Boracay Bliss, January 10-12, 2011

Finally, after a flurry of failed or foiled plans to take a trip to this world-famous island, I was able to step on the powdery white sand of Boracay on January 10-12, 2011. This was our wedding gift from the Apostol sisters. Thanks very much guys!

My wish of getting in Boracay before we leave for DC came true a few days before my departure! :) I really wanted to get to this island so that I can fully perform my duties of promoting the beautiful sites of the Philippines. It will be quite ironic for me to be promoting the country's most beautiful white sand beach without having experienced going there. I could even imagine the conversations if ever I get to boast the Philippines...
Me: You should try going to the Philippines. We have plenty of beautiful beaches!
Foreigner: Yeah, I've heard a bit about Boracay Island and I heard it's really beautiful!
Me: Yeah, It's really beautiful! You should go there sometime!
Foreigner: Yeah, I will. have you been there?
Me: Hey, look, dinner is served. Let's eat, shall we (silence afterwards, then I end the conversation with a smile)?

Thank goodness this scenario will no longer happen because I can now boast the Boracay experience because I have been there! :) To my Filipino friends: For the Nth time, please don't shorten Boracay's name into Bora. As the municipal government fervently reminds us in its series of stickers and posters, "BORACAY IS NOT BORA." Respecting the name is followed with respecting the place. Amen to that!

I was lucky to be billeted in Station 1, the relatively peaceful and more quiet side of Boracay. We stayed at the Sea Wind Resort. The resort was beautiful and native-looking. I loved their slogan, "Boracay as it should be." Amen and Amen!

The powdery white sand is not an exaggeration. It really is powdery! But kikay ladies, don't try to put any of the sand in your faces. But of course it's a free country. :)

Most of the time, Bubbles and I would walk towards station 2 to eat and see the beautiful sights. We were amazed to see that the tourist population on this time of the year is higher on foreign tourists than local ones.




It's good to see that hawkers and vendors have good business, and they adjust to their market. When they see foreign tourists, they shout "Sir, you want to ride the banca, go snorkeling? how about massage, do you want massage?" And when they see local tourists, they shout in native language. When we passed by one of the restaurants, a masseuse shouted at me and said "Boss, masahe gusto mo?" And when she turned to Bubbles, she also offered her, "Ma'am do you want massage ma'am?" Ouch... Key learning is that our vendors are flexible with the type of people they meet and greet. Ouch again...

One good thing about Boracay is that it is like a beachside mall, where you get the perks of a mall, while enjoying the warm sun and the beautiful waves. You can even see a branch of the overpriced slippers of All Flip-Flops in  Station 2! We ate at Mañana for lunch and Don Vito for dinner on Day 1. We missed eating liempo at beachside so we decided to eat at Gerry's for lunch on Day 2. For dinner, we ate the great Ilonggo meal, La Paz Batchoy at Deco's in Station 3. All the places we've eaten at served great food! My favorite was Deco's original La Paz Batchoy. Solb!

Boracay is also a place for lovebirds who escape from their busy routines of work. Some couples, though, want to show to the world that they ARE couples by wearing the same piece of clothing. Kudos to couples who got the guts to were his and hers clothing! But what I don't understand is how they can wear his and hers JACKET in the hot weather of Boracay?! I must write this amazing information to Ripley's.






Good thing I was able to see Boracay in time. I just hope that when I come back, the beauty of the beach and the cleanliness of the island is restored even if there is garbage accumulated everyday. I hope that Boracay will remain to be the premiere island paradise even in the years to come.

There are still a lot of places to see in the Philippines. When I come back, my journey to the other 7,000 islands will continue.

Old Town Alexandria, VA

There's no better way to spend Valentine's Day than a date with your one and only? And this year, we did our first out-of-the-country date. Obviously because we ARE out of the country!!! We spent our first February 14 as a married couple in Old Town Alexandria. Not that we do celebrate Valentine's Day, but it was coincidental that that day she was free to go out that day. It was also fortunate for us because amidst the winter chill, February 14 in Virginia is extraordinarily warm. It was around 70degrees that day.

King Street Station (Blackberry Bold 9780)

Old Town Alexandria is just a few stations away from our place via Metro. After getting off at the King Street stop (also famous for the George Washington Masonic Memorial), you take a FREE trolley ride to tour the King Street. You can also decide to take a walk if you wish to experience the cobblestone sidewalks and the quaint feel. Should you decide to take the trolley, it will drive you to King Street, up until it reaches the harbor. You can sit and relax at the harbor, where you can see the beautiful view of the Potomac River and take pictures of ducks and seagulls.

