A Look Back at 2015: One Of The Best Years Of My Life

I'LL REMEMBER 2015 AS ONE OF THE BEST YEARS of my life. This year, I started working at JFDI.Asia, settled in Cebu after being so homesick, traveled to several destinations around the Philippines and spent two weeks in Hawaii. Best of all I got married to Jovi, who turned out to be an excellent travel buddy! Here's a look back at my favourite posts and photos in 2015 to reminisce (and help you catch anything you might have missed). Welcoming 2016 at our family New Years Party...

5 Days In Kauai, Hawaii: Things To See And Do

This 5-day itinerary will take you to 10 tourist spots around Kaua'i, Hawaii. -By Crystal Neri ...

38 Life Lessons From My Husband

IN 2009, I WAS 18 YEARS OLD AND LEAVING THE PHILIPPINES for college. On the day I left, Jovi flew from Cebu to Manila to drop me off at the airport. It might not mean much, but I kept thinking of that as a pivotal moment in my life – it showed that somebody could love me, that I’m worth that much effort, so I must be good and worthy of better things. I was just a kid then going through rough times. Jovi taught me that I deserve – and should expect – nothing but transcendental love. "You accept the love you think you deserve." -Stephen Chbosky ...

4 Days In Bacolod, Philippines And Married life

THIS TRIP TO BACOLOD is our third as husband and wife, but just about now I realise what’s the difference between being married and not. ...

I'm Married! Our Wedding, Part 2

I'M NOW OFFICIALLY CRYSTAL NERI, married to Jovi after many years of being together. Here's Part 2 of a two-part series, with the final same-day edit video and a list of everyone that made it happen for us.  Our wedding suppliers: Giving business to our friends Our simple gold wedding bands are from Suarez and Sons.   Our wonderful coordinator, Tonette Carcel, was recommended to us by my flower girl’s mom, Justeen.   Tonette Malagar Carcel (7th person from left), our on-the-day wedding coordinator,...

Travel Blog: El Nido and Puerto Princesa, Palawan

HERE'S THE 6-DAY ITINERARY OF OUR HONEYMOON trip to Palawan, Philippines. I'm writing about the El Nido and Puerto Princesa highlights such as the Underground River, limestone island-hopping tours, and more. ...

I'm Married! Our Wedding, Part 1

I'M NOW OFFICIALLY CRYSTAL NERI, married to Jovi after many years of being together. This is inside story of how we planned our wedding and the people and choices that guided our decisions. Here's Part 1 of this two-part series, starting with the planning stages. "Your wedding should reflect who you are as everyday people."...

TRAVEL: Bohol, Philippines

SOMETHING OTHER THAT RELAXING in Alona Beach and seeing the Chocolate Hills and tarsiers made me remember why I need to travel. Here are stories from my Labor Day weekend in Bohol, Philippines. If there’s anything I learned from public school where we had 100 kids in one classroom, or going to a US college with towering foreigners, or attending free walking tours in San Francisco with either middle-aged Europeans or American elderly, it’s this – always stick next to the teacher/speaker/tour guide. They know best and they’ll make one’s learning...

TRAVEL: Siquijor Island, Philippines

As I walked up the hill–onto the centre of the Healing Festival–I was surprised to see nothing. People were gathered in small groups, vendors stationed their dried-leaf potions on the sides, and signs were put up advertising for hilot (massage). Nothing in this would differ from a typical probinsya fiesta. There were even horses you can ride for 10 pesos and live music by a local guitarista.  I was at the Bandilaan Mountain Park in Siquijor, Negros Oriental. That day was Good Friday and my friends (Nelia, Rachel, Mya) and I trekked...

Things I Like About JFDI

What's been keeping me busy these days is my new job as Social Media and Content Marketing Manager at JFDI Asia. In short, I handle our socials and make sure we have awesome content. How I am today – giddy and challenged and fulfilled – is a far cry from what I've been the past few months. My biggest worry about moving to Cebu was finding the right  kind of work (also, earning a liveable salary). Did you know that unemployment is in the Top 10 traumas for a human being? Going through that was like living a nightmare. Add to...

Reflecting On The Past Year 2014

"THE YEAR I SAW BEAUTIFUL THINGS." That's how I'd describe 2014. It's the year I got engaged to Jovi, worked my first job out of college, learned to cook and bake, and hiked and explored countless trails in San Diego -- my home for the year.  How blessed is a hiker's life. Me at San Jacinto State Park. On April 16th, I celebrated my 23rd birthday. My life in San Diego was very alone and quiet. Instead of sulking, I hiked my favorite trail -- the Torrey Pines National State Reserve. It's not as well-known as La Jolla Village,...