Jamming with PNE

I did it again!

I was supposed to wake up 5hrs ago but I didn't. I kept hitting the snooze buttons (I had two alarms) every 5 minutes or so for 3 hrs and going back to sleep again.

*sigh*

I know sleep isn't unproductive but having too much of it will get you nowhere.

****

A nice thing happened though. I dreamt about playing the Bass for PNE during a concert. I don't know how it exactly happened. I was just watching the concert from the back of the venue with Buwi's sisters  when I found myself holding a bass guitar and strumming it. In reality, I don't know anything about chords and guitars but in my dream, I was working the guitar out by instinct! I remember committing one mistake towards the end because I was getting conscious and confused on what I was doing. But overall, I was really amazing! Even the band members approved! Also, a fan approached me afterwards and gave me a Hello Kitty stuffed toy. haha.

I love dreams like this but I don't like oversleeping.

Cheers to amibitious dreams!

Wanted: Morning Picker-Upper

For the past weeks, or say several months, I have been having difficulty waking up early. 9am would already be a challenge and 10am or 11am would just be perfect. However, if totally undisturbed and tired, I’d wake up at 12nn or 1pm. Most of the time, I would wake up because my starving stomach forces me to do so. Other times, an early morning phone call from my parents or a random text message would do the trick. Either way, it has been quite difficult to get up.

I guess I just don’t have a reason to wake up early anymore. Two years ago, I would wake up early morning just to line up at the NBI office at Quezon City. I would sleep at 12mn and easily get up at 4am. Year after that, I would get up for my 7:30am Finance class, although I still end up arriving a few minutes late mainly because I don’t like Finance enough. The summer after that, I would happily wake up at 5am to wrestle with fellow MRT commuters and to arrive before 8am for my OJT in Citibank Makati. However, that habit did get really tiresome one week towards the end. Last year, I would get up, with determination, with the sunrise for early morning jogs around school. I discovered a lot during those times and even made friends with one of the security guards.

Unfortunately, I no longer have those now. I could wake up late in the afternoon or sleep early in the morning and not worry about anything. I don’t have classes to attend to or work (at least not a formal fixed-time one) to go to. I also don’t have a reason to jog anymore.

*sigh*

This is what graduation and freedom does to people—making them lost without a reason */wrist*

******

However, today’s definitely different.

It’s 3:51 am and I’m wide awake, not because I haven’t slept yet (as what has been happening recently) but because I have just woken up. I’m actually headed for the mountains later for my first climb after 3 months. I had no training whatsoever because, as I mentioned earlier, I was too lazy for early morning jogs.

Either way, I love this feeling. I should definitely find a strong reason for getting up early everyday.

******

So, as the coffee commercial says, what gets you up in the morning?

Cheers to early mornings!

Amazing Thailand-Philippines

It was in Germany when I first discovered Thai food (notice the irony). Generousfurniturespecialisttito treated us one night to a luxurious dinner for four because we were nearing the end of our semester abroad. He said he hasn’t used his 1000 euro gift certificate yet and he wanted to make our stay memorable (though it already was for the fact that we were there). So anyway, it was because of that night that I developed a fondness for Thai food. I don’t really remember what we ate that night but I definitely recall feeling so amazed and exultant upon my first bite.

One night, foodtripbuddy brought me Pad Thai. I have mentioned to him about my interest with Thai food and so he randomly searched for a Thai restaurant (using the internet, of course) and surprised me with one. Although the Pad Thai didn’t compare to my first one because I didn’t have a euphoric reaction, it was good especially with the vinegar-like sauce. And so, I excitedly suggested visiting that restaurant one dinner.

Upon arrival at the restaurant, I slightly got disappointed not because it didn’t look like a Thai restaurant (which it very much did) but because I didn’t have my camera with me. The design of the restaurant was amazing. Its pagoda-like structure definitely stands out along the street. There’s no way one could miss that Thai resto.

