Stanley gets towed!

Sometimes you just have to listen to your instincts.  Today, I didn't really want to go anywhere because the weather was cloudy and it felt good to just lie in bed.  But, the weekend is when we do our grocery shopping especially for the kids' snacks for school so I really had to drag myself out of the house to get to it.

When we left the house,  it wasn't raining yet, just a little windy.  The kids were in their jackets just in case and then we all trooped to JT's Manukan Grille in San Juan.  This is our favorite chicken inasal restaurant and not just because it's owned by theater actor Joel Torre ;) Their kansi (sinigang broth) is really good, we can't get enough of it.  Their serve hefty servings of chicken and their garlic rice is really tasty! :)  Anyway, while there, the rain started pouring and we can see that traffic was beginning to get heavy.

We lingered over our meal hoping that the rain will eventually thin out.  When it did, we all got in Stanley and headed over to Shopwise Cubao.  What we didn't expect was the road going to Cubao, specifically, that stretch of N. Domingo between Gilmore and Hemady was going to flood.  It was relatively passable since traffic was moving albeit slowly.  We did notice several new cars parking off to the side, not willing to risk getting their engines wet.

What happened next was a nightmare!  Two cars moved off slowly to the curb leaving the stretch of the flooded street open.  Seeing as we weren't sure if there were potholes or large ditches along the road, we wondered if we should go ahead.  Then, a jeepney braved the flood (like they do!) and pushed hard creating waves on its side.  We followed in its wake with Patrick driving hard and fast.  I think that was the mistake.  In the middle of the road, Stanley stalled!  His engine just stopped and died.  Never have I heard Patrick shout an expletive that foul.  Fortunately, we stopped across a car wash and its workers helped push Stanley safely to the side of the road away from the rushing flood.  No matter what Patrick did, Stanley wouldn't start.

In the end, we had to call the Automobile Association of the Philippines to ask for assistance.  They can come to you and jump start your car and if that didn't work, they'd send a tow truck.  I was hoping it wasn't serious and that jumpstarting Stanley will be all that would take.  After waiting for over an hour (traffic was backed up even though we were just behind the AAP Main office and parking) he was pronounced dead.  We were told it was probably an electrical problem and that we needed to be towed home.  So we had to wait another 2 hours since the next available tow truck was coming from Marikina.  In fact, while waiting for it, another AAP Tow Truck passed us carrying an Audi! LOL

You can just imagine our frayed nerves, especially for the kids who were stuck in the car with nothing better to do.  Dylan had to pee in the street (yeah, yeah) but desperate situations call for desperate measures.  Dana didn't want to do that so we had to put a diaper on her as a compromise LOL  Thank God for my phone which I used to entertain myself hahaha

By the time the tow truck arrived, it was around 8pm and it was a miracle maneuvering around the narrow street and the mechanics having to push Stanley onto the ramp.  And they had to push Stanley with us inside ! hahaha It was a real adventure for the kids.

So here we were, on Stanley, on the AAP Tow Truck!  It was a good thing that the next day, Stanley was feeling better hehehe but we still took him to the shop for inspection.  He was pronounced okay, he just got a little cold.  After that clean bill of health we took him to Shopwise for that postponed grocery trip! :D

A Treat at Ton Ton Thai Massage

If you're like me, you probably have your "wish list" perpetually at the back of your mind.  So, at any time that you want, you can recall all the things that you want should opportunity present itself.  It was like that on this day.

It was just an ordinary Thursday yet I felt the urge to have some pampering.  So, after having lunch with the kids,  Dana and I went out for a girls' day out :)  We first went to Hot Nails Spa, our favorite nail salon.  Dana got a ManiPedi but no nail polish on the hands because her school doesn't allow that.  I had a relaxing hand and foot spa that made me feel really great! :D  All that took about 2 hours, just enough time for Patrick to come and pick us up.

