Phuket

It has been quite a while since I updated this blog. In a span of six months, many things have changed. For one, I moved to Singapore with my boyfriend last April and have been working in an American multi-national company.

I am enjoying my job and loving my stay here in Singapore. :)

Aside from the big move to Singapore, I also got to visit Phuket, Thailand (the main topic for this post) for my birthday. I've always wanted to experience and see for myself the world-renowned beach in Phuket.

I heard a lot of great things about Phuket. Aside from the beach, I am simply amazed at the Thai culture. Thailand was never colonized by any Western power. This explains the country's rich, colorful, and very unique culture.

Another reason that made me want to visit Phuket was the food. I am a fan of Thai food! To prove my love for Thai food, I learned to cook the TomYum soup a few months ago. I would love to learn more about Thai cuisine if I have time.

Remember Leonardo DiCaprio's The Beach? Can you still recall the white sand beach and the crystal blue waters in the movie? The beach scenes from the movie convinced me even more to visit Phuket.

On a Saturday afternoon, my friends, boyfriend, and I boarded a flight from Singapore to Phuket. Our destination is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes away. FYI, Phuket is an hour behind from Singapore time.

Days before the trip, I checked Agoda for the recommended hotels or guesthouses where we can stay. Since all of us wanted to have a glimpse of the night life, I chose Patong Beach. Phuket's a big island with a lot of beaches and places to stay. I personally chose Patong because of the night life scene. And it's not that far from the airport.

I saw good reviews about the Loveli Guesthouse in Patong Beach, so I decided to book a family room (good for 4) for 3 days and 2 nights. Andrew from the Loveli Guesthouse also gave me a good price for the tours - Phi Phi Island Tour and FantaSea Dinner and Show. He made my life easier. All I needed to do was inform my travel buddies how much we were going to pay and let them know about our itinerary.

We arrived at 7pm in Phuket. Andrew arranged a car that would pick us from the airport for 600 Baht. The lady driver held a paper with my name on it, so it was easier to recognize her. Since she only spoke a bit of English, we weren't able to ask her a lot of things. She wasn't also the talkative type. But I understand, she was driving and maybe she wanted to focus her attention on the road.

The airport was 45 minutes away from Patong Beach. On our way to Loveli, we noticed that the streets in Phuket are nicer than in Cebu. We were impressed that this island has good roads, working traffic lights, and "light to moderate" traffic. It was also the first time that we saw a counter for the traffic light. Drivers would know how many seconds left for the green or the red light to display.

When we arrived at Loveli, we were greeted with warm smiles from Andrew and Neil. Before we went up to our room, they gave us tips and maps on how to go around the town. They told us where to go, which restaurant to try, and the pick-up times for our tours. Neil also provided us with complimentary welcome drinks and bottled water.

When we reached our room, we were so happy that it was clean and well-maintained. We didn't even pay for an expensive room, but we felt that it was great for the price. Each of us has his/her own single bed. The room also had a TV, minibar, and hot-and-cold shower.

After a few minutes of resting, we headed to Bangla Street. It is where you can find all the bars and restaurants in Patong Beach. We were in awe at the night life in Phuket. Their tourism industry is so booming. No wonder, Thailand is richer than the Philippines. I can't really find the exact words, but I hope the pictures below can give you an idea of the scene there.

We finally found a good Thai seafood restaurant across the beach for dinner. The place was popular among tourists. The food was really great especially the TomYum soup!!! I just wished that the service was better. Anyway, after dinner, we went back to the bars to get a glimpse of the fun.

The next morning, we woke up at 6am because the pick-up time for our Phi phi Island Tour was 730am. Since Loveli was a few meters away from McDonald's, we bought breakfast meals to keep us active during the whole day adventure. A van picked us up 10 minutes before the time and we got so giddy that finally we will get to ride a speedboat for the first time ever!

At exactly 9am, the tourist guides provided a brief introduction of the tour as well as tips and medicines for a great journey. Our tour guide, Patty, was articulate and very friendly. We were about 40 people in one speedboat, yet Patty managed to made us feel at home. She was also very attentive to our needs.

