Travels - Bisdak Babbles

Archive for the "Travels" Category

Golden Prawn

August 23rd, 2011 shiera

My friends and I found a great deal online for a day tour in Batam, Indonesia months ago. Sorry, it took a while for me to sort out the photos. Lunch was included in the tour package, at the Golden Prawn Restaurant. I love sea food so I enjoyed the lunch a lot! That seafood feast would have cost us more than 30SGD per person at a restaurant here in Singapore! Of course there were prawns, fish and others (sorry I don’t know the names). However, this one was the closest to me so I was able to take a photo.

And while we were busy trying to consume everything served on our table (which we failed to accomplish), I enjoyed watching the live performance:

My visit to the Golden Prawn Restaurant wouldn’t be complete without taking a photo here:

Food, Indonesia, Travels Batam, Golden Prawn, Indonesia

Modern Lisbon

August 12th, 2011 shiera

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The clouds were getting darker when I got out of the Jeronimos Monastery. I wanted to explore more historical sights but afraid of the downpour, I chose to just enjoy the bus ride that would take me to the modern part of Lisbon. If you think that Lisbon is all about cobblestones, then yes, the modern part of Lisbon still has cobblestones. But the cobblestones is what’s making the place modern yet charming.

I think the bus took me to Parque das Nações where you could find the Oceanarium and Vasco da Gama Bridge (now why would the name Vasco da Gama sound so familiar). Indeed, all the structures there are newly-built! It already started to rain when I reached the place so I decided not to get off the bus. It would have been fun to check if the Philippine flag is in here:

I couldn’t describe these photos one by one as I just took it from the bus, so please enjoy the slide show:
UPDATED: The slide show doesn’t work so you may click on the thumbnails to view the photos. Enjoy!

So have you noticed it, too? I’ve asked my self the same question: why would the modern place is Lisbon be deserted on a Sunday? I asked some people at the office and they also had the same question!

Portugal, Travels Lisbon, Parque das Nações

Hotel Food

July 13th, 2011 shiera

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It was almost 3PM when I arrived at the Hotel Real Oeiras. I was satisfied with the in-flight meal, but I was starving after I settled down in my room. I rested for a while then headed down to the hotel’s charming restaurant. I wanted to eat rice but there was none on the menu, so I opted for the pasta with prawn. I am allergic to prawn so I told the waiter to take out the prawn. Having said this, I noticed the waiter’s surprised expression but just ignored it. When the pasta was served to me, I knew why the waiter gave me that expression. Being used to Philippine-style spaghetti, I was expecting to have at least tomato-sauce paste on it and a few slices of bell pepper. But there was none! It was basically just pasta with olive oil! I had to add pepper and salt to give it a little flavor. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a camera with me at that time so I wasn’t able to take a photo.

After a few days stay at the hotel, one became a favorite: smoked salmon sandwich:

It was really good! But eating it almost every dinner was definitely a bad idea. There was one night when I just opted to have the tropical fruits for dinner:

These were papaya, mango, and pineapple slices.
On my last night at the hotel, I tried the soup. I forgot what was it but I think it was pumpkin soup.

The soup was delicious and so was the set of Portuguese desserts:

Food, Portugal, Travels food, Hotel Real Oeiras, Lisbon

Mosteiro dos Jerónimos

July 3rd, 2011 shiera

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From the Monument to the Discoveries, I then went to the Jeronimos Monastery, another UNESCO World Heritage monument.

According to UNESCO, it was declared a world heritage monument because…
“Standing at the entrance to Lisbon harbour, the Monastery of the Hieronymites – construction of which began in 1502 – exemplifies Portuguese art at its best.”

Indeed, the monastery is magnificent! It actually gave me goosebumps.
And I’ve just recently known that it is Vasco da Gama’s resting place.

Entrance fee is 8 Euros but it was a Sunday so the fee was waived!
You still have to go through registration, though.

Inside, the monastery is even more beautiful:

I took a lot of photos inside the monastery but I’ve only uploaded some.
You may view the slide show or visit the album itself. I also took a video that can be viewed HERE.
Enjoy!

Portugal, Travels Jeronimos Monastery, Lisboa, Lisbon, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos

Now, I’m no longer left out

June 25th, 2011 shiera

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It’s been more than two years since I arrived in Singapore. Yet, as opposed to my friends, I have never visited another South East Asian country. From Singapore, the easiest and cheapest destination would either be Johor Bahru in Malaysia or Batam, Indonesia.

Thanks to new colleagues who were with me in the trip and the package day tour that was on sale. I could now cross out Batam, Indonesia from the list of places I need to visit! I would now be able to contribute to my friend’s discussions about this place. I don’t know when I could write a post for this travel, so here’s a preview:

All in all, it was tiring but fun!

Travels Batam, Indonesia

Lisbon’s cobblestones

June 20th, 2011 shiera

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Lisbon is beautiful. I love the buildings, the houses on the hills, the trams and the narrow streets. Above all, I love how the cobblestones enhanced its beauty.

