Michi Photostory

For the past few years, Sofitel Philippine Plaza is on my bucket list because I wanted to eat at Spiral but we all know that their buffet rate is not cheap. We are not rich so I won’t spend thousand of pesos just for one meal. It is true that our dreams can come true if we just believe and if we find ways to make it happen.


Two months ago, we celebrated our wedding anniversary at Sofitel Philippine Plaza and part of the room package is complimentary buffet breakfast for 3 (2 adults and 1 kid) so I was so happy that I finally cross this out on my bucket list. At last, we can experience dining at the famous Spiral Restaurant. When we arrived at the hotel, my son immediately noticed the staircase, the spiral staircase is indeed an eye-catcher.

Read: Anniversary Staycation at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila
Birthday Staycation at Sofitel Club Millesime Manila


Spiral is expensive because they offer an extensive buffet, they have 21 Dining Ateliers so there are foods for everyone. You can try different cuisines without leaving your home country. Yes, there are food stations from around the world, your palate will taste a variety of international dishes

Watch the video

Spiral 21 Dining Ateliers 

Salad and Appetizer, L’Ecaillier, Sushi Sashimi, L’Epicerie, Hot Japanese, French Stove, Rotisserie, Wood Fried Oven, Churrasco, North Indian, Asian Noodles, Peking Duck Oven, Steam Basket, Chinese Wok, Filipino, Thai, Korean, La Boulangerie, La Patisserie, Chocolaterie, and Creamery.


When we entered the restaurant, the staff immediately ushered us to our table and ask for our drinks. I did not waste time and I checked the different ateliers, I was really amazed by their offerings because it is very different from other hotels that I’ve tried. I thought madami na yung sa Café Ilang Ilang of The Manila Hotel, pero mas madami dito.




The food selections are overwhelming, mabubusog ka na agad sa pagtingin pa lang. In my previous staycations, I always see an egg station but here in Spiral, you can order egg at different ateliers. They have their own specialty so it depends on your preference. Graben noh, sa itlog pa lang ang dami ng recipe.




When it comes to food, they have a lot of choices, like sa juice, bread, spread, pancake toppings, parfait, sausage, cheese, cold cuts, ice cream, and ice cream toppings. Ikaw na ang mahihirapan mamili sa dami ng choices. They have cold cuts and cheese room too, I’m not even familiar with the other cheese so I did not try it.




What I like here, even there are a lot of diners, you won’t feel that it is crowded because there is enough space for you to walk and even bike. Bike, because someone is riding a bike around the restaurant, she gives out the newspaper. Nandiyan din si Manong Magtataho who roams around. There are also entertainers for kids, I saw a guy making balloons for kids.


The service is good, the wait staffs are approachable, helpful and fast in service. Sa sobrang bilis nila, even I'm not yet finished with my food, nawawala na plate sa table. Kinukuha na nila, feeling siguro nila tapos ka na kasi tumayo ka na. It happened to me when I accompanied my son to get his food and when he went to the comfort room. When we get back, wala na yung kinakain ko. Hehehe! The staff also gave us a detox juice. Wow, pambawi sa dami ng kinain.

Start your day right! It was our wedding anniversary and we just had a sumptuous breakfast at Spiral. Even I was limiting my carbs and sweet intakes, I have to put it off para masulit ko ang buffet experience ko.

Spiral Buffet Opening Hours 

Breakfast Buffer 6:30AM to 10:30AM
Lunch Buffet 12NN to 2:30PM
Dinner Buffet 6:30PM to 10:30PM
Monday to Sunday

Spiral CCP Complex Roxas Blvd
Pasay City Metro Manila Philippines

P.S. I have no idea about the buffet rates since it is part of our room package.

Whenever we travel, I don’t usually buy souvenirs because I find them expensive, so I considered our pictures and videos as a souvenir. I won’t deny that these pictures are just saved on my external hard drive or laptop. I don’t really print pictures unless I will put it in a photo frame.

I started a scrapbook when my son was still a baby, but I wasn’t able to continue his scrapbook. So, I told myself that will just order photo books so it would be easy for me. I’ve been checking a lot of sites that offer photo book pero hanggang check lang ko. Part of me wants to order and part of me doesn’t want to order because I’m afraid that I won’t receive my order.

After so many years of contemplating, I finally purchased my vouchers at Photobook Worldwide last Black Friday Sale. I bought P100 (from P700) voucher for Insta Cards set and P120 (from P1400) voucher for 8x6 Landscape Softcover Photobook (40 pages). Aside from the discounted voucher, I also got a FREE 6x6 Mini Square Softcover Photobook, 40 pages (Black Friday Reward). The voucher expiration date is April 10, 2018.

I bought the voucher last November 2017 and when January 2018 came, I tried to use my voucher. I downloaded the software and I checked the different templates that I can use. I was having a hard time uploading and editing my pictures. I don’t know if my computer or my internet connection is the problem. I gave up because I feel that I’m just wasting my time and I cannot finish everything.

