Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Lady's Bride Squad in Bali

Bali has become the go-to place for bridal showers. Even our group chose this destination for the many good reviews about hen parties in Bali.

Last August 2018, almost two month's before Lady's wedding, we, some of the bridesmaids and the bride-to-be went to Bali for Lady's bachelorette party. There were supposed to be 10 of us, but two friends were not able to make it on the last minute.

Anyway, we had fun. It's definitely one hell of a weekend! We had a very nice villa (Bali Bliss) in Seminyak and we had nice photos because of Sweet Escape, which gave us a big discount. We also had a really cool and kind driver, who took us to many beautiful places, such as the Melasti Beach in Uluwatu and Uma Pakel in Ubud.

Check out the video of our trip:

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Boracay Trip 2016 with the Queens

While we were in Davao, we talked about how much we missed Boracay. Dayanna has been wanting to go there as she kept hearing good stories about it. Therefore, we decided to fly to Boracay immediately the morning after we landed in Manila. Thanks to Lady for securing our free Skyjet tickets. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to join us. Gosh, imagine how tiring our Davao-Manila-Boracay-Manila 6-day trip was! But no regrets 'cause we had so much fun! Well, it would have been more fun if the weather cooperated.

Anyway, we would like to thank the following for the quick but fun trip:
-Skyjet
-Henann Lagoon Resort
-White Sand Aquasports
-Wave Bar
-The Pig Out Bistro
-JB Alonzo Law Firm
-Caticlan Airport Officials
-Manila, Cebu, and Boracay friends

Sharing with you our post-Boracay video.

Davao Trip 2016 with the Queens


It's been a while since my last blog post. I've been really busy these days. Sharing with you one of my best trips with my girl friends, Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong, Miss Earth Air 2015 Dayanna Grageda, and Miss Casino Filipino 2013 Ladylyn Riva.

Special thanks to the following sponsors for making our trip a truly relaxing, fun, and memorable one:


-Pearl Farm Beach Resort (Samal Island)
-RC Hobbyshop and Aquasports
-Paradise Island Resort
-Department of Tourism
-House of Hope Foundation
-Pres Duterte's PSG
-JCI Davao Inc


Sharing with you our post-trip video:

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

A Quick Boracay Summer

So there I was again, without any plans of going to Boracay, I got dragged by a friend who wanted to celebrate her birthday at the island. I was only able to make up my mind on the last minute. And because we took Air Asia, it meant another delayed flight, so we waited for more than 2 hours. 

We flew from Manila to Kalibo International Airport, where we met up with our friend who came from Dumaguete, but flew via Cebu. It was already midnight when we got to the boat from Caticlan to Boracay. The boat rates really inflate at those hours so it's better to take day flights. We got to the island at 1am and we just headed out for a quick meal before going to bed.

So basically we did a lot of eating, photo op, and partying (without even drinking much). But I would say that eating was the highlight of our trip haha! In fact, this was the only Boracay trip wherein I have completed all the daily hotel breakfasts. It's because we've been going to bed early because we're not drunk. Talk about change! haha

It's also great to find out that some other friends were there too, so I got to hangout with them. Anyway, here's how the trip went on:

Boracay Getaway from Roycie S. on Vimeo.

Day 1
Station 2 - Friend got a Henna Tattoo
Two Seasons - Oyster Sisig and Four Cheese Pizza (never fails!)
Station 1- Photo Op and a bit swimming by the beach until sunset
Olé - Late dinner
Summer Place - Friend met up with a guy from Tinder but ended up being with a better person we met by the bar
Epic - I met up with my friends from Manila and hung out 'til the break of dawn

A photo posted by Roycie S. (@royciepoisie) on


Day 2
Puka Beach - Swimming and chilling (super pretty beach but the drinks were overpriced)
Spider House - Dinner with new friends
Epic - Party (and some drinking)

Day 3
Real Coffee - Lunch
Don Churros - Churro and Lava Cake fix
Jonah's Fruit Shake - Of course, we won't miss this
Las Brisas - Swimming and bonding by the pool
Station 2 - Buffet Dinner (another must for every Boracay trip)
Epic - My friend's birthday celebration
Then while we're a bit tipsy 'coz of our drinks, we had to go back to the hotel to get our stuff; then we headed to the port then the Kalibo Airport to catch our red-eye flight. However, our flight was ultimately delayed for like 4 hours, so we wished we just stayed and rebooked our flight (it's free anyway).

A photo posted by Roycie S. (@royciepoisie) on

And that's another quick but awesome summer trip! Where to next? Just wait for it! :)

How an Overnight Cebu Trip Turned 5 Days

Even I can't believe it. I didn't even have plans of joining my friends but I ended up staying there for almost forever. I was dragged by a friend straight from a Saturday night party  to the airport to catch the earliest flight to Cebu. Since the first flight was fully booked, we had to take the next one. We bought our plane ticket there and we didn't even get a ticket back home.

Instead of posting a lot of photos here, I just made a video of the trip. Feel free to comment below if you have any inquiries. 

#CebuHits from Roycie S. on Vimeo.


Here's a rundown of all our activities in that 5-day trip:

Day 1

We left first thing on a Sunday morning, went straight to our friend's hotel, the Big Hotel to check-in and take a nap. Then we had breakfast at the hotel resto. Right after breakfast, we were informed that our JCI friends from JCI Mandaue have prepared a boat party so we joined them. We went on a food trip and we had crazy drinking games while on board. 

We rushed back to the hotel to prepare for JCI Womandaue's induction and turnover ceremonies. After the event, we had drinks at the hotel bar. Then some of our JCI Cebu Inc. brothers invited us for a karaoke party at the KTV located next to the hotel. It was at around 1am when we moved to our friend's acoustic bar/KTV lounge, Open Mic, where we continued our craziness until 3am! That was a really crazy night.

