There’s no pop of color this time since I combined bright and colorful pieces all together- green shorts, purple chiffon top, yellow belt, mustard bag, and… red hair! LOL!

Since it was hot, I wore light accessories- necklace from Pinkbox and animal print bangle from Primark.

Why not go for bandeaus underneath chiffon tops? It’s time to be bold! It’s summer anyway!

Of course, a must-have for summer- SUNNIES! Squinting is a no-no if you want to avoid wrinkles!

You might be so tired of my face already. Here are a few photos of Bohol. Don’t worry, I’ll be sharing the beach up next!

Chocolate Hills

Man-made Forest

Now, back to me! Haha!

Chiffon top: Lush Angel
Bandeau: Wacoal
Shorts: Topshop
Necklace: Pinkbox
Aviators: Ray Ban
Bangle: Primark
Bag: random from Boracay
Slippers: Havaianas

As mentioned in my A Day Trip to Corregidor post, the Corregidor day tour package that I got in a travel fair last year already included a Manila Bay Cruise. It was really a great deal since a Corregidor day tour package actually costs PHP 1,999, while the Manila Bay Cruise is sold separately for PHP 550. Same as the Corregidor tours, the Manila Bay Cruise is also under Sun Cruises. It runs daily, with 3 different time slots- 4:30pm, 6:15pm and 8:00pm. The cruise is only for 1 hour and 15 minutes. My friends and I chose the 4:30pm slot since our ferry from Corregidor would dock in Manila by 3:30pm. To lessen the waiting time and to see the sunset while on cruise, we chose the earliest schedule, even if it means having an uber early dinner. LOL!

To be honest, if this wasn’t included in our package, I wouldn’t pay for a dinner cruise along Manila Bay. No offense, but my first impression was- “Can we actually have a nice dinner while breathing the Manila Bay air?”. Okay, sorry. I haven’t really walked along the Manila Bay area, but I always had this notion that it does not smell that good. False. I didn’t smell anything stinky for the entire ride. Well, probably at first you could smell that salty/ fishy scent (Okay, that was a weird description, but I know you get what I mean), but I guess that’s normal in any bay area. And when the boat sailed, I started breathing the fresh air we’ve all wanted in the city.

While on cruise, someone started explaining on the safety precautions. Just like in airplanes, eh?!

After a while, dinner was served. As seen in the photo below, it doesn’t look appetizing. Well, it wasn’t. Hehe! We had a lunch buffet at Corregidor and part of the course were Pork Adobo and Chicken with white sauce (I’m not sure of the name). And for dinner, it was just the other way around- Chicken Adobo and Pork something. LOL! I’m not sure if it was just a coincidence, but that doesn’t really matter. This set meal wasn’t that special still. Well, it wasn’t totally unappetizing. It wasn’t just what I expected for a dinner cruise. Usually, dinner cruise should be special right? But yeah, thinking about it, why expect something special for a PHP 550 cruise?

Oh, and surprisingly, we were serenaded while on cruise. I must say, the singer was good.

And of course, what’s the cruise for without sunset pictures? LOL! We made the most out of the cruise by taking a lot of pictures. Anyway, the entire day was really a photo op day for us so we were all in the mood to emote. Haha!

Sorry, it was really windy! And it gets a bit cold at night, so make sure to bring a cover-up if you plan to try this out.

Over-all, the Manila Bay Cruise experience was fun because I was with friends. I wouldn’t be that contented though if it was really a date night. One, the set meal served wasn’t that great. I’ve always wanted my date nights to be perfect and for me, the food plays a big part. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but I somehow want it special- meaning, not something I can eat anytime, everyday. Hehe! Two, I found the cruise quite short- 1 hour and 15 minutes. We all had to hurry up eating just so we had more time to take a lot of pictures. Haha!

Well, this is just my opinion. If you simply want to try this Manila Bay Dinner Cruise just for experience, why not? It’s just PHP 550, anyway. I don’t think you can find a dinner cruise that cheap anywhere else!

Disclaimer: Prices above are as of March 1, 2011. These may or may not change without prior notice.

Sun Cruises Reservations Office
CCP Terminal A. CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Manila, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (632) 831-8140,(632) 834-6857 to 58
Fax No. (632) 834-1523
E-mail: suncruises@magsaysay.com.ph

Sun Cruises Sales Office
21st Floor Times Plaza Bldg., Ermita, Manila, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (632) 527-555 local 4511 and 4512
Fax No. (632) 527-5555 local 4513
E-mail: sales@suncruises.com.ph

Sun Cruises handles the tour for Corregidor. They have day tour and overnight packages. Their current rate for day tour is PHP 1,999 per person, inclusive of roundtrip ferry transfers (from and to Manila harbour), entrance and terminal fees, guided island tour and buffet lunch. As for overnight packages, PHP 2,880 per person for single and PHP 1,999 per person for twin/ double/ triple sharing. Overnight package includes roundtrip ferry transfers, entrance and terminal fees, guided island tour, (1) buffet lunch on day 1 and overnight accomodation at Corregidor Inn. My friends and I availed of the day tour package, which we only got for PHP 1,500 per person! We got these promo tickets late last year in a travel fair. What’s even great about this deal is our package includes a Manila Bay Dinner Cruise, which costs PHP 550 per person. More about the Manila Bay Cruise in my next post. So thinking about it, we just paid PHP 950 for our Corregidor day tour! Yay! See, it pays to visit travel fairs! Hehe!

