Bolinao, Pangasinan

A quickie trip with the girls to catch some sun...

♥A

32-day-visa

This time... I left my stilettos to see the top of the world!

Schilthorn 10-26-2015

Baler for old times' sake..

A quickie overnight trip with good old college barkada because Racqs is in town!! Woooot~

It was a long drive from Manila to Baler - from dawn to sunrise - but totally worth it!  

We did what we can in a day.. tour around town, sightseeing.. We tried to surf too! (and I failed miserably! lol) 

We ended the day with late night conversations catching up over drinks!

Now it makes me wonder when will be the "repeat".. After all, we all have our own paths and lives to live ahead of us.

It's kinda happy and sad thoughts at the same time.

♥A

Nacpan clip

And this is how my day started..

With this view, a morning walk is in order. I think it's one of the habits I can't let go off when on holidays.

I'm not in a hurry or anything today, and I've decided last night since I pretty much can't do more because I'm feeling sick I'll just check out the other beach to read a book. I guess a little bit more sunning won't hurt, say late morning until sunset? Lol

First stop? Nacpan Beach

Gone Solo

Ralei and my siblings were headed back to Puerto Princesa earlier today.. and I'm staying behind for a few more days. Unfortunately, I had to take it easy today since I'm not that feeling well and my skin was irritated since yesterday.

Did some walking today.. then tomorrow, I'll see what I'd feel like doing for the day. Perks of traveling solo!! =P

El Nido Day 2

♥A

El Nido day 1

♥A

All set for the weekend

Planning this trip with Ralei and my siblings was not the greatest thing, but hey! We made it..

Ralei is on an earlier flight so she head on out to El Nido hours ahead of us and will just be meeting her in the hotel.

It is a nice day with the blue sky! I need a wink since I came straight off from work on a night shift but I just can't. I am exhausted but I'm too excited to sleep. It's been years since my first glimpse of El Nido and I can't help but compare the difference. While it is still a long drive from Puerto Princesa, the roads now are in a better condition and transportation to and from are available at most hours unlike years ago. The traveling time were cut a few hours shorter than before and it felt less remote.

For hours, endless coconut trees and various plants was all we can see. Until finally, we get closer to our destination and we can now see some water.

We arrived late in the evening..

And the bed is soooo inviting! But then we need some real food after all those hours in the road left us hungry. In our efforts to find food, we ended up here in IslandFront restaurant.

It is nestled by the shore, a quiet place with just the sound of the water kissing the shore in the background. Looks like people are scarce at this time of the night. We then settled in one of the candlelit tables near the beachfront, near enough to taste the saltiness in the air and hear the waves. We ate heartily and cap the night back in our rooms.

Now, off we go to dreamland! Bonne nuit! ~ ♥A

trying to be sporty??

I didn't intend to try it but I love my friends that I got swayed into doing it anyway.

We are in a quick spontaneous weekend trip with no reservation or whatsoever. We don't even know what else to do except for their plan to do wakeboarding. First we checked out Nuvali.. and boy! It was full! So we ended up in Pampanga where we were hoping to book a room in Pradera Verde but unfortunately, with the event this weekend, it is already fully booked. Not to lose hope, we ended up staying in a bed and breakfast a few kilometers away from Pradera that we decided to just comeback in the morning for them to wakeboard.

For the night, we ended up having dinner in a neighboring Japanese restaurant and shopping snacks and drinks in the nearby grocery then settled for the night after hours of laughing and chatting. I really love these people!

And then the morning came.. and this happened! HAHAHA

It was fun indeed.. but still this will probably be my first and last after all those water I drank! Lol

going back to Paradise

Booked!! After 4 years, I'm coming back to see you again...

A day in Singapore

Yesterday, I was undecided if I wanted to stay a few more days or stick to my initial plan of leaving later tonight.

