The first floor is where the upscale brands and international designer labels are found, among the stores that’s already open are, Nine West, and Kenneth Cole.

Lined up on the second floor, overlooking the Central Park is a restaurant row. Inside, most of the shops are already open, mostly clothing and fashion boutiques, there’s also a sports zone section with a lounge situated on the center of the zone with giant LCD screens showing the latest in sports events. The entrance to the Richmonde hotel can also be found on the second floor, I think Richmonde Hotel will be the first hotel within Eastwood, traveling businessman and company executives visiting their offices in Eastwood can now stay within the area instead of traveling to Ortigas or Makati CBDs.

Third floor is the Mommy and Me stores - services and brands for moms and kids, the third floor will also have stores for home decors, accessories and other lifestyle products.

Fourth level and last level is occupied by Tech stores, some food outlets (Starbucks) and additional 3 Cinemas (Cinema 5, 6 and 7) integrated with the ones at Citiwalk 2.

After going around the mall, we waited the fireworks show at the Central Park. Botanical gardens are now becoming an essential part of new Malls being put up.

Eastwood mall is a welcome addition in the east part of Manila. Its certainly catered to the mid-high end, more sophisticated shoppers, the design, feel and ambiance of the place certainly reflects this.

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Organized by the Philippine Tour Operations Association in cooperation with the Department of Tourism, the annual three-day Travel Mart is the country’s most prominent travel fair and features showcase pavilions of the regional tourism offices, tour operators, hotels, airlines and transport services, plus other usual stakeholders of the local travel industry.

The travel fair will be from September 12 to 14 at SM Megamall’s Mega Trade Hall and will feature tour packages that highlight a different kind of the Philippines, bringing you from the beachside lounge chair and off to the adventure of your life—on the surf, on a raft, on a sail, on a hanging bridge, or off to the jungles in search for some of the world’s rarest birds. Exciting isn’t?

The Travel Mart is also recognized for whooping discounted airline ticket and travel package rates exclusive to the three-day event. To record, last year’s biggest draw was the Sale ng Bayan, which sold one-way airline tickets for 18 pesos as a nod to the Travel Mart’s 18th year. Be expectant as this year, you can design your own travel and adventure trip beginning with a 19-peso Sale ng Bayan airline ticket or an exciting offer of Buy One, Take Ten. Nowhere else will you find deals as irresistible as these!

The 19th Philippine Travel Mart is co-presented by the Department of Tourism, the Philippine Tourism Authority, the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation, sponsored by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, PAGCOR, Philippine Airlines, Hewlett Packard, Kodak Philippines and in participation with Air Philippines, Blue Water Day Spa, AIM Conference Center, ROX, Next Mobile, Chase Technology and Microdata.

For more details on the 19th Philippine Travel Mart, please contact the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) at 812-4513 and Global Visions at 635-0350.

See you there!

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Banapple is a friendly bakery cafe that serves freshly-baked pies, cheesecakes and desserts, as well as good food and coffee.

Banana + Apple = Banapple

Banapple got its name from their two best sellers Banoffi Pie, and Apple Caramel Crumble. Since the restaurant is small, you get this warm and close feel its like you’re in a party you see everyone get together and share great food.

You’re mouth will surely water as you take a look on their cake and pie selections.

Once seated, you have to order your food in the counter ala fast food and minutes later your food will be served.

We’re not too much into sweets and its dinner time so we chose their rice meals instead.

Pan-fried Porkloin with Herb Mushroom Gravy - (145php) juicy pork loin steak seasoned with special herbs, pan-fried in olive oil, and smothered in a thick mushroom and herb gravy; served with glazed carrots.

Salpicao Rafael (my personal favorite) - (150php) tender cubes of rib-eye steak and sliced mushrooms, perfectly seasoned and smothered in garlic pieces and special brown sauce; served with buttered carrots.

Of course their famous Banoffee Pie - from the words “banana” and “toffee“, its a great dessert but its too sweet for my taste.

I was surprised that this little place offer such a wide variety of food to choose from, they offer pastas, sandwiches, entrees, savory pies, pancakes, pies and cheesecakes. They also serve coffee and smoothies!

It is surely be one of those places that will come to mind when I’m around the area with an empty stomach :).

