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c h i k k a
i d e a s
HOW TO…
See two Chinese cities
on one flight itinerary
Book a flight to Shanghai, then take the
high-speed train to Beijing. Travel the
1.3
km distance at 299km/h, with options
for rides every 10 minutes.
The express train will
make the journey in
four hours and 45
minutes. One-
way tickets cost
under US$100
(
PHP4,215)
on second-
class service
(
economy
class), US$150/
PHP6,322 for
first class, and about
US$275/PHP11,592 for
business class (the best class
on the train).
HOW TO…
Beat a hangover
in Beijing
While we could simply
recommend two Vitamin
C pills fizzing in a glass of
water, here’s a more indulgent
option. Book yourself in at the
Pentahotel Beijing (two minutes
from Chongwenmen Metro Station)
for a weekend, and then stay on for the
Pentabrunch Sunday Rehab. Launched just
last month, the hangover-healing buffet
offers beloved brunch items: Mini Barbecue
Pork Roast Panini, Great Wall Chicken Clay
Pot, Portuguese Egg Tarts and a savory
Beijing Breakfast Burrito made with roast
duck, scrambled egg, scallions and plum
sauce for only RMB128 (PHP849). Dine
with a soundtrack of chilled-out funky tunes
care of the in-house DJ. And the more
pooped partygoers in your group, the better:
Until the end of the year, one person in a
party of four will enjoy the brunch for free.
You can also choose your restorative
potion: The Spicy Mary cocktail (RMB30/
PHP199) or Hair of the Dog special, with
all regular menu drinks discounted by
50%.
The Sunday brunch is available until
December 31, 2012.
reservations.beijing@
pentahotelsasia.com,
TEXT
MAYA O. CALICA
HOW TO…
Get around Osaka
on the cheap
Japan is known for its horrendously
expensive cab fares. When in Osaka, buy
an Enjoy Eco Card as soon as you arrive.
The one-day pass is available at auto
ticket machines at subway stations for
JP¥800/PHP429 (weekday rate) and
JP¥600/PHP321 (weekend/public holiday
rate). What you get: limitless rides on
the subway, the tram and city buses. But
should you attempt to use this on railway
lines and privately owned bus companies,
such as JR and Hankyu, it won’t work.
To know more about the Enjoy Eco Card,
check out
english/ticket/index.html
HOW TO…
Pack your bottles
without tape
If you hate opening your suitcase only to
find that your shampoo and body lotion
have leaked onto your clothes, try this
packing tip from the directors of Select
Study Abroad (
selectstudyabroad.com
),
a site dedicated to people who want to
experience a unique education in Italy’s
Renaissance hotbed, Florence. Here’s how:
unscrew the lids of all the bottles you need
to pack. Take a 5 x 5” square of plastic
wrap, place over the mouth of the bottle,
then screw the cover on tightly. Repeat for
all bottles.
Voilà
!
Instant anti-spill trick!
Four super-smart tips to help you make that perfect trip
Traveling
bright
