Join our Nepal tour from August 21-28, 2013!

Why backpack when you can travel comfortably in Nepal for even less? Join us on a tour to Nepal via Kuala Lumpur from August 21-28, 2013! And note that the dates include two holidays!

Our tour price of US$725 already includes twin/triple sharing hotel accommodation (including one night at Nagarkot Resort), all meals as stated, transfers and tours (guides, entrance fees and gratuities). Note that lunch and dinner are included in the package as well as tips and gratuities. Please book your own flights on Cebu Pacific and AirAsia but coordinate with us first via tours@ivanhenares.com.

August 21 (Wednesday) - Ninoy Aquino Day
Flight options are:
MNL – KUL via Cebu Pacific – 5J499 14:10–17:50 or 5J501 20:55–00:35
CRK – KUL via AirAsia – AK1875 11:05–14:50 or PQ7455 15:15–19:15
Overnight in KL

August 22 (Thursday)
Breakfast at hotel in KL
KUL – KTM via AirAsia D70193 11:50–14:00
Arrive – KATHMANDU – NAGARKOT (32km) (L, D)
Overnight at Nagarkot Resort for a spectacular view of the Himalayas

August 23 (Friday)
NAGARKOT – POKHARA (232km) (B, L, D)
Awake in the morning to the cold but stunningly spectacular sunrise over Nagarkot Hill. The first ray of the sun firing the peak glimmering red, slowly lighting the Himalaya range. You will see Mt. Everest in the east and Langtang and the Dhaulagiri Peak in the west.

At Pokhara, free at leisure walk around the lake side bazaar for some delightful shopping bargains. Late afternoon boating at scenic Lake Fewa and visit Barahi Temple in the middle of the lake.

August 24 (Saturday)
POKHARA-SARANGKOT-POKHARA (B, L, D)
Early morning, drive up to Sarangkot (1200m) sunrise view point for 30 minutes. After sunrise, drive back to Pokhara for breakfast. After breakfast, visit Tibetan Refugees’ Camp, Devi’s Fall and Mahadev Guptes War Cave.

August 25 (Sunday)
POKHARA-KATHAMANDU (200KM) (B, L, D)
Late afternoon leisure walk in Thamel, a popular tourist district in Kathmandu Valley and a bustling bazaar which offers a glimpse of Nepal’s vibrant ethnic culture.

August 26 (Monday) - National Heroes Day
KATHMANDU (B, L, D)
Visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This complex of palaces, courtyards and temples like Hanumandhoka Palace, Kumari Ghar (Abode of the Living Goddess) and Taleju Temple. After that, visit Bouddhanath Stupa, one of the world’s largest stupas. After lunch, explore Asan Tol, the colorful local market area and shopping. Traditional Nepalese cuisine with cultural performance for dinner.

August 27 (Tuesday)
KATHMANDU – DEPARTURE (B, L)
After breakfast, free time. Transfer to airport after early lunch.
KTM – KUL via AirAsia D70192 15:30–22:30
Dinner on flight. Please book your own meals when you purchase ticket.

August 28 (Wednesday)
Flight options:
KUL – MNL via Cebu Pacific 5J502 01:20–04:55
CRK – MNL via AirAsia AK1874 06:45–10:30

Package excludes international airfare, taxes and terminal fees, travel insurance, Nepal visa fees, other meals, beverages not included in meals and all personal expenses. We can arrange your travel insurance by request.

Book now for Penang, Malaysia tour with Old Manila Walks!

From Manila to Malaysia! Experience culture, architecture and traditional multi-ethnic dining in Georgetown, Malaysia from July 4-8, 2013 with Ivan Man Dy. We’re in love with this northern city on Penang Island. And we like it so much that we are sharing what we love about this place to you.

Old Manila Walks and EEI Global Holidays Corporation bring you our favorites in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Georgetown, especially its food! Best of all, our visit is timed on the weekend of the Georgetown Festival when the city's multi-ethnic communities: Chinese, Malay, Indian, Peranakan and more come out in full force to celebrate Penang's multicultural mix through the arts and performances. It's one big cultural fiesta!