Our tour included visits to the following sites: Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Ley of Maya Bay, Monkey Beach, Viking Cave, and Khai Nok Island. I really enjoyed the snorkeling in Phi Phi Don. A lot of fish swam near us. It seemed like they weren't afraid of the humans. Since I brought my underwater camera, I took photos of them…

I now agree with Leonardo when he said that he was captivated with Maya Bay. Who wouldn't like that place? Phi Phi Ley of Maya Bay has got to be the best beach I've been to! I have been to the beaches in Boracay, Palawan, Camiguin Island, Bohol, and Cebu, but not one of them can beat Phi Phi Ley! I am a proud Filipino, but I have to be honest about my experience. While we were swimming in Phi Phi Ley, I imagined Leonardo running towards the water and playing ball on the sand. The sand was powdery! It was so fine and perfect!

Included in the tour was a buffet lunch. We stopped at Khai Nok Island for lunch. As usual, the food did not disappoint!

There was also this Viking cave where pirates used to lived in. According to Patty, the pirates used the cave as their shelter in waiting for cargo ships to pass by. My boyfriend, Jan, enjoyed the water a lot. He was in the water most of the time and even joined some other European tourists perform some diving tricks.

We spent an entire day in the water. It was tiring, but the day wasn't over yet. We hurriedly went back to the hotel because we didn't want to be late for the FantaSea show and dinner.

Our van picked us for a short drive to Kamala Beach. When we arrived at FantaSea, we were simply fascinated at the theme park. It was indeed fantastic! Their staff welcomed us with smiles and the Wai. Since the show was scheduled to start at 9pm. We headed to the buffet restaurant first to eat the sumptuous dinner.

We loved the dinner! There were a lot of choices from appetizers, salads, main courses, and desserts. The ambience of the restaurant was very imperial and classy.

After dinner, we immediately proceeded to the watch the show. Cameras and camera phones weren't allowed inside the theater. Thus, we didn't have pictures of the show, the elephants, tiger cubs, etc inside the theater. We weren't also able to take pictures of the performance.

The FantaSea show highlighted some magic and the colorful culture of the Thai. The show featured folk dancers, aerial dancers, magicians, elephants, roosters, birds, goats, etc. The stage was huge and all areas of the theater were used. Some performers came in from the sides of the theater, the aisles, and even the ceilings. The show also used effects such as smoke, laser, and rain.

The FantaSea show was grand, extravagant, impressive, and entertaining. No wonder, tourists ranked it as the biggest and best show in the island!

After the show which lasted for more than an hour, we went back to the hotel. We planned of going to a spa for a massage, but we were so tired and only wanted to sleep.

If you miss the beach a lot, I recommend that you go to Phuket. It is a must-visit destination. I would definitely visit it again for the James Bond Island tour. It was such an awesome and unforgettable birthday adventure! ♥

Bantayan Island

Summer is here!

The best way to welcome this season of the year is to hit the beach. Two weeks ago, my friends and I went to Bantayan Island, Cebu to enjoy the crystal blue waters and powdery white sand that the island has to offer.

We met up at the North Bus Terminal at 3am to take the first bus trip to Hagnaya, the drop-off point. Some of us had not slept yet since the previous night, while some had obviously just woke up. But none of us complained about the lack of sleep because we were too excited to get to the island.

We arrived at the Port of Hagnaya at exactly 6am. We rushed to the ticketing booth for our ferry boat tickets. Luckily, we got tickets for the 630am schedule to Bantayan Island. We even had enough time to eat breakfast at the port.

We reached the island at around 730am. The owner of Yooneek Beach Resort picked us up with his van at the Sta. Fe port, the gateway to the island.

Yooneek Beach Resort is a 5-minute drive away from the port. Upon arrival, we were greeted with warm smiles from their staff. Since we made reservations days prior to the trip, our rooms were ready. Even the extra beds that we requested were already waiting for us in our rooms.

Tired from the 4-hour travel (bus and boat trips), we took a nap first and woke up at 11am just in time for lunch. The resort has a restaurant that offers delicious and affordable food and drinks. My favorite was the mango shake, the fried danggit (dried fish), and the fried pusit (dried squid). All of us enjoyed eating lunch by the beach. Who wouldn't love it there? We had good food, great company, and the most amazing view!

After lunch, we decided to tour around the island and rented bikes. All 12 of us, two were left sleeping in their rooms, drove around the island with our bikes and motorcycles. We went to other resorts and some public beaches. The sun was scorching, but we didn't care because biking around the place was so fun.

