Location: Clark Airfield, Pampanga (Clark Hot Air Balloon Festival)
Date: February 11, 2011
Photographer: Paolo Feliciano
Friday, February 25, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Her Thoughts - Macau & Hong Kong
Exactly a week after our trip to Manila, we'll be off again! This time to Macau & Hong Kong. This trip was booked 11 months ago on April 1 last year. It was supposedly a "promo" fare from Cebu Pacific. But at P4,000 round trip, it was not. But then again, the flight has been booked. Lesson learned.
The first leg of the trip will be from Cebu to Manila. We'd need to wait a few hours in the airport, then board again for Macau. The plan is to stay a night, tour the place a few hours the next day, then take the ferry to Hong Kong. Then stay 2 days in Hong Kong, and finally take the plane back to Cebu.
It will be a very short trip. But here's the fun part. We'll be doing the 2nd and 3rd series of pre-wedding photo shoots in both places! Yeah, we're currently addicted to posing and having our pictures taken. Our plan is to have the shots taken in famous landmarks, like St Paul's Ruins in Macau, and The Peak in Hong Kong. Anything that says HK or Macau!
Though it'll be my second time in these 2 places, I'm very much eager to go on this trip. I love Hong Kong! The crowded streets, the underground subways, the shopping markets, and the cold winter weather (at this time of the year). I find the place so full of life and energy. Macau, on the other, I find different. Let's just say I love Hong Kong more.
Upon leaving the place the place last year, I promised myself that I'd be back. And I kept my promise.
The first leg of the trip will be from Cebu to Manila. We'd need to wait a few hours in the airport, then board again for Macau. The plan is to stay a night, tour the place a few hours the next day, then take the ferry to Hong Kong. Then stay 2 days in Hong Kong, and finally take the plane back to Cebu.
It will be a very short trip. But here's the fun part. We'll be doing the 2nd and 3rd series of pre-wedding photo shoots in both places! Yeah, we're currently addicted to posing and having our pictures taken. Our plan is to have the shots taken in famous landmarks, like St Paul's Ruins in Macau, and The Peak in Hong Kong. Anything that says HK or Macau!
Though it'll be my second time in these 2 places, I'm very much eager to go on this trip. I love Hong Kong! The crowded streets, the underground subways, the shopping markets, and the cold winter weather (at this time of the year). I find the place so full of life and energy. Macau, on the other, I find different. Let's just say I love Hong Kong more.
Upon leaving the place the place last year, I promised myself that I'd be back. And I kept my promise.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Her Trip - Manila, Clark
We recently got back from a 3-day trip to Manila. It was more of a trip for work, rather than for leisure. The trip was heavily scheduled. But as the saying goes, "Things never turn out the way you planned." And some of the plans we previously made had to be canceled.
The PRC Real Estate oathtaking ceremony was held at the Manila Hotel, the oldest hotel in Manila. It is strategically located along Manila Bay, just near Rizal Park and Intramuros. It was built by the Americans during the American occupation in the Philippines. Supposedly a 5-star hotel, the hotel to me very much needed a face lift. The chandeliers in the dining hall where the event was held, were not upright. It looked like they would come crashing down in the event of an earthquake. The food served, though just snacks, were not impressive at all.
The oathtaking event itself was boring for me, but I was just tagging along. My better half was the participant. Just like any normal ceremony, there was the usual introduction of officers then the keynote speeches. That and the meeting of other fellow participants. I usually do not socialize. A few minutes after the polite hi's and hello's, and I got bored. I just am not interested in the lives of people I've just met. I killed time playing mobile Monopoly, losing one game after the other. Drat.
An upside to that was the formal dress attire of the event. Donning the traditional barong tagalog*, my better half was the handsomest gentleman to me in the entire room. I rarely see him all dressed up like that. I can only imagine my groom on our big day.
Next stop was Clark. With the ever-reliable GPS navigator, we drove all the way. We stayed at DM Residente, got a suite for P1,395 the night. There were other less expensive rooms, but it was what was available that time. Aside from the usual hot and cold shower, cable television and telephone, it also had a little kitchenette. The room was decent, and especially since it was located in a quiet residential area, away from the night clubs, it was actually pretty good. The hotel is just not easily accessible, nor visible from the main road.
