Pinay Travels

Whether you’re heading to the coast for a hot beach break or hitting a new city for a spell of shopping, fine dining or sightseeing, there are certain essentials that every girl needs to make sure her getaway goes as smoothly as possible. Lotions and potions Sun worshippers will already know to pack sun cream and after-sun, but even urban breaks require planning to protect yourself from those rays. In warm climates, you won’t want to pile on layers of foundation, so why not try a tinted moisturiser with an SPF of 15 as a lighter alternative. Be sure to take along a sarong, shirt or other light holiday cover-up to keep harmful rays off your shoulders and chest, and remember to butter up with a good quality lotion at the end of each day to keep your skin smooth and banish redness. Moisturisers with a subtle tinted sheen are also great for dabbing on collarbones for a summery glow in the evenings, if you’re dressing up for a night out. Smart packing Though we’d all love to take our entire...

September 26, 2012 , which is also my daughter's birthday was unforgetable  for two reasons. The first reason was we went falls hopping as it was the first day (trekking) of the Watefalling Adventure Tour organized by the Iligan Bloggers Society, Inc.  The event was attended by invited bloggers from all over the Philippines.   And the second reason was, it was my daughter's birthday and yet I was not able to visit her in school. The first place we visited was the National Power Corporation Nature and Zoological Park + Maria Cristina Falls.  It is not my first time to be at both places.  For the nature park, it was my second time and all those times are with IBS.  For the MC falls, it is my nth time  as I started visiting the place since college days during school field trip events.  But each visit to this majestic falls, got a story to tell. This is how MC Falls looks like that day.  According to legend, the falls stands for two women Maria and Cristina who both died for lov...

It is our first day in Ho Chi Minh. We arrived at our guesthouse around 2 in the morning and we went to sleep right away because we were booked on a half day tour and that is going to the Cu Chi Tunnel. We slept late, woke up in a hurry and it ended up no breakfast. Upon arrival at the place, I was already feeling weak. I know I won't appreciate the tunnel tour. So i stayed by with an aim to look for food. And so, I saw one -- a restaurant along Saigon River.  The food entry will be posted in another blog.  He he he. The body of water is really big and the water was swelling. It's rainy season here and because of the bigness of Sendong, I feel so scared seeing a swell of brown water.  The guys told me that if it rain more and more, the neighborhood is flooded. Thanks to one of the guys who operates Saigon Water Express, for taking this photo of me.  Saigon Water Express is one of the water taxis company that carries tourists from Ho Chi Minh to enjoy Saigon River. One can take ...

I have many friends who are certified jet setters.  It is like they have breakfast in Manila, then lunch in Hongkong and then dinner in Taipe, Taiwan.  Another one flies to Bangkok one day and then the next day, flew to Australia to have a dinner date with a special someone.  Listening to them makes me wish that one day, I can experience even a bit of that traveling lifestyle.  Traveling to them is part of their system that if they don't fly in two weeks they feel so weak. Now another interesting thing about these traveling corporate men and women is that they travel cashless.  How is that?  Yeah, their wallets do not contain the thick cash but all of them have at least two credit cards.  Mersha, a friend who is connected with a multi company in Manila is having 5 cards in her wallet so she is not worried if she flies cashless.  She told me that traveling with just credit cards is really convenient.  So she does not worry if she just have a hundred dollars in her wallet - just enou...

For many people cruise holidays are the perfect way to relax and unwind without a care in the world and to see dozens of hypnotically exotic places within the space of even a few days. Additional to that basic idea is the fact that you are on-board a ship designed specifically with the comfort and entertainment of holidaymakers in mind and you have a recipe for enjoyment and relaxation that is hard to beat. But even those of us who love nothing more than taking a cruise around somewhere wonderful, might eventually feel we would prefer to be spending some more time in one place and firmly on dry land.   And this is where cruises and stay holidays become an ideal option and why Cruise and Stay Deals are flying off the shelves these days. There are bargains to be found if you have the patience to carry out some fairly elementary research and you might even be able to line yourself up a real holiday of a lifetime.   So you could, let's say for arguments sake, take a short cruise ...

One of the places to grab some bag of sweets is Jonathan's Cupcakery located at Arellano Street in Davao City.  The place was our last stop for our DFAT 2012 last day so the place was unforgetable.  There were two places in the area and they stand right next to each other.  After a hearty food tasting at Rego's we have to run to JC to satisfy our sweet tooth. They have a wide selection of cupcakes. I don't have the list of them all but I urged you to drop by at their places to prove to yourself that they sell out more than 12 or more kinds or flavors of cupcakes. And this four is just a sample of the many - If you doubt their wide variety of selection, then go and do what this: The place is not so big. It is just enough space to accommodate a handful and feel cozy eating their cake with a drink of your choice. If I will have the chance to visit their again, I guess I will have 4 or 5 flavors and then a mug of coffee. Their wall got several frames that convey a message to ev...

