Bengal Brew + Wolf and Bear Cafe
Wagging tails. Furry paws. Gentle eyes. Ready to go giddy all over? Pets are my absolute weakness, perhaps next to ice cream. When my best friends from Cebu came over to visit, I gave them quite a tour. As we traveled back to the city after a day trip in Tagaytay, we decided to rest and relax at this pet cafe we spotted in Cubao: Bengal Brew + Wolf and Bear Cafe.
Freezer Burn: Not Your Ordinary Ice Cream
If you need someplace touristy that's only a few minutes from the airport and showcases great food and awesome dining, BGC is the place to be. It was therefore a no-brainer when I brought my kindergarten best friends from Cebu to Bonifacio High Street's newest ice cream place, Freezer Burn.
The term "freezer burn" may not sound palatable by the dictionary's terms but chefs Miko Aspiras and Kristine Lotilla turned things around by marrying artisan ice cream with hot snacks. But more than taste, their desserts pack quite the graphic punch. If I may say, they fit the definition of what we nowadays call Instagram-able.
Manila Ocean Park: Sharks and Rays Encounter
The most random and unplanned adventures can sometimes be the greatest and that's regardless of how grand or simple the trip was. A few months back, my uncle and cousin decided to treat the whole family (read "barangay") to a buffet lunch. Coincidentally the tickets they got came with a free entrance to Manila Ocean Park's Sharks and Rays Encounter so we thought, why not bring out our inner child and go visit?
Quezon Memorial Circle: Boating and Speedway Fun
If I were to list down the reasons why I love Manila, it'll surely include its parks. Sure there's traffic and pollution that people often whine about but if we look at the brighter side, the capital city surely has its charms. The Quezon Memorial Circle (aka QC Circle) included.
Azure Urban Resort and Residences Staycation
Travelling is an art. You see, you don't necessarily have to go somewhere far in order to travel. You can stay within your city and be able to satiate your thirst for wanderlust. Case in point, staycations. When I won a contest earlier last year for a piece I wrote, I wanted to spend it on a grand vacation of sorts but budget-wise it wasn't practical. Also, I just recently moved to Manila then so I decided to get to know more about the area and its metropolitan charms. Luckily I found the perfect place: Azure Urban Resort and Residences.
Nook Cafe: Manila's Harry Potter Themed Cafe
Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if only one knows where to find the best cup of butterbeer. Unfortunately, a plane ticket to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and not to mention to either Japan or London is outright impossible at the moment, much to my chagrin of course. If only I could utter "accio moolah" and money will fall unto my lap. *Sigh* But because Harry loves me and Hermione tinkered with some spells, a Harry Potter themed cafe magically appeared along Quezon City's Maginhawa Street! Obviously, my sister Rhob, cousin David and I hopped onto our Firebolts (aka our grandma's walis ting-ting) and dashed to the Nook Cafe in a heartbeat.
Out and About Manila Part 3: Fort Santiago and Jose Rizal Museum
Out and About Manila Part 2: Manila Chinatown
Chinky-eyed and thrifty. These two perfectly define me so I guess it wouldn't be a complete surprise if I had an ounce of Chinese blood in my veins. My maternal grandmother's side of the family has a one syllable three letter family name. Majority of the family is chinky-eyed too with eyes tending to thin out as we smile or laugh. Alas, no one knows how to speak Mandarin. Lost in translation perhaps? I don't know really but I'll stop these random bits of whatnot and get this introduction over and done with. In my previous post, I mentioned that we had this little jaunt around some of the sights and places to see in Manila. This is part two. Behold Binondo aka Manila Chinatown!
Out and About Manila Part 1: Binondo Church
I was born in Manila but growing up and living in Cebu left me curious about my birthplace. There was so much of it that I haven't seen. I wanted to experience it and breathe history and culture sans the pollution. There was this craving that I had to feed otherwise my mind would explode with questions and what ifs left unanswered. Unlike others, I prefer old city charm and culture whenever I travel. Call me weird or old-fashioned but I'm an old soul lost in a digital jungle. So when my dear uncle (Hi Tito Bob!) asked me where I wanted to go, I screamed Chinatown and Intramuros without batting an eyelash! This was the first stop to our trip. Behold the Binondo Church.
