On the Mountain (Sagada 2012)

It started when I was in Grade 1 for Sibika class. A six-year old wanted to go to Hagdang-hagdang Palayan, or at least a glimpse of  it. 2012, finally I was able to see Sagada and climb (and trek, and go spelunking in its caves). The view is breathtaking. The sunrise in Sagada is simply breathtaking. 

On another note, I might have to visit Sagada to...recreate this shot I had back in 2nd year college for immersion class. Yes fields and planting rice. 

Ok, on to my Sagada adventure. 


Day 1: Arrived at Sagada on a very foggy 6 am. Off to see the waterfalls. How hard can that be? 

Going to Bomod-ok Falls (Php600 for a group of less than 10) is a feat in itself. It's like going rock climbing without harness. But this 10 year old Korean kid (Shawn), managed to easily maneuver himself on rocky terrains so, I just HAD TO do it. If a 10 year old can do it, so can I. *and yes, I am wearing my Kraft Shirt, "Make it Happen". 

Day 2 is a test at how well I was in my TRX classes. I forced Mich and Rex to undergo the Cave Connection. (At least) a four hour trek with entry at the Burial or Lumiang Cave and exit at Sumaging Cave (Php400/pax). This involves some skill at CLIMBING, crawling and thrusting your body against boulders. 


Balancing act on a muddy trail and the crawl upwards will make you wanna curse Miley's song playing in your head "I can almost see it". But at least ONCE in your life, you should really  prepare oneself for this EXHAUSTING adventure. 

Compared to Puerto Princesa's Underground River, this one's quite rewarding. Being able to touch (and experience) the cave: crossing its walls, taking a dip in its cool waters and being able to view the coffins makes the trip worthwhile. 

Oh, and please do get Kuya Kirky Awingan as your tour guide. Super kalog as ever. (09297351140)

Davao Itinerary: R&R

My boss came up with a pretty neat itinerary which put me to shame. Where else would you get a color-coded itinerary, detailing an hourly breakdown of events in excel? Kabog ang skills ko.

Now off to the "more relaxing part of the trip".

1. SPA- After a tiring day 1, we treated ourselves to a good massage. I fell asleep the entire time, P250 for a full-hour body massage at Scents & Oil.

2. Food Comatose

                                   

What better way to indulge yourself than spend it munching around an unlimited array of dishes.

a. Buffet 1: Glamour

I am not a seafood fan. But if you love your aligue, Glamour fills her buffet selection with crab dishes (soup, coconut cooked, pancakes, etc).

b. Buffet 2: Apo View

Oddly enough, if you are part of the demographic that listens to 105.9, you might enjoy bands' renditions of love song classics. My favorite part? They cook your pasta right there. You have the option to choose your base ingredient and pasta (penne!). The seafood cream is a winner.

c. Buffet 3: Pearl Farm

Usual classics:  yummy pastel, wide array of dessert selections and baguette on the side. .

d. Buffet 4: Eden Nature Park

Fresh ingredients: As part of the tour, you can actually see what goes in the salad buffet. You can also take home some of the ingredients in the shop near the restaurant. Dine with peacocks as well, as they can freely roam  the outdoor part of the resto.

3. Nature tripping

                                           

Looking for team building activities? You can try daring them to go to the Zipline. Or for a more relaxed vacation? a day tour at Pearl Farm for some R&R. (Don't forget to ask for your free towels and wash room).

River Rafting First Timer (Davao Part 1)

I was never into outdoor activities. As part of our Davao itinerary is to experience river rafting in Tamugan River, an hour away from Crocodile Farm. It was part of a package we availed (Davao Wildwater Adventure). The P2000 package includes your own photographer (aside from the raft guide). Your very own photos and videos as you get washed away. This also comes with free entrance to Zip City, Tribu K'mindanawan and Butterfly House.

