RetroTravel: Singapore

Surprising Singapore never stops to surprise its guest. And I was one of them when I had the opportunity to visit it on a very short overnight trip. One of the surprises was that I thought as one of the most progressive country in South East Asia region, you'll expect a lot of skyscrapers and all industry scene around but it was a "forest city" or shall I say a city in a forest. What I mean is that aside from high-rising buildings, the country is green! With so much ornamental plant landscapes and trees lining in cluster in every corner of the city, I would say Singapore is an eco-friendly country which I really admire.

The icomic landmark of Singapore - The Merlion.

Another one was there is a quite large no. of Indian ethnicity in Singapore. All I expect were Chinese descent but there are citizens already, immigrants and some were making a living in the country. It also surprises me that Singaporeans are fashionable people. They go in what is "in" in style and trend of clothes... making shopping in some of the places quites expensive. The trip was so short as it is not enough to enjoy the place. That's why I'm planning to go back there. It is on my list of the countries I want to visit again. Hopefully, my target is this year. I want to go back. It's a shame, but I haven't seen the famous Merlion!


Singapore is a city-state in Southeast Asia. Founded as a British trading colony in 1819, since independence it has become one of the world's most prosperous countries and sports the world's busiest port. Combining the skyscrapers and subways of a modern, affluent city with a medley of Chinese, Indian and Malay influences and a tropical climate, with tasty food, good shopping and a vibrant nightlife scene, this Garden City makes a great stopover or springboard into the region.
Singapore is a small country on a small island, but with over four million people it's a fairly crowded city and in fact second only to Monaco as the world's most densely populated country. The center of the city — consisting roughly of Orchard Road, the Riverside and a chunk of Chinatown — is known in acronym-loving Singapore as the CBD (Central Business District).


Singapore is a microcosm of Asia, populated by Chinese, Malays, Indians and a large group of workers and expatriates from all across the globe. Singapore has a partly deserved reputation for sterile predictability that has earned it snickering descriptions like William Gibson's "Disneyland with the death penalty" or the "world's only shopping mall with a seat in the United Nations". Nevertheless, the Switzerland of Asia is for many a welcome respite from the poverty, chaos, and crime of much of the Asian mainland, and if you scratch below the squeaky clean surface you'll find more than meets the eye. Singaporean food is legendary, with bustling hawker centres and 24-hour coffee shops offering cheap food from all parts of Asia, and shoppers can bust their baggage allowances in shopping meccas like Orchard Road and Suntec City. In recent years some societal restrictions have also loosened up, and now you can bungee jump and dance on bartops all night long, although alcohol is very pricey and chewing gum can only be bought from a pharmacy. Gambling casinos will be opening up in about 2009 as part of Singapore's new Fun and Entertainment drive, the aim being to double the number of tourists visiting and increasing the length of time they stay. (Wikitravel: Singapore)

Everything is Singapore Airlines at Changi Airport

It was in this Singapore trip that I was first able to see and use the NAIA Centennial Terminal 2. Philippine Airlines was solely operating in the terminal. And our flight was an early 7am flight to Changi Airport. NAIA Centennial Terminal 2 was spacious, modern and very clean. The atmosphere is so light as the exteriors and interiors were designed in white colors to give spacious and light feeling. On the other hand, Singapore's Changi Airport is one of the biggest airport I have seen. Interiors were decorated with orchids (which is their national flowere, specifically - Vanda Miss Joaquin) and ornamental plants. Arriving and departing passengers were mixed in flow as there are no seperate dividers for the flow. Recently, I heard they opened Terminal 3 of Changi. And base on pictures of what I saw, it is giving again a superb facility design.

We stay at the Ate Cita's residence, a Filipino immigrant and resident with a business in the country. We visited the shopping disctricts in Orchard Road. We take a look at its shopping malls around. There also quite many shops selling latests gadgets of cellphones and disk players. Some of the istalls are owned by Indians. Be ready to walk the mile long road of this shopping district as it can be tiring for a day to explore it. But Orchard Road is beautifully toured at night where all lights are lit up and people troop the streets.

Boat Quay.

City overview at night.

Those are just few places I have been in avery short trip. Anyway, below are the districts where most of the places of interests can be visited from Wikitravel: 
 * Riverside (Civil District) — Singapore's colonial core, with museums, statues and theaters, not to mention restaurants, bars and clubs.

* Orchard Road — Miles and miles of shopping malls. Bugis and Kampong Glam — Bugis and Kampong Glam are Singapore's old Malay district, now largely taken over by shopping.
* Chinatown — The area originally designated for Chinese settlement by Raffles, now a Cantonese enclave in predominantly Hokkien Singapore.
* Little India — A piece of India to the north of the city core.
* Balestier, Newton, Novena and Toa Payoh — Budget accommodations and Burmese temples within striking distance of the center.
* North and West — The northern and western parts of the island, also known as Woodlands and Jurong respectively, form Singapore's residential and industrial hinterlands.
* East Coast — The largely residential eastern part of the island contains Changi Airport, miles and miles of beach, and many famous eateries. Also consists of Geylang Serai, the true home of Singapore's Malays.
* Sentosa — A separate island developed into a resort, Sentosa is the closest that Singapore gets to Disneyland.

Sentosa is one of the places that interests me. It was developed into a popular island resort complete with beaches (artificially-made), hotels, restaurants and bars to specially cater to tourists. It is also where a famous oceanarium Underwater World located. What I also like is that all transportation in Sentosa (except taxis) are free. But basic admission to the island costs $3 per person. Other admissions charges to other places are not included. Sentosa, which means peace and tranquillity in Malay, is visited by some five million people a year. Attractions include a two-kilometre long sheltered beach, Fort Siloso, two golf courses and two five-star hotels, and the upcoming Resort Worlds at Sentosa, featuring the new theme park Universal Studios Singapore to open at 2010. I have read that some places are quite pricey but this will definitely be part of my itinerary when I visit Singapore again. More info here... Click and these too. 

