island hopping

One of the best ways to enjoy summer is island hopping. This is very popular in the Philippines since its islands are separated from each other.

As you travel from island-to-island, you get to enjoy the sea. Swimming between islands makes it exciting and very enjoying. You can also try snorkeling and scuba diving.

Things to prepare when on island hopping:

1.) extra money

2.) sunblock

3.) food and drinks

4.) digital camera/video camera (better if water proof)

5.) emergency cellphone

You get to ride a pump boat as you travel from island-to-island. Visiting another island is also a discovering experience.

We were very lucky to capture this cloud. It is very unique among others.

You are not alone in island hopping! There are also other pump boats that you can see and pass by.

So why wait for another summer to come?! Go invite your friends and family to enjoy this amazing experience! I'll definitely try it again soon. :)

nail art

NAILS! NAILS! NAILS!

Every girl wants beautiful nails. They love being presentable always with almost every detail that they have especially on the latest fashion trends now. One of which is nail art. Styling your nails with different designs and colors that you want.

As for me, I love coloring my nails! The color that you choose must represent your personality and must match with what work/place you are into.

Neutral colors = office work, wedding, hospital work

Brighter colors = parties, summer getaways, easter

You can place stickers and lace on your nails with any design you want. There are many salons that cater nail art. As much as I know here in the Philippines, it costs P100 - P250.

Nail art can just be done at home if you think you can do it on your own. Anyway, it's really not necessary but if you get bored why don't you try this at home. It's really fun! : )

swimming

Soaking under the sun for me is very relaxing. It's like you are lying in a bed yet floating while facing the sun. I'm really not good in swimming but I'm good in floating. There are things that I want to learn in the sea or pool such as waking up deep under water. How I wish someday I can do that.

I love the beach.

I love the tan lines.

I love the white sand. :)

I usually go on beaches when summer. That's the hottest season for sure and you tend to get tanned because everybody else does. You don't get alone when your skin complexion changes.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Pools are another thing. If you don't have a beach then you got a pool. Not just for summer fun but a place to exercise yourself. And another thing is for learning how to swim! :)

tennis

Tennis is a racquet sport played between two players ("singles") or two teams of two players ("doubles"). It is officially called a lawn tennis to distinguish it from real tennis (also known as royal tennis or court tennis), an older form of the game that is played indoors on a very different kind of a court.

Tennis is fun when you play it with your friends especially when it's your first time...you won't get shy. Really! A good start to practice it with them makes you feel confident to play the second time around. That's for sure!

You play tennis with some full action. This requires strength, endurance and concentration. You can't just stand on one corner. You gotta hit the ball anywhere it goes as long as it is within its playing ground. You totally can sweat with this game.

If you feel any worries on how to slim down and tone some muscles then this is a good sport for you. =)

me and my lalabs

BABY NOKIE AND BABY BOKIE

June 13 is our anniversary day. We are together for 2 years now. We met at the same school at University of San Carlos - TC. He was in 4th year college and I was in 3rd college back then. We both have the same course (Bachelor of Science in Nursing). Actually, I didn't recognize him in school..hahaha! He used my friends and blockmates just to have access with me. We were friends for 6 months until it became officially "us."

A lot of trials come into our relationship. We can say that we are both busy. But despite all odds, we keep holding on until now. It's not easy when one is away especially when one of us travels away from the country. We surely miss each other.

Saint Anthony of Padua is our patron saint because June 13 is also his feast day.

We just pray all the problems that we face everyday and for us both and our families as well. When we are together, we spend our Sunday attending mass.

We just live simply. A give-and-take relationship shall we say. We spend time on traveling within Cebu, chatting/texting everyday, watch movies, and eat together.

We have several terms of endearment:

1. dexie-hazie

2. dee

3. beb

4. baby

5. bokie bok-nokie nok (present)

We never experienced spending our anniversaries together because it just so happened that one of us is out of the country. But even though the situation is like that, we always spend time chatting via internet. We have no choice sad to say. However, love remains on each other's hearts. =)

washington dc

THE CAPITOL

Washington DC, the central office of America. We toured again together with my family and some relatives. The place was very wide, clean and peaceful. Under the heat of the sun, we dared to walk and tour the monuments, museums and memorials of DC.

The Washington Monument. Small to look at but it's really very tall. The long walk had just been started. Let's bring it on!

Washington DC is a place wherein much of the histories have been preserved especially about America.

After a long walk, we arrived at Abraham Lincoln's Memorial Monument.

The beautiful flowers stroke some attraction around the grounds of DC. It is just because they are very exposed to the sun and gardeners feed them well..obviously! I just love them!

The White House. The very important person in America lives here. Every corner is very secured as you can see on this picture.

Abraham Lincoln's Memorial is just facing the Washington Monument. You can just imagine yourself having a long walk. geez! As you walk along, museums are on each side with different categories.

We had to take a rest first before going back. Stairs are for sitting now...lol

Take note: You can't tour Washington DC for just a day. You have much to see in this place especially in their Smithsonian Museums.

new york city

THE BIG APPLE!!

