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TRAVEL DIARIES: Favorite Things To Do in Asia

November 12, 2014

One of the things I loved about living in Asia is how easy and affordable it is to travel to many Asia-Pacific destinations and how diverse the cultures and attractions are. With a few minutes of googling and planning, plane fares can be had for as little as a few dollars and nice, clean hotels can be found. Seriously! When we were based in Jakarta we wanted to travel a lot on a limited budget so we would book flights a year ahead so we could take advantage of promos, like 10,000 Rupiah flights, and try to find great deals in new or reputable chain hotels, like these, in the area because we are particular about cleanliness. According to TD, chain hotels are more likely to be well-maintained. So far I have to agree.

Here are 5 memorable travel experiences in Asia that I would love to do again!

FOOD TRIPPING IN HCMC

I absolutely love Vietnamese cuisine, specifically South Vietnamese, which is where HCMC or Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) is located. What’s the difference? Their cuisine is sweeter and they serve Hoisin sauce with many of their dishes.

Though HCMC was a literal “food trip” for us, we did not have to feel too guilty because Vietnamese food is filled with so much vegetables. Yet everything is so flavourful and fresh, that we don’t mind eating so healthy.

HCMC-food

L’Usine Bahn Mi for breakfast every morning.

hcmc foodtrip-003

Bun Cha Gio, a vermicelli noodle salad, with fried spring rolls and Nuoc Cham sauce. This sweet spicy salty sour sauce is the secret that makes Vietnamese dishes so addictive!

hcmc foodtrip-001

Half fat and half lean pork BBQ with Vietnamese broken rice at Com Tam Moc

hcmc foodtrip

Crispy soft shell crab at WE Restaurant

hcmc foodtrip-002

THAI MASSAGE MASSAGE IN PHUKET

My favourite massage style in the world is the Thai massage. In Phuket you can get a Thai massage for very little, in huts by the beach. But it’s also worthwhile to pamper myself in a world-class hotel spa. I love the interior design, quality of the products and the Thai masseuses are just amazing. They are soft-spoken, well-trained and attentive to every need. I will never forget the sunset massage that I scheduled by the beach.

thai-massage-phuket

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image: accor 

KL STREET FOOD

It isn’t safe to eat street food in all cities, but in Kuala Lumpur, we enjoyed street food in Jalan Alor without any fear for our health. It was a feast for the senses that I will never forget!

jalan alor KL street food

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jalan alor KL street food-001

Our favourite food find was this barbecued strips of cured pork from Sarak Makanan Yuen Fong. I loved the sweet caramelized burnt bits. We ate it in strips while walking around. We took some home and it is perfect for breakfast with egg and rice. Yum. I’m making myself hungry again. 

EXPLORING MANILA’S WALLED CITY

Intramuros or the “Walled City” (and fort) is the oldest district and historic core of Manila, Philippines. It used to be the seat of government when the Philippines was still a Spanish Colony. They started building a wall around the city in 1590 and continued until the early 19th century to protect it from disaster and other invaders. Though the colonial period was difficult time in our history, I can appreciate the beautiful  buildings and rich history that remain.

intramuros tour manila

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intramuros tour manila-001

Join a Bamboo Bike tour…

bambike-intramuros-tour-manila

…Or get around in a Kalesa (horse drawn carriage)

anglaagan-intramuros-manila-kalesa

I highly recommend the witty, entertaining and irreverent Carlos Celdran as a tour guide. His tours are always super interesting and fun.

UPDATE: Sadly Carlos Celdran has passed away.

anglaagan-intramuros-manila-carlos-celdran

image credits: intramuros | HDR wall | tamayos building | ruins | bambike | kalesa | carlos celdran 

GEM SHOPPING IN YANGON

Myanmar is so rich in gems and semi-precious stones, that they are still affordable to buy if you know where to look in the Yangon Market. Once you get past the produce you will see stalls and stalls of bling! Going with someone knowledgeable about gems and jewelry is highly recommended. Who knew that pink sapphires, yellow jade and so many other unusual gem colors even existed? Spinel, which is even rarer than rubies and sapphires, are sold in packs. Of course because of the price you cannot expect them to be perfect.

