Makati Skyline

One of the perks of living in a high rise condo is the impeccable view from above. I will never get tired of this view from my balcony.

Bohol is a tropical island paradise in the Southern part of Philippines.  From Manila, you can reach Bohol in just an hour by plane. It wasn’t a well-planned vacation on my part, but since I never got to swim with the whale sharks in Bicol (thanks to the typhoon!), I was itching to go diving somewhere and I thought of Bohol.

Dive Thru Resort, Panglao Island, Bohol

After a few hours of searching for resorts in Agoda.com, I stumbled into this charming resort called Dive Thru. It is located in Panglao Island, Bohol. Their loft room is big and only 4,300php/night with free breakfast, I thought it was a steal so I booked it for four nights. It is a refuge for beach bums like me—a private paradise with rustic appeal and a front yard with azure waters teeming with marine life.

Boatman (he looks like a 14-yr old kid...and I have a feeling he is!)

For 3,000 pesos (US $73), you can hire a boat for yourself all day to take you to nearby islets for snorkeling/diving.  Prepare 500 pesos (US $12) for entrance fee to Balicasag island's Marine Sanctuary where a guide will accompany you when you go free diving/snorkeling.

Balicasag Island Marine Sanctuary, Bohol,  Philippines

Balicasag Island is really awesome! It's as if the Gods are still in charge here--otherworldly fantasy where it's just you and nature and the wind is your air-conditioning. It is one of the most pristine dive sites in the world and is waiting to be explored.

Is this Nemo? :)

Virgin Island, Bohol Philippines

Its pristine white sands, clear blue waters, and a relaxing island vibe sounds more like a cliche for beach bums who have had their fair share of awesome beaches, but this tiny island (more like a sandbar), took my breath away.

Tourists in Virgin Island

Even the scorching heat of the sun didn't prevent me from staying here longer than I am supposed to. The price I paid for staying longer is a massive sunburn all over me, but I think it is worth it. :)

I don't think these people minded getting burnt too! :)

Oh Panglao, I shall return!!!

I have been suffering from irregular periods for some time now. I was being so paranoid and was imagining all kinds of scenarios. What if I have cancer? My mom had cervical cancer so my paranoia wasn't so far fetched.
I decided to end this emotional torture so I went to the clinic near me.

Waiting area; The Medical City @ Makati

Photo from rawstory.com

Dra. Dionisio was very nice and friendly. She explained to me some possible causes of my irregular period and told me that an ultrasound is needed to determine the root cause.

Metromart.com

I was shopping for pet food at Pet Express when I saw a flyer for Metromart. Going to Pet Express here in Makati can be a pain in the ass for me since it's along Osmena Highway. It is just a few blocks away from me and I should be able to walk there but crossing Osmena Highway is kinda tricky and scary.

Living in the city and a wannabe farmer at the same time? Yeah, that's me. I love plants but I'm not sure if plants love me. I bought several potted plants over the years but they never seem to last in my  garden.

I've been seeing Kuya J's commercial for some time now and I often wondered about their food. They only got a few branches around the metro so I had to Google a branch near me.

The nearest branch that I can find is the one in Waltermart Makati so we headed there for lunch.

We ordered Sisig, crabmeat fried rice, chopsuey, tokwa't baboy and mango cheesecake for dessert.

Tokwa't baboy

Their tokwa't baboy is to die for!

Sizzling sisig

Sisig was also good, though I wish it was made crispier.

Crabmeat fried rice

Crabmeat fried rice was good too and the serving size is quite big.

Iced tea pitcher

Their Iced tea was quite good although I wish it was served freezing cold.

Mangga cheesecake

Bridge to Taipa

Casinos in Macau

Macau has indeed charmed me by its picturesque views and old-meets-new atmosphere. As a former Portuguese colony, it blends East and West culture into an enchanting and exciting diverse architecture and multi-cultural flavors.