But when it looked like he's going to be leaving his office a little later, we opted to drop by the Ton Ton Thai Massage branch along Aurora Boulevard which was a short walk from Hot Nails.  Ton Ton Thai Massage has always been on my mind since I saw their promo rate of P250/hr if you have your massage between 12NN and 6PM.  Between 6PM and 2AM (which is their closing time), you'll have to pay P300.  I've also seen a lot of Ton Ton Branches around the Metro so I figured there really was a demand if they're able to sustain the business with a lot of branches.  But think about it, even if you pay the P300, it's still rather cheap compared to other spas that offer 1-hr massages that cost P500 and up.

So there we were, Dana and I happily walking to our next destination.  Personally, it's a little intimidating to approach the door because you can't really see the interior from the outside (we got there around 6PM, so it was a little dark).  Also, I assume for security purposes, they keep the doors locked and you have to wait for someone from the inside to open the doors for you.  After a bit of waiting, we got inside and it smelled good.  That was my first thought hahaha my olfactory senses are way more acute than my sight! hahaha I had a little trouble adjusting to the darkness ( my eyes are really weak!) but that was okay.  We approached the counter which of course was well-lit and was warmly welcomed by the manager (I assumed because of his demeanor).  I told him that this was the first time I'll be experiencing a Thai massage and that prompted him to explain about the services (full body, back, foot, hand, and combination massages) and he gave me ample time to decide what I wanted to try out.  No hard sell which I liked.

I decided on a full body massage which would last an hour.  I was assigned Aya, a demure waif that did heavenly wonders on my body LOL  She first led me to wear they wash your feet (part of the cleansing ritual).  Dana and I were only whispering to each other because it was so quiet you can hear a pin drop.  It was really good and it just makes the experience more memorable.  The last thing you want when you have a massage is a bunch of therapists (and clients) chatting their heads off LOL

After the feet wash, we were led to the massage rooms.  They were basically mats and beds on the floor, divided by curtains on 3 sides.  The other side was the wall where you get hangers to hang your clothes when you change into your required pajamas (top and bottom).  There's also a wall clock to let you know you're getting your money's worth :)

The massage.  It started with the feet and legs and involved stretching the muscles, kneading them and then injecting a few pressure point presses.  There was nothing hurried about the experience and you can just close your eyes and enjoy.  Dana was really keen on discovering what Aya was doing since she wanted to do it to me at home LOL  I heard my bones creak which was pretty funny hahaha From the legs, we moved on to the arms and hands, then to the back.  I knew she was practically standing on me, kneading me with her feet.  That was awesome!  She even found the parts where I knew there was some blockage (like coldness) and knots and she was able to un-knot them without leaving any trace of pain!  The other time I tried a massage, I was bruised and aching up to 2 days after the massage!  The head massage was to die for too! I can imagine having a migraine and just soothing yourself with something like that :)

After the massage, Aya ended it with a bow and a smile.  It was really great!  I will definitely go back!  The place was clean and smelled good.  The rates cheap! The service was exemplary.

Guess where we went after?  The Banana Fudge Ice Cream House that was next door! :)

A really great pampering day! :)

Oishinbo in Little Tokyo

After having lunch at Chicken Charlie (in the previous post) we headed home, our tummies fully satiated :)  However, as most of you know, my tummy is easily hungry and on the way, I was craving some Japanese food :)

Well, Patrick suggested that we try and visit Little Tokyo in Makati.  I didn't even know there was such a place ! hahaha It's right across  Makati Cinema Square along Pasong Tamo corner Amorsolo Street.  You'll know you're in the right place if you see a strip of Japanese restaurants like Shinjuku Ramen along Pasong Tamo. The Japanese ark and the man-made bridge is a dead give-away that you've stumbled onto it.

Go under the ark (there's also another arc fronting Amorsolo Street) and head straight into the little square that's truly Japanese in ambience.  It's filled with authentic Japanese restaurants like Kagura which specializes in yakiniku (grilled strips of beef) and Heijyoen which specializes in Okonomiyake (Japanese pancake meals).