Clark was not as I expected. Being a former US air base, I expected an American-ish setting. The freeport zone was - bare. Except for the bars that lined up the streets, there was no hint of the American settlement left at all. The old houses and barracks were sadly replaced or renovated.
But we were there for the Annual Hot Air Balloon festival. And there were a number of them. The balloons were huge, and colorful. They looked nicer still being blown up on the ground, as they looked tiny floating up in the sky. We were able to get near the balloons for our pre-wedding photo shoot. A number of other couples also had prenups and postnups taken that morning. We took a few more shots around Clark, then slowly headed back to Manila.
Next stop was Binondo, Manila's Chinatown. We stayed at Binondo Suites, a hotel right in the middle of it all. Just like the Chinatown's of other places, it was dirty, it stunk, but it sold just about anything you could think of. And since we were looking for Chinese stuff, it was the only place to go.
The plan was to stay a day in Binondo, then head to Kawit, Cavite for Jose Mari Chan's concert. But sadly, the concert was canceled. Though we had still planned to push through with Cavite to see the place and relax, we had to forgo the trip to make way for the Binondo shopping. We were a long way from done, and it was the priority.
We spent the rest of the trip going around the streets of Binondo, Raon and made a quick visit to Quiapo church. As we were there on a Sunday, we tried to attend a mass in Mandarin. Funny as there were less than 10 people inside the church when the mass started. Felt like the priest was celebrating mass just for us. And we couldn't understand a thing! Regrettably, we had to leave and go to the nearby church.
We celebrated Pre-Valentine's Day that weekend. Coincidentally, we also turned 11(months) that time. We couldn't have dinner on Valentine's Day itself. But being together that weekend was more Valentine-y to me more than anything.
P.S. We were so busy that we failed to take pictures.
* The barong tagalog is an embroidered formal garment of the Philippines. These are usually worn over an undershirt, untucked. The finest barong tagalogs are hand-loomed from pineapple leaf fibers.
The PRC Real Estate oathtaking ceremony was held at the Manila Hotel, the oldest hotel in Manila. It is strategically located along Manila Bay, just near Rizal Park and Intramuros. It was built by the Americans during the American occupation in the Philippines. Supposedly a 5-star hotel, the hotel to me very much needed a face lift. The chandeliers in the dining hall where the event was held, were not upright. It looked like they would come crashing down in the event of an earthquake. The food served, though just snacks, were not impressive at all.
The oathtaking event itself was boring for me, but I was just tagging along. My better half was the participant. Just like any normal ceremony, there was the usual introduction of officers then the keynote speeches. That and the meeting of other fellow participants. I usually do not socialize. A few minutes after the polite hi's and hello's, and I got bored. I just am not interested in the lives of people I've just met. I killed time playing mobile Monopoly, losing one game after the other. Drat.
An upside to that was the formal dress attire of the event. Donning the traditional barong tagalog*, my better half was the handsomest gentleman to me in the entire room. I rarely see him all dressed up like that. I can only imagine my groom on our big day.
Next stop was Clark. With the ever-reliable GPS navigator, we drove all the way. We stayed at DM Residente, got a suite for P1,395 the night. There were other less expensive rooms, but it was what was available that time. Aside from the usual hot and cold shower, cable television and telephone, it also had a little kitchenette. The room was decent, and especially since it was located in a quiet residential area, away from the night clubs, it was actually pretty good. The hotel is just not easily accessible, nor visible from the main road.
Clark was not as I expected. Being a former US air base, I expected an American-ish setting. The freeport zone was - bare. Except for the bars that lined up the streets, there was no hint of the American settlement left at all. The old houses and barracks were sadly replaced or renovated.
But we were there for the Annual Hot Air Balloon festival. And there were a number of them. The balloons were huge, and colorful. They looked nicer still being blown up on the ground, as they looked tiny floating up in the sky. We were able to get near the balloons for our pre-wedding photo shoot. A number of other couples also had prenups and postnups taken that morning. We took a few more shots around Clark, then slowly headed back to Manila.