Muang Thai
taken from another blogsite

Inside, it was overflowing with wooden furnitures, Buddha and elephant statues, and various Thai ornaments. It almost felt like Thailand except that they were playing modern pop music. There was also one corner where they were selling Thai delicacies, accessories and souvenirs. Beside our table was a big gong and I wondered what would happen if I suddenly hit it. Would a waiter come and take my order or would they run in panic and scold me?

Anyway, their food was good. I couldn’t tell if it was authentic Thai but I know it didn’t had the same impression as my first Thai food did. We ordered

Red Chicken Curry

and Bagoong Rice.

The curry was spicy enough but it would have been better matched with plain rice. On the other hand, the bagoong rice could stand as a meal itself. It had a lot of toppings. The meals weren’t extraordinary (or maybe I’m just being biased to my first Thai experience), but it would be a worthwhile place to visit. The interiors are really amusing. There’s a lot to look at and to talk about, just in case.

Because I don’t have nice pictures to show and because I’m quite still stuck with my first Thai cuisine, I’ll just redirect you to this blogsite if you want to know more about the restaurant. (I just found her blog via Google).

http://www.chyngreyes.com/2010/03/muang-thai-cravings.html


ไชโย! Chiyo!


Muang Thai
138 Malakas St., Diliman, Q.C.
927-4305/426-4123


494 Banawe St., Sta. Mesa Heights, Q.C.
741-8696
Php150-300

Amazing Thailand-Germany

Ever since one of our Pinoy friends/hosts from Germany treated us to a Thai Restaurant, I have been fond of Thai food. Maybe it was due to the fact that the restaurant we ate in was really a high-end (for rich people), authentic Asian (ingredients and servers especially imported from Asia) restaurant in Munich (most expensive city in Germany in terms of food and housing).

Entering through the gate and walking across the courtyard, it really felt like being transported back to Asia (except that I was wearing a winter jacket and that the cold breeze was blowing through my dark stockings). I remember it looking like a Japanese zen garden with bonsai trees and wooden benches but without bamboo trees and with a white Christmas tree on one corner (my memory about this is actually fuzzy because I was very distracted by the cold). Walking inside the restaurant, we were greeted by a big aquarium (although I think it wasn’t filled with Koi but with some edible fish) and a glass fountain. We were supposed to have a buffet but we, unfortunately, arrived one-hour late and the buffet table has been closed. And so, the German-speaking, well made-up and good-looking Thai servers seated us in a room with a bar and a Grand piano.

I don’t remember what we ordered but I remember exclaiming a long “woooow!” with a smirk on my face, as if I’m seeing my crush from afar (although he was indeed there with me, experiencing the same amazing food sensation). I believe it was the most amazing, not to mention most expensive, dinner I had (yet). I'm not sure how much generousfurniturespecialisttito paid but I know he had a 1,000 Euro gift certificate and still had to pay extra and tip.

Mangostin Asian Restaurant

don’t mind the smudge on the lower-left, that’s really part of the picture

Appetizer

the one where you have a variety of dip options

This may be Pad Thai

Duck Breast

first time I’ve eaten a duck, felt normal

Curry

For titowithayachtandanisland

Exmoustacheguy’s amazing food

And just when I thought my foodgasm (I really don’t want to use that word but I think it’s what best captures the emotion), generousfurniturespecialisttito orders for dessert! We had

Fruits and Sorbet Platter,

and a Sorbet Selection.
(I think the red one was tomato)

This one’s a Carrot Sorbet.

I remember it tasting just like a carrot but sweeter and creamier. I believe it was made from pure carrot extracts.

Now I don't remember what flavor of sorbet this is (update: jigsawlikesjapanesedumplings says its luya/ginger) but the sugar crystals were really fun and amazing. I was nibbling it strand by strand. I think I enjoyed the sugar crystals more than the sorbet itself.

Anyway, I am really thankful to have been treated to that restaurant. It was a very special and memorable evening. We still had drinks and a hearty chat later that night.

This entry wasn't really supposed to be about that Mangostin Restaurant. But the memory turned out to offer more than just introductory story.

