SUMMER IN DECEMBER

Merry Christmas everyone! 

I hope you had a good one as I did. May it be with family, friends or whoever.

My family spent the Christmas 2015 in Pagudpod.

We stayed in Hannah's Beach Resort which is really famous in Pagudpod.

The travel was really long but totally worth it.

They say that it usually takes 10-12 hours but boy, we reached 17 hours! (considering we left at December 24, 3AM, the traffic was bad) but maybe when you go on a normal basis it wont be that long.

Enough of the words.. let me show you pictures of our trip.

Enjoy! :)

Above pictures can't suffice as to how wonderful the place was. Even if we were there for Christmas and they were fully booked (104 rooms to be exact), none of the places or amenities became too crowded! You can really relax and recreate. They also offer a lot of activities you can enjoy but different payment though. Activities such as ATV, beach volleyball, frisbee, hanging bridge and theme park, shooting range, surfing and of course their zip line. It was said that their zip line is the longest one above sea in Asia. How cool right?

Before going there, I read the reviews in their facebook page. Some says that the bad thing about it is that their staff are not well mannered. I can say that that is not true at all. They were all welcoming. Maybe it just depends on how you treat them. The rest of the reviews says that it really is a nice and relaxing place.

My own personal review is that it really is nice. But it is kind of pricey. Also, their room service kind of takes long to be served. Ours was always late for like 15-20 minutes so they should improve on that. The rest I might say is a thumbs up! Paradise on Earth :)

You can search them in facebook at: Hannah's Beach Resort and Convention Center

or thru 0928 520 6255 and they are located at Brgy. Balaoi, Sitio Malingay, Pagudpod.

On the other hand, since we are in the North part of the Philippines already, we also went to Ilocos Norte, in Paoay specifically. We've been there a lot of times already so we did not see much. We just really went there to try the Philippine version of Sand Dune which is slowly becoming famous in Ilocos already.

It was an extreme 4x4 ride. Trust me when I say extreme! But tolerable though. Like riding a roller coaster but on a 4x4 and on sand. Lol! 

Facts about their sand dune:

It was 2,500 per hour which included sand boarding.

It is under a cooperative which is nice knowing you'll enjoy and be able to help them

A part in the ride, you'll see a big "HIMALA" sign. I was wondering what it is for. Is it the name of the place or what. Then when we were on our way back, I was told that it is because it is where Nora Aunor's movie with the famous line "Walang Himala.." was shot. Then I remember the scene on the movie and realized that it really is. Cool part is that they were able to preserve even the arches used in the movie. Also, shot there was FPJ's "Ang Panday". They also have there a memorabilia from the movie. 

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Since I love food, I also took picture of some of our food during the trip. Mehehehe!

Some pics from my snapchat as well;

@anamrieapl

There goes my photobook from our Christmas trip. Thus explains the caption "SUMMER IN DECEMBER" hahaha!

Merry Christmas again. From my family, to yours :)

Happy birthday to Jesus! We are of course celebrating him. 

Love, A. 

 

Summer Sundays '15

Since I graduated the course Customs Administration last March, I have an upcoming board exam on November called the Customs Brokers Licensure Exam (CBLE). Review proper shall start on June but I took up tutorial classes so I have a somewhat class. I got into this in-demand review center wherein I ran out of weekdays schedule and ended up taking the Sunday one. It runs from 8AM to 5PM for the Sundays this summer. We tackle practical computations.

At the end of every meeting, it is seriously draining. Imagine having to sit, listen and compute the entire day? Brain damaging! Lol. We are only allowed to go out during an hour lunch break as they are also training us not to go to the comfort room because you cannot do that during the CBLE itself.

Anyway, the food places surrounding the building of my review center seriously sucks! Haha. There's one that serves really loooong, then the other one wont suffice for lunch, the one is really expensive and the other one is just a convenience store.

And so, ta-da! We just bring baons because food places are too mainstream. :))

Yes! We eat lunch inside the car since it's the only choice we have. 

But in fairness, to make bawi of the place, I was amazed with the mode of paying the parking. Of all places here in Metro Manila, aside SM Malls of course, this is the only place I know that gives out reloadable cards you use to pay the parking. Although you can only use it in parking places in Escolta.

Then I want to share with you this place we call "Estero". We call it such because it is situated beside a stream. But it is totally clean! Hihi. To go there, go straight on the right side of Binondo church and it is on the right side of the second bridge.

Stress-eating after tutorial classes! It may seem a lot but the two of us finished it.

Would you believe we only paid 500 pesos for those?

Medium size shanghai fried rice, buttered chicken, camaron rebusado and calamares. Oh and Royal too. Hihi. 

Of course, to top it all of, we try as much as possible to make time to visit Him if we still can. 

How do you spend your summer Sundays? :)

(I don't find this a bad this during Sundays because I get to be with my boyfriend as he is in the same tutorial class.)

Hi hon! <3

xx, Ana A.

Dreamplay: Play. Create. Learn.

Out of curiosity, we visited the Dreamworks, Dreamplay in City of Dreams.

You know how you always have that kid at heart deep inside you? :)

Anyway, dreamplay is located in the upper ground of City of Dreams

located in Aseana Blvd. cor. Macapagal Avenue.

As soon as the elevator door opens, I was able to see the front part of dreamplay and got that goosebumps inside of me. Lol.

But upon going near, I saw some kids running and a long line to purchase tickets to get in.

I don't want to spoil much of it so just enjoy the photos.

There are two types of wrist band. The red one and the green one.

The red one is for the kids and the green on is for the adults.

If you pay for the green one, you are considered as a "non-participating adult" meaning you cannot play some of the games but you can watch the kids play and you can enjoy the dream tales library and the dream theatre.

If you want to play with the other attractions, you have to be a participating adult. To be a participating adult, you must pay the same corresponding price as the kid's price.

Weekday Rate:

No. of hours                  Children                                   Adult

4 hours                          680                                             380  

2 hours                              380                                             210

 Hourly Ext.                       200                                             110

Day Rate                             1500                                          830

Weekend/Holiday Rate

 No. of hours                             Children                                    Adult    

   4 hours                                               880                                             490

2 hours                                               480                                              270

Hourly Ext.                                        250                                             130

Day Rate                                              2000                                         1100   

We got the 2hours one. Surprisingly, we were able to finish the entire attractions in an hour.

I'm not saying you do the same. It depends on how you or the kids would take time in enjoying every attraction. :)

The staff in here said that this room was suppose to be for storytelling and a puppet show but is not yet operational.

And then they also have the dream theatre. A 4D theatre.

Show lasts for 5 mins but twas really awesome. 

(non-participating adults can enter the dream theatre)

There are also some food stalls inside for the waiting parents or guardians or the hungry kids.

Food price I might say is a little too much.

Then they also have the Dream Shop where you can buy souvenirs.

 

Come visit the dream play sometime.

Oh! And I heard you can celebrate kiddie parties in there too.

You can contact 8008080 or 8080909 for more information. :) 

Operating hours:

Park hours: 10AM-10PM; Counter Closes at 9PM

Dream Shop Hours: 10AM-10PM

Restaurant Hours: 10AM-10PM

Some few reminders:

Dress Code: No wearing of slippers, open toed shoes, sleeveless shirts.

Outside food and beverage are not permitted inside the facility.

Pets are not permitted.

No smoking.

Adult visitor without children is NOT ALLOWED to enter DreamPlay.

ALL participating guests are required to wear shoes and socks.

PS: Parking in City of Dreams is for free! :)

There you have it. 

DreamPlay: PLAY. CREATE. LEARN.

xx. Ana A.