Christmas Shopping at Dapitan

We were looking for some ornaments and the perfect Belen so we decided to go to Dapitan Arcade. It was my first time there and didn't know what to expect. It was a holiday (I forgot which one) so the "main stores" were closed, but the streets were bustling with activity. It's Christmas season, after all, and everyone is looking for nice but cheap decors!

 

And boy, Dapitan did not disappoint. I wanted to buy everything and turn our house into a living Christmas ornament. I wanted to get a bunch of those outdoor Christmas trees (though the dogs will probably just eat it) as well as those giant dancing Santas. There were so many trinkets to choose from, and we eventually found the perfect Belen for us.

Check out the video!

What To Eat In Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Food is probably the best thing about Ho Chi Minh. With everything so affordable and delicious, it is unimaginable for someone not to be full all the time. I literally had to force myself to eat just so I could try the yummy food the streets of Vietnam had to offer. 

 

Check out this video. It summarizes a good portion of my food adventure in Ho Chi Minh. I say "a good portion" because we actually got to eat much MUCH more in our 7 days there.

1. Street Food Market near Ben Thanh Market
2. Ngoc Suong Saigon
3. Street Vendors
4. Night Market
5. OMG Rooftop Bar
6. Pho Le
7. Huynh Hoa Banh Mi

And here are some links (my review and some photos) to other restaurants that we visited. All yummy, all reasonably priced. You gotta love it in Vietnam!

Gossip Cafe & Pub

Hai Lua Food Countryside

Ngon 138 Restaurant

Baby's Dreamplay Adventure

The little kid and the big kid really enjoyed themselves in Dreamplay. We only got to spend a couple of hours inside (the queue at the entrance was INSANE when we got there), but it was more than enough to drain the hell out of me.

I can't wait until Dyther is old enough to enjoy all the activities that Dreamplay has to offer. But don't grow up too soon, kiddo.

Mom and Dad's Anniversary @ Canyon Cove

Mom and Dad wanted some quality family time for their 40th anniversary, so they brought the entire gang to Manila just so we can be complete on this momentous occasion. There was no clear plan, but we eventually decided to go on a road trip of sorts. There was a really strong storm in Luzon, but that didn't keep us from going for it.

 

Here's a video of how things went during our stay at Canyon Cove.

Baby's Trip to Nuvali and Tagaytay

It was Dyther's first trip to Tagaytay, and we had so much fun bonding. It took all my charm to get on his good side, but I think I finally managed to penetrate his picky heart.

 

Here's a video of some of the trip's highlights.

Boracay Food!

A Boracay trip is never complete until you enjoy the variety of dishes and cuisine offered.

 

Boracay: White Beach and Diniwid Beach

Our fourth day in Boracay was less stressful. We spent the morning at the beach, went to Nami Restaurant for lunch, spent some time in Diniwid Beach, and slept the rest of the afternoon off.

 

Check out the video :)

Boracay @ Night, and Astoria Hotel

Dinner by the beach, fire dancing, shopping, long walks, and lots of drinks. Boracay evenings are normally characterized by these activities. 

 

A big thanks to my friend Terry for hooking me up with a great Astoria Boracay deal. The hotel is located near the crowded station 2 but was very accessible to all the Boracay musts. 

Boracay Island Hopping

I'm so used to spending an entire Boracay vacation by the resort, just swimming, drinking and eating my heart out. But guess what? There are other things to do in Boracay!

 

Snorkeling, fish feeding, cliff diving, and more beaches! And yes, someone even sold us Buko in the middle of the ocean!

Check out our video :)

A Day in Boracay

A fun day spent at the beach. With 5 days to spare, there's time to lay back and relax.

 

Check out our video!