ไชโย! Chiyo!

Mangostin Restaurant

Near Isar river, Munich, Germany

Thai food

Longganisa from Cafe Quezon

One rainy afternoon, foodtripbuddy and I were again on the search for a coffee shop. It was already closing time at the library and we needed to find a new place to work at (plus, I was a bit hungry). I remembered that there’s this curious place along Maginhawa St. that I have long been looking for. I didn’t know exactly where it was and I was thinking that we could just ask around for it. Unfortunately, the rain made it quite difficult and inconvenient to stop by people on the street and inquire. And so, we ended up at this nice looking cafe, still along Maginhawa St.

Cafe Quezon
picture taken from www.spot.ph

Whenever I and my friends drive along Maginhawa St., this cafe never fails to catch my eye. I don’t know if it’s because of its wide glass panels, or its white name display, or its peculiar spot between two residential houses. But whatever it may be, I have always deemed the place to be quite expensive. To me, it looked too much classy and clean to be affordable. But because I and foodtripbuddy have already agreed to go for the next nearest cafe, I thought it was time to finally give the place a try.

Interior of Cafe Quezon

The cafe wasn’t that small but it was a bit crowded. There was that extra table (can be seen in the picture) set awkwardly in the middle which made it difficult and inconvenient to get to the back tables. Other than that, the shop housed rattan-metal chairs, soft brown couches, and wooden benches which all gave it its modern Filipino theme. The interior was really simple, with only this

pot holders from different tourist spots pinned on a rattan background with a wooden frame

and another ethnic display on the other side as wall decors, but it was good enough.

As its name suggests, the cafe specializes in delicacies from Quezon Province. Its menu consists of different dishes with longganisa as its main ingredient. Foodtripbuddy ordered

Longganisa Spaghetti (P95)

and Coffee Float (P50).

While I (not wanting to eat a lot and dreading pasta dishes) ordered

Chicken Honey Mustard Sandwich (P75)

They were good in terms of presentation and even better when it comes to taste. The Longganisa Spaghetti surprisingly held its flavours in a sumptuous combination. The tomato sauce wasn’t too strong, the noodles were perfectly firm, and the longganisa discreetly melded with everything else. We even tried putting vinegar into it and the taste was still amazing. One flaw is that there wasn’t enough sauce. Maybe it was really made that way to make one craving for more.

Similarly, the Sandwich I ordered was equally (if not better) good. The Honey Mustard Sauce is what brings out the taste. Although there was enough sauce on it, the bread itself was too small. Maybe that fact also serves the same purpose.

Meanwhile, the Coffee Float wasn’t outstanding. The flavour of the ice cream was too faint that the drink seemed to be just black coffee instead of a float. Moreover, the initial temperature of the coffee was too hot that even though the cold ice cream had already dissolved into it, it remained hot and awkwardly drinkable.

Overall, the place served good food. It had a vast menu for appetizers, meals, desserts and drinks that it seemed to be more of a cosy restaurant than a chill-out coffee shop. Although I do appreciate cafes with real food to eat, I believe that one that offers too many options isn’t really a coffee shop anymore; rather, it’s a small restaurant with wiFi, comfortable seats, and a lot of caffeine drinks. Moreover, the waiters were quite inattentive. It was a challenge to call on someone because they weren’t really “waiting on” their customers but were busy preparing orders in the kitchen.

Anyway, I’d still recommend it as a good place for online/computer work. Internet is free and charging of laptops is free for the first 30 minutes and P50 afterwards.

 Cafe Quezon

179 Maginhawa St., Sikatuna Village, Q. C.

Mon-Sat 9:30am-9:30pm

Php45-200

Ticket Gates

During high school, I was one of the quiet, shy girls in class. I was never one for class presentations and activities, much more for competitions and publications. Moreover, my close friends reckon me as indifferent and "walang paki sa mundo" as I would never seem to care as to what is happening around me. I would just go on with my daily high school life not minding pertinent (and sometimes petty) issues like the student council, campus events, exam results, and that-girl's love interest. But then, I guess everything changes after high school.

