startled cat

Rare Jewels!

2013-06-21T20:11:00.000-07:00

The idea of seeing yet another set of ancient architectural wonders made me eventually decide to visit Indonesia, despite the very unfounded reasons I have enumerated in the immediately preceding entry. The pictures of these magnificent temples alone are so unreal that I could not miss it for the world.

Next thing I knew, I was on a plane to Yogyakarta.

Yogyakarta officially introduced us to the wonderful Indonesian culture. We came to this country with practically no knowledge of its culture and its people, albeit the mostly negative things we heard over the news and read on available articles. We were surprised to be totally smitten by its very warm people that made us somehow question why we Filipinos think we're the most hospitable people on earth.

But to avoid inciting any debate, enough said about that subject matter.

Instead, let me share with you the photographs of two of the most fascinating jewels of Yogyakarta and, without a doubt, the world.

Prambanan, the magnificent.

A 9th century Hindu temple, this somehow resembles the famed towers of Angkor Wat, but it has no base structure where one can actually go in.

One of the great towers. The details are astonishing!

They have successfully pieced the temple back together for us to marvel at ancient men's architectural superiority in the absence of technology.

I was surprised how sexual the depictions in the carvings are...

which shows how liberated their ancient culture was...

and how tolerant their society now despite being a predominantly Muslim country.

Borobudur, the majestic.

This on the other hand is a 9th century Buddhist temple. The photo does not give justice to how massive this temple is...

that the tiny spikes that you see on top of the temple...

are actually stupas which are approximately 12 feet tall (I am 5'10")!

and they are all around the temple...

housing a buddha statue each...

which shows how devout the ancient men were to their religion, giving it all - materials and manpower resources - to build monuments to last over a thousand years!

At that moment, I believed in my heart that Borobodur toppled Angkor Wat in grandeur, even predating the latter by 300 years. It is also widely believed that the descendants of the builders of Borobudur built its more renowned Cambodian counterpart. The only advantage the Khmers has is that most of its temples are within one expansive complex, as opposed to Yogyakarta's which are scattered all around.

But I have no problem with that, a rare jewel is supposed to be "hard to find".

One more chance!

2013-05-21T19:09:00.002-07:00

I have to admit, Indonesia was last in my list of places to see in South East Asia, mainly because I was dumb as 3825 to believe some of the bad things that have been written or I have been told about it. You know, massive traffic jams, touts, terrorism and all. Wait, did I just describe my own country? LOL!

Fortunately, my bosom buddy and default travel companion ETS, sparked the idea of going to Yogyakarta, a city Southeast of the capital Jakarta and which rightfully deserves a separate blog entry. The lure of seeing yet another set of ancient temples was just too irresistible and the next thing we knew we were on a flight to Jakarta, having no direct flights from Manila.

Because of our initial misconceptions, we only intended to stay shortly in the capital city of Indonesia and there was no specific itinerary to follow. For us, it was a necessary evil just to get to and from our intended destination. And I must admit that I was so pleased to be proven wrong once again. Disclaimer though, my observations are coming from a point of view of a person who lives in Manila.

The Soekarno-Hatta International Airport was HUGE, probably not the terminal itself, but the complex as a whole.

To some, the interior might be dated, but there's this certain character which I liked...

which differentiates it from better known airports I've been to which all look generic though modern.

Where's the legendary traffic jam? And this was on a Friday nearing rush hour.

We asked our cab driver to bring us to the Museum Nasional, we were brought to Monumen Nasional (Monas). We thought the museum galleries were underground. Oh well, it was still good to see this landmark.

The Monas grounds. It was clean despite the number of people around: vendors, homeless, tourists and bystanders alike. I wish I could also say that of our parks here.

Streets were clean and traffic was orderly.

The elevated bus stops.

The skyscrapers.

The road that leads to...

the massive Hotel Indonesia Roundabout (Bundaran Hotel Indonesia).

This, I must say, was the biggest shock to a Filipino. I swear I even saw one who had to back out for going past the line, and everyone behind him gave way.

This I swear, yet again, is never going to be our reality in Manila, or Ho Chi Minh for that matter!

I dare not to conclude that what I saw and experienced in Jakarta was what it is on a regular basis as I was only there for a very limited time. But that left a very good impression enough to make me want to go back and really explore the city one more time.

Old Glory!

2013-05-20T23:33:00.001-07:00

I was very thrilled to get a chance to visit one of my favorite cities again, Bangkok, Thailand.

I have always felt comfortable in the city that I could actually move there anytime, with the language difference as the only major adjustment. What made the trip more exciting was that I had a side trip to another major tourist destination outside the present capital which I always wanted to see too, Ayutthaya.

Ayutthaya was ancient Thailand's second capital after Sukhothai. Sadly, the glorious city was burned to the ground by the Burmese army in 1767. I have always been a fan of ancient ruins, so the city fits right into my to-see list.

I was warned by a friend, however, that I, having seen Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, might be in for a huge disappointment.

I have never listened to my friends.

So, on with the trip!

The tour started with a bus ride to Ayutthaya that gave me an opportunity to see more of the city...

and the beautiful countryside.

First stop was the Bang Pa In Palace...

which is very evidently well maintained.

I don't exactly know what this is, but I'm certain it is revered with all the burned incense and garlands in front.

In front of the Chinese palace with my gorgeous friend.

Wat Maha That, remnants of a glorious past. Once the residence of the supreme patriarch.

Sitting with Buddha.

One of the many stupas in the area.

A Buddha head entangled in the roots of a very old tree. You cannot be photographed with your head higher than Buddha's.

Wat Na Phramane, the only temple that was not sacked by the invading Burmese army during the ancient war.

The giant reclining Buddha at Wat Lokayasutha. There's unfortunately no historical account of its background.

The tour culminated with a buffet lunch in a ferry that cruised along the Chao Phraya river...

which was again an opportunity for me and my lovely friends...

to see the unique cityscape of Bangkok

with its massive bridges,

and another,

the smaller ferries that ply the vibrant river,

a view of the Grand Palace,

and the Wat Arun.

Yes, Ayutthaya may not compare to Angkor Complex, but the mere fact that I was standing on ancient grounds of utmost historical importance not only to the Thais but to all mankind being a testament of ancient men's architectural superiority was more than enough reason for me to go see and experience it for myself.

Phuket me wrong, but I love it!

2013-05-20T19:10:00.000-07:00

Coming from the Philippines, I say that it would be very hard to please me, or any Filipino for that matter, when it comes to beaches. We have 7107 islands, so there's always a nearby beach anywhere you are. Although I have only been to a few, I could safely say that they belong to the very best, namely the ones in Bohol, Palawan, Ilocos Norte and of course, the world renowed Boracay Island.

So a couple of my friends were rather puzzled why I was very eager to go to Phuket in Thailand. They claimed that there's nothing extraordinary there, and the sand can never measure up against even our third rate beaches here.

But I know me, I had to see it for myself. After all, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. And I was so glad I did go, because I definitely love it!

And here's why...

1. Thai food is the best and is very cheap. And there's a lot of restaurants that you'll never know where to start. I hate it when you can't find a decent place to eat in, and luckily, the places we tried in Patong were great, and yes, that includes the resort restaurant.

The best we've tried, we're even given complimentary dish and sliced pineapple.

We were like the only people there at that time because it is located quite far from the main road.

Eat here for the ambiance.

From the hotel restaurant. Our very first meal in Phuket.

Very simple dessert (local crepe) but surprisingly yummy!

2. This resort is awesome and very cheap. I don't think you can ever find something like this for 2,200 baht (roughly 3,000 pesos) in any of our local beach destinations.

Great resort!

Fountain at the entrance.

Not bad at all.

My girls enjoying the resort pool.

