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5-Hour Barefoot Trek in Palaui

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:45:00 +0000

Originally, our group's itinerary was to stay overnight in Sta.Ana, the jump off point to Palaui Island. But for safety, we decided to stay in Tuguegarao City instead. At 5am the following day, we started our journey to Sta.Ana. Travel time is 4hours.

Palaui Island's location

We arrived in Sta.Ana before 9am. Since we hired a van, we reached our destination faster, not to mention the convenience of having a leg room as well as the space for our bags. Anyway, we headed to the tourism center which is not far away from the wharf. Actually we're a little doubtful because the weather is not fair that day. But the staff gave us a go signal that it's safe to trek. Yes, trek. I've read that this trek could take up to 4hours so I was expecting we could ride a boat that can take us to Cape Engano and other beaches. Unfortunately, due to the notorious waves, we had no choice but to go there on our own feet.

standard rates / Palaui expenses for a group of 6
note: boat rental includes a short boatride to cross the island, and the complete return journey.

And so off we go. The short boat ride to cross the island was already scary (for them). The waves are huge, but I've experienced bigger ones so I think it's still tolerable. We reached the land safely and met our tour guides. Since we're 6, we were assigned two guides. I can really say their tourism is getting organized here. Guides have their official shirts. =)

Turismo Mismo at Palaui
sorry I forgot our tour guide's name. teka tanungin ko si Doni ^_^

Forest Trek
Okay, trek proper na talaga. For the first phase, we walked inside a forest. Refreshing. We realized we're blessed to have a gloomy weather that day, else the sun will burn us alive.

the long trek in Palaui starts here

one of the harder trails.
hindi kami jan sympre ^_^

Sea Shore Trek
The trail lead us to the ocean. It was such a delight to walk inside the forest and now beside the ocean. The waves were really huge, we clearly understood now why we're trekking instead of riding the boat.

with Ivy, Sol, Doni, Peng, and Carla

refreshing walk in the shore

we passed by these rocks

and saw some snakes!

According to our guides, there are lots of snakes in the rocks. But there's nothing to worry as long as we dont touch or go very near them. (opcors!)

Muddy Trail
After a while, our guides lead us inside the forest again. We thought it would be as easy as the 1st one, but no. The muddy trail was very slippery. It almost break our slippers.

at first kinakaya pa iwasan ang putik

the mud made this trail harder

In no time, we made harmony with the mud. Wala ng arte arte.

Carla's mega muddy feet

And so we thought our agony in the muddy trail has ended upon seeing the green fields. Wrong. The agony doubled here. At that point, all of us removed our slippers and started to walk barefooted.

getting close to the green fields

We discovered the trail here was worse. Imagine hanggang tuhod na namin yung nakalubog sa putik. Haha It was still fun, but scary at the same time. Lumubog kasi yung ibang part.

..i see trees are green!

our barefoot trek has started

From time to time, we washed our legs and feet in the semi-clear waters along the way. You have no idea how thankful we are whenever we saw any water spots where we can wash up. Madulas masyado pag puro putik ang paa.

The challenge heightened when the trail became muddy + rocky. Not to mention some small tree branches that bruises our legs and feet.

Doni: kasalanan ni Ivy bakit ako sugatan! LOL

Finally after 3 hours I think, our group decided to have some snacks. Thank you so much Carla for bringing (hoarding) 24 pieces of Golidlock's butter slices. Super pantawid gutom.

butter slices + nutella
ang dudumi namin! haha

You might ask if there were restrooms in the area, opcors wala! Alam na kung saan kami nag-wiwi. ^_^

We continued our journey. We really cant be thankful enough for God has provided us gloomy weather - but it never rained. We reached this spot and upon seeing this, we knew we're somehow near our target destination.

are we there yet?

may energy pa magharot ^_^

Asan na ba talaga? Honestly, naiinip na kami. We've trekked for 4 hours but we havent had a glimpse of the lighthouse or the beach.
A few more minutes, we finally saw it. Malayo pa din pala sya inferness.

..the hills are alive!

and finally, a glimpse of the lighthouse
tuktok ng bundok

Like the former green fields area, this had muddy waters too - only deeper. May bonus pa, mga poopoo ng kalabaw at kambing. Haha We all swore we will take anti-bulate as soon as we go back in Manila. Lahat ng bacteria na-absorb na siguro ng paa namin. =)

The group became more serious on the last phase of the trek. We're almost there.

hingal lever - HIGH

From this spot, we could clearly see the rough ocean on the left side, the green fields on the center, and the calm beach on the right.

rough sea view on the left side

green fields in the middle

and the calm beach on the right side

Amazing, right? Breathtaking view x3!

deadma na kahit haggard! ^_^

We're extremely satisfied to reach the top even before we've seen the lighthouse. Afterall, the lighthouse was not spectacular as it may seem.

..and finally the lighthouse

Doni: eto na yun? 0_o
Me: haha, oo neng. yan na nga!

sorry tinamad ako mag-gather ng info sa lighthouse na yan

Doni and Carla on top of the lighthouse

Now the hardest part of this trek - getting back in Sta.Ana. We're so tired and exhausted. It was an excellent decision to hire a boat in advance. The boatman picked us up in the calm beach. ♥

i love you Carla for lending me your photos again + taking (stolen) shots of me
nabura yung mga pictures from my memory card. sayang. buti pinahiram ako ni carla ng pictures

True enough, this was a humbling and fulfilling adventure for all of us.
It may not be according to what we've planned, but what we experienced was really way better.
Given the chance to do it again, we would still prefer to hike than to ride the boat. The overwhelming experience is actually on the journey itself.

Thank you Lord for giving us the weather that would be perfect for this adventure. Thank you for keeping us safe. Your creations are awesome.
And thank you Sol, Carla, Peng, Doni, and Ivy for joining, I enjoyed your company. Next time ulit! ♥

Callao Cave | Cagayan Valley

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:55:00 +0000

darkness, little natural light, and spotlight effect inside Callao Cave

Due to our 9-day company shutdown, I made a spontaneous decision to organize a 3days-2nights trip to Palaui. Together with 5 of my kaladkarin travel buddies, we booked a flight to Tuguegarao for this year-end getaway. Thanks to Cebu Pacific's last minute P188 promo, we got Manila-Tuguegarao roundtrip tickets for only P1,175.

Actually it was really my travel buddy Sol who created our Callao Cave-Palaui itinerary. She knows better, she's born and raised in Cagayan.

Since we're 6 in the group, we decided to hire a van for 2 days. This made our trip very convenient. Okay, so from Tuguegarao airport, we took the van and proceeded to an old restaurant that serves Pancit Batil-Patong, the famous local delicacy in Tuguegarao. batil = mixing ; patung = piled on top

distinct ingredient of Pancit Batil-Patung is the Carabao Beef

Maybe because of the Cara Beef, this tastes different compared to our pancit here. What's more memorable are the Cara Beef Tapa and the Carabao Chicharon! Ang sarap. How I wish I bought a lot of these as pasalubong for my family.

Moving on, we went back to the van and started the 45-minute travel to Callao Cave. The weather was not really fair that day. Nevertheless, it wont be a big factor as we're only going to explore a cave. We arrived in the location and paid the minimal entrance fee. Two kids were assigned to us which will serve as our tour guides.

welcome to Callao Cave

Beside this area is a body of water, they say it is a part of Cagayan river.

a part of Cagayan river

The guides lead us to this 180-step staircase. And before we burn calories, one of the guides volunteered to take our group shot.

Meet my travel buddies: all of them are solo joiners. We just introduced ourselves to each other on the day we arrived in Tuguegarao. =)

Carla, Sol, Ivy, Doni, our guide, me, and Peng
thank you for joining!

After the not-so-challenging 180-step climb, we had a glimpse of Callao Cave. It is made up of seven chambers and formations: the Column, Chapel, Skeleton, Elephant’s Head, Praying Angel, Rocket, Lion’s Head and Dog’s Head Formations.

first glimpse of Callao Cave

Exploring different chambers inside this cave could have been easier only if the flooring is dry. Due to rain showers, we ended up walking in a slippery and muddy cave. At first it was all fun, specially after seeing the Chapel.

dramatic effect of the light made this Chapel more spectacular

according to the guides, some weddings were already held here

To be fair, it was the guides who taught us where to take nice shots.

seek the light - by Doni

he just started blogging, pls visit his blog here

We proceeded to the next chamber. The way became more slippery and steep. And because most of the time our slippers got stuck in the thick mud - we ended up walking barefooted.

Carla's feet in the thick mud

Reaching this next chamber is still fun. It was really nice to see the rock formations despite not having enough source of light.

one of the chambers in Callao Cave

rock formations

What's a visit without having a photo op?

thank you Carla for this stolen silhouette shot. i like it!

It got harder as we reached the next chambers. The floor became even more slippery. As for the young guides, well what can we expect - they were just kids and they cant even manage to assist us. They dont even have a flashlight to start with. We struggled by using our cellphones to light the path.

getting out of the cave was another story

Callao Cave is really a spectacular tourist spot but it is best visited in the morning, or as long as there's enough sunlight. Tourism authorities should train their guides (kids or young adults) about the safety of each guest. For sure everyone will agree to pay a little more to have a guide that's well skilled, informed, and ready as well.

Thank goodness all of us got out of the cave unbruised and unharmed.

Originally, we plan to travel to Sta.Ana right after we visited Callao Cave. But Sol advised us it could not be safe to travel anymore. Safety comes first. We all agreed to spend the night in Tuguegarao City instead.

lamp post in Tuguegarao

For the accommodation, Sol recommended Hotel Roma. Room rate is affordable, we got a super spacious a/c room with 8 single beds and it only costs P4,000. This room has 2 shower rooms, tv, fridge, dining area, and veranda. Nice.

Hotel Roma's lobby

big and spacious room Hotel Roma

We ended the night by exchanging crazy stories to each other. Like "Anong mga kalokohan ang ginawa mo nung bata ka pa?" Example - drugs, shoplifting, etc. LOL
That way, we became more at ease with each other. ^_^

how about you, anong kalokohan ang sinubukan mo nung bata ka pa?

next post: 5-hour barefoot trek in Palaui

○ Thank you Carla and Peng for providing these awesome pictures. Sorry kasi ang tamad ko na magpicture. ^_^

Goals for 2012 | More Fun In The Philippines

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:25:00 +0000

As always, my first post for this year states my goals to achieve this 2012. Here it is.

Wear a 2-pc swimwear again. From 110lbs, Im now weighing 116-120lbs. Scary! So right after the holidays, I started my No Rice, No Fast Food, No Junk Food, No White Mocha diet =( ..and Im really struggling. Tiis ganda. Haha! On the good side, Im now forced to eat veggies and fruits. Hume-healthy lifestyle. Ü

Palaui. Located off the northeastern extremity of Luzon. This 5-hour trekking adventure was actually over 2 days before 2011 ends. Will post this entry soon.

Witness another festival. I had so much fun being part of Masskara's crowd last year. This year, I want to experience another world class festival in the Philippines.

Whale Shark encounter. Hoping to have a swim with this gentle creature. Wait lang, they dont bite right?

Basilan. Life Insurance - check!

Tawi-Tawi. Explore the southernmost part of Pinas. Im excited for this one.

Apo Reef. And so I almost forgot my tinatawag palang Holy Week. For the last 3 years, these days dont spell vacation to me, but Double Pay. ♥ Having a normal work now, I got pressured to create a trip for this 5-day vacation break. Joiners are very welcome. April 6-9.

as of now, there are still 8 promo seats in Cebu Pacific which only costs P488 only, per way. Ang mura na nyan for a super peak season. Book na ng flights from Manila - San Jose Mindoro. Or you have the option to take the bus if you wish.

El Nido. I wasn't able to do this last year, sayang ang forfeited tickets. This year, sana matuloy na. Who wants to join? I already bought tickets to Puerto Prinsesa for Nov 1-4. That's a 4-day long weekend.

Surigao and Siargao. Find the hidden beaches and caves in the easternmost part of Pinas. Will try to surf thru their premier waves too. Yes, joiners are welcome, kaso rainy season ang trip na to, in time for our company shutdown. Still hoping to get a good weather by that time comes.

