Philippines Vacation Blog

Not So Friendly Skies

We got to the NAIA with plenty of time to spare. Compared to my previous departures from Manila, the lines weren't as long and things were a little bit more organized and systematic. I did notice a few changes on how the airport operates especially when going through security checks. It was not as time consuming and irritating as it used to be. Kudos to them for the improvement.

The flight from Manila to Taipei   was uneventful as it only lasted about 2 hours. The next leg of the trip was the killer of all. The plane was fairly new with all the entertainment (your own TV screen, movies and music on demand, games) that could make the long flight tolerable. The only and biggest problem was the insufficient leg room and cramped seats. We were unable to obtain seats with enough leg room for the guys so it was quite a pain for them to sit there for hours. We would gladly trade in the in-flight entertainment with better seats. I didn't get any sleep at all.

The layover at LAX was a lot longer than expected. The AA plane had some engine trouble and was being checked on. If I wasn't too tired and sleepy, I probably would have been too scared to board that plane. I was finally able to catch a nap on our way to Chicago. I think I'm going to stay away from planes for a long time ;-)

The Day Before Take-Off

I struggled getting up this morning. I only had about 5 hours of sleep after I finished packing up for our flight to Manila. Mariah's mother came with us to the airport to send us off. I wished my family were there too. I promised Mama I will give her a call once we get to Manila and also before leaving for the US.

We got checked in at the Mandarin Oriental and got upgrades in our room accommodations. We had a late lunch at their restaurant, the Paseo Uno, after which we decided to buy some souvenirs at the nearby mall, Glorietta. One thing I didn't like about shopping in the Philippines was the tendency of sales clerks to hover while you're browsing around. I appreciate the assistance but it could get really annoying and obtrusive for me who's not used to it anymore. It took away a lot of the enjoyment when I felt pressured and watched. Kenny felt the same way too. For some reason, sales people swarmed down on him when we were out shopping for shoes for him last weekend. Some really got embarrassingly pushy and downright rude. Whenever we were inside a store, he avoided them like plague.

I highly recommended the Oriental Spa at the Mandarin Oriental. It is located on top of the hotel. A short flight of stairs leads to an Oriental-style landscaped garden and relaxation area where the four private rooms are located. One of these rooms is specially designed for couples. There's also a relaxation lounge - perfect for drifting slowly back to the real world.

This was my main reason in rallying to stay here for the night. We all got a late night schedule for our massages so it was even better. Mariah and I got ours together in the couple's room while the guys got theirs in individual rooms. We were so lethargic after the treatments that we can hardly keep our eyes open on our way back to our rooms. The guys apparently experienced the same. When asked, they admitted that the Oriental Spa was a tad better than the one at Plantation Bay. The tranquil and healing experience will hopefully prepare us for the long journey ahead.

Up and Away

It was a pretty hot and humid day so we decided to stay away from the morning sun. We signed up to take another snorkeling trip in the afternoon and scheduled  parasailing at a later time. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do the later but I'll try to muster enough courage to do that. Unfortunately, Mariah wasn't able to join us as she had an appointment at the salon for about 5 hours! Also, her mother will be coming back and will be checking in at the resort as well.

Our boat trip was a bit delayed and it was only the three of us who were booked to go.  It was kinda nice to feel like we chartered our own boat or something. Anyway, we were soaking up the experience for the last time.  Everything seemed okay until Kenny and I came back up on the boat for a quick break.  There were a few men who boarded the boat while we were out on the water. Some of them started asking us seemingly harmless curious questions but as the exchange went on, a few of them started selling us their wares. They were showing us jewelries and accessories and at the same time dropping not so subtle hints that this was their means of livelihood. We felt a little intimidated and pressured into buying and when I asked about the prices, they quoted some ridiculous amount for stuff that we can buy dime a dozen somewhere else. They were not menacing but I didn't feel comfortable turning them away. Kenny invited me to go back snorkeling with him again as he sensed the uneasiness in me. The men were still there when we finally got back on the boat so I just blurted apologetically that I wasn't interested to buy and practically urged the boat operator to start heading back ASAP as we had the parasailing scheduled at a certain time.

The parasailing was quite an experience.  I was definitely anxious and my stomach was in knots when we got on the speed boat. Kenny and I went up together at 150 feet. He admitted he was scared of heights but was more excited to go for it. It was indeed a very exhilarating experience and I wouldn't mind doing it again. I was apprehensive when we first went up but once there, I was astounded at how peaceful and beautiful it was, being able to look over the breathtaking panoramic view before us. It was definitely a moment to cherish, more so because I shared it with Kenny.

Tom went up next at 250 feet and was joined by another Fil-American girl named Genevieve. They looked like they had a great time out there too. I gave her my email address so she can email me and I could send her the pictures we took.

