I love these pics of three kids playing by the beach in Playa de Catalina.
Pure unadulterated fun. 
Surf’s up in Can-Avid, Eastern Samar!
Last weekend was awesome!
I finally learned how to surf. I’ve been wanting to check it out for the longest time but have not had the time to do so—okay, maybe laziness was a factor. But anyway, last weekend my friend Don and Tracey organized a surfing competition at Can-Avid, Eastern Samar. It’s an undiscovered surf spot and this is the first time they are holding a tournament there.
The resort is called Playa de Catalina and it spans as wide as Boracay, but not commercialized. Which, if you ask me, is actually better than bustling Bora. If you want an escape from chaos and the city, you will get it in Samar.
We took a flight to Tacloban City, Leyte, crossed the San Juanico Bridge (I was asleep) and drove three hours worth of zigzag roads to Can-Avid. It was a roller coaster ride but the resort that awaited us in the end was bliss.
The surf competition was hosted by Paolo Soler of the Philippine Surfing Academy and they gave us free surf lessons.
It was quite difficult gaining balance when we finally went into the water but I managed to stand on the surf board three times! It was the ultimate high—even when my board hit me smack right on the back of my head, I was still laughing. (The bump probably did more damage than I would care to admit.)
I really enjoyed it and I hope to ride the waves like how these dudes do it someday—
It was one fun weekend—a lot of my friends from LEAP were there and I got to meet new ones, too!
That’s me with two other travel writers right before our boat nearly capsized in the Pacific Ocean. We were heading to Pasig island, which was right across Playa de Catalina for the second day of the surf competition. The waves there were much higher (and angrier?) and we eventually had to turn back to camp because the current was really strong. The waves were taller than our little pump boat. We got pretty drenched, too. I have to admit I was so worried my G10 would get wet that I sorta neglected the fact that we could’ve drowned there. Hehe.
We ended up spacing out by the beach and watching the surf competition roll along.
We also rode a balsa across the river behind the resort.
Then we went on an evening “cruise” along the river. It was really dark. Haha. Funny part about that was when our boat ran out of gas, we ended up docking at the town across. There was a videoke bar by the water and a drunk guy was singing “Just Like a Knife” and out of nowhere, we all decided to sing along. It was hilarious. We weren’t drunk yet, sa lagay na yon. We only had cheapo canned Ginebra strawberry margarita.
I think the highlight of the weekend was really hanging out with Paolo and the rest of the surfers and listening to them share stories about surfing and practically anything. Seriously, they are the funniest bunch! They’re like kids, in a way. The ocean’s their playground. It’s so tempting to flow into that lifestyle—surf all day, drink all night. I love it. This weekend was escape. I’ve been a little burned out at work and this was just what I needed.
Brunas hit Coron, Palawan!
Came home from work a little after midnight, and instead of sleeping immediately as I am wont to do, here I am blogging about last weekend’s trip to gorgeous Palawan.
I did mention it was gorgeous, right?
Yez I deed.
The adventure actually began in Manila, on my way to the airport. I arrived at the right airport (Terminal 3) early, thought it was the wrong one (it didn’t say “PAL Express” in my ticket so I thought I was supposed to be at Terminal 2, which of course caused great panic) and took a cab to Terminal 2 where the guard (who was a little rude) told me I was at the wrong airport, which of course caused even greater panic but at the end of it all, I finally found myself back at the right airport. Ehehe. Yes, these things manage to only happen to me.
But it was all well worth the combined P200 cab fare because an hour later, my brunas Au and Rica and I finally landed at the Busuanga airport where a shuttle was waiting to take us to the town of Coron.
First thing you should know when you get there: it has no beach. Coron is a seaside town, so if you’re expecting to stay at a hotel by the beach, it’s not going to be possible here. It’s sort of just the gateway to the many gorgeous islands in the area. This is where tourists stay the night, while they spend the rest of the day out to sea, island-hopping or going wreck-diving. Or in our case, wreck-snorkeling.
Check out the Lusong Gunboat shipwreck, one of the three shallow wrecks in Coron.
