Going to Mt Fuji By Bus

One of the items on my bucket list when I went to Tokyo is I need to go and see Mt Fuji first hand.

Perhaps like anyone out there, I have seen so many pictures and movies that feature Mt. Fuji in the background and it has always amazed me. However, little did I know that even the best photographers in the world, using the most advanced state of the art DSLR cameras will not do justice to the beauty of Mt. Fuji. It really looks undescribably beautiful if you see it yourself and somehow, that "thing", feeling, or sensation of seeing it up close is lost when you just look at it in picture.

So that begs the question: how do you exactly go to Mt. Fuji? There are many tips online but most of them recommend taking the JR train from Tokyo. I find that expensive since for a solo traveller like me, that is really not an option. So here's a detailed instruction on how to go to Mt Fuji for only JPY 3,000 / Php 1,500.

First, you gotta find your way to Shinjuku Station. Based on wikipedia, this is the world's busiest train station, with I think 2 million people using this station daily. Sounds like a lot of people but it is right in the middle of Tokyo and being a major transport hub, you just cannot miss it.

From there, you have to follow the signs that lead to Keio Highway Bus. Just go to the Keio Bus Ticketing Office and buy a roundtrip ticket to Kawaguchiko Station (not to be confused with Mt. Fuji since if you say Mt Fuji, the Keio staff might think you intend to climb Mt Fuji itself and you will end up paying more; unless of course you really plan to climb the mountain). Once you are issued tickets, you will be asked to wait in the assigned platform number for the bus to Kawaguchiko Station. You can also request for a roundtrip ticket. Just estimate the time that you intend to return to Shinjuku from Kawaguchiko Station and they will gladly issue the return ticket.

Once you got the tckets, just wait for the bus at the assigned platform. Here's how the bus looks like:

The bus is very comfortable and it has an electronic monitor and billboard where the stops are flashed so there is no chance for you to miss the Kawaguchiko station (the last stop of the bus). It takes more than 1 hour from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko Station (about 1 hour and 20 minutes).

For the best view, take the window seat on the left side of the bus. You will see Mt Fuji after 1 hour of travel and from there on, if the weather (and the gods) are with you, then you will have a majestic view of Mt Fuji =)

^^This is the Bus Stop of Keio Bus from Shinjuku: Kawaguchiko Stop. And yes, that is Mt Fuji in all its glory during early spring...not a cloud in sight.

If you will be taking the train to Kawaguchiko Station, this is the stop just beside the bus stop of Mt. Kawaguchiko.

So, from Kawaguchiko Station, how do you go to Lake Kawaguchiko? If you happen to go there during the cold months (autumn, winter, early spring), then walking is the way to go. There are prominently marked directions on how to go to Lake Kawaguchiko. But if you find yourself here at the middle of a sweltering summer heat, then take the Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus. You just buy the ticket at Kawaguchiko Station for JPY 500 for the unlimited ride of the bus. The bus is a vintage type bus and it looks like this:

^^The Kawaguchiko Sightseeing bus at Kawaguchiko Station.

Now, if you take this bus, you will be treated with a breathtaking view of Mt Fuji being reflected by the still waters of Lake Kawaguchiko. Something like this:

now, if you want a view from the top, there is a cable car that takes you to the top of one of the hills near lake Kawaguchiko that offers a somewhat different view. I recall the cable car was not that expensive so I rode it. Again, very good views.

So to those planning to go to Mt. Fuji, it need not be expensive and unless you intend to stay for 14 days in Japan and you have a JR pass, then I will always recommend taking the bus. =)

Tokyo, Japan Tour Primer

A lot of questions have been asked on how to tour Tokyo, Japan.

I've been to Tokyo, Japan just recently and here's how my itinerary looked like:

Day 01: Arrival at Narita Airport

• Buy SUICA Card at the Keisei Liner
• Check the Schedule of Keisei Limited Express to Haneda
• Check which platform to go to
• Get off at Asakusa Station (fare  I think is only JPY 1300)

Day 02: Tokyo Tour

• Tour the Imperial Palace
• Visit Tokyo Tower
• Visit Roppongi Hills
• Visit Shibuya Crossing

Day 03: Mt Fuji Tour

Day 04: Shopping

• Visit Akihabara
• Visit  Harajuku
• Visit Yoyogi Park

This is how Narita Airport looks like:

The direction to the railways are prominently marked so you wont get lost.

