New Year in Ilocos 2016

After an 11-hour trip with all the stopovers, finally made it. (Good job Toyota Innova) Thank you also for the new TPLEX highway, which probably saved us about 2 hours of travel time. Although not really my first trip; (Ilocos Revisited) this was the longest drive I did in my life; 450 kilometers. Will be more prepared next time...about a liter of Barako coffee maybe.

First attraction: The Suba Paoay Sand Dunes

Sandboarding

No fear from Kian as he took the sandboard ride on his own.

2nd attraction: Playa Tropical Resort & Calle Crisologo in Vigan

Final attraction: La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc

What's a vacation without the usual food tripping;

Street foodies in Batac, goodies and home made cooking.

The best part of the trip, the kids enjoying life without the iPads...

I'm a Tourist: Vietnam Day 3

The final leg of this wonderful trip; about a 2 hour drive to the Mekong River. Before taking the boat ride on the Mekong Delta, we had some pandan tea with honey, bee pollen and assorted fruits. (But never in a million years will I chug down their famous snake wine...with scorpion.)

Coconut candy

Row, row row your boat...

On our way back, we ate lunch at the Mekong Rest Stop.(Where else.)

Checking out the 2nd best coffee shop in Vietnam...Phuc Long. (Don't even get me started on this.) But their coffee is just as great.

Our final attraction, the Water Puppet Show.

Dinner at the Viet Village Restaurant.

And one final trip to Trung Nguyen Coffee Shop, to try their Mother Land Coffee (with ginger essence and honey) and L'Amour. (with cinnamon)

Thank you Vietnam! (And thank you Mom for the great anniversary gift!)

I'm a Tourist: Vietnam Day 1

I'm a Tourist: Vietnam Day 2

I'm a Tourist: Vietnam Day 2

Day 2 in Vietnam was a long one; we started off early for a 2-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh city to the Cu Chi Tunnel. The first stop was a stretch of rubber trees along the main road.

Upon arriving at Cu Chi, part of the tour was a historical video of the Vietnam war, and how the Viet Cong survived in the most harsh combat environment imagined.

 A tour of the area of the actual war zone.

VC in the hole!!

John Rambo!!

Our next destinations were the Presidential Palace and the War Museum.

A Seismic Bomb. Could the name be any more devastating.

When then set sail on a dinner cruise and to cap the night off we headed to a club called Urban.

2 days down, one to go. The better days of my life.

I'm a Tourist: Vietnam Day 1

I'm a Tourist: Vietnam Day 3

I'm a Tourist: Vietnam Day 1

This is becoming a habit, and I love it. Celebrating our anniversary in a different country and the best part of it is spending it with the family. And on the way there, we were so lucky to get upgraded. (Thank you Tita Annie!)

Vietnam was more of a cultural destination, learning the history of the Vietnam war and how the culture is at present. (They are building a subway already, and the Philippines? tsk tsk tsk.) It was scooter Armageddon actually in the streets of Vietnam, but more disciplined than the helldrivers of Manila, where they believe that they are the reincarnation of Evel Knievel.

In Vietnam, when you say motorcycle lane on the highway, they literally have concrete barriers separating the scooter and other vehicles. (Very common sense, but in the Philippines, some people are either not common or has no sense at all.)

Anyway, on to the trip.

Dinner at CuC Gach Quan on our first night with my wife's cousin; the place had a very homey and laid back ambiance and the food was really good.

The folks of Vietnam love their coffee, and there were literally at least two coffee shops at almost every corner. First one we tried of course was their no.1, Trung Nguyen Coffee.

Sang Tao no.5 for Success

We had to close the night for an early trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels the next morning.

I'm a Tourist: Vietnam Day 2

I'm a Tourist: Vietnam Day 3

Ilocos Revisited - Day 2 and 3

We started off early on Day 2 since the other destinations had at least 2 hours drive. On top of the agenda, was to reach the top of Cape Bojeador Lighthouse (Burgos Lighthouse) in Ilocos Norte. It was unfortunate that we were not allowed to climb the lighthouse since it was under restoration.

 

 

Next stop was tha Paoay Church; and of course lunch at Herencia Restaurant. I had to try the Pinakbet Pizza.

 

Our third and final destinations:

 

Bangui Wind Farm and Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

 

And finally, to cap off a tiring day of walking among the rocks...Kapuluan Vista Resort in Pagudpod. (Though it is more of a destination for surfers, this is one getaway place that I would love to go back to every now and then for three reasons; it's far from work, it's quiet and the food tastes great)

 

 Just one of the many reasons to travel within the Philippines...

 

Ilocos Revisited - Day 1

 

For more information on Kapuluan Vista Resort: click here.

The Return to Balik Bukid

These impromptu mini getaways are becoming a habit...and I love it. This is our second time to go Balik Bukid in Sta.Elena.

Aside from the whole day festivities, Balik Bukid showcases eco-friendly items for sale in their bazaar, and of course the food tripping. Although we were not complete and we just planned to be there for half a day (Due to the expected hot summer weather that noon, we didn't want to get a heat stroke.) , the kids were still having fun.

 

Balik Bukid added several other mini-events in the early evening, like a band, but since we didn't stay that long, it may be something we can look forward to in our next trip.

 

Poor Kian, this is his 2nd visit and yet he has not caught any of the little fishes.

 

 

And the poor little rabbits, trying to evade the carrot bombs of Julia.

 

 

How time flies so fast, I was so happy to see Kian ride the horse by himself, he has grown so much already.

 

 

It is never complete without the usual food trip.

 

 

Aha! We meet again you juicy grass-fed burger!!

 

 

And what better way to beat the heat, by capping it off with some Paletas Para Ti fruit infused ice drops and Isobel's creamy ice cream sandwich.

 

 

And that is one half-day trip I will surely make a habit of.