England Royal Landmarks last part; Oxford Castle

6-days England Summer Solo Travel (United Kingdom)

June 27 to July 03, 2014

England Royal landmarks 3rd part; Warwick Castle

How to go to Oxford Castle;
I visited Oxford in connection with my trip to Warwick Castle. Oxford is almost an hour South Western train travel from Warwick. Tourist spots here are all NOT included in London Pass. Photography and video taking is permitted inside.

Oxford Castle is a large, partly ruined Norman medieval castle on the western side of central Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. Most of the original moated, wooden motte and bailey castle was replaced in stone in the 11th century and played an important role in the conflict of the Anarchy. In the 14th century the military value of the castle diminished and the site became used primarily for county administration and as a prison. Most of the castle was destroyed in the English Civil War and by the 18th century the remaining buildings had become Oxford's local prison. The prison closed in 1996 and was redeveloped as a hotel. The medieval remains of the castle, including the motte and St George's Tower and crypt, are Grade I listed buildings and a Scheduled Monument.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_Castle 

England Royal landmarks; Oxford Castle ruins

England Royal Landmarks 3rd part; Warwick Castle

6-days England Summer Solo Travel (United Kingdom)

June 27 to July 03, 2014

England's finest last part; a short visit to Bath City

How to go to Warwick Castle;
Warwick Castle is around 800m away from Warwick station of and almost 2 hours South Western train travel from Marylebone Underground Station of Bakerloo line Zone 1. Entrance fee is not included in London Pass. Photography and video taking is permitted inside.

Warwickshire's country town world famous for its magnificent castle and historic charm. There are many attractions to visit, beautiful parks, gardens and buildings of outstanding quality from every period of the last 1,100 years. Immerse yourself in 1,100 years of electrifying history at Britain's Ultimate, the Warwick Castle. Home of the world's largest medieval siege machine - the mighty Trebuchet, along with the dramatic towers and ramparts. birds of prey and "capability" Brown landscaped grounds and gardens. The Castle Dungeon, Kingmaker, Secrets and Scandals, the Great Hall and State Rooms, Princess Tower and Merlin the Dragon Tower attractions all vividly bring history to life.

England Royal landmarks; Warwick Castle

England's Finest last part; a Short Visit to Bath City

6-days England Summer Solo Travel (United Kingdom)

June 27 to July 03, 2014

England's finest 1st part; Biking to Stonehenge

How to go to Bath City;
I visited Bath in connection with my trip to Salisbury (Stonehenge). Bath is an hour South Western train travel from Salisbury. Tourist spots here are all NOT included in London Pass. Photography and video taking is permitted inside.

At the heart of Bath stands the remains of one of the finest spa of the ancient world. See the ruins of the temple of Minerva. Visit the Roman Bath where people bathed nearly 2,000 years ago. Discover how the Romans built this magnificent monument at Aquae Sulis. Explore the intensive ruins and treasures of the site, using the best of modern interpretation. Understand daily life in the baths and temple through animated displays and reconstructions. See also the Romans costumed characters everyday, and hear their stories. Make the imaginative leap across 2,000 years  - see the Temple Pediment as it was in Roman times.

Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Bath, commonly known as Bath Abbey, is an Anglican parish church and a former Benedictine monastery in Bath, Somerset, England. Founded in the 7th century, Bath Abbey was reorganised in the 10th century; major restoration work was carried out by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 1860s. It is one of the largest examples of Perpendicular Gothic architecture in the West Country. Royal Crescent is a row of 30 terraced houses laid out in a sweeping crescent in the city of Bath, England. Designed by the architect John Wood the Younger and built between 1767 and 1774, it is among the greatest examples of Georgian architecture to be found in the United Kingdom and is a Grade I listed building.

short visit to Bath City (Roman Bath)

England's Finest 1st part; Biking to Stonehenge

6-days England Summer Solo Travel (United Kingdom)

June 27 to July 03, 2014

England Royal landmarks  2nd part; Windsor Castle

How to go to Stonehenge;
Stonehenge is located in Wiltshire, England, about 2 miles west of Amesbury and 8 miles north of Salisbury. Salisbury train station is more than an hour train travel from Waterloo Underground Station of Bakerloo, Northern and Waterloo & City lines. Entrance fee costs 15GBP, advance booking is required with designated entry schedule. This is NOT included in London Pass. Photography and video taking is permitted inside. By bus, take #X5 from Salisbury to Countess roundabout with is 45 minutes travel time.

