Yaya, where's my tsinelas?

It's more fun in the Philippines! [New DOT slogan]

2012-01-06T11:11:00.001+08:00

The unveiling of the new Department of Tourism (DOT) campaign slogan was met with much enthusiasm that even days before, people had already been making their own guesses as to what the brand would be like.

I've always been fond of traveling, and have met so many different people, culture, and points of view but none would compare to those of my homeland.

Here in the Philippines, it's the people that make every experience worthwhile. To have such awesome places to go to wouldn't be enough without the fun-loving, hospitable, and charming people of the Philippines. Kudos to all Filipinos who go the extra mile to making every travel experience of our guests a journey, an adventure.

The new DOT Slogan. And I must say, Falling in love is indeed more fun in the Philippines!

Congratulations, Department of Tourism!

Starbucks Voucher Pack Contest [FINISHED] w/ Name of Winners

2012-01-04T16:08:00.003+08:00

If you're feeling lucky, join this ~~raffle~~ contest and you might just win a Starbucks voucher pack. Treat yourself and four (4) of your friends to TALL size handcrafted Starbucks beverages of your choice, complete with one add on.

Two lucky winners will receive a voucher pack each (5 vouchers to treat yourself and your friends with).

Mechanics:

1. Describe your group of friends/barkada using a Starbucks drink and explain why. Use this formula: (Tall/Venti/Grande) + (Name of Drink) + (Reason). (Ex. My friends and I, we're comparable to a cup of Grande Almond Green Tea Frappuccino because we're a perfect mix of green minds...Oh! And we love staying indoors where it's always cooler)
2. Post your contest entry as a comment to this post.

3. Two of the best entries will win. Announcement will be on January 11, 2012.

4. Family members and relatives of Lost Tsinelas cannot join this contest.

5. Deadline of submission of entries is at exactly 3PM, January 10, 2012.

Only one entry per person is allowed.
DO NOT FORGET TO LEAVE YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS IF YOU'D BE LEAVING A COMMENT ANONYMOUSLY (no Blogger profile).

-----------------------------------

Congratulations to Jagger and Cheryl Ann Reyes. Please check your e-mails shortly.

The JanSport DLSU Centennial Bag

2011-12-28T14:41:00.001+08:00

It's been years since I last got myself a LaSallian apparel. I remember purchasing a large La Salle shirt back in college just because I needed something to change into after PEDANCE. But aside from that, I don't recall buying anything else.

So about a week ago, I saw a post on the De La Salle University Facebook page about a new set of bags by JanSport, the JanSport DLSU Centennial Bag series.

That very moment, I called the number on the ad to place an order. I was asked of my affiliation to DLSU so I would suppose they're trying to keep the sales within the LaSallian community, given that the bag was designed to celebrate La Salle's first 100 years. Instead of going to the DLSU campus to get one, I simply called Bratpack Robinsons Manila (536-7973) and had a bag reserved. Note: Not all colors are available at the same time. Supplies are limited and you might want to call in advance to check color availability or to reserve. Students, alumni, faculty, and other DLSU employees are advised to bring their La Salle ID with them when claiming their orders.

Go Green!
A JanSport DLSU Centennial Bag costs Php 2,490 and comes in green, black, and white.
I chose green of course.

The JanSport DLSU Centennial Bag was developed through the partnership between JanSport and the DLSU Strategic Communications Office (STRATCOM), and can only be purchased from Bratpack's Robinsons Manila and Greenbelt 5 branches, as well as from DLSU's Strategic Communications Office (see image above for exact location).

The official launching of the JanSport DLSU Centennial Bag took place last December 16, 2011 at the DLSU campus, conveniently scheduled for the Animo Christmas Celebration.

FYI: Starbucks tip boxes are now donation boxes for Sendong victims

2011-12-21T14:48:00.001+08:00

Friends who frequent Starbucks, please share what you can with our brothers and sisters who suffered much from the recent calamity caused by Typhoon Sendong. Starbucks Philippines will commit all of their branches' tip boxes as donation boxes starting from December 19 to 25.

If you can, please share this news to your friends who might be visiting Starbucks from today up to the 25th.

Dropping your change from a purchase or spare coins can and will go a long way. Also, feel free to ask any Starbucks partner/barista for more information.

link for your reference: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150629332712925&set=a.10150114103177925.331162.225073057924&type=1&theater

Serenitea JUMBO cups! [2011]

2011-12-20T14:29:00.001+08:00

Just came back from Robinsons Manila and ordered a cup of Serenitea's Wintermelon Milk Tea. However, December is anniversary month for Serenitea and now on its third year, they extended the free upsizing of Large drinks into Jumbo sized ones.

The promo started yesterday, December 19 and will be available till tomorrow, December 21st!

Go to your nearest Serenitea branch! Dali! Christmas is not complete without Serenitea! :)

Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe (新旺香港茶餐厅), SM Mall of Asia

2011-12-18T16:12:00.002+08:00

Recently, much has been said about the newly opened Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe and believe me, I've heard nothing but stellar comments about it. So last night, I decided to drop by and give it a shot to finally replace the question mark with a period.

Front of restaurant. (Used my mobile phone to take photos. Sorry for the quality.)

Now, I'll be fair with this review and I really have to emphasize that I will be nothing else but that as what may come out here can be a bit saddening to those who were as excited as myself in dining at this new food establishment, given the almost unanimous praises I've been hearing. And as with other food places, there are pros and cons that need mentioning for Xin Wang.

Interiors

I'm a fan of minimalistic designs in any indoor setting. I've seen houses, rooms, kitchens, hotels, restaurants, you name it! I really liked how Xin Wang looks inside, combining earthy implements such as clean/bright for wooden panels reminiscent of parasoleils, comfy simple chairs and benches, with a good wall contrast featuring fancy cartoon art, etc.

Really spacious--and clean!

If I were to judge by the look of the place alone, I'd be spent! I love how it looks inside, and how the ambiance even more. New establishments should take Xin Wang as an example of clean, unpretentious aesthetics.

Service

Sometimes it's not really the price of the food that people are particular about, rather, it's the quality of service. I went to Xin Wang to dine as any regular customer would: not expecting special treatment, not presenting myself as a person who had intentions of commenting on their food/place, not even as a person who was celebrating his birthday (or whatever special occasion for that matter). And yet, when I entered the place, I was greeted with smiles from the busy attendants (sounds much better than waiters, don't you think?) who were still preoccupied at the time. Now, that's something you rarely see even in newly opened businesses.

I was ushered to a table, for one, though I could've easily proceeded on my own. Menu was given, and I was served water while deciding on what to order. The staff at Xin Wang exuded courtesy the whole time I was there. They were very attentive and were more than willing to engage in a conversation with me and other customers.

There may have been a few delays after calling out to two attendants but to take into account the size of the place and all the other customers they were attending to, I'd say they did their best to keep up.

But really, what's priceless is the rapport between the staff and the customers. Made me smile. So, to the owners of Xin Wang, be good to your people, they're gems! :)

Food

Siew Mai, HK Steamed Mushroom Chicken Bamboo Rice, and Hot Ying yong.

Ah, the food! I've read in other sites that they were given good servings relative to the cost of the dishes on the menu. I ordered the HK Steamed Mushroom Chicken Bamboo Rice (Php 195.00), a steamer's worth of Siew Mai - 4 pcs. (Php 95.00), and the popular Hot Ying Yong drink (Php 70.00).

I'm very much familiar with many bamboo rice variants and since I didn't know exactly what to get, I asked for their best seller. When the food arrived, I was surprised that for Php 195, the container was almost devoid of toppings. I have had authentic bamboo rice before which had bigger bamboo tubs/buckets, with toppings full to the brim, that cost somewhere between 10 RMB and 25 RMB (1 RMB = Php 6.9). I expected more from the dish after seeing a relatively generous serving in the photo shown in the menu. It's a best seller, costs Php 195, and the place is new. I guess I shouldn't have expected too much.

Disappointment was at an all time high, given that I had to budget the portions to fully finish the meal. I had about three thin slices of chicken, and two short stalks of 白菜. Now, where's all the fun in that? The rice wasn't really that special, except for the fragrance that went with it as you stuff bunches of it inside your mouth. But again, after eating authentic bamboo rice, it would take more than just fragrance to please me. Oh, and the really small serving didn't help.

The dimsum was a different story. I loved the siew mai and actually didn't want to finish all four pieces so that I can enjoy the food longer. The wrapping was perfect, the stuffing was juicy, and the flavor was divine. I originally hoped to try their hakao but since I got there late in the evening, I was told that they ran out of it. :( Nonetheless, I loved what I got instead.

The drink was okay. It's not something I'd dream to drink everyday though. Maybe it gets better the more you drink it? As a hot drink, it was alright. Could've used a bit more sweetness but I'm fine with drinks that aren't too sweet.

Overall, I'd say I'm satisfied with Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe (新旺香港茶餐厅). What really made the experience worthwhile was the people. I'm sure there are other dishes to try but for last night, I tried only two.

They say that there's no such thing as a difference in food quality for a place that sets a standard for its dishes. While we always seek for the best sellers, we fail to consider that maybe other dishes are just as good or bad as the popular dishes. Sometimes it's because of this expectation that make our dining experience far from satisfactory (cough). Maybe instead of ordering the best seller, I'll try ordering dishes less ordered next time :)

Xin Wang, we're not over yet! I shall see you again soon, hopefully to finally try your shrimp dumplings.

Theft at Fitness First

2011-12-17T13:14:00.000+08:00

Ever wondered if people ever care about what things you bring with you to the gym? At first, I didn't. I never bothered looking at people whenever I go to Fitness First for my workout but ever since two incidents, I just can't help but wonder what's going on inside other gym goers' heads.

You see, I've experienced instances of theft: the first arguably was lucky for the guy who took my gadget, and the second one was a result of my unconditional trust in other people.

First Incident

It was 6 PM, a Saturday. Friends who know me would've seen me walking around a few months ago with a huge headset wrapped around my head or neck. That was my Bluetooth Headset, a PHILIPS that's easily fairly priced for its quality. It came with a built-in mic for when I had to answer calls while my phone was stuck somewhere inside my bag or pockets.

I always used it when I worked out at the gym. For that one time, I was in a rush and I didn't hear my headset dropping right in front of my locker, just before I locked it. Oops! Clumsiness on my end. But you see, I was in the lockers with several other guys, near me and looking. No one told me that they saw it fall. Right before I was out of the locker room, I realized I didn't have my headset with me so I had to go back.

It didn't even take two minutes, or maybe wasn't even a minute but when I got back, everything looked normal. No dropped headset on the floor, and all the other guys were still there. I rummaged through my things inside the locker and found that it wasn't there. So I started to panic.

I went to the front desk to report what happened and that was when one of the guys who were in the locker room approached me, saying that he actually saw it fall and actually thought that I knew it fell so he didn't bother. He also told me that one of the guys picked it up and thought that the guy was going to give it to me...Which never happened.

A day after, I went to Starbucks and was still far from over the matter. You see, not too many people buy the PHILIPS headset simply because...it's not really that popular and nobody really buys a bulky headset with a mic. It was then that I noticed a headset very similar to mine and lo and behold, one of the guys who was there at the locker room with me was wearing it. My blood boiled and was a snap away from rushing towards the Middle Eastern guy. I was with friends at the time and they talked me out of giving the guy a 1-2 combination. They said he's from the M.E. so he probably has the money to buy one, but I told them that if I can only go and check the headset for its serial number, I can know if it's mine or not. Plus, I was familiar with the scratches on my headset so it'd be twice as easy to verify its ownership. But believe me, it would've also been scary to approach him as the guy is four to five times my size (mass). If he wanted, he could've easily given me a body slam.

The headset was VERY ill-matched to his REALLY huge head. Almost seemed like it was going to break any moment. He kept looking at me though. Then moments later, he sped off. That was the last time I saw that guy.

Second Incident

Now, the second incident is still fresh. It happened yesterday (December 16) at Fitness First Manila. Whenever I hit the sauna or the steam area, I always leave my towel, soap/wash, and key in a wrap on the bench and have never had any problem with my doing so. I always made sure that no one would ever consider touching my things as they look like they were prepared to sit on that spot and untouched. I never wanted to bring my key with me because for the first few times I hand carried it, the safety pin didn't regard my safety as I always got pricked by the tip that never locked properly on its holder. So yesterday, I did what I always did and placed everything inside the towel, rolled it into a long wooly loaf and left it at the corner of the bench, right next to the wall.

For some strange reason, there was a guy who kept looking at me and was also avoiding my path. I found it really strange as I didn't even have any intention of bumping elbows with him. He hurried out of the wet area and lockers after that. I was about to take a shower when I noticed that my towel was unfurled and that the roll was no more. I panicked because when I checked the contents, my key was no longer there. I had to rush straight to my locker door and saw it was still locked, key not in the slot. It only means whoever got my key would still have it in his possession. I worried about what was inside since yesterday was a Friday, and most of my gadgets, wallet, and passport were inside. I couldn't go out of the locker room simply because the closest to clothing that I had was my underwear and a bath towel, and the closest gym attendant was probably somewhere on the lower floor. Had to ask another gym member to call for one.

I was asked to fill out a form, required to pay Php 500 for the loss, and was given a spare key to check the locker. Luckily, everything was still inside so I transferred them to another locker, just in case the thief tries to open my old locker. I didn't see the agitated and evasive guy the whole time I was at the gym, at least not since he went darting out of the locker area.

Gym members, be careful!

An Afternoon at the Beijing Zoo (北京动物园)

2011-12-14T15:55:00.004+08:00

The Beijing Zoo (北京动物园) is probably only the fourth zoo that I have been to in my life. The first one was Manila Zoo when I was still a toddler, then Malabon Zoo, and I'm not sure if the third visit was of a series of zoos owned by one group in Subic. Zoocobia? I have been traveling to different destinations but truth be told, I was never a fan of seeing zoos simply because I am against keeping animals in captivity. But for my most recent visit to Beijing, I had to give in after seeing a portion of the map I was using marked with two pandas feasting on bamboos. So I, together with my family, took a bus and got off at the Beijing Zoo (the last stop of bus 658 if I remember correctly).

