Trip # 1 - San Juan, La Union...A kickoff to a lifetime of crazy family adventures!

Your Age: 5 1/2 months

My dear little Summer,

I was scheduled to go on an ocular trip to La Union last May. But because I gave birth way ahead of the schedule, I had to move it to another date in 2015 before the peak travel season starts. You were past your sleep regression phase and was already sleeping though the night so we were to confident to schedule the trip in October 2015. I scheduled it in time for our fourth wedding anniversary.

You and your Papa got sick a week before the trip. I lacked sleep taking care of you both. Because it was the first time for you to get sick, I was a bit hesitant to go to travel far. I consulted your pediatrician about it. He prescribed some medicine for your cough and colds. Until a day before the trip, I was still going back and forth about my decision. What made me hesitate even more was the threat of a strong typhoon. The news said it will hit North Luzon by the 17th but no one can really predict for sure when it comes to typhoons like these. Despite my apprehensions, we decided to go for it.

I packed your things the night before while you slept but was so exhausted that I was not able to pack mine. By 2am the next day, I was already up. I checked if all your stuff are packed, packed my stuff, took a bath, had breakfast and brought everything out of the room for loading in the car.

We left home at 5:30am, in time to meet my friends Liee and Pwlo for breakfast in Quezon city before they head to work. After our quick rendezvous, we started our very long drive. You slept soundly from the time we left Quezon city to the time we stopped for lunch in Matutina's in Dagupan. It took us about two hours before going on the road again because we had to change your clothes and diaper, feed you and wait until you were asleep once more.

By this time, I have learned that you quickly fall asleep whenever I play the "Once Upon A Time" album in Spotify. So I would play it whenever we board the car until you fall asleep. It worked like a charm until around 2pm as we drove from Dagupan to Pugo, La Union. Oh boy! You got so bored and would not stop crying. I gave you milk to check if you were hungry. You drank it up but threw up a lot soon after so we had to make a quick stop on a roadside gas station in Pugo to clean you up. Because it was getting late and I was worried that your distilled water would run out, we checked if they had it in the store but they didn't. I just hoped that the supply that we had would last until we get to San Fernando.

At around 3:30 in the afternoon, we reached Pugo Adventure (PUGAD). Because it was a weekday, there were hardly other guests around. The moment we entered the adventure park, your eyes got wide and you started looking at everything around you. We had to leave your stroller before we climbed the stairs going to the first hanging bridge. I was cared to carry you while walking on the wobbly hanging bridge so your Papa carried you first. It was such a huge park and you are quite heavy for your age so we though it might be a good idea to buy a new baby carrier for you since you have already outgrown your Saya baby carrier. I saw that your Papa was tired carrying you around so I carried you on the way back. I even mustered the courage to carry you through two hanging bridges and stop for some photos at the middle! :)

After Pugo Adventure, we immediately headed for San Juan. We asked for directions along the way and it did not sound promising. It was getting late in the afternoon and the people said we still had quite a long way to go. After several towns, we reached San Fernando, La Union. I bought your water at the sight of the first Mercury Drugstore that I saw. I also bought a fresh stash of your medicine because I realized I put the medicine kit at the trunk of the car and the heat of the sun might have ruined it. I did not want to take any chances so I just bought a fresh batch to be sure. 

Finally, at around 7:00pm (and way past your bedtime), we were checked in at Kahuna Resort in San Juan La Union. We got a decent sized garden room. I checked the bathroom right away and was pleased to see that it was clean. By this time, you were already sleepy so I cleaned you up, put you in your frogsuit and tucked you in. I was relieved that you slept right away. For our dinner - room service!

The next day, I woke up at 2am again to clean your bottles and prepare everything in time for when you and your papa wake up. We were all up and ready to have breakfast by 8:00am. You had your milk breakfast with us as well. 

It was nice and windy but still a bit sunny. There were some good sized waves for surfing. But instead of surfing the waves like I used to do years ago, we just took a walk along the beach. 

After our walk, we let you sit on the sand so your feet and hands can touch and feel it for the first time. You looked curious about the new sensation.

