I and my friends, looked for a place where we can do our news casting project. Then, we saw this place named "Alchemy" where you can rent a room for meetings or to study. 

We rented the conference room that is good for 4-6 people. It costs 600 pesos for 2 hours. Fully air-conditioned, friendly staffs, free wi-fi and such a quiet place. This picture below is the design at the wall of the conference room :)

They even have unlimited coffee! And take note, it is Starbucks! :) 

Alchemy also has a study hub for students who wants to study. It costs 180 pesos for 3 hours. Not bad, right? :)

 Alchemy is located at Katipunan Avenue above Yellow Cab :) Go try it! :)

ICE CREAM!!

Want something new? Something extraordinary? Something colder than your usual ice cream? Then ICECREAMIST is right for you! It will make you look like a dragon because of its dragon breath-like ice cream. Here's how it looks like. =)) You should really try their dragon's breath!! :)

  

Want to try 'em? Visit ICECREAMIST at Maginhawa St., Teachers Village, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines :)

STRAWBERRY TAHO


A cold weather and a warm food are always the perfect couple. While we were in Baguio last December, I and my friend craved for taho. Okay, first up. FAST FACT: What is taho? Taho is a very popular street food here in the Philippines. Sold mostly at the morning. Just perfect for a good breakfast. It is made out of fresh silken tofu, caramelized brown sugar also known as arnibal and of course, sago pearls. Going back, when I and my friend, went to Burnham Park, we saw a taho vendor and immediately bought one, but to our surprise, it was not the taho that we expected it to be. It has strawberry syrup, but it is just artificial. We want the natural one!! And so we went to Strawberry farm and there we found the natural strawberry taho that we have been craving for! TADAN!

And they are the "magtatahos". Kuya on the right side is showing the real strawberry that they have. They are so happy that we bought their taho :)

QUICK TIP: If you want to taste the natural strawberry taho in Baguio, don't get fooled by a vendor on the streets! Let them show you the real strawberries they have before you buy!

ILOCOS ICE CREAM

While on a tour at Ilocos, I saw a man selling ice cream. I thought it was just some kind of "dirty ice cream" that we also have in Manila. Since I am sweaty and all, I decided to buy one. The man smiled at me and told me, "masarap po ito, maam." I replied by saying, "sige, kuya. Pabili pong isa." Then he opened the storage. It was a color green ice cream inside!! I thought to myself, "could this be pandan flavor?" Then, he started to scoop then ice cream. When he is all done, he gave me my ice cream. I asked him, "kuya, ano pong flavor nito?" Then he said, "Avocado po." I was surprised! Then he added, "natural po iyan, maam." That made me more surprised! NATURAL?! AVOCADO?! I SHOULD REALLY TASTE THIS!! Then I started to indulge to my ice cream and to my surprise, it was very very very yummy! It is really natural because I can still taste the bitter-ish side of the avocado. I was amazed! I wanted to buy one gallon of it and bring it home, but no. :( Since then, this ice cream has been my favorite. 

If you happen to visit Ilocos, don't miss this ice cream!! :) vendors are just out on the street so make sure to look-out for them! This ice cream costs 20 pesos. :)

Moshi-Moshi, Katipunan, Quezon City

The Donut Club (my friends) =)) decided to eat at Moshi-Moshi after stressing ourselves for a requirement. This Japanese restaurant is very affordable especially for a student like me. So, hello there! :)

Donut Club

So here is the table number! :) Haha. While waiting for our foods to be served, we talked about anything that we could think of! (that's the usual us!) =)) They started to serve our foods 5 minutes after we placed our order :)

Table Number

AND FINALLY! *drum roll* Yayy! They're here! :) After 10-15 minutes, our foods are now complete! And of course, I have to take a picture of it! Yeaaaah. LIKE A BOSS. =)))  I had Gyudon (lower left), Paula had Katsudon (lower right) and Fei and Nico had California Maki! :)

 After having a very scrumptious lunch, we decided to leave the restaurant. Before leaving, I saw these kawaii things on display. I think they are biscuits being sold! (I think I'm right. Haha!) I badly want the Doraemon one! =)))

Want to visit them? Moshi Moshi is located at the 2nd level, Regis Center, 327 Katipunan Avenue, Brgy. Loyola Heights in Quezon City. Call them at 990-2272.

