“Travel tales 2013”
Sun.Star Davao, May 18, 2013
Refreshed and rejuvenated
from their summer vacation, seven families share how they spent their much-deserved
break.
These are their travel tales
for 2013!
MONALISA DE GUZMAN-ARQUIZA
Where
did you go this summer?
Los Angeles and San Diego, California,
USA, particularly, Universal Studios Hollywood, Disneyland California
in Los Angeles, Legoland (California), Sea World, and San Diego Zoo Safari
Park.
Why
did you choose this destination?
We would like to go to different theme
parks this summer and also, to visit and stay with my sister-in-law's family in
San Diego who also served as our "tour guide" for this trip.
What
were the most memorable moments of your vacation?
*Our overnight stay at Legoland Hotel
which just opened last April 2013. Before reaching our hotel room, the disco
elevator we got in was complete with a mirror ball and blasting disco songs.
Kids and parents had fun dancing inside!
*Visiting Legoland. My 6-year old son Miggy enjoyed different
rides from Legoland. We watched the new
Chima 4D movie experience, joined interactive games, and, of course, shopping for
his favorite Lego characters (Ninjago, Chima and Star Wars) at the Lego
Shops.
*Watching the popular Shamu show at
Sea World. Shamu is a killer whale, and was trained to do different
tricks and entertaining acts. The kids had fun getting wet as Shamu splashed
some water on people watching at the stadium.
*Princess hunting at Disneyland. My 8-year old daughter Bea and I waited, looked and ran after her favorite Disney Princesses and other Disney characters at Disneyland, taking pictures with them and getting their signatures on her autograph book. Priceless!
What are your best tips when preparing for a family trip?
*Be
sure to prepare the kids’ medicines for anti-allergy, anti-asthma, fever,
stomach ache and dizziness. I visited my kids' pediatrician a few days
before we traveled and asked for a list of medicines. Miggy is a "biyahilo"
so I let him chew Bonamine an hour before every flight.
*For long flights, let the kids wear
jogging pants, sweat shirts, slip-on sneakers or rubber shoes with Velcro
straps so that they can move comfortably in the plane and not get cold. Hand-carry
their security blankets, favorite small stuffed toys, candies for chewing when
their ear aches, and their favorite milk to drink before they sleep in the
plane.
*Download the kids’ favorite
application games, movies and TV shows on their iPads to keep them busy during
flight.
Why
is travel important to your family?
Travel is important to our
family because this serves as a break from our daily activities. It is a
break from doing my daily errands; it’s my husband's break from his regular job.
It is also the kid's break from studying.
It also increases their knowledge of new foreign places and of people.
It is also the time when we spend more quality family moments, relax, for
keeping calm before the much-awaited shopping!
LIZA
MIYOSHI-CALIZO
Where
did you go this summer?
South
Korea particularly Seoul, Yeongwol County in Gangwon Province and Jeonju City
in Jeollabukdo, or North Jeolla Province
Why
did you choose this destination?
The Philippine Academy of Sakya (Davao), where my daughters study,
has been involved in an Exchange Student Program with the International Youth
Community (based in Jeonju City) for the past 8 years. Every January, Sakya parents adopt Korean
students for them to experience life in Davao, while attending classes at Sakya
for about a week or two. In return, Sakyans get to experience the Korean way of
living during summer time.
This year, most of the participants including my eldest daughter
Moira, were members of Sakya Football Club.
Though this has always been a “No parents trip”, Mary Tan, one of the
so-called “SFC soccer moms”, persuaded her brother/organizer and also the
brilliant brain behind the program, Roger “Atoy” Limso, to allow some SFC
parents to tag along. So it became some kind of a “mother-daughter bonding
trip” for me and my daughter, whom I have an “away-bati” relationship ever
since.
What were the most memorable moments of
your vacation?
*Participating in the reenactment
of the GUKJANG (state funeral) as part of the funeral cortege for King Danjong,
6th Monarch of the Joseon Dynasty. It was held as a highlight to the
Danjong Cultural Festival. We all wore the traditional white funeral robe and
had to walk about 3 kms. from Deokpo-ri, passing by Donggangdaegyo Bridge to
Jangneung Royal Tomb, where the final memorial service was held. For someone
like me who is not exactly keen on walking long distance, it was physically and
mentally challenging, yet a truly memorable experience!
*Watching the Hyundai FC vs.
Seoul FC game at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC played against the defending champ Seoul FC
and won 1-0.
*Witnessing our soccer kids meet and train
with the Jeonju Yeungsaeng High School Football Team at Wansan Sports
Park. The team’s sponsor, Hyundai
Motors, is said to spend about 1 billion won annually for the members’
education, board and lodging, training, uniforms, etc. They are like Hyundai FC’s Junior team. They
do take football quite seriously. Our
kids also got to play 3 games with the Kumsan High School’s football team and
won in all 3 games.
