Though Chris and I arrived in Toronto on February 28th, we would still like to recap our adventures in the Philippines. Photos will be up soon! Stay tuned!
Sunday, February 27th. Our last full day in the Philippines. SIGH!!
We were intent on making the most of our day. We woke up early and laid in bed for a bit, sad that we had to leave. A few schemes were tossed back and forth in attempt to convince the other that it was, in fact, possible to live in the Philippines!
We eventually sucked it up and faced reality. We got ready for the day and fully enjoyed every last drop of calamansi juice Celia made for us. I wore my favourite dress (featured in 85% of our photos, you'll see!) and the two of us went and explored the neighbourhood.
I took photos of the plants and trees that are native to the Philippines. I have no idea what they are called but tropical plants and flowers are so beautiful! We peeked at all the houses and I stopped and said hello to all the stray cats. We wondered what life would be like if this was OUR neighbourhood and it was just a regular Sunday morning.
Most importantly, we walked ourselves into hunger for the wonderful lunch despidida Tita Helen was planning for us! ;)
Back at the house, we freshened up and started getting some of our belongings together. Not much later, Mia, Bob and the kids came over.
Oh, the kids bring so much energy wherever they go! Rocco is a non-stop busy machine! We're always asking him, "Why are you so busy, Rocco?" because he always looks like he's got something to do and places to be. Adorable!
So then it was lunchtime. Oh my, friends.... it was AMAZING. DELICIOUS! SCRUMPTIOUS!
On the menu:
- beef caldereta (Filipino version of a beef stew)
- pancit (noodles)
- shrimps (HUUUUUUGE platter!!!)
- crab (I ate two!!!)
- lechon (also made by Tita Helen)
- clam soup (i always forget the name but it starts with an "h"!)
OMG. So good. We thanked them again for everything and we ate and ate and ate! Tita Helen kept piling our plates up to which we did not resist ;)
By the end of the meal, it was only us "kids" left at the table, finishing off the rest of the food: Chris, me, Carla, Mia and Bob. SO. GOOD!!! (drooling now just thinking about it again!)
After lunch, we sat outside while the kids played around. See, their energy! They were running around and playing catch and being adorable! The rest of us wanted to nap. haha But we still ate some pastillas de leche for dessert - yummmmm!
It was fun to have more "cousin time". More family stories were shared along with lots of laughs. I realized how much I was going to miss my family and I am so glad Chris was able to meet them and vice versa.
After Tita Helen got up from her nap (she hadn't been feeling well), us ladies hit the mall for some last minute shopping! Chris declined our offer and decided to stay home and nap. I still just wanted to absorb more of the Philippines and off we went!
First stop was the grocery store to get the rest of goodies list! Chichacorn - check! Calamansi juice - CHECK!!! Sinigang mix - check!!
Off to more stores to get more pasalubong! I eventually met up with Mia, Bob and the boys who had stopped for a snack after purchasing gifts. I was exhausted! But there was still more shopping!!! Not only did we stay at that mall for 2 hours, we even went to another plaza to find more things!
It's true... you think you might have enough pasalubong, but then you don't feel satisfied. And then when you get home, you keep half of the pasalubong. hahaha
It was late when we got back home and Chris had just woken up from his nap. I don't think he realized we'd be back with so much STUFF because you should have seen his eyes bug out when he saw all the extra bags. haha
We spent the rest of the evening packing, weighing and re-packing our luggage and the TWO balikbayan boxes we were bringing home (we left Toronto with ONE). It was tough making sure everything was under the luggage weight limit so it didn't help I had a headache and was getting frustrated with Chris going, "get rid of 2 more pounds in this" etc etc.
But with Tito Pong's expert Balikbabayan box packing, we managed to get both boxes half a kilo under the max weight!!! And seriously - Tito Pong is a pro! Everything was perfectly packed, better than tetris!!! Amazing!!! Even though when we got to Toronto one of the boxes was totally smushed, all the items he packed were in perfect condition!
