Vietnam Golf Tour

It was totally unexpected. I was flabbergasted and humbled at the same time. As my name was called to receive the championship trophy at the hotel café of The Intercontinental in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, I could not believe my ears. I stood up from my chair feeling a bit embarrassed yet proud of my feat. Embarrassed since earning the championship title for the three-days match was totally unanticipated. I felt there were formidable and lower handicapped players with me during the event. Yet proud since I emerged the unlikely winner!

When I learned that my husband and I were going to Vietnam for our annual international golf tournament, I was both excited and anxious. Excited since I was going to play again in foreign soil; yet anxious because I had to contend with 23 other golfers. Not that I have a competitive streak. It was just that I didn’t like embarrassing myself with a poor game. Good thing, my excitement got the better of me.

We left for Vietnam last November 15, 2009 via Philippine Airlines. The golf tour took us to two cities in a span of five days. My husband and I were with ten other Filipino golfers. We made up the Filipino team who yearly competed with our golf counterparts from Hong Kong.

With my husband Caloy. Ready for 3 days of golf in Vietnam

It was an arduous journey. We flew to Dalat for the first leg of the three-days match the day we arrived Ho Chi Minh. Since we had to wait for five hours for the next flight to Dalat, our Filipino group saw it wise to tour the capital.

Going around Ho Chi Minh was a bit of a challenge because of the congested traffic and hundreds of motorcycles angling for space in the crowded and narrow roads. There were people wearing the ubiquitous conical hats Vietnamese are known for. I saw men squatting on the sides of the pavement, exchanging talks with their compatriots. There were vendors peddling their ware on two bamboo baskets balanced on a stick across their shoulders. Their commercial buildings were built side by side, cramped together in small spaces, built three or four stories high. There were neither big shopping centers nor impressive corporate headquarters. I was surprised, though, to see a Jollibee store at the center of the city. Many of the structures were old and French inspired. Ho Chi Minh (Saigon as it was formerly known) was after all a French colony before the Vietnam War.

We passed by several tourist spots in the city like the Reunification Palace, the huge Central Post Office, War Remnants Museum, beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral and Binh Tay Market. I found nothing extraordinary about the city. Maybe I needed more days to immerse myself with the country’s culture and society. I vehemently disagree with some political analyst in my country who suggested that Vietnam had outpaced the Philippines economically. As far as I have seen, at least in terms of infrastructure, Vietnam has still a long, long way to go.

The beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral

The famous among tourist: Binh Tay Market

We arrived Dalat the evening of our arrival in Vietnam. We stayed in the French-inspired Sofitel Dalat Palace which was located at the heart of city. It had a breathtaking view of the lake and city. We were awed as we entered its imposing doors. It had a 1920's style and charm to it. I read that Hotel Sofitel Dalat Palace is one of the most beautiful and amongst the few remaining historical hotels in Southeast Asia. It was built in 1922 & restored in 1995, meticulously to its original grandeur. Our room had a princess-inspired bed and a colonial-style bathroom.

Sofitel Dalat Palace Hotel

We played in Dalat Palace Golf Club for 2 days. Dalat is a charming city in the central highlands of Vietnam. It is a breath of fresh air after the mayhem and humidity of Ho Chi Minh City. In fact, Dalat reminds me so much of the Baguio City of my youth. Baguio is the summer capital of the Philippines situated in the Mountain Province. It is known for its crisp, cool air and beautiful mountain surroundings. But personally, I think Dalat is way more beautiful than Baguio is now. It is the favorite vacation spot of native Vietnamese who are looking for rest and recreation in a cool spot. Pine trees abound in its hilly slope and a large lake sits at the center of the city.

First day of golf with Anki of Sweden and Lyn Sembrano in Dalat Palace Golf Club

My flight mates on the 2nd day of the golf tour: John of Sweden, Loida from Hong Kong and Rob Chien;

At the Dalat Palace Golf Club

On the third day, we went back to Ho Chi Minh and played at Long Thanh Golf Club. It was a remarkably beautiful course, with well-manicured greens, rolling fairways, high-lipped bunkers and water hazards. It was of international standards, which really surprised me. Playing there felt like you were in some western country, not Vietnam.