The Beijing Zoo is in the Xicheng District of Beijing, conveniently located near a general bus terminal that serves commuters who wish to go to just about any part of the city. It occupies 89 hectares, of which certain parts are devoted to water spots such as lakes and ponds. The Zoo also has its own aquarium, but we opted not to go in anymore as we were pressed for time.

The usual route leads one into the Giant Panda section where there are, well, pandas. But while the common image that comes to mind when the word 'panda' is mentioned is that of a bear of black and white fur, there is also a different group known as lesser pandas, red and brown like a fox but with the form of a raccoon. The main reason why I was eager to go to the Beijing Zoo was because of the black and white variety. Giant pandas are just so adorable! (I would upload a video if I could)

From the Giant Panda section, the route can go a counter-clockwise path to the pheasants, then to the monkeys, wolves, etc.

犀牛河马馆/Rhino and Hippopotamus Building

He sure was one shy hippo. Never looked the whole time!

We started at about 2:00 PM and by 6:00 PM, the zoo's official closing time, we have yet to visit other sections. The last we were able to visit was the Hippopotamus and Rhino building, where we saw an adult and baby hippo swimming in their indoor habitat. I had mixed feelings when I saw the interiors of the building. Sure, I was able to see the animals but I can imagine the place during peak season. There was a small arcade, lots of dining tables in the middle of the chamber whose walls were lined with stores selling different kinds of things. They could've done better than to house the animals in a mixed use building. I can only hope that the resident hippos and rhinos don't mind all the noise.

If I were to comment on my experience from my only visit to the Beijing Zoo, I'd say I'm a bit disappointed. There were lots of enclosures reserved for animals alright but if my estimates are correct, I believe a good 20% to 25% of them are either empty or needs redesigning. The compound reminds me of parks in China where there is just too much space. What's good to know about the condition of the animals at the zoo though is that most of the bigger animals have extra outdoor space, aside from their indoor enclosures. This I was able to see myself after passing by the Giant Panda, Hippo/Rhino, and Elephant sections.Also, the animals at the zoo seem to be relatively healthy.

If you wish to visit the Beijing Zoo, you have several options:

By Subway

Subway line 2 to Xizhimen Station > transfer to bus # 360, 632, or 634;
or Take subway line 4

By Bus
Board bus # 7, 15, 19, 27, 45, 102, 103, 105, 111, 332, 334, 347, 380, 812, or 808 > Beijing Zoo.

(Information from http://www.chinatouristmaps.com)

For your reference, here is a map of the Beijing Zoo (credits: Mgnet.org)

Miscellaneous shots

The (七浦路) Qipu Lu/Qipu Road Experience

2011-11-05T21:42:00.000+08:00

Remember what yourfriends told you before going to Shanghai? To go to Cheap Street? Surprisingly, a lot of foreigners are starting to getfamiliar with Shanghai's secrets--open ones or otherwise. The only problemthough is that some of Shanghai's secret spots aren't exactly tourist friendly,if not language friendly. So what exactly is Qipu Lu all about and why dolocals and foreigners frequent the area?

Qipu Road

When you hear thename and you're familiar with Chinese, you wouldn't exactly think of the word cheap unless you h already have an ideaabout the place. The name comes from the English word that it sounds closestto, CHEAP (hence "qi pu"or chee-poo).Qipu Lu is a booming commercial areawith buildings that remind of small to mid-level shopping centers, very muchlike the 168 Shopping Mall of downtown Manila, or even a smaller version ofThailand's MBK Shopping Mall.

Park your bikes in the middle of the road and wait for this uncle to give you a ticket. No free parking here. :)

Watch out for speeding scooters!

It would be difficult to expect on the one-category-per-buildingidea despite seeing the many different mall buildings that line opposite sidesof Qipu Road. If you must prepare forsomething, prepare to walk A LOT! There are many buildings along the whole roadand they vary significantly in sizes. Also, prepare to be the most patientperson that you can be as it can be daunting to communicate with people here ifyou didn't bring enough survival Chinese with you. Please prepare cue cards ofthe most significant words used in shopping , in Chinese (for them tounderstand) and in English (for you not to forget what the characters mean). Ifyou must ask if there's a need for you to bring a calculator, you don't; thestore attendants have plenty of them.

Again, bring lotsof patience and survival Chinese for shopping.

Assortments of what and what?

Don't set highexpectations when planning to go to Qipu Road for some shopping. Note what Isaid earlier about expecting a categorical segregation of merchandises--YOUMUST NOT EXPECT LEST YOU ENDING UP DISAPPOINTED.

There are manydifferent things you can find here, a lot of which are useless and of thetrinkets category. As for clothes, there are still a lot of buildings thatshowcase clothes of different kinds. I remember visiting Qipu Road duringwinter and I did see a few of the items Iwanted to buy: Winter jackets, gloves,scarves, boots, mouth covers, and ear muffs. The whole set would still probablycost you a lot but at least you'd be paying a lot less than buying from bigname malls and boutiques.

Take this out-of-focus guy's lead. Bring a big bag to put all of the things you bought into.

Some tourists buytheir take-home souvenirs here as well and there are a lot to choose from. Ifyou're looking for Chinese calligraphy art, paper cutouts, big fans and smallones, ceramics, jade stones, etc., there's surely a store that can cater toyour fancy.

A small but helpfultip when looking for bargain finds in such a bargainy-bargainous (yes, I'mmaking my own words) place: keep looking for the same item in other storessince a lot of the items on display in different stores come from one supplierand others may bring prices down a lot more that what was initially offered toyou for profit's sake. Selling with just a small profit is still better thannot making a sale, of course. Anothertip would be to check out stores rightat the end of the road. There are shoe stores that sell a variety of shoes(Asian size, with a few pairs that come in passable Western sizes too). Thestores at the end of the street are usually small and may look like shacks butprices can be another 50% less than the ones in the shopping buildings nearby.

For your safety

Qipu Road isnowhere similar to West Nanjing Road (Nanjing Xi Lu/南京西路) and East Nanjing Road (Nanjing Dong Lu/南京东路) where brandishing a high-tech mobile phoneis relatively safe.

Qipu Road is aplace where cheapness is the beat, and you know that where things are cheapdeprivation is prevalent. Be extra vigilant when you're here if you're aforeigner and a first-timer as it is still possible to get lost. Do not chaseafter a barker who promises you better deals than the ones you'd see in theshopping centers in the area, unless of course they're directly standing infront of their store which doesn't appear suspicious.

If you must, wear a serious and intimidating look. This kid's close to pulling it off. Good job! :))

I've heard ofincidents involving pickpockets targeting both tourists and locals so be atease to know that you're nothing like a single sheep walking through a valleywith wolves, there are several other sheep walking with you in that valley.Haha. But you're practically safe if you don't bring unnecessary luxuries andkeep to the shopping malls.

Miscellaneous shots

Take Line 10 of the Metro and get off at Tiantong Road station. You'll find yourself near Qipu Road and saving yourself the trouble of walking...Like what happened to us. Boo!

The 2012 Starbucks Planners: Redeem one for a good cause

2011-11-03T12:57:00.000+08:00

Patrons of Starbucks would already be aware that Christmas season (which starts November this year for Starbucks) is the start of sticker collection season. You are given a card to fill with sticker stamps, that when completed will allow you to redeem a Starbucks planner. While many Starbucks fans collect stickers almost instinctively, it isn't popularly known that there's a good trade-off that happens behind every planner redeemed.

The 2012 Starbucks Coffee Planners

Five wooden designs. Five special pouches. Five chances to help.

Now on its 9th year of the tradition, Starbucks has decided to give more variety to its coffee planners. For the first time, the Starbucks Planners will be available in five wooden covers: Bamboo, Poplar, Spruce, Oak and Cherry.

You mentioned something about helping?

While the annual coffee planners seem like a marketing gimmick, there's actually a huge chunk of heart behind these collectibles. Starbucks has three pillars that guide its operations: Ethical Sourcing, Environmental Stewardship, and Community Involvement.

Ethical Sourcing pertains to Starbucks' compliance to FSC-set standards which aim to promote responsible management of world forests.

Environmental Stewardship advocates the use of recycled paper, of which the planners' inner pages are made of--70% recycled to be precise!

Community Involvement is the charitable aspect of the planners project in that a donation is made to SparkHope-Starbucks Philippines flagship program for every planner redeemed. This partnership promotes initiatives in early childhood care and development, in partnership with UNICEF.

Each set has a bookmar, a pouch, and nine coupons redeemable at all Starbucks Philippines stores in 2012.

A customer can avail of a Starbucks Christmas traditions planner promo card starting November 3, 2011 and collect stickers from November 3, 2011 to January 8, 2012. One sticker is awarded for each Starbucks beverage purchase. A customer now has two options in collecting stickers to redeem one (1) Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2012 Planner.

Option 1: Nine (9) Christmas drinks + Eight (8) standard beverages (except bottled drinks) = 17 stickers
Option 2: 23 standard drinks (except bottled drinks) = 23 stickers

The 2012 Starbucks Coffee Planners are now available for redemption!

Hot or Cold? Starbucks 2011 Flavors of the [Christmas] Season

2011-11-02T11:39:00.000+08:00

One of the things I look forward to seeing whenever the Yuletide season nears is Starbucks' choice of flavors for their Christmas drinks.

For those curiously asking if there's a new taste to sip, the answer is yes. This season, Starbucks is introducing the Cranberry White Chocolate Mocha, a drink that combines freshly steamed milk, white chocolate, whipped cream, and hints of cranberry goodness here and there.

Together with the new drink, seasonal favorites Toffee Nut Latte and Peppermint Mocha are also going to be available.

Grab a cup (or more) starting on November 3, 2011!

Welcome Starbucks' 2011 Christmas Treats!

2011-11-02T10:59:00.002+08:00

It’s that time of the year again! Red cups are finally here and that can only mean that Christmas treats are too!

Our good friends from Starbucks prepared really well this time and will be offering Christmas treats, new and old. You may have seen some of the snacks in this year’s lineup sometime back but that’s because we made it known that we love them so they're bringing them back. So have a look at what’s in store for us Starbucks lovers this Christmas season!

Here's what they have for us this Christmas season:

Pecan Butterscotch Twirl
Hazelnut Stollen Bread
S’mores, Triple Decker Cheesecake with Snickers
Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Roll (served with butter and jam)
Chicken Alfredo Turnover
Texas Chicken BBQ Wrap
Glazed Ham with Apricot Spread on Multi-grain Bread
Turkey & Chicken with Apple Stuffing on Whole Wheat Walnut Bread

Old-but-still-yummy Favorites:

Chocolate Toffee Nut Loaf
White Chocolate Cranberry Cookie
Peppermint Brownie
Gingerbread Cookie
Molten Chocolate Cake

Starbucks Philippines will begin serving these treats on November 3, 2011.

A Restaurant called Cabbages & Condoms

2011-11-01T19:02:00.001+08:00

I woke up one morning with sun rays on my face, birds chirping, and the sound of early morning news from the TV which I forgot to switch off before I fell asleep the night before. Everything seemed to be normal, except when I pulled my senses together I realized that I can't understand a single word of what the news anchors was saying. Ah, yes! I was in Bangkok, Thailand.

Twenty-four hours earlier, I arrived in Thailand, set to give solo traveling in this tourists' paradise a shot. I was given instructions on how to get to the place which I'd be calling home for the next six days, and they couldn't have been anymore tourist friendly: take a cab. Now, I don't really have problems with taking cabs as I do know that the fastest way to get from point A--airport--to point B--anywhere--is by taking a taxi. But being that my budget was already very tight, I had to make sure I'd have enough money to last me six days and a few more to take me back to Manila.

So it took me two train rides and a long walk to get to Sukhumvit Soi 12, a compound that houses the Population and Community Development Association (PDA) offices as well as *drum roll* the Cabbages & Condoms Restaurant. I thought to myself, "I am to spend days of my stay in this compound and not only do I get to stay as a guest of the PDA, but also have the convenience of having easy access to the Cabbages & Condoms Restaurant!" It was like hitting two birds with one stone. Prior my trip to Thailand, I only had the chance to read about the place and reviews written by people who had been there. I was not in it for the condoms, really; I just had to see the place for myself.

Once you start seeing mannequins donning condom outfits, you'd know that you're at the right place.

The moment you enter the place, you'd realize that you've stepped into something far greater than just a restaurant that serves food and drinks. Wherever you look you'd see signs screaming in bilingual English-Thai. No. In fact, Cabbages & Condoms isn't just a restaurant. It's a place where a diner is offered knowledge on realities that would not have been available on other restaurant's menus. Cabbages & Condoms, paints the picture that HIV and AIDS are serious issues. It may be off-putting to some but I guess it's better to acknowledge it, with a grain of salt, than to turn with apathy. After all, you are in Thailand.

The Cabbages & Condoms Restaurant and the gifts store located near its entrance helps the PDA fund its projects throughout the country. Among its projects, the PDA through its Village Development Partnership (VDP) has set up learning centers that address education issues in Thailand.

The view of the restaurant's interiors from my side of the table. You can see PDA's Paul Salvette discussing their group's projects.

A Thai lunch for hungry international tummies!

The food at the Cabbages & Condoms Restaurant will surely please whoever wishes to dine there. They have good selections of Thai dishes and even have some that are internationally acclaimed. You can ask the nice waiters/attendants for their best seller and prepare to ask for seconds.

Looks great, tastes even better.

Should you happen to be in the Sukhumvit area or in Bangkok, do try this place. You might get lucky and catch PDA staff giving out lectures, something you don't see everyday.

