Back when Multiply still existed as a social media site, I had loved customizing themes using CSS. I would offer them for free on my site, and met new virtual friends along the way. It was fun and fulfilling to see others use my themes after nights of design and coding. It saddened me that they shut down and I lost an outlet in the virtual world.
Maybe I'm a late bloomer, but it's only now that I am discovering blogging. Now the frustration of templates and not seeing what I want is making want to code and design again. I find myself searching through ever-so-reliable Google for coding late at night, instead of the usual non-sense. Design ideas running through my head and trying to figure out how to make it happen. This familiar feeling of restlessness and hunger is beginning to get stronger.
That said, my blogs may be transforming a little over time as I discover how to give my blogs a make over. I hope I don't get you guys too confused as I go. :)
Much love!
Sleep well, dream big.
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Where Have I Been?
As promised, here is a list of places I've been. :)
Ang Galang Bata: Where have I been?
Much love!
Sleep well, dream big.
Ang Galang Bata: Where have I been?
Much love!
Sleep well, dream big.
Lakad Tsibog: Piggly Wiggly
An unexpected Lakad Tsibog lead to a yummy hungarian sandwich at #pigglysouth
Read my story here:
http://lakadtsibog.blogspot.com/2016/02/piggly-wiggly.html
Much love!
Sleep well, dream big
Friday, February 12, 2016
Lakad Tsibog ni Roobs at Mike: Kenchan Ramen!
The other night, I joined my brother who was in the mood to ride around the village on his motorcycle. I realized then just how many places there were to eat in our village, BFRV Las Piñas! Then I find out my brother apparently had eaten in almost all. So I suggested that he take to his top 5 places to go. He suggested something even better. "Ate, let's try the new ramen place tonight, kunin lang natin pera ko sa bahay." My brother is treating me to ramen, how can I say no? Hehe.
We agreed that he would take me to 2 other places on Monday night (watch out for that blog!), but tonight was the ramen he has been dying to try at Kenchan Ramen. It's a new place, just 3 months old, along a main road of the village, Gloria Diaz Street. Their sign can be seen right away and looks very inviting.
We parked and then realized just how small it was. It didn't look that small when you drive by. They only had 3 tables, one of which was long and could accommodate about 5, and 2 square tables that would be tight for 2 the way it was set up. When we got there only one of the smaller tables was free.
The waiter was very, very nice. He talked about the differences of what was on the menu and knew his menu well. The service was awesome! That alone places a big star in my book for Kenchan Ramen. We decided to get the Tonkotsu Ramen and an order of one of their meals that had Tori Karaage, Tonkotsu Ramen, Coffee Jelly dessert and iced tea. I am honestly not very familiar with Japanese food, and have only tried ramen once so I may not be a good judge on the authenticity of the menu, but it was gooood!
The Tori Karaage, a Japanese style deep-fried boneless chicken, was served with a mayo-based dip and cabbage on the side. The chicken strips were tender and very tasty. The serving size is good for 1. The Tonkotsu Ramen on the other hand was a big serving! My brother and I couldn't even finish our bowls. It had pork strips, egg and mushrooms in a cream-based soup. Not spicy, so if you want spice, you can add chili powder that is readily available. Their other best-seller, Shyoyu Ramen, is the soy-based soup that was spicy. The level of spice though could be adjusted by request. Next time, we will try that. We were so full we had to take home the dessert. The Coffee Jelly is very small and a little bland, but after all the strong flavor I appreciated it's blandness.
Price-wise, it was worth the money, A little pricey for an everyday meal (P200+ for the ramen and P300+ for the meal). They deliver with a minimum order of P600.
Apparently, the Japanese owner, Kenchan, was only testing the market, hence the small place. He didn't expect to have so many customers in a day, many of which did suggest that they find a bigger place. Because of that, in April they intend to open a restaurant along the main road of Las Pinas, near Casimiro. It will be open 24 hours and will have more food selections. That was music to my ears, ramen at 3AM would be awesome!
A big thumbs up to Kenchan Ramen! That's a 4/5 busog rating from me. :)
Much love!
Sleep well, dream big
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Laguna: Nagcarlan and Liliw
I guess there is a reason why my other trips were postponed. One of which, I believe, is because it had to give way to a trip with family and family friends. My Mom's best friend's daughter, Rina, was looking for other people to join her trip to Laguna, and my sister thought Mom would want to go. It was trip any senior could go on since it wasn't too physically challenging. And I was glad we went. Mom has a good time. :)
Where to in Laguna? A resort in Nagcarlan, Laguna, where apparently my stepfather had lived in for 4 years, and a side trip to Liliw, Laguna, home of the Liliw footwear.
