We had three nights and two full days stop over in Hong Kong. The Rugby Sevens just concluded when we arrived at the gigantic airport. Our immediate impression was that of awe at the very efficient transport system. The beautiful skyline at the Avenue of the Stars board walk  is stunning at night.

Where We Stayed

We booked a tiny-but-nicely-designed double room at Just Inn via Booking.Com. We were pleased by its convenient location along Lock Road, which was not far from the busy shopping street of Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui.  We also like its close proximity to Victoria Harbor Ferry Station.

It was rainy during our stay. We had to cancel a visit to Lantau Islands due to the weather, so we missed the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car and the Golden Buddha. However, the husband and I had enough time to enjoy the sites of both Kowloon and Hong Kong Islands.

We took the RORO Bus at San Jose Terminal in Puerto Princesa at 6AM. It's a 6-hour journey to El Nido with two stop overs (toilet break) in Roxas and Taytay. A big chunk of the national road (PPNR) between Taytay and El Nido were still under construction during our visit. The section between Roxas and Puerto Princesa are fully functional and paved. We bought tickets (travel voucher) and reserved our seats the day before our departure at San Jose Terminal.

PP to El Nido Bus Fare:

• Air-Conditioned Bus  Php 483 per person / one-way
• Ordinary  Php 330 per person / one-way

*Be there 30 minutes before the departure time.

I found Just One Day, a new novel by Gayle Forman (Author of If I Stay and Where She Went) at the new arrivals window display of a bookstore while on vacation. 

Release Date:  January 8, 2013

Publisher:      Dutton Juvenile

It's a story beautifully told about Allyson Healey, a dutiful daughter whose life has been planned and laid out for her by her protective parents. She travels to Europe, given to her as a graduation present, only to discover her adventurous self when she meets a laid-back Dutch actor, Willem de Ruiter in a Shakespearean underground play- Twelfth Night. The immediate attraction between them sends her to live in the guise of her alter-ego "Lulu" in Paris for one day. Their fateful encounter liberates her authentic self and unexpectedly transforms her life in a profound way.

Here are some quotes from the book:

“...being Lulu, it made me realize that all my life I've been living in a small, square room, with no windows and no doors. And I was fine. I was happy, even. I thought. Then someone came along and showed me there was a door in the room. One that I'd never even seen before. Then he opened it for me. Held my hand as I walked through it. And for one perfect day, I was on the other side. I was somewhere else. Someone else. And then he was gone, and I was thrown back into my little room. And now, no matter what I do, I can't seem to find that door.” 
- Gayle Forman, Just One Day- Good Reads

“I think you're the sort of person who finds money on the ground and waves it in the air and asks if anyone has lost it. I think you cry in movies that aren't even sad because you have a soft heart, though you don't let it show. I think you do things that scare you, and that makes you braver than those adrenaline junkies who bungee-jump off bridges.” 
- Gayle Forman, Just One Day- Good Reads

Review:  I couldn't put it down. I finished it in 4 days. It  kept me company in the airport lounge, hammock, bus station and on the boat. I laughed and cried while reading this book. It has now become one of my favorites. The author's words were soothing to read. The personal transformation of Allyson when she gracefully blossoms into maturity in accepting and fighting for who she is, has left a deep and lasting impression in me, apart from the spark between her and mysterious Willem. The story also tells about friendship, how she, at one point or another lost touch of an old friendship and how she managed to build new and lasting ones through change. It was hard to part with the book and I'm happy to say that there is a sequel -  Just One Year that tells his (Willem's) side of the story.

"Trust me, it's paradise. This is where the hungry come to feed.  For mine is a generation that circles the globe and searches for something we haven't tried before. So never refuse an invitation, never resist the unfamiliar, never fail to be polite and never outstay the welcome. Just keep your mind open and suck in the experience. And if it hurts, you know what? It's probably worth it."  - The Beach (film)

Map Source Edited by Arni

Philippines is a country that cannot be explored in one trip. An archipelago of 7,107 islands. The sites are so spread out and it's wise to stay in one region at a time to fully enjoy the experience. 

One of the highlights of our trip was an unplanned ride on top of a jeepney.  A jeepney is the most popular public transportation in the Philippines.