Fast forward to March, I learned that Photobook Worldwide has an app, you can check My First Photobook Using Photobook Worldwide App post. I was happy with my experience because it only took few minutes to order and pay for my project. In addition, I received my order after 5 days. To think that the package came all the way from Malaysia.

And because of that, I tried to use my vouchers again.  My husband gifted me a new laptop last month so I did not have any problem with uploading and editing my photos. Yey, mabilis na laptop ko. I did not download the app, I just used the Online Web Editor. It is so easy to use so don’t be afraid to try it.

1. Insta Cards Set 2 (69 pieces) P100 voucher 

I just choose my favorite photos and upload them to the online web editor. I just drag and drop the photos and aligned them to the center. I did not edit the brightness and contrast so when I received my order, meron mga pictures na sobrang dark.

When I placed my order, I don’t understand why it doesn’t let me choose the default paper. Even I select the Default paper, it still goes back to Thick Fine Art Card for P60. So I have no choice but to pay for the paper upgrade. So I paid P60 (Paper Upgrade) + P200 shipping fee to the Philippines.

March 22 - Ordered and paid P260 via Paypal
March 27 - Received Insta Cards Set 2 order via DHL
Total: P360

The Insta Cards Sets are really small, 2x2 lang siya so ang liit. Pwedeng pang wallet lang or you can make a collage and frame it.

2. FREE 6x6 Mini Square Softcover Photobook (40 pages)

I received my Insta Cards Set 2, after 5 days too. On the same day, I used my free voucher (from P1200) and placed an order for my 6x6 Mini Square Softcover Photobook. It was my first time using a template and I was happy with the result. They have different templates that you can choose from like travel, holiday, family, or even a wedding. I chose Travel Template for our Iceland Trip. I thought that the shipping fee is always P200 but with my 6x6 project, I paid P250 shipping fee.


March 27 – ordered and paid P250 via Paypal
April 3 – Received my order
Total: P250

3. 8x6 Landscape Softcover Photobook (40 pages) P120 voucher

It took me a long time to finish this project because I don’t know what I’m going to make. But since I always blog about my Highlights of (insert year), I decided to start my Best of the Year Photobook Project, started with the year 2017. I used a premade template, but it was a challenge to choose the best pictures of the year. I was happy that I only paid P200 for the shipping fee, mas mahal pa yung 6x6 softcover na order ko.

April 5 - Ordered and paid P200 via Paypal
April 11 - Received my order via DHL
Total: P320

What I like? 

Compared to the Photobook Worldwide App, I like using the online web editor because it has more choices of products, more premade templates and I can put more photos and even text. So far, I did not encounter any problem when I used my 3 vouchers. I’m satisfied with my photobooks and if you check the total, it is not that expensive. So I can definitely say that I will order again but I will wait for a sale so I can purchase cheap vouchers. This is also a nice gift for family or friends.

Update: March 2019

Last November, I took advantage of the Black Friday Sale and bought two vouchers of 8x6 Landscape Softcover Photobook (40 pages) at P120 each. After Photobook increased their shipping fee, I deleted the Photobook Mobile App kasi 20 pages lang yung Photobook dun tapos P250 shipping fee.

Time passes so quickly and I couldn’t believe that one year had passed already. Exactly a year ago we spent our summer vacation in Norway. It is so far from the Philippines so we need to ride three airplanes and one Ferry Boat. It took us 33 hours just to reach Ørland, Norway. Yes, the travel time was stressful but it was worth it. Sharing with you the 12 places that you can visit if ever you live or planning to visit Ørland.


1. Bruholmen Friluftsomrade

Bruholmen Friluftsomarade is a recreational area in Brekstad. This place is good for biking, running, jogging, or walking. It is also a nice place to have picnic if weather permits. We always visit this place because it is just few minutes away from my mom’s place.

Read: Bruhomen Friluftsomrade
Watch the video here and here 

2. Austrått 

Austrått is known as a residence of officials, noblemen, and noblewomen who played a significant role in the history of Norway. It is a place where you can see the Austrått Manor, grove, beach and fort. The Manor House and Fort are open for guided tours every summer season, so it is from June to August. Though we were not able to see the interiors of the house, we were happy to see a glimpse of it.

Read: Things to do in Austrått
Watch the video here 

3. Trollskogen 

If you have kids in tow, you can also visit Trollskogen or Troll Forest. I did not see any trolls there but it has a small shelter and bonfire where you can have picnic too. Beside the shelter are small pond and playground where kids can play.

Read: Trollskogen
Watch the video here 

4. Lerberen Folkehelsepark 

Lerberen Folkehelsepark is considered a public health park which is just a few minutes’ walk from Trollskogen. If you have an active lifestyle, this is a perfect place for you to do your running, jogging or walking activity. On top of the mountain, you have the city view. There is a logbook there where you can write your names.

Watch the video here and here 

5. Fishing at Trøndelag Coast 

One of the fun and exciting activity that you can do in Ørland is fishing. We were lucky to experience fishing in Norway. Since Ørland is near the fjord, it is an ideal place for fishing. You can catch halibut, monkfish, cod, haddock, coalfish, plaice, mackerel, redfish, sea trout, herring, catfish, and pollack. We were able to catch 3 cod fish during our fishing trip.