South Korea. Inspired by the traumatic experience last year, I'd rather visit countries where Filipinos have good reputations. S.Korea is perfect, not to mention their visa processing is free!

Korean Food. Okay I admit Im never interested, but I need experience it soon. Anyone who wants to join me in trying Korean dishes?

for those interested joiners, just email me =)

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

You all knew Im Gordon's fan, but lets all move on from Wow Philippines, okay? Let's give this FUN tagline a chance, after all comedy naman talaga sa Pinas. ^_^

And as my support to DOT's newest tourism tagline, here are more reasons why It's More Fun in the Philippines.

favorite ko to! ^_^

Twists and Turns of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:50:00 +0000

Sa totoo lang, nawala sa isip kong gumawa ng year end post. Pa-busy effect ako kahit 9-day holiday vacation ako sa work. Kakainis lang, company shutdown tapos forced leave? Walang kwenta.. Tapos sira pa tong letter "o" sa keyboard ko.. Haay buhay. #TantrumeraReyes ^_^

At dahil kakauwi ko lang from Palaui kahapon, struggle mode ako ngayon to make this year end post. Looking back, ansarap balikan ang mga memorable trips & the good and bad times of the year 2011.

January. First thing I did was I got myself a life insurance. I need extra protection for my family and for myself, in case something happened. What's more convincing is that this life insurance comes with an investment plan. Added savings, right?

matapang ang may life insurance

Right after I got insured, I secretly went to Batad, along with Toto and Jen, and 2 French girls. The trek was a torture, but considering the view, the strangers I met, and the lessons learned - all of these made the trip very much worth it. And hey, we've got our own share of our isolated case in Batad.

dont tell my mother what happened in Batad

February. Dom, Gael, and I finally got the chance to travel together for the 1st time. Super fun trip. Reaching the creepy submerged town of Mapanuepe just became the bonus. This should have been my entry to "Travel is the Destination", last month's blog carnival.

sailing thru a submerged village in Lake Mapanuepe

One of the few things that can convince me to go to a crowded place is to watch a fireworks competition. February marks the much awaited pyromusical event at MoA. Simply magical.

baby, you're a firework ♥

Another worth mentioning is that I accidentally did a memorable photo walk with the ex-bf in Luneta. This blog post made it to the Philippine Blog Awards. Naks!

literal na photo walk

March. The favorite activity I tried this year - scuba diving in Balicasag. The beauty of the underwater world took my breath away.

the day i discovered scuba diving

An unplanned trip to CWC along with my co-nocturnal girl friends Nina and Dyanie came next. Wakeboarding is really fun yet exhausting. Instead of trying to be a pro, we settled in a good spot and killed time by watching the experts. It's raining sexy men all over the place! =)

eat ○ sleep ○ wake ○ board

April. Another item in my 2011 Checklist was done as I made an SSS Loan for the 1st time. I'm P13,350 richer! Not bad. Ü

my 1st SSS salary loan cheque

On the other hand, my friends for life spent our summer in La Union. Everyone excelled in riding the waves. I guess surfing is easy for us who live in the flooded areas of Malabon, Valenzuela, and Bulacan. ^_^ This is also the trip where I didn't bring any camera with me. Thanks to my friends who took my photos.

effortless surfing in La Union

May. My close friend Rem and I once again visited Puerto Galera, but this time we preferred a beach farther to the party and the crowd. We're glad to found Talipanan beach.

Talipanan, Puerto Galera

Another balikbayan from New York came home and I accompanied him to Calaguas. The weather was very fine at first, but as the night comes, the rain poured hard. Having no proper shelter, we had no choice but to let the rain pour on our body. Ang ginaw sobra. That scary moment made us prayed hard. After 2 hours of agony in the rain, God has finally gave us a good weather. A rainbow after the rain.

rainy summer night in Calaguas

June. A traumatic welcome to the island of the Balinese - Dyanie and I were accused as drug traffickers only because we're Filipinas! Sad truth and a lot of lessons learned.

i never imagined this case would be featured in the radio, newspapers, tv, and even in the official gazette of the Philippines. thanks to everyone who showed concern.

Nevertheless, I tried to enjoy the Bali trip despite of how the officials in the airport treated us. Balinese culture is really rich, Hinduism never fail to heighten my curiosity.

island of the Balinese

Equally stunning are the infrastructures and mesmerizing nightscapes in Singapore. The airport and train system are very efficient. Quite expensive country but obviously the progress is very evident.

Singapore is a fine city

July. Because of the trauma, I cancelled my flights to El Nido and Dumaguete. I dont want to see the airport yet. =( Anyway, I quit my job last June and signed a contract in a company at The Fort. I welcomed myself back to being a normal person, hello morning shift! Ang hirap. Until now Im wishing I can work at night instead.

my 5th job in 4.5 years
up to date, di ko na mabilang ang madaming 2 bottles session after work ^_^

August. Being a newly hire means kelangan magpa-good shot. Wala pa din akong leaves so I opted to have staycations and splurge at hotel buffets on weekends. Ü

list of hotel staycations and buffets I tried this 2011
Sambo Kojin ○ Manila Hotel and Cafe Ilang-Ilang Buffet ○ Sofitel and Spiral Buffet ○ Vikings MoA ○
Basix at Dusit Thani ○ Discovery Suites ○ 7 Corners Buffet ○ Lancaster Suites ○ Marriot Buffet ○ Misibis Bay ○ Midas Hotel

September. Opened a joining trip to Anilao for my readers. The underwater world may not be as gorgeous as Bohol or Coron, but this trip became memorable because of the bonding with the girls.

snorkeling in Anilao

October. Finally experienced one of the world class festivals in our country - Bacolod's Masskara. The energy, dedication, and effort of every barangay who performed were enough to make my 3-hour wait under the sun and the rain worth it.

Masskara Festival 2011

Before going home, we made a day trip in the nearby province Guimaras and explored its mystical caves and beaches.

sunkissed in Guimaras

November. For Rem's birthday, we flew to Legazpi and had a day tour in the luxurious resort of Misibis. And by now, you surely knew the hits and misses of Misibis Bay.

hits and misses of Misibis Bay

And a trip to Legazpi wont be complete without giving the majestic Mayon a visit. Had fun doing fun snapshots behind Mayon's peak.

fun snapshots at Cagsawa Ruins

December. Everyone in the family freaked out when they saw the blood clot in my eye. Because of this, I looked like a drug addict for a week. LOL

subconjunctival hemorrhage

And among all the trips I organized this year, this one's the most challenging yet fulfilling. Our group JGC held a Christmas outreach with the abandoned lola's at Bahay ni Maria. We never thought partying with the old age people would be much more fun.

party at Bahay ni Maria

And as a year end trip - I organized a trip to Palaui, an island found in the northeastern of Luzon. Along with 5 solo female joiners, we braved the waves then survived the 5-hour trek in a muddy trail using our bare feet. Despite the hardships, this trip became a great experience for everyone. (blog post to follow)

barefoot trek towards Palaui island

365 days full of twists and turns. Im very thankful for every safe and action-packed trip, every person I met, everyone who I traveled with, every experience I overcome, every lesson and realization I learned, and every dream that I still wanted to pursue day by day. Im very much looking forward for another fruitful year ahead.

I'd like to thank those 823 email subscribers, 616 Google followers, and every avid reader na halos kabisado na ang details ng buhay ko. LOL Thanks for appreciating my blog. I promise to still write feel good and funny entries next year. Hugs everyone! ♥

Btw, I created a twitter account at last. Please follow me and I'll surely follow you back. Thanks! http://twitter.com/#!/chyngreyes

Moshi Koshi Noodle Boss

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:10:00 +0000

As my friend and I visit Honda Cars Shaw Blvd branch a few times, we often spotted this newly-opened Japanese restaurant along the way. Moshi Koshi Noodle Boss is the latest addition to Shaw Blvd's long list of must-try dining spots. That's why Im so delighted when I got an invite to try their authentic Japanese cuisine. I brought Dyanie along with me.

Moshi Koshi

The restaurant is strategically built across Puregold and other big establishment. There's a parking space in case you need it. As for the interior, the most pleasant thing to see are the glass walls. You can actually see your food as it was being prepared. Noodles and gyoza wrappers - to be made right before your eyes.

freshly-made noodles station

meet the Noodle Boss

Along with other bloggers Janey, Fran, and Richard, we cut the excitement and ordered our favorite Japanese food of our choice. Applause to all the staff, everyone is really accommodating.

Ebi Tempura

best looking tempura ive seen, what's better is the taste - perfect as well

Gyoza
it's Dyanie's favorite

Breaded Pork
crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside

welcome back sa blog ko teh, i mishu! ♥

As for me, I ordered Chicken Teriyaki bento, complete with Miso Soup and 4 Sidings. A complete and authentic Japanese meal that comes so affordable.

Chicken Teriyaki Bento

And of course, there's the freshly-made noodle dishes. Not really a fan, I personally like Sukiyaki and Yakisoba.

Kara-age Udon

Katsu-Curry and Katsu-Don

For the sweet endings, we were advised to try the home-made ice cream, in coffee and green tea flavors. Each cup can actually satisfy 3 persons already. Beware. Ü

cupful of light ice-cream with not so strong coffee taste

If you like to have an authentic yet affordable Japanese meals, give Moshi Koshi Noodle Boss a try. The Noodle Boss will surely be delighted to give you a real Japanese dining experience.

Thank you Moshi Koshi! Ü
all shots from Sony TX10

Moshi Koshi Noodle Boss
431 Shaw Blvd cor. Ideal St., Mandaluyong (across Puregold)
contact number: 726-0575

A Christmas Party at Bahay ni Maria

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:45:00 +0000

After the fun and success of last year's Christmas party with the kids in Bethany Orphanage, our group chose to celebrate this year's party with the old aged people. We picked Bahay ni Maria in Calamba Laguna, the home of 31 neglected and abandoned women.

thanks again sa nagdesign Ü

I intentionally didn't announce this outreach because I was too overwhelmed with the support I got last year. Since there's still a portion of the fund that's left, okay na yun. Our group will provide the rest of the very simple wishes and needs of the lola's. But ofcors, those people who inquired and those who I know are still very willing to participate - I told them about the event.

personalized tumbler with handles and pashmina for the lola's
thank you sa nagprovide ng nametags (ang ganda, as always)
thank you sa nag-finance ng 33 tumblers

Hallelujah, Dec 8 - Taguig Day is declared as special non-working holiday so I got the time to go to Divisoria. Thanks sa officemate kong sinamahan ako bumili at magbuhat. Ü

thank you sa nagprovide ng meds and chocolates

And a million thanks to those who donated milk, bottled water, soap, diapers, food, roses, etc. Our group, as well as the elderly institution, appreciated the generous gesture.

12/11/11 - Party time with the Lola's

Like any other charity institution, we felt sad upon seeing the abandoned lola's. Some of them are sick, mentally-ill, and some are still undeniably beautiful despite their age. Ü

Bahay ni Maria
the heart is bigger then a home

Notice those tiles? Take a closer look..

a celebration of life and death

Gloomy right? But then again, life and death are both to be celebrated, maybe.
Our group introduced ourselves to the lola's by holding their hands. After mag-mano sa kanila, some lola's hugged us tight and even kissed us in our foreheads. They are very warm. They held us as if they have no plans of letting us go.

getting ready for the show

Honestly, our group never thought that partying with old people would be so much fun. They made us feel they are somehow happy and contented, despite not having a real family who'll take care of them.

Neel with ate Inday
ayaw nya patawag na "lola"

Che with ate Arlene

Lui and Josel with the centenarian Lola Diday

Rem with the ever jolly Lola Pacing

Nicole with Lola Nene and her teletubby

Mylene and Lola Cora

After getting to know each other, it's time for some entertainment. Our group hired a magician. Gusto daw ng magic ng mga lola, as suggested by head nuns.

