Michi Photostory

The heat is on, we can really feel the summer. How I wish I can travel to cold countries to escape the heat. The scorching sun is unforgivable and it makes our mood and electricity go up. Well, there are many ways to beat the heat and one of them is going to the beach or swimming pool.

 A few weeks ago, our family had a family outing at Laiya Coco Grove in San Juan, Batangas. This is the 11th resort that we have tried in Batangas and you can check the other resorts here. I know that summer is peak season so as early as January, I was researching and inquiring about our weekend getaway. The first three resorts were all fully booked so I was happy that there are still available rooms at Laiya Coco Grove.

Couple Tree House

How to Reserve at Laiya Coco Grove

Reserving a room is easy, you just need to choose the date, enter the number of adults and kids and choose your preferred room. After booking, I received an email informing me “You are required to pay the 50% downpayment for this reservation within 24 hours through cash transfer with our bank account or personally at our sales office. Please send the Deposit Slip or proof of downpayment on or before your expiration time to (insert email)”

I was surprised with the 24 hours timeframe, buti na lang there are banks na open ng Sunday so I deposited the downpayment and email the copy of deposit slip. The following day, I received the confirmation email and eco pass. Everything was booked in less than 24 hours.


Fast forward to our trip, it was a long weekend so we left as early as 5AM to avoid the traffic. We had breakfast at Jollibee San Juan and we passed by the Tourism Collection Booth. We just gave our printed Eco Pass since P20 ecological fee (per person) is already included in our room package.

Laiya Coco Grove Resort

Laiya Coco Grove is a huge resort, they can accommodate different groups so if you are looking for a place for your family getaway, team building or special events, this is a good option. They have a separate place for overnight guests and day trippers. In fact, this resort is very popular because you have seen this in different movies and TV shows. At their reception, you can see the movies and shows that were shot at this resort.

Upon arrival, they just asked for my name, deposit slip and P1000 for incidental deposit. Check-in time is 2PM but since the rooms are all available, they allowed us to check-in at 9AM. Yey! For 13 persons, I booked Couple Tree House, Family Tree House, and Quadruplex Tree House but I did not like the Quadruplex Tree House so we moved to Family Tree House. Good thing that we arrived early so I was able to switch rooms.


The tree house really looks nice and it is situated on the beach front so you have a nice view. The sad part is, although the beach is just in front of our accommodation, it is not ideal for swimming. You have to ride a shuttle in order to swim at the White Beach.



Our family stayed in Family Treehouse, the room is good for 5 persons pero nagkasya naman kami 3 adults and 3 kids. The room still looks nice but the bathroom needs an improvement, it really looks old. Towels, basic toiletries and coffee/tea making facility are good for 5 persons too.


My mom and aunt stayed at the couple tree house, the room was nice and it has a small balcony but my mom was complaining na sira yung lock, she already reported it pero hindi pa rin malock.

Food at Laiya Coco Grove 

Bringing of food and drinks are not allowed so for overnight guests, you are required to pay for the buffet dinner and lunch which is P400 for adults and P200 for kids. (11 yrs old below) per meal. Our room package includes managed buffet dinner, lunch, and breakfast so we availed additional buffet lunch for our group.



As I’ve said, the resort is big so even the resort is fully booked, you won’t feel that it is crowded, except for the meal times. Ramdam na ramdam mo na madami tao sa haba ng pila sa buffet, tatamarin ka ng bumalik sa haba ng pila. The buffet spread and servings of foods are good enough, you have soup, pasta/noodles, rice meals, dessert, and drinks. When it comes to taste, it is just okay. Some meals are good and some meals are not. Among the meals that we have tried, our favorite is the buffet breakfast. Mas maraming choices for foods and drinks. Just check my YouTube Channel for more pictures and videos.

* Wet clothes or swim wears are not allowed inside the Main Pavilion or Dining Area

Meal Times:

Dinner: 7PM to 9PM
Breakfast: 7AM to 9AM
Lunch: 12N to 2PM

Things to do at Laiya Coco Grove 

1.Beach 



As I’ve mentioned before, the beach in the resort is not ideal for swimming so if you want to enjoy beach and water sports activities, you need to ride shuttle service so they can take you to the White Beach.This is the White Beach, there are reserved cottages for resort guests so just choose your spot.


Water Sports Activities are available for a fixed price, hindi ka man lang makatawad hehehe! We wanted to try the Disco Boat but there is an age limit, so we settled on Dragon Boat. Same price with banana boat, para maiba lang. :)

P1500 for 5 persons (minimum)
P300 for additional person.