Come in prepared.

a. Bring in your phone and set a meeting time. The transpo takes 2 hours (back and forth), the whole rafting experience takes about 3 hours (13-km River stretch).  For people picking you up, there's a fee if you go inside the premises of the Crocodile Farm. (The drop point is inside the facility). Don't worry, the placed has its own safety box, which will come in handy to what I am going to tell you next.

b. The 'gears':

1.  Brightly colored Aqua shoes.

These pretty things come in handy for trips to beaches, rivers, what have yous. Not only does it protect you from the heat when you have your breaks or when you are walking on sand (by lunchtime), it also keeps your feet safe from edgy surfaces of rocks while rafting. 

2. Rashguard

I got heavily burnt. Even our guide is wearing one of these. Protects you from the heat and makes it easier to move vs a bulky soaked tshirt. Easier to paddle your way around.

3. Armada Sport SPF 70 

Apply generously on your face, arms and thigh. Then again, there's always Vandol to treat your sun burnt skin.

The experience? 

It was unforgettable. Nothing beats having lunch in the jungle or drifting freely on a hot, summer afternoon. For beginners, better to try it when water level is slightly lower/still as you get to have breaks and less likely to fall on the edge when you reach "challenging areas". 

Don't forget to work those abs out as part of "rescuing" a man overboard is holding the shoulder straps on his/her lifevest and pulling him upwards. 

Try to keep the balance. When faced with a huge rock that might topple your boat,  you can stay in the middle or avoid being knocked down by  rowing (and not just screaming when you see the next big wave). Wink.

Have fun!

Singapore Eats (Hawker Experience)

I'd definitely go back to Singapore for its wide selection of affordable dishes at their hawker centers. I missed out on a few good ones. Most restaurants open at 11 am till around 3 (or until supplies last). Better to be there at around 10:30 to get seats.

The food stalls are numbered so its easier to find them :)

Maxwell- most of the restaurants "recommended" were already replaced by new tenants. But our favorite would have to the Green Leaf's Samba and Jing Hua Sliced Fish Bee Hoon Stall (77 Maxwell Road Food Centre).

Rex can't get enough of these freshly baked roti :) 

The famous Bee Hon soup. Spicy :)

In Rex's words, "mas masarap na version ng tapa (porkchop+ hot and spicy peanut sauce + itlog) Hangover solb!

After all the food, time to burn some of it by strolling in Chinatown. Reminds me of a cleaner version of Binondo's street stalls. It has a wide array of souvenirs and I love Singapore shirts (if you're into those things). Straight ahead, you'll see a couple of temples (picture picturan kung feel mo). Between Mosque Street and Southridge Street is Honglin Food market. I prefer their selection of pastries. Just right to end a heavy meal :)
I'll definitely try the Hainese chicken.

Barcook Bakery- Raisin and cream bread. I think its their best seller. #01-54 Hong Lim Complex

Durian Muffins Hong Lim Food Centre #02-33 Hong Lim Complex (I got pasalubong for everyone here)

I would go back to Hong Lim Food Center for these (since we were too full the last time):

• Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee -Blk 531A, Stall 02-17
• Fragrant Hong Kong Pork Rib Rice #02-70  
• Ah Kow Mushroom Mince Pork Mee #02-43 

There's a loooong queue for this. So sad I didn't get to try it.:

• Heng Kee Curry Mee Hoon Mee Blk 531A Upper Cross St #01-127 1

Singapore Eats (Western Food)

Singapore is a hotpot of various cultures: Chinese, Malay and Indian. It also draw Western influences from its being known to be one of the busiest port of the world.  In my recent trip, I got a chance to explore not just "Singaporean" food but "Western cuisines" as well. Here are a few of my favorites:


1. Nandos
200 Victoria Street  Bugis Junction 


I love spicy food. Nandos a "Mozambiquan Portuguese" themed restauant, started in South Africa. This is the place you go to if you love your Peri-peri chicken hot. For starters, you can try the chicken liver. Really good selection of sauces to. Try not to order the Peri-peri fries. Stick to the Mediterranean rice as opposed to the spiced one. Too overpowering for the more flavorful chicken. 

 

2. Marche

 "Fresh-Healthy-Fast", present in 12 countries, this place is your go to for fresh salads :) But if you're like me who loves their meat, they have a great selection of breakfast menu- Rosti and sausage combo :D 

But if you are one of the few who loves beer with their salad, then its the place to be at 10 am.

