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‘Road Adventures’ Category

  1. Subic vacation & stay at Lighthouse Marina Resort

    February 1, 2012 by ajay

    This is a rather belated post on our recent mini-vacation in Subic. We haven’t been travelling lately as I’ve been busy with a million other things. And when you can’t afford to be away for so long, three destinations near Metro Manila come to mind: Tagaytay, Clark & Subic. This time around, we chose the latter.

    It goes without saying: taking the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) takes the hassle out of travelling to Subic. From the NLEX, you can easily get to Subic in two hours’ time. Just be prepared to pay much higher road fees.

    SCTEX

    Upon entering the free port zone, we made sure to drop by Meat Plus Cafe along Sampson Road. There really aren’t too many outstanding restaurants in Subic and Meat Plus is a must-try because of its affordable, quality food. Here’s what’s good about this place:

    Meat Plus, Subic

    The apple fritters a la mode that my daughter had looked really appetizing.

    Apple fritters

    We checked in at the Lighthouse Marina Resort which had a good location along Waterfront Road. The resort’s Aqua Terrace room (rate: P7,000 ++ a night) had a king-size bed, 42-inch LCD TV, iPod dock and other modern amenities. I thought the best thing about the room was the ample-sized bath tub. You can see it from the bedroom, but you can always pull down the shutters if you’re not on honeymoon and sharing the place with other family members :)

    Lighthouse Marina Resort, Subic

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  2. Crimson Beach Resort & Spa in Mactan, Cebu

    October 9, 2011 by ajay

    Except for the chance to taste Zubuchon, my recent trip to Cebu was inconsequential. Strolling through the Ayala Center made me feel like I was just in Manila.Everything changed, however, when we went to the island town of Mactan which can be reached in 40 minutes from the city proper. There’s something a city slicker like me would kill for and that’s spending a day at the beach and enjoying postcard-perfect sights like these…

    Crimson Resort, Mactan

    We were billeted at the Crimson Beach Resort & Spa, the newest in the thriving island. The first thing that impressed me about this resort was the architecture which deftly combines Balinese and modern Filipiniana motifs. The lobby was small but had carefully-selected, eyecatching pieces like this four-way sungka ( a native Filipino game)

    Crimson Beach Resort & Spa

    We occupied a deluxe garden view room which had an approximate size of 44 square meters.I loved the hotel’s unique, elegant use of furniture and I said to myself this is how my country house would look like if I had the chance to someday:) Crimson certainly made good use of Cebu’s reputation as the hub of furniture artisans and craftsmen.

    Crimson Resort Mactan

    Crimson Resort Mactan

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  3. Hello Brisbane!

    May 6, 2011 by ajay

    Brisbane

    I’ve been enjoying the sights of Brisbane, capital city of Queensland, Australia. This was quite the unexpected blogger trip, courtesy of the kind folks from Windows Live Hotmail & Microsoft (Asia-Pacific). I’ve never really planned to travel Down Under until now and the reason I will tell you in my next post:)

    My first meal of the day upon arriving was at The Coffee Club: eggs benedict with smoked salmon and extra chipolata sausages. Throw in coffee and cake combo and my total bill went up to AUD$26. It’s not cheap to travel in Oz but I must say their cakes and other desserts look really good (hello Donna Hay!)

    The Coffee Club @ Brisbane

    So far I can say… the weather has been most amazing! Mild temperatures during the day (which makes people walk down in sandals and tube tops)… then a bit chilly in the evenings… a perfect combination I must say!

    Brisbane

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  4. Kyoto Jishu Shrine, the Cupid of Japan

    April 28, 2011 by ajay

    Okay, this is the last of my Kyoto posts. I just couldn’t resist writing about this place, knowing how some of my friends are trying to find love and will even resort to astrology, fortunetelling and other crazy schemes to know who their life partner will be!

