Insomniac's Mind

It means stew, and it is the name of the bistro where we had our dinner tonight. What did you have for dinner, and where were you?

Still awake? j at 11:28:00 PM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

Still awake? j at 9:05:00 AM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

We did a little shopping afterwards and craved for Pinoy dish for dinner. Our tired feet took us to the Lord Stow's Bakery for a delicious Tuna Royale (prepared right in front of you and they make use of fresh ingredients - cucumber, carrots and lettuce), Chicken Arrozcaldo (porridge) and Japanese Iced Tea - definitely a must try in the mall. The store was established in Macau in 1989 and has since branched out in different Asian countries including Hongkong, Singapore and Korea. They offer a different menu per country but the bakery has the same products.

Still awake? j at 11:57:00 PM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Still awake? j at 12:30:00 PM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

Printed at the back of the menu "We cook it slow so live with it." The minutes pass by without you noticing it because the place is so cozy and suitable for intimate conversations. It felt like I was eating at my Grandma's place, it felt like I was home. The vegetable salad and the paella made our visit all the more pleasant. I recommend this place for afternoon tea and snacks. I heard their pizza is delectable as well. Warning : the place is small and parking would be difficult, so it's best to call them for reservations.

Still awake? j at 5:03:00 PM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

07. Rizal Shrine in Fort Santiago

22. Army Navy Club

Still awake? j at 5:52:00 AM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

Photo grabbed from Yahoo

Isn't she cute? I always wanted a puppy. Hubby D would love to get me one, there's just one problem. We don't have household help, who's going to look after her while we're out? Everytime we talk about it, I always reply "I'll take her to work with me." Yeah right, like it is possible. How come they do it in NY? Unfair.

Still awake? j at 3:22:00 PM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

Makati City is synonymous to business district, high rise buildings and condominiums. D and I have been living here for almost three years now, and I lived here with friends for three years before that. Little did I know that there is more to it than the usual restos, malls and buildings that I have gone to. Thanks to Carlos I discovered three interesting and charming streets in the neighborhood! He calls it "Evangelista Que Linda", a trip down Evangelista Street, Apolinario Street and Hison Street. It's best to start your tour at Fat Michael's Restaurant (I'll be discussing this in another post) because they give out free maps of the do-it-yourself tour. I suggest that you park your car near Fat Michael's and leave it there because the streets can be difficult - all are one-way streets so we went around and around before finally getting to the thrift shops! Plus the exercise will do you good. Wink. Places to see - the Blue Room Art Gallery, the surplus shops and thrift shops. Unique finds - surf boards, sofas, exercise machines, branded electronic gadgets, old records and house decors. Ha, no Ukay-ukay (second-hand) shop can beat that! Although used clothing and shoes doens't have that much appeal to me, I looked through their stuffs and found them really good, some are almost new and they are original branded clothes - DKNY, Ferragamo, Burberry, Ralph Lauren among the few. The next time you find yourself in the neighborhood, check it out - it's worth the time.

Still awake? j at 12:50:00 AM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

I was in a bad mood when D got home this afternoon. It was past 3:00 pm already and I thought it was late to leave for an out-of-town trip, besides the weather is unpredictable (rain and shine and then rain again). In a few minutes I "transformed" (this is the term used by poor D who has to bear with the "Phoenix" - only for X-men fans) to the bitchy me. I took the car keys (left D dumbfounded) and drove...from Makati to Tagaytay.

By the time I reached town, I was tired and hungry so I went in this new place, one that has a bar below it - beer? too bad I was driving, maybe next time. I had soup, spaghetti and fried chicken at Mile Hi Diner before heading back home. The satisfying meal and the great view from my dining table was enough to relax me. I was back home by 8:00pm. Whoa, that was a super quick drive! D wouldn't believe that I went there, until I showed him the receipts and toll charges slip. We've kissed and made up ever since. How do you handle a bad mood?

Still awake? j at 11:25:00 PM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

Still awake? j at 1:33:00 AM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

No, I'm not talking about the place where they serve free food for the poor. It's a small cafe in Glorietta 1, Ayala Center where my best friend Oya and I met for lunch yesterday before watching the movie Cars. Those who are on a diet better check out this place. They serve soup, sandwiches and salad at a fairly reasonable prize. They even have newspapers and Glamour magazines that you can read during a meal. I ordered chili soup with nachos and cheese, and 1/2 tuna sandwich. Burp!

