Weekend Blast

Last weekend was a blast. The author of my fave book, Tuesdays With Morrie had his first Philippine tour. When I received his new book The Fist Phone Call From Heaven as X'mas gift from my family, there's a coupon for the tour. OMG, I was so excited. I had to be there!!!

And last Saturday was the day! Book signing was scheduled at 2PM. I arrived 12 noon and the number I got was 1,150. My book was signed 9PM. Not cool huh? But two of my books were signed and I got this fab picture with Mitch Albom! Yey!!!

Summer love

End of the love month and cold weather. Welcome summer!  :-)

Happiness

Just want to share my photo quote for today. Find happiness in your inner self.  XOXO!

An Afternoon With Liz and Gabriel

I had the chance to visit National Bookstore this morning and bought the newly published StyLized fashion book by Liz Uy. I luv et! You can surely get some inspirations for your next fashion shopping and styling. As for the other book, One Hundred Years of Solitude, I'll save it later for my night reading! Ciao for now. I'll be reviewing my closet! <3 p="">

Asian Tour: Seoul, South Korea

after snow sliding (taken by Mr.Chung, our guide)

Christmas in the Philippines is a much anticipated festivity. It actually starts in the  month ending in " ber" i.e.,September and ends in the Feast of the Epiphany or the Three Kings, the first Sunday of January.

People especially the kids are looking forward to the celebrations. It's also time for reunions... family, friends, and even class reunions. Family gatherings are the best as we all share our blessings to everyone.

Our family is definitely not an exemption but since 2012, we celebrated our Christmas out of the country. You see, this is the only time that we can spend long vacation from school and office. In 2012 we were in Hong Kong and then last year it was in Korea.

first time with snow 

November to March is winter months in Korea. It was freezing cold outside. We experienced a negative 7. Since we're from a tropical country, a zero temperature is too cold. How much more for a negative? hahaha
But that was part of our plan because we really want to see snow.

If you're coming in autumn and winter, just bring one down jacket. It will be too heavy and bulky if you bring more. You can be warm by layering your clothes. Don't forget to bring beanies, leather gloves, socks, and petroleum jelly in case you'll have cold rashes.

two Asian boys curious with snow

walk in a park

Christmas lunch of Korean food

Travel Tips:

1. Filipinos need visa to enter Korea. For visa requirements go to this link: http://embassy_philippines.mofa.go.kr/english/as/embassy_philippines/visa/requirement
2. Ideal time to visit: Autumn months of September - November and Spring (March -May) for cherry blossoms
3. Bring your maintenance medicines and first aid med. as most products were written in their language and only a few people know how to speak in English.
4. Food : They love spicy food, even McDonalds and KFC are  too hot for my kids (just ask the fastfood crew for a non-spicy entree), but one will love their egg rolls, barbecues, bulgogi, kimchi, bibimbap, etc. Try also their tarts and moon cakes.
5. If you love coffee, you'll be surprised to find all kind of coffee shops in just one street or corner. They're everywhere!
6. Don't forget to visit their beauty shops. So many beauty products and kikay kits to buy!
7. If you're from tropical country and visiting in early winter, forget clothes shopping because the stores are only selling winter clothing...well unless you want to wear those type of clothes in the hottest and driest season back home. hihihi

Andrei's 12th

Andrei

I think I just need to share some photos from our last weekend's trip to Puerto Galera, Or. Mindoro. It was my boy's celebration of his 12th birthday. My sister's family were with us. The weather was not that good (it was a hazy day) but still, it's nice to go swimming and snorkeling. We had fun.

 us, in our veranda

 hazy afternoon

Wicked Friday

Thank God there are Fridays. My body automatically switches on to "lazy mode" every Friday night, but last night was different I was up beat. Reason: we watched Broadway's Wicked musical. It was awesome. Though we got seats on upper box, it was still a high. The artists were so good. You'd think their not singing live, as if it's pre-recorded. Wow! The show ended late and we're home 2 in the morning but it's worth it. The show runs until March 9.

