The Philippines: BARILI and Mantayupan Falls, Cebu Summer Fun

Cebu is an island in the Central Visayas.  It is dubbed as the "Queen City of the South", being in the southern part of the archipelago.  But why queen? Read for yourself...

Cebu Summer Fun Part 1:  Bantayan Island

Cebu Summer Fun Part 2:  Camotes Island

Cebu Summer Fun Part 3:  Tabuelan
Cebu Summer Fun Part 5: Moalboal

 

Barili is a town southwest of Cebu province. It boasts of Mantayupan Falls and a great view over the Tanon Strait (body of water between Cebu and Negros islands).  This is a worthy stop-over to a trip to Moalboal town.

 

Mantayupan Falls

How to get to Mantayupan Falls:

From Cebu City, travel south, passing through the towns of Talisay City, Naga, San Fernando then Carcar.  When you reach the Carcar rotunda, turn right southwest to Barili instead of going straight south.  The town is around 60kms from the city and is 1.5hours away.

Upon reaching Barili town, go straight ahead and watch out for a signboard going to Mantayupan falls, on the left side of the road.  Turning left, go straight less than a kilometer and you'll reach the entrance.  Entrance fee is P10.

Going the main falls, you'll pass by a foot bridge.

There's a picnic area within the vicinity but you can also bring your own tables and chairs.  See the group at the background of this next picture?

Kids enjoy a cold swim in the shallow part of the pool, be wary though, a few feet away towards the middle part, the water gets deeper.

A full view of the majestic falls...

If you start your trip as early as 6am, you get to Mantayupan Falls around 730am, have breakfast (bring your own provision though, no food sold there), have a short dip, take pictures and by 9am, you should be on your way to Moalboal town (remember at the start of this post, Mantayupan is just a stop-over?) and its beaches.

PHL: CEBU 2011 Sinulog Festival of Festivals

Cebu City in the Philippines celebrates the Feast of the Sto. Nino every third Sunday of January.  Preparations for this event are both religious and cultural.  Every year, the event gets bigger and better.  Foreign and local tourists look forward to this event which the local vocal and proud Cebuanos showcase. The cultural activities are collectively called SINULOG, a series of activities from as early as December leading up to the Grand Parade on the feastday itself.. this year, the feast falls on January 16.

2010 Festival Queen candidate

These are the activities for the Sinulog 2011, as shown in the official website.  Enjoy the revelry!