Other highlights of the trip include “Finding Nemo” at the Siete Pecados Marine Park—
Spending around an hour swimming at the freshwater Kayangan Lake, which is an ancestral domain of the indigenous Tagbanua people—
Swimming again, this time at the Twin Lagoon where we had to swim underneath a small gap of the island, which I found really amazing (later, we found out from our guide Ricoh (with an “h”, yes) that this was where they shot Dyesebel)—
Having an entire beach to ourselves—
Seeing spectacular views like this one—
This aerial shot from the plane—
There’s plenty more to rave about, really, but one thing I can say about Palawan is that it’ll inspire anyone to be more conscious about doing one’s part for the environment. It’s just so beautiful—and the amazing thing about it is that it’s all natural. I remember being impressed by the man-made attractions of the places I’ve traveled to here and abroad, but this is the first time that I was just really blown away by a local destination. Palawan, at least this part of the big island, is really carefully preserved by the people. And I really hope it stays that way because I don’t think this will be the only time I visit the place. There’s still a lot more to uncover, and most of them underwater. So I am really REALLY itching to get myself a license to dive.
This was the vacation I badly needed. It’s one of the main highlights of my year.
Hey all!
I am back from my short but sweet Palawan retreat. It was way better than I expected. I don’t think any camera (even the best of the best of the best) can perfectly capture the natural beauty that is Palawan. You HAVE to be there. And I strongly recommend you guys visit soon.
I don’t have my photos uploaded yet, because I came back just in time for a really hellish work week but I can’t wait to show everyone what a fabulous place Coron island is. My friends and I went wreck-diving (okay, wreck-snorkeling) at the three shallow wreck sites in Coron island, swam at a gorgeous freshwater lake, island-hopped, and even took a dip at the Maquinit Hot Springs. It was sublime. I thought that with me leaving in the middle of deadline week at the magazine, I wouldn’t get to enjoy the vacation because I’ll be worrying about work-related things. But the moment we left the town of Coron and visited our first snorkeling spot, it was vacation all the way.
The place is majestic. Nature at its finest. I swear, it made me realize how truly beautiful our country is and it just inspired me to actually take a step to helping save the environment. There were no skyscrapers in Palawan, but every single one of the rocky islands we saw during our visit will outshine even the prettiest buildings in the world. There is nothing like good ‘ol nature. Panalo. Panalo. Panalo.
I can’t wait to go there again. There were still a lot of places we didn’t get to see because, well, they were pretty expensive; but what we did see impressed us all the same. Next time, I’d like to have a different itinerary so I can fully explore the place.
And I’d like a diving license too. Because I think the best of Palawan is found way below its pristine blue waters. Can’t wait! 
Photos and full story after this week!
Cubao Ex!
I always take behind the scene shots during our photo shoots and so far, my favorites have been the ones from our shoot at Cubao Expo.
When I went up White Box Gallery’s storage place on the second floor (which we used as our makeshift dressing room), I nearly died and went to artist heaven.
I’ve always been a frustrated painter. And seeing all the artworks they’ve acquired reminded me of how much I miss painting. And this was exactly the kind of studio I wanted for myself. Plain white walls, high windows. Ganda ng ilaw!
I love this shot of the window.
And I love Cubao Expo. It’s a place I’d visit everyday if I lived near the area. Even if it’s just for the fried dilis at Mogwai. Hehe.
Some shots behind the scenes:
Lucky timing—this guy’s Lambretta we borrowed as a prop looked totally killer that we had to make it our fashion ed’s opening page.
My Breathing Space.
Psychedelic fridge.
Bubble wrap.
And, the group shot!
Next year’s travel wish list
1. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
2. Machupicchu, Peru (No visa needed!)
3. Viva Espanol!
4. Kyoto, Japan
5. India!
I am Allan Quatermain, and you are? :D
Quiz brought to you by
Tripbase – Vacation Ideas
Dancing fish flakes
Every time I visit a restaurant, I have this mission to find that dish that everyone will ooh and aah over. I found a surefire way to achieve this—at least where one restaurant is concerned: Isshin, a cozy and rustic Japanese restaurant in Makati.
The trick is to order their bestselling okonomiyaki—a Japanese style pizza made of cabbage and flour, topped with Japanese Mayo, tonkatsu sauce, and—the culprit in question—dancing fish flakes. Also known as hanakatsuo, they’re the thinnest form of shaved dried katsuobushi (tuna) and when the steam rises from the cooking okonomiyaki (we were seated at one of Isshin’s teppanyaki areas), the paper-thin fish flakes twirled and danced as if they were alive!
