SukeyWasHere

Leisurely Buffet Dinner At Seasons Manila Pavilion

2011-09-26T01:51:00.000+08:00

I am a buffet fanatic and this is my first time trying out the food at Manila Pavilion.

Seasons has a “cheaper” buffet price as compared to the more popular hotel restaurants like Spiral, Circles, Heat, Nielsen’s, etc. I was curious as to why, considering that the price already includes unlimited fruit juices. Other hotels charge Php200.00 – Php300.00 for a can of soda or a glass fresh juice. An obvious answer is maybe a smaller buffet spread. Oh please, let there be steak! Steak is one of the reasons why I like buffets.

Seasons is located at the far end of the lobby of Waterfront Manila Pavilion. The space is medium sized, with compact buffet tables and nice lighting. I was quite surprised with how few the diners were. We were less than 40 people overall and it was a nice change from the usual teeming, hectic buffet crowd.

We got to our table and really appreciated what I saw. A silverware rest! I do not usually see this in buffet places. This is so thoughtful of them. A rest is very convenient for buffet diners.

By the way, in case you are wondering why I only have a spoon in the picture, it is because I was already eating when I took this photo.

Time to eat! I approached the spread to see what they have.

Where is the steak?!

No steak here. All they had was a pork roast and lamb chops. I was disappointed but I still stayed positive. After all, Seasons already earned positive points with the laid-back ambiance and silverware rest.

Another usual crowd favorite that is amiss is shrimp tempura. I do not mind if there is none, but I wonder why they do not have it. They have many dishes with shrimp in it; why not make tempura?

Anyway, another unique thing about Seasons is their food labels. They do have labels on their sauces but not on the actual dishes. Instead, they have picture labels!

These are cute! The drawing shows if the food is pork, beef, poultry, seafood, vegetables, etc. This is very useful for foreigners who cannot read or understand English words, and who are conscious of what they eat with regards to their diet, culture or religion.

Here are some of what we had.

This Chinese soup is so delicious. I had two servings of these.

I did not care about the lack of food labels when I was choosing what to get. It actually gives an air of mystery. If you are the type to be sensitive about these things, don’t be. Manila Pavilion food is after all, delectable. Why care about not knowing the actual name of the dish if it is delightful anyway. The Chinese food station is noteworthy. I also loved their appetizers, fish and shrimp dishes. They certainly made up for the missing steak.

Let us not forget dessert.

While dining, I noticed another plus point for Seasons. Do you remember earlier when I mentioned that there were just a few people? Well, they still refilled the serving dishes despite of that. Unlike this restaurant.

Our experience at Seasons was leisurely and satisfying. A nice, lazy Sunday night dinner shared with good friends.

INFORMATION:

SEASONS

Buffet price: Php1,300.00

Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel & Casino
United Nations Avenue
Ermita, Manila 1000 Philippines

Tel. : (63 2) 526-1212
Fax. : (63 2) 526-2552
Email : wphc@waterfronthotels.net

Website: http://www.waterfronthotels.com.ph/waterfront/manila-pavilion-hotel-casino/

The NBI Clearance Challenge at Robinson's Otis

2011-08-30T09:41:00.001+08:00

I work in a company where it is required to get an NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) clearance every year. You know, probably just to make sure that the employees have not turned into criminals in the past 12 months. Haha! But seriously, it is a good policy. It is one's best interest to work in a safe, secure place with law-abiding colleagues.

I have been with the company for six years and I have secured this requirement easily at Glorietta Park Square. It usually takes about 5-10 minutes without breaking any sweat. Now, that time of year came by and I thought it was just going to be a breeze, but no. The game has changed, I heard. I got horror stories from my co-workers who got their clearances before me. The Park Square satellite office has closed. The operation is now mostly at Robinson’s Malls. There are no quick renewals anymore. Everyone has to get new clearances. I turned to the internet for information where I can get mine. You may check HERE for the list.

I did not even know that there was a Robinson's Otis. I live just 10 minutes away from the mall and I just found out that it has been there for four years now. In my research, I surmise that this is not a real- deal mall since they only have about 20 stores and restaurants altogether.

My 1st attempt: August 20, Saturday, 7:00 AM – I came from my shift and I just wanted to check out the scene; I was not really sure if I can get the clearance that day. The horror stories proved to be true. The mall is still closed but there is already a long line outside. I decided to go home first and come back later when the mall opens. Unfortunately, I fell asleep and I woke up at 5:00 PM. Well, at least I now know the exact location of the mall.

My 2nd attempt: August 22, Monday, 9:45 AM – I was able to get to the second floor and see again the long queue. I had no idea where to go first or what is the first step. The lady there said to come back early tomorrow since they have already reached their quota, which are 500 people. Oh, I see. That explains why my co-worker lined up at 4:00 AM in Robinson’s Galleria. I suppose I should have come earlier. Anyway, I got to take a picture of this for our reference.

My 3rd attempt: August 25, Thursday, 7:40 AM - I need to get my clearance today! I am mentally and physically prepared for this. Whatever it takes. Bring it on!

They will allow people to come in at 8:00 AM. I refused to go very early because I did not want to wait outside the mall for a long time. I believe Robinson’s Otis is less busy than Robinson’s Galleria or Place. So I was confident that I would belong in the first 500 headcount even if I do not line up at dawn.

We got to the end of this snake-like line and assessed the size of the crowd. I figured I am number 400. They do not give out numbers here. It is first come, first served policy. When the doors opened, the crowd still kept their place in the line intact. Everyone was orderly and organized. I liked the discipline. No one tried to run ahead of the others. I heard that in Robinson’s Place, it is similar to the Amazing Race when the mall opens.

A security guard will hand out the form, everyone should still be in line while the crowd is led to an empty store space on the second floor. This shot is blurry, I apologize. I cannot lose my place in the queue!

You then have to find a way to fill out the form. No tables or chairs here. Here are some of the ways.

Here I am. My way.

And the waiting at this forsaken space took about 3 hours. The line moved at an agonizing pace. Your patience, perseverance and stamina will be truly brought to a test.

I am not good at standing up for a long time so I did not care about plopping myself in this cement floor.

Finally, we came to the point where we can be led to the actual NBI clearance processing area. At last, we will now be able to feel the air conditioning. Of course, it is still a long way to the counter.

After another hour of waiting in line, we finally got to approach the counter. Yahoo!

The fees for the clearance are as follows:

It is about time we get to the first step!

So this is the reason for all the waiting! There is only one person processing on each of the four steps! Where is the manpower?

After paying the fee, you again have to wait to get to step 2. At least, this time, you can sit in a chair. I was happily anxious at this point. I can almost smell the ink on my clearance.

This is where they put in the information that I wrote on the form. You have to check the monitor for any typing errors.

This is something new in the NBI clearance process. After the fingerprints are taken, the photo is next. You may have to squat a little to fit in the view of the web cam. This amused me.

At this point, the line was moving faster because another encoder arrived. Two people are now processing at Step 2. Why just now?!

Another bad photo taken. I did not want to be in the way of others.

Finally, the last step.

It took about 5 minutes to wait for the clearance to be released. You have to wait for your name to be called. If you have a “hit”, they will stamp a date on your receipt when you need to come back. A “hit” usually occurs if your name is common name or if you have a “Sr./Jr.” It may also mean that you have a record with breaking the law or a person who has the same name as yours did.

Good thing my name is not so common.

After 5 and a half hours, tada!!! I survived the challenge!

Some tips and reminders:

Go on a rainy day. Fewer people might go in bad weather
If you have a small, foldable chair, bring it
Bring a pen
Bring a fan for relief from the heat and humidity. Remember, no air-con outside the mall and not until the mall hours
Bring water and some snacks. Keep in mind that the stores in the mall only open at 10:00 AM
Go with someone who needs to get the clearance too. This way, you will have someone to save your place in the line if you need to go to the bathroom or buy something
Bring music, games or books to pass the time and survive boredom
Be patient and be ready for the challenge.

