Quick Trip to the North: San Felipe, Zambales

Having the Philippines host the 30th ASEAN Summit was not only a blessing for the Philippine government but also to Manileños and Manileñas. Having to suspend work and class for a Friday and having another holiday come Monday next week means a SUPER LONG WEEKEND we all crave for!

Basking in the beauty of the sunset

Festival of Lights

When I started working in Makati (back in 2014), Jem and I never had the chance to watch the very famous Festival of Lights during Christmas season in Ayala Triangle. It was a bit frustrating since the office I go to way back then was just a short walk from the said park. Add the fact that I have already gone there with my friends.

Couples! Couples everywhere!

A New Beginning: 2017 Bucket List

Just like in the past, I've once again created my bucket list for this year. It might be quite a bit lit late since January is almost done, but hey, better late than never right?

So here ya go, fingers crossed that this will also be the posts you can look forward to :)

Blurred out some stuff here 'cause they're a bit personal (like life changing personal) hehe but I'll still talk about it should I be able to tick it off (hopefully).

3 Destinations in 3 Days: Never a goodbye, only a see you later

The morning of our departure from Sagada, we all woke up pretty early (around 3-ish, I think) except for my roommate, Jem, cause he can't wake up in such ungodly hour. Anyway, since we were advised that we will be checking out Kiltepan Peak prior to travelling down to Baguio, we had our stuff ready by 4AM.

Kiltepan Peak (photo grabbed from here)

3 Destinations in 3 Days: The torture we volunteered for

Before we turned in the previous night, one of the tour guides approached us while we were chatting. He also tried to wake up our other companions but failed since they were already fast asleep. Anyway, he simply asked us what we wanted to do for the next day. He informed us that the highlight of our tour would be spelunking.

3 Destinations in 3 Days: Where do broken hearts go?

As promised, here's my last travel post for the year 2016.

Way before Jem's 'last' vacay started (yep, we're dreading it haha), we had a mutal agreement that we would join a joiners tour. See this had been becoming quite popular for travel junkies and social butterflies over the past years. Joiners tour is a type of tour arranged by travel agencies which aim to lower the costs of travelling by having a bunch of strangers travel together in groups.

GALORE!

Appreciating the Arts

Ticked off another one for my 2016 bucket list!!!

Complete tour @ National Philippine Museum

Late 2015, Jem and I went to visit the National Museum of the Philippines. But since we arrived there pretty late (it was probably already 3:30PM by then) we didn't get to see much of their displays.

Because of that, we promised that we'll get back and complete a day tour. Add the fact that Jem hasn't seen the gigantic painting of Juan Luna which is none other than The Spoliarium.

National Museum of the Philippines (photo grabbed from here)

An Unexpected Trip

Like I said, I'll be updating my blog again now that I've already regained my energy and my will to write something not so negative about my life. Here's one I've been itching to post from the day I got back to posting stuff!

Way back 2015, I've been bugging Jem to have a camping trip to one of the beaches near Manila. He finally gave in when we learned that two of our friends, JR and France (see Tagaytay trip 1), went to Burot Beach and spent the night there with only a tent and quite a cheap budget (Jem's a big frugal).

So before summer ended, we planned our trip to Burot Beach located in Calatagan, Batangas.

Calatagan, Batangas

Weekend in Tagaytay (Pt. 2)

Cont...

After eating our dinner which consist of both Tagaytay and Batangas' specialties ('extra' special bulalo and fried tawilis) along with other fried seafood and accompanying one of our companions until he was able to ride a bus bound to Batangas, we headed back to our room and watched a movie while drinking a few bottles of beer.

We stayed at one of the buildings with accommodations offered by Tagaytay Highlands which was the Highlands Inn.

Tagaytay Highlands Inn (I was informed that this was the cheapest accommodation they had)

Weekend in Tagaytay (Pt. 1)

I couldn't believe that I was able to tick off one more item from my 2016 bucket list over the past long weekend (October 29-November 1). Since we're all caught up from my super delayed updating of my bucket list this year, this entry is going to be one that had just happened recently.

• Tagaytay Roadtrip (w/ Jem)

Technically still not a round trip since he was already in Tagaytay by Thursday night and I had to follow him there by Saturday morning on my own, but it still counts! HAHA

Conquering Mt. Batulao

When 2016 started, hiking had become one of the most famous outdoor activities for Manileños; most especially for the Millennials. I don't know how this begun but ever since my office mates from my previous company started inviting me to hike mountains near Manila, I was enticed and wanted to try it myself.

Even though I have already conquered Taal Volcano, I wanted to try hiking somewhere that's not really that commercialized.

