My Gut Feel Against The Virus

Health and Positivity Buzz

(Disclaimer: The blogger is not a doctor, microbiologist, virologist, or homeopathic specialist. He is none of such kind. What you will read in this article comes from his own personal experience and common sense.)

Italy, the current epicenter of COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. My heart goes out to all of you.

During these past few days that I have been on self-quarantine (only goes out to buy food and groceries but always with a mask and alcohol spray on hand not only to protect myself but also to protect others), I’m besieged with both heartwarming and disappointing news. I was already set to write an article with working title “The Politics of Toilet Paper” which would be about how a health crisis (or any other crises for that matter) brings out the best and the worst in us. On second thought though, what good will that article bring during this time when COVID-19 cases are rising and lives taken? So such article may not be appropriate at this time that I have to rethink that one. In the meantime I have been wondering how I can help in my own little way through this blog.

What drove me into writing this article instead was the news of the death of the Dad of someone I know. He died before knowing that he tested positive of COVID-19. Because of quarantine protocols, his family wasn’t able to say goodbye as his remains have to be cremated right away. I know the feeling. I went thru a similar situation where I wasn’t able to say goodbye when a loved one passed on. Believe me, I went through all the phases: grief, sorrow, anger, denial, depression, and eventually acceptance. It is only through the latter that one can truly move on. It’s not easy, but at the end of the day you still have a life to live and you have to stay strong for those you still hold dear.

So what are my thoughts about this virus? It helped that I have a doctor for a sister who initially told me that like SARS earlier, the virus that causes COVID-19 also belongs to the same family of coronavirus. The primary mode of transmission is thru droplets, which demystify the earlier notion that it is airborne (in a way that tuberculosis is spread). So it is only transmitted when someone coughs or sneezes (this is where social distancing makes real sense) and not thru breathing the same air that an infected person also breathes. It is spread further when an infected person, thru his hands, get in contact with the droplets and body fluid such as when he covers his face when he coughs or sneezes and then touches anything from doors, elevator buttons, grocery items, etc. Anyone who touches the same and get his hands in contact with soft body tissues (membranes) like the eyes, nose, and mouth will potentially get infected, given that the virus can live in surfaces for sometime (no one really knows how long it can survive outside of its host, but apparently it can live longer on smooth surfaces compared to uneven ones like in clothing materials). This is where frequent hand washing or disinfecting (thru spraying alcohol) is essential, as well as cleaning all surfaces that are being touched or used (such as door handles, elevator buttons, eating utensils, even grocery items like those chips in foils where you touch the potentially infected packaging before eating the contents with your hands). On the other hand, the mask is a protective gear that you may need when in enclosed spaces such as elevators, cars, or when social distancing may subconsciously be forgotten (like queuing in a supermarket check out counter or drugstore). So my thoughts are that this is no different than how one catches a flu or a cold virus and how one fights and recovers from the same may also work for this virus.

Though COVID-19 virus may be more deadly than its cousins (though casualties from flu and cold virus infections worldwide are significant particularly during winter), there has been no cure but only prevention thru getting vaccinated. As of this writing, there is still no vaccine in sight for COVID-19 (unlike its cousins where you can now get vaccinated for certain flu virus strains) and having that vaccine available may take a while. So how do you fight a virus that is nothing more than a flu or cold virus strain but can wreck havoc on our internal organs? Methinks that the answer lies in the gut.

As some would say, the best offense is a good defense. Our bodies respond to any foreign matter or substances that breach our first line of defense (skin, mucus membrane, etc.). This is triggered by our immune system. Our immunity will fight off anything from microbes (bacteria and virus) to body organs (such as organ transplant). It is the same immunity that will help in our recovery and may even hold back future invasion (ie developing immunity to certain bacteria strains which infection you have recovered from previously). That’s why when we were kids, every time we get sick, we actually develop resistance and immunity. Unless one is immuno compromised (such as having weak immunity by taking immuno suppressant drugs for transplant recipients or suffering from a hyper active immune system resulting to autoimmune diseases), it is imperative that we need to keep a healthy immune system not only to hold the fort but to keep our defenses in check.

How do I keep my immunity in check? How do I support my immune system to fight viral infections? There are five (5) ways and all these are from my own personal experience. But before I share the same, there is one very important thing to note: you need to first understand your body. You need to know how to listen to your body. I know the stages that my body would go thru when I get sick. It would start with a sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, feeling feverish, darkening and thickening of phlegm or sputum (the last two would already confirm that I have an infection), coughing, asthma, lightening of phlegm or sputum, coughing to expel the sputum (the last two means that I’m on my way to recovery). I have observed before that my body does not respond well to synthetic medicines (pharmaceuticals). That’s why I hate getting sick. Coz aside from what my body goes thru when I get sick, the medicines I’m taking (at least before I ventured into alternative medicines) have different effects on me, depending on what medicine I’m taking. It may come in the form of drowsiness, shaking of hands, lethargy, and overall weakness. So it exacerbates what one would already consider a miserable situation. So understanding and listening to your body would tell you what works for you. This leads you to explore and discover the best health alternatives and options.

So after years of understanding and listening to my body, the first way of keeping my immunity in check is keeping my gut healthy. A strong and healthy immunity starts with a well balanced gut. It can be achieved by having a healthy biome in the gut. This is where probiotics come into play. For those who are not familiar with probiotics, these are good bacteria that reside in the gut and intestines. A healthy person would normally have a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria. When bad bacteria overruns the good ones, that’s when our immunity is compromised and weakens our defenses. Taking antibiotics when we get sick will kill the bad bacteria but will also kill the good ones. So I never had antibiotics in the last 20 years (except when I went thru my spinal surgery last year) because I have become a probiotic advocate. Right now, I’m taking different probiotic supplements and have tried different strains, such as those produced in Japan, New Zealand, and US. Probiotcs are also found in natural sources, such as yogurt, kimchi, and balsamic vinegar. If you decide to start on a probiotic regimen, choose the one with multi strains, coz there are nuances in the roles that these good bacteria play in our bodies.

The second way is preempting the progression of the infection. At the first sign of symptoms (in my case sore throat), I would already take my herbal and organic supplements. An effective way of suppressing the initial infection is by taking manuka honey. I discovered manuka honey in one of my trips to New Zealand and has proven to be very potent in fighting and helping recover from initial stage of the infection. By preempting its progression, you are effectively preventing a full blown infection. In my case, this means my body won’t have to go thru subsequent stages after the initial sore throat. This means I have averted a miserable situation.

New Zealand, where I have discovered some of the best herbal and organic supplements

The third way is supporting your immune system fight against the virus thru the use of enzymes and certain essential amino acids. I know that unlike amino acids, little is known about beneficial enzymes (or some would not even know what enzymes are), but based on my readings, I have discovered that there are enzymes that can actually help kill viruses and other microbes. Our bodies produce enzymes (such as digestive enzymes) but there are enzymes that are not found in our bodies that can actually assist in destroying viruses. Viruses (and other microbes), just like any other organism’s survival instinct, would produce what they call biofilm or ‘envelope’ to protect themselves. This biofilm is impenetrable for most pharmaceuticals and can actually mask the virus that our immune system may not be able to detect its presence. You can liken it to Harry Potter’s cloak of invisibility. So while it is already wrecking havoc on our internal organs, particularly our respiratory system, our immune system may have a hard time getting into the virus because of this biofilm. Aside from the biofilm, the virus also has a protein shell (capsid) that protects the nucleus (nucleic acid). To kill the virus is to get to its nucleus. So with this dual protection (biofilm and shell), our immune soldiers (T-cells) will have to fight harder. Compounding this is the ability of the virus to replicate itself. Think of it like the fight scene between Doctor Strange and Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War where in this case, the virus is the former (when he replicated himself) while the latter is your T-cells.

There are at least two enzymes that I’m taking and at least one essential amino acid when I feel that I’m about to get sick. These are serrapeptase and nattokinase for the enzymes and lysine for essential amino acid. Serrapeptase is an enzyme produced by bacteria of silkworm which the same uses to dissolve the cocoon when it becomes a moth. Nattokinase on the other hand, is derived from the Japanese fermented soybean called natto and produced by a particular type of bacteria during the fermentation process. Apparently, both enzymes can penetrate through the biofilm in the same way that it can dissolve the cocoon (in the case of serrapeptase). Once the biofilm is dissolved, the cloak of invisibility is removed. To breach the protein shell, some of the supplements I’m taking contain hydrolytic enzymes such as protease and cellulase. These enzymes break down proteins into amino acids thru hydrolysis. Since both biofilm and shell are made of proteins, this combination of enzymes that are not produced by our bodies will work together to break down the proteins, hence destroying the virus shield and exposing the nucleus This is when the other enzymes produced by our bodies can digest the nucleic acid, hence “killing” the virus. However, some of these enzyme supplements have side effects, such as thinning of blood. So if you are suffering from low blood pressure or taking any blood thinning drugs, you have to avoid taking these supplements. Lysine, on the other hand, is an essential amino acid that can apparently suppress viral replication. It’s called “essential” coz it’s one of amino acids that are not produced or found in the body.

The fourth way is to have inflammation in control. I came across this newspaper article yesterday (https://technology.inquirer.net/97774/covid-19-lung-patterns-show-few-clues-for-treating-pneumonia) which only further validates what I’ve known all along: the root cause of all illnesses is inflammation (at least from my experience). The infection (bacterial or viral) is the trigger but what will cause complications is the uncontrolled inflammation. Pneumonia, one of the known complications from COVID-19, occurs when the lung’s air sacs (those that are filled with oxygen from the air we breathe and permeates thru the blood vessels for it to run throughout our extremities) are inflamed. Inflammation occupies space, so the more inflamed the sacs are, the less oxygen is absorbed by the body. I know this coz my Mom had several bouts of pneumonia two years ago and her oxygen levels have to be constantly checked even until today (she also has a standby oxygen tank at home in case her oxygen level drops). Older people have lower lung capacity not just because of old age but also due to other underlying health conditions that they are suffering from. That’s why their oxygen levels need to be checked constantly particularly when they are exhibiting symptoms. As we all know, oxygen is essential for all our body organs to function (including our brains).

To keep inflammation from going haywire, I used to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as mefenamic acid. I have opted for non-steroids coz as a kid, I used to take corticosteroids for my asthma (another illness from inflammation) and I didn’t like the side effects on my body. However, NSAIDs also have side effects, like gastritis, so I have to look for herbal or organic alternatives that have anti-inflammatory properties. This is where I’ve discovered curcumin, oregano oil, and magnesium. Curcumin is the essential nutrient in turmeric known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Oregano oil is not only known as anti-inflammatory but also anti microbes. Magnesium is a mineral that is known to control inflammation. I don’t only take these supplements when I’m sick. I take these daily as preventive medicine. But I take it in moderation. As they say, a pound of cure is worth an ounce of prevention.

Lastly, I also ensure that my immunity doesn’t go out of control particularly when I’m sick. As per the newspaper article (which I’ve known already for a while), in certain conditions, our immune system can go crazy in its attempt to fight infection, to the point that it is also attacking the infected organs (similar behaviour as autoimmune diseases when the immune system goes out of control and attacks healthy cells). For this, I’m taking colostrum. Colostrum is the first form of milk derived from cows or any other mammals. It apparently has immuno properties that can keep a balance immunity therefore reducing the probability of the same getting out of control.