Hopefully, the process will improve by the time I need my clearance again.

Until then, good luck and stay positive!

INFORMATION:

ROBINSON’S OTIS

1536 Paz M Guanzon St.

831 Zone 90, Paco

Manila

Telephone: +632-396-8024

Fax : +632-396-8026

Website: http://www.robinsonsmalls.com/malls_otis.php

NBI Website: http://www.nbi.gov.ph/

Diamond Hotel's Late Night (LEFTOVERS) Buffet

2011-07-24T10:12:00.014+08:00

Last night, Baby and I finally redeemed our Ensogo voucher for a Late Night Buffet at Diamond Hotel.

When I purchased this deal, I thought it was really cool that they had a buffet every Fridays and Saturdays that started at 10:00 PM and ends at 2:00 AM. This is a perfect time for us folks who work in the graveyard shift. Normal dinner buffet hours in Manila would be from 6:00 PM to around 10:00 PM so that means we would have to wake up early to have a good start at the buffet.

The deal was priced half off the original amount of Php688. I figured this is a very good value. Php344 is an awesome price to pay for a dinner at a five star hotel. Here is the link of the offer. http://www.ensogo.com.ph/manila/diamond-hotel-late-buffet.html

We arrived at the hotel at around 12:20 AM. The design and ambiance of Diamond Hotel's lobby restaurant, Corniche, was impressive. It is a really nice place, complete with mood lighting and dance music. My pictures do not do justice to this fab resto.

We eagerly approached the buffet tables and this is what we got...

We could not believe it. No refills?! The hours are supposed to be until 2:00AM! We deserve to have the same choices as the ones who arrived at 10:00. The empty plates look ridiculous. We just settled for whatever we can get.

Maybe someone saw me taking pictures of the empty plates so someone did refill. Here is the before and after of the fresh fruits station.

They replenished the bowls with the same fruit. And I hate fresh pineapples!

The only station that was not completely wiped out was the salad station but we did not even sample those.

I just had the tuna and mac, made my own salad of greens with blue cheese dressing, and tried some leftover dessert.

The food was blah. We were really dismayed. This is not even worth the cheap Php344 we each shelled out for this hotel dinner. Good thing that we met some friends at CPK and had something to eat before going there. Otherwise, we would have been furious. Appalled, we left Corniche in less than an hour from the time that we got there.

If you still want to try this late night dinner buffet, better come at 10:00 PM.

INFORMATION:

CORNICHE
Diamond Hotel
Roxas Boulevard cor. Dr. J. Quintos St.
Manila, Philippines 1000
Telephone: (632) 528-3000
Fax: (632) 526-2255
Website: www.diamondhotel.com

A Pleasant Lunch Buffet at El Prado, Berjaya Hotel

2011-07-05T10:22:00.000+08:00

I always pass by the Berjaya Hotel along Makati Ave. every time I go to the bank. I was wondering if the hotel just sprung out of nowhere because I would not have missed it before. It looked somewhat new from the outside, but they could not have built it so quickly. As I researched, Berjaya is formerly known as Astor Hotel.

I saw a sign that they are offering a lunch buffet with a reasonable price, for about Php450. I love buffets so I figured we should try it.

I called for reservations just an hour before the start of the lunch. The restaurant warned us that they are expecting a sizable group because they have a corporate booking that day. They were very accommodating to squeeze us in on such a short notice. They asked if it was okay for us to sit near the bar in the smoking area. Yes, please! I will take that.

The lunch buffet was at the El Prado Restaurant located on the second floor of the hotel.

A waiter walked us to our table by the bar.

I was surprised to find out that someone took the trouble to print my name for our table. How thoughtful!

The Berjaya lunch buffet is mostly Filipino food, they offered about five main courses. I cannot remember all, but they there was Kare – Kare, Roast Pork Loin, Relyenong Bangus, and chicken.

They also have Caesar Salad, Vegetable Salad, Buttered Vegetables, Chow Mein and Rice.

A pasta station was also present but we did not try it.

Native delicacies and desserts such as Puto with Cheese, Kutsinta, Butsi, Suman, and Halo – halo.

What a pleasant lunch. We were so full and satisfied with the food. Though theirs is not a fancy buffet, it is a great value for money. The staff was also very friendly and courteous.

There was only one low point in our dining. Remember the corporate crowd? I was so dismayed when they almost took the entire Leche Flan for consumption as plain dessert. That was for the Halo-halo, clueless peeps! Good thing I was able to wrestle a small slice for my Halo-halo before they finished all of it.

I recently saw in one of the group buying sites that they have the Berjaya lunch buffet as a deal. Go ahead and buy it if you have the chance!

INFORMATION:

BERJAYA MANILA HOTEL
7835 Makati Avenue Corner Eduque Street
Makati City, Philippines 1209

Tel + (632) 750 7500

Fax + (632) 750 6783

Email manila.inquiry@berjayahotel.com

Website: http://www.berjayahotel.com/manila/index.asp

A Glimpse of Davao City: Polo Bistro & Lola Abon's

2011-06-23T04:22:00.002+08:00

We only had 5 hours in Davao City since we spent most of our time in Pearl Farm Beach Resort.

After leaving the Resort, we reached the Marina just before 2:00 PM. Our flight back to Manila is not until 8:00 PM so we have some time to buy our pasalubongs. Going around the city posed as a problem. There were six of us so we need two cabs; we can't even find one passing by the Marina. Moreover, we had no idea where to go.

We decided to book a van with driver from the Marina to resolve our problem. The rental was for Php2,500 for 4 hours and we can go anywhere we want to. While waiting for the van, we took advantage of the Marina's WIFI to search for places to go. We were hungry and all agreed to dine at Marco Polo Hotel.

The van finally arrived, first stop is a restaurant. Our plan was to eat at Lotus Court for some Chinese but they were closed. Lunch hours are from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM. We just missed it! A waiter then recommended us to go upstairs at Polo Bistro.

The plaque displayed by the entrance is promising. Polo Bistro is a small restaurant located on the same floor as the hotel pool. Encased in glass walls overlooking the pool area, the restaurant has a casual chic ambiance. After giving out our orders to the waiter, we entertained ourselves by looking at the pool patrons.

The cost of order per person is about Php500 including beverage. The food arrived and it was delicious. The presentation was nice and the food very tasty. I must say their award lived up to the expectation. My mashed potato alone was to die for!

After our meal, we stopped by in one of Davao City's designated smoking areas just outside Marco Polo Hotel. The smoking area is a waiting shed with benches and ashtrays. This is how it should be, unlike in Metro Manila where you are confused where to smoke with the new no smoking ban in public places. Metro Manila local government, get a clue!

Back at the van, we instructed our driver to bring us to the best places to buy pasalubong. He brought us first to a clothes and accessories market so my friends can buy Davao shirts. I do not remember the name of the place but it was near Ateneo de Davao.

Next stop was Lola Abon's. The store is not even in a commercial area but you can tell it is very popular because the store is causing traffic.

It is a very small store packed with mostly durian products. I found out that it is indeed popular when I saw their counter displaying photos of local celebrities who had been in Lola Abon's. They offered a free taste of their yema but we mostly bought the durian and mangosteen candies. There are many other products like macaroons, yema, ice cream, etc. I liked the mangosteen. Too bad, I was not able to take photos inside the store because we were in a hurry.

Now off to our last stop before the airport, suha! Suha or pomelo is a fruit that I got addicted to while I was in Pearl Farm. I have not really eaten this fruit prior to my Davao trip. It was served in all of our meals in Pearl Farm and it has slowly gotten into me. Pudel has taught me that it is best-eaten dipped in salt.

We all wanted to buy one box each but no idea how much it costs. We discovered that there were "brands" of pomelos. Nenita's from Pearl Farm at Php600 per box, Golden for Php500 and the plain Davao for Php400. Each box contains seven to nine pieces depending on the brand.

