Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Good Dress Up Paradiso. ELENABLOG

Pa-ra-di-so :/ Italian word that means Paradise

Now I can say that summer is really over for me. That's fine because I had a great summer! Best summer yet! Discovered new places, done new things and shared lots of memories.

For my last summer trip, we've decided to visit Coron, Palawan. We've been seeing good reviews about the island and the photos were real nice so we thought why not? What we saw in photos doesn't compare to what we've seen in real life. It was amazing, that island's a paradise! Definitely a good decision for us to go to Coron for our 1st Anniversary! 

Since my trip, a lot of people have been asking me how was Coron, what are the places to go to, places to eat, and every tourist-y FAQs everyone wants to know. So I've decided to put everything here! I'm warning you, I've included a lot of photos on this blog post. Enjoy!


We booked a flight to Busuanga (that's what they call the town, Coron is the Island) thru Cebu Pacific. Our flight is scheduled at 11:30am and the travel to Busuanga is an hour away. The time is just right so we could check in to our hotel right away when we arrive.

Off Shoulder Top, Palazzo Pants, Necklace, Sandals FOREVER 21 | Bag, H&M 



 TIP: Book a flight months before the trip to avail cheaper rates, wait for PISO fares too! Our flight cost us around 5-6k each round trip because we booked late. Some airlines are offering round trip flights to Busuanga worth 2-3k only! 


TIP: When you book a hotel, don't look for extravagant and expensive ones because you won't be staying in the hotel the entire time. You just need the hotel for your stuff, shower and sleep. Better splurge on tours, food and pasalubong


We arrived at Coron around 2pm had a quick lunch and took a nap. We woke up at 7pm and we were so hungry! We're new to the place so we didn't know where are the good places to eat at. I just take advices from my friends who've been to Coron and of course, google. LOL

The first thing that I've observed from this place was the life was very simple here. Don't expect tall buildings, modern houses and fancy restaurants, the place is simple (imagine a rural setting), quiet and the people are really nice. You can leave your motorcycle outside and no one would get it. 


We ended up having dinner at Trattoria Altrove (AL-TRO-VEH). It's an Italian restaurant that is open only from 6pm-11pm. It's a nice and neat place literally neat because you have to leave your footwear by the entrance, yes dinner on barefoot.


Romantic set-up huh? Just right because it's our 1st Anniversary Dinner! Yiiee :)


Meet my handsome date. ;)


We ordered 2 dishes, Fettuccine Carbonara and this unusual pizza because it's topped with tuna and corn yuuuuum! :)


They have really large servings and each dish costs around P 250-350. This is the brick oven pizza that I was talking about! It's huge and tasty! They don't have service water so just try their shakes and juices. They offer cocktail drinks and beers too!


Our first day was mostly all about relaxation. We took a rest the whole day because we know that we're going to have a busy stay on our next days in Coron.


 Second day in Coron! It's our first day of tour! We had our Island Tour that consists of tour at Kayangan Lake, Coral Garden, CYC Beach, Balinsasayaw Floating House, Banol Beach and Twin Lagoon. Each tour costs around 1,200-1,700 per person. I know it's pricey but it's totally worth it. Lots of places to go to plus a lunch buffet on an island!




One of my favorite destinations, the Kayangan Lake. As what the boatmen would say, you've never been to Coron if you don't visit Kayangan Lake. It's probably the most famous destination in Coron. It's part sea water and part clear water. It's real deep. You have to hike at least 300 steps to get to the lake. 


Tadah! The oh so clear Kayangan Lake!! :)




TIP: Bring a waterproof camera or a waterproof casing for your mobile phones! It's really great to take underwater photos in Palawan.




The Coral Reef Garden was amazing. You can see live corals and fishes swimming around. Nature's wonders.
 Lunch buffet at Banol Beach.


Our last stop was the Twin Lagoon. This place was amazing and magical. I can't imagine why the water in this lagoon is not salty but is connected to the sea. Yup, it's clear water too. So we toured around the lake on this Kayak. 

TIP: Bring a snorkel mask if you have one because you NEED IT. You can rent from the boatmen at P 150. Rent a Kayak too. You're going to use it at Banol Beach and Twin Lagoon. Seriously, where is the adventure without a boat? :)

We had a long day, it was fun and tiring so all we want is a good place to eat at. Again, I googled and found this. Corto del Mar is a hotel but they have a restaurant that is open to outsiders. Its Spanish inspired interior and the view of the pool is nice and relaxing.





They have large servings, seriously. I ordered Rosemary Chicken with Mashed Potato and steamed vegetables and I can't barely finish it! Mon ordered a different dish and each meal costs around P 350. I swear you should eat at Corto del Mar or book it for your stay in Coron. 


Our third day in Coron was our last day of tour. We  went to visit Malcapuya Island, Banana Island and my favorite, Bulog Dos.



Top, Skirt, Hat, Eyeglasses FOREVER 21 | Flip flops, HAVAIANAS



First stop was Malcapuya Island. The most interesting part on this island was snorkeling and fish feeding!