Old Town Harbor (Canon Powershot A590is)

Bubbles and I stayed a few minutes at the harbor. After that, our stomachs called for our departure. We headed for King Street again to eat lunch. Old Town offers a number of restaurants, pubs, ice cream shops, antique stores (not for eating) and other places where people can shop and dine. We decided to dine in the Fish Market. Why Fish Market? We got intrigued by the Lobster Pasta in its menu. :)

Because it was Valentine's Day, most restaurants offer good-for-two packages for lunch and dinner. But we did chose not to take on those offers. So we ordered a different set of menu. We got the Neptune Salad and of course, the reason for us choosing this place, the Lobster Pasta. We split the orders so the pictures taken were just half of the size of the serving.

Neptune Salad

Lobster Pasta

The Neptune Salad was a treat and the Lobster Pasta was even better! The Neptune Salad's combination of vergetables and crab cakes were fantastic, while the Lobster Pasta's creamy sauce makes you want to ask for more. But of course, reality check would make you think twice as the cream base and the meat would definitely give you extra miles of running. :)

After lunch, we took a stroll at King Street and other side streets with old-style houses and roads. It was beautiful, the only thing lacking were horses in carriages and men in old civil war uniform.

Old Town Alexandria was witness to the American Civil War, and people and the government made sure that the structures and roads remain the same. We walked towards the visitor center, a house which was the oldest in Old Town.

We walked a few more streets and found a lot of picture-worthy structures and sights. :)

Cobblestones (Canon Powershot A590is)

River Tours (Canon Powershot A590is)

Old Gazette House

Restored Old House

My first time at Old Town was fun! Thanks to Bubbles for taking me here. We're definitely going back soon and will try the other restaurants and taverns.

Remember 031111

A magnitude 9.0 earthquake will go down in history as one of this generation's strongest, most devastating earthquakes. MY hear goes out to our Japanese brothers and sisters whose houses, livelihood, lives were destroyed by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the eastern waters on March 11. I pray that you will recover fast, that the world will conspire to bring you back on your feet, that this will be the last of the flurry of strong earthquakes of the century.

Just a month back, New Zealand's Christchurch area was struck with an equally destructive earthquake. I hope Japan's is the last of the wave...

Next problem is the radiation. I hope it get;s contained in time. And doomsayers, rumor-mongers, and stupid Twitter-writers, stop making unfounded, stupid, irresponsible comments on the internet, or via text messaging. The world is already in much stress. Don't make it worse. You should just stick to rumor stories on Charlie Sheen, KC and Piolo, or President Noy's love life! Stop making baseless stories (or even jokes!) on very serious matters like this.

The video below was from www.youtube.com, a footage from the media outfit Al-Jazeera.

Following Robert Langdon's Lost Symbol

Dan Brown's latest novel, The Lost Symbol, is another treat for readers who are up for another Robert Langdon action-packed mystery thriller. This is Brown's third installment to the Langdon series, following major hits Angels and Demons, and my favorite The Da Vinci Code. Both have already been turned into movies starring Tom Hanks.

Angels and Demons highlighted the beautiful Italy and Vatican City, while The Da Vinci Code focused on the beautiful sights of Paris. This time, Brown set another thriller in the Nation's Capital, Washington D.C. Thanks to my buddy, Do who urged me to read the novel because I live in DC, I am able to further appreciate this lovely city. Now, I can go to the real places where Dan Brown imagined it to have happened.

So far, I have been to some of the places. :) As I read on, I'll try to get to all the places where Langdon went. :)

Here are some of the places, sights and fixtures mentioned in the book:

The United States Capitol. I haven't seen the Rotunda though. Soon, I hope. :) (Canon Powershot A590)

George Washington as Zeus. Mentioned in Chapter 21. Can be seen at the Smithsonian Institution American History Museum (Kodak Easyshare M341)

The Library of Congress. Langdon and Capitol Architect Warren Bellamy ran to this building via an underground passageway from the US Capitol. Chapter 43. (Kodak Easyshare M341)

A specimen of an orchid located in the Jungle of the US Botanic Garden. Warren Bellamy was captured and taken to this place, just a few feet from the Capitol. (Canon Powershot A590)

The Washington National Cathedral. "A refuge containing ten stones from Mount Sinai, one from heaven itself, and one with the visage of Luke's dark father." Dean Galloway's clue for Langdon and Katherine Solomon as their meeting place for safety and sanctuary. Haven't seen Darth Vader's gargoyle because according to the Cathedral website, it is located way up the northwest tower. Chapter 79. (Canon Powershot A590)

George Washington Masonic Memorial, King Street, Alexandria, VA. Agent Simkins was tipped by the cab driver that Langdon and Solomon were to go here to look for clues in the Masonic Memorial. Chapter 78 (Blackberry Bold 9780)

I have yet to finish the book and go to the other places that were described. There are indeed a lot of things to see in DC, and the book helped me a lot in appreciating these places more.

