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! =)

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.

Edmonton Trip 2018: Expenses

Hello, hello! I went MIA again, I know. Ang hirap kasi pag nanggaling ka sa bakasyon di ba, parang gusto mo pa ng isa pang vacation from that vacation? Nakakaloka.

Anyway, before I make kwento about our recent trip to Alberta last August 3-7, 2018, share ko muna sa inyo ang naging expenses namin. Natapos ko na kasing i-compute. Gusto ko lang din talagang ma-document ito kaya iba-blog ko in detail hehe.

So magkano nga ba ang nagastos namin?

We've shelled out at least $1103.10 (or Php44,124.00) for this trip. Eto yung breakdown:

• Gas -- $355.14 (Php14,205.60). Honestly, medyo nagulat ako dito haha. Akala ko around $250 lang ang balikan. Pero sabagay, dumaan pa kasi kami ng Lake Louise at Banff. Mahigit 20+ hours kaming nag-drive noong first day at 14+ hours pauwi.  But take note, maliit lang ang kotse namin ha. Mas magastos pa syempre kapag malaki ang sasakyan.

• Food -- $313.34 (Php12,533.60). Halos wala kaming ginastos sa Edmonton sa pagkain kasi pinakain talaga kami nang husto ng mga kaibigan namin (once lang kami kumain sa labas sa Edmonton kasi namiss namin ang crispy pata ng Manila Grill). Yan lang yung mga kain namin sa biyahe (ang mahal ng pagkain sa Banff!). Ahh, at may beer pa pala dyan na binili ni Ford para sa inuman nila.

• Pasalubong -- $312.57 (Php12,502.80). Almost 30% din pala ng total trip ang napunta sa pasalubong na siopao, Purefoods hotdogs, at Krispy Kreme para sa mga kaibigan namin sa Edmonton. Medyo kulang nga eh, dapat mas marami pa pala, kaso ang bigat din kapag sabay-sabay silang bibigyan hehe.

• Others -- $87.10 (Php3,484.00). Included dito yung Banff Park fees, WEM Galaxyland admission fees, at car wash. Parang yan lang naman.

• Souvenirs -- $34.95 (Php1,398.00). Syempre hindi pwedeng hindi gastusan ang souvenirs. Ref magnets lang naman, actually. Souvenir-shopping ang pinaka-enjoyable part ng trip para sakin haha. Medyo nagsisi pa nga ako kasi I should have bought more, kaso nga namamahalan din ako. Di bale, nandyan lang naman ang Alberta. Babalik uli kami syempre.

Not included in this list pala are other auxiliary expenses like new clothes, gas (in buying pasalubong), other food baon, etc.

Kung tutuusin matipid pa talaga yan kasi nga nag-stay kami sa house ng friends namin tapos libre kain haha. Pinoy hospitality at its finest talaga. #Ilovemyfriends

$1103.10 is not a small amount here in Canada pero I am glad that we were able to reunite with our very good friends in Edmonton for that amount. Priceless ang naging bonding namin. If only we could visit them every year hay.

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Note: $1.00 = Php40.00

Cross Border -- July 21, 2018

And so, natuloy din kaming mag-crossborder last weekend. After kong magpatumpik-tumpik, I finally gave in. Hindi ko na-resist ang temptasyon ng Purefoods hotdogs haha. Saka tutal kako I passed naman the citizenship test last July 18 kaya may excuse na na mag-splurge ng konti. We are also going to Edmonton to visit our friends kaya kailangan namin ng hotdogs pamapasalubong.

Pero dahil nga mataas ang value ng US dollars, we decided to use na lang yung remaining USD namin. Naghagilap ako talaga haha! Medyo marami-rami pa naman, pwede pang gamitin ng ilang balik hehe.

July 21, 2018 (Saturday). We left our place at around 12:45pm. Late na kasi late na kaming gumising eh. Hindi naman din kami nagmamadali. We prefer to cross the border ng alanganing oras para hindi mahaba ang pila.

Upon checking online, around 30 minutes ang waiting time sa Peace Arch at Pacific Crossings kaya dun kami sa Aldergrove as usual. Mas malayo iyon pero kesa nakapila ka sa mga "famous" borders na yun ng at least 30 minutes, idrive mo na lang yung oras na yun going to Aldergrove kung saan wala halos pila.

