Christmas Shopping at Dapitan

We were looking for some ornaments and the perfect Belen so we decided to go to Dapitan Arcade. It was my first time there and didn't know what to expect. It was a holiday (I forgot which one) so the "main stores" were closed, but the streets were bustling with activity. It's Christmas season, after all, and everyone is looking for nice but cheap decors!

 

And boy, Dapitan did not disappoint. I wanted to buy everything and turn our house into a living Christmas ornament. I wanted to get a bunch of those outdoor Christmas trees (though the dogs will probably just eat it) as well as those giant dancing Santas. There were so many trinkets to choose from, and we eventually found the perfect Belen for us.

Check out the video!

Video: DIY Tour of Ho Chi Minh

Ditch the guided tour and brace the streets of Vietnam! It was particularly hot that afternoon so we decided to cancel our tour and just walked around th city. With an easy to read map on hand, we were able to visit some of the nice sites. The good part? Lots of stop overs (aircon please!!)

 

At one point, my friends "ditched" me and went back to the hotel so I ended up walking around on my own. It was at my own pace so it was awesome! I was sweating really bad by the time I got back to the hotel but it was all worth it. Here are some clips taken from that adventure:

Back of the Bike Tour, Vietnam

I can't stress this enough - the Back of the Bike Food Tour is a MUST if you find yourself in Ho Chi Minh. You get to go around the city, pass through different districts, get a glimpse of how the locals live, experience the motorcycle exodus first hand, and eat a lot of delicious food!

 

Each tourist is assigned a well trained guide who speaks English and knows his/her stuff. I was fortunate enough to get a very spirited guide who not only gave me information but was also interested in where I came from. He drives really well and can multi task on the road. It was a bit unnerving at times (especially when he does hand gestures while driving), but I got used to it and relaxed.

 

And did I mention the food? Hahaha. Check out our video and prepare to be amazed.

Video: Weasel Coffee At Trung Nguyen

They say that this place serves the best coffee in Vietnam. I simply had to try the weasel coffee. Relatively cheap at 150,000 Dong. 

 

The barista patiently explained how to properly enjoy their coffee. I wanted to try it hot but I was already sweating like crazy because of the long walks we took. Ergo, iced coffee! Take a look!

Video: Mekong River Tour, Vietnam

I wouldn't go as far as saying that it's a "must," but it's a good way to see some of the sights in Vietnam. Not a lot to see (aside from food!) if you stay in the city so it was a good adventure for us. A bit long and tiring though.

 

The Pagoda was a good stop over. We just loved seeing the huge Buddhas and the nice temples. Some areas are still under construction so the place would probably look better in a year of so.

 

One "downside:" they sold a lot of stuff during the tour. And the tourists were a captive audience. Some items were interesting, the others not so.

 

And we were so hungry by the time lunch was served that we didn't care much about the food. 

 

If you are ready for more, check out our video:

Gossip Cafe & Pub, Vietnam

Near the Norte Dame Church of Ho Chi Minh is a cool cafe with an interesting name - Gossip. It makes me wonder if people just want to come here for gossip? Whatever the case may be, it's located right next to a park with huge trees so it's a refreshing break from the heat of Saigon.

The orange umbrellas may be an eyesore for some, but it can certainly catch the attention of passersby.

 

That's not an expensive alcoholic drink- that's free iced tea (not the sweet kind - more like service tea on ice). Refreshing!

 

That colorful drink is also quite yummy. Forgot what it's called, sorry. Not a lot on the menu, but there are some coffee and tea based drinks. Perfect while gossiping about other people. Lol.

 

This cafe is a short work from some of the tourist attractions in District 1. As I mentioned, it's right across the Notre Dame Church and the Reunification Palace. There's a mall in the vicinity, and you can also walk to the War Remnants Museum.

Hai Lua Food Countryside

Ben Thanh Market transforms into a night street market after sunset, and it's a great place for people who love to bargain. I'm not much of a fan of bargaining but as it turns out I have the skills. It's amazing how I thrived in this environment. Even my friends turn to me for some bargaining help. Go figure.