I know the price cannot be right. A fruit grown locally cannot cost this much! We were given such a tourist price. Anyway, we still obliged with the price because none of us know how to haggle. I was fine with it after they let us sample free pomelos-all-you-can while we were buying. I was just happy eating the darn fruit.

The group was eating pomelos and durian candies in the van until our driver dropped us off at the airport.

Read Pearl of Davao: Pearl Farm Beach Resort Part I
Read Pearl of Davao: Pearl Farm Beach Resort Part II

INFORMATION:

POLO LOUNGE
Marco Polo Hotel
C.M. Recto Street,
8000 Davao City
Philippines
Email: davao@marcopolohotels.com
Telephone: (082) 221 0888 local 7252
Website: http://www.marcopolohotels.com/en/hotels/philippines/davao/marco_polo_davao/restaurants_and_bars/polo_bistro_pool_lounge.html

LOLA ABON'S

23 San Miguel Village Matina,

8000 Davao City, Philippines

Hours: Mon -Sun, 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM

From Manila, fly to Davao via:

Philippine Airlines

Cebu Pacific

Credits to P. Magsajo and Jong Vilaga for some of the photos used here

Pearl of Davao: Pearl Farm Beach Resort Part 2

2011-06-22T10:20:00.009+08:00

Click here for Part 1

We gave in to our indulgence and tried Pearl Farm's spa, Ylang-ylang. The spa uses all natural ingredients for pampering.

The spa is open until 10:00 PM, but room service massages are available for 24 hours. My friends had their mani-pedi and massages in the comfort of the suite. I myself had a facial so I had to go to the spa. The ambiance there was so relaxing. Surrounded by nature, I was easily lulled to sleep by the chirping of birds and insects.

Spa Services:

Massages --------- price starts at Php800

Body Scrubs ----- price starts at Php1,000

Facials ------------- price starts at Php800

Hair Treatments - price starts at Php800

Foot Spa ----------- price starts at Php700

Manicure ----------- Php250

Pedicure ----------- Php350

Tip: Book in advance. You may call the spa from your room or drop by the Ylang-ylang Spa reception area near the infinity pool for your appointment.

Pearl Farm has two swimming pools, the infinity pool in front of the Maranao restaurant..

And the one near the Mandaya Houses..

Tip: When we were there, the pool never gets crowded; but more guests swim in the infinity pool. If you like the pool to yourself, go to the second one.

The second pool is near the Game Room. We played billiards, fooze ball, and had an enjoyable time playing air hockey. Baby was a little disappointed because the dart pins were not available. Also, no chalk for the billiard cue, and some handles for the fooze ball are missing. Nevertheless, we still had a great time there.

There are also board games and a gym upstairs but we were not able to check them out.

Here's the surfboard of activities by the Game Room.

This is where we learned that it's Movie Night every 8:00 PM at the Parola. Aside from being the docking point of the resort, it is also a bar at the second floor. It is also a good place for fish feeding. That activity

happens every 10:30 AM. I saw kids greatly enjoying this.

We loved feeding the fish at the Sunset Suite veranda and the Parola. It was a feeding frenzy. The big fishes at the murky pond were very aggressive. Your feed will be gone in less than a minute.

Tip: Happy hour at the Parola is from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM.

You can buy bread there to feed the fish for Php20.

The resort also has a basketball, volleyball, table tennis, and tennis court. You may actually book a tennis lesson there.

You may also do beach volleyball, beach soccer, water polo, frisbee, etc. So many activities to do. We tried none of those. Our group is not really into sports.

The courts are near the Mandaya Weaving Center. Too bad we did not see someone actually weaving when we dropped by.

We bought bracelets for Php20 and a necklace for Php250. I was happy and surprised with the honest price. I was expecting the resort price.

We also visited the Butik, the souvenir shop/convenience store of the resort. They sell shirts, hats, bags, bathing suits, slippers, toiletries and snacks. Baby had a bad experience here. He asked for a new stock for a shirt that he bought. He was not able to check it anymore before we left because we were in a hurry. The girl from the store gave her a smaller size. We only found about this when we were back in Manila. He was so upset.

On our last day at the resort, we took a trip to Malipano Island. It is a part of Pearl Farm and you may go there if you want to check that side of the resort. We saw the Malipano Gazebo with the remnants of a wedding held last night. We just walked around the golf course but got too tired so we went back right away. We did not see much. We didn't even see the the Malipano Villas.

Tip: You may go there for free via the resort's speedboat; just inform the staff at the Parola. Schedule is every 30 minutes. Travel time to and fro Malipano is about 5 minutes.

Pearl Farm beach is good for snorkeling. It is acceptable by Philippine beach standards, but nothing special there. Even so, we did not care.

The beauty of the resort, the fish sanctuary and the fish feeding, the amazing views from our rooms all make up for it. The buffets alone seal the deal. I mentioned the dinner buffet but that is nothing compared to the breakfast buffet. It was excellent! Pearl Farm breakfast buffet actually beats the international breakfast buffets that I had because they have Filipino food. Every breakfast food you can think of they have. The variety is astounding.

They have different breads with various marmalades, pastries, puto, bibingka, siopao, cuapao, pancakes, french toast, egg/omelette station, cheeses, cold cuts, cereals, vegetable salad, garlic rice, tapa, corned beef, danggit, tocino, daing na bangus, daing na pusit, ham, two kinds of bacon (crispy and soft), hash browns, arroz caldo, champorado, yoghurt, and more.

Aside from the usual juice/coffee/tea, they also have hot chocolate. I loved that. And of course, the fruits! Another opportunity to eat healthy. I got addicted to the suha (pomelo). We hoarded those.

In addition to all that, this lovely view while having your breakfast.

We really had a great time with our vacation in Pearl Farm. The positive points far outweighs the negative points we encountered. It is a great spot for our much needed R&R.

To end this blog, here are some more shots of the resort.

Click here for Part 1

Information:

PEARL FARM BEACH RESORT

Kaputian, Island Garden City of Samal,

Philippines

Tel: (6382) 221 9970
Fax: (6382) 221 9979

Email: mnl.resa@pearlfarmresort.com
pearlfarm@fuegohotels.com

Website: http://www.pearlfarmresort.com/

Manila Office
15th Floor, 139 Corporate Center
Valero St., Salcedo Village, Makati City
Tel: (632) 750 1896 / 750 1898 / 893 2093
Fax: (632) 750 1894

Davao Sales Office
G/F Alflocor Corporate Center, Damosa Bldg., Lanang Davao City
Tel No: (63 82) 235-0876, 234-0601 Fax No: 235-0873

From Manila, Philippines fly to Davao via:
http://www.philippineairlines.com/
http://www.cebupacificair.com/

Credits to P. Magsajo and Jong Vilaga for some of the photos used here

Pearl of Davao: Pearl Farm Beach Resort Part 1

2011-06-21T17:58:00.021+08:00

This was my first time going to Mindanao, actually, it was the first time for all of us Superfriends in Davao. I am ashamed to admit that like most people, we tend to generalize and avoid the South of the Philippines in our previous travels due to the negative write-ups of the peace and order situation there. Since there was none recently, we decided it was high time to visit PEARL FARM BEACH RESORT.

We came on two separate flights, Bits, Pudel, Aiee and Chupat took a Cebu Pacific flight at 7:15 AM, Baby and I flew with Philippine Airlines at 9:00 AM. Manila to Davao was about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Before deplaning, it was announced that Davao is a no smoking city. Oh boy, is this going to be a problem for our group?

Since my four friends arrived two hours ahead, I thought that they would be transferred to the resort first. When I arrived at Davao airport, they texted me that they were still in Pearl Farm Marina. We were picked up from the airport and whisked to car by the resort’s service to the Marina. During the 20 minutes ride, I observed that Davao looks just like Manila, only with lesser traffic and pollution.

