The Geek Travels

The first time I visited The Rodriguez's Tiny Kitchen last February 2012, it was really tiny. I was a bit surprise when they finally moved to a bigger place near Holiday Spa along F. Torres Street. Well, their new place is not-so tiny anymore as it can accommodate more people. Despite the change, their food has never been different - sumptuous and every penny and calorie is all worth it.

I had the chance to visit Tiny Kitchen last May and June for a food event - Davao Food Appreciation Tour and the Sooo Pinoy Davao Food Trip.

For DFAT 2012, we were served the following food:

Clubhouse sandwiches

Cake, CAKE, CAKKKKKKEEEEES!

During the Sooo Pinoy's event, Calderetang Espanyol was our main course. It was Tiny Kitchen's best-seller. And for our dessert, we tried their brownies and revel bar.

The Rodriguez's Tiny Kitchen is truly one fo Davao's unique restaurants. Their dishes are a fusion of Spanish and Filipino although one can surmise that most Filipino dishes originate from Spain. The owners (The Rodriguez Family) are also the one who cook and bake the various dishes of their restaurant. Truly, cooking has been their passion. I wish my family's also passionate when it comes to cooking. Too bad, we're only passionate to eating.

Mrs. Donna Rodriguez was also kind enough to explain to us on how they make their signature gourmet tuyo (I tell you, it's to die for) and the paelleras they use.

One should not miss their paellas as well!

Overall, the service is really nice. I really love the store's ambiance. They serve really delicious food. Definitely a place you can't afford to miss when you're in Davao!

The Rodriguez’s Tiny Kitchen Davao

F. Torres St., Davao City, Philippines

Contact: (63 82) 305-9232

Email: tinykitchencreations@yahoo.com

Facebook page: The Rodriguez's Tiny Kitchen Davao

__________________________

This is the Sooo Pinoy Series. Read more of my posts related to my first Sooo Pinoy Food Trip Tour here:

Day 4 - Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park

Finally, now on our fourth day, diary!

It was a fine, sunny morning when the Sensi Hostel Team (composed of yours truly, Brenna, Yancy, Cho and the two Spanish duos - Jaime and Alberto) walked all the way to the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal. We planned to visit three out of five islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park namely Mamutik, Manukan and Sapi.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park Kota Kinabalu

My Kota Kinabalu experience would not be complete if I totally miss this marine park!

Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park or TAR Marine Park is a park off the coast of Sabah, Malaysia. It is made up of five islands namely Gaya, Manukan, Mamutik, Sapi and Sulug.

I was a bit surprised when we boarded the speed boat. Back in the Philippines, we seldom use speed boats for island hopping as pump boats were more common. So, the speed of it caught me off guard. It reminded me of my bumpy jet-ski ride back home. But nonetheless, I really enjoyed it.

PulauMamutik

First stop was Mamutik Island. As part of the park's requirements, we paid RM10 for the Environmental Conservation Fee, payable upon arrival to the first island of the day visited. While talking to Brenna and Yancy in Tagalog, the speedboat operator overheard us and started talking to us in Tagalog too. Thank God! No matter how fluent we are in English, nothing beats the feeling of talking to your fellow kababayan in our mother tongue.

We arrived there at around 10 minutes before 10 in the morning and we were only allowed to stay there for two hours before sailing to our next destination.

The beach of Mamutik Island is clean although the sand was not that fine. Despite that, there were a lot fishes. Got nibbled by some of them... and in fairness ha masakit ang nibble nila! And because this particular island is small, you can explore it on foot for more or less 45 minutes.

Doing some crazy stuff at Mamutik Island

Fearing that the boat would leave us, we went to the pier fifteen minutes prior the departure... only to find out that the boat was almost 45 minutes late. Gee.

While waiting for our boat to Manukan Island. España y Filipinas represent!

Pulau Manukan

Our second stop. Instead of hitting the beach, we went straight to the one and only cafeteria of the island. Swimming under the heat of the sun made us as hungry as lions. We even spotted a group of Filipinos, who like us, enjoying their vacation. I surmised they were also deprived of sun, like Brenna due to the monsoon rains.

I decided not to swim, fearing that I'd be a million shades darker. So, I just sat on a reclining chair and had a siesta for almost two hours.

The last thing I saw before I closed my eyes.

Ahhhh, good life.

I think Manukan Island is the most decent place to have an overnight stay. The island has several cottages for rent. They were all actually beautiful but judging from its beautiful facade, it's quite pricey.

Pulau Sapi

We left Manukan Island at around 2PM. Last destination - Sapi Island. What I really loved about this island is the beach itself. The water is not too deep (especially fronting the southwestern tip of Gaya Island) and there are lots of corals! Perfect place for snorkeling. It was a wonderful trip indeed and we realized that in this kind of situation, we have to make plans to travel the whole world and enjoy all the beautiful beaches.

I swam for an hour before heading back to the shore and slept for an hour. It was cloudy during that time and it was just perfect - calm waters, hindi masyadong mainit na weather and most of all, a perfect time to play poker games or any other board or card games with your friends! Jaime and Alberto even asked me if I brought a deck of cards. Too bad, none of us brought one so the three of us just slept. Haha! Sleepyheads!

Things that you ought to know about Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park:

Try visiting the island on a weekday. It gets busier on weekends.
You can choose to spend as little as an hour on one island, or all day, or hop in between islands depending on how many trips you purchase at the terminal.
Swimmers should be extra cautious when swimming on any of these islands. Because of the park's rich marine biodiversity, the sea is filled with sea creatures, including the jellyfish. The park authority posts warning signs during jellyfish season.
Unless you are spending the night on any of the islands, or have chartered a boat, the last boats back to the city leave at 5PM. Be on time, because the boat operators will charge you a rather exorbitant fee for after hours pickups.
The western part of Gaya Island, directly opposite to downtown KK, is inhabited by mostly illegal immigrants. Crime rate there is high ergo it is dangerous to visit that part of the island.
The Marine Park has a diverse wildlife. Some of the islands are home to wild boars, long-tailed macaques, monitor lizards and proboscis monkeys (found on Gaya island). Also on Gaya island, you are likely to find green pit viper and the yellow banded mangrove snake. An albino python has also been seen there.