So here was the plan and proposed budget:
Unfortunately, it was a rainy Saturday making it pretty darn cold. This part of Laguna did not have hot springs so we were all worried we wouldn't be able to take a dip in the waters. But we still pushed through. We opted to leave in the afternoon so that it would allow for a lot of rest and less stress for the seniors.
We got to Nagcarlan without getting lost, thanks to my stepfather and Waze. When we got to Villa Sylvia Resort, the place felt secluded. The fan rooms were the first thing to see, lined with the parking area. The room was big with 4 beds that could fit all 12 of us. We opted for the fan room instead of the air-conditioned ones since it was already cold and we figured the air-conditioned rooms would just leave us freezing all night. We could grill in front of our room under the trees and we were provided a long table and chairs (very kind of them since it wasn't part of the deal really). It wasn't peak season so only a few people were there (yey!). We rented a videoke, cause everyone with us loved to sing and boy did that thing get no rest! The videoke was a bit pricey though at P800.
After we got ourselves settled, we decided to take a peek at the place. Going down the entrance, it looked tiny, but the plants and landscape only made it look so. As you go down further, you're greeted by a view of 3 big pools surrounded by trees and flowers. There were 2 long slides in the middle that looked like fun! There were 2 or 3 open-air venues that I spotted, which I assume could be rented out for occasions, and a church up the side of the pools. There were also huts practically hidden among the plants and trees. The air-conditioned rooms are also inside this area of the resort.
At the top of the slide, there still seemed to be more to the place so we ventured through the trees and paths. We passed by a full basketball court, another venue area, kindda like a big hut that could probably fit about 100pax, and a closed cafeteria. There still looked like there was something else back there so we kept going. There we saw stairs going down and we could hear running water. That's when we found out the place had access to a stream and turned a part of it into a place one could swim in! We decided we'd go in the morning since it was getting dark by then, and there were no lights in that area. We were sooo hoping it wouldn't rain the next day.
After dinner, the seniors wanted to take a dip in the pool, so the most of the group went off. It was drizzling and cold so I opted out. The seniors came back saying they would go in the morning instead because the night breeze would make the swim too cold. When I asked where the others were, they were already in the pool. So my cousin and I went to check on them. The pool looked so inviting! We ran back to the room, got dressed and dove in. And yeah, Mom was right. It. Was. Freezing. Cold. So I decided to go for the slides. Great way to get the warmth going and it worked. Did a few laps and the cold had lessened (and the panting increased! LOL Gotta stop smoking).
If there would be something I didn't like about the place, it would the fact that the shower didn't work and there was no hot water. So imagine having to swim in cold water, then taking a shower with freezing cold water as well. Thank goodness we didn't get the air-conditioned room. Also, you could hear the cars that would come and go outside, along with doors opening and closing from the other rooms. Well, couldn't expect much, so I just had to deal with it. So I didn't sleep as well as I had wanted. Because of that, I couldn't get up early enough the next day to swim in the stream (sadness). I had found out that Mom and the others already had their swim in the pool, but didn't go to the stream for fear of leeches (which I eventually confirmed that there wasn't any). Before we left, we went to the stream to take some pictures instead.
After the photo ops, we headed back to the room to pack up and finished the rest of the trip. Since it started to rain again, we decided to skip the falls for fear of it being to slippery for the seniors and it was a little out of the way. We had left the resort later than planned to take full advantage of the cost, so fitting in the falls would extend the trip too long.
Next stop was the Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery. The cemetery had a chapel built in the 1800's and the bodies there date back in the early 1900's. They no longer add to the buried there and turned it into a tourist spot. They try to maintain as much of the original building as they could and restored the facade a bit. It's tiny and a short walk, also not too deep underground. What's left of the original ceiling of the chapel were on the restored ceiling. Relatives of the departed buried there still visit every now and then, which is nice to know.
Next stop was Liliw, Laguna. Off to the red church, and looking around for shoes or slippers made in Liliw. The church was big. The outside of the church was of red bricks and pretty! The alter was the same as the church I saw in Tanay, Rizal.
On the side streets around the church are the shoes and slipper stores. It was a disappointment really. It cost more there than it did in Manila. My aunt bought just a few house slippers that was cheaper there, other than that, they didn't find anything else they liked. I like the way they decorated their stores though. It was cute and reminded me of Vigan a little.