L'arc Hotel in Macau

Senado Square at night

First-time visitors might get the perception that Macau is just a gambler’s haven, but history buffs like me also get to enjoy the place. Macau is simply magical. Some might wonder where is Macau exactly located--Macau is across from Hong Kong to the East. It is one of the two special administrative region of China since 1999.

St. Paul ruins

Macau is rich in history itself. Having traced way back to the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC) to becoming a Portuguese colony in the 16th century. Portuguese settled mainly in Macau to engage in trade. The Dutch repeatedly failed to conquer Macau in the 17th century. African slaves were the majority of the defenders since about 5,000 of them used to live in Macau. They triumphantly repulsed the attack that results to the Dutch soldier's retreat.

Tourists heading to St. Paul

Monte Forte (Fortaleza do Monte)

There are many places that non-gamblers can explore in Macau. If you are traveling from Hong Kong to Macau, it is better to leave early so you can explore the place longer. Enjoy Macau's delicious fusion of Cantonese and Portuguese cuisine. Head over to Senado Square to get a glimpse of old Macau. From there you can walk all the way to St. Paul ruins and Monte Forte.

Staff holding a restaurant sign

Hotel Lisboa

Their superior room has a rich and regal interior and offers free in-house movies, free local calls, free Wi-Fi, and complimentary use of mini bar. But be warned: you can only consume the items in the mini bar inside the room. If you decide to take the food outside while you stroll, they will charge you for it.
The bathroom features a massage shower and Jacuzzi bathtub. I love it!

Senado Square at night

For foodies out there, you will never run out of restaurant choices in Macau. But prepare to spend more than you usually do if you want real good food. The high-end restaurants in hotels are less likely to be crowded. McDonald's and other western fast food restaurants in Macau are crowded all the time. I always have breakfast at Starbucks's in Senado Square since their second floor isn't too crowded. One time I tried this restaurant called Macau Recipes but never again!! I find the restaurant unsanitary and the food is not so appealing. And you need to pay for your own napkin! Yeah you heard it right--you will have to pay for paper napkins! Never did I encounter a restaurant that doesn't offer free napkins until I went to Macau Recipes. But anyway it wasn't the main issue here--the staff were grumpy, the kitchen was dirty (wish I can tell you exact details of what I've seen in their kitchen!), and the food was not good (That's what I get for being a cheapskate!). Their meals are priced around USD $10 and above which is considered somewhat cheap there. We ended up leaving after having one bite. The utensils smell fishy too as if they were never washed properly.

Macau Recipes menu

The sweet and sour pork I ordered was 90% bones with bell pepper, onion and some lousy sauce served with rice.

Noite e Dia Café

For those seeking adventure, head over to Macau Tower and try their bungy jumping at 233m (764ft). It is the second highest commercial skyjump in the world. Are you an adrenaline junkie? This can be the perfect Macau adventure for you!

Macau Tower

Manila Yacht Club

I kept getting emails from my foreign readers about safety tips when traveling around the Philippines. Their questions revolve around our new President Duterte who is known for his war against drugs. They are afraid they would get in a crossfire while visiting our tourist spots in the Metro. Since this is a touchy subject, I don't really want to voice out my personal opinion about this whole thing. The local news has been too toxic and I don't even feel like discussing politics. 

Photo source: blog.citizenservices.com.ph/

Are you itching to travel outside the country? If you don't have a passport, don't plan your trip just yet! When I renewed my passport a few years ago, it was quite easy. I just paid a travel agency and I got an appointment in a week. Then I paid for the expedited service and I got my passport within 7 working days after my DFA appointment.

Out of curiosity, I checked out DFA appointment schedules and I was shocked to find out that all the DFA satellite offices near me are booked up till second week of September! So if you need to travel in the next month or so and you still haven't gotten an appointment, well..good luck!

Here's how to get an appointment at DFA:

1. Go to www.passport.gov.ph and click schedule an appointment