In one of my most recent LRT rides, I did something amazing. And this something definitely goes against my former image of being quiet, shy and indifferent. For the first time in my life, I deliberately created a scene in public and I'm really proud of it.

Adventurebuddy and I were on our way to Taft to check out something. Since we knew there will be heavy car traffic going there, we decided that it was best to take a train instead. And so, we headed to the LRT-Santolan station in Markina, lined up, and bought our tickets (by the way, the station amazingly had an x-ray baggage inspection machine, like the one in airports, while all of its ticket vending machines were defective).

The ticket window said that fare is P15 each and so I paid P30 for two magnetic cards to Recto. However, when I slipped my card into those turnstiles (or ticket gates) it only showed P14. I sensed that this would cause an issue at my exit station but I just shrugged it off thinking that’s just how it is.

And so, upon arrival at Recto Station, people were building up at the ticket gates because their defective cards wouldn’t let them through. It turned out that everyone who bought their tickets at the Santolan Station only got P14 credit in their cards. As people were starting to get mad, because of this unnecessary hassle and delay, and were demanding for a quick solution from the Passenger Assistance Office (PAO), the officer on duty immediately (credits to him for this) called up the liable station to confirm the situation.

When I thought that things would already be resolved, the officer declared that all of us have to pay an additional P1 because they have no record that we did pay P15, they only have the amounts on our cards to base on. Although they are only asking for an extra P1 to resolve the situation, to me it was more than that. I have been quiet the whole time, observing people and their reactions, thinking what the real issue is, deliberating what action should I take, but not for long.

I patiently waited for all the other passengers to pay the office for the inconvenience they forcible underwent, wondering if someone else out there was thinking the same thing as I was (but in vain). And as the last passenger from my batch left and a new batch of irate passengers were slowly reeling in, I approached the window, gave my card and politely declared (with a slight smile), “Nagbayad ako ng P15” when asked for the add-on fee.

When the guy politely answered and explained that I needed to pay, my spine suddenly shivered and I felt my blood rush to my brain. I was lost for words, so I just repeated what I said in a more aggressive tone. And then, an argument started. I was trying my best to keep my voice low and to keep my face from twitching. I was really getting nervous and afraid then but there’s no more backing out from this debate.

After a few more exchanges and after getting our cards back, adventurebuddy slowly pulled me away. I wasn’t to let him make me retreat but a voice inside me whispered that I’ve said enough.

After that, I was really relieved to get out of the situation safe and extremely proud of myself for stepping up. It was my first time to do that and it was fairly successful. Had I been alone or with someone else, that contest would never have happened. So I guess, I owe it to adventurebuddy too.

Anyway, the real issue there was not the additional charge but the failure of the system and the indifference of the people to these glitches. Is it just that the passenger still has to pay an additional when it was he/she that was hassled? Is it right to pay the office for an error they committed? How would you feel if I asked you P15,000 for airfare and then asked you for another P1,000 because I lost it? Shouldn’t I be the one to pay the lost amount?

I understand that not everyone has the luxury of time as I do that they opt to pay a small additional instead. However, this is no longer a matter of availability and convenience but an attitude. Filipinos, in particular, are so used with putting up with entities they believe are superior to them that they know that the best way to end conflict is to just give what these “higher beings” want even if that means sacrificing big time.

And I honestly believe that that is just plain wrong. Although this does end the present conflict, it paves the way to even more conflicts. It reinforces the idea that authoritative figures can put the blame to the feeble ones or make them pay for what the authorities did wrong. And thus, it is an ongoing struggle that would never stop unless people realize that they need to stop it.

Unfortunately, a lot of things need to be changed first before we can successfully head down that road. It won’t be an easy task but it is definitely feasible. I just hope people would transform and stop being indifferent. It wouldn’t be highschool forever, after all.