Day 2

We all had lunch at a restaurant in SM Cebu. Then we chilled at Ibiza Beach Club at Movenpick Hotel and Resort in Mactan 'til after sunset. For dinner, we headed to a restaurant owned by our friend, Ampersand, wherein we had the best steak in Cebu, and all other sumptuous dishes and drinks.
A photo posted by Roycie S. (@royciepoisie) on

Day 3

We had our lechon fix at Rico's during lunch then we visited a new acquaintance's auto shop, Euro Technik for coffee. It was a lazy afternoon so while some of our friends headed to the airport to go back home, me and some of our Cebu-based friends indulged on a 1.5-hr foot and back massage at the Park Mall. It's my first time to try a massage conducted by blind people, and it felt so good. For dinner, we've gone to a local restaurant (like a big carinderia -- which I forgot the name of) that's known for their native chicken. After dinner, we had tea and dessert at Tinder Box. But just when we thought our night was over, we craved for wine and cheese so we headed to La Vie en Parisienne to satisfy our cravings.

Day 4

And out of our spontaneity, at 3am, after our wine sesh, we headed to the port to catch the first barge to Bantayan Island. That was a 2.5-hr drive, which can usually take 4-5 hours during the day. Anyway, we we're only able to catch the 2nd barge at 6:30am and it took us an hour and 15 mins to cross the water to Bantayan Island. In Bantayan, we had breakfast by the market, then we shopped for really cheap seafood. How cheap? Like Php 20/kilo of scallops. OMG! We headed to SantaFe Beach Club, where we checked in. We had the seafood we bought at the market cooked in the hotel and that's what we had for lunch. We were extremely full that we fell asleep after. We failed to wake up in time for our trip to the cove so we just headed out for dinner at Chef Panyang's. The food there were really cheap and yummy. If I come back to Bantayan, it would probably because of two things: the beach and the food. We got free dessert c/o the restaurant's manager. We were also able to have a JW Gold Label we just bought from a store nearby. We continued our drinking sesh at our hotel by the beach front while watching a movie on laptop.

Day 5

The next day, we woke up late again. We felt guilty for having the boatmen wait for 1.5 hrs for our island hopping. Our first stop was at Hilantagaan Island where we bought fish, rock lobsters, and crabs for our lunch. Next stop was at Virgin Island and I super loved it there. It's a lot better than Boracay. While we did some snorkelling, our boatman prepared our lunch. After lunch, we just rested for a bit and headed back to our hotel in Bantayan to catch the soonest flight we can get back to Manila as we still have a formal event to attend to in Taguig. At the airport, we bought our plane ticket and while waiting for boarding, we had our last dinner together.
A photo posted by Roycie S. (@royciepoisie) on

That Cebu trip was probably the best and most spontaneous trip I've ever done! It's so exciting to not have exact plans, not even a return flight because it gives you a lot of freedom. Just remember to overpack (while packing light -- to avoid paying for extra baggage) a bit. Be sure that you have extra clothes for any activity -- casual (shorts, tank tops, shirts, skirts), beachwear (maxi dress, short summer dress, cover up, swimsuit), smart casual (polo and pants), footwear (flats/sneakers, flipflops) -- so you won't have a problem.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

7 Reasons Why You Should Get LG P7


LG P7 Music Flow Portable Speakers, This Summer’s Perfect Gadget

Summer has officially begun and there are so many new things to do, places to see, and memories to create. Nothing makes experiences more enjoyable than being in the company of great friends and even greater music.

Home entertainment trailblazer LG Electronics dishes out exciting ways to amp up your summer trips with the new LG Music Flow P7. This compact but powerful portable speaker boasts unique features for the ultimate hassle-free barkada bonding.



1.      Music anytime, anywhere

Its impressive long-lasting battery enables the gang to enjoy continuous music for up to 10 hours. Whether you are out in the sea or up in the mountains, the LG Music Flow P7 delivers nonstop listening pleasure.

2.      Go with the ‘Flow’

The super sleek LG Music Flow P7 is extremely lightweight and comfortably fits in any carry-on luggage; making it the perfect companion for beach trips and out-of-town vacations.

3.      Make it loud with your crowd

Even with its compact design, the LG Music Flow P7 is capable of playing music in full, crystal clear quality with its outstanding 20W audio output, currently the best in the market.

Fire up the grill, host your own outdoor summer soiree and after sunset, watch a movie under the stars with just a blanket and a projector—with the sounds amplified by your own Music Flow, of course!

4.      Music-sharing made easy

Partying with your best buds made even more fun with LG Music Flow P7’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities. Shuffle and stream music right from your mobile phone! The barkada can also get in on the fun with its unique feature that allows up to three Bluetooth-capable phones to connect at the same time.

5.      Double the Music Flow, double the fun

You and your friends can connect two LG Music Flow P7s to one Bluetooth-ready device at the same time for a fun and louder summer trip. Fill every corner with quality tunes wherever you go!

6.      Relax, go do it

Staycations will never be the same again! Cozy up with your favourite blanket and catch up on your series at home by connecting up to two LG Music Flow P7s to a compatible LG TV and enjoy the full LG experience with immersive surround sound.

7.      Keep fit with the beat!

Getting that beach body ready doesn’t have to be a struggle. Stretch, jump, and crunch (not munch) to the beat that’s blasting from your Music Flow P7s. Or you could hold your favourite yoga poses with soothing ambient sounds thanks to your Music Flow.

Whether you are planning for a weekend trip or simply staying in with the family, the LG Music Flow P7, the smallest and newest addition to the LG Music Flow WiFi Series, is the ideal companion for that unforgettable listening experience,” said Hoony Bae, vice president of LG Philippines Home Entertainment.


Tuesday, October 29, 2013

La Union Soul Surf Festival 2013

When I saw the poster of this event a month ago, I told myself I would definitely go. In fact, I invited a lot of my friends to go with me. But as the the event gets closer, I was starting to feel it's just a waste of money, most especially because the packages were quite expensive for a quick weekend getaway. So, I decided not to go anymore.

On October 25 (Friday), I saw on Facebook and Instagram that a lot of my friends were already in San Juan, La Union for the event. And luckily, I found out that some of my friends were about to leave Manila early morning of October 26 (Saturday), which I thought was the best time to go because I still had a birthday party to attend on Friday night, plus the Soul Surf main event was Saturday night. So straight from my friend's party, we're off to La Union! We left Marikina at 3am and we arrived in San Juan at around 10am.  I was just asleep in the car during the entire trip. What took us so long to arrive was the traffic due to the roads that were under repair.

We had brunch at the restaurant of Kahuna Resort. I actually didn't like it there because the food was quite expensive and the service was poor; not really worth the price we paid for. After brunch, we headed to Oasis Hotel, which was a 10-minute drive from the beach area. All of the hotels by the beach were fully booked because of the event; and since we're just walk-ins, it's hard for us to find a vacant room. Luckily, one of our friends helped us book a room at Oasis, where she's staying.

