Yexel's Toy Museum

The Simpson's Family

     We're back! We missed blogging! Been busy these past few weeks preparing for our next trip. :p We still have a backlog blog for our Hong Kong trip last August. Hopefully, we can do it in the coming days. :p

     And to kick off our return, we will be featuring Yexel's Toy Museum. We learned about this toy museum from Jamich's facebook account and since then, we wanted to go there. We thought we won't be able to go since there was a typhoon (Ofel) two days prior to our scheduled trip. But luckily, the rain stopped the day we went to the Museum.

     Since we will be going there via public transportation, we texted the Toy Museum and they replied promptly. Here's what we did. We met up at Starmall Alabang and from there rode the jeep to SM Southmall. We then took the tricycle to Pilar Village and stopped right in front of the museum.

Chipmunks!

     Yexel's Toy Museum opened last August 26. Visitors are welcome to come and see Mr. Yexel Sebastian's house/museum every weekend from 10am to 6pm. Yexel, a former member of Streetboys and a toy collector shares his amazing assortment of unique, cool and colorful toys to kids as well as to kids at heart like us. Hehe! :p

     We were greeted with the Simpson's Family once we entered the house-turned museum. The facade is still under construction -- can't wait to see how it's gonna look! We paid the 300 peso entrance fee and  asked the receptionist if we can leave our bags so that we can concentrate on taking pictures, to which she gladly agreed.

     Let's start the tour.. :)

Small to big!

     The first part of the museum is a display cabinet full of miniature figures of our well-loved characters from our childhood. Displays include Mario Bros., Doraemon, a lot of Disney characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Beauty & the Beast, the Little Mermaid and a lot more! These brought so much fun memories from when we were younger! :)

Pan de Amerikana (Marikina)

Facade

     Ever since we've been to Pan de Amerikana's branch in White Plains, we have been wanting to go to this branch in Marikina since we love the ambiance, unique features and especially the food! Not only they were delicious, but they were also so affordable! It's hard to find such places these days right? :p

Wind mill

1950's pandesal!

     Pan de Amerikana started out as a bread house in the 1950's before venturing into the restaurant business. They now have 2 branches, with equally interesting themes: chess and upside down.

     The restaurant looks like an old house outside, complete with a chimney. But the inside is a nature lover's haven. Everything is environment friendly and all-natural (well almost). The place just gives off this cool and refreshing vibe! :)

THE AMBIANCE

 Entrance

     You'll immediately see what the restaurant has to offer once you see the place. Their nice staff will greet you and eagerly take your orders. On the counter are numerous photos of some famous persons as well as happy customers who enjoyed their time at Pan de Amerikana.

Bridge

Dining Area

     The dining area is very spacious and relaxing. Glass windows line the far wall with a number of plants and vines that make the space refreshing and cool. Simple brown topped tables with chess boards coupled with metal chairs complete the earthy dining space.

Tutto Domani

Lifestyle Bar

     After having our early breakfast at Toast Box, we decided to try another cafe that's fairly new. We heard that not only is the food great but the ambiance and service, too. What's not to like right? :)

All for Tomorrow

Cafe Window

     Tutto Domani, which literally means "All for Tomorrow" in Italian, is not your ordinary cafe but a lifestyle hub, owned by brothers Anthony and Jose Ma. Yupangco. It's located inside a furniture shop, Domani, at the New World Renaissance Hotel, just across Greenbelt 5. They're open Mondays to Saturdays from 10am to 8pm.

The Ambiance

Dining Area

     The small space is made interesting with the myriad of colorful toys, trinkets and a wonderful display of cakes and candies. The seating is a mix match of chairs, with glass topped tables of varying shapes and sizes. The smell is really good, too! It's of aromatic coffee and tasty delights! (more on the food later. :p

Toast Box

Toast Box

     After a 6pm-6am shift, we met up to have breakfast. And since we haven't tried Toast Box yet, we decided to have our first meal of the day there. We just walked a few blocks from the hospital to get there. 

     Toast Box is originally from Singapore, established in 2005. Its concept came from coffee shops from the 60s to the 70s where breakfast included a cup of coffee coupled with freshly toasted bread. Toast Box now has branches all over Asia - Malaysia, Thailand, China and the Philippines. :)

The Ambiance

Clean & Comfy

     The place looked so bright and clean -- the interiors were white and relaxing. The smell of the coffee and tea wafting from the kitchen was so good! We took a seat near the counter so we can watch how they serve the meals and the tea. ;)

Warm & Sunny

Antiques

     They had comfy sofas on the side, some arm chairs with a low coffee table by the windows and booth type of seats near the counter. In the middle are more seats for a couple or for a group of  4. The seating were all white and the sofas of earthy colors -- tan, brown and beige.

