Trip Ko Lang

It was one weekend of pure relaxation and food tripping at Nurture Spa Tagaytay… Dulang Restaurant is the only restaurant available inside Nurture Spa.  They are located in 2 areas; one in the 2^nd floor and another one at the back with a full view of the garden. (Photos will be included in my other blog )

Tuna Inasal @220php

During our dinner, we stayed near the garden for the romantic mood of low-light and night scenery.  We had Tuna Inasal and Chicken Kare-Kare Roulade…

Tuna Inasal is a pan roasted tuna fillet marinated with garlic anato, soy and citrus…had a simple taste but still good…

Chicken Kare-Kare Roulade @220php

While Chicken Kare-Kare Roulade is french chicken breast stuffed with Jullien Kare-Kare vegetables, under peanut puree sauce… this sauce was really great; chicken breast was tender and it was interesting to eat the stuffed vegetables inside… and also, we loved the bagoong… yumyum!

Turon at Langka with Ice Cream @120php

As for dessert, we ordered for their Turon at Langka with Ice Cream, sound simple, right? But I didn’t expect it to look like this… it was a special Turon; square shaped, and the wrapper was really yummy…made out of rice paper… and with ice cream on top…whoooo… we definitely loved and enjoyed every bite of it…

American Breakfast

As for our breakfast, we dined in their 2^nd floor area to get a new feeling of the place and a better and top view of the cool, sunny morning of the garden… it was a very relaxing sight!

We ordered for 1 American Breakfast; you have an option to choose between sausage and bacon and it comes with fried egg, toasted bread and butter…also with their fruits siding…

Tinapang Bangus

Also had Tinapang Bangus; crispy fried smoked milk fish with fried egg and garlic rice…

Both breakfast meals come with coffee or hot chocolate; their hot chocolate was great – it was so pure and sweet… loved it!

Hot Chocolate

By the way our breakfast was free with our accommodation, will have a different blog for that…

Dulang Restaurant serves very delicious dishes, enticing food presentation, reasonably priced and definitely a worthy and satisfying meal.

Dining in Dulang Restaurant made our stay in Nurture Spa more pleasant. Wishing we have this restaurant here in Manila…oh how we really wish…

Having a hard time scheduling out of town trips, we just decided to purchase the Best Western Antel Spa voucher in Ensogo for only 2,850php per night on a Deluxe Suite Accommodation with Buffet Breakfast for 2 plus a Foot Spa; pretty good deal, right?

Best Western Antel Spa Suites

Here are some photos of Best Western Antel Spa’s Deluxe Suite…

The room space was just enough for 2; it has its own mini kitchen with sink, microwave and refrigerator with a small dining area beside it.  There’s also a couch at the other side of the room.  Queen sized bed, TV with cable, phone, mini office table, and other stuff – bottled water, cups, coffee & tea, notepads, etc.

Best Western Antel Spa Suites

Best Western Antel Spa Suites

Best Western Antel Spa Suites

Hotel facilities included the use pool and gym (not able to take picture).

Best Western Antel Spa Suites swimming pool

Here’s also a view on top from the pool area. It was a great view especially at night.

Best Western Antel Spa Suites cityscape day view

Best Western Antel Spa Suites cityscape night view

We also had buffet breakfast the next morning, we were not able to bring our cameras, too bad…   Though, the food was great – loved their scrambled eggs, fish fillet and the cream puff… these were just some of the food served.  They also had garden salad, cereals and breads if you’re not into rice for breakfast.

Another sad thing…we weren’t able to avail the Foot Spa in Toccare Spa; whole day was fully booked already and we didn’t have time to go back as well.

Overall, we had a nice stay in Best Western Antel Spa and had the most relaxing weekend ever!   I would definitely suggest this hotel if you are looking for a relaxing weekend getaway with your partner or family…It is conveniently located in the heart of Makati and very near  good restaurants and malls. See you there!

For further details you can check out their website and facebook.

Photo credit: Shotnroll

Hello, May! Once again it is the month of May, a month long celebration of traditional festivals in different provinces in the Philippines. One famous celebration held is the Flores de Mayo, wherein Catholics honor the Virgin Mary thru Santacruzan/Sagala; young girls would make flower offerings and parade for the Virgin Mary.

Julia Montes aka Clara of the Mara Clara teleserye

To kick-off the month long celebration of Flores de Mayo, SM Mall of Asia with Unilever and other major sponsors held Manila’s grandest Flores de Mayo in SM Mall of Asia.  Filipino fashion designers were invited to showcase their talents by creating their gowns and modeled by beautiful Filipinas and paraded in the grounds of SM Mall of Asia.

Flores De Mayo 2011

Here are some of shots of the beautiful Sagalas…

Flores De Mayo 2011

Flores De Mayo 2011

This event also has its Photo Contest, with the theme Filipina, Busilak sa Ganda! Photographers were invited to come and shoot during the event and to submit their entries for the photo contest.

Marie Digby

It was definitely a successful event; there were a lot of photographers present as well as mall goers who watched the Flores de Mayo in SM Mall of Asia. Also, the crowd enjoyed seeing some notable personalities like “Clara”, Marie Digby, Bianca Manalo, Hayden Kho and other beautiful women participated in the Sagala.

Welcome to Aliwan Fiesta 2011!

Aliwan Fiesta is a yearly event held in Manila, where different provinces are invited to showcase their culture/festivals through dance, street and float parade as well as to compete for the title of Aliwan Festival Queen. 