A standard room (with two single beds) cost us around Php 4,000, plus an extra Php 550 for extra bed since there were 7 of us to share the room. After resting for 3 hours, we headed out to the beach. We started our drinking session at around 3:30 pm and it's amazing how cheap the beers were: Php 35 for Red Horse and Php 45 for SanMig Light. At around 5pm, the girls and I went around to check out different product/brand booths by the shore. We visited some friends at the Paktor app booth, we had our group photo taken at the Smart Live More booth, and we played beer pong at the Rayban booth. Thanks for the free drinks we got from all of those booths.:))

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the Soul Surf vibe

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sunset sesh with the girls

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lovin' this sunset photo

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walking by the shore

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Girl Friends Forever (GFFs)

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Smart Live More! :)

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Beer Pong at the Rayban booth

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Team 1 (Me, Farah, and Mikki)

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Team 2 (Thina, Grace, Reg)
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beer pong champs!


After sunset, we headed to the party grounds. Thanks to Team Paktor PH for giving me a media VIP pass. I've been all over the place trying to join my different groups of friends. Despite having too much alcohol, I managed to survive because of the Monster energy drink my friends gave me. I even forgot to have dinner because we're having too much fun with RAC playing in the background. We grabbed some past midnight meals at Kuyang food cart where I had sisig rice bowl for Php 150. After eating, we headed back to the party for a bit then we went back to the hotel at around 1:30am.

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at the concert grounds

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and we're drinking straight from the large bottles :))

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Team Paktor PH and the birthday girl, Janice

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my wingmen gone cray cray

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the party scene

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Hosts: Raymond G., Nicole A.

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sunrise at SCTEX on our way home


When we left the event, there were still a lot of people so I didn't know what time the party ended. Anyway, as I got back to the hotel, I woke everyone up 'cause we had to head back to Manila.

It's one helluvah Saturday! (yeah not weekend 'coz I was there for just 24 hrs haha) Imagine, I only spent a total of Php 700 (gas/transpo, hotel, food, drinks) during the entire trip because everything else was FREE! haha thanks to connections! Anyway, I really should go back next year and stay longer. I super loved the Soul Surf vibe!:)

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Finally Found the Right Way to Fly with AirAsia Zest!

Flying to my favorite local and international destinations at affordable prices is now possible as AirAsia and Zest have now partnered! With its new brand name, AirAsia Zest, I am sure it has a lot in store for us dear travellers. And the best part is, AirAsia Zest flies from Manila!!! No more hassle driving too far because the flights depart from NAIA Terminal 4. How cool is that? :)

Ok, so now that I found the Right Way to Fly, it's about time for me to make new travel plans. Here's my AirAsia Zest destination (local and international) wish list:


#5 TAGBILARAN, BOHOL

I haven't been to Bohol but I've been wanting to visit the place to see the Chocolate Hills, the old churches, the white sand beaches, and to dine at the floating restaurants in Loboc River. Although the recent 7.2 magnitude have destroyed many of these tourist spots, it won't stop me from going there. I wanna see how the people of Bohol are recovering from the tragedy and I would like to extend a helping hand too, even in my own little way. Also, I am a fan of old churches as they take me back in time. I was saddened that the old churches of Bohol are now turned into ruins; but still, I would like to visit them and pray. And of course, being the beach bum that I am, I would love to have some jump shots at the sand bars of Panglao's white sand beaches! :)

This BEFORE and AFTER photo of BOHOL churches is from


#4 CAGAYAN DE ORO

This is another must-see travel destination in the Philippines, which I haven't been to. Being an adventurous person that I am, I know that I will definitely enjoy CDO because first, it's where I can try whitewater rafting at the first time; and second, it's also my gateway to Bukidnon and Camiguin. With just a ferry ride, I could get to Camiguin to see the Underwater Cemetery and of course, more white sand beaches! Also, with just a bus ride, I can get to the Dahilayan Adventure Park and try the Asia's Longest Dual Zipline plus get a taste of the best pineapples in Bukidnon.


Whitewater rafting photo from my friend, Josh Reyes' Facebook page.


#3 KALIBO (BORACAY)

Boracay will always be my sweet escape. Whenever I wanna relax or just get away from the busy city, I always head to Boracay. It's just my happy place. In fact, I've already had some local friends there, whom I've met in my many Boracay trips in the past. I just find the place very relaxing, most especially at the Puka Beach. Nothing beats the feeling when I am seated by the shore, my feet buried in the sand as I drink some fruit shake or cocktail, while reading a good book or chatting with my friends. Besides relaxation, Boracay also gives me a really fun nightlife experience. This island is the place-to-be for the best summer parties and sunset sessions. I super love Boracay that whenever I meet new foreign friends, I always tell them not to miss Boracay when they travel in the Philippines.

me at Puka Beach in March 2012

But besides spending time in Boracay Island, I also want to explore Kalibo, the home of the Ati-Atihan festival. I've been to a lot of festivals in the Philippines but I haven't experienced Ati-Atihan yet. I also wanna take a walk in the eco-trail of the Bakhawan Mangrove Forest. And of course, I would like to have a taste of authentic Aklanon cuisine, which I know tastes good and is very affordable.

a fire dancer

 sunset at Puka Beach :)



#2 KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

I haven't been to Malaysia but I know Kuala Lumpur is the home of the Petronas Twin Towers. I have always admired my friends' photos in this popular tourist attraction and I want to have my own photo with it too. I am a fan of cityscapes and I wish to capture a typical night scene at KL. Shopping and dining are relatively cheap in Malaysia so I want to take advantage of that. Plus, I also want to visit my Malaysian friends, as they promised me before that they'll show me around.



I've also heard of other tourist destinations such as the Batu Caves and other Buddhist temples in nearby towns/provinces, which I wanna visit. And of course, being the Lego fan that I am, I must not miss Legoland! Well it's actually far from KL but I've heard they have comfy buses from the city going there so I don't think transportation would be problem. And besides, I can also have a side trip to Singapore, which is just a few hours away from Legoland. It's a place where I have a lot of Filipino friends I wanna visit.