Still awake? j at 10:25:00 AM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

Still awake? j at 2:12:00 PM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

The place is recommended by Anton, Toni and Kuya Nick. D and I were curious, we just had to try it for ourselves. After some prayers at the Blessed Sacrament and a visit at the Church we headed for Amici Di Don Bosco. This is the closest I can get to a Don Bosco compund by the way. In high school I was raised by the St. Scholastica's Academy Benedictine Sisters, we were an exclusive school , no boys from Don Bosco can enter our premises and the same holds true for theirs.

Still awake? j at 11:25:00 PM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

Still awake? j at 2:31:00 AM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

- January to May are peak season so if you're going there at this time, be sure to book early.

- Station 3 beach front inns charge the cheapest rates (about Php 1,200/$24) but you can always opt for the pension house/dorm type rooms (a few steps away, still in Station 3) if you are travelling on a budget.

- Everything in Sation 3 is cheap. Station 1 amenities are the most expensive.

- It's best to buy souvenir items from D Talipapa (the same items at a cheaper price).

- Before taking the island tours, compare prices . Prices may vary from one boatman to another. Haggling is a must.

- During the long walks, bring a bottle of water with you (the sun will make you thirsty big time). And just in case, there's a refilling station in Station 3.

- Jammer's fruit shake (with rhum) is best taken at night.

Drop me a line if there's someting else you want to know.

Still awake? j at 10:20:00 AM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

It is a famous sport in Europe. But unknown to many, a small group started this sport in our country about three years ago. Until now, even after several net surfing and regular meet ups, the group remains to be minute - less than 10 members only. They used to practice their skills in Fort Bonifacio, unfortunately, the space where they usually stay was converted into a parking lot. Now they're nearer to us, in a vacant lot right beside MOA. Yay! We're meeting them this Saturday....err, make that later. D and I are taking up free lessons from BG, Randal and the rest of the gang. We will try it out, but it's not going to be a regular sport because this one is expensive! Since it isn't common here, even beginners need to purchase all the gadgets (kite, board, harness, etc.) needed, no rentals available. A kite alone would cost about $700 and is available only in abroad. The ones found in the picture above were purchased on-line and were shipped all the way from Singapore. According to BG, they are planning to hold exhibition games next year. Invitees include the pros from Europe. Ahem! Calling all sponsors!
Sports enthusiasts who are interested to learn, or those who are plain curious can catch them near MOA every weekends. The boys are very approachable and eager to answer your queries. And they are willing to lend out their kites, isn't that great? See you there!

Still awake? j at 2:08:00 AM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

Not only because the owner is my "kabalen" and that all the staffs are Kapampangan ( known to be good cooks and very "maasikaso"), they serve delicious food! Where? At Kalye Juan in MOA. I don't know which wing though, until now I can't figure out which one is where. Sorry, the mall is too big for me. He he.

The night before we left for Bora, we went shopping and had dinner here. I liked the place because of it's cozy ambiance and the charming wall paintings. We had Sinigang na Pork Liempo, Pinaputok na Plapla and Pinakbet. Everything was superb and reasonably priced -authentic home cooking the Kapampangan way. We left the place with bigger bellies and smiles on our faces. Wink.

Still awake? j at 11:48:00 AM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

Photo taken in MOA

Still awake? j at 8:47:00 AM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

Still awake? j at 8:00:00 AM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

I never tasted one like it before.

Still awake? j at 9:00:00 PM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

Too much anticipation - D & I have never been to Boracay (now more popularly known to Filipinos as Bora), we have been wanting to do long walks by the beach for some time now and the long trip by ro-ro. When we finally got there, we wasted no time in scanning through the place. From Station 3 to Station 1, a swim to get to the small island with a grotto (am not sure if it's man made or perhaps a formation of dried up corals) and then a glass of the famous milkshake (D loved the Milkshake and I enjoyed the Mango-lemon combi) from Jonah's before continuing to walk further. Surprisingly, nobody complained of tired feet, not even until we reached Friday's, the last resort in Station 1!

Still awake? j at 11:21:00 AM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

From Manila there are four ways to reach Boracay - by plane, by ferry, by ro-ro or you can swim all the way (joke!). D and I wanted to travel on a budget and we were hungry for an adventure so we chose to take the ro-ro. The ro-ro, roll-on/roll-off consisted of 2 hrs. Dimple Star bus ride from Alabang to Batangas Pier, 2 hrs. Starlite barge ride going to Calapan, 4 hrs. ride to Oriental Mindoro Port by bus, 4 hrs. ferry ride to Caticlan and then finally about 20 mins. ride to Boracay Island. The half day travel was worth it for the following reasons:
- We only had to make one reservation with the Dimple Star bus and was charged P974/$20 for the one way trip. The fee included everything (except for the 20 mins. boat ride which cost P40/$0.80) - bus ride, barge trip, travel insurance, taxes and terminal/port fees.

