Allybellly: December 2010

i'm so lazy do series of my philippines trip so i'm gonna try to complete the whole trip in this entry in no particular order!

Let's start with e best, Wensha Spa @ Pasay City

This is a must go place if u visit the philippines/ have flights stopover.
As u're allowed to stay in for 6hrs for a single fee.
i'll reveal e fee after u look through e photos!
Photos Credit: From their official website

Lockers Room

Shower area + Spa pools!
Too bad there's no photos on the 2 round ice cold & 1 warm spa pools.

while u're in the pools there's a hugeass projector showing their local TV channel.

In that same room they have the steam room (as shown below) & sauna (beside e steam rm)

After taking ur spa sessions, head over to e massage area!

2 to a cozy room~

After massage, u are allowed to slp in so long u dont exceed 6 hrs for ur stay duration!

for me, i'll head out for buffet + steamboat!

i had my steamboat @ e smoking area below
i prefer this atmosphere!

So now's the price!
Spa+Massage+Steamboat buffet + Buffet = S$20~

CANT BELIEVE IT RIGHT!!!

***

Next awesome trip will be to Taygaytay Highland
The temperature there is much like Genting Highland, took us abt 1.5 - 2hrs clear traffic drive from our place.

Uncle Danny planned this trip for me =)
Dad & Uncle Danny will visit Taygaytay twice a yr to have the beef soup.
& according to them, the rich will buy houses there & spend most of their weekends there.

A cosy restaurant we chose with the smell of *Boracay Island* I'll find time to update abt Boracay e place of my childhood.

I was having flu tt night so no mood to makeup & all.
But gd service cos e waiter heard me sneezing he came up n suggest i try their warm calamansi drink.
& it does help a little!

heehee, sooo cold i rolled down the leggings underneath my jeans!

Food to compliment the type of atmosphere e restaurant gives ;)

Thenafter we went to chillout at starbucks.

& according to them, if i were to come in the day i'll be able to see e view of a volcano when i sit at the outdoor of this starbucks.

From what i observe i think the crowd here are more trendy & fun-loving.

***

Next MUST-GO place!!!
Seafood Paluto Restaurants, it's a row of seafood place near Sofitel Hotel.
Just ask around & u'll get there.

Seafood in the philippines are known to be extremely FRESH!
so here's the concept of this place.

Step 1: U shop for ur seafood.
(look at e floor: clean & dry. so dont worry abt staining ur LV bag/ bad smell)

Step 2: Pick a restaurant
Step 3: Pass ur newly bought seafood to the counter outside e restaurant

& tell them how u want it to be cooked

(The outside of e restaurant looks damn chui right? but this is e one my dad always go to, you wont regret it!)

You can choose to sit outdoor (below), it looks nicer.

Now the food!

i finally got the correct name for this soup!
(remember my 1st post on some sour soup @ max restaurant?)

i'ld say drop e previous & go for this. WAY NICER!!

it's call Sinigang.

I freakin love every dish except for chilli crabs.

i dont like sweet chilli crabs, be it in e philippines or in SG.
i'll have it steamed e next round.

Crazy portion of calamari!!!

looks little here, but trust me there's at least 20 tempuras, i counted.
The actual plate is HUGE.

there's 2 more dishes which was too far away so i didnt manage to get any photos.
This meal was a treat from Tita (means aunty) Vicky, it was meant to welcome me & to celebrate e closing of her 5 mil dollars biz deal.

Crazy lot of $$$!!

So much food for only 4 pax!!!
thank god she didnt throw everything away but packed it up for her driver & maids at home.

Street performers outside e restaurant!

nearing christmas so fireworks were everywhere, everyday!

There other Tai-tai eating with us was Tita Susan, she sent us back in her limo van.
According to my dad she does own an additional long limousine (too bad no chance to sit in it), she's a multi millionaire (in dollars) & she's part of the political committee there!

WOW. i was dining with multi-millionaires. hiakhiakhiak!!!
Hope i breathe in some of their money luck!

Here's the 2 rich ladies~

We're at e lobby of Sofitel Hotel

http://www.sofitel.com

Gonna chill out & drink tea~

i wana do this when i'm @ their age too ^^

1 thing abt e pinoy i wished we practice in SG.
Even for prom, everyone is dressed in long gowns.
i dont know abt pinoy's, but for the chinese weddings held there all the guest will attend in suits & long gowns.
How classy!

but i think if i do a request like tt for my wedding in SG none of my guest is gonna turn up!

RIGHT?!!

Lovely soft ambiance to drink tea & listen to a jazz singer standing in front of a piano.

Her singing my current fav song: alicia keys - new york (originally from empire state of mind)

aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh~~~

Uncle Danny said their buffet is *thumbs up*
so u can consider staying there if u're headed to philippines for a holiday.

This 5star hotel will cost u ard US$200 a night.

i went out to explore their garden / outdoor dining

So must christmasy lightings =)
i love the lighted up round bushes, so cute.

if u walk further out u'll be facing a sea view!

Outdoor bar

this hotel gives me e vibe tt it's meant for couples going on a holiday.
Sorry no photos for the pool area cos i spoilt e photo by standing in it!

pretty pretty~

If u wana book a hotel in e philippines pls contact me!!

cos my dad has been doing hotel & resort biz thr for 20+ yrs, he'll be able to give u e BEST rate!

***

& lastly 2 days be4 i left, another treat from Uncle Danny.

Shabu Shabu @ a chinese restaurant.

i dont really like chai taokuay in this form but this one smells & taste really good.

Warning to SGreans: do no eat fishballs in the philippines UNLESS in chinese restaurants like these.

i dont know why e fishballs there r different, it taste like harden flour (including takoyaki balls)!
But the ones in this restaurant are FANTASTIC!! Beats every fishballs i've eaten in SG!

reliable source: from your die-hard fishball fan ;)

***

Now in super randomness!

INASAL BBQ

www.manginasal.com/home.html

i can find it @ every corner, $2+ for a set like this w free flow rice.

Taste like our indonesian bbq chicken in plaza sing food court, only tastier! Woot!

Love shopping @ their dept store, every T-shirt u buy comes with cute packaging!

While my dad went for meeting, he dropped me @ Megamall

Just look at how Mega it is! i was really exhausted when i'm only halfway through tt mall.

I love philippines & i've decided to go there twice a yr!
Pace is so much slower, fantastic food, & e spirit of e ppl there r what we have alot to learn from.

sometimes i look ard n i wonder how do these ppl survive with what they make & the living conditions they r in. But they r constantly enjoying life, celebrating their festive season with no worries for tml.

& tml they WILL survive. now i know whr my dad gets his optimism from & why he nv gave up despite e hard times we went through. It cant get any harder than what they r going through. If these ppl can smile we better sail through our miseries.