Bohol City Tour

In Bohol, you are gonna be hassled by taxi drivers.  Most of them moonlights as tour guides.  I tell you, this is a must go.  If you don't wanna jump into the first person who offer you the tour, ask for their number and tell them that you will get back to them.  They will happily give them to you anyway.  :)

1.  Blood Compact

 2.  Baclayon Church

 3.  Largest snake on captivity.

 4.  Tarsier up close.

 5.  Lombok Boat Ride.

 6.  The chocolate hills.

 7.  Butterfly Farm

8.  Man-made forest.

We also went to a cave and to the person who peels coconut with his teeth.  10 places in a day.  Definitely money's worth.

Bohol Bee Farm, Panglao Island

It wasn't on our list to go to Bohol Bee Farm.  We went to Panglao Island to swim, dive, sunbathe and relax. But the weather was horrible and the shore was covered in seaweeds that we can't bring ourselves to go into the water.  The bee farm was one of the best things that we can do in Panglao Island next to diving.

Bohol Bee Farm offers tour of the bee farm(of course!),dining, accommodation, shopping and water activities.  Drivers can easily found their way to the bee farm.  I loved the flavoured ice cream and the spreads and organic beauty products that they sell in the farm.  If you are interested to know more about the bee farm, please go to this link - http://www.boholbeefarm.com/

El Rio Y Mar, Coron Palawan

 The Room:

The room is very spacious and clean.  The veranda overlooking the beach helped too.  It is very quiet at night.

The downside:  No television.  You have to keep yourself entertain after sundown.  There is nothing to do. This is a haven for people who wants to unwind and re-connect with your partner.

Take Note:  The area is run by generators so they turn off the generator at a certain time.

The Food:

We are definitely well-fed.  Everyday, Luke and I get 3 meal courses for lunch and dinner.  The appetizer itself is enough to keep us full.  Very very satisfying.

What to do?

You can hike in the mountain guided by one of the Kuyas.  The view is truly amazing up there.  The air is fresh too.  Be careful of the ants on the way though.  They're not afraid to bite!!!

You can sunbathe, swim in the beach and infinity pool and kayak.  There is nothing special with the beach though. I've been to better places.  

Tip:  Bring lots of off lotion. You def will need it.  They have one in the island but it's not free.  :P

Ultimately, If you want to go on holiday away from everyone, this is a place for you.  Definitely peaceful.  No noisy staffs or noisy kids.  Amazing beach view everyday and friendly staffs.  :)

Coron Island Hopping, Palawan

This place is amazing.  I've never been to anywhere like it.  Darlings, if you have time to visit the Philippines, please don't forget to drop by Coron, Palawan and don't ever forget to do the Island tour.  Skipping the Island tour is considered a mortal sin.  It is a whole day tour that involves 4 islands and 1 hot spring depending on which tour you join.  Banks and I joined the tour organised by El Rio Y Mar.  If you love snorkelling, asked if they do the Siete Pecados Island tour.  I tell you, the experience is better than going to Ocean Park.  Best snorkelling spot I've been so far. 

Hotel Celeste

I love sleeping in nice hotels.  I like the fact that the bed is always well made, the pillows are fluffy and the toilets are clean.  There's nothing worse than a dirty bathroom.


THE ROOM:

Hotel Celeste reminded me of Number 10 Hotel that we stayed in in Scotland although this is just a quarter of it's size.  It is situated one of the busiest streets in Makati so expect to hear cars in the middle of the night.  On the brightside, it is just 5 minutes walk to Greenbelt where the best shopping and dining area in Makati is.  The bathroom is small for Mr. Banks standards but the L'Occitane products made up for it.  :P  The experience would have been perfect if the headboard is fixed, it made noises on slight movement.  The air conditioning took a long time to cool up too. 


RESTAURANTS:


There is a roof top restaurant in Hotel Celeste but Luke and I had soooo much options in Makati.  If you have endless options too I bet you wouldn't go to the hotel restaurant unless it's free of course.

CYMA:


Offers greek food.  Order food that says OPA and wait for the surprise.  :)


I recommend chicken kebab over lamb.  The lamb is very chewy.  Skip the starter pita unless you are very very hungry.  

BANANA LEAF:


Offers south east asian cuisine.  Luke and I haven't ordered anything that disappointed us.  Our favourite, Malayan beef curry with potatoes.  I also liked the Tilapia with Sambal Sauce(on photo).  


For first timers, you have to use the banana leaf as plate.

OODY'S THAI RESTAURANT:


Probably the best Thai Restaurant I've been in in Makati.  There aren't much to choose from anyway.  I've been to people's place, nice ambiance but the food disappointed me.  Oody's on the other hand is not so pricey and the food is what you would expect to be.  Don't order tom yum soup to avoid being disappointed though.  Loved the Red Curry so much.

MARCIANO'S:


If you are feeling Italian food, then go to Marciano's.  There are other Italian Restaurants in the area but I always choose this place for the ambiance, theme and for the affordable food.  One order of pasta will cost you around 300PHP.  Not a lot especially when you are on holidays.

QUEENS AT BOLLYWOOD:


My most favourite Indian Restaurant in Makati.  Luke and I would always come here whenever he visits.  The food is fantastic.  Chicken Tikka Tandori and Mutton Biryani are my staple.  On some nights, they have belly dancers.  You can dine al-fresco and smoke sheesha too.  

TAPELLA:


Feeling Spanish?  Then go to Tapella.  I would recommend Flauta de Camembert con Cebolla Caramelizada and Arroz Negra(on photo).  Be warned though that you get black sh*t after eating the arroz negra.  :P

FELY J'S:


The filipino restaurant that I trust.  Luke loved the sizzling sisig and liempo.  I loved the satay.  Kare-kare is our version of curry.  Not spicy though.  People with peanut allergies should stay away from this.

Manila Ocean Park

I am not really a big fan of aquariums but Luke made me love them.  My boyfriend is the best person to go on the aquarium with.  He is a fish geek.  He knows the different kinds of fishes and what they do.  I feel like I'm a kid when I'm with him.  I just ask him random stupid questions and he have answer for everythingggggg.

Facilities:

Fish Spa - 120PHP per head

Glass Bottom Boat ride - 150PHP per head

Aquanaut Voyage - 995PHP per head

Swimming - 180PHP per head weekdays

               - 200PHP per head weekends

To know more about the ocean park or if you are interested to visit, this is the website http://www.manilaoceanpark.com/

In Ocean Park, you can also stay in their in house hotel, Hotel H2O.  We stayed for 2 nights in their aquarium room and here's my review:

The Room:

The room is quite massive for 2 people.  It is more than enough space for my fiance who is 6 feet tall and me.  There is nothing annoying when the bed is small and you don't have enough room to sleep in.

The aquarium room is very entertaining.  I am not a fan of aquarium and fishes but I think I had more fun than he did.  I can't take my eyes of the fishes.  Sucks they had to turn in off by 9PM.

The room is very clean, a reasonable size of safe is provided.  Good enough to fit in DSLR and Mac Book Pro and other valuables.  The toilet is always clean but not expect bath tub.  They have powerful shower though.  Toiletries such as shampoo, lotion and liquid soap are provided too.  They also added toothbrush, toothpaste, cotton pads, cotton buds, nail file and shaving kit.

There are 2 telephones.  One in the room and one in the toilet.  Both phones can call each number.  I know as I called my fiance whilst in the toilet.  :P

If there are two things that I hate, it had to be the pillows and the noisy guests walking and chatting from their night out.  The pillows are not so soft for my liking and the noisy guests wake me up in the middle of the night.