Tagaytay Tripping

     Actually my mom does not even have to ask twice whenever she asks me to tag along with her to anything. I don't mind being her designated alalay. Besides, it's always a welcome break anyway from my cranky teenagers and H.

     Recently I went with Mom on a Tagaytay day trip with her friends?  I am talking about my mom's farmer friends who also love to eat. Remember them? Click here! Food tnor plants though were no first on the agenda that day.  We were going tripping.  (Secret as for whom.) Anyway, traffic was tolerable escaping Manila so we got to Tagaytay early enough to see the first development we were gonna do an ocular on.  The first one was Kasa Luntian by Alveo Properties. It is a condo type development. The developer itself speaks well of the project off-hand BUT the toilet in the showroom was yuck. So.. anyhoo....Back to...It is a beautiful condominium type development. It is good for families who want a weekend getaway without the hassle of hiring a caretaker or to worry about security. It is huge and I can imagine it to be a party type of place during Holy Week and Christmas.

      I loved the kiddie room of one of the model units. It was nautical-themed and oh so cute. Next development please. 

      We drove some 20 minutes more towards Nasugbu and nestled in a quiet, gated community is Tagô by Mañosa Properties. The visitor's lounge was already impressive but then again I am a fan of Arch't Bobby Mañosa. My own parents live in a Mañosa home. (So don't listen to me. ) Their guest washroom was clean too so 2 points extra for Tagô.
 

     We were able to tour the model unit which is amazing  It is well=planned, cozy, yet airy. Look, guys! 

Living and Dining Areas

Family Room

Second Bedroom

Kitchen

Master Bedroom

Love the seating area by the landing. I can sit here and read a book or watch my dramas. Haha!

                 Look how beautiful! This is modern Filipino architecture at its best!. Coco, if someone buys from this blog you owe me dinner! Hehe!

     Security is not a problem of course and if you need to have your house cleaned before you arrive, they can do it for you. And if you need a helper during your stay they have butlers on standby. Wow! Shut up already and take my money! (Duh? What money?)

     Anyhoo, all these salivating over something I can't have made me hungry for food and so were the golden girls so off we go to Balay Dako Yippee!!!! 

     I need not say more! We had a good, yummy lunch! Not bad for alalay's pay for the day. When is our next outing, Ma? 

Smile, all you diabetic ladies! 

    Which reminds me I haven't called my mom today......
     

Lots of Lovah and Pavlova: An HK House Tour

     I was in Hong Kong for three days with family this week. Though this is not my shortest stay in the former British colony, this trip has given me the worst hangover since the Disney trip I shared with H and the kids years ago. This is probably because I had so much fun; bonding with my cousins, bullying Doro and getting fat. But all the fun was not the sole purpose of the trip it was to be a huge send-off party for my cousin, N who was migrating with his partner to another country. They will be farther away and the mere  thought of the longer distance is enough to spark a bittersweet last hurrah Hong Kong sojourn amongst us, crazy cousins.

     One of the highlights of the trip for me was visiting my cousin's Hong Kong flat. It gave me glimpse of the life they have had in HK. It was as if to celebrate and share with us all that has been and will be...

     I was told the set-up was just for the evening for parteh! 

     First thing that caught my eye though were these Marimekko paper napkins. My cousin N said he remembered me when he bought them. Kilig! THAT'S IT! I will buy some for myself next time. haha!
 

     The flat is a fun mix of bold beautiful art, travel finds and Ikea! OMG! My fave combination!

Part of the evening's set-up the dining table with a mix of army chairs and white plywood chairs.

 

 

     The buffet table. Luckily half of the team that lives here is an uber talented chef. We enjoyed the YUMMIEST dinner!

These were just the appetizers. Luckily I forgot to eat lunch. Wink!

THE FOOD! These tasted much better than they look. Trust me!

   That night I died and went to pavlova heaven!

      The next day, people kept telling me how drunk I was at the party. Why? Was the drink spiked? I don't drink you know.

Our happy, crazy group that night; evictees, winners, losers, drunks et al!

Holy Week Tidbits 2012

     Picking up from where I left off in my pre- Holy Week break post, I am so proud to have avoided the crazy crowd. No, we were never stuck in the SLEX, NLEX or any LEX traffic. We did not have to endure delayed flights or long airport queues. Nonetheless, my family and I had a good break and all it took was a leisurely two-hour drive from Manila.

     Allow me to share our simple escape in Instagram....

     The exodus begins....

     We felt we outsmarted the monstrous traffic when we left Manila Holy Wednesday at 6pm. We arrived at my parents' farm at 8 pm, exactly two hours after.

     The next morning, refreshed and rested I peeked out my bedroom window and saw this....

     It was a do-whatever-you-want, eat-all-you-want weekend ...Most of all it was a time for family....

     Look at my nephew aka Doro the Explorer. See the hair? Hee!

          I could swim all day.....

     Come Saturday though, nephew B the teen-ager was getting antsy and made a van-ful of us head out to the nearest form of civilization.....Tagaytay!

     Of course he had to sleep in the car.....

   

     

     BUT IS WAS TRAAAAAFFFIC heading out!!!! So we headed back and knocked on the doors of our next door neighbors. 

     Sonya's Secret Garden for cheese hopia and muffins.....and a shoescape shot for me....

     The nearby variety store to drink soda in a plastic bag...pu-lease! This guy is desperate!

     Guess what finally made him happy?

     MR MAPPY!!! What's that? Who? Da what?

     Don't ask me it is cheap, Filipino pizza!!!

Pizza Review: Lasang tinapay! (Tastes like bread!)

     Their special has everything on it...I mean everything they have in their pantry and closets, garage, glove compartment....hahahaa! And no this is not like the 3M or Fiesta Pizza of yore. No!

     Aside from cheap pizza, we also got to enjoy views like this in between....

     Before we knew it, it was Easter Sunday and the church was packed....of course...

     We settled for standing up outside the church entrance where we could hardly hear the priest thus boredom set it and we played Hidden Mickey with my baby nephew's Mickey Mouse balloon and my brother's shadow.....

    

   

     How was your Holy Week break? I hope it was as fun as mine. 

  

 A Glorious Easter, everyone!
Truly there is so much to rejoice about and be thankful for!