#1 INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA

Of all the Asian countries I have been to, I would say that South Korea is my second favorite, next to Japan. In terms of culture, they're pretty much the same; but for me, South Korea is more laid back. It was my first time in South Korea in November of last year via Incheon and I would say that it's one of my best international trips so far. I have visited a lot of tourist attractions in Seoul because my friends and I took a hop on-hop off city tour bus. We've also been to Everland, Nami Island and Petite France, which weren't too far from Seoul. The farthest we've gone to was at Gyeongju City where we visited many of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. It took us a 2-hr bullet train (KTR) ride one way just to get there.

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Autumn 2012 in Seoul

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ancient tombs in Gyeongju

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Me at Nami Island, where Winter Sonata's first kiss scene was shot.

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Gwanghwamun

Just last August, I have attended a Korean travel seminar where I've learned a lot of must-see tourist destinations in South Korea. I realized I haven't seen much of what the place has to offer because I haven't explored its provinces. In fact, I gathered a lot of travel brochures and maps from the seminar so I could plan my next travel to South Korea very well.

some of the brochures I got from the Korean travel seminar

SHOPPING and EATING are the top 2 things I really enjoyed doing in South Korea, particularly in Seoul. I wanna come back to shop for more beauty products and clothes, and to do another food trip! I just love the "samgyeopsal" and the coffee shops of different themes! I also wanna visit more of the shooting locations of my favorite Korean dramas and hopefully see some K-pop artists haha! I feel like I won't run out of things to do when I'm there that's why it's my top 1 in this list.

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healthy and yummy Korean cuisine!

so here's a photo of me at Petite France, wishing for another awesome trip to South Korea :)

So that's how my list goes. I really hope I can travel in Asia with AirAsia because I haven't tried flying with them and I heard some good reviews about it from my friends, so I want to experience it myself.

If you're a foreigner who wanna travel in the Philippines, there are a lot of places here that you shouldn't miss; and you can visit these places at affordable prices via AirAsia Zest too. Just click the photo below to visit their website.




Sunday, June 23, 2013

Awesome Summer 2013

Summer of every year is what I always look forward to for so many reasons. First, it's been raining all year and it would be nice to go to the beach and have fun under the sun even for just a short time. Second, it's vacation from school. Yeah, even now that I'm in my Masters, I'm still excited for summer vacation. It's the time of the year when I can go out of town or out of the country longer, that's why I spent 3 months with my relatives in Japan last year and in 2010, and a month in Boracay in 2009. Third, it covers the Holy Week and the Labor Day weekend, when everyone's out and spending time with friends and families. And lastly, April is my birthday month! And I haven't spent my birthday under the rain.:)

This year, I didn't go to Japan because I had to attend the summer workshops in school that I've missed twice because I was always out of town or out of the country during summer. But since I'm already about to graduate, I was required to attend them. So I stayed and spent three weeks in Boracay (with side trips in Iloilo) instead.

My friend booked me a flight for her wedding in Iloilo, but I told her to book me to Boracay first then I'll just take a land trip to Iloilo for her wedding. So what happened was, I arrived in Boracay on April 19 and spent the weekend with my bestfriend and PLDT friends. The highlight of this weekend was Jay Sean's concert, and the relaxing time with friends at our hotel, The District, and our roadtrip from Caticlan to Iloilo.

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On April 21, we arrived in Iloilo and had a food trip. The next day it was my friend's wedding at Punta Villa. Did my own makeup using Urban Decay's Naked palette, while the hairstylist helped me with my hair. The next day, I moved to my friend's place where I stayed for 2 nights. I had my birthday salubong in Bourbon and Flow at Smallville, then the next day, we had my birthday lunch at our friend's resto, BBQ Shack. I really had a great time in Iloilo.

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On the day of my birthday I spent 3 hours in the van waiting for it to be filled with passengers. I should've gone to the terminal earlier so I didn't have to wait that long. Anyway, I arrived late in Boracay and went straight to our hotel, LSM Square, owned by my friend's aunt. That was my birthday weekend and I spent it with my friends from graduate school, and some Manila friends. We also had one Couchsurfer who joined us in this trip. We got passes to "Sunkissed" at White House and The District 'coz one of the organisers was my sorority sister. So that's when we discovered why sunset parties were a lot better than late night parties haha! Some friends and I also had a picnic at Puka Beach, the reason why I missed the Ariel's Point cliff diving with my classmates.

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When my classmates left, I was adopted by my friends in their hotel. Then I moved to another place when they left. Good thing I never ran out of friends while I was there. I kept moving from one hotel to another. I think I've stayed in a total of 7 hotels in my 3 weeks there haha, and the only accommodation I've paid for was the actual planned trip which was during my birthday weekend.

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Anyway, there came the Labor Day weekend. More friends and acquaintances came to the island. It meant sunset parties everyday. The problem with that was, a lot of my friends are already drunk at around 9 or 10 pm that no one's there anymore at 12mn or 1am to party more. haha! El Hombre, Antonov sponsored the sunset parties at Whitehouse and Sur in Station 1. My friends and I loved chilling at Two Seasons 'coz of their Four Cheese Pizza and Oyster Sisig, plus they serve good cocktails too. During the Labor Day weekend, the happy hour at Two Seasons is exclusive only for their in-house guests, but since we were there everyday, the waiters did us a favor. Sur had the longest happy hour, from 2pm to 8pm I guess. And they sold Jack-Coke for Php 100 only and it's Buy 1 Take 1. Summer was so crazy because of those sunset parties. Vans also partnered with Smart in their Smart Live All Out event in Boracay Uptown. We also joined the Vans family as they celebrated the birthday of WynWyn Marquez at Discovery Shores. That same night was Zedd's concert at Club Paraw sponsored by Marlboro. Unfortunately, we didn't make it 'coz the place was so full that even the VVIPs were not allowed to enter the overly crowded venue.

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Then on May 5, my friends and I went on a land trip to Iloilo 'coz our flight was on the next morning at around 6am. That flight only cost me Php 1500 via Zest Air. In Iloilo, we had dinner in Villa, where a basket of fresh oysters only costs Php 40. Everything in Iloilo is so cheap that's why I love it there!

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So after 3 weeks in Boracay and Iloilo, I could say that I had an awesome summer!!! It's probably one of the best summer vacations I've ever had! Thanks to my friends.:)

Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Lady's Bride Squad in Bali

Bali has become the go-to place for bridal showers. Even our group chose this destination for the many good reviews about hen parties in Bali.