Our day started early- something I’m not really used to, except when I’m on vacation. I know, it’s ironic. Well, I just try to make the most out of my day when I’m not in Manila. Plus, check-in time at the CCP Bay Termianl (near Folk Arts Theater) is at 7:00 am and boarding is at 7:30 am, so I really have no choice. Hehe! Unless, I’d rather be left behind (definitely, not an option!).

The ferry ride is approximately about an hour. We arrived at the island of Corregidor around 9:00 am and a number of trams with tour guides in it are already waiting for us. The tram would be the mode of transportation for the entire trip.

Corregidor is definitely a nice place for photo op and of course, to learn more about history. I just used to read about Corregidor in school books and look at pictures all over the internet. I thought I pretty much knew everything about this historical place, but once I set foot on the island and the tram started to tour us around, I was still left at awe! I never knew that such place still exists here in the Philippines. Well, I already knew what to expect before we went to Corregidor. It’s just that, it really feels different when you see it in person! I love ruins. I love looking at them. I love taking pictures of them. Ruins are just so lovely no matter what angle you take them.

a canon behind me…

An optional part of the tour is the Lights and Sounds Show, which costs PHP 150.

It’s pretty much about the history of the Philippines, specifically what happened in the island of Corregidor during the American and Japanese occupation.

To be honest, I really don’t recommend this to those who are not into history. My friends and I got really bored. Don’t get me wrong- not that we don’t love history. Probably because we were all tired and restless already by this time and we expected more from the show. We have to walk inside Malinta Tunnel, as seen below. Ushers would stop us from time to time to view videos on the wall or statues, while voice-overs about history were played. The show ran for about 30 minutes.

the lighthouse…

Can I just say- It was sooo hard to go down that lighthouse! The stairs were so steep! Eeeek! Scary! Well, was it worth it? You can judge from the view below.

Well, yeah… That’s it! Hehe! Bringing me to more ruins, such as the picture below, would bring me more joy! LOL! Whew! Did I mention how much I love ruins?!?! LOL!

Douglas MacArthur’s famous “I shall return!”

I wish I had more pictures around the island. We already had the perfect weather and don’t mention- the blue skies! It’s just so hard to take photographs when you’re on a tour. It’s really a skill to get a lot of good photos under time pressure. Hehe!

Disclaimer: Prices above are as of March 1, 2011. These may or may not change without prior notice.

Sun Cruises Reservations Office
CCP Terminal A. CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Manila, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (632) 831-8140,(632) 834-6857 to 58
Fax No. (632) 834-1523
E-mail: suncruises@magsaysay.com.ph

Sun Cruises Sales Office
21st Floor Times Plaza Bldg., Ermita, Manila, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (632) 527-555 local 4511 and 4512
Fax No. (632) 527-5555 local 4513
E-mail: sales@suncruises.com.ph

Corregidor Inn
Corregidor Island, Cavite
Mobile: 0917-5276350
E-mail: corregidor_inn@suncruises.com.ph

Zhu Asian Cuisine is located at Boracay Regency. I see this restaurant whenever I passed by Regency, but I never had the craving to eat in a Chinese restaurant when I’m in the island. Probably it’s because I’m so used to eating Chinese food when I’m in Manila. When I see the beach, I just want to eat island food. Okay, Zhu does not only serve Chinese cuisine. Obviously, its name says it all- “Zhu Asian Cuisine”. Hehehe! I just can’t help associating it with a Chinese restaurant because of its interior, as seen below.

Anyway, since I was with my parents, they wanted to try out everything. I got curious as well since it was only that time I noticed that there were actually a lot of people dining in there. Here’s what we tried out:

Oh, before anything else, we were served with some complimentary prawn crackers. It was perfect for our growling tummies, while we waited for our orders. Hehe!

Shrimp Fried Rice Thai style (PHP 150)- It’s Siam style fried rice with shrimp and fried egg. It was not as flavorful as the famous Thai Bagoong Rice, or as salty as the Chinese favorite, Salted Fish Fried Rice. It was somehow similar to another famous Chinese dish, Yang Chow Fried Rice, just with fried egg on top. I actually liked it. It’s not common to serve fried rice with fried egg on top, unless you’re eating the usual Filipino favorites, such as Tocilog (sweetened pork with egg), Tapsilog (dried beef with egg), and the likes. Hehehe! Shrimp Fried Rice is worth trying out. Serves up to 3 pax.

