Ms. Jhessy Wandering Free

First Day in Bali

It was August 2012 when I got invited to a table top meeting with direct tour operators handling international tour packages. My business is barely a year old. I saw the Bali table and gave my business card. Had a little chat and told the owner, “Bali is on my bucket list, I want to go there”. He told me casually, “I can tour you around and you should do hotel inspection at the same time”.

That's us with our Bali partner tour operator

Air Asia BIG SALE came, booked a CRK-SIN-DPS-SIN ticket. Then SIN-MNL via Pal Express. My roundtrip airfare was around PhP 7,000.

April 17-21, Bali was crossed out from the bucket list. One down, many more to go. Lols. Two of my best girlfriends accompanied me. After a no sleep-road trip to catch our 6AM flight from Clark to Singapore, then a connecting flight to Ngurah Rai International Airport, we finally reached Bali with glee! That was a 15 hour ride-flight-wait before we got to our end destination.

We were greeted by Sutarja, our very nice and informative assigned tour guide in our 4 days stay in Bali. We were welcomed with frangipani welcome leis and a cold hand/face towel. We were ushered to our designated Suzuki APV ride and met with our kind driver, Wayan.

It was almost 4PM when we arrived and traffic jam almost everywhere. We were supposed to go to Uluwatu temple but there was an ongoing ceremony. A lot of the locals are headed to the temple to worship so we just turned around and went to do an ocular in Nusa Dua instead. Whew! One reason to go back to Bali.

Amaroosa Hotel - Site Inspection

We were already hungry when the clock struck 6PM. We are set to have dinner in jimbaran and watch the sunset. We got to Jimbaran Bay with my tall wedge on and Mary Ann’s heels. We had to go back to our van and change to comfy slippers. I think that’s when we missed the sunset. Or sunset was no longer there when we came. Oh well!

We didn't stay long enough at Jimbaran. We were all tired and just want to take a nice shower and sleep our head off. We got to our hotel, Grand Mega Resort around 8PM. The front desk welcomed us with a sweet tamarind drink which I really like. It was soothing.

I personally love this hotel. I love the color, the modern decor and it's nice bathroom. Wifi is complimentary and you got free bottled water too.

We all immediately fell asleep after taking our much needed shower. I tell you, we completed an 8 hour sleep. So that's how comfy the beds are in this hotel. Good job!

End of Day 1.

My BDJ February Box

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What can i say besides "Bongga"! I just came home from a 1 week rendezvous trip to Seoul-Busan-Osaka-Puerto Princesa when this sophisticated box was waiting for my return.

Gosh, even tired from all that travel, I was really in a hurry to open the box. Well, my recurring monthly subscription to BDJ Box is definitely worth it.

I got this list and descriptions from Ms. Tricia Gosingtian's blog

1) Shiseido White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum (Php 5650) - Diminish stubborn dark spots in 10 days. Advanced Shiseido Multi-Action Brightening System+ targets all types of hyper-pigmentation and their causes. Dark spots, age spots, acne scars and uneven skin tone begone! Best used with Shiseido White Lucent intensive brightening mask.

2) Shiseido White Lucent Intensive Brightening Mask, 6 sheets (Php 3200) - 10 minutes to brighten skin! This contoured facial mask slips on luxuriously to bring concentrated brightening and hydrating benefits to skin in ten minutes, tops! Reduces the appearance of dark spots for a flawless, even complexion. Best used with Shiseido White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum.

3) Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Resist24 Night Emulsion (Php 3250) - Achieve younger-looking skin overnight! Japanese women are known for taking extra care of their skin. Visibly reduce wrinkles and promote silky smooth skin with breakthrough wrinkle-triggering enzymes.

4) Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Resist24 Balancing Softener (Php 2400) - Soften and rehydrate! Shiseido’s Beauty Regimen’s best kept secret softens quickly and effectively replenishes moisture. As a comprehensive age-defying softener, it helps protect skin from UVA and UVB damage.

5) Gift cards - Free Shiseido Makeover (minimum of P2000 purchase), free Shiseido quick facial (minimum of P2000 purchase), 15% discount for purchases (at least P5000)

Along with this box is a bonus 5-Minute Touch-Up Kit from Nippon that includes lip brushes, lip gloss applicators, eyeliner brushes, mascara wand brushes, dual cotton tips and wedge sponges. Super convenient for girls on the go .

My November BDJ Box

My BDJ box arrived just after my Bohol trip. Just when I needed a beauty loot the most. My skin needs to be refreshed and renewed. I wonder what's inside.

I cannot wait to open it.

My eyes were all glowing when I opened it. Wah, BDJ Box just keeps getting better and better. Shiseido and Loccitane = LOVE!

I love every single one of them.

The arrival of these goodies came very timely. I need intensive care for my sunburned skin. And glad to say that after a few days, skin got lighter and lighter.