TRAVEL: ILOCOS

ILOCOS TOUR

One of the requirements that we have to do is to attend the Ilocos tour. This one is not for free, but it is a worth-it experience. So, here goes the tour. ( be ready for a lot of historical places)

We stayed at a hotel named Playa Tropical Resort Hotel (link) located at  Currimao, Ilocos Norte.

Playa Tropical Resort Hotel

Our first stop is the Marcos Museum (link). A museum that is all about our former president, Ferdinand E. Marcos. The museum contains all his achievements and memories.

Next stop is the World Peace Center (Marcos Photo Gallery)

Telegrams

Then we went to the Malacanang Palace of the North.

The front view

The veranda

The view from the veranda

The whole place is well-maintained. When you get inside the palace, you will really feel the ambiance of royalty that time. It is like stepping on a very prestigious ground. (it is, indeed)

Our next stop is...MY FAVORITE!

Bangui Windmills

The windmills! It is such a magical feeling to have seen them "waving" at me. The cool breeze relaxed my whole body and made me wanted to stay there forever. I and my friends kept saying that someday, we will build our houses behind those windmills! (I'd really love too!) There is just really something about this place that made me want to stay. I suggest that if you will go to Ilocos, never miss this place! How to go there? (click here)

Next up is the Padre Burgos House. FAST FACT: Padre Burgos is one of the Filipino martyrs (GomBurZa) who were executed. Padre Burgos became the target of the Roman Catholic authorities because of his strong nationalistic view.

Fr. Jose Burgos

This one below is called garrote or "strangling machine". The victim's head will be put in that rounded-shape thing. See the shaft behind the wood that is connected to the round-shape thing? That one will be twisted until the victim cannot breathe anymore. Garrote was the one used for the execution of the three Filipino martyrs.

Garrote

                                            This one below explains the execution of the Gomburza.

 Next stop is...CRISOLOGO MUSEUM! 

Mr. Floro S. Crisologo is a congressman and a very legendary man. He is the man behind the Social Security System that up until now is serving the Filipinos. The museum is well-maintained. Every place inside the museum is well-taken care of.

And then...PAGBURNAYAN! FAST FACT: "Pagburnayan" means a place to make a pot.

The incredible thing here is pot-molders still uses the 'old-school' way of making a pot. 

Then, we went to Mr. Chavit Singson's BALUARTE. The Baluarte is big and clean! It is a good place where families and barkadas can chill, relax and have some fun with the animals.

And lastly, HERITAGE VILLAGE! :)

I suggest that you take a kalesa ride if you want to see the whole village. In this village, you can buy pasalubongs that you can bring home to your family and friends! :) Affordable empanadas, bagnets, chichacorns, kalamays and many more! :) Don't forget to budget your money! you might get overwhelmed by the stuff that you will see! :) Enjoy!

It has been a fruitful and fun trip in Ilocos. I have learned so much about History and a lot more! :) Thank you for reading! :)

*if you want to take the pictures that are in here, kindly credit me. Thank you! :)

TRAVEL: MNL-CEB-BHL

TRAVEL LOVER

From Manila to Cebu and from Cebu to Bohol

"If you want to travel the world, start first in your country."- Anonymous

On November of 2012, I and my cousins went on a Cebu-Bohol trip. Everyone of us is excited. I thought to myself  "This is it! This is the start of my little adventure" Going back, it was my first time to go to Cebu and Bohol so it was a grande vacation for me! :) Let us fast-forward the story. We arrived at Mactan International Airport at around 1 PM since the travel time from Manila to Cebu is just 45 minutes.