After that stop, we were ready to go home. To see the smile on my Mom's face made it all worth-while. I'm glad we went and spent most of the weekend at Laguna. Now she wants us to plan for island hopping in Quezon. I have a feeling she's got a list ready as well LOL.
Till my next post. Sleep well, dream big.
Much love!
Where to in Laguna? A resort in Nagcarlan, Laguna, where apparently my stepfather had lived in for 4 years, and a side trip to Liliw, Laguna, home of the Liliw footwear.
So here was the plan and proposed budget:
Unfortunately, it was a rainy Saturday making it pretty darn cold. This part of Laguna did not have hot springs so we were all worried we wouldn't be able to take a dip in the waters. But we still pushed through. We opted to leave in the afternoon so that it would allow for a lot of rest and less stress for the seniors.
We got to Nagcarlan without getting lost, thanks to my stepfather and Waze. When we got to Villa Sylvia Resort, the place felt secluded. The fan rooms were the first thing to see, lined with the parking area. The room was big with 4 beds that could fit all 12 of us. We opted for the fan room instead of the air-conditioned ones since it was already cold and we figured the air-conditioned rooms would just leave us freezing all night. We could grill in front of our room under the trees and we were provided a long table and chairs (very kind of them since it wasn't part of the deal really). It wasn't peak season so only a few people were there (yey!). We rented a videoke, cause everyone with us loved to sing and boy did that thing get no rest! The videoke was a bit pricey though at P800. |
| Trees and parking in front of our room |
 |
| My stepfather and a friend he hadn't seen in ages who lived in the area |
After we got ourselves settled, we decided to take a peek at the place. Going down the entrance, it looked tiny, but the plants and landscape only made it look so. As you go down further, you're greeted by a view of 3 big pools surrounded by trees and flowers. There were 2 long slides in the middle that looked like fun! There were 2 or 3 open-air venues that I spotted, which I assume could be rented out for occasions, and a church up the side of the pools. There were also huts practically hidden among the plants and trees. The air-conditioned rooms are also inside this area of the resort.
 |
| Click to enlarge photos |
 |
| My Mom who would stop often to take a selfie LOL |
 |
| From left to right: my cousin Gene, a family friend Sam, my Mom's best friend Tita Vhing, my Mom and my aunt Tita Dhel |
At the top of the slide, there still seemed to be more to the place so we ventured through the trees and paths. We passed by a full basketball court, another venue area, kindda like a big hut that could probably fit about 100pax, and a closed cafeteria. There still looked like there was something else back there so we kept going. There we saw stairs going down and we could hear running water. That's when we found out the place had access to a stream and turned a part of it into a place one could swim in! We decided we'd go in the morning since it was getting dark by then, and there were no lights in that area. We were sooo hoping it wouldn't rain the next day.
 |
| Photo courtesy of Rina |
After dinner, the seniors wanted to take a dip in the pool, so the most of the group went off. It was drizzling and cold so I opted out. The seniors came back saying they would go in the morning instead because the night breeze would make the swim too cold. When I asked where the others were, they were already in the pool. So my cousin and I went to check on them. The pool looked so inviting! We ran back to the room, got dressed and dove in. And yeah, Mom was right. It. Was. Freezing. Cold. So I decided to go for the slides. Great way to get the warmth going and it worked. Did a few laps and the cold had lessened (and the panting increased! LOL Gotta stop smoking).
 |
| Photo courtesy of Rina |
 |
| Photo courtesy of Rina |
If there would be something I didn't like about the place, it would the fact that the shower didn't work and there was no hot water. So imagine having to swim in cold water, then taking a shower with freezing cold water as well. Thank goodness we didn't get the air-conditioned room. Also, you could hear the cars that would come and go outside, along with doors opening and closing from the other rooms. Well, couldn't expect much, so I just had to deal with it. So I didn't sleep as well as I had wanted. Because of that, I couldn't get up early enough the next day to swim in the stream (sadness). I had found out that Mom and the others already had their swim in the pool, but didn't go to the stream for fear of leeches (which I eventually confirmed that there wasn't any). Before we left, we went to the stream to take some pictures instead.
 |
| I love seeing her all giddy! She pretended to fall over and she was laughing that she made us panic! |
 |
| With Rina, the planner of the trip (Photo courtesy of Rina) |
After the photo ops, we headed back to the room to pack up and finished the rest of the trip. Since it started to rain again, we decided to skip the falls for fear of it being to slippery for the seniors and it was a little out of the way. We had left the resort later than planned to take full advantage of the cost, so fitting in the falls would extend the trip too long.