We converged at the Marina. It is like a clubhouse, serving as a reception and waiting area for the guests of the resort. There is a restaurant and a small pool; you can actually book a room there as well.

After checking in our bags, we learned that the boat to Pearl Farm would arrive at 1:30 PM. There are four schedules daily.

Tip: If you are going to Pearl Farm, it is best to have these schedules in mind when you book your flight so you would not have to wait long.

Marina to Resort: 8:00 AM, 1:30 PM, 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM

Resort to Marina: 6:45 AM, 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM

To pass the time, we took advantage of their Wi-Fi. Some of us got hungry so we decided to have lunch at Captain’s Bar, Marina’s restaurant. The menu is quite pricey, as expected. We ordered crispy pata, grilled pork, rice, chicken sandwich, and fruit shakes. Out total bill amounted to Php1500.

It was also during this time that my friends informed me that instead of the three Samal houses that we booked, we are going to stay at one Samal house and the Sunset Suite instead. The receptionist gave a poor excuse of some renovations that are going on. I was questioning that because we booked in February, which was five months ago. Why are we not getting the rooms that we paid for? Three Samal houses cost more than one Samal house and the Sunset Suite. They never offered a refund or anything as compensation.

We had no choice in the matter really, because they said those are the only available rooms for us. We just shrugged it off and hoped for better things once we reach the resort, we did not want that to ruin our vacation.

The boat finally arrived. It was big and had comfortable seats. The boat ride to the Island Garden City of Samal was about 45 minutes. As we approach Pearl Farm, we were amazed to see the real deal Samal houses of the Samal tribe on the left of the resort. We got more excited when we saw the Samal houses on stilts perched in the water which are home for us for the next three days. We docked at the Parola. They offered us welcome drinks and held a brief orientation.

On the way to our rooms, we passed by a man-made waterfall, a few caged birds and a murky pond with big fishes. The path ways are well kept, bordered with lush plants and flowers.

Good thing that our Samal house was just next door to my friends' Sunset Suite.

I loved our rooms! We had the usual stuff: air conditioning, toiletries, cable tv, hairdryer, fridge, etc. So thoughtful of them too, to provide umbrellas in the rooms. No Wi-Fi though. This is fine with me. For safety, each house has a fire extinguisher. The best thing about the room is the view. That balcony is precious. My only complaint with the room is that the toilet and bath are in two separate rooms, and there is no bidet in the toilet. This is a big no no for me. This is the only thing that made me uncomfortable during my whole stay.

Tip: Wi-Fi is available only in Maranao restaurant. We thought Parola has too, but we were not able to connect there.

The Sunset Suite is located in the middle of all the Samal houses. Supposedly, it is a one-bedroom house with a separate living room through an adjoining door. They converted the living room to another bedroom to accommodate my four friends. Look closely at the picture of the room below, the bed is in the middle of the room. The sofa was pushed back for space.

The blunder with the rooms turned out positive because we absolutely loved Sunset Suite’s spacious veranda. It was where we laze around and meet before and after going to the different parts of the resort.

The view from there is stunning. We immediately spent some time there just after settling in. I was in awe of the serenity and tranquility of the island. I felt so relaxed and calm, and almost guilty that I am fortunate enough to experience the beauty of this place.

Dinners at the Maranao restaurant were always satisfying, we had buffet dinners during our two nights stay there. They have a wide selection of different dishes. I was pleasantly surprised with the variety. The buffet dinners that we had cost Php750 per head. We asked the waiter why it says Php1,100 on their website. He said sometimes it is indeed Php1,100, and on theme nights, it is Php1,300. Lucky for us, it was just a "plain" night. You may also order ala carte if you do not wish to have the buffet. But do you really want to miss out on these?

We had these guys as our entertainers for the two nights.

We Superfriends are not really into water activities. We are just contented to just hang out and chat. However, we still take part in these just for the sake of it. We booked the Coral Tour for Php3850 at the Aqua Sports facility.

I suggest you skip this because the only things of interest were the giant clams. It is better to just rent the snorkel set and swim around the Parola. There is more fish there. I wish we booked the Bat Cave Tour for Php750 per head or the Fishing Tour for Php550 per head instead.

Tip: If you want to see the giant clams, you need aqua shoes.

Other Aqua Sports Rental and Tours:

Banana Boat ------------- Php770 each
Sea Kayak ---------------- Php440/hr
Wakeboarding ----------- Php2,200/30 mins
Waterskiing --------------- Php2,200/30 mins.
Outrigger Boat Cruise - Php4,070/hr
Speed Boat Cruise ----- Php4,400/hr
Jetski ----------------------- Php4,500/hr; Php1,850/30 mins; Php1,500/15 mins
Diving ----------------------- price starts at Php2,162

During the Coral Tour, Pudel got seasick and hyperventilated so she did not see the giant clams at all. Jenny, our tour guide was very helpful and nice during the trip. She even radioed for the shuttle to bring us back to our rooms so Pudel wouldn't have to walk. The shuttle is a big golf cart that can accommodate six to seven persons excluding the driver.

Tip: You may ask for the shuttle to pick you up anywhere in the resort if you are too lazy to walk. Just contact the Parola for the time and location.

While hanging out in the Sunset Suite balcony, we ordered room service courtesy of Pudel.

Tip: There is a 15% surcharge for room service. Better be not lazy and just go to the restaurant to save on this.

Click here for Part 2

Information:

PEARL FARM BEACH RESORT

Kaputian, Island Garden City of Samal,

Philippines

Tel: (6382) 221 9970
Fax: (6382) 221 9979

Email: mnl.resa@pearlfarmresort.com
pearlfarm@fuegohotels.com

Angus Steak All You Can At Hotel Celeste

2011-06-13T14:21:00.013+08:00

I am always on the lookout for good deals to get the best value for my money. That is why I am an ardent follower of group buying websites. Last night, I had the chance to eat at Celi's, Hotel Celeste's restaurant, together with Baby and Lemon. I am aware of the boutique hotel but did not know they have a restaurant. I was pleased when I discovered that they have Angus steak buffet during weekends!

We picked up Lemon from the office and proceeded to the hotel. The location is familiar to me so we had no problems getting there. It is along Pasay Road, near the gate of San Lorenzo Village, where Mars Disco used to be. Our reservation was for 6:00 PM, and it was already 6:30. He said the hotel called him and was already following up on us.

Due to its location, parking is limited. Good thing they offer valet service for Php30.

Inside, we were greeted by ornate furniture and elegant ambiance set by the chandelier lighting.

There were also tables outside the main restaurant leading to the buffet table.

Once we're seated, the waiter helped us with our napkins and offered to serve us the soup of the day, pumpkin cappuccino. Lemon and Baby liked it very much. I myself prefer just the plain pumpkin soup.

After finishing our soup, we eagerly approached the buffet table. The buffet spread was small by the usual standards but I think it is just right for the price we paid.

Salad station with three choices of dressing.

Pasta station with choices of linguine, spaghetti, or penne for the noodles. For the sauce, they have wild mushroom, pomodoro or pesto.

Here's the side dish station. The fare includes parsley rice, Cajun Creole rice, oven baked fish fillet, sauteed mixed sea foods, zucchini and mushroom, garlic herbed mashed potato, asparagus and cherry tomatoes to name some.

The highlight of the buffet, the angus steak station.

They slice the steak there in small pieces. You'll be asked how many pieces you want and how you want it done.

Here's a look of some of what we brought back to our table.

We were also given complimentary vegetable pizzas to promote their Italian nights buffet happening from Mondays to Thursdays.

Their pesto is the strong kind. I like the milder variety. Baby likes the pesto that way but he was too busy with the steak to finish my pasta. Lemon had two servings of mashed potatoes and fancied the asparagus and cherry tomatoes side dish. I liked the zucchini and mushrooms. Needless to say, We all loved the steak. We had second servings and almost had no room for dessert. Almost. Of course, we can't go without it.

