Showing posts with label TRAVEL DIARIES. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TRAVEL DIARIES. Show all posts

19 January, 2017

Food Trip: The Best of 2016

Hello beautiful people! How are your first 3 weeks? I can't believe that another year's come and gone. It's time for my yearly round-up of my Top 5 comfort slash favorite munchies. You're probably wondering - what was I thinking?! I know, I know. Believe me, it was super difficult to narrow everything down to just 5 because of all the trips that we had last year plus I met new people who eventually became good friends. Food's clearly one of the foundations of our friendship. We've been successful in trying out a bunch of restaurants in Metro Manila, Tagaytay, and even as far as Baguio! Then there's P, who took a huge leap in 2016 when he started to explore beyond his usual bacon, spam, burger, and chicken meals. 2016 was definitely a great 'food year'.

Food Trip: The Best of 2016

What I'm sharing is not a comprehensive list, but it should be enough to make you want to try 'em in one of the restos near you. My Top 5 Food List for 2015 was based on goodies that I said I could eat everyday and I'll never get tired of having them. I tweaked 2016's list a bit. Many of the things I ate in 2016 each had a beautiful story behind it. My food round-up includes local favorites, things that I used to neglect, got to try, and now love. There are also healthy stuff that I should have started eating years ago. This list does not have anything sweet though. I used to be 'dessert girl', but towards the latter part of 2016, I made this lifestyle change: no rice, no Coke Light & Coke Zero, and if possible no super sweet desserts.

So, what do I have for you guys? From classic comfort food and healthier choices to delectable Asian flavors and something pretty fancy. I couldn't resist sharing them here in my blog. I hope that in one of your future travels, you get to try them too. Curious? Go ahead and feast your eyes as you join me in my Food Trip: The Best of 2016.





Peranakan Laksa
Discovered thru #SingaporeInvites in Joo Chiat, Singapore • Read: Laksa Love
Girlfriend Tip: You'll find the best & authentic Peranakan Laksa at 328 Katong Laksa.


Taking a break from holiday food.Ü Salad Stop's Big Bird is a winner 👌🏼

A photo posted by R U S S (@ruussso) on


Healthier Snacks from Salad Stop
My favorite branches are in Alabang Town Center & PowerPlant Mall in Makati.
Girlfriend Tip: Their serving is really generous that you can actually split it for 2 meals.



Smalls Bites and Light Refreshments
I'm a late bloomer. This is something that I started to enjoy come end of the year
Girlfriend Tip: Hotel Jen Manila has afternoon tea from 2:00PM to 4:00PM.
You get exclusive access to the Club Lounge if you're staying in a Club Room.



Japan's Favorite Ramen: Ichiran Ramen
Discovered in Japan's heaven for gastronomists, Osaka.Ü
Girlfriend Tip: Try not to get rattled when you're ordering via the ticket machine.



Beef that's Better than Kobe: Matsusaka Beef
There is absolutely no way that you should go on a trip to Japan & not try Matsusaka Beef.
Girlfriend Tip: Forget about your diet. You just need to have this with rice and sake.



Food has always been one of the reasons why I wanted to travel. Food and travel are like milk and cookies, they always go together. And, it's always a pleasure to eat good food. The discovery of new culinary experiences always give me a different kind of sensory thrill which I always found in every city and country that I go to.   Peace + ❥ Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

—
Food Trip: The Best of 2015

55 comments:

31 December, 2016

I will never forget the good times, 2016

Conquer was my word for 2016. There were a few times when I thought that I wasn't going to be able to live by it. I picked a strong word, too strong, that there were days when I just wanted to be curled up in bed and not be bothered by anyone. Kinda like a shutdown I-dont-care situation. When I think about it, that would be me over-reacting. Well, just a little because 2016 is like all other years: it is full of challenges. And right now, as I look back, I feel good because aside from the bold things that this year threw at me, it also brought me so much joy, love, opportunities, clarity, and new friends.