Next stop was Binondo, Manila's Chinatown. We stayed at Binondo Suites, a hotel right in the middle of it all. Just like the Chinatown's of other places, it was dirty, it stunk, but it sold just about anything you could think of. And since we were looking for Chinese stuff, it was the only place to go.
The plan was to stay a day in Binondo, then head to Kawit, Cavite for Jose Mari Chan's concert. But sadly, the concert was canceled. Though we had still planned to push through with Cavite to see the place and relax, we had to forgo the trip to make way for the Binondo shopping. We were a long way from done, and it was the priority.
We spent the rest of the trip going around the streets of Binondo, Raon and made a quick visit to Quiapo church. As we were there on a Sunday, we tried to attend a mass in Mandarin. Funny as there were less than 10 people inside the church when the mass started. Felt like the priest was celebrating mass just for us. And we couldn't understand a thing! Regrettably, we had to leave and go to the nearby church.
We celebrated Pre-Valentine's Day that weekend. Coincidentally, we also turned 11(months) that time. We couldn't have dinner on Valentine's Day itself. But being together that weekend was more Valentine-y to me more than anything.
P.S. We were so busy that we failed to take pictures.
* The barong tagalog is an embroidered formal garment of the Philippines. These are usually worn over an undershirt, untucked. The finest barong tagalogs are hand-loomed from pineapple leaf fibers.
His Trip - Manila, Clark
I don't have much to write about this trip since it was more of a working trip than a vacation. It wasn't like most of our trips before where we had all the time to tour around and explore the place. We were there more for the preparation for our wedding.
We were able to go to Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga for the Hot Air Balloon Festival but we were there just for the pre-wedding/prenuptial photo shoot. We will post some of the pictures here once we get them. I want to thank Paolo Feliciano, our photographer there. He's really a professional in his trade and he made sure we got to have the best shots for our photo shoot by getting us inside the balloon flying area.
Our trip to Manila wasn't different. We didn't have a photo shoot but we spent our 2 days there searching and buying for Chinese engagement (Ting Hun) stuff. We had to endure the crowded streets of Chinatown in Binondo, Manila to search shops selling jewelries and chinese symbolic stuffs. We stayed in Binondo Suites Hotel which is kinda rundown. There's not much choices for hotels in Binondo since there are not so many tourist who stays in Binondo. People go there just to do business or buy some chinese foods and stuffs.
We didn't push through with Cavite since the concert was canceled a week prior. We then had to cancel our hotel booking and car rental as well. Maybe we could schedule it some other time we could go back to Manila.
I hope that we'll have some more time to tour around, explore the place and relax in our next few trips to come.
We were able to go to Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga for the Hot Air Balloon Festival but we were there just for the pre-wedding/prenuptial photo shoot. We will post some of the pictures here once we get them. I want to thank Paolo Feliciano, our photographer there. He's really a professional in his trade and he made sure we got to have the best shots for our photo shoot by getting us inside the balloon flying area.
Our trip to Manila wasn't different. We didn't have a photo shoot but we spent our 2 days there searching and buying for Chinese engagement (Ting Hun) stuff. We had to endure the crowded streets of Chinatown in Binondo, Manila to search shops selling jewelries and chinese symbolic stuffs. We stayed in Binondo Suites Hotel which is kinda rundown. There's not much choices for hotels in Binondo since there are not so many tourist who stays in Binondo. People go there just to do business or buy some chinese foods and stuffs.
We didn't push through with Cavite since the concert was canceled a week prior. We then had to cancel our hotel booking and car rental as well. Maybe we could schedule it some other time we could go back to Manila.
I hope that we'll have some more time to tour around, explore the place and relax in our next few trips to come.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
His Thoughts - Manila, Clark, Cavite
Ever since we got engaged, the itineraries of all the trips we booked and planned before have to be modified to accommodate the wedding preparations. Instead of the usual touring around, we are planning to have prenuptial pictorials in Hong Kong, Macau and Australia while we're there. We also plan to buy some Chinese stuff and jewelries in Hong Kong for the Chinese engagement ceremony. And this includes our upcoming trip to Manila and Clark in Angeles City in mid-February.