Hangover and starved from last night's drinking, I found myself a breakfast place near the malls. I am not really a fan of shopping and in a city full of shopping centers I am lost by myself. It was warm, humid and a bit sunny outside. If I were just home, I'll opt to stay in and lounge in the comforts of my bed for hours or do something else other than walk around; but since I promised my sister to buy her requested tea ihere in Singapore, do I even have a choice but to go out and see more of the city!

It took me a while to find my destination and before long, I have given up and admitted that I am a little lost. =P Well, nothing new! I just kept on walking ~ and besides, nobody will care since I am alone.

It felt like Christmas already with all the decorations! It must be beautiful at night with all the sparkly lights and glitters.

Halfway through the day though, I decided to stick to my plan and come home tonight. After hours of walking around and right after I bought my sister's tea, I started my way back to the hotel to pack up for my flight back home.

And good thing I left when I did because it started raining again!

Well, this earned me another teasing with my newly found friend still in Maldives and is basking in a sunny day by the beach! I'm pretty jealous at the time. They did offer for me to stay and join them for another 2 weeks or so touring farther in the different islands in Maldives but I had to turn it down. Thing is, I need to be back to work this week - I just wished I brought my work laptop with me so then perhaps a can extend a bit more. Or maybe, this is as good as it gets and perhaps this way is better. I'll never know though.

In general, aside from helpful people, Singapore is pretty cool. Basically, I just had a glimpse of it and didn't do any touristy stuff, sight seeings and all those things today. I just thought it's not fun doing it alone. Now, I will be planning to go back with friends or family. That should make it more fun than strutting my heels around the city by myself.

'Til next time Singapore ~ ♥A

guess I'm Lucky!

If I think doing Maldives solo was my adventure of the year! This is where I was wrong!

I arrived in Singapore and well, I need to figure out my way to the capsule hotel I've booked with my luggage and hand carry and all this stuff! Why did I do this to myself, eh?

It's easier to take a cab! But no...the stubborn me insisted to figure this out with the public transportation. I get to find the metro after hmm... a while of walking around the airport. How difficult is that? Now, I feel stupid since it took me a while to find it when it was in plain sight. Guess, this proves my "direction" and "maps" problem. And one not to lose hope... I was able to find my bus stop!!

 I waited for a while and worried a bit since it's getting late. When the designated bus arrived, being myself, I can't even carry my own luggage! Lesson learned - try not to over pack and make sure I can carry my own things by myself or else just don't bring more things I'll end up not using anyway. Anyway, Mr. Driver is nice enough to help me, it was a bit embarrassing with all the passengers looking at me and the delay it caused. I tried to ask directions and what's more nicer is Mr. Driver dropping me in the right stop and again, helping me with my bags!! And then I thought that was it. I can do the walking myself, only to be faced with this....

Okay.. I can see the hotel's name on the other side of the street!!! Now what?? This is hell of a steps with my bags. While trying to look around another way to do this a young couple walking down the steps saw me and perhaps the nice guy noticed my predicament. And my goodness, when he offered me his help, I can't thank him enough.

I walked my way across the footbridge and then now.. how do I go down? Lol same stairs on the other side and same problem for me! A while back a couple of middle aged men was walking with me across the overpass. And while I stayed atop the steps thinking of what to do next, They noticed me when they looked back to check if I am going down as well. Then, if it wasn't my lucky day today I don't know what is today! The other man went back and asked me if I needed his help since he saw me with the other guy who helped me up the steps. And again, all grateful to the nice people of Singapore. That's how I survived my first few hours in the city.

And it's as if it wasn't enough.. I entered the wrong door! I entered the spa beside it thinking "this is it! Finally!" only to find out as soon as I entered that it was the door beside it. HAHA I'm starting to lose it and would love a good laugh at this! But I needed to settle first and find food. And just my luck, a group of teens passed me by and taught me how to ping the reception to buzz me in and now, an elderly woman helped by holding out the door for me. Now, I am starting to fall in love with the people of Singapore!

Checked in and settled, I tried to find dinner and found this pasta place.

