Ramblings from an Insomniac

The bustling city of Hong Kong

2009-07-18T20:25:00.024+08:00

Hong Kong was my first Asian trip outside the Philippines. It was also my last stop after hopping from city to city in the States. I was excited but ready to get it over with at the same time. It was probably because of my longing to go back home that I didn't really see it as a trip but more like a long stopover.

I had four days to tour the city and adjust my body clock back to the timezone I'm used to. Good thing I had my favorite travel buddy, Sharjan, with me to do all the planning :) We opted not to join any tour group and rough it on our own, amazing race-style! If I must list the top things you should check out when you have less than a week in HK, here are my recommendations:

Eat authentic dimsum and local fave food

I was quite surprised that the locals didn't know what "steamed rice" means. A staple in all Chinese restaurants in the Philippines, steamed rice is a mixture of rice with soy sauce topped with beef, chicken, or pork - the latter being the most popular choice. Apart from the fact that most of the locals didn't speak or understand English, I had to point at every food I wanted without any knowledge of what the "meat" was. I chose something similar to "steamed rice" with what clearly seemed like pork mixed in. It tasted different than what I expected but it was surely a delightful surpise!

Egg tarts

Go shop crazy!

We stayed at Hotel Ramada in Kowloon - right smack in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. The moment you step out of the hotel, bright neon lights greet you on your way out. The most fascinating thing about the city is the fact that it almost never sleeps! At 3am, you can still walk in a shop and buy a blouse or bag on sale! The streets are literally bright with all the lights from the different shops that are still open in the wee hours of the morning! A funny observation I had was the obvious trend of 7-Eleven stores in almost every corner in the city! The countless 7-Eleven stores are similar to the number of "sari-sari" stores we have in the Philippines! It was an amusing sight to see. :)

I also recommend shopping at the Ladies Market where you could find everything from knock-offs to Chinese souveniers! If you love our Divisoria and Greenhills tiangge, this is the place for you.

Be amazed at the Symphony of Lights

symphony of lights

Be sure to watch the spectacular show at Victoria Harbor as Hong Kong Island and Kowloon's key building are under your showcase. The best thing about it? It's FREE! Watch in amazement as colorful building lights dance to the music blaring all over the harbor. It's completely breathtaking!

Ride the Peak Tram on your way to Victoria Peak

peak tram

Hop on a ferry boat to Hong Kong island and ride the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak. The pick-up station is already a nice stopover itself, with a sneak peak at Madame Tausaud's Wax Museum and interesting history facts about the tram.

at the highest peak

Once you reach Victoria Peak, buy a ticket to gain access to the highest floor of the Peak Tower to see the stunning views of the city's skyscrapers and neon-dotted skyline at night. You can spend the whole afternoon at the Tower and enjoy the various restaurants and shops it offers. Don't forget to bargain for a good price. I got a massager for only HK$100 - way cheaper than its original price of HK$350!!!

Walk down the Avenue of Stars

Hong Kong's own "walk of fame"

Avenue of Stars is Hong Kong's own version of Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Enjoy a stroll along the avenue lined with film-related statues and an amazing view of Hong Kong island. Most of the celebrities were unknown to me but I did see Jackie Chan's and Bruce Lee's respective stars. :) This is also the place where you can watch the Symphony of Lights.

We were also lucky enough to visit the Olympic Village, which showcased HK's cute little mascots!

Eat chicken with a plastic glove

eating with my hands

I've been to KFCs at different locations but I never knew that Hong Kong offered plastic gloves to customers to eat chicken with! It's not just at KFC, it's everywhere! I had to try it! It was so liberating to eat with my hands at a fast food joint without feeling icky. Lol!

Spend a day at Disneyland

with Mickey :)

We're all kids at heart and what better place to be a big kid than Disneyland?! The best ride for me was Space Mountain! It was out of this world! We rode it twice. The only thing stopping us from riding it again and again was the long queue. It's a definite must at Disneyland.

Another event you can't afford to miss is the fireworks display! It's at the end of the day but it's worth waiting for. Watching the fireworks lit up the sky to famous Disney songs playing in the background was an experience I will never forget. It brought me back to my childhood years of watching Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Aladdin, and all the amazing fairy tales I loved as a kid.

