Beijing Travel Bug

Well, there’s Breadtalk around Singapore and Philippines..quite commercialized nowadays. However, during our stay in Beijing, we were craving for Tour Les Jours, a quite relaxing place to hang out. Actually, I notice more Koreans before. Later, I researched about it apparently, it wasn’t a French bakery like its namesake. It is operated by a South Korean company.

“Tous Les Jours means “every day” in French, and the name expresses the bakery’ commitment to making fresh bread every day.”

It still looks cozy inside…warm during the winter.

Read the rest of this entry »

My mom wanted to visit this shopping strip in Beijing (Wangfujing) with the thoughts that it was still the same old shopping strip as before. She said this used to look very traditional..with small shops like there in Yu Yuan Shanghai but alas commercialization took the best of the yester-years.

We passed by the exotic food section which I dared my small siblings to try (yet no one brave enough to swallow gross looking insects/bugs).

I was dwarfed by the huge buildings that surrounded me. I vaguely recall this much shopping centres last time I went here (which mainly because it was still pre Olympics 2008). I still miss Singapore malls though where I prefer the brands better. Chinese fashion is very peculiar for me. Not that it’s not fashionable, but sometimes it looks too extravagant for every day use…maybe I’m a laid back dresser.
Read the rest of this entry »

While cruising along the outskirts of Beijing (getting back from a tiring Mutianyu trip with my family)…we saw an array of fruits being sold. I read somewhere that the fruit farms were popular nearby the city.

It actually reminds me of one of the outskirt county here in Manila called Tagaytay…but in Tagaytay it’s cooler and more relaxing (seeing the lake with the smallest volcano at the middle)

We actually stopped by to buy some local fruits along the way. My mom acted coolly as she tried to manage her way to haggle..even oblivious to the local pricing, she used her instincts (which I envy I do not have in terms of buying food)
Read the rest of this entry »

Surprise Surprise, I get to visit Beijing for a while last week! Ha! Tiring because I was the tour guide for my family but it was worth it. A sort of brief nostalgic trip that depleted my energy.

I had to stop over to the newest huge mall around Chaoyang District. It was called the Village. It was literally a stone-throws away from Yashow (the buidling where we used to shop and haggle clothes in Beijing, one of our favorites because they sell overruns I like)

A hangout that I would have liked because if you get sick of the haggling, you can now visit the Village where branded stores like Uni qlo, Nike, Adidas, etc have huge stores inside. I also saw Hatsune branch at the top floor in one of the buildings.
Read the rest of this entry »

One of the tourist spots in Shanghai is called Oriental TV Tower. It looks similar to Macau Tower…and it also offers tourists the view of the whole city. It is located at the tip of Lujiazui in the Pudong district, by the side of Huangpu River, opposite The Bund.

When we visited this that time, we didn’t go up the tower already since I urge my friends to just go to Grand Hyatt hotel for the view of the city. I saw there are different observation levels where you can choose to view the city. There is also a revolving restaurant there similar to Singapore’s Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant.

At night, this is usually one of the visible sights around the city. We walked along The Bund and see the shiny spectacle of light just across (Oriental TV Tower lit at night). It must be very nice to have dinner at their restaurant.

The fee for going up the tower shoot up after Olympics I think. I saw last time it was around 70rmb. If you want a cheaper cost for the view, you can always choose Grand Hyatt Hotel and sip some brewed coffee on the hotel lounge while you relax.

A photography contest! Something about Beijing! Wow..this must be very interesting because Foreigners get to show how they view Beijing…

I would join if I were still in China…this will be quite interesting!

The mechanics goes like this (from the website):

Events Introduction

Foreigners ?? watch Beijing Beijing Chao photography competition activity NOTICE

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of People’s Republic of China, so that foreign friends know, feel the changes and the charm of Beijing, the Beijing Municipal People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing Municipal People’s Government, Beijing Municipal People’s Government Information Office, Beijing Municipal Commission of Education, Beijing Foreign invested enterprises Association in March 2009 to July co-sponsored aliens look ?? Beijing Beijing Chao photography competition.

The theme for the competition the new face of Beijing, mainly reflecting the new face of Beijing, Beijing’s new life; including the author in Beijing sightseeing, leisure, life and work experience; and Beijing Friendship Get along with members of the public scene and to reflect contrasting Beijing’s Past and Present works. Foreign person may participate.

To encourage more outstanding entries, the organizing committee composed of relevant experts will be invited to the panels of judges, selected 400 finalists primaries excellent after check selected 50 winning entries. Award the first prize is set to 2, 15,000 yuan bonus; 5 second prize, bonus 5,000; 10 third prizes, bonuses 3,000; Excellence Awards 33, 500 prize money and receive outstanding works photographic album . Bonuses for pre-tax income, the organizers of Inland Revenue in accordance with the provisions of the Beijing Municipal pay personal income tax withholding.

Entries as follows:
Read the rest of this entry »

Out with the old, in with the new…
During my time, which was around 1 and a half years ago…the best restaurant in Beijing was Alameda but nowadays, lower batches of Filipino Chinese crave for SALT.

Their lunch menu is quite appetizing and value for money. You can check their website for the intensive menu list.

I am hoping to try this when I visit Beijing again!

in this holiday season, I want to greet everybody MERRY CHRISTMAS!