tanya thinks...

Condura Run 2009: The Half-Marathon Challenge

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:12:00 +0000

I just survived my longest run to date - all 21KM of it under an expected time of 2 hours 25 mins. It's not an impressive time, but I was never a fast runner. The route was challenging and momentous - start is at the NBC Tent in Fort, then you go out heading towards the Kalayaan/ Buendia flyover, and from Buendia, you reach Osmena and you go up the Skyway and go back same route. Halfway distance is the around 150meters after the Magallanes ramp northbound.

Pre-Work
Up until a month ago, I had no intentions of joining a 21km race. Despite my weekly routine, running has never been my forte, and I am quite slow for someone who has been running for years. But the past 4 weeks had me running daily distances that I've never ran before (average 40-50km/week, 3-4x/ week). Also I could not pass up the opportunity to run in the Skyway, I knew it would be a glorious moment to be running alongside buildings. The hype of this run was simply amazing, and it was all we could talk about with fellow runners for the past few weeks.

I was on a no-meat diet, but the week before the run, I shifted to eating meat again, just so I could have enough protein. I still avoided carbs but began loading on it the day before. I also tried to regulate my water intake during races. I am a spoiled runner because I always run on the treadmill, and hydration during road runs has always been a problem. I was scared for this run in particular because it wasn't the right time of the month for me. I was bloated, I kept cramping up, and I knew I'd get dehydrated pretty fast.

Race Day
We knew there would be 6000+ runners so we arrived pretty early. The crowd was so alive and excited and it felt like all the usual faces were there. We started at 530AM sharp, and with my usual pace, i did 2KM of moderate running. The Kalayaan flyover came as a surprise to me because I never noticed how long it was. It was definitely challenging ground - no water stations in sight and I couldn't see the end of it!

Once I got down Buendia, i had a better time, but I was running really fast in some parts to avoid getting affected by the stoplights in the major intersections. Turns out I had little to worry about, the race organizers had a lot of the roads closed, and to the ire of car passengers, police were all over the intersections, allowing all runners to pass by first before allowing cars to pass.

The skyway at KM 8 to 12 was the really fun and euphoric part. They closed down the north bound lane so I took my time to run through the evenly lined road looking at buildings and things I don't notice when I'm driving across it. There were also adequate water stations at this point, with water tank sprinkling across the place! I also love the sponges they gave out with cold water, that was a first for me. Surprisingly, it wasn't too hot yet in the skyway, so I enjoyed my time there. Defnitely the right venue to do my first 21KM :)

I ran a really slow first half, so I got my second wind at km 10-17. The road back to the Kalayaan flyover was manageable, but I was really dehydrated at some points. I had to drink Gu gel because I could feel the onset of cramps. And I was soooo bloated, my fats were just all over the place! :( Upon reaching the Kalayaan flyover, I had to walk almost the whole way and that really slowed me down. The sun was already scorching by that time, and no water station in sight.

I could have cried upon reaching Fort again, but the last clincher was running another round of BHS, which I didn't expect. Oh well, it ended just the same.

Post-Analysis
I finished in a time that I expected, but I didn't have an easy time running, no upsides this time. I was extremely bloated; I was retaining water like crazy, and I couldn't sweat it out and I can't figure why though. Theories are - I might have eaten too much sodium the last 2 days, or my time of the month, or because I put on too much sunblock, two layers of it, to avoid getting burned. Either way, I knew I was carrying extra pounds of water.

Second was the fact that I didn't have hydration with me, no thanks to a hydration belt that did not arrive on time. :( Sad. Nonetheless, I look forward to actually getting it (along with my new shoes!) and using it in future races. Lastly, I need to plan my diet better. What happened in the past week was I surrendered to sugar cravings. I dont think it did me any good, and I feel like a heavyweight now.

As for the race, I have to say, it was impressive to see most of the roads closed! I don't know if that route will ever be used again, but I doubt. It was extremely well-organized as well, complete with pacers. One thing though is that I think it lacked water stations and KM markings. I'm just glad to have run across the skyway and back. :)

with training buddies :)

Mt Pinatubo: Lessons Learned in Hiking

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 13:11:00 +0000

Mt Pinatubo seems to be the rage lately, and I wasn't spared from it upon seeing other friends' pictures. Armed with no hiking experience, but with a desire to see the crater of Pinatubo, I decided to join a trek up one extra-sunny Saturday. There are so much lessons to be learned in hiking, and unfortunately, I learned the hard way.

Lesson # 1 - Arrive, start, and end early.

Pinatubo is going to be popular destination this summer, so make sure to leave Manila early. It will take 3 hours to go to Capas, Tarlac, which marks the start of the tour, so best to be there by 7AM or before. Then from there you ride on a 4x4 for an hour, and then the official hike begins. The trail is narrow and steep, so it will take more than the hour, even on the short-cut trail. The long-cut trail probably takes 3 hours. You will probably spend an hour on the crater, and same route going back.

It's best to start early so it will not be so sunny. Also, the crater looks so much more serene if there were not so much people around, so you get to take fabulous pictures. More importantly, you get to mark your territory by the trees. In our case, we had to make do with a small bush, so all of us we just crouched under it, trying to be spared from the harsh rays of the sun.

10 people, trying to fit in a small bush

Lesson #2 - Wear a gas mask or a surgical mask during the 4x4 ride.

The 4x4 is actually an owner type jeep with big wheels. Read - open air and no air con. During the course of an hour, you will be basically trekking up a lahar-laden area, so avoid opening your mouth.

4x4 ride - this wasn't during the hilly part, I was so scared to use my camera with so much debris flying around!

Also, be prepared to look and feel like espasol afterwards. Once you get back to the base, take a shower in the spa before heading back to Manila.

Lesson #3 - Do not wear gym attire to a hiking trip because the nature of the activity is different.

For the hike trip, I wanted to be cool and comfy, so I settled for some casual gym wear. Unfortunately, a racerback top and capri pants weren't the best choice; its shape is now permanently etched on to my body in the form of sunburn. Lesson learned, on a hiking trip, and when it is goingg to be sunny, really sunny, wear a long sleeved top and a cap to keep you protected from harsh elements. Sunblock is not enough!
For the shoes, wear hiking shoes and not rubber shoes because the sole of rubber shoes will just tear apart from the rocks and streams.

The road to Pinatubo is full of rocks and streams. Be prepared to navigate your way through it.

Lesson # 4 - Do not use a giant waterproof bag when it is going to be sunny the whole day.

My choice of bag was a giant waterproof bag that took up my whole back. I don't know what I was thinking - was it going to rain in the midst of the desert-like heat? Nah! Was i going to sweat profusely from lugging around the the giant bag the whole day while balancing on rocks and streams and narrow trails? Hell, yes.

With the big backpack that held only 1 gatorade bottle and lots of Archie comics. Waterproof naman!

Lesson #5 - When backpacking, bring only the essential stuff like water, NOT magazines and extra clothes

Ok for the hike up, I stuffed the following into my giant bag - extra change in clothes complete with flip flops, my whole day bag including house keys, wallet, makeup, some Archie comics, crakcers, and 1 small bottle of Gatorade.

Word of advise to future trekkers - when you get to the top of the crater, there is no Coke vendo machine, no restos, nothing. Bring all the water and food you need, and although a tour guide will be carrying the packed lunch, the water that comes along with it will not be enough. In my case, i was dying from the thirst with less than 1 liter of liquid from 8AM - 3PM.