3. I have always been a city boy and that is my comfort zone. So it did not bother me at all that Bangla Road was full to the brim with tourists and locals alike. The party from the discotheques, clubs and bars spilled over to the streets, all night long. A warning though, it is not for kids. Scantily clad go-go girls, Vegas-worthy lady boys flashing their surgically-attached boobies and what have you litter the streets. For what it's worth, you'll never get bored.

Russian go-go dancer.

Literal sea of people.

Party animals.

Lady boys in action.

4. While it is true that the sand is not at all as white as that of Boracay's, I could say that it is powdery enough for me and without the pesky stones and sea shells. The shore is long and wide for a good stroll.

Tourists came out after the rain.

Cloudy sky, I liked!

Right.

Left. Rain was brewing again.

A little peace and quiet.

5. But what most impressed me was the city's waste management system, or at least the garbage collection. You could never guess that a bazillion people partied all night along Bangla Road when you check it out in the early morning. There was practically one garbage truck in every street corner collecting the debris of the mayhem the night before. I could never say that for my own neighborhood.

The morning after.

No trace of the chaos the night before.

Sleepy by day, raucous at night.

So I guess in the end, the beauty of a place is a matter of preference. Some people like it zen, I like in sensational!

Awakened!

2013-05-17T19:20:00.000-07:00

I am so back!

After almost a year of neglect, this blog will be up and running again, with big thanks to a very good friend who shook me off from my deep slumber.

During the hibernation, I have collected a lot of adventures that I would like to share to the world. And I have to do this fast, because I have an inkling that 2013 is going to be as packed.

Coming up!

And so much more!

Torn

2012-08-24T20:43:00.002-07:00

Holy week is just about the hottest, longest and gloomiest week of the year so I usually just stay home to avoid the mad rush of people going out of Manila for a vacay. But the lure of going to a surfing beach for the first time, watching a bikini open on a holy week and trekking to reach one of the most fabulous waterfalls I've seen in pictures, got the best of me, so I broke my long held tradition and hit the highway with friends early morning of Holy Thursday!

Major fail! It took us 12 grueling hours to get to San Juan, La Union which is otherwise just a 4-hour drive!

The massive build-up that almost made me want to turn back.

Please don't try this at home!

Local-grown grapes sold in the streets. Texture and taste closer to olives.

Afraid they might already have animate things inside!

Despite the very wrong start, the 3-day 2-night vacation turned out to be an interesting one. Endured a whole lot of things for the hope of finally seeing the waterfall I saw in my friend's Facebook.

The steep descend, start of the hour-and-a-half penitence on foot...

across fields...

thirsty earth...

natural stone floors...

less than grand but equally amazing canyons...

doing balancing acts and...

death-defying stunts...

all just too see this uniquely beautiful work of God's hands!

Now, I am a little torn whether to wish for this waterfall to become famous so local government funding will flow for its improvement and maintenance, or for it to remain in obscurity to keep it from man's destructive nature.

Believe

2012-03-22T20:25:00.003-07:00

I have always wanted to include Pila, Laguna, since my very first Laguna Loop tour. However, going to Pila meant skipping Magdalena, Majayjay, Liliw and Nagcarlan which have some of the best churches in the province, because Pila is just a town away from Pagsanjan which is the turning point to three alternative routes. Unless you have more than a day to spare, by all means do them all.

So the trip to Pagsanjan Falls gave me the opportunity to at last include Pila in the itinerary because we would no longer go to most of the churches we've covered before. After all, how can I pass up the chance to see what is widely known to be a national heritage site because of the ancestral houses that can be seen there, "in the league" of Vigan, Ilocos Sur in my mind.

However, plans changed because we miscalculated the time we needed to spend in Pagsanjan and because SRP also wanted to see Majayjay Church again, we chose to go to San Pablo instead of Pila, the former having a lake view as an added attraction.

And it was a huge disappointment! I remember passing by San Pablo Church at night and I thought it was bigger and grander, which was probably because of the lighting. For me, it is ordinary and luckluster, at least compared to the rest of the Laguna churches.

So even if we knew that it would be a long way to Pila, we decided to skip the lake and immediately leave San Pablo. Good thing that the roads are well-paved with relaxing views and ample markers to guide newbies like us.

Finally, the town of Pila. Above is the San Antonio de Padua Parish Church. Unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed. Although it is no doubt beautiful, I am not liking the fact that the belfry is different, in terms of the materials it is made of, from the frontispiece. I know for a fact that almost all of the churches have undergone renovations due to damage from natural and man-made disasters, but at least stay true to the original form.

Although I wasn't able to completely check out the interior, it looked well maintained, although small, and I am loving the chandeliers.

My favorite ancestral home among the many that surround the town plaza...

like this one...

and this one.

Some of the things that I wanted to see were the old houses converted into cafes and restaurants as I have read in the different blogs about the place. Unfortunately, the two that we checked out, including the one above, were again a disappointment.

They are, at best, cariderias. But since it was already around 6pm, we decided to settle with this one because it was the only one with customers that time, an indication of sort that it's better than the other one across the street. We ordered pancit canton. 40 minutes passed and no sign of our pancit. We were already going to cancel the order when it finally arrived on our table...

and it was so worth it! For only Php 90.00, this dish can be shared by three to four persons. Absolutely delish and very generous with the ingredients. SRP wanted to order another to go, but we could so not afford to wait another 40 minutes. Apparently, the pancit they sell is outsourced from somewhere and not cooked in-house.

To sum, Pila is still a must see if you happen to be within the area. The well-maintained houses surround the town plaza which give one a glimpse into the alta sociedad of olden Philippines. Although I was hoping that the people, locals and tourists alike, grow some respect and decency in their bodies to keep the place clean. There were trash everywhere and it was such an eyesore.

Pila is nothing like Vigan, Ilocos Sur, as I have wrongly expected. Pagsanjan has as much ancestral houses, just not as strategically laid out as in Pila. If I have to see a heritage site, I need not to look elsewhere, Intramuros is way better.

Do not get me wrong, Pila is beautiful, sans the garbage situation, but not as I was made to believe by some of the blogs I read. This time, to see is to truly believe.

Stampede!

2012-03-20T01:07:00.002-07:00

One day, my phone rang and on the other line was Sir RP (SRP), a good friend who I met through another good buddy MDC from the land down under. By choice, he's been unemployed for months now, so he's been a constant phone pal while enjoying his very long break from the corporate world. And I must say that he's got some seriously deep pockets to be jobless this long.

Out of sheer boredom perhaps, he asked me to accompany him again on a tour of the Laguna Loop which he enjoyed the first time I toured him and MDC there. He wanted to do a little photography which he failed to do then because he drained his camera battery with just the first three churches.

But it would be like my hundredth time to do the loop so we agreed to do something else aside from church hopping. And so, Pagsanjan Falls came into the picture.

My roots came from Laguna and since primary school, I have always heard about the most famous tourist attraction in the province but I never really had the motivation to see it for myself. Probably it was because of the bad stories I grew up hearing about the place.

But was I glad to overlook everything and just went for it. It was surely worth our while.

From the Pagsanjan Church towards Cavinti, turn right on the street after the bridge, where you would immediately see a sign for boat rentals. There are a lot of other resorts there that offer the boat ride but we didn't bother to choose as the rates are basically the same, being regulated by the local government. It's Php 1,350 per person, only a maximum of 3 passengers per boat aside from the two boatmen, which already includes the balsa ride that would take you through the raging falls itself, the life vest and the hard hat. As per our conversation with our boatmen, there are around 900 tourist boats plying the river, so it'll take a week before they could sail again. As I understand, there's a central depot where all the resorts get the boat services. Once you're on the boat, a motorboat would tug you along for around a kilometer to the rocky part where it could no longer sail. From there on, your fate is in the boatmen's hands. A couple of vendors on boats would approach you along the way, just decline with a smile.

We were told that a number of local productions shot TV shows and movies there. Above is the set of the TV series Amaya.