At the Long Thanh Golf Club in Ho Chi Minh;

With Lilian Selenius and Sharon Evans of the Hong Kong Team; and Tami Leung

Too bad we had a short stay in Vietnam. I know there is much to see and do. However, this Vietnam visit of mine will always be among my bucket of pleasant memories. Playing in a foreign land…. marvelous! Winning a 3 days golf tournament, unforgettable!!!!

Receiving my trophy from Nelson Leung. What a way to end a golf tour!!!

Weekend Escapade in Tagaytay/Anilao

As the Britney Spears song goes “Oops, I did it again!”, I was back in Anilao last June 6, 2010, diving to my heart’s content. This was my 3rd visit to Anilao in less than a month. I didn’t really think I would be back that soon. However, fate had it for my family and I to once again commune with mother nature.

My husband’s older brother Ric was in the country for a short visit with his family. We decided to take them out of town for some rest and recreation. Upon learning that Caloy and I just got certified as divers, Ric’s children, Patrick and Anne, wanted to give it a try. We suggested an overnight stay in Canyon Woods, which is a resort community on the way to Anilao; followed by a day trip to Dive and Trek the next morning.

My boys, Matt, Andrew and Timothy, were very excited to be with their cousins again. The five of them grew up together in Fairview where our ancestral home was. Ric and his wife Ofel decided to migrate to the United States some six years back. My children last saw them when we visited the US in 2006. That weekend in Canyon Woods and Anilao was a chance for all of us to reminisce our past and catch up with the present.

The Roxas families in Canyon Woods

We started our weekend escapade with a golf game in Canyon Woods. What would normally take us two hours to finish a nine-hole game took us five hours! There were six of us in one flight – Caloy, Matthew and I; Ric, Ofel and Patrick. Since it was just a leisurely game, we took time practicing each shot. I was actually surprised that Ric and Ofel took a liking to this unforgiving sport. It was fun playing with them, trying to conquer the narrow and exquisitely challenging course of Canyon Woods. I took it as an opportunity to practice my swing since the following Monday was my competition with the Women Golf Association of the Philippines.

Matt, with his Tito Ric, about to make his putt

It took us 5 hours to finish 9 holes!!!

We took off for Anilao early the following morning. I was astonished with the milieu of divers, both foreign and local, that day in Dive and Trek Resort. Apparently, there exists a diving community I am not privy of until recently. I should not be surprised though since the Philippines is known for its beautiful reefs and aquatic resources. That moment, I felt privileged to be among the few who can witness one of nature’s hidden spectacles.

Our boat ride to Dive and Trek in Anilao

While Patrick and Anne waited for their turn for their introductory dive, Caloy and I got immediately dressed in our wetsuits for that dip in the ocean. I was amazed how at ease I was, exhilarated by the chance for another underwater dive. I remember just last week during our check out, I almost gave up because of fear. I just emptied my mind with negative thoughts and took to the water like a fish.

Patrick and Anne doing introductory dive lessons while everyone listened.

My first dive that morning was interesting. I saw the usual parrotfish, angelfish, dory and other tropical fishes circling around me. There were all sorts of marine creature in various colors. They had the best color combination a fashion designer would be envy of. Some of the more unusual ones I saw were the lionfish, trumpet fish, and giant clams. The clams came in different shapes. Their lips were of different colors, too. There was one in deep violet with a sprinkling of white luminous dots. Other clams were bluish while others were bland. Some were opening and closing their gigantic mouths while others were spewing some dust clouds. There was even a blowfish or butete resting in a magnolia-like coral. It was captivating! What was different about this dive was the sight of several divers under the ocean with me. I felt like an intruder, together with them, in this sublime environment.


Diving really takes some practice. By my second dive, I already set a goal in mind. In my previous dives, I was just following the lead of the dive master. This time, I knew what I wanted to see. So Conrad, our dive master, took my husband and I down 70 feet to see the Grotto, Bat Cave and Basilica dive sites, as I suggested. During this dive, I felt very relaxed and in control. Equalization was a breeze and adjusting my buoyancy was child play.

Caloy feeding the fishes with breadcrumbs

While we were swimming with the fishes, my boys and Ric’s family enjoyed snorkeling under the leaden sky and playing with Bogart, the resort's Golden Retriever. Ric thought my husband Caloy was joking when he said that Bogart could dive under the ocean to retrieve a tossed bottle of coke. It was actually the resort manager, Alex, who threw the bottle to the ocean to show-off Bogart's unique talent. The kids had a heyday watching Bogart pull off his stunt.

Timothy, Anne and Austin

Andrew and Anne clowning around

Matt and Patrick, pooped from the day's activities

The current was getting stronger that afternoon since the southwest wind or hanging habagat had arrived. We finally called it a day and by 5:30 pm, our banca brought us back to land. That boat ride back was an experience by itself. The waves were rough, slapping our boat with its hefty hand. Our banca was carried by the turbulent waves, lifting it up then pulling it down over and over again like a giant roller coaster ride. I sat beside the boatman who was maneuvering our banca. I saw how relaxed he was despite the whopping waves. I decided we were in safe hands.

The cousins

We all had fun!

We headed for home by 6 pm; had a bountiful Filipino dinner at Bali Resort in Tagaytay; and reached our unit at The Fort by past 10.

It was a great weekend escapade. We enjoyed the company of Ric and Ofel, Patrick and Anne; the sumptuous food, the leisurely golf game and the relaxing dive. What else could we ask for! As Louie Armstrong would sing, “What a wonderful world!”

I "heart" Mt. Rainier!

He instantly captivated me. I stood there, stupefied by his alluring charm. I could not help but sigh in utter admiration as I gazed upon his imposing presence. He was haunting me, taunting me to answer his beck and call.

Nope, I was not alluding to another man. I was referring to the regal Mt. Rainier found in Washington State, USA.

When my childhood friend Nerissa told me we were going up Mt. Rainer during my visit to Washington, my heart leap with joy and anticipation. I have always considered myself a mountain person. The sight of earth’s elevation covered with its dark green foliage gives me a natural high.

I have always fantasized climbing a mountain – seeing myself like Sir Edmund Hillary when he conquered Mt. Everest. He was asked why he did it. His famous answer, “Because it’s there.” If I lived in Washington, I’d probably be scaling its heights too. However, for this short vacation, it was enough for me to see Mt. Rainier up close and personal.

It caught my attention when I was touring Seattle in the summer of 2008. As the highest mountain in the state of Washington and the third tallest peak in the US, this dormant volcano is visible in any part of the city in a clear day. It is considered one of America’s most beautiful, unique and pristine natural wonder.

I love Mt. Rainier!!

I was fortunate to have the company of Nerissa and her friends who accompanied me for this alpine experience. They were the loving couple, Enrico and Tess David, who happened to be celebrating their wedding anniversary during our day trip; and Dion Franada, an amiable and entertaining lady. I have only known them for less than a day, yet I felt like I knew them for a lifetime. They were fun and enjoyable to be with.

Enrico and Tess David: Celebrating their wedding anniversary in Mt. Rainier

With Nerissa and her friends, Dion and Tess

Nerissa and Dion enjoying the summer snow

At the Paradise Visitors Center

On the way there, we meandered over gently rolling hills and through rural farmlands dotted with old barns. I enjoyed the diverse terrain, wild natural areas, quaint towns and stunning views all within the bounds of the scenic byways. We even stopped by a raspberry farm and picked the produce straight from the vine.

Picking raspberry in Washington!

Showing off what we picked!

Upon reaching Mt. Rainier National Park, I noticed nature at its finest – summer snow blanketing the summit, wildflowers randomly scattered among the rocks, tall, alpine trees covering the mountains, and wildlife wondering about. We stopped at Paradise Visitor Center and took a leisurely stroll around the area. I played with snow, an activity someone like me from a tropical country would greatly enjoy. And of course, I took that favorable time for lots of photo opportunities to capture that moment!

Nerissa and I: Best friends forever!

Let it snow! Let it snow!

Breathless in Seattle

Coffee… Microsoft… Tom Hanks… and Nerissa! Those were the first things that came to my mind when I decided to visit Seattle in 2008.

My husband went back home ahead of me after less than two weeks break in the US. I thought of staying a week more to visit one of my best friends forever, Nerissa. She had been my frequent travel companion every time I visited the US sans my husband. The first time I was there in 2000, she joined me in San Francisco. We were together in Los Angeles and New York in separate occasions. I’ve never been to her home state, Washington, so I took the opportunity of paying her a visit.

Jude and Nerissa Ong: At home in Seattle

It was a joy seeing her and her husband Jude. We grew up together in Manila with my other “bff,” Junette and Jacqui. Young and restless, the three of them chose to migrate to other lands while I stayed behind in the land of my birth. Junette and Jacqui settled in Sydney while Nerissa moved to Seattle.

