What to do in NY on Christmas Holiday

My family had a Christmas Holiday in New York City where my brother in law and his wife are based. It was not the best time to go because of the blizzard that came a day after we arrived so we had no choice but to stay home. We were there for almost 10 days but the 3 days spent going around the city on a cold winter was memorable. It was an unusual New York City tour. While others would have gone to 5th Avenue (and Canal Street) for sightseeing and shopping, we went on a Christmas Tree tour:

1. Explore American Museum of Natural History. The Holiday Origami Tree was decorated with folded paper ornaments. We were told that these ornaments were made by volunteers from an organization called Origami USA. Of course the kids enjoyed the dinosaurs exhibit and they were ecstatic upon seeing Dum-Dum from the movie "Night at the Museum". It was a hit among the museum spectators because the line for the photo opportunity was long. Although this was the second time Lito and I have been here, it was another adventure for us because the museum is really big and has a lot of attractions to offer. We enjoyed the video booth where you can send a video of you with the dinosaurs and send to your loved ones. After a long day, snack time would be best from the nearby Shake Shack or eating hotdogs from the famous New York food carts. I saw some families who brought sleds and did Tobogganin in Central Park. I'm sure there are lots of hills to try there.




2. Watch the Holiday Train Show. This is a must-go-attraction on Christmas week. The New York Botanical Garden lights up Christmas trees at the garden in the Bronx borough of New York. The NYBG is best-known this time of the year for its annual holiday train show, which showcases model trains amid replicas of New York landmarks, all made of plant materials. Of course, the garden also hosts a display of lit-up fir trees.

We enjoyed the Train Puppet show and the Gingerbread house exhibit at the kids garden.


3. The angel of our Christmas tree, Liberty is still the top attraction even on a chilly winter day. We just wanted to see the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park thinking that there were no boats going to the island, but we were surprised that the long queue leads to the security line going to Liberty. We decided to go the next day so that we can still go inside the museum. The kids especially Miggy were excited as we board the boat. It was fun to see her again this time with snow surrounding her.

The following were part of our itinerary but we were not able to go because of time constraints. Also the kids and Faye got sick so we decided to skip this. They are still worth going to on a December trip to New York City:

4. Rockefeller Center is home to what is probably New York's most famous Christmas tree and no trip to NYC should be without it. The 22-meter-tall Norway Spruce is in the center of ice skating rink and you can't miss it. From here, you can go to Radio City Music Hall, Sixth Avenue near 50th street; St. Patrick's Cathedral, Fifth Avenue near 51st street and the Museum of Modern Art, 53rd street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Of course there are the famous buildings and stores as you walk up 5th avenue toward Central Park; Macy's, Tiffany's, FAO Schwarz Toy Store and the Apple all glass building.

5. We were given a Metropolitan Museum of Art pass and it was also a must-go destination. The Christmas tree at the MET is adorned with angels and a Nativity scene. Its colourful, lifelike figures, 15 to 51 centimeters tall, were made in 18th-century Naples and depict shepherds, townspeople, animals and the three wise men.

Summer in Spring at Ontario Place

We had fun at Ontario Place yesterday. It was the special day for Toronto District School Board students and their families to enjoy the special discounted rates and pre-opening of the downtown theme park. Ontario Place will offically open this weekend for the Victoria Day holiday - May 22. The weather cooperated, the sun was up and shining bright. I think I had sunburn, staying mostly under the sun. The place is located on the lakeshores of Ontario Lake and the cool breeze is perfect in the hot sunny day. It feels like summer in May - perfect for those who stayed in Soak City, the water park inside Ontario Place.

The park is divided into 5 main areas - Market Place, Soak City, Adventure Island, Marina Village and The Go Zone. Other atractions included the Imax theater called Cinesphere, the Atlantis Pavilions and the World of Weather. We didn't even know where they were located because as usual our time were spent in lining up in the kids rides. The place where we had our lunch was on top of a hill overlooking the lake with lovely swans floating quietly. A nice spot for meditation and relaxation.

Going there is another story, the TTC provides 3 ways to get to Ontario Place but you need to pass by the Exhibition Place about 10-15 minutes walk before you reach the entrance to Ontario Place. We will need to go back again to explore the other parts of this fun-filled Summer destination.

19 inch LCD TVs

I used to have a 21 inch LCD monitor in my computer at the office and it makes all my tasks visible and helps in my being efficient. Now that I'm mostly at home and wants to maximize my relaxation, I was hoping to get a 19-inch LCD TV. I can also use this LCD TV as a PC monitor and display photos and videos. Amazing!

