{Trip from November 2010} Camiguin isn’t just any island. It's a rare jewel. Getting to this destination might take a lot from you (physically and mentally as you will have to endure a long travel by road and sea). But reaching it will all be worth it afterwards. And to top the whole trip off, staying at Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin made our visit in the island an even more enjoyable experience.
Our third day in Camiguin was also our last. But Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin still made our last day one heck of a memorable one! Below was our last itinerary on the island:
Day 3 (White Island hopping)
06:00 Wake-up Call
06:30 Breakfast @ Ocean Side Bar & Grill (inclusive in the package)
07:00 Ready for the tou
07:15 Depart Bahay Bakasyunan and proceed to White Island
07:30 ETA/Agohay (entry point to White Island) take motorized pump boat
07:45 ETA/White Island (swimming snorkeling, sun-bathing, picture-taking)
11:00 Depart White Island and proceed to Resort
12:00 nn Lunch @ Ocean Side Bar & Grill (per pax account)
Pack-up ready for Check-out
Depart Resort and proceed to Benoni port

Capiz, the Center of Seafood Trip Tourism in
the Country, was not an immediate destination in my list of places to see in the Philippines.
I’ve been allergic to crustaceans for as long as I could remember, so I delayed the idea of traveling to the province. But when an opportunity to visit the seafood
capital was offered to me, I just couldn’t say no. And it was one of the best
decisions yet, as exploring parts of Capiz showed me so many interesting places
and eats, several of which I would’ve missed if I overlooked the chance to explore the booming region.
Lakawon Island in Negros Occidental is quickly becoming a beach resort destination in the Philippines. With that, I knew that I had to see it in person to find out what all the fuss is about. And it wasn't long until I found myself traveling off the coast of Cadiz City, walking the white sands of the banana-shaped island, and setting sail aboard Taw Hai, the first floating bar in Asia.
I already tried reaching the cellphone number of Raymen Beach Resort, months prior to our trip to Guimaras. But since I wasn't getting any response from them, I tried looking for an alternative. That's when I found Alobijod Cove on Facebook. I sent them a message on both Facebook and through SMS, and was able to get a response on the latter. There weren't many photos to convince me to book. But I felt like I had no other option since we really wanted to stay by Alubihod beach. Anyway, the booking was settled after a few days. I was able to reserve 2 nights, and wasn't required to put in a downpayment. Great, right?
When we arrived in Alobijod Cove, we went straight to the resort's small tindahan (store). There we met this lady (probably in her 50's) who we introduced ourselves to. Odd as it was, she still had to ask me what room I had reserved. Although she read from the guest list that I was to be expected that day. Anyway, I told her that what we got was a Fan Room (Php1,000/night).
Construction site -- building new cottages. |
Life has been challenging the last couple of months, that all I yearned for was some rest and relaxation, to help rejuvenate the senses. The universe finally heard my silent pleas, thus granting me a weekend that was filled with positive energy and inspiring people. I was brought back to a happy place, a happy home that once welcomed me with open arms. And like a giddy child, excited to explore once more, I was back in Zambawood.
Nothing beats relaxing by the beach. More so, experiencing the different wonders of the Philippines. #itsmorefuninthephilippines
I have been on and off board airplanes, hopping from one island to another in just a span of 7 days. I was just in Bohol (my 2nd time there), and was back again at the airport for another getaway. But this time, I spent the weekend in Coron with my love.
I have been on and off board airplanes, hopping from one island to another in just a span of 7 days. I was just in Bohol (my 2nd time there), and was back again at the airport for another getaway. But this time, I spent the weekend in Coron with my love.
When it comes to annual summer vacations, I would usually be one of my family's go-to persons when it comes to:
*Doing research on prospective vacation spots
*Coordinating with the resort representatives
*Coordinating the schedules of each family members vacation leaves
*Making accommodation bookings
*Making a feasible itinerary
*Finalizing and managing of our budget
*Paying lodging and transportation costs
*Huddling the whole group when the next adventure awaits
Me at the Zestair check-in counter -- Double checking everyone's ticket! |
These are my usual tasks when my BIG FAMILY goes out of town. It has never been an easy job but I've always found a sense of fulfillment when I get to lead this "big group". And since I've always considered myself to be a really organized and OC person, I've always managed to get things (and people) going on schedule. So if there was an epic trip that I would like to share, it would have to be our Boracay escapade(s).
Rubel was set to leave for work abroad on a September. So we made sure to book a quick getaway to celebrate our advance anniversary, and to also do a sort of despedida for him. We wanted to go the beach, and just have a relaxing time, so going to Boracay was an immediate choice. But since we lacked the time to do any decent research on where to stay, we chose to browse lodging options via Agoda. And after narrowing our selections, we eventually booked LSM Square Residences.
Coreene and I had the rest of the morning in Biliran before leaving for Ormoc. So for us not to feel constrained with the time that we had left on the island, we opted to have a more relaxed tour --- thus choosing to go and see Tinago Falls in Caibiran (another Biliran municipality).
The best way to recommend something in particular is when you've already tried it. In my case, I've only tried staying in three different accommodations from three separate Boracay trips. The first place was at Ocean Breeze Inn by Station 3 (2008), which I happen to have an old entry for. The second would be at Hannah Hotel by Station 1 (March 2011), and then Boradise Beach House by Station 1 (May 2011).
First off, let me tell you something about our stay at Hannah Hotel. We were always welcomed with a warm smile or greeting upon entering the vicinity, and was always prepared a warm breakfast every morning. Our booking actually included a daily complimentary breakfast; and the remarkable thing about it was that the owners of the hotel were serving our meals themselves. It was a world-class experience, and it was very personal. Other than that, they always had something good to say about the world around us, especially the Mom. The hotel was definitely brimming with positivity.


