Two Delightful Coffee Servings in Makati

Bad Photograph of this delightful
dark chocolate coffee and gelato
care of this blogger

There are two memorable coffee experiences that I would like to share with you. First is the Dark Chocolate Caffelato from Caffe Ti-Amo in Greenbelt 5. It is a rich and thick concoction of coffee and gelato, a must-try for dark chocolate lovers like me. The drink costs PHP125-165 depending on your preferred size.

With it's white rocking chair, free and efficient wifi and a variety of desserts available, this Korean-born Caffe Ti-Amo is a place I would want to visit again.

The Irish Coffee amidst the Christmas setup of
the Peninsula Manila's grand lobby

The next interesting coffee experience I had is the Irish Coffee in one of the country's travel landmark, The Manila Peninsula in Makati. A delicate concoction of coffee, whiskey and cream served in a sugar-frosted glass, this drink is a good-try but might not be advisable for those aversive to hard liquor.

Five Must-Try Sweets at SM North

My next door neighbor happens to be one of the biggest malls in the world. And as an insatiable dessert monster, here are my five must-try sweets inside my neighbor's place:

Yema Ball and Iced Americano at Sugarhouse

1) Yema Balls at Sugarhouse. These amazing melt-in-your-mouth creamy balls never fails to make my day more special. Pair it with a bitter cup of Americano, it spells afternoon perfection. Sugarhouse is located at the fourth floor of The Block.

Three Places to Love in Baguio

Baguio city is an icon among local Filipino travelers as it provides respite from the heat of the city. And in this charming, American-built district, there are three quaint places I would love to visit again:

1) Oh My Gulay - To my big surprise, in the middle of the bustling Session Road is an artist's haven that serves vegetable-centric food. Built by Baguio's iconic filmmaker and activist, Kidlat Tahimik, there is a dining area here over-looking the city, a very nice place to spend a lazy afternoon.

Three Must-Try Tea Places

I was quite happy when there a came a boom of milk tea places around Metro Manila since 2011. Just like our neighboring countries, I could finally have my customized tea in almost every corner in the Metro.

Although I must admit, Gong Cha and Chatime are two milk tea places I frequent because of their flavored green tea, here are for me, three enjoyable places to have your serving of tea, milk tea or otherwise.

The Tea Republic's Iced Green Tea is a must-try in their
branches in Makati (Enterprise Tower and Pacific Star)

1) Tea Republic (Enterprise Tower and Pacific Star Building, Makati) - Even before the milk tea boom came to Manila, I could remember this place as one of those offering Designer tea (if there is such a thing).

A Tasteful Brunch

In my recent birthday trip to Singapore, my most enjoyable experience was our brunch at Marmalade Pantry right next to the Bhukit Tima Saddle Club. It had a very pleasant outdoor feel and the the restaurant's interiors blend very well with it.

We had a hearty servings of eggs with other sidings while a balloon-twisting clown was beside us giving our day a more festive feel. Their cupcakes though were not exactly as I have expected (as some of them were a bit dry). But overall, the dining experience was a pleasant experience.

I would love to be back here.

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Five Reasons To Visit New York City Again and Again

There 101 reasons to visit New York city, the melting pot of art, culture and lifestyle in the east coast of US. But here are my top 5 reasons why I would like to save up for another trip to the Big Apple.

Pumpkin Cinderella Soup
(from facebook account of Purple Yam)

The perfect Filipino breakfast combo
(from facebook account of Purple Yam)

 1) Purple Yam (1314 Courtelyou Road, Brooklyn)

Purple Yam specializes in Filipino fusion food. It sounds crazy for someone who  has lived all his life in Manila to crave for Filipino food in New York. But Purple Yam in Brooklyn has taken traditional Filipino food into a higher level ready to face the international scene.

Three Reasons to Visit Ilocos Again and Again

Needless to say, Ilocos is the grand region of tourism north of Manila. It's heritage and beauty is something every Filipino and visitor in the PHL should experience. But aside from its grand historical structures and geographic landscapes, here are my top three reasons why I would always want to visit Ilocos Norte and Sur again and again:

1) Poque-poque at La Preciosa

I have never had an eggplant dish as good as this. It's soft, tasty and it melts in your mouth with a flavor so unique. And if you are at La Preciosa, don't forget to have any of their desserts.

An Afternoon of Luxury

Amansara's Chocolate Cake is the best chocolate cake
that ever touched my mouth

I'm a very lucky traveler. I get to experience a lot of things I could not afford. One of them is a visit to Amansara luxury resort in Siem Reap, Cambodia which was made possible by a dear friend who used to work in an Aman Resort, famous for its chain of luxurious residences around the world.

Amansara used to be the guest house of the King of Cambodia. And to preserve its heritage, the owners have changed very little the compound's interiors and its architecture.

Three Must-See Souvenir Shops in Siem Reap

In our trip to Siem Reap, we asked our hotel-provided tour guide to bring us to souvenir shops. But unfortunately, he brought us to not-so-interesting shops which was more of a waste of our time. It was good thing we were traveling with noted Filipino interior designer Eric Paras and his research brought us to these three must-see souvenir shops in this charming town of Cambodia:

Theam's House. The place is itself is a tourist
attraction more than a souvenir shop

1) Theam's House - located in Khum Kokchak, this art gallery and souvenir shop offers some of the best gift items I have seen in Siem Reap.

My Boracay Must-Try

In 2011, I had a great opportunity to teach yoga in Boracay for about a month. And having lived the everyday island life, let me share with you my five favorite foods in the Philippines' top island destination:

1) Calamansi Muffins at Real Coffee and Tea (Station 1 near Astoria). I just love having them freshly-baked by 8:30 in the morning. The are soft, tasty and the calamansi just makes them so unique.