Category: Restaurants

Bewitching Balay da Blas

After our adventure-packed afternoon Sandboarding and riding a 4×4 all over the La Paz Sand Dunes during the Lakbay Norte Media 2 tour, we were treated to a night of socials at Balay da Blas. Aside from being a cozy and affordable place to stay the night, the charming pensionne house in the heart of Laoag, Ilocos Norte is also perfect for intimate gatherings.

The top floor serves as a function room, where one of the first things you’ll notice is the interesting patterns on the ceiling covering the recessed lighting and vintage ceiling fans, which give the place a whimsical vibe. Continue reading “Bewitching Balay da Blas”

Manila by Motorcycle

Mention Manila and the most common image that comes to mind is heavy traffic, smoke-belching jeepneys, swerving buses and congested streets. Our country’s capital city hardly seems like an ideal place to visit, and even more so by motorcycle.

But if you give Manila a chance, it may just surprise you. On a Sunday morning ride, when the traffic was relatively light, I found it extremely satisfying to be able to zip along Roxas Blvd. and visit various tourist spots and cultural and historic landmarks. Though I wasn’t expecting it to be a great ride, I have to say, Manila does have a unique charm. Here are  just a few scenic spots you can easily ride to and a rough guide of what you can do there. Continue reading “Manila by Motorcycle”

Eco-friendly Kapuluan Vista Resort in Pagudpud

Lakbay Norte 2, Night 3: Kapuluan Vista Resort

Our stopover in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte was Kapuluan Vista Resort (KVR), a laid-back resort owned by surfer couple Mike and Alma Oida. Everything about KVR was so cool and eco-friendly, that it was a pity we only got to stay one night.

KVR exudes an aura of ultimate relaxation and just all around happy vibes. Though it was far from beach weather during our stay, I could see that this is an ideal vacation spot not just for surfers, but for families and friends looking for a great place to stay. Continue reading “Eco-friendly Kapuluan Vista Resort in Pagudpud”

Eastern Hawaii Hotel in Cagayan

Night 2: Eastern Hawaii Casino and Resort

Eastern Hawaii Leisure Co. in the CEZA complex in Sta. Ana is another option for those looking for a relaxing place to stay while visiting Cagayan.

Like Sun City, the hotel mainly caters to Chinese tourists who play in the casinos. Despite our brief stay, we found the service quite good and staff very friendly.

Continue reading “Eastern Hawaii Hotel in Cagayan”

Cagayan Food-Trip + the Luxurious Sun City

Earlier this year, I joined the second leg of Lakbay Norte 2, a media tour around provinces in the North. The six-day tour, organized by the North Philippines Visitors Bureau (NPVB) took us to the provinces of Cagayan and Ilocos. I’ve written about the whole trip for Sunday Inquirer Magazine titled 10 Things to do in Cagayan and Ilocos so now I’ll be posting a series of blogs and more photos from the trip.

Day 1: Cagayan food-trip

A delay in our morning flight to Tuguegarao from Manila caused what was supposed to be a leisurely morning snack, lunch and dinner spread out during the day to be jam-packed into a series of meals after our mid-afternoon arrival. Continue reading “Cagayan Food-Trip + the Luxurious Sun City”

5 Unexpected Food Mashups

The Philippines is no stranger to bizarre food. One of our delicacies balut (boiled, fertilized egg) is considered Fear Factor-worthy, while other seemingly scary snacks like adidas (grilled or sauteed chicken feet), betamax (solidified pig’s or chicken’s blood) and isaw (skewered chicken intestines) are regular fare for most Pinoys. Continue reading “5 Unexpected Food Mashups”