*Watching Fanta-Stick. It is a
live Korean traditional musical that incorporated western percussion with
melodies played on oriental musical instruments. All kinds of Korean
performances and sounds including B-boy (breakdancing), percussion and string
music made this a truly fantastic visual performance.
*Korean Food Trip. Experiencing
Korean cuisine right at its very source….Kimchi and chili overload!
What are your best tips when preparing for a family trip?
*Try to do a little research about the place you are about to
visit. That way, you won’t be at a loss
if asked to do something. This reduces embarrassing
moments.
*Always bring some OTC medications.
It was a lot of help that I brought medicines, as some of our group
members experienced fever, colds, tummy upsets.
It was difficult to go to a pharmacy only to find out that the
attendants do not speak/understand even a bit of English. If going to a place where you might
experience cool weather, get a flu vaccine about a week or two before
departure.
*Respect the culture/tradition and religion of the locals. Be adventurous. Keep an open mind. Do what locals do. Eat what they eat. That is how you get the
most out of your travels.
Why
is travel important to your family?
Travel is important to me, because it gives me the chance to bond
with my family, just us. It also gives us the chance to see something new and
experience life beyond our very own. It
also teaches us so many lessons not found in history books. It teaches our kids about being independent,
and at the same time, looking out for each other, as some of the kids in our
group went without any parent/adult companion.
It also taught them to manage their budget well.
AIMEE WEE-SABIDO
Where
did you go this summer?
France (Paris, Lourdes,
Disneyland) and Italy (Venice, Florence, Pisa & Rome)
My mother-in-law’s lifelong dream
has always been to go to Lourdes, France which is one of the Catholic
faith’s most important pilgrimage sites. And since we were
already in Europe, we decided to bring our daughter Lindsey to her first Disney
experience as she’s old enough to appreciate it. All the
other places we went were offshoots of those two goals.
What were the most memorable moments of
your vacation?
*The first time I saw Paris.
I was in awe of the architectural structures.
*Disneyland Parks Paris. Seeing my
daughter's eyes light up and excitedly pull us to the entrance of Disneyland
Parks Paris on the very first day we arrived there; and watching the
spectacular fireworks in Disneyland with my family.
*My first shopping trip in Paris.
My husband bought me my advanced birthday gift.
*Riding the gondola with my family
in Venice.
What are your best tips when preparing for a family trip?
*Bring a stroller if you have young kids
travelling with you, this is really a MUST-BRING!
*Bring a good camera to capture all
those precious moments. It should not be so big and heavy to lug around and
not so small that it can't take good night shots.
*Don't forget to bring biscuits/cookies
for the little ones which they will need in between meals as you may not have
enough time to shop for it when you are on tour and they may not like the snack
foods in the country that you are visiting. Rice is scarce in Europe but
I'm glad my daughter is not a picky eater. She was okay with french fries,
pasta, risotto and gelato! If your kids really need rice, there are Asian
restaurants around.
*If you are not travelling with a tour group, make sure all the
booking vouchers and/or tickets are printed and ready before the trip for
convenience.
Why is travel important to your family?
I think travel just serves to focus the
quality of time we spend together especially when traveling abroad. when we are
here or traveling locally, our business and other every day concerns are always
ever present and we are always accessible but when we are abroad, all we have
is time for each other and time to have once in a lifetime experiences which
become lifelong memories.
JENNIFER
LIU-KONG
Where
did you go this summer?
Bali, Indonesia
Why
did you choose this destination?
It's our first time
to visit Indonesia and we thought it would be fun to explore a new and
interesting place.
What
were the most memorable moments of your vacation?
*Experiencing their Balinese
massage
*Adventure at Waterbom, Bali’s best
waterpark. Waterbom has more than 20 world class waterslides and leisure
facilities for all ages.
*Shopping for souvenirs
*Trying out authentic Indonesian
food
*Pack
lightly
*Do research and
arrange your itinerary ahead.
*Bring your most
comfy shoes.
Why
is travelling important to your family?
It's
the time where you bond with your family.
You enjoy and learn new things together making you closer to each other.
This particular trip is extra special because it’s our first time to travelwith my sisters and parents-in-law. It is also my son Jiro’s first time to
travel abroad.
CHRISTINE TAN-TUMARU
Where
did you go this summer?
Siem Reap, Cambodia
and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Why
did you choose this destination?
It was
an incentive trip given by our business supplier.
What
were the most memorable moments of your vacation?
*Food adventures
*Seeing the hard life of the residents of Cambodia
*Visiting the markets.
We loved Ben Thanh Market, a typical Vietnam market which sells fruits, silk,
jewelries at low prices and Binh Tay, a wholesale market in China Town for best
bargains.
*Going
to Cu Chi Tunnel, an underground village used as a revolutionary base during
the Vietnam War.
