Intramuros, Manila

Exploring and seeing new places is always a good idea for me. It's one of the things I will never get tired of though long walks and beating the scorching heat of the sun is kind of struggle. Despite the pollution and endless traffic I'm just happy that I'm currently in a City where beautiful spots like Museums, Parks and Huge buildings are located. Not to mention, from this place I can also go to its nearby beautiful Provinces by land. Metro Manila, it is.

As someone who grew up in Province, "Probinsyana" as you call it, living in the Metro is one of the things I used to dream. Now that it turned into reality, I must admit that it's one of the things that I prayed to God. Reminiscing my 2 weeks long vacation here with my Family (Lola, Tito,Tita and cousins) two years ago, every church that we visited like in Tagaytay, Ilocos, Baguio I can tell that I uttered the same prayer, to get a chance to live a life independently in Metro Manila. And yes, it got answered! If you ask me why I wanted to live here when in reality, there is this annoying traffic, snatchers or anything worse than that that could happen, well my answer is simply, to experience a gradual growth that will help me to become more ready for my bigger goals and dreams and also, to fulfill some of my dreams here.(wow! beauty contest, te? lol) I have a lot and I'm so kilig that some came true already! But aside from all of that, I wanna see the other side of the city!

Manila Cathedral

For someone who likes to explore and spot beautiful locations without traveling far for hours and where you can relax and take instagramable photo, well, this City is for you. Notwithstanding being urbanized, it's good to know that in between the hustle and bustle, there's a place like Intramuros where you can experience the old-fashioned way of  riding a Calesa while simultaneously sightseeing different museums inside the district. It's my second time to visit the place and still, I'm amazed by its beauty. So yes! here's my takes. Boyfriend and I wasn't able to see everything. As you can see, I'm wearing heels! I don't know what's with me that I wore that stuff on that day when in the first the place, I knew already  that I'm going to walk thousand of miles that day! haha! blame my boyfriend for not bringing my extra shoes just bcos it's filthy daw. lol! I WILL DEFINITELY COME BACK. ON SUNDAY or nextweek! *NoRainPlease

75.00 entrance fee to Fort Bonifacio (I will share another post about it soon) 

This dress and heels is exactly what I wore during my guesting on Modern Girls :)

On our way to Rizal Park

Waiting for the sunset in Manila Bay

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Bag of Beans, Tagaytay

Each time I visit a particular place, aside of the attractions it has I always look up to restaurants, coffee shops and anything alike that could actually offer me another experience that will not just feed my mind or soul but also my never-been-full stomach. (lol) When I was in Tagaytay, other than seeing its beauty with my special one I thought of dropping by in one of their famous coffee shops there.

Bag of Beans is a bed and breakfast wherein they offer A la carte and buffet menus to everyone. I first saw it online when I was searching some places to go other than sightseeing the famous Taal Lake. Some people who are talking about it shared about the coffees and other specialties they have. One thing that really captured my attention was when I learned that they serve this kind of cheesecake that is different from other coffee shops. If you are someone who knows me well, you would know that I'm such a sucker of that dessert that I even made myself more than once just to satisfy my cravings. So as soon as I read their positive feedback about the food and the place, I see to it that I included it to our itinerary.

And so after our quick stay in Picnic grove, we went to their one out of four branches. It's located in Aguinaldo Highway where you can also wait and ride a bus to Manila. The ambiance there, just like any other coffee shops I've already been to is relaxing. It's just that Bag of beans got something that connects you to the nature since some part of it is open which makes you feel the cold Tagaytay weather. Not to mention, we also also got a glimpse of the Taal lake while satisfying our stomachs of their delicious creamy Cheesecake and sipping their special barako that just makes our stay more special. As you can see, it's a perfect dating place for sweethearts. It was a fairy tale like feeling to experience such scene with someone I dearly love. Cold weather, pleasant smell of the coffee and the sound of birds singing around, Perfect. We will surely comeback!

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Tagaytay with Love

Two weeks ago, my boyfriend and I went to Tagaytay City. It was actually an abrupt getaway.We are not planning to go there anytime soon but since going to a historical place on a Monday is not a good idea, we decided, I decided I should say to just visit Tagaytay since it's just located nearby the City.