2010 Float Contingent

Sinulog 2011 Schedule of Activities (Fuente Osmena, January 2-31, 2011)
Dec 01 – Jan 31, 2011	Sinulog Street Fair, Osmeña Blvd.
December 11, 2010	Sinulog Poster Making Contest @ Emall
December 15, 2010	Sinulog Photo Exhibits @SM City
January 2-30, 2011	1st Sinulog Softball Cup
Janaury 2, 2011 (Sunday)	Sinulog Fun Run Sinulog Musicfest (Band Competition) Presentation of contestants and announcement of 6 finalists Sinulog Best Dance Crew announcement and presentation of 6 finalists
January 06, 2011 (Thursday)	Opening Salvo: Walk with Jesus
4:00 AM	Assembly Time (Area) Fuente Osmeña
4:30 AM	Start of Walk-Fuente Osmeña Blvd. – Basilica del Sto. Niño
5:30 AM	Installation of Hermano & Hermana Mayores 2011
January 07, 2011 (Friday)	Sinulog 2011 Kick Off
	Sinulog Photo Exhibits through the years @SM City Cebu, Ayala Center Cebu, MCIAA
2:00PM	Solemn Mass (Basilica del Sto. Niño)
3:00 PM	Launching Parade (Basilica del Sto. Niño to Cebu City Sports Center)
7:00 PM	Opening and Launching Program, Fuente Osmeña featuring Mandaue City Children’s Choir, Dancesports Team Cebu and Dance Troupes from Cebu’s schools and universities
7:30 PM	Ms. Cebu 2011 Presentation, Fuente Osmeña
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM	Streen Party Bands
January 8, 2011 (Saturday)	Sinulog sa Kabataan – Lalawigan
8:00 AM	1st Sinulog Football Cup at the USC Talamban Football Field
1:00 PM	Parade of Participants, Capitol Site to Cebu City Sports Center
2:00 PM	Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan, Cebu City Sports Center
4:30 PM	Awarding of Winners
6:30 PM	Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) DepEd, Cebu Province
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:30 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
January 9, 2011 (Sunday)	Sinulog sa Kabataan- Dakbayan
4:00 AM	Cebu City 2011 Marathon – www.cebumarathon.com
8:00 AM	1st Sinulog Football Cup at the USC Talamban Football Field
1:00 PM	Parade of Participants, Plaza Independencia to Cebu City Sports Center
2:00 PM	Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan, Cebu City Sports Center
4:30 PM	Awarding of Winners
6:30 PM	Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) University of San Carlos
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O, Street Party Bands
January 10, 2011 (Monday)
6:30 PM	Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) University of Cebu
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
January 11, 2011 (Tuesday)
6:30 PM	Cultural show (Fuente Osmeña) University of San Jose-Recoletos and Cebu Institute of Technology
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
January 12, 2011 (Wednesday)
9:00 AM	Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)
6:30 PM	Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña) University of Southern Philippines-Foundation and Salazar College of Science and Institute of Technology
7:00 PM	Ms. Cebu 2011 Coronation Night, Waterfront Lahug Hotel
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
January 13, 2011 (Thursday)
9:00 AM	Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)
10 AM – 3:00 PM	Photo Shoot Sinulog Festival Queen , SM City Entertainment Plaza
7:00 PM	Sinulog Festival Queen Parade of Costumes @ SM Northwing Lobby
6:30 PM	Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña) Cebu City Division
6:00 PM	Balik Cebu, Welcome Party @ Ayala Center Cebu
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
8:00 PM	Handumanan @ Ayala Terraces
9:00 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
January 14, 2011 (Friday)	Visual Merchandising Contest (Dept. Stores and Malls)
4:00 AM	Walk with Mary (Area) Fuente Osmeña-Sto. Niño
7:00 AM	Misa de Translacion (Motorcade)
9:00 AM	Solidarity Meeting (All Competing Contingent / Floats / Higante / Puppteers) @ Cebu City Sports Center Gym
6:30 PM	Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña) University of San Carlos
7:30 P.M	Cebu Popular Music Festival, Cebu Coliseum
7:30 P.M	Sinulog Festival Queen 2011, Cebu City Sports Center
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands
January 15, 2011 (Saturday)
6:00 AM	Fluvial Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño
8:00 AM	Vibration and Big Bike Rally by Vmax Owners Group
9:00 AM	Re-enactment of the Baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon Basilica del Sto. Niño
2:00 PM	Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño
7:00 PM	Sinulog Fireworks Competition @ SM City Cebu
7:00 PM	Street party @ Fuente Osmeña and Plaza Independencia
8:00 PM	Gala – Passionata a Cultural Heritage Celebration in Honor of Sto. Niño de Cebu @ SM Cinema I
8:00 PM	Kasadya Nite Mardi Gras @ Ayala Center Cebu
8:00 PM	Handumanan Concert, USP-F Theater for the Performing Arts
January 16, 2011 (Sunday)	SINULOG GRAND PARADE
4:00 AM	Mañanita Mass @Basilica del Sto. Niño
6:00 AM	Pontifical mass with His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal
9:00 AM	Sinulog Grand Parade Carousel Kick Off
7:00 PM	Grand Fireworks, Cebu City Sports Center
7:30 PM	Street Party Bands, Fuente Osmeña
January 17, 2011 (Monday)
1:00 PM	Awarding Ceremonies, Cebu City Sports Center
January 21, 2011 (Friday)	“HUBO”
4:00 AM	“HUBO Mass” Ritual @ Basilica del Sto. Niño
January 29, 2011 (Saturday)
1:00 P.M	Screening of Finaslists Short Film/Video Documentary Contest
6:00 P.M	Awarding Ceremonies Photo Contest and Video Documentary Contest @SM City Cebu 1st Sinulat Awards, Sinulog Literary Awards for Short Story Writing, Poetry, and Essay Writing @ SM City Cebu
January 31 – Feb. 10, 2011	Photo Exhibits “Winning Photos Sinulog ‘10 @SM City Cebu

For schedule of religious activities, click this.

