It’s our first time in Thailand, so we decided to dig deeper into it’s heritage and wander around the country’s capital, Bangkok.

We only have 3 days to indulge with Thai’s culture, food and adventure, although I must admit that the Land of Smiles is worth coming back again and again. I never really said goodbye, because my intuition tells me that I’m going to see it again soon.

So many temples to check out in one day, and then there’s shopping. I’ll go crazy on both.

Our beautiful accommodation is a secret hideaway from the bustling city of Bangkok. It’s just a walking distance away from BTS Skytrain and Pratunam Area. I can’t wait to go back.

We may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly, but let us never lost sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way.

From wandering around Borobudur Temple, we continued the day to a short trip at a Batik Shop, then headed to Prambanan Temple. The heat didn’t spare us with exhaustion and by the time we reached our car service, Mr. Haven Hunter and I immediately fell into slumber.

Needless to say, we aren’t aware how much traffic we have to go through. I’m not sure if our driver Toto was following a speed limit or he really drives moderately. We reached Prambanan Temple at 5:00 PM, that left us an hour to wander around it’s full glory until it closes for the day.

We headed to a separate building where foreigners can lounge and pay for the entrance fee. Rates are: Adult USD 15 & Student USD 8. This already includes refreshments, coffee or water at the lounge area and Camera & Video Fee.

Prambanan is the ninth century Hindu temple compound in Central Java, Indonesia, dedicated to Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator (Brahma), the Sustainer (Vishnu) and the Destroyer (Shiva). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia. There are 224 temples in the complex; dominated by three towering temples on the central terrace.

These ancient masterpieces of Hindu architecture is more beautiful and intricate than Borobudur Temple. It feels eerie to touch something historical as this site. It is as if it bounces an immeasurable energy to tell everyone it’s bygone story beyond the massive ruins.

Only few people were roaming around by sunset, perhaps most tourists were still battling they’re way out of Borobudur Temples. Sheesh, I still can’t get over how overly crowded it was.

By 6 PM we started to walk towards the exit. We were actually looking for the entrance to Prambanan Open Air Theatre for the evening performance of Ramayana Ballet, but were unsuccessful. Good thing, Toto, fetch us through the entrance door, and said he’ll just drop us to other gate. We urge Toto to first find us some good place for dinner before we head to the 7:30 PM Show.

He drives towards Prambanan Garden Cafe right next to the entrance door of the theatre. Oh no. It was out of budget but the Mister insist that we try the dinner buffet. As if we had a choice, inasmuch as we wanted, they don’t offer any ala carte.

Prambanan Garden Cafe has a lovely setting anyways, across the lawn from our table, the evening glow of Prambanan temple looks amazing. The whole complex is illuminated with yellowish light bulbs. The moon peaks from the sky.

This is the view from our table. See how lovely the evening is. Who can resist paying for a hefty IDR 70,000 each Dinner Buffet for that beautiful landscape?

The menu includes Asian delicacies that I recognized, but I only had one go, since I’m not really hungry.

After our sumptuous and expensive dinner, we headed our way to the entrance gate. Since we already bought our tickets at Sosro Tours, we only paid for the use of camera inside the theater. I find it odd that you have to pay for video and photo. I was actually disappointed that we didn’t get the VIP tickets earlier that day, since we actually spent the same thing, having to dine at the restaurant.

VIP tickets get the front row seats and and are indulged with snacks and refreshments plus a buffet dinner at the Restaurant.  While we get to seat at the Premium Area.

The Ramyana Ballet is a dramatic performance that tells the epical dimensions and living legend for millennia. It is a story of Ramayana, the classic Hindu tale of honour, magic and courage. This ancient literature focus on the tale of the heroic Prince Rama and his loyal wife Sita.

Performed on various dates over a six-month period, the Ramyana Ballet involves hundreds of dancers and is performed in a wonderful outdoor setting within the country’s famous Prambanan temple complex. Built in the ninth century, the temple is the largest complex of its kind in Java and is famed throughout the whole of Indonesia for its spectacular beauty.

This performance is able to unite various Javanese arts such as dance, drama and music on one stage and one momentum to present the Ramayana story, a legendary epos written by Walmiki in Sanskrit language.

I’m so bad at waiting time. I actually lost count on how many times I doze off before and during the show. The 3 hours show is so not good for sleepless souls. Don’t get me wrong but the performance is awesome. The choice of music though, gets into my spine that sets me off to dreamland.

