Last stop Bangkok, next stop Seoul!

Two days ago I came back from Bangkok where I had a long weekend trip with Sophie and Salla. And tomorrow I'm leaving for Seoul in South-Korea! Can't really complain this life as an exchange student. :D

So, last Thursday evening we left the cold HK and went to Bangkok, where the warm weather was waiting for us. Three nites in Bangkok included the Grand Palace, many many temples, anti-stress spa treatment, learning to use the local transportation system, tuk-tuk rides and mango sticky rice. And of course let's not forget the shopping in the nite bazaar! ;) After the three nites in Bangkok we took a bus ride to Pattaya where our wonderful hotel with its pool areas was waiting for us. The day was pretty much spent at the pool area in the hotel. For the evening we didn't go to the so-called-famous "Walking street" but instead went to see "Tiffany's Show"-the transvestite cabaret show, which was amusing. All in all this long weekend was relaxing and great, thanks to some local friends of my friends in HK. :)

I just got my suitcase unpacked and now I should pack it again... This coming trip to Seoul will be great: we have a group of 7 great people, including Soo Ryun, our Korean guide! Also, I'll most likely manage to meet some Finns (like Timppa who's doing his exchange in Seoul). Feels good to have friends in every corner of the world! :D

Time for update!

Again I've been "too busy" to update my blog.. :D
The life after the Philippines has been pretty much "normal" everyday life. Let me recall the past few weeks with the help of my Nikon Coolpix:

Dessert time: mango wrapped in coconut jelly pancake (above) and deep fried ice cream (below)

Vietnamese steamed spring rolls

Some really tasty glass noodles with beef in satay sauce ;)

These prawn skewers looked better than they tasted X

Some really tasty and sizzling curry with tofu

At the Langham Place shopping mall in Mong Kok going to see the movie Vanlentine's Day with Sophie and Cynthia. Movie tickets were only 5,5 eur with sudent discount and it was weekend and evening show. Not bad. The big malls change their decorations quite often here in HK according to different festivities.

This mall has the longest escalators within a mall in HK and maybe in the world?

some pre-movie funtime :D

I spent a really nice Sunday with my relatives starting with early tea (dim sum) and then excursion around places like my mom's childhood place, Tai Po and Sai Kung. The above photo is taken from my the elementary school that my mom and aunts use to go to when they were kids. The school hasn't been in use for ages already though... it looked more like a jungle than scool, haha.

Fishing pond; here you can practice your fishing skills before you go for the big ones in the sea. Ps. it's not free, you have to pay for it!

At Tai Po's Park: little boys and big boys playing with their toys, some were really serious with this hobby; motors, engines etc.. with all the equipments and fine-tuning. :D

The viewing terrace/tower of Tai Po's park, here we had the ice cream break ;D

The last stop: Sai Kung for seafood! The waterfront promenade of Sai Kung that is unofficially called the "seafood street" because of the many seafood restaurants and seafood sellers.

What to eat tonite?? Pick from the boat or check up the indoor market hall

Interested? ;)

After the weekend was the International cultural nite organized together with the exchange students. South Korea was probably the best presented country of all the countries presented. Finland wasn't presented though, coz none of us Finns bothered to do anything.. So i didn't have to do anything for this event, but still got a certificate of participating in the organizing of the event!! :D (only because I was the contact person for the Finnish group)

Have to take a break now, so this will be continued.. ;)

The Philippines

Time to recall what happened in Manila and Puerto Galera in Philippines! Where to start..

On 16 Feb late afternoon I left the Halls with 6 other girls to start our trip to Manila.

Makati, the fancy business district (and the cleanest place) of Manila:

The central of Manila: really dirty and crowded place with street stalls, local students and jeepneys.

City Hall
Jeepney - the local mini bus

The main post office which didn't sell tourist post cards
(it seemed like the whole city didn't sell Manila-postcards)

First dinner in Manila celebrating the birthday of Sophie. Some stuffed squid with rice. :)

Our lovely hostel in Santa Cruz, Manila: Chateu de Elizabeth aka Red Carabao

Leaving the hostel for the trip to Pier Batangas and Puerto Galera instead of taking the flight to Legaspi and then bus ride to Donsol to see whalesharks which was our first plan.. :D

After 2,5 hours bus ride and 1,5 hours boat trip we finally arrived to White Beach, Puerto Galera:

View from the balcony of our hostel which wasn't as nice as the one in Manila
Philippines was small: we met two other exchange students (Gustav & Jonas)
who are also from the PolyU, our university!
Fresh pineapple and mango smoothie, delicious!
Peaceful day on the beach under a palm tree after Sophie got sunburnt badly.
Romantic sunset on the White beach

French toast and "mojitos shot" for the last breakfast in White beach
Our way back to the hostel, if we stayed too late out.. XD
Our "White Beach Express" back to the Batangas pier

And back to the Manila for last moments in Philippines...

Brownie frappuccino was so delicious, especially when enjoyed after the hot day ;)
The last dinner in Makati in Gerry's grill that served some pinoy bbq food

The last morning in Manila at the airport waiting for the flight that was delayed for almost two hours...

Cebu pacific air, our airline for this trip