Oozing in history, culture and captivating panoramas, Italy is one of Europe’s most mesmerising destinations. Venture away from the cities and into rural pastures and you will find Italian lakes holidays , with the beautiful Dolomite mountains as a sensational backdrop. A dream for any outdoors fan, this area of the country is blessed with breathtaking scenery that you can wile away hours exploring whilst the glistening lakes invite you to participate in its activities. In fact, the sheer view of them will make you want to jump right in. Although there are many lakes found in this glorious country, two tourist hotspots are Lake Como and Lake Garda, attractive for various reasons. Lake Garda Easily accessible from the north via the Brenner Pass, Lake Garda is a major tourist attraction and also the largest lake in Italy. Particularly advisable for the adventurous types and thrill seekers amongst you, Lake Garda offers a whole host of enjoyable activities, including a vast array of water...

I have lots of them! And those who also love to travel I am sure you too can enumerate so many. Documentation? Yeah! Lots of photos. Taken during our trip to HK. Us (Me and Daughter with her Omi and her cousins, and friends @ HK Disneyland  Shared?  Yeah verbally. How about virtually? Oh well, I call that backlogs. hahaha  I know I bad ass in updating my travel journal but still in my heart and in my mind, it seems just like they are yesterday or the other week or the month.  The fliers I asked from each resort is already a bit thick in my camera bag and I have not yet gone into them one by one.  Oh my! I could hit my butt but you know, but there are other blogs to maintain, not just this one.  But I know too that I have to update this or else I will just be wasting the $12 I paid in the renewal fee. This is a birthday gift you know.  Thanks to Mommy Ruby for giving this to me as a present during the night I turned 39.  Last month I turned 40 and I have paid the renewal fee to keep it ...

Booking and packing, for more than just the two of you, is a hefty process. Not only does it require some outstanding organisational skills at times, it can also demand a weighty wallet. Plan in advance and look online at early bird Turkey holiday deals and cheap Tenerife holidays. This will inspire your destination dreams and could save you hundreds off your next stint across the seas. Travelling short haul can be the most convenient option for broods with small bairns. In less than two hours from most UK airports, families can be enjoying a week in the Balearics - while the Canaries and Greece/Turkey regions take just three and four hours, respectively. Balearic Islands Closest to home, the Balearic Islands comprise of Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza, all of which are excellent child friendly holiday spots. Alcudia in Majorca has safe shores, a waterpark and a wetland reserve to keep the children entertained, while its sister island, Menorca, offers a much more laid back retreat. Canary I...

Call me lucky yesterday because I had the chance to have a glimpse of Marawi City from the campus of the Mindanao State University campus.  It was a Sabbath service invitation for one of our pastoral staff in the hospital.  He accepted the invitation with the thought in mind that he will bring along friends who wants a glimpse of the famous Lake Lanao and Marawi City. --A marker found just before you enter the university campus -- Because we have to catch an appointment back in Iligan at 2 pm, we forego of the plan to see Lake Lanao up close.  But it was not really a total disappointment since, one of the faculty, who graciously offered to give us a quick tour of the campus, brought us to a spot where we can have glimpse of Lake Lanao and its shores where the city lies. I read that Marawi City is the summer capital of the South and I can say yes it is because of its cool climate. The campus  is situated in rolling hills and the city is down the valley below.  I love the view of green g...

It was the day after the first night at Salagdoong Beach Resort in Siquijor.  Because of the sunrise, I have to drag myself out of bed so that I will have time to catch an early glow of the sun.   The place was still so quiet when I went down from the second floor.  And looking back at the hotel, I can sense an atmosphere of peacefulness. Though it was already daylight, but I haven't seen any person who is up and about yet except for my friends upstairs who are already awake in their respective rooms. This is the hotel where we are staying - Hotel Agripino . It looks neat and elegant as it stood amidst the greenery of trees because the hotel is situated at the end of the Salagdoong Forest (a forest of Tugas Trees) that runs more than a kilometer from the highway to Salagdoong Cove. My destination that morning was the beach to catch a sunrise. You may check out the map posted here - http://www.dumagueteinfo.com/siquijor.php so that you will understand better where our location is an...