We actually enjoyed our trip to the marine park. Kudos to the local government of Kota Kinabalu for maintaining the TAR Marine Park. Everything's organized and the everyone's disciplined.

When in KK, you shouldn't miss this!

_______________________

Read more of my Kota Kinabalu adventures here!

Traveling around the Philippines is indeed challenging. One reason for it is the country's geography. Unlike its Asian neighbors, where provinces and countries are only divided by an imaginary line that we fondly call borders, most provinces in the Philippines are divided by rough seas, stretching beyond what your mind can imagine.

It's quite easy to navigate by land when you are in Luzon and Mindanao. But in Visayas, it's a different story - it is a combination of land, air and sea. Despite the geographical challenge, Visayas is the most diverse island group of the country. The three regions - Western, Central and Eastern Visayas (Region VI, VII and VIII respectively) - have their own share of language, culture and heritage and a myriad of adventures.

A good friend of mine asked one question that made me dumbfounded for several minutes. Her question was, "What's the best place that you've visited in Visayas?". I answered "every place in Visayas is beautiful!". Technically speaking, I am wrong. My grammar teacher in grade school would get furious if she heard my answer. Best pertains to a thing that literally stood out from the rest. The best among the rest. Screw technicalities, I am just telling the truth.

So far, I have visited and stayed in Iloilo, Boracay, Cebu, and Siquijor.

It's more fun to get lost in Iloilo,so get lost everyone!

I got lost in Iloilo the first time I went there last year.

Basically, I just took a random jeepney and guess what? The jeepney took me to a random place too! Wow, I never thought that there's a place in Iloilo named Brgy. Random. Anyway, the last thing I remembered about this particular jeepney ride was this: I was still at the downtown area when all of the sudden, I saw big ships and a lot of people selling palengke goods along the street! Shoot!

What I did was, I got off the jeep after it made its way back to the downtown area and hailed a cab to SM. Sucks to be me.

It was rather a funny experience though. The following year, I came back here and even appreciated the city of Love more. If you love to eat, Iloilo is the best place to visit. One shouldn't leave Iloilo without trying their special La Paz Batchoy!

Deco's Batchoy! Namit gid!

Chasing sunsets at Boracay

Last May, I had the chance to witness the famous sunset of Boracay. It was truly beautiful. Plus, the weather during that time was fair! And oh, don't forget to put your hands up in the air and party like a rockstar in Boracay! I am not a party-person (I'm actually a party pooper LOLJK) but I love Boracay's vibe!

As I watch the sun slowly descend upon the world, I am always struck by a strange and timeless thinking that the world is still full of possibilities. I feel a connection to the grand, elusive scheme intertwining to all of humankind, and I am struck by something undefined. Even though I can't define that thing, it still compels me to do better with my life than what I have done so far.

From the Peru to Cebu

Now there goes the famous line of Enya's Orinoco Flow. Like any other metropolitan cities in the world, Metro Cebu is crowded, huge and cosmopolitan. But its real gems lie at the outskirts of the metro. Travel north and visit Bantayan and Malapascua Islands. Enjoy the pristine white sand beaches there with your family or friends!

If you're not a big fan of beaches, you can always try climbing Osmeña Peak, the province's highest peak, located at the middle of Cebu Island. It offers breathtaking views of Bohol Sea to the east and the coast of Moalboal to the west. It's not really a hard climb, I tell you! And oh, don't forget to swim with the tuki or whalesharks at Oslob!

Into the Mystical Island

I never expected that I'd visit Siquijor this year. It was never been part of my bucket-list. I don't know, I thought that I'd never get out alive once I set foot on this island. But 'lo and behold, I made it! Siquijor is just one of the most underrated places here in the country. The island boasts a LOT of beautiful beaches (see also: Salagdoong Beach), waterfalls and old convents and churches. People in Siquijor were very polite and hospitable to us when we went there last March. I'd definitely go back there soon and explore more of the island!

Salagdoong Beach of Siquijor Island

Future Plans and Everything Under the Sun

I still have a loooooooooong (repeated o's for emphasis) way before conquering the Visayas Region. I still have to experience MassKara Festival of Bacolod, visit my grandmother's hometown in Leyte, dive at the famous Apo Island, swim at the tranquil waters of Panglao, Bohol and the list goes on and on and on.

At this point, you'll probably understand why it is sooooo much difficult to point out the most beautiful place I've visited in Visayas.

______________________________

This post is my entry to the Pinoy Travel Bloggers' Blog Carnival for September 2012 with the theme "The Visayas Roundup". Ding Fuellos of The Pinoy Explorer hosts this edition of the blog carnival.

Visit Estan Cabigas' Langyaw to see the archive of Pinoy Travel Bloggers' Blog Carnival!

Brought to you by:

The Pinoy Explorer - The Visayas Roundup

And the Sooo Pinoy Davao Food Trip continues. For merienda, the team went to Ecoland to try out this local restaurant aptly named Pansititoy. From the restaurant's name itself, they serve different kinds of noodles and as well as Batchoy and the all-time favorite of Pinoys, Crispy Pata.

Yummy batchoy

Pansit Malabon

Crispy Pata

Pansititoy opened its doors to the public last March 17, 2006. Today, the restaurant has four branches - Bajada, Skyline (Catalunan Grande, Cabantian and Ecoland). Now you asked why this restaurant was named as such. It may sound silly for some but the owner explained to us that its unique name reflects to the different kinds of noodles they served in the restaurant and it is also an effective strategy for recall. Not bad eh, considering that Pansititoy is a catchy name. Agree?

All main ingredients come from Malabon thus ensuring top quality and taste. I highly recommend their Pansit Malabon and Crispy Pata. And oh, you shouldn't worry about the price. Everything in Pansititoy is affordable and delicious.