Read: Fishing Adventure in Norway
Watch the video here 

6. Rusasetvatnet 

Ørland has a lot of recreational areas so there is no reason for you not to have an active lifestyle. Rusasetvatnet is another place where you can visit if you want to do walking, running, biking, birdwatching or if you want to see other wildlife.

Watch the video here

7. Døsvik Havn 

As I mentioned before, Ørland is near the fjord so if you love fishing, you can rent a holiday homes or boathouse in Døsvik Havn. The place is picturesque because of the different colors of the holiday homes.

Read: Rusasetvatnet + Døsvik Havn 

8. Hovdetåa 

Ørland is surrounded by different bodies of water so you will enjoy a lot of seascapes here. If the weather is not cold, it is also nice to swim in Hovdetåa. But since it was freezing cold in April, we did not swim, we just enjoyed the view of fjords.

Read: Hovdetåa
Watch the video here 

9. Svartholberget 

If Brekstad has Bruholmen, Garten has Svartholberget. This place is also good for walking, jogging and running. There are times that you can see moose and deer around the area. The place is higher than Bruholmen so you will see Garten view on top of it.

Read: Svartholberget
Watch the video here 

10. Grandefjaera Nature Reserve

If you are bird lover or you just want to see different kinds of bird species, don’t forget to visit Grandefjaera Nature Reserve. It is a wetland area where you can see Norwegian and migrating birds. A nice place for a picnic too.

Read: Grandefjaera Nature Reserve
Watch the video here

11. Kjeungskajaer Lighthouse 

I’ve seen a lot of lighthouses in the Philippines but Kjeungskajaer Lighthouse is different. This lighthouse is located in a small island so you have to ride a boat just to see it up close and personal. You can visit this from May 15 to August 31.

Read: Kjeungskajaer Lighthouse
Watch the video here 

12. Sjøgata 

Sjøgata is situated in Uthaug’s old port area. They are preserving this place and it is considered a historical place where you can see fishermen’s houses that were built in 1800’s. The place is picturesque so there is no doubt that some people like to draw or paint this place.

Read: Sjøgata 

So these are the 12 places that you can visit in Ørland, Norway and the good news is, all these places have no entrance fee. Yes, you can visit this place for FREE.

Traveling to a foreign country is fun because it gives you an opportunity to experience different cultures as you mingle with the locals and visit their tourist attractions. However, being a tourist makes you vulnerable to all kinds of crimes. As a foreigner, you probably don’t know most of the places that are within your destination. Besides that, there is the risk of getting sick while staying in a foreign country.

If you are not careful, you might end up losing your valuables to muggers and pickpockets. The good thing is that there are measures that you can take to stay safe while visiting a foreign country. In fact, you should not allow fear to stop you from enjoying your holiday. Bad guys are actually everywhere including your home country so you should learn to counter their behavior. Below are safety tips that should be followed by every tourist.


1. Go for Medical Checkup before Departure 

Before you jet out of your home country, it’s recommended that you be seen by a doctor. Once you get to the doctor’s clinic, you should inform him about your forthcoming journey to a foreign country. The doctor will then be able to advise you on the vaccinations that you should get before leaving your home country. In fact, the doctor should immunize you right away to make sure your health is not at risk. If you suffer from a terminal illness, you should obtain all the medicine that you use more often just in case it’s not available in your destination.

2. Scan Your Documents 

Your documents can get lost when traveling. It’s therefore important you scan all of them and send them to your email inbox. This will make it easier to access them in case they get stolen or you forget them somewhere. Some of the important documents that should be scanned include passport, credit cards, Visa, plane ticket and vaccination paperwork. The advantage of attaching such documents in the email is that you can access them via any mobile device that’s connected to the internet.

3. Find a Tour Guide

Since you are new in your holiday destination, it’s not wise to walk around the cities alone. The locals will take advantage of you being a tourist and charge you more when buying items or paying for services. Having a tour guide reduces the chances of being lost to zero. When hunting for a tour guide, you should give priority to those that have the most experience in handling tourists. A good guide should be able to keep you occupied during your visit because they know all tourist attraction sites in their country. They should also help you find the best hotels in town. If you want a reliable tour guide, you need not look any further than https://www.kandooadventures.com/climb-kilimanjaro/climb-kilimanjaro-for-charity/.

4. Maintain Low Profile 

It’s always advisable you maintain a low profile while in a foreign country. For a start, you should never wear expensive jewelry because you will attract the attention of the bad guys. You should also try your best to wear cheap clothes that don’t make you stand out in the crowds. Moreover, you should not visit dangerous areas especially the slums and isolated places unless you are accompanied by local police.

5. Avoid Talking to Strangers 

Sometimes you will be tempted to interact with the locals. However, you should maintain your limits because some people might have evil motives. Some of them will try to befriend you so that you can lower your guard. Even if someone looks nice, you should never tell them exactly where you are staying because he might be colluding with criminals to steal from you. You should avoid food or drinks that have been offered by strangers because they might use it as bait to drug you.