Have a nice weekend everyone!

Coron, Palawan Adventure

Dry and hot season is here. I must admit I love this season. I love sun, beaches, cold desserts especially halo-halo, cotton shorts, summer dresses, coral lipstick, flip flops, and all associated with this weather. This is also the time for me to take on some projects like sewing pillow cases, sometimes bed sheets and curtains, baking and trying new recipes. Kids are off from school in this season and I have my time to spare.

Only two months to go and school vacation is here. Yey! I'm listing which project I'm going to prioritize. Meanwhile, I'm reminiscing our Palawan tour last 2012. Since I was not active blogging that year I'm sharing some of my experiences and photos from that wonderful trip.

 boat ride to the resort

 the island resort

A welcoming sight. Don't you think?

Travel destination was Coron, Palawan. From Manila we had a flight to Busuanga then a boat ride to El Rio y Mar Resort. Settled for a while in our native nipa hut then had a wonderful lunch. I can still taste my dessert of leche flan with macapuno. Superb!

The place and service were good. One can go snorkeling just beside their bar. Bring some bread or even cooked rice and fishes will go gaga with you. Lol.

You can also arrange with the resort for some tours, like going to Club Paradise (another island resort), island hopping, go to lagoons or go to Calauit Safari .

photo taken by Caloi - Isla Walang Lang-aw 

Calauit Island is an island in the north-western coast of Busuanga,Palawan. It was declared as wildlife sanctuary in 1970s. In some days trip to the island is smooth and in some just like what we experienced, the sea was real rough. It took us two and a half hours boat ride to reach the sanctuary. It was literally wild and wet. :-))

One will forget the rough ride though when he/she saw the gentle giraffes and the elusive zebras. Feeding Maylen, Athena and the other giraffes was simply amazing.

 my boys feeding Maylen

Andrei with Athena

blue hour

This trip was one of our best. It's bonding with family and nature. Next in the bucket list is El Nido also in Palawan. Will it be this season? I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

What's on your bucket list this summer?

Asian Tour: Hanoi, Vietnam

Visiting Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam is quite unique. It's a combination of Asian culture and somewhat French style (Hanoi was colonized by France in the 19th century and was reoccupied in the 1940s). Old Quarter is still the busiest commercial center and a good place to stay if you want to dine, shop and haggle for the lowest price. Be warned though that busy here also means chaos just like in other market places in other Asian countries like ours.

items on display in a souvenir store

a commercial building in The Old Quarter

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

                                                                             street peddler

street meal on the sidewalk

night market

I also observed that Vietnamese tradition is more intact here relative to the American influenced city of Ho Chi Minh. I think it's because Hanoi is the center of the communist North before the Reunification in 1976.

Part of their tradition is the art of water puppetry. The puppet theater is also in the Old Quarter. This is a must see if you want to know their culture and arts.

puppet show

Visit to Halong Bay is also a must. One can see the beautiful rock formations and can swim in its clear water. Local people are also warm and friendly. There is a fishermen village in the bay wherein they literally live in the water with their floating houses, school and barangay center. Cool huh?

boat lady

Finally, the best place to visit is the Hoan Kiem Lake at the center of the city. People converge in this area especially in the late afternoon, where one can just sit in one of the benches, watch lovers doing their thing, kids playing, couples in their wedding dresses doing photoshoot, elderly folks playing some traditional board games or just watch the day go by. I so love this idea of a place where people can converge and have a good time unlike in a very commercialized place were people usually standby in malls.

                                                                                 mangrove

Oh, and don't forget to eat Pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup. Try the beef flavor it's addicting!

Other places to visit: Tran Quoc Pagoda, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Quan Than Temple, St. Joseph's                                   Cathedral, West Lake

Guided Travel/Tours: Sinh Cafe

Forex rate: 10,000 Dong = 0.47 US Dollar