Next stop was the Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery. The cemetery had a chapel built in the 1800's and the bodies there date back in the early 1900's. They no longer add to the buried there and turned it into a tourist spot. They try to maintain as much of the original building as they could and restored the facade a bit. It's tiny and a short walk, also not too deep underground. What's left of the original ceiling of the chapel were on the restored ceiling. Relatives of the departed buried there still visit every now and then, which is nice to know. 
 |
| Pieces of the original ceiling |
 |
| Graves a floor down in the ground |
Next stop was Liliw, Laguna. Off to the red church, and looking around for shoes or slippers made in Liliw. The church was big. The outside of the church was of red bricks and pretty! The alter was the same as the church I saw in Tanay, Rizal.
On the side streets around the church are the shoes and slipper stores. It was a disappointment really. It cost more there than it did in Manila. My aunt bought just a few house slippers that was cheaper there, other than that, they didn't find anything else they liked. I like the way they decorated their stores though. It was cute and reminded me of Vigan a little.
After that stop, we were ready to go home. To see the smile on my Mom's face made it all worth-while. I'm glad we went and spent most of the weekend at Laguna. Now she wants us to plan for island hopping in Quezon. I have a feeling she's got a list ready as well LOL.
Till my next post. Sleep well, dream big.
Much love!
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Peter Pan
How I wish Peter Pan was real. Wouldn't it be nice to have him show up to your window and fly you away to the second star on the right. It would be nice to see the falls in Mermaid Lagoon, the cave where Captain Hook kept Tiger Lily, to party with the Indians and the Lost Boys, and to trek through the forest on the way to or from the hideout. Too stay young and carefree, like there were no problems except Captain Hook, that you could easily beat anyway.
Alas, we all have to grow up, to the point where you have bills to pay and you need a source of income. Back to reality. Like Wendy, you have to come home and wake up.
My reality now has to kick out my Neverland trips this month, and it's breaking my heart. I was really looking forward to it, all gone in a blink of an eye, just because this Wendy has to wake up and grow up. Pooooooofff Subic. Pooooooffff Calaguas. So frustrating. But I am grateful to have friends like the Lost Boys, always cheerful, looking on the bright side of things. They're so positive it rubs off on you. Makes the heart break not so wrenching and keeps my whining at a minimum. I am grateful for these bills too. It's proof that I have responsibilites that run a household, and that I contribute in taking a burden off my Mother's shoulders. I am also grateful for the set back. It's fueling my drive to find ways to earn and it teaches me to plan better. It literally gets me out of bed earlier than usual!
The beach isn't going anywhere. The Hot Air Balloon Festival is annual. There are other places on my list that has a zipline. There's always another month for camping on the beach. I just need to learn to be patient with myself. It'll happen eventually. For all I know it might just be more fun then.
Right now, grown up stuff comes first, to make room for more Neverland time in the coming months. Just wait Tinkerbell, I'll be there soon. Right now, I gotta run and pay the bills. Literally.
Alas, we all have to grow up, to the point where you have bills to pay and you need a source of income. Back to reality. Like Wendy, you have to come home and wake up.
My reality now has to kick out my Neverland trips this month, and it's breaking my heart. I was really looking forward to it, all gone in a blink of an eye, just because this Wendy has to wake up and grow up. Pooooooofff Subic. Pooooooffff Calaguas. So frustrating. But I am grateful to have friends like the Lost Boys, always cheerful, looking on the bright side of things. They're so positive it rubs off on you. Makes the heart break not so wrenching and keeps my whining at a minimum. I am grateful for these bills too. It's proof that I have responsibilites that run a household, and that I contribute in taking a burden off my Mother's shoulders. I am also grateful for the set back. It's fueling my drive to find ways to earn and it teaches me to plan better. It literally gets me out of bed earlier than usual!
The beach isn't going anywhere. The Hot Air Balloon Festival is annual. There are other places on my list that has a zipline. There's always another month for camping on the beach. I just need to learn to be patient with myself. It'll happen eventually. For all I know it might just be more fun then.
Right now, grown up stuff comes first, to make room for more Neverland time in the coming months. Just wait Tinkerbell, I'll be there soon. Right now, I gotta run and pay the bills. Literally.
Sleep well, dream big.
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