Wowed by Biblioteca Vasconcelos

Posted on December 2, 2018 by heavenliner

If you don’t know me yet, and though I don’t look like one, let me tell you that I absolutely love books and reading. That is why when I travel, there is always a book that I would bring along with me.

So when I heard that there is a unique mega library in Mexico City and even though it is not included in Tripadvisor’s the top 15 destinations to visit in Mexico City, I know that this would be a place that I have to check out.

It’s Biblioteca Vasconcelos! I didn’t know really what to expect. But when I walked in, I literally let go of a massive gasp. It was so loud, a bunch of quiet people inside the building knew that there is an elated first timer who has just entered.

This place is unlike any other places that I have been to. The architecture is incredibly unique and it is not just like any other library but unlike any other place I have ever seen! And the more entire I went, the more incredible it becomes.

After the first initial wow impression, the next thing I noticed is just the sheer scale and size of the building. The uniqueness is that you would see people around: beside you, beneath you and above you. Some of the floors are actually thick translucent glass.

Biblioteca Vasconcelos opened in 2007 and has over half a million books. It got its name after Jose Vasconcelos who is a Mexican philosopher, a former presidential candidate and was also the president of the national library of Mexico.

I noticed that the walls are transparent and that the floors seem mismatched. It also have very intricate staircases and balconies, it reminds me of the movie Inception in a scene where things were folding on to each other. I really felt like I was in a sci-fi novel. It gave me the feeling of being set in the future which not many equally awesome buildings could do.

Biblioteca Vasconcelos is called a mega library because it is actually 5 libraries merged into one. And each one library is dedicated and pay homage to Mexico’s great thinkers.

One thing that really takes center stage inside this library is the massive white whale skeleton done by an artist named Gabriel Orozco. The whale’s skeleton, fitted onto a metal armature and inscribed with granite rings and circles, hangs suspended in midair. It seem visible from almost all sections and every point within the library.

The library is so massive, there are tons of areas where people can sit and work. Entrance of course is for free and there is free wifi. And what is best is that Tripadvisor seem to have yet discover this place as one cool tourist destination.

If you are a book lover like me or an architecture fanatic or just want to see a really unique place within Mexico City, then Biblioteca Vasconcelos is definitely worth a visit.

Waw as is WAW!

Impressions of Mexico City

Posted on December 1, 2018 by heavenliner

I planned of going to Mexico City more than 6 months ago. I purchased my airfare and booked my hotels about the same time. Problems arose along the way especially regarding the online travel agent I got who cancelled and refunded my 6-month old plane ticket 10 days prior to the actual flight and have yet to inform me the reasons for such cancellation. Two days after such cancellation, I still decided to still push through with the adventure by courageously buying a Turkish Airline ticket bound for Mexico City.

Prior to me leaving for Mexico City, lots of friends and colleagues are questioning me why I chose to do a solo travel in such a dingy and dangerous place. They relayed that they have read and heard a lot about Mexico City being precarious, unsafe and pick-pocket infested. But since it is one country that welcomes me without having to apply for a tourist visa (since I am a US and Japan multiple entry visa holder), I did not listen to friends and relatives and still push through with my journey.

Now, I am here in remarkable Mexico City, spending almost two weeks already – not that I am asking – yet I have yet to feel and experience the worry and uneasiness that my friends and colleagues has informed me. I must admit that I was a bit worried at first, but all these anxiety and fear were totally erased once I walked the busy streets of the city. This was fully reinforced when I survived a train ride during a rush hour! Besides, I grew up in a similarly perilous and dodgy City of Pasay in Manila, thus, I can actually use my innate and fully developed skill in dealing with the crooks, the felonious and the delinquents.

Similar to Metro Manila, Mexico City is vast and humongous! But I personally prefer the weather of this city as compared to the Manila weather. Mexico got 4 seasons, Manila got 2. You can never let me wear a jacket outdoors in Manila, because it is either hot or very hot!

I hate to compare but the architecture in Mexico is a bit better as compared to the structures found in Manila. Metro train system in Mexico City is of course more intricate and more reliable as compared to the rundown, often-busted and politically-exploited metro train in Manila. And though Philippines and Mexico similarly experienced more than 300 years of Spanish rule, Mexico seem to have maintained its Spanish roots because they seem to possess more European looking buildings.

The similarity between Manila and Mexico City I guess would be regarding cleanliness and the people. There are lots of people everywhere and both cities needs to improve a lot concerning cleanliness! Another similarity would be the traffic. Though Mexico has intricate and more developed metro train, its traffic is as bad as that of Manila. Both cities are traffic-infested!