Nerissa is as colorful and exciting as Seattle’s waterfront and picturesque mountains. We had a great time reminiscing about our childhood days while going around Seattle’s tourist spots. Vibrant and loquacious, Nerissa entertained me with her life dramas and funny anecdotes.

She and Jude took me around the interesting parts of the Emerald City. My idea of Seattle came from the Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan movie, Sleepless in Seattle. But now, I guess, Seattle is more famous as the home of Microsoft, Starbucks, and Amazon.com.

The original facade of the very first Starbucks coffee shop

We wandered over to Pike Place Market where the first Starbucks store is located. It is fascinating to think how a small coffee shop grew into a multimillion international brand. They retained the original façade of the coffee shop for posterity. The coffee shop was packed inside, maybe by tourists wanting a taste of coffee history. Nerissa bought me a Starbucks mug as a memento of my visit here.

In Pike Place Market, one can find an array of colorful fishes, flowers and crafts. Market vendors, who threw their fish back and forth to each other while singing some tune, entertained us. I got to taste the freshest smoked salmon I ever had. There were assortments of sea creatures up for sale – from Alaskan king crab to monkfish. The market is a haven for cooks and food lovers. Outside the market area, people played music or danced or did some creative stuff to attract attention, which gave Pike Place an interestingly good vibe.

Seattle has one of the most magnificent seaports in the US, if not the world. When I was there, I saw the Norwegian Pearl docked at the Pier. I have never seen such a humongous cruise ship before. I promised myself that I would ride a similar cruise ship when I come back in the future.

Nerissa, Jude and I with the Norwegian Pearl in the background

We then wandered down to their waterfront where the Seattle Aquarium and Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center were located. I got to taste the best “seafood chowder” at Anthony’s and famous “fish and chips” at Ivars.

Seattle’s most famous landmark is the Space Needle. We passed by it several times but decided not to enter. Nerissa instead brought me to a hilltop where I had the best view of Seattle that included the Space Needle and Mt. Rainier. It was absolutely breathtaking!

Such breathtaking sight!

I was very fortunate during my visit because the sun was shining high. Most movies I saw with Seattle as the setting almost always visibly shows silvery clouds passing by. Seattle can have variable weather – from light drizzle to sun to cloud to rainstorm to sun to clouds and finally back to drizzle - all in about two hours. Those few days I was there, the sun was cheery and bright. People were out in the parks, basking under the bashful sun. But on my last day, I got to experience Seattle’s infamous gray clouds. It made me remember some chilly, overcast scenes from the Twilight movie.

Having some girl time in Seattle under the bright, sunny skies

I just had such wonderful time in Seattle. I am so grateful for my bff, Nerissa, for the time she spent showing me around her adopted city. I know there are more interesting places there waiting for me to discover. I promise myself to come back to the Emerald City one day. Hopefully, as part of a launching pad to an Alaskan cruise or Vancouver escapade.

My Quest for a PADI Diving License

I must confess that I got scared. Not for myself but for the one I love so much. What have I gotten him into? I persuaded him to try this adventure sports. He caved in after much prodding. And there we were, my husband and I, almost at the finish line before we get certified as PADI open water scuba divers.

Ervin, Willy, Marlo and Caloy

After a year since we started our confined water dives to get our license as certified divers, we were finally in Aqua Reef Club in Anilao last May 29-30, 2010 for our “check out” in the open sea. We started the morning with a review of the skills we learned in the pool. However, this time we did it 20 feet under the sea. We reacquainted ourselves with the technical aspect of the sport like setting up our scuba gears. We practiced emergency skills like sharing air or replacing scuba mask. It took us two hours practicing all these skills before our instructor, Willy Guevarra, decided we were ready for our open water dive.

Caloy and Ervin setting up our scuba gears

Practicing the "tired buddy" skill

The First Open Water Dive

I was excited for that moment to finally feel like a real diver. At around 3:30 pm, we rode a boat that took us to a dive site nicknamed Koala. We noticed that the water current was strong that afternoon. It was full moon the day before which may have explained the early tide. Nevertheless, we took it in stride feeling exhilarated by the adrenalin rush of a neophyte diver.

Fully geared up, I took a back roll and plunged under water. It was pretty scary at first not knowing what to expect when I finally hit the deep ocean. There were four of us who dove that afternoon – Willy, our instructor; Ervin, a 23 year old handsome gentleman; and my husband and I.

