Christmas Vacation Travel

Christmas season is a time to spend quality time with your love ones. The Christmas break, usually starts on December 23 and will last until December 27 or if you have accumulated enough vacation leaves at work, you can extend your vacation until January 2, 2010. Everyone is busy and excited preparing for Christmas, going to church, buying gifts, attending parties and preparing for the traditional Noche Buena on Christmas eve. After spending Christmas day at home, families have an option to travel and relax to local tourist destinations. Instead of flying to Hong Kong Disneyland or other countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan, why not try nearby tourist destinations to help boost our tourism industry. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Caliraya Lake in Lumban, Laguna - Lake Caliraya is situated approximately 1,200 feet above sea level, and is perched high in the Sierra Madre. Travel from Manila will take you about 3-4 hours. The lake experiences cool climate all year round. (http://en.wikipedia.org). Temperature here is almost as cold as Baguio City and the town is not over populated. If you are looking for first class amenities, you may check in at Caliraya Resort Club. If you are in a budget, there are other resorts around the lake that provides good accommodation and superb food.
2. San Juan, Batangas - It is located 43 kilometers east of Batangas City and 115 kilometers away from Manila. San Juan is famous for its Laiya Beach. Travel from Manila will be around 3-4 hours.

3. Alaminos, Pangasinan - Alaminos is home for the country's Hundred Islands. In fact, there are 123 islands that can be found of the coast Barangay Lucap, Alaminos City. (http://en.wikipedia.org). From Manila, It will take you about 4-5 hours to reach the city.

These are just a few places near Manila where you can enjoy nature and travel with your family and friends. Going outdoors need not be expensive and it is a good stress reliever from the busy life we have in the metropolis. Sometimes, we need to learn to enjoy nature more for us to appreciate the gifts we have around us so we will do our part to conserve nature so our kids and grandchildren will also enjoy nature as much as it was enjoyed by our parents and grandparents.

NBA Finals 2010 Lakers VS Celtics

NBA 2010 Finals is just around the corner. Two great teams and franchises will meet again after 2 years and their renewed rivalry will be the most anticipated factor to this year's championship. It is not easy to forget how the Boston Celtics crushed Kobe's championship goal 2 years ago but the Lakers are a very different and focused team this year. Plus they have a score to settle. The news that the Lakers bus was humiliated at Boston after their last game was an added insult to injury the team experienced to the previous championship series. Kobe will definitely not let that happen again. A very determined Kobe Bryant, an improved Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum plus a revived career of Ron Artest shows how hungry the Lakers team for this championship. Does Boston have a chance? Here are a few insights:

1. It may probably the Boston's Big Three last finals appearance. Garnett is showing age, Ray Allen is looking for another trade and Paul Pierce is not that consistent anymore. The fire that kept them going is the awesome performance of Rajon Rondo which made him this year's team leader.
2. Boston has too much pride at stake. They knew they beat the Lakers before and they know they can beat them again.
3. Boston's reserves have championship experience. Coach Doc Rivers will use his bench to help his 5 starters contain the Lakers offense.
4. LA is too predictable on offense, they either go to Kobe or Gasol. Kobe is next to impossible to guard so put 2 defenders on him but concentrate more on Gasol and Odom. Once Gasol and Odom gets confidence plus Kobe's immaculate offense, Boston will definitely be in trouble.

Although I am a Boston fan, I think the Lakers will get their revenge. I have been a Garnett fan since he was a rookie and I hope he plays more consistent and use his power more often. He is an explosive player during his younger days and I know he still has it in him. Paul Pierce is a bit over rated but since he has been with the Celtics since the beginning of his career, and the constant comparison to Kobe, he should also show his best offense. Kobe's hunger and leadership is the heart of the Lakers team and if he displays his confidence and aggressiveness, his team mates will follow. The key to stopping Lakers is Gasol and Odom because Kobe alone can not lift the whole team by himself. He needs support and this is where Gasol and Odom falls in.