Holy Week Last Minute Plans

 The Plan

We had plans of spending the Holy Week at the beach with my parents and nephews. My mom suggested Calaguas and since we haven't been there yet, I got excited at the thought of it. Since I couldn't anymore find the time to handle the planning for that trip, I delegated it to Bebeko Hanz. He was doing a great job researching for everything, from hotels we can stay at, to places to see in the area, things to do, what we need to buy, etc. when the boatman he was texting said that the coast guard won't be allowing any infants in the boat trip. The kid has to be 2 years old and up before they could board and go island hopping. Oh no!!! To make this long story short and to my dismay, we decided not to go anymore. Baby Tuz is just 4 months old and we don't want to go anywhere without him. We'll just wait for him until he turns two and that's when we'll revisit our Calaguas plans. 

Now what? 

So it's already the Holy Week and we don't have any other contingencies. Everywhere else is booked, if not, rooms are available at twice the price or more since it's peak season. It's gonna be one heck of a traffic ride going to and fro, and we'll just be stuck in a stressful situation if we decide to book a last minute beach vacation. 

What to do? 

Buri Resort and Spa - Answer to My Prayer

This was the exact room I was provided with during my stay!

God works in mysterious ways and he does answer our prayers whether we see it or not. In my case, with my work being home-based, and myself being home alone most of the time (if I'm not traveling), I do get lonely. Usually, this feeling of loneliness is manageable but there comes a time, like a few days after my bessy Hanz went back to Cebu and I was missing him a lot, that I felt really sad. The pain in my heart was so palpable like I couldn't breathe. So I talked to God and told him that I can't live like this... I don't want to be by myself all the time; I need some semblance of social life (love life if possible!). But most, if not all of my friends, are busy with kids, families and careers. And the current object of my affection is miles away. Then I remember what I learned from Rhonda Byrne's The Secret before, that I don't have to know nor see how my wishes will be granted, but that I should just believe that it will happen in God's own time. And true enough, the universe opened its doors the moment it saw that I was ready. 

Where To Sunbathe In Majorca To Achieve The Perfect Tan

Millions of people visit Majorca every year, and if you’re planning to take a trip to this spectacular island, then you’ll certainly want to know where the best places to stay are. Majorca has always had a great reputation for sea, sand, sun and surf, and according to its ever increasing tourism numbers, it does a good job at living up to expectations.

As long as you know what you want to get out of a holiday to Majorca, you’ll have the best time ever, whether you’re travelling with your family, friends, or on your own. There are so many things to do in Majorca, you’ll find it hard to fit everything in! Let’s take a look at some of the best resorts to stay, and some of the best places to get that perfect tan, ensuring you have a holiday of a lifetime.  

Aguirangan Island, Caramoan: Bicol - Caramoan Adventure Series Day 3

My hubby Peter took my first shot at Aguirangan Island. That's Mayon Volcano behind me from afar.

I can't believe I'm blogging for three days straight now. I'm on fire! LOL! Unfortunately, I haven't been sleeping much which is bad. I guess something has got to give if I want to continue blogging. I can't just give up my work nor my time with my Bes Hanz nor my role as a wife, right? If only we can have more than 24 hours in a day... Anyway, I also just want to finish as many posts as I can since I promised myself that I'll finish my travelogues before the year ends and I still have so many. Plus, I'm not so sure if there'd be wifi at the 2012 International Youth Seminar on Life and Ch'an in Taiwan. The first week (July 18-25) is jampacked with seminars, activities and tours, while the second week (July 26-Aug. 3) will be devoted to a lot of meditation. 

Donsol Whale Shark Adventure: Bicol - Caramoan Adventure Series Day 2

This blog post is the second part of our awesome Bicol - Caramoan adventure... 

So, after our trip to Lignon Hill where we did the zip line, then visited Cagsawa Ruins and the nearby LCC Mall, off we went to Donsol in Sorsogon the following day to swim with the gigantic whale sharks. Unlike the ones I saw in Oslob, the whale sharks in Donsol are huge... even bigger than the buses here in Manila! They were so huge (about 12-18 meters and weigh as much as 40 tons) that it was difficult for me to take a photo of its whole body. As you can see from the pictures below, I was only able to capture a portion of its body one part at a time. 