The Ice Cream Laboratory
It’s midway through summer here in the Philippines and that translates to sand, sea and sun! I’m currently in the capital city, Manila, and let me tell you this. If Cebu is simmering hot, Manila is on boiling point. We even reached 39 degrees Celsius last week. Whew! I guess I was so used to our semi-provincial home back in Cebu that the metropolitan humidity was a total shocker. I expected it but the level of intensity caught me off guard. There are days when I sweat immediately after I get off the shower. Exaggeration? Oh I’m not even kidding. The bright side however is that I get to eat ice cream. Lots and lots of it! DIY Magnum, dirty ice cream, halo-halo, mais con hielo? Yes I’ve had them. Smoking ice cream from the Ice Cream Laboratory? That too!
Papemelroti Haul
Ever since I've been bitten by the DIY bug, my knack for cutesy assortments never faded away. It stuck like bubble gum and no matter how much I convince myself that I'm a craftaholic on the road to recovery, I always end up on the road to the craft store. Such was the case when I made Papemelroti a major item in my Manila travel itinerary.
Papemelroti Gift Shop and Going Artsy-Crazy
The smell of paper excites me. I like its texture, the smoothness or the roughness that go with each page. I love its color, the shades that go on and on in a rainbow that never ends. Paper compels me in a way. You know, the kind of compulsion that "fictional vampires" have the capability of. I know it sounds weird and cray but it's a hundred percent true. Blame my love for books and crafts for this addiction. Now, imagine my elation when I first stepped into Papemelroti last year all thanks to my cousin Ryche. I vowed to come back should I visit Manila again and I promised myself I'd snap photos too! And so I did.
SM Aura Premier
I for one believe that architecture is art and I happen to be someone who loves and revels in all things art related. I have a knack for staring at buildings, landscapes and interiors with my mind going off in artsy-craftsy wonderland. I know a work of art when I see it and I'm pretty sure that SM Aura Premier is one of them.
Magnum Manila Part 2: The Special Dessert Menu
Every time I sit down for a meal I always wish that I could skip everything and go straight for dessert! That's how fond I am of sweets, ice cream and baked treats in particular. So here's my question for all of you. How do you like your ice cream? On its own, on a brownie skillet, amongst cookies or drowned in strawberries? I'd obviously pick them all and I have to say that Magnum Manila's take on these dessert mashups are nothing but extraordinary and gastronomic!
Magnum Manila Part 1: Make Your Own Magnum
If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Without batting an eyelash I'd scream for ice cream! My closest friends and family know how much I adore this sweet treat that I'd gobble it up even if the rain beckons. I don't mind the cold. It's the fireworks of flavors I'm after. As crazy as that sounds, it's a true story so it wouldn't sound silly anymore if I told you that I enjoyed Magnum Manila twice in one day. Or is it?
Meralco Liwanag Park
Think about thousands of fairy lights softly twinkling before your eyes, a choo-choo train to carry you around a Christmas village and a bucketful of smiles on everyone's faces. It was as if a magic wand waved us to a place of lights and cheer. I hate to disappoint but we didn't get to go to the Great Hall at Hogwarts; however, it was somewhere equally as magical and charming as that called the Meralco Liwanag Park!
Banapple Pies and Cheesecakes {Manila Travel Diary 4}
Sweet tooth alert! My love for desserts just wouldn't go away. I can't help but succumb to the temptation every single time. Oh dear, the weighing scale is even frowning at me. Is there a cure out there? I think I need help A.S.A.P. Anyway here goes my last Manila Travel Diary post and since sweet-toothed me is always looking for new dishes to try and satiate my food-lust, my pretty cousin Ryche and her family brought me to a famous dessert shop and cafe in Manila called Banapple Pies and Cheesecakes.
Arariyo Korean Restaurant {Manila Travel Diary 3}
When my relatives saw my plate (above) they gave me "the look" and asked the inevitable question. Are you on a diet? Of course I wasn't! No way! LOL. Whenever I go to a buffet restaurant I like to have a taste of everything so I get tiny bits of every dish and go back for more. Ever heard of a round 2? or 3? or 4? Okay before I embarrass myself of how big of a foodie I am, allow me to introduce you to a new food hub my relatives in Manila brought me to called Arariyo Korean Buffet and Restaurant.
Blo Blow Dry Bar {Manila Travel Diary 2}
Blo Out (noun): a styling session or act of getting blo-wn out. That was exactly what I got when I visited Blo Blow Dry Bar's Rockwell Branch late last month. It was around July of 2013 when I won some hot pink Blo gift certificates thanks to Tricia Gosingtian. It got me all hyped up but alas I live in Cebu and all the branches are in Manila. I thought I'd never get to use them but an opportunity came up. *ahem* Dinner date with Camille Co *ahem*. Mind you, this blow dry bar that originated in North America is famous for hair styling services. It's dubbed as an affordable catwalk-quality bar for the modern woman.
