Commuter's Guide:Maginhawa -Malingap St., Quezon City via LRT line 2 and Food Trip

Though I live near the area, Maginhawa St. is still foreign to me despite it being famous as to go to food place. (Yeah, I know, I can be a couch potato sometime or anti social..)

My friends have been there, My brother has been there, Now I can say that I have been there thanks to my good friend.

THE ITINERARY

Our Itinerary for this foodtrip supposedly was Gayuma ni Maria, PINO, Sancho's, Crazy Katzu and Moon Leaf . But since we only had a limited time, we were able to go to Gayuma ni Maria, PINO and above it, the PIPINO Restaurant (a vegetarian restaurant), Sancho and Chad Dao.

HOW TO GO TO MAGINHAWA ST. and MALINGAP ST.

From LRT 2 (Purple Line) Anonas Station, go down the station (your on the right side when after going down you pass by a supermarket and mercury drugstore) and enter St. Joseph (it is the church beside mercury)

Upon entering St. Joseph, on its right (facing the pastoral office) is a small corridor where you can pass through passing the pastoral office of St. Joseph Church, and a gate to the gym of st. Joseph School.

At the end of the corridor is a pool of jeepney. Ride the one going to SM Fairview or Litex. (Fare as of this writing Jan 2012 is PHP8.00) and tell the driver to drop off at V. Luna Extension (Land Mark: Rose Pharmacy, SM Savemore, Stoplight).

NOTE: You will know that you are already near V. Luna Extension when you pass by the street where in the middle there's a big tree and a statue. You will also pass by Jollibee.

The Jeepney driver will drop you off at Rose Pharmacy. Just walk across the street to where there is a line of tricycle waiting for passenger beside SM Savemore (supermarket across Rose Pharmacy).

Going to your choice of restaurant or food establishment, you could just ride a trike and tell the driver the restaurant name and the street name (like what we did when we went to PINO =)).

Source: Google Maps

FOOD HAVEN:

Gayuma ni Maria

From SM Savemore walk up to Gayuma ni Maria Passing 3M Pizza and Silong Spa. Gayuma ni Maria is beside Silong Spa.

PINO and PIPINO Restaurant

From Gayuma ni Maria Restaurant, take a tricycle going to Malingap St.

Note: it is infront of DonDay Restaurant (I've yet to try this korean buffet restaurant but I got alot of praise from my friends.. so I guess it's worth a try =))

     

    

Sancho

This is located at Maginhawa St. It is just a short walk from PINO and PIPINO Restaurant.

** wasn't able too take pictures too preoccupied chatting with my goodfriends =)

Cha Dao Tea Place

This is just four or five houses or establishment away from Sancho's.

A great place to end the Food Trip.

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Hope you guys will enjoy the food trip as much as I did. 

Good food + Good Company (courtesy of good friends) = Perfect Food Trip

“I am not a glutton - I am an explorer of food” 

― Erma Bombeck

“You can't just eat good food. You've got to talk about it too. And you've got to talk about it to somebody who understands that kind of food.” 
― Kurt Vonnegut, Jailbird

Oh My! Wulai on a rainy day!

When we went to this place, we didn't know what to expect.

It must be the rainy weather.

It must be the good samaritan who gave us a free raincoat and said “Welcome to Taiwan”.

It must be the delicious dumplings which we ate near Xiandian Station.

But whatever the reason...

Let the pictures guide you on how Wulai quietly charmed us.

Tourist Bridge 

Trivia #1: If your going to Wulai via Bus, This Bridge is your sign that you are already in Wulai because this is where the Bus will drop all its passengers and pick up passengers

Lansheng Bridge

From the Bus station we walked all the way up to the waterfall area and the Gondola Station passing by Lover's Trail.

Waterfalls

Service tram which could be used going to and from to the waterfall area

 Trivia #2: The service Tram above can be used to go up to the waterfall area and gondola station but in our case what we did was to walk up to the waterfall area and gondola station.

end station of the tram from Lansheng bridge-Wulai Tourism Service Wagons

                To use the tram going to the waterfall area and gondola station: From Lansheng bridge walk straight upto to the stairs which looks like it is tilted and the cafe's until you reach the Wulai Tourism Service Wagon

Gondola

Lucky for us on the way to Yuanxian Hotel we were the only passenger =)

Bird's Eyeview from the Gondola on the way to Yunxian Hotel

Wulai from above

delicacies are sold here

walking back to Linsheng Bridge coming from the Wulai Tourism Service Wagons

Trivia: Wulai is known for its hotspring but since we only have a few hours to spare we made use of the time we have.