Now that's sulit, mommy!

_______________________

This is the Sooo Pinoy Series. Read more of my posts related to my first Sooo Pinoy Food Trip Tour here:

And for the last restaurant of our second to the last day of Sooo Pinoy Davao Food Trip, we drove all the way south to try various Filipino dishes at Kookel's in Bangkal. We surely had a lot of surprises when we entered the Don Juan Lounge.

Kookel's cooking restaurant is located at Peace Avenue, Bangkal, Davao City. It is a two storey building which consists of two al fresco wings, one air-conditioned dining area, one resto/bar, as well as a function hall located at the second level. The restaurant itself has an old Filipino architecture inspired by the famous regional ancestral homes. Kookel's serves the best Lechon Manok in Davao, along with a wide variety of Filipino cuisine. Among its must-try dishes include Native Chicken Tinola, Deep-fried Kilawing Liempo and Kare-Kare.

And for this particular restaurant, we ate the following:

Kilawing Liempo

The Kilawing Liempo is new to my taste. It tasted oh-so great!

Tuna Belly in Banana Leaf

I admit we had enough of Tuna Belly. But this was a bit different. The Tuna Belly in Banana Leaf is smoked while wrapped in a banana leaf. Juicy, sumptuous and tasty!

Deep Fried Native Chicken

I am a big fan of native chicken. Sarap to the bones!

Kookel's Lechon Manok

Lechon Manok seems abundant here in the City of Davao. But apparently, Kookel's has the best tasting Lechon Manok! Love their gravy too!

Kare-Kare

An all-time Filipino favorite, Kare-Kare is best paired with bagoong. Yum yum!

And to end the night, Yano performed two songs! I'm a fan! His performance reminds me so much of my childhood! *sings* Patingin-tingin, hindi naman makabili!

Yano!

And say hello to new and old friends!

Team Barney!

______________________

This is the Sooo Pinoy Series. Read more of my posts related to my first Sooo Pinoy Food Trip Tour here:

Fried Chicken has been my comfort food since I was little. It brings me joy and happiness whenever I take a bite of it. I wouldn't mind eating chicken as my viand for breakfast, lunch and dinner for several days. Mom would hate that though. I guess my love for fried chicken will last for a lifetime. Frankly speaking, as of this writing, I am craving for one again!

Fried chicken has been a favorite of Filipinos ever since God knows when. No one will ever go wrong with the good old fried chicken - be home made or from a local restaurant. It's cheap, easy to prepare and a truly satisfying meal. The young and the young-at-heart are all too familiar with the goodness of fried chicken.

Over the years, a lot of local restaurants innovated their fried chicken recipes. Their goal is to create a new identity. The presentation may be different but the great taste is still there. One of them is Greenwich. As a staple in the Pinoy foodie's list of favorites, the crispy fried chicken goes a notch higher! The Greenwich Crispy Glazed Chicken is an all-new delicious offering that is the next big thing in the food scene as it is extraordinarily crispy and extraordinarily tasty. This new dish is set to satisfy any craving with an amazing fried chicken packed with awesome goodness. A special marinade seeps through each extra large piece, which is then cooked to an inviting crispiness.

The result? A chicken that is extra juicy and bursting with flavor at every bite! And the best part of it? Greenwich Crispy Glazed Chicken meal is available at an affordable Php 79.00!

Fried chicken lovers will definitely storm every Greenwich stores and bite into the extraordinary goodness of this latest offering.

Thank you Greenwich for the pizza slash chicken blowout! I'd really say that I enjoyed the Crispy Glazed Chicken!

And oh, tried my friend's 35mm f/1.8 lens. Considering of buying one soon! Ha!

Nom nom nom!

Kare-Kare with Bagoong - a classic Filipino dish!

Harana would surely ring a bell to Davaoeños, whether the old or the new generation. Harana has been part of every Davaoeño's lives. It is famous for its delicious Mongolian Barbecues, mouthwatering Filipino dishes such as Kare-kare and Binagoongang Baboy. When I was younger, this restaurant is always the number one recommended place for parties, conventions and receptions. Well, until today it continues to become the most sought restaurant in Davao.

Harana started in a little garden at the back of Atty. & Mrs. Fermin Abella's residence at Juna Subdivision, Matina, Davao City in 1966. A small affair made up of few open nipa huts sheltering bamboo tables and rattan chairs. And under the branch of a young mango tree stood the small barbecue pit. In the evenings the place was lit with little gas lamps. Its specialty then, and now, were fried chicken and spare ribs, the original recipe of Mrs. Rosario Abella Lizada. Its original staff consisted of six (6) personnel, most of whom are still with Harana today.

Melo and Ma'am Rosario Abella Lizada

Ma'am Rosario shares the humble beginnings of Harana

In 1970 the Abella's needed the little garden and Harana had to move out. Its new home was the site of Harana 1 along McArthur Highway, Matina. The place was spacious and the owners thought of a new approach in the restaurant business, thus the playground concept - complete with swings, slides, bars - was implemented.

On June 29, 1979, a second Harana was opened along Florentino Street (now F. Torres Street) to serve the growing demands of a fast, developing city. At that time, F. Torres was dark and avoided by motorists at night. There was not a single building alongside Harana. There were only "kangkong" fields, wild reeds and clusters of unkempt banana shrubs. When Harana at Torres opened, F. Torres was no longer the same. Instead of darkness, the place was festooned with bright lights and the sound of music and children's laughter echoed. Now, F. Torres has become the number one food street in Davao City.

Many of the "once-upon-a-time" children, Harana-customers of the 1960s are now either professionals, businessmen, politicians or civic or religious leaders. Now, it is the sound of there children's laughter that you hear.

Ma'am Rosario's story was really inspiring! And yes, among the Filipino dishes that were served, these are my favorites:

Kinilaw with Black Beans

Binagoongang Baboy

Grilled Squid

Spare Ribs

Harana is open daily from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM (lunch) and 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM (dinner). For catering services, please call (082) 221-9022.