Mount Batulao located in Nasugbu, Batangas

Jepenese

When Jem and I started going out, it was immediately agreed that our comfort food would be Japanese food. From there, we decided that we must try all the Japanese restaurant here in Manila that offers our favorite meal, Tonkatsu.

Xiaomi Yi Cam (International Version)

Ever since I was introduced to an action or sports camera, I have dreamed of having one. Of course like any dreamer, I wanted one that was currently popular on the market which was a GoPro.

But after finding out that a GoPro is not affordable for the likes of me, I looked for a cheaper version that has fantastic reviews and has great quality.

While browsing one of Philippines' popular online shopping website, Lazada Philippines, I stumbled upon this action camera that is making its way to the top of the best performing, cheap action cameras; SJCAM. I was already planning on purchasing one when, yet again, I found another online shop I-Click Digishop which also has physical stores around the country.

They were promoting this bundle for a certain Xiaomi Yi Cam and because of how cheap it is, considering all its inclusions, I researched about the item itself.

Spontaneous Trip Across The Verde Island Passage

I skipped one from the list because it was a bit personal so instead of posting that, here's the next one that I was able to tick off of my 2016 bucket list :)

• (Boracay) Any beach!

So by April of 2016, one my very close college friend, Yuvi, who is currently staying in US decided to head back here in the Philippines. Because of that, we (Yuvi, Hazel, and I) planned out an overnight that will be one of our unforgettable getaways. Actually, this was all so very spontaneous because we just talked about this the night before we traveled (we're badass like that LOL).

After what seemed to be an endless discussion as to where we were planning to go, we finally agreed on heading south across the narrow strait that was The Verde Passage to Puerto Galera.

White Beach, Puerto Galera (photo grabbed from here)

Puerto Galera is divided into different beaches. The party’s always on at White Beach; its restaurants and bars do a good trade. But if you’re looking for something more laid-back, head to a private resort in Sabang or Muelle (the main port) beach.

Bucket List for 2016

So since I decided to revive this blog of mine, I wanted to share my new and quite accomplished bucket list for this year (I know, I know, 2016 is almost over but who cares, it's my blog!).

Anyhoo, so this is it. My list for 2016.

Like before, I'll be updating with all that I have accomplished this year and I promise that I will not be neglectful like before.

Yes, that is a beat-looking Starbucks Planner :)) I was too clumsy to take such good care of it so it ended up looking like that. It got wet by my perfume BTW.

...as you can see, I already have some targets scratched out and I'm afraid, I won't be able to finish it completely by the end of the year :( but hey, there's always next year right?

An Update from My List: Tagaytay Adventure (Pt. 1)

Okay, so I recently crossed out two more items from my "official" bucket list which were:

• Get drunk (LOL, easy one)
• ROAD TRIP!

So last November 14 and 15 (perfectly planned because of payday!), my friends and I decided to head south to Tagaytay. I'm not really sure if I can consider this as a formal road trip since in the first place, we didn't have a car HAHA. But anyway, I guess this will do because we really did enjoy ourselves!!!

First off, we rode a bus to Tagaytay at some random bus station at Buendia-Taft. We're supposed to arrive at the hotel we booked at 1PM, since that's the time I reserved it, but because of the heavy traffic in Cavite proper, we arrived at quarter to 2PM. Which is not that bad considering we started travelling pretty late.

After checking in at Tagaytay Econo Inn, located right in the middle of Tagaytay, we decided to rest for a while before starting our tour.

        

Random pics taken at our room :)

Bucket List (For the Year 2015)

So I decided that I will make an official bucket list that I must, with all my power, accomplish by the end of this year. Below is the list of things I want to do (alone or with my friends or with my significant other).

*This is an on-going list, so I might add some more. Maybe a few days or weeks from now ;)

• Visit these 10 Modern Art Museums that can be found on this link.
• Climb Taal Volcano! (because I wasn't able to come with my friends #sad)
• Visit the beach *with optional bonfire.
• Have a picnic at some park somewhere.
• Hiking & Camping! *bonfire required.
• Get drunk (LOL, easy one)
• Eat at a high-end restaurant *completely dolled up (here, even for just one resto!)
• Outing with College Friends           ----- Kinda hard to do
• Outing with High school Friends    ----- Kinda hard to do
• Buy my Mom something she'd like (for once).
• Buy myself at least 3 pairs of Vans shoes :)
• Stay at a nice hotel.
• ROAD TRIP!
• Watch at all the cinemas listed here.
• Play some live music somewhere/anywhere.
• Complete a lazy day (watch movies, eat pizza, drink beer).

PS

I'll be posting everything I accomplish here on my blog, so stay tuned!