Excited for Celias Café

Posted on July 9, 2016 by heavenliner

People living in Alaminos, Pangasinan (and those who would visit this fast developing city) has something awesome to look forward to. Celias, a new modern Filipino coffee shop, is due to open on Saturday, July 16, 2016.

egzoited!!!

I am excited because the last time I visited Alaminos, Pangasinan, there seem to be no decent café or coffee shop where we could enjoy good coffee and some sumptuous meal. I and my friends (after touring the Hundred Islands) settled on eating at a trivial fastfood joint inside a trivial shopping mall.

What I’m most excited about Celias Cafe would be their all-day-breakfast Pinoy food offerings as well as that of their coffee concoctions. I am excited because I know, on a personal level, the owners of this café. And I know that these owners has lived for years in Osaka, the culinary capital of Japan. Hence, these new proprietors knows what good food is and I believe they have acquired impressive palatal sense. They know what delicious is!

I will definitely be heading to Celias Café and will give you my two cents on what this new exciting café has to offer! Celias is located beside the SSS Building along Marcos Avenue, Alaminos City, Pangasinan.

Si yu der…

China Blue Makes My Blog Look Expensive

Posted on July 5, 2016 by heavenliner

Let me add some class, sophistication and culinary elegance to this blog by posting photos of the interiors, table set-up and a couple of tasty food dishes of China Blue.

China Blue Manila

the set-up (especially the beautiful plate chargers) speaks a lot about elegance

Thin Crispy Beef… my personal favorite

elegant interiors… round chandelier in manila, square chandelier in tokyo…

Steamed Truffle Mushroom Bun… the most “sosyal” and ostentatious “siopao”

inside Conrad Hotel Manila

China Blue Manila inside Conrad Hotel (the newest five star luxury hotel in Manila) is not the first on the planet. The first China Blue, a classy modern Chinese cuisine restaurant is in Conrad Hotel in Tokyo.

O ‘di ba? Ang sosyal sosyal ko!

Pancit Batil Patung at Shallots-All-You-Can Joint

Posted on July 3, 2016 by heavenliner

The usual main aim of an out of town adventure is to see and experience for yourself the scenic view of your planned destination. While the food in your destination would usually come in as an additional perk to an already awesome adventure.

But this is not the case with my recent out of town adventure in Tuguegarao, Cagayan province. I, MJ, JB and Willie (my officemates) went to Tuguegarao for a long weekend with two major aims in mind: to visit the majestic Callo Cave and to take a bite of Tuguegarao’s unique noodle dish.

super special batil patung at jomar’s

Pancit Batil Patung on my first chomp was like an explosion of flavors in my palate. The delicious mixture of ingredients was so awesome it will make your taste buds wanna grow hands for it to give a good round of applause.

But let me digress from the as-expected delicious taste of this dish to that of the surprising and unique experience we had when we went and ordered our Pancit Batil Patung at Jomar’s Panceteria (panceteria: English translation, noodle house).

Jomar’s Panceteria only serves Pancit Batil Patung and there’s nothing else in the menu. Thus, you would really conclude that their noodle dish is one of the best since it’s the only dish that keeps their store alive. Nevertheless, their pancit are of three varieties, i.e. regular, special and super special. All four of us of course did not settle for less and opted for the Super Special which only costs eighty pesos (or less than US$ 2).

happy tummy… (with mj, jb and willie)

Our astonishment in the restaurant was further driven when we noticed at one corner of the dining area was the presence of a ginormous chopping board, several knives and a huge sack full of pungent shallots.

While we were having the first bite of the pancit (egg noodle), we noticed people were actually proceeding to the monster chopping board and were actually peeling off and mincing the shallots. After which they would place it on a small saucer and bring to their table. We then saw them pour soy sauce and scooped a generous amount so as to top it on their Pancit Batil Patung.

