Seat Matters - Taza Mia By: thepulpyorange No comments

"San tayo punta?"

The question that haunts me, (OA much?! LOL!), where are we going?! where are we going?! and Dora answered... TO THE MOUNTAINS! while the map from her back pack sings... "I'm the map! I'm the map! If there's a place you need to get. I can get you there i bet.I'm the map!" Hahaha! kidding aside, that would be the usual question from my cousins whenever we get a chance to catch each other during weekends at our parental home. Most of us work our butt off in the city where traffic jams and air pollution are the main attraction. hehehe!

I love the fact that I've got people around who I can tagged long just when my mood strikes for a cuppa, especially now that there are a lot of coffee shop and tea house in San Pablo to hang out and just chill. My younger cousin,whom I really envy because she already knew how to drive(someday!), picked me up around 0730pm. As soon as we took off, we realized that we need another crazy soul to officially consider our night out, the retards gimik. So we collected the crazy soul from his work and headed to a new discovered haven.

Taza Mia is conveniently situated along Maharlika Hi-way just before Max Restaurant, if you're coming from downtown. A cafe beside the shell station. Actually this isn't my first in taza, my younger but not so little cousin Elaine, discovered Taza Mia with her high school friends.

For that, I think they've been in operation for quite sometimes now, I remember when the only coffee shop that we love to hang out was RCC near San Pablo Medical, however they shut it down. Di ko lam?! Bakit nga ba?! And since I'm a repeat guest, nonetheless something in them is quite nice that's why a second visit is necessary. 

It's cafe. Basically they offer caffeine beverages, hot cuppa and some flavored ones. Cold drinks and frappucinos are available in their list. They have the usual drink as well, like fruit juices and sodas. If I remember it correctly, I had a caramel frappe on my first visit and Madagascar Vanilla Cream on the second. In terms of coffee, I like it sweet, reason why I'm more of a Starbucks lover than any other commercialize or popular coffee shop. I love it with a lot of whip, jellies and caramel. More of kids type.

Pasta, rice meals, pastries, sandwiches is on their menu as well. I tried their German sausage which I didn't like. Though I don't know if I'm the right judge of that. Sausages in Earle's Delicatessen suits my taste but not this.

Moving forward to pasta-ses?! Toinks! I think my dear cousin is a pasta lover seeing her plate cleaned up til the very last sauce means an approval. I remember her eating every bacon bits and sauce when we had our first visit. A bacon pasta, though I forgot the exact name of it in the menu.  Then for the latest visit she ordered ham carbonara that she barely finished. I ordered Tuna Pesto with toasted bread. When my dish was served, it wasn't that pleasant in the eyes. The pesto was so thick that I thought it was Tuna LAING Pasta. Though in fairness to them, I suspect that the Tuna made it somehow thick (wala akong alam sa cooking, choss lang!) , it tasted fine, nothing extraordinary, just okay. For the crazy soul that we collected, he's always the rice guy, so I wasn't shocked when he ordered the crispy porkchop meal with extra rice. Clean plate for only some minutes, however he always have a clean plate everytime we hang out or even a simple event in our family. He's that takaw! :) 

In terms of prices, their food range to 100-150 while beverage would have to be around 100. So 200 bucks would give you a decent meal in Taza Mia. I'm not a fan of their food but I love their secluded and comfy place. Though it's a bit noisy since it's along the highway especially if you prefer seating in their open area. 

Taza Mia is a good hang out place with their free wifi and comfy seats. I love it big and spacious when it comes to seat, though number on my list would be couch, especially when I can do my indian seat. As long as it's comfy. I like! :) So seat matters! And I believe that it's always been who you are with, though I'm a lot older compare to my cousins. Seating with them makes me feel a kid once more or more on their age range. hahaha!and I believe in world peace as well. *winks!* 

Oh and by the way happy 25th day of the month! Ciao!

Fishy Fishy Burp Day By: thepulpyorange No comments

Four years... four crazy happy years. And I'm indeed loving it. Super to the max loving it. Just for our little surprise to our cute princess we brought her to this new restaurant in town, though it's more of an amusement park for me.