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yangong gem market shopping

DIPLO TIP

Normally transportation and accommodations are the biggest chunk of our travel budget. So I’m happy to find out about this destination campaign which guarantees the best prices in hotels like Pullman, Ibis, Novotel, Sofitel, Mercure and hundreds of hotels under the Accor brand. I love their hotels! When I book hotels through the usual websites, I need to wade through a lot of unfamiliar hotels and read so many reviews, just to figure out if I want to stay in a hotel or not.

In our experience chain hotels like Ibis and Novotel are a great bet when we are traveling on a budget and we know that we will be doing a lot of sight-seeing and spending most of our time outside the hotel.  More luxurious hotels like Sofitel and Pullman are amazing splurges for stay-in vacations, when we just want to enjoy the amenities and quality R&R. In fact TD and I stayed in the gorgeous Sofitel Manila for part of our honeymoon.

bangkok accor 1

So when travelling around Asia, don’t forget to check the prices in Accor Hotels before deciding where you’ll stay.  If any of their hotels have offers or promotions, they will be listed in there!  TD and I go through a lot of effort to travel well on our limited budget. You wouldn’t believe the crazy deals that we’ve enjoyed because of websites like these.

Another recommendation I have to get the best value for your money is to sign up for hotel programs like Accor Plus because you can get free nights & up to 50% off food & rooms. It’s well worth the effort for the perks you enjoy.

What are your most unforgettable travel experiences in Asia? I’d love to hear from you!

3 Comments · Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand > Phuket, TRAVEL DIARIES, Vietnam

Comments

  1. Teng R. Formoso says

    November 13, 2014 at 9:21 AM

    Oh, hey, my photo of Intramuros is in this article 🙂 Thanks for linking into my blog site.

    Reply
    • diplomaticwife says

      November 13, 2014 at 10:15 AM

      Dear Teng, I hope you don’t mind me featuring you photo? It is truly a magnificent photograph. Keep up the good work! Thanks for dropping by!

      Reply

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  1. TRAVEL DIARIES: Most Memorable Myanmar says:
    June 23, 2015 at 10:08 AM

    […] who is passionate about jewelry making and design, this experienced has made it to my list of favorite travel experiences in Asia! Myanmar is so rich in gems and semi precious stones, that they are still affordable to buy, if […]

    Reply

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Welcome

Hello! I’m Ayessa, trailing spouse to a diplomat, mama to DiploBaby and DiploDog and founder of Declutter MNL. I love talking about how to achieve a minimaluxe lifestyle one step at a time.

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GOOD TO KNOW GUIDE

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM @UNDIPLOMATICWIFE

I love Halloween because it’s super fun for @dip I love Halloween because it’s super fun for @diplobaby. I love how his eyes light up. Before I was a parent, there was no reason to decorate.

Glad there is now a @gifi.ch near us with affordable HALLOWEEN DECOR & COSTUMES. 🧛‍♂️ 

I hope you enjoy seeing what they have in this short video! 👻 

It’s not lost on me how much plastic is used during Halloween, from the polyester costumes to the decor elements. 

ECO TIPS:

🎃 I usually slowly built up my Halloween decor. I buy 2-4 pieces each year

🎃 I take good care of them & store properly so I can reuse for years to come. It’s never singe use!

🎃 I also don’t throw away as much as possible. If there is damage, I repair.

🎃 If i dont use something anymore, I pass them on to others by selling it for a fraction of the price on Marketplace.

🎃 If it doesn’t sell, I pass them on the Pay it Forward Nyon group or place them in the donation pile in our dechetterie where others can take them.

🎃 if it’s not repairable, I take it apart so that the materials can be recycled.