 I love their "cashless" system as well, pa-feeling eat-all-you-can till you get the bill. :D Should give their Vivo City rooftop branch a try, it has wonderful interiors and a great view. There's another branch at 313@Somerset as well. 

3. Sole Pomodoro

 

19/21 Mackenzie Road #01-01 

Rex loves PIZZA. Italian food in an Indian street? Sole Pomodoro offers perfectly cured Prosciutto paired with sweet melon. If you love your Pizza simple, unlike the usual Pizza we have here in the Philippines (mostly overloaded with toppings that I can barely taste the stuff in it), Sole Pomodoro has a various offerings. We chose the Malandrina (all because it sounds so close to Malandi). :)

Oh, Ez prefers this one over the more expensive Batali Resto (Osteria Mozza ).

 

 

MMFF 2011 Hoolabaloo

Shake, Rattle and Roll
I have always been fascinated with Chris Martinez ever since he came up with Last Order ng Penguin. Till his first film with Eugene Domingo in here comes the bride, for me he captures and gets most of the moments. "Relevance", in line with the recent floods, there is no better timing to make it into a horror story. Granted some of the scary scenes were copied from asian films, the more "filipino" was the first one.
Folklore, provincial idyllic feel. That might be the only thing worth watching. Crappy acting? check. Soapy dialogue? Check. and zanjoe Marudo just made my list of the worst actor EVER.
Warring mangkukulam? ok. leave it there.

Asiong Salonga
1. Left a bitter taste, more like asking for Aguiluz's original version. I don't even think it deserved the editing award. Some parts were just a bit off.
2. While most of the rants I will be presenting below would be a summation of what is obvious and clear:
a. Male Machismo would always be guns and philandering
b. Glorify tambay sa kanto, because thats how people will be respected- get yourself cocky and bully the bully.
c. Revenge. that's it for most of the time.

3. The bicycle-riding-gun fighting scene was funny!
4. If it wasn't for the black and white cinematography, the whole thing would've been any average action film dated in the 50s. There's no better way to make it stylized for cheesy lines to sound cool, "akin ang Tondo!"
5. Most of the time, I was checking out the whole 40s-50s vibe. How Tondo looked, how the characters talk and how "things were". I even concerned myself to the tiny detail as the money used. Love the outfits and Abellana's hair. Though, I keep on thinking she looks a bit young for ER Ejercito. Im convincing myself that there won't be a rape scene anytime soon. Relax, its his husband btw.

.. If this becomes a hit, Im expecting another era of crappy action films. If the trailer was a sign, lets all welcome, Hitman. starring Cesar Montano.

Paul Theroux; Iron Rooster

I heard many great stories about China. Coming from a country very much influenced by Chinese culture, I am curious and interested in learning more about the country and its people.Theroux's insights, while a bit outdated after publishing it in the late 80s, some still rang true today. Restroom complaints, spitting and the lack of courtesy among people from mainland are laments often heard by friends who have visited the place. While the lack of hygeine bothered me a bit, Theroux's novel painted a gorgeous picture of China's countryside, captured during his trip through a railway tour across China.
Hopefully, I will be able to go to the sites he mentioned and not just the more famous cities- Beijing and Shanghai.
1. First on my list is the Bogda Shan-Tianchi where the Heavenly pool is located.

2. I would also like to try the railroad crossing the Silk Road
3. He mentioned the railway crossing Emei to Kunming with 200 tunnels. A memorial was dedicated to the people who built it as hundreds sacrificed to build a railway across one of the perilous and mountainous area.

4. On the subject of Kunming, it is also home to several minorities. It would be wonderful to see their colorful clothings, as Theroux put it TECHNICOLOR TRIBALISM, which is a big fad these days

5. Theroux mentioned the ride from Guangxi to Guilin, I would personally love to see the landscapes,. As mentioned, the train ride gave him a glimpse of rural China and how the changing landscapes made man co-exist with nature-altering land to suit his needs. He also mentioned that the place resembled that of a Chinese painting.

 

 It was also a place of some exotic foods such as wawa fish (which is actually a salander) and muntjac (deer):

So cute to eat?