Things To Do Around Cagayan de Oro City

Dubbed as the City of Golden Friendship, my hometown in the Philippines- Cagayan de Oro City and its neighboring towns has many daring activities to offer. If you are thirsty for an adventure, you will definitely enjoy your trip to the gateway of Northern Mindanao.



1) White Water Rafting. Cagayan de Oro City has always been famous for its white water rafting. A total of 4 hours adventure (Basic Water Rafting) chasing the rapids of the mysterious river of Cagayan de Oro City, you will also get to see the beautiful jungle as you travel downstream. Book your water rafting adventure here.

2) White Sand Beaches Of Initao. If you want to take it slow, just lie on beach and have a nice barbecue picnic then head to Initao. About 30 km from Cagayan de Oro City, you can either rent a car or take a taxi to get there or simply stay at one of the beach resorts in Initao to have a break from the hustle and bustle of Cagayan de Oro City.

3) Dahilayan Adventure Park. Do you want to try Asia’s longest dual zipline and fly like Superman from a launch point at 4,700 feet above sea level? Then Dahilayan Adventure Park is certainly the place to go! It is about 40 minutes - 1 hour away from the bustling commercial center of Cagayan de Oro City. Aside from the zipline, the adventure park has many attractions and activities to offer. To get there, click here.

4) Mintugsok Falls. There are two ways to get there. By trail hiking from Indahag or from Mapawa Nature Park. If you ask me, I always pick the trail hiking from Indahag! It's more fun and you will see the beautiful nature around. How to get to Cagayan de Oro's Mintugsok Falls, click here.

For the Love of Vintage Paris

During my short visit to Paris last month, I made sure to squeeze in a trip to at least one vintage shop. I have read from different blogs about their magnificent Paris Flea Market finds but sadly these flea markets are only open on the weekends.

I went to Réciproque, as it was recommended by Olivia Palermo on her blog, to check on their vintage Chanel pieces. The shop is located at Rue de la Pompe and from where I'm staying (Boulevard Hausmann), it only took 7 stops via the Metro. Réciproque is one of the biggest consignment shops or dépôts-vente in Paris. When I stepped into the shop, it felt like coming into a fashion heaven with arrays of Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, Hermés, Louis Vuitton, Christian Louboutin and many more.

Like a kid in a candy store, I was confused and couldn't decide which row to start first. Luckily, one of the owners of Réciproque was there and very helpful. Although my objective of this vintage tour is to find vintage Chanel earrings, I ended up shopping Gianvito Rossi wedge sandals and a new Hermés silk scarf.

With one of the owners of Reciproque.

My lovely Reciproque finds!

Reciproque Dépôt Vente
Address: 95 Rue de la Pompe, 75116 Paris, France

Tel: +33 1 47 04 30 28

My Review Of The Reverie Saigon- Romeo And Juliet Italian Lounge And Restaurant

A few nights ago, while catching up with a good friend in Saigon, I was given the pleasure to pick the restaurant for dinner. I immediately thought of The Reverie Saigon- Romeo and Juliet Italian Lounge and Restaurant in Dong Khoi street since it was recently recommended to me by a Vietnamese friend who works in the hotel and restaurant business. This friend also introduced me to Maximilian and Marco, the managers of the restaurant.

Upon arriving at the fabulous establishment, we were greeted and ushered by the receptionist and brought us to our lovely table. The entire dining room was absolutely beautifully furnished and set, the lavish and intricate design gives a very romantic ambiance with a background music very relaxing to the ears.
Marco came to our table to accommodate us with the menu. The carte du jour consisted of different savory Italian dishes and since it was hard for me to decide, I took the Salmon.

Welcome drinks came promptly after our orders then drinks followed by bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar dip. To our surprise, a palatable complimentary starter was introduced by the cameriere. After a few minutes of chit chat, the main course arrived. The food was presented artistically. The Italian chef drop by the table to say hello and asked about our dinner. My verdict? Every bite is divine. Since the food was really good, we decided to end it with a sweet treat. I had a special dessert, Tiramisu, made at our table plus another complimentary Italian cream cake pops served in a glass jar of liquid nitrogen.

Romeo and Juliet Italian Lounge and Restaurant provides excellent service and food. A 6-star experience indeed! Two thumbs up, The Reverie Saigon. 

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

For my love of elephants, I decided to turn my birthday party last year into a fundraising event helping Asian elephants.

During my visit to Sri Lanka, one of the highlights of my trip was to visit an elephant orphanage. Known for having the largest herd of captive elephants in the world, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is a remarkable place for caring and protecting many orphaned wild elephants found wandering around the forests of Sri Lanka.

Located at Pinnawala village, 13 km northeast of Kegalle town in Sabaragamuwa province. The orphanage was first established in 1975 by the Sri Lankan Department of Wildlife Conservation for feeding, providing care and sanctuary to orphaned baby elephants that were found in the wild.

In the village, you will be able to enjoy watch the elephants being fed and bathing in the river.


Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Address: B199, Rambukkana 71100, Sri Lanka
Coordinates: 7° 18′ 2″ N, 80° 23′ 18″ E
Admission: 16 USD

Finding Peace

There is no path to peace. Peace is the Path. -Gandhi

You will forever be missed and yet remembered, my dear father! 

Sri Lankan Gems

Did you know the best gems in the world can be found in Sri Lanka? Remember Princess Diana's Sapphire engagement ring from Prince Charles? Yes, it's Sri Lankan Sapphire. Sri Lanka is the Sapphire capital of the world.

If you're looking for an exquisite piece of jewelry with precious or semi-precious gemstones. Sri Lanka offers the best quality of Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Topaz, Garnet, Quarts and many more. Even Marco Polo wrote this in his journal. Jewellers from around the world import their gemstones from Sri Lanka.

During my visit to Sri Lanka, a lot of Asians and Europeans buy Sapphire from Sri Lanka to sell it in their home country. And the secret of buying it cheaper is do not bring your tour guide or driver with you when going to the Jewelry shop. Apparently they also get commission so the price goes up very, very high. I stayed at Mount Lavinia Hotel and there were a few jewelry shops in the resort, believe me, I got my earrings at 80% discount complete with certificate.

So when in Sri Lanka, don't miss to visit the reliable jewelry shops like Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association, Zam Gems, Vogue Jewellers, Colombo Jewellery Store. Even if you're not going to shop, it's just fun to look! 😜

Yala National Park Safari

As an animal lover, I am definitely inquisitive of the animal life in the wild and being able to see them all in the jungle is just compelling.

As the most visited park in Sri Lanka, Yala National Park covers 979 square kilometers (378 sq mi) which makes it as the second largest national park in Sri Lanka, next to Wilpattu National Park.

Situated in the southeast coast of Sri Lanka with the nearest city, Katagarama and about 290 Km from the capital Colombo. The park is renowned for the variety of it's wildlife and tropical flora. From a substantial elephant population along with the big cats (leopards), spotted deer, wild buffalo, Sloth bear, jackal, wild boar, crocodiles and many more. The bird life comprises of over 120 species. Consisting of five blocks and adjoining parks, two blocks are opened to the public for safari adventures. Block one is the most visited area since it contains the highest density of Leopards. To be able to appreciate Yala, choose a suitable guide that will inevitably show you the alluring attributes of the park. 

Plan your trip Yala National Park.

Address: B499, Sri Lanka

Coordinates: 6° 22′ 22″ N, 81° 31′ 1″ E