Jenn on the Go

Grandpa's Inn (Vigan, Ilocos Sur)

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:44:00 +0000

Grandpa's Inn
#1 Bonifacio St. cor. Quirino Blvd.
Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

Based on my experiences, buses arrive an hour after another, so I set up for us to visit the Sta. Maria Church within one hour so we can catch the next bus ride. I don't know what happened why we were actually on schedule, but the buses weren't. I particularly chose for us to ride Viron Transit as we would leave our luggage at the terminal and just come back at the terminal because we will travel back to Manila that night, too.

The bus arrived near 11am, so it was already 12nn when we arrived in Vigan City. From the terminal, we hoped to check the Pagburnayan, but it was closed for lunch, so we decided to have our lunch as well. I have been to Vigan many times, so I am always searching for something new. Days before the trip, I read about a fellow blogger's food trip at Grandpa's Inn, so we hailed a tricycle to take us to the place.

Since the tricycle took a route unfamiliar to me, I didn't know how to get there, but... after checking the map, the inn is very accessible from Calle Crisologo.

Getting inside, we were quickly amazed at how rustic the place look. We then asked ourselves if we can afford to stay overnight because it was just so beautiful.

The room for the Concierge was a room full of vintage stuff. At that time we weren't sure why there were so many people, but because of it we weren't able to take that much pictures as I was afraid people might take it negatively. Among the vintage stuff, these were my favorites - the set of analog telephones and the electric fan.

We managed to talk to the receptionist, but most of the rooms were already booked and they only had the rooms without en-suite bathroom. Ria and I decided we will just try our luck next time.

So okay, we went here for lunch. We were ushered to the Kusinas Felicitas, which was a big restaurant, but the table given to us was directly in front of the door. The idea of us checking the people coming in and out wasn't a good thought, so we asked if they still have different dining area. Thankful they still have.

This dining area was a bit small, but we appreciated that atmosphere. We quickly found a place and started browsing the menu. We were given three sets of menu, indicating that there were three food places here, but diners can order from any menu.

For our lunch we had two Ilocano dishes: Pinakbet with Bagnet and Igado. For our drinks, I went for my favorite Watermelon Shake while Ria went for Rambutan Shake. It was a very good lunch because both dishes were delicious. We certainly did a great decision of eating lunch here.

It was indeed a great experience. We listed this as one of our favorites in Vigan, and we were then looking forward to come back again.

Many Contemplate Foreign Vacations, as Olympics Approach

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Wed, 23 May 2012 08:51:00 +0000

Many Britons are considering fleeing the country in advance of the London Olympics, which are rapidly approaching. It is expected that thousands will flock to the UK’s capital from around the world to watch the events. The expected overcrowding and gridlock are causing many London residents to book vacations abroad.

A company of travel specialists, Travelex, has recently found that a full 36 percent of Britons who are going on vacation this summer are planning to do so to avoid the Games. And at least one in ten have actually booked a longer vacation than usual in order to stay away from the games.

Perhaps most surprising of all is that 170,000 parents are reportedly planning on taking their children out of school in order to avoid the Games and the perceived hassles that will come with them.

Among the reasons quoted by Brits planning on leaving the country in order to get away from the Olympics were the blanket coverage of the Games as well as the hordes of tourists which will descend on the capital. Some of those planning to leave are disaffected fans who lost out on tickets, the research found. The facts show that up to 250,000 Brits who applied for tickets ended up not being awarded any at all.

Whilst the Olympics should be a fantastic spectacle it seems that a large number of Brits would much prefer to watch it from afar", says Elvin Eldic from Travelex.
"The first few days of the school summer holidays are often among some of our busiest days in the holiday season both in terms of tourists coming into Britain and Brits leaving the country on holiday but we're fully expecting this year to be something else."

Many parents will be no doubt searching for low cost family holidays in order to avoid the Olympic rush.

Sta. Maria Church (Ilocos Sur)

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:03:00 +0000

Nuestra Senora Dela Asuncion Church
Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur

If it's just me on this trip, I would've stayed in La Union much longer because of the surfing break. However, I have a companion whose schedule didn't allow her to stay that long, it was time for us to get going. We left the house early today and although our main destination for today is the Heritage City of Vigan, I told her we would have a short side trip to Sta. Maria Church as I also want to revisit the church. At first she didn't have any idea what the church is, but upon telling her a little background about the church, she became excited to see it.

Getting to Sta. Maria Church, we asked the bus driver to drop us off at the church because at times, when there are no passengers going to the church, the bus will pass along the main highway and not turn to the road leading to the church. While we were dropped in front of the church, getting to the main church required us to take the stairs. About 85 steps... it wasn't a difficult climb as the steps were a bit small.

Built sometime in 1765 by the Augustinian Friars, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 1993. It was also one of the four baroque churches in the country, and the third of the four I have visited.

The hexagonal belfry looked similar to the one in Bantay Church (also in Ilocos Sur). Based on a blog I read, the belfry is not connected to the church so as to protect the main church during earthquakes.

Ria and I were blessed to see that the church is open when we got there, so immediately entered upon seeing that there was no church service that morning.

Like every Catholic church, there is a basin containing Holy Water. The church interior is simple, but I can just feel the history and the solemnity inside.

A closer at the altar. Simple yet elegant, right?

At the center of the altar is the image of Our Lady of Assumption, the church's patroness.

At the altar are more religious images, which we were allowed to see (there were some nuns who guided us). Going back, I saw this sight and thought I'd take a picture of it.

Years ago, I got to read a blog about a cemetery near the church, but I wasn't able to see it. It was also getting a little late in the morning, so we had to bid the nun farewell so we can carry on with our trip.

Surfing Break La Union 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:35:00 +0000

Urbiztondo Beach
San Juan, La Union
29 October 2010

Woot woot.... time to get this blog updated, even if the stories are sort of old already. :)

The main reason why I invited my friend Ria to travel with me was so we could attend the Surfing Break - an annual surfing festival happening in La Union every last weekend of October. The even runs for three days, but because we only had four days for this entire trip and we planned to visit a lot of places, so we decided we would just check out Day 1 of the festival.

