Expenses for Seoul, Korea (2014)

		Individual Expense	Group of 4
Day 1
	travel tax	1620
	terminal fee	550
	airport limo	10000
	taxi to hotel	1250	5000/4
	TOTAL	PhP2170
		KRW11250
Day 2
	T card	2500
	T card load	10000
	bfast at pomato	2000	4000/2
	snack (korean pancake)	1167	3500/3
	gyeongbokgung entrance	3000
	late lunch at korean resto	3000	6000/2
	ref magnet	2000
	winter jacket	6000
	bingrae banana drink	1200
	TOTAL	KRW31867
Day 3
	brunch at korean resto	4000	8000/2
	pasalubong (daiso)	4500
	bb cream	8900
	cardigan	9000
	dinner at outback	8800	17600/2
	TOTAL	KRW35200
Day 4
	DMZ tour	46000
	late lunch at shinsegae	3750	7500/2
	grocery at Lotte Mart	22470
	TOTAL	KRW72220
Day 5
	bfast at pomato	2750	5500
	souvenir	16000
	snack (sweet custard bread)	1000
	taxi to gwangjang market	1000	4000/4
	dinner at gwangjang market	3000	12000/4
	TOTAL	KRW23750
Day 6
	bfast at Shinsegae	4940	9900/2
	tea	5500
	taxi to airport	750	3000/4
	airport limo (bus)	10000
	TOTAL	KRW21190
	RT airfare (no baggage)	6588.37	19765.11/3
	hotel accommodation (5 nights)	4058.72	16234.85/4
	TOTAL	PhP10647.09
	TOTAL (without airfare & hotel)	PhP2170 + KRW195477 (PhP8171) = PhP10341
	TOTAL EXPENSES	PhP20988  (KRW1=PhP0.0418)

Visual Adventure: Siem Reap

Suggested Itinerary for Siem Reap, Cambodia

 

Day 1

PM

745pm - flight to Siem Reap (3 hours)
930pm - arrive Siem Reap (Siem Reap is 1 hour behind of Manila)
1045pm - check-in at hotel

 

Day 2 (Angkor Wat & Angkor Thom)

AM

7am - bfast
8am - off to Angkor Wat
815am - buy Angkor Pass
825am - arrive at Angkor Wat
-Angkor Wat
11am - lunch

PM

12nn - head to Angkor Thom
1215pm - arrive at Angkor Thom
- South Gate
- Bayon
- Baphoun
- Terrace of the Elephants
- Terrace of the Leper King
- Royal Palace/Phimeanakas
- Ta Phrom
430pm - head back to hotel
6pm - Dinner buffet & Apsara Show

 

Day 3 (City Tour)

AM

715am - bfast
8am - off to Tonle Sap Lake
9am - arrive at Tonle Sap Dock
- Chong Kneas Floating Village
11am - lunch at Pub St.

PM

1pm - explore Angkor National Museum
4pm - checkout local supermarket
430pm - ice cream break at Swensen
530pm - souvenir & pasalubong (gifts) shopping at Old Market

 

Day 4 (Rolous Group)

AM

715am - bfast
8am - tour Rolous Group
- Lo Lei
- Bakong
- Preah Ko
- Banteay Samre

PM

1230pm - lunch
130pm - continue with temple hopping
- Banteay Srey
330pm - drop by Landmine Museum
4pm - head to Pre Rup for sunset
420pm - wait for sunset
530pm - sunset
7pm - dinner
9pm - souvenir shopping at Old Market

 

Day 5 (Grand Circuit)

AM

5am - off to Angkor Wat for sunrise
520am - wait for sunrise
6am - sunrise
730am - more temples!
- Preak Khan
- Neak Phean
- Tasom
- Bantay Kdei
11am - head back to Siem Reap
1122am - stop by hotel
12nn - lunch

PM

2pm - rest at hotel/late checkout
7pm - head to airport
10pm - flight to Manila

 

Day 6

AM

2am - arrive at Manila (Manila is 1 hour ahead of Siem Reap)

 

NOTA BENE: This itinerary has been scheduled this way to accommodate my elderly parents' physical limitations and to minimize temple fatigue.