The chocolate meringue is my favorite. It was so good. I wanted to get a second serving but had no space for it. The mixed fruits refreshed and cleansed our palate.

A waiter requested us to fill out a survey form. Here's how Lemon rated the restaurant.

The overall dining experience was great. It was really value for money. The restaurant is nice, the staff attentive. The manager was very helpful and courteous. He was constantly checking up on us during our dinner. He also offered coffee or tea and suggested which dessert to try. He even helped me get my cream puff when I had a hard time because I was caught in its crystallized sugar web.

Outside, I took some more pictures while waiting for the valet to get the car. They have a comfortable waiting/smoking area too.

Steak fans go ahead and try Celi's this weekend!

Information:

CELI's RESTAURANT
Hotel Celeste
#02 San Lorenzo Drive
cor. Arnaiz Avenue
San Lorenzo Village
Makati City

Telephone no: + 63 2 887 8080
Fax no: + 63 2 887 8088

E-mail: info@hotelcéleste.ph

Hotel website: http://www.hotelceleste.ph/index.html

Eat, Shop & Mingle - Legazpi Sunday Market

2011-06-06T08:26:00.002+08:00

I wanted to eat some place new yesterday for breakfast. I just finished rendering overtime at work and it was 9:00 AM on a Sunday morning in Makati. Where to go? My colleague and friend, August tipped me off to the direction of LEGAZPI SUNDAY MARKET. I said, Hey, I know that place! It's where we park when I go to the dentist. I didn't know that the parking lot converts into a market during Sundays. Shame on me for not knowing that, after working in the area for more than 10 years. I have knowledge of the Bonifacio and Salcedo Markets but not this one.

Giddy with the excitement of going to a new place, Baby and I headed to the venue. We were lucky to get a "rockstar" parking, right at the entrance along Salcedo street. We eagerly went inside to see what they offer.

This is the first thing we saw.

Very interesting. I wasn't expecting that. Poor girl though. It was very hot and humid. No fans or air conditioning here unlike in Mercato Centrale @BGC. Props to her for modeling the beautiful kimono.

We walked around the different stalls to view the merchandise. Makeshift tents were set up to showcase the goods.

What a variety! From decorations, home products, woodwork..

To clothes, bags, accessories, artwork...

Fresh produce, fruits and vegetables, even herbs and house plants. There is a wet market stall too.

But this is the reason why we came here. The food!

Mixed nuts, pili nuts, macadamia nuts, walnuts. Php450.

It was difficult to decide what to eat with the myriad of choices.

There were different pastas, grilled meats and seafoods, even lechon cebu. I was not able to photogragh many things because I was overwhelmed by the variety of the menu.

Being a shrimp lover, this definitely caught my eye. Wow prawns!

It was really tempting but I felt like eating sausages at that time. I suggested to Baby to get the shrimp salpicao (the bestseller according to the vendor) for himself. This way, I can also have a taste of it. For Php200, the meal includes a choice of wild mushroom or pesto or malunggay rice and a side dish of veggies. He likes prawns too, so he was up for it. I looked for my sausage and I got it from this stall.

I opted for the bockwurst with cheese but had to forego the bread or rice bundled with it for Php 100. I got the malunggay rice from the shrimp stall. I wanted to try it because it's different. Another attempt of mine to eat something healthy. The sausage alone was for Php90. We bought gulaman for our drinks at Php20 each. A busboy helpfully led us to an empty spot near the crepe stall of the Frenchman.

The shrimp was delicious, the sausage was tasty and cheesy, the malunggay rice was genius!

We had these guys for our background music, jamming some cool beats.

Bread, cakes and pastries were also present. We bought a chocolate cake to go. It was not bad for Php50.

We were about to leave the market but I saw the strawberry yoghurt shake. I love those kinds of drinks. I couldn't resist, I had to buy one. It was so good!

Overall, it was a nice experience going to Legazpi Market. You just have to bear the heat. It's a welcome alternative to the mall or the usual restaurant to eat, shop and hang out. If you haven't already, go next Sunday!

Information:

Legazpi Sunday Market
Salcedo Street, Legazpi Village Makati
Across Equicom Bank

View map here

Open Sundays. 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM

Website: http://legaspisundaymarket.multiply.com/

Craving for Vietnamese

2011-05-02T05:48:00.000+08:00

I oftentimes have a hankering for Vietnamese food ever since I got to travel to Vietnam four years ago. I really love their pho and grilled meats. I'm not really big on eating veggies but I make an effort to eat certain kinds for my health's sake. With Vietnamese food, it's interesting how they incorporate vegetables. Everything blends together and complements each other.

I discovered a fantastic Viet restaurant called BA NOIS through Plejee, one of the mushrooming group buying websites. The deal was a set meal, "feast for two" all for Php495.

Off I went with Baby. There were only two other customers when we arrived around 2:30 PM. I imagine the place is very busy during lunchtime with the Makati office crowd. The place is cozy and decorated with pictures taken around Vietnam.

Here' what we got:

Goi Buo Tom Thit (Shrimp and pomelo salad) Php175

Cha Gio (Fried spring rolls) Php160

Pho Bo (Beef noodle soup) Php225

Bo Luc Lac (Stir-fried honey spiced beef with fried basil) Php310

Com Trang (Steamed rice) for two Php30 each

Nuoc Mia (Fresh sugarcane juice) for two Php90 each

Before I gave my voucher to the waitress, I decided to order an additional dish because I thought the food was not going to be enough. Boy, I was so wrong. Here's the unnecessary order.

Ga Nuong (Grilled lemongrass chicken) Php205

We were so full! Everything was so fresh and delicious. The beef was tender, the pomelo salad was refreshing. I just found the sugarcane juice too sweet for me. I felt healthy after eating all those greens. We're definitely coming back next month with friends.

Parking: Pay parking along Perea street
Restroom: Very clean

Information:

Ba Nois
G/F Greenbelt Mansions, Perea St., Legaspi Vill.

Makati City, Metro Manila

Philippines

(02) 893-7359

Credits to Munchpunch for the additional info.

Fondue for Three

2011-05-02T04:17:00.000+08:00

I love the food at OLD SWISS INN Makati. I especially love the fact that they are open 24 hours. I had a bad craving for their Toblerone fondue a few months back and for some reason I didn't have the chance to go and I procrastinated. Then, I saw a 50% off deal in CashCashPinoy for them. Great! As they say, good things happen to those who wait.

There's three of us and we ordered these fondues:

Fondue Bourguignonne - Prime beef tenderloin cubes dipped in hot oil, with a carousel of sauces. served w/ French fries (Php 950)

Neptune Fondue - Salmon, shrimps, fish fllet, squid and scallops, dipped in a saffron broth flavored seafood stock, with a carousel of sauces with garlic rice (Php 895)

Walliser Fondue - Made with Swiss wine, Gruyere, emmenthal, and raclette cheeses and fresh tomatoes, served with baby potatoes, vegetables and crunchy bread (Php 750)

Toblerone Chocolate Fondue - Toblerone chocolate and pure cream. Choice of milk, dark and white toblerone chocolate (Php 395)

My top picks are the bourguignonne and the Toblerone milk chocolate. The wine in the Walliser was too strong for me. I wish I had ordered the Waatlander instead, the classic Swiss cheese fondue. I was very hungry that time so I got their Hungarian Sausage too. Loved that!

I find Old Swiss Inn Makati a nice, relaxing place to hang out and satisfy hunger pangs in the wee hours of the morning.

Toblerone Fondue craving finally satisfied!

Information:

Makati
G/F Somerset Olympia Makati
Ave. (beside the Peninsula) cor. Sto Tomas St., Makati City
Tel: 818-0098 / 818-8251 / 894-5826
Trunkline: 812-1010 loc. 511-512
Open 24/7

Manila
G/F Garden Plaza Hotel & Suites, 1030 Belen St. beside Paco Park, Paco, Manila
Tel/Fax. 5262739

Website: http://www.oldswissinn.com/index.php
Credits to Munchpunch for the additional info.