Chris Vincent - the magician

It's actually hard to get the full attention of the lola's, but as long as they look entertained, that's what mattered most to us.

ate Rhina participating in the magic show

look how happy she is
she tells everyone again and again how she did that magic Ü

After the magic show, it's time for their lunch. We asked the nuns-in-charge what could we bring them. She suggested any food that's soft, easy to chew and easy to digest. Our group prepared rice, embotido, and pancit with lots of vegetables. For dessert, we bought Dole's bite sized fruits. Favorite pala nila yun.

ate Rhina, Lola Emeng, and Lola Arsenia

Lola Cora and Lola Pacing needed very little assistance

Mich and Lola Amelia

centenarian Lola Diday told me "yung mga 70 and 80 yrs old, nakawheel chair na. ako nakakalakad pa. kaya ko pa din kumain mag-isa. malakas pa ako"
so true, inferness isa sya sa pinaka-maayos kausap among the lola's

After eating, it's time for the ventriloquist to perform. This is the part where everyone enjoyed, including us.

puppet show

This puppet got everyone's attention. Laughter can be heard all over the place.
Even Lola Nene, who has her teletubby with her, walked towards the puppet and began talking to it. Hehe Fun!

Lola Nene has her own puppet too

nalungkot na bigla, lagot ka boss Chris

It started raining that's why the puppet show was interrupted. Naiyak tuloy si Lola Nene. We transferred to their function hall and continued with our program.

When boss Chris did an ocular a week prior to our event, he found out that Lola Diday will be turning 100 years old this December. Very rare moment that we can greet somebody who's celebrating her 100th birthday, amazing!

the centenarian, Lola Diday
may you have an excellent health, peaceful mind, and happy outlook

pang bucket list: greet someone who just turned 100 ♥

And of course, there are gifts for everyone as well.

personalized items for each lola

diapers, medicines, groceries

every girl, no matter what age, appreciates a flower
well there's one lola who resisted, siguro may bad experience sa ex-bf? hehe

seeing them smile already made our day

And so we thought we should pack up and leave, the lola's requested a HepHepHooray and Stop Dance games. Aba, energetic sina Lola. Let's play then!

Lola Emeng requested Jai Ho in particular, updated si lola! Ü

Now who says Christmas is only for kids? This special season is for everyone! This is indeed one of the happiest parties I attended.

thank you for allowing us to spend time with you. we learned a lot. we gained new realizations.
the pleasure is actually ours.

organizing this outreach is a privilege.
we're very thankful for the opportunity.

♥ Cheers to every lola who found their new families in Bahay ni Maria. Thank you for showing us how to go on, accept life's surprises, and be happy despite and inspite of.
♥ Kudos (and a deep respect) to the nuns and the staff of Bahay ni Maria. I felt the passion, dedication, and love towards each and every lola in this elderly institution. God bless you more.
♥ Our group felt privileged to spend time with them. The pleasure is ours.

Have a blessed Christmas everyone. ♥

Feel the Touch of Midas (a Staycation at Midas Hotel)

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:21:00 +0000

There's no better time to stay in a hotel than having a staycation while the establishment is new. Recently opened ones usually tries to leave a good first impression to every guest. That's why while Midas Hotel is still fresh, Rob and I grabbed the chance to be one of the first guests to experience its luxurious touch.

Another staycation sponsored by Rob and Deal Dozen promo. An Executive Room voucher only costs P5,500 - inclusive of buffet breakfast for 2. That's over 50% off the regular price.

Midas Hotel is located in the heart of Roxas Boulevard. This boutique hotel is a few minutes drive from the airport, LRT & MRT stations, Manila Bay, and SM Mall of Asia. Very strategic location indeed.

Hotel Midas Lobby

Making a reservation and checking in after we arrived were both effortless. The lobby may not be as grand compared to those 5-star hotels but it was pleasing to the eyes. There's more space and less items around. Nonetheless, every item looks expensive and elegant. Im not into fashion and interior design so pardon me if I dont understand the concept they're trying to imply.

it's always a delight whenever Rob is home! ^_^

mint green chairs and irregular shaped carpet

dazzling and modern chandelier

Surprisingly, Hotel Midas seems fully booked. I saw lots of Koreans and Japanese nationals in the lobby. Good news for our tourism if that's the case.

okay, so those are Hermes boxes.
and so?

comment lang: welcome drinks are supposed to be served, not claimed

So far, we're liking this hotel. After spending a little time in the lounge, we're ready to check out our room.

not a good choice of plants, what do you think?

the elevator buttons on the left side are not working
we thought we're handed a wrong key card

After figuring out the buttons on the right were functional, we finally had a first glimpse on the 9th floor. Though not well ventilated, the hallway looks classy.

printed hallway

photo op time
after hearing horror stories about self photography infront of mirrors, takot na ko gawin to..

our room is next to the Executive Lounge, yay!

With all our heart, we thought our room will be also as chic and elegant as the lobby, hallway, and furniture. Yeah it is good, but not great.

Executive Room at Midas Hotel

The room looks not so clean to start with. It looks like they're still on soft opening stage. I found a strand of hair and a little piece of wood in my bed.

twin beds
im not a fan of ultra soft pillows but im expecting these beds to be ultra clean at least

The bathroom is a different story. Smells fresh and fully cleaned. I like the design too.

modern and stylish bathroom
with fresh and soft towels

with branded fragrant toiletries

I found this electronic weighing scale.. The result spells D-I-E-T.

eekk, im close to being overweight!
at ang chakka ng paa ko! lol

Obviously, Im showcasing my toe nails. I got so amazed with that cracking nail polish. Ang galing! And here's the nail art in my finger.

nail art sticker! 1st time to try it.

me: 50 pesos bili ko sa sticker set na yan, tama lang ba yung presyo?
manicurista: bente lang yan.
toinks!

Moving on..
Here's a continuation of the photo op of our room.

there's an office desk with the standard pen, paper, etc.

inside one of the cabinets is the mini refrigerator

pasalubong galore
thank you Rob sa pashmina, i like it!

it's not very hard to notice that the furniture drills are not well done
none of my business, but at least they should have make it look unnoticeable

i called the room service because they forgot to place some slippers in the cabinet
slippers were delivered to our room right away

Anyway, our room has its own veranda. Could have been a good place to view Roxas Boulevard. But it could just really be better if the veranda itself is clean.

eeww! did they forget to clean this place?

We could have wished to be transferred to a cleaner room but we opted not to. Keri na. Ayoko maging branded as choosy. ^_^ For all we know, all rooms have this same dirty spots. Hehe

The good thing is the free wifi. Not too good about it is the signal gets weak as we go farther to the door. So here we are, seated near the door!

for the sake of free wifi ^_^

I got bored and started to do crazy things. Here's one.

who's that girl?
horror version

Gutom lang yan I know! LOL
We seriously considered to try Midas Buffet. Regular dinner rate is P1,300 something per head. Since we dont have any discounted vouchers with us, we checked out the buffet spread first and tried to convince ourselves that this dinner will be worth the price.

We saw sushi's and sashimi's, some dumplings, roasted turkey in the carving station, and not so remarkable items (at least for me). The cereal prawn dish could be promising but they looked dry. I was craving for some real good rib eye steak and prawn tempura that night, but there was none. So there, we both agreed to skip Cafe Midas buffet. Maybe some other time, with the use of discounted vouchers para sulit.

lucky us, MoA is just 5 mins away!

We ended up dining at Jatujak. Once again, I liked it. (hingi ako pics kay Rob)

city lights at night

Come next morning, before I headed to the office, Rob and I indulged on the complimentary buffet breakfast.

Cafe Midas breakfast

Buffet spread was just right. There are many viands, this spread could pass for lunch buffet.

cold cuts and smoked salmon

feasting on cheese

salads, cereals, fruit juice, milk

breads of many kinds

Aside from these, Cafe Midas also serves noodles, congee, fried rice, bacon, sweet and sour fish, beef tapa, chicken dish, etc. There's fruits and a few desserts too.

We chose to sit in the couch near the window. Table setup looks good and the color combination looks pleasing. But again dirty spots in the table are very noticeable.

pleasant to the eyes dining setp

but the cleaning lady missed to clean some spots.

Here's what I got:

pancake with mango and syrup

arrozcaldo

egg omelet, bacon, cheesy ensaymada, cheese, and some asparagus

cereals with milk, yogurt, and four seasons

To be fair, every item I got tasted yummy. All the staff are very attentive and accommodating as well.

Overall, our staycation at Midas Hotel is good but not that great. I appreciate that the rooms and furniture are new, all the staff are nice, and the food is good. Much better if the pool and casino are already both operational. Most of all, if they're really trying to impress, then they should clean all spots thoroughly. As they say "you never get a second to make a first impression."

Midas Hotel
2702 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Philippines
Reservation: info@midashotelandcasino.com
Telephone: +632 902.0100
Mobile: +632 917.5977869

Bi-Eyed

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 05:25:00 +0000

Almost a fine relaxing Sunday and I noticed something weird in my eyes that ~~freaked me out~~
freaked everyone in the family. Scary!

creepy!
pero inferness, it's painless.

And so I thought I have sore eyes again (nagkaka-sore eyes ako from time to time, parang hobby lang..)
But of course, by the looks of the blood in my eyes, this one's different. I really dont know what happened, nagising nalang akong ganyan na sya.

After seeing a doctor, I found out this condition is called Subconjunctival Hemorrhage, the blood vessel in my eyes breaks and bleeds. Eeww!

The doctor explained these possible reasons why I got it..

1. Sneezing. As far as I know my eyes were clear and fine before I went to sleep. At wala akong naalalang sneezing na naganap in between those time.

2. Coughing. Eto sure akong hindi ito ang reason. 3 years ago nagkasakit ako ng bongga sa lungs at sa sobrang sakit ng pag-ubo ko nun, ayoko ng huminga. Despite that, never naman nagburst ang mga blood vessels sa mata ko. So this time ubuhin man ako, alam kong mild lang. Walang reason para mapressure ang mata.

3. Vomiting. Haha! Natawa ko dito. I got very drunk some months ago, to the point na gabi palang sumusuka na ko. Pagkagising sa umaga, sumusuka pa din ako! Yikes Haha! Pero naman, walang pagbreak and bleed ng blood vessel na nangyari. So what more ngayon na hindi naman ako sumuka.

4. High Blood Pressure. On the spot checking - reads 85/50. Di ko naiintidihan yang reading pero sure akong hindi yan mataas..

subconjunctival hemorrhage

After a week Im still clueless what happened to my eye. The good thing is, sabi ng doctor there's no need to worry. No treatment is required because the wound will heal by itself. True enough, after 7 days, magaling na sya. Hindi na natatakot sakin ang mga katabi ko sa jeep at LRT. ^_^

Traveling is Once Again a Vacation | Hundred Islands

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:45:00 +0000

Remember the good old days when traveling only requires you to pack your clothes and go? When your parents will hand you a sandwich when you feel hungry on the road? Or after a tiring swim, you run to your parents and they'll give you lunch? And once full, you run to the beach again and swim without having to worry of anything. Everything you need is already prepared by someone else.

This is what I felt when I traveled with my officemates. Fyi, this is the first time since 2007 that I've traveled with co-workers. Anyway, while Im busy on the details of the trip, my officemates are busy with the food and transpo. Amazing. Uso pa pala ngayon ang happy fiesta na baon sa isang trip! ^_^

Hundred Islands is a 5-hour drive from Manila. It is accessible from the town of Alaminos City, Pangasinan. Called so because this natural attraction has 123 islands, but not all islands are given a name yet.

Hundred Islands Map

We arrived at 5:30am. Although the sun was not in sight, the (pesky) vendors immediately flocked our group and began selling their stuff. Prior to this trip, I already arranged an island hopping tour with Mang Fred, he's a boatman in Hundred Islands. Mang Fred's contact# - 0910.604.7426. Unlimited island hopping using a medium boat costs us P1,800. Fyi, you have the option to tour just 3 major islands for a cheaper rate. It's your call.

