Things You Have to Do in Baguio

I'm back from being flushed in the toilet.  A couple of weeks ago, we went to Baguio to attend a wedding.  I haven't been there since the 90's so I was kinda excited to see Baguio again.  Here are the things you have to do while you're there:

1. Take a picture with the Lion.  If you're lucky, you have the lion all to yourselves like we did.  Don't go crazy like I did though.  The Lion was repainted.  Squint, it's sponsored by Davies!

Hello Lion!

Well, it's more of a Goodbye!  We took this shot before we left Baguio because we were rushing to get there when we arrived.  We were so lucky we got to take this solo shot.  I kinda went stage mothery and got pissed with the other people hogging the lion.  Make up your minds people!  If you want to take a picture, take the picture and leave.  Don't do it one at a time and finally decide you want a group shot.  We all want solo pictures with this lion! Okay, end of rant.

More about Baguio in my next entries.

Off to Baguio!

I haven't been here since the 90's.

I'm excited!  Tell you about our adventures when we get back.

You wait, I'll take a picture with you

Karl told her this lion bites people and now she's scared.  Great job Karl....

Picture from: VisitPinas.com

Hong Kong Disneyland Part I

How can I talk about Hong Kong without showing pictures of Disneyland?

Excited much? Disneyland ticketing station in Hong Kong MTR Station

We got our tickets before Disney increased prices last August.  Now, 1 day ticket cost $399 HKD for adults, $285 for children (aged 3-11), and $100 for senior citizens.  We got ours $50 HKD cheaper.  If you buy your tickets online, you can claim your ticket in Hong Kong Station just so you don't need to line up in Disney to get your tickets.

I'm a Barbie Girl

Yes, another one of those pictures for Mia's future AVP for her wedding

Not alot of people know that I still have boxed Barbies in my house- around 20 something pieces.  Most kept in a baul so it won't fade (Yes, I'm O.C. like that).  I didn't feel the need to open all the Barbies I got for my birthdays and Christmases.  I saved those collector pieces and even "splurged" on  $100 priced Barbies every time I went out of the country as a memento for that particular trip.  I made sure all of them travelled safely, most of the time, hand carried!  I don't even know how my mother tolerated this.  The last time I bought one was in 1999.  Yes, my youngest is more than 10 years old!

Picture of the Trip

If a picture can sum up our trip to Hong Kong, it would be this:



A face only a mother could love.

Yes (as you can see with Karl's outfit), it's not cold but Mia insisted on wearing her earmuffs a.k.a. earphones ala Justin Bieber.  Mia mostly sat on her stroller.  Maclaren is highly recommended- very light and easy to collapse and put up. 

Off to Hong Kong!

See you in a couple of days. Will update you, hopefully even before we get back!

Mia on her outfit today, "Mom! I look like Adele!"

Weh?????

La Mesa Ecopark

La Mesa Watershed is the primary source of drinking water for 12 million Metro Manila residents.  The area is around 2700 hectares, 700 hectares is the reservoir and 2000 hectares is the forest surrounding it.

La Mesa Entrance

Frankly My Deer

Last year, for our annual anniversary trip, Karl and I went to Japan.  We decided on going around the Kansai region, Osaka and Kyoto.  Since it was in the area, we decided to take a quick day trip to Nara.



Let's play count the deer

Tame deer roam around Nara. According to the legendary history of the Kasuga shrine, the mythological God named Takemikazuchi arrived in Nara riding a white deer to guard the newly built capital.  Since then, deer have been regarded as heavenly animals.

Another Family Adventure

I'm excited!  The last time we were here was in 2009.

Mia with not much hair

I hope the weather cooperates!  No typhoons, please.

Chateau Hestia

After our massage, Karl and I decided to take my parents to Chateau Hestia.  We stumbled on this restaurant when we ate in Bawai’s with Karl’s cousins and decided to walk around the area when we got too full.



Taken last May: If Senator Guingona had his birthday here(Says so in their chalkboard), it must be good!

 

Other things to do in Bagac, Bataan



Mt. Samat

When you spend for gas and toll to get to Bataan, you try to maximize and do whatever you can there. When Karl and I were still dating, I bought him the Lonely Planet Philippines version book.  I figured, since we would travel alot together, might as well get that book as a handy resource- good investment for people like us.

Las Casas Filipinas de Azucar Part II

Here are more pictures, with less people.

Paseo de Escolta

Las Casas Filipinas de Azucar Part I

The first time I heard about this place was from my husband.  When he told me about this, the first thing that came into my mind was, mumu.  I shrugged it off and told him we weren't going there.

This way... That way...

What a day!

We had an out of town trip today.  The funny thing is, with all that Mia saw today, this was what was most memorable.


A Rainbow!

The best things in life are free.  Funny how a kid should be the one to remind you of that perspective.

Get ready for a photo heavy post tomorrow!

Go away Mina!

If the weather cooperates, we're heading here this Monday.



Keeping our fingers crossed!

Fish Feeding at Solenad, Nuvali

One of my frustrations with this country is the lack of kid friendly places to go to.  There are a bajillion malls but not a lot of sanitary places for kids to enjoy.  Here is what else we did last weekend:

Mia and the Nuvali Map!

Army Navy at Nuvali

I had an errand to do in Nuvali.  Since it was my family's first time there, we decided to go around and see what we can do there.

We left Manila late so we got there just in time for brunch.  Okay, so we weren't late, we were just hungry.  Karl and I have been thinking of trying Army Navy, since they had one here, might as well.

They had Fearless Fried Chicken in their menu.  Kids + Fried Chicken = No brainer.  I don't know anyone who doesn't like fried chicken (Unless you're allergic, and you know who you are! Hehe...).  Unfortunately, while we were ordering, we found out they didn't have fried chicken. Mia doesn't really like anything that requires ALOT of chewing e.g. pork and beef.  They had egg for additional toppings for their burger.  We improvised.  Mia ate egg and rice.  Don't judge.  That's seriously her favorite food.  Who would have thought she was going to eat that in Army Navy?  Hehe...

Up!

I just realized I didn't post a picture where we were actually inside the hot air balloon and flying.

For proof purposes, here you go.

Down...

Up...

Up...

 and Away!!!

Mia's Birthday Weekend Salubong

One of the things Mia requested for her birthday were sky lanterns.  Sky lanterns are believed to be your guide to ancestral spirits.  This was how common folk conveyed their wishes to heaven.  In Mia's world, she saw this in Tangled, and since Rapunzel had them for her birthday, she wanted them too.

Before the sky lantern lighting ceremony, this is what happened during the day:

Yes, nakapose kahit sa carseat. We buckled her after this shot. Relak!

We left Manila around 8am for Clark.  We had breakfast in one of the gas stations in NLEX.  We had to go to a tree planting but since the road was bumpy, I decided to stop in Zoocobia which was the same area as the tree planting and wait for the rest of the group to finish.