Caloy about to do a back roll

My heart was in my throat when I started to descend. I tried to keep my mind clear so I could remember all what I learned. It was generally a smooth descent until I saw my husband going down so fast. I learned later that his weight belt was too heavy for him that it pulled him faster than normal. In diving class, we learned that one should descend slowly, trying to equalize the air spaces in the body every now and then to avoid that “squeeze” in the ear which could really hurt.

Caloy had a rough time during his first open water dive

According to Caloy, when he noticed he was going down fast, he tried to fight it by trying to ascend. He sort of panicked when his ears started to hurt due to the drastic change in air pressure. He began breathing faster than normal and paddling vigorously. I saw our instructor swimming up towards him. My heart skipped when I saw one of my husband’s flippers slipped out of his foot as he was kicking hard to swim upwards. Willy retrieved the fallen flippers and put it on my husband again underwater. I tried to be stable and calm but attentive to what was happening to him.

Eventually, Caloy found his composure. He started floating along side Ervin and I. Then our instructor Willy had to restrain him again as he was swimming faster than the rest of us. Caloy kept on paddling his flippers, pushing him farther away from me, his dive buddy. The current was strong so it pushed him even farther away from the group. Willy was signaling him to go slow but Caloy didn't seem to understand. Willy signaled Erwin and I to be buddies while he kept an eye on Caloy the rest of the dive. I saw how tired Willy was as soon as we hit the boat. He apparently got exhausted just watching over Caloy!

(Dive) Buddies forever!

It was a 60 feet dive with a bottom time of 27 minutes. What could have been a thrilling and exciting adventure for me turned out to be an unpleasant experience. That evening, as I lay down in bed, I was anxious and worried for the next day’s dive. What if the same thing happened again or worse? Will I ever forgive myself if something wrong happened to my husband? What if it happens to me instead? All those negative scenarios were playing in my mind as I tried to fall asleep. I realized that diving is not one you can take for granted. No wonder one must get certified first by a reputable organization to avoid any of the underwater disasters. That first open water dive was a real learning experience for us. We learned the importance of checking the dive equipment thoroughly prior to making that dip. Like any sports perhaps, it takes practice to gain the necessary confidence.

A Breathtaking Dive

Good thing my husband was confident enough to give it another try. I was very hesitant to continue with the dives and willing to give up that dream of being a certified scuba diver. He overruled my weaker judgment and convinced me to finish off what we have started. So, off we went again for our next dives the following morning.

True to what Willy said that succeeding dives would be better and more pleasant, I had such great time during the next two dives. Caloy had finally settled down calmly and serenely throughout the dives.

For the first dive, we went to Twin Peaks site in Anilao. There I saw the most beautiful and colorful fishes my eyes laid on. As we were admiring the under water surrounding, a school of large, silvery fish (Talakitok or Jack fish) passed our way. They formed a giant silver curtain as thousands of them propelled towards us in synchronicity. Then just below us, I saw a school of yellow fish swirling around and around in circular motion. All of these were a sight to behold! I floated there, awestruck! It was the most breathtaking sight I have ever witnessed. There was also this huge butterfly fish that hovered beside me. It was fascinating how it kept following us wherever we swam. Our guess was that, perhaps, it was waiting to be fed with breadcrumbs. Fascinating!

The butterfly fish that followed me throughout my dive

This butterfly fish was huge!

Our second dive that early morning was equally mesmerizing. However, aside from fishes, we saw beautiful corals spread compactly in a wide bed of sand way 70 feet below. We witnessed it in the dive site called “Cathedral.” It was named as such because of the cross planted there by Fidel Ramos when he was still President. The cross lay in the center of two big domes. As we passed the cross, we swam beside a beautiful reef facing the dark and empty open sea. There I saw colorful corals clinging to the reef and small fishes feeding on it.

We made it!

Whoa! We almost missed that wonderful adventure if I succumbed to my unfounded fears. Diving is really fun! Diving affords you an opportunity to see a world that few can ever witness. Being down there amongst the fish and corals is a spiritual experience. It makes you feel one with all of God’s creation. It is really fascinating and awe-inspiring! I can’t wait again for my next dive, especially now that we are finally PADI certified open water divers!

Finally, am now a certified PADI open water diver!!!! Hurray!!!!