🍭 As for TREATS, I hate the PLASTIC wrapped candy 🍬 so we usually give PAPER wrapped mini chocolate bars.

⛑️ HEALTH TIP:

If a piece of decor or costume SMELLS STRONGLY OF PLASTIC, DO NOT BUY IT! That’s toxic VOCs leaching into the air. It’s not good for you!

What about you? How do you try to have a sustainable Healthy-ish Halloween?🤪

I usually go in the same costume every year. Change is overrated lol. What about you? Do you know what your wearing this year?

#UDWinGeneva #udwholidays #udwhalloween
HOW NEAR IS @geneveaeroport? We are very lucky th HOW NEAR IS @geneveaeroport?

We are very lucky that the Geneva Airport is very near because it is located 4 km northwest of the city centre. It takes us less than 15mins by car & is easier to get to than airports outside the city.

BUT also means that many of the Geneva residents suffer from AIRCRAFT NOISE POLLUTION. 

In some parts of Geneva, like Vernier, Meyrin, Bellevue, Versoix, etc will have the airplane pass on top of you or very near you. This is something to consider when you are MOVING TO GENEVA & looking for a home.

When we were in @bioparcgeneve recently, it felt like airplane after airplane was going overhead every few mins. The poor animals were screaming each time.

A  report by the European Environment Agency(EEA) in 2017 said that 12% or 73,500 Geneva residents have their hearing disturbed by aircraft noise. Probably the figures have risen with the natural increase population & travel?

“The EEA describes noise as a pervasive pollutant that directly affects the health and well-being of humans and wildlife. Populations exposed to high noise levels can exhibit stress reactions, sleep-stage changes, and clinical symptoms like hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. All of these can contribute to premature mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) reckons that humans exposed to noise levels above 40 decibels at night experience adverse health effects.

Across Europe it is estimated that noise contributed to at least 900,000 additional cases of hypertension in 2011.” - @le_news_ch 

DID YOU KNOW that owners of homes affected by the noise can request for soundproofing to be paid for by GVA? 

Check if your home meets the conditions for FREE SOUNDPROOFING c/o Genève Aéroport here:

https://www.gva.ch/en/Site/Geneve-Aeroport/Questions-Reponses-FAQ/Bruit#

SAVE or SHARE this now with someone you know who might be moving to Geneva or is already suffering from aircraft #noisepollution. 

#UDWinGeneva #UDWgenevagoodtoknow #expatingeneva #diplofamily #expatlife #genevaswitzerland #expatingeneva #filipinoingeneva #pinoyingeneva #movingtogeneva #movingtoswitzerland #movingtogeneva #genevaexpats #switzerlandexpatlife #geneva #genevaswitzerland
MERCADONA HAUL Whenever we go to Spain, we love t MERCADONA HAUL

Whenever we go to Spain, we love to go to @mercadona. It might be small but has a good affordable selection. It’s my thrifty Spanish MIL’s favorite.

We were so lucky that we had a @mercadona right beside our hotel Marina Badalona. Very convenient.
Our favorite things to bring home are:

☕️ frozen porras (bigger than churros)

🐑 baby lamb chops (the only lamb I eat coz it’s not malangsa & all you need to do is fry till crispy in olive oil with S&P) it’s called Chuletas Cabrito but TD calls it lechal 

🐽 chicharon or crispy pork rinds

🥔 Homemade potato chips. The best potato chips for me are from Spain. I don’t know how it’s so much yummier! The olive oil???

🎣 canned Sardines & tuna for me and Yaya B

TIPS:

🧊 For frozen items, we usually ask the hotel before we buy if they can put it in their freezer until we fly.

✍️ I usually bring different sizes ZIPLOCK BAGS, MASKING TAPE & MARKER when we travel so we can put everything in, label with our name and room number.

📸 then I take a photo so we can just show it to the staff and they can easily find it in their freezer.

✈️ When it’s time to pack, I placed our beach towels around the frozen packages coz I know they will SWEAT & I don’t want our other things to get wet 💦 

What  grocery do you usually like to shop for when in Spain? Where do you buy them?