We then asked our companion Willie to peel and chop red onions for us. And when he could no longer take it he went back to our table serving a meager amount of minced shallots with uncontrollable tears in his eyes. We on the other hand were laughing so hard!

big portions!!!

extra challenge part of the adventure!

pose muna with the “cusinera“

That’s when we realized that Jomar’s Pancit Batil Patung was a shallots-all-you-can panciteria! I was actually telling my companions that Jomar’s should replace the knives and chopping board with a food processor so that it would be “no-more-tears” and would be easier for their guests. But then again, I realized that if electric food processor would be installed, the odd extra-challenge, fun and uniqueness of the whole experience would be expunged.

Where in the world would you find a restaurant that has this kind of an offering? Pancit Batil Patung at Jomar’s was definitely one unique, enjoyable and tummy-filling part of our adventure in Tuguegarao.

Sibuyas pa mor!

The Majesty & Magnificence of Callao Cave

Posted on June 30, 2016 by heavenliner

I can’t recall if I have been to a cave. This is until my attention, interest and curiosity was called upon by the beauty, majesty and magnificence of Callao Cave in Tuguegarao Province. This grand and imposing natural formation is known as the site where the oldest human bone of a Filipino has been discovered.

Being inside Callao Cave can be considered a blessing. It was such an awesome sight. The grandiose rock formations and the dramatic effect of natural rays of the sun seeping through the holes and crevices above the chambers and domes were really breathtaking. I never imagined that such a place actually exists!

with mj, jb and willie playing with the rays of the sun…

dramatic!

the rarest chapel ever!

the stunning lighting effect are all natural…

Me and my colleagues (MJ, JB and Willie) felt so blessed for we were fortunate enough to behold such a magnificent work of nature! The stunning site gives you an insight that the caveman who lived inside Callao thousands of years ago must be spending some auspicious lifestyle! His architect and interior designer was no less than Mother Nature.

My experience and beautiful impression of Callao is worth a memory that can be tucked securely in a corner of my mind which can readily be pulled out later, maybe for a poem, or a short story or a song. And it will definitely take a lot for the succeeding caves that I will step into for me to get as impressed as that of the first cave that I have been to. Callao was one stupendously gorgeous cave!

Hayop sa ganda ang kwebang yon!

Cool Tuguegarao Adventure 2016 Video

Posted on June 28, 2016 by heavenliner

Worry. That is my initial feeling when the plan to go to the province of Tuguegarao has finally been confirmed. I was worried that my super hot body might assimilate with that of the hottest place in the Philippines. I was worried for it might have an effect on mankind and the environment I was worried that the integration of my mega hot body with that of the blistering climate of Tugegarao may cause the planet to explode!

my gosh… that is one hot dude! (in my dreams) hahaha!

But I was wrong because by the time I stepped on the tarmac at Tugegarao airport all I could feel was coolness. I knew right away that this super hot spot in the Philippines would be one cool place to stay. I was wrong because the only blazing hot was the weather everything else were sooo cool and refreshing. The people, the food as well as the beautiful scenery were something to chill about!

To summarize my adventure with colleagues MJ, JB and Willie, here’s one refreshing video. I hope that Ben Rector would equally be cool about my using his awesome song entitled Brand New (no copyright infringement was intended) in this video…

It was a blast!

Sa sobrang init, gusto ko nang mag dyaket!

Too Early & Too Late for Tel Aviv Pride 2016

Posted on June 5, 2016 by heavenliner

I arrived too early and left too early for the party. Now I’m celebrating too late…

where fun is supposed happen! (in front of the iconic dan hotel)

was too early for the party…

Here’s a bunch of beautiful people who were blessed to feel, see, smell and experience the fun and excitement of this year’s Pride in the city that I came to love.

Hapi Prayd Tel Abib!

Chronicling a Momentous Holy Mass in Old Jaffa

Posted on April 11, 2016 by heavenliner

According to history, Old Jaffa in Tel Aviv was a place that was monopolized by the Canaanites and Philistines. It was also the ancient town brought to knees by Biblcal King David, ruled by King Solomon and vanquished by the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians and the Phoenicians. It was the historic site where Alexander the Great stationed his troops. And it was reconquered by the Jews through the Maccabean rebels and also fell into the hands of the Romans. Old Jaffa is also where some of the stories in the Holy Bible about Jonah and Apostle Peter took place.