I am also fascinated with the Merlion - Singapore's symbolic icon. Too bad i haven't seen the Merlion ladmark, so definitely it will be in my itinerary on my next visit. The Merlion is an imaginary creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. Its name combines "mer" meaning the sea and "lion". The fish body comes from Singapore's ancient name back when it was a fishing village — Temasek — meaning "sea town" in Javanese. The lion head represents Singapore's original name — Singapura — meaning "lion city" in Sanskrit and Malay. There's a statue one in Merlion Park near the Singapore CBD and one in Sentosa. It has also been featured in many souvenir items. More info here.

Singapore is one of the most cosmopolitan city in the world. It is one of the most prosperous country today too as it has a progressive economy. I think it is also one of the most livable place in the world. They have reliable systematic mass transportation like Mass Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit that covers most points of interest to visitor so getting around is easy. Plus Singaporeans are mostly fluent in English so it is easy to get acquainted with them. And because it is a "forest city" expect clean air to breathe and less pollution in this cosmopolitan city of Asia.

Sentosa Island.

Siloso Beach - an artificial beach in Sentosa Island.

There are rapid developments in Singapore's tourism. Casinos are legalized and up-scale resorts, water theme parks, concept stores and hotels are building up for Resorts World at Sentosa which will also feature Universal Studios (a first in the region to open in 2010). Marina Bay are also in the works to feature casinos, gardens and parks cater to especially to the growing tourism industry of the country. When all attractions completed it is expected to boost tourism growth and expects to visit by millions of tourists including me! 

With all this interesting developments and new attractions in Singapore, then I can't wait to explore it again. Learn more about the surprising Singapore see Uniquely Singapore.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------
RetroTravel: Singapore is my travel recollection to Singapore last November 10-11, 2000 and is part of my RetroTravel series where I share my old travel trips in the past during pre-digital picture era of my travels. Some photos are from flickr.com and credited to the following: ktelontour, piratheepan and sutanto.

RetroTravel: Cebu

Destinations for Summer 2009 is endless. One of the worthy destinations to see, feel, taste and experience is Cebu! The "Queen City of the South" offers numerous sights and places to discover for a perfect summer retreat. My visits to Cebu was so limited. It was a one day short visit. I mean, we hop on the plane on the first dawn flight to Cebu and returns on the same day on the last evening flight. So one day is not enough. I didn't get to see much of the places of interest in Cebu so I wish to go back soon and explore it again.

Cebu is one of the provinces of the Philippines. It is located to the east of Negros island; to the west of Leyte, and Bohol islands. It is located on both sides by the straits of Bohol (between Cebu, anlong narrow island stretching 225 kilometers (140 miles) from north to south, surrounded by 167 neighboring smaller islands, that includes Mactan Island, Bantayd Bohol), and Tañon (between Cebu, and Negros). Cebu is a an, Malapascua, Olango, and the Camotes Islands. Of the hundreds of small islands some are uninhabited which make them popular with tourists.

Cebu City is the capital city of Cebu in the Philippines, and is the second most significant metropolitan center in the Philippine Islands. The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu, and is the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. Cebu is the Philippines' main domestic shipping port, and is home to more than 80% of the country's domestic shipping companies. Cebu also holds the second largest international flights in the Philippine Islands, and is a significant center of commerce, trade, and industry in the Visayas, and Mindanao region. According to the 2007 Philippine census, the city has a population of 798,809 people. Cebu City is the center of a metropolitan area called Metro Cebu, which includes the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Talisay, Naga. Metro Cebu has a total population of about 2 million people.

Honestly, because of the very short trip in Cebu we even don't have souvenir photos of visitng the place. The places we have been were the Taoist Chinese Temple, SM Mall (where we bought boxes and boxes of Dried Mangoes), Marcelo Fernan Bridge and Mandaue City Public Market for danggits! ^^

Here are the other places to visit within the Cebu City area:
The Basilica of Santo Niño, also called Basilica del Santo Niño, Basílica Minore del Santo Niño and formerly known as the San Agustin Church prior to its elevation as a Basilica Minore, is a 16th century church in the heart of Cebu City, Philippines. It is purportedly built on the exact spot where the image of the Santo Niño, a sculpture depicting Jesus as a black Holy Child, was found by Spanish conquistadors in 1565 preserved in a burned wooden box which was left behind during the 1521 Magellan expedition.

Fort San Pedro (Fuerza de San Pedro) - a military defence structure, built by Spanish and indigenous Cebuano labourers under the command of Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi and the Spanish Government in Cebu. It is located in the area now called Plaza Indepedencia, in the Pier Area of Cebu City, Philippines.

The Lapu-Lapu shrine - a 20-meter bronze statue in Punta Engaño, Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines, erected in honor of Rajah Lapu-Lapu, a native chieftain who defeated Spanish soldiers, and Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan on 1521.

Magellan's Cross - a Christian cross planted by Portuguese and Spanish explorers as ordered by Ferdinand Magellan upon arriving in Cebu in the Philippines on April 21, 1521. This cross is housed in a small chapel next to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño on Magallanes Street (Magallanes being the Spanish name of Magellan), just in front of the city hall of Cebu City. Magellan's Cross is a symbol of Cebu City and the chapel's image can be found in its city seal. It is also seen as the symbol of Roman Catholicism and a tourist attraction in the Philippines.

The Magellan shrine - a large memorial tower erected in honor of the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. The spot is believed to be the area were Magellan was killed in the Battle of Mactan on 1521, Philippines. The monument measures 30 metres high and it is located in the place of Punta Engaño, Mactan Island, Cebu.

Marcelo Fernan Bridge - an extradosed cable-stayed bridge located in Metro Cebu, Cebu in the Philippines. It spans across Mactan Channel connecting Cebu Island to Mactan Island.

Built in 1972, the Cebu Taoist Temple is located in Beverly Hills Subdivision in Cebu City. The temple was built by Cebu's substantial Chinese community. With an elevation of 300 meters above sea level, the temple is a towering, multi-tiered, multi-hued attraction accessible by three separate winding routes. There is nothing much to do in the temple. One could enjoy moving around the temple in an hour. The entrance to the temple is a replica of the Great Wall of China. The temple includes a chapel, a library, a souvenir shop and a wishing well. The spacious balconies offer a scenic view of the downtown Cebu. Also noteworthy is the giant dragon statue.