Mexico City love art! One noticeable person printed on their money (500 Mexican peso denomination) is an art goddess, Frida Khalo. Also, I was actually surprised to find out that this city got the most number of museums. And even on the street, people tend to express themselves through art. Humongous mural arts, lots of colorful graffiti and numerous art performances can be seen on the streets of the city. But I guess the one thing that Manila is better as compared to Mexico would be the smile. Though Mexicans tend to be more passionate and expressive – there’s lots of sensual kissing inside the train, amatory hugging on the streets and even lgbt members freely holding hands while walking – we in Manila smile more, we seem kindlier and seem gentler as compared to the fierce and audacious people of Mexico City.

If you would ask me if I will go back and revisit Mexico City. I would definitely will!

Di naman nakaka-shokot… Biba Meksiko!

A Visit at Mexico’s Biggest Museum

Posted on November 30, 2018 by heavenliner

If you are a tourist in Mexico City, a visit to a museum seem inevitable. Reason behind this is because this city has the most number of museums in the world.

For an initial Mexico City museum salvo, let me then feature not just any type of a museum. Let me introduce to you the Museo Nacional de Antropologia or the National Museum of Antropology. Reason why it is so special is because it is the most visited and the biggest museum in Mexico. It’s a staggering 8 hectares all in all!

After walking through the humongous and vast entrance area of the museum, the first this that any visitor of this museum would notice would be this…

its called “el paraguas” the umbrella

The museum since it’s so big is divided into 22 different section halls. I started with section 1 of course, the Introduction to Anthropology and planned to finish all sections in one visit. But after an hour and a half of marveling at various features (I reached half of section 4), I started to feel some sensory overload. I started to feel so overwhelmed that I can’t seem to take in so much anthropological stimulus and information anymore.

Since I have seen so much, I started to slow down. And instead of trying to see everything, I tried to just really focus on few specific things. I then decided to head straight to the section where there are most number of people. That is at the Mexica section or the hall number 6.

I was not surprised anymore that this seem to be the section where there are lots of people. It is because this is the hall that houses the most emblematic exhibit of the museum, the Piedra Del Sol or the Sun Stone. This is so special, that I think I will write separately on how I felt seeing this Aztec sculpture.

piedra del sol (the stone sun)

Other exhibits that caught my attention were…

the super massive… aztec goddess coatlicue (the mother of the gods who gave birth to the moon, stars and the god of the sun and war) taray!

brasero chicomecoatl (the goddess of corn)

stone of motecuhzoma

I highly recommend this place to those who are interested on human societies that thrived, lived and existed in Mexico or simply being a tourist in Mexico City. The National Museum of Anthropology is located within the Chapultepec Park in Mexico City. And lucky me, it was free entrance for everyone on the day I visited! With the grandiosity of this museum, I was all but willing to pay the seventy Mexican pesos entrance fee!

the usual and common design on mexico souvenir shirts

Grabe! Oberwelming!

Seeing the Lady of Guadalupe Cloak on My Birthday

Posted on November 29, 2018 by heavenliner

Last year on my birthday, I went to the Love Valley in Cappadocia, Turkey, and surprisingly met an angel in disguise. This year on my birthday, I went to Mexico City and saw the cloak of Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin.

My birthday this year was really special because I got to visit the Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe! The basilica that houses the very popular cloak in which the image of our Lady of Guadalupe has been miraculously been impressed and printed so as to authenticate Virgin Mary’s apparitions in the area.

seeing this was for me a miracle already

amen!

My birthday this year fell on a Saturday yet there was a Holy Mass service held in the basilica when I arrived. This gave me the opportunity to hear a Mexican Holy Mass and say humongous thanks to the Lady of Guadalupe for the rare travel gift of experiencing the amazing city of Mexico.

The modern Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe is vast and massive complex. It is the most visited Marian shrine in Mexico because it houses the cloak containing the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is interesting to know that the new basilica was only completed in 1974. The old basilica (finished in 1709) on the other hand is just adjacent to it but is already sinking. Its floor has got some deep slope and its façade has evidently tilted. It looks like it will dangerously fall and crumble anytime.

notice how tilted the old church is?

selfie with the Lady!

My prayer to the Lady of Guadalupe was all about my being thankful that I got to experience Mexico. I did not asked for any miracle because my seeing and marveling over the beauty and holiness of the cloak during my birthday has been one major miracle for me already.

Santa Maria! Salamat!