Packed lunch that the tour guides carried for us. Too bad I wasn't eating meat, but I ate the chicken because i was so hungry!

Also, no need to bring extra clothes and other stuff because there are no changing roomsnor rest rooms, and you can't hide from the crowd. If you wanna swim in the crater, make sure you are wearing your bathing wear underneath your clothes.

Other than that, the Pinatubo crater is indeed beautiful, and it looks exactly same as the pictures. The waters are blue-green, pristine, and surprisingly freezing cold. This even makes it more fun to take a dip as a respite from the tiring hike up.

Pinatubo, beautiful from all angles.

On a personal note, it's very thrilling and exhilarating to go up to a mountain that was once so scary and destructive. It's hard to imagine that the serene crater, majestic rocks, and breathtaking view were once part of a disaster that killed countless lives and buried towns. It also feels good to support the livelihood of the locals there; the tour and the trek up is basically taps on natural resources to help spur the once-dead area. Just be warned, the trek up is not easy, so make sure you're well-prepared.

Pescetarianism

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 14:17:00 +0000

It's a bit embarrassing to say how much I gained over my vacation and the holidays. I'm usually weight-conscious and I weigh myself every day (and night), but everything seemed to have happened so quickly that it feels like I got whammed with fat in an instant! :( In a post-fat analysis, I kinda realized that I was consuming more food and becoming more dependent on sweets. No use to maintain my normal exercise routine, I think I was just eating way too much.

I decided to do something extreme - go pesco-vegetarian! You know, two weeks ago, I always thought that a meal isn't a meal without meat! As you can imagine, and for those who know me, it's pretty extreme for me to cut back on beef, chicken, and pork. I decided not to cut back on the seafood, eggs, and dairy simply because I cannot do it, hence the pescetarianism. On top of that, no carbs except for 3 pieces whole wheat crackers a day, no to fried food, and no to junk food or sweets. Instead, I tried to eat more fruits, seafood, and veggies (lots of it).

It was a semi-nightmare at the start to function and do exercise without any food. I got dizzy so often that I had to stop working early and stop running, or was I just using that as an excuse haha. It was more difficult to eat a meal, honestly because I don't know what I was supposed to eat and very few places satisfy my dietary needs! I had to isolate myself for a bit, I was so crabby from the hunger and I didn't think I could stand to see people eating normal food. My body got used ot it after a few days though, and at one point, I could finally see my some people go vegan - it really feels healthy and it's as if eating pork or beef would clog my arteries.

For two weeks, my meals revolved around bananas for breakfast, saladveggies/fish for dinner. I had eggs/bananas/crackers for snacks. I didn't think I'd make it, but today, I reach my goal of two meat-less weeks, and it feels great. :) I developed a new-found appreciation for fish - I liked it before, but now I love it, as in I can and I will choose fish over steak! The only time I cheated was yesterday in Pinatubo, where there was simply no choice but to eat chicken fillets (at least it was white meat) and the hike exhaustion got to me. Aside from that, I maintained and intensified my running routine by susbsisting on bananas. More on the running next time!

The grand question - did I lose weight? I lost a bit, but not back to original weight yet, which is really getting frustrating. But was it worth it? Yes it was because it helped me reduce my food intake and it made me independent from being a slave of food (hehe, gosh this is so dramatic). Even if I didn't lose all the weight, I kind of feel like I got healthier, or maybe it's just a perception, I don't know.

I plan to probably continue this diet - maybe modify it a bit like eat chicken white (because it's widely available) but avoid high fat food - no to fried food, no to peanuts (this is gonna be hard). No to carbs, I lost my craving and need for rice and bread. Chocolates, I am still thinking about it because I don't think I can live without it, i've craved for chocolates like 1,000 times in 2 weeks. As I'm writing this, I happily dream about opening a box of Meiji Pucca (all-time fave), but I don't want it to become a habit again.

So while everything is going well, I honestly dread the thought of facing life without Lechon Kawali, Pork Adobo, steak, KFC, pizza, pasta, and porkchops? I don't know. Probably not, though I hope my willpower can stop me from going back to my old ways. ;)

Terrace at the 5th

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:07:00 +0000

I'm sure you all know that Terrace at the Fifth is owned by a group of high profile women, and these women have contributed their best homemade recipes to make the menu of Terrace at the 5th special. This makes it all the more compelling to try because a showcase of the best homecooked meal is a recipe for success - without the homecooked prices though :)

I went to eat there on its soft opening, and I must say, the service, from the owner to the manager down to the server, is impeccable and delightful. I immediately loved the interiors, which makes me feel like I am in a terrace of a mansion. Lush greens everywhere, hanging birdcages, straw and rattan chairs.

Their cuisine is mixed because it's a collection of the ladies' best recipes, and they have a few choices of pasta and entrees. Their specialty is the steak, which I haven't tried yet. I tried -

Spinach Artichoke dip (Php 300) - this was just OK, would've been better if served with crispy or toasted chips

Laing Pasta (Php 360) - This sounded like a very interesting dish, so we just had to try it. It lives up to its promise and really tastes like laing with pasta mixed in it. Not bad.

Confit of Pork Belly (Php 500) - This was definitely a winner, with matching falling-off-the-bone experience, with brown rice at that! It goes together so well :)

I liked my experience in Terrace at the 5th, and I'd want to go back there again for the steak, and the crepe cake for dessert. Another nice thing about Terrrace is it's at the end of Greenbelt 5, somewhat secluded and isolated, which makes it perfect to relax and chill out here.

New Greenbelt 5 Restos

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:18:00 +0000

The past few months have seen me frequenting GB5 at least once a week, mainly because of two reasons: restaurants and shopping. I love the new stores that have opened up in GB5, I love the brands, I love the merchandising, I love it that Greenbelt is actually a shop-worthy place now. Well., I'm sure it was fabulous before, it just wasn't in my income bracket, hehe.

But I digress. The other reason why I've been going to Greenbelt 5 every Saturday night and sometimes in between are their restaurants. Topping the fan list are the following places:

Fely Js -a mix of traditional Filipino food and Asian favorites. Brought lotsa visitors here over the holidays, but too bad I always forgot the camera. This place is always consistently full, so my advice is to reserve or arrive early. Oh yeah, their Fish with Plum Sauce is an absolute winner.
Madison Grill - this is an old fave resto that recently moved from Trinoma to Greenbelt. I noticed that their menu changed a bit, no more high end steaks and more entrees. The pizza here is a must try, along with their high-fashion colored drinks.
Felix - I have to admit I'm not a fan of Chef Florabel's restaurants (sorry!), because it can get a bit too rich for my taste. In my opinion, Felix is her best one so far as it merges Chinese and Filipino cusine, and somehow reminds me of my mom's cooking. I also love the fact that she is so concentious about low-carb eating, and this place is no exception. You can request for brown rice here with no extra charge.
Terrace at the 5th - This has got to be the most prestigious restaurant, thanks to the cast of powerhouse owners. I'll save my comments on this resto in a real blog post.
Chilis - You cannot imagine how happy I am that Chilis has moved to a better location (read: walking distance from the office). I have been a fan of Chilis eversince, and I'm happy there is a mid-tier resto here that does not hurt my wallet as much. The only problem is the queue to get a table. :(
John and Yoko - Almost the same menu for Sumo Sam, but I can't remember the difference in price points. I'd go here if I want to eat cosmopolitan Japanese food.