One of the best memories I had in Cebu is strolling down the Mandaue Public Market for "Danggit" - Cebu's famous dried fish delicacy. It is a salted dried fish and can be pricey as it is one of the most sought-after products in Cebu both by locals and tourists. It is best enjoyed eating it in breakfast with vinegar as the best condiment. I also like the one they call "Tapa", it is also from dried fishes but dried marinated in tapa syrup that's why is gives a sweet taste. Going to Cebu is not complete without bringing home another most sought-after Cebuano product - Dried Mangoes! I never miss to buy those. And we buy in boxes not in pieces! I love its sweet chewy taste. It is good for snacks, dessert or even for a merienda! Various mango-made products also comes in various variety products in Cebu. There are also Mango sticks (which I also like), Mango Nectar (for juices), Mango balls (soft ball-shaped candies), and Mangorind (combines with Tamarind). Dried fruit products in Cebu also comes in jackfruit, pineapple and papaya. But mango is the famous dried fruit being sold. On the brand which I can recommend... Philippine Brand and 7D are the best!

Cebu's best treats... Danggit.

...and Dried Mangoes.

I just recently read from various travel guide books and websites that Cebu boasts a number of white sand beaches. If I am given a chance to visit the province again, I am targeting to see its white beaches which I had never seen during my short trip. I want to see particularly the most photographed beaches in the islands of Bantayan, Camotes and Malapascua. Mactan Island itself where the airport is located boast a number of resorts with white sand beaches like Maribago Beach Resort (on the picture). It also offers diving sites for lovers of diving activity. Mactan, the "diving mecca of the south" and a coral island where deluxe beach resorts are located. Mactan island lies a few kilometers to the southeast of Cebu Island, Cebu Philippines. Mactan island is part of the Cebu Province and divided into Lapu-Lapu City and the municipality of Cordova. The island is connected to Cebu by the two bridges one of which is the Marcelo Fernan Bridge (Mactan II Bridge).

The three islands of Bantayan, Camotes and Malapascua are located of the main island of Cebu province. It can be reach via sea transportation from town ports nearest to these islands. Bantayan Island is located just north of Cebu islands. It is one of Cebu's best-kept secrets. The island has three municipalities, namely: Santa Fe, Bantayan (proper), and Madridejos. It is in Santa Fe town where you can find most of the beautiful beaches in the island. One popular beach there is the Kota Beach. The beach main attraction is it's white sands. From Cebu City you need to take a bus to Hagnaya wharf. It is about 110 kilometers from Cebu City. It will take two to three hours travel time to get to Hagnaya wharf depending on the traffic situation. From Hagnaya, take a ferry to cross the 18 km to Bantayan. You arrive in Santa Fe, from where you can walk to the beach.

Kota Beach, Santa Fe, Bantayan Island.

Kota Beach in Bantayan Island.

Camotes Islands is located east of Cebu and west of Leyte . Camotes Island is made up of three main sub-islands and divided into four municipalities. This four capital towns are Pilar, Poro, San Francisco and Tudela. Camotes Island's photography is hilly. The highest point of the island is 386 meters above sea level. It's climate is characterized by distinct dry season. Access to the island is by boat. There are daily boats from mainland Cebu to Camotes Island. A number of tourist resorts have been established, catering to both domestic and international visitors. These include Santiago Bay Garden & Resort, Mangodlong Rock Resort and Greenlake Park.

Malapascua is a tiny island, only about 2.5 kilometers long and 1km wide, located across a shallow strait from the northernmost tip of mainland Cebu island. The island is covered by the insular barangay of Logon (part of the Daanbantayan municipality), with eight hamlets. The island was first known for its wide white sand beach, known as Bounty Beach; it has become known for its beautiful coral gardens and excellent dive spots nearby, including Monad Shoal, an underwater plateau where thresher sharks and manta rays can be sighted on a regular basis. To date, this is the only place in the world where divers can reliably sight thresher sharks.The first image Malapascua offers will stay with you for a long time: an exceedingly beautiful pristine stretch of white sand, crystal clear waters bordered by coconut trees and a dozen of scattered native style resorts. Malapascua is known to the locals as Logon and this vision of secret beach is whimsically named Bounty beach. It lays 8km off the north of Cebu, has a community of about 4000 inhabitants. A walk or a tour unto the whole Island will take you about 3 hours. Malapascua, a term that literally means "Unfortunate Christmas," is a paradise where time stands still. The island is blessed with white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. The west coast is especially ideal for swimming and snorkeling. It takes about three hours by land from Cebu City to reach the island, which lies at the northern tip of Cebu and west of Leyte.

Island hopping is also ideal when visiting Cebu. Aside from exploring its white sand beaches one can also enjoy its eco-tourism destinations like Olango Island Wildlife Santuary (features the largest concentration of migratory birds found so far in the country and serves as a refueling station as well as wintering ground for the birds ) and Nalusuan Island and Marine Santuary (famous for astounding presence of marine life and is a superb area for different Olango Reef, Cordova, Cebu aqua sports activities).

Cebu is also famous because of Sinulog Festival (Cebu's largest, and most popular festival). It is celebrated every third Sunday of January. The feast is in honor of the holy image Señor Santo Niño de Cebú (Mister Holy Child of Cebu). Fiesta Señor (Festival Mister), as it widely known in Cebu, is the most celebrated among Cebu's festivities where people converge along the route of a grand solemn procession and partake in the gaiety amidst a mardigras parade immersed in vibrant colors, and the constant drums of the festival. Recently, the festival has been promoted as a tourist attraction, with a contest featuring contingents from various parts of the country. The Sinulog Contest is usually held in the Cebu City Sports Complex.

Cebu has been progressively growing in the last five years. It is has been home of the different industries and economies. It gained worldwide attention not only because of its tourist desinations, class A hotel amenities, commerce and product exports but also of capability of hosting various international conferences. Cebu has been in the limelight recently for hosting the 12th ASEAN Summit with Cebu International Convention Center built specifically for it. It also boast various shopping malls to shop not only luxury goods but also unique Cebuano products that are truly world-class. It has numerous business centers and economic zone for companies both local and foreign, both outsourcing and manufacturing. With all these features, Cebu has truly become a metropolitan but still ingrained with culture, beauty and vision.

