When Rubel and I reached our 70th month last October, we decided to do something special for that date. And since I was craving for a nice dinner setup, we chose to meet at Harbor Square right after work. But as soon as we reached the port, the stench from the bay reeked that we ended up eating at Army Navy (2nd floor). It was actually a good decision to move upstairs since a panoramic view of Manila bay looked more spectacular from where we sat (Manila's famous sunset and skyline are best seen from the top).
I love Manila Bay despite its polluted air, scattered trash and spoiled black waters. And I'll always be caught in awe with its many other wonders.
It was only last year when we found comfort and enjoyment in what others referred to as 'staycations'. So after enjoying our stay at Great Eastern Hotel and Orion Hotel, Rubel and I went on another quick getaway. But this time, we opted to stay somewhere close by. And since we were both stressed out from our respective jobs, we decided to spend one night at iSuites just to unwind.
One of the things that I love about wayfaring is having the opportunity to share my passion for it. And in the past two years, I've been offered the chance to write for a few local magazines. It is through print media that I continuously get to show more of my love for exploring the Philippines.
[June 2013 entry...] I was supposed to go home right after having brunch with my college friends. But for some reason, I urged myself to walk around UP Diliman before going home. So I obliged myself with a little 'me' time. I mean, my recently injured foot could also use some exercise, so I trailed away.
My friend dropped me off in-front of CAL (College of Arts & Letters) before going back to her class. And from there, I started my slow walk. That's when I started taking pictures of the buildings that I used to frequent back when I was still in college. Here are just some of the structures that made me reminisce the good ol' days.
Before there were hi-tech gadgets where 'notes' can easily be typed and saved, I first jotted down many details of my travels on just a simple notepad. I would write down the street names that I passed-by, the directions going to certain locations and attractions, and the expenses incurred from the many establishments that I've visited along the way (costs on transportation, food, shopping, etc.). So writing down my entries on several blank pages was my way of documenting the places that I've already been to. Of course, I recorded everything that was going to be of use to me, to help me write my travel stories in full detail later on. So you can just imagine how nostalgic it felt when I started documenting my travels again (after several years) using this spiffy looking journal --- a special edition, 'The Travel Club Moleskine'. This notebook was all the more special because the company behind TTC just celebrated 20 fruitful years of being in the retail business. That's a milestone right there!
2013 has been a hard year for me. And it truly felt like I was being challenged in more ways than one (physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially). The number of trips that I made this year may have been less compared to 2012. But I still thank God for blessing me with plenty of life-changing experiences.
HOW I GOT THROUGH THE BAD JUJU
My right foot's 5th metatarsal broke in March, which kept me from having to work and to travel (was already bound for Tacloban the next month when this happened). Plus, a nasty skin ailment progressed all over my body during my immobility. I couldn't get myself checked at the time since I could barely walk with my foot cast. So things worsened through those months. And by the time I consulted a dermatologist, a new set of expenses came pouring like rain.
Budget Biyahera is about finding fun and distinct food and destinations, accommodations, products/gears and activities that people can enjoy on a ‘regular’ person’s budget and schedule.
