TIME WELL WASTED: DAY 1

I am for bonding moments with cuzs, good laughs, drinks and PIG OUT!

This is where we hang out on this part of Blue Wave, Bazzo Bar, asian bar & resto. Food & service is ok but in over all rating needs a little improvement on the punctuality and food presentation.

Anyways, time wasted so well with people you wanna be with, frozen margaritas & beers pouring, grilled & beer-match dishes on the table, and great sounds. We ordered all flavors of their frozen margaritas (blue, strawberry and classic).

Band performing that night

Grilled Tuna

Tuna Sisig

Beef with fresh unripe mango slices salad

Fried Boneless Bangus

Nachos with beef and cheese salsa

Sweet Chili buffalo wings

Chicken Lollipops

18-inch pizza to take home for fam!

We just had a real good time that we scheduled another round the following day (night before one of my cousins go back to Australia). My guy cuz drove us home and it was so late that time already. Imagine from Manila to south then to north part of Luzon where his home is.

ON FOOD TRIP AND KILLING TIME!

A get together with cousins and i was so excited. Since we are always busy and others staying overseas, seldom do we find time to be all together. Now this is the time, i mean later. For now, we needed to kill time while waiting for the others. There at Yellow Cab @ Moa was where we found comfort (food). :))

In the company of pizzas (four seasons and ny pepperoni) and iced tea (Sola's raspberry & lemon) we killed time!

ON FOOD TRIP: COCONUT PIE

A friend gave this Buko Pie for my sister.  We got it still hot. Thanks!

I only had a slice though, but in fairness, it's the thought that counts.  This just made me crave for the buko pie we usually get from Los Banos (D'Original).  We really drove far, literally passing thru Laguna towns, just to get boxes of pies from there.

This photo below i downloaded from my flickr account, the one i took September of 2007, the last time i had tasted D'Original Buko Pie.

I love the thin crust, the young buko meat fillings (and not just buko slices but big cuts), and not so sweet taste. WTH! The craving must be stopped! :9

ON FOOD TRIP: PIG OUT! FTW DISHES!

My cuz arrived from the land down under, Australia, and we've always been pigging out since then. Like last Saturday we had these local dishes on the table: Monggo soup with Alugbati, fried tofu with pork slices in sweet spicy soy sauce, beef family recipe (with secret ingredients), steamed rice and crispy pata courtesy of our dear pretty friend Stace.

Thanks Manang and Manong!
Roasted pig made it on the table! Oh my BP!! LOL!
One of my favorite beef recipes! A specialty of the family.

The following week, tuesday, February 8, is my Uncle's 1st year death anniversary. Time went so fast since last year of the same month that we were grieving. Still, just the same, our family misses him a lot. May your soul rest in peace Uncle Oscar.

Anyways, in gatherings of the family he (Uncle Oscar) specifically liked a special native lechon on the table and so we got him this to commemorate his anniversary. Crispiness on the skin and juiciness of the tender meat blew the guests away forgetting BPs. Even i myself can not resist the tease!

Curse to my high BP! I was not able to enjoy much of the succulent dishes. What were there on the table? The Lechon, sweet and spicy prawns, fried chicken cutlets, beef mushroom & broccoli, bloody pork!, spring rolls, and palabok. For dessert we had buco pandan, moron -read as mooron (a native sweets from grind rice and cocoa--not sure if it got coco milk), colorful puto and choco marble cake. Oh my bloody sugar!!

Still waiting for my other cousin to be home (was to come early but attended a business trip to Spain) and for sure we will be pigging out again soon! Bar hopping hopefully for a post-vday celebration!

LOVE BUNNIES

It was sad to hear about the death of these lovebirds Edward and Bella so my cousins got these little rabbits instead.  These cuties were named Jack and Jill.  Since this year is the year of the rabbit on the Chinese calendar, they are considered lucky.  They are soft to touch, fur so smooth and the colors nice and neat.

This is Jill in white and black fur.

This is Jack in white, black and brown fur combi.

Jill is always been the active one jumping around and even gets to eat the most part of veggies.

Nap time after a hearty meal for Jill.  Jack was still busy cleaning up himself before snuggling with Jill. So cute i want to pinch them! They are like stuffed toys.

Just then i know that their ears lowered down when resting.  Asleep but eyes opened and do not even blink.

Here is the top view of Jack and Jill resting.  They looked like those fluffy house slippers with animal heads.

I have been busy these past few days and was able to post only after almost 2 weeks since i took these shots.  Sad to know just early this week that Jill died.  Cause of death: Unknown. Suspect: That electric gadget my cuzs used in their home.  That produces soundwave that kills roaches and rodents. It says safe with babies and puppies or kittens but did not specifically say other animals that maybe harmful with.  Are rabbits rodents?  No, they are not but in some animal orders they are somehow related.  So i suspected that it (gadget) somehow affects animals like these rabbit sizes and smaller. 

Hang on Jack, cuzs will get you another Jill.  Edward was too weak losing Bella, died after few days. Poor birdie :(

ON FOOD TRIP: DINNER AT PATIO CONCHITA

It is my mom's 62nd birthday today. I cooked some spaghetti pasta to have something to celebrate it with. In three days we will be celebrating also my niece's birthday which i will post later on.