For snacks, there is a convenience store and yung mga naglalako sa beach ng food. Hehehe! There are bathrooms at the beach but it is not that clean.

2. Swimming Pool 


The resort has one swimming pool, it is a long walk from our tree house.

3. Mini Playground 


If you have kids in tow, there is a mini playground where kids can play. There are slides, swings and trampolines.

4. Board Games and Table Games 


You can also play volleyball, billiards, table tennis and other board games. Don’t forget to bring ID so you can borrow the materials.

5. Take a lot of pictures 

The place is huge and picturesque so don’t forget to take a lot of pictures. When my mom and aunt posted their picture on their Facebook, ang dami na nagtanung kung saan yung resort. Oh di ba, free advertisement pa.

Our family had a great time at Laiya Coco Grove, booking is easy, the place is peaceful and service is good. Thanks to my mom for the treat!

* There is free wifi but we have no connection in our room.

Our family loves staycation so I have a list of hotels and resorts that we wanted to try and Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila is one of them. I’ve been meaning to stay in this hotel but every time I booked, the only available room is Club Room or Sofitel Suite. Waah! Pangmayaman naman!

As early as January, I was looking for a hotel or resort where we could celebrate our wedding anniversary. I saw the Magnifique Getaway Promo on their Facebook Page so I immediately inquired about their rates. Unfortunately, the cheapest room is no longer available so I settled for the next available room which is Luxury Room.


I’ve booked everything within 24 hours, ganun kabilis sila sumagot sa inquiry even through emails. There is nothing special with the promo because the only inclusion is the Breakfast Buffet for 2 adults and 2 children (11 years old – below) at Spiral Restaurant for Superior and Luxury Rooms. But I’m okay with it, at least my son is included in the complimentary buffet breakfast.

Fast forward to our staycation, when we checked in, the room was not available yet so we were advised that they would just call us, once it was ready. It was 10:45AM so we understand that the standard check-in time is 2PM. I paid my reservation in full + I gave P3000 for an incidental deposit. We left our luggage at the concierge, so we didn’t have to bring it anymore.

I asked for a flyer so I would have an idea of the activities for adults and kids but they don’t have any. We just went straight to the Kids Villa so we could check the different activities for the kids. They have Free activities and Paid activities. The Kids Villa is open from 9AM to 9PM

Free Activities: coloring, photo frame, bambike, badminton, kite flying, soccer
Paid Activities: cookie making, color buddy, coin bank painting, nail art, necklace

Kids Villa Rate 

1st hour – free for in-house guests (1 child) and P100 for walk-in guest
Succeeding hour P100 for in-house guests and P150 for walk-in guest
Guardian fee per hour P50 for in-house guests and P100 for walk-in guest


My son tried the coloring activity and color buddy for P200. While he was inside the tent, my husband and I stayed at the playground. We were waiting for the call but we did not receive so we decided to take our lunch first.

When we came back, we just waited in the lobby. We’ve been waiting for so long but patience is a virtue. When I saw the other guests going to their room, I told my husband to ask the receptionist if our room was ready since we had not received any call.  Twenty minutes before 2PM, my husband went back to the reception, only to find out that our room was already ready at 11AM. We were informed that they called us, but no one answered. Waah!

I was just holding my phone and I did not receive any calls and I did not see any missed calls. I don’t know if there is a glitch or what but I would appreciate if they would send a text message if they were not able to reach me so that at least I know that the room is ready. Almost 3 hours din kami naghintay, ready na pala yung room. Next time, I will leave two phone numbers.

Anyway, they gave us the keycard and we went to the concierge but we were advised that they would just deliver our stuff, they just asked for our room number. And off we went to our room. I’ve read some reviews and blogs about Sofitel and I was not impressed with the rooms so I was surprised when we entered the room. The room is beautiful. Watch the video here

Luxury Room 

It measures 42 square meters so we have enough space. We have private balconies with bay and city views. There is a work desk, couch, TV, Mini-Bar, Coffee/Tea making facilities, In-room safe, and free wi-fi.


I like the bed, pillows, duvet, and sheets and to be honest, this is the most comfortable bed that I’ve experienced. Parang ayaw ko na nga umalis, gusto ko na lang matulog. So this is their Sofitel’s signature Mybed TM. I asked my husband, if ganito rin ba yung bed sa Hotel Mulia but he said, medyo pareho pero mas malambot pa rin daw sa Hotel Mulia Senayan in Jakarta Indonesia.


