WRITTEN in your bubble thought are the places you want to visit this year. Make things happen and start mapping out your travel plans. The flight of your feathered ankles should never be denied.

Last year's recommended places to see elicited comments like "only the rich can go."

I can't argue. Not everyone is as passionate as others to get to a dream destination like Easter Island or Machu Picchu. But one thing is for sure everyone would love the chance to travel. If ever they do it would be like opening a can of Pringles-once you start, you can't stop.

This time, let's tackle the destinations closer to home. With low-priced tickets and hotels teeming, there is no excuse not to get to your favorite Asian destinations.

If you're that urban tourist who frequent your favorite Asian cities, how about spicing up your trip and turning it into an adventure by straying from your usual paths?

Yes, you've been there, but have you done this? Check out what these travelers chanced upon and fell in love with in their favorite Asian city.

Denise Taojo-Kaur, a Dabawenya based in Singapore loves Keong Saik Road. Along the one-way road are old shophouses where dodgy nightclubs and karaoke bars used to be. It's been rehabilitated respecting the original structures. Today, it's a hip strip with interesting dining spots serving Jamaican to modern Spanish, and watering holes.

Rehabilitated, the Keong Saik Road located behind Singapore's Chinatown, has a bar locals refer to as a place for serious drinking (photo: Denise Taojo-Kaur)

If you want to go to a place for serious drinks, the locals in the know will point you to a Speak Easy place called The Library. Through a sliding mirror panel, entry to the tiny room of bookshelves and a mirror is granted to those with the password, which can be obtained from their twitter page @shh_49 or from servers at The Study, the restaurant next door.

Not many tourists know the place but it's actually within the famous Chinatown area (within the Outram Planning Area), Singapore.




How about immersing into Kyoto's history-as a geisha. Debbi Hao "toured" the place in an unconventional way via a Maiko/ Geisha make-over and dress up.

After applying a heap of powder and lip stain, donning layers and layers of clothing finished with a vibrantly colored kimono, and accessorizing with a wig and slipping into the footwear, they were all set for a photo shoot plus a short stroll along Kyoto's old street.

Memoirs of a Pinay as a geisha. Next time you're in Kyoto, live a story you can tell at home (photo: Debbie Hao)

"Whether we passed off as genuine Maiko, seeing ourselves, even momentarily, in a totally different light. It is worth every cent and time spent. Truly a fascinating insight into the world of a Maiko," she said.

Spare half a day to live your short life as a geisha. Book before your trip to Japan atwww.yumekoubou.info.




Who hasn't been to Hong Kong? The entire population must have seen the city and made it a regular destination.

While many would go to their usual haunts for food, shopping and entertainment, Stacey Seng recommends to head to the sleepy suburb of Kennedy Town.

Tucked in a small street called Catchik is Sunday's Grocery. It's more than its name advertises. It's also a bodega, a liquor store, snack shop and more importantly, a regular hipster's haven.

Sunday's is better than others". Seek this place out in Hong Kong (photo: Stacey Seng)

Sunday's Grocery is veering away from the commercial allure of Cantonese cuisine and the clamor that comes with it. "The cozy hole in the wall exudes a New York City vibe and a place for sandwiches perfectly paired with an ice cold bottle of sake," says Stacey.

Sunday's Grocery is at 66-68 Catchick Street, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong.




Ho Chi Minh City is the most populated and busiest city in Vietnam and the vehicle filled streets proves that point. While it showcases a mix of beautiful historic French architecture and melancholic display of the war torn past in its museums, it's the food and shopping that excites most of the Pinoy tourists.

Nikka Go suggests, "Stray from busy metropolis and head to a more peaceful place like Vung Tau, a couple of hours drive from Ho Chi Minh."

Not Rio de Janeiro but in Vung Tau, a few hours drive from Ho Chi Mihn in Vietnam (photo: Nikka Go)

Aside from a great coastline Vung Tau has the 1993 completed Christ the King monument, which may remind you of the Brazilian attraction, if you've been to Rio de Jainero.

It's 847 steps up Mount Nho to reach the platform. Catch your breath and be rewarded with a magnificent view of the Peninsula and the Pacific Ocean from high vantage point.

Vung Tau is a 1 1/2 -2 hours drive from Ho Chí Minh City.



It's very easy to lose oneself in a food and retail paradise like Bangkok. Much of the Pinoys would take a half-day tour around the cultural sites of the city and do what they went to the city for- eat and shop. But before digging in on that Pad Thai and pile of clothes on sale, Ayie Hernandez-Miscov suggests to take a sip of MOCA's flavorful Thai contemporary art.

MOCA is to Bangkok as MoMA is to NYC. MOCA was built to honor the Professor Silpa Bhirasri, the "Father of Thai Contemporary Arts," and within its impressive building, a long history of Thai art has been assembled.

Thai culture flavor filled MOCA. Not (yet) a popular stop in a Pinoy tourist's itinerary (photo: Ayie Hernandez-Miscov)

"It's a world-class modern museum that won't disappoint you. This is a hidden gem in the City of Angels. It has the perfect ambiance for relaxation while adoring the establishment's collection of Thai contemporary art," shares Ayie.

