This is my first attempt to stitch photos together using Photoshop (CS2). Not as easy as I thought. Need more practice.
This was taken at Sra Srang in Siem Reap. We left the hotel at 5am and waited for the sun to rise to get this photo.
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Saturday, March 21, 2009
Srah Srang at Sunrise
This is my first attempt to stitch photos together using Photoshop (CS2). Not as easy as I thought. Need more practice.
This was taken at Sra Srang in Siem Reap. We left the hotel at 5am and waited for the sun to rise to get this photo.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Date Night
It's our 119th monthsary and it's time to try something new.
This time, it's Mamou at Serendra. We were supposed to eat at Gaudi yet again when my colleague E suggested Mamou. He said the steak is very good and we must try the baked mashed potatoes. Well, I ditched the potatoes given my dietary requirements so Ariel ate my portion as well as his. I ordered salad instead. So here's the steak which Ariel and I shared.
After dinner, we went to Tea and Therapy for, well, tea of course. And dessert for Ariel. The menu describes the benefits of each tea concoction.
We opted for the German Wild Lover (Pure Pleasure) which I've tried before and loved. Ariel ordered a slice of Sans Rival (his all time favorite dessert) for a sweet ending to our dinner date.
The teapot and two small cups. I want that teapot!
WE just relaxed a bit and read travel mags.
We're thinking of subscribing to this mag.
And Ariel admired the modern interiors featured in Design magazine.
Lovely, lovely night.
This time, it's Mamou at Serendra. We were supposed to eat at Gaudi yet again when my colleague E suggested Mamou. He said the steak is very good and we must try the baked mashed potatoes. Well, I ditched the potatoes given my dietary requirements so Ariel ate my portion as well as his. I ordered salad instead. So here's the steak which Ariel and I shared.
After dinner, we went to Tea and Therapy for, well, tea of course. And dessert for Ariel. The menu describes the benefits of each tea concoction.
We opted for the German Wild Lover (Pure Pleasure) which I've tried before and loved. Ariel ordered a slice of Sans Rival (his all time favorite dessert) for a sweet ending to our dinner date.
The teapot and two small cups. I want that teapot!
WE just relaxed a bit and read travel mags.
We're thinking of subscribing to this mag.
And Ariel admired the modern interiors featured in Design magazine.
Lovely, lovely night.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Our Adventures and Misadventures in Vietnam and Cambodia - Part 1
January 19, 2009
It was our first time to take a Cebu Pacific international flight. It was our first time at the NAIA Terminal 3. We didn’t know that there weren’t many options for dinner. We left our home in a rush, having left the office later than planned. We decided to take a late dinner at the airport. By the time we cleared immigration, we were famished. We decided to get food from the first outlet that caught our eyes – a San Mig food stall. Needless to say, our dinner was filling but not satisfying. It was too late when I spotted Seattle’s Best, directly behind San Mig’s booth (yes, I was that hungry!). I opted to get tea from SB since I was nursing a queasy stomach since weekend.
We boarded the plane on time. The flight was uneventful and we soon found ourselves walking out of Tan Son Nhat International Airport. I was actually surprised at how much it changed since my last visit in 2004. Back then, it was dark and gloomy not much different from abandoned buildings you see in horror stories. This time, it was bright and cheery and buzzing with activity. As we exited, we were shocked to see hundreds of people waiting to greet family and friends from their trip – at 12:30am! It was difficult to get out of the crowded arrival area into the taxi cue. My friend N who is based in Ho Chi Minh gave specific instructions on where to wait for a cab, what cab company and how much the usual fare would be. She told us to take ONLY a Vinasun or Mai Linh taxi. There was none in sight. We waited for a couple of minutes and nothing. By this time, several taxi drivers had been pestering us to take their cab for VND 200,000 (about USD 12) which is way above the usual fare of VND 60,000 (about USD 4). Finally, one cab agreed to take us to N’s place for VND 100,000. Ariel and I were both exhausted and we didn’t have the energy to argue (we’ll never win Amazing Race Asia!). And besides, they hardly spoke English which made the experience doubly challenging.
We needed a place where we could rest for a few hours and freshen up before heading of to Siem Reap, Cambodia. N graciously offered her home which also meant that she will have very little sleep because we are arriving late and leaving early. N lives in a modest 2 bedroom condo unit in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. We stayed in her air-conditioned guest bedroom with a queen-sized bed covered in satin sheets. There are two chairs and a small coffee table, a desk with cable TV on it and cream colored built-in closet. Her glass-paneled wall/windows covered with vertical blinds look out to the street five storeys below. We chatted with N a bit, fighting off our exhaustion. It had been years since we last saw her and it was good to catch up face to face. We fell asleep at around 2:00 am as soon as our heads touched the bed.
