Since Rubel and I weren't able to see the rest of the sites from the previous City tour, we opted to do a DIY trip the following day. So after a good recharge, we started our evening walk towards the Bitexco Financial Tower (the 124th tallest building in the world according to Wikipedia). We didn't get to see it up close. But we managed to take a few photos of it while traversing the street of Hàm Nghi.
After a quick photo op, we continued on with our evening stroll. We were supposed to take a cab from Pham Ngu Lao all the way to Tôn Đức Thắng. But we decided to just walk all the way. And with our efforts, we were able to reach the Saigon river after 30 minutes.
There are plenty of beautiful and picturesque places where you can bring your loved one/s to. And these aren't just perfect for Valentine's Day! So if you're thinking about taking your relationship up a notch, consider these Philippine towns as a way of saying "I love you dear. You deserve to be treated to a romantic getaway!" Here's to sharing 8 romantic destinations that I've already been to with my 'honey'.
BAGUIO
Baguio's weather never fails. More so, the lush beauty that surrounds it. It may be a 6-7 hour trip from Manila. But the smell of the pine trees, the whiff of the cold breeze and the aroma of a hot cup of chocolate never fails to ignite the souls of two people in-love. Baguio is a destination that you wouldn't want to miss seeing and experiencing!
TIP: Bring your beau to Mines View. Sit by the rocks and enjoy the overlooking view while drinking your hot, Strawberry Taho. It's the perfect combination, just like you!
Rubel and I initially planned a DIY City Tour, so we asked our hotel receptionist, Ms Thu for a city map. As soon as she handed a copy, my beau and I immediately looked for the major sites nearby. Since most of the areas were a bit far from each other, we eventually decided to book a guided travel. Nguyen Khang Hotel was also offering different kinds of excursions. But we only availed of their USD 9/pax DAILY CITY TOUR, which was operated by Youth Tourist Joint-Stock Co.
We were going to be picked up at the hotel at around 8:30 AM, so we still had time to eat our complimentary breakfast while waiting for the guide.
Our guide was a nice, Vietnamese local named Taó. He immediately escorted us to an airconditioned shuttle right after greeting us that morning. A couple of Australians, Europeans, Malaysians and a Filipino were already on-board the van.
When a challenging yet fulfilling year is about to end, I would make it a point to cap-off things by treating myself to a post-birthday trip abroad. I've successfully done this for the last two years. So last November 2012, I flew myself to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Statue of General Tran Nguyen Han
Visiting Vietnam, let alone Saigon was a part of my bucket list. Rubel and I have already planned on going to several tourist sites. But we just ended up trimming our list after consulting friends who've already been there. HOW COME? Well, most of them just warned us that most of the places that we wanted to see weren't that interesting. So, what did we do in Ho Chi Minh? Well, Rubel and I just wandered around at our own steady pace. Here's how our first day went.
Were you able to partake in National Museum's "Museums & Galleries Month" last October 2012? If you did, then you probably enjoyed exploring the grounds since the entry to the official repository of the Philippines was offered for FREE. Yes, we got in for FREE! When I found out about this, it gave me and Rubel the opportunity to revisit the rich history of our country. I know that it's been years since I last stepped foot in this building in Manila. So I gathered all my museum-wandering-self just so I could taste what the 1900's edifice has to offer.
Joanne, Ced and I have been friends for almost three years now. We've always had the same dream of someday exploring the world. But it was only last year did we all get to travel together.
It was only hours ago when I discovered Ed Sheeran's "Kiss Me" being played on Grey's Anatomy's latest episode. The love songs lyrics suddenly had me remembering my friend's recent wedding by the beach. She and her husband just turned one month today, after getting married in Boracay. I've been to the island three times now. But my fourth time to step foot on this pristine and beautiful place felt like a different journey on its own. Not only did I get to travel with two of my closest friends Joanne and Ced, I was able to witness an intimate and one-of-a-kind union.
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.