Easter Celebration at Market Cafe

2011-04-24T14:43:00.273+08:00

I wanted to pig out after my semi fasting during the Lenten Week. I was keen on eating at a buffet. Since I haven't tried the one at Hyatt, we've decided to check out the MARKET CAFE buffet.

I'm guilty at not going to mass regularly. I was adamant that Baby and I have to go hear the Easter mass first before greedily gorging ourselves with food.

Our reservation at the restaurant was at 7:00 PM. This means that we have to attend the 5:00 PM mass; which means we have to get up by 4:00 PM to start getting ready. This is a real effort for me. My body clock is on Eastern time. I usually wake up at 6:00 PM. I know it's just 2 hours earlier from my usual alarm but I really treasure my sleep.

Anyway, we made it on time for the mass. Feeling light, blessed, and holy, we proceeded to Hyatt Hotel and Casino. We got lost going there due to the one-way streets in that area. We were late for our reservation. It was fine though, the receptionist said that it was okay.

I noticed the nice casual interior of the place while being led to our table. I liked the relaxed lighting.

Upon reaching our table, we didn't waste anytime to approach the buffet spread. They have live kitchen stations offering, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, and Western dishes.

We chose mussels, prawns and lobsters to be prepared for us from the live station. You may instruct the chef on how to cook each item - grilled, steamed, buttered, fried, etc. Once your food is ready, it will be delivered to your table.

I had my salad while waiting for the chef to cook the fresh items that we picked. The salad station had like ten different dressings to choose from. My salad was fantastic.

Here's my second course. Soup plus pizza. I like pumpkin soups but this one had curry on it. It almost made me gag. I had to force myself to swallow it with the help of water. I wanted to at least consume half of the soup but I couldn't. The pizza on the other hand, was good.

My third plate was divine. The rib eye steak was so tender, it almost melts in your mouth. You can choose peppercorn or mushroom sauce but I had to snub them for the A1 steak sauce. Eating my steak is incomplete without it. How I wish I went back for more!

Here's something from the Chinese station. The fish with tausi was excellent.

Finally, our order arrived. The lobsters were good. The prawns were a little overcooked. The mussels smelled nasty. We ended up not eating those.

We had these for dessert. They're alright but forgettable.

The night ended with us having bloated stomachs. It was a pleasant Easter celebration.

Though I've been to better buffets, Market Cafe is still worth a try.

Information:

MARKET CAFE
3rd Floor
1588 Pedro Gil cor M.H. Del Pilar, Malate,
Manila, Philippines 1004
Tel: +63 2 245 1234 Fax: +63 2 247 1234

Buffet dinner: Php2000++ per head

Hours:

Breakfast (inclusive of free-flowing soft drinks and local beer)
                 6:00am to 10:30am – Daily
Lunch       12:00 noon to 2:30pm - Mondays to Saturdays
                 11:30am to 2:30pm – Sundays
Dinner       6:00pm to 10:00pm – Daily

Website: http://www.manila.casino.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/

Historical Corregidor Island

2011-03-02T10:54:00.000+08:00

As mentioned in my Hotel H2O post, we also spent our 2nd year anniversary celebration at Corregidor. Here are my reasons for choosing it:

We haven't been there. It's about time!
It is just less than two hours from Manila
Baby likes history and war relics
I love old buildings and ruins
No hassle day tour
Educational and reminiscent of my school day field trip experience

I emailed Suncruises for our reservations. Check in time is 7:00 AM at the CCP Bay terminal beside Harbor View. If you are going to drive to the terminal, you may park your car there from 6:00 AM - 5:00 PM for Php50.00 fixed rate. Parking tickets must be validated. I thought parking was free. I still think it should be since we were patronizing their tour.

TIP: You may also book the tour with overnight accommodation at Corregidor Inn

Anyway, we were so anxious when we arrived there because we thought we were going to be late and miss the ferry. We got our tickets inside the office and were given instructions to wait for the shuttle outside. The shuttle will bring us to ferry itself.

The ride to the ferry took about 5 minutes. We settled into our seats and noticed that the air- conditioned ferry is packed with students and foreigners alike. Police men were also present for security.

The tour of Corregidor actually starts aboard the ferry. A tour guide will discuss the history of Corregidor Island and the Philippines’ participation in World War II. Very educational indeed! I was amazed at how well the tour guide narrated and remembered all the significant dates. The guide uses a microphone and a sound system so wherever you sit in the ferry, you can hear the story.

There were also Corregidor videos playing on the TV monitors placed on different parts of the ship.

If you want snacks or something to drink, you may buy at their makeshift mini store.

After the story telling, they will give the bus assignments with the corresponding name of the tour guide. You can actually choose any bus except for the buses reserved for a big group (students from a particular school) and the bus with a Japanese speaking tour guide.

Ah, it was nice to escape busy, congested Manila for a little while. I long for fresh air and peaceful surroundings.

We finally arrived at the island! I want to show everyone a picture of the ferry. Regrettably, the photo below is the only one I have.

The takeoff point of the buses is at Lorcha Dock. This was Douglas MacArthur’s departure point for Australia. It is near this spot that he said his famous line, “I shall return!”

During our tour in March, there were about 10 buses, all have English speaking tour guides except the one with the Japanese speaking guide. Once you decide on your bus, you have to ride that same one throughout the rest of the tour. The make of the bus is similar to the San Francisco cable cars.

Mind you, our guide did not speak any Taglish, and you can really tell that he knows what he is talking about.

The tour will take you to the different parts of Corregidor Island. The bus will make a stop in each point of interest and you may hop off the bus to get a closer look of the place and take pictures. However, you may only do so for ten minutes per stop. If you are not back on the allotted time, the guide will ring the bell as a signal that it is time to go. The Suncruises tour runs on a tight schedule. Very impressive on the time management. No dilly dallying here.

FILIPINO HEROES MEMORIAL

JAPANESE GARDEN OF PEACE

While going between our stops, I have observed that Corregidor is very well kept. I liked the cleanliness and tranquility of the place.

The Malinta Tunnel Lights and Sound Show is an optional part of the tour for Php150. I suggest not missing it. You cannot enter the tunnel if you opt to not join the activity. It is one of the bus stop destinations anyway, so if you do not join the show, you will have to sit on the bus and wait until the rest of the group finish going through Malinta Tunnel. Nothing spectacular, but it will complete your Corregidor experience.

We headed to Corregidor Inn for our lunch break. The Corregidor day tour package includes a buffet lunch. The food was satisfactory and the view from the restaurant was lovely.

We continued with our exploration of the island. We are finally going to the ruins!

MIDDLE SIDE BARRACKS

Next up are Baby’s favorites. He cannot get over the bullet holes and huge weapons.

MILE LONG BARRACKS

PACIFIC WAR MEMORIAL

Some of the spots we visited also included the Eternal Flame of Freedom, Cine Corregidor, Battery Crockett, Kindley Field and a couple of museums.

TIP: if you need to go to the bathroom during the tour, do not fret. There is a toilet in almost all of the stops. All clean and have running water. The management really does a great job at maintaining the place despite the big size of the area.

The last stop was the Spanish Lighthouse. We climbed all the way to the top to have a bird’s eye view of Corregidor.

TIP: There are canteen/store and souvenir shops surrounding the lighthouse. You may buy refreshments or mementos of Corregidor.

I find the Suncruises Corregidor Island tour a very organized, professional and educational tour. It is a fun and worthwhile experience. A time to reflect on the sacrifices and heroism of all the brave men and women who participated in the war.

