Book Launch: The Toddler Travels

Book Launch: The Toddler Travels

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Peek a book, Events

If there is anything or any activity that is close to my heart, it would certainly be travelling. Travelling gives a different kind of joy and inspiration to my life. There is just something hopeful and exciting about going to a place that you haven't been in before at all or for so long, creating a rough draft of your itinerary, polishing it, researching some more, anticipating for it up until that moment that you actually do it. The cycle is addicting; I have usually gone with my family, rarely with friends and had never solo and I think I would not be able to stop travelling even if I already have toddlers on my own.

Gourmet Society: The Privilege Card Foodies Got to Have

Gourmet Society: The Privilege Card Foodies Got to Have

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Food Notes, Truly Pinoy

Filipinos have a penchant for food. Case in point is that I love to eat and I love to explore new restaurants to dine in. With the boom of the restaurant industry and establishments sprouting right and left, keeping up with all of them is already becoming a taxing task and not to mention, a really expensive endeavor for a foodie like me. That is why when Gourmet Society introduced a membership and privilege card which gives its members 20% off from their total bill when they dine in their partner restaurants, I was beyond ecstatic! Now, I got you curious, too, right?

Velvet Tea: Crystal Jade's New Heat Buster

Velvet Tea: Crystal Jade's New Heat Buster

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Food Notes

METRO MANILA, PHILIPPINES. I am not usual to complain about the heat but you just have to admit that the weather these past few weeks had been hellish. It's so hot! There were times when I just want to submerge my body in icy waters and just stay there until summer is over while I reach out for the most accessible cold delight there is, both at the same time. But you know how hard that is and how it is easier to just buy some cold drink and chug it all until you reach its bottom. 

The Mijas Surprise

The Mijas Surprise

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Travelopes

MIJAS, SPAIN. Coming from Bajondillo beach in Torremolinos, we travelled for 30 minutes up to the town of Mijas. Mijas took us by surprise. First because we did not know that the town is situated up in the mountains and close with the clouds; second, because we were not aware that we will be seeing a piece of Santorini (or what I imagine Santorini to be as I have not been to Santorini yet) in Spain.

Afternoon Stroll in Costa del Sol

Afternoon Stroll in Costa del Sol

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Travelopes

COSTA DEL SOL, SPAIN. Seeing the sun and having its rays reach my skin which is already craving for some heat perked up my spirit! Since it is winter, it is a given that gloomy days outnumbers the sunny ones. To tell you the truth, I barely felt the sun while I was in Madrid, Toledo and Granada! With that, I was not expecting to see and feel the sun when we drove to the south of Spain. But Costa del Sol is something. And I think the place would not have been named like that for no reason. Costa del Sol is the break that I have been wanting to see for many days now and well, it did not disappoint.

A Morning Visit in the Alhambra

A Morning Visit in the Alhambra

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Travelopes

GRANADA, SPAIN. Often enough, I find myself at loss for words when visiting a place. These are those instances when I just find myself revelling in the beauty that is ahead of me rather than typing incessantly in my phone to form sentences and paragraphs that I will later on use in my blog posts. During my visit in the Alhambra, I was struck by that desire to just enjoy and let it be. I found no notes or whatsoever in my phone. This time around, I will not type any phrases and sentences to go with the pictures. They are on their own and I will just let them do the talking.

Granada, Spain: Hotel Carmen

Granada, Spain: Hotel Carmen

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Checked In

GRANADA, SPAIN. We stayed in Hotel Carmen for a night when we went to Granada to watch the Flamenco in Cueva del Rocio that same night and to visit the Alhambra Palace the day after. Compared to other alternatives, it is an upscale option for accommodation with a pool and a restaurant. Starting today, I will only focus on four factors that greatly matters to me in a hotel: location, wifi connection, food and their beds. 

A Night of Flamenco With The Gypsies

A Night of Flamenco With The Gypsies

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Travelopes

GRANADA, SPAIN. Traversing the narrow streets of Granada on the way to the Holy Mountains took us to the Gypsy caves. The gypsies are from India and the largest community of gypsies in Europe is now in Spain. When our travel director told us that we will watch the gypsies dance Flamenco in a cave, what I had in mind were those large and dimly lit, or most of the time dark, hollow spaces in the ground. When we arrived, I was surprised to see brightly lit rock-like structures painted in white and carved to look like normal houses filled with life and music. 

