My mom would claim that my love affair with hotels began with the The Peninsula Manila Hotel. While she was pregnant with me then very shortly after I was born and all through my early years, getaways to this five star hotel was a regular weekend occurrence.

I remember being very young, my yaya keeping a watchful eye on me to ensure I didn’t get into any mischief as I childishly explored the marbled halls. I remember gazing at a fantastic ice sculpture of a swan in the middle of the buffet table. And I remember the Swiss / German / Italian chefs taking pity on my suffering parents, allowing them to have a romantic dinner in peace, while they took me on a culinary tour of the hotel kitchens for the umpteenth time!

Now I’m 27 and back for more. No more toddling around after the head chefs. More like partying it out in Makati with friends before crawling back to the lobby past midnight, being pleasantly surprised to find the orchestra still playing for guests. Couldn’t let the perfect end to the night slip away, so we grabbed a table in the lobby, had a few snacks, sobered up with an amazing cup of hot chocolate and listened to the live classical music play on until 4 am.

What can I say? This love affair just keeps on growing.

The Peninsula Manila
Corner of Ayala and Makati Avenues,
Makati, Manila,
Philippines 1226

So my mom booked us into the Manila Pavillon Hotel accidentally, thinking she was booking us into -the- Manila Hotel. Different leagues really, but a chance for a random experience. Not a good one, but an experience nonetheless. I’ll let the photos do the talking.

After I just mention that the hotel room book was a re-used Holiday Inn Hotel Room book…now you know what you’ll be in for:

Restaurant looks modern, but the food is poor and buffet not well taken cared of. While having dinner I overheard another customer complain about flies around the sushi bar.

Looks pretty. Pity it tasted like cardboard. No substance. The results of the restaurant gave me the impression it was a a training ground for very inexperienced chefs.

View of Manila Hotel from Manila Pavillon Hotel. So near yet so far. Dear mom, please book me in the correct hotel next time. OKthnxloveyoubaibai!

Manila Pavillon Hotel More like Motel!
United Nations Avenue,
Corner Ma. Orosa Str.,
Ermita, Manila,
Luzon 1000, Philippines

Anawangin Cove. Done as a road trip with friends, via Subic from Manila. The Bangka ride is a must. Amazing rock formations by the sea. We went on a slightly stormy day, so the wave swells were massive and so much fun!

Wiki:

It is a crescent shaped cove with a pristine white sand beach. What makes the place unique is the unusual riddle of tall pine trees flourishing round its vicinity. There are no roads leading to Anawangin. It is only accessible by a 30 minute boat ride from Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales or by a six-hour trek through hot, open trails thru the Pundaquit range. The cove’s relative isolation has kept it free from development…

I’ve got a little secret…don’t tell too many people. Kwebang Lampas, Pagbilao, Quezon, Philippines.

Remember, it’s a secret. Sssshhh…

Quezon, a beautiful province with a warm wholesome heart. An important agricultural center of the Philippines next to some beautiful volcano black beaches. Good food and surf, you can’t go wrong. Home sweet home.

Forget sunrises, what a moon rise!

First post in 2011 and it’s already late February. I do apologise, time seems to slip me by these days. I’m now 27 and glad to say don’t feel any different. Once a wanderer, always a wanderer, so here is a nice little walk in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. It starts from quaint Malham to Malham Cove, Malham Tarn and Great Close Scar.

Malham Cove

Malham Tarn

Great Close Scar, where I have abseiled. Been there. Done that. Never again.

We chatted with this sheep farmer on our way back. He said we were crackers for enjoying a walk in such miserable weather. But he couldn’t blame us city folk, wanting a piece of his beautiful countryside :)

Wow, has it been a year already? There will be some major reflection happening in the next few days (as is usual for me), but for now, here are some highlights:

• Hiked up Blencathra
• Getting my second tattoo
• Visited Grenoble, France for a foodie holiday!
• Hiked up Hellvellyn
• Went home to the Philippines
• Began to learn how to Windsurf :)

And because I didn’t get a chance to post about my trip to London (had to go to the embassy to get my passport renewed), here are some lovely snapshots of the city and the Natural History Museum…after waiting patiently in the longest queue I have ever stood in. Everyone wants to see the Dinosaurs!

Darwin looking quite annoyed at my antics.

Wishing everyone a great start to the New Year!

Yes, those are icicles!

A few snapshots of a walk we did in November. Yes, snow came early this year! But we were looking forward to hiking in these wintry conditions.  The walk started out in Hebden Bridge towards Hardcastle Crags. On the way we stopped for some tea and a baked potato dripping in melted cheese. The walk took four hours (including the stop), ideal when you’re watching the light in these late months.

The trip back to the Philippines this year has definitely had some impact on the direction of my life. It was over a telephone conversation to Mr H back in the UK that I realised that I was really happy here. I mean, really really happy. When people say you should do what makes you happy, being by the beach definitely trips that switch.

This is where my dad put me (at two weeks old!) into the sea (I like to think that was my baptism). This is where I grew up. And this is where I got married.

I am so glad that when my brother and I left the nest my mom went home to the Philippines to start up her beach resort, Blue Bay Waters in Sariaya, Quezon. Not only is she doing what she loves, but she has created a home not only for us, but for weary travellers looking for some peace while exploring the beautiful provinces of the Philippines.

A totally family run business, we enjoy experimenting with the possibilities :) Some of us spent some time fooling about with the internet connections and Wifi. Bundok style! Of course, we had to. Our generation are all techies and can’t be that far from the internet. Glad to say there’s Wifi everywhere now, in the cottages and by the beach! Yar! *geeky pleasure*

Our beautiful beach at low tide and the gorgeous views. It’s so sweet to watch the guests’ children run around the dunes, picking up seashells and squealing in delight when they see a tiny fish or sand crab skittering about. Reminds me of me when I was a kid ^_^

It was great to see our family and friends again. We caught up with the happenings of each others lives while swimming and over good food, drinks, karaoke and even amazing lightning over the sea.

This was the view of the beach when I went out for some early morning surf. It was like the world was saying: Good morning!

Coming home is nothing without the amazing food. I ate so much seafood it was ridiculous. Even better than the seafood you get in some hotels in Manila. Lobsters, shrimps, squid, crab everywhere. And then all the filipino goodies like tocino, adobo, crispy pata…

I need to go back. Just waiting to find out what’s happening in the next 6-8 months before booking another ticket. And then hopefully one day, that ticket will be one way.

Read more about about BBW on the blog? Click here.

Booking Details:
Website: http://www.bluebaywaters.com
Chat on Yahoo Msger: bluebaywaters
Tel No: (042) 716-1450
Mobile: # 09089916526 and # 09083456300
Email: sales@bluebaywaters.com & bluebaywaters@yahoo.com

As stated on the previous post, I enjoy hotel living. When I’m Manila I tend to stay at Holiday Inn Galleria.

You should know that I love my hotels and I’m a loyal customer. When the head chef remembers you running around the breakfast buffet at 10 yrs old and has enjoyed watching you grow up… and remembers your grandmother when she sat with you.

Say hi to Chef Bien for me if you see him :) He’s always there, usually frying up omelette, sunny side ups or treating people to Taho at the breakfast buffet.

Holiday Inn Galleria Manila
1 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center
Pasig City 1655
Philippines
+63 2 633 7111