Thank You, 2016

On Work
Huge accomplishments at work go with 2016. It wasn't a walk in the park, but I'm glad that I saw them through as these are things that I hold important in my career as a Marketing practitioner and branding enthusiast. None of it would have been possible without the help of the people who supported me and the guidance of one of the most brilliant men in Philippine real estate that I know. I'm still a workaholic and I don't see this as a bad thing. For me, it simply means that I continue to be focused, driven, and motivated. I am constantly bombarded with questions from friends and peers in the industry why I stuck it out with the company I'm with right now. It's simple: I still enjoy and love what I do. When you're in that kind of situation, you find ways to make things work. It isn't always about being nice because not everyone is going to like you. So what. That's made me do 2 things differently:

1) I let go of my fear to ask for help. Asking for help does not mean you're weak.
2) I took courage to speak my mind and to say the truth even if I know that it won't win me cookie points.

In 2016, GoD blessed me with new bosses and new peers that I was able to genuinely call 'family' in my second home. Every bump that we went through was easy because you know that there are strong people with good hearts who have your back. Ever heard of Jack Johnson's song, Better Together? It kind of describes how I feel towards them.Ü "It's always better when we're together. Yeah, we'll look at them stars when we're together."

On Being An Adult
I'm grateful for everything that's happened in 2016. I know I am a different person ... definitely a better me! I'm not as reactive and am now less combative. Since I value the relationships I have whether it's on a professional or personal level, at times when I know that that I have every right to be angry, I choose not to because I know that throwing a fit will neither change nor make the situation better. It took a while, but I'm glad to have mastered the art of walking away from unnecessary and irrelevant conflict.

On Life & Relationships
On days when I felt like giving up, it was the people who surrounded me that made me want to soldier on. I didn't want to let any of them down. I don't think I was ever the type of person who'd let others down. To conquer means to be able to gracefully roll with the punches and it does not mean that you have to face them alone. This is just one of the many life lessons I learned from one of my favorite people in the world, JFS. In the process, I learned to delegate, to be more patient, to choose my battles, and most importantly, to once again trust in the goodness of others.

With just a few minutes til 2017, let's time-hop a bit and revisit some of the moments of one of the happiest years of my life.





First Wedding This Year. Finding Love When You Least Expect It
 This was the first wedding that I went to in 2016. When I was told
that France & Tin were getting married, I just knew that I can't miss seeing this union.
I would love to share more about their love story, but yeah, let's leave it at that.
What's important is they get their happy ending and their happily-ever-after.Ö



Maramaing Salamat, Singapore Tourism Board.
 I was in Singapore ( again ) this year.Ü Do you guys remember the #SingaporeInvites contest
that I joined back in 2015? Yup, I was one of the 25 winners. The lovely people from STB
were instrumental to a sorta reunion with good friends that I have not seen in a looong time.
Traveling always brings people closer. We certainly can't wait to be back. • Read More



Metal Mouth Again. And there is nothing wrong with it.
 There were people who said that I didn't need it because my teeth were straight,
but when you grew up being teased by people from the higher batch,
because of your teeth, you never really get over that trauma. When I noticed that
my teeth 'flared', I knew that I had to find a new ortho. So far, so good.


Missing these guys .... #GoodTimes

A photo posted by R U S S (@ruussso) on


Family Time is Always LOVE.
 My Mom's older sister was in PH for the death anniversary of my grandmother.
One good thing that happens whenever there is a balikbayan is how there is always
extra-extra family time. I saw cousins that I have not seen in a while and boy,
they're all grown-up! How fun were the good ol' times when we were all little kids.



Manila's Fittest. Training for my First Kettlebell Tournament.
 I remember how excited I was when my name was chosen to join Manila's Fittest.
KBs are my favorite and even if the training was almost gruesome, it felt great.
to get my groove back. Unfortunately, I got sick days before the tournament and was not
able to join. Sayang talaga. I bet it would have been an awesome experience.



Second Wedding This Year. #LesMikeHappyEnding
 This wedding that we attended joins my Top 3 best weddings of couple friends.
I met the other friends of P. It's always great to meet the people he grew up with.




Unlikely Friends. Unexpected Friendships. Super Women Unite.
 I always had this sort of 'shield' or 'wall' when it comes to people in Sales in our office.
This year, new and beautiful friendships were made. I don't know how it happened,
but it just happened. And I'm glad it happened. I really enjoy my time when I'm with
Susan G. & Frances J. Dinners take forever — the kind that you wish won't end.Ü


This just happened. 😜 #BW #BTS #PhotoShoot #Tagaytay #NoChoiceJustGrind

A photo posted by R U S S (@ruussso) on


Moldex360 Photo Shoot. This was one for the books.
 We, Sir Joey Santos and I, fondly called this, our legacy. Months after the shoot,
our legacy is slowly happening. I'm proud of this and will definitely share with you
what we've done. I'm proud of it. I am also happy because this was instrumental
in giving me the opportunity to work with one of the best men in real estate in PH.