Risotto in Toledo

Risotto in Toledo

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Food Notes

TOLEDO, SPAIN. Going up and down for 3 hours in the streets of Toledo made my tummy crave for nourishment. That is why when we were introduced to this place that apparently offer a nice plate of Risotto, we immediately grabbed it without even considering the fact that we are about to eat an Italian dish in a Spanish city. Tucked at the end of Calle Alfonso VI, Restaurante Virgen de La Estrella can be reached by entering at the Puerta de Alfonso VI and traversing the said street.

Hilly and Walled Toledo

Hilly and Walled Toledo

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Travelopes

TOLEDO, SPAIN. If you have only a day to spare in Spain, spend it in Toledo. It took us 45 minutes by coach to arrive in the capital of Castille La Mancha and to the most important city in the country. Appreciating Toledo from a distance, we saw the infamous Tajoe River that surrounds the walled city of Toledo and the St. Martin's bridge which connects the city to the outside world. We drove through the Cicadas which features houses with views of the Old Town. The price of the houses here usually starts at 1 million Euros and it is understandable why is that so as the view from these houses is magnificent.

Charming and Historic Segovia

Charming and Historic Segovia

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Travelopes

SEGOVIA, SPAIN. A 1-hour drive in Madrid took us in Castilla and into one of the most charming cities I had been to on this trip so far. Segovia has a lot of story to tell and it starts with its aqueduct. The city built an amazing waterway system to transport their water from other parts of Spain. It runs for about 15 kilometres and snakes through some parts of the city where they finally filter it before distribution. Sometimes, the lengths of the aqueduct can be found underground, like what a canal would be; and sometimes it can be found up high, supported by columns made in stacked stones.

One Christmas Night in Madrid

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Travelopes

MADRID, SPAIN. There are two facts that I have observed while visiting Madrid. Madrileños are not morning persons and Christmas in Madrid is very well-anticipated. We were able to prove that when we went to the area of Puerta del Sol one of those nights prior Christmas and was shocked with the number of people roaming the commercial streets of Madrid during the latter part of the day as compared to when we visited these same streets the morning earlier. This part of Madrid was already alive when we arrived. There were shoppers doing their last-minute shopping, sellers, spectators and buskers entertaining those very same spectators on the streets.

Tapas Night in Cinco Jotas

Tapas Night in Cinco Jotas

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Food Notes

MADRID, SPAIN. Tapas night is always a great idea on a Saturday evening in Madrid. We joined a tour group and part of the experience being put forth by Trafalgar is its ability to let its travellers experience what the the locals typically do at a given day or moment of a day and bring them to the best places there is in town to let them experience it. Our travel director whisked us away to a nice restaurant along Calle del Padre Damian and near out hotel, AC Cuzco. Cinco Jotas is the name of the restaurant and it offers varying types of tapas that are so flavorful and delightful which made me forget all the tapas (especially those disguising as tapas) that I have eaten before.

In One with the Qataris

In One with the Qataris

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Travelopes

DOHA, QATAR. It is perfect timing that our visit in Doha coincides with the country's National Day (December 18). Qatar National Day is annually celebrated to commemorate their unification and independence. After finishing our dinner buffet in the Grand Regal Hotel, we immediately went out and walked to the only destination we had in mind that night: the Corniche. A promise of a grand fireworks display is waiting for us there and the promise is so good to pass up on since we are lovers of fireworks ourselves.

Winter in Australia: Opera House and Harbour Bridge in the morning (Day 2 of 6)

Winter in Australia: Opera House and Harbour Bridge in the morning (Day 2 of 6)

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA. We woke up at around 6 in the morning to go with our uncle on his way to work. He was telling us the day before that his office near the Circular Quay has an impeccable view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on the left and the Opera House on the right. Apparently, Circular Quay is the gateway to the two iconic landmarks and with this, a great idea sparked in an instant.

Giveaway: Ballet Manila x Flatter My Senses

Giveaway: Ballet Manila x Flatter My Senses

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Giveaways

Hi, there! Christmas is again near and I bet everyone is feeling it already! With all the lights and spectacles being put up right and left this early, it is hard to not feel a tingle of that holiday-feeling when we come across them. To fully accompany you in diving to that magical feeling that Christmas gives early on, I have tied up with Ballet Manila for this giveaway that will surely put a smile to your faces!

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