June 13, 2009. Me and my family went to New York to visit our relatives. This was an another tour for us family. The weather was humid and very cold. As a sign of adjustment, we wore jackets just to comfort ourselves. But as we pass by the streets, most people just wore simply, literally speaking. They just wore some sleeves or even just shirts! I was impressed with their immunity to the cold weather. I hope soon I am too...

As we walked around, everything was tall (buildings) and wide (streets). Luxurious cars passed on the streets of Manhattan, New York. Cool! Souvenir shops was on every corner. Bagels, fries and burger stores were seen on every avenue. And then, I saw the replica of the Statue of Liberty! I hugged it very quickly assuming I hugged the original one even though it's big..lol

Souvenir items are very alive in NYC. There I saw this little teddy, so cute that's why I took a picture of it. The price? I forgot..haha! The only thing that I bought that day was a pair of black shoes ($26.00) coz my feet felt numb of the cold weather. I was wearing slippers when we went there. I didn't realize at all...how dumb! lol

hollah peace out there!

Welcome to MACY'S! The famous mall in New York. All branded things are found here. Just name it! How I wish I could buy all the things I want here...

At the back of me is the Rockefeller Center. It is where you can find some famous offices here just like NBC. This place is also famous for ice skating. That started on fall until winter.

New York City is very famous in the whole world. We were very lucky to visit here despite of the crowd. A beautiful city yet lots of homeless people. Residents in New York City is having a life of all work and almost no play. That is why it is called "the city that never sleeps."

I miss New York! I'm looking forward to visit again here someday where I can already go at the Statue of Liberty's crown and see the whole view of NYC...

los angeles

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

June 10, 2009. We had a tour at Universal Studios, LA. Together with me is my dad and my brothers. The long hours of waiting from LAX made us a plan to visit Universal Studios after waiting for the next plane for exactly 11 hrs!! Waiting in the airport for too long made us bored. So why not visit LA for some hours while waiting for the next trip?? Right?!

The Red Carpet. I was very excited to visit this place because I was very close to Hollywood already! The place was like a "preserved mini-town" where visitors take a tour of what is just outside Hollywood. Just like every ordinary person, we watch movies--loves them and idolizes some actors and actresses. We would wish that we were very near to them and see 'em in person. :)

And here I am right now, stepping on this beautiful place. It was like a dream come true. You are just near to your favorite stars on your favorite movie shows and on your favorite music videos. Isn't that amazing?! Talents were discovered and stars were born in this area wherein not everyone can just do. And not everyone can visit here also.

We were very blessed and thankful to come here. We enjoyed seeing what's new to our senses and of course, USA. This was our first time to step into America and with just a few hours of arriving from Hong Kong we already went here. That's how excited we were honestly saying.

God blessed us with this trip and He said, let's keep rockin'!!

starbucks

I LOVE STARBUCKS!

Starbucks Coffee is known internationally for they have one of the best taste of coffee in the world. They only not have coffee but they also have iced drinks that you can choose from. What I have with me in this picture is the iced hibiscus drink.

I'm sharing you now things why you will love Starbucks:

1. A delicious coffee makes you keep going despite of stress in work.

2. Starbucks Coffee Shop is also a nice place to relax, chill together with people close to you.

Starbucks got lots of coffee drinks to choose from according to your taste...

My favorite is the white chocolate mocha! hot or cold whatever it may be..i love it! mmmm.. What's yours?

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In a very approachable manner, Starbucks has ways on how to reach out to their customers which what makes it very interesting. =)

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it definitely makes your day complete!

a very nice drink with friends makes every day smiling.. these are my buddies in Baltimore, Maryland: Aane (left) and Vianney (right).. we got nothing to do on this very day so we planned to hang out and have some coffee at Quarry Lake.. =P

I'll bet, you will love Starbucks after you drink together with your friends...

Mama Mary

One of the visited places here in Cebu, Philippines is the Miraculous Mama Mary located at Simala, Sibonga. As most devotees say, Mama Mary of Simala granted many prayers especially towards the sick ones.

The Crying Mama Mary

It was believed that Mama Mary shed a tear way back years ago in which they have discovered that she was indeed a miraculous one.

Miraculous Mama Mary

Devotees line up for their petitions to Mama Mary which is located at the second floor. This is not the replica.

Devotees line up to feel Mama Mary's presence through her cape which is located on the ground floor beside the testimony hall.

This wheelchair was donated after a pilgrim can walk again.

the testimony hall: letters for Mama Mary thanking that their petitions were granted

the monastery: where devotees pray and attend mass

the list of petition candles for Mama Mary

candles for petition: every color of the candle has its own meaning

Mama Mary's Castle

the bell: make a wish then throw a coin, make sure you hit the bell and drops on the wishing well

the wishing well

the falls: this makes the ambiance of the picnic area relaxing

the cottage: a relaxing place to have picnic with friends and family after visiting Mama Mary

This trip is a memorable place to visit for most devotees.