Archive for March 2012
Bantayan's Famous Buwad is the Best
There's no better way of preserving fish than drying it out by the heat of the great star. Dried fish or Buwad as what we call it in Cebuano language. Now Bantayan Island is not just famous with its white and long sand beaches; they also boast their dried fish. I had been a lover of it since I was young, when I was in my secondary years, my mother used to sell these boneless buwad danggit at a high price. I really can't recall the exact amount but i am pretty sure it was pricely. One of my mother's friends who used to live in Bantayan delivers the bags full of those before but eventually he stopped and my mother stopped selling them which was kind of sad but recently, I’m glad to finally see the market where those tasty buwad came from, Bantayan Public Market.
During our second day at Bantayan Island, we managed to visit Bantayan town for some pasalubongs which are of course the buwad. It is not because the Cebu market doesn't sell them but the main reason was because it is sold pretty cheap compared to the price in the city. I managed to buy three varieties of their buwad, the famous boneless danggit, buwad tapa and buwad pusit or nukus. The danggit is sold for Php 55 per 1/4 kilo, buwad tapa for Php 75 per 1/4 kilo and the buwad pusit / nukus for 150 per 1/4 kilo. You have the option to either buy those packed ones or get some from a container and let the seller weigh it for you.
Budyong Beach Resort Doesn't Know Customer Service
When we travelled to Bantayan Island last weekend, March 25, 2012 with my colleagues and friends, we opt to stay in Budyong Beach Resort. That was my first in Bantayan, I have no idea why my supervisor asked me to handle the itinerary while we have team mates who had been to this place before.
Anyhow, here's my experience with the resort. A month before, I researched about it and found their landline as well as mobile number. I sent out some messages asking if it is indeed their number, they responded immediately and figured it was Margie, the secretary whom I had been conversing with. I reserved one room good for 15 persons; she said it is an air conditioned room with its own refrigerator. She also asked me to make a down payment to finalize the reservation. They will not make the reservation official unless there's no money guarantee, so I deposited 50% of the amount. Everything seemed to be going accordingly.
After a week, I inquired if they also cater island hopping and if they can prepare a lechon (roasted pig) for us. Margie said yes for both and we agreed for Php 5000 including Php 500 worth of hanging rice which was intended for lunch and Php 2500 for the island hopping.
Halo-Halo in a Plate at Le Petit Bonheur
Exhausted from the exposure of the heat of the great star, from Virgin Island the team immediately went out for some cold halo-halo ice cream at the marketplace. The place where we stayed during the Bantayan Island Team Building, Budyong Beach Resort is just a walk away from Sta. Fe's public market so it is very easy to find goods or food if one didn't bring any goodies to the island.
We gone to Le Petit Bonheur Bar and Restaurant for their special Halo-halo ice cream worth Php 95.
The place was cool because of the beautifully designed covered tables and unique seats. And while waiting for our halo-halo, we took the chance to have some pictures taken in the area.
Virgin Island's Cool Clear Blue Waters
Part of our itinerary during our visit to Bantayan Island was to visit some islets around, it's called island hopping. The deal was worth Php 2500 for the boat which has been settled a few weeks from the said date.
After we had our breakfast at one of the carenderias (eateries) in the market place, we went right away to the boat with our lunch composed of Lechon prepared by the resort worth Php 4500 and puso (hanging rice) worth Php 500.
Virgin Island is 20-30 minute ride from Budyong Beach, the boat was kind of slow though but we enjoyed the kingfishers flying around the boat and fetching some fish at the same time.
Open Summer at Bantayan Island
I had recently opened my summer too with my colleagues at Bantayan Island. This was my last team building event with my colleagues since we will be transferring to another account support by April this year.
This is a challenging summer because my supervisor assigned me to lead the getaway. I personally searched through the web on where to stay, whom to contact and where to go for the itinerary. This is my first time though to lead a big group since my travels would only include myself and James. Well, I am glad my supervisor is just nice enough to be assisting me on this endeavor.
I'm Bloglovin!
Just signed up at bloglovin... so happy!!!
If you happen to be in bloglovin too, follow me as well, click on the link below!!!
Thanks !!! [heart] [heart]
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
I Heart Giveaways: Mich Eats And Shops' 1st Anniversary
Here's a new blog giveaway from micheatsandshops. She is celebrating her blog's first anniversary and she's thankful to her readers to give away some of her favorite stuffs, bath and body products from NIVEA and Marks & Spencer!
