Snapshots: Good Vibes Photo, La Union, Philippines

This is probably one of the worst Mondays of the year, solely based on the fact that it's wedged between the weekend and a holiday - tomorrow is Labor Day in the Philippines, so there is no work for us corporate slaves! It can't seem to come soon enough though, and today is going to be a long, long trudge at the office. 

Seeing as today is such a difficult day for office drones like me, I thought I'd share a photo that will inspire some good vibes - this was taken in La Union from the FLOW SurfYogaSamba weekend I attended last November, when good times and good vibes were had by all. It was the weekend getaway that got me into surfing - and now I'm hooked. I had just come from La Union over the weekend, so you can imagine that today is especially brutal for me. Looking at this picture makes me feel a little better though - I am loving that orange glow. 

 A few more hours until the holiday! And a few more days until Laos for me. I can't wait!

Snapshots: Partas Bus Station, Manila

This was a relatively peaceful scene compared to the one we witnessed last night. Crazy commuting!

Snapshots: En Route to La Union

On account of the sort-of long weekend, the bus station was overflowing with people who had been waiting for six hours and had yet to get a ticket for their destination. So we decided to take Mark's car to La Union! We're here now, chilling for now, but hoping to catch some waves in the afternoon. Here's to a happy weekend!

Snapshots: Roadside Eatery, Singapore

Around this time last year, I was sent to Singapore for a week to attend training. On our afternoon off, I walked from our hotel in Robertson Quaye to a less tourist-y area and found this restaurant, where I bought some amazing roast duck, prawn and ginseng chicken. I love being able to explore a foreign city without the pressure of itineraries and tour guides. On a trip, it's always good to leave some time to wander freely without an intended destination, just a moment to allow yourself to enjoy the journey and perhaps a few discoveries.

Snapshots: Hostel Life, Singapore

A friend over at the Facebook page suggested I post some photos of the kind of accommodations we stay at on our trips. Here's one from Singapore, one of the cleanest and newest hostels I've ever been to. 

On a totally off-topic note, how awesome was The Avengers? I watched it last night, I want to watch it again!

Snapshots: Winter Weather, Yong Pyong Ski Resort, South Korea

The heat has been insane these past few weeks, and we're only halfway through the summer. So here's a picture depicting the complete opposite, to remind us of colder days - way too cold, actually. This was when we went to Yong Pyong Ski Resort from Seoul, which was loads of cool, snowy and icy fun. It was also my first time to experience below-zero weather! The coats, boots, and beer helped a lot.

Snapshots: A Korean Lunch, Insadong, Seoul

I've been craving for Korean food lately - maybe it's all the Korean shows I've been watching. This picture was from our first day strolling around Seoul. We had gone to the palace to watch the changing of the guards and had walked along Samcheongdong, and arrived at Insadong around lunch time. It was a cold morning, and Jon had to buy thicker socks at a convenience store because the cold was seeping through his Chucks. The warmth of this tiny, hole-in-the-wall restaurant was definitely a welcome respite from the near-winter weather. And the food was really good! Look at that spread!

Snapshots: Pineapples for Sale, Hanoi, Vietnam

On a super hot day like today, a frozen pineapple would be such a great snack to have. 

I've always loved this picture but it was a bit blurry and unfocused, so I had to edit it with Picasa to make it post-worthy.

Snapshots: Camayan Beach Resort, Subic, Olongapo

Went to the beach with friends yesterday! Spent the day just hanging out on a beach mat, catching up and generally just enjoying some time away from the city. The drive to Camayan Beach Resort was quite easy too, considering I had no sleep the night before (typical Friday night of a twentysomething, nothing too major). Will share more pictures another time.

Snapshots: Finding Home In Sunbursts Over Horizons Of Every Time Zone

"My home isn't about being grounded in one corner of the planet. It's about being in love and being lost in the middle of an amazing adventure, witnessing sunbursts over horizons of every time zone" - Jason Mraz

Jason Mraz is such a poet - this brilliant piece of writing isn't even from any of his songs. It was from a random entry he wrote in his online journal from when he was just starting to become mainstream, right around the popularity of "Waiting For My Rocket To Come". It's exactly how I feel about traveling.

I'm heading out to Camayan Beach Resort today with friends. Here's to summer-y Saturdays!

Also, the photo above is meant to be a wallpaper, but here's a Facebook Cover version as well, in case anyone's interested.

Snapshots: How Am I Supposed To Eat This? Charlie's, Kapitolyo

My brother stayed with me for a week over the summer, and I took him around all the popular burger places in the city. His favorite was the one at Charlie's. While he tried out the burger, I ordered this amazingly insane cheese steak sandwich. I didn't eat lunch that day but I still wasn't able to finish it! To think, it also comes in an even bigger size - I ordered "Hungry", but there's also a "Starving" version. Wonder what that would look like!

Snapshots: Reclining Buddha, Bangkok, Thailand

He was quite a sight to behold! I'd like to go back to Bangkok and see more of the cultural places. And do some more shopping.