*The wonders of Angkor Wat and its majestic temples
What are your best tips when preparing for a family trip?
*When
visiting tropical countries, don’t forget to bring mosquito repellants,
umbrella and lots of bottled water to keep kids hydrated.
*Bring
iPad for the kids to take photos and play when they are bored in the tourist
bus.
*Prepare
an emergency kit with medicines, extra shirts and underwear.
Why is travelling
important to your family?
We
always travel for family bonding and for our children to see and learn about
the difference and goodness of other countries/cultures that we may apply to
ourselves. It is also what the kids look forward to every school break.
HILDE LOTO-ANG
Where did you go this
summer?
Singapore
and Malaysia. This trip was made especially memorable because my children were
able to bond with their BFFs.
Why did you choose this
destination?
We
wanted to check out Legoland, River Safari. SEA Aquarium, Hello Kitty Town and
Johor Premium Outlet.
Travel is a great way to teach kids how to be independent. Aside from the bonding factor, it is also educational for them as well. It relaxes us from the stresses of our daily routine and in the process spend some quality and fun moments with our children.
What were the most memorable moments of your vacation?
*Breakfast with the orangutans at Singapore Zoo
*Being splattered with water straight from the elephants’ trunks
at Singapore Zoo
*Roller coaster rides with the kids at Legoland
*Watching the crane dance with free popcorn, cotton candy, ice
cream, wine and photo op at Marina Bay Sands
*Craft time with the kids at Hello Kitty Town which included a
free necklace
What are your best tips when
preparing for a family trip?
*Check the
weather condition during your stay so you would know the things to bring,
clothes to wear, etc.
*Book a hotel
that is kid-friendly. Accessibility is of utmost importance.
*Check the latest
promos with airlines companies. Big savings go a long way.
*Pray as a family during the entire trip with evening devotions.
It is really a great way to end a great day!
Why is travel important to
your family?
Travel is a great way to teach kids how
to be independent. Aside from the bonding factor, it is also educational
for them as well. It relaxes us from the stresses of our daily routine and in
the process spend some quality and fun moments with our children.
LYN BUYCO-TAN
Where
did you go this summer?
This summer we took a trip
to Italy, visiting Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Venice and Lake Como.
Why
did you choose this destination?
A couple of years ago, we
started dreaming about a wonderful trip to Italy to celebrate our 10th
wedding anniversary, and almost at the last minute, events conspired to lead us
there.
What
were the most memorable moments of your vacation?
*Attending the Papal
Audience in St. Peter’s Square
*Driving around Tuscany and
visiting medieval hill towns
*Pilgrimage to St. Francis’
Basilica in Assisi
*Attending a concert in
historic Teatro la Fenice in Venice
*The “Florence for Foodies”
tour
What
are your best tips when preparing for a family trip?
*When
traveling with young children, preparation is key. A lot of parents find it daunting, but it can
be quite fun for everyone if properly planned, taking into consideration the
children’s capabilities and interests.
We’ve always been independent travelers and I spend considerable time on
research before finalizing our bookings.
The internet is a treasure trove of information and help from fellow
travelers abound in sites like Tripadvisor and online forums. Planning our itinerary ourselves ensures that
we get to do the things and go to the places that we really want to.
*To
make the trip interesting for our children, we try to make sure that they know
a lot about the places we’ll be visiting, its history and culture, by watching
movies, playing games, reading books and even trying out their recipes before
we even leave home. For our young
daughter, the book “Madeline and the Cats of Rome” acquainted her with the
sites of Rome and got her excited about visiting these too and our older son
learned a lot about ancient Rome from “The Roman Mysteries”. We also read a book about the life of St.
Francis. They loved the story about the
wolf of Gubbio. Our go-to travel
guidebooks are the ones by DK Publishing because of their extensive and
kid-friendly photos, drawings and maps.
*They say families
should bond over meals and we certainly try to do that when traveling! Our method of choice for finding good food is
to ask the locals, and we’ve had our best meals in their recommended
restaurants. Finding ourselves
surrounded by Italian families (and not fellow tourists) who eat for hours and
really know how to enjoy each other and their food were our best dining
experiences!
*As a family, we
travel to bond and enrich ourselves through learning and experiencing the rich
cultures outside our own. Because of
this, we try as much as possible to include stays in apartments and historic
and traditional restored homes. We try
to experience local life by visiting the markets and doing our groceries and
laundry and taking the local public transportation. For our Italy trip, we decided to rent a Fiat
and drive around Tuscany for 3 days and it was a real highlight of our trip.
Why
is travel important to your family?
Travel
is very important to us because it offers a wonderful opportunity to bond. Out there, away from home, on our own, we
find ourselves in adventures every day.
Travel teaches us so much about the world and about ourselves that books
never can. The world becomes our
classroom, the learning together is immense, and the
memories for our family, lasting.
E-mail
the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit
www.momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com.
