[Entry from May 2009 trip] Our annual family trip for MAY 2009 wasn’t supposed to push through because a storm hit Manila so bad, it hit the North area even more. Ironically, we were supposed to be North bound for this post-summer trip. We already had plans to stay at a family friend’s beach house in Zambales. But the news that night confirmed the frantic situation in the whole province.
There was no plan B. But we made one when the storm was really getting worse. And since the north area was a place that no one should set foot on at that time, we suddenly thought of going south bound instead. So we decided on a whim to try our luck going there, hoping that the storm wouldn’t follow us in that direction. As soon as the place Batangas popped into our destination suggestions, we just started calling up resorts in that area for a potential place to stay in. Since it was a last minute thing, and still a summer vacation month, almost all the resorts we contacted were booked. Mind you, it wasn't that easy to book 14 people just like that.
{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.
{Feb-March 2009} My first trip for the year was spent in Tagaytay. It wasn’t my first-time there, as I’ve been in this part of Cavite a couple of times while growing-up. My frequent trips then were mostly spent with my family. Although on some occasions, I would get to spend a few days in Tagaytay when I would go out with friends from school.
Anyhow, this trip, which I went on with my boyfriend was made out of impulse. We both wanted to just get away for the weekend, and thought of Tagaytay as the nearest place to visit. After his Saturday duty, we left Manila for some fresh air and for some sumptuous bulalo! It took us about 2 hours to get there since we left at a rush hour. Traffic was horrendous, particularly in the Cavite boundary.
[December 2008] My boyfriend and I decided to go on a beach getaway for our first anniversary. The budget was one to consider, so we tried to look for potential places in Luzon that can be easily accessed by bus. And then we thought of Zambales. Zambales has always been a great destination. And since we haven't visited the place in a very long time, I started looking for resorts and cheap accommodations online; and was eventually lead to La Paz Crystal Beach Resort (the surfing paradise!). Anyway, bf was up in trying surfing (although we've never tried this before), so he gave me the go signal to book the trip. Before our trip that late December month, we already set aside a 50% down-payment for our lodging; and then saved up an extra PHP4000 each for our future expenses.
DAY 1
We started our morning by taking a cab to Victory Liner Espana, as we planned on catching the earliest trip to Zambales. Since we bought tickets bound for San Narciso (where the resort was located), we paid PHP400 for a one-way trip. The trip from Manila to San Narciso took us about 4 hours (including 1 stop).
[Trip from September 2008] It was F1 season in Singapore back when me and the boyfriend vacationed in September 2008. We were actually bummed about being a week early from the actual date of the event. But the good part of it was that we got to see firsthand the actual tracks and sidelines. Anyway, it was my first time to visit Singapore, and I must say that being in this country was a sight for sore eyes! Seeing the Merlion was a superb treat for a tourist like me. And to start off, let me show you what we did on our first day in the Merlion City.
DAY 1
ARRIVAL @ SG’S BUDGET TERMINAL
Singapore’s Budget terminal was literally just like a receiving area. It seemed like it was smaller than NAIA Terminal 1. Nonetheless, the terminal maintained a good flow and process. And as we got our passport’s stamped, we immediately rolled our trolleys outside the airport.
Singapore’s Budget terminal was literally just like a receiving area. It seemed like it was smaller than NAIA Terminal 1. Nonetheless, the terminal maintained a good flow and process. And as we got our passport’s stamped, we immediately rolled our trolleys outside the airport.
[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.