Bathroom 

The bathroom is clean, it has a rain shower and bathtub. Yey! +1 for the bathtub. They provided basic toiletries like dental kit, shampoo, conditioner, bath gel, soap, and lotion. Look at the brand of their toiletries, “Les Notes De Lanvin”. Ang sosyal di ba, from Paris, France pa. Ang bango talaga so I took it home.


I love the bath towels, face towels, and bathrobe, it is white, clean, soft, and smells fresh. Mukhang bago and I was thinking my thread count din kaya sa mga ganito. Hehehe! This is the reason why I was so disappointed with Pico Sands Hotel’s towel, kasi ang mahal ng room rate pero ang luma ng towels.

Swimming Pool

When our luggage was delivered, my son immediately changed his clothes so he could swim. My son was so excited because he saw the wet play area of Sofitel Manila. This is one thing that he missed at EDSA Shangri-la Hotel, meron din pala sa Sofitel. So if you have kids in tow, add this to your hotel options.


Sofitel Philippine Plaza is indeed a hotel and resort. You won’t feel that you are in the city because of the ambiance. The pool looks like a resort, they have a lot of trees, and you have Manila Bay view.


Once you enter the pool, you are going to sign a form, and they will give you a wrist tag and towels. There are life vests available for kids and adults that you can borrow. Lifeguards are everywhere. They are very strict when it comes to food and drinks, they really check your bag. They have a water dispenser in the pool area just in case you are thirsty. A restaurant is also available, that is the reason why you are not allowed to bring food and drinks.



It was a long weekend so the pool was crowded but my son did not mind, he spent his time in the wet play area. Swim and slide, repeat for the nth. I saw that there are Aqua Zumba and free movie nights at the pool. I hope there is a flyer or note about the different activities that we can join kasi sayang talaga. If we did not go to the pool, hindi naman malalaman na may ganung activity. Konti lang tuloy nagjojoin.

Moving on, we learned that it was the first day of the 9th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition so we decided to eat our dinner at the pool so we could have a glimpse of it. There was a buffet dinner at the bay too and we were able to watch their show for free. Hehehe!

Nainip na ko kakahintay sa fireworks so I went back to our room, I was surprised when I saw the flower and personal card on top of the bed. It was our wedding anniversary and thanks Sofitel for the surprise.


Just in time, I heard the fireworks so I rushed to the balcony to take pictures and videos. It was my first time watching the pyro-musical competition and I’m lucky that we could watch it in our room. In addition, I did not pay an entrance fee. Watch the video here.

Spiral Restaurant


The following day, the diet is off because we’re going to have a buffet breakfast at Spiral Restaurant. I already blogged about this, so read my Spiral buffet experience here. After our hearty breakfast, we went back to the pool to kill time before check-out.

We had a wonderful time at Sofitel Manila. We like the room, amenities, and facilities. We enjoyed the food at Spiral too. Service is good and staff are always smiling and willing to help if we need anything. My son was delighted in their wet play area. It was our wedding anniversary and we received a card and flowers. The rate is not cheap but it is worth the splurge.

Read: Birthday Staycationa at Sofitel Club Millesime Manila

Daily Shuttle Service
Sofitel to SM Mall of Asia Drop off: 10:30AM, 11:30AM, 2PM and 4:30PM SM Mall of Asia to Sofitel Pick-up: 12PM, 2:30PM, 5PM

Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila 
CCP Complex Roxas Blvd Brgy. 76,
Pasay, 1300 Metro Manila

For the past few years, Sofitel Philippine Plaza has been on my bucket list because I wanted to eat at Spiral, but we all know that their buffet rate is not cheap. We are not rich, so I won’t spend thousands of pesos just for one meal. It is true that our dreams can come true if we just believe and if we find ways to make them happen.


Two months ago, we celebrated our wedding anniversary at Sofitel Philippine Plaza and part of the room package is complimentary buffet breakfast for 3 (2 adults and 1 kid) so I was so happy that I finally cross this out on my bucket list. At last, we can experience dining at the famous Spiral Restaurant. When we arrived at the hotel, my son immediately noticed the staircase, the spiral staircase is indeed an eye-catcher.

Read: Anniversary Staycation at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila
Birthday Staycation at Sofitel Club Millesime Manila


Spiral is expensive because they offer an extensive buffet, they have 21 Dining Ateliers so there are foods for everyone. You can try different cuisines without leaving your home country. Yes, there are food stations from around the world, your palate will taste a variety of international dishes

Watch the video

Spiral 21 Dining Ateliers 

Salad and Appetizer, L’Ecaillier, Sushi Sashimi, L’Epicerie, Hot Japanese, French Stove, Rotisserie, Wood Fried Oven, Churrasco, North Indian, Asian Noodles, Peking Duck Oven, Steam Basket, Chinese Wok, Filipino, Thai, Korean, La Boulangerie, La Patisserie, Chocolaterie, and Creamery.


