Snapshot Saturday: Paco Park

by Gay Mitra - November 27, 2010August 13, 20146

Paco Park, view from the top of its thick adobe walls.What used to be a municipal cemetery during Spanish colonial period is now a park frequented by young dating couples from surrounding universities. Its charming old St. Pancratius Chapel, more popularly known as Paco Park Church, is a top fave for intimate weddings. It is…

Snapshot Saturday: Quality Testing A Hammock

by Gay Mitra - November 20, 2010August 13, 20146

I think I’m in love!From the Pinay Travel Junkie’s backpacking notes: This is how to test a hammock whether it’s durable or not, and to see how strong are the arms of its maglalako (seller). And yeah, this is me laughing my tonsils out with new acquaintances in Laiya, Batangas. Though priced way more expensive…

The Travel Junkie Is Now a Nomad Mommy!

by Gay Mitra - September 19, 2010August 13, 201439

Happiness [is] only real when shared.– Chris McCandles, Into The Wild Yesterday, at 8:23 AM, in a hospital which used to be a hotel… the Pinay Travel Junkie turned into a nomad mum. Meet Luna, our new backpacking buddy!Now I gotta get the hang of this motherhood thingy soon, so we could again hit the…

A Climb With John

by Gay Mitra - September 9, 2010August 13, 20144

Because I have loved life, I shall have no sorrow to die. – Amelia Burr It was 2007. Because of an unexpected approved vacation leave, I was able to join a climb with All Terrain Mountaineering Club (ATMC). Straight from a graveyard shift (I too, was a call center agent in my past life), I…

The Big 3-0: A Backpacker’s Flashback

by Gay Mitra - September 3, 2010August 13, 201413

I turned 30 yesterday. And nope, I didn’t throw a big party nor vacationed somewhere remote and exotic. I would have if I wasn’t 38 weeks pregnant – or more of, if our family elders didn’t disapprove it. My celebration was very boring simple. With a handful of relatives, we had lunch at a Chinese…

1st Blogversary: A Year of Growth

by Gay Mitra - September 1, 2010August 13, 201411

I’ve got a dream, I’ve got a dream And I know I can share it if you want me to If you’re goin’ my way, I’ll go with you – Jim Croce, I Got A Name That dream was to travel around the world. It seemed far fetched for me – a Filipina who earns…

Magalawa Island: The Babymooners

by Gay Mitra - June 13, 2010August 13, 201445

The term “babymoon” these days pertains to the final vacation of a couple who are expecting a baby. Babymoons almost always are spent in luxurious resorts which provide pampering services, especially for the soon to be mom. In our case, it’s far from such. Even at six months pregnant, our weekend babymoon was the usual…

Mother’s Day at Manila Zoo

by Gay Mitra - May 11, 2010August 13, 20142

My first Mother’s Day! Okay, so I’m not a full-on mum yet since I’m still 5 months on the way but hubby and I already felt like celebrating. My OB-Gyne found out through ultrasound that I have a low-lying placenta two weeks ago, so going out of town was strictly not an option. Then we’re…

Borawan and Dampalitan Beach

by Gay Mitra - April 25, 2010August 13, 201436

I was supposed to celebrate my Despedida de Soltera in Padre Burgos, Quezon last year. On our itinerary was to explore Borawan and Dampalitan Beach, which was then virtually unknown – recommended by my sister who went there with her colleagues a few months back. Unfortunately, typhoon Ondoy ravaged the country a week before our…