January 20, 2009
It was so difficult to wake up at 4:30am having lacked sleep for the past few nights. N was already up and fixing us breakfast – I wasn’t actually sure if she slept at all! We fixed our things and enjoyed a light breakfast of bread and butter. My tummy was still queasy so I just drank a cup of hot water with honey while Ariel opted for coffee. It was almost 6am when we went out and got into a Vinasun taxi to take us to the Mekong Express Bus station along Pham Ngu Lao St. – the city’s backpacker district. When we got there, the bus was about to leave with only one seat left. We immediately proceeded to Sinh Café at Da Trahm St., just a few blocks away from the Mekong Express office. The bus was not full but it left at 6:30am, we missed it by about 5 minutes. With relentless optimism, I reassured Ariel that we will get to Siem Reap. I booked an 11:40am flight for us via Vietnam Airlines for USD169 each. Like an Amazing Race contestant, I asked for the earliest and fastest flight to Siem Reap.
We reached Tan Son Nhat airport at 7:30am – three and a half hours before boarding time. With time to kill, Ariel decided to work a bit (he brought his laptop!) while I roamed around to take photos.
By 8:30, we were hungry and decided to share a bowl of instant noodles which at USD6 is the most expensive instant noodles we’ve ever eaten. The warm soup calmed my tummy and provided a bit more energy – we were almost spent from the lack of sleep and proper meals.
I was falling in and out of consciousness as we waited in the pre-departure area and was relieved when we finally boarded our plane. By the time the plane took off at 11:40 am, I was already dreaming of Cambodia’s beautiful temples.
In an hour’s time, we landed at Siem Reap International Airport and we were greeted by a very nice structure, designed in typical Cambodian architecture. We rushed past immigration (Westerners still had to line up for same-day visa issuance) but had to wait a while to get our luggage (we were carrying a heavy backpack and one hand-carried luggage each). The drive to the hotel took about 30 minutes courtesy of the hotel car (a Toyota Rav 4).
We stayed in a deluxe room at the Claremont hotel which I booked through the internet (USD5 discount on the room rate if paid through Visa – USD60 net including breakfast and airport transfers, USD20 cheaper than published rates). The hotel is situated near the Siem Reap river and is only a few minutes walk from Pub Street. Our room was quite spacious, albeit very simple in appearance. There is one queen-sized bed and one double bed, a huge desk, cable TV, ref, coffee-making facility, safety deposit box, complimentary bottled water, and a fully loaded bathroom. There is free wifi at the lobby and three desktop computers with internet connections for those who don’t have laptops at no extra cost (which I took full advantage off during our entire stay!). We just dumped our luggage and went up the roof deck to have lunch at the Indian restaurant called East India restaurant (Tales of Asia described it as the best in the area). Ariel ordered the Khmer-Style Beef Curry while I opted for the spicy Mutton Biryani. The food was quite good (or maybe we were too hungry to be discriminating) but pricey – USD 20 for our meal!!!
Mutton Biryani
Khmer Style Beef Curry
After lunch, we decided to take a long nap. We were not in the best physical condition to start our tour. We were sleep-deprived and exhausted. In fact, we were actually quite happy that we traveled by air since it gave us enough time to recuperate and prepare us for our adventure in the next couple of days. If we had taken the bus, we would have arrived in Siem Reap at 7:30pm, and there is no way we could have slept soundly for the entire duration of the bus travel. So anyway, we slept until about 6pm. Then we unpacked, showered and got ready to go out and explore Pub Street, the famed tourist night spot in Siem Reap.
Before we left the hotel, we confirmed our early morning temple tour and requested for an English-speakin guide and a tuktuk. Yes, a tuktuk instead of a car (USD15 vs. 30). We told the hotel staff that we want to be at Angkor Wat by sunrise and we were told that there will be a USD 3 additional fee for the tuktuk. The guide fee is USD25 a day which is quite standard in the area. The lady at the front desk got us a tuktuk to take us to Pub Street. Then she told us it would be the same tuktuk to take us to the temples the next day. We paid USD 2 for the short drive to Pub Street – quite pricey considering it’s only a short distance away and it’s a tricycle!
The whole street was packed with tourists. It was the peak season and people from all over the world trooped to Pub Street for dinner. We wanted to sample the local dish so we decided to eat at the Khmer Family Restaurant. We were seated at a table outside the main restaurant so it was quite breezy. We ordered fresh spring rolls which Ariel and I both loved. So delicious!
Ariel also got the "Fried shrimps with garlic and pepper" which he thought to be similar to those offered in the Chinese restaurants in Manila. Turned out "fried" actually was "stir-fried", and "garlic and pepper" actually were bellpeppers. So, it was actually a saucy dish.
I sampled the Chicken Amok which I really, really enjoyed! It's similar to curry but milder in flavor.
Ariel and I really enjoyed dinner and decided to come back for more of their yummy spring rolls.
To read part 2, click here.
