Good News and Bad News: Taal Volcano

Well in some not so special news, Tagaytay is really nervous because of increased volcanic activity and Phivolcs have issued Alert level 2 on the volcano. People don't actually know that the island in the middle of the lake is the actual volcano. That should be a no man's land but there are approximately 8,000 of them living in it. Imagine what horrible things could happen there if it does erupt. I'm not surprised but government should make laws to get this done soon. I wouldn't want to see Tagaytay, our land and our house there just go to waste. There must be some other way things could get better soon.

Tourism is their main industry and if they don't take care of their people the industry would just die a natural death. Agriculture also is trying to recover but this situation wouldn't help. I'm as worried as the people who live there. I have relatives who are permanent residents there and if there are no permanent solution given to them, it'll just be an unending cycle that also would cost thousands of lives. I hope the volcano ceases to do anything and releases its pressure because as experience taught any volcanologist, any active volcanoes that don't erupt for a long amount of time turn out more destructive afterwards. My prayers go out to them too. Hope nothing big would happen soon.

Do you have relatives in that area? I suggest you call them and tell them to be prepared. You need to remind them. I'm telling you!

My Dream Villas In France

Working so hard the past year I have been contemplating where to go for a vacation. The usual ones would be the neighboring countries in Southeast Asia but I've grown tired traveling on most of them. This year I'll be trying my luck on backpacking in Europe. I'll be going alone but I'll try my best to raise some funds so I can get my Mom to come along. This particular trip would probably involve us to France because she wanted to go to Lourdes (because she's a devoted Catholic) while the hopeless romantic in me would prefer a night or two in Paris (the city of lights). It's also one of my dreams to shoot from a countryside shabby chic cottage so I would like to find villas in France that we could stay in. We might decide to stay a week since we would be able to save a lot than by just staying overnight. I hope I can get ample amount of vacation leave credits so this would be feasible. I want to also experience the exquisite food they are known for. Oh I can almost taste it! I want to have my own villa someday too but this would be nice to get a feel of it! This is but a dream!

Paris is legendary for its nicest lights and the Eiffel Tower. Seeing the gigantic but beautiful structure towering over the city would be the perfect way to end this trip. I would like to also get inside museums and see the artwork of the masters. Shooting landscapes and a couple of night exposures in that location would be blissful for a photographer like me. I wish to have my own villa holidays spent in Paris and elsewhere in Europe soon. I'm making a list of the requirements for VISA and planning the itinerary now. There are other countries that we would like to include too since it would be relatively easier to travel on local EU flights. I promised to visit my brother in Ireland and this would be the perfect time to do so. I'll also have to ask him about Spain and a couple of cities there. I'll have to make sure my money is spent on the greatest accommodations I could afford and still have money to splurge on a little shopping in the other countries on our list. I wouldn't stop myself to just take the train rides too so I could visit the outskirts and see the places that most tourists do not have on their plans. Oh just thinking about these makes me so excited! I'll tell you about it when all of these push through next year. Wish me luck!

Where Do I Go Next?!

I have been traveling for quite a while. I love how it feels to get to know the culture and the people on the street. This goes the same with any other country I plan to visit. I will pretty soon conquer the UK and I will have my brother take short breaks with me. Since he is busy in Ireland I wouldn't be able to just pull him out on weekdays and maybe on the weekend it'll be more feasible. Do you see deer on the photo? There's a lot more where that came from and it is just a few kilometers away from my brother's house. I can always travel but there's something in my mind that bugs me if he doesn't come along with me. He needs a break too and if that requires us to do it nearby I wouldn't hesitate to do it.

I love the weekend and if ever it's going to be the shortest day I have to go out with my brother it is okay just as long as it is with him. This goes the same with my friends too. I have a lot and to tell you honestly I've been doing this for quite some time now. I am currently choosing vacation packages on line and I would love to explore more of the countryside. Have you thought of where to go next?

