Remembering Bangkok

I thought of storing one of the videos of our Bangkok trip online. Where better to have it than in my blog.

This amateur video was taken by Laura during our visit to a palace. Listen to a hundred wind chimes.

We spent an hour walking around the compound, another good exercise.  Since this visit was made past 12 noon and the sun was blazing hot, we strolled around the Wat Po Healing Center beside this compound only for a few minutes.

If you have difficulty  opening the above video, you can look at the Youtube copies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47_j-mDyMaE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F2nYTdSHUI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60NSVMQWP2M&feature=related

Christmas in Vigan

The first thing I did, as soon as I alighted from the bus, was to visit Vigan's famous Calle Crisologo, the setting of many Filipino period films.

Vigan in Ilocos Sur is two bus hours away from Laoag. There is no direct flight from Cebu to Vigan. In fact there are connecting flights from Cebu to Laoag (Cebu-Manila-Laoag). Although all that traveling was taxing, when I arrived in Vigan, I felt relaxed because of the languid pace of the city.

There is something about not having an itinerary, there was no pressure on me to see every tourist spot, or sample every local delicacy. I never forgot even for an instant that I was there on vacation to forget for awhile the cares of the office.

Traveling alone is to me like meditating --- you learn to focus your mind, discipline your senses and live in the moment.

From Cebu To Laoag

T'was the holiday season and there was time for a long break from the office. I decided to head north of the Philippines which I've never been and was curious to know. I ended up at the Laoag International Airport near midnight. Alone in a strange place,  I felt thrilled and afraid. This was certainly more exciting than just hibernating at home.

Five Days, Five Different Rooms

Have you ever been on a journey alone in a new place where you don't speak the native language, you don't know anyone and had to sleep in five different lodging houses? I've been there, done that !

 
On a journey of self-discovery from Laoag to Vigan in northern Luzon, I have slept in various lodging accommodations, ranging from the basic Php300 room to the "luxurious" Php3,000 suite. It was worth the experience.