Booked: December 2021 Flight to the Philippines

Oh my, I can't believe I am blogging again! It's been months since my last post and I know I kept on promising that I will keep on posting but couldn't fulfill it. It is so easy to totally abandon this blog and I've been meaning to do (especially since I mainly post my life in Instagram now) that but I I just can't. Ewan ko nga ba. Bumabalik at bumalik ako dito.

Anyway, it's almost a year now since the historical pandemic 'lockdown' and I know all of us are itching for things to go back to the way they used to be. May vaccine na and all we have to do is wait for our turn. Here in Canada, our Prime Minister promised us that by September of this year, all adults (those who want to) could have been vaccinated na. Those of us who are in the 40s bracket can be scheduled by July. Whew, medyo matagal pa pero keri lang. At least we can already see the light at the end of the tunnel. Konting tiis na lang.

Anyway, the reason why I blogged again is because I couldn't contain my excitement. Last night kasi, we were able to book na our flight to Pinas for December 2021!

 

I am telling you, I've never been this excited in a long time! 

It happened so fast kasi. Last Tuesday, my friend sent our group chat a link on Philippine Airlines PAL's 80th anniversary sale. $700+ lang daw ang Vancouver to Manila. I was disinterested at first kasi nga pandemic pa. But then she said that they're considering to go home by December pa. 

It got me thinking, matagal pa ang December. Come to think of it, medyo maluwag na nga ngayon pa lang ang ibang countries tapos dire-diretso na nga ang vaccination programs. Siguro naman by December eh medyo ok na ang travel situation (or else bagsak na bagsak na ang airline industry nun!). 

I texted Ford while he's at work, sabi ko nga mura ang tickets. His original plan was to visit Pinas in December 2022 pa (seriously) kaya hindi nya naman ako sineseryoso. But after sending him a screenshot of $900+ plane ticket for a December travel, namurahan na rin siya. I told him that this is our chance to vacay in the Philippines during Christmas time na mura. For sure, presyong ginto na next year when the world has finally recovered from Covid.

When he got home, syempre he checked on PAL's website agad. But to our disappointment, $1700+ ang price ng ticket! Mali pala ako, one way lang pala yung nakita kong $900+ (I used my phone in browsing lang kasi kaya hindi mabistahan nang maayos). Kaya nawalan na agad ako ng pag-asa. I messaged Levy and she said na mura sa Japan Airlines. Ford was super skeptic pa, mahal din daw for sure. I insisted that he check kasi sabi ni Levy, $2800 lang silang apat.

And voila, mura nga! It would cost the three of us around $2400 lang! Nagkapag-asa uli ako kasi we just had a refund of $2116.54 from our cancelled PAL July-August 2020 flight last Saturday kaya konti na lang ang idadagdag namin.

But of course, may hesitation pa rin. Because just in case may pandemic pa rin by this December (or may iba pang mangyari at hindi kami matuloy), may penalty na $200 each for cancellation. Niloloko pa ako ng asawa ko na ako ang sisisihin niya pag nagkataon lol! Oh well, I am not a gambler pero sige na nga, I am willing to risk $600 for this one! Kaya I'll be praying hard na matuloy!

The husband asked the office for permission yesterday and pinayagan naman siya. So go na! We booked the tickets last night. We had to use two laptops because we decided that we'll go a week earlier para mas masulit ang pamasahe, tapos sabay na lang kami pabalik. Medyo stressful ang naging booking process because we had to make sure that we get the same flight back to Vancouver. Medyo nakaka-praning. We paid a total of $2382.58 for three tickets, not bad na noh?

Another exciting part pa pala is on our way back to Vancouver, we have a 22-hour layover in Japan (Narita Airport)! Ito ang nagpa-sold kay Ford eh, ang makatapak kami sa Tokyo haha! Kakain lang daw kami ng authentic ramen at tonkotsu! 

Hay, 9 months to go! I am sure this trip will make my mother very happy! Inasmuch as I want to go home this July kasi (Nathan's summer break), alanganin. Wala pa kaming bakuna at medyo di pa rin siguro ganun kaayos ang sitwasyon sa Pinas. I have to consider everyone's safety, lalo na ang Nanay ko na may edad na at talagang immunocompromised. Kung hindi kami makakauwi this December, imagine by July 2022 pa pwede. Hindi ko na kaya yun. I can't bear the three years of not seeing my mother. Ngayon nga lang eh hirap na hirap na ako eh.

Before I end this post, I really just want to thank my husband Ford. Magastos umuwi ng Pinas (and to think wala naman na siyang uuwian doon kasi nasa abroad din ang parents and siblings niya) lalo na kapag pasko but he generously gave in to desire na makasama ang Nanay ko this December. I love you, Dear! =)

Looking forward to more pasyal in the future

I first showed you our fridge magnet display here. Pero ni-relocate ko na siya sa ibaba, malapit sa front door, late last year kasi medyo magulo pala sa mata kapag nasa may tapat ng kitchen counter. Hindi bagay sa 'minimalist' interior design ko.

Anyway, my son is currently obsessed with our small (pa lang naman) travel magnet collection. Palagi yan nakatitig sa magnets, kabisado na nya nga lahat. He's into places na kasi these days (he also loves looking at our world globe), napapanood sa youtube at ABC Mouse. Ang dami na nyang alam na countries/cities -- Paris, Japan, Malaysia, Africa, Arizona, India, Indonesia, Mexico, London, etc. -- and he would always ask us kung nakapunta / kelan kami pupunta sa mga yun.