I wish to return there soon and explore those beautiful places I have never been to. And I also can't wait to taste those sweet dried mangoes again! 


-----------------------------------------------------------
RetroTravel: Cebu is part of my RetroTravel series in which I recall all my past travel experiences in the past during the pre-digital picture era of my travels. My recalls in this Cebu trips happened last January 30 and March 13, 1999.  

All information are credited to Tours Cebu, Wikitravel: Malapascua and Wikipedia: Cebu City. All photos are from flickr.com and credited to the following: ian ong, cynee, edgar ediza, robbie diongzon, roro fernandez, che romero, black lobo, edward tang, storm crypt, sonic07 and wanderlusting muse.

RetroTravel: Baguio

Baguio is definitely a cool place to stay especially in this heat wave of summer. I have visited Baguio when I attended a religious seminar with my mom and sister for 3 days in the summer of 1997. Honestly, I have never 100% attended the whole program of the seminar as in between the sessions we sneaked for visiting the tourist places of Baguio. (How naughty we are ^_^)

Baguio is a city on the Cordillera mountain range in the middle of the island of Luzon, in the Philippines. Due to its cool mountain weather, Baguio is considered the "summer capital of the Philippines". Because of its many pine trees it is also called the "City of Pines".

From Cavite there are direct aircon buses that operate to Baguio city so transportation is easy. We leave at 4am. It was still dark when we leave Cavite. I am quite excited at that time as it was my first road trip to another place. It was a long bus journey. I think it was roughly 5 to 7 hours on the road before we reach Baguio. There stops at Tarlac and Pampanga along the trip. As we near Baguio, I won't forget the zigzag road as we travel on the mountain side roads. It was quite scary because of the steep cliffs beside you as you look at the window while the bus direction goes on the zigzag direction because of the road.

We arrive at the Venus Park Hotel at around past 11am - perfect time for registration and continue onwards for a buffet lunch. The hotel was near Burnharm Park, I think walking distance only. It was crowded at the lobby because of the registration. We share the room with collegues from the seminar. It think it was triple sharing room but we are 6 person occupying it.

Baguio is an ideal place to have a vacation when its summer. The cool atmosphere makes up for the heat of summer sun. Plus the nature sceneries and flowery parks of the place gives a relaxing and calming feeling. You would also appreciate culture of Mountain Province and Benguet as Igorots or natives flocks the market and parks in their traditional clothes (especially who wores the red and yellow knitted fabric that the native is noticeable for).

In 3 days of stay you can visit the beautiful spots in Baguio but if you were in a seminar like us, time is limited because going around must be manage along with the time of seminar programs we have to attend. We end up skipping some of the seminars just to see the places of Baguio.

Burnham Park

Strawberry Farm

We first visited the Mines View Park and then the famous Burnham Park which has a romantic atmosphere in lake boating perfect for lovers. I also like the colorful flower gardens of the park along with the pine trees surrounding the park. It makes you feel so relax and longing for a romance.

Mines View Park is a park located within the city limits of Baguio City, Benguet, is a popular tourist attraction where tourists can shop, explore and view the scenery. An abandoned mine, used by early Ibaloi/Igorot peoples, is viewed from the said tourist spot.

Mines View Park gives visitor a wonderful view of mountain ranges surrounding the Benguet area. Tourists troop here not only because of the breathtaking view of the mountains overlooking on a high cliff but also for souvenir items that you can shop around. Most commodities are native products of Baguio like strawberry jams and wines, peanut brittle delicacies, wooven articles like bookmarks and wristbands and woodcarvings. Stone formations around the park are ideal shot for souvenir photos.

Burnham Park is an urban park located at the heart of the City of Baguio, in the Philippines. It was named after the American architect and urban planner, Daniel Hudson Burnham who laid the plans for the city. Several stretch of roads around the park lead to Camp John Hay, a former recreational base of the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines. It is a scenic park overlooking Mount Kabuyao, the tallest mountain in the Baguio region. The park features a man-made lake situated at the center where tourists can enjoy boating with rented boats. At the southern part of the park, a skating rink was constructed.

We have never visited the following spots in Baguio, but these places are worthy to see while staying in Baguio.

Camp John Hay - the former R&R facility for American military personnel during the American occupation. Was turned over to the Philippine Government in 1991. Now under the auspices of the Bases Conversion & Development Authority (BCDA), Camp John Hay is now a sort of country club complete with an 18-hole golf course, horseback riding, camping and many more. A condotel has also been in operation since 2001.

Session Road is the main thoroughfare of Baguio City and is the main hub of what is called the Baguio Central Business District. Located at the city center, it is actually divided into two parts: Lower Session Road and Upper Session Road.

Picking strawberries at Strawberry Farm

We visited the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto where there is a 100 stairways step leading to the shrine of the Virgin Mary image. At the bottom of the grotto are souvenir shops where you can buy various Baguio souvenirs and food delicacies. Tourists flock the place for the Virgin Mary pilgrimage and prayer as well as for the cool waether of the mountain side area.

We also visited the Strawberry Farm. It is located outside of the city near the border... Here, you can buy cheap prices of strawberries in a whole basket. I am happy to see this place. Strawberry is one of my favorite fruit. I am looking for it whenever I travel to countries where it is widely grown like US and Korea. Especially those bright red and big ones, I crave for it. Anyway, the farm was so wide with numerous line up of strawberries cultivated for harvest. We are so excited that we take a souvenir photo of picking strawberries. The difference with the local strawberry in Baguio is that it is smaller in size compared to those in US. But the sweetness of the fruit is still there. We end the tour by buying strawberry jams and two baskets of strawberries.

Mines View Park

Baguio is also known for Panagbenga Festival a month-long annual flower festival occurring in Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines. The term is of Malayo-Polynesian origin, meaning "season of blooming". The festival, held during the month of February, was created as a tribute to the city's flowers and as a way to rise up from the devastation of the 1990 Luzon earthquake. The festival includes floats that are decorated with flowers unlike those used in Pasadena's Rose Parade. The festival also includes street dancing, presented by dancers clad in flower-inspired costumes, that is inspired by the Bendian, an Ibaloi dance of celebration that came from the Cordillera region. Aside from economic boosts from tourism, the festival also helped the younger generation of indigenous people to rediscover their culture's old traditions. The indigenous people was first wary with government-led tourism because of the threat that they will interfere or change their communities' rituals.

