AirAsia Flight QZ8501

I would like to take a moment to extend my condolences to the families who lost their loved ones aboard AirAsia Flight QZ8501. Watching the report below is deeply unnerving as my family and I were on board AirAsia flights from Kalibo to Manila just as a typhoon was making landfall in the Visayas. There is news that an AirAsia plane overshot the Kalibo runway today because of inclement weather. I am so grateful we are home safe now. To the souls who were not as lucky, may they find peace somehow.

Boracay Family Holiday

I remain a fan of Boracay, its white sand beach is still the most beautiful my feet had ever walked on...

Vendors will be there. And they can become persistently creative....

My family had dinner at Sea Breeze Regency and their price is okay for the selection, but service was horrible.

My favorite was the air-dried beef pulutan they served.

And their dancing chefs made for good entertainment...

But I also come to Boracay to party ;)

A healthy and prosperous new year from our family to yours!

Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran

This song, this video, will make you fall in love. And a little envious of Ed. Okay, more than a little. Okay, a lot.

Video:

Foodtripping in Binondo

The Binondo Chinatown is said to be the oldest Chinatown in the world.

Singapore Zoo

I knew I missed a lot when I did not pay a visit to the Singapore Zoo back in 2011. So I made sure it was part of my itinerary this time. And I was not disappointed. I was overjoyed, in fact, and overwhelmed with the animals I saw. The whole cast of Lion King and so much more! I could not stop clicking that I filled up a four-gigabyte memory card and had to change my camera's battery. I thoroughly enjoyed how the zoo was laid out, the animals were not caged so I felt like I was really getting up close and personal when I was using my zoom lens. I snapped a few priceless moments and was grinning from ear to ear having witnessed them. 

Rarely do I buy souvenir shirts in my travels but with the Singapore Zoo, I just had to.

The River Safari Wildlife Park, Singapore

The River Safari is one of the world's largest repositories of river-dwelling animals. It is divided into two zones - Rivers of the World and Wild Amazonia. The former is home to animals hailing from the rivers Mississippi, Mekong, Yangtze, Ganges, Nile, and Congo. It also houses the Giant Panda Forest where giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia live plus two adorable red pandas. The bio-dome simulates their natural climate and is kept at a cool 18 - 22 degrees C. 

 
Wild Amazonia features the Amazon Flooded Forest which houses the world's largest freshwater aquarium. In here, you get the chance to marvel at over eighteen majestic animal species like the graceful manatee, striking red-tailed catfish and the arapaima with its colorful, armor-like scales.

The Supertrees Grove, Singapore

I looked up in awe of Singapore's newest tourist draw, the Supertrees - dramatic vertical plant displays that remind me of extraterrestrial settings I've seen in movies. Once I managed to close my mouth and find my way around, I went up the Supertrees and walked along the 22-meter high OCBC Skyway and got a spectacular bird's eye view of the multi-awarded Gardens by the Bay. 

 When night fell, the Supertrees came to life with a fantastic light and sound show (happens at 7:45pm and 8:45pm nightly). The Sydney Morning Herald described it as "Avatar in real life." Indeed.