Unique Stays – Renovated Camper in Charleston, SC

If you know me and Amber, you know we love staying in really unique locations whenever we quench our love for travel. In the past few years, we have stayed in forrest villas, in tree-houses, tiny homes and most recently, we stayed in a fully-remodeled 1977 Airstream in the historic and romantic city of Charleston, South Carolina!

Usually, the interior of an Airstream camper would look like this…  dull, cramped and boring. It sure does not give you much of a warm welcome.

Yuck! Get ready to see how amazing and special a place like this can transform into….. Cue HGTV reveal music!

Not only is this place very inviting, it’s also functional and has some creature comforts available like air-conditioning, a small refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, a small work area which doubles as a dining table and even a record player to help set the relaxing atmosphere. It’s also surprisingly comfortable and as you can see, our dog Buddy agrees with me. There’s even an extra day bed for additional guests.

From the strategically placed windows and skylights that let in tons of natural light, to the little touches of design throughout the home, we absolutely loved the uniqueness of this space. You can tell the owners took used a lot of imagination to make this a comfortable space for travelers like us even though it’s in their back yard.

We are looking forward to many more unique places to stay at but this one will definitely be a memorable one. I leave you guys with some of my favorite photos we took from Charleston.

 

 

 

3 Week Philippines Luxury Vacation 2018

Crystal clear waters, amazing views, luxurious accommodations, and fun-filled adventures are some of the experiences we get to share in this video. As some of you know, me and my wife Amber just got back from our 5 year anniversary trip in the Philippines and if you follow some travel adventures in social media, you may have noticed that The Philippines is quickly becoming one of the top travel and adventure destinations in South East Asia…heck, even in the whole world! This video post highlights some of the experiences that make the Philippines truly an amazing place to visit!

Can you spot me and Amber marveling at the grandeur of this incredible waterfall?!

So why The Philippines? We did a ton of research before deciding. Ultimately, we decided to go for these reasons…

A Healthy Transformation

The one thing I’ve always had an issue with after high-school and college was my health…specifically being more and more chubby and having unhealthy and unwanted fat in all the wrong places….which led to me to look like the guy on the left of your screen.

Sure, I could blame it on my favorite – Chick Fil-A waffle fries, or those Artisan restaurants me and my wife love going to, or that I’m too busy or that it’s too expensive to eat healthy. Somehow, I’ve always had excuses to not prioritize my health.

A few months ago, a genuine shift inside me happened and I was somehow able to change my lifestyle and have had success with it. It also helped that my wife – Amber started her health transformation. And while I’m still very early in the process and I know I’m nowhere near where I want to be, I feel like I’ve learned a lot of things during the past few months and now have some momentum moving forward.. Here are some tips I’m excited to share.

My Must Have Products When Getting a Tattoo

It feels like yesterday but I still remember walking in to Fuzion Ink at Norfolk, Va as a tattoo virgin excited about getting my first tattoo. Fast forward 10 years later, I’ve added an arm sleeve, forearm sleeve, 2 other tattoos to this painful art collection!!

First tattoo from 10 years ago

Disclaimer: While consider myself a tattoo Aficionado, I am by no means a Professional Tattoo Artist so these reviews are based on experience on some recent tattoo work done. Do your research and most importantly, make sure you consult with your Artist.

The products I absolutely recommend are Numb 100 or Dr. Numb numbing cream paired with Vasocaine numbing spray.

Before moving forward, it’s good to know there’s a bit of a controversy/stigma about the use of numbing products because some people say experiencing the pain of getting a tattoo is a right of passage. While I do agree with this to a certain extent, I think we should also evolve with the times. My personal suggestion is to try this alternative AFTER your first tattoo.

Ok, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s keep talking about tattoos.

Top 10 Life Lessons (Cont.): Travel!

Hello friend,

Here’s a continuation of the Top 10 Life Lessons series. For part 1, visit:

Top 10 Life Lessons Part 1 of 5

3. Travel

WE LOVE TO TRAVEL!  There is nothing as unique as experiencing different cultures and meeting new people so this is easily one of my favorite topics! Experience is one of life’s best teachers and so ff we’ve talked in person, you may have noticed I have an accent and that’s because I was born in the Philippines and also spent a good amount of time in it’s busy cities and crystal blue waters! It’s not an exaggeration to say that between me and my wife Amber (who also loves to travel), we’ve probably circled the globe a few times over!

