Post New Year, the whole family motored down to Tagaytay City. Excitement was in the air because the kids and I haven’t been here for a long time and it was also the hubby’s first time to see the place.

Due to the notorious traffic along the South Expressway, I’ve mercilessly given up going to Tagaytay through the years in favor of other itineraries in the North. But I guess absence does make the heart grow fonder….

On the way there, we first make a lunch stop at Kanin Club in Paseo de Sta. Rosa. As expected of this in-demand resto, we had to wait for a few minutes to get a table and a longer time for our food. Even though a part of me wanted to try their crispy dinuguan again, I was craving for the paksiw na bangus but it fell short of expectations. The sauce of the paksiw had the consistency of soup

Arriving in our destination, we checked in at Hotel Dominique which was quite near the rotonda. We chose this hotel because we were able to get a good rate here: P4,500 or approximately $100 for a two bedroom, two bathroom casita with attic (and own parking space.) The Spanish-inspired hotel looked small from the highway, but it was spacious inside. It even had a swimming pool.

What is a trip South of Manila without the overlooking view of Taal Lake and the volcano? We chose to hang out in the view deck of the Taal Vista Hotel and later settle for drinks at their Cafe on the Ridge. Brrr! It was cold. Tagaytay weather can really rival Baguio at this time of year. It was also foggy that day but we arrived just in time to catch the beautiful sunset.

Dinner was at Bag of Beans which is famous for its pies, raisin bread and mini aviary. The owner is a Filipina married to a British guy. We’ve tasted better pies but the place rates high in terms of ambiance. The resto has expanded and you’ll be pleased to find not just a table, but your own private hut.

In the morning, we chose to have a savory breakfast of pancakes and omelettes at Buon Giorno of The Cliff House Tagaytay. I liked not only this restaurant (service was good) but the whole complex itself since it’s picturesque and features other reputable establishments like The Fire Lake Grill and Cafe Breton. The boutique hotel, The Inn at Cliffhouse Tagaytay, has also just opened and should be a must-try the next time we’re in the city.

Lunch was spent at Chateau Hestia, one of the new “out of the way” restaurants located in the outskirts of the city (I think its address is already Silang, Cavite). This resto prides itself in its European menu since the owner is Swiss. The kids gorged on their gourmet pizzas while the hubby had his French onion soup, salad and schnitzel. But my order of a Reuben sandwich was a big disappointment. I am still in search of a good Reuben around. Overall though, service was good and guests will surely have a good time roaming around their spacious garden,complete with swings, a hanging bridge and rooms for their Bed and Breakfast.

If you’re going to Chateau Hestia on a date, don’t forget to give your loved one these I Love You chocolates from Belgium, tee hee

Unfortunately, this trip didn’t bring any exciting culinary discoveries for me. Still, Tagaytay wins it for the cool weather, the nice view and the prettiness of its restaurants. I am looking forward to visiting with the family again soon!

As I said, even on a lean month like September, lodgings in a tourist town like Coron were fully-booked, especially popular ones like the Village Lodge and the overrated Sea Dive. So we ended up in the most expensive place, the Coron Gateway Hotel which was on its soft opening at that time. This was located in a nondescript building that looked more like an office than anything. The room cost us P3,500 a night, but we were certainly satisfied when we saw it.

I liked its interiors, and an LCD TV wasn’t something I expected to find in a provincial hotel. We also had a balcony that looked out into the sea, a big bathtub, a shower and a marble-tiled bathroom. Because of its features, I’d happily recommend Coron Gateway to couples scouting for their Coron honeymoon. It’s better than being marooned in a resort like Club Paradise, especially as there are many activities you can do in Coron itself.

Now am sure some people would frown on the hotel’s location since it’s beside the town market. The road isn’t paved as well so there were muddy parts. But this wasn’t a big issue for me as I like checking out the public market when am in a certain place. The seafront view in our room also made up for it, plus the fact that we were just a few walks away from our favorite restaurants and commercial stores.

Unfortunately though, we were only able to try Coron Gateway Hotel’s accommodations. We didn’t even get to try their coffeeshop, probably because we were taken aback by misspelled items on the menu like chicken finger and potato leak soup I don’t know if it was because they were on a soft opening, but even the hotel staff weren’t wearing uniforms. In terms of the cleanliness of the place though, we didn’t have any complaints.

At the time of our visit, there were only two price ranges for the rooms: P3,500 for the junior suites, and P7,500 for their so-called presidential suites. The latter had a living room, a dining area and kitchen ~ definitely ideal for families and big groups.