Sweet and Sour Pork (PHP 180)- It’s the usual pork with tangy sauces of sweet and sour. There was nothing really special with Zhu’s version of Sweet and Sour Pork. We just had to order it since it’s my sister’s favorite. An ultimate favorite that there was even a time we had to order this dish every Sunday, which means we had to eat in a Chinese restaurant for our family dinner. Ugh! Now, you can probably understand why I don’t eat any dish with sweet and sour sauce anymore. Hehe!

Szechwan Crispy Chicken (PHP 210)- You’ll never go wrong with deep fried chicken. Kids would definitely love it, especially with the crispy crackers that come with it.

Salt and Pepper Squid (PHP 160)- This isn’t the usual salt and pepper squid you can eat in other Chinese restaurants. It’s not as dry as how others cook it. This fried squid had some mild chili in it, and of course, some salt and pepper. It was very flavorful. I’m not really a fan of spicy food, but hey, I can eat this dish! I just set aside the diced red chilies, of course.

Egg Noodles Special Canton (PHP 210)- Noodles is always part of our meal when I’m with my parents. This braised egg noodles is mixed with seafood, pork and vegetables. There was nothing really special with its taste. The sweet-salty sauce is similar to the canton noodles that you can order in other Chinese restaurants. I just love how generous they were with the toppings. Let’s face it, other restaurants serve this dish as if you ordered plain noodles! LOL! Okay, I’m exaggerating. Hehehe! But I know you do get my point.

Overall, there’s nothing really spectacular with Zhu’s dishes, but I still loved my dining experience here. Good food, generous serving, classy ambiance- you get all these without having to hurt your pocket.

* Prices are subject to 12% government tax and 10% service charge.

As I mentioned in my previous post, Shangri-la Boracay is not all about the ambiance. Since good food is part of relaxation, they made sure guests can choose from a variety of restaurants in the resort. Cielo is one of the two restaurants which offers casual outdoor setting by the poolside.

For the two times I ate here with my family, we chose to eat in one of their cabanas.

We also got a view of the beach, which made our dining experience more relaxing.

Here’s what we ordered:

Fettuccine Carbonara (PHP 350)- It’s the all-time favorite of most white sauce lovers. The creamy sauce had that perfect blend, that finishing it wasn’t a problem at all. You know how cream sauce can be too thick sometimes that you get used to its taste after several bites? You end up not finishing the dish anymore, or you might just feel like throwing up. That wasn’t the case in Cielo’s Fettuccine Carbonara. The creaminess was just right and the generous amount of bacon bits and cheese made it more perfect!

Spaghetti Bolognese (PHP 350)- While some restaurants serve their Spaghetti Bolognese with a lot of tomato sauce and small amount of ground beef, Cielo’s version was really meaty!!! Yummy indeed!

Chicken Fingers- Sorry, I couldn’t remember the price but if I’m not mistaken, this was part of the Kids Menu. My nephews were with us the last time I went to Boracay with my family so this order was a must. LOL! Kids always have appetite for fried chicken.  I had a small bite of this chicken fingers and it was really crispy. It came with gravy sauce, which tasted good, but I always prefer honey-mustard or blue cheese when it comes to chicken fingers. But since it’s a kids meal, gravy is surely a big hit for the kids.

Cielo Club Sandwich (PHP 400)- It’s the usual double-decker sandwich, with 2 layers of filling in between 3 slices of bread. Again, they were very generous with the fillings, which includes crispy bacon strips, cheese, egg, lettuce, tomato and chicken (if I’m not mistaken). You can never go wrong with Cielo’s Club Sandwich for snack time.

Meatzza (PHP 500)- One of Cielo’s best sellers in their oven baked pizza is their Meatzza! All the meat lovers out there would definitely go wild when they take a bite of Meatzza pizza, which has ham, salami and ground meat with onions. Just take a look at the photos below and see for yourself!

Seafood Pizza (PHP 450) – Another oven baked pizza with generous mouth-watering toppings is Cielo’s Seafood Pizza. It had crispy thin crust topped with grilled prawns, fish, squid,  mussels, tomato and cheese. Based on the taste, the seafoods were fresh and cooked very well- something that seafood lovers are very particular with. It had the right amount of saltiness in it, which, I believe, came from the seafoods too. This is definitely a must-try!

Four Cheese Pizza (PHP 400) – Most pizza lovers would always have Four Cheese Pizza on their table. Cielo’s oven baked Four Cheese Pizza has gruyere, parmesan, mozzarella and gorgonzola. The crust was thin and crispy, same as that of the Meatzza and Seafood Pizza. There was enough saltiness in every bite because of the different kinds of cheese in it.