My First Mid-Autumn Festival.
 This is a memorable event for P and I. He'd always invite me to go with him
to Mid-Autumn parties but I always make some lame excuse not to go.
This year, we went to our first Mid-Autumn Festival and wow, I enjoyed!
We came home with a lot of treats, prizes, and the Zhong Guan. • Read More


10.25.16 Sunset. All in a day's work.

A photo posted by R U S S (@ruussso) on


Another Career Milestone in My Real Estate Journey.
 This is part of 'our legacy' that I mentioned earlier. This was at GRS, during my first-ever
drone shoot. It was one of the most stressful that I've done in my real estate career.
I remember how I was almost in tears during the first viewing of the corporate AVP.
This day, the universe ( except for DFA ) conspired to make this long overdue wish happen.


Fall 2016 🍂

A photo posted by R U S S (@ruussso) on


Japan Take 3, Yet Still So Many FIRSTS.
 Japan will always have a special place in my heart. We are super lucky that we were able
to visit again this year. It's our third time in Japan and second time in Osaka,
yet it still feels like we're here the first time & it also never fails to teach us to expand
our perspectives. Thank you for making us experience the magic of FALL. See you in 2017.



Someone's always saying in goodbye in December.
 December is supposed to be a month of smiles. Although for me, for the second year,
someone I look up to and have become really close had to say goodbye. Sniff. Sniff.
As I write this post, I obviously have not gotten over this person's decision to leave,
It still sucks, but life goes on. "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."



I end 2016 with a positive, thankful vibe the same way as I did last year and in previous years. I am taking a minute to not ask for anything but to continue to be grateful for the opportunities, for all the blessings, for everyone who's still in my life, for new friendships, and for everything that has been given to me. Despite some sad moments, 2016 has still been good to my family and I. Each time I feel like I can't go on any longer, I take time look at the bigger picture and realize that I still have no reason to complain. I promise to always do my best to be a good person even if others are not.Ü

To YOU ( the person reading this post ), I am happy that we counted another year of being virtually together. I wasn't able to blog that much this year, but I hope to write more often in 2017. I genuinely hope to meet you in person in one of my future travels. From my blog to yours, may you have a blessed, peaceful, and adventure-filled 2017 ahead. Happy New Year beautiful people! xoxo  Peace + ❥ Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

—
2015: Purposeful
2014: Family
2013: Forgiveness

55 comments:

27 December, 2016

Reliable mobile Wi-Fi in Osaka

People travel for adventures, to reset, to see the world, and to recharge. Traveling makes us happier individuals, but not when you get 'tricked' on foreign soil. Gaah. The unnecessary troubles that you must go through if anything like it happens are major hassles. Yet one thing I learned from all the years that I've been going to different places is that you should always expect s*ht to happen no matter how prepared you are.

Reliable Mobile WiFi
Mobile WiFi Travel Scam in Osaka. Boo.
So. We got scammed in Osaka last year. We were obviously bummed out because the Howe and I love Japan to bits. We find Japanese folks as one of the nicest people. Sadly, there will always be an exception. We got conned by this fake Mobile WiFi rental company so if you ever come across Japan Wireless — BEWARE! Everything looked legit on their website. You could even commend them for being helpful, easy to transact with, and responsive to your queries. P found them on the net. I'm guessing that he got them because they showed up at the first few entries in Google's search results. The gadget was pre-ordered and the agreed arrangement was for Japan Wireless to deliver the Mobile WiFi to our hotel.

We had a late-night flight and arrived at our hotel past midnight. The first thing P asked the concierge was if there was a delivery for him. Nada. Before heading out in the morning, we asked one last time if our Mobile WiFi's arrived. Nada. That's when we got suspicious. P messaged Japan Wireless to inform them about the incident. They even apologized and said that they would fix things from their end. But mind you, they asked us to NOT file a dispute with PayPal. Hmmm, that was a major red flag. That's when we became 100% sure that something was not right. Nonetheless, we filed for a dispute — thank GoD for PayPal! They're reliable and were efficient in taking the necessary actions to correct the boo-boo of Japan Wireless. PayPal facilitated the refund. The downside of this whole incident is that we both ended up availing of Globe's ( PH telco ) data roaming service for Php599 per day or about $12 per day. It's not the most cost-efficient scenario, but in this time when people cannot leave their homes without their mobile phones, data roaming service was better than nothing.