We arrived just in time for them to formally start the festival. As always, balloons were flown, some important people introduced, and contestants for the Bikini Open were there, too. A group danced, and one unexpected guest dropped by... Jollibee!

Like the previous festivals, surfers were there to conduct surfing lessons. I sure want to try this, but I don't know how to swim and I am afraid to drown, so I guess it will take time before I can see myself doing the sport.

For some people, it was a day to enjoy the water and yes... to take pictures. Apart from the sports competition they had for the entire duration of the festival, they also had a photography contest - another part of the event I wish I can join, but I only own a point and shoot camera, so I still can't try my luck with these types of contests. Actually, part of me felt sad because even if I want to come near a subject and take pictures, some "photographers" would brush me off just because I was holding a p&s camera. Didn't I have the right to take pictures, too? Oh well, I guess some people do think highly of themselves.

Since all Ria and I could do was to stay on the shore and watch as people enjoy the waters, we just busied ourselves taking pictures. Well, my camera only had 4x optical zoom, stretching it to 16x digital zoom (if I remember correctly), so some of the shots didn't turn out good when it comes to the image quality.

It was way too sunny come late in the morning, so Ria and I left the area around 11:30 so we could eat early lunch. After that, we checked out Ma-Cho Temple (post about this will be up tomorrow).

About 4pm, we went back to the surfing site, and we were surprised to see the sand castles...er sand sculptures. I was a bit sad that we weren't able to see them build these, but it was amazing to see such great works of art.

We stayed 'til sundown. There was a scheduled bonfire and Bikini Open later that night, but we didn't book any room in the nearby resorts and getting a public transportation that will take us home would be difficult once it's night time, so we decided to leave... but we did eat dinner first before going home.

What's Up With Me?

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 06:49:00 +0000

Yeah, yeah... I haven't updated the site for so long now. Well, aside from juggling many things, I also got sick this past week (I still am not doing so good right now), but I am pleased to say that I was on the road last Holy Week and we visited Ilocos!

The full details of each of the places I visited will be shared in the future, though... but I am pleased to say that even if I am not traveling much, I didn't fully say goodbye to it. I still am out exploring places here in the Philippines.

Tonight, I will be on the road again - traveling to La Union as one of my dear cousins will get married. I will stay there 'til Wednesday, so updating this site will resume when I get home.

I am not sure if I will visit a new place while in La Union - that will depend on the schedule as I am more focused on the wedding and the preparations leading to the event - but hopefully this will be another productive visit, and hopefully I can meet up with a fellow blogger as I read he will be in Abra... I sure want to visit Abra, too.

Malaga, Spain

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 01:33:00 +0000

Beautiful Locations In Malaga

Malaga is one of the most beautiful and prominent cities in the country of Spain. It lies in the southern part of Andalucia and is characterized by a very warm and temperate climate. The city of Malaga is home to several outstandingly beautiful beaches. It is also filled with exquisite historical structures and buildings which are reminiscent of the city’s glorious historical past. There are lots of entertaining activities which tourists can engage in during their stay in the city of Malaga. While the city is served by a very efficient system of public transportation, you should make use of the Malaga airport car hire facilities to navigate the city in the best possible manner.

Shopping Facilities in Malaga

The city of Malaga has several traditional shopping locations which are very popular among travelers. One of the most famous shopping areas in the city is the old market square in the old town area. Apart from being crowded with historic buildings, the market square is a place where you can purchase local produce such as Spanish handicrafts and various other items. The prices at which items are sold over here are usually quite reasonable. There are also very upscale shopping areas in the city of Malaga where you can purchase the best international products such as branded clothes and shoes. If you use the airport rental cars, you will be able to travel quite conveniently to the different shopping areas in the city.

Nightlife in Malaga

The nightlife in the city of Malaga is quite legendary. The city boasts of a fantastic number of pubs and nightclubs which draw visitors not just from the city and country but also worldwide. The nightclubs in Malaga are characterized by excellent music played by the most professional deejays and wonderful alcoholic beverages. However, they are also quite expensive. If you are looking for budget entertainment in the city of Malaga you could pay a visit to the numerous pubs spread throughout the city. The pubs in Malaga also play live music and are also well known for the wonderful liquor which they provide their customers. If you opt for the rental car services in the city, you will find it quite easy to get to the prominent city hotspots in a convenient fashion.

Thus, Malaga is a very beautiful vacation destination for tourists from around the globe.

At the Boardwalk

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 06:42:00 +0000

On my last post, I shared with you guys images from Thunderbird Resorts in San Fernando, La Union. Yes, I do love how the resort looks, but apart from the resort, there is one much important reason why I try to go there whenever I am vacationing in La Union:

The view of the West Philippine Sea at the Boardwalk.

I won't go all text-y with this post... I will just let the pictures speak for themselves.

Best time to visit the area was during late afternoon where you can stay 'til sundown. Just be careful, though... there might be some twigs with thorns (as pictured above) scattered on the ground, you don't want to injure yourself like what happened to my foot. Ouch!

Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 02:29:00 +0000

Thunderbird Resorts - Poro Point
VOA Compound, Pennsylvania Avenue
San Fernando City, La Union
+63(72)888-7777

For it to look a bit like Santorini in Greece, the Thunderbird Resorts in Poro Point - San Fernando, La Union have attracted lots of tourists, some even choose this resort as their place to celebrate life events, especially weddings. When I told Ria that this resort is actually open to people to visit (but of course, just within the grounds), she asked if we could include it in our itinerary, and of course who am I to turn down a request like that, I want to visit the resort again anyway.

Former post about the resort can be read HERE, for this post, allow me to share new pictures:

Approaching the Lobby. From the gate, one still had to drive (or walk) a few meters before reaching the main building.

View From Above. At the balcony, one can see the pool area and the West Philippine Sea from afar.

Massage Area. Not really sure, but I heard the security guard mentioning about this area where in house guests can get their massage - with the great view of the sea. I took this at the boardwalk.

Dining Area. Back at the balcony, they have two food places, both will give you a view of the sea.

Sunset Watching. This is my favorite thing to do whenever I visit this place: sunset watching. It's a great way to end the day.

There are two ways to get there in case you don't have your own ride: by jeepney or tricycle. The jeepney is much cheaper, but do know that if you want to use the jeepney back to the heart of the city, please be at the jeepney stop before 6pm, otherwise you will need to take the tricycle, which is 3 times more expensive than the jeepney fare.

