RYDS II & Auto Extreme Southmall - October 2012

It has been very slow year for me especially in terms of travelling the country but itching to press a camera shutter button has me going again to another car show.

The car show industry has not slowed down and seems to be picking up speed with small but several events.  In this post, there is actually two car shows within the day of October 27 at separate venues. First is RYDS II held at Mall of Asia and second is called Auto Extreme held at SM Southmall.

Raaz Mahal & infinitea - Aug 2012

It's another Sunday church with nothing much except dad invited us again for lunch. No one got an idea where to eat till the mass ended and a last minute suggestion is to try a Middle Eastern themed restaurant called Raaz Mahal.

Xoi Vietnamese Kitchen (ATC)- June 17

Today is Father's day where we attended mass and went to a mall  for lunch.  I think it was my dad who suggested trying out the new Vietnamese themed restaurant called Xoi Vietnamese Kitchen in Alabang Town Center.

If you noticed the uninspiring image on their menu, then read on as I will touch a bit on their history and hope it will enlighten you.

PHOTOwalker's photowalk - June 7

I was invited by my friend photographer to a group called PHOTOwalkers lead by Jhong Dizon.  They created this event called Photowalk for a Cause in Binondo, Manila.  Photographers would contribute a small amount and have this to treat the people with food.

Being available for that day and the rains has stopped. I decided to go and experience my first photowalk.

Razzzo Bistro (BF Pque) - June 24

It's another Sunday and after the mass, we decided to have lunch at a nearby restaurant, Razzzo Bistro.
I'm seeing this establishment already when passing by Aguirre Ave., and thought it to be another of those bars at night for booze.

Hot Summer Nights 5 (MOA) - June 2

As a guy with interest in cars, I could not recall the last time I went to a car show and this year I wanted to make up for not making travel plans during the summer.  I decided to attend a car show.

Here's a poster for the show called Hot Summer Nights 5.  It is produced by  b2bcarshow.com.  They're quite a busy producer of car shows in 2012 with constant shows all over Manila and nearby provinces.

DPP VI and Vikings (MOA) - May 26

DPP stands for Digital Photographer Philippines. It's the biggest camera website/forum in the country where they also happen to have a monthly published magazine.  I just joined and posting on their forums this year 2012 and I'm excited to attend the anniversary for the first time! Today's also my dad's birthday where he had planned to treat us to Vikings in Mall of Asia, Seaside Blvd in the evening.

Manila Baywalk and Cobo - May 25

After all the food related postings, this time, we're on a small, simple trip to which I'm pretty sure is familiar to you.  The Manila Baywalk.


Before heading there, I just want to show you this tree of our neighbor which is being lit by the morning sunrise in the summer. I find the colors golden and inspiring me to go out and get some sun.

Zong (Westgate,Alabang) - May 12

To pre-celebrate Mother's day we went out and had lunch at Zong in Westgate just near Alabang Town Center.
The image to your left is the actual facade of the restaurant itself.  I am perplexed that a restaurant located inside Westgate could look so.... uninviting.
Looking at the posters by the glass windows, it is from there I discovered this is another Chinese/Asian restaurant that I'm going to.

Manila Ocean Park - April 27

My sister found an online coupon for Manila Ocean Park just for P400 per person and we availed it last April 27.
My last time here was during my birthday in 2008 where it first opened and much has changed and quite impressed with an almost world class feel to it.

P.F. Chang's in the Philippines - April 20, 2012

Today's the wedding anniversary of my sister and brother in law and they decided to have a late lunch at P.F. Chang's.  We have been hearing some good reviews of this restaurant a few months already and I'm a bit excited.

Manila Bay Dinner - Oct. 30, 2011

This day is my Mom's birthday but she's in the states but we still have to celebrate it anyway.  We had some food at home but my sister previously bought a coupon from the notorious deals that can be had from the internet.
Anyways, the Manila Bay Dinner coupon was scheduled to be availed tonight.

Zark's Burger - April 16, 2012

There seems to be plenty of burger focused restaurants these days from the most popular and expensive to the nearest and least expensive.  I could list many without even trying and I am no burger enthusiast.  Today, we will try Zark's Burger for the first time which has branches La Salle Taft and a new one in President's Avenue in BF Parañaque.

Mandarin Palace - April 1, 2012

We went to church and today is Palm Sunday. We usually attend the 12PM mass in a church in BF Paranaque which has few people and the time is convenient for those who wake late.  With this schedule, we often have lunch after the mass.  This time though, we can't decide where to eat and chose blindly to eat at a newly opened restaurant along Aguirre Avenue, corner N. Jacinto St. called Mandarin Palace.

Back 2 Boracay - December 6, 2011

Two of us will be our last day in Boracay since our booking has considered budget constraints and getting back to work soon.

Unfortunately, the island is gloomy for our last day.

Back 2 Boracay - December 5, 2011

The stars heard me and today's the sunny day I have been wishing for,  add to that is the hot girl on the beach while just came out from my room. Today's going to be good.

Dark, heavy clouds in paradise.

Back 2 Boracay - December 4, 2011

Eager to make most of the day, I got up early and checked the island of what's going on.
To my disbelief, it's very cloudy and I could see rain on the far right end in this view.
I don't want another stormy Boracay last May.

Back 2 Boracay - December 3, 2011

Just last May, we were at the island which you could read HERE. Unfortunately, that went not as good due to a storm that hammered Boracay for a couple of days.

Now we are back not to make up to what's lost but due to an invitation from office mates and good deal to flight tickets and free hotel accommodation from Red Coconut!

