PLACES we’ve been
Crown Regency Hotels & Tower Cebu
We were in Cebu last week and it was our first time to visit the city known for its Otap and Lechon Cebu. We availed ENSOGO’s promo at the Crown Regency, which includes 3 nights accommodation at their superior room for 2 person, 2 buffet breakfast, one buffet lunch, one buffet dinner, two 4D theater entrance, 2 sky walk entrance, and 2 edge coaster entrance. We availed 4 vouchers, so we had 4 separate rooms.
The room, which has 2 doubled beds, is big enough for 2 persons. We only used one bed because Andre still sleeps with us. A coffee table is placed near the window with a m
agnificent view of the city. The room has also a desk wherein you can put your laptop. Another good thing is that each room has in-room internet connectivity. You just need to call their IT person to help you connect with the internet. The room also has a safety deposit box where you can put your important belongings. Andre’s favorite part of the room is their cable TV because he was still able to watch his favorite TV shows on Nick Jr. away from home. Overall, we had a nice stay at the hotel and were able to sleep well. I just wish they also had Muskoka chair for added comfort. 
Here are some of the photos:
The hotel lobby
Our room
the view from our window
El Nido in 2011
My parents are both senior citizens and we are happy that they are both in good physical shape though they both have respective illnesses. My dad has diabetes and my mom has a kidney problem and osteoporosis. I’m glad that my dad, who’s turning 75 next year, has managed his diabetes. He has been monitoring his blood sugar regularly to avoid further complications. My mom, who is now 65 years old, has a kidney problem and I’m also glad that she’s able to monitor her kidneys. She is also suffering from osteoporosis for years and she has been taking high dosage of calcium supplements for this illness.
Though both senior citizens, I’m glad that they both enjoyed our recent trip in Puerto Princesa. It was their first time to experience Island hopping and snorkeling. My mom was able to overcome her fear of going to the deeper part of the sea and even told us, I am pretty sure they enjoyed the trip because my mom wants to visit El Nido, too.
Their wish is my command. We are bound to El Nido in September 2011!!! Woohooo! I was able to avail Cebu Pacific’s Php147 promo fare. However, I was able to avail their promo one-way only, from Puerto Princesa to Manila, because there are no available promo seats for the earliest flight from Manila to PP. So, I booked our Manila to PP trip instead via Air Philippines for Php900. Not bad eh! 
We have 10 months to save for this trip!
Here are some of their photos during the Puerto Princesa trip:
I love them soooo much! I always pray that they will have a longer and healthier life.
Underwater Photos
We had tons of photos during our Puerto Princesa trip and I am so excited to upload all of them on FB to show my sisters who weren’t able to join us. We had so many wonderful underwater photos, too. 
Thanks to this wonderful camera from Canon, it takes superb photos and we are sooo loving it. A blogger once told that she is willing to trade her DSLR with this and I now agree with her. Hehehe! I am tempted to avail some promotional wall calendars online. Here are some of the photos, later na ang kwento.
We love to travel!
I used to not enjoy the beach because I’ve never been to beautiful beaches when I was younger.
Then this love for the beach began when we first experienced snorkeling and island hopping in Puerto Gallera sometime in 2005 after we got married. We enjoyed snorkeling so much! The next travel we had, and the first time I travelled via airplane, was in Bohol in December 2008. Bohol is such a beautiful place and it has various attractions like the famous Chocolate Hills. We didn’t bring Andre with us because he was still young that time. Then, in June of the following year, we were able to see the beauty of Capones and Camara Islands in Zambales with my husband’s family and relative, including Andre. We were able to reach the Lighthouse at the Capones Island for a 45-minute trek. In September, our birthday month, we went to Boracay with Andre and two friends. We also enjoyed Boracay, most especially our stay at The Boracay Regency. It was a relaxing trip because the only thing we did in Boracay was eat-sleep-chill-out. We did not go island hopping because there was a typhoon before that trip. We just enjoyed the beach, shore, and the food at the hotel.
In 2010, the busiest year for me in terms of travel , we were able to travel a lot as early as January. In January, we went back to Bohol with my husband’s uncle and his family from Australia, my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and Abeth’s aunt with her son and daughter. We were able to see the Virgin Island this time. It was also a beautiful island with white sand.