My friends and I couldn't resist the inviting blue waters of Bantayan, so we parked our bikes and took a dip. The water was so clean, blue, and cold. Below are some photos we took while swimming in the other end of our resort.

Bantayan didn't only offer one of the world's best beaches. It also offered great and affordable food. For dinner, we had barbecue - fish, chicken, and pork. Yummm! After a sumptuous meal, we headed back to our resort where my friends consumed bottles of tequila and beer. They must have enjoyed the beach so much that they went swimming at 1am. Haha!

When I woke up the next day, Meine and I immediately went to the town to buy some dried fish and dried squid. It was a 30-minute drive from Sta. Fe to Bantayan town. Upon reaching the market, the strong smell of dried fish welcomed us. We didn't mind the awful smell, but gladly checked the items sold in the market. We got a good deal from a vendor and purchased a few kilos of dried fish and dried squid.

After lunch, we headed back to Cebu City with great memories and photos of the Bantayan adventure. For those of you who wish to go on a trip this summer, I highly recommend Bantayan Island and even Yooneek Beach Resort!

Happy Summer, everyone!

(Mis)Adventure in Malaysia

One morning, I got a message on FB regarding an invitation for a short trip to Johor Bahru, Malaysia. It was from Jane, my friend back in high school. Since I didn't have important things to do in Singapore, I said yes and packed my travel documents to go on a trip.

Jane and I met at Bugis junction and ate our lunch before we proceeded to Malaysia. We took a cab for SGD 10 each to Johor Bahru.

It was just a short ride. It probably took us 20 minutes to reach Johor Bahru's terminal. Knowing that Johor Bahru is a Muslim city, we dressed properly and decently. No shorts, sleeveless tops, and skirts! We didn't know where to go or what to do in JB because it was a spur of the moment trip. We asked the tourism officer about the places or museums we can visit. Unfortunately, all museums nearby were closed for renovation.

Jane and I at the Tourism Center

Since shopping in Malaysia is cheaper than in Singapore, we bought a couple of toiletries and souvenirs. It rained that time, so we really couldn't go wherever we wanted to.

Outside the malls in Johor Bahru

By around 5pm, we decided to go back to Singapore. What we thought was just a 20-minute ride, ended up longer than expected!

Jane was sent to the Immigration office due to some issues with her social visit pass. After more than 30 minutes and a few Q&A with the officer, we were allowed to enter Singapore. When we thought our struggle was over, the Customs officer asked Jane to go to the Customs office for bringing in 2 packs of cigarettes.

Since I don't smoke, I didn't know about the law. I got really scared when we were at the Customs office. I read through the notes posted on the wall that first time offenders are asked to pay SGD 200. Oh no!

God must have guided us that day. We received only a lecture from the Customs officer, but we were allowed to enter Singapore if (1) we pay SGD 7 for taxes, or (2) we leave the cigarettes behind. Jane chose the latter.

We arrived safely in Singapore at 7pm. And I thought that it was the longest day in my life. I would never want that to happen. Ever again! Hahaha!

Johor Bahru wasn't really a nice place for tourists. But if you were looking for a little challenge and adventure, maybe you can consider that place.

Singapore for the Second Time Around

I recently got back from a two-week vacation in Singapore (SG). And again, Singapore did not disappoint.

It was my second time to visit the country. The first time was a short trip with friends more than two years ago. This time, I traveled alone. Jan had a problem with his passport renewal and immediately followed a week after. I was supposed to have two other trips in the 1st quarter of this year, but unfortunately, some problems came up such as VISA refusal and invalid passport. Haha!

Since I was really looking for an adventure and wanted to use my vacation leave credits, I booked tickets to Singapore. Of all destinations, why did I choose Singapore?

Well, for starters, I have a couple of friends who are now based there. I thought that it would be really fun to visit and spend time with them. Oh God, I miss these people. We often catch up on Facebook, but it's different when you're together just like old times!

College Buddies - Blandj, Syke, and Droh

Morphsters - Andre and Cris

Second, SG now boasts of the Marina Bay Sands and the Universal Studios Singapore (USS). These two are must-visit places that weren't opened two or three years ago. If you want to see the breath-taking view of the city, the sunset, and the Marina Bay, I suggest you buy a ticket to the Marina Bay Sands Skypark for SGD 20. If you have more dollars to waste, it'll be nice to stay in the luxurious hotel. Hehe! If you want to go back to your childhood days and enjoy rides, buy a ticket to the Universal Studios Singapore for SGD 72. Well, I am certain that I'm going back to SG for the USS. When Jan and I arrived there to buy tickets, it rained hard. The USS crew advised us not to proceed because some of the rides had closed due to the rain and the admission fee may not be worth it. And because Jan and I had some other important appointments, we didn't have the chance to go back there when it was sunny and dry.

