I started the year without any plans. I told myself I won’t be traveling much, since I have to save for bigger and longer trips, but life always has a way of diverting one to more exciting paths.<\/p>\n

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\nKalibo Ati-atihan<\/em><\/div>\n

First off, my friends and I got to see someone we’ve been fascinated with (me more than the others): The Wonder Woman of Aklan Ati-Atihan Festival<\/a>. Not only once, we saw her twice! That was also the first time I really enjoyed a festival.
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\nMarimegmeg Beach in El Nido<\/em><\/div>\n

I’ve also been lucky enough to travel to Palawan twice this year, once to El Nido (via Puerto Princessa), and to Coron<\/a>. We swam, we snorkeled, we ate well. Except for that tamilok, which was not bad as it sounds, but it’s not something I’d be craving for.<\/p>\n

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\nWe rode this!<\/em><\/div>\n

I also got to ride a helicopter<\/a>! It was just a short 30-minute ride, but it was long enough to be awesome! Though it wasn’t one of them fancy sightseeing helicopters, it was awesome because it’s one of the US Navy’s choppers.<\/p>\n

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\nThe view from my beach chair<\/em><\/div>\n

Another fabulous invitation I received was an invite to ANY Shangri-La property of my choice. Given the time constraint and my depleted resources, I chose the Rasa Sentosa Resort<\/a> in Singapore. This was my first time to stay in a hotel in Singapore, since I started visiting in 2000. The trip also gave me a chance to hang out with friends who are now working in the tiny island.<\/p>\n

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\nWilson’s Place in Indang, Cavite<\/em><\/div>\n

I’ve been asked how I get invited, and all I can say is that I just get them. I don’t seek them out, they just arrive unexpectedly. Like yesterday, we were lunching at Balay Indang, and saw Anton<\/a>, who was there with his family. He introduced me to Marge Tan, the manager, who extended an invitation to check out their new property, Wilson’s Place<\/a>, also in Indang, Cavite. Most of the time, it was just a matter of being at the right place, at the right time.<\/p>\n

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\nFour down, three more to go<\/em><\/div>\n

Another invitation got me to my fourth continent: North America. Philippine Airlines took me on their maiden flight to Toronto<\/a>, which was also my longest plane ride. This was completely unexpected, and I was only too happy to get another chance to use my cold climate clothes. <\/p>\n

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\nShirakawa-Go, I’ll come and visit you again.<\/em><\/div>\n

Which brings me to one of the highlights of my 2012: Japan<\/a>. It has been on top of my dream destinations for so long, and I honestly never expected it to step foot in Japan so soon. It was an amazing 13-days, and I’m already making plans to return within the next five years.<\/p>\n