More Information

Banapple is located at 225 Katipunan Ave, Blue Ridge, QC. infront of Kopi Roti, coming from Ateneo they are on the right side just before the Boni-Serrano interchange.

Banapple is open everyday as early as 7:30AM to 11:30PM

You can contact them at (02) 439-2675

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If there’s one thing that one will surely miss at Sonya’s it is the mouth-watering full course meal.

Sharing you our opulent meal.

The lunch and dinner set meals starts off with a healthy serving of vegetable salad, organically grown inside the garden. Coupled with their dressing, we’ve never been so satisfied with vegetable salad, it’s just so different, we have to stop ourselves from finishing the serving as we know there are more to come.

The salad is followed by a freshly baked loaf of bread, served with several dips.

The main course is pasta is served with either tomato-based or white cream sauce.

For desert, a slice of chocolate cake and turon.

If you are a frequent guest at Sonya’s you would notice the newly constructed dining pavilion right beside the entrance of Sonya’s Country Store and Panaderia before going to B&B (Bed and Breakfast) section. This is where a lot of bonnie sunflowers used to dwell.

Updated package rates as of February 2008

Sonya’s Country Bed and Breakfast (B&B) overnight stay with romantic dinner or lunch and breakfast is Php 3,000 (inclusive of VAT & servioce charge) per person on weekdays, Php 3,400 (inclusive of VAT & service charge) per person on weekends and holidays. Check in at 2:00pm, check out by 12 noon the next day. They offer package rates for bigger groups.

How to get there & Sonya’s Secret garden addresss.

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We arrived at the Farm around 1 o’clock when the sun is still at full blast. If you can imagine, it’ll be very difficult to walk around but they offer a 15-minute ride in a golf cart for 150php (they have to seriously re-think their pricing).

The Farm Animals

We first checked the fenced areas home to one-humped camels, ostriches, several types of goats, sheeps, deers, llamas, alpacas and pigs.

A trip to this zoo is a lot more fun if you bring your kids since they will be more amused with the animals compared to adults. Kids can feed the animals, which is a nice photo op for the parents.

The famous 5-legged cow named Bull-tez-five. (Its funny that the animals look to the lens whenever I take pictures of them)

Further on in the farm, we pass through other attractions, one of which is the perpetual pet cemetery, where one can bury their beloved pets (for a fee of course).

Then there’s a honey bee farm, I was afraid to go near the bee colonies as there is no net (a swarm of angry African bees comes through mind). There’s also a butterfly sanctuary, I was only lucky to find one.

At the center of the property lies the sunken flower garden.

The Infinity Pool of Positivism over looks the flower garden and the whole farm. Near the pavilion, its a perfect place to meditate and relax. I find myself sat down for a few minutes to enjoy the scenery and the cool breeze of Tagaytay air.

Accommodations

Paradizoo offers several options for accommodation, they have a Log House, an Air-conditioned Tent (3000php weekdays, 3300php on weekends).

There is also a Camp site where you can stay in one of the tents (500php) or set up your own (350php). Camping will let you experience how to live in nature with no electricity and distractions, nearby is a proper house with electricity and running water where the campers can bathe and eat breakfast.

Overall, I think the trip to Paradizoo is a lot more worth it and fun if you have kids. I find it a bit too boring for adults, the long walk can be very tiring under the hot summer sun and the path can get very muddy during the rainy season. If I’m in the area I’d go further and spend my day in Sonya’s Secret Garden. For the zoo, I’d rather visit Avilon Zoo in Montalban, Rizal to see more animals and a lot closer to Manila too.

Directions

Coming from Tagaytay City proper, drive towards Nasugbu, Batangas. After Tagaytay Market, look for the road towards Mendez, Cavite. Drive 5 minutes further and look for the signs and turn left. You’ll go through a narrow but paved road and just follow the signs.

More Information

Entrance fee is 199php for each adult. They offer a shuttle service from Manila. You can call 899-9818 or 28 or text (0920) 522-3964 or (0927) 774-01515 for inquiries.

Please see Paradizoo’s Photo Album for more pictures

Please, share with us your thoughts by leaving a comment.

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Boutique has seven deluxe private suites named after ardent emotions:
i lust, i dare, i desire, i dream, i love, i surrender and i escape.