What I did was the more adventurer and is very, very seldom to be performed by a tourist, traveling the Stonehenge by Mountain Bike for 21.7km. From Salisbury train station, I walked around 600m away going to Salisbury town center looking for Information Center which opens every 0900H. I asked where to hire bike and requested a free map. Hayball Cycle sport is the only store that provides bike rental and is located in Winchester St., just 100m away from Info Center. Hayball sport requires to see your passport for name verification and a deposit of 25GBP. Bike rental for 24hr period (the least time they offer) costs 15GBP ($25.5). Based on the free map, traveling Stonehenge by bike is 21.7km on Woodford Valley Cycle route #45 (not on the main road) and approximately 2 hours. Starting from Info Center, take north of Minster St. and cross the River Avon. I started biking 0915H and went back to Salisbury train station 1600H with 30-minutes stay inside Stonehenge vicinity.

Stonehenge is located in a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Salisbury Plain of over 2000 hectares that is considered one of the most archaeologically rich in Europe. Stonehenge is a prehistoric temple, its great stones raised about 4,500 years ago. It is a masterpiece of engineering, with the stones carefully arranged to line up with the movements of the sun. The ruins we see today is the end result of many different stages of construction and rebuilding in history. Some of the stones have been removed, many have fallen, some were re-erected and completed in 1964. due to fragile below-ground archeology, preserved stone surfaces and prehistoric carvings, access inside the circle is possible only at certain times outside normal opening hours.

England's finest landmark; 21.7km Biking to Stonehenge

England Royal Landmarks 2nd part; Windsor Castle

6-days England Summer Solo Travel (United Kingdom)

June 27 to July 03, 2014

England Royal landmarks 1st part; Hampton Court Palace

How to go to Windsor Castle;
Windsor Castle is 300m away from exit of Windsor & Eton Central station of First Great Western trains outside of London. Train travel is around 45 minutes from Paddington Underground Station of Hammersmith & city, District, Circle and Bakerloo lines zone 1. All you need to do is board the train to Slough at Paddington, showing the onboard conductor your travelcard and then board the train to Windsor at Slough, showing the valid, signed and dated ready to travel London Pass. Penalty applies if you travel without being in possession of a signed London Pass and a valid Zone 1-6 travelcard. Entrance fee is included in London Pass. Photography and video taking is NOT permitted inside.

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and an official residence of Her Majesty The Queen. The magnificent State Apartments are lavishly furnished with treasures from the Royal collection. St. George's Chapel is of the most beautiful ecclesiastical buildings in England. It is where Henry VIII is buried. A Royal home and fortress for over 900 years, the Castle remains a working palace today. The Queen uses the Castle both as a private home, where she usually spends the weekend, and as a Royal residence at which she undertakes certain formal duties. When The Queen is in official residence, Changing the Guard provides a colourful spectacle in the quadrangle. Windsor Castle is also a busy visitor attraction. Many parts of the Castle are open to the public, including the precincts, the State Apartments, Queen Mary's famous dolls' house, St George's Chapel, and the Albert Memorial Chapel. 

England Royal landmarks; majestic Windsor Castle

England Royal Landmarks 1st part; Hampton Court Palace

6-days England Summer Solo Travel (United Kingdom)

June 27 to July 03, 2014

London City tour last part; sightseeing at night

How to go to Hampton Court;
Hampton Court Palace is 400m away from exit of Hampton Court station of South West Train Zone 6. Entrance fee is included in London Pass. Photography and video taking is permitted inside.

Two places in one - explore Henry VII's magnificent Tudor palace, feel the heat in hist vast kitchens and eerie chill along the Processional route, said to be haunted by Henry VII's 5th wife, Queen Catherine Howard. Hampton court Palace Gardens, relax in over 60 acres of beautiful gardens that lead to the River Thames, featuring sparkling fountains, glorious displays of over 200,000 flowering bulbs and 750 acres of tranquil royal parkland. Stroll through the elegant baroque palace and glorious formal gardens of William III  and Mary II.

