P R O J E C T W E N T Y S O M E T H I N G: green therapy

Green Therapy: Ilocos, Philippines

If you prefer long road trips, then journeying up north to Ilocos, Luzon is for you. By car, it normally takes 13 hours (via the route we took back in 2008) but our designated driver was able to get the time in 10.5 hours if my memory serves me right.

It reminds me of Cebu a lot because of the rich Spanish colonial history surrounding Vigan (In Ilocos Sur) and also because you can also head further up north to Ilocos Norte to visit Pagudpud Beach and the famous Bangui Wind Farm. Since I visited Ilocos back in 2008, I think there are sand dunes recreational areas now and an extensive array of resorts to choose from, and I imagine the place to be more developed than it was back then.

It is advisable to travel in the wee hours of the morning to avoid the hustle and bustle of everyday life when you pass through the small towns to get to Ilocos. That way, when you reach your destination, the sun is still out and you can head straight to the beach to swim or to take a well deserved nap after a tedious but worth it journey.

More than the destination I just remember seeing acres and acres of greens and blues - stretching for hours as we headed to the peak of Luzon Island (though by plane Batanes holds this title - a place I have yet to visit). When you look out your window you'd see that you're at the edge of the road and surrounded by rocks and waves. Then, after a couple of minutes, you'd find yourself surrounded by lush trees uncorrupted by development. Its a perfect example of applying the saying "it's the journey and not (only) the destination" that makes it worth it.

How I wish Ilocos is still the same green paradise today.

Date: 2008

Bangui Wind Farm, Illocos Norte

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, Illocos Norte

View from the Lighthouse

Scenic Roadside View

Pagudpud Beach

Note: The beach is known for its riptides and strong current so be careful in the water

Sunset in Pagudpud

Blue Lagoon Beach, Pagudpud

I remember being surrounded by mountains and a large expanse of water, and the contrast is just beautiful

Vigan, Illocos Sur
Stroll around preserved Spanish Colonial History

Ostrich

Baluarte ni Chavit, Illocos Sur

Camel

Baluarte ni Chavit, Ilocos Sur

Baluarte ni Chavit Aerial Shot, Ilocus Sur

Green Therapy: Movenpick Cebu, Philippines

If you're looking for a good mix of natural and manmade landscapes then Movenpick Resort, Cebu is for you. Since it is only in Mactan Island (sharing the shoreline of Shangrila Mactan and other popular resorts) the ride from the airport should take thirty minutes or less since it is in the same island. Other resorts are far away (some needing both water and land transfers from the airport) so for a quick getaway this is perfect for those who are time conscious and have a little extra budget to spare.

My friend and I booked a flight to spend one night here (tickets were very cheap) and since it would take just about the same time to travel to the nearest beach from Manila, we decided to just head to Cebu.

Their food is quite ok, mostly serving international cuisine (i.e., pizza, pasta, etc). The coffee they serve is excellent (I think they used Swiss beans since the hotel is part of a popular Swiss managed chain) and can stand alone without the need for sugar. They also offer a free service ride to the city proper (check out: Ayala Mall for more food options, Magellan's Cross, Sto. Nino Parish, and the Edge Coaster in Crown Regency) but I was sick at the time so we just decided to stay within the confines of the hotel. Since we only stayed for a day I can imagine it to be quite boring for those booked for more than a day, so it is recommended to explore outside the hotel and Mactan.

Date: May 2013

The contrast of manmade and natural landscapes: Movenpick's modest shoreline

The modern colors and architecture of the open-aired lobby

The swimming pool

(We never got to swim since we preferred to head down to the beach. Night swimming is recommended since the pool lights up and turns neon)

Some lounge chairs

Hammocks right above the water

Modest accommodations

The view from our hotel room

Another angle of the view from our hotel

Shoreline shot
The water is really so clear! And you can go snorkelling and look at the small fish

A blue starfish

Beautiful Dusk Colors

The hotel Facade in Sunset

The Ibiza Inspired Beach Bar

It's hardly packed, and outsiders are welcome

Green Therapy: Bali, Indonesia

There are times you want to travel, and there are times you want to take a vacation.

My trip to Bali had been the latter.

During a random dinner back in 2013, my friend and decided to book at trip to Bali, for well deserved R&R, considering our hectic work schedules at the time. Since she worked in the hotel industry, we got discounted room rates in an excellent hotel in the Nusa Dua complex. When we arrived in Bali we had no itinerary and rented a van through the receptionist to explore whatever we felt like for the day. It was thrice as expensive as booking with a private van agency / driver from the tourist areas / airport, but we wanted to ensure our safety as we were just two girls travelling so we did not mind.

Bali certainly has that Honeymoon vibe and relaxing charm that draws people back to its islands over time. Although the areas we went to were the tourist areas and we did not explore the cuisine much (I remember eating in Potato Head twice as we loved the contemporary food, ambiance and drinks), when I go back to the reason why I took this trip (to go on a vacation) it certainly exceeded expectations.

Book a trip to Bali for an affordable vacation or Honeymoon and get lost in the vibe you need to experience to understand.

Trip: June 2013