Our Food trip at Payling’s Restaurant in Oroquieta City

Located at Quijano Street, Oroquieta City a new diner named Payling's Restaurant has opened to give the locals a unique taste of Filipino-American cuisine in a homely kind of setting. The city is definitely stepping up to another level to give us more reasons to explore the beautiful Oroquieta. I wouldn’t be surprised if in the future the city would become the foodies’ next favorite hub in Northern Mindanao.

Philippines | The Maria Christina Falls

Not just because of its natural beauty and grandeur, Maria Christina Falls is also the most famous waterfall in Mindanao. Do you know why? It's because this giant waterfall generates 70% percent of electricity in the entire island of Mindanao. With a height of 321.5 ft and average flow rate of 130m³, no one should dare to dive in it or else you’ll be electrified to death (literally). So it’s safe to be few meters away from this majestic waterfall yet still enjoy the beautiful scenery of this natural masterpiece.

Philippines | Discovering Tinacla-an River

After so many years, I finally came back to where my childhood had set about. And now I’m giving myself a time to explore what my province has to offer when it comes to travel. Never could have I imagined that there’s a beautiful river secretly located in the heart of Tinacla-an, Clarin Misamis Occidental. Suddenly I asked myself, why I have not discovered this place when I was still a child. Hmmm.

Malaysia | The Batu Caves

Rising about 100 meters above the ground, the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur is absolutely one of the most popular Hindu Shrines in the world. The name “Batu” is taken from the Sungai Batu which is a river flowing past the limestone hill. The shrine is dedicated to their Lord Murugan (Subramaniyan), a Hindu god of war. You’ll see Murugan’s grand golden statue before you climb into the 272 stair steps to the entrance of the cave.

Interior of Batu Caves

My Tasty Sunaku Experience at Kimono Ken

Snack in Japanese is called “Sunaku” or what we commonly known here in the Philippines as “Merienda”. I’m not actually sure what kind of light meal do Japanese people have but I find few delectable few food items at Kimono Ken Restaurant yesterday which I thought are great for a tasty snack.

Macau | The Venetian Hotel Resort and Casino

The Venetian Macao is a 39-story luxury hotel and casino resort in Macau, China, owned by Las Vegas Sands. It is the largest casino in the world, and the largest single structure hotel building in Asia.

Our Bibimbap Kind of Lunch

Annyeonghaseyo! Eotteohge jinaeseyo? (Hello! How are you?)
 

Yesterday, I had an interesting lunch with my officemates at the nearby Korean restaurant from the office. I haven’t really dived into any traditional Korean cuisine before so it was my first time to try this kind of food. The name of the restaurant is “BibimHaru” and we opt to try one of their signature Korean dishes they called “Bibimbap”...erm..I really thought it was some kind of a noodle soup but to my surprise it's a bowl of rice. Forgive me but yeah, it was LOL moment for me. Here's an FYI, Bibimbap in Korea means "mixed rice". :-p

Malaysia | The Iconic Petronas Twin Towers

According to most travel blogs, the number one must-see in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is the iconic twin skyscrapers identified as the “Menara Berkembar Petronas” or commonly known as the Petronas Twin Towers. It has an area of about 4.2M sq. ft. and standing with 88 (+5 basements) floors which made these towers as the tallest buildings from 1998 to 2004. Though personally I think there’s nothing much about the buildings except the cultural centre and high-end mall inside, its architectural style dominantly shines through the entire skyline of the capital city’s central business district. Nevertheless the fact that this amazing structure was once recognized in the world history, it’s definitely worth a moment to gaze.

Sunday Cooking Challenge II

Pork Curry w/ Carrots & Potatoes

Finally, I have the entire Sunday for my second cooking challenge. Exciting yeah? So for today’s recipe I will be cooking one of the famous South-eastern Asian dishes --- Pork Curry! Besides pastas and lasagna, this is actually my first attempt to cook something with a sauce. But after all, this is a Sunday cooking challenge so I better be ready to bite off something more than what I can chew. Aja!

