Boracay 2010

You will surely miss a whole lot of things when you visit to the Philippines if you skipped going to the beach. The country composes of 7,107 islands. Imagine how it would look like. You would think somehow where to find that personal paradise of choice. As for me and hubby, I would consider one of them is Boracay. It has the finest white sand that I have stepped on. I had been to Hawaii, Mexico, Aruba, Phuket Thailand and Penang Malaysia. So far, there’s nothing beats the sand of Boracay. Locals of the island should be proud of it. I do sure hope they could maintain it and make more progress in the island. From the last time I’ve been there, there are so much change that I saw when I went back last February. It’s a good change and they really have a better system now.

Royal Porto Real, Mexico

My husband surprised me a trip to Mexico. He booked this resort. Actually, the whole trip was. He had planned it for our 1^st wedding anniversary. He had asked me prior whether I want to be surprised. I had said no at first but changed my mind. I bothered him about it so he told me days before we left as to what areas we’re going. Our first stop will be in Playa del Carmen.

The hotel was very beautiful. The building structures, lay out, paintings and details were pretty well put into placed. We stayed at a Junior Suite Room. It has a vanity area, Jacuzzi and balcony. Outside the balcony you can see the other side of the building similar structure as our room. It is a good feeling to lay and relax on the hammock looking far at the sky and the beach.

If our flight wasn’t delayed for 6 hours, we could have spent the entire 2 days. Instead we arrived before midnight on the first day, just slept and ate. It was a short stay. It wasn’t bad though because the experience was well spent in the beach, dining out and shopping at First Avenue.

The surprised made by my husband was a special gift. It was a great moment to be in that place and having the time well spent.

Katanoi Beach, Phuket Thailand

As you could have seen my other post, I am posting more pictures of here of places that I visited especially the beach. I grow up with an ocean just few miles from where I live and I am fascinated to be in the area where I could smell the sea, playing the sand, listening to the waves and just relax my mind.

After the devastated Tsunami in Phuket Thailand, my husband and I were interested to see the place. We stayed at Katathani Resort. It is so nice there especially during sunset and the night could be so magical. I had enjoyed my vacation over there for few days and it was well spent. I had a picture here posted that I felt like there was no tsunami that happened. The beach looks great, the weather and the sand it’s very comforting. If you are an aquatic person, don’t miss this chance to visit this beautiful place. You will surely love it.

Chocolate Hills, Bohol Philippines

This is one of the most attractive areas to visit in the Philippines. Bohol itself has lots of things historically and nature to speak with. For now I would like to focus on this very particular site where I pretty love to visit every time I land in there. I think these days there could be some changes with progress involve but this landmark I guess won't change.

Chocolate Hills is composed of tiny hills scattered over the vast of land in Bohol. If you go set foot at the peak of Carmen where it has a shrine made for tourist to see this overlooking creation. You can ask where and how this hills come from and who made this. All I know is a legend which doesn't really co-relate with science. Is it nature or is it man made? But if you come to look at it, there's no way people long before I was born or our great father existed could create such many hills. It's very fascinating to see this place.

Big Buddha, Hongkong

This website is basically focus on the world's scenery that I have seen, traveled and witnessed by my own very eyes. I will start from now on to write something about my experience and how wonderful our world is full with.

This is a very picturesque view behind the Big Buddha located at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island in Hongkong. The mountains captivate the beauty of nature and the statue is situated near the Po Lin Monastery. Getting there you need to take a train or ferry and ride a cable car passing the wonderful scenery with temperature dropping. I am so lucky I had the chance to visit this wonderful creation of man but amaze by the exquisite appearance of the surrounding. If you have the chance to visit Hongkong, you must not to miss this site. It is part of man’s creation with nature’s magnificence.

Mexico Part 3

written: Sept 14, 2006

The hotel zone is the area most travelers prefer to stay. With all the most luxurious hotels and to the beautiful Caribbean Sea, it is a good place to choose from. Beside that, its location and roads are accessible to transportations. If you don’t want any hassle or not to walk by far, taxi is the way to go and its not expensive as the fare in the US are. Riding a bus is not so bad. There are many in the area. It is safe, clean and very cheap. The shopping areas are near too. You can pick for luxury branded items shopping at Plaza Kukulcan or the La Isla Shopping Village for others but majority has similar goods. At night if you would like to party, shop and eat Forum by the Sea is a good place to hang with. It’s pretty very much noisy and crowded. They called the area ‘The Little Las Vegas’.