At the Marina Bay Sands Skypark

Jan and I at Universal Studios Singapore

Third, aside from the tourist attractions that require you to pay a couple of dollars each visit, there are also free parks and gardens that you can enjoy such as the East Coast Park, the Marina Bay Sands Light and Water show, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, and many more. Since I wanted to visit the attractions which I have not visited during my first travel, I went to those three and had wonderful memories.

The East Coast Park was so huge and scenic. You can spend the whole day there by sun-bathing, swimming, fishing, biking, jogging, or wake boarding. At night time, I suggest you take the train or bus to Marina Bay Sands and watch the Light and Water show for free! If you have watched Hong Kong's Symphony of Lights at Victoria Harbour, you'll like the Light and Water Show even more. It's a bit similar with the Songs of the Sea presentation at Sentosa minus the admission fee. If you like anything with nature, dogs, flowers, or trees, visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It's splendid, relaxing, and peaceful. Locals and expats usually bring along their pets for a walk in the garden. For SGD 5, you'll get to see different arrays and variants of orchids in the National Orchid Garden.

At East Coast Park

The Marina Bay Sands Light and Water Show

At the Singapore Botanic Gardens

Fourth, magnificent museums abound Singapore. When I arrived in SG, the first thing that came up to my mind was to visit the museums. I was so lucky to visit the National Museum of Singapore. Though I was alone, I had a great time learning about the history of Singapore through the audio guide. The pictures I took turned out gorgeous too. :-)

At the National Museum of Singapore

My favorite gallery was the Singapore Fashion Gallery. No need to explain why! Haha! I planned to visit the Singapore Art Museum (SAM), but didn't have enough time. Next trip, SAM and the Museum of Toys will top my list of places to visit. Hopefully!

Fifth, I love Singaporean food! Even the food has a taste of their multi-cultural and diverse society. The food has a mixture of Chinese, Malaysian, Thai, and Indian influences. I loved every meal I had in SG. Each trip to the hawker center was an adventure and a pleasure.

The Food in Singapore

Sixth, the shopping in SG was one of a kind! The huge malls and even the Bugis Street offered great bargains, which were so hard to resist. When I was there, an IT show was held. Huge crowds flock Suntec City to check out the bargain prices of gadgets, chocolates, clothes, shoes, designer bags, perfumes, and so on. Everyone who went there brought something home except me. Because I get dizzy when I'm crowded with people, I just sat in the corner and bought some chips for snacks. How lame!

At Suntec City for the IT Show

There are so many good stuff that I can talk about Singapore. I just can't stop loving that country. It felt like home and the locals were so kind to help me navigate through the city. They even went out of their way to tell me which bus to take if I go from one place to another. Some locals thought that I was Malaysian and were kind enough to remind me that I ordered pork. I smiled and told them that I am Filipino, a Catholic, and eat pork. Haha!

The drivers were also courteous. I didn't hear them honk their horns and they would stop at pedestrian lanes to allow people to cross the street. While on the bus or train, younger locals would give up their seats for elder people, pregnant women, people with disability, and women with babies. When you buy something or pay the cab driver, they would always give you the exact change - no matter if it's only 10 cents. How thoughtful!

Singapore is very tourist-friendly. With a map in hand, you'll never get lost in Singapore. The public transportation system, the bus and train, is excellent and efficient. The locals also speak good English, so they can really help when you ask for directions. No wonder, their tourism business is booming and anywhere you go, you'll see a lot of tourists from different countries.

I'd love to visit Singapore again anytime soon. In fact, I'd love to live there for a year or so! Fingers crossed. ;-)

Special thanks to my wonderful friends in Singapore - Blandj, Cris T., Roda, and everyone at Sims Meadows. Thank you too to my former officemates for the delicious dinner - Andre and Cris F. Shout outs to Peter and Syke for the treats. Hugs to Jane for our Malaysian (mis)adventure! :-))

*More photos on Facebook.

