beyond toxicity

More than a ton of photos and various souvenirs from ref magnets to picture frames, we collect memories when we travel. Moments spent together on a trip aboard a plane or a tourist bus going to a particular destination are the most precious and priceless experiences we cherish as a family.

Blame my mom who greatly exposed me and my 3 brothers to leisure and pleasure of having vacations especially whenever our dad comes home for his break as an OFW during  our wonder years.  We’ve been to some of the most wonderful places both here and abroad. I’ve never explored the rest of the country but have enjoyed Ilocos, Baguio, La Union, Subic, Laguna, Batangas, Tagaytay, Cavite, Quezon, Cebu, CDO, Roxas City and recently, Boracay. 

I can still vividly remember my very first trip abroad  with my entire family happened during my High School years;  it was via Cathay Pacific bound for Hong Kong (where else?!) and was followed by 2 more travels to the same city of  lights.  Several years and pounds after, we spent 22 glorious days in California and Las Vegas. 

My wife, Tina and I chose Bangkok, Thailand for our honeymoon 2 days after we got married back in January 2004.  About 37 weeks after, our little bundle of joy, Gabby was born.   Fastforward to few more months –at exactly 2 weeks after I sworn my oath as a physician, my parents treated me and my family to a 7-week-vacation in Auckland, New Zealand.  En Route to NZ, we had an overnight stay in Brunei Darrussalam and toured the city of Bendar Seri Begawan for half day   We also spent transit hours at Brisbane Airport, Australia.  Few more months after and we’re off to Hong Kong again. :D

Trimming down my favorite travel places into 3 isn’t easy.  I’d say HONG KONG,  NEW ZEALAND,  and a toss between USA and THAILAND are countries I consider unforgettable!

In times of  problems at work, news like Martial Law in the South and recessions in the other parts of the globe, don’t you just want to take a deep breath, pause from all these hassles and just reminisce those fun moments spent traveling with your love ones? 

(Scroll over the photos for the name of the place.)

HONG KONG : New Year of 2007 (We love this tiny country for being a fantastic shopping and dining haven in Asia!  I love everything in Hong Kong but I wish their cab drivers would know more English!)

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND , Summer of 2005  (The place that celebrates mornings and New Years first above all countries! We love the weather; we experienced a single digit centigrade! I miss Kelly Tarlton’s Ocean Adventure, the Sky City Tower, Northshore and Pupuke Lake! (yes, you read it right!  try reading it again slowly, LOL!), I miss Halfmoon Bay, Downtown Auckland and Waiheke Island.  I miss Westfield and Botany Malls, I miss the 5PM-closing time of malls and other establishments! I miss this place where Mother Nature is always at her best!)

USA & THAILAND : toss between California to Las Vegas and Bangkok   (We stayed in LA at my aunt and uncle’s place before, and joined a-9-day tour from LA-San Francisco-LA.  We’ve been to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, Manns Chinese Theater in Hollywood Boulevard, Santa Monica, Malibu, Santa Barbara, Carmel, Monterey, San Francisco, Fresno and National Parks like Sequoia and Yosemite.  We’ve been to Anaheim – Disneyland and Universal Studios in Hollywood; watched Shamu the Killer Whale in San Diego’ s Sea World and stayed in defunct Stardust and the ever fabulous MGM Grand hotel in LV.  In Vegas, we had bliss at hotel hopping – from Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, NY NY, Bellagio and Paris Hotels. Life can’t be better than those moments!    In BANGKOK, we stayed at Amarri Watergate Hotel and walked the Jatujak and Swan Loom Markets; best part of our trip then–it was sweetest trip ever! Do I need to explain why?)

My top 3 places I wish to experience before I die :  PARIS, FRANCE,  ROME & VENICE, ITALY,  TOKYO, JAPAN

I want to bring my family to Paris and do nothing but breath the air in Eiffel Tower.

I want to explore Rome and walk the steps in Da Vinci Code   I want to see how faint Mona Lisa’s smile is at Louvre Museum.

I want to eat authentic sushi and sashimi and ramen and lots of tempura and cross the streets of Tokyo amidst its neon lit forest!

And the list goes on… for as long as the budget allows us to do so, the world remains big for people like us who made traveling a little passion.  

Where would you spend your dream vacation?

Can you be more generous in sharing your most remarkable travels ?  

This is post is my entry to the blog contest of  my newest blog buddy, KG  (applause, applause!)

Prize will go to nobody but Tina if I’ll win

To end, here’s my son’s wink taken at you know where…