You may choose to eat inside the restaurants or in the square itself.  The restaurant we chose was Oishinbo because they had a variety of sushi and ramen dishes :)  We ordered the usual and the unusual :)

Usual means our typical order of ramen and beef curry so we can at least have a frame of reference to compare to.  I ordered their chashu ramen.  Patrick wanted to try their Sake so as per our server's recommendation (which she said was their popular sake), we chose this one but for the life of me, I can't remember the name LOL too bad! it was good! :D

We also ordered the usual California Maki which was well-presented and indeed tasted so delicious! :D Dylan ate practically half of this! LOL

Since the kids can't drink sake, they had Iced Teas :)  We also had an order of gyozas but I guess we demolished it before we even took a picture hahaha

 The pricing can demolish your budget pretty easily but if you really want the taste and the flavor of Japanese food (you'll know it's good if the Japanese eat with you as well!) then it's a good place to eat :)

Next time, we'll try the other restaurants, pockets-willing ahahaha

Chicken Charlie and its double-fried Chicken :)

There's no rest for the weary especially in Dylan's case.  Even after such a tiring day because of his field trip, he still has speech therapy the following day.  The good news is, technically, it was a national holiday on Friday because of Ramadan so they didn't have regular school.   But speech therapy goes on despite the holidays so there we all were waiting for Dylan to finish his 1-hour session :)

After that, we decided to head to a new restaurant that Patrick heard about.  It was Chicken Charlie and it's located at 592a N. S. Amoranto Street cor Banawe Street, Quezon City.  The 2nd picture will tell you what makes their chicken different and unique from other fried chickens that you may have tasted.

I love their warning on the box:  "The chicken you are about to experience is highly addictive." And it's true! haha  You just have to be prepared to wait at least 20 minutes because they only cook it once you order it :)  The trick is to call them up ahead of time and just pick up your order :)  Their dining area also has limited seats but they're planning on opening another branch in the future.   


The chicken is really crispy and the spicy flavor is just enough to give it that sing but not hot enough to make your eyes water and your nose to run (snicker!) Though I'm sure some people want that experience hahaha  Here's a sample of their menu (as taken from their website) :)

Needless to say, we've found a new restaurant to patronize :)  It's also a good thing they have a Facebook Fan Page so it's easier to be updated with new products and promos :)


So what are you waiting for, head on over and enjoy their great chicken! :)

Dylan's First School Field Trip

September 9, dawned bright and early though too early for Dylan who was used to waking up at 8am :)  It's his first school field trip, and let me tell you, he was really excited for it.  He didn't give me a hard time when I had to wake him up at 5:30AM because they had to be in school at 6AM :)






Their first stop was at the SM Megamall branch of Pizza Hut.  Here's Bus #1 and Dylan walking on the overpass to get to the other side :)  Obviously, he was very excited and can't stop jumping while walking on the way! :D

At Pizza Hut, they were told the story of how Pizza Hut started and what other food chains are its sister companies (of course, that's more food for thought for the adults hehe).  The kids can't wait to start making their own pizzas although the organizers also planned a few games, like "Bring Me"and the "Longest Line" to get the kids in the groove :)  Participants get to win prizes too!

They got really amped up when they were given their chef hats and their aprons which signaled that they'll be cooking next!  It became even more chaotic when the servers brought out their ingredients.




They were making Hawaiian Pizza and those who can make it as close to the sample pizza will get a prize ;)  Dylan was so focused on  putting his ingredients that he was really oblivious to what's happening around him.  He was doing it slowly but surely despite other kids (and their parents) were rushing to finish the job :) I let Dylan do all of it by himself! :)  Next, they fell in line to put their pizzas in the oven and went back to their seats to wait.  Drinks were distributed so that the kids can eat their pizzas as soon as they came out :)

After Pizza Hut, we all headed straight to Goldlilocks along Shaw Boulevard.  Here only the kids and their teachers were allowed to tour around the cake factory.  They were instructed to wear hair nets and they were able to see how the cakes were made.  After that, they all trooped to another part of the building where they experienced decorating their own cake.  Unfortunately, I fell asleep in the waiting room (I must have been really tired, imagine having to wake up so early when we slept so late), and didn't have a chance to see how Dylan fared.  He did good though when I saw what he did and he must have been hungry still because the box was already half-empty LOL The funny thing was, we almost got left behind because Dylan had to poop! LOL It's kind of a ritual with him that after he eats, he poops hahaha Fortunately, the others were taking their time buying some Goldilocks products so even though they all left the building they still hadn't boarded the buses.  Whew! LOL