 

The Hai Lua food court, however, is probably my favorite part. It's a small strip covered in makeshift tents and furnished with plastic tables and chairs. But getting a table can be a challenge because of the number of customers. It's not a surprise, actually, because the food is really cheap and very delicious!!

 

This barbecue dish was actually more than enough to make us full, and we did not expect "one order" to be so much. It reminded me of Pinoy style BBQ, but with a twist!

 

Spring rolls wrapped in lettuce is love! I can't get enough of this dish :)

 

And this is how "rice" looks like. It just HAS to be covered in greens and some meat. Who am I to complain?

I can only wish I had more time and/or space in my tummy to get a taste of all the other dishes here. Even strangers who are just walking down the street can't help but recommend the place (yep, a couple of tourists from Australia probably thought it was their civic duty to recommend the place to us).

Ngon 138 Restaurant, Ho Chi Minh

We stumbled across this gem of a restaurant on our morning stroll to the Reunification Palace. It looks a bit I timidating from the outside, but the prices were actually quite reasonable. The food was also awesome, and there we so so many options!

 

There were mini stalls inside, somewhat reminding me of the "market style" Ichiba restaurant in Resorts World. Due to the communication gap, we just opted to get a menu and point to the dishes that we wanted to eat.

 

There weren't too many patrons when we got there, but it wasn't lunch time so that's probably why. There were a lot of tourists but there were local customers, too.

 

We had to try the Papaya salad - seems like a staple in Vietnamese cuisine. It was good, but I still prefer the one sold by the "Papaya Lady." 

 

These Vietnamese "cakes" were also good, but I wouldn't say that hey made it to my favorite list. There are just way too many other dishes that are better tasting.

 

Forgot what this one is called, so I'll settle for "beef dish." Super yummy and really went well with the other dishes we ordered. Even the bread was delicious.

 

And then there's the crab meat fried rice. See how huge those crab chunks are? Yum!

 

I love this place. Will definitely come back if I get the chance to visit Ho Chi Minh again. 

 

What To Eat In Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Food is probably the best thing about Ho Chi Minh. With everything so affordable and delicious, it is unimaginable for someone not to be full all the time. I literally had to force myself to eat just so I could try the yummy food the streets of Vietnam had to offer. 

 

Check out this video. It summarizes a good portion of my food adventure in Ho Chi Minh. I say "a good portion" because we actually got to eat much MUCH more in our 7 days there.

1. Street Food Market near Ben Thanh Market
2. Ngoc Suong Saigon
3. Street Vendors
4. Night Market
5. OMG Rooftop Bar
6. Pho Le
7. Huynh Hoa Banh Mi

And here are some links (my review and some photos) to other restaurants that we visited. All yummy, all reasonably priced. You gotta love it in Vietnam!

Gossip Cafe & Pub

Hai Lua Food Countryside

Ngon 138 Restaurant

Baby's Dreamplay Adventure

The little kid and the big kid really enjoyed themselves in Dreamplay. We only got to spend a couple of hours inside (the queue at the entrance was INSANE when we got there), but it was more than enough to drain the hell out of me.

I can't wait until Dyther is old enough to enjoy all the activities that Dreamplay has to offer. But don't grow up too soon, kiddo.

Mom and Dad's Anniversary @ Canyon Cove

Mom and Dad wanted some quality family time for their 40th anniversary, so they brought the entire gang to Manila just so we can be complete on this momentous occasion. There was no clear plan, but we eventually decided to go on a road trip of sorts. There was a really strong storm in Luzon, but that didn't keep us from going for it.

 

Here's a video of how things went during our stay at Canyon Cove.

Baby's Trip to Nuvali and Tagaytay

It was Dyther's first trip to Tagaytay, and we had so much fun bonding. It took all my charm to get on his good side, but I think I finally managed to penetrate his picky heart.

 

Here's a video of some of the trip's highlights.

10k Dinner @ Ruby Jack's Steakhouse

Once in a while, I like to indulge in expensive (and hopefully good) food. My parents' wedding anniversary was a good opportunity to splurge so we headed over to Ruby Jack's Steakhouse at City of Dreams. And splurge we did. 

 

The place doesn't look like much from the outside (as evidenced by the photo) but the interior screams posh. Champagne and wine can be seen anywhere and there are tables for couples, small groups and bigger groups. We were given a table beside the entrance (by the glass window), making us quite visible to the gamblers who are passing by.

