Sexy Nomad's Playground

Balay Negrense - Bacolod Ancestral House

2012-02-09T09:07:00.001+08:00

Aside from our trip to Mambukal Falls, Peter and I also visited the lovely ancestral houses in Bacolod. On this blog post, I'll concentrate on Balay Negrense first. So going out of Saltimboca Inn where we stayed, we hailed a jeepney with a sign board Libertad-Bata going to Robinson's Mall (Php8/pax). Then we took another jeepney going to Silay (Php15/pax). When we saw this big church from

Another Windsurfing Trip to Caliraya

2012-02-06T06:39:00.001+08:00

Usually, when we go windsurfing at Caliraya Lake, we'd find a bunch of windsurfers and kiteboarders / kitesurfers milling about and camping in Surf Kamp with their trailer campers and cars. Most of them are the same people I've worked with during the 2008 FunBoard Cup in Boracay although I rarely interact with them when I go there. I'm the loner type if you must know and I rarely interact

2012 Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

2012-02-01T10:13:00.000+08:00

It's February, one of my favorite months of the year! Aside from the obvious (I'm turning another year older a few days after Valentine's Day), it's also the month of love. I wonder what my hubby has in store for us? (*hint, hint, nudge, nudge*) Anyhoo, I woke up this morning thinking about what exciting adventures we can do this month and I thought about

In Nuvali and Paseo de Sta. Rosa One Saturday Afternoon

2012-01-31T15:03:00.000+08:00

Having lived in the south for almost 5 years now, life can be very laid back. Before, when we were still living in Quezon City, it's so easy to just go out and bar hop at night (which was why we frequently watched Brownman Revival then) or visit the various malls all the way to Makati. Now, going out of Alabang can be such a hassle in terms of traffic, distance, time spent and money spent on

Enchanted Kingdom Coca-Cola Partnership

2012-01-29T03:47:00.000+08:00

Last Chinese New Year, on Jan. 22 to be exact, I was invited to go to Enchanted Kingdom not just to witness the celebration of Coca-Cola's 100th year, but also to celebrate its new partnership with Enchanted Kingdom. I remember when I attended all the other EK events before, Pepsi products were the ones being sold in the food stands. Now, it's all Coca-Cola. I find it awesome because I am a

Caliraya Windsurfing, Japanese Garden, Isdaan Trip

2012-01-28T16:52:00.000+08:00

What happens during a Caliraya Windsurfing Trip? Driving from Alabang to Caliraya Laguna takes about 4 hours so we usually head out early on a Saturday or Sunday morning to avoid traffic, hoping to reach Surf Camp between 10-11 am. For directions on how to go to Surf Kamp in Caliraya, please go to this link: How to get to Surf Kamp Entrance per person in Surf Kamp is Php75.00. Once

Best Orlando Hotels

2012-01-27T16:01:00.000+08:00

When going to Orlando, Florida, the first thing that comes to mind more than visiting the theme parks there are Orlando Hotels. Where will we stay? Will the cost fit our budget? Can we get great packages that include both tours and accommodations? What if we want to bring pets with us (my sister has three super cute shih tzus that she never leaves behind)? It would also be great if we can

Things to Do at Mambukal Resort

2012-01-24T15:02:00.000+08:00

If you're going to Bacolod any time soon, I suggest that you check out Mambukal Resort located in Barangay Minoyan, Murcia, Negros Occidental. It's a beautiful nature park perfect for family and group outings with lots of things to see and activities to do. To know how to get there, and how much to spend, please head to this link: How to get to Mambukal Mountain Resort To

Mambukal Falls Videos

2012-01-20T14:32:00.000+08:00

Since the new year, I've been very busy delving into new and old things. There's my freelance virtual assistant work, my vegetable garden, my herbal jelly soap business which I am incorporating into my course on Artist's Way, quiet time, tarot cards and meditation, my interest in feng shui, and now I've enrolled myself into an unlimited type of gym membership at Gold's Gym for one month. It

Chasing Mambukal's Seven (7) Waterfalls

2012-01-10T18:36:00.001+08:00

This is a continuation of my travel posts about Mambukal Mountain Resort, a beautiful nature park located in Barangay Minoyan, Murcia, Negros Occidental. To know how to get there, please head to this link: How to get to Mambukal Mountain Resort To read all my posts about Mambukal Mountain Resort, please go to this link: Mambukal Mountain Resort On this post, I'll focus more on the

It's More Fun in the Philippines - new DOT slogan

2012-01-07T04:52:00.000+08:00

Well, it's true! Even Neil Gaiman tweeted: I should know! I was one of those people who did hug him and smiled at him a lot when he was here! LOL! *pardon the person who took this blurred shot. The line was so long with so many people waiting we weren't allowed to take any more pic. Oh well. Anyway, despite the many calamities we face on a regular basis, I still say with a big

Sexy Nomad's New Adventures

2012-01-05T22:55:00.000+08:00

I've been meaning to update my travel posts here the past few days but since New Year my time has been spent on other things that also matter to me like biking, meditation and some light yoga. I've always been meaning to live a more healthy lifestyle and this year proved to be a good start. But don't worry because traveling is still one of my passions and where I get most of my inspirations.

