Author: Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco

We went to Harbin and Yabuli, China last December 26-30, 2019 and had one of the most unique and unforgettable experiences in our lives. This place made me come out of my comfort zone and pushed me to try a lot of things I’ve never tried before, such as skiing, riding a horse-drawn sleigh ride, walking in the snow for hours in subzero temperature, playing with snow, eating inside an igloo, and more. 🙂 If you’re thinking of having a vacation in Harbin during winter, planning ahead is very important. In this post, I’m sharing the top five survival tips and lessons we learned from our trip.

How to Survive Winter: Harbin and Yabuli Travel Tips

From the airport, we were already all dressed up and thought we were well prepared for the cold. The flight attendant announced that temperature outside was -24°C. What I wore: [top] Uniqlo’s heat-tech long sleeves turtle neck shirt + North Face windbreaker jacket + H&M thick coat with fleece-lined hood; [bottom] Uniqlo’s heat-tech leggings + Uniqlo fleece-lined jeans; [hands] Uniqlo gloves; and [footwear] winter boots from Amazon. But heck, all these were not enough!

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Our tour guide, Helen, met us at the Arrivals area in the airport. We made short casual introductions, then walked straight to the bus. The grounds to the bus were covered with snow and were quite slippery. It was hard to carry our suitcases and carry-on luggage despite the short distance. Thankfully, Helen helped us lift some bags to the bus. Upon settling in, she told us the most important things to remember to survive winter in Harbin.

1. Dress in Appropriate Winter Gear from Head to Toe

The first and most important tip is to dress for the weather. Layering should not be overdone because piles of clothing can weigh you down, thus making it harder to walk and achieve a good balance in snow. Helen recommended the following:

• [top] thermal + windbreaker jacket + waterproof coat made of fur, wool, or other insulating materials (longer than waist length)
• [bottom] thermal + windbreaker pants + waterproof pants
• [hands] thick, waterproof and well-insulated gloves
• [face, eyes, and ears] face mask to cover the entire face except the eyes, polarized sunglasses or ski goggles, and ear muffs;
• [head] jacket hood or winter bonnet
• [neck] woolen scarf
• [feet] thermal socks and thick, waterproof quality snow boots with a slip-resistant rubber sole

We stopped by a winter clothing store in Harbin and bought all the necessary items we didn’t have. Since we purchased in bulk as a group, the store manager gave us a good discount. We all ended up looking alike (only the eyes are exposed)!

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2. Plan Ahead for Internet Access

Some apps, platforms, and sites like Google, Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Youtube are blocked in China. The Chinese government does a fairly thorough job censoring websites and traffic from sources it deems potentially unsavory or damaging to the ruling Communist Party.

To connect, you must purchase and install a virtual private network to “mask” your location into a country or city with more internet freedom. I got a free trial of ExpressVPN. It’s easy to use and it’s the #1 VPN for China. It’s essential to set it up before actually going to China because once you’re there, downloading any VPNs will be blocked. That happened to my husband so he wasn’t able to access these sites when connecting to any Wi-Fi at the hotel, restaurants, and cafes.

3. Winter-proof Your Phones and Cameras

Exposure to very cold temperatures (below 0 degrees Celsius) can permanently damage components. If you have gadgets, make sure to protect them from serious cold. Check the lowest temperature your cameras and mobile phones can withstand or how they can last when being used. My Fujifilm XT2 body is weather-sealed however my lenses aren’t, so I decided not to bring my camera to Harbin. I used my phone instead to take photos.

When taking photos, smartphones shouldn’t be out in the cold for more than 10 minutes. Otherwise, the battery will die down easily and before you know it, the phone will be shut off automatically or worse, damaged. That was experienced by one of our tourmates, and she wasn’t able to take photos until the end of our trip.

It’s best to keep your mobile phones inside a warm coat’s pocket or in a padded or furry bag with heat packs to maintain heat. Bring extra mobile chargers since phone batteries also easily drain when in freezing temperatures. To conserve power, switch off background data syncing, lower display brightness, and turn on power-saving mode on your device.

4. Carry Cash in Harbin and Yabuli

The easiest ways for foreigners to get yuan are simply to use bank ATMs or go to Bank of China outlets. However, if there aren’t accessible ATMs near the hotel you’ll be staying in, it’s very difficult to get cash. Most stores don’t accept credit cards, debit cards, or foreign currency. Locals use their phones to transfer money. WeChat Pay and Alipay are the most popular mobile payments systems in China. Try checking how you can open these accounts linked to your credit card if possible, for convenience.