Moving South: Peace and Quiet

I'm going to have a short trip to the south so I could get my things to our house there. I've been going there every weekend and it has cost me a lot. If you think about it, I'm probably going to have problems moving big furniture because it wouldn't fit the back of the van. It makes me wish some houston moving company would come and help me. It would have been faster and a lot better. I know how hard it is going to get when that time comes. I haven't even finished decorating it yet because I don't have the swing I plan to put on the porch. I'm still trying to get the table and country style pieces from a couple of stores. This is going to be great!

Having the best things in life was one of the reasons I started writing. With this in the works I'm sure I'll have my own sweet refuge where no one would be able to find me. It's pretty far from Manila but that is one of the charming things about it... its remoteness from the city. It's pretty hard to travel but the benefits of peace and quiet seem to have outweighed it. I want to see my family to enjoy that too in the near future. After all, it was bought for them.

That just made me think a lot... sometimes I enjoy the noise of the city and also the quiet countryside. How about you?!

Guess what?!

I haven't slept yet obviously because I went to Cubao this morning. I got myself tickets so I'll be going out of the country again. Away from the busy bustling sound of Manila and into the abyss. I won't divulge information yet but I'll show you photos after the trip. Maybe just maybe it would be easy to pay for all of these soon. I'm still afloat but I'll think about what to do after the trip, I won't sourgrape anymore about the costs and leave it at that.

I'm not upset. It's just that I have been thinking a lot lately about taking a break or a breather. I'll probably regret doing it later but I hope I don't. Geeze is this really this big of a deal?!

I'll go on a diet so I can still fit my clothes till then. I know I can do it. I did it before so this shouldn't be a problem right?! I'm so worried about something so small.

Now that's out. I'm probably going to watch the facebook timeline so I could get some sleep. I get bored with it after a few minutes so I'm using it to my advantage hehhe. I hope this all turn out well, please pray for me hahahah! I'm not dying! =P

I need to go to the John. See yah!

When's your next trip?!

I would really want to rush out into other states when I get to the US next year. Watching the Miss Universe Preliminaries was already getting me itchy to camp out and pledge support for my bet. You may have someone in your mind too so I won't force my candidate on you. If you check out the crowd that went there you probably have an idea that it is pretty hard on the lines. Tickets may have been sold triple or double the price if this is the scene. I would really love to check out rvs for sale and stay there overnight. (Screen shot via USTREAM)

My relatives in Texas won't mind if I drive all the way down south since their rodeo days are also near. I must admit I don't like staying in someone's home if I can stay in my car, anyway it will just be a few days. I can sleep comfortably in these big vehicles and I won't mind if Mom or Dad shares with me and get the motor home instead. They travel a lot too and if I leave that for them it would be really better and comfortable. My brother can drive them though. Dad may get tired of the long ones. I stay out of the freeways too if I can when I'm on vacation because the back pains are not helping! The international driver's license isn't insurance for what it's worth. I would want to go to Nevada, Irvine and Houston soon. I've been there a couple of times already and with the business trips planned for me, this would be an awesome side trip! Wouldn't that be nice?! Ha-ha!

I'll have my cousins coming with me. How about you?! When's your next trip?!

Play Around in Memphis

This is a sponsored guest post written by Memphis Travel on behalf of Memphis CVB. Post powered by Sponzai.

More than just the home of the blues and barbeque, Memphis gives you plenty of ways to play around, with fun things to do no matter who you are or what you like. Of course, if you’re into Elvis, rock-and-roll and mouth-watering ribs, you’ve got to check out Graceland, Sun Studios, and the Rendezvous. But Memphis has much more to offer than this holy trinity of southern culture, with enough to see, do and eat to make it the perfect location for your next long weekend getaway.

The families out there (or the wild at heart) should be sure to check out the Memphis Zoo, one of only four U.S. zoos with giant pandas. Recently ranked the #1 zoo in the U.S. by TripAdvisor.com, the Memphis Zoo lets you get up close and personal with the animal kingdom. And with the recent addition the Northwest Passage, home to Polar bears in a see-through underwater exhibit, and the zoo’s newest section, Teton Trek, kids and adults alike are certain to have a blast.