Dolphin Watching in Bohol

The reason why we chose to have our vacation in Bohol over Boracay in year 2007 is this - Dolphin watching. The kids love the experience! When we went to see then, they all came and surrounded us, all hundreds of them and some made jumps like this. Amazing!

Then the Balicasag Island tour made our day, with the school of fishes surrounding our boat each time we feed them. The water is clear enough to see the corals, different shapes, colors and sizes. Too bad, we didn't had the opportunity to see them up close by snorkeling because we cannot leave the kids in the boat. The boatman says, that place is the sanctuary of fishes and corals, a must-see for tourists. I hope to be back there someday.

If you want to really enjoy your summer vacation, head to Bohol and have the experience of a lifetime. Stay in the Bohol Beach Club / Dumaluan shoreline for a quiet and clean beach front. Watch the tarsiers - smallest monkey in the world and be serenaded while having lunch in a river cruise. Of course, don't forget the Chocolate Hills, all this and many other surprises make up for the adventure of your lives.

Hippo Tours - the Bus that floats

Since Toronto is a business city of Canada, those who are in business trips who want to see Toronto in between meetings will find this tour helpful. This also applies to those tourists who are just passing by Toronto on their way to other Canada destinations like Kingston, Ottawa, Montreal etc. The Hippo tours is the most unique way to see Toronto in one continuous journey on both land and water on an amphibious bus called "The Hippo". A one-of-a-kind, 90-minute tour of Toronto with an unforgettable splash into Lake Ontario to tour the waterways of Ontario Place. Tour of downtown Toronto highlights many of the city's major landmarks and attractions including CN Tower, Rogers Centre, Hockey Hall of Fame, Eaton Centre, Dundas Square, the Discovery District, Old and New City Hall, University of Toronto, trendy Queens Street west, Harbourfront Centre and lots more. The tour is fully narrated by knowledgeable guides to provide you with the historical and cultural flavour of the city. I can't wait to ride here with my parents or in-laws who will appreciate the tour without walking.

Consider a Third Home

Part of your long-term plans is to have a vacation home in another place so you can get that rest and relaxation you deserve after all the years of working. Once you have your other home or second home, you can have a 3rd Home.

3rd Home is a home exchange portal where you will find other luxurious vacation homes. You can exchange your second home with these luxurious vacation houses from other members. Part of the many perks is that you will get a chance to enjoy exclusive access to some of the most desirable resorts and private destinations in the world.

When you're not in your second home, you can share it with other members of this exclusive vacation property management. Second-home owners like to optimize the use of their second homes. They sometimes want a different getaway experience and 3rd home is here to make it happen. 3rd Home is here to create the finest, luxury, second home exchange program in the world - with the highest standards in the industry.

You might want to have a vacation in most popular destinations like Miami, Florida, Palm Springs, California, and Nantucket Massachusetts where the members second homes are located. The houses range from beach villas in Mexico and mansions on Miami Beach to upscale lofts in France and log homes in Colorado. Isn't it cool? Unless you are super rich you have all your second homes all over these places, why not try 3rd home - your access to finest and luxurious vacation homes in popular destinations of the world.

IPod and the internet

I have dreamt of having an IPhone but since I don’t have the regular source of income to afford a monthly subscription to get one, I will have to be content with Lito’s IPod Touch as my other form of relaxation. Last night, I found myself browsing the internet using this gadget (Before, I only use it to listen to music, reading an ebook, watch a movie or play games) and I was amazed. The Safari browser is different from the Explorer or Firefox which I am used to and gliding through the soft screen is exciting. The windows appear as another page and they move from one side to another as if moving sheets of paper. The Top sites feature of the Safari 4 browser displays the thumbnails of recently visited sites. I found this tip from a free articles directory where there are lots of articles submitted. The articles are listed in different categories and my favorite is Technology and computers which is a popular subject.

Well, I think I am still an IPod novice. While most of the gadget-hungry yuppies and youth went gaga over the chic MP3 players and sleek MacBook Air years ago, it’s only now that I am into it. Thanks to ITunes and other strategies to promote the IPod, Apple has tremendously reached that status with the trendy products and I guess I’m also hooked. One article submitted in web world articles explained what Apple really undertook to promote IPod. Now, Apple’s IPod is a huge success and the rest is history.