Still awake? j at 9:20:00 AM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

Yay, I'm taking a break from work!

Still awake? j at 3:08:00 AM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

Photo from Yahoo Movies

Still awake? j at 9:28:00 AM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

After window shopping and star gazing (a.k.a. celebrity watching, he he) last Sunday at Rockwell, Makati (a.k.a. "Celebrity Mall" because I always bump into several celebrities whenever I go there) we were tired and hungry. Thanks to Longrain Restaurant we had a fill. I'm not sure if this is the same Longrain of Australia, but there is a resemblance in the menu. No, I haven't been to Sydney or Melbourne, I only searched for the webpage. Wish! So what's extraordinary about the place? The menu shows various Asian cuisine including Singaporean, Vietnamese and Thai, and the funky interiors and the neon green billboard inside the resto will delight your senses. We were given free iced tea and lemonade refills (not specified in the menu) and the staffs are very accommodating.

D had Chili Chicken and Pork Adobo. Unlike the usual adobo, this one had too much sauce, the meat were "swimming" in the bowl. I found it too vinegary and it wasn't spicy enough.

Still awake? j at 12:05:00 PM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

New York Super Fudge Chunk, yummy!

Still awake? j at 6:05:00 PM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

Still awake? j at 5:04:00 PM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

My midnight snack, yum yum!

Champurado, Tuyo and Tapa

It's been raining three nights in a row now. Hmmm..... When it rains, it pours, and when it pours, my appetite soars. He he. What do you crave for on a rainy day?

Still awake? j at 12:02:00 AM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

Our country has surpassed natural calamities, political crisis and tragic blows in the economy because the Filipinos continue to thrive. An example of this particular Filipino trait is the present situation of my hometown Bacolor, Pampanga which was badly hit by the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in year 1991.
Fifteen years later the San Guillermo Parish Church is still half buried in lahar, and due to the comradeship of the townsfolk, renovation is underway. What used to be a hall on its left wing now houses the Museo de Bacolor. A museum that serves as an aide-memoire of the once charming town. Old pictures depicting the lives of our ancestors are found hanging on the old, damaged walls.
Miraculously, the altar was spared from destruction and some parts of the church refurbished, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the parish priest, the Mayor and the residents.

Bacolor's restoration is possible because of the people's ingenuity. The Filipino adapts and always find ways to turn something good out of the bad. Aside from the museum, a small portion of the church was converted into a mini store selling products made out of lahar and some goodies from Neli-Mar's. A portion of the proceeds go to the funding of the church repairs.

Still awake? j at 6:44:00 PM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

When you are stressed out with work like me, you would probably end up surfing the net for a favorable vacation spot. By chance, I saw this picture in lakbay pilipinas and grabbed it. Cute, isn't it? It's a tarsier, a small nocturnal mammal who dwells in the forest. It is found in Asian countries, but here in the Philippines, Tarsier is synonymous to Bohol. A few years back, I went to this beautiful place and immediately fell in love with the scenic island and pristine sandy beaches. I don't have pictures to share with you because I didn't own a digital camera then but here's an overview of what to expect in Bohol :

Still awake? j at 5:25:00 AM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken

I had lunch with my in-laws at Chicken Inasal in Makati yesterday, right before grocery shopping in Shopwise. Inasal is a Bacolod original. The tasty inasal, barbequed to perfection...nam-it (Bacolod term for delicious)!

I visited the place about three years ago, and enjoyed every bit of my stay. The inasal wasn't the only one that delighted me, I discovered Bongbong's Pasalubong and fell in love with their piyaya, butterscotch and tarts, too. Bacolod City is a perfect place for a vacation. I feel it's best to go there in October during the Maskara Festival, a merry making event that will trully delight you. On the streets, a dance is performed in a Latin theme, and the costumed dancers don colorful masks. Tour the city and appreciate the beauty of old houses and antique churches (especially San Sebastian Cathedral). The Bacolodnon (locals) are warm and friendly, so it is true indeed when they say Bacolod City ~ is the City of Smiles.

Still awake? j at 12:44:00 PM | Permalink | Late sleepers have spoken