Snapshots: Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia

I wanna write about our epic night of kilos and kilos of seafood at Jimbaran, Bali and was hoping to post it on Friday, but I don't know if I'll have time. So this photo will do for now. Things have been so busy lately! There's been a lot to do at work and we are still planning for our Laos trip, plus there are beach trips on nearly every weekend of the summer with different sets of friends...I shouldn't be complaining - I'm not, I promise! I'm thankful for the many friends who share my wanderlust and know that there are plenty out there who would love to have at least one travel-loving buddy, so I cherish all of my travel-loving friends. All these trips and all the planning that comes with it can get a little overwhelming though! I have plans on every weekend of the summer until the 26th of May now. Just as well actually, because I think I only got to go to Boracay for a couple of days and a week-long work stint in Singapore for summer last year. So I can do this, and this is GREAT. What a summer!

Snapshots: Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

I've flown into Kuala Lumpur four times, but can't say I've actually explored it, unfortunately. I'd been there once overnight for work, and the other three times during our KL-Sing-Bali trip in 2010, although we were only in Malaysia during the intervals between Singapore and Indonesia and barely had time to do anything but hang around at the airport. In a few weeks I will be flying to KL again to get to Laos, but hopefully I get to explore it a little bit, maybe try the food.

Snapshots: From Kuala Lumpur to Bali

A piece of clear blue sky to brighten your Monday. Because it's never a bad thing to have a pick-me-up on the first day of the work week, no matter how sunny and summery.

Snapshots: Temple Visit, Hue, Vietnam

Looking forward to go temple hunting again, in Laos this time. Indochina has a special place in my heart. I love the temples and the religion and the culture, and the people's optimism, found in their easy smiles and warmth despite their countries' troubled, tragic past.

Snapshots: A Secluded Pool, Bali, Indonesia

On a hot summer day like today, a pool like that just calls to you, beckons you over for a dip in its refreshing waters. And really, how can you say no?

Snapshots: Travel Superstitions on Friday the 13th

Happy Friday the 13th! My travel must-carry list includes the items above, but I'm sorry to say, I don't carry any superstitious travel items to protect me during my trips. Although I do have a page teared from a notebook with a drawing of a flower on it, given to me by a young girl who sold trinkets and souvenirs in Cambodia. I keep it with me in my passport case and take it with me everywhere I go.

What are your travel superstitions?

Snapshots: Hacienda Isabella, Tagaytay, Philippines

Tagaytay was probably packed with people over the long weekend. I'm not exactly a fan of Tagaytay, especially for long weekends or holidays, because there isn't much to do there except eat. So I suppose it's nice for day trips on lazy Sundays and such, or spur-of-the-moment road trips after a night of partying.

It's ideal for business planning sessions too - we had one at Hacienda Isabella last year, which was a lovely place. I have a bunch more pictures, will dedicate a post soon.

Snapshots: Fave Foods in Singapore

My friend and fellow blogger Rissee has been posting about her food adventures in Singapore, and her posts made me miss the place, and the food. I spent a week in Sing last year for work, and went there on a number of other business trips after, but I haven't been this year, and I'm really starting to miss it!

Snapshots: A Random Beach in Coron, Palawan

The best beaches are the ones without anything on them except sand, sea, greens, and maybe a hut or two. Much like this one. Look at that water!

It's summer, we shouldn't be in the office, we should be in the water! *le sigh*.

My Easter Holiday 2012, Told Entirely On Instagram

Bade farewell to the city for a couple of days. Excited to head to the beach!


Our backyard! And the parents' little project. That umbrella was from our previous home, and has finally found its place in our new one. Beaumont seems to like that a path has been cleared up amidst all the trees and grass. He has even more space to wander now.

Street food from my childhood! Fish ball, kikiam and scramble. And we bought it from the same guy we would buy from when I was a kid.

Off to the beach the next day. This was our mode of transportation.

Off we go!


Left all my worries behind for the next two days.

Finally made it!

So many places to lounge around...

...but this one was my favorite by far.

Bahay kubo for accommodation.

Read a book and listened to music after lunch...

...and dozed off under the summer sunshine.

Woke up from my afternoon nap to this...

...and this...

...and this!

Found the parents having coffee while waiting for the sunset.

Early morning the next day, same spot.

The parents further off in the dock.

Had a sumptuous breakfast before heading out to swim

We took the raft to get further out into the sea! Saw a massive clam and lots of fish (wish I still had my underwater camera).

This means there's so much marine life under those waters because they've been protected for so long.

Had to leave after lunch.

Until next time!

P.S. Instagram is now on Android! I went a little Instagram-crazy over the long weekend and barely used my real camera. The photos turned out okay I think.

Also, I've finally found the time to create a board on Pinterest! The first batch of pictures I pinned are mostly from this post, but more to come soon, because "pinning" is a lot of geeky fun! Check out my Pinterest boards here.