Dreaming of a White Christmas…

We were feeling homesick during the holiday season for our families, friends, and SNOW!  Needless to say, you won’t find any snow in our new home, so we had to come up with a new way to celebrate the Christmas season.  Most of you know J really well, so you know he is super spontaneous, so on December 23rd he decided we were off to the Philippines for a white SAND Christmas since we couldn’t have snow!  We packed our bags and were in the car in under 2 hours.  We drove to Bangkok and stayed until Christmas, and then on Christmas day flew out to Manila, Philippines.

Boat taxi in Bangkok

Christmas Eve…we walked around the city in Bangkok and ate all the western food we could find at the malls.

We had Outback for our Christmas Eve meal.

City all lit up at night!

We spent the first couple of days touring the city of Manila and spending most of our time at the Mall of Asia!

As soon as we arrived in Manilla, we headed out to the Mall of Asia.

J had a Spam sandwich.  Who would ever think to make it a restaurant?

Local taxi…you pay about 50 cents and it takes you anywhere you want to go.  It is an extended Jeep with bench seats in the back and a step off the back to jump on and off.

Locals selling their products around the city.

Bicycle taxi we used to go to a volcano.

J standing in front of the lake where the volcano sits.

It is still an active volcano.  Thankfully, we made it out alive!

Philippine-style boat to get to the island of the volcano.

After Manila, we were off to the beach of Boracay!  It was the most beautiful place on Earth!  Finally, our white sand Christmas in Boracay!

Hiking around the island.

J enjoying the beautiful sand and clear blue water!  We have never seen water this clear in our lives!

Sand castles were all over the island.  Many of them are built by children.

Sail boats were everywhere.

We always leave our mark in the sand.

Although we couldn’t have snow, this was a perfect way to spend Christmas and New Year’s!  Especially since we couldn’t have our families, friends, and snow.