The Island Explorer

When I was in Central World in Bangkok, I was halted by the sight of a red sign that looked very familiar. It was Red Mango, a popular international frozen yogurt franchise. I was headed for Starbucks for coffee, but instead queued up for a green tea fro-yo. The topping selection wasn't extensive, and so I opted for one of my favorite, red beans. That's probably the best I could pair with green tea. It was heaven for me, silky smooth texture, not too sweet, not too sour. I was shopping in Megamall just yesterday and saw the sign of Red Mango beside the newly located Bread Talk in Bldg. A near Powerbooks. I haven't been around so I don't know if there is already Red Mango in the country. Nevertheless, I'm waiting for the opening of the Megamall store for the ultimate green tea froyo. I'm glad we now have it.

Let me take you all the way from Cebu to Cagayan de Oro City, the city of Golden Friendship (what a weird description). One of the more popular restaurants in the city is Sentro 1850. Now, I don't know if this place is connected with the Cheateu group in Manila. Does anyone have any information? Sentro 1850 is located at the heart of CDO, the bustling Divisoria area. Yes, they have Divisoria too, but call it their nightspot. There are several restaurants and bars in the area amidst a busy night market that keeps the city alive. Bands play on the plaza, and you can see a lot of tourists around. Sentro 1850 is in front of Bo's Coffee, I forgot what street, but it is in one of those perpendicular to the night market. The place was packed when we arrived for dinner, so I was expecting good and comfort food. The menu had a lot of choices, but some of them weren't available. We started with calamares and bread with a spinach dip. I am in search of the best calamares in ...

On our way back from Bantayan, we stayed at Warren's Beach Resort in Bogo City. Our local hosts arranged everything, so we were surprised that we would be staying in a seaside resort. The resort was on a bend, so there were again great views of the sea. We stayed in a 2 storey building with eight rooms. The rooms were basic, and sadly, not that clean. We had irritating insects scampering around. There was a restaurant that looked charming with the rustic appeal it had. There is also a swimming pool on one side of the resort. It doesn't look that inviting though. What I liked about the resort is the shoreline, which had imposing rocks great for images. It was a bumpy beach, but were were pockets of sand. I also liked the grassy area, where you can have a picnic of sorts. We had a drinking session there at night. This was just a stop over before heading back to Cebu City. I guess this would be my recommendation when you're stuck in Bogo, or waiting for the boat to Bantayan.

Yup, this is Bantayan now. I started off with the picture to inspire you. Welcome to Ogtong Cave Beach Resort, just beside the Sta. Fe Beach Club in Sta. Fe, Bantayan. Now, when I was here 7 years ago, the island had smaller and mid-class resorts. Now, of course, developments have been imposed on the island, and I think this was a good move. You see, my stand on tourism development is not going against structures and resort building. I am more of responsible development, thus, resorts that adhere to environmental standards, and those that do not destroy the natural beauty and sight of the area. I hate it more when locals try to cash in on increasing tourist arrivals, by making the beach look like a marketplace. Again, the local government is the one to blame. Responsible development is the key. And Ogtong Cave Resort adhered to this principle of mine. They have brought in luxury to even enhance the natural beauty. They have maintained the highlight of the resort, the Ogtong Cave, where...

Continuing on catching up with my travel journals for this year. This entry takes me back to one of first island destinations ever since I was bitten by the travel bug - Bantayan Island in Northern Cebu. Getting here is easy. Take a bus from Cebu City to Hagnaya port in Bogo. The ride is around 3 to 4 hours long. From Hagnaya, there are scheduled ferry services almost every hour to Bantayan Island. Take the first class fast craft, which brings you to Bantayan in only 30 minutes, compared to the 1 to 1.5 hours on a regular ferry. We arrive in Bantayan filled with excitement, as I was with first time visitors. The sight of the white sand beaches on the port area made me quite sentimental. After all, this island was my first adventure experience. Way back in 2002, I was in Cebu, headed for Bantayan without any plan. Now, almost 7 years later, I was eager to know what changed. Since we were there for "work", we had to visit the public market first. We were surprised to see that i...

Davao is known as the manukan country, there's just chicken everywhere. Fried, inasal, BBQ and the list of chicken variations go on. I was already sick of grilled food, so we searched for an Italian restaurant. After calling a few friends, we ended up in the 5th level of the Gaisano Mall near Rizal, where Picobello was located. Picobello turns out to be a well established Italian resto in an inihaw dominated city. The place looks like an authentic pizzeria, and I was so excited as it is tucked away inside the rundown mall. We started with their freshly baked pizzas. The crust was not thin, but it was soft and hot. We ordered two variants, a Four Cheese, and a Chicken and Olive one. Both were satisfying, though the Four Cheese could be better. The Calzone was huge as you can see. Slicing through it was a pleasure as the aroma of the cheese and flavors burst out. The pasta dishes were nothing special compared to the best Italian restaurants in the country. But what the heck? We were...

Catching up on some old pictures like the ones I took of the new NAIA Terminal 3. I usually fly PAL, so I've only been in NAIA 3 twice. The airport holds a lot of promise, but as it is not yet fully operational, it was still bare. Good thing there was Delifrance already. In T2, Delifrance always served as my hangout. There's also Go Nuts Donuts so I can have my fix of Strawberry Donuts before jetting off. The new airport is more spacious and modern looking, but I am weary of its development, given it's been open for almost a year now. I hope it doesn't become neglected, and that improvements continue. I really hope the government sees that this landmark airport can spark the tourism growth that has long been overdue.

Have you tasted the Chocolate Decadent Cake of Blugre Coffee in Davao? It is a simple chocolate cake, heated and bathed in a cream sauce. Simply amazing. Or how about this Revel Bar? I just can't get enough of it. I was surprised to have these wonderful cakes in Blugre Coffee in Davao. It's not my first time to visit Blugre. It's my coffee shop of choice in Davao. They have a Durian Flavored Coffee, but I am not a fan. So, when in Davao, have a break at Blugres, and savor their delicious pastries.

Tucked in a corner and seemingly out of place in a dodgy neighborhood, Kingdom is a surprising new find in Angeles City near Clark. Located at the Ground Floor of the Marlim Mansions (Marlim Road corner MacArthur Highway), Kingdom is the much talked about Thai restaurant of Chef Sau Del Roasario of M Cafe and Chelsea fame. Of course, the first thing that you will notice is the beautiful interior of the place. The restaurant has a gorgeous design. It has the same sophistication of M Cafe. I am a fan of Thai food and I have tasted some of the best in Thailand from the traditional Blue Elephant and the busy My Kitchen. So, after reading that Sau established Luna in Shanghai (which I already visited, but didn't know it was established by a Filipino), I had my expectations set very high. When I got the menu, I immediately asked if they served Thai Iced Tea. They said yes, but I was persistent in knowing if it was the real thing. When the waiter showed me the pack, I was contented. It wa...