To complete our cultural
experience in China, we headed on to the last part of our tour: Shanghai.
Arriving in the evening, Shanghai
is the more metropolitan, modern version of the cities we visited. Shanghai is also
a popular tourist destination because of the attractions that blend with both heritage
sites and modern ones.
Bullet Train from Beijing to Shanghai
Bullet Train to Shanghai
The weather in China is behind
all the “normal” flight cancellations, but we had a schedule to keep. So our
host arranged for us to leave for Shanghai no matter what. We were told the bad
news that our flights were cancelled, but the good news was that we were to
take the bullet train.
Speeding at 300 km/h, we got to
see the countryside, train route and and wind-powered energy farms in wide view
windows of the train, and just how wide the land is in this country. It took us
six hours from Beijing to Shanghai, that’s how big China is, considering the
speed the train travels in. The train stops for only a minute in each station,
that’s just enough time to get in and out. Tickets are more expensive than
airline fares, but train rides are rarely cancelled; whether it’s rain or shine,
it’s a sure way of getting to one’s destination.
Yu Yuan Garden, Shanghai, China
Yu Yuan Garden
We passed by a small alley that
led to Yu Yuan Garden. It is a historic temple in Shanghai that is now
surrounded with many artisan shops and is a popular shopping site among
tourists. It’s really a temple inside with many artisans selling their wares
all over the place, from a tea shop, to jewelry, souvenirs, metal goods, even
food and department stores can be found in this tourist destination.
Choose your wild, an assortment of tea in Yu Yuan Garden
Tea to hoard in Tins
Tea of the day in Yu Yuan Garden Tea Shop
Shadow Theatre in Yu Yuan Garden, Shanghai
Nanjing Road
This is for the person who cannot
live without shopping and an unlimited amount of credit. Nanjing Road is a whole
shopping strip consisting of a 5-KM stretch of shopping malls left and right. If you have a whole day for
exploring the whole place, there’s so much to see. There’s an interesting
vintage photo booth complete with props that can take your photo and process it
Vintage Shanghai-style. There are also so many food stalls and souvenir stalls
all over. There are so many brands and shops, hello 5-KM stretch.
Corner Entrance to Nanjing Road, Shanghai
Nanjing Road Alleys, Shanghai
A corner building in an intersection road in Nanjing, Shanghai
Sights and sounds, Nanjing Road, Shanghai
Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower and World Financial Center
Here’s a quick trivia, one
building is privately called The Bottle Opener. By looking at the Shanghai
skyline, one can guess which one. We went to the Bund Riverside Walkway at
night to get a better view of the Pudong New Area and to get up close with the
Shanghai skyline. One could see the mix of architecture from modern, to the
renaissance style divided by the Bund Riverside separating the Pudong New Area
and the Old District.
This was one of our last stops before
heading on back to Tianjin for our closing ceremonies with TEDA and the Ministry
of Commerce.
Oriental Pearl Tower
World Financial Tower and Jin Mao Tower
View from the Bund Riverside, Shanghai
In the Bund Riverside with our translator Grey
It has all been an amazing
experience and we were all able to make friends and immerse in new cultural
experiences in a different country. I’ll be keeping the official site visits
private, but in the meantime, there will be more travel posts soon for the
year.
There we were, all packed in a
bus to Beijing after we were told that after the rigorous classes we had for
our course, we were going to have time to relax. It took us two hours from
Tianjin and we made it to Holiday Express Inn.
Formerly called Peking, Beijing
is a must-visit for many tourists every year. Because of its cross between old
and new, Beijing is still the seat of power and there are so many sights and
sounds to savour.
Memories made at one of the Wonders of the Ancient World
The Great Wall
No visit to Beijing is complete
without seeing the Great Wall. The best time to visit is when the sun is up, so
there will be good photos for you to take. There are souvenir shops so that you
can purchase some memorabilia and also grab snacks after having explored the
wall.
