It's my birthday! Part 1🥳🎂🎉 A simple escape to San Felipe, Zambales

Hello my Hive friends🤗☺️
Can you make a guess, how old do you think I am this year on my birthday?! Let's see who can guess it right!!😍😍😍
Here's another pic incase you can't decipher yet☺️😀

It's been a while since my hibernation here in hive, a year I think and a perfect come back is a story about how I celebrated my birthday!!

Last week Friday, I celebrated my birthday in the most simple yet meaningful way away from the busy city, with my husband by my side, and surrounded by the calming beauty of nature.

A day before my birthday,Thursday, hubby and I decided to take a little escape. We traveled for about one hour and fifteen minutes from our city to the peaceful town of San Felipe.

San Felipe is a quiet coastal town in Zambales, known for its laid-back vibe, friendly locals, and beautiful beaches kissed by the waves of the West Philippine Sea. Unlike crowded tourist spots, this place feels slower, calmer, almost like time gently pauses just for you.And truly, you’ll know you’re entering the countryside when the scenery begins to change.

As we drove along the highway, we were greeted by rows and rows of harvested rice fields, laid out under the sun to dry. It was such a simple yet beautiful sight—golden grains spread across the roadside, farmers carefully tending to their harvest. It felt raw, real, and deeply grounding. In that moment, I was reminded of how peaceful life can be away from the noise.

Before heading to our resort, we passed by a halo-halo vendor so we made a quick stop by the highway to enjoy a refreshing Filipino favorite.... halo-halo which literally translates mix-mix in English and that’s exactly what makes this dessert so fun and special.

It’s a colorful, refreshing treat made with a mix of ingredients like crushed ice, evaporated milk, sweetened fruits (like saba bananas, jackfruit, and sweet beans), nata de coco, kaong (sugar palm), leche flan, and ube (purple yam) often topped with a scoop of ube or vanilla ice cream but this one doesn't have ice cream usually the ones in the malls have ice cream also if you make your own well you can put whatever flavor of ice cream you wish. There are no rules! Hahaha.

There’s something extra special about eating it in the province. The air feels fresher, the moment feels lighter, and the sweetness somehow tastes better.

After driving for twenty minutes more from our halo-halo stop finally, we arrived at Lambingan Beach Resort.
Lambingan comes from the Filipino word lambing, which means showing tenderness, love, or affection - especially between couples or loved ones.

So “Lambingan” is more than just a word - it describes a place or moment where people express love, closeness, and warmth.🥰🤗😘

The place was simple, cozy, and very close to nature with a beach front. What made our stay even more unique was our accommodation - a teepee nipa hut.

It was charming in its simplicity. Inside, there was just enough space for a queen-sized bed that perfectly fit the hut, making it feel like a little cocoon meant purely for rest.
No distractions. No excess. Just a quiet space to sleep, recharge, and be present. And honestly, that’s what made it so special. Don't look for an AC it only has a fan.

There were no guests in the resort so basically it's just us, We had the whole place just for ourselves. We had this big nipa hut to ourselves.

There were no grand celebrations, no loud parties—just the sound of waves, soft conversations, shared laughter, and the comfort of being with the person I love.
Sometimes, the best birthdays aren’t about extravagance....
They’re about peace, presence, and gratitude.

And this one?
It was exactly that. ♥️♥️❤️

Stay tuned for parts 234😍
I still have so many things to share to you. This is just the arrival the day before my big day! Part 2 will be the adventure part and the wish that came true!

Thank you for dropping by.🤗🥰♥️

Love,
@aideleijoie