Pack Up Tips for Travel

I had this idea to blog tips on packing up clothes for travel when I was helping my husband pack up his things for his business travel in United States.  Since he will stay there for 6 months, we had to fit his clothes in a big luggage bag altogether.  I, being somehow an OC on packing up things for travel (since it is a nature of my current job), fixed his things in a way that it will be easier for him to carry, open and search (in case the immigration officer would check his things), and unpack.

It was a challenge for me to pack his formal polos because it shouldn't be crumpled inside the bag.  My husband could have iron it anyway once he gets to U.S.  but he's not "iron" man (means he is too lazy to iron his clothes).  But then, I thought of a way so that his long sleeves polos wouldn't be too crumpled once unpacked.  That's what I would like to share to you, too.

To pack a polo inside a luggage bag:

1. Neatly lay the polo on a clean flat surface.

2. Button up the polo.

3. Turn the polo upside down and lay it on the clean flat surface neatly.

4. Fold one side of the polo, sleeves stretched (see photo below):

5. Fold the sleeve neatly until aligned to the edge of the side of the polo, as shown in the photo below:

6. Fold the other sleeve until aligned to the edge of the side of the polo.  Observe the encircled edges of the photo so you would know the alignments.

7. Fold the polo starting from the bottom side of it then upwards until the collar.  Do not press the polo hard while folding to prevent fold lines.  It must look like these:

8. Place the formal polo in a clean plastic bag (resealable bag may do).  You may place all the polos either altogether in the plastic bag or separately.

9.  Put the sealed polos in the luggage bag.  You may want to place it vertically in the luggage bag to avoid it from being pushed heavily by other clothes which can cause fold lines on the polo.  If you want to place it horizontally, make sure that it is on the top of other things in the luggage.

10.  Lastly, casual clothes and other not-so-fragile clothes may be rolled and placed in the luggage vertically so that it is easy to see and unpack.  Placing the clothes vertically will save space and will not make the luggage appear bulky.

I hope this tip will help you solve your packing up dilemna.  I also hope that when my husband will already return home, he maybe able to remember these steps so that he would not get stressed over when packing up his things.  Maybe I'll just send him this blog link to remind him of this useful tip. :D

Reminiscing the Past: Puerto Princesa Tour - Day 3

Have you already read my previous blogs on my Puerto Princesa Tour with my hubby (Day 1 and Day 2)?  If not, I hope you can have time to read them and I'm sure you'll be amazed with all the tourists spots we had visited, such as the Crocodile Farm, Iwahig Prison, Bakers Hill, Sabang Beach and the Wonder of Nature finalist, Underground River.

Now I will blog about the Day 3 of our 5-day tour in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines.  The 3rd day of the tour is composed of an island hoping and snorkling activities at Honda Bay (or Hunda Bay).  The tour van stopped by the hotel to fetch us at around 7:00 am.  We also fetched a group of kind and cool middle aged women.  We traveled for a few minutes until we reached the bay wherein we have to register our names and take a boat ride to our destinations.  While waiting for our boat, my husband rented an underwater casing with digicam so that we could take pictures under the sea. 

Our first stop was the Pambato Reef.  With our rented snorkling gears and with manong boatman as a guide, he pointed to us different kinds of corals under water.  I was very impressed by the boatman's memory because he knew all the names of the corals in there!

At Pambato Reef, after the coral tour

We also island hopped at nearby beaches such as Snake Island and Pandan Island Resort.  Our lunch at Snake Island was great because our tour guide served us a delicious meal--- shrimp, eggplant with bagoong, pork, fruits, etc.  Supper yummy!  Aside from the big lunch, we also get to snorkle underwater.

A nice shot of Nemo underwater--- by my hubby Jeff

Look what we had written on the sands of Pandan Island Resort!

After the tiring yet educational and exciting island hopping experience, we got in the hotel and rested for a while.  Then my husband and I went to Badjao Seafront Restaurant for dinner.  We ordered crab--- the cause of my after tour allergy!!!!  I knew that I was allergic to crabs...but I couldn't help it...it was so delicious!

The crab that caused my after tour allergy!

So that's it, my blogger friends-- the Day 3 of our Palawan trip.  I super apologize if it took my months to finish this blog.  I was so busy with my work.  I am glad that I finally found time to blog again.

Next time, I'll share with you our Day 4 and 5 trip in Palawan. :)

Reminiscing the Past: Subic Galore!