Oh! And if you ask for mints, don't be surprised if they give you condoms instead.

Your baht can go a long way. Visit the Cabbages & Condoms gifts store and purchase some of their products to take back home. They sell things from rice to quilts, all of which are products of villages that PDA directly helps.

The Reason why I travel...

2011-10-13T16:44:00.000+08:00

It has come to my realization that I am not the typical traveler who usually goes on trips to see famed places. I'm like this not because I forced myself to be different, but because I have always had other reasons to travel.

A friend of mine recently confronted me for wasting money on trips, just to see friends. My eyes widened when I heard these words: JUST TO SEE FRIENDS.

You see, there are many different things in this world with a variety of reasons behind their existence, and our choices and actions are just the same--they're as varied as jellybean flavors. The reason why I travel may be boring to some people but that's just how it is. I don't exactly book plane tickets without having a premature excitement behind the thought of meeting with acquaintances and friends, both old and new.

I value the stories of people the same way a tourist would value taking photographs of places they've heard of or seen in magazines, the internet, and TV. I learn whenever I sit with friends, over coffee or tea. We don't really have the luxury of meeting everyday, nor do we always have the time to talk and catch up.

True, I don't stop there. Sometimes, I'd pass an interesting place (Of course, the definition of "interesting" varies from person to person as well) which would beckon on me to snap a photo of it. Sometimes, I'd be in the middle of the road walking aimlessly and end up chancing upon a trail of aroma, from a hole-in-the-wall food establishment serving cuisine I've never tasted, never seen. But these things are just bonuses and pleasant surprises that I come across, after pushing through with my visit to friends.

We all have our own drives behind traveling. A traveler is said to be one with a hungry spirit that seeks new adventures, challenges, etc. But seeing friends from faraway places is an adventure and a challenge in itself.

Do your country proud, Make a good impression

2011-09-23T14:50:00.000+08:00

First impressions last. Really, they do. Whatever we do, whoever we meet, the usual things that stick to other people's heads about us after parting would have to be the odd, the good, and the bad--and first encounters usually count!

In the case of foreign tourists, the first contact point between them and their travel destination will have to be the immigration officer who handles their travel documents, right before they can officially say they're 'in.' While it is neither necessary nor customary for immigration officials to wear a smile when dealing with newly arrived tourists, there is no rule in the book that says they shouldn't. I know there is also no mention against frowning but come on, smiling is a lot less straining on your facial muscles than frowning. If you don't believe me, Google that.

So what's the connection between immigration officials and first impressions, and how are they significant to what I'm writing? Well, they're all cooking in one pot.

I chanced upon a very disheartening sight while stuck in a long queue, waiting for my turn at immigration at the NAIA 3 last Sept 17. I took Cebu Pacific, of course, and our plane landed at around 5 AM. Fellow passengers were still disoriented (or maybe just some), with a group of traveling students queued in a different line as they were holding foreign passports. These were young people in there teens, and judging from the matching jackets they were wearing, I assumed they were here for an event or a sports meet.

Now, I'm no expert at judging people but three of these young travelers seemed like it was their first time at a Philippine airport, and they had no clue how procedures are supposed to run. Finally, it was their turn and the immigration officer didn't appear to be the friendliest officer a first-time traveler would expect to see in our airports.

The kids were still a bit unsure of what to do and kept looking at each other. The immigration officer wasn't going to just let their age be an excuse to make her wait or at least explain properly what to do.

"PASSPORT!" shouted the immigration officer. Startled, the one at the front end of the line hurriedly gave his passport document for review.

"WHERE'S YOUR ARRIVAL CARD?" again, the immigration officer said in an alarming and intimidating tone. "YOU DIDN'T FILL IT OUT! WHERE WILL YOU BE STAYING?!"

The boy, unsure, asked his companions for the address or at least a place of reference to give to the officer as a response. The immigration officer, with an annoyed look, asked, "WHERE?! ARE YOU GOING TO BORACAY?! WHERE?!"

The boy eventually got past immigration, leaving his two other companions behind (others from their group was still at the latter parts of the line). Just as the second boy's turn was up, he handed his documents to the immigration officer but forgot to prepare his passport. Annoyed and fuming, the immigration officer hollered at the boy, "PASSPORT!" And if that wasn't enough, she had to panic the kid even more by following it up with a forceful "HURRY!"

Other people who were also waiting for their turn at immigration were looking at what was happening. Imagine: more than a hundred people, some of which were foreigners, saw with their own eyes how rude and unwelcoming immigration people can be. It could have been me, panicking due to lack of sleep from a four-hour flight from Bangkok, or an even longer one from some other place. I don't believe what happened was because the travelers the officer was talking to were young, or that they were foreign. Something might have happened earlier that incensed the immigration officer mentioned, but whatever it was that caused her to become irate at 5 AM on a Saturday, her being rude was uncalled for.

First impressions can be established anywhere, at any given time. You as a traveler, a representative of your country, bearing the features and culture that define what you are as a national automatically gives you the responsibility to leave a good and possibly lasting impression that, where you came from, people know how to smile, respect, and honor other people regardless of race, creed, gender, or age.

So the next time you deal with people be sure you're at your best self. Never mind knowing if they're foreign or local, just be responsible and nice.

**
To the Bureau of Immigration:

I still believe that there are dedicated people from your office, and that there's a credo that you uphold and live by. But please, be vigilant in determining which of the people from your ranks know the true meaning of service, and not lip service.

The Hawkers of Chinatown, Singapore

2011-09-18T11:47:00.000+08:00

Great food finds in Singapore are everywhere, except that the cheaper but still amazing dishes are mostly usually in hawker centers scattered all over the city.

During my most recent visit to Singapore, I spent most of my stay in the Chinatown area, allowing me to have some of the best breakfasts I have ever had (I smell youtiao somewhere in this story). However, what I mostly enjoyed was roaming around the hawker center near my hostel.

I stayed on the side of Chinatown where hostels (and other 'special' places) are located. For the perpetually hungry, be sure to cross the footbridge to get to the food side of Chinatown. The hawkers of Chinatown are not that difficult to find given that they're all concentrated in this canteen-like area where stalls are lining the walls, with food barkers calling on to diners and orders are delivered to your table.

Obviously took this shot because of the youtiao :))

There's a lot to see here. You can choose from the assortment of Chinese dishes being served at just about every stall, to the halal cuisine by one or two stalls. Whatever you fancy, there's got to be a stall to serve you.

The place can be a bit packed at peak hours.

Avoid lunch time and after working hours if you don't like crowds.

If you're looking for fast food though, it's best you avoid this area cause you won't be seeing much of what you're looking for. There's KFC inside the mall, and a McDonald's nearby but why be at the hawkers center if you're looking for fattening, transfat rich processed food?

Samsung Galaxy S2: How I solved my Globe network issues

2011-08-14T14:05:00.000+08:00

Friends who I've seen recently would have noticed that I'm already using a different phone. A big leap from the previous unit I've been carrying, the Samsung Galaxy S2 is a monster in terms of features and performance. I've had the unit since the first week of its official release in the Philippines and from the moment I started using it, I've been having recurring problems with my long-time network of choice, Globe.

At first, the problem with my Samsung Galaxy S2 was the mysterious depletion of load credits. While others think I'm on a post-paid plan, I am actually a prepaid subscriber. I remember charging my account with Php 500, and had the need to subscribe to one of Globe's prepaid promos. The usual procedure is to key in UNLI150 or SUPERUNLI150, send it to 8888 and wait for confirmation that you've been registered to the unlimited call and text promo. However, I've been getting notifications saying that the keywords I used were invalid so I gave it the benefit of the doubt and called the Globe Hotline. I was instructed on what to do, step-by-step, until we reached the last of the instructions. We didn't know if the changes would solve the issue so I was asked to observe the unit and my account.

When the time came for me to once again register to a prepaid promo, I did exactly what I was told to do and was met with the same notification: keywords used were invalid (again).

So after repeated attempts to solve the problem by asking for help from the Globe Hotline (trust me, they were accommodating and I was even called by a representative after having my concerns escalated to a higher office), I tried to find my own ways of dealing with the issue.

Here's what I did:

1. I played around with my phone, hoping to understand what's wrong with it. I noticed that my phone didn't recognize Chinese characters, an essential feature that I look for in a mobile phone. It also didn't have the optional Chinese input method or any of the Asian languages except for Korean, a given since Samsung is a Korean brand.

2. Did a bit of research and discovered that my Galaxy S2 was actually using a European firmware. While the Galaxy S2 was released in some parts of Asia just recently, the phone had already been released in Europe and the US many months earlier, which explains the difference in firmware. Interface wise, it's still the same Galaxy S2 but there are some features that are distinct to each firmware version. A good example would be the Chinese keypad.

3. Went to a Samsung service center to have my phone checked and was told that my phone was indeed using the European version of the firmware. I asked if I could have it changed to the Asian one and was told that it was possible as long as I still had my receipt. Waited for an hour and when I got my phone back, its application deck reverted back to the default ones so make sure you make a backup of your files before leaving it for firmware change/upgrade.

The ultimate test was in trying the changes by registering to the prepaid promos of Globe. I used exactly the same keywords I've been using as when I still had the old firmware, only this time, I was more careful and conscious of every letter. When I received the confirmation message from Globe, it said that I was finally registered. :)

A hurried assumption would be that since my phone was originally using a European firmware, outgoing data from my phone didn't jive well with Globe's system. Either that or my Galaxy S2 was talking in Spanish while Globe's system uses Filipino. Hahahaha. Whatever, as long as it worked!

(油条) Youtiao's still my favorite breakfast snack

2011-08-08T11:11:00.000+08:00

I have often been told of the importance of having breakfast as it is the very first meal of the day. I never really had time to cook breakfast for myself and would usually require someone else to cook for me; again, not that I'm lazy but because I really can't afford to use up what remains of my time every morning. For busy people like me who are always on the go, it's only logical to grab quick, stuffing breakfast snacks, ensuring that you won't be late for work (or at least not exceedingly late).

Don't they just look so yummy? :)

Known in Hokkien as you char kwai, the Chinese oil stick or oily bread stick called youtiao (油条) has been my favorite breakfast for the longest time. It doesn't compare to the nutrition one can get from having a complete breakfast but it's enough to fill your tummy and solve your early morning hunger.

Youtiao with a cup of doujiang/soy milk (豆浆)

I remember early mornings in school where I would have gotten out of bed with just 10 minutes before the start of class. In situations like that, there's no time to pop open a box of cereals, boil eggs, or think of what else there is to eat. I admit, back in the day, I have gone to class a few times without bathing but, again, not because I'm lazy--it was winter, and it was very cold! Brrr. A minute to rinse my face and gargle mouthwash gives me nine more minutes to go to class. But of course, I'd stop by the canteen first to grab a bag of youtiao, paired with a variety of naicha (奶茶).

My classmates can attest to my addiction to the oil sticks as they often see me barging into the classroom with a stick in my mouth. "油条?不是你昨天也吃的了吗?" (Youtiao? Didn't you also eat that yesterday?) I got warned by my professors that eating youtiao and gulping cold naicha was unhealthy though. Makes sense since the oil from the snack could easily solidify once it comes in contact with the cold drink. Since then, I opted to have hot naicha instead--tastes even better!

What's peculiar about the traditional youtiao is the taste. Those familiar with the snack would easily find it common-tasting but little do they know that having ammonia as an ingredient in food isn't common in other parts of the world. The combined taste of salt, oil, and ammonia gives the youtiao a taste like no other. While there may be other variants of this breakfast snack like the Philippine biscocho or sia-koy, the Thai pathongko, etc., I still prefer the original version, those which you can buy for 0.5元 a piece.

How I miss you, fragrant youtiao!

Public Transpo: Convenience or Comfort?

2011-07-10T04:00:00.000+08:00

I am a commuter. We may have a car but I commute to work, to the mall, and to other places I need to go.

For each day of the week that I must be at the office, I ride at least two kinds of public transportation: a tricycle, and a jeepney. Sure, there may be days when I choose to take a cab or hire a motorcycle for a quick trip to the office but for ordinary mornings, I take a tricycle and two jeepney rides to work. Although that may sound bland and uninteresting, it's a reality that most Filipinos deal with for each day of their life--and some may not even have the chance to own a car and thus be forever stuck with public transportation forever.

More often than not, the quickest solution to a commuter's transportation woes is the jeepney. Flamboyant and fast, the jeepney had been the king of Philippine roads for decades since World War II. It has seen very little changes (evolution?) over the years and the design cannot be in more need of improvement than ever. Seats are often made using two long planks of wood, wrapped and stuffed with a holding fabric or tarpaulin and makeshift rags, foam, or other materials to serve as cushion.

What most Filipinos fail to consider when commuting (or completely choose to disregard) are the words 'convenience' and 'comfort.' Two words both starting with the letter C but with meanings different from the other.

C is for Convenience

To quote Wikipedia.com, "Convenience is anything that is intended to save resources (time, energy) or frustration." True enough, things that we consider as providing convenience are those that shorten suffering, frustration, anxiety, etc. A typical commuter would usually have to deal with emotional and physical discomfort due to the chore of traveling from several points on the map to get to his/her destination via the services of Philippine public transportation.

The abundance of jeepneys at present often make it easier for commuters to find a ride and the cost of riding one is far cheaper than when riding a cab. In fact, jeepneys are plenty enough to be spotted just about anywhere in the Metro. Be it on main roads or side streets, there will surely be a jeepney or two trying to beat the other to a commuter standing on a sidewalk.

The convenience that jeepneys provide to passengers start and end only in their numbers. Though a passenger may simply opt to ride a more spacious and longer jeepney after seeing an already packed one, it's only a matter of time before the one s/he rode gets just as crowded if not more.