That dish, showstopper that it is, may be quite hard to beat. But Isshin’s menu offers plenty of culinary pleasures just as delectable. When it comes to gyoza, for one, Isshin’s succulent Japanese dumplings are the best I’ve tasted—and believe me, I’ve tasted plenty.
Then there was the mixed sunomono, which featured pickled cucumbers with seaweed, squid, crabmeat, and octopus—so fresh, I had to sample each one.
Their Dynamite Roll (maki with sweetened egg, mango, and shrimp tempura) was pleasing to the palate as well and it served as the perfect prelude to the hearty meal that was to come. Yes, sa lagay na to, prelude pa lang mga yan…
…because “Hearty” does not even begin to describe the amount of eating that took place. That night, I thought I’d died and gone to Teppanyaki Heaven—we sampled practically everything their teppanyaki menu had to offer: from hotate (scallops), fish, ika (squid) and prawns to Australian rib eye paired with moyashi (bean sprouts) to that blissful lobster teppanyaki with miso soup. I particularly loved how they boiled the lobster’s head with the miso, which helped in enhancing its flavor.
I couldn’t get enough of it, but I had to stop as I only had little room for dessert, which is, of course, a non-negotiable. Much to my delight, Isshin offers complimentary dessert for every meal you order. You get to choose between a scoop of Japanese ice cream, nata de coco, or coffee.
Its lip-smackin’ and show-stopping fares aside, what I loved the most about Isshin was how accommodating the owners were, which translates down to the staff. Every customer’s need is seen to with utmost attention to even the tiniest of details. The restaurant has this cozy, homey feel—the décor has a Zen-like, nature vibe that’s utterly relaxing—and it’s no wonder this is the destination of choice among Japanese expats in the city—it’s as close to home as they can get.
Isshin is located at 1024 Arnaiz Avenue (formerly Pasay Road), Makati City. Open 24 hours daily. Substantial meal costs P4000 for four to five people. For inquiries and reservations, call (2) 844 1512 or 817 2548.
Desperately seeking sushi?
In Umu, Hotel Dusit Thani Manila’s claim to Japanese fame, every piece of art, furniture and woodwork is clearly designed with the menu in mind.
Umu, which means “born of nature” in Japanese, definitely lives up to its translation. You feel it the moment you step into the restaurant, with its walls lined with wooden tiles bearing the carved names of fish in Japanese calligraphy and with every corner of the sprawling venue given a tranquil view of the garden and koi fishpond. If that isn’t enough ambience for you, then Umu’s many dining experiences will surely overwhelm—guests can opt to eat either in the robata and sushi area, the main dining hall, in one of the three pavilion private rooms facing the garden, one of the three tatami rooms, alfresco at the terrace by the koi pond or teppanyaki style in one of its four teppanyaki tables. You wanted authentic Japanese? Umu’s got every option covered.
Of course, the atmosphere is nothing compared to the food. It only serves to enhance the exquisite array of dishes prepared by the team of Japanese Chef Kenichi Kanauchi.
Uh, that’s not him in the picture. Hehe
Anyway.
We started off by checking out the sushi and robata bar, wherein assorted sushi—tuna, lapu-lapu, prawns, salmon, konbu (kelp seaweed), mentaiko (noodle with fish roe sauce), maki (sushi roll), California roll, and tamago (egg maki)—and selected robata items—lapu-lapu and salmon head, yakitori (chicken), ika (squid), pork belly block, and koebi karaage (deep-fried fresh shrimps)—are served.
If you happen to be in the area around 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and are a fan of sake, avail of their Happiest Hour promo wherein for only P850, you can enjoy unlimited beer, a selection of sake, and everything you can get your hands (and mouths) on at the sushi and robata bar.
If you like your food HOT (as in appetite-whetting hot), make sure you do not leave the place without a sampling of their Spicy Tempura Maki—shrimp tempura rice roll with spicy tobanjan sauce (straight from Japan!). It is an explosion of flavor in the mouth.
Their bestselling Unagi Maki Tamago comes a close lip-smacking second: pan-fried Japanese omelette stuffed with eel.