Other places that I've tried but was just so-so for me are:

Myrons - actually the food is good, but there's a secret ingredient that's missing to make this a blockbuster resto for me. Perhaps it's just the competition that trumps this place. On the downside, the service takes a loooong time.
Zuni - This is actually a family favorite, so probably the reason why it's so-so for me is because I've eaten here a number of times. Again, the food is very good, and the service is also impeccable. I'd still encourage you to try this resto though (although I hear that dessert is quite a disppointment).

What I love about Greenbelt is the fact that now, I have a wide range of choices to choose from, all types and kinds of restaurants. Just the other day, I took some guests to eat at Fely J's, and then Razon's halo-halo for dessert! And I can still do (window) shopping in between! ;)

BBQ Chicken

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 14:50:00 +0000

Take note, BBQ Chicken doesn't stand for barbequed chicken; it actually stands for Best of the Best Quality Chicken.

The most amazing thing about BBQ Chicken is that it's actually a global chain - it's present in 30+ countries with 3000+ locations, which started in Korea. I think it recently opened in PH, and I think it's in several branches. The one that I went to is in Jupiter St in Makati, behind the big Petron gas station. You wouldn't notice all these things because of it's sort of plain red logo, and lack of marketing (maybe there is some marketing, but I have yet to see it).

My interest to eat here got really piqued when I found out that they call themselves Best of the Best because they fry their chicken in Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO). I've been on health alert ever since i gained a gazillion pounds, so I knew I'd like this place. I'm really just surprised that they don't do enough marketing about this uniqueness. I only got to find out about the EVOO from a friend abroad.

It's nota a fast food format, so you have to sit down and wait for them to take your order. What's really funny and cute at the same time are the interiors - they used to much color and too much motifs. The upholstery has a black and white rooster design, the place is bright red, and the waiters' uniforms are leopard print. hihi :)

I love the menu because it's in full color and the choices are quite simple. I settled for the chicken soup as a soup appetizer (Php 80). I was kind of disappointed that it turned out to be a chicken lugaw (congee) as it was a soup of chicken and rice bits.

As for the chicken, I was surprised to find out that there are several varieties of chicken. There's the fried chicken, grilled chicken, and spiced chicken. I settled for the fried chicken (php 290) and the spicy grilled chicken (php 300). Each dish has 4 pieces, so the price is more or less OK, but I guess i was really hungry, I was able to eat all 4 pieces!!!

The Fried Chicken was super yummy; you could taste the olive oil right away. What's really fun is the dip. They don't have gravy or ketchup, what they have is a clear dipping sauce which tastes like picked cucumber. In fairness, the sauce really matches the fried chicken! :)

The Spicy Grilled Chicken tastes like a traditional Korean spiced dish. It's actually chicken thigh fillets, which makes it easier to devour. I loved the spicy taste!

I'm already planning my next trip back here because I still want to try their other chicken varieties. I just don't find it the cheapest of chickens, but I guess it's because they're the Best of the Best! Just not the best of interiors, hihi. :)

P&P Tattoo Studio

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 13:07:00 +0000

My friend wanted to get a tattoo, and I jumped at the chance of going with her. She insisted on going to P&P Tattoo Studio, reputed to be one of the best in Manila. I never thought that I would be able to watch a tattoo in action, so it was such a cool experience for me. Here's a simplified version of what we went through, just in case you're interested in getting one.

Step 1: Getting the Artwork Right.
I think that the most important part of getting a tattoo is the artwork. You kinda need to know what design you really like. In our case, we fixed the design on the spot. Ron was kind enough to guide us through a lot of magazines and internet pics to help us get what we wanted. He then translated it on paper, got the size right, and made a few modifications. I have to commend Ron for being super patient about it because it is really hard to come up with something that you'll want to see for the rest of your life.

You also need to know what colors to play with and what inks to use. In my friend's case, we just opted for black ink. According to them, Japanese ink has the highest quality, so there wasn't much of a decision to make.

Step 2: Where to Put the Tattoo.
Location is also critical. You also need to know where exactly you want your skin to be colored. The skin was prepped by shaving the baby hairs off, and deodorant to keep the skin dry(?!). After that, he stenciled the design to the skin to use a guide when applying the ink, and also so you will get a good idea how it will exactly look like. In my friend's case, we kept on re-doing the stenciling on the skin until we got the right angle.

Step 3: Let the Puncturing Begin!
As you know, tattoos are actually formed by poking a needle with ink so that it gets permanently grafted to your skin. The equipment looks like a giant electric ballpen that's really noisy. It was a bit frightening at the start, but I guess it gets kinda numb at some point. If you have a bit of low tolerance to pain, drink lots so you won't feel a thing, or put the tat in some fatty spot so the flesh won't hurt as much.

It's obvious that I'm no tat expert, but I do recommend P&P Tattoo for the super clean place and great service. They're at Polaris Street, Bel-Air, Makati, 8908037. My friend was pretty happy with her tattoo. As for me, maybe next time, with a big and hesitant MAYBE. :)

Back for More

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:18:00 +0000

I've been thinking a lot about this blog lately, and I decided it was high time to come back. The joy of writing is a simple pleasure, but its satisfaction can be quite irreplaceable at times.

Before I start, a Happy New Year to everyone! 2009 has all the makings of bad year, thanks to bad economics and finances, but I stay optimistic that we will all rise above to the challenges that the future brings. A lot has happened since I last wrote, let me enumerate quickly:

Tried some wonderful restos that I hope to blog about in the near future, among them Fely Js, Terrace at the 5th, Barcino, Vieux Chalet.
Shortly after one of my best birthdays ever, an infection took me down big time, and took me quite a while to recover. It finally went away as quickly as it has set, but that incident made me realize that good health is most important.
My weight loss battle has been fought, won, fought, and lost in the last three months. I was at my thinnest ever, thanks to the infection (I must admit, I was pretty happy about it, hehe). Sadly, I gained it all back during my vacation and during the holidays.
My vacation - the highlight of my year! :) I finally went to LA, SFO, Vegas, and stopovers in between. I met great people, went to nice places, took lots of great pictures, and had doses of retail therapy. Everything I wanted in a vacation!
Managed to do 2 runs this Jan - 10km with a time of 1hr5mins, and 15km with a time of 1hr40mins. The 15km is memorable because it took me a year to finally do it.
Had a bit of a rough patch, but great to know who my real friends are

All in all, 2008 was a great year, especially on a personal level. I feel like I'm more in control of my future and of the things that I want to happen. I've been out of the loop for a while, so let me know what restos are up and coming! I hope your year has also been wonderful; and if not, there's always this year to make up for it! Cheers :)

Dine at Dinelli's Gourmet Deli

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 13:50:00 +0000

There's a new deli in town, and it's pretty close to home! What I love most about Dinelli is that it's so bright and easy on the eyes, that when you see it along Timog, you cannot resist stopping by to see what it's all about.

Dinelli is just like your typical deli; they have a wide variety of meat, cheese, and wine as basics. What makes it special is that they have a pantry full of imported and hard to find goods - from spices, to chocolates (lots of it), to repacked nuts and fancy kitchen ware. To top it off, they have a two-floor dining area that's really cozy and cool, so it's fun to also dine in.

