00Flyboarding in Subic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I went flyboarding in Subic today. Flyboarding is the new-ish extreme sport invented by Zapata Racing. It involves a board, similar in size to a snowboard, a long and large hose connected to a jetski, and some contraption with nozzles attached to your feet. I </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Arvy and I drove yesterday to the freeport but we arrived late in the evening (we stayed overnight in Venezia hotel), so all activities were pushed back to Sunday. I was able to do <a href="http://www.boardinggate101.com/2013/06/flyboarding-in-subic.html" target="_blank">flyboarding twice already</a>, always in Network Jetsports, which is located in Waterfront Road in the Subic Freeport. I was gonna do flyboarding and hoverboard (no, not the silly contraption that has the tendency to burst into flames, but the one you use in the water; I will cover that in the next post).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I did the flyboard first, and this time I was more confident and I did not fall on my face as much as I did the last two times. I think I was able to balance it now more often than not, and I avoided tipping over that could cause me to fall into the water. I still can't do tricks, like the 360 maneuver, I think I have to have more practice to be able to do that (and I really have to workout my core, too).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The other difference now is that we have the drone this time, so while I was in the water, Arvy was piloting the drone to take some photos and videos. I liked them very much, they looked cool, and they give a new perspective of the action. Arvy was a bit tentative to lower the drone, because the water jets from the other passing jetskis might get it wet. Still it was a great opportunity to use the drone and get some awesome footage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More about my previous experience in flyboarding <a href="http://www.boardinggate101.com/2013/06/flyboarding-in-subic.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-24813230228719565862016-02-28T10:30:00.000+08:002016-02-29T17:51:30.245+08:00Puka Beach<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The highlight on my last day in Boracay was a quick trip to the far end of the island, to Puka Beach. It is named after the <i>puka</i> shells which made up most of the beach. I took my drone there as well, and I was able to take several breathtaking photos.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-76317794348528025332016-02-28T08:30:00.000+08:002016-02-29T17:51:39.333+08:00White Beach Ninja<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I brought my drone to Boracay because I wanted to take photos of the island from a different vantage point. I also know that White Beach will be too crowded, and flying a drone safely can be tricky. I have a suspicion too that it might not be even allowed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Beach, facing Willy's Rock</td></tr>
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So what I did was I woke up early, before 8 am and set down to the far end of the beach, towards Willy's Rock. I found a patch of the beach (it was also low tide, which gave me a bigger real estate where to launch) where there's not a lot of people, and assembled to drone there. I launched it as soon I have it ready and flew it to about 60-65 meters and took photos and a video of white beach. I thought I had the money shot for the whole trip.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drone selfie</td></tr>
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I packed up as soon as I had the photos, and went back to the hotel for breakfast.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-19987025534945834312016-02-27T18:30:00.000+08:002016-02-29T17:51:47.963+08:00Dive and Paddle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was raining hard like half the day in Boracay. We thought Arvy's flight will be canceled (I heard some flight were). Luckily the flight pushed through and Arvy arrived in Boracay late noon. After lunch we went to the beach and decided to do helmet diving. I thought it's something we won't be doing any more because both of us had experience scuba diving already, but it was a kind of different experience altogether.