Yellow autumn

Japan’s autumn is actually more yellow than red. While maple leaves may abound in some temples and shrines, ginkgo (or ichou in japanese) usually line more common places like streets and parks.

Ginkgo Biloba are actually known for their longevity. These large trees can supposedly survive up to 1,500 years. They were actually introduced to Japan by China around 1192 AD. They were/are planted near temples due to their representation of longevity. The unique shape and vibrant color of the leaves also add to its allure.

RIKEN in autumn is gorgeous because of these trees.

*** photos taken November 2009

Sensoji Temple (Asakusa, Tokyo)

This Buddhist temple, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple, is the oldest temple in Tokyo. Situated along a major road, the temple is accessible and is very easy to find. Legend has it that in the 7th century, two fishermen found a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, caught in their net as they were fishing at Sumida River. They returned the statue back to the water, but they would always seem to find it again. The first temple was then built to house the statue, and was completed in 645 AD.

Cultural day parade outside the temple

Because of its rich history and accessibility, Sensoji is very popular among tourists and locals alike and, thus, is always crowded. On our visit, though, the place and the streets are brimming with people because of the holiday (Cultural day). We found it hard to navigate through the streets and to stop and take pictures without being shoved from every direction. The nice thing about our timing, though, is we were able to glimpse a parade, showcasing traditional Kabuki costumes, children wearing kimonos and men suited as samurais.

At the "great divide" between the divine and the worldly

The entrance to the temple is marked by a big red lantern. This gate, called the Kaminarimon (Gate of the God of Thunder), is believed to separate the everyday world from the divine world.

The funny thing is, as you walk past this great divide, visitors are greeted by a long corridor called Nakamise-dori (Nakamise Street), which is lined with small shops selling earthly things like food, souvenirs, charms, bags and clothes, etc. I guess the divine world is not so different from our world, after all.

Nakamise-dori

The inner gate (Hozomon) opens up to the vast temple grounds, housing the main temple and a 5-storey pagoda. Unfortunately, the façade of the main temple is under renovation at the moment (until November 2010) and is covered with protective plastic. As customary in all shrines and temples, visitors are asked to cleanse their mouth and hands in a fountain area with many ladles before entering the main hall. This clears away any impurities, making the person more worthy to enter the temple. Nearby is also an incense burner; the smoke from which, is believed to be able to prevent or heal illness. Sabi ni Mylene, pampatalino din daw sya so syempre ginaya ko din sila.

Hozomon - the inner gate

from the other side of the inner gate

The main hall is actually quite smaller than I expected. (Well, it looked so huge from the outside.) It is dimly lit, which makes the main (gold-plated) shrine look more grand. On the ceiling are beautiful hand-painted figures of dancing ladies. They were very feminine – gentle, graceful and serene – a contradiction from the huge, fiery structure that houses it.

main hall

Pagoda

as a tribute to the most common birds here?

traditional japanese slipper

*** In retrospect, while I did find the area charming, I don’t think I was able to enjoy the place so much because of the crowd.  It’s probably best to come earlier or during weekdays/working days.

Oishi!

Talk about fresh!

The thing that I will never ever get tired of here in Japan is the food. It’s interesting how even a simple miso soup can taste oh-so-nice! And the presentation is always superb! Kahit sa cafeteria lang, maganda pa rin tignan. It’s part of their pride, I guess. Pride in their work, their service, their cuisine, their culture. It makes me think, kung ganito din sana ang pride natin (hindi lang kay Pacman), ang ganda at ang ayos din siguro ng Pinas.

I will be staying in Japan for a year as a researcher-intern at RIKEN, Wako-shi. As a welcome, the Nanophotonics Laboratory had a mini dinner/drinking party at Nihonbashitei restaurant somewhere here in Wako. My first taste of real Japanese food. We had different types of gyoza, salad, moshi, breaded tuna, and of course, sashimi. The fish was so fresh, it was literally taken off the fish bone and served directly. After finishing the serving, we even asked the server to deep-fry the fish bone and head and serve it with a sauce. Sarap! Walang sayang!