St. Augustine Church in Naguilian

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:05:00 +0000

St. Augustine Church

Naguilian, La Union
28 October 2010

Oh wow... life truly became overwhelming for me, but I was able to edit and upload quite a lot of pictures the past few days, so I am sure this blog of mine will be update regularly. Well, I do hope so - I have an upcoming trip come April and if I don't catch up with the updates, I will be in deep pit of back stories to write.

From Bauang Church, Ria and I took a jeepney to the next town: Naguilian. I always pass by this town whenever I travel to Baguio City, but I always just pass by it - I haven't fully given it time to go down and explore the town. Even if this will be both our first time, I find delight in doing something new. Hopping on the jeepney and asked the driver how much the fare will be, we also asked other passengers how to get to the church. Their answers were a bit vague and we missed the drop off point (the church isn't located along the main road), but we were able to locate it.

Facade. As what was written on Wikipedia,

"The Catholic Church in Naguilian was constructed in 1739 after the Spaniards established their authority thereat. The centennial of the Catholic Church was held in 1839 which marked the separation of the town of Naguilian from the town of Bauang."

I am not sure how much restoration / reconstruction was done to the church and which parts were still original, but from the outside, it looked sort of "new."

Church Interiors. Coming in, we realized that the church is actually still having restored. I couldn't tell if it was because a natural calamity visited the town and destroyed parts of the church, but from the looks of it, the roof is new as well...

... but the benches and other items in the church are from way way back, judging by how rustic it looked.

Altar, Up Close. Second wedding we witnessed for this day - so sweet!

Main Door. Took this on our way out of the church (this was the door where we entered). More changes needed to be done, but am sure in time the church will look much, much, better.

We didn't wait for the wedding to finish... since it was a wedding attended by just close family and friends, we just stayed at the back side of the church and had our own prayer time before leaving the church.

I am very much looking forward to re-visit the church to see the changes.

Saints Peter and Paul Church

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:08:00 +0000

Sts. Peter and Paul Church
Bauang, La Union
28 October 2010

This trip with Ria for today centers on different churches in La Union, just because the churches were the only spots I could take her, as I am not really that knowledgeable about where to go in La Union. Anyway, after our long and heavy lunch in San Fernando City, we took the bus going to the next town - Bauang.

Like the previous church I shared from my last post, I have already visited this church a few times already. To read a bit of the church's history and know their mass schedules, please refer to my old post by clicking HERE. For now, let me share the images I took from this day's travel:

Facade. I could've taken a landscape picture of the church, but we took the road located at the side of the church and it was scorching hot that day, so I just took this quick shot and quickly entered the church.

Aisle. I love the color motif of this church.

Interiors. The red bricks give the rustic feel, but the church looks modern in a way.

Adoration Chapel. Last time I visited the church, I wasn't able to take a picture of this, so I made sure I took one today.

Ria and I waited for a while before we entered the main church. The time we arrived, the church's doors were closed and we had to talk to the church staff to ask if we could enter. We actually waited for that person who had the keys to open the doors, but it was okay - we were able to rest and sort out the plans for the day.

We still have one more church to visit... will post that next time.

Second Time to Visit This Year

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

San Nicolas de Tolentino Church
Balaoan, La Union
28 October 2010

I am not sure if you notice it, but I only get to update this blog every Tuesdays. Well, with many things to do, editing images for this blog often takes the backseat, but since it's already 2012 and I am still stuck with 2010 travels, I sure hope that from here on out, I'd get to update this blog more than thrice per week, if not everyday.

Anyway, from Luna Church, Ria and I took the jeepney to Balaoan Church. We wanted this day as a church hop day, so even if there was a wedding going on, we sat at the last row and waited for the celebration to end before we took pictures.

Since this church is located near my paternal family's hometown, I have already visited the church from the past. To view certain details about the church's history and check other pictures I took, please click HERE.

For this post, I will just share images and talk little about each image:

Facade. The bell tower was detached from the main church, so taking a picture of the facade with the bell tower was so difficult, given the space provided.

Church Interiors. Nothing has changed since then.

Altar, Up Close. Very simple, but still beautiful.

Baptism Area. I think this something new from the series of pictures; am not sure though if this was a new addition to the church, or I just forgot to take a picture of it from my last visit.

Exterior Altar. I loved the colors then, I still love it now. :)

It was getting near lunch time, so as soon as we finished saying our prayers and taking pictures inside the church, we took a bus ride going to the capital city of San Fernando to eat lunch and continue our church hop from there.

It's More Fun in the Philippines!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:50:00 +0000

It's been 10 days since we welcomed 2012, and while I still am not finished sharing 2010 travels, I will take a little break and share this first...

About a few weeks ago, the Department of Tourism came up with a new travel campaign called "It's more fun in the Philippines." At first, it faced mixed-reactions, but what made me love this campaign is that everyone is invited to join and share in their pictures depicting why is it more fun in the Philippines. I for one was so excited about this!

A video of some images...

I don't own any of the pictures in the video, but watching this made me cry. I love the images and the witty captions these photographers. I so long to take part of the campaign, but I had a difficult time finding out what the font they used. Of the many pictures uploaded online, my top three favorites were: Social Climbing, Change of Address, and Getting Lost (that image not included in this video).

Just yesterday, my brother was able to find out what the font name for the slogan is, so this morning, I checked my folders and edited some pictures to take part of the campaign.

Like what I said on my Facebook page, I am a not a traveler who travels much, but I do take pride of my country and its diverse cultures. Give me two separate tickets - one for a foreign destination and one for a Philippine destination, I'd quickly grab the ticket for the local destination; not because I don't want to learn more of other cultures, but because I want to know more of my own cultures first. With that, here are my first set of images for the "It's more fun in the Philippines" campaign...

Calle Crisologo
Vigan, Ilocos Sur

This street has been preserved for tourists to have a feel of what it's like during the Spanish era - some hundreds of years ago.

Tangadan Falls
San Gabriel, La Union

That's my cousin and my sister enjoying the waters of the falls.

