Tattooed On My Mind

Yes, there are days and nights when I can't stop thinking about having you for real, and for life. Henna will never be enough.

"And I can't get you out of my dreams
Now I know that you're the dangerous kind
And your smile is tattooed on my mind
And I can't get you out of my dreams"
~Tattooed On My Mind by D'sound

April 2015, White Beach, Puerto Galera

Majestic Bangkok (1)

I don't know how and where to start. But yeah, I had to go to Bangkok. I don't like traveling for business. Hate it. But I love interacting with my surroundings and appreciating beauty through any camera, even a phone camera. So here are some of the photos from Bangkok. More soon...

Sun and Moon! God was saying "I love you" to me here.

So many temples. This one may be what they call a "monk station."

Lotus in the temple

Team Activity

We stayed at the Kamana Sanctuary Resort and Spa. It's a majestic destination for relaxation. The Zen minimalist theme of the resort blends perfectly with the view of the mountain ranges,  the ocean and abundant greenery. Like most resorts in Subic, Kamana Sanctuary's beach is not for urban rats craving water activities. It's perfect for sedate, reflective, romantic get away's.

Kamana Sanctuary's perfection lies in its location and architectural design --- do not expect so much from its staff. It seems that they are still in the process of discerning what excellent customer service means. It also seems like they are still not used to having guests. Everything takes a while to prepare and staff tends to panic when simplest questions/requests are thrown their way.

I specifically did not like the big bluff that we experienced. In the process of booking the rooms, I was told (several times!) that they were hosting a big corporate event on the day of our arrival. They said that this is the reason why they can only offer one room type and cannot guarantee availability of the conference room. Well, when we checked in, the place was full... of nothing. Aside from us, the only guests that we saw were  two other people (one couple). Maybe this is some sick sales strategy to create a sense of urgency on our part to confirm the reservation.

Anyways, this was "supposedly" the only room type available on the day of our trip. It's a deluxe twin with loft and a balcony. We shared rooms, despite our boss' generous offer to get us our own rooms, because no one wants to be alone in this spacious work of art. That's a King bed at the lower deck and a Queen on the loft.

Our boss reallywanted us to stay in these babies called Casitas. Again, the resort bluff said that none of these are available on our check in date. When we arrived, our boss asked again and they suddenly had one free. So they put her in one of the Casitas --- farthest from all of us. We could not understand why the rest are not available, or why put her on the last Casita next to nowhere, when there were obviously zero occupants in the entire strip that night.

 These, however, help one forget about terrible service and trust issues.

First "live" encounter with an infinity pool. If I weren't pregnant or if I had preggy swimwear with me, I would have chosen this over sleep and/or breakfast. I miss swimming!

Thank you IHG and thank you to our bosses and my team mates for this wonderful trip. And ok, fine, thank you Kamana Sanctuary Resort and Spa for providing a relaxing, rejuvenating and peaceful venue for our team activity. 

 

Contact Kamana Sanctuary Resort and Spa through these numbers:
Tel nos. +632 843.7851 to 52 (Makati)
Tel nos. +63 47 250.0725 to 28 (Subic)
(To call Subic from Manila, dial 047-250-0725)

Ysabelle Mansion, Puerto Princesa Palawan

This post is all about gratitude. 

Thank you to all the netizens who post articles, reviews and recommendations  about places to visit and accommodations for all possible destinations in the Philippines. We found Ysabelle Mansion through you guys.

Thank you to Ysabelle Mansion for making our stay hassle-free, convenient and truly relaxing. They prepared our travel itinerary, they served great food, they provided reasonable rates and reliable access to transportation (tricycles wait outside the hotel), they helped us get seats in all highly recommended restaurants and activities that were not part of our tour package (ex. firefly watching), they were very warm and accommodating.

Not yet convinced? They offer a Dampa-like service. You can go to the wet market to buy anything you'd like to eat and their staff will cook them for you!

Try them, try them, try them please!

Our Room

Bathroom with hot & cold shower

With TV and small fridge

View from our room

View from our room

Smoking Area

Patio going to the dining area

Very relaxing Zen fountain near the smoking are

Puerto Princesa Underground River Tour

Step 1: Mula sa town proper, bumiyahe ng dalawang oras papunta sa port area. Iabot na sa tour guide ang ID. Bawal ang kolorum na tao sa isang heritage site.