Philippines' Last Frontier: Palawan Day 3

Our third day in Puerto Princesa started with a sampling of the famous Lamayo. Lamayo refers to a marinated and semi-dried fish. During preparation, the fish is sliced open and de-boned, soaked in vinegar, garlic, and pepper. It is then dried and packed in vacuum-sealed plastic bags. You also need to fry the fish before eating.

Everyone loved the Lamayo. We even planned to bring some home, but we didn't have a container for it. It must be kept frozen to maintain its freshness. And since we had to travel, we might end up having a spoiled Lamayo. Perhaps, it was one of the best breakfast I had for so long.

After breakfast, our tour guide picked us up for our Honda Bay tour. The tour is basically like the island hopping tour that we have in Cebu. Honda Bay is a group of small islands. There were three islands included in the tour - Pambato Reef, Snake Island, and Starfish Island.

We took a 30-minute drive to Barangay Sta. Lourdes Tagbanua, the jump-off point. From there, we took a boat that would take us to the different islands.

Our first stop was the Pambato Reef. There were two floating cottages that you can use in the reef. Before you can reach one of the cottages, you have to cross the improvised bamboo bridge. This was the most challenging adventure I had during the tour. I needed to make sure that I don't fall to the water or else, my camera will get wet. Hahaha!

Having fun at the Pambato Reef

We rented snorkeling gears from the boat for Php 100. We were allowed to swim and view the corals near the floating cottages, but we had to wear our life jackets. No life jackets, no swimming or snorkeling allowed! The reef is known as a mini-Tubbataha. My siblings and dad enjoyed viewing the diverse species of corals and fish in the reef. Too bad that we didn't have an underwater case for my Nikon, so we didn't have any pictures of the corals.

After the reef, we headed to the Starfish Island. With its name alone, the island boasts of giant starfishes that can be found anywhere. Our tour guide told us that we could take the starfish out of the water, but it should be limited to only a minute. Anything more than that, the starfish will die. We all posed with the huge starfishes that we found in the shallow waters. After the picture-taking, we ate our lunch in the island. The lunch was included in our tour package, so we didn't have to worry about food. Lunch included prawns, fish, pork belly, and some veggies.

With the giant starfish and tiny fish of Starfish Island

Our next and last stop was the Snake island. They say it's called as the snake island because it has a snake-like shape. But we didn't really know, maybe there were snakes in that island. Hehe! Among the three stops that we had, the Snake island was my favorite. Why? I loved swimming with the fish and feeding them with bread. We didn't have to go deep just to see the fishes. They were everywhere and colorful too!

Shopping for Cultured pearls and South Sea pearls

In the Snake Island, Badjaos or sea gypsies were selling cultured and South Sea pearls. The pearls in Palawan were sold cheap. Depending on the size, a South Sea pearl was sold for about Php 2, 000 or more while the cultured pearl was sold for about Php 20 or more. We bought pearls and accessories from the vendors. It was a way of helping them meet their needs. My uncle bought a huge South Sea pearl for me. I like it a lot! I even keep it in my wallet and I plan to make it as a stone for a ring or pendant for a necklace. :-)

The Honda Bay tour ended early in the afternoon, which was a good thing, because my youngest brother had a 7pm flight back to Manila. Before he went to the airport, we ate our early dinner at Tiki Resto. As usual like any restaurant in Palawan, they served affordable and good food.

We flew out of Palawan on our fourth day. We were on the 11am flight to Cebu. Before we went to the airport, we visited the Cathedral in Puerto Princesa. I took pictures of the church and made a wish. My mom said that you can make a wish if you visit a church for the first time. Making a wish wouldn't hurt, right?

Puerto Princesa City

My family and I enjoyed our four-day adventure in Palawan. It is no doubt a paradise and a pleasant getaway to relieve stress. I love Palawan and I want to go back there soon and visit Coron and El Nido.

Philippines' Last Frontier: Palawan Day 2

We woke up early to eat breakfast and prepare for our trip to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park or commonly known as the Underground River. Our tour guide and driver picked us up at 7:30 am. The seven of us, plus three local tourists from Tuguegarao, and two French tourists enjoyed the two-hour ride to Sabang. Our tour guide made sure to provide us the necessary information and facts before we proceed to the Underground River. She even told the driver to stop at the nearest convenience store, so we can buy bottles of Off lotion to drive off mosquitoes.