We stayed at Royal Islander. It has other four resorts the Royal Caribbean, Royal Mayan, Royal Sands and Royal International. It’s a private club for timeshare owner. We had our own villa with an oceanfront view and it was incredible. The scenery at the veranda was outstanding. We could see the shoreline and other hotels. Your eyes can see near and far the turquoise water, hear the splashing of the waves and smell of the fresh ocean breeze. It was the best room ever.


We had a day tour at Kukulkan, “Chichen Itza” where the famous ruins of El Castillo. It was hot that day but we had fun at the site. Not only we did explore places we did with our taste buds as well. We had a few times to eat out and we had the chance to dine at the resorts restaurants Caya Largo and Pacos Tacos. At Plaza Forum by the Sea, Cambalache the Argentine Steak House was good. Our last night dinner in a fine dining romantic restaurant at Puerto Madero was awesome followed by an entertainment at Hacienda Sisal at the Royal Sands. We had memorable days at Cancun and choosing it to spend for our first wedding anniversary was all worth it.

Mexico Part 2

written: Sept 11, 2006

Two months before, my hubby asked me what could be our plans to spend for our anniversary. I suggested that it’s better that he will do the choice instead of me to decide on it. He has more experience in many places and I am confident that his choice is better than mine. Base to our past travels as well as with his experience for all the trips that he’d arranged, his really good at it. He wanted me to take part of it but I preferred it as a surprise. So he worked days on booking and making reservations trying to hide it from me. Until days before from our departure, he asked me if I would want to know where. So I was tempted and surprise that the original plan of surprise was ignored. He let me sat down with him at the couch open his laptop and browse the hotel websites. He showed me two different locations, one at Playa del Carmen and one in Cancun. Both hotels were really nice and so it increased my excitement.

We arrived at the airport past 10pm and cleared at immigration after an hour. We rode the van we booked from Entertainment Plus, droved us 30minutes to Playa del Carmen. We hoped we could have seen the places that passed us by at daylight but the deplane and delays had caused that and there’s nothing we can do but to complaint at the airline. We safely reached Royal Porto Real and checked in. Though drained and sleepy, we wandered the place. It has a huge ground, eye-catching swimming pool, medieval buildings and beautiful beach. Nearby is 5^th avenue, a place for good shopping. We missed to see it at day 1 but did able to visit the day after. By morning the place is quite and solemn but at night it will be alive with mariachi music, people smoke Cuban cigar, other shops with free tequila drinks and you cant avoid the persuading travel tour agents. If you’re a shopping freak for silver and souvenirs, definitely it’s a cool place to buy lots of jewelries and handy crafts.

Staying at Playa del Carmen for 1 and half day didn’t maximize our time. We had breakfast twice at Spice Restaurant and one dinner at IL Pescatore. I loved the service at the Italian restaurant and I had 2 mango margaritas there. It was a lovely drink with a very accommodating waiter. There are other more restaurants affiliated by our hotel but we never get the chance to explore the others and taste different cuisine. In our mind if only we had no problem at Dallas Texas we could arrive earlier and it could have been better. We did our best to spend our time there before we could drive to Cancun. We had fun at the beach mesmerizing the calm, turquoise crystal water and fined white sand. We enjoyed the few times we had there from swimming, shopping, good drinks and a massage. We are thinking ahead that someday we would like to go back there again.

1st Wedding Anniversary - Mexico

written: Sept 2006

When cupid strikes its arrow, no matter where you are, love can find you. It happens for a reason. Our timing was right. The past relationship we had was a learning experience. Together we both face lots of adversity in falling and searching for love. The suffering we had play against was inclined for building a good foundation to our relationship. When we met, Emotinally and spiritually we were both ready. An answered prayer and the search was over. We fell in love, got engaged and at different times got married twice.

Now it’s almost our anniversary but we tend to celebrate it in advance. From the beginning I wanted to be surprised but later changed my mind and asked what’s the setting and where. My hubby chose to have a short vacation in Mexico to feel the carribean sea atmosphere. He booked two different locations, showed it to me and got so excited knowing it.

Thursday on August 31, 2006 departing from San Jose to Dallas, Texas there was no problem. Our connecting flight had and the mechanical problem took us to deplane. We waited for 6hrs at the airport. American Airline gave us a $10 voucher each for dinner and for the inconvenience. The meal didnt pay the lethargy we had to get stocked. It wasn’t enough for such long hours to wait at the airport. The patience was tested and we stood by it. We we’re expecting we could arrive to Cancun in the afternoon but instead at past 10pm we landed. We had an hour at the immigration and had no problem entering the country. The hour waiting was in effect that there were only 4 immigration officers on duty.

