Malaysia Trip Day 1: Setting foot in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Early 2014, I purchased a ticket to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for 8 days from October 2 to 9 of the same year. However due to some unforeseen reasons, I was not able to proceed with my planned trip. Several days later, I was still feeling down and disappointed with the cancellation of that trip when an unexpected opportunity came – 5 days trip to Malaysia with my sister and a friend. So with only a few days to prepare, I was able to board the plane and spent 5 days of spontaneous travel around Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

On the morning before our departure, when I am supposed to double check my luggage and review our (unpolished) trip itinerary, I went to Quezon City for an important meeting. Right after that, my sister and I hurriedly hailed a taxi and endured an hour of traffic on our way to the airport. I thought that maybe, just maybe once we’re at the airport everything will be smooth sailing BUT to my dismay it was NOT.

We arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 4 (formerly known as Domestic Airport) an hour and a half before our expected time of departure. Enough time for us to check in for our flight, pay the Philippine travel tax and most importantly clear the Philippine Immigration. Let me tell you the tale of how hard Filipinos can take a vacation abroad. LOL.

My sister and I together with our friend, Anne approached the Philippine Immigration with all smiles. We went to different immigration personnel so I was quite worried about my sister since this was her first time to go out of the country. I just reminded her to answer truthfully and in a respectful manner. We were interviewed with the usual questions. Where are you going? What will you do there? How long are you planning to stay there? And the likes. Our friend cleared the immigration without much of explaining to do but never did I imagine that my sister and I will be detained for further questioning by another Philippine Immigration officer in a separate room. As far as I can remember, we have complete documentations to guarantee that we will be returning to the Philippines and not become some illegal alien on the country of our destination. We have a reserved accommodation in Kuala Lumpur, proof that I can shoulder my sister’s expenses for the duration of the trip, a return ticket back to the Philippines and other necessary documents.

Tra-Abel’s Top Things to Do at Ilocos Sur

Ilocos Sur is home to the recently named "New7Wonders Cities of the World" - Vigan City. That's enough reason for me to visit the province. A little surprise during my trip was the celebration of Vigan of its Longganisa Festival, which made my visit there more colorful! So without further ado, here are the Top Things to Do that I recommend to everyone planning to go to Ilocos Sur, Philippines!  

Immerse in Philippine History while walking around Calle Crisologo

Entrance Fee: Free

Tour Guide Fee:Not Required

Address:Crisologo St., Mestizo District, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

Personal Rating: «««««

The biggest selling point of Ilocos Sur tourism is its heritage village with its center located at Calle Crisologo. It is a cobble-stoned street, lined with Spanish Era ancestral houses (with ancient tile roofs, massive hardwood floorings, balustrades and azoteas in varying Spanish, Mexican, and Chinese architectural styles), which led to Vigan's inscription in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Tra-Abel’s Top 10 Things to Do at Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte has always been part of my family’s list of places to go. We occasionally visit our relatives in Pasuquin and on top of that, some of the seminars and conventions I attended were held in Ilocos (Batac and Paoay). But that was 10 years ago. So when my high school friends came up with an idea to visit Ilocos Region in 2014, I immediately agreed.

Ilocos Norte is a province on the northern most part of the Philippines. It is famous as a local tourist destination where you can find a variety of tourist spots that offers different travel experiences.

Here are Tra-Abel’s top 10 things to do in Ilocos Norte:

1. Trek to the Refreshing Kabigan Falls

Entrance Fee: 20 per head

Tour Guide Fee: 100/group

Address: Barangay Balaoi, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

Personal Rating: ««««¶

Kabigan Falls is an 87-feet tall waterfalls located in Pagudpod, Ilocos Norte. Having been to plenty of waterfalls in the Philippines, the main highlight is the scenery that greets every tourists on their way to the waterfalls. One has to cross a small river (or is it a creek?), walk along the side of green rice fields and trek through a lush virgin rainforest. Another exciting thing about the trek are the FOOD stalls selling varieties of local delicacies such as tupig, empanada, kakanin and other mouthwatering merienda. The food stalls are situated 500 meters apart, in such a way that they serve as a pit stop to catch your breath and replenish your energy. 

