Taylor Swift Wonderstruck Perfume

As one of my dear husband's valentines gift, Wonderstruck is easily one of my favorite! 

I'm not really a fan of perfumes endorsed by celebrities but I got one too many! 

Hubby's been buying them, I guess he thinks it safe to buy products endorsed by someone well known. Good thing, he got a good nose, his buys simply smell fantastic. 

Ahhm it helps, that the first compliments I get when I wear his gift perfumes are from him LOL. 

The box with the Taylor's lucky number 13 in gold

Seriously though, Wonderstruck smells wonderful! I got compliments, 

not from hubby alone when I wear this. It smells feminine and warm. 

However, I don't think the smell stays long on me, maybe 4 hours. 

But the first minutes I spray this on, I really feel like I smell so good and yummy! :) 

Ok, ok, I'm not really a big Taylor Swift fan, I like some or most of her songs, 

but I still refuse to admire someone who dominate the teeny booper age. 

But still, she is admirable in a lot of ways. One, is creating this fragrance.

 It is suitable for wear day and night, actually this is my go to perfume now, 

used to use Elizabeth Arden Green Tea when I'm indecisive on what to spray. 

It also helps a lot that the box and bottle looks beautiful.

Taylor Swift personally chose the bottle and charms used in this perfume.

 The bottle really looks nice, it gets a rainbow color when hit by the light and
the color is beautiful too, I want it in my fingernails!

Top notes: Freesia, Apple Blossom, Raspberry
Middle notes; Vanilla, Honey Suckle, White Hibiscus
Base notes: Amber, Sandalwood, Peach

Too many fragrances combined to create this sweet, feminine smell. Even you won't like the smell,

 the bottle is a nice addition to our vanity table, ladies!

And here's the full ad clip of the perfume, Taylor looks like she was plucked 

out of a fairy tale in this one. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own this video

Also available, and I want to get this one too, Wonderstruck Enchanted 

Duty Free to Open in Iloilo

Say what!? Yes! Duty Free Philippines is eyeing to open in Iloilo soon. 

During the visit of Duty Free Representatives in the city's chief executive office, 

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, said that a plan for expansion in Iloilo is confirmed. 

Three sites are considered, Iloilo Airport, Central Business District (CBD) in downtown Calle Real 

or the CBD in Mandurriao district. The plan is expected to be finalized in three-month time.

Duty Free Representatives are said to be surprised to see
Iloilo a progressive city in this part of the country.

Well, if this plan will be pushed through, the presence of a Duty Free shop in Iloilo

will give convenience to our balikbayans and OFWs.   

Cambodia: Haggling at the Old Market

This is our first out of the country trip as a couple. Sure, hubby have been in and out of the Philippines as his work demands. But he never go sight see out of airport or his hotel room (I even ask him to walk around new places), he said, he wanted to see the world with me. Sweet! :)

At the airport..I immediately felt the trip to be promising

Our first, or MY first choice is Cambodia. I thought the country looks so promising, lots of sights to see, not yet spoiled and the country seemed tourist friendly. We were so right! We love every moment  spent at Cambodia, if not for the advance Thailand hotel booking, we would have extended our stay. On our way to Thai border, I'm already planning to come back!

with other tourists, busy taking pictures :)

Cambodia is an hour late from the Philippines, we arrived at 2130 hrs and seeing the airport for the first time, I'm a little surprise to see it to be very small however flowing with tourists. We were glad we traveled at night time, everyone seemed to be in a hurry to go home so custom and immigration was a breeze. Alighting from the plane, one can already see the Cambodian architecture from the airport building, going in, elephant, Buddhist statues are present. There, I felt the tone for the whole trip is set.

Going out with our baggage, we saw our name on a placard held by our tuktuk driver. So off we went to our hotel for the night, a 10 minute ride to the town. We decided to stay at a hotel nearer to the airport then transfer in the morning at our accommodating hotel for the next 2 days, it's a little resort hotel 15-20 minutes off town. We wanted a quiet place, save the generic hotels for the business trips.

Our first look at the street, even on circles and rotundas, architecture is present, also the hotels and establishments are richly carved with elephants, temples and the like. 

The whole town seemed to be an attraction itself!

We had a good night sleep at Dyna Boutique Hotel and woke up the next day 

refreshed and ready to take on Cambodia!

a carved wood mural at the hotel's lobby

Veasna,our tuktuk driver for the day.

kids on bike
tuktuk, bike and motorcycle are primary means of transport

our first stop, the Old Market

Of course, the old market is a must visit place for souvenirs and pasalubong. It is good to go early in the morning, as vendors are eager to make the first sale and you can haggle prices to half of the original price. As a courtesy, so as not to offend the local, pay half the price plus a little more. So, on our first purchase, a hand painting of $60, we settled at $33. This followed a pattern to our succeeding purchases until our last day.

 Hubby and me :)

Remember to wear modest and comfortable clothes and footwear 

if you wanted to go for some serious 

shopping or visit the temples.

The old market got a lot to offer from silk scarf to paintings, wooden carvings, spices, 

you can even eat at a restaurant lined along the street and watch the day unfold. 

Going there isn't hard, just say Old Market and your tuktuk will take you there.

Cambodian Riel (KHR) is the country's currency but note that USD 

are widely accepted and it makes everything easy too! 

Haggling in Old Market (or any market in our experience)
*Haggle to 50% but also, if you feel kind enough, give extra to make both party happy.

Hubby: How much is this painting?
Vendor: 60 dollars.
Hubby: Last price?
Vendor: 40 dollars only.
Hubby: No too much. 30 dollars.
Vendor: No, 40 dollars. I no profit if I give lower.
Hubby: I can give you 33 dollars only. I'll look around first (preparing to walk away).
Vendor: Okay, okay. 33 dollars.
sold! ;)

This works every time. 

Remember to be polite while doing this and it's an extra to give a genuine smile.