PHL: CEBU 2011 Sinulog - Feast of Sto. Nino Religious Activities

The Feast of the Sto. Nino de Cebu is a tourist attraction by itself.  Tourists from all over the world flock to Cebu this time of the year.  The celebration of the feast is both religious and cultural.

The schedule of cultural activities is posted here.

What you will read in this blogpost is the schedule of religious activities, as posted in the Sto. Nino website.

2011 Theme:  "Witnesses of Hope, Reconciliation and Peace Through the Devotion to Santo Nino"

Sto Nino de Cebu

Novena Masses (daily)
Jan. 6-14  Scheduled one and a half hour apart:
                 530am, 7am, 830am, 10am, 1130am, 1pm,  230pm, 4pm, 530pm & 7pm

What's new?  After the last mass of any day of the novena, the traditional Sinulog dance by devotees are held in the Basilica; instead of the usual schedule during the Pontifical Mass of the Vesperas.  During this time, devotees dance their hearts out, some uttering their intentions, some lighting candles, or just dancing as if pleasing a child... really a touching sight!

Special Events
Jan. 6      430am - Foot Procession from Fuente Osmena to the Basilica
Jan 8       830am - Children's Mass 830am
Jan 14     430am - Walk with Mary from Fuente Osmena to the Basilica
                7am - Misa de Translacion (to be followed by motorcade of
                          Sto. Nino and Mother Mary to St. Joseph Parish in Mandaue City
               830pm - Re-enactment of the First Wedding

Jan 15     Vesperas
               7am - Mass for the OFW Families

               7am - FLUVIAL PROCESSION
                         Route: Ouano Wharf, Mactan Bridge, Lapu-Lapu, Pasil, Pier1
               930am - Re-enactment of the arrival of the image of Sto. Nino
               10am - Re-enactment of the First Mass & Baptism
               1pm - SOLEMN PROCESSION OF THE MIRACULOUS IMAGE

               6pm - Pontifical Mass (Vesperas)
               7pm - Traditional Sinulog dance by devotees

Jan 16     FEAST DAY
               4am - Mananita Mass
               6am - Pontifical Mass with Cebu archbishop
               Other masses: 830am, 10am, 1130am, 1pm, 230pm, 4pm, 530pm, 7pm
Jan 17     Thanksgiving Masses at 5am, 6am, 7am, 8am, 10am, 2pm, 4pm, 530pm
Jan 21     HUBO mass at 4am, followed by masses every hour from 6am - 7pm
(Source: www.basilicasantonino.org.ph)

For schedule of cultural activities, browse here.

AMAZING THAILAND: 13 in 5

Here are suggestions of 13 places to go/things to do in 5 days in Bangkok and Pattaya, Thailand! Amazing!!!

Affordable budget:  The whole 5 days would cost around a minimum of USD430 per person, for the following: 

Airfare USD45

Hotel accommodation w breakfast USD120

Tour package USD200.  (Entrance fees for the itinerary, except Ripleys, are covered by the tour package.)

Others USD65 (for meals not included in the tour package, entrance to Ripleys Believe It or Not & 3 massages!) .

For the pocket money and shopping budget, that's for you to decide!

Affordable fare from the Philippines.  Cebu Pacific Air offers promo seats for as low as USD45 from Clark or Manila.

Affordable place to stay:  Samran Place.  Conveniently located near shopping malls and at night, nearby food kiosks sprout PLUS very affordable massage parlor next door!  Perfect after a day's full tour!

Affordable meal:  The average price of a very decent and filling Bangkok meals should be about USD7 per pax.

Affordable tour:  It is advisable to get a tour because of the language barrier.  We got ours from Alex Holiday at USD200 per pax, very reasonable rate to include entrance fees (some with meals) and a very COMFY van to take us throughout our tour itinerary.  Ask for Pat as tour guide, she's very good.

Affordable way to go around:  Our group booked a tour, with service vehicle.  The locals there advised not to ride the tuktuk as most argue with tourists about the price.

Day 1:  Bangkok
1 Safari World (with lunch included in tour package)
2 Siam Niramit (with dinner included in tour package) - MUST SEE!