Global WiFi Kansai Airport Global WiFi Kansai Airport

Thank you, Global WiFi!
This year's trip to the Land of the Rising Sun's different. We were more cautious. I also made sure that I took charge. Lol. Knowing that we'd arrive past 8:00PM in Kansai Airport, I was tempted to pre-order our Mobile WiFi because most shops are already closed by this time. I even considered getting from Japan Rail Pass, but I obviously have not gotten over last year's incident so I canceled my reservation last minute.

I almost jumped for joy when I learned that there were one or two rental shops in KIX that are open until 10:00PM. It just felt right to get the Mobile WiFi at the airport.

I'm glad that I trusted my instincts. As soon as we got past Immigrations & Customs, the first thing that greeted us was Global WiFi's rental shop — it was like an answered prayer. Strategically located at the 1st Floor of Kansai Airport's North Wing, there's no way that you'll miss their stall. Seeing the tourists returning their gadgets and some who were in line to rent one was a huge relief. I didn't hesitate getting our Mobile WiFi from them. And even if the sales representative and I barely understood each other, the entire process of filling out their forms, paying, and listening to the sales rep while she was explaining their policies in Japanese took less than 10 minutes.Ü

Global WiFi Kansai Airport Global WiFi Kansai Airport

We were going to be in Japan for a week, but got the Mobile WiFi for 6 days because we arrived late on our first day. For 6 days, we paid for ¥5832 which includes tax. My credit card bill reflected Php 2,837 or approximately $63. Guys, this isn't bad at all! Of course, it was the practical thing to do and yes, we saved good bucks from this. Take note though, that Global WiFi does not accept cash payments.

If you ever plan on going to Osaka, I highly recommend getting your Mobile WiFi from Global WiFi. I'm all praises with the speed of their connection and signal was always excellent even when we were at the mountains ... just gave me another reason to want to live in this country. I was pretty much on Instagram Stories every hour and was constantly on Viber with my Family Group sharing photos & vids from my trip. P never missed his 'attack hours' with the game that he was playing.

We were so delighted with their service and again, the Internet speed. I kept wishing that if we could have even a fourth of the speed of Japan Internet here in my country, I'd be one happy little girl. Lol.


I know no one likes it, but do you have a travel scam story that you'd like to share just so we could all learn from it? How did you deal with it? Can you travel without the Internet? Or are you like me who, for whatever reason, just enjoys being connected to the world? Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.


70 comments:

23 September, 2016

Laksa Love. #SingaporeInvites #VisitSingapore

No trip to Singapore would be complete without a nice, warm bowl of Laksa. This spicy noodle-soup dish traces its roots from both Malay and Chinese cultures, but is very popular in the Lion City. I have been to SG a couple of times but oddly, I have not had the chance to enjoy authentic Laksa until last February's trip — sending lots of love to everyone from the Singapore Tourism Board ( STB ) for taking three of my closest friends and I to a memorable and truly filling ( burp! ) trip.

A first and more firsts
My last visit to Singapore comprised of a lot of firsts which I'll be sharing in a series of #SingaporeInvites posts. I joined a photo contest sponsored by STB last year and I was one of the Lucky 25 winners who won a trip to SG. This was the first time that I stayed in the Eastern side of Singapore at Joo Chiat / Katong. Being Singapore's first heritage town, Joo Chiat is an interesting area to explore. It has its distinct vibe that both locals and tourists love. I have obviously overlooked this part in my previous trips, but I am glad to have had the chance to experience Katong and its rustic charm a couple of months ago. There aren't skyscrapers around. There's not much vehicles, too — at least that's what I recall. What you'll see are these beautiful, Instagram-worthy preserved Peranakan shop houses that line the streets and a lot of small yet interesting food places to go to. It is in Joo Chiat that I had my first-ever spicy and steaming bowl of Peranakan Laksa.