Travel tips to the summer capital of the Philippines? See Wikitravel: Baguio

___________________________________________

RetroTravel: Baguio is part of my RetroTravel series in which I recall my old and past trips in pre-digital picture era of my travel experiences but memories of it is still vivid and enjoyable. My trip to Baguio dates back in April 10-12, 1997. Photo credits from flickr.com by perspective engineer, ian ong, lanclav and verongski.

RetroTravel: Taipei

My first taste of a Chinese atmosphere is the opportunity to visit to Taipei, Taiwan last 1995. It was a very short trip so I only get a few sights to see in this very high-tech city that has hints of the mainland China. Currently, Taiwan Republic of China has disputes over the mainland China as the mother China wants to incorporate the island territory to itself as one like Hong Kong and Macau. The recognition of the country name is one of the issue especially in Olympics and beauty pageants that has been affected by the political issue. Those who recognizes the one China policy recognizes Taiwan ROC in the name of "Chinese Taipei." But no matter how controversial and sensitive is the political status of Taiwan, it is still one of the great places to explore in East Asia.

Taiwan is an island nation of about 36,000 square kilometers located off the coast of southeastern China, southwest of Okinawa and north of the Philippines. The island is governed by the Republic of China (Zhōnghuá Mínguó) or ROC. Shaped roughly like a sweet potato, the nation is home to more than 23 million people and is one of the most densely populated places in the world. Besides its crowded cities, Taiwan is also known for steep mountains and lush forests. In addition to the island of Taiwan, the Republic of China also governs the Pescadores (Penghu), Quemoy (Kinmen/Jinmen), and Matsu.

Taipei is the capital of Republic of China. It is the seat of the government as well as it is the largest city of Taiwan. It is located in the northern part of the island in a basin between the Yangming Mountains and the Central Mountains.

Taiwan is not usually high on the list of destinations for Western tourists. Perhaps this is because the island's international reputation has been shaped more by its IT prowess and longstanding political disputes with mainland China than its culture or tourism, and so many assume that there is very little, if anything, of interest for the casual visitor. However, despite this general perception, Taiwan actually boasts some very impressive scenic sites, and Taipei is a vibrant center of culture and entertainment. The island is also a center of Chinese pop culture with a huge and vibrant entertainment industry. Taiwanese cuisine is also highly regarded among other Asians.

As we of know, Taiwan (particularly the Tawainese celebrities) has been popular in the Philippines due to its distribution of Asian television series in the entertainment industry that has captured the hearts of many Filipinos. Who would not forget that Taiwan is the land of those Asian series that popularized Tawainese celebrities like Barbie Hsu and The F4 in their series "Meteor Garden." It was a massive hit in the country that the stars even visited the country to grant the fans wish to see them in Philippines soil. I myself watch the series.

Taipei is the city where we stay. In this travel, I am with my mom. During the flight, most of the passengers are Filipino overseas workers bound to the country. Taiwan is popularly known as the center of manufacturing industry in computer hardware products and assembly of its internal parts. Most overseas Filipino workers are bound to work in those factories. We stay in Ms. Bing Go's residence. She is a Filipino resident married to a Taiwanese husband. She is also running a Filipino store in the city with the help of another Filipino friend. And of course Filipino workers and residents frequents here store for the local goods that are not available in the country.

Downtown Taipei.

During my time of visit in Taipei, weather is cold maybe becuase of the winter December season. I used my jacket most of the time. But the cold weather are bearable at night but additional blows of wind makes it feel more colder. By day it is temperate cold.

Taipei is a very progressive city. There are many skyscrapercity around the city. The city is very urbanized with so many establishments around and up to date technology gadgets in the market. The city has an efficient Mass Rapid Transit system or MRT and bus services with signs and announcements also written in English to make it accessible for non-Chinese speaking visitors. Taxi is also common for transportation. Taiwanese are just like Chinese people. But its quite hard to interact with because of the language barrier and most of them are not fluent in speaking in English. But just like other Asians, they are friendly and warm.

One of best experience I won't forget in Taipei is eating a local soup. We went to Tomson Plaza to eat and also to see shopping items. It was my first time to use chopsticks! The soup was in a wide bowl with veggies and meat balls (but it looks fish balls to me) for individual serving. And the restaurant doesn't provide any other utensil except chopsticks and a plastic spoon with a wide dish (which I think used for the water part of the soup). Though there's a plactic spoon it doesn't look like one because it has a short neck and the dish is wide. Plus it is not suitable to eat the noodle part as it so I am really force to use the chopsticks. I gave it a try. I was hard to eat but I learned how to deal with it (in a hard and fun way hehe ^^).

Other attractions around Taipei are...
Taipei 101 - Officially known as the Taipei International Financial Center, this 101-floor, 508-meter high skyscraper is located in the Xinyi District of Taipei. It is the tallest completed building in the world. The tower is rich in symbolism. It was designed to resemble bamboo rising from the earth, a plant recognized in Asian cultures for its fast growth and flexibility, both of which are ideal characteristics for a financial building. The building is also divided into eight distinct sections, with eight being a number associated with prosperity in Chinese culture. The internal architecture of Taipei 101 is similarly awe-inspiring. Pay attention to ornate details on the structural beams, columns, and other elements. Taipei 101 is perhaps most notable for its feats of engineering. It has been the world's tallest building since 2004, as determined by three of the four standards designated by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. It also boasts the world's fastest elevators, which will zip visitors up to the 89th-floor observation deck in a mere 37 seconds (cost: NT$400 for adults, NT$370 for kids under 12). It's worth taking a ride up, as the views are stunning. The best time to visit would be in the late afternoon when you spend a couple of hours and see both day and night views of Taipei. For an additional NT$100, you can also go up to the outdoor observatory on the 91st floor. Don't forget to look toward the middle of the building, where you'll see one of the massive gold dampers that keep the building steady. Attached to the tower is a large, up-scale mall. While the stores are unremarkable in that they offer the same brand-names as stores in other major cities around the world, the open and spacious design of the structure itself definitely makes it worth a visit.