Kumpit sa Kutawato from Cotabato City float

Aliwan Fiesta offers different activities like photo and costume exhibit, shoppers bazaar, pasakalye concert, Festival Queen Pageant Night, and the main highlight is the Grand Parade.

Kumpit sa Kutawato from Cotabato City float

This year, the Grand Parade happened on 16 April 2011, started at 4pm from Quirino Grandstand to Aliw Theater in CCP Complex. It was my first time to be in this event and I would like to share my experience and photos.

Kumpit sa Kutawato from Cotabato City float

Singkaban Fiesta (Bulacan)

We arrived in Quirino Grandstand few minutes before 4pm and I think we were late! There were already a lot of people waiting for the event to start and front area of the stage was already packed with so many photographers. We didn’t find any good spot to take our pictures and so we just stayed on the side part where all performers/floats will pass as they start on their parade going to CCP Complex.

Singkaban Fiesta (Bulacan) float

Our spot was the exit of all performers/floats and was the wild spot for photographers, why? If you are staying here, you must at all times be aware of your surroundings, watch out for the performers and floats coming out, they won’t mind you so you have to move fast if you don’t want to be crushed! Another thing to watch out is the other photographers with you; you don’t want to be bumped with those big lenses and SLRs… And of course, mind your own space that you don’t pushed anyone…

Singkaban Fiesta (Bulacan) dancers

So with this kind of shooting scenario, we were lucky to get a few good photos… Hehe!  It was also a very sunny afternoon; imagine the heat and staying under the sun!

Ibon Ebon Festival of Candaba, Pampanga

But still we had fun and we were happy to be present in this year’s Aliwan Fiesta. It was another travel experience; we were able to see different festivals in one afternoon event! Aliwan Fiesta is a great event for people who can’t leave Manila, who doesn’t love traveling to provinces, but would want to experience and see different provinces’ festivals. This is also an event for photographers, to shoot colorful people, costumes and floats as well as to participate in Aliwan Fiesta’s yearly photo contest! Good luck to fellow photographers present during this event!

Sorsogon Festival of Sorsogon City

Sorsogon Festival of Sorsogon City

Aliwan Fiesta Grand Parade lasted until the evening, too bad we didn’t have the energy to finish the whole parade…

Kapamagayon Festival of Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao

Kapamagayon Festival of Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao

For more photos, you may visit this album Aliwan Fiesta 2011.

Calacatchara Festival of Calaca, Batangas

Calacatchara Festival of Calaca, Batangas

Iloilo Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City

Iloilo Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City

See you next year in the Aliwan Fiesta 2012!

Baguio City is a favorite summer getaway of most Filipinos as well as foreign tourists because of its cold weather, attractive tourist spots, indigenous elders, preserved traditions and friendly locals.  During the month of February is Baguio’s peak season because of its celebrated Panagbenga Festival which attracts more tourists to visit the city.

Here’s a quick guide and snapshots of some of Baguio’s most visited spots which you can include in your next itinerary…

Botanical Garden – The right spot if you love the nature – trees and flowers, if you are into photography, this is a good spot to practice those macro shots with those lovely and attractive flowers. You can also take some shots of the Igorots at the main entrance; you just have to prepare some change because they require money before you can shoot them.

Botanical Garden

What I didn’t liked about this place is that there were few good, fresh, flowers at that time; some plants and leaves looked really bad; it seemed that the management doesn’t put effort in maintaining the whole place.

Botanical Garden

Wright Park – Known for the pool of pines, and horseback riding, for more shots of the place, you can check this link http://shotnroll.com/2011/03/the-baguio-wright-park-photos-baguio-tourist-attractions/

Wright Park

The Mansion – This is located right across Wright Park, known as the white house in Baguio where the Philippine President resides whenever he/she is in the city. Tourists are allowed to enter the gates but just to have their pictures taken right in front. 

The Mansion

Easter Weaving Room – If you are looking more into Baguio local’s way of life, Easter Weaving room is a good spot to visit. This is located along Easter Road, a bit away from the city but can be reached by just a jeepney from the public market.

Easter Weaving Room

You can check out their production room at the basement, and see how weaving works and realize that their job is really not easy… they also have a souvenir shop upon the entrance, weaved products are sold as well as other products but I find their prices expensive and priced for foreign tourists.

Easter Weaving Room

Lourdes Grotto – If you are coming from Easter Weaving Room, this is the next spot to visit; it is just near the area.  A good spot for the religious tourists, you can reach Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto by climbing the steps; I’m not sure on the count but around 200 steps? But don’t worry because there are resting areas in between the stairs where you can stop for awhile.

Lourdes Grotto

Candles and flowers are also being sold in the area, you can buy these so you can light and offer them once you get to the top.

Lourdes Grotto

Baguio Catholic Cathedral – The famous rose-colored church with very nice architecture situated along Session Road. Again this can be reached by a hundred steps but there’s another way near the post office building where you can go up easier. 

Baguio Catholic Cathedral

Another good spot for photographers and religious tourists… Don’t forget to hear mass when you’re here…

Baguio Catholic Cathedral

We visited these tourist spots for 2 days, but I think you can reach to these places in just one day if you have your own transportation and it is not a Panagbenga weekend! We had difficulty traveling at that time because of the big traffic due to closed roads for the Panagbenga event and there were really a lot of tourists at that time. It is still best to visit these different Baguio spots in any summer days…

For more interesting shots of these tourist spots, please visit this gallery – Baguio Tourist Attractions.