I don't know if it's because they're on soft opening, but their menu choices are quite limited. For my first visit, I tried their Chicken Sandwich (Php 200+), which did not fail me as it tasted like a gourmet sandwich. I also loved the fries, labelled as Duck Fat Fry or something like that, and it worked for me as I thought it was somewhat special.

I also tried the steak - not in the menu, but it was an already marinated Tenderloin, which looked yummy. With some cooking charges and sidings, it came to about Php 500. It tasted fine, except that the meat wasn't tenderl perhaps it lacked a little TLC in the form of meat massage.

Overall, the place is pretty refreshing to see around an area where almost all the restaurants are so casual. The place is not exactly cheap though, but I hope it finds its niche in the QC area. I also feel that while the food is great, it lacks a homey-sort of feel to it, so I don't know.

For more details, visit their website. They're at 5 Timog Ave QC.

Birthday Wishlist, 2008 Edition

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:05:00 +0000

I've been contemplating if I should post this in public domain, available for viewing by the whole world. In the end, I decided to do it, for the primary purpose of amusing myself and partly to orgnize my purchases as I list down all my material desires.

In fairness to me, I have really toned down my purchases, and I have begun saving for bigger, and better things to come in the future (I hope!). But here it is, a list of stuff that i will eventually buy for myself, and I know that I will eventually get it, but for now, I'm lusting for:

1. Pilates/ Yoga Lessons
The one thing that fueled my zest for life is because I started attending Yoga/ Pilates classes. To my surprise, it seems to be the missing link in my fitness regimen and I found that I really have the passion and energy for it. I take classes on top of my gym schedule, but I have always been motivated to attend every class I can.

Small problem- classes are offered in only a few studios in Manila, the schedules and locations are always too awkward and don't have a good fit vs my schedule, and classes are truly expensive. So my gift to myself is to treat these classes as an investment and not look at the price tag. Who knows, it might become a career in the future!

2. Pilates/ Yoga Workout Tops
In the gym, Nike/ Adidas is king. In my Yoga/ Pilates classes, I'm the most baduy of them all :( I haven't had the chance to buy some yoga tops, which should be more comfortable thtan normal gym wear as I try to move around and do the strangest poses. I've been drooling for Lululemon Athletica (found in Aura Athletica in Rockwell) or Stella McCartney for Adidas, both of which can really burn the pocket.

3. Pilates/ Yoga Books
OK, this is going to be the last item under this topic, promise! Since classes are kinda expensive, my determined little self has begun DIY-ing at home, with the help of a few books and DVDs. But, I am still looking for that perfect book/DVD that will help me improve more. It's kind of hard to find it in Manila, but i'm looking for the following titles:

Pilates Body - Brooke Siler
Ultimate Pilates Body Challenge - Brooke Siler
Pilates Body in Motion - Alycea Ungaro
Ashtanga Yoga - Definitive Step by Step Guide - John C Scott
Ashtanga Yoga Practice Manual - David Swensen

4. A Trip to the US!
Well, I'm not expecting anyone to pay for it, I just want someone to go with me as I might get too lonely on my own. :( But if not, I think I'm still going before the year ends. Crossing my fingers really hard that plans push thru or else i'll be very sad and unaccomplished!

5. Powershot G10
Canon just announced its newest Powershot G10, available starting October. It's a camera to die for, with 28mm lens, 15.4MP, 5x zoom, and face recognition! Fopr this, I'm already willing to sell my beautiful IXUS 860 (which by the way i think is the best camera in its category), so I can upgrade to G10. Any takers?

I originally wanted an EOS 450D, but I think that's not gonna happen anytime soon. A Powershot G10 at the very least will send me flying through the roof with happiness.

6. Water Bottle for the Gym
Ok, this is really sad. I used to have this big Nalgene 1-liter bottle for the gym, which was so great because it was unbreakable so I thought I'd be using it my whole life! Unfortunately, it got lost 2 weeks ago, and I can't find it! Waaah! Now I'm looking for a worthy replacement, something smaller, maybe a half-liter bottle.

7. Make-up and Skin Care Line
When you're getting older, the fine lines are starting to show and the skin loses its normal elasticity. Gosh, I am so scared! I need the works - from moisturizers to emulsifiers to SPF lotions to serums to make-up. I'm gonna need a face overhaul!

8. Angel's Kitchen's Banana Cream Pie

My only choice for a birthday cake. That's one good reason to buy a whole BCP for myself, something that I've never done before. Yumyum.

9. All Things Topshop
This year, I really developed a lust for all things Topshop. I'm in love with 75% of their clothes. I just came from that store awhile ago, and I swear, I wanna buy it out!

There it is, a higly personalized and strange list of things that will burn my wallet in the next few months to come. The other things not metioned here like clothes, bags, shoes, books, are in my perpetual wishlist, and that should go without saying, haha.

But the biggest gift of all would still be the things that don't come with a price tag - friendship and love, and that alone would make an extremely happy birthday :)

Amalia's in Magallanes

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:22:00 +0000

I rarely trek all the way to the South to eat dinner, the farthest that I would go is probably in Makati. But once in a while, I stumble on some nice places and I'm sure there are lots, but it's quite rare for me to have that extra energy for the extra travel time that the South requires. I've been hearing about the cozy Amalia's spanish restaurant in BF for a while now, so when they opened in Magallanes, I decided to add that to my list of must-eat places.

I was pretty happy with what I saw. Great food, generous servings, and at affordable prices too! As with any Spanish resto, the real must-order entree is the Paella. Thankfully, I loved their Paella Espana, Php 230, it was says good for one, but I thought it was good for four! For me, the best part of the paella is the burnt rice or tutong at the bottom of the pan. Yum!

I also loved the mushroom soup that i had as an appetizer, but kinda sad that it made me full so quickly!

I have never tasted callos (Php 260) this soft! It doesn't look very captivating in the pictures, so you have to believe me when i say that it was quite good and flavorful.

Amalia's is such an unassuming and simple restaurant. It has minimalist and clean interiors, so it made me feel like i was in the dining table of a posh home. For me, it's a reason to go all the way to Magallanes and try more of what they can offer.

Amalia's is at Paseo de Magallanes, (02) 852 1381.

Flapjacks for Breakfast

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:38:00 +0000

Just like any normal person living in the corporate world, I hate Mondays, and the only thing I hate more than Mondays are Monday mornings. But nothing beats the ultimately dreaded Monday morning meetings. So if you're stuck in a situation like that, I've a piece of advise: set it up at Flapjacks in Greenbelt!

Flapjacks is designed to make you smile even if you are still feeling very groggy. The interiors are vibrantly colored, the place is brightly lit, and everyone just seems to be so perky, thanks to the drink-all-you-can coffee. What I did was to stare at the table for a long time, and I eventually felt like I was brainwashed to believe that it was a good morning!

Their main offfering is fluffy pancakes, which are indeed soft and creamy and airy. It comes in different flavors like peanut butter and jelly, or chocolate chip, or fruit-flavored. Aside from that, they have the usual all-day fare, from local dishes like tapa, longganisa, to international favorites like corned beef and steak and eggs. Their menu reminds me of a Tier 1 version of Pancake House, since the latter has somehow become generic.