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall - constructed in the memory of Dr. Sun Yat-sen who is the founding father of the Republic of China. The construction of the Memorial commenced in 1965 in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen's birth. It was opened in May 16, 1972, with the majestic architecture and placid landscape covering an area of some 115,500 sq. meters. The park named Zhongshan Park marks the front yard of the Hall. On the inside, there is a 19-foot bronze statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, watched over the day by motionless military honor guards, along with a library of 400 seats storing over 1.4 millions books. The 100 meter long Zhongshan corridor links the main hall to the four large exhibition buildings where contemporary arts and historical articles are frequently on display. The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall has grown into much of a community center, and is much less touristy than the newer and larger Chiang Kai-shek Memorial. There is an auditorium which has weekly lectures and seminars on aspects of art and life. It is also a popular site for public concerts.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall - controversially renamed the "National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall" by the DPP, this building is the symbol of both Taipei and the Republic of China. It is here that the nation's flag is raised every morning, and the huge court yard in front of the memorial serves as a place for both national celebrations as well as a platform to voice one's disapproval of the government. The memorial consists of a large bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek, watched over by two motionless honor guards who are replaced every hour in a rifle twirling ceremony (though this ritual has been suspended due to political wrangling). Downstairs, there is a museum of Chiang's life, complete with his sedans and uniforms. Even if you are not into memorials, the gardens, with their Chinese style ponds, are definitely worth a visit.

Day and night drama of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

National Theater Hall and National Concert Hall - located in the grounds of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial, it is an are excellent place to see performances of a Taiwanese play or a dance troupe. They also host many international events. The building's neo-classic Chinese architecture is especially stunning when flood-lit at night.

The National Palace Museum - the world's best collection of Chinese historical artifacts and antiquities. The museum is located in Shilin. The nearest MRT station is Shilin, with frequent buses from Shilin heading for the Palace Museum. Look for the displays on the buses. Some are written in English. It's a must-see for first time visitors.

Taipei Botanical Garden – The gardens are nearest MRT station 'Xiaonanmen' on the green line between the MRT Ximen station and MRT C.K.S Memorial Hall station. This beautiful garden has inspired the citizens of Taipei for over one hundred years. The lotus ponds are a hallmark of the park and are especially captivating when the these symbols of peace are in full bloom and swaying in the summer breeze. The gardens are close to the National Museum of History.

Longshan Temple – This temple is where countless generations of Taipei citizens have come to pray and seek guidance at times of trouble. As the temple is dedicated to Guanyin (the Buddhist representation of compassion) it is officially defined as Buddhist, but there is a great amount of folk religion mixed into the fabric of the beliefs at this temple. However, if you want to feel the real heartbeat of Taipei, one that is far removed from the skyscrapers and shopping malls of East Taipei, this is the place to come. It just oozes with character, although don't come expecting to find teachings on meditation. The area around Longshan Temple, Wanhua, is one of the original districts of Taipei. And, while much of the traditional architecture has been lost, the area still maintains a traditional feel. It is here that the blind masseurs congregate to offer their skill. Likewise, this is the area where the Taiwanese come to learn who they should marry or what to name their children by consulting one of the many fortune tellers that set up shop along the roads and alleys around the temple.

Dalongdong is at the Datong District's north end, north of Dadaocheng and is one of the oldest communities in Taipei. Baoan Temple and Confucius Temple are both famous historical sites located in this area. Baoan Temple - Baoan is a Taoist temple and one of the leading religious sites in Taipei. The temple's main deity is the emperor Baosheng, the god of medicine. The mural paintings and sculptures that adorn the the building are considered some of the most impresive in Taiwan, and the temple won acclaims in the 2003 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards. Confucius Temple - Just next to Baoan Temple, the Confucius Temple was built in 1879 when the Qing Court changed Taipei into a prefecture of the Province of Fujian, China. It was established to serve as the largest educational center in northern Taiwan. Every September 28th, a large number of people from Taiwan and abroad come here to watch a solemn Confucius birthday ceremony and eight-row dance.

In addition to these landmarks and temples, Taipei also offers bath in hot springs and hosts numerous festivals throughout the year like the The Lantern Festival and Dragon Boat Festival. There are also a number of theme parks in Taipei like Taipei Zoo and Leofoo Village Theme Park. I wish I have visited those places I have mentioned. I hope in another opportunity to visit Taiwan I will be able to visit those exciting places.

Taipei also boasts of large shopping districts and areas. Xinyi District is the seat of the Taipei mayor's office and the Taipei city council. The Taipei Convention Hall, the Taipei World Trade Center, Taipei 101, Taipei City Hall, and various shopping malls and entertainment venues make Xinyi the most modern cosmopolitan district of Taipei. Xinyi District is also considered the financial district of Taipei. Xinyi District is anchored by a number of department stores and malls. In addition, numerous restaurants are located in the area, especially American chain restaurants.

Shilin Night Market has stores selling good, hand bags, clothing, and more. Most of the merchandise consists of imitations. Miramar Entertainment Park is a standard shopping center with the usual merchandise. It houses the only IMAX theatre in Taiwan as well as the Miramar ferris wheel which offers great views of Taipei city.

Ximending - is the trendy shopping area just west of Downtown. It's popular with local students. If it's pink, plastic, and imported from Japan, you can probably find it on sale in a store here. The Core Pacific Living Mall - reportedly Asia's largest shopping center under one roof, has many stores open 24 hours a day. It also has a large food court, cinema complex, and the nightclub Plush.

Other destinations outside Taipei that are worthy to see are: Kaohsiung - the second largest city in Taiwan and is located in the south of the island. Kaohsiung is known for its harbor, although more for commercial than tourism reasons. Hence it is also known as the Harbor Capital of Taiwan. Its year-round fine weather and the low cost of living makes Kaohsiung a must for visitors to Taiwan. Alishan - misty forests of giant cypresses and amazing sunrises at the center of the island, reached by a scenic narrow-gauge train. Kenting National Park - located at the extreme southern tip of the island, this park is famous for its beaches and lush vegetation. Sun Moon Lake - nestled at 2,500 feet in lofty mountains in Nantou County, this lake is famous for its clear sparkling blue water and picturesque mountain backdrop. Taipingshan - a historic logging area and one of Taiwan's most scenic spots. Located in Yilan County. Taroko Gorge - an impressive gorge located off the east coast. Yangmingshan National Park - spanning a mountain range overlooking. Taipei. Yushan - at 3,996m the highest mountain in not just Taiwan, but all East Asia.