The love month would mean these suites would definitely be fully-booked, true enough our first choice: i love suite is not available. We then stayed at i desire room located at the second floor with the feel of a romantic view of the Taal lake and volcano. It has subdued lighting to set a romantic mood.

Panoramic view from the balcony of our room.

After checking in, Jeff proceeded to the powder room, where he chose from the Boutiques’ own “Pamper Me” line of body essentials that they say made of aphrodisiac ingredients from bath soaps, conditioners, moisturizers and even scents for the room.

Much more about our impressive room, Boutique vaunts of going extra mile and being a concierge for lovers. They prepared us a personalized welcome letter with fresh juice & fruits. That’s surprisingly sweet!

Each room is equipped with Wi-Fi connection, iPod ready speakers and docks, LCD TV, king-sized bed with soft feather covers, white fabric in 300-thread count linens and of course the cute pillows more than a dozen of pillows! Before setting aside the tiny pillows from the big ones inside the pillow bin I made sure I have taken a picture of them. L-o-v-e-l-y!

Check out the bathroom! It’s indeed a highlight. Indulge in a beguiling long soak in the tub. It is enwrapped in see-through glass over looking Taal. I know the feeling is a bit unlikely good thing there’s “hook me up” bathroom curtains for conscious like me.

Food

Boutique also serves an appetizing Hawaiian, Continental or Filipino style breakfast in a big bed-table for two. It will be delivered to your suite at the time you indicated on the pre-ordered menu breakfast slip. We mixed our breakfast choices. It was really a big breakfast and had it as our brunch.

Overall, the experience is great even if we didn’t avail of the facial massage we later on found out included in our stay. The experience once again is incomparable from enjoying the art of doing nothing. Check out is lunch time there’s a lot to see in Tagaytay and we’re ready to discover.

More Information

Boutique Bed and Breakfast is located at 45 Aguinaldo highway, Silang Crossing East, Tagaytay City

Contact numbers: 046-4131885 or +639273632660

A minimum deposit of Php 2,500 is required to confirm booking.

See The Boutique’s Photo Album for more pictures.

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Before checking in at The Boutique, we had our lunch at Bag of Beans to try out their coffee and English Pies. Unfortunately, they don’t serve Alamid Coffee when we’re there. I opted for a bottomless serving of Barako Coffee instead, and a cup of hot freshly brewed arabica for Edz.

Kapeng Barako

Freshly brewed coffee and barako coffee served with fresh milk and sugar.

I like my coffee strong and needed the kick from the Barako Coffee, because I woke up early for the trip. I find the taste just as right, but I’m not a fan of black coffee so I prepared mine to my liking - creamy, sweet yet strong. If you’re a coffee drinker, I suggest that you go for the bottomless serving, the cool Tagaytay breeze will render your coffee cold before you know it and it won’t be that enjoyable anymore. Atleast you can have it refilled when it do so.

English Pies

Steak and mushroom pie

Beef and vegetable pie

We had english pies for lunch and it was just enough for one person. A hot fresh-from-the-oven english pie coupled with a brewed coffee in a tagaytay-garden setting was just a perfect reason to leave our busy, often stressful lives for a few days.

Breads

And if you’re a bread lover, their bakery offers a variety of freshly baked breads as well as different types of coffee blends for your enjoyment at home.

Directions

Coming from Tagaytay City proper, just head towards Nasugbu, Batangas. After passing the Mendez, Cavite interesection which is right after the Tagaytay City market. Look at the right, Bag of Beans is just along the hi-way, I’m sure you wouldn’t miss it.

Please see Bag of Bean’s photo album for more photos.

Please, share with us your thought by leaving a comment.

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A bit of history…

Bellini’s is run by Mr.Roberto Bellini a former Italian paparazzo. Roberto met his wife Maria Luisa here in the Philippines when he was sent here for an assignment to cover the EDSA revolution. They got married and went to Italy, after a more than a decade and 3 children, they went back to put up Bellini’s Italian Restaurant. The restaurant is featured a couple of times in print, television and recently in the movies. A scene from the movie “One more chance” by John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo was shot here, that was when we decided to have dinner together with friends in this nice hidden place.

The Ambiance

Our first time wasn’t really pleasant, it was around Christmas last year, we were waiting for our friends to arrive outside. As soon as they arrive they closed the establishment so we have to look for another place to held our “Christmas Party”. A couple of weeks later we finally had a chance to dine. As soon as we were seated, I ask permission if I can shoot around, the waiter politely said “Yes”.

The whole place is adorned with paintings, even the ceiling on the main dining room has painting of a large family dining together, I can only think of how difficult it is for the painter to do that painting :).

Aside from the main dining area, there are two function rooms good for private functions for around 18 guests. While shooting I noticed Roberto stared at me for a while, it was only later when I realized that he is a former lens man.

Two walls were hanged with photos and newspaper clips, the photos were Roberto Bellini’s most proud work when he was still a paparazzo in Italy. I recognized a photo of the late Luciano Pavarotti hanged on one of the walls.

The waiter offered us their Pasta Platter, mixed slices of Pan Pizza and a pitcher of Iced Tea, we have no idea what to pick in the Menu since they’re all Italian so we gave it a go.

Shortly after, our pasta platter has arrived - a regular Italian spaghetti, seafood pasta, ravioli and our favorite spicy spaghetti with chili, garlic in olive oil.

Mixed pizza.

As a complementary, we are served with Bellini’s own concoction which he called “Vino Samto” wine. It tasted good but I’m no wine drinker.

Overall, the food is truly great but its in a bit expensive side (Italian food is always expensive!), our total bill was around 2,000 pesos. But that doesn’t stop us from going back a few weeks later.

We just couldn’t take our minds off the Contadina (spicy spaghetti in olive oil, garlic and chili P180)

Pollo alla diavola (grilled chicken w/ herps and spices P200). I must say that its really hard to choose your order from the menu if you don’t have any idea since they’re in Italian.

How to find Bellinis

Bellini’s Italian Restaurant is inside the Marikina Shoe Expo in Cubao, which is at the back of Shopwise in Cubao. Pay parking is available in front of the restaurant.

Please share your ideas by leaving us with a comment.

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We were initially booked to stay at room number 2- the most requested room of Casa San Pablo, however we then decided to transfer into a bigger room for my pregnant friend.

Casa San Pablo is committed in creating the ambiance where you can relax, renew, rekindle bonds and revitalize your artistic fortitude. Approximately, you may come across 60 chairs, 100 little cars, 50 paintings and 14 rooms to accommodate 130 guests and astonishingly none of them are alike.

Situated in a genteel family compounds, a converted day resort called Kay Inay. Named after Sinforosa “Inay” Azores Gomez, but that didn’t last long since Boots Alcantara one of the grandsons of the original owner and a zealous art collector and hobby enthusiast, decided to put up his own country inn inside the compound. He and his friends also bought an old house in Quezon and razed it piece by piece and used antique items-doors, windows, wooden beams, old flat irons to give character to the bedrooms in Casa San Pablo.

Cool breeze welcomes guests because of the pine trees (Arokaria) that looked like they came straight from Baguio. With the entire lot area expanding 7 hectares Casa San Pablo is a stunner, bright and early morning. Casa San Pablo has a lovely Balinese inspired pavilion that serves as dining and conference halls.

Casa San Pablo indulgences guests to an artwork exhibit. At Casa San Pablo, one is surrounded by the artworks of Elmer Borlongan, Eliezer John Cabangon, Halili and Tony Leano, dines among Ang Kiukoks, bathes in bathrooms designed by Ugu Bigyan and Stargazes on hammocks while takas (wood molds) of Pakil craftsmen sway gently from the trees. Casa San Pablo has the feel of a cozy bed and breakfast captivated in a tropical setting. It is country charm that lures visitors here and there is plenty of that to go around.

Folk art and vintage finds:

Casa San Pablo’s charm lies in its folk art pieces and vintage finds scattered everywhere in th inn like paper mache horses that decorate tables, vintage coal iron placed on stepper, clay fish in the gardens, a hen made from hay and wild flowers in a bottle and miniature wooden horses, other country-style decor.

Idyllic embrace:

Casa San Pablo’s sprawling lawns and gardens are strewn with sitting areas. There are pockets of vintage furniture where people can laze around, have small group meetings or simply stargaze.

How to get there:

From Manila, after the San Pablo border, stay on the Maharlika highway. On the left you would find a Caltex station, right before a fork in the highway. The right side of the fork will lead you staright to Lucena, while the other to San Pablo City, take the left road which is Colago Avenue and you would see the community hospital to your left. Shortly after on the right would be Kay Inay Resort which where you can find Casa San Pablo inside.

Note: Prior reservations should be made kindly call 0917-812-6687.

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First impressions

We arrived at the resort at 9 in the morning (around 3hours travel from Manila). Greeted by Mr. Laurenz Francisco the overall manager of the resort who briefly showed us the amenities, activities that we can do and some of their rules. It was a farm turned into an activity area somewhere in the middle of Cabangan, Zambales. Looking around it was like a play ground for grown ups, where one can have fun and get to know new people through group activities.

An alternative stress relief

Relaxation is not a luxury that we can take in this event as there are 10 activities lined up for the first day alone. We’ve been divided into 4 groups which has to go through different group activities where we had to work with each other to achieve a common goal - to win. Though tiring, this made us forget our very stressful work and just have some fun. My body felt like I need to rest for days, but I was emotionally refreshed.

How about the food?

We had a total of five meals, the food is not that bad but its certainly not great. They have a lot to improve in this area, they should’ve prepared all of Zambales’ best cuisines but served us with very typical food which doesn’t satisfy my taste buds.

We had these meals as far as I can remember:

• Our first meal which is lunch we had Kare-kare, Tilapia wrapped in banana leaves
• Pancit for merienda
• Pork Liempo, Sinigang, and Tinolang Manok for dinner, military style where we had to eat with our bare hands with our food lined up in a long table on top of banana leaves.
• Beef tapa, omelet, tocino and hotdogs plus Suman with chocolate for breakfast

Overall, I had a great time in Mango Camp as I was able to get to know my new team mates and had fun inside the camp. I felt like a kid in there, just spending the whole day playing and snapping pictures. I had a chance to have a little conversation with Mr. Laurenz as he noticed me busily looking around snapping pictures. He asked me if taking pictures is my hobby and I said yes and I will use these pictures to feature their camp on our blog. As we leave the camp, Mr. Laurenz and the owner of the facility bid us goodbye. For more information you can visit their website at http://mangocampadventure.com/home

If you have any comments or inquiries please feel free to leave us a message.

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Kris: Magandang gabi mga kapamilya, sa gameshow na ito importante ang sagot sa nag-iisang katanungang Deal or no Deal. Ang ating player ngayong gabi ay walang iba kundi ang fastest-rising household services manager na si Inday!

[umentra si Inday at nagpalakpakan ang mga tao]

Kris: Ok Inday, choose a briefcase.

Inday: Kris, I would opt for case #4 please.

Kris: Briefcase # 4… si Sharmel. Inday, matanong ko lang, how did you come up with the number 4?

Inday: Oh, do you really want to know Kris?

Kris: Oo naman. I’m sure kaya ko naman maintindihan yung sasabihin mo eh.

Inday: The number 4 was acquired based on a probability distribution function that involves integrating up to an area greater than or equal to that random number which should be generated between 0 and 1 for proper distributions.

Kris: Syet. tanong tanong pa kasi eh.

Kris: Ok Inday, choose 6 briefcases to open.

Inday: I would opt for 7, 24, 12, 2, 15 and 20.

Kris: Wait lang Inday, usually isa isa lang ang pagbubukas natin ng case…

Inday: Why is that? As if I can change the outcome if we’re to open a case each time I blurt out a number as opposed to opening each case immediately one after the other right?

Kris: Hayyy…babaguhin pa talaga mechanics (bulong sa sarili).

Kris: Anwyay, di bale na lang nga… tuloy tayo. Number 7. Natalie buksan na!!

[Yung audience sumisigaw ng LOWER!! LOWER!!!]

Kris: Teka lang, bago natin buksan… Inday, usually ang mga contestants naten ay sumisigaw ng “LOWER” every time magbubukas ng case.

Inday: Kris, I guess that’s not the way I was taught in grade school. You see, I was taught that we should only use the comparative form of the word or add “ER” to the adjective if we are comparing two things. And since it is only the first briefcase that we are going to open, we have nothing to compare it to. Am I right?

[natahimik ang audience at napaisip]

Kris: Oo nga no!

Kris: Sige Natalie, Buksan mo na.

[Ang laman ng briefcase 7 ay Piso... Palakpakan ang mga tao]

Kris: Good start! Ano yung next case mo ulit?