There’s actually a warning sign
that says:
Advisory in Great Wall Beijing Station (nope that's not me pointing)
But if you’re someone who can
manage, the climb can give a beautiful view of the valley and other structures
in it, like pagodas and the connecting moats. The bus took an hour and a half
through the Great Wall Valley, so why not make the most of your time there? What you will need are a good pair of shoes, a cap and water. Once you get down from the top, some of the shops also sell ice cream to reward yourself after the climb.
Beijing Olympic Park
Beijing Olympic Park
In 2008, China was at the center
of the world’s attention because of the Beijing Olympics. The Olympic Park was
constructed solely for hosting the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. China was intent
on putting on a good show, being the first time that the country hosted the
Olympic Games. The park is vast, so again, walking from the entrance gate up to
the main arenas will take patience, as I sat on the grass as soon as I got the
chance in front of the Bird’s Nest stadium, and because it was afternoon that
we arrived, must also be because of the heat that I thought of staying put for
a moment.
There are benches and shops all
over the place, but it looks like it’s a recreation park after the conclusion
of the Olympic Games. It’s also surprisingly a quiet place to spend the
afternoon in. How timely it is that I’m writing about the Beijing Olympic Park
on the 10th Anniversary of the Beijing Olympics.
Tiananmen Square in Beijing
Tiananmen Square
Known as the seat of power, Tiananmen
Square has quite an extensive history, and with many structures around it, it’s
no question why. To its north is the gate to the Forbidden City, to the left is
the Great Hall of the People, and nearby is the Mao Zedong’s Mausoleum. In the
center of the square is the People’s Heroes’ Monument, a silent spectator.
It’s the site of many historic
events in China, and is one of the largest squares in the world. Our bus parked
a distance away, and we took the underpass by foot and walked to the square
mid-morning.
Rickshaw in a side street in Beijing, China
Statue in a side street cafe in Beijing
Side street in Beijing
The Pearl Market
To end our tour around Beijing, we
had shabu-shabu lunch and had the chance to visit the Pearl Market for some
souvenir shopping and of course, who’s not familiar with the term pasalubong?
It’s fun to go around the Pearl Market, and the name of the game is to haggle,
haggle, haggle. There are so many stalls and goods in the Pearl Market, but my
personal favorites are the stamp engraver and the stall selling masks from the
Peking Opera House. But my baggage allowance won’t allow it though, as after
Beijing we were heading straight to Shanghai via bullet train.
Shabu Shabu Lunch, Pearl Market, Beijing
Stamp Engraver in Pearl Market, Beijing
Masks of the Peking Opera House, Pearl Market, Beijing, China
Because of time constraints, our
group didn’t have the time to visit the other attractions. I’d love to go back
someday and visit the Silk Market, Forbidden City and The Temple of Heaven, but
perhaps with family next time.
A random invitation to visit Onse Islas soon gained some interest from friends and family online as I posted our photos on socmed (social media). I put together a quick guide to answer the questions you left through comments on my feed and of course, more photos of the Eleven Islands.
In front of Panubigan Barangay Hall
How to Get There
On a Sunday morning, we went all
the way to Panubigan for breakfast at our family friend's place in a shack on the hill
overlooking a beautiful view. In the highway once reaching Panubigan, there’s a
huge sign by the highway that says Eleven Islands, some parts of the road going
in isn’t concretized yet, so be ready to encounter a dirt road still in its
construction phase. Some parts are already concretized, be patient as it will be completed soon. It also pays to have a careful and good driver with your
party.
Onse Islas Activity Map
Do's and Dont's Onse Islas Guide
Registration and Orientation
The local government monitors all
tourism activities in the area, so it’s mandatory to register all visitors and
attend a brief orientation of the islands (islets rather). Visit the Barangay
Hall, sign up and attend a brief orientation on the Eleven Islands, Do’s and Dont’s.
The barangay will assign your guide for the day and a corresponding boat for
your party. Our host paid a total of Php 5,000 for our party of eleven people
(coincidentally) consisting of family and friends.