When we entered the restaurant, the staff immediately ushered us to our table and ask for our drinks. I did not waste time and I checked the different ateliers, I was really amazed by their offerings because it is very different from other hotels that I’ve tried. I thought madami na yung sa Café Ilang Ilang of The Manila Hotel, pero mas madami dito.




The food selections are overwhelming, mabubusog ka na agad sa pagtingin pa lang. In my previous staycations, I always see an egg station but here in Spiral, you can order egg at different ateliers. They have their own specialty so it depends on your preference. Graben noh, sa itlog pa lang ang dami ng recipe.




When it comes to food, they have a lot of choices, like sa juice, bread, spread, pancake toppings, parfait, sausage, cheese, cold cuts, ice cream, and ice cream toppings. Ikaw na ang mahihirapan mamili sa dami ng choices. They have cold cuts and cheese room too, I’m not even familiar with the other cheese so I did not try it.




What I like here, even though there are a lot of diners, you won’t feel that it is crowded because there is enough space for you to walk and even bike. Bike, because someone is riding a bike around the restaurant, she gives out the newspaper. Nandiyan din si Manong Magtataho, who roams around. There are also entertainers for kids. I saw a guy making balloons for kids.

The service is good, the wait staffs are approachable, helpful, and fast in service. Sa sobrang bilis nila, even I'm not yet finished with my food, nawawala na plate sa table. Kinukuha na nila, feeling siguro nila tapos ka na kasi tumayo ka na. It happened to me when I accompanied my son to get his food and when he went to the comfort room. When we get back, wala na yung kinakain ko. Hehehe! The staff also gave us a detox juice. Wow, pambawi sa dami ng kinain.

Start your day right! It was our wedding anniversary, and we just had a sumptuous breakfast at Spiral. Even though I was limiting my carbs and sweet intakes, I had to put it off para masulit ko ang buffet experience ko.

Spiral Buffet Opening Hours 

Breakfast Buffer 6:30AM to 10:30AM
Lunch Buffet 12NN to 2:30PM
Dinner Buffet 6:30PM to 10:30PM
Monday to Sunday

Spiral CCP Complex Roxas Blvd
Pasay City Metro Manila Philippines

P.S. I have no idea about the buffet rates since it is part of our room package.

Whenever we travel, I don’t usually buy souvenirs because I find them expensive, so I considered our pictures and videos as a souvenir. I won’t deny that these pictures are just saved on my external hard drive or laptop. I don’t really print pictures unless I will put it in a photo frame.

I started a scrapbook when my son was still a baby, but I wasn’t able to continue his scrapbook. So, I told myself that will just order photo books so it would be easy for me. I’ve been checking a lot of sites that offer photo book pero hanggang check lang ko. Part of me wants to order and part of me doesn’t want to order because I’m afraid that I won’t receive my order.

After so many years of contemplating, I finally purchased my vouchers at Photobook Worldwide last Black Friday Sale. I bought P100 (from P700) voucher for Insta Cards set and P120 (from P1400) voucher for 8x6 Landscape Softcover Photobook (40 pages). Aside from the discounted voucher, I also got a FREE 6x6 Mini Square Softcover Photobook, 40 pages (Black Friday Reward). The voucher expiration date is April 10, 2018.

I bought the voucher last November 2017 and when January 2018 came, I tried to use my voucher. I downloaded the software and I checked the different templates that I can use. I was having a hard time uploading and editing my pictures. I don’t know if my computer or my internet connection is the problem. I gave up because I feel that I’m just wasting my time and I cannot finish everything.

Fast forward to March, I learned that Photobook Worldwide has an app, you can check My First Photobook Using Photobook Worldwide App post. I was happy with my experience because it only took few minutes to order and pay for my project. In addition, I received my order after 5 days. To think that the package came all the way from Malaysia.

And because of that, I tried to use my vouchers again.  My husband gifted me a new laptop last month so I did not have any problem with uploading and editing my photos. Yey, mabilis na laptop ko. I did not download the app, I just used the Online Web Editor. It is so easy to use so don’t be afraid to try it.

1. Insta Cards Set 2 (69 pieces) P100 voucher 

I just choose my favorite photos and upload them to the online web editor. I just drag and drop the photos and aligned them to the center. I did not edit the brightness and contrast so when I received my order, meron mga pictures na sobrang dark.