I joined the giveaway already and selected the above prize!
The mechanics are quite easy as A-B-C:
I Heart Giveaways: The Grace Catcher's Beauty Set
I am back to joining giveaways this summer and to start with this gig, I joined The Grace Catcher's First Blog Giveaway! Yoohoo!
Here's the things that I might gonna win:
Best in Beauty Book by Riku CampoAll Year Round Free Pass to Bazaars of Centris and NBC Tent @ The FortEtude House Pure Joy Nourishing Facial LotionAsian Secrets Lulur Whitening Body ScrubHuman Nature Balancing Facial WashEtude House Volume False LashTwo Bobbie Nail PolishKabuki BrushELF Healthy Glow Bronzing Powderand P500 worth of Gift Cheque from Funky Plum Vintage ShopA special Shirt from the Funky Plum Vintage Shop
Doctor Fish Eats My Skin
Guess who were our company's visitors this week?
Nibble fishes in the house yo! I had learned about this unique treatment where doctor fishes would suck on your feet. But don't freak out because they won't go to eat the entire flesh but would only dine on the dead ones which we don't want any more of course.
These are the benefits of letting these little creatures take part of the largest part of our body:
- natural and organic exfoliation
- promotes softer and more supple skin
- thinning of calluses
- increases blood circulation
- lightens dark tones scars
- rejuvenates skin
- boosts overall well-being
I had known this but never really had the guts to try it out; I was thinking that they might eat my entire feet! Just kidding! My colleague was persistent to try it out and I agreed without hesitation, in my mind I thought this is the perfect time to give it a shot. The Cebu Fish Spa is the first authentic fish spa in Cebu and I learned that the cute creatures are the Garra Ruffa fish or also called doctor fish imported from Malaysia. We were entertained by the attendants who though sleepy were very eager to share what these fishes do to our feet.
The Best Kinilaw Na Tangigue Tasted at JJ's
We first thought of not dining at JJ's Mandarin Restaurant because we heard their food is costly, yet before we checked out of the JJ's Seafood Village after my brothers flew to Dubai, the resto seemed to be calling us. It was so inviting that we didn't have the chance to say no, our stomachs were giving in to the thought of the food inside.
So we were the first customers as they are opened at 11am and our check out time is 12noon. We made it a point to dine first before going home.
As we were on tight budget and were just there to try their cuisine, we selected those that we thought are familiar to our taste buds. The parents chose our viands anyway since they will pay afterwards.
Are You For Coffee or Sikwate?
When I was younger, my family has this habit of spending our early Sunday morning at the local market, each of us has our own plate of puto maya (sticky rice cooked in coconut milk and ginger) and a drink that accompanies it, the sikwate (hot chocolate) is it's everlasting partner.
I realized that this kind of habit had somehow made a strong bond between our family. When I reached college, we never had spent much doing this. I recalled going to the newly remodeled local market and dine with my parents during a rainy Sunday last year when I had my long vacation [read here] but never with all the six of us.
Then last March 2, 2012 out of the blue, my father asked for it. He might had missed those old times since my two older brothers were about to fly to Dubai that day. Since I woke up early, I was invited in. We were in Tagbilaran City that time so we have to roam around the city to find one. Gladly, we found one in front of the city's plaza just right next to the public tennis court.
We Found A 500 Year Old Boholana
Look what James and I found at the Bohol National Museum. It's a dead woman's skeletal system! First time to see a whole dead human's skeletal system intact!
The label in front states:
A 500 Year Old Boholana was recovered in May 1970 at the pre-spanish burial site in Mansasa, City of Tagbilaran Bohol by the archeological excavation project of the University Museum, Ateneo de Manila University in collaboration with the National Museum.
The truth is, there were a couple of skulls inside the museum, I wondered if they might be my ancestors or something.
How To Pay Your Cebu Pacific Tickets With Your BDO Debit Card
With BDO internet banking, you don't have to have a credit card to get your tickets paid online or any other online transactions. Let me show you how I paid my Cebu Pacific Tickets online without using a credit card.
There's an ongoing seat sale on Cebu pacific air today, perfect timing since I need to get my family plane tickets for my cousin's wedding on September.