I just received my Iceland Photobook a few days ago and this reminds me that I haven’t finished my Iceland Trip series, so let me continue my series. If you are going to Iceland and you only have few days, a lot of people will suggest that you book Golden Circle Tour, Blue Lagoon, and Reykjavik Tour because this is the most popular tourist spots in the country.

And because it was our first time to visit Iceland last May, it was also my dream to visit those places. I did not book any tour since we are staying with my aunt (mom’s cousin) and they said, they will tour us. But if you don’t have any family, relatives or friends, you can rent your own car or book a tour from different travel agencies. The rate may vary depending on the package that you will get but for sure you won’t miss these three famous places, Geysir, Gullfoss Waterfall and Thingvellir National Park. Other stops are Kerio volcanic crater, Hverageroi, Skalholt Cathedral, and Nesjavellir geothermal power plant.

We left as early as 6AM to start our DIY trip, even my aunt who lives there for more than two decades, she hasn’t visited the popular tourist spots so we’re all first-timers. Lol. So when we reach the Thingvellir National Park, we don’t know where to go, we just keep on driving till we saw a parking lot. Then we just walk and follow the signs and finally, we made it.

Thingvellir National Park 



Thingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site where you learn more about the history, culture, and geography of Iceland. The park is so huge that we spent most of our time there, we literally walk from north to south of it. Among the spots that we have visited in the Golden Circle Tour, this is my favorite.

Read: Thingvellir National Park
Watch the video

The Great Geysir 


After exploring Thingvellir National Park, off we went to The Great Geysir. It is located in Haukadalur valley where you can see different active geyser hot spring. It is just a few minutes walk from the parking lot. The most active geyser is Strokkur because it can sprout water as high as 30 meters, you just need to be patient because it takes several minutes before you can see the eruption. You can watch the video here.

Read: The Great Geysir in Iceland

Gullfoss Waterfall 

Gullfoss or Golden Falls is located in Hvita river, this is an iconic waterfall in Iceland. I’ve seen a lot of waterfalls in the Philippines but when I saw this waterfall, I was really amazed. No words to describe, it is really beautiful. It was so huge so even I’m afraid of heights, I still walk just to see this waterfall up close and personal.

Read: Gullfoss in Iceland
Watch the video here



After this trip, I feel so blessed because I was able to see these wonderful places. It was really a memorable experience and one of my favorite travel trips. Would you believe that you can see these places for FREE. Yes, there is no entrance fee. So, if you are planning to visit Iceland, don’t forget to include Golden Circle Tour in your itinerary. I will share each tourist spot in a separate post.

Read: Blue Lagoon
Reykjanes Peninsula Tour
Icelandair Experience 
Bridge Between Two Continents

Check my updated post here. How to Book and Pay for your DFA Passport Appointment Online

Since last year I’ve been seeing a lot of posts about DFA Passport Appointment, people are having a hard time in getting a schedule and some people I knew even travel to province just to renew their passport. Three years ago, I did not have any problem when I set an appointment for our family and our experience at DFA NCR South (Alabang) was smooth too. 

I just checked the DFA Passport Appointment site and reserved our preferred date, I even rescheduled it because I want to renew at DFA NCR South branch and I don’t want my two boys to be absent so I chose Saturday schedule. I don’t know what happens to DFA bakit pahirapan naman. 

I was happy that our passport will expire on year 2020 pa so I have no problem. But I spoke too soon because my husband needs to renew his passport two years before the expiration. Last February, when I checked his passport, he only has four remaining pages so he needs to renew it as soon as possible before he runs out of pages. 

Since March, I’ve been checking DFA Passport Appointment site so I can reserve an appointment for my husband, and unfortunately, I could not see any available date. I became one of those people who feel frustrated and hopeless, what if wala schedule hanggang June. Every day, I keep on checking the site, different times of the day. 

Just this morning, while browsing Facebook, I saw a post that there are available slots daw so I immediately check DFA site and I was surprised when I saw available dates from April 16 to 30. I immediately messaged my husband the calendar so he can choose and napabangon ko bigla para magbook. He gave me his preferred date but when I’m about to book, nafull na agad ang schedule. Pabilisan lang talaga, I was happy that I was able to get an appointment. Finally, the search is over.



Update July 2018: I'm not sure if the steps are the still the same because now, DFA requires prepayment for passport applications. Click here to know more about DFA ePayment Portal. 