On the way to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

Upon arrival, a white sand beach and sumptuous lunch buffet welcomed us in Sabang. Since it would take us another 45 minutes by boat to get to the river, we ate lunch first before hopping on the boat. I loved the lunch at Sabang. It felt like we were on a beach outing.

The beach in Sabang

After lunch, we headed to the Underground River. We had the boat all for ourselves. Its maximum capacity is eight passengers and two boatmen. The local government is very strict when it comes to rules. All passengers must wear life jackets or else, the boatmen will pay Php 1,000 fine. The boat must not also exceed its maximum allowed capacity or else, the boatmen will not be allowed to work for a week.

The boat ride

There are two ways to get to the Underground River - by boat or by feet. If you travel by boat, it will only take you around 45 minutes. If you go there by trekking, it will take you around three hours. We took the boat for obvious reasons. For more than 30 minutes, our boat sailed across the South China Sea. Its waves were huge and rolling. If you're not used to traveling by boat, you'll find it scary. But if you know how to swim and you love the beach, you'll find it as an adventure. When we reached the shore, our tour guide informed us that we needed to wait for our turn for at least an hour. We didn't mind the extreme heat of the sun because the beach was so inviting and the water was crystal blue. If we brought extra clothes, we could have taken a dip in the waters of Sabang.

Breathtaking view outside the Underground River

While we waited for our turn to explore the cave, our tour guide showed us live monitor lizards. Monitor lizards, most commonly known as biawaks, are reptiles that are known to eat fruits. In Sabang, they roam freely in the forest, but tourists are not allowed to touch them because they might attack anytime. According to the tourist guide, there are monkeys in the trees. Unluckily, we didn't see even one monkey.

The Monitor Lizard and the Forest

When it was our turn to explore the cave, we were requested to wear life jackets and helmets for our safety. Our boat guide made sure that we would learn interesting stuff from the tour. He told us stories about the Italian divers who checked if there are crocodiles or other species in the river. He pointed to us stalagmites and stalactites. The stones formed things depending on your imagination.

Ready to explore the Underground River

It was so dark inside the cave. When we entered the cave, I felt something different, something weird. But I think it was just me. The cave was really creepy. If I didn't have company, I wouldn't have the guts to explore that place. I couldn't even take good shots with my camera. My brother held the spotlight, which served as our light inside the cave. For almost an hour, we explored the river. We saw stones formed into fruits and vegetables, a jellyfish, a woman, and what else we could imagine. The cave has a bit of a disgusting smell because bats reside in the cave. In fairness to those bats, they provide the fertilizer for the rich marine life of Palawan through their "poop."

Inside the Underground River

The underground river was creepy, but it was definitely worth the experience and visit. It was a different adventure. Overall, I liked it. Mother Nature has proved its greatness once again by just looking at the stone formations. I was glad that at least in this lifetime I have visited one of the finalists of the 2011 Wonders of Nature. Well, I wish to visit more places soon.

After the underground river tour, we headed back to the resort to enjoy the afternoon swimming in the pool. After a quick swim and rest, we went back to the city proper to eat dinner. This time we ate at Kinabuchs Grill and Bar. When I was making our itinerary, a lot of people suggested Kinabuchs. So we had to see for ourselves if the place and food were great.

Dinner at Kinabuchs

We ordered the Palawan delicacy "tamilok" as our appetizer. Tamilok is a worm-like mussel served raw with vinegar on the side. It tasted so slimy and salty. I didn't chew the tamilok; just swallowed it. Hehe! I didn't really enjoy the tamilok, but at least I know that I was really in Palawan because I tasted their local delicacy. Food in Kinabuchs was superb and inexpensive. The crew were also very friendly. No wonder a lot of tourists eat there. And their place is huge!

Before calling it a night, we shopped for souvenirs at the Tiangge or Marketplace. I bought cultured pearls, keychains, and a shirt for pasalubong to friends. Everytime I travel, I always make sure I have something to share and give to people back home.

To be continued...

Philippines' Last Frontier: Palawan Day 1

Palawan is a Philippine island province that lies between the South China Sea and Sulu Sea. It is often referred to as a paradise due to its variety of fauna and flora. Palawan is blessed with great landscapes and rich marine and terrestrial resources.

Palawan's capital is the Puerto Princesa City. It is an hour away from Cebu where I currently live.