Bath was quite a challenge. I think I could not have done it alone. The resort did not have a bathtub and yours was too big to bring along so we bathed you on the bathroom sink. I cleaned it up four times before I was comfortable to let you sit in it. Thankfully, you still somehow fit in it sitting down. 

For lunch, we went to Surf Shack. It really did look like a surfer's hangout. Everything was impressively reasonably priced. You enjoyed walking around the restaurant while looking at all the colorfully painted tables and chairs. What a happy, happy place. It made me even more happy to have those oysters! At this age, you are already starting to want to taste our food and you always look at our meals longingly. Just a few more weeks, love. 

It was such a hot day, possibly the calm before the storm, that I was relieved to have brought the portable fan that your Auntie Berna gave you. Like your Papa, you cannot tolerate the heat and humidity.

The afternoon was spent with us working and you taking your beauty nap. Dinner was at Gefseis Greek Grill and dessert was at Surf Shack where there was a live band and there were so many people hanging out. It's amazing how much the place has progressed from the time when I was surfing when most accommodations were still "home stays".

The next morning, I went online and opened the tv for news of the typhoon. Because it was not looking too good, we decided to have breakfast early and head home. We did not leave without walking on the beach first, ofcourse. The waves were getting bigger and scarier as we posed for a photo alongside the Urbiztondo sign. I made an itinerary of all the tourist spots that we can visit but we had to scrap then whole thing.

Our drive home was much faster for some reason. After Dagupan, it started to drizzle. Along SCTEX, you pooped!!! Since it was still a long way to the next gasoline station, we had to stop at the roadside to clean you up. Afterwards you slept straight, only waking up to drink your milk. 

As soon as the car stopped right after the NLEX exit, you started to cry. And you did not stop for about 30 minutes. I checked everything and it all seemed okay. The only possible explanations that I could think of were you were bored or it was already your bedtime and you were uncomfortable that we are still on the road. But we were in Manila and getting stuck in traffic was inevitable. We took every shortcut that we knew. The traffic only eased up when we entered Skyway! 

I was so happy when we finally reached home at 8:30pm. After you slept soundly on your crib, I forced myself to tidy up and put away all our stuff because I felt that I would be getting very sick. 

Your Papa and I both had massages before bed. The next day, I caught the flu! 

A lot of firsts:

- First time to go on a long drive

- First time to cross a hanging bridge

- First time to drink milk by the beach

- First time to touch and feel the sand
- First time to take a bath in a bathroom sink

- First time to poop and get cleaned up in a Lay-away along SCTEX!


Lifesavers:
- Portable fan
- Spotify's "Once Upon a Time" album

List of things to buy for our next travel:

- Small containers for soaps, baby detergent, handwash, etc.

- Mosquito repellent

- Baby carrier (because you have outgrown your Saya)
- Infant shades
- Beach bag

What I have learned:

- Always make a packing list and update it after every trip

- Make sure everyone's bags are packed the night before at the latest

- Buy everything you will need (water, meds, formula, diaper) before leaving if you're not sure if you will be able to buy some along the way
- Do not put the medicine kit in the trunk of the car

- When the baby is sick, chances are you will get sick too. As the main caregiver, lack of sleep takes a toll on your body and your immune system goes down. Do not underestimate the baby's power to transmit virus! Be prepared and load up on vitamins and water.

- When the baby won't stop crying, try your very best not to cry too.

- Be ready to order from the room service menu, especially on your first night

- Book a massage the day after you arrive home (because the night you arrive, there will be lots to put away)

- Normal travels don't always go as planned, or as scheduled. More so when traveling with an infant or a baby. If you are naturally obsessive with regard to schedule, prepare your mind. Expect sudden changes and cancelled side trips.

- It is NOT at all easy to travel with an infant

- Though it is not easy to travel with an infant, every minute of the experience is worth it and you will look back and remember your misadventures with a big laugh (eventually). 