The things I mentioned above could never cover the endless activities you can enjoy in Hong Kong. A week is not even enough to enjoy this great city! If you plan on exploring Asia and what diversity and culture it has to offer, definitely stop by Hong Kong. It's worth it!

fireworks @ the Disney castle

New place

2008-07-15T06:24:00.006+08:00

I'm blogging from my room at the Boston Park Plaza! The owner of the apartment where I'm staying at is in town, so I have to stay here for the meantime. No complaints here! :) It's a fancy hotel, I must say. Love the location. Love the room. Love it.

Beantown!

2008-07-12T13:22:00.003+08:00

I'm in Boston! :) I'm still adjusting to the time and all. It's 1am here and I'm awake hehe I've been sleeping for hours! I actually missed a boat trip I was invited to. :-( I'm just too tired right now and I have a killer headache that just won't go away!

Anyway, Boston is beautiful! My apartment is gorgeous and is located in a nice neighborhood called Beacon Hill. I'm around Charles Street - a few steps away from the Cheers bar! hehe The streets are paved with cobblestones, and the old houses and buildings are great architectural masterpieces! I'll post some pictures of the neighborhood soon.

Tomorrow, I'll have a full day of sightseeing. I'm planning to go grocery shopping and get a prepaid phone kit. (photo: the view from our office).

A few hours to go...

2008-07-09T22:20:00.004+08:00

In less than 24 hours, I'll be on my way to Boston. That's approximately 20 hours of travel - on my own! I'm nervous about it, but it hasn't sunk in yet. Perhaps, when Sharjan and his sister, Sabrina, finally drop me off at the airport that's when panic mode sets in.

This is my first time to travel ALONE. No boyfriend to carry my bags and lead the trip for me. :-( I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I have mixed feelings about it. But I'm sure the experience will be fun!

Anyway, I'm all packed. But another thing I'm worried about is my suitcase. I can fit myself in it! It is HUGE. I'll be the lost Asian dragging around a huge suitcase asking for directions at the airport! Ugh! Embarrassing!

I'll be posting pictures soon! Hopefully, I can get Internet where I'll be staying. xoxo

I've got a swimmer in the family!

2008-06-16T23:51:00.005+08:00

Yesterday, Sharjan and I brought Chewy to Jo's By The Sea for lunch. He was his usual spunky self, barking at the waiters and little kids. (I know, I'm an embarrassed parent!) Other than that, he really was behaved. After our meal, we decided to walk on the beach to burn off all those calories. Lo and behold, my baby boy jumped right into the water! This was the second time he did that. The first was during our Bais/Manjuyod sandbar trip last April. We were in the water and he jumped right off the boat to swim toward us! The dog's got guts! This time, he swam a little longer. In fact, he did laps around me (show off!). We are so proud! Sharjan and I are terrible swimmers! It's good to know someone in the family can swim :-) Check out the pictures below:

A night out with my girls

2008-06-08T00:01:00.003+08:00

This week, I caught up with my girlfriends for drinks at Pier One. We were missing Dee that night as she had to work 'till early morning. :( It was one of our mini reunions, and, as always, we had a blast!

An insomniac rambles...

2008-06-01T03:20:00.004+08:00

It's 3AM and I'm still awake. I've watched an entire season of Sex and the City and channel surfed for almost an hour now. My dogs sleep better than I do - believe me, they're snoring their fat asses off and completely hogging my bed!

I've had this problem since forever. It probably started when I used to stay up late as a kid - watching hours and hours of TV while everyone was sound asleep. I heard from someone that lack of sleep would result to weight loss! I know, I know, it's sick! I was a heavy kid and I had issues! Now, I know that lack of sleep only slows your metabolism and messes up your system. So, staying awake is not an attempt to lose a few pounds. It's plainly a problem that I can't seem to find a solution for. There was a time when I heavily relied on Tylenol PM to help me sleep (well, I stopped a few months ago when I ran out of pills). I knew that it was bad; but with my two previous jobs, which both required me to wake up early, I badly needed the help (or else, I'd be a walking zombie).

A lot of factors come into play with a sleep disorder. I've read that stress causes one to lose sleep. Am I stressed? Well, I've recently left my job of 10 months, and I'm moving on with another job - so, that could be it. I'm handling my parents' new house, which by the way, is having delays worse than our so-called Filipino time! And I'm also trying to fix my passport and thanks to the agencies involved, the process is getting longer than I anticipated. So, I guess I'd have to answer my own question with a "yes."