The boundary between Pagsanjan and Cavinti. Apparently, the latter actually owns the famous falls, but because the river cruise to the falls could only be started from Pagsanjan, the misnomer stuck. However, as an alternative way to reach the falls, Cavinti came up with a different offering, which is a guided trek through the lush forest, which is so not for me, thank you very much!

At this point, the sail was still a breeze...

feel free to bask in the beauty of nature...

And then the rocky parts where you would start to appreciate the skill and strength of the boatmen. Something I wouldn't do for money. It is fatally dangerous, a slight miscalculation could cause a limb or life itself. We were always reminded to keep our hands off the side of the boat, or lose it. We were told that it was a good day because water was high, which made it easier to sail. We encourage every one going there to generously tip your boatmen, they so deserve it.

It becomes a waterfall itself during the rainy season.

To add suspense in the already thrilling ride. Since they could not part the huge boulders to make way for boats as they did with smaller rocks, fixed parallel metal pipes are in place to ramp the boats through the rocks.

A couple of rocky parts more and we finally reached...

the world-famous Pagsanjan Falls.

We road this balsa with a couple of other tourists. Now, that ride was the scariest for me, more that the death defying cruise, after hearing that there have been fatal accidents before when rocks fell on tourists. But no guts, no glory! I did not burn my skin on the cruise to chicken out the last minute. And I must say that it was so far the most exhilarating thing I did, too bad I didn't have a waterproof camera! We went through the raging water, to the shallow cave behind where the balsa men wanted us to go for a quick swim, but none of the elderly Koreans wanted to, so we headed back. While right under the massive waterfall though, I am very sure that the balsa men deliberately made us linger for a good one minute. Now I know how it feels like when someone falls face flat in the middle of an stampede during a football match gone bad! It more than made up for the little disappointment finding Pagsanjan Falls a little smaller than I expected!

We headed back to the town, and the ride was a bit easier being downstream. We started the river cruise at around 11am and made it back at around 2pm, so we're already starving. Luckily, although I wasn't able to research for a good restaurant in Pagsanjan, we chanced upon Calle Arco Restaurant at 57 Rizal Street. It is an old house converted into a restaurant which is my kind of place.

Honestly, I felt a little reservation upon entering the restaurant. The interior , although full of character, is not entirely pulled together. There are parts that looked recently refurbished, while other parts appeared overlooked in terms of repairs and maintenance. Maybe, the place is under renovation which I didn't bother to ask about. And the biggest letdown was the swarm of flies that seemed to congregate in one part of the restaurant. Although I must say that they got pretty disciplined flies because they did not bother us at all as soon as the ceiling fan over us was turned on.

Then came the surprising redemption. The refreshing banana shake for me and Green Mango Shake for SRP...

The tender and flavorful Lechon Kawale for me and

the equally delectable Rosemary Chicken which SRP absolutely loved. All for just Php 400.00!

Now, the beautiful Pagsanjan, super check!

Large Prints

2012-03-14T20:22:00.002-07:00

We have this pervasive mysticism in the Philippines that a dog supposedly assumes whatever accidents its master is supposed to figure into. Although I absolutely do not believe in it, it is but a very relieving consolation, if only to trick the mind and heart, for a dog owner as myself who lost a beloved pet, Nano.

In November 2011, my brother and Nanay almost figured in what could have been a ugly car collision. A day or two later, Nano lost his left eye when a much bigger dog attacked him while being walked by Tatay in his favorite playground. The following month, Nano was fatally hit by a speeding car inside the subdivision when my brother took him out for a walk, he didn't see the car coming from his left. At about the same time, the taxi I was riding almost got smashed by a maniacal public utility bus.

His very last picture alive :(

One of his emo moments!

And we, up to this moment, sorely miss his antics. His love for anything sweet, especially ice cream and mint candies. He did not grab food from our hands, no matter how much he wanted it, he waited for it to be released, which he ate oh so very slowly. He was allowed to live inside the house because he never pissed nor pooped ever inside. He knocked, never barked, when he wanted to come in. We usually woke up in the morning to see him lying on the sofa with his head on a pillow. He loved to be cuddled all the time. Most especially, he rode the bicycle with Tatay like some dog Lance Armstrong.

He was the perfect dog for the family. We thought that we would never have another after him.

But it was just different without a pet in the house, so last February 14, I brought home a new dog, Cofi.

On the way to his new home.

By the looks of it, so far, he is the exact opposite of Nano in every way.

This puppy has some large paw prints to fill.

Dark Shadows

2012-03-07T00:23:00.000-08:00

Before ETS and I decided to explore Southern Luzon, I wanted to break in by first covering the northern part starting with Bulacan, for its rich history and mainly because it appeared more accessible and easier to navigate for its basically flat topography.

So I invited a friend from the land down under, MDC, to accompany me. And we were in for a surprise.

We thought we were still in Manila, Barangay Something, Zone Something, Gagalangin, Tondo, that is!

There were quite a number of rough spots. Roads and road signs are confusing, I couldn't remember how many times we got lost and had to retrace our route. Worse, not many people we asked knew the tourist attractions we were looking for. Believe me, I've done my research and I read that there's a number of really old churches and structures there, but my list was getting more and more X marks!

Finally, we were able to locate one, the Parish of San Miguel de Arcangel in Marilao. Too bad, it was closed. And our interest was already waning.

I hope the local government does something about the river situation, before it's too late. Let us not allow Metro Manila's dark shadows creep into the provinces.

After burning liters and liters of gas, we found the Marcelo del Pilar Shrine in Bulacan, Bulacan. The shrine was, at the time and I am not sure if it still is, not properly landmarked even if it is situated along the main road, so you would really have to be looking around or you'll miss it.

He was one of the key personalities of the Philippine Revolution against Spain. He was an editor of La Solidaridad, the revolutionary organ.

The highlight of the trip, the Barasoain Church in Malolos. This is perhaps the most iconic of all Catholic churches in the Philippines having been site to some of the most important moments in history such as the inauguration of the First Philippine Republic in January 23, 1899.

Unfortunately, again, we couldn't get a panoramic shot of the church because of these equally hapless students who were having an independence day rehearsal under the scorching mid-day Sun. Worse, the church was closed so we were not able to see the historic altar.

And because it's been basically at an almost-no-hit-all-misses kind of day, we decided that the Parish of the Immaculate Conception, also in Malolos, would be our last stop for the trip.

Actually, I was the only one who got out of the car to check it out, MDC was already beyond uninspired.

On the way out of the province, we passed by this nice place that reminded me of Bonifacio High Street in Taguig. Up to now, I don't know what it is called.

While on the way out of the province, we decided, since it was only around 2pm, to proceed to...

And because we were unprepared to explore the province...

all we saw was the Romanesque city hall...

the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando...

which interior was redesigned after the church burnt for the second time in 1939...

and finally, the beautifully boring provincial capitol.

I would love to give these provinces a second look. And I hope to be pleasantly surprised next time.

Before It Explodes!

2012-03-06T05:10:00.000-08:00

Coron, Palawan is fast becoming a favorite summer destination and I had the privilege to go there before it suffers the same fate as Boracay's.

I was joking when I asked my good friend NiCe to treat me to an out-of-town vacation. She said yes without batting an eyelash. And we were on a plane to this then little known town.

You know you're in for a great time just with the aerial view of the area.

Although a great part of the road from the airport to the town proper was yet to be finished at that time, we didn't mind because the scenery was just lovely. I even remember a part that kind of looked like the African savanna.

The town proper gave me an impression that it is not ready for the boost in tourism. It is a sleepy town with narrow labyrinthian roads, the kind you see in eerie aswang movies.

As soon as we settled our things in the hotel, we immediately started our three-day sojourn in paradise!

Twin Lagoons.

Although we found the water a little murky and oily, which was because of the scores of motor boats that brought tourists there according to our boatman,...

and water was high so we had to go through this hole with really sharp cuts...

the view on the other side was well worth it.