Hooray for our first trip! We survived! :) :) :)

Summer's Adventure

Our family is growing! We recently welcomed a baby girl in 2015. I think the biggest reason why R and I ended up together is that we travel so well together. The way we travel may not appeal to many but it's how we enjoy each experience and appreciate each destination more.

I seriously thought I would put a hold on travel for at least a year or two after Summer's arrival, mainly because she came to us at a very delicate state. I thought I would become a mom who would never ever let her come near any sort of dirt or dust. In a sense, I probably am. I only let loose a bit because R is around.

I am writing this after our fourth travel as a family, twice with both our baby dogs. It's only our fourth travel yet I have already learned so much. And I learn something new every single time. I make it a point to note what I need and what will make things easier for us for next time. I have realized that no matter challenging our travels have become, it is worth it and I am beginning to crave for more and more adventures (with some expected misadventures) with our growing bunch. 

As I start a new phase in our family's life, I decided to add a category in my blog to document Summer's travels and maybe share some tips to moms who would like to experience an adventure or two with their little ones from time to time.

Happy rainy day and cheers to more hanging bridges, river crossings, mountain climbing and amazing food during our trips! 

Spontaneous Lunch on A Rainy Sunday in Balay Indang

The day started out hot and sunny. It was so tempting to stay at home and do nothing. But ever since our little S came out, we have been making more effort to go out on weekends so by the time she's big enough to be curious about the things around her, we'll also be used to taking her out on so many small and big adventure trips.

We decided to try Balay Indang since we have been thinking of spending some time there for quite a while. Luckily, when we called at around 10am to ask if they accept same day reservations, they said they can still accommodate us! :)

We took the Daang Hari route. As we entered Trece Martires, it started to pour. We were not sure whether we already missed the place so we had to stop several times to ask for directions.

Finally, we arrived! The entrance is a huge gate. After the parking lot and to the main dining hall, there is the pathway in the photo below. It reminded me so much about our wedding venue. It looked like the same pathway that made me fall in love with the Moon garden and decide to hold our wedding reception there.


The place is even bigger than it seems from the outside. It had lots of open space, lots of greens and lots of quirky molded cement decor all around. They have a small pool and an intimate space for events. 

What caught my interest the most are the collections. Lots of them, from plates to Buddha to rooster and hens, masks, mirrors, metal pots and so many more. The main home itself that houses all the collections is quite lovely and homey. 

As for the food, it was delicious. I liked everything. R said it was like eating at home. And because he pointed it out, I realized it was strangely like eating my own cooking. That's probably why we liked it so much.

We had a salad, carrot fried rice, papaya with coconut milk and chopped shrimps, japchae, baby back ribs, shrimps and cheesy baked salmon. A pitcher of dalandan juice was also served and for dessert we had a plate of fondue.

I'd say it was like coming to grandma's house with the assorted plates, the collection of this and that, the garden and the satisfying home cooked meal. That was a great and fun first out of town trip for our little traveler in training.

I am looking forward to so many more fun small and big trips. Excited to plan them all one at a time!

Cheers to rainy days and the weekend! :)

Deep Sea Fishing in Siargao

A few days ago, a friend asked me about Siargao because she is scheduled to go there in a couple of weeks. I went to Siargao in February 2011 but I loved it so much that I remember every detail of my trip as if it was just yesterday.

Of course, I recommended that she go to the beautiful Sohoton cove. But the most amazing experience that I had in Siargao was deep sea fishing.

I started the day checking and sending out emails before having a quick breakfast. It was during a time when my workaholic self would work every chance I had. Looking at my photo now, I could not help but cringe because I can re-live how incredibly stressed I felt during those times. 

The whole CARAGA region was under typhoon signal # 1 the night before and even in the morning so we were not sure if our activity will push through. But it was sunny in the morning so we decided to go.

From our resort, we rode a tricycle going to a beachfront property where the local fishermen and their families lived. When we got there, our boat was ready. It was a small motorized boat with wooden benches on each side and a small roof above them.