I settled for a traditional fare - pancakes 3pcs at Php 195, egg at Php 30, 2 pieces bacon at Php 90+, and 2pieces sausage at Php 9o+. The sad thing about pancakes is that you think it's so delicious that your bound to eat a lot, but after you're done with a piece, you realize you are satisfied with that already. I didn't mean to order such a traditional meal, but I did want to try out their pancakes.

I did enjoy my meal at Flapjacks, but I wish there were offerings for smaller servings as well - like single pancakes, since I don't eat a lot during breakfast. Expect to shell out around Php 300-400 for a bright breakfast. As i write this, it is a few hours away from the dreaded Monday mornings, and do I wish I could just spend the day in bed, sigh!

Flapjacks is at Greenbelt 2, ground floor. 729-9121.

Matutina's Seafoods

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:17:00 +0000

First of all, this has got to be one of the hardest restos to eat in, but sheer persistence did it for us. A couple of people have recommended this restaurant as a must eat in Baguio, but after a futile seach for it there, we discovered that it already closed down some time back. We gave up hope of finding it until we passed by it in Urdaneta after going down to Manaoag on our way back to Manila. A snap decision was made to eat there, despite that it was really full. The servers looked really harrassed, a sure sign of bad service, and we had to fight tooth and nail to get a table45 mins later.

This Dagupan-born resto is famous for its Milkfish (bangus), which is served in different ways. They also have the most seemingly delicious seafood with really affordable prices, judging from the pictures in the menu.

We ordered:

Sari-saring inihaw (Php 260) - the bangus was a real winner. My eating experience was troubled though, becuase they ran out of sili, so i could not make a spicy toyo-suka sauce dip.

Hipon Spicy Buttered (Php 190)- it was deliciously sweet and buttery at the same time, so I forgave the fact that it wasn't spicy.

Buttered Talaba (Php 90) - I liked this dish because I haven't seen it being offered anywhere else. I am a talaba lover, so it just get better when it's buttered.

The meal was definitely delicious, but I'm not sure if it it's worth going there with bad service and all. Be sure to avoid the rush, and reserve in advance if you plan on going during the normal meal times! I recommend that you eat here after going to the Manaoag Parish.

075 568 8288 or 075 624 2065

Nancayasan Highway, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.

Where to Eat in Baguio - Best Baguio Restos

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:45:00 +0000

I had one goal during our recent trip to Baguio - to eat in all my favorite restos!:) My friends had to no choice but to go along with my resto choices for all our meals, but luckily, i had a 4/5 hit ratio. I had an excuse for missing out on one good meal - we were limited to choices inside Camp John Hay, so we just ate in Carlo's Pizza, just so-so for me.

Well, in case you're planning a trip to Baguio, then you MUST make it a point to eat in the following restataurants:

O' Mai Khan (Otek St, just across City Hall)

The main fare here is Mongolian Eat-All-You-Can BBQ, for only Php 195. It's pretty similar to other Mongolian BBQ places, you just queue up, put meat/veggies/ rice into a bowl, then choose what sauces/ condiments you like. Just a little tip, if you're not a cook, just ask the waitress to choose the sauces for you according to your taste preference, they're experts at it.

Your meal is stir-fried and delivered to your table, so expect a hot bowl of mixed food. Perfect to eat in the cold weather.

I'm not a fan of mongolian, but for me, this place stands out by virtue of its freshness. The veggies (watercress, spinach, togue) are so crisp and fresh that it must have been plucked out within the day. The tomatoes are plump and taut skinned, the flesh is juicy and crisp. And because it's buffet-style, you can keep coming back for more!

Forest House (Loakan Road, just before CJH)

With Forest House, you'll fall in love with the ambiance and setting as soon as you enter, and that is more than enough to keep you delighted all throughout the meal. But that's not all - the food is served Filipino-syle, and it is delicious!

I've eaten here a couple of times already, thanks to their presence in Tiendesitas, Libis, and I always coerce my companions to order the Ilocos Bagnet Meal (Php 970). It's a set meal for four and it comes with soup, a plate full of sinfully delicious and crisp bagnet, rice, fresh steamed greens, and salsa, pinoy-style with a hint of bagoong.

It's also famous for dessert, coffee, and nitecaps. I think there's a band that plays there every nite, so it's a really great place to hang out in, be it with family or friends!

Cafe by the Ruins (23 Chuntug St, near City Hall)

I would suppose this is the most famous restuarant in Baguio, and yes, a visit here is a must! It's very famous because it was built on ruins of first Governor of Baguio's mansion. It used to be more dilapidated to the point that you'd dine in open air, but I think it has now expanded, and it's made to look like a cozy artsy home rather than ruins.

What I truly love about this place is its ingenious use of Cordillera crops and local offerings as it's ingredients. They have the kamote bread, served with a clever dip of fish roe and butter.

We ordered each a serving of their famous Crispy Tapa (php 180), which are shredded bits of meat, seasoned into tapa, and deep fried afterwards. I loved the fact that they use mountain red rice, which is a bit harder than regular rice, but very healthy and fiber-rich and more filling.

According to Nicole, they have the best coffee, and she dreams about it to this very day :)

Camp John Hay Manor - Dessert/ Snacks/ Pastries

When in Baguio, stay at the Manor, the grandest and prettiest hotel there. Unfortunately, I had never tried a meal there, but I love the dessert, nitecap, and pastries! You should make it a point to try their famous cheesecake (i prefer the strawberry toppings) at their bakery. Oh you should also buy loaves of bread there instead of going to Baguio Country Club. The Manor Bakery is famous for its Banana bread, Ensyamada (this I can vouch for), Raisin Bread, and Almond Cake.

Go ahead and have a nitecap at the Manor. They have a live band every nite, beautiful surroundings, and yummy pulutan. My favorite is their Taro Chips basket, very healthy and yummy!

When in Baguio, make the trip worth it by eating to your stomach's delight! And bring home a lot of pasalubong - Strawberry/ Ube Jams, Peanut Brittle, Choco Flakes, Lengua, Oat Flakes, Raisin Bread! And don't forget the walis ting-ting, hehe :)

The Miraculous (and Mysterious) Lady of Manaoag

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:35:00 +0000

Thanks to my wonderful friends who give me constant spiritual growth (among other things, of course), we make a trek to Our Lady of Manaoag Parish in Pangasinan. My friends have been believers, so we make it a point to visit her most holy statue en route to Baguio, where we would be spending our long weekend - more stories on that next time.

According to my friends, Our Lady of Manaoag is very famous for answering all sorts of petitions and pleas. I was surprised to see that this off-road parish had a lot of devotees. The Church is probably as big as the one in Baclaran, and it was packed to the rafters. Apparently, I am one of the few people who have not heard about Her miraculous powers.

We say a prayer while looking at the shrine, which is perched high up in the parish altar. I am surprised to find out later on that the glass is bulletproof and security is heavy as there were a lot of attempted burglaries in the past. Her statue was created some 400 years ago, but it is very well-preserved, and i got goosebumps just by looking at Her.

We queue up by the side of the parish to be able to touch Her garment. This queue takes us up to the second floor where we can touch her clothing behind the blue curtains. It works this way - you drop a petition letter (state your most fervent wishes and needs), you drop it at the box in the second floor, then say a prayer, then touch Her garment. We also light candles afterwards for extra-strength :)

I am personally mystified by the sheer number of devotees, so I made it a point to check the internet for history behind her miracles. Legend has it that she appeared to a man one day and asked to build a shrine where she appeared in Her honor. On why she is very famous for granting petitions, it is still a mystery to me. If you have the chance to go there, check out the murals - it contains the long history of miraculous events that transpired in Her grace.