Nikko Bali Resort and Spa in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

In my previous blog post, I told you my side of the story of how and why I was able to join PAL's Manila to Bali inaugural flight. 

Ocean 101 - Siargao Cheap Accommodation

Hello from Siargao! I am currently checked in at Ocean 101 and so far I am loving my stay here that I wish I had booked at least a month's stay like I did in Boracay last year, rather than just 2 weeks. How I also wish my husband is with me. Oh well. Might as well make the most of this trip.

Read more:

SIARGAO CHEAP ACCOMMODATION – OCEAN 101 CLOUD 9 BEACH RESORT

Kawasan Falls and Beach in Badian, Cebu

I'm currently in Siargao right now for my 15-day vacation. I'm enjoying my vacation so much that I barely find the time to update my blogs. But maybe I can post some of my travel photos here just to update you where I have been and what I have been doing.

 That's me. the one wearing an orange life vest at the right side of the frame.

The other day (March 13), I was in Cebu for one whole day. Instead of just staying at the airport to wait for my flight, I decided to visit the town of Badian instead, located at the Southwestern part of Cebu. You can just take one of the Ceres buses at the South Bus Terminal located along N. Bacalso St. Fare costs Php131 for aircon and Php126 for non-aircon.

La Union Things to Do

It was supposed to be a day full of sun and  surf. Yep, we had a ton of sun alright, but no surf. The waves weren't big enough to go surfing so the next best thing would be to bodyboard instead. Good thing that we always bring not just our surfboard and skimboard every time we go to La Union, but our bodyboard as well. At least there'd be other activities we can do in the water.

Speaking of other activities, going to La Union is always such a thrill. I'll just summarize here the highlights of our short trip and perhaps you can do these things too if you wanna go to La Union sometime soon. Here are the amazing things you can do when going to La Union:

Top Attractions You Must Visit on Florida Holidays

To narrow down just a handful of top attractions in the ‘theme park capital of the world’ and the place that is most famous for Disneyworld holidays, is no easy feat, as the Sunshine State offers this and so much more. Personal opinion dictates the ‘top’ attractions but here is a selection of popular favourites guaranteed not to disappoint the likes of either families or couples:

Caribbean Destinations: St. Martin Villas vs St. Barths Villas

They are both Caribbean islands. They both have access to some of the finest beaches in the region. Even their names are fairly similar. So, how do you decide on a villa vacation between St. Martin and St. Barths? Let’s take a closer look at these islands and what they’re like.

[View of Lune de Miel, a luxury villa on St. Martin]

About 87 kilometers square, Saint Martin is an island divided between France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. St. Martin villas tend towards being modern locations, with clean, white construction, mixed indoor and outdoor living areas, and some traditionally Caribbean styles. The island is also home to favorite locations like Lune de Miel, one of the most highly-requested villas in the entire Caribbean due to its status as a magnificent honeymoon destination. With all the features of an island that has around seventy-five thousand people living on it, villas on St. Martin are a good choice for those who want to mix tropical fun with true luxury. Additionally, the distinct cultures of the two sections of the island allow for experiencing two worlds without ever having to travel very far, and this uncommon design makes for some of the most memorable vacations in the world.

[View of Princess X, a luxury villa on St. Barths]

In contrast to the island of St. Martin, St. Barths is a rather smaller island, with only twenty-one kilometers square to call its own. The permanent population of the island is under ten thousand people, and this can make for a more relaxing vacation experience. Among other things, St. Barths villas gravitate a little more towards personal comfort and use as family vacation spots for people who are interested in relaxing more on their own time, rather than getting too deeply involved with the idea of a more traditional vacation. Resort areas and locations in the middle of town can indeed be very nice, but they might not always be what you want, and that makes all the difference.

So, how to decide between the islands? Simple! Merely pick which sort of experience you’d prefer; on St. Martin, you will probably find more things to do, more places to go, and more people to meet. St. Barths, on the other hand, can often give you a quieter, more relaxing vacation.
 

Last Minute Holidays

 

This shot was taken in Apo island. After booking a last minute holiday to Dumaguete the second time around, we finally made it!