Tra-Abel Guide to Ilocos Region

Ilocos is located on the most northwestern part of the Philippines. Plenty of tourists visit this region to learn and reminisce the rich history the place offers, home to the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site - Vigan City, which boasts of Spanish-era mansions, the kalesa and cobblestone Crisologo Street. 

In addition to these historical treats, you can also find a century old lighthouse at Burgos and a century old baroque church at Paoay. 

Also, if one ventures beyond, Ilocos is home to stunning white sand beaches, enchanting caves and waterfalls, and exceptional rock formations. If these are not enough reasons for you to pack your bags and head to Ilocos now, then maybe the following reasons can make you. Ilocos is also where you can find the scenic Bangui windmills, the first in Southeast Asia, or surf the perfect waves of Pagudpud and partake into the adrenaline inducing adventures offered at Paoay sand dunes.

Palaui Island Trip Day 2: Island Hopping Tour

My sister and I woke up early the next day to attend the INC Sunday morning worship service. After the service, we texted our boatman and hired a trike to San Vicente Port, where we will meet them. At the port, Manong Peralta was already waiting for us and we were introduced to our guide and boatmen for the Palaui Island Tour.

The first stop for our Palaui Island Tour was at Engano Cove.

The rocky part of the alluring Cape Engano Cove!

It was the starting point for the short hike to Cape Engano Lighthouse. Upon arriving at the cove, we were directed to a booth where we were required to hire a guide worth Php300.00. One guide is only good for 4 tourists. Much as I want not to hire a guide since the lighthouse is already visible from where we were standing. We decided against it because on a second thought, the guide fee will help the locals especially those whose only source of income is the budding tourism of the island.

The Batanes-esque feel of Palaui Island! 

Palaui Island Trip Day 1: Tra-Abel En Route - The Unplanned Trip

Palaui here I come!

Having been to many places around the Philippines and some to its neighboring countries, it was only in 2013 that I became aware of the beautiful and exotic Island of Palaui at Cagayan Valley (Region 2). Coming from the province of Quirino which shares the same region with Cagayan, Palaui is just a stone throw away. So when the opportunity came to travel to Palaui, I immediately boarded a bus to Tuguegarao City. Coming along with me to experience the beauty of this little island is my sister, who did not bother filing a leave from work. LOL.

The trip from Echague (located in Isabela Province where my grandparents live) to Tuguegarao City took around 3-4 hours. We arrived at the city around noon, where we withdrew cash to cover our expenses for the whole trip as there are no or limited ATMs at Santa Ana/Palaui.

After getting lunch and some rest, we hired a trike to get to the terminal where Santa Ana bound Van can be found. The first trip from Tuguegarao City to Santa leaves at 5:00 AM and the last trip leaves at 4:00 PM. The fare is around Php 200.00 and the travel time is around 3 to 4 hours.

We arrived at Santa Ana Poblacion around 5:00 PM. Santa Ana is a small town in Cagayan where both fishing and farming is the main source of income. The recent feature of Palaui Island in the two (2) seasons of Survivor (a television show) added tourism as another source of income for its people. So we were quite happy to help the community with our trip there. 

Tra-Abel Guide to Palaui Island, Cagayan

Cape Engano Lighthouse!

Palaui Island is located on the most northeastern tip of the Philippines in the province of Cagayan, where the last kilometer marker (642 km) up north of Luzon can be found. It is a small exotic island with a rich flora and fauna, home to the historic Cape Engano Lighthouse and surrounded by stunning and beautiful beaches and islets such as Anguib, Nangaramoan, Punta Verde, Crocodile Island and Dos Hermanas.

How to Get There

By Land

You can catch any bus from Manila bound to Cagayan (Tuguegarao City). There are a number of them both regular and air-conditioned. Here’s a list of the buses going to Cagayan Valley:

1. Victory Liner (From Pasay, Sampaloc and Cubao/Kamias Terminals)

2. GV Florida (From Sampaloc and Cubao Terminals)

3.  Five Star (From Cubao and Pasay Terminals)

4. Other buses with route Manila to Cagayan Valley: Auto Bus, Ballesteros Bus, Dagupan Bus (Most of the buses bound to Cagayan Valley can be found around Sampaloc and Cubao area)

From Tuguegarao City take a Van to Santa Ana Market/Poblacion. Approximate travel time is 2.5 to 4 hours. In Santa Ana Poblacion, you can opt to stay overnight in one of the budget hotels around the area or you can go directly to San Vicente Port by taking a tricycle. From the port area, you can hire a boat (see rates below) to Punta Verde or Anguib Beach where you can spend the night. This will actually depend on the time of your arrival at Santa Ana. For the tips on where to stay at Santa Ana, Punta Verde and Anguib please refer to the accommodations section of this post.

