Fishtastic Experience at Tibiao Fish Spa

My flashpack trip started with a ferry ride from Bacolod to Ilo-Ilo. Day 1 in Ilo-Ilo was not purely for pleasure as I needed to renew my professional license at PRC's regional office. My previous renewals were easy peasy, I'm usually done with the whole process before lunch. I thought it will be just like 3 years ago, so I planned to visit the heritage sites in the afternoon. But then, my plans shattered into pieces when I saw a huge crowd outside the PRC office! It looked disastrous, major trip hassle! So, there I was, on queue on several windows for almost 12 hours; only went out for snack and lunch. Anyway, enough of the ranting, let's jump to the happy part: I successfully renewed my license before 7 pm. Then, I treated my exhausted self and my family, who got tired of waiting for me, to a relaxing fish spa and foot massage! 

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Lady: The Jinx Flashpacker

I have always considered myself a flashpacker, not a backpacker. Why? Well, first of all, I can't carry a backpack! Hahah! I was diagnosed to have scoliosis (abnormal spine curvature) when I was in College. It is a medical condition with no cure, only prevention to keep the curve from getting worse. So, I'm pretty sure my fragile spine couldn't handle the weight of a heavy backpack. Secondly, I love to travel in style! I want to wear clean and nice clothes everyday, matched with accessories and footwear. Third, I love fancy restaurants! I'm a picky eater, a self-confessed foodie who have constant and unstoppable food cravings. Lastly, my husband and I can't live without internet connection! We are a tech savvy couple. We look for WiFi or 3G signals everywhere. We go to Starbucks not mainly for coffee, but for free internet. :) Though I have an affinity to fancy trips, I still have a little backpacker soul in me. I also look for cheaper travel options, like bus trips instead of air flights, couch surf (stay in a friend's home) instead of booking a hotel stay! 

You might wonder why I call myself a Jinx Flashpacker. A jinx is a person that attracts a series of misfortunes. I hate to call myself one, but I can't deny the fact that I often encounter misadventures while I'm on the road; a flat tire, a rip on my dress, a broken ferry engine in the middle of the sea and more! Despite of it all, I am a happy traveler. You'll find me upset for a while, then laughing out loud a minute later.

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Sights and Sundown at Bacolod Baywalk

Weeks before my flight to the Philippines, I saw several posts about Bacolod Baywalk on Facebook. The photos on the news feed made me so curious about the place. Bacolod Baywalk is the newest attraction in the city. It was inaugurated last February 14, 2013. The 2 hectare area at the coastline of Bacolod can be a dine-out spot for foodies, an entertainment venue for music lovers and a perfect place to watch the beautiful sunset for hopeless romantics.

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Family Dinner at Bacolod Chicken House

Whenever I am away, I often think about my loving family, good friends and chicken inasal! Food has always been a part of my daydreams. Hahah! :) Chicken Inasal is a famous grilled chicken dish from Bacolod. This is not your ordinary chicken barbecue! A lot of restaurants in the country and even abroad have inasal on the menu, but nothing beats the original. Here in Bacolod, the chicken is marinated in a special secret sauce, then grilled to perfection!       

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Pope John Paul II Tower: Bacolod's Sacred Landmark

It's the third week of my month-long vacation in the Philippines. My whole body, most especially my brain, is on a hiatus! As much as I need to write a vacation update, I didn't know how and where to start! Well, I guess I have to stop lazing around for I got a lot of escapades to share.

In case you don't know, I was born and raised in Negros Occidental, a province located in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. My hometown, Silay City, is known to be the "Paris of Negros". 21 km away from Silay is Negros Occidental's capital, Bacolod, also known as the "City of Smiles". The province's growth is in full swing. There's always something new to see every time I come home. Last week, I had the chance visit one of the prominent landmarks in Bacolod, the Pope John Paul II Tower.

I have watched the tower from afar the last time I went home for vacation. I wanted to visit since then, but didn't had the time since Ed and I were too busy with our wedding preparations. This time, I didn't let the opportunity pass.

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Making New Friends and Arabic Cuisine in Dubai

Relocating to a new country like Dubai can be stressful. There are forms to fill in, you need to learn your way around the city, you need to set up an account (international banks like HSBC do good current accounts for expats), you have to learn a new language etc.

But this list does end and once you've settled in, you can enjoy your new way of life and appreciate the local culture. If you’re trying to make new friends, you may want to invite the neighbors round for dinner. And what better to way to impress them than by making some traditional Arab cuisine?

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