Mt. Pinatubo Crater Lake
Zambales

This man isn't just a tour guide - who will be with you every step of the way trekking to the crater of the volcano - he can also be your group's photographer. Cameras? Bring it on!

Mt. Pinatubo Crater Lake
Zambales

While out with friends yesterday, the first image came to mind for this campaign was this. This image captured my best travel moment so far.

Alona Beach
Panglao, Bohol

A random shot I took while on a boat.. I don't know how to swim, but I do hope to try this in the future. I want to leave all worries and be carefree!

Alona Beach
Panglao, Bohol

A child playing with fire... just whoa!

More and more pictures will be uploaded next time, promise.

If you're from the Philippines, or you have images from the Philippines that depicts the slogan "It's more fun in the Philippines," you are most welcome to join in the campaign to promote tourism in the Philippines.

The font name is Harabara, which you can download for free online. You can use whatever tagline / caption for image you want to use, but of course... the wittier, the better. It's up to you if you want to put your own watermark (to give credit to yourself as the owner of the image), but for this, I personally didn't include one as I want the focus to be on the images.

You can share your images on your own web space, but you can also share them at the It's More Fun in the Philippines Facebook Page. Also, please change the image name of your images (from "IMG###.jpg" to "shower-its-more-fun-in-the-philippines.jpg" - change "shower" to what the image was about) so that when people search for "It's more fun in the Philippines", it will be easy to search.

This early, I am seeing more and more images of people using the slogan, and I sure am happy that even if there were still some people bashing the campaign, there are more people happily participating in helping the tourism here in the Philippines.

Gifts from the Sea

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Pebble Beach
Luna, La Union
28 October 2010

Nearby the Baluarte, we got to see so many pebbles and big stones scattered along the shore. I know that the town of Luna is known for its pebbles - some are even exported, if I heard it correctly.

Many folks - old and young gather pebbles along the shore. Some of them have specific size to gather, depending on what was asked for them to gather. They are paid per each bucket of pebbles filled; the man I talked to said to me that he will be paid 10 pesos per each bucket delivered to the station.

This man gathers the super small pebbles - which will be delivered to different construction supplies shop. It was such a hot and sunny day, so even if Ria and I wanted to check the whole stretch of the shore to see the workers and maybe talk to them, we just couldn't.

This man was already quite old to work, but he told us gathering stones wasn't that difficult to do - as the waters of the sea gives them the pebbles - they will just have to choose and pick the ones they needed. Of course, the difficult part of the job was to carry the buckets to the station, but I am sure this man can ask help from other workers.

The pebbles are gifts from Mother Nature, so tourists can actually pick whatever pebble they fancy. Ria got herself one medium sized rock, while I took these pebbles - because they're of different colors and I could place them on our ornamental pots at home.

Knowing just how close this place is from the church, I think I will always drop by this beach whenever I travel to this town. The beach itself is not suitable for swimming and dipping (because of the pebble gathering), but we were told there is a resort somewhere for tourists who wanted to enjoy the waters.

The Leaning Watch Tower of Luna

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:28:00 +0000

Baluarte
Luna, La Union
28 October 2010

Like what I have said last post, I have been in Luna Church for a few times already, but whenever I travel there, there's one thing about Luna I wanted to see - the Baluarte, or the Watch Tower.

I don't know the full history of this watch tower, but as far I know it was erected to guard against ships wanting to enter the territory. It has been there for many centuries, made using corals, adobe, lime, and egg whites. Because of its age and that there wasn't much towers existing today, this one is one of the town's tourist spots.

One interesting factor about the watch tower is how it looks in the present times. Since it was erected near the sea and sand didn't give it much of a good foundation, the tower basically was split in half. Even as it is, the tower is still very much holding its position... and maybe the planks of cement outside the tower helps the other half from falling apart.

A tree inside the tower was really an interesting sight adding drama to the already dramatic facade.

Of course, I didn't pass up the chance to have my picture taken, thanks to Ria, my companion. I was basically her tour guide as it was her first time in La Union, but what made this trip so interesting is that this was my first time to see the Baluarte and even if I was the one guiding her, us discovering things about the place made this trip truly memorable.

If you plan to see this leaning watch tower, you can walk from the church - it was a long walk, but it won't make you real tired, but if you don't fancy some walking, you can ride the tricycle. Just be sure to tell your driver to wait for you (if you don't plan to stay long in the area), because going back to the church may require you to walk as there weren't that much tricycles coming here, especially if there weren't that much tourists.

Ria and I stayed around 30 minutes here... tomorrow, I'd show you pictures from the Pebble Beach.

First Item on Our List

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:50:00 +0000

St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish
(Shrine of Our Lady of Namacpacan)
Luna, La Union
28 October 2010

Ria and I only had four days for this trip, so we had to cover as much today because tomorrow's itineraries are already fixed; we only have this full day in La Union to go around.

I asked if she was okay with a church hop, and I was glad she was. I listed many places for us to go to, and first on the list was the Shrine of Our Lady of Namacpacan in the town of Luna. Asking my aunt about a different route going to the church, she and my niece Louianne (read: Lo-Weyn) suggested we take a jeep to Darigayos, but they weren't that confident about the route (as we might get lost), so we just took the known route: taking the bus to the town of Balaoan then a tricycle ride to the town of Luna. This being a weekday, there weren't much people going to church, so we had to take the tricycle for ourselves. Fare was supposedly 10 pesos each, but since we had to pay for the whole ride, each of us had to pay 25 pesos each, because each tricycle has to carry 5 passengers.

Facade. I wanted to take Ria to a spot where we could see the facade from above, but the gate near the church's entrance was locked. We just had to take a picture from the ground, but it was better than nothing.

Our Lady of Namacpacan. The image of Our Lady of Namacpacan is one of the main reasons why tourists come to visit this church. To know more about the image and how this church became her home, please click HERE.

Near the area, there was a logbook where guests can write their prayers and intentions. I did write a letter for my own sake, but most of my prayers were for my mom.

Church's Interiors (from above). After writing our intentions, a mass was celebrated. It was a special mass - for there was a group of church org members from Pangasinan. Since the mass was in English, we stayed and celebrated with them as well. After the mass, it was basically time for us to leave as well, but seeing the staircase near the choir loft, we just went up to see this view.