Coron, Palawan (August 2009)

This year I decided to do something special for my birthday.  A quarter-life celebration.  Something special to look back to, and to share with special friends.

I have been introduced to Coron only when my friends and I passed by it on the way to Puerto Princesa/El Nido in 2006. Being part of the Palawan group of islands, I expected its natural wonders and sights to be the same as that of El Nido. And having enjoyed that trip so much, Ate Jaki and I vowed to explore Coron as well in the near future. As early as April, I have booked our flights for my birthday weekend and started counting the days before we went to Coron.

Coron is part of the Calamianes group of islands in Northern Palawan. To get there, we opted to take the faster route – a propeller-plane ride from Manila to Busuanga airport, and a 45-min ride in a van from Busuanga airport to Coron town.  As excited and obsessive-compulsive as I was, I have booked this ride (PhP 150/person), along with our bangkero, way ahead of time. Other airlines offer the same ride for the same price, but I didn’t want to rely on chance.

We stayed at the Coron Reef Pension House, which is right by the sea. The place itself is very simple, quaint and very cheap (PhP 800/night for an AC room good for 3-4 ppl).  The crew, though, was not very friendly nor attentive. We didn’t care so much, though, as we were on a budget and its accessibility to the market/establishments and the sea outranked the problem.

views of and in town

Since we only had 2 days, we decided to start the island hopping as soon as we arrived. Our very helpful, courteous, generous and fun bangkeros – Kuya Marlon, Kuya Edmond and Russell – were already waiting for us when we arrived at the Pension House. So we just freshened up a bit, ate a simple lunch at the market, and headed on with our Coron loop tour.

CORON LOOP TOUR

The town of Coron actually serves as a jump-off point to the amazing islands of Calamianes. There are many islands, lakes, dive and snorkelling sites to explore near the town itself. If you have not booked a banca ahead of time, you can go to the market and look for their Association to book for one. They have fixed prices, and they have strict rules to follow regarding the number of people in one banca to ensure the safety and satisfaction of their guests. (The bangkeros do refer to and treat every tourist as their guest. They assist you in every way they can and make sure that your Coron experience is whole, comfortable and remarkable.) A Coron loop tour ranges from PhP 1300 – 2000 depending on the number of people and islands that you would like to visit.

Since we only had half a day, I carefully picked the sites to go to, and we opted to visit:

1. Banol beach – This small pocket of white, powdery shore is surrounded by limestone formations, characteristic of Palawan islands. The water is very shallow and very clear – ideal for beach bums who just like to lounge around and wade in the water. Sea grass, though, abound near the shore. Good thing that they are not the itchy type that sticks in between your toes (just like in Boracay), so their presence is not really a problem. In fact they attract a lot of small fishes which feed on them. The place is maintained  by Tagbanuas. Conservation fee is PhP 100/person.

Banol Beach

Banol Beach

2. Twin lagoons – Each of these back-to-back lagoons is actually quite easy to get to with a boat. The main adventure here is to swim through a small opening in the limestone formations to get to the other side. The opening, though, is not visible when the tide is high, so timing is crucial. As you swim in the calm, clear waters towards the opening, groups of silver fishes line up to greet you, creating a natural cordon, seemingly marking the entrance. It’s fascinating. (We heard other bangkeros talk about an entrance fee to this place. We didn’t pay any, though. )

Entrance to the other lagoon

at the bigger lagoon

3. Kayangan Lake – the cleanest lake in the Philippines. Surrounded by limestone cliffs, which are home to some birds at night, the lake is so clear and so calm that you can practically see some parts in the bottom. The water is so inviting and refreshing that you wish you could just float there and relax for the rest of the day. To get there, you need to climb up and then down 70+ steps of make-shift rock stairs. These can get very slippery; but to ensure people’s safety, handle bars line the steps. As a bonus to the lake itself, a beautiful view awaits you at the top of the steps – the most captured view in the area. Conservation fee is PhP 100.

