Sunny Side Up

It has only been a year since I last set afoot our house in Antipolo where I lived back in college and I must say a lot has changed already. My sister and I traveled a seven-hour trip from Baguio to Manila a few days ago and didn't expect that the Antipolo-Sumulong terminal is no longer in Araneta Center in Cubao but now in Farmers. Aside from that, gone are the Tamaraw FX days or Revo, it's changed to huge vans that can hold 15-18 pax. The fare sky-rocketed too from Php35 to 50 but not so much for jeepneys and buses. The heat and traffic are still unbearable as usual so that is no surprise at all. Once we are settled in our house we didn't think about going out until the next day because we are so darn exhausted by the heat. Our house sits in an overlooking area where we have a good view of tall buildings in Ortigas and Makati so it's quite refreshing, unfortunately, we now have a limited view because the leaves of our resident mango tree obstructed it but that's not the tree's fault, nobody just care to trim the leaves anymore, I guess. 

Our brother dropped us off to SM Masinag the next day. We scoured the mall and noticed that there are still a lot of unoccupied stalls. I love it when a place looks fresh and smells new. I'm glad to see an Etude store there too because I love their black Oh-M liquid eyeliner and I don't have to travel far just to grab one once it runs out, yay! I've been to SM Marikina last year while SM Masinag is still being built but I kinda like SM Masinag better, I find it more accessible from our place. The first thing that came to mind when I saw Razons in this mall is their bestseller "halo-halo." I ordered one for me and one for my sister to beat the heat and we surely loved it. We went home after an hour since there's nothing left to do there and we just really wanted to check out the mall. 

Hungry Hippo

The main reason for our travel is to sign some documents from our previous employer because I got a call from someone in our HR department that they are working on our final pay. Makati is about an hour away (depending on traffic of course) from Antipolo. From Antipolo, our brother dropped us off in Masinag where we rode a van en route Ayala. The fare is now Php55 per pax from 40 which was less than 10 years ago from what I remember. Our van left Masinag at 6AM and we got there past 7AM our appointment is at 9 which is a good thing because we have ample of time for exercise. We walked from Philamlife to RCBC Tower which is kinda far, it's roughly a 7-10 minute walk. 


Many years ago, all FX coming from Antipolo will drop off passengers along Paseo de Roxas which is more convenient, it will only take you 5 minutes to get to RCBC. We should've worn more comfortable clothes because we are sweating out when we get there. I got hungry after a long walk I told my sister I want to have breakfast at her favorite hangout place called Hungry Hippo. I ordered a huge meal which consists of egg, bacon, and toasts whilst she just had french fries said she lost her appetite after our morning jog/walkathon, lol. After signing all the documents we came back after lunch to see if we can already secure copies of our certificate of employment and ITR unfortunately, we were advised to claim it in their Baguio office...I thought seriously? We came all the way here because we were told that everything will be forwarded from one center to another so there's got to be a miscommunication somewhere? But we didn't give up, my sister sent an email to our HR coordinator in Baguio and got a reply immediately that we can get the COE and ITR the following day. Sadly, we still have to go back but thankful that we have accomplished everything.

We heard mass at the Antipolo Cathedral on Sunday. Our first house in Antipolo was just thee minute walk to the cathedral and it is still there only my sister and her daughters (20 and 7-year-olds) live there now. There are so many establishments that have sprouted in the area like malls, coffee shops, etc. It has changed a lot since 1987 when we moved into our first family home. I still see a few familiar faces. Our niece drove us afterward to Robinson's Place which is the newest and the largest mall in Antipolo. I recall this place used to be an empty land with tall grasses but it's transformed into a mall with a huge parking space. On the way back we paid a visit and offered prayers at the newly built Parish of the Immaculate Heart near Hinulugang Taktak (a famous tourist spot in Antipolo). I love this church better than the cathedral because it is not crowded. It is surrounded by trees so you feel closer to nature.