It was our first time to take a Cebu Pacific international flight. It was our first time at the NAIA Terminal 3. We didn’t know that there weren’t many options for dinner. We left our home in a rush, having left the office later than planned. We decided to take a late dinner at the airport. By the time we cleared immigration, we were famished. We decided to get food from the first outlet that caught our eyes – a San Mig food stall. Needless to say, our dinner was filling but not satisfying. It was too late when I spotted Seattle’s Best, directly behind San Mig’s booth (yes, I was that hungry!). I opted to get tea from SB since I was nursing a queasy stomach since weekend.
We boarded the plane on time. The flight was uneventful and we soon found ourselves walking out of Tan Son Nhat International Airport. I was actually surprised at how much it changed since my last visit in 2004. Back then, it was dark and gloomy not much different from abandoned buildings you see in horror stories. This time, it was bright and cheery and buzzing with activity. As we exited, we were shocked to see hundreds of people waiting to greet family and friends from their trip – at 12:30am! It was difficult to get out of the crowded arrival area into the taxi cue. My friend N who is based in Ho Chi Minh gave specific instructions on where to wait for a cab, what cab company and how much the usual fare would be. She told us to take ONLY a Vinasun or Mai Linh taxi. There was none in sight. We waited for a couple of minutes and nothing. By this time, several taxi drivers had been pestering us to take their cab for VND 200,000 (about USD 12) which is way above the usual fare of VND 60,000 (about USD 4). Finally, one cab agreed to take us to N’s place for VND 100,000. Ariel and I were both exhausted and we didn’t have the energy to argue (we’ll never win Amazing Race Asia!). And besides, they hardly spoke English which made the experience doubly challenging.
We needed a place where we could rest for a few hours and freshen up before heading of to Siem Reap, Cambodia. N graciously offered her home which also meant that she will have very little sleep because we are arriving late and leaving early. N lives in a modest 2 bedroom condo unit in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. We stayed in her air-conditioned guest bedroom with a queen-sized bed covered in satin sheets. There are two chairs and a small coffee table, a desk with cable TV on it and cream colored built-in closet. Her glass-paneled wall/windows covered with vertical blinds look out to the street five storeys below. We chatted with N a bit, fighting off our exhaustion. It had been years since we last saw her and it was good to catch up face to face. We fell asleep at around 2:00 am as soon as our heads touched the bed.
January 20, 2009
It was so difficult to wake up at 4:30am having lacked sleep for the past few nights. N was already up and fixing us breakfast – I wasn’t actually sure if she slept at all! We fixed our things and enjoyed a light breakfast of bread and butter. My tummy was still queasy so I just drank a cup of hot water with honey while Ariel opted for coffee. It was almost 6am when we went out and got into a Vinasun taxi to take us to the Mekong Express Bus station along Pham Ngu Lao St. – the city’s backpacker district. When we got there, the bus was about to leave with only one seat left. We immediately proceeded to Sinh Café at Da Trahm St., just a few blocks away from the Mekong Express office. The bus was not full but it left at 6:30am, we missed it by about 5 minutes. With relentless optimism, I reassured Ariel that we will get to Siem Reap. I booked an 11:40am flight for us via Vietnam Airlines for USD169 each. Like an Amazing Race contestant, I asked for the earliest and fastest flight to Siem Reap.
We reached Tan Son Nhat airport at 7:30am – three and a half hours before boarding time. With time to kill, Ariel decided to work a bit (he brought his laptop!) while I roamed around to take photos.
By 8:30, we were hungry and decided to share a bowl of instant noodles which at USD6 is the most expensive instant noodles we’ve ever eaten. The warm soup calmed my tummy and provided a bit more energy – we were almost spent from the lack of sleep and proper meals.
I was falling in and out of consciousness as we waited in the pre-departure area and was relieved when we finally boarded our plane. By the time the plane took off at 11:40 am, I was already dreaming of Cambodia’s beautiful temples.
In an hour’s time, we landed at Siem Reap International Airport and we were greeted by a very nice structure, designed in typical Cambodian architecture. We rushed past immigration (Westerners still had to line up for same-day visa issuance) but had to wait a while to get our luggage (we were carrying a heavy backpack and one hand-carried luggage each). The drive to the hotel took about 30 minutes courtesy of the hotel car (a Toyota Rav 4).
We stayed in a deluxe room at the Claremont hotel which I booked through the internet (USD5 discount on the room rate if paid through Visa – USD60 net including breakfast and airport transfers, USD20 cheaper than published rates). The hotel is situated near the Siem Reap river and is only a few minutes walk from Pub Street. Our room was quite spacious, albeit very simple in appearance. There is one queen-sized bed and one double bed, a huge desk, cable TV, ref, coffee-making facility, safety deposit box, complimentary bottled water, and a fully loaded bathroom. There is free wifi at the lobby and three desktop computers with internet connections for those who don’t have laptops at no extra cost (which I took full advantage off during our entire stay!). We just dumped our luggage and went up the roof deck to have lunch at the Indian restaurant called East India restaurant (Tales of Asia described it as the best in the area). Ariel ordered the Khmer-Style Beef Curry while I opted for the spicy Mutton Biryani. The food was quite good (or maybe we were too hungry to be discriminating) but pricey – USD 20 for our meal!!!