 

For starters, we had the Crab Cake Donut with Tartare Sauce. This dish had around 10 delectable crab balls and cost around P550. It did taste like it was made of actual crab meat and not some meat alternate, but then again I could be wrong. I really liked it, and I thought the sauce was good too.

 

The T-bone Steak (P4000) was an obvious choice. At 800 grams, it was big enough for sharing and was perfect for a not-so-hungry family. Paired with the really expensive steak rice (P300 a cup!!), it was enough to satisfy my steak cravings. The meat was tender and juicy, and it was seasoned well. It came with a special sauce, but I prefer my steak without it.

 

We also ordered the John Dee Super Gold 160 Day Grain Fed Black Angus (P3000), which is a mouthful to order. To simplify, you can just say ribeye. It's 250 grams of pure bliss. Even the garlic was good enough to eat. 

 

Funny story - I gave my brother P10,000 and told him he can have whatever is left after paying the bill. He was happy, but the smile disappeared when he saw what we ordered. I jokingly told him that 10k was not enough and that he had to cover the balance. Thanks to Dad's senior citizen card, we ended up "within budget."

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad. You inspire me. I love you both.

13 Things To Do In Boracay (Aside From Swimming)

I've been to Boracay a couple of times but didn't realize until my last trip that there are a LOT of things to do in this paradise island. With a couple of friends, I explored but a fraction of these activities and ended up with a really full 5-day itinerary.



So here are 13 things to do when you are in Boracay!

1. Start the day right by eating a hearty breakfast at your hotel. My friends and I had a great buffet breakfast selection from Astoria Boracay, although the bacon does get a little old if you eat it every single day.

Real Coffee is also another good breakfast alternative. The omelettes are really good but a bit expensive (P300 for eggs???). They are also famous for their Calamansi muffins and (duh) their coffee.

2. Pig out at D Talipapa. If you love eating "dampa style," then you will definitely love the D Talipapa experience. Buy your fresh seafoods from the nearby market and have one of the restaurants cook your meals for you. WARNING: It's so good that you will likely leave the place with a really full stomach. Try to burn some of that food off by walking around the beach area or shopping aroung D Mall.

3. People always rave about Jonah's, but I find Jony's Fruit Shake a nice alternative. Astoria hotel's beach front is really crowded (all the sailboats are parked there), so we had little choice but to walk a short distance to find a less dense area. We just got a table from Jony's, ordered a couple of shakes, and went to the ocean in between sips.

 

4. Paddle Boat @ White Beach. I used to think that I had great balance. I was wrong, so wrong. Paddle boating looks so easy when you see other people do it. I was wrong, so wrong. I'll probably get the hang of it on my 10th attempt.

5. Island Hopping - Cliff Diving @ Aron's Magic Island. Everybody does it, so it must be super easy, right? Well, don't knock it til you've tried it. You will need to muster all your courage to step up the 10-meter high beam, and even more courage to jump. Go for the highest jump off point - it is, after, the same fear that will paralyze you.

6. Island Hopping  - Crocodile Island Snorkeling and Fish Feeding. I really REALLY wish I brought my full face snorkeling gear with me, but I could not find where yaya hid it. Nevertheless, I had a great time snorkeling in the middle of the ocean and watching the fishes eat the bread that we brought with us. They should open up a floating bakery in the area - there is not enough bread to make you want to stop.

7. Drink buko juice in the middle of the ocean. Yes, there was this buko vendor who sold fresh buko right where we were snorkeling. How cool is that? And yeah, the juice was refreshing.



8. Lunch @ Nami Restaurant. If you want to experience the best view of Boracay, this is where you should go. You can ride a tricycle going to Diniwid beach, walk for a few minutes, climb steep stairs, and finally ride a makeshift elevator to get to this place. The view is fantastic, but the food was (sadly) over hyped. It was still good food though, but the view was the scene stealer.

9. Swimming @ Diniwid Beach. This area is one of the more "tranquil" spots in the island. If you don't want to swim with too many tourists, then this is the place to be.