Lunch on the beach.

Grilled everything, yum! Ate three thick fat liempos which made me sick that night, I thought the rest of the trip was doomed! That's LegendHarry (who arranged the entire trip), his beautiful wife, StartledCat and NiCe.

Kayangan Lake.

The steep climb to see what we were told to be the cleanest lake...

at the top would be this view which is the poster shot of Coron. And then our camera batteries died. I almost jumped to certain death myself. Anyway, the Kayangan Lake didn't turn out to be clear that time because of the sporadic rains. But this is what it'll look like on an otherwise sunny day...

Malcapuya Island.

This part of the island is surreal, it's like a scene in "What Dreams May Come", at least for me.

Yeah, that's all I wanted to do there...

aside from basking under the cloudy sky.

Malaroyroy Island

with Banana Island in the horizon.

Bulalacao Island.

I am a little torn about this. I'm not sure if I wanted it untouched...

with the beautiful mangroves around...

or developed into what could be a very beautiful resort.

Mount Tapyas.

If you're up for some serious climb, then by all means go to the top of Mount Tapyas for this breathtaking view of entire Coron.

Macquinit Hot Spring.

After the exhausting but rewarding tour of this gem of a place, soothe your tired body with a dip in one of the only three salt water hot springs in the world...

and cap it off with a bowl of this hot, yummy Nido soup.

Sidelights

2012-03-04T04:24:00.000-08:00

The Laguna loop tour, as I have established in a previous blog (http://startledcat.blogspot.com/2012/02/loop.html), is a rich cultural exercise. But aside from the diversely beautiful churches, there are so many other things that complete the entire experience.

And for an obsessively compulsive person such as myself, I try to design my trips to be thematic, consistent and holistic. Which means I am so not eating in Jollibee.

Because I have done the Loop with different sets of friends, I learned a thing or two which I lay down for you to make the most of your tour around this wonderful part of the archipelago.

FOR BREAKFAST...

This should set the mood for the entire trip. And because this is a heritage tour, the best place to kick it off is in any place in the mold of...

PAN DE AMERIKANA in SSS Village Marikina

The rustic beauty of the place is an experience in itself. It is sure to fire the shutterbug in you.

Make sure to have a Filipino breakfast such as the Something-Si-Log...

to go with the freshly brewed coffee.

And you're prepped for the day in colonial Philippines.

In Baras Church...

Go up the choir deck to have a picture in this pensive balcony...

or see the bats up close. Just mind the guanos, you don't wanna stink from there on.

In Tanay Church...

check out the twin Acacia trees...

that are century old.

In Pakil Church...

Enter the parochial office by the side of the church's main door...

and marvel at the really old wood flooring of the second floor or go upstairs...

and check out the wardrobe of the Lady of Turumba...

or be amazed with the details of the altar of...

the Lady of Sorrows. We were told that this ordinary-sized painting was found hundreds of years ago ashore the Laguna de Bay, but it was so heavy that a couple of fishermen were needed to bring it to the nearest church which is the Pakil Church.

A few minutes walk from the church is the natural spring resort which my cousins and I used to frequent as kids.

Cold, fresh spring water run through the pool, you can actually soap in it.

FOR LUNCH...

You can try Vista's Art Space and Cafe which is a few steps to the right if your facing the Pakil Church. It also serves as a showroom for the artworks of the owners and other local artists.

My personal favorite!

Try the Adobo-Si-Log and fresh fruit shakes.

Or if you're still not hungry, wait till you get to Paete, and since it is known for wood carving...

feel free to walk around to see the stretch of shops ...

and you might find something for souvenir...

and stop by this particular shop...

not only for the awesome masks...

real-looking carvings, but also for the...

freshly brewed coffee...

for a little relax-and-chat time with friends.

And at this point of the tour, you might already be starving to death, so by all means, walk across the street and eat at...

Thai Tsin, for great food in really huge servings @ very affordable prices.

Szechuan Rice

Teriyaki Beef

Fried Chicken

Chicken in Oyster Sauce

Fish Fillet in Lemon Sauce

Iced Tea

So, after a couple of churches from there, you will get to Liliw Laguna which is known for its footwear industry. Outside the church, check out the strip of stores and go find that perfect pair for you.

Your now on the homestretch and I suppose very hungry at this point, so drop by San Pablo City...

and be captivated by the dusk in one of the seven lakes in the city...

and dine in one of the lakeside restaurants which you're sure to offer fresh seafood dishes...

such as the spicy buttered prawns...

or tilapia in coconut milk...

with banana-leaf-wrapped steamed rice...

in a very Filipino setting.

And if that does not convince you to do the Loop, I don't know what will.

Fit-Day the 13th!

2012-03-01T19:15:00.000-08:00

While waiting for the apparition of the Our Lady of Perpetual Youth, I, the humble subject, thought of something better to do with my time. And since we were about to embark again in some lung-busting jogging, I decided to buy myself a cup of healthy refreshment.

The Roma and Charlie Stall No.1 is located at the Shopping Center of the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

Everything's actually good but considering the activity for the night, I chose...

Orange+Ginger+Cucumber for improved skin texture and moisture and reduced body heat for Php 35.00 12oz cup, yum! :-)

Finally, Goddess arrived and we continued our pilgrimage to physical utopia!

Looked empty but there were actually scores of joggers and bikers that time, parking was full.

Refuelling!

Cooled down in the meticulously mowed park at the back of the...

Quezon Hall of the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

After the much needed breather, it was time to eat healthy. Since we were in UP already, I brought her to...

located at the second floor of Bahay ng Alumni in front of the Film Center. I and my MBA friends used to frequent the place for case studies so I was happy to be back...

for the bottomless iced freshly brewed tea with a carafe of syrup to sweeten it @Php 70.00. I like that because it gives me the freedom to adjust it to my liking.

We wanted to try the Chicken Apple Salad but they ran out of stock as it is a bestseller, so Goddess had Tuna sandwich and I Chicken Asparagus sandwich instead, and swapped halves of our sandwiches. Both were good but I love the Chicken Asparagus better, I thought it had some weird ice cream taste in it, maybe because of the mayo or something. Both sandwiches @ Php178.00 each. Filling without the bloated feeling.

She loved the ambiance, especially...

with the love songs being played on the piano and violin. Until some manong took the mic and started, well, "singing" like a drunk uncle of the bride in some crepe-paper-decorated wedding reception somewhere.

Bull's Eye

2012-02-28T19:10:00.000-08:00

It was Day 12 of our rigorous fitness regimen, that is jogging till kingdom come. As usual, it was just Goddess, in her only-missing-are-the-stilletos-party-outfit-turned-jogging attire, and I, in my usual black boring ensemble.

Monochromatic for the night.

Despite both of us feeling a little off, we couldn't veer from schedule. We couldn't lose focus. We have a target, and we are going to hit it, bull's eye.

So after 2 inches and 2 pounds off our waists, we were done and ready for a light meal as always. But we're so over with the usual green salad or chicken nuggets so we decided we would try something else.

We wanted a taste of Thailand.

Krung Thai is located right at the Marikina Public Market. Almost at the corner of the market's main road and J.P. Rizal Street.

It's been a while since I last dined there so I was pleasantly surprised that it has done some improvements...

especially on the lighting. It's no longer dark sad with a lot of this kind of aesthetic lighting. It's got better ambiance now.

And I love the food as usual, the Binagoongan rice with adobo, scrambled egg, sliced cucumber and green mango salad (super yum this one)!

We also tried this delectable Chicken Noodles Soup that's good for 2 or 3!

Although we both agreed that we should have just ordered the noodle soup because we were stuffed as a pig ready for the slaughter.

We walked around a kilometer to get a cab home. So much for keeping focused. Darn!