After the show, we were given a chance to go on stage and take photos with the performers.

Toto was waiting for us at the parking area. He dropped us at Jalan Sosrowijayan and call it a night.

Mr. HH and I just changed clothes and check out if we can do some souvenir shopping at Malioboro Street. Turns out the shops are starting to close to make way for “lesehan” or night dining.  Warung is a store that sells food and drinks, while lesehan means sitting on mats.

I’m still full from our buffet dinner so we just got a refreshment from the nearby 24-hours McDonald’s. We went back to our room and prepare for our early day 2: Road Trip from Jogja to Bromo.

You can check out our full Indonesia itinerary here.

We woke up to a weekend of good food at Legazpi Sunday Market 5th Anniversary Celebration. A diverse selection of goods ranging from specialty foods, fruits and vegetables, breads, organic products, gourmet items, fabrics, art pieces, plants and more.

We started the day with the appetizing Takoyaki Balls, Chorizo Paella and Lengua Estofada from Spanish Cuisine Paellas. I could have ordered Wagyu Paella and Paella Negra if I wasn’t so full on my first serving.

LSM offer a cultural mix of cuisine from Filipino dishes to Indonesian, Chinese, Spanish, French, Korean and more. Almost all parts of the country is represented too, from Lechon Cebu, Kapampangan Homemade Classic Empainada to Negros’ Budbud-Kabog. Ah, we can spend the whole afternoon here, celebrating good life!

We went around and found some wonderful art pieces, handcrafted items, ceramics and colorful fabrics. One can find great bargains from the many bazaar stalls. As the afternoon sizzles, more families came in to spend a day-out, probably to eat and shop together.

The Grand Buffet was the main event for the Anniversary Celebration where a long list of Legazpi Market’s food vendors offer their exquisite dishes to a One-Go Buffet for only P180.00 each. Darn, we shouldn’t have eaten earlier.

We had to leave before the heavy rain started to pour in and spent a healthy walk to the strange serenity of the usually bustling Ayala/Makati life.

Legazpi Sunday Market is located at corners of Legazpi and Rufino Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati. It’s near Union Church of Manila. Open every Sunday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

What’s a good travel without delicious food? Rather, free delicious food?  This week, I’ll give a rundown of two choices for  free food giveaways to fill everyone’s craving. Only available in the Philippines for a limited time.

1. Yoshinoya’s Beef Gyudon Eating Contest for Bloggers.

Get Ready Bloggers, here’s one huge treat from Yoshinoya. Satisfy your craving with bowls and bowls of Gyudon Beef. A battle of agility and the biggest appetite.

I wanna join and hubby too,  but our date is already reserved for a wedding in Tagaytay.

Any Filipino Blogger can join. Email your site URL and Name to  yoshinoyapromo@yahoo.com and get a chance to participate as one of the lucky 15 participants to finished off the most number of Beef Gyudon Bowls in two (2) minutes.

A Consolation Prize of P500 worth of Gift Certificates shall be given to all chosen 15 contestants.

Yoshinoya Management will coordinate with the selected participants and announcement will be made on May 1 at Yoshinoya Philippines (YCPI) Facebook Fan Page

The event will be held at Yoshinoya, Megamall on May 5, 2009 at 6:00 PM. The winner will win P3000 worth of Gift Certificates.

Mechanics for Yoshinoya Beef Gyudon Eating Challenge:

* Participants are required to use a pair of chopsticks.

* Participants will race to finish the most number of Beef Gyudon Bowls in two minutes.

Guest Judges and Representatives from Yoshinoya will be present at the event.

2. KFC Chewy Cheese

Visit KFC Fan Page and Participate in Chewy Cheese Tuesday.

The First 20 people to post funny photos on a Tuesday, get to win a Free Chewy Cheese GCs.

All Photos are collated for the biggest catch. Posting your Funniest Face on the web won’t even hurt, as you’ll Get a Chance to win Nintendo Wii!

Mechanics to KFC Chewy Cheese Funniest Face

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world
in a conspiracy of love.

- Hamilton Wright Mabie

With its close proximity to Manila, Tagaytay is a sanctuary that comes to mind when celebrating a romantic evening.

The cold weather, the warmth of Taal view, the best places to eat and a day without stress is something we prefer to  sooth our mind and soul.

To celebrate our 6th month wedding bliss, we headed to Tagaytay to getaway from the urban jungle that is Manila. A week prior, we called Sonya’s Garden to reserve and use the free voucher we got from our wedding.