If you noticed in my photos above, Cielo’s dishes all had generous amount of toppings- something we don’t usually see in most restaurants out there. You really get what you pay for at Cielo’s. Also, the prices of their food aren’t that bad for a five-star hotel! With such abundant servings, a lot of their dishes can be for sharing, like the pizzas. I’ll definitely be back at Shangri-la Boracay, but hopefully for dinner the next time around.

Cielo
Barangay Yapak, Boracay Island
Malay, Aklan 5608, Philippines
(63 36) 288 4988

The first time I got to see Shangri-la Boracay was last March 2009. I remember how excited and curious I was to set my foot on that resort. It was on my must-see list before I left the city. It was quite new then. Seeing its photos all over the internet made my jaw dropped. It was like a tropical paradise! And hearing that the presidential suite can cost more than a hundred grand, Shangri-la Boracay must be something!

When I first went to Shangri-la Boracay, it was already dark. Being a first timer at that time, I really wanted to go around the entire resort in broad daylight. Nevertheless, seeing all the lights lit up all around the resort left me breathless! See some of my photos below taken last March 2009. You can click to enlarge.

OMG! I was still wearing braces back then! LOL!

After that visit, I knew that I had to go back to this paradise! Actually, more of- I’ve been wanting to stay here for at least a night. True enough, a year after (April 2010), I went back to Shangri-la Boracay. This time, the sun was up! Yay! I wasn’t there to stay for a night though. I just spent my entire afternoon going around the very huge place, eating and relaxing by the pool. It was only during that time that I got to see how BIG Shangri-la Boracay is. We had to go around using a golf cart. But with that big chunk of land, there were not so much people. Take note, it was summer that time. Probably the reason why now you can get a room for just about PHP 8,000! It’s a pretty good deal already, but personally, I’m not up for it anymore. If you just want a quiet and relaxing vacation, no doubt, Shangri-la Boracay is the best place to stay. I go to Boracay for the beach, the night life and the people. Yes, Shangri-la has a beach (as seen in the photos below), but it’s not as white and as powdery as station 1′s. They don’t have Juice Bar (a popular bar in station 2) or the much awaited Epic (the new bar, which replaced Hey Jude). Shangri-la Boracay is just too out of the civilization for me. It’s really for those who want peace and quiet time. Don’t get me wrong. I love the place. In fact, during my most recent trip to Boracay (last October 2010), I dropped by the resort again. It’s just that spending a day in this paradise is already enough for me. When night comes, I need to see people again. LOL!

Yes, Shangri-la Boracay is really far from where all the happening is. This is  probably why they made sure to have the best facilities. Name it, they probably have it. Even if they’re far from everybody else, their guests would still have an unforgettable stay! There are tons of things to do in Shangri-la Boracay. Here are only some…

Lounge at the Entertainment Center. They have an entertainment room where you can surf the internet and play billiards, computer games, table tennis, air hockey, foosball and board games. They also have karaoke rooms for those who want to practice their singing skills.

Let the kids play at the Adventure Zone. I wasn’t able to take a photo of it, but for those in Manila, think of it as Fun Ranch! It’s a big room with really huge inflatable slides. Kids will surely go insane in this place. LOL!

Go around. Shangri-la Boracay is a very huge place. Try to go around using their golf cart and explore nature. You can also ask for a showroom of their beautiful villas, if available.

Swim. They have a pool, which is said to be the country’s largest free-form swimming pool. They have 2 secluded white beaches, Punta Bunga and Banyugan Beach. As I said, the sand is not as white and powdery as station 1′s though.

the swimming pool

the beach

Have a relaxing massage at Chi Spa. The moment you enter Chi Spa, you might just give in to their signature massage that costs more than PHP 5,000. The place, the ambiance and the music are so inviting. I only got to try how good their masseuse is through the free massage at the Philippine Pavillion in Shanghai World Expo (as I mentioned in this post). The masseuses came all the way from Chi Spa and geesh, they were really good!

Chi Spa’s pool

Last, but not the least, EAT! Shangri-la Boracay has a number of restaurants. If you love seafood, visit Sirena. For the Italian food lovers, try Rima restaurant. You can also enjoy a variety of world cuisine options at Vintana or Cielo. The resort also has lounges & bars namely, Alon, Solana and Lobby Lounge. Since my last two visits at the resort have always been afternoons, my family and I chose to eat by the poolside (Cielo restaurant). Check out my food review on Cielo in my next post.

For those who are interested, Shangri-la Boracay also has a day tour. I think it’s around PHP 2,500 per person, use of facilities included.

Barangay Yapak, Boracay Island
Malay, Aklan 5608, Philippines
(63 36) 288 4988

I know this is a bit late, but I really find my halloween experience in Boracay worth documenting. It was my first time to celebrate Halloween outside Manila and it was surely one of the best experiences for me.

