The Island Explorer

To end my entries on my Southwest China trek, here are some postcards I sent while I was still there. All captured using my Panasonic Lumix LX3. I didn't bring any SLR, which I regret now.

Punta Fuego is perhaps one of the most popular exclusive resorts in Batangas. Nestled on a peninsula in the Nasugbu coastline, Club Punta Fuego has been the weekend destination of several Manilenos for several years. Terrazas de Punta Fuego is a residential community that comes before the Peninsula de Punta Fuego, the main and original private resort. You need someone to endorse you to enter the premises if you are to visit. The Clubhouse at Terrazas is where guests can lounge by a huge pool that is surrounded by a dozens of inviting open air cabanas. The cabanas also line the beach front, making it a perfect place to read a book, have a drink, or to have a nap in. It is a great spot to watch an amazing sunset. The beach here is pretty ok for Batangas standards, but the area of Laiya has better quality. Even neighboring Canyon Cove for me has a better beach. But the beach here is clean and the water clear. Munting Buhangin is beside Terrazas, and the beach is shared by that resort. The

Ola Espana is one of the more popular restaurants in Cebu. Owned by Amparito Lhuillier, it's one of the several restaurants owned by the family from high society (another good resto they own is Pino). Ola Espana in Cebu is located at the Banilad Town Square. I was introduced to this place by one of my colleagues who was based in Cebu. We had a press launch for an event there, and my partners from Manila couldn't stop raving about the food there. I was able to try Ola Espana, not in Cebu but in Davao. Located in a compound of restaurants beside Microtel Inn (I forgot the local name of the place), Ola Espana was full on a Sunday lunch. We had to wait for a table for around 10 minutes, and it was even in the extension area of the restaurant. And it's not surprising to see why it was packed. The place looked so cozy, yet brimming with energy. There was a deli as well, selling a lot of imported products, from pastas, to sauces, to sausages, and cheeses. We ordered the Paella Val

Welcome to Pamana, a family's heritage of Filipino cuisine. Located beside the Boutique Bed and Breakfast in Tagaytay City, Pamana is a striking establishment that adds to the already long list of good restaurants in the city by the cliff. Pamana is charming, having a white facade, that is very inviting. As you enter, there is a small shop that sells local handicrafts and delicacies. The country Filipino home feel extends as you go up the staircase, where a collage of framed memories from the distant and no-so distant past of the Ongpauco family who are the owners of Barrio Fiesta and also The Boutique. You immediately get excited to see where you will be dining. The ambience of Pamana is top notch, as you would notice how much heart has been put in designing the place. There are more picture frames, and more walls that display the family that has preserved this culinary heritage. The place is modern, but has antique pieces to give that old feel. So, in terms of design, it strikes

I have ended my trek in China, and I badly wanted to extend. But I had another upcoming trip to Vietnam and Cambodia in 4 days, so I had to force myself to get on a plane back to Shenzen where I would travel to HK for my flight back to Manila. But before that, I had one more day in Lijiang. So, I decided to spend the entire day relaxing and seeing more of Lijiang. I asked for tips from the receptionist at the International Youth Hostel Lijiang where I was staying. She told me to visit the Shuhe Old Town, which was around 15 minutes from Lijiang Old Town. So, I took a public bus and then a minibus to Shuhe. Shuhe didn't impress me at first, as I entered its gates. I didn't pay an entrance fee, because the Chinese guys didn't know how to ask it from me. I acted ignorant. Shuhe Old Town was very different from Lijiang Old Town. It was breezy, more spacious and had bigger alleys. It was more like a garden town. I was walking around, and saw nothing impressive. I soon realized t

I arrived in Shangrila 8PM, after a two hour bus ride from Qiaotou. I was asleep in the bus and woke up seeing white everywhere. Yes, it was snowing. It was surreal because, 2 hours ago, I was in lush fields. Now, all I could see was a spectacular view of mountains and valleys blanketed with fresh snow. I got off the bus and tried calling my hotel. Unfortunately, there was no answer. The Israeli guy I was with suddenly vanished, so I was standing outside by the road somewhere in town, with an umbrella on hand to shield the falling snow. I was worried, since everyone was hailing taxis and there were a few. My hotel didn't answer. My alternative was to go to the Old Town and find a hostel there. Suddenly, the Israeli guy showed up, looking sick. He told me he vomited, probably from something he ate. He looked really sick, and so we decided to catch a taxi and headed straight for Old Town. Our taxi dropped us off at the entrance of Old Town. Fortunately, we immediately saw the sign, H