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.
Ever since our stay at Tune Hotel, Downtown Kuala Lumpur, Rubel and I talked about staying in one of their Philippine-based hotels. And given that they have plenty in and out of Manila, we decided to try one of their nearby branches, and booked 2-nights in their Ortigas branch (summer of 2014).
I started looking for wedding venues in Quezon City right after getting engaged, since we wanted a nearby space that could be turned into both a ceremony and reception place. We've already decided to do a very simple wedding, so planning things on a very limited budget had to be carefully considered. I believe that we’ve come to think and act the way we do due to us being budget travelers. So we definitely wanted our practical and resourceful side to show, without leaving out a few wedding traditions.
***UPDATED LIST*** I'm obsessive compulsive. But I've always seen this 'trait' as an advantage. Not only does being OC keep me on my toes. It also helps me to be coordinated and disciplined at all times. Being an OC traveler has certainly pushed me to be more organized with my trips. And whenever I plan my travels (local or international), I always make sure to produce certain 'lists' that will help show my progress in the planning stage. This way, I won't have any excuse to forget things. Moving forward, I have my (1) things to do, (2) things to bring, (3) trip itinerary, (4) and of course, my expense/budget sheet. These four elements always assist me from the beginning until the end of my trip.
Now, as a traveler who's always on the look out for reasonably-priced trip deals, I'm also constantly searching for affordable travel essentials that will help keep my trips more meaningful. So with that in mind, I'll be sharing to you some of my travel must-haves. Some of which never fail to keep my trips fun and hassle-free.
My Travel Essentials:
1) Point & Shoot Camera - I traded my DSLR Nikon D40 for a Nikon P300. Yes, it was a downgrade. But purchasing the P300 was super worth it! Not only did it lessen the load off of my shoulder (considering its weight), the bulk of having to bring the camera bag, my lenses, weren't a burden to me anymore. I did enjoy having a DSLR back in the day. But I enjoy more, the lightweight wonder of my new camera. The Nikon P300 is remarkable for a Point and Shoot. It has a Nikkor 4.2X wide optical zoom, and a bright f/1.8 lens. Other than that, it's also able to capture FULL HD movie/s. Awesome gadget, right? :)
A 2013 Philippine Statistic Authority study says that around 9.4 million Filipinos aging fifteen and up traveled within the country for leisure in 2012. That number sounds like a lot of people. But in fact, that is just barely 15% of that age group, and not even 10% of the country’s total population. Roughly 85% of Filipinos stay within their home and work vicinities all year long. For Filipinos, traveling usually means visiting relatives. Leisurely vacations are something we rarely give priority to.
It feels different when you've been to a place that you've passed by a few times, yet you never really took the time to appreciate it. That's what I felt towards Libis and nearby Eastwood City. Now, regardless of these two areas being located in Quezon City (my hometown), I still never made the time to explore much of either, as it was a far commute from where I lived. But when I was recently given a chance to stay at Microtel by Wyndham - Acropolis, I realized how much the locale has changed since the last time I was there.
I've lived in Quezon City all my life. But there are still so many places in my hometown that I haven't explored yet. Fortunately, I was recently invited by Microtel PH to join their City Media Familiarization Tour, along with several travel bloggers. I've actually been to a few of the city attractions that were listed on the itinerary. Surprisingly, several of the QC sites that we visited were new to me.
The plant box was a gift from the Tapia Family for Doña Aurora Aragon-Quezon.
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.