I still couldn't believe my eyes how a simple town like Antipolo can become so progressive that I couldn't recognize it anymore. I like how it's changed minus the road widening because it is such a pain that there's no space to park your car anymore in front of your own house. It's gone too crowded already. I think it's not ideal to live there it's become too polluted as well. I still need a place where I can breathe.

When Travel Bug Bites

Travelling is like a pill to me, it is a great cure for boredom and monotony. I like to travel every year on my birthday. There is so much to learn and learning never ends in this familiar ground. 

I use to have a fear of heights and the infinite. I thought I couldn't brave the sky and the clouds, only endless roads. I told myself that planes do crash and if this will happen, lifeless bodies will be fed to sea animals or the wild ones depending on where it will crash. 

But life takes you to unexpected places. Four years ago I decided to fly and see what's out there. My first travel experience was in Singapore where I moved from one house to another along with my sister and a friend. Living in SG wasn't easy because everyone's a total stranger but it was a learning experience away from home that I will never forget. 

Getting lost in Singapore

I came to SG looking for a better life but end up missing home, there's no place like it. I fell in love with this country because it was so different from home. It is very progressive, clean and citizens are afraid of the law. Fines are huge for any violation and people respect that. There are many beautiful places to go but be prepared to spend because the cost of living isn't cheap. 

My sister and I thought we could find a job in a month apparently, it is taking longer than expected and not all employers are willing to hire foreigners without a ready work pass. We decided to explore every town we've been to instead and gave up finding a job. We moved from one HDB (government housing for rent) to another. What I love about SG is that there's always a nearby park and supermarket in every community. It's easy to get around and the MRT system is a breeze. It's amazing that this country is earthquake free so I wonder where their calamity fund goes or if they ever use it at all.  Buses and private vehicles are smoke-free so there's obviously no air pollution. 

More about SG

I didn't enjoy most of the tourist places in SG because I'm not a fan of popular places where most people go. I am more interested in eco-parks and weird theme parks like Haw Par Villa or shopping districts like Little India and Chinatown. I also fell in love with SG food. I will never forget the very tasty chicken rice, nasi lemak, the refreshing bubble tea, and Makansutra's Aglio Oglio. 

I might come back to SG but there's more to explore in Southeast Asia.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Last year on my 34th birthday, I decided to spend it in Siem Reap, Cambodia. As much as I hate evening flights, I have no choice because all the morning slots are sold out so my sister and I endured the view of nothing but darkness outside. A three-hour flight seemed like forever thank God the weather is good so there's no turbulence or any scary factor. A tuk-tuk (Cambodia's version of tricycle) driver brought us to a 3-star hotel called Hotel Angkoriana where we have reservations for 2 days and 2 nights. What I like about this hotel even if it is 30 minutes away from the airport, is that it is cheap but decent. They have all the basic amenities in the room like coffee and tea making facilities, free wifi, breakfast, pool, airport pickup (via tuk-tuk), etc. I remember staying at a cheap hotel near NAIA T3 that's way too basic they have no electric pot, mini fridge, not even a telephone in the room so if you want room service you have to use your cellphone to order from the menu posted in the walls of your room from the restaurant at the ground floor. Seriously? I'd rather go down and eat. Spell inconvenience. 

Seam Reap, Cambodia

We arranged a 1 day Angkor Wat tour at the hotel front desk upon arrival. Our tour guide and driver fetched us from the hotel around 8AM the next day. I think the tour finished almost 2PM. We visited I think less than 10 temples. We kept walking under the scorching heat of the summer sun, the only chance we got to rest was during our lunch at a fancy jam-packed restaurant filled with foreigners too. At the end of the tour we are so darn exhausted, we were all sticky and dusty that I couldn't wait to shower as soon as we head back to our hotel. After an hour of rest, we strolled "Pub Street" which is only few minutes from our hotel via tuktuk for food and souvenir shopping. Nothing much to remember about food in Cambodia because we only tried one dish but for sure, lots of spices will always be present. I don't know why we only spent 2 days in Cambodia. I thought maybe because there's not much to do anymore but later I realized that we have time to spare for 1 more day. Cambodia time is an hour behind from us we got confused the next day if we have to follow their time or Philippine time for our flight so we arrived really early at the Siem Reap Airport. I guess it's better to be early when in doubt just to be safe. 

