Let Curiosity Be My Guide

Since I started travelling outside the country, I must admit, I get addicted to it. Perhaps because I always got amazed on how other countries run their nation. I am very eager to experience their culture and beliefs, witness the beauty of their famous attractions, and to try different food, whether from the restaurants or those I found along the streets. There's something about travelling wherein the more I travel, the more I need to do it again and again and again. 

I consider myself blessed to have been living in the moment because in this day and age, we can now travel without spending too much. Budget airlines from time to time offer promos, which I confess, I always took advantage so to score a seat sale and therefore manage my strong desire to travel.

Here below are the countries outside Philippines that I have already visited:

I have been to Hong Kong and Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, South Korea and China. These are all Asian countries but I am positive, in the long run, I could be able to travel away from our continent. So with both a wish and a prayer, I hope the list continues until I successfully explored the whole wide world. 

For better or worse, I will let my curiosity be my guide and visit as many countries I could possibly go. I will travel more often, while I still can, so to change the way I see the world, and the way the world sees me. 

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Travel In Style

It has been my mantra to always dress up accordingly and appropriately, especially when I'm travelling. I'm not saying I am a 'fashionista' or always best-dressed. But I know most of the time, I am well-dressed. Here's why: 

1. I check the weather. It is important as a traveller that I know the temperature and the weather of the place I am going to visit. Is it summer or winter, sunny or rainy? Then I plan my complete get-up. Light, colorful clothes when sunny and I ready my jackets/blazers when rainy/winter.

2. I study the itinerary. The style a traveller wears shall depend on the place he/she will visit. City tour = urban style. 

3. I understand the culture. There are places, like most temples, where travellers are not allowed to enter the premises when wearing a "shorty-shorts" or a sleeveless top. Better to research their practices and beliefs prior to the travel dates. Unless you would want to just stay and kill the time waiting outside! 

4. I experiment. Everytime I travel, it is an opportunity for me to dress-up. As much as possible, I try my best to look different and fashionably-good at all times. But of course, in styling oneself, there were hits and misses. So be not afraid to mix & match, accessorize, and try different styles possible. Lastly, but certainly not the least:

5. I dress up comfortably. Most of the tours require walking. Lots of walking actually. So better wear what is comfortable from head to toe. I always prioritize comfort over my looks!

So there. Those are my 5 important tips to achieving travelling with style. Here below were my travel in style outfitey:

Hong Kong / Macau || Summer

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Singapore

Bangkok, Thailand

Singapore

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Hong Kong / Macau || Winter

This April, I will be flying to South Korea with my travel buddies. I can't wait to "rampa" my winter clothes! =))

 

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Days Well-Spent

A couple of months ago, I, together with my mom and a few relatives, flew in to Puerto Princesa, Palawan. We booked our flight 9 months before the departure date which means we have enough time to save money to manage the expenses when we get there. 

Since I am very particular with the must-try, must-do, must-eat, must-etc., I conducted my own research through online blogs and personal experiences of my friends. And I finally came up to our 3-day itinerary. 

Below are the highlights of our 4days/3nights stay in Puerto Princesa.

Day 1

We arrived in the city around 2pm. We did not waste any time so with our bags and luggages at the van compartment, we headed to the City Tour. It was rainy during that day but the plan still pushed through. We first went to Plaza Cuartel. It is not an ordinary park but a historical one -- 143 American soldiers were burned alive by Japanese invaders. Only 11 prisoners have survived in that ill-fated event. Right in-front of Plaza Cuartel is a beautiful cathedral, known as Immaculate Concepcion Church. Since it was our first time there, we prayed inside and made a wish. I'm crossing my fingers that my wishes will be granted! The rain was pouring non-stop but our tourist guide continued to tour us around the city. House of Pasalubongs can be found along the way so we stopped for a few minutes to buy anik-anik. Our next stop was at Crocodile Farm. Well, I'm not really fascinated with crocodiles. Maybe I have fears because of what I mostly see on movies or heard on the news. The last stop was at Baker's Hill and there we bought breads and pastries, which believe or not, we downed during our tours. Then we were dropped to Go Hotels, our decent home for the next 3 days. This hotel wowed me and it's "not bad" for I felt like we were not in a budget hotel. Affordable accommodation without compromising quality and good service. The hotel is situated beside Robinsons Puerto Princesa and so we had the perks of dining out, do a little bit of grocery & mall shopping, and grab some drinks to cap off the night.