I have 2 months to figure this out and find a solution ASAP. I will officially work full time for my new company this Monday, but we have no office yet so my schedule is pretty flexible. However, by August, I would have to go to work at a new office environment with a fixed schedule. I better be sleeping like a baby and waking up like a rooster before that! :-(

mlog #2: Eat-all-you-can grill at Why Not?

2008-05-01T18:31:00.002+08:00

The festive music and smoky aroma of grilled meat make eat-all-you-can Thursdays at Why Not? Restaurant a treat!

From the spicy Hungarian sausages and bratwurst to the slabs of grilled pork chops, Why Not? offers you a taste of Oktoberfest every week! For only P290/person, you get to eat all the grilled meat you want in one sitting! The buffet also includes potatoes cooked in three different ways, one trip to the salad bar, ham, and French bread.The price beats Rockwell Powerplant's Brazil! Brazil! - we paid around P650/person the last time we were there! That's almost twice the price!

A perfect way to cap your meal is to order their wide array of desserts! We ordered the Romanoff, which is made of whipped cream, nuts, vanilla ice cream, and strawberries! Yum!

I suggest you visit the restaurant before 7PM as it gets a bit crowded by then and oftentimes a little hard to get a table. Nevertheless, the wait would still be worth it!

mlog #1: Revisiting Casablanca

2008-05-01T00:25:00.002+08:00

A while back, I gave a so-so review for a new restaurant called Casablanca. It was mainly because the place was still new and, I think, they didn't quite get their act together. Everybody deserves a second chance, and I've decided to give Casablanca just that after a very delicious meal I had with friends at the restaurant last month and after learning that the chef was the same guy who cooked for us at Atlantis.

From the first time Sharjan and I ate there to our dinner this evening, the changes were very evident. The place looked cozier as they decorated it with more artwork and vases, and the staff members were well-trained (much better than our first visit). The waitresses spoke good English, and they gave good service - very attentive and friendly. They also knew the food they were serving (they were unsure about the menu before). The last time I was there with friends, the chef, who by the way is the friendliest guy and the most accomodating person you could meet, cooked the food and gave us very generous servings - we had to tell him to stop as we couldn't eat another morsel of food! Unfortunately, the chef wasn't there this evening; nevertheless, the food was still great! They served our food pretty quickly after we ordered and everything came out delish! My favorite would have to be the Vienna schnitzel and the bruschetta. The prices were comparable to Why Not? and Don Atilano. I'd have to say that I would prefer dining at Casablanca than Don A; although the sushi at Don A/Wakagi is much better. For people who would want a taste of Atlantis without the long drive to Dauin, try Casablanca for a romantic evening of good food and great ambience. Casablanca indeed redeemed itself!

Sushi Platter
Bruschetta Cheese Platter Vienna Schnitzel
Grilled Tuna

Bais/Manjuyod Sandbar

2008-04-22T14:04:00.018+08:00

I went to Bais recently with my friends and had a blast! Unfortunately, we weren't able to see many dolphins. Nevertheless, we had a great time, and the water was just great! For people who haven't been to Bais/Manjuyod sandbar, here's some information to guide you.

First, I recommend calling the Bais City Tourism Office for reservations. You can get one of their accredited boats, which is a safer way to go especially if you're a tourist. You can call the office at (35) 402-6629.

To get to Bais, you can ride a multicab from Dumaguete to Bais for only P15/person or a bus at the Ceres Terminal for P20/person. However, the easiest and most convenient way to go to Bais is to rent a van. I suggest you go to the Bais V-Hire Terminal at Sta. Catalina Street right in front of Holy Cross High School and right next to Food Net Fastfood. Look for "Roy" or you can call him at 0915-598-3712 / (35) 420-5554. Try to haggle for P1,800 if you're planning on renting the van roundtrip. In our case, we drove to Bais.

Rent-a-Van: P1,200 (one way) / P1,800 - P2,400 (roundtrip / 14 pax) / P2,500 (18 pax)

In case the tourism office cannot provide a boat for your group, you can call these two numbers:

Queen Mary Boat (boat captain Natham): 0928-785-3807
Boat: P3,500 (18 pax)
Schedule: 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Dolly Boat (Edgardo/Dolly): 0916-254-6360
Boat: P3,500 (20 pax) / P3,000 (15 pax) / P2,000 (10 pax)
Buffet: P250/head
Schedule: 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM

These boats are located at the Capiñahan Wharf in the South Bais Bay, Bais City, Negros Oriental. It takes 15 minutes by boat to reach the sandbar, which is a 7-km stretch of white sand. The crew usually allows you to bring your own food, and you can even ask them to grill it for you - free! This is a fun and cheap alternative to having your food catered. We opted to have our food catered by La Planta. There are also native huts right on the sandbar that you can rent for a day; but be sure to make your reservation ahead with the Bais or Manjuyod tourism office.