Lucap Wharf

Anyway, I have to warn you with something. One of the man who approached us said that we'll be needing lifevests and snorkel sets. We told this man that our boatman already assured us that he will provide lifevests for us. He said iba daw yung lifevest sa boat at sa pangsnorkel. Kalakohan! And even before we agreed, he came back and handed us the lifevests + snorkel sets and the ready made receipt. Para di nalang magkagulo, we agreed to pay him.

oportunista - nakakabawas ng ganda ng isang lugar

And as expected, this man tricked us. Aside from we already knew that we have lifevests in the boat, the lifevests that we rented from this man were mostly defective. What's worse is that only 2 out of 8 snorkel sets were functional. Sayang na ang pera, sayang pa kasi di naenjoy nung ibang kasama ko ang pagsnorkel.

Moving on..

fits 6-10 people

Disclaimer: Wala po akong anumang malalim na relasyon sa sinuman sa aking mga officemates. Kung ang isa po sa kanila ay may nagawang kasalanan sa inyo o may pagkakautang sa inyo o tinakbuhan kayo nung kayo ay nabuntis nila, wag po kayo sakin magagalit. Kami po ay magkakasama lamang sa trabaho. Wala po akong kinalaman sa kanila. Pero pwede ko pong ibigay ang mga tirahan at cellphone# nila.. kapalit ang tamang halaga. Char! =)

time to shine!

The weather was a bit gloomy but it didn't matter much. As long as the waves aren't notorious and we can come back safely, we're good to go!

1st stop - breakfast time

unli rice, fried/hard-boiled eggs, hotdogs, and coffee

nutella for me!

All the effort and food preparation was made by Chris. Everything you need, dala nya!

see, siya pa mismo maghihiwa ng keso para sayo
parang tatay lang

Next, we went to Governor's Island where the famous viewing deck is located.

viewing deck

Joven and Carol making a fight scene

Aside from the PBB house, we also take a look at the cave beneath the pathway to the viewing deck. Not much to see here.

Governor's Island Cave

dahil nakakatamad bumalik sa taas, mas ok nalang mabasa sa baba

With all due respect, the beaches and shores aren't outstanding, in my own opinion. We just enjoyed every adventure we could do. And this is the spot where we enjoyed the most - Imelda's Cave.

care to jump?

mysterious cave, sabi ni Ar-Pee

I would love to jump but (im scared, duh) Im just not in the mood to swim..

Joke lang, opcors!

it's very safe to jump into the water, specially when there are no rocks underneath.

Next, we headed to where the Giant Clams are found. Sayang lang nalowbatt agad ang underwater camera. Toinks!

boats arent allowed to go near the snorkel spot. guests need to swim.

Joven - aka "Batang Pier"
ang galing nya lumangoy, inggit ako!

Ar-Pee and I snorkeled as if there's no tomorrow! haha

I was really surprised to see the giant and colorful clams beneath the water. They are huge. Plus, the corals and soft plants are beautiful as well. Too bad, the snorkel sets my officemates rented were mostly defective.

Rick deserves a medal for being the Most Masunurin. He never took his lifevest and snorkel set off. Yan pala effect ng takot sa tubig.

Eto namang isa, matigas ulo. Sabi na ngang ang nagkaka-edad, madali na mapagod.

sabi ko kasi maupo ka nalang, napagod ka tuloy. Ü
sa ginagawa kong to sa manager ko, malamang hindi na mangyayari ang pangarap kong promotion. ^_^

As lunch time came, we settled in one of the tables in Children's Island. While everyone was busy preparing the food, I was just setting up our music. What I have was the mini and portable speaker which I received as a birthday gift. Good enough, but I wish we had something like a 3 channel passive soundbar , for sure that would give us quality and clear sound trip for this beach getaway.

at Children's Island

preparations by the guys
ginusto nyo yan, wag kayo magrereklamo na tamad ako.. Ü

And I was really impressed with our food. Happy fiesta!

fried chicken

adobo

yummy ensalada

leche flan

and of course...

maiwan na ang lahat, wag lang ang alcohol!

pineapple as pulutan

I've never experienced eating a complete meal in a beach trip, specially this food was all prepared by none other than my manager.

payong collection shot with my manager

We spent time to rest in this place. The area is not really good for swimming because of rocks that hurts our feet.

Paki-basa ulit ang Disclaimer..

Carol, Joven, Rey, Rick, Marie (sister of Rick), driver, Me, Boss Chris, Ar-pee

After oversleeping, we headed to our next destination. This Cathedral Cave is really interesting, but sadly the waves are so strong, our boat can't dock anywhere near.

Cathedral Cave

There are also other islands that we passed by but we chose not to go anymore.
The last spot we visited is Cuenco Cave. I like seeing rock formations as much as seeing crystal clear beaches. This place is a must-visit.

Cuenco Cave

rock formations inside the cave

Overall, we we're satisfied. The islands and caves we visited may not be outstanding, but it's still a good place to visit if you're up for a day trip beach getaway. Probably we'll try a more adventurous trip in our next team outing.

why I like traveling with my officemates?
need I say more? ang daming pagkain! everything I need, dala nila.damit ko nalang ang kelangan ko dalhin. hehe

why I don't like traveling with them?
they made me realize kung gaano ako katamad na babae.

Hindi lang nagprepare ng food tamad na agad, pwede bang "hindi ko talent magluto" muna? ^_^

Fun Snapshots in Cagsawa Ruins

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Hotel Venezia + Small Talk Cafe
Hits and Misses of Misibis Bay

To equalize our expenses in the luxurious resort of Misibis Bay, our group agreed to spend a night in an affordable hotel. We just need a place to stay for a couple of hours before our flight on the next day. Im glad I found Ellis Ecotel. This newly-renovated budget hotel is surprisingly located inside Embarcadero de Legazpi, Bicol's urban mall and shopping center.

Legazpi boulevard at night

Im never fond of mall strolling, most of the time I would choose fishing in Gran Canaria over shoe shopping. That's why I usually get tired and I've no energy left to go home. Finally I can experience sleeping right away after strolling in the mall.

Embarcadero de Legazpi
i like the idea of staying in a budget hotel inside this mall. ^_^

Lucky us, Ellis Ecotel has an ongoing soft opening promo rates. The single room only costs me P550, that's a 50% savings!

Ellis Ecotel at the 3rd Floor of Embarcadero de Legazpi

lovely reception area

Checking-in was a breeze and the staff were all accommodating. They explained that they were just having a soft-opening and they asked us to bear with their ongoing-constructions on some rooms. That wouldn't be any problem at all!
Here's my single room:

elegant looking standard room filled with mirrors

single bed with flat tv, aircon, chair, and private bathroom with hot/cold shower

What more can I ask? I got the best value for a private room inside a mall. And most of all - I have the luxury to place my things anywhere! In tagalog, pwede na magkalat!

best part of getting a single room: pwede magkalat to the max!

Ellis Ecotel
3F Embarcadero de Legazpi, Legazpi City, Albay
http://ellisecotel.com
reservations@ellisecotel.com

Another advantage of staying inside a mall is that restaurants are just around. There's no contest, everyone picked to dine at Bigg's, Bicol's most famous fast food chain.

appetizers

Bigg's BBQ Ribs
the best tasting ribs I tasted is still in Bacolod- bigger and cheaper!

We can't find a good place to have a drink, so we ended up buying some booze and staying in our hotel room. Ayos!

vodka delight!

Since we came to Legazpi unprepared, we needed to ask the locals time and again how to go to our next target destination. A trip to Legazpi wont be complete without paying a visit to the mighty Mayon Volcano. We're okay to ride a jeep or a bus to reach Cagsawa Ruins, but time is our concern. Good thing we found out we can hail a taxi that can bring us to Mayon and back. It's much cheaper than renting a van (van rental costs P2,300 for a day tour). The guards in Embarcadero called the taxi operator and not after 5mins, a taxi appeared before our eyes. Ang galing, taxi by request! =)

Metered rate from Embacadero to Cagsawa Ruins only costs us less than P200. We asked the taxi driver to wait for us, and he willingly agreed. Paying P500 is cheap and convenient compared to riding a jeep or renting a van. Kudos to Mrs.Vee who insisted to pay for the taxi fare. Big thanks!
I remembered Mrs.Vee telling me about the best ipad screen protector that she purchased. Because of that protective case, she never had to worry about bringing her gadget anywhere.

hello mighty Mayon

around 1,500 people were buried alive inside this church when Mayon erupted in 1814

Upon arriving, a few locals approached us and offer their photography services. Aside from viewing the Mayon, it became a famous activity to do some tricky snapshots in front of the scenic view. So be it, our group agreed to get the boy's assistance and off we started our fun photoshoot! Bawal ang KJ!

i play the giant while Rem plays a pa-cute na dwarf

this time, Mrs.Vee as the giant

why I like traveling with Remay?
he's prepared to expose himself in my blog ^_^

im not your superwoman shot

high jump competition?

Looks fun but trust me, the sun is melting us down. Sobrang init.
Here's our behind the scene shot..

who says we didn't have an umbrella at all? ako pa ^_^

After this fun activity, we gave the boy P200 and left. We rushed to Ellis Ecotel to pick up our things and off we go to the airport. Goodbye Legazpi, til we meet again.

The Hits and Misses of Misibis Bay

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:35:00 +0000

Reminder: To each his own. This post is my personal opinion.

The plan was to celebrate Remay's birthday at Misibis Bay. Honestly, we flew from Manila to Legazpi just to experience this luxurious resort. Since the overnight rate is steep, we opted for a day tour instead. Their Misibis Bay Day Tour rate is P2,888.00++ (P3523.36 nett) per person. It includes transfers, buffet lunch, use of non-motorized sports equipment, use of the pool and shower amenities. And luckily, since we were guests of Hotel Venezia, they said they will extend a 10% discount. Still quite pricey, but we willingly agreed. We knew it will be worth every peso we'll spend.

At exactly 9am, a Toyota Coaster was already waiting for us in the lobby. We're surprised that only 3 of us will ride this shuttle. Cool! The driver of Misibis Bay introduced himself to us. He provided details and trivias about Legazpi as he drives.

private coaster to Misibis Bay

After a 15-min drive, our driver received a call from Hotel St. Ellis, this is another sister company of Misibis and Hotel Venezia. Our driver informed us that there's a guest that needs to be picked up in St. Ellis. He asked if it's okay with us to go back. We understood the situation and we agreed. From St.Ellis, we met Mrs. Vee Nolan. She instantly became part of our group. Like us, she's going to do a day tour in Misibis as she was scouting a venue for her daughter's wedding. Rich si mother! ^_^

our group with Mrs. Vee
may drawing sa face si other friend kasi di daw nagpaalam na absent sa ofis.

You'll surely notice these solar lamp posts along the way. According to the driver, each costs P90,000! Misibis provided these for everyone's welfare.

solar lamp post @90,000 feysus each
yare sa Maynila yang ganyang poste.. hehe

Anyway, I found out that the resort is located in an isolated island. Everyone who wishes to go there needs to cross the water first. After the 45-min land trip, our driver said we need to transfer and ride the speed boat. This will transport us to the other side of the island.

short speed boat ride

and there's a Toyota Grandia that's waiting for us on the other side

We didn't mind being transferred again and again as long as the staff are very accommodating and the service vehicles are as comfortable as these. We haven't reached Misibis yet but we already felt the service deluxe.

And finally, we reached Misibis Bay. A welcome song is played while 2 dancers performed a traditional Ibalong dance. Two other staff gave us woven necklace and cold towels. Now this is a welcome.

Misibis Bay, at last!

fountain area

a dancer performing an Ibalong dance

i like her costume..
teh, palit tayo ng outfit?