Of course, I am not one to pass up the opportunity for Teppanyaki, a personal must-try-or-die every time I visit a Japanese restaurant. Umu’s Wagyu Beef Teppanyaki did not disappoint. It was impossibly tender, seasoned well with red peppercorn and the best teppanyaki sauce…it haunts me to this day—pair it with Japanese fried rice and you are sure to sport the same dreamy, content smile that I did.
If anything, no other restaurant will ever top my experience at Umu, for the sole reason that it got me to do what I painstakingly avoided doing for the longest time—eat sashimi. It had to happen inevitably, and, apparently, my fate was sealed that day. They have this dish called Sashimi Gosyumori, which serves a selection of five different sashimi, and it is so amazingly presented (“smokin’” is the word that comes to mind—order it and you’ll see what I mean) that I couldn’t resist sampling the salmon and squid sashimi.
It definitely changed my perception of eating raw food—it wasn’t as bad as I once thought. It was actually quite good, probably because of how fresh Umu’s fares were. Definitely a dining experience that’s one for the books.
Oh, and don’t forget to try their Japanese Ice Cream for dessert. I recommend the Red Bean flavor (below, the one above is Black Sesame which is sort of bitter). Yum.
Umu is located at the Lobby Level, Hotel Dusit Thani Manila, Ayala Center, Makati City. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and 6 to 10 p.m. For inquiries and reservations, call (2) 867 3333 ext 3343/3344.
Volunteer vacays
LIVE. LIVE. LIVE. Seize the day, seize the night, seize what you can and suck the marrow out of life. We may not be Indiana Jones, Mother Teresa, Don Juan, Jack Kerouac, Henry Miller or the Vampire Lestat every day of our lives but you get the idea. Just LIVE. Feel. Move. Dance. Jump. Fly. Walk. Run. Travel. Shout. Explore. Kiss someone. Risk a little. Laugh. Cry. Volunteer. GO INSANE. MAKE A DENT IN THE WORLD. WHATEVER. -Karen Kunawicz
Make a dent in the world—finally managed to insert this line in HIPP, the magazine I currently work for. Ever since I got this quote from my best friend Au, I always see to it that ‘making a dent in the world’ is always the approach I make when it comes to the way I live my life. And so far, I think it has worked for me.
It has also opened a lot of opportunities, one of them being able to attend the launch of Hands On Manila’s Volunteer Vacations. I’ve always had a passion for traveling and every time I travel, the best part about it is really when I get a feel of what it’s like to be part of the local community. Yes, it’s fun exploring all the touristy sites, but when I travel, I always look for something more meaningful. An experience that will impact me, change or enhance the way I view things, and I think that is why the idea of Volunteer Vacations appeals so much.
I haven’t tried it yet (still need to come up with the money) but it’s something I definitely plan on doing. Right now, Hands On Manila has the following Philippine sites (and volunteer opportunities) included in their program’s first year of operations:
- Mangrove planting in Bakhawan Eco Park in Aklan
- Environmental cleanups in one of the seven basins of Jawili Falls in Aklan
- Biodiversity studies and tree planting in Mt. Halcon in Mindoro
- Evaluation of marine biodiversity in Bohol
- Organic farming in Alaminos, Laguna
They also have other heritage sites open for volunteer vacations in Tagaytay and Laguna. A lot of foreign travelers have actually volunteered in these sites and I hope more Filipinos will do so also. This is, after all, our homeland and I think we ought to be proactive in preserving our country’s heritage sites. And, well, I am a firm believer of exploring one’s roots first before actually going out and exploring the world. So there
For more information about Hands On Volunteer Vacations, visit the Hands On Manila website.
Sweet discovery in Tagaytay!
Haven’t been posting much here, mainly because I haven’t really gone out of Manila lately. But last April, my office had our editorial planning in Tagaytay and while we spent the entire time hanging out at our hotel and not so much exploring Tagaytay (most of us have been there tons of times), the trip is definitely blog-worthy.
For one, the place we stayed in was none other than Discovery Country Suites. If you’re looking for a relaxing weekend escape from Manila, head up to Tagaytay and go book a suite here.
It has a nice country manor feel to it. I loved how they spruced up the place using juicy red tomatoes and sunflowers as home accents.
The room we stayed in was called The Siam, and true to its name, it was definitely Thai-inspired.