Disappear into the Hedge Maze, where whispers of the past will follow your every step to the center of this topiary puzzle. Created in 1690, a form of entertainment for William III, today the Maze covers the one third of an acre and consists of half a mile of winding paths surrounded by towering yew tree walls. On average it takes 20 minutes to reach the center. A Guinness World Record holder for the oldest surviving hedge maze built by William III and Mary II. It was designed by royal gardeners and planted using hornbeam to form the hedges. The maze covers an area of 0.5 acres and total path of 800m.

England Royal landmarks; inside Hampton Court

London City Tour last part; Sightseeing at Night

6-days England Summer Solo Travel (United Kingdom)

June 27 to July 03, 2014

​London City tour 5th part; other tourist spots

How to go to these Places;
London Eye and Westminster Palace is a bridge away from Westminster Station of Circle and District line. Marble Arch is just upon exit from Marble Arch Station of Central line. Tower Bridge is around 700m away from exit of Tower hill Station of Circle, District and DLR lines.

In my opinion and based on my experience, photography at night is better and concentrated on where all major tourist spots located. Thus, my usual practice is to stroll most of this places and walk around with my travel buddies, my camera and tripod. Starting from Tower Bridge on my 1st night, followed by the Marble Arch and nearby art sculptures on 2nd night and finally the stunning London Eye and Big Ben of Westminster Palace on the 3rd night. 

London City sightseeing at night (Westminster's London Eye)

​London City Tour 5th part; other Tourist Spots

6-days England Summer Solo Travel (United Kingdom)

June 27 to July 03, 2014

London City tour 4th part; West-end Theater Shows

How to go to these Places;
Wellington Arch is located near Hyde Park Corner Station of Piccadilly line Zone 1. London Eye and Aquarium is a bridge away from Westminster Station. Abbey Road is around 500m away from Maide Vale Station of Bakerloo line Zone 2. Westminster Cathedral and Buckingham Palace is around 400m away walk from Victoria Station of District, Circle and Victoria line. Red Telephone Box can be found anywhere in London. ArcelorMittal Orbit of Olympic Park is 700m away from Stratford Station of Central, London Overground and DLR line. Royal Air Force Museum is 700m away from Colindale Station of Northern line Zone 4. Photography and video taking is permitted on all of this tourist spots.

Explore the 3 floors of exhibit inside the Wellington Arch telling its fascinating history, including its time as London's smallest police station. Abbey Road crossing featured on the Beatles cover, have become popular photo-opportunity areas, despite the road still being a busy thoroughfare for traffic. Westminster Cathedral is the mother church of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. Buckingham Palace is the London residence and principal workplace of the monarchy of the United Kingdom. Red Telephone Box is often seen anywhere in London and as an iconic British symbol throughout the world. The paint colour used is known as "currant red" and is defined by a British Standard, BS 381C-539. Standing at 114.5m tall, ArcelorMittal Orbit is Britain's highest sculpture and provides stretching panoramas across East London and Olympic Park. Take-off to the Royal Air Force Museum and soar through the history of aviation from earliest balloon flight to the latest Eurofighter. Discover over 105 aircraft, aviation and wartime memorabilia.

​London City tour other tourist spots (Wellington Arch, included in London Pass)

London City Tour 4th part; West-End Theater Shows

6-days England Summer Solo Travel (United Kingdom)

June 27 to July 03, 2014

London City tour 3rd part; Wimbledon & Kensington Palace

How to go to London West-end Theaters;
West-end Show Theaters are located in Central London Zone 1. For "Wicked" that is always shown in Apollo Victoria is just upon exit of Victoria Underground Station of Circle and District Line. For "Phantom of the Opera" in Her Majesty's Theater is around 400m away from Piccadilly Circus Underground Station of Bakerloo and Piccadilly line. For "Miss Saigon" in Prince Edward Theater is around 200m away from Tottenham Court Underground Station of Central and Northern Line.

 London West-End Shows Second Visit (October 2014)

Les Miserables and The Commitments

No visit in London is complete without a visit to a west end show. West End Theater is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of "Theatreland" in and near the West End of London. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theater is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theater in the English-speaking world. I watched 3 shows among more than 20 that time. I rate the Miss Saigon as 9of10, followed by Phantom of the Opera at 8of10 and 7of10 for Wicked. My criteria is based on the stage production and over-all impact it gave to me. Prices are only purchased on the day of show. "Miss Saigon", June 28 for 26.4GBP on Grand Circle seat. "Phantom of the Opera", June 30 26GBP on Balcony seat. "Wicked", July 02 23GBP on Upper Circle seat.