C is for Comfort

Lifting again from Wikipedia, "Comfort is a sense of physical or psychological ease, often characterized as a lack of hardship." While the sense of comfort sounds somewhat related to convenience, it should be noted that, as mentioned, comfort requires physical and/or psychological ease while convenience saves effort and resources. To look at comfort from a commuter's perspective, there are very few existing modes of transportation that provide us with either physical or psychological ease.

For comfort to be afforded in the Metro, deeper pockets are necessary. Even with the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), Ligh Rail Transit (LRT), air conditioned jeepneys, air conditioned buses, FX, and cabs, there is still no telling to what extent can our good Peso give us comfort.

The MRT, LRT, air conditioned jeepneys and buses, and FX vans all have design issues. The layout of the seats DOES have an impact on overall passenger experience and total capacity. Second hand buses that were imported overseas for use here in the Philippines are big failures in the sense that their layout are all the same, with small seats and an even smaller leg room to move. Understandably, the design of these buses was made to be so in order to accommodate more passengers but although there may be some good logic behind this, advancements in design and vehicle manufacturing should translate even to buses that seek to accommodate so much. The LRT and MRT are no different, with exception to the LRT 2 (by far the most spacious train line in the country). During morning and afternoon-evening rush hours, these train lines are heavily congested with passengers. Platforms get full by the second and trains arrive late and leave too soon, already packed with passengers and with almost no room for one more. Yet, people squeeze in, making the impossible, well, possible.

Moneyed commuters take cabs or taxis instead to avoid being crowded-in like canned sardines inside other forms of public transportation. However, while taxis allow passengers to have more space to themselves, the flag down rate and increments by distance have significantly been augmented. If the high cost of riding a taxi isn't enough, certain cab units have tampered meters, so be careful!

However people look at commuting, the problems behind it are becoming more and more serious by the day. Convenience and comfort may not be the main concern of people who ride public transportation but that doesn't mean they don't deserve them. Profiting has been the main objective of line operators since time immemorial, often disregarding what is due their patrons.

When acquiring buses, maybe ones with better seat layouts should be considered. The number of LRT and MRT trains should also be increased, partnered with a better segregation scheme which assigns specific trains to specific stops, lessening the volume of passengers per train. Jeepney drivers and barkers should realize that while the average capacity of their vehicle is 20 pax, not every passenger is as fit or small-framed as the others; a bit of adjustment in mentality and common sense should be made.

With the rising price of gasoline, I don't see myself driving my own car anytime soon. Chances are, I'd still be commuting for a good five to ten years. Is it too much to ask for better a better public transportation system?

Mom & Tina's: Just like my mom's cooking

2011-06-15T18:30:00.000+08:00

A confession is in order. Although I have been trying to lose a bit of weight, my love of sweets had been giving me difficulty--and it's getting worse!

Just recently, I got to try yet another amazing food find that serves food that tastes like your mom's cooking, if not better. Mom and Tina's Bakery Cafe is located at the heart of Pasig (at least the branch we went to) and has just enough parking space to accommodate medium sized crowds. The interiors of the cafe is very reminiscent of olden style homes, complete with wallpapers.

The food

If there's something worth writing about, it has got to be Mom & Tina's mouthwatering food selections. From appetizers to desserts, you are sure to have your tummy satisfied and still have the appetite for seconds and thirds!

I was lucky enough to have gone to Mom & Tina's with an equally hungry group of people as I wouldn't have had the chance to try their other treats by myself.

Each dish that I tried was cooked to perfection, and although it might sound cliché, it tasted as if Tina's mom was really there in the kitchen to assure that the food has been cooked properly. The good tasting food plus the ambiance won my praises and I will surely take my family there soon either for lunch or dinner.

I look forward to seeing you again, Mom & Tina's!

Want a NEW PAIR of Sanuk? Join the "I Love Sanuk" Contest

2011-06-08T17:51:00.003+08:00

Dear contest participants: Please be reminded of the word limit :) I am seeing a lot of interesting entries but may merit disqualification :( You may delete your entry and resubmit after omitting excess words. Word count starts after "I Love Sanuk because" :) Again, 10 WORDS OR LESS ONLY :) -Lost Tsinelas

I believe in footwear made of good quality. I also believe in the comfort that a good pair can give its user. Throughout my years of trying different footwear, I must say that Sanuk provides some of the best pairs around. So in the spirit of giving and love for Sanuk, Lost Tsinelas and Sanuk Philippines will be giving away three (3) pairs of Sanuk throughout the month of June!

By showing their love for Sanuk, three lucky people will be given a pair each. You may express your love for Sanuk by completing the statement "I LOVE Sanuk because _______."

Entries can be as simple as sending the completed statement alone, using it as an element for a photo (or with you posing with it, etc.), or anything that makes use of your completed statement showing just how much YOU love Sanuk.

Refer to the following mechanics for more information. Trust me, it's easier than it sounds/looks. :)

You may upload your entries on Lost Tsinelas' Facebook page.

* Only 1 entry per week, per participant.
* Announcement of weekly winner is on the day after each contest week

Hello, Palawan! A Journey from Puerto Princesa to El Nido

2011-06-05T13:20:00.000+08:00

Just like any traveler who has never been to Palawan, I didn't know what to expect before going there. I have heard of the noteworthy achievements of its local government (almost too mythical given the seemingly irreparable reputation that government officials have in the Philippines), the cleanliness of its capital Puerto Princesa and the ease of commuting around the city, the semi-exotic food that are distinct to this part of the country, and also the sights.

When I arrived at Puerto Princesa city, it all began to sink in: I over expected, over hoped, and over dreamed. In fact, none of what I imagined Palawan to be was close to what I saw in Palawan's capital city. I always imagined a first class city to be one with technologically advanced services and facilities, and with close-to-Manila likeness. Then again, I told myself, "Metro Manila's cities may look more fast paced than Palawan but they don't get as much acclaim as the areas here do." I was a bit confused, to be honest. Instead of completely disregarding possibilities, I left all the explaining to my best friend who is a local of Puerto Princesa.

Puerto Princesa

For a capital city, Puerto Princesa is far from congested. While there are areas where population is getting denser, it is still relatively spacious and easy to explore.

Businesses are simple as with the way of life. It can be a bit of a shocker to those who grew up in busy Manila or metropolises that follow a fast beat for there is much less pressure here--and it looks as though it won't change any time soon.

The hearsays about Puerto Princesa being a clean city is indisputable alright, but it's primarily because of the relatively easier to manage population. I have to give it to the local government though, they know how to instill discipline in their people; or is it thanks to the better placement of road signage that serve as constant reminders to the locals?

Manang at work.

And of course, her weavework.

During my stay in Palawan, I was lucky enough to have been hosted by my best friend and his family (Thanks, Apol!) and being assisted on the whole itinerary. I didn't get the chance to go to the Underground river, A UNESCO World Heritage site and is dubbed as the longest and most beautiful navigable subterranean river in the world, but I did have plenty of time experiencing the nightlife in Puerto Princesa.

On my third day, I woke up early and together with my other best friend, we set off for El Nido.

Don't forget to drop by the Crocodile Farm in Puerto Princesa to say hi to this cute ostrich. :)

El Nido: Getting there

The Municipality of El Nido or simply El Nido is just as famed as the more urbanized Puerto Princesa. It is approximately 238 kilometers to the northeast of the capital and normally takes five hours to reach by van.

While there is the option of taking a local plane to El Nido, a plane ticket can be quite costly. Backpackers and tourists in general have varied reactions towards the grueling fiver hour trip to El Nido. Some would say that five hours in a van is just too stressful for a trip that could easily be at least two hours shorter. A small but increasing number of tourists think otherwise. What others find taxing and draining, others consider a treat; this is primarily because of the scenery that unfolds throughout the ride. Sure, the road may be underdeveloped (lacking basic concrete, barren, rough, uneven, and at some point, hard to traverse), but the opportunity to see small communities, wildlife, and a glimpse of the distant sea is a completely different experience altogether. For those who wish to experience these it is more advisable to take the commuter bus called Sweetie (funny name, I know. But everyone in Palawan is familiar with this bus line so it's easy to get by).

While in El Nido

El Nido's charm isn't for everyone--it's either a hit or a miss. For those who look for vibrant energy and variety when travelling, El Nido may not be the most advisable place to visit. It's a simple municipality with even simpler residents. Here, life is following a turtle's pace: waking up mid morning for breakfast, setting out to sea before lunch, returning to shore before evening, and going to bed while there is still power at night. It's surreal to be in such a well-hidden place where life is unbelievably laidback and where you are greeted with smiles while taking a morning stroll around town.

In El Nido, you get to see the majesty of nature through its many islands, and diverse aquatic environments. It has been featured many times in international travel magazines and even by National Geographic as a top travel destination. Once you see past the five hours land travel from Puerto Princesa city to El Nido, you'll realize that the journey was well worth it.

A camel? A dinosaur? We kept arguing about this shape the whole time.

If only this rock island wasn't located in the middle of the ocean, it would've been an ideal jumping platform for an awesome dive!

Staying at El Nido for a night or two usually requires a bit of preparing as accommodations can be a bit hard to get by. For the budget traveler, there are local huts being rented out by community folks but be forewarned; the sea can be unforgiving and waves tend to ram structures to as high as the second floor of a standard sized building. Locals have also learned to accept travelers into their houses, often preparing a room for transient occupants--for a fee, of course. For those seeking more comfortable and better-equipped lodgings, there are low-rise hotels along the East wing of the town.

Activities

It doesn't take much to figure out what people go to El Nido for. It being an area so blessed with natural resources, travelers seek to explore its beauty. In general, Palawan is known for pristine bodies of water. a highly diverse wildlife, as well as caves and mountains. For those with wanderlust, it is a dream come true to be in such a rich environment as Palawan's El Nido. Here, activities can range from trekking to swimming, from kayaking to scuba diving, and of course, there's the usual island hopping.

Ever tried open sea kayaking?

splashthefrog from TripAdvisor.com shares her take on El Nido:

"There's caves to swim though (sic), hidden lagoons to explore, unbelievable snorkling, paradise beaches, hammocks under coconut palms... And then the next few days as you head north you get the same stuff but with even better snorkling (great wrecks!) waterfalls, hot springs... and NO other tourists."

crismanila77 shared his experience as well:

"My family and I took Tour A & C. On our first day, we took Tour A, which brought us to the Small and Big Lagoon (Survivor Germany was filming there when we went!) and this was a brilliant tour. The trip included lunch, which was mostly seafood or chicken (your choice!). The next day, we opted for Tour C, which was the highlight of our El Nido trip. This brought us to Matinloc Island along the Tapiutan Strait. The snorkeling here was top-notch. Simply phenomenal; in fact, the best I've seen out there."

Upon arriving at El Nido, expect to be met by many agents offering boat rides to a set of islands. If you went to El Nido without doing basic research, El Nido is famous for its island hopping tours and it's only fair that you give at least Package A a shot as it is the most commonly availed package and serves as a good teaser to Packages B, C, and D.

Package A - ($33; PHP 1,600) - stops at Miniloc Island (Big and Small Lagoon), Twin Rocks, Shimizu Beach (our first stop!), Entalula Island and 7 Commandos Beach. (In no particular order; depends on the guides and traffic to the islands)

Package B - ($37; PHP 1,800) - visits Snake Island, Pinasil Islet, Inabuyutan, Codognon, and Ipil Beach. (In no particular order; depends on the guides and traffic to the islands)

Package C - ($46; PHP 2,200) - goes to Matinloc and Tapuitan Island (the location of the famed Secret Beach and Cagbantang Beach). (In no particular order; depends on the guides and traffic to the islands)

Package D - ($33; PHP 1,600) - stops at Cadlao Island, Sabang Beach, Pansandigan, Helicopter Island Beach. (In no particular order; depends on the guides and traffic to the islands)

We only got to do Package A as we were very much pressed for time but we were lucky enough to have shared the trip with a fun and bubbly group of travelers from overseas. If you have aquatic cases for your camera, it would be advisable that you dress your camera up before going on the island tours as there are many things worth taking photos of. It's a pity I didn't have one ready then and had to leave my Nikon on the boat.

Take your pick! These multipurpose bancas ferry travelers to the many islands of El Nido.

Aside from island hopping, the mountain located near the village you're staying can also be hiked and travelers often take an early morning trip up the mountain. We were told that it is still best to employ the services of a local guide who knows the way up and down the mountain as there had already been an incident in the past wherein a solitary traveler went up and was never heard from again.

Overall, it's safe to say that Palawan is a wonderful place to be if you crave for long days and short nights. There's a lot to do if you choose to be elsewhere aside from the capital. It's not hard to fall in love with as life in Palawan is laid back, it is easy to get around, and the people are nice and warm by nature. Just make sure that you bring an open mind and lots of room for curiosity though. It may take a while but the place grows on you, just let it sink in and try not to miss urban life too early.

Feast for the senses at the very first Yummy Eats

2011-05-23T12:05:00.001+08:00

May 21, 2011--the date I blocked off my calendar, turned out to be a well-worth it day. It happened last Saturday (as of posting time) at the NBC Tent, The Fort, Taguig City with a turnout worth noting. We arrived a little past 2 PM and the crowd was still building, even that late in the day. Yummy Eats was for us to explore, and that we did!

When I say "feast for the senses," I mean it literally. The Yummy Eats event is a place where one can submit his physiological capacities for some perception exercises.

Feast for the eyes

One of the more obvious things about Yummy Eats has something to do with the enormity of the venue. Choosing NBC Tent for a venue means the gather to be held means business--or something else. The place was packed with people and food stalls lined both ends of the Tent. We weren't as lucky as most people who were able to be there for the opening of Yummy Eats but that didn't stop us from enjoying the whole thing.

Mochiko's chewy frozen delights!

It was hard to ignore the different food offerings by the many stall owners, and their grand food presentations. To not notice all the food around you is to fake being blind.

