Define Essentials: Travel for Women

Here's my temporary home for the next few weeks (or months?).

 

Pardon the un-made bed (this is Day 6 :)

The entire team is staying at Dohera Hotel at A.C. Cortes, Mandaue City. It's not too posh like the four-star hotels found in Cebu City but I can't complain. I have what I need. The hotel is a bit new and the facilities are in tiptop condition. The customer service is commendable. The breakfast from 6:00 to 10:00 am makes me super happy (one major chore slashed out - getting up early and preparing the brekky). The waiters usually give me the extra mile of service after they found out the name of the client I am serving (It must be a major client of theirs, too).

 

We had a long breakfast this Saturday. We then went up the gym and sweated our hearts out. I saw a foosball table and remembered someone (:'). In the afternoon, I had a massage at Nuat Thai (walking distance from the hotel). I spotted two more massage spots - Yoga Thai and Buankhunthai. I might try these in the next few weeks.

 

A woman has got to have her "basic" needs so I brought my power teams with me :)

 



10-step morning routine
Counterclockwise from top left: Makeup brushes in yellow and orange pouch, accessories and burloloys in pouches, VMV Baby Boo Boo Balm, Clinique eye serum in travel size (freebie), Majolica Majorca mascara, Benefits concealer, Pond's eye serum, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion in travel size (freebie), Organix moroccan oil (for hair), Just Bitten lip balm (used as blush), Pond's toner, Olay moisturizer, cotton balls and buds, Skagen watch, Clinique Even Better foundation, Clinique Almost Lipstick (bought this here), Benefits Browzings, Shu Uemura lash curler 

Before the nightcap
Left to right: Lactacyd toddlertub (freebie, used as facial wash), Listerine mouthwash, Colgate optic white toothpaste, Olay foaming cleanser, Shu Uemura cleansing oil, Zenzest body spritz, baby wipes, Dove soap (for the delicates) 

 


THE Bath
Left to right: Bath puff (Wow, this is the longest serving puff I've had - est. at least six months and about Php 100; I bathe this puff on a weekly basis by soaking it on laundry powder, washing with mild soap and rinsing), Lactacyd blue (used as body, facial and feminine wash - travel light idea :), Nivea body milk (this lotion's scent brings me back to the year 2003), Belo deo, Human Nature clarifying shampoo

 You may recognize 90% of the stuff from my previous posts. Well, that's because of two things. Firstly, I resolved to buy only the basics and finish up before I replenish. Second, I only bring the stuff I trust (tried and tested) when I travel (This avoids unnecessary expenses such as having to purchase a replacement because you brought a "trial" pack.)

 

Now, who can define "basic needs" in a way that is both confounding and irrefutable?

 Women, right? Enough said :)

 

Happy weekend!