London City Tour 4th part; West-End Theater Shows (Wicked at Apollo Victoria Theater)

London City Tour 3rd part; Wimbledon and Kensington Palace

6-days England Summer Solo Travel (United Kingdom)

June 27 to July 03, 2014

London City tour 2nd part; Westminster Abbey & Big Ben

How to go to Wimbledon;
Wimbledon Championship is around 600m walk away from Wimbledon Underground Station of District Line, South West Train, ctc and tramlink fare zone in Zone 3.

2014 Wimbledon Championships took place at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, from 23 June to 6 July 2014. Andy Murray of Great Britain was the defending champion in men's singles, while Marion Bartoli of France was the defending champion in women's singles. The men and women's singles titles were won by Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic respectively.

I went to Wimbledon and plan to watch the Championship via "The Queue". The operation of this process is for 1-day ticket sales to ensure fairness. Ground admission costs 20GBP before 1700H and 14GBP after 1700H. Tickets are valid only for a court and not for any specific match.

Wimbledon Championships 2014

​London City Tour 2nd part; Big Ben and Westminster Abbey

6-days England Summer Solo Travel (United Kingdom)

June 27 to July 03, 2014

​London City tour 1st part; Tower Bridge & Tower of London

How to go to Tower Bridge and Tower of London;
Big Ben of the Westminster Palace is just a little walk away from Westminster Underground Station of Central and District Line in Zone 1 (Central London). Westminster Abbey is in front of Westminster Palace. Only the Westminster Abbey entrance fee is included in London Pass. A separate fee on selected timings is applied in Westminster Palace entrance. Photography and video taking is NOT permitted inside.

Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster and often extended to refer to the clock and the clock tower. The tower is officially known as the Elizabeth Tower, renamed as such to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The tower holds the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world and is the third-tallest free-standing clock tower. The tower has become one of the most prominent symbols of the United Kingdom and is often in the establishing shot of films set in London.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ben

Big Ben of Westminster Palace

​London City Tour 1st part; Tower Bridge and Tower of London

6-days England Summer Solo Travel (United Kingdom)

June 27 to July 03, 2014

London Heathrow Airport arrival in the afternoon

How to go to Tower Bridge and Tower of London;
Tower of London entrance gate is around 400m away from Tower Hill Underground Station of Central and District Line in Zone 1 (Central London). Tower of London is just beside the Tower Bridge. Both entrance fees are included in London Pass. Photography and video taking is permitted inside.

Tower Bridge has stood over the River Thames in London since 1894, and is one of the finest, most recognizable bridges in the world. At the Tower Bridge Exhibition you can enjoy the breathtaking views from the high-level walkways. Learn about  the history of the bridge and how it was built from the interactive display and films, and descend into the Victorian Engine rooms, home of the original steam engines.

Tower Bridge of London

6 Days England Summer Solo Travel (United Kingdom)

London - Salisbury - Bath - Warwick - Oxford tour
June 27 to July 03, 2014

"I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me." - Isaac Newton

My 34th country to visit, 30th solo backpacking trip, 11th country to visit in Europe, and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure.

The name "England" is derived from the Old English name Englaland, which means "land of the Angles". The Angles were one of the Germanic tribes that settled in Great Britain during the Early Middle Ages. England is the largest of the four "home nations" that make up the United Kingdom. It is also the most populous of the four with almost 52 million inhabitants (roughly 84% of the total population of the UK). The former capital of England was Winchester until replaced by London in the 12th century.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England

Big Ben view from Thames River cruise on Westminster Pier

6th OFW Vacation; 2nd Ultimate Backpacking across 3 Continents

extreme adventure on my 4th year as travel addict

June 27 to August 15, 2014
51-days longest set of vacation as an OFW 

1st OFW vacation; Come back to my homeland

2nd OFW vacation; Pinoy backpacker China invasion
3rd OFW vacation; Summer solo tour from Malaysia to Japan
4th OFW vacation; Ultimate Solo Trip from Central Europe to Promised Land 
5th OFW vacation; Winter Birthday Get-away from Georgia to Myanmar

“Take vacations... Go as many places as you can.
You can always make money... You cannot always make memories” ― unknown

Getting away does not necessarily imply flying south or anywhere else for that matter. The key is to find a setting that will allow you to leave all your worries behind. Some people manage to do it from home, although a change of surroundings often helps one to disconnect from daily concerns. Simply turning off the cell phone and opening a book under a tree in a city park can be a great getaway! Some studies have found a positive relationship between vacations and intellectual function.