The trip includes dolphin and whale watching at Tañon Strait. Remember to stopover at the Bird Sanctuary and Mangrove Park before heading home. Have a fun summer! :-)

Social Media in 2008 (by Chloe Franken)

2008-04-15T09:48:00.003+08:00

As Thomas Friedman described in his book, The World is Flat, technological and social shifts are changing the economic world, leveling the playing field for small yet agile companies against their bigger counterparts. This has opened the doors to sharing of information – irrespective of geography, time, language, and distance.

Social media has become a key player in doing business in this flattened world. As social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook become increasingly popular, many marketers are directing their campaigns into social media rather than traditional marketing methods.

According to an article posted on Online Media Daily, a recent survey indicates that nearly a third of Web marketers plan to increase spending significantly on social media in 2008, e.g., blogs and discussion boards. The survey indicates that businesses measure their success through consumers’ awareness and engagement with their brand rather than ROI figures, stressing the importance of attention in the marketplace.

The criteria mentioned for the level of success were the following: number of site visitors, page views, and subscriptions among others. Regarding the types of social media applications currently in use, respondents said blogs and discussion boards topped the list, followed closely by ratings and reviews, and social networking applications.

Social media as a marketing tool is increasingly becoming popular, as it has shown great advantages to entrepreneurs. Businessmen can monitor their brand’s image through blogs and message boards, respond to comments, or even start their own blogs or create a business page. Social media is creating a bridge for businesses to connect and understand their consumers’ needs and wants, creating effective listening tools to capture a bigger customer base.

In addition, this online revolution has been a success as it empowers consumers. Consumers are getting wary of adverts. They are now keener on getting the right information not just from the companies but from the consumers as well. People seek their peers’ opinions on brands and services. In addition, consumers themselves express their opinions and share their experiences with different products. Social media has transformed people from content readers into content publishers. With consumers engaging in conversations on social networks, blogs, and forums, it is more than sensible for marketers to jump in the conversation as well.

Looking into 2008, tools for businesses to research their consumers are expected to change. From the traditional consumer surveys and questionnaires, marketers will now rely on feedback and influence from social networks. Nevertheless, marketers are now in the sandbox for more ideas and creative tools to maximize the power of social media, tools that will enable businesses to listen more to their target audience and, perhaps, make that sale.

Who wants to be an entrepreneur? (by Chloe Franken)

2008-04-15T09:31:00.002+08:00

In a time when money is vital and the need for more of it is escalating, aspiring entrepreneurs venture out into various businesses both common and quirky to earn some extra dough. Whether it is an aunt’s Avon sideline, a classmate’s faux Nike sneakers from Bangkok, a neighbor’s e-load racket, or your mom’s cupcake business, people are scheming up business ideas to lure potential buyers.

However, the harsh reality is that 50% of businesses shut down after a year of operation or even earlier! In Michael Ames’ book, Small Business Management, he gave the following reasons why small businesses fail: the lack of experience, insufficient capital, poor location, poor inventory management, over-investment in fixed assets, poor credit management, personal use of funds, and unexpected growth. Moreover, in the book, Do It Yourself Business, Gustav Berte included “Fierce competition and extremely low sales” among his reasons as to why such businesses fail.

Okay, so maybe my question would have to be rephrased to: Who STILL wants to be an entrepreneur?

I have to admit the figures are quite alarming, and the reasons for such scary figures are possible to any business – old and new alike! However, have no fear. With every failed venture, there’s always a lucky, rich businessman who survived it all. And with the right skills and patience, maybe anyone’s neighbor could be next-in-line!

In business, there are no guarantees. There isn’t any specific recipe to ensure risk-free success. Nevertheless, business hopefuls can improve their chances of success with good planning, preparation, insight, and a little bit of know-how.