From Narita Airport, I booked a room at Khaosan Inn Original and this is in Asakusa. Since it is very near Asakusa Station, it is just a small walk away. Just look for the red bridge, DO NOT cross the bridge since you gotta turn right, and walk for 3 minutes. You wont miss it from there.

From the hostel, it is an easy walking distance to Asakusa Temple and Tokyo Syktree.

US Visa Primer (or for those like me, are obsessive compulsive)

OK. I finally did it. After doubting for so long since I am single, 29, working in this company for five years, I decided to give it a shot.

After months of reading through pinoyexchange and preparing my documents, I finally decided to really be dead serious in getting a US visa. Note that I have no solid plans in going to the US and I just want to have that flexibility of having the option of flying to the US once Cebu Pacific goes long haul =). I have to also mention that this US visa, once granted, will also give me access to Taiwan without paying their very expensive visa fee =).

Here are the documents that I prepared prior to securing an interview at the US  Embassy:

• Certificate of employment stating my position, annual salary in USD, and length of stay in the organization
• Bank certificate amounting to Php xxx,xxx
• Passports
• Scanned picture following the specs on the US Embassy website
• List of previous travels (14 countries in the last five years)
• Land titles and car registration
• Credit card bills
• Certificate of tax exemption

Filling out the DS 160 form

After securing all of these, I proceeded to fill out the DS-160 form. It was a lengthy online form, complete job history with salary details, travel history, relatives in the US, and the like. I have uploaded it, then paid the fee at BPI. Then, after waiting for four hours, I accessed the USTRAVELDOCS website as I intend to select an interview schedule. The first problem that I had was entering the website since it was asking for an MRV code, and me thinking that such a code is the one that appears in the receipt given to me by BPI. I attempted in vain to enter the said code that appeared on the payment slip. Feeling hopeless, I decided to call BPI and here's the TIP #1: your MRV code is your passport number.

Once I entered the passport no., I was taken to the page where I can select the interview. The earliest schedule was August 08 so I selected that particular date, printed the confirmation letter and then checked my documents.

Here's another clumsy moment. In the DS 160 form, I totally forgot to put in my MIDDLE NAME after my FIRST NAME. Panicked, I called up the hotline to have this corrected. The lady on the phone just told me that this was not a problem and that I just need to simply log in, access my DS 160 and just edit it. SHe further told me that there's no need to select a new interview date.

HOWEVER,  as you guys might perhaps know, the date that I selected was the date Habagat ravaged the metropolis, with the US Embassy closing for 3 working day. Thus, I was compelled to reschedule. Initially, I was thinking that there has to be an error in the USTRAVELDOCS website since it was showing December 2012 as the earliest interview date. It proved to be true since I accessed it again 2 hours later and I see slots for the last week of August and finally, I was able to select a new date.

The Game Plan 

I had it all sorted out in my mind. While preparing for the interview, I kept on rehearsing answers but I figured, I need more than just praying hard (which of course helps!). I took it upon myself that I need to IMPRESS, that I need to STAND OUT from the rest of the applicants. My mental preparation reminded me of the last time that I stood in front of a panel defending my thesis.

And thus, I was able to decide that for this visa interview, I will be "friendly" to the Consul, realizing that there are many people that needs to be interviewed and that I only have 5 minutes to make sure I drove home the ever important message: I will not overstay in your country.

The scene that I had in mind was like two officemates meeting in a coffee shop early morning, buying coffee to-go before reporting for work. At the back of my mind, the conversation will have to be clear, concise, focused and at the same time making sure that I can achieve this in the next 5 minutes.

The Interview Day

My interview was at 6:30 AM and so I was surprised to see so many people at 5:30 AM in Roxas Blvd. I was dressed casually, just a polo and slacks. There were so many vendors/fixers/"miron" there. Some are screaming that they offer "CUSTODY SERVICE FOR CELLPHONES, USBs and the like". Others are saying that visa applicants should have black pen, while others are saying that the pictures should be taken by them to ensure that this will pass muster the scrutiny of the Consul. I remember one vendor saying to the poor visa app: "Paano ka magkakavisa kung mali ang picture mo? Dito ka samin magpakuha para sigurado."  Wow. I just ignored them and just checked all my docs for the nth time.

