PNR Express

Last weekend, I decided to go to Divisoria to do some bargain hunting. From my place, I rode the jeepney to the LRT that will bring me to Divi. Before reaching the crossing near Cash and Carry, I saw the Philippine National Railway (PNR) tracks crossing Buendia. Panic mode ensued coz a lot of opportunities to try to ride the PNR passed me by and I didn't wanna waste the 7 pesos I already paid for the jeepney ride. "This is the right time!" I told myself. Now or never! 

Excitement! Pure excitement coz I knew that I would be riding my first "Bicol Exress"  :)

PNR trains travel on the left railway instead of the normal right hand side :)

New and Improved! :)

Buendia Station, North Bound Schedule. 

Ticketing :)

from Buendia to Blumentritt, it's only 10 pesos! So cheapo! Go go go! :)

waiting for the ride :)

my very first PNR express ride! :)

PNR Express Stations. click the image for a bigger view :)

=====North=====

Caloocan

Asistio Ave.

C-3 (5th Ave.)

Solis

Blumentritt w/ Tutuban

Dapitan

Spain

Sta. Mesa

Beata

Paco

San Andres

Vito Cruz

Buendia

Pasay Road

EDSA

F.T.I.

Bicutan

Sucat

Alabang

=====South=====

it's cooler and even more spacious than LRT or MRT! :)

Blumentritt station. LRT transfer to Carriedo to walk to Divi :)

Go Go Go!

Burj Al Arab (Tower of Arabia)

Bird's Eye View

showing a panorama of the Persian gulf w/ the imposing Burj Al Arab Hotel. This is the second perch of this homey birdie and it stayed a bit longer there, waiting for food handouts

Burj Al Arab is the highest 5-star hotel in the world. It has some architectural entases or optical illusions like the horizontal lines per floor. Actually, a band is composed of 2 floors, making it appear to have less floors when viewed from afar and have shocking effect of scale when you're near this monumental edifice. 

Statue of Liberty can fit snuggly into its very high atrium lobby. 

It is built away from the shore so as not to enshadow the Jumeirah Beach Hotel nearby and to make it less accessible. 

Before reaching the long wavy bridge to reach the lobby, a collapsible wall of baricade (bollard) behind another fence is lowered so you could enter, if you're allowed access. 

An all-suite hotel w/ a butler in each room, a lofty living and dining spaces and the game room w/ pool table. The bedroom had a very big 4 poster bed that you need to step up to reach the bed. A luscious en-suite bathroom as large as normal living rooms is available w/ its delicate mosaic art.

The restaurants of Burj Al Arab:

1. Al Iwan (Buffet Dining)

2. Al Mahara (The Oyster)

3. Al Muntaha (The Ultimate)overhanging restaurant

4. Bab Al Yam (Relaxed Dining)

5. Culinary Flight (a taste of the famous restaurants)

6. Junsui (Japanese)

7. Majlis Al Bahar (Al Fresco Dining)

8. Sahn Eddar (afternoon tea)

9. Juna Lounge(Stylish & Intimate)

10. Skyview Bar (Spectacular View)

Philippine Earthquake today, 25 March 2010!

I feel like I'm walking on Jell-O! I hope all of you are OK!

Filipino Food!

Filipinos love to eat too! These yummies are the norm in fiestas (festivities)

Kainan na!!! (Let's eat!!!)

Lumpia (deep fried spring roll)

SFC (Spicy Fried Chicken)

Rellenong Bangus (Stuffed Milkfish)

 

Crispy Pata (deep fried pork knuckles) should be eaten right after cooking

Kare-kare (ox tail & banana blossoms w/ peanut sauce) is not complete w/o bagoong (shrimp paste)

Siomai (dumplings) from the Chinese

Deep fried breaded shrimps

Caldereta from the Spanish conquistadores

Pork BBQ

Cheap Vodka

Lemons

Road Trip on I-95

If you ever go on a road trip on the US East Coast, the most likely route to travel is the mighty Interstate 95, more popularly known as I-95.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_95

End to end, it stretches for almost 2,000 miles along the whole length of the Eastern sea board, from the Canadian border to Miami, Florida.

By car, driving straight through, you'll spend around 2 days, non-stop, consuming 1-2 barrels of gas depending on your vehicle. If you're car is a gas-guzzler, then you proly need 10 barrels! :) Anyway, a barrel of gas is 42 gallons! That's almost 160 liters! Lots of moolah!

You'll see a North sign at the top of I-95 sign when you're going towards Canada...

...and conversely, South, when you're going towards Florida. Mind you, we went to a different direction twice even with those glaring signs! :)

When you suddenly see a number before 95, like the one above, that means I-95 goes through a big city so you can use the I-495 Beltway to go around that big city, to avoid traffic :)

VENETIAN MASKS

These exquisitely beautiful and cute Venetian masks are made of plaster of paris. Compared to the normal sized papier-mâché masks, this kind is very small, it won't fit on your face. It's about 3 inches from crown to chin.

Though breakable, they're lovely souvenir giveaways! Your friends will surely treasure it! :)

go go go Venice!