Hay, sobrang sarap na sanang mag-travel ngayon! Nathan is already 5 1/2 kaya mas madali na syang isama at talagang interesado na siyang mamasyal. Kaso naman, kung dati eh time (and budget na rin syempre) lang ang issue, eto ngayon at dumagdag pa si Covid. It's now very uncertain kung kelan ba uli magiging safe ang mamasyal, ang pumunta sa airport at sumakay sa eroplano.

This year, two international travels na namin ang hindi natuloy/matutuloy. We were supposed to go to California last March 20 to attend my sister-in-law's wedding pero ayun at naghigpit na nga a few days before our flight. Tapos this July 8 naman sana ang uwi namin uli sa Pilipinas pero syempre hindi na rin matutuloy. Hay! Kung kelan pasyal na pasyal pa naman ako! Syempre hindi naman na bago samin ang pumunta sa California at Pinas pero I was looking forward to going to places there na hindi pa namin napupuntahan syempre (like Legoland!).

Kahit dito sa nga sa BC, ang dami-dami pa naming hindi nae-explore. Although unti-unti na nilang binubuksan ang mga public parks, ang hirap pa rin mag-enjoy kung nandyan pa rin si Covid sa paligid-ligid.

Tsk, so pano na nga ba? Nathan's very excited pa naman to buy more magnets. His goal daw is to full this whole wall with them.

When this pandemic is over, I will really make sure na mamasyal kami nang mamasyal kahit sa malapit lang. Sa totoo lang medyo tinamad din kasi ako the past years eh, mas ginusto ko na lang mag-mall palagi. Pero katulad nga ng sabi nila, we should invest on experiences and not on material things. Tama naman (pero material girl din talaga ako kaya hindi pwedeng walang shopping hehe). Tapos who would have thought na mangyayari ito, na mare-restrict sa travel ang mga tao. Ni hindi kami makapag-Jollibee sa Washington kaloka! (FYI, closed ang Canada-USA border sa ngayon at kung sakali man na lumabas ka ng Canada, kailangan mong mag-quarantine ng 14 days pagbalik).

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PS: I will buy at least two magnetic boards pa sana sa Ikea soon kaso hindi na available! Waaaaaaaaah! Gusto kong maiyak! Sana magre-stock sila. Sana talaga.

Balikbayan Program: One Year Free Stay in Pinas

For those former Filipino citizens like me who would like to return/travel/stay in the Philippines, the government has this Balikbayan Program that allows us a one year "free" stay. Upon arrival, the Immigration officer will stamp (or write) a one year permitted duration of stay in the Philippines.

My son Nathan, who's a Canadian citizen at birth, was also given a free one year stay because he's traveling with a "Balikbayan" parent (this also applies to the spouse). If he's traveling to  the Philippines alone, he will only be given 30 days.
=(
The one year free stay can be extended daw for another 1, 2 or 6 months but the Balikbayan and/or immediate family of a Balikbayan would have to go to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to apply for such extension.

According to BI's website, a balikbayan may be required to provide proof/s that he/she was born in the Philippines (like birth certificate, old Philippines passport). But in our case, hindi na hinanap kasi nakalagay na Canadian passport ang "place of birth." Hindi ko lang alam sa ibang foreign passports.

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Side Thought -- Ang lungkot din pala na may "limit" lang ang (free) stay mo sa bayang sinilangan mo. Basta, iba sa pakiramdam. #SentiCessie

China Airlines' In-Flight Food

Between China Airlines and EVA Air, I prefer the food that the former serves during flight. Mas kahawig kasi ng food ng Philippine Airlines ang pagkain nila (or akala ko lang yun?) kaya mas nakakain ko. I am a very picky eater, madami akong hindi kinakain like salad and fruits.

To give you an idea pala, the flight from Vancouver to Taipei is about 12 hours while Taipei to Manila is around 2 hours.

Vancouver to Manila Flight.

For a 12-hour flight, they serve two meals.

Una kang makakakain just one hour after take-off. Once na mag-stabilize na ang plane sa taas, the flight attendants will begin preparing and serving meals. Kaya hindi na talaga ako kumakain sa airport while waiting kahit nagugutom na ako kasi nga kakain din naman kaagad sa airplane.

Ito yung unang sinerve nila. Dalawa ang choices as usual and I said "both" to the flight attendant para matikman ko parehas (at mapicturan) kaso namali yata siya ng rinig. Hindi nga kasi ganun kagaling mag-English and mga Chekwa, di ba? So ayun, dalawang "pork" ang binigay sa akin.

I noticed na parang mas kumonti ang serving nila ng rice compared to two years ago. I am lucky because I had two sets of this meal kasi nga hindi naman kumakain niyan ang anak ko (at tulog na rin siya because it was past 3am na in Vancouver time). At dahil hindi ako kumakain ng fruits at salad, yang rice meal lang ang kinain ko plus bread (carbs, I know!). I had to be busog kasi I won't be eating anything else during our trip kundi itong airline flood.

The second meal was served naman mga 3 hours before landing. May pagka-breakfast feel na, may omelete na choice pero ayaw ko nun. Again, times two ang pagkain ko. My son ate the apple slices na lang (ayaw nya rin ng orange and strawberry, manang-mana sa ina).

Taipei to Manila Flight. 

Dahil mahigit-higit 2 hours lang ang flight to Manila, mabilisan din ang pag-serve nila ng food. Wala na ring choice, isang klase lang ang pagkain. Unless siguro may "vegetarian" request ang passenger.

I was glad that they didn't serve rice this time. Umay na ako sa rice lol.

I was generally happy with these three meals. Nabusog ako (kasi ng times two palagi ang pagkain ko) at nasarapan. Mas nasatisfy ang tummy ko kesa noong nag-fly kami sa EVA Air.