__________________________

This is the Sooo Pinoy Series. Read more of my posts related to my first Sooo Pinoy Food Trip Tour here:

Day 5, Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Dear Diary,

The last day of my first international vacation. Half past one in the morning, while Brenna and I were watching a gruesome episode of Locked Down, a white man about the same height as me but ten shades fairer entered the lounge. His name was Diego and came all the way from Switzerland. Wow, just... WOW. He just arrived at KK from Sarawak (or was it Sandakan). He was nice and even showed us some photos of orangutans and proboscis monkeys.

Rock Monitor Lizard (Varanus albigularis)

The following morning, Brenna had to leave at around 11 in the morning to catch up her flight back to the Philippines. She wanted to stay longer, but she had no choice. It was also Yancy's birthday and we planned to try parasailing at Manukan Island. It costs around Rm. 70 (~Php 1500) - cheaper compared to Philippines. But lo' and behold! When we arrived at the port, we weren't allowed to ride one due to bad weather. Lord Jeesaaas!

Apparently, a more exciting thing happened to us when we explored Sapi Island.

Yancy, Diego and I decided to chill at Sapi Island. The beach there is great and the water current's relatively calmer thus it is safer to swim.

Me, Brenna and Diego at Sensi's lounge.

We thought that the weather would get worse. At around three in the afternoon, the weather cleared. Yancy and I were a bit furious about it. But yeah, we always tell ourselves that 'maybe today is not the right time to ride one'. Pfft, pathetic.

After eating our snack at a local restaurant (nomnomnom Malaysian food is the best!!!!), we met up with the two Dutch girls. Well, actually we didn't know they were there; we were a bit surprise when we saw them. And because it was still early, we decided to explore Sapi Island. While exploring we saw two to three monitor lizards (as in MONITTTOOOOOR LIZAAAARDS), at least a meter or two in length. One of them was eating meat.

And we all thought that we were going to be eaten alive by them!

Once threatened, this slow-moving creature will turn into a fast-moving hunter.

And because all of us wanted to have a decent ala-Nat-Geo shot of this amazing creature, we followed one. We walked slowly, just like the creature. Slowly but surely. It was like a scene in Nat Geo Wild (lol, effect na ata to sa sobrang panonood ng NatGeo sa hostel)! We saw their sanctuary, guarded by a meter-high fence. We spotted at least twenty of them! The one we followed met up with another monitor lizard, more or less about the same size. It seemed that they were secretly talking to each other.

AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN, the two of them started to chase us!!! ADRENALINE RUSH! The once slow-moving creature suddenly became a ninja. We all thought that one of us would be bitten by them. Luckily, we escaped unscathed and unharmed. We ran SO FAST that we could have actually won gold medals each from a 50-meter mad dash. We literally ran for our lives.

SMILE despite everything! Haha! Me and my Euro friends!

Apparently, Diego broke the law. Tourists ARE NOT allowed to dive at the port.
But since there were no speed boats during that time...

We all laughed after that incident. It took us an hour or two before we finally got over with it. It was really funny and scary at the same time. But seriously, those carnivorous reptiles scared the shit out of me! I would never, EVER go near them without an expert, a Herpetologist to be exact.

What an adventure. What an experience!

______________________

Read more of my Kota Kinabalu adventures here!

I am proud to say that I am born and raised here in the City of Davao, a city where peace and harmony exist amidst the developments of the city. Davao City may be a very big metropolis in terms of land area, but one wouldn't feel that it's really big. To answer that minor predicament, SM Prime decided to put up its second SM Mall in Davao, catering the needs and wants of every Davaoeños.

Now, it's about time to bring all those good things here in Davao!

It is not your ordinary mall.

It sits in a strategic location in the northern part of Metro Davao, an area long been known as an affluent residential, commercial and leisure address in the City. With a gross leasable area of 144,002 square meters nestled in a 10-ha property, SM Lanang Premier will house first in Mindanao state-of-the-art amenities such as the IMAX Theatre, SM Center Stage and the Skygarden (like the one in SM North EDSA, Quezon City). Also making a landmark is the country's longest dancing fountain with 122-meter stretch of water jets. Now, isn't that fantastic?

Those who love to shop clothes and accessories would be delighted as the American chain of trendy clothing and accessory retailer Forever21 opens its doors to public. Kids, kids at heart and geeks will definitely love SM Lanang Premier as the it brings Science Discovery Center and SM Bowling Center here in Davao.

There is also a big possibility that concerts of both local and foreign artists will be held here in the near future as the mall will have no less than the Davao SMX Convention Center at its 3rd floor. To complement the facility, Park Inn Hotel by Radisson will be operational in 2013. The hotel buildling is located in the compound and offers convenient acces to the mall through a bridgeway.

The atrium's soooooo huge!

Flat Cafe - Starbucks

And the best part of the mall? It is environmental friendly. The mall has its own rain-catchment system that will be utilized for the airconditioning process of the mall and as well as for flushing the toilets. More so, the mall uses LED and CFL lights. Brighter rooms, less consumed energy.

SM Lanang Premier promises to bring to Davao a definitive shopping experience of a permier SM mall offering luxury within reach with its choice retail brands and dining concepts. Its world class entertainment and convention facilities raise the bar in the "malling" league not only in Davao City but to the rest of the region as well.

Now, Davao feels bigger and bolder with SM Lanang Premier!

Catch the grand opening of the mall this September 28!

