Status: INVADED!

What I haven’t invaded? My blow-by-blow account of the invasion with the Difficults! 

Malaysia, here we go!

Our Malaysian tour was a product of excel and research, in short D.I.Y. Maybe that’s one focal ingredient that made it 1forgetable.

The game plan was to start the tour in Legoland, Johor Bahru (but this is for another roll) and enjoy the succeeding in Kuala Lumpur. After our LEGOxiting and LEGOtastic day in Johor Bahru, we braced ourselves for a truly Asian treat!

Last 24 hours

We started our day with a hefty breakfast in Areena Diner. Our plateful (of thick and stuffy pancakes, tasty patty and eggs) was all we need for a 272 step-climb in Batu Caves.

 

One Malaysian energizer at Areena Diner.

Instead of going by train to Batu Caves, we commissioned a taxi in KL Sentral which costs RM 110 (Malaysian Ringgit). From the city, Batu Caves is just 30 minutes away.

The steps seemed unassuming; we were enthralled by the golden Hindu (or maybe our tummies were yet full) that we thought it’s going to be an average walk in the park. But of course, 272 is 272. Along the way, monkeys play, eat or pester guests that nonetheless, added to the thrill. I kept on looking at how far we've gone; how in the middle of the city, there’s something as breathtaking as Batu Caves. When we reached the summit, our friend Grace bought flavored water and to her surprise she saw a snake meddling with business affairs, nice.

Upstairs was a vast temple, we walked through it and found (to our surprise and dismay) another staircase with more statues. What’s remarkable about it was the open-air ceiling, like this inside the cave:

As I don’t know how to describe this nature’s feast.

 It was easier going down, of course and only then did we appreciate the birds owning the ground.

Our memento in Batu Caves

We didn’t have a hard time going to our next stop, Genting Highlands, because our taxi was waiting for us. The ride going to the Highlands was thrilling. We were literally scraping the mountain. From Batu Caves, it’s about an hour's ride.

We were dropped of at Highlands Station. From there, we took a cable car to the peak (2-way, RM 12). Forgive me for repeating but the cable car ride was so thrilling! Naïve to it, we screamed our up up and away. We had 15-minutes of 360 bird’s eye-view feast of Genting tropical forest.

Although at the top, we were kind of at the loss where to go but we did wandered in Resorts World (too bad most of us donned shorts, we weren't allowed to look inside the casino) and Genting Theme Park. We quite spent a considerable amount in Legoland that, it might have broken the heart of my friends, but they have to let pass this ride:

According to Cha: the ride that got away

As consolation (not me, never mind the ride), we bought ourselves sweets from Baskin Robbins because it's not yet in Manila. Yum yum!

I screeeeeeeeeam!

We didn't stay long in Genting Highlands because we already booked a 1:30pm trip back to the city. (Next time, I’ll make sure to see the Chinese temple and strawberry farm).

WHOAH!

We only had drinks and sweets in Genting that famished, we went back to the city. We had our super late lunch in a Chinese Restaurant (I forgot to mentally take note of the name of the resto and foods) near Petaling Street. We rate the yummy foods three thumbs up!

We had:

The best noodles ever! It’s served as a pancit but it’s the tastiest. It was stir-fried to perfection I hope I get to eat this again soon. So yummy I'll never forget how so taken I was!

This is Squid with salted egg. The ingredients sound ordinary but what a calamari this is! This made us conclude that dishes in this part of the globe are fusing with flavor.

 

What is Malaysia without a curry? This is just way hot for my taste buds, but definitely for the spicy goers, this is a good dish.

Our tummies were once again full. Since it’s still early to rest, we tried a tour-around the city via a hop-on hop-off concept. We started our course in Petaling Street since we were already there:

Our KL Hop-on-Hop Off map

This bus takes anyone to 23 major tourist spots in the city. That we started late, some parks were already closed by 6pm (but the ticket is good for 24 hours & can be used again the next day).

