A member of my family is bound for China. I have never been to China even if my relatives are from that country. Maybe next time, I will visit China with my family. It will be exciting for all of us to visit the People’s Republic of China for the first time!

Anyway, so a member of my family will be going to China. I volunteered to process his Visa because it seemed that I am the only one more flexy with the schedule and nearer to the Chinese embassy at World Center along Buendia Ave. in Makati. And the process seemed easier than getting a US visa.

My brother gave me almost all of the details but as I was reviewing it, it seemed to be lacking. He told me that personal appearance may not be required. His instructions didn’t mention any authorization letter coming from the applicant to allow me to process his application. There were some apprehensions so I was not really inclined to process it immediately as my brother advised me to. Time is running out so I have to do what I needed to do.

First time I went to the Chinese Embassy, I was not permitted to enter anymore. You know why? Their cut-off time in giving out numbers is 11am and I arrived past 12noon. Yes, I know it’s late but that’s my only time available that day. Anyway, I learned my lesson and I was taking chances too and that the line would be shorter etc. What I did was to ask the building lobby staff to let me go up to where the Chinese embassy was so I can ask and verify some of my inquiry which I didn’t get from my brother.

Some information I got:
1. They give out numbers as early as 8am but ends by 11am.
2. The visa process application is truly easy. I would say, people applying would be out of the embassy by 3pm.
3. Like their hotline, no one is there to assist you with your inquiry. I like to clarify things in person too because there are times, when I either misunderstand their instructions or something else.

I never got any answer with regards to the personal appearance though.

So, come the actual day to apply for “his” China Visa…I had to ask my brother to just bring an authorization letter with “his” signature just to be on the safe side because I did not want to go back the third time. The website did not indicate that they needed an authorization letter but it’s a SOP in every transaction, right?

I arrived a little past 9am. My number was 725. The guard was not strict. Anyone can enter. They’ll just get your temperature and you’re in.

Some notes to consider:
1. Once number is announced and you are not there, you get another number for your application.
2. There are people there who are from travel agency who get a lot of number (for their clients) then eventually, they’ll start to approach someone to have their number exchanged if it’s too near. I guess it’s legal because these travel agency people are almost there everyday and the guards can see it. They are definitely not strict.
3. Consul or the person who accepts your visa application is not someone who you would be afraid of.
4. Please bring an authorization letter if you are not the applicant. Their website doesn’t require but better to bring one than to go back again. A waste of time to go back. Also, bring an identification card for confirmation that you are the authorized person to process the application.
5. Be sure to get the proper VISA application form. Here’s the link for your copy:
Visa Application form or they easily give out to anyone who asks for one.

Visa Application Requirement:

Tourist /Family visit Visa (L)

L Visa is issued to a person who comes to China for sightseeing, visiting relatives, or private matters. Documents to be included with application:

1. Applicant’s passport with blank pages and at least 6 months validity left before expiration.

2. A truly and completely filled application form affixed with one passport-sized photo.

3. Round-trip air ticket –My note: We just provided them a copy of a booking reservation ticket. Why would we buy a ticket when we are still unsure right? They accepted it, they just confirmed if it was the actual date and I confirmed.

4. Hotel reservation. Or proof of relationship in case of visiting relatives in China.

5. Other documents required by the visa officers if necessary.

For more information, check out Guidelines for Chinese Visa.

Here’s the China Visa Fee:

I was done and out of the Chinese Embassy around 11am. Regular processing of application is 3-4 working days. You will pay according to your application (single/ double entry, rush processing of visa, etc.) when you get the passport. They will give you a pink paper as your claim stub. I will be back after a few days, hopefully I will get an approved application by then.

Get back to you when I do next week!

***********************

UPDATE:

I got the Chinese Visa alright.  No fuss!  I waited for my number to be called and voila!  I was out in less than five-(5) minutes.  Took me longer to get there than wait for my turn to get the approved Chinese visa.  By the way, I did not need for an authorization letter whatsoever!  But I think they should require since passport is one important document especially when you have your US visa and all other Visa on your passport.

Salad…Hmmm…lemme think if this salad was also part of the meal…totally forgot….