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From Station 1 we were whisked to a platform at the sea, and then we were given instructions on what to do and expect while helmet diving. It's like a diving bell of old, only that it has a clear face plate so you can see, and the helmet resembles the headgear of a hydrocephalic Stormtrooper. It's heavy too - 35 kilos normally, but we were told it will weigh like 2kg underwater. As soon as I descended I realized that I haven't scuba dived for a while. I had difficulty equalizing and my ears hurt like crazy for a while.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We spend about 15 minutes under water. There were some underwater sculptures there and we fed the fish too, which is always cool. Arvy went up first after a while then I signaled that I was ready to go up too.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BCSXd6MhNmZ/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A video posted by kin | BoardingGate101 (@boarding_gate101)</a> on <time datetime="2016-02-27T10:50:25+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 27, 2016 at 2:50am PST</time></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back in terra firma we went walking in the beach again until somebody offered to rent out a stand-up paddleboard. I took up his offer and I spent about an hour paddling. It was better than the last time I tried it in San Juan. I was able control and make turns better, and I didn't fell off as much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was famished afterwards; we had dinner at an Indian restaurant called True Food before retiring in our room. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-30162920264796704632016-02-26T22:07:00.002+08:002016-02-29T17:52:27.516+08:00Boracay Again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiog6xtXfnczZyI9hgMtebqwpVAyy2zai1S4TsPHPFZmBSaNsGKCSLbO6FU8xUIAPhZehyaHUUmTm898YSMCtIoc7jzLZWYyq-_ilZO4f27q1vBEu9q_p5XvmbvHqtWCuuB5XUIgGj5L3jj/s1600/PICT_20160226_174049-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiog6xtXfnczZyI9hgMtebqwpVAyy2zai1S4TsPHPFZmBSaNsGKCSLbO6FU8xUIAPhZehyaHUUmTm898YSMCtIoc7jzLZWYyq-_ilZO4f27q1vBEu9q_p5XvmbvHqtWCuuB5XUIgGj5L3jj/s640/PICT_20160226_174049-01.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm currently in Boracay for a three-day weekend. This is my fourth trip to the island, the first of which was in 1999, then in 2007, then in 2013. Incidentally the trip in 2007 was the one that started this wanderlust of mine. It was after I spent my birthday week here that I started making trips almost every month until now.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBOiIPaM_TqyJ4fXp-2KgszwynWGXOMBNecMiyolS4P4bbraDArni9gp2jvmSDrbxETe4LztIX52stMGNx2XLYuw2xFgMC8Fgka3V6_Kpaei_IlEZW4SZVykT-XbWQ5WqR-nqRxfQ5Ouy/s1600/IMG_20160226_142115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBOiIPaM_TqyJ4fXp-2KgszwynWGXOMBNecMiyolS4P4bbraDArni9gp2jvmSDrbxETe4LztIX52stMGNx2XLYuw2xFgMC8Fgka3V6_Kpaei_IlEZW4SZVykT-XbWQ5WqR-nqRxfQ5Ouy/s640/IMG_20160226_142115.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I flew here via Skyjet Air, which uses a British Aerospace BAe-146 regional jet (I flew on the same airline last December to Busuanga). The plane was late, so my initial plan of scouting a place in Puka Beach for launching a drone was scuttled. I spent most of the afternoon just walking around White Beach, and I got a massage in the evening after dinner.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIT7wY2cyLsyGbVNaR4KJP5QFuenh4MyukmfxHeUOgGfagto9jmxOFSCnBtQLzJLptR7FLPkQZ4923rEL9NWApEjzfF40Em5k59MqbXCFJhwU92vIFyJMIWEd0F44-C98gXg5FEdTPrlal/s1600/20160226_174649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIT7wY2cyLsyGbVNaR4KJP5QFuenh4MyukmfxHeUOgGfagto9jmxOFSCnBtQLzJLptR7FLPkQZ4923rEL9NWApEjzfF40Em5k59MqbXCFJhwU92vIFyJMIWEd0F44-C98gXg5FEdTPrlal/s640/20160226_174649.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boracay still has its charms but it seems to be getting more crowded everytime I come here. It has gotten too mainstream also, the McDonald's and Starbucks can attest to that. There are also a lot of visitors from mainland China now (before it was the Russians, then Koreans, who frequented the island). I noticed that they spend a lot too; they buy even the lamest touristy trinket on sale. Which is good for the local economy I guess.