Met a lot of Nemos and Dories underwater hihi! Bring a pack of bread when you go to Malcapuya! It's fun to feed the fishes and film it on cam! :)


Second stop was Banana Island.This is where we had our lunch! It's a good spot for snorkeling too! But what we mainly did here was to relax and enjoy the view!


Lunch buffet at Banana Island! 


Bikini Top, NAFNAF | Bikini Bottom, Sunglasses and Scarf  FOREVER 21 
excuse the cheesy photo hihi



My favorite destination, Bulog Dos! This view is amazing. The cliff, sandbar and the shallow waters is one for the books! Perfect beach! :)
With the bae <3 p="">

 What we did here was take lots of pictures and relax.


Isn't the view from the cliff awesome? You can see the whole island! :)




It was a great tour but our stay in Coron wouldn't be complete without visiting Maquinit Hotspring. The water's real hot. The tricycle can take you there with the price of P 300 round trip and he's going to stay for you for an hour. 




and that ends our last day of tour in Coron! Experienced a lot of different adventures on this island! :)


For our last day, we just had lunch at the famous Lolo Nonoy's! They serve Filipino dishes at very affordable prices. We ordered a whole plate of sizzling sisig at P 150 and lechon kawali at P170. Large serving plus delicious food is a steal! I swear you shouldn't miss this place!:)




 For our last day, we bought Pasalubong for our families and friends back in Manila. Their famous delicacy is the Marinated Boneless Danggit and a lot of dried fish! I quite regret that I didn't buy a lot because it's really good. Make sure to buy this when you go to Coron! 

You can buy danggit and don't worry about the packaging, because Ate will pack it right for you!


Our flight was scheduled in the afternoon so we had time to buy pasalubong and have lunch. Time to go!



We had an amazing time in Coron, I hope you'll have one too on your future visit. Let me know how it goes! ;)

  

Photography by Raymond Tagle Jr.

XOXO,
NICOLE

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Good Dress Up Sonder Styles X Nicole Santos. ELENABLOG

It's just a week away before Labor day weekend! I bet everyone has plans set for this holiday! Whether it may be at the beach or just a weekend staycation, you definitely need a good pair of swimsuit to wear at the beach or the pool. I've discovered a new swimsuit shop online that showcases unique swim sets!:)

Introducing SONDER STYLES!

Sonder
n. the realization that each one of us has a unique story
  Sonder Styles offers uniquely designed swimsuits made of only the best quality nylon spandex. These are complemented with handcrafted beach accessories.

The Summer 2015 collection consists of reversible bikinis, highlighted with cheeky bottoms in bright blue, pink and yellow. Sonder Styles is committed to bringing out the confidence in every Filipina, cause it knows that having fun on the beach starts with right swimwear. No more ill-itting or see through bikinis, and no more common/mass-produced styles.
My Sonder Styles Oahu 4 Way Reversible Triangle Bikini. 


Sonder Styles, core foundation are classic sillhouettes, but we experiment with patterns and colors. This is why our products will never go out of style even from season to season.





Sonder Styles also offer summer accessories that you could mix and match with your swimsuits!

Since I've mentioned earlier that my Oahu Triangle bikini is reversible and can be worn in 4 ways, let me show you how!:) 

1st!

2nd!

3rd!


4th!


Imagine, 4 different ways in one swimsuit? You can definitely wear it repetitively and no one would notice! :)

Want this bikini? I know you do!
That's why together with Sonder Styles, I'm giving you a summer treat!
Show us a picture of your summer destination on instagram and get a chance to win swimwear and accessories of your choice from our collection. Don't forget to follow me @nicooolesantos and @sonderstyles and tag ?#?sonderstyles? ?#?nicoleXsonderstyles? for your entries! Giveaway is until April 30 only! Open to all ladies residing in PH! Now, what are you waiting for? Post away! I'll be waiting for your entries! :)

XOXO,
NICOLE

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Good Dress Up Old But New . ELENABLOG

As what I've told on my recent blog post, I'm going to share more things about my recent trip in Bataan. This is my favorite one, visiting Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. This isn't my first time visiting this quaint place. It's actually my third time. The first time I visited this place was way back 2010. The place that time was still under construction but some parts were ready so we were able to take a tour. The second time was with my friends year 2012. The place was finished! My friends really enjoyed our stay here. This time, this place was more amazing! They've extended it and built more houses and parks. Its really a go-to I tell you. You should pay a visit real soon. 


 I visited this place with my family. We really went there for my sister's travel photography journal for her photography class finals. The place is by membership only but now they already offer the place for walk ins due to public demand. Its quite expensive but I tell you, its really worth it! There's a pool, restaurant, amazing structures, jeep, kalesa, different performances and of course, the beach! You can even rent these houses or rent a room in their hotel. A one of a kind summer experience!

My baby, Rosco enjoying the summer breeze!


details

Top, Shorts, Sandals, Hat and Sunglasses FOREVER 21

They offer jeepney rides for tourists who doesn't want to walk so they could still go around the place! Fancy!


Yes this is really a bakeshop, they sell snacks and drinks too!


and this is really a Photo store!