We were guided to the reception area. Refreshments are served. The staff briefly oriented us about Misibis Bay, including the point that day tour guests can only be in the resort from 9am to 4pm. Mrs.Vee requested the staff if we could stay longer to catch the sunset. She explained that she's scouting a venue for her daughter's wedding. The staff couldn't grant Mrs.Vee's request because they have rules for day tour guests. We fully understood. We agreed to leave by 4pm.

reception area

watermelon shakes

crackers

After paying the day tour rate, we we're handed our own keys and we proceeded to the locker room. We're now ready to explore the place. But of course, I asked for an umbrella first. Granted!

additional item in my "Payong Everywhere Collection"

Okay, now we're ready to explore the resort. Let these photos give you a virtual tour.
(combined shots of Remay and I)

front view of the resort

pool chairs in the pool itself

shaded resting area with fresh towels

every pool umbrella is a gift, you have no idea how unforgiving the sun was

Yes, the place spells elegance. We walked towards the right side and found another pool. This one's nearer to the beach.

i admit, the pools are inviting

As for the beach, well it's a different story. Let's just say Misibis Bay guests should be aware that the beach is not something spectacular. Actually, there are some parts where construction is still on-going. Panira sa view.

panoramic view of the shore of Misibis Bay

Next, we proceeded where the rooms are located. The facade is modern and classy. Cheapest room in Misibis would cost $350/night, while the Beachfront Luxury Room with its private villa would cost $650/night. Luxury indeed has a price.

poolside hotel rooms

own little pool lounge

rare times where I enjoy the sunlight
maganda effect sa skin while being photographed ^_^

the birthday boy wears red *winks*

Jusko ang inet! This is us after career-in ang photoshoot..

haggardo versoza

As much as we love to take a dip into these pools, our stomachs were already growling. We checked if the buffet lunch is ready, and luckily we were informed that we can start eating.

This lunch is included in the day tour rate. I have high expectations on their buffet spread.

Dining area setup

Having tried a lot of hotel buffets, I have set an expectation for Misibis Bay. Too bad there weren't much entries to start with.

lunch buffet at Misibis

There's the "make-your-own-halo-halo station", fruit station, dessert station with brownies, carrot cake, and blueberry cheesecake. There's a salad station too. This post is already picture-heavy so I just made a collage of their main entrees.

Sauteed Veggies, Nasi Lemak, Braised Beef,
Hainanese Chicken, Pork something, Sweet and Sour Fish

Looks good but Im at least looking for some pasta station, tempura, or buttered prawns or any fresh seafood but there was none. Opcors di na ko umasa na may steak sila. Ambisyosa! ^_^

to be fair, i enjoyed the Hainanese Chicken and Braised Beef
and oh, they served soup too. yun lang watery and not creamy.

Im looking for my plate where I got brownies and blueberry cheesecake, I just cant find the photo. These items weren't remarkable anyway.

my mais con yelo with ube can't go wrong! =)

While we were eating, all the staff surprised my friend with a birthday song and cake. Panic mode, sabay abot ng camera, sabay capture the moment.

im surprised as well, di ako prepared to take this shot! haha

As much as Tita Vee convinced us that it's a complimentary cake for guests who celebrate their birthdays, we strongly believe that she was the one who informed the staff and bought the cake.

thanks po tita Vee! answeet!

How do we know it's not a complimentary cake? Simple lang. Restaurants never give whole cakes. They only give slices. Right? ^_^

Okay moving on, after we stuffed ourselves with the free lunch (we really stuffed ourselves because any *food* purchase inside Misibis is expensive), we told the staff that we wanted to tour the Church, Zipline area, and the Amphitheater with Stonehenge in the center. We found out that the way to get there is thru a golf cart. I got excited because I thought I'll be driving my own golf cart, but no - one golf cart per group and there's an assigned driver for each. Eto pa, rate is P150/pax. Yes, P150/pax not per golf cart. This is crazy expensive. Why pay per person kung aandar din naman yang golf cart na yan even when you're alone. Haaay.

Im not very much convinced but since I wanted to see those spots, so be it. P150/head. Move on.

i wish they would allow the guests to drive this golf cart by themselves

It's only a 10-15min drive to reach our target spots. First is the Amphitheater with Stonehenge. This attraction is actually the one that convinced me to pay P150. Haha Move on na di ba?

Amphitheater with Stonehenge

so that's a stonehenge

great, the stonehenge is gone. haha!

Next spot is the Cathedral. It's made of glass and though we didn't enter the church, we saw expensive-looking chandeliers inside. Gorgeous.

nearest church to Misibis Bay
obviously for wedding purposes

wagas na pagbilad sa arawan =)

And finally, the zipline area. Di ko feel. Joke, since they were still not fully operational, guests can try ziplining for free. Kahit na free, di ko pa din feel. Bad mood? Hehe

launching spot

Remay enjoying the free ride.

We hurriedly went back to the resort and change our outfit. It's snorkeling time. Misibis has a designated area where guests can snorkel and learn basic diving lessons. Looks promising.

way to the marina (where the snorkeling site is)

free usage of snorkeling gears in case you dont have one

I had my hopes high that this is somehow a good snorkeling area. We took a dip, swam farther and more, but we didn't see any interesting creatures or corals. Fail.

very few small fishes

Kinda disappointing for our group because we're actually excited to take photos of the underwater creatures in this sanctuary. What we saw were small fishes and huge rocks. Nothing more.

Nonetheless, I commend the accommodating staff which assisted us. Inferness, kahit alam kong di sya magaling lumangoy (inamin din naman nya), pinilit nyang maghanap at magpicture ng corals at isda. Hehe

gamit na gamit ang rashguard na to!

Time check: 30 mins to 4:00pm. We used our remaining time by enjoying the pool area. After a quick dip, we washed ourselves, packed our things, and proceeded to the lobby. We're ready to leave by 4pm, as instructed by their staff.

Stop reading if you don't want to get annoyed.
15mins and 30mins gone by but the van is still nowhere in sight. At 4:45pm, the van finally arrived. We started our journey back to the city. At the point where we need to cross the water, the van stopped. The driver informed us that the speed boat was rented by some other guests for their sunset cruise.

driver: Ma'am, sorry po wala po yung speed boat. Ginamit ng ibang guests.
me: Okay, so paano kami tatawid ng island? Lalangoy?
..of course I was joking.

We waited as if we knew what's happening next. Then the driver informed us that we'll need to ride the public barge instead. The same barge to transport public jeepneys and trucks. Wow, seriously?!

oh yes, the driver was serious about us riding the barge.

On top of that, we waited for one hour more because it's still not time for the barge to cross the water. We totally forgot we were Misibis Bay's paying guests. Annoying. Not luxurious at all.

time check - 6:14pm and we're still standing and waiting inside the barge
buti pa yung iba, nakasakay sa jeep, nakaupo sa truck. kami nakatayo lang sa gitna.

we still witnessed the sunset, but while waiting inside the barge.

What's annoying is that we requested for a late departure time but it wasn't granted - only to find out that the van will be late and there'll be no available speed boat to transfer us back. We could have waited in the resort instead than wait inside the barge. Di kami maarte, at anytime willing akong mag-RORO, but as far as I know our group paid P2,888 +12% +10% each, and this complimentary transfer is included. We don't deserve this.

the barge

To be fair, the drivers were really apologetic. It's not their fault, waste of time ma-highblood. I wanted to address our concern with the higher management. I sent them a lengthy email. I also send them an FB message in their fan page. It took 48 hours before a Marketing Supervisor replied and acknowledged my email. And finally after 10 days since I addressed my concern, I received an apology letter from Misibis Bay's General Manager.

The fact that Misibis Bay took time to read and replied regarding my concern, this already proves that they can handle feedbacks and they value their guests. Plus points to me.

Im just surprised to receive a generous gesture too.
Guess we'll be visiting Misibis again, soon. Thank you in advance.

Misibis Bay
Cagraray Island, Bacacay, Albay
Phone: (63 2) 661.8888 Fax:(63 2) 470.3607 / 637.3342
www.misibisbay.com

Legazpi | Hotel Venezia | Small Talk Cafe

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:30:00 +0000

One of the very last Piso Fares that I availed this year - a flight to Legazpi for my friend Rem's birthday.

APX flight to Legazpi, moved from 8am to 1pm. Shet!

Just 2 days prior our trip, we got a notice from Airphil informing that our flight schedule is moved. Kakainis. Though we have the option to move our flight to another weekend, hotel bookings are already made. Well, the time schedule doesn't really matter as we didn't have any activity in mind. Hehe Walang nasirang itinerary dahil wala naman talaga kaming itinerary at all! ^_^

What we only had in mind was to celebrate in the luxurious resort of Misibis Bay... Save your "wow's" but nope we didn't splurge and throw our hard earned money in that place. We chose to make a daytour instead. Since Misibis Bay prioritizes the check in guests of their sister hotels - we chose to spend our 1st night in Hotel Venezia.

free airport transfers for Hotel Venezia guests

Hotel Venezia is actually a 5-10mins drive from Legazpi airport. It's actually located inside a subdivision, weird eh?

Hotel Venezia facade

The Junior Suite for 3 persons (with 3 breakfasts) costs P5,100. It's Rem's treat, yey! This room originally costs P6,600, btw. I dont know how he managed to get that discounted rate.

checking in was a breeze

dining area

The place is quite new. The interior is elegant. There's not much guests when we arrived. All the staff's attention was given to us. After a few minutes, we're given our keycard. We're ready to see the room.

a room on the 3rd floor

Junior Suite of Hotel Venezia..

a spacious room with 2 queen sized beds

with couch, flat screen tv, and writing desk, mini ref, etc

bathroom with toiletries

Look what we have outside our window..

hello majestic Mayon!

Using Trixie, a Sony TX10, here's a panoramic shot of the room:

ansaya pala ng panoramic feature

our camera bags are Halo - Halo ^_^

After camwhoring in the room, we decided to have an early dinner in a nearby restaurant. The receptionist recommended Small Talk Cafe which is only a 10-min drive from the hotel. We hired a tricycle for P40. Ang mura.

Small Talk Cafe

The place is just enough for a couple of diners. Ambiance is very homey. The prices are very reasonable that's why we ordered their best sellers.

..shots from Trixie (a sony tx10)

Boneless Crispy Pata

Pinangat (Laing)

Chicken Adobo with Gata

Chicken Satay with Peanut Butter sauce

Pili Pie and Mango Crepe with IceCream

Yummy. We ended the night by having a coffee at Legazpi's famous coffee shop.

La Mia Tazza

The morning after, kainan ulit. The complimentary breakfast selection is not much. Sakto lang kasi busog pa kami from last night's heavy dinner.

Noodle Soup, Daing, Tapa

Cereal and Walnuts

Again, the breakfast spread is limited. Just right. I wish they have bacon, waffles, and yogurt. Arte? Hehe

Anyway, while we're having breakfast, the staff gave Rem a surprise birthday cake. Thanks Abby, and happy birthday to you too!

Happy birthday Remay and Abby!
(yes, magka-bday sila!)

1st cake palang nya yan, 2 more to go!

Thanks a lot to the wonderful staff of Venezia. We had a great time in your hotel.

Hotel Venezia
Renaissance Gardens, Washington Drive Legazpi City
Tel No: +63 52 481 0888 loc 1513
http://www.hotelvenezia.com.ph

Up next: The Hit and Miss of Misibis Bay
opcors, having a payong is an instant hit!

Q and A Portion | Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 03:00:00 +0000

click here for the Q & A Portion | Part 1

Abeng Pagnanawon-Monsalud: hi chyng ur on the road again. saan nxt destination? nga pla hinihintay ko part two ng Q&A post mo :)
Chyng: this is for you Abeng!

Marah: Hi Ms.Chyng. I was the one who approached you at Glorietta at nagpa-picture sayo!
Chyng: *blushes* Hi Marah, nice meeting you! Add moko sa FB! =)

Itsjess: Hi Chyng, did you take basic photography lessons? Your photos are well structured and beautiful :)
Chyng: hi Jess! im flattered, thanks. but no, di ako nag-photography lessons.

Pamela Jane Ocol: Chyng mi tatanong sana ako.. anung magandang setting sa canon 550D basic lens lang para sa outdoor shots?? thanks so much Chyng..
Chyng: Hi Pam! Most of the time, eto settings ko: Av (aperture priority) f/4.5, Auto ISO, Auto White Balance. That's it. Pag night shots / low lights, Tv (shutter priority) longer shutter speed. Hanggang 1/3sec lang keri ko na steady shot, w/out tripod.