We found this bigger than life I <3 KL in Kuala Lumpur City Gallery when we went down for Merdeka Square and so this cute back-drop where we posed:

Mik & I in Kuala Lumpur City Gallery

The tour ended in the famous Petronas Twin Towers. And at night, it's truly a sight to behold.

 

My favorite shot of the twin towers

At the back of Petronas was Suria KLCC. We had our dinner in the peri-famous for peri-hot meals, Nando’s.

 

Choose your own adventure in Nando’s

Since not all of us are hot & spicy fans, we opted for the safe level: Lemon & Herb. We enjoyed the meal, but we were bashed for being cowards. :D 

  Notes from our meal: Not so brave!

But we braved our adventures and misadventures in Malaysia. Especially our Amazing Race going back to the Philippines. In hindsight, we laugh about it now and we banked it already on experience but for those giddy-travelers like us, a piece of advice: tickets are in military time. 1:25 H is not after lunch, but before dawn or else the plane will take off without you :P 

Areena Diner Baskin Robbins Batu Caves blog Genting Highlands Johor Bahru Kuala Lumpur Legoland Malaysia Nando's Petronas Twin Towers reviews Suria KLCC travel travel blog verdict wanderlust

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

A premio is what drives you after a fully loaded week. It’s a trophy waiting to be claimed.

It’s not necessarily a new gadget, or shopping galore or a ‘pamper-me’ day. For as long as we stumble upon restaurants that will satisfy our cravings, it is good enough treat for us.

We found our February prize at the first floor of Best Western F1 Hotel in Bonifacio Global City: PREMIO.

Well Premio's a tad pricey for yuppies like us (and out of place maybe). But here’s when deal sites come in handy. After buying ours, fine dining here we come!

Here’s what we ate in the posh cellar-like resto:

Animal Fries (Php 240) will pass for sumptuous pasta! Never mind why it’s called animal, it’s just oh so good one shouldn’t get out of Premio without tasting this.

Pork Belly Kare-Kare (Php 580) is sinful and we can’t be blamed. Cheers to the flavorful peanut sauce made from scratch!

Chicken Karaage (Php 290) and we said yaaaaaaaaah in approval. The combination mayo is good-good!

Some of us aren't fans of spicy food but Premio’s Buffalo Wings (Php 290) is tolerable. Liked its goat’s milk ranch dressing. Yum!

Corned Beef Brisket (Php 420) is a corned beef with a twist. The combination of mustard potatoes, red slaw, and horseradish gave its flavor a pleasant surprise.

We didn’t give much attention to the Prawns Sinigang (Php 390) already as we were busy munching new to the eyes and taste foods. Maybe because it's too small? 

For dessert, we enjoyed:

Goat’s Milk Panna Cotta (Php 210) is a fare of goat’s milk, vanilla beans and triple berry topping.

The yummy Flourless Chocolate Cake (Php 210)! It’s one of the best cakes! Coupled with a la mode with vanilla ice cream and peanut butter polvoron, it’s truly a treat!

We burped and enjoyed our Premio experience. Although less attention was given to us (probably due to our discount), we’d love to visit Premio again and we’d still bring with us coupons! :)

PREMIO is located at:
32nd St., Ground floor,
F1 City Center, Fort Bonifacio Global City
Taguig

Animal Fries BGC buffalo wings Chicken Karaage Corned Beef Brisket F1 Hotel Goat’s Milk Panna Cotta lourless Chocolate Cake Pork Belly Kare-Kare Prawns Sinigang Premio price reviews Taguig verdict

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

It's a moot point to go overseas looking for fine beaches. Because even if I haven't gone Magellan-like searching, I am convinced, blindfolded, that the best paradise is just next door- well, actually an island next.

Hello Coron and I got my waterproof yet summery wear to enjoy you by!

Coron is a feast for the nature trippers. It can quench thirsty yearnings for greens and blues in an enchanting backdrop. To explore the many wonders of Coron, a 3-day tour might not be enough. Anyhow, this chunk of the pie is already delectable!