Laksa Love

I'm no Laksa expert, but one thing I'm sure of is that Laksa may not be for everyone. In my family and in my circle of friends, there are a few of us who enjoy this flavorful, super spicy, creamy coconut-based aromatic soup-noodle dish. Most people I know shun spicy food, the same way that they do not like anything coconut-based. However, if you like gastro-adventures and dig that burning feeling on your taste buds, you're definitely in for a treat with a hearty bowl of Laksa.

Our STB Singapore Invites tour guide, Wai Keong took us to the best Laksa place in Joo Chiat, 328 Katong Laksa. Wai Keong shared with us that 328 Katong Laksa is THE go-to restaurant for authentic Peranakan Laksa. Not only that, the guys here beat master chef Gordon Ramsay several years back for SingTel's Hawker Heroes. This certainly made 328 Katong Laksa a huge hit. It got foodies curious. Tourists would go out of their way to try their Laksa. I got to talk to this French dude and he admitted that he almost got lost going to Katong district taking the subway and the bus so he opted to go to Joo Chiat using Grab. After devouring his bowl of this popular Peranakan dish, he said it was so worth the extra bucks he had to shell out for the ride. Aside from this, its history makes this dish more interesting.
"The descendants of these Chinese traders were called the Peranakans, and the tradition of Laksa was born out of the Peranakan desire to marry Chinese food with existing Southeast Asian flavors like coconut milk, and those brought over by South Asian traders, like chilis. Often, the desire to marry cuisines resulted from literal marriages between Peranakans and locals. In Indonesia, for example, the origin story of Laksa traces back to the Chinese coastal settlements. Chinese sailors set out to find local wives, and these women began incorporating chili peppers and coconut milk into Chinese noodle soup." [ Read more: How inter-marriage created one of the most delicious food ]




If you get the chance to travel to Singapore in one of your future trips, don't forget to visit the Joo Chiat / Katong district for an authentic bowl of Peranakan Laksa. Want the best Laksa? You know where to go. Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

—
The SingaporeInvites Series
» Lucky 25. #VisitSingapore #SingaporeInvites
» The build up of anticipation


65 comments:

27 February, 2016

Side Trip: Bustling Burnham Park on Panagbenga Month

In a post I wrote last year about Baguio, I said that the Philippines' City of Pines is glorious in February. The temperature drops to a pleasant 10-13 at night and it's somewhere between 14-18 during the day. There's sharp cold snap in the evening, which I found surprisingly refreshing. It's a nice change of atmosphere from my daily and usual urban jungle. The Panagbenga Festival ( Blooming Flowers Festival ) is another reason to go to the Summer of Capital of the Philippines during the month of hearts.

Burnham Park, Panagbenga

Panagbenga is a month-long annual flower festival with a super-duper grand culminating activity that usually takes place on the last weekend of February. Tourists flock to Baguio to witness the float parade, street dance parade, and grand fireworks display. I have not experienced these because I don't like crowds but I did see the transformation of Burnham Park during Panagbenga month.

Located in the heart of Baguio, Burham Park is one of Baguio's top tourist destinations and is a favorite local attraction amongst locals, too. Most of us are used to the laidback and serene Burnham Park but as I said, it morphs into this cheery, bustling street market during the month-long Panagbenga Festival. During one of my trips to Baguio last year, I was lucky to have experienced a different kind of Burnham Park.



What to expect.
The experience of walking around Burnham Park on a late Saturday afternoon together with locals and other tourists make it worth the visit. You can expect to find a lot of cute Baguio souvenir items ( e.g. key chains, purses, crafts, pencils, coasters ), clothing, shoes, sandals, bags, accessories, trinkets, and a lot of locally made goods. This would be a good time to purchase popular Baguio treats that Manileños love such as chocolate crinkles, snow balls, strawberry jam, and peanut brittle. Most merchants will give a 3 for Php100 / approximately $2.25 deal. If you're going to shop, everything is on cash basis here. You need to make sure that you bring enough moolah because it's a long walk from the bazaar area to where the ATMs are.


Since there are not a lot of malls in Baguio and the organizers of the Panagbenga Festival do an awesome job with their promotions, expect that bazillions of people spend their weekend here. People come in groups. I am not a very patient person and crowds are not my thing so my patience was tested the last time I was here. I managed and I did well. I was able to stay for 4 hours on Saturday, went back on a Sunday, and spent another 2-3 hours.