December of 2007.  Jeff and I, along with some of his officemates, decided to take a Holiday out of town trip at Subic.  Subic Bay in Olongapo City is one of the famous tourist spots in the Philippines bceause it is developed to be an Eco-tourism place wherein you can experience different kinds of activities such as jungle activities, water sports, night life, and visiting historical and natural sites. As for us, since we only had two-days and one-night stay, just visited the Zoobic Safari and Ocean Adventure.  But we also had fun in the beach because we stayed in a bay-side hotel.

My hunny, me, and the beach of subic!

Our first stop after we unloaded our bags in the hotel was the Zoobic Safari.  It's actually a big zoo but the experience was more natural because at times, there were animals which was just lurking around!  Well, they were the friendly ones.  But there was a part in the tour wherein we had to ride in a bus because we would go inside a big secured place wherein tigers were freely doing their own thing!  Some of them were salivating especially when we threw them dressed chicken.  Some of them even jumped on the bus!  We also got to feed crocodiles.  I didn't like the feeling of feeding them because at first, they were so still, they looked like statues.  But when the moment you get showed them the dressed chicken (again!), they would suddenly jump to bite the it.  It startled me a lot.  But anyway, I really enjoyed the zoo tour.  It was like a tour in the African Safari.

Inside the bus cage...while the tigers are freely lurking around outside!

That night, after the kids of my husband's officemate had gone to sleep, we started to drink and relax.  I didn't drink much.  I wanted to dive in the beach waters...but since it was dark, of course, I was frightened to do so.  After drinking, Jeff and I walked on the shores, with hands clasped together, breathing the sea air, hearing each others heartbeat.  It was a warm starry night and I was very happy to be with the one I love.  I had dreamed of that scenario before...to walk on the shores with my loved one beside me.  We didn't talk much because the silence said it all.

The next day, we went to Ocean Adventure to see the dolphin exhibition.  Well, we first watched the sea lion's show, then in the middle of the day (and the sun was too high), it as a good thing we visited the fish museum (it was cool there because of the aircon! Hehe).  We were delighted with the fishes we saw in there.  Then in the afternoon, it was time for the dolphin exhibition.  Though the crowd was thick, we still managed to get good seats wherein we could see the show better.  The show was amazing!

And so we wondered...how was it like being the fish!

After the Ocean Adventure, we prepared to go home.  The tours were really enjoying and sooo sulit.  I promise myself I would tour my daughter Rian there when she turns 2 or 3 years old.  I'm sure she will love each moment of her experience there!

Reminiscing the Past: Experiencing Indoor Pool at Los Banos, Laguna

Thi blog is about my summer get-away with my hunny last May 2010.

Los Banos, Laguna is most famous in hot springs resorts in the Philippines (and I'm very proud of it because I grew up in this town!).  It is also famous for its Buko Pies, Espasols, and Cow's milk (yummy!).  And of course, the well-known legend of Maria Makiling took place in here (in the deep forests of Mount Makiling).

My husband and I neither celebrated Mothers Day on May 10 nor his 30th birthday on May 13 because we just decided to have a weekend summer overnight at a hot spring resort in Los Banos, Laguna on May 15 to 16.  We chose to stay at City of Springs Resort because we wanted to experience its indoor pool (as in there's a pool inside your very own room!) and it's beside Laguna Lake.  We reserved a room a week before, and we were very thankful because there were still rooms available, considering the fact that it's a peak month for summer destinations such as resorts and beaches.  The room we got was worth almost Php 1900 per night (couple room, airconditioned, and with waist-deep indoor pool ).

Experiencing the indoor pool!

After checking in the resort hotel, we visited our daughter Rian at my parent's home, where she was staying for 3 weeks.  My parent's home was just 5 minutes away from the resort.  Then we bought snacks, vodka, and even an FHM Magazine copy at the grocery.  Before dinner time, we tried the indoor pool...and the water in it was hot!  Well, what can you expect from a hot springs resort, huh?  Even the shower was hot too (no need to put a heater, indeed!).  But it was so relaxing, especially when I let my back touch the flowing water which fills the swimming pool...it's like I'm having a water massage! Haha!  But I couldn't stay too long in the water because its heat made me thirsty.  My husband and I took out Barbeque Chicken Joy at Jollibee.  And after dinner, we dived again in the pool and started to drink our vodkas.

Hmm...I don't have to continue the story after our vodka drinking, do I? ;-)

I suddenly loved my Mudshake vodka!!!!!

