Hong Kong Ngong Ping 360

ABBEY: This is a must-see destination when visiting Hongkong. From airport we directly went there thru MTR (train transportation). We settled our luggage on their rented lockers. It stored our 3 check-in luggages for 3 hours for 40hkd. Then we bought tickets for a 5.7km cable car ride.

It was good as you can take an aerial view of Hongkong International Airport, hotels and towering buildings in Hongkong. Ngong Ping caters different diners and souvenir shops as well as heritage village. It also exhibits the various cable cars of other countries. At the end of the trail is a large Buddha where people pray and donate for its maintenance; others light incense. Climbing more than 200 steps is a challenge but worth the effort as it gives you relaxing view of mountains and mist. 

WILL: My former boss once told me "Maybe Wilma you're Chinese on your past life.", well, that one is beyond my knowledge. Whe she told that?, I am truly fascinated with China and when I am planning have a trip in Hong Kong years back, I want to go at Ngong Ping 360 to see one of the biggest buddha in China. 

     This is our first stop, the Ngong Ping 360. After alighting at Hong Kong International Airport, we immediately bought an octopus card and board their fantastic railway known as Airport Express. 

     At Tung Chung, we walked our way to NP360. It is almost 8am too early isn't?, but it took us 45mins just to get our turn to board the cable car. Ahm, beware of the people who cuts in line. 

     25minutes of cable car ride, from there you can see the lush mountain of Lantau Island, the vast airport runway and feel a 14 degrees Celsius breeze. 

     Upon arriving, I am so delighted to see the Chinese Architectural design of Ngong Ping Village. I am happy to be here and to explore this place with my husband. Me and Abbey wrote down wishes at Bodhi Wishing Shrine. Here also displayed the first-ever international cable cars. 

     Upon passing the village, at Ngong Ping Piazza the Twelve Divine Generals welcomes us and prepare us to meet the world tallest outdoor bronze Buddha. After, well, I don't know how many steps it was, we reached the top. Roamed around in few minutes, and lingered the view of Lantau island from the top. 

     We went to the Po Lin temple, Hong Kong's largest Buddhist temple. That day, there is so many incense and people gathers to pray. 

     This is a nice place to escape from hustles of city. They also offers accommodations. This costs HK$270/pax. 

Satay by the Bay

ABBEY: After being an "eco-adventurer" at Gardens by the Bay, we felt hunger. Satay by the Bay is the nearest place to go. Food stalls offers Chinese, Indian, Western, Malay and Indonesian cuisines. It also has a bar for after dinner hangout. 

We ordered chicken and mutton satay for less than 15sgd that came with rice cake and peanut sauce. We also got cereal prawn and crispy baby squids for 25sgd. As always, I picked up food from chinese-mixed-rice stall (3sgd for a cup of rice and 2 meat viands). 

The view and ambiance of the place is relaxing. A pond and bridge welcomes a customer for dining. 

WILL: You do not want to eat your satay together with buzzing machines of vehicles, well then Satay by the Bay is the right place for you. This hawker is located at the heart of Gardens by the Bay. 
     This is great for tourist who wants to taste different cuisines that Singapore offers. 
     Not more than $5 you can have a feast of Satay here with astonishing view of Marina Bay Sands and breeze of sea air. This is a great place to ask a woman if you're in a tight budget ;) 

Cloud Forest - Gardens by the Bay

ABBEY: This dome was still under construction when Singapore hosted the Orchid Convention. This is one of the glass domes in Gardens by the Bay. It showcases plants that lives in higher altitudes. At the entrance, we were welcomed by drizzles from a 6-storey man-made waterfall. 

Next level are the crystals. The exhibition of stalactites and stalagmites is amazing. As we go on to the upper levels species of plants became more of the "shrubby" type. That's how the plants grow on different altitudes. We cane to see large pitcher plants and colorful orchids. 

The dome also have skywalk and platform to have a good snap of the waterfalls. For 18sgd you can visit Cloud forest and flower domes with a free show of OCBC Rhapsody.

WILL: Got the free chance to explore the Flower Dome last 2011 before the grand opening of Gardens by the Bay, I am so excited to check out the Cloud Forest but its not done yet. 
      Ate Abigail and Kuya Victory went here in Singapore, Abbey and I decided to buy ticket of this World's Building of the Year at Groupon. We bought three, myself was not included, I am assuming that I'll be going back from office quite late then, but 6pm, I am on feet to check them out. 
     In this dome lies a gigantic manmade waterfall. Mist and cool air will greet you. Well, this really gives the right feeling once people climbed up a fog forest. Flora here is very different. Moss is all over. There's also a zone that showcases the crystals formed in thousands years. 
    A nice experience to hold on to. :) Thanks Sis Gail and Bro Victory for sharing this great time to explore this dome 

