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| at the NAIA3 with ate Char and Onyor, from Manila to Bohol Day one |
BOHOL SPREE PART ONE OF THREE.
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| breakfast altogether at Cafe Atanacio |
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| landed the island province |
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| lobby of Bohol Tropics Resort Hotel |
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| that popular python...uugh! |
Who would ever resist getting paid as you travel, eat the globe,
feast on arts and culture and drink in the beauty of nature God bestowed upon
us earthly creatures? No one, I think. The globe is one big library to learn
from; its people and places the best references and yourself the best
librarian. Who are your researchers then? People who simply LOVE learning from
vacationing like you do. So go out there and travel. Tour on places you’ve
never been or been in to and re-learn. Journal all those accounts and these
might just become a gold mine or resource for your books and articles.
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| fellowship night of the PSG |
There are numerous things you can talk and write about: sceneries,
cuisine, arts, history, people, places of interest, health and wellness,
religious / spiritual tours, fashion, agriculture, architecture, engineering,
even as personal as weddings or as corporate as business conferences.
Everything that encompasses travelling would do!
Mine is green advocacy. Under it are recycling facilities, organic
farming, alternative and sustainable businesses. I am on a constant
search of opportunities to have my ultimate learning vacation. I’d love to go
to places local and abroad where I could discover something new and relearn
something old.
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| clowning at the Bohol Beach Club |
Very recently, we’ve just been to Bohol with my hubby, my sister
and brother in law. BabyClydeLove attended the midyear conference of PSG and we
happily tagged along. I had an island province extravaganza that I enjoyed
immensely for the weekend. For specifics, we started by leaving Legaspi City on
a Friday morning, arriving in Manila at noontime and had lunch at The Red Crab
in Resorts World as a treat by the Astra med rep.
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| the blind rondalla band that welcomes queuing diners |
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| have a taste of this specialty fine diner and you'll be in nirvana |
Talk about The Red Crab, it’s a fine dining experience any
crustacean lover would find irresistible. We ordered Thai Crabs, mild spiced
coconut cream-dressed crabs with fragrant herbs that perfectly blend the
flavors together; the garlic-roasted crabs with aligue in it, pinakbet...that Philippine
stewed vegetables...to cut the crustaceans’ richness and grilled yellow fin
tuna with lemon aioli sauce. For toppers, I had the Mango Overload Crepe and
the others had the house special Brazo de Mercedes. What makes the desserts
unique? My crepe was laden with more light cream than I ever tasted, and yes
dices of golden-ripe mangoes come oozing with every forkful. And the Brazo? Oh
my, it’s loaded with vanilla ice cream in between rolls…that’s why it’s called
house special, delectable lip-smacking goodness!
We ended up with endorsements from the Astra med rep. Promises of
being well-taken cared of are in the horizon. Soon as we set foot in Bohol, the
fun rolls. And so we checked in for our 1:40 pm flight to the island province.
At 3:00 pm, we arrived at the Bohol Tropics Resort and Hotel.
Surprisingly, it’s just a five-minute drive away from Tagbilaran airport. We
checked in smoothly, was escorted and freshened up in our garden villas and
rested until around 5:00 pm. Then BabyClydeLove arrived shortly. The four of us
had pictures taken at the resort property, at the pool, lawn, gardens and the
bay side.
We were met by the Bohol Astra reps at the resort lobby by 6:30 pm
and off we went to Metro Centre where the convention proper is. We had a set
dinner of thick steak, buttered veggies, lechon and Inasal Chicken and steamed
rice. Sodas were served and to top the meal we had mango sago pearls
floating heavenly in crème brulee.
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| our magnificent resort hotel pools |
For a night cap, the organizers invited us to Astro Metro Centre
to enjoy cocktails. But we were not up to it so ate Char and Onyor went to the
city proper for a night stroll while BabyClyde and I searched for a rural spa
and we found Body and Sole in one corner. We both enjoyed the whole body
massage for an hour for only 250 pesos. Very cheap indeed for the city island.
The next day we discovered that Tagbilaran is peppered with massage centers and
spas in just about every corner. Much like here in Legaspi City. Well, the
competition is now fierce nationwide; perhaps globally.
PART TWO OF THREE.
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| the bay behind Bohol Tropics |
On day two, we woke up at 7 and had breakfast of the usual Pinoy
fare. Mine was a set American breakfast with rice exchange instead of toasts.