Aerial View of SM Lanang Premier as of June 2012 (photo courtesy by: Rommel Dorado)

QUICK FACTS ABOUT SM LANANG PREMIER:

ABOUT THE MALL:
46^th mall of the SM Supermalls
4^thSM mall in Mindanao, the first Premier mall
4 level mall With total land area of 100,000 SQM
Ample parking is provided: 1,535 parking slots with outdoor parking area
Basement parking equipped with Park Finder

GROUND FLOOR AREA
The Atrium at the Ground Floor with different international brands and major SM retail anchor stores: SM Department Store, SM Supermarket, KULTURA, FOREVER 21
FOREVER 21 Opens their 6^th branch in the Philippines, the first in Mindanao.
THE SM STORE ( 2-LEVEL PREMIER SM DEPARTMENT STORE)
SM SUPERMARKET
BDO

SECOND LEVEL
More retail outlets, fashion and specialty shops including flagship stores of major national brands such as PENSHOPPE & BENCH
SM Cinema ( 5 Digital theaters PLUS Centerstage & IMAX )
SM Bowling Center (opening by end of 2012 )
SM Science Discovery Center (opening by end of 2012)
Access to the SKY GARDEN with 7 inline tenants
Access to the PARK INN HOTEL via bridge way ( Opening by Feb 2013)
FOUNTAIN COURT 2^nd Level

THIRD LEVEL
ACE Hardware
OUR HOME
SMX DAVAO CONVENTION CENTER
SM CYBERZONE- The ultimate tech and IT lifestyle center of the SM Supermalls, it is the largest chain of IT retail stores in the Philippines which offers vast number of global consumer electronic brands
Quick-serve restaurants & fast food chains

ELEVATED DINING EXPERIENCE
THE FLAT CAFÉ with Starbucks overlooking the Atrium
SKY GARDEN has 7 casual dining restaurants with refreshing pockets of greens and water features. It connects to the mall’s second level and can be easily accessed from JP Laurel.
THE FOUNTAIN COURT a two level strip of casual and fine dining restaurants with a spectacular view of the Fountain with an eclectic mix of Fine Dining and trendy restaurants new to Davao CLAW DADDY’S, VIKINGS, MORISCO BY DON BEPPE, HOG’S BREATH CAFÉ, MR. KURUSAWA, SUMO SAM LEGACY, NEW ORLEANS CAFÉ etc.

REDEFINING LEISURE & ENTERTAINMENT

THE PARK outdoor event venue with a breath-taking 122-meter musical fountain, the first of its kind in Davao and in Mindanao, the longest in the country.

(all photos from the SMLP's presentation)

When in Davao, you will notice that there are lots of barbecue restaurants within the city. I think Davaoeños really love everything that is charcoal grilled. But in Penong's, it's more than chicken and pork barbecues and unlimited rice!

Penong's is about grilled food. Their chicken barbecue has earned the reputation of vein the best in the country and popular for its unlimited rice. Aside from their delicious grilled foods, they also serve an array of choices that will surely entice your taste buds - fish, seafoods, vegetables and a lot of dishes that Filipinos love so much. The barbecue dinners are served in "hometown" atmosphere with paramount care.

During the Sooo Pinoy event, they served us the following dishes:

Pinukotan - Seafood Basket for only Php 468 (good for 4 persons)

Baby Back Ribs (Php 120

Deep fried talong (egg plant)

A very apparent indication of how far Penong’s has moved forward is the addition of four other branches to the original Penong’s at Ilustre St., Davao City where it all began. These branches are now concurrently operating in Matina, Davao City, Sta. Ana Avenue, Davao City ,Tagum City and now with 11 franchise stores.

I'd recommend their baby back ribs and Pinukotan! Sooo sulit!

______________________

This is the Sooo Pinoy Series. Read more of my posts related to my first Sooo Pinoy Food Trip Tour here:

Try their Buko Pandan!

After searching some valuable crafts of Mindanao at Aldevinco Shopping Center, satisfy your enormous appetite at Chippens Buffet Restaurant. Chippens is located at Roxas Avenue and it is only a few meters walk from Aldevinco Shopping Center. The restaurant is known for its buffet that offers a variety of dishes from appetizers to main courses and mouth-watering desserts.

Here are some dishes that I highly recommend. You won't regret trying some of these!

Puto + Dinuguan!

Chicken Pork Adobo

Everyone LOVES Dinuguan!

Mr. Krabbs!

Buffet starts at Php 349 and I tell you, everything's worth it. All dishes were of fusion (international dish with a Filipino style). I recommend you to visit Chippens on an empty stomach. You'll surely love this buffet restaurant!

_________________________

This is the Sooo Pinoy Series. Read more of my posts related to my first Sooo Pinoy Food Trip Tour here:

Yellow Fin has been around Davao for a long time. I do remember eating their when I was still young. This restaurant serves delicious Filipino cuisine. And for our second to the last stop of the Sooo Pinoy Davao Food Trip leg, we visited their Quimpo Boulevard branch and tried some of the local dishes.

Yellow Fin Seafood Restaurant currently has two branches, one in Quimpo Boulevard and one in Lanang, Davao City. It is a food establishment that specializes in Filipino cuisine. It takes pride in serving dishes from the freshest ingredients sourced within Davao and its neighboring provinces thus ensuring high quality food at reasonable prices. For a truly delicious Davao experience, try Yellow Fin Seafood Restaurant. Deliciously Davao.

These are the dishes served during the event:

Adobong Tuna Buntot

Tuna Laing

Sizzling Bihod (Caviar)

Yellow Fin Seafood Restaurant, like all Davao seafood restaurants has tuna and all other types of fish on the menu. Same goes to their turo-turo meals. And mind you, those dishes are very delectable, especially their adobong tuna buntot and their signature deep fried chicken! I was so happy when they served those two meals. Crispy Tuna buntot and fried chicken are just one of my few comfort foods.

Ahhhh, heaven.

Yellow Fin Seafood Restaurant is open daily from 9AM to 10PM.

_______________________

This is the Sooo Pinoy Series. Read more of my posts related to my first Sooo Pinoy Food Trip Tour here:

And for the final leg of the Sooo Pinoy Davao Food Trip, we went to the food court of Gaisano Mall of Davao and ate at Fiesta Dabaw, a native restaurant that serves native Filipino delicacies.