It was another afternoon full of fun. I wish we have another day to spend on more water sports activities, but alas! We're due to leave for Manila tomorrow then back to the states on Monday. We went back to our rooms to clean up and made plans for dinner. Kenny asked if we could eat at the Italian restaurant, the Palermo. The food was well prepared and the ambiance was likable. There was even a pianist playing while we were dining. Mariah's mother was definitely digging the vibe and was perhaps a little tipsy from her drink. Can't blame her since I felt a little buzzed from the white wine myself.

We made our hotel reservations at Mandarin Oriental for tomorrow and beelined to the Savannah Lounge for a night cap. There was a lounge singer there but we didn't stay long as we had some packing up to finish. I was also not feeling too well from my PMS. Kenny and I had a bit more heartfelt talk about how things were somehow difficult at times during this trip. We finally opened up on a lot of issues and resolved to sort them out so we can enjoy whatever remained of our vacation.   

Waves R'Us

I overslept and woke up with a foul mood. I didn't feel like talking and Kenny wasn't too happy about that considering the fiasco from yesterday. We finally talked about a lot of misconceptions and after apologies were offered and accepted, we agreed to enjoy the rest of the day with Mariah and Tom. 

We called the Dive Shop to reserve waverunners for the afternoon. We each had our own to ride and it was a lot of fun! We were out there for half an hour but what a blast! I guess it was a good way to blow off steam and let some of the aggression out in a more constructive manner. For me, I just love the feeling of utter freedom in being able to soar above the waves and crashing back into them with much gusto. Thank goodness for the life jacket or I won't have that much courage since I can't swim. Kenny apparently got himself thrown out of his waverunner and was raving about it. He even lost his sunglasses in the process and didn't mind it at all.

We spent more time at the lagoon and explored some areas of the resort we haven't been to.  It's really a very spacious place and not so crowded or touristy. The environment feels a little contrived and artificial but the over-all impression is clean and safe. We revisited the Firing Range and the guys got to shoot different guns this time around. It was quite a novelty for them to be able to fire those guns as it will be more difficult to do so back in the states.

        

We decided to have dinner at the resort's Kilimanjaro Restaurant as we had a taste for familiar American cuisine. I guess we finally had a fill of native Filipino dishes by now. All three of them ordered steaks and I opted for lobster instead. I still like my seafood, I guess. It was a good meal and the company and conversation was mellow. You wouldn't know that the day started kinda shaky by the looks of things.  I sure hope there won't be any of those spats for the rest of our vacation.

We all agreed that we wanted a taste of the Cebu nightlife. A staff from the resort recommended a club called Vudo so we decided to scope it out. We found the club to be playing mostly  R & B music and the clientele of a younger set who were probably there to see and be seen. It's the kind of club where you don't see a lot of dancing but mostly people lounging around. A bit too standoffish for our taste and we never liked those type of clubs even in the states. We went to another area in Cebu where there were apparently some clubs with live music playing. The first one we got in played slow tunes and ballads which was okay but still too sedate for us. Somebody else directed us to a club nearby and we got lucky. The band that was playing then was pretty good. The energy was high and the type of music was more to our taste. Unfortunately, they were on their last set but they did whet our appetite for more. Thirty minutes later, another band performed and it was quite amazing how talented they were. Kenny, who never liked going to these type of events was admittedly impressed. This band played hip-hop and pop music but really made it sound better and new again. We were almost hesitant to leave and even made tentative plans on coming back tomorrow night. Over-all, I have to be honest and say that it was a good night but could have been better if we had more choices of places to go. 

 

Rubbed and Wrapped

We woke up a little tired today but had an early appointment at the spa for our wraps. Kenny and I agreed to take it it easy on the spa activities for a few days and plan on doing more outdoorsy stuff. I felt like canceling the treatment but was curious enough to go through it.

It was quite an experience! First of all, I had a lot of fun seeing Kenny in a very tight disposable underwear that he was given to use. The expression on his face was utterly priceless as he struggled to put it on. My bad! I can't even bring myself to stop laughing even as we laid there on the table. The therapist started slathering him with mashed cucumber which was apparently cold on his skin. He can barely contain his yelps and groans. On the other hand, sea weed mud was applied on me and I can't help but think I look like I just got into a mud fight and Kenny was looking like a green monster. Again, fits of giggles overcame me. A few minutes later, we were both wrapped up and fairly unable to use our upper extremities when a fly started flying over our faces topped with cucumber slices. Oh, my word!!!The comedy just won't end. Finally, we got showered and lived to tell the tale to Mariah and Tom. It's safe to say they have no plans on having the same treatments in the near or far future. Neither will we ;-)

Against our better judgment, we found ourselves at another mall for an afternoon of facial treatments and more shopping. The guys were miffed about being dragged into the mall. They preferred to lounge around the lagoon or just relax and asked to go back to the resort ahead of us. Mariah and I finished with our shopping and decided to visit the hot spring at the spa  to unwind from the day's stress. The mood was a little somber and there's some tension in the air. Sheeesh! What a party this was getting to be. I hope things will get better once we talk things over.