El Nido Beaches in the Philippines! PC: Ferdz Decena

Before you continue reading, I do want to acknowledge the obvious – travelling can be expensive. In fact, that’s one of the main reasons why people do not travel enough. I’ve included some tips in this post about how to save money and will be talking about it some more in a later post.

This is surprising data but the average person in the US will only visit 12 states in their lifetime. This is according to a 2016 survey done by Livability.com when they asked more than 2,000 adults which states they’ve lived in, which states they have visited (excluding airport lay-overs), and which states they would like to visit). Florida is the #1 most visited state.

It’s amazing to think there is so much of this big blue planet out there to see! Sure you can read books and watch movies where they show you exotic places and unique experiences but there’s nothing like being there to experience places first hand! For instance, I can tell you that from experience, off-roading on an ATV is exhilarating. But actually speeding through a mountain’s rough terrain in the jungles of Jamaica…  smells of burning gasoline filling your nostrils… hearing the loud sound of the engine revving and vibrating beneath your seat… mud and water splashing all over you as you race past competition…  getting cheered on by the locals in front of their homes made of huts, THAT is exhilarating!

Amber off roading in the jungles of Jamaica.

What’s great about travelling is it’s very customizable to better suite each person’s taste! While being a speed-demon in the jungles of Jamaica may not be for everyone, (for us) spending a few nights in a cozy tree house is just as enjoyable!

A treehouse we stayed at near Asheville, NC.

San Diego Food Bucket List Part 2

Whether you’re sampling rich wine with cheese pairings in Napa Valley, authentic pizza in the Pizza Festival of Napoli, Italy, trying out street food dumplings in Hong Kong, or your grandma’s cobbler in your backyard reunion, food should be enjoyed with great anticipation!

Here’s the continuation of this food adventure blog!

For 1-10 of the list, see part 1 of the post by clicking this link 🙂

https://tinyurl.com/mpa55fd

**15 & 16 are not for the picky eater so skip ahead unless you’re feeling adventurous.**

11. Something healthy

Acai Bowl

Smoothie – Acai superfruit blended with kale leaves and almond milk topped with banana, agave syrup,raspberries, kiwi, chia seeds

This superfood from Brazil looks and tastes like ice cream or a really thick smoothie. It is known for it’s many health benefits and it’s also freaking delicious!

It’s a common breakfast item or a delightful snack. Amber indulged on this while on a boat overlooking the San Diego skyline.

My Audacious San Diego Food Bucket List

1. Meet a celebrity Chef ✓
2. Something made with liquid nitrogen ✓
3. Something fresh from the ocean ✓
4. Something that looks too good to eat ✓
5. Something deceptive ✓
6. Something that made you say “Oh my gosh!” at first bite ✓
7. Something popular ✓
8. Something you stood in a long line for ✓
9. Something award winning ✓
10. Something you’re scared to try ✓
11. Something from my home country of The Philippines ✓
12. Something not served on a plate ✓
13. Something authentic ✓
14. Something unique ✓
15. Something healthy ✓
16. Something/somewhere recommended by a complete stranger ✓
17. Something inspirational ✓
18. In and Out Burgers X
19. Quest for the best tacos ✓
20. Something I never liked but will give another try ✓

Out in the sunny Pacific Coast of California, San Diego county is (for lack of a better word) absolutely “poppin” right now with amazing culinary flare! Even before our visit, I already knew I would be indulging in some amazing food adventures. Now mind you, I am a self-proclaimed food Aficionado, so as ridiculous as it may sound, I came up with an actual list to help me navigate this adventure! So come and join with me dine in and around San Diego!

1. Meet a celebrity Chef/Food Personality

Chef Richard Blais

From Javier Plascencia (The Taste, No Reservations) to Melissa D’Arabian (Food Network Star, 10 Dollar Dinners), San Diego has no shortage of quality Chefs! (As you can see from our star-struck faces, meeting Top Chef All-Stars winner (and one of my favorite Chefs)- Richard Blais at his restaurant – Juniper & Ivy in Little Italy was a highlight!

Even though he’s one of the most accomplished culinary geniuses in the country, Chef Richard was VERY welcoming and as humble as they come! He even took the time to give us a quick kitchen tour, took pictures with us and even struck up a conversation as he answered some fan questions!

In California, you always hear about celebrities getting the VIP restaurant experience so while I was not at all planning on writing a restaurant review, Chef Richard and the Juniper and Ivy staff accommodated us so well that it’s impossible for me to NOT rave about the amazing experience! Here’s a very quick review.