Truth to tell, Coron in Palawan was the most memorable place I visited this year, especially if you count the uber-turbulent flight we had there on bad weather. I also couldn’t forget this place since this is where we made Baby Z, tee hee. I guess it was the powerful combination of nature and nurture that did us in

Coron foremostly entices you with its lush beauty. One major activity here is island-hopping where you can enjoy the sea, the mountains and the islands in their full splendor. Must-visits are the some of the town’s famous nature spots:Siete Pecados, the Twin Lagoon, Cayangan Lake, Barracuda lake and Maquinit Hot Springs.

For a fee of P1,300 or so, a boatman and his team will take you to the islands for a day on an outrigger boat. Be prepared to shell out extra because entering each island will set you back another P100-200 which they charge to tourists as “environmental fees.” Before setting off to the sea, you can also choose to have the boatman buy fresh fish and produce in the wet market, and they will grill it for you when you have your lunch stopover (we ate in Banol Beach, a small stretch of a beach maintained by the Tagbanuas, a native tribe.)

Accommodations are a-plenty in Coron, but it was probably our mistake that we didn’t book beforehand. Upon arriving, we first went to Sea Dive Resort but it was fully booked (even on a lean month like September?) Next we went to the adjacent lodge called L&M Pe, but its standards weren’t acceptable to my non-backpacker husband:D Finally, somebody showed us the largely unpublicized, newly-opened Coron Gateway Hotel which I presume is the only five-star hotel in Coron. We got a junior suite and at 80 square meters or so, it was large enough for the two us. It had a big jacuzzi and our room had a balcony which looked out into the sea. This kept us happy and contented for a few days.

If you ask me for one travel tip on your stay in Coron, it would be to get a hotel or resort that’s in the center of town to save you from the hassle of tricycle trips. Staying in the center, or the commercial part of the town, meant that we were just a walk away from most restaurants, bars, bank ATMs, tour agencies, stores, and the market.

As for the cuisine, what can I say… the town certainly gets my vote as our food destination of the year! I feasted here on the freshest seafood and found two of my favorite restaurants: Kawayanan Grill and Bistro Coron (more on them in another post). Breakfasts would find us enjoying Continental fare at the bistro and talking to the Swiss owner, Bruno. Nights would find us hanging out at Kawayanan with its individual nipa huts, native ornaments and great-tasting, affordable dishes.

Coron is also an ideal jump-off point for trips to Culion (site of the former penal colony), Busuanga Island and the Calauit Safari but I guess these all give us reason to go back a second time! One lesson I learned: fly there on good weather

A stay in any of the beach resorts in Pundaquit (also spelled Pundakit), San Antonio, Zambales is a must if you’re going island-hopping around Capones, Camara and Anawangin, Cove. The number of resorts in the area has really grown and expect a few being built to reach completion as the area becomes a must-visit beach destination. In the days of the US bases, San Antonio was the site of the US military’s San Miguel Naval Communication Station, and even Anawangin was just their practice grounds then.

Our tour guide billetted us at the Canoe Beach Resort. I have no complaints about this place since it was simple and no frills – just the way we liked it. The centerpiece of Canoe is its huge pool, and of course the beachfront. There’s also a large barbecue pit for the use of the guests and it’s good since this means you can cook your food for free! Otherwise, there’s a separate pavilion where the coffeeshop is located. I liked taking my meals here since it has the view of both the pool and the captivating San Antonio mountains.

Here’s one picture I took of the beach after sunset. I like scenes like this since it makes me admire the rustic beauty of this country:

The next day, we went on a day trip to the much-talked about resort in Pundakit called Punta de Uian. At 19 hectares with another 20-hectare expansion, the place is indeed huge. It would tire one to go through the whole property without the aid of a vehicle.

“Grand” is the word to describe Punta de Uian, although it was kinda weird to see religious figurines all over and no recurring theme in terms of the furniture and interiors. Was thinking to myself that this place would really have been world-class if they hired professionals like an architect and topnotch interior designers.

A word about Punta de Uian. The resort is owned by a Filipino who won the lottery in the US so you can just imagine how the money they’ve spent in the resort is just a “drop in the bucket,” LOL. Uian is also the name of their only daughter, and that’s how the resort was named.

Things to do here: see the Igorot Village, use mini-all terrain vehicle and engage in all kinds of water activities.