Since there was nothing to do, I started conversation with a teacher in front of me and instantly, we became friends. Her profile: a single mom, 52 years old, a public school teacher. Funny but what she had with her is just a COE. She was saying that her only hope is for the consul to be compassionate since she's a teacher and her visit will be financed by a friend in the US. I know this this will almost always result in a denial since the consul will evaluate based on the personal capability of the applicant to finance the travel and touring US.

It is easy enough to categorize the visa applicants that I saw during my interview day. Most, if not all, were dead nervous. They were all staring at the empty sky, perhaps praying to high heavens that they will get a visa (or perhaps they were memorizing answers?).

At about 6AM, we were all ushered by the guards to enter the embassy. Routine bag and body scans were done, then numbers were issued. The first step is the checking of confirmation letter and other docs and then finger scanning. The last part was the interview with the consul.

The Interview

Numbers were being flashed on the screen together with the corresponding  window. When my number appeared, I was the third in line. The consul was a white guy, mid 30s, and he seemed generally nice. Here's how the interview went with the first guy:

Consul: So you own a farm?

Applicant: Yes.

Consul: So how much do you earn in a year?

Applicant: (Stammers) I, err, think 4000.

Consul: Dollars? That's a lot.

Applicant: It's pesos sir.

Consul: I see. If that's the case, I am sorry but I cannot give you a visa for now.

Applicant: (Attempts to reason out). Sir, you see, this is my ___th time of applying. My brother, sister, they are waiting there.

Consul: (Listening to the reason of the applicant and seemed genuinely concerned) I am sorry but I will have to deny your application. You can reapply again.

The first guy was denied. Next came this mother with a toddler in tow..

Consul: How's your day?

Applicant: I'm good. You?

Consul: I'm ok. So you're goin to the US. What's your job and your husband?

Applicant: I'm a supervisor for 5 years at HSBC. My husband is a retired US navy.

Consul: I see. Can I see the birth certificate of your son?

Applicant: (Hands over the birth certificate). Here it is.

Consul: (while typing) So what countries have you visited in the past five years?

Applicant: (mentioned Asian coutnries)

Consul: OK, your visa's approved.

Applicant: Thank you.

I was intently listening on the questions so when my turn came, here's how our conversation went:

Consul: How are you doin?

Me: I feel great! And you?

Consul: Wow, a different reply. Am so used to hearing Fine thank you. So what's your name?

Me: I am ___________.

Consul: So what's your job?

Me: I am a _________ in __________.

Consul: So you are a lawyer workin in a law firm?

Me: Nope, never dreamed of it. I work in a research organization producing researches on ___________ and its impact on ___________.

Consul: (chuckles) I see. So why do you wanna go to US, I think in your form you mentioned Hawaii? and for how long?

Me: It's actually Guam. No solid plans yet but perhaps five or six days will be enough. I've been all over Asia and US is now the next on my list (smiles cordially at him). I try to restrict my flying time to about 8 hours max.

Consul: You got relatives in the US?

Me: This maybe difficult to believe but I have yet to hear a relative of mine in the US.

Consul: I see. OK, your visa is approved. It will be delivered to you in about a week or so.

Me: Thanks.

 After the interview

I looked for my teacher-friend and sad to say, she was denied. According to her, the consul who interviewed her was a black woman. Very strict and asked so many questions.

And so, a week later, my passport was delivered. I was given a 10-year multiple entry visa.



 

Beijing Primer

Beijing has been one of my top travel destination and yesterday, April 28, I was able to visit the country for just 3 days.

I grabbed Cebu Pacific's Php 888 sale and the roundtrip ticket that I bought is only Php 2600 for RT travel. Then came the challenge of getting a China visa. It was easy and for my application, I submitted my passport, picture, application form, certificate of employment, my withholding tax exemption since I have no ITR, and bank certificate. I wont go into details of securing China Visa as much has been said about it in many other forums.

The gameplan was simple: I gotta go to The Great Wall at Mutianyu, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and Olympic Square. With that, I consulted pinoyexchange and planned the trip.

I booked a hotel at Php 900 a night at Happy Dragon Hostel in Dongsi. The hotel was very near Dongsi Exit C and it was about 5-minute walk to get to the hotel from the terminal station.