When I placed my order, I don’t understand why it doesn’t let me choose the default paper. Even I select the Default paper, it still goes back to Thick Fine Art Card for P60. So I have no choice but to pay for the paper upgrade. So I paid P60 (Paper Upgrade) + P200 shipping fee to the Philippines.

March 22 - Ordered and paid P260 via Paypal
March 27 - Received Insta Cards Set 2 order via DHL
Total: P360

The Insta Cards Sets are really small, 2x2 lang siya so ang liit. Pwedeng pang wallet lang or you can make a collage and frame it.

2. FREE 6x6 Mini Square Softcover Photobook (40 pages)

I received my Insta Cards Set 2, after 5 days too. On the same day, I used my free voucher (from P1200) and placed an order for my 6x6 Mini Square Softcover Photobook. It was my first time using a template and I was happy with the result. They have different templates that you can choose from like travel, holiday, family, or even a wedding. I chose Travel Template for our Iceland Trip. I thought that the shipping fee is always P200 but with my 6x6 project, I paid P250 shipping fee.


March 27 – ordered and paid P250 via Paypal
April 3 – Received my order
Total: P250

3. 8x6 Landscape Softcover Photobook (40 pages) P120 voucher

It took me a long time to finish this project because I don’t know what I’m going to make. But since I always blog about my Highlights of (insert year), I decided to start my Best of the Year Photobook Project, started with the year 2017. I used a premade template, but it was a challenge to choose the best pictures of the year. I was happy that I only paid P200 for the shipping fee, mas mahal pa yung 6x6 softcover na order ko.

April 5 - Ordered and paid P200 via Paypal
April 11 - Received my order via DHL
Total: P320

What I like? 

Compared to the Photobook Worldwide App, I like using the online web editor because it has more choices of products, more premade templates and I can put more photos and even text. So far, I did not encounter any problem when I used my 3 vouchers. I’m satisfied with my photobooks and if you check the total, it is not that expensive. So I can definitely say that I will order again but I will wait for a sale so I can purchase cheap vouchers. This is also a nice gift for family or friends.

Update: March 2019

Last November, I took advantage of the Black Friday Sale and bought two vouchers of 8x6 Landscape Softcover Photobook (40 pages) at P120 each. After Photobook increased their shipping fee, I deleted the Photobook Mobile App kasi 20 pages lang yung Photobook dun tapos P250 shipping fee.

Time passes so quickly, and I couldn’t believe that one year had passed already. Exactly a year ago, we spent our summer vacation in Norway. It is so far from the Philippines, so we need to ride three airplanes and one Ferry Boat. It took us 33 hours just to reach Ørland, Norway. Yes, the travel time was stressful,l but it was worth it. Sharing with you the 12 places that you can visit if ever you live or plan to visit Ørland.


1. Bruholmen Friluftsomrade

Bruholmen Friluftsomarade is a recreational area in Brekstad. This place is good for biking, running, jogging, or walking. It is also a nice place to have a picnic if the weather permits. We always visit this place because it is just a few minutes away from my mom’s place.

Read: Bruholmen Friluftsomrade
Watch the video here and here 

2. Austrått 

Austrått is known as a residence of officials, noblemen, and noblewomen who played a significant role in the history of Norway. It is a place where you can see the Austrått Manor, grove, beach, and fort. The Manor House and Fort are open for guided tours every summer season, so it is from June to August. Though we were not able to see the interiors of the house, we were happy to see a glimpse of it.

Read: Things to do in Austrått
Watch the video here 

3. Trollskogen 

If you have kids in tow, you can also visit Trollskogen or Troll Forest. I did not see any trolls there, but it has a small shelter and a bonfire where you can have a picnic too. Beside the shelter are a small pond and a playground where kids can play.

Read: Trollskogen
Watch the video here 

4. Lerberen Folkehelsepark 

Lerberen Folkehelsepark is considered a public health park which is just a few minutes’ walk from Trollskogen. If you have an active lifestyle, this is a perfect place for you to do your running, jogging or walking activity. On top of the mountain, you have the city view. There is a logbook there where you can write your names.

Watch the video here and here 

5. Fishing at Trøndelag Coast 

One of the fun and exciting activity that you can do in Ørland is fishing. We were lucky to experience fishing in Norway. Since Ørland is near the fjord, it is an ideal place for fishing. You can catch halibut, monkfish, cod, haddock, coalfish, plaice, mackerel, redfish, sea trout, herring, catfish, and pollack. We were able to catch 3 cod fish during our fishing trip.

