Tagaytay Retreat
This will always be one of my favourite cities in my home country, mostly because of my fascination with anything close to winter and in this tropical land that I live in, this probably is the closest I can get to. I mean Sagada can go really low but that’s about 6 -7 hours from Manila so I am pretty happy with Tagaytay. I guess this goes for a lot of people living in the capital— Tagaytay, with its cool & invigorating air, its magnificent landscape and its proximity to Manila has become a favourite weekend retreat from the chaos of urban life.
That it boasts of a smorgasbord of food delicacies & the freshest of fruits and veggies makes it all the more endearing to tourists. We love to come here for the crazy food trip!
The Great Wiener Experience
Of all my Euro travels, this one stands out as my favourite. Not only had this city got me spellbound, but the whole Wiener experience in the so called cultural capital of Europe was just unforgettable. Thanks to Wolfgang our German colleague turned travel planner, we got to try out some popular local treats and appreciate the Wiener way of life, even for just a day and a half. Wiener Schnitzel, Sachertorte, Kaffeehauser, Huerigens, Mozart Balls! Yummmmm. That I got to do it with my dear friend Dads all the more made it one heck of a holiday. Too bad I had to lose my laptop where I stored my hi-res photos of the trip. I still can’t forgive myself for it, though I was able to salvage a few from Multiply. Well at least. But still, it sucks man.
Bern, Baby, Bern!
This was our very first trip out of Germany hence our spirits were just soaring in anticipation. I’ve considered Switzerland when I was making a list of places I wanted to visit in Europe (with my eyes quite fixated on its capital, Bern for its impressive medieval architecture) and so when opportunity presented itself, I couldn’t have been more thrilled!
One of our colleagues who had a best friend living in Bern invited us to spend the weekend in the scenic Swiss Capital. This, unlike our Berlin trip that was pretty much history-loaded, was more like a weekend getaway meant to visit our colleague’s friends, unwind and get a peek of the city where my favourite Toblerone is made. The trip was quite anti-climactic but the city was certainly a revelation.
Hallo aus Berlin!
When I learned that I was going to Frankfurt for a project I decided straight away that Berlin should be our first destination in our weekend trips. I’ve always been fascinated with Germany’s rich, and quite dramatic past and how it significantly changed the rest of the world and I thought if given the chance I will definitely make a visit to the so called center of politics and culture of Germany and one of the most influential cities in the EU.
Prior to our trip, our German colleague, Wolfgang gave us a refresher about the Pre-reunification period of Germany which even roused our interest to see the places where history unfolded. It was quite a moving story, from the time the four victorious powers (US, UK, France & Soviet Union) of World War II split the city into four zones, to the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany in West Germany and the Democratic Republic in the East, to the erection of the Berlin Wall, to its fall and finally the reunification in October 3, 1990.
At home in Frankfurt
There’s no better way to start my Eurotrip chronicles but with what has so far become my home for my more or less 6 month-stint in Deutscheland’s financial capital, Frankfurt. I know it’s eons ago already but it would just be too unfair not to write about a business trip which we managed to turn into the Euro Trip of our dreams!!! 11 countries, 18 cities, 18 plates that I’ve collected from each city—-either I must have been wronged pretty badly or been damn good at one point in the past to deserve this good karma =)
Anyway, Frankfurt isn’t like my dream city or anything like the touristy places, say, Paris or Rome, but having lived here for almost 6 months, this dynamic yet at the same time peaceful city has definitely grown on me. I wasn’t surprised that it was among the top 10 most liveable cities in the world for 2010. It so deserves to be in the list.
Bintan, baby!
This is our anniversary month hence I was ecstatic that we would be celebrating it in one of the swanky resorts in Bintan, Indonesia, The Angsana Hotel & Spa. If you’d check this in the website http://www.angsana.com, you’d understand why for a long time I had been fancying about it but had always been cast off due to never ending bookings. I had to book at least 2 months before, especially that the date I picked was a public holiday in SG.
Bintan Island is part of the Riau Archipelago (Indonesia), and is located less than 40 kilometers from Singapore, 45 minutes by ferry if you’re like me who can’t talk kilometers. It’s a favourite weekend retreat for people in SG as it’s only a short ferry ride from the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. We booked our ticket online (around 25 SGD per pax). It’s recommended to book early, especially if you’re going during a holiday so you can still have a say on your preferred travel time.
Amazing Ayutthaya
Our second day in Thailand had our leg muscles a bit worked up as made a sidetrip to Ayutthaya about 85 km north of Bangkok, under the unholy, unforgiving sun. Yes, we ended up basically being roasted and drained but that’s quite a small price you pay for such a spectacle — the amazing ruins that tell us a tale of a once powerful kingdom that ruled a great part of Thailand, Laos & Burma.
When I was putting up our itinerary for our Bangkok trip, thanks to the miracle called Google, I’ve seen amazing photos of Ayutthaya. Incredible photos! But to see them actually come alive, in all their elaborate design and grandeur is quite an experience. No wonder it’s listed as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.
We heart Bangkok
The decision, that this would be our destination for our first out-of-the country trip as a married couple was a no-brainer. Bangkok pretty much stands out in Southeast Asia as a tourists’ haven and we weren’t disappointed. Bangkok is anything but boring; a real charmer I can say and it was such a nice escape from living in a city that feels like a small box, if you know what I mean.
Sagada Paradiso
We’ve made a trip back to Manila just recently and man I missed it so. ‘Made coming back to SG such an ordeal! Hence as a sort of a tribute to our beloved Pilipinas, I decided to take a leave from all my Euro blogs to take you to my one great adventure to Philippine’s outdoor capital, Sagada. Four days, three nights in scenic Sagada with my fab girl friends She, Amy and Jaz. This feels like ages ago already, a couple of months before I became Mrs. Piggy er Mrs. Barrera hehe. Four single girls all looking to have an amazing mountain experience, which we obviously achieved. Adventure + Serenity = A different kind of high. See the pictures and you’d know what I’m talking about.
Pyromusical 2010
Last March 14 was the last day of the first Pyromusical olympics where pyrotechnics, light, and music go hand in hand. The venue was at the Mall of Asia, and spectators who wanted to have a “better view” of the fireworks show were required to pay in order to have preference of good vantage. CLICK TO READ MORE.