I think it would be great to book some last minute holidays, which could either mean having a vacation 2 weeks from now, or at the latest, 2 months from now. Most airlines, like Cebu Pacific, now offer low rates to various destinations, and they usually text me when they do so I'd know. The reason that I say this is that I used to book flights before like way way ahead into the future thinking that I'd actually have the budget or the time to go through with it. But at the last minute, Peter and I wouldn't push thru with it coz of these three reasons:

Hidden Island Resort in Bucas Grande Siargao

I have a cousin who lives in Surigao del Norte (well, most of my maternal relatives are) and when he found out that Peter and I were going to Siargao, he kept insisting that we go to Hidden Island Resort. When I did some research, I found it to have reasonable rates but unfortunately, I didn't wanna be hidden away from the rest of General Luna. Moreover, we were already booked in Patrick's. Maybe next time. Still, my cousin insisted that we at least drop by the place. He said our Siargao vacation won't be complete without it.

I took note of what he said but at the same time, I didn't hold my breath for it. If it happens, it will. If not, then it's not meant to be.

The Other Side of General Luna in Siargao - Boulevard, Boardwalk and KTV

Aside from the hotels and resorts that line up the shore of General Luna (where Patrick's on the Beach is also located), I'd like to share with you the other side of this quaint little town off the coast of Surigao del Norte; I mean the more local and less touristy side.

Nature's Wonders In Samar's Island Paradise

One of the pleasures of travel includes being able to get up close and personal with the flora and fauna of the place. Most especially, the fauna. Fascinating creatures like dolphins and whale sharks are only a few of the fauna that you can find visiting the islands of the Philippines.

While the whale shark capital of the Philippines is in Donsol, Sorsogon. But a little-known fact is that Northern Samar also has its share of whale shark sightings.

These two islands: Samar and Sorsogon, share some bodies of water, so it's understandable that some of the fauna in Sorsogon may find themselves passing through the waters of Samar.

Cloud Nine in Siargao

Siargao is known as the surfing capital of the Philippines, as well as the surfing paradise of Asia because of the famous waves and beach breaks of Cloud Nine. Now that the surfing season is coming (September to March), more and more people from all over the world are visiting either to surf or watch surfers brave the thick, hollow tubes of Cloud Nine (or Cloud 9).

La Januza Island in Siargao

La Januza island in Siargao (also called La Janosa) is one of the two islands included in the tour package we got from Patrick's on the Beach during our second day. The first one was Mamon island which I already shared with you in my previous post.

La Januza island is also one hour away from the municipality of General Luna via a motorized boat. It is a barangay with about 500+ residents as tallied back in 2007. Although it's not as pretty as Mamon island, its beauty is characterized by its unique black rock formation.

Guyam Island in Siargao

Look at the photo below. See those two islands from afar? This photo is taken right in front of Patrick's on the Beach located in General Luna, Siargao. The two islands there are Dako island on the right (the bigger one) and Guyam island on the left (the smaller one).

From Patrick's on the Beach, you can actually rent a kayak for Php500.00 and kayak your way over there especially if it's not as wavy. In fact, when the tide gets really low, you can walk all the way to Guyam Island.

Dako Island in Siargao

After our refreshing stay on Naked Island, our boatmen brought us to the biggest island in Siargao, hence the name DAKO island. "Dako" or "Daku" is a Visayan term which means big or huge.

Dako island is not just huge. It is also lush with a vast coconut plantation and other shrubbery covering most of the island. See our video below:

Patrick's on the Beach in Siargao

Our Bohol-Cebu-Siargao trip hasn't been planned properly. As usual, we were too busy. I bought the tickets several months ago but never got the time to plan our specific itinerary. However, even way back in 2005, I have been wanting to check out Patrick's on the Beach located in General Luna, Siargao, Surigao del Norte. It has been recommended by my best friend's ex-boyfriend, and though he was a jerk, I believed in his judgment. Teehee.

That's me enjoying the beach in front of Patrick on the Beach. Behind me is their famous and romantic Beach Tree House.

A week before our departure, I contacted Patrick's on the Beach and was able to secure a nice deluxe room for Php2,100.oo per night. Since we were spending three nights there and I was very much looking forward to this trip since 2005, I wanted to feel really cozy and nice. I mentioned to the owner, Elizabeth, that I wanted to feature their resort on my blog and I was delighted to be given 50% discount on our accommodations. Whoopeeee! That really made our trip so much more worthwhile.