Old Jaffa is also even written about in some Egyptian letters by an ancient pharaoh. It is also believed to be the place where Andromeda (of the Greek mythology) was chained to a rock by her king father so as to pacify the tantrums of Poseidon.

st peter’s church

amen!

my sister outside the st peter’s church…

And in the event I happen to become very famous and significant, let me pronounce and put in writing (so that people would know) that this historic site is where I attended my first Holy Catholic Mass in Israel. Not in Jerusalem, not in Nazareth neither in Bethlehem. It is in old, historic and colorful Jaffa! This I guess would be one notable event that will be recognized in the future!

And for the record, the Holy Mass me and my sister fortuitously attended was celebrated in the Spanish language. It was a special Mass for some Latin American looking tourists. Too bad I did not intently listened to my profesora in Spanish language subjects during my schooldays, only little could I understand on what the priest was saying.

But since me and my sister knows the dynamics of the Holy Catholic Mass – when to say amen, when to kneel, when to do the sign of the cross, when to pray a specific/standard prayer, when to stand and bow the head, when to respond (our response was in English though), when to say “peace be with you”, etc. – the experience was as divine and as hallowed like attending a Holy Mass which we could totally understand.

No, I don’t have plans of conquering this awesome place but it can now be said that Old Jaffa is now a part of my soon to be famous life. Or the other way around, that is, I have at least in some strange twist of fate have been part of the historic Old Jaffa.

took a shot while the first reading is on-going…

the massive church was aptly called st peter's church because this is where st peter lived for a while (inside simon the tanner's house) and had a vision/dream which started the christian catholic religion. old jaffa is also where st peter raised tabitha from the dead

the massive house of prayer was aptly called st peter’s church because this is where st peter lived for a while (inside simon the tanner’s house) and had a vision/dream which started the christian catholic religion. this house is also where st peter raised tabitha from the dead

up the hill in old jaffa. behind me is the catholic church of st peter.

Parang gusto ko tuloy sakupin at ikongker ang baryong ito.

The Rare Remarkability of Old Jaffa

Posted on April 10, 2016 by heavenliner

zodiac sign fountain inside old jaffa square

Old Jaffa is a very old port town situated in the south of Tel Aviv. It is believed that this town was built by the son of Noah (Japheth) after the great flood. Thus, this town is considered one of the oldest inhabited towns on the planet.

With the more than 3,000 years old history of this town, there is so much to see, hear, feel and smell in Old Jaffa. This place is actually my most photographed place in my recent trip to Israel with my sister. That is why this old town would definitely be one place in Israel that I will be back in case I will again be blessed to visit Israel.

Walking through the narrow streets and alleyways of Old Jaffa, it is very evident that the place is now a haven for artists and craftsmen. The artistry of the people who presently inhabits the place are truly mind-blowing!

With the rich and remarkable history of Old Jaffa, there is indeed so much to write about this ancient place. Yet, I could not seem to focus on what to say and write about this beautiful town. I guess I was too mesmerized by the special remarkability, rich exceptionality and the rareness of the magic of Old Jaffa.

this art piece is called “gate of faith”

there’s so much to see, feel and smell…

super nice!

my sister love the colors of this artpiece

i love this place!!!

mesmerized!

Ibang lebel ang historik at kulchural ng baryong ‘to

Craved for Rice & Shopping Mall in Tel Aviv

Posted on April 4, 2016 by heavenliner

My being a Far East Asian cracked up and transcended when me and my sister were in Tel Aviv. First was when both of us were craving for rice, the staple food of Far East Asians. After a couple of days gobbling over falafels, hummus, schnitzels and loads of bread and pastry varieties, part of my sleep were dreams about munching on a bowl of hot and freshly cooked rice.