Standard tapa-tocino-danggit-fried rice was served to my three companions; mine
was crispy bacon and a delectable omelet with steamed rice. Fruits,
choco-tablea and brewed coffee went with the meals.
We were picked up at 8:30 am by Manong Boy, our Boholano tour
guide whose service we contracted for this whole day. We paid him 3200 pesos as
we were brought to more than the eight points of interest of Bohol. It was for
a whole day anyway so it was worth the fee.
First, we visited Baclayon church, one of Philippines’ ancient
monuments of worship, built in 1560’s and still preserved to this day. Except
for the roofing which, as our guide explained, was thoroughly replaced due to
its destruction by a massive typhoon years back. As you go inside, you’d be
transported by eons of time. The interior has cobblestone flooring, the wooden
walls and posts perfectly preserved, and the images carefully conserved.
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one of the shops by the beach in Alona Kew
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Due to Roman Catholic’s conservatism, there were sarongs by the
church entrance that requires tourists to wrap themselves with should they have
outfits that are skimpy: spaghetti or tube tops, shorts, miniskirts and tanks.
In the olden times, the “frailes” would never allow such wardrobes. It’s close
to vulgarity. Just remember the tons of cloth layers for the kimona’t saya. Of
course in this modern era, it’s a different thing.
Next, we dropped by a mini wildlife forest park that houses the
country’s largest python in captivity. There was a twenty five peso entrance
fee for the park’s maintenance. First, we were ushered to pass through bird
cages and mammals of rarity; we haven’t seen any of their kind elsewhere in the
Philippines…it’s only here, I swear. There was a lemur and a civet cat which
are different looking from the ones I’ve seen in Albay Parks and wildlife and
the Manila Zoo or even the Zoobic wildlife park. I guess that here in Bohol, rare
wild ones are truly taken cared of very well.
What I noticed remarkably is the harmonious coexistence of birds
and mammals in one cage. There were groupings of the fauna in several cages.
Where there’s a group of a kind of mammal, atop it is an aviary of sorts. The
caretaker named ate Sonya said that they were grouped according to their
pleasant vibes. It’s sort of “magbabarkadahan” na animals. Just picture out the
crow that lands on a carabao’s back in the ricefields. Hmmmm, fauna…I
have a lot to re-learn.
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this unique house was featured in Korina Sanchez's segment
|
Then the highlight was the python’s lair. Looking at its massive
immobile body makes me cringe in trepidation. I’m uneasy around snakes;
my skin stiffens and the hairs in my body rise. I find these ones creepy,
yucky, slimy, and slithery. Ugh! For a show, ate Sonya went inside the cage and
true enough the animal never even bothered to move. She was talking to her
“alaga” of sixteen years since it was still small and asking it how it was.
Sonya held up the head with its sharp-slit eyes and was patting it like a cat
or a dog. Then we were barraged with the stories of the superstar snake.
It is actually sixteen years old by chronological age but
zoologists stated that its growth is equivalent to that of a forty year old
python in the wild. The difference lies mainly in the environment. Wild fauna
are leaner and more active due to great efforts of finding food and shelter for
survival. Domesticated fauna are huge and less active because they are locked
up; mobility is limited and feeding is regular that they don’t have to move
around that much just to search.
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sumptuous lunch!!
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Going back, Bohol calls it their superstar snake because it’s the
largest on record in captivity [meaning there could be larger ones out there].
It’s highly trained and on days it is conditioned, the creature dances the
hypnotic snake dance. It’s superstar because it already has tons of pictures
taken with all the tourists that came. The python is actually named. My biggest
failure that day is not taking note of the moniker to remember.
There was a funny chubby gay clad in a sexy Arabian-night belly
dancer outfit who entertains us and poses comically beside the cage. He tells
us that he’s the twin sister of the python, that he’d been swallowed before but
because he tastes bitter had been spitted out again. The gay entertainer’s name
is Mari Mar. He’s made up glamorously, with extended lashes and gorgeous long
dark wavy hair [wig]. He churns up a story with current issues woven in, like
the RH Bill, the cybercrime and the plagiarism of Sotto. Hilarious Mari Mar!!!
He’s a stand-up humorist in comedy bars in a different setting.
As an ender in that amusing park, we exited in the souvenirs
section. Here we discovered how amazing businessmen Boholanos are. They’d lead
you to the shop as you go out so you’d get to see their wares and be enticed to
buy. Great marketing and sales strategy! We ought to adapt this to all our
tourist spots here in Albay! We ogled around the quaint shop and bought shirts,
a colorful wooden thick bangle, lemon grass tea.