TIP: In selecting a hotel, it has been recommended that  it should be near the subway. To narrow down your choices, check if the subway near your hotel is Line 1. The reason: Line 1 appears to be the busiest train line kaya I would recommend to look for hotels along Line 5 or Line 2 to avoid the hassle of commuting via train. Their subway is worse than our MRT, at least in terms of the number people taking it and the way Chinese literally shoves everyone in their path just to get on a train.

If travelling in a group, say four or more, it is perhaps better to take a cab since you split the cab fare. Of course, the risk of miscommunication due to language barrier is there but you get to the place comfortably.

The First Mission: Going to Mutianyu

The blogs have extensively discussed how to go to Mutianyu and there are conflicting statements as to where to start going to Mutianyu.The good thing is that as the picture below, taken from the Mutianyu Bus Terminal says, there is a direct service bus from Dongzhimen direct to Mutianyu. The first bus leaves Dongzhimen Outer Way Bus Terminal at 7 AM, 8 AM and 9 AM. You gotta tell the driver you are going to Mutianyu Great Wall and the fare is RMB 16. They will tell you that their return trip, from Mutianyu Bus to Dongzhimen starts 2 PM.

Note that the Dongzhimen Outer Way Bus Terminal, where you are taking the bus 936, is different from the Dongzhimen Public Bus Terminal. Below is a picture that you can bring should you want to ask for direction:

 

Below is a picture of the bus terminal:

Note that the bus 936 only operates during peak tourist months, that is, from March 25 to November 25. If the bus is not in service when you go to Beijing, then your option is to take Bus 916 then transfer to a cab ti get to Mutianyu.

TIP: When taking the bus, a conductor will be issuing tickets if you did not use your yikatong/parang octopus card to pay for your fare. Just like our bus conductors here, you will pay as soon as the conductor gives you your ticket.

It is important to note that if you will go to Mutianyu via Bus 936, you will pay RMB 32 for a return bus ticket and RMB 60 for the entrance fee, a total of only RMB 92, as opposed to joining the package tour of RMB 280.

You need not worry if you will miss your stop as the conductor will make sure that he will drop you off at the Great Wall Mutianyu since he will motion you to stop or sit down if you attempt to get off. The Bus 936 exchanges drivers at Huairou, then make another stop at the end of Huairou for the conductor to remit his fare collection, before finally proceeding to Mutianyu. You will know that you are near Mutianyu if the bus is travelling an uphill road. IF you see this Subway Sandwiches Mutianyu Great Wall Branch, you are now at the entrance of the Mutianyu Great Wall.

Arriving Osaka (and some other preflight concerns=)

Once you have completed the pre-flight preps, the next task is to head to NAIA Terminal III, the Manila hub of Cebu Pacific that will take you to Osaka.

TO PARK OR NOT TO PARK

I always find this dilemma. True, there is an overnight parking at NAIA T3 at only Php 50 per night BUT I am always unlucky as I always find the overnight parking of T3 full. Parking at the nearby Resorts World is NOT an option as this will set me back at Php 1000 per night...so for 3 nights...that would amount to Php 3,000.

I noticed that indeed, there is a multi-level parking at NAIA T3 but for now, it is not yet operational and therefore, if one cannot park at NAIA T3, then the best and nearest option would be the overnight parking in front of the old Manila Domestic Terminal. Note though that you gotta cross the street via pedestrian overpass in order to get a cab that wil bring you to NAIA T3. Overnight parking there is also at Php 50...but the good thing is that it is safe there but a bit inconvenient if your flight leaves and arrives at NAIA T3.

Perhaps one alternative is that of the MRT. Just a note though that if you got big luggages, you might encounter the guards of MRT not allowing you to board the train but if you just got a backpack with you, then you can take the MRT to Taft Ave. From Taft Ave., look for the McDonalds beside Hotel Sogo and go to the bus station behind it (this is also the terminal for buses going to Cavite and Tagaytay) as there are coasters and shuttle vans that ferry passengers from MRT Taft Ave to Terminal III for only Php 20.

ARRIVING IN OSAKA

Cebu Pacific parks at the gates far from the immigration counter so expect to go upstairs, a long walk, then take their skytrain so that you will be conveyed to the immigration halls for screening.

This is how Osaka-Kansai International Airport:

As soon as you clear customs and immigration formalities, look for the Travel Desk. This is where you will buy your Surutto Kansai Pass or the JR Pass. Again, as mentioned earlier, the Surutto Kansai Pass is the better option than the JR.