Join us as we immerse ourselves and eat our way to Malaysia's Pearl of the Orient!

July 04, 2013 (Thursday): Manila - Singapore - Penang
Meet and greet by local guide at Penang International Airport. After check-in, pick-up at hotel lobby for
Penang Night Tour with dinner. First things first, chow time! Our tour begins by visiting the famous Gurney Drive Hawker Food Center to try some of the famous local Penang delicacies.

July 05, 2013 (Friday)
To burn off last night’s calories, we take a guided walk and ride tour of Old Georgetown: Khoo Kongsi Temple, Peranakan Heritage Mansion, Chew Clan Jetty, Penang Art Gallery and State Museum as well as many other historical and architectural treasures (time permitting) that make Penang special. Lunch at one of Penang’s most historical sites before taking the afternoon break to recharge your battery in time for a walk-eat-trishaw experience at night to experience more of Penang’s culinary offerings. Free time afterwards to catch the festivities of the Georgetown Festival. Trishaws will be provided but participant pays for the meals to allow you to choose and try what from the selection

July 06, 2013 (Saturday)
The tour is more interesting as it falls during the July month fruit season. We’ll make stop at a durian stall in Balik Pulau, for a typical local fruit tasting stop then visit the Kek Lok Si Buddhist- the largest in SEAsia. For lunch, we’ll stop by a traditional Malay Kampung and try out the local laksa dish! Free time afterwards to catch the festivities of the Georgetown Festival and dinner (own expense)

July 07, 2013 (Sunday): Penang - Singapore
We say farewell to Georgetown by taking a funicular and going up cool Penang hill for a
lovely view of the city. Lunch then off to the airport.

July 08, 2013 (Monday): Singapore - Manila

Tour cost is US$435.00/head (based on twin-sharing) inclusive of transport within Geogetown, guided tour, site entrances, and meals (as stated). E-mail fun@oldmanilawalks.com ASAP to book your slots!

Cambodia: Day tour to Preah Vihear Temple from Siem Reap

Ever since the Preah Vihear Temple in Cambodia was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008, I've been wanting to go. Among the numerous temples buult during the Khmer Emprie, Preah Vihear is said to have the most spectacular setting, built on top of a 525-meter cliff with fantastic views of the plains below.

After many missed opportunities to visit Cambodia the past few years, I was finally back. And the first thing I asked was where to find a day tour to Preah Vihear Temple from Siem Reap. Surprisingly, it was not easy to visit the temple. First, few people know about it which is both good and bad. Good because you'll have this majestic temple built on a cliff all to yourself (so enjoy this Khmer masterpiece before tourists start the invasion). Bad because demand then to visit is not high. So the second problem is that there are no regular group tours to going to Preah Vihear. And you'll be constrained to rent a vehicle which is expensive if you are alone.

It was also not easy finding a vehicle. Well it was, but they'd usually charge you over US$200 for the day trip, too much if I was going alone. Some tour companies charge per head and won't give you car or van rates but the all-inclusive cost that includes lunch and your guide. Plus I couldn't find people who wanted to go really badly to share the costs with me. While I got some people interested, they'd get scared away by the rates. A Cambodian friend also told me that they got to rent a car several months ago for just US$100. So the overcharging was quite evident.

Good thing a day before my visit, a local partner offered to call a friend to get a friendly rate. And a friendly rate I got! Regular price is US$150 (contact details below). So the visit to Preah Vihear was on!

Banteay Srei is a red sandstone Khmer temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva

The inner enclosure of Banteay Srei is exquisitely carved with decorative motifs that include kala (a monster symbolic of time), dvarpala (an armed protector of the temple) and devata (demi-goddess)

It takes nearly four hours to get to Preah Vihear. Along the way, you could opt to pass by temples of the Angkor complex, especially a bit far from the main temple group like Banteay Srei, the exquisitely carved red sand stone temple dedicated to Shiva. But note that you will need an Angkor pass to visit, a day-pass costs US$20.

