Festival of Tulips at the Gardens by the Bay

I have seen the Marina Bay Gardens in its early days, having lived in Singapore for 2+ years.   I have never been inside any of its two garden domes though.   When Kyla and I spent a week-long vacation in Singapore, we decided (at the drop of a hat, mind you) to go and have a look... Kyla's best buddy Tintin accompanied us to MBS.  Kyla and I stayed over at Tin and her mom Vi's home at the west coast of Singapore for the early part of the week.

There are two garden domes - the Flower dome and the Cloud Forrest dome.  She told us that this time of the year, tulips are showcased at the central area of the Flower dome.  And since I adore tulips, it was our chosen attraction for the day. Had we arrived a few days earlier, it would have been Cherry Blossoms.

I never knew there could be so much species of tulips that existed! It was indeed a visual feast to see those colorful beauties.

Note that in the multi-level deck of the dome, plants and trees from different parts of the globe are also on display.

Scroll below to see more pictures from the Flower Dome....

By the time we visited Gardens by the Bay, they started to take
down the dinosaur displays around the Supertrees.
We were still able to catch T-Rex in one piece.

Besties bonding day

Rembrant's portrait in its floral glory

Lots of bright colored tulips!

I didn't know such exists!

This for real?

Ah... so innocent and pure-looking beauty

A tribute to Julia

Lovely streaks of spring... or spryng

The red and yellow blooms make a stunning contrasts

Young buds 

This made me think of the book, The Little Prince

These white and fuchsia tulips are my personal favorites

Add caption

Grand Perfection: in my mind, I call them tiger tulips

Orange blooms

Side by side with Barcelona Beauty

A tribute to its host country

2nd personal favorite.

Yep. We wore flip flops for sheer comfort.
Lesson learned: if you are about to embark on a
> 10,000 steps a day adventure, better have flip flops!

Reminded me of orchids....

Van Gogh's Starry Night. In tulips.

Glad to have a week-long mom and babes bonding.

Perfect dark pink blooms

Taking a breather...

There is also a wide display of succulents around the dome

...more succulents at the upper deck of the dome

A giant succulent ?

Kyla was not happy to see her most-hated plant.

Ants at work on display. Really big ones.

View of the MBS from the Gardens

Special thanks to Kyla's BFF Tin for gamely joining our unplanned adventure to the city!

Countryside Sanctuary : Bellevue Bohol Hotel and Resort

Call me biased, but I will always favor Bohol than any other famous beach in the country.

This is my second time to visit Bellevue Hotel and Resort (BHR) in Panglao Island, Bohol.  My first trip was a company-sponsored event and there was very limited time to enjoy the place so I made a mental note to visit again with my family.  I knew my daughter will love it there.  We also had a summer vacation in Bohol many years ago and I’ve always thought that the beaches of Panglao Island are among the most beautiful in the country. I’m glad that the pristine beaches continue to be unspoiled by commercialization, at least, this side of Panglao.



Quite a sight to behold! I knew we'd be back for this!

Unlike our first family vacation in Bohol, we stayed bit longer and skip the country side tour packages, mainly just enjoy the place and have an endless time for relaxation before going back to the daily grind.

After 40-minutes or so of shuttle service from Tagbilaran airport to Bellevue Hotel and Resort, porters at the front façade will greet you with a welcome garland (was actually a local handicraft necklace). Checking-in was swift and efficient. I requested for two adjoining rooms and while this was not what were initially booked for us, the lady at the reception/check-in was able to find us the two connecting de luxe units at the ground floor, with a small patio that opens up to the pool area. Cool!  And yes, rooms have Wi-Fi and cable TV.

De luxe room with two twin bed set up

Bellevue Bohol at night. No filter. 

 Around the Resort

 

Beachfront with a view of the hotel and dining pavilions

 

Bellevue has a vast infinity pool that overlooks the beach. I love that the pool has been divided into areas for toddlers/young children to frolic, a modest 4-feet section for non-serious swimmers like me and a 12-feet dive pool.  There is a generous array of outdoor loungers/divans in front of the swimming pool and the beach, I spent one afternoon there in lazy splendor and toasting under the hot summer sun.  The platform at the center of the pool is ideal for those who love bikini-clad selfies with a dramatic view of the sea while draped on a lounger. Yes, you get the drift. But no, I didn't attempt to do one.

This platform is in the middle of the pool,
must be wonderful for after dark drinks and partying too!

The beach was something else. We spent one morning burning breakfast calories off via a 30-minutes of kayak.  Like most resorts, there are water sports and adventures to choose from like parasailing, catamaran ride, speed boat and the likes. The beach on this side of Panglao is littered with corals though hence people favor the pool better than swim at the beach.

Food and Dining

Bellevue Bohol boasts of two major dining facilities. The Lamian world cuisine is the air-conditioned dining hall where buffet breakfast is served daily.  The breakfast spread is 5 out of 5 for me, with wide variety of food choices as if you are in a metropolitan hotel’s breakfast buffet and that is a great way to jumpstart mornings. And I love their brewed coffee-- this is a make or break for me. During our stay, there were successions of corporate events at BHR and Lamian restaurant has been exclusively booked during lunch and dinner.