I guess I'm addicted to adventure. This year on my 35th birthday along with my twin sister, as usual, we visited Hongkong for a change. I had my sister booked our flight and ensure that we get a morning flight this time thank God most flights to and from HK are in the morning, yay! A travel agency arranged a 4D/3N trip for us. We stayed at a 3-star hotel called Silka Far East in Tsuen Wan near the MTR station but far from all the major tourist attractions. My sister's first choice is a hotel in Mongkok because it is in the shopping district but the hotel doesn't look good on pictures and the area seem crowded and unsafe so I decided that it's best for us to stay in a hotel that's a little far but comfortable. 

Hongkong getaway 2015

Our half day city tour the following day lasted for only 3 hours we spent half of the day exploring HK. We climbed the long stairs of the Tian Tian or Big Buddha temple then went night shopping in Mongkok. It was our birthday the next day and have nothing more to do so we bought cupcakes from Hello Kitty's Le Petit Cafe and some more souvenirs. We flew back to Manila the day after and checked in at the nearby airport hotel then traveled back to Baguio the following day. 

Hopefully, I can visit Vietnam next year. I'm looking forward to seeing the beauty of Ho Chi Minh and stay at the Old Quarter. I have done some research already on nearby places to go but still collecting more information. So much to see, so little time. My feet is yearning to travel again, I can't wait.

Food Trippin' in Baguio

I love exploring places and food and what I learned about living in Baguio is that you will never run out of good, artsy places to go to enjoy good eats. 

Good Taste menu

When I was still based in Manila I occasionally visit Baguio for vacation because where else can you find all sorts of ukay-ukay (second-hand items) stuff and lots of coffee shops everywhere but here. It must be the weather that's why in every corner of Baguio, you will find coffee shops that not just serve coffee and bread but also rice meals, porridge, noodles, etc. at an affordable price. When I was a kid my dad brought me and my siblings to this local restaurant by the marketplace called Rainbow Cafe (Kayang Street Located at the public market). I had my first taste of their bestseller Rainbow Rice here which consist of Chopsuey rice with lots of fresh vegetables, a slice of lechon and steamed chicken. Oh boy, the serving was huge! It left me a happy tummy that I will never forget so I told myself that the city of pines has more to offer. If you miss homecooked meals, drop by anytime at the very popular Good Taste (Otek Street near Burnham Park). It is open 24/7 I remember my sister and I come here for breakfast in the wee hours of the morning after work. Rice meals are considerably cheap. Food is served with huge portions of fresh veggies. You will realize that fast food is nothing but junk if you come here often but make sure you are really hungry because you will really end up stuffed. I love their fried rice, chicken fillet, blue lemonade, and cream puff if you want something for dessert.

OMG at Oh My Gulay!

My sister and I are very much into artsy places but are also into healthy food so every once in while we drop by at Oh My Gulay (La Azotea, Session Road) to savor their tasty salads. I came across OMG as a tourist many years ago. I like to Google places to visit before I go on vacation and OMG is listed as one of the most interesting places to eat in Baguio. I always make sure that I have an itinerary to follow so everything's organized when I'm there and this definitely topped my list. If you're into nature-inspired art and organic food you will find this place really interesting and if you still haven't had enough of OMG, check out Ili Likha and Cafe Cueva (both in Assumption Road) too.

Ili-Likha with the resident ginger cat

Cafe Cueva

For chocolate lovers and cacao advocates, savor a cup of bitter-sweet rich hot chocolate at "Choco-Late de Batirol" (inside Camp John Hay). Make sure to try their "Turon De Langka and pair this up with any traditional blend of your choice. I had strawberry whilst my sister picked the cinnamon flavor and both are equally delicious. 