Mutton Biryani
Khmer Style Beef CurryAfter lunch, we decided to take a long nap. We were not in the best physical condition to start our tour. We were sleep-deprived and exhausted. In fact, we were actually quite happy that we traveled by air since it gave us enough time to recuperate and prepare us for our adventure in the next couple of days. If we had taken the bus, we would have arrived in Siem Reap at 7:30pm, and there is no way we could have slept soundly for the entire duration of the bus travel. So anyway, we slept until about 6pm. Then we unpacked, showered and got ready to go out and explore Pub Street, the famed tourist night spot in Siem Reap.
Before we left the hotel, we confirmed our early morning temple tour and requested for an English-speakin guide and a tuktuk. Yes, a tuktuk instead of a car (USD15 vs. 30). We told the hotel staff that we want to be at Angkor Wat by sunrise and we were told that there will be a USD 3 additional fee for the tuktuk. The guide fee is USD25 a day which is quite standard in the area. The lady at the front desk got us a tuktuk to take us to Pub Street. Then she told us it would be the same tuktuk to take us to the temples the next day. We paid USD 2 for the short drive to Pub Street – quite pricey considering it’s only a short distance away and it’s a tricycle!
The whole street was packed with tourists. It was the peak season and people from all over the world trooped to Pub Street for dinner. We wanted to sample the local dish so we decided to eat at the Khmer Family Restaurant. We were seated at a table outside the main restaurant so it was quite breezy. We ordered fresh spring rolls which Ariel and I both loved. So delicious!
Ariel also got the "Fried shrimps with garlic and pepper" which he thought to be similar to those offered in the Chinese restaurants in Manila. Turned out "fried" actually was "stir-fried", and "garlic and pepper" actually were bellpeppers. So, it was actually a saucy dish.
I sampled the Chicken Amok which I really, really enjoyed! It's similar to curry but milder in flavor.
Ariel and I really enjoyed dinner and decided to come back for more of their yummy spring rolls.
To read part 2, click here.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Dinner at Antonio's
Hours after our plane landed in Manila (from our Vietnam-Cambodia trip), on January 27th, 2009, Ariel and I found ourselves driving to Tagaytay for a romantic dinner at Antonio's. I called ahead to reserve a table and by 7 pm, we drove into the driveway. It was the middle of the week so very few tables are occupied.
We were led to a garden table by the pond filled with large colorful kois. An oil lamp provided a soft glow on our table while we were serenaded by the cool Tagaytay breeze and the pond's cascading waters.
We took our time studying the menu. Meanwhile, we were served with ice cold fresh dalandan juice.
Aside from the house salad which was included in the dinner set, we added a serving of foie gras split into two plates. Yummy!!!
I also ordered the soup of the day which was rich and creamy.
I opted for the seafood sampler which consisted of grilled prawns with spicy creole on pappardelle (whatever that is!), Norwegian salmon poached in olives and pan-seared scallops on celleriac mashed truffle cream sauce. Whew!
Ariel chose the Antonio's Sampler which consists of beef fillet on plancha with black pepper sauce, roast smoked Chilean sea bass on tomato, garlic lemon sauce, and honeyglazed lambloin gratinated with goat cheese. Yum!
For dessert, Ariel picked the flourless chocolate cake...
...while I took my usual panna cotta.
I am so happy that Ariel enjoyed his birthday dinner.
We capped the night with steaming hot cup of brewed coffee. Happiness!
This is the entrance into the dining area.
The chandeliers in the main dining room (we were seated by the garden).
I don't know why it took us so long to try Antonio's when I've been hearing a lot of good reviews over the past couple of years. Anyway, I'm glad we finally took the plunge and tried it, on Ariel's birthday eve no less. We had a fantastic time. Excellent food. Perfect ambiance. Great company. This is life!
We were led to a garden table by the pond filled with large colorful kois. An oil lamp provided a soft glow on our table while we were serenaded by the cool Tagaytay breeze and the pond's cascading waters.
We took our time studying the menu. Meanwhile, we were served with ice cold fresh dalandan juice.
Aside from the house salad which was included in the dinner set, we added a serving of foie gras split into two plates. Yummy!!!
I also ordered the soup of the day which was rich and creamy.
I opted for the seafood sampler which consisted of grilled prawns with spicy creole on pappardelle (whatever that is!), Norwegian salmon poached in olives and pan-seared scallops on celleriac mashed truffle cream sauce. Whew!
Ariel chose the Antonio's Sampler which consists of beef fillet on plancha with black pepper sauce, roast smoked Chilean sea bass on tomato, garlic lemon sauce, and honeyglazed lambloin gratinated with goat cheese. Yum!
For dessert, Ariel picked the flourless chocolate cake...
...while I took my usual panna cotta.
I am so happy that Ariel enjoyed his birthday dinner.
