Budget-Friendly Coffees and Meals at Ziba Coffee Shop - Ortigas

In Ortigas CBD, there are a lot of places where you can eat for lunch (or anytime of the day for that matter), but many of them can break the bank and leave you on #PechaDePeligro. I remember when I was studying at the university on Pearl Drive, I always end up eating at Starbucks, Pancake House or at the university cafeteria which left me almost with no change from my daily allowance at the end of the school day.

 
For sure, many of the professionals working in Ortigas CBD finds places where they can have lunch that fits their daily budget. And I believe their default would be any near convenience store or fast food restaurant would do. But there will come a point when you’ll get sick (not literally) of eating almost the same thing every day. I got that way one too many times when I was on my corporate job for years. 

Izakaya Flame's Power Meals To-Go - Uptown Mall BGC

An izakaya is a type of informal Japanese pub. They are casual places for after-work drinking. The word izakaya entered the English language by 1987. It is a compound word consisting of i (to stay) and sakaya (sake shop), indicating that izakaya originated from sake shops that allowed customers to sit on the premises to drink. Izakaya are sometimes called akachōchin (red lantern) in daily conversation, as such paper lanterns are traditionally found in front of them.




People at an izakaya, sitting by the bar and facing the kitchen. Depending on the izakaya, customers either sit on tatami mats and dine from low tables, as in the traditional Japanese style, or sit on chairs and drink/dine from tables. Many izakaya offer a choice of both as well as seating by the bar. Some izakaya restaurants are also tachi-nomi style, literally translated as "drinking while standing".

Get Ready for Fall Fashion Season

Can you believe?! Next week is already October?! The sweater weather has begun, in the other parts of the world, trees are turning into their Fall colors and the winds are already forming a knot for the chill in the air. It's just so unfathomable how time flies so fast. It's like New Year’s yesterday and then one blink, boom! It hits you like a truck half of the year has almost gone by.

Countdown to Christmas is what less than a hundred days?I’m excited for this season! I love when the calendar pages turns to this time of the year. Although I have a love-hate relationship with this cold weather season.

Nanka Japanese Latin Restaurant

We may not know or like to admit it but Japanese culture and cuisine have reached and influenced almost all the areas of our world. I am a hundred percent sure that wherever you travel in the globe, you would find a Japanese restaurant or even a store offering sushi. One of the other cuisines that has been influenced by the Japanese fare is the Latin-American food style or method of cooking. 

Japan probably had the strongest impact on South America. There was a report before that I came across that estimates that nearly sixty percent of all Japanese decedents outside of Japan live in Brazil. Also, in Peru, Japanese immigrants inspired a faster and more seafood-based style of cooking. Asian influence on Latin American food has existed long before this trendy new surge in food and culture.

Secret Bar: The Odd Seoul

They say keeping secrets can be hazardous to one's health. Medically speaking, keeping a secret or holding on to them puts the brain in an awkward, compromised position. According to studies, when you keep a secret locked inside, you don’t allow a part of your brain to perform its natural functions. Instead, that part of your brain becomes stressed and thus the probable negative effects take place.

So with that being said, I'm letting you in on a secret. I don't know if you know that I am in pursuit of finding out the metro's best kept (are they still?) Secret Bars with a magnifier in one hand, (nope, just kidding). So a few weeks ago I have uncovered my 8th Secret Bar. It's very different from the ones I've been to as this one is modern and hip.

Gaja Korean Kitchen: Traditional Flavors with a Modern Twist

I've never been to any of the Korea's; but I do know two things: SoKor is on my travel bucket list (yeah, maybe NoKor too) and I love Korean cuisine! I'm finding myself nowadays either in a Korean or a Japanese resto. I don't know what that means or if they are just calls for me to finally make plans to go to these countries. We'll see...

In recent years, South Korean culture has heavily influenced lives of the daily Filipino. More and more South Koreans have settled in parts of the Philippines, and introduced us to K-POP, digital perm, and of course, Korean BBQ. Save for a few Korean restaurants in the country, most of them are Korean BBQ restaurants offering servings of pork belly to last you a lifetime. As a country that’s been exposed to a culture and heritage as rich as South Korea’s, though, we’re due for a reinvention of our perspective of their cuisine.

If Your Locks Could Talk

I recently got tired of my long hair that I have been keeping for more than a decade. And I just suddenly decided to cut it short. From waist length to shoulder length. Yes that short! I ditched around 12 inches of my hair. I kind of like my look now but I know pretty sure I’m going to miss my long hair one of these days. 

Why did I cut it short you might ask? Well, I’m going to tell you first that I didn’t do it because I went through a major breakup. Well, ok sort of. A breakup not from a romantic relationship but a break up from the dark rut that I was in for the past couple of months. Also, and basically, my hair is so dry that I know cutting a huge length from it would somehow bring at least some little life to it. 

Siem Reap Travel Diary: Temple Club at Pub Street

I’m one of those people who believes that travel breaks down routines, monotony and brings back some adventure, excitement, and exploration to people’s lives. For the most part of last year, my life was just pre-occupied with work, blogging-related events and random brunches and night-outs with friends. Nothing really spectacular or mind-blowing. And that, if not for most people, will cause some burn-out. And nothing can cure that for me than board a plane or a boat or a bus and go somewhere, wherever... You know, to fall in love with cities I’ve never been to and people I’ve never met. (Yes, I got that from a quote which I like so much.)

Together with three of my friends, we planned for an out-of-the country multi-city trip. And these places were our dream destinations for years now. This trip was supposed to happen last 2016 but got put off for unforeseen reasons. Since June of 2017, after booking our flights, I’ve been looking forward to the day when we finally get to board the plane and start our 6-day journey. 

Siem Reap Travel Diary: Psa Chas (Old Market)

I’m one of those people who believes that travel breaks down routines, monotony and brings back some adventure, excitement, and exploration to people’s lives. For the most part of last year, my life was just pre-occupied with work, blogging-related events and random brunches and night-outs with friends. Nothing really spectacular or mind-blowing. And that, if not for most people, will cause some burn-out. And nothing can cure that for me than board a plane or a boat or a bus and go somewhere, wherever... You know, to fall in love with cities I’ve never been to and people I’ve never met. (Yes, I got that from a quote which I like so much.)

Together with three of my friends, we planned for an out-of-the country multi-city trip. And these places were our dream destinations for years now. This trip was supposed to happen last 2016 but got put off for unforeseen reasons. Since June of 2017, after booking our flights, I’ve been looking forward to the day when we finally get to board the plane and start our 6-day journey. 

Siem Reap Travel Diary: Banana Tree Restaurant and Cafe

I’m one of those people who believes that travel breaks down routines, monotony and brings back some adventure, excitement, and exploration to people’s lives. For the most part of last year, my life was just pre-occupied with work, blogging-related events and random brunches and night-outs with friends. Nothing really spectacular or mind-blowing. And that, if not for most people, will cause some burn-out. And nothing can cure that for me than board a plane or a boat or a bus and go somewhere, wherever... You know, to fall in love with cities I’ve never been to and people I’ve never met. (Yes, I got that from a quote which I like so much.)

Together with three of my friends, we planned for an out-of-the country multi-city trip. And these places were our dream destinations for years now. This trip was supposed to happen last 2016 but got put off for unforeseen reasons. Since June of 2017, after booking our flights, I’ve been looking forward to the day when we finally get to board the plane and start our 6-day journey.