It was a bit intimidating walking in to a 5 star restaurant especially when we were a bit under-dressed. It looked and felt like the type of restaurant where you’ll see a Kardashian eating in one of the tables. To be perfectly honest, I was thinking I’ll be served by Servers with a “better than thou” attitude but I was quickly proved very, VERY wrong. Upon entering the restaurant, the host genuinely welcomed us and even struck a conversation about how her parents would be moving to Charlotte, NC. She also assured me she’ll let Chef Richard know of our request to meet him.

Every single staff person in the restaurant greeted us with genuine smiles like they definitely wanted us to be there and their service definitely showed that.

Kaycee (our server) was extremely nice and knowledgeable! From offering food suggestions, to answering all of my questions when I told her I’m blogging about the experience, she took the time to answer them all while not appearing hassled! She even took the time to break down the components and procedures for some of our dishes and she was definitely on top of her game even though it was a Friday night!

The restaurant itself was hip, modern with a bit of a rustic flare with an inventive menu course that will surely please the toughest critic. It was the best restaurant and food experience we’ve ever experienced! (Mrs. Amber Hernandez gave an approving nod.)

2. Something made with liquid nitrogen

 

Yodel: devil’s cake at Juniper & Ivy Restaurant!

White chocolate crisp / hazelnut brittle / praline / poured hot chocolate / dehydrated strawberries

We Joined the Tiny House Revolution!

I’m taking a break from my Top 10 Life Lessons Series to share about a unique experience I’ve been wanting to try for quite some time now. We finally experienced living in a tiny home!

As the old proverb goes, it’s not the size that matters but rather, it’s how you use it! Our recent Airbnb weekend getaway in Durham, NC allowed us to stay in this really cool, rustic, tree-house inspired tiny home. How small is tiny you might ask?… It has a living space of only 120 sq. feet! Surprisingly, we really enjoyed our stay! Read below for the details!

To put that 120 sq. feet into perspective, recent research done by RENTcafe.com reports the average size of an apartment in the US to be 943 sq. feet.  (Charlotte NC average apartment is 1147 sq feet). So you can almost fit 8-10 of these tiny homes in one apartment!

Can you imagine living in a tiny home and fitting all your stuff in it?!

While this type of lifestyle is definitely not for everyone, I do see how it has a certain appeal especially for people who prefer to be minimalists. Almost everything you need is an arm’s reach away and much to our delight, the home is equipped with the needed essentials but you will have to clean up as you go .

From having the “bedroom” lofts above the bathroom and kitchen, every single item has a purpose and designed to fit the space. There was even a full flushable toilette and most importantly, a standup shower with hot water (A must for me!)!

Please excuse the toilet paper on top the toilet. 🙂

The artist and aspiring Designer in me truly did appreciate how the owners paid attention to the details and design needed to make this an efficient yet comfortable space. If I ever were to own a tiny home, one of the main reasons I would like to do so is because I will be able to customize the space! Like us, our AirBnB hosts  are into the rustic design so we appreciated the white shiplap on the walls, the rustic barn door and cabinets and open wood-shelving as well as the many design touches throughout the home to make any Joanna Gaines/Fixer Upper fan proud!

As small as the place is, it surprisingly felt open and airy perhaps due to the big windows throughout the house! The furniture was just the right size

My favorite feature of this tiny house was… 

Top 10 Life Lessons Part 1 of 5

This blog post is 31 years in the making. These words, however cheesy they may sound, are principles that define me as a person and help me navigate through life’s ups and downs. So I pray these musings turned into words encourage you to stay the course and believe for the best and passionately live this journey we are on. Here friend – is a list of my Top 10 most important life lessons learned through the somewhat wise age of 31!

Let’s start with an analogy of this tree. I recently shot this photo somewhere in Greeneville NC and at first glance, it may not be picturesque.. dare I say it’s even ugly! But this tree – (despite it being old) is strong, deeply-rooted and has endured through many storms. A good representation of life… specifically, mine and maybe even yours. Because as I’ve gotten older, my outlook on life and definition of success has changed from having an over-abundance of stuff, and the need to impress people and what they see, to the more personal, important, non-material possessions that add value to who I am as a person and how I can impact others.

This collection of life lessons I hold dear will be broken down into separate blog entries so that it’s not too long of a read. I am also including some bonus practical tips that’s helped me along the way!

1. Love people, use things and not the other way around.

Praying for a teammate in my team at work.

Let’s pause for a moment and have you – dear reader, think about the most memorable moment of your life and ask yourself “Why is this moment so special?” Usually our answers will involve people and or a specific scenario that made us feel loved, appreciated and or part of a family or community.