Direction on how to go to Wulai via train:

STEP 1: From Taipei Main Station alight at Xiandian MRT

STEP 2: From the MRT Station ride a Xiandian Bus Taipei-Wulia Line Bus No. 849.

**going back. Just go to the bus station where you alighted and a bus heading to Xiandian will be there.

Should we have more time we would have loved to try Wulai's Hotspring =) Oh well, the more reason now that we have to go back. Hopefully the weather will cooperate this time. We would also love to see Wulai's cherry Blossom the next time. (*crossfingers)

Wulai

life is not about waiting for the storms to pass... It's about learning how to dance in the rain.

-Vivian Greene

Taiwan Visa: DIY guide for Philippine Passport Holders

Here's a DIY Guide in applying for Taiwan Visa

First, Know where the embassy is located
              Taiwan Embassy is located in Makati particularly
              41F Tower 1 RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, 
              1200, Makati City, Makati


Second, Know the filing and releasing time of your visa application
             TECO Visa application is in the morning and Visa Releasing is in the afternoon 
                       Filing: Monday to Friday 8:45 AM to 11:45 AM   
                       Releasing : Monday to Friday 1:45 PM to 4:45 PM  


Third, Secure all the required document before applying so that you will be able to save time and money from going to and from the embassy. 
               Note that all document submitted to TECO should be ORIGINAL and with
               ONE (1) PHOTOCOPY


Fourth, Ready your Government issued ID; You need a government issued ID in order to enter TECO such as SSS ID, TIN ID and Driver's license otherwise the receptionist in the lobby will not allow you to proceed to TECO


Fifth, After giving your government issued ID to the receptionist in the lobby who will ask you to sign something, take the elevator and go to the 41st Floor and get a number from the guard upon entering the embassy; wait for your number to appear from the LCD screen


Sixth, You may download the application form from TECO's website or get it from the embassy itself. 
    
Seventh, The Visa Fee if REGULAR is 2,400 and 3,600 if EXPEDITE


Eighth, Visa processing if regular takes 3 days while expedite is 1 day


Ninth, Aside from the application form here are the other things that you need when applying for a Visa as indicated in Taiwan Embassy's website:
 1. A duly filled up visa application form and indicating N/A if not applicable
 2. Two (2) passport size photos 1.5”x2” with white background (taken w/in the last three (3) months) 
3. Passport valid for at least six months and old passport showing previous travels 
4. Birth Certificate issued by NSO 5. Marriage Contract (if applicable) issued by NSO
6. Supporting documents related to the purpose of VISIT such as : 
            A. Confirmed round trip Air ticket or Booking Certificate 
            B. Certificate of Employment and Letter of permission to leave from the employer 
            C. Financial statements of the applicant such as: 
                         (1) Income Tax Return 
                        (2) Bank Book or Bank Statements 
            D. Etc. 
7. Traveling on BUSINESS, you must also submit:
                          A Business letter or trading records from Taiwan Company 
                          B. Certificate of Business Name Registration and SEC Registration（If owner of the company） 
                          C. Invitation Letter from Taiwan company / organization in Chinese letterhead that outlines clearly 
                               purpose of your visit and duration of your stay 
                          D. Official letters or request letters from concerned authorities for official trip 
                          E. Seminar program 
                          F. Certificate of Employment; Professional Identification; Company ID 
                         G. Other Supporting Documents if Required such as SSS contribution lists, Pay Slip etc.

and Lastly, If you are a student like me, you need  to submit a
          1. letter of guarantee from your parents or guardian
          2. certificate coming from your school that you are a student of that school and that you are enrolled indicating the subjects and units you are enrolled in.

***********************

Hope and pray that your visa will be approved like mine so that you'll also be able to see and experience the beauty of Taiwan. 

-Orange Diaries

PS Try rivertracing in Hualien. You'll love it =)

There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth…not going all the way, and not starting.
-Buddha