Cruisin' Manila Bay

Manila has always been the most popular city in the country - good news, bad rep...What the heck? I am still proud of my country and will always "see" the beauty of Manila.

I had the chance to finally sample the Manila Bay dinner cruise on a friend's birthday celebration. We took the Moonlight cruise but not on purpose, though. They say the best cruise is watching the sunset at around 5 something. For 495 pesos (a little over 10 dollars), one can have dinner (set meal) while cruisin' historic Manila Bay.

The Yacht - M/V Spirit of Manila, a double-decker yacht that takes its passengers around the vicinity



The Passengers and the Deck - two decks are reserved for passengers (mostly foreigners) with live singing and dancing.



SM Mall of Asia - the second largest mall in the world found in Pasay City. In a normal cruise, MOA is not part of the tour. Just got lucky that night!



MOA - Davids Cook and Archuleta - a bit distant but "heard" during the cruise was the Final Two American Idols' concert in Manila. The red-lighted area somewhere in the upper middle right of this photo is the concert stage.



The City View- the Moonlight Cruise provides a live view of the city along the tranquil waters.



Offboarding - and boarding is nice and smooth. Harbor Square is still alive at night, surrounded by a wide variety of bars and restos.



Watch out for more bloggin'...

Tagaytay Breeze in May

The scorching summer heat is here to stay, although there have been occasional rainy days. Weather has become unpredictable since the last week of April, but it should not stop anyone from visiting the so-called Little Baguio of the Philippines - the pleasant city of Tagaytay.

Hotels and inns may be fully booked on holidays and weekends. But there are hidden secrets in the city that are more affordable and homey than the rest. I had a nostalgic feel of Spanish bed and breakfast at Casa De Carlo at Las Brisas Crossing Mendez.

Here's what one can expect at Casa De Carlo:

The Resto - guests need to call first as dishes are cooked upon request.



The Double Room - priced at only PHP1,800 per night (as of May 1, 2009), it has a lovely bed, cable TV, own bathroom, A/C. DVD player and movies may also be requested from the kind owner. There is also a townhouse for larger groups.



The Breakfast - Sumptuous Spanish breakfast with rice, meat, and greens. Water and coffee (Kapeng Barako) is also served.



The Garden - crisp fresh air, plants, a telescope for stargazing...also a venue for private and intimate gatherings / events.



What I discovered in Tagaytay (and nearby areas) are:

Fried Tawilis - found exclusively in Taal Lake. A specialty in almost every restaurant / eatery in Tagaytay



The Sunset - this was taken near Caleruega a few minutes away from Tagaytay. The church is just a kilometer away.



Caleruega - One can visit the compound with an entrance fee of PHP30. The church has been most famous for wedding ceremonies.



The Hanging Bridge - Inclusive of the Caleruega entrance fee is a chance to walk the hanging bridge for fun and a short adventure.


For more Tagaytay hotels, inns, and other types of accommodation, click here