My friends and a lot of people they know swear by Her powers, so I am pretty happy that I got the chance to meet Her in person. One thing is for sure, I do believe in the power of prayers and miracles, no matter how mysterious it seems.

check their website here.

Izakaya Nihonbashitei Steak

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 13:12:00 +0000

Another frequently blogged resto that I just had to try out. To the Makati and South people, this is the very brightly lit place just before you proceed to the Skyway entrance in Arnaiz Road. There are a whole lot of restos around this area, but this one just stands out thanks to the bright signs and the perpetually full parking lot.

There are actually 2 restos - the first floor is Nihonbashi Tei, which has the traditional Japanese fare, and the second floor is the Nihonbashitei Steak, which features steak cooked in the Teppanyaki (grilled) way. It's simply strange as to why they do not allow you to mix and match your orders with the 2 floors, but policy is as such. I've tried both restos, and I can say that I now know why the place is full all the time - delicious, and good value considering that their food is imported from Japan.

I ate in the steak teppanyaki place, and I was thoroughly impressed by the size and cleanliness and sleekness of the surroundings:

The menu was very limited, they only offer 2 types of steak (CAB and Wagyu) for teppanyaki cooking. They also offer ala carte such as rice toppings and okonomiyaki (japanese pizza). It's a bit of a letdown that the menu has limited selections, but I guess the rest of the fare is at the first floor! Here's a snapshot of the menu:

We settled for a cookfest right before our eyes. Watch:

Cook prepares to cook (duh). Slight exhibition on the pepper grinder ala bartender style.

Curry Chahan Rice (Php 120) is cooked, but I forgot to take pictures.

US Certified Angus Beef (200g) is worth Php 500, but the smell coming from the grill makes you realize that it's worth it.

Cooked medium with a tender pink center - yum!

Shrimp teppanyaki is priced at Php 220, kinda expensive at Php 70 per piece! But, it was undeniably delicious.

It's always a nice experience to see food cooked before your eyes as you get to savor the aroma of mixing ingriedients together in the heat. You will smell like smoke afterwards, but the food more than compensates for the smelly clothes and hair. And oh, on that note, I think this resto has good ventilation so you won't smell that much :)

Mid-Year Update

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:00:00 +0000

Can you believe that we're already in the latter half of 2008? Time does pass by very quickly, and I feel quite disappointed that I haven't been able to accomplish any of my eight goals for 2008. Sigh, I might have to list down those dreams for another year.

I just recently came from a week-long trip in Boracay, and I had the chance to think things over and change my strategy for the rest of the year. With the rising fuel and commodity prices, it doesn't seem very wise to spend on big things. Despite that setback, I am still determined to make this year a year of fun and enjoyment.

My new resolution is simple - eat in a new and yummy resto, travel to some place near or far, and read a good book - one for each month. I also walked along memory lane, and it turns out that I have sub-conciously fulfilled my resolution in the first half of the year without knowing it. Ahh, to be able to enjoy and indulge in these small pleasures has been quite a treat for me, and these are stuff that keeps me from breaking down. It's a good thing that I was able to blog about most of these, so take a look at my personal best of the best this 1st half of the year:

January
Travel: Bohol , Philippines
Resto: Bistro Filipino by Chef Laudico
Book: Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion - Wong's gift :)

February
Travel: Bangkok, Thailand
Resto: Madison Grill, Trinoma
Book: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert - I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially for the travelers and those wid quarter-life crisis, both of which I am

March
Travel: none :(
Resto: Angels Kitchen, Greenhills and Ruby Tuesday, Trinoma
Book: Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella

April
Travel: Calatagan Beach and Lago de Oro Wakeboarding
Resto: Choi Garden, Annapolis
Book: New Moon by Stephenie Meyer - sequel to Twilight

May
Travel: Virgin Beach Resort, San Juan, Laiya, Batangas and Pampanga
Resto: Tokyo Bubble Tea, Megamall and Everybody's Cafe, Pampanga
Book: Gossip Girl on TV (OK, its not a book, but it surely kept me in another world for a time, same effect that books have on me)

June
Travel: Bangkok/ Ayutthaya, Thailand and Singapore
Resto: Somboon Seafood, Bangkok, Thailand
Book: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini - this book made me realize how lucky I am to be a woman living in a world with equal rights and opportunities (most of the time :))

I hope you're having a great year so far, and if it's not that great, do what I do... focus on the small things that bring sublime pleasure du jour! :)

Bangkok Restos: Where to Eat in Bangkok 2

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:32:00 +0000

I always tell people that every meal I've eaten in Bangok is simply delicious, and this trip surely didn't disappoint! I've shared my inital list of must-visit Bangkok restos, and here are 2 additional entries:

Cabbages and Condoms

Extremely witty name, but there is actually a very good reason on why it is named as such. It was created by Thailand's Population Control Authority in an effort to educate people on family planning, and at the same time, generate income for their various programs. And mind you, the food was extremely delicious. But we'll get to that.

The resto interiors were such a treat! There were lots of hilarious posters on family planning and AIDS awareness, and there is a souvenir shop selling god-knows-what. But what really caught my eye were the colorful condoms that were strewn everywhere! Take for example, statues made out of condoms and tables colorfully designed with condoms:

When you get over the initial shock of those plastic things, you will come to realize that C&C has such a lovely garden setting. Since it was a bit hot, I decided to stick to the air-conditioned area.

The food made my visit worthwhile. Like most Bangkok restos, food was reasonable as it was priced at Bht 150-250 per dish. Note the condoms being used as tablecloth, hehe.

Crispy Duck Salad - a real winner. Thai salads are really so fab.

Shrimps in Coconut Sauce - yummy and unique.

Chicken Pandan - my first time to eat chicken pandan in its native land, and it didn't disappoint!

It was unfortunate that I could not try all their dishes as I'm sure it would have tasted great. See more of their menu and resto details (it's somewhere in Sukhmuvit) here. Again, I suggest you print out the address in Thai so a taxi driver can easily take you there.

Lastly, they will always say, "Our food is guaranteed not to make you pregnant". Amen to that!

Somboon Seafood

A lot of people happen to think that this is THE ultimate must-try resto in BKK. With that, I have to agree. I ate here on my first visit to BKK back when I was little, and coming back here after all these years and finding that the food tastes justs as great is motivation enough for me to recommend it to you.

It is so popular in fact, that HRH The King is said to frequently dine here. Another proof is that when I visited here last year, we asked the taxi driver to take us here, and he led us to a fake Somboon Seafood resto, which really aims to dupe tourists. Truly, imitation is the highest form of flattery.

I could strangle myself for accidentally deleting the pictures of the food, so you just have to believe me when I say that you should order their Curry Crab. It's actually not that curried and spicy. It's just crab topped with a lot of scambled egg, with a mix of cream and chili oil, and it is a certified winner. It's one of those dishes that will give you a blackout afterwards. Aside from that, you should order their tiger prawns, and just about anything is delicious.

Somboon Seafood serves Thai-Chinese food, specializing in seafood. It has 4 branches around Bangkok, and you should go to their website to see more info. Remember, don't go to the fake Somboon!