2012 Philippine Holidays - Official List

2012-01-01T04:35:00.001+08:00

With the various important things that I want to accomplish this year, I still want to be able to travel like I did before. It's a good thing that we have a lot of long weekends this year! Philippine tourism will further flourish, I'm sure! I just hope that my hubby don't get to work on long holiday weekends so we can once again travel some more. So if you haven't scheduled your travels yet (

Hello 2012, Goodbye 2011!

2011-12-31T21:28:00.002+08:00

Less than three more hours to go and my vow to start a new life is now here to be realized! But before I say hello to 2012, let me say THANK YOU 2011 for all the amazing blessings you have given me: JANUARY Getting featured at ABS-CBN's Bandila for their episode on virtual assistants Getting re-acquainted again with my creative self when I attended another soap making seminar

Jayme Timbol, Yoga and Creative Dreams

2011-12-31T01:14:00.000+08:00

It's almost the new year and I'm glad that I spent Dec. 29-30 with my friend, Jem, who came home from Utah, U.S.A. We've been friends since our Etelecare days back in 2001, meaning we've maintained our awesome friendship for a decade now! I may have very few NEW friends these days, but those I keep, I do intend to keep them for eternity. (^_^) We all bonded the minute she got here in

Joel Disini says i.ph is shutting down soon

2011-12-29T08:11:00.000+08:00

Peter and I were enjoying our time together one afternoon. While window shopping for kayaks and hobie cats somewhere here in Alabang, we saw Mr. Joel Disini, the man behind i.ph, shopping for a two-seater kayak. This was the second time I met him in person. The first time was last year in Enchanted Kingdom. Peter and Mr. Joel Disini Anyway, he and Peter got to talking

The Day that was Christmas

2011-12-28T03:40:00.000+08:00

Christmas has now become my least favorite holiday... Perhaps, it has something to do with my hormones at this time of the year. I think in large part, the way I was brought up also contributed to my psychosis. It's like the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future always show up on my doorstep and I have no choice but to let them all in. And so, when people long to be with their

Hitachi Life Studio External Hard Drive

2011-12-26T02:51:00.000+08:00

One of the things I bought for myself this Christmas was an external hard drive. My old one is a 500GB Lacie external hard drive which I've been using since 2007. It's mostly for work, blogging and photos so I think another 500GB external hard drive would suffice. I looked at the external hard drives on sale at Festival Mall and found one from Hitachi Life Studio which seemed

How to Successfully Use Payday Loans - a Guest Post

2011-12-21T11:11:00.000+08:00

There are so many people who use payday loans without really thinking about what this type of loan could do to their finances. Payday loans could cause the borrower to go into a vicious cycle of debt that can be very difficult to get out of. If you have considered all of your options, and a payday loan is your only way out, you should still take some factors into consideration and think

Help CDO and Iligan victims of typhoon Sendong

2011-12-19T10:12:00.001+08:00

I'm currently packing all my unused clothes and will be sending them to CDO and Iligan via LBC branch nearest my place. For those who would like to help in kind or thru sending financial assistance, here are ways you can help: photo c/o mindanaoan.com got this photo on facebook got this photo from jonasdiego.com Here are are some more messages I collected from our LCHS Batch 95

Top Attractions You Must Visit on Florida Holidays

2011-12-16T14:43:00.000+08:00

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:

Boating at Mambukal Mountain Resort's Lagoon

2011-12-16T09:10:00.000+08:00

Why do I have this feeling that it will take a while to finish all my Mambukal Resort posts? Hehehe. I just have so many photos and videos I want to share so I'll take it slow. For now, let me share with you our experience at Mambukal Resort's Boating Lagoon. For other posts on Mambukal, just go to this link: Mambukal Mountain Resort It was before 10 am when we reached the gates of

Faced with choices this coming new year (2012)

2011-12-15T01:42:00.000+08:00

The last time I felt this way was when I was thinking of retiring from the corporate world after 10 years of hard work. I didn't know what I'd do with my life then. But one thing is for sure, I was fed up with the system and I knew that there's still life after being a corporate slave for so long. I bummed for a while and after three months, a lucrative kind of job that I can do

How to get to Mambukal Mountain Resort + Rates (Bacolod Trip)

2011-12-14T15:04:00.005+08:00

When we were at Saltimboca Inn, we asked the receptionist if they can tell us how to go to Mambukal Mountain Resort. At first the receptionist just stared at us before thinking of consulting her companion who recommended that we rent their van for half a day which would cost us Php1,500. This does not include the entrance fees to the resort and its amenities and no food would be provided.