These was further amplified when both of us where hankering whether a shopping mall exists in Tel Aviv. Yeah, the biggest shopping malls on the planet are found in our part of the world! Thus, a week without going to a shopping mall for Far East Asians like me and my sister makes us intensely loony.

So as to resolve our impending bouts of madness we scrambled on googling the net so as to determine where’s the nearest mall and where rice are most likely sold. Thanks to the ever reliable google and google map we found Dizengoff Center, the first mall in Israel. Luckily, this mall was only a couple of minutes walk from our hotel. In this mall was when our rice-cravings was resolved. My theory that Filipinos loves or needs shopping malls was validated because in Dizengoff Center did we saw the most number of Filipinos in Israel.

craving for rice, we passed by dizengoff square a few steps away from the dizengoff center

having fun inside a tel aviv bus!

And after a couple of days, me and my sister bravely rode a bus and headed to the most modern and one of the biggest malls in Tel Aviv known as Azrieli Center. This complex houses three iconic modern towers of Tel Aviv simply known as the Circular, the Square and the Triangular towers. Circular Tower is the tallest building in Tel Aviv and at its top-most floor is where the breath-taking Azrieli Observatory is located.

a ceiling shot of the mall... now try to find the triangulat, square and circular towers

a ceiling shot at the center of the mall… now try to find the triangular, square and circular towers

spectacular view from the Azrieli Observatory. The Mediterranean Sea at the far end!

spectacular view from the Azrieli Observatory. The majestic Mediterranean Sea at the far end!

beautiful!!!

pa-kyut

jackpot!

2 happy pinoys in tel aviv

I love Azrieli Observatory!!!

Discovering the malls of Tel Aviv by ourselves was one advantage of not booking a tour package for our entire stay and trip to Israel. Going and planning on our own, enables me and my sister resolve these kinds of insane issues. I’m pretty sure those expensive yet inflexible tour packages basically offers the more popular Israeli destinations which of course would not include moments inside a mall. And those who availed those rigid package tours failed to see other dimensions of what Tel Aviv or Israel as a whole got to offer.

Without rice and the absence of a shopping mall experience for the entire trip to Israel could have made me and my sister gone mad and demented at the end of the trip. Thanks to Dizengoff and Azrieli Centers for keeping the both of us sane.

‘Yun nga lang, walang Tosilog sa mol nila.

Too Thankful to Wail at the Wailing Wall

Posted on April 3, 2016 by heavenliner

The Western Wall (which others call The Wailing Wall) has been regarded by the Jews as the sole remnant of the Holy Temple. It is considered to be the closest accessible site to the holiest spot in Judaism known as the Foundation Stone which lies on the Temple Mount. Because of these, the Western Wall has become a place of pilgrimage among the Jews around the world.

a holy site to behold

selfie muna

amen!

i could not believe i would be this blessed!

Since it is the holiest accessible site, the Western Wall would be the site where Jewish believers would lament about the obliteration of the temple as well as the site where they would pray for intentions. As a tradition, people would write a note on a piece of paper about their intentions, their petitions, their requests, wishes, longings and yearnings. And insert the paper into the crevices of the walls for the heavenly beings to grant such wishes, requests and appeals.

Though a non-Jewish, I have been gifted by the heavens to set foot, see, smell and feel the massive and majestic walls of the Western Wall. Some perhaps must be envious that a pathetic underachiever like me was granted the rare chance to pray and ask for anything that I need and want to the Holy God of the Jewish world.

me and my sister on our 2nd visit

too overjoyed to ask for anything…

But honestly, I failed to write any petition neither did I fail to even murmur on the stones about any wish. It is because I was too overjoyed and too thankful to ask for anything at that moment. The mere fact that I was blessed to be in the Holy Land is already a massive and colossal gift from the heavens. I was so thrilled and delighted I could no longer ask for anything else at that moment.

Mapapasigaw ka talaga ng “Tenk Yu Lord!”

Nengkoy

ruminations & travesties of the favorite yet naughty son of Nengkoy

Category Archives: travel