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Green Tea Almond Freeziccino - We Want It Back!

All of us have our own signature favourite cooler! As for me, Green Coffee’s limited edition Green Tea Almond Freeziccino is a huge favourite – di nakakasawa!!!

 I am not the only one who went crazy over this freeziccino, but also my close friends Melivea, Jenny and Abegail were always looking forward for the weekend to satisfy some sweet tooth.

Smooth green tea goodness topped with whipped cream and sliced almonds!

Smash Project One More Time!

Smash Project is back on its 2nd instalment this year featuring a new batch of pop-punk/alternative rock bands to be held at the MOA Arena on March 2013.

This made me remember my one night of rock music experience last year at Araneta Coliseum along with my good friend Melivea.

The Used \m/

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups - Guilty Pleasure!

“Forget love, I’d rather fall in Reese’s peanut butter cups” - Sounds so "forever alone" but this gave me a good laugh when my friend texted me this.

Women crave foods due to unwanted stimuli and our emotional state, rather than satisfying hunger. There are times we feel anxious, hurt, stressed, or depressed and the only thing that can rescue us from these feelings is our favourite food! So, one way of explaining cravings is self-medication for feeling miserable. As for me, Reese’s is my maintenance drug.

I believe it’s important to indulge once in a while and for me this usually involves Reese's peanut butter cups. 
Credits to Reese's for this photo

Chatime Davao At SM Lanang Premier

No one should feel lonely and hot during Christmas season, thank goodness!!! Chatime is now open at the biggest shopping mall in Mindanao - SM Lanang Premier. Ready to make this season more refreshing and.... COLDER!



I was curious of their milk tea selection especially when I saw their other branch in Hong Kong 2 years ago (when milk teas are not yet popular here!). However, I was not able to try it because it's not a good match for that time's chilly 13 degrees weather - bought Starbucks' caramel macchiato instead. And so, I just hankered!


Their Top 10 Bestsellers:
  1. Pearl milk tea
  2. Chocolate mousse
  3. Chatime roasted milk tea
  4. Red bean milk tea
  5. Taro milk tea
  6. QQ milk tea
  7. Grass jelly milk tea
  8. Yogurt Lychee QQ
  9. Banana milk tea
  10. Mango milk tea
Need to pay 15 pesos for the toppings! Toppings are pearl, grass jelly and pudding.

Upon strolling around SM Lanang last Wednesday, I was surprised to see their stall at the main atrium thus I immediately dragged my two friends Elmer and Essa to try it as well.


Elmer tried Kumquat lemon juice, Essa - Chocolate mousse, and I ordered Taro milk tea. After a few sip, we all agreed to one word - Delicious!!! 

My taro milk tea is sweet but not over the top. It has taro bits which makes it more enjoyable.


Chatime Menu
Chatime is not exclusively serving milk teas. They also have smoothies, healthy juices, oriental pop teas, coffee and hot drinks. 

It is a great match for my all time favorite milk tea store - Gong Cha Philippines.

Location: At the main atrium of SM Lanang Premier beside The French Baker, below Starbucks'.
Price range: 80 pesos and up.

Baguio: Exploring It On Our Own

August 11, 2012

Pagudpud - conquered!
Laoag - check!
Vigan - enjoyed!

Jenny and I are now on our final stop! It was a 5-hour bus ride from Vigan City, and upon setting our feet in Baguio, the weather was not so friendly. In fact, Baguio City that time was just recovering from the aftermath of the Habagat which flooded Metro Manila and caused some landslides in Baguio.

It was a big risk for us to go there considering the steep and slippery roads we'll take, heavy rains, and the possibility of being stuck in the city if ever a landslide strikes another main road. However, nothing can stop a traveler who is hungry for new experiences.

Here's the places we visited in order:

Burnham Park
From our hotel (Hotel Henrico), we walked our way to Burnham Park and had a morning bicycling and boating (100 Php/hour).

Yes! I don't know how to bike that's why I chose a "wheel chair" type bicycle. LOL We also enjoyed the boat experience.