With the sun shining down, I think this place glowed:

Even with the dark clouds, it seemed that the cobblestones were driving the gloom away:

Now, heading to my next destination: Jerónimos Monastery:

A short photo detour. This reminded me of a videoke (backround) scene:

If I remember it correctly, to get to the Jerónimos Monastery from the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, you have to go through an underground passageway.

Please check out more posts about Lisbon.

Portugal, Travels cobblestones, Lisbon, Portugal

Up close Lisbon’s Padrão dos Descobrimentos

June 16th, 2011 shiera

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Padrão dos Descobrimentos or Monument to the Discoveries was made to honor the Portuguese who contributed to the Age of Exploration. It is located on the estuary of the Tagus river, where ships departed to their often unknown destinations. I was in awe with the monument but I bet what I felt was only a small fraction of the excitement that those explorers felt.

A closer look…

Yes, one can go inside and since it was a Sunday, the entrance fee was waived.

But I decided not to take advantage of it as there were still some places I needed to visit.

There are different figures on each sides. I’m ashamed to tell you that I didn’t do my research before going there. I might have recognized a figure if I did a quick review of world history, or even my country’s history.

I’ve just learned something about this monument from Wikipedia

Portugal, Travels Lisboa, Lisbon, Monument to the Discoveries, Padrão dos Descobrimentos

On the way to the Monument to the Discoveries

June 12th, 2011 shiera

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Another tourist spot that could be seen from the train was the Monument to the Discoveries. It was close to the Torre de Belém. Thinking that I could just follow the wide road and that it would lead me straight to the monument but I was wrong…

There was no bridge to the monument to make way for these boats:

Notice the dark clouds in the photo? It rained later that day, making me lazy to get off the bus and explore more.

Found this on the way to the monument::

I would have loved to have lunch in this restaurant but I didn’t want to because I was alone. Yet, I almost stepped inside because I needed to use the toilet *_*

Portugal, Travels Lisboa, Lisbon, Monument to the Discoveries

Lisbon’s Torre de Belém

June 8th, 2011 shiera

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Before I went to Portugal, I marked Torre de Belém as one of the destinations I must visit and I’m glad I put it on my list. I actually saw it on my first day of exploring the city while I was on the train. It was striking from afar but it was even more beautiful up close.

Near the drop-off point, I saw this but didn’t bother to read why it was placed there…

I’ve just recently known that the tower was declared a UNESCO World Heritage monument because “It is a reminder of the great maritime discoveries that laid the foundations of the modern world.”

It’s good to visit the Tower on a Sunday because entrance fee is waived but it’s crowded so you have to squeeze your way in. It was even so hard to take a photo of this sign at the entrance.

I had a lot of fun exploring the tower…

Not to mention, the majestic view:

You may view more photos in my album: Lisbon 2011 Part 4 – Belem Tower.

Portugal, Travels Belem Tower, Lisbon, Torre de Belém, Tower of St.Vincent, Yellow Bus

A better view of Lisbon on board the Yellow Bus

June 5th, 2011 shiera

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If I were not alone, I would have explored Lisbon on foot. On the other hand, buying the two-day ticket from the hop-on hop-off tour was more than worth it. It was a bit hard to locate the pickup points. These were marked on the map that I got but I’m really bad at maps and direction. Also, I think a small sign like this is hard to locate:

But getting lost a lot of times added more sense of ~~mis~~adventure. Once I got on the bus, I enjoyed every minute of it. There were other tourists so I no longer felt so alone.

Being on the bus also made more apparent to me how bad some roads are in downtown Lisbon:

Above all, it gave me a better view of sights like these:

I love Lisbon!

Portugal, Travels Carristur, Hop-on Hop-off, Lisbon, Yellow Bus

Exploring Lisbon Part 2 (Preview)

May 31st, 2011 shiera

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My second day of exploring Lisbon was a lot better because the rain didn’t come until late in the afternoon. Just look how glorious the view was in the Praça do Comércio when I got there…

Portugal, Travels Lisbon, Praça do Comércio, Sky

Exploring Lisbon Hills

May 11th, 2011 shiera

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I have never imagined that Lisbon is such a hilly place, which makes it more unique and beautiful! When you have the chance to go there, you must explore those hills on foot or better yet, on board a historical tram. I would have preferred walking but I was alone.

The hop-on hop-off tour that I got includes 1 tram ride and I enjoyed every moment of it. Just like the bus in Paris, the tram was equipped with the audio tour guide. The hop-on hop-off tour also comes with a pair of earphones.
Do you know that Lisbon is known as the “cidade das sete colinas” (city of the seven hills)? The legend says that the city was originally built over seven hills. I forgot how many are “left” though. I just remember about the strong earthquake that greatly devastated Lisbon.
The rain had just stopped when the tram tour started so there are still rain drops in the photos.
Anyway, I hope you’ll still enjoy looking at the photos I took during the tram ride:

Here’s also a video for you…