Adoration Chapel. For people who would like to spend a time "alone" with God; well, there is a big possibility that other people will enter, too, but at least it was somewhat secluded, and the other people in the room are praying deep, too... no need to worry about people walking around.

Mini-Museum. Outside the church was the souvenir shop and the miraculous well. While buying some items, Ria told me about a signage she saw - for the museum. I have visited this church numerous times, but this was the first time I heard about the museum and of course, I didn't pass the chance to go and check it out. Here they showcase different clothes worn by the image of Our Lady of Namacpacan, as well as different items related to the church.

It was a great way to open the day. Hearing God's words as well as see something new... it gave us much confidence that this will be a very great day.

Sunset at Paratong Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 06:38:00 +0000

Paratong Beach
Bacnotan, La Union
27 October 2010

Since 2008, it has been my personal tradition to travel to La Union every last weekend of October not just to light a candle on daddy's grave for All Saints / Souls Day, but also to witness the Surfing Break - an annual surfing festival at the town next to my paternal hometown. I got to talk about this trip to our neighbor and good friend Ria and since she still hasn't witnessed the Surfing Break yet, she told me she will travel with me.

We did eat breakfast / morning snacks before we traveled, and by 10am or so, we were already on the road.

On a Road Trip! Ria and I took the Viron Bus from Cubao to La Union. The whole trip took around 7 hours, with three stops - one in Tarlac province, another in Pangasinan, and the last at La Union - at the capital city of San Fernando.

Along the town of San Juan in the province of La Union, we could see the sun setting already, so we decided to go to Paratong Beach first (with our luggage) before going to our house.

Fishing Village. I was quite surprised to see the Fishing Village changed locations, but I was told it was because of the typhoons that visited the country. Still, even if living conditions were tough on the fishermen and their families, life is goes on for them.

Sunset. Sunset at this beach has always been dramatic - if the skies allow it. I was thankful that the skies were clear that day, giving us a very wonderful view of the sunset. Of course, we did take turns in taking pictures of us, but the pictures were shared on my Facebook.

Where Did My Feet Take Me? Normally, I visit the beach near the end of my La Union vacation because it was basically a walk away (a long walk, if I may say so) from our house, but it was a good change that I got to start this vacation by seeing the sunset.

The beach may not be that clean, it may not be at par with the tourist-infested beaches, but visiting this beach will always be something special.

On a Tiger Safari

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 04:30:00 +0000

Zoobic Safari
Group I Ilanin Forest
Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Philippines
(+63)929-7072222 | Telefax: +63 (47)252-2272
25 October 2010

Visiting this place was a dream come true. Thanks to a promotion my mom's friends at work saw online, they decided to avail of it so they could enjoy a day out of town together. My mom gave me a call and asked me if I wanted to come... and of course I didn't hesitate anymore; it was my chance to set foot in Zambales!

It was a rainy day, but that didn't stop us from traveling. It was still raining a bit when we got there, which made us cancel some plans (like visiting the Aeta Village and/or Ocean Adventure... but the thought of visiting Zoobic Safari was enough to make us happy this day came.

The Zoobic Safari is a 25-hectare safari located at the former US Naval Magazine in Subic. With the help of Subic Bay Metropolitan Area (SBMA) and the Yupangco Group of Companies, this park came to life to showcase different kinds of animals - both wild and farm animals.

They offer different tours and packages, and since mom's colleagues took care of our tickets, I just stayed and them and wait there this day will take me.

We were asked to stay at the reception area where a guide welcomed us and gave us a teaser of what lies ahead. Aside from the guidelines given to us, some Aetas also performed cultural dances. Nearby were cages with some tigers, which made us snap some pictures, but of course, they didn't allow photographers to use flash as this might distract the tigers and cause them to panic.

First place we visited was the Serpentarium. Just walking distance from the reception area, this room showcases different cold-blooded animals - like snakes and lizards - enclosed in their own terrariums.

After that... it was time for us to hop on the orange train, which took us to different locations:

Dear Deer...

...Animal Care Clinic...

... and the Forbidden Cave. Entering the Forbidden Cave reminded me of Zoori's World at the Enchanted Kingdom (which by the way, is by the Yupangco Group of Companies as well). It was quite dark inside, and my mom and her friends stopped by a bit to check out a real snake.

After that, it was time for that one thing we've all been waiting for. The Tiger Safari ride. It was a bit difficult to be inside the jeep filled with people, but they do accommodate people in groups. At that time, we thought we should've just divided the group into two, because the other jeep carried only 5 people - more space for them to find their spot while taking pictures.

These were the closest I got to a tiger in the "wild." Each group can opt to feed the tiger with chicken (p250 pesos per chicken), but of course, there will be one park staff inside the jeep to ensure the guests' safety.

If the Safari wasn't enough, then the Close Encounter will give you more chance to come near the tigers, though the animals were inside the cage. The smell here wasn't really that pleasant, but the park staffs do try their best to sanitize the place and keep it as clean as possible. Although... you have to pray you get out of this place as dry as possible, because my mom and her friend's husband had a little pee spray from the tiger. Gross, but it sure cracked us all up. :)

The Savannah features farm animals such as chicken, pigs, and ostriches among others. The ostriches at the moment go through their phase of shedding some feathers, which according to our guide is totally normal. The train just passed by this area, we didn't come down anymore.

The train then took us to the Animal MuZOOeum, a place filled with different animal bone structures and fur - for academic purposes.

Last stop for the tour was the Croco Loco, which was amazing and quite scary place (for me) because we got to walk on a metal bridge which can make us see the crocodiles under. This picture was my favorite because it looked as if the crocs were in a middle of a meeting and the one at the upper right side of the picture was speaking his thoughts out. :)

It was a blessing that when we started the tour, the rains stopped and poured again right after we left Croco Loco. However, because of the rains, we immediately left the area to go look for a place to eat at before we went to PureGold to buy some imported goods.

This was a very memorable day for me, but I still am hoping to visit the place again and maybe check out other attractions nearby.

A Short Photowalk with Brother

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:18:00 +0000

Manila City
07 October 2010

Brother and I left Manila South Harbor a little past 4PM, and since we were on tight budget, brother decided for us to walk until we find the road where we could catch a bus ride home. When we visited MS Doulos a year back, we would walk from the pier to UN Avenue LRT Station, but today we took a different route. Asking him why, he just said, "Just because."

