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? 

New TV

Another busy rest day as always. I just had two hours of sleep but that didn't stop me from hitting the punching bag real hard I must say that I had a good work out. I had a bucketful of sweat gotta burn 'em all carbs. 


Twin sissy and I got home past noon, our two-year-old niece greeted us like there's no tomorrow hehe. Our elder sister told us that she is the only one supposedly coming over but dad, our other sister, and fourteen-year-old niece tagged along with her. Our elder brother drove all of them here so it's a family day affair kinda thing. Dad brought us  Suman (rice cake) fresh from Antipolo. When everyone's gone twin we head over to Robinson's Galleria and checked out Saizen where I bought a vegetable bag and key holder for myself. We're starving after strolling the mall for almost an hour and spotted Burger King so we had our uber late lunch. We haven't eaten in BK in years so we miss ed Whopper JR that's what we ordered but for some reason, it doesn't taste as good as the old Whooper anymore and the size of the burger is a lot smaller than it used to be, just saying. We miss the food in BK but our food trip at Brothers Burger last week was more satisfying. 


We went to SM Megamall later to scout for an LCD  TV our not so old TV is still under repair by Manong Guard who happens to be an electrician too but there's no update yet if he's able to fix it we don't want to wait for another week without TV, luckily we found one in Western Home Appliances. Our new sharp 22 inch LCD TV has a sleek design, we liked it a lot I think we found our dream TV. 


Sissy is fast asleep as of this writing and she wants me to read the manual to learn about the features of our new TV I told her I'll try because I hate reading manuals I find it boring plus she did TV support back in Sony so why would I bother? but I won't tell her that of course zip it, zip it! haha. I always tell her that she can count on me when it comes to troubleshooting our Internet or computer but TV is not my thing I find it too complicated.

Pasta and Gelato

I'm insanely tired today I just had three hours of sleep. I woke up early so twin sissy and I can work out together. We rested for at least an hour, had lunch at Sbarros which is my treat because I finally got my PAG-IBIG STL to check after four weeks. It's worth the wait though, it's way better than I expected. We ordered "baked ziti with meatballs." I miss having pasta at Sbarros it's been a while since we ate pasta. Of course, our day will not be complete without having dessert at Amici, our favorite place for gelato. I'm in love with their gelato cakes. We tried "banana blast" this time but I find it too sweet my favorite is still "sans rival" so far. My happiness is almost complete if only I got my 3k Sodexho pass yesterday I could've used it to buy groceries in lieu of cash hopefully I'll get it on Monday because I worked hard for it. 



Oh before I forgot, I missed blogging about the new Phillips earphone I bought last week.The left earphone of my old one went dead on me it's so overused it's almost like a rat had chewed on it. I love my new earphone it's actually better than the old one but I'm not sure how long we'll be together.

When In Baguio

Tuesday. 08.31.10

I just got home earlier. Twin sissy and I spent our leave in Baguio. I did not bring my laptop with me so I am not able to update my blog for a week so but I'll try to remember what happened during my short yet relaxing vacation in the summer capital, Baguio City.

Sunday. 08.29.10

It's been raining a lot here in Baguio since we arrived yesterday afternoon via Dagupan bus. I slept soundly last night because mom's comforter is the best! Sissy and I have to wake up early not to miss the 7AM mass at the Pink Sisters Convent. Our brother drove us to church we arrived 15 minutes before the first mass starts. It's our first time at the Pink Sisters I must say that it's a lot solemn to hear mass there compared to Baguio Cathedral. This church isn't spacious enough to accommodate many people so it's not crowded at all. It's really quiet there I can hear what the priest is saying clearly during the mass. It started raining after the mass so we're unable to take pictures outside. Dad and brother went ahead so mom and the two of us head over to "Cafe by the Ruins" for breakfast. I thought I'd have something exquisite to drink so instead of having coffee I chose this "mint tea" something from the menu and had the shock of my life when the waiter served me a glassful of hot water with what I suppose is mint leaves and a small cup full of honey to taste. To be honest, I didn't like my tea at all it tastes like toothpaste dissolved in water or something it's a little weird for me. I ordered the beef sandwich that got me even more disappointed because the bread is very hard to chew and the filling isn't generous nor tasteful enough. Cafe by the Ruins looked pretty enticing from the outside but the food is no winner to me or maybe I'm just expecting too much? Whatever, I'm not a happy camper so to speak. The weather is still not very cooperative so we went home after buying Ukay shirts from a stall fronting Prime Hotel. Let's hope that tomorrow's a better day.

