A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
Fat Pauly’s Hand-crafted Ales & Lagers is one of the first craft breweries in the Philippines and currently the only brewery based on the large island of Mindanao in Southern Philippines. This proud local brand established in 2010 makes fresh home-brewed beers using the finest imported brew grade malt and local indigenous ingredients like Timoga Spring waters and wild Putyukan Honey.
One of the coolest features of Pentahotels in Hong Kong are their in-house restaurants and bars. Combining the hotel lobby, reception area, bar and cafe into a single venue, Pentalounge is a lively gathering place with 230 seats anchored by eatstreet@ pentalounge which offers favorite Hong Kong dishes and a variety of comfort foods and all-day drinks.
For riders, cyclists and road trippers clocking in the miles, meals on the road often just consist of quick stops at fast food joints or meet-ups at gas station convenience stores before heading out. Most riders would be satisfied with cup noodles or hot coffee to warm up along the way. A few years ago, this was pretty much all there was along the Marilaque route (also known as Marikina-Infanta or Marcos Highway), the scenic twisting road traversing Marikina, Rizal, Laguna all the way to Infanta, Quezon.
During weekend rides, I’ve noticed a lot of new places to eat and a lot of other establishments being built along the route. Below is a growing list of old favorites and new places where you can grab a bite to eat and enjoy the view along Marilaque. Manila East Road (specially in towns overlooking Laguna de Bay) also has a lot of interesting dining places that makes it great for road trips. This is arranged by distance coming from the Quezon City side.
Continue reading “Road Trip Restaurants along Marilaque”For those planning to go island-hopping around the Gigantes Group of Islands in Iloilo this summer, you might want to extend your trip to more than just a day tour. Solina Beach & Nature Resort in the town of Carles offers a luxurious gateway to your Gigantes adventure. The only high-end beachfront resort in Carles is a destination in itself, with stylish swimming pools, its own large in-house restaurant serving local specialties and spacious and comfortable accommodations.
Opened in time for the summer season, Solina Beach & Nature Resort offers three types of rooms for guests from cozy pods, well-appointed villas and outdoorsy glamping-style cabins
Continue reading “Solina Beach & Nature Resort, Iloilo”With Holy Week coming up and summer in full swing, you know the most accessible and popular beaches are going to get pretty crowded. For those looking for peace and privacy for beach camping trips, Inaladelan Island Resort in Palawan is a great choice. This 12-hectare private island and camping paradise off the coast of Port Barton in Palawan offers a stunning getaway.
Puerto Princesa City, the capital of Palawan, is one of the most popular tourist cities in the Philippines. Best known for its beach resorts, stunning lagoons and the Underground River, Palawan is also a great place for foodies. Though you can now find malls with fast-food joints and international cuisine in Puerto Princesa, nothing beats sampling the homegrown cafes, feasting on fresh seafood, and trying out the unique eats the province has to offer. For first-time visitors, here are some of the must-eats to put on your foodie bucket-list in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
I’ve had the opportunity to stay in some beautiful luxury hotels for work and as part of media tours. This includes grand five-star properties in Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and Macau. But nothing prepared me for Okada Manila. The moment I stepped inside the lobby, I was completely overwhelmed by the extravagance of the place. It’s hard to believe that a place like this exists in Metro Manila.
Okada Manila is among the largest ultra-luxury integrated hotel-resorts in Asia. It aims to compete with casinos in Macau and position Metro Manila as a regional and international destination. Continue reading “Okada Manila Hotel and Resort Complex”
I’ve been going back and forth to the Eastern towns of Rizal a lot during weekend rides. During that time, I think I’ve tried all the main road trip restaurants in Rizal along Marilaque and Manila East Road Road. One of my favorite dining destinations is Lutong Pugon, a secret garden restaurant owned by a local artist that serves delicious wood-fired pizza. You really wouldn’t expect to find a quality pizzeria like this up in the mountains.
There’s craft beer in my hometown Naga City! Ibalon Craft Brew is introducing to Naga City the first craft beers in the Bicol region. I’m so happy that folks in Bicol now have more beer options and can enjoy something new and different compared to the usual commercial beers served in most stores, bars and restaurants in Naga City.
Continue reading “Ibalon Craft Brew: Bicol’s First Craft Beer”
The beauty of the Philippines really shines in other provinces and islands. Destinations like Palawan, Cebu, Bohol and Boracay are top draws for foreign tourists. However, many international travelers have to travel through Metro Manila, the capital and main gateway to many of the other destinations before they can get there.
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