You know how hotel guests usually take souvenirs with them? I wanted to take the room key with me. Too bad it didn’t qualify as one of the usual freebie giveaway items, so I took a picture of it instead.
The best part about the room? It opens up to the outdoor jacuzzi.
We didn’t get to try it because it was really cold when we went up. And too much planning had to be done. Hehe
Best part about our stay there? Verbena Restaurant’s complimentary full-course meals.
Food that taste as good as they sound:
Creamy Oysters Fricassee
Herb-Marinated Mushroom and Organic Arugula Salad
Verbena’s Sampler Plate – BBQ Lamb Baby Back Ribs, Grilled Norwegian Salmon, and Osso Buco.
Fluffy Pancakes with Sausage, Scrambled Eggs, and Bacon
And, for our sweet finales—
Panna Cotta Heaven – Saffron & Caramel Oranges, Blackpepper & Raspberries, and Lemon Balm & Pistacchio
Can’t wait to come back here! Hopefully next time it’ll be purely pleasure!
—
EDIT: Check out my full story for HIPP MAG on Discovery Country Suites here.
Finally, a Davao post! — Chema’s by the sea
Holy week was spent in Davao and the best thing about Davao is the beach. One resort along the Samal strip facing Davao, in particular, I was really looking forward to visiting because I’ve never been there. It’s called Chema’s By The Sea and the place is as whimsical as its name.
It is beautifully landscaped using materials like dead coral, hardwood, and ornate art items.
And they have this trellis-covered walkway leading up to the cottages and open cabanas.
Cottages and cabanas have a nature-inspired theme. Cottages for two cost around P3500 a night while open cabanas (with beds adorned with fancy-looking mosquito nets) are at P2500, if I’m not mistaken.
The restaurant is located on top of the hill, with a great view of the sea should you decide to eat at its outdoor deck. The food is really cheap too! At around P95 to P150 per head. The food is great—I especially loved their sinigang na hipon and chicken barbeque!
The best part about the resort, and I didn’t get to try it because it was quite full that day, is the Infinity Pool. I absolutely love it. This photo was taken last year when my sister and her boyfriend went to Chema’s on a weekday. So calm and relaxing, don’t you think?
I could spend an entire day here! Sigh…and I wouldn’t get sunburn because it has a net overhead that keeps swimmers protected from the sun’s UV rays.
I can’t wait to go back to Chema’s. Next time around, I’ll go on a weekday so it won’t be so crowded like when we went on Black Saturday. But, in fairness to the resort, crowded meant around 100 people. The best thing about it is that they don’t allow walkins. So you really have to reserve ahead because this is how they maintain their guests’ privacy. It’s on a first come, first serve basis so best to plan ahead.
For reservations and other inquiries about the resort, call (082) 303-0235 or (0917) 814-0814.
When was the last time you went to the zoo?
I was “rummaging” through my old multiply photos and I totally forgot about my last trip to Manila Zoo with my friend Alet. It was, I think, almost four years ago and I was around ten pounds heavier. Haha. Anyway, Alet’s never been to the zoo in her life so I thought I’d tag along to witness her first one.
We went to Manila Zoo and my memories of the place before coming back were good. But when I got there and I found out that the old Giraffe had passed away and upon seeing the (sorry but) sorry state the zoo and its animals were in…I don’t know, I guess the next time I feel like seeing some animals, I’ll check out the newer and cleaner ones we have here.
Anyway, some photos of Alet’s local safari. In fairness to Manila Zoo, Alet DID enjoy our trip to the place. And she’s not exactly three years old. Haha so that should count for a lot. LOL
Here’s Letski with an owl.
A giant lizard.
A snake.
And hanging out behind an elephant’s butt.
Hehe the elephant is fake. That’s one of the statues they built in the plaza.
Sigh.
I hope the next time I see wild animals, it’ll be on an African safari!
Collecting sunsets: Sagada at dusk :)
My first day in Sagada ended with this breathtaking sunset.
Tracey, Zeph and I had just retired to our room at the Sagada Guest House and while the boyfriend played with his DS, Trace and I went out to the terrace to watch the sun make its way down behind the mountains. It was a good space-out moment.
The air was chilly as the clouds were just looming overhead but the view was worth the subzero temperature.
Another noteworthy Sagada sunset was the one we got to watch when we went to the very redundant Lake Danom (danom means water). The lake is manmade but the sunset was definitely authentic!