#udwinbarcelona #udwinbadalona #udwtraveldiaries #udwtraveltips #udwtraveltip #diplofamily #filipinotravelblogger #pinayblogger #diplowife #diplomatswife #filipinoabroad #tdwtraveldiaries #takekidseverywhere #travelblogger #travelvlogger #travelvloggerph #filipinoblogger #filipinablogger #filipinavlogger #filipinoineurope #welltraveledkids #expatwoman #pinayblogger #familytravelblog
FREE GEAR RENTAL @boxup.app + OUTDOOR GYM at ISW C FREE GEAR RENTAL @boxup.app + OUTDOOR GYM at ISW Calisthenics Park 

📍Chem. des Tuileries 140, 1293 Bellevue

After the lovely BIOPARC we headed across to this chill park with ample PARKING that had so many things for kids & anyone who wants to move & work out:

⚽️ The kids wanted to kick around a football so we borrowed a ball from @boxup.app (they also have pumps, 🏓, 🏐, 🏀, etc) just download the app & turn on your Bluetooth & follow instructions! Return after 3hrs.

👟 Outdoor gym - this was a huge hit with the kids

⚽️ football - this too!

🏀 basketball court

🏓 Ping-pong 

🏐 Beach volleyball court

🤸🏻 Monkey bars

🛝 small playground

Thanks for the wonderful afternoon guys @lidia_otilia_botezatu! 
How lucky are we to have these beautiful, clean open spaces. And the free rental gear is AMAZING! so convenient.

This is in Geneva, about 15mins drive from where we live.

SAVE THIS on your list of PARKS to visit!

⚠️ WARNING

it’s in the airplane path so there will be loud noise from that. It’s not as close as the bioparc but bring earplugs/earphones if you are sensitive.

#udwingeneva #genevaswitzerland #genevaforkids #diplobaby #diplofamily #filipinotravelblogger #pinayblogger #diplowife #diplomatswife #filipinoabroad #tdwtraveldiaries #takekidseverywhere #travelblogger #travelvlogger #travelvloggerph #filipinoblogger #filipinablogger #filipinavlogger #filipinoineurope #welltraveledkids #expatwoman #pinayblogger #familytravelblog
BIOPARC GENÈVE Yesterday was a holiday in Switze BIOPARC GENÈVE

Yesterday was a holiday in Switzerland (except for Geneva). It was raining & miserable so I wanted to take @diplobaby out for a few hours. Thankfully midafternoon it stopped raining.

We met with our friends @lidia_otilia_botezatu in @bioparcgeneve and had a lovely time in this volunteer run zoo.

TIPS💡

🆓 It’s free for families on your FIRST visit!

🦢 you walk inside animal enclosures so wear shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty/stepping on poop. We wore boots & happy we did

🅿️ there’s parking inside on wood chips, if it’s full there’s another pavement parking (free up to 4hrs) across the roundabout 

🦔 Do not feed or touch the animals no matter how cute they are

🗺️ There are 2 routes (purple & blue) and 1-1.5hrs #diplshould be enough 

❎ Park closes at 4pm

SAVE THIS NOW if your looking for a fun & not too you can do in well und2hrs. It’s nice that you can go inside unlike most zoos so it’s quite unique.

⚠️ WARNING

it’s in the airplane path so there will be loud noise from that. @diplobaby who is super noise sensitive did not mind as much as I thought he would because he was so entertained by the animals.

#udwingeneva #genevaswitzerland #genevaforkids #diplobaby #diplofamily #filipinotravelblogger #pinayblogger #diplowife #diplomatswife #filipinoabroad #tdwtraveldiaries #takekidseverywhere #travelblogger #travelvlogger #travelvloggerph #filipinoblogger #filipinablogger #filipinavlogger #filipinoineurope #welltraveledkids #expatwoman #pinayblogger #familytravelblog
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