view from the top of the rock steps

wooden boards line the edge of the lake

to Kayangan

4. Siete Pecados  Marine Park – being a reserve, fishes abound here. Boats are not allowed to anchor here; to dock, they attach their boats onto a floating buoy with a rope. I am quite disappointed with the quality of the corals here. The corals are bleached and most of them are dead already.  Oh, and be careful with sea urchins. There are also plenty of them in the area. Conservation fee is usually at PhP 100/person. But they do have a “promo”. We just paid an extra PhP 200 for the three of us in Kayangan, before heading off here. It saved us PhP 100.  :)

Siete Pecados Marine Park

5. Maquinit Hot Springs – to top off our tour, a dip in a natural pool of hot water from a natural mountain spring. The water is hot, mind you, and not warm. You might hesitate at first, but once your body has acclimatized to the water’s temperature, a long relaxing dip will take your worries away. Entrance fee is PhP 100.

Maquinit hot spring pools

views from Maquinit

White sand beaches

I have had my share of beautiful beaches, but these islands are truly the most amazing beaches that I have ever been to. They have the finest sands, the calmest and bluest waters, and the most amazing views! Kinikilig ako just thinking about them.  These islands are a little farther from Coron – a 2-hour boat ride, to be exact, and are quite expensive to go to – PhP 200/person/island for a day trip – but everything is all worth it.

1. Waling-waling island – My friends and I literally fell in love with this place. The best, the best, the best!!! We didn’t plan to go here, actually, but Kuya Edmond and Kuya Marlon kept insisting that we do. Finally, we agreed, but we said, “Sige po, pero di na po kami bababa, magpicture lang kami habang nasa bangka kasi mahal na.” To that, Kuya Marlon said, “Sigurado kayo?,” while starting to unload the anchor. Sa isip-isip ko, “ang kulit nila ha!” But just when I was about to say NO once again, a sea turtle suddenly came into view, swimming right beside our boat! Taking that as a good indication, we acquiesced. When we went down and took a look at the sea from the shore, we were stunned. The sea is soooo clear and sooooo shallow that we can practically see and walk to the next island! In addition, the sand is soooo fine and white that in a sunny day just like that day, it appears so bright and glaring, it actually hurts to look at it for a long time. As a bonus, we were the only people in the island!  The island is private, and has only been opened to the public in May.  We were so happy and amazed that we couldn’t stop saying, “Ang ganda…ang ganda…” over and over. Swimming in the water, we could see pockets of beautiful corals teeming with colourful fishes. The other side of the island, though, is a little rocky, but still gorgeous, nonetheless. After lunch, we were led to the view deck above the hill which has the most amazing sight of the beach. We didn’t want to leave… We promised the caretaker, Kuya Gerry, that we will definitely come back, and this time, stay in that island for the whole trip.  (Overnight rate: PhP 1500/person; PhP 2500 – with food; There is only one Cabana, so the whole island can be yours the whole time. )

From this angle, it doesn't seem much, but as you dock...

...you get to enjoy this view plus so much more!

you can even cross to the other island. Just don't forget to say "hi!" to the baby sharks on the way.

Waling-waling island

Waling-waling

Waling-waling accommodations

2. Banana island – this island right beside Waling-waling is a little bit more commercialized and a little bigger. The water is not really for beach bums though as it suddenly deepens just a few feet away from the shore. The marine life, though, is very much alive in this area. Perfect for snorkelling. Walking on the other side of the island, we noticed a small rocks-and-sand bar right in the middle of Banana and another island. We decided to cross and go there, where a little shelter has been created.

Banana island

I love the colors in this one!

at Banana island

at the little sandbar

3. Malcapuya island – another stretch of beautiful sand. Similar to Waling-waling, the water is shallow and clear, but some parts have sea grass.