Read: Fishing Adventure in Norway
Watch the video here 

6. Rusasetvatnet 

Ørland has a lot of recreational areas so there is no reason for you not to have an active lifestyle. Rusasetvatnet is another place where you can visit if you want to do walking, running, biking, birdwatching or if you want to see other wildlife.

Watch the video here

7. Døsvik Havn 

As I mentioned before, Ørland is near the fjord so if you love fishing, you can rent a holiday homes or boathouse in Døsvik Havn. The place is picturesque because of the different colors of the holiday homes.

Read: Rusasetvatnet + Døsvik Havn 

8. Hovdetåa 

Ørland is surrounded by different bodies of water so you will enjoy a lot of seascapes here. If the weather is not cold, it is also nice to swim in Hovdetåa. But since it was freezing cold in April, we did not swim, we just enjoyed the view of fjords.

Read: Hovdetåa
Watch the video here 

9. Svartholberget 

If Brekstad has Bruholmen, Garten has Svartholberget. This place is also good for walking, jogging and running. There are times that you can see moose and deer around the area. The place is higher than Bruholmen so you will see Garten view on top of it.

Read: Svartholberget
Watch the video here 

10. Grandefjaera Nature Reserve

If you are bird lover or you just want to see different kinds of bird species, don’t forget to visit Grandefjaera Nature Reserve. It is a wetland area where you can see Norwegian and migrating birds. A nice place for a picnic too.

Read: Grandefjaera Nature Reserve
Watch the video here

11. Kjeungskajaer Lighthouse 

I’ve seen a lot of lighthouses in the Philippines but Kjeungskajaer Lighthouse is different. This lighthouse is located in a small island so you have to ride a boat just to see it up close and personal. You can visit this from May 15 to August 31.

Read: Kjeungskajaer Lighthouse
Watch the video here 

12. Sjøgata 

Sjøgata is situated in Uthaug’s old port area. They are preserving this place and it is considered a historical place where you can see fishermen’s houses that were built in 1800’s. The place is picturesque so there is no doubt that some people like to draw or paint this place.

Read: Sjøgata 

So these are the 12 places that you can visit in Ørland, Norway and the good news is, all these places have no entrance fee. Yes, you can visit this place for FREE.

I just received my Iceland Photobook a few days ago and this reminds me that I haven’t finished my Iceland Trip series, so let me continue my series. If you are going to Iceland and you only have few days, a lot of people will suggest that you book Golden Circle Tour, Blue Lagoon, and Reykjavik Tour because this is the most popular tourist spots in the country.

And because it was our first time to visit Iceland last May, it was also my dream to visit those places. I did not book any tour since we are staying with my aunt (mom’s cousin) and they said, they will tour us. But if you don’t have any family, relatives or friends, you can rent your own car or book a tour from different travel agencies. The rate may vary depending on the package that you will get but for sure you won’t miss these three famous places, Geysir, Gullfoss Waterfall and Thingvellir National Park. Other stops are Kerio volcanic crater, Hverageroi, Skalholt Cathedral, and Nesjavellir geothermal power plant.

We left as early as 6AM to start our DIY trip, even my aunt who lives there for more than two decades, she hasn’t visited the popular tourist spots so we’re all first-timers. Lol. So when we reach the Thingvellir National Park, we don’t know where to go, we just keep on driving till we saw a parking lot. Then we just walk and follow the signs and finally, we made it.

Thingvellir National Park 



Thingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site where you learn more about the history, culture, and geography of Iceland. The park is so huge that we spent most of our time there, we literally walk from north to south of it. Among the spots that we have visited in the Golden Circle Tour, this is my favorite.

Read: Thingvellir National Park
Watch the video

The Great Geysir 


After exploring Thingvellir National Park, off we went to The Great Geysir. It is located in Haukadalur valley where you can see different active geyser hot spring. It is just a few minutes walk from the parking lot. The most active geyser is Strokkur because it can sprout water as high as 30 meters, you just need to be patient because it takes several minutes before you can see the eruption. You can watch the video here.

Read: The Great Geysir in Iceland

Gullfoss Waterfall 

Gullfoss or Golden Falls is located in Hvita river, this is an iconic waterfall in Iceland. I’ve seen a lot of waterfalls in the Philippines but when I saw this waterfall, I was really amazed. No words to describe, it is really beautiful. It was so huge so even I’m afraid of heights, I still walk just to see this waterfall up close and personal.