Fiesta Dabaw Native Restaurant started its service in 1994 and it used to be a restaurant before it slowly transformed into a fastfood chain. Since then, their first restaurant closed in order to give way to their fastfood chains in some malls. Currently, they have five branches in Davao. Today, they are now opening two fastfood branches, one at Tagum City, Davao del Norte and the other one at General Santos City, South Cotabato.

What's good in this fastfood resto is their food selection and price. In Gaisano Mall, they serve an average of forty (40) dishes a day. Their value meal costs Php 65 which includes one viand with rice and drinks. More so, they have combo meals to cater the needs of the students.

Here are some of the local dishes we've tried during the food tour:

Tuna Steak

Tuna Sisig

Sepo Guisado (Mixed Vegetables)

Bulalo

Filipino Favorite: Kare-kare

We were all satisfied after eating our meals. Finally, the five-day gluttonous adventure has come to an end! I hope you all enjoyed reading my Sooo Pinoy Davao Food Trip adventures as much as I enjoyed writing it! Phew! This series is the most challenging that I've ever done so far!

Thank you Unilever and Sooo Pinoy for the wonderful experience. I will never forget this. Woot! Miss you guys (you know who you are)!

Ciao! 'Til the next food trip!

_________________________

This is the Sooo Pinoy Series. Read more of my posts related to my first Sooo Pinoy Food Trip Tour here:

According to dictionary.com, serendipity is defined as an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident. Well, everyone of us has its own share of serendipitous moments. And some of us are lucky enough to capture it.

Being at the right place at the right time has its own advantage. Say, taking a nice photograph. Last month, I covered the Pamulak (Floral Float Parade) of Kadayawan Festival. There were millions of people waiting at the side walks of Davao's main streets. Add the fact that it was very hot during that time. When the parade started, I started to take random photos. One photo caught my attention and made me smile:

And with that, Nescafe 3in1 wants to become part of your serendipitous moments by sharing your amazing photos! Nescafe 3in1 Creamy Latte & Nescafe 3in1 Chocolatte awaken our senses to make us notice beautiful things we don't usually see. Share with us the wonderful moments you have captured in a different way as inspired by Nescafe!

MECHANICS:

Follow @NescafePH and @renzybenzy on Twitter.
LIKE NESCAFE Philippines Fan page: https://www.facebook.com/nescafe.ph
Register to NESCAFE 3in1 Serendipics App: https://www.facebook.com/nescafe.ph/app_249120611871722
Submit an entry to the NESCAFE 3in1 Serendipics App.
Entries must be original and “Serendipitous”, meaning wonderful things we don’t usually see
Participants can submit as many entries as they want to the App
Entries shall be verified first by the Admin before it will appear in the gallery of the App
Once your entry is verified by the Admin, choose 1 out of all the entries you’ve submitted.
Comment on the blogger’s account with your name, email address, Twitter name, Facebook name, title of your chosen entry.

Nescafe has allowed me to choose the top ten photos. From the top ten, one will be chosen as the winner of this blog giveaway.

Prize: An awesome Nescafe 3in1 Serendipics Gift Item.

Take note that you also have the chance to win from the Facebook App contest, although wala na akong authority to choose a winner (Lol). Prizes for the Facebook App contest are as follows: 1st prize ~ Panasonic Lumix camera; 2nd prize ~ Canon PS A4000; and 3rd prize ~ Lomo Camera.

Basically you have the chance to win twice (one from the app itself and one from my blog). HOW COOL IS THAT?

What are you waiting for? Join now! It doesn't really matter whether you took your photo from a DSLR camera, PS camera, lomo camera or an iPhone (or any smart phones). Contest runs from September 26 to September 30, 2012.

Hope you guys join!!! Can't wait to see your entries.

It has been more than a month since my first out-of-the-country trip. It was definitely one of my best trips to date. How I wish I could stay in Kota Kinabalu for a month or two! I booked my AirAsia flight 11 months prior the flight and paid only a total of Php 2,000 for the whole trip, special thanks to promo fares.

I did not really expect that I'd really enjoy my Kota Kinabalu trip!

Truth be told, I never expected that traveling abroad could be this fun! Days before my trip, I feel anxious because I might get lost on a foreign land or get mauled by someone. Just thinking of it makes me want to just cancel the whole trip. Add the fact that the weather during that time was really bad. Well, fast forward - I passed the initial screening of the immigration by answering several billion dollar questionssssssss of the officer, boarded the plane and experienced severe turbulence all throughout the flight.

Two hours later, we finally landed on a foreign land. Foreigners, at last.

(L-R: Evelien, Janna (both from Holland), me and Diego from Switzerland)

(L-R: Me, Yancy, Evelien, Janna and Sophie at Waterfront)

The first 30 minutes in Kota Kinabalu was surreal. And for the first time, I got lost in translation. People their speak Bahasa Malaysia and I didn't understand a single thing... well except for a few words like dua (two), lima (five), buka (open), tolak (push), tarik (pull) and jalan (street).

You know what? The best thing that happened in Kota Kinabalu is not about our experience of trying various Malaysian delicacies or our snorkeling adventure at Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Don't get me wrong, I love Malaysian food (in fact, my ultimate favorite is Nasi Lemak) and I find TAR Marine Park to be one of the best diving and snorkeling spots in Southeast Asia.

(L-R: Yancy, Jaime, Alberto, Me, Brenna and Cho)

Beautiful Kota Kinabalu sunset.

Well, meeting new people from the other side of the globe was the best experience I've ever had in Kota Kinabalu! We stayed at a very cozy hostel and met a lot of new people mostly from Europe. I began to digest all the things that they have shared about their country, their practices and the food they eat. Every night after dinner, we would end up talking and sharing about our beliefs and cultures until two in the morning. Well, we didn't mind at all! In fact, their stories were so interesting and inspiring at the same time!