Second Time in Istanbul Courtesy of Turkish Airline

Posted on November 27, 2018 by heavenliner

I have always thought that airport transits and layovers are synonymous to pain, discomfort and boredom. Sleeping on benches, agonizing people watching and killing time at a dreadful airport is no one’s ideal cup of tea. I can still recall the throbbing soreness of my skinny butt during my 10-hour transit in Qatar airport when I was on my way home from Morocco in 2009. But this preconceived idea I have with me about airport transits and layovers has been erased.

Thanks to Turkish Airline which offers free tour of their magnificent city, Istanbul! On my way to Mexico City from Manila, I have a 9-hour layover in Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport. Instead of proceeding to the transfer lane after disembarking the plane and wait for my next flight, I instead proceeded to the immigration line to show my Turkish visa and have my passport stamped so as to enter Turkey.

After which, I proceeded to the Turkish Airline’s hotel desk/counter at the airport and told the staff that I would like to join the free tour of the city offered by their airline. The staff then simply asked for my boarding pass and asked me to wait for my name to be called.

I was sipping my Starbucks coffee when my name was called. And, viola! Goodbye airport and hello (again) dreamy Istanbul…

with the other excited passengers who chose not to get bored

turkish airline is teasing me to revisit istanbul…

this is so turkish…

i miss dining at this kind of an eatery

yummy turkish delights

my personal favorite, hagia sophia

inside the famous sultan ahmed mosque

No one wants to sit in an airport for so long but almost all wants to see the world’s greatest cities and save some money while doing so. This free airline stopover tour offered by Turkish Airlines can be considered one of the best money saving idea for a travel enthusiast like me. Istanbul stopovers can now be considered a great travel trick for it can further expand a traveler’s destination.

And aside from that, I can now boast that I have been to Turkey twice! The tour was brief yet Turkish Airline is giving me reason to revisit their mesmerizing country…

Nakatipid, nakalibre, nakagala at nag-yabang!

Taipei Gay Pride 2018

Posted on November 9, 2018 by heavenliner

One of the highlights of my recent trip to Taipei was that I and my friends got to attend the biggest gay pride parade and party in Asia! Me, MJ, JB and Willie were among the 130,000 people who attended the event.

The energy and vibe that night was truly brighter than my future! Hahaha! The ability to connect with gays from all around the world was truly an international experience. And since we are foreigners in Taipei, we somewhat let loose for there weren’t any conservative watchful eye to answer to (like if we were back home in Manila). We knew no one in the event yet everyone was joyful and very welcoming.

Though we arrived a little late, we still got so awe-struck by the people! There were Drag Queens and Kings, there were Queer Super Heroes, there were Cosplayers, there were Happy Smiling Angels, student protest groups and tons of fit non-heterosexual abdominal muscles flashing!

I never hesitated asking interesting people to take their photos with MJ and Willie and no one refused! We were like being a part of the big LGBTQ+ family fighting for the same cause.

When we joined part of the pack who started to head home to their respective vibrantly amazing lives, I took the chance of buying a bracelet as a souvenir. This trinket signify that I took part on being one with the happy rainbows that day.

Ang saya saya!

Remarkable Taipei

Posted on October 31, 2018 by heavenliner

Taiwan also known as the Republic of China did an awesome job when it decided to allow visa-free entry to Philippine citizens also known as Filipinos. They must be reaping the benefits out from this imperative decision.

Because of the influx of Filipino tourists, vendors started learning Filipino words that would entice and charm Filipino shopaholics! Taiwainese sellers can be heard saying “masarap” (Filipino word for delicious), “mura” (Filipino word for inexpensive) and “maganda” (Filipino word for attractive)

And because of the visa-free decision, I just had my third visit in a short span of 2 years to the super urbanized capital city Taipei. My visit was not about business or work but because of tourism. Thus, their visa-free entry decision for Filipinos has definitely boosted their tourism.

happy gang at the airport!

i love this shot!

first timers jb, mj and willie

getting not so confused at confucius temple

taipei mrt is eons away in terms of efficiency and comfort as compared to the manila mrt

For me Taipei is an inexpensive alternative for Filipinos who want to travel abroad. Instead of going for a short vacation to Hongkong, Osaka or Singapore, Filipinos can actually do a fun-filled weekend adventure in Taipei. And that is what I just did with MJ, Willie and JB!

I was not surprised at how surprised MJ, Willie and JB was regarding how progressive, modern, civilized, ultra-clean, courteous and efficient Taipei was. They told me that they were expecting Taipei to be just like to old, shabby and stinky Chinatown of Manila. There were actually moments when these three colleagues ponder on what happened to their beloved Metro Manila that was definitely left behind in all aspects concerning tourism and urban living.

