Monday, January 30

Tokyo Cafe - a MUST try

It  wasn't actually my first time to eat at Tokyo Cafe. The first time was when i got a gift certificate from the office for just 20% of its original price (got a P1,500.00 GC for only P300.00). I indulged here first with my mama and Fritz... just one of those days i get to treat my mom.


We (Mitch and I) were strolling @ SM North EDSA when we laid our eyes to this restaurant. First thing that came out of my head? TOKYO CHEESEBURGER!! yyyuuuummmy!! Good thing, we both had that on our hungry minds.heheh. Without hesitations, we entered the resto, sat on the chair and ordered our yummies.


With the right flavors of a yummy cheeseburger, you'd surely satisfy your burger craving with Tokyo Cafe's version of it. Served with crunchy french fries, it will complete your hamburger meal the way you used to have it. What differs it from other burgers from more popular food chains is its unique asian taste with its rich beef patty and classic burger condiments.


The quarter pounder burger with its reach condiments and a serving of frenchies
 Then, realizing this will never be enough for our hungry tummies, we also had Chicken & Cheese roll. Which is suuuper delicious with its tender meat and with the oozing mozzarella cheese.


"fried to perfection"
The scrumptious dine would never be complete without the sweetness of a dessert. Trying out their version of Banana Caramel Crepe is heaven. With sliced banana, whipped cream and vanilla ice cream it sure is a sweet treat!

define delicious
Awesome dinner indeed!!

my platter 
me and my part

Monday, January 23

My not so nice 'kalesa' experience

Actually, hindi ko alam kung papaano sisimulan 'tong blog na 'to...

Five years of togetherness..hehe. This I might say is the most memorable anniversary celebration we had. Not only because of the luxurious stay in Microtel, or the bountiful dine @ Friday's and Aristocrat. But most especially, because of the 'kalesa' experience.

After our lunch at Aristocrat, we both agreed to visit Manila Ocean Park, but we didn't pursue due to the long queue on the cashier and the Oceanarium entrance. So, when we saw the 'kalesa' (horse drawn carriage) outside the park, we didn't had second thoughts to try it. Since we both haven't tried it and we thought that its a shame not to get to try my country's main mode of transportation during the early years.

And so we agreed with Kuya 'kutsero'...P250.00 for 30minutes of rental. Fair enough! Naisip ko, kahit abutin ng 1 hour, ok lang since we didn't pursue with our Manila Ocean park plan.

And the joyride began. It was really nice, ang cool nga e. Imagine, you're touring the Intramuros by 'kalesa. hehe!

ewan ko rin anyare sa bangs ni fretch..hahaha

view from our kalesa

its fritz trying it
We enjoyed the ride, nakakatuwa nga e. Another new experience sa anniversary namin. After an hour of strolling Manila, bumalik na kami sa pwesto ni Kuya Kutsero infront of Manila Ocean Park. Then, nuung inaabot na namin ung bayad, sabi  niya, dun nalang daw kami magbayad sa timer nila. Timer, kumbaga sa mga FX, sila yung barker, kung saan natin binabayaran pamasahe natin. In their case, dito nagbabayad ang mga naging pasahero ni kutsero.

Nagulantang kami nung pagbaba ni kutsero e sinigaw niya sa timer nila, naka '2 hours' daw kami!! When in fact, ni hindi nga umabot ng isang oras ung pasyal namin! Yung naging feeling ko? Naholdap kami!!! Ewan ko rin, pero binigay ko dun sa damuhong timer yung isang libo sa wallet ko. After that? Nagkatinginan nalang kami ni Fritz at dumiretso sa parking lot. Nasaan nagpunta yung kutserong g&%o?? Naglahong parang bula bago pa man kami makapalag! WTF!! 

They're all so disappointing, sana di nila ginagawa yang mga bagay na yan sa kapwa Pinoy nila. Sobrang nakakalungkot, because we didn't expect this to happen.

This blog is to warn people not to try riding the kalesa esp. if itsyour first time. I mean it, just don't!

Monday, January 16

Payb Yirs

Five Years. Who would have thought we'll reach this far? I personally didn't expect to still be with him after five long years. Especially our friends who've witnessed our love story. hehehe. :D


Anyway, we planned to celebrate our five years together at Zambales, Potipot. I said that it is much romantic if we spend the night on an island, all alone. But then, the original plan didn't work out because I had to spend P5,000 for my tooth surgery (impacted wisdom tooth)! So, we didn't pursue. I was terribly disappointed with what happened. Well, what do you expect? I'm just your typical girlfriend who would want her 5th year anniversary extra special. Frankly, I already accepted that we'll not be able to celebrate our 5 years together somewhere special (of course, I'm already bankrupt!).


Then a gift certificate from the office banged me... a one night accommodation @ Microtel Mall of Asia (for two in a deluxe room) for 20% of the original price with a complimentary breakfast and free use of the hotel's amenities. WOW! I visited Microtel's website and the room really amazed me! Imagine, I lost my will to pursue with our anniversary celebration, but then, I think it's God's will..who wouldn't take a heaven sent opportunity? hehe.. And so we picked the perfect date for our perfect stay on a perfect hotel for our perfect celebration of our fifth year.


We planned to do it on a Saturday (January 14-15). Yeah, it was a week late for our January 7 anniversary, but better late than never!


