Lakwatsera Fridays: The Beautiful Town of Taal

Chanced upon a feature about Taal earlier while browsing YouTube. It was interesting to find out that Taal Lake used to have bull sharks since it used to have salt water. Previous eruptions caused the Pansipit River to become smaller and this prevented salt water from Balayan Bay from coming in. Eventually the bull sharks stopped coming too. 

In 2019 we had a family vacation in Tagaytay. Our parents joined us and we spent a day in Taal. Mom remembered seeing the church when she was a child. There was an ongoing wedding ceremony when we went in the church. It was a delight to see the church all lighted up. We hung out in the church for awhile to admire the beautiful interiors. 

We wanted to dress up in traditional garb for a family portrait, but we didn't know where to go. We just went around the town and then headed back to Tagaytay to eat at Bag of Beans. We were supposed to go back the next day, but that was when Sweetie had a knee accident so the rest of our vacay was spent in the hospital hehe. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

Throwback Thursdays: Waterbom in Bali

One of my fondest memories is visiting Bali when the kids where all still minors. Their age ranged between 10 to 17. Miggy was just 12 years old when we went to Bali as the Apolo 11. Kuya and his fam were the Apolo 7, while my parents and me and Miggy made up for the 4. For a few years, we would celebrate the holidays in Indonesia. Kuya figured out that it was cheaper to fly us in versus them flying home. 

In one of our trips, we spent time in Bali. Traveling with a huge group was crazy. We constantly had to count and make sure no one was left behind. It was harder when the kids were younger. It was more fun though when they were in their teens. That was the time I realized they were indeed growing up because my niece just dropped the news on me that she already had her first heartbreak! I thought they would stay babies forever. 

We eventually visited Waterbom in Bali. It's a huge water park. It was like a huge version of Splash Island. My nephews and nieces dragged me and Miggy to go through the crazy collection of slides. I eventually gave up because all of it required going up several stories of stairways, haha. What I enjoyed though was the lazy river. We all piled up on huge salbabidas and just let the water push us through the course. 

We had a great day at Waterbom. It's one of those happy days tucked in my core memory. The kids then were still so young, but I realized they were already starting to become their own person. They are all grown-up now. All have graduated and some have gotten married already. I'm glad we got to experience Waterbom back then. Maybe next time there would be new chikitings in tow. 

What's your favorite fambam memory?

#BeKind #StaySafe

Vacay Soon?

Sweetie has some travel fund that he has to use already because it's expiring. It's from refunded bookings from 2020. It's easy to book, but our main concern is safety. We then checked the DOH COVID-19 tracker to check the number of cases by province. You can now look at data by province and by city. They have also included occupancy rates of hospitals. 

Of course, you can never predict what happens in the future. Things can change so fast with the virus still out there and with strange variants cropping up, the best recourse is to do your vaccinations. Aside from the DOH data, we've been watching vlogs and asking friends also about their recent travels. 

Bohol, 2019.

Sweetie tentatively booked some dates. He said he can re-book it anyway if the situation is not viable. We're looking at visiting Bohol again since we felt our 2019 vacay was bitin. Maybe Coron? Or El Nido? Or Dumaguete or Bacolod since we have friends there. We wanted to visit Cebu and Davao, but we felt maybe it's too early to visit more populated places. There are other places we want to visit, but want to go first to what's familiar.

I can't wait to feel sand again on my feet and be refreshed by sea water. And drink fresh mango shake and eat yummy seafood by the seashore. Oh boy, now I want to go out of town this very minute! Haha. Still a lot of adulting stuff to do for now, so will have to wait. The heat will also just force me to stay inside, it'll be best to delay for now. 

Have you guys gone on vacation? 

#BeKind #StaySafe #VoteWisely

A Brief Respite: First Staycation in a Long Time

Went on a one-night staycation last night with the boys. We were honestly avoiding a possible brownout which the utility company said may or may not happen. We haven't been out as a family since December 2019, so we thought it was a good time to try. 

We just went to the city next to us. I had second thoughts about it tbh, since it's such a hassle to pack an overnight bag. Anyway, after some delay, we finally checked-in around five in the afternoon. Waited for the sun to set and then we decided to walk around to get some take out. We ended up at Angrydobo. I convinced the boys to try it since I got to try it back in 2019. The food was certainly tasty and it made the boys happy.