Junior, our boat captain was a man in his late fifties. He said he has been doing this for a long time and affluent deep sea fishing enthusiasts would book him for a month to go fishing with them in their yachts. 

Not long after we took off, the wind began to get a lot stronger and the waves became higher and higher. We could not take our hands off the handles on the boat for fear of going overboard. Junior and his first mate, on the other hand, were very relaxed and were even snacking on bread while we were too nauseated to move.

There were only a handful of times when we were not traveling on stormy weather because the typhoon season is less busy for us in terms of work. We are used to braving stormy seas but when the waves seemed to reach above 1-storey during this adventure, we just had to ask the captain if we should turn back. He said they are used to even bigger waves. He also told us not to worry because he was the one who made his boat and he is sure it is unsikable. As soon as I heard the word unsinkable, I gripped the handle harder and looked for a life vest because I remembered the movie Titanic.

There were brief moments of calm when I was able to enjoy the view and the deep blue sea but those moments were often short lived.

Amazingly, despite the rough seas, several big fish bit the bait. Once the first mate screams HIT, we would prepare to reel the fish into the boat. This is when I realized how extremely tiring angling is. The humongous waves made it even more challenging. 

Fishermen have many tales. I must say I was very much entertained by the stories of our captain and our first mate. They talked about catching a huge shark, about their rich clients who would take them fishing in their yachts and the Japanese clients who were always ready with their knives, their wasabi, lime and soy sauce so they can eat their sashimi straight from the sea. They said that the fish tastes much better, almost sweet, within two hours of being caught from the sea. I thought to myself..."We will have to see about that".

After a few fish, we were ready to call it a day.  

We only took two of our catch back to the resort and gave the rest to our boatmen. We had the smaller fish cooked three ways - sweet and sour, battered & fried and curried. The other fish we sold to our resort so that we ended up having to pay next to nothing for our total bill for three nights after deducting the price of the fish.

Fresh fish does taste so much better than the ones bought in the market. Even the texture is different. It is much more firm.

Since I have been to Siargao, I have always longed to go back. At one point, we even planned to settle in this island. I've had so many great adventures in this island that I do not know which one in particular drew it close to our hearts. One thing is for sure though, that my first deep sea fishing adventure will definitely not be my last. I cannot wait for my Summer to experience it and for us to finally try that mouthwatering sashimi.

Monday is almost over. Let's drink to that! :)

It Was Once Just A "What if?"

I can make a long list of reasons why I hate the summer heat but in an effort to live an optimistic and happy life, I consciously choose not to. This has been a huge personal growth for me for more than a year. Instead of negativity, I like to look at the good side of things, those that I can be thankful for and remember with a smile. This particular memory never fails to make me smile...

It was summer and Holy Thursday in April 5, 2007. I've been crying my eyes out to the point where no more tears would flow. I was dehydrated and I did not have the appetite to eat anything. A few days back, I just ended a relationship and realized that this time, it really was over. In an attempt to regain my sanity, I spontaniously decided to come to my friends' flat in Makati just to have someone to talk to and maybe momentarily forget about how terribly in pain and betrayed I was feeling. 

When I got to the flat and started to hangout with my two friends, I did begin to feel better. We had our usual conversations while our friend was cooking chicken adobo for their out of town trip the next day. We were foolishly doing log rolls on their baby floor mats when we heard a knock. We immediately sat around the dining table before one of us opened the door. It was Russell. He came to borrow my friend's backpack for their trip the next day. Ofcourse, I already knew him from that frisbee party in January when I came from a photoshoot to fetch my friend so we can go home to the South together. He probably did not remember me because he was so drunk while he was talking to me. 

We were introduced again. I said hello. My friend mentioned that I was a mountaineer who traveled a lot and that I wanted to document my travels around the Philippines. Because he was planning to put up a travel agency, he said maybe we can work together on something in the future. I politely said "Yes, perhaps". But the whole time we were talking, I could barely look at him. I might have come across as being rude and a snob. I was not ashamed about my puffy red eyes. I just could not see him clearly because my eyes and contact lenses were all dried up from all the crying. He went home and that was the end of our chance encounter. We went back to our log rolls immediately after he shut the door.

