Batanes Family Trip: Crossing All My Fingers for A Storm-Free Trip

Batanes' Marlboro Hills

This time I had to step up and exhaust all my powers for this trip to push through.  It's been 2 years since we had our last family trip.  Not this year.

Even when this plan ticket is more expensive than what we had previously paid for, we knew it's going to be worth it.  It's my mom's dream destination, it is also mine and I think this also goes for the rest of my brothers and sister.  I couldn't let this promo pass so even when there's a threat of cancellation as it was set at the last week of November, I still went on with it.  Now I'm just praying to the gods that I made the right decision.

I've read from other blogs that it's okay to be going to Batanes in November.  There will be some rain showers but I read that it's really not that bad.  Well I sure wish it to be true.  I hope it is.  There's really no turning back now.  

Previous trips we had, we were quite lucky weather-wise.  For example during our trip in Ilocos, July is known to be the start of the rainy season, and there was a lurking threat that it would pour down hard during our trip.  Luckily we were able to travel with the sun up, and escaped the rain by getting into a tricycle home, when it was about to pour down heavily one night in Vigan.  By then, we were able to go around the place and see calle crisologo at night.  Although it wasn't as thorough as we wanted to, we were already able to take some pics, and were already tired from going around then so we didn't  mind going home earlier.  Also I got lucky during the trip around Cambodia with my friend and brother.  We only had 1 day to go around Angkor Wat and prior that day, it rained heavily.  During our travel day though, the sun was up and was blazing happily all throughout the day.  Let's see if we still have a lucky card to spare for our trip in Batanes. 

I'll be praying and visualizing that everything will go well - that is all I could do for now, really.

Publisher: Shy - Wednesday, August 03, 2016

12 Ways Why My Dog, Chocolate, is the Cutest

I am going to be downright biased right now.  I'm missing my dog and so I'd like to showcase her cuteness in this post.

So what makes her amazing?

- she's full of energy

- she's a good 'bantay' in the sense that she still barks at my bro-in-law who just lives next to our house and whom she knows all her live.  She always believes in the saying: "walang kinikilingan, walang pinoprotektahan, serbisyong totoo lamang."

- her complete name is Maria Constantina Margarita Rosario Elise Basoc, for short Chocolate

- she doesn't go past 4 houses away because houses after that have dogs which she's scared of

- when she's full, she buries all the food you give her in her secret hiding places randomly and strategically located in our garden.  That's why she doesn't get fat. 

Publisher: Shy - Thursday, June 30, 2016

Costa Marina Beach: It Was As If The Sea Was Playing Tricks On Us!

We arrived there at 10am.  We were excited to take a dip because the beach at Costa Marina was looking so promising and enticing.  By the time we settled down, the sea was gone.  It shied away from us.  You have to walk what seemed to be hundred meters away from the shore to get your knees wet.  You have to sit down or lie down to get your whole body wet.

The whole time we were at the beach, we were waiting for high tide to come back again.

We waited

and waited

and waited

and waited

and waited

and waited.

Then the clock hit 4pm-- the arrival time of the last boat to take us back to the city.  Time to pack up.  As we were leaving the whole sea came rushing in.  Back to its glory, its depth, its clarity, its wholeness.

He.he.he.  Funny.

Publisher: Shy - Friday, March 25, 2016

Posting Funny Postcards

I've really had a good laugh with this.  This personalized e cards had totally improved.  I used to have this as gifs but now, they have it in full blown vids!

I used jibjab and even though they only have 1 free entry, it's fine.  That free one seemed to be in great quality and very much entertaining.

Sorry if I can't be able to show to you the videos because I have to pay for me to be able to Download.

But this challenge is done.

Publisher: Shy - Thursday, November 06, 2014

This Could be one of my Most Brilliant Arguments Hands Down!

"Of course that didn't work out, but hey, at least the moment was one for the books."

Here's what I think is brilliant.  This isn't absolutely original. I've heard a similar joke of it from this amazing stand up comedian, Russell Peters, and it had just stayed to me until it revealed itself quite useful right at the moment when I needed it.

Situation: I sleep at the top bed, while younger bro sleeps at the bottom bed.
Problem: I wanted to switch beds with him.  There's a gleam of possibility that he'll allow me to.

Me: Hey can we switch beds?
Bro: No.

So out of desperation and a bit of inspiration from Russell Peters I finally argued:

Me: They say that mature people aren't afraid of change.  Be mature.  Choose change.

Brother:

Source: soompi.com

Of course that didn't work out, but hey, at least the moment was one for the books.

Publisher: Shy - Friday, June 13, 2014

How We Celebrated Chinese New Year!

Ok so most people in Manila who don't want to bother celebrating along a crowd of locals and tourists in Binondo, have eating Chinese food as their way of joining the festivity.  Unfortunately my sister, her boyfriend and brother are those people.  I, on the other hand, had already lined up an awesome itinerary, with us having to go to Binondo, try authentic Chinese food, watch the dragon dance and buy tikoy, a sticky rice cake.

But since that's 1 verses 3, I had no choice but to go with their idea.

So we went to Greenhills, and hit this Singaporean resto, Crystal Jade to eat some Chinese food. 

The food my sister ordered were sweet fried eel,

fried rice

flavored and original (wasn't able to take a picture of) Xiao long bao

All in all the bill was around P1116.  It was satisfying and was enough for the 4 of us.

sister and boyfie

We also bought ube tikoy in this stall, and ate some yogurt before heading home.

To finally cap this Chinese New Year celebration, we ate fried tikoy with kiat kiat (orange) for dessert.

Happy Chinese New Year Everyone!

May this be a year of prosperous beginnings for you.

Publisher: Shy - Friday, January 31, 2014

Scrumptuous Sundays in Legaspi Market

Ok.  What to do on a Sunday morning after church or a long sleep?  Why visit Legaspi Market of course.  Not so many people know this but if you have done a bit of traveling yourself, you know that in most Asian countries, tourists and local people alike hit the hawkers for some good, quality breakfast or dinner. 

Now it just so happened that Makati, baby, is the place to be.  For Saturdays, it's Salcedo market, and for Sundays, it's Legaspi.  Both markets are located in the heart of Makati, finding a home in  metropolitan parking lots.

Like Salcedo market, Legaspi market boasts of food from varied countries -  Persian, Moroccan, Japanese, Thai, Australian, are amongst others.  It doesn't have all the cuisines of course, but it has enough to make your palettes sing for joy.

Enough with the talk and on with the pictures.

For bohemian aficionados out there, this stall in particular is a real treat!




Pad thai anyone?




That's me getting curious and spying on a stall.

My sister's Belgian waffle.

My sister, and her waffle... and her other "waffle".

Awwww waffle love. <3

I did notice some sellers from Salcedo are participating here.  One difference I've spotted though is that this market also sells bohemian items, and a number of organic beauty products. 

If you're a fan of food, health, variety, and well, adventure, then Legaspi market is the place to be!

Publisher: Shy - Sunday, January 26, 2014