Read: Gullfoss in Iceland
Watch the video here



After this trip, I feel so blessed because I was able to see these wonderful places. It was really a memorable experience and one of my favorite travel trips. Would you believe that you can see these places for FREE. Yes, there is no entrance fee. So, if you are planning to visit Iceland, don’t forget to include Golden Circle Tour in your itinerary. I will share each tourist spot in a separate post.

Read: Blue Lagoon
Reykjanes Peninsula Tour
Icelandair Experience 
Bridge Between Two Continents

My mom is back to the Philippines for a vacation, so it only means that we will be eating a lot of Filipino cuisine. Last Easter Sunday, after the Sunday Service, off we went to SM Megamall to eat our lunch. I’m not familiar with Megamall restaurants, except for the buffet restaurants that we have tried there like Sambokojin and Tong Yang so I told my sister-in-law na sila na ang bahala na mamili.

She said, Abe or Mesa, my sister suggested Abe because she hasn’t tried it yet so off we went to Abe. Since we are group of 12 persons, it is not easy to accommodate us, so we had to wait. I suggested to the staff that we are okay eating outside, pagdikit-dikitin na lang nila table and they agreed to it naman.

We were really hungry but we have no choice but to wait, I just hope that they provide a complimentary appetizer just like our experience in Abe – Alabang. We ordered Sinantol na Hipon P250, Paco Fern and Tomato Salad P185, Pork Binagoongan P355, Bicol Express P290, Klasik Kare-kare P650, Rellenong Alimasag P345, Sinigang na Ube P495, Spicy Sisig P225, Binukadkad na Plapla P425, Pork Lengua Asado P345, Unlimited Rice for P75 and a cup of plain rice for P65.



I haven’t tried all the dishes, but I was able to try

Sinantol na Hipon – we ordered this because my mom likes sinantol dish. My grandmother used to cook this dish every time she goes back to the Philippines but because of my lola’s condition na, she stopped cooking a few years ago. We did not like this, we prefer my lola’s dish.

Sinigang na Ube – I don’t know why they order this but the food looks weird to me because of the color, though it tastes sinigang but nothing special.


Klasik Kare-Kare – too expensive for P650 kasi ang konti lang ng laman.

Binukadkad na Plapla – taste is good, ganun naman lasa ng fried fish, hehehe! but when I saw the price, it is expensive for fried fish.

Pork Lengua Asado – I was disappointed with this dish because I already tried this dish in Abe-Alabang branch so I know what to expect. Bagsak sa presentation and pati sa lasa. I don’t know kung minadali ba because the meat was not tender.


Paco Fern and Tomato Salad – this is my husband’s order because he already tried this when we dined at Abe’s Farm in Pampanga. This is the first meal that they serve since it is an appetizer. According to him, taste is good, my nephews and nieces tried it too so ending naubos na bago pa dumating order na iba.

After that, we also ordered Sikreto ni Maria P185, Leche Flan P105, Maruya ni Maria P150, Turon Nangka & Ube P105, Halo-halo Crumble P175 and Mais Con Yelo P105 for dessert. If the heavy meals are just okay for us, we liked their dessert. We always order sikreto ni maria, leche flan and turon and nangka & ube so I suggested this to my mom and she likes it too. My sister also enjoyed the Maruya ni Maria so I will order that next time.

If you are going to or live in Pampanga, visit Abe’s Farm. They have more food choices and price is much cheaper compared to Metro Manila branch. Since SM Megamall is far from where I live, we always go to Abe Alabang branch.

It was the year 2008 when we first visited Caleruega, I was pregnant and was stuck at home for a few weeks because I was on bed rest. Then out of the blue, my husband decided to visit Caleruega. I’ve heard about this church before but since I’m not a Catholic, hindi ko naman siya bet puntahan. Little did I know that my first visit was not our last visit.


It became an annual tradition that we visit this church every Holy Week, sometimes we go here twice a year with family or friends. We even attended a wedding event here. In a span of one decade, marami na kami nakasama dito, marami na rin akong naibayad na entrance fee and parking at marami na rin akong naipon na flyers. I don’t know when this tradition will stop but so far, this is my husband’s happy place so suportahan taka.


We left at past 6AM and we arrived past 9AM because of the traffic. The church was already crowded, ang haba na ng pila sa labas and hirap ng magpapicture ng walang photobomber. Hehehe! My father-in-law was a first timer and he also liked this place.

Sonya’s Garden 

After visiting Caleruega and Chapel on the Hill, off we went to Sonya’s Garden. We always visit this place too because we like their Hispanic Bread. And because of the TRAIN law, nag-increase na rin ng price sila, P200 na yung Hispanic bread. Waah! Five years ago, P120 lang yung bread. Fortunately, I was able to buy the last pack. After an hour pa daw yung next stock.