Before you could visit the temple, you have to pass by the ticket office at the foot of the mountain. Entrance is free (as of posting), but you have to register with your passport and they will issue you a ticket which you will have to show at two ticket inspection areas, at the foot of the mountain and right before the temple. Despite roads being well-paved most of the way, your rented vehicle, unless it's a 4x4, will not be allowed up since it can get really steep. So you will have to hire a motorcyle taxi (US$5 per person round-trip) or a pick-up truck (US$25 round-trip) also at the ticketing office to get you up to Preah Vihear Temple.

By now, it should be nearing lunch. So expect it to be extremely hot and humid. The temple complex is nearly a kilometer long, oriented along a north-south axis. So in total, you will be walking close to two kilometers under the sun. But it's most definitely worth it.

Preah Vihear Temple is a series of causeways, steps, gopuras (entrance pavilions) and courtyards before you reach the inner sanctuary. It takes about an hour and a half to two hours to make it to the main sanctuary and back to the drop off point where the motorcycle taxi waits for you.

Just like most Hindu temples in Cambodia, Preah Vihear was converted to a Buddhist temple. Despite being ruined today, Buddhist pilgrims still visit and pray at its inner sanctuary. I saw a group of pilgrims chanting led by a young Buddhist monk who would bless them after their prayers.

View of the Thai border from the Preah Vihear causeway

You will go down the same route. And as you near the end, while walking along the causeway, you will notice the Thai flag flying a few meters on the right, a reminder that Preah Vihear Temple has been at the center of a Cambodia-Thailand border dispute for the past few decades. The border with Thailand is just a few meters away and access to Preah Vihear was easier from the Thai side. But I was told the Cambodian side decided to close the border as things got a bit bad.

Wild boar

After my visit, we went straight to lunch. My driver had suggested a very popular restaurant 20 kilometers away called Phkay Prouk Sroem Restaurant. They serve exotic dishes such as wild boar, deer, rabbit, snake and monitor lizard. The meats are sautéed with eggplant (a small green variety), kaffir lime leaves, chili and maras prov (a viariety of basil). I ordered wild boar and my driver got monitor lizard. And what surprised me is that I only paid US$11 for our food and drinks, about US$5 per person. And to think the serving size of each dish was good for two!

Back in Siem Reap, we passed by Pre Rup Temple before calling it a day. It's one of the favorite places to catch the sunset. But unfortunately, there was none today. We left before 7 a.m. and we were back before 5 p.m., with a lot of time to spare before my evening flight back to Manila.

Phkay Prouk Sroem Restaurant
Telephone No. 012 63 83 78 / 064 677 7727
012 63 66 17 / 0888 48 88 28

So Chet (English Driver)
Mobile No. 012 331 664 / 097 77 55 743
E-mail: nysochetra@gmail.com

Chile-Peru border crossing & bus from Arica, Chile to Tacna or Arequipa, Peru

We made quite a number of border crossings during our South America trip, seven to be exact. One of them was the border crossing between Chile and Peru via the border towns of Arica (Chile) and Tacna (Peru). Direct buses to Peru are difficult to find in Chile's northern cities. At the bus stations, we were advised that we might have a stronger chance of finding buses to Peru from Chile's border town Arica. So we took an overnight bus from San Pedro de Atacama via Calama to Arica.

Arriving in Arica the next morning, the surprise was there were no bus routes from Arica (Chile) even to Tacna and further on to Arequipa (Peru)! After asking around and struggling with our broken Spanish, we were finally pointed to one of the bus counters which offered a service to Arequipa from Arica. But it involved taking a taxi from the bus terminal in Arica to Tacna, and catching the bus to Arequipa at the bus terminal in Tacna. The total cost of the service was US$40.

There were four of us foreigners who did the trip plus another local since taxis take in five people before they leave. The trip between the bus stations in Arica and Tacna is about 56 kilometers and takes an hour or two depending on Immigration lines.

Passport stamps from Chile and Peru. Peru is the 50th country/territory I've visited!

The taxi service assisted us through Immigration control for Chile and Peru and prepared our arrival cards for Peru. In Peru, we had to take our luggage down for Customs. But it was quite straightforward and not much of a hassle.