    ( speaking of psychics and such, one said I will marry a white guy and other spot-on projections, but I’ve never consulted a manghuhula again since getting hitched, for fear of angering the gods… tee hee)

    Jishu Shrine

    The Jishu Shrine is within the complex of Kiyomizu Temple, but it is independent and does not form part of the temple. It’s known among its devotees as the Cupid of Japan. According to literature: “Japanese young people have looked up to and relied on Jishu Shrine as the dwelling place of the god of love and matchmaking.

    In front of the beautiful main building, there are two stones set about ten meters apart. They are called ‘love fortune-telling’ stones. If a person walks safely from one stone to the other with closed eyes, his or her love will be realized.”

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  5. Wearing the kimono in Kyoto

    April 28, 2011 by ajay

    I just couldn’t resist wearing the kimono – at the last minute! – in Kyoto. I’ve read Memoirs of a Geisha and all that stuff, and being garbed in traditional Japanese costume, was out there as one of my fantasies. It was a lovely day, and this pic of me amid the plum blossoms is something I will (ahermm!) treasure from our trip.

    Kimono in Kyoto

    Kyoto seemed to be the right place as I saw lots of people resplendent in their colorful costumes, even foreigners like me who appeared to like the whole experience.

    Kimono in Kyoto

    …. I also took inspiration from this wonderful creature called Hello Kitty! (If you notice, the sign says no camera, but I took a picture anyway)

    Hello Kitty in kimono

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  6. One fine day in Osaka Castle

    March 19, 2011 by ajay

    Have you noticed when you travel that there’s always the rush to see so many places in such a short time, so that the total effect for the tourist is to grow weary and tired? When we visited the famous landmark Osaka Castle, we decided that there’s going to be none of the “race to have the most number of photos” thing and just enjoy our day at the park, before taking the next train to Kyoto that is!

    First of all, I am enchanted with the idea of a castle and how there was so much to love about that park. Being a cool (not cold) day in March, I easily warmed to the vast expanse and what was left of the fall foliage which looked beautiful, even when bald.

    Osaka Castle

    Older Japanese people strolled the walkways of the park, almost in a single file. I gained a new understanding of the Japanese on this trip, at the same time trying to empathize with what’s happening up north. What’s in store for the future? Heaven knows, but somehow I can only feel nostalgic about it all.

    Osaka Castle

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  7. After the big quake, business as usual in Osaka, Japan

    March 15, 2011 by ajay

    We arrived in Osaka Sunday night. This was a trip I was hesitant to take because of the wrong timing: we planed in two days after the devastating earthquake slash tsunami that rocked Japan. And the cherry blossoms won’t show up till end of March yet.

    A few factors that made me decide to push through with the trip: my expiring Japan visa and a non-refundable, non-rebookable ticket. So much for promo fares that don’t protect you otherwise from acts of God and natural calamities. My only consolation is that we booked for Osaka which is far from the chaos and power outages of Tokyo. And our flight into Kansai via PAL was the smoothest ever, thanks to the good weather.

    A few Osakans I talked to told me the March 11 earthquake gave them the scare as well, but it didn’t seem evident in the coffee shops and the streets where it was business as usual.

    I enjoyed wandering through the covered walkways of Namba and Shinsaibashi. Osaka (like Tokyo) is expensive, if you want it to be, but there are also cheap finds, if you look closely. I was just aghast that a cup of coffee remains at $4 or more :D

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    Osaka is a bike-friendly city.

    Osaka

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  8. Fire Lake Grill & The Lake Hotel, Tagaytay

    February 21, 2011 by ajay

    It was my day-off on Valentine’s Day but somehow, I dreaded spending the day in Manila. Going to Tagaytay was a last-minute decision hubby and I made. ’twas a good thing the South Expressway is much better now compared to the last time we used it. We arrived in the cool, chilly city in a little more than an hour.

