Viking's Buffet - Eat All You Can Meal

As part of our Team's engagement activity we've decided to visit Vikings Buffet in Megamall. For me, it is a great value for money and one of the best buffet promo in contrast to the five star hotels that offers the same buffet promo deals. The dining area is composed of lavish interiors- sophisticated enough to give a luxurious albeit comfortable ambiance for the diners comparable to that of a hotel.

The food selections at Vikings  are so vast and diverse that you'll have no idea where to start, you get confused on what your stomach wants. Because it clearly wants everything. Just imagine eating Angus beef and Sushi but paying the same price from other restaurant and yet with the additional sumptuous food choices.

The dining areas are divided into several sections which includes: Japenese, Chinese, Korean, Italian, Filipino, Grilling Station, Desserts, Salads, Appetizers and Chef’s Choice section with each sections features artistic flair. They also offer an extensive selection of fresh juices and shakes to choose from, as well as softdrinks (Pepsi products).

Like most buffets, the quality of desserts ranged from average to good but you can choose from a wide array of cakes and Petit Fours, or customize your own Ice Cream Sundae and "Halo Halo".

My stomach was so full, hence I was not able to try all the food section, perhaps next time..

Rating

9 out of 10

Pahiyas Festival in Lucban

Pahiyas Festival is one of the most colorful celebration in the country held every month of May in Lucban, Quezon. Local houses are decorated with agricultural harvest (fruits, vegetables, rice grains, rice stalks, flowers, and ferns) and colorful rice wafers, called "Kiping".

"Kiping" are leaf-shaped wafers made of rice dyed in brilliant colors. The leaves used include the kabal, kape (brown coffee tree leaf), talisay (umbrella tree), kakaw (cocoa tree), and saba (banana). Rice paste is used to create the kipings. 

Every household competes and gives their best in terms of decorations for the annual competition as they vie for the honor of being recognized for their creativity. When the awards are handed over to the winning house, the decorations of the house are given away to the huge flock of people as a free treats.

How to Get There:

1. Pahiyas Festival is held during the 15th day of May.

2. From Manila, you can ride buses bound for Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

3. Tell the driver to drop you off in Pagsawitan. Once in Pagsawitan, you can then ride jeeps bound for Lucban.

Hill of Ascending Christ Garden (Kamay ni Hesus)

Lucban is famous for Pahiyas Festival, but now another place of interest has attracted Catholic devotees  since 2002 and considered by many as a healing center. 

We visited the Hill of Ascending Christ (Kamay ni Hesus) last March not for religious purposes but to explore the place, afterall my siblings were looking for someone who could drive them from Laguna to Lucban, as a blogger and traveler I made no hesitation but to volunteer myself. The road to Lucban via Cavinti road is composed of constant ascent of twist and turn, a rewarding view of the surrounding Banahaw, Sierra Madre and even the Laguna Lake can be seen at every turn of the road.

Located at the foot of Mt. Banahaw in Lucban, it has an elevation of approximately 1900ft above sea level and dubbed as the "Little Baguio". The Hill of Ascending Christ Garden has a total of 305 steps from the grotto with a total ascent of 320 feet that leads to a 50 foot statue of the Ascending Christ and currently ranks as the third-tallest statue of the Risen Christ. Once on the summit one can have a spectacular birds eye view of the surrounding town.

How to Get There:
1. From Manila, ride a bus bound for Sta. Cruz (Laguna)
2. Alight in Pagsawitan.
3. Once in Pagsawitan you can ride jeepney bound to Lucban.
4. Once in Lucban, you can ride a jeep or trike bound for the shrine.

Cafe Ella

Café Ella is named after the first daughter of former Los Banos Mayor, Ton Genuino. Students usually made this place as their unofficial "tambayan" or somewhere where they can study and chat around for as long as they want  because of the free wifi the cafe provides.

The vintage design inside Café Ella strikes nostalgia because of the wallpaper and accessories being displayed. The ambiance of the room will make your eyes glimmer at the authenticity and originality of the shop's set up where it screams “home” for it isn’t just your day to day coffee shop that’s stiff, busy, and crowded.

In my opinion they have the best tasting cakes in town. Me and my wife tried some of their best selling cakes which includes Oreo Cheesecake (highly recommended), Rustic Torte made with Almonds, Belgian Chocolate Cake, on the otherhand their Tiramisu is a little bit sweet but still tolerable. Their Pasta Joana (Classic Carbonara) also taste great but one of the must try is their thin crust Carbonara Pizza. We had Iced Ciocolatto and Iced Cafe Latte. Overall, I am satisfied with this cafe.

Rating:

7 out of 10

Paraiso ni Juan (Sulvec Beach)

"Paraiso ni Juan" or Sulvec Beach is located in the coastline of Brgy. Sulvec along the highway of Narvacan in Ilocos Sur. According to the locals the name of "Narvacan" originated when the town was discovered by the Spanish forces sent to Vigan under the command of Capt. Juan de Salcedo. The fleet had a shipwrecked along the coast and they asked the locals of the name of their place. The natives replied “Nalbakan?” which means Are you shipwrecked? in the Ilocano dialect. The Spaniards thought that was the real answer and they started to call the place Narvacan.

Sulvec beach does not have a fine grain white sand, but it is  famous for other things such as the rock formation, which is comparable to that of  San Juan Beach in La Union and of course the iconic grotto that were curved on a giant boulder.

The grotto at the middle of the bay is located several hundred meters away from the shore line. It was high tide with strong splurge of waves when the Pinoy Solo Hiker visited the place, thus his plan of exploring the grotto was thwarted. Nonetheless, just a plain sight seeing at the picturesque view of the place with Mt. Narvacan at the backdraft and Sulvec Beach on the other side is enough to be amazed at such an amazing view.

How to Get There:
1. It is a nice stop over if you are planning to visit Vigan.