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am staying in Hey Jude, which was just a bar before. The place is adequate, I chose only the standard room when I booked. The WiFi isn't working so I am blogging using my 4G connection. I wanted to check out Epic but I might just turn in early tonight.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-3135929303560666262016-02-08T19:34:00.003+08:002016-02-29T17:53:29.531+08:00Boarding and No Liquid Policy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_Cq8bKFWYEDdpc6-mi6xIpyo-0w89p8LmHpkW3bG7cxs9Orx_6Jjvs4NlUu7317UqxrQqLBAV-CZEzg8SQI-Ra-LsUBu4PkhXVS9OwsGzgYjwxqzHY9uhtRbtIuTxlPgQwSRuS1r7vzo/s1600/20160208_194105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_Cq8bKFWYEDdpc6-mi6xIpyo-0w89p8LmHpkW3bG7cxs9Orx_6Jjvs4NlUu7317UqxrQqLBAV-CZEzg8SQI-Ra-LsUBu4PkhXVS9OwsGzgYjwxqzHY9uhtRbtIuTxlPgQwSRuS1r7vzo/s640/20160208_194105.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got through the whole check-in and immigration process with no snags until I got to the final security check. I didn't realize that ICN is very strict with the 100-ml limit for liquids. I hand-carried Silvia and Min's New Year's gift for me, an LG box (I didn't know LG also manufactures cosmetics and toiletries) of shampoo, conditioner and toiletries, and they caught it in security check. Since the 3 bottles of shampoo and conditioner is already equal to 600 ml (and I'm also carrying a bottle of contact lens fluid in my handcarry, I was given the choice of going back to the check-in counter or have them confiscated. I opted for the latter since I don't want to fall in line again (sorry Silvia).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhG28smOLONbNkSRmZNp00AsezJCatIIY78sK9Gm-o9iO0w2bwOIEhWYEN2wqELqqd0CMXgLBL_Oql4siogx6zzmnhUuOiXTAsJpGV7WbIpT1Stv_83koOw-Qyp_5gqJpSjfNuwgqTvQj/s1600/20160208_194956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhG28smOLONbNkSRmZNp00AsezJCatIIY78sK9Gm-o9iO0w2bwOIEhWYEN2wqELqqd0CMXgLBL_Oql4siogx6zzmnhUuOiXTAsJpGV7WbIpT1Stv_83koOw-Qyp_5gqJpSjfNuwgqTvQj/s640/20160208_194956.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am now at the boarding gate waiting for my flight. I'm still bummed about losing three bottles of shampoo. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-57010307182339114592016-02-08T17:00:00.002+08:002016-02-29T17:54:15.684+08:00Gangnam Style <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWoR-DWrnVigZxDSPLPAWuc5Klh26sTRzZr_1S61IErngKsSwbU4jyae_SUhx8iTX9hyJTPwHY9MVQBdNf95t4LlgSEVzPwsqGhQxX5nLYAypfFjKTt5aMfPSfkZTG79OUjDbXP5cwBS6/s1600/20160208_140453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWoR-DWrnVigZxDSPLPAWuc5Klh26sTRzZr_1S61IErngKsSwbU4jyae_SUhx8iTX9hyJTPwHY9MVQBdNf95t4LlgSEVzPwsqGhQxX5nLYAypfFjKTt5aMfPSfkZTG79OUjDbXP5cwBS6/s640/20160208_140453.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After packing my luggage I made two quick trips today, before I head out to the airport. First, around noon, I went back to Namdaemun market to pick up some pasalubong - a shirt for my brother, ref magnet with "Seoul" for my mom, and aome colorful socks that seems to be in rage in Seoul now. The area is mostly empty, because it's the Chinese New Year.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFLJf0BKE3KlWHJC27a-DEEPVFFSL4bUoNpoXV9eKiP6BqMMOzuRFbjNquaoOAosyE-3TKyP_O6z7txLi2DVPEdtxSOX6UIbvcFSIhGyrwAqjsl5BvZQrwOaCBeYYGEcriBGqYtHAk6nJ/s1600/20160208_131525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFLJf0BKE3KlWHJC27a-DEEPVFFSL4bUoNpoXV9eKiP6BqMMOzuRFbjNquaoOAosyE-3TKyP_O6z7txLi2DVPEdtxSOX6UIbvcFSIhGyrwAqjsl5BvZQrwOaCBeYYGEcriBGqYtHAk6nJ/s640/20160208_131525.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From there I went to check out Gangnam, the area in Seoul with the most expensive real estate prices. One could say this is the playground of the 1%, and made famous by that eponymoua song by Korean artist Psy. It did look the park, probably rivaling Fifth Avenue or the Magnificent Mile. It probably more dazzling in the evenings, unlike during a hazy, cold afternoon when I went there.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUh3HXrDZuxwk2uywwQBMHXlbJTXQeFM9l8yEZ3NKUaUTDYgMTlvwrH6DRjKboh6JDRbwEMCBx87Y5WeUHmZBMu0Zh-ug8eYODZ8LETqNrn18dF9-k80zo-HznHVlFYF96Y9yNNCyIB9U/s1600/20160208_170034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUh3HXrDZuxwk2uywwQBMHXlbJTXQeFM9l8yEZ3NKUaUTDYgMTlvwrH6DRjKboh6JDRbwEMCBx87Y5WeUHmZBMu0Zh-ug8eYODZ8LETqNrn18dF9-k80zo-HznHVlFYF96Y9yNNCyIB9U/s640/20160208_170034.