Cheap Food and Cool Finds
I hoarded strawberry keychains, some abubots ( trinkets ), and accessories as pasalubongs. I got them really cheap at 5 for Php100 but if you have a gift for haggling, you can usually negotiate the price. The nicer vendors will throw in an extra item or two with bulk purchases. You will also find a strip of pocket gardens as one of the highlights of both the festival and the street market. These pocket gardens are entries for the landscaping competition. The awarding is usually done towards the end of the Panagbenga month. At the end of this strip are a few stalls that sell plants and bottled turmeric, cumin, and other herbs & spices. Albeit they were heavy to carry, I bought a lot of them for my Mom. We both believe in the medicinal and health benefits of turmeric powder and cumin.

What I enjoyed most and the main reason that made me come back to Burnham Park that weekend was the food. Like a tourist, I excitedly checked out all the food stalls to see something that would tickle my fancy. One thing I learned from this trip, people who live in Baguio love Hotdogs and Shawarma.




Thinking back on all the stuff we ate that weekend, the Cheesy Footlong was a huge hit. My colleagues and I could not get overs its price. At Php35 ( approx $0.74 ), it was good and sobrang sulit. I tell you, you will not find a restaurant or even a food stall in Manila that will sell you a Footlong Sandwich at Php35.

I also had my share of mouth-watering Shawarma with Cheese and the best hot shawarma sauce ever, paired with a refreshing Strawberry Smoothie. Aside from the Cheesy Footlong and Shawarma, you'd also find burgers, bacon-wrapped hotdogs, barbeque, arroz caldo, pancakes, rice bowls ( from Baguio Country Club's food stall ), ice cream, brewed coffee, and crepes.


Girlfriend Tips
1. Bring a big and sturdy shopping bag with you especially if you are on a mission to splurge. It will be convenient.
2. Wear comfortable footwear because they close the roads so you have to walk far to get to your car.
3. Bargaining is okay so do not be intimidated. That's the beauty of shopping in street markets here in the Philippines.
4. Not all food stalls have tables set-up so you have to be strategic during meal time. Pick a food stall that has tables.
5. The wash room is far and I mean farrrrr. You would want to do your whatever your business is before coming here.


If you're planning a trip to Baguio, you cannot leave the City of Pines without visiting Burnham Park. To get there, you can take a cab if you're not bringing your car. You can ask anyone on how-to-get there. It's a well-known landmark so any driver or local would know where Burnham Park is. On a normal day, it isn't as busy as the photos you've seen in this post.Ü ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

—
» Photo Credit for Top Photo: Thank you Sister Daily.Ü
» Learn more about Burnham Park and it's history. Visit BaguioCity.Co

65 comments:

09 February, 2016

Food Trip: Home-Cooked Steamboat in KL

I love to eat out, but I tell you ... there's nothing like home-cooked meals. Growing up in the South and being part of a conventional family, my Mother's home-cooked meals were something I always looked forward to. I still do up to today.Ü My friends' moms and their elder sisters also cooked a lot. I would always be invited to their homes and I genuinely enjoyed all those wonderful times spent over impromptu lunch or weekend dinners. We did that a lot when we were in high school, college, and a bit when my barkada and I were bumming around by choice.

Since we all started working, it became more difficult to gather everyone that's why when I was in Malaysia last year, I was soooo happy when P told me that our friend, Eugene, has asked me to free up one evening for him.

Family-style eating. D.I.Y. cooking that reminded me a lot about Shabu-Shabu. A huge pot of boiling soup with a variety of the freshest ingredients PLUS you get to choose the noodles that you want. This was a feast. And, this was also my first-ever Steamboat experience — it is one of the things that I will always remember KL for. I have Eugene to thank for that because it did make our KL trip more memorable.

Steamboat

Our friend, Eugene, just moved to his new flat some time during CNY of last year and our trip's timing couldn't have been better because he was having a housewarming party. Eugene is a darling. He offered to drive us around town a few times and was nice enough to invite us to his home. He said that he was gonna have steamboat. At that time, I really had no idea about what he was talking about. He must've noticed that I had a baffled look on my face so he explained what was going to happen: we're cooking.

Uh-oh, I knew I was going to be in trouble. I'm not a cooking person ( never was and never am ), but I do love great food. I like to take photos of my food and I fancy writing about my gastro-advetures in my blog. Heyyy, I am being honest here.Ü Without telling him, P knew that I was getting stressed and to calm me, he said that it was going