    Our home for this trip was The Lake Hotel which is very near Starbucks, Army Navy, Antonio’s Grill and all those modern restos by the ridge. We paid a corporate discounted rate of P4,320 for our Superior Lake View Room. It was modern but a bit small, mainly because they fitted two queen-sized beds into the space. But as they say, in Tagaytay, you’d pay an arm and a leg just to wake up to this view…

    The Lake Hotel Tagaytay

    For our Valentine’s Day dinner, we decided to skip the hotel coffeeshop and walk the few steps to neighboring Cliffhouse Tagaytay. It’s a restaurant complex composed of Buon Giorno, Cafe Breton, Cafe Platito, Fruits in Ice Cream Summer Cafe, Fling Frozen Yogurt and Fire Lake Grill.They’ve even tucked an upscale cozy inn. I love this area. The charming layout complements the stunning natural scenery and the view of Taal Volcano.

    Cliffhouse Tagaytay

    We were quite early for our 6 p.m. dinner at Fire Lake Grill and so we partook of dessert first :D Here it is, yummy mochi ice cream from Mochiko. A bit expensive at P70 for a small ball but it’s heaven to alternate between the velvety texture of the green tea ice cream (my chosen flavor) and the chewy dough.

    Ice cream mochi from Mochiko

    Soon enough, we hied off to our chosen dinner spot, arriving on the dot to choose which of the last two tables we preferred – the one beside the bar or the one by the door (ouch). Everything else was reserved. The staff of Fire Lake Grill looked very prepared for one of the busiest business days of the year.

    Fire Lake Grill

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  9. Hello Saigon! #maypogidito :D

    December 9, 2010 by ajay

    Mr. Z and I arrived in Ho Chi Minh city yesterday. It’s a dream trip where we will have a short sampling of the South (Saigon) and North (Hanoi) in the next few days. I am already feeling the vibe and spirit of Vietnam, especially the food! Took this photo of the city’s infamous flock of motorcycles from the window of our taxi yesterday. Their presence is like a colony of ants! :D

    P1040599

    I changed 3,000 Taiwanese dollars (left over from my previous trip) at the airport and got 1,920,000 dongs. Yay, this is one country where you can easily feel like a millionaire!! And am not kidding. The food and the shopping is good and cheap :)

    P1040594

    We checked in at our downtown hotel and was assisted to our room by a gracious porter. Sorry to rain on your parade Asec Mai pero #maypogidito . Or at least he didn’t look bad naman no?? :P

    P1040600

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  10. Mercato Centrale @ BGC : finally, a weekend food market in Bonifacio Global City

    November 22, 2010 by ajay

    Mercato Centrale is one good reason to be in Bonifacio Global City during weekends. Am glad they have launched a weekend market like this to rival those found in Makati City, Quezon City (Lung Center) and Pasig City (Banchetto).

    For now, it’s being marketed as a healthy, organic market but for us who love our burgers, bacon fat and pork belly, there are lots of appetizing choices too. Two hours was certainly not enough for me and the hubby to enjoy the flavors of this market. Now you know where to get your Christmas shopping done in case you want food gifts that are out of the ordinary.

    Mercato Centrale is open Saturdays and Sundays from 6 am to 12 noon at the corner of 9th Avenue and 30th St., BGC (look for the covered tent near the Spa of Bonifacio High Street).

    Some interesting people I saw at Mercato Centrale …. let’s focus on the food later :D

    Milena, the curvy Czechoslovakian owner of Milena’s Cakes, was herself manning the stall selling vegan, gluten-free desserts like caramel melted choco cake, apple pie, lemonade diet pie and cupcakes. I tasted some and it was unbelievably good ;)

    Milena @ Mercato Centrale

    Fashion models (from left) Raya Mananquil, Valerie de los Santos & Bianca Valerio show us how to dress fashionably for the weekend food tripping.

    Fashion models @ Mercato Centrale

    A certain blogger (okay, that’s me) with Mr. Our Awesome Planet, Anton Diaz. Anton and wife Rache organized Mercato together with RJ Ledesma and Janice Villanueva of Mommy Mundo. Photo taken by Azrael Coladilla.

    Mercato Centrale

    The BGC weekend market carries the products of heavyweights in the culinary scene like columnist/chef Claude Tayag of the famous Bale Dutung in Pampanga.

    Claude Tayag @ Mercato Centrale

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