Preview of Mambukal Mountain Resort, Minoyan, Murcia, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental

2011-12-10T08:26:00.008+08:00

Mambukal Mountain Resort is one of those tourist attractions located outside the town of Bacolod. It is the first place we visited right after checking in Saltimboca Inn (you wouldn't want to check in this place). Anyway, Not a lot of Filipino tourists frequent Mambukal Mountain Resort because it's far as one would require hiring a van or a cab at pricey costs (around Php1500-Php2000), and it's

Proactive Strategies for a Better Life

2011-12-09T01:45:00.000+08:00

Have you been wanting to live a healthier and better life? I started it a few years ago when I practiced The Secret to manage my stress and live my dreams. I also went for a more vegetable-based diet and now, I am being more cautious about it by going alkaline --- no oil, no salt, limited sugar, no acid, and sometimes almost raw but frequently baked or grilled food. I call it my sexynomnom

Thank God for HP Plus! I saved Php10k on my Medical Lab Expenses

2011-12-02T01:48:00.000+08:00

Yep, that's right. It was the assistant of my doctor who suggested that I go to HP Plus, just across Asian Hospital, almost beside Mercury Drug because all their lab tests are priced so low.True enough, when I went there yesterday for my liver, gallbladder and pancreas ultrasound, it only cost me Php1,000. Ultrasound was only Php1,000 at HP Plus The results were good. I have no

Change in Lifestyle

2011-12-01T01:52:00.000+08:00

It all started last weekend when Danes, Tina, Radz, Peter and I went to Lake Caliraya to windsurf our Sunday away. I forced my body to change its body clock which has forever been in U.S. time. It was successful! Well, sort of... I now sleep at around 6:30-7:00 pm and I wake up before 3 am. I'm slowly moving my sleeping time to 9:00 pm at the latest so I can wake up at 5:00 am. At

Building a New Vision Board

2011-11-24T01:53:00.000+08:00

As I was reviewing Jack Canfield's Success Principle #7, which I blogged about in KickingPinay.blogspot.com, Unleash the Power of Goal Setting, I took notice of my 12 year old vision board which I started building when I was just in college, the same time that I discovered Oprah. I actually first learned about this whole thing from her, and with the help of my course, AB Psychology, in

Windsurfing and my Journey to Better Fitness

2011-11-23T16:46:00.005+08:00

Oh hi there dear travel blog. You've taken a backseat for so long and I'm sorry. I've just been so caught up in my own workaholic world coupled with some health issues (GERD and other emotional issues) which I needed to take care of, plus you know how much time it usually takes me to post a travelogue here --- 4 hours! Yes, and that's just the minimum. Perhaps, I must learn how to chunk my posts

Weekend of Healing, Passion and Discovery

2011-11-22T01:55:00.000+08:00

I went through a lot a couple of weeks ago but through the help of my husband's continuous loving support, care of my friends, and my own will and desire to battle the rut I was in, things have been getting better and better. Just like these vegetable plants which I have grown from when they were just seeds despite the many typhoons and cold weather they have braved since day 1, (they are

To Be or Not To Be Pregnant

2011-11-18T01:56:00.000+08:00

Here's a litte excerpt and back story about that time I thought I was pregnant, how I felt before, during and after finding out about this possibility... I've done a lot of scary things in my life: I married my first true love with zero money in our pockets; I've jumped off a 15-meter water fall; I did zip lining thrice (one in Lignon Hill in Albay, one in Club Manila East, and one in

How are you, Jen? (a diary entry on GERD, stress and happiness)

2011-11-17T01:58:00.000+08:00

This is an entry that I thought long and hard about sharing here. Some things are quite secret and some information are quite sensitive. Then I figured, not a lot of people can handle a very long post so I guess not a lot of people will really know what has been going on.... It's been 4 years since I started practicing The Secret. That was late 2007. Prior to that, I've been an emotional

The Power of Friends, Exes and a Smashing Good Time

2011-11-10T01:59:00.000+08:00

Who would've thought that I'll be having a "date" with my husband and my ex-boyfriend all in one day? And no, they're not the same person. Teehee. It all started out with the plan that my husband will accompany me to the doctor to check up my GERD symptoms that have been exhibiting since last month. Unfortunately, I also had a VTR to go to for a TV commercial. I rarely go to these

Early Christmas for the Juans

2011-11-08T02:01:00.000+08:00

So how was your Halloween and the second long weekend that followed? I've been off the grid for some time after our Halloween Party, and it's all because of the "early Christmas" season we've been experiencing at home. To think I haven't even put up our Christmas decors yet and I'm not even sure if I'm gonna put them up at all. Unlike Halloween, Christmas is now my least favorite holiday

