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.

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:

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

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 is also just a walking distance to other restos, hotels and of course the beach! Here’s the view from our room’s verandah….

The familiar Lighthouse structure. Now you know why this hotel is named so. While this resort has higher prices than other hotels in the area, they make up for it in terms of the quality of the rooms, the good breakfast buffet and the level of attentiveness of the staff.

Because we were just staying overnight, we weren’t able to do the usual things like visit Ocean Adventure or go jungle trekking with the Aetas. I had a blast visiting Royal Duty Free though. I never saw so many chocolate brands in one room

Lighthouse Resort
Waterfront Road, Moonbay Marina
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Olongapo, Philippines
Trunk Line (Tel/Fax): (6347) 252-5000 or (6347) 252-7545
Toll Free Manila Number: (632)711-0019
website: lighthousesubic.com

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)

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.

Aside from the big 42-inch LCD TV in the bedroom, there was also a small TV in the bathroom (see mirror) – good for whiling the time away while you’re dipping in the tub. I thought it’s a nice touch

The six hectare resort is composed of 250 bungalow-style suites and villas. The more upscale room categories consists of the casitas and the private pool villas where you can choose between beach front and ocean front. They are all sized at 115 square meters. The lobby and dining areas were separated from the rest of the rooms but there’s no problem since you can always walk or call for a golf cart. Honestly, I prefer smaller resorts like Crimson since they’re easier to navigate through and it affords one greater privacy.

The buffet at the main restaurant Saffron had the usual seafood and international specialties. I liked it that the selection didn’t “overwhelm” unlike the ones in Manila (I am beginning to shy away from these buffets!) Only during breakfast did I get an idea of the resort’s huge Korean clientele.No wonder, one of the stations even had Korean food like kimchi (no complaints since I love their cuisine!) The bakery had good stuff as well and upon the recommendation of F & B director Janine Taylor, I bought the in-house banana loaf as pasalubong – huge, yummy and only P280:)

View of the resort grounds from the upper level.There are two pools with a majestic view of the sea -

I very much liked the vibe at the beachside Azure Bar.It was like being in Boracay or some other party place.

And of course, if I have to recommend something, try the signature massage (P1200) at the resort’s sprawling Aum Spa. It was so relaxing! I guess there’s a difference between a two hundred peso massage you can get in some cheapo joint and spas like Aum. With the former, you can sometimes have broken bones. Under the care of the well-trained masseuse at Aum, I felt good even weeks after the massage:)

So yes, this is the life! Too bad all vacations have to end. And now it’s back to the daily grind. We certainly had a good time at Crimson!

Crimson Beach Resort and Spa
Mactan Island, Lapu-Lapu City
Cebu, Philippines
Tel. No: 63-32 401 9999
Fax No: 63-32 401 9998

Email: info.mactan@crimsonhotel.com

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!)

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!

I’ve ridden the ferry which cruised the river and gave me some spectacular views. And among the other tourist things I did: ate yummy steak pie, cuddled a koala at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (the largest in the world!), and fed a kangaroo.

The first day I spent shopping at the huge Direct Factory Outlet mall in Brisbane since it was just beside Novotel, our hotel. Bought stuff from RipCurl, Nine West, Billabong and other brands. They were still expensive even at half off, but I figure they would still come out cheaper than if I bought them in Manila. Erase that, am just a shopping freak! LOL

I especially loved the selections at TYPO, an Australian chain that sells notebooks, school stuff and other curiosities. I bought a framed artwork with a design of matroushka dolls in them, and I really liked this journal too. What say you?

The al fresco cafe culture in Brisbane. Life here looks very laidback.

( 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)

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.”

It was interesting to see all the wishes that visitors of the temple wrote down on small wooden plaques for the heavens to read.

Common to shrines and temples, there were a lot of charms being sold and each one promised fulfillment of a variety of wishes such as a good marriage, safe delivery and the chance to love.

We never got around to writing on the plaques or buying the charms, but I did get to say my thanks to the god of love and matchmaking for granting my wish. After all, everyone of us deserves good fortune!

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.

