Weekend in Tagaytay.

Our family usually spent our Sunday's in Tagaytay. We'll attend the Sunday mass in Monte Maria. Have lunch in any restaurants. Then went home afterwards. But this was an unusual Sunday because will be spending a night in Tagaytay :)

07.27.13

From Manila, I travelled alone to Tagaytay to meet my family. We had our Jollibee breakfast then went straight to Pink Sisters.

The family that prays together, stays forever. It was wonderful to start your day  right with a thankful heart.

It also a best time for me to have some reflections and realization.The place was so serene that would made you feel so close to Heaven 🙏

We stayed at Estancia Hotel in Tagaytay. It was a treat from my big sister who celebrated her 41st birthday. 

Estancia is a perfect family weekend getaway. Being with your family is one of the great blessings from God that everyone would ask for. I am blessed and thankful. 

After our siesta, we went to Sky Ranch, a newly opened Amusement Park. I enjoyed the Sky Eye ride where you can see the best view at every turn. 

From the right side, you will appeciate the beauty of Taal Lake from the top. 

On the other side you will appreciate the view of Tagaytay's villages. 

Since it was just newly opened, restaurants were still closed and under construction but give Sky Ranch a year or two, it will definitely be a Hit. 

We enjoyed our Sky Ranch experience. No doubt.

We planned to experience the night life in Tagaytay but due to unexpected rainfall, we just stayed at the hotel after dinner. 

The rain stopped after an hour we arrived so me and my nephews strolled around. Had our kulitan moments at the hotel lobby, went outdoor after 30 minutes and reached the darkest side of the resort. We ended up running back to the hotel room because we were so scared to death :))

It really feels good to sleep knowing that your loved ones were just a bed away from you. 

07.28.13. 

Good Morning, Tagaytay! We had our early breakfast at the hotel restaurant. I always enjoyed small talk on a breakfast table with my family. 

While were having our breakfast, kids were enjoying at the swimming pool. They were just so excited to swim that they skipped a breakfast with us. 

After breakfast we went straight to the swimming pool. Such a relaxing ambience. 

We strolled again to see the rest of the resort's attraction. 

While checking out, my nephew was a bit sad because were just about to leave the place. 

Before we went home, we dropped by Ilog Maria to buy some honeybee's products. 

That was another well-spent weekend getaway with fammies. 

Til my next stop.

Historical Vietnam.

The longest cross-boarding trip I ever had. It took us 12 long hours before we reached Vietnam from Cambodia.

05.08.13.

When I saw a lots of motorcycles in the busy streets of Ho Chi Mihn, I smiled and whispered "Finally, Vietnam"

We reached Eden Saigon hotel around 8:00 PM. When we arrived, the concierges were in comotion, we just found out that the deluxe room that we booked was given to another guest as they did not expect that we will still be coming in. To compensate us they gave us the royal suite with no additional fee and were given a VIP treatment by the hotel manager. Oh! What a lovely giveaway :)

Our royal suite was at the top floor. The bath tub really wowed us and wanted to soak in right there and then. 

And since we were just too excited to jump into the bath tub, we just ordered an in-house pizza at the hotel. 

I just love the breathaking view as I soaked into the bath tub. I felt like a princess that night :))

We woke up as early as 5:00 PM the next morning for our Cuchi Tunnel tour. We had our breakfast at the hotel restaurant located at the mezzanine floor. 

Around 8:00 in the morning when our tour guide picked up us at the hotel. It took about 2-3 hours before we reached Cuchi Tunnel from Ho Chi Mhin City.

From our cuchi tour, I've learned a lot how the vietcongs hid from the American during the Vietnam war. They also showed us how the vietcong tricked the Americans and fight for their freedom. Truly amazing guerillas. 

Before we leave the place, they gave us a tapioca and according to our tour guide it was the main food of the vietcongs during the war. 

Our cuchi tunnel tour ended at around 1:00 PM. We arrived at Ho Chi Mihn at 3:00 PM. We visited some of Ho Chi Mihn famous landmarks. I really love the Notredame Cathedral. 

We had a quick snack at the Diamond plaza which is the largest mall in Saigon. It was also just a walking distance from Notredame. We also had a mall tour at Diamond plaza and look for something to buy. We planned to watch a movie but we're running out of time as we still need to look for the Northface outlet. 

Sad to say after looking around the city we did not find the Northface outlet. We've decided to come back to our hotel to have dinner. 

As we wait for our flight back to Manila at 1:05 AM the next day we just chill at the hotel lobby and do our usual people watching. 

We dropped by at Ben Than market to buy pasalubong before we leave. 

It maybe just a short trip but our stayed in Vietnam was also a memorable one.  We may not explore the other part of Vietnam and will definitely come back. 

Till my next stop. 

Beautiful Cambodia.

05.05.13.

I fell in love with Cambodia the moment I laid my eyes on this beautiful country. It's a Kingdom I really love.

From Aranyaprathet, Thailand we reached Poipet, Cambodia. It was a smooth cross boarding experience since the representative from the travel agency did all the necessary to get us in. We've just waited inside the Immigration office in Poipet after we fell in line for biometrics procedure. 