5. Drink Enough Water (even when the cold weather will make you want to pee more often)

Fight winter dehydration by drinking lots of water to regulate your body temperature. This allows blood to keep the body warm and carry oxygen throughout your body. Drinking water will also help improve your skin, reducing the risk of chapping and peeling. The dry and often stagnant air during winter can take a toll on your skin.

Remember to bring a tumbler that can withstand sub-freezing to boiling temperatures. Water bottles made in plastic can easily freeze or break (or burst). Carry a tumbler inside your clothes or pack it next to a heat pack to help keep it from freezing. The stopover places we visited usually had dispensers of hot water, so tourists can refill their tumblers.

Wrap Up

The best time to visit Harbin and Yabuli is from November to February, and it’s their winter season. The average daytime temperature in December is -9°C (16°F), and the average night temperature is -20°C (-4°F). During this time, the annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is held with various snow-related activities. If you planning to go, make sure to take note of these travel tips because their winter is really bitterly cold. Also, you might want to pack some first-aid medicine. 😉

My last visit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was way back in 2014. Louie and I traveled with a tour guide back then and explored the most popular attractions as first-time tourists in the city. This time around, I went on a three-day trip with my family on the week before Christmas. It was a short but sweet vacation away from Manila! My sister and I made sure to include interesting and also picture-perfect and “Instagrammable” places in our itinerary. 🙂

3 Days in Kuala Lumpur: Our Family Travel Itinerary

With so much to see and do, a visit to the Kuala Lumpur can be overwhelming without guidance. If you have only a few days, you may want to schedule a hop-on-hop-off bus tour. Otherwise, you can create your own itinerary. Here’s my newest list of 9 recommended places for a 3-day tour in KL to help you get started. Check this link for my Instagram stories.

Side Note: I used my new pancake lens (Fujifilm 27mm f/2.8) to shoot all these travel photos. It’s indeed an excellent lens with its primary motivation factor being light and compact. The lens is not too wide and not too tight. Having this minimalist travel photography gear is a great decision since there’s no hassle carrying it around my neck for hours. I’m happy that this small lens takes sharp photos and it’s fast enough to capture intimate moments. 🙂

Day 1

1. Petronas Twin Towers

We didn’t get to travel much on our first day since we landed in KL at noon. We had late lunch at the airport, checked in at the hotel at 3pm, then headed straight to CLM (Chris Leong Method) for a chiropractic session. At night, we thought we couldn’t skip the Petronas Twin Towers.

Kuala Lumpur’s iconic structure, Petronas Twin Towers, sparks its magic as it attracts plenty of tourists from different parts of the world. They’re the tallest twin structures in the world. With 88 floors, these feature Skybridge, the double-decker connecting structure between the towers, along with the headquarters for Petronas Company and other offices.

Day 2

2. Batu Caves

We were out of the hotel at 10am, had breakfast at the nearest KFC in Bukit Bintang, and rode a Grab to Batu Caves. From Bukit Bintang, it took us 30-40 minutes to this national treasure.

Batu Caves is one of Kuala Lumpur’s most frequented tourist attractions. The massive staircase that lead to the limestone caves and historic temples used to be wooden and only monochromatic in color. My mom and sister witnessed the construction in 2018 and wondered how it would look after the makeover.

Now, as you can see, the staircases comprise of bright bands of colors and made of concrete, which make even more tourists want to go. Painting the steps into rainbow color though made it at risk of being delisted as a national heritage site. We weren’t able to climb the 272 steps up to the caves (so steep!). Nonetheless, we appreciated the spectacular view from the bottom.

The giant gold statue of Lord Murugan is the tallest statue of a Hindu deity in Malaysia and the third tallest statue of a Hindu deity in the world. Monkeys frolic around freely, and tourists can feed them with bananas.

3. Thean Hou Temple

Honoring the goddess of the sea., Thean Hou Temple is the oldest six-tiered Buddhist temple and one of the largest temples in Southeast Asia. People come here not only to pray to the Goddess of Mercy and celebrate Chinese festivals including Wesak Day and Mooncake Festival but also to attend weddings, shoot prenuptial photos, and trip up the hill to see panoramic views of Kuala Lumpur.

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This temple has contemporary and traditional architectural designs of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. The colors of the pagoda look incredible. Best time to visit is during Chinese festival season or Chinese New Year as the whole space is lit with Chinese red lanterns and sparkling lights.

4. Brickfields

People who have been to India say that walking up and down the main street at Brickfields really feels like the real India. This place has all the authentic senses of India: the smells, the spices, the clothing and the people. After lunch, we went shopping for prayer beads for my dad.

