The Cube

Philippine Airlines offered the cheapest flight with maximum transits (read: 2) I can deal with for the date that I need arrived at my destination. It was supposed to be a 1 hour 20 minutes transit between flight 1 and flight 2 but my first flight from Melbourne to Manila was postponed for 2 hours. With this change, I would not be able make it to my second flight. I didn't want to delay my arrival timing at our final destination so I requested to fly a day earlier. This resulted in this overnight layover in Manila. 

I decided to stay near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Most accommodations are located opposite T3. I booked a night at Savoy Hotel Manila near Airport NAIA Terminal 3 MNL. 

My flights in and out were at T1 and there terminals are not within walking distance. Most information I found online mentioned to book a rideshare (Grab) to get around the airport terminals. I wasn't in any rush with this new transit time and decided to ask if I could take the free inter-terminal shuttle. There were comments online that mentioned one can only take the bus if you have a boarding pass to your next flight. I was asked the timing of my flight. I was allowed to get on the board when I told them that my flight was scheduled the next day and I didn't have a boarding pass for my next flight yet. 

The shuttle runs every 15 minutes and went from T1 to T2 to T3. Interestingly, on my return route the next day from T3 to T1, it went T3 to T2 to T1. Both times had a short wait at T2, around 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the driver. 

Intramuros Old Town where Intramuros means "within the walls" is Manila City's historic walled district. Established by Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legaspi in 1571. It became the Spanish's political and military stronghold in Asia. Top attractions in Intramuros old town include Fort Santiago, San Augustin Church and the Manila Cathedral. San Agustin Church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

I've only covereed a few places there, unfortunately due to its popularity, there were many persistent touts less pleasurable. 

One of the four Baroque churches of the Philippines. There was a wedding happenening in the church during my visit so I didn't go in. 

 

It was on the way on my walk to Roman Catholic Cathedral of Manila. 

The cathedral was initially built in 1581 and had previously damaged by typhoon, fire and earthquake. The 7th reconstruction of the cathedral was between 1954-1958. The center of the cross on the dome is a reference point of astronomical longitudes of the archipelago. 

Part of the cathedral was blocked off for a wedding but there was a small area that was accessible. 

This is the main fortress of Intramuros and established by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi on the site of the former wooden fort of Rajah Soliman, 1571. It was burned during the sieged by Lin Feng (Limahong), a Chinese pirate and reconstructed with local volcanic tuff. It was also the citadel of the armies of four foreign powers - Spain, Great Britain, The United States and Empire of Japan. It was declared a National Shrine and a National Monument in 1951 and National Cultural Treasure in 2014. José Rizal, the Philippine national hero, was imprisoned here before his execution in 1896. It is the only attraction that I visited that has an entrance fee, PHP 50.

I had 3 meals in Manila and wanted to have Jolibee as brunch before I departed. I thought there was a shop after security check but turned out that the outlet was before immigration/security check. So no Jolibee for me. 

Traditionally sisig composed of pork jowl and ears, pork belly, liver, onions, chilli pepper and calamansi. To be fair I do not know if this is a true sisig. I know it contains pork but I am not sure if the ingredients include the other parts as well. I was hungry by the time I left the hotel for Intramuros and walked-in to a random shop along my walk to the LRT station. This came to rice and they also brought me a bowl of sinigang (sour and savoury broth).

 

Appears that this is a popular Filipino breakfast dish but I had it for dinner. I had to walk through a long night market from the LRT station back to the hotel and did my takeaway from one of the stalls. Bangsilong is made out of bangus (milkfish), sinangag (garlic fried rice) and itlog (fried egg), served with vinegar dipping sauce. 

It was tasty but I find the garlic fried rice taste a little unexpected as it was fried with margarine.  

A grilled chicken dish which I had in the airport so probably not the best version available, unfortunately but luckily still tasted ok. 

We made it to Egypt. As for Oman, I found out that Oman Air had a good price with free layover options. However, the payment didn't go through when I tried to make a purchase and after a couple of attempts, the flight price went up so much that I coudn't bring myself up to continue with it. By that time, I was too invested in visiting Oman so I flew from Cairo to Muscat before heading back to Melbourne. 

 

Day 8 - Lhasa via Kambala Pass (4794 m) to Yamdrok-tso. 

