Kanazawa Travel Guide

Kanazawa was not on my radar when I booked this trip to Japan, I originally intended to go to Takayama after my stay in Tokyo  and neighboring places like Kamakura, Nikko and Mt. Fuji. I learned about this place when I was researching for budget passes and thought to myself that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to see one of Japan’s renowned garden. However after exploring Kanazawa, I think this city has so much more to offer and is surely worth a visit.

My new found peace at Beijing’s Summer Palace

Spending summer at Beijing was just really exhausting, the humidity and the lack of trees to give you shade from the scorching heat was enough to make me feel beat all day. After going around The Forbidden City, I just found out the best place to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon – The Summer Palace.

My welcoming view at The Summer Palace

Weekend visit at the crowded Tiananmen and Forbidden City in Beijing

Aside from the Great Wall, Tiananmen and Forbidden City is one of China's crowning glory, these places are what everyone would think about when thinking about traveling to this country. I made it a point to be able to visit these two spots before I leave for Manila. I couldn't remember why I set to go there on a Saturday and this is something I regret not giving much thought about. Truly, China is a home to one billion of residents, and competing with them on such a popular site in Beijing proved to be my fatal mistake. It is said that these places even reach 80,000 visitors a day during peak times. Define crowded.

Summer heat and swarming in with hundreds of people, one of the "must experience" at The Forbidden City of Beijing

One cold night at N Seoul Tower – Day 15 in South Korea

After a tiring walkathon around Ewha U and Myeongdong, we decided to visit N Seoul tower which was also just around the area. I just realized why most of Koreans are wearing rubber shoes all the time. Them Koreans just love walkin'! I was wearing flat boots throughout the day but foot blisters can't be helped. I feel sad for women who are wearing heels walking on Seoul's sloped and inclined roads (for Filipinos, tiis-ganda lang! lol).

A view of Sunset in Seoul

Window Shopping at Myeongdong and Ewha university – Day 15 in South Korea

It is said that the cheapest places to go shopping in Korea are the area nearby the universities as the items are catered to a student's budget. Thus for our third day, we decided to visit one of Seoul's most prestigious university which is not only famous for its quality education, but also as a shopping haven for women.

A look of Seoul's rapid trains

Changdeokgung and Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Village: Strolling around Seoul like royalty – Day 14 in South Korea

We were supposed to meet up with our host for lunch, but due to some miscommunication, it never happened on that day so we had lunch by ourselves on a restaurant near the dormitory. It was a sumptuous meal of Samgyupsal, which by now you should know that I absolutely love! The plan for the day was to visit the palaces around Seoul and we were fully energized thanks to our most loved Korean meat.

killing some time to wait this be cooked. yummmm!