Canoe Beach Resort
Mobile no. 09178810029
emil canoe_beachresort@yahoo.com

Rates:

Beachfront room (good for 2) P1,500
Poolside room (good for 2) 1,800
Dorm room (good for 10) 4,000

Punta de Uian
Telephone No. (047) 252-2692
Mobile No. 0918-888-UIAN

Rates:

Standard room P3,410 ++
Mountain View room 4,180
Suite with jacuzzi 6,600
(other rooms available)

A trip to Anawangin wouldn’t be complete without dropping by the adjoining islands, namely Capones and Camara. We were supposed to go to Camara first, but the waves proved too strong for our banca (outrigger boat) to dock and so we hopped over to Capones instead. It’s a good 20 to 30-minute ride away from our hotel in Barangay Pundaquit, depending on the weather. Along the way, you will not get bored and just admire the scenery because the sight of the vast blue sea and majestic mountains are simply breathtaking.

Finally, we arrive in Capones island which is made remarkable by huge boulders of rock. I admire the formations here because it looks like a sculptural work of art. Because the harsh noonday sun was beating down on us, hubby and I take refuge in a rocky shade and even enjoy a power nap. Waking up at an unholy hour that morning made us tired, and taking a rest here meant we were ready to embrace the cradle of Mother Nature.

Of course, Capones island is most famous for its 18th century lighthouse which primarily functioned as a beacon for seagoing vessels during the old days. From the beach, the lighthouse was a good one hour trek away. However, climbing the lighthouse is a must. Going to the top via a winding spiral staircase affords one the best views ever!

It’s quite a shame that some of my friends have been to the gem of a beach called Anawangin Cove ahead of me. Having been here with the hubby over the weekend, I can only be thankful that I didn’t pass up the chance to go here. (Waste no time, if you must. My friend J predicts that in two years, Anawangin will no longer be the off-the-beaten track destination that it is now. The tourists will come in droves, and then it will be another Boracay or Puerto Galera. Hope not.)

One big attraction of Anawangin is that it is so cheap and easy to go here, being only three hours or so from Manila via the spanking new stretch of a super-highway called SCTEX. If you choose not to camp out, accommodations will only set you off by an average of a thousand pesos per night and a boat trip around the islands is only P1,500 or so.

On the way to Anawangin, the Zambales mountain ranges were, in themselves, a revelation: they were simply magnificent and breathtaking.
The landscape was dotted by unique rock formations and deep blue waters which have made this part of town a popular spot for surfing and diving.

How to go to Anawangin Cove: one can do so either by a long five-hour trek through the Pundaquit range, or by a thirty-minute boat ride from our jump-off point, Barangay Pundaquit in the town of San Antonio, Zambales. We choose the former, and catch our breaths upon landing in a fine stretch of white sand that is the cove itself.

One argument against the beach’s overcommercialization: it was very clean and well-maintained… to think that the place wasn’t government property at all. Anawangin was equipped with only the basics, like a deep well for drawing water and a makeshift toilet. Yet, its roughness hasn’t desisted people from camping all night here. I also had fun savoring Aling Meding’s halo-halo for thirty pesos only I don’t know how she preserves her ice with no electricity in the middle of nowhere, but she gets by.

Notice the tall pine trees in the picture: they are what makes this place unique. What also makes Anawangin extraordinary is that the the stretch of sand divides the vast sea, and the lake with the pine forest. Call it “having the best of both worlds.”

Traveller’s rating: Beautiful and easily accessible, the areas in and around Anawangin Cove is surely a must-visit when you’re in Luzon, Philippines.

(Text and photos are all rights reserved: annalyn.net)

Our trip to Coron, Palawan last September would prove to be one of the most memorable ever, especially for this blogger who is Little Miss Afraid of Plane Rides I really should know better than ride a propeller plane on bad weather, but there was simply the inescapable lure of Coron beckoning me and the hubby on our planned second honeymoon.

Our plane wasn’t even half-full when we left NAIA Terminal 2 that morning. I felt comforted by a group of giggling college students who were having the time of their lives taking group pictures before the flight. Like us, they were excited because this was their first trip to Coron too. I would see the same college students holding the motion discomfort bags 30 minutes later, when it became evident that the plane ride was far from being pleasant.

On the other hand, Mr. Z – who’s used to riding helicopters- considered it normal, even though at one point he commented: “I don’t know why they’re flying into the clouds, when they should be over the clouds.”

I distract myself by talking to the stewardess:

Me: Miss, have you been in a flight this,ehrmm, turbulent?
FA: Yes ma’am.
Me: Oh well, what flight was it?
FA: In an Airbus.
Me: Oh. So why hasn’t the pilot spoken since the flight started?
(and before Miss FA can answer me, the pilot is finally overheard on the PA system)

Pilot: Ladies and gentlemen, we are now approaching Busuanga Airport. Please expect light to moderate turbulence before we land…..