Cocoon Boutique Hotel – Where Luxury is Responsible

ABBEY: This was tagged as eco-hotel in a city. It is located at Scout Tobias corner Scout Rallos in Quezon city. An overnight stay in a twin bed room costs . It has a tub (Wilma was ecstatic knowing it), a comfy twin bed and fragrant toiletries. Buffet pastry breakfast is being served at the top-most floor where the outdoor swimming pool is also located. Priced at 350 per person, you can enjoy on freshly baked bread, cereal and soup. It also includes an order of one rice meal (longsilog, tosilog, tapsilog, american breakfast etc). Lift lobbies were ornamented with big blocks of wood while small blocks were used to design walls of the room. An old grand piano was exhibited in the hotel lobby; maybe if it can be tuned up it would be better. Hotel staffs were very helpful and attends to the needs of the guests specially when the lift broke down. Other thing to improve though with the chubby chef in the breakfast buffet; it would be better to keep his rant to his teammate to himself. Its disturbing and annoying to hear him whine when I'm enjoying the most important meal of the day.

WILL: RJ and Jhen's wedding is coming and I asked Jhen where we will stay. They told us that they will be staying at Cocoon Boutique Hotel. We have two options, to stay at my parents' house or to book for a room in this hotel. Well, after some calculations we chose the latter. 
      Urgently we start to send email to info@thecocoonhotel.com and Ms Annie immediately accommodated our queries, P4200 per night, breakfast is included for two pax. As time goes by, we requested two more pax to avail the breakfast but it ended 3, my Ate Sol, Kuya Laleng, Hannah & Baste(2child but counted as 1 adult)were added which is P350 per person. Until now nit yet paid, Sorry Ms Annie. Later this month I will deposit it to you. Don't get us wrong, their staffs forgot to bill us and we forgot also as we never checked the bill upon checking out. 
     Their room is so spacious and what I really love is their bathtub that can be viewed the tv, but I don't have the chance to soak my tired body because Hannah and Baste do that for me. Oh, Baste asked me to put a slide in our bathtub in home. Hehe. 
     Their P350 breakfast is just a simple one. Nothing to linger and stay for more. After a plate we decided to go back in our room for the wedding preparation since the pool is way too cool for the kids to handle. 
     Indeed this is the most valuable and newest hotel around the Quezon City. Worthy for weddings, birthdays or for romantic escapade. 
     Thanks Ms Annie for accommodating our request. Free to communicate with them through email, their responses were never delayed. 

Marché Bar & Bistro

ABBEY: We had tried to dine in Marche's restaurant but this is the first time with their bar and bistro. This one is located outside Raffles City mall. I ordered grilled chicken pizza and the staff told me that its really big; enough for 2 persons to share. Not knowing that the "threat" is serious, I was surprised when I saw it being served in a large plate and has its own stand as it will occupy our whole table. It is like a super-sized Turkish pide (an oval-shaped thin crust bread with toppings). For 18++ SGD, this delight has a reasonable price. I was already full finishing only half of the pie. It was delicious and full of aroma. The ambiance is good as well; fit to meet with friends after a day's work.

WILL: We watched "The Impossible" movie premiere at the Shaw Lido and Abbey's schedule was on NA shift then, so I decided to stat and accompany him until the 11pm hits the clock. 
      We went to Chijmes to have some pica-pica but he don't like the ambiance of the place, so we went out, in that we saw the Marche Bar and Bistro waving on us. 
      We sat down and I scanned the menu as I am starving that time, whoah, this chicken wrap caught my attention and immediately ordered for it. Abbey went for pizza. The taste of the roasted chicken wrap is nice but better when the yogurt was poured all over it. Pizza is huge to its price, so huge we cannot finish, we just tapao it. After a day, I ate it, yes I, all alone for me to eat it. Ha! 
      This is a great place to unwind while sipping wine. Thanks Abbey for asking me to dine with you here. Definitely we will be coming back.   

Tacos Recipe

This recipe is long due so here it is:

1/2 kilo of ground beef
1 medium-large onion (diced)
4 cloves of garlic (minced)
1 pack of McCormick taco mix
Taco shells
Grated cheddar cheese
Lettuce

Prepare the mix as instructed in the pack. Saute onion, garlic and beef. Once the meat turned brown add the taco mix and stir until it is well distributed. Heat the taco shells in an oven toaster. Place the shell in a plate, put in lettuce and ground beef and top it with cheese. Serve with ice-cold juice or soda.

VERDICT

WILL: When cleaning out cabinets at the kitchen I saw some ingredients that was bought since last year and some packets were already expired and before the best before of this taco mix meets its end I asked Abbey to use it. 

      Then the whole house was filled by the aroma of tacos. Spicy and delicious! This made as our dinner that night. We have one more pack, maybe this week, that will be one our dinner again. 

Matia's Inato Food Haus - Cebu City

ABBEY: 

You can't see any business sign of this diner but word of the street spreads like wild fire. Cab drivers know this place and a lot of patrons visit it again and again for grilled delights. We're an 8-pax party when we dined-in. We were really hungry when we arrived at the place and Matia's didn't disappoint us. 

