Travel with a Purpose

Traveling with friends, specifically, with my favorite people outside Cebu has always been my long-time dream. I thought it would be the best graduation gift since I’ve been deprived of things like this because of my hectic schedule in medical school. It was indeed an answered prayer when my parents allowed me to have this dream travel. Trust me, I felt like a happy kid who just got out from her room for the first time!

Travel and good friends are very important to me.  I always feel good when I’m surrounded by my close friends. Adventures keep life exciting and when you can enjoy them with good friends they’re twice as fun.

Our chosen destination was at Malapascua Island, an island located in North Cebu, which attracts local and foreign tourists, especially divers, because of its rich marine sanctuary.

 

It was also surprising and exciting at the same time that Aljon, who was working in Manila, was able to join our escapade and volunteered to drive for us using his new car named.. Strontium? Rhodium? Ruthenium? Hahaha! Forgive me, Aljon, for forgetting your car’s name.

Arrival at Maya Port

Hotels dot the shore, restaurants lining along the beach, and dive tours are offered at almost every corner. No pave roads around. No crowd. Just what I have always wanted, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Casino Peak

This was indeed a great time with bestfriend, Eviejoy.

Our signature Best friend pose

Kawasan Falls

Walking to Kawasan Falls in South Cebu is quite an adventure and exciting…

More than the color of its water, Kawasan’s other charm is its rustic appeal.

A short 15-minute walk from the national highway will lead you to the majestic waterfall.

This is the reward for many travelers that await- the grandeur waterfall with gentle rushing and flowing of ice cold natural spring water.

Perhaps it’s the water that draws local and foreign tourists alike to this charming destination in Cebu.

There is actually other waterfalls to visit in the area, and they are located just above the famous Kawasan Waterfall. These waterfalls are a bit smaller, but they still have beautiful turquoise waters.

 

Taipei, Taiwan Day 1 & 2

Dec. 17, 2016

Like Thailand, Cambodia and other Asian countries, Taiwan is the kind of country that you can always fall back to when you want culture, nature and food.

My family and I arrived 3:00 am in the morning at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.

Yes, it’s indeed a family goal!

We spent the next few minutes queuing up at the immigration counter and as soon as we got out of the airport, a van picked us up and brought us to our hotel.

We actually stayed in Go Sleep Hotel-our home for the next 3 nights. I actually did search about the hotel when I knew where we were staying before the trip and found some undesirable pictures. However, because we were on a tight budget I just prayed that it wouldn’t completely disappoint us when we get there. Surprisingly, the place is good for a budget hotel. It has a great location, there are lots of shops and restaurants right outside and the Metro is just a short walk. We occupied 7 rooms and it was clean and spacious. I also loved the modern-look.

Day 1

Dec. 18, 2016

We had too little sleep that day since we were expected to be all ready and prepared around 8:00 in the morning. Good thing we were able to wake up early despite the 2-hour sleep. It’s okay, a little sacrifice won’t hurt.

There’s free breakfast in the lobby early in the morning and I must say they serve good food.  You can also avail their free drinks 24/7 whether it’s coffee, tea, juice or soft drinks. Just visit their lobby and go straight to their vending machines.

Another day, another wall. Lol

Happy New Year!

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalms 103:1-5

Before the yearof 2016 fade away and say goodbye. I would like to have a quick pause and mention the things that I’m thankful for the past year. So here’s a quick one:)

FAITHFULNESS

I’m always in awe of how faithful is the Lord to me and my family (even when I’m not faithful to Him all the time). In good times, God is faithful. In bad times, God is faithful. In times of uncertainty, God is faithful. In times of doubt, God is faithful. During transitions and changing times, God is still faithful to His promises. He has always been with me through ups and downs even when I don’t deserve this.

I’m also thankful because God granted my dreams to become a future doctor. I admit I always complain how tired I am in studying but what about my parents? They’re also tired of working hard to pay for our education. So instead of complaining I should be grateful because my parents allowed me to study in a prestigious school. It was not easy for my parents because often medicine and dentistry are among the most expensive courses. So just imagine how hard it would be to allow me and my 2 sisters pursue our dreams in becoming doctors (the other two are taking Dentistry and Medical Technology as pre-medical course) but like I said, God is always faithful and He finds a way for us to pay for our tuition fees. He pours us with so much love and blessings. And because of that, I thank you, God!

FAMILY

I’m thankful to God for giving me a family so loving and caring. Growing up in a big family was the best thing that ever happened to me. My childhood was so happy and I can’t stop reminiscing those good times.

I’m thankful to God for giving me parents that never fail to show us how much they love us, parents that really work hard for our future and parents that teach us good moral values (they really walk the talk). Dad and mom, thank you for making us who we are right now. We wouldn’t have made it this far it weren’t for your love, encouragement and support.

NEW ADDITION TO THE FAMILY

Around 2014, our eldest sister got married. This year, our 2nd eldest and her boyfriend went home from Abu Dhabi and got married on the month of December. I just can’t stop praising God because He has blessed my sisters with handsome, hardworking, responsible and God-fearing men. Men that love God first. As what they say, men who love God first are the ones that properly lead a woman. Therefore, I won’t be having any trouble entrusting my sisters to these wonderful men!

