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Baguio
These images are taken from our stay in Baguio, the largest city in the Philippines north of Manila. It is located in the Cordillera mountains which create the lower temperatures and an escape away from the heat of the lowlands like Manila.
Cebu
Cebu is an island in the Philippines and located in between Negros and Bohol island. It is where my grandmother who I have never met is from. Cebu City is known to be the 2nd most popular city vacation spot in the Philippines next to "Laid-Back Manila" and home of beautiful white sandy beaches. Cebu is a major jumping point to many of it's surrounding islands.
Mint Singapore Toy Museum
This showcases our visit to the Mint toy museum in Singapore. lakbai.com/2010/01/21/mint-singapores-toy-museum/
Singapore
We touched down in Singapore as a quick stopover from Manila to Indonesia and Cambodia. Our time spent here was filled with tasting lots of various Asian dishes.
Incheon Airport and City
Incheon Airport in South Korea is considered a destination simply because of it's modern and futuristic features. The airport offers everything from great restaurants, shopping, an airport city, and even a transit area for layovers to relax as they wait for their next plane.
Seoul, South Korea
After a 3 month long trip around the Philippines as well as a visit to Singapore, Indonesia, and Cambodia, we wanted to end our trip with a quick stop over to Korea. Our day long trip was filled with running around checking out the many 24 hour shopping markets and delicious Korean BBQ. We loved Korea so much, that we hope to visit again someday for much longer than a day. See you again soon Seoul! Read about our experience lakbai.com/2009/12/21/seoul-searching/
Bohol Diving
Three miles from Panglao, lies Balicasag Island, Bohol, Philippines. With its area of about 25 hectares, you can walk all the way around it in about 45 minutes. The island itself is pretty much as you would imagine a deserted tropical island: a flat, circular island covered with palm trees and flowering bouganvillea, and surrounded by a white beach. The local community consists of about 100 families. Most are fishermen, but many nowadays also earn a living by collecting shells to sell to tourists. On the middle of the island, you'll find a small lighthouse tower. There is a single resort on the island, aptly named Balicasag Island Dive Resort. It covers about 1.5 hectares on the south side and has 20 traditional-style bungalows lining the beach. Around Balicasag Island, you'll find some of the best diving locations in the Philippines. Just in front of the resort, on the south side of the island is also some 400 meters of successfully protected marine sanctuary.
Pamilacan Island in Bohol
Pamilacan Island, Bohol, Philippines has virgin white sand beaches, mini coves, and solitude of being in your own island paradise. The island is famous for dolphin watching and diving. Its 140 hectares has a population of 200 families. We spent a day here getting to know the locals and how they live their daily lives by fishing and collecting tiny eels and scallops to sell. Read more on lakbai.com/2010/01/08/a-simple-life-on-pamilacan-island/
1st Day of Masskara Festival
Bacolod, Negros Island, Philippines: The Masskara Festival takes place every year on the weekend of October 19th. The month long event is a build up of a countdown to the charter day parade. The celebration is similar to New Years Eve in the US, but much more vibrant, colorful, and full of history and culture. School children dress up in colorful costumes with masks and dance in the streets that represents Bacolod's History and Culture. Read about the 1st Day: Elementary School Category Dance lakbai.com/2009/10/22/1st-day-of-the-masskara-festival/
2nd Day of the Masskara Festival
Bacolod, Negros Island, Philippines: The 2nd Day of the Masskara Festival was of the High School Category Dance. The Masskara Festival takes place every year on the weekend of October 19th. The month long event is a build up of a countdown to the charter day parade. The celebration is similar to New Years Eve in the US, but much more vibrant, colorful, and full of history and culture. School children dress up in colorful costumes with masks and dance in the streets that represents Bacolod's History and Culture.
Wowowee Gameshow
"Wowowee" is the number one popular gameshow in the Philippines. It takes place in ABS-CBN Studios in Quezon City, Philippines. We got a text from Jeff's Uncle about going on a live taping of the show the next morning. We didn't have much time to tell our friends and family, but we went on anyway and it was a great experience. Check out our videos lakbai.com/2009/12/03/jeff-and-i-on-wowowee-game-show-in-...
Elephant Safari Park Lodge
Located in Taro, Bali, this park was the best Elephant experience we've ever had and probably in the world, as Steve Irwin quotes. You get to interact, feed, ride, observe, learn, play and stay with 29 beautiful Sumatran elephants, one of the most rare and endangered species of elephants left in the world today. The Elephant Safari Park is also a Hotel and Lodge for everyone from elephant lovers, children and families and for those who enjoy peace and tranquility of being ensconced in beautiful tropical parkland surrounds.
Balinese Temples and Hindu Ceremony
This took place in Bali Indonesia at Tanah Lot Temple. The Balinese Hindu celebrate many ceremonies throughout the year, most of which are taken place deep in small villages or family celebrations. They have endless respect and gratitude for the life cycle of birth, puberty and even death in which the Balinese Hindu translate in the forms of ceremonies. Read more: lakbai.com/2010/01/27/observed-beautiful-balinese-hindu-c...
Ubud Bali Monkey Forest
The monkey forest of Ubud, Bali, Indonesia is an amazing place with monkeys everywhere. Its entertaining to watch them in their daily interactions but be careful you don't have food or loose articles that they can take because they are very aggressive! Amazing place to have close encounters with these beautiful animals.