The pictures I will be sharing in TT this week are some of the pictures taken during our DFAT 2012 Day 3 -- the island hopping aboard the Islands Banca Cruises . To give you an idea of where we went I will attached a map I grabbed from the internet: source: internet From one of the wharfs in Davao City, we proceeded to Vanishing Island first (the one on the two small islets on the upper left side of the big island.  It was a beautiful site.  Looking at its diameter and the depth of the water, I can imagine that it will really vanish during high tide.  It was still nine in the morning, so the islets were still up for us to enjoy its view.   Seeing the islet from a distance with its crystal clear blue waters makes me want to jump out of the boat. Not really thinking if the water is shallow or not.  When we docked, the water is not deep but it is scary because there are sea snakes.  Not really snakes but maybe something similar to snakes. I won't mind the sea urchins as they won't...

I had the chance to visit Mt. Apo Highland Resort (Mirror and Hillside) in Kapatagan Valley in Digos, Davao Sur. It was the 2nd tourist spot the participants and organizers of the Davao Food Appreciation Tour visited during the event.  It was the second itinerary for our May 5, 2012 Personally, I was so excited because it was my first time.  Everyone seems eager to hurdle the more than an hour travel to highlands.  When were awed by the view we saw.  Let me share some of them through the following photos: The welcome signage! Name of the resort ^^ Indeed the lake is a mirror because you will be inspired of the reflection of nature seen in the water. Here's a reflection of the trees. Some of there good for four (4) persons cottages. These cottages is good for 2 but if an additional foam can be added if there are more than two of you. Additional bed also means additional payment. The CR! I thought it's another building - not a CR of course! I've never been inside but the plac...

Ladies have long fuelled the retail areas of Manchester as their men fill the benches at the nearby Old Trafford stadium, but spending in the city can be pricey.   Search online to find cheap hotels in Manchester with Travelodge , so he’s got more money for the match and you’ve got more money for the malls. Manchester Arndale Shopping in the city centre will keep you close to restaurants, spas and Manchester hotels. Whether you head straight to The Arndale or shop in the surrounding areas, there are shops to suit all styles and budgets. Manchester Arndale is ‘ the UK’s largest inner-city shopping centre’ . It is home to some of the biggest high street brands including Warehouse, TOPSHOP, Monsoon and Oasis, as well as LUSH, Hotel Chocolat and other pint-sized treat shops.  Streets of shops surround the Manchester Arndale. A quick shop down Market Street will see you pass Zara and Paperchase, as well as selected designer stores. Deansgate is just a short stroll away and contains a huge s...

  you may click on the photos for clearer resolution. thanks. Beef Tapa Unforgettable Pork Ribs Laing Pasta Chinese Pork Belly Pork Marinara Fish Fillet with Tar2 Sauce Laing Beef Caldereta Braised Soft Tofu Dinner for the first night of the DFAT 2012 was at Lachi's.  Looking at their logo, I thought it's a shop for sweets.  But when I arrived there with the group and served with this variety of viands, I concluded that Lachi's is also one of restaurants in Davao that has it all -- authentic Filipino dishes and desserts to control to cut off that appetite of wanting to have more. There were more than 10 main dishes served and several of them are pork recipes.  Meaning, I was not able to taste the recipes made or pork or served with pork.  I guess I was the only one in the group of more than 20 bloggers from all over the country.  So to let me have an idea that the certain pork menu can be rated as "super masarap" that can make the mouth water,  I asked my friends....

Cyprus is well known across the UK and the rest of Europe as a great place to visit on holiday regardless of what kind of getaway you're looking for this time around. If it's a party atmosphere and some of the Med's top nightclubs you're after then Aiya Napa might be the place for you but if you prefer a more serene pace during your week or so away then there are plenty of amazing coastal destinations for you to choose from as well. Perhaps the most charming of the towns to visit on the island is Paphos, where there is a great deal to see and experience. From top-notch restaurants to fascinating sites of historical interest, and from gorgeous beaches and beautiful weather, Paphos really has it all for holidaymakers. The good news is that cheap holidays in Cyprus are easier to come by now than ever before with travel companies always ready, willing and able to take holidaymakers to the most reliably popular resorts across the island. The top tip for anyone, whether you...

After the introduction and more chika chika at Ranchero, the time has come for us to leave for the Crocodile Park where we saw several exotic friendly animals.  Friendly in the sense that you can hold them for picture taking.  I never had one with any of those snakes (the dark and the albino).  Even the baby crocodile whose mouth was taped, I did not hold it thought they offered it for free.  I just enjoyed going around taking pictures. The park visitors mostly enjoyed taking photos with these animals especially the snakes.  The tiger looks big but he is jut five months old.  I only saw one crocodile that is out of the water.  I know there were more but I was not able to see them in their cages. Adjacent to the Crocodile Park is the Tribu K' Mindanawan Cultural Village and their Kaunanan where they had an amphitheater for their fire dance presentation. We were just on time to witness it.   My shots were not that good as I am not yet very familiar with the modes or settings of my ca...