Ayutthaya, Thailand - Part 2

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Continued from Ayutthaya, Thailand - Part 1:

Vihara Phra Mongkon Bophit

This temple houses a large buddha bronze image which devotees still patronize to this very day. I would too as this buddha represent luck and success in career, and gosh, do I need lots of that!

Wat Lokayasutharam (with the large reclining buddha)

Unfortunately, there are no details on how this statue came about. Although it is not glamorous nor delicate, its sheer size made it a joy to look at.

boy, did i have a hard time taking this shot!

for your perspective, I am only one foot tall! :)

Chao Phraya River Cruise

After the very tiring morning, we proceeded to board a cruise ship that would take us back to Bangkok. It was a mostly uneventful but much needed relaxing ride down Bangkok's lifeline. There were plenty of temples by the river side, although they didn't look too spectacular as slight rains made the atmosphere quite gloomy.

Our river cruise back to Bangkok took us around 2+ hours. After a very filling thai style buffet, I was ready to drift off to sleep. Good thing that I still woke up and managed to take some more pics :)

If you're not going to Ayutthaya, then I suggest for you to take a night cruise down the Chao Phraya river. Although I've never tried, I imagine that the river side and the temples would look pretty with glittering lights.

You could have probably guessed by the way I write that I really loved my Ayutthaya experience. I would recommend it to people who have at least 4 days in Bangkok, and I think this is good use of leisure time as compared to those animal adventures. If you are going here on a budget or if you want to go on your own leisurely pace, I think it's highly possible to go there via public buses and navigate it by yourself, which should not be too hard. There are a lot more nice places to see here, and you can refer to Wikitravel for their excellent guide on Auytthaya. I wish that I was able to cover at least half of the places, but time did not permit it. Lastly, make sure you bring a camera. Anywhere you point and shoot is such a scenic shot.

Ayutthaya, Thailand - Part 1

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:44:00 +0000

During my Bangkok vacation, I suddenly decided to take a tour to Ayutthaya, which was Thailand's former capital. It is an area with numerous ruined temples and buddha statues, with the usual tourist attractions like parks and elephant rides. It stands today as a grand splendor of ruins, it stands as a major tourist attraction and as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Come to think of it, I think this is my first time to visit a UNESCO Heritage Site, and boy, was I impressed. :)

Getting there is quite easy as it is only around 80km from Bangkok. I initially contemplated on taking a public bus there and renting a bike to navigate around the area, but the idea of biking and getting lost in the heat made me think twice. Instead, I just took the easy way in by joining a cruise that takes you by coach to Ayutthaya, tours you around the place. Going back, you take the famed Chao Phraya cruise to Bangkok and a buffet lunch is served. Yup, for Bht 1,600, I thought it was a pretty good deal. This post details my mini-adventure by spot.

Bang Pa-In Palace (Summer Palace)
The Summer Palace is our first stop, and it boasts of a European/ Asian style palace architecture that is of old world grandeur. It is delightfully clean and well-maintained and although there was nothing spectacular about it, it was nice to stroll along the beautiful gardens. Here are some pictures of the monumental landmarks:

Divine Seat of Personal Freedom

Sages Lookout

Royal Residences - like a Swiss Chalet

Wat Phra Mahathat

This ancient temple is simply magical. It has rows of headless buddhas, whose heads are said to have been stolen by foreigners who visited the area a long time ago. Even though most of the statues have been defaced, locals still pay respect by dressing up the buddhas.

More importantly, Wat Phra Mahathat houses the enigmatic and stirring image of a buddha head wrapped in the tree trunks:

Wat Phra Si Sanphet
This is the largest temple in Ayutthaya, famous for the row of chedis (I don't know the translation) which are shaped like ancient bells and looks absolutely stunning up close.

very Lord-of-the-Rings huh?

It wasn't easy to climb up to the top of the stairs! I dont think it was meant for picture taking :)

I loved the feel of these two old temples, which made me feel like I was watching some Lara Croft meets LOTR. It was really a lot of fun to see the amazing brick structures and whatever is left of it. I departed from Bangkok at around 7AM and by this time, I am almost done in Ayutthaya and about to sail back to BKK. Stay tuned to Part 2.

Purple Feet by Wine Depot

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:05:00 +0000

It took me quite a while to realize why the Wine Depot's Restaurant is called Purple Feet. Oh then I thought, it's in honor of the traditional process of fermenting wine by stomping on grapes using the feet. Cute :)

Walking in to this establishment, the first thing I noticed is their open air picture box garden out in the back. I regret that I wasn't able to take a picture to show you, but it's quaint and charming, perfect ambiance for a cozy little dinner.

The second thing I noticed and what really surprised me was that there are no menus on hand. They do have a blackboard with some stuff written on it like such (see pic). Basically, you have 3 choices -[1] to go with their own recipes, [2] to choose the meat or seafood that you want and specify how you want it to be cooked, or [3] take their recommended dishes and pair it along with their recommended wines.

I decided to go with their own recipes, which is thte style they recommend for neophytes anyway. This is a great way for me to gauge how well they can cook. Also, being the boring person that I am, I cannot imagine giving instructions to how I want my meat to be cooked, I might end up asking for Adobo or Liempo, haha. Here's what I got:

Cream of Broccoli (Php 200+) - I personally loved it as it was so flavorful. I guess it was a bit too thick though as my throat had a hard time swallowing it.

Rib Fingers (Php 500) - Like what they promised, I had a "falling-off-the-bone-" rib experience. I think this was a winner.

Roast Lamb with Rice Pilaf (php 600+) - Unfortunately, the lamb was a bit overcooked so thte burt flavor overpowered the lamb taste. If the meat was less cooked, I imagine it would have been perfect with the pilaf.

The last thing I noticed is that this place does not serve service water. They only have mineral water, which doesn't come cheap as it's some italian brand. I guess similar to European restaurants, they really encourage you to drink wine with meals. Just right I guess, after all, the diners are inside a Wine Depot! I would have wished for some wine tasting or wine education to help compliment what I ordered. Sadly, I did not find the waiters to be that friendly.

I have heard a lot of raves about this place, and I guess it is worth a try. It is best to go with a wine or food connoisseur to help guide you in the right direction. Being neither, I did not have such a grand time with my orders, but the novelty of the place was worth the visit.

Visit Wine Depot and Purple Feet at 217 Nicanor Garcia St, Makati City. Tel 02-8973220.

P.S. I know i'm supposed to write about my vacation already, so I hope to find time within the week to do it :)

Clawdaddy Crab House, Serendra

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 12:29:00 +0000

Who's your DADDDYYYY???? :)

Clawdaddy was created by the same owners of Red Crab and New Orleans (just next door in the Serendra branch so you can cross-order). They specialize in seafood, especially crabs, and they mostly cook it in an American way, but they also offer some Asian fares.

This is definitely the place for you if you love seafood and if you're willing to pay the extra few bucks for the nice ambiance and clean surroundings that Dampa cannot offer. I personally enjoyed the food, and I wouldn't mind coming back.

Crab and Lobster Boil Php 1100 - a seafood feast served with a pitcher of Lemonade/ Ice Tea with Watermelon Slices for dessert. I think this is great value already, there were 3 pieces od lobsrters, 1 small crab, soome prawns, and a couple of crustaceans, with potatoes and corn, best dipped with butter sauce.

Smoked Salmon Salad with Passion Fruit Vinaigrette Php 330 - this is ok, quite a big serving for a Serendra resto. Yummy salmon, fresh veggies, but I wish there were more fruits in the salad.