My journey to alternative medicines did not occur overnight. Nor has my doctors’ blessings. It took a lot of readings (and to some degree a leap of faith) and experimenting different herbal and organic supplements and discovering the ones that actually work for me. I can’t exactly say that it is effective (I don’t have any scientific or medical proof of any correlation between my health status and these herbal and organic supplements). Some would call it self-medication, but I would like to see it as holistic wellness. What I know is that I don’t have to take pharmaceuticals to get thru every flu or colds. What I know is that I passed my pre-surgery battery of tests last year (which I wrote about in my earlier article on MLNRD where I even mentioned that I have a heart rate of an athlete) in spite of my unhealthy eating habits and no exercise or sports. What I know is that any infectious bacteria that my body will catch will not develop resistance against antibiotics coz I’m not taking any. I must be doing something good.

So before you embark on your own discovery, you need to understand and listen to your body. Take time to do some readings (which you have plenty during this period of quarantine) and find what alternatives can be potentially applied for your specific condition. Coz it doesn’t follow that just because it works for me means that it would also work for you. You have to take into consideration your health condition before embracing alternative medicines.

To quote University of the Philippines Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo “the most effective response to public health emergencies is our ability as a community to look out for each other.” This is my way of looking out for the rest of the world. You can do the same by sharing your own experiences that may help pave the way to recovery. Now that you know what I have been taking these past few years, you can do your share by only buying what you need and not hoard health supplements. Doing otherwise means that you are depriving those who may need it the most, those who are in a life-and-death situation. Let’s shed the greediness during these challenging times. You don’t want to be the subject of my unwritten article “The Politics of Toilet Paper,” do you?

Be safe everyone and look after each other. Say a little prayer as well.

Italy: How Thou I Love Thee? (Let Me Count The Ways) – Part 2 of 2

Travel and Positivity Buzz

Amalfi Coast (Italy)

I mentioned in the first part of this article that I’ll be going on my 3rd trip to Italy in spring. Unfortunately, both Italy and the Philippines (as well as anywhere else in the world) are going thru health crisis from the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Just a couple of nights ago, Metro Manila (a cluster of cities that include the capital Manila and the central business district Makati where I live) has been declared under what they call “community quarantine” for 30 days to contain the spread of the infection. In other words, lock down. We cannot fly out of Metro Manila to any destination in the country. Though we are still allowed to fly out internationally, thing is, with the rising incidence of COVID-19 cases in the country, the Philippines is now one of the countries banned by Qatar from entering their territory. Since I’ll be flying Qatar Airways with layover in Doha, that means I have to wait and see how this crisis pans out.

Stunning landscapes (Amalfi Coast)

Italy is the current epicenter of the pandemic in Europe where some of the European countries have banned travel to and from the said country. This means that flying there would compromise the other legs of my scheduled Europe trip. I don’t want to spend my holidays on quarantine in another country (I’d rather stay at home then), so would likely forgo the trip to Italy this year. I suppose my wish on Trevi fountain (to return someday) will not happen this year, so I have to find other destinations where I could regain my good spirits. As shared earlier, my feng shui says that my spirit essence is weak this year, which explains why I’ve been feeling down at the start of the year. My feng shui also says that more travels will help uplift my spirit essence, but under this worldwide pandemic scenario, not sure really which place is safe to go (can’t travel domestic as well under this community quarantine). Maybe one of those eastern European countries like the underrated Slovenia or see again Croatia and Montenegro. At this point in time, I honestly don’t know. I even haven’t thought of what to do with my flight bookings.

Short stops for stunning views (Amalfi Coast)

So while pondering on where to go next, why don’t I take you thru the second time I went to Italy. This happened two years after my first trip. If I remember it right, at that time I was contemplating of going to Turkey, Israel, and Jordan. However, that was the time when the crisis then was terrorism particularly in that region, so I have to change my travel plans. It was my sister who broached the idea of Amalfi Coast. I haven’t heard of that place before, so when I checked it out online, I knew right away where I want to go.

View from my hotel terrace (Naples)

So I booked a flight (via Frankfurt) with Malaysia Airlines. At that time, it wasn’t really a popular airline given the mystery around the disappearance of one of its airlines, but fact is, it has a very good safety track record prior to that incident. So I wasn’t that concerned about their safety record when they went on promo where I got a business class seat for $1,600 only (before taxes and surcharges) which is a good buy in a time when the prevailing rates for the same seat class are more than $3,000 for roundtrip fares from Manila. Since it’s one of the Southeast Asian carriers, I knew that topnotch hospitality service is expected which is common among airlines in the region (sorry to say but the best service that I have experienced among airlines that I’ve flown with regardless of seat class are those that are from the region like Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, and even our very own Philippine Airlines). Regardless whether you are flying in a Boeing or Airbus, business or coach, it’s really the staff that counts, people who try to make a difference and in this case, Southeast Asians are arguably the best.

The City of Naples and Mount Vesuvius

My first stop was Naples (you can pronounce it the way American English would pronounce it where the first syllable is pronounced as nay, since Italians or specifically Neapolitans are already getting used to it, but you can please your host city by just saying Napoli pronouncing the first syllable as nah). From the airport to the city, my first impression was the place is filthy. This became more apparent when I started walking around the city. What crossed my mind then was that Neapolitans have no concept of a waste/garbage can. There were litters everywhere! It seems that it’s cool to just drop your trash and just move on, expecting that someone will follow thru and clean it up for you. Not cool at all. I’m not a clean freak, but I still have the decency to respect my environment, and when I say environment, that includes people around me. Apparently, there’s a prevailing notion there that the farther you go south (of Italy), the dirtier it gets (Naples is on the southern part of the country).

National Archaeological Museum (Naples)

One of the things that I love to do when visiting a place for the first time is to check out its museums. So I did just that in Naples where I went to its National Archaeological Museum. I can’t remember whether I enjoyed it the same way I would enjoy other museums in my past travels, or whether it has vast collections of artifacts. But just like any museum, my takeaways would always be that sense of history and ancestral way of life and the important gift that every visit to a museum would give which are lessons of humanity.

The castles of Naples: (left) Castel Nuovo (right) Castel Dell’Ovo

The city itself is like an open museum. There’s the Piazza del Plebiscito with its massive square where the church of St. Francis of Paola is on one side and the Royal Palace on the other. Around the city are numerous remnants of its past, from castles to churches, from old architectural heritage to various squares (piazza). To give this city a postcard perfect scenery, there’s Mount Vesuvius as backdrop to an already beautiful landscape and seascape, a fitting and dramatic addition to a place that’s very rich in history. I will give you a closer look to this majestic volcano later on when I take you thru Pompeii.

Piazza del Plebiscito (top left) and other city sights

The city coastlines are a marvel to watch. I love the leisure walk on the long promenade along the coastline, enjoying the view of the sleeping volcano and the tranquility of the Mediterranean sea. I don’t know what magic or spell this body of water has on me, but every time I’m in a place within its reach (such as Barcelona, Malta, Dubrovnik, Budva, Mykonos, and Santorini), it always gives me that feeling of joy, awe, mystery, and serenity. Though it doesn’t surprise me knowing that my feng shui element is water, which may explain why I’m always drawn to it. It’s like my own unicorn. Stopping for some gelato during these walks is just icing on the cake. One thing I noticed is that the farther you go along the coastline away from the city, the cleaner it gets.

City coastline and promenade (Naples)

Next stop is Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius. Speaking of open museum, nothing would probably beat Pompeii. If you’ve skipped your history class, you’ve probably missed out on one of history’s events of monumental scale that teaches and leaves every generation a lesson. This is when the whole city of Pompeii was buried by lava and thick volcanic ashes and other debris instantly when Mount Vesuvius erupted. Known as an ancient sin city, it was preoccupied by human frailty that it has lost any sense of safety. Long before I read about Pompeii in history books, as a young kid, I’ve watched a biblical movie that showed what happened to this ancient Roman city and its people. Every now and then, it feels like history’s repeating itself. This health crisis that we are facing now particularly in my country is nothing different than Pompeii. We’ve been preoccupied by power (as they say, power corrupts) and greed that our leaders, decision makers, security and safety agents have essentially failed us. As a people though, there’s still hope. I think that’s the only difference between Pompeii then and our country now. People got buried then and didn’t get the chance to escape. We still have a chance to escape from this vicious cycle of power and greed. It’s not the virus that will change our ways. It’s the lesson we get in every adversity as a result of our own frailty. That is if we as people are willing to take heed the lessons of history.

(Left) Ancient city of Pompeii (whole city escavated from thick volcanic debris; (right) on top of Mount Vesuvius crater

So to show how strong I was (mind, body, and spirit), I started climbing the sleeping volcano. Mounting the volcano thru its rocky trail can be tiresome, to the point that my whole body almost gave up. At that point, I was already muttering “what the hell was I thinking?” I still have other places to visit and it’s not worth being adventurous at this leg of the trip if I break my back (that was long before my spinal surgery, but was already suffering from slipped disk condition). Then I saw two elderly couple in canes climbing down on their way back to the slope. I thought if this lovely couple was able to make it to the top, then why can’t I? After my newfound inspiration and strength (mind and spirit, body is still weak), I decided to go all the way, knowing fully well that the trip back would be more perilous than the way up, with more chances of rolling down the slope with a single misstep.

Sorrento (Italy)

On to what I have been looking forward to all trip: Amalfi Coast. It’s one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, where a series of quaint towns sit along it. First of the towns is Sorrento. It is popularly known as the home of limoncello, a native liqueur from Sorrento lemons. Every time I would dine in Italy, it would almost always come with a shot of limoncello at the end of each meal and now I know where it comes from. It has this strong acidic (like concentrated lemon juice) yet sweet taste that is soothing to the throat and kind of have a cleansing effect on the palate. Along the way, you can see lemon trees lining up the road. The town proper is scenic at the very least, where narrow avenues are lined up with colorful buildings.

Positano (Italy)

Next town is Positano. One of my favorite places in the world, this town is perched on a cliff (like Santorini), so it is hilly with steep and narrow alleyways lined up with shops that sell anything from clothes, arts and crafts to items made from lemons (perfumes, essential oils, liqueurs). It’s a very picturesque town, where colorful buildings adorn the cliff that meets the sea. There is a small beach, which adds an essential element to an already postcard perfect landscape and seascape. Its beauty is mesmerizing, that you’d be captivated enough you wouldn’t want to leave.

Amalfi (Italy)

Then there’s the town of Amalfi (where the coastline is named after). It has a bigger beach than Positano, but doesn’t have the same wow factor. Don’t get me wrong, it has its own charm, where anyone who comes here would still be captivated by its resort-like vibe and the mountain backdrop filled with houses. Plenty of dining options to choose from, more than probably what Positano can offer.

Ravello (Italy)

The last town is Ravello. It probably has the most rustic charm among the towns, where it has able to preserve a few remnants of its heritage. It’s the smallest among the four towns, yet endearing enough to make you linger a little bit longer than you would normally give places like this. Since it is on the farther end of the coastline, the calming sea views on one side and the mountainous terrain on the other side are some of its highlights.

Island of Capri (Italy)

A trip to Naples won’t be complete without taking a side trip to the island of Capri. Known as the playground of the rich and famous, I know now why some of the world’s biggest celebrities are drawn to it. Though not blessed with nice beaches like those in Mykonos and Santorini, this island has a certain charm that kind of cast a spell on you. The whole time you’re there, you’re kind of spellbound, The island is divided into two towns, one called Anacapri on one side of the island and Capri on the other side. Anacapri is steeper, which makes it more difficult for walking. There’s a small cluster of shops and restos at the town proper. This is where I had lunch with a friend named Matthew who I met in the trip. A Korean-Canadian IT guy based in Canada who is off from work for two months to traverse the whole Mediterranean coastline starting from Barcelona to Marseille to Monaco to Amalfi Coast and onward to Venice. What an adventure! But what I was more amazed at was how he was able to take time off from work for two months! How I wish I can travel for two months as well. So now I have that same itinerary in my bucket list and hopefully can cross it out in the near future.