Food in Bali
Influences from all corners of the globe make up the Balinese culinary dishes. India brought curries, cucumber, eggplant, Indian mustard, and cow peas. The Chinese brought the wok and stir-frying, Chinese mustard, and vegetables such as brassica and Chinese cabbage Arabia came kebabs and mouthwatering goat stews The Europeans introduced avocados, peanuts, pineapples, guavas, papayas, tomatoes, squashes, pumpkins, cocoa, soybean and cauliflower.
Village of Ubud Bali
The trip to Bali, Indonesia was very beautiful and relaxing. We rarely visited the beaches and spent most of our time in the village of Ubud. It's a small, cultural, and friendly town of locals and animals.
Dinner on the Beach - Kuta and Jimbaran Bali
We spent most of our time in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia but we definitely wanted to check out the scenery in Kuta and Jimbaran. They were mostly known for it's beaches, surfing, and shopping.
Teba House in Ubud
Family Hospitality, Okay Rooms As soon as we walked into the courtyard of our place the Teba House in Ubud it was gorgeous. Cobblestone pathways surrounded by vines of light purple flowers, lotus, fish ponds, and a few friendly chickens, lizards, and a toy poodle. lakbai.com/2010/02/16/teba-house-in-ubud-bali-indonesia/
Negro's Ecological Forest and Historical Museum
The Negro's Museum is definitely worth a visit to see and learn a bit of the island's history as well as Philippine history. The Ecological Forest next door was small, but offered a few surprising animals you wouldn't expect to see.
Bulacan
With only 3 days in Baliwag and Tiaong, Bulacan, in the Philippines we experienced walking through landfill, learning about the farmlands, talking with happy locals, and of course learning about Jeffrey's family hometown and history.
Salcedo and Legaspi Farmer's Market
The Best Food Spot in Metro Manila! After dining in various places of fancy restaurants, small carts, or buying food at the palengke (outdoor markets) the Salcedo and Legaspi Markets started by many ex-pat's offers the tastiest food in Manila.
Volunteer Site for Ondoy Victims
Location: La Salle Green Hills College, San Juan, Philippines Read Post About Our Experience: Volunteering at La Salle Green Hills College for Ondoy Relief Goods
Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana)
A tragic tropical depression that occurred on September 26, 2009 in Metro Manila, Philippines. Read the Full Story on Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) Causes Widespread Flooding in the Philippines
Cainta, Rizal
Cainta in Rizal Province in the Philippines was where we stayed to visit my family during the first stages of our trip. Our time in Cainta was cut short due to the sudden occurrences of Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana). We were flooded in and forced to relocate to other houses to get to higher grounds.
Nights Out in Manila
You can't visit Manila Philippines without experiencing it's nightlife. Whatever floats your boat, there are many diifferent spots that can fit everyone tastes. We were able to experience memorable nights of local dive bars, college hang outs, live bands, the fashion-forward, and Artista sightings.
Manila Shopping
Philippine weather can sometimes be unbareable, so there are giant malls located in every major city for residents to relieve themselves from the scorching heat and smog.
San Juan, Manila
San Juan Greenhills in the Philippines is known for it's nice neighborhoods, prominent housing, and of course it's famous flea market shopping center filled with goodies in all categories. This Barangy (neighborhood) was our safe haven from the tropical disaster Typhoon Onody (Ketsana).
Antipolo
Antipolo, Philippines was a town we got to experience for less than a day hoping to relieve ourselves from the flooded neighborhoods caused by Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana).
Filipino Desserts
Everywhere you turn your head in the Philippines there are sweets that fit everyone's pallate. The Philippines offers over 20 sweet rice dishes and lots of sweet bread to soothe your sweet craving. We are HUGE fans of sweets, so we had to try anything that came our way.
Lounging Around the House
Our base home in Metro Manila was located in Fort Global City, Taguig, Philippines. We spent most of our time here and would branch off to our next destination.
Spending Time With Family
During times of disasters (ex: Typhoon Ondoy), nights out, parties, and hanging out singing karaoke, it's always fun to be around family.
Art and Design
It's always nice to see cool artwork, designs, or fresh clothing and shoes in different countries. Here we document our findings.
Boracay Studio for Rent
For those interested, we are renting out a vacation studio in Boracay Island, Philippines. Boracay Studios is a charming and quaint resting place just a 5 minute walking distance to Diniwid Beach. Boracay is an island in the Philippines located 2 km off the northwest tip of Panay island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It is undoubtedly one of the finest beaches of all Asia. In 2007, Boracay island topped the list of the World’s Most Popular Beach according to Yahoo! Travel. From the boat dock, take a tricycle ride to Diniwid Road going to Diniwid Beach, once you reach the end of a paved road you are one house over, so walk back and you can see a 3 story building with the sign Boracay Studios.
Asian Candy
Everywhere we went, there were many different types of yummy candies, cookies, and snacks! We wanted to try them all, but in case we didn't I had to snap a shot of them.
Who is LAKBAI?
Tagalog is the main language of the Philippines. We are Filipino-Americans who are eager to experience a journey throughout major areas of the Philippines, especially in the neighborhoods of where our families grew up. Our purpose of this adventure is for us to understand and learn more about our family, culture, and the historical roots of our ancestry. Our parents have traveled across the Pacific to leave their homeland in order for their children to have a better life outside of living in a 3rd world country.