Day 2:  Bangkok & Pattaya
3 Grand Palace (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)
4 Wat Po (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
5 Wat Traimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha)

Pattaya
6 Sriracha Tiger Zoo & Crocodile Farm with AMAZING crocodile shows!
7 Ripleys Believe It or Not 
(sleeping in Pattaya)

Day 3:  Pattaya
8 Elephant Village, with elephant ride and snacks
9 Pattaya Gems Gallery, the world's biggest jewelry store
10 Nong Nooch Village (with shows on Muay Thai, Elephant shows, Performing arts)
(sleeping in Bangkok)

Day 4: Bangkok
11 DreamWorld Theme Park
12 Dinner cruise (with dinner of course!, included in the tour package)
13 MASSAGE all you want...because of the reasonable price, you can get your tired feet rejuvenated every night!

Day 5:  Bangkok
SHOPPING (cheap quality items, if you know where to look, and if you know how to haggle, even cheaper!)

Be amazed with what Thailand has to offer!

The PHILIPPINES: Pearl of the Orient Seas

The Philippines has 7,107 islands as of last count, but the islands are grouped into three main island groups: Luzon (north of the Philippines), Visayas (central Philippines) and Mindanao (south of the Philippines).  The capital is Manila, which is part of the Luzon island.  Being the capital city, most domestic and international flights are from and to Manila.

Luzon (dark orange), Visayas (light orange), & Mindanao (green)

 photo courtesy of http://www.topnews.in/files/philippines-map.jpg 

Read up on the beautiful sights the Philippines has to offer:
Bantayan Island, Cebu
Camotes Island, Cebu
Tabuelan, Cebu
Mantayupan Falls in Barili, Cebu
Moalboal, Cebu
Mt. Pinatubo and Pinatubo Spa Town in Tarlac
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
Paoay and Currimao, Ilocos Norte
Bacarra, Ilocos Norte and La Paz sand dunes
Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte
Burgos and Bangui, Ilocos Norte
Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Heritage City in Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Sinulog Fiesta in Cebu

The Philippines: LAOAG CITY, ILOCOS NORTE

About the Philippines.

A Glimpse of the North
In northern Luzon is ILOCOS Province, composed of two very prominent provinces: Ilocos Norte (meaning North Ilocos) and Ilocos Sur (meaning South Ilocos).


LAOAG CITY
Affordable flight:  Cebu Pacific Air's round trip promo fare (Manila-Laoag-Manila) is at a very reasonable $40 (one-way at $20!!!).  Since we are from Cebu City in the Visayas, we had to pay another round trip promo fare (Cebu-Manila-Cebu), also at $40.

Our trip took us first to Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.  Both Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air have daily flights to Laoag International Airport.  Our trip was at 9:35am and we arrived an hour and 10minutes after.

Welcome sign

Affordable hotel: JAVA Hotel
We stayed at Laoag City's JAVA Hotel.  It was not really the cheapest but it was value for money accommodation: very affordable and worth its price.  From the airport, we traveled on board the hotel's shuttle bus for 20minutes to the hotel.

This beautiful facade greets the hotel's guests

We were met by a very pleasant sight - there IS truth in the hotel's advertising "unique Balinese Moroccan atmosphere, exquisite Spanish design and warm Ilocano touch".  The hotel is all that, and more!

Equally picturesque back view of Java Hotel

Beautiful "Spanish tiles at the lobby and Balinese Moroccan atmosphere"

Antique furniture is all over the place

We arrived before lunch and while waiting for the lunch to be served at the hotel's restaurant "Eagle's Nest", we took photos of the place.  We then had sumptuous and filling lunch of grilled salmon, sizzling gambas, insarabasab (Ilocano's take on pork belly), and sauce called KBL (kamatis, bagoong & lesona).  Doesn't that make your mouth water and stomach grumble!
 

Grilled tuna, insarabasab and sizzling gambas

 The hotel is 5minutes away from the city.  To get to and from the city, one can ride on the hotel's "trike", for P10 per person.  It is such a unique experience.

Java Hotel's trike

We rested for a couple of hours after lunch.  At around 4pm, we went to Laoag City proper to hear mass and roam the city by foot.  We went to the Cathedral, sinking bell tower, museum and tobacco marker (Ilocos being the tobacco capital of the Philippines).

Cathedral of St. William

Sinking bell tower - before this bell tower sank, a man riding a horse can go through the entrance..