INFORMATION:

SUNCRUISES

Reservations Office
CCP Terminal A. CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Manila, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (632) 831-8140,(632) 834-6857 to 58
Fax No. (632) 834-1523
E-mail: suncruises@magsaysay.com.ph

Corregidor Tours – Daily

Check-in time                                          7:00 AM
Boarding time                                          7:30 AM
ETD Manila                                             8:00 AM
ETA Corregidor (Guided tour with Lunch)    9:15 AM
ETD Corregidor                                        2:30 PM
ETA Manila                                             3:45 PM

Price: Php1,999.00 - Inclusions: Round trip ferry transfers; shrine, entrance and terminal fees; guided island tour and buffet lunch

Website: http://www.corregidorphilippines.com/index.html

The Fabulous Hotel H20 at Manila Ocean Park

2011-03-01T00:36:00.003+08:00

My first year anniversary celebration with Baby was lame because our plan did not pan out. I wanted the second year celebration (March 2011) to be awesome to make up for it. He is fascinated with animals and history; I am a creature of comfort and a fan of the not so usual destinations. The perfect plan was conceived! A two-day celebration at Hotel H20 and Corregidor!

The activities are a surprise. He did not know until the day itself. The first day is the Manila Ocean Park adventure. I just instructed him to pack for overnight things, and then to drive us towards Roxas Blvd. We reached the area and found the parking exclusively for Hotel H20 guests. The parking spot is not good. It is about a one-minute walk to the hotel itself.

Hotel H20 is located on the third floor of the Manila Ocean Park building. The lobby is small but very nice, very hip, chic and trendy.

It is still relatively new and I noticed that not only in the surroundings, but also with their staff. The front desk clerks seem to be still on their on-the-job-training when we checked in. No complaints here. I was just amused to be part of it. It was as if they were practicing on us. I was happy to help.

I specifically chose this hotel because of their unique Aqua Room. I know this is something we would both enjoy. Walking through the long corridor to our room, I kept thinking, this definitely my type of hotel. I was loved everything.

The room did not disappoint. Baby was in awe of the fishes and I was giddy with the stylish bathroom fixtures, notably my favorite rainfall showerhead. I like!

The room has complimentary welcome snacks (chips and peanuts) and sodas aside from the usual coffee and tea.

Our room package included buffet breakfast and Oceanarium passes. Before exploring the premises, we first had a quick meal at North Park, which is just beside the entrance of the Oceanarium.

Inside, you can see different fishes and sea creatures in many aquariums. I was a little disappointed because in terms of variety, what we have here in Manila is lesser than what they have in Ocean Park Hongkong or Underwater World in Singapore. The Philippines have a richer marine life than those countries. I suppose they have more funds. Anyway, Baby was still amazed with everything.

We also tried the Doctor Fish on the second floor for Php80 each. It was a very fun and ticklish experience.

We then took a tour of the hotel and its premises.

By the way, all Hotel H20 rooms are non smoking rooms. I do not recall seeing this information in their website.

Smokers may us their very comfy Cigar Room. You can even watch cable while puffing your lungs out.

The breakfast in Makan Makan restaurant was also lovely. Our hearty dinner with friends at Dampa Macapagal hosted by Ninang did not stop us from taking advantage of this buffet breakfast.

The only low point in our stay was our interaction with their security from the second floor entrance after we had breakfast. I asked if it was possible to smoke in the Cigar Room but he said no. He acted like he was blocking us from entering the hotel. He did not have the courtesy to ask us first if we were guests of the hotel before declining.

Some things that we did not get to do:

Check out their Gym because we did not have workout clothes. I have never been into a gym.
Try the Hotbed and Fish Spa at their Zenyu Eco Spa because we did not bring any bathing suits.
Watch the Musical Fountain Show. We were running late for our dinner date with friends.

Overall, I really loved Hotel H20. True to their word, it is Fabulous, Fluid, and Forward -Looking.

INFORMATION:

HOTEL H20
Luneta, Manila, Philippines 1000
(Behind the Quirino Grandstand)

Telephone: +63 2 238 6100

Website: HotelH20.com
http://www.hotelh2omanila.com/
Reservation: reservation@hotelh2o.com
Hotel Inquiry: inquiry@hotelh2o.com

Discovering Catanduanes: Virac

2010-07-11T09:21:00.000+08:00

After checking out at Twin Rock Beach Resort, we had a difficult time going to the town proper. The tricycles were hard to come by, most probably because it was lunchtime - a typical laid-back attitude in the provinces. We waited for like more than an hour, but to no avail. Luckily, a supplier for the resort graciously offered us a ride to town. We thankfully accepted the invite.

We checked in at Catanduanes Midtown Inn, an affordable and comfortable place to stay in the city. It is in a good location as well, a good base for our Virac exploration. I booked the hotel via email just before we left Manila. It was the best hotel - like accommodation I have found in my Catanduanes research.

I also research the restaurants to eat in whenever I go somewhere unfamiliar. I decided to go to one of those in my list after checking in. There are many tricycles just outside the hotel but we had a difficult time going to the restaurant. The first tricycle driver had a wrong misconception of where Blossoms Restaurant is and he brought us to a wrong place. The second driver also did not know about it but fortunately, we passed by the restaurant by chance and finally found it. All the trouble when it was just actually walking distance from the hotel!

The first floor is a cafe/bakeshop of some sorts. A waiter led us to the second floor where the actual restaurant is. The place has a homey and airy atmosphere. The ceiling is high and there are wide windows and a balcony.

The servings at Blossoms are for meant for sharing. We found about that when the food arrived. We did not expect that due to the cheap price. We tried the squid rice, chicken fingers and fried calamari.

After our late lunch, Baby and I headed back to the hotel to prepare for our sightseeing. We commissioned a tricycle driver to bring us to Bato Church and Maribina Falls. I love old churches and old architecture in general.

At first, I was hesitant to go inside because I was wearing a racer back top. They are very conservative in the provinces and I did not want to be disrespectful of their customs. I remember my humbling experience in Baclayon Church in Bohol where a church lady offered me a piece of cloth to cover my arms and shoulders before entering the church. Flashback Bohol....

Anyway, I was relieved when no one minded me in Bato Church. I just stayed for a short time because I am the only one wearing a sleeveless top. The church was beautiful and had a dramatic effect from the light pouring in through the window.

After this, we proceeded to Maribina Falls. Some kids were jumping off a rock and swimming when we got there. We were prepared to take a dip in the refreshingly cool water but did not; I thought to let the kids enjoy themselves.

We went straight to the market to check out some souvenirs after. We had a difficult time finding the usual tourist mementos like key chains or fridge magnets with the word Catanduanes. They really are not yet tourist ready. Baby was able to buy a shirt and I was pleased to find this pen holder/desk display for myself.

For our last dinner in Catanduanes, we ate at Sea Breeze. I suppose it is a very popular restaurant, a very busy place with friends and families hanging out. It is also child friendly, with a play area on the side. It is an open-air type so you can really feel the breeze from the sea. Too bad though that we cannot see the sea at all because the restaurant is poorly lit. To appreciate the setting, it is best to dine there in the morning or in the afternoon.

We ordered soup, grilled tanigue and battered prawns.

Tired and full, we headed back to the hotel and ended the day with a massage booked from the hotel.

Read Discovering Catanduanes: Twin Rock Beach Resort

INFORMATION:

CATANDUANES MIDTOWN INN

San Jose St., Virac, Catanduanes
Tel. no. +63 (052 )811-0527, Fax +63 (052) 811-1526
E-mail: info@catmidinn.com
Website: www.catmidinn.com

Discovering Catanduanes: Twin Rock Beach Resort

2010-07-08T13:46:00.003+08:00

What's in Catanduanes? Friends would ask me after I told them Baby and I are going there for our first trip as a couple. That’s the same exact thing on my mind when I booked the trip. That's the reason I wanted to go. I want to find out! The usual tourist destination doesn't interest me anymore. Once I've been to a certain place, going back again is the least of my priorities. I would treasure the experience but I would be out looking for new adventures and sights to see.