Of what I love in Coron:

1. Kayangan Lake! I don't have a waterproof cam and I regret not able to take a snapshot of Kayangan atop the hills. But what nailed it was the lake where we swam. It is just so breath-taking!
2. Banol Beach- Of the vast, sparkling expanse. WOW!

I only have a point-and-shoot camera yet see how the water reflect light.

Your 'red carpet' in Banol.

       3. Siete Pecados. Seven Peaks! Great place to see 'Nemo' and the gang. Perfect!

I'll be getting my point though with an underwater cam. 

          4. Off-road travel to Maquinit hotspring.

Been wondering why the soil is red? Because it's made of silica and dolomite, materials to make a ceramic.

        5. Jogging to reach the peak of Mt. Tapyas

So far yet so near!

        6. Fruit Shakkkkkeeees!- choose what suits your budget, from 5 pesos to grande 35!

    

Watcha:

• Island hopping is requires your one whole, undivided day, so make sure that you take in with you several 'whole-days'
• Souvenirs are much expensive in Coron than in Puerto Princesa. 
• Transportation is easy too, you can just take a trike, or better yet, walk. :)
• The locals are so used to non-locals. Left and right, tourists are everywhere! So this is the place to go find an Afam! :))
• Be careful where you go sing-along. It might get burned, for all you know. 

beach blog busuanga coron experience mt. tapyas Palawan paradise Philippines travel white sand

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Time! I finally gotcha!

A few months ago, when I came back to CPMC, I chanced to read upon View Magazine. Our selling tool not too long a time ago is now a travel mag. Then I realized that my innermost being wants not just to be any writer, but a travel writer. *giggles*with kilig*

But the travails! As we know, no one gets to go places without shredding a bit of skin. And I only have a few travel experience to babble about.

Hopefully, with those few in my pocket, I'll begin to digitally ink the paper.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

I've been seriously thinking about the 10%.

But now that Coron trip is 2.5 months away, I don't know how to do all these math plus the things that I wanted done, have before the trip.

But there's no turning back now. I've made this indelible pact with myself. "Come and See", so I've read and reflected last night.

No turning back... yes!

Saturday, August 25, 2012

How far will I go for soul-searching? What will I give up to find my treasure? Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is so bold, so aggressive that it's not "me". But then there's something in her adventures and introspection that magnets me to it. It must be the truthfulness of her revelations that touched some string in me despite our difference.

I don't have the wealth of a lucky writer, that I cannot, just at this point in time, travel over Italy, India and Indonesia to find "I" but can afford to Ilocos, Iloilo and the Island of Palawan...

Eat
To unravel the culture of Ilocos was one of those memorable college projects I had. Gastronomical treats for the eyes and tummy were unforgettable.

It could have been a precursor for heart attack, but Ilocos's version of lechon kawali, called bagnet is a must-try! Their orange-colored empanada paired with the local vinegar is curiously good, too. The original chichacorn especially the cheese-flavored one made me mad at its imitators sold here in the supermarkets! Why even try when not a nibble of its goodness was duplicated?!? And to top it all, Herencia Cafe's Pinakbet Pizza is truly delectable.

As for the eye's feast, almost every spot in Ilocos is worth munching. Paoay church, Cape Bojeador, Blue Lagoon, Pagudpud... all of them. The simplicity of the city, void of "city symptoms" wraps it all up in a good break too.

During that time, despite the dearth in moolah, I was determined to explore this country has to offer in little baby steps. The joy of meeting new faces, chatting with them, knowing much of their culture is priceless, too. Meanwhile, you don't realize it, but you get to learn things about yourself too.

Pray
I had been in Iloilo, but only in a fleet moment. The only thing that remained in my memory was the statue of the Virgin Mary while sailing from the port. Too young then, and so much full of myself to understand about praying and faith.

Pray. Faith. These are my treasures now. From then, if I grew in height and age, I am glad that my spiritual health is progressing too. And I am excited that I am learning much about my Christian faith. So that I am not just a Catholic in name but in words and deeds.