The last stop in the field trip was the Fun Ranch playground at Tiendesitas.  Though we had plenty of time to go around and have lunch at the Tiendesitas food court, we brought our own lunch.  But Dylan wasn't really hungry (blame it on the pizzas and cake) and he was more interested in getting to the play area.  He's been here before so he knows what to expect hehehe

Since we finished early, we took our time taking pictures and just walking off our lunch :)  Here are more pictures:

They had 2 hours of playing time in the Active Fun indoor playroom.  I can guarantee that it was tiring for him but more so for me!!  See, with as many as 40-50 kids running around and bigger kids having a tendency to bully their way through the area, you want to protect your kid, right?  Of course! So there I was following Dylan wherever he wanted to go.  I climbed, slid, crawled, got my butt stuck in a small crawl space, got stepped on by kids and that was the last straw.  I left him to his own devices and just monitored him from a safe distance LOL  After about an hour of playing, he soon got tired and wanted to leave.  So, I thought that was good because perspiring that much wasn't really good for him.  I changed his clothes, got him refreshed and we went outside and strolled around the area.  He rode the bumper cars, the plane ride but I drew the line on the carousel because that's a scary one!  It spins so fast you're going to get dizzy! LOL

It was a very fun but tiring day but it's a day that I don't regret because it gave me a chance to bond with Dylan.  It gave me lots of wonderful memories to look back on.  We took a lot of pictures not because we're required to create a scrapbook out of the experience but because I would have done otherwise even without that requirement :)  It's good that kids get a chance to play because they're kids!  It's also a chance to get to know your classmates to have fun with them!

I hope to have more of these as the kids grow older :)

Sofia's 2nd Birthday

After getting our fill of vacation spots at the Philippine Travel Mart, we headed to my sister Sharon's house in Valenzuela.  The trip was an adventure by itself because we've never tried going there on our own since it's a bit far, a bit scary (from my perception) and a bit dangerous (for Stanley, from Patrick's point of view) hehe

Regardless of our misgivings and armed only with verbal directions from my sister, we braved the streets of Valenzuela from Megamall.  Our first folly (although Patrick won't admit it) was getting on the North Luzon Expressway from EDSA.  Actually, on hindsight, we didn't have any choice because that's the only way (I think) and my directions didn't include coming from EDSA, only coming from the house.  If we were coming from the house it would be no problem as we can safely navigate away from the NLEX and use the bridge over it.

Anyway, so there we were on the NLEX and I was talking to Sharon over the phone so we would know which exit to use.  From there, we were told to exit at Valenzuela and travel via the service road.  This is the scary part hehe This service road is only a 2-lane road and you have to share it with trucks, jeeps, taxis, tricycles, private vehicles and pedestrians.  And, if you've been driving around the Philippines you know that this can be a hodge podge of traffic situations - people walking on the road, tricycles that veer here and there and God knows where, vehicles that counterflow to no end and rickety trucks that either move so fast or so slow which are both a danger to everyone.

So there we were, not really traveling blindly because we had a map but it's really hard to navigate when there are no street signs to navigate with! LOL  We were told to simply go straight so we did but we must have over-driven because we ended up crossing the NLEX again! LOL At this point we had to stop because I remember Sharon's instructions that if we were to cross the NLEX that meant we'd gone more than we should have.  Since, our route now was traveling in reverse from her original directions, to me it meant that we were on the ride side of the road now LOL  So we waited on the side of one street (which was really a feat in itself considering Stanley's size and how narrow the roads were) until my nephew drove by in his little motorcycle (and little is was - it was a mini!) which caused me to contemplate on the many ways my nephew could have died from riding that thing! LOL  It turned out that we were already close to our destination but we still had to pass a one-way bridge.  One way because it can only accommodate one lane of cars so there was a man controlling the traffic 5 vehicles at a time.  Really scary! LOL