Step 2: Wait for your turn. Aasikasuhin ng tour guide ang mga papeles at ihahanap kayo ng bangka. Tumambay muna sa port area. Tumungaga, mamili ng mga bracelet, at kung anu-anong beach items. Maraming matabang aso. Masarap silang kalaro. Hindi rin bawal magpa-sweet.

Step 3: Sasakay na ng maliit na bangka papunta sa isla kung saan nandun ang tinatawag (haba nito) na Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. 15-20 minutes ang byahe, depende sa lakas ng alon. Haha!

Step 4: Magpasalamat sa lahat ng pinagdasalan mong entities dahil nakarating ka na! Eto ang eksena.

Step 5: Makihalubilo sa mga residente ng isla. Huwag mo silang pakialaman. Tandaan, wild pa rin sila kahit tinubuan na ng konting social skills.

Step 6: Tingnan, ang laki ng aking balakang. Chos! Mula sa registration area, may maiksing lakad papunta sa main event!

Step 7:Thiziziiit!!! Ang pinakahihintay na parte ng biyahe! 

Bawal maligo rito. Kapag ready na ang safety gear, sakay na ng bangka!

Approaching...

Ayan na papasok na kami sa kuweba.

Step 8: Ang nangyayari sa tour ay makikita rito....


Step 9: Access very old memory images. Una nating nakita ang ganitong eksena noong tayo ay pinanganak - normal or CS delivery pa man yan. Metaphorical rebirth. Ang sarap.

Step 10: Alalahanin lahat ng nakita, naamoy at naramdaman. Igawa ng altar sa iyong church of happier places and times inside your head --- para maiwasang mambulyaw, manapak, manipa at magwala kapag sinusubok ng lungsod ang iyong kabutihan.

~ Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park Tour, January 18, 2013

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park Tour includes all transportation requirements, entrance fees and lunch. Thanks to Ysabelle Mansion for offering package rates!

Underground River Highlights

Para maalala ang kaibahan ng stalactites sa stalagmites, ito ang ginamit kong pnemonic device noong grade six ako:


Stalactite - S-TARAK-tite. Tarak. Kapag bumagsak, tarak sa bungo. Galing sa taas.
Stalagmite - S-DALAG-mite. Dalag. Ang dalag nasa tubig. Sa baba.


Mahalagang ituro ito sa mga bata at matanda bago mag-underground river tour (nag-review ako mag-isa) para mas kamangha-mangha ang lahat ng makikita. Kailagan ding alalahanin na ang mga stalactite at stalagmite ay lumalaki lang ng 3mm per year. Kaya hindi joke na ang mga makikita sa loob ng kweba ay ay millions of years old na - pinakamatandang bagay na nalapitan ko!




























Madilim na madilim sa loob ng kweba. Ang bawat bangka ay may isang halogen lamp lang na gamit - hawak ng pasahero sa unahan ng bangka.

03/18/37 vandalism. American soldiers marked the spot.

May kasalubong na tour group.

Para sa mahina ang imahinasyon, minarkahan na ng mga tour guide ang mga lugar kung saan may stalactites at stalagmites na hugis tao, hayop, gulay, prutas at kung anu-ano pang iconic images. Hindi ko na lang nakunan dahil ang hirap humawak ng camera habang panay ang woowwww, pero may last supper, sexy ladies, St. Joseph, etc.

Bahala na kayo kung anong maisip niyo rito.

Squid

Mushroom

Ang underground river tour ay tumatagal ng 45 minutes at sumusuyod sa 1.5 kilometrong navigable area. Ang buong underground rivery ay 8 km ang haba. Sabi ng tour guide, kung interesadong mag-tour from 1.5 to 4 km nivagable areas, kelangan ng special permit. Ang bangka ay hanggang sa 4km mark lang. Kung matapang at gustong mag-explore mula 4km hanggang 8km (deadend), bawal na ang bangka. Langoy? May nakagawa na kaya nun? The mind wonders and wanders....

~ Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park Tour, January 18, 2013

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park Tour includes all transportation requirements, entrance fees and lunch. Thanks to Ysabelle Mansion for offering package rates!