Yes, treasure. Without it I can't imagine how my life would be, and that is an understatement. For the meantime that I am nurturing this, I would be curt. Then maybe soon, I'd be able to fill this space with so much of His glory.

Love
We're not on the same page. Because the love that I'd be talking now is love of travel. And Island of Palawan, hopefully, please universe, I hope it wouldn't get cancelled under any circumstance.

Sorry, but that's all I can share under this title. But who knows (let me clear that I am NOT expecting, though) maybe in that island.... Well, these cheesy thoughts, must be the fault of this book and some people I know...

To be in love, well yes I believe that it's one blessing truly worth the pain and sacrifice.



The search for self doesn't stop there though but to go beyond means to find it is really one courageous thing to do. And time flies too, so to race for the prize is worth the sweat. But I am not yet that. I'm still the great procrastinator. Making deadlines that aren't met. Planning just so the planner gets inked. But maybe then, not to rationalize, this might be the reason for my writings... So that I'd get reminded once in a while. Hope I'll see myself soon embarking on that journey.

Eat India Indonesia Italy Love; Elizabeth Gilbert Pray

Friday, June 22, 2012

James Frey might just have broken his life down to a million little pieces, but I'm trying to pick up all its shards to lay down this review, piece by piece. After all, rebuilding one's life anew is worth all the trouble.

PIECE 1: The Plot

At age 23, James Frey was on the brink of death. Guess it wasn't late yet to be in rehab and be detoxified from drugs. Inside he was prohibited to use it, counseled that he'll stay sober for long, met friends who might be as badly broken but later proved to be vital in his recovery, and fought the cause of his 'Fury' that enslaved for long.

During the detoxification process, morning every morning James would always vomit blood with chunks of his innards. Drowning yourself in alcohol for ten years and crack for three probably did it. At night, he dreams badly of taking drugs. More, more, more as if the wanting will never be quenched. He adamantly rejects the Twelve Steps as the only recourse to sobriety. But eventually with loads of help from his friends Lilly, Leonard, his rehab mates and his family, he tried to hold on. Later too, both him and his parents discovered the reason of his addiction. With it he understood more his 'Fury', his own self.

In one way or another, we can say that this is James's success story in his battle never to turn again to vices.

PIECE 2: The Style

Dirty scribbles to welcome you instead of a heartwarming note might just be a good warning. No, you will not be taken that seriously. If you are a book critic, taking one good look before you pour out all your brain to it is a good option. Because this book will make you crazy! It doesn't follow the conventional style of writing: no right punctuation, no quotation marks to indicate conversation, uses too much of repetitive words and dirty scribbles tell you, you have now moved to the next phase.

However somehow, did we almost forget that this book was written by an addict who just happened to live to tell his tale? Maybe he wrote, not stopping, not caring whether he punctuated right just so he can give the most accurate account of what was happening to him at the time being. He was chasing his stream of thought.

Maybe too, in that way, he is able to freely let us in his mind- as candidly as he can. Not editing anything out of fear that in the process, he is also editing the truth.

This style is for me, justifiable. In fact, it became much more effective. It's like James is your friend recounting personally his story at his own pace, the way words would naturally come out his mouth.

PIECE 3: The Morals

The moral of this story is pretty obvious: it is not worth your life to be destroyed by vices and if ever you've been already snared, a rebound is still possible. Agree. However, to have the latter as a result, it will take a lot of dirt work. To succeed, the first requisite is full acceptance. Before you can truly solve your problem, you must accept that along the line, you did something wrong and you take full responsibility of its repercussions, whatever that is. Just the case when James finally went to rehab and admitted to himself that he had been such a waste, broken into a million little pieces.

Finding the strength to hope for the better and gather all what was remaining to move on once again is also one lesson to learn after acceptance. You can't stagnate; you have to proceed with life. James might have done it the hard way, but he was never alone in the process. His support group made it conducive for him to 'live'. He had with him Leonard, who might be a goon but encouraged him greatly to hold on even when he was already escaping. He had Lilly, who shared with him dreams of a life better than before. He has his family who tried to understand him in his darkest and still loved him despite everything. All of them served as his fuel for his body that stopped long ago.

