Venice Grand Canal

Located in McKinley Hills in Taguig City, the Venice Grand Canal opened last February 2016. It is a mall which is a replica from the famed Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. The design was inspired from the Venetian Gothic architectural style that combines the use of the Gothic lancet arch with Byzantine and Moorish architecture influences. The style originated in 14th century Venice with the confluence of Byzantine styles from Constantinople.

Gondola ride is available for 500 pesos per person and will let you experience the romantic feeling of the emerald waters of the canal together with Italian tune that plays on the background. 

How to Get There:
1. From Makati City, you can ride a Citylink buses that are bound for McKinley Hills. 

Mr. Choi Kitchen

Considered by some as one of the best restaurant that serves authentic and traditional Chinese food in Metro Manila.

The resto has a clean premises, comfortable ambiance, wide range of chinese food selection and of course, the price is reasonable compared to some resto that we usually visit during Chinese New Year. The price ranges from affordable to reasonable, in fact they do not even have a service charge billed in the receipt.

We ordered Yang Chang Chow Rice - it tastes good even on it's own and it's not too oily. I also like their chicken lemon - a unique blend of lemon sauce that creates a sweet yet sour taste on the chicken serving. Their seafood roll is also a must try - tender, juicy though a bit sweet, rolled into perfection.

Our orders took a while before it got served, the staff should have at least served our drinks first. They don't have any mounted TV, reading materials or a newspaper to kill the boredom while waiting for your orders to be served. 

Rating:

7 out of 10

Sampaloc Lake

Sampaloc Lake is one of the 7 lakes in San Pablo City and is the largest among the lakes found in the city. Nearly half of the lake's depth has a shallow depression at the lake's bottom, indicating its volcanic origin. The lake is dotted with fishpens and small cottages built on stilts.

A scenic view of the surrounding Mt. Cristobal, Mt. Atimla, Imok Hill and Mt. Kalisungan can be seen from the viewing deck of the lake. A park was also erected beside the lake where anyone can rent a bike for 20 pesos (50 pesos for pedicab) to tour the 3.7km circumference of the lake. Pedal boats are also available for rent, unfortunately only 2 are operational and you can rent it 50 per person.

Sampaloc Lake is a nice sidetrip after a hike from Mt. Kalisungan and Bunga Falls.

Mt Cristobal as seen from the lake

Sunset @ Sampaloc Lake

How to Get There:

1.) Take a bus bound to Lucena (DLTB or Jac Liner), they have terminals in Cubao and LRT Buendia 

2.) Tell the conductor to drop you off in San Pablo City (since, bus were not allowed inside the city you will be drop off at Mahalarlika hiway in San Pablo, you can either ride a trike or take a San Pablo bound jeepneys.

3.) Sampaloc Lake is located beside San Pablo City Hall.

Contis Bakeshop & Restaurant

Contis is a bakeshop & restaurant and they are known for the famous Mango Bravo - a mouth watering seven inch tall cake made of soft butter cake with layers of cashew meringue wafers, mousse, mangoes, and cream ensconced in white cream. It is drizzled with chocolate syrup and topped with mangoes and served frozen. It is both sturdy and delicate, truly a must try for anyone with extreme indulgence to cakes and pastries, which I, myself is guilty of.

Because I've been craving for it's scrumptious taste, I decided to visit one of their branch which is in Greenbelt (I've been to their Nuvali and Trinoma branch). I ordered none other than the famous Mango Bravo, it never fails to satisfy my taste buds. I also ordered  Choco Overload - made with layers of moist chocolate cake with rich choco creams and icings topped with ganache and drizzled with chocolate syrup. For me, this is the best tasting chocolate cake in the local market, they are the best in what they do -  in terms of cakes & pastries. For my main dish I had Chicken ala Kiev, bathe in white cream sauce with corn as a side dish. They also offer bottomless Iced Tea, which tastes good made of "real" tea compared to ice teas that are served in other fast food.