So when we finally bid goodbye to our newfound friends in KK, I couldn't help but feel sadness. Here's what I wrote in my travel journal hours before our scheduled departure:

I'm going back to the Philippines a few hours from now and I feel sad about it. I am aware that this might be our last meeting together, but who knows? Maybe I might visit Spain and play ukelele and accordion again with Alberto and Jaime. Maybe I'll eat sprinkles with Janna and Evelien at Holland and reminisce those funny moments with the monitor lizards of Sapa Island. Maybe I'll eat more Chinese food with Cho. Maybe I'll be once again enamored by Sophie's sweetness. Maybe I'll travel with Diego, a Swiss man who's three years younger than me, and brave the wild forests of Asia.

It was such an amazing experience and I am looking forward to meet them soon.

Aerial view of KK and Gaya Island

Mount Kinabalu!

In traveling, it is easy to let go of the beautiful moment because I know the adventure continues. There will inevitably be more to appreciate once you disembark the plane. In everyday life, leaving a moment you loved is really hard, most especially if you're headed back to reality. We often fail to realize that waving goodbye to a beautiful experience allows us to say hello to a new one. We may not have an idea what that might be, but there's something good ahead of us if we start to embrace new experiences and learn to appreciate every bit of it.

Nonetheless, my first out-of-the-country trip was a memorable one. I look forward to meet new people in my future trips, be local or international!

Terima kasih, Kota Kinabalu! Terima kasih, Malaysia!

______________________________

Read more of my Kota Kinabalu stories here!

I love Japanese food. Yes, I do, I really do! In fact, I would crave for Sushi, Sashimi and California Maki whenever I'm stressed. But usually here in Davao, Japanese restaurants are too expensive. But, I shouldn't worry about it now because Tokyo Tokyo, the country's number one Japanese fast food chain is now here in Davao!

Almost three decades since the first Tokyo Tokyo store opened at Quad Park in Makati, the country's number one Japanese fast food chain restaurant finally arrives in the VisMin (Visayas-Mindanao) Region - serving their signature dishes to Davaoeños first.

"As we officially open the doors of Tokyo Tokyo in the heart of Davao, we hope to open a whole new dining experience for all Davaoeños - one of quality, affordable and delicious Japanese cuisine. We were very happy to be opening not only the first branch to be built outside Luzon, but also the beginning of our long-awaited expansion plans in the VisMin Region," said Tokyo Tokyo's Marketing Manager Joan Pamplona.

We even had the chance to watch a Maki-making Demo! I never thought that it would be that challenging. Hahaha, wala lang talaga akong tiyaga when it comes to cooking; I'm more passionate when it comes to eating, my favorite hobby. Algene and Swexie had the chance to show off their culinary skills by making their own California Maki! Ala Hell's Kitchen ang drama!

Make a maki!

(L-R: Quimz, Sarah G, Dulce (current President of Davao Bloggers), Dust and Julz)

Davaoeños will surely love Tokyo Tokyo because they serve unlimited rice. Oh yeah! Rice + Prawn Tempura and Pork Tonkatsu plus the all time favorite Red Iced Tea = heaven!

Tokyo Tokyo is located at the third floor of SM Lanang Premier, Davao City.

Don't forget to like them on Facebook! *chukkkk*

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.

When my uncle's colleague told me that CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) will conduct a qualifying exam for the Air Traffic Service training, I didn't have any second thoughts. I always dreamed of becoming one ever since. And for first time readers of my blog, read here on why I took the road less traveled. Last April, I immediately complied all requirements - police clearance, original transcript of records, NSO birth certificate and even took the Civil Service exam the following month.

A few days from now, I am going to leave Davao and stay in Manila for good. Honestly, I do not know what to feel.

I have never experienced of being away from home for a long period of time. The longest was a week when I went backpacking to Cebu and Bataan last December 2011. The first three days was fun and exciting but eventually felt homesick on the fourth day. When the plane finally landed Davao, I felt relieved. Sometimes, I thought of long term traveling but.. emotionally speaking, I am not ready. I always long for home whenever I travel. You know, I have this unhealthy habit wherein I always compare this city to my hometown (Davao) - how clean Davao is, how peace and order coexist with people and how dangerous Davao is for criminals. I know I shouldn't do that whenever I travel because I'd always end up disappointed.

Ever since I was born, I have always lived within my comfort zone. I still live with my family. I have friends. I always 'party' every Friday night - bag of chips and a cold glass of root beer while watching my favorite TV series. Basically, my life is comfortable.

The road less traveled.

But there's one valuable lesson that I've learned from traveling - if you really want it, then go for it. Gee, I sound like a Valley Girl right now, but you what I'm saying? Travel Bloggers like Ed of soloflighted, Gail of thepinaysolobackpacker, Flip of flipnomad and We Are Sole Sisters have taught me that reaching your dreams would not be THAT easy. You really have to work hard for it. Indeed, they inspired me a lot when it comes to life's lessons.

I am aware that I am going to live a hobo lifestyle once I settle in Manila. I am aware that my lifestyle would be definitely different from what I have in Davao. But as I slowly reach my dream, I will definitely learn a lot of things about life. I'd always tell myself that it will only take me one year. Just one year and everything's gonna be fine.

The thing is, I wouldn't be traveling around the country and abroad until the third quarter of 2013. But then again, I am still young. May this brand new journey of life be a memorable one.

Don't worry, I'll still keep you updated with my new journey. If reaching my dream requires me to go out of my comfort zone, then I'll do it.

Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get. - 1994, Forrest Gump

I am a certified food junkie. Aside from visiting the must-see places as well as discovering the unexplored part of our country, I would always take note of the food that I eat. Food is the most important thing in traveling aside from accommodation. And because Philippines is a very diverse country, embarking on a gastronomic adventure is truly an exciting idea. First time travelers wouldn't know what's in store for them as they fly from one province to another.

The Cosmopolitan City named Manila

My journey starts at Metro Manila, the nation's capital and home of the 12 million people. The western influence can be seen in almost every corner of Metro Manila. International fast food chains and restaurant line up along the busy streets of Makati or Ortigas and gargantuan shopping malls in almost every block. However, there's one particular district in Manila where you can find authentic Chinese food.