How to Schedule a DFA Passport Appointment Online 

Three years ago, I was able to schedule a family appointment but now I cannot see the option for that. (Update July 2018: I checked DFA site and I saw two options; INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENT and GROUP APPOINTMENT)

1. Go to https://www.passport.gov.ph/appointment
2. Read the Terms and Conditions and Check the box “I have read….” 
3. Click Start Individual Appointment 
4. Choose your preferred site 

a. Angeles (Marquee Mall) 
b. Bacolod 
c. Baguio 
d. Butuan 
e. Cagayan de Oro 
f. Calasiao 
g. Cebu 
h. Cotabato 
i. DFA Manila (ASEANA)
j. DFA NCR East (Megamall) 
k. DFA NCR North (Robinsons Novaliches) 
l. DFA NCR North East (Ali Mall) 
m. DFA NCR South (Alabang) 
n. DFA NCR West (SM Manila) 
o. Davao 
p. Dumaguete 
q. General Santos 
r. Iloilo 
s. La Union 
t. Legazpi 
u. Pampanga (Robinsons Starmills) 
v. Puerto Princesa 
w. Tacloban 
x. Tuguegarao 
y. Zamboanga 

5. Choose your preferred date and time. Since I chose DFA NCR South, they have 8 schedules from 10AM to 6PM. 

Read: Passport Renewal Experience at DFA NCR South

6. Enter your Personal Information 
7. Enter your Family Information 
8. Enter your Application Information 
9. Enter your Contact Information 
10. Then you will see a summary of your application so you can edit if there are typo errors. Then click submit. 
11. You will receive an email “Notice of Provisional Schedule” 

– you have to click “Confirm your Booking” within 48 hours. Failure to do so will automatically cancel your provisional booking. 
- before, once nagclick ka ng submit book na yung appointment pero ngayon iba na so don’t forget to check your email and click confirm. 

12. After confirming, you will receive another email “Confirmation Notification”. You will see the appointment reference, site, date, and time. 

Read and follow the instructions. 

1. Print all the attached documents in A4-size paper. Download your application form. (Your PC needs to have a suitable PDF reader installed such as Adobe Reader or Foxit Reader in order to view the downloaded file.) 
2. Bring the printed application form, e-receipt, and checklist along with all the necessary support documents (and photocopies thereof) on the date of your appointment. The application form will be scanned at the passport site. Be aware that you may be refused entry if you fail to bring the system-generated application form. 

Requirements for Renewal Application 

1. Confirmed Online Appointment 
2. Personal appearance 
3. Accomplished Application Form 
4. Current ePassport with a photocopy of the data page 
5. Original PSA authenticated documents that will support the change of name (if applicable) 

o Marriage Contract 
o Annotated Birth Certificate 
o Annotated Marriage Contract to show annulment/divorce/court ordered instruction 
o Death Certificate of Spouse 

Read: Our Experience at DFA NCR South (Alabang)
3 Ways to Get your PSA Certificate

No need to set an appointment if you are qualified for a courtesy lane. Just visit the DFA branch near you and bring the required documents. 

Read: How to Renew Your Passport via DFA Courtesy Lane

Requirements for Courtesy Lane 

Please have all your original documents and IDs photocopied before going to DFA 

• Regular government employees / with GSIS / appointed by Civil Service Commission 
• Dependent of government employee - Legal spouse - Parents - Unmarried children 
• Retired government employees (one-year availment) 
• Incumbent elected officials 
• For barangay level, only the following are entitled: - Barangay Chairman - Barangay Kagawad - SK Chairman 
• Endorsement from House of Representatives must be endorsed by DLLU before lodging their applications to Courtesy Lane 
• Media Personnel must first secure an endorsement from Public Information Services Unit (PISU) before going to Courtesy Lane. 
• Minor (7 years old and below) 
• Senior Citizens (60 years old and above) 
• PWD (genuinely disabled) / with PWD I.D.s 
• Pregnant (genuinely pregnant) / with medical certificate 
* Employees of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) can refer or endorse only immediate family members to the Courtesy Lane, immediate family members include the grandparents, parents, parents-in-law, spouse, siblings, children and grandchildren of the DFA employee. Must secure proper endorsements duly signed by authorized signatories of their respective offices. Only original copies will be accepted for verification purposes. Photocopy of DFA employee’s valid I.D. / government agencies official’s Department I.D. must be attached for verification purposes.

My mom is back to the Philippines for a vacation, so it only means that we will be eating a lot of Filipino cuisine. Last Easter Sunday, after the Sunday Service, off we went to SM Megamall to eat our lunch. I’m not familiar with Megamall restaurants, except for the buffet restaurants that we have tried there like Sambokojin and Tong Yang so I told my sister-in-law na sila na ang bahala na mamili.

She said, Abe or Mesa, my sister suggested Abe because she hasn’t tried it yet so off we went to Abe. Since we are group of 12 persons, it is not easy to accommodate us, so we had to wait. I suggested to the staff that we are okay eating outside, pagdikit-dikitin na lang nila table and they agreed to it naman.

We were really hungry but we have no choice but to wait, I just hope that they provide a complimentary appetizer just like our experience in Abe – Alabang. We ordered Sinantol na Hipon P250, Paco Fern and Tomato Salad P185, Pork Binagoongan P355, Bicol Express P290, Klasik Kare-kare P650, Rellenong Alimasag P345, Sinigang na Ube P495, Spicy Sisig P225, Binukadkad na Plapla P425, Pork Lengua Asado P345, Unlimited Rice for P75 and a cup of plain rice for P65.



