Ortigas CBD

Ortigas business district, as seen from my office, at 31st floor of One San Miguel building

Mayon Volcano

I'm fighting the urge to ditch my Christmas party this Saturday and fly to Legaspi City instead to see the lava flowing down from Mt. Mayon, seen in this photo taken by NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite. The plume of ash can be seen from space, as well as some lava flows.

update: Other tourists have the same idea as mine apparently, as many have been flocking to Legaspi to see the lava flowing from the volcano, according to this report

How to get there: Cebu Pacific (2x daily) and PAL (10x a week) flies to Legaspi City, Albay from Manila.

[photo by NASA]

Chek Lap Kok Airport

The ultra-modern Chek Lap Kok Airport, aka Hong Kong International Airport, currently the 12-th busiest airport in the world, moving 47 million passengers in 2008. It replaced the Kai Tak airport in 1998.

Tunnel Vision

Walkway on the side of Hong Kong Museum Museum of Art

Taxiing

An Air Macau taxis on the runway of Macau International Airport, viewed from the ferry terminal of Cotaijet.

Macau

Eastwood Mall

Eastwood Mall is one of the newest malls in Metro Manila, located in Libis, Quezon City.

HK Disneyland

Taal Volcano

An off-limits sign warns onlookers not to cross the barrier in the observation area overlooking the 400-meter Taal volcano, in Tagaytay.

Taal is one of the Philippines' most active volcano.

[12.06.09]

Climbing the Macau Tower

It's becoming a mini-activity for my travels now, visiting and ascending the tallest structures of the cities I've been to. During my stay in Macau I made it a point to go up the Macau Tower, which is the 10th highest in the world.

It is located in the heart of the city, about 15 minutes taxi ride from Cotai Strip. There is a convention center/mall built beside the tower, and the entrance is through here. After paying the entrance fee (MOP 90/HK$90), you will be ushered to the elevators that will take you to the observation decks, at 59 and 61st floors.

If you're feeling a bit adventurous, you can walk around the outer rim of the 61st floor observatory while being in a harness, or you can bungee jump from a height of 233 meters. It's the highest bungee jumping in the world, and you will get a certificate from Guiness Book of World Records if you accomplished the feat.

Useful sites:

Macau Tower website

[pics, from top: a come-on from AJ Hackett bungee jumping, the Tower, observation deck, a mural comparing it from other towers, glass floors on the observation deck]