HS Intrams '06
I'm the odd one out

Cheers to more amazing scenes! haha

Climbing Hiatus

It was my last year in college when I first discovered my passion for mountaineering. It was then that I finally gave in to my hidden adventurous side and dared to join the Loyola Mountaineers organization in my school (even though I supposedly knew no one in that org). Although, in the end, I wasn't able to pass all the tests to become a member, I was still able to climb 4 mountains with that org.


I last climbed this March during the org's Senior Climb and I have been craving to climb again ever since. I have already received 4 climbing invitations (Mt. Tapulao and Mt. Gulugud-Baboy with a Lv6 friend, Mt. Manabu with one of my closest friends, and Mt. Bungkol Baka with an LM friend), but I unfortunately have to turn all of these down.


I have put myself in a "climbing hiatus" (at least until June) for a number of reasons. First, it doesn't feel right to just go climbing when my parents have been becoming so annoyed and probing at what am I really doing. They have been calling me more frequently to ask where am I, what am I doing, and if am I going somewhere. My "bum" situation is actually annoying us all. They're assuming that I'm wasting my life away doing nothing but going out and drinking, (which isn't really true) while I'm trying not to encourage this idea by avoiding big trips such as climbing trips. Although I could just opt to go forth and explain to them that I'm really doing something productive, that sort of thing just isn't me. I'd rather avoid the topic until I finally have something concretely productive to show them.


Second, I don't have money for climbing. Although I do have money in my account, I'm reserving that for my upcoming business. I don't intend to borrow money from anyone so I wouldn't want to be left short-handed. I would also like to have a fat bank account again (just like before I went into mountaineering) so that I could be eligible for a pre-approved credit card account (no more hassle documents and requirements).


Third, I feel that I am not physically ready. I would first need to appropriate my diet by eating at a more regular rate to build the strength I need. And I would also need to redevelop a jogging habit so as to acquire endurance. Without these, climbing would be more of a pain than enjoyment.


And so, no climbing trips or out-of-town trips for June. My envisioned monthly adventure/travel trip would be put on hiatus as well until I believe I have gained the right to do so.


Anyway, here are some pictures from my first training climb in Mt. Daguldol, Laiya Batangas last 31 July-1 August 2010.

2 other Batangas mountains

sunrise from a higher elevation

AMCI's hundred tents in the distance

Hoping to see the mountains next month! Cheers to climbing again.


PS: Message me if you're interested to climb too. :D

Noriter Cafe: That deceitful chocolate

One chill evening, while I was browsing through blogs (as I occasionally do especially when I have nothing important to do), I came upon this blog entry, http://thelostboylloyd.blogspot.com/2011/04/campus-food-trip-cafe-noriter-silliman.html. I read through it and immediately gained a strong interest (almost a need) to visit the place. I then searched for more detailed articles about the cafe's counterpart in Manila to show to my food trip buddy.

I randomly messaged him, "may pupuntahan tayo! :D" and then showed him this link, http://unclank.com/lets-play-at-noriter-cafe-food-and-restaurant-review/. As expected from him, he enthusiastically responded with "sige! punta tayo! :D" (note: exclamation points mean excitement). And so, as soon as we had the chance (2 days after), we eagerly found our way to

Noriter Cafe at Vito Cruz.

At first, I was hesitant to go to the place because it was really far and I was thinking that we should not stay out too late. But foodtripbuddy insisted and so we started devising ways on how to best get to Vito Cruz. Since we already know (from past experiences) that Manila means intense traffic, we decided that its best to take public transportation. We then headed to SM Marikina for a cheap parking place and walked to LRT Santolan Station as soon as the rain stopped. A funny and amazing thing happened during that LRT ride but I guess I would reserve that story for another blog entry.


Anyway, after 18 train stations, 3 rain stop-overs, 2 wrong turns, and 1 scandalous scene, we arrived at Noriter Cafe. The cafe had a very nice location. It sits at a corner above Tapa King, with its entrance at a side street, making it easily visible from various sides while avoiding the heavy foot traffic on the main street. Upon entrance, one will immediately be greeted by a stairway reminiscent of Spanish era.