Monday. 08.31.10

National Heroes Day


Oh, It's a holiday and another rainy day. Our first itinerary for the day is supposedly a trip to Bencab Museum we forgot about it yesterday for but according to the website they're closed on Mondays. Nevertheless, sissy and I never lose hope we didn't stop scouring session road in search of authentic-artsy places. Few days before my leave I breezed through some food blogs on the Internet and when I come across this vegetarian resto/art gallery called Oh My Gulay, located at the top floor of La Azotea building along Session Road. We got excited when we take a peek inside OMG, it's an art jungle in the amidst the city. A cozy atmosphere greeted us. We got a little intimidated by the place at first because we arrived early we didn't see anyone taking pictures so we chose a spot where we can take pictures discreetly. It's lunch time so we told ourselves that we'll worry about taking pictures later we better check out what's on the menu first. For our main dish, it's twin sissy's pick she chose Lumpia Salad. This salad lingered on our tastebuds, the vinaigrette dressing is so good we loved it. Then comes dessert my pick is called super sosy. Don't be fooled it's not like sosyal (fancy) at all, it's just the name. The yummy crepe is made of mango and peach it's not too sweet, just perfect for our diet. 

The rain poured heavily after we had our fill and more customers started coming in so when we saw them taking pictures of the place we wasted no time and did the same thing. We had a real good OMG experience. It's still raining when we got home. We had spaghetti and double dutch ice cream for merienda. We thought we've had enough until dinner and will not eat anymore but mom cooked our favorite dish Tokwa't Baboy (tofu and pork) so we had no choice but to eat again, I'm so stuffed. 

I guess that pretty much is everything.

Mami Madness

It's my interim off today so to burn carbs I did some cleaning while re-arranging our furnitures to bring back the old look of our room. Love the fresh air! I guess I'm just bored so instead of slacking off I did other stuff to make the most of my rest day. I had my nails done, did some laundry and ironing too, how's that? 

Ma Mon Luk's infamous
Mami and Siopao

Yesterday, my twin sister and I along with our elder sister and teenage niece heard mass in Quiapo church. We ate lunch at Ma Mon Luk Restaurant just a few minutes away from the church. My sister said this restaurant is our dad's favorite place and that he used to take us there when we were kids because they have the best Mami and Siopao in town. Our dad also loves their Lomi. My twin and I were only five years old back then according to my sister so just imagine how old this restaurant is now it brings back the memories of Quiapo which is my birthplace. I don't recall the taste of their mami and siopao anymore since I was too young to remember but upon tasting it I realized that there's nothing like their mami and siopao it's worth coming back to. Ma Mon Luk's mami and siopao have its distinct taste that you won't find in any other Chinese restaurants, It's flavorful and tasty. A bowl of mami is enough to keep you full for a day. Their siopao is soft and fluffy and definitely way better than Chowking's siopao. I hope that Ma Mon Luk's legacy will pass on from one generation to the next because it takes a real good flavor to withstand the tough competition out there. 

Foodie, Foodie

It's rest day transition week. I came to work for only three days then I'm on RD again, thank God. Though it felt like I had a long week or let's just say i'm just really tired, that's all. I thought I'll have my APE (Annual Physical Exam) after my shift but I changed my mind because I'm craving for dessert so I met up with my sister in SM Megamall (my place to be during RD). I've always wanted to go back to Amici located in Atrium just to have ice cream cake. When I went there for the first time with my friends I tried their "choco sans rival" I fell in love with it instantly. This time I tried "merry berries" it looks lovely believe me it tastes just as good but I still like sans rival better. I thought dessert was enough but my sister and I got hungry since it's lunch time already we tried the foodie at "The Kebab Factory." I had "lamb kebab shawarma" while she had some of their "chicken salad." We loved the shawarma dressings, my sister tried it on her salad too and it added flavor to it. I'm still watchful of what I eat and my fruit diet will go on but I consider this day as my "cheat day." I'm not worried at all I'll burn 'em cals tomorrow. Self control and discipline is the key to a healthy body. Need i say more?

Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

R18, 1Hr45min
Musical, Thriller
Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Alan Rickman


Review By Shelley McDonald

There were a lot of things to be brought together in Tim Burton's adaptation of Sweeney Todd, not least of all his distinctive directorial mark. Based on the Stephen Sondheim musical about a young 18th-century barber, taken from his wife and child, by a corrupt judge, and sent to Australia for a crime he didn't commit.

With Burton at the helm, it's no surprise then that this is a gothic fantasy, set in a suitably grimy 18th century London.

Johnny Depp stars as Sweeney Todd the barber who returns after fifteen years to get revenge. Depp is singing for the first time and manages to find his voice and embody it with all the bitterness and bile that the character requires. Todd's accomplice is Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) also singing for the first time and though her voice is not strong, it seems fitting for a lonely widow, with a fetid pie shop and a tentative grip on reality. As Todd's old landlady, she has kept his beloved barber's blades. Todd's new business is murder, and it isn't long before he decides that anyone who comes to his chair deserves to have their throat cut. Mrs. Lovett sees it as a way to boost her flagging business. After all, times are tough and meat is expensive.


Running alongside the plot for revenge is a story of forbidden love between Todd's teenage daughter, in the care of the judge who wronged Todd, and a young man who knows the barber from the journey back to London and appeals to what is left of his good nature. Alan Rickman is superbly despicable as the self-serving judge aided by a perversely creepy Timothy Spall. Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen makes an enjoyable comedic cameo as an Italian barber, using a young boy to sell his miracle elixir. The boy adds yet another dimension to the plot and is an uneasy innocent in the care of murderous duo.

Much has been said. If you're into macabre and horror stuff I'm sure you'll love this movie. There are scenes that are a quite gross good thing it's a musical because without the singing it was a "bloody hell" experience. I love the gloomy filter and ghoulish make-up especially Mrs. Lovett's Victorian dresses. Sweeney Todd is a good one but if your not a goth musical fan and don't appreciate gross stuff, then this movie isn't for you. Definitely not for the faint-hearted. 

Chaikofi (Part II):

It's my sister's birthday today. I'm still on leave because we are supposedly going out to celebrate her special day but she attended her friend's wedding so twin sissy and I went out amongst ourselves and watched a movie. I guess I haven't had enough of pasta so after watching Sweeney Todd we head over to Chaikofi and had some of their Bavette Al Pomodoro. I also chill with one of their bestsellers Zonteas called Son of a Dutch. My sister craved for dessert we also had some cake I indulged on their newbie Oreo Cheesecake it tastes so good, it's sweet and light filling compared to the Chocolate Dome my sister ordered which is too chocolatey and sticky. I'm still on diet, am I?

Catching Up

I just came home from Antipolo to check if my room is still okay so far my stuff are still there but the floor was quite a mess I think a flood came by last week. 

My parents fetched me after my shift last Saturday. We had breakfast together so I was able to save money for fare and food. I watched TV the whole day. Come dinner time, my sister cooked "sinigang." It was almost we have a feast because mom also brought her specialty viand made up of mixed vegetable and coconut milk or ginataag gulay in Tagalog. I haven't eaten real food in a long time. 

I had my nails done yesterday, then watched TV the whole day again. Obviously I have nothing else to do. I didn't bring my laptop with me to Antipolo, we don't have Internet connection there anymore. 

I went to Villman earlier to check out how much a portable hard drive would cost these days. The salesman offered me a 250GB for Php800+ which is not bad. I might go back by the end of the week to buy that.

Sleep, Eat + Chicken Pox Scare

I had 8 hours of sleep. This week's a drag I deserve a lot of good sleep.

I haven't eaten a lot yet that's why I'm quite starving now. I just had chicken soup and Magic Flakes crackers for dinner, and that's about it. I don't eat a lot on weekends because if I do, I won't stop eating. If I give in to my cravings I'd want more until my eating will be uncontrollable again. Worst, I can't wear most of my clothes again. I don't want to get fat and it's not that I'm too figure-conscious, I just find it inconvenient for me not being able to wear what I like just because they won't fit anymore.


Anyway, the chickenpox scare just won't leave me alone about two weeks ago my sister had chickenpox, now it's my niece's turn. I just hope that my anti-pox vaccine will save me.