We capped the night with steaming hot cup of brewed coffee. Happiness!
This is the entrance into the dining area.
The chandeliers in the main dining room (we were seated by the garden).
I don't know why it took us so long to try Antonio's when I've been hearing a lot of good reviews over the past couple of years. Anyway, I'm glad we finally took the plunge and tried it, on Ariel's birthday eve no less. We had a fantastic time. Excellent food. Perfect ambiance. Great company. This is life!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Vietnam-Cambodia Trip: A Downpayment
I am still putting together the complete account of our trip. I also haven't finished sorting through hundreds of photos. But it will be worth the wait. :D I'll share details, highlights, recommendations on where to go and what to do, plus tipid tips for the budget traveller. Soon!
Meanwhile, check out some photos here.
Happy viewing!
Meanwhile, check out some photos here.
Happy viewing!
Friday, February 13, 2009
Happy Lovin' Everyone!
We don't really celebrate Valentine's day. Each day of the week has been created by the God of Love so why should February 14 be any different?
So, tomorrow, instead of a romantic dinner for two, Ariel and I will take a road trip to Pampanga with colleague and good friend Karen, her hubby Ian, and daughter Yana. We will have a sumptuous lunch at C Italian Dining (dinner's already fully booked!), do a bit of shopping, check in at Holiday Inn Mimosa, dinner at Zapata's (hopefully!) and enjoy the Hot Air Balloon Festival.
Anything special planned tomorrow? Sure. We will cuddle in bed in the morning, a few minutes before getting up. We will greet each other "good morning" with a kiss. We will exchange wedding rings with a kiss. We will hold hands and give each other lots of hugs. We will exchange "I Love You" text messages. Ariel will tuck me to bed. We will kiss each other "good night". Plus many other small "love rituals" we've been doing every day we are together since the day we got married. And on days we are apart, we still keep the love alive with the help of technology.
So go tell your spouse you love him/her tomorrow. And every single day after.
So, tomorrow, instead of a romantic dinner for two, Ariel and I will take a road trip to Pampanga with colleague and good friend Karen, her hubby Ian, and daughter Yana. We will have a sumptuous lunch at C Italian Dining (dinner's already fully booked!), do a bit of shopping, check in at Holiday Inn Mimosa, dinner at Zapata's (hopefully!) and enjoy the Hot Air Balloon Festival.
Anything special planned tomorrow? Sure. We will cuddle in bed in the morning, a few minutes before getting up. We will greet each other "good morning" with a kiss. We will exchange wedding rings with a kiss. We will hold hands and give each other lots of hugs. We will exchange "I Love You" text messages. Ariel will tuck me to bed. We will kiss each other "good night". Plus many other small "love rituals" we've been doing every day we are together since the day we got married. And on days we are apart, we still keep the love alive with the help of technology.
So go tell your spouse you love him/her tomorrow. And every single day after.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Weekend at Abe's Farm/Nurture Spa in Pampanga
Last January 2, Ariel and I, together with some New Zealand-based friends drove to Pampanga for a relaxing weekend at Abe's Farm and Nurture Spa.
Gemma, Amie and Alfred flew home for the holidays. We picked them up at The Block in SM CIty North EDSA at around 9am and we drove to Pampanga (Angeles City exit) to have lunch at Abe's Farm. We met Grace and her mom, as well as Gay, Jun and their daughter Dani at one of the gas stations in NLEX. We then proceeded to Abe's farm where we had a table waiting reserved for a group of 11 adults (including driver and yaya).
Abe's Farm offers the same food selection as Abe's in Serendra and Bistro Remedios in Malate. We had a sumptuous meal! I took lots of photos but due to an error while transferring photos from my camera to the laptop, most of the photos were gone, except for a few survivors:
This is the gate that separates Abe's Farm and Nurture Spa. The Spa offers the same services as that in Tagaytay. Ariel and I had a 30-minute head and shoulder massage at the garden while the rest of the gang went around for some photos.
I couldn't resist taking this shot! Good thing Ariel was in the mood for some goofy shots.
The garden in the compound was well maintained. It is not as colorful as the spa in Tagaytay but the garden is just as lush, albeit with more greens than blooms.
Note to self: wear colorful outfits when out for some serious photo ops. It will make you stand out amid the lush green gardens or grey architecture.
The entrance to the main dining area where a feast of Pampanga's culinary delights awaited us.
Still can't get over my "lost" photos. The batch included our New Year shots (photo and video!) as well us our dinner at Bawai's. Sad.
Gemma, Amie and Alfred flew home for the holidays. We picked them up at The Block in SM CIty North EDSA at around 9am and we drove to Pampanga (Angeles City exit) to have lunch at Abe's Farm. We met Grace and her mom, as well as Gay, Jun and their daughter Dani at one of the gas stations in NLEX. We then proceeded to Abe's farm where we had a table waiting reserved for a group of 11 adults (including driver and yaya).