Between my siblings and I, I am the one who has the most desire to roam around (though all of us loves to travel), yet I am the one who has no sense of directions. Whenever I planned a trip with any of my siblings, I just tell them the plan, and they're the ones who would take me there. I may be "Dora the Explorer," but they're my Maps. :)

Anyway, this was a new road for me, so I took out my camera to take pictures...

Monument. I sure don't know what's the name of this, but it sure looked interesting.

The Aquinos. The former senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. was known as a Marcos opposition, and when he was shot dead at the tarmac of Manila International Airport (now called Ninoy Aquino International Airport), it caused people to march out and protest to oust the former President Marcos. Soon after, his widow Corazon Aquino became the country's President.

A Secret Museum? Near PLM (Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila), we saw windows showing some old stuff, and since the windows only had iron grills, I was able to put my hand (with camera) inside to get a clear picture.

Looking Up. One of the things I learned from doing photowalks was to look to the right, left, down and up... for there might be interesting views in different angles. A plant growing on wall? That's interesting!

Brother's Surprise. In one old episode of "Landmarks" (NET25), they showed an episode devoted to Intramuros. It featured this very awesome sight - taken at Baluarte de San Diego. My dear K is flying to the Philippines from UK in a few weeks, and I wanted to show him that, so brother took me here so I would know how to get there on foot. Awww... am touched!

Unfortunately, we weren't able to come inside because doing so, we need to pay p70 (nearly 2USD) each for the ticket, something brother didn't want to pay up (he said he'd rather buy softdrinks and wait for me outside), but I didn't want him to wait outside, and I didn't have enough to cover both our tickets, so we just left. At least I know now how to get there.

My Brother. One of the last pictures I took, before I put back my camera in my bag.

I love walking around with my brother (even if he walks way too faster than I am) because he always take different routes that allows me to see different things. We don't get to travel together that much, but whenever we have the chance, we always grab it. My family sure is so awesome!

Galeon Andalucia

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:55:00 +0000

Pier 13
Manila South Harbor
07 October 2010

Galleons were huge sailing ships used for war and to transport goods from country to country. Having been under the Spaniards some centuries ago, Manila became the center of the galleon trade.

When we heard about the news of the Galeon Andalucia docking here in the Philippines, brother and I quickly planned to see it in person.

We knew the galleon will be open to public at 2pm - 4pm, so we went to eat lunch first, but when we got to the Manila South Harbor around 12:45pm, we were surprised to see a long line of people who wanted to see the galleon, too.

Inside the room, we were given color-coded stickers, for them to know which batch were we part of. As much as there were people who wanted to see the galleon, the staff gave priorities to groups of students who came, as this was part of their history lessons. Waiting for our turn wasn't boring at all; some history teachers shared their knowledge to the public, and I got to learn new things just by listening to what they shared.

Around 3pm, our batch was finally ushered to see the galleon. It was a long walk from the room where we got our stickers, but when we saw the galleon, the wait was so worth it.

Some details about Galeon Andalucia, taken from WikiPilipinas:

The NCCA (National Commission for Culture and the Arts) described Galeon Andalucia as a 95 percent replica of the original galleons used during the Galleon Trade.
Designed by Ignacio Fernandez Vial. It was built by the Nao Victoria Foundation out of Spanish, Finnish, African, and American pine and oak wood, unlike the original galleons, which were made of Philippine wood. Its sails, however, were made in the Ilocos region in the Philippines.
Its length is 47 meters while its breadth is six meters, and it weighs 495 tons. Its maximum speed is 12.4 knots (23 kilometers per hour). It has four masts, seven sails and ten cannons.
The flags of the Philippines, Spain and the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia, where the galleon was built, are hoisted on the galleon.
Galeon Andalucia is primarily wind-powered, but has two built-in engines that are used when necessary. It has a 30-man draft composed of Spanish crewmen.

The laid out a route for guests to follow, and here were pictures I took outside the galleon:

The bell.

Sails all rolled up; sky was a bit gloomy.

Anchor.

That's me; I asked brother to take a picture of me... I am not really into having my pictures taken while I am on the go, but this is certainly a once in a lifetime moment, so when I saw the wheel without any person touching it, I grabbed the chance to have my picture taken.

After a quick tour outside, we were ushered inside the galleon. Some pictures:

A look at their bedroom; there weren't much space as we weren't allowed to come inside.

Possibly the living area... they do have another room with a long table and several chairs, maybe used for meetings.

The mess hall.

A row of cannons, but for sure these are just for display.

VIPs arriving. While inside the galleon, the staffs asked us if we could hurry up because several VIPs were arriving and they wanted the galleon empty.

While on the grounds of the pier, people were allowed to stay for as long they wanted, so brother and I stayed for a while. We saw people dressed up in costumes, and we thought they would perform for the VIPs, but they didn't. Anyway, am not sure if the Galeon Andalucia will be back on Philippine shores, but when they do, I'd make sure I give it another visit.

This was 07 October, the galleon stayed in Manila until 11 October, then it sailed to Cebu and Bohol before it left the country on 25 October 2010.

Home of Our Lady of the Rosary of La Naval

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:41:00 +0000

Shrine of Our Lady of La Naval
Sto. Domingo Church
537 Quezon Ave., Quezon City
+63 (02)743-7756; +63 (02)743-2124
07 October 2010

It was a day that brother and I planned to go to Manila South Harbor to visit the Galeon Andalucia. I was all set to see the galleon, but I was surprised when brother told the bus conductor that we will get off at Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City. I still haven't taken pictures of the church, yet (but I have visited it once a few years ago), so I was glad brother was quick to think of a side trip to maximize our day. At the same time, it was also a good way to say our prayers.

The Sto. Domingo Church first started as a church made in wood in Intramuros, Manila. When in collapsed in 1589, it was renovated and was then made in concrete, but after much destruction after the World War 2, the church was relocated in Quezon City. Called as the home of Our Lady of the Rosary or Our Lady of La Naval, it celebrates its feast day every second Sunday of October.

