get up, get out, get living: 2015

2015

In Photos: The Coronicles

5:12 am

Most tourists visit Coron and Boracay when they find themselves in the Philippines. While they each have their strengths and weaknesses, I would personally recommend that you put Coron on the top of your list if you prefer the idyllic island getaway and are an avid sea lover.

It took me months to narrow down which photos to use because Coron's islands are impossibly picturesque. See for yourself.

The last time I visited Coron was over 10 years ago with family friends - so basically all the mementos I have of this trip are the awkward preteen photos we keep in our family album *cringe*. I got a chance to revisit with my Pam and Isa this year; thankfully I've changed over the years - and Coron hasn't.

A majority of the land in the area are rich in manganese - not really vegetation friendly, which is why most hills closer to the mainland are bare. The further away you get from Coron town, the more abundant the limestone is. Other well-photographed limestone landscapes include those found in El Nido, Phuket, and parts of Indonesia.

It rained a few times for short periods when we were there, but it didn't bother us at all. It made for some dramatic clouds - which I can't get enough of.

We did a tour each day we were there, and lunch was included. Typically, we pulled up to an island with a few huts and spent about an hour stuffing our face with rice, freshly grilled fish and all the mango we could consume. Food babies are inevitable.

We visited several places, with our highlights being Pass Island, Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, Lusong Coral Garden & Shipwreck, and Barracuda Lake. Of the 3 days we did the island hopping tours, our bangka had motor problems twice! At one point, another bangka had to tow us along. Some people had a problem with it, but it really wasn't a big deal; our tour guides positive attitudes throughout the down time was infectious.

Disclaimer: if you're not much into snorkeling, you are missing at least half of the beauty of Coron.

Some tips if this isn't your natural environment:

you will float in salt water. stop thrashing around.
keep away from the sea urchins! they look unfriendly for a reason
be aware of your surroundings
don' touch anything!
mind your distance to the boat especially if there is a current
apply sunblock at least 15 minutes before swimming or it'll just come off. lose-lose for you and the corals.

Overall, four days felt much too short for me, so we're planning to go back this coming summer.

Until next time. xx

2015

/ˈTHaNGkfəl/ 2015

12:08 am

All in all, this feels like such a long list but, in reality, is only a short list of all the things I have to be grateful for. These are the ones that made me feel alive this year.

~ 18 Things I Am Thankful For ~

1. Started the year with a bang at my 2nd Bastille concert with Patch and Emil! I wrote more about it here. Side note: can't wait for them to release their next album!

2. Ati-atihan. I won't divulge ~~too much~~ anything, but I had a pretty embarrassing experience here and I was silently cursing for a consecutive 20 hours but, in hindsight, it was a blessing in disguise. Because of it, I was able to break the ice with some of my cousins and got to know them better.

3. I got to go to Boracay almost free of all expenses because of a company outing. SCORE. I was able to get to know some of my coworkers outside of an office environment and soak up the sun. All. Expense. Paid. Work? Or play?

4. 5 day weekend!!! My family and I opted to fly out of the city and get some lazy beach time in Cebu. Needless to say, I returned to work the following week 3 shades darker than I was the previous week.

5. In April, I got to go to Isla de Gigantes with my cousins! This was our first time going on a trip together without our parents, so that was pretty cool. You can read more about it here and here.

6. YES, another beach trip - zero complaints here. I was able to visit Phuket for the first time for Ate Lesley's bachelorette trip! I made a separate post about it here!

7. What follows a pre-wedding event? The actual wedding of course! There was an abundance of love the entire day that it makes me smile just thinking about it. ♥

8. I am grateful to have work that allows me different opportunities and experiences that help me grow professionally and push the boundaries of what I think my limits are.

9. Easily my favorite trip this year was our family trip to El Nido. I was 110% in my element with the people I love most. Kayaking, snorkeling, diving, laughing and having a room right by the ocean... can't get enough.

10. Coron with Pam and Isa. Such a memorable trip with my girls. Making friends with our awesome bangkeros and another couple from our tour group. Being silly in our room with snorkels, rap songs, and food babies. This is also the trip where we tried out free diving inside sunken ships. Plus 100 xp.

11. Bali with Pam and Isa!!! ♥ Visited beautiful temples and rice fields, and ate our hearts out. Some things will never change, and my love for these girls is one of those things.

12. In August, I flew to Singapore for a weekend to visit Larissa. I went around the city - really loved Gardens at the Bay and Haji Lane, but that wasn't the most memorable part. This was the trip where I ended up getting the most drunk I have ever been and not remembering anything after 1 AM. According to reliable eyewitnesses and several photos & videos, the rest of the evening consisted of talking to strangers in red pants, taking a nap in a restaurant, casually sitting in the middle of the road then running across the street at a green light BUT also somehow managing to remove my contacts and make up in the bathroom (and basically finishing the rest of my night time routine), and refusing to go to the bedroom because I didn't want to throw up anywhere near the bed. LOL thanks for hosting me, Wissa! ♥

13. I attended the Harvard Project for Asian International Relations (HPAIR) in Manila and participated in the Energy and Sustainability panel and case study. Although I was really nervous about it beforehand, I ended up having more fun than I thought, and meeting people from all around the world.

14. Went diving with cousins in Anilao. It was such a restful weekend and at night, since it's away from the city, the sky was darker and the stars brighter. Looking forward to more dive trips with them this year.

15. I finally feel like I have some direction in my life (jeez it's about time). I can't recall if it was a specific "AHA!" moment or if it gradually happened, but, either way, I don't feel completely lost anymore. Hurrah! (Now for the execution...)

16. Our family is separated at least 2/3 of the year, so the time we are complete is all the more precious to me. This year we were all together for a little over than a month; it wasn't enough, but it was (does that make sense?). Special shout out to Viber and Snapchat for keeping us together when we're apart.

17. Took my first trip down under - Australia! Though it didn't go as smoothly as I planned (what does) and the weather didn't cooperate 100% - nothing changes the fact that I was able to spend the holidays somewhere new with my favorite families. ♥ I also got to go bungee jumping and skydiving again!

18. None of these would've been possible were it not for being healthy! No hospitalizations, no sprained/broken anythings or major illnesses. This year, I learned to listen to what my body needs; I have a new found appreciation for my health that I plan to continue. As a bonus, it seems that I have reeled in my parents!

What are you grateful for? xx