Sagada Side Trip

Since the medical mission was a success, we asked the dean if we could drop by Sagada, since we're already there in Mountain Province anyway. Originally, I was planning to join a tour and a coffee walk in Sagada on the same dates that we went there. But an article at spot.ph regarding the huge crowd at Kiltepan Peak made me veer away from it. So our goal for that day is to have a glimpse of Sagada.

Sagada is about an hour away from Bauko. The view on the way to Sagada is freaking amazing. 

We didn't go around that much because our time is very limited. We just checked our Ganduyan Museum (but it was closed), St Mary's Episcopal Church, and the nearby stalls.

Batch Love!

Inside the St Mary's Chapel

Outside the Ganduyan Museum

Although they said that Sagada is sagad na, I would like to come back and check everything out. After all, I won't be there just to make hugot. I-sked na yan! *smirks*

Med Mission Up North

As part of the Bedan Family, we were invited to join a medical mission by San Beda College in Sitio Pactil, Brgy. Sadsadan, Bauko, Mountain Province. I took the opportunity because I was 1. free that weekend 2. that my friends are coming over too and 3. I want to do something meaningful with my life.

It was like a reunion of sorts because my former professors and upperclassmen were there too. Medyo nakakapanibago because they were already treating us as colleagues but I still feel like I'm their student. Haha. I also got to meet the clerks (a.k.a. Kiddielets), along with students and faculty from other colleges.

Who knew that even if it was work, I can tick items off my bucket list. Mrhrhr.

Me at Halsema Highway.
Seeing the highest point of the Philippine Highway System: DONE

As soon as we arrived, we freshened up a bit then went to Sitio Pactil for an ocular survey. We were told by Father that Sitio Pactil was tagged as "mini-Switzerland" by Swiss visitors who once went to the area. I've never been to Switzerland so that sounded like a treat to me. As we went around the area, this is what we saw:

View from the back of the Holy Family Chapel compound

Vietnam Food Trip

Out of the three countries that I have visited in this trip, I enjoyed Vietnam so much because of the food. I mean, come on, it's hard to miss because every nook and cranny in Ho Chi Minh City has a roadside stall that serves food and drink. Take note, these stalls don't serve the same thing because each stall has its own specialty. Although I also enjoyed Thai food as well, having Vietnamese food gave me warm and fuzzy feelings. Haha. To further diversify my choices, I did not limit myself to roadside stalls because I ate at restaurants too.

In jest, I forgot to take photos of some of the stuff I ate. Here are some of my personal favorites:

Bun cha from a shop in Bui Vien Street named, well, Bun Cha
(55,000 VND = 2.50 USD = 113 PHP)

Bun cha is a Northern Vietnamese specialty which became my instant favorite-slash-pho substitute. It is a beef patty with rice noodles on the side. To eat it, you have to dunk the noodles on the sauce that is served along the beef patty. It's up to you if you'll also dip the veggies on the sauce or it eat separately. Other great Northern Vietnamese dishes are also served in Bun Cha, located along Bui Vien Street.

Grilled scallops with kaffir lime dip from a stall in Bui Vien Street
(120,000 VND = 5.50 USD = 247 PHP)

Scallops for 247 bucks? I kid you not. It's best paired with Saigon Bia. Sarap!

Barbecued pork from a Ben Thanh Market stall 
(55,000 VND = 2.50 USD = 113 PHP)

After attending a Vietnamese mass in Notre Dame, we passed along Ben Thanh Market on the way back to the hotel. We asked for the bestseller and the server pointed to the barbecued pork on the menu. It didn't disappoint. Although it was expensive (since Ben Thanh is technically a tourist spot), it was so worth it. Even the dip is heavenly.

Fresh spring rolls at a hostel restaurant along Bui Vien Street
(35,000 VND = 1.60 USD = 72 PHP)

Vietnam is popular for their spring rolls so what is a trip to Vietnam without even trying the real thing? I tried both the fresh and fried versions and it's really good. It's actually way better than those being served at popular Manila-based Vietnamese restaurants.

