Start Here at Yonge-Dundas Square

It's the heart of Toronto Downtown. Yonge-Dundas Square is in the middle of everything and it's also where the action is. When we first set foot in the downtown area, this is our first stop. The subway stations (Dundas and Yonge-Bloor exchange) is right under it. It's comparable to Times Square of New York City with all the lights and billboards. This is the place where the stage is set. Free concerts, outdoor movies, weekend artisan market and some of the city's biggest festivals.

When you just want to relax and watch the city rush by, take a seat here and savor the moment. The kids can play in the water fountains. Here we are enjoying our first destination in downtown Toronto -at Yonge - Dundas Square:

Daluyon Resort - Sabang Beach, Palawan

We had been to Daluyon Resort in its maiden launch 2 yrs ago. It was still closed to public then and only those who took the Underground River Tour package of the sister resort in Puerto Princesa (Puerto Pension) gets to see the resort before its official launch. Our tour package include lunch and we had it there on the beach front. The food was superb, I remember the seafood I ordered as really fresh and delicious while Lito's chicken was delectable. The service too was exceptional. We were treated like king and queen there.

The infinity pool was not yet finished but the design and location is very nice. I could imagine myself relaxing in its quiet waters while looking at the waves on the beach. The rooms are big and the interiors are impressive. Here are the pictures I've taken:



Daluyon is the only class-A resort in that part of Sabang. It offers standard, superior and deluxe accomodation for you and your whole family. The infinity pool, great food and service of the restaurant are a few of the amenities this destination has to offer. So when you head to Sabang for the UNDERGROUND RIVER tour, don't forget to check out Daluyon Resort, an overnight stay will not be enough to enjoy the island.

My Wensha Spa Experience

My sister Wendy treated me and my mom, as my send off gift to a full body massage at Wensha Spa. My last day in the Philippines was spent entirely in this place, it is a 24-hour spa and the Full Body massage treatment that we availed comes with an "eat-all-you-can" buffet (Filipino and Hot pot style). The 680-pesos value of the massage is so "sulit" I wonder if I could find the same treat in Canada...haha.
WENSHA SPA in CCP Complex
We arrived a little after lunch so after checking in, we changed to our robes, put our things on our lockers and started our late lunch. We were seated near the big screen and we watched the Cory funeral/procession while we were having our meal. The viands are okay I only remember the Caldereta dish and the Pancit so it must have been good. The wet floors area has a very big screen too so while we dip in the hot bath, we can still watch the Cory funeral. Oh by the way, the difference here and the The Spa, is you have to take it all off, well being bare is nothing to me( at least in an all girls area of the spa), since I have given birth to 3 boys already.

After a few minutes at the jacuzzi, we went inside the steam sauna and stayed for at least 10 minutes, the mist is refreshing. The Dry Sauna is worth trying but I dared not because I can alrady feel the heat near the drinking water station beside it. The maximum no of hours you can stay in Wensha is up to 6 hours so we spent at least 2 hours here, then one hour massage, then one hour rest (I overslept while having manicure and pedicure >> I availed this for additional P180 each) then 2 hours eating hahaha. The Massage area is enclosed in different rooms, we chose one that can accomodate 3 persons. There is also a large common area for bigger groups (at least 10 in the upper room). According to the Massage Therapist (Glory is good being hard), the massage style is a combination of Swedish and Shiatsu but whatever that is, It felt good and I really felt relaxed and relieved of the pains and lamig lamig. I highly recommend Wensha Spa, imagine after eating, the relaxation treatment starts at the wet floors, then the massage, then you can eat again, then addtional treatments like footspa, scrubs, manicure or pedicure then eat again, then before you go, you can have free use of the kikay items like lotions, powders and a new set of toothbrush. Those I have mentioned, were not available in other spas that I know of. If you are stressed, need to relax or looking for a value for money Spa- WENSHA SPA is it...you have to try it to believe what I'm saying...I bet lots of Wensha goers will agree...The next time I go back to the Philippines, I will definitely head to the CCP Complex in Boom na Boom and have a Wensha Spa treatment.