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From Gangnam I went back to the hostel to pick up my stuff and continued on to Incheon Airport. My flight is around 9pm local time so I may have to find creative ways to kill time while I'm there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the airport is quite impressive, probably better than Changi or Chep Lap Kok. Any American airport won't be able to hold a candle compared to this one I think.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The xheck in counter is atill closed when I arrived so I ate at a cafe called Paris Baguette. I noticed that they use a lot of foreign wotds, like Fremch, for foreign branding in Korea (the chain Tous Le Jours comes to mind). Their cheese Danish is delicious.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-24344159577663025832016-02-08T09:26:00.000+08:002016-02-29T18:02:29.100+08:00Reconnecting with Old Friends <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2dFdPzT4GVMr0RPCI0KLb-zGjx3bLkhJD981DtsFtzGQZB4hGz1FjUKUcJjAlyOxAgP-jq-9wXy3hXoq719kQcC5kSJK2Z6TsRi5oBw5qC1EGNN1_Y_fFdHwYTF042xRMkGb9HvMtDWB/s1600/20160207_221433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2dFdPzT4GVMr0RPCI0KLb-zGjx3bLkhJD981DtsFtzGQZB4hGz1FjUKUcJjAlyOxAgP-jq-9wXy3hXoq719kQcC5kSJK2Z6TsRi5oBw5qC1EGNN1_Y_fFdHwYTF042xRMkGb9HvMtDWB/s640/20160207_221433.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chef Chaouen,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Samcheong-Dong , 9 pm Feb 7</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was in college I tutor Korean students to augment my allowance. Two of my students were Min and Silvia. They met in Manila and eventually got married and have two kids. I met them (and their family) today in Seoul after so many years. We met at a hip resto owned by Min's brother, in a gentrified neighborhood called Samcheong-dong . He closed it down early so they can host me; i felt so honored for that. I was great to reconnect with them after a long time. We got to chat over a nice dinner (another one for the night, and more soju!). In a way they were the travelers before and I have met them again, with me doing the traveling this time. What's a better travel story than that? </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-2579104266873931722016-02-08T09:15:00.002+08:002016-02-29T18:00:34.443+08:00Samgyeopsal and Soju<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrE76OdM5ANYE4mHs237utRIfxYJDZaFVFi93JmNnMjkhMdnETaifYynwAcOKucPRNrHWXE4YS9CVwX4ij_38p1_FQyIuACk2yJZPyvVzX0DmNVDwm5FnA-oN4aJPbpHPrTdIY3VPqf1A/s1600/20160207_183438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrE76OdM5ANYE4mHs237utRIfxYJDZaFVFi93JmNnMjkhMdnETaifYynwAcOKucPRNrHWXE4YS9CVwX4ij_38p1_FQyIuACk2yJZPyvVzX0DmNVDwm5FnA-oN4aJPbpHPrTdIY3VPqf1A/s640/20160207_183438.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hongdae, 7pm, Feb 7</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The owner of the hostel invited us guests to have dinner in a local restaurant in Hongdae serving very delicious samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly slices served with kimchi, garlic, lettuce leaves, and mushrooms). We washed it down with soju and beer. It was a great time to bond with my fellow guests at the hostel and some locals, and a great way to sate my hunger after the whole day at the ski resort. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-27948442066270277542016-02-07T17:02:00.002+08:002016-02-29T18:03:14.896+08:00Bunny Slope for a Never-Ever<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZQ_3Zp5xtL4seoWlxyZ-eVWaZFT81ZkdaNhd3Sr-tmUkUCbGv8qLH96jawzHfyOyIZlt3R-sDFUk1gbwbQQXv7VJs4qw6GOQPtNq83mIZDqz1Uphk5wJDuaHi0uNeiQbrhI-NTT3Alau/s1600/DSC08594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZQ_3Zp5xtL4seoWlxyZ-eVWaZFT81ZkdaNhd3Sr-tmUkUCbGv8qLH96jawzHfyOyIZlt3R-sDFUk1gbwbQQXv7VJs4qw6GOQPtNq83mIZDqz1Uphk5wJDuaHi0uNeiQbrhI-NTT3Alau/s640/DSC08594.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went skiing today for the first time. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-80905188227764628862016-02-06T13:09:00.000+08:002016-02-29T17:59:54.025+08:00The Unintended Trip to Incheon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQhhggzkPPSn2kR94rTuQ48Sx8h2d6GKbF9yTQI2Y7UXjlP9sHyudOTnawtCq7co442VoH0s9xPk9PeK5-yBHv8eclWMZgncNLx5OmPnuNKuAH9d5Fz0YgCtxuj4KtUEwvB37m9njfP8B/s1600/20160206_115414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQhhggzkPPSn2kR94rTuQ48Sx8h2d6GKbF9yTQI2Y7UXjlP9sHyudOTnawtCq7co442VoH0s9xPk9PeK5-yBHv8eclWMZgncNLx5OmPnuNKuAH9d5Fz0YgCtxuj4KtUEwvB37m9njfP8B/s640/20160206_115414.