Empty Stomach

2012-02-28T17:02:00.000-08:00

Bicol is without a doubt one of my favorite places in the world. It has a stunning landscape that would rival the better known tourist destinations in the Philippines.

I could not think of anything else that could ever overshadow the majesty that is Mayon Volcano!

For those who have not seen it, believe me, no photo can ever capture its sheer grandeur! I don't wonder why the ancient people came to worship it! In a moonless night, it almost mystically "disappears" in the horizon, not a slightest silhouette!

But as much as the natural wonders the region has to offer, the food is reason enough to go back there.

So when the opportunity to go back to Bicol came, I went with an empty stomach.

The food trip begun.

BALAY SUANOY, Pag-asa Street, Daraga, Albay.

"Private dining in an ancestral ambience."

I love the luxurious old-rich-Philippine feel!

Bicol Express (Minced pork and green chilies in coconut milk), what else?!?

Ginataang Manok (Chicken in coconut milk)!

House-blend iced tea!

Picnic by the beach!

Usually, when all three of us are near a body of water, a deluge is sure to come. That time, the weather and the beach was on our side.

UNA PIZZERIA, Sorsogon.

We didn't order pizza though. We were there for the booze, and the after-booze, coffee. I love the chic minimalist interior, so did the rest of the predominantly expat guests. Not bad for a residential location.

Coffee with Vodka

EMBARCADERO DE LEGAZPI, Legazpi City, Albay.

I had high expectations for this place having seen the ads. It looked and sounded vibrant and Cuban-ish. So it was a letdown to see the actual place unfinished, sleepy (closes at around 8 or 9pm) and Tutuban Centermall-ish, with very average food.

Buttered Salmon. I had better in Marikina riverside grill.

Bicol Express. Nothing spectacular.

Sinigang na Hipon sa Bayabas.

WILLKOMMEN, Ground Floor, New Casablanca Hotel, Legazpi City.

Since what's supposed to be a nightspot closes as early as elementary schools in Manila, we decided to move to another location, Willkommen, a German restaurant, and the only one I guess, that stays open beyond 9pm. We talked about the past, the present and the future, We talked about ourselves, we talked about other people. We talked forever, but when we looked at the time, we only spent an hour. That's when we realized that time goes by so slowly in Legazpi, literally. If only they could box it and sell it in Manila. I don't wonder why my friend goes crazy living there. She wanted out. She's now back in Manila.

Mixed sausages!

SMALL TALK CAFE, Legazpi City.

Another old house converted into a restaurant. This is the kind I like because there's so much history in the place and you're not there just for the food but also for the memorabilia on display.

Combination pizza. We ordered for the one that includes Laing (Taro leaves in coconut oil) pizza. There were more olives that Laing.

Sauce was not thick enough for me.

I am a very visual person, so this is such a downer. Forgot what it is called but it was like Laing-filled pasta.

Buko shake with ICE BERGS in it.

But of all the meals we had, the best were hands down the good old-fashioned home-cooked true-blue Bicolano dishes our gracious host, the Mella Family, prepared for us!

The Loop

2012-02-27T17:52:00.000-08:00

Whenever I go to a vacation anywhere in the Philippines, I make sure that I try to check out the oldest Catholic church in that area. Although I am not Catholic, I have this fondness for this kind of structures. I see them on the historical, cultural and aesthetic aspects.

I've had the privilege to see some of the oldest in Luzon and the Visayas, I am yet set foot in Mindanao.

Hands down, I could say with conviction that the Rizal-Laguna Province has the collection of the most stunning churches in the country. They are very well-preserved that stay true to the original form. I have seen older churches in a few provinces, but they have already been altered almost blasphemously, like replacing old floor tiles with bathroom tiles, the kind that goes on sale in home depots.

It is hard for me to rank them based on over-all beauty because each has its own particular charm, so I will just present them according to the order by which you see them coming from Antipolo, Rizal and ending with Nagcarlan, Laguna.

SAINT JEROME CHURCH, Morong, Rizal.

The facade is its centerpiece, with the very intricate design...

you can't be unimpressed as soon as you enter the church's elevated compound...

which makes up for the bareness of its interior.

SAINT JOSEPH CHURCH, Baras, Rizal.

What I love about this church is the gruffness of the dark adobe that it is made of inside and out. I am not sure how much repairs it underwent, but this is probably the most unaltered of all the churches, except for its iron roofing.

It is so rustic bordering on the eerie...

See the bats?

SAN ILDEFONSO CHURCH, Tanay, Rizal.

I also love the dark worn out look to it but it lacked the oomph that makes your heart jump at first sight.

The same can be said about the interior...

it is spacious but lackluster. But it would still shame some of the old churches I've seen elsewhere.

SAINT PETER OF ALCANTARA CHURCH, Pakil, Laguna.

Even if I am biased for this one having half my roots coming from nearby Pangil, I believe you would agree that this one has one, if not the best, facade among the churches. It is beautifully aged outside...

while having the most elaborate altar inside. The Pieta painting on the ceiling looks embossed but is actually just artfully hand-painted.

A bonus is that you can access the living quarters of the church caretakers, in which you can also see the collection of dresses of the Lady of Turumba and the exquisitely carved altar in the prayer room as shown above.

SAINT JAMES THE APOSTLE CHURCH, Paete, Laguna.

What make this church different are the vine and flower carvings unusually seen in Catholic churches. The wall for me actually looks like a giant toasted uraro (powdery cookies made of arrowroot flour).

I love the wood parquet ceiling which makes it stand out from the rest of the churches which usually have painted ones.

Another important attraction of this church are the huge centuries old paintings inside that are sadly left to decay. I hope the National Historical Institute and the local government do some serious restoration before they become unsalvageable...

but then again, I am not very hopeful when they built this hideous looking platform obstructing what could be a beautiful view from the side.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CHURCH, Pagsanjan, Laguna.

Now, this is the kind of simplicity that I like. Immaculate, that matches the...

simplicity of the altar. If you would look more closely, you'd see the impeccable skill of the tinsmith in crafting the altar.

PARISH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD CHURCH, Cavinti, Laguna.

Looks a little like Baras Church plus the stained glass windows minus the eeriness...

with plain...

interior.

SAINT MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH, Magdalena, Laguna.

This one has the biggest compound among the churches, partly because the municipal hall shares it. A favorite location for movies that it is called the Hollywood of Laguna.

The newly restored ceiling. It fell and was being repaired when we first went there.

PARISH OF SAN GREGORIO MAGNO, Majayjay, Laguna.

This is probably the tallest and the biggest of the churches but the drama is not in the frontispiece...

but in the side walls that evoke a Parisian ambiance!

The very old twin trees also added to the old world feel!

The interior is not one to be ignored as well!

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, Liliw, Laguna.

This one has one of the nicest compounds because even the perimeter wall is made of red bricks. My only problem is that parking is very limited and the area outside has the busiest and narrowest streets. But if you want to go shopping for footwear, this is the place for you.

But I'd say this has the most expensively elegant interior.

It looked solid and meticulous.

SAINT BARTHOLOMEW CHURCH, Nagcarlan, Laguna.

I also love the frontispiece but I am not liking the front yard cum parking space that appears overlooked in terms of maintenance.

The interior is rather dark and...

not quite altogether...

but the climb to the belfry is the clincher...

with the photo op with a huge really old bell...

and a spectacular view of the mountains and the surrounding towns.

NAGCARLAN UNDERGROUND CEMETERY

I know this is not a church but since you're in Nagcarlan already, you might want to drop by. I would say that it is a very well maintained historical site.

The chapel...

the interior...

the crypt underneath where only the most affluent but very dead bodies are buried.

It can give you the creeps... sometimes.

So there, our answer to Cambodia-Thailand's old temples in one easy sweep. See them before some culturally and historically challenged local government officials or church leaders decide to go panic buying at some builder expo somewhere.

Wensha-rap!

