Preparation

Preliminary trip details

Countdown: Less than 3 months

12.16.2008 - 01.28.2009
View Southeast Asia 2008 on HelenaK's travel map.

I am quite excited for an upcoming trip this December. Ryan and I will be spending the holidays in Cebu, Philippines with my family. We LOVE spending the holidays there - since its a predominantly Catholic country, the whole country comes alive at Christmastime. Its so festive and we LOVE it!

We are also looking forward to having our friends over. Our newlywed friends, Jessica and Rico, are coming right after Christmas and we have tons of activities planned already. Thus far, we are planning on hanging out at some of Cebu's resorts - Shangri-La and Plantation Bay, just to name a few. Then for New Years, we're heading off to Boracay for some sun, fun, and relaxation.

We're getting back to Cebu on the 1st of January so we'll be hanging out in Cebu for few days, and will possibly head out to a nearby island, Bohol where we can dolphin-watch and scuba dive. I wish I enjoyed scuba diving - I tried it but I think I'm too claustrophobic - anyways, I'm happy just snorkeling. Around the 5th of January, Jessica and Rico are heading off to El Nido, Palawan - this amazing resort to the north-west of Cebu. I've already been there and would love to go again, but I think it may be nice for the bride and groom to honeymoon by themselves for a few days.

The Newlyweds

Funny story - my younger brother John, and my cousin Eric and I actually went on someone else's honeymoon. My eldest brother Jason got married and decided to honeymoon in Boracay. John, Eric and I wanted to go as well, and if that wasn't bad enough, we didn't like our room and so we decided to crash in the honeymooner's suite instead.

The Honeymoon Crashers