Kuya_Kimboy: hi chyng, sa fort legend kba nagwowork? parang ikaw kc yng nakasabay ko kanina sa elevator nung pauwi.
Chyng: haha! yep, that's me! hope di mo narining kung ano/sino pinagchichismisan namin ng ofismate ko. ^_^

Carol: Chyng, pano ka umuwi nung nahulog ang doll shoes mo sa LRT?
Chyng: Ayun, kinareer ko maglakad ng naka-paa palabas ng train! Haha Pero sa totoo lang nakakahiya, shet!

Luigi Santos: I'm excited to spend more time reading your blog. Mag-Twitter ka na kaya, para dun mo din share yung link ng latest blog mo.
Chyng: very good ka ha, alam mong wala akong twitter. =)

Ry Ramos: chyng, can i use some of your photos from you photo walk series? gawin ko lng status sa FB ung iba. binabalik-balikan ko lagi ugn post mo na yun.
Chyng: Opcors you may!

Jasmine Mendiola: Are you free to be one of the speakers for Belle de Jour Power Planner 2012's Launch? The theme is travel and I think you're perfect for this!
Chyng: It would be great, too bad I'll be attending the MassKara in Bacolod on the same day.
Dyanie: Ano namang info maisshare mo sa talk, "kung pano matulog sa office after a trip"? Hahaha!
Chyng: Expert ako jan! ^_^

Nancy Carla Bansil: Question! Saan mo nabili yung swim wear mo for your Guimaras trip? Type ko haha :)
Chyng: Customized yan. Di ko na kasi keri mag-2pc! Haha

Kat: hi chyng! beauty ang outfit mo sa guimaras. baka may plano kang ipamigay ito sa pasko? =)
Chyng: Hanep, ipa-raffle ang swimsuit ko? ^_^

Bino Bautista: Kaunting kaalaman kung paano nagsimula ang iyong blog.
Chyng: Dahil bored ako, at napakatagal mag-update ng blog ang favorite blogger ko, kaya ayun gumawa ako ng sarili kong blog. Hehe
read more: http://www.damuhan.com/2011/10/si-chyng-reyes-tampok-sa-damuhan.html

Dong Ho: Longest train ride?
Chyng: Hala, wala akong masyadong train ride except LRT at MRT. Haha! Pwede na ba yun?
read more: http://www.escapeislands.com/2011/10/el-encuentro-chyng-reyes-y-ga-el-hilton.html

Carla Araniego: (from her blog) I rehearsed many opening lines prior to meeting her but they didn't come out at all. It was so natural that when she came inside the fast food's door, she immediately went to our table and made beso. She even whispered "It was nice to finally meet you."
Chyng: Di ko kinaya, nagrehearse ka pa ng opening lines. Hihi
read more: http://blissfulguro.blogspot.com/2011/10/traveling-with-chyng-reyes.html

Anna Christi: Hi chyng! I learned about u thru my mom. she's a fan. She loves to read your blog and see the places you've been to. I hope you can add her up (Susan Bondoc), I'm pretty sure she'll be suprised (good way)!
Chyng: This made me smile. Answeet. Hope she'll be surprised. I just added your mom in FB. =)

..til the next Q & A portion!

Sunkissed in Guimaras

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Well actually, it's not only in Guimaras where my skin got really burnt. Praise the powerful sunrays in Bacolod and Iloilo, I almost forgot it's not summer time at all.

step into the light
no way w/out my payong ^_^

From Ortiz port in Iloilo, my friend Kat and I looked for the public ferry that will take us to Jordan, Guimaras. The ride only lasted for 15mins, and the fare is only P14 each. True enough, upon arriving in the isolated island, we saw an advisory that it's prohibited to carry a mango (or any part of it) inside Guimaras.

Next, we headed to the Tourism Center. I have nothing but the slightest idea of Guimaras. I came unprepared, without a clear itinerary. Good thing the girl in the front desk assisted us in our queries. I learned that in order to get to the beach area, guests must travel 45mins more, via a tricycle. This costs P250/way. I wanted to haggle but it seems this is the standard rate so I agreed. There are public jeepneys too, but this will surely consume our time.

journey to the beach

We we're assigned to a tricycle driver and our 45-min journey started. The whole province really smells fresh. Ang bango everywhere! It may be because of their precious fruit. and speaking of that, we requested our driver to drop us to the market so we could sample a few of their mangoes.

at P90/kilo
with all due respect, the sweetest mangoes I tasted were still those from Zambales

The market vendors explained that it's not the season to bear fruits but they assured that these mangoes are still one of the bests. We're not really convinced but what the heck, we can't leave Guimaras w/out tasting these. But after we tasted them, Zambales' mangoes were still the sweetest I tried, with all due respect.

We chose Raymen Resort over Villa Igang because according to the lady in the helpdesk, it's much nearer and the shoreline here is longer. Since we dont have plans of staying overnight, anywhere near a good shore is fine with us. After we arrived in Raymen Resort, I immediately talked to the receptionist and asked for their island hopping rates. They quoted me P400 for the 1st hour and P150 for the succeeding hour. This is the same rate that the lady in the port told us.

First glance of Guimaras beach..

alubihod beach

i wasn't really impressed with the white sand and clear waters, but Im more stunned with the rock formations

And off we go island hopping.. There isn't an island in particular which I wanted to see. I just told the boatman that I prefer to see caves, cliffs, and turtles. I would love to check out the snorkeling sites too but too bad I didn't bring my mask with me. Sayang lang. Nevertheless, our 2-hour island hopping brought us satisfaction, specially by these rock formations.

reminds me of Kapurpurawan Rock Formation in Ilocos

water is crystal clear too, very inviting for a swim..
later na, mababasa si Harvey

Pardon me but Im really having a hard time remembering the names of these islands.

i think this is the Bat Cave

stone wall

There's a cliff on the other side but it's too steep. Di ko keri!
Not far from the Bat Cave are the Ave Maria and Turtle Island. Im more excited with the last one, it's going to be my first time to carry a big turtle.

katakot buhatin kasi baka mabagsak ko sya! siguro mali yung paghawak ko kaya pumapalag sya. sorry. perstaymer kasi, na-excite maciado.. haha!

There are 7 turtles in this island which are taken care of. The best thing I learned is that turtles don't like sunlight too. Ayaw nila mainitan. Apir!

Baras Cave was our last destination. We stayed here the longest.

way to Baras Cave

exterior of this enchanting cave

I didn't expect (well I really didn't research about this Guimaras trip) to see a cave with stalagmites and stalactites in Guimaras. Im amazed.

Baras Cave

outer wall

reminds me of Sagada's cave

ceiling with bats

golden floor

The view outside and inside this cave is spectacular. The wall, ceiling, and floor details are all interesting. It's just so hard to take a photograph inside, considering there's only a little source of light. But seize the moment, effort-an na magpicture sa loob!

ISO 3200 - achieve! =)

must see in Guimaras!

There are still lots of interesting caves and cliffs to visit but we dont have enough time to do so. Next time I'll make sure to stay longer in Guimaras and give their mangoes another try.

So much of the photoshoot, it's now time to swim!

obviously, i prefer swimming in the shaded part ^_^

MassKara Festival's Street Dance Competition

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:00:00 +0000

As early as February of this year, I already booked Kat and myself tickets to Bacolod. I promised to myself Im going to experience one of the most raved festivals in the country today.

Tale of the Masskara

There was a time when Bacolod was badly hit by different crisis and economic problems. Everyone was feeling down. So to hide the despair, the people thought of wearing colorful and lively masks and costumes. They danced in the streets with happy smiles and high spirits. And so MassKara Festival is born.

Last October 15, Kat and I flew to Bacolod to witness MassKara festival. Since we arrived late in the downtown plaza on day 1, we weren't able to find a good spot to watch the most awaited MassKara Street Dance competition. Good thing the following day, there was another one. Much more exciting, the barangay competition.

As I said in my last post, we arrived in the plaza as early as 1pm. The sun was striking hot but all spectators endured the almost-heat-stroke temperature and waited patiently for the show. At 4pm, the show finally started.

the jampacked plaza 2 hours before the competition
see, lahat kami may payong na dala..

the best seat in the house

After 3 hours of sun bathing, the show finally started. The crowd became alive as these large MassKara puppets entered and danced all the way inside the floor. Sulit ang paghihintay.

it was so fun to watch how graceful these MassKara puppets danced. aliw!

All of a sudden, two people asked our group if there's still a sitting space. We moved a little of course and made a seat for them. Few seconds later, I noticed everyone was smiling and handshaking the man. We found out in a little while that he is the congressman. Malay ko ba, sa Manila kasi ang congressman merong mga bodyguards na naka-barong! Hehe

front row seats with congressman!
thanks Peng for this shot

Not very long when the Street Dance Competition finally began. There are 15 participating barangays this year. There's only 1 song to use, but the rhythm depends on the barangay's preference. This comes the creativity part. And btw, the music is live. Each team brought their own set of drummers. Spell effort!

oohhhlala

participants come in all sizes ^_^

Taking photos of these wild dancers is very challenging. The absence of the sun made it harder.

the show must go on
at least 3 participants fell on the ground (nahilo sa pagod or sa init ng costumes maybe) but no worries because the medic is on stand by

i like the costume, simple yet attractive

this is my top pick. the costume is un-kabog-able! they wowed the audience with their stunts and props. and they even had a singer, birit kung birit si ate!

outshine them all!

they danced crazily in their roller blades and on top of those giant sticks. kayo na talaga!

peek a boo - but again, the show must go on..

mr.Byahilo doing the front act for his barangay

winner!

pang-showtime!

Aside from the glam and shiny costumes, the very inviting music, and the lively dance - I also see the dedication of each and every participant. From the dancers to the choreographers to the props carriers to the drummers, all of them gave their best performances. I felt they're competing for the pride, and not for any prize at stake. Saludo ako!

Overall, it was very fulfilling to feel the vibes, cheer with the locals, and watch the street dance up close. The sun and the rain that we endured just to have a front seat was paid off. And yes, flying all the way to Bacolod to experience this world class festival is just priceless.

Next on my To-Do-List: watch Dinagyang and Sinulog! =)

Lessons on the Road | Bacolod - Iloilo - Guimaras

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 04:35:00 +0000

Not as grand compared to some holidays to benidorm, but I had a quick getaway to the city of smiles Bacolod, plus a side trip to neighboring provinces Iloilo and Guimaras.

Sharing some lessons and realizations thru these snapshots.

The Tale of Masskara

Lord Byron's BBQ Ribs for only P150!

In Bacolod, we tried this excellent plus-sized meat slabs pork bbq ribs that is fall of the bones and super tender-tasty, for an unbelievable price of P150 only! This is the best ribs Ive tried for its price. Thanks Ayi and Melvin for recommending this to us.

Must-Buy-Umbrella

The sun is unforgiving in Bacolod. At 8am, it's already striking hot. Ansakit sa balat. But still, it's up to you if you can endure the sunburn. Obviously I cant. May tinatawag namang payong, P78 lang!

Masskara Street Dancing

Due to the irresistible food tripping in Bacolod, I arrived late in the plaza and missed the 1st day of street dancing competition. I cant go home to Manila without achieving my goal. So on the 2nd day, I arrived in the plaza 3 hours before the show and saved a 1st row seat. The striking sun and the rain didn't make anyone moved from their seats. The experience to witness the festival upclose, feel the vibes, and cheer with the crowd was all worth it.

Congressman without Bodyguards, with Peng, Jaz, and Verns

Bacolod Inasal

The default way to eat Inasal is eating it with bare hands. Spoons and forks aren't served at all. Manokan Country is a strip in downtown Bacolod where every restaurant serves Inasal. Lance, Lex, Ram, Kat, and I feasted the authentic inasal. Deadma muna sa carcinogens!

Swish saves the day

The day was just very exhausting. And after everything that I ate, I badly needed to freshen up my mouth. It was really a life saver to see the Swish Booth in the streets. The promodizers invited us to use Swish mouthwash. It was sooo refreshing to gargle! Not only that, the promodizers gave us free Swish bottles each! Thank goodness, now we're ready to celebrate all day and all night.