This is how the Travel Desk looks like:

Here, you need to fill up the form for the pass. Just tell them the Surutto Kansai 3-day pass. They will ask for your passport. Then, you will be given the train ticket, much like our MRT Stored Value Ticket. This will serve as your pass for 3 days for all trains in the Kansai Region EXCEPT the JR lines.

FOREX

I forgot to include in the previous section re: Forex. Before I left for Japan, I already bought enough JPY at Asian FX Money Changer at the 2nd level of Gateway Mall in Cubao for only Php 0.49 = JPY 1. Their contact number is 913-3319. You can call them up and ask if they have yen or any other currency that you want. There are not that many forex in Japan so to get this off your mind, then I recommend to buy yen before leaving Manila and keep your ATM account, preferably BPI, loaded so you can withdraw money from Japan should you need more.

- - -

Now that you have the money and the train tickets with you, the next hurdle is how to get to downtown Osaka or to your hotel or even going to Kyoto.

LEAVING KIX AIRPORT

The good thing in Japan is that you can go anywhere by taking the rail. From the Travel Desk, go to the 2nd level. This is what you will see:

This is what you will see once you go to the 2nd level: the bridgeway that connects the Kansai Airport to the Kansai Train Terminal. This is what you will see:

This is the place where you will buy your single journey ticket to Namba/Osaka. See previous post on why you should NOT use your rail pass immediately when you arrive. But hey if you wanna use it and you dont mind wasting the day's worth of unlimited train ride for like three remaining hours of the day, then it is your call=)

Since I bought the Surutto Kansai Pass, I will make no more references to the JR train since I did not buy their pass=).

The Nankai Line operates and uses tickets just like our MRT. Just insert the ticket and pull it out as you pass through the turnstile. When you are inside the train station, make sure to check what platform you are supposed to be in to make sure that you are on the right train, in this case, you are looking for an Airport Express bound for Namba (the downtown Osaka). If you choose the Ltd Exp Rapit train, you gotta pay an extra surcharge of JPY 500 but if you take the Airport Express, no  surcharges are levied. Note that the platform number is the one beside the hour of departure. This is illustrated below. 

This is how the airport express train looks like:

This is how the Rapit Limited train looks like:

You need not worry if you are afraid that you might be taking the wrong train. The reason: there is a sign board at all entrances stating where the train is going and if it is a LOCAL train (stops at all train station), Semi Express (does not stop at some stations)  and limited express. Note that if you choose limited express, you will pay additional JPY 500 even if you are using the surutto kansai pass. Note that the Express/Semi trains are normally 15 minutes slower than that of the rapit trains so in essence, you are paying an additional JPY 500 for arriving 15 minutes earlier than the semi express trains=).

Tsk tsk too long already...more to come=)

Osaka, Japan - Pre-flight Preparations

There are many questions regarding Osaka, Japan and hence, here is a detailed trip report on how to enjoy Osaka, Japan without spending so much.

THE VISA

A lot has been said already about successfully securing the japan visa but the best, in terms of price and proximity (at least to me), is Reli Travels at SM Megamall for they only charge Php 1200 for visa application. Normally, they would recommend to apply as a tourist without anyone inviting you to come over to Japan. The reason is that there will be lots of documentary requirements should one opt to be invited as you and your sponsor will both have to prove financial capability to finance your stay. This also costs more as one gotta pay Php 2000 if one has a sponsor and hence, they recommend to simply go there as a tourist without anyone inviting you to stay.

THE CHEAPEST PLANE TICKET

This is not a requirement for visa application but the best deal in town and the cheapest comes from Cebu Pacific with their direct daily flights to Osaka-Kansai International Airport from Manila. Good thing is that Cebu Pacific flight to Osaka, Japan, arrives relatively early (at 8 PM Japan time) so you have enough time to catch your train to the city. Note that taking a cab, unless you are filthy (and I mean really damn filthy) rich, then cabs are the way to go in Osaka. Osaka-Kansai International Airport is located about 50 kms away from downtown Osaka and should not be confused with Osaka-Itami Airport which handles domestic flights from Narita-Tokyo International International and Haneda International Airport.

