NSO's Delivery Services: A-Class!

You may have heard from a friend that you no longer have to queue up at a National Statistics Office's branch to secure a copy of your birth certificate. Well, that is true. Just until recently, I found myself having the need for an NSO birth certificate to apply for a travel visa and I no longer have a copy.

I went online and visited NSO's website to check the procedure. Somewhere inside the site, you can chat with one of their agents. You will be prompted to fill out an online form, providing your basic info so that they can identify you.

I didn't have to go through that since I called their trunk-line (737-1111) and was quickly accommodated by one of their agents. I must say, it does show that they really know what they're doing and how to provide quality service to their clients. You'll be guided throughout the whole process and expect a response to any of your queries.

There are various payment options as well. You may choose to deposit your payment at any Metrobank branch, pay through a Bayad Center, through BancNet, or via credit card. Upon receipt of payment, they will process your order and if they don't encounter any problem with your requested document (ex. name change, change of status, etc.), you can expect your document to be delivered to you in two-days time. I just got mine!

NSO's decision to partner with Teleserv  was a good move! Thanks for training your people well and for bringing your services to those who need them. Keep it up!

DISCOVER THE ISLANDS Photo Contest 2012

Hello, Friends!

If 1) Your March 24th is free, 2) You have a DSLR, 3) Have an eye for detail, 4) You can work within a theme, then you should join this contest!

Win as much as Php 15,000 pesos for your photo! See the images below for the contest mechanics and for more details.

PRE-REGISTRATION IS UNTIL MARCH 18, 2012.

Contest Mechanics

Conquering the Great Wall--and its Great Steps!

When foreigners think of China, one of the first things that come to mind is the Great Wall. Popularly referred to as The Great Wall of China, this ancient architecture isn't great for just surviving centuries trying weather conditions and abuse from and by tourists. There is a rich history behind it, often considered as violent and unjust.

In fact, the greatness of the Great Wall can be attributed to its length which runs a total length of 6,700 km (3,948 miles). It runs from, through, and to Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Hebei, Beijing, Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan, Ningxia, Gansu, and Xinjiang, a total of 11 provinces! While the Great Wall's length seems hard to believe, it didn't actually get built during one dynasty alone. It was first built at a time when China was still divided, at around 7th century B.C., but construction continued and improved throughout the Qin and Ming dynasties.

Viewing a closed section of the Wall from a far distance.

To date, the whole Great Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage site and sees an estimate of 10,000 to 13,000 visitors per day.

For my most recent visit to Beijing with my family, we went to Badaling (八达岭), the most visited section of the Wall which is located in the northwest of Beijing proper. Getting there was the easy part since we hired the services of a tour van for this particular activity (which we regretted after). It was the climb that proved to be the more difficult thing to do.

The base of the wall had a parking area where private vehicles could park. Commuter buses stop just outside the gates. For those who intend to climb all the way to the top, called Beibalou (北八楼), be ready to climb a lot of uneven, chunky stone slabs to an altitude of 1,015 metres (3,330 ft) above sea level. It is recommended that you bring with you bottles of water and light snacks.

Friends, you are looking at the one and only bottleneck to your ascent to Badaling's top!

A common sight when climbing this section of the Great Wall was the huge crowd of tourists, both local and foreign. They usually crowd the base of the first watchtower but only very few choose to proceed to the next. While my mother and my brother conquered the first and second watchtowers, it was only my sister and myself who went higher up. I must tell you: The view at the top is worth the climb. Plus, you'd have plenty of time to take shots as there are few to no tourist up there. The high altitude gives you a good vantage point in appreciating the 360˚ view of the area.

(View from the top)

Also, be prepared to face your fear of heights (if you have it) on your way down. Though there's the general notion that it's easier going down when climbing a mountain or a flight of stairs, the unevenness of the steps and the lack of enough handrails makes the descent just as difficult as climbing.

Oh, and be wary of other people around you. I've heard from a local and a guard at the top that there are still instances of theft, and foreign tourists are usually the victims. Just bring what you need and have your camera strung onto your hand. 

Miscellaneous shots

An Australian couple we met during our trip. Forgot their names :(

My brave sister who climbed higher than my brother and my mom. I miss you! See you in Malaysia when I visit!

 Who'd have thought that there's a signal at such an altitude?

Inside a watchtower