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Travel Diary: Singapore, March 2020

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I made it a point not to rush into completing this travel journal entry. I like the idea of letting some time pass before documenting a trip or travel experience instead of working on it right away after getting back home. The space helps me let the experience sink in more and allows me to fully process what I've learned and how it all meant to me. I very much enjoyed going back to these pages and working on them in short spurts over the quarantine period. It became a momentary escape into my memories of exploring foreign cities and far off places. Here is a flip through video I Read More

Printmaking at The Bee’s Knees

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I'm lying in bed, scrolling through the photos in my phone, remembering all the places I visited prior to the lockdown and I can't help but think about how travel and exploration seem so far fetched and trivial right now.  It also seems very wrong to get all hung up on the trips we have missed, are missing and will simply have to miss in the light of the terrible catastrophe the entire world is dealing with. But to be honest, I cannot stop thinking about how and when we can go out and explore again. I believe a huge part of why we love to travel is because we get to encounter all kinds of Read More

P.S. Cafe at Harding Road, Singapore

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Stunning location! Set next to the Singapore Botanical Gardens, this cafe's greenery is healthy and biodiverse. Well positioned mirrors reflect the greenery all around. Large bouquets of fresh flowers bring in the aromatics and complete the outdoor vibe even when in the air conditioning. There's harmony. Coffee was good but not stellar. However, a well designed menu of great food means that the dining experience is quite balanced. It was the perfect spot for a Saturday brunch to wind down from a very busy week. Read More

Adelphi & Co, Kota Kinabalu

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Many times, I have come across cafes that have quite expensive and -- frankly -- merely passable food offerings. And often this makes sense, as coffee flavors and excellence tend to get all the attention in these environments. That's why Malaysia's Adelphi & Co was such a refreshing and lovely dining experience. Surprisingly excellent food paired with equally stellar beverages. Balance! And while I would not call it inexpensive, you definitely get quality on your dollars spent. While we were there, Nica and I got to taste their steak and salmon dishes, paired with beautiful espresso Read More

C+V in HK Part 2: Soulful, Scenic and Satisfying

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New experience is one of the many perks of travel. It may also be the main reason why I like exploring, so my senses may be awakened by the unfamiliar. And my short trip to Hong Kong with Kayo was surprisingly full of that. Here goes the second installment to my two-part feature of our recent trip to Hong Kong. (In case you haven't, read Part 1 HERE.) HK EATS How do I even begin? This trip made me realize why I had not been a big fan of Chinese food all this time. It's because I hadn't tasted the real stuff until this trip. Wonton noodle soups are fully loaded with wonton! Another Read More

C+V in HK Part 1: Aimless Wandering

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Kayo went on a work trip to Singapore and Hong Kong early this month. Because I'm a shamelessly clingy wife and always get FOMO when it comes to him, I decided to save up for it and catch the tail end of his trip in HK. I'm glad I did -- and he was too -- because it turned out to be a really wonderful mini-vacay! I only had three days so I made sure to squeeze in all of Hong Kong that I could in my schedule but also have time to just wander aimlessly -- something I rarely get to do as a work-at-home Mom of three in Manila. It turned out to be a perfect time because everyone was gearing Read More

Emma’s Amazing Fifth

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We didn't throw Emma a party this year but when we asked her what she wanted to do for her birthday, she said she'd like to "go to the woods" and see her cousins at the beach. By the woods, she really meant Baguio, and the beach where her cousins live is at San Juan, La Union. The last time we went up north was three months ago so it was just about time we visited again. We spent a day in Baguio and instead of staying there for the night, headed down to LU where we stayed for three more days. The trip turned out to be really great! The weather was perfect. We got to catch up with friends. Read More

Five Things We Learned Traveling With Kids

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Last week, we went on a five-day family vacation to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. It was our first time to travel with the kids and also their first plane ride! KK was an easy choice. Kayo has always wanted to go and I've read a lot about it being a kid-friendly city. Luckily, we chanced upon inexpensive plane fares making it affordable to bring everyone along, so off we went! This trip was wonderful in so many ways and though we had our fair share of stressful moments, I can say we all handled things quite well, kids included. Let me just share some of the important things I learned bringing my Read More

Pregio by Barista Caffe, Kota Kinabalu

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It was a good morning at Pregio. We visited them at their main location, which also houses their training classroom. Coincidentally, we discovered that this is KK's arm of the Barista Guild of Asia. A pleasant surprise for us as, as the Philippine chapter of BGA and Barista Cafe often partners with us for our open cupping events in Kendo. If their training program follows the same standards as the Manila counterpart, this is probably a great place to learn the art of being a barista. Consequently, the shop itself had a very fun barista culture, with some very hospitable staff members Read More