Last October 31, kids and some adults were walking around the beach wearing their halloween costumes as early as 9am! And hey, they weren’t ordinary costumes like simple masks or hats. As I said, people there really prepare! Various establishments and hotels gave out loot bags for those who went for trick or treat. Some even had contests for the best costume, with cold cash as their prizes. Check out the line outside a supermarket in D’Mall just to join their costume contest…

Yeah, it’s that long! And take note, I saw this at around 10am!

Take a look at some of the cool costumes of the kids..

This is one of my favorites- looks like she’s holding her own head! Haha! If I see this at night, I might be screaming and running back to my room! LOL!

The boy in front won the best costume in the contest held by the local grocery store… Scary and gross indeed!

Fast forward to my Halloween experience at Discovery Shores. We were supposed to go there at around 3pm since they had a lot of activities for the kids. My nephews went with us so they would surely enjoy all the games and booths at Discovery Shores. We were about to leave our hotel when the rain started pouring. We then decided to just go to Discovery at around 6pm since my friend working there said they still had some activities at night. Little did we know that it wasn’t really for kids. Oooh….

When we arrived, we were ushered to the Horror House. It was divided into 5 rooms, each with different themes. Take note, each room was fully decorated, plus with a number of “actors”. It was insanely scary inside! I tell you, there was never a dull moment! It felt like it was taking us forever to get out of that place. Haha! We were shouting the whole time, but it was really an experience! It’s really amazing how they prepared for it. The employees of Discovery Shores were really good actors! Haha!

First room- Torture Chamber

After one of my nephews peeped through the first room, no wonder he went back to his grandma running and crying!!! He was telling us he didn’t wanna go inside since they were torturing people!!! LOL! Poor little boy! But, they were really good huh! Seriously, their acting looked real! After seeing that, I just expected those gross/ disgusting sights in the next rooms. Duh! How I wish!

Second room- Gambling Room

How I wish it was just a real gambling room! The moment we entered the second room, someone tried to hold us from our sides and backs! Waaah! People inside the room were screaming, which added to the scary feel! LOL! There was very minimal light in that room. People were coming out from nowhere! Some were hiding under the tables, then scared us to death by holding our feet! That room was tiring! We were screaming here and there! LOL!

Third room- another Torture Chamber (of monsters)

The next room was like another torture room, but for monster-like creatures. The moment we got inside, there was a man that seemed like he popped out of the sand, trying to reach our feet (as seen on the left picture)! Waaaah! Don’t like! There was also a lady lying on a bed, with one of her legs chopped! “Blood” was all over her and geesh, she had a deadly stare! Too bad, there was no photo of her!!! Argh!

Fourth room- Classroom

We weren’t able to take any photos inside the “classroom” since it was intense in there! We just wanted to get out as fast as we could! LOL! When we got inside the room, a student was screaming, while holding her “eyeballs” on her hands! Eeeew! We all know those were just pingpong balls, but still! With the acting and all that, it was gross! Hahaha! There was also a “teacher” wearing a nun costume. While she was writing on the blackboard, a hand suddenly popped out of the board trying to strangle her! Oh, geesh! And how about the other students? All of them were staring at us- deadly and scary stares! On the way out was a struggle since there were a lot of surprises. Haha! You could imagine our screams!

Fifth room- Cemetery

The moment we entered the room, a guy hiding on the side of the curtain tried to scare us once again! By now, you can imagine how tired my heart was already! Oh dear, this is what I get from drinking too much coffee!!! Even though we knew that there were people who would pop out of those tombs, we still shrieked non-stop! Some even went out of the sand when we passed by! Oh, and even the trees moved (as seen on the right photo). Hehe!

At the end of it, we felt so tired and hungry! It was a fun experience though. Looking back, we seriously looked stupid. Don’t you think?! We kept on screaming, running and holding each other’s hands knowing all those ain’t real! I mean, all of those people were paid to scare us! We were insane! LOL! But damn, if you were walking around inside those rooms, you would really scream and run! LOL! It can be exhausting, which is why we ended up eating at Discovery Shores. We ordered the following:

Cheese Pizza (PHP 395)- This is on the Kids Menu. My nephew super liked it that he ate half of it! Take note, he’s just 7 years old! I tried it and it’s just the plain and simple cheese pizza. It’s on the sweet side, just like what most kids prefer.

Fiesta Crispy Pata (PHP 750)- Tender braised pig’s trotter, fried to a crunchy crisp and served with dipping sauces and homemade papaya pickle. Good for 3 to 4 people. It’s one of the safest dish to order since Crispy Pata doesn’t really vary much in taste.

Pork Binagoongan (PHP 410) – Tender pork belly simmered with fresh bagoong, green mango and coconut cream. I love pork binagoongan, but since I don’t eat coconut, I wasn’t really able to enjoy this dish. I had to take out the sauce so I could eat it. Those who love coconut would probably like this since the taste of the coconut was quite strong. The dish serves 2, but it can be good enough to share up to 3 if you are ordering other main dishes as well.