10. Experience Boracay at night. You should not leave the island without having dinner by the beach - this always makes the dining experience extra special even if the food itself is just average. Afterwards, you can go around and watch the fire dancers, go shopping, play beer pong and drink to your heart's content. And of course, one of the best parts of your day: heading back to your comfortable hotel room and getting some sleep!

11. Try new restaurants. The paella at La Cozina was decent, and the churros was also good. I had fun watching how kuya made everything from scratch. We also tried the food at Pamana and everything we ordered was absolutely yummy!



12. Eat at Smoke Restaurant - they are famous for their bulalo steak. We initially went to the original branch but it was fully booked. The waitress suggested that we try the Bulabog branch (with free shuttle) and it was one of the best decisions of the night!

13. Get a hair braid or a henna tattoo. The place is crawling with people offering these services. You can also get a massage - quite relaxing and a great way to cap the day.

Boracay Food!

A Boracay trip is never complete until you enjoy the variety of dishes and cuisine offered.

 

Boracay: White Beach and Diniwid Beach

Our fourth day in Boracay was less stressful. We spent the morning at the beach, went to Nami Restaurant for lunch, spent some time in Diniwid Beach, and slept the rest of the afternoon off.

 

Check out the video :)

Boracay @ Night, and Astoria Hotel

Dinner by the beach, fire dancing, shopping, long walks, and lots of drinks. Boracay evenings are normally characterized by these activities. 

 

A big thanks to my friend Terry for hooking me up with a great Astoria Boracay deal. The hotel is located near the crowded station 2 but was very accessible to all the Boracay musts. 

Boracay Island Hopping

I'm so used to spending an entire Boracay vacation by the resort, just swimming, drinking and eating my heart out. But guess what? There are other things to do in Boracay!

 

Snorkeling, fish feeding, cliff diving, and more beaches! And yes, someone even sold us Buko in the middle of the ocean!

Check out our video :)

A Day in Boracay

A fun day spent at the beach. With 5 days to spare, there's time to lay back and relax.

 

Check out our video!

Harvest Hotel - When in Cabanatuan

Thanks to my friend Rhea's wedding, I had the opportunity to visit Cabanatuan. I place that I otherwise would probably never visit (because there are no beaches I think). I booked a room at the Harvest Hotel, and it was a pleasant stay overall. I saw a Microtel nearby, but I think that Harvest Hotel may be one of the better hotels in the area. Correct me if I'm wrong :)

 

The room was very nice. It was just the right size for two and the bed was very comfortable. It had the basic necessities like wifi, a ref and coffee/tea provisions. The TV was ok, though the channels were limited. I also liked the painting that was situated right above the bed.

Funny story. When I got in the room (I was alone), I went straight to the window area to check out the view. I opened the drapes and enjoyed the pool view. Then suddenly, I felt a series of taps on my shoulder. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. I froze. Shit. I was supposed to be alone in the room - who would be tapping me on the shoulder? I slowly turned around, prepared to run for my life. And then I saw it. The curtain rod (the white plastic rod that's used to pull the curtains) was poking me repeatedly.

 

The bathroom was simple and catered to my basic needs: a hot shower, a bidet, and toiletries. How I wish there was a tub, but I guess 3k per night won't get you too far these days. The towels smelled really nice, but I think they need to improve on the ventilation system just a little bit (if you know what I mean).

 

They also have an outdoor pool that's shaped like the number 8. I guess that's their version on "infinity," huh. It didn't look too inviting to me because there were a lot of kids swimming when I went out. Kung may cute sana, why not. But it does look relaxing and everyone in the area seemed happy and thrilled.

 

The room charge already included breakfast for two. Breakfast is served from 6am onwards, so as usual I was enjoying my working breakfast. The menu wasn't too extensive - and I was sad that there was no bacon. They did serve a beef dish, luncheon meat, beans, eggs, fish, fruits, bread and cereals. My friends joined in and it was a fun lamon session of sorts. They also had taho, and I had fun getting the pudding from the container (it was my first time, not as easy to get those smooth layers as I thought).

 

Another fun fact before I end. I decided to wear a light blue coat to Rhea's wedding (I was under the impression that the event was not super formal). And it looked exactly like the uniform of the hotel staff. I should have just borrowed one from them.