Day 2

We woke up early the following day to have breakfast and prepare for the Underground River Tour. The weather was better than yesterday but because of the ocean's big waves, the coast guards did not allow the boatmen to sail on. Instead, we headed to Honda Bay Tour. We were given a few minutes to change into a swimming attire for the tour. We travelled by land for less than an hour and there, we started the tour. We tried snorkeling and fish-feeding. That underwater experience was so amazing! Of course during that tour, we enjoyed the magnificent beach, cottony clouds, the fine sands, the paradise, and the time  of spending together -- chikahan, tawanan, and the boodle fight for lunch. It was late in the afternoon when we got back in the hotel. We freshen up and went out again to dine either in KaLui or Kinabuch. Our feet brought us to the latter. The food was just fine for me and kind of pricey I must say.

Day 3

I dreamt last night that Underground Tour will be cancelled yet again because of the bad weather. I can't accept that because it was the highlight of this trip. We were there because we wanted to see why it is part of the new 7 Wonders of Nature. Lucky me and sure because of our prayers, it was just a dream. The weather wasn't too good -- it was sunny and rainy for a weird reason but the coast guards allowed the tourists to go on a tour. Land travel from our hotel took us about 2 hours and in that terminal, we waited for a boat. From one boat we sailed over the sea and transfered to another boat. Sailed again and then we walked through the woods and finally saw the river and the cave. There was a queue but you won't notice that the time was passing by quickly because of the beautiful scenery. To cut the long story short, we were able to witness the beauty of the Underground River. It should never be missed! 

We had our late lunch at a nearby buffet house and went straight to our hotel. I thanked Mary Ann, our tourist guide, for a stress-free vacation. Her intelligence and wit made the whole experience educational and fun. I have her number if you need her service! 

Since it was our last night and we have no plans early in the morning, we explored Puerto Princesa at night. We found the lively bar called, Tiki Bar. Great place to chill, drink, party, and enjoy the live music of Manila Pop. Then we hit the sack.

Day 4

Nothing much happened this day. We woke up late since we went back to the hotel late. All I can remember, we packed our things and ate our lunch at Mang Inasal then we headed off to the airport. Argh, it was so hard to leave that place, especially we had days very well-spent.

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It’s the Journey, Not the Destination

It all started with a funny thought to literally do “temple run” in Angkor Wat. It was early January of this year when I, with my travel buddies, then decided to have an Easter Escapade in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Technically, we booked our flights months ago without expecting anything -- no specific itinerary, though I did a little research a week before our flight. I learned that Cambodia is very laidback and that it is very hot and humid in Siem Reap. Here below is how our journey had been.

The Flight Must Go On.
We got stressed/nervous right before our flight to Siem Reap. Everything was going too well until my attention was called because airport workers have found gun bullets in one of our check-in suitcases. True enough, they belong to Christian “Inay” Cabalza. They were not his. He just borrowed the luggage. He was asked to make a letter shortly during boarding and made it in the nick of time. Lesson learned: check your bags before entering the airport. Inay was able to fly with us.

Deplaning.
After more than 3 hours of travel time, we finally arrived in Siem Reap. The moment we deplaned, we felt that it was hot. Hotter than our very own Philippines! The airport was not remarkable, though I’ve seen a big statue of an elephant and pictures of the majestic Angkor Wat, which were displayed elsewhere. I found no Money Changer which I find very strange. Surprisingly (and conveniently), primary currency used in Cambodia is US Dollars. It is equally acceptable as their national currency, Cambodian Riel.