Feast for the taste buds

As it was a food event, featured businesses had plenty of free samples to give to participants of Yummy Eats. It wasn't an all-sweets food event so there were to choose from: quiche to cakes, yogurt to ice cream, etc. In fact, it was such an experience that I often had to wash my mouth to rinse it free of the different flavors swimming inside it.

Quiche by Simply Pie

Vodka Tinapa by Jaq's Kitchen

Original chicken chops by Big Daddy's Chicken

My personal favorites include the quiches of Simply Pie, the Vodka Tinapa of Jaq's Kitchen, the original chicken chops of Big Daddy's Chicken, the gummy snacks of Mochiko, and a few others which I shall mention in the future.

Feast for the ears

The moment we reached NBC Tent, loud booms and the sound of chatter filled the air. I realized it won't be a simple, quiet bazaar given the music. True enough, it was hard to miss the sounds echoing inside the venue. Activities seemed to have no end and that ultimately translated to perpetually preoccupied auditory organs.

Aside from the loud music, you'd hear people comparing their favorites.

But apart from the loud music, it was also a treat listening to the stories being shared by stall owners. It is always interesting to hear the background behind the food being served to you, where the passion came (comes) from.

Feast for nose

The different dishes and snacks had their own aromas working for them during the Yummy Eats event, just as how people would wear scents to attract others. What came with the appetizing food presentation was the even more hard-to-resist aroma that the various food options gave off.

It was heaven. I knew was at the right place the moment I picked up the smell of fresh cheese, roasted pork, and spicy dishes. I could've stayed the whole day only if I had time.

Feast for the heart

To have attended food bazaars before Yummy Eats, comparisons are impossible to not have. I have been to a few food bazaars in the past and although there are those that got my thumbs-up, there are still those that didn't quite leave a lasting impression on me. Yummy Eats was different in its own right, or at least that's how I'd like to see it.

Bringing love from their Batangas farm to the busy Yummy Eats tables. She says their food are as nourishing as they are yummy.

What I liked about the Yummy Eats event is the effort and enthusiasm that was invested into it. It's easy to put up a food bazaar so long as you have participants, both stall owners and attendees; true, but there should always be that 'heart factor' for it to be successful.

Jaq's Kitchen's very own mother and daughter tandem. Catch them at Salcedo market!

If the organizers believe in their event, participants will too. I witnessed how ecstatic the stall owners were whenever they had to talk about their products and their business. "It's not just about profiting from it, really. It's about seeing people's happy smiles after trying your food," says a stall owner with an unpretentious smile.

I can safely say that I enjoyed the Yummy Eats event because I left with a heavy tummy and a grin on my face. Also, I had the chance to see people I know who share the same love for good food. And now, I await Yummy Eats 2. Maybe next year?

Miscellaneous shots

Gong Cha: The right drink for Summer

2011-05-16T02:25:00.002+08:00

A few weeks ago, I received great news of yet another acquisition from overseas. Gong Cha has finally found a new home here in the Philippines in no less than one of the largest shopping compounds in the country!

Gong Cha is a popular tea store chain that serves refreshments within the circle of tea, fruit tea-juices, and milk tea. It has been in the business of serving special and trademark drinks since 2006, originating from Taiwan, and with branches in Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Dubai, and now, in the Philippines.

It has grown to beyond belief popularity that on the first day of its soft opening, lines were already long. One of the main reasons behind this is the experience that is drinking their products. For those who have tried Gong Cha overseas, the taste of the drinks is almost difficult to compare with other stores'.

For my visit, I ordered Milk Tea w/ Pearl Jelly and Wintermelon Milk Tea w/ Pearl Jelly (Yes, I'm a sucker for pearl jelly). Of the two, I'd have to say I loved the latter more simply because of the thicker and richer cream/milk that went with the drink. It also packed a good amount of flavor and was just perfect for a hot Summer afternoon. The drinks weren't too sweet and they were just of the right consistency.

Milk Tea w/ Pearl Jelly

Wintermelon Milk Tea w/ Pearl Jelly

Given the many possible combinations and drink options, I'll surely drop by again to try more of their products!

*Gong Cha is located at the Mall of Asia, 1st floor of the Atrium (next to Time Zone, near Toby's, and across Big Daddy's Chicken)

Paris Délice Menu

2011-05-10T09:26:00.003+08:00

I've been receiving several requests to upload a copy of Paris Délice's menu. I guess it does help to have an idea on what dishes or food options a certain food establishment has to offer before doing an actual visit; even more helpful if prices are already shown.

So here's a scanned copy of the menu of Paris Délice in Makati.

Time to get personal: Make your own Starbucks frappuccino!

2011-05-04T00:53:00.000+08:00

For those who haven't heard of this awesome news yet, Starbucks Philippines has recently launched a new way to enjoy drinking frappuccino called However-You-Want-It Frappuccino Blended Beverage. Instead of ordering a pre-designed Starbucks frappuccino, customers can now order frappuccino the way they want it to taste. Sounds awesome? Wait till you hear about the options that you can choose from.

Customizing or personalizing your frappuccino means you can [now]:

Choose your milk: Whole or Non-fat)
Adjust the coffee: Regular or Decaf
Add extra Frappuccino Roast or espresso shot (stronger!)
Lower your calories by using Non-fat milk, or forgoing the whipped cream
Solve lactose intolerance by using soy milk

As the guys from Starbucks would say, "There's probably 1,001 possible ways to personalize your frappuccino." And although that may sound like an exaggeration, the combinations are indeed limitless.

It would be great to have all these available at home to make your own frappuccino but for now, the easiest way to personalize your frappucino is to go to the nearest Starbucks to do just that!

Way before this idea came to fruition, I have already been experimenting on Starbucks drink combinations. Curiosity was always there since I always wondered why people would limit themselves to just adding extra shots of this, and extra shots of that. The weirdest concoction I asked to be made would probably be a Venti Coffee Jelly Mocha Rhumba Raspberry Frappuccino Blended Beverage. The barista at the time gave me a squinty look and asked if I was sure I wanted that. And so the brave me pushed through with the order anyway.

When I got back to my seat to try the drink, the barista maintained his curious look at me, as if wondering how my experiment went. It only took one sip for me to stop drinking, went up to the counter and joked, "You don't need to say anything. That went terribly wrong."

Luckily, I've had better tasting experiments over the years and have finally found the right drink. I'd willingly drink my favorite Hazelnut Green Tea Cream Frappuccino Blended Beverage on any given day. And with Starbucks' However-You-Want-It Frappuccino Blended Beverage, I'm sure there are more ways to improve this already awesome drink.

Hazelnut Green Tea Cream Frappuccino Blended Beverage!

So the next time you're at Starbucks and feeling adventurous, try making your very own frappuccino blend! If you discover something nice, do tell me as I'm always interested to try new combinations.

Here are some photos from Starbucks that might interest you:

For the lactose intolerant. It's taste reminds me of taho.

Photo Dump: Hangzhou, Winter 2011

2011-04-30T11:09:00.001+08:00

About the photos: All shots were taken in January 2011 in Hangzhou, China. We didn't stay long in Hangzhou as we were due for another early flight to Beijing the following morning.

This photo dump is preceded by a post about the trip. Click here to see photos showing Hangzhou in Spring.

HANGZHOU REVISITED: Hangzhou's winter charm

2011-04-27T17:53:00.001+08:00

Whenever I visit China, I always make it a point to visit Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province's capital and largest city.

As I used to visit this beautiful city during either Spring or Summer, it was my intention to see how it would look during winter. As it is close to Shanghai, there is a great chance that it won't snow in Hangzhou but for this year, Lady Luck was on our side. We arrived late in the afternoon after an overnight stay at Tengtou Village in Ningbo for work. As advised by the secretary of Mr. Fu Qiping, we got off at a bus terminal in Ningbo and bought our tickets (the place was packed with people buying last-minute tickets to their hometown; it was a few days away till the Chinese New Year).

At the bus terminal while waiting for our 2 PM bus to Hangzhou.

In the past I usually rode a fast train (动车) from Shanghai to Hangzhou as it is a lot more convenient and faster than taking a long-distance bus. This time though, we went for the latter as it is exponentially cheaper.

It took more than two hours to get to Hangzhou from Ningbo. It was freezing cold and every seat on the bus has a passenger--oh boy!

The bus is actually a lot bigger than it looks. We were sitting somewhere in the middle.

This baby made the two-hour trip bearable, thanks to his curious stares and occasional chuckles.

Upon arrival, we wasted no time and tried to hail a taxi to the hostel/inn we planned to stay in. The drivers kept refusing to take us to the West Lake area for a variety of reasons so we settled for the private vehicles parked along tight alleys near the terminal. It was very much like colorum vehicles in the Philippines except that the drivers are Chinese and you can't say "Diyan na lang po sa tabi." We shared the van with a fashion student from Shanghai who willingly started a conversation with us. Second time I've been mistaken for a guy from Guangdong.

It was already nearing dark by the time we exited the inn to walk around and take photos. We were told that it had been snowing the whole night and the roads were not passable for several hours, hence the snow by the roadsides.

This time, we ate at the famed Lou Wai Lou as per a close friend's recommendation. It took about an hour's walk to get to Solitary Island (West Lake) from where we were originally taking photos but with the cold winter air to keep us from perspiring excessively, it felt rather comfortable walking that far.

The long path to Lou Wai Lou. Be ready for a long walk as it may take more than 15 minutes to reach the other end of this island bridge at the heart of West Lake.

The REAL Lou Wai Lou restaurant. There was another restaurant near this building that had the same name (楼外楼) but is considerably smaller and looks like a small diner so don't get confused.

After dinner, we walked some more and even watched the musical/dancing fountain located along the East side of West Lake (at Park #3, near Hyatt Regency ). The display runs every 30 minutes so make sure you're there early for the next run as it can draw quite a big crowd.

This fountain shoots high up and with musical accompaniment! Why else would it be called a musical fountain if it lacked musical qualities?

A stroll along Hangzhou's West Lake is considered by many as a magical and humbling experience. It pales in comparison to strolls in Shanghai's busy streets and Beijing's history-rich travel spots but Hangzhou has 2,200 years under its name and has a popularity that is written even in the oldest of Chinese classic literature.

"上有天堂,下有苏杭"

(above, there is heaven; below, there is Suzhou and Hangzhou)

To have seen Hangzhou's West Lake during Winter was a wholly different experience and one that I wouldn't mind doing again in the future.

The Xiang-Chuan Restaurant/You Jie Xiao Chao (湘川饭店/游姐小炒) Experience

2011-04-21T19:22:00.001+08:00

While contemporary restaurants require the aid of bright lights and booming sounds to attract customers, there's a small, incognito hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Guadalupe Viejo, Makati that gained popularity among food enthusiasts alongside a cloud of mystery and anonymity. It's an irony that has been puzzling me for some time but after having finally visited the place, I understood why it has survived without all the fancy promotion gimmicks typical to food establishments.

Xiang-Chuan Restaurant or You Jie Xiao Chao? (湘川饭店还是游姐小炒?)

There are different ways of approaching this restaurant's name as it has two to which its fame clings. I got the chance to talk to one of its owners, Auntie You herself. She doesn't speak much English though so I had to muster up my Chinese knowhow to squeeze answers from her.

Be sure to keep your eyes open for it's so easy to miss this place! That's 6404 Camia street, Guadalupe Viejo.

She said that for political correctness (not necessarily what she said), Xiang-Chuan is more proper to use as it defines the cuisine that they serve. Xiang-Chuan (湘川) was coined by combining the first and last characters of the name of Auntie You's and her husband's places of origin, namely Xiangtan (湘潭) and Sichuan (四川). You Jie Xiao Chao (游姐小炒), the name that appears on their business card, was taken after her surname You (游), hence the name.

The cuisine

Now that the issue behind the name has been given some light, it's easier to note that, contrary to popular belief, the restaurant is not plainly Hunanese.

Those familiar with the eight major Chinese cuisines would easily know the difference between Hunan and Sichuan tastes. While both cuisines often use chilies for their dishes, Hunan food more frequently uses fresh chilies and are known to be "dry hot" or "purely hot" and is considered to be spicier. Sichuan dishes are typically "ma-la" or numbingly hot.

Since the owners of Xiang-Chuan Restaurant are Hunanese and Sichuanese, expect their dishes to be a combination of both cuisines so try not to over exert when trying to figure out which is which.

The place

One of the waitresses shared that the restaurant has expanded greatly since its opening. Already two years old, the restaurant has acquired the space next-door and has bigger dining apacity from its original eight tables.

This photo doesn't do the place justice. It has already expanded and now occupies the first floor of the property next-door.

The interiors were left to look simple and clean. I have no complaint regarding the cleanliness of the place as it did look thoroughly clean as if personally managed by a meticulous mother.

For my first visit, I was able to try these three dishes:

Boiled dumplings (煎饺 ). Don't forget to dip it in the sauce; tastes better with it.

Fried beans (干煸四季豆). A long-time favorite dish of mine that I always order whenever available. Too bad that the one served to us pales in comparison to the original and lacked the trademark spiciness.

Duck hot pot (鸭肉火锅). Can't say I haven't had better versions of this dish but I enjoyed munching on the lean duck meat. The spices were just right and made me want to have more.

I wasn't able to order enough dishes to give a complete review but with the ones I tasted, I'm confident enough to recommend the place to friends who are looking for better than the usual Chinese cuisine. With Xiang-Chuan Restaurant, one can enjoy the tastes of both Hunan and Sichuan. Oh! And make sure you wash the spiciness down by drinking Wang Lao Ji/Wong Lo Kat (王老吉), a sweet and refreshing drink.

I'll surely visit Xiang-Chuan Restaurant again to try their other dishes! Mind going with me next time?

---

Xiang-Chuan Restaurant/You Jie Xiao Chao (湘川饭店/游姐小炒)

Address: 6404 Camia Street, Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City (near Power Plant Mall, Rockwell)

Tel: 09228698887, 09277876999, 09154252972

Dreaming of a chocolatey death? Go for Death by Tablea!