Choco-Late de Batirol's Turon de Langka a
nd strawberry traditional blend choco

Grumpy Joe's Combo A: Chicken, Spaghetti, 
Fries, and Pizza

Western food is everywhere too so why not try "Grumpy Joe" (Leonard Road). The place is not very spacious especially for a large group but the food tastes good and the price is quite reasonable.

Ozark's Dark Beer Cheesecake and Chicken BBQ sandwich

Whenever my siblings and I like to catch up, we go to random places so when a friend of mine at work recommended Ozark, (2 Bear's Trail, corner Bareng Drive) even if this is right in the middle of nowhere we took effort to find it. I was surprised when we got there because there is no one else but us. No reservations needed, a table and good food awaits. This is a perfect place to chit chat and relax. The day we came happened to be my niece's 19th birthday. so we decided to pig out and enjoy their South American food. You can sit comfortably while enjoying the soothing view of pine trees and school field. My (pulled) chicken BBQ sandwich is super tasty, served with generous portions of fries and Ozark iced tea. Also, never miss out to try their bestseller Dark Beer cheesecake.

Canto's Half Slab Lomo Back Ribs is heaven 

I'm not a fan of jam-packed places but if you're craving for lomo back ribs cooked at its finest, head over to Canto and you will never regret a thing. The place is crowded for the most part so don't take your chances and reserve a table for you and your family or friends to make sure that you will not end up disappointed. I just didn't like the noise especially if you will spend dinner there plus there's not much privacy I noticed that tables are too close to each other. 

Chaya

For Japanese food lovers, Chaya is a good place to dine but not for walk-in clients since they have limited tables. It's like a house converted into a fine dining resto. I'm not really into Japanese food but I did like their tasty Chicken Teriyaki salad and green tea ice cream sampler which is served free after your meal. To be honest and in my experience, don't attempt to come here without a car although the parking space is also very limited because it will take you forever to get a cab home especially in the afternoon too so I find it not very convenient.

The lovely walls of Hillside Station

After scouring books at Mt. Cloud better check out Hillstation (Casa Vallejo, Upper Session Road) too. This is cozy place serve vegetarian yet tasty sandwiches. For non-vegetable lovers they thought that vegan food lack flavor but that is no longer true since most vegan dishes nowadays aside from healthy are flavorful just like the "vegetarian panini" I ordered. I thought I was eating smoked beef and not eggplant because the taste is quite deceiving it's like not eating a vegan sandwich at all.

My Vegetarian Panini 

That's pretty much it for now. I'm still in the hunt for cool places to go and I will definitely keep looking. Any suggestions? 

Thinking Out Loud

Twinnie (my twin sister) and I are housekeepers for the time being while our elder sister is away taking care of some things. As I mentioned in my previous blog, our vacation home is 30 minutes away from town so imagine if we ran out of food supplies and our neighbor sari-sari store (thrift shop) is closed then we are left with no choice but to come up with whatever we can munch on. It's like getting stranded in an island the only difference is, we are sorrounded by mountains instead of water. At first I don't understand why twinnie always make sure that we have flour on stock in the kitchen I thought she merely use it for cooking but one fine day she just surprised me with pancakes for snack I was left wondering because we do not have any pancake mix available like the one you buy in supermarkets. 

I have no interest whatsoever in food making or baking. I know how to cook fried or easy food but I'm quite lazy especially if it has something to do with seasoning. I have issues with proper portions and more often than not it end up tasting weird so I just let my sister do all the cooking while I take care of the dishes lol. I have basic knowledge in baking too during our good old highschool days but baking is such a tough craft to master plus the ingredients are quite expensive too compared to just buying finished products from bakeries so why bother?

Just recently, twinnie got herself into baking again not using a large oven but a steaming casserole with holes in it that thing you use to make rice cakes and it did work out pretty well. Since I am the lazy one, I tried the no bake technique with a little help from youtube of course. I made an Oreo Cheesecake using crushed Oreo cookies, creamcheese and condensed milk as ingredients. I mixed equal portions of creamcheese and condensed milk in a mixing bowl, toppled it with mini chocolate morsels and sprinkles then left in the fridge for a few hours. I have sweet cravings from time to time I'm looking forward to learn more of these no bake recipes which is a good cure for boredom too. 