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For those who are flying, make sure na nakapagrequest kayo ng specific meal (ex. vegetarian) if you have special dietary requirements. Sakto lang kasi ang pagkain sa airplane, you can't demand for a special food the last minute.

Minsan malas din kapag nasa likod ka, baka maubusan ka ng gusto mong food. It happened to my husband once, shrimp na lang ang natira tapos di siya kumakain nun. He didn't assert himself kaya gutom ang inabot niya. Nangyari din yan samin last year ni Nathan, naubusan kami ng chicken meal. I was pissed kasi nga pareho kong gusto yung food lol (again, times two ang meal ko haha). Ang sabi ko sa flight attendant, hindi kumakain nung isang dish (fish) ang anak ko. Ayun, nataranta siya, hindi niya kasi kami inunang bigyan (we were seated at the very last row). Hahanap daw siya tapos pagkabalik may chicken teriyaki na (na hindi nila sine-serve sa economy passengers). Ayos! Nakakadiskarte rin pala sila ng ibang food. Sabagay, andami nilang options for business class passengers eh.

Cheap Airfare to the Philippines

Jetsetter daw kami sabi nung isang kapitbahay namin nang makita kami last Holy Week. Sabagay, ten months ago lang nang huli kaming nandito ni TanTan sa Pilipinas. Tapos last March, nakita niya rin siguro sa Facebook na nagpunta kami sa Caifornia for a few days.

Pero syempre kapag sinabing "jetsetter," may connotation yan na sosyal. At ang layo namin sa pagiging sosyal noh! Haler, super mura lang kaya ng plane tickets na binibili namin palagi!

Here's how much we paid for our roundtrip Vancouver-Manila plane tickets this year:

That's just around Php53,000-56,000 for two pax, depende sa conversion.

Hindi na masama kasi naalala ko dati, sobrang mahal ng pamasahe sa America. Ang dami kong kamag-anak na taga-doon at talagang bihira silang makauwi ng Pinas noon dahil mabigat nga ang pamasahe. Ngayon dahil sa competition at proliferation ng budget airlines, affordable na ang airfare kahit paano.

This is actually our (Nathan and I) fourth time to go home in Pinas. Noong una (2015), Nathan was only 7 months old so we flew via Philippine Airlines (PAL) para direct flight na from Vancouver to Manila. We were still living in Edmonton then kaya we needed to fly pa to Vancouver. We paid a total of $2068.81 (around Php83,0000) for those flights. Take note, wala pang bayad si Nathan noon kasi baby pa siya. $319.50 lang ang charge sa kanya for taxes and other fees.

In short, ang mahal ng PAL! Kaya I told myself na di na ako uulit sa PAL kahit na mahirapan ako. Sayang kasi ang perang matitipid, panggastos na rin yun sa Pinas.

We were already living in Metro Vancouver sa pangalawang pagbabakasyon namin sa Pilipinas (2016). While looking for cheap flights, my husband learned na mas mura pala kung magdi-direct booking sa airline company mismo. Nasa Vancouver na kami kaya posible yun, hindi na kailangan ng "agency" na katulad ng CheapOAir. So yun, he booked us a flight on China Airlines for $1379.74 for two pax na.

For our third vacation (2018), sa EVA Air naman siya nakatagpo ng cheap flight. He paid $1445.40 para samin ni Nathan.

So yun, ang two cheapest airlines so far na nakita niya ay China Airlines at EVA Air. Both have layovers at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. Halos pareho rin ang time ng flights nila.

For our latest flight, hubby asked me kung ano ang preferred airline ko sa dalawa. Sabi ko kahit ano, parehas lang naman kako, basta kung ano yung mas mura na lang.

China Airlines won this time. Cheapest na talaga sa ilang araw na pagbabantay ni Ford ng rates online. Nagfa-fluctuate ang  fare prices so medyo kailangan ng tiyaga sa pagbabantay at pagko-compare. Contrary to popular belief na kailangang matagal pa dapat ang flight sa pagbu-book para makamura, hindi naman talaga. Chambahan lang din kasi talaga ang pagbu-book. In our case, Ford bought our tickets less than two months lang before our trip.

That's our plane!

Ang drawback lang talaga ng cheap airlines ay ang layover. Pero two hours lang naman usually going to Manila (4 hours going to Vancouver) kaya hindi naman masyadong matagal ang ipag-aantay. So may additional 4 to 6 hours ka lang sa buong trip mo. Not bad given na sobrang laki ng matitipid mo.

Nathan in Taiwan

Recently, may promo daw ang PAL na $800+ lang for Vancouver-Manila roundtrip flights. We checked it out kung totoo. Olats, parang joke lang. the cheapest we found was $1200+ (we tried all the dates). At yan din ang complaint ng ibang Pinoys who were trying to book, nanloloko lang daw. Hay naku, never na nga akong aasa sa PAL tutal may China Airlines at EVA Air naman.

Overall, I was satisfied naman with our recent flight. The plane was new (Airbus A350-900) and the food was good. Naprioritize kami sa pagpasok sa loob (Vancouver to Taipei) dahil sa bata (but not in Taipei to Manila kasi less than 2 years old lang daw ang may priority). Hindi rin naman sila ganun kahigpit sa carry on bags (or else yari kasi andami naming dala at mabibigat pa). I was happy, too, kasi malapit na yung gate for our connecting flight, unlike dati na kailangan pang mag-train at maglakad ng malayo kasi nasa dulong-dulo ang gate.

Heavy Travelers!