2011-04-17T22:12:00.000+08:00

It was at least three years ago when I first visited Chocolat's Mall of Asia branch. I didn't know what to expect from a small and dimly-lit cake store whose name I haven't heard before. My friend told me that their cakes are surprisingly affordable for their quality so I got curious and agreed to have a try.

For my first visit, I tried their Death by Tablea. Over the years that I've been eating at Chocolat, I have tried just about every cake variety that they have to offer. Most of the ones I've tasted are delicious and reasonably priced but even then, I'd still say Death by Tablea is my favorite of all.

What I like about Death by Tablea is its rich and thick flavor that is typical of Tablea bars/coins/tablets. You can see that they didn't hold back in coating the cake as you'd easily notice the thick layer of chocolate once you eat a slice bit by bit.

I usually eat a slice of Death by Tablea with a cup of hot tea.

My Lost Tsinelas business card :)

2011-04-15T15:39:00.000+08:00

As each blogger has his own identity, I find it relevant to have a business card for yourself just in case somebody asks for one. It happened to me several times already, and for each time I gave my office business card which doesn't really say much about my personality.

It isn't a trend, but I notice that more and more people (bloggers and non-bloggers) are making personalized business cards for casual encounters with characters they deem interesting. In my case though, I finally decided to have personalized cards of my own so that the next time somebody asks me about my blog and what I do, I can easily give them something that would tell them just that.

The design

I'm fully aware that my business card looks too colorful and is actually in full color. Others like it simple, I don't. Both the front and back sides of the card shouts green as it is my favorite color. I asked a close friend of my brother to do the design for me since although I can be good at doing abstract designs, my hands were never good enough to do decent artwork. Check his website or reach him via e-mail: jed_dumawal@yahoo.com. Jed works as a Graphic Artis and Visualizer at LOWE Philippines.

The story behind the name

When I started blogging under Lost Tsinelas, the very first post explained the idea behind the name. Simply put, I used to misplace my slippers and would always seek help from my yaya (nanny) at the time to look for it/them.

I finally received the first batch of cards yesterday and I must say, they look amazing! :)

PUV's and the need for conscientious driving

2011-04-14T14:26:00.000+08:00

The roads of Metro Manila have for long been undergoing tremendous transformation in terms of size and purpose. While roads used to lack the necessary driving aids such as road markings and signages, years of improvements have supplied just about every road aid imaginable. The question now is why are our roads still devoid of safety?

I have been a commuter since high school and found it life-changing to have discovered this amazing alternative to traveling. While driving (or being driven) is relatively more comfortable than having to transfer vehicles to reach certain destinations, commuting allows for a person to budget his money better. However, commuting also exposes people like me to even more hazards of Manila's roads. In this case, PUV's and their drivers.

In this post, I would like to point out a few things that PUV drivers give commuters, pedestrians, and other drivers.

Confusion. No better word can best encapsulate the problems that PUV drivers give people on the road. Be you a commuter waiting for a ride, a pedestrian attempting to cross the street, or a person driving your own vehicle, it takes a bit of thinking to figure out a PUV driver's next move. Sometimes, being familiar with Manila roads will prove useful but even seasoned drivers fall victim to PUV's that swerve abruptly, and at the worst of times and places!

Poor health and Accidents. It takes little convincing to agree that Manila PUV's are road hazards; to this, there is no exemption. Jeepneys, taxis, and buses have all failed at keeping people safe. More often than not, owners of jeepneys wait for significant (and evident) tears in their vehicle before submitting it for a checkup. One of the main reasons behind this is economic constraints, since checkups and repairs will cost money. What must be remembered by every vehicle owner and driver is that checkups and maintenance are not done to just keep the vehicle running but also to ensure that passengers' safety will not be compromised should they employ the services of a certain vehicle. To add to that, checkups and regular maintenance reconditions vehicles, making them less harmful to the environment and people.

PUV drivers also tend to disregard the need to use signal lights, making it dangerous for surrounding vehicles to maneuver around the concerned PUV. Tail lights give other drivers the necessary advanced few seconds to prepare for any possible movement that you intend to make with your vehicle. Signaling helps prevent unwanted collisions from happening and keeps traffic flowing.

Clear chaos in spite of the blur. These jeepneys along EDSA - Rotonda swerve like there's no tomorrow! If there was a contest in changing lanes in less than a second, they'd all be champions.

Twisted traffic that takes long to disperse. Those who have their own vehicles would already be familiar with this phenomenon. In fact, Manila drivers would've or should've developed a tolerance by now for lengthy traffic jams that can stretch from Roxas boulevard to as far as the other end of EDSA. What usually causes hard-to-manage-traffic is the lack of discipline of drivers. While others would say that this problem in behavior is not solely blamable to PUV drivers (as is the case with irate drivers of private vehicles), it usually stems from nonobservance of road rules. Imagine a portion of EDSA with six-lanes. Two of the six lanes are dedicated to PUV's and yet they keep switching lanes as if in a heartbeat. The danger there is that once they cut through and hog other lanes, the flow of traffic gets disrupted. Aside from that, most PUV drivers disregard signs and rules behind the loading and unloading of passengers. Some would abruptly stop in the middle of a highway to unload passengers. Those who have noticed other parts of Manila where there are bus terminals, I believe taxis are a common sight. Without prior notice, a lane or two of the road will be clogged by taxis waiting for passengers, and in some cases, converted into a terminal of their own. End result: jumbled cars, tempers become frayed, and no one gets anywhere.

How many lanes are these vehicles eating up? Keep an eye on the jeepney at the far left. Switching lanes in 3-2-1. The tail lights were permanently on but did not indicate which direction he was going.

There he goes!

I have high respect for drivers who respect rules. Being a driver of a public utility vehicle neither exempts you from observing road rules nor does it position you above the law. The very fact that you have a driver's license (or do you really?) means that you acknowledge MMDA and LTO traffic rules and regulations. (Click to see LTO's Driving Rules and Tips) Now, I'm not saying that all PUV drivers don't observe these rules but with how things are going it's really hard not to generalize.

What's your story? Ever had issues with PUV drivers or driving in Manila in general? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

(Now, here's something that many of us fail to observe: Road courtesy)

I couldn't take clearer shots as I was in a hurry to capture the moment. My apologies.

Good food to be had at Chicken Charlie, Malate

2011-04-12T15:22:00.000+08:00

As a relatively active yuppie, I am almost always on the lookout for food related news in my part of Manila to break free from the usual routine of going to Robinsons Ermita (Manila) for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Just as I was about to go my usual way towards Robinsons, I remembered my old favorite breakfast place along Adriatico street, near the corner of Pedro Gil. I walked towards what used to be Kopiroti and discovered that it has already been replaced by a newer name in the food industry, Chicken Charlie.

Orange and proud of it

The sign of Chicken Charlie itself is very hard to miss given the loud orange color that it gives off. The interiors of the place is simple and very minimalistic, just enough to dine comfortably or to lounge around with friends after a long school day or a hectic rally of events at the office.

I am not particularly in-love with the color orange but the way they did things in such a small space works well with Chicken Charlie's trademark hue. It's clean. It's hip. It speaks of a warm and vibrant chicken place. And they have a message board where cheerful (and not so cheerful) customers can leave notes and quirky messages!

Hidden but conveniently close

I don't know about those not familiar with the Malate area but what we have here is a long-stretching system of side streets, alleys, and dead ends! If you consider going deep into the Malate area from Taft avenue, you'd soon realize that it's a whole different world once inside. A fact that must be noted about this area is that there are surprises in every turn--and I mean it, literally.

As for Chicken Charlie, there are pros and cons to being located along Adriatico street and not in the busier streets near it. While it takes a bit of walking from various points of origin, it isn't too far in the middle of the long street. In fact, it is just a good three-minutes away from Robinsons Ermita, or less. By car, it's actually even easier to get to.

Crispy, chewy, chunky

Although I've heard many things from colleagues about the portions served to them at Chicken Charlie, Malate, my dining experiences with the establishment has been nothing but good so far. Four pieces of chicken wings fried (?) to the right crisp is well worth my Php 100.

Also, for a person that is VERY particular with oily food, I find Charlie Chicken's chicken (forgive the redundancy) quite good. The greasiness of the food leans towards yummy than yucky. And believe me, I give up on terribly greasy food.

If eating heavy(-ier) is your thing, best that you get their drumsticks instead of the wings though. I don't have complaints about their chicken wings but I always order their spicy drumsticks to pair with a cup of rice.

Word of advice to those who want to dine at Chicken Charlie, Malate: avoid visiting the branch from between 12 PM to 1 PM as the space would more or less be jam-packed with customers on lunch break. The seating capacity is relatively smaller than the usual fast food place.

---

Chicken Charlie, Malate

1635 Adriatico st., Malate, Manila

871 9374

450 8410

I love my mom's Papaitan

2011-04-09T13:11:00.000+08:00

If there's anything in this world that I'd gladly eat despite being so rich in cholesterol, it has got to be my mom's papaitan. I got introduced to it at a very young age and I had been in love with it ever since.

Hearing from my mom's stories, I discovered that she learned how to make papaitan from her mom and aunts. My mom's side of the family is typically Ilocano-Pangasinense with a mix of other races, as with most Filipinos. She grew up toiling days and nights to get her through high school and college, which has earned her the comfortable life that she has now.

My mom's papaitan!

What I love about my mom the most, aside from her usual antics, is her cooking. She may have long stopped preparing food for us but the recipes and personal touches still run deep in her system. Of all her dishes, her papaitan tops the list!

Friends who had the chance to try my mom's papaitan would have mixed feelings while being served the popular Filipino dish. "Tita, masyadong mapait!" (Auntie, it's too bitter!) is the usual reaction to her version of the dish. As a reply, my mom would jokingly say, "Anak, alam mo naman dito sa'min, gusto ng mga bata eh punong-puno ng pait!" (Child, you know very well that the kids like it really bitter!) True enough, my mom usually uses a whole sac of bile or more to get the full bitter flavor that is distinct to her papaitan.

A typical papaitan dish would be comprised of a thick soup stock, with generous servings of cow, pig, or goat intestines. We're Asian too, so expect some of our dishes to make use of innards. They're quite chewy, you'd be surprised at how delectable our dishes are!

Tasting the dream at O'Sonho Portuguese Fusion

2011-03-28T23:55:00.001+08:00

Very rarely do I feel genuinely touched by the hospitality of hosts, and the charm of their employees especially when it comes to dining experiences. Last Friday though, I was able to experience just that, thanks to the very warm people behind O'Sonho, a Portuguese fusion restaurant.

For this particular visit, I was acquainted with one of the owners of O'Sonho, the Atenean, the wife and mother that goes by the name Cris Barancik. The place was not that easy to find for part-commuters like me as it is located at the far end of Jupiter street, near Makati avenue, but it was surely worth my time even after a long day at the office.

Cris starts by introducing us to the concept behind their bread and butter. A cute, little story involving one's love of food and things Portuguese eventually led to her mentioning her husband and his desire to open a restaurant that can satisfy his tummy. Indeed, men have very demanding appetites to the point that unless they truly get full to the brim, they won't stop looking for other things to end their cravings. At the end of the day, we're just like women who also find this urge to munch on food that appeal to us till we're left smiling.

Labor of Love

When a person gives his 100% to pursuing his passion, he's almost assured of a home run. Cris and her husband Anton always make sure that they and their people give their 100% in making the necessary ingredients for their famous dishes. "At O'Sonho" Cris gleefully inserts, "everything's a labor of love." True enough, most if not all of the ingredients they use in their dishes are made in-house. She says that there's an inexplicable uniqueness to dishes prepared this way, and their customers often detect that.

Personally speaking, I was taken aback by this discovery since I am aware of how difficult and time consuming it is to be making your own ingredients. While other restaurants just purchase or import their materials, here is O'Sonho producing their own. It takes more than just passion to commit to such painstaking chores--there has to be love in there too, and that they have aplenty!

Personal Experience

What I found very interesting in O'Sonho's approach to coming up with flavorful dishes is the intensive thought process behind every dish. From the naming to the actual cooking, the owners and their staff are hands-on all the way. In fact, should customers give recommendations on particular areas, they're quick to acknowledge them for future attempts at certain dish evolutions.

Besides, it's always customer satisfaction that they strive for so everything has to appeal to each guest on a personal level. "We've had Portuguese guests before who prefer having the real Peri-peri sauce so of course, we oblige." Cris adds. She explains that while there are adventurous diners who specifically want to go through the real Portuguese experience, involving a marriage between and among spices, there are still the typical conservative diners who prefer keeping things at a minimum. Depending on how they want their food served, they can always tell the staff their preference.

Calculated Risks

As with any business venture, Cris and Anton's O'Sonho was not an overnight sensation. Despite receiving tempting offers for venue options, they opted to establish their first branch along Jupiter, Makati. "The Philippine market then was yet to be acquainted with Portuguese cuisine. We had to see how things would turn out first," says Cris. Now at two years in the area, their Jupiter branch is still popular among frequent and new customers.

It was after the big success with their first branch that they decided to open a second one, this time touching base with customers near Eastwood. From what I heard, their Eastwood branch is always packed with guests, regardless of the time and day of the week.

The Food

This is where I start to get serious. If theirs is a dedication to satisfy, mine is a dedication to be satisfied! We were served some of their popular dishes and it was hard to resist the inviting scent of each one. Let the photos speak for themselves.

Appetizers to Main Dishes

Caldo Verde, considered by many as Portugal's national dish.

Made using finely sliced kale leaves and, in some cases, smoked sausage.

Chorizo Sisig, a dish that uses chorizo made in-house.

Portuguese Chorizo, O'Sonho's personal take on this famous dish.

Peri-peri Chiken Pasta, O'Sonho's version of the popular Peri-peri Chicken.