How to get to Caramoan

It's been three weeks and I couldn't get over our Caramoan experience. I want to encourage my readers to include the "Boracay and Palawan in one" paradise on the Bicol side of the archipelago in their next quest for fun and adventure. Going there is already an adventure, from Manila, one may opt to take the 8-hour bus ride (Bus companies like Isarog, Peñafrancia, Raymond and Philtranco in Cubao Terminal offers trips bound to Naga - aircondition buses PHP 500-550, or take the plane, PAL, Cebu Pacific and Zest Air fly through this route. We availed the Cebu Pac's seat-all-you-can promo and we had a one hour flight, good thing we had an early morning flight so we didn't experience Cebu Pac's famous delays. From Naga Airport, there are vans waiting there to take you straight to Sabang Port but we took the cheaper alternative and looked for tricycle that will take us to van terminal going to Sabang. Tricycle fare costs 45-50 pesos per person. At Naga City terminal, take the aircon van going to Sabang and get ready to cruise for a 2hour drive. Fare is 90 pesos per person. In Sabang port, ride the motorized boat going to Guijalo Pier, Caramoan, fare is 120 pesos per person, trips starts at 7AM, 9AM and 11AM only. Expect a combination of rough and smooth sailing. We were too excited we didn't care for the bumps we experienced. At lunch time, we arrived in Guijalo port, tricycles can take you to Centro where the lodging houses are or straight to Paniman Bay. If you are staying in Rex Inn, they have a shuttle that picks up guests at Guijalo pier. It was a 10-15 minute trip going to Centro and half hour going to Paniman. In Paniman Bay, the take off point of boats going to the Caramoan Islands, you may opt to stay at La Playa or Tinago Inn. The ride going to Paniman was bumpy because some roads are not yet concrete. It was a long and adventurous way going to "the Paradise of Bicol" but it was all worth it. Maybe later, when the government of Cam Sur or Survivor producers discover easier and shorter route going to Caramoan, many people will flock to this peninsula but for now, tourists have no option but to take the mala-survivor challenge of going there.

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Lutong Bahay in Caramoan

We were tired after almost 4 hours of travelling, our excitement to see Caramoan has not vanished but our stomachs were already empty. Good thing our tricycle driver turned guide brought us to Lutong Bahay, we were engorged after a full meal. Lutong Bahay is where tourists of Caramoan dine, it's well known for 'lutong bahay' (home-cooked) fare. The place is small and simple, it's like a 'turo-turo' (local cafeteria) here in Manila but they serve delicious Bikolano dishes. I ordered Porkchop Steak and Laing and ordered a packed dish for dinner - Pork Adobo. Since it's home-cooked, nothing fancy. The pork dishes were so-so, but I really like the Laing. Cost per meal is around 65 pesos for the meat and veggie meal with 1 cup of rice. You will not miss this eatery in Centro, Caramoan, it has a big sign in front.

Easter Sunday Breakfast @ Bag of Beans

We had an Easter Sunday celebration in Tagaytay and had breakfast at Bag of Beans. Since we're early, we had the place to ourselves and we enjoyed the nice ambiance and serenity of the place. This breakfast nook is set in an open garden with trees that keeps the place cool. The tables are strategically located, there are long tables for families, coffee tables for twosome, corners for those who wants to have a breakfast meeting. It has a talking 'mynah' bird at the center which my kids enjoyed talking to. We ordered their famous freshly baked raisin bread, pancakes, the breakfast platter and cups of freshly brewed 'kapeng barako' (coffee)>>their specialty. Although they are known for their coffee and breakfast, they also serve lunch and dinner. I was told their fruit shakes are must-try but I was too full to try. Bag of Beans customers have grown and it was about time they opened the other end for an expansion to accommodate more. We had great photo opportunities here and as usual Kyle taking his own shots.

Inside Bag of Beans
This was taken by Kyle - my 3-yr-old photographer wannabe
Breakfast Platter
Raisin Bread
Bag of Beans Expansion Wing

So in your quest to find a nook and unwind from city's hustle and bustle, Bag of Beans in Tagaytay is a must-try.

What is R and R?

After two years of personal blogging on Me, Myself and Irmee, I felt I need to come up with another blog, this time with more essence and impact to its audience. It's still personal but this blog will be for all about R and R. Here's the list of what R and R could mean and the topics you will be seeing here:

Rest and Recreation
Review and Recommendation
Resorts and Restaurants
Relationships and Revelries
Research and Revelation
Retreat and Relaxation
Rants and Rewards

Read on.