Abe's Farm offers the same food selection as Abe's in Serendra and Bistro Remedios in Malate. We had a sumptuous meal! I took lots of photos but due to an error while transferring photos from my camera to the laptop, most of the photos were gone, except for a few survivors:
This is the gate that separates Abe's Farm and Nurture Spa. The Spa offers the same services as that in Tagaytay. Ariel and I had a 30-minute head and shoulder massage at the garden while the rest of the gang went around for some photos.
I couldn't resist taking this shot! Good thing Ariel was in the mood for some goofy shots.
The garden in the compound was well maintained. It is not as colorful as the spa in Tagaytay but the garden is just as lush, albeit with more greens than blooms.
Note to self: wear colorful outfits when out for some serious photo ops. It will make you stand out amid the lush green gardens or grey architecture.
The entrance to the main dining area where a feast of Pampanga's culinary delights awaited us.
Still can't get over my "lost" photos. The batch included our New Year shots (photo and video!) as well us our dinner at Bawai's. Sad.
Friday, January 30, 2009
We Travel Well
Have tons to blog about. We've had a number of food and travel adventures and misadventures since Q4 last year. I've accumulated lots of photos but never got around to posting them. Will do that really soon! But before that...
------------
Lifted this from Diane's blog:
1. What part of the world and country do you live in?
On weekdays, I sleep to the symphony of beeping cars and grinding cement trucks in Mandaluyong City. On weekends, I wake up to the concerto of chirping birds in Cavite. Both are in the Philippines.
2. What is the furthest from home that you have been, and where is it?
Hmmm...got to brush up on my geography. Asia mainly. I think Phuket, Thailand.
3. What travel destination have you enjoyed the most?
Wow, this is tough. Each destination has its own appeal. Locally, it would be Batanes. Outside of the Philippines, that would be Siem Reap, Cambodia.
4. What travel destination have you enjoyed the least?
Penang, Malaysia - only because I never had the chance to really explore the place.
5. Is there somewhere you’d like to visit but have not, and where is it?
I'd really like to go on an African Safari. Someday.
6. Do you prefer traveling to see historic places or to hit the beach and relax?
I'm generally a nature lover so I prefer the beach over historic places. However, beautiful historical sites like the Angkor region in Cambodia also appeal to me.
7. What popular vacation destination have you never considered because you think you’d not like it?
Hongkong is quite popular to Filipinos because of its proximity and accessibility. However, theme parks and shopping are not exactly my cup of tea so I've never ventured to Hongkong. But I might just try it one of these days.
8. Where do you travel to most recently?
Siem Reap, Cambodia and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
9. Do you like day trip “mini-vacations”?
Not as much as week-long vacations. I enjoy taking my time to discover and experience the places I visit. A day trip just doesn't cut it.
------------
Lifted this from Diane's blog:
1. What part of the world and country do you live in?
On weekdays, I sleep to the symphony of beeping cars and grinding cement trucks in Mandaluyong City. On weekends, I wake up to the concerto of chirping birds in Cavite. Both are in the Philippines.
2. What is the furthest from home that you have been, and where is it?
Hmmm...got to brush up on my geography. Asia mainly. I think Phuket, Thailand.
3. What travel destination have you enjoyed the most?
Wow, this is tough. Each destination has its own appeal. Locally, it would be Batanes. Outside of the Philippines, that would be Siem Reap, Cambodia.
4. What travel destination have you enjoyed the least?
Penang, Malaysia - only because I never had the chance to really explore the place.
5. Is there somewhere you’d like to visit but have not, and where is it?
I'd really like to go on an African Safari. Someday.
6. Do you prefer traveling to see historic places or to hit the beach and relax?
I'm generally a nature lover so I prefer the beach over historic places. However, beautiful historical sites like the Angkor region in Cambodia also appeal to me.
7. What popular vacation destination have you never considered because you think you’d not like it?
Hongkong is quite popular to Filipinos because of its proximity and accessibility. However, theme parks and shopping are not exactly my cup of tea so I've never ventured to Hongkong. But I might just try it one of these days.
8. Where do you travel to most recently?
Siem Reap, Cambodia and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
9. Do you like day trip “mini-vacations”?
Not as much as week-long vacations. I enjoy taking my time to discover and experience the places I visit. A day trip just doesn't cut it.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Happy New Year from Saigon!
Today is New Year's eve and Ho Chi Minh is decorated in colorful flowers, lights, balloons and lots of people line the streets. Ariel and I finished our tour for the day and are now resting for a few hours. We will walk towards Saigon River at around 10pm to join the Tet festivities until midnight. There will be fireworks by the river.
It's a great time to be here as the atmosphere is very festive. The downside is that all shops are closed so we were not able to buy any souvenirs.Some shops will be closed until the 28th!