Retreat house Tagaytay - December 22

The next day is pretty difficult for the most of us who had been drinking and finished 2 AM last night.  I awoke early to have a quick shower and breakfast before the program starts.
The others weren't so early so we had to wait for them before the program can get started.

As you see to your right, we had the typical Filipino breakfast.

Retreat house Tagaytay - December 21

Our small company has planned of a business meeting, part retreat, and Christmas party for the employees.  It is going to be held in Tagaytay at Mariapolis Center.

If you you're interested to conduct seminars, retreats, or outings you can go to this link or here for their contact person and numbers. It is basically a quite old but quite big retreat house but maintained well.

First time Enchanted Kingdom - February 16

We are going to Enchanted Kingdom! What makes this unique and interesting for me is this will be my first time to get there! From Wikipedia, it has been open since 1995.

This shot is from SLEX highway just near the Alabang exit.

It's almost 17 years since it was open considering I have been to Singapore's Universal Studios.  We are going to Enchanted Kingdom courtesy of my sister since it is my brother in law's birthday and celebrating it with the kids.

The Legend (Hongkong Seafood Restaurant) - February 19

The Legend Hongkong Seafood restaurant is located just across World Trade Center so it is hard to miss.  There is ample parking space.
This is my second time to eat here in Legend so I thought to give it a simple review.
We got here at around 1:30 PM so the number of customers is not that much to fill the huge resto.

Back to Coron, Palawan - March 9, 2012

Today's our last day in Coron and we can't make the most of it because our flight to Manila is around 11 AM.

I'll just be able to show how it went out.

Back to Coron, Palawan - Day 2

Today's the highlight of our trip to Coron.  We have loads of activities compressed to just one day.  The reason for this is to maximize the rent for the boat and crew which is pretty costly for the not such a big group of ours.  We only had the Coron Island Tour.
There's actually a lot more to explore in Coron such as the Calauit Safari Park but will take 2 hours just to get there. There's also Malcapuya Loop Tour and the Coral Garden tour.

I'm out by 6:30 AM while the others are still preparing their things. We did not need to take a bath since it will be impractical and time consuming.

Back to Coron, Palawan - Day 1

Excuse my room but this is how it looks before leaving for Coron, Palawan. It has been a little more than year last time we we got there. You can read our experience in Coron, Palawan last year, here.

Our flight is around 9:45AM and we're about the leave when this picture was taken at around 6 AM.

Stormy Boracay - May 11, 2011

Today's our last day in Boracay which started with a good breakfast from Jony's Restaurant.  Everyday, they have a new set of breakfast to choose from and today's one of the best.

Stormy Boracay - May 10, 2011

Fourth day of Stormy Boracay 2011 and it seems the weather has greatly improved with more sky less of the dark, gray clouds. Yipee!

Stormy Boracay - May 9, 2011

Third day of Stormy Boracay 2011 and I am greeted with coffee and mess on the television cabinet.

Stormy Boracay - May 7, 2011

After my last weekend from Baguio and Tagaytay which you could read HERE, we are now going to Boracay!  This time, it's a little different because we're going there with a lot of friends, families, and friends.  It just happened as those invited to the wedding  also brought their families and friends of their own.  Unfortunately, the wedding was called off but everyone still went.  

Friends, haven't had their sleep yet from work.

Since plenty are going, we were not able to group ourselves in one flight.  This is my group in a bus going to MIA road in Parañaque.  After that, we will take a short cab ride to the Old Domestic Airport. Picture taken at exactly 10 AM.

Stormy Boracay - May 8, 2011

Today's a Sunday, but there is no SUN.  

I have never seen Boracay this gloomy.  The only good thing with this I could take some images with loneliness as the theme.

Pina Colina Tagaytay - May 1, 2011

Today is Labor Day, a day where we celebrate the worker's achievements and hard work. This year, Labor Day does not fall on a work day but on a Sunday and there's no announcement of a holiday on the first workday, Monday.  The family had planned this quite big Tagaytay outing for celebrating the birthday of niece and the return to the Philippines of my youngest sister from the states.

Earlier that day, I just came from a one day outing in Baguio with my office mates which you could read here. I got home at around 8am and slept four hours.  The picture below is what greeted me when I got out from the room.   It appears we're all set and ready to go!

One day in Baguio - April 30, 2011

Leaving Victory Liner Pasay Terminal at around 11 PM, the bus had a stop over at around 1 AM.  I can't remember where this is but that's good 2 hours of EDSA and NLEX roads.

One day in Baguio - April 29, 2011

Would you say waste?  Yes it is.  The travel time, expense and effort going to Baguio does not make worth it and you'll not make much in just a day, but, this was an invitation from an office mate about the resign from her job.   I was hungry for summer and not want it go to waste so I agreed to join them.

I was testing the camera and took a photo of her desk.  

Sprint to North Luzon - March 20, 2011

Taken at 6:21 AM, this is going to be our last day in Vigan and Ilocos itself.  We took the included breakfast from our stay in The Cordillera Inn where the menu is typical Filipino breakfast.

Sprint to North Luzon - March 19, 2011

Disclaimer: My "Sprint to North Luzon" posts do not serve as a travel guide.

March 19, a Saturday.  Today's the big day.  It is because we had been and done many and I did 416 shots with only one camera which excludes the deleted photos, missed photos due to no low battery power, and times I charged the camera battery.

Spoiler Alert:  Many pictures ahead.

 Preparing for the beach!