Isdaan Floating Restaurant is at Barangay Hangan, Calauan, Laguna. It's a sister company of Barrio Fiesta and owned by the Ongpauco's. Gigantic statues of monkeys, crocodiles, fishes, and mermaids are all around with singing cooks and waiters serenading you. Thought the food is a bit overpriced, the sights and shows are awesome and needs to be experienced. Try to think of it as a sort of entrance fee to this semi-themed park restaurant. However you need to be up and early during weekends to get the best kubo. You must not forget your digi cam or phone cameras, it's a waste if you won't have pictures and do try the boat ride. Kids would simply love it.

My lovies enjoyed the new experience, starting with the food, the place and all activities it offered. Lem'me just show you how fun it was. (Warning! Picture Overload!)

And here are my favorite pictures.... :D

Deary Boo Ten- Ten,

I love you baby! Happy Birthday!!

Love-Love,
Tati

Living an Intercontinental Life -- Istilong Maynila By: thepulpyorange No comments

Do you live an intercontinental life?

Intercontinental life is centered around one's passion for travelling. I, myself is a reluctant traveler, not my passion but hello... it isn't that hard to like. Due to some factors, (i.e. time, ehherrmmm! money, work) I'm tied to where I am today. (huhuhuhu!) Once in awhile, every time given a chance, I make my way to explore the world, once or twice a year?! naaahhh! Just once! (can we figure out what we keep doing wrong...) LOL!

Moving on...  After several years, I've got the chance to experience the hotel with the famous tag line of "Do you live an intercontinental life?"

InterContinental Hotel Manila is just across the road from Glorietta and Greenbelt shopping centers. It's ideally located in the heart of  the central business district and pretty close to everything. The hotel is specifically situated at 1 Ayala Avenue, EDSA, Manila 3117 .  It was designed by the Philippine national artist, Leandro Locsin.

Luckily for this stay, IC Manila had their points break promotion for frequent guests of their property who joined Priority Club Rewards Program. Membership is free, no annual fee at all, you just earn points whenever you stay at one of their hotels and when you have enough points you can redeem it for a free hotel night stay. A member earns 10points for every 1 USD and best of all points doesn't expire! (Tara na! Join na!). From the standard 30,000 points per room, per stay it goes all the way down to 5,000 points. Just like hot pan cakes, it was sold out before we knew it and all that was left is April 13.

For this stay it was sponsored by Erinssi, unfortunately friends are tied to work until 0830pm while me, hehehe! I'm free as early as 1130am (I did OT that's why!). As soon as the bell rang (parang school lang kuware), I'm off to IC Manila which is about 2 or 3 km from our office. Upon check in, I gave my beautiful name (ehhheerrrmm!) while the front desk was processing my check in, I forgot to mention that we require a smoking room. I was given a 2 double beds deluxe non smoking room. Uncontrollably my eyes are shutting down, I accepted the nonsmoking room since they've promised to switch it later to a room of my choice.

InterContinental Hotel Manila offers 333 guest rooms and suites that boast every comfort and guarantee an enjoyable and unforgettable visit. Compare to Holiday Inn Galleria Manila and Crowne Plaza their rooms are kinda smaller, I really dunno, uhmm maybe because of the low ceiling or the room is just full of amenities to enjoy. Anyhow each of their rooms has the basic needs, i.e. broadband internet access, flat screen television, electronic safe, ergonomic work station, AM/FM alarm, mini bar, mini fridge, coffeemaker, iron and  board, private bathroom, shower over bathtub, bathroom amenities and most especially the hair dryer.

After several clicks, (digicam sponsored by Jenju, thank you sssooo much!), I decided to take a rest after a very tiring double shift, my body started deteriorating, (well not literally! halluurr!) Monee dropped by to have a safe and sound sleep courtesy of the AC in the room. The hot scorching weather makes our apartment somehow like a 32 square meters O-V-E-N, and what that makes us.. uhhmm dough??!! charla! 

