Just posting some pics of my favorite get-away in Batangas - La Luz Resort in San Juan, Batangas. As the beach is unbelievably clean and the drive relatively easy (3 hours from Manila), this is where we come to when we need some sun on our skin :) We just call for day trip reservations, pack our swimsuits and go. For P650/pax, we get a day of R&R, complete with buffet lunch and merienda, a huge cabana, clean facilities, beach-front parasoles, chillout music and of course, views of the resort's hunky owner Rommel Marasigan hehe. For more info on La Luz, [View Full Entry]

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Well, what can I say? Bora is Bora - even when it was stormy! Stayed at Station 2 resort La Carmela, shopped for trinkets, learned to skimboard, played with local kids, took photos, sunbathed (if you can call it that), did all things Bora - braids and tats! This is my second time in Bora, the first being nine years ago (I know it’s unforgivable for some but hey, I’ve been around the Philippines, seen beaches many people haven’t even heard about so cut me some slack) and it’s not much different. Still the same Bora vibe - beautiful, liberating, exhilarating [View Full Entry]

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This trip technically does not count as one of my travels because I've been to Batangas and Tagaytay a countless number of times. However, this trip has been so significant for me so here goes... They say travel helps cure a broken heart. This is the story of three broken hearts (in different stages of recovery and varying degrees of manic-depression) and a weekend of Fs -- “fetted shets” (fitted sheets), freeloading, fun fun fun, and fabulous friends). A and Cat, this is for you! For broken-hearted girls, there is nothing worse than long weekends. Nothing -- exce [View Full Entry]

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It's another place off my list of places to go before I die. And a new one on my list of places with a soul. After years of pining, I finally saw the famous El Nido last week. Taking the plane from Manila, we arrived at Puerto Princesa in the morning of Tuesday, February 21. After breakfast and meeting up with some friends I met during my previous trip to Puerto Princesa, we headed off to El Nido. El Nido is about 7 hours away from Puerto Princesa (including pitstops). The roads from Puerto to Roxas (2 hours away) were very [View Full Entry]

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BANTAYAN ISLAND, CEBU Was in Cebu yet again for work. Had lots of fun though because there were a lot of us. We were all booked in Marriott which we all thoroughly enjoyed because of the new beddings and pillows (truly fit for a princess!) and the great breakfast spread. Sunday was Chinese New Year so the hotel was bedecked in red silk lanterns. We were working over the weekend though so we weren’t able to do much except a little shopping at Ayala Center and a night-out at Mr. A’s near Tops Saturday night (which was perfect because it was [View Full Entry]

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I only have two thoughts about Puerto Princesa, Palawan: The best things in life are free. and You really do find happiness in the most unexpected places. [View Full Entry]

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Was in Cebu over the weekend for a business trip. I wasn't feeling well so was not able to go around much. The city is busy with preparations for the Sinulog next weekend. In fact, traffic is already getting congested from the number of tourists already in the city for next week's festival. Saturday's PAL flight was delayed as usual. We got there just in time for me to check-in at Marriott and have a quick look-see at the new Banilad Town Center. The building is nice, with a quiet atmosphere. Many Metro Manila brands still unavailable in Cebu are there [View Full Entry]

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This is the last leg of our Ilocos Tour. Please refer to the two previous blogs for entries on Vigan and Laoag. Pagudpud! After a really good breakfast of Laoag longganisa (it’s better than Vigan’s!) at Macy’s Diner, we met up with Carol and Hector for a day in Pagudpud. Pagudpud is around 78 kilometers, one-way, from Laoag. There are mini-buses that ply the route from Laoag. On the way, we pass by several Ilocos Norte towns. The roads are very good and driving along, you see snatches of dramatic landscapes: waves on a rocky shore in Burgos, Cape [View Full Entry]

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This is part 2 of our Ilocos Trip. Please refer to previous and next blogs for Vigan and Pagudpud entries. GETTING THERE According to our cuchero, we can either take the mini-buses or Partas going to Laoag. He said that if we take Partas, travel would take less than 2 hours. After a breakfast of Vigan longganisa at Aniceto Mansion, we set off towards the Partas bus station. We had to wait 1 hour before the next bus to Laoag came. The trip was boring and contrary to our cuchero’s tip, it took more than 2 hours. It was also double [View Full Entry]

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This is part 1 of our Ilocos Tour. Do check out the succeeding blogs for entries on Laoag and Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. GETTING THERE Our Vigan adventure starts off on Christmas Day 2005. Armed only with half a day’s worth of research, money and clothes to last us five days, my sister and I boarded the Partas bus bound for Laoag City at 10PM. First discovery: fare has gone up 25% from P450 last May (according to my notes) to P600. The bus was clean and comfortable, with reclining seats, adjustable aircon vents (unfortunately, you can’t turn it off complete [View Full Entry]

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