That said, we must find our own fuel in every battle too. Alongside, understanding our ‘Fury’ is essential in overpowering it.




There's just this part of the story that I don't agree with, others might have differing opinions. For someone who is a strong believer, I am not comfortable chucking away the angle of, not religion, but faith to achieve soberness. For me, it is still the ultimate guide to one's resurrection, although I also admit that there are lots of ways to cope up.

There are just some battles that we cannot fight with our own strength. There are some puzzles our human minds cannot fathom. In such, he always sends his divine providence whether realize it’s His or not.

PIECE 4: The Controversy

While trying to research about the book while reading, I came across articles saying that his recount was full of lies, thus was "A Million Little Lies." They were under the impression that it was a memoir/nonfiction and they felt cheated.

I wasn't bothered actually, although I just cannot place how he managed to remember all the tests given to him given his condition. For the sake of argument, let's say that there was really an intention to mislead. Fine then, punish them for that.

But what really matters to me is the value of the book, the lessons it was trying to impart. The hope it was trying to give. If it was able to lift one spirit, then it's also worth the applause.


All in all, I give the book three stars it deserves; for being brave enough to go out of norm and be unique and for its moral lessons.

For all the James out there, I pray that soon, they will also be able to pick up their life’s broken little pieces.

Saturday, October 01, 2011

Moral lesson is my favorite part writing reviews back in graders. Well it’s good to know that until now, there are still a lot of reads and movies that are peppered with it. I thought they got lost. I just didn’t notice it has gone through different forms. 

Po, the flabby fat hero, in the movie Kung Fu Panda sequel teaches us loads of morals probably from his flabby fat belly.

Maybe not ‘morals’ is the right term but ‘wisdom.’ I’d help Panda spread his words.


*** “There are no accidents” ***

So simple a thought yet it reaches deep. TRUE. Just like what Rick Warren in ‘A Purpose-Driven Life’ was saying.


*** “One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it” ***

AGREE. It’s not about what we plan. It’s about His plan. Again, there are no accidents.

No matter how we try to avoid it, at the end of the day, we will still end there. Only, we made the road longer.


*** “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present.” ***

So true Oogway, we are too concerned about what was and what will be. We try to control what will be given what was. But the truth is we can never. But what we do now, can affect the future.


*** “There is no secret ingredient” ***

Po’s dad continued by saying: “To make something special you just have to believe it’s special.”

Hard a thought to digest. Practically because now the trend is, “how to become like…”, “how to be like…” in the next blah blah blah days.

You just have to be YOU.


*** “The sign of a true hero is humility” ***

Easy to say, hard to do. BRAGGING RIGHTS. Yeah, right. It irks all the more when you are not even a ‘hero’ but you ooze with pride.

Teach us humility….


*** “You must believe…” ***

YES, in yourself and in the strength of others. This one, I should learn…




When Po came back recently, he got stubbier, and he got us more in Kung Fu Panda 2.


*** “The only thing that matters is what you choose to be now” ***

THE PRESENT. So the soothsayer added, “Your story may not have such a happy beginning, but that doesn't make you who you are. It is the rest of your story, who you choose to be... So, who are you, Panda?”

NOW will define your FUTURE.

I choose to be…. even when….


*** “We cannot give up hope.” ***

It all ends when we give up hope. So profound, yet so true.


*** “Inner peace” ***

Po and even Bridget Jones, see, master this one. You can do things beyond what you can do, said Master Shifu, when you have Inner peace.

In the same way, Oogway compared our minds to water. When we are agitated, it becomes fuzzy. Only when we have calm our nerves do we see the bottom.




Some lessons are trivial. Some are profound. But all rings true. And maybe from our own bellies, we can keep them.

kung fu panda lessons

Monday, June 20, 2011