Laoag City Museum

Dinner was at Macy's, a 60's-themed American diner, serving Filipino food (see the sign at the front?)! Hmmm, what do you think about that?

The design was fairly accurate as an American diner but the food is Filipino

We went back to the hotel, happy and amused with what we've seen so far.  After a night swim at the hotel's pool, we retired early eager for the first day of our tour of Ilocos Norte.

Java Hotel's poolside

Up next, our first day tour: Ilocos Norte.

BEIJING CHINA: How much will a 5-day trip cost?

In this 2010 trip, here is the summary of our expenses.
 
EXPENSES PER PAX, in US$ (based on Oct2010 conversion rates):

1. Plane fare Cebu-Manila-Cebu - we got $35 on promo Phil AirLines (regular fare is around $70)

2. Plane fare Manila-Beijing-Manila - we got $110 on promo Cebu Pacific Air (regular fare is $280)

3. Accommodation (City Walls Courtyard House) - $75 for 3nights (US$50/night for a double bed private ensuite)

4. Shows (KungFu, Acrobatic, Opera) - $35 to $42 depending on the seat row (must see: Chaoyang Acrobatic show)

5. Other incidentals (including meals, travel tax in Manila, terminal fees in airports (Manila/Cebu), taxi rides in Manila/Cebu) - $100.  A very filling ala carte meal in Beijing good for 7 pax costs around $30, that's around $4 average cost of meal per pax...very reasonable!

Important tip:  There are no foreign exchange stalls around Beijing.  Money is changed ONLY at the banks.  So better load up on CNY (yuan) from home, if you don't want to waste your time waiting for your turn at the bank!

TOUR OPTIONS:

Standard inclusion in all tours are English-speaking guide, van, airport transfers, mineral water and entrances to tourist places.

Other factors that will affect the price of your tour are the ff:

• Factories or markets in the itinerary - we got one quote with $50 markdown IF we include at least 4 factories or markets in our itinerary
• Size of the Group - the more the cheaper.  If you browse tour agencies' offerings, discounts are really huge for big groups.
• Entrance - some tours provide only for first or main entrance fees in a tourist spot so if there are other sites or rides within that tourist destination with separate fees, one pays separately
• Accommodation - some tours offer accommodation  (i read somewhere that their hotel classification is different than standard cause they have up to 7-star rating in Beijing)
• Meals - full board means all meals are provided
• Great Wall - different fees for different sections of the Wall, so ask the tour operator which side you will be taken to
• Tombs - there are two Ming tombs open to tourists: Chang tomb and the underground Ding tomb; there is also an option to visit the Spirit Way  

TOUR PRICES:

1. Without accommodation and meals, group of 5 - we got quotes ranging from $111 to $200 depending on arrangements (see above factors).

2.  With accommodation and full board meals, group of 11 - range is around $160  

3.  With accommodation (Marriot Courtyard) and full board meals, 5D4N, group of 2, includes one show - range is around $395

4.  One travel agency in the Phils. offer package of 500USD for 5D 4N all in with airfare via HK EXpress of Hongkong Airlines, 4N hotel, Hongkong and Beijing Tours. 

Memories and family bonding – "Priceless!".

The trip was worth every peso or yuan or dollar spent!

Beijing China: OLYMPIC GREEN

Day 3 in Beijing:  Olympic Green
(Destination 4 of 4)

We arrived at the Olympic Green after a full dinner. The night was comfortably cold.  The place is very spacious now but during the Olympics, I would imagine that place overflowing with people, from all over the world.  We scheduled to visit this spot at night so we can see the yellow lighting of the Bird’s Nest and the blue of the Water Cube. 

There were also many locals who were readying the place for the Mid-Autumn Festival happening the day after.  For tourists like us, our trip was just very timely since we were able to avoid the festivities and the traffic of people and vehicles that go with the festival and so were able to see more places at less time, but it would have been nice to witness such an event. 

Beijing National Stadium “Bird’s Nest”

Is a stadium used for the Olympics in 2008.  The stadium was designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron.

