Missing Boracay

All of a sudden I'm missing Boracay. I was going over pictures of my past travels, and this set of pictures brought me back to the white, powdery beach, clear, crystalline waters, and all-weather beauty of Boracay. 

Work brought us there. We stayed at the Lagoon Regency, which I posted earlier here. During our free time, we walked to Station 1 where the sand is at its finest, and took pictures at the Discovery Shores, which was recently included as one of the world's best island hotels by travel+leisure. Next time I visit solo, this hotel is for me.

For memorable trips, good company is a must. I've always said, it's an honor to work with the best people in my field, and work is a joy with agreeable company (who are always on the look-out for the perfect Kodak moment). 

What is travel without good food?

fresh oysters, sweetish and brimming with the essence of the sea

It is during this trip that I experienced the tangy goodness of Real Coffee and Tea Cafe's calamansi muffins

Soon, I'll be back.

7 Things to Do in Leyte

There's more to Leyte than moron and scallops. Here's a list of activities for the first time traveler. 

1. Visit the Leyte Landing Memorial at Red Beach, Candahug, Palo, Leyte. It is said that the largest naval battle in modern history took place in the seas surrounding Leyte island. The landing of the Americans in Leyte was Gen. Douglas MacArthur's fulfillment of his promise to return to the country after the fall of the Philippines to the Japanese in 1942. The end of the Japanese occupation soon followed after the landing. 

2. Score some moron and roscas. You can read more here and here. 

the curiously-named moron

kidney-shaped roscas, perfect with tea or coffee

3. Feeling adventurous? Try skewered chicken skin at Penduko's Barbecue. Among the row of stalls, it was easy to spot since it had the most number of patrons. What makes the barbecue good? The secret is in the sauce, which comes in two variants: regular and spicy. You can also choose from pork and chicken barbecue, chicken liver, as well as chorizo. Cheap and tasty, this one's perfect for the budget traveler. More pictures here. 

4. Get your fill of fresh seafood at Ocho Seafood and Grill. Again, going by Manila prices, dining here is a steal. Read more here.

scallops the way it should be--fresh, and not drowning in butter

For a place more picturesque, try Rafael's Farm.

5. Take the requisite photo at the San Juanico Bridge, connecting Leyte to Samar. It is the longest bridge in the country over a body of seawater 

6. Cross over Basey, Samar and buy woven mats and visit the church. You can read more here and here. 

7. Gaze at the blue Leyte sky. For me it's the most brilliant I've seen of the sky. 

Scaling the Bell-tower of Basey's Church

This is the continuation of my posts on Basey, Samar. Earlier I wrote about how I finally was able to score some woven mats for my home. You can read my entry on it here. Later that day our host brought us to the town church, the St. Michael  the Archangel Church, built in the 17th century.

murals of biblical characters on the ceiling

i've always been fascinated with tableaux of the crucifixion.. 

...as well as stained glass

We grabbed the opportunity to climb the bell-tower. Half-way up we all sheepishly admitted to being agoraphobics.

These murals made the ascent worth it.

View of the town from the tower. Note the narrow streets. I could imagine how little has changed since the founding of the town.  

The descent was just as scary.

Finally on terra firma.

This is how the church looks like, with the bell-tower on the left.

This is one of the more unusual trips that we made, and this made me appreciate more our rich, colonial heritage.

My Constant Travel Companion

Meet Peggy, my trusty luggage. She's the one constant in all my travels, save for trips to Boracay and Macau where an overnight bag suffices. She's even better than a dog--she doesn't shed and slobber, she sits quietly in the corner, I don't have to feed her, and I'm not in danger of a broken heart in the event she dies. True, she doesn't dance like crazy to meet me, but she's more than I could possibly hug.

the ever-reliable Peggy

Some well-meaning friends voiced their disapproval for a pricey luggage (hello, Samsonite ito, hindi Chanel). They also pictured scenarios of my Peggy being tossed around in transit. But she has proved to be hardy, and checking-out is a breeze since she stands out in a sea of somber-looking bags. Good thing I'm too lazy to scrape off the travel stickers slapped on her, because the last time she came out in the conveyor belt with a twin, I knew from one look to tell them apart (I still have to check, though, when I get back home--I haven't unpacked since yesterday's flight). 

She's a beauty, no? I lied when I tell everyone I'm incorrigibly single. Without knowing it, I have already met a (travel) mate for life. 

Palo, Leyte's The Oriental Hotel

I travel a lot for work,staying mainly in hotels. I guess I'm lucky, since only a few get the opportunity to travel and experience the myriad beauty of our country like I do. Recently I was more fortunate than usual, since we secured the services of The Oriental Hotel.


The hotel, now on its soft launch, is near the Leyte Landing Memorial and is located along the beach. It was love at first sight--the hotel would not look out-of-place in Boracay. All day you'd hear the crash of the waves.

I appreciate the effort to build around the existing trees.

This row of the rooms face the beach. One participant remarked that she could imagine Zuma rising out of the sea not far away.

This compound is already beautiful, but more so at night with all the lights.

The view from the second floor in the first light of the morning.

Indigenous orchids are everywhere in the grounds. 

a closer view of the orchid

Our welcome drink, with cucumbers, was very refreshing. 

They also served us with a drink made from kamote (sweet potato) tops.

The rooms were roomy and bright, which I prefer.

The early evening sky was a brilliant shade of blue. 

The hotel is indeed, lovely, the service more than adequate. I just wish they do something about their food--it's the usual hotel food. And I may still be persuaded to return on my own account if they beef up the wifi connection in the rooms. It's non-existent in the beachfront rooms.

At the Suvarnabhumi Airport

I love Thailand's Suvarnabhumi Airport because it's huge, airy, and light. Its size could be daunting, but adequate signs abound in English, and I stayed close to my colleagues. The language barrier is less daunting when you're with a group.

Before our departure, we took time for souvenir shots, like this one with a yaksha demon warrior statue. It would have been a crime not to. These warriors are said to protect the good and kept away evil spirits.

During our arrival a few days earlier, I was fascinated with one wall filled with paintings. These were courtesy

of the members of the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture, and Graphic Art, of Silpakorn University. There seems to be a world-wide trend to bring art closer to the public, such as in airports.

Again, airy, bright, and modern.

Pictures of the king greeted us as we were about to leave the country.

I'm a fan of Thai food. Even those in the airport were good.

after immigration

From immigration, it was a long walk to the departure area. Shops were everywhere, and I had to restrain myself from spending the last of my money. I made a mental note to buy pastries exclusively sold in the airport. Fortunately we reached the gate minutes before boarding.