Ambot sa "Kambing" na may bangs

All this time I thought I was hearing "Ambot sa "Kambing" na may bangs!" Haha Okaayy, so it's Kanding not Kambing. Can anyone translate this phrase please?

Sweetest Mangoes

..at P90/kilo! Prices become steep when this precious fruit of Guimaras is not in season. And by the way, it's prohibited to bring seeds or any part of a mango when entering Guimaras. This way, the locals can maintain the pure breed of their mangoes.

Half Day Tour in Guimaras

Lesson learned the hard way. For a change, I didn't read blogs or forums in preparation for this trip. I thought sometimes knowing-it-all spoils the excitement in a trip. Well, it could be true. But most of the time, it's best to know the directions and normal rates about a foreign place. It saves time and money, and headache in negotiating with the very few opportunist people.

La Paz Batchoy

Okaaay. So La Paz is a place in Iloilo pala. I thought it was a brand.

Coffee Break, anyone?

The Iloilo airport is one of the few decent ones in the Philippines. The design reminds me of NAIA Terminal2. I appreciate the efficiency of getting in and out of the airport. Vans are available to take you to the city or the port. Convenient and cheap. Talking about cheap, this Iloilo's signature Coffee Break sells their coffee for only P90!

Salonpas plasters, Katinko, and Omega pain killer

Aside from the umbrella, here are my new travel essentials. Cant handle a fully packed itinerary anymore as Im beginning to feel back and muscle pain. Welcome to old age it is! ^_^

Up next:

Masskara Festival Street Dance Competition

Buffet at Marriot Cafe (Marriot Hotel Manila)

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:30:00 +0000

Just in time when I started to miss indulging at hotel buffets, I received an invitation from my blogger friend Antonio to try out Marriot Buffet. Oh my golly, who am I to resist this kind of opportunity? ^_^

Marriot Buffet

In celebration of Marriot Hotel Manila's 2nd anniversary, Marriot Cafe offers 50% off on Lunch Buffet for the whole month of October. Inclusive of flowing iced tea for only P875 net, this offering will surely satisfy everyone's cravings from Monday-Saturday.

Ready for another Food Porn adventure?
The first thing that impressed me inside the buffet area was this wall divider with interchanging lights. How lovely! It was simply an eye-candy for everyone. This made the dining area more relaxed, at the same time elegant and stylish.

interchanging lights

elegant and stylish setup

As always, I walked around and checked out every item on the buffet tables first. Since I haven't read any reviews or raves about Marriot Cafe before, I didn't know what to expect. Not an item looked extraordinary too, considering I've seen the buffet spread of Sofitel's Spiral, Shangri-La's HEAT, Crowne Plaza's 7 Corners, Manila Hotel's Cafe Ilang-Ilang, Dusit Hotel's Crossover and Basix (fine, ako na ang hobby magbuffet!) So I wasn't very much delighted, at first.

Food Porn | Marriot Cafe Edition
Canon 500D + kitlens

US Ribeye

Cheese and Bread

Salad and Cold Cuts

Seafood Delights

Pepperoni and Cheese Pizza

Potato Wedges and More

Seafood Pasta

Beef Roulade

Cream Dory

Chinese Station

Noodles and Dumplings

Prawn and Veggie Tempura

Sushi and Sashimi

Indian / Arabic Cuisine

Grilling Station

Alright, enough of the photoshoot. Im already starving!
You guessed it right, I proceeded first to the Rib-Eye carving station and requested for a well done steak.

well done US RibEye Steak
im not a food critic, but for me this is one of the best I've tried.

Mongolian Fried Rice
excellent! i love spices and this one's perfect for my taste buds.

Lobster with Garlic and Chilli
outstanding! this dish, together with the mongolian rice, made marriot cafe an instant favorite.

Ribeye Steak (again), Chicken, Cream Dory, and Beef Roulade

tender and juicy guilty pleasures

Prawn Tempura, Miso Soup, and Maki
a little good above the average. as always, tempura is ♥!

Hakaw
woot! very rare moment that I ate a chinese food. and I liked it!

Grilled Prawns
fresh and soft. (notice those bokeh? Ü)

with free flowing iced tea

Im ashamed to admit that after eating these, my tummy can still handle another round of ribeye steak, prawns, lobster, etc. Haha! Good thing I remembered my back pain, I must be careful with my food intake now. I dont know which one will be causing my old-age-syndrome. ^_^

Now it's time for dessert!

Oreo Cheesecake, Leche Plan, Tiramisu, Brownies, Tarts, etc

Chocolate Fondue, Mallows, and Fruits

Ice Cream, Sorbet, and Yogurt

There's no crepe station. But they offered peanut, coffee, and peanut butter banana flavored ice creams. I like!

Mable Cheesecake, Oreo Cheesecake, Brownies, & Icecream
cheesecakes slices were not one of the best ive tried. i enjoyed the brownies though. i find the ice cream/sorbet just ok too. i didn't go for another round.

Overall, I was surprised that even the smallest item like the potato wedges would taste good. The lobster dish is very remarkable. And I cant get enough of the mongolian fried rice when in fact I always avoid eating a rice meal when in a buffet. Actually I cant name an item which I didn't like, excluding the dessert items. Well I wished they have a baked salmon by the way. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed Marriot Cafe's buffet spread. I will definitely recommend this to everyone. Attack na sa Marriot while they're on promo rates. Super sulit at P875 only!

the self confessed glutton
thanks a lot Marriot Cafe!

Nice meeting you ms.Ruthilicious! Antakaw natin! ^_^

After the gastronomic experience, we were lucky to have a look at Marriot Hotel's Executive Suite. Since this hotel is new, the freshness of the atmosphere was all over the hallway and the rooms.

fresh smelling hallway

spacious living room

king sized bed with a see thru glass window bathroom ^_^

..at P18,000 per night. Oh well, luxury indeed has a price.

Marriot Cafe, Marriott Hotel Manila
No. 10, Newport Bvld., Marriott Hotel Manila , Newport City Complex
Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
Phone Number: (63 2) 988-9990

Note: Happy Birthday Mama! Love you! Try mo magstay ng madalas sa bahay pag weekends! ♥

Must Love Dogs

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:00:00 +0000

I hesitate dining at Chinese restaurants, but that's not as much as I hesitate touching dogs. It's ironic that I care less about dogs specially when my parents really adore them. We currently have a female Japanese Spitz and she's been with us for 4 years. She's actually pretty. I just cant find the connection between us. Imagine, she still barks at me! She's so masunget.. Or maybe she still doesn't recognize me because Im not home most of the time? 0_o

Japanese Spitz

Until one day my brother Jongster got a Shih Tzu as a birthday present for my niece. The dog is very adorable! My friend Rem also bought an American Cocker Spaniel from Tiendesitas. And I must say his dog is the friendliest! Not to mention he's very cute and charming.

Shih Tzu

American Cocker Spaniel

These dogs changed me. I finally know now how to be passionate with animals. It's funny that I go all the way to Boni High Street even on weekends just to see and play with the dogs. Satisfied? Yes, but I think I want to have my own.

My top picks:
I was really stunned when I first saw an Alaskan Malamute. Gorgeous. I like the way it looks fierce and strong, but in reality this dog is just tame. The coat is very remarkable. Dont know about other details but so far this is my dream dog.

Saw one in Bonifacio High Street and I asked the owner if an airconditioned shelter is really necessary for this breed. He said no. It's just a common misconception. These dogs already adapted our climate. =)

Alaskan Malamute

Since Im not sure if I can afford an Alaskan Malamute, a Siberian Husky is a good contender. It's also a wolf-dog like my first choice. The best asset is their blue and green eyes.

Siberian Husky Puppy

I like big, fierce-looking and low maintenance dogs. But these cute dog breeds like Yorkshire Terrier, Chow Chow, and Schnauzer would be so hard to resist.

Yorkie

Schnauzer

Chow Chow

This post all boils down to this plugging:
Do you know anyone who sells dogs? Without red marks and non-grand champion lines are very fine. Even without PCCI paper is good as long as the dog is healthy. Refer me to your seller pls. =)

PS. Im trying to avoid buying at petshops.
Thank you! ♥

follow link for the photo sources

Profession VS Passion: Travel Bloggers' Regular Jobs

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:05:00 +0000

Back in 2009 when I first chanced upon travel blogs, I cant help but wonder what could be the day jobs of these travel bloggers. Or do they even have a regular job at all? If yes, then what are their jobs? And how can they afford to travel without being fired by their bosses due to excessive leaves? ^_^

Admit it, you've always been curious too.
So here it is - a compilation of some of the travel bloggers' day jobs.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Angel Juarez | Lakwatsero
System Analyst / Software Engineer in an airline company for 10 years now.

Calvin Lo | Calvin's Hub
Instructional Designer at ACS (yes, this tech blogger is my former officemate!)

Christian Lucas Sangoyo | Lakad Pilipinas
Former Tech in a major software company. Currently a full time photographer.

Claire Raborar | Lakwatsera de Primera
Former Grade School Teacher/ Private Tutor of expats' kids

Dennis | Nomadic Pinoy
Clinical Manager at a community health center in Manhattan

Dong Ho | Eskapo
ECE. Executive Sales Engineer at Panasonic

Edcel Suyo | SoloflightEd
Quality Evaluator at Convergys for 5 years

Ferdz Decena | Ironwulf
Former Graphic and Web Designer. Currently freelances in the travel photogrpahy and blogging industry

Flipnomad
former Supply Chain Manager for an offshore American company, former Senior Team Leader for a call center in Makati. currently supports himself from online earnings

Gay Mitra-Emami | Pinay Travel Junkie
Former hotel receptionist, sales agent, banquet coordinator, event/TV host, TV show segment producer, concert producer, tapsilogan owner, customer service representative. (whoa!) Currently a domesticated hippie, web content writer and a virtual assistant.

Journeying James
Part-time Online Stocks Trader and Full-time traveler

Lois Yasay | Sole Sisters
Project Manager for Inspire Leadership Consultancy

Marky Ramone Go | Nomadic Experiences
IT Research Team Lead at iProfile Corporation

Micaela Rodriguez | Senyorita
Formerly an editorial staff in one of the most controversial entertainment tabloids in the Philippines. Currently supports herself thru online earnings

Monette Fernandez | Flip'n Travels
Literature Graduate. Senior Training Manager for a medical management organization

Nina Fuentes | Just Wandering
Virtual Assistant since 2005. Designs websites and sets up blogs for other clients

Oman Serapio | Lawstude
Lawyer. and at the same time a Tax Compliance Manager in Concerted Management Corporation

Ron Cruz | Flip'n Travels
Former Manager for a medical case management in Manila. Now a Nurse Paramedic for an ambulance unit in Singapore

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Aren't you glad to know that most of them struggle to fix their schedules too? ^_^
See, now who says these people have lots of extra time for traveling? In reality, they dont but they make time for it. Now stop wishing you have the time, the money (--insert excuses here--) to travel. If these people can make it happen, of course you can make it too!

Chyng | Former Virus and Anti-Virus Analyst
obviously, i got inspired by my previous job!

Snorkeling in Anilao, Batangas

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:00:00 +0000

Finally! A travel since my SG-Bali trip. It's been 3 months of abstinence I know! Cant believe I deprived myself from riding the boat and the plane. And what's the best way to end this deprivation is to be reunited with the ocean + meet new travel buddies.

Looking for the perfect resort is as easy as looking for some Calgary apartments for rent. One of the choices I have is Dive N' Trek. It is one of the popular resorts in Bauan Batangas. But based from Tripadvisor, Portulano Dive Resort ranks first. Initially, all resorts look the same. What convinced me to pick this place is their claim that their House Reef is excellent. Fingers crossed that their claim is true, this resort would be prefect for snorkeling as well as scuba diving.

Room rates aren't available, only packages. The P2,800/pax includes A/C accommodation, 3 buffet meals, afternoon snacks, boat transfers, unlimited coffee, tea, and purified water. Looks good enough for me. After some exchange of emails, our group was all set for a snorkeling getaway in Anilao.