I haven’t tried all the dishes, but I was able to try

Sinantol na Hipon – we ordered this because my mom likes sinantol dish. My grandmother used to cook this dish every time she goes back to the Philippines but because of my lola’s condition na, she stopped cooking a few years ago. We did not like this, we prefer my lola’s dish.

Sinigang na Ube – I don’t know why they order this but the food looks weird to me because of the color, though it tastes sinigang but nothing special.


Klasik Kare-Kare – too expensive for P650 kasi ang konti lang ng laman.

Binukadkad na Plapla – taste is good, ganun naman lasa ng fried fish, hehehe! but when I saw the price, it is expensive for fried fish.

Pork Lengua Asado – I was disappointed with this dish because I already tried this dish in Abe-Alabang branch so I know what to expect. Bagsak sa presentation and pati sa lasa. I don’t know kung minadali ba because the meat was not tender.


Paco Fern and Tomato Salad – this is my husband’s order because he already tried this when we dined at Abe’s Farm in Pampanga. This is the first meal that they serve since it is an appetizer. According to him, taste is good, my nephews and nieces tried it too so ending naubos na bago pa dumating order na iba.

After that, we also ordered Sikreto ni Maria P185, Leche Flan P105, Maruya ni Maria P150, Turon Nangka & Ube P105, Halo-halo Crumble P175 and Mais Con Yelo P105 for dessert. If the heavy meals are just okay for us, we liked their dessert. We always order sikreto ni maria, leche flan and turon and nangka & ube so I suggested this to my mom and she likes it too. My sister also enjoyed the Maruya ni Maria so I will order that next time.

If you are going to or live in Pampanga, visit Abe’s Farm. They have more food choices and price is much cheaper compared to Metro Manila branch. Since SM Megamall is far from where I live, we always go to Abe Alabang branch.

People have different goals when it comes to traveling. Some visit countries with stunning architecture while others prefer palm trees and white beaches. Others love being in nature and around wild animals. If this is your type, then going to a safari is likely on top of your priority list. Safaris are great because they provide a unique experience by observing wild animals in their environment. However, traveling to a safari can really hurt your savings. Plus, you need to do a lot of research to make sure that you make the most out of this experience.


Here are five tips that you can follow to travel to a safari on a budget

1. Look up Travel Deals 

A lot of travel agencies offer travel deals, especially during the off-season. Sometimes, airlines will also give you some suggestions on how you can get an affordable deal. You can either book in advance when the prices are not yet escalated and when there are fewer people looking at the dates. If you are booking online and you noticed that the dates are not available, you can contact the company to inquire. It may just be that they haven’t opened those dates. Local hotels also partner with tour companies so they might offer discounts for every confirmed booking.

2. Avoid Peak Season 

It will always be more expensive to travel in-season. The demand for tourists is higher so sometimes, tour prices are increased to make up for the would-be profits during the off-season. When you choose to travel for instance in December or January to Africa, there are more tickets available and you might even negotiate an affordable rate.

3. Book Group Tours

Group tours are another way to experience safari without spending too much money. The tours are usually in a group unless you specifically book for a solo tour. Some safari tours in less popular areas like Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park are not as crowded or expensive as the safaris in Tanzania. You might even be able to afford a solo tour and really have your time spent with wild animals. There are several tours and activities that you can find at Leopard Tours to get a well-rounded experience at an affordable price.

4. Stay at Budget-Friendly Hotels 

When traveling to a different place, you should always remember to never sacrifice safety and comfort. However, there is a misconception that you can only be truly safe and relaxed when you stay at deluxe hotels and private villas. There are so many affordable accommodations that you can find online. Besides, you will be spending more of your time outside so you need a fancy suite.

5. Use Local Transportation 

Unless the hotel that you are staying in covers your transportation to and from safari sites, you can save more money by using the local transportation. Make sure that you research on the best routes around the area and how long each ride takes so that you can maximize your time. If you’re lucky, you might even meet other travelers or get valuable tips from locals.

It was the year 2008 when we first visited Caleruega, I was pregnant and was stuck at home for a few weeks because I was on bed rest. Then out of the blue, my husband decided to visit Caleruega. I’ve heard about this church before but since I’m not a Catholic, hindi ko naman siya bet puntahan. Little did I know that my first visit was not our last visit.


It became an annual tradition that we visit this church every Holy Week, sometimes we go here twice a year with family or friends. We even attended a wedding event here. In a span of one decade, marami na kami nakasama dito, marami na rin akong naibayad na entrance fee and parking at marami na rin akong naipon na flyers. I don’t know when this tradition will stop but so far, this is my husband’s happy place so suportahan taka.


We left at past 6AM and we arrived past 9AM because of the traffic. The church was already crowded, ang haba na ng pila sa labas and hirap ng magpapicture ng walang photobomber. Hehehe! My father-in-law was a first timer and he also liked this place.