Malcapuya island

Malcapuya island

malcapuya island

Mt. Tapyas

On the morning of our departure, we decided to brave the 700+ steps to Mt. Tapyas to get a glimpse of the sunrise and the town. The steps are actually concrete and are easy on the legs and feet. But being a couch-potato and being the most un-physical person that I know, I had to take a breather a lot of times during the climb.

Mt. Tapyas

view of the hill

Mt. Tapyas

Mt. Tapyas

sunrise at Mt. Tapyas

As we boarded the plane, I honestly felt this extreme sadness that I was leaving the place. I am not really sure if the emotional attachment is simply due to my birthday, but I do know that Coron will always be special for me. I did have my special birthday celebration – one that I will always remember with a tug in my heart and a big smile in my face.

***

I highly recommend these bangkeros:

Kuya Marlon Saclet – 09059570551

Kuya Edmond Decena – 09109547450; eedmonddecena@yahoo.com

Waling-waling island caretaker: Kuya Gerry – 09218956393

Still on-a-high from Coron trip

I have had my share of beautiful sceneries and gorgeous beaches, but I must say that I have found the most beautiful islands in Coron, Palawan. Here are a some pictures to whet your appetite first:

Waling-waling island

from view deck

More to come!

Secret Recipe

location: SM Megamall

world fusion and dessert

Reasons to visit this place:

1. Best Cheesecake Award 1998

2. Most Original Chocolate Award 1999

3. Best Cheesecake Award 2000

Caramel Cream Cheese Cake (caramel cream on top of the most luscious cheesecake that you will ever taste. The experience is wrapped up with a crunch from an almond slivers-layer between the cheesecake and the soft ground graham crust.)

Marble Cheese Cake

The award-winning cheesecake. To-die-for cheese on top of a nuts-and-oatmeal-based crust. Can't get enough of it!

4. Best Lamb Stew Award 2001

New Zealand Stewed lamb (I believe this isn't the award-winning dish, but it still tastes pretty good.)

5. Excelent Food Award 2004 by Asian Trade Press Pte Ltd, Singapore

Tom Yum Kung

6. Indonesian Best Restaurants 2006 by Yayasan Penhargaan Prestasi Indones

7. Best Brand Food & Beverage Cafe 2007

8. Best Casual Dining Restaurant of The Year    2007/2008

9. Philippine Tattler’s Best Restaurant 2008

Secret Recipe's selection of cakes

Enough said, don’t you think?

* info from: http://www.secretrecipe.com.ph/about.html

Sagada, Mt. Province

If you are looking for a different kind of vacation, this is it. Nestled by mountains and a whole lot of pine trees, Sagada is the perfect place to chill (literally) and /or tire yourself away while on a vacation. Before coming here, I had never understood why a lot of people consider the town to be their favorite getaway place. Now, I am very willing to endure 12 hours of bus ride (from Manila) just to embrace its beauty once again. Most of the sites, though, take at least an hour and a half of walking/hiking from the town proper, so you better get your comfy shoes and leg muscles ready.

Some sights in Sagada:

1. The town proper

St. Mary the Virgin Episcopalian Church

town hospital and Sagada Weaving

2. Echo Valley

This valley is very near the church. You don’t really need a guide to get here. Personally, though, the valley is not that interesting, except for a glimpse on some hanging coffins.

at the Echo valley

hanging coffins as seen from the Echo Valley

3. Mini-falls

The falls may be mini, but the water underneath it is actually quite deep, and very, very cold.

Mini falls

4. Bomod-ok Falls (Big Falls)

Going to Bomod-ok Falls is actually quite a hike. You (your guide) need to hire a van to bring you to Aguid. From there, you spend 1.5 hours to get to the Falls. Although tiring, the walk to the Falls is actually very refreshing. You  get to snake through terraces of rice fields and pass through a native village, where the people are very friendly, to get there.