(Left) A south american lady asked to have a photo with me (not sure if it’s because she learned I am from the Philippines or I am just naturally charming lol; (right) who says only Japan and Korea have cherry blossoms?

Funny though that in spite of all his travels, Matthew hasn’t heard of tiramisu. Each of us had one and he can’t stop raving about how good it was that I ended up giving him my own plate. Tiramisu is pretty common in the Philippines, so I thought since this guy just discovered how delightful the said dessert was, he might as well go crazy on it. After lunch, we went to the other town (Capri) and this is where most of the shops and restos are, selling anything from clothes to ceramics to souvenir items. We also went to see the Blue Grotto, a cave on the other side of the island where we have to take a speedboat to get near the entrance then transfer to a smaller boat that could fit into the cave. Once inside, you’ll probably be awed with the most beautiful shade of blue water that’s very sharp up close and piercing thru your senses. The last time I’ve experienced that wicked blue color was in Malta’s own Blue Grotto.

Blue Grotto with Matthew (Capri)

On the trip back to Naples, we met this German couple who struck a conversation with us. They shared stories about their own travels, how they love South of France (another dream destination of mine) where roads and parking lots are filled with luxury cars (of course, Germans love their cars). They said it’s everywhere. Matthew has just been there (where he mentioned that you can actually see the sea floor with corals, that’s how crystal clear the waters are which actually explains why I fell in love with Mediterranean sea in the first place), so they told me that I should also visit. Yeah, cool. Then the guy shared how he and his wife can afford all their travels, by taking us thru their investment strategies. See, who says travel is all leisure?

Capri cabs and speedboat

Looking back, that’s one of the trips that I truly enjoyed. Though I have already counted the ways I love Italy in the first part of the article, yet there are still so much more why I keep coming back. The country is a complete package. Its natural beauty is already worth a visit, the harmony between the land and Mediterranean sea is just enticing to feel and see. The magical effect of the sea on me is why I love to be anywhere near it, and Italy’s coastlines are just perfect spots to commune with the sea. But again, more than its beauty, I love Italy because of what it offers for the mind, the body (did I mention that Naples is the home of Neapolitan pizza and ice cream?), and the soul, which makes it, hands down my favorite country.

I love Italy!

Italy: How Thou I Love Thee? (Let Me Count The Ways) – Part 1 of 2

Travel and Positivity Buzz

Rome, Italy

I’ll be going to Italy again in spring so I thought why don’t I write something about my past trips to this beautiful country that I consider my favorite. It would be my 3rd trip and this time, with a purpose. Since the start of the year, I’ve been feeling down. I don’t know exactly what it is. Maybe because most days I was under the weather, but it’s not just that. It’s not also the occasional bad days (who hasn’t?). I was able to find some answers when I’ve finally found a copy of my favorite annual feng shui book. It’s the Fortune and Feng Shui by Lillian and Jennifer Too (I used to buy the one authored by Master Joseph Chau Kam Shing, but since it’s hard to find in local bookstores, I discovered the one by the Toos and both feng shui masters share similar forecasting skills and writing styles). Unlike Filipino feng shui masters who would come out with very commercial versions (you need to have this and that to activate your luck which you can buy from our stores) and tend to come off as negative rather than turning negative into positive, their Malaysian and Chinese counterparts would focus more on what’s in store for the year so that one can be prepared. It’s not that it’s going to happen, but more of being prepared when it happens.

Colosseo, Rome

So my feng shui confirmed what I thought and felt all along. My spirit essence is weak. Though I have a good life force, what I was feeling these past few days is a result of what the book says as “while on the surface you come across self-assured and strong, inside, you have pockets of uncertainty about your abilities.” In other words, lack of self-confidence. The book continues: “Perhaps something happened early in the year that shook this confidence – a betrayal, a disappointment, or even a downright bad turn of events that upsets your sense of stability. Whatever it is, dig in your heels and stay strong.” Very true indeed. Something happened in the workplace that shook me a bit, that even with a strong and stable core, it created a void and emptiness inside.

St. Angelo Castle and Bridge (Rome)

What the book suggest is to travel more this year. That’s what I actually intend to do. So my first order of the year was to book a flight to my favorite country. The purpose is to go on a pilgrimage. The last time I did that was on the 100th year anniversary of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal in 2017 (which I wrote about in my earlier article “Dear Mama Mary”). It’s been almost 3 years since then. This year, I intend to go back to Assisi, the place where the tombs of two of my favorite saints (St. Francis and St. Claire) are enshrined. The first time I was there (almost 7 years ago), it was more of a destiny fulfilled. This time, it is to regain my good spirits. What better way to fill that void and emptiness than feeding one’s spirituality.

Arch of Constantine and Palatine Hill (Rome)

So I’m going on a short retreat, a spiritual journey. But before that, let me share my past trips to Italy. My first time was with my folks, who were also with me in Assisi. We flew to Rome from Manila and stayed there for a week (including the side trip to Assisi). That was the time when Air China was offering business class seats for $999 (before taxes and surcharges) which I got during the annual travel expo. Preparing for that trip wasn’t a walk in the park. First was getting my folks the visas. I hate to admit it, I had to tap family connections for that (I’m unapologetic though, knowing that I did it for my folks and not for myself). I was particularly concerned for my Dad, since it would be his first travel abroad (my Mom has a US visa and has traveled a few times before). Unlike me who is a wanderlust, my Dad is the exact opposite. He doesn’t really like leaving home. The last time he moved was when he left his hometown to marry my Mom. He never went back. Not that he dislike traveling, he just like the stability of being at home (that’s probably where I got my sense of stability). Second, because of their advance age, it was hard to find an insurance company that can cover their travel insurance. I have to shop from different travel agencies for the best coverage (only a few insurance companies cover senior citizens) and it doesn’t come cheap. So I did all these while still being very effective at work. I should get an award for being very good at multi-tasking.

Rome and Vatican City

Vatican City

In Rome, we stayed at Mercure Roma Piazza Bologna using my Accor card. Odd thing happened upon check-in. I thought the rate published online (member’s rate) is the price of the room regardless of occupants. So while booking the room for my folks, I may have inadvertently placed 1 occupant (since I’m used to just booking for myself). I was told that the price is different if the room is occupied by 2 persons. Tired and weary from the long flight, I didn’t argue anymore and paid the extra surcharge for their room. I thought this can only be true in Italy. So off we went to our separate rooms to get that much needed rest from jetlag (especially for me who did all the lifting and dragging of our luggages).

St. Peter’s Basilica and Square

The following day, I could sense during breakfast that Dad was excited to go sightseeing. Our first stop was St. Peter’s Basilica and Square in the Vatican City. In pictures and on TV, it seems grand and humongous in scale. While there, it wasn’t really, visually. That’s the first of many feelings of being underwhelmed that I went thru while in Rome. Maybe I have put my expectations of Rome at such unreasonably high levels that I may have overlooked how beautiful and right-sized it was. As they say, TV adds ten pounds to a person on it, so maybe it made an average sized basilica and square look like large structural wonder on a massive square. When we arrived, the square and the surrounding areas were packed mostly by bikers. Initially, I thought we were in the wrong place (the underwhelming scale and the crowd of leather attired bikers made us wonder if we were in the right place). It was actually the canonization of the patron saint of bikers (if I remember it right) with Pope Francis leading the rites. We stayed a while in the vicinity and after the rites have concluded and the crowd started to disperse, we made our way to the square. A few photo ops later, my Mom asked “So where is St. Peter’s Square?” I said, “Mom, you’re standing right there.” She laughed, but still had that confused look, probably still wondering whether we are in the right place (she later said that the square looks larger on TV). Aside from the usual tourist crowd that was bustling in the square, there were also robe and rosary beads attired beggars doing their thing. I saw Mom giving alms to every beggar that approaches her that soon started to build up around her. She was giving at least one euro coin each and I was petrified. I said “Mom, why are you wasting money on alms?” Giving me that quizzical look, she retorted by saying that we should give something because they look holy. Huh? (place face palm emoji here) Rather than start an argument, I let her be, until she ran out of coins. A few visits to the square later, she probably realized that not only she’s giving some 60 pesos or more worth of alms to each beggar (which you can already buy a McDo Happy Meal in the Philippines), but that they are no different from street beggars at home, most likely ran by a syndicate. I let out a sigh of relief when she started saying no even if they look “holy”.

Meet my folks, the fashion appropriate Mr. & Mrs Smith (kidding). Thank you for the good genes (and not so much for the bad).

I was able to secure skip-the-line tickets for me and my folks and we were ushered directly to a private door of the basilica. Inside, it was beautiful. Just like every other church, cathedral, or basilica in Rome, the interiors are adorned with murals, intricate sculpting, and mosaic windows. Probably overwhelmed with the beauty and sacredness of the place, I saw Dad in tears. It was my first time to see him cry. Both my parents are devout Catholics, so I would understand if he’s a bit upset because of the impact of being at the center of Catholicism. So I asked “Dad, why are you crying?” He replied “Indi ko ma imagine na makalab-ot ako diri” (I never imagined that I could be here). Those were definitely tears of joy. I’m not sure whether it’s because he just experienced for the first time the joy of travel, being in a sea of tourists from around the world, or that in the deepest recesses of his mind he had always wanted to see this place every time he sees it on TV only that he didn’t have the opportunity. So having seen him that happy was priceless.

The Colosseo Arena (Rome)

We went to see other religious spots as well. Not very far from the basilica and square is the Sistine Chapel, famous for the art work that Michelangelo did on its ceiling. Outside of Vatican, we saw a lot of chapels, churches, and cathedrals (as in a lot). Two of my favorites are St. John Cathedral (Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) and Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels (Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri). I like the former because to me, it has the most beautiful interiors. It’s like being in a museum or a palace filled with works of art. The latter was special to me, coz when I entered the place, there was this whiff of cold air that welcomed me, something that I’ve never felt before, like a soul or spirit that has been waiting for my arrival. Maybe my guardian angel’s way of telling me that I’m in a holy place, a very good place. I’ve never felt so peaceful and calm and blessed.

(Left) Dining al fresco; (Right) Trevi Fountain

Of course we didn’t miss the must-see tourist spots. There’s the imposing and very popular Colosseum. The ruined facade is as magnificent as the concrete arena. I’m just awed with everything inside and outside of this ancient ruin. Not to be missed is the Trevi fountain (where you throw in a coin and make a wish), where one of my wishes was to return someday, and looks like it’s going to happen. Other notable spots are the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Another spot, the Spanish Steps, is attractive not so much for the steps but for the dining options around the area (we’ve found some good restos around Vatican and Trevi fountain as well). One thing that I love about Italy is the food. Anything Italian is just delicious. From pasta to pizza to gelato, My Dad’s eyes would light up every time he hears gelato, like a kid in a toy store (though my Mom would always remind him of his sugar levels). We tried different restos and dishes that there were times that I would crave for fastfood because we ate Italian all the time, but I know for a fact that my folks are not really fond of junk food. Maybe that’s the reason why they were able to endure all the walking, particularly with my Dad who had a mild stroke a couple of years earlier and has mobility concerns since then. It just amazed me how much walking he did without any untoward incident. Maybe the Italian or Mediterranean diet did wonders for him.

Assisi

Approaching Assisi (Italy)

When I was younger, I dream of visiting Assisi. I don’t know why and why I’m fascinated with the place. All I know was that it’s the birthplace of St. Francis and St. Claire, two of the saints I would pray to especially in times of need. Maybe it’s some kind of a religious or spiritual calling, but the two have been good to me that both have been my go-to when I pray for divine intervention. So I made sure that I had Assisi in our itinerary in my first trip to Italy. I have to face that calling. I have to fulfill that destiny.