However, the inside of the cafe shows a different story.

As explained in other blogs, "Noriter" is korean for "playground". And thus, the goal of the cafe is to make one feel like a child again. The whole area exudes a feel of fun and comfort with its colorful chalkboard menu, toy displays, an array of custom-designed paper cups, semi-private lofts, and artsy wall drawings.

The cafe is really spacious and there's a lot of nice things to look at (not to mention, a lot of interesting vandalism to read and laugh about).

Students from U-belt have the same sentiments as we do

Although I know that I should have ordered the waffles (as recommended by other blogs), I just couldn't resist the temptation to get a slice of this

Chocolate Paradise

Moreover, although really pretty, I just gave up on looking for the price of the waffle on their 3-column chalk menu. It seemed like they just crammed all their other offerings on the rightmost part of their menu.

Anyway, the Chocolate Paradise cake looked deceivingly yummy and chocolaty and the chocolate chunks around it are what lured me in (ooops, should have taken a picture of the choco chunks). Unfortunately, all that were just a guise. At first bite, I convinced myself that the cake was indeed heavenly. However, after a few chews, I realized that it really wasn't. The chocolate cake tasted like one from a local small-time bakery. The chocolate icing was just bland and the chocolate chunks barely tasted like chocolate. It was chocolate hell, if I may say (the whole thing was still good to eat though).

Similarly, foodtripbuddy wasn't happy with his drink either. He ordered

Caramel Macchiato

and instantly demanded for some sweetener. With the sweetener, the drink was more enjoyable, though still too bland. Another bad thing about it is that its ice melts too fast which makes it more diluted and bland.

Overall, Noriter Cafe would score above average in terms of ambiance and comfort but would need a lot of improvement with its food and menu. It makes for a great hang-out and study place, just be picky with your orders.

I still would definitely want to try its waffle and its honey bread (as suggested by our Noriter Cafe friend) but I guess I wouldn't be coming back anytime soon. As I've mentioned a couple of times already, the place is really relatively far.

Cheers!

PS: Pardon if the pictures aren't that good.


Noriter Cafe
2nd flr, Reyes bldg.,
Estrada St. cor. Taft Ave.,
Malate
M-F (11am-11pm)
Sat (11am-10pm)
Php70-Php200

My Pao: Mami on a rainy afternoon

After a couple of U-turns along Katipunan Road, my food trip buddy and I finally agreed to visit a cafe in Taft Avenue I chanced upon in another blog. It was a city and some serious traffic away so we decided to take the train instead. He was allergic to dust and pollution and wasn't really supposed to be commuting, but he was the one that volunteered the idea so I had to give in.

We started towards SM Marikina for a cheap parking space but was forced to stay in because of the sudden rain. I didn't want to risk my shoes getting soaked so I suggested we look for an endemic restaurant to eat in. We searched the whole mall but found only one (actually, two. But the other one was just a lumpia stall and I really didn't want that one to count). So, here's

My Pao at the Foodcourt area.

Foodtripbuddy ordered

Chicken Asado Noodles

while I ordered 

Special Mami

and Pork Siomai.

He had nothing to say about his order, but he did find the Pork Siomai hilarious. According to him, we ordered 4 pieces of siomai but we only got 3 because the other one did not qualify as a siomai. What then is a pork siomai? A pork siomai is supposedly a pork meatball enclosed in a flour wrapper. Unfortunately, that certain piece was a pork ball AND a wrapper and cannot really be considered a pork siomai. The other 3 pieces held up and, although kinda dry, were actually good with lots of soy sauce.

Anyway, my mami was indeed special. It had ingredients I didn't expect a mami would have. It had a couple of dimsum and some small pieces of pork rind. The soup wasn't that distinctive but it wasn't too salty either. Just right for me.

Overall, that Chinese booth served to be a good way to warm the tummy and get full especially during this cold rainy season.

My Pao

SM Marikina Foodcourt

Price range: Php25-100