There’s lots of Indian goods on the bustling streets. Mostly we found colorful flower garlands, Indian delicacies and desserts, religious idols, women accessories and traditional Indian dresses, textile, and home decorations. Local drugstores, bookstores, convenient stores, and restaurants make Brickfields worth hours of exploration.

It went raining at 5pm so we were a bit stuck without an umbrella. Finding a Grab to the hotel was twice as hard since traffic was heavy and two drivers had cancelled our request. Finally, after almost half an hour of waiting, we got a ride back and rested for a while in our room.

5. Jalan Alor

At 8pm, we walked to Jalan Alor for dinner. It’s two blocks away from our hotel. This place hosts hawker stalls and restaurants offering mostly a diverse range of Malaysian delicacies. The surroundings remained bright, loud, and busy. Jalan Alor Night Market is not as huge as Taiwan night markets, but it’s still a great place to get tasty Malaysian culinary delights. Make sure to try some barbecued meat, seafood, and veggies, fried durian, and coconuts!

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Day 3

6. Putra Mosque

Love pink? One of the most iconic sights in Putrajaya, Putra Mosque is famous because it has a pink dome made of rose-tinted granite. Putra Mosque’s architecture artistically blends traditional Malaysian, Persian and Arab-Islamic designs, local craftsmanship, and the use of indigenous materials. We went inside the prayer hall and were amazed with its elegance. Apart from prayer rituals, this pink mosque is also used as a venue to hold conferences, seminars, symposiums, and other special functions.

Visitors are required to remove their shoes to maintain the cleanliness of the grounds. At the entrance, ladies are asked to wear a robe (for free) to cover the head and legs.

7. Astaka Morocco

Astaka Morocco in Putrajaya is only a short drive from Putra Mosque. This Moroccan Pavilion features the grand architecture with intricate works of the blue and orange hued mosaics that are best admired up-close.

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This beautiful gem is a unique travel spot in KL surrounded by landscaped gardens and alongside a lake. The ambiance is serene and quiet, so you can meditate or divert your stress, if you will. Otherwise, there’s nothing to do here though except take photos through the corridors, the entrance, the halls, the courtyard, beside the fountain, and by the pool. Every corner is a must-see!

8. Central Market Kuala Lumpur

After hours spent under the sun, we stayed in an indoor marketplace for souvenir shopping. Central Market in KL has several boutique stores and stalls selling handicraft items, batik clothing, scarves, jewelry, snacks, and local pieces.

Central Market is another great Malaysian cultural landmark where you can get an insight into the cultural differences of the various races in Malaysia. It’s divided into different zones that are distinct by race. It houses lots of restaurants and a food court where we had our dinner. We also had the chance to try coffee at OldTown White Coffee, the leading brand name for white coffee in Malaysia. 🙂

9. Merdeka Square

By the time we got out, it was already dark. From Central Market, we walked to Merdeka Square to see the vibrant lights at night. There are many fascinating buildings around the square, and it’s a good location for photographs. We saw the highest flagpole in KL (328 feet) right in front of Sultan Abdul-Samad. It was once the tallest flagpole in the world until 1980 when North Korea built a taller one.

Wrap Up

What to do and where to go in Kuala Lumpur in 2020? The next time you’re looking for places to visit, note that KL is much more than the KL Tower or the Petronas Twin Towers. Kuala Lumpur is a destination that combines different styles of landscapes with Malay, Indian, and Chinese culture blended together and reflected in its history and landmarks. Enjoy Kuala Lumpur! 🙂

Corregidor was one of those places we’ve been wanting to visit since we were in high school. Finally, we had a chance to take a tour through its many historical locations last Saturday. Thanks to Klook, we had a hassle-free and smooth-sailing itinerary and learned so many stories about the heroic Filipino and American soldiers. The Corregidor Klook package included Sun Cruises round trip ferry transfers, tram tour around the island with an informative and approachable guide, and a lunch buffet at Topside Garden Venue.

From Esplanade Seaside Terminal, we departed from Manila at 7:30am and reached Corregidor via ferry at 9:30am. We were assigned to Tram # 1 and the tour started immediately. In this blog post, I’m sharing the best points of interest or landmarks we visited in Corregidor. This can help you visualize and learn what to expect if ever you’re also planning to go. Don’t worry if you don’t intend to stay overnight. The trip ends at about 2:30pm, and you’ll be back in Manila at around 4-4:30pm. 😉

History of Corregidor

Corregidor was named after the Spanish word “Corregir” which literally translate to “to correct.” Why? In the past, all ships that sailed into Manila had to pass through Corregidor for the required check and correction of papers. Corregidor was used to signal the Manila government of the coming of hostile ships. It was also used as a penitentiary and corrections institution.