Here's how:
1. Book a ticket. Visit Cebu Pacific's website, make sure to select Payment centers on payment mode. Save a copy or simply print your booking confirmation number.
BDO's internet banking has a cool and friendly user interface.
Juan To Treat Go Cebu Pacific Seat Sale!
Hear ye! Hear ye!
It's Juan To Treat sale! Ninety percent discount to all destinations for August 1 of 2012 to March 31 of 2013 on Cebu Pacific Air!
To all travelling dorks out there, this is your time to book all the destinations you want for this year and the next year to come. You might want to spend your birthday in Bohol, or your or your anniversary in Palawan or might as well spend the entire Christmas vacation outside the country! You gotta get those tickets right away!
As for me, my family will be attending a cousin's wedding in Manila on September and I had been eyeing on seat sales since January. I had jumped for joy when I received the notification about the seat sale.
Beef Bean and Cheese Burrito at A Cup of Jo
Before James and I head back to Cebu last Sunday, I kept on insisting for another round of good cheeseburger at A Cup of Jo inside BQ mall in Tagbilaran City. I posted how good their cheeseburgers before and I can't get enough of it. While on our way, all that's on my mind was the yummy meaty cheeseburger I savored my mouth with last Friday. I was bragging it with my brothers before they flew to Dubai and with my parents while we were having a fun time at K of C.
James finally gave in and so we spent 40 minutes of our time to the small coffee house. While I ordered the same lovely Cheeseburger, James got himself their best seller Beef Bean and Cheese Burrito, he was having colds so he ordered their calamansi juice. I ordered the same drink too.
The Beef Bean and Cheese Burrito was spicy, I couldn't say that it's not good since it was my first time to eat one. I guess the spiciness had dominated and so I wasn't able to figure out what it was made of. James on the other hand, enjoyed it anyway with his calamansi juice.
K of C is Tagbilaran City's Lovers' Lane
I was amazed by her story and so I dragged everyone of us to visit the place too! Though Kuya Jonas was already sleepy, he had no choice but to change and get his butt off.
There was a Php10 entrance fee to get in the vicinity, mama said before it was still for free. There were arrays of lights through out the end of the port like place. The lights added beauty I must say, there are semi-cemented seats as well on each lamp posts. Mama and Papa kept on comparing it with the old one. Said it is much prettier today yet there are a lot of hard liquors sold while before, there were only plain peanuts and the yummy balut. My brothers went in finding for balut but they never found one. We met one of our cousins there too with his friend.
Pizza Time at Da Vinci's
A new mall named Shopwise has opened just a small walk from where I am staying. They labeled it as Cebu's new value shopping capital and so James and I decided to step in last night, we just arrived from Bohol via Oceanjet. The travel was kinda delayed since the vessel arrived a bit late, both of us were hungry and Da Vinci's Pizza was inviting.
The Da Vinci's actually famous with white sauce pizzas but we ordered the cheapest one which is the Hawaiian Pizza, we choose to take out the 12" so we can also share it with the others at the apartment. I noticed that the pizza has not that many pineapples in it though there were a lot of meat and cheese. I like it more than Greenwich' Hawaiian pizza. I will surely buy one next time, maybe I will get to order their best seller.
Beltran Family Stays at JJ's Seafood Village
My brothers Jonas and Steven went to Dubai last Saturday, before they flew there, we had our small family "despidida" party. Friday noon, we met at JJ's Seafood Village and checked in. We were there for a one night stay. The resort has an affordable room for families and they have a swimming pool too!
I reserved one dormitory type room for eight people and my niece is already free since she is still two years old. It was not that big but it was enough for the eight of us, there were more than eight beds inside, maximum number of heads is up to sixteen and there were four cubicles for the comfort room.
Staying there gave us access to:
Juicy Cheeseburger at A Cup of Joe
In a small corner inside Bohol Quality mall lays a coffee shop named A Cup of Jo. When James and I went home to Bohol for my brothers' “despideda party”, we went to the said mall searching for a light breakfast since we reached Tagbilaran almost nine in the morning. Then again, we searched for something new so we went to this noticeably lonely corner. No one's around yet, we understand the mall just opened a couple of minutes ago.
So we scanned through their menu, they have their special Bean Burrito and American Hotdog yet both were unavailable so we ended up with a single cup of cappuccino and cheese burger.