Inday: Case number 24 please.

Kris: Chloe… buksan na…

[Audience sumisigaw ulit ng LOWER!! LOWER!!]

Kris: Wait lang guys, Inday may nabuksan ng case baket di ka pa rin sumisigaw ng “Lower”?

Inday: Oh my goodness Kris, how long have you been doing this? Have you ever encountered a value that is lower than a peso in this game? Tell me, is there any value left lower than the one we just opened?
Sheesh.

[Napaisip ulit ang audience at natahimik]

Kris: Aarrgghh!!!! Chloe buksan na lang nga, pati na rin yung 12, 2, 15 and 20 buksan na rin para matapos na. [naiirita na]

[At sunod sunod na ngang nabukas ang mga case ni Inday]

[nag-ring ang phone]

Inday: Ahh Kris, to save more time can you tell Banker that I’m not interested in his first offer. In the history of this game of chance, I have yet to see someone accept a first offer from the banker. It’s quite pathetic and pretentious for contestants to pause and look around the audience as if asking for advice before ultimately rejecting the first offer. I mean come on, isn’t that a waste of airtime?

Banker: Potahhh!!! [narinig sa set kahit sarado ang kwarto ni banker]

- Ito ang unang pagkakataon na marinig ng mga audience ang boses ni banker sa Deal or no Deal.

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We had lunch in Reyes Barbecue in Gateway mall food court after scourging Divisoria for several hours. We got “hooked” with tasty and juicy pictures on their menu, and their queue is quite long. I thought it must be good!

Well since its considered as a fast food, you can’t expect great service but at least fast right? Well no, you’ll spend 10-20minutes standing in the queue waiting for your food to be ready, instead of giving you a number and wait for your order to be served while sitting. Worst is, I’ve already waited 15minutes when a lady advised me that my other order is not available anymore and I have to pick a replacement. I insisted, since I already paid for it and there’s one grilling in front of me. The lady answered “Its not for you”, and point to an elder woman 5-8 people behind me. I really hate it when the elderly especially women cuts in line just because they can (sorry for the rant). Anyway, I just insisted that it’s mine and there’s no way that she can get it, its pretty obvious since I’m the first one in the queue and several people already overtaken me (which really gets me so pissed).

Grilled Pusit 125php- the meal that I had to fight for! Which turned out not that great, its not properly cooked which gave it an inconsistent taste. It looks good on picture though

2pc Pork BBQ Meal 85php - their signature barbecue which made them famous is great. Its almost identical to Serye’s barbecue which is also owned by the same clan.

Other items on their menu are:
BBQ Chicken Meal 95php
1pc Pork BBQ Meal 55php
2pc Liempo 105php
Grilled Bangus Belly Meal 85php

Reyes Barbecue also sell their “famous” bottled marinade and sauces at 35 per bottle to allow you to make your own at home. And for merienda, there’s Chicken BBQ Wraps (Shawarma with BBQ), Pork BBQ Wraps, spaghetti and chicken asparagus soup.

If I were to choose between Ineng’s and Reyes Barbecue, I’ll have to pick Ineng’s because I prefer their traditional vinegar with chili versus the sweet peanut based sauce of Reyes Barbecue.

Reyes Barbecue is available for franchise; if you search around the web you’ll see negative feedback about their service including this blog. Probably franchised outlets are the reason why their service is very inconsistent.

Reyes Barbecue have outlets at Shangri-La Plaza Mall, SM City North Edsa, 168 Mall Divisoria, Greenhills Theatre Mall, the New Divisoria Mall, SM Megamall and Gateway Mall.

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There are also air-conditioned tents that are lined up along the beach, as well as Nipa Huts and Picnic tables for guests that want to spend their day in the island. We rented a Nipa Hut where we cooked and ate our breakfast.

Still wanting to take a picture of the house, I risked my gear by going in the water, fortunately the water is below waist level on the path going to another island which is only 100 meters away. Where I finally managed to get a decent shot, I hope my lens got a longer focal length though.

After taking a lot of pictures we had to go back to our resort as were supposed to check-out by noon and head back home. And get back to our busy and often stressful lives.

If you have any question or you’ve been to this place, please feel free to leave a comment.

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Aside from eating and swimming, visitors can also rent kayaks which is offered for 250pesos.