Our hotel amenities were wasted for a day. We checked in past 12midnight tired and exhausted. Money spent for the hotel was too bad in our part since we didn’t arrived at the time we should be expecting we could be there. But, having to see the place was luxurious and pretty laid out though worn-out from the long travel, we walked around, took pictures and savored the moment. The place is huge and rated as high class. Subsequently, we rested in our junior suite room and let the night passed by.

The following morning we had a breakfast at Spice Restaurant. Dishes were great not lavished but absolutely tasteful. I had a mouthful of food and made me got full for hours. The service from the waiters and the cook were great. Inside the restaurant, you can see the grounds, swimming pools and the buildings surrounding by. We would like to stay more time just to sit there and relax but we wanted to maximize our time for the day and time we had left. Under the warmth of the sun, we roamed around the resort admiring and not minding how we extremely perspire. Health wise with the lack of sleep and the exhaustion I got the day before, I got sick all of the sudden. The intension to shop at 5^th Avenue for the whole afternoon was not attained full time. Though we had walked the street passing by all the fine arts, good arti crafts, mexican clothing, silver jewelry and many other souvenir shops the illness swept me to decide to get back to our hotel which was a walking distance. We took some hours to rest. At our suite we laid there to loosen up and it was magnificent. The view outside and the wonderful architecture inside were splendid.

Cebu Wedding & Thailand Honeymoon

written: Feb '06

I never thought it would be possible to get back to Philippines with all the processing of my papers. At first my Travel Document didnt arrive as what I was hoping I can have it in my hands 3 weeks before the wedding instead I had it 5 days before. We then made changes to everything what we booked from Church, reception and all the vendors we had made contract with. It was a big task from far across the globe to do it while my sort of coordinator was not doing what I really wanted but anyway we had the date fixed. I re-arranged my flight on the 2nd week of February and made the running around mostly by myself. I only got few help. I was thankful that my bestfriend, cousin and other friends helped me coordinate and I appreciated it a lot...I fulfilled my promise to have a renewal of vows to my family, relatives, friends and get married on February 25, 2006. We had renewed our vows in Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and had two different receptions after.

Right after the wedding with a little time of booking and preparation I had arranged a flight to Caticlan to Boracay. I was thrilled to see the place because it was my first time. We just spent 2 whole day there and on the 3rd day had our flight to Bangkok, Thailand. We had a tour in places over there and seen lots of buddha temple. 3 days of being there wasnt enough but our time was hectic. OUr vacation wasnt over until we flew to our last destination to Phuket. I was amazed how the place was destroyed by the Tsumi but surprised how the city was rebuilt too quickly. It is as if nothing happened there. There were only minimal remnant of places that were destroyed. By the looks of it, its like brand new. So crowded and I never seen other places like it and majority of the tourists were from Europe.

Wedding & Honeymoon

written: New Jersey & Hawaii: Sept '05

Dreams do come true, with all the effort and sleepless nights we made, our wish to get married in a Catholic Ceremony was fulfilled by the help also with Joe's family, relatives and friends . It's not easy to get married here in the US. More than what I can imagine marrying in PI. We had many papers and documents to acquire and by God's grace everything that the church needed we had arranged to do it. The Priest who even conducted our ceremony was amazed that we did able to secure they need in just two months after I arrived from Cebu, considering the locations that we live in California and the wedding was at the south of New Jersey. From the west to the east coast, I believe God was at our side. We were blessed at Sts. Peter & Paul church with my two high school classmates who were there to support me and Joe's families, relatives, and friends. We had our reception at The Mansion in Mainstreet, Voorhes New Jersey 30 minutes away from the church. Guests were anxious to eat from the travel and we didnt fail them. We had the cocktail hour at the Crystal room. Joe and I missed our pictorial at the Mansions grounds because we chose to spend it with the guests. After 1hr and a half proceeded the main program, food served individually from soup to main course up to the desserts. There were so many left overs but no doggy bag. We had wished to have a room to eat or bags to carry. Everybody was happy with the food and we as the bride and groom hearing them satisfied of the choices and selections we made were very grateful for their responses. Though nights were odd previously but knowing that the hard work you gave was paid for by the happy guests, everything fall to a very good feeling.