One of the best resto I can recommend for the whole family most especially for their cakes & patries. Good ambience, the food taste great, affordable (not really), quality and they have branches in several locations. (This is not a paid advertisement, I paid for my own bill).

Rating:

7 out of 10

Tokyo Cafe in Manila

Tokyo Cafe is not the typical Japanese restaurant, instead of the usual donburi/tempura/sushi, it serves Japanese-style Western dishes. The whole place is cozy with a cool white interior, books are also in display giving it a nice ambiance. I'm sure there is no Tokyo cafe in Tokyo and this would be a Manila version of what a Tokyo cafe would look and taste like.

Since I was really hungry after an arduous hike earlier that day, I ordered several meal that includes Katsu Ju, Japanese Carbonara and Chicken Cheese Balls. I am not satisfied with their Japanese Carbonara and nothing really special about it. The Katsu Ju tastes great but what I really enjoyed the most is the Chicken Cheese Balls. 

Chicken Cheese Balls are chicken fillet stuffed with melted cheddar and caramelized soy. I liked the crunchy chicken balls with the cheesy creamy filling. The terriyaki sauce also added flavor to it. It was like eating a tonkatsu except for the cheesy filling, wherein the cheese squirts out of the chicken balls every time you bite it or slice it in half.

The prices are a bit expensive but it is exclusive of VAT and no service charge. Tokyo Cafe has several branches in Metro Manila.

Rating:

7 out of 10

Manaoag Basilica Shrine

Manaoag is a first class municipality in Pangasinan bordered by Pozorrubio in the north, Urdaneta City and Mapandan in the south, Laoac in the east, and San Jacinto in the west. Manaoag came from the Pangasinan  word "Mantaoag" which means "to call". The town is a popular local pilgrimage site for Catholics as it enshrines a 17th-century ivory statue of Mary under the title of Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Manaoag.

All sorts of Pasalubongs, religious relics and local delicacies are sold outside the church's premises such as Tupig - a popular native delicacy which is made out of ground glutinous rice and coconuts strips wrapped in banana leaves then cooked over charcoal  &  Patupat - an Ilocano version of suman, a glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk and sugar then wrap in banana leaves and steamed.

Eventhough I am not a Catholic, but as a traveler and photographer I admire the picturesque facade of the church - it is  comparable to European renaissance structures. 

(Patupat)

(Tupig)

How to Get There:

1.) There are buses bound for Manaoag from Cubao.

2.) It is a popular stop over from Baguio.

Revisiting Mt. Sto. Tomas

Mt. Sto. Tomas is the first mountain that I hiked when I was still a plebe in the PMA way back in the year 2000, thus I consider as my mother mountain.

It is the highest peak in Baguio City with an altitude of 6750 ft. above sea level. The summit gives a scenic and picturesque view of Benguet, including the surrounding province of La Union, Mt Ugo and Lingayen Gulf with its mouth opening to the South China Sea. Mt Cabuyao (w/ radar) and Mt. Sto. Tomas (w/ antenna).

The trail to Mt. Sto. Tomas passes Mt. Kabuyao (6075 ft above sea level) which is the first peak from the jump-off,  most hikers do a twin day hike. The place is also the location of Sitio La Presa (where Forevermore was shot) and the man-made lake which serves as the water reservoir for Baguio City. The trail to the summit is around 4 km. and approximately 1-1.5 hours in which it only becomes steep in the final 20 mins of ascent. Overall, the whole trail is an easy hike, the cool breeze, and scenic view makes it a rewarding destination when you are in the Summer Capital of the Philippines.

Throwback picture:

PMA Class 04's foot march from PMA to Mt. Sto. Tomas 

How to Get There:

1. From Baguio City, take a jeepney ride or taxi to Green Valley

2. There is no registration required.

3. Guides are not also required, just ask the locals for direction.
4. Due to court order - private vehicles and taxis are no longer allowed to go Mt. Sto. Tomas