My Current Obsession

2011-11-04T02:02:00.000+08:00

Will movers be part of the equation just so I can buy that awesome Foosball table? I've been wanting to buy a Foosball table since I first played with one in Boracay in September 2008. But the thing is, the table will take up so much space inside our humble home. My husband and I don't know where to put it inside our house. I've suggested the little open spaces we have left but my

Manila Halloween 2011 Events, Philippines

2011-10-27T02:03:00.000+08:00

Though we're hosting a Halloween Party at home with our friends this Saturday, I keep searching the net for other activities Peter and I can do. After all, it's a long weekend holiday here in the Philippines and we gave up a trip to Camsur CWC to celebrate Halloween in Manila to the fullest, the Sexynomad and Mordo way. (^_^) In fact, I've been enjoying our very own horror house

Cheap Flights to Tenerife, Spain

2011-10-23T02:24:00.000+08:00

Tenerife is the biggest and most populated island of Spain located in the Canary region. There are about 5 million tourists who visit this beautiful island every year and how I wish I could be one of them. What I like about it is that you can get cheap flights tenerife and for sure, you can then experience one of the world's biggest carnivals. You can touch down at either two of

Travel Tips: 3 things to Pack When Renting Beachfront Villas

2011-10-22T04:28:00.005+08:00

[View of the beach at Harmony House, a luxury villa in Barbados, Caribbean]When traveling to a beachfront villa for a vacation, you’re probably going to end up heading out into the sand and the surf a lot. Knowing what to bring on your vacation, however, is an important item on your agenda to help make sure you have the best vacation possible. Here are some tips on important items to remember. 1.

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

2011-10-19T02:04:00.000+08:00

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

Youthful Makeup - Physician's Formula Mineral Wear

2011-10-18T02:06:00.000+08:00

With the frequency of my beach travels and time under the sun, the idea of me aging not so well is something that I've accepted a long time ago. Although as much as possible, I use sunscreen and lotions to balance out the harmful UV rays of the sun, use great skincare products like Nivea, Garnier and my all natural jelly soaps, I have accepted the fact that I may be wrinkling sooner

Our Bad Experience at Saltimboca Inn, Bacolod

2011-10-17T02:07:00.000+08:00

It has been about four years I think since I've written a negative review about a resort (No to Virgin Beach, Laiya with 157 comments from 2007 onwards saying the same bad customer service). And now, I'm sorry to say that I wrote one for Saltimboca Inn in Bacolod, which I mentioned in another post when we just came home from Bacolod. You see, I don't care much for how a place looks as I

It May Be Time to Hire an SEO Consultant

2011-10-16T02:09:00.000+08:00

At this day and age when anyone can practically earn a little bit of extra income online, it's always good to get updated with the latest in SEO or search engine optimization. I am actually speaking for myself. Though this is what I do on the side for some of my freelance work, I just never find the time nor energy to do it on my own blogs. I guess that's because I'm a personal blogger

No to Saltimboca Tourist Inn Bacolod City - Don't be fooled by the nice pictures

2011-10-15T12:58:00.026+08:00

arriving at the New Bacolod Silay AirportIt was a month ago when we went to Bacolod. I'm not really into crowds so I made sure that we go there at least a month before the very noisy and crowded Masskara Festival (which is actually this weekend!). My friends Koryn and Joan were inviting me to go in October but big celebrations are just no longer my kind of fun. I guess it ended on that trip we

Beware of jovelyn.agib@yahoo.com and +886277064035 - Paypal Hacker!

2011-10-14T02:09:00.000+08:00

Beware of this number: +886277064035. This number called me at around 5 in the morning. I was reluctant to answer it coz who would do that? Then I thought of Popsy. But he will never call at such ungodly hour! So I woke Peter up and made him answer the call. He couldn't understand why the lady at the other end was trying to ask for my bank account # for some remittance. He gave me back

Beware of jovelyn.agib@yahoo.com and +886277064035 - Paypal Hacker!

2011-10-14T01:24:00.000+08:00

Last Minute Holidays

2011-10-12T02:12:00.000+08:00

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

Winner of the Nivea Visage Sparkling White Giveaway

2011-10-10T02:13:00.000+08:00

I've been so busy lately I don't even feel like I had a weekend. Aside from work, I have so many things to blog about but I just couldn't find the time... like I've finally repotted my plants; all my other homemade herbal jelly soaps are ready (I have lavender, coffee, honey and olive, cool water, peppermint); I'm reading some books sent to me for review; I got a makeup to try and another

Aerial Views from Bicol to Manila and My Fear of Flying

2011-10-07T17:11:00.006+08:00

Believe it or not, I am scared of flying. I wasn't like this before. I've been riding planes since I was six years old but as I grew older, and after watching so many TV shows about air plane crashes and reading about them on the news, I guess I've developed a certain fear about them. It doesn't help that the weather these days are more unpredictable than ever. One minute the sun's shining, the