THE HOTEL ACCOMMODATION

I have stayed at Hotel Shin-Imamiya. This is located just 5 steps away from the Nankai Shin Imamiya Station. In the internet, they noted that this area is touted as the "homeless" district of Japan but hey, for JPY 6000 for 3 nights, I am not complaining since the hotels in Japan are dead expensive. The good thing about Hotel Shin Imamiya is that they are just right outside the Nankai Station so you really wont see any homeless japanese wandering around since I presume they are loitering in the inner streets of the area. So an important tip: Always make sure that if you will opt to stay at Shin-imamiya district, check if your hotel is very near the JR or Nankai train station to avoid hassles.

The Hotel Shin-imamiya, where I stayed for three days, was very clean. Here are some pics:


My room
It also has an ensuite toilet and bath. Here is the pic:

The hallway going to my room:

The waiting area where there is free internet:

I will definitely recommend Hotel Shin Imamiya since they got very good prices. The downside of this hotel is that the hotel has NO signboard. The only reason I find it damn easy to locate is that they are just five steps away from the Nankai Exit and right beside the prominently marked Hotel Sun Plaza.

I recommend this hotel because in their waiting area, there is microwave oven that you can use and hot thermos so you can always eat your cup noodles or heat your food that you bought from Family Mart, which is like 20 steps away from the hotel.

Here is a google earth image of the hotel:

WEATHER

Do NOT underestimate the weather in Japan. When I was there, I thought I can bear the cold but boy I was so wrong hahaha. The temp there says 2C but it felt like -5C with me coming home with windburns due to the extreme cold. I always find myself cursing at the bitter coldness and always rushing to the nearest Family Mart to escape the cold weather. Bring bubble jackets and other thermal clothes if you are travelling during winter season. Note that in Kansai, Osaka has the highest temp, with the mercury hitting lower in the other prefectures like Kyoto, Nara, Kobe or Himeji.


THE RAIL PASS: JR West Rail Pass vs. Nankai's Surutto Kansai Pass

This is a very important decision point that you have to make. If you have no plans to go to Tokyo or your itinerary mainly involves Kansai Region (Nara, Kobe, Kyoto, Himeji, etc), then I strongly recommend the Surutto Kansai Three-Day Pass.  Note that both the three-day passes of Nankai and JR cost JPY 5000.

The reason is simple: with this Nankai's Three-day pass, you get to use, unlimited, not only any line EXCEPT JR in Kansai, but it also includes the use of subways in Kyoto, Kobe, and Osaka. If you buy the JR pass, it does NOT cover the subway lines of these three cities so it is way better and you save more if you use the Surutto-Kansai Three Day Pass.

Important tip: if you arrive via Cebu Pacific, just buy a separate ticket for you to get to downtown Osaka from Osaka Kansai INternational Airport. The reason: masasayang lang ang 1 day sa three-day pass if you use it at about 9 PM of Day 1 just to get to your hotel. Just buy a single journey ticket for JPY 880 for a limited express and reserve your pass for three full days since it will be counted as day 1 if you use it on your date of arrival=).

Note also that if you use Nankai 3-day pass, do not look for Osaka Station because Nankai uses NAMBA Station as its main Osaka Hub. From the airport, take the Airport Express Namba so that it will not stop at all stations (the trip from Osaka Airport to Shin Imamiya station is roughly 45 minutes). Avoid LOCAL trains as these trains stop at every station and thus making your trip longer. If you have the money to spend, you can take the Airport Express Rapit. This is super fast train but more expensive. You are better of at the Airport Express train.

My recommendation, therefore, is to buy the Surutto Kansai Three-Day Pass. Note that you can only get one pass: either JR Pass or Surutto Kansai Pass. For the Surutto Kansai Pass, you can buy these at the Travel Desk right outside the arrival area of the airport.

I guess this ends the pre-flight preparations for the Osaka trip=)

More to come=) 