Pancit Canton (PHP 450) – Stir-fried noodles, chicken, vegetables. It didn’t really taste like the regular Pancit Canton we are all used to. It’s Pancit Canton with a twist. It was saucy and there were a lot of veggies mixed into it. It serves 3, but it can be good enough to share up to 4 if you are ordering other main dishes.

Haaay… Now I’m missing the island. I wish to be back soon. Oh and of course, I wish to stay at Discovery Shores. It’s just too expensive! It’s the best hotel for me though, more than Shangri-la and Asya. I get some quiet time in that side of the island, at the same time, not too far from the night life. I tried booking rooms two months before we went there, but they were already fully booked! How sad! Who can resist Discovery Shores…???

the room…

Oh and before I end this post, wondering what I wore for Halloween???

An angel in disguise, eh?! Hehe!

with a dark angel…

How I wish I was an angel that night! Well, I was- just without the halo and the wings! LOL! Kidding! I couldn’t bring those big wings inside the plane! My mom would kill me! All of our luggages were almost overweight going back to Manila since my mom and aunt just shopped over there. Yes, can you imagine that?! Shopping in Boracay?! Beat that! The sisters can’t live without shopping! It’s in their blood! (Hmmm… So does that mean it’s in mine too?!?! Now, I’ve got an excuse! LOL!) They even brought home Christmas Trees from Shangri-la Boracay! Whew!

Anyhoo, my real costume???

I was just a simple Hawaiian girl. Too simple, I know. I wasn’t able to prepare. Sorry ’bout that! Oh, but I also had that flower (which came all the way from Hawaii) behind my ear. It’s not too obvious in the photo. I didn’t know that placing the flower on the left or the right has meaning to it! LOL! From my research, flower behind the left ear means taken or married, while flower behind the right ear means “single and ready to mingle”! LOL! I wore it on my right! Uh-oh! Sorry dear, didn’t know about that! Oooops! Hehe!

Anyway, I need to go now. Need to take a power nap before I start going around. I can’t wait to sip my daily dose of Jonah’s shake, eat Smoke’s Sizzling Bulalo and have a relaxing massage! Stay tuned for my upcoming posts. I’ll still be blogging from here.

xoxo,

Lush Angel

Well, there isn’t really much to do at Thunderbird Poro Point and I’m actually not used to it. Whenever I’m out of town or country, my feet drags me to wherever. Probably beacuse I love to go on tours and do some activities. The only time and place I can do nothing is when I’m at home, usually when I’m ready to sleep. LOL! It’s even hard for me to stay at home, so staying in a resort with not much to do but to relax is something new to me. Hehehe! Well, of course Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point have some amenities so it’s not really a place that would bore you to death. LOL! It’s just not my usual way of relaxing. Anyway, here are the things you can do in Thunderbird Poro Point Resorts:

Sleep. Obviously! I just have to rave about their bed, pillows and sheets again. Sorry! Hehehe! Because of their ultimately relaxing bed, I named it “Thunderbed”.

Eat. Duh, of course! When you’re out of town/ country, you find yourself munching and munching from time to time. I am kinda guilty of that. Isn’t that obvious in my previous post??? Haha! I love trying out something new (just don’t give me exotic food… Haha!). You can dine in Vegas Cafe at the Fiesta Casino building, Olives at the main hotel building of Thunderbird and the Pool Bar. More on the dining experience at Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point in this post.

Drink. What’s a better way to enjoy the view but with a glass of your favorite drink. There’s the Santorini Bar & Lounge to satisfy your alcohol thirst.

Go to the beach. Love the sand? Play in the waters and enjoy Thunderbird’s private Beach Club.

Have fun in the pool. You can enjoy the pool for free when you book a room at Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point. You can also have a dip in their pool if you avail of their day tour. More info about the day tour later on.

Play casino. For those who want to try their luck, play slot machine or table games at the Fiesta Casino!

Have a relaxing spa treatment. Enjoy a relaxing massage in the convenience of your room. They actually have a promo going on right now valid until Sept 30, 2010. Services and prices are as follows:

Signature Zaphira Spa and Swedish Massage – PHP 600/ 60 mins,
Shiatsu - PHP 700/ 60min (also avail in 90 and 120 min),
De-stress Foot Reflexology - PHP 600/ 60mins,
Head & Shoulder Massage - PHP 300/ 60 min,
* Prices are inclusive of VAT and service charge.

Play golf. Tee off at the Cliffs Golf Club. You can also rent a golf cart to go around their nine holes golf course, while you enjoy the view of the resort. It’s open daily from 6am – 5pm. For non-members, tee off is from 9am – 1pm daily.

Get into sports. Time to be athletic! They have an outdoor basketball court and a volleyball net beside the pool area. Water sports activities, such as jetski, are also available for rent.