Macau | Cotai Central

Hello to the casino capital of the world, Macau! For a nation so clean and artificial, this is certainly a place to be! I consider my travel experience in Macau as one of the highlights of my 2014 because it’s my first time to experience 6°C weather. Well, I came from a tropical country so experiencing this kind of climate is sort of a big deal. Anyway, here are some of my photos in Macau! :-)

Hong Kong | The Festival of Lion King at Disneyland

One of the main highlights in Disneyland Hong Kong is the musical play they titled “The Festival of Lion King”. If you pay close attention to the performers you’ll notice most of them are Filipinos. Being there makes me feel so proud to know our talents truly shine across the globe.  

Cambodia | Siem Reap

When I came to Cambodia, I set no expectation and just let my mind open as to what the place can offer. But I didn’t really expect that I would fell in love with Siem Reap like this. Despite of knowing Cambodia as a nation filled with heart-rending historical events and creepy Khmer superstitions, I was astonished by their religion and architecture. What I’ve seen was more than just people and temples. I have also witnessed how their faith serves as their defender against all misfortunes. All the incredible monuments, statues and gravestones characterize how history made them strong now. Those for me are the real treasures of Cambodia. :-)

Do you know the name “Siem Reap” translates literally to the “The flat defeat of Siam”? It was said this was the place when their mighty King Ang Chan destroyed the Siamese invasion hundred years ago.

Way Back When

Just when I thought most things have truly changed with time, I wish I could be at least closer to what I used to look before (if not better). Oh yeah! I honestly cannot put into words how to describe my life 7 years before but one thing is for sure, it was certainly a memory I'll cherish for years and more. Here’s my throwback Thursday post - a glimpse of how amazing my college days were.  

One Summer in September

September, as we all know in the Philippines is the climate for tropical monsoon and it's very seldom to experience a good sunny weekend. Thankfully, last Saturday was a good day for me and friends to go out for a pool party at one of the private houses with hot spring pool in Calamba, Laguna. And making the most of our day tour, I brought my GoPro Hero 3 to take underwater pics and videos. Here are few of my favorite shots! :-)

Disneyland Hong Kong

Like every child’s fantasy, it’s also my dream to witness and experience Disneyland.  Though I know my age is no longer considered as a kid, I still feel like a young person at heart (always). One of my happy memories as a kid is watching Disney films because I’m such a fan of fairy tales and happy ending stories. And to finally see Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, Snow White and Simba in real life is like a dream come true to me.

Learn and Dine at Gotti’s Ristorante

Do you know that most authentic Italian dishes only have four to eight ingredients? And that cheese and wine are the primary ingredients of their cuisine? I didn’t know about that not until last Saturday when we had our lunch at one of Italian restaurants inside the Mall of Asia Complex, Gotti’s Ristorante. Guess what else I’ve learned from this food trip, you better read more!

Time, Money & Courage

It gets a little frustrating at times when you see your college or even high school batch-mates on Social Media sharing proud moments and having the time of their lives while you are trapped in the same old situation (deprived and a little unfulfilled). You can deny all you want but deep inside you know you desire to be as successful as they are. Hey, don’t worry. You’re not alone because I have this kind of sentiments too. It sucks, right? But one thing is for sure, we should not let this petty emotions get the best of us. I know there are still a lot of candles to burn but let’s embrace the experience and use it to be better than what we were before.

Stick-O + Cookie Butter = Yummy

It’s a beautiful Saturday, isn’t it? For me, today is a perfect time to chill and relax in my sweet little apartment (God knows how much I missed staying at home like this). And what makes it even greater is that I have Stick-O (one of my favorite kiddie food) in the basket for my afternoon snack while watching my favorite reality TV shows. Then I saw the Speculoos Cookie Butter at the top of our refrigerator so I thought of dipping the Stick-O in it. Hmmm…Oh yes! It tasted insanely good together. These scrummy mushed cookies must have been useful for so many sweet things. Stick-O + Cookie Butter = Yummy! :-)

Going Rarely Brown

Brown is the color of rich soils, the skin of most animals and the pieces of sweet caramels yet I find it seldom for most people to consider brown as their favorite color. It is maybe because brown is more often associated by Europeans and Americans with rustic and poverty.  Actually, it is not also my personal favorite but sometimes I find this natural dark wood color relaxing to eyes. I don’t know why but whenever I’m feeling pretty down in the dumps, brown is most likely my preferred color to wear.