2012-02-26T03:37:00.001-08:00

I am such a massage freak that I make sure I get one at least once a week. I read that an hour massage is equivalent to at least 4 hours of sleep, so I'm sure to get one especially after a night of partying.

From the blind therapists, to the hole in the wall "spas", to the full-amenities spas. It doesn't matter where I get it.

I am from the suburbs, so when I need to go to a real spa (wet and dry sauna, hot and cold pools, the works!), I need to go to one in Quezon City or as far as Pasay.

So I was very excited to learn that Wensha Spa opened one in Antipolo.

I tagged along my pretty friend, who I shall nickname Coffee Girl (CG) for her fondness for anything coffee.

It is a four-storey facility. I believe it is bigger than the one in Quezon City, and maybe also bigger than the Pasay branch.

This you should know before anything else: make sure to find a parking space right in front of the facility. If not, you will have to go down an almost perpendicular slope to the rest of the parking space. There.

First floor is the reception area, the male wet floor to the right while the female's to the left.

The male wet floor is amazing for the spectacular view of the entire Metro Manila having an all glass wall facing the west. The sunset is cinematic! Unfortunately, cameras aren't allowed in the area.

One floor down from the lobby is the male massage area, and another floor down is the female's. My problem with the massage rooms is that it lacked the aesthetics that I love with the rest of the facility. The walls are plain white which makes the room really bright. Not very soothing and takes away the zen that one should feel in a massage.

From the lobby, you go one floor up to the buffet area and the bar. The buffet area is divided into two: one air-conditioned, one al fresco.

I kind of like the food there better than the other two branches.

Indoor dining area.

The bar. Now, my problem with this is area is that you can only access this via the main lobby. Which means you will have to be in slippers and sometimes, if right before or coming from a massage, you would be in a robe. And that's rather odd to see in a bar. There's even a band area, and that's odder. They actually serve liquor and that's oddest after a massage.

Of course, she's happy as a clown with her cup of coffee.

Now, I can have my dose of spa without undoing it via driving home through the chaotic Philippine traffic.

Priceless!

2012-02-25T05:05:00.001-08:00

Finally, I have fulfilled my promise.

With some help from my siblings, I was finally able to take my parents and nephew to our first out-of-the-country family trip, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia!

It was her first plane ride and she was savoring every minute!

I know Kuala Lumpur is not first in mind when you think about a family vacation. Hong Kong because of Disney and Singapore because of Universal Studios, are the staples.

Although I've been to KL during the Asian trip with ETS, we were not really able see much because of time constraint. So, I was also as excited as Tatay, Nanay and Popo to explore the city!

Hello there beautiful, nice to see you again!

And I was pleasantly surprised that KL shot a few notches up in my list of favorite places.

Here's why:

THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE:

Clockwise: Train Station to Batu Caves; KL Sentral; Highway to the airport; Highway to Putrajaya.

Kuala Lumpur has an integrated transportation system of trains, buses and cabs that converge in the KL Sentral Station. Its airports are connected to the KL Sentral via KLIA Transit which makes it very convenient for tourists. It has great roads which, unfortunately, is rare where I came from. See how well lit it is at night? And do I need to mention that drivers are very disciplined?

THE ATTRACTIONS:

GENTING HIGHLANDS

I so love the way to the Genting Highlands! This shot was not even 10-minutes away from the city center but look at the greens everywhere.

This was everyone's favorite part of the trip. The view was amazing and relaxing...

... the only one hyper was Nanay, clowning around the cable car.

Our destination way up there, the cluster of hotels and casinos, including the Resorts World Genting.

A bit disappointed though. I was expecting something grander because of the dramatic climb via the cable car. The buildings looked dated. Our Resorts World Manila is more current and happening!

Before finally leaving, we saw this food store. And Nanay really had to taste test everything so we ended up not having to buy anything! LOL!

BATU CAVES

Waiting for our train to the Batu Caves. Fare is cheap @ RM1.00, RM2.00 for return. Unless you are physically disabled, I would definitely suggest taking the train than charter a cab or joining a group tour which are going to cost you a hundred folds.

Teenagers all over again!

The weather was getting brutal...

which made the 100-meter climb even harder. But Tatay was there to see Nanay through...

probably taking a cue from this hairy duo.

PUTRAJAYA

We took the train to the seat of government, the Putrajaya, the same train that connects the city center to the airport. The train was practically empty and is the fastest way to our destination.

At the station is a counter where you charter a cab for RM30 per hour to go around the Putrajaya, we hired ours for two.

The PICC (Putrajaya International Convention Center), also known as the Cowboy Hat. We were able to look around inside but there was an event that limited our access to some parts. So I asked our trusty cab driver to take us somewhere I can take a full picture of the immense structure.

At the boat quay under the unforgiving Sun!

The massive Palace of Justice!

Putrajaya is squeaky clean, organized and well-thought off.

The Putra Mosque. It is much larger than it seems in the picture.

The grand entrance to the Putra Mosque!

KUALA LUMPUR TOWER

One of the tallest communication towers in the world.

The view from the observation deck. We chose the KL Tower over Petronas Towers for the bird's eye view of the city because aside from the fact that you can just walk in and buy tickets as opposed to waking early in the morning to get very limited tickets to go to the skybridge of the twin towers, it has a 360-degree view of the city versus just the front and back view you get from Petronas. KL Tower actually appears taller because it sits on top of a hill.

We hardly felt the elevator moving.

SULTAN ABDUL SAMAD BUILDING

Right behind our hotel was this beautiful structure. But it's just it, nothing else to see but the grand facade.

MAGNIFICENT PETRONAS TOWERS

By day...

and night! Need I say more?

Weather was uncooperative so we just walked around the Suria KLCC, one of the most luxurious malls in KL. Although I would have to say that it would fail in comparison with our Greenbelt 5.

At the KLCC Park. I'm not sure though if you can get this near in the morning because when we came back, it was steel-fenced so people had to make do taking pictures outside the perimeter!

A bit surprised that the place in a predominantly Islamic country screamed Christmas!

THE FOOD(?)

Well, this one I need to explain very carefully.

Ahm, maybe not. I'll just say in our four days there, this was the only meal that made me very happy!

Our best meal @ Chicken Rice Shop - KL Sentral.

What really made me happy? My family's excited faces the entire time, and that's the best thing about this trip.

Priceless!

Friends and Lovers

2012-02-22T19:23:00.000-08:00

“Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.” - Pat Conroy

So even for a person of limited means, I find a way to do just that. There's nothing more exhilarating than learning and experiencing new things: food, places and people.

You get all that in one blow when you travel.

So, the idea of going on an out-of-the-country trip with my high school friends was doubly exciting. After all, it did not figure in any of our conversations under the shade of Caimito trees when we were still unassuming high school students in then far-flung Parang, Marikina.

We chose Singapore as the first of the many destinations we want to explore together. Although two of us have been there before, this would be our first as a group.

Waiting to board.

So there!

And we wasted no time. As soon as we touched down, we squeezed Singapore to the hilt!

Buying the 3-day Singapore Tourist Pass that can be used for unlimited ride in buses and trains @ SGD24 plus 10 for deposit refundable on the third day. We kept ours for souvenir. Taxis abound but if you truly want to experience the city, the bus and train systems are the most efficient, convenient and most of all cost effective way to move around. Walking is also not a bad alternative because there's much to see, except the weather may be unforgiving.

Of course, we had to make sure that the cameras were working.

First stop, the high-tech Singapore National Museum. It's best that we know about the city-state first to better understand everything we would experience from then on. Unfortunately, the main gallery was already closed so we settled with the special galleries at the moment and just went back the following day.

We were pleasantly surprised that the Philippines was on exhibit that time.

The Singapore Art Museum.

The Orchard Road where the most luxurious malls are.

Hindi sila galit sa ilaw!!!

Again, we were surprised to see a street named after our capital city Manila!