All I knew was there's a place in Catanduanes with a big rock on the sea near the beach. I didn’t even know where it was. I love to research on the internet but this turned out to be quite challenging. There’s not much useful material and in depth tourist experience about this province. While doing my research, I found out that Catanduanes is a surfer place. Puraran Beach is popular because of the Majectics, a surf break. This is definitely not for me. I don't care for water sports and activities; I'm not very good with swimming.

Where is that darn picture of the rock?! At last, I found it!

To maximize our trip in Catanduanes, I planned to stay the first night at the TWIN ROCK BEACH RESORT and the second night in the town proper of Virac. The resort's website at the time was not displaying the pages fully. I remember only seeing the price of the rooms and two phone numbers. There was no way to book online or even correspond by email.

Due to the nature of my work, my body clock is on Eastern Standard Time. I am mostly asleep during the day and I couldn't find the time to call and make a reservation. I asked Lemon, my friend from work, to book for me last minute. Unfortunately, we didn't have the chance to talk at all before my flight. I boarded the plane without any idea how far the resort is from the airport, how to get there or if we have a room at all.

I am a seasoned traveler anyway so I tried not to worry during the plane ride. I just enjoyed the view. Wow! My first time seeing the almost perfect cone of Mayon Volcano.

Upon reaching Virac airport, I again tried calling Lemon. But no avail, he was not picking up. I then tried calling the two phone numbers listed from the resort’s website but no one’s answering as well. While I’m doing this I was calmly looking around, hoping somebody is holding a piece of paper with our names written on it. Everyone from our plane had people with cars picking them up. Resigned to the fact that no one was there for us, we looked for a public transportation of any sort. There was none.

Baby was already worried so I suggested we try our luck at a nearby store, just right across the street of the airport. We bought some drinks first then asked around for directions to Twin Rock. A man said he would be willing to take us there in his tricycle. Great! We paid Php250 for the one-way ride. The road going there was bumpy but we did not experience any discomfort. The tricycle was bigger than what we have in Manila and it was so well cushioned. Our behinds didn’t hurt at all from the bouncing that we got.

We told our driver that we didn’t have a booking. He said there are plenty of rooms there. He also assured us that he would not leave until they confirm that the resort would take us in. I was so grateful when he said that. I didn't see any other lodging during the 20-minute tricycle ride.

At the front desk, the receptionist told us that there were no available aircon rooms. We would have to wait for a guest to check out in about 2 hours. She explained that all of the current occupants of the resort are all guests of the Governor. That day was the inauguration of the winners of the 2010 government elections. We had no reason to complain at that point. We were very appreciative of the fact that they allowed us to stay without any prior communication. We agreed to stay in a fan room until the aircon room becomes available. Lucky for us, the transfer took less than an hour.

We then eagerly took a quick tour of the place.

We got hungry. At the sari-sari store/restaurant no one acknowledged or minded us. People seemed busy, just walking past us. We were not sure who to ask or call among them. There are no uniformed employees wearing nameplates here. Maybe they were not sure if we were paying guests or guests of the governor. I was thinking, is this resort closed for business today, and we really are not supposed to be here? It seemed liked it.

We sat there for about ten minutes. No one approached or talked to us. Baby finally got up, walked to the storekeeper to ask if we can eat there, and asked for a menu.

The old school menu. Literally. It made me smile and reminisce my old grade school projects.

I can't recall what we ordered. I just remember it was a little pricey for the resort. You wouldn't expect that price list from looking at the cover of their menu.

The staff left us alone to explore the property by ourselves. It's now time to bask in the beauty of Twin Rock's private cove.

Some dusk shots.

We had a peaceful and laid back time in Twin Rock. It was a good change in pace. The views were lovely. Looking at the scenery of the cove is like looking at a giant postcard.

The only downside was the nagging feeling that we did not belong there all throughout our stay. Come to think of it. No one led us to our room; they just pointed us to its direction. No one told us if we have free breakfast the next morning. (We did pay for our breakfast). There was no briefing of the resort amenities or suggestion of activities. It was a little disconcerting that we did not feel we are welcome paying guests, rather a couple of outsiders who insisted on staying there.

My take on it? Catanduanes or Twin Rock is still underdeveloped in terms of tourism and hospitality management. The people at the resort seemed like nice people but they obviously lack training. Alternatively, maybe just shy? I don't know. They were not intentionally being aloof to us. Unfortunately, they were also not very helpful.

I still recommend going to Twin Rock Beach Resort just for the picture perfect view alone.

Again, maybe they were just really closed for business the day that we came.

Postscript: This blog was written a year later from the actual trip. Twin Rock website has since been updated. The improvement is HUGE. They now have full information, activities, WIFI, free breakfast, etc. Good job!

Read Discovering Catanduanes: Virac

Information:

TWIN ROCK BEACH RESORT

Igang, Virac, Catanduanes 4800

Philippines

Email: twinrockbeachresort@yahoo.com

Telephone No.: (6352) 811-3742

Telefax No.: (6352) 811-1707

Mobile: 0918-991-9605 (Liby)

0929-421-7088 (Eden)

Website: http://www.twinrock.com.ph/home.html

From Manila, fly to Virac, Catanduanes via:

Philippine Airlines

Cebu Pacific

Paradise: Coron, Palawan

2009-04-29T16:09:00.222+08:00

This was my first time going to Palawan, the so-called last frontier of the Philippines. I had high expectations due to the pictures and reviews of those who already experienced Coron.

The road from the airport was bumpy and dusty. They haven't finished building the road to Coron. The scenery is very rural, a welcome view from the chaos that is Manila.

We stayed at Dive Link Resort which is 10 minutes boat ride form Coron Town. We got a good package form PAL's Palakbayan. Our package includes buffet breakfast and free boat trips to the town.

We arrived at dawn due to our delayed flight. Our spirits were not dampened. The boys used the pool to pass the time and I just looked forward to the next morning to start our adventure.

We went on island hopping to check what Coron has to offer. We booked the tour from the resort complete with packed lunch. Drinks were not included but the guides brought a cooler full of drinks and we just paid whatever we consumed.

Entrance fees were separate as well. Everywhere we go, we paid for that fee. They call it conservation fee. I suppose they don't get enough funds from the government for the maintenance of the tourist spots.

Everywhere you look is a postcard. It was so amazing to see the limestone formations and the beautiful, clear waters. You can see three shades of blue.

On the way to Kayangan Lake, once you reach the topmost part of the trek, just before the descent, you need to turn around first. Here's what you will see - the breathtaking view of Coron.

In Kayangan Lake, up close, the color of the water is amazing, never seen this kind of shade of blue before.

Banul Beach's sand is white and powdery, just like in Boracay.

We also went to the Maquinit hot springs. It's a good way to relax tired mucles from the all day island hopping.

I recommend everyone to go experience Coron. I can say it is the most beautiful place that I have seen. Our pictures don't do justice to the real thing. If you want to unwind, relax, and feel the beauty of nature, go to Coron. No beach parties here. If you prefer that, then better go to Boracay.

Information:

DIVE LINK

Metro Manila Office

Dive Link Adventure Island Resort Office

811 One Executive Condominium Building,
West Avenue, Quezon City
Telephone : (632) 413-6007
Telefax : (632) 412-0644

Mobile : (63)(0918) (926-1545), (63)(0918) (926-1547), (63)(0918) (907-2577)
Email : divecoron_link@yahoo.com; info@divelink.com.ph; julia_arroyo@divelink.com.ph

Office hours are Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturdays 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Please call mobile number beyond office hours and on Sundays and holidays.

Coron / Resort

Dive Link Adventure Island Resort Office

Barangay Lajala, Uson Island, Coron , Northern Palawan

Mobile : (63)(0918) (926-1546)

Website: http://www.divelink.com.ph/index.html