I wish to learn and explore more about these places and landmarks of Taiwan and Taipei as an overnight trip is not enough to see everything it offers. There is more than information technology prowess and center of industrial manufacturings which the country is popularly known for. There is more than its Taipei 101. There is more than about its Asian TV series. It has a charm like what Barbie Hsu and F4 has that made everyone in Asia craze for. It is a country with wonderful culture and sights to experience. Discover those wonders and charms of Taiwan. 

For more information about Taiwan visit Wikitravel: Taiwan and Wikitravel: Taipei.

-----------------------------------------------------

RetroTravel: Taipei is part of my RetroTravel series where I recall my past travels and old adventures  in pre-digital era of pictures. My travel date to Taipei, Taiwan happened in December 1-2, 1995.  Photo credits from flickr.com by jaqi & peony, skimvision, elqui, orandajin, oxone and yeowatzup.

It's officially summer!

It's officially summer! February maybe the love month but for me it is officially the start of Summer 2009! I can feel the air of summer... The breeze of of warm summer air makes me craze for a summer escape. Temperature rises too! Its getting hot and warm around and that signifies that summer has arrived. I wonder where my feet will bring me to spend a good vacation this summer... because plans for it seems vague for me. But I do not know what might happen next as summer runs until May.

Summer is a great time to escape to another place. That is why many travellers go to beaches this summer because of the warm atmosphere. While others goes to cool/cold places to get away from the hot and humid temperatures of summer. This is also a great to spend quality time with your family, friends or with your special someone. This is also one of the reason why summer is a perfect time to travel. Summer is my favorite time of the year because aside from the fact it is a perfect time to travel... it is also the best time to create happy memories. Most of the happy memories I remember are unforgettable summer memories. It is so tireless to remember it again and again.

I am sweating in heat... no one can stop the arrival of summer. The heat is on! And feeling the air of summer makes me suddenly miss Puerto Galera and Boracay... two places I have been last summer. I remember the beach, snorkel with my friends, the beautiful nature, island hopping, the sunset and the night out clubbing... How I wish to return to those places again this summer! I missed those days of summer escapades.

RetroTravel: Sydney

The land down under, Australia is one of most beautiful countries I have visited in the past! It is one of the most livable place on earth for me too. Particularly, Sydney - the economic and cultural heart of Australia which is also one of the most economic progressive city in the world. I remember it as one of the most friendliest place for tourists as its sites and landmarks for visits are all near the city of Sydney. The city of Sydney is one of the most modern and urbanized cities that I have seen.

The iconic architectural wonders of Sydney.

Australia is the only country that has a whole continent itself. World famous for its natural wonders and wide open spaces, its beaches, deserts, "the bush", and "the Outback", Australia is actually one of the world's most highly urbanised countries. It is also well known for the cosmopolitan attractions of its large cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. (http://wikitravel.org/en/Australia).

Sydney is the capital city of the south-eastern Australian state of New South Wales, situated on Port Jackson, a waterway including Sydney Harbour, Middle Harbour, North Harbour, and the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers. With a population of just over 4.25 million, Sydney—the "Harbour City"—remains the largest, oldest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia. Sydney holds a reputation worldwide as one of the world's most beautiful and livable cities, brimming with historical associations and globally influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, cuisine and design. The city is also home to many unique architectural styles, including the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, two of the most iconic structures on the planet. Sydney is a dynamic centre for Australian economic activity and one of the most important cities for finance in the Asia-Pacific region. Sydney was also the host of the 2000 Olympic Games, which successfully raised the city's global profile. Though comprised of a large, sometimes sprawling population, Sydney nonetheless retains many large public spaces and lush green park lands—the city is literally surrounded by national parks, which extend even into the suburbs and the shores of the harbour. (http://wikitravel.org/en/Sydney)

Sydney is the city where we stayed. It is my first international travel out of the Philippines. I remember how excited I was to visit Australia back then when I was 9 years-old. On my first travel in 1992, it was only me and my mom. We stayed in her friends house who are long time resident there. Flights of Philippine Airlines then had side stops in Brisbane and Melbourne, so I got a glimpse of those cosmopolitan cities too. On my second visit the following year, I travel with my sister, Argee and with my mom again.

It is also during those visit that falls on the Holy Week season because of the months of March and April. I remember during that time when we visited there malls, there are no much celebration on Holy Week unlike here in the Philippines. But what I noticed is that they are more eager on celebrating the Easter Sunday. Their malls are already posted with Easter greetings during the Holy Week. And almost all stores are selling colorful wrapped chocolate Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies too. It was such a delight for kids like me then.

My impression of Sydney is that it is a very cosmopolitan city that welcomes all people of ethnicities to visit and see its wonders. But most importantly, it invites everyone to live in its friendly communities. The city itself has already the most number of tourist spot and places of of interests to visit. Most notable were Circular Quay, Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

Downtown Sydney

Two of the most iconic place structures in Sydney that I have seen were the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Sydney Opera House has a large area for sigthseeing the movements in the harbour area of Sydney. It is situated on an edge that faces a wide body of water. If you will turn 360 degrees from the place you can see the Harbour Bridge, the skyscrapers of Sydney and the sailings of boats and ferries in the harbor area. But the priceless dramatic view of from the area is the Sydney Opera house itself and the Sydney Harbour Bridge from morning 'til evening. 

The Sydney Opera House is situated in Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour. It is a multi-venue for performing arts like theatre, opera and ballet presentations. It houses various concert halls, theatres and multi-purpose venues. So if you feel like watching operas or theatre performances, it is a great venue to see the performing arts of Australia. The Opera House is so iconic because of its outer designed after "shells" closely tucked together. It was perfectly placed in Sydney Harbour on the edge of the water that it looks like shells resting on the sand of a beach from afar. The Opera House was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 28 June 2007. It is one of the world's most distinctive 20th century buildings, and one of the most famous performing arts centres in the world.