The uninhabited shorelines of Punta Verder in Palaui Island

Tra-Abel Cambodia Trip: Pub Street and Night Market

I arrived at Cambodia late in the afternoon, so my first day in Siem Reap was spent checking in my hotel and checking out the town. During my 4 days 3 nights stay at Cambodia, I stayed at Mandalay Inn. It was an old budget hotel located in Psar Chaa Area near the Pub Street and Night Market where all the fun is.

After depositing my things at the hotel, I immediately went out to walk around the area and look for a place to eat dinner (this is my usual routine whenever I get to a new place). Some few turns and blocks away, I found myself in Pub Street and Night Market. 

It was a comprehensive collection of stalls and stores selling everything from handicrafts to gadgets, from fresh produce to authentic Khmer cuisines and other things a traveler needs. I made some few notes and memorized store names on which I would be going back to on my last day at Siem Reap to buy souvenir items.

Tra-Abel Cambodia Trip Day 3: Temple Hopping at Angkor Wat - Inner/Small Circuit

“Excuse me! Can you please take a picture of me with the temple as the view?” politely asked by a stranger near me. I looked at her direction, instantly smiled and gladly took a picture of her. I was having second thought to ask her if she is a Filipino since her looks are more of the East Asian descent. But I gave it a shot, “Are you a Filipino?”

And that’s how our friendship started. In a far away land, where I know no one, never did I imagine that I would meet someone who I can share stories and go on a tour sharing beautiful travel experiences with each other.

It was my third day in Siem Reap when I decided to avail of the Tuktuk services of Mandalay Inn. The tuktuk driver whom I talked to during my first day at Siem Reap and paid US$10 in advance left me waiting in vain. It was a long story and I’m not even sure if I want to remember what happened during that time. Anyways, the supposedly 5:30AM start of my tour became 7:30 AM. Left with no choice but to hire a tuktuk from Mandalay Inn for US$12, which turned out to be a better alternative, I began my tour of Angkor Wat Inner Circuit. The US$ 12 tuktuk rental service includes unlimited supply of cold water (a necessity when visiting the temples at Angkor) and driver cum tourist guide.

Tra-abel Cambodia Trip Day 2: Temple Hopping at Angkor Wat - Outer/Grand Circuit

A beautiful view from Neak Poan

On my second day at Siem Reap, I purchased a US$12 tour ticket from Mandalay Inn and Tour. The tour agency is located in the premises of Mandalay Inn, where I was staying. The ticket is for a van tour on the Outer/Grand Circuit of Angkor Wat Archeological Park or those temples far from the main Angkor Wat. The tour includes an English speaking guide, unlimited supply of ice cold bottled water and of course a comfortable ride in a 16-seater air conditioned van.

As indicated in my receipt, the tour starts at 7:00 AM, so I woke up early and had a simple breakfast of chicken noodle soup which I ordered at Mandalay Inn. At exactly the agreed time, the van picked me up and I was welcomed by a Cambodian national inside the van. I was expecting a jam packed van so I was really surprised to only see the tourist guide inside and a middle aged Chinese tourist girl. I introduced myself to the group and told our guide that I still don’t have a visitor’s pass. He then assured me that we will get one later after picking up the rest of the group. Minutes later, we were joined by 2 Japanese girls, same age as mine. Unlike my short conversation with the Chinese girl, I instantly became friends with the Japanese girls not just because we’re of the same age but because they have been to the Philippines, specifically Cebu, where they studied for English.

A group picture before the tour ends!

Moments later, the van stopped at the ticket counter, where I bought my pass for US$40 good for 3 days. The process in buying ticket was simple and fast. After paying for your desired number of days to visit Angkor Wat, your picture will be taken and a visitor’s pass will then be issued to you with your picture on it.