Tomorrow, Ariel and I will just relax and walk around the area. Our hotel is just across Notre Dame Cathedral and the Post Office. I want to take photos at sunrise. However, it's probably an activity I will be doing on my own as Ariel doesn't want to wake up early after several days of waking up before sunrise in Siem Reap. Tomorrow will be the first morning he will be waking up late since we left Manila! I'm just a bit wary here. It feels a lot safer to go around in Siem Reap than here in HCM (we've been ripped off by cab drivers 2x already so we decided to just walk to whereever from this point on!). I'll see tomorrow. It's just across our hotel and very much visible from our hotel room.
While Ariel and I have been enjoying our vacation, I can't wait to get back home! I'm so looking forward to sleeping on my own bed on Tuesday!!! Plus I have a surprise waiting for Ariel when we get back. So excited!
Oh, I need to have my ankle checked back in Manila. It's still a bit sore.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Hello from Siem Reap!
We've had the most amazing 2 days in Siem Reap so far. Ariel and I just go tback from exploring he country side in an All-Terrain Vehicle and it was awesome. We visited a local orphanage and caught the kids in class (they have English, Chinese and Japanese language classes) and then later at recess. We had a great time interacting with them despite the fact that they are not yet very good in English. I asked one kid "how old are you?" and he said "I'm fine thank you. And you?" Of course I said "Im fine, too!" It took us more than three hours to traverse thorugh almost 50kms of dirt road. Needless to say, every inch of my body, clothing, bag, is thick with red dust. Such a small price to pay for an awesome experience. Ariel had a wonderful time and I could see how much he relished driving the ATV. Will give more details when I blog about our trip.
I thank God that all things worked out. We had a few minor misadventures but everything fell into place.
I twisted my ankle yesterday when I stepped in gap on the floor and fell right in front of a statue of Buddha. One good thing about it is that no one else was around when it happened - just Ariel and our guide so di naman masyadong nakakahiya. I took Advil right after and managed to complete our tour with minor inconvenience (and still managed to climb the most challenging temples!). By evening, my ankle was swollen but a few minutes of painful massage might have helped as I woke up today without the swelling. My thigh muscles were aching though, from all the climbing (well, crawling up is more like it!) the previous day. Oh, and I just confirmed, I have a fear of heights. Well, maybe not exactly. It's just that I have no problem climbing up the temples no matter how steep and tall they are. I get tired, sure. But I still manage to go up. Now, going down is a different matter altogether. I'd stnd there on the edge and freeze!!! Ariel and our guide Sophal would take my hand and help me take the first step or two and then I'll make it on my own. I was just so terrified! So why still climb? I don't know. Maybe it's my pride, or my competitive nature. I just can't go back home and say that I didn't go up the temples. :D
More details when we get home! Just took a bit of internet time to check our itinerary when we get back to Ho Chi Minh on Saturday.
Ok, I badly need a long shower and some heavy scrubbing. Oh, and I can't wait for dinner. Khmer food is simple mouthwatering!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Meet Cain
Our family of four humans (Ariel, myself and two helpers) and three furry friends welcomed our newest baby yesterday.
Meet CAIN. He's a two and a half month old cream teacup poodle and he's just the most adorable puppy ever. Look at those puppy eyes. He's only 7 inches tall and about 9 inches long.
I was a bit worried about how he would adjust to his new environment. When I took him home yesterday, he slept throughout the drive home. When we got home, he started playing with everyone! So cute! I specially love it when he wags his inch-long tail. After playing for a bit, we gave him dinner - two tablespoons of dog food mixed with a bit of milk. He finished his food quickly and pooped on a sheet of old newspaper. Yup, he's potty trained!
Can't wait to buy him clothes and accessories! But he's gorgeous just the way he is. Look at him! Welcome home Cain!
People ask me why we named hi Cain. No reason in particular. I would have named him Mr. Big after Chris Noth's character in Sex and the City but he looked more like a Cain to me so Cain it is!
Meet CAIN. He's a two and a half month old cream teacup poodle and he's just the most adorable puppy ever. Look at those puppy eyes. He's only 7 inches tall and about 9 inches long.
I was a bit worried about how he would adjust to his new environment. When I took him home yesterday, he slept throughout the drive home. When we got home, he started playing with everyone! So cute! I specially love it when he wags his inch-long tail. After playing for a bit, we gave him dinner - two tablespoons of dog food mixed with a bit of milk. He finished his food quickly and pooped on a sheet of old newspaper. Yup, he's potty trained!
Can't wait to buy him clothes and accessories! But he's gorgeous just the way he is. Look at him! Welcome home Cain!
People ask me why we named hi Cain. No reason in particular. I would have named him Mr. Big after Chris Noth's character in Sex and the City but he looked more like a Cain to me so Cain it is!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Stories in Hand
I wanted to enroll in the 5-week Friday night classes at Powerbooks called The Five Stories You Want To Write. It's a writing class which I thought would improve my writing skills. But my main objective is really how to capture the relevant stories of my life that I can put into my scrapbook pages. Unfortunately, the schedule doesn't work for me. Three out of the 5 Fridays are already booked in my personal calendar (it starts Nov. 14 and every Friday til Dec. 12).