Wagyu Salpicao (P795 +12%VAT) Cubes of Wagyu striploin sauteed in garlic and extra virgin olive oil and served with “Wagyu rice”.
Too salty for my taste, not to mention that the striploin was swimming in oil! Yikes! Wagyu rice? Didn’t really matter…maybe just to jack up the price

Wagyu Top Sirloin 220g (P995 +12%VAT)
This came with the soup.
I preferred this over my rice meal. HB was sensitive enough to really give me a lot of slices of the sirloin. The meat was flavored just right and was tender juicy with or without the sauce. I prefer to just munch it to make it more memorable.

Confession: I’m not a steak eater really (obvious naman! :)) so I doubt if I’d really go back again.

Wagyu Stone Grill
Ground Floor EASTWOOD MALL, Libis, Quezon City,
Telephone: +632 706-5385, 706-5386

Dessert Time!

AD chose his own weird toppings ~ M&M, sprinkles and bite (a.k.a. nata de coco)

We were in this far location once again….T. Morato! Far right? So, we really made our trip worth it…

We got the Yoh-gurt froz classic. It was sour and tarty indeed. Been craving for it and now, I have it! But on my nth time, I also got the milky taste which made me wonder….should I or shouldn’t I taste that milky flavor in my yoh-gurt? Hmmm…..

Yoh-gurt Froz branches:
SM Mall of Asia
Robinson’s Manila
T. Morato

Shangrila (updated as of Sept 2009)

Greenhills Promanade

Alabang Town Center

Inside Hobbes & Landes:
Boni High Street
TriNoMa
Greenbelt 5
(I seemed to be missing some stores…can you help me name the location where I missed?)

We would usually think of food right? Yes, we would definitely crave for a certain kind of food but what I didn’t expect was to get this answer…

It’s possible that what you really need is a H-U-G. Simple hug. Yeah, that’s right, ONE tight hug from my love ones. Please include kisses too!

Sidestory:
Lately, I’m amused of AD when he would suddenly tell me, “I love you Mom.” Without any reason at all…does he know what it really means? Just yesterday when I had them all to myself ALL day, at the end of the day, I was dead tired. He feels it and I also tell him to help me and to behave. JX was wailing because he’s hungry (he didn’t want the food I prepared for me…he wanted the chicken bbq! I guess because he wanted the sweeter version of our food). So now, he tells me, “I love you, Mom (I love his accent of Mom!).” Awwww! Then he goes to his sioti JX and pat JX’s back…..Double Awww!

Last na, AD told me, “Mom, thank you that we stayed home today!.” This also surprised me because this boy of mine has been used to going out and have lunch/ dinner outside. Really, this caught me by surprised. Ha! I got this all in a day, good thing, it didn’t give me a heart attack!

HB, you missed this one! :p

Located at the basement where the foodcourt is….basement of what? Robinson’s Galleria, one of the malls that’s too far away from us but here we are!

When I saw these pasta pouches being exposed out in the open, I began to have second thoughts of liking it but HB was determined to try it out so we ordered two of the ravioli dishes.

Chorizo & Tomato Ravioli (P130) Sweet tomato and chorizo taste! Yum! It was still hot when we ate it but it didn’t stop us! This is the ravioli pasta! Freshly cooked and the pasta has the bite in it. Not too hard and not too soft, just right! I say my taste bud is in normal state at this moment.

Spinach and Cream Cheese (P115) This was also good but eating this alone will make too much. Too creamy so combining it with the Chorizo & Tomato ravioli was a good choice!

Ravioli
Robinson’s Galleria Basement
near Sandosenang Halohalo

Come February 2010, I should only have gained a total 30lbs. I will not go on a diet (oh no, I will not…not in my vocabulary) but I hope I would stay within the range. When I was in my 9th week, I even lost weight…told you I’m in my weird condition right now. I’m at lost on what I’d like to eat and most of the time, the food I order never pass my weird taste buds. My favorite food to munch is the spicy sampaloc which I discovered with my co-mom. Sweet and spicy! I never got to find my fave mango preserve brand but I’m happily contented with my sampaloc. Problem now is that I’ve run out and Unimart is far away from me! I hope by next week, I get my stock! I’m desperate!

This post will be my constant reminder.