Lego Exhibit: It's More Fun in the Philippines

Pinoy Lego

     Lego again had another exhibit at The Block in SM North Edsa. Last time it was a Star Wars feature, now it's some of Philippines' famous landmarks. Good thing we had a day to check out the 2 week long exhibit! :)

The Block

Lego Land

     The exhibit featured a huge map of the Philippines, showcasing famous landmarks in the different provinces and cities. On the other area are the Lego toys for sale as a well a corner for kids where they can make their own Lego creation. 

     We'll guide you through the landmarks throughout the 3 main islands of the Philippines. 


Note: this is a picture heavy post. :)   

LUZON

     First up: Luzon the largest island in the country. Some of the landmarks include the Bangui Windmills in Ilocos Norte, old houses in Vigan, Banaue Rice Terraces, Mayon Volcano in Albay, Crocodile Farm, the Underground River and the limestone cliffs in Palawan, Fort Santiago and Luneta Park in Manila among others.

Bangui Windmills (Ilocos Norte)

Paoay Church (Ilocos Norte)

Vigan (Ilocos Sur)

Napa Restaurant & Bar

Napa Restaurant & Bar

     We have read a lot of raves about Napa's lava cake and that's one of the reasons why we wanted to dine here. Add to that the fact that their food is also much talked about.

Welcome :)

     Napa Bar and Restaurant is located at Scout Borromeo, South Triangle Quezon City. It was formerly at Il Terrazo and was called Bistro Napa. The new location used to be a house which they turned into this Napa Valley inspired resto. They offer Italian-American fare which most Pinoys love. They're is open everyday from 11am to 2pm and from 5pm to 1am.

The Ambiance

     The restaurant is very homey, with the dim, warm lights, yellow colored walls with hand-painted designs, colorful paintings and a spacious area. The room has a casual elegance, perfect for romantic dinners, simple family dinners, even for meetings. 

Dining area

Napa Valley-inspired

     The seating is a mix and match of brown and light green wooden chairs with red cushions, the tables simple -- not getting your attention from the beautifully adorned walls. There is also a big, plush sofa on one corner which makes for a very comfortable seating! Past the green wooden panels is an al fresco dining area with metal chairs coupled with glass-topped tables. They also have the brick oven there as well as the glass display of their desserts. 

The Mind Museum

Where Science Comes Alive! :D

     Science has been our favorite subject in school and what better way to  experience science than to explore The Mind Museum that we have been  wanting to visit since their opening day. We knew that the admission price is quite steep but this is for the benefit of public school students and teachers. Plus, you can't put a price on learning, right?! :p

Come closer

What to expect :)

     The Mind Museum, an interactive world-class science museum, opened last December 2011 at Bonifacio Global City. The 250 fun exhibits is housed in a 5000sq.meter area. The museum is open from Tuesday to Friday, 9am-6pm and on weekends from 9am-9pm. 


     Tickets cost 700php for adults, 450php for private school students, 150php for public school students and teachers. An all-day pass costs 750php. Some rules to follow: no eating and drinking, no bringing of pets, no running. You can take pictures but make sure not to take too much time on an exhibit. ;)

Aedi

     We then waited for our designated time for our museum tour. When it was our turn, the robot, Aedi (idea spelled backwards) greeted us and welcomed us into the museum.  Aedi told the visitors the do's and don'ts as well as some tips for an awesome museum experience! We were given three hours to explore the various exhibits.

    The Mind Museum is divided into 5 parts namely: Atom, Life, Universe, Earth, Technology. We'll take you through each one :)

ATOM: The Strange World of the Very Small

Story of the Atom

     This area contains contains the most number of interactive exhibits which feature elemental forces like gravity, electromagnetism and basis for our gadgets like cellphones, computers and medical technology.

MNL Ice Cream Cafe

MNL Ice Cream Cafe

     After two failed attempts, we were finally able to eat at MNL Ice Cream Cafe last Tuesday. This cafe opened just 6 months ago, last October 8. They're open from Mondays to Saturdays, from 10am - 8pm.

AMBIANCE

Sumptuous Meals

     The space used to be a shop where car parts are sold. Now it's an ice cream cafe serving delicious snacks and desserts! The mustard yellow walls are adorned with photos of their mouthwatering dishes! Not only do they offer a feast for the palate, but for the eyes as well.

Food Pics

Red & Orange

     The small area is made bright and cheery with the red and orange chairs and white tables. On the left corner of the space is a red desk with a laptop, some magazines and radio. On the right is one long, red, comfortable sofa.

More Fun in Boracay: Day 3

Shot! ^_^

     We woke up early and ate breakfast at our hotel, La Isla Bonita Resort. Then, we contacted Ride the Zorb again for the ATV. We were informed to meet up at Budget Mart in Station 1. Since we were in a hurry and it was far, we opted to ride a tricycle for 60php.

