http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Aluel/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Aluel en-us Sun, 27 Dec 2009 08:42:07 +0000 Sun, 27 Dec 2009 08:42:07 +0000 Coming back from the Philippines and returning to the US for work and endless chore I almost forgot to blog about our trip to El Nido Miniloc. But reading National Geographic Adventure October 2009 featuring El Nido as being the richest marine reserve the Coral Triangle. I canrsquot help but to agree. I have always dreamed of going to the paradise called Palawan. Wondered mystified amazed a http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/blog-439589.html As I gaze at our window the green trees have turned bright yellow. Six months have past since our departure from Manila. Time flies so quickly like now leaves are falling from the trees. I have took sneak peaks of four states of America in the past few months. New York Virginia and Washington DC and not to forget New Jersey our state that I have not yet fully ventured but visited Belmar Br http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-Jersey/Neptune-Township/blog-361343.html Filipinorsquos Diaspora in AmericaTwo days after jubilant celebration of Philippine Independence Day last June 12 we bid farewell to our family friends and native land. We packed our lives in boxes weighting not more than 50 kg each and crossed the seas to a neighboring land in Taiwan Taipei airport via Eva Air for a connecting flight. We saw Taipei airport was really advanced organized c http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-Jersey/Neptune-Township/Ocean-Grove/blog-334370.html Valentines is Valerie's day.Valentines day or Valrsquos day for short. My wife Valerie Navarrete and I celebrated it at White Beach Puerto Galera. This coincided with IBM Daksh my new companyrsquos outing the next day. I took a leave a day earlier than the team building activity to celebrate with my wife. We arrived at White Beach at around 230PM after a 2hour bus ride from Manila to the B http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Mindoro/White-Beach/blog-247959.html My babyrsquos back She was away for 2 months and I have missed our travels together. In the process though I discovered a lot from my suburban home at Quezon City. I will be blogging about this on my next journal. Going back to our Tagaytay trip Maan H H for Hilvano as we fondly call Valrsquos best friend celebrated her birthday at Tagaytay with us and her boyfriend Jaqui.Featured sites http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Tagaytay/blog-237417.html My parents' Bobby and Neiza Navarrete's 31st Anniversary Celebration in Tagaytay. After leaving Manila in the morning we all had lunch at The Boutique for their famous Hawaiian baby back ribs. After a leisurely lunch we proceeded to Talisay to rent a boat for Taal Lake. It was really great because all of us could make it Mama Papa and my brothers Tristan Carlo and Robbu. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Taal-Lake/blog-226311.html After more than 3 years of working in the hotel industry I decided to call it quits. Val I are ready for a new life adventure. Val's going to the USA to apply for her residency while I join the nearby IBM call center. As soon I resigned I had a month vacation before joining my new company. Val I spent quality time at our favorite nearby vacation destination Tagaytay. We first had lunch on http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Tagaytay/blog-224256.html My older brother Tristan just arrived in the Philippines after working in a Royal Caribbean Luxury liner for 8 months. He just canrsquot wait to jump into Philippinesrsquo beaches. With little time in my hands I dug into my old travel files to head to a place with the beach nightlife activities we needed for a quick getaway. I also wanted to explore a new destination. Since all of us hav http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Puerto-Galera/Tamaraw-Falls/blog-138590.html We are here for an Amazing race challenge Teams formSee more of us at 6 Floor Glorieta 4 Ayala Center MakatiTel 7298888orvisit www.theascott.com http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Tagaytay-Highlands/blog-167810.html Aisde from staying at the Boutique we decided to try out the different restaurants of Tagaytay. Thursday lunch in Manos Greek Tavern the baklava was too sweet the moussaka was delicious dinner at Hawaiian babyback ribs at The Boutique mouthwatering and enough of a reason to come back again and again breakfast in bed courtesy of The Boutique and Friday lunch at Gourmet's cafe salads are http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Tagaytay/blog-164887.html One fine day Val I decided to go to SM Mall of Asia. This is supposed to be the biggest mall in Asia. We spent almost an entire day there and we still haven't seen every part of it. It was that big http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Manila/Mall-of-Asia/blog-164906.html We stayed at the Boutique Bed Breakfast on May 30 and left on June 1 2007. It seemed like we stayed for a month. It felt timeless. Just the right vacation we needed on a rainy end of May. I just took my paternity leave from The Ascott Hotel formerly Oakwood Makati. It was unfortunate that last month Val I lost our 3 month old baby. Val I are still finding ourselves back to this beautiful http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Tagaytay/blog-164873.html We have returned After the wedding and the holidays Mila Atienza my motherinlaw now decided to bring all of us to Alaminos Pangasinan their hometown. This would be a chance for the balikbayans Filipinos coming back to the Philippines Ditas Gavino and Nikki Sacasas to go back to the Hundred Islands. Fortunately Ditas' family owns the oceanthemed house we used to stay in. It was a 6h http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Pangasinan/Hundred-Islands/blog-114691.html After wandering in the world it gets pretty lonesome despite all the people you meet. You engage in what they call the pursuit of happiness. And for some people happiness is found in that perfect person. At an early age I was already searching. I was lucky to have met Valerie when I was just 15 years old. But never did it start romantically because my eyes were fixed elsewhere. After two ye http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Negros/Dumaguete/blog-114683.html I have never thought I would travel internationally this soon. After our last travel adventure at Puerto Galera Val I were really very busy. Val had been studying for her medical board exams that finished this Aug 16. I on the other hand was busy doing domestic errands like car home repairs fixing family issues I feel like Michael one of the characters in the TV series ldquoArrested D http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Bangkok/blog-88525.html Extra challenge survival budget getaway Puerto Galera is your alternative to Boracay fun. It's cheaper very ideal for groups. A 23 hour bus ride from Manila through the South Luzon Expressway 112 hr ferry boat from the Batangas pier. In this trip I went with Val's Medicine friends Block C my brother Robby his bestfriend Chichong. We left Filinvest 1 Quezon City our home at 430 AM. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Mindoro/White-Beach/blog-49614.html Road trip to Pagsanjan is a fascinating journey. We enjoyed the different towns of Laguna in two days. This really created variety of experiences in food people and scenery in our trip. Truly worth it journey. What a delightAfter spending the holidays in the city my wanderlust started acting up again. In the morning of Jan.162007 a monday after Val's 24hour duty in the hospital I lite http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Laguna/Pagsanjan/Magdapo-Falls/blog-36368.html June 17 2005 Friday at 1000 AM Val Toby Val's brother Ninjo Val's cousin I left Filinvest 1 Q.C our home headed to Subic Olongapo via North Luzon Expressway. Everything was going along fine cruising with our music but suddenly when we reached the bridge in NLEXNorth Luzon Express way the steering wheel started to shake. At first I thought it was just the road but after the lon http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Subic/blog-11606.html Boracay Aklan Philippines. My second time and Val's first time in the pride of the Philippines Boracay We had Singles for Christ celebration in Boracay for the weekend. We used a PALakbayan lodging and travel package by Philippine Airlines. There are not enough words to describe the beauty and fun that is Boracay http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Boracay/blog-14759.html Paradise by a Hundred For a moment feel like you were Christopher Columbus discovering your own piece of land. White sand islands with different shapes virgin undeveloped beaches and boatmen that you have to depend on. Don't forget to tell them when you will be picked up or else you have to set a bonfire on top of the island praying that someone will rescue you. hehehee.... http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Pangasinan/Alaminos/Hundred-Islands/blog-25102.html