Other than that, I’m also thankful because I just realized that my family is growing in number. I already have 2 brothers-in-law now and I can’t help but feel very glad cause I can already call them my “Kuya” (it is used in Filipino for older brother). I just hope and pray that my other sisters will also marry godly men so we can carry on the legacy of our parents which is to honor God with all our hearts, mind and soul.

TRAVEL

Thankful to God because I get to travel to many places this year and one of the memorable places I’ve been to is Taipei, Taiwan. It was a vacation to remember because it was my first time to travel with 4 families. Thank You Lord for blessing me much more than I deserve!

Happy New Year, Friends! ❤

Stargate Dream Vacation Resort

Star Gate is a vacation resort in Cagayan De Oro. Upon arrival, it was my first time to see a resort with creatively designed dream houses. I was like having a world tour for the reason that every house has its different theme. From White House, Mediterranen House to Victorian House and more! Here are some of the pictures that I got.

The Colonial house

The Mediterranean house

The Victorian house

Plantation Bay, Cebu

Say Goodbye to Books and hello DecemBREAK! After a few months of stressful days, I am happy to announce that it is already our semester break. The amount of caffeine overload and sleepless nights were intense the past Bimonthlies but I’m thankful I was able to endure the stress and pressure. Hello December! My favorite month (well, next to my birth month); needless to say it’s Christmas time. A time where all emotions are elated and joyous festivity are happening all month round. Indeed, the happiest month for me because I have ample of time to rest and enjoy the Christmas season with family and friends.

Here comes the sun!

If you and your family and friends are looking for a good place to visit during the vacation. Try visiting Plantation bay resort in the city of Cebu. It’s a place where you can enjoy the beautiful sky reflecting the clear salt waters.

Siem Reap, Cambodia II

DAY 2: Bayon Temple, Hot air balloon ride, Silk Farm 

The Bayon is the most impressive temple I have seen in Angkor Thom city and  is really one of the most spectacular ruins of Angkor because of its splendor gigantic smiling faces looking at different directions. I find it quite an art.

Question: How many multitude of serene and massive stone faces on the many towers do you see? Though the faces are not really visible in this picture, there are over 200 massive stone faces looking in all direction.

Siem Reap, Cambodia Part I

Day 1 in Angkor Wat

Our first day in Cambodia was our eldest sister’s 28th birthday and Ate Jane who happens to be a friend of my mom who traveled with us. It was a very special day for them so it was made sure that our first tour was something that’s new and very… special.

Our first activity was to watch the sunrise in Angkor Wat. It was quite a demanding day since from the time of our arrival early in the morning , we have to wake up around 4:30 am to catch up the sunrise.

 

I tried to take a few photos from different angles around the Temple area and that is not easy either as there are hundreds of people (if not thousands) also trying to do the same! But this was one of the highlights that day; Watching the sunrise in Angkor Wat. Isn’t it spectacular? Now I get it why they said there will be 2 suns showing up during the sunrise! It’s because of the reflection of the puddle. Truly amazing sight and a sunrise I won’t forget for a long time.

Trip to Gaas, Balamban!

6 months ago, my friends and I decided to embark on an adventure that was pretty out of plan. We decided to visit a special place called Gaas, Balamban. What I thought was just a typical hangout turned out to be one of the most memorable moments in my life as a young adult. It was surely an adventure worth remembering. It was exceptional, not only for the reason that I was with friends, but it was a day with many firsts- my first visit to Gaas and my first time to be able to travel a long distance ride on a motorbike.

We left the city during the night where the streets were busy, not only the streets but also the sidewalks, people walked from place to place, running for errands and if there’s one thing that I love with busy streets is the sound of music everywhere; From the stores down to the honks of different vehicles in this never-ending traffic of Cebu.

 We travelled on a convoy of motorbikes and I thought it was rad, well, with our huge jackets and hoods. Haha. As we speed down the road, I felt the wind in my face. I smelled the crisp, evening air. There’s nothing like the rush of energy during that ride and darn, the coolness of the wind was a very good feeling to my skin. Passing through the tree lined section of the road, I felt the 2 degree drop, and though it was dark and pitch black, I still felt the combination of fear, exhilaration, relaxation, and pleasure.

 Roadtrips bring you to beautiful places, like Canada for instance! Hahahaha

After an hour of travel, I felt a drop of rain on my head and it was about time when the rain came pouring when we arrived at our place. Immediately, we set out the table and placed all the foods so we could start rocking the night out. Haha! After a while, the rain transitioned from drizzle to heavy rain. However, the rain didn’t stop us from having fun. We played, talked, and laughed all night with about anything, drank coffee to keep us warm, and stayed up past midnight ‘til we didn’t notice it was already 5 o’clock in the morning. And then we slept early in the morning to boost our alertness and energy level for our activity right after.

 After a few hours, I woke up with a renounced excitement to look at what supposed to be a beautiful morning view was a fog that was so dense that nothing could be seen a few yards ahead. Instead of planning to go back to the city, we were stucked inside the house ’cause it was unsafe to go out. We didn’t know that there was a big storm coming to town so we decided to stay for another day until the fog clears out and the rain stops.