Chasing Sunset at Phnom Krom Hilltop Temple

After a whole day tour of the outer circuit of Angkor Wat, I still have enough energy for a Cambodian sunset adventure. The famous locations for sunset viewing are Pre Rup and Angkor Wat. Since I just got back from Pre Rup, I decided to go to Angkor Wat to experience the sunset on this side of the planet. I hired a tuktuk to take me to Angkor Wat who is willing to wait for me and bring be back after dark or after the sun has completely set. We were a few meters away from the temple when I noticed the massive crowd in front of the temple. The driver told me that this was normal and he suggested if I want to try another site. At first, I was hesitant since I was alone and I don’t normally trust strangers (that’s what my mom taught me LOL). But without much of a choice, rather than squeezing my way through the crowd, I just agreed to the recommendation given by the tuktuk driver.

So off we went to this unheard name of the temple at the top of the hill. We drove past the pub street and night market, along the green rice fields until we reached the foot of a hill where a stairway can be found. It took us around 20 minutes and around 10 kilometers to get there. I was a little worried when we got there, since there were no traces of tourists in the area but mostly locals. The place reminded me of a secluded sitio or barangay in one of the remote provinces in the Philippines. The driver then told me to climb the stairway and follow the path to the hilltop where the temple is located.

Tra-Abel Guide to Siem Reap, Cambodia

Cambodia, officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia and once known as the Khmer Empire, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest. (Source: Wikipedia)

The major tourist hub of Cambodia is Siem Reap while its capital is at Phnom Penh. The original plan for my 11 days backpacking tour around Southeast Asia was to spend 2 days at Siem Reap and 1 day at Phnom Phen before going to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Unfortunately due to time constraints and other factors, I decided to just spend 4 days and 3 nights at Siem Reap and go back to Bangkok,Thailand (Click here for a complete guide).

Night Food Trip in Chinatown, Hua Lamphong

Chinatown is a famous location for a walk tour! Aside from the mouthwatering dimsums and Chinese cuisine there are lots of things to do there!

How to get there:

The easiest way to get to Chinatown is to take the MRT to Hua Lamphong Station - the last station for MRT from Bang Sue. Alternatively you can take bus number 113 or 99 from Siam Area, MBK and Pratunam. You can also try the Chao Phraya Express boat (stop at Ratchawong Pier and walk to Sampeng Lane or Yaowarat Road). Or If you are coming from other city, the train will be the perfect way to get to Chinatown (Stop at Hua Lamphong Train Station and cross the bridge to reach Chinatown). If all else fail, take a Taxi, or Tuk-Tuk, but do some calculation first and make sure to agree with a fixed price first, before boarding the tuktuk.

My trip to Chinatown happened on my 3rd night at Bangkok. I fetch my friend Ate Nika from her hotel near BTS Nana Station before going to Chinatown. I accidentally found her check-in status at facebook and offered to meet her for dinner. She’s with Agoda and currently attending seminar training from Agoda Head Office at Bangkok. 

Ayutthaya: The Ancient City

Ayutthaya, full name Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya is the fabled city as well as the fallen city located 85 kilometers north of Bangkok. Ayutthaya is the ancient city of Siam before re-establishing their center at present-day Bangkok after they have fallen from the war with the Burmese. This city is rich in Thai history with beautiful and equally stunning temples!

Ayutthaya Day Tour!

Tour Fee:                   750 Baht (600 Baht for Ayutthaya + 150 Baht for Bang Pa-In)

Duration:                    Full Day Tour

Attraction & Sites:      Wat Phu Khao Thong, Wat Lokaya Suttha, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Yai Chai Mongkol, Wat Mahathat and Bang Pa-In Summer Palace.