Now, back to my reading...

The Arlington Cemetery - A Place of Heroism and Nationalism

The Arlington Cemetery is one of the few famous sights to see in the District of Columbia - Virginia area. It has its own stop by Metro subway system so that travelers and tourist can easily visit the area. Entrance is free, but of course travelers with vehicles would have to settle for pay parking areas.

The Arlington Cemetery is final resting place to many heroes of all wars that the United States have fought, from the Civil War, to the First and Second World War, up to the most recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is also the final resting place of former Supreme Court Justices, anden Presidents. One of the most visited burial sites in Arlington is the Kennedy's. President John F. Kennedy, former first lady Jacqueline, and Former Senators Robert and Ted all lie in Arlington Cemetery, as well as President William H. Taft. Pierre Charles L'Enfant, the famous architect of Washington, D.C. was also buried in Arlington.

Arlington House, 1864

JFK and the Eternal Flame

The Arlington Estate, Overlooking the District of Columbia

Another highlight of the Arlington tour is the hourly changing of the guard in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Tomb of the Unknown soldier remembers Americans who fought war but were never found or identified. They may have not been identified, but their heroism, courage, nationalism and loyalty will always be remembered. On the tombstone, it is written: "Here rests in Honored Glory an American Soldier, known but to God."

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

A soldier guards the tomb all day as a sign of their eternal gratitude to the unknown soldier's courage and loyalty. The guard is changed every hour in beautiful military honors.

This is another thing that America does best. They honor greatly their beloved warriors, their freedom fighters by presenting them with great tributes, with monuments, with remembrances. Americans in the future generations will always remember how their soldiers fought for freedom, liberation, and peace, even not of their own.

It is time for us Filipinos to do the same. Our countrymen have fought and died to restore freedom and independence, from the Spanish to American to Japanese eras. And even until today, our beloved soldiers are fighting to restore peace and order in the war-torn South. It is time for us to honor their bravery just like how other nations like America values their freedom fighters. As I watch the changing of the guards in Arlington, I remember my fellow countrymen, our dear soldiers who fought and died in many of our wars, even in the wars not of our own. They fight to the death even with little or no ammunition, but their triumphs are seldom heard in the metropolis.

It is time for government to remind the Filipino people that we are safe and secure because of these uniformed men and women. This can happen in the form of a monument or shrine, but also in the form of monetary reward, like simply buying new sets of boots without "conversion" or corruption, or simply increasing the soldiers' hazard pay in battle. Or how about minimized corruption in the military? That would boost military morale and courage.

This one goes out to my Filipino brothers and sisters in the field, fighting to maintain the peace and security of the general population. You are the true heroes of the country, and not those generals living in lavish subdivisions with wives "allegedly" buying houses and lots in other parts of the world. You make us civilians proud.

Awoo!

The Subaru Forester

Bubbles and I were researching the right vehicle that suits to our lifestyle and needs here in The Nation's Capital. Of course, there are a lot of things to consider in buying a new car, and for us, these are the most important:

1. Space - Since we will be expecting visitors from the Philippines, we need a big space for luggages and, possibly, balikbayan boxes with all Filipino goodies! :) This means that we need compartment space, thus we decided to go for an SUV.

2. Fuel efficiency - Despite considering an SUV, which normally consumes more gas than sedans, we are looking at a Sport Utility Vehicle with better fuel economy than luxury gas-guzzlers

3. Road Safety - In a four-season state like Virginia, there comes a time when blizzards strike, so we need a vehicle that can withstand inclement weather like 6-8 inches of snow.

4. Price - There are plenty of SUVs to choose from and of course we consider the best value for money.

5. Comfort - We want a vehicle that is warm in the cold winter and cool in the warm summer. Along with good baggage space, passenger space should also be good.