Last August 2018, almost two month's before Lady's wedding, we, some of the bridesmaids and the bride-to-be went to Bali for Lady's bachelorette party. There were supposed to be 10 of us, but two friends were not able to make it on the last minute.

Anyway, we had fun. It's definitely one hell of a weekend! We had a very nice villa (Bali Bliss) in Seminyak and we had nice photos because of Sweet Escape, which gave us a big discount. We also had a really cool and kind driver, who took us to many beautiful places, such as the Melasti Beach in Uluwatu and Uma Pakel in Ubud.

Check out the video of our trip:

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Boracay Trip 2016 with the Queens

While we were in Davao, we talked about how much we missed Boracay. Dayanna has been wanting to go there as she kept hearing good stories about it. Therefore, we decided to fly to Boracay immediately the morning after we landed in Manila. Thanks to Lady for securing our free Skyjet tickets. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to join us. Gosh, imagine how tiring our Davao-Manila-Boracay-Manila 6-day trip was! But no regrets 'cause we had so much fun! Well, it would have been more fun if the weather cooperated.

Anyway, we would like to thank the following for the quick but fun trip:
-Skyjet
-Henann Lagoon Resort
-White Sand Aquasports
-Wave Bar
-The Pig Out Bistro
-JB Alonzo Law Firm
-Caticlan Airport Officials
-Manila, Cebu, and Boracay friends

Sharing with you our post-Boracay video.

Davao Trip 2016 with the Queens


It's been a while since my last blog post. I've been really busy these days. Sharing with you one of my best trips with my girl friends, Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong, Miss Earth Air 2015 Dayanna Grageda, and Miss Casino Filipino 2013 Ladylyn Riva.

Special thanks to the following sponsors for making our trip a truly relaxing, fun, and memorable one:


-Pearl Farm Beach Resort (Samal Island)
-RC Hobbyshop and Aquasports
-Paradise Island Resort
-Department of Tourism
-House of Hope Foundation
-Pres Duterte's PSG
-JCI Davao Inc


Sharing with you our post-trip video:

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

A Quick Boracay Summer

So there I was again, without any plans of going to Boracay, I got dragged by a friend who wanted to celebrate her birthday at the island. I was only able to make up my mind on the last minute. And because we took Air Asia, it meant another delayed flight, so we waited for more than 2 hours. 

We flew from Manila to Kalibo International Airport, where we met up with our friend who came from Dumaguete, but flew via Cebu. It was already midnight when we got to the boat from Caticlan to Boracay. The boat rates really inflate at those hours so it's better to take day flights. We got to the island at 1am and we just headed out for a quick meal before going to bed.

So basically we did a lot of eating, photo op, and partying (without even drinking much). But I would say that eating was the highlight of our trip haha! In fact, this was the only Boracay trip wherein I have completed all the daily hotel breakfasts. It's because we've been going to bed early because we're not drunk. Talk about change! haha

It's also great to find out that some other friends were there too, so I got to hangout with them. Anyway, here's how the trip went on:

Boracay Getaway from Roycie S. on Vimeo.

Day 1
Station 2 - Friend got a Henna Tattoo
Two Seasons - Oyster Sisig and Four Cheese Pizza (never fails!)
Station 1- Photo Op and a bit swimming by the beach until sunset
Olé - Late dinner
Summer Place - Friend met up with a guy from Tinder but ended up being with a better person we met by the bar
Epic - I met up with my friends from Manila and hung out 'til the break of dawn

A photo posted by Roycie S. (@royciepoisie) on


Day 2
Puka Beach - Swimming and chilling (super pretty beach but the drinks were overpriced)
Spider House - Dinner with new friends
Epic - Party (and some drinking)

Day 3
Real Coffee - Lunch
Don Churros - Churro and Lava Cake fix
Jonah's Fruit Shake - Of course, we won't miss this
Las Brisas - Swimming and bonding by the pool
Station 2 - Buffet Dinner (another must for every Boracay trip)
Epic - My friend's birthday celebration
Then while we're a bit tipsy 'coz of our drinks, we had to go back to the hotel to get our stuff; then we headed to the port then the Kalibo Airport to catch our red-eye flight. However, our flight was ultimately delayed for like 4 hours, so we wished we just stayed and rebooked our flight (it's free anyway).

A photo posted by Roycie S. (@royciepoisie) on

And that's another quick but awesome summer trip! Where to next? Just wait for it! :)

How an Overnight Cebu Trip Turned 5 Days

Even I can't believe it. I didn't even have plans of joining my friends but I ended up staying there for almost forever. I was dragged by a friend straight from a Saturday night party  to the airport to catch the earliest flight to Cebu. Since the first flight was fully booked, we had to take the next one. We bought our plane ticket there and we didn't even get a ticket back home.

Instead of posting a lot of photos here, I just made a video of the trip. Feel free to comment below if you have any inquiries. 

#CebuHits from Roycie S. on Vimeo.


Here's a rundown of all our activities in that 5-day trip:

Day 1

We left first thing on a Sunday morning, went straight to our friend's hotel, the Big Hotel to check-in and take a nap. Then we had breakfast at the hotel resto. Right after breakfast, we were informed that our JCI friends from JCI Mandaue have prepared a boat party so we joined them. We went on a food trip and we had crazy drinking games while on board. 

We rushed back to the hotel to prepare for JCI Womandaue's induction and turnover ceremonies. After the event, we had drinks at the hotel bar. Then some of our JCI Cebu Inc. brothers invited us for a karaoke party at the KTV located next to the hotel. It was at around 1am when we moved to our friend's acoustic bar/KTV lounge, Open Mic, where we continued our craziness until 3am! That was a really crazy night.