Whenever the Border Officer asks us kung saan o ano ang gagawin namin sa US, we would answer na that we are going to Jollibee. Gets na nila yun haha. Tatawa na sila at magjo-joke.

At dahil wala akong valid I-94, we had to stop briefly in their immigration office. Walang ibang tao dun, kami lang, kaya sobrang bilis. Kinunan ako ng finger prints at photo. Ang sabi ng Immigration Officer, I lost weight daw haha. He must have seen the difference ng current picture ko sa mga nakaraan.

I paid USD6.00 again for my 6-month I-94 validity. Hmmp, di bale na nga. This will be the last time na magbabayad ako niyan because in less than 6 months, siguro naman may blue passport na rin ako.

From Aldergrove Crossing, Westfield Southcenter Mall (where the Seafood City and Jollibee are located) is around 2 1/2-hour drive pa. Nakakainip kasi takam na takam na nga kami sa Chickenjoy.

We arrived at Jollibee ng 4pm and I wasn't expecting a long line kasi nga alanganing oras. Oh well, Sabado nga kasi siguro kaya never napatid ang linya.

We missed you, Jollibee! Noong nasa Pinas kami, araw-araw akong nagmo-motor sa Jollibee (na malapit lang samin) para bumili ng hapunan ni TanTan.

The queue was long pero mas ok na rin kasi makukuha mo na agad ang food mo after you pay. Unlike before na pipila at magbabayad ka tapos bibigyan ka nung parang alarm na iilaw kapag ready na ang order mo. Ang tagal tagal mag-antay. 

Wow, chickenjoy! We paid USD26.50 (or CAD35.78 / Php1,416.16) for these. We wanted to add pa sana spaghetti and burger after kaso pipila na naman ng mga 35-40 minutes.

One Pinoy guy handed this toy to me, baka raw gusto ng bata. Syempre I happily accepted kahit na meron na kami niyan sa Pinas.

Bakit niya binigay sa amin yung toy? Kasi "free" lang yan. Would you believe na parehas lang ang presyo kapag umorder ka ng spaghetti with drinks at kiddie meal na spaghetti with drinks? Tila USD5.99 yata. I learned about it in California kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko na kapag gusto ko ng spaghetti eh yung kiddie meal na ang oorderin ko kahit ayaw ko ng toy.

 After eating, lakad-lakad muna sa mall syempre. Ang tagal kong naghanap ng dresses sa JCPenney at Macy's kaso bigo ako. Kailangan ko kasi ng mga damit for a wedding na aattendan namin sa August at sa forthcoming oathtaking ko (naks!).

Then we went na to Seafood City to buy hotdogs and other pang-ulam. I'll show you what we bought there in another post.

Before leaving, we bought some ensaimadas din from Red Ribbon and Valerio's Bakery. Nakaalis kami ng 7:30pm na.

Off to our next destination -- Walmart! Oo, dinayo pa namin talaga ang Walmart. Ang saya-saya kasi ng mga Walmarts sa US, ang dami-daming paninda. Ibang-iba sa mga Canadian stores.

May batang nabuhayan ng dugo haha. Ang cute nitong nakita naming work tools na trolley kaya binili na rin namin. Walang ganito sa Canada eh.

Ay syempre nagutom ang bagets kaya nagpabili ng Happy Meal. Buti na lang nakaabot pa kami sa Incredibles toy. We got Dash yipeee! (Iba ang toys sa Canada at sa US booo!).

So yun, bago umuwi, pakarga ng gas as usual. Ang laki ng kamurahan ng gas sa US kesa Canada kaya talagang doon nagfu-full tank ang mga Canadians.

Medyo mahaba pa rin ang pila sa Pacific Crossing pauwi. Pero ayos lang kasi ang bait ng border officer na babae. Ni hindi kami tinanong kung ano ang pinamili namin haha. Usually kasi tinatanong nila kung bumili ng liquor o cigarettes eh. Kapag grocery items naman o other goods na hindi naman malaki ang halaga, di naman na nila pinata-taxan.

Anyway, it always feels good to be back in Canada kahit na a few hours lang kaming lumabas. Canada is really our home.

Twelve midnight na nang makarating kami sa bahay. Hindi na nga pala kami nagdinner sa labas, yung mga tinapay na binili na lang namin ang kinain namin.

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.