Also in January, we revisited Zambales again with Abeth’s Balikbayan uncle. This time, we were able to see the beauty of Anawangin cove.
Anawangin Cove
Capones Island
In February, we went to Clark Pampanga to watch the Hot Air Balloon Festival with my MIL, Andre, Abeth, Jamie, and Lola.
In April, we had our 5th wedding anniversary at Tagaytay. We spent overnight at Andanita Taj of Tagaytay. It was an intimate weekend for the three of us. We went to Nuvali on our way to Tagaytay, ate lunch at Leslie’s, dinner at Pamana, and brunch the following day at Bag of Beans. We had no travel in the month of May because of Andre’s birthday party.
Taal Lake
Wacky shot
at the Andanita Taj of Tagaytay
Bag of Bean’s famous Blueberry Cheesecake
In July, I went to Baguio with my officemates minus Abeth.
In September, I was able to see the beauty of Coron in Palawan with my officemates, again without Abeth. Coron is a beautiful place and I wanted to visit the island again next year, but this time with Abeth. I promise to bring him there for him to be able to see the beauty of the place.
Kayangan Lake
Rock formations at Banul Beach
at the Banul beach
Tomorrow, October 16, I and my officemates, now including Abeth, will be at the Mount Pinatubo Crater. It was an unanticipated trip because we planned for only a week. But, according to the news, there is an incoming low pressure area. So, we are monitoring the weather since yesterday for us to know if this trip will pursue. As of this moment (6:45 PM), we are pursuing with our plan because according to our contact in Tarlac, it was sunny all day. They will leave Manila around 3:30 AM. Then, Abeth and I will just meet them at the gasoline station in NLEX. Wish us luck and a good weather tomorrow. Sa Sunday pa naman daw ang dating
Those are our travel experiences. There are a lot more beautiful places to see here in the Philippines and I am making a list of our next destinations. However, we also want to travel outside the country if our budget permits. One of our goals is to visit my sisters in the US, avail the Orlando vacation packages, and see Disneyland! Oh well, we still have to save more for these travels because these travels abroad are quite expensive.
Coron Getaway
I, together with officemates, went to Coron a week before my birthday. We are in a big group and had a very wonderful and INEXPENSIVE experience in Coron – the best thing travelling in a big group.
Coron is soooo lovely and I promise myself to visit this wonderful place again, but this time with my family. I fell in love with the place! The lakes are so clear and pictographic.
We had an early booking and got the promo airfare of P2100 each for a roundtrip ticket. It was not the lowest fare by Cebu Pacific but we still booked for it because it wasn’t easy booking eighteen people for the trip. One of my officemates booked for us. Our group was divided into two and had different airlines and different time of departure because there were only limited slots. Ten of us were booked with Cebu Pacific and the rest with Zest Air. Zest Air had an earlier flight of 9AM, while Cebu Pacific departs Manila at 1:30PM.
My officemate arranged the travel and contacted a travel agent. The travel agent gave us a good travel deal that is Php3,100/PAX. This include 3D/2N accommodation at Darayonan Lodge; airport transfer; free breakfast; island hopping at Siete Picados, Kayangan Lake, Banul Beach, Twin Lagoon, and Twin Peaks, including the entrance fees and buffet lunch during; dinner buffet on our 2nd night; over-flowing coffee; and use of swimming pool.
Our dinner during our first night was a treat from Meng. She brought buttered prawns and beef kaldereta for us. We just bought rice and softdrinks. We saved one meal on our first day. On our second day, all the meals are included in the package. On our third day, breakfast is free. Since our flight back to Manila is 1:00 PM, we had our lunch outside the resort before leaving. We went to a small eatery and had lunch for as low as P70, including rice, viand, and softdrinks.
Will share with you the places we’ve been in the next post.
Let me first share my expenses.
My total expenses for the Coron Trip were:
Two-way Air fare – Php2100
3D/2N travel package - Php3100
Lunch - Php 70
Others trike to market, – Php 230
bottled water, etc.)
TOTAL Php5500
Isn’t that great?
It was really a budget trip. It is really great to travel in a big group because you will be able to avail great travel deals. I just splurged in buying pasalubongs like crabs, danggit, cashew nuts, dried fish, sando shirt for my son, ref magnets, and two wooden masks as souvenirs. I spent like P4000 for the pasalubong.
