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..)

Ka Domeng's Pares

Nothing spells a good, old-school meal like some beef pares and mami, served and eaten on a bench at a random pares house along the road in the wee hours of the morning.

We discovered and frequent such a place called Pares ni Ka Domeng, a small canteen-like spot beside the Petron gas station at Fairview. It serves the usual, simple stuff like tapsilog (and all varieties of it), siopao and siomai, a wide variety of mami, and of course, its house specialty, beef pares served with some garlic rice. 

the menu board

Open 24 hours, it's the best place to sate you hunger (and drown your angst) after a bad case of overtime late into the night, or before heading off the work early in the morning.

Good Old Isaw at North Farview

When it comes to street food, nothing beats good old isaw; succulent chicken intestines basted in a simple sauce and grilled til crispy, then dipped in hot vinegar to finish. At around Php3 a piece, it's a staple for college students, PUV drivers, hungry passers-by and a must-try for foreigners seeking the "local thrill" right alongside the infamous balut.

With the various health risks of having street food, though, it's hard to find a reliable isaw spot that serves (relatively) safe products without sacrificing the classic street-food taste. Luckily, we found one right in our own hometown; a portable isaw spot snuggled inside the entrance of one of North Fairview's subdivisions.

The isawan is located near a tricycle terminal beside the East West Bank and is actually a motorcycle with a large sidecar that can be converted into a grilling station, operated by a small family. They arrive at their spot everyday at around 5pm and set-up shop for their hungry patrons.

a small bulb provides light when it starts to get dark

The Great Binondo Food Trip

I've had my fair share of Chinese food, from fast food to fancier restaurants. But I've always been curious about real Chinese food, found only deep in the heart of Binondo's famed China Town, one of the many places in the metro that I have never, ever been to.

My chance came last weekend after a friend suggested a Binondo food trip, where we can tour old China Town and sample some of their most highly-recommended cuisine, guided by none other than The Big Binondo Food Wok Map, a colorful map showcasing the area's food hotspots, shops and must-see cultural establishments.

the colorful and creative food map

Omakase Restaurant

The problem with loving a certain type of food so much is that you tend to eat a lot of it any chance you get. Japanese food, for instance, has always been one of my favorites ever since I got my first taste of sashimi at age 10 (yes, I've been eating raw tuna dipped in soy sauce-wasabi at 10 years of age...with a chopstick). Since then I've been trying to get my hands on any sushi/sashimi - and eventually any tye of Japanese food - by going to any Japanese reataurant available at a reasonable budget; and if you've got a limited budget, you soon end up going to places that serve the same things all the time.

Don't get me wrong. I'm your everyday bento-loving, sashimi-seeking, wasabi-addict girl, but when you get that food burn-out, you need something a little different. 

So it's a good thing a friend of mine recently had her birthday lunch-out at Omakase.

Casa Xocolat

I've noticed we've been having our meet-ups (and birthday treats) at Casa Xocolat Katipunan branch lately. But who can blame us - seriously, it's a chocolate cafe :p

The Katipunan branch is one of those 'homes remodeled to accommodate a cafe' establishments, meaning it has that warm, homey look, complete with mismatched furniture, a little garden and cute novelty/artsy decor - I really love these type of cafes. It's all really nice and cozy, perfect for a date (perhaps the outdoor area on a cool night would be the better option) or a meet-up with friends.

(left to right) lots of nifty decor; ooooh, multicolored paddles?; our tabletop of chipped tiles; the cafe's counter featuring the menu scrawled on a chalkboard

It's obvious from the menu that this is a 'strictly (or mostly) chocolate' fair; even the savory dishes have a little chocolate/cacao element in them. Admittedly, we've never had the savory dishes, because we only went here for dessert, but maybe next time - I heard they were pretty good too.

Pictured: the obvious :D I also like the fact that it's all on one page so you dont have to keep flipping them over when trying to decide what to get

Lunch at CONGO GRILL

Admittedly, I'm not a big fan of Filipino Food Restaurants. Seeing as I get to eat lots of Filipino food at home, I do try to go for 'something else' everytime I go out to eat. Besides, if I get a taste of restaurant-grade caldereta that didn't quite hit the spot like my mom's homemade caldereta, I'd get sorely disappointed.

That's not to say I don't eat at Filipino-themed restuarants at all, especially with a boyfriend who happens to gravitate towards foodie spots with the words ihaw, ensalada and the like. So come one weekend, we sat ourselves at Congo Grill for lunch.