Stopped by Karo La Glacier and continued to Gyantse Old Town to visit Tibet’s most famous stupa Gyantse Kumpum in Pelkor Chode Monastery. 

Day 9 - Gyatse to Shigatse to visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, which houses the world's largest statue of Maitreya Buddha. Then continued to Sakya.

Day 10 - Morning visit to Sakya Monastery. Then continued to Saga. 

Day 11 - Road trip from Saga to Darchen along stunning view of the Saga valley between Gangdise Range and Himalaya Range.

Day 12 - Eco-bus to Tarboche (Yama Dwara) for about 7 km, then to the bottom of Qugu monastery. Hike up to monastery for a visit. 

Day 13 - Tirthapuri Monastery and hot spring, Bonpo Gompa (Gurgyam Monastery), Khyunglung, and earth forest along the way to Zanda.

Day 14 - Ancient ruins in western Tibet, from vast soil forests on the Ngari Plateau to Ruins of Guge Kingdom, Tholing Monastery.

Day 15 - Morning explore the Donggar and Piyang Caves, the world's largest Buddhist cave complex. 

Day 16 - Morning visit Lake Manasarovar and Chiu Monastery before back to Saga. 

Day 17 - Eco bus to EBC and Rongbuk monastery, sunset at EBC.

Day 18 - Sunrise at EBC. Back to Shigatse via Pelku-tso, Gawu la pass and Gyatso-la pass. 

Day 19 - Back to Lhasa for flight out to Chengdu. 

Day 20 - Chengdu - Huanglong - Jiuzhaigou

Day 21 - Jiuzhaigou

Day 22 - Jiuzhaigou - Chengdu - Chongqing

Day 23 - Chongqing

Day 24 - Chengdu

Day 25 - Arrival in Melbourne

The plan was to go to Langzhong but all the train tickets were snapped out within minutes. We improvised and went to Chongqing instead. As we travelled from Jiuzhaigou, it needed a change of train at Chengdu. On hindsight, maybe it was a good idea not to carry all our luggage as it was a little hectic to navigate an unfamiliar train station with so many people in limited timeframe. 

We arrived in Chongqing around noon time and left the next day passed 3 pm. On arrival in Chongqing, we had lunch at Rongliji in the shopping center next Shapingba station.

We stayed in Jiefangbei and walked everywhere except to and fro train station on arrival and departure. We are not as efficient as those Instagram influencers, we didn't do that many things in a day. 

The hotel was at many storeys high. After checking in and taking a short respite from the hot weather, we went out. 

Jiefangbei is the CBD and located in the center of downtown Chongqing, In the center of this huge pedestrian area of Jiefangbei is the People's Liberation Monument. We stayed in Jiefangbei so naturally we crossed or passed this area many times.  

Over the other side but nearby is this cat wall. 

And further down the road is this chopstick building, i.e. Chongqing Art Museum. We walked passed again later at night. 

 

We had an early-ish hotpot dinner to avoid long queue. We went to Chun Hong Hot Pot (Hongyadong Branch). There was a online queueing system but didn't work for us so the staff gave us a paper number ticket. We selected the ingredients and broth base that we wanted while waiting. Yes, I was well again and in time to have mala hotpot. 

And another turn to get to hotpot place. 

We were not so brave, so we didn't order the 9 grid hotpot. We got the usual yin yang pot with mala and mushroom stock. 

Cold desserts to extinguish spiciness. 

After dinner, more walks to aid with digestion. Crossing the Qiansimen Bridge to see Hongyadong. 

We walked back on the other side... and here's a picture to show you how crowded it was. My feet were stepped on many times even though it was less people when we first crossed. 

The only paid entrance we went to was the Luohan Temple. The Luohan (Arhat) Temple was initially built in the Zhiping period of the Northern Song Dynasty around 1064-1067. The original name was Zhiping Temple. The temple was remodelled in 1752. In a 1885 year rebuilt, the temple was renamed to Luohan Temple. It was restored in 1945 after the second world war. 

Lunch was at a Chongqing street noodles shop on the walk back to the hotel. We read that wan za mian is popular and wanted to try. I'm not too keen over the mushy yellow peas toppings. As for wontons or dumplings, all variations we had were good.