One more thing that I've also appreciated was their consideration to lift our reservation when we couldn't get to Boracay on time. We got stuck at the Manila Domestic Airport, waiting for our turn to fly to Kalibo. They were willing to change our booking, and to be rescheduled for the following day, in case we couldn't make it that day. The weather was pretty bad in Kalibo, but when the rain simmered down, we flew right back again. Good enough, our second try at landing in Kalibo was successful. To top it all off, the rain stopped. As soon as we rode the van that was bound for the Caticlan Sea Port, I immediately texted Hannah and Paolo that we were finally on our way.
If you must know, Hannah Hotel has become very close to my heart. Not only were they hospitable in every aspect, they treated me, their guest, just like a close friend. I will never forget the long talks I had with Hannah and Paolo's Mom. I must say, our conversation was very intellectual.
Besides that, the hotel itself also shows off a vintage vibe to it. There are hanged paintings everywhere, and also some lamps and shells that add up to the beach ambiance. Hannah hotel also has its own balcony on the 2nd floor. Our room was arranged with bamboo-framed beds, with a sarong hanging by the ceiling, a private T&B, TV, electrical outlets. There was also a veranda upstairs that all the guests can use. They also had free WIFI , but you'll have to go downstairs by the lobby to get a full connection.
Hannah Hotel is not beachfront. FYI. But you will only need to cross the main road to get to the beach; and it will only take you less than five minutes to get there. Their landmark is by the basketball court and church. Other than that, the hotel, which happens to be by Station 1, also offers very affordable and budget-friendly rates. For a group of four, I only had to shell out about P2200 worth for a 4D/3N stay (including free breakfast). That's P550 per day!


Anyway, should you be planning a beach getaway, and you happen to be Boracay bound, make sure to check-out Hannah Hotel. You can contact them through these numbers:
Hannah - 09208502264 / 09222378960 / 09154373473
Paulo - 09279110483
Explore & Be Free!
Mai
I miss the old Boracay where roads weren’t congested, and where passageways going to the beach weren’t jam-packed. I’m all for boosting the isle’s tourism and progression. But it was a bit of an eyesore to see so many construction sites sprouting up like mushrooms. I had a hard time recognizing certain areas that were so familiar before that I felt somewhat confined. It wasn’t the island vibe that I was longing to experience, as sceneries have definitely changed since I visited 3 years ago. So imagine how refreshing it was to stay on the same islet but on a more quieter and calmer side of it. Given all of the major changes in the bustling side of Stations 1-3, I’m glad I found Savoy Hotel in Newcoast Boracay. You’d be surprised that such a place existed just 30 minutes away from D’Mall in Station 2.
My family (well most of us) went on a 3D/2N beach getaway just this week -- a trip that was bound for Laiya, Batangas. Now, I've heard about the hype when it came to the well-maintained shores of Laiya, and how most resorts don't usually allow any cooking to be done within their premises. But since we were a BIG family, my cousin and I went ahead of ourselves to find that distinct resort that would accommodate both our quantity and our need to cook our own food. This was the only way that we could really save and stay within our budget. Soon enough, Kabayan Resort resurfaced from our endless google searching. And as early as February, we were already booked.
There are a thousand more islands in the Philippines (about 7,641 isles) that I’ve yet to visit and explore. And it's packed with natural treasures worth discovering like Mariveles for example - a picturesque seaside town in Bataan. Situated at the southern tip of Bataan (50 km west of Metro Manila), Mariveles is famous for its much-admired Five Fingers – a series of coves to the west of the municipality, which looks like a hand spread out when you view the map.