The triangular murals are by Carlos Francisco. There are rectangular murals above each pair of the triangular murals, which was done by Antonio Garcia Llamas. The church is considered one of the biggest in the Philippines, with total floor area of 3400 sq. meters, enough to house 7000 people.

The image is credited for having saved the city from a Dutch invasion in 1646. The image is nearly 5 feet tall and was made from hard wood. It's face and hands however, was made from ivory.

Surrounding the interior of the church are stained-glass windows depicting the 15 mysteries of the rosary were made by Galo Ocampo.

These carriages are used for processions / parades, big religious images are placed on top of each of the carriage so people don't have to carry it.

Taking pictures inside are allowed. Actually, when brother and I arrived, a mass was just about to finish, and since there was a break before the next mass started, church goers (including us) used the time to come near the altar and take pictures. Of course, as soon as the mass started, people just respect the celebration and stop taking pictures and focus on the celebration. Please click HERE if you want to know the mass schedule of this church.

Brother and I didn't hear the mass anymore; after taking pictures, we just found a place for ourselves to say our own prayers in silence. After that, we just headed to Ma Mon Luk to eat early lunch before going to the pier.

September 2010 Food Trips

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:26:00 +0000

Rounding up the food trips for September 2010. Please click the links under the pictures should you want to read the full food trip experience written on my food blog, Tara, Let's Eat!

Greenwich
SM City North EDSA, Quezon City
04 September 2010

I was blessed to be a part of NomNom Foodie Club, and today the club celebrated its first anniversary. Apart from the attendees' choice of pasta (I went for the carbonara), we were also served four types of pizza. Omnommomnom!

MXT - Maxim's Tea House
SM City Fairview, Quezon City
11 September 2010

It's grocery time for mom and I, but we went to eat lunch first. We didn't plan to eat at MXT, but when mom and I passed by the restaurant, it brought back memories from the past, and not only did we enjoy the foods, we also enjoyed the stories we exchanged.

Green Mango
SM City Fairview, Quezon City
11 September 2011

After doing the grocery shopping, mom asked if we could have some snacks, but we were still quite full from the lunch, so we just had a small cup of Fro-Yo (Frozen Yogurt) at Green Mango.

Mr. Jones
Greenbelt 5, Makati City
14 September 2010

Mom's birthday was a day ago, but it was this day that the family went to celebrate it, by using the GCs I won from a contest. It felt good eating "rich" food for a change. :)

Mexicali
SM City Fairview, Quezon City
16 September 2011

Mom and I went to the mall again, and we got to see our neighbor Ria, so mom invited her to eat snacks with us. My siblings didn't like Mexican food that much, so it was my time to suggest Mexicali. I was a bit apprehensive letting mom eat Mexican food, but I was thankful she loved it.

The Chapel at the Heart of the City

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 02:05:00 +0000

Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel
Greenbelt - Ayala Center, Makati City
+63 (02)729-8173 / +63 (02)729-8174
14 September 2010

Thankful to the GCs I won a few months back, the family decided to use it for mom's birthday celebration. After the sumptuous lunch at Mr. Jones, we thought it was still very early to travel back home, so we just roamed around Greenbelt so mom could see the place, too. She rarely travels this far (as her office is just 15 minutes away from home), and it was a great time to show mom different parts of the Metro.

Walking around, we saw the chapel from afar, and being Catholics, we decided to enter the chapel to say our prayers of gratitude, especially for another year in mom's life.

Inspired by the St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, the chapel was inaugurated in 1983. The structure was designed by The structure was designed by Architect Willie Fernandez, and then enhanced by Jess Dizon, who rendered the circular pattern of the building. Noted glass sculptor, Ramon Orlina, fabricated the ceiling, tabernacle, altar, and the cross at the entrance, the sacristy, and the God the Father image on the dome. (Source)

I worked in Makati City years ago, but I never really had the chance to visit this chapel because of my schedule. Sure, during my day shift (8am - 3pm), I had ample time to visit, but because our house was way too far from here, all I wanted then was to get home as early as possible. It took me about three more years after I resigned before I finally set foot inside the chapel, and it didn't made difference as to how I felt back then and now... I still am in awe of the place.

Aiming to provide a place of worship for the busy office employees / working people as well as residents of Makati City, Eucharistic Celebration is held several times daily:

Monday to Friday - 7:15am | 12:15nn | 5:45pm | 7:00pm
Saturdays - 12:15nn | Anticipated Mass - 4:30pm | 7:00pm
Sundays - 7:15am | 9:00am | 10:30am | 12:00nn | 3:00pm | 4:30pm | 6:00pm | 7:30pm

It was already past 1:00pm when we entered the chapel, but we couldn't wait for the 5:45pm mass, so we just said our own prayers before we continued our roam around.

Our feet took us to Landmark, where we spent the entire afternoon shopping for kitchen wares. Then we headed home. It was a nice change of pace - celebrating mom's birthday like this.

Mt. Pinatubo Trek

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:17:00 +0000

*** pausing my posts to make way for this one. ***

When I signed up for the "Akyat Pinatubo" organized by Let's Go Sago, I was so excited that I forgot to read blog posts sharing stories about the whole experience. From what I read on Let's Go Sago's site, the trek "is mostly flat lands," so I didn't feel the need to prepare for it.

When we reached the tourism office in Capas, we were divided into groups of five for the 4x4 ride. Each jeep had its own tour guide, and even if we had so much fun during the ride, I wasn't really prepared for what I will go through for the next hours.

It is true that the trek was mostly "flat lands," but I didn't realize it would be that long and difficult. At first, I was happily trekking with my sister and our other companions, but because of my built (I didn't exercise days prior to the trip...heck, it has been months since I last exercised!), it quickly drained my strength. I told sister to go on ahead and I will just catch up, but one person didn't left my side: our tour guide.

While walking, he asked me to assess myself and think deeply if I could manage the whole trek to the crater of Mt. Pinatubo. He further told me that it would be best if I quit now while we were still near the parking area of the 4x4 jeeps, because it might be difficult for me if I had to quit halfway. I told him that I signed up for this and it was a dream of mine to see a volcano's crater, so I will continue, no matter how long it would take me. He admired my focus, and assured me that he will be with me every step of the way.