Next down we went to the tarsier conservatory. Here the entrance
fee was fifty pesos. We lined up as there were more people coming in from
different tour groups. After paying, we were seated to listen to the park
host’s briefing about what we should do inside. He gave us facts and trivia
like tarsiers are nocturnal mammals, the smallest monkeys, with an infant one
about the size of a human adult thumb, are endangered and should not be taken
shot of by a camera with a flash otherwise it will be disturbed and may go wild.
We were instructed to please be silent and don’t be rowdy to respect the peace
of the sleeping tiny monkeys.
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atop the Chocolate Hills view deck
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Then we were ushered uphill and got past trees where the tarsiers
cling to as they sleep. Occasionally they’d open up their eyes, feeling that
they need to show the guests at least a good time to have their souvenir shot;
then they’d close it and sleep again. Nothing much here so we went downhill
again and yes, we passed by the souvenir shop as the exit route. There I bought
tarsier coin purses, key chains that I’d give out back home, boxes of Boholano
cookies and biscuits and more shirts for ate Char.
Moving on, we went to Carmen town for the famed Chocolate Hills
and there we had a grand time taking pictures. This is the highlight of the
province so we ought not to miss this out. There was a hundred steps stair that
I initially swore I won’t go up to but due to their coaxing I did anyway.
Famishing and looking forward to the Loboc River cruise for lunch now, we
stepped down the main hill drinking in the wonder of these limestone hills that
were hailed a UNESCO heritage site.
Only at this month of October, it wasn’t brown because the grass
is green. Ate Char dubbed it as mint hills instead. Then along the way we
stopped to admire a unique house constructed like a ship owned by an OFW who’s
a captain. Manong Boy suggested we take pictures here as this was featured by
Korina Sanchez on TV. I remembered it well. Then ate Char and Onyor also took
pics in the Blood Compact shrine, both the original and the popularized sites.
Manong Boy said that the current site isn’t the real one. Tales!!!
Off we went to Loboc and we passed by the fantastic brilliant
man-made forest of mahogany trees that stretches hectares of land. Manong Boy,
our driver and tour guide, said that prior to graduating from school or getting
married in Bohol, people have to plant a tree as a requirement. What a great
feat of the LGU! What a magnificent act of the citizens. Another grand example
for my beloved Albay!
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shopping for trinkets and loving it
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Finally we arrived in the celebrated river cruise. Here we’ll be
eating lunch in a floating restaurant and be experiencing a real dining
pleasure. We are to queue and stalls were numerous; one just has to choose
which menu fits best but since some boats were to return an hour more, we just
chose the one which is about to go first. We paid about 400 per head for a
buffet spread then we lined up towards the river bank, greeted by a rondalla
with blind entertainers singing and strumming live with a vivacious beat of the
music. As we hopped on the balsa-boat-floating resto, we were seated in table
#4 and waited a while until the cue to line up for the buffet table was on.
Sumptuous spread of shrimps, pork barbecue, Inasal chicken, pancit
miki, unique seaweeds, grilled tuna with dips and dressings, fresh fruits of
watermelon, pinya and bananas awaited us. As we ate we took turns for shooting
pictures. It was while the boat was on a ride. Fortunately, moving about
doesn’t cause dizziness because the waters are placid and the sailing was smooth.
We were seated next to a group of Caucasian ladies and we noted that they were
enjoying immensely just as we were. Most of the tourists were Koreans, Chinese
and Japanese. It was an international lot.
Aboard the boat was an acoustics band with pleasantly-voiced
singers. I loved their bossa nova renditions and their classic tagalong songs
to amuse the foreigners. Their voices were melodious and soothing to the ears
that what we ate was pleasurably digested.
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last night...fellowship
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We were passing by river banks with centuries old gnarled trees,
tidy under-bridges, an ancient belfry, and all the while as we met other boats
in the opposite way, each and everyone waves hello. Total strangers, full
pleasantries; the enjoyment is enormous and the spirits are up, that’s why.
Then we had one stop over in a river bank where we were entertained by a
community that rendered us a folk dance, songs and live strings. I utterly
enjoyed it just as all of us did because for me, it is a reconnection to my
culture, people and my country. It isn’t daily that I get to watch a live folk
dancing performed by a community, with old and young people alike, singing and
making music to amaze you. It makes me love my marvelous Philippines more with
wonderful folks in another province like this. It depicts love and unity: men,
women, rich, poor, old and young….