Don’t let your midtown experience stop at the zoo; the Cooper-Young and Overton Square neighborhoods are just down the street. Ask a local Memphian where to find a tasty bite to eat, great local music and ice cold beer, and they will probably direct you here. Speaking of beer … the environmentally conscious visitor can enjoy a locally brewed beer by Ghost River Brewing or walk through the natural landscape and educational facilities at the Lichterman Nature Center.

Memphis has museums for just about everything. From the Civil Rights Museum, Cotton Museum and Fire Museum in downtown to the Brooks Museum, Children’s Museum of Memphis and the Pink Palace Museum further east, the number of places to have fun while you learn are as bountiful as the barbeque restaurants. Families, friends, sports fans, history buffs, self-proclaimed food critics – Memphis has everything you need to keep everyone happy.

So when you visit Memphis, stay a few extra days. Even the locals don’t run out of things to do. And to make it easy, memphistravel.com is launching a new travel guide to help you plan your next vacation. Simply choose from a list of interests and you’ll be given a sample itinerary with lots of great ideas. You can also register for a chance to win one of twelve trip packages that include tours, gift certificates to Memphis’ favorite restaurants, hotel stays and more. Go to itinerary.memphistravel.com to get started.

I Feel the Need to Ride Again!

Did you know that I learned to ride a bike when I was about 3 or 4 years old?! I remember my cousin guiding me about half way and I told him to stop pushing me but when I looked at my back no one was there so I was literally on my own at a very young age. I did fall down at the end of the road but what made me mention that is because I really miss riding my bike. I was really small when I started and the hobby continued when I was in high school. I got into it competitively but I guess it was not really for me. I didn't win small competitions because there were still some kids better than me. I wish there was some way I could get back into riding again and form the symptoms of my gadget acquisition syndrome for dirt bike accessories. That would really be expensive since lighter, tougher bikes are getting to be the trend today.

It is another healthy alternative to my gym routine. I am trying to get another one so I would not be too acquainted with what I am doing now. The change would make me eagerly work out more but I think it is going to be a huge mistake if I often go out and eat or drink with buddies right after my shift. I am sometimes dead tired too but if I want to make this work I need to make necessary adjustments to my lifestyle right?! I need a trip to the bike shop and probably check out a few things in sites like BTO Sports to get ideas how to jazz up my gear! Wish me luck and cross your fingers as I try riding this weekend.

KUMAGCOW MOOOOVIE REVIEWS: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

The sequel just got better! ^_^

I'm not ashamed to say that I watched this moooovie last 2005 and by golly it was witty and charming to see these ladies get together in rituals of pants that fit them exactly, made them lucky wherever and whenever in the world.

That's me on the shadow... LOLZ ^_^

Just look at the impressive cast!

Amber Tamblyn as Tibby Tomko-Rollins - Now infamous for her XOXO show!
Alexis Bledel as Lena Kaligaris - Super witty at Gilmore Girls
America Ferrera as Carmen Lowell - Need I say more Betty?
Blake Lively as Bridget Vreeland - of countless films and tv appearances!


Someone got scared pregnant, someone got to be a lead actress, an archaeologist and scared of LOVE. Guess who's who! I won't wanna spoil it for yah!

We were like only 9 in the 300+ seater movie house when we entered.... yeah lotsa Filo's didn't like this... primarily coz the story line would be too advanced for the masses... it was not made for that I guess... but since it just showed and no promos were seen apart from the posters outside the movie house, I guess that also is to be blamed... but boy I like this movie... I asked my wifey to neglect the funny movie and opt for this more classy one... guess what! she liked it and asked if I could show her the first part of this movie... I said we can watch cable where this has played a couple of times.... you bet I'll be there with her as well... since I liked this movie so much I'll give it 4 KUMAGS.... the last one goes to the crowd that watched with us... ^_^