Summer adventures: Riding camels in the desert, game drives in Africa
Dr. Vicki Belo
founder, CEO and medical director of Belo Medical Group
Where did you go? Who did you go with? We went to Dubai for Holy Week and stayed at the Atlantis the Royal. I wanted to go on a trip where my daughter Scarlet and I could bond. I figured Dubai was the perfect place to go as I could enjoy the beautiful place and amenities and have a chance to relax while I could also take Scarlet around to see all the natural sights, like the desert and dunes, and go to fun places like the Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark, Warner Bros. World or Ferrari World.
What did you love about this summer adventure? Aside from the obvious experiences like riding a camel or driving through the sand dunes, it was really that I was able to experience all of these things with Scarlet. Thank you, Jesus and Pilates! I was able to keep up! She’s really a ball of energy. Because I am so busy in Manila working and Scarlet’s focus is on school and all her other extracurriculars, I felt like we really needed this mother-daughter bonding experience. This made the trip even more special as we could talk about all sorts of things that popped up in her 9-year-old brain. She taught me a lot about Roblox.
What were the highlights for you? Scarlet had to force me and bargain a lot, but she convinced me to join her and ride three slides at the Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark. I think she learned her negotiation skills from her dad. It was so exciting and not that scary because I made her promise to choose slides that weren’t too fast or too high, and she really did a good job choosing the three slides.Another thing I loved was going to the desert camp and riding across the sand dunes. It was so fun the first few minutes, and then when it started getting less fun and more dizzying, our driver stopped right away and drove us to this desert camp where Scarlet and I could ride camels, watch sunsets and play Beloball. It’s volleyball but since we don’t know how to play it, our only rule was that if we did not run away from the ball, we got a point!
A real highlight was also the hotel, it’s so beautiful! I wanted to stay there since it was opened by Beyonce last year, so it was really high up on the bucket list. The amenities were great, and the service was even greater. There were so many Pinoys there who made our stay so relaxing. Mabuhay, mga kababayan!
What tip would you give to someone who wants to do the same thing? Wear pants in the desert and sunscreen all the time! When we went to the desert, there were really strong winds, so the sand got everywhere and hit our legs a lot. So make sure you cover what needs to be covered and put away what needs to be put away. There was sand everywhere!As for the sunblock, the sun is out, out, out! Even when it doesn’t feel as hot, and it’s a little chilly because of the wind, the sun really just gets you from all angles. So I always carried my sunstick in my bag and reapplied constantly. So far, so good—I didn’t get any sunburn!
But the biggest piece of advice I can give is to enjoy every minute of these trips, especially when you are with your little ones. As we watch them learn and grow, enjoy the moments that you have with them and be in the moment.
Pinky Tobiano
Chemist, tablescape artist, CEO of Progressive Laboratories and KPP Powers Commodities
Where did you go? Bangkok
Who did you go with? Erik Santos, Kayla Rivera and Jason Dy, Erickson Raymundo and Juancho Robles
What were the highlights for you? Our highlight was trying Michelin-starred restaurants. Gaggan x Louis Vuitton was mind-blowing. Chef Gaggan Anand mixed fashion with great food. The presentation was so chic and every bite was so dreamy.Sühring is the best two-Michelin-star restaurant in Bangkok and my personal favorite. The Sühring twins set the bar for Michelin dining and the caviar was so good. Sühring is a must-try restaurant for the ambience and personal touch with amazing food. A gastronomic experience at its finest, a kaleidoscope of flavors in every spoon. I loved it so much I went back to eat there again the week after.
Pam Solilapsi
Cofounder of Boozy.ph, partner at The Palace and Square One Hospitality
Where did you go? African countries—Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa
Who did you go with? My husband
What did you love about this summer adventure? Loved seeing the animals in their natural habitat and seeing that we are a tiny speck in their horizon.
What were the highlights for you? The morning game drives and looking for the “Big 5”—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino. We did a walking tour to look for the rhino and we ended up seeing a mother and baby rhino. And staying in a wine estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
What tip would you give to someone who wants to do the same thing? Canvass different agencies, as some can be overpriced. You can get the same safari experience at a better price point. But don’t scrimp on the experience, either. Bring a jacket and summer clothes, as you will experience two seasons in one day.
For the hotels, read the reviews and inclusions in TripAdvisor or Booking.com first. I almost confirmed a place without aircon in Namibia!
For Filipinos, we need to allocate time for visas. Reserve around two to three months of no other out-of-the-country travels as you need to work on your visa applications. Unlike Schengen, every country in Africa has a different embassy requirement and some visas take long to be released.
Take lots of photos but also enjoy and let the scenery sink in. The game drive safari and Namibia experience are truly unique!
Aubrey MilesYouTuber
fitness and plant enthusiast
Where did you go?
Bolinao, Pangasinan
Who did you go with? Family and friends
What did you love about this summer adventure?
The place is amazing. We love the beach. Bolinao has the best beach waves because it’s near La Union. The sand is perfect for morning walks. The place we stayed in has Santorini vibes.
What were the highlights for you? We appreciated the sunrise and sunset from our spot from the beach house we stayed in.
What tip would you give to someone who wants to do the same thing?
If you’re looking for a beachfront with white sand, if you like to listen to and watch the waves, Bolinao is a good place to explore. We really fell in love with the Sundowners Beach Mansion and felt that it was the best spot in the province. It feels like you’re in another country, but it’s drivable. It has one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve been to.
Aby Tan
Managing partner, ARQCapital Partners
Where did you go? Australia
Who did you go with? My husband
What did you love about this summer adventure? The perfect weather, summer going into fall. We enjoyed the early morning walk by the beach and tons of healthy food options.
What were the highlights for you? The overnight trip to Blue Mountain, fantastic omakase at Amuro Sydney and the wide stretch of beach at the Gold Coast
What tip would you give to someone who wants to do the same thing? Blue Mountain was worth an overnight trip to slowly enjoy the sunset and catch the sunrise.