To Diet or Not

2011-10-06T02:14:00.000+08:00

Buffet lunch in Misibis Bay The past couple of days, we have been pigging out a lot, most especially my husband. Buffet dinner here, buffet breakfast there, and before we know it, we've already gained pounds which can be so difficult to lose. It also doesn't help that when we're not traveling, we pretty much live a very sedentary lifestyle, what with being in the south and sitting

Mayon Volcano, Albay, Bicol Aerial View

2011-10-05T02:15:00.000+08:00

The view of Mayon Volcano yesterday at LegaspiAirport I first saw Mayon Volcano in its full perfect cone back in 2005 when Peter and I went on a three-day road trip to Bicol. The view of Mayon Volcanoby during our road trip to Sorsogon in 2005. Then again, last year, we visited Legaspi with our friends before we headed to Sorsogon to swim with the Butandings, then to Caramoan for

Magkukuob Cave and Cliff Jumping

2011-10-01T00:01:00.001+08:00

After our short trip to the luminescent Hagukan Cave, we went to a smaller and darker one called Magkukuob Cave. Our boat docked near a cliff wall to show us that later after we go spelunking inside the cave, we'd be jumping off that cliff too like what the boy we saw was doing. Eep! This is the second time we're jumping onto a body of water here in Siargao. Remember that jump we did off a diving

Relaunching My Homemade Soaps and Spa Products - Jelly Soap Giveaway!

2011-09-30T02:16:00.000+08:00

Since January, I've been busy making my own homemade soaps. It actually started back in 2003 when I got featured in the Philippine Daily Inquirer for manufacturing my own homemade spa products. I made body and facial scrubs, lotions, astringent, lip balms... the works! Since then, I've been making my own and selling to the whole country too, one spa product at a time. A

Nivea Visage Sparkling White Giveaway

2011-09-26T02:18:00.000+08:00

Do you want to receive a pack of whitening skin care products from Nivea Visage? Well, read on... Nivea Visage has released new products in the market and I've been using them for four days now. So far, so good. That pimple I had last week? Gone now! I rarely get pimples these days but I guess with me working almost round the clock for two weeks now triggered some hormonal reaction and

Fuerteventura of the Canary Islands, Spain

2011-09-25T02:18:00.000+08:00

Canary Islands is one of my dream destinations. I think it's as great as the exotic places we have here in the Philippines, only this one is in Spain! Woot! Two of Canary Islands' best places are Tenerife (which I've shared with you on a previous post), and Fuerteventura. Fuerteventura is one of those magnificent Canary Islands in Spain. It' actually the second largest, next to

Hagukan Cave in Sohoton Cove, Siargao

2011-09-25T01:34:00.001+08:00

Get awed by the luminescence of the Hagukan Cave.After we swam with the millions of stingless jellyfish at the Jellyfish Lagoon, we explored the first of two magnificent caves that Sohoton Cove has to offer, the Hagukan Cave. It came from the root word "Haguk" which means "snore". This is because the cave emits a snoring sound as the waves splash and enter the opening of this dark yet

My Smart Netphone 701

2011-09-23T02:28:00.000+08:00

My 2-year contract with Smart Gold is about to expire and I've been thinking of downgrading my plan since I no longer use my phone for text messaging and calls as much as I used to before (like those years I got plan Php3,000-5,000). But then if I do that, it means that the free phone I'll get won't be as nice as my previous phones. So to solve this dilemma, I stuck to my plan of

Indoor Farming Addict

2011-09-22T02:19:00.000+08:00

It's just been 6 days since I first delved into indoor farming, one of my many personal projects, yet I already feel so attached to it. In fact, this morning alone, I woke up in panic to the sound of torrential rain. My first thoughts were: "Oh no! My Okra seddlings!" I left them out in the balcony yesterday afternoon for them to get lots of sun. The weather seemed to be fine, the sky

Kids at Heart

2011-09-21T02:21:00.000+08:00

I remember people wondering before why we got married early. "Was I pregnant?" -- that was the typical question. And my answer was usually a resounding "NO!!! I don't even want kids." So why did we marry young? And our answer was always "Because we wanted to! We were in love!" Almost a decade has passed and still, Peter and I couldn't get enough of each other, sexual and otherwise.