Sunday Cooking Challenge I

Spicy Tuna with Potatoes & Egg

I normally save the weekend for watching movies and sleeping. But today, I decided to do something different – cooking! I admit that I’m not a food expert but people say I have a good taste when it comes to dishes. So I kinda put myself to test just to see if I can cook a dish out of simple ingredients. So ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to introduce to you my first Sunday cooking recipe I named “Spicy tuna with potatoes and scrambled egg.”

Siam Ocean World Thailand

Siam Ocean World is located at B1-B2 Floor, Siam Paragon, 991 Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand.

The Legendary Flavours of the Greeks

Greek cuisine is known for its wide use of olives, herbs, vegetables, various meats (lamb, poultry, rabbit and pork), cheese, eggplant, zucchini and yogurt. Typically, Greek served dishes with wines or anise-flavored liqueurs. Island Santorini Restaurant definitely incorporated all these ingredients to give us a taste of the legendary dishes of the Greeks. 

Greek Salad
Made with sliced potatoes,cucumbers, feta cheese and Kalamata olives. It is seasoned with salt & oregano and dressed with olive oil.

A Taste that will Last Forever

I love baby back ribs and if there's one restaurant that comes to mind whenever I crave for some roasted meat, I immediately think of Casa Verde Restaurant. For me, they serve that most juicy country-style pork ribs in Cebu City! Not to mention but their meat is tenderly cook and the inner surface of its rib cage is covered with luscious barbecue flavored sauce - very irresistable! That's why every time I order their Brian's ribs, I make sure I have more than one (1) cup of rice on my table. ;-p

Exaggerated but it is true -- once you tasted it, you will never forget it.



The Brian's Ribs (Php 233)
The restaurant's best-seller. Baked pork ribs with a sweet, tangy piquet sauce served with rice and corn & carrots.

Casa Verde

Type: American Casual Cuisine

Budget: Php 200 – 300

Location: 3/F Ayala Center Cebu, The Terraces, Bohol Ave., Cebu City

Hours: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM (daily)

Website: www.casaverdecebu.com

One Life with Thousands of Chances

“Sometimes life is so good and sometimes life can be very tough. I have fallen so many times yet I’m still standing here believing that tomorrow is another chance.” 

Going through a quarter life crisis can be very draining. They said this is the perfect time to explore all avenues in achieving our dreams yet it is so risky that we might fall short of making the right decisions. Well, there’s no instant guarantee in this single life but rather than chasing your tail, I think it’s best to take courage to sail through something. Everything has a purpose and God gave us thousands of chances each day to be the best person we can be.

Breakfast All Day, Everyday at IHOP

Fried eggs, bacon, hotdogs, pancake and more! – I just love the selection of food during breakfast meal. But for someone like me who doesn’t follow the standard mealtime due to my working schedule, I’m so pleased to know my office is near IHOP restaurant where they serve breakfast meal anytime of the day.

"Every day is a new beginning and most joyful moments start with a perfect meal." 
- IHOP Restaurant 

Enchanted Kingdom Philippines

From the extreme drop tower to giant swing rides, last Saturday was definitely a day of all in fun and excitement for us.  And even though Enchanted Kingdom is almost 20 years old now, the amusement and pleasure it gives never really tainted. I think it’s a wonderful place to test your courage and audacity to overcome any heart-stopping activities that may come in our lives.

The Space Shuttle

For me, it’s the most extreme ride at EK and definitely not recommended for those who have a weak heart. It’s about 2-minute ride but every up-side-down turns is life-threatening. Not to brag but my friend (Eman) and I dared to ride this extreme adventure twice. And I have to say, the front row seats are the best position of this ride.