Binondo is Manila's Chinatown. When I went there, almost everyone speaks either Fookien or Mandarin. The language barrier didn't stop me from exploring the innards of Binondo. My reliable sources told me that this place is home to numerous restaurants that serve delicious authentic Chinese cuisines at a reasonable price.

Whenever I am in Manila, I would always come and visit Binondo with my friends to eat. I wouldn't mind if I walk under the scorching heat of the sun for hours. Besides, Binondo is heaven for food junkies like me!

Iloilo: ILOve ILOve

I would always get hungry whenever I think about Iloilo. Truth be told, everything in Iloilo is delicious - from their sumptuous talaba (oyster), sweet treats from Biscocho Haus to their signature dish, La Paz Batchoy. Forget about your diet plans, Iloilo has a lot to offer! Whether from adrenaline-packed activities to food adventures, it's no wonder why a lot of tourists visit Iloilo City.

Daw, namit gid!

Spontaneous Food Trip

There are times when me and my friends would just binge the whole day. It happened in Cebu last summer. It was our first day in the Queen City of the South and we didn't have an itinerary for that day. We first ate lunch at Kuya J's and after trying their baked scallops and crunchy calamares, we got hungrier. We literally walked at The Walk of IT Park and tried every restaurants. Most restaurants we tried were fusion dishes (Asian and Western). I bet that was one of the most sinful days of my life.

Good friends, good food.

Hometown Food Madness

Last year, the Davao Tourism unveiled the city's newest tagline - Life is Here. I couldn't agree more. Aside from a wide array of adventures, Davao offers delectable treats that are uniquely Davao. It is only in Davao where you can drink Durian flavored coffee or eat Tuna in ten ways. I was so fortunate that I become part of two Davao sponsored food trips - the Davao Food Appreciation Tour 2012 and the Sooo Pinoy Davao Food Trip.

In retrospect

Philippines is a one diverse country. Despite the cultural differences within the country, we become one when it comes to cooking and eating. We eat not because it satisfies our hunger. We eat because it's one of our ways to mingle with our family and friends. Nothing beats the feeling of eating good food with your family and friends accompanied with a cold glass of Coca Cola.

How about you? What makes your gastronomic adventure here in the Philippines unique? Share your stories at Coke Happy Kainan.

Can't wait to read your stories!

It's been a week since I finally moved out from my comfort zone to pursue my lifelong dream. It actually feels liberating but awkward at the same time. Awkward in a sense that I have been actually doing those things that I normally don't do when I am home!

For instance, I am actually doing my own laundry, believe it or not. This is actually one of the few things that I've learned from living on my own. I have never, EVER touched or washed my own clothes until today. Back home, I just put it in our laundry basket and wait for two days before we get our clothes back from the laundry shop. But here? I do it manually. It's quite daunting but... So far so good. My clothes and undies smell good, thank God (i didn't do anything wrong). I know that my clothes trust my 'hand washing' skills. Lol

Second, I can actually live without internet, so to speak. It goes like this. My cellphone has this capability to become a wi-fi hotspot but unfortunately, the signal's not that great. There are a number of internet shops near our boarding house but I did not like the vibe (lol kaartehan). But yeah, when the training starts this Monday, I would be literally disconnected from the online world. It's just, I don't have much time for it. If reaching my dream would require not to be online 24/7, then I'll take it.

Well, that's it for now. I'm still lucky that I have lots of friends from the Mindanao region. At least I do not feel alone. Hope we all get through this successfully.

Zero casualty.

Photo credit

Are you pondering over whether to opt for a different board basis to your usual cheap holidays to Lanzarote? Bagging a low cost break doesn't start and end with self catering stints, Lanzarote can be done in luxury too with bargain all inclusive holidays from discounted getaway websites.

Lanzarote is easily one of the most exciting islands in the Canaries. With an electric atmosphere, vibrant resorts and huge stretches of blue flag shorelines, it isn't hard to see why so many Brits choose Lanzarote each year.

As well as offering a diverse array of eateries, attractions and unintimidating bars and clubs, Lanzarote's charm lies within its ability to provide a faultless mix of modern-day facilities with quaint fishing ports and olden towns.

Located south of mainland Spain, off the west coast of Africa, Lanzarote's year round climate is ideal for those who want to travel outside of the peak summer holiday season.

While there is no shortage of places to dine in Lanzarote, if you are looking for a cheap break abroad, eating out may not be the most cost efficient option for you. Before selecting what may seem like a cheap self-catering stint overseas, take a look at what you would usually spend on drinks, snacks and meals while you are away. Totting up the total cost of your basics may surprise you, and make that luxury all inclusive holiday seem that little bit more affordable.

For a small extra amount on your holiday total, all-inclusive ensures that all of your meals, drinks and snacks are covered during your Lanazarote getaway. That also includes any picnic lunches for days when you choose to venture out and discover your destination, and drinking cocktails to your heart's content!

Look online today at bargain all-inclusive holidays to Lanzarote. Start planning the deluxe destination escape of your dreams.

Tales of the Tiny Kitchen

The KK Diaries: Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park

The Visayan Trail

Pansit Madness at Pansititoy

Don Juan y Kookel's

For the Love of Chicken and Pizza

Harana: Davao's Best Homegrown Restaurant

The KK Diaries: Chased by Wild Monitor Lizards

SM Lanang Premier: Davao's Newest Shopping Destination

Penong's: Barbecues, Unlimited Rice, and Etc.

Chippens: Delicious Buffet at the Heart of Davao

Tuna Overload at Yellow Fin

Fiesta Dabaw Native Restaurant

Giveaway: Serendipic Photo Contest

The KK Diaries: Epilogue

Tokyo Tokyo Finally Invades Davao

The Big Move

My Gastronomic Adventure in the Philippines

So far, so good.

Cheap Lanzarote Holidays: Why Book Bargain All-Inclusive Getaways?