This trip is scheduled for my oathtaking in Manila as a professional real estate practitioner. But since we'll already be there, we decided to go back to Binondo (see previous blog). Not for the food trip, but to buy stuff for the Chinese engagement ceremony (teng hun). We've also learned that the trip falls on the same weekend as the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark Airfields in Angeles City, Pampanga, so we've also decided to include it as one of our many prenuptial pictorial location.
So instead of the usual trip preparation of searching for the cheapest (but modest) hotels and sites to see in the locality, we need to find a wedding photographer and also figure out where to buy the things we need. I'd expect to do more of these again in our succeeding trips until the wedding is over.
And since our trip falls on Valentine's Day weekend, I tried searching for shows and events where we could celebrate. One I found was that of Jose Mari Chan's, one of the most romantic Filipino singers. But the concert would be in Kawit (a city in Cavite province) and not in Manila. So we decided to add Cavite in our itinerary since we haven't been there together yet.
I know it's supposed to be her saying this, but I am kinda excited for our first engagement photo shoot. Can't wait for this trip!
This trip is scheduled for my oathtaking in Manila as a professional real estate practitioner. But since we'll already be there, we decided to go back to Binondo (see previous blog). Not for the food trip, but to buy stuff for the Chinese engagement ceremony (teng hun). We've also learned that the trip falls on the same weekend as the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark Airfields in Angeles City, Pampanga, so we've also decided to include it as one of our many prenuptial pictorial location.
So instead of the usual trip preparation of searching for the cheapest (but modest) hotels and sites to see in the locality, we need to find a wedding photographer and also figure out where to buy the things we need. I'd expect to do more of these again in our succeeding trips until the wedding is over.
And since our trip falls on Valentine's Day weekend, I tried searching for shows and events where we could celebrate. One I found was that of Jose Mari Chan's, one of the most romantic Filipino singers. But the concert would be in Kawit (a city in Cavite province) and not in Manila. So we decided to add Cavite in our itinerary since we haven't been there together yet.
I know it's supposed to be her saying this, but I am kinda excited for our first engagement photo shoot. Can't wait for this trip!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Her Thoughts - Manila, Clark, Cavite
The US trip won't push through.
But it's alright. Me and my better half have trips of our own this year. Trips I am more excited about. Aside from the 11 cities this year, we've added another trip before all that.
We'll be in Manila on February 10, for his real estate broker's oathtaking. While we're there, we've also decided to scout Binondo for the teng hun* items. There are tons of things to prepare, but we're trying to make it as simple as possible. Simple in the sense that we'll only include things that would be of use to us.
This trip coincidentally falls on the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark. We're planning to have one of our prenup photoshoots there with hopefully a gazillion, colorful, hot air balloons as the backdrop. One can even ride the balloons for a jaw-dropping rate of 150 USD! Flying a 2-seater plane also comes with the event, at an even higher price!
We'll be busy on this trip. Aside from the oathtaking, Binondo shopping and Clark photo shoot, it'll be Valentine's Day weekend! Star-struck lovers such as us, still celebrate that. It'll be our first and last Valentine's before the big day. We plan to catch A Night with Jose Mari Chan concert at the Island Cove Hotel in Kawit, Cavite.
Despite the hectic schedule, I'm looking forward to this trip. Though I'm hoping we won't get too caught up with our plans that we forget to relax and enjoy.
* traditional Chinese engagement ceremony. There's the Little Khan Chui Book for the guide of the things to prepare. Request for a copy in the comments section so I can email you a copy.
But it's alright. Me and my better half have trips of our own this year. Trips I am more excited about. Aside from the 11 cities this year, we've added another trip before all that.
We'll be in Manila on February 10, for his real estate broker's oathtaking. While we're there, we've also decided to scout Binondo for the teng hun* items. There are tons of things to prepare, but we're trying to make it as simple as possible. Simple in the sense that we'll only include things that would be of use to us.
This trip coincidentally falls on the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark. We're planning to have one of our prenup photoshoots there with hopefully a gazillion, colorful, hot air balloons as the backdrop. One can even ride the balloons for a jaw-dropping rate of 150 USD! Flying a 2-seater plane also comes with the event, at an even higher price!