6th vacation as an Overseas Filipino worker for more than 2 years of stay in Kuwait. The image below shows the converted jpeg of calendar of events on my entire 51-days vacation journey. The countries included were United Kingdom, Morocco, Turkey, Kenya, Tanzania, Indonesia, 2nd visit to Japan and Philippines, my homeland.

6th OFW vacation; 2nd Ultimate backpacking across 3 Continents

My Top Nine Best Travels in 2014

5th year of my travel addictiveness, adventures that made me want to go back there

2014 "the viewing deck" year-ender report

“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” - Terry Pratchett

Recalling the moment when I've been asked what are my dream destinations, I told them only the places I think I can possibly achieve that time based on the resources and capabilities I had. Four years after that simple question, I still could not believe I already been visited the places which I only just watch in movies and "Amazing Race" routes. I consider 2014 as the adventure year of my travel addictiveness because of the following reasons;

1. I visited a total of 14 countries (12 new, 4 revisited), in which the majority has a very developed economy. Thus, high budget is required for any tourist visitors.
2. 21.7km biking to Stonehenge in Salisbury to Amesbury, England of United Kingdom.

3. camel back-ride to Sahara desert night camping in Morocco

4. parachute gliding above the cotton castle and balloon flight ride in Turkey

5. Masai Mara safari ride and camping in Kenya

6. 6-days Machame route for 5,895masl trekking of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

7. family road trip in Northeastern Mindanao (CARAGA Region) of Philippines.

8. adventurous river white-water rafting and tubing in Bali, Indonesia.

9. revisiting Japan for the 3,776masl self-guided solo night trekking to Mt.Fuji via Yoshida trail.

My Top Nine Best Travels of 2014

OFW Vacation: 2015 Kuwait and Philippines' Public Holidays

moving beyond the world of wonders and realization...

OFW Vacation: 2013 Kuwait and Philippines' Public Holidays
OFW Vacation: 2014 Kuwait and Philippines' Public Holidays 

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life" - Confucius

"Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing" - Roosevelt

"A good job is more than just a paycheck. A good job fosters independence and dispcipline, and contributes to the health of the community. A good job is a means to provide for the health and welfare of your family, to wn home, and save for retirement." - James Douglas

Kuwait (orange) and Philippines (blue) 2015 calendar for public holidays

The Viewing Deck Collections; Work / Tourist / Visitor Visa Stickers

A visa generally gives non-citizens clearance to enter a country and to remain there within specified constraints, such as a time frame for entry, a limit on the time spent in the country, and a prohibition against employment. The possession of a visa is not in itself a guarantee of entry into the country that issued it, and a visa can be revoked at any time. A visa application in advance of arrival gives the country a chance to consider the applicant's circumstance, such as financial security, reason for applying, and details of previous visits to the country.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_%28document%29

the new Philippine e-passport (2010)

Korea C32 tourist visa (2011)

The Viewing Deck Collections; Cheap Souvenirs (for Handcarry Backpack)

A souvenir (remembrance or memento, keepsake, or token) is an object a person acquires for the memories the owner associates with it. The term souvenir brings to mind the mass-produced kitsch that is the main commodity of souvenir and gift shops in many tourist attractions around the world. But a souvenir can be any object that can be collected or purchased and transported home by the traveler. The object itself is a symbol of past experience.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Souvenir

3-days in Batanes (2011)

2-days in Albay (2011)

The Viewing Deck Collections; trekking the mountains

A mountain is a large landform that stretches above the surrounding land in a limited area usually in the form of a peak. The study of mountains is called Orography. Exogeology deals with planetary mountains, which in that branch of science are usually called montes (singular—mons). The highest mountain on Earth based from sea level is Mount Everest (8,848 m (29,029 ft)) in the Himalayas of Asia. The highest known mountain in the Solar System is Olympus Mons on the planet Mars at 21,171 m (69,459 ft).
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain

sightseeing the summit above

Mt. Taal, Batangas (311masl)

Will The Philippines Become Asia’s Next Gaming Tiger?