We were dropped off at the bus terminal in Tacna where the taxi driver purchased our onward tickets to Arequipa. It was convenient alright. But I did the math after observing tariff signs posted in the taxi and the bus terminal.

The commuter taxis called colectivos charge CL$40 (US$8.20) per person for the trip between Arica and Tacna or v.v. The local who was with us paid that amount directly to the driver. The bus from Tacna to Arequipa was S./20 (US$7.50). So the total cost, if we knew how to do it on our own, was just US$15.70. We were overcharged US$24.30 per person! But we also felt the taxi driver purchased cheaper bus tickets since we were assured by the agent in Arica that the bus would serve us lunch which unfortunately was not the case.

So to make the long story short, if you want to travel from Arica (Chile) to Tacna or Arequipa (Peru), exit the Arica Bus Terminal and look for the colectivo taxis right beside it and find a ride to the Tacna Bus Terminal. At Tacna, you have more choices and can easily purchase bus tickets for your onward travel to other cities in Peru.

Grab your Resorts World Sentosa promo rates now!

Singapore is host to the nearest Universal Studios to the Philippines. I got to enjoy the theme park during a recent trip to Sentosa. I must say, it's really a great experience, especially for families with kids. But even those young at heart will enjoy the exciting movie-themed rides.

And since it's summer, now is the perfect time to go to Singapore (or go back if you've already been) with your family and friends!

Check this out, if you book between now and August 29, 2013, you can avail of super affordable and must-avail hotel deals and attraction offers using your BDO Credit Card.  

The promo package details are as follows:

• 3D/2N Sentosa Getaway at Hard Rock Hotel®, Hotel MichaelTM or Festive HotelTM, from SGD608 nett, inclusive of breakfast for two;
• Two (2) Universal Studios SingaporeTM Adult One-Day Pass; 
• Two (2) S.E.A. AquariumTM Adult One-Day Pass; and 
• Two (2) Adventure Cove WaterparkTM Adult One-Day Pass

Rates are SGD608 nett (low) & SGD708 nett (peak) for stay period from May 1 to May 23, 2013 and SGD688 nett (low) & SGD788 nett (peak) for stay period from May 24 to August 31, 2013.

You may also avail of other superb offers for your trip to Singapore using your BDO Credit Card:

• SGD10 off on one (1) Adult One-Day Pass at Universal Studios SingaporeTM and get additional SGD10 discount retail voucher;  
• SGD50 Package for one (1) S.E.A. AquariumTM & Adventure Cove Water ParkTM  Adult One-Day Pass. 

Promo period is from March 20 to August 29, 2013.

Promo Mechanics:
1. The promo is open to all active BDO MasterCard, Visa, JCB, UnionPay and American Express Credit Card Cardholders.
2. Promo period is until May 31, 2013 for Universal Studios SingaporeTM Pass and Bundled Tickets to S.E.A. AquariumTM & Adventure Cove WaterparkTM and until August 29, 2013 for the 3D/2N Sentosa Getaway, with hotel stay period of May 1 – August 31, 2013.
3. To avail of the offer, Cardholder must use his/her BDO / American Express Credit Card.
4. Bookings and payment may be done on-site and via promotion link on the Resorts World SentosaTM website with BDO MasterCard, Visa, JCB and UnionPay Credit Cards, while American Express Credit Cards may be used for on-site transactions, by specifying “BDO Promotional Universal Studios Singapore.”
5. Universal Studios SingaporeTM and S.E.A AquariumTM + Adventure Cove WaterparkTM Bundled Tickets are valid for purchase of up to 6 tickets per card per transaction.
6. Offers are not convertible to cash or gift certificates.
7. Offers cannot be exchanged for other items or discounts and cannot be used in conjunction with other promotional offers, privileges and VIP cards.
8. For hotel room accommodations, advance reservation is required. Blackout dates and specific hotel standard terms and conditions may apply.
9. Rates may be subject to applicable taxes and/or service charges.

What are you waiting for? Visit https://www.bdo.com.ph/promos/resorts-world-sentosa and book your trip to Singapore now!