Quest for the Best (mami)

I am on a perpetual quest for the best mami to satisfy my taste buds.  And this search led me to one major contenders for the title.

Along Timog Ave., just a few minutes from where I work, is a quaint Chinese diner named San-seh Hand-pulled Noodles.  The name itself stirred my interest as a lover of noodles and pasta.

The location is quite intimidating, being at the hub of posh restaurants in the Tomas Morato-Timog district.  But it is a surprise to find out that the food is quite cheap, considering the generous serving.

My friend and I had Beef Wanton noodles, split into two big bowls for only P150.  It's heaven, I swear!  The sweet and salty taste of the mami is just the right mix.  Dumplings cost around P50, and 3 siopaos for only P55.  There are also rice toppings, the best seller is a big bowl of rice topped with Chinese adobo for only P120.

Beef Wanton mami

Chinese adobo rice toppings

The interior of the resto is quite simple, similar to Binondo mami houses.  So if you want to experience a Chinese gastronomic treat that's affordable, San-seh is the place for you.

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More than a Hundred Wonders

Hundred Islands and Lingayen Heritage Tour

I seldom blog about the places I go to, but this time I feel this certain urge to do so.

Last July, I was made to experience a breathtaking beauty that is Pangasinan.  Pre-conference, I arranged a Hundred Islands day tour for my friends in SFC.  

From Cubao, we took a Victory Liner bus heading to Alaminos, Pangasinan.  Tickets cost around P380 each.  We got off the Alaminos terminal and took a tricycle (P50 for 3pax) going to Lucap port where we hired a medium-sized boat good for 10pax.  Upon reaching the port, guests must register in the Tourism office, pay the P20 entrance fee and the staff will helpfully arrange boat transfers for you.  For day tour, a boat costs about P1.5K and that will take you to all the islands in the vicinity.

The Hundred Islands is truly interesting with the caves, rock formations and white sand pocket beaches.  We ate our brunch at one of the big islands: Quezon Island. We had sinigang na bangus and inihaw na tilapia freshly cooked for us.  It was quite pricey, though. We paid P200 for a medium-sized bangus.

From Alaminos, it took us around 2hours van ride to reach Dagupan where our conference took place. Our chapter stayed at the Value Star Inn along AB Fernandez Ave.  We paid about P600/pax for a quadruple sharing room for two nights stay.  The hotel's in the downtown district of Dagupan, a 10 minute ride away from CSI Stadia.

After the conference, we availed of the Lingayen Heritage tour offered by the Pangasinan Tourism Board.  Each of us paid only P150 for the half-day tour that made us see the freshly-renovated Pangasinan Provincial Capitol Bldg., world-class Sison Auditorium, the FVR Museum and the Lingayen beach front.  Plus, as a bonus, we even got to take the Dawel river cruise for free.  The relaxing river trip is similar to that of Loboc in Bohol, only sans buffet lunch.

There are still so many sights to see in Pangasinan.  Traveling from end to end will take around 13hours, just like going to and from Manila.  On my next visit, I'll surely go to Bolinao to see it's pristine beach and rock formations.  I just can't wait for the summer break to come!

Here are some helpful contacts and links for this trip:

www.100shores.com
+632.433.7532 , +632.928.2101   

Pangasinan Tourism Board

www.pangasinantourism.com

+6375.542.6853 

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Bohol adventures

The famous Chocolate Hills, stretch of Alona beach, Man-made forest, Tarsier, Loboc river cruise and Baclayon church

Since next year, Singles for Christ International Conference will be in Bohol, I decided to share some of my notes and memories when I went there two years ago.

From Manila, my friend and I took a plane to Cebu (that's where the SFC Icon was held last 2009).  After the conference, we took a Supercat fast craft to Tagbilaran, Bohol.

In Cebu, my chapter stayed at the Cebu Business Hotel in downtown district, a walking distance from the Basilica de Santo Niño.  We booked a room shared by 5 for two nights for only P300 per head. On my third day in Cebu, I transferred to Sugbutel Bed and Bath, a dormitory-type inn just across the Cebu Ferry Pier 5, the terminal for fast craft services Supercat and Weesam.  I can't recall how much I paid for a bed space for one night, but if you intend to stay there, be sure to bring your own beddings and towels otherwise you'll pay extra for those.

I reserved my Supercat tickets online (http://www.supercat.com.ph/) and claimed them at their SM Cebu branch a few days before my friend and I went to Bohol.

I also had a tour arranged a month before we went there.  My agent, Travel Treats is very efficient and easy to communicate with. We availed of the Countryside tour package, inclusive of resort accommodations for 3D/2N, and transfers for only about P4k per person. Some would prefer to arrange tours and to book in resorts on their own to save money but I say that seeking the help of a travel agency is all worth it:  hassle-free and stress-free.  And I also think we saved more than money.

There are so many sights to see in Bohol, aside from the famous Chocolate Hills.  I most enjoyed the Loboc River Cruise, not only because it comes with a buffet lunch, but because it's way relaxing.  The river is so calm and everything is serene.  Also, I was deeply touched by the Bilar Man-made Mahogany Forest.  It made me realize that someday, our tree-planting efforts may turn into something like this (though Haribon's so against planting Mahogany because it's a non-fruit-bearing tree). Oh well, it's simply majestic.

Let me share some of the important contacts I had for this trip:

Cebu Business Hotel
F & C Square, Colon Street Corner Junquera Street, Cebu City 

 +632.255.6010 

Sugbutel

http://sugbutel.com/OS.php

Don Alfredo D. Gothong Centre S. Osmena Blvd. cor. Road East North Reclamation Area Cebu City

+63.32.232.8888

+63.917.629.9961, +63.917.725.1447

Travel Treats

23 Graham Avenue, Tagbilaran City, Bohol

6338.501.8581, 501.8540, 412.2240
+63920.730.8935 +63927.573.2125, +63932.239.4555
travel_treats@yahoo.com

http://traveltreats.wordpress.com

I hope you enjoy your Bohol trip as much as I did.  :)

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