The water itself is too cold to swim in; but the view is breathtaking.

on the way to Bomod-ok Falls

Bomod-ok Falls

5. Lumiang cave

The cave is more known among locals as a burial site. Coffins are readily seen even at the entrance of the cave. For explorers, Lumiang Cave is more popular for its cave connection with Sumaguing Cave. This Cave Connection adventure is very exciting, I hear, but is not advisable for beginner spelunkers.

on the way to Lumiang cave

Lumiang cave

6. Sumaguing Cave

A trip to Sagada is not complete without going to Sumaguing Cave. The cave itself is a geologic wonder for nature lovers, and a wonderful adventure for beginner spelunkers. The cave starts with a very wide area of slippery rocks covered with guano. A walk further into it, visitors are greeted by smooth, white calcite formations with clear and cold water running through them. To get to the heart of the cave, be ready to dip into waist-deep clear freshwater, to hold onto the sides of the stalagmites, to contort your body and crawl into small openings, and to rapel. All these while being mesmerized by the weird, fascinating and sometimes naughty formations.

* pictures c/o Jaki Gabayno

Sumaguing cave

7. Mt. Ampacao

This is our favorite place in Sagada! Just look at how picturesque the view is from here!

Mt. Ampacao

8. sunset near Lake Danum

sunset

* Accommodations in Sagada is actually very cheap (well, at least in off-peak months). It can go from PhP 200 / head/night to PhP 500/head/night. We stayed initially at St. Joseph’s Inn near the Municipal Hall, which is a quaint little place with really comfy beds and nice garden in front of the rooms.

St. Joseph's Inn

happy flowers at St. Joseph's

A pretty picture

streaks of light as it refracts from a glass vase

Red Mango

current known branches: Trinoma, Eastwood Mall, SM Megamall

category: desserts

 

 

Medium-sized tub with fruity pebbles, blueberries, kiwi and peaches (I had four kasi nagkamali sila ng isang topping)

You can never go wrong with creamy yoghurt and different other yummy treats to top it with. The concept of being able to choose your topping on your dessert is not really new, but Red Mango boasts of making its customers enjoy this delight with less guilt by sticking with a variety of nuts, cereals and fruits. Their yoghurt also has a very light taste – not too creamy, too sweet nor too tangy – which makes it perfect for all types of tasty toppings. It’s a little bit pricey, though.  A small-sized tub of original yoghurt costs PhP 80. Adding one type of topping – + PhP 20; two toppings – + PhP 30; and three toppings – +PhP 40.

 

Banana and Almond Waffles (PhP 85)

 

 

What keep me coming back to Red Mango, though, are the waffles. Fluffy and light, the heart-shaped waffles have become my comfort food lately when I need cheering up. They currently offer two variants – Blueberries and Cream, and Banana and Almond. Kung ganito ang agahan ko araw-araw, I wouldn’t skip it for the world.

Siquijor

The province, which is just a ferry away from Dumaguete City, is known as “Land of  mystics, magic and enchantment” because of its legends and folk tales of mystical creatures and evil spirits that have been passed on for generations. This primarily gives us a glimpse of how this province values their cultural heritage and local traditions. Unfortunately, though, its natural wonders and picturesque sights that make this small province worthy of its title have been overshadowed by these myths. Local tourists, especially, veer away from Siquijor due to fear rooted from these stories. I say that this is pity because the place is truly a beauty.

A day trip around the island opens up to …

 … churches and convents that dates back to the 1800’s and yet are nicely preserved;

St. Francis of Assisi Church welcomes you to Siquijor

 

San Isidro Labrador convent

 

… a century-old balete tree that has become so big that hugging the tree’s trunk would probably take 30 people or more;

oldest enchanting Balete tree

 

to scale, haha

 

… a nice little waterfalls that is so close to the main road that you can practically hear it from your van;

 

Cambugahay Falls

at Cambugahay Falls

 

… clear, calm blue waters with fine, whitish public beach that is practically deserted, you can own it as your own little paradise for the day.

 

Salagdoong Beach

 

 

 

Salagdoong Beach