Here are a couple of quick tips for the rookies to start with:

1. Start with something you like. If you don’t have passion for something to begin with, it wont work out. Most aspiring entrepreneurs copy the latest trend and incorporate them into their own business. Although some are successful in that technique, others fail. Why? Because it takes know-how and passion to keep a business running. If a young entrepreneur ventures into the cellphone repair business without any background on the field whatsoever, there’s a tendency for the entrepreneur to get left behind in services or merely copy what the other cellshops are doing. If you know what you're selling, thinking of new ways to make it better usually start off from your personal ideas, which eventually can set the business apart from others as the idea is original. And again, if you love what you're doing, that passion is reflected in the kind of business you get, and the customers can see that.

2. Have enough capital to start up. Face it. You can’t open a boutique with only a thousand bucks (maybe if you get really creative). Starting a business requires money to spend on stocks, renovation, rent, and extra expense (that is, if you want to have a store). A loan is always an option; then again, it is advisable to borrow only what you can afford and what you need. Having too much money can tempt you to invest too much fixed assets that could possibly fail to produce profit. And if that money is borrowed, you could be left with nothing but debts if ever the business fails.

3. Business is built on trial and error. Rookies should allow minor mistakes in first-time ventures. What you can do is to evaluate the business to identify the error. Maybe the service is bad, or the customers want something that your store can’t offer. Errors are okay, as long as you find solutions to correct them. Otherwise, too many uncorrected mistakes can leave you with no customers and no profit.

4. Be open to competition. Competition is not always a bad thing. In fact, it challenges you to polish your business to lure customers to you - not to the rival. It challenges you to think out-of-the-box and get creative to win customers.

5. Maintain quality service at all times. Once competition in the market is fierce, customers would want to go to the store with better service. If a shop caters and listens to the need and wants of customers, they can better serve them. And obviously, customers come back to those who give them attention and care.

Starting a business is a challenge that any entrepreneur has to always keep in mind. Negligence in your venture can lead to mismanagement. And with that comes failure. You always have to take care of your business. Just because you’re making money, it doesn’t mean that you can stop looking for ways to improve what you already offer.

Success in business or in any venture, for that matter, is never a snap with the fingers. It isn’t necessarily a matter of good luck – although a little of it never hurts! It depends mainly on the businessman’s foresight and organization. Even then, of course, there are no 100% guarantees and money back schemes.

Business, big or small, is always a big risk. The chances of success in a sea of thick competition are slim. On the other hand, running a business provides endless challenges and opportunities for learning and growth. And did I forget to mention the countless advantages of being one’s own boss and working long hours directly benefiting one’s own self? The learning and growth potential of owning a business is far greater. Like any new venture, it’s exciting as it’s risky. It all comes down to common sense: if one is determined, patient, and hardworking, the sweet smell of success is never impossible to attain!

Strawberries in Dumaguete

2008-04-12T22:00:00.012+08:00

I finally found strawberries in Dumaguete! I've been searching for the yummy treat since forever! The fruit stand in front of Evermall sells strawberries at P80 per box. The guys at Dumaguete Info have also posted that Lee Super Plaza sells strawberries at P60 per box; but you have to go there in the morning as there is none left in the afternoon.

These strawberries are locally grown in Valencia, a mountainous town in Negros Oriental with a much cooler climate. Compared to the ones you get from Baguio, these strawberries are relatively smaller in size. But hey, it's better than flying to Baguio or getting it from 168 or Greenhills, right? :-)

I never thought I could buy strawberries in Dumaguete! The fruit is such a great dessert - simple and delicious! :-) I recommend drizzling condensed milk over these babies or dipping them in melted chocolate - perfect for ending a romantic evening :-)

TGIF

2008-04-12T00:20:00.008+08:00

1. Edit some reviews
2. Finalize Bais trip
3. Organize schedule for next week
4. Check email
5. Pick out tiles for the new house
6. Confirm Martin's flight
7. Blah blah blah blah blah...

That's what I think about even while I'm trying to relax. Thank God it's Friday! Don't even ask what goes on in my mind when I'm actually working!

I just got back from my sort-of relaxing time at my favorite massage place, Thai Boran. I love that place! I think they have some of the best masseuses in Dumaguete. For only P150, you get a 1-hour back massage or full body massage with complementary green tea after. They got rid of all the lil' demons on my back! I usually just get the back massage rather than the body massage as I only have problems with my back anyway - their body massage tends to get a little painful. They bend you like a pretzel! :-( The place is laid back and you lie on the floor. They also have soothing oriental music playing in the background - well, unless a group of Koreans are there, who frequent the place and talk as loud as they can (sorry, but they really do). I also had a massage once and a pervy old guy was hitting on the masseuse next to my room. I couldn't stand listening to him flirt with the girl, so I had to tell my masseuse to shut him up (making sure he heard how annoyed I was)! Overall, the place is good and the staff members are friendly :-)

Other places I recommend for a good spa treatment and massage are Deverana and Grand Royal Spa.