See more of the Clawdaddy menu at munchpunch.com, but prices have gone up a bit already.

By the way, I'm taking a semi-long vacation in the coming week, so my posts will be around 2 weeks late, so I hope you stick around until then. XOXO! :)

Lovin Pampanga: Everybody's Cafe and Mely's Sisig

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 11:44:00 +0000

I know I've been a delinquent blogger, but the past few weeks had me so caught up with so many mini-vacations, trying to maximize what's left of the summer break. Too bad it kept on raining for every weekend in May :( Note to self, plan vacations earlier.

I've had the chance to go back to Pampanga after a long time. I always hear of culinary treats here, so I made it a point to try famous places around the area.

Everybody's Place, San Fernando, Pampanga

Let me just say that this place brought about excited happiness in me. They serve the food in turo-turo style, so the "cafe" in the name is actually unappropriate. What's more surprising is they serve unusual food, from carabao to deer to crickets and frogs, so definitely, the "Everybody" in the name is also misleading.

I strongly encourage you to try the exotic food in the menu, I loved almost everything! Let the pictures speak for itself:

Betute (Fried Stuffed Frog) Php 60 - looks a bit scary, but tastes like meatballs and fried chicken

Dinuguan Php 120 - really loved the Pampangan take of Dinuguan, a watery consistency with solid pork's blood, and very spicy (or is it because I mashed the sili?)

Fried Hito (Catfish) with Mustasa Sauce Php 120+ - this is my personal fave. The fish was fried excellently, crispy outside but tender inside. The Mustasa sauce was just in another level of its own, super duper yummy.

Fried Camaru (Crickets) Php 170 - It looks really scary, very Fear Factor-ish. I'm not a real fan of this dish, but it tastes OK, like fried chicharon, only a bit juicier. Hehe, did I manage to gross you out? :)

Morcon php 80 - My friends really loved this dish. I like it too, but I ate so much that I lost my taste buds from the various dishes.

My verdict of Everybody's Place is that everybody should try it! :)
Address: Del Pilar, MacArthur Highway, San Fernando, Pampanga(045) 8601121, 9617121

Mely's Sisig, San Fernando, Pampanga

From what I'm told, this simple carinderia is an institution in that area. And why shouldn't it be? It must have been the yummiest carienderia I have ever dined in. They cook the sisig in a very deep wok that already has crystallized meat and fat from all the years of use, making the sisig extremely delicious.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me show you some pictures to prove how yummy it can be:

Sisig Php 100+ - Simple lang, but talagang masarap.

Crispy Tenga (Pork's Ears) Php 80+ - I love eating pork ears, and this is the crispiest I've ever tasted. A must-try!

Pinaputok na Isda (Grilled Fish) Php 100+ - For me, this is a real winner, it was piping hot and the fish meat was very tender and tasty.

Anotther must-try is their Chicken Ass (forgot the pinoy name), they serve three asses on a stick, and let me tell you, it was extremely delicious.

Mely's Sisig is located along Mc Arthur's highway, opposite the big Party Place. There is no sign, so just keep your eyes peeled for a simple wooden structure piping with charcoal smoke.

Virgin Beach Resort, Laiya, San Juan, Batangas

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 11 May 2008 14:08:00 +0000

Just this Saturday, my friends took a road trip to Virgin Beach Report in Laiya, Batangas. We got interested in it as it is reputedly the best beach (and maybe most expensive) in Batangas. What we didn't anticipate was the unexpectedly long trip down to Laiya, no thanks to crazy traffic in SLEX, Laguna to get to STAR Tollway, and Lipa, so the 2.5hr trip became a 4-hour trip, which took up most of our day. Note to self - dont travel in SLEX until it's fixed.

It was also a trip of unfortunate mishaps, but when you're with really good friends, you just laugh about it, right? :) We rented a Bed Parasol (Php 1200) which was actually a small bahay-kubo like structure facing the beach (see pic below). Being an all-girls group, our top requirement is a clean restroom, and we thought given the prices of this place that theirs would be well-maintained. To our dismay, the CR was really terrible - dim lights, toilets with no flush, and smelly at that! Sad. After we braved it, it began to rain very hard, so we said goodbye to swimming till after lunch.

Our lunch was a compulsory set meal that was priced at Php 650. Included in the set was a forgettable beet salad, a Knorr-based Cream of Asparagus, a small serving of Seafood Thermidore, and a surpringly delicious dessert of Banana Fritters.

The rain poured again after lunch, so we grabbed the chance to head to the beach right after it stopped raining. We immediately loved the beautiful beach front and horizon, and the clear waters, which was a bit warm because of the thunderstorms(?). The sand was a bit rough, not powder-fine, but really very clean. We finally had to quit our beach-lovin fun when we noticed that the water was full of the most dreaded animal in the beach, the stinging jellyfish. My friend Wong got stung by the evil JFs thrice, so we made the dash back to our bed parasols and spent the rest of the day reading magazines (which was arguably the highlight of our trip =)).

We headed back to another 4-hr trip back to Manila, which became 5 hours due to heavy downpour. It was also sad that we didn't pass by any nice place to eat, so we ended up eating at Rose and Grace, which was also where we ate for breakfast.

Overall, I loved the beach and I have to concur that it is one of the best beaches near Manila sans the JFs. I just wish that the food was better, like they could make it a buffet so it would satisfy hungy guests. They could also provide towels as we had to bring our own. They really have to fix the CR, I'm having serious doubts with this place just because of that. Lastly, I wish that they wouldn't charge corkage for bringing snacks.

Tokyo Bubble Tea

tanyalim@gmail.com (tanya) — Sun, 11 May 2008 13:34:00 +0000

I just had a very satisfying meal at Tokyo Bubble Tea in Megamall =)

First off, let me say that I'm strongly biased about this place because I love love loveee milktea to death. I crave for this drink every single day, but since not too many places serve this and I am under a strict diet, I really try not to submit to my milktea addiction. My favorite milktea places are Ersao in Banawe, Chowking's Nai Cha (but ask them to take it easy on the syrup), Banana Leaf's Tea Tarik, and Quickly milktea (although I think it's being served in select stalls).

It just so happens that Tokyo Bubble Tea's best-selling drink is the Royal Milk Tea (Php 85 for a large size). After trying their version, it tops my favorite list by a mile! The milk tea is not-too-sweet the way I like it, a bit frothy, and quite thick so you're sure it wasn't watered down. It tastes very fresh, like it was just brewed. And the best part of it was the boba pearls (sago) that had various sizes, so it was really cute! I tried it with Egg Pudding since I was a first-timer, but I like it better without because it can get a bit too filling in the tummy.

To compliment my drink, I got a glorious meal for one by ordering their Hamburg Steak (Php 185), which came with a sunny side up. Loved every bite of it. They have Jap style food, so think spankin' clean food presentation, cute white plates and utensils, and colorful food.

See their menu by clicking pic below:

My only gripe is that the drink is a bit too expensive for a merienda or satisfying my quick fix. It's still cheaper than starbucks I know, but then I just wish it was around the Php 50-60 price range. Oh, and another request, will you pleasssseee open lots of branches aside from North Edsa and Megall? Try Glorietta or MOA so I can visit you every day and you can see me get fat with your milktea :)

Contact them at 02-6387949.