My Hyperactive Year of 2012

As compared to my 2011, my To-Do-List for 2012 has fewer items.
I was just surprised to when I realized I've also accomplished a lot of things which I really didn't plan to do this year.

January. Since it was the month of festivals, Carla and I faked our identities and grabbed some free airline tickets. Exciting pero wag tularan. Anyway, we've finally experienced the very famous Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo. The energy and vibe were all over the place. It was priceless to be part of this celebration.

Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo

February. The love month brought us a complimentary stay in this lovely and luxurious resort of Misibis Bay. Aside from the facilities and the Armada toiletries, the excellent service made our stay very memorable.

Misibis Bay - the Sweetest Escape

Then I was very delighted to receive a blogger's pass to be the first ones to explore The Mind Museum. I really planned to visit this place before I got retrenched from my job then. Anyway, it's just 200 meters away from our office building so I just bribed by former boss to let me go to the science museum while it's still office hours. Hehe

The Mind Museum

Summer time was fast approaching so a close encounter with the whale sharks in Oslob Cebu took place. This was controversial though because of the improper handling of this activity. Nevertheless, it was surreal to finally see the gentle giants, extreme up close.

Whale Sharks in Oslob, Cebu

On the other hand, I received a retrenchment letter from my previous company. To celebrate our last happy days in the office, my teammates and I went to Baler and surfed our hearts out! This trip was one of the happiest this year.

Surf, Trek, Swim in Baler

March. My much awaited Southern Eskapo with Dong Ho finally happened. Our route: Zamboanga - Basilan - Tawi Tawi. It was heart pounding and eye opener at the same time. Im very thankful for this learning-beyond-books experience.

A Sound and Secured Zamboanga Trip

 

Don't Tell my Mother I Spent a Summer Day in Basilan

ranks 6th in my Best Beaches in the Philippines list

Tawi-Tawi | A Trip to the Philippine’s Southernmost Province

Im a budget traveler but I do love splurging as well. Whenever my dear friend Rob is home, it's time for some fabulous staycation! Next year, we'll really target The Farm at San Benito. Right Rob? =)

staycation at Dusit Thani

April. I officially became a glorified tambay! I took advantage of having all the time I have to explore the best beaches in the country. Summer is simply the best time to be unemployed! I started by organizing an open trip to Apo Reef. Thank you guys for joining. Ansaya neto!

Apo Reef | A Paradise Above and Below the Sea

ranks 5th in my Best Beaches in the Philippines list

Right after this, Donnie and I flew to Mindanao and sailed our way to the island of Siargao. It was paradise. And of course, to swim with the stingless jellyfish in Bucas Grande was nothing but surreal. Thank you sir Edelito and your family for accommodating us.

Siargao's Paradise Beaches and Cloud 9

Stingless Jellyfish Lake in Bucas Grande

ranks 2nd (if I wasn't biased) in my Best Beaches in the Philippines list

May. It was such a privilege to be part of a reality-travel show called PHL360 - 8 Travelers, 4 Destinations, 1 Full Circle. The challenges were 1. i dont know where the crew would bring me 2. i dont who would be my partner 3. i dont know what challenges await us in there. The week-long trip was unpredictable but fun! I salute the whole team, specially the crew for the effort. All out for the love of travel.

  8 Travelers, 4 Destinations, 1 Full Circle

awesome PHL360 team - east leg

the water split for me, Im one with the sea

Bontod Reef, Masbate

believe it or not, my assigned partner Hannah and I only met on the day of our trip

and for the record - there were no dead air moments and we NEVER did fight! haha

watch  PHL360 episode here ---> http://phl360.com/the-show/

June. My skin was so black and burnt but a day after my birthday, my dearest friends and I attempted to explore Gigantes Island. Although it wasn't a success, this trip was sooo fun and crazy! Also, out of the money I received from being retrenched, I was able to buy my very much desired gadgets: Canon's latest underwater camera and a waterproof watch. Ansarap ma-retrench!

super fun birthday trip with my dearest friends

gadgets: katas ng retrenchment

Btw, after doing a lot of traveling I got bored. I decided to finally start working again. My funds needed to be replenished. Hehe

July. I was finally convinced to have a dental surgery to remove my two wisdom teeth. The healing process was more painful and not fun at all, specially I can only eat soft food. Imagine, I was only eating mamon and mashed potato for 4 weeks!

the Painful (and Costly) Removal of my Wisdom Teeth

August. I have no plans of renting a place near my work area in Taguig. It's just boredom that struck me and made me decide I needed to experience something new. I moved out and rented an apartment. Boredom really kills. ^_^

Rent: A Tour Inside Our Apartment

September. Nothing was remarkable for this month, including this so-so buffet at Circles Makati Shangri-La.

Sinfully Circles Buffet | Makati Shangri-La

October. It was a lot of firsts- first time to apply for a visa, first time to visit a first-world country, and first time to experience autumn! The place to be is South Korea.

Autumn in Seoul, Korea

Love, Sex, Magic at Jeju, South Korea

A day after I got home from South Korea was supposedly our Davao trip for Remay's birthday. Unfortunately, a lot of unlucky things happened and we missed our flight. Oh well, Davao is still not meant for me.

November. The 4-day long weekend brought Remay and I to the world renowned island of El Nido in Palawan. The clear blue water, breathtaking limestone formations, the laid back lifestyle, and the good vibe of the enthusiastic tourists are the obvious reasons why everyone hails El Nido. 

 lazy time in the beaches of El Nido

island hopping in El Nido

December. After the sweetest Misibis Bay escape, the next thing I really looked forward to is to experience Bellarocca. I knew this day would come, the day a group buying site would offer a great and irresistible promo deal! ^_^

Bellarocca Resort | The Buy 1 Take 3 Promo Deal

Our annual outreach will happen on the 29th of this month. Thanks to those who have already given their support.

im very excited to have a day out with the girls!

Alright I admit it, I just can't keep my still. PHL360 was right. One minute Im luxuriating in a 5-star resort, the following week Im roughing it out in the far flung provinces of Basilan and Tawi-Tawi. Well, this is just me getting bored. (nakakapagod pala when I get bored. san ba nakakabili ng pampa-kalma?) 

I feel blessed for the exciting year the Lord has given me. It may not always be as I planned, but Im sure the alternative road always leads me to new friendship, new discoveries, and new realizations.

Thank you 2012 for the hyperactive journey! ♥

This post is my contribution to the Pinoy Travel Bloggers' Blog Carnival for the month of December with the theme This Year in Travel.

Compilation hosted by Gay Mitra-Emami of Pinay Travel Junkie.