Interesting Fact: Throughout the centuries, Ayutthaya is the trading capital of Asia and even the world. By 1700 Ayutthaya had become the largest city in the world with a total of 1 million inhabitants. Many international merchants set sail for Ayutthaya, from diverse regions as the Arab world, China, India, Japan, Portugal, the Netherlands and France. Merchants from Europe proclaimed Ayutthaya as the finest city they had ever seen. All this came to a quick end when the Burmese invaded Ayutthaya in 1767 and almost completely burnt the city down to the ground. The great cultural value of Ayutthaya’s ruins was officially recognized in 1991, when the Historic City became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Wikipedia, 2014)

Meeting New Friends

At 7:00 o’clock in the morning, the van for the Ayutthaya Day Tour picked me up at my reserved accommodation at NapPark Hostel. There were 10 other tourist in the van with me, plus the guide and the driver. We were headed to Ayutthaya and the guide told us that the trip takes about 1 hour. Since I slept early last night, I just decided to watch You Who Came from the Stars & Running Man from my phone (both are Korean Shows). Little did I know that the couple seated behind me is Korean.

Sunset at Wat Arun, The Temple of Dawn

Located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River just a ferry ride across Wat Pho and the Grand Palace is Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn. It is named after the Indian god of dawn, Aruna.

Important Facts:

Entrance Fee: 50 Baht

Open everyday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

How to get there:

From Wat Pho you can get to Wat Arun through the Chao Phraya Cross River Ferry that can be found at N. Pier 8 or the Tha Tien Pier Station.

The cost of riding the cross river ferry from Wat Pho  to Wat Arun is three (3) Baht per person. Since I was feeling tired from the tour of Grand Palace and Wat Pho, I decided to sit first at the café near the temple. They serve pastries and coffee. I ordered a grande size Iced Caramel Macchiato as it is still hot even if the sun is about to set. After resting for about 30 minutes, I started my tour of Wat Arun. Firstly, I visited the surrounding areas of the temple.

Interesting Fact: Wat Arun is a Khmer-style temple with four prangs (also known as prasat) and one larger one in the middle. This layout is a representation of the five sacred mountains which were home to the gods according to Khmer, Hindu and Buddhist cosmology. The central prang represents Mount Meru, the center of the universe. When the heights of the central prang was extended, Rama III ordered that colourful ceramics and porcelain should be used to form elaborate motifs and designs. This unusual design feature makes the prangs shimmer and shine in the sunlight and give the temple a unique appeal that has to be seen close up to be fully appreciated.

Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)

The Reclining Buddha of Wat Pho!

The oldest and largest temple in Bangkok, it houses the country’s largest reclining Buddha, and it has the biggest collection of Buddha images in the country. Wat Pho is also the national headquarters for the teaching and preservation of traditional Thai medicine, including Thai massage.

Wat Pho!

Important Facts:

Entrance Fee: 100 Baht

Open everyday from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM

How to get there:

If you're coming from the Grand Palace, Wat Pho is just 5 to 10 minutes walk. It is near N. Pier 8 or the Tha Tien Station. You can ride a tuktuk from the Grand Palace to Wat Pho but beware cause you might find yourself in a different temple. Haha.

My tour of Wat Phra Kaew and Grand Palace ended at noon, in time for lunch. I went to Ta Chang Pier to look for cheap eatery where I can escape from the hot weather and to pacify my growling stomach. Since I love watching Running Man (Korean Action-Comedy Sunday Variety Show), I went to the eatery featured in one of their episode shot at Bangkok and was satisfied with what I ordered.

Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace

On the 7^th day of my backpacking trip, I decided to visit the famous temples at Bangkok. My first stop was the Grand Palace which share grounds with the Temple of the Emerald Buddha or locally called as Wat Phra Kaew.

Important Facts:

Entrance Fee: 400 Baht

Open every day except during special occasions

How to get there:

The most comfortable as well as the cheapest way to get there is through the Chao Phraya River Express. Get off at N. Pier 10 (Ta Chang) and walk to the gate of Grand Palace where Wat Phra Kaew is located.

From Ta Chang Pier, the gate of Grand Palace is just a hundred or so meters away. You can immediately spot the entrance. You just have to look for the busiest and most crowded area/wall/fence of the grand palace. The gate is named Viseschaisri Gate, that’s according to the pamphlet of grand palace given upon purchasing the ticket.

Tra-Abel Guide on Getting Around Bangkok, Thailand

Finding Your Way From Suvarnabhumi Airport to Khao San Road

I arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport with little knowledge about the transportation system of Bangkok. Based from the information I gathered from reading different travel blogs and sites, I only had a rough imagination of how I can get to my reserved accommodation near Khao San Road and it goes this way: Airport Rail Link-BTS Sukhumvit Line-BTS Silom Line-Chao Phraya River Express.