Alternatively, Marea offers al fresco dining experience and a wonderful view of the beach and the pool area, with live music entertainment even during week nights. The menu extensively covers local and international favorites, the taste, presentation and service definitely world-class. BHR can also set-up special themed-dinner buffet for company events like during our stay, there was a Luau-themed party at the beach front and another 80s themed dinner party with live band crooning to popular 80s dance music.

One ought to try their (gigantic bowl of) halo-halo and Pork Humba Boholano style.

Al fresco dining at Marea while a live band serenades with pop music

Other Activities at Bellevue Resort

I booked for a relaxing massage at the Azure Spa. They can also provide an in-room massage service if you so desire. Aside from spa and different types of massages, they also do facials and traditional hilot.  It was soooo soothing that I almost fell asleep while soft music and light scent of verbena drifts in the air! You are also treated to a strong brew of ginger tea after the massage.

I appreciate that BHR also offer a hosts of activities throughout the day like Koi-feeding, arts and crafts, Zumba, outdoor sports like volleyball or badminton, indoor facility for table tennis and other games – keeps boredom at bay especially for kids who might be looking for other ways to spend their energy other than in the pool!

Should you want to have a countryside tour or dolphin-watching with island-hopping, there is a DOT-accredited tour desk that can attend to you and cater for these arrangements. I decided to forego this time to have a stress-free holiday.

Bellevue Hotel and Resort truly lives up to its promise of Luxury of Sanctuary for travelers looking for a five star pampering, stress-free holiday at the countrysides! The staff are most wonderful, very professional, courteous and responsive to our special requests for Kevin's needs. 

 

Infinity pool overlooks the beach

The 2-ft section of the pool

If you consider doing some serious baking under the sun....

Early morning Kayak before the sun is out

View of the Marea restaurant and pavilion from our room's patio

This short boardwalk connects our room to the pool area

The busy Lamian restaurant during breakfast



Thanks to all the staff of Bellevue Hotel and Resort Bohol
for making this a wonderful vacation!



Country Staycation Weekend at Discovery Suites

We decided to continue the tradition of welcoming the Chinese New Year in style.  This year, we spent our CNY Staycation weekend at the Discovery Country Suites in Tagaytay.  This city, with its cool and breezy weather, always evokes peace and tranquility.  A perfect getaway for families looking for a break from the daily grind.  Discovery Country Suites (DCS) under the Discovery Suites hotel chain, is an elegant country- side Bed and Breakfast retreat that offers a great view of the Tagaytay ridge and Taal lake and volcano. I like the idea of simply chilling out and doing nothing.

Misty mornings at Country Suites

Facade of the Discovery Country Suites

Our suite opens to this loft

There are seven suites at DCS and each comes with a unique theme. The rooms  are spacious and comfortable enough for a family of four. We had the Spanish-themed Andalucia suite located at the loft level.

This window overlooks the lake... and the Starbucks beside DCS

Bold colors dominate the Andalucia suite

The Verbena restaurant is cozy and intimate setting that extends to an enclosed balcony. Sumptuous breakfast is served here.  Select a hearty breakfast of your choice from their extensive menu and the chef will cook this for you.  There is an accompanying spread of bread, cheese, jam and fresh fruits and juices.  I selected the very tempting steak and eggs breakfast. Every calorie was worth it!

Guests also are treated to a wine and cheese platter every afternoon at the Verbena restaurant.  Perfect for an afternoon chit-chat with hubby while we excitedly ponder our plans for 2014.  The youngsters get to have cookies and milk for an afternoon snack.

My brekky of choice- Steak and Eggs.
Will worry about the calories later.

Sumptuous breakfast at the balcony.
I'd love to wake up everyday with this.

  

Wine and cheese afternoon with hubby while we ponder our 2014 plans

After breakfast, we also did a bit of exploration around. There is a small garden that overlooks the Tagaytay ridge and a family sized jacuzzi pool, if you dare to jump in and brave the surrounding cold weather!

Small backyard garden for an afternoon stroll

The lake and volcano -- visible when its not too misty

Jacuzzi pool looks tempting. But not in this weather.

A quiet staycation - just what we needed

Likes

• Intimate setting - with maximum of seven rooms, you are not plagued by an abundant, rowdy crowd
• Perfect for those looking for a peaceful retreat
• Tasty and tempting food choices at Verbena restaurant. 
• Close to Starbucks for your caffeine fix
• Lots of other places to see around Tagaytay, if you feel like going out

However,

• I would not go there again on a holiday weekend though. Traffic was a bummer!
• I appreciate peace and quiet.  At some point, the place was way toooooo quiet.
• The bathroom amenities and towels need some upgrade. I expected better given the price of an overnight stay.

Overall, it was a weekend well spent.  Just what I needed just before the stressful weeks ahead at work!