This is my favorite building of all! It looks like the Venetian in Macau. 


This place has its Filipino-Italian vibe.



I love how they conceptualize this and involved bodies and water.


This is a church but is still under construction. I think they thought about building one because lots of couples do want to marry in this place.

Hotel de Oriente



My favorite house!! It's not yet finished inside but the red bricks really gets me! So homey!

This is the most interesting one...


 It has a canal in the middle like passageways for gondolas. Really amazing!

 These Casas are for rent. Imagine living in one for a week? How relaxing!


Its great that some people still appreciate Filipino heritage by going to these kinds of places and even building one! 

We left the place at sunset. It really feels serene watching it. 

This is going to be a packed summer for me, I have so many places to go to in line! Looking forward to use all my vacation leave(s) this summer. LOL!

*All photos taken using my iPhone5s

I'd like to know how your summer went! Leave a comment below, tweet or hit me up on instagram @nicooolesantos. I've posted wonderful photos on instagram as well! :)

My next stop? Boracay! Who's going? I'll see you there from the last week of April until May!

XOXO,
NICOLE

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Good Dress Up In The Tropics. ELENABLOG

Hello Summer!

It's my favorite time of the year! The season where I can hit the beach and go on a vacation! I've perfectly planned my summer vacation this year so I guarantee you that I will be sharing them all here! Oh I've missed writing down on this page. I just figured I have nothing really interesting to share for the past few months but work. I want something really interesting. Something you guys would feel excited about reading. So here it goes...

To start of my comeback post, I'd like to share my recent Holy Week in Bataan, Philippines. It's a 3-4 hour drive from Manila. Since I was a kid, we always spend Holy Week here. We hit the beach, watch the Senakulo , lounge by the pool and do hours and hours of road trip. 


I've always loved the beach. Sometimes, I even wish I live there. I want to own a house by the beach, I wanna get married by the beach, I want to own a boat and everything related to this body of water. LOL

Bataan may not be as popular as Boracay or Palawan but this place has its fair share of wonderful beaches. West Nuk beach is our favorite! The white sand, peaceful island and exclusivity makes it really fascinating! 

One Piece, NEON ISLAND Sunglasses, FOREVER 21

This beach is more conservative than the usual ones so I opted to wear a one piece. My flamingo printed one piece is perfect for this place! The print is one of a kind because it's hand drawn, made by Neon Island of course. This one piece fits me like a glove! They have a new collection of swimwear! You have to check them out!









You, how was your summer so far?

More photos of my Bataan trip soon! Stay Tuned!:)

XOXO,
NICOLE

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Good Dress Up REDux: Flux. ELENABLOG


Every year, a renowned party has been gathering ravers all over the metro to party the night away. Ready you�re stilettos, make-up and your fashionista clothes as De La Salle University�s premiere student organization brings you again another epic night, with elements that has never been experienced at the party scene of Manila.

On it�s 29th year, the Business Management Society, with its epitome of college parties proudly presents: REDux Flux. Happening this March 20, 2015, get ready to head to Palacio de Maynila at Roxas Boulevard from 7:00PM onwards. 

Daze your eyes with a fashion show featuring clothes from People Footwear, Folded & Hung, Jellybean and Guess. 

With MC Ron Thug on the mic, the party never stops as REDux Flux bring you the epic mixes of DJ Lucio Pua and DJ Ron Poe. Also, don�t miss out on DJ Khai Lim and DJ Therese Garcia as they bring you their sickest bump-and-grind beats that will keep you and your friends elated all night long.

To wrap it all up, there will be 4 phases of the lights show, which will highlight REDux Flux thus making your experience one of a kind.

Go to https://www.facebook.com/bmsdlsuredux for more details on how to get your ticket to one of the greatest parties ever seen in Manila. There�s also a barkada package of BUY 5, GET 1 FREE waiting for big group of friends who are ready to party. Tickets are selling fast so hurry and buy now!


BMS REDux Flux wouldn�t be possible without the following sponsors:

In partnership with
Closeup | John Robert Powers Manila | Tripda | Pioneer Philippines

Co-presented by
Magic 89.9 | Shifted Media | Guess | Dermplus Moisturizing Sunblock

Together with Major Sponsors
Standard Mfg Co. Inc. | Lee Cooper Eyewear Ph | HAWK bag

Minor Sponsors
People�s Footwear | Flawless | Folded & Hung + Jellybean | Mother Theresa Medical Center
People Footwear PH | Flawless | Folded and Hung (OFFICIAL) + Jellybean

Media Partners
Circuit Magazine | ClickTheCity.com | Juice.Ph | philstar.com | Wazzup Pilipinas | When In Manila.com | Rave Manila | EDM Philippines | Rave.PH

Bloggers
Nicole Santos | Bernadeth Gutierrez | Jamsy Perez
Hershey Neri | Erika Rosales | Lexie Puzon | Ida Anduya

IG Partners
Wanda Chen | Jane Sibug | Jennica Sanchez | Gabs Gibbs

Twitter Partners
Relatestagram | Amphigong | Eli Santos | OhEmPackers | OhTeenQuotes