Great New Wedding Bands

2011-09-20T02:25:00.000+08:00

Wedding bands have been a staple for wedding ceremonies for centuries. It is a sign of commitment. It is a sign that your love never ends. There are not any points in a circle, just one eternal round. The most traditional wedding band has been the yellow gold ring. Gold has been used for jewelry for as long as people have been getting married. The problem with yellow gold is that for a

How My Mini Vegetable Garden Started

2011-09-19T02:25:00.000+08:00

If my memory serves me right, I've only planted three times in my life before this weekend: ...when I was in grade 3 or 4 and I had to plant mongo seeds as a school project. I remember feeling very excited as I started seeing leaves sprouting in a matter of 24 hours. ...when I was in high school and my classmates and I had to plant a row of trees as part of our

Unboxing the Netphone 701 from Smart

2011-09-16T02:27:00.000+08:00

Between the hubby and me, he’s always been more of the gadget freak. I can’t even begin to tell you the many hours he spent staring at a tiny screen when he finally made the jump to Android a few months ago. As such, I thought he’d be the better person to write about my new Netphone 701 from Smart. I'll give you my own review after I've gotten better acquainted with the Netphone. - Jen

Stingless Jellyfish @ Sohoton Cove, Bucas Grande, Siargao

2011-09-13T18:48:00.006+08:00

You've already seen the virgin beauty of the Hidden Island Resort; I've already shown you what it was like to enter the enchanted Sohoton Cove; Now, I will show you through videos we took, what it was like to see thousands, even millions of stingless jellyfish and be able to swim with them! Are you ready? It has been a dream of mine to visit Palau just to see the stingless jellyfish there and

Cave & Horseshoe @ Sohoton Cove in Siargao

2011-08-31T07:36:00.012+08:00

When we went to Hidden Island Resort, we were actually on our way to Sohoton Cove. It's a place in Socorro, Bucas Grande Island that is filled with mystery and we were about to find out why...So from Siargao, Sohoton Cove is about 1 1/2 hours away... 2 hours if there were moderate waves. But as luck would have it, it was like sailing on a perfect summer morning even if it was July. This is how

Hidden Island Resort in Bucas Grande Siargao

2011-08-24T22:23:00.014+08:00

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

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

2011-08-23T05:36:00.004+08:00

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. After Peter and I checked out the surfers and the waves on Cloud Nine, we headed to the Boulevard where a lot of sari-sari

Nature's Wonders In Samar's Island Paradise

2011-08-20T02:06:00.001+08:00

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

My Visit to Cagayan de Oro, City of Golden Friendship

2011-08-19T12:50:00.012+08:00

My First Night in Cagayan de Oro The moment my parents and I touched down CDO airport, I wanted to see my best friend. It's just that I dunno how I was going to excuse myself since the main reason why we visited CDO was to be with my grandpa. We arrived at 4pm not knowing if someone from my granny's household would pick us up. The oldies are not that good at communicating important things

Cloud Nine in Siargao

2011-08-11T18:22:00.004+08:00

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). From General

La Januza Island in Siargao

2011-08-04T16:06:00.012+08:00

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

Mamon Island in Siargao

2011-08-02T08:28:00.015+08:00

Mamon Island is part of a two-island package tour which we got from Patrick's on the Beach for Php3,700 during our second day in Siargao. It is already inclusive of food, drinks, use of kayak, surfboard and snorkeling gear. The other island is La Januza island (also called La Janosa) which is just a few kilometers from Mamon island. Mamon island has got to be one of the best islands my husband

Guyam Island in Siargao

2011-07-31T12:30:00.012+08:00

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

Dako Island in Siargao

2011-07-30T02:47:00.012+08:00

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: Peter and I didn't bother anymore to walk the circumference of

Naked Island in Siargao

2011-07-29T03:12:00.010+08:00

Naked island is one of the best white sand islands we have ever visited. As its name implies, Naked island is a small round piece of white island that is basically naked, meaning, it doesn't have any trees except for a small patch of greenery on top. It's just fine white sand all around and some corals along one part of the shoreline. Below is a video I took as our boat was approaching Naked

Awesome Things to See and Do in Siargao

2011-07-28T00:24:00.017+08:00

My last blog post was about our arrival in Siargao where Patrick's on the Beach gladly accommodated us at 50% off their regular price. Peter and I were so happy that we availed two of their exciting tour packages. The first one was the 3 ISLANDS TOUR (for Php2,500). Basically, we spent one whole day touring the three major white islands in Siargao namely: Naked Island Dako Island Guyam Island

Patrick's on the Beach in Siargao

2011-07-14T16:04:00.026+08:00

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

Tagbilaran and Cebu Detour on the way to Siargao

2011-07-01T02:18:00.016+08:00

I've got so many pending travel posts to do, I figured one way to shorten the list is to start posting as soon as I can. My husband and I are currently on a one week vacation away from the city. First stop was Tagbilaran, Bohol. When I bought our promo fare tickets from Cebu Pacific early this year, my first thought was to visit Siargao which we have been wanting to do since we missed our boat

Vietnam: Mekong Coconut Factory, Horse Ride and Night Life

2011-06-25T18:36:00.008+08:00

Ho Chi Minh or Saigon is such a dynamic city. It is always buzzing with people from different cultures and heritages, plus, there's always a lot of places to see and things to do.Like most tourists who visit Saigon, we toured the city by bus and saw the seemingly familiar structures of their buildings (in fact, the way they build their residential and commercial buildings is similar to the way