Day 2

We all had lunch at a restaurant in SM Cebu. Then we chilled at Ibiza Beach Club at Movenpick Hotel and Resort in Mactan 'til after sunset. For dinner, we headed to a restaurant owned by our friend, Ampersand, wherein we had the best steak in Cebu, and all other sumptuous dishes and drinks.
A photo posted by Roycie S. (@royciepoisie) on

Day 3

We had our lechon fix at Rico's during lunch then we visited a new acquaintance's auto shop, Euro Technik for coffee. It was a lazy afternoon so while some of our friends headed to the airport to go back home, me and some of our Cebu-based friends indulged on a 1.5-hr foot and back massage at the Park Mall. It's my first time to try a massage conducted by blind people, and it felt so good. For dinner, we've gone to a local restaurant (like a big carinderia -- which I forgot the name of) that's known for their native chicken. After dinner, we had tea and dessert at Tinder Box. But just when we thought our night was over, we craved for wine and cheese so we headed to La Vie en Parisienne to satisfy our cravings.

Day 4

And out of our spontaneity, at 3am, after our wine sesh, we headed to the port to catch the first barge to Bantayan Island. That was a 2.5-hr drive, which can usually take 4-5 hours during the day. Anyway, we we're only able to catch the 2nd barge at 6:30am and it took us an hour and 15 mins to cross the water to Bantayan Island. In Bantayan, we had breakfast by the market, then we shopped for really cheap seafood. How cheap? Like Php 20/kilo of scallops. OMG! We headed to SantaFe Beach Club, where we checked in. We had the seafood we bought at the market cooked in the hotel and that's what we had for lunch. We were extremely full that we fell asleep after. We failed to wake up in time for our trip to the cove so we just headed out for dinner at Chef Panyang's. The food there were really cheap and yummy. If I come back to Bantayan, it would probably because of two things: the beach and the food. We got free dessert c/o the restaurant's manager. We were also able to have a JW Gold Label we just bought from a store nearby. We continued our drinking sesh at our hotel by the beach front while watching a movie on laptop.

Day 5

The next day, we woke up late again. We felt guilty for having the boatmen wait for 1.5 hrs for our island hopping. Our first stop was at Hilantagaan Island where we bought fish, rock lobsters, and crabs for our lunch. Next stop was at Virgin Island and I super loved it there. It's a lot better than Boracay. While we did some snorkelling, our boatman prepared our lunch. After lunch, we just rested for a bit and headed back to our hotel in Bantayan to catch the soonest flight we can get back to Manila as we still have a formal event to attend to in Taguig. At the airport, we bought our plane ticket and while waiting for boarding, we had our last dinner together.
A photo posted by Roycie S. (@royciepoisie) on

That Cebu trip was probably the best and most spontaneous trip I've ever done! It's so exciting to not have exact plans, not even a return flight because it gives you a lot of freedom. Just remember to overpack (while packing light -- to avoid paying for extra baggage) a bit. Be sure that you have extra clothes for any activity -- casual (shorts, tank tops, shirts, skirts), beachwear (maxi dress, short summer dress, cover up, swimsuit), smart casual (polo and pants), footwear (flats/sneakers, flipflops) -- so you won't have a problem.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

7 Reasons Why You Should Get LG P7


LG P7 Music Flow Portable Speakers, This Summer’s Perfect Gadget

Summer has officially begun and there are so many new things to do, places to see, and memories to create. Nothing makes experiences more enjoyable than being in the company of great friends and even greater music.

Home entertainment trailblazer LG Electronics dishes out exciting ways to amp up your summer trips with the new LG Music Flow P7. This compact but powerful portable speaker boasts unique features for the ultimate hassle-free barkada bonding.



1.      Music anytime, anywhere

Its impressive long-lasting battery enables the gang to enjoy continuous music for up to 10 hours. Whether you are out in the sea or up in the mountains, the LG Music Flow P7 delivers nonstop listening pleasure.

2.      Go with the ‘Flow’

The super sleek LG Music Flow P7 is extremely lightweight and comfortably fits in any carry-on luggage; making it the perfect companion for beach trips and out-of-town vacations.

3.      Make it loud with your crowd

Even with its compact design, the LG Music Flow P7 is capable of playing music in full, crystal clear quality with its outstanding 20W audio output, currently the best in the market.

Fire up the grill, host your own outdoor summer soiree and after sunset, watch a movie under the stars with just a blanket and a projector—with the sounds amplified by your own Music Flow, of course!

4.      Music-sharing made easy

Partying with your best buds made even more fun with LG Music Flow P7’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities. Shuffle and stream music right from your mobile phone! The barkada can also get in on the fun with its unique feature that allows up to three Bluetooth-capable phones to connect at the same time.

5.      Double the Music Flow, double the fun

You and your friends can connect two LG Music Flow P7s to one Bluetooth-ready device at the same time for a fun and louder summer trip. Fill every corner with quality tunes wherever you go!

6.      Relax, go do it

Staycations will never be the same again! Cozy up with your favourite blanket and catch up on your series at home by connecting up to two LG Music Flow P7s to a compatible LG TV and enjoy the full LG experience with immersive surround sound.

7.      Keep fit with the beat!

Getting that beach body ready doesn’t have to be a struggle. Stretch, jump, and crunch (not munch) to the beat that’s blasting from your Music Flow P7s. Or you could hold your favourite yoga poses with soothing ambient sounds thanks to your Music Flow.

Whether you are planning for a weekend trip or simply staying in with the family, the LG Music Flow P7, the smallest and newest addition to the LG Music Flow WiFi Series, is the ideal companion for that unforgettable listening experience,” said Hoony Bae, vice president of LG Philippines Home Entertainment.


Tuesday, October 29, 2013

La Union Soul Surf Festival 2013

When I saw the poster of this event a month ago, I told myself I would definitely go. In fact, I invited a lot of my friends to go with me. But as the the event gets closer, I was starting to feel it's just a waste of money, most especially because the packages were quite expensive for a quick weekend getaway. So, I decided not to go anymore.

On October 25 (Friday), I saw on Facebook and Instagram that a lot of my friends were already in San Juan, La Union for the event. And luckily, I found out that some of my friends were about to leave Manila early morning of October 26 (Saturday), which I thought was the best time to go because I still had a birthday party to attend on Friday night, plus the Soul Surf main event was Saturday night. So straight from my friend's party, we're off to La Union! We left Marikina at 3am and we arrived in San Juan at around 10am.  I was just asleep in the car during the entire trip. What took us so long to arrive was the traffic due to the roads that were under repair.

We had brunch at the restaurant of Kahuna Resort. I actually didn't like it there because the food was quite expensive and the service was poor; not really worth the price we paid for. After brunch, we headed to Oasis Hotel, which was a 10-minute drive from the beach area. All of the hotels by the beach were fully booked because of the event; and since we're just walk-ins, it's hard for us to find a vacant room. Luckily, one of our friends helped us book a room at Oasis, where she's staying.