Portulano Dive Resort

I was informed by Angel Juarez (thanks for the krispy kreme!) that Sept17-18 is scheduled for a clean up dive in that area. So I was surprised to find out that our group was the only guest that time. We have the resort all by ourselves!

view from top of a secluded resort with infinity pool

Honestly, I set my expectations for this resort, and Im proud to say it delivered. The girls and I were amused by the serenity and charm of the place. Plus points for the staff, they were accommodating.

entertainment area with books, board games, etc

cozy dining area

chillax area fronting the beach

The place is very spacious! Simple but every detail deserves a second look. Im impressed.
As for our accommodation, our rooms have these very refreshing full sized view of the ocean.

room with veranda - very refreshing view

the beds are good for sharing

bathroom with hot and cold shower

This resort really made us feel we're on a vacation. Laid back and very relaxing. =)
After a few moment, the staff informed us that our lunch was served. Buffet style for lunch and dinner!

lunch buffet for 8 girls

nice dining area

chicken soup, potato and onion risotto, mixed veggies, chicken curry

thumbs up for the buffet meals!

Alright, so much for the very long intro. Here comes the highlight of our Anilao weekend getaway: it's snorkeling time!

thanks Remay for the rashguard and snorkel set
thanks Dom for the trade of these SPF 100 sunblocks

Dont be too overwhelmed on what you see on top. There's more to see below. So much more if you do scuba diving..

Portulano House Reef

and yes, they've got an infinity pool in case you cant snorkel

...all shots from Maricar's Canon D10

i miss you corals!

More and so much more underwater shots...

i told you, there's so much more to see below the beach!

Satisfied and overwhelmed. I strongly suggest this place for an easy access + quick fix of your underwater world cravings- thru a mask and a snorkel!

goodbye Anilao..

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Now meet my travel buddies. Rona, Maricar, Saids, Carla, Kat, Pam, and Gladys.

Why I LIKE traveling with these girls?

we may be strangers, but i really love those every happily ever after stories, frustrations, heartbreaks, and dreams that we talked about. heartfelt girl talk. i enjoyed each of your unique personality. and i sincerely wish all of you well. cheers to positivity!

Why I DONT LIKE traveling with these girls?

i slept unintentionally and i had a nightmare. when i woke up, i heard the ocean waves. cant remember where I was. i looked around and i saw strangers in my room. i started to panic! haha! after some split seconds, i came back to reality and remembered i organized this trip. engot lang i know! but seriously, my heart was beating so fast because of that "where am i and who are these people" moment. kainis! haha! ^_^

Nevertheless, this trip was so fun and memorable! Thanks for joining me. Pleasure is mine. Looking forward for more in the future! ♥

super fun! everyone is sooo competitive!
ang yabang ko pa, the tower block collapsed after this shot. hehe
photo credit: Carla of blissfulguro.blogspot.com

Kindness Story of a Tour Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 07:20:00 +0000

If all of us would just see and experience the same thing in a particular place, then most probably we would just be sharing the same story as we go home. Nothing unusual. Kinda average. But once something unexpected happened, then that trip becomes more memorable. Horrible if it's a misfortune. Or outstanding if it's a misfortune that turned to be a blessing in disguise.

I'll never get tired of telling everybody my Ilocos hysteria turned blessed birthday experience. It was an unexpected solo travel, and there I was- traveling with insufficient money, no ATM card, and no cellphone on hand, and the best part it's all happening on my birthday! WTF! Wow, That's Fantastic! ♥

As I realized I cant shoulder all the expenses alone, I started to get worried. I wished I had settled an all inclusive holidays for a less hassle free trip. Too late for that. So I decided to still pursue the tricycle tour I made with Mang Arnel. I made an arrangement with this tour guide prior to my trip that's why it would be a loss of income on his part if I wont show up. Mang Arnel insisted that I must see Kabigan Falls. I told him I'd love too, but I cant afford the fees. What he did? He drove me to the site and paid P120 for my fees (kahit sya na daw ang magbayad, basta makita ko yung falls)! Im surprised. And he even accompanied me down the falls though for sure he has seen this place a hundred times (wala daw kasi magpipicture sakin kasi wala akong kasama). Along with the other tourguide, they took extra care of me as the rain poured hard that time. I had goosebumps as I saw these two people struggle to take a picture of me. Im so thankful for what he did, but I cant even treat him for some softdrinks.

2 tourguides struggled in the rain just to make this shot possible!

Come lunch time, I started to feel very hungry. But what can I do, the money left in my pocket was just enough for the ride back to the airport. I thought of skipping lunch but then Mang Arnel drove me to a small eatery. Sabi nya, "kain ka na, ako bahala sayo."

Grabe, I was teary eyed. I was almost shaking in tears (and hunger) as I was eating. That lunch may not even cost a lot, but that's the grandest birthday treat I ever had. I felt very blessed for this special experience. This is one of the most memorable birthday I ever had.. Uuhhm well of course the Bali birthday trip is another story. ^_^

Im proud to share that QTV11 has featured Mang Arnel in the show Brigada.

and Im more proud that this story has inspired other people too:

http://www.amazingmusings.com/2011/03/super-ilocos-tour-guide-mang-arnel.html
http://www.lakas.com.ph/2011/05/experiencing-filipino-hospitality/
http://nshimaservings.com/colorful-past-weekend-a-raok-birthday/

Reblogged for Pinoy Travel Bloggers’ Blog Carnival for the month of September with the theme “Unforgettable Human Encounters on the Road” compiled by Marky Ramone Go of Nomadic Experiences.

For a more detailed Ilocos trip, click here.

Anilao Trip in the Making! Joiners are Welcome!

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:40:00 +0000

Devils and Darlings,

I will be organizing an open trip to Anilao this coming Sept17-18 or Sept24-25, if the weather permits. Anilao is a 2-hour ride from Manila. We'll leave on Saturday morning and we'll target to be back by Sunday afternoon. Enough time for us to take a rest before the workdays resume. Budget will be reasonable. (and i believe mas mayayaman kayo sakin kaya dont worry sa budget!)
Update as of 09/07 - P2,800 each

Fun and satisfaction will depend on you. No pressures. We'll just enjoy.

lesgow snorkeling in Anilao!
non-bloggers are highly encouraged to join, i'd love to meet you! ♥

And by the way, I will also be scouting for travel buddies in my future trips, maybe late this year or next year. Who knows we might be together in a trip to Batanes, Cagayan, El Nido, Masbate, South Korea, or Japan! (naks, kunyare andaming pera!)

email me: chyngreyes@gmail.com
When in doubt, don't (email me yet).

update: 09/23/2011

thank you girls for joining me!
read full entry here --> Snorkeling in Anilao

Roomorama - Feel at Home

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 07:30:00 +0000

Everybody is fond of staying in hotels, but admit it - what you get is a small space packed with incomplete household needs. And do I need to mention this room comes with a steep price?

That's why for a week or month-long getaway with your family, it's better to stay in a rental apartment. Aside from it's cheaper, you might be able to cook in the kitchen, wash your clothes with the washing machine and dryer, or press your clothes. Just like home away from home.

spacious apartments for as cheap as $50 per night!

Roomorama is a one-stop shop for short-term rentals. It is an online marketplace to connect and transact with hosts and guests - conveniently and securely. With 451 destinations around the world, surely there'll be a "home" waiting for you wherever you are.

Why use Roomorama?
1. Easily manage inquiries and reservations. 2. Fill your vacancies by finding guests for your availabilities.
3. Streamlined communication tools. 4. Safe and easy payments management.

All the talkings are not enough unless I try Roomorama's services.
I browsed Roomorama's website and it returned a list of available properties for my preferred dates. All the details of the room, from the price to its amenities are all there. My first choice would be an apartment in Serendra or McKinley. It'll be great because my office building is just around the vicinity. But since I chose to stay on a weekend (means no reason to go at Global City) I settled with my next choice - Lancaster serviced-apartments in Mandaluyong.

Thru Roomorama, I received my payment code which I handed over to the receptionists of Lancaster. They confirmed the code and another staff immediately assisted me to my room. Hassle free.

Let me share Lancaster's Executive Room where I stayed.

1-BR suite at Lancaster

dining table and kitchen

spacious and homey sofa set

queen size bed for me

clean and maintained bathroom

toiletries

..while waiting for the pizza delivery guy
thanks c3 for the visit!

As a bonus, the jacuzzi and pool in the roof deck are free to use for stay-in guests. Perfect, I heard Lancaster is not strict for party.. Also, buffet breakfast for 2 pax comes free!

jacuzzi and pool in the roof deck

Canon 60D / 18-200mm F3.5-5.6 IS / Nissin Speedlite Di622
(ang bigat! sumakit ang braso ko!)

Im sure you can tell that I enjoyed my stay here! =)

So the next time you want to be away from home, but still feel the comfort of being at home - check out the properties at Roomorama.

https://roomorama.com

♥ This is a sponsored post.

7 Corners Buffet at Crowne Plaza Galleria

noreply@blogger.com (Chyng) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Since Rob has been treating me everytime he goes home here in Pinas, it's now my turn to finally give back the favor. It's the first time I'll be treating him for a hotel buffet dinner.

Target: 7 Corners at Crowne Plaza
Vouchers from the Groupons Sites: None
Note: I didn't go for the regular price. The dinner rate P1,786 per person is very steep. I found a way to score some vouchers. Thanks to sulit.com.ph, I got a 50% off deal. =)

Crowne Plaza's facade may look old but the interior/ceilings are classy and elegant. Im surprised. I used to have this impression that the hotel rooms would just be average, but now Im looking forward to staying here for a night (ahem Rob) ^_^

Seven Corners features international buffet selections from several live stations.

Rob and I were surprised to see the restaurant with very few people. Lucky us, that means no queues and more attentions from the staff. As always, I requested for a table with a good lightning on top. Good lightning + good framing = great photos. (naks, parang expert lang)

Food Shots | Seven Corners edition

the famous Rib Eye Steak

Lamb Chops and Fish

Pasta station

Noodles and Dimsum

Indian Crab dish

hello Taj Mahal!

Tempura

Salmon, Lobster, Crab, and Salads

Sushi varieties

Cheese selection

Pizza station

Okay, eating time! Where else to go first but to the Rib-Eye steak and Lamb Chops station. I've read a lot of raves for these items that's why Im looking forward to try their version.

well done Rib Eye steak and Lamb Chops
very tender indeed. one of the finest. but not the best. my favorite is still Spiral's version

my favorite seafood pasta in Pesto sauce
freshly cooked with generous ingredients
for the record, my favorite pesto remains to be CWC's laing pesto

Rob's Puttanesca
tomato sauce washes away the pesto oil taste

Pizza
best looking and best tasting pizza among the hotel buffets I tried

Miso soup
this should be the 1st meal I took, but for me this always comes best with Tempura

Tempura and Sushi plate
better than Dusit Thani's!

Garlic and Buttered Crabs, Lobsters, and Prawns
freshly cooked seafood! those lobsters are my favorite dish that night

Salmon
the only raw fish that I can eat

True to their promise, Crowne Plaza’s Seven Corners Buffet strictly complied with the International Group of Hotel’s world-class standards of quality food and superb taste.

Now it's time for dessert. Like the rib-eye steak, 7 Corners' ice cream teppanyaki has lots of positive feedbacks.

Chocolate fondue with goodies

Cakes and Pastries

Tiramisu

Ice Cream station

Walnut Brownies, Cheesecake, and Rocky Road teppanyaki
pastries are good enough, but not outstanding.
ice cream - I think it's more of a sorbet. Cafe Ilang-Ilang's sorbet is better.

choco mallows

Strawberry and Mango

healthy dessert

I was so full, and satisfied at the same time. I think Seven Corners Buffet deserve more attention too. The buffet spread was wide and the food was served with quality. Plus points for the ambiance and the super attentive staff. Looking forward to see more discounted vouchers in the groupons craze!

calming and soothing endings

Seven Corners
Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila, Ortigas, Pasig City
reservation number: 633-7222

* all food shots taken with Olympus E-P1