Seafood or Dance?

We were awaken by the thunder and lightning storm in the early morning hours. It got us a little worried since it reminded us of the tsunami catastrophe last December. After almost a couple of hours, it finally subsided and we went right back to sleep.

We were planning to go for a snorkeling trip in the morning but the Dive Shop canceled their boat trips   due to overcast skies and possible rainstorm. By noon, the skies cleared and we were able to book the afternoon trip to Hinutungan Island.  The weather was great and at the dock, we found out that Rita's relatives were also on the same boat trip. It was indeed a lot of fun. The island was a fish sanctuary and was just teeming with marine life. It's almost like being inside an aquarium, in a world unlike any other and it's so easy to forget where you are.  We saw 3 scuba divers and I wished we took the time to take PADI classes before coming to Cebu.

        

We got back to the lagoon and spent the rest of the afternoon lounging around until it was time for our massages. Kenny got sunburned so he opted for a gentler massage but I don't think he enjoyed it as much as the previous one. For tomorrow, we got ourselves scheduled for body wraps; sea weed mud wrap for me and cucumber wrap for him. We've never done those before so it will be interesting to see how it'll turn out.

We didn't feel like eating at any of the resort's restaurants so we took a chance and went to a seafood resto a few minutes away from PB ( Plantation Bay). The food was decent but the ambiance and overall vibe wasn't much to my liking. While waiting for our food, a few young men and women in Filipino attire approached our table and started selling souvenirs and pastries. I felt that it was inappropriate as we didn't come to the place to be hustled into buying things we didn't want or need. I bought a package of dried pineapple slices just to stop them from harassing us even further. As if that wasn't enough, we suddenly heard the thunderous volume of Filipino folk music blaring from the speakers which were positioned pretty close to our table. Apparently, the resto also provided entertainment much like the one we had at the PB. This time around, I wasn't in the mood for it as it was distracting us from what we came to do...dining. We can't even have a decent conversation as the music was too loud and we have to stop eating occasionally to clap politely. Also, at the end of the Tinikling dance, the dancers came to our table to invite us to learn the dance steps from them on the stage. In my mind, I said, " What the ? I'm trying to eat here and I really didn't want to have an indigestion later from jumping and hopping in the middle of my meal." They can be pretty persistent and I mustered whatever good manners I have to decline their offer. Maybe I was just being a grump but suffice to say, I will not be eating there again nor will I recommend the place to anyone. 

Spa Addicts

We agreed yesterday that it will be a financially sound idea to buy some groceries to consume at the resort as we will be racking up a huge bill at their restaurants and from room services. Luckily, Plantation Bay has a "No Tipping" policy so it wasn't so stressful thinking all the time how much and when to tip. The staff was so accommodating though that you feel like tipping them anyway but we stuck to the policy ;-)

When Kenny and I got picked up at the airport yesterday, the resort used a rental car service as a complimentary service. The driver handed me his card in case we need him for any transportation needs.  We decided to call him up today to take us to the SM Mall in Cebu for our grocery shopping.

One thing I've noticed whenever I'm shopping in the Philippines is my lack of appetite for it. Oh, there were so many goodies I would have liked to check out and purchase, but, for some reason, I just didn't feel so incline to shop for myself. I was more interested in finding items for Kenny and he didn't want me to spend money on him anyway. He'd rather we spend more on fun and relaxation activities.

Kenny and went for our massages together at the resort's Mogambo Springs Spa. The ambiance was quite soothing and conducive to relaxation. The staff were professional and courteous. Although I found it a little difficult to relax at first, I felt like a wet noodle at the end of the therapy. I think Kenny felt the same as he can barely speak for the first few minutes. We already got massages scheduled for tomorrow. I guess we're going to be massage addicts by the end of the trip ;-)

Cebu, Cebu

We got picked up from the resort early in the morning. My Tita Agnes gave us a ride to the airport in CDOC. We made a quick stop at her house and had breakfast with her husband. Kenny agreed that Tito T.H. was really pretty laid back and intelligent. People were just intimidated by him because of their lack of confidence in speaking English but he's really easy to converse with once you make the initiative and effort. It was also another trip down memory lane for me since it's been more than 12 years since I've been to their house. It was one of my favorite places to hang out at when I was in college and penniless.

While planning for the trip, I was glad that I might be able to witness my college friend Rita's wedding in CDOC. Unfortunately, due to our shortened stay with my family, we decided not to go anymore. Therefore, it was a great surprise when we saw each other at the airport.   We took the same flight to Cebu but they were heading to Boracay instead. Some of her family members will be staying at the Plantation Bay and Rita and her husband will rejoin them on Wednesday. We planned on hooking up when she gets there. She looks great, like a glowing new bride that she is. I'm really happy for her.