Mactan International Airport

The staff are very welcoming! And the airport itself is clean and safe :) So now, let's go to our escapade! :)

DAY 1

Time really flies when you are enjoying, so later did we know that it was already dinner time! :) Being a tourist ourselves, we looked for a good place to eat and at the same time to rest our bodies. Since my other cousin had worked in Cebu before, he knows the perfect place to eat and so he brought us to a place full of STREET FOODS! yum yum yum! :) That place has a sumptuous food for everyone! We had liempo and churizo for dinner.

Street foods in Cebu

DAY 2

We went to the famous Magellan's Cross (elementary days) LOL. So here it is! :)

Magellan's Cross

We also went to BASILICA DEL STO. NIÑO, one of the oldest church in the Philippines.

Basilica Del Sto. Niño

The church has a beautiful mini garden inside where you can sit, relax or have a quiet time.

Then we found this bakery just a few steps away from the church! :)

La Fortuna Bakery, Cebu

If you are going to Cebu for the first time, I suggest you try the foods that are sold here! :)

AND FOR OUR EARLY DINNER...

We ate at Larsian. (grilled foods again, yes.) What's unique about this place is they do not have fork and spoon, only plastics. Meaning, you have to eat your food while having your hands covered by a plastic. Just like how real Filipinos do it! :) There are many choices at Larsian. From lechon to liempo. :)

Larsian

FUN FACT: Their rice looks something like this. (please excuse my fingers!) This one is perfect for those who controls their carbohydrates intake! :) (luckily, I am not one of those!)

Rice

AFTER DINNER...

We went to the TAOIST TEMPLE. It is always good to look at the history of a place. The temple is well-maintained. Once you stepped inside, you will feel the holiness and sereneness of the place.

THAT IS ALL! FOR DAY 2! :D

DAY 3

We visited SM CEBU. It is the cleanest SM that I have ever been to. What I liked the most about SM Cebu is its food choices. There are so many! :) Be ready for food overload! :)

#1 Moshi Manju

It is a stall that can be easily located because of Manju's sweet and seducing smell :D We have this one in Metro Manila too so don't bother going to SM Cebu for this! (Corny!) Anyways, try SM North Edsa if you are tempted to taste these sweet creatures :)

Moshi Manju

#2 The Spud Diner

It was my first time to see The Spud Diner. I got amused by it! 

They have this legendary game "Buzz Wire" so that customers will be entertained while waiting for their order.

If you want to try this, again, you don't have to go all the way to SM Cebu. =)) The Spud Diner also has a branch located at The Columns, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue Corner Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines. I suggest that you try their croquettes. It is incredibly good! :)


#3 Cobo Milk Tea Shop

Milk tea lover? Okaaay! This one is good for you! :) This milk tea shop is one of the best! :) I think they also have a branch in Metro Manila, but I don't know where. 

Look at the chairs! :) Pizza-like :D

DAY 3 IS DONE!! :) 

DAY 4

Now, I'm taking you guys to... BOHOL! From Cebu, we went to Bohol via boat. We purchased our tickets at SM Cebu in 2GO Travels. It took us at least 3 hours to reach Bohol.

First stop! Look for a place to stay, of course! :) After that, we started touring! :) We first went to this church (forgot the name, sorry) that was built back in 1545! :)

Then we went to Bohol's Wildlife Park where the biggest Phyton in the Philippines lives. (I am afraid of snakes so I did not go in and please don't look for the snake's picture here. Thank you!)

 Then we went to the Butterfly Garden. It is such a beautiful place. Full of butterflies! (of course)

DAY 5

Snorkling! Yayyy! :) We went island hopping on our last day in Bohol. We went to at least 3 or 5 islands. (not sure though!) Among the islands we have gone, Virgin Island for me is the best! See for yourself how beautiful and clear the water is!

It has sandbars so it is fun to walk on the sand! :)

AND THAT WRAPS UP MY CEBU-BOHOL ESCAPADE. HOPE YOU ENJOYED AND LEARNED SOMETHING! THANK YOU! :)

*if you want to take the photos that are in here, kindly credit me. Thank you! :)