Michi Photostory

Photo from bluebunny.com

Photo from bluebunny.com

If you’ve read my “What’s in Mom’s Bag?” post, you already knew that I’m not a light packer so it is really a challenge to pack for a six days trip. Last month we went to Hongkong and Macau with one 20 kilos luggage and one hand carry luggage, imagine my dilemma in packing. 

Travel itinerary is something personal because you have to plan and decide according to your preference, lifestyle, and budget. We always travel as a family so expect that our trip is kids-friendly. I’m not a shopaholic so shopping is not included in my itinerary. I am a budget traveler so most of the time we stayed in a hostel and guesthouses but there are times that we splurged too and try high-end resorts and hotels.

Planning an itinerary is not easy especially if you have limited time but let me share with you the things that I consider when I’m planning our itinerary. Every time I plan an itinerary. I have to consider seven things; Place, Days, Budget, Tourist Spots, Accommodation, Directions, and Weather.

Things to Consider When Planning an Itinerary

1. Destination 

Of course, I have to know which place we are going. Is it a domestic or international trip? If budget is not a problem, booking a private jet could be an option to take us to our destination in style. Plus, making use of a resource like this page about jet card pricing could help me to save money on the cost of this so that I could put it towards more luxury flights in the future. But the reality is that, more often than not, I am on a pretty strict budget so I have to check lots of different airlines where we can score cheap airfare to get us from A to B. 

I don’t have any list of must-try restaurant in Macau all I wanted is to taste their Lechon Macau so we eat whenever and wherever we want. During our first night, my husband bought food here.

Macau Recipes

When it comes to babies, a mother should buy many things for the well-being of the child. Some of these things include baby bibs clothes and baby pacifiers. Well, the problem when it comes to buying these items is the process of looking. As you know, baby bibs clothes and baby’s pacifiers are part of a child’s wardrobe. These days, these items are found in different options and styles.

Photo from Freepik

Bibs cannot only be used to protect baby’s clothes, but they can also be used as decoration to a certain outfit. A long time ago, they were used by adults also. However, in today’s world, bibs are used to keep and protect the child’s clothes clean. Bibs are used to feed a baby and they can wear them from birth up until toddler age. As you probably know, baby bibs clothes are made out of plastic or material. Each material has its advantage over the other. For example, a plastic bib can be wiped clean whereas the material bib can be machine-washed.

All you have to do is select the best and the one that you prefer. Baby bibs clothes come with a different mode of strapping. You will get them with Velcro, button or even string. These items feature a range of cute designs and colors for your baby.

These items are found in a wide range of designs like long sleeved bibs, which they are advantageous in covering the sleeves of the clothes. However, these items go hand in hand with baby pacifiers. These items can be found in different designs, shapes and even funny. Pacifiers come in different colors also.

Baby pacifiers are used to make the baby sleep out throughout the night. Moreover, they help parents to do something ease like working without the baby crying. In other words, it keeps the baby busy for some time until he gets hungry. Even though these items can be found in all leading stores across the globe, you can save that time by buying them online.

Benefits of buying these items online 

You will get many benefits from buying these items online. First, you do not have to queue to buy these items; they are just a click away. Below are the benefits that you are going to get by buying baby bibs clothes and baby pacifiers online.

1. Affordable prices: buying items online provides you with the quickest method to compare prices. Therefore, before buying these items, you can look around to look for the best and affordable product.
2. Best deals: online stores offer its consumers with better deals that will keep them coming back for more items. Remember, online stores are like normal and traditional stores. The difference is only the location.
3. Saves time, money and energy: buying items online will save you not only your money but also your time and energy. People who buy items the normal way have to move from their house to the location of the store. In the process of traveling, they end up using time, energy and time
4. Easily found online: baby bibs clothes and baby pacifiers are easily found online. All you have to do is search using the name of the product or item.

I’ve realized that I haven't finished my Macau series and it’s been more than a month already. #boo

Largo do Senado (Senado Square) – has been Macau’s urban center for centuries and it is still more popular venue to public events and celebrations. The square is surrounded by pastel-colored neo-classical buildings, creating a consistent and harmonius Mediterranean atmosphere.

Igreja de S. Domingos (St. Dominic Church) – founded in 1587 by three Spanish Dominican priests who originally came from Acapulco Mexico, this church is also connected to the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Rosary. It was here that the first Portuguese newspaper was published on Chinese soil, A Abelha da China (The China Bee) on September 12, 1822. The bell tower at the back of the building has been modified in to a small Museum of Sacred Art, now exhibiting a collection of around 300 artifacts.

Ruinas de S.Paulo (Ruins of St. Paul) – refer to the façade of what was originally the Church of Mater Dei built in 1602-1640, destroyed by fire in 1835 and the ruins of St Paul’s College which stood adjacent to the Church. As a whole, the old Church of Mater Dei, St. Paul’s College and formed what can be perceived as the Acropolis of Macau. Nowadays, the façade of the Ruins of St. Paul’s functions symbolically as an altar to the city.

Fortaleza do Monte (Mount Fortress) – built in conjunction with the Jesuits from 1617 to 1626, this was the city’s principal military defence structure. The fortress was equipped with canons, military barracks, wells and arsenal that held sufficient ammunition and supplies to endure a siege lasting up two two years. The fortress covers an area of 10,000 square meters in the shape of trapezoid. The four corners of the fortress protrude to form bulwarks.

Increase in Philhealth contribution is one thing I don’t look forward this 2013 but I was happy when I’ve learned that they will delay it due to public request for the reconsideration of the implementation of the premium increase. Philhealth released circular No. 057,s-2012 for the partial deferral of the new Philhealth premium contribution increase until the end of the calendar year 2013.

I baked triple chocolate chips last Saturday but I wanted to eat something not so sweet so I baked Lemon Brownies.

It doesn't look good in the picture but I swear it is yummy!

Owners of land and buildings have to pay Real Property Tax every year. A tax that you can pay annually or quarterly but I have no idea about quarterly since we are going to pay it every year. Last Friday was our first-time experience personally pay our Real Property Tax (RPT) because for the last two years we already issued post-dated checks to our Developer for our RPT. 

We went to our municipal office to pay our RPT, we’re expecting long lines but it took us only a few minutes to pay for it. We just gave our Official Tax Receipt from our Developer and pay the fee. That’s it! 

Note: 
Real Property tax payments are made at the Land Tax Division of the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO).

Requirements: 
Copy of latest Real Property Tax Declaration 
Photocopy of latest Real Property Tax payment/Official Receipt 

Taxes, Fees and Discounts Taxes: 

Basic Real Property Tax = Fair Market Value x Assessment Level x Basic Tax Rate 
Additional Tax (Special Education Fund) = Fair Market Value x Assessment Level x 1.00% 

Fair Market Value: Based on the Schedule of Fair Market Values proposed by the City Assessor and approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod. 

 Assessment Level: 

On Land Type /Assessment Level  

Residential / 20% 
Agricultural / 40% 
Commercial / 50% 
Industrial / 50% 

 * Residential 1.5 % 
 * Commercial 2.0% 

Discount and Penalties 

Prompt payment (paid on or before the deadline) - 10% discount on basic tax, SEF 
Advance payment (paid before January of the taxable year - 15% discount on basic tax, SEF 
Failure to pay tax - 2% interest per month on the unpaid amount or fraction thereof, but total interest shall not exceed 36 months Source:

For more information click here 

The discounts depend on where you live but it ranges from 10 to 20% or even higher in some places. The deadline for the discount varies too, it depends on where you live, some places until January only while other places until March. And because I want to save money, I want to pay for our RPT every December so I won't miss the discount.