The Chijmes that houses some of the most happening bars, restaurants and shops.

Exterior of the Sultan's Mosque.

I swear, the interior of the mosque is awesome! Unfortunately, only one of us was able to have a picture in there because they were very strict as it was supposed to be closed to the public that hour.

Time for some Malay cuisine!

How we wish buses in Manila were this empty!

Posey, posey at the Merlion Park! We were so trying not to faint because of the extremely hot weather!

What?!? Bubble gum in Singapore?!?

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, catch the Merlion by the toe! The Singapore Eye and the Marina Bay Sands. We chose the latter to get a bird's eye view of the city-state @ SGD20.00 per person. And yeah, those were us, we reserved the entire area for the pictorial, LOL!

Lunch at Lau Pa Sat. It used to be a government office but was converted into this very busy food court where practically the whole of SG eat! Be very patient finding a table.

I am so not eating Indian food ever again!

Little India...

While waiting for the Hindu Temple to open, we found this chic Indian restaurant across the street where we had a pretty good dessert! I ate Indian food again. :-O

Sri Veeramakaliamman Hindu Temple, what a mouthful!

Amazing details inside!

And not to be outshone, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in China Town...

and shine it does!

After all that "visita iglesia", time for some fine dining at Chijmes with Mikee Lee of Pinoy Big Brother who was in Singapore for some OJT.

Our sumptuous dinner!

Working the attitude to get ready for some partying at...

Zouk Club, the supposed number one party place in Singapore. As for us, it is so overrated!

Universal Lovers!

Yeah, it could be that crowded so make you sure you book way ahead of time as I heard they limit entry to the theme park.

It was book week parade all over again! So high school!

Souvenir shopping before going to...

China Town for the...

best meal we had in Singapore!

Back(less) to the museum, LOL...

that greets visitors with a big bang, a 360-degree audio-visual hall! Upon entry, you will be handed a digital tour guide which gives you control on what you want to see and know about as you go around the museum.

A primer on Singapore's colorful history. After that, it was...

gallery after gallery after gallery showcasing the city-state's rise and fall and perpetual rise as one of the richest countries in the world!

Cleopatra hooked up with her Anthony!

The Helix Bridge, it is more awesome at night, though!

The Marina Bay Sands up close.

Another future attraction!

We thought going way up there would at least mitigate the scorching heat of Singapore. So wrong! It was hotter because we were nearer the freaking Sun!

We wanted to take the plunge into the infinity pool!

The quiet Singapore skyline!

Dinner at Suntec City Mall courtesy of Anthony and Cleopatra!

Ahmmm, where's the fountain of youth? Just asking! :-)

Because someone's old age was catching up on him!

This is a timed spectacle so be sure to be there around 8 to 9pm!

It was a very long day and everyone was drained to the last drop. But Goddess and I were not about to give up the last night in Singapore. So we hopped on a double-decker to...

the Riverside Quay and Clarke Quay...

Where practically all expats and tourists in Singapore converge for some overnight booze. I swear, again, that it was the United Nations over there, ready to be zapped out of the planet by that spaceship-ish canopy! Eksena sa Independence Day!

A few bottles of beer to cap the night! So glad we dragged our firm sleepy asses to go there, they would not have had the privilege to be in our presence! Hehehe!

Thank God the rains came the last day! Great to know they also get flooded! LOL!

Now somebody got some explaining to do!

Pasalubong shopping at Mustafa Center, their version of 168 in Divisoria.

Yes, we are so not done yet, we gotta see the Esplanade Theaters first, even when the skies were telling us to stop!

Inside...

Roof deck. And we're done!

Because no storm could stop us...

except the scary random security check. I swear, for the last time, I was almost ready to deny my friends. I was such a Judas!

And we were finally home bound!

The Life Box

2012-02-21T21:15:00.000-08:00

I am a self-confessed photo freak that I take pictures of practically everything that's going on with my life. And this is not something I developed overnight. As far back as I can remember, I have always loved collecting pictures, with or without me in it.

For me, pictures are my tangible memory, experiences on glossy paper or in pixels. One or two friends actually once asked me about this "obsession". I told them that when I grow really old and alone, I would like to have something to constantly remind me of the life I led, that should be enough to cheer me up.

Now that I am starting to clean up my room, I couldn't help but be nostalgic while sorting piles of pictures I kept over the years. Sentimental is the farthest adjective to describe me, but old pictures of family and friends really touch the heart.

A big portion of this collection are my pictures from high school. I realized that although we grew up in what used to be a sleepy town of Marikina, my friends and I have always been larger than life. High school was the only world we knew, and we made everyday a Mardi Gras!

Book Week Parade featuring Greek Mythology. This changed the landscape of this annual event. We changed the year level official entry Noli Me Tangere because it wasn't grand enough. We hand-made all the costumes from scrap. This started our winning streak.

We were a defiant batch that the following year, we scrapped El Filibusterismo and went with Eqyptian Mythology as Book Week entry. It was an instant hit!

Linggo ng Wika and Christmas Cantata for the grand slam win!

Looking at the pictures elicited not only a smile but occasional laughter. For one, I could not believe the fashion sense (not the costumes above but the day-to-day wear), it was like taste abandoned us those days.

We were so naive that we thought school was the only thing going for us. Even up to fourth year in high school, we were playing like kids in literally the biggest playground there was, the Boys Town Complex. Our life was simple, our dreams were simpler.

Cliche as it is, life really is a box of chocolates. Several years passed since our innocent days and I could not believe sometimes how complex life has been to some of us. Everyone changed, some for the better, others for the worse. The only thing that remained are the forged friendships unscathed by distance and time.

It's fun to think that we enjoyed our childhood a whole lot because we did not try to GROW UP fast...

It's more fun to think that now, we try not to GROW OLD, period.

And I am so glad to have them around to reminisce the good ol' days with...

and create new adventures together!

Foot and Mouth

2012-02-21T00:09:00.000-08:00

After 10 grueling rounds of jogging and walking around the University of the Philippines academic oval, my good friend, who I shall now nickname Goddess, and I decided to go vegan for the night as we didn't want to undo all that hardwork.

So, we drove to Likha Diwa along C.P. Garcia, Diliman, an eclectic vegetarian restaurant. However, it seemed close that day, if not totally forever, so I was afraid that we'd end up with some fast food. Fortunately, she knows a vegan place. Unfortunately, she couldn't remember exactly where.

After leaving no stone unturned all over Teachers Village, while stalking some hot caucasian guy to be offered sacrifice to the Goddess, we finally found what we're looking for, PIPINO - Vegetarian Food by Pino along Malingap Street beside Bayantel Building.

I first thought that we were going to the dining area at the first floor but Goddess ushered me to the second floor which could only be accessed through the back door. I love the idea as it gave the feel of exclusivity.

True enough, the place seemed undiscovered, at least for me, because there were only two customers that time, one pinay and one caucasian woman.

I so love the interior, squeaky clean and cozy. I would say fresh.

And I give the food a thumbs up. I love vegetables but I never really like a vegetable dish that doesn't have a hint of meat in it, but the Vegan Lasagna was great and did not hurt that the serving was huge, around 4" x 3" x 3" if I'm not mistaken. The only minus is that it wasn't as scorching hot as I preferred it.

@ Php 120.00, not bad!

The Cucumber+Lemongrass+Ginger Cooler was also good although towards the last few sips, the ginger taste was becoming too strong. The Pipino shake was equally refreshing.

@ Php 80.00 each!

All in all, it is a great place with great food and I would be glad to bring some friends there soon.

The Cure

2012-02-19T18:10:00.000-08:00

I am not a health buff nor a gym rat, but I make sure that I get to do regular physical activities. As much as possible, I also encourage family and friends to do the same. After all, what's the use of living longer and healthier (sans fatal accidents and diseases) if you are going to outlive everyone you hold dear. I don't really "watch" what I eat, but I moderate things. I still pig out once in a while. Ang buhay ay pasarapan, hindi pahabaan!

