Sunkissed Shores and Sweet Moments: Preeti’s Romantic Philippines Adventure with Thrillophilia
My husband’s birthday was approaching and I wanted this year to be extraordinary- something that would truly surprise him. So, a week before his birthday, I started dropping hints every day, giving clues about his surprise.
On Day 7, I said, “Think of sunsets.” On Day 4, “Imagine turquoise waters.” And finally, on Day 1, I handed him a card that read, “Pack your bags,we are going to the Philippines.”
His reaction was priceless. “Are you kidding me? This is the best birthday surprise ever!” he said, pulling me into a hug. “Wait till you see what’s waiting there,” I replied with a smile.
A City of Wonders- Manila!
Before unlocking the door to our hotel room in Manila, I playfully blindfolded my husband with a scarf- one last surprise awaited behind the door!
As soon as we stepped inside the room, I opened the blindfold- the room was filled with colourful balloons with a huge ‘birthday’ banner above the bed. There was a small round table, decorated with rose petals along with a bottle of red wine and a small chocolate cake. He screamed with joy and asked me, “How did you do all of this?”
I smiled from ear to ear, seeing that Thrillophilia had exceeded all my expectations!
In the evening, we went out for a little tour of the city and started with the iconic Intramuros, also known as the "Walled City." Hand-in-hand, we wandered through the cobblestone streets as if we were part of its history.
Next, we spent hours exploring San Agustin Church and Fort Santiago, marveling at the mix of Spanish and Filipino architecture. Later, we took a break at a local café, sipping calamansi juice and nibbling on ensaymadas (sweet dough pastry).
A Slice of Paradise!
After Manila, we flew to Palawan and, my goodness, it was absolutely breathtaking! Before this, I had only seen a heaven like this in pictures or movies. But this time, all of this beauty was right in front of me.
From Palawan, we headed straight to El Nido for island hopping. “Is this even real?” he asked as we stepped onto our first island, the powdery white sand beneath our feet.
Along with island hopping, we explored secret lagoons, swam in crystal-clear waters, and snorkelled among colorful corals. At one point, while kayaking in a secluded cave, he suddenly stopped paddling.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing. Just wanted to take a moment to thank you for this,” he said, looking at me with so much love that my heart melted.
At night, we got to share another romantic moment - a floating dinner with candles in a pool, back at our hotel. As we relished fresh seafood, I couldn’t help but feel th
at all of this was straight out of a dream.
Romantic Nights in Boracay
Our final stop was Boracay, and let me tell you, it was the cherry on top of an already perfect trip. We arrived just in time for the sunset, which painted the sky in hues of pink and orange.
That evening, we decided to explore the nightlife. Strolling down White Beach, we discovered a lively stretch of beachside bars and restaurants. A local musician was strumming a guitar, and without hesitation, my husband grabbed my hand and pulled me close.
“Dance with me,” he said, and we swayed under the stars, surrounded by strangers but lost in our own little world…it was the perfect romantic moment I had always dreamed of!
The next day was all about relaxation- lounging on the beach, sipping coconut water, and treating ourselves to a couple’s spa session. “This is the kind of life I want,” he murmured as we relaxed under the shade of swaying palm trees.
Of course, we couldn’t leave without trying the Chori burger, a Boracay specialty. The smoky, sweet, and tangy flavors were out of this world. “We should make this at home,” he added, taking a big bite into the burger.
The Perfect Goodbye…
On our last night, we sat on the beach, watching the waves crash softly against the shore. “This has been the best birthday of my life,” he said, wrapping his arm around me.
“It’s not just a gift for you, it was for us,” I replied, leaning into him.
We sat near the shore and watched how beautifully the lanterns lit up the night sky, each one carrying wishes and dreams of other travellers. Seeing so many lanterns in the sky, of course we wanted to try it too. We approached a nearby stall and picked a lantern of our choice.
With a bold black marker, we wrote, ‘to many more adventures together’ on the lantern and then slowly let it fly high into the sky.
This moment was the perfect goodbye we needed before ending the trip. Honestly, this trip outdid my expectations in every possible way. Even though it was supposed to be a surprise for my husband, I can’t deny that I was also left speechless at every turn.
Read More: Thrillophilia Philippines Reviews