It was my third time, yet Taipei has consistently impressed me. This only shows that my first two visits were not merely flukes of remarkable circumstances. Taipei can therefore be concluded as one exciting and impressive city!

serene…

MMM – masarap, mura, maganda!

Getting Lost In The Right Direction

Posted on August 16, 2018 by heavenliner

“Your unexpected detour could lead to unexpected moments of beauty that otherwise you would have missed”

This is how I would summarize my thought after I and my friend-colleagues has gone to Laiya, San Juan in the province of Batangas to scout for a venue for our upcoming company’s post-summer outing.

We basically checked-out, visited and inquired almost all of the major sea-side vacation lands in the area but in each of the resorts we visited there seem to be something lacking. We have gone to seven leading resorts yet we still were not one in deciding which to choose. This until, we decided to get lost and do a little detour before heading back to Manila.

And here is what we found!

It really feels good to be lost in the right direction…

Ameysing!

Tastes of Asahikawa

Posted on August 9, 2018 by heavenliner

One unusual thing that I and my colleagues did in our most recent trip to Japan is that we decided to stay in a minimally advertised destination in Hokkaido. Instead of staying in a more popular Sapporo or Furano, we decided to stay for 2 nights in a remote place called Asahikawa.

And since there are limited tourist spots to go to (aside from going to a mall and a zoo), I and my colleagues decided to explore Asahikawa through its food. Our first destination was the ramen house our hotel has recommended, the Ichikura Raman.

with the asahikawa gang just outside ichikura raman (edwin, malou, gie and dominic)

surprisingly clear to the palate yet with a distinct flavor of a ramen

Since Isahikawa seem to be popular with shoyu-based ramen (shoyu: Japanese soy sauce), I settled and ordered the Okhotsk Shoyu Ramen. This ramen according to the menu is composed with unique Hokkaido ingredients like Namuro dried salmon flakes, Esashi dried herring and Rishiri kelp from Oumu. I was really happy that Ichikura Raman was the ramen place our hotel has recommended. And aside from their ramen, one surprising dish in this joint was their Gyoza. It was one of the best gyozas that I have tasted!

A lot of people say that it would be a sin for a tourist in Hokkaido if he/she failed or refuse to try the Hokkaido ice cream. This soft frozen dairy is one plain ice cream that is simply made of milk. It has no fancy flavor, no fancy add-ons and no fancy flairs for an ice cream. For me, its plainness makes Hokkaido ice cream remarkably exquisite and amazingly elegant.

happy crew handing me my creamy ice cream

savoring every moment of yummy-ness!

Then, one of the highlights of our Asahikawa stay was the dinner at Jingisukan Daikokuya. This restaurant is the top rated local-cuisine restaurant in Asahikawa as per Tripadvisor. It is so popular people would have to wait and queue outside before they be given a table. Specialty of the house was Hokkaido’s grill icon called Genghis Khan (also termed Jingisukan).

Like their sophisticated ice cream, Jingisukan is a must try in Hokkaido. It is a unique style of yakiniku in which mutton and lamb are grilled on a convex skillet shaped like an upside-down bowl. Since the meat are grilled over charcoal, we were surprised to see and experience the amount of smoke inside the popular restaurant. We nevertheless did not complain because the smoke actually added up to the character and atmosphere of the establishment.

outside the resto, waiting for our turn

an asahikawa highlight

I personally prefer beef over lamb, but the marinated flavor and the stunning taste of the meat served to us gave me some second thought if I really do prefer beef over lamb. Genghis Khan was strikingly delicious!

Asahikawa may not be of the same level as that of Osaka, Tokyo or Sapporo where there are tons to see and marvel at. Asahikawa nevertheless has loads of gustatory surprises that tourists can taste and talk about.

Para maiba naman!

Farm Tomita in Furano

Posted on August 6, 2018 by heavenliner

Last week was my second visit to the beautiful Hokkaido, the second largest island in Japan. I never recognized this place as compared to how it looked when I was here the first time. The beauty, appeal and character of Hokkaido is totally different during the winter season. Since it is summer, my second visit felt like it was my first.

I personally prefer Hokkaido during the winter months. Maybe it is because I have so much summer here in the Philippines. It is basically like 365 days of summer in my tropical country.

And since it is summer, I and my companions took the opportunity to visit the Farm Tomita’s lavender fields in Furano. Try smelling the flowers in these photos…