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Published: November 26th 2011
Cruising Without Breaking The Bank
http://marilil.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/cruising-without-breaking-the-bank/Having started the year with a
family cruise calling on the ports of
Singapore and
Malacca , I managed quite a number of trips around the country. Certainly tons cheaper than traveling out of the country, but not one bit less enjoyable or lacking in excitement. Besides, I was able to do more local destinations and roadtrips with family and friends. No tight itinerary. Just lazy driving. And no regimented schedules. Just
food trip galore .
My Most Awesome Animal Experience
There is always a first time. And it is lovelier the second time around.
End of February was when I tried my first whale shark interaction in
Donsol, Sorsogon . It was so awesome I simply had to go back with my family. Now my grandchildren have their minds set about a 3rd time next summer to meet their butandings
Twilight in Donsol, Sorsogon
http://marilil.wordpress.com/2011/03/05/randy-the-butanding-whisperer-of-donsol/ or whale sharks once more.
There were also new discoveries such as the shrimp fishermen of Donsol. The
sudsod fishermen whose only gadget is a triangular net they unfold and use to "sweep" the seafloor to catch their shrimps. To this day, I still treasure the twilight shot I took of the place where the shrimp fishermen practice their craft.
Road Trips
Driving 10 hours from Manila towards the southern tip of Luzon (1 of 3 major island groups) is not easy. More so when you have 2 kids with you. But the
roadtrips made us "better travelers" and bonded us as family even more. There was no room for arguments. Just laughter, adventures and pigging out all throughout the journey.
There were trips with friends. And there were solo trips. Fiestas all over the country. The
Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Quezon, the sidetrips to
Sariaya andTiaong, Quezon , the summer escapade to cooler
Baguio City, the relaxing weekend in
Los Banos and
Calamba, Laguna, the unplanned visits to old churches in
Majayjay and Nagcarlan , the short flights to
Negros and
Ilocos and the day trips from Manila such as to the lovely towns of
Balayan , Tanauan , Taal and Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas!
This is my family. Christmas greetings from our home in Manila to yours. Talisay in
Batangas . Stuck within the city, I also managed to discover how best to "waste" hours in
Manila and its suburbs. Visits to the old parts of town like
Quiapo and
Intramuros ,
museum visits , food tripping in
Manila's Chinatown and heretofore unknown haunts in the suburbs like
Antipolo and
Angono, Rizal just under an hour's drive from the city center.
And now, the Christmas Season is in the air!
The air is cooler. And the crowds grow thicker as Christmas Day approaches. I am nearly done with my Christmas shopping. I always manage to beat the crowd. Just a couple of visits to a Christmas Bazaar and a short trip to
Vietnam (ahem....) and I'm done.
Before long, I will be striking one off my bucket list with next week's trip to
Bhutan . So excited. I'd be living my dream soon enough. (Check out my more recent blogs on
Bhutan !)
Then what? The year 2012 beckons and there's still that plan to either head back to Europe or to visit South America for the first time. Let me think about that post-Bhutan. For now, I have bags with Christmas gifts ready for delivery while I'm away. In the next 2 days, I should be done packing for winter holiday in Bhutan.
Merry Christmas, Everyone! I know I am a month early. But you see.............I'd be busy in the coming weeks! http://marilil.wordpress.com/
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rain ? destination everywhere
non-member comment
whatta fun-filled wrap up. bagay sa December blog carnival :)