There was an always open McDonald's across the hotel. When we were in Singapore, we used to have midnight snacks at McDonald's. I told the boys we should go get some ice cream at midnight like we used to. We were all in pajamas by 11, so that did not happen hahaha. Maybe we'll do it next time. We were just so full from dinner and Sweetie got some cake also from Conti's. BR.

We're back home now. It was just a quick getaway. I realized it was a much needed break from our daily routine. It was my first time to reach my daily step count goal. I definitely needed the push so I could regain my strength. The staycation also did wonders for my mental health. I've been unwell the past few weeks (post-booster) and it wasn't boding well for my mental health. The brief respite broke the downward spiral of my spirits. My mind has to be well so the rest of my body can get better. 

If you need a break, just go and do it. It doesn't have to be far away. You can break the monotony in many ways. Just make sure to follow proper health protocols, remember the virus is still out there spreading. 

And now I go water the plants. 

Have a great day everyone!

*BR - baboy reflex. Learned this term from my niece. 

Family Road Trip: Baguio

We usually try to take a few family trips every year. We always avoid crowds though and prefer to travel after the holidays.

We decided to head north again this year. We have not been to the summer capital of the Philippines since January 2014. It was an easy drive up from Manila with lots of stop overs to check out Poke Stops and to contribute new gas station locations on Google Maps. We left Intramuros at around 9 and reached Baguio at 4 in the afternoon. The trip would have been shorter, but we took time eating at Matutina's and checking out the new gas stations along the way and we went via Marcos Highway because it's safer.

We rested for awhile and then headed to SM to buy a few things and then walked over to Session Road to eat at Don Henrico's (the original!). We had dessert at "where the locals get their dessert fix" (Accord to my friend Vince) - Vizco's. After eating so much we were too tired to do anything else and headed back to the hotel.

I decided not to bring my laptop so I'm just blogging using the Blogger app. More photos when I get to blog on my laptop!

Japan!

The last time I was in Japan I was part of a short term exchange student program back when I was in junior high school. Back then we were allowed to select an elective, I wasn't able to sign up for my original selection so I ended up in the cultural anthropology class (if I remember correctly). There were only about ten or eleven of us in that class because part of the requirement was to spend about 10 days in Japan for a cultural immersion. According to my old passport we went at the end of October in 1990.

We attended Nihongo classes in a local school and attended some of their classes as well to observe. What was memorable though was staying with a Japanese family where we really experienced local life. I was with my class partner, La Raine who we had to nickname Bambi because our foster parents wanted a simpler name for her. We got really attached to them and they even sent us a copy of the video they took of us after our trip. I remember exchanging snail mail with their daughter for a couple of years, but I eventually lost touch with them (I probably still have her letters somewhere). Oh, and, of course, we went to Mt. Fuji for a night and we were all forced to experience the public bath (it's something unheard of in the Philippines).

During that time my Uncle Fumio and Tita Pet had moved back to Japan from Bacolod and they visited me at my foster parents house. I had been a flower girl during their wedding since I grew up with Tita Pet (my Mom's first cousin) at home. My foster parents were so overjoyed with the visit.

Fast forward to 2015, yes, that's how long I have not managed to visit Japan. I always wanted to go back. Sweetie and I got lucky last July when we were able to book promo fare tickets for the three of us. So here we are spending a few days in Japan staying with relatives. I have not seen my cousins for 8 years so it's truly a joy to spend time with them and catching up.

Narita Airport. (Photo from Tita Pet taken by Uncle Fumio.)

We arrived last December 30 and spent the day planning our itinerary for the rest of our stay and Uncle Fumio teaching us how to take the train. The highlight of the day was eating a gazillion sushi near their home. I absolutely loved the salmon sushi and ate countless plates (hahaha). Walking back to the house we passed by the supermarket to get some yummy matcha ice cream (it was divine!). (Jay's highlight of the day was eating rice again after 400 days!).

Jay eats rice again after 400 days!

Must have matcha ice cream!

One thing we didn't realize when we booked our tickets during a yolo moment was that it would be winter in Japan during our trip. What we saved on tickets we spent on buying winter clothes (for the boys mostly). Investing in Uniqlo Heattech undergarments is a must for your winter attire. Aside from that Uncle Fumio also told me to get pocket disposable heat pads, it's a must-have to survive cold weather (like my Dad I really don't like it when it's too cold).

Miguel sporting his snuggly warm winter jacket.

Jay eating ice cream at 2'C. Brrrrrr!

Tomorrow, new year in Japan and seeing a gigantic toy!

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