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I somehow doing an unintended trip in Incheon today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got up around eight and I got to the Gangbyeon station to get a bus to Jisan ski resort. I got on the bus to Incheon, thinking that it was the immediate stop before that, but I got the rude awakening when I asked the tourist officer inside the Incheon bus terminal that I should be in Icheon.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3nsmemGKgMnoI0YfmqmgXuOwsEEojDVI8FyqUUEqnzy_aGj3JVvOBncgb4VoLdIzCSk667l1wX59jIUjCzJlNzr2YeDxepIg8QQ7nsMlxpuislCNwjUuJKCdVNsEYHRx8ewOpXn_bMqB/s1600/20160206_115250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3nsmemGKgMnoI0YfmqmgXuOwsEEojDVI8FyqUUEqnzy_aGj3JVvOBncgb4VoLdIzCSk667l1wX59jIUjCzJlNzr2YeDxepIg8QQ7nsMlxpuislCNwjUuJKCdVNsEYHRx8ewOpXn_bMqB/s640/20160206_115250.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It was already almost twelve by then that I decided to just put off the ski trip for another day and instead go back to Seoul. I took another bus (the red one with 1400 number) and it went through the city that it felt like I boarded a tour bus. The unintended tour actually made it less the booboo less sucky.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievqSKo4G3fNeNmn4tNOqPj-2S6PCUyA4TcKsP0R4ewIxlFHPW-ceCsu1r5q3TqDJYpa1RR8NDxVLZEH8V6_s6b1siSwdp8AEx_v3u1amY7zGTVXxJkoYUgI0eL6a8U4pjYoWC6HNEqvDQ/s1600/20160206_134356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievqSKo4G3fNeNmn4tNOqPj-2S6PCUyA4TcKsP0R4ewIxlFHPW-ceCsu1r5q3TqDJYpa1RR8NDxVLZEH8V6_s6b1siSwdp8AEx_v3u1amY7zGTVXxJkoYUgI0eL6a8U4pjYoWC6HNEqvDQ/s640/20160206_134356.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I got to the hostel I talked to the owner, DJ, who then helped me book a day ski trip to Jisan but one which I will be picked up from the hostel so it will save me the trouble of commuting by myself. It's also cheaper that the published rates on the website too. Added bonus to make up for today: DJ cooked some lunch and served me a big portion, and he gave me a pack of Mycoal handwarmers as a gift. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-46754486604516473062016-02-05T22:42:00.003+08:002016-02-29T17:59:11.976+08:00Changdeokgung<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgfqt1K0O24GsG0ZL5p0KIKIljkP6TIsrVrDhfUSGP0lCn7Z9ba_SEDQzNAMTNWhe-UyoT-HaM3r45rKFxv1cesWwgIIJ6QjmvdzpiSgn9pLIzMPOdYhgdVZMiMKdRrTHhFtB-jraxydI/s1600/DSC08377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgfqt1K0O24GsG0ZL5p0KIKIljkP6TIsrVrDhfUSGP0lCn7Z9ba_SEDQzNAMTNWhe-UyoT-HaM3r45rKFxv1cesWwgIIJ6QjmvdzpiSgn9pLIzMPOdYhgdVZMiMKdRrTHhFtB-jraxydI/s640/DSC08377.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Changdeokgung is the first UNESCO World Heritage site that I visited in South Korea, and my ninth overall.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8VZjgjjO4LO93U-jh2hU6cPQuZ2VHi-CxAmh4RKXm46Gg_52meRP6ETvt41sDYXsAbNPbEngRt8ymn1738C0_f2zTuehosntRoxsAiXd1QlotWxr42P3jrCMV2WKmi7ZMMWw0Z6EirV9/s1600/DSC08402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8VZjgjjO4LO93U-jh2hU6cPQuZ2VHi-CxAmh4RKXm46Gg_52meRP6ETvt41sDYXsAbNPbEngRt8ymn1738C0_f2zTuehosntRoxsAiXd1QlotWxr42P3jrCMV2WKmi7ZMMWw0Z6EirV9/s640/DSC08402.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I mentioned Changeokgung was a palace constructed in 1405 by the Joseon dynasty, which ruled Korea for five centuries, starting in the 14th century. The palace was initially built to function as a secondary one, but its role eventually got more important to the royalty.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYilnDZolZnRyEHdslotKdP4zG9UocicLBl5Pjuh-7Olu30K2JElcSMzP26Q-5buj2oqjkDYOnjI4Ob5XQn54P7d91bmQ0clOe3Piy0wGcAnswm3hTHOUD1KBJmYwoP5fQLLl4VWxjBKD/s1600/DSC08391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYilnDZolZnRyEHdslotKdP4zG9UocicLBl5Pjuh-7Olu30K2JElcSMzP26Q-5buj2oqjkDYOnjI4Ob5XQn54P7d91bmQ0clOe3Piy0wGcAnswm3hTHOUD1KBJmYwoP5fQLLl4VWxjBKD/s640/DSC08391.