We've had a very smooth flight and I have to give credit din to my well-behaved son. Imagine, 25 hours ang total trip namin (from our home in BC to our home in Marilao) pero hindi siya tinopak man lamang. Such a trooper, my boy! =)

Guarding our bags dutifully. He was such a great help to Mommy!

It's hard to travel with a small kid pero "pro" na nga yata kami in flying. Kaya I don't mind kahit hindi kami direct flight. =)

A Canadian passport at last!

Finally, my Canadian passport is here! Yes, I am so thrilled! Why, blue passport = MOBILITY!

I applied for this passport in Service Canada - Passport Service in Central City in Surrey last January 25, 2019. The process was fast. There were many applicants pero marami rin namang open na servicing windows kaya mabilis lang din. After checking my documents and making me pay $160 (ten years validity), they told me that the process will take 10 business days and they will deliver it na lang daw (akala ko nga pwedeng ipick-up na lang para mabilis pero walang ganung option).

And so after the not-so-long-but-agonizing wait, we finally saw a notice in our mailbox stating that I have a package in Canada Post in London Drugs near us. Around 8:30pm na nun ng Valentine's Day. The store will close at 9pm so talagang nagmadali kami para abutan. Ayaw ko ng ipagpabukas pa haha!

Honestly, ang saya-sayang magkaroon ng "powerful" passport! Sobrang nakakakilig yung idea na hindi na ako kukuha ng visa sa kahit anong bansang gusto kong puntahan. Grabe, parang di pa rin nga ako makapaniwala na plane ticket na lang ang kailangan ko at voila, makakabiyahe na ako anywhere. Sobrang nagpapasalamat talaga ako, lalo na sa asawa ko who made this possible for me.

Yun nga lang, me blue passport na pero wala pang budget pang-travel haha! Kakabili lang namin ng bahay tapos bumili pa ng share si hubby sa company nila kaya nasimot din talaga kami sa cash hehe. Pero keri na yun, marami pa namang araw. Ang importante ay ready-to-go na ako anytime lol. At syempre, makakauwi na ako sa Pinas yebaaah!

Edmonton Trip 2018: Souvenirs

I regret not getting 'enough' souvenirs from our trip to Alberta last week. Ito lang ang mga nabili ko.

I wanted to buy non-magnet souvenirs pa sa Banff kaso we were running out of time already. Medyo matagal kasi ako mamili kasi nga gusto ko mura hehe. Kaso hinahabol namin na makarating sa Edmonton ng wag naman super late kasi nga inaantay na kami ng pinsan ko dahil dadaan kami sa kanila for late dinner. Oh well, babalik at babalik pa rin naman kami sa Banff kaya next time na nga lang.

Sa Edmonton naman, iisa lang talaga ang alam ko na bilihan ng souvenirs -- yung small kiosk near Dollarama sa West Edmonton Mall. I found a nice magnet na nag-iisa na lang so I grabbed it na rin kahit na $10.50 sya. May ibang nice na souvenirs kaso sobrang pricey dahil nga nasa mall ang puwesto.

Yung Valemount magnet ay binili ko lang sa convenience store ng gas station na palagi naming hinihuntuan at kinakainan (may A&W Restaurant rin kasi). Naisip ko dapat may souvenir din kami doon.

Sayang hindi ako nakabili ng Alberta magnet waaah! Medyo nagpigil nga kasi ako. Imagine, $34.95 (o Php1,398.00) na agad ang nagastos namin sa mga magnets na yan.

When I posted this picture on Instagram, may dalawa akong friends na 'bumati.' Nakakainggit daw at wala daw bang tira-tira. Hay, kung pwede nga lang bang mamigay eh bakit hindi. Kaso talaga kasing mahal ang ref magnets dito sa Canada kaya hindi pwedeng pakyawin kasi mamumulubi ka. =(

Anyway, I can't wait na makalipat na kami talaga ng bahay para ma-display na namin ang mga recently acquired travel souvenirs namin. Medyo konti pa lang naman sila kasi nga kakasimula lang namin, but still, nakaka-excite syempre.

No more US trips for now

My husband went to our bank the other day to request for a bank draft because he wanted to send a little amount to his godson in the US who just graduated from high school.

Medj nalungkot kami when we learned na ganito na pala ang palitan ng Canadian to US dollar ngayon.

Waaah! It will mean one thing -- no more cross border trips for now. Naglu-look forward pa naman ako na mag-Seattle uli at mamili ng Tender Juicy hotdogs sa Seafood City dun. Saka mag-Jollibee uli syempre. Pero it's really not the best time to go out of Canada. Walang value ang datung namin.

My in-laws, who are based in California, were also asking us to visit them again (kahit kami lang daw ni Nathan since may trabaho si Ford). Ang sabi namin mahirap kasi nga ang baba ng Canadian dollar. Ang lahat ng bilihin dun parang magiging sobrang mahal ang labas, hindi ka rin mage-enjoy kapag ganun.

Hay, kelan kaya tataas uli ang Canadian dollar? Mahirap i-wish na bumaba ang US dollar eh.

On using balikbayan boxes in lieu of luggage bags

It's very evident on my social media posts that I am fond of carrying balikbayan boxes instead of luggage bags or suitcases. To be honest, I actually thought that it's very normal for OFWs and Pinoys residing abroad to use these carton boxes whenever they go home to Pinas or return to their respective countries of destination. Until two friends recently solicited my advice regarding this. Apparently, hindi sila sanay gumamit ng kahon.

November 2013 (Manila to Edmonton)

I was surprised talaga. Hindi talaga nila alam? I mean, one has been living in Canada for the past seven years while the other one was an OFW in UAE for many years. And never pa nila na-experience mag-karton?