Aside from dessert making, I am busy nursing our senior German shepherd dog "Brandon" we took him to the vet last week due to his infected callous (hygroma) which is common for large breed dogs. He was prescribed with antiobitics and liver supplement and we have to clean his wound for a week using an antiseptic solution given to him as well. Poor dog, he's 10 years old and 70 in dog years so he needs a lot of T.L.C now. Pets are part of our family and they deserve the proper care that they need for protecting us and it's not an easy task too because they shield us from intruders and they also risk their lives by doing that. 

Speaking of pets, Atari the cat, our 2 year old ginger is keeping himself busy sleeping all day in twinnie's bed. He sleeps comfortably in the comforter and doesn't want to be disturbed. I've had several cats since I was a kid but this is our only cat that bites! Yes he does and he does not eat table food, well ocassionally he does eat fried fish but he loves catfood so much he gives an attitude whenever his plate is almost empty and sees that his catfood is running out in the container. He's turned into a big fat cat since we had him spayed as recommended by his vet so he doesn't spend all day wandering outside. 

Since I've been on vacation for almost a month now and I rarely go out unless necessary, I keep my face makeup free and my current discovery is the coconut oil therapy. I was apprehensive to use coconut oil as night cream at first because I have tried beauty creams before even those expensive brands but after a long period of use it is not as effective anymore. I have been using coconut oil as night cream for less than a month and so far I already noticed that my skin is softer. I like how it feels whenever I apply make up, it glides much easily. They say that coconut is the "tree of life" and I totally agree. 

I love makeup. I wear a lot of makeup whether at work or anywhere I go. I feel naked without it but when I'm at home I don't wear make up at all. I give my face a rest too. I make sure to take good care of my skin and keep it moisturized and hydrated because the more makeup I use, it is most likely for my skin to become dry and age easily. I'm not getting any younger but whenever I get compliments from people that I look younger than my actual age and that my makeup look good on me, I am absolutely flattered. Seriously? Who wouldn't be right? Looking younger doesn't have to cost a fortune but a lot of skin T.L.C. I have nothing against cosmetic surgery because anyone has the right to be beautiful but still, I'm proud that I haven't had any work done. I believe that beauty can be achieved by proper skin care and a healthy diet because whatever you put inside your body, it will show in your skin. I do love makeup and it can hide imperfections but there is no substitute for a healthy looking skin. 

Choose Happy

It's almost a month now since I quit my job and this whole vacation thing will soon be over. I think I have already rested enough and ready to go back work. Oh how I wish I could go on like this forever but some darn good things never last. I guess what I will miss most about Baguio is the cold weather since I'm from the south where I'm accustomed to the artificial cold coming from either an AC or electric fan which rarely used in households or business establishments here. 

Nothing compares to urban life if you're used to a life where everything move so quickly that's why I thought about escaping and considered living a simpler life here. But it was never easy. My family have a vacation home that's 30 minutes away from town and 40-45 minutes (30 btw for locals, is a very long travel time) away from where I work. Since my sister and I settled here 4 years ago we have moved from one apartment to the next and lived in each for less than a year until we found a better pad where we lived in for 2 years though it is still quite far from work but at least it's not as far as our vacation home and we have no choice anyway, the owner is a friend of our dad's. I know what to expect when I came here. I tried not to rant about the huge wage difference because that's part of the whole relocation thing even though the work load is the same I told myself it's not fair, not at all. Some people thought that the cost of living here is not as expensive but in my opinion, they should try to live and work here to know that. What I am earning here is never enough, I want more and there's nothing wrong with wanting more if you work your ass off all the time to suffice your needs and wants. I believe that things happen for a reason. I lived and work here not by chance. 

I guess I'm starting over again but hopefully I can do better. I'm off to a good start. I'm positive that something great awaits and I'm looking forward to it.