Only this time, it has pesto and sun-dried tomatoes!

O'Sonho's Salmon, a mildly sweet-tasting dish accompanied by herb rice.

Fish Fillet in Saffron, a dish that makes use of REAL saffron and is by far my favorite O'Sonho dish. For someone who hates fish, I loved this over the others served to us. Mild in taste but hard to quit.

Desserts

Tres Leches, a tempting, sweet ensemble of three kinds of milk hence the name.

Java Toblerone Mousse, a dessert that will make you want to have your spoon/fork ready at all times.

Hey, it's chocolate!

Sorbet(e) Frito, O'Sonho's popular fried ice cream. It got its name from the way it is prepared: ice cream inside a fried bread-like shell. And there's a glazing of mango purée too!

Beverages (for the night, at least)

Mint Tea, freshly brewed mint leaves in tea press.

Being the person that I am, I preferred this over soda.

Solo.

Fishbowl for sharing.

Fresh Iced Lemon and Peppermint Tea, freshly brewed tea with sliced American lemons and a hint of peppermint. Healthy and refreshing! Available in Solo and Fishbowl.

Overall, I enjoyed my first visit to O'Sonho. I have always heard of how good their food is but after hearing the story and the amount of labor and time they devote to preparing each dish and its ingredients, I learned to understand it more than just appreciate it. For naming this fusion restaurant or restobar "O'Sonho," Cris and Anton have finally realized the word's true meaning as in Portuguese it means "the dream."

---

O'Sonho Portuguese Fusion is located at #20 Jupiter Street, Makati City; and at 1880-5, 1880 Bldg., Eastwood Mall, Eastwood City, Libis Quezon City

Reach them through 896-3289 (Jupiter) and/or 470-1768 (Eastwood)

Store hours: usually from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm (Jupiter), call for possible changes in schedule

Auntie Fang Jing: A loving mother, wife, and friend

2011-03-28T11:50:00.001+08:00

It is always difficult to resume daily life after losing someone close to you. Auntie Fang Jing eventually realized that after her husband, Professor Liang Congjie, had gone, she had to work harder, this time to fill his shoes.

I met Auntie Fang Jing last January during a leisure trip to China with some friends. She stood no taller than 5 feet, had a thin frame and kept her graying hair neatly brushed. Most striking of all her features was her warm and unpretentious smile. It made me wonder how she was coping with her husband's death. .

“It’s cold in Beijing!” she exclaimed. “For first-timers, it can be very unforgiving, so make sure you put on a coat and scarf at all times to keep warm.”

At the time of my visit, it was a freezing -8 degrees Celsius, with wind chills falling two degrees lower. I took the liberty of suggesting that we have dinner at the first privately owned restaurant in Beijing, located along a small hutong not far from our hotel, the Jade Garden. We headed out on bicycles, with Auntie Fang Jing leading the way.

As we entered the small restaurant, she noted the smell of cigarette smoke and the din of diners' conversations.

“Well, it’s alright. We’re here and we’re all hungry,” she continued. I suddenly felt sorry for suggesting the place. The hostess for the night turned out to be the daughter-in-law of the original owner of the well-known restaurant who proudly told us of the accolades their small establishment has received over the years.

L-R: Yuri of Lost Tsinelas, Brian of The Philippines and Beyond, and Auntie Fang Jing

Settled at our table, we finally had the chance to talk. It was a bit tough to open the subject of the professor's death. The news was all over the internet, and big media companies carried the story. Before I could even utter a word, the widow sweetly said, “It is always nice to see friends. I used to meet friends from your Foundation with Liang Congjie, but now it is just myself.” It was hard not to notice the hint of sadness in her eyes even though she was smiling. Whenever someone from the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation happens to be in Beijing, he or she makes it a point to invite the couple to dinner, to catch up and exchange pleasantries.

The couple are well known in China, particularly Beijing, and even overseas. Professor Liang established the first nongovernmental organization in China, Friends of Nature. Dubbed “the father of Chinese environmentalism,” he inspired others to form their own organizations to protect the environment. His wife moves in influential circles. Although she is from the private business sector, working for international companies, she is just as passionate as her husband about the environment and his other causes. Theirs was a genuine partnership.

When asked about the professor's final days, she responded in a straightforward manner: “He was becoming very forgetful by the day. Sometimes, he would forget where his glasses were, and the names of places and things. Eventually, he would even forget the names of friends…even me!” I recall being told that Alzheimer’s disease greatly affected Professor Liang. There were times when Auntie Fang Jing would take over her husband's duties. Instead of being heartbroken, she toughened up, as she would say, “for the two of us.”

It was easy enough to notice that behind that smile she constantly had on her face, she was still grieving the death of the man she loves. The night went on with the widow telling stories, speaking of how great a man the professor was. She adored the man and his principles, and loved him for who he was and for being a responsible and caring husband. She stood by him through the toughest of times and was at his side till the very end.

“He was well loved...Many of our friends were there to honor him in an evening ceremony we organized to commemorate him. He will always be remembered by the world,” she remarked.

The night ended with her, motherly, seeing us off safely. She rode back with us to the hotel, and hugged us good night. I was stubborn for not wearing my coat, and as we bade each other farewell, I felt she was worried that I might catch a cold. I should have listened.

With a final glance, she left with a smile that said, “Thanks for the visit.”

Testing Sony's VAIO E Series

2011-03-27T20:31:00.000+08:00

Every once in a while I feel the urge to stray away from my blog's niche to provide extra service to my readers. For today, I'd like to share my assessment of Sony's VAIO Eseries laptop as it is quite hot among the youth.

---

Several colors to choose from. Photo credit: Sony India

Looking for a laptop for your everyday PC needs? The Sony VAIO E Series might just be the thing for you.

The Sony VAIO E Series offers both style and performance for people-on-the-go with moderate computer requirements. The E-Series models are available in 14”, 15.5” and 17.3”.

I was able to get my hands on one of the smallest models, a 14” VPCEA35FG unit to be exact.

Above photos show 14" E Series unit. Photo credits: Sony Philippines

Design

The unit I got had a Glossy Basic design, complete with a transparent finish that covered square gradation pattern on both the lid and the palm rest.

The use of isolation keyboard (also known as Chiclet or island-style keyboard) makes it easier to use for some users as it allows unobstructed typing. However, unlike the E series’ other sizes, the 14” models have no numeric keypad.

The touchpad is located just below the spacebar. It has a rough surface which kind of feels good as it does not have a sticky feeling as with some smooth-surfaced touch pads. Also, it’s great to know that it supports multi-touch gestures.

At 13.60 x 9.39 x 1.07 inches thick and just 2.35kg, it’s easy to take it with you anywhere you go.

Display and Audio

The 14” LCD screen has a clear and bright display. Videos and images are sharp. With a maximum resolution of 1366x768, you can enjoy widescreen viewing with 16:9 aspect ratio.

The machine’s sound system is the key weakness. The speakers are definitely weak, even with the application and the system’s volumes maxed out. In some cases, you'd hear some buzzing sound along with the audio file you're playing.

Ports and Supplemental Drives

The model I tested had three USB ports located at the right side of the unit, while the left side holds the VGA, HDMI and eSata/USB ports.

The audio ports are located at the front right side of the unit while the card readers are located at the front left side.

The webcam is clear, even in a dimly lit room.

Windows Experience Index is used by Microsoft to measure the system’s hardware and software capabilities and is expressed by a base score. The base score is determined by the lowest subscore among the listed components. Having a higher base score means that the system is expected to perform better as compared with systems with lower base scores.

As with the screenshot, the Sony VAIO E got a base score of 5.0 because of the lowest component, Graphics. Keep in mind that just because it got the lowest doesn’t mean that it’s already a problem. With the combination of 2.40 GHz Intel Core i3 and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470, the model unit still performs well.

I only tried 2 games – Left4dead 2 and Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. Both games, having both of them on max, ran expectedly great – smooth graphics and no lags. However, since the video card is an entry level, middle class graphics card, it is expected that it will have difficulty in loading graphics-intensive games such as Crysis.

The battery could last to about 3.5-4 hours as long as it stays on battery saver and around 2 hours if used on high performance.

The wifi is capable of supporting 11n protocol which is currently the fastest among the wifi protocols.

Other Features

· Quick keys – The Sony VAIO E series has “Quick Keys” just above the keyboard. They are shortcuts to some functionalities of the system.

o Assist – if pressed while the machine is off, it will run System Recovery. Personally, this is troublesome when used by others who do not know how to operate the computer. If pressed while Windows is running, it opens the VAIO Care application.

o Web – like the Assist button, Web also has two states. If the web button is activated while the computer is turned off, it will open Splashtop browser, an internet browser that allows the user to surf the internet without having to load the entire windows operating system. If activated while inside the operating system, it will open the default web browser.

o VAIO – This opens the Media Gallery application

Summary

The Sony VAIO E (VPCEA35FG) is an ideal system for people who want style to go with general purpose use – document processing, internet surfing and average games. If you’re more into multimedia functions, a different system with better sounds, and a higher resolution is recommended – more so if you’re looking for a gaming rig.

At the end of the day, I'd still use my ASUS G53JW as I can't afford having delays in what I do. The VAIO E Series is a cute gadget though, and is less bulky than my monster for an ASUS laptop.

Soon to open: Ya Kun Kaya, Mall of Asia

2011-03-27T16:07:00.000+08:00

If there's good news to be heard, it's this. One of m favorite kaya establishments is soon to open its Mall of Asia branch, right beside SM Hypermarket.

Not everybody knows of what kaya toasts are but they're quite popular in Singapore as breakfast snacks. A good friend of mine even buys a whole bunch for him to munch on the whole day. Kaya toasts are often paired with a generous amount of yakun or yacon spread, one that gives the snack its distinct flavor. I personally love asking for extra yakun spread just because I'm a kid who loves thick amounts of jam spread all over my toast. Also, while others like drinking coffee with their kaya toasts, I prefer eating them with hot chocolate--dipping the toasts halfway before finishing each serving.

Ya Kun Kaya, Mall of Asia is scheduled to open in May 2011.

Nerds: A box of rainbow sweetness

2011-03-25T20:57:00.000+08:00

I'm back with another reliving-my-childhood-memories episode and this time, it's a lot sweeter and colorful! A few days ago, I watched a movie to try unwinding after yet another stressful workday. Of course I had the usual popcorn, chips, and soda but my tongue was still far from satisfied. So I asked to be excused and went straight to Candy Corner to look for an ideal sweet alternative snack. After a few minutes of debating between getting a box of jellybeans and a box of Nerds, I ended up buying the latter--a wise choice if I may say so!

My very first Nerds experience takes me a long walk down memory lane. I was in first grade and I was only given Php 20 daily allowance, to be used for miscellaneous purchases. For kids my age, there was nothing better to use money for except to buy the yummiest treats. A classmate went to me to share with me a few bits of small, sweet candies of bright neon hues. "Ano yan?" I asked. "Nerds. Sarap no?" my classmate replied. (What's that?; Nerds. Delicious, huh?) It was hard not to ask for more! Regardless of what flavor you choose, there's this competing sweetness and sourness, typical of Nerds candies. My favorite has always been the red colored Nerds. I would assume they're either watermelon flavored or apple flavored; I could just munch on them the whole day!

The weirdest experiment I did with Nerds candies was to sink a generous amount of red Nerds candies in a glass of cold Sprite (the soda). My friends found it disgusting but the taste proved them wrong eventually.

These days, I rarely chew on candies as diet preferences have shifted upon growing up. Gone are the days when I would be buying candies by the bags. Instead, I just buy a few of my favorite sweets every once in a while, of which one of them would be a box of rainbow sweetness called Nerds.

16th Philippine International Hot Air Ballon Festival

2011-03-23T09:50:00.000+08:00

We were asked to cover this year's 16th Philippine International Hot Air Ballon Festival which was held at Clark Airfield (Clark Airbase), San Fernando, Pampanga from February 10 to February 13. Let the images speak about the event for the mean time as I muster up my gusto to write a feature on this. Enjoy!

People I was with/saw

Then Department of Tourism intern Mon Maningding (right)

Food buddy and guest Barbie :)

Enrico Dee of Byahilo

Department of Tourism writer Jahz Cruz and DOT intern Pauline Volpe

Brian Ong of The Philippines and Beyond

Hello, Strawberry Taho!

2011-03-19T22:48:00.001+08:00

If you don't know what strawberry taho is, you probably haven't been to Baguio yet.

Way up in the mountains of Benguet in Northern Luzon sits the ever popular Summer Capital of the Philippines, the home of strawberry taho. I've heard of stories of this refreshment-cum-snack dessert since childhood and finally had my chance to taste it the first time I went up Baguio in the late 1990's. Even as early as then, I did not really like how this variant of taho tastes. In fact, I found it quite disappointing, given the fact that my yaya (nanny) at the time kept saying she liked it. Could it be that I was just too hard to please as a kid?

Well, my poor relationship with strawberry taho didn't end there. Just recently, I had the chance to visit Baguio again for Panagbenga Festival 2011 thanks to the Department of Tourism. It was already lunchtime when the float parade finished and my stomach was already a-rumbling after failing to have breakfast. I was just about to give up when I saw a taho vendor and his metal barrels filled with soy, etcetera.

"Strawberry tahooooooooooooooooooo!" he exclaimed. "Strawberry tahooooooooooo, bagong gawa lang." (Strawberry taho, freshly made) I was reluctant in buying at first but since I was already near passing out, I had to buy a cup. Now, depending on which part of the city you're in, the price for a cup of strawberry taho may vary. Mine cost me Php 10 or roughly 20 US cents. I've heard that strawberry taho costs Php 25 in other parts of Baguio though but I guess Lady Luck was smiling at me that hot Sunday afternoon.