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was late in the afternoon when I arrived at the complex; I had difficulty navigating and decoding the subway map at first. It was also starting to get cold, according to Google Now the temp when I was there was 1°C but felt like -1°C due to wind chill factor. I find it hard to take pictures; either I fumble with the gloves on, or my fingers feel like freezing whenever I take them off to click the shutter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There weren't a lot of visitors when I was there. There were a young Korean couple in costume taking selfies, and a very noisy mainlander. The couple even asked me to take their photo when I passed them by.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I explored the complex by going from one building to the other. The visit to the palace was actually my introduction to Korean history. I don't remember it was mentioned substantially when I was taking up North Asian history in UP. Of course their history is tied up with Japan's and China's, though I understand that it is an sensitive topic even until now.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdLdXKih_rV3Cfu3B9uly3LMG4SoeN-S4x4LTs7NzXBlHfaWy3MIOf-XsSJCw-_do4a24zeX_izCT1tGruVRfVNlfbuW4ZkcF_8aBUiqAX0C_eosMLuk65Bl2M09DhSj0LGckUEtLpLo6/s1600/IMG_8287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdLdXKih_rV3Cfu3B9uly3LMG4SoeN-S4x4LTs7NzXBlHfaWy3MIOf-XsSJCw-_do4a24zeX_izCT1tGruVRfVNlfbuW4ZkcF_8aBUiqAX0C_eosMLuk65Bl2M09DhSj0LGckUEtLpLo6/s640/IMG_8287.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got as far as the residence of the king's concubine. There was a section called The Secret Garden, which was the area where the royalty used to relax, but I didn't get the ticket for it, so basically my exploration ended in the concubine's house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am planning to visit a few more historical landmarks in Seoul in the coming days so I hope that my understanding of Korea's history and culture will further deepen by then. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-76567525677020233352016-02-05T06:03:00.000+08:002016-02-29T17:56:17.236+08:00South Korea, Day 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">February 5, 5:53am, Sky View Lounge</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My first trip of the year is off to a start. I'm already done with my check-in and immigration procedures, and I'm currently having some breakfast at the Sky View Lounge in NAIA T3 while waiting for boarding. I got in as a perk for my card, which is great since I don't have to buy ny grub and it's so much nicer to wait while seating in padded seats away from the crowds in the boarding gates. I'm flying AirAsia Zest, a budget airline, and I'm waiting for my flight inside a business class lounge. <i>Langit at lupa</i>, as they say in Filipino.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll be boarding in about 30 minutes so my next update will be when I land in ICN.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gHW0cG9UvxKFdKN-isIIiZ4hTb6ULknKIfixs8rs3r0tEdIQ3PfQD8yet3dZ-lPWpKNmWnhTBnBFl0o9Hz7I0cWmCKUQRDpf0l8zhFtcrOQGEVqtEDDizeGkM8yvb1IlAxvc2enj80ud/s1600/DSC08340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gHW0cG9UvxKFdKN-isIIiZ4hTb6ULknKIfixs8rs3r0tEdIQ3PfQD8yet3dZ-lPWpKNmWnhTBnBFl0o9Hz7I0cWmCKUQRDpf0l8zhFtcrOQGEVqtEDDizeGkM8yvb1IlAxvc2enj80ud/s640/DSC08340.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12 noon, Incheon International Airport.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We landed ahead of schedule. Going through immigration was a breeze, and I was able to buy a top-up subway card and a ticket for A'Rex, the high-speed train going to Seoul. I was impressed by how modern the station is. The service is also very efficient, and fast. We left around 1:30pm</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTApP3s0zLJZsyiLjsi1q7Nk7bSVg4dCNB_BUZFKluGMs4hO4Q0bh6cen52E0ijNX7ruhSLQ_AGOhl09L00jwAcCvirgEaubQU646LH4yV4RP-Y1JH3DQe86iQLugdqK7nctXIDsOciGgo/s1600/DSC08359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTApP3s0zLJZsyiLjsi1q7Nk7bSVg4dCNB_BUZFKluGMs4hO4Q0bh6cen52E0ijNX7ruhSLQ_AGOhl09L00jwAcCvirgEaubQU646LH4yV4RP-Y1JH3DQe86iQLugdqK7nctXIDsOciGgo/s640/DSC08359.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2:12pm Seoul Station</span></div>
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This is the last and only stop of the A'Rex service. I need to get another train to Hongdae, where my hostel is.</div>
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3:00pm Time Travelers Party Hostel</div>