Fortunately, I signed up for Jessica Sprague's online class called Stories in Hand. It started yesterday so today is Day 2. The class is about the process of capturing the stories that matter. As a scrapbooker, I thought this is highly relevant because I want my scrapbooks to tell stories of how I lived my life. I don't want my scrapbooks to be just about pretty "artistic" pages but I want them to remind me of the good times and the bad, of the experiences that make life sweet, of the blessings I need to be thankful for, of the lessons learned, etc.
The good thing about this class is that I can do it on my own pace. I can access the site any time I want and print the materials on my own convenient time. Yesterday, Jessica shared some printable digital elements to be used for our "scrapbook". Today, she gave us what she calls "sparks" - questions about our ancestry, childhood, routines, etc. - that would, well, spark stories that can be captured in our scrapbook pages. I haven't had a chance to read through the very long list (there are three categories - Roots, Self, Family) but browsing through some of them already brought back memories. I am very excited and I am hoping to interview my parents to know more about my ancestry.
I think I am already doing a good job capturing our travel stories but I need to capture the everyday moments too. So hopefully, this class will help me do just that.
I will share what I can as the class progresses (it runs til Nov. 23!). Right now, I need to go to bed and rest. I still have low-grade fever (4 days already!), a terrible cold, and now, I have cough too! I'm already taking antibiotics so hopefully, the fever will subside soon.
Fortunately, I signed up for Jessica Sprague's online class called Stories in Hand. It started yesterday so today is Day 2. The class is about the process of capturing the stories that matter. As a scrapbooker, I thought this is highly relevant because I want my scrapbooks to tell stories of how I lived my life. I don't want my scrapbooks to be just about pretty "artistic" pages but I want them to remind me of the good times and the bad, of the experiences that make life sweet, of the blessings I need to be thankful for, of the lessons learned, etc.
The good thing about this class is that I can do it on my own pace. I can access the site any time I want and print the materials on my own convenient time. Yesterday, Jessica shared some printable digital elements to be used for our "scrapbook". Today, she gave us what she calls "sparks" - questions about our ancestry, childhood, routines, etc. - that would, well, spark stories that can be captured in our scrapbook pages. I haven't had a chance to read through the very long list (there are three categories - Roots, Self, Family) but browsing through some of them already brought back memories. I am very excited and I am hoping to interview my parents to know more about my ancestry.
I think I am already doing a good job capturing our travel stories but I need to capture the everyday moments too. So hopefully, this class will help me do just that.
I will share what I can as the class progresses (it runs til Nov. 23!). Right now, I need to go to bed and rest. I still have low-grade fever (4 days already!), a terrible cold, and now, I have cough too! I'm already taking antibiotics so hopefully, the fever will subside soon.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Dinner at Firelake Grill
For our 112th monthsary, we decided to drive to Tagaytay and have dinner at Firelake Grill. We went on Aug. 17th, a day before our actual monthsary, because it falls on a Sunday. The first time we went there about a year ago, it was closed so we ended up eating at the Italian restaurant across Firelake. So this time, I decided to call first and reserve a table for two.
We got there a full hour before our reservation and they just opened. We decided to go for it even if it was still very early.
We started with Iced Tea and dinner rolls. Ariel then ordered a glass of red wine to go with our dinner.
The Smoked Salmon and Caviar salad was very tasty. The serving was just enough to whet our appetite for the main dish.
We ordered Rib-Eye steak with prawns. Well, it's supposed to have just one piece of prawn but since we are splitting this, we asked for an extra piece so Ariel and I can have one each.
I love risotto and every time it is offered in the menu, I just couldn't resist. So we also ordered the asparagus and mushroom risotto. The serving was quite large specially since we had another heavy dish in the steak. I wanted to leave room for dessert so we weren't able to finish the risotto, but it was really good, too.
For dessert, we went to Bag Of Beans. We ordered the Blueberry Cheesecake and I think the other one was Pannacotta.
I had coffee of course - cafe latte to go with my dessert.
Thanks for looking!
We got there a full hour before our reservation and they just opened. We decided to go for it even if it was still very early.
We started with Iced Tea and dinner rolls. Ariel then ordered a glass of red wine to go with our dinner.
The Smoked Salmon and Caviar salad was very tasty. The serving was just enough to whet our appetite for the main dish.
We ordered Rib-Eye steak with prawns. Well, it's supposed to have just one piece of prawn but since we are splitting this, we asked for an extra piece so Ariel and I can have one each.
I love risotto and every time it is offered in the menu, I just couldn't resist. So we also ordered the asparagus and mushroom risotto. The serving was quite large specially since we had another heavy dish in the steak. I wanted to leave room for dessert so we weren't able to finish the risotto, but it was really good, too.
For dessert, we went to Bag Of Beans. We ordered the Blueberry Cheesecake and I think the other one was Pannacotta.
I had coffee of course - cafe latte to go with my dessert.
Thanks for looking!
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