Assisi, Italy

I booked a chauffeur driven limo to take us to and around Assisi. Though there were cheaper options, I cannot put my folks on a train or in a tour bus from Rome. The former would be grueling for them, the latter would deprive us of the time to reflect and savor the place. The driver picked us up from the hotel. Mom and Dad were already waiting in the lobby when he arrived and as usual I was running fashionably late. While waiting for me in the car, Mom struck a conversation with him and like any typical Filipino mom, she shared that I’m an accomplished finance professional back home. So the driver’s initial impression was that he’ll be meeting an older, respectable, gentleman. When he saw me come out of the hotel, wearing a collared shirt and shorts and got into the car, he was surprised. He said I looked like a 28 year old yuppie (well, he didn’t exactly say yuppie, but you know what I mean). So after all the pleasantries, he took us to a 2 hour drive to Assisi.

St. Francis Basilica (Assisi)

While approaching Assisi, I can see this old city perched on a hill. I know then why I was drawn to the place. It looks and feels familiar, like I have been there before. You may call it deja vu, but I can’t shake off that feeling that maybe I have lived there before, in my past life. Or maybe it’s just faith that’s messing up with my mind. Whatever it was, it can’t be denied that the place is beautiful. When we arrived, we could already feel the warmth, tranquility, and serenity and the gentle breeze of fresh air that welcomed us. In spite of its old charm, the feeling was refreshing.

St. Francis Basilica facade (perched on top of a hill)

So I finally paid my respect and homage to the tombs of St. Francis and St. Claire enshrined in their respective basilicas. St. Claire’s remains are still intact, a miracle by itself. Mom thought it was a statue, but I have to explain to her that St. Claire’s body hasn’t really decomposed over the centuries and just preserved by wax.

Dad checking out his sandwich while Mom chatting with the driver

Over lunch, the topic of conversation was my youthful looks and truffles (not the chocolate but the garnish). The driver can’t get over the fact that I was not in my 20’s anymore. So I told him that he’s just sweet talking me, but to prove that he’s not, he called the waitress and asked her how old does she think I was. She said I look late 20’s. Not satisfied, he called another resto staff. She said I look like a 21 year old lad. Flattered with all the compliments (who wouldn’t?), I shifted the subject to truffles, since most of the dishes we ordered were garnished with the same and I was very curious about it. Apparently, truffles are harvested by hand underground, like root crops, and it’s not something that can be grown or cultivated like in a garden or farm. Since it’s very organic and rare, it’s very expensive. But most Italian dishes, particularly pastas and meats are garnished with it, as it seems to elevate flavors and aromas. If you have tried truffle pasta, you’ll surely know what I mean.

St. Claire Basilica (Assisi)

My first trip to Italy left a good and lasting impression on me. It is first and foremost a family destination. The memories that I had with Mom and Dad in this country I will cherish forever, knowing that I’ve spent and witnessed some priceless moments with them. Second, this is the mecca of Catholic faith, belief, and spirituality. With plenty of sacred grounds to cover, this is a good place to embark on a spiritual journey, to find oneself in times when one is feeling at the crossroads of life. Third, we love the food as much as Italians do and it’s not just because of the flavors and aromas but the health benefits of Mediterranean diet. Fourth, the ancient charm and abundance of ruins and artifacts are lessons of humanity that today and future generations can learn from. I love Italy not because of its beauty, but because the country feeds the mind, the body, and the soul.

Up next: Naples, Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, and Capri

A Tale of Two Pattayas

Travel Buzz

Pattaya, Thailand

I would normally hie off to beaches during the Christmas season. That has been my yearly practice, not so much because of the cooler weather this time of the year but to just get out of the Philippines where this season can be very stressful. To those who haven’t been to the Philippines this time of the year, this is the worst place to be in given that almost everyone is outside of their homes either to be somewhere to have endless Christmas lunches and dinners. or to do piece meal shopping for gifts and groceries, or to see the Christmas displays and lights in malls and parks. These create the most horrific traffic in the metropolis, worse than any given day (traffic is already horrible on normal days), especially where I live (Makati City which is the central business district) where getting from point A to point B would be an epic journey. Cases in point: just driving to Rockwell Center where I would normally go to watch a movie, dine out, or do my shopping would already take me about an hour when it’s just 1.7km from where I live; getting to see my orthopedic surgeon for my post surgery consult will take me about the same time when it’s only about 2.9km from my place. Not to mention that you have to contend with reckless drivers, both in cars and on motorcycles. So you can imagine my stress and frustrations during this time of the year when you cannot do your usual routine without having to go thru this road ordeal.

Stress-free holiday (Pattaya Beach)

That’s why I have created by own tradition and I am unapologetic about it. I may sound like a Christmas grinch, but I already have so much Christmas memories from the old tradition that I’d rather make a new one that is stress-free. And what better way to stay free from being stressed than the soothing effect of the sun, sea, and sands. This is where Thailand comes to mind, which is one of my favorite Southeast Asian destinations. I have discovered Pattaya for the first time last year, and I thought why not go there again to see the other side.

Dongtan Beach

Yes, there are two sides of Pattaya. Just like Bali (where you have the main beach Kuta and the quiet side that is Nusa Dua), Pattaya has main beach called Pattaya, and the quiet side that are Jomtien and Dongtan beaches. Same as last year, I booked a flight via Bangkok using my Krisflyer miles (Singapore Airlines frequent flyer program). For 40,000 miles, I got a roundtrip business class ticket for Thai Airways (member of Star Alliance along with Singapore Airlines) and only paid about $70 for taxes and surcharges. Not bad given that this is a direct flight, compared last year where one leg of my flight was with Singapore Airlines where I have to spend a few hours layover in Singapore airport. I arrived in Bangkok late in the night, which is fine given that I don’t have to contend with bad traffic if I have arrived earlier in the day.

My hotel room in Bangkok (Novotel Bangkok Silom Road)

Same as last year, I booked a room at Novotel Bangkok Silom Road using my Accor card. What I liked about this hotel is that aside from its location, it offers a value-for-money buffet. For 299 bht and 700 bht for lunch and dinner respectively, I can eat as much fresh shrimps and mussels as I want along with other fares such as salmon and kani sashimi, kebab, pasta dishes, pastries, and fruits. The only difference is that dinner offers unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and frozen desserts. I love the fresh shrimps (red shrimps and river shrimps) that are so delicious (the red shrimps have that sweet taste that makes it different from the ordinary shrimps here in the Philippines; the only time I have tasted shrimps this good in it’s fresh form was in Lisbon, Portugal). So for the price it was worth it. Not only the food was good, but the room was also value for money. For less than a $100 a night, I got a spacious room that came with the basic amenities. My only complaint is that it didn’t come with bathrobes and slippers, the only stuff that I would love to have in a hotel room (I can do without the other amenities as I bring my own bath essentials when I travel).

Eat-all-you-can buffet (river shrimps, red shrimps, mussels, & squid)

I used Klook for the first time for my airport transfers as well as city transfers (Bangkok to/from Pattaya). I find their prices reasonable and it was actually very efficient. Unlike last year where I have to queue outside of the airport arrival area to get a taxi ticket number and wait again for my turn to get a cab (that could take a while especially if there aren’t as much cabs as passengers), with my pre-arranged airport transfer, all I did was to look for the Klook kiosk inside the airport arrival area and the rep called my designated driver and ushered me out of the airport when the car is already on its way to pick me up. So it was less hassle than before, plus the fact that you have to wait inside the airport instead of outside, where you can avoid the heat and the pollution outside.

My room in Pattaya last year (Rabbit Resort Pattaya)

It would take about 2 hours to get to Pattaya from Bangkok by car. That’s why I arranged for a premium car (Klook provided me with Toyota Fortuner) for a smoother ride given that I just had spinal surgery and I wanted to have a more comfortable road trip. Last year, I stayed at Jomtien/Dongtan area, where I booked a room at Rabbit Resort Pattaya. The reason why I chose this non-Accor hotel was because it is one of the few hotels in Pattaya that offers a resort vibe. The rooms are villa-like, where the interiors look like a traditional Thai house. So it’s not your typical hotel room that looks tired and dated. The hotel is owned by a Thai husband and an American wife whom were introduced to me during my stay. If my memory serves me right, the name of the hotel actually came from their surname, and not from that Easter bunny. The wife is actually the one who was around most of the time, meeting and entertaining guests, so the service and hospitality were more personal than casual (similar to my accommodation in Santorini). Since I also booked the Christmas eve dinner in the hotel, she invited me to join her and her husband, along with her two nephews from the US who were visiting Pattaya for the first time, in their dinner table, knowing that I was travelling alone. It was a sweet gesture, but I didn’t want to intrude in a private family affair, so I politely declined.

Jomtien Beach

The reason why this is the quiet side of Pattaya is because the area is less crowded with lesser commercial establishments than the main beach. There is a restaurant row in the commercial center where I reckon the food was good, as well as convenience stores and shops, but other than that, there are no malls or attractions that will keep the crowd in except for the beaches. But the perceived serenity and privacy of the area also attract the wrong kind of people. Not the petty thieves but the sexually obsessed ones. Not sure if it’s because I look like a local, but that doesn’t give foreigners the right to treat locals like sex objects or commodities, particularly in public (unless if you are in sexually charged streets or establishments which are not uncommon in this country). Maybe such behavior is tolerated in this country’s culture (hence the choice of word “obsessed” rather than “perverted” cause that behavior towards locals could be the new normal). Just to give you an idea. I was having lunch al fresco along the beach road when this burly white guy stopped on his track, stood across my table, and made sexual gestures (it seems like he wanted to get off al fresco with matching tongue action). Rather than get offended (I’m already used to guys making sexual and non-sexual overtures in my travels), I actually found it amusing and awkward coz I’m not sure if he was trying to seduce me, harass me, buy/hire me, or just trying to be sexy. Good thing I was wearing shades (so no direct eye contact), so I stared back and gave a smirk (like ‘eh’ or ‘meh’). He just eventually walked away, licking his bruised ego. That incident didn’t happen once, but I have mastered the art of fending off unnecessary attention from these type of guys.

Temple of Truth

On my way back to the resort from Temple of Truth last year, my cab passed by this area that I thought didn’t exist. It was along the promenade of the main beach where there are these hotel and restaurant rows as well as malls and shops. The area reminds me of Gold Coast in Australia (where I spent the Christmas season a couple of years earlier) that has that Miami vibe. That’s why this year, I decided to go back to Pattaya and stay in this area, to experience what this side of Pattaya has to offer. Here, it’s like a melting pot of the world (like NY), where tourists from all corners abound. You know that your city has arrived (from a tourism perspective) when hordes of mainland Chinese tourists are dropped off and picked up by tourist buses. This is true across all popular cities around the world that I have been to lately. Though I try to avoid crowds like this, but I also cannot give up a place that has the right balance that I’m looking for, where you can have the sand and the sea and soak in the sun on one side of the road and the convenience of the malls and your hotel where you can cool off from all the sweating and enjoy some good food, cold drinks, and even movies on the other side of the road.

Relaxing on the lounge by the poolside (Hotel Baraquda Pattaya MGallery by Sofitel)

I booked a room at Hotel Baraquda, which counts among the M Gallery collection of Accor hotels around the world. It’s a boutique hotel, so it’s not massive like other 5-star hotels in the area. But in spite of its smaller scale, the room is spacious with its own balcony that has pool view. It came with bathrobes and slippers among other amenities (as should be) and what makes this room different from the other hotel rooms that I have stayed in was the lighting control that you can set depending on your mood. But just like any hotel room, it looks and feels tired and dated. Even the towels need to go (rough and worn out like those in Novotel Bangkok Silom Road) and should be replaced with new, fluffy sets.