We've waited until the bus that will bring us to the terminal picked us up. It took us for about an hour. We stayed in one of the convenient store near the immigration office. Time check was 1:35 PM. 

The temperature in Thailand was humid and I really want to get into our hotel immediately to get a shower. Sweat was all over my face :)) 

Finally the bus came in, it dropped us to the terminal where a van fetched us to bring us to the hotel. 

We reached the Borei Angkor Resort in Siem Reap around 4:00 PM. Our attendant was very friendly and they just let us wait at the lobby and she settled everything. They have a nice lounge. So comfy and inviting. 

Wow! was the first word I've uttered when I saw our accomodation. It was really a 5-star as it's finest. The bathroom was so clean. The bed was so soft and comfy and there was a veranda with a swimming pool view. And it got me excited knowing will be staying for 3 days and 2 nights. But can I just stay there for life? :P 

After getting a quick shower, we stayed at the veranda and saw how beautiful the outdoor was and would love to roam around. But that can wait. I need to sleep and regain my energy. 

It was almost evening when I woke up and love what I saw while chatting with my colleagues in Manila over skype. An amazing view of Borei at night. 

We came down to roam around. We were always surprised when our attendant always appeared next to us, just like wonderwoman who's always there for us in a snap :))

We've decided to have a quick dinner and get some beer by the pool. What a relaxing view over a deep talk.

The resort also has a small bar and can't help but strike a pose :)

After dinner, we just went back to the room and relaxed.  We slept as early as 10:00 PM so we have a lot of energy for the next day getaway.

05.06.13.

Good Morning, Cambodia! A beautiful morning it was. Well rested and  so ready to see the Khmers :)

And so we had our breakfast. I love the variety of cuisine that Borei has. From American, Indian, Thai, Chinese to their local, I had 3 sets of breakfast in a row :P  Happy tummy :)

This was my first set. A bit of american-chinese combined :)

After breakfast we went to the in-house travel services to arrange our over the land travel to Vietnam from Cambodia.

It took us after an hour before we've decided to get back to the room to prep for the day tour trip. 

Around 9:00 AM when our tour guide picked us from the hotel. Our driver/tour guide was really a conversationalist. On our way to get an Angkor pass ticket which was worth USD 20, he mentioned that he was a big fan of Marian Rivera, a Filipina actress who plays Marimar which was shown in Cambodia. He also mentioned that everyone loves her and Ding Dong in Cambodia. Nice to know that they love our local celebrities and our tv shows :)

I was amazed on the views we passed by on our way to Angkor Thom. Breathakingly beautiful. Siem Reap is indeed an eye-candy.

Since we were not able to get an elephant ride in Thailand, we get it done in Angkor Thom. We felt like a celebrity as other tourists took pictures of us while we roamed :))

I've got to take a good picture of Angkor Thom as well. Fantastic :)

The beauty of Angkor Thom made me pose ala model :P

We visited two more Angkors before we had our lunch. We bumped into some Pinoys in Angkor flower resto.

After lunch we had visited the most beautiful Angkor in Siem Reap, the Angkor Wat. I love the sceneries we saw on the way. As per our tour guide, many crocodiles were living in the river a hundred years ago as temple guards. 

We walked almost 20 minutes before we reached the main temple from it's entrance. I just did my own temple run :)) My photos did not give justice on how beautiful Angkor Wat is. 

While inside the Angkor Wat, I had this stolen shot that I really love. Moments.

As always, I love watching people. It relaxes me, somehow.

The temperature that day was about 38 degrees. But to my suprise it didn't give me a filthy-dust feeling. Maybe because  their soil was red clay. Just Maybe.

As soon as we got back to the hotel we had our 30-min swimming. So relaxing.

Sometimes doing unexpected things outside of your itinerary won't hurt you. I enjoyed the buffet dinner we had as we watched the Apsara dance at Angkor Mondial Restaurant. Our reserved seats for two was near the stage so I really appreciate the cultural dance presentation by the Khmers.  

After dinner we went to the night market and brought some pasalubong for loved ones back home. 

I surprisingly had one of the best times of my life in Cambodia. 

05.07.13.

We had an early check out as we need to take an early trip of Mekong Express bus line that will take us to Phnom Phen. 

It was a long journey. On the road, i saw many barren lands. According to Khmer that we've talk to, it's been six months since the last rain fall.

We've also noticed that most of Khmer's houses might be small but they have an elegant roof.

We had a 45 mins stop over at Arunras Resto in Kampong Thom province to have our lunch. This resto sells an exotic foods. 

We reached Phnom Phen around 2:00 PM. While waiting for our bus that will take us to Vietnam border, we had some snacks and I've tasted the most spicy noodles in my entire life.

On the road, we passed by the Royal Palace. 

We never had a chance to stroll around Phnom Phen hopefully we can do it on the next time visit. 

Before we reached the Vietnam border, heavy rains poured down. Such a blessing for the Khmers. 

Oh beautiful Cambodia, we will definitely see each other again.

Til my next stop.