Vietnam 101

Here is a detailed trip report for our vietnam trip. We arrived Vietnam at past 12 midnight and we exchanged our money after retrieving our bags. we exchanged small amount since we were working on the assumption that the forex at airport was not the best deal but we were wrong. the rate for 1 PHP = 398 VND while at the Pham Ngu Lao, the forex was 1 PHP = 350 VND. The rate for 1 USD = 22000 VND while that of the hotel is only 1 USD = 21500 VND. Thus, it is recommended to exchange your money at the airport. For transportation, always take Vinasun taxi or Mai Linh. They are the honest cabbies in Saigon so it is always worth taking their services than the others. We checked in at Bich Duyen Hotel and checkin was a breeze. It was also very clean but the downside is that you gotta request for lower rooms since the stairs goin to your room can be steep. The first mission, the following day, is to go to Dai Nam Park. We took Bus 616 across Ben Thanh Market. You wont miss this bus stop since there are many people waiting for their buses. The fare from Ben Thanh to Dai Nam is VND 20,000 and it is an aircon bus. Here is the picture of Bus 616: This is what the bus looks like from afar: You need not worry that you might miss your stop because Dai Nam Park is the last stop and it will take you almost 2 hours to get there. This is not because traffic is heavy BUT the reason is that the bus is a bit sluggish so you can take a nap on your way to Dai Nam Park. There will be a lady conductor who will go around the bus to collect the fare and since they do not understand Dai Nam Park, it is best to show this picture to her: Then hand over to her your fare and she will give your ticket in return. Also do not expect that she can communicate in English. Just show the picture above then give your fare. if you dont have exact fare, do not worry since they give change (just like our bus conductors here in Manila. Here are some pics of Dai Nam Park: This is the bus terminal of Dai Nam Park. This is also the place where you will get off Bus 616 and this is the same place where you will take the bus that goes back to Ben Thanh Market in Saigon: Upon alighting, you will have to pay the entrance fee of VND 50,000 for adults and VND 25,000 for children. Crossing the streets of Saigon, unlike what Mai Mislang tweeted when she was there, is not really that threatening, especially to us Pinoys. Unless you are so sheltered and you have never crossed the busy streets of Manila, then you are fine. Only note that most of them ignore the traffic lights so even if it;s a red light, they tend to also cross or do not be surprised that some motorbikes just popping out from the left or right or one-way streets. Ganun lang talaga sila BUT unlike pinoy drivers, they do NOT drive fast and true, these bikers will really make sure that they avoid pedestrian like a plague. sila na mismo ang iiwas sa inyo. When we were there, we were laughing at the caucasians who were terrified of crossing the busy streets but the way to go is to simply cross it and you will realize that they will simply avoid you=). So much for the streets of Vietnam. The next mission is the mekong delta tour and the half day cu chi tunnel tour. we booked all our tours at Sinh Cafe (now Sinh Tourists) and paid like USD 8 for these two tours. The mekong delta one-day tour includes all meals, including vietnamese lunch so this is a steal. Just a disclaimer: you will be surprised at how the westerners are amazed with rice paddies that you will see along the way during the 2 hour bus ride from Saigon to ben tre province, where you will get to ride the boat. Translation: para ka lang traversing the NLEX route). The best part of the mekong tour is the boat ride itself especially along the inner canals. When we were there, I was thinking that it was JUST a boat ride but when we were actually traversing the canals, it has a weird but surreal feeling hehe. Cu Chi tunnels can be boring but I guess it depends on you...if you can find something new in seemingly usual things, then that can make your trip something worth remembering. The last day is spent on shopping. Go and buy northface and samsonite bags at Ben Thanh. Note that at Ben Thanh, it is divided into 2: the fixed price stalls (these are the ones near the entrances and the sellers there were ID and they placed tags all over their store that says FIXED PRICE SELLER, which means you cannot haggle here since the prices reflect the lower price. However, if you deeper inside ben thanh, you will see that those who are not fixed price tend to quote prices that are 200% higher than the prices in the fixed price. The idea here is you gotta haggle=). If you intend to buy in bulk, it would be best to buy them at the inner stalls where the price is not fixed so you can haggle. If just 3-5 pieces of souvenir items, then just go to the fixed price stalls to avoid being ripped off. The last stop are the scenes in downtown saigon like the cathedral, ben thanh, reunification palace and war museum, which are all walking distance from Ben Thanh Market. The fare from the airport to Pham Ngu Lao is about VND 120,000 if you take the metered Vinasun Taxi. Overall, I enjoyed Vietnam far better than Bangkok (haha I know some people will react to this but hey, am not really a big fan of Bangkok) but Vietnam is MORE relaxing, laidback and waaaayyyy cheaper than Bangkok (haha oops...never really liked Bangkok). With Vietnam, I guess you either like it or you don't, especially if you are looking for glitzy skyscrapers and shopping malls left and right.

Here's a google earth image of the bus stop of 616 right across Ben Thanh Market: