2 days in Las Vegas

From San Francisco, we took another 1.5 hours flight to our next destination.. Las Vegas, Nevada. Our friend was able to get us a good deal & booked a 2 nights stay in Flamingo Hotel which is located in Vegas' famous strip. Since we couldnt check in to our hotel until 3pm & we wouldnt want to waste time, we decided to drive less than an hour from the airport to visit the Hoover Dam-- a concrete gravity-arch dam constructed during the 1930s situated between the US border states of Nevada & Arizona. We explored the dam for a little while & then drove back to the City. We actually didnt do much in Vegas aside from having a quick photo at the vegas sign & checking the strip in only about an hour or so because we went on a day-tour in Arizona the next day. We initially planned to watch a show in Vegas but we run out of time (and energy )-- but atleast we have a reason to come back in Vegas. And as what many people say, Vegas is a city like no other. And it wouldnt be tagged as a sin city for no reason 

Just arrived in Vegas airport 

Vegas is indeed the world's gambling capital because right when you arrived in the airport.. the slot machines are scattered all over 

We grabbed some quick bite at a local fastfood chain called Five Guys. Among the burgers we tried in our trip such as In-and-Out, Mcdonalds, Shakeshack & Whitecastle.. Five Guys' burger is my most favorite.

Hoover Dam

A true marvel of engineering considering that it was built in the 1930s.

Just a few step away are the borders of Nevada & Arizona with one hour time difference. So you'll be in a different timezone in a just a few seconds.

Arizona border

Much love & respect to those who designed & built it.

And because we're tourist, ofcourse, we wouldnt miss to have a quick photoop to the Vegas sign.

Believe it or not this is a candid photo LOL

With my love 

Our double-bed room at Flamingo Hotel

Love the Pink lighting of the bathroom. Plus it has its own TV inside.

Look at this happy boy 

Dinner at White Castle. A mini-burger that literally melts in your mouth

Roaming around at the Vegas Strip

Casino after Casino after Casino

For a tropical folks like we do.. seeing a giant cactus amazes us 

So that's about a short trip in the Sin City. Till we meet again, Vegas.

Always,

Rica ♡

2 days in San Francisco

Last month, Jan & I went to the USA for the first time to visit his bestfriend who lives in California, while at the same time, we also took the opportunity to see as much tourist attractions as we could for 11 full days. We definitely had the best time of our lives in the US not worrying about anything because our dear friend, Jack, arranged everything for us from booking our plane tickets, hotel accommodations, car rentals & planning our everyday itinerary and we couldnt be any thankful to him for being such a warm & hospitable host. We've been very lucky to tick off so many items in our bucket list in this trip. And the highlight & most memorable part-- the romantic marriage proposal of Jan to me in Arizona. Yes, you've read it right. We're getting married! Up to this moment, Im still on cloud 9 & i cant help but to look at my finger every minute. I feel like everything just fell into its right time & right place. BUT..I will save our marriage proposal story for another post because that's gonna be a looonngg blog entry. :) So for now, let me start off our USA blog series with our trip in San Francisco California which is the first City we visited in our itinerary.

From San diego, we took an early flight to San Francisco via Alaska airlines and picked up our rental car near the airport. We stayed in San Francisco for a couple of nights and we truly enjoyed wandering around the bustling City. Every neighborhood of San Francisco has its own unique personality from Lombard street, beautiful Victorian houses, the beaches, many chill spots & entertaining street performers around Pier 39 of Fishersman wharf & ofcourse, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and the list goes on. Not only did we enjoy the attractions but also the FOOD. We literally went from one foodtrip to another in San Francisco & I also got to try the yummiest Clam Chowder I ever had in my life in a local restaurant in Pier 39. 

On a side note, because San Francisco is one of the most visited & popular tourist attractions in the United States also means--thieves are all over. On our last day, we had our rental car's window smashed by the thieves and it seems rampant in SF because we've also seen a couple of auto break-ins before our window got smashed. Good thing, we didnt leave any of our valuables inside the car & our friend availed an insurance. So, all good.  

Early morning flight to SFO

That Big American brunch,though 

Looking at this pic makes me hungry T_T

Taken at the Palace of Fine Arts. When I posted this in my social media, many of our friends & relatives commented that this photo is like an engagement shoot.. little did I know that Jan would actually propose in this trip. [Thanks Jack for this photo! ]

Beautiful Architecture

Love all the beautiful Victorian Houses in SF

Lombard Street

Driving in the iconic San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. Bucket List-- Check!

San Fran 

Thank you Golden Gate Bridge for still showing up 

Fisherman's wharf

Chillin' along Fisherman's wharf

Pier 39

When you have a photography enthusiast friend :)

Day 2. Lunch at the famous Bubba Gump Restaurant

Spot the Alcatraz

Yum!

Beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean

Pictures dont give justice..

The yummiest Clam Chowder evaaaahh!

That's about our 2 days trip in San Francisco :)

To be continued.

Always,

Rica ♡

Fun Week in Thailand

A week after our Japan trip.. we packed our bags again & went for another fun-filled 8 days vacation in Bangkok Thailand. It's my second time there (and Jan's 5th time) so we didn't plot any itinerary beside that we only want to indulge to eating delicious Thai cuisines to our heart's content  . Visiting Jan's aunt.. Tita Am and her little family in Bangkok, is always my favorite vacation because we can just BE. No OOTD ( I sometimes went out in the mall with my Pajama) .No Itinerary or rushing to go to one tourist spot to another.. our only agenda was to spend as much quality time & have fun all together as possible. For 8 days, we just spent one night in Pattaya for a staycation & visited some temples on the way home, went to Madame Tussauds on our last day & that's it. The remaining days we just cooked at home, shared our endless stories, laughed together till midnight & if we get a little bored we would go to the mall to eat & shop. Beside, we didnt feel that we're far from home because Thailand is really like just the Philippines. Same weather, Thai looks just like us (except for the language barrier) & some Thai dishes are similar to our cuisine. 

Also, we came just in time for a long holiday in Thailand in celebration of Songkran (Thai's new year's festival). It's so fun to experience Thai's new year rituals for the first time such as pouring scented water to Buddha, wearing colorful & flowery shirts (thai's new yr outfit) & all the water gun fights & splashing that reminded me of San Juan Festival.  Water splashing symbolizes washing off the misfortune of the past, thus, welcoming the new year with a fresh start. 

One day..Tita Am set up their veranda with water balloons.. we poked the ballons & splashed water to each other . After many years of embracing  adulthood I felt like a kid again.  It made me realize  that in life.. it's the simple things that give us the biggest joy.. it might sound cliche but it's true. Enjoying life isnt as complicated as it seems if we only appreciate the little things we have. Okay, Im being a philosopher again . Hehehe~  . Here are some random pics in our Thailand trip last April..  Thank you Rosales family for always welcoming us warmly everytime we visit . See you again soon!

  My happy face because it's my first time to fly on a businessclass with Philippine Airlines on the way to Bangkok! Yey! I have always been wanting to fly on a businessclass & I'm so happy that another item ticked off in my bucket list!

Appetizer served was Scallops & Salmon in Mustard-Dill Dressing. They also immediately served us with nuts, welcome drink, Champagne & breads.

For Main Course.. I chose Beef in Apricot Red Vinegar Sauce with mashed potato

And finally for dessert.. I chose Carmen's best icecream in Salted Caramel. Super rich & creamy!

I definitely had a restful sleep because of the comfy & spacious reclinable seat! And for K-pop fans out there like I do.. PAL has a BTS playlist in their inflight entertainment :)

The next day, we went to Pattaya & visited some few temples along the way.. I'm wearing a short so i need to cover my legs with sarong.

With Rosales Family

Staycation at the Citrus Hotel in Pattaya. We're amazed how affordable hotel accommodations are in Thailand..

Pattaya Beach

Night life in Pattaya..

Not suitable for young audiences! :P I was a little culture-shocked seeing so many clubs (and lady-boy) in the night market ..

Golden Buddha Image carved into the mountain.. Hence, its name..

Songkran Celebration 

Almost all establisments have budhha images in the entrance where you can pour scented water to the images & say your prayer..

Songran Outfit.. Colorful & flowery dresses..

Pineapple with salt, sugar, some shrimps & red pepper powder

My favorite Thai dish.. Bagoong Rice!

One of authentic Thai's desserts.. Sticky Rice with Mango sprinkled with rice cripy..

We're Songkran Ready!

Yieeeee..

Sweet couple

Arroz Caldo in Mcdo? Yes, they have it here in Thailand!

Random Pics at Madame Tussauds..

Going Home.. Cant believe 8 days went by so quickly!

While waiting for boarding.. I'm reading Meghan's letter (Jan's 7 year old cousin) to us. She is really such a sweetheart!

Back to the fun part! (before I end this post)-- Flying businessclass again on my return flight to Manila.. Yey! This was a very rare moment so I need to document this in my blog. LOL.  How I really wish I could always afford to fly on a busineclass .. Thank you PAL for our awesome travel benefit & for making my dream come true!

Welcome drink before Take-off

Appetizer was Thai Minced Chicken Salad

While Main course served to us was Seabass in Tomato Concasse..

I'm so full my tummy has no space for dessert! Hehe.

 So that's about my blog for our Thailand trip. Kob Khun Kha Thailand for another wonderful experience!

Till next time! 

Always,

Rica ♡