Pub Street.
Right after we secured our stuff in Angkor Riviera Hotel, our official home when we were in Siem Reap, we explored around the vicinity. First stop was the Pub Street. This is the busiest street in Siem Reap, especially at night. Locals and tourists were all there for night gimmick. It was a beer night for us, documented by lots of self-captured group photos. Second and last nights were also spent at this happy street.

Gad Around Siem Reap.
First morning in Siem Reap and so we started it by trying out the hotel’s Intercontinental breakfast buffet. The food was great! We then decided to go out, find a convenience store, mall perhaps, and shop a little. To our surprise, we found only one mall that sells not-our-type stuff. There were a few boutiques, mostly local ones, but also not our type. So we instead tried looking for a fastfood where we can have our lunch. Lucky to have found KFC! They serve food different from what we have here. Gravy has extra charge, OMG! We headed back to the hotel and scheduled for a boat ride to Tonle Sap River. There we found a floating market. To be honest, I didn’t like it very much. I’ve seen it in Thailand and I liked it way better!

Temple Tour.
The most exciting part of this trip was the temple tour. It was hot and we all got sweaty but it was fun! We do not want to feel temple-burnout so we opted to just go and see only three: Angkor Wat (UNESCO cultural heritage), Ta Prohm Temple (home of the giant roots, where Tomb Raider was shot), and Bayon Temple (temple of the smiling gods). I love its intricate carvings and how they looked so aged which shows rich history.

The People.
Khmer = Cambodian. It’s like Pinoy = Filipino. In general, Khmer are very friendly. They speak English well in Chinese accent but in softer tone. They were smiling most of the time and in my observation, they do not rush things. No one is in a hurry! If you ordered for something, they will do it at their own slow pace.

The Food.
As compared to Philippines, food in Cambodia is cheaper, whether in a hotel or in any streetside, without compromising the taste. I enjoyed eating all the food I tried, especially they were extra spicy. The highlight of the food we ate in Siem Reap was the Happy Pizza that after finishing a slice, you will feel happy because of the secret ingredient. Don’t judge us. If you know what I’m saying, it’s legal in Cambodia. Besides, it’s medicinal!

Haggle! Haggle!
Everything in Cambodia is unreasonably priced. So if you want a ride, haggle! You want a food/drink, haggle! You want to buy this and that, haggle! If there is a country where you must be good in haggling, Cambodia is the place to be. Khmer overpriced anything they sell/offer so it is important to bargain.

The Fly Back.
Though we enjoyed our stay in Siem Reap, this is our very first time to feel so excited about flying back to the Philippines. Usually, it was hard to leave the place we visit, but this time, we almost jump of excitement when we saw the plane that will bring us back to the country where we call home. I appreciate Philippines all the more after this recent trip. Truly, there’s no place like home! We gotta love our own!

I can't share everything that happened in Cambodia. Overall, our Easter escapade in Siem Reap was super fun. The bad parts were all part of the trip. The place may have not reach the level of our expectations and we say, that was a “humbling journey,” but who cares? All we need is to be with a happy group and each must have a clear mindset of charging everything to experience! So to my travel buddies, thanks for the memories and the experiences, and everything in between. I am looking forward to our 7th country to visit!

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2012 In A Nutshell

Wow! Time really flies so fast! It feels like we just celebrated a new year and here we are now, about to welcome another year. I just can't believe a year has already passed!

Looking back to the days and months of 2012, I must admit, it had been tough on me. I was unemployed at the beginning of the year, I hardly can find a job and the expenses were ongoing. Our house was sold to a developer, we needed to relocate from Mandaluyong to Parañaque. Can you just imagine leaving the place you grew up with your entire life, saying goodbye to your friends, relatives, the environment. Oh wow, I don't even know how I was able to adapt to our new home! Towards almost third quarter and the end of 2012, I suffered from different kinds of pain --physical pain, toothache, and emotional trauma after my bag was stolen away from me. Geez, I lost my cards, IDs, iPhone, camera, etc. A lot money flew just like that!