Sublime.
Finally, Sagada meets Tricia
My trip to Sagada is one that has been 20 years in the making.
It all started when my late Auntie Char gave me a Philippines Guidebook back when I was in grade school and I was still too young to grasp the pleasure of travel. I remember the only place I wanted to go to then was Disneyland. The moment I find myself walking around Mickey Mouse’s hometown, I am set for life. (I eventually went and years later I realized the world apparently did not revolve around Disneyland hehe)
Anyway, Auntie Char gave me this guidebook and I lost it before I even got to browse through it. I only saw one page of that green book because she showed it to me personally—it was the rice terraces of Sagada and Banawe. She has always been all about exploring the Philippines. I even remember the trip she organized for my family across Northern Luzon. That was the first and last time I set foot on Ilocos—Tracey take me with you on your next one! hehehe
I haven’t really thought about that memory until last year when I started this blog. I was writing one of my first travel entries (it was about my visit to Siquijor island) and that was when I found myself thinking about it. I needed to go to Sagada. I suppose this was a form of completion with my late Aunt. I didn’t get to do all the things we planned on doing together (Sagada, Cambodia, European tour!) when she was still alive so I guess I’m making it a tribute to her by visiting all these places.
And Sagada is the perfect place to start.
Aside from its magnificent rice terraces (the photos above do not do it justice), what I loved about Sagada is how you can’t help but go back to the basics. The culture and traditions of the people are very much well-preserved and coming from a city as cosmopolitan as Manila, it’s such a refreshing change. Everything here is au naturale–from the food we ate (no preservatives, all herbs freshly picked from the garden!) to how we went about with our daily activities (loads of walking and climbing) and even the place where we stayed–no electric fan nor air condition (unless we wanted to freeze to death). It was just nice to go to a place that’s devoid of pretension.
Anyway, here are some of the must-hit places in Sagada.
Yogurt House.
I’m a big fan of frozen yogurt. I love the ones they serve in Rockwell’s Ice Cream Bar but this one’s even better. It’s made from the most natural ingredients. I think it’s made of fresh goat’s milk. They have various toppings like banana, granola, and strawberry. It’s the perfect afternoon treat
Calvary Hill.
Sagada natives are quite particular as to how they bury their dead. It depends on the manner or status of the deceased. There are different burial sites for mothers who died in childbirth, babies, people unable to marry during their lifetime, and suicides. They bury people who committed suicides in Echo Valley. They take them into the deeper parts of the caves to ensure that these bad spirits do not come back to haunt the ones they left behind…Check out Echo Valley and one of the caves (I think this one’s called Lumiang) where they bury their dead:
Sumaging Cave a.k.a. Big Cave. A lot of people go spelunking here but I was unable to do so during my last visit. Sigh. Next time, when I’m ready to brave the almost 15-hour travel time from Manila to Sagada, I’m going spelunking. And I’ll probably drag my friends with me to keep me distracted from my fear of dark, enclosed spaces. Ehehe.
Ankileng Village. When we went to Ankileng, I felt overwhelmed. I’ve only seen the terraces in photographs but I was actually walking across the fields now. It’s sort of similar to being starstruck. I’ve never seen so many luscious (and I do mean luscious) shades of green! Staring at Ankileng’s rice terraces will definitely inspire anyone to create a masterpiece.
What really surprised me about the village was how everyone was so nice and friendly. Every time we’d come across an Ankileng resident, they’d stop to say hello and welcome us to their home. Here you’ll find the village’s children walking along with you with huge smiles on their faces. We got to talk to one of the Sagada elders as well and they enlightened us about the customs of the people. They’re very big on marriage and widely disapprove of adultery. Once a man has been found cheating on his spouse, he is no longer qualified to become an elder. The elders are the ones who set the “rules” in this society. They are also the ones who will determine where a deceased person is to be buried. When you want to know what Sagada is all about, talk to one of the elders. It’s interesting how they have successfully maintained their age-old customs and traditions.
Hmmm.
I think that’ll be all for now. Will post another Sagada entry soon! We have a lot to cover!
Thanks again, Tracey, for letting me tag along with you! I had the best time
For more information about Alquimista Trails’ upcoming Sagada trips, click here.
