Returning to the Blogger Life

I owe a bunch of life, love, and travel stories to this blog. BIG. TIME.
I haven't been active for quite some time now, more than half a year actually, because I just lost the will and the thought that my blog, this blog, is important. When in all actuality, it is very, very important to me. This page right here is like an online diary for me. Allowing me write down all my thoughts and opinions on things.

So allow by restarting, yet again, my blog this late 2018 by saying that I have finally ticked off a grand item from my bucket list. And that is: TO CONTINUE MY STUDIES :)

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Me after officially enrolling for the first time in 4 years!

From Sur to Norte: 3D2N Ilocos Trip (Pt. 2)

For the second day of our stay in Ilocos, we woke up pretty early since our first stop would be the northernmost part of Ilocos, none other than Pagudpud!

From Sur to Norte: 3D2N Ilocos Trip (Pt. 1)

Even before the start of Jem's last vacation, we've been planning on going all out on our trips. Because of this, we listed down the top places we wanted to visit before the start of his clerkship (shout out: CONGRATULATION JEMBOY! HUHU SO PROUD OF YOU! NEVER DOUBTED IT FOR A SECOND!) *ehem* so anyway, for our first trip for the month of June, we went to explore the region of Ilocos!

Shopping Centers in Singapore

I felt like this post took soooo long but anyway, here we are again! This will be my last installment about our trip to Singapore. For every trip, may it be local or international, what we eventually look for are the places where we can buy some pasalubong for our very expectant family and friends. This has been engraved within our culture and I don't think this is going anywhere anytime soon.

CHINATOWN!

A Day at Resorts World Sentosa

For the 2nd day of our stay in Singapore, we decided that we'll just spend it mostly inside Sentosa. Along with the plane tickets and the hotel accommodations, the raffle also included a free pass to three of Resorts World's attractions; Adventure Cove, S.E.A. Aquarium, and of course, Universal Studios!

de Leons' goes International!

Travelling had always been my passion. I could say that I see this as my escape from the daily routine of waking up early to head to the office, and spend most of my day there, before wrapping things up to go home. So the moment we learned that my tita was picked as one of the lucky winners of Jollibee's raffle, I knew I would never let this opportunity go down the drain!

View of Resorts World Sentosa from the Sentosa BoardWalk

SUMMER IS HERE: 3D2N Stay at Cagbalete Island

We've all been busy for the last few months and I know everyone is looking forward for the most awaited season, next to Christmas, summer!

Over the past few weeks, Manila had succumbed to the mind numbing heat brought about by the summer season. So what can a good ol' Manileña like me can do? What else but to retreat to nearby provinces to relax and unwind, of course!

The beautiful Cagbalete Sandbar ;)

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: 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.

A Day in Antipolo

From BGC early January, we decided to head to Antipolo by the later days of the same month.

Actually, I have been bugging Jem for months to visit this famous art museum in Antipolo (none other than, Pinto Art Museum) and he finally gave in when he found out that even though it's quite far, getting there is as easy as going to Makati.

Yep, that's the building you mostly see on every IG post HAHA

A Visit to The Mind Museum

So here's the first thing I was able to tick off of my 2016 bucket list :)

• Visit Mind Museum

Ever since I was a kid, I have always been fascinated with the world of Science. Add to that, my mom always bought encyclopedias to add to our collection of books (I think though that encyclopedias were a thing back in 2000's).

So when December 2015 came, my boyfriend, Jem, and I planned out our visit on The Mind Museum by January. Good thing I scouted Metro Deal first to get a cheaper entrance fee for a whole day tour for two (cost us around PHP 900, I think).

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?