Staycation: Azure Urban Resort Residences

Welcome to Paris Beach Club :)

This is a very late post. Last summer, we planned on making Yana’s vacation here in Muntinlupa memorable and different. I already tag her along on our feeding program so we wanted her to enjoy summer by of course, swimming! However, we are a bit short of time and budget for out of town. It was really hard to decide on where to go. Luckily we have a friend who owns a unit in Azure Urban Resort Residences and she let us stay for a very affordable rate. We immediately packed our things and just a short drive; we’re able to go to the beach.

Pathway to the beach area

Spacious pool with waves :)

Because it's a beach - as per Paris! haha

It’s a residential project designed by Paris Hilton. What makes it different is that it has its very own man-made beach and a beach club. Other amenities include a lap pool, stylist high ceiling lobby, function rooms, kids play room, indoor and outdoor restaurant, mini theatre, game room and Fitness Gym. It consists of 9 buildings arranged around the urban beach.

They have life guards too. 

This is what I like, it is more beautiful at night. 

We explored the amenities and the place first before swimming. We showed them the letter from the unit owner before they allowed us to swim. We spent most of our time in the main pool because of the pool waves that excites Yana a lot. My Mother was a bit afraid going deep so she just stayed most of the time on the shallow part.

Childlike :) 

In huge Rattan lounge chairs

This is for the kids but adults also like it. 

Slides for fun

Before we left, we checked the roof top for a view of the city.

Such a good view from the top

I guess that's SM Bicutan on the right

That's a wow for me :) 

Yana had fun! Good job to both of us!

Overall, it was indeed a very worthwhile and ‘sulit’ trip. If you’re a fan of condo living, this is definitely a place to check out.

The AZURE Urban Resort Residences is located along South Express Way, Bicutan Parañaque City. Just several minutes away from our place.

What do you expect in Manila Ocean Park?

A visit again at Manila Ocean Park 

Our unplanned Manila Ocean Park trip is not what I’m expecting to see after my first visit when it was just opened. I noticed that there’s a portion that’s like a “Tiangge” mall inside, arcade games and boutiques. I also noticed that the fishes are not as many as before and the overlooking Manila bay is (as expected) not clean that makes the surroundings not very pleasant to see.

We bought the Ultimate Adventure voucher which consist of the following; Trails to Antarctica (Slide O Fun, Penguin Exhibit, Snow Village), Oceanarium, Sharks and Rays Dry Encounter, Jellies Exhibit, Acquatica Fish Spa, Birds of Prey Kingdom and Liquid Buffet for P849 per person

Though it’s not the same as what I’m expecting, I still have some shots that’s for me is the highlight of our short visit.

I'm not good in remembering fish names :) 

Also on this fish

I know it's Puffer Fish right? Unpuffed.

Hey Manta Ray!

I've seen this before, only smaller. In the dining table? :p

Mini Antarctica, with few Penguins only

It's good to read all the facts here

With my in-laws :) 

And with Hal of course!

Time to get a Fish Spa - the bigger fish, the more painful it is.

The handler told that they are not wild anymore

They were breed captive and will not be able to get back in the wild

Birds were tamed already. 

The small portion is the Jelly Fish Exhibit. 

Pink is cute

Better to see it here than up close in the sea.

Colorful Jellies ends our day :)

The place is still good for learning experience for kids, but maybe because it was running for quite some time already; the place was not conserve for its purpose. Though it was still appealing by looking at the pictures, I’m quite afraid that the marine animals here and the birds may not be getting enough care when it comes to facilities and imitating their natural habitat.

Manila Ocean Park

Address:

Behind Quirino Grandstand

Luneta Manila Philippines 1000

Trunkline: +63 2 567 7777

Facsimile: +63 2 567 2309

Email: inquiry@manilaoceanpark.com

Overnight at Royal Palm Residences

At the Royal Palm Residences

Two of my “Feb-Fab-Friends” celebrated their birthdays and we decided that our post party celebration will be just around the corner. Since we wanted to have our usual house party, we stayed overnight at Royal Palm Residence in Taguig. Some of the units here are for rent and so we arranged one. Its a cheaper option instead of staying in a hotel. Rate usually ranges from 2,500 and up. It can be lower if you’ll be a long staying guest. We got ours with a discount rate. 

Our view outside, we're on the 4th floor. 

It is a Thai-influenced and resort inspired residential condominiums, complete with recreational amenities. What I like most is they are pet friendly. They allow owners to have pets at home unlike other real estate developers. What I don’t like is because its near NAIA, approximately just 15-20 minutes away, we can hear airplanes arriving and departing the area, though it's not very loud, for me it's still disturbing. 

Sorry for not having a decent photo of the unit, I'm unable to take pictures of the rooms and others because we are too excited to eat and the unit was quite a mess already. We decorated it with balloons for more festive look.

This is all the pictures I've got inside our 2 bedroom unit.

It’s a plus that our friend work here as a Property Manager so we can explore the area so easily and she was able to arrange our reservations quickly. We decided to visit the nearby residence, the Cedar Crest for a swim, courtesy of her arrangements.

A quick swim here at Cedar Crest

It's a hot sunny afternoon

Group pic :) The girls in front are the celebrants. 

We do not have enough time to explore much but if you're a fan of high-rise or mid-rise condominiums I bet you’ll also want to get a unit of your own. For me, not much. :p

Cheers to a fun weekend celebration! 

Royal Palm Residences
Address: Royal Palm Residences, Acacia Ave., Taguig

Rizal Park Today: A quick tour back to the historical urban park in Manila

The Rizal Monument in Rizal Park

The Luneta park also known as Rizal’s park is a common site for me during the college days. Having your university just around the corner, seeing how it is today after sometime is such a good feeling. I miss everything, the heat and the smoke of the city. The college students walking around everywhere reminds me of my college existence, and gosh I’m getting older. 

Luneta is better today than few years back when I'm thinner, so baduy and still enjoying the college crazy life. That’s for me, it’s cleaner and more organized. My mom-in-law who was with us during the short visit told me that it was way better during the older times.  

Kilometer Zero is here

It was a sunny afternoon

No litters around that day - good job!

Tourist around - this will also bring them in the nearby historical locations

The Chinese Garden 

This is also new :) 

Now with food stalls around. 

Pleasant surroundings 

Guard on duty

Another new for me, not much structures before

The Orchidarium, also a venue for weddings

They remind me of the "cheering competition" days, we also loiter around  like this for practice

Lapu-Lapu statue on the side, I guess it was under construction before :p 

Another new statue 

Sorry for the photo overload. 

Having so much politics and controversy in the city, it’s still good to see a bit of improvement and appreciate the history of the urban park presented. In the honor of our national hero Jose Rizal and our independence, the park symbolizes every Filipino bravery, courage and freedom.  

Good to see you again! Maybe I should visit our University next time :D

The Rizal Park

Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila,Philippines