Siguro nga ako ang kakaiba lol. Bringing balikbayan boxes was so natural to me that when I first visited my husband here in Canada in June 2012 (we were newly married then), I never thought of using a luggage bag. Box lang talaga ang nasa isip ko. Well siguro kasi I am so used to seeing my balikbayan relatives from the US na gumagamit ng boxes kaya ito talaga ang naging orientation ko.

November 2015 (Manila to Edmonton)

The primary reason for my preference of using boxes instead of bags is, of course, the WEIGHT. Ang gaan-gaan ng box kesa bags noh. Kahit uso na rin ngayon ang lightweight suitcases, wala ng tatalo pa sa box. You'll have at least 3 to 4 kgs extra weight allowance for your kargada. Big deal talaga yan sa akin kasi I travel heavy. Anywhere I go, ang dami-dami kong dala. 

November 2016 (Vancouver to Manila)

Tapos syempre there are times na may medyo malaki (or irregularly-shaped) kang gamit na gustong iuwi sa Pinas o dalhin sa Canada mula sa Pinas na hindi kasya sa suitcase. Patok na patok ang box kapag ganyan.

April 2017 (Manila to Vancouver)

Now what tips can I give if you are planning to use a balikbayan box on your travel?

First, alamin ang allowed dimension ng airlines mo pagdating sa check-in luggage. Wag tamarin magbasa, usually nasa ticket print-out yan o kaya i-google mo sa website nga airlines.

Second, common naman na 23kgs (or 50lbs) ang allowed na weight per baggage. Pero again, iresearch mo kasi kapag napasobra ang timbang ng box mo, nakow mahihirapan ka ng bawasan. Kaya make sure na accurate ang timbang kasi yan talaga ang pinaka-disadvantage ng paggamit ng box -- pano mo yan bubuksan sa airport? Usually pumapayag naman ang airlines na medyo sobra ng kaunti sa timbang, pero basta wag sigurong lalampas ng isang kilo. Na-experience ko na ang 23.5kgs at ok naman.

Third, make sure na hindi umaalog-alog sa loob ang box. Again, 23kgs lang usually ang allowed na laman niyan kaya posibleng hindi mo talaga mapuno lalo na kung wala kang bitbit na bulky items. I-fold mo na lang yung box para maging fit sa laman sa loob. It's really better kung hindi malaki ang bulto ng box mo para madaling buhat-buhatin.

Fourth, secure your box. Palibutan mo ng packing/masking tape o kung ano pa man na pwede mong ipambalot (like shrink wrap). Manipis ang box kaya dapat ma-stand niya ang pressure ng mga hagis-hagis. Talian din nang mabuti at syempre lagyan ng label for easier identification.

Fifth, palagyan mo ng FRAGILE sticker kahit hindi naman fragile ang contents. Although sabi nila kahit naman daw may fragile sticker eh pinaghahagis pa rin, pero wala namang mawawala kung palalagyan mo. Libre lang naman yun.

Sixth, wag naman balikbayan boxes lahat ang gamitin mo. Kasi kapag nagkagipitan at may kailangan kang item na icheck-in, like a big bottle of perfume perhaps na naiwan mo sa handbag mo, at least may mapaglalagyan ka. Saka mahirap din kasing ipack ang balikbayan boxes, hindi pwedeng last minute eh pinapack mo pa. Kailangan mo pa nga kasing i-tape at talian. Now that I travel with my son, I see to it na 50-50 ang bagahe namin -- 2 suitcases at 2 boxes. Importante sakin yung suitcases kasi nga ang dami-dami kong gamit palagi, yun ang nagagamit ko para sa dagdag-bawas packing mode ko. Yung mga fixed na kailangan kong dalhin talaga, automatic bina-box ko na agad. Sa suitcases na lang ako naga-adjust.

Seventh, don't be afraid to use carton boxes. At least eight times na akong nag-travel with balikbayan boxes and so far, ok naman. Hindi naman sumabog or anything (yan yung fear nung isang nagtanong sa akin eh). kasi nga sealed na sealed naman. Ang worst na nangyari lang ay nagkabutas nang maliit yung isang box pero wala namang nawala sa loob. Sa totoo lang, suwertihan (o malasan?) lang din naman ang pagbibiyahe talaga. Kahit sobrang tibay ng bag mo, pwede rin yang mabuksan o masira eh. Tiyempuhan lang talaga. 

June 2018 (Manila to Vancouver)

Oops, I was asked nga rin pala kung saan nakakabili ng boxes na ito.

Sa Philippines, sa SM Store (stationery section) o National bookstore ako nakakabili. Mas mura sa SM ng around Php50.00 nga pala (I compared the quality at halos same lang naman). May nakalagay naman na balikbayan box dun at pretty standard for plane check-in na ang dimension nun (pero again, i-check sa airlines!).

Dito naman sa Canada, sa mga home improvement stores like Home Depot o Lowe's kami nakakabili. Moving boxes syempre ang term nila at hindi balikbayan boxes.

So there, sana nakatulong ang post na ito. Just comment kung may questions pa kayo ha. Ciao!

Returning I-94

We were supposed to fly back to Canada on April 13, 2018 but because we already bought a house and we're just waiting for September so we could move in, we decided to just extend our stay here in the Philippines. Tutal nandito na rin lang kami. You see, Nathan doesn't want to go back to Canada na hehe. He loves it here, where there's so much space for him to play and lots of people to "entertain" him. Ako naman ayaw ko ng bumalik sa apartment namin haha. Kung pwede nga lang bang sa August na kami bumalik sa Canada eh, kaso I can't stay here longer than six months.  Si husband naman, though miss na miss na ang anak, naisip that he'll be able to save a lot pa in the two months that we'll extend here kaya pumayag na rin. Marami kasi kaming gastos na haharapin come September kaya kailangan magtipid lol.

