So the vacation is getting nearer now that even though I’m still feeling quite bad for having it shortened, the excitement somehow builds up inside of me. The fact that I’ll have a few days off from work is enough for me to get excited. When I go back home, these are the things that I know for sure I shouldn’t miss:

1. Medical check-ups. – Getting your teeth cleaned here in Dubai will probably cost you an arm whereas in the Philippines, it’s just worth your nails and you’ll get the same results anyway (maybe even better). Yes, we are a third-world country but the caliber of our medical professionals are world-renowned. Case in point: a certain Dr. Connie Mariano was a White House physician for ex-US President Clinton and the two Bush’s.

2. Spend a night’s stay at a nearby resort/beach with the family. – Since my town is strategically located between the city and the province, we get to have the best of both worlds. A few minutes drive up north brings us to the city while down south brings us to the mountains, beaches and hot springs. I have already booked a villa for the whole family for one night the very next day of my arrival, so hopefully it’ll turn out great and the family enjoys it. And let it be noted that when I say family, it includes the EXTENDED ones.

3. Eat chicken joy. – We have Jollibee, a fast-food chain which is the Filipino’s version of Mc Donald’s and they’re made famous by this extremely crispy and yummy fried chicken that they have. I have missed it so much that just by thinking about it makes my mouth water.

4. Eat lechon. – Do I have to say anything else after the photo below?

5. Eat all kinds of streetfoods. – It’s not for the faint of hearts and I really don’t recommend it to someone who’s got a very poor immune system or anyone who’s not been exposed to germs at all. Because I don’t know, I don’t want you to hold me responsible when you die? Although the boyfriend ate chicken intestines when he was extremely drunk in Boracay and loved it. Not really sure though ‘coz it’s probably the alcohol talking for him.

6. Shop at Divisoria/Greenhills. – Almost all of my clothes are bought from the Philippines and I usually get some jealous eyes on it and it doesn’t really surprise me anymore when someone walks up to me and asks me where I bought my dress/bags/shoes etc. Divisoria and Greenhills are both a shopper’s haven but you really have to have a huge amount of patience if you want to grab these good deals. Channeling around a maze of make-shift shops is not an easy task. Only the brave and the motivated can get out of it alive.

7. Spend an afternoon in Tagaytay with the family. – Probably a coffee at Starbucks to have this as our view:

8. Pierce my ears. – Don’t ask.

9. Do something to my hair. – I don’t really know what I want to do with my hair but I have this inclination of curling it permanently. I don’t really do much with my hair to maintain it and I have this feeling that it needs a trim or two. :p

10. Watch a movie with my family. – My Aunt and I have always gone on movie dates when I was still in the Philippines and I just want us to relive those fun times of not doing anything but eat and watch a movie afterwards.

Since this vacation that I’ll be having is going to be a very short one, I won’t be meeting any of my friends and will spend all the days that I have with my family. The last time I went home was January of 2011 and they’ve missed me and I’ve missed our dogs.

Ok, I’ve missed them too.