Lourdes Groto
From Burham Park, we walked through a public market and asked around on where we can find the terminal of Jeepneys heading to Lourdes Groto. When we arrived, we bought some candles and climbed the stairs to offer our prayers. After that, we rode a taxi going to Botanical Garden.

Botanical Garden

The garden is not at its best condition because it was affected by the Habagat.

Meet our 9 year-old Botanical Garden tour guide.
(Package inclusion: 5 pesos per location + 5 shots) batang negosyante hahaha!


We also took our lunch there and sashayed to Wright Park.
Wright Park
1 hour horseback riding causes butt-sore! lol Horseback riding (300 pesos for the horse and 150 for the assistant)

Mines View Park
This Park is full of entertainment as you can ride a pink-colored hair horse, fit in some Ifugao costumes, and shop for some Baguio souvenirs.
Good Shepherd Baguio
Good Shepherd Baguio is just a walk distance from Mines View Park.

Camp John Hay
From Good Shepherd, we rode a taxi to get us to Camp John Hay. From there, we relaxed and ate our strawberries bought from Mines View Park.

Baguio Cathedral
From Camp John Hay, we rode a taxi to get us to this cathedral. It was a nice destination to end our day to thank God for the blessings and safety.

Just few walks from Baguio Cathedral and we arrived in SM Bagui where we took our dinner.

SM Baguio
I was taken aback after knowing that SM Baguio is using the natural coldness of the city to ventilate its shoppers.

The Dare!
After seeing me covered with layered clothes upon waking up, Jenny keeps on teasing me about having a low tolerance to low temperature. So, I dare her to wear less clothes while staying at SM Baguio’s foggy open area.

And she got flu after!

We chose taxi as our means to reach these places because it's affordable compared to cabs running around any cities in the Philippines. That is due to Baguio's natural cold temperature, without needing air-condition.


Day 3 Baguio is over, the next morning is was spent for pasalubongs and other purchases.


Expenses:
Hotel for 2 nights = 1,200 Php
Horseback Riding = 450 Php
Miscellaneous (meals, taxi, and other purchases)= 300 Php
Pasalubongs = 1,000 Php
Total of 2,950 Php!

Here is our Baguio City itinerary:

Date/Time Itinerary Location Links Remarks
6am-8pm Day tour: Baguio Burnham Park - Bicycles (40 Php/hr) and boating (100 Php/hr)!
- - Lourdes Grotto - -
- - Botanical Garden - -
- - Wright Park - Horseback riding (300 pesos for the horse and 150 for the assistant)
- - Mansion House - -
- - Mines View Park - - Picture taking with a St.Bernard dog, Ifugao costume, and bought pasalubongs!
- - Good Shepherd Convent - -
- Camp John Hay - -
- - Baguio Cathedral and SM Baguio - -

Related Articles:

Day 3 In Hong Kong - The Peak

The Peak Na!
The Peak is a mall located at the Central, HK. Got its name from its very location, The Peak - situated at the top of the mountain wherein you need to be conveyed in a tram (HK's old mode of transportation) to reach the place.

Day 2 In Hong Kong - Po Lin Monastery and the Giant Buddha


That day, I was able to fulfill a long-time dream: to visit Hong Kong. So I hold on to my map and explore the Chinese archipelago.

Po Lin Monastery/Giant Buddha/Ngong Ping Village

8am - Heading To Po Lin Monastery and the Giant Buddha


Heritage Vigan - Expenses | Itinerary | Experience

On the 2nd day of our Ilocos trip, we headed towards Vigan City, the capital of Ilocos Sur and a UNESCO World Heritage site!!!

Laoag to Vigan would take 2 to 3 hours bus ride with some short stops picking up passengers on its way. Ordinary bus fare from Laoag to Vigan costs 100 pesos but requires additional 20 pesos for a Partas bus ride which is more comfortable than the former.

Day 1 - The Arrival
We arrived in Vigan at around 8 pm from Laoag and from the bus terminal, Jenny and I called a trike (paid 25 pesos) to take us to Hotel Salcedo de Vigan. At the hotel, we were given scented wet towelettes for refreshment purposes, orange juice, and the room key card.