WAAAHHH!

I was quite relieved to hear we were about to land, but even the landing itself was hard and rough. I even thought “nosedive” was the more appropriate word. To cut a long story short, we arrived in one piece in Coron, bumps and all. God bless this beast…..

In fairness, I also talked to a PAL Express commuter that day and she also said that their flight was rough. I was quite in a daze when we landed in Busuanga Airport which was still a good 45-minute van ride to Coron proper. In due time, I would think it was all worth it because Coron was beautiful!

I made sure to have my tsinelas (slippers) taken in the different sceneries. Just in case anybody’s wondering, Cebu Pacific has its ongoing Wandering Juan photo contest discussed in this previous post. Just take a photo of “interesting sights and people” featuring a pair of slippers in a Cebu Pacific destination of your choice, and upload the photos to the official contest website.

I believe the contest deadline is nearing now. Registration of entries is from July 1, 2009 to October 31, 2009. Fifteen finalists will be announced from November 2-16, and these will be posted on the contest website for online voting from November 20-December 20, 2009. Tabulation of online votes and the judging of the finalists will be on December 21-22. Free trips and irresistible road warrior gadgets are at stake for the winners.

Am not sure if I want to join myself, as the present batch of pictures uploaded to the Wandering Juan photo gallery are already uber-creative. But I’d like to lend my support to this project, being a Cebu Pacific traveller – bumps or no bumps!

I remember how excited I was to see Sentosa – Singapore’s island resort – on this trip, as I haven’t been there before. It was “masterplanned” like all of Singapore. Don’t know if it was because September was no peak season, but I found it too quiet in fact. Far from being the crowded nightmare that was the Hong Kong Disneyland. And certainly far from the “character” of our beach resorts with its barbecues on the beach and ladies selling pearl necklaces by the road.

The most “touristy” thing I did was visit the Underwater World but sadly, our Manila Ocean Park was better (and bigger!), if only because nothing rivals the view of the Manila Bay. Underwater World’s advantage was the moving travellator and the fact that along with the Sing$18 fee came a free ticket to watch a dolphin show in the Dolphin Lagoon. They also offered an interesting Dive with the Sharks package.

Another huge merlion statue like the one near the Esplanade.

I like this colorful block of letters design on Siloso Beach. I was actually wondering why they called one of their beaches Palawan

We stayed in the Amara Sanctuary Resort which I can very well remember for having large glass windows all over, the windows looking out into lush gardens.

I am pretty sure Sentosa won’t be the same the next time I swing by, with construction in full swing for Resorts World Sentosa set to open next year. Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore’s first integrated resort, will feature Universal Studios Singapore.

It’s amazing to see how Singapore has changed in a year’s time since I went there. There’s a lot of activity in the landscape, as judged by construction cranes all over the place. Take for example the new mall, ION Orchard, which is beside the Wisma Atria and Takashimaya on Orchard Road. Mostly I went here because some friends of mine were talking about its food court, which is now shadowing the Food Republic in terms of its offerings.

Initial impression: awesome! In a place like Singapore, am quite content not to be eating in hotel and other fining dining places. Why not, when even their fastfood has chandeliers?

And supposing you get tummy ache after digesting all the food (the ION Orchard Food Hall has 80 or so stalls in their location) …. you’d be happy to take a break in their swanky-looking toilets.

Singapore’s traditional hawker fare is good but I DO like eating in their food courts because it gives me an idea about what food trends are taking place, or are red-hot right now. The only disadvantage about eating in such a big complex is – as the husband would say – “it would take you 45 minutes to decide on what to eat for lunch.” A daunting task, especially if you’re a first-timer.

To cut a long story short, here’s what Mr. Z and I ate -

Lunch on Day 1:

Suckling pig and roast pork combo from Guan Chee Hong Kong Roast for me. I ordered this because I thought this was the suckling pig my friends were raving about, but a little sleuthing proved me wrong. Still, this was a good meal (for Singapore $10) and not to be regretted

The hubby had this bowl from Scott’s Beef Noodles which he also liked. This went with the aloe vera drink he ordered. Prior to this, I thought aloe vera was for shampoos and lotions only, LOL.

We shared a plate of fried carrot cake from Fatty Weng’s Oyster Omelette. It was my first time to try the carrot cake, which was far from being filled with carrots. The stalls serving traditional hawker fare are in a separate section of the basement called the Food Opera. It was impressive how they set up the place. They even have posters showing the history of the food stalls.