My room in Pattaya this year (Hotel Baraquda Pattaya MGallery by Sofitel)

The area is a far cry from the side of Pattaya that I stayed in last year. One thing I’ve noticed is that there seems to be as much massage parlors as restaurants in the area. Like for every two restaurants, there would be a massage parlor in between, I wonder whether these establishments actually make money given the competition. Then there are the big and small malls. The one I would frequent to was the Central Festival mall, which was not only close to my hotel (there were at least two smaller malls that were nearer), but it has everything that I look for in a mall. I was glad to find an Ippudo branch there (for my favorite Akamaru ramen) as well as new finds such as the Shabu Shi by Oishi, an eat-all-you-can shabu shabu place with a buffet of sushi, sashimi, and tempura, a drink buffet (different soda and green tea variants), and your choice of ice cream and sherbet, all for 419 bht. When you enter the place, they would ask you to choose among the four broths (chicken, tom yum, a black broth that was on the sweet side, and a milky broth that I didn’t try). Then they will usher you to a seat facing a moving belt of raw proteins (the ones I liked were pork belly sliced thinly like bacon, crystal shrimps, clams, and fish fillet) and vegetables for you to pick up and dip into the boiling broth of your choice. It takes about a minute or two for the protein to get cooked (you know when they’re ready once they started floating) and once drained of the excess broth and into the plate, I would dip my chopsticks on the chili sauce provided separately and tap the meat to give it a thin spread of the sauce, just enough not to overpower the taste and heat of the cooked meat. I enjoyed it so much that I went back almost every lunch and had dinner once as well (I would suggest lunch though since it looks like lunch leftovers were the ones being served for dinner). The mall also has cinemas where I got to catch the latest Star Wars franchise (The Rise of Skywalker).

Eat-all-you-can shabu shabu (Shabu Shi by Oishi, Central Festival Mall, Pattaya)

Another thing that I loved about Thailand is the Japanese influence on its food and consumer goods. Aside from those Japanese restos that I have mentioned, a lot of other Japanese restos abound both in Bangkok and Pattaya, There is even a level in Central Festival where Japanese restos mostly occupy the whole floor, aside from the predominantly Japanese kiosks at the basement food court. The supermarket in the mall carries Japanese products (like those in Isetan store in Central World Bangkok which is a specialty department store carrying Japanese products level after level), so if you are fond of anything Japanese or Thai, you only need to be in Bangkok and/or Pattaya to enjoy the best of both worlds.

(Left): Akamaru ramen and spicy gyoza (Ippudo, Central Festival Mall, Pattaya); (Right): Sushi & sashimi (Shabu Shi by Oishi, Central Festival Mall, Pattaya)

The Pattaya that I know now is different from the Pattaya I knew then. The place that I knew then may be quiet and peaceful, even sweet, but has some unexpected dark side to it. The place that I know now is lively, noisy, crowded, and sexually charged environment, yet no surprises, knowing fully well what to expect given its seedy reputation. This is where it gets interesting, where even the sexual undertones of Walking Street hasn’t prevented it from becoming a family destination just like Amsterdam’s Red Light District which has become a major tourist spot in that part of the world. In contrast, the Pattaya I knew last year has become a shadow of the Pattaya that I know now, where from my vantage point, this year’s Pattaya looked wholesome and harmless, in spite of popular belief.

Walking Street (Pattaya)

On my flight back to Manila, the stewardess gave me a local Thai paper (in English) where my horoscope for the day reads something like “Turn away from the old ways…create new traditions…” I thought this is exactly what I have been doing the past few years, and I don’t believe I’d even consider turning back to the old ways anytime soon, unless Christmas season becomes less stressful in my country.

Creating my own Christmas tradition (thru stress-free stuff that I love to do)

Nevertheless, wherever you are, whatever tradition you follow, whenever you’d feel like taking an escape, Christmas is still worth celebrating your own way (and that’s ok). So I’m sending Christmas cheers to everyone. Coz we all deserve it.

Merry Christmas!

Columbusbee says “Thank You Dear Readers!”

Positivity Buzz

Five months in and 17 articles after (plus one re-publication and one welcome post), columbusbee.blog has reached its first milestone by breaching one thousand views/visits from 23 countries in 4 continents. Columbusbee’s heart is full coz what started as a hobby is now a blog that is being read from the four corners of the world.

(Left) Breaching one thousand views/visits as of November 2, 2019; (Right) top 10 countries

As a neophyte blogger, the biggest satisfaction that I could get is not only that my articles are being read but readers find the same helpful…

and inspiring…

and getting the best compliment yet that sums it all up.

So thank you dear readers from Australia, Canada, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malta, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States and to everyone else out there. Travel, food, health, and positivity are truly universal languages that resonate well among us.

*The smile says it all (Rockefeller Center, Manhattan)*

Continue to join me in this journey and relive the articles (click on the permalinks below) or find an interesting one that you may have missed to celebrate this milestone. If you have any questions on any of the articles (or anything in general), feel free to contact me at franz8.cinco@gmail.com.

Happy reading!

“Hey, it’s me”

https://columbusbee.blog/2019/05/19/hey-its-me/(opens in a new tab)

“Deconstructing A Myth: Travel Is Only For The Rich?”

https://columbusbee.blog/2019/05/20/deconstructing-a-myth-travel-is-only-for-the-rich/(opens in a new tab)

“How To Apply for Schengen Visa – Embassy of Greece in Manila”

https://columbusbee.blog/2019/05/21/how-to-apply-for-schengen-visa-embassy-of-greece-in-manila/(opens in a new tab)

“Mendokoro Ramenba: Arguably The Best Ramen in Manila”

https://columbusbee.blog/2019/05/25/mendokoro-ramenba-arguably-the-best-ramen-in-manila/(opens in a new tab)

“How to Apply for Turkey e-Visa”

https://columbusbee.blog/2019/05/30/how-to-apply-for-turkey-e-visa/(opens in a new tab)

“The Joys of Travelling (Solo)”

https://columbusbee.blog/2019/06/01/the-joys-of-travelling-solo/(opens in a new tab)

“Travel In Style (Without Breaking The Bank) – Part 1 of 2”

https://columbusbee.blog/2019/06/11/travel-in-style-without-breaking-the-bank-part-1-of-2/(opens in a new tab)

“Travel In Style (Without Breaking The Bank) – Part 2 of 2”

https://columbusbee.blog/2019/06/29/travel-in-style-without-breaking-the-bank-part-2-of-2/(opens in a new tab)

“#ihaveflaws”

https://columbusbee.blog/2019/06/15/ihaveflaws/(opens in a new tab)

“Greece: Of Myths, Mediterranean Food, and Beaches – Part 1 of 2”

https://columbusbee.blog/2019/07/14/greece-of-myths-mediterranean-food-and-beaches-part-1-of-2/(opens in a new tab)

“Greece: Of Myths, Mediterranean Food, and Beaches – Part 2 of 2”

https://columbusbee.blog/2019/07/21/greece-of-myths-mediterranean-food-and-beaches-part-2-of-2/(opens in a new tab)

“Istanbul: The Ancient City That Never Sleeps”

https://columbusbee.blog/2019/08/10/istanbul-the-ancient-city-that-never-sleeps/(opens in a new tab)

“The Danna Langkawi: A Brief Escape to Remember”

https://columbusbee.blog/2019/09/07/the-danna-langkawi-a-brief-escape-to-remember/(opens in a new tab)

“Dear Mama Mary”

https://columbusbee.blog/2019/09/14/dear-mama-mary/(opens in a new tab)

“Remembering Miriam Defensor Santiago”

https://columbusbee.blog/2019/09/21/remembering-miriam-defensor-santiago/(opens in a new tab)

“The Contrasting Colors Of Tokyo And Kyoto – Part 1 of 2”

https://columbusbee.blog/2019/10/14/the-contrasting-colors-of-tokyo-and-kyoto-part-1-of-2/(opens in a new tab)

“MLNRD at St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly”

https://columbusbee.blog/2019/11/01/mlnrd-at-st-lukes-medical-center-global-city-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/(opens in a new tab)

Coming Soon: “The Contrasting Colors Of Tokyo And Kyoto – Part 2 of 2”

The Danna Langkawi: A Brief Escape To Remember

Travel Buzz

This happened last year days before my birthday. I have Enrich Miles (Malaysia Airlines) expiring and it was only enough for a short haul return flight (from Manila) so I thought what better way to spend my birthday than fly to one of its local destinations. I thought it would be nice to stay in a beach resort where I could sit back, relax, have a quiet day to celebrate my birthday while enjoying the sun, sea, and sands. That is how I would usually spend my birthday, either in one of our islands (like El Nido Resorts Palawan two years earlier) or abroad (like Guam the year before). As usual, I googled ‘best beach resort in Malaysia’ and came across a list from an international travel magazine. The Danna Langkawi topped that list and made it easier for me to decide where to go. So I booked a flight to Langkawi using my expiring miles.

Hotel exteriors and grounds

Like my last trip to Athens, the trip to Langkawi didn’t go without hiccups. When I got to Langkawi, my luggage didn’t arrive with me. I already had a feeling that there’s a possibility of that happening, since my outbound flight (from Manila) to Kuala Lumpur was delayed by more than an hour that ate up my layover time in KL before my connecting flight to Langkawi. Given that I’ll be only staying for a couple of nights in Langkawi, it’s quite stressful to know that I only had the clothes on my back in an island in a foreign country until the airline could sort out the exact location of my luggage, not to mention the paperwork at the lost baggage section of Langkawi airport. Tired, weary, and worried about my luggage, I checked in at The Danna thinking that I don’t want my birthday to end up like that, stressful. Even with the refreshing welcome drink and wet towel, my mind was still with my missing luggage. When the receptionist learned about my luggage situation, she assured me that the hotel will handle it. All I have to do is just to surrender the copy of the paperwork that I did at the airport and they will be the ones to do the follow thru. That’s when I started to relax.

Oasis inside with a pond full of colorful carps and the immaculate infinity pool

After checking in, they ushered me to the receiving area and gave me a free 15 minute massage. I found my worries slowly dissipate with the relaxing massage. I would have wanted more time, but that would cost me already. So I decided to proceed to my room. Before reaching my room, I was already pleased with the wide hallways along balconies. The hotel building is like a square from an aerial view, where the internal balconies are facing a hollow center where sea breeze can freely flow thru and external balconies have either city or sea views. When I got to my room, I was glad that it was spacious and has that resort vibe. It also has nice views of the marina and the beach.

Marina view and the bathroom

The hotel wasn’t crowded that time so I freely moved around, checking out every nook and cranny. I fell in love with the colonial design amidst modern amenities like the infinity pool. My favorite part aside from the pool and the beach was the lounge, with high ceilings that exude classic ambiance and a baby grand piano as the centerpiece. There’s also a lush garden inside, an oasis in a predominantly white concrete setting. There’s a pond that extends around the garden, where colorful carps have plenty of space to freely swim and enjoy regular feeding from hotel staff at different spots and snacks from hotel guests. It seems like these gentle creatures have become smarter, knowing exactly where to go and get second helpings from different feeding spots. Very clever indeed.

Lounge and bar

Then there’s the infinity pool. The loungers are sitting on shallow pool water, so it’s something different than the typical dry ones. It was so enticing to take a dip, but unfortunately, I wasn’t ‘dressed’ appropriately, so I decided to go to the beach instead. Just before the beach is a garden where tables, chairs, lighting, and sound system were being set up for what looks like a wedding reception. It was no doubt a wedding, as there were chairs already set up on the beach for the ceremony as well as an arch for the exchange of vows. I was about to witness another beach wedding I thought, similar to what I’ve seen a couple of years earlier at Shelly Beach in Sydney. Guests started to descend to the beach in their cocktail dresses and tux, while I was there lounging on the side with the same clothes I had since that early morning flight. Pre-wedding cocktails were served and a few minutes later, the ceremony started. Lovely, I thought, and perfect weather too.