I failed to take photos of banh mi, banh xeo, and the mothership of Vietnamese cuisine, pho. After this trip, my standards for Vietnamese food in the Philippines skyrocketed. Haha. But yeah, seriously speaking, this is one of the best food trips that I have ever done. I personally recommend a food walk for foodies who will go to Ho Chi Minh City.

What other Vietnamese dishes have you tried? Let me know in the comments section below. :)

Here We Come, Ho Chi Minh!

What's cool about traveling in continental Asia is that it makes it easier for us to travel overland, from one country to the next. I first had a taste of overland travel when my Ate Richie and I went to Malaysia, coming from Singapore. The thrill of crossing borders didn't escape me since then.

After the trip around Phnom Penh, it was high time that I leave the hotel for the Mekong Express Bus Station. It was a different experience from the Mekong Express bus ride from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh as you have to pre-register your passport at the bus station. But after that, everything went smoothly because the bus conductor would be the one to submit your passport to the immigration officers and all you have to do is wait. It was a very long ride from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh. We even had to cross the Mekong River via a ferry boat to get to the border.  

Well hello there, Mekong River!

Eight hours later, I'm in Ho Chi Minh, baby!

The park along Pham Ngu Lao Street

Checked in at Golden Wind Hotel in District 1 as soon as we arrived. District 1 is known as the backpacker district of Ho Chi Minh and everything is inexpensive here. One disadvantage though, is that it's a long walk going to the major attractions of the city. But I didn't care because I'm used to walking anyway.

I'm not going to say much about our itinerary but I'm just going to enumerate the places that you must visit in Ho Chi Minh. I have to warn you that I'm a museum connoisseur so expect to get a nerdy must-visit list from me. 

1. War Remnants Museum - I enjoyed this museum although the Agent Orange section broke my heart. It's like the feelings from Tuol Sleng resurfaced. But all in all, this place made me admire the resilience of the Vietnamese and the indomitable spirit of President Ho Chi Minh.

2. Reunification Palace - The ultimate soshala place in town. My personal favorites are the banquet halls and movie theater.

Other tourists

Discovering the Ruins of Ayutthaya

I'm so sorry that I am interrupting the flow of my Indochina travelogue but I just realized that forgot to immortalize my Ayutthaya side trip on this blog. Haha. 

Anyway, after the exhausting first day that was dedicated to a walking tour of Bangkok, I opted to do a side trip in Ayutthaya. Based from my research, it used to be the capital of Ancient Thailand and that its ruins are pretty interesting. In order to save time and effort, I utilized the service of a travel agency. Oh yes, I booked a tour for THB600, which includes lunch.

Left Rambuttri at about 6AM and arrived at Ayutthaya at 8:15AM. Traffic was bad but we got there in time because our driver felt the need for speed. Hrhr. Our first stop was Wat Yai Chai Mongkol, which is a Buddhist temple with Khmer influences.

The ruins and buddhas of Wat Yai Chai Mongkol

Buddha garden over the remains of the vihara

Pics or it didn't happen :))

Next stop is the ruins of Wat Mahathat. According to our tour guide, this is one of the grandest temples in Ayutthaya that may be likened to Angkor Wat. However, he admitted that Wat Mahathat isn't as grand as Angkor Wat.

Y U DO THIS TO ME, Phnom Penh?

After our Siem Reap sojourn, the next stop is in Cambodia's capital city, Phnom Penh. As it is my first time to be there, I did my homework and tried to read on the places to visit there. Honestly speaking, there is nothing much to see if you aren't a temple aficionado or a history buff. Since I'm a nerdy traveler and was told that what you learned about Ancient Cambodia would somehow coincide with the main attractions in Phnom Penh, I gave it a go.

Arrived at Phnom Penh at 3 PM, after an 8-hour bus ride from Siem Reap. The plan was to stay overnight only so roaming around the city center is the most sensible thing to do. Took a one hour break because my fat arse seemed to have developed its own pulse rate during the course of the travel. Lol. Here are some of the things that you can see during a walking tour in the city center.

Royal Palace facade

The Royal Palace was already closed when I decided to come out. Hrhr.

Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Memorial