As I was on my way home that night, partly tearing up again, I thought it must be nice if I went out with Russell or someone like him because it must be fun to have someone that I can travel with and someone who has a taste for adventure for a change. It made me smile to think about that possiibility. But I quickly brushed it off because I remembered swearing off men from my life.

A few weeks later, he asked me out through our mutual friend but I said no because I was not ready to date again. It really wasn't him, it was me. I was perfectly happy drowning myself with work. I repeatedly said no to his invitations months later. Needless to say I eventually said YES to dinner and tea...then to a lifetime of adventure with him.

It Was Once Just A "What if?"...something I thought would never happen in a million years. But deciding to take the leap by starting with a simple friendly date turned out to be one of the best decisions that I've ever made. In 5 minutes I imagined that he could be someone I can share my adventures with. I never thought it would become a reality. Life has a funny and twisted way of making things work out, doesn't it?

My 5 minute what if turned into cliff jumping in Siargao, snorkelling in Apo Island, boat rides on stormy seas, mountain climbing in Mt. Mayon at alert level 2, crossing a river just after sunset without knowing where we were headed, underwater swim to a cave in El Nido, game fishing in Siargao, swimming with the whalesharks, swimming with a sea turtle, walking through murky mangrove, sudsod barefoot in muddy mangrove, sand dune surfing in Ilocos, outrigger boat ride for 8 hours from Coron to El Nido, 2-hour motorcycle ride in Dumaguete, endless backpacking, whitewater rafting, encounters with sea snakes, meeting people from different regions and different countries, foodtrips and eating just anywhere, jumping off a boat and swimming for several kilometers to a sandbar, spelunking for 10 hours, flying an ultralight plane and many more fun and crazy experiences.

Who knew that some "what ifs" can come true?

Happy weekend!

Pre-nup shoot in Anawangin

Pre-nup shoot in Anawangin

Pre-nup shoot in Anawangin

A List of Firsts

I never thought I'd live to see myself transform into a mommy. I know our journey has only just begun but these past two weeks and four days have brought more joy to me that I have ever felt in my entire life, combined.

I will never forget the first time I heard you cry. It was a very soft cry as soon as you got out, followed by another sot cry and followed by another loud, continuous cry as they were cleaning you off right before I dozed off completely. That moment, I knew that I will do anything and everything for you.

I will never forget the first time I saw you in person. I saw you through a glass viewing window while you were in the incubator in the NICU. I remember how I desperately wanted to come to you and hold you in my arms.

I will never forget the first time you heard my voice. It was as if you heard a very familiar voice and you started moving your tiny body, as if searching for the source of that sound and listening to every word I was saying. 

I will never forget the first time I touched you. I gently stroke your soft little fingers as you held my finger and would not let go. I stayed until you fell asleep that day.

I will never forget my first Mother's Day celebration in May 10, 2015. Thank you for making me your mom. I could only see you through the incubator and I can only touch you instead of holding you in my arms but just to be able to look at you is more than enough for me.

I will never forget the first time I saw you open your eyes. It was as if you were looking for the voice singing your favorite nursery rhymes while you were still in my womb. I looked at your eyes and you looked at mine. I know it will still be a while before you really see me though.
   
I will never forget the first time I held you in my arms. My heart was pounding so fast but I quickly got used to holding your tiny body next to mine. Until now, whenever I would hold you, you quickly fall soundly asleep.

I will never forget the first time I breastfed you. I could just stare at you all day and not notice time passing.

I will never forget the first time I saw you pout your tiny lips. Your were so so so cute. I also remember thinking that your Papa and I are in so much trouble because you will surely have us both under your control. Of course, we will pretend it isn't so.

As I said, I know that our journey had only began. And I'm sure it will be one heck of an adventure. We are new to this but we will get better as we get to know you and you get to know us. Although life is full of surprises and uncertainties, I know one thing is for sure. That we will always love you will all of our hearts and we will always be by your side through this whole ride called life.