Ciudad Elmina Restaurant

As a travel and food blogger, I always look for restos that are worth visiting. I have the following set of criteria that I used before it can be featured in my blog such as Ambiance, Food, Price and in some case Uniqueness. I heard about Ciudad Elmina Fishing Village when it was featured by the defunct KrisTv show several years ago. It was unique and worth visiting, so I did some researched and since my wife is from Pangasinan, we visited this resto last December 2017 when we went for a Christmas vacation together with her family.

Ciudad Elmina resto sits right in the middle of the fish farm where the fish they serve come from. It is not just a restaurant but a recreational place where one can enjoy activities like boating and fishing where you can have them cooked/grilled for you.

The whole place has 21 rooms, 3 villas, 1 conference room that could accommodate 40 people, a gazebo that can be used for meetings, several floating Nipa Huts that can accommodate 10 people each. A garden plazuela complete with its own gazebo and an open old house suited for big parties and events. Then, there is the main dining room which can accommodate up to 120 people where live acoustic music is played during dinner, the interior design is pretty unique where fishing nets and fishing tools are decorated at the ceiling to suit the fisherman’s theme. And during dinner, night lights surround the farm which gives it a romantic ambiance.

They serve the usual "lutong bahay" menus on their lists which specializes in Seafood Salo-salo or the Boodle Fight. Since I am not really a fan of "lutong bahay" I just let my wife order anything that she likes, I prefer American and Italian foods =).

Location: Al Fernandez Road, Bacayao Norte, 2400 Dagupan City, Pangasinan (from the main road you still have to walk 300 meters to reach the place).

Art In Island 3D Museum

As an artist myself, I know what looks good and not, and what is a masterpiece. So, when I learned about Art in Island, I immediately paid it a visit last April to check the jaw-dropping paintings that could turn the artistic side in you.

Art In Island Museum is located in 15th Ave. Cubao, Quezon City. It is a 3D museum where guests and visitors are invited to interact and “BE PART OF ART”.  It is actually the largest 3D interactive museum in Asia, with several hundred hand-painted attractions distributed into several themed-zones where guests can take photos as much as they want.

• Aquatic Adventures (underwater zone)
• Journey to the Jungle (animal zone)
• Winter Wonderland (Christmas zone)
• Religious (religious zone)
• Ancient Times Dungeon (central hall)
• Mysterious Walls (fantasy zone)

According to the museum staff, Art In Island was founded by Yun Jae Kyoung together with a team of several Korean painters who were called to do the project. The museum had more than 200 masterpieces which include bridges, mountains, animals, Egyptian ruins, Garden of Eden, Time Magazine and even a depiction of the North Pole all of which are 3D paintings. The paintings creates an illusion of depths and liveness which is perfect for Filipinos’ penchant with taking selfies and sharing them on Social media just like me.

There is also a 3D mapping presentation which depicts "The biblical creation, the great flood, Christianity up to the time period of missionaries and conquistadors which is the main highlight of the museum.

Some of the house rules that one must follow:
1. No shoes allowed
2. You can take pictures, but flash is not allowed

Hirap tlaga pag solo ka, hanggang selfie ka nlang.

Random kids that I took pictures of

How to Get There:

1. Go to Cubao, this is actually at the back of Araneta Center.

2. 175 15th Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines 1109

Mt Tenglawan

Ever since I started blogging, Bakun Trio particularly Mt Tenglawan has always been on my bucket lists because of it's iconic "Carrot Peak" and the awesome view that it offers. As a working and dedicated dad, I have a hard time finding a fitting hike schedule that my wife would approve. I was so thankful that Reigner Castro invited me to join their group which was organized by Emil Gannod of Laqbai, and since it was approved by my wife, to no avail, I immediately said yes.

I considered Mt Tenglawan among my top 5 favorite mountains that I've hiked, for the following reason that the summit offers a 360-degree view and of course it is not crowded with Social Climbers, so that you can truly enjoy your hike.

The blogger at the Carrot Peak of Mt Tenglawan

Among the mountains of the Bakun Trio, Mt Tenglawan is considered as the toughest. It has the longest trail with a total distance of 24.5km through the backtrail from Bakun Poblacion all the way to the summit characterized by a steeply inclined peak often described as "Carrot Peak" because it resembles a Carrot from afar. It has a total elevation gain of 4500ft through the backtrail (pabalik ng poblacion you have to ascend 1000ft, pauwi n yun ha).

We hiked Mt Tenglawan on the second day of our Bakun Trio itinerary. The trail starts from Poblacion which descends a 1020ft until reaching a river gorge. Then upon further trekking one will reach the hanging bridge which commences the start of the ascent which has a total of 3500ft altitude gain to reach the summit. I am so glad that I have hiked with 2 of the most "harkor hikers" that I've met namely: Kiko San Luis and Ron Dubois - who celebrated his birthday last December 4, Happy Birthday Lodi. Of all the strong hikers I've hiked with on the lead group, they are at par with the strongest laging pang 3rd lng ako s sequence namin tatlo, anyway balik ulit s blog write-up ko hehehe.