The car is of no use, so we opted to travel by public transport. From Pasay, Rotonda, we took the Golden Dragon Bus bound to Nasugbu. The air-conditioned bus is quite impressive, still new, I can tell from the smell and the plastic covered seats. It made the almost two-hours bus trip comfortable enough to steal a few z’s.

Our itinerary for the day includes a breakfast at Bag of Beans. A great jump start to our lazy holiday. We were dropped off in front of the restaurant / bakery.

The breakfast as usual was mouthwatering and the ambiance is perfect for a couple’s getaway. We were entertained by the resident talking mynah bird, asking if we’ve already eaten, “Kumain ka na?”, in three different human tones. It was hilarious.

We continued our journey towards Sonya’s Garden Restaurant and Bed & Breakfast. We waited for a jeepney bound to Alfonso and went down to Bgy. Buck Estate. Beyond the highway arc, tricycles are waiting for passengers to transport inside the small town.

We settled with the first one to take us to this hidden paradise. Sunflowers bound the area as we came nearer. The scent of flowers and freshly baked bread greeted us.

Sonya’s Garden is just what I remembered, charming and beautiful. The rustic Restaurant and Bed & Breakfast cottages are secretly tucked in the gentle rolling hills of Tagaytay. A secret no more, and a haven for many.

Sonya’s Garden is an inspiration of gorgeous view, beautiful flowers, and serene environment. The cottages are relaxing without the distraction of a city life, traces of television or an ipod dock. Perfect for a cozy evening and a night of cuddling.

We were ushered to our room. The beds are inviting, soft and grand. Screened windows paneled through every wall, making the room breezy. The furniture are vintage and has a feel of country elegance to it. The room is spacious for only the two of us. It can fit a family of four comfortably. The restroom is rustic and zen like, using pebbles as alternative to tiles. It makes me a little uncomfortable though with so much screened window and only thin curtains that left a little privacy to the room.

This wellness sanctuary is perfect to master “the art of doing nothing”. We spent our afternoon for a bit of pampering and treatment at the Sonya’s Spa Garden and availed their spa & massage service. It’s way beyond relaxation.

It rained in the afternoon, the sweet smell blanket the property. By the time we’re finished, the rain stopped and left the pathway damp.  We checked out the souvenir shop and bought some Ilog ni Maria products. It’s organic and smelled really good. They supply it as compliments in every room.

We continued our siesta until one of the staff called us for dinner.

There were another couple on the restaurant, our table was set on the far end.  Nearby is a forest so I was thankful when the staff gave us a citronella mosquito repellent. The dark night were graced by occasional fireflies, we were told it is mating season, but the rain kept them from giving a show.

We were serenaded with kundiman songs as we indulged in  a divine dinner. A light drizzle made the evening colder.

There’s nothing much to do so we call it a night early. The sound of beetles and birds was such a nice lullaby.

The following day, we had our breakfast, and was surprised by the number of guests present at the restaurant. The english-style ambiance, mismatched old, wooden chairs and elegant dining were so welcoming.

After yet another heavenly breakfast, we wander around the vicinity once more for photo ops. We also visited Panaderia to bring home some breads. We caught Filipina Actress, Judy Ann Santos buying some breads too. How often do you get to see celebrities?

As much as we wanted to dwell in this place forever, we needed to get back to the city…

but we’ll keep coming back to Sonya’s Garden.

While cleaning my files, I chanced upon our 2006 Teambuilding photos in Antipolo. ’twas one of my many unforgettable moments with Accenture colleagues.

We had the perfect plan for a weekend adventure that even heavy rain wasn’t able to put our high spirits down. A getaway to energized our soul, tickle our stressed out mind, fill our body with heavenly feast, plot a revenge and get even with our boss and coworkers. lol.

Reservations were made at Gotcha! Paintball field in Antipolo.

With ACN PMO Team – Black Ninjas vs Green Archers.

Decision was a draw. Thank God for the rainy day and muddy field. It made the game more exciting as the visibility of finding an attacker through our wet head gear is quite a challenge.

Ended our wet adventure with a yummy feast courtesy of Padi’s Point. The panoramic view overlooking Metro Manila is just refreshing.

Gotcha! Paintball Adventure Games
Alpadi Field, Alpadi Compound, Sumulong Hi-way,
Antipolo City.

For reservation call: 7255021 / 727513  loc 3

Frolicking under the rain,