But hey, let's not focus on the negative things. I am a firm believer that there is a balance for everything. If I experienced all those awful things, there were also awesome ones. Lots of it actually.

Career. I started working again as a Company Nurse sometime in May. Lucky to have been working with the people I used to work with. In October, I engaged myself with a small-type of business. Glad that so far, it prospers way higher than what I envisioned. Don't call me businessman but an entrepreneur!

Hobbies. In March, I kept my passion burning. I began writing again and share it online through this blogsite. I was able to make my own version of Calamansi muffin. You could ask me for the recipe. I tried to become adventurous and try different things like playing billiards, basketball, wall-climbing and ziplining. I am looking forward for more active activities to the coming year.

Travels. In January, I was able to visit Vigan, where I met some of our relatives. In August, I went back to Singapore for a holiday. That was the first out-of-the-country trip of our family. Then I was able to go back for the third time in Boracay, where I also enjoyed the company of my college friends sometime in September. Of course there were other trips to nearby places like Laguna, Antipolo, Tagaytay, et al.

Love. It's always there throughout the year. Still no romantic love but I have abundant love from my family, friends, God. To feel you are accepted, appreciated, and blessed, that's more than enough love. I couldn't ask for more.

So to you, 2012, I want to thank you. Thanks for all the changes, travels, learnings, and experiences whether good or bad. There were ups and downs, pains and joys, but look at me, I am standing still no matter what. I don't know what's gonna happen this 2013 but whatever it might and could be, I know it will be an even more exciting and a better year.

Cheers to 2013 and may we all have a prosperous and harmonious brand new year ahead!

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Thumbs Up in Boracay

Over a week ago, my college friends and I went to Boracay. It was not our first time in that island; we all have been there separately with different groups. The only thing that’s first was I am (or we are) going to the beach with the BrainTrain Group, which later I will explain why we were labelled with that name. To make it more exciting this time, I prepared a list of better things to do, to try, to capture, to taste when we reach our place of holiday. By the end of our short vacation, only a few materialized.

First Day. The first day was one of the most memorable on this trip. WHY? That’s because for once, we felt like a VIP. The pilot waited for us. We were paged several times and immediately after we board, the plane took off. That garnered a non-stop laughs among us.

Second Day. No much activity as we planned. We were offered several times to try this-and-that but we declined because we already experienced most of the activities, like the ATV, zorb, helmet diving, etc. September is considered an off-peak season in the island so the prices are far cheaper than the rate when it is summer. Except we tried Parao to enjoy the beautiful beach of Boracay, the strong winds, the waves, the pristine saltwater splashing on our face, and the magnificent sunset. That was truly enjoyable!

Third Day. Everyone woke up late, but not Lara and myself. We walked by the beach, gazed upon the natural scenery, took our photos, and... let me just say “cook something exciting.” Since we did not let our time to engage with some “fun under the sun” activities, we were nowhere to be found but either in our hotel room, in a restaurant, or in a bar. Sure we were pigging out, drinking alcohol, resting, tweeting, and instagraming. That’s the whole point of our vacation, not to mention, to party every minute of every day.

“Happy Hour” starts at 4pm onwards. This is the time we always took advantage of the drinks which are sold at 50% off or buy 1, take 1. Our favourite was BrainTrain, which is made up of 10 alcoholic drinks combined into one mixture, best served with cherries. This is good to share and I swear, would be impossible if you don’t feel tipsy at all. During that time, at least when we were in Boracay, we were the only group that orders BrainTrain, hence, the bartender branded us as BrainTrain Group.