Finally, we got to a familiar part of the area but it was hell getting to maneuver Stanley to fit in the tight passage from the road to Sharon's house hahaha Patrick even said that if ever Stanley gets a scratch it should be on my head LOL

When we were finally able to relax, here are some pictures that we took.  Most of the time, we just talked and caught up with each other's lives.  Kids played on the street.  Kids played indoors.  Kids ate.  Adults talked and ate.  Very simple things really but the important thing was family is family.  It's just the two of us here (Sharon and I) so it's necessary to communicate, be on each other's radar and let the cousins grow up together despite living apart.  What's a few scary driving moments when you have love and happiness as a reward ? ;)  The drive back was a lot less scary and more direct.  The next time that we visit, we hope that we'll make it in better time :)

Cheap deals and bargains at the 2010 Philippine Travel Mart

As traveling is one of our "vices", Patrick and I are always on the look out for bargains and cheap deals. When we heard about this year's Philippine Travel Mart, we knew we're headed there :)

This year, it was held last September 3-5 at the Megatrade Hall in SM Megamall. It actually came at an opportune time especially after the hostage-taking fiasco that befell the country last August 23 which resulted in Hongkong and China banning their tourists from visiting the Philippines. With this travel mart, it's expected to boost local/domestic tourists to flock and uphold the tourism industry.

I was excited to attend the event because, imagine, you have the whole Philippines at your fingertips. It really saves time searching for and finding hotels, travel tickets, resorts and new projects because you have everything you need within one location! Though the Internet can give you a multitude of information, here at the Travel Mart, you can actually field your questions to people who immediately answer your queries and even offer great deals on bookings. Air travel is covered by Cebu Pacific, Philippine Air Lines, Zest Air and Sea Air and you can really see people lining up and taking advantage of their ticket sales :)

If you're looking for kid-friendly destinations, like we were, we found great deals at Enchanted Kingdom, Manila Ocean Park, Tiger Safari etc. I even got interested with some tours around Manila. It's like I already live here but haven't found the time to actually go and visit some of the remarkable sights that are within a stone's throw from me. :)

Subic and Camarines Sur have great big booths that showcase their hotels, resorts and activities. We learned that Bayfront Subic (our fave hotel there) was offering a Halloween package (interesting!) We were able to taste Barako Coffee from the Batangas booths. We gathered a number of flyers, brochures and pamphlets for reference. If only we had the money right then and there, we'd probably be taking advantage of the bargains too.

However, against my better judgment, someone got me to sign-up with the so-called raffle. Patrick thinks it's a scam but I was lured by the prospect of free hotel accommodations in Boracay (me the cheapskate!) Now, I actually regret participating hehehe

First, my phone was beset by calls from their sales marketing team promising a buffet dinner and a 90-minute AVP before we can claim the Gift Certificate. We actually went to one (A. Venue Resorts) where their buffet was an offering of different (but cold) pasta dishes (pomodoro, bolognese and pesto) which you can make by yourself. After which, their presentation lasted more than 90 minutes. The presentation was basically introducing their product (the A. Venue Hotel) which was supposedly part of the RCI International resorts. So if you purchase a membership club with them, you'll get to enjoy the benefits at other resorts both local and international too. Though they tell you on the phone that there's no need to bring cash because you're under no obligation to purchase, they will convince you and "coerce" you to do so after the presentation. It is coercion because it's like if you don't sign up now, you'll forfeit your special benefits and will only be entitled to using the A. Venue Hotel alone. I knew Patrick was getting impatient because it was already midnight (we got there at 8) and they were relentless. IN short, we did not purchase any club membership but we got the GC which now that I think about it, I won't be using anyway because they require a P5K booking fee (supposedly refundable) but you'll have a difficult time getting it back. So then, I had to turn down all those other sales agents hahaha

It wasn't all for naught. I got a lot of info should we choose to go on a vacation within the year or in the far future :)