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| at least the tarsier opened its eyes for a time being |
As we sailed again at the endpoint of the cruise, we took shots of
the splendid waterfalls with strong currents and breathed in the freshness of
the breeze it stirred. Loboc River is an excellent body of water with teeming
fresh water fishes and blue green algae that reflects the water’s color. How I
wish that Pasig River would be like this again! Then dining on a river cruise
would be fantastic in Metro Manila!
We went back to the port, once more escorted to the souvenir shop
and off we scooted to the beaches.
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as we arrived at our resort hotel
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The first that we dropped by in is Alona Kew White beach where the
setting is very much like Boracay stations 2 and 3, my companions remarked.
Well, amongst them I’m the only one who hasn’t been there yet so they were
informing me. I loved the fine white sands but seaweeds were scattered ashore
so I didn’t get to fully picture out what they were telling me about Boracay.
Then we went to Bohol Beach Club, a more posh resort with
expansive properties, enjoyed the white sands on our feet and zoomed off to my
dream resort…the Bohol Bee Farm.
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breakfast at Cafe Atanacio of our resort
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PART THREE OF THREE.
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Bohol Tropic's manicured lawns and grounds
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I’ve left this section entirely separated due to the contents I
would so love to discuss. I’ve been reading about Bohol Bee Farm for years now
but it’s only this time I got to enjoy the place. What I loved about its
concept is its green advocacy. Being organic, sustainable, producing natural
handmade products, sold only in this outlet, not mass-made, creating value to
the creations, utilizing indigenous renewable resources is the farm’s way of
promoting Bohol’s essence.
This enchanting ranch is owned by Vicki Wallace, a Filipina nurse
formerly based in New York who opted to come home to her beloved country to
build this dream lot. She champions environmental love with the big help of the
community towards progress and abundance. Vicki started bee-keeping and from
there manufactured lots of goods out of honey. Call it literally the land of
milk and honey.
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scouring the tarsier conservatory souvenir shop
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As our final stop [save the best for me], I took in the charming
views starting from the reception area where there’s a mini pool and wooden
lounge chairs. I found out that the farm not only houses agricultural wonders
but it also has hotel / resort accommodations and restaurants. Please check out www.boholbeefarm.com.ph
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| going down the floating resto |
I passed by aromatic herb gardens with the plants in plastic bags.
All their vegetation is organic, not using chemical fertilizers. They make
their own compost out of nature’s bounty. Then we went to their quaint bakery
and bought lip-smacking delightful ice cream in cabcab [crispy cassava] cone. I
had malunggay mango combo while ate Char had durian nangka. It was a whopping
80 pesos per scoop but truly worth it because the serving was huge. The goat’s
milk from the farm is beyond doubt delectable.
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| having fun at the python and wildlife park souvenir shop |
Like I said, all their products, food or cosmetics, are laden with
honey and milk…much like the biblical account I just mentioned. And so going
inside their shop, I was smitten over the magical cocoon with organic products
I totally adore: spreads of malunggay, pesto or coriander, kamote, pumpkin or
potato flour breads, herbed cassava and sweet potato chips; fruit wines, honey
calamansi extracts for juices, honeyed chocolate tableas, kapeng mais bigas
[toasted rice-corn coffee], herbal tea blends from ampalaya, moringga, carrots,
lemon grass and basil; the mildly sweet scented honeyed tomato, goat’s milk,
carrot, etc. soaps.
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inside the ancient Baclayon church
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The goods are wrapped daintily in handmade recycled paper, perfect
as gifts. They have a wide array of body care products all with honey in it!
Even their shampoos, hair serum with beeswax, their virgin coconut massage oils
with ginger, chilli, moringga or lemongrass are truly marvelous.
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queuing at the river bank before cruising
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I’m all for green advocacy, remember. So properties like this and
Sonya’s Garden and Nurture Spa in Tagaytay are my model farms. Like CuisinArt
in Barbados, these organic farms in my own country nurtures flora and fauna at
its best. Bohol Bee Farm’s restaurant ingredients make use of the fresh harvest
from the organic garden. Their kitchen and factory wastes are composted to be
used as fertilizers that endlessly make the plantations abundant.
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| having immense fun cruising at the Loboc River |
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| dinner with a Masskara festival theme |
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| pristine beaches of Bohol Beach Club |
In my reverie Solaviento is so much like this: but I’d be using
solar panels and wind turbines to power my property, use saved rain water from
the catchments to irrigate the plantations and 100% reuse wastes either as
fertilizer or recycled products as decorative potting for plants, bead curtains
for the shops, benches for the park, balsa in a body of water and numerous more
of nature-love.