I booked plane tickets for the entire family four months before the trip. I've always wanted to go to Palawan because of the awesome pictures and stories I've heard from friends.

A week before our trip, I prepared our travel itinerary and made the hotel and tours reservations. Thank God for friends who made my life easier. They provided me with tips and suggestions on where to stay and eat and which places to visit.

My parents, siblings, uncle, and I took the 11am flight to Puerto Princesa via Cebu Pacific. The plane was full of local and foreign tourists. Looking at everyone's faces, I could tell that we were all excited to explore Palawan.

When we arrived at the Puerto Princesa airport, a lady from the resort greeted us and showed us the van that would take us to the resort. I thought that the resort was far from the airport. Surprise, it only took us less than 5 minutes to get to the resort!

Puerto Princesa

At the resort, the owner/manager Rose greeted us with welcome drinks. She was up on the roof of one of the cottages with the carpenters to check and fix the leaks.

The House of Rose Resort is owned by Andy, an Australian, and Rose, a Filipina, who made Palawan their home three years ago. I chose the resort because the rates were very affordable plus they offered free WIFI, billiards, and swimming pool.

Though the resort is not conveniently located in the city proper, there were still a lot of foreign tourists who stayed in the resort. The place was peaceful, very relaxing, and clean. The ladies at the resort were also helpful and attentive to our needs. They also served good food.

I scheduled a 3-hour city tour in Palawan on our first day. I wanted to feel the life of the locals, so I didn't book a city tour package. My brothers and I called for tricycle cabs to drive us around the city. For Php 300 per cab, we visited the Crocodile Farm, Baker's Hill, Mitra's Ranch, and Baywalk.

At the Crocodile Farm, you can take pictures of live crocodiles and even hold a live baby crocodile. There was a mini tour inside the facility where you can mostly see bones of crocodiles, live crocodiles in cubicles, and big sleeping crocodiles.

Crocodile Farm

At the Baker's Hill, we were greeted with the smell of freshly-baked hopia. I couldn't resist the good smell, so I bought a box of ube hopia and mongo hopia. Yummm! The trip to the hill was worth it. The area was made into a mini-park where you can find a kalesa, Snow white and the seven dwarfs, Marilyn Monroe, Jack Sparrow, and so on and so forth.

Baker's Hill

We then drove to Mitra's Ranch where the view of Puerto Princesa was breathtaking. We didn't spend a lot of time at the ranch since there weren't a lot of things to see there. We then rushed to Baywalk for a quick visit. There were lights and lamps, street vendors, and carnivals.

Mitra's Ranch and Baywalk

Our first night in Palawan ended with a dinner at the famous Ka Lui Restaurant. It was a good thing that I made reservations a week before. Ka Lui is so popular that it's hard to find a table for walk-in guests. The restaurant has a native style. In order to get in, you need to remove your shoes, slippers, or footwear. They gave us a table which allowed us to sit on the floor. I liked the ambiance at Ka Lui - colorful, fun, very Filipino, and creative. Because of a freakin' migraine, I never got to taste the food at Ka Lui. Boo! I slept while everyone was enjoying the sumptuous meal. The resto even gave us complimentary soup and desserts and I wasn't able to taste all of them. Sigh!

Ka Lui Restaurant

To be continued...

P.S. Thanks Brennan, April, and Kathy for the tips and suggestions.

Angel for a Day

As promised, here's my post about our Halloween Costume Party.

A week before the party, I checked my cabinet and found the white dress that I bought for a friend's wedding. Since I didn't want to spend a lot of money for a costume, I decided to re-use the white dress.

I thought of dressing up as a white lady, but the dress was too chic. An office mate suggested that I should wear an angel costume instead. I liked the idea of becoming an angel for a day! So I went to the nearest mall and bought angel wings and white stockings at the Kids' Department.

This was me...

Do I look angelic or what?!

Melody came as a Japanese Doll...

Melody and I posing for the camera

Meine dressed up as a Goth/Witch...

Meine tried to follow Mel's directions

Gretchen was a Mummy...

The Best in Costume Awardee

Our office invited kids to join us celebrate Halloween and all of 'em dressed up. Here are some photos of the kids:

Adorable kids at the office for the Trick or Treat

And oh, by the way, I won 2nd place in the Best in Costume contest. Not bad! Hope you like the pictures. 'Til next Halloween!

P.S. Thank you Mel for the wig! ;-)