Hmmm… Interested to visit Thunderbird Resorts Philippines? You can enjoy the amenities even without booking a room at Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point. They offer a day tour for only PHP 1,000, PHP 700 of which is consumable.  If you wanna relax and try the “Thunderbed” though, take a look at this link for room rates and more pictures.

Vegas Cafe

I was able to try Vegas Cafe once for lunch. There were only a few people when we got there as it was a Sunday around 11am. I can imagine this place packed with hungry casino players at night since Fiesta Casino is right beside this restaurant. Vegas Cafe is open 24 hours and offers international cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

*You can click on all the photos below to make them bigger*

While waiting for our order, we were given complimentary bread rolls. It was really tasty and best of all, it was served hot and soft- just the way I like it.

Looking at the menu of Vegas Cafe, most of their dishes are for sharing. And my order…

Sinigang na Baboy (PHP 350)- Since I was really craving for soup that day, I ordered Sinigang na baboy. It’s pork belly and mixed local vegetables boiled in tamarind broth soup. Errr… I know it’s a dish that can be ordered just about anywhere, but that’s what I’ve been craving for that day! LOL! I still didn’t regret having this instead of ordering their steak, which is their specialty. It’s one of my fave Filipino dishes! The pork sliced into small pieces were really tender. The veggies that came with the Sinigang were fresh, I can say, since they were crisp. The soup was sour, just the way it should be. But since I like my Sinigang soup really really sour, it would have been better if more tamarind flavour was added. It was served in a clay pot to keep the soup warm and yummy! This dish serves 2 to 3 persons.

Pool Bar

After having our afternoon siesta on their “Thunderbed”, we went to the pool for a dip. Well, it served as my exercise in preparation for an adventurous surfing the next day. Hehehe! But before doing so, I had to satisfy my growling stomach. I had a hard time choosing from their menu since I wanted to order and try a lot!

I ended up ordering the Santorini Club…

Santorini Club (PHP 260)- It’s a toasted whole wheat bread with layers of chicken breast, avocado, lettuce and egg, topped with crispy bacon. Well, I love anything with bacon! I don’t consider it as a breakfast food. (Probably because I rarely eat breakfast! LOL!) The Santorini Club served to me was packed with meat and veggies, making it hard for me to bite the sandwich. Not that I’m complaining! In fact, it’s a two thumbs up for me! Well, that’s why utensils were made. LOL! I also found the Club juicy despite the layers of chicken breast, which is usually dry. The Santorini Club was also served with corn chips, which was not the usual paper-thin chips (which I prefer). This dish serves 2.

And to keep me alive for the rest of the day, I ordered a bottomless freshly brewed coffee for only PHP 100. Hehehe! I think I had 4 refills of coffee! Bad, I know!!!

And of course, what’s a vacation without sipping an ice cold shake while sunbathing?!

Watermelon Shake (PHP 150 – 160)- Sorry, I couldn’t remember the exact price but it’s around that range. Watermelon Shake is one of my fave drinks, especially when I’m out in the sun. It’s a very refreshing drink, which is just so perfect to beat the heat. There’s really not much that can be done to give a Watermelon Shake a twist. I’m just glad that they served me a sweet one to satisfy my sweet tooth, at the same time, giving me a refreshing feeling.

Olives Restaurant

Olives Restaurant is located in the same building of Thunderbird’s main hotel, near the lobby. Olives offers Mediterranean cuisine for lunch and dinner, and a buffet for breakfast. I would say, one of their specialties is their pizzas. It’s freshly cooked from their wood-fired stone oven (as seen in the photos below), making their thin crust pizzas crispy.

Since I wanted to try different kinds of pizzas, I decided to split the flavours of one whole pizza- meaning 4 slices with the same flavour and the other 4 slices in another flavour (as seen in the photo below). As to how much they charged us with this kind of request? The price was just like ordering two half pizzas of our choice! Oh, they even accommodate special requests, like if you want to take out some ingredients and add something in replacement. That’s what you call excellent service! They really want to make sure all their customers are satisfied.

Anyway, I ended up ordering the following:

Pizza Ilokano (PHP 400)- It consisted of Tomato Concasse, Mozzarella, Cheddar Cheese, Vigan Longganisa, Tocino, Tuna and Onion. To be honest, I ordered this pizza just because of the Vigan Longganisa. I’m not fond of eating longganisa, except for Vigan Longganisa. The problem? Tuna has such a strong flavour that I barely tasted the Vigan Longganisa. There was a hint of sweetness because of the Tocino, but the taste of the tuna was still very dominant.

Pizza Frutti Di Mare (PHP 460)- This had Tomato Concasse, Mozzarella, Squid, Shrimps, Fish and Scallops. I looove seafoods! I love squid. I love shrimp. I love scallops. So obviously, I loved Frutti Di Mare Pizza. The seafoods used were all fresh. The serving of the toppings was generous, which made it so perfect!