I did a lot of web browsing and reading, I even read the Special Edition of Consumer Reports Best Cars. Based on most websites, and even friends we talked with here, we needed to narrow down our choices to at most 5. So that's just what we did. From a flurry of at least 10 small SUVs, we narrowed down to 5 models: Kia Sorento, Jeep Liberty, Honda CR-V, Toyota Rav-4, and Subaru Forester. With the help of some friends, we took a look at these cars in the nearest dealers, compared prices and features, even compared agents and sellers. From the 5, we further narrowed it to three: The Forester, the CR-V and the RAV-4. Here is what car critics said about these three (based on Consumer Reports Magazine):

CR-V

The Good:

Transmission, handling, braking, rear seat, controls, access, reliability

The Bad:

Road Noise

RAV4

The Good:

Agility, fuel economy, rear-seat room, access, controls, reliability

The Bad:

Thigh support for tall drivers (ahem!), side-hinged tailgate requires lots of room to open

Forester

The Good:

Fuel economy, ride, handling, rear seat, visibility, driving position, controls, access, crash-test results, reliability

The Bad:

Driver's seat lumbar support

From the reviews, it is a three-way tie among our three choices. This means that we needed to resort to another consideration, the price. Just by comparing prices online, it seems that the RAV4 is the priciest of the three, followed by CR-V, then the Forester.

What was the tipping point in choosing the right ride? I don't really have a very clear idea. Going to the Subaru dealer just felt right, and the agent we talked with was a kababayan. With this, it seems like the Forester became the runaway winner. Of course because he was a kababayan, he gave us the best deal for the Forester.

Looking at it on a more serious note, we did consider the Forester for several reasons:

1. The Forester offers the All-wheel drive (AWD) at all trims, even the base product. The base product for the two other brands give a front wheel drive at base.

2. The Forester seems to give more of the needed baggage space. It felt more roomy inside

3. The Forester was given excellent, if not the highest remarks among small SUVs

4. It seemed that the Forested gives the greatest value for money.

After much consideration, scrutiny, and prayers, we decided to purchase the 2011 Subaru Forester 2.5x Premium, with all weather package. The all-weather package offers heated seats, wiper deicers, automatic seats, and all-weather tires and mats.

With these features, plus excellent service from the guys in Subaru, we were truly satisfied.

Automatic Transmission

Automatic light-adjustment mirrors, compass. And of course, a rosary for guidance and protection

Dash Board

Metallic Gray

Spacious

The National Mall and Smithsonian Institute

Being a Filipino, I am used to the Mall that we have in the Philippines: restaurants, department stores, boutiques, gift shops, cinemas. Here in DC, the Mall is none of what we know about malls. It is a long stretch of land surrounded by Smithsonian Museums. It is in the East wing of the 4-sided sights of the DC area. On the leftmost portion of the Mall is the Washington Monument, while in the right, you will see the towering beauty of the Capitol.

View from the Mall

The Smithsonian Institution's 19 museums are the major sights to see in the mall. Whether you're fascinated in American History, art, archaeology or space, Smithsonian offers a museum that best fits your taste. So far, I have seen 4 out of its 19, and I shall try to visit all these museums in my stay here in DC.

According to the Smithsonian, before anything else, a visitor should plan his visit to the museums by visiting the Smithsonian Castle first to get the necessary maps and tourist guides.

The Smithsonian Castle

So far I have visited The American History Museum, Freer and Sackler Galleries, and Air and Space Museums. As to why I decided to tour these museums first, I have absolutely have no idea. :)

Some pictures:

The National Mall's left end: Washington Monument

The Other Side: The U.S. Capitol Building

Can Mosley survive the Pacman?

No he can't. Six year ago, maybe... Now, he won't last the entire match. Unless of course our dear Manny Pacquiao the merciful will take it easier than usual because he knows that his opponent is not worth the beating. Everybody knows this, even their promoter Bob Arum.

This fight is not worth it. A lot of people know that. They don't even trash talk! The impact? Lower ticket sales, lower pay-per-view sales, but still, more money for the boxers and the promoters. Overall, a boring fight. But of course Manny will still give it his all for show and for millions of his fans in the Philippines and around the world. He will take this to heart and will once again prove that he is the greatest fighter of this generation. And of course, Floyd will keep on hiding, dodging, and will use all alibis necessary to keep away from a "1" in his loss record. I think I heard a chicken cock. :)

On to retirement, Manny. Please please please... Just train new boxers. Boxers that will give us an olympic gold.

Wedding at a Glance

I just can't get over my wedding day. And so does my lovely wife. That is why I decided to edit my wedding video into a 4-minute featurette. :) I used Owl City's Fireflies as background music because somehow, this song reminds Bubbles of the beautiful 6 weeks stay in the Philippines to prepare for our wedding. Here's the video:

"I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems." --Fireflies

Black Eyed Peas in Super Bowl XLV

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgx3ud_black-eyed-peas-slash-usher-medley-live-superbowl-2011-bmf_music
Uploaded by BlakMusicFirst. - Explore more music videos.

Mabuhay ka Apl de Ap!