Anyway, after rebooking our return flight (na walang any fees, fortunately!), Ford reminded me to surrender the Form I-94 that's been stapled on my passport. Kasi nga May 3, 2018 ang expiration kaya hindi na ako aabot. Kaloka, it took me a month to mail it kasi tinamad talaga akong gawin.

Ooops by the way, ang US Customs and Border Protection Form I-94 (or Arrival/Departure Record) is issued to tourists entering the US via land border ports of entry. 

If you live in British Columbia, para kasing part na talaga ng buhay mo ang regular na pagko-crossborder sa Washington. Ang dali lang if you are a Canadian citizen kasi dadaan ka lang sa toll booths tapos ipapakita ang passport mo. But for Canadian permanent residents, medyo hassle ng kaunti. Kasi every 6 months, we would have to go through the immigration process pa and pay USD6.00 fee. Sa immigration, may konting interview portion tapos picture-taking and finger printing churvah. Then they will issue na an I-94 that is valid for 6 months. Kapag meron kang ng valid na I-94 sa passport mo, next time na magcrossborder ka eh dadaan ka na lang din sa booth at hindi na bababa. My husband (who is a Canadian citizen already) would always tease me na ang hassle ko raw isama sa US kasi nga kelangan pang dumaan sa immigration at magbayad. Liability daw ako lol!

Anyway, my recent I-94 was issued on November 4, 2017 when we went to California to visit my in-laws. We crossed the border kasi sa Seattle-Tacoma International Airport kami lumipad. Ang mahal kasi kung sa Vancouver Airpot kasi bale international flight na yun, tapos tatlo pa kami. Kaya sulit na rin kahit na magdrive kami ng 2 1/2 hours going to Seattle dahil malaki talaga ang natipid namin.

We went back to Canada on November 14, 2018 and hindi na uli kami nakabalik ng US after that kaya nasa akin pa ang I-94 ko. We thought of returning it talaga pagbalik sana namin ni Nathan sa Canada by April, kaso nga hindi na aabot dahil sa vacation extension namin dito.

So to correct my records in their system at nang hindi ako maka-experience ng problema sa future travels ko in the US, ayun nga at binalik ko na sa kanila yung Form I-94 via registered mail (na binayaran ko ng Php175.00). Sana makarating huhu.

Nga pala, I wrote a letter to them explaining my situation (kung bakit nasa akin pa nga yung I-94) together with some "evidences" of my departure in the US. Kailangan talaga ng proper documentation. In my case, ang pinaka-strong evidence ko ay yung boarding passes ng flights ko (pauwi dito last January) at yung stamp of arrival in the Philippines sa passport. Enough proof na siguro yun na hindi ako nag-overstay in the US.

I kept a copy of the letter and documents that I mailed to them that I will bring the next time we cross the border. Naku, kakabahan ako for sure. Sana walang maging problema kasi sa Seattle (Tukwila) lang may Jollibee na malapit, I cannot live long without chickenjoy.

We're flying tomorrow

Hello! Sorry if I've been MIA since Friday. Super busy lang because we're flying na tomorrow, January 9 at 12:50am (Vancouver time).

Nag-online check in na kami kaso ang malas, sa dulong-dulo ba naman ang upuan namin! Ang tagtag kaya dun kakaloka! Pero dahil wala ng magagawa, sige isipan na lang ng positive. At least malapit sa washroom. At least wala kaming katabi ni Nathan kasi dalawahan lang. At least mauuna kaming magboard kasi dulo (ang dami naming handcarry!).

It's almost 2am na at ang dami ko pang nililigpit. As usual, excess baggage na naman ako kaya kailangan magbawas. I told myself na konti lang ihahand-carry ko pero eto, sandamakmak na naman. Tsk, wala talaga akong kadala-dala. Goodluck talaga samin ng anak ko bukas.

O siya, I'll try to be back as soon as I can. Tomorrow will be a very long day, me doctor's check-up pa ako sa tanghali.

See you soon, Pinas! Sana maging smooth ang biyahe namin.

Cancelled Edmonton Visit

I am so glad that our supposedly Christmas trip to Edmonton didn't push through. Sobrang lamig daw doon ngayon.

My husband has a 10-day break this holiday season (their office shuts down from Christmas to New Year) so we had a chance sana to visit our friends (who we consider our Canadian family) in Edmonton. It's been 15 months since we left and we miss them all. Sobrang kinukulit din nila kami talagang magpunta doon kaya umabot sa "80% probability of going" na kami. My friend Mylene was so excited na bibili na talaga siya ng bagong mattress para sa room "namin" sa house nila.

But I sort of backed out the last minute. Nitong malapit nang mag-Christmas, napag-isip-isip ko na marami rin palang dapat inconsider sa pagpunta namin doon.

First, is it ok to drive during winter time? We've done several Edmonton-to-Vancouver trips before pero palaging summer. Parang nakakatakot kasi baka mag-snow habang bumabaybay kami sa bundok. Pero the weeks before Christmas, maganda ang weather dito at sa Alberta. "Mainit" nga daw doon at hindi nagi-snow so medyo nahikayat na rin ako.