The next day, we had breakfast in the hotel, facing the outdoor swimming pool.  Yummy tapsilog.  Then I dived again into the indoor pool (hey, it looked like we totally ignored the outside swimming pool!).  This time my hubby didn't join me so I enjoyed my one last swim in it alone.  Then around lunchtime, we checked out of the hotel, went to my parent's house to give Rian hugs and kisses, and went back to Alabang.

We realy did have a stress-free weekend!

@ City of Springs Resort at Los Banos, Laguna

Scary Photo (on the way to Baguio City)

Baguio City, Philippines is well-known to be a city full of ghost stories (and streets full of ghosts, actually).   And this one's probably a proof.  FYI, I didn't edited this photo.  I would like to share this with you so...see for yourself:

Our office department had an outing / teambuilding at Baguio City just this month (May 2010).  This was taken during our midnight trip to Baguio City. Unfortunately, our car broke down at the foot of the mountain. When I took a snapshot picture of one of my officemates, this image was shown-- with a thread-like light behind him. There were no cars around and it was very dark at that time. When we zoomed the digital camera, we found out that there's "someone" in that light. Do you see it? Scary, huh?

Well, Baguio City is not all scary.  It's actually a fun place!  Click here for my other blog story about Baguio City: Reminiscing the Past: Baguio Escapade 

Reminiscing the Past: Bohol Escapade!

It's been three years since my husband and I went to Bohol to take another out of town trip to get away from the stress caused by work for a short time.  Actually,our Bohol trip was his birthday gift to me back then.  We went there just after my birthday.  Bohol is the place in the Visayas region of the Philippines wherein you would get to see famous attractions like Chocolate Hills and the smallest monkey in the world (the Tarsiers).  The place is also rich in historical attractions, as well as land and water adventure sites.  Since we only had 3 days and 2 nights stay in the island, we just got to tour the spots on land (we never had the chance to go near the beach because of lack of time).

A plane ride from Manila to Tagbilaran (Bohol)

It was the end of September back then and we availed Philippine Airline's PALakbayan promo (with complete package-- fare and hotel for two). We spent almost P10000 for the complete package. I was already quite familiar about the tourist spots in Bohol because I had already gone there before (I contacted my college brod, Thirdy, who lives there and he took me for a quick tour at Chocolae Hills and Loboc River).  When my husband (who was my boyfriend back then) and I went there, Thirdy was not available to tour us around, so he suggested to rent his father's car and take his father with us for a day tour. 

Jeff (my husband) and I stayed at Bee Farm hotel.  It was a really nice hotel.  I recommend it for all those who want to visit Bohol.  It is located beside the beach.  It is like a country house wherein the aura is warm and relaxing.  A sure get away place from the city full of big buildings and lots of traffic and pollution.  The meals are healthy too because all that they serve is organic (I love their salad!  Imagine I ate fresh rose petals! Hehe!).  The rooms are accomodating and spacious.  What I loved most about our hotel roomm was the toilet / shower room.  The moment I took a bath, it's like I did not want to get out.  Too bad I forgot to take a picture of the toilet / shower room!  Too bad the weather's not good when we arrived there...we had a rainy first day at Bohol.

Spacious hotel room at Bee Farm

My hubby would like to post this pic in this blog...to show off the foods we ate at the hotel!

Drool on everyone! Teheee!

The next day (thank goodness, the sun appeared!) is the tour day.  Thirdy's father arrived at the hotel early in the morning to take us around the nice places in Bohol.  As I said earlier, we just went at the spots on land (someday we'll gonna go back at Bohol and go to other places we didn't able to reach that time), such as the Chocolate Hills, Loboc River, the Tarsiers, Prony the snake, the underground cave, and the Blood Compact site (it's a historic spot in Bohol wherein a treaty was made between Spaniards and Filipnos by slashing their skin to drip blood to another one's slashed skin.  Wasn't that horrifying? Hehe. Don't worry, that was yearsssss ago.  people nowadays prefer to sign contracts with their Parker pens. Hehe).  I share to you our Bohol picture collection:

The Blood Compact Site.  Was my hubby one of them?????!!!!!

Prony the big goooooood phyton

Sooo....who among us is the Tarsier?

If Chocolate Hills are really chocolates...I would eat them all! Haha!

Lunch on the boat ride on Loboc River.  Eat all you can!

In the Hinagdanan Cave.  We can't picture the unerground pool water because it was too dark in there!