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I was finally able to find the hostel. I had to take a detour to a Starbucks near the Hongik Station so I can get some hot <i>macchiato</i>, WiFi, and find my bearings. The person manning the concierge is an Aussie named Troy. He's helpful enough, and I asked him about where to sign up for the DMZ tour. After checking in I went up my room to freshen up and fix my things. I will be going round the city after this.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4:00pm Changdeokgung</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After wasting some time finding the right line and station to get on and off I finally was able to locate and reach the Changdeokgung via subway. The palace was constructed in 1405 by the Joseon dynasty. The complex was composed of several buildings, including a throne hall, the residences of the king, the crown prince, the queen and the king's concubine. There was also a secret garden where the royalty relaxed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was almost dusk when I was done exploring the complex so I didn't go on to the next on my list. I went back to the hostel instead, dropping by a local restaurant to grab some dinner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8:00pm, Hongdae</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After dinner I took a shower to freshen up (even if it was -1°C outside). I recharged the battery of my phone, and went down to the common area of the hostel to talk to Troy about how to get to Jisan, which I plan to visit tomorrow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After our conversation I went out to explore the area around Hongdae. It was bustling, the crowd mostly young people from the universities around it. The area is full of pubs, cafés, restaurants and shops, like that one above that sells lingerie. I got too deep into exploring the area that I forgot where I started and wasn't able to go back right away. Good thing there was free public WiFi in the area and I was able to get my bearings using Google Maps. After a while I got back to the hostel to call it a day.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046721967279521507.post-43136929818768173852016-02-04T21:33:00.001+08:002016-02-04T21:33:16.424+08:00Hello, world.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BBMeXETBNiL/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by kin | BoardingGate101 (@boarding_gate101)</a> on <time datetime="2016-01-31T07:23:49+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 30, 2016 at 11:23pm PST</time></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Welcome to my new travel blog. I decided to have a new one since I thought that the BoardingGate101.com, unintentionally or otherwise, </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">has</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> morped into a travel guide of sorts, and the spontaneous stuff that I wanted to tell about my trips would seem out of place in there already. I also wanted to have a blog where I can concentrate with telling my adventures while on the road and not worry about SEOs and how it would rank in the SERPs. I am also tired of trying to come up with click-bait posts in the quest for more views, and I'd like to go back to the original intent of having a travel blog - to tell travel stories. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">While I will still maintain the other travel blog, this one will be updated more often, while I am traveling, akin to an online diary or a live blog. I will reserve Boarding Gate to featuring places and activities that I think could be interesting to the readers, while here I will be writing "live" updates during the trips, and will concentrate on stories and musings that generally won't fit in a travel guide-type blog. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With that I am launching this blog to coincide with my first foreign trip of the year (and my first abroad since I visited Thailand with my mom last April 2015). Tomorrow I am flying to Seoul, South Korea. I will be posting updates here for my first visit to that country, so keep posted on those. I'm also planning several trips for this year so I think this blog will be busy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cheers!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0