I've been working (yayy! which is good somehow) and last night had a dinner at Patio de Conchita, Intramuros. Too bad it didn't cross my mind to take some snap of the food we had before finishing them up. Anyways, it's my first time on this place. Used to be a place where wedding functions held. Since it is along one of the streets of Intramuros, it got the old Spanish touch in its exterior and interior. It serves local dishes and they got wide range of varieties to choose from. Yesterday, cuz ordered one specialty of the house which is the Kalderetang Kambing (Goat Caldereta). Meat was so tender and the sauce so rich and spicy. Beef Caldereta is one of my favorite local dishes as well. It's never too late i took some shots before we leave.

Crispy Pata, Lechon Kawali and grilled fish slices by the counter

The rich thick sauce of the Kalderetang Kambing

Chilis, Peppers, Onion slices and vinegar mix sauce

from the Kilawin na Tanigue

(what's left of it)

The place is where drinkers hang out as well. Almost all the dishes there were "beer match" recipes. Let me remember what i saw there by the counter beside the ones i already mentioned above: stuffed squid, grilled fish, abobong kambing, prawns and more.

Rating for the food is ok but the place needs redecoration, i mean off with the Christmas decors. I know the place supposed to be looking old but being outdated with the season is another thing. Other places preparing for valentine and yet your tree is still up. Let's put up hearts all over..Let's go!

GREETINGS!

wishing you a
MERRY CHRISTMAS
&
JOYOUS NEW YEAR!

peace&loveforallmankind

loc:bythestairs,cuzhouse

TWO DAYS FUN @ RWM

Checking out my uncle's "school". That's what he said to the driver when asked where to. His new "school"? The Resort World Manila!

I have seen the Resort World Singapore and i did not know we got it back here. I just saw it last Feb2010 from above when our plane was bout to land. At that time when i was here, i did not get the chance to go and check it out 'til i came back again later this year.

I have been to Casinos (most of the times were with him) but i only enjoyed the shows, food and drinks especially when they were free because of his signing privilege being one of the vips. Anyways, he said he'll bring me to his new school and told me about this place and so i was so excited to tag along. We reached there like almost lunch. We entered from that side of Marriott Hotel Manila. Security was too tight. Thorough bag checks and body scans were done for all those entering the place. Some shops by the lobby were not open yet. To the right by the entrance preparation was ongoing for some art exhibit. We walk straight to where "the playas" have fun and play big time! The center part is where Bar360 and a stage for shows is located, to the right were the slot machines and to the left were tables. Taking pictures inside are prohibited so i was not able to get even a shot. Well actually tried during one of the performances there but my attention was called upon. I joined the free membership and sat along and played with my uncle, gave our cards for some points we can use later for food and beverages. The place is equipped with cameras all over. Security personnel were all over the play areas.

Then it was time for my lunch but i had it like passed 1pm. I enjoyed the buffet at Mercado. I love the pasta and fruit bar. The colorful inverted umbrellas on the ceiling created a nice dim colored ambiance inside the resto. I was full and satisfied after. :9 I went back to the table, did some slots the whole afternoon. I was having fun but not til place started to get crowded and filled with smoke from their cigarettes. I smelled awful! I am not used to smell much smoke (coming from the country where i have stayed for years which is so strict with their smoking laws on closed establishments), so i really had difficulty breathing that time even with my face half covered with hanky. I had buffet dinner again at Mercado played some slots after. Got a bottle or two of the free bottled water. Bar 360 had a show from international talents and acrobats (i can't remember from which countries exactly but they're from all over Europe). It was really a great show. Members of Earth, Wind & Fire were there to promote their show for the following day. They rendered a song as well. The night was really fun but the smoke really annoyed me. I decided then to just sit by the lobby and wait there. Took some shots from there and not long after (almost 1am) we went home.

Christmas lights by the parking lot.
Building behind is the Genting building.

Tower by the concert ground where Arnel Pineda performed the night after.
I did not notice i was able to capture the cross from the church near there.

Flower arrangement at the lobby of Maxims Tower

Painting placed outside the art exhibit area.
Too bad i wasn't able to check it out.
It was already closed when i got there.

At the hallway of Newport City where shops were located.

Flower arrangements from wishers.

to the lobby of Maxims tower

Christmas balls, lights and cameras on the ceiling

to Marriott Hotel Manila

Christmas Trees and Santa by the lobby

We went there again the following day. We stayed at VIP area. Where all those money came from??!! Yes, people betting hundreds of thousands in one go! But much to my concern was my tummy. Got there 2pm with no breakfast. I tried the seafood congee and dimsum at Noodle Works for dinner and had Clubhouse sandwich, fries and iced tea for snacks at The Maxims Dining earlier. Uncle did not get the same luck as yesterday so we went home early that night. We went to the parking lot to get the car at that time Arnel Pineda of Journey was rocking the ground. It was windy that time. Tired and passed out in the car on our way home.