Known as “the Rock” due to its fortifications, Corregidor island was a significant site during World War II. It was the last bastion to fall to Japanese forces.

In December 1941, the Japanese Imperial Army went to invade the Philippines immediately after they bombed Pearl Harbor. At that time, the military force under the command of Gen. Douglas MacArthur carried out a delaying action at Bataan. It was from the island that Philippine President Manuel Quezon and General MacArthur fled for Australia in February 1942 with Lt. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright justify in command.

After the fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942, the Filipino and American forces held out at Corregidor for 27 days against the greatest odds. Alas, May 6, 1942 saw their rations depleted; the Allied forces surrendered Corregidor to Lt. Gen. Homma Masaharu of the Japanese Imperial Army after having successfully halted the Japanese advance on Australia. It was two years and ten months later in March 1945 when General MacArthur recaptured Corregidor.

Corregidor Day Trip From Manila: Top 9 Attractions We Visited

1. Lorcha Dock (MacArthur Statue)

Our first stop was the Lorcha Dock. There are two beliefs about the history about this place. First, it was thought out as the point where Gen. Douglas MacArthur departed the island to Australia in a submarine. Second, it’s believed to be the location where MacArthur’s personal belongings were dumped after he justify the island. A statue of the famed American General MacArthur waving stood a few meters by the dock.

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Lorcha Dock is a small boat port a few meters away from Sun Cruises’ Ferry Terminal. Inscribed below MacArthur’s statue is his last words, “I shall return.” However, according to three credible sources, MacArthur actually justify from the North Dock, aboard a motor torpedo boat with US Navy Lt. John Bulkeley. Lorcha Dock was merely the location where MacArthur’s personal belongings were dumped after he justify the island.

2. Mile-Long Barracks

Mile-Long Barracks is a three-story concrete building which was constructed to be hurricane-proof. It was used for the billeting of American officers and enlisted personnel detailed at the garrison. The entire length of the building measures about 1,520 feet that it became popularly known as the world’s longest military barracks. Although it is just less than a third of a mile long, it was, however, commonly referred to as the Mile-Long Barracks. The headquarters of Gen. Douglas MacArthur was also located in this building.

3. Battery Way

Battery Way played a very limited role during the Philippines Campaign in the Spring of 1942, only becoming active in the last week of the battle. Named after Lt. Henry N. Way of the 4th U.S. Artillery, it was a battery of four 12-inch mortars. Its exposure to Japanese artillery, air attack, and its limited supply of high explosive shells greatly diminished its effectiveness. By the time of the Japanese landings on Corregidor island on May 5-6, 1942, only one mortar tube of Battery Way remained serviceable, the other two having been damaged beyond repair by Japanese artillery.

4. Topside Garden Venue

We had a sumptuous buffet lunch at Topside Garden Venue, the only restaurant that serves food to tourists and guests of the Historical Tram Tour. This dreamy setting can accommodate up to 180 people at a time.

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5. Corregidor Spanish Lighthouse

The light station was one of the most important lights in the archipelago. It was established in the 1850s to guide ships to the entrance of Manila Bay on their way to the port of Manila. This light occupies the converging point of two lines of approach for vessels from the China Sea which steer for the entrance of the Manila Bay.

6. Malinta Tunnel

We watched an audio-visual presentation inside the tunnel (ticket costs PhP 200 per person) and further learned how Malinta Tunnel served during the Battle of Corregidor. The Malinta Tunnel is a tunnel complex built by the US Army Corps of Engineers. It was initially used as a bomb-proof storage and personnel bunker but was later equipped as a 1,000-bed hospital.

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7. Pacific War Memorial Museum

The Pacific War Memorial Museum is a recommended place to visit especially if you want to see photos and items that were found in Corregidor after the war. The museum features the soldiers’ personal belongings like clothing, uniforms, plates and utensils, and some weapons. At the far back end, you’ll see a map of Corregidor and the spots that have infiltrated and destroyed. These photos show accounts and evidences of what transpired during the war.

8. Japanese Garden of Peace (Japanese Cemetery)

The Japanese Cemetery in Corregidor was said to be built by the Americans. The park includes a prayer area, shrines, and pavilion that houses photographs and memorabila. It’s a quiet place where visitors can pray for those who lost their lives during the war. Nowadays, the Japanese Garden of Peace also symbolizes the peace and friendship of Japan and the Philippines.

9. Filipino Heroes Memorial

The last attraction we visited was the Filipino Heroes Memorial, located at the tail end of the island. Designed by famed Filipino Architect Francisco Manosa, the Filipino Heroes Memorial in Corregidor was inaugurated in 1987. It features 14 murals of revolutionary moments of Philippine history which were carved by sculptor Manuel Casal on bronze. This place also has the statue of President Manual L. Quezon, a Filipno Woman, and a military cap in honor of our fallen soldiers.

