BeachHopAsia2016.
Trip of Wonders. Cruisin’. Bia Hanoi. Taiwan Beer. The Maldives. Beach. More
beach. Suntan. Dry fuzzy hair. I don’t care. And yes, I'm still a public school teacher.
2016
was a great year in terms of travel. Me and my buddy started to travel slow and
specifically stayed on one place for a minimum of three nights (we are really getting older, Haha). We chose not to hurry and enjoyed doing
nothing for days. But we got to feel the vibe of a place more and interacted
with the locals that made the trip more remarkable. ‘Coz let’s face it, what’s
the rush? So if you’re younger, try to explore more and do whatever you feel
like doing without anybody dictating you. Just enjoy and let the happy vibe
flow.
109 posts. 1,559,759 page views. 348 subscribed rss readers.12,889 Instagram followers (woohoo!) and 522 Twitter followers. This year, it’s been a year of no rush. Here comes old age, I know. So here’s a rundown of my Top 5 memorable moments on the road.
Five
Hanoi,
Vietnam
August 2016
We sat down on a low chair on a pavement along a crossroad and enjoyed our afternoon beer session. The roads converged on a crazy midpoint where cars, motorbikes, peddlers and people meet. We watched the pandemonium for minutes and were exhausted as we were entertained with raging vehicles and whatnots. But we enjoyed the scene as we chugged more Bia Saigon. We had five more hours to go before our flight back to Manila but we chose to be there, our favorite spot in Hanoi.
It was a dream come true as I got to experience a cruise holiday for the very first time, a thing that was formerly regarded as a retiree’s ultimate vacation. With a bunch of crazy friends, we explored the vastness of SuperStar Gemini and enjoyed partying on the outdoor pool at noon, restaurant-hopping and shore excursions. It was when the Entertainment team asked the guests to participate on a Lip Sync Battle in front of an audience when I truly felt a star. I got to experience the celebrity life, complete with wardrobe and make-up transformation, and belted out Beyonce’s Listen. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment, both the singing and the cruise holiday experience.
That moment when you’re enjoying the first hour of a ten-hour local train ride across tea plantations of Sri Lanka when a kid sat on your lap and shared that moment with you. As the train entered into misty hills, we sat there quietly not knowing who he was and who’s he with. After some time, I met his mom and he started sharing stories (in Sinhalese - Sri Lankan language) and I listened eagerly without having any inkling on anything he said. He cried, while looking at me, when they had to leave. Such a very touching moment.
I never imagined myself being on a trip for twelve days with 40+ warm bodies that I need to deal with every day. I’m not snob, don’t get me wrong, it’s just that I usually am not the most sociable person you’d know. I could get by with one or two new characters in my life but 40? Haha. The Trip of Wonders 2016 by Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism proved me wrong as I explored the gems of the country with other travel bloggers around Southeast Asia for almost two weeks. It was totally fun as we all clicked together as we travel to different key destinations in Indonesia. A truly memorable one, and I would definitely do it again given the chance.
One
The Maldives
May 2016
Maldives is for honeymooners with fat bank accounts, well, that isn’t true. My friends and I did a backpacking trip on some of the thousand islands and sandbars of the Maldives for almost two weeks with meager budget, and we survived. It was fun sharing its beauty with some of the favorite people in my life. I couldn’t imagine the trip without them, ‘coz experience and happiness are meant to be shared, right? Oh, by the way, it’s on my next cue for posting. Err, gotta swallow more of that productive pill for writing soon. Haha.
I am so looking forward to more treasured moments this coming year.
Happy 2017 y'all
Here's a rundown on my 2016 posts.
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
JULY
Malaysia: Langkawi Sunset Dinner Cruise in Style
AUGUST
46 Hours in Hanoi, Vietnam
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi – Vietnam
Krabi Four-Island Hopping Tour - Thailand
Holiday Inn Resort – Krabi, Thailand
My First and Last Full Moon Party at Koh Pangan, Thailand
The Party Island of Koh Pangan in Thailand
Hive Hotel and Convention Center – Quezon City
Chelsea Kitchen – SM Megamall
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
Novotel Phuket Vintage Park Resort – Phuket, Thailand
Thailand: That Famous 'Beach' of Leonardo DiCaprio
Thailand: Joining the Koh Phi Phi Tourist Crowd
Phi Phi Bayview Resort – Koh Phi Phi, Thailand
Thailand: The Fascinating Underwater World of Koh Rok
Thailand: Perfecting the Art of Doing Nothing at Koh Lanta
Soontreeya Lanta Resort – Koh Lanta, Thailand
Shore Excursions via SuperStar Gemini
Cruising via SuperStar Gemini: A Fulfilled Wish
DECEMBER
Travel-filled 2016. Cheers to more of the same in 2017.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I have a question. You were in Maldives for 2 weeks and you did not get bored? Did you blog about this trip yet? I have to look back in your archives. I heard from people who went to Maldives that aside from the beach there is little to nothing else to occupy you, and 3 days stay is more than enough. A question from someone clueless.
I haven't done the articles and I can't wait to share it. There are thousands of islands and sandbars in the Maldives and each is totally different from the other. If you really love the sea, sun and sand, a month is totally not enough. I will share it soon here. Have a blessed 2017! :)
DeleteHappy New Year! Keep on traveling.
ReplyDeleteSalamat BertN! :)
DeleteWoww I am so amazed!!! I am a silent supporter until now. Ang galing galing galing! Happy new year! Idol :)
ReplyDeleteAwwww. Thanks Jaja! *kilig*
Delete