 

 

 

Expenses for Siem Reap, Cambodia (2012)

		Individual Expense	Group of 3
Day 1
	taxi to airport	160
	dinner	132.53	397.59
	travel tax	1620
	terminal fee	550
	TOTAL	P2462.53
Day 2
	Angkor Pass	40	120
	lunch	6	16.75
	apsara dinner buffet	12
	tuktuk	4	13
	tuktuk tip	0.33	1
	TOTAL	$62.33
Day 3
	Tonle Sap boat	20
	boat driver tip	1.67	5
	guide tip	1.67	5
	lunch	10.42	31.25
	Angkor National Musuem Entrance Fee	12
	scarf (2 pcs)	3
	keychains for pasalubong (18 pcs)	9
	swensen ice cream	1.5
	tuktuk	4.33	13
	TOTAL	$63.59
Day 4
	lunch	8.17	24.5
	dinner	8.33	25
	magnet (5 pcs)	3
	Landmine Museum Entrance Fee	3
	tuktuk	8.67	26
	tuktuk tip	0.33	1
	tuktuk tip to night market	0.33	1
	TOTAL	$31.83
Day 5
	tuktuk	6	18
	lunch	6.84	20.5
	hotel (4 nights)	30	120
	tuktuk tip to airport	0.33	1
	TOTAL	$43.17
	RT Airfare (no baggage)	P3504.55	P10513.65
	TOTAL (without airfare)	P2462.53 + $200.92
	TOTAL EXPENSE	P5967.08 + $200.92 =   P14,204.08 ($1=P41)

Suggested Itinerary for Jakarta, Indonesia

 

Day 1

PM
755pm – flight to Jakarta (4 hours)

 

Day 2 (Jakarta)

AM
1155am – arrive at Jakarta (Jakarta is 1 hour behind of Manila)
115am – taxi to hotel
155am – arrive at hotel
7am - bfast
8am – busway to Monumen Selamat Datang
845am - photo op at Monumen Selamat Datang
850am - taxi to Sarinah Shopping Mall
9am - exchange peso for rupiah, souvenir shopping, buy lunch
11am - taxi to Monas
1110am - buy admission ticket/s, lunch, wait in line

PM
1252pm – start tour
220pm - walk toward the direction of Musueum Nasional
235pm – tour of Musueum Nasional
405pm - walk toward the direction of
418pm – photo op in front of  Istana Merdeka (Presidential Palace)
430pm - taxi to Old Town
445pm - arrive Old Town
450pm - street food trip
5pm - dinner
645pm - bargain shopping
720pm - taxi to Komplek Rasuna Epicentrum
810pm - malling
845pm - back to the hotel

 

Day 3 (Taman Mini)

AM
8am - bfast
9am – busway to Taman Mini
930am - arrive Taman Mini
1140am - lunch

PM
310pm - Mini Nonumen Selamat Datang
420pm - busway back to downtown
6pm – dinner
642pm - walk back to the hotel
8pm - freshen up
9pm – taxi to airport
945pm – arrive at airport

 

Day 4

AM
1225am – flight to Manila (4 hours)
525am – arrive at Manila (Manila is 1 hour ahead of Jakarta)

 

 

Behind Closed Doors: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

 

Behind the doors of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library lies a treasure trove. Aside from the various presidential memorabilia inside, the breathtaking panoramic view of the hills painted with the awe inspiring colors of nature outside are a sight to behold. They are reasons enough to make a visit.

You can just drive up and spend an afternoon in the courtyard and enjoy the sunset or dine at the Reagan's Country Cafe. The courtyard and the cafe is accessible to the public without entering the museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definitely a great place for a picnic date up in the mountains or a place to go with your parents or grandparents if they love a little piece of US history.

 

 

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum
40 Presidential Drive
Simi Valley, California 93065
(800) 410-8354

Hours of Operation:
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Sunday
(except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day)

Admissions:
Ages 18–61: $15.00
Ages 62+: $12.00
Ages 11–17: $9.00
Under age 11: Free

 

 

 

A Taste of Middle East: Shomal Kebabs & Curries by Hossein

 

Experience the Middle East through Chef Hossein's culinary masterpiece at Shomal Kebabs & Curries. There will be a lot of choices. They serve a variety of Persian, Indian and Arabian cuisine. Do not be intimidated by the unfamiliar entries on their menu, as the staff are very friendly and very willing to help.

 

 

The restaurant will not disappoint as to its interiors, impressive, just like the desert landscapes. Dressed in Arabian style,  colors of the middle east can be seen all over the place - from the chandelier to the walls to the placemats. Whether you prefer open space or private nooks, there is a place for you.

 

 

 

 

 

Whatever you choose from their diverse menu, rest assured, it will be bursting with flavor. The saffron rice will surprise your palate. Even the grilled tomato is very flavorful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Witnessing the impressive desert landscapes and getting to know its extensive history might be far from your immediate plans, but their delicious food at Shomal will open your world and will intrigue your palate as to what the Middle East has to offer.

 

 

Shomal Kebabs and Curries
• Unit 4005 Level 4 Trinoma Mall,
• EDSA North Avenue Quezon City
• (632) 901-5613
• http://www.hosseins.com/

 

 

 

* photos taken with an iphone.