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| The breakfast that marked our first day! Bumaba ako sa van: "Ako lang ba? O malamig talaga?" - may kasamang nginig sa sobrang lamig habang naka-jacket na. "hehehe." - Kuya Guard. Narinig niya pala ko. |
We were in Ilocos last February 9-11, 2013. My long awaited trip! :)) Not that it was set for like two years before, just that I've been wanting to visit Ilocos for so long. And hihihihi another item on my Not-So-Possible-Christmas-Wishlist has been crossed out! I guess my wishes aren't impossible afterall. Let's see how many more would I be able to accomplish/have before '13 ends.
Can you feel the excitement? I DO! :D
Can you feel the excitement? I DO! :D
Because this tour was somewhat a "dream come true," it deserves to be itemized. A series long posts.
Thank You for the experience. Thank You for the good weather. I may be two shades darker, but I regret nothing!
Thank You for the experience. Thank You for the good weather. I may be two shades darker, but I regret nothing!
Here I'd be posting our itinerary with links to some pictures taken from each site. But take note that none of the pictures was able to capture the real beauty of Ilocos. If it was because of my camera, hehehe. Everything was better than what I had imagined and had seen in photos.
Day 1:
First day was so packed. 11 sites in one day, baby!!
Day 2:
Papa Nard's (breakfast)
Papa Nard's (breakfast)
Empanada (dinner)
Day 3:
Day 3:
Hoooooooome!
NLEX Balintawak exit by around 10 PM
Sagada and Mt. Pulag and other places I've been wanting to see at the back of my mind, wait for me!! Hahahahaha. I will visit you all someday! Too much wanderlusting, too little money to spend on them. So help me, God:))
Taste the Bene Difference!
Last December, we attended this Christmas Party where Caffe Bene gift certificates were at stake in one of their raffles.
I was like, "Ano raw? Where's that?"
"That's a coffeeshop somewhere in Libis."
"Ow, okay."
Have I known back then that I would come to like the place and the offerings and it isn't far from where I live, I should have wished to win the GCs!
Anyway, so, did you watch the Kdrama "Secret Garden?" Remember that cafe foam kiss of Hyun Bin and Ha Ji Won? Hihi. This was where that magic happened... of course, that was filmed at their branch in S.Korea.<3
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| Huge staircase. I liked the wooden interior. The place is so so so elegant yet homey. |
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| Because the previous cafe visit was Green Tea Frap fail, had to satisfy the craving. Green Tea Frappe - P 165.00 So okay, the next two pictures would include that bread which would lure me back. :) |
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| Chocolate Banana Bread (?) P 155.00 This is huge in real life, bigger than what I had expected. |
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| For Sharing |
I have no idea about the place and its interior prior to going there so it was a sweet surprise. That given, I also won't spoil how the whole cafe looks like but I'll be putting here some photos of the decorations and legal vandals that caught my attention.
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| P 155.00 The reason why someone told me to go there was to try their "green tea frappuccino" but unluckily, it was out of stock. Our choco chip drinks were delicious too. It was just that when you're looking forward to eat/drink something and didn't get the chance to do so, there's a slight feeling of disappointment, I craved for my green tea frappe. But yea, a second time at Noriter wouldn't hurt. Next time, green tea frap, next time. Look for these vandals and designs when you go there, will you? :) |
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| So it was a Korean Cafe? That detail wasn't given to me beforehand. |
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| If you read this using the my old school's calligraphy, this would have read "Little Fhings" |
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| Not a small person friendly place. Hahaha. The mirror was kinda high I had to tiptoe. |
놀다 reads nol(r)-da which means to play
놀이터 reads nor-i-teo which means playground
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| If only I had an artistic side of me, I would have also left my piece of art there. |
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| 놀이터, 안녕. 또 보자! Bye, Noriter. See you again! |
"Are we both just gonna head home? Without even eating?"
"Erm, where do we eat?"
(ERM. Okay, ERM. Natawa rin ako nung binasa ko ulit. Erm. HAHAHA. Say erm nga in a cute way.)
"Erm, where do we eat?"
(ERM. Okay, ERM. Natawa rin ako nung binasa ko ulit. Erm. HAHAHA. Say erm nga in a cute way.)
Looking around the available restaurants, we saw Kaya. I missed you, Korean Cuisine.
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| Mango Shake I usually forgo drinks if they're not included in a value meal. Kind of rare for me to drink shake in a restaurant. |
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| Dolsot Bibimbap |
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| And I don't know what this is. |
I've eaten Kaya's cocktail foods before when we attended an exhibit opening (kimbap, pajon, and that spicy chicken) but dining in their restaurant, it was the first time.
I am unaware of other Korean Restaurant's usual food prices. Kaya Restaurant, for me though, was overpriced considering the quantity and quality of food. There's nothing extra-ordinary about it and the serving was quite small for its price. Paid more or less P 500.00 for two mango shakes and a serving dolsot bibimbap. Enlighten me, it's that a fair pricing? Haha. Anyway, you can always find cheaper and delicious Authentic Kor Restos outside malls and I've been to a few and they even give out banchan unlike here where you'd have to pay for an order of kimchi. Hey, that's a sidedish and most of time it's served free. -_- (Example: CAFE MONACO; Dolsot Bibimbap with sidedish priced at P 140.00 January last year.)
Kaya pa bang bumalik I don't think so but okay to try naman. Malaymow. :)
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