During the whole packing adventure, Mia and the kids had come over with their final pasalubongs. Santi was incredibly cute - he chose six specific Hot Wheels for our little cousin Zachary in Canada. The boys were in their jammies and were starting to get the late-night crazies because we had never heard/seen Santi so loud! This whole trip he was pretty quiet around us and then suddenly he's jumping up and down and running around and SCREAMING!
So it was pretty quiet when we finished packing and the kids left. It was super sad, too. Nothing left to do but wait. :(
Tito Pong and Tita Helen said goodbye to us because we were leaving for the airport on Monday morning at 3am. We really couldn't thank them enough for everything!!! I missed them as soon as they went upstairs.
Carla, Chris and I hung out for a while, just chatting about everything. It was just so nice to hang out with her and chill. She's really awesome and she gets my humour, haha!
We eventually made our way upstairs so we could give our families a call just to let them know we were on track for flying out (sadly!!!) Then it was bedtime, after giving Carla the hugest hug (and it felt like I was going to squish her because she is so tiny and cute!!).
Last Filipino sleep was a good one.
Woke up early and the maids even checked in to make sure we were up and ready to go. We left them little notes to thank them for everything and for making our stay so wonderful and comfortable! They were the sweetest :)
We packed the car the night before so all we did was hop in. It was really weird to see the empty streets and whatever 3am night-life was going on (a little scary; I'm pretty sure I saw a wake happening on the street...) It was nice talking to Alex, the driver, too. He's a sweet guy and funny, even though sometimes I don't think he means to be!
On the way out of my uncle's gated village, I just started crying. I was starting to feel homesick for the Philippines - even though I hadn't left yet! It didn't help that one of my dad's fave songs came on the radio (Hotel California - Eagles).
Chris and I truly fell in love with the Philippines. We are so blessed to have been able to visit such a beautiful country and to be so well taken care of the entire time. And after being engaged there, the Island of Boracay holds a special place in our hearts forever.
All the way home, Chris tried to cheer me up by reminding me I'd get my cat back and all our stuff and our family... but it was totally depressing leaving. Not only were we leaving the warmth but it was just PARADISE! We learned so much and I got to know my family a bit better. And Chris got to know them too!
There was so much we didn't get to do and see. We are still scheming ways to work out retiring in the Philippines; what a better place to spend the Canadian winters!!!!
Our next trip is already being planned... stay tuned... ;)
We eventually sucked it up and faced reality. We got ready for the day and fully enjoyed every last drop of calamansi juice Celia made for us. I wore my favourite dress (featured in 85% of our photos, you'll see!) and the two of us went and explored the neighbourhood.
I took photos of the plants and trees that are native to the Philippines. I have no idea what they are called but tropical plants and flowers are so beautiful! We peeked at all the houses and I stopped and said hello to all the stray cats. We wondered what life would be like if this was OUR neighbourhood and it was just a regular Sunday morning.
Most importantly, we walked ourselves into hunger for the wonderful lunch despidida Tita Helen was planning for us! ;)
Back at the house, we freshened up and started getting some of our belongings together. Not much later, Mia, Bob and the kids came over.
Oh, the kids bring so much energy wherever they go! Rocco is a non-stop busy machine! We're always asking him, "Why are you so busy, Rocco?" because he always looks like he's got something to do and places to be. Adorable!
So then it was lunchtime. Oh my, friends.... it was AMAZING. DELICIOUS! SCRUMPTIOUS!
On the menu:
- beef caldereta (Filipino version of a beef stew)
- pancit (noodles)
- shrimps (HUUUUUUGE platter!!!)
- crab (I ate two!!!)
- lechon (also made by Tita Helen)
- clam soup (i always forget the name but it starts with an "h"!)
OMG. So good. We thanked them again for everything and we ate and ate and ate! Tita Helen kept piling our plates up to which we did not resist ;)
By the end of the meal, it was only us "kids" left at the table, finishing off the rest of the food: Chris, me, Carla, Mia and Bob. SO. GOOD!!! (drooling now just thinking about it again!)
After lunch, we sat outside while the kids played around. See, their energy! They were running around and playing catch and being adorable! The rest of us wanted to nap. haha But we still ate some pastillas de leche for dessert - yummmmm!