Sonya’s Garden 

After visiting Caleruega and Chapel on the Hill, off we went to Sonya’s Garden. We always visit this place too because we like their Hispanic Bread. And because of the TRAIN law, nag-increase na rin ng price sila, P200 na yung Hispanic bread. Waah! Five years ago, P120 lang yung bread. Fortunately, I was able to buy the last pack. After an hour pa daw yung next stock.



Anyway, last year I discovered that they are selling dried fish too so I bought packs of dried fish (Tawilis and Dilis) for P100 each and I also bought assorted suman for P120. The staff asked me “Mam, favorite niyo ba ito ang dami niyo kasi binili”. Hehehe! My mom and aunt like this dried fish so I bought few packs that they can bring to Norway.

Green ATS Bulalohan & Restaurant

Initial plan is to eat bulalo at Mahogany Market since mamalengke din in-laws ko but I was really hungry so I suggested to my husband na sa iba na lang kami kumain. On our way to Mahogany, we saw this Green ATS Bulalohan & Restaurant so my husband parked the car and we went inside the restaurant.



Every time we go to Tagaytay or Nasugbu, we always see this restaurant but it was only last week that we were able to try it. It started since 2004 and they are open 24 hours. I was surprised when we entered the restaurant because I thought, it was just a small restaurant or parang carinderia type lang siya. But I was wrong, they have nice interiors and they also have nipa hut. You can choose nipa hut but remember that there is a minimum order if you choose that, I think P1500 or P1800 dapat.


We just chose a table, since may Taal volcano din naman na view. We ordered Extra Bulalo P535, Lumpiang Hubad P175, Grilled Liempo P205, Rice and Softdrinks. The food serving and price are reasonable, the service is good, and the food taste is also good. The presentation of the bulalo is not appealing, but the taste is good naman, I just hope the soup is hot. Cash basis only.




Then off we went to Mahogany Market.

Read: Food Trip in Tagaytay

Just like that, Holy Week is finally over. I was looking forward to this holiday because I know that we can have a long vacation. It is a good time to go out of town or out of the country but unfortunately, we were not able to travel because we had a home project and my mom went back to the Philippines. Though we did not travel, our Holy Week was quite busy too.

Palm Sunday 



If you read my post last week, you already knew that we went to Acuaverde Beach Resort last Palm Sunday. My husband treated my in-laws for an early summer getaway since he will be busy the following weeks. Check my post here.

Holy Monday and Tuesday

Last January, my husband already contacted a contractor for a small project at home, we already scheduled the date but for some reasons, the contractor did not show up. Grrr. We looked for another contractor, but the rate is too steep, so we did not get it. Finally, we found another one and he was able to finish everything in just two days and we only spent half of the rate of the second contractor. Imagine, two days lang ginawa compared sa 4 days na sinasabi ni 2nd contractor. I just realized, na kaya baka hindi natuloy yung mga nauna kasi mas makakahanap pa kami ng mura at mas okay gumawa.

Holy Wednesday

I was happy that our home project was done in two days so I have time to finish my errands. We need to go to the bank before the long vacation, ang haba ng pila sa bank parang nag last minute bank transaction din ang mga tao.

Holy Thursday 



It was the year 2008 when we first visited Caleruega and since then it became my husband’s happy place so every year, we always visit this church every Holy Week. Last week was our 10th year anniversary, naka-isang dekada na pala kami.

Good Friday and Black Saturday


My mom is back to the Philippines so we spent our holiday at my brother’s house because my mom stays there. We also visited my grandmother in Bulacan, it was like a mini-reunion. The most exciting part is my mom gave us our favorites from Norway. Yey! Ang hirap magcontrol na naman ng “less sweets”.


Easter Sunday 

After church, we went to SM Megamall and ate lunch at Abe. They went shopping but my family went home na to avoid the traffic.

Now back to reality, I need to finish my laundry, iron clothes and clean the house because my mom will stay at our house this coming week. The busy mode is on again.

If you will be traveling with your baby, it means that you will have to do more than you would if you were traveling alone. If you want to have a good time, you will be required to be more thoughtful about the baby’s needs. Here are tips you can use when traveling with a baby. 



1. Carry food, snacks, and fluids 

The baby is likely to feel hungry more often. Make sure you carry non-perishable foods, snacks, and fluids. Ensure you boil water for your baby to use for mixing formula or for drinking. This is important for babies below six months since they should not take water directly from the tap. If you are traveling by air encourage the baby to suck a pacifier, sippy cup or breastfeed to deal with air pressure changes when the plane is taking off or landing and reduce ear pain. 

2. Carry an extra change of clothing and plenty of diapers 

The baby is likely to soil clothes and diapers when you are traveling. Therefore, always ensure you have an extra set of clothing to change in case the baby messes. You should also dress your child in layers in case it is cold and that you can take off if it gets hot. Remember to bring a hat along since it can keep the baby warm if it is cold or shield him from the sun if it is hot. 

3. Carry your baby’s favorite toy 

You will need something to keep your baby occupied when he becomes restless. Carry his favorite toys. Just make sure they are soft toys that do not have sharp edges so they do not hurt him in case of instability. You can wrap the toys so that they can act as a surprise gift. This will distract and keep the baby occupied for long as he tries to open the package.