Garden reception, beach wedding, and the uninvited guest who wasn’t dressed appropriately for the occasion.

After enjoying the scene and daydreaming (yeah, I’m a hopeless romantic), I decided to go back to my room. I wasn’t expecting to be met by a nice surprise: the hotel staff transformed my room by setting up balloons and ribbons on the four bed pillars. In one of the tables, there was a mini birthday cake and a bottle of chilled champagne, with a note greeting me on that special day where the gifts are “compliments of The Danna.” Overwhelmed by the kind gesture, I took it all in and was very grateful of the blessing. The hotel staff probably noticed the birth date on my passport upon check in and discreetly passed it on to hotel management and decided to make that birthday memorable. As if that wasn’t perfect enough, I saw my luggage sitting on the luggage holder. Wasn’t I so happy to be reunited with my luggage in a beautiful room setting with celebratory decor, all courtesy of the hotel. What more can I ask for.

My room (before and after the surprise transformation) and the birthday gifts ‘compliments of The Danna’

When I checked out a couple of days later I thanked the staff for the kind thoughts, pleasant surprise, and tremendous gestures. They went over and beyond to make my stay a fabulous experience and a birthday I would cherish in a long time. What the hotel management and staff did was a perfect example of what hospitality and value added service are all about. It went beyond limits that left a lasting impression, finding solutions and creating memories to make every stay count. No matter how brief an escape that was, it was a birthday to remember, thanks to The Danna.

Some of the meals I had in the hotel (seafood pasta marinara, stir fried seafood chinese noodles, and filet mignon)

Istanbul: The Ancient City That Never Sleeps

Travel Buzz

I flew out of Santorini (Greece: Of Myths, Mediterranean Food, and Beaches Part 2) to Athens on a Volotea flight. Good thing about this flight is that it lands in Athen’s international airport where I took my Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul in the same terminal just a few hours apart. Before taking my onward flight, I had lunch at the airport and was just happy to have found Burger King. You know (from the photos I’ve shared with my Greece stories in the 2-part article), I haven’t had fastfood in the 10 nights that I stayed in Greece and I’ve been craving for it so it was the first fastfood that I thought would satisfy my cravings and it actually did. Finished 8 pieces of chicken wings, medium fries, and a large Coke Zero. Since I still have a few hours to kill, I went to Starbucks (my first in this trip) to get a drink and finish the article that I was writing for this blog before heading to the gate 30 minutes ’til boarding time.

Along the Bosphorus river bank after having dinner at Yaka Balik restaurant under the Galata bridge

It was an uneventful flight. When I got to Turkey’s international airport, I was met by a rep of the transport company that my hotel has commissioned to pick me up. I told him that I need to look for an ATM first coz I need local currency. One thing I learned from my travels is that sometimes it’s better to withdraw from local ATM rather than bring dollars and convert it to local currency since the conversion rate is so much better and there is no commission fee (this is particularly true in Madrid where you’ll get ripped off with the conversion rate alone). He advised me to do it in the city as the ATMs in the airport charge commission fee. I was glad he told me that, it gave me a good first impression of Turks, especially after that unfortunate experience in Mykonos. He led me to my van, a modern unit where the seats look like 2 leather sofas facing each other and I had it all for myself. It was a pleasant ride indeed.

My suite room (ODDA Hotel). I love the classic toilet design.

I was dropped in my hotel, ODDA. As I mentioned in my previous article, I have to downgrade my hotel accommodation to cut my losses from that Mykonos scam. I was originally booked at Rixos Pera Istanbul using my Le Club Accor. It’s a high-end hotel at mid-scale price (using my Accor card) so I thought why not. Turkey is not an expensive city unlike the rest of Europe, so having a little luxury for a good price is something that I would normally go for. Unfortunately, I have to give it up and settled for a less classy property in a less desirable address. Don’t get me wrong though, ODDA Hotel is in a good location if you want to be near everything (a few steps away from the main avenues, particularly the popular Istiklal Caddesi, and few minutes to the nearest Metro), but it’s just that it’s in that part of the center where bars abound as well as hole in the wall shops and restos, which give it a dodgy feel especially at night.

Istiklal Caddesi filled with people at any given time of the day and night.

The accommodation, to say the least, is decent. I got a suite (yes, you heard me right). But before anyone questions my judgement especially after getting ripped off in Mykonos, you will be surprised at how much I got that suite room. Let’s just say I got it for less than a 100 euro a night. Quite a good buy, right? Though it’s not as posh as the room I had at St. Regis Abu Dhabi and in dire need of some refurbishments, I liked the extra space (living room, bedroom, separate shower and toilet). It’s a welcome respite from tight spaces typical of European hotel rooms. The only negatives are that the furnitures need some upgrade and the whole place needs a face lift.

Hagia Sofia (exterior and interiors)

Before embarking on this Turkish journey, I already had an idea which touristy sites I would like to see given the limited time that I’ll be in Istanbul. My sister suggested that I see the MillStone Cave Suites at Cappadocia for the hot air balloons but that’s outside of Istanbul and I don’t have enough days to stay there not to mention the travel time to get there. So I’ll reserve that for future trips, which will give me a reason to come back to Turkey. I decided to see only Istanbul for all its glory on a tight budget (after spending a fortune in a tourist trap that was Mykonos). I didn’t do the hop-on-hop-off bus anymore (which I would normally do to acclimatize myself in every new environment I’m in) to save some euros and time. So what I did was to get a loadable Metro card and got myself familiarized with the subway system and stations nearest to the sites I’d like to see. Unlike that of Tokyo, Istanbul’s subway system is quite simple and easy to understand.

Blue Mosque (exterior and interiors)

My first stop was the area where both Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque stand only separated by a park. These two structures define Istanbul both in terms of legacy and grandeur. Both are strategically located and stand apart just with enough space in between for people to stroll and appreciate these ancient beauties. Hagia Sofia is pinkish in appearance, while Blue Mosque is, of course, bluish. Between these two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, in terms of facade, I like the latter better. It is more majestic in presence, like a King with his Queen just a few steps behind. The interiors of both though were underwhelming. Like food, it wasn’t as tasty as it looks. Don’t get me wrong, there were a lot of intricate and meticulous details and undeniable unique aesthetics, which many would say work of art, but I have seen better with less hype. Maybe I was just expecting much (just like with Rome) and that’s always been one of my flaws. Like going to the movies, I would always tend to read the reviews before going in and leave the movie house underwhelmed.

*Grand Bazaar. Bought souvenir items, local soaps, and a carpet.*

Around the area are ‘hidden’ mini bazaars (didn’t have any idea that there were shops at the bottom of some stairs in the area) and I was stopped on my tracks a few times by friendly Turks inviting me to see their stalls in discrete spots. I’m not sure whether I look like a loaded tourist, where locals would usually come up to me and ask where I’m from and if I’m interested to see the wares they’re selling, from jewelry to precious stones, from carpets to artworks. I don’t think I wear fashionable clothes to have that look (I’m not gunning for that look, believe me). Not sure whether I’d be flattered by the attention, but I’m just a regular guy who likes to travel to see the sights and enjoy the food with shopping furthest from my mind. I had plans to visit the Grand Bazaar anyway, so I’d rather do the shopping there than entertain these guys.

Like Athens or any other ancient city, a visit to Istanbul won’t be complete without seeing her museums. My ticket for Hagia Sofia (which is now a museum) also entitled me to see two other museums: Istanbul Archaeological Museum and the Topkapi Palace Museum (discounted 3 in 1 ticket). The Archaeological Museum was just ok, no amazing or spectacular finds. My takeaways from the visit weren’t any good archaeological finds but the beautiful tiled building outside of the main building and a blackened toenail after tripping on probably ancient rock lying on the grounds of the mini archaeological garden beside the refreshment area. Topkapi Palace Museum, on the other hand, was a different story. The gardens leading to the different buildings inside a huge compound are beautiful. Well maintained and manicured, it gives the place a refreshing vibe that complements whatever awesome finds inside the buildings that house ancient relics and artifacts including what many believed was Moses’ staff. There are other finds which Muslims would consider sacred, that’s why it’s no surprise that the crowd would be mostly Arabs since the Palace is visited for its unique collections with historical and religious significance.

The Milion. See how far Manila was from the ancient zero-marker.

There are two other sites that are worth seeing. One is for free, the other with minimum fee. The former is The Milion, a 4th century A.D. monument, erected as a zero-marker during the Byzantine era used as starting place for measuring distances. What stands now is just the remains of the monument. People would normally pass by it, not realizing the presence of a significant marker. The other one is the Basilica Cistern, a 6th century A.D. underground cistern that can hold 100,000 tons of water. This is the main source of water for the capital of the Byzantine empire. Aside from the spectacular columns (336 per my count, just kidding), the “Sunken Palace” also houses two Medusa heads used as plinths and considered as masterpieces of sculpture art during the Roman period. Myths have it (again with reference to Greek mythology) that Medusa was a beautiful girl (with gorgeous eyes and hair) in love with Perseus, son of Zeus. Athena, who was also in love with Perseus, was so jealous of her that she turned her lustrous hair into snakes and whoever stares at her and meets her gaze will turn into stone. That’s why they put those heads upside down so that people won’t turn into stones (huh?). There’s a puddle where each head rests which now serves like a wishing well/fountain, so I threw in a few coins and made my wishes (hoping all will come true).

Basilica Cistern. If you have seen the movie Inferno (the 3rd installment of Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code series with Tom Hanks and Felicity Jones), then this may look familiar to you.

Istanbul is also known for its hamams, so to satisfy my curiosity, I tried it. I’ve never been in a steam bath before so this is something new to me. What I had before was a thermal bath in Budapest, where I enjoyed how the underground thermal water (hot spring) felt when you immersed your body in different thermal pools. Hamam is different though, it’s like the modern day wet sauna. It apparently has health benefits, where the most common is to sweat those toxins out of your body and stimulates the body to heal faster. I would have enjoyed the experience if not for those staring eyes that made me uneasy. You know how Arabs eyes are like: big, dark, and deep, that when they stare, it feels like it’s piercing thru your soul. If I were Medusa, the whole room would have been filled with stone statues. Not sure if it’s due to the fact that I was the only Asian inside, but some went beyond staring. After the attendant towel-dried me and wrapped towels around my body and head like a turban, I looked at myself in the mirror and realized that probably some of the stares may have been due to how I look: like a young Persian prince of ancient times, tanned and smooth face, unique in its own way. I left the hamam feeling good and refreshed but also felt unsettled and ‘violated’ with all the unnecessary attention I got.

The two Medusa heads (Basilica Cistern). You’ll probably see some of the coins I threw in.

Of course, the trip should be enjoyed with good food. Well, I ditched the fine dining part (remember I’m on a tight budget, except for one time where I had dinner in this nice restaurant under Galata bridge called Yaka Balik with nice view of the sunset and the Bosphorus River with cruise boats passing by which reminds me of Paris) and instead settled most of the time for turo turo (it’s a Filipino term referring to how one points a finger to cooked dishes as displayed in heating trays on the restaurant counter like those in a cafeteria). Aside from the usual fish, meat, and chicken viands, Istanbul (or the rest of Turkey) is known for its Turkish desserts. I’m not really fond of desserts, but when it comes to Turkish desserts, I would indulge in this guilty pleasure in a heartbeat. There’s just so much variety to choose from: halvas, baklavas, and the popular Turkish delights. One of the oldest shops, Hakki Zade, apparently has been using the same recipe since 1864 and always popular with tourists. You don’t also have to worry eating or shopping late as restos and shops close at 2 in the morning while bars are open with loud band music booming ’til the wee hours of the morning.