The trail gradually ascends through an open trail with some pine trees along the way even passing a giant cable lift used for transporting vegetable goods across the two mountains. Then another haft hour of trekking, our group reached a community where we refilled our water bottles. From the community, the trail is characterized by a rolling terrain until reaching a mossy forest infested by limatiks some of which are airborne (bgla nlang bumabagsak s ulo galing puno and one limatik fell directly at Kiko's head), from the hanging bridge until the mossy forest there is an equivalent ascent to 1600ft. From there on the trail passes rocky portions until reaching a very steep uphill assault which resembles the steepness of Mt Pulag's Akiki trail for a total of 2000ft elevation gain going to the summit. The summit is characterized by an open plateau which can accommodate at least 4-6 tents surrounded by ravines on all sides, but I am not sure if pitching tent is allowed. Just nearby the summit is the famed "Carrot peak" where one has to descend 30ft in order to reach the peak with an approximate height of 60ft where a cross is erected unto it's top. Safety railings were held in place to aid those who wish to scale the peak which is inclined at 70degrees.

The summit offers a 360-degree panoramic view of  Bakun and the surrounding Cordillera mountains. On the far North Mt Namadiraan and its different peaks can also be seen from afar, on the West is Tagudin, Ilocos Sur and La Union and on the Eastern portion, one can see Sagada and Mt Province.

The final 2000ft ascend similar to Akiki trail

Mt Namandiraan as seen from the summit

Bangar, Ilocos Sur as viewed from afar

At the top of the boulder, beside the Carrot Peak

Gwapo Be Like

Reigner, Erwin, Ten, Kiko, Bing, Emer & Ron (photo credit)

Team Una ng LAQBAI: Ron, Erwin, Ten, Emer & Kiko

Photo credits: Kiko, Emil, Bing, Ron, Ten, Emer & Erwin

Hike date: Dec 15, 2017
***Special thanks sa mga nakasama ko sa hike na ito: Sir Emil, Mam Rita, Ate Bing, Mommy Daisy, Ten-Ten, Erwin, Reigner, Kiko and Ron Dubois and the rest of LAQBAI.

Spectrum Linear Park

It is a special time of the year in Filinvest City, Alabang where Christmas season is felt in the air. The whole park is filled with music, singing, giant Christmas tree and musical light shows where it is transformed into a mini Christmas wonderland that includes the Tunnel of Light making it the main highlight of Spectrum Linear Park. According to some spectators, there were 3d mapping during the light shows last year, so it might still be the same today or much better. (soft opening nman ksi ako nagpunta kya hindi pa full operation hehe).

The Spectrum Midway Linear Park is a foliage-canopied walkway that spans across the north and south ends of the Filinvest City which offers a cozy and serene ambiance away from the noise and crowd of the buzzing city eventhough it is located in Alabang.

There are are also night market (Banchetto) which sells foods and dry goods.

How to Get There:

1.) From Edsa, ride an Alabang-bound bus. Alight in South Station or Alabang market and ride any jeep or bus passing by Zapote or Southmall. 

2.) Alight in the intersection of Alabang-Zapote Road and Filinvest Road. Walk to the corner of Acacia Hotel, and turn left at Commerce Avenue.

The easiest way is to walk passing through Festival Mall which exits at Commerce Ave., that's it. 

Mt Nagsasa (Bira-Bira)

Mt. Nagsasa is also known as Mt. Bira-Bira among the locals which is actually the smallest among the mountains in Zambales coastal mountain ranges and coves which stands at an altitude of 1470 ft. above sea level. It is usually hiked together with Mt Balingkilat for a complete Cawag Penta or Hexa traverse, or one can choose a much easier trail which is a traverse to Nagsasa Cove for a complete summit to sea experience.

The easy trail is an open grassland with a gradual ascent equivalent to 1020ft altitude gain from the jump-off point. But if it is a traverse coming from Mt. Balingkilat difficulty level becomes insanely a notch higher which involves technical climbing and scrambling. In fact, one must descend a total of 1950ft that passes steep ridges and rocky knife-edge trails that somehow resembles G2. It then becomes a rolling terrain until reaching a final 300ft ascend to reach the summit. The summit offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountain range of Zambales which includes Balingkilat, Dayungan, Cinco Picos and of course the picturesque view of Anawangin and Nagsasa Cove.

The only picture I have  with my hike buddies sa Mt Nagsasa, bawi ako s Cawag

How to Get There:

1. Ride a bus bound to Iba, Zambales (Victory Liner) and tell the conductor to drop you off in PNP Station of Subic. You also need to prepare a letter of intent before you can start your hike which will be submitted to PNP Subic.

2. Then ride tricycle going to Sitio Cawag, Mt. Nagsasa's jump off point.

*I joined an event organized by Jaime Dequinon of Akyat Tanaw Mountaineers

**I recommend Kuya Joel Soria as a local guide for Cawag mountains (Balingkilat, Nagsasa, Cinco Picos).