Bought this cup of strawberry taho somewhere along Session Road, Baguio City

It only took one sip for me to remember my first cup of strawberry taho. And again, I didn't quite like it. Perhaps my luck that day wasn't enough to lead me to quality strawberry taho. I found the taste predictably sweet. It was too sweet, to be precise. If it weren't for the distinct redness of the syrup used to spike its flavor up, I would not have considered it special. Sure, there were bits of real strawberries but as I said, I'm hard to please. Nothing about it was special. In a way, it bore me.

To fans of strawberry taho, I tried. I really tried my best to like it but there wasn't anything worth noting about this taho variety aside from it using strawberry (syrup?) as a sweetener.

I tried making strawberry taho days after I got back from my Baguio trip. I simply bought a mug's worth of soy pudding (tell me if there's a better word for that white stuff they use for the drink), made my own arnibal or sugar solution/syrup by dissolving brown sugar in boiling water and mixing chunks of strawberry and a bit of strawberry jam. The resulting taste was somewhat close to that of the strawberry taho I had in Baguio. This experiment made me want to try to make blueberry taho, mango taho, etcetera. Good luck to that! :))

Un soir à Paris Délice: Authentic French food at the heart of Manila

2011-03-15T21:25:00.001+08:00

I vaguely remember the first time I had real French food. I recall being left speechless after having my first spoonful of cassoulet, cooked by my friend. He explained to me how different it would taste if he were to use ingredients not authentically French. This very fact is the reason why a bakery located at the heart of Manila keeps receiving thumbs up's from both new and returning customers--they just wouldn't have it any other way!

During the latter parts of 2010, Paris Délice opened its doors to the public with great optimism, boasting of quality dishes and pastries that are sure to satisfy people who love French food as well those who are totally clueless about French cuisine. Located at the intersection of Makati Avenue and Juno street, the strikingly simplistic establishment stands in streak contrast to its immediate neighbors. I never had a chance to see it during daytime but the way I saw it that evening when I visited, I just had to release a happy sigh.

Right outside the bakeshop stands a miniature of the famous Eiffel Tower to greet guests and passersby. The facade was well lit and looked very inviting. The place was spacious inside, complete with comfortable couches and minimalistic elements adorning the whole store. There were also tables and chairs at the porch, perfect for customers who want to dine en plein air.

Once we got to the counter, we were greeted by Thibault and Florian, co-owners of Paris Délice. We were recommended to try their sandwiches as these are bestsellers of Paris Délice, thanks to meticulous ingredient preparation and particular baking procedures typically French.

Don't they just look lovely with those smiles on their faces? :)

The sandwiches had the trademark taste found in French bread made with only the best ingredients possible. When asked why their bread tasted so amazing, Florian released a smile and said, "It's because we use ingredients from France. I have papers to prove they're really from France!" He says they tried making bread employing the same French baking techniques using ingredients available in the Philippines but the resulting taste was not even close to how French bread is supposed to taste. I understood his point as I have tried making pan de sal before using ingredients available in China and the result was just so-so. "All our breads are freshly baked everyday. We bake five times each day to ensure our breads and pastries are fresh and of the right texture," says Florian.

Le Lillois. Chicken, bacon, mayonnaise, tomatoes, lettuce.

L'European. Forest ham, Emmental cheese, mayonnaise, lettuce.

Moments later, we were asked to try their pastries. Surprisingly, the croissant and le petit pain au chocolat that we tried were of the right softness even after sitting on the glassed shelves for half an hour already. The dark chocolate filling blended perfectly with the bread, making each bite an ensemble of yumminess!

L-R: Le petit pain au chocolat, and croissant

To finish our already wonderful night at Paris Délice, Thibault brought out samplers of their popular choquettes. Eating these delicious bite-sized treats by themselves is acceptable but wait till you pair them with Paris Délice's hot chocolate.

Les Choquettes

Here's a local product! The chocolate used for Paris Délice's hot chocolate is locally produced

I didn't try their salads and soups (they feature a different soup per week) but I will surely be back to try their quiches.

Though reluctant to call it a night, I had to leave Paris Délice with a full tummy, completely satisfied after eating authentic French food.

À la prochaine fois!

(Click here to see the menu of Paris Délice)

Miscellaneous shots

Braving hypertension and eating Razon's Sizzling Bulalo

2011-03-12T10:25:00.000+08:00

It has been months since I last had my share of Razon's Sizzling Bulalo and I must say, yesterday was the right time to have another shot at this VERY sinful dish.

I remember my first time trying Razon's version of the popular Filipino dish called bulalo. It was raining hard and I was stuck at Market! Market! so I opted to just have lunch. After having a look at the many food stall options, I found Razon's menu appealing--well, just the bulalo.

The cashier told me that Razon's Sizzling Bulalo is different from other variants of bulalo in that they make sure the sauce in which the meat ports are soaked in is extra thick, sure enough to clog a few arteries or so (I did say it's sinful). Kidding aside, I was told that the dish is a bestseller and is worth a try. I followed her advice so a few minutes later, a plate of sizzling beef chunks was served to me, complete with a small bone whose marrow looks just as delectable.

It does look yummy, doesn't it? Be sure to add lots and lots of hot sauce for good measure :)

The beef chunks are swimming in a thick, gravy like sauce that tastes of butter, pepper, and other mild spices. Surely, this dish should not be consumed while continuously gulping down cold drinks as doing so will surely cause a bit of discomfort. Nonetheless, it's always a fun idea to be visiting Razon's every once in a while to commit sin this good.

Bloom, Baguio! Bloom!: Panagbenga 2011

2011-02-28T16:46:00.002+08:00

Thanks to the Department of Tourism (DOT), I got the chance to participate in this year's Panagbenga Festival. This once in a year festival that takes place in Baguio City is known for the variety of flowers used in designing floats of different businesses and organizations throughout the city. For Panagbenga 2011, there were 22 groups in total, of which a good number was comprised of drum and lyre performers, and dancers.

As a first time participant, I had no idea what to expect aside from seeing various floats adorned with flowers. Although there is an assigned theme each year, participants to the float design competition are given freedom in decorating their floats as long as they make the most use out of the flowers that can be found in the area.

By 7:30 AM, the roadsides were already filled with spectators waiting for the program to commence

Looking for a good spot to setup a tripod was no easy task given that the crowd for Panagbenga 2011 was significantly thick on both sides of the road. I was stationed next to media crew from QTV and even they found it difficult to manage the crowd. We were initially told that the floats would be arriving at 7AM but eventually heard that the event was not going to start till 8AM. By the time that it did, the sun was already up and taking good shots was a chore--made even more difficult thanks to people flooding the view.

My view of things from the circular garden

Things were looking really bad for me as I failed to inform DOT of my intentions of covering the event so I was not given a media pass this time around (as opposed to the Lantern Festival 2010 in Pampanga, and the more recent International Hot Air Balloon Festival that also took place in Pampanga). Luckily, people from DOT-Manila and DOT-CAR spotted me and was able to pull me from the roadside.

Of all the floats that I saw, I would say there were two that really caught my attention. The first float that I particularly liked was the one by Samsung. Aside from boasting of a float that had a big white fox in front, the execution was really well done. The flower
selection was exquisite and everything seemed to blend together nicely. The second float that had a good following was the float made by the Efficascent Oil team. Anyone who has seen the movie Avatar will easily notice that their float was inspired by characters and elements from the film. I just didn't understand the relevance of the Santo Nino statue that stood behind Avatar's Toruk (Great Leonopteryx).

Cute white fox, you are!

Toruk, the king of Pandoran skies, gracing Efficascent Oil's float

More float photos (in random order)

What better way to promote businesses than to have celebrities ride the floats? In photo: Empoy Marquez (left) and Danita Paner (right)

Enchong Dee on one of the earlier floats

A very game and cheerful Department of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim greeted the crowd, with mobile phone in hand to take photos of the huge turnout for Panagbenga 2011

Seeing blue and red. Department of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim (left) waves to the crowd while National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) Director Juliet Villegas (right) smiles at the camera

The experience from Panagbenga 2011 was surely memorable--in more ways than one. This year's festival taught me well that alarms should be set at least 2 hours before any major Philippine festival if one wishes be able to go to the event's location and find a good spot, be able to have breakfast, and most important of all, take a shower to greet the day with good odor. Whew!

Oh, I guess also worth mentioning is the longer-than-the-usual trip back to Manila after the festival. What usually takes seven hours on an ordinary Victory Liner bus becomes a hellish 10-hour ride on zigzag roads and dusty highways. Be sure to bring a complete series of shows and extra batteries with you to keep you busy (and entertained) as the ride home can reach epic slowness comparable to a turtle race.

Miscellaneous shots

Having a bite at Yang's Fried Dumpling (小杨生煎)

2011-02-25T00:07:00.005+08:00

Whenever I get a chance to visit Shanghai, there's one thing I always make sure to do: visit Yang's Fried Dumpling! No other dumpling store in Shanghai shares the same level of popularity as this [originally] hole in the wall food place.

I remember my very first time to try their popular fried dumplings. It was early Spring and my friend took me there to try their "ball dumpling," as my friend called it. Of course, to say "fried dumplings" wouldn't give me a good idea of how their take on dumplings would look so you can't blame her for exerting her best effort. :) She took me to an alley located at the convergence of Shimen Yi road (石门一路) and Wujiang road (吴江路), where food establishments abound! It was a treat to both the eyes and the nose as almost every restaurant cooked some of their dishes outside using charcoal grills.

At both sides of the busy alley, waiters and restaurant owners shouted to passersby, inviting them to eat at their respective restaurants. But we were there for a completely different reason. We proceeded to Yang's Fried Dumpling, which was not hard to find due to the long queue in front of it.

They served their customers through an open store window that showed how their workers and cooks prepared the batches of dumplings before and after they are fried. We ordered 小杨生煎 as there are four pieces to a single order.

We were both given a bowl of four dumplings each and were asked to proceed inside to be seated. I was quite apprehensive about the taste as I haven't tried that variety of dumplings but when I did, I was more than excited to finish my order so I could get another one.

The secret, I believe, is in the soup or stock used inside the dumpling and the way the meat was prepared. The combination of the juicy meat and herb-rich stock was just perfect! The outer shell that holds all the ingredients inside made eating the dumplings even more fun.

On my most recent visit to Shanghai, I discovered two things:

1. The food street at Shimen Yi road - Wujiang road has been demolished, which means the same fate happened to Yang's Fried Dumpling.

2. Yang's Fried Dumpling transfered and opened two branches. One on the 2nd floor of a nearby shopping mall, and the other one along Huanghe road (黄河路).

I invited my best friend to have Yang's Fried Dumpling for breakfast since we didn't have the chance to visit during the first few days of our stay in Shanghai--and it was our last day in the city anyway. When we got there at an early 8 AM, the line outside the restaurant was ALREADY LONG! I didn't imagine that, despite transferring to a more commercial building, they would still have a big following. So we queued up to pay at the cashier and queued again to get our orders.

What I noticed about this branch of Yang's Fried Dumpling is the evident cleanliness of the place, although smaller than the two-storey original. Also, they now show the sanitation permit issued by the city's health department; so don't you worry about eating there! They serve food that is both good, and clean.

小杨生煎! The reason why people keep coming back to this restaurant.

I was just a bit disappointed because the underside of the batches served to us were a bit too toasted. Chewing on the skin was a chore! Nonetheless, the taste of the stock and the meat inside was just as phenomenal as the previous ones I ate at their original branch along Shimen Yi road - Wujiang road.

Cadbury Peppermint: The chocolate I'd die for

2011-02-20T15:33:00.000+08:00

A sweet tooth is often associated with kids but I'm one kid that never outgrew it. Of all my favorite chocolates (and the list is long), I have one brand and flavor that I'd die for, no questions asked. Cadbury Peppermint is probably one of the best peppermint chocolates ever produced and by golly, I always crave for it whenever my bars run out.

The sad reality behind this chocolate though is that it CANNOT be bought from just about any supermarket or candy stand. One can mostly find Cadbury Peppermint chocolates in duty-free stores and/or supermarkets. It's a bit unfair but that's one fact I had to deal with since time immemorial.

Whenever my mom goes to the US, I make it a point to ask her to bring home a bunch of Cadbury Peppermint for me--just to satisfy my cravings. I know, it may sound as if I'm a spoiled kid but it seriously has become an obsession. Truly, it's the chocolate I'd die for.

See that core?

That green filling's responsible for my more than 15 years of obsession for this delicious chocolate.

Oh, and aside from duty-free stores Cadbury Peppermint chocolates are also on sale at S&R outlets within the Philippines! Yey!

How about you? What's your favorite chocolate?

Yummy Tiramisu at Manila Diamond Hotel

2011-02-17T14:42:00.000+08:00

While the rest of the world celebrated Valentine's on expensive dates with their special someone, I took the liberty of trying another of Manila Diamond Hotel's cakes.

For cake lovers, the name Cake Club is already a familiar one given that Diamond Hotel launched its cake line some three years ago at the Rockwell Power Plant Mall. Their cakes are by far some of the most celebrated ones in the Metro, and with good reason! For each time I try one of their cakes, I find myself craving for more. Sure, there are those that are not for everyone as the taste can be quite--for lack of a better word--peculiar. I remember trying a dessert that looks like a pizza but makes use of several fruity (?) toppings. That one, I found hard to chew.

For last February 14, however, I opted to go for a name I am familiar with so I chose their Tiramisu.

It was a hard choice really. Choosing between their Supermoist (which I already had several times in the past) and this one. Luckily, Manila Diamond Hotel's Tiramisu didn't disappoint!

That shiny glaze on top, I believe, is honey :)

I have had different kinds of tiramisu in Manila and I must say that this version is probably the closest one to the tiramisu that was made by my Italian best friend (hello there, Mikka!). In terms of taste, this one's a winner: just the right amount of coffee and honey, plus the chewy layers in between. I don't mind finishing a whole cake on my own.

This cake is going to my must eat again list. Try it when you visit Manila Diamond Hotel!