A standard room (with two single beds) cost us around Php 4,000, plus an extra Php 550 for extra bed since there were 7 of us to share the room. After resting for 3 hours, we headed out to the beach. We started our drinking session at around 3:30 pm and it's amazing how cheap the beers were: Php 35 for Red Horse and Php 45 for SanMig Light. At around 5pm, the girls and I went around to check out different product/brand booths by the shore. We visited some friends at the Paktor app booth, we had our group photo taken at the Smart Live More booth, and we played beer pong at the Rayban booth. Thanks for the free drinks we got from all of those booths.:))

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the Soul Surf vibe

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sunset sesh with the girls

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lovin' this sunset photo

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walking by the shore

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Girl Friends Forever (GFFs)

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Smart Live More! :)

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Beer Pong at the Rayban booth

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Team 1 (Me, Farah, and Mikki)

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Team 2 (Thina, Grace, Reg)
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beer pong champs!


After sunset, we headed to the party grounds. Thanks to Team Paktor PH for giving me a media VIP pass. I've been all over the place trying to join my different groups of friends. Despite having too much alcohol, I managed to survive because of the Monster energy drink my friends gave me. I even forgot to have dinner because we're having too much fun with RAC playing in the background. We grabbed some past midnight meals at Kuyang food cart where I had sisig rice bowl for Php 150. After eating, we headed back to the party for a bit then we went back to the hotel at around 1:30am.

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at the concert grounds

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and we're drinking straight from the large bottles :))

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Team Paktor PH and the birthday girl, Janice

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my wingmen gone cray cray

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the party scene

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Hosts: Raymond G., Nicole A.

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sunrise at SCTEX on our way home


When we left the event, there were still a lot of people so I didn't know what time the party ended. Anyway, as I got back to the hotel, I woke everyone up 'cause we had to head back to Manila.

It's one helluvah Saturday! (yeah not weekend 'coz I was there for just 24 hrs haha) Imagine, I only spent a total of Php 700 (gas/transpo, hotel, food, drinks) during the entire trip because everything else was FREE! haha thanks to connections! Anyway, I really should go back next year and stay longer. I super loved the Soul Surf vibe!:)

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Finally Found the Right Way to Fly with AirAsia Zest!

Flying to my favorite local and international destinations at affordable prices is now possible as AirAsia and Zest have now partnered! With its new brand name, AirAsia Zest, I am sure it has a lot in store for us dear travellers. And the best part is, AirAsia Zest flies from Manila!!! No more hassle driving too far because the flights depart from NAIA Terminal 4. How cool is that? :)

Ok, so now that I found the Right Way to Fly, it's about time for me to make new travel plans. Here's my AirAsia Zest destination (local and international) wish list:


#5 TAGBILARAN, BOHOL

I haven't been to Bohol but I've been wanting to visit the place to see the Chocolate Hills, the old churches, the white sand beaches, and to dine at the floating restaurants in Loboc River. Although the recent 7.2 magnitude have destroyed many of these tourist spots, it won't stop me from going there. I wanna see how the people of Bohol are recovering from the tragedy and I would like to extend a helping hand too, even in my own little way. Also, I am a fan of old churches as they take me back in time. I was saddened that the old churches of Bohol are now turned into ruins; but still, I would like to visit them and pray. And of course, being the beach bum that I am, I would love to have some jump shots at the sand bars of Panglao's white sand beaches! :)

This BEFORE and AFTER photo of BOHOL churches is from


#4 CAGAYAN DE ORO

This is another must-see travel destination in the Philippines, which I haven't been to. Being an adventurous person that I am, I know that I will definitely enjoy CDO because first, it's where I can try whitewater rafting at the first time; and second, it's also my gateway to Bukidnon and Camiguin. With just a ferry ride, I could get to Camiguin to see the Underwater Cemetery and of course, more white sand beaches! Also, with just a bus ride, I can get to the Dahilayan Adventure Park and try the Asia's Longest Dual Zipline plus get a taste of the best pineapples in Bukidnon.


Whitewater rafting photo from my friend, Josh Reyes' Facebook page.


#3 KALIBO (BORACAY)

Boracay will always be my sweet escape. Whenever I wanna relax or just get away from the busy city, I always head to Boracay. It's just my happy place. In fact, I've already had some local friends there, whom I've met in my many Boracay trips in the past. I just find the place very relaxing, most especially at the Puka Beach. Nothing beats the feeling when I am seated by the shore, my feet buried in the sand as I drink some fruit shake or cocktail, while reading a good book or chatting with my friends. Besides relaxation, Boracay also gives me a really fun nightlife experience. This island is the place-to-be for the best summer parties and sunset sessions. I super love Boracay that whenever I meet new foreign friends, I always tell them not to miss Boracay when they travel in the Philippines.

me at Puka Beach in March 2012

But besides spending time in Boracay Island, I also want to explore Kalibo, the home of the Ati-Atihan festival. I've been to a lot of festivals in the Philippines but I haven't experienced Ati-Atihan yet. I also wanna take a walk in the eco-trail of the Bakhawan Mangrove Forest. And of course, I would like to have a taste of authentic Aklanon cuisine, which I know tastes good and is very affordable.

a fire dancer

 sunset at Puka Beach :)



#2 KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

I haven't been to Malaysia but I know Kuala Lumpur is the home of the Petronas Twin Towers. I have always admired my friends' photos in this popular tourist attraction and I want to have my own photo with it too. I am a fan of cityscapes and I wish to capture a typical night scene at KL. Shopping and dining are relatively cheap in Malaysia so I want to take advantage of that. Plus, I also want to visit my Malaysian friends, as they promised me before that they'll show me around.



I've also heard of other tourist destinations such as the Batu Caves and other Buddhist temples in nearby towns/provinces, which I wanna visit. And of course, being the Lego fan that I am, I must not miss Legoland! Well it's actually far from KL but I've heard they have comfy buses from the city going there so I don't think transportation would be problem. And besides, I can also have a side trip to Singapore, which is just a few hours away from Legoland. It's a place where I have a lot of Filipino friends I wanna visit.