Anyway, last year I discovered that they are selling dried fish too so I bought packs of dried fish (Tawilis and Dilis) for P100 each and I also bought assorted suman for P120. The staff asked me “Mam, favorite niyo ba ito ang dami niyo kasi binili”. Hehehe! My mom and aunt like this dried fish so I bought few packs that they can bring to Norway.

Green ATS Bulalohan & Restaurant

Initial plan is to eat bulalo at Mahogany Market since mamalengke din in-laws ko but I was really hungry so I suggested to my husband na sa iba na lang kami kumain. On our way to Mahogany, we saw this Green ATS Bulalohan & Restaurant so my husband parked the car and we went inside the restaurant.



Every time we go to Tagaytay or Nasugbu, we always see this restaurant but it was only last week that we were able to try it. It started since 2004 and they are open 24 hours. I was surprised when we entered the restaurant because I thought, it was just a small restaurant or parang carinderia type lang siya. But I was wrong, they have nice interiors and they also have nipa hut. You can choose nipa hut but remember that there is a minimum order if you choose that, I think P1500 or P1800 dapat.


We just chose a table, since may Taal volcano din naman na view. We ordered Extra Bulalo P535, Lumpiang Hubad P175, Grilled Liempo P205, Rice and Softdrinks. The food serving and price are reasonable, the service is good, and the food taste is also good. The presentation of the bulalo is not appealing, but the taste is good naman, I just hope the soup is hot. Cash basis only.




Then off we went to Mahogany Market.

Read: Food Trip in Tagaytay

I love taking pictures, isn’t it obvious with my blog name. Yes, I do have a lot of pictures, but I hardly ever print those pictures. I give you three reasons why.

1. It is so hard to choose pictures that I want to print. 
2. It is so expensive to print pictures 
3. I could not find a photo album that I like. I have old photo albums and some of my albums did not last. 

I’ve been seeing different photo books website online and one of them is Photobook Worldwide. I’ve been meaning to try these photobooks but for some reasons, hindi ko siya maumpisahan. After 10 years, I finally bought 2 vouchers for P100 and P120, and guess what, two vouchers are nearly expiring. Spell C-R-A-M! Yes, I bought these vouchers during their Black Friday Sale and I totally forgot about it. 

Just this month, I learned that Photobook Worldwide has an app where I can upload, edit, and order photo books, photo prints, home décor, and even calendars. After a week, I downloaded the Photobook Worldwide App in Apple Store and tried it. I love the app because it is so easy to use and I was done in few minutes. 

How to Use the Photobook Worldwide App 

1. Download the Photobook app on the Apple Store or Google Play Store 
2. Launch the app and select the projects you want to avail of. I chose Simple Books 6x6 

Simple Books 6"x6", 8”x8” or 12”x12” 
Hardcover Photobooks 8”x8” or 12”x12” (Lay Flat or Standard Binding)
Photo Prints 4R or 5R 
Home Décor: Canvas Air, Metal Prints, Wood Prints or Desktop Plaques 
Calendar: Wall Calendar 12”x12” Square and 11”x8” Landscape or Desk Calendar 11”x5 Lanscapre or 6”x8” Portrait 

3. Personalise your photobook by uploading at least 21 of your photos (additional photos = extra charges). I checked my Facebook Account and saved photos on my phone. 
4. Apply the voucher code if you have any and pay the shipping fee. You have two options, standard or express shipping. I paid P200 via Paypal for the standard shipping fee. 
5. Tap to upload your project and that's it! 

March 21 – I placed and paid my order 
March 26 – I received my package via DHL 

I was so happy because the package came all the way from Malaysia but it only took them few days to print and deliver my photobook. I received my package in good condition. The quality of the print and paper is also good. My first photobook is about our Easter Staycation at Roros Norway last year.


As I mentioned, I like the app because it is so easy to use but there are some limitations. 

1. I used the app again to redeem the voucher that I got last year but they are not accepting my code. So I guess, I have to use the online designer application or I need to download the Photobook software. I guess the app is only for hardbound. 
2. There are limited options for editing photos. I cannot put text so all I did is align my photos to the center. Good thing it turned out okay even the photos are from mobile phones. 
3. Photobook Worldwide has so many products but not all are available using the app just like my Insta Cards vouchers. 
4. I always check the status of my current order on the app but I only see “Processing” status, I was worried because after 5 days, ganun pa rin ang status. I even sent an email to ask for the real status of my order but few hours after I sent the email. DHL came and delivered my package.