Then came the budget issue. In my conservative estimate, we will be spending at least a thousand bucks (or Php40,000+) for a 5-day trip to Edmonton. My friend was insisting na gas lang naman ang gastos at sagot na niya ang pagkain kasi nga sa house naman nila kami mag-stay, pero syempre hindi naman pwede yun. We are not free-loaders noh. Saka I want to bring them pasalubong syempre (Purefoods hotdogs from Seafood City Seattle and siopao from Newtown Bakery). Tapos dahil Christmas, we have to buy gifts for the kids (and adults din). Aside from that, yung mga kain pa namin sa labas at contribution sa mga kainan at inuman. If the weather is bad pa, kailangan din naming mag-hotel in between our trip/s because Ford will have a hard time driving at may kasama pa kaming bata.

To add, wala nga pala kaming proper outfit for Edmonton weather. Well, kami ni hubby meron namang thick coats/jackets and boots/winter shoes kaso nabaon na sa storage. Kailangan pang sobrang kalkalin. Si Nathan ang wala so kailangan pang ibili, kaso nga hindi naman masusulit kasi hindi naman magagamit dito sa Vancouver dahil hindi ganun kalamig dito. At uuwi na rin kami sa Pinas sa January 8 kaya talagang masasayang lang.

Then Ford informed me that if we will go, kailangan na niyang pumunta sa casa para mapalitan ng winter tires yung kotse namin! What?!? Oo nga pala, di kami naka-winter tires dito kaloka. Meron naman kaming winter tires sa storage kaso dahil nasa open parking space kami ng apartment complex, walang lugar na pwedeng pagpalitan. Kaya kailangan pang dalhin sa casa at ibayad. Tapos papapalitan na naman ng regular tires after. Doble gastos pa!

That's when I finally decided na manahimik kami sa bahay. Yep, it was my SOLE decision kasi keri lang naman sa asawa ko kahit ano.

But of course, meron pa ring panghihinayang kasi nga sobrang miss ko na ang mga kaibigan namin. I am sure na mag-eenjoy din si Ford kasi makakainom siya nang todo. Kahit si Nathan matutuwa kasi marami siyang makakalarong bata for a couple of days. But $1,000 is $1,000. I mean, it may not mean that much now, pero by next year when we buy na a place of our own, makikita namin ang relevance ng amount na yan. Ang dami-daming nakaambang gastusin talaga. Saka nag-splurge na rin kasi kami sa California trip namin last November., tapos uuwi pa nga kami ni Nathan sa Pinas this January.

At this point, grateful na rin ako na hindi kami tumuloy dahil nga sa weather doon. Had we gone there, mag-stay lang din kami sa house ng friends namin dahil sa sobrang lamig. I planned on going to South Edmonton Common pa naman to shop (5% lang kasi ang sales tax sa Alberta) kaso open-air shopping area naman dun. Saka delikadong magdrive kung ganyan ka-extreme ang panahon.

Pic taken from a friends FB account

We miss Edmonton pero hindi pa nga siguro time na bumisita kami roon. Who knows, baka sa summer. Kung hindi pa rin (kasi nga balak na naming magstart maghanap ng house by April 2018), yung mga kaibigan na lang namin muna doon ang aantayin naming dumalaw dito.

Back from California!

Hello! I am back!

Sorry for the lack of posts. We just got back from California last night (November 14, past 10pm) and I am still so very tired! Ngayon ko na nararamdaman lahat ng pagod since November 3. Kaloka, I need a vacation from that vacation!

We just finished unpacking our bags. Ang dami-dami naming dala. I am not a light traveller, you know. Dagdag pa yung mga gifts for Nathan. But except for my two new purses (yebaah!), wala naman kaming gaanong binili sa California kasi meron din naman usually ng mga items dun dito sa Canada. Mataas din ang conversion ng US dollars kaya hindi wise mag-shop talaga.

Anyway, I have so many kwentos and I hope I find the time to write soon. Basta stay tuned ha. =)

Victoria Trip 2017 -- Part 1

Ford insisted that we go to Victoria (the capital of British Columbia) on my birthday weekend. To be honest, tinatamad ako kasi ang init init pa. It's so difficult to stroll around when it's scorching hot. Kaso anong magagawa ko, summer natapat ang birthday ko dito. We see to it kasi na tinatapat namin sa may okasyon ang mga lakad/pasyal/kain-espesyal namin para justified ang gastos haha.

By the way, the island of Victoria is separated from the mainland. You need to cross the sea to get there.

After his thorough research, the husband has decided to get a package from BC Ferries that included a ferry ride (for the three of us and our vehicle) and one night hotel accommodation. He paid $395 for it. However, after printing the online voucher, he noticed from the fine prints that the hotel where were booked doesn't have air conditioner. Ceiling fan lang daw. What?!?! Meron bang hotel na walang aircon??? Kaloka! He called the customer service to change the hotel and had to pay an additional $24.50 for change booking. Nawala ang pagka-Ilokano niya (read: kuripot). Hindi kasi kami talaga makakatulog kapag walang aircon eh.

August 26, 2017 (Saturday). Anyway, we left our apartment's parking lot at exactly 6:15am. Medyo tinanghali kami, our original plan was to leave by 5:45am talaga. Kaso ang hirap gisingin ni Nathan, naawa talaga kami. Napuyat pa siya the night before so he only had around 5 hours of sleep.

We were so nervous that we won't make it to the 7am ferry trip. Ang saklap pag nalast-two minute kami. The next trip would be at 8am so ang tagal din naming maga-antay. Sayang ang oras.

Nakahinga kami nang marating namin ang terminal at makapasok kami sa parang toll booth. We showed our printed online voucher tapos go na.

 Dire-direcho na pala sa ferry yung lane na pinapuntahan samin.