Supposedly, it's just a 1 or 2 hour ride from the City but in our case, we traveled almost 5 hours because Hello! we're in Metro Manila! As we know it, this is where heavy traffic happens. Mind you, we got to finish watching the NBA Finals while simultaneously making our way to Pasay by bus for another ride to Tagaytay. It was one of my worst decisions to ride a public transit like Bus on a Monday in Metro Manila. Anyway,protest aside we arrived safely to our destination past 1 in the afternoon already.

As soon as we got there, we went straight to Picnic Grove. It's a common attraction in the City. It's been around for a long time and it's my second time to visit the place. There, you will be able to see the panoramic view of Taal Volcano. The place still remains as it is when I first set my foot there, Cottages, Souvenir shops, restaurants and different recreational activities like Horseback riding and zip line are still up to this time. Not to mention, you can also ride a boat going to the crater of Taal Lake which is kind of expensive. Boyfriend and I didn't try any of those. We just mainly took as many pictures as we can and filled our stomach of different foods we saw along the way while taking advantage of the cold weather and appreciating the picturesque view of the place.

Tagaytay despite being a mainstream to many, It never fails anyone especially those who are used to hustle and bustle to loosen up and de-stress. As for my boyfriend and I, we were so happy to finally enjoy our time together after months of being consumed by our regular jobs. It happens once in a blue moon only for us to go to a place like  this so we made sure that we really enjoyed the moment. <3

Anyway, the entrance fee in Picnic Grove is 50.00 only.

Unveiling this place on my next post. Hold on there. :)

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Bicol Diary: Calaguas Sunset

When was the last time you glanced at the sky and appreciate its beauty?

This afternoon, when heaven was on its golden hour, I can’t help myself but stared at it. Once again, it was at its finest. Sunset never fails to amaze me. If there will be something I will never get tired of seeing, it would be between the sun kissing the day goodbye and the night coming in. it’s just the best time of the day that reminds me of a lot of beautiful things. It reminds me that God is beyond amazing.

And speaking of Sunset, Calaguas, aside of its crystal clear water and fine sand, this beautiful island also got this amazing view to grasp this wonderful hour that makes someone like me to love this place even more. I won't mind spending again another day or two in this place without internet connection. Srsly, that day when I was there I never felt worried about things in connection with facebook, Instagram or the world wide web itself. The only thing that bothered me that day was having no communication with my loveones. As far as I can remember, I never told them that the place I’m about to set my foot in is a rural kind of area in which you need to take an hour ride of boat before getting back to the urban life. Forget about the big and strong waves you will go through. Lol. And though I was a bit afraid when we already reached the middle where nothing you can see but full body of water, I would still love to go back there and again, gaze up at the sky and be amaze of it. Not to mention the stars falling from the sky I saw that night. It was one of the rare moments I wanna happen again and when it does, I’ll make sure I’m already with someone who makes it even more special. J

How about you? What particular event in your life that makes you feel good or better? I don’t mind if we both have the same in mind. Sunset is just as irresistibly amazing as God. J

Bicol Diary: Take me to the Beach

I'll look back on this because it was life and I decided to live it.

Summer time is ending and I'm still daydreaming of beaches so might as well I share my pieces of adventure to different shorelines I had months ago.

Last year, I got a job that allowed me to explore more places in our country. It was the best job I ever had yet anyway. It brought me to places I didn’t know exist. And as a first timer field researcher, I was so lucky to be assigned in one of the most beautiful regions in the Philippines which is BICOL.  Aside from being known as the house of Mayon Volcano, this region is more than that. There are so many other beautiful places such as beaches to be explored or atleast, to experience. Thank Goodness I got to do both and that made my love for travelling deepened. Here we go to my overview of beaches I've gone to.

Sorsogon

Ticao Island, Masbate

Altamar, Ticao Island, Masbate

Calaguas Island,Camarines Norte

On my coming posts I will give you more information about each of these resorts. For now, let me just recall those memories I made there.  Among of these beaches, Calaguas Island is my favorite. I don't mind going back to that beautiful island. WOW. JUST WOW was all I kept on saying when we got there. I was in awe. Indeed, God is amazing! He never cease surprising those who explore.