Don’t undermine the humble turo-turo. It’s probably the only turo-turo in the world with chandeliers.

Yes, Istanbul is open 24/7, always alive and kicking. Istiklal Street (which is Istanbul’s answer to New York’s 5th Avenue, Sydney’s George Street, Auckland’s Queen’s Street or even Paris’ Champs Elysees) is still bustling with people even at past midnight. The first night I’ve noticed this, I did ask the hotel receptionist if Turks actually sleep. He said in jest that his people only rest when they are already tired from all the merry making. Makes me wonder how they could actually function during the day. Because streets are always filled with people all day and all night long, especially Istiklal (you’ll be amazed at how many people fill this street at any given time of the day or night), litters abound. When there’s a sudden downpour, these streets will be drenched and with those litters in puddles, make the city looks filthy.

The waiter preparing and serving my first testi kebab.

So that’s Istanbul for you. A city with a sleeper hit of a past and a present that never sleeps. It’s dirty (pun intended), filthy, and dodgy, but somehow endearing and charming, like a bad boy that good girls go after. Like Vegas, what happens in Istanbul stays in Istanbul.

Some of the shops that offer Turkish desserts

Greece: Of Myths, Mediterranean Food, and Beaches – Part 2 of 2

Travel Buzz

To pick up where we left off (where I talked about Athens in the earlier part of this article), I have always been curious about the Greek isles which not a few have been raving about. That’s why before embarking on this Greek adventure, I have decided to see two of the most popular ones, Mykonos and Santorini, and booked hotels in these two islands. On my last day in Athens, I went to a local tour office in Athens and bought a one way ferry ticket to Mykonos. I got the Blue Star Ferries ticket where the port is in Piraeus, about half an hour by car (sans traffic). The ferry leaves at 8 in the morning and it’s about a 4-hour trip. There are ferries that run faster, but the faster it gets, the rougher the ride and I don’t want to get seasick thereafter. The ride was pleasant and gave me time to write another article for the blog. I got a business class seat, but on hindsight, I should have settled for economy coz the common dining lounge already looks comfortable. Business class may be advisable on peak season where coach can get too crowded for comfort.

Business class section of Blue Star Ferry

Mykonos

We reached Mykonos around noon and my mistake was not to confirm the hotel transfer with my hotel (Super Paradise Suites) that I have included in my hotel booking. So I waited for a ride that wasn’t there to start with. So after hanging up on hotel staff learning that there’s no transfer to the hotel, I shared a cab with two young ladies from Utah who happen to be staying in the same hotel. We chatted with the cab driver and learned that locals and non-locals alike only work in the island from April to September and the island becomes silent in the next 6 months. There will still be some tourists on lean months, but most of the restos and shops are closed during this period. Non-locals then return to their home base, while locals take this opportunity to travel.

Luxury shops in the island that remind me of those in Capri

The hotel is situated on the hilly edge of Super Paradise Beach (not to be mistaken with another beach in the island called Paradise Beach). So getting to and from the beach would require some hiking which I don’t mind (good daily exercise for me) but not recommended for anyone with mobility concerns given the very steep trail to the beach as well as to where the shuttle that goes to town proper would pick up passengers. When I got to my room, I was pleased with the stunning views of the beach and the Aegean sea with the mountains as backdrop. Just like any island resort, everything here is expensive. Sun beds will set you back as much as 50 euros for a day rent (prices drop as beds get farther away from the shore). Aegean sea reminds me of Mediterranean sea, mystical, magical, enticing clear blue waters (the latter though is on the greenish shade). Per feng shui, my birth element is water, so I’m not surprised why I always get attracted to bodies of water. Maybe I’m a descendant of Poseidon (who lost by the way to Athena on that epic battle I shared in the first part of the article).

View from my room (Super Paradise Suites)

Mykonos, like Bali, is a beach haven so your trip to the island would mostly consists of beach hopping. On hindsight, I should have stayed in any of the hotels in the town proper since that is where all the buses that go to the different beaches pick passengers. It could have saved me a few euros from the daily shuttle between my hotel and the town proper and getting on a bus to the next beach. But what didn’t save me from the island greed was a trip to Platys Gialos beach. That’s where I realized that Mykonos, with all its charm and beauty, can also have the most cruel tourist trap that even the most seasoned traveler could fall victim to. I made a mistake of being lured into Dk Oyster, a beachfront seafood resto. With its nice sun beds facing a beautiful beach, I was enticed with what the in-house ‘hawkers’ sell as a good buy where if you dine in the resto for at least 50 euros, you get a sun bed all day for free, otherwise you pay the same amount up front for a day rent. So I went in and came out 700 euros lighter and 700 euros wiser. How’d that happen? Below is the screen grab from my Tripadvisor review:

The biggest lesson I got from this experience is not what I’ve lost but how to keep a positive mindset after the initial shock and trauma. As I’ve said, it was cruel, which took me a while to recover, but when I did, I tried to condition myself to continue enjoying the holiday and just find ways to cut my losses. I’m here on a holiday and no matter what happens, I’ll move on and enjoy the rest of my vacation. First task I did after accepting my fate was to downgrade my Istanbul hotel (last leg of my trip) which I booked thru my Le Club Accor so I was still able to cancel it a few days before my actual stay. I was able to save a few hundred euros after finding a much cheaper hotel (but in a less desirable location though). I was also able to cut on my onward ferry ticket to Santorini and saved a few more euros from giving up sun beds and just lay on the sands to enjoy the sun and the sea. On hindsight, I should have checked the reviews in Tripadvisor before getting in, coz now I’ve learned that not a few have been victimized by Dk Oyster, with each one having a #metoo horror story to tell. The vileness continues, where for every negative review, Tripadvisor will be flooded with fake positive reviews (you be the judge when you read all the ‘positive’ reviews particularly this peak season). But in spite of all these, I stayed true to myself and kept whatever dignity I have left from this experience: I didn’t scrimp on food (see Travel In Style Part 2) and would never blame my misfortune on being a foodie. Bad things happen to good people not because they love good food.

Some of the meals I had in Mykonos. From left: Spaghetti Frutti de Mare, Mussels Marinara, and Lamb Chops (yes, they are all delish!)

So I also checked out Paradise Beach. Just like Super Paradise beach, party starts at 4PM when the sound systems would start booming loud music and partyphiles would gather and groove in their swimwear with drinks on hand. As in Super Paradise beach, there is a portion of the beach for nudist, where young and old, of different shapes and sizes, will bare and let it all hang out like it’s nobody’s business. Someone who comes from a conservative society like the Philippines would probably cringe at the sight, but not me. I’ve seen similar places before (like the lakes in Germany during summer) where I’d probably be more culture shocked with how nasty tourist traps are than public nudity. So if you think my swimwear pics are too out there, think again. Coz that’s nothing compared to what’s out there.

Santorini

So after having enough of the popular beaches (and greed) of Mykonos, I took a ferry to Santorini. I bought a one way Golden Star ferry ticket from a tour office in Mykonos town. The trip from Mykonos to Santorini was about 5 hours, so it gave me some more free time to finish an article I was writing. Unlike what happened at Mykonos port, I have a driver waiting for me at Santorini port to bring me to Ersi Villas. On the way, I chatted with the driver and unlike Mykonos, Santorini is open all year round to tourists. Upon dropping me at the villas, I instantly got the homey vibe and feel that I was expecting from this kind of accommodation. I was met by Elias, the amiable owner of the villas and right away gave me directions and tips on what to do in the island. A traveler himself, Elias knows exactly what guests need and was even generous in swapping travel stories with me as well as helping me out with my island itinerary.

The villa is located on the mid section of the hill (Santorini is hilly, like San Francisco hilly) in Firostefani. Firostefani is in between Fira, the capital town, and Imerovigli. Firostefani has good number of shops and restos, and the walk path from Firostefani square to Imerovigli is what I would call the best resto row. Here you will find some of the best restos in the island, from To Briki to La Maison. They offer traditional Greek dishes and my ultimate fave, seafood! All three towns are easy walk from each other, that’s why no need to take the bus, unless you want to get to the far end of the island where Oia is with its popular sunset or to the different beaches in the island. Just like in Mykonos, you have to take the buses at the Fira town proper to get to the different beaches.

A guy proposing to his girl at the popular Oia sunset viewing deck. Everyone in the crowd who was there for the sunset cheered after she said “Uhmm…” Just kidding, she said yes 🙂

If I have to describe Santorini in one word, then it would be ‘stunning.’ It actually reminds me of Positano, where the views are just simply stunning. Even the beaches have better views than Mykonos. It makes me wonder now why I even went to Mykonos, when Santorini can offer the same experience (except for the greed) plus so much more. From its caldera to mountain views, beaches to sunsets, dining to shopping, everything seems to bring out only positive and exciting experience. Santorinians are more welcoming, hospitable, and true, and seems to put guest satisfaction over selfish gains. In fact, during this whole Greek adventure, it was in Santorini where I had the best dining experience. I never had any disappointment in all the restos I have dined in where not only the food was great, but the service was at par with my personal standards and expectations and you are seated at the edge of the caldera with its magnificent views.

Best dining experience (need I say more?). From left: Amberjack (La Maison), Dorade (The Greeks), Pork Ribs (To Briki), and Pork Steak (Metropolis Str.)

The beaches did not disappoint as well. Being born out of volcanic activity, Santorini is blessed with beaches that have stunning views and clear waters. I’ve never been happier doing beach hopping, even if I had to take a treacherous path just to get to one of the popular ones called Red Beach. You know, you have to take this very narrow and steep trail with sharp edged rocks and boulders, where some slight miscalculations will easily scrape that beautiful tanned skin. Then you have to negotiate for space in the foot traffic between people going down and up the trail. Though I didn’t overhear anyone saying “is there like an elevator or something?” (Part 1 of this article) but how I wish there was an easier way to get to the beach. The boat that I took for the sea cruise does not pick up or offload passengers on the beach, so the only way to get there is to take this dangerous path. I almost gave up mid way, but I’m just glad I didn’t. If only for the stunning views, I would recommend it for a visit, but just be careful going down and up the trail.

Imagine climbing down to reach the beach and up again to the main road (Red Beach)

So I ended my Greek adventure on a high note, where Santorini was definitely the highlight of the trip. As I mentioned in the first part of this article, there were hiccups and misfortunes along the way, but what is an adventure without the unexpected, the twist and turns, the danger, and most importantly the lessons learned. As I contemplate on my flight back to Athens to take my onward flight to Istanbul, I smiled knowing that I had a good one inspite of. As I’ve quoted in my earlier article (The Joys of Travelling Solo), I would come out a different person from each trip and now I’m a better version of myself than I was before I embarked on this trip. Like in the Greek mythology, I have fought some battles and personal demons along the way (where you would tend to question yourself and create self doubt) of which I have won and restored my core, appreciated the goodness of Mediterranean food, and enjoyed the beach life just how it should be lived.

Life’s a beach. From top left clockwise: Perissa Beach, Kamari Beach, Platys Gialos Beach, & Super Paradise Beach (Hey Sports Illustrated, why don’t you consider these locations for next year’s swimsuit edition with Kelsey Merritt on the cover?)

Travel In Style (Without Breaking The Bank) – Part 2 of 2

Travel Buzz

This opulent accommodation I got to experience for 3 nights for the price of one (St. Regis Abu Dhabi)

“Cancellable.” That’s the key word when booking an accommodation. Like your lovelife, you need to be prepared to let go. You can lock-in your habibi and hope that everything goes as planned until such time that you will come to the realization that it was not or will ever meant to be. As mentioned in my previous post (Deconstructing A Myth: Travel Is Only For The Rich?), you have to book early so that you can lock-in the cheaper prices. But always make sure that it’s “cancellable” in case your plans don’t push thru.