Cambodia | Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is truly a wonderful masterpiece. Its work of art, beauty, culture and religion represent the fortitude of the Cambodian people. And behind those breathtaking defensive walls and moats are the history and mythological figures that the world proudly uncovered.  For that, I'm listing down 7 interesting things you might want to know about Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat
Siem Reap, Cambodia

Baguio Bagnet of Cafe by the Ruins

Happy food truly knows how to make people difficult to think of unfriendly thoughts, right? Months ago, I went to Baguio City for a short vacation with blogger friends and one restaurant we opted to experience was Café by the Ruins. I tried the famous Baguio Bagnet because they said the restaurant is known for its delectable deep fried pork belly meat.

True enough! It’s the yummiest crispy deep fried pork in Baguio! What can I say? I’m literally pleased. :-p 

The Baguio Bagnet (Php280.00)
Baguio City's favorite double fried pork belly
(Tenderdized in lard then re-fried to a crisp).
Condiments are Padas Bagoong and Tomato relish.
Accompanied with Dinengdeng soup.

Café by the Ruins

Type: Asian Cuisine

Budget: Php 250 - 500

Location: 23 Chung  St., Baguio City, Benguet

Hours: 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily

Philippines | Calle Crisologo (Vigan)

We all have our own old love stories to tell but the best way to reminisce it is to be in a place where you can get a sense of old feeling. Have you been in Calle Crisologo, Vigan, Ilocos Sur? I think it's a perfect place to contemplate the past. It's not just a simple cobbled street with ancentral house, the story of this town is also fascinating. 

The place is covered with cobbled-stone roads, Spanish ancestral houses and antique displays. It’s like the entire town is an open house exhibition of art and history. So cool!

Thailand | The Golden Palace (Bangkok)

The City of Angels must have been the sun’s favorite place to shine on. Not only The Grand Palace of Bangkok settles perfectly in the heart of Thai Kingdom but it is also gifted with sunlight that illuminates the golden details of the entire complex. I have to say The Grand Palace is one of my most much-loved attractions in the capital city of Thailand.

For me, Phra Maha Prasat has the most beautiful architecture
and intricate details in the entire complex

Happiness Makes More Real when Shared

Truth is, I'm not so much in to carbonated soft drinks but this "Share a Coke" campaign induces me to appreciate the product in a very personal way. In fact today, I bought 4 cans of coke with printings "Hottie", "Cutie", "Babe" and "Crush". And now I'm thinking whom shall I share it with. :-p

I wanna make someone feel good today. Would you like to have one of these?

Mr. Accountant Meets Denim

For someone who used to wear long-sleeves and ties, tossing on a denim jacket with a pair of jeans seems to be my least expected style. As an accountant, I wear formal attire every working day of my life but they say when it comes to fashion, a little rebellion sometimes can be good. hmmm...

The ragged geek behind the bumper car

Taking Breakfast to the Next Level at Early Bird Breakfast Club

No one says art can’t be in a form of food. Early Bird Breakfast Club (EBBC) best exemplifies how our favorite breakfast meal turned into a masterpiece!

The Early Bird Philosophy: Starting your day with good breakfast shapes the kind of day you'll have. At Early Bird Breakfast Club, we serve delicious and hearty breakfast one can enjoy in a cheerful and sunny ambiance; we inspire people to have a positive attitude to face whatever they need to do for the rest of the day. Having a positive outlook everyday is the key in living a happier life, and it all starts with a good breakfast. 

-by Early Bird Breakfast Club

Not Everything Begins in the East

I wouldn’t be “The Sunset Guy” if sundown doesn’t fascinate me better than sunrise. The daily disappearance of the sun below the horizon may often regarded as an ending of something but for me it signifies a new journey that is about to begin. Although it’s traditional for most people to believe that every sunrise gives us one day to hope, I’d choose to trust the symbolism of sunset as an inspiration to be better for tomorrow.