We were ushered to a table and took our order. For 750 PHP we got 2 large plates of grilled chicken, pork belly, and gizzard. This also comes with puso (cooked rice wrapped in banana leaves) and drinks. The BBQ meat is tender and flavorful. I think I finished 5 rice servings. (really hungry huh). Now I know why this diner is popular in Cebu.

WILL: After pouring all of our adrenaline when we do the zipline at Adventure Cafe, we headed down from Balamban to eat in one of the famous ihaw-ihaw (grill) of Cebu, Matia's. 

      This restaurant seems a backyard turned to an al-fresco diner. A lot of people from different walks of life was there. We ordered a lot of grilled food but my favorites is the atay (Liver). I think I ate 4 sticks of those. When I saw that they have mango shake I immediately asked Abbey to get one for the ladies. Well, can't get enough of one, I ordered one more for take-out. It just get rid the dizziness I have felt that day. 

      This is worth visiting in Cebu. Best priced ihaw-ihaw. 

Ang Pera na Hindi Bitin - Money That's Never Short

ABBEY: The Bible teaches us to be a good steward  with the blessings that the Lord is giving to us especially when it comes to finance. Not that we have tons of money to manage but as it is written "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much". We just want to handle our finances well. This book gives us insight supported with Biblical truths that helps us to reach our goal. The author is an example of a "debt-slave" person until he overcome and paid them and became debt-free within a couple of years. He showed that living in debt is stressful. He wanted the readers to reach financial freedom with God's help. So if you're having financial worries, maybe this is the time to grab and read this book.

WILL: This is only a P50 book and I have a feeling that my Kuya have this to me for me to save money wisely. As I remember, my mom tagged me as the most stingy person she knew but my dad tagged me that I spend money like there is no tomorrow. 2 opinions from my 2 different closest person in my life. So let me asked my husband. Wait. And his answer is, I am thrifty. 
     Maybe I am the three of those and yet I am not ashamed. 
     Not blowing my own horn, I live a life that every little girl wanted to be. I had 11 barbies (original), a books of fairy tales, as early as 10 I have a collection of wristwatch, in my schooldays my clothes were from Guess to Gap to Tokyo Fashion, all of them were branded. But when I set foot on college and told by my mother that from there I will be writing my own future, I stopped and accepted that everything might be gone. I started to save my weekly allowance. Open a bank account and started to nurture my brain to survive the fight of so called "Life". 
     So here I am, saving the the most that I can, sharing it with the people that has lesser than I have. Contented on what we have, investing some in stocks and living a simple and yet peaceful and comfortable life. 
     Thanks for this book kuya. This made me realize that at the age of 30 I have some accomplishments na pala. ;) I will lend this book to other people for them to realize that we must save for the future and to be a blessing for others. 

Wensha Spa - Pasay City (24 Hours Open)

ABBEY: After our adventure in Cebu and arrived in Manila we went directly from the airport to Wensha spa in Pasay. The place was jam-packed as it was a holiday. After a couple of minutes we are in the start of the line for payment. One person costs including the use of jacuzzi, sauna, shower, hot and cold pool. We were each given and locker for personal belongings, fresh towel, robe, and slippers. We changed clothes and hit the shower and pools. A new experience for me to dip in nudist pools. I didn't got the time to use sauna as my body wanted to lay down and have a massage. Ginger-infused oil was used on me and it gave me a warm and relaxing feeling. I started to snore as I went into slumberland. Sadly, the massage session ended.

I woke up and went to buffet table to recharge. Afritada, pancit canton, vegetable salad, fried sweet potato and soup were served during our visit. After eating, we changed clothes again and went home. Areas to improve; lessen the noise of masseurs waiting in massage area and clean the couch in spa lobby. I saw an adult cockroach roaming in it.

WILL: Well, this is a fascinating buzz in the spa business, Wensha as one of the most loved spa. And here is my view not by smudging other reviews but to clear and be true. 
      Abbey and I set up this occasion to bond with my siblings and after they picked us up at NAIA Terminal 2 we straight go their Pasay branch. 
      Astonished that there is so many people on queue to do some relaxation and shabu-shabu buffet. We took our lockers and walked-in to their all girls jacuzzi, steam bath, showers. I am pretty shocked that some girls just walking around wearing their birthday suit. No! I never dropped off my towel. Ha!ha! 
      After minutes of steam bath, I took a long hot shower then went to the other side of the building to get some kneading. Surprise number two, their walls is very dirty. So dirty I can see it even the the room  is not well lit. Shivering cold was felt and I thought I am the only feeling it, but when my masseur came in, she also complain how cold the air conditioning was. 4th surprise, every room have 2 beds and they never had any curtain for the privacy of the clients. The massage is not good, it seems that the lady is very tired. 
     Shabu-shabu is not that nice nor bad. We took this opportunity for some picture taking and some stories were told. For around P900 we had experienced this. Wensha must do some serious renovation in their place and train their masseurs even lot more.