4. Take short trips 

Traveling for long hours can be unnerving for the baby, just as it is for you. If you are traveling by air, you can take connecting flights so you can have time to stretch. If you are traveling by road, consider stopovers at different points such as at the malls, restaurants where you can stretch and walk around a bit before you go on with the journey. 

5. Schedule trips around the baby’s sleep time 

Babies can become cranky the moment you start traveling and may not stop until you arrive. This can be nerve-wracking and exhausting. To make it easy for you, schedule your trips around the time the baby sleeps. This way, the baby can sleep all the way. You or the other parent can sit next to the child, just in case he/she wakes up as you travel. The closeness of a parent will make the baby feel secure and reduce the tendency to cry or get cranky.

If traveling by car, the baby should be in the back seat in a baby car seat. Ensure the baby’s car seat is installed properly and that the seatbelts are threaded correctly. You should adjust the harness until it fits securely and snugly to the baby. Always have the car seat even if you are using public transport to ensure that the baby is safe since the seat provides protection.

Did you know that Dubai, the most visited Emirate in the UAE (United Arab Emirate) has the busiest airport in the world? The Dubai International Airport is the busiest in the world in terms of international passenger air traffic. What that translates into is the fact that more and more people are traveling to Dubai from across the world. Dubai, needless to say, is well connected to all the major global centers of the world. It is easy and also economical to get to Dubai from any part of the world, one can easily book Chennai to Dubai Flight tickets at low cost or fly in from any destination in the world either through a premium airline or a budget airline. But why is Dubai such an attractive destination and why does it make it to the bucket list of most many travelers? Here are some of the reasons why Dubai is a popular tourist destination.

Dubai’s Famous Attractions

The Burj Khalifa

One of the attractions or structures that have assumed iconic proportions is the Burj Khalifa that stands tall and dominates the Dubai skyline. The Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest building in the world at a height of 2,722 feet. The views from the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa are stunning. The Burj Khalifa was completed in the year 2009 and has been standing in its glorious position since then. A total of fifty seven elevators and eight escalators operate incessantly inside the building. The elevators of the Burj Khalifa travel the longest distance by any elevator in the world by traveling to 1,654 feet. The architectural design of the Burj Khalifa is inspired by the Islamic architecture of the region which has been seamlessly blended with contemporary design elements.

The Dubai Fountain

The Dubai fountain is the beautiful attraction in the center of Dubai downtown which mesmerizes with its dazzling beauty. The more than nine hundred feet long fountain shoots water to a height of more than five hundred feet. The fountain looks spectacular at night as more than six thousand light bulbs illuminate the fountain and twenty five-colored projectors transport viewers to a fascinating world of music and colors. The night comes alive in vibrant colors. The Dubai Fountain is one of its kind and a must-visit attraction when in Dubai.

Palm Jumeirah

The Palm Jumeirah is a man-made archipelago which is a part of a larger project. The shoreline of Dubai is planned to be extended by as much as more than five hundred kilometers under this project. The iconic Palm Jumeirah that is shaped like a palm leaf makes a spectacular sight from the sky.

The Palm Jumeirah is home to a number of iconic hotels and resorts as well as high profile residences. One of the most identifiable landmarks of Dubai, the Atlantis Hotel is also situated on the Palm Jumeirah.

Jumeirah Beach

The beautiful white sands of the Jumeirah beach and the azure waters make for a great place to relax, not very far from the vibrant malls and souks of Dubai. It is a place popular with locals and tourists alike. A great place to relax and enjoy, the beach has many hotels and resorts including the famous Burj Al Arab, a seven-star hotel . There are many stretches of private beaches owned by the hotels and resorts however the Jumeirah Beach Park is a public beach where all can enjoy the tranquil ambiance.

Dubai Museum

The Dubai Museum gives a peep into the world of Dubai much before the modern and shining city grew from the sands of the desert. The location of the museum itself is interesting as it is housed in the oldest building of the region, the Al Fahidi fort. The museum traces the heritage and culture of the region in a very interesting way. Exhibits include the ancient houses, souks, and mosques recreated. One gets glimpses of the people of the region in historical times and how they earned their livelihood.

Dubai Shopping

Dubai is a paradise for shoppers. In fact, various shopping festivals including the Dubai Shopping festival are renowned all over the world. With its massive malls and exotic traditional Souks, Dubai offers a unique shopping experience.

The Dubai Mall

The Dubai Mall is the most visited building on earth, with more than fifty million visitors visiting it every year. The Mall is massive in size and can be compared to the size of fifty football fields joined together. Besides shops that showcase the best global design labels in the world across genres, the Dubai Mall also has an indoor theme park, SEGA Republic, and also the Dubai Aquarium and underwater zoo. Among many unique credits, the Dubai Mall also has the world’s largest sweet shop called, “Candylicious”, that is spread over an area of ten thousand square feet.

Dubai is indeed a destination of fascinating and diverse experiences, the city awe, culture, shopping, adventure, and cuisine. Dubai a city that is a city of dreams.