#1 INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA

Of all the Asian countries I have been to, I would say that South Korea is my second favorite, next to Japan. In terms of culture, they're pretty much the same; but for me, South Korea is more laid back. It was my first time in South Korea in November of last year via Incheon and I would say that it's one of my best international trips so far. I have visited a lot of tourist attractions in Seoul because my friends and I took a hop on-hop off city tour bus. We've also been to Everland, Nami Island and Petite France, which weren't too far from Seoul. The farthest we've gone to was at Gyeongju City where we visited many of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. It took us a 2-hr bullet train (KTR) ride one way just to get there.

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Autumn 2012 in Seoul

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ancient tombs in Gyeongju

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Me at Nami Island, where Winter Sonata's first kiss scene was shot.

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Gwanghwamun

Just last August, I have attended a Korean travel seminar where I've learned a lot of must-see tourist destinations in South Korea. I realized I haven't seen much of what the place has to offer because I haven't explored its provinces. In fact, I gathered a lot of travel brochures and maps from the seminar so I could plan my next travel to South Korea very well.

some of the brochures I got from the Korean travel seminar

SHOPPING and EATING are the top 2 things I really enjoyed doing in South Korea, particularly in Seoul. I wanna come back to shop for more beauty products and clothes, and to do another food trip! I just love the "samgyeopsal" and the coffee shops of different themes! I also wanna visit more of the shooting locations of my favorite Korean dramas and hopefully see some K-pop artists haha! I feel like I won't run out of things to do when I'm there that's why it's my top 1 in this list.

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healthy and yummy Korean cuisine!

so here's a photo of me at Petite France, wishing for another awesome trip to South Korea :)

So that's how my list goes. I really hope I can travel in Asia with AirAsia because I haven't tried flying with them and I heard some good reviews about it from my friends, so I want to experience it myself.

If you're a foreigner who wanna travel in the Philippines, there are a lot of places here that you shouldn't miss; and you can visit these places at affordable prices via AirAsia Zest too. Just click the photo below to visit their website.




Sunday, June 23, 2013

Awesome Summer 2013

Summer of every year is what I always look forward to for so many reasons. First, it's been raining all year and it would be nice to go to the beach and have fun under the sun even for just a short time. Second, it's vacation from school. Yeah, even now that I'm in my Masters, I'm still excited for summer vacation. It's the time of the year when I can go out of town or out of the country longer, that's why I spent 3 months with my relatives in Japan last year and in 2010, and a month in Boracay in 2009. Third, it covers the Holy Week and the Labor Day weekend, when everyone's out and spending time with friends and families. And lastly, April is my birthday month! And I haven't spent my birthday under the rain.:)

This year, I didn't go to Japan because I had to attend the summer workshops in school that I've missed twice because I was always out of town or out of the country during summer. But since I'm already about to graduate, I was required to attend them. So I stayed and spent three weeks in Boracay (with side trips in Iloilo) instead.

My friend booked me a flight for her wedding in Iloilo, but I told her to book me to Boracay first then I'll just take a land trip to Iloilo for her wedding. So what happened was, I arrived in Boracay on April 19 and spent the weekend with my bestfriend and PLDT friends. The highlight of this weekend was Jay Sean's concert, and the relaxing time with friends at our hotel, The District, and our roadtrip from Caticlan to Iloilo.

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On April 21, we arrived in Iloilo and had a food trip. The next day it was my friend's wedding at Punta Villa. Did my own makeup using Urban Decay's Naked palette, while the hairstylist helped me with my hair. The next day, I moved to my friend's place where I stayed for 2 nights. I had my birthday salubong in Bourbon and Flow at Smallville, then the next day, we had my birthday lunch at our friend's resto, BBQ Shack. I really had a great time in Iloilo.

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On the day of my birthday I spent 3 hours in the van waiting for it to be filled with passengers. I should've gone to the terminal earlier so I didn't have to wait that long. Anyway, I arrived late in Boracay and went straight to our hotel, LSM Square, owned by my friend's aunt. That was my birthday weekend and I spent it with my friends from graduate school, and some Manila friends. We also had one Couchsurfer who joined us in this trip. We got passes to "Sunkissed" at White House and The District 'coz one of the organisers was my sorority sister. So that's when we discovered why sunset parties were a lot better than late night parties haha! Some friends and I also had a picnic at Puka Beach, the reason why I missed the Ariel's Point cliff diving with my classmates.

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When my classmates left, I was adopted by my friends in their hotel. Then I moved to another place when they left. Good thing I never ran out of friends while I was there. I kept moving from one hotel to another. I think I've stayed in a total of 7 hotels in my 3 weeks there haha, and the only accommodation I've paid for was the actual planned trip which was during my birthday weekend.

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Anyway, there came the Labor Day weekend. More friends and acquaintances came to the island. It meant sunset parties everyday. The problem with that was, a lot of my friends are already drunk at around 9 or 10 pm that no one's there anymore at 12mn or 1am to party more. haha! El Hombre, Antonov sponsored the sunset parties at Whitehouse and Sur in Station 1. My friends and I loved chilling at Two Seasons 'coz of their Four Cheese Pizza and Oyster Sisig, plus they serve good cocktails too. During the Labor Day weekend, the happy hour at Two Seasons is exclusive only for their in-house guests, but since we were there everyday, the waiters did us a favor. Sur had the longest happy hour, from 2pm to 8pm I guess. And they sold Jack-Coke for Php 100 only and it's Buy 1 Take 1. Summer was so crazy because of those sunset parties. Vans also partnered with Smart in their Smart Live All Out event in Boracay Uptown. We also joined the Vans family as they celebrated the birthday of WynWyn Marquez at Discovery Shores. That same night was Zedd's concert at Club Paraw sponsored by Marlboro. Unfortunately, we didn't make it 'coz the place was so full that even the VVIPs were not allowed to enter the overly crowded venue.

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Then on May 5, my friends and I went on a land trip to Iloilo 'coz our flight was on the next morning at around 6am. That flight only cost me Php 1500 via Zest Air. In Iloilo, we had dinner in Villa, where a basket of fresh oysters only costs Php 40. Everything in Iloilo is so cheap that's why I love it there!

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So after 3 weeks in Boracay and Iloilo, I could say that I had an awesome summer!!! It's probably one of the best summer vacations I've ever had! Thanks to my friends.:)