Breaking out of the dream, we bought the herbed vegetable bread
and malunggay and pesto spreads, soft tableas and Molave honey. Later in the
hotel, I’d be feasting on this flaky puffy bread with the sweetish butter and
cheese loaded organic spreads downed with the luscious cocoa in a mug. To cut
the sumptuousness, I’d be sipping lemongrass ginger tea after the meal.
After enjoying the ranch we went back to our hotel resort, the
Bohol Tropics and freshened up for the grand dinner at Panglao Island Resort
and Spa.
For the fellowship night, we were escorted in a tourist bus,
warmly and gaily welcomed by Mardi Gras like dancers, with brightly beaded
necklaces as wreaths. The music was live and upbeat, prompting us to dance as
we walk towards our dining tables. The Verdant Pavilion of Panglao is very
impressive, with the flowing fabrics from the ceiling, the opulent masskara
festival decors, the dressed up tables with the crystal beads spilling out as
centerpieces….things I’ve admired from the pages of elegant wedding magazines
and now enjoying it first-handedly.
The feast began with a cue from the lively energetic hosts of the
night, two gay gastroenterologists from Manila. I could remember moringga pasta
with carbonara sauce, barbecues and Inasal again, salmon fillets with beschamel
dressing, steaks, chops and more meats. Ironically, seafoods were rare. I was
expecting for more of the sea’s bounty as the resort complex is coastal, but I
guess it’s the Visayan’s love for barbecued meats that explains why the table’s
so filled with them.
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very clean and refreshing pool
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The night was Fiesta Mania themed, and so the music was with conga
beats, African drums, brilliantly shining dancers and we were even given individual
raffia hats that have bright dyes to go with our beaded necklaces. The
atmosphere was dazzling and bold! Cocktails were flowing, but we weren’t
alcohol drinkers so we went for the endless sodas. By ten pm, we opted to call
it a night for we are going to have the mid-morning flight back to Manila.
At 7am we joined ate Char and Onyor for the last Tropics
breakfast, strolled more on the resort grounds, peeked at the pier that reeked
of marine life, checked in for our 9:40 am connecting flight to Manila,then we
bid adieux to Bohol with its island province etched in my mind and heart. I so
loved my weekend spree. I learned a lot indeed!
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what a precious experience seeing this! tarsier - the endangered one
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Then a hassle came. It was a Sunday and our day was already
programmed: Clyde with his patients and me with the spa, home and the kids. As
we were about to check in for the Legaspi bound connecting flight, our plane
had a technical problem and so we were rebooked for the next day flight!!! Ugh!
What a disaster. We were dying to go home to Bicol. But what can we do, there was
no option. Our place was the last for Legaspi, at 12:40 pm.
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Panglao Island Resort and Spa's Verdant Pavilion
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To appease us irate passengers, we were billeted in St. Giles
hotel in Makati, with buffet lunch and dinner, and each of us were given free
plane tickets to be used within 6 months from that date anywhere around the
Philippines. Great deal!!! I thanked Cebu Pacific despite my disappointment.
They made it up anyway.
So we had the whole one day more spent in Manila. We didn’t go out
to Ayala Center anymore for we were tired after three days of frolicking. We
opted to rest and savor the hotel which was very nice and comfy, brought out
our Bohol Bee Farm bread, spreads and a sampling of the honeyed choco tablea.
Monday morning the flight went through smoothly and now we’re back
in the grind. Wonderful learning mini-vacation!!!
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Tad bits…
MUST
TRIES AT THE RED CRAB:
[ones we ordered and had a gustatory delight of]
The
Red Crab Alimango House Newport Mall
2/F
Resorts World Manila, Newport Mall, Newport Blvd Domestic Airport, Pasay
(02)
856-0087
·
Crab Szechuan
o 800g-1kl. 135.00
o 1kl. - up 145.00
o Female All Sizes 155.00
o 600-700g 105.00
·
Thai Chili Crab
o Serving
o 800g-1kl. 135.00
o 1kl. - up 145.00
o Female All Sizes 155.00
o 600-700g 105.00
·
Crispy Lechon Con Classic Sisig at 285.00
·
Halaan in Ginger Wansuy Broth at 135.00
·
Frozen Brazo de Mercedez at 185.00
·
Ilocandia Pinakbet with Crunchy Tinapa Flakes at 265.00
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