Just follow the signs and don't be afraid to ask and ask more!

Finding the Airport Rail Link was easy, there are signboards everywhere leading you to it. It was located two floors down from the arrival floor. Near the entrance of the rail link, there was a Kasikorn Money Changer which rate was a little bit higher than those located elsewhere in the airport (for the complete guide on money changers at Bangkok, click here)

The airport rail link looks deserted early in the morning, but don’t worry because there are guards and personnel roving around the station. I bought a ticket from Airport to Phaya Thai, the trip was really fast and stress free. The BTS Sukhumvit Line was a few walk away from the Phaya Thai Station of Airport Rail Link. I bought a ticket at a vending machine located at the entrance of BTS Phaya Thai Station. I rode the BTS Sukhumvit Line from Phaya Thai Station to Siam. There is an interchange at this station from BTS Sukhumvit line to  BTS Silom Line. From the Siam Station of BTS Silom Line, I bought a ticket to Saphan Taksin Station where the Chao Phraya River Express is located. Using the Chao Phraya River Express, I bought a ticket for the Tourist Boat going to N13 or Phra Arthit Pier where Khao San Area is just a walking distance.

If ever you find yourself lost, don’t hesitate to ask questions. The BTS personnel were really helpful as well as those personnel of Chao Phrya River Express.

Getting around

Bangkok, Thailand is notorious for its traffic especially during rush hours, but fear not because there are different modes of transportation available that can help you get around and visit popular tourist sites in Bangkok without getting stuck in middle of the traffic. 

Tra-Abel Guide to Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand officially the Kingdom of Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is a country located at the center of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Burma. (Source: Wikipedia)

Like any other wanderer, Thailand is my country of choice to start a solo backpacking trip for my Tra-Abel adventures. Based on lonely planet and other trusted travel sites, Thailand is one of the most backpacking friendly countries in the world. So after a month of planning, I found myself mingling with other backpackers there in Bangkok, Thailand. Read my entry on First Time Solo Wandering in a Foreign Land here.

Although my 11 days backpacking trip to Thailand and Cambodia was not enough to really experience what these countries has to offer, the time I spent there was really a time well spent.   

Let me share with you the adventures and misadventures I had when I was in Bangkok, Thailand.

Getting Around

Bangkok, Thailand is notorious for its traffic especially during rush hours, but fear not because there are different modes of transportation available that can help you get around and visit popular tourist sites in Bangkok without getting stuck in middle of the traffic. You can ride a boat, the train (BTS/MRT), taxi, bus or tuktuk! It's your choice! Read the full entry on getting around Bangkok here.

Activities and Tour

You will never be bored! There are lots of activities to do and sights to see at Bangkok. You can also try the organized tours offered by the different agencies to various tourist sites outside Bangkok! Here are some of the places I went to when I was in Bangkok, click on the picture to learn more about them.

Tra-Abel En Route: First Time Solo Wandering in a Foreign Land

Angkor Wat with Mr. What?

Early morning of February 11, 2014, I was at NAIA Terminal 3 preparing for my departure to Thailand. I was in front of this Miss Minchin (in Sara: A Little Princess) looking immigration personnel. She looks so strict with matching tight lips and eyebrows stretching as high as it can go (Ang iyong kilay na mapagmataas at laging namimintas!). I gave her my passport and she asked me the following questions:

Her:      Is this your first time to go out of the country?

Me:       Nope, this is my third time. It just so happen that I have renewed my passport recently.

Her:      Do you have your old passport with you?

Me:       [I handed her my old passport, I was lucky to have brought it with me]

Her:      What is your work? And how much do you earn?

Me:       Senior Internal Auditor, Php(!@#$%) monthly

Her:      Why are you travelling alone?

Me:       [I just smiled at her (but at the back of mind, I wanted to tell her “I was also asking myself the same                    question”)]

Her:      Why are you alone?

Me:       [I smiled at her again (I was about to sarcastically tell her “why don’t you come with me, so that I won’t                be alone. LOL”)] Hmmmm... I just want to try it.

Her:      [Stamped my passport and gave it back to me]

Me:       [Got my passport and left her without saying thank you]