…. 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)

Of course I thought I will never be able to walk comfortably in the outfit, but I was wrong. Wearing the kimono gives one the authentic Japanese feel and an insight into Japanese culture. I was able to learn that kimono styles and colors depend on the seasons, the age of the woman and her status – whether she’s married or single.

I thought the price for renting the kimono in a tourist area was expensive but it was actually affordable. I just availed of the cheapest plan at less than US$40 which already includes the kimono, obi (belt), wooden sandals, tabi or split-toed socks and the whole dressing up session. The only difference with the other “plans” is that there were less choices of styles and colors.

As expected, it was very elaborate and I don’t think people can do it by themselves. I was grateful for the expertise of my kimono dresser – a young lady who went about her business like she was just brushing her teeth. I can only recall now from memory how she made me wear two or three thin layers of very light clothing before cinching my waist with a belt, then the kimono, then the obi. The whole process took faster than I thought – less than 45 minutes.

But we weren’t finished yet. After the dress up, you can choose for a selection of hair styles for an extra US$10 or so. There’s another team to work on you. I remember they asked me some questions because I came from another country – friendly banter, by the way.

Honestly though, the part of the costume that I was in love with was the footwear, specifically the split-toed socks. I’ve never seen them in Manila. Luckily, I was able to take the pair home with me :

Overall I had a great experience with the kimono rental shop which was located on the path towards Kiyomizu Temple. I think their name was Okamoto. Friendly service, modern Zen interiors and very clean surroundings. Highly recommended if you happen to find yourself in the area someday.

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.

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.

People sat in the benches eating, talking, laughing and tending to their dogs. I just sat there admiring the surroundings while pining for a hot cup of coffee. The area around Osaka Castle was a public park, but everything was kept clean, even the toilets.

People were having fun with the cut-out photobooths….

A girl was having fun playing her transparent ball. We wanted a similar ball for our daughter, but it wasn’t available in any of the souvenir shops inside

I also liked these stone formations in the park which beautifully contrasted with the trees and the buildings in the background. It was very serene, and doesn’t give an indication of the overall turmoil that Japan is experiencing right now.

A view of Osaka Castle.

Its history dates back to 1496 when “a high-ranking monk of the Joudoshinshu sect had a monastic residence built near the site of the present-day Castle. This eventually grew into a large temple known as Osaka Honganji. The temple boasted great power and influence until 1580 when it yielded to Nobunaga Oda during his campaign of national unification and it burned to the ground.

After the death of Nobunaga Oda, Hideyoshi Hashiba (Toyotomi) took control of political affairs and began construction of a castle on the site of Hinganji Temple. He built a castle befitting the permanent residence of the ruler of Japan. However, after his death, political control moved to the Tokugawas and the castle fell during the Summer War in Osaka in 1615.”

“By command of the second shogun, Hidetada, reconstruction of Osaka Castle began in 1620 which took 10 years to complete. The castle played a major role as the base for the shogunate’s control of Western Japan. Many buildings were later destroyed by blaze during the turbulent transition to Imperial Restoration.

After the Meiji Period, the Osaka Castle site was used by the army. During this time, in 1931, public efforts and enthusiasm brought about the reconstruction of the Main Tower, which operates as a museum today. The area around the castle were damaged during the bombing raids of World War II, but were restored and turned into a historic park after the war.”

(From a brochure)

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

Osaka is a bike-friendly city.

I delighted in taking pictures of the girls in all kinds of fashions.

I spent more than an hour wandering through the eight-storey Tokyu Hands Osaka. Like Muji, Tokyu Hands is a lifestyle store but probably better since they offer do-it-yourself workshops. Mostly, I gravitated towards the store’s enticing bento collection.

KitKat in different flavors for the kids. The array of KitKat choices in Japan is simply amazing, and they vary with every store! Some flavors in our bag: Kobe pudding, caramel pudding, purple sweet potato, yuzu citrus and Japanese chili, green tea! by the way, all yummy

You know you’re in Osaka when….. you see the Glico running man! ( I dunno why they say this, I saw a few Glico men. And somehow, the Glico man wasn’t lit up the night we strolled through Dotonburi)

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…

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.