Happy Land

     The shuttle then brought us to Happy Dreamland Theme Park where our ATV awaits. We paid 450php each for the ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) and additional fees for the Everland Aviary, Ocean Tower View Deck and Trick Art Museum. One of the staff  members explained us the route and the allotted time for each destination. We were given 15 minutes each at the three locations. The whole trip took about an hour.

ATVs

     We then walked our way to where the ATVs are parked. Our tour guide/instructor demonstrated how to operate the ATV, the do's and dont's while riding, some safety tips as well as road etiquette.

     Riding an all-terrain vehicle is one of the must-do activities in Boracay. We rode up Ocean Tower View Deck, the highest point in the island,  passing by the Aviary first. 

All set and ready to go!

Cruisin' through greenery

     The ride was fun but short! We could go all day if not only for the scorching heat.. Hehe! (add to that the fact that our flight is in a few hours)

More Fun in Boracay: Day 2

Boracay sunset

     After our tummy-filling activities on our first day in Boracay, it's time to burn some calories and put our adventure-seeking instincts to the test! As promised, our day 2 will be spent on watersports and other cool activities offered in the island. On our list: parasailing, helmet diving and ATV. We plan to watch and enjoy Boracay sunset, too! :)

Big Meal

     Before heading out, we grabbed our first breakfast in Boracay. We had quite a big meal - hotdog, scrambled eggs, strips of bacon, toasted white bread with butter and jam, a cup of rice,  steaming hot coffee and banana for dessert. It was a perfect meal for a fun-filled day ahead! :p

     From Station 3 where our resort was located, we walked to Station 1 until Budget Mart where the staff members of Ride the Zorb are waiting for us. We rode the shuttle to where we'll Ride the Zorb is!

Ride the Zorb

     We purchased vouchers from Ensogo for Parasailing + Zorb ball ride for 1999php. Original cost was about 3000php so that was big savings! :p

     Zorbing is a fun sport of rolling down a hill inside a plastic orb. The first zorbing site was in New Zealand. You can choose between harness and non-harnessed (water-filled). What we tried was the non-harnessed.

Downhill!

     We then headed up the hill where we'll mount the giant orb. The guys pushed the big orb up the hill, poured water in it and inflated it some more. We then went it face first. Haha! It was hilarious how we clumsily got into the orb! :D

More Fun in Boracay: Day 1

Summer is Boracay! ^_^

     Boracay has been known to be one of the best beaches, tourist spots in the Philippines. And because of that, we've been wanting to spend one summer in this famous summer getaway. 
     
     Our friend, Tonie, has graduated from Medicine and we needed to celebrate! (with barely a month to prepare and book for a decent vacation) Good thing AirAsia offered a promo going to Kalibo for only 1200php roundtrip. We didn't pass up the chance to grab this promo especially since we won't get to buy cheap tickets in such a short period of time, considering that it's peak season.

     We had to research how to get to Clark since AirAsia only flies to and from Kalibo International Airport. From Cubao, we took the Dagupan Bus to Dau. It took us about 2 hours to get there, from 3am to 5am. We ate at Jollibee first  before taking the shuttle to Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA). Fare costs 100php.

Red and White

     We finally arrived at DMIA at around 6 in the morning. We checked-in, paid the terminal fee of 400php and waited for our boarding time. We stayed at the second floor which reminded us of NAIA Terminal 3 with the tall glass windows, bare white walls and stainless steel seating.

Beach Bound

     Our flight lasted about 50 minutes, 20 minutes earlier than the estimated time of arrival at Kalibo. Kuddos to AirAsia team for our on-time departure and arrival. The flight was fast and smooth! :)

Welcome to Kalibo!

     We arrived at Kalibo International Airport (KIA) at around 8am. After getting our checked-in bags, we were greeted at the exit by one of the staff of Island Star Express. Our friend, Raye, contacted  Island Star Express to arrange all our land and sea transfers from KIA to our hotel in Boracay. Stickers were handed to us for easy identification. We're thankful to them for a hassle-free trip from the airport to our resort.

      From KIA, we boarded a van that will take us to the port in Caticlan. The trip lasted for one and a half hour but we didnt felt it since we were asleep. Haha! :D

Tea & I

Tealiciously different! :)

     It was a hot afternoon and we were raring for some refreshing time out of the sun. We spotted a small tea house and were soon heading up to see this new place.

Tea beckons us to enjoy quality time with

friends and loved ones, and especially to

rediscover the art of relaxed conversation.

- Dorothea Johnson

     Tea & I just recently opened in this not readily noticeable location. It's located at the third floor of Zen's Building along Ayala Highway. They open at 10am until 10 in the evening.

AMBIANCE

Warm & Cozy

     The place is simple, with a relaxing ambiance perfect for enjoying your cup of tea. On the left side of the room, as you enter is a table by the wall with high seats. In the middle is a round table coupled with soft cushioned seats while on the far end is a small seating area good for a group of 4. There aren't many decors yet as the store has just opened last March 25.

Good for 4 :)