Fast Forward >>

About two and half hours, DING! DONG! (aayy mali! ala pala doorbell sa rooms ng IC) I was awaken by sweet knocks on the door, and when I opened it, our huggie bear is at the door. It's been awhile since we have our little sweet bitch in one of our escapades, so our sleepiness subside and we turned into silly jumping monkeys, cute silly jumping monkeys! Just like a protocol, we did our goofy faces and signature poses to please the digi cam (ung digi cam tlga??!!) Charla!

Now to answer the questions of you're rumbling tummy, oohhh yes! Intercontinental Hotel Manila offers the best food, hang out and especially the experience. First stop Cafe Jeepney. The feel good patriotic effect of the place (uuhmm I think because of the Jeepney) offers a sumptuous mouth watering meal. Well to tell you frankly I haven't experience the place, I just saw it. Who wouldn't?! the Cafe Jeepney is located at the ground floor level. Very visible upon my check in. Every Intercontinental hotel shows the culture of it's country. The Cafe Jeepney makes the IC Manila very Filipinize (uhmmm if there's such a word!)  Cafe Jeepney operates Monday to Sunday 0630am till 1000pm.

And now let's proceed to Prince Albert Rotisserie which offers french and continental foodies. The restaurant is open during lunch and dinner only. And for those who wants to chill and relax with  a totally aged wine to sip on your right hand (if you prefer left, gooo!! LOL) and good playing music on the background, the place to be is Gambrinus: Piano Bar. They do offer live entertainment which I saw as well, uhhh I mean heard. We are at the lobby area meeting some friends, when we heard the band do some acoustic jamming. Uhhmm and they really sounded good. Soon I'll experience the good food, good music (errr while sipping champagne. LOL!), and i'll have an INTERCONTINENTAL tummy... soon!! :D

Until the clock strikes at 0900, friends fresh from work about to arrive. Unfortunately monee and huggie bear needs to leave because of work and family. I strolled the nearby mall while I was waiting for the gang. Soon as they arrived we decided to have our dinner in the mall before heading back to the hotel. 

Upon returning at the hotel, we bumped into some friends that was checked in too that night. Lycelle and Aimer kept us for awhile in the lobby for some chit-chat (Topic of discussion: Welcome Fruits for Priority Gold and Platinum members!), and we made a pact to do swimming early morning the next day..(yiihheeee!! swimming! swimming!! Did I use early on my sentence?! uurrgghh!). 

Why won't I love InterContinental Manila?! When we returned to our room that night they gave the room that we wanted, two double beds on a smoking floor. Hurrah! Let the party started!!! Anyhow I have my sisters with me living the Intercontinental life.. este night...

We also have Jenju into the party but not for long since her parents are strict(hoontaarrayyy dba??!!). She was too camera shy that she preferred to be behind the camera. Just so you know her, here she is... 

So what else to do after an eight hours or so of hardwork.... ooohh yeaahh man! It's time to unwind. Unwind which is synonyms of NOMO (drinking session), so we prepared a little for this little unwind-slash-party-slash-nomo session. Mapple reserved a room for him/herself as well, so we just decided to  do the  unwind-slash-party-slash-nomo session in his room. Noms! Noms! Noms! Army Honor, What you see, what you hear, when you leave, leave it here! And the nomo session ended! :b

and then non-stop photo ops...

So this stay won't be complete without having a quick dip in their pool. As expected early morning didn't happen, I was 2 hours behind my early morning. So even with an throbbing head (damn alcohol!) I changed into my swimming attire and off to the pool area. Here meet the IC swimming pool...

Outdoor pool is available starting 0600am till 1000pm. They do have life guards around so no need to fret if you dunno how to swim. :D They also have Sol Y Sombra which their poolside snack bar, open Monday-Sunday 1000am-1000pm.

After an hour of swim we decided to return to our room, and I took a quick hot bath (pang mayaman tlga??! where's my rubber duckie??!) Afterwards I slept l like baby until the check out time. IC Manila was soo nice that they allowed us to have a late check at 0200pm. I thank you! :D

I have to say that the staff were all friendly, professional and very attentive. Although we had a slight problem when we checked out but that's okay since the front desk sincerely apologize. I'm sure coming back, hopefully they'll have points break promotions again! yiiihhhee!!

Cheers to a night of InterContinental Living!