The Philippines could soon be adding “world class casinos” to its roster of tourist hotspots. 

After decades of economy riddled with internal conflicts and political instability, the Philippines is bouncing back to the global market and ready to emerge as Asia’s newest market player. With the economy showing promising results comes a lot of opportunities that can catapult the country into a giant. Aside from proving itself as an economic and trade export powerhouse, the country is also starting to gain momentum as the newest gaming capital in the region. Although the country still has a long way to go to go up against Macau, the future is bright in the archipelagic country.

Budget and Safety Tips in Solo Traveling Sri Lanka and Maldives

4-days quick solo trip in the island countries of Indian Ocean

February 25 to March 01, 2014 

Maldives last part; Male city tour and airport departure

1. If planning to visit Sri Lanka or Maldives, it is highly recommended to visit both due to the following;
- Filipinos are visa on arrival in Sri Lanka with very relax immigration. Though as per their website they require return ticket and show money, I did not do both even not bothered by the usual questions. On the other hand, Filipinos are free visa fee and visa upon arrival in Maldives. Mandatory requirements are return ticket and confirmed hotel booking.
- transiting from Colombo up to 48 hours maximum is free of charge.
- roundtrip fare from Colombo, Sri Lanka to Male, Maldives is much cheaper due to proximity to each other (nearest neighbor country).
- Sri Lanka has very, very cheap cost of living compared to very high cost of Maldives (plus the additional charge and tax on ALL food and service availed).

2. Colombo Airport has approximately 35km distance to downtown. Bus #187 is the cheapest public transportation to downtown, Colombo Fort and Central bus station for only 200 lkr ($1.3). Almost 2 hours travel time going downtown (because it passed through the inner roads) and an hour only going to airport (because it passed through the express highway). Rickshaw (tuktuk) = 100lkr min (provincial) 200lkr min (colombo) and average meal = 400lkr

3. Sri Lanka is very, very safe to travel even for solo backpackers. Sri Lanka is like a mixed of India and Myanmar culture, custom, language and way of living. They treat foreigners as special and fairly in fare negotiations. Backpacks/Luggage can be safely stored in the ticket booth of major parks for free of charge. I left my backpacks both in Dambulla and Sigiriya. It was guarded by staff(Dambulla) and police (Sigiriya).

Maldives island tour (Baros)

Maldives last part; Male City Tour and Airport Departure

4-days quick solo trip in the island countries of Indian Ocean

February 25 to March 01, 2014 

Maldives 3rd part; Baros, the 5-star island resort

Sri Lankan Airlines has a very bad service for Colombo flights despite I purchased my roundtrip ticket as a fully paid confirmed regular fare 3 weeks before the flight date. They made flight UL104 (Feb28) overbooked and I belonged to the unfortunate ones intentionally and forcefully. I arrived more than 3 hours before departure time and yet they put me on-hold despite complaining in-front of other passengers. I rushed to other airport officers to file a complain but no one helped-out so I decided to go back to the check-in counter. Good thing I mentioned I have connecting flight to other airline which they accepted as a valid reason to include me on the scheduled flight, they issued my boarding pass right away. Since this was my 1st time, I smell fishy and made observation as I went to boarding gate. I found-out that 95% ABOARD ARE ALL WHITE (Westerners and Northeast Asians), an obvious reason of RACIAL DISCRIMINATION. On ALL (100%) promo fare flights I purchased in ALL low-cost carriers (Cebu Pacific, Fly Dubai, Air Asia, Air Arabia and Easy Jet) had absolutely no hassle during boarding pass issuance, much more on the very respectful treatment of big time airlines (Turkish Air, Cathay Pacific, Egypt Air, PAL, Emirates and Etihad). Who would think and anticipate that a flag carrier airline is practicing this kind of irresponsible arrangement. To think that this was my 1st booking on this airline, I swear I will ignore this airline from now on. Connecting flight from Air Arabia saved my night or else bumped-off and transferred to a new unknown departure timing.

Malé is the capital of Maldives. The city occupies the entire islet of Malé and is located at the southern rim of North Male Atoll. The island is 1.7 km long and 1.0 km wide, but with over 100,000 people crammed onto it, Male is by some measures the world's densest city.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Male

Male city tour (public beach near Hulhumale port)