Darkness started to set in. We got hungry and wanted to eat in an all-you-can-eat buffet. We headed to Astoria and availed of our complimentary dinner. There was another story about this and yes, it was related to what I “cooked” earlier this day. Sorry, but I’d rather not reveal it. To give you a hint, among our group, I bagged the Best Story and Best Director. For Best Actor it was Adrian; Jessan for Best Actress.

It was our last night so might as well enjoy the remaining hours in the island. Party! Party! Dance! Dance! Even on the dance floor I remember the Strawberry Firework dance steps by Mykhel and the “Kasambahay” dance moves by Jean that we practiced in our hotel. No exaggerations, but that night was crazy fun!

Fourth Day. It’s our last and final day in the island. We started to feel nostalgic. But must bring the most of it! We bought some gastronomic delights and pasalubongs. Lounge by the shore, watch the beach, and bask under the sun while drinking the best shake in Boracay. That feeling was priceless! Over all, the experience was a thumbs-up! Just before we leave, we promised that we will still going back and perhaps, drink BrainTrain without sharing. I’m crossing my fingers, come next year, we could go back there all together.

I cannot share the nitsy-bitsy details of this trip. I am sharing only the highlights. As they say, “what happens in Boracay, stays in the island.”

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There's Always A First Time

I have nothing much to share about my recent trip to Singapore, except it was a blast. No, it was not my first time there. I've been there with my travel buddies as a side-trip when we flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2010. At first I thought, I wouldn't feel the same excitement like the first time I was going there. But as the day draws near to our departure date, the excitement and enthusiasm doubled.

I personally purchased the tickets last November 11, 2011 during Cebu Pacific's seat sale, "Onse Fare." If my counting is correct, that was exactly nine (9) months before our scheduled flight. This means, we have sufficient time to save up so we have enough pocket-money to spend when we get to SG.

A month before we fly, I booked the place where we will be staying in. I did not choose the expensive 5-star hotels and opted just to stay in a cheap hotel, decent enough to accomodate us at night to sleep. Then I designed the itinerary, like what I always do everytime I go on a trip. I did a lot of researches to make sure everyone will enjoy and at the same time, to be able to visit the tourist spots.

Here comes the day of pleasures. As mentioned above, my short stay in SG was a BLAST because of the "firsts" I experienced:

1. First time to ride a cable car with the whole family. Poch and Mom usually turn their backs because they have fears of heights. 

2. First time to try the Luge and the Skyride. I hope we have similar activites in the country.

3. First time to experience a 4D ride. I already watched 4D shows a couple of times but never a ride. 

4. First time my mom celebrated her birthday outside Philippines. She's now... never mind.

5. First time to taste the Singapore ice cream. It tastes good though the flavor I chose was not as yummy as what my mom and brothers ordered. 

6. First time to shop at H&M. I swear I could stay there for like the whole day.

7. First time to watch a Fountain show. It was beautiful! 

8. First time to see the famous Merlion not spewing water into Singapore Bay. Sad but what can we do? It is under construction.

9. First time to get lost in SG but hey, that's part of travelling. 

10. First time to see Marilyn Monroe, Po the Panda, Frankenstein, Betty Boop, Shrek and Fiona -- all of them are "in character." 

11. First time to try Galactica Battleship, both the Human & the Cylon. They were test-driving them when I first visited Universal Studios Singapore.

12. First time to fight with robots through the 4D Transformers Ride. This is one of the best rides!

13. First time to taste Famous Amos cookies & Garrett popcorn. Someone please bring them here so we could more often experience Singapore cookies & Chicago tradition, respectively.

14. First time to dine at No Signboard Seafood. You wouldn't remember your name after eating their dishes. It's like Dampa counterpart.

15. First time to meet Tita Peggy, my mom's bff since I wasn't still brought to life. 

Above all, because it was my first out-of-the-country trip with my family. Blessed to have experienced it in SG. Not all family could travel all together!

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