Deverana is in front of Thai Boran and is located inside SU Portal West. I recommend trying their foot massage and back massage. Heaven! They have comfy chairs for the foot massage and a real massage bed. I find it uncomfortable if the beds don't have a hole for your head - try breathing while someone is pounding on your back and tell me if you can survive! The place looks really beautiful and relaxing. However, their music sucks. I spent the whole 45 minutes listening to Celine Dion - not so relaxing! Their prices are slightly higher than Thai Boran's (around P200+); but every now and then, they have promos. I would stay away from their full body massage - I had a painful experience.

Grand Royal Spa is near St. Paul's University. They also have the massage beds that I love :-) They have the same rate as Deverana, but it's worth it. They offer "hot stones" for your back - never tried it though. For this place, I recommend their full body massage and foot spa. I barely thought of work when I was there :-) In addition, they offer you iced tea after your session (I prefer this over green tea)!

Of course, there are places you should avoid! I had a very bad experience with Urban Nirvana Spa. The place is really beautiful, but the massage room I was in looked like a hospital ward. They offered Sharjan and I iced tea, which tasted awful! No wonder it was free! The whole massage was such an ordeal for me. First of all, the masseuse kept on massaging the top of my feet. There's little fat there (and certainly no air to get rid of!), but the woman was crushing my feet! I told her numerous times to take it down a notch - but no, she kept on hurting my feet and the rest of my body! And worst of all, without any warning whatsoever, she just lowered my underwear and kneaded my bare bottom with her hands! WTF! I was so shocked and I felt so icky! The massage lasted an hour, and I just prayed that she would not do anything nasty again. We paid almost P600! The place is so expensive, and the massage you're getting is so not worth it. I never went back to that place again. I hope they improved their service since then.

Another place worth mentioning is Jushin Spa. If Urban Nirvana pummeled the daylights out of me, Jushin merely tickled me. The massage was so-so. Imagine someone drumming his fingertips on your forehead - that's their massage. And the masseuse kept massaging my face - maybe she thought I was there for a facial? I could not say anything more as the experience was just forgettable.

Nevertheless, good or bad, we all need a massage or spa treatment once in a while. Now, if I could only relax and stop thinking about my to-do list...Then again, that's why I'm an insomniac - I worry too much!

Kaskade Strobelight Seduction Tour 2008

2008-04-10T22:52:00.010+08:00

Where: Cebu City
Venue: The Loft
When: April 12, 2008

Strobelite Seduction is the latest album by house DJ/producer Kaskade, and he's promoting it in CEBU!!!! I saw him last year for his Love Mysterious Tour, and he was amazing!!! I wanna see him again!!!

My love affair with Dumaguete's food

2008-03-31T23:19:00.023+08:00

I'm not one to obsess about weight. But summer's already here, and picture-op's in my bikini are hard to avoid! So here's the thing: I've vowed not to eat anything with carbs and sugar for the whole month of April. Today is my last day to indulge in anything I love to eat :-( And it pains me to think about my bland meal tomorrow :-( So, I'm here blogging about my love affair with my city's vast array of food choices!

Dumaguete is such an ideal city to live in :-) Not only is it beautiful and peaceful, it also boasts of great restaurants and cafes that offer the best food ever! Here's a list of my favorite places to eat:

Why Not? - This place is a little pricey, but the food is so worth it! I love their eat-all-you-can grill on Thursdays. You can eat the biggest sausages and the tastiest meat hot off the grill with potatoes or bread on the side! My favorite dishes on regular days are their gigot steak and tenderloin steak with lemon butter sauce. Their meat is juicy and tender - cooked to perfection!!! For me, they have the best steak in town. I prefer them more than Don Atilano. Frankly, the latter's steaks are dry and ordinary - their prices are just ridiculous too. I also like Why Not's pasta carbonara. The salad bar also has a good selection of veggies and dressings. And don't forget to try their yogurt drink! Blueberry is my fave :-)

Waterfront Cafe - They have huge servings, and their nachos have lots of beans, cheese, and meat! They have good burgers too. I particularly like their mushroom and bacon burger. I can just sit and enjoy my food with the scenic view of the boulevard.