Sightseeing in Canada - Niagara Falls

The first thing that comes to your mind when you hear of Canada is the Niagara Falls. I've seen the majestic Falls both from the US and the Canada side and I would say the Falls really looked better from the Canada side. From Toronto, there are tours going to Niagara and there are also cheaper bus going to the Fallsview Casino. While in Niagara, you can choose from the following different tours:

1. Maid of the Mist - This is an exhilarating boat ride to the base of the majestic Horsehoe Falls. Get ready to get wet.

2. Journey Behind the Falls - Here you will be behind the heart of Niagara and stand in the mist where the mighty Horseshoe Falls tumbles from 13 storeys above.

3. Niagara-on-the-lake - This is a tour to the 18th-century town. Here you will enjoy the historic charm of Niagara-on-the-lake.

4. Butterfly Conservatory

Or just enjoy the day in Niagara Falls on your own terms. Explore Niagara Falls in your way and your own pace. When we went there last summer, we just walked in the park and bask under the sun while listening to the rapids and watching the amazing Niagara Falls.



So on your next visit to Canada, make sure to include this in your itinerary.

My Wensha Spa Experience

My sister Wendy treated me and my mom, as my send off gift to a full body massage at Wensha Spa. My last day in the Philippines was spent entirely in this place, it is a 24-hour spa and the Full Body massage treatment that we availed comes with an "eat-all-you-can" buffet (Filipino and Hot pot style). The 680-pesos value of the massage is so "sulit" I wonder if I could find the same treat in Canada...haha.
WENSHA SPA in CCP Complex
We arrived a little after lunch so after checking in, we changed to our robes, put our things on our lockers and started our late lunch. We were seated near the big screen and we watched the Cory funeral/procession while we were having our meal. The viands are okay I only remember the Caldereta dish and the Pancit so it must have been good. The wet floors area has a very big screen too so while we dip in the hot bath, we can still watch the Cory funeral. Oh by the way, the difference here and the The Spa, is you have to take it all off, well being bare is nothing to me( at least in an all girls area of the spa), since I have given birth to 3 boys already.

After a few minutes at the jacuzzi, we went inside the steam sauna and stayed for at least 10 minutes, the mist is refreshing. The Dry Sauna is worth trying but I dared not because I can alrady feel the heat near the drinking water station beside it. The maximum no of hours you can stay in Wensha is up to 6 hours so we spent at least 2 hours here, then one hour massage, then one hour rest (I overslept while having manicure and pedicure >> I availed this for additional P180 each) then 2 hours eating hahaha. The Massage area is enclosed in different rooms, we chose one that can accomodate 3 persons. There is also a large common area for bigger groups (at least 10 in the upper room). According to the Massage Therapist (Glory is good being hard), the massage style is a combination of Swedish and Shiatsu but whatever that is, It felt good and I really felt relaxed and relieved of the pains and lamig lamig. I highly recommend Wensha Spa, imagine after eating, the relaxation treatment starts at the wet floors, then the massage, then you can eat again, then addtional treatments like footspa, scrubs, manicure or pedicure then eat again, then before you go, you can have free use of the kikay items like lotions, powders and a new set of toothbrush. Those I have mentioned, were not available in other spas that I know of. If you are stressed, need to relax or looking for a value for money Spa- WENSHA SPA is it...you have to try it to believe what I'm saying...I bet lots of Wensha goers will agree...The next time I go back to the Philippines, I will definitely head to the CCP Complex in Boom na Boom and have a Wensha Spa treatment.

Easter Sunday Breakfast @ Bag of Beans

We had an Easter Sunday celebration in Tagaytay and had breakfast at Bag of Beans. Since we're early, we had the place to ourselves and we enjoyed the nice ambiance and serenity of the place. This breakfast nook is set in an open garden with trees that keeps the place cool. The tables are strategically located, there are long tables for families, coffee tables for twosome, corners for those who wants to have a breakfast meeting. It has a talking 'mynah' bird at the center which my kids enjoyed talking to. We ordered their famous freshly baked raisin bread, pancakes, the breakfast platter and cups of freshly brewed 'kapeng barako' (coffee)>>their specialty. Although they are known for their coffee and breakfast, they also serve lunch and dinner. I was told their fruit shakes are must-try but I was too full to try. Bag of Beans customers have grown and it was about time they opened the other end for an expansion to accommodate more. We had great photo opportunities here and as usual Kyle taking his own shots.

Inside Bag of Beans
This was taken by Kyle - my 3-yr-old photographer wannabe
Breakfast Platter
Raisin Bread
Bag of Beans Expansion Wing

So in your quest to find a nook and unwind from city's hustle and bustle, Bag of Beans in Tagaytay is a must-try.