Wearing: XXI brocade dress, Zara shoes, Chanel watch, Cartier love bracelet

A trip to the Philippines is not complete without being stuck in traffic; and on New Year's Day we experienced nothing less than a memorable standstill. Despite the traffic headache, our boat ride and journey up to a volcano was quite the adventure. Alex and I can share countless stories from our journey that day, but I'll let the pictures above reserve those unforgettable moments.

Views from Taal Vista Lodge in Tagaytay, Club Balai Isabel in Batangas, and the Crater Lake inside Taal Volcano. Not pictured: my tired pony, nerdy boyfriend attached to a GoPro head-strap, and the traffic mess we had to go through from Manila and back! -- Yuck!

When we arrived in Palawan after this dreadful day, it was paradise from thereon. We treasured every second of bliss and after spending the next four days care-free, one thing was certain: El Nido is a magical place and we had such a beautiful time there, together.

Here's a video montage from our trip: