Travelog: Travel Tips for the Frequent Traveler :)


In Hungary, everyone was left hungry *lol yes, pun intended*. After days of no rice, all everyone wanted to eat was Chinese food, with rice! So this is where the funny travel stories come in. 
I have never traveled on a package tour before except for my honeymoon some 9 years ago– and back then we were the only Asians in the group. So this trip was actually the first time I hear about Asian travel tales 😀 And it was enough to make me double over with laughter, and come up with a travel tips list!
While I lamented that it must be hard for rice eaters to go without rice for days, someone said that there used to be a couple who would travel with a mini rice cooker and a small sack of rice! My jaw dropped because I wouldn’t have wanted to lug around a mini rice cooker, let alone a small sack of rice inside my luggage! 😉 *hahaha ok that’s the reason why I always end up hungry on trips hahahaha* So ohkay,  Travel tip # 1: Bring a rice cooker and a sack of rice on my next trip *hahahaha*
Asians *especially Filipinos* are just better at packing munchies for road trips. While I didn’t even bother to bring cookies or chips for fear that my luggage will be overweight, everyone else brought food– from Cheetos to Jack n Jill potato chips, Clover chips, pistachio nuts, Boy Bawang, and even pastries bought from Eng Bee Tin in Downtown Ongpin! *Waaaah fooooood!!!* If there was food, there has to be drinks too, right?  You wouldn’t want to choke on the bus while stuffing yourself with very spicy Cheetos hahaha. Here’s the killer traveler tip for me– bring a case of bottled water with you– yes, a case! *hahaha* Seriously!! There were actually peeps who would bring a case of small bottled water with them on their trip!  I wouldn’t really have dreamed of bringing bottled water (hello I couldn’t even have thought of bringing chips!) But someone actually did bring a case of bottled water on this particular trip! 🙂 So, travel tip # 2— fill your luggage with food AND a case of bottled water *hehehe* 🙂 In case you don’t stop by convenience stores to get bottled water, you won’t go thirsty without them or risk the chance of getting diarrhea because you drank tap water which you might find out later, is not potable 😀

Here’s the funniest story I have heard to date 🙂 So there were times in the past where the tour director herself would come down from her room to the breakfast room, only to find that there wasn’t much left on the buffet table for her to eat. Breakfast usually consists of sausages, scrambled eggs,  bread, fruit, and boiled eggs.  On that particular occasion, there were no more boiled eggs. So the tour director calls on the waiter to ask about the boiled eggs, “I am the tour leader of the 40 people, how come no more breakfast for me, no more boiled eggs?” To which the waiter replies with exasperation “Madame, we prepare 50 eggs for your group. Look around the tables, do you see egg shells?” *Muwahahahahahah Classic!!!* Apparently, the passengers would take the eggs with them so that they can eat those eggs later inside the bus!!!
On my trip, I see these hard- boiled eggs at the breakfast table 🙂 I couldn’t stop laughing hahahhaa 🙂
Sooo, travel tip #3: Bring tupperware with you OR sandwich bags. In case you decide you want to bring those hard- boiled eggs with you to the bus, make sure to peel off the shells first, so the waiter will not accuse you of carting off a bagful of eggs, leaving none for the tour director. *muwahahaha!!!*
Now, if you have had seriously bland food which is included in your tour (most tours usually come with meals– either lunch or dinner, and sometimes both), you’d go to sleep hungry *unless you followed tip #2 and #3 hahaha*. Food that’s usually included in your tour package can’t always be great *it’s a given– don’t expect Michelin- star quality food unless you pay for Michelin- star tour price*.

The food we had during the tour was thankfully okay. It wasn’t the best, but it was filling. Take for instance this plate of chicken breast with a side of alfalfa sprouts.

We had this on our last night in Budapest at a restaurant called the Citadine, located in one of the highest points of Budapest, which had the most spectacular view of the city.

Gorgeous, isn’t it?
Now for such a tourist-y location, you can’t expect topnotch quality, right? After all, restaurants like this one serve groups of people at a time and are full house all the time. So when that plate of chicken came out bland, it came as no surprise. After all, the view was really unparalleled. But the thing with food- inclusive tour packages is, there will always be passengers who complain. For that, there’s THIS:
UFC hotsauce and Maggi Savor, anyone?

*Muwahahahahhaha* YES! Someone brought this with her on the trip– these 2 bottles of condiments are inside her bag ALL THE TIME, in a ziplock bag! Sooo, with that comes travel tip #4: Always bring Maggi Savor and Tabasco with you when you travel– best to keep it inside your handbag and guard it like it was your passport, because these 2 bottles are your passport to having a full stomach at all times during meals hahahahaha  * I prefer Tabasco over UFC, sorry hahaha*
Ok if you’re already doubling over with laughter like my husband, who nearly choked on his drink after I mentioned all my travel tips to him *snickers*, stop laughing already because this is probably one of the best travel tip posts I will ever write– and oye, you will probably secretly swear by it the next time you go on your travels with a tour group 🙂
Now, let me share some more photos of the trip 🙂 Since Hungary is the topic, I give you more photos of Hungary 🙂
If you don’t want to bring Tabasco, perhaps a string of dried chili? Hehehe… Hungary has tons!
I looove gingerbread cookies!
I loved this store. It’s so Christmas-y!!
Inside the store.
Did you see those grenade- shaped coin purses? Hilarious. I wonder if I would’ve gotten in trouble with them if I bought one and kept it in my handbag at the airport hahahaha 😀
The Chain bridge– we traveled across the Danube River
 And then another beautiful spot worth visiting
Fisherman’s Bastion
With the view of the city!
Hope you peeps enjoyed this post! And if you have more travel tips, do share!! *Hah, or confess if you have done one or all of those tips!! :D*
Have a great weekend, everyone! It’s good to be back in Manila again!


P.S. To my recent travel mates, thank you so much for the wonderful experience! I am so happy that I met you all 😀 Your stories have never ceased to entertain me and make me laugh each time! Can’t wait for the next tour! 🙂 Here’s hoping I can afford to go with you all again 😀 xx

x
Mrs. T

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1 Comment
  1. This is so funny. And the reason I came across it was because I was looking for a mini rice cooker for our impending travel. I have a son who will eat only rice and not bread for every meal of the day, hence the rice cooker. 🙂

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