Microtel's standard check in and check out time is 2:00 p.m.-12:00 nn. We arrived at the hotel lobby @ past 3:00 p.m. After we talked to the receptionist regarding our reservation, she gave us our key card and proceeded to our designated room.




the hotel
At first glimpse of our room surprised me. Okay, I'm well aware of how the room will look like 'coz I already checked it on the net. But still, the luxurious double city view room astonished me. Actually, I requested for a double sunset view room but they said nothing's available that day. It's ok, because we had a good view (though not the greatest) of the Manila Bay and the MOA's Eye anyway. hehe


The room is wide, its big for 2 people. It has 2 queen sized beds, and said to be for a maximum of four guests. The room's amenities includes:

  • Air-conditioning 
  • LCD TV with cable channels (Fritz got glued with this)
  • Internet Access (can't tell if its ok, didn't try it)
  • Chiropractor-approved mattress (good for a very goodnight sleep!)
  • Electronic card entry system 
  • Radio clock (i think you have to request for the batteries)
  • IDD and NDD phone (I was charged P75.00 for calling my mom twice! hehe)
  • Safety Deposit Box
Here are some of the captured photos of the room:

room number
the queen sized beds
some of the amenities in front of our bed
the table (hehe, gusto ko kasi malaman nyo every detail of the hotel..)
bathroom with the hot and cold shower
the sink inside the cr
We both have so many plans in mind on what to do during our stay. Well, there are lots of things to do there since you're near Roxas Blvd. and Mall of Asia. There's the MOA's Eye (w/c I  wish i tried), and lots of restaurants by the bay, (forget the smell, just imagine the ambience, hehe). We strolled around the baywalk and mall, then, when we felt our stomachs aching in hunger, we searched for a resto which we haven't tried yet. We both agreed to eat at Friday's, yeah its costly, but its our anniv anyway! I ordered Pork Adobo with iced tea while Fritz had his cheeseburger and fries. The taste? Wow! It's the first time I've tried an adobo which tastes like heaven!! And the cheeseburger? Another wow! Fries? Need I say again? Hehe. For me, the price is just right for everything! The service is ok, foods are suuuper great, and the place is good!






cheeseburger and iced tea
Friday's version of pork adobo
After a very scrumptious (and expensive) dinner, we both are excited to go back to our hotel room (who wouldn't be?? with all the amenities, I pray I can stay for a week!)


What we did as soon as we arrived? Photo op of course!


Microtel facade by night 

emote emote din
We didn't have a goodnight sleep that night. Why? It's simple, we didn't sleep at all!! We just made the most out of our stay by watching on their LCD TV, hehe! (kami na ang perstaym magstay sa bonggang hotel kaya di nakatulog!)

Good thing, I get to sleep even for three hours (3am-6am). But since we're both super tired, sleepy and we're still full from our dinner last night, we didn't get to try the hotel's complimentary breakfast.

I realized we have to leave the hotel before 12, so I packed all our things and readied for check out. Sad, I wish I can stay a little bit more, I still want to try the pool and the breakfast!

After putting myself together and accepting that our stay is already over, we proceeded to the reception for check out.

We left the hotel @ past 11am, we're both hungry that time since we didn't have breakfast. So, I offered my gift certificate from Aristocrat courtesy of, again, Businessworld. And off we go to the nearest Aristocrat. Aristocrat @ Roxas Blvd is just 15-30 mins away from Microtel MOA, so we arrived just right for lunch.

the 500 peso worth gc i won from editorial Christmas partey


the yummy leche flan
our orders: yang chow rice, kaldereta and a quarter of chicken + lemonade and iced tea thirst quenchers
my platter
It might not be the best anniversary celebration for others, but for me, it's one of our best bonding time ever! Now I realized that celebrating special occasions is not based on how much you spent, or where and what places you've been, nor how many pictures you had.. it's all about how you celebrate it with the person who makes you smile (and cry), what matters is you are together. Who would give a damn where you go anyway? Anniversaries & birthdays.. these are not occasions to boast! These are occasions you need to treasure, even if you don't have the best camera or other gadgets there are, it's how you put all the memories inside your heart and how you recall every inch of joy in your head.

Tuesday, January 3

Hands Down to 2011!

2011 taught me a lot of things way pass my understanding..(hehe)
I made tons of enemies this year..but I also gained much more friends.  I learned the essence of forgiveness and the need to forget things which agonizes me.
I have actually done lots of things I'm sure I won't regret.. I let go of the people who caused me pain, people who's never been a friend to me. I have known when to hold on and when to let go. I've also differentiated love from infatuation.
I have tried a lot of things..
I travelled, seeking contentment on my thirst of discovering new and majestic places..
I cried..believed that after I drown myself with my own tears, it will pacify my hurting persona..
I laughed., and laughed and laughed until i laugh my heart out.
I had second thoughts about my feelings., (which i need not to elaborate anymore..(:..)
I dreamed, I hoped, I prayed..


I was criticized by judgmental minds, by people who doesn't really know me well.,
I was admired by the people who saw the beauty in me.
I have been fooled and had been the talk of the chismosas (may it be in the office, batchmates, neighbors..).. 


2011 gave me the privilege to decide for myself, and to be responsible and independent enough to pursue what i wanted and loved doing. (dancing:zumba, travelling, writing, etc.)


It served as my starting line for my plans in the near future. It even gave me the heartache and headache of deciding to leave the country and work abroad..
It made me realize that I'm not a kiddo anymore, I realized that I am strong enough to handle difficulties and mature enough to patch (problems) things up. I grew up far more than I could imagine last 2011..I learned to appreciate little stuffs and I've forgotten my 'materialistic' point of view (uh, literally..hehe).


And more than anything else I have done last year, I'm proud to say that I kept my faith in God intact and strong..


Happy 2012 to each and everyone!!