#ThrowbackTravel | In my three years in the UAE, I’ve only set foot in two of its Emirates: Dubai and Abu Dhabi. But last year, I crossed off two more, and these were Sharjah (where we last moved to) and Ras Al Khaimah. And so, a year ago, my friends and I spent the weekend at Ras Al Khaimah. The resort that we went to, which was The Cove Rotana, was like a scene straight out of a breathtaking, romantic movie. I’ve never been to Santorini, but the Rotana hotel exuded the same stunning ambiance.

An unexpected family matter came up that had my husband and I rushing to Abu Dhabi for the weekend. And since we were on a tight budget, we looked for ways to make our trip comfortable without breaking the bank. Good thing we had The Entertainer app, which offered a variety of Buy-1-Take-1 deals ranging from food & drinks, everyday services, travel and more. Through this app, we were able to get a 2-night stay at the Intercontinental Abu Dhabi while paying for just one night.

{January 28, 2012} Our Day Tour for our second day in Coron consisted of the following sites: Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, Banol Beach, Coral Gardens, and Siete Pecados Marine Sanctuary. We were picked-up at the resort at 9:30 am. The tour also ended at exactly 4:30 pm.
First stop: Kayangan Lake
First stop: Kayangan Lake
[Old post from May 2008] A friend of ours wanted to celebrate her birthday out of town. So just after a month from our beach getaway, we all decided to take her on a road trip up the mountains. The destination was BAGUIO.
DAY 1
A day before her actual birthday. We all decided to meet at the 7-eleven store by Roces Avenue around 12 midnight. As soon as everyone arrived, we rode the first available jeep to Cubao to catch a bus trip to Baguio via Victory Liner. The ticket was around PHP450/one-way.
I already heard about the #7SUPERSHOTS trending a few months ago. So this made me want to join right after seeing the compilations from some of the blogs that I followed. But in order to participate in this super fun activity, one must actually be tagged first. Well, as for me.. no one was tagging me! *LOL* But when a fellow travel blogger (Francis of PALA-LAGAW) finally asked if I wanted to join, of course, I immediately said "YES"! Oh, and if I may add.. fellow blogger Edmar of Edmaration.com also tagged me sometime ago! So thank you Edmar! :P
Anyhow, to continue on with my excitement to finally be a part of this game, let's start with...
Makes Me Think...
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Window of the World, Shenzhen, China (April 2010) |
A few months ago, I wrote something about 'turning my rejections into a positive'.
It was about getting rejected for the third time. If you must know, I
applied countless times for a US Visa, yet I got denied over and over. I actually thought about visiting Canada instead, since friends advised that it was easier to get a visa from that country.
Just maybe, it can be my first time to fly via Air Canada when given the chance to travel in North America. Anyway, this specific photo made me think if I'll ever get the opportunity to
see this part of the world. I was already excited when I saw this
miniature structure of the Statue of Liberty in Shenzhen's Window of the World park. But of course, I wanted to see the actual one in New York City!
Takes My Breath Away...
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Kayangan Bay, Coron, Palawan (January 2012) |
{Post from April 2009 trip} I made myself a promise that I would try to visit a foreign country, once a year. And it has been that way since 2007. It’s a good thing that work finds me every time, so it immediately makes-up for all the expenses I’ve made. And although I end up going broke after a trip, God always makes a way for me to go back on track. And every year, he blesses me another trip to look forward to, just like my first trip to Bangkok, Thailand.
I was still working for a fashion company at the time when I invited my friend Clarice for a vacation. And since she hasn’t been out of the country for five years now, she decided to finally end her 5-yr streak. And so, a month before our trip, I booked us both plane tickets and accommodations via Cebu Pacific’s Fun Tours.
DAY 1 IN BANGKOK
I booked our flight on Clarice’s birthday. But of course, she didn’t celebrate it 30,000 feet above sea level. She actually ended her special day on the plane. But nonetheless, we celebrated further by eating some late Phad Thai dinner at a bar by Khao San Road --– the backpacker’s haven.