Pizza “Quattro Stagioni” (PHP 470)- This had Kalamata Olives, Artichoke Hearts, Parma Ham, Fresh Mushrooms and Mozzarella. Pizza Quattro Stagioni is one of their best sellers. It had a lot of toppings as well and it was really good!

Four Cheese Pizza (PHP 720)- consisted of four kinds of cheese- Goat, Parmesan, Feta and Mozzarella. This one is the bomb! Well, looking at the price, it really has to be good. I actually find the price quite steep for a pizza. When I had a taste of it though, it did not disappoint.

Sorry for the photo below. We ate two slices of Four Cheese Pizza already before I was able to take a picture of it. LOL! This is also half and half pizza. Pizza Quattro Stagioni and Four Cheese, which is the one on top with two slices left.

While waiting for our orders, we were also given soft and hot bread slices and rolls. It came with butter, my fave oil and balsamic vinegar dip, and some olives.

And of course, we had to order wine to perfectly match our pizzas. Well, who wouldn’t want to order wine if you are seated right in front of this…

Lovely, eh?! Hmmm… Now I’m thinking of having a wine cellar in my future home. LOL! That would definitely help me doze off to sleep early! Haha! Anyway this is what we had…

Cabernet Shiraz 2007, Laughing Lizard (PHP 170 per glass/ PHP 800 per bottle)- a vibrant deep purple colour, overflowing with ripe berry fruit flavours with just a hint of soft spice. I’m not really a wine drinker. I just join wine tasting tours because it’s part of the itinerary whenever we go out of the country. Well, I do enjoy them. In fact, one of my most memorable wine tasting tour was in Ontario, Canada. It was the first time I had a sip of that expensive Ice Wine. We ended up bringing home several bottles of it for my family and I to drink before going to bed. Hehehe! After tasting that delicious Ice Wine, my love for dessert wines started and my search for Ice Wine here in Manila has not ended! Yes, I haven’t seen any Ice Wine here yet. Anyway, sorry for my long introduction on my love story with wines. LOL! Actually, it was only recently when I learned to appreciate red wine. I’ve been drinking red and white wine, but I never really craved for them. Now, I just love them. It goes well with steak or pizza. And of course, a glass can help me have a sound sleep. LOL!

We also availed for Breakfast Buffet, which was included in Thunderbird’s room package (more on the room rates and packages in this post), here at Olives Restaurant. Well, I don’t usually eat breakfast because either I’m always in a hurry or I wake up late. It’s only when I’m on vacation that I get to wake up early and eat breakfast. And my favorite breakfast food? Crispy bacon!!! And guess what?! They had it in the buffet! That just made my day! It’s been a long time since I ate breakfast! LOL! Anyway, other than the bacon, the breakfast buffet of Thunderbird Resorts has a variety of choices, enough to cater to the different preferences of the guests. Here’s what they had in the buffet table:

salad bar and various tropical fruits

a variety of  cheese, cereals and bread

omelette station

from L – R: Beef Tapa, Daing na Bangus (Fried Fish), Sauteed Chicken Strips, and Bacon

The drinks included in their buffet were fruit juices, soy milk, cold chocolate drink and brewed coffee.

I ended up finishing all these…

Burp!

Santorini Bar & Lounge

Santorini Bar & Lounge is where you can satisfy your thirst for alcohol! It’s near the lobby and Olives restaurant. It has a very relaxing ambiance, with the view of the South China Sea, making it a perfect place to sip a little bit of alcohol anytime of the day! Hehehe! Oh, and they have a variety of alcohol mixes and happy hour as well! Well, I was a good girl during my stay in Thunderbird Resorts for two straight weekends. No alcohol for me! Well, we did lounge here at Santorini bar since the pool area was packed with people. But we ordered shakes and coffee, as usual. (Coffee has been my bestfriend for several weeks now! Geeesh! Need to stop it!)

Anyway, here are some photos of Santorini Bar & Lounge:

Imagine yourself sipping your fave cocktail, wine or fruit juice, while listening to their relaxing music and enjoying this kind of view… Whew! That’s what you call- Living Lush-ciously!

the mini stage for live performances every Friday and Saturday night…

I was able to try their Mango Shake, about PHP 120 – 150 I think (Sorry, I couldn’t remember the exact price again!). Similar to the Watermelon Shake I ordered while I was in the pool, there’s nothing much that can be done to make this shake special. I’m just satisfied that it was sweet, even if Mangoes are already out of season during this time of the year.

We also ordered Milk Shakes (about PHP 200 – 220). I tried the Chocolate Milk Shake, which wasn’t really as thick and pure as it should be. I liked it still as it wasn’t too sweet. You won’t easily get tired of drinking it.

OMG! Sorry, this post has become too long!!! Ummm… Can I just say, I don’t usually eat this much! When I’m on vacation, it just feels so good to go on a food trip. And with this kind of place, you just want to relax and enjoy Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point with a happy tummy! LOL!

* Note that prices indicated here are subject to change without prior notice *