I ♥ HK

I haven't been active in blogging the past few months because of the numerous workload I had to endure for the first semester of the school year. I realized my "bloglog" (wordplay for backlog) is steadily piling up. I have so much to share but I can't find time to blog about it.

This post is one year overdue. Dan and I took this trip October of 2014. I can't believe 2015 is almost over. So before the memories of this wonderful trip vanish into oblivion, I'll write what I can remember from this short but sweet trip.

VICTORIA HARBOR
Our first photos were taken from Victoria Harbor overlooking one of the best skylines in the world. We intentionally chose an inn/ hostel in Tsim Sha Tsui area because it's close to Victoria harbor. In fact, it's roughly a seven-minute walk from Homy Inn to the harbor.

 The Avenue of the Stars which is similar to Hollywood's Walk of Fame is also in the Victoria              Harbor area.

The Peak
Getting to The Peak is quite a ride. It's not for the fainthearted. Riding the tram is the quickest and most scenic way to get there. As the tram ascends, you get a clear view of the city's skyscrapers. There was one brief moment that I thought the tram would get derailed. It had a difficult time ascending, it even stopped midway, almost slipping back. I think it was part of the thrill of getting on a tram.

Our signature shot!

Mong Kok (Bargain Hunting)
Hong Kong is a shopping haven. From luxury brands to cheap goods, HK has it all. And since haggling is what I do best, off we went to Mong Kok district.

         

          

When in Baguio (Part 2)

This is the second part of the Baguio series which I wrote last March. Here are more restaurants and activities to try in a city whose beauty and charm will never go out of style.

Mario's 
16 Upper Session Road, Extension, Baguio City

I won't normally eat at dining places that offer entrees that :
A. I can't even pronounce;
B. I know nothing about ; and
C. are a little pricey.

So when Dan suggested that we try Mario's, I asked him if it has any of the three choices listed above, he honestly said Mario's is on the pricey side. That was a red flag to me, being the Ilokana that I am. If you know what I mean. But since I was not going to foot the bill and it was Valentine's season, I gave in to his request.

As expected, I ordered a pasta dish, something I will never get enough of. This time, I tried their Seafood Linguine with squid, shrimps and clams in tomato sauce. It was very flavorful but the serving will keep you wanting for more.

Overall, we had a pleasant experience at Mario's. Food was great, service was even better. However, we'll only be dining here if the occasion calls for it. Like, perhaps, another Valentine's date. :)

Ketchup Food Community
Romulo Dr., Baguio City

Friends have been telling us to try Canto at Ketchup Food Community. But every time my husband and I decide to go, the place is always packed.

Good thing, when we finally tried it, we were there at 10 AM. We had to make a reservation prior to its opening at 11:30. The place was filled to the brim before our meal was served. 

We had their bestseller, Lomo Ribs, with vegetable salad as side dish. We opted for mashed potatoes instead of rice. Now I know why this resto always makes it to the list of must-try in the city. Their baby back ribs were tender and it almost felt like it melts in the mouth. Plus the best part is, it's unbelievably affordable.

This is something that every meat-lover should try!

Hill Station
Casa Vallejo, Upper Session Road, Baguio City

Hill Station's homey ambience and great service are what makes this restaurant a favorite among tourists and locals.

We dropped by to have dessert after our filling lunch at Canto. I had their signature lemon meringue while Dan ordered Banoffee pie. My meringue had the right amount of sweetness, just perfect to complement the sour lemon flavor. The service was surprisingly fast, given that it's a fine dining resto. Waiters were polite and accommodating to our requests.

On our next visit, we will try their main entrees.


Vizco's Restaurant and Bakeshop
Session Road, Baguio City

If there's one bakeshop that I can't stop raving about, it's got to be Vizco's. It started when Dan (being the sweet and thoughtful guy that he is), arrived home on a Friday carrying this "box of heaven." He said the cake is a must-try in Baguio and anyone who has tried it swears that it has become a staple in their home.

I will let the pictures speak for itself.

It has two layers of strawberry sponge cake with thick cream filling and on top are freshly sliced local strawberries. The hint of sourness of the strawberries gel well with the tempered sweetness of the cake and cream.

I'm drooling while looking at the photos. Sorry if I gave you an unpleasant image of me. Bwahaha!

La Union Invasion

2015 is our high school batch's 20th year. We wouldn't let it pass without celebrating this milestone. 

I have said many times before that high school friends have a way of keeping us grounded because these are the people who know us from way back. They know our crazy little secrets, our teenage habits, our eccentricities, even the people we shed tears for... the list just goes on and on.

Only a few were able to come because most of us live in different parts of the world. Some who live here signified their desire to come but unfortunately, their schedule just didn't allow it. 

We decided to spend a night at San Juan Surf Resort in La Union as suggested by Dan. Every time he's in La Union for work, this is where he stays. This resort is also a surfing school which offers tutorial service for those who want to learn the water sport.

This newly-constructed building is where our villa is located. 

Batch 95

We were delighted to have booked this VIP room/ suite that can accommodate 8 persons. There's a main room, a separate private room with airconditioning and an attic!

This is what awaits every guest. The sea is always a sight to behold. I wish I could wake up to this view every day of my life. 

The view from our balcony. The pictures though do not give justice to the breathtaking view we have from the balcony. Blame it on my super low-tech mobile phone. Trust me, the sea view just makes you want to cry. Okay, that's a little too much but you get the point. :)

Coast Call, SJSR's in-house restaurant. It offers mainly Filipino fare. I love their pancit canton. For the price of Php199, it's more than enough for 3 persons. 

And since we were in a surfing school, might as well try surfing. My friends did, I didn't. I still have to muster enough courage to try this one. Next time, perhaps. :)

More group pictures!

Bluer than blue!

Reef shot.

And what better way to end this post than by sharing our photos with no less than San Juan Surf Resort's owner, professional surfer/ model/ endorser, Luke Landrigan. It was so surreal to see him up close. It's interesting to note that he never refused a request from guests who wanted to have a photo taken with him.

There you have it, our La Union weekend getaway. It surely won't be the last time!


San Juan Surf Resort is located at Urbiztondo San Juan, La Union.
Contact Number: (072) 2424544

Baguio Bookshops

It's no secret that I love reading. I am always in search of good books to add to my collection. The sad part is, new books can be very pricey so I made it a point to scour secondhand bookshops for titles that stir my interest. I must say, I have found really good ones for a price you would not even imagine. In Baguio, two bookshops top my list.

Mt. Cloud Bookshop
Casa Vallejo Building, DPS Compound Access Road, Baguio

Bookends
GF, UCPB Building, T. Claudio St., Baguio

That's me doing what I love most -- book-hunting!


Check out this lovely Christmas tree! Of course, it's made of books!