I know how most of us love meeting new people for friendships via web-based social networking sites. The World Wide Web has surely been a big help for us not only in communicating with our family and friends but more so in connecting with new acquaintances.
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29
April
2008
28
April
2008
Isn’t it that we all aim to arrive at our destination safely and the sooner as we can particularly with road trips? For instance when we went to a beach resort somewhere south, the 152 kilometers of travel really got us edgy (imagine a bunch of hungry travelers at noontime!). Add to that was the fact that it was our first time to venture to such place and we thought we were lost as our van drove through a narrow deserted rough road from the highway going to the resort. I just wished there was some sort of roadside assistance for us that time. We were just thankful to have arrived at our destination safe. Whew! The beach resort owner later apologized and told us that the road we passed through from the highway was actually just a temporary path as there are still ongoing negotiations with the municipality regarding the right-of-way for the original route.
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27
April
2008
What’s up in Negros Occidental? It’s a week-long event that’s not to be missed by the Negrosanons, the Panaad Festival which is dubbed as the “mother of all festivals”. This annual event showcases the arts and culture, tourist attractions and local products of the different towns and municipalities in the province of Negros Occidental, from faraway places such as Kabankalan, Himamaylan, Toboso and Calatrava to nearby cities Talisay and Bacolod.
Held at the Panaad Park and Stadium, this festival just started last Saturday April 26 and will end on May 3. This year’s highlight is the special tribute to the late Gov. Joseph Maranon and the SMART PBA All-Star games held at the West Negros College.
Note: Above images were taken April 2006 and featured in my other blog ideasnpink’s Tatak Negros (Proudly Negros Made). This year’s Panaad Festival photo from happysteps? Not yet…I will be posting soon after our visit there within this week. Stay tuned.
Update: We haven’t gone to the Panaad Festival as expected because of our hectic schedule. sigh.
27
April
2008
Travel not only requires us to be appreciative of the new sights we see when we go on trips to different places. We also need to be physically fit and ready enough for some long walks or hikes, enjoying those thrilling rides at a theme park, climbing heights or doing extreme sports. Even just a simple shopping can be tiresome, you won’t even notice your exhaustion after you’ve scoured almost all the shops looking for some souvenirs to take home with you.
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25
April
2008
None other than one of my favorite summer refreshments - halo-halo! This Filipino native delicacy literally means ‘mix-mix’ in English (halo means mix) and is a concoction of fruits (macapuno, jackfruit or nangka, ube, etc.), sweets (leche flan, kaong, nata de coco, beans and sago), pinipig with crushed ice and milk. It is best topped with ice cream. So cool and yummy!
Note: Photo above shows a bunch of Chowking halo-halos before they ended up in our tummies!
24
April
2008
While having our lunch at a fast-food joint, we saw a child bawling while walking on the aisles. He looked about 5 years old and was looking for his mom. Uh oh. The waiters were trying to pacify him and we suggested that they better go to the mall’s information center to page the mother. This scene is not unusual especially in crowded places. I remember when we were at the Royal Flora festival in Thailand, the children were given bracelets with their names and additional information so they can be easily identified should they get lost.
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23
April
2008
Woweee, time flies really fast! Just last month I was busy purchasing our travel tickets online and now we’re catching up with the trip requirements. The past few days, we were also in the malls buying stuff to bring with us especially the pasalubongs. Oh well, even if it was a weekday, SM Bacolod was packed with many shoppers. I commented about this to cutie sis and she replied, “It’s summer!” Yeahhh… how could I forget? That means more students on vacation and since the weather’s been really hot (it’s currently at 34 degrees Celsius), you can see more people hanging out in the malls.
At SM Bacolod, looking down from the end of the bridgeway
19
April
2008
A breathtaking view such as the photo above is just one of the many reasons why New Zealand is another great place to head on this summer. The bigger cities of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are popular for tourists. Dubbed as the ‘City of Sails’, Auckland is the largest and offers many attractions such as the Waitakere Ranges, the Auckland Harbour ridge, or the family theme park Rainbow’s End. Continue reading »
19
April
2008
It was a spur of the moment decision for Mom and I. Whatever reasons we had in mind, business or vacation or a mix of both, we decided to head on to Baguio from Manila after talking to an old friend who resides there. She instructed me to just take one of the late night bus trips in Cubao and she’ll meet us at the terminal upon arrival. So we slept the night away in the bus and arrived in Baguio early the next day. After finding a room for us and having breakfast, off we went around the city. First we stopped by the Baguio Cathedral and then to Session Road (my favorite area) where many shops, banks, hotels and restaurants are lined up.
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18
April
2008
Most travel bugs will be spending their vacation in beach resorts this summer. The allure of the sea calls them for a nice splash in the water or getting a nice tan or simply strolling barefoot along the shore.
For the water sports enthusiasts, they can go diving, snorkeling or surfing with the waves. There’s just so much to do when you’re at the beach, a day isn’t just enough. Staying for a week is the best option if you want to get the most out of your beach holiday such as opting for Kauai vacation rentals should you wish to spend your vacation in Hawaii.
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18
April
2008
Friday is here again! In contrast to the past months of being always on the go, I’m pretty much content with staying at home for now.
Weekends are my favorite times for getting that much needed rest and doing an audit of my personal goals. With an upcoming major trip just less than a month ahead, it is best to spend my time preparing for the travel requirements and planning in advance.
16
April
2008
With summer finally here, one can only wish to have extra time for travel and relaxation. Choosing where to spend your getaway really depends on your kind of fun. While some would like to spend it on a cruise in the Bahamas or staying in an isolated island paradise, those who go for flashy entertainment, exciting casino and great dining experience would opt to stay in a Las Vegas hotel. And why not?
