TIME to have some fun in the sun. Holy Week is fast approaching and flights to holiday destinations are slowly getting booked.

This year, my family decided to vacation in a resort we have never been to. Since Boracay will surely be like an SM mall on a weekend, we thought about its neighboring island, Panglao, in the province of Bohol.

The fine, white sands and palm trees of Alona Beach are exactly what Bora was many years ago. Sprawling amid lush landscaped gardens high up on a windswept cliff is the Amorita Resort (see www.amoritaresort.com).

All in harmony with nature, Amorita was designed to showcase just a few rooms and private villas, each with its own private plunge pool and sun deck. Amorita and other high-end, service-oriented, privacy-guaranteed resorts are making our country a destination for the well-heeled tourist crowd.

I am really excited to go scuba diving in Bohol. The resort has a dive shop and a diving pool for training and other refresher courses. Additionally, Amorita is soon completing a Mandala Spa, to be opened within its premises.

Shopping and traveling are my favorite pastimes. When the travel is for shopping, that for me is double happiness. The trip is extra special if I am visiting a site for the first time and discovering the arts and culture as well.

Macau

With the global crisis, Asia has become the favorite for bargain-conscious travelers. My first Asian trip this year was to the gambling capital of Asia, Macau. Being married to the mob, I tagged along with my husband, Dennis, when he went there for a conference last month. He spoke, I shopped. The Venetian Macau is a fantastic shopping mall, winding around a Venice-style canal and gondoliers.

The ink from the entry stamp on my passport was hardly dry when I left again, this time for Cambodia and Bangkok, with my Assumption Batch 1981 classmates. Our first stop was Siem Reap, Cambodia. Since we arrived late in the afternoon, we just dropped our bags in the Pacific Hotel (see www.pacifichotel.com.kh), and went straight to the night market that sells silver galore and beautiful precious stones.

Our personal travel agent is our classmate, Popsie Gamboa, who arranges the best affordable packages. She is also our personal banker, making sure we get our money?s worth when haggling for discounts. Her tip for the temple guide is to just book through the hotel.

The true gem of Cambodia is Angkor Wat. With temples enveloped in century-old roots and branches, they are so magnificent to see. I felt like Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider.

One of our classmates, Maia Diokno, took a five-hour bus trip from Phnom Penh to join us. It was wonderful to reunite with her after being more than a quarter of a century away from school.

We were pleasantly surprised to meet Ting Ting Cojuangco, the mother of my classmate, Liaa Bautista, who was also in Cambodia with her fellow staff at Phil. Public Safety College.

After countless photos in the temples and endless haggling in the night market, we were ready for Bangkok and our nightly Thai massage. Instead of a regular hotel, we opted to stay in a cheaper, more central, service apartment, Fraser Place Urbana Langsuan, Bangkok (see www.frasershospitality.com).

With no set plans, we spent the days shopping until our bodies were aching to enjoy the Thai massage just down the road from Fraser Place. Carrying so many Jim Thompson fabrics from the outlet shop really gets the body sore.

Shopping

My sacrifice for Lent was supposed to be zero shopping. I broke this on the first day of Lent. My spiritual mentor/classmate, Girlie Sison, suggested that I just extend my penance a week after Holy Week. My other classmate, Pia Lorenzo, asked if I was the Shopping Queen or the Sea Princess. The Shopping Queen will have to stay away from the Rockwell Urban Bazaar at the Rockwell Tent today because there is too much temptation.

The summer collection of Mich Araullo is simply delightful! I am so hooked with Thai massage; I think I will bring it to Urban Spa at the Shang Mall. The Spa has a new promo, until April 30, where for every receipt worth P2,500, a lucky winner gets a chance to spend a day with me, the first Celebrity Duet Champion.

Our day starts with Urban Spa?s pampering Signature Massage and Facial, then bonding over lunch at Dome, then shopping in Religioso, and then finally, a fab hair cut and makeover at Studio 546. Visit Urban Spa at Shangri-La Plaza Mall or call 6876195 for details.

Francis M

I?d like to extend my condolences to the families of Matt Sham and Francis Magalona. Francis M generously helped me last year, sharing his photography talents during my campaign for the Makati Red Cross.

Tubbataha race

Speaking of deserving charities, another is the campaign to preserve the Tubbataha reefs. Ton Concepcion, a passionate diver when he is not running Concepcion Durables, is once again sponsoring the Condura Race for Tubbataha.

Tubbataha, of course, is the largest reef atoll in our country and a candidate for one of Nature?s New Seven Wonders. According to Ton, 6,000 runners are expected, triple the number last year. Even elementary and high school kids are joining the 3-kilometer run.

Run for whale sharks

This year, Condura partnered with ABS-CBN Foundation and Bantay Kalikasan to help preserve the whale sharks of Donsol, and Operation Smile for the benefit of children with cleft deformities. Runners can donate P100, get an R40 or Operation Smile race bib, and help a child have a sweet smile.

The Condura Run for the Whale Sharks is on March 22, 5:30 a.m., starting at 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City, beside NBC Tent. Registration is at Nike Park on Bonifacio High Street. For more info, log on to www.condurarun.com or call 3910980 or 0928-5207066.

I?m joining the run as part of my penance for Holy Week. This way I can have some fun in the sun at the same time.

E-mail seaprincess@inquirer.com.ph.