Caleruega Wedding, Thoughts and Other Things

2011-06-18T14:58:00.020+08:00

I usually stop myself from writing about sad things in my life. If I can handle it by just being quiet about it, offering it during my meditations and tarot card readings, then that's what I do. I originally intended to just write about a wonderful wedding we attended at Caleruega last month... The lovely bride, Jenny Torres...It was a beautiful, breezy, clear summer day and it was Mark and

Win MISIBIS BAY Luxurious Getaway through NIVEA Sun

2011-06-13T18:10:00.000+08:00

OMG! OMG! OMG! I only have a few more days left to join and hopefully win this contest! After everything Nivea Sun and I have been through this entire summer, I really think I deserve the chance. I am the last person who wants summer to end and the past week has been hard on me with my husband being sick and all. Winning a luxurious island getaway at MISIBIS BAY will more than make up for the

Tambisaan Beach in Boracay

2011-06-11T10:20:00.009+08:00

I was told before that Tambisaan Beach in Boracay is a nice snorkeling site that can be reached either via boat when you go island hopping or just a mere tricycle ride that will cost you Php100.00 from Station 3. I was feeling particularly adventurous one afternoon that I took a tricycle ride all by myself and discovered this beautiful beach. It was a long ride from Station 3, something like 20-

My Canyon Cove Escapade @ Nasugbu, Batangas

2011-06-03T18:47:00.011+08:00

This three-day weekend escapade at Canyon Cove started when Khrist Caballero of Train Station (formerly Motivating Minds) texted me weeks ago to ask for my assistance in documenting and helping out training 300+ participants from ADP. Of course, I said yes! As long as it's for Train Station and it's about traveling, I'm always all for it! I barely had time to sleep wit all the

The Starfish @ Magalawa Island

2011-05-28T03:10:00.008+08:00

My favorite hobby whenever I'm at the beach is snorkeling. So while my two girlfriends were sunbathing on the beaches of Magalawa island last weekend, while Peter was skin diving, I was out there in the middle of the sea, on full snorkeling gear, trying to take a peek at what's underwater. This site is at the eastern side of the island, as opposed to the northern side where we did the water

Magalawa Island Water Rafting & Snorkeling

2011-05-27T00:53:00.003+08:00

To see Day 1 of our Maglawa trip, please head to:Magalawa Island - Day 1To see Day 2 of our Maglawa trip, please head to:Magalawa Island - Day 2To see all posts about Magalawa Island, please click the link below:Magalawa Island~~~oOo~~~Part of the package we paid for when we went to Magalawa island last weekend was a 45-minute snorkeling adventure at Magalawa's coral garden. In order to go there,

Magalawa Island Trip - Day 2

2011-05-26T20:28:00.002+08:00

To see Day 1 of our Maglawa trip, please head to:Magalawa Island - Day 1To see all posts about Magalawa Island, please click the link below:Magalawa Island~~~oOo~~~One good effect alcohol has on me is that it makes me wake up early the next day. It doesn't matter whether I slept early or late, as long as I get intoxicated the previous night, I always get up early the following morning. Maybe it's

Magalawa Island Trip - Day 1

2011-05-25T17:14:00.007+08:00

To see all posts about Magalawa Island, please click the link below:Magalawa Island~~~oOo~~~Magalawa island is a nice small white island off the coast of Palauig, Zambales. It usually takes about 4 hours to get there from Manila. Click the highlighted link if you want to know how to get to Magalawa Island.On this particular blog post, I will TRY to just share with you the highlights of our

How to Get to Magalawa Island in Zambales

2011-05-24T11:24:00.018+08:00

To read all blog posts about Magalawa Island, please head to the link below:Magalawa Island ~~~oOo~~~My friends and I originally scheduled our Magalawa Island trip for March 12-13, the same weekend when the Japan earthquake/tsunami was at its worst. Because of that, our parents have forbidden us from going, plus I had to leave for Boracay after that so the schedule was moved several times until

Windsurfing @ Surf Kamp, Lake Caliraya

2011-05-19T13:38:00.005+08:00

Being on the surface of the water has always been very appealing for me. This is why I prefer snorkeling more than diving, why I swim with my head up all the time, why I did wakeboarding a couple of times, and why I got hooked into surfing. Oh yeah, I was definitely stoked!In 2008, when I marshalled the Funboard Cup in Boracay, I got a chance to be up close and personal with windsurfers and kite

Boracay Sexy Fire Dance (a video)

2011-05-18T00:01:00.000+08:00

I seldom see stars at night these days, except for those nature trips I took in Malapascua where I saw the brightest and the most number of stars as well as in Casa San Pablo in Laguna. I wanted to see the same thing in Boracay. It is an island after all and I expected to commune with nature for the most part. Unfortunately, Boracay, at night, can be as bright as the biggest malls here in Manila.

Why I Love Angol Beach in Boracay

2011-05-17T14:49:00.007+08:00

The stretch of white, powdery sand lined with coconut trees and cozy resorts along Angol beach has been one of my few favorite places in Boracay during my one month stay there. This part of Boracay is peaceful and the people I saw hanging out there, like me, were the quiet ones who just liked to sunbathe while reading a good book or those who liked to sleep under the heat of the glorious

Bringing Nivea to My Rated K Interview @ Club Manila East

2011-05-13T20:58:00.000+08:00

When I was doing my 6-week stay in Boracay, ABS-CBN's Rated K writer, Marc Almajose, called me and asked if he can feature me on an episode they're doing about cool jobs and happy work life come May. It would of course be an honor to be featured on Mrs. Korina Sanchez-Roxas' Sunday evening show. So I said yes. Fast forward to 1st week of May. I honestly have already forgotten about

Video: Getting Run Over by the Boracay Zorb

2011-05-12T11:43:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, I showed you a video of our Boracay zorb adventure. This time, I will show you what it's like to get run over by a huge zorb!So, we just did the downhill ride at that time. It was the next couple's ride. The locals assisting us said that our adventure is not yet over. We also have to get run over by a zorb! So we positioned ourselves on a mat they placed on the grass, did some photo

Video of Our Boracay Zorbing Adventure

2011-05-11T11:08:00.006+08:00

I blogged about Boracay Zorb before but it was just last night that I discovered we had a video of the whole thing. Here you will see how one of the locals helped take the video of our Boracay zorb adventure... from the time we went inside the huge zorb ball until it went down with Peter and myself inside. Then there we were alive and safe (Thank God!). Cameras are not allowed inside as they can

Boracay Island Hopping

2011-05-07T13:40:00.021+08:00

One of the things I love to do when I'm at the beach is snorkeling. So it was quite tragic for me when I suddenly had my period during my last few days in Boracay. I was planning to bring Peter to Carabao Island on Easter Sunday so I can at least stay at the shore while I watch Peter swim in its virgin waters from a distance. Unfortunately, the people we were supposed to go with backed out the

Loving My Sociable Self (Boracay Affairs, RR Herrera's Birthday Party, Defending the Caveman)

2011-05-06T16:45:00.001+08:00

I don't think anyone will believe me when I say that on paper (MBTI) and in my heart, I am an introvert. Isn't it ironic that when I was doing my one month soul searching thing in Boracay, I actually got reacquainted with my old sociable self? Blame it on some unexpected turn of events... ...when I had a fabulous time with fellow bloggers Joriben and Omar during their personal island

Boracay Reef Walking or Helmet Diving

2011-04-30T04:42:00.000+08:00

Boracay Reef Walking is one of those exciting things Peter and I did in Boracay. It took half a day before Peter convinced me to do it. As some of you may know, as much as I love being in the water, I'd rather be on the surface (like when I'm snorkeling), rather than going under (like when diving).Since reef walking or what is also popularly known as helmet diving involves going 15 feet

F.A.S.H. of Lifestyle Network and My (Not-So-Good) Experience with Them

2011-04-17T13:25:00.003+08:00

Noelle before the makeoverOn Saturday, Noelle texted me about this makeover thing F.A.S.H. (Fashion and Style Hub) was doing on her. F.A.S.H. is a local fashion and style TV show airing on the Lifestyle Network. Apparently, after we went our separate ways on Friday night, she got chosen by the segment producer of the show among the crowd of passersby and convinced her to do a

Boracay Night with Mellow 947

2011-04-16T11:36:00.001+08:00

My friend Noelle de Guzman arrived in Boracay on Friday. Noelle, for those who don't know her, is the host of the health and fitness segment of TV 5's "Alagang Kapatid”, which is a public service program that airs on TV5 every Saturday at 6am and Sunday at 7am. She also blogs at kikayrunner.com. She's here for Havaianas and Women's Health magazine. Anyway, after having dinner and drinks

Boracay Diaries: The Tears Began to Fall

2011-04-12T19:20:00.000+08:00

Dear Baboo,I was watching Project Runway rerun just a few minutes ago. I wasn’t really following the show. I just happened to click on it and decided to stay on it for a while. It was the episode where they finally announced the ultimate winner. Everything was going well; I was feeling happy for the winner (I didn’t even get her name). Then the parents and family members were called to come out

Go Ride the Boracay Zorb

2011-04-11T21:33:00.008+08:00

Zorbing is now available in Boracay! There are so many locals offering this kind of activity on the island. We finally said yes when we approached a guy who gave us good rates (Php400.00 per person) with free van ride to the Zorbing area in Yapak.Yapak is on the way to the bat cave and for those who won't be offered free van ride, you can rent a tricycle for Php100.00 one way. The ride from white