It was fun to have more "cousin time". More family stories were shared along with lots of laughs. I realized how much I was going to miss my family and I am so glad Chris was able to meet them and vice versa.
After Tita Helen got up from her nap (she hadn't been feeling well), us ladies hit the mall for some last minute shopping! Chris declined our offer and decided to stay home and nap. I still just wanted to absorb more of the Philippines and off we went!
First stop was the grocery store to get the rest of goodies list! Chichacorn - check! Calamansi juice - CHECK!!! Sinigang mix - check!!
Off to more stores to get more pasalubong! I eventually met up with Mia, Bob and the boys who had stopped for a snack after purchasing gifts. I was exhausted! But there was still more shopping!!! Not only did we stay at that mall for 2 hours, we even went to another plaza to find more things!
It's true... you think you might have enough pasalubong, but then you don't feel satisfied. And then when you get home, you keep half of the pasalubong. hahaha
It was late when we got back home and Chris had just woken up from his nap. I don't think he realized we'd be back with so much STUFF because you should have seen his eyes bug out when he saw all the extra bags. haha
We spent the rest of the evening packing, weighing and re-packing our luggage and the TWO balikbayan boxes we were bringing home (we left Toronto with ONE). It was tough making sure everything was under the luggage weight limit so it didn't help I had a headache and was getting frustrated with Chris going, "get rid of 2 more pounds in this" etc etc.
But with Tito Pong's expert Balikbabayan box packing, we managed to get both boxes half a kilo under the max weight!!! And seriously - Tito Pong is a pro! Everything was perfectly packed, better than tetris!!! Amazing!!! Even though when we got to Toronto one of the boxes was totally smushed, all the items he packed were in perfect condition!
During the whole packing adventure, Mia and the kids had come over with their final pasalubongs. Santi was incredibly cute - he chose six specific Hot Wheels for our little cousin Zachary in Canada. The boys were in their jammies and were starting to get the late-night crazies because we had never heard/seen Santi so loud! This whole trip he was pretty quiet around us and then suddenly he's jumping up and down and running around and SCREAMING!
So it was pretty quiet when we finished packing and the kids left. It was super sad, too. Nothing left to do but wait. :(
Tito Pong and Tita Helen said goodbye to us because we were leaving for the airport on Monday morning at 3am. We really couldn't thank them enough for everything!!! I missed them as soon as they went upstairs.
Carla, Chris and I hung out for a while, just chatting about everything. It was just so nice to hang out with her and chill. She's really awesome and she gets my humour, haha!
We eventually made our way upstairs so we could give our families a call just to let them know we were on track for flying out (sadly!!!) Then it was bedtime, after giving Carla the hugest hug (and it felt like I was going to squish her because she is so tiny and cute!!).
Last Filipino sleep was a good one.
Woke up early and the maids even checked in to make sure we were up and ready to go. We left them little notes to thank them for everything and for making our stay so wonderful and comfortable! They were the sweetest :)
We packed the car the night before so all we did was hop in. It was really weird to see the empty streets and whatever 3am night-life was going on (a little scary; I'm pretty sure I saw a wake happening on the street...) It was nice talking to Alex, the driver, too. He's a sweet guy and funny, even though sometimes I don't think he means to be!
On the way out of my uncle's gated village, I just started crying. I was starting to feel homesick for the Philippines - even though I hadn't left yet! It didn't help that one of my dad's fave songs came on the radio (Hotel California - Eagles).
Chris and I truly fell in love with the Philippines. We are so blessed to have been able to visit such a beautiful country and to be so well taken care of the entire time. And after being engaged there, the Island of Boracay holds a special place in our hearts forever.
All the way home, Chris tried to cheer me up by reminding me I'd get my cat back and all our stuff and our family... but it was totally depressing leaving. Not only were we leaving the warmth but it was just PARADISE! We learned so much and I got to know my family a bit better. And Chris got to know them too!
There was so much we didn't get to do and see. We are still scheming ways to work out retiring in the Philippines; what a better place to spend the Canadian winters!!!!
Our next trip is already being planned... stay tuned... ;)
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