We were quite early for our 6 p.m. dinner at Fire Lake Grill and so we partook of dessert first 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.

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.

I have to hand it to the kitchen for the fast service for our six-course meal. The P1,595 per person price tag (excusive of the wine) was a luxurious treat, but also indicative of the offerings of other fine dining establishments who were happy enough to hide their regular menus just for the highly-commercialized V-Day.

Our dinner at the grill was more of a tasting meal, with everything served in small portions. I knew deep inside that hubby will not be too happy about this, as he prefers his “man food” of hefty burgers and mountain o’ fries However, Valentine’s Day being what it is, comfort food (like we know it!) shouldn’t take center stage, but rather food that can be savored amid sips of wine and hushed conversations.

That being said, I relished to the last bite the exquisite meal we had in Fire Lake Grill. This is the kind of food to have when you’re quite tired of the deep-fried tawilis and piping-hot bulalo that Tagaytay is famous for.

Fire Lake Grill’s menu for Valentine’s Day 2011:

amuse bouche of herb cured salmon with vegetable herb relish

Foie gras terrine with pear-shallot jam, balsamic glaze and toasted baguette slices

Roasted beet root and wild rocket salad with citrus dressing, orange dressing, toasted pine nuts and shaved parmesan

Fresh tomato soup with basil foam ( i love this! heaven in a cup:)

Grilled Australian strip loin steak with potato puree and red wine port sauce , red bell pepper coulis, and baked zucchini

Lime-infused panna cotta with passion fruit sauce and fresh tropical fruits (rating: divine!)

The Lake Hotel
General Emilio Aguinaldo Highway
Maharlika East, Tagaytay City
Tel. No. (63-2) 7257243

Fire Lake Grill
Unit 3 Cliffhouse Tagaytay
General Emilio Aguinaldo Highway
Tagaytay City
Call 046 4832069 or 0927 9144604
for reservations

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

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??

I am seeing lots of good-looking ladies too. And the worst thing about them is their 22-inch waistlines that can rival Venus Raj. Gaaah.

The street food scene is well and alive in Saigon. The good thing is: whether you’re dining in a chic restaurant or holding a bowl of pho on the streets, food is good, cheap and consistent. This is a food lover’s paradise. Be right back

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

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

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

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.

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.

Bale Datung’s Pan de Bagnet enjoyed long lines from foodies wanting to try the oven roasted pork belly enclosed in a ciabatta bun with some vegetable salsa. I ended up eating the thinly sliced liempo separately…it was easier that way

I was quite surprised to see only one stall selling Cebu lechon Maybe the lechon makers were overpowered by the organic vendors. As far as organic goes, I was happy to try some healthy fruit juices and shakes and bought a bottle or two for breakfast.

These eggs were so prettily-packed and caught my attention. I was happily snapping away with my camera, until I looked up and found the stall owner to be my college classmate Kim Bernardo-Lokin. I was impressed with the fact that the egg wraps were made from corn husks which are normally thrown away. Kim’s enterprise sells delicacies which benefits poor families from her home province of Pangasinan . Good luck dear!

Mochi ice cream and other treats from Fruits in Ice Cream. Irresistible!

The triple beef burger and bacon-wrapped hotdog from Flamed! looked sinful and interesting. I’ll try this next time I’m in a carnivorous mode.

Gourmet whoopie pies from 8 Twists Boutique Bakery. Whoopie pies are traditionally two small flat chocolate cakes with a cream frosting in the middle. I bought a box home…and none left for me to be tasted. It must have been good Hubby now says they’re too small to be called a whoopie pie….

The doughnut cheeseburger from Offbeat Cafe enjoyed TV coverage. I am curious about this treat and will have to try this next time too!

Quiche and pies from La Cuisine Francaise. They had an extensive selection of prepared food products on display, including tabbouleh.

Beautifully-packed Christmas goodies…this one is from Chef Philippe.

…… and many, many more. There are about 150 stalls for your shopping/eating pleasure. See you at the Mercato Centrale weekend market. I highly recommend it as a must go-to food destination in Manila:)