The ferry was already almost full of vehicles. Halos panghuli na kami. First time kong maexperience na magsakay ng kotse sa ferry, ganun pala yun.

I wondered tuloy kung hindi ba magkakarambola ang mga kotse pag nagkataon? What if may hindi nakapag-hand brake?

I also noticed that they don't have any security check for the passengers and the vehicles. Pwedeng-pwedeng magdala ng bomba kung sakali.

We went up na to the passenger deck after. If you don't feel like leaving your car, you may stay. Hindi naman pala bawal.

The ferrry was huge. I wonder kung ilan ang capacity.

Since it was a morning trip, you have the option to dine in. At first my hubby was tempted to avail of the breakfast buffet. I declined kasi nga I am diabetic na, I need to watch my diet. Tinatamad naman siyang kumain magkain syempre. Then he later realized na mahal pala ang $19 na buffet lol.

Ford was so excited to explore the ferry. Ganun naman yun, gustong makita ang lahat ng parte mapa-eroplano, barko, train, o bus.

I grabbed one of these maps, very useful. Dati whenever I travel, I would get as much maps as I can. Hoarder nga kasi. Pero kalat lang pala, kaya nagbago na ako haha.

We had the perfect timing. Umandar na agad ang ferry pagkasakay namin.

The passengers are free to roam around. Syempre peechur peechur. Nakakagaan din talagang makakita ng dagat.

Ang dami-daming turista pero parang wala kaming makitang Pinoy na pwedeng mapakiusapang kumuha ng group picture namin. Kaya puro groufie lang kami.

Nang masatisfy na ang curiosity ng asawa ko, we went na inside. There's a small play area pala kaya tuwang-tuwa ang junakis ko. He played for a while pero nung marami nang batang dumating, umalis na rin kami.

We found some comfortable seats near the window. I wanted to get some sleep but I couldn't. Ewan ko ba, hirap na hirap akong kumuha ng tulog. Naiinggit ako sa asawa ko kasi ambilis niya makatulog.

Travel time to Victoria is around 1 1/2 hours.

Fifteen minutes before we dock, there was an announcement na that those with vehicles need go na to their respective cars.

Nang nakadaong na ang ferry, ayun go na. We were again so lucky because we were at the middle lane, parang nauna kaming pinaabante.

The ferry ride was so easy and convenient. Walang hassle. Kung sa Pinas ito, katakot-takot na hassle siguro. Sakay, baba, security check, etc.

This was the receipt pala that was given to us at  the booth. Mas mura nga yung package na nakuha namin kasi $73.95 lang pala ang amount na binayaran namin sa ferry. Ang normal fee would be $91.90 ($57.50 for the vehicle + 34.40 for two adults). Children under 5 years old can ride for free.

On starting a travel souvenir collection (again!)

Life is short. That's what we (my husband and I) realized a couple of months back so we decided to 'travel' again. We weren't able to see places for the past three years because of my pregnancy, and later on a baby, so medyo na-stagnate kami haha. Now that Nathan's a bit older, may chance na uli. Kaso syempre limited pa rin because Ford only has two weeks paid vacation leave (less than a year pa lang kasi siya sa company). Kaya dapat samantalahin na lang ang mga long weekends para makapasyal kahit sa malalapit na lugar lang.

We are now living in British Columbia and admittedly, mas marami nga talagang puntahan dito. Mas cheaper din mag-travel via air kasi nga nasa Vancouver na (hindi na kailangan ng connecting flight to many destinations). May option din to travel via US airports (Bellinghan or Sea-Tac) kasi nga mas mura talaga ang flights sa US.

So yun nga, ang goal namin ngayon ay mamasyal nang mamasyal. Yung tipid lang na pasyal muna because we are planning to purchase our second home by the second quarter of next year, kailangan ng pondo.

Pero basta sa bawat travels namin, I told the husband na dapat mag-allot talaga kamin ng budget for souvenirs! Actually, yun talaga ang favorite part ko whenever I travel, magshop ng souvenirs! Buti na lang supportive ang asawa ko. I must say na marami na rin naman akong naipong souvenirs in the past - ref magnets, key chains, Starbucks mugs, figurines - pero lahat ng iyon ay nasa bahay namin sa Pinas.

Now I want to start a new collection of mementos of our travels as family. And when we move to our new home, I'll make sure na hanapan sila ng proper spot in the house. Excited na ako!

Here pala are the souvenirs I bought recently. I am limiting my souvenir-buying to figures and magnets only. Pwede rin ang picture frames basta maliit lang. I won't be having a big space here in BC (haha, tanggap ko na yan) kaya dapat hindi kalakihan.

These are from our California trip last May. I am hoping to get more this November pagbalik namin doon. Syempre dapat meron kada punta.

I forgot to get a magnet from Disneyland! Di bale, sa pagbalik na lang.

This is obviously from Starbucks' first store in Seattle. We always go to Seattle for Jollibee but last August 5, I finally had the guts to line up at Starbucks in Pike Street para lang makabili ng frappucino. Para ma-crossout na sa bucketlist lol.

And there are from Victoria (BC's capital, you have to ride a ferry to get there) where we spent my birthday weekend. I bought a 'Canada' magnet too because I found it nice, saka from Dollarama lang ang ibang Canada magnets ko lol.

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I am really looking forward to visiting Alberta again soon. Grabe, wala pala kaming kahit anong souvenir from Edmonton and Calgary. Sa Banff naman, magnet lang. Taken from granted nga kasi doon naman kami nakatira dati. Hindi ko naisip na aalis pala kami.

Ahhh lesson learned. Makabili na nga rin Vancouver souvenir at baka umalis din kami dito haha.