Plantation Bay was pretty much a Disneyland for the adults and kids alike. The place was like a huge pool interspersed with villas, facilities and sandbars. The staff were definitely very friendly, polite and helpful. It's like a well-oiled machine that runs smoothly. Hopefully, first impressions will last. I also noticed that there were more southeast Asians clientele than Caucasians. I hope Kenny and Tom won't feel like sore thumbs sticking out.

Tom and Mariah checked in just a few hours later, accompanied by some of her family members. I got to meet her parents, sister and brother-in-law. It was also nice to see Tom again. He looked comfortable around Mariah's family and they seemed pretty impressed by him. At least that's the vibe I got.

We took a quick tour around the place after a much needed late lunch. We checked out the Firing Range and shoot some guns. It was pretty fun,   but of course, the guys enjoyed it more than Mariah and I did. I suppose we will be coming back to the range again before the trip is over. We also got booked for massages tomorrow and we're all looking forward to it. It's finally feeling more like a holiday.

We were scouting for a place to dine at and came upon a Filipino Buffet that also featured Filipino folk dancers . Kenny was definitely appreciative, especially of the dances using the bamboo sticks . He's been interested about them ever since he saw the Filipino movie "Debut" years ago. He took a lot of pictures and didn't seem to mind that the meal was a bit overpriced. It was worth seeing that awe in his face. For me, it was another trip down memory lane again. There seems to be lot of that lately ;-)

Sunday Blues

The day started with snorkeling with the kids, Lola Dayan and Boboy. They were very enthusiastic and excited at seeing all the fish and even Ryan wanted to put on the mask although it didn't fit him. I have gotten used to our daily morning swim and I know that's one thing I'll miss from this trip. I also felt a little sad as it was our last day in Duka Bay and we'll be leaving for Cebu tomorrow.

We were supposed to go to church but we got there pretty late and decided not to go in anymore. We went instead to Tita Agnes's new cottage house. She had one built a short distance from my parents. It was pretty quaint and was really meant as her "rest" house. She told us that her husband wasn't in favor of it but she wanted one and got it anyway. She was also ranting about the bad press she got last night from a radio DJ. She got lambasted over personal matters and as much as she wanted to be a public and political figure, she wasn't too keen about hearing such comments. We just suggested for her to ignore them and not pay any attention. As long as she does her job well and knows it, she doesn't really have to worry about what others might say. That's just politics and it's the same anywhere else in the world.

Since it was our last day, we spent most of it with the family . Unfortunately, the kids were being their normal, high energy self (translation: unruly and noisy). They were all over Kenny and followed him around even when he was trying to rest and cool off. Ryan, the youngest of them all, got too physical and bratty. In a way, I was thankful that we'll be in a much slower and restful pace tomorrow. As much as I love my family , I guess I can only take them in smaller doses ;-)

I managed to take some individual photos of the kids to remember them by.

               I'm sure they'll look different next time we'll see them. Not anytime sooner though ;-)

Mall Rats

After an early swim and snorkeling, everybody got ready for the CDOC trip. It took about 2 hours and we got to the SM Mall by lunch, ate and got down to the business of shopping for whatever the kids want or need. The kids had a great time trying on clothes and shoes. They also got to play at the arcade with Kenny. I suspect the poor guy felt pretty beat trying to keep up with them. They can be pretty handful somehow. We also hit the Limketkai Mall for more shopping mainly for the grow-ups. Most of them got new shoes and clothes but we got my mother a new washing machine which will be pretty much for everybody's use. The one they had broke down months ago and Mama had been complaining that it's getting tiresome finding someone to wash their loads of laundry. Kenny and I already planned on buying her the appliance as a surprise. I sure hope it will help make things easier for everyone.

The one thing that I wanted to accomplish during this trip was to have a photo taken with everybody in the family. Sadly, Papa will be missing from this family portrait and that got me a little teary-eyed. Another person missing was my brother's wife but that is an entirely different story which I don't care to elaborate on.

When we got back to the resort, the kids tried on their new stuff and paraded around for everyone to see . It was pretty amusing to see their smiling faces and hearing their giggles. Out on the verandah, my mother, sisters and grandma tried to teach Kenny a few Visayan words and phrases. Kenny had been complaining that I never teach him anything. I just don't see much of a point in doing so as we communicate better in English and there's not a lot of opportunity for him to use the Visayan dialect except when visiting the Philippines. I guess I just don't have the patience and motivation. Oh, well... There's a few words / phrases I'd be interested to teach but my mother won't let me due to it's rated PG nature ;-)