I feel mixed emotions just thinking about what to say. I am neither a Yolanda victim nor a survivor. But I've already cried over the fact that I almost got caught in the storm. I came back to Manila from Tacloban on November 6 --- a day before the super typhoon entered the Philippines. Some of my family and friends say that God was on my side since my life was spared. I really didn't want to think of it that way, especially when I have friends and their families who unfortunately got battered by the massive tempest. Of course, I still thank God for bringing me home safely.
You’ve probably already heard a lot about the island of Boracay and
Boracay beach. After all, it has been consistently named as the top tourist
beach destination of 2013 and among the top beach party destinations of 2012,
it is no wonder why a lot of people consider visiting the island and staying at
one of its many Boracay resorts.
However, some people would not consider it as they think they would
need a lot of money in order to afford and enjoy the beach and all the
activities there. The truth is that it is actually possible to holiday in
Boracay even when you have a low budget.
Getting to Boracay
Since Boracay can be reached by air or sea, the trick is to know how
to get the cheapest mode of transportation.
I'm very particular with the lodgings that I book during my trips. So I log in the necessary research so that I wouldn't have to deal with some of the mishaps that might happen along the way. So when I was looking for a place to stay in Baguio for this month, I started emailing my inquiries to several accommodations. And to me, the best option was UPSTAIRS BED & BATH.
I was in constant communication with Sir Engelbert, who I later on found out was the owner of the inn. He was always prompt when it came to answering all of my questions, and was very accommodating. Despite sending him so many inquiries, he still gave me his time. Plus, his tone was always pleasant. And that to me was pretty commendable. He even adjusted my initial booked dates when a big storm hit the city two weekends ago.
I also have high praises for his staff (Benedict and Ronald in particular), who were both working during our stay. They greeted us with a smile upon entering the inn. They even allowed us to check into our rooms early in the morning, which was a plus (check-in time is supposed to be 2 PM). They also offered my brother one of their Family Room's since another guest had to extend his/her stay. He was supposed to have the Semi-Private, but was given the Family Room for that first night.
My beau and I went on an afternoon date at Harbor Square last Sunday, to celebrate our 70th month together. And since I had plans on taking lots of sunset photos by Manila bay, I made sure that I brought my Point & Shoot with me. I didn't want to have to carry so much in my bag, so I just packed a few essentials.
I was actually thinking of carrying my small leather sling bag or my red LC shopping bag to go with my outfit. But I decided to wear something that would just snug perfectly on my body. Yes, I wanted something laid-back. And I didn't want to have to worry about a bag strap slipping off from my shoulder. That's why my Healthy Back Bag was the perfect travel accessory.
So what would my destination wish list include should I get the chance to fly via Air Asia?
Well, if I were given the opportunity to Travel
in the Philippines with Air Asia, my Top 5 Local destinations would
have to be Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, Kalibo (Boracay), Cagayan De Oro and
Davao. But why these 5? Well...
PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN
I immediately fell in love with Puerto
Princesa the moment I landed on the city. I just loved so many things about it!
I loved the courteous people, the clean surroundings, the noteworthy sites (from the famous Crocodile Farm to the
panoramic view of the city from Mitra’s Farm), the 2-3 hour road trip and
boat transfers to the nearby islands, and the seafood trips that I matched
with my anti-histamines! I also love the fact that Puerto Princesa is the
gateway to El Nido --- another paradise that I’ve been dreaming of seeing
up-close.
I'm happy to announce Budget Biyahera's newest tie-up! :)
The guys from TravelBook.ph are giving away several THE Travel Club cash vouchers worth Php500 each! 12 vouchers are up for grabs, and I'll be handing out 4 of these to 3 lucky winners! You can win these certificates by joining our little contest.
A food trip around Manila was my first, all out adventure after my foot injury. I almost didn't make the DIY Walking Tour since both my feet hurt days before. I could barely walk. But I really wanted to join so I got myself some gel insoles and a pair of comfy socks that same week. I just told myself that I would brave the streets of Manila, and just go with the pain. I guess, that's what travelers go through when they really want to journey off real bad.
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.