He told me that the whole trek is more or less 10 kilometers. While many people can finish a 10km marathon in less than 2 hours, what made the trek more difficult were the elements: rains, cold wind... then scorching heat. Aside from that, we had to watch our every step as the rocks were a bit loose and one wrong step might cause one to slip and get injured.

Halfway through the trek, I had a very bad leg cramps (mainly because of the cold water stream). It was so bad that I couldn't make a step anymore, but the tour guide was with me - he even wrapped my leg with bandage and massaged my leg so I could go on.

I stopped every now and then and watching people pass us by made me feel bad (truly, I have abused myself for allowing me to be this big), but the tour guide has showered me with much encouragement.

Along the way, we talked about life, family, and other matters. I learned about his struggles as a Mt. Pinatubo tour guide, and we got to share inspirational stories about life.

Three and a half hours later, we finally reached the crater. As much as my sister applauded me for making it, the tour guide was happy that I didn't give up. This trek, taking aside the picturesque aspect of it, was more of self journey for me. Sure, I got to exchange stories with the tour guide, but I got to talk to myself more, listen to the woes of my heart and be reminded of just how much God loved me.

photo credit - Recycle Bin of a Middle Child
Aside from the tour guide, this trip also allowed me to travel with other bloggers, who I met for the first time. Some of them eventually became online pals, so all in all, this trip covered so much.

We only got to stay an hour at the crater, and because I knew how long it would take me to do the trek, I decided to leave the crater early, so it will give me time to pace myself. However, I still arrived at the 4x4 jeep parking area last.

The trek was a test of faith and endurance (at least for me). But one thing's for sure: I will never, ever forget that during one of life's tests, there was a person who was willing to stay with me and understand me every step of the way.

- * - * - * -

This post is my entry for Pinoy Travel Bloggers' Blog Carnival for July 2011 with the theme "Unforgettable Human Encounters on the Road" hosted by Marky Ramone Go.

Quezon Memorial Circle

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:40:00 +0000

Quezon Memorial Circle

Elliptical Road, Quezon City

12 September 2010

Continuing with the flow of stories here on my blog... after I blogged about the Quezon Museum, let me now show you changes at the park that I am very happy about.

That day, Nathalie and I decided to meet up to take pictures around the park. It had been a while since I last went there, and actually... the last time I was there, the place looked lonely and bare - more like a big chunk of land where a few people go to. Excited about this photo walk, we decided to meet in the morning so we can cover many things.

Underpass. I passed by Commonwealth Avenue going to the park, and from Philcoa, I didn't have to wait for the road to be clear before I could cross... this underpass sure was a great change to prevent road accidents involving pedestrians crossing the road going to the park.

Circle of Joy. One part of the park now have many of these play areas made of hard plastic. They covered the ground with faux grass so that kids won't get wounded should they stumble while running. As a way of protecting the faux grass, kids were asked to take off their shoes.

Personally, I love these play areas made from hard plastic. When I was young, the slides and swings were made from metal, which can really cause a lot of injuries.

Getting Fit. This scene wasn't really that new, as the park has been known for big groups to do their fitness routines, but because of the good changes, more and more groups are now going to the park to dance, do aerobics...or just jog.

Circle of Fun. If the other side of the park had play areas, the other side had a small theme park called Circle of Fun. Entrance to the theme park cost only 20 pesos per person, really cheap... but the downside is that, you have to pay tickets for each of the ride you wish you take. I think one ride also cost 20 pesos per ticket.

At Night. A day in the park continues until night time, because of this attraction. The fountain goes on all day... but as much as it looks pretty during daytime, it sure looked much better come night time. Aside from that, the monument also lights up (it changes colors every minute), attracting people in the park.

It was a weekend when we went there, and the park was flocked with so many people! Well, with these many changes, the park is now starting to feel alive. As of this writing, I know there is also a weekend market in the park, something that I am interested of checking one of these days.

A Very Quick Cebu-Bohol Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Valmonte) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 11:31:00 +0000

I got home afternoon of 31 August, but there were so many things I needed to attend to, so I wasn't able to update this until today.

This will be a very quick recap, so let me just paste my wishlist and talk about it.

CEBU

Do the Sky Walk at the Crown Regency Hotel.

Not only did we do the Sky Walk, we were also able to ride the Edge Coaster.

Take a picture of the "Heritage of Cebu."

Sadly, I wasn't able to see even the glimpse of this.

Eat lechon Cebu.

I was able to, but not in Cebu, but in Bohol. The day we traveled to Bohol from Cebu, our host in Cebu bought some lechon for us to take, and we ate it for lunch when we arrived in Bohol. I couldn't compare it to other lechon because it wasn't that fresh anymore - the skin wasn't crispy anymore, but it was also good.

Buy at least 5 Cebu food items (for my food blog).

I was able to buy some food products from Shamrock - Baked Polvoron, Otap, Hojaldres, and Rosquillos... as well as a pack of Dried Mango Balls.

Do at least one Cebu food trip, not including the one at Larsian.

Was able to eat at a small food place in Simala, as well as eat dinner at a hotel (buffet). :)

Visit the IT Park.

Time in Cebu just wasn't enough.

BOHOL

See the dolphins.

We weren't able to see that much, but I did get to see them. Happiness!

Do a much more extensive photo-coverage of each of the tourist spots, including the churches.

Visited lesser churches than in my 2008 Bohol travel, but I was able to visit one new church - the one in Panglao.

Take more tarsier pictures.

There weren't that much tarsiers at the sanctuary we visited, but thankful now that my pictures were much better than the ones I took in 2008.

Cross the hanging bamboo bridge in Loboc.

Thankfully, the van service c/o Dumaluan Beach Resort (where we stayed at) included this place in their itinerary.

Buy at least 5 Bohol food items (for my food blog).

Only got to buy three food items: Peanut Kisses, Star Peanuts, and Tajada.

Though the time spent in Cebu wasn't enough to cover places I hoped mom could visit, I was happy with this trip because I got to try something new, and I was able to visit new places. As for the trip in Bohol, I just love it so much! The adventures I experienced there was priceless.

Of course, it would take time before I could share you the stories... tomorrow, let me go back on track and share more of my 2010 travels.