Our first night as a couple, Joe made a surprise to check in at an Egyptian Suite accomodation at Clarion Hotel in Philadelphia. I'd never seen anything like it. Staying there was like we were in Egypt. It was one of the best surprise that my hubby did for me, an evening night full of memories to cherish. The wedding didnt only made my day, the day after we were at PA airport, my hubby's surprise was screwed by the check in personnel. I then knew our trip was to go to Maui and Oahu, Hawaii after. I didnt know where we will stay and once again I gave my hubby a credit for chosing two of the top resort Hyatt Regency Resort Spa and Hilton's Hawaiian Village.

Maui:

Oahu:

Thanksgiving '05

written: Dec 2005

My friend called me days before Thanksgiving Day inviting to go and celebrate it to Los Angeles. I had not said yes to the invite because I wasnt sure enough if my hubby had plans of celebrating. Then on the night before after he came from work, he told me to look for a ticket online. So we spent hours searching tickets and its quite pricy for a last minute flight. We found a suitable time, packed whatever clothes we can get and arrive the day after before 12pm. We made a quick tour, stopped at Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills to walk around at the most expensive branded shops and Hollywood to see "the walk of fame". Just too quick then we rushed to check in for 2 days at Fairfield Inn Marriott Hotel in Anaheim just walking distance to Disneyland Park. We had dinner at Mimi's Cafe and it was past 8pm when we went to the park. We didnt achieved so much rides but I had a blast. My first time to see choreograph firework display.

On the second day, we were in California Adventure right across Disneyland Park. We had spectacular rides there. I rode "California Screamin" the roller coaster ride and once again my first time. There were many first times I had spent there and I enjoyed most of it.

Las Vegas & Florida( Dec 31'or - Jan 6 '06 )

written: Jan 2006

My hubby got a week off due to their company policy to avail for vacation time. He decided to do business with pleasure in going to Florida. So together we looked for certain flights and balancing the costs. Part of the itinerary was to set foot in Las Vegas to spend the New Year for 2 days and we did. We arrived Dec 31 in the afternoon and stayed at Tropicana Hotel. We had our dinner inside the hotel and then we walked on the strip. We enjoyed the crowd seeing them carrying beers with a very unsual container but fun to look at. Police were everywhere monitoring crimes. It was safe to walk but the weather was too chilly. Before the fireworks show we waited near the street across MGm, tv screens were side by side counting the time. Though its just me and my hubby, we really had a good time there. Never was a dull moment to celebrate in there....I called my friend Cristina Alen my former classmate in highschool where she lived nearby. Together with her hubby Ricky, they picked us up at the hotel to have lunch together the day after. They chose to dine at Mimi's Cafe and they even paid it. Such a great host and she managed to tour us around in their house and other sites. For 2 days there it was enough, legs were tired and lack of sleep but we need to move on to our next flight to Orlando. Here's the clip:

Upon arrival, we didnt waste time. We check in first at Comfort Inn Hotel and by our rental car, we plotted areas to look and go around. We did it for 2 days to drive around different areas and we found one place that we were interested in. We talked some real estate agent there and she happened to be Filipina. A very accommodating person eventhough she's on the job, knowing us that we were both Pinoy she instantly like us. There was no sales pressure and she was good. Time were so limited, we hurried to catch a ride to go to Disneyworld though its past 6pm. I didnt mind if we stayed short there. Seeing the place, its like Disneyland but far big than in L.A but the thing there the electric parade of the cast, I loved it. It was colorful and magical. For whole day the next day, we spent it there in Universal Studio "Islands of Adventure". I rode the "Hulk" and riding it was like you will going to die for body aches and pains. Joe got sick after that and the rest of the time he was there, he felt so bad. I pitied him but he coped up not to spoil my day. He was great though in pain. My best travel companion.

Hongkong 2008

My week stay in Hongkong was a blast. I love everything that is in there. Though, it is costly and expensive. I had a good time with hubby. We spent some days at the Convention center where we attended some seminars. The remaining days and spare time, we toured places that was fun to watch and more with scenic view.

I got to ride their most clean and accessible subway trains, rode the cable car from the hills, riding the taxi bus which I called it in my own terms two layered bus, took a ferry to another destination like Kowloon, great shopping in Mongkok and the laser show at Kowloon bay. It was a lot of fun in there.

Here is my video at Hongkong. HOpe you enjoy watching it.