At the moment, I jog regularly. It can be done almost anywhere, does not require any equipment, just a pair of good running shoes. You can also do it anytime you please.

It is great that I live near the Marikina Sports Park with an olympic size track. Entrance fee is a very minimal Php 10.00, and another 10 if you prefer to get a locker.

And thanks to the shooting of the Hollywood movie Bourne Legacy in Marikina, which closed down the sports park, we were finally able to try a good alternative that is the academic oval of the University of the Philippines. It is free and it is more strenuous, which I like.

Very cheap for a whole lot of benefits. Jogging is great for weight loss, particularly effective in losing fat around the middle section, aside from reducing risk of heart illnesses, diabetes and more. It also helps to cleanse pores because of the excessive sweating. Personally, I noticed it also "cured" my sinusitis as I haven't had to take medicines for almost a month now.

So, I and a couple of friends started this fitness "regimen" which includes jogging and going to the gym basically for, honestly, aesthetic reasons. Hey, we also owe it to our Creator to take care of the vessel of our soul. He wouldn't have molded man the way he did if He didn't have an ideal design in mind, He could have easily taken a rock and stuck twigs on it for our limbs and that would have been enough.

Either Or!

2012-02-18T00:06:00.000-08:00

Going on a long trip to four different countries was truly a roller coaster experience. It was thrilling, exhausting and downright crazy.

I am a big fan of the Amazing Race and I've always wanted to do something like it. And there's no one else I could see myself on a trip like that but ETS. She's a quick thinker and very agile. She's Angelina Jolie, if only her lips were massively pouty, her eyes were a lot closer to each other, stood a few inches taller, had slimmer limbs, bigger boobs... LOL! In short, SHE'S THE MAN!

It was not initially the plan. All ETS wanted to see was Cambodia. Uma-Angelina, told ya! We ended up booking three countries more. All decided within minutes. We would have to leave our work behind for a long period of time that was months from then, but that did not even factor in.

We brought nothing but our backpacks, cash and a whole lot of guts!

We researched well and it paid off big time!

Worst fear: Be suspected as mules, be locked up in some seedy undisclosed location, get tortured, live to tell the tale, write a best selling book about it, become filthy rich.

Biggest lesson: Sometimes, we shouldn't fight fate. If something bad comes up, it might be the best thing that could happen. Just go with it. Let go and let God. During the entire trip, we were like led to the right places at the right time with the right people. Not a single unwanted glitch. Zero accident.

Image courtesy of http://www.moca.org

So, on our way to the airport early Sunday morning, we were both sad and happy. Sad that the adventure was over, happy to be home bound.

Now, that was a tough act to follow. Our problem is how do we outdo ourselves.

We came up with a plan: A couple of countries. Just belt bags. Just cash. Let's see what happens.

After all, "Life is either a great adventure or nothing!" - Hellen Keller

Careful what you wish for!

2012-02-16T18:46:00.000-08:00

Penultimate day of the Asian tour, and we spent it in Kuala Lumpur.

So without breakfast, we went straight to the KL Sentral Station to catch a train to the Batu Caves which is one of the main attractions in the city.

The train is the cheapest and fastest way to the caves @ RM1.00 and RM2.00 for the return ticket! No need to go through traffic nor charter a cab nor join a bunch of weird people in a group tour!

We got there hassle free!

This huge image of the Hindu deity Hanuman greets you at the gate!

Sri does very beautiful henna tattoos!

So we got identical ones! Neat!

Watch out for the droppings!

The 140ft world's tallest Murugan statue guards the stairway to the sacred grounds!

Now that's a 100m climb!

One of the bazillion monkeys loitering the area, watch your hair!

The Cathedral or Temple Cave.

Oh no! ETS' hasang was blood red again! Dark? Cave? It didn't matter that we had to pay for a guided tour for around RM40 each.

This is because there was a flash. Without it, it was complete darkness in this part! We were told that snakes of all sizes inhabit the cave. Wow, thanks, I feel so much better now!

And ETS was enjoying every minute of it. It was a very cross cultural interaction... between them!

Until the she opened her mouth a little wider!
ETS: I love it, this is the kind of stuff I live for! Blah! Blah! Blah!
Guide: Oh yeah? There are a lot of other caves here you should check out!
ETS: Really! Great! Because when I was browsing on the net for interesting things to see or do in Malaysia, I FOUND NOTHING!
Me: (after ten back flips) We're so dead!

Is this our escape route? I swear that tour guide could have left us for dead there and nobody would ever know!

So happy to get out of there and made it to our brunch at McDonald's KL Sentral!

By this time, my and ETS's energy was waning. Nothing left to see in KL but the Petronas Towers. Not quite of an exclamation mark to end this wonderful journey with my best bud!

Until we saw a situation brewing outside as the train passed by...

and knew something was wrong when our train was stopped at the Masjid Jamek station and the guards were screaming at us, almost ready to drag us out of the subway station!
ETS: A, don't go out, don't go out! We are going to die!!!
Me: If they threw a dynamite in here, we're toast! There's nowhere to go, we have better chances outside!

Oh no, she's having a heart attack!

The protesters' line, and they were really loud!

The police line!

But we kept clicking away while pissing our pants!

We almost got arrested for asking where the Merdeka Square is. Apparently, that's where the protesters were converging. Good thing our accent gave us away as tourists!

So we had to walk to the only train line operating, the monorail. All other lines were suspended!

Ouch! LOL!

We're such danger magnets, there's another group right in front of our hotel! We were praying it wouldn't also cancel flights or we're stuck indefinitely!

According to the guy we were able to talk to, they were protesting against government corruption and election fraud! Ah, okay, we eat that for breakfast in the Philippines!

And that was the oomph we were looking for, but we were wishing for something less... dramatic!

Finally, a so-so dinner before...

Meeting up with the twins again...

to envy how wealthy Malaysia is...

until him!

Glow and the Shadows

2012-02-15T17:59:00.000-08:00

Finally, the last leg of the tour, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia!

We arrived early evening, took the bus to the KLIA transit that connects the main terminal to the KL Sentral station.

The KL Sentral where all transport services converge!

As usual, I couldn't help but be sad that our airports don't have the same accessibility. I don't want to compare, but the Philippines has the oldest airline, and I suppose airport, in Asia so we had the upperhand to innovate. Unfortunately, it is now one, if not the "worst" in the world.

But I am hopeful, it is not too late, and it's not the subject of this post.

Anyway, while on the monorail to our hotel, we couldn't help but gasp at the sight of KL's jewel, the Petronas Towers!

The twins teasing in the horizon while the KL tower was trying to steal the spotlight!

Unfortunately, it is impossible to get a good shot because it was a bit shaky.

Our hotel is situated in Bukit Bintang.

I am a city boy as ETS is a jungle girl, so I love the busyness of it all, while she was hating it! Found our hotel, left the bags and because we had practically just a little more than a day to spend in KL, we immediately went for the kill!

We proceeded to Petronas Towers and it is indeed a magnificent sight even from afar! We thought the night was still young so we stopped by the Akasa Taj Indian restaurant first for dinner. We so love the Indian manager for being so attentive to our needs, on top of huge serving and cheap prices, the two poor travelers couldn't be any happier!

Then off to Petronas. ETS and I agreed that the awe we were feeling that time must have been the same with the primitive people of Cambodia had when they first laid eyes on Angkor Wat. We ogled a bit but unfortunately, when it was time for my Kodak moment, the lights shut off! It was a second past midnight! The twins still looked great but I want the glow in the dark sky! So we agreed to just come back the following day.

We went back to the hotel and saw some surprising things, in Malaysian context, along the way.

Don't be deceived, there were shadows in the bushes and dark alleys I dare not speak of in the cyber universe!