For many of us going on holiday means booking a flight and a hotel, sitting by the pool, chilling out and having a few drinks, and although there’s nothing at all wrong with this type of vacation there are other options. We already know what to expect from a hotel. We should consider alternative forms of accommodation and for various reasons, it can offer new experiences, closer access to attractions and even save you a huge amount of money!

The 5 Best Alternative Forms of Vacation Accommodation

Airbnb 

The emergence of Airbnb has been a revelation in terms of flexible accommodation. The system allows anyone to rent out their property in a low-key and casual fashion. You can find anything from a single room to a luxury apartment or house. It’s easy to browse, search and read reviews and ratings for each accommodation. This way is good for both parties and can get you a real bargain of a deal. 

Glamping 

If you haven’t heard of glamping in the last decade or so we can safely assume you’ve been living under a rock somewhere. But although it’s well known, for some reason not that many people have taken the opportunity up yet. It combines all the fun of outdoor holidays but in a luxury fashion. Glamping tents, cabins, and pods have all the home comforts you can think of, furniture, heating and even TV and home cinema systems. 

Camper Vans 

Why make your accommodation mobile? A camper van or RV can take you on the road, solving your accommodation and transport in one go. Many campsites are as good as holiday parks in the features and services they provide. You can easily hire a camper or even get an old vehicle and convert it into your vehicle, check out this great Parked In Paradise conversion guide. 

Self-Catering 

One way of making a vacation your own is to consider the possibility of taking on a rental of a self-catering apartment. Often the first reaction to this is no-way! We are on vacation to get away from it all and why would we want to cook? Well, it gives you the flexibility of timetable for a start, you are not going to be constricted by a certain time you have to be down for breakfast, for example. Also, you are going to be able to eat exactly what you like, and providing you are all culinary-minded then you can take turns cooking and it won’t be so bad.

Boats 

Why not stay on the water? This can be something particularly different from a traditional hotel experience. One way of doing this in luxury is to book yourself on a cruise. A cruise will give you the experience of style and glamour and you are also getting the best of both worlds as you can travel around, visiting different port cities and areas and taking in culture as well. Or if you are good on the seas why not rent a sailboat and go wherever your fancy takes you.

St. Petersburg is the cultural capital of Russia. There are a large number of museums and historical buildings that are included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List. The city is full of churches, palaces, and parks. Several rivers and canals flow through St. Petersburg. One of the most recognizable symbols of the city is drawbridges.

You will definitely not be bored in this city. In addition to traditional attractions, there are many unusual things that can make your trip even more fun and exciting. In this list, we have collected the most popular entertainments of St. Petersburg.

Saint Petersburg Metro

The first stations of the St. Petersburg metro were built in the middle of the last century. Each of them was constructed according to a special project and had an original design. Today, these stations look like palaces and are very different from those that you can see in Europe. They are decorated with marble, glass, metal, and mosaics.

Rooftop Tours

The peculiarity of urban development in St. Petersburg is connected with the law, which was adopted in the 18th century. It forbade the construction of buildings above the Winter Palace. That is why all the buildings in the historical center have the same height. This phenomenon is called ‘skyline’. You can see the city at a glance, just join the rooftop tour. Such excursions are especially good during the White Nights season when you can see the city in all its splendor.

Cruiser Aurora

This cruiser is a symbol of the Russian Revolution of 1917. A ship that took part in the battles of the First World War and was sunk during the siege of Leningrad today is a museum. You can climb onto its deck, as well as inspect the technical compartments and crew cabins. There are many different exhibits in the halls and rooms of the cruiser Aurora.

Peterhof Palace

St. Petersburg was the capital where Russian monarchs lived. They built suburban palaces. Today these royal residences are museums. The summer palace of Peter the Great is often called the Russian Versailles, although many believe that it surpasses the French palace in beauty and scope. It is definitely a must-see attraction. 191 fountains and 4 cascades are located in the Lower Park. Moreover, Peterhof palace-park ensemble includes the Grand Peterhof Palace, Marly and Monplaisir palaces and the Hermitage Pavilion. Each of them has a museum.

Old Revenue Houses

St. Petersburg is famous for revenue buildings – apartment houses, which were rented to wealthy citizens. The best architects and engineers of that time were engaged in the design of those buildings. Today, most of the apartment houses are residential buildings where ordinary people live. Many apartments still have communal apartments. Local guides organize many different excursions by the revenue houses with communal flats.