I also got another set of inspirational stickers. Yup, we make things beautiful. So let go of all the worries, feel and make life as beautiful as it should be! ^_^

Bohol Tarsier Encounter

When I first visited Bohol, my tarsier encounter was one of my trip highlights. It was a close encounter, so close that I even touched it amidst the big sign telling tourist not to. I was so ecstatic to see the cute nocturnal furry little creature with a big spaced out eyes. They also look like little gremlins to me.

But because of the threat of stress to these creatures (touching and camera flashing), the government moved them to what is called a Tarsier Conservation Area. It's a 6 hectare woodland area where all private tarsier display owners share this space to showcase tarsiers in a more protective and adaptive environment to tourists.

Aren't they cute?

Kazie enjoyed the whole tarsier tour even she can't really see them upclose. I think there were 15 or more tarsiers in the new sanctuary. Most of them are all asleep though, since they are nocturnal. So no big spaced out eyes the second time.

Bohol Countryside Tour: Loboc River Cruise

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I think it was a 20 minute ride from the Python sanctuary going to Loay Bridge, where the river cruise will start.

We were ushered by our driver to Riverwatch. They said Riverwatch Floating Resto has the best food, though only serves 1 round drink.

For Php400, you have a buffet of local delicacies from grilled fish, meat, seafood, fruits and desserts with a singer serenading guests throughout the cruise.

The "cruise" is up the river, then down again after it reaches the Busay Falls, with a stop on a local choir group which does a song & dance number.

I must say it was a pleasant experience. Though, I would appreciate more smiles from the rondalla group. They seemed so tired and bored already entertaining the tourists when we were there.

Good thing, there was tatay who danced so gracefully that my disappointment went away. He really entertained us all. Good job tatay!

Bohol Countryside Tour II: Prony, the python

After much appreciating architectural history, we proceeded to our next destination. I wasn't really planning on meeting Prony the Python face to face but can't help to scare my lil niece so off we went.

Just a little background, according to what I read in the internet, Prony is a female python caught in 1996. She was approximately 5 meters and 5 kilograms then but has grown to about 23 feet (7 meters) long and 300 kilograms with 30 inches body circumference and still growing.

Prony captured the media's attention when it was known that the owner fed her stray cats and dogs and only done during full moon. GMA 7 was able to document and film the feeding. It was a clear violation of the Animal Welfare Act. After such media hiatus, the caretakers stopped feeding cats and dogs. Prony is now being fed with pigs and goats once every month.

We missed Marimar's (Tour Guide at Prony's) introduction about Prony but we did catch her doing a little extravagant performance.

Fake smiles. Lols.

We're a little surprised that my niece was more scared of the eagle than the giant snake. Good thing, she enjoyed seeing other creatures like monkeys and owls in the area.

Bohol Countryside Tour 1: Blood Compact & Baclayon Church

Last Nov 29-Dec 1, 2012, I set my foot again in Bohol. It was a business mixed with leisure trip (or the other way around). My goal is to check the service of my tour operator and find budget hotel & resorts in the area.

Kudos to Zest Air for an on time flight. It didn't ruin our first day itinerary.

After arrival, we head out to start our 8 hour - 7 stops - bohol countryside tour. Our first stop was the Blood Compact Shrine. It is a main landmark of Bohol, aside from the Chocolate Hills. This is where the first treaty of friendship between Spaniards and Filipinos took place. It was a political event.

We didn't stay long. After 4-5 pictures, we head out to our next destination. The Baclayon Church.

I am not a catholic but I do appreciate old churches. So we went inside to take a peek. Good thing, there was no ongoing mass. So we had the church to ourselves that day. My niece carried a puzzled look when we came inside. Catholicism is unknown to her.

Proper dress code is expected when going inside the church. My sister and I had to wear sarongs to cover our arms and legs. No worries, cover ups are being provided at the church.

The old church was an interesting sight to see. I was imagining scenes from Rizal's Noli Me Tangere.

We also explored the church grounds. Kazie was so thrilled to pose for the camera. I appreciate how the surroundings are so clean.

I would recommend a worthwhile visit to this old church. I am not a history buff, but visiting the Baclayon is like taking a road back in time.

Maya birds and their nests

Goodbye Church! Off to see other interesting attractions in Bohol.

How to pay your Cebu Pacific flights via BDO Online Banking

I am a sucker for anything convenient. And I am definitely a fan of online banking. Just recently, I swore not to use my credit card anymore for flight bookings. I decided to pay in cash. Good thing, it's so convenient to pay using BDO's online banking.

So after you're done with the booking details and have reached the payment page, choose "Payment Centers", then you will see that the first option in the drop box is Banco de Oro. Then, just hit "Continue".

You will be taken to the next page, and you must take note of your Confirmation Number.

The booking will be on hold until 11:59 PM of the same day. Next, forward your payment by going to Pay Bills on your BDO Online banking account.

Be sure to click "Show Company/Biller not requiring enrollment", then select "Cebu Pacific Air Inc.". Put all the necessary information and you're good to go after clicking "Submit". You will then be taken to a new page stating that you have successfully forwarded your payment.