Sydney Harbour Bridge is another iconic structure in Sydney. It is one of the most recognizable bridge in the world. You can greatly admire the view of this bridge from the Opera House. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore. The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic image of both Sydney and Australia. The bridge is locally nicknamed "The Coathanger"or "Colin" because of its arch-based design. It is also possible for tourists to have a bridge climb arrangement on the bridge for a fee but camera are not allowed to be with the climbers and has to pass some tests. (See Wikipedia: Sydney Habour Bridge)

One of Sydney's mega structure wonder - The Harbour Bridge.

360 Degree view of Sydney from Sydney Tower.

Around Sydney, we also visited Circular Quay and Sydney Tower (where a 360 degree view of Sydney can be seen). Circular Quay is a locality in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the northern edge of the Sydney central business district on Sydney Cove, between Bennelong Point and The Rocks. It is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney. Circular Quay is made up of walkways, pedestrian malls, parks and restaurants. It hosts a number of ferry quays and a train station. Sydney Tower is Sydney's tallest free-standing structure, and the second tallest in Australia. It is also the third tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere. The tower stands 305 m (1,001 ft) above the Sydney CBD, being located at 100 Market Street, between Pitt and Castlereagh Streets. It is accessible from the Pitt Street Mall, and sits upon Centrepoint (to which the tower is often referred), an office and shopping centre development. The tower is open to the public, and is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the city, being visible from a number of vantage points throughout town and from adjoining suburbs. The tower has a maximum capacity of 960 people. Travel from the ground to the tower is via three high speed double-deck elevators that reach the observation deck in approximately 40 seconds if on maximum speed, this depends on wind conditions at the time.

Sydney Tower.

Other attractions in Sydney that I wish to visit next time were Taronga Zoo and Sydney Aquarium. Taronga Zoo is a city zoo in Sydney. It is located on the shores of Sydney Harbour in the suburb of Mosman. Divided into eight zoogeographic regions, Taronga Zoo is home to over 2,600 animals on 21 hectares, making it one of the largest of its kind. Sydney Aquarium is a public aquarium located in Sydney on the eastern side of Darling Harbour to the north of Pyrmont Bridge. The aquarium contains a large variety of Australian aquatic life, displaying more than 650 species comprising more than 6,000 individual fish and other sea and water creatures from most of Australia's water habitats. Its key exhibits are a series of underwater, see-through, acrylic glass tunnels where sharks swim above visitors, and recreation of a Great Barrier Reef coral environment. I would like to see the famed Bondi Beach. The closest ocean beach to the centre of Sydney, Bondi has become synonymous with Sydney's beach lifestyle, and is very popular with tourists, residents, and resident tourists. Aside from coastal sightseeing around the beach you can also swim and surf too! Surfing is one of the popular activities. Plus Bondi is also a great place to dine with numerous restos and drinking bars around.

Other cities that are interesting to visit in Australia are: Brisbane - the capital of Queensland and a gateway to numerous city sightseeings, museums and sandy beaches with an atmosphere of urban city. Melbourne - Australia's second largest city but also the shopping destination of the country aside from being the sport and cultural capital. It is also regarded as Australia's most European city in style. Perth - the most remote continental capital city on earth, on the south-western edge of Western Australia and offers some of the best beaches of the country and excellent wine tasting. Other cities to see in Australia are Cairns, Darwin and Adelaide.

There are other great sites outside of Sydney, these are natural wonders of Great Barrier Reef and Uluru (or Ayers Rock). Uluru is a single massive rock formation along with Kata Tjuta (a range of rock domes) are part of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Northern Territory state of Australia. It is a UNESCO world heritage site. While, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral formation in the world, located off the Pacific coast of Queensland, Australia. It is home to a spectacular array of marine life and offers awesome diving opportunities. It is a UNESCO world heritage site too.

But what I am longing to see is the Whitsunday Island. Based from the internet site pictures I saw, its white sand beaches are breathtaking especially in Whitehaven beach. Whitehaven beach's main attraction is the pure white silica sand, along a seven kilometre (four or five mile) stretch. Other unique attractions in the island are its islets and coves. What I like are the picturesque strips of white sands in a main inlet bounded by shallow waters. Day trip is possible as well as camping in the island. The Whitsunday Islands are a group of 74 islands that lie off the coast of Queensland, Australia and form part of the Great Barrier Reef. The islands are one of the most popular Australian tourist destinations. The vast majority of islands are designated national parks and major attractions include access to coral reefs for snorkeling and diving, pristine beaches, especially Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island and clear aquamarine warm waters. They are well connected by two major airports on Hamilton Island and the mainland town of Proserpine. Over half a million visitors come to the Whitsundays each year.

One of the best natural wonders of Australia - Whithaven Beach.

Whitehaven Beach in Whitsunday Island.

What I also like in Australia is that it is home of unique animals like the Kangaroo and Koala. The two animals I believe are indigeneous or originated only in Australia. Kangaroo has been an iconic symbol for Australia while the Koala too in popular cultures, logos, mascots and emblems in the country. Other unique faunas in Australia are Echidnas and Platypus. Both are unique as the only mammals that lays an egg instead of giving birth to a young. Platypus is also endemic to Australia while echidna is a spiny mammal that resembles porcupines.

Kangaroo - one of the icons of Australia.

The cuddly Koala - an animal very associated with Australia.

There are still so many places to discover in Australia. In Sydney alone, four to six day stay is not enough to explore the places of interests of the city. Standard of living is high so there is a number of Filipino immigrants living there. As I have said, it is one of the livable place to live so there are many immigrants of different cultures. Sydney is one of the multicultural melting pot of the country. I wish to visit it again in the future especially the places I never been to in this country of kangaroos.

----------------------------------------

RetroTravel: Sydney is part of my RetroTravel series in which I share my old travel stories in the past during the times where digital camera is not yet popular hence the pictures. Sydney is my first international travel and one of my travels that I vividly remembers.  My trip to Sydney happened way back in April 24-27, 1992, my first trip and followed in March 30 - April 4, 1993. Some pictures came from flickr.com and credited to Mcree and Michael Mcdonough.