And more good luck, I met some people and took me a walk a round the city and treated me to a few drinks. Tonight, I scored some free beers, a 10 year old wine and funny new acquaintances. The new friend walked me back to the pod hotel..

Had a cup of coffee while talking away with this person in the hotel lobby - another new acquaintance - shower and then bed..

Just the way to cap the night...

Me and my faulty-sense-of-direction,

♥A

the end of my holidays

I chanced another walk early before my flight to Singapore. And well, I showered in the rain!!! Way to start my day.. A hotel staff has arranged my transfer to the airport and I am not thrilled to leave yet. *sad*

The city is still crowded and the people are walking everywhere which makes traffic bad. The hotel staff and I shared our cab with another tourist since he can't get any and it'll be just a quick ride why not. Amusing, just look at the "cab-rules" below.

Boarded and it's time to leave.... and still cloudy..

Last glimpse at this stunner!

And a sweet goodbye for now...

 A couple of days by myself was nice but a company once in a while isn't bad as well. I am leaving this pretty little islands with new realizations about myself, boosted confidence, learned lessons and new acquaintances. Now I get to check Singapore for a quick stop.. Do I extend or not?

undecided ~~ A

Kuda Bandos

360 view

Island excursion it is in Kuda Bandos island and no other activities available but then a minimum of 4 pax is required for it. Luckily, there were a pair of guys in for it and waiting for more people to join. Along with them, 2 women with their 2 kids joined as well.

I don't have anything to do yet. So I just packed my sunscreen, water, chips and pretzels along with my sarong, sunnies, book and phone while wishing Mr. Sun will grace me his warm rays. More sunning day for me!!!

The boat ride to the resort took a while.

And thank goodness, it was sunny by the time we arrived. So we have the whole day in the island until 4 in the afternoon when the hotel has scheduled to fetch us back.

First thing in order is to find the perfect spot in the area. Minimum requirement of a nice view with a little bit of shade to filter through just enough sun for me. And here it was.

Reading a few pages of the book I packed until I totally gave it up to just savor the moment and daydream some more. A catnap along the shore which earned me a sun burnt back later on - note to self, next time do it under a shade at least! and few more photos until it went all dark and gray, threatening a rain.

Yes! Maldives has an unpredictable weather around this time of the year. One of the guys I met in the excursion kept teasing me and calling me the "Rain Girl" just because... well, I am not really sure with his basis on the nickname but then they were in Maldives around the same time last year and they said it was all sunny without a drop of rain and then this one time I was with them and it was all gray and rainy. Totally not fair! I firmly believe I did not bring the rain. LOL

20-minute walk in Villingili Island

I turned in late last night but still woke up pretty early today. Mulling in bed while checking Facebook and chatting up with friends and family back home I thought of walking around the island. So after a while of my  tamad-moments - since it's only almost 6 o'clock in the morning and still pretty cloudy, not expecting a bright sunny weather today - I decided to take my morning walk and check out the beach or wherever is the shore..

I started my walk in the empty streets of Villingili. From time to time, I see people going out and some walking towards the opposite directions or across mine always with a shy smile on their faces and when you get close enough to hear them they also utter a quiet "Hello" or "Good morning". It feels nice that the people are welcoming.

I tried to capture what I amuses me with some selfies that I am too shy to share, so I'm not posting it here either!

I get to round up the whole island in 20 minutes but definitely, I did not explore every alley way just because I'm trying to keep track on my turns to and from the hotel for when I am to return to it.

And I'm not really sure if this was the beach area. Not as stunning as the one in Vilamendhoo but hey, I'm just starting my day and will be planning for what to do until tomorrow.

A quick walk and I was back in the hotel. More time to wait for breakfast and ask the available activities offered around here. Initially, I planned to push through with the wind surfing lessons but we'll have to see since when I inquire, looks like there's no lessons offered for the day. Guess, I need to find something else to do after my breakkie.