"China wanted to have something new for this very important stadium," Li Xinggang, chief architect, stated.  In an effort to design a stadium that was "porous" while also being "a collective building, a public vessel", the team studied Chinese ceramics.  This line of thought brought the team to the "nest scheme".  The use (of the term Bird’s Nest) is a compliment Li explained, "In China, a bird's nest is very expensive, something you eat on special occasions."  The stadium consists of two independent structures, standing 50 feet apart: a red concrete seating bowl and the outer steel frame around it. (Wikipedia)

National Aquatics Center "Water Cube"
Is an aquatics center used for the swimming competitions of the 2008 Olympics.

"The Water Cube's design was initiated by a team effort: the Chinese partners felt a square was more symbolic to Chinese culture and its relationship to the Bird's Nest stadium, while the Sydney based partners came up with the idea of covering the 'cube' with bubbles, symbolising water. Contextually the cube symbolises earth whilst the circle (represented by the stadium) represents heaven. Hence symbolically the water cube references Chinese symbolic architecture." (Wikipedia)

This was the last leg of our Beijing tour.  After the Olympic Green, we went straight to the airport to check in for our 1am Cebu Pacific Air flight back to the Philippines.

The Beijing experience was a truly fantastic family bonding moment for us.  Make it yours too!

BEIJING CHINA: A Visit to Imperial Beijing

BEIJING has always been in my list of places to visit, because of the Great Wall!  The Great Wall of China is one of the world's wonders and is the only man-made structure to be seen from outer space.  Setting foot on the Wall would be one of many cool things to do in my lifetime.  Visiting the Wall with my family would be even cooler!  And that's just what we did last September 18-22, 2010.  

The door to Beijing opened to us on the first week of September when Cebu Pacific Air launched its new international route with a seat promo.  For only US$110/pax, we were on our way to the imperial city ex Manila.  From Cebu, we also got seats to Manila on promo fare.  

We arrived in Beijing almost midnight on the 18th.  Our guide, fresh looking and wide awake, was already waiting for us.

Beijing is a fusion of the old and the new. The places we went to, like Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Tombs, were mostly reminiscent of Imperial Beijing, when emperors in a dynasty rule over thousands of years.  The modern ones, built for the Olympics in 2008 were the National Grand Theater and the Olympic stadiums - Birds' Nest and Water Cube.

TOUR

Our tour guide, Even, with Hans

We decided to get a tour guide because of the language barrier.  Even though my son was very excited to try out the little Mandarin he knows, we decided that would not be enough. *wink* 

I did our itinerary based on tour offerings of different Chinese tour agencies. Our guide (and now friend!), Liu Yin Zhu (American name Even) is smart and beautiful.  The tour was inclusive of service vehicle that provided airport transfers and took us to all the places in our itinerary. 


ACCOMMODATION

We stayed at the City Walls, a courtyard house, for the duration of our trip.  After surfing through the net for cheap hotels and other accommodation, we decided a courtyard house in a hutong neighborhood would be the closest to a real Chinese home as we can get.  We even found a Holiday Inn hotel that's about the same price but we still opted to stay in our "Chinese home".

When in China, live as the (old) Chinese do...

For only US$55/night, we got a double bed private ensuite (meaning with private bath and CR).  We were provided with key cards for the front door which was kept locked 24hours a day.  We were also provided lockers as safety boxes for important personal belongings such as our passports.  In the courtyard, you get to engage in casual talk with other guests who were from other parts of the world.

Courtyard, where guests talk about the day's activities

Outside and walking through alleyways, one can observe retired Chinese elders playing cards, chatting and going about their daily routine. Our "house" is near to Forbidden City, Jingshan, Houhai and Beihai Parks.

Our hosts, Rachel and Rick, were very accommodating and we felt right at home, a feeling one doesn't get when in a hotel.  They can also actually assist their guests for some tours if the guests have not made prior arrangements yet.

(Tip to mothers: I once thought bringing PSP would be the smartest thing to do if traveling with kids; it will keep them in one place and not bother us "adults". For this trip, we thought not to let Hans play with PSP and guess what? Our family bonding went great, it turned out to be one of the best family vacations we ever had and Hans learned a lot of new things because he did not have the PSP to engross him. After the trip, he got more interested in dynasties and other things China and he even read materials about them, without me egging him to do so. - 
**My son read this tip and he gave me 2-thumbs up.**)

Day 1 of our Beijing tour took us to Jingshan Park, Temple of Heaven, Quanjude, Forbidden City, Tian'anmen Square and to a Kung Fu show.