First Time in BORACAY

Finally, Lovey and I got the chance to go to Boracay last August 2011. We took Zest Air Manila to Kalibo promo fare, that's P2,400 round trip for two - we're on a budget. I heard so many negative reviews about Zest Air, but fortunately we didn't have any problems at all. It's a long trip from Kalibo - next time ill book for Caticlan- you have to take a van for 1 1/2 hours from Kalibo Airport to Caticlan Jetty Port cost P200.00/head. Then ride a boat to the island for P30 and P100 for terminal and environmental fee.. i think, but when you go home the fee would just be P 25.00/head.

Since we are on a budget, i've look for a very affordable accommodation and found B and B Resort Boracay. It's located along the main road, corner of the street in front of Crown Regency, 3-min walk to the white beach, its pretty at the center of everything if you don't mind a little walk. Rates for low season is P600/night for the fan rooms and P1000 for the aircon rooms. The rooms are pretty basic but i love the place, there's a what you call provincial atmosphere to it, from our side of the cottage its peaceful coz there is a side near the main road so you might here vehicles passing by.

Besides from strolling the beach (the beach is worth the trip specially during low season - no rains just wind), buying pasalubong and waiting for the sunset (which is beautiful at around 5 to 6 pm), we went to Mt. Luho where you can see all of the land of boracay which is a pretty spectacular site. We took a tricycle from our resort for P150 one way, we are accompanied by my friend and her hubby so we are four. You can let the tricycle wait for you so that's P300 round trip - we'll its pretty far. But on the way back we just walk on the more short route to station 1 - but goodness that's seems far also, my feet hurts but i am not really use to too much walking. At Mt. Luho you'll pay  a fee of P60/head, there's a mini zoo and the view at the top is worth it, it's very beautiful.

We did'nt get to try other activities but next time we'll try it. Yeah, there will be a next time. It's my first time to ride a plane and i love it. Our plane to Kalibo is kind of small so it's noisy and our flight is evening so i can't see anything but our flight to Manila is in the morning and the plane was better. When we landed on the domestic airport - i'm like "more,more". When you're up there  and you look at the clouds and islands, there's a feeling of bliss and being blessed, this is mother nature and this is we're we live in, this is what God gave us. And when the plane went into the clouds, i'm quite hoping that Harry Potter might pop in a broomstick haha.

That's my Boracay trip and i love it, i hope to come back soon. Thanks to ms bless and staff of B and B Resort.

B & B Resort: bnbboracay@hotmail.com 09283245448

ATWAMANUKAN GRILL eat-all-you-can

My office mates scheduled a dinner and we decided - we'll i suggested it because i always see this new place on my way to the office. As i recall, Dampa sa Quezon Ave. was previously located there - i dont know if its with the same management and they just change the name but i think its fairly new.

So we went there and we arrived at around 6:30 pm, it's just along quezon ave near Averdeen Hotel and beside Punchline. We are the first customers (we are 13 exactly), dinner is 6:00 pm to 9:00pm. The place is an open area, there's a resort-like feel to it. Tables are located on a gazebo, i've seen two for the dining and another for the buffet. Each gazebo would accommodate at least 40 persons and they have a function hall for events and parties. 

As for the food, they are all Filipino cuisine nothing extraordinary but not bad at all. I thinks its okay and for the price of P 195.00 and 40.00 for bottomless ice tea, its fairly reasonable. What i like is that their food is on individual - i dont know what its called - charcoal stove, so the food is hot specially the soups. I didn't get all the name of the dishes, some are sisig, bopis, sinigang na baboy, sinigang sa miso, kare-kare, chicken lollipop, fried chicken, dinuguan, lechon kawali and there atleast ten more but i didnt get to taste. Desserts are the usual fruits  (watermelon and pineapple) and banana fritters, sweetened banana and ube (not pure).

If you get the bottomless ice tea, you dont have to call the waiters and you woudn't even notice you've drinking a lot of it because they keep on refilling it. One complain though, you can use all the plates you want but only one fork and spoon - that might be done also to other restaurant but we didnt know at that time and we reserve for 15 but arrived only 13 so there's an extra 2 at the table. One of my office mate use two sets of utensils, only one set of unused utensil was retrieved, so billing came and we are charged at 14. Naturally, there's argument  but it has been settled. The staff are attentive, polite but i guess they're not really that experienced yet.

IMHO, this is good when you're on a budget and want to have a really full meal, i just hope they add more to the desserts (i'm a dessert person). This is also good for parties on a budget, it also cost 195 with free use of the function room for a minimum of 50 persons. But if you're also celebrating an occassion and you have a guest of 10 or more, this is a good place, no-hassle for you.

^{Atwamanukan grill #1389 Quezon Ave.West Triangle Q.C.(beside Punchline)Tel.#376-27-48}