Mountain | Mt Batulao, Stepping Into Dreamland

MOUNTAIN | Mt Batulao, Stepping Into Dreamland
Nasugbu, Batangas

Derived from the Filipino Phrase "Bato sa Ilao" (Illuminated rocks), Mt Batulao is a favored mountain by newbie to experienced outdoorsmen. With open trails, some steep rocky slopes combined with the cool weather associated with the highlands of Tagaytay; Mt Batulao is a hot spot drawing crowds of adventurers during weekends.

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Food Trip | Saboten of Glorietta 5

FOOD TRIP | Saboten of Glorietta 5
Raintree Restaurants of Makati

I'm no fan of Tonkatsu, perhaps because there is only a few Japanese restaurants around, and not many would specialize in serving Tonkatsu. Perhaps, it was due to a bad memory I have in ordering Tonkatsu from a Japanese Fast Food restaurant. I don't really like eating heaps of breading on fried dishes so I was a little apprehensive before stepping inside Saboten of Glorietta. On any regular day, I wouldn't consider having Tonkatsu for dinner; I guess I needed to be re-educated and Saboten is my rescue.

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Food Trip | Kabila

FOOD TRIP | Kabila of Ayala Museum Complex
Raintree Restaurants of Makati

Few meters outside Kabila is the Greenbelt Park with Manmade pools filled with a lot of Koi fish that are fun to watch.

With nowhere else to go and not being in the mood for mall time, I stayed behind in Mr. Jones until we are ready for the lunch in Kabila. From Greenbelt 5 we practically strolled to Greenbelt 4, on its northern corner where the Ayala Museum Complex is situated. Kabila which roughly means the other side is in the same location as Museum Cafe, you could say that Kabila is on the other side of Museum Café, ingenious play of Filipino words. Passing through the greeneries of Greenbelt Park and manmade fish ponds full of Koi Fish of varying colors and sizes, I found Kabila to be rightfully placed along Makati Avenue. With the towering Shangri-La Hotel on the other side and the Ayala Museum right beside Kabila where a lot of people are milling about, its no question that this is right smack in the middle of Ayala Center itself. A priced real estate, I didn't need to bother asking Ms Michele Magtoto of the price they had to pay for store rights, she can't disclose them anyway.

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Food Trip | Mr Jones of Greenbelt 5

FOOD TRIP | Mr Jones of Greenbelt 5
Raintree Restaurants of Makati

Used to working in night shifts, I’ve become a morning person that even on rest days and work leaves I would find myself waking up well before sunrise no matter how late I hit the sack the night before. Coffee keeps me sane and what will always start my day. The invitation from Will to join the day 2 of Makati Restaurant Tour came late but I didn’t miss it, scheduled on a fateful Saturday September 13, 2014. I had planned to make this a Do-Nothing-Day and make up for my sleep debts but food trips had always been a pleasant experience that I do since I became a travel blogger. It was tempting so I gave a big fat YES without much adieu.

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Quezon | Pagbilao Grande Island's Kwebang Lampas

QUEZON | Pagbilao Grande Island's Kwebang Lampas
Kwebang Lampas Travel Guide

 

It had been months since the dry season (summer) in the Philippines passed for 2014. Yet, the finale beach camp trip I did with a few friends to Kwebang lampas of Pagbilao, Quezon still brings a vivid memory for me of a white sand beach cove. The towering Pagbilao Power Plant was an amalgamation amidst the rocky and green terrain, the scattered rain clouds of both days I was there, the sand that clings to my skin and the carefree banter of beach campers who are just too happy to be away from the bustle of Urban Manila; Kwebang Lampas was our refuge for this weekend. Even as light rains poured from time to time, telling us that this summer is soon over; as I lay alone inside my tent while people lounge by the beach side in drunken stupor; I could use a hug and a cuddle then, but I was never alone, not really.

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Mountain | Mt Palay Palay (Mt Pico de Loro) Travel Guide

MOUNTAIN | Mt Palay Palay (Mt Pico de Loro) Travel Guide

Mountain Climb Guide

 The Shape of a Parrot's Beak. the rock monolith and summit as seen in the saddle camp site.

Pico de Loro (Parrot’s Beak) refers to the Centerpiece Rock Monolith summit, named by Spaniards as they look out from their Galleons in Manila Bay. The form of a giant Parrot, Pico de Loro is part of the Mt Palay-Palay Mountain Range and traverses 2 municipalities from different provinces south of Manila which is Ternate of Cavite and Nasugbu of Batangas. 

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Food Trip | New Menu From Kanto Freestyle Breakfast (Kapitolyo)

FOOD TRIP | Latest Gastronomical Treats - Kanto Freestyle Breakfast (Kapitolyo)
The Best Affordable Gourmet Breakfast Serving

Iced and Blended Drinks 

On several occasions now, my after weekend parties or after work joints, Kanto Freestyle Breakfast had become my go-to place for affordable gourmet servings. I've blogged about this Kanto Freestyle Breakfast Branch since its opening February of 2014, it was an instant favorite and is even one of my most viewed Food Trip blog post. I am not kidding when I say I get phone calls in wee morning hours out of nowhere from blog readers asking for directions.

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Mountain | Daring The Rock Monolith Of Pico de Loro

MOUNTAIN | Daring The Rock Monolith of Pico de Loro
Ternate Cavite And Nasugbu Batangas

Mt Palay Palay or more popularly known as Mt Pico de Loro is one of the esteemed outdoor destination near Metro Manila. This is one of the mountains that I have planned to climb for a long time now but didn’t get the opportunity until an invite came from a fellow travel blogger Arnie of The Kid Wanderer. Known for the rock monolith that had earned its pseudo name Pico de Loro (Parrot’s beak), the proliferation of Social Media had drawn numbers of visitors and climbers in the last few years. The challenge of scaling the rock monolith is death defying and is said to only draw the daredevils and the-not-so faint hearted ones, more so for the 2nd camping site is a place shrouded in bamboo’s near the ridges of the mountain summit, offering a sweeping panorama of the surrounding terrain of forest, coves and rolling hills.

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Mountain | Mt Pulag Sunrise In The Rolling Hills

MOUNTAIN | Mt Pulag Sunrise In The Rolling Hills Part II
Mt Pulag Climb In Photos Part II

Everyone who climbs the slopes of Mt Pulag in Benguet hopes to witness the sunrise as it unfolds in the Summit. Said to be one of the most scenic spot for Sunrise viewing in the country due to Sea of Clouds Phenomena and being that Mt Pulag is the roof of Luzon. I got my share of the spectacle, and these are some of the photos leading up to this memorable experience.

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Mountain | Walking In The Clouds of Mt Pulag

MOUNTAIN | Walking In The Clouds of Mt Pulag Part 1
Mt Pulag Climb in Photos



“Climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are nought without prudence, and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste; look well to each step; and from the beginning think what may be the end.”
- Edward Whymper, Scrambles Amongst the Alps 

Mt Pulag for most Filipino outdoor enthusiast is the mountain of dreams, what with the many taglines and titles alluded to this esteemed peak in the Cordilleras. There had been a lot of instances where I planned to climb this mountain only to be re-scheduled, thwarted or cancelled, perhaps it was fate that I have come to a point where I would read through someone’s account of their personal experience in a blog post, thinking that most had been exaggerated stories of zero visibilities, extreme cold, or deadly inclines, I have kept my opinion to myself until I’ve experienced it but I have been deeply jealous all along, I have yet to confirm why this is a must-do in the bucket list.

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