We went out for a while to have dinner and tried a Kare-Kare bagnet at Tummy Talk restaurant (at the end corner of Calle Crisologo). It is very delicious and the bagoong was just perfectly sautéed to match the salty-sweet flavor of the bagnet Kare-Kare.





Day 2 - Touring Vigan By Calesa
First thing we did in the morning was a Vigan breakfast at Bistro Amarillo, and for the first time, I forgot my aversion to longganisa. Delizioso! After that energizing breakfast, we went to Calle Crisologo to take a morning walk and witness this famous road in daylight. From there, we also arranged a deal with a Calesa driver to tour us around the city.


Rent a kalesa! The deal was 150 PhP per hour but a friend told me that during their visit, they only paid 20 pesos per hour (but they are about 6 persons)... so try to haggle! The whole trip lasted for 3 hours.

Here are the places he showed us:

#1 Vigan Cathedral
Kunan ko sana ng litrato tong Vigan Cathedral alone... much to my surprise, ready na ang pose ni Jenny! lol "We all have that one friend!"


Vigan Cathedral was our first stop and right across it is an old spanish house themed McDonald's. Also, around the corner, you'll see plenty of Calesas.

More of this area:

#2 Vigan Bell Tower
Vigan Bell Tower is fronting Bantay Church and approximately a 10 minute Kalesa ride from Calle Crisologo.

More of Vigan Bell Tower:

#3 Padre Burgos House - National Museum
This is the ancestral house and birthplace of priest patriot Fr. Jose Burgos. Inside you'll see portraits of other known Ilocano leaders, antique furnitures, historic artifacts and a lot more.

More of this museum:

#4 Hidden Garden
Hidden Garden is a home of native plants and flowers which also cultivates the plant "Bonsai" variety. In addition, it has a restaurant inside and a refreshment area to enjoy a Dragon Fruit Shake.

More of Hidden Garden:

#5 Baluarte
Baluarte is a property owned by the present Ilocos Sur Governor, Luis Chavit Singson. Baluarte is an 80 hectares zoo where you can come and play with animals. 

More of Baluarte:
#6 Salcedo Market, Mercato Centrale
Vigan Empanada
Expenses:
Laoag to Vigan Bus = 120 Php
Hotel = 1,000 Php
Calesa Tour (150/hour which lasted 3 hours divided by 2 persons) = 225 Php
Meal = 100 Php
Total of 1,445 Php

Here is our Vigan trip itinerary:

Date/Time Itinerary Location Links Remarks

From Laoag - Travel & stay at Vigan Hotel Salcedo de Vigan - -
7am-2pm Day tour: Vigan Calle Crisologo - Colonial Houses - -
- - St. Paul's Cathedral - -
- - Vigan Bell Tower - -
- - Hidden Garden - Tried Dragon fruit shake
- - Palacio de Arzobispado - -
- - Burgos National Museum - -
- Baluarte - -
12 noon Food Trip Salcedo Market, Mercato Centrale - Specialty foods: Pinakbet, Bagnet, Longganisa, Okilas

Our itinerary ended at 2pm because we were following a tight schedule to fit our Baguio excursion within our planned 5 day trip starting from Pagudpud down to Manila.

Related articles:

Day 2 - Vigan Tour - 1 Day Itinerary
Day 3 - Baguio Itinerary
Ilocos Norte Tourist Spots
4D3N Pagudpud-Laoag-Vigan-Baguio Itinerary

Breakfast At Bistro Amarillo

The early bird catches the worm!

Jen and I woke up early to start our Vigan city escapade but before that, we needed to take an energizing meal to keep us going throughout the day.

Breakfast At Bistro Amarillo
Bistro Amarillo is the in-house restaurant of Hotel Salcedo de Vigan (where we stayed) and part of our stay here, breakfast comes for free.


Macau: A Day At The Sin City Of Asia

Macau is the Sin City of Asia or also viewed as the little Las Vegas! For tourists who are up for some gambling, delicious egg tarts, city lights, and Portuguese structures, this place should not be missed.