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16
April
2008
With our passports expiring this year, cutie sis and I went to the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) office in Iloilo for the renewal. We chose Iloilo since going there from Bacolod takes just about an hour via fast ferries compared to Cebu where another DFA office is located. We took the early morning trip via SeaJet and arrived before 8AM at the DFA. At the pier gates, you can see a line of trisikads (bicycle-driven carriage) asking if you want to go to the DFA. I guess they assume that most of the passengers arriving in Iloilo are going to the DFA. 
For Php10 per person, cutie sis and I rode one and got to our destination within 15 minutes.
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16
April
2008
Aside from boxing events, another entertaining show to watch in Las Vegas is the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). Mainly sponsored by Wrangler, this is a big event to look forward to every December. Organized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), this year’s Golden Anniversary event on December 4 to 13 will be even bigger. To be held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, this Super Bowl of Rodeo is a must-see for rodeo fans. I bet they will be buying ahead those Wrangler National Finals Rodeo tickets before they will be sold out.
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16
April
2008
I met a friend in Austria who gave me this treasure of a book:
A Photographic Guide to Prague
16
April
2008
With our trip to Prague scheduled next month, we’re getting ready for a lot of travel requirements – visa, insurance, passport and all. Not that I am getting excited but I also told my cutie sis yesterday that we have to plan out our trip itinerary by now to make the most of our stay. It won’t be that difficult since we have a very able guide! *winks*
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14
April
2008
One of the simple pleasures of going on a trip is finding some great shopping spots along the way – be it food, souvenirs, clothing or…how about this?
The road along Sum-ag highway with pottery products on display
13
April
2008
Whenever I’m on a trip, I tend to observe things I find interesting – from building designs, roadside vegetation to the current fashion worn in the streets (especially the accessories) or food displayed in stalls - particularly if the place is new to me. While they merit being captured by a camera, I am usually not keen on taking some shots. Maybe I am more content with just committing what I see to my memory bank, huh? Anyway, with more trips set out for me this year, I promise to myself that I would be more attentive in taking pictures. And why not? I enjoy watching photos taken from my travels. The nice thing about digital cameras is that you can take as much pictures as you can without worrying about wasting film. Ahhh… the wonders of technology, yeah?
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11
April
2008
Continued from The Punta Bulata experience: Sky, sea and sand
“There are times when we experience great achievements and inspiring moments just before being beset with misery or pain. Like the sunset, our life’s glorious moments strengthen us to what lies ahead. We know the darkness won’t last long, and we will always have another beautiful sunset to look forward to.”
The Irony of Sunsets by ideasnpink
I’m always fascinated with sunsets when the sky plays a blend of different hues in varying shades as the day ends. How often do we take for granted this natural yet stunning phenomenon which happens daily, but there at Punta Bulata beach resort, away from my hectic schedule and piled up tasks, I have witnessed again the different colors of the sky at dusk.
It was like seeing the sky being painted in colors that change as the minutes passed - from light yellow to brownish orange to deep red - until darkness shrouded the earth.
Sunsets have their way of telling me not to dwell so much on life’s miseries but to look forward to the many possibilities that lie ahead.
9
April
2008
Picture this: You’re sipping a cup of hot cappuccino at an airport in Italy while checking your online bank statement on your laptop. Now that’s what I call travelling with business and leisure - the convenience of online banking at the tip of your fingers. For business executives who are always on the move and travel bugs who want to access their savings or checking account wherever they are, online banking is a must. I remember when I was in Manila and transferring funds from one bank to another was a breeze. The only thing I was wary about was the security in doing the transaction on an internet café so I had to be extra careful with my passwords.
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5
April
2008
Finally I bought myself a ticket to one of my dream destinations in a continent far far away. It’s a place of charming architecture, cool and subdued dreamy-like ambiance. Soon I will be eagerly stepping on its ground, ready to explore its many attractions.
Aha…where in the world could this be? Oh well, I’d rather keep it a secret for now. *winks*
Photo credits: rainydazeee.com
4
April
2008
Oftentimes we rush to our destination not mindful about safety precautions when we hit the road. Isn’t it that one gets too excited about getting there that the basics in road safety and travel are sometimes not given importance – such as a properly maintained vehicle, having enough fuel, having spare tire, bringing tools and other trip essentials? I remember when we were cruising one late evening and in front of us was a vehicle with no rear lights. It almost looked invisible and blended well with the dark road ahead. Ugh.
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3
April
2008
Continued from The Punta Bulata experience: Going there
After we settled reservation matters with the resort manager, we headed to our chosen accommodation, the Beach Casita (Php4,800/day or US $180/day for 6 persons) since it has a kitchenette for cooking (too bad there’s no ref) and is situated in an isolated part of the resort which was what we really wanted. An added bonus is that the house is just few meters away from the beach. It has two air-conditioned bedrooms (though not so spacious) with two single beds provided with beddings. Beside the dining area, there are two additional beds as well.
After lunch, we lost no time exploring the resort, walking barefoot on the white sand and taking a plunge in the clear blue waters. The rough and worrisome ride on our way to the resort was worth it after all.
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2
April
2008
It’s simply fascinating to gaze up at a tall building or structure, just like seeing a high mountain from below. One can feel a sense of achievement after conquering its height by climbing up and finally standing on its peak. With high buildings such as the CN Tower in Toronto, a trip in the elevator is all it takes.
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1
April
2008
One reason for travel is to learn and appreciate the culture, creativity and art of other places. This is why I enjoy dropping by trade shows and exhibits displaying locally made handicrafts and souvenir items. When we spent our holidays in Thailand, we took time to visit the OTOP (One Tambon One Product) trade show at the IMPACT in Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi.
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