Unfortunately for us, there are no available picnic table and they don’t allow guests to have a picnic on the sand, so we just waited for our boat to arrive and decided to eat our lunch on the next island. But they failed to pick us at 1:30PM without any notice; apparently because our boat was damaged by the sharp rocks while docking.

While stuck in the island, starving because we haven’t eaten our lunch, some of us had fun taking pictures in this breath-taking scenery. I sure did, as most of the first photographs that I can be truly proud off, was captured here.

Fortunately, another boat man agreed to take us back to wharf around 3:30PM, disappointed.. yet a lot better than sitting in the sand with the blistering heat of the sun.

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Hundred Islands National Park is located in Brgy. Lucap, Alaminos in the province of Pangasinan some 250kms. (4-5hours) from Manila. Covering an area of 1,844 hectares, the islands are believed to be some two million years old. According to certain folklore, the islands were tears of a primeval giant who lost his ladylove. Others tell of tall-tale of mermaids that once inhabited its seas.

This place has been on our list for some time now, and we had every reason to go there this past long weekend (Nov 1-4). We’re so glad to have visited this place for a number of reasons:

1. We’ve never featured a travel destination, North of Manila.
2. Because of the 4-day weekend, its unwise to spend it in our houses and sit all day.
3. Our friends Marie and Tan invited us, which makes also the trip easier on the pocket since we’re travelling as a group.
4. I’m itching to try my newly acquired Pentax K100D dSLR.

We started our trip at around 4am from Cubao, and we arrived at Alaminos, Pangasinan at around 9AM. Most of the hotels are located along the road leading to the wharf. Don’t expect a beach front room here because you won’t find any, travelers check-in to one of the hotels and rent a boat to spend your day island hopping, kayaking or snorkeling.

As soon as we arrived, we just took our breakfast and went on to the wharf immediately, where a boat arranged for us by the hotel is waiting for us.

Less than 15minutes on the boat and you’ll see the main event of this trip, the Hundred Islands!

Most of the islands were inhabited because they are too small and doesn’t have a beach to dock, but they are truly a marvelous sight and breath taking sight - an art that has been crafted by time and forces of nature. There are only 3 Islands developed for tourists, Children’s Island, Quezon Island and Governor’s Island. Only Governor’s Island have electricity and fresh water. More on these later as I opted to create multiple posts on this than a really long one.

I wasn’t able to take swim at the sea as I was very busy taking pictures and I’m too afraid to leave my gear in the sand. I also have been unfortunate as one of my SD cards got corrupted, twice! I lost some good pictures in there, well lesson learned, its better to invest on multiple and reliable memory cards than on a big one, good thing I used my 1GB as my main storage.

We weren’t able to finish our island hopping tour as our boat failed to fetch us from Quezon Island. Apparently, the boat has been damaged by the razor sharp corals and the waves. To save his face, he agreed to take us to the rest of islands the next day.

We had our dinner back in the resort, with grilled Barbeque Porkchops, Chicken Adobo, and Rice yum yum!

Dinner time

Travel Tips:

- Bring lots of food and drinks, as there are no restaurants in any of the islands (except for the sari-sari store in Quezon Is.)
- Bring sarong, umbrella and sun block. There are little to no shades on some of the island.
- Its better to leave around 2-4AM so you still have a full day when you get to Alaminos.
- In case you don’t know (I don’t), they speak Ilocano in Pangasinan its better if you can bring someone who can speak Ilocano. Thanks to Jefferson.
- Book your hotel before going there, its a lot easier.

How to get there:

If you’re driving a car - I wasn’t the one who drove so I have a faint memory on how to get there, just look at the map below and I’m sure you’ll be able to figure it out. If you don’t have any idea on how to get there, just grab a copy of EZ maps available at Gasoline stations, 711 stores or National Bookstore, they’re very helpful and very detailed.

If you’re taking a bus - I saw a couple of buses along the way going to Bolinao, most are Victory Liner Buses, you can check their website at http://www.victoryliner.com . Just tell the “Konduktor” to drop you at Alaminos, Pangasinan and you’re goin to hundred islands. From there you can take a tricycle to your resort or room.

For more information:

The Hundred Islands Resort Hotel
Alaminos City Official Web site
Hundred Islands web site

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