So how do I get decent accommodation when I travel without spending too much? How do you choose among so many options? I try to simplify my life thru loyalty. As you probably have seen in my previous posts, I’m very loyal: 5 frequent flyer loyalty programmes (Travel In Style Part 1), loyal foodie (Mendokoro Ramenba: Arguably The Best Ramen In Manila), loyal to self (The Joys Of Travelling Solo), and now hotel loyalty program. Like your lovelife, you need to be loyal to avoid any drama. In the last 14 years, I have been a Le Club Accor member. I started by subscribing to this loyalty programme where you pay an amount which is about the same as a night stay in their 5 star hotel but comes with perks (aside from a free night stay in any of their hotels worldwide, you get 50% off on group dining at Spiral (Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila), access to periodic room sale, 15% discount on food and drinks, member for a day voucher, birthday cake, etc.). Last year, I forgot to renew my subscription and Accor thought that I was not renewing so they sent me a loyalty card (which has most of the perks as having a subscription) which I can keep for free if I continue to stay in their hotels for at least 10 nights per year. Not bad for a regular traveler like me.

So why Le Club Accor? This loyalty club is like a basket of hotel brands that cater to low, mid, and high end accommodations. There’s a brand for you if you are on a tight budget, and a brand if “money is no object” to you. Some of their low-end brands (less than $60 per night) are Ibis, Ibis Styles, and Adagio. Their mid-scale brands ($60 – $160) are Grand Mercure, Sebel, Novotel, and Mercure. High-end brands ($160 up) are Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel, Rixos, M McGallery, and Pullman. Sometimes, the prices can overlap depending on the location and the season. Say you can stay in a high-end brand in Istanbul for the same price as a mid-scale brand in Athens. But what made me stick to this programme are the cancellable option, all-year round member’s special rate, periodic room sale, and points that you earn every time you stay in their hotels on top of the perks that were previously mentioned. The cancellable option gives you the flexibility to cancel at least a day before your stay (no booking platforms such as Agoda and Expedia can match that cancellation policy). The member’s special rate and the room sale will offer you with bargain prices and options. The points you earned and accumulated for every stay are convertible to cash vouchers that you can use to pay for your next stay. If I could remember it right, it’s one point to a dollar, so if you have spent $1,000 for a 10 night stay in one of their low or mid-scale hotels, that’s 1,000 points. For every 2000 points, you get I think $60 dollars voucher. So that’s about a free night stay in one of their low to mid-scale accommodations. They also have this accelerator point system (additional points you get which sometimes doubles up the actual points from your stay) which up to this time I still have no idea how it is computed, but there was a time when I have raked in more than 18,000 points which I have converted to 9 cash vouchers of 40 euro each (yeah, you have the option to redeem your points in dollar or euro). That’s 9 free night stay in their low-end accommodation (low-end here means 3-star hotel, so not that shabby I guess).

Screen grab of Le Club Accor points history

Though they have extensive presence across Europe, Asia and Oceania, Accor hotels are limited in US and Africa. That’s why there would be trips where I have to make use of Agoda or Expedia, but you also need to be smart when using these booking platforms. Credit card companies do not only have tie ups with airlines but also with hotels and their booking platforms. So it is not rare where credit card promos will include discounts on these platforms of up to 10%. So if I have a planned trip, I would check out which of my credit cards (I mentioned in my previous post that I have two, Citi and BDO Amex) have hotel and/or booking platform promos. Booking smart does not only mean being on a lookout for discounts, but also knowing how to book to get the least price. So say you are going to 2 or 3 destinations, where you are indifferent to the order of the trip. To be specific, say you are going to Auckland and Wellington for 2 weeks and you don’t really care whether you want to do Auckland first or Wellington. Booking smart means that for the same Auckland and Wellington hotels that you are interested in, you need to check the prices of Auckland for the first week and Wellington on the 2nd week and compare it if you do Wellington on the first and Auckland on the following week. You’ll be surprised that hotel prices can go up between weeks for whatever reason (I’ll say there may be a scheduled convention or event on that week where the prices are much higher). You can then arrange the order of your trip depending on which order will have you end up spending so much less. Yeah it’s a lot of work, just like your lovelife.

BDO/Amex credit card promos for airfare and hotel bookings

There are also ways to save up from just planning your trip alone (and I’m not referring to airfares and hotel prices). From the same example above, say you have decided to do Auckland on the first week and Wellington on the second week coz that would give you the least price. Say you have booked a roundtrip ticket from Manila to Auckland (Manila-Auckland-Manila) and booked a domestic flight between Auckland and Wellington (Auckland-Wellington-Auckland). When booking that domestic flight, you can check if there is a return flight to Auckland just a few hours before you can catch your return flight to Manila. This means you no longer have to stay in Auckland for a night just to catch your Manila flight. This will save you roundtrip airport transfers which is very expensive in some cities (between $30 to $50 per trip depending on the distance of the airport from the city, or about $60 to $100 roundtrip, or equivalent to a night hotel accommodation). Depending on your budget, you can also plan your activities without spending a lot. Like instead of booking a guided tour for your desired place of interest, why not read about that place first and then do your own tour? You can do the hop-on-hop-off bus to familiarize yourself with your new environment, but you can also learn how to use the subway (particularly the complex ones like those in Tokyo) to get to the different touristy sites that you have always wanted to see. There are also ways to save up on subway tickets (ie 24 hour pass, 7-day pass, reloadable card, etc.). The only thing that I would strongly advise not to scrimp on is on food. My Mom used to say that you can be stingy on most things but not on food. Trips are best enjoyed with good food and lots of walking to burn those calories.

Who knows, getting fit (both body and bank account) from your trips will get you your next lovelife.

(Left) Lunch by the beach. My Mom said don’t scrimp on food, so I’m having mini burgers, fries, soda plus Vitamin D from the sun 😉 (Right) Lounging by the beach. Don’t I look fit from all the walking? (Super Paradise Beach Club)

Travel In Style (Without Breaking The Bank) – Part 1 of 2

Travel Buzz

Not a few of you have been asking how I get to travel in style (business class seats, 3-5 star hotel accomodations, dining out, the whole shebang) particularly now that you’ve seen me in my newly opened Instagram account (columbusbee.gram). As I’ve mentioned in my previous post (Deconstructing A Myth: Travel Is Only For The Rich?), you don’t have to be wealthy to get to travel and you don’t have to be Crazy Rich Asian to travel in style. Truth be told, there are ways to travel in style without breaking the bank. So I’ll let you in to some of my ‘secrets’ so that you too can be stylish jetsetter.

In the last 9 years or so, there has been an advent of promo fares here in Manila and I’m not even referring to a local airline’s one peso fare. These are promotional fares from highly rated airlines, either thru travel expos, tie ups with major credit card companies or their very own flash sale. Looking for good buys is just like shopping for bargains and anticipating mall sale. My first venture into this airfare bargain hunting was going to travel expos. Every year, there is a travel expo around the 2nd weekend of February organized by travel agents association. Multiple airlines would offer marked down prices, especially for business class fares. I remember getting business class fares for $999 to Europe (exclusive of taxes), or something like less than $1100 net. That’s a pretty good deal given that it only costs as much as a regular economy ticket. Of course nowadays, you can’t find that kind of price points anymore. where the good buys would be between $1,600 to $1900 to Europe or US. Anything more than that would already be a rip off in my book (unless you’re flying Emirates or Qatar Airways where a little premium will go a long way).

The second path to a successful hunt is thru airlines tie up with major credit card companies. It is essential then to have a very good credit card for this purpose (you’ll need a credit card anyway when you travel). Personally, there are only two credit cards that in my experience offer the best airline tie ups: Citi and American Express (where the latter is issued by BDO locally). I’ve seen promos from BPI (usually tie ups with Singapore Airlines), Metrobank, Security Bank, etc. but nothing beats these two when it comes to the depth (prices) and breadth (participating airlines). Travel sale for these airlines gives the public the option to get it from their onsite travel sale (similar to travel expos but exclusively for their credit card holders), thru their airline offices, or online. For BDO cards, there are times that there would be pre-sale (usually a day before the actual sale) exclusively for their elite cardholders (ie Amex Platinum, BDO Titanium, etc.) where they can have first dibs on promotional fares. Sorry to say that not all credit cards are created equal. There is a caste system among credit cards but don’t fret, having the right credit card would already get you into this world of low airfares. For example, you don’t need to be an Amex Platinum or a BDO Titanium cardholder. All you need to do is just to have any Amex or BDO card. There’s this Blue Amex that I heard is being widely marketed nowadays (compared to the more exclusive Amex Platinum) and of course your regular BDO credit card. You just need to ensure that you are in their email list where they send announcements of their forthcoming fare sale.

This is how I got my latest promo fare. Oman Air has a promo last April for BDO cardholders (I’m an Amex cardholder). Though the flights to Europe on promo are limited to certain destinations only, Oman Air also launched its maiden flight to Athens starting June, so I decided to make Athens as my port of entry to Europe and booked the promo business class fare for $1,760 inclusive of taxes (so the airfare was about $1,600+). This is a good buy compared to regular business fare of about $2,600 (or about 33% discount) and regular economy fare of about $1,200 for the same airline.

Basking in the sun on infinity pool lounge with the Aegean Sea, beach, and mountains as backdrop (Mykonos Island)

The third path is thru airlines’ flash sale. Here, as long as you have a credit card, you can already purchase promo fares online. Airlines would normally have these flash sales on special occasions (such as airline anniversary, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or any holiday or season that these airlines are celebrating). You just have to watch out for these special occasions during certain times of the year or to regularly check out the websites of your favorite airlines.

Once you have started flying, you can join the airlines frequent flyer programs. I’m currently a member of five (5) programs: Krisflyer (Singapore Airlines), Asia Miles, Miles & More (Lufthansa), Enrich (Malaysia Airlines), and Mabuhay Miles (Philippine Airlines). I’ve flown other airlines as well, but since they are part of airlines’ global alliances (for example, Thai Airways is in the same alliance with Singapore Airlines under Star Alliance) I don’t need to enroll in their own loyalty programs. The miles that I would be entitled to will just be credited to my existing loyalty program (so the miles that I will get from a Thai Airways ticket I will just have it credited to my Krisflyer account). What’s special with frequent flyer program is that aside from getting notified of the airline’s forthcoming promotional fares, they also offer miles sale (where you get free airfare at marked down miles compared to regular miles required to redeem a free flight). I find Krisflyer to be very good at this in terms of depth (miles discount) and breadth (you can have the option to redeem your miles thru another airline that is a member of the global alliance). For example, last December, when I went on vacation to Bangkok and Pattaya, I have an expiring 25,00 miles in my Krisflyer account. I tried checking for the required miles for a business class ticket and there was a business saver promo for 40,000 miles (compared to the regular 80,000 miles). So I transferred 20,000 miles from my Citi Premier Miles (that’s the credit card I would recommend among Citi cards if you like travelling) to meet the required Krisflyer miles for redemption. My business class redemption was confirmed for the Manila – Bangkok leg of the Singapore Airline flight (with layover in Singapore) but was waitlisted for the return flight. So I clicked the Star Alliance button on their website and found that Thai Airways business class was available for my return date. So I flew back (Bangkok – Manila) direct on Thai Airways flight business class for free (ok, not totally free coz only the airfare is free and you still have to pay a minimal amount for the taxes/surcharges). So I got to compare business class experience between these two airlines from these two short haul trips.

(Up next: Accomodations and Incidentals)