Ferry Terminal, Panubigan
After the orientation, it’s a
short walk to the port where all the bancas are tied to. Vehicles can be parked
near the barangay hall. All visitors are required to wear life jackets during
boat rides, provided by the bancas themselves. Safety first, folks!
Speaking of safety, even if there
are shortcuts through other routes, let me take the opportunity to remind
everyone that protocols are there for a reason. Each person has to log in and
register so that the local government can monitor, regulate and manage the
visitors and the sites properly in case incidences occur.
Experience Onse Islas
Eleven Islands is a group of
islands in the barangays of Panubigan and Dita, Zamboanga City. Activities allowed
in the area are island cruising (with a guide), kayaking, paddle boarding,
swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, and also trekking.
Bisaya-Bisaya Island's Powder White Beach, Eleven Islands, Panubigan, Zamboanga City
In the first island called
Bisaya-Bisaya, there are beautiful, weathered rock formations that one can walk
to. Be careful to walk on the black rocks, I slipped and landed on my butt. Luckily
I didn’t sustain any wounds. It turns out that the black surface on the rocks
are caused by algae dried by the sun that turned black on the rocks.
White Rock in Bisaya-Bisaya Island, Eleven Islands, Panubigan, Zamboanga City
Natural Pool in one of the islets, Eleven Islands, Panubigan, Zamboanga City
During low-tide, it’s easy to cross
to the other islet and visit the natural pool but it’s hot and we jokingly
called it the solar-powered, hot spring infinity pool. There’s also the sand
bar that appeared in the last island we went to, Sirommon Island where a family
of starfish emerged just also enjoying the sun and sands.
Starfish Colony in Sirommon Sandbar, Eleven Islands, Panubigan, Zamboanga City
I like that the place is quiet,
not crowded with too many tourists, there was only another group visiting the
islands apart from us on the day. After all, Sunday is meant for relaxation.
Powder white sand beach, Eleven Islands, Panubigan, Zamboanga City
Be Responsible Visitors
It’s a good thing that the local
government was able to straighten out the solid waste management program before
tourists soiled the environment. There are huts to have picnics in. What lacked from the facilities was a good
changing room and its corresponding amenities.
If you ask me though, I’ll have
none of those souvenir stalls that are commonly seen in selling shirts,
keychains or ref magnets. It just gives off a too-commercial vibe. I would
rather have those on dry land and away from the islands. It’s also a good thing
that no food vendors were allowed on the islands, minus the barbecue sticks and
plastic that can be thrown away in the water.
Keeping the area clean is top
priority and it’s emphasized in the orientation. No matter how small, it’s
important to dispose of trash properly. Clean oceans is a plus, so let’s do all
that we can.
Sandbar at Sirommon Island, Eleven Islands, Panubigan, Zamboanga City
At the end of the day tour, I
have a collection of beautiful photos that look like I teleported to the Caribbean
from Zamboanga City. I told an officemate that the only sighting missing is
Captain Jack Sparrow. I went home with sunburn, but I do have stories to tell about
how beautiful the place is. Looking at the islands, I’m grateful to have spent the
weekend with people close to me and in such a beautiful place.
I’ve received inquiries and
reactions from people in my socmed feed, so this quick guide was put together
to share some information to those interested to visit Onse Islas. May you find
time to experience and enjoy our beautiful sites in Zamboanga City and do be
mindful of keeping them clean.
I was part of a media tour hosted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development here in our region, last November, where media practitioners from various outfits get to visit indigenous villages in some municipalities up north. In the municipality of Leon Postigo where their sources of income are farming and fishing, some native Subanens can still be found. Some of these Subanens have been recipients of the government's social pension and poverty alleviation programs. To express their gratitude, they have prepared a Subanen Dance for us, with a gong providing the rhythm in the background.
One of the touching moments to experience is for the native Subanens to express their gratitude through their traditional dances.
The dance has been performed in many rituals like christenings, weddings and other major festivities in the area.
The gong is being sounded at a corner, some more Subanens dressed in their cultural attires have also come to say "thank you".