MOCA is at 499 Kamphaengphet 6 Rd., Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok. Open Tuesday - Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Entrance 250 THB

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller

@the Brooklyn Bridge NYC

@the Marina Bay, Singapore where the Merlion was artfully dressed up for the season

@the Universal Studios of Singapore

Finally, dined (& stayed) in a fancy hotel by the famed river Chao Phraya in Bangkok, Thailand

@the Phromthep Cape, Phuket Island

It was just for that reason that she was after Dorothy. That’s wicked?

Photo by Jeff Busby     Unfortunate circumstances lead Elphaba to turn into the Wicked Witch of the West.

So much has happened before Dorothy showed up. That’s where the truth to the story lies. Unfortunately, not everyone knows about this. Not until they see the play themselves, which I highly suggest they do.

If you ask me what the highlight of my recent Singapore trip was, it would be catching WICKED, the multi-awarded including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, play at the Marina Bay Sands Theaters. Staged in SFO back in 2009, I kept noticing its large billboards around the city but paid no heed to it. It was for that reason I still perceived the witch in the Wizard of Oz as the truly wicked. Catching the play this time, my view of the witch took a 180-degree turn. She’s not wicked after all.

Finally, I caught Wicked in Singapore

Wicked is the untold story of the witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls, meet in the Land of Oz. Elphaba, born with emerald-green skin is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other, Glinda, is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

Photo by Andrew Ritchie Elphaba & Glinda, dorm roommates in the university.

Photo  by Andrew Ritchie The Emerald City.

Cliffhanger. It’s best you see the play for yourself, shed a tear or two, and exit the venue with a smile and feeling good. I will attest to that.

But just to point out why the so-called witch was after Dorothy and the shoes. The ruby slippers’ true owner was Nessa Rose, Elphaba’s sister. It was the one thing she had left of her late sister, and she wanted it back.

Wikipidea image This pair was all Elphaba wanted. It belonged to her sister. An original pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 The Wizard of Oz, on display at the Smithsonian Institution.

In the Singapore production, the cast is composed of Australian front rank entertainers with an impressive resume under their names: Jemma Rix as Elphaba, The Wicked Witch of the West. She was cast as Elphaba in a world first staged adaptation of WICKED, which required her to perform parts of the show in Japanese; Suzie Mathers as Glinda, the ‘Good’. She played the lead role of “Sophie Sheridan” in the 10th Anniversary Australian tour of Mamma Mia!; Australia’s legendary TV and radio host and comedian, Bert Newton, is the Wizard of Oz; Anne Wood is Madame Morrible, Headmistress of Shiz University. She commenced her career with the original Melbourne production of Cats and played the lead role of Donna in the original smash hit production of Mamma Mia!; David Harris as Fiyero, the prince, a very handsome and wealthy party boy. He’s one of Australia’s leading men in musical theatre and is best known for his portrayal of Chris in Cameron Mackintosh's production of Miss Saigon; Singer/Songwriter James Smith as Boq, a quirky munchkin enamoured with Glinda, who pays him no mind; Elisa Colla as Nessa Rose, Elphaba’s younger sister who is crippled and confined to a wheelchair. She was fooled into believing that Boq loves her and embittered when she learns the truth; and Glen Hogstrom as Doctor Dillamond, a professor at Shiz University and also the sole animal on the faculty – a goat. He has a string of musical credits to his name, including Beauty & the Beast, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, to name a few.

Photo by Jeff Busby Elphaba meets the  Wizard of Oz.

An amazing play, Wicked has on-going productions worldwide- New York, London, Japan and several other locations. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and a book by Winnie Holzman. The production is directed by Lisa Leguillou with original direction by Joe Mantello. The musical staging is by Wayne Cilento. Wicked is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, David Stone and John Frost.

For information & ticket bookings, visit www.MarinaBaySands.com/Ticketing

The odd man. The Indian mural @ Wanderlust Hotel lobby

No sooner after Singapore Tourism Board (STB) made a presentation in town to entice the locals to spend summer in the Lion City, I found myself on board the plane heading to this island republic. It seems like this is becoming a regular destination, three times this year so far. Who am I to complain?

I was told that the hotel I’ll be billeted in is different from the “usual hotels” I have stayed in (“usually” I am hosted and “always” I have a great time whatever the accommodation is. It’s in the experiencing of everything new in each visit where the thrill and fun lie). Then Sherina of STB Manila added, ”You’ll love this hotel because I know you love art.”

TABLE for three?

Yes, please. In three Chinese restaurants in Singapore, it was our requested seating. With this cuisine, it is best enjoyed in the company of friends. After all, for the Chinese food is at the center of many social interactions. More company would definitely be merrier.

It is true the Chinese conquered the world with its food. What are the chances of not finding a Chinese resto where you are?

In Singapore, where there is no shortage of resto of this sort, I dined in three Chinese food joints (with open kitchens) with good friends whom you can refer to as "locals".

Where: Din Tai Fung, Raffles City Shopping Centre food hall.
Who: with friends Christian and Karyn.