Meery Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Pasko na Naman!

It's my second Christmas here in Flores, Indonesia. I will be spending the holiday in Ruteng with some Filipino friends.

I truly miss the Christmas atmosphere in the Philippines.

Seeing Komodo Dragon

Riding MagLev in Shanghai

for a 30 km distance, it only took me 8 minutes from Pudong International Airport to LongYang Maglev station,downtown Shanghai. The one-way trip is 50 Yuan. At the ground floor of Long Yang Station is a maglev museum.

MagLev or magnetic levitation, a german technology, uses the basic principles of magnets to replace the old steel wheel and track trains....more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maglev_train and

more pictures from

http://home.wangjianshuo.com/archives/20030809_pudong_airport_maglev_in_depth.htm

There's a Maglev Museum at the

Around Beijing

Going around central Beijing by bike is a nice experience. I feel i'm one of them (chinese).

I rented one from my Hostel although the deposit is quite big 300 yuan.

Reminder: Don't bring a bike when you want to enter the Forbidden City/Imperial Palace after lunch. I didn't realize that the palace is soooooo big. I parked the bike in the east entrance. It was already 5 pm when I finished the museum tour inside (lots of them). I have to exit at the opposite end ( north or south gate) and have to get back to east entrance where I parked my bike.

with my favorite Jackie Chan

di ba katabi ko si Bill Gates

At the Temple of Heavens
part of Summer Palace

if your touring beijing, don't miss the Acrobat and Kung Fu shows. The Kung Fu show tels about its history. Both shows are very entertaining!

My 9k Walk: Great Wall of China

At Jingshanling Entrance; the wall is well maintained.

You have to pay before you enter

I passed 30 towers before reaching Simatai Entrance The woman in blue hat accompanied me just after the driver dropped us in that small village.

She speaks english and tried to convince me to buy a shirt and/or a book from her.

Very expensive! She helped me when I almost fainted after an hour walk :)))

Amazing structure!
unmaintained part of the wall

I thought I won't be able to make it after two hours walk
some parts are already ruined; writings of soldiers on the wall (upper pix)
after 3 hours, I reached this hanging bridge almost near Simatai entrance
3o minutes later, I was in the parking lot. Success!

Manila's Intramuros: A Classic Site

Calesa

Manila Cathedral