Breakfast on Day 2:

We were in the mall before 10 a.m. and most of the stalls were still closed. We found sanctuary in the Tea Loft, which served the kind of breakfast I was looking for.

I had corned beef thick toast with two soft boiled eggs and kopi. I could have had kaya toast, but I was tired of that already. The corned beef toast proved yummy… wish some place offered this soon in the Philippines. Heck, we can even do this at home Comfort food!

The husband (errr, Mr. Noodles) had this delicious-looking laksa.

For take-out:

A box of divine Peking Duck for Singapore $6. The stall I was looking for! Sliced roast duck flavored with savory hoisin sauce and rolled in a delicate egg crepe. They had roast suckling pig as well. Taking the box back to our hotel room certainly made my day. The box, in fact, was only able to make it to our next stop, Starbucks

Some more photos taken from the gargantuan Food Hall:

I was actually salivating at the sight of these “steamers.” They reminded me of chocolate-colored bibingka …. with chocolate chips.

Crispy hot sandwich from a stall called The Taiyaki. The sandwiches, shaped like a fish, had different fillings. We liked the one flavored with azukin (red bean).

A Pinoy we met recommended trying out R Burger and their burger buns infused with marine collagen. It should be unique, since the buns look (and taste like?) siopao.

Mochi with different toppings … I like!

Fresh Vietnamese Spring Roll from The Orange Lantern.

Most recently, a foreign friend bent on staying for a time in the Philippines asked me for recommendations about places to go and the cost of living in the country. “Anywhere I should avoid? Like Angels City? I mean those places where sex tourist and ’sexpats’ gather. Don’t want to end up somewhere like Thailand’s Pattaya. ”

I presume Angeles City has such a rep among the males by virtue of word of mouth and what they read in the forums. I was here this week and the trusty pedicab I rode in drove through the city’s (in)famous bar strip in Fields Avenue where some joints were indeed open 24/7.

However, it’s an unfair accusation to just associate Angeles City with ‘ affordable girls’ and sleazy entertainment. I really like the food here…and I don’t mean the carnal kind The place was after all one of the sites of our forget-your-diet, ultimate food trip way back in ‘06.

This time around, I made sure to try the much-acclaimed C’ Italian Dining along Don Juico Avenue (also known as the Friendship Highway.) My first attempt to visit this resto during Christmas ‘07 was a failure because the place was closed. And my first impression now was that it looked like an enoteca due to the bar with all those bottles of wine that greeted guests upon entering. And of course those plates on the wall signed by satisfied guests.

Verdict: C’Italian deserves the accolades, even though it was a bit on the expensive side. Service was efficient and the food was very good. You should have a reason to go here though, like a date or a milestone celebration or simply be someone like me who’d like to know what the hype was all about.:D

The receptionist at the hotel recommended their panizza (P595), a cross between panini and pizza, which was the house specialty. It was a big square thin crust pizza with five cheeses which you had to top with alfalfa sprouts and fresh arugula leaves (served separately.) Only then can you roll it like shawarma. The fact that the pizza was thin and crusty enough made it perfect for biting. This, plus the order of spaghetti frutti di mare (570) , made it a very heavy meal. As a starter, the resto also serves their signature bread with salsa verde (green sauce) in olive oil. I could not wait to try their other specialties, if only the place was nearer. Fine dining all the way!

19 Copung Copung Grill along MacArthur Highway (near the grand-looking casino) was also another excellent resto we tried. The name is quite catchy.. I don’t know what the name means for Kapampangans, but Kopong Kopong over here sure refers to something that’s from a bygone era. Anyhoo, the resto serves the culinary specialties of Pampanga like sisig, adobong itik and others too exotic to write about. The waitresses are even garbed in their native Filipino costumes. A great place to drink beer, eat and hang out – the Pinoy way.

Last but unfortunately the least was my rather forgettable lunch at the VFW Canteen which I raved about in a previous post. This barbecue beef sandwich sure looked awesome on the outside, but was rather disappointing on the inside. The barbecue was sauce was too strong and sour for my taste. At P195, I would have been better off ordering the lunch specials, like the sirloin steak with mashed potato.

VFW Post 2485 Canteen is quite known for its huge American-size servings, for obvious reasons. VFW stands for Veterans of Foreign Wars. But it was quite a letdown to know they’ve scrapped a few of the choices from the menu, like the Reuben Sandwich and the S.O.S (Sh*t on Shingle). Don’t know what else is in store for this VFW. Like the veterans of war, it looks old and beaten.