Sunday, August 25, 2013

Sunday Treats No. 16

Daing na Bangus - Php284.00

~o~o~o~

Pancake House
Departure Area, NAIA Terminal 3
Andrews Avenue, Pasay City
Metro Manila, Philippines

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Fiesta Bahia at the Mall of Asia


From the same group who introduced the successful Mercato Centrale, SM Mall of Asia (one of the most visited spots in Manila according to a survey) is now the latest destination for their popular dining concept -- a night food market that sells dishes, treats and specialties of the different regions of the Philippines.

Fiesta Bahia is open every Friday to Sunday from 4pm to 3am.



I heard that Fiesta Bahia formally opened last July 12, 2013 but I only got to visit it last week due to our hectic schedule. We arrived in the San Mig by the Bay area a little past 6pm but most of the seats were already occupied. The variety of food they were offering when we went was less than I was expecting as it was mostly street food, variations of the popular Ilocano fare Bagnet, a booth that sells Greek food and some Chinese and Filipino dishes.








For dessert, you have the option to have homemade kakanin like Sapin-Sapin, Biko, Puto, Kutchinta, Bibingka and Leche Flan, cakes and Gelato in various flavors.




Here are some of the food we were able to try

Baby Back Ribs - Php120.00

The Baby Back Ribs from Edgy's Food Trip is exceptionally good -- the ribs were soft and the sauce was delicious! No wonder people line up to have a taste of their most popular dish affordable priced at Php120.00 and also comes with rice.

Nilasing na Hipon - Php70.00 for a small cup

Bagnet (small) - Php70.00

Basic Seed with Honey Juice - Php50.00

It was curiosity that made DB buy a bottle and it only took one sip and we were both sold! The Basil Seed was surprisingly addicting and the Honey Juice had the perfect level of sweetness. We were also able to try a local iced tea made from Sweet Potato leaves which was also good and apparently healthy as well. Too bad I failed to take a photo nor can I remember the brand name.

Pistachio Gelato - Php100.00 per scoop

Since we were quite full already, we thought of having Gelato from Mio Gelato for dessert. I ordered Pistachio which was lacking in flavor (I guess more nuts would do the trick) while DB had Dark Chocolate which was a better choice but still not worth the calories if you ask me.

I hope to see and try more food delicacies and homemade treats when we come back soon!

Friday, August 23, 2013

Typhoon Maring #reliefph

Lives were lost, houses and livelihood destroyed, power was shut down and the only road going out of our town became impassable due to the floods. So to say that we were badly affected by Typhoon Maring is an understatement. Heck, my hometown Noveleta was even in the center of the news for a couple of days! No wonder a lot of friends, families abroad, colleagues and acquaintances who knew where I reside kept checking on us if we were alright and have enough food to eat should the flood doesn't subside soon.

Photo taken last Monday (August 19) at around 9am

My family is still fortunate that our house is elevated and only the kitchen and laundry area were flooded while the cars were moved to higher ground before the water level rose. Though it was heartbreaking to see and learn that some of our neighbors and friends have neck-deep water inside their homes that most of their things -- appliances, clothes and furniture were submerged in water.

We were even told that some residents from nearby barangays (especially those living near the river) have to be rescued by the Navy as it won't stop raining the whole day.




Two days have passed and almost everything back home is now back to normal. With that, I would like to thank everyone who offered their help and expressed their sympathy and care through calls and texts. I may have not replied to all of your messages but it really meant a lot to us.


Thank you!

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Sunday Treats No. 15

Sesame Mochi Cream- Php75.00

~o~o~o~

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
2/L Entertainment Mall
SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City
Metro Manila, Philippines

Thursday, August 15, 2013

A Tour of the Historic City of Ayutthaya

Brief synthesis from UNESCO.org

The Historic City of Ayutthaya, founded in 1350, was the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom. It flourished from the 14th to the 18th centuries, during which time it grew to be one of the world’s largest and most cosmopolitan urban areas and a center of global diplomacy and commerce. Ayutthaya was strategically located on an island surrounded by three rivers connecting the city to the sea. This site was chosen because it was located above the tidal bore of the Gulf of Siam as it existed at that time, thus preventing attack of the city by the sea-going warships of other nations. The location also helped to protect the city from seasonal flooding.

The city was attacked and razed by the Burmese army in 1767 who burned the city to the ground and forced the inhabitants to abandon the city. The city was never rebuilt in the same location and remains known today as an extensive archaeological site.  

At present, it is located in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province.  The total area of the World Heritage property is 289 ha.


Apart from shopping, what I was really looking forward to during my Bangkok trip with my friends was the tour of the historic city of Ayutthaya. Located an hour away from Bangkok City, the Ayuthhaya Historical Park houses temple ruins, shrines, monuments, historical landmarks and religious effigies evident of the magnificence and splendor of the Kingdom's former capital.

Built in 1374 (completed in 1390) by King Boram Rachathrat, Wat Maha That or "The Monastery of the Great Relic" is considered as one of the most important monasteries in the Ayutthaya Kingdom because of its close proximity to the Grand Palace.


An admission fee of Thb50.00 (Php75.00) per person must be paid before entering the park.



You can rent a recorder (all major languages available) if you're traveling with no guide and prefer to tour the park by yourself.



There are several temples I wanted to visit in Ayutthaya but since we started the tour later than scheduled, our guide suggested that we prioritize going to the ruins of Wat Maha That. The place reminded me of the temple ruins we visited in Cambodia two years ago.




Probably the most photographed spot in Wat Maha That is the Buddha head beneath the tree.


According to a guide we met there, the reason for the Buddha's head placement beneath the tree roots is still unclear up to now. The more famous story though is of the thief who tried to steal the head of the Buddha but the weight was too much to bear so he left it on its current location where a tree grew and embraced it under its care.













Outside the park is where you could find stalls for your last minute souvenir shopping. T-shirts, key chains, elephant stuff toys, pashmina scarves, local handicrafts and other trinkets can be bought at bargain prices if you know how to haggle. We were fortunate that our driver/guide Kasem did the haggling for us and he was really good!


We saw a local vendor selling ice cream on our way back to our service and who we are to resist? It was indeed the perfect way to cool down as it was blistering hot that afternoon.


One day is not enough to visit all the historical temples and ruins in the City of Ayutthaya. So if you're planning to go to Bangkok anytime soon, I would suggest staying at least four days so you can visit the sites on your own pace and still have time to go crazy shopping! *wink*
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