Back at the hotel...relaxing beside the beach with the waves

During our day 3, we woke up early to take a breakfast and enjoy the final moments in the hotel.  We took more pictures by the beach.  we even had a tour around the vicinity of the hotel, like their organic farm and bee hives (well, that's why the hotel was called Bee Farm because they specialize in Bee and honey products).  Then before lunch, we packed our things and went to the airport.  It was time to go back home in Luzon island. 

Just behind the hotel...

With the busy bees...

My hubby and I had an amazing time in Bohol.  In all the places I traveled in our country so far, Bohol is the province I really like best and I would really love to go back there someday.  But for the meantime, my hubby and I plan to visit Palawan by next year, on our 2nd anniversary, because it's our dream honeymoon place. 

Next time, I'll gonna share to you our Subic trip.  :)

Reminiscing the Past: Baguio Escapade!

Baguio City (the Philippines' summer capital) is one of the beautiful tourist destinations in our country.  It was a city on top of the mountain in the northern Philippines.  People love to go there especially during summer because of its cold weather there.  It does not snow there (how I wish!), but you really need a warm jacket to keep you warm (or a sweetheart close to you might just be enough!).

It's been 3 years ago (in 2007) since my husband and I went to Baguio City together to breathe some fresh cold air and get away from our stressed work life even for just a weekend.  We were still not married back then but we're already in a relationship.  Our out of town adventure was not planned...it was spontaneous. It was a Wednesday when I decided I wanted to go to Baguio and it was a Thursday when he said he wanted to come with me.  Then it was a Friday night when we went there for a 1 night-2days stay (I remember that we watched a baskeball game first before our departure.  The game was for the championship between the basketball team of his company, Sunpower Corp & our company, Toshiba Info Equipment Phils Inc.).

We left from Sta. Rosa, Laguna to Metro Manila at around 9:00pm.  We stayed first at Xaymaca Bar at Timog to waste time because our scheduled trip to Baguio City was at 12:00 midnight.  We hung out with Brownman Revival band members (I was friends with them).  After the gig, we left for Baguio City via land transportation (Victory Liner Bus).  We took the last trip which was at 12:00 midnight.  The fare back then was aroung 400 Php-500 Php.  We had a 6 hour travel, with some stop-overs at Tarlac and La Union.  I was not worried about being lost around Baguio City because it wasn't my first time to go there (it was my nth time!  Baguio was a second home to me because I took my college freshman year there before.  That's why I'm quite familiar with the place).

My hubby and I in the bus, on the way to Baguio City!

We arrived at Baguio City aroung 6:00am. Taxi cabs waited at the bus terminal to assist tourists and suggest hotels around (for a fee, of course).  I already forgot the hotel we checked in but it was quite far from the main town.  When we're unpacking our bags, my hunny gave me a surprise gift...a stuff toy.  I was very happy because it was the stuff toy I really like to buy for myself before.  It was a fluffy brown cat.

My favorite fluffy stuff toy cat named Baby Siops

During our stay in Baguio City, of course, we never missed to tour around and visit the famous places there.  My hunny was so happy that time because, though it wasn't his first time to go there, it was his first time to go to some of the tour spots there, like PMA (Philippine Military Academy).  And I was also happy because I got to tour him around.  We bought pasalubong goodies like peanut brittles, marshmallows, strawberries, ube jams, and chocolate chips (I looove the chocolate chips.  I can never get enough of it!).  And oh, we also bought strawberry wine...but we drank it all after dinner. Haha! I definitely would buy that wine again the next time I'll go there!

The King and Queen of Bundok Tralala! (taken at Minesview Park)

Row row row your boat hunny! (taken at Burnham Park)

A visit at the church (taken at Baguio Cathedral)

Release the horses! (taken at Wright Park)

Our home? I wish! (taken at The Mansion)

Home of the soldirs-to-be (taken at Philippine Military Academy)

A big hat for a big soldier (taken at Philippine Military Academy)

We stayed for 2 days at Baguio City (a Saturday until Sunday morning).  And on Sunday after lunch, we traveled back home.  Our escapade was a very enjoyable one, because we spent it together.  Certainly, our work stress faded and we were ready to face our work loads again. :)

P.S. Did you notice in the pictures that I was wearing a Bohol T-shirt at Baguio City?  Hehe. Next time, I'll blog about our trip in Bohol.  It was also an enjoyable one. :)