ADVISORY

I've switched blogs and have officially moved to Tumblr. All my new posts (plus some old favorites) can be found here: http://hungrybeachbunny.tumblr.com/ :)

Batangas-bound Manileña

So to clear things up: I am a city-girl. There's no getting around the fact that I was born and spent my lifetime in the city, where nearly everything is an FX or taxi ride away, there is no shortage of malls, commercial centers and such, and traffic is part of the everyday routine.

That's not to say I've never gone outside the city, as evident by previous posts and photos. I've never gone off beyond the city alone though, EVER. It's always with a group of friends or family, sometimes by bus, most of the time via a rented van or someone's borrowed car. And I've NEVER had to worry about where we're going or what route we'll be taking - will there be stop-overs? What about food? Where do I put my things? All my life, all I had to do was try to nab the window seat, get comfy and relax all the way during the trip. I can even sleep if I want, and when I wake up, we'll already be there.

Not that I'm complaining - traveling long distances can be stressful enough on its own. Might as well keep it as uncomplicated as possible, right? Still though, somewhere between learning to take the jeep on my own and getting out of town without my parents to hold my hand, I figured I really should learn to take that bus to a far off place, all by myself. 

Urban Stay-cations: A Manila Ocean Park Weekend

I promised myself I’d save the week-long beach trips with my loved one for the actual “honeymoon” to make it more ‘special’. That’s not to say I wouldn’t say no to a long weekend spent at a nice accommodation away from our hometown for a little vacation.

So how do you combine the “getting away from it all” vibe of out-of-town vacations, without actually going out of town? It takes a bit of creativity to get around this one, plus a general knowledge of the local hot-spots, useful promos and what-not. With a bit of research and a couple months worth of savings, my boyfriend and I were able to plan for our first Urban Stay-cation - our version of a out-of-town trip without having to go beyond the borders of Metro Manila.

The objective? Have a fun weekend away from our usual comfort zones, without the hassle of going to remote areas, maybe take part in some fun, new activities and get that vacation vibe going.

The limits: Metro Manila only, and never beyond

The time-limit? Three days - enough to get that much-needed R&R without getting a massive vacation hang-over.

Our first stay-cation was planned for our 4th Anniversary celebration. We chose Hotel H2O, right at the heart of the famous Manila Ocean Park in Manila. We have always wanted to check out the ocean-themed attractions at Manila Ocean Park, and figured a weekend stay at an on-site accommodation was the best way to go since it will allow us to try out the activities at our own leisurely pace.

Left: entrance to the Manila Ocean Park; Right: it's iconic logo, where dozens of families and visitors have their photo taken. Is that a whale shark in the logo? Because there definitely wasn't one inside...

The CWC Challenge

Most resorts offer the same basic features and services - a pool, a beach, some pretty cabanas and restaurants, and the promise of days in the sun, sand and sea. A few have some specialties, like dive sites and surf spots and,  most recently, a shot at wakeboarding.

My friends and I decided to try out Camsur Watersports Complex, a large resort devoted mostly to wakeboarding, in Naga City, Camarines Sur. 

Get ready to ramp it up (or faceplant, whichever..)

Homemade Gulaman

No other drink is best of summer than a tall glass of ice-cold gulaman, a traditional Filipino drink made of sweet syrup mixed with water, lots of ice and chunks of of the gelatin-like gulaman.

Tired of going out in the searing, summer heat to search for this drink, only to bring home a few in flimsy plastic cups, my mom and I learned to make this drink at home where we can whip it out of the refrigerator anytime for a fuss-free cooler.

my best friend for summer

Chowking Halo-Halo

This is less of a blog entry and more of a mindless rave about one of my favorite comfort foods for summer - Halo Halo!

Halo-halo is a cold Filipino dessert made of a wide assortment of sweet beans, saging saba, nata, sago, gulaman, and pieces of jack fruit on a bed of shaved ice, topped with milk, toasted pinipig, eche flan and a scoop (or two) of ice cream). We usually find a lot of that stuff in stores and stalls around the metro during summer, but when you're at home on a stifling summer night and can't bring yourself to go outside, best dial the Chowking delivery hotline (98888) and order their famous Halo-Halo. 

pictured = HEAVEN

They have it in regular sizes, but if you're famished, I suggest going for the Halo-Halo Fiesta at Php94. Add another scoop of ice cream if you will. It's not inexpensive, but totally worth it since the toppings are generous, and it's a cold piece of heaven delivered right at your doorstep.