Habagat Adventures!

Boracay Island, July 2008.

check out our photo album of this trip.

Ladies and Gentlemen... Miss Saigon!

Ho Chi Minh City. August 2008.

Here's a photo album of our random city pictures! Click on the "Info On" button on top to show captions! If slideshow too fast, press "Pause" button on lower left corner of GUI.

And here's a photo album of our trips to several museums! Click on the "Info On" button on top to show captions! If slideshow too fast, press "Pause" button on lower left corner of GUI.

Now here's the photo album of our trip to the Mekong Delta. Click on the "Info On" button on top to show captions! If slideshow too fast, press "Pause" button on lower left corner of GUI.

Stories to follow :-)

Bicol Adventures!

Legaspi & Donsol. April 2007.

For this trip, our group was composed of three families -- the Presas, Legaspis and Gambans. There were 7 of us in all, 4 kids and 3 adults. Our main destination was really Donsol, to give the whale-shark encounter experience a shot. But of course, since we were there already, we decided to also spend sometime in the town of Legaspi to go around and see the sights.

Needless to say, the Butanding experience was A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!

But I'm getting ahead of myself.... let me back track a bit. We stayed at the Vitton Resort, right beside he tourism center. The whole process was very efficient -- there was a place where we signed up and were made to watch an orientation video. Then they assigned us to a "Butanding Interaction Officer" and a "Spotter" who led us out to a boat. After a few more tips from them, we sped off into the open waters.

These men were definitely experts, as they could spot the whale sharks several meters away! We went down into the water mostly in pairs, so that our two guides could help us without worrying about the rest. Eventually though, we all went into the water at the same time.

Let me say it again: coming face to face with a Butanding -- the LARGEST FISH in the world -- was simply A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!! :-) It was breathtaking swimming above, behind or in front of them! We had a total of about 7 sightings between us all. Sigh. Whattanexperience!!!

Anyway, after two nights in Donsol, we went back to Legaspi and went around the standard tourist spots: Cagsawa Ruins, where we had a great view of Mayon; Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave; and ate in a local store that reportedly had excellent Halo-Halo, DJC.

The whole trip was super fun and being with our kids (daughters/niece) made it all the more memorable!

Let our pictures tell you more about our trip! (click on the first picture of the slideshow for captions)

Singapore Lah!

Mc Travel Buddies First Out-of-the-Country Adventure.
July 2007.

Our Singapore trip was so much fun! We wanted to do so much, and see as many places (and people) as we could in our five-day trip. We had a lot of fun going all over the city by train and bus, figuring out which one to take, where to get off, etc. We also loved the food (thank you to everybody who treated us!), the shopping, and the attractions we visited.

Our last day was like being in the Amazing Race!!! Can you believe this -- we ate breakfast, heard mass, went to the Toy Museum, went to Sentosa and then to Night Safari... ALL IN ONE DAY? :-) Hahaha!

Here are some highlights of our trip: (click images to enlarge)


And here's our photo album (click on first picture of slide show to reveal captions!)

La Isla Bonita

A Dream Destination!


One of the places on the "Mc Travel Buddies Must Visit" list was ISLA NABUROT (Guimaras). I had heard and read a bit about it some years ago, and Tita Gina had friends who had already been there. The way the articles described the place intrigued me greatly. "It's a place with a soul" -- one writer said.

So for about 2 years now, I had been inquiring on and off about it, but never made any solid plans to go.

Birthday Treat!

For my birthday this year, I wanted to go out of town -- as I had some Mabuhay Miles expiring. Initially, I wanted to hit the beaches of Boracay, as it had been awhile since I'd last been there, but unfortunately (or fortunately?), PAL didn't have any "award tickets" left for Kalibo. Then I remembered Naburot and told myself... why not this time? And so the planning began -- I booked our flights, got the contact number of owner Teresa Saldana-Araneta and made arrangements with her, and did a bit of research about the island as I always do before hitting a new destination. Then the countdown began.

Fast forward... to March 7, Friday - we arrived in Iloilo (from Bacolod, where I wanted to spend my actual birthday with my relatives) at around 9:30 am. We were then shuttled over to Port San Pedro where the Isla's pumpboat was waiting for us.

We were soooo excited!!!

The Ultimate Rustic Charm!
see photo album (click on the 1st pic of slideshow to reveal captions!)

It was approximately a 45 minute boatride to the Isla. On our way there, it had started dristling, but I didn't really care nor got worried as I would have been in the past. I was so confident that this trip would be truly magical and that nothing could ruin it!

Sure enough, as our boat pulled into the waters fronting the Isla, and we got our first look at the place, I could say that the island's charm was almost tangible!

In the rain, we were led to our cottage (#6), which was settled above a high formation of rocks. Gosh! The cottage was sooo beautiful inside and out! And our view of the Isla and waters below was breathtaking!

We were the only guests on the island on our first day, and it felt extra-extra special being such. :-)

They told us that they would just ring a bell when lunch was ready. So we settled ourselves in, took our first pics on the Island and laid back and relaxed.

Gastronomic Treat!
see photo album (click on the 1st pic of slideshow to reveal captions!)

During my research about the Isla, I had read the most generous reviews and compliments about the food that was served here. I knew that they didn't have any ordering system -- you just had to eat whatever they prepared for you. And being quite a picky eater, I promised myself that I would try every single food dish that was placed in front of me -- whether or not it was something I had tried before...

OH MY GOSH!!! THE FOOD WAS AWESOME!!!
BEST FISH I HAVE EVER EATEN IN MY LIFE!!!
BUT NOT JUST THE FISH!!!
EEEVVVEEERRRYYYTTTHHHIIINNNGGG WAS YUMMY!!!
BURP. ;-)

Crafted with Love!
see photo album (click on the 1st pic of slideshow to reveal captions!)

After lunch, Tony Araneta (husband of Teresa) gave us the grand tour of the Isla. As he showed us around, and told us little snippets of how his mother-in-law had put together this place some 20 years ago... one thing became evident to us... Isla Naburot was built with so much passion and love! There was beauty in every corner... antique furnishings soaked in history... charming little details here and there... the mountain's rocks and plants as natural backdrops, etc.

This passion, we later concluded, was what made Isla truly "a place with a soul".

The rest of "Day One" was spent in total relaxation... we simply allowed ourselves to soak in the beauty of the place.

A Place to Chill!
see photo album (click on the 1st pic of slideshow to reveal captions!)

Day Two however, turned out to be one of the best unplanned, free-flowing, delightful and fun-filled days of my life!

After breakfast, we met our other host, Boy Saldana (who we later nicknamed, Isla Boy). Within 5 minutes, we were on his speed boat, with our snorkeling gear in tow as well as a cooler full of drinks (read: beer). He took us to a small sand bar, situated beside their German's friend's beach house. Here we swam a bit, snorkeled a bit and just sat on monobloc chairs facing the ocean and chatting the morning away! Isla Boy was definitely a lot of fun to hang out with -- free-spirited, funny, and a little crazy. :-)

When we got back to the Isla, some other guests for the weekend had arrived and were having a buffet lunch. After another yummy meal, we decided to just sit back, sun bathe a little bit, and catch up on some reading and writing.

But at around 3:30 pm, Isla Boy persuaded us to get off our butts and go back out on the boat with a Spanish couple whom we met earlier this morning, Luis and Elena. He took us to another snorkeling spot which later also turned out to also be our sunset-watching spot. We just hung out on the boat, exchanged stories, had a few drinks, and had a lot of laughs.

Those two hours were filled with lots and lots of "this-is-the-life!" moments and lots and lots of happy sighs. :-)