Sometime January, we were very fortunate to have escaped from quarantine to a house on a hill, somewhere in Batangas. This was when quarantine rules were relaxed a bit, and hotels and resorts started opening one by one. Because I was too paranoid to book a room in a hotel, I turned to AirBnB where we could book a property to ourselves.

Several clicks later, I found a house on a hill, set amidst a farm with a pool and coconut trees all around. It was perfect.

It was heaven to get away. We cradled our time away from time like it were a newborn. We didn’t want to hear nor read anything about life on lockdown. We took long naps, short walks, and attempted to make friends with the resident goat. I selfishly slaved away in the kitchen, and then later on devoured everything on the table. The sky was blue, the blooms colorful, and for a precious few days we pretended not to have a care in the world.

I was planning a couple more trips, but then, well, you know what happened next. So for now I would just have to content myself with taking a mental vacation.

Having been so pleased with our AirBnb experience, I have actually scoured the site for other interesting properties.

I wouldn’t mind having an island all to myself, for instance, in a lake in the Sierra Madre Mountains.

Or staying so close to a waterfall you can hear it roaring…

Or live in a tree house by the ocean…

I love our home. I love our garden. But after more than 365 days here, I long for some kind of variety!

While we are on the subject of variety, a friend and I are already thinking of our dream destinations, after we’re able to go to the beach, that is.

Having been brainwashed by all the K-Drama we’ve gobbled up and are still eating up under community quarantine, we are heading straight to South Korea for happy hour at Namsan Seoul Tower. I don’t know what she’s having but I will definitely have a bottle of soju and some fried chicken!

There is, actually, a virtual tour of Namsam here!

A walking tour featuring the picture perfect places of our favorite K-Drama shows is next on our itinerary. After which, we shall do some serious stalking of Captain Ri. We figured that at one point or another, he may show up here.

Hyun Bin supposedly owns 925 Building, 9-25 as in September 25, his birthdate. I hate it that I know that! Mwahahahaha If he doesn’t own it, well, it’s still a pretty cool building and well worth the trip.

After the La La Land of Seoul, we are then jetting off to the happiest place on earth, Bhutan, where we will stay at Amankora, of course.

We’ll climb up Tiger’s Nest, learn archery, meditate in monasteries, attend lectures on Buddhism, and take a forest bath. We’ll refresh ourselves in cedar-scented spas, peeling away the dirt and the grime of days filled with anger and desperation. We’ll tell ourselves that the world can be a happy place, and that people can be kind to one another, and for those few precious days, we would actually believe it.

Except for the first two groups of photos, all photos credited to their owners, linked appropriately. Thank you for helping me dream!