Grand Palace, Bangkok

The Grand Palace in Bangkok was one of the things that we looked forward to visiting when we planned our trip to Bangkok. And it surely did not disappoint! As the name implies, this architectural feature is nothing short of grand. From the smallest to the grandest detail, it will leave you in awe.

In fact, travel experts reveal that if there is one sight-see attraction you cannot afford to miss while in Bangkok, it is the Grand Palace. This is undoubtedly Bangkok's most famous landmark. It was built in the 18th century and has served as the home of the Thai King for many centuries since. This is also where the Royal Court is headquartered, while serving as the administrative seat of the government. This is also where the royal ceremonies are held and where foreign dignitaries are accommodated.

 

The Grand Palace is a complex of buildings. Hence, there are many to explore during your visit. The Grand Palace in Bangkok is located along the banks of the famous Chao Praya River in Bangkok. A cruise along this river is therefore a prelude to your visit to the Grand Palace.

 

Tips When Visiting

Before you plan your trip to the Grand Palace in Bangkok, you must learn about the strict dress code implemented here for all tourists. It is considered a sacred site for the Thais. Hence, men and women alike are required to dress modestly; otherwise, you will be denied entrance inside the complex (we witnessed a tourist who experienced this plight during our visit there).
 

For men, you must wear pants or anything that is below the knee in length. The same goes for women. Short shorts or mini skirts are not allowed. Sleeveless shirts or tops are not allowed, either. To put it into perspective, think about what type of clothing are allowed when you enter temples or other holy sites. Use that as guideline when deciding what to wear when you explore the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

Have you visited the Grand Palace in Bangkok? How was your experience exploring it?

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Thai Basil Boracay

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Prior to traveling to Thailand, I would not even entertain the thought of eating at a Thai cuisine restaurant. But when I tried my first pad thai, I was converted. Now, I would consider Thai cuisine as one of my top three favorite cuisines. Hence, it was no surprise that we decided to dine at Thai Basil on our recent trip to Boracay. Read on to find out about our dining experience...

As with any Southeast Asian cuisine restaurant, the interior decor and ambiance in Thai Basil is simple and unassuming. There is no need for all the bells and whistles. This restaurant clearly knows that the food is the main attraction here. With that, we proceed with confidence and probably hyped up by our excitement that we get to treat our taste buds to that same taste that got me to love Thai cuisine in the first place.

Of course, I couldn't pass up the chance to eat Thai Basil's Pad Thai so that was one of our orders. Thai Basil's did not disappoint. It has all the essence of an authentic Pad Thai that I tasted back in Thailand - savory, sweet, salty, with lots of texture from the peanuts, and a hint of spiciness. We also paired it with their Shrimp Satay, another Asian classic. Both dishes really hit the spot. Delicious in their respective ways.

The price range for each dish at Thai Basil is at PhP 200 (US $4) to PhP 500 (US $10). Each serving is ideal for 2-3 people (depending on your appetite), so I can say that is not a bad deal at all! 

Thai Basil is located at D'Mall in Station 2 of Boracay. 

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Angkor Wat: Can't Miss in Cambodia

Angkor Wat. It is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Cambodia and is one of the most impressive temple complexes in the world. In fact, it is the largest religious monument in the world. You can only imagine our excitement when we finally booked a trip to Cambodia. Angkor Wat is one item off of our bucket list. And speaking of bucket list, you can't even have a travel bucket list without Angkor Wat in it.

We were so hyped and brimming in anticipation when we were headed to Angkor Wat. I knew that it was going to be grand; but we did not anticipate just how grand the scale would be. We opted for the 1-day tour ticket but you can choose a few other ticket variations. There is a 2-day and 3-day pass. If you have a few days to spend in Siem Reap and love exploring cultural sites, exploring Angkor Wat for a few more days would be worth it. We explored for one full day and we couldn't see all of the temples. Hence, a day or a couple extra days should give you more than enough time to explore those other temples. 

We'd spare you the blabber... I'd like to present to you some of the images that we've captured to provide you a glimpse of the impressive monuments that we're lucky enough to see in Angkor Wat. 

What to See in Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat

Bayon Temple

South Gate

Ta Prohm

Banteay Srei

Unfortunately, it was a rainy day when we visited the Angkor Wat. Hence, we missed the sunrise shot that most visitors to Angkor Wat would anticipate for. Nonetheless, it was still worth the visit. 

Obviously, we loved Angkor Wat. We traveled to Cambodia primarily to see it. Hence, it would be a waste to go to Cambodia if you aren't going to see the Angkor Wat. End of story. 

Have you seen the Angkor Wat temples? 

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Boracay: Paradise on Earth

The mere mention of Boracay inspires ideas of white beach and pristine, turquoise waters. It is no surprise why Boracay Island is touted as one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines. This tropical paradise is located on an island in the province of Aklan. The powdery fine, white sand beaches of Boracay is known internationally, not just in the Philippines. In fact, international magazines such as Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler has cited the island as one of the best beaches/resort islands in the world.

We were fortunate to have traveled to this beautiful tropical paradise twice now. And we were impressed by its natural beauty both times. Hence, we couldn't recommend it anymore for anyone wishing to experience the tropical beauty that the Philippines has to offer. The White Beach is the most popular of the white sand beaches in Boracay. This is a 4-kilometer stretch of pristine white shore, which also makes it one of the longest white beaches in Asia.

For our first blog post, we wanted to showcase to you, our readers, the beauty of this tropical paradise, and why we think this won't be our last visit there:

What We Loved About Boracay

During my first visit to Boracay, I won't deny that I was a bit turned off by the crowd. But when you get over that, you come to realize that it is actually part of what makes Boracay what it is. You have to learn to embrace it and just enjoy the fun and festive atmosphere that comes with this tourist destination.

It is also worth noting that aside from the White Beach, there are more beaches you can explore in Boracay (especially if you want to get away from the crowd). Beach hopping is definitely one of the things that I would recommend anyone try if you ever go to Boracay. 

Another thing that we did enjoy in Boracay is the food. There is a hefty amount of selection to choose from - basically any cuisine that you could imagine, you will find in the island. As a food lover (and one who likes to sample food when we travel), food trip in Boracay was something that we enjoyed dearly. We will have a separate post for each of the places we've tried to eat from so you can learn more about our dining experience. However, some of our favorites would be Aria Cucina Italiana, Cafe del Sol Boracay, Lemoni Cafe Boracay, and Cyma. 

There are also plenty of activities to enjoy in Boracay. Island hopping is a perennial favorite and is a must for first-timers. Adventure water sports and activities are also available for you to choose from such as helmet diving, parasailing, sunset sailing, and more. 

Finally, shopping is another fun activity in Boracay. We did lots of souvenir shopping on our second visit. D'Mall is the perfect place to go to if you want to find different shopping spots in one destination. 

How to Travel to Boracay

If you want to visit Boracay Island, you can travel to any of the main international airports in the country. You can travel via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport or via the Mactan Island International Airport in Cebu. There are flights available from any of these airports going to Caticlan or Kalibo so you can get to Boracay. Do note that from Caticlan Airport, you will only travel a few minutes to a jetty port wherein you can take a jetty or private boat transfer to your hotel on the main Boracay Island.

On the other hand, if you choose to fly via Kalibo Airport, it will take 1.5-2 hours of travel via bus or van to get to Caticlan. Hence, you can choose which airport you book your flight to depending on your preferred method of travel.

For our own trip, we booked via Caticlan Airport to save on travel time and to avoid the hassle of further transfers to get to Boracay.

Have you been to Boracay Island? What was your favorite activity/attraction there?

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