We'll be busy on this trip. Aside from the oathtaking, Binondo shopping and Clark photo shoot, it'll be Valentine's Day weekend! Star-struck lovers such as us, still celebrate that. It'll be our first and last Valentine's before the big day. We plan to catch A Night with Jose Mari Chan concert at the Island Cove Hotel in Kawit, Cavite.
Despite the hectic schedule, I'm looking forward to this trip. Though I'm hoping we won't get too caught up with our plans that we forget to relax and enjoy.
* traditional Chinese engagement ceremony. There's the Little Khan Chui Book for the guide of the things to prepare. Request for a copy in the comments section so I can email you a copy.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
A Different Journey
All throughout 2010, we booked trips left and right for the upcoming year. Hong Kong, Macau, Australia, India, Korea, and just around the Philippines, traveling was the highlight of the new year. Until a week ago.
My better half was in town unexpectedly. This was fueled by the still-tentative plan of my going to the US early January because of work. We did the usual - ran errands during the day, then dinner to cap the night. Except that it wasn't any ordinary day. It was exactly a year and a day from our first date.
We had dinner in the exact same restaurant, took a stroll along the beach, then settled on the boardwalk, just like the previous year. We then had our usual conversation. I had no idea that he was up to something, until he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. And it was just at that moment that I realized he was proposing.
Though he had originally planned a more dramatic proposal on our upcoming trip to Australia, the still-tentative US trip moved things earlier. But despite not having too much drama, it was perfect. On our favorite little spot, on that cold, windy night, it just needed the two of us. No one and nothing else. And with the sound of the crashing waves beneath us, and his arms around me, I said yes* for the second time. The same spot where I said yes 9 months ago.
It was the perfect end to the previous year. The start of a new year would be the perfect time to start planning for our future. The wedding specifically, but most importantly, our marriage.
The trips we've previously booked will no longer be the highlight this year, though we'd still push through with them. The tons of preparations will be. It will be a crazy year, I'm sure. But it will also be exciting. I know that there will be times when we'd want to wring each others' necks, and there will be surprises lurking in every corner. But in the end, I know love with prevail.
Our trips will diminish considerably after this year. But then we will be embarking on a different journey, the most important trip of our lives. We will be starting a new life together. Unlike traveling for a holiday, this will be a longer journey. It won't always be as fun, but it will be more fulfilling.
Since the early proposal was because of the upcoming trip, I had to ask one question.
* I actually said 'of course'!
My better half was in town unexpectedly. This was fueled by the still-tentative plan of my going to the US early January because of work. We did the usual - ran errands during the day, then dinner to cap the night. Except that it wasn't any ordinary day. It was exactly a year and a day from our first date.
We had dinner in the exact same restaurant, took a stroll along the beach, then settled on the boardwalk, just like the previous year. We then had our usual conversation. I had no idea that he was up to something, until he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. And it was just at that moment that I realized he was proposing.
Though he had originally planned a more dramatic proposal on our upcoming trip to Australia, the still-tentative US trip moved things earlier. But despite not having too much drama, it was perfect. On our favorite little spot, on that cold, windy night, it just needed the two of us. No one and nothing else. And with the sound of the crashing waves beneath us, and his arms around me, I said yes* for the second time. The same spot where I said yes 9 months ago.
It was the perfect end to the previous year. The start of a new year would be the perfect time to start planning for our future. The wedding specifically, but most importantly, our marriage.
The trips we've previously booked will no longer be the highlight this year, though we'd still push through with them. The tons of preparations will be. It will be a crazy year, I'm sure. But it will also be exciting. I know that there will be times when we'd want to wring each others' necks, and there will be surprises lurking in every corner. But in the end, I know love with prevail.
Our trips will diminish considerably after this year. But then we will be embarking on a different journey, the most important trip of our lives. We will be starting a new life together. Unlike traveling for a holiday, this will be a longer journey. It won't always be as fun, but it will be more fulfilling.
Since the early proposal was because of the upcoming trip, I had to ask one question.
Me: So what happens if the trip won't push through?And I was showered with a million kisses..
A: I'll take it back.
Me: You are so mean.
* I actually said 'of course'!
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