Mamia's - I love their pasta and my all-time-favorite fish and chips. For me, they have the best fish sticks in town :-) It has that lemon twist to it, and it's so tender and moist - unlike most fish fillets served in other restaurants. I also recommend their pasta alfredo and tenderloin tips ala pobre - it's cheap but it tastes pretty good :-) What I love about Mamia's is that you can have a GOOD meal for two for under P400! Sharjan and I love to eat there quite often :-)

Coco Amigos - Their pollo almendrado is delicious! My other faves are their nachos with guacamole and bean dip and their pizza :-) Coco Amigos is a fun date place, and their manager and waitresses are really friendly, too.

Cafe Memento - Aside from their coffee selections, this cafe serves delicious texmex food. I highly recommend ordering their quesadillas, burritos, nachos, and chimichanga :-) The place tends to get a little hot and stuffy in the afternoon though.

Persian Palate - I can just have their hummus and pita bread for dinner and I'll be stuffed! I also love their chello and jojeh kebab meals.

Qyosko - The atmosphere is laidback and you can get breakfast food all day long!!! I love their arroz balao - it's a fried rice dish with dried fish flakes on top (yum!). They've got good porkchop sizzlers and crispy adobo. They also have an espresso cafe with really good pastries and cakes :-)

Cafe Antonio - One of the most beautiful and charming cafes in Dumaguete. It's a great place to chill and read a book. I love their "blue crush" drink and their pasta alfredo. They offer good coffee and other meals too.

Sans Rival - I don't have to explain why I love this place. Their sylvannas are truly sinful! And I love their apple pie - the crumbs on top are my favorite :-) They also serve lunch and offer pasta dishes.

Sta. Theresa - If you want cheap food with that "homemade" feel, then this place is perfect. It's cozy and their food is affordable. I love their pork with calamansi, alpine tuna, and grilled liempo. Their kare-kare is not bad either.

Boston Market - I enjoy their Tuscan porkchop with it's really delicious salad on the side :-) Food can take a while to arrive, but it's worth the wait. I'm not a fan of their pizzas though.

Living Cafe - They serve good sushi at an affordable price - cheaper than the expensive sushi at Wakagi, Casablanca, and El Camino Blanco (the worst!). However, their other Japanese meals are not so impressive :-(

Dumaguete Royal Suites Inn - My family and I love to eat there. The dish to order is their famous sizzling pochero/bulalo - it's a heart attack served on a platter :-) My dogs love the huge leftover bone after :-)

Chez Andre - Their pizzas are yummy! :-) They've been doing business in Dumaguete since I was in high school, and the foreign owner used to do the delivery himself! (although it's owned by someone else now). Chez Andre is affordable and provides a great meal for a night out at Hayahay (better than Greenwich pizza).

Jo's Chicken Inato - Whether it's by the sea or by the boulevard, this place is one of my ultimate favorites. I love their inatos, chicken skin, and kinilaw. They have great waiters too - they take note of the little things you like and always greet you whenever you come back. I love having lunch at their San Jose branch on Sundays. The breeze from the beach and my tasty chicken inato make my "brownout" Sundays perfect!

Atlantis - This resort has a foreign chef who cooks really exquisite food. He's friendly and hospitable. This resort is a romantic place for couples to dine and wine (a bit pricey though).

Fhu Garden - This Chinese restaurant has the best fried wantons I've ever tasted. I also recommend their chicken teriyake. Their Sunday buffet is awesome - great selection of Chinese dishes including their Peking duck wrap, fresh lumpia, and siomai. It is an ideal place to dine with friends and family.

I'm getting hungry just writing about my favorite places to eat. :-( Anyway, I can always pig out after! Life is too short to be on a diet 24/7, don't you think? As Wolfgang Puck always says, "Live, love, eat!"

Mutual love and affection :-)

2008-03-31T23:06:00.007+08:00

We adore each other :-) Love my Chewy (and my girls, Sydney and Furby, too!)

Summer :-)

2008-03-27T17:10:00.013+08:00

The scorching heat of the sun is evident in the afternoon. I'm guzzling down cans of Coke like there's no tomorrow. My daisy dukes have come out of hiding. The beach is my weekend hideaway. Yep, summer's officially here :-)

I love summer! It's my favorite time of the year! It brings me to a more laidback mode. I love the water (even if I'm not a good swimmer!), and it's so awesome to hit the beach every weekend :-)

I'm so lucky to live in Negros Oriental, where one of the best resorts are located this side of the Philippines! Everything is just a short drive away - 15 minutes and you're off frolicking at the beach with your dog :-) No wonder why so many foreigners (my father included) love to retire here! We have Antulang, Atlantis, Pura Vida, Bahura, El Dorado, Apo Island - the list goes on and on! These resorts are so beautiful and the food is to die for!

This summer, I'm planning to go to Sumilon and Siquijor. Dumaguete is so near to these islands, it's funny how I've never even been there! My friend, Camille, and her boyfriend, JC, are coming to Dumaguete this April :-) I'm so psyched! I'll be bringing them to Bais to go dolphin watching - the sandbar is just beautiful!

If my schedule permits it, I would love to go to Boracay again this May. I'm crossing my fingers on this one! I'd have to really suck up to my boss to get a few days off. We don't have "palit-araw" like my old company, SPi. I might have to go on a working vacation, which sucks big time!!! :-(
Here are some summer pix from last year :-) I can smell the beach and hear the waves already!!! :-)

Chillin' at Waling Waling

Paraw tour around Bora

Willy's Rock

Separated at Birth

2008-03-26T13:43:00.006+08:00

Got this from Perez :-) Danny's fierce y'all!

Blackout

2008-03-25T21:14:00.006+08:00

My lovely city of Dumaguete has been experiencing a series of long blackouts, i.e., HOURS of power failure. More than anything in this world - aside from Coke and ice pops :-) - I rely on electricity and the Internet. I work at home, and unlike big companies with generators, when there's no electricity, there's no work. I'm basically useless for hours until power comes back. Although I'll be jumping for joy, I hate to think about the piles of work waiting to be finished before the deadline and emails to answer.

Power outages happen almost every week in Dumaguete. It usually happens on Sundays; but it seems to be happening on random work days and painfully lasts for hours and hours. People in big cities where they can hang at the mall to cool down are VERY lucky. We have yet to have a "mall" here, and our department stores don't really have their ACs on during times like this. I got some work done at a cafe today but, OMG, the place was like a sweatshop! It was sooo hot in there my brain could barely function. I only stayed for less than an hour!

Afterward, my boyfriend and I went to an appliance shop and got ourselves an emergency light with a built-in fan. Funny how it was cheaper last week when no one wanted one hehe According to the salesperson, it was their most popular item of the week! Oh well, we've always planned on getting one and now is just the perfect time. A generator seems to be the most logical thing to invest on - especially for freelancers and homebased professionals like us - but I guess the 30k difference kept us from getting one hehe Maybe a UPS will do for now :-)

Anyway, power's back on (at 2 AM!), BUT my DSL connection is acting up. Bravo, Globe!

Scandelilah!

2008-03-21T23:49:00.004+08:00

I read one of the bulletin posts on Friendster and found out about a scandal involving some of Manila's "socialites." It's about an Aussie guy, Brian Gorrell, who got swindled by his Filipino boyfriend, DJ Montano. He's HIV positive and all of his life savings - well most of it - went to his Pinoy lover (well, he stole it). This DJ character is supposedly a druggie and is the BFF to none other than lifestyle columnist and self-proclaimed fashionista/socialite, Celine Lopez. Brian has been blogging about his experience online and has sent ripples all over Manila's social circle and especially the Lopezes - he narrates stories of Celine snorting coke with friends and her alleged eating disorder (bulimia). He talks about a popular club (won't mention the name) being a "drug den" for these trust fund babies. He wants justice and he won't stop blogging about the "Gucci Gang" until he gets his money back. Read his blog and judge for yourself.

The Talented Mr. Montano - http://delfindjmontano.blogspot.com/

One thing's for sure, you can never tell what happens behind closed doors. These people might be filthy rich; but at the end of the day, we're all messed up in some ways.

Blog #1

2008-03-21T23:21:00.001+08:00

Hello, people! :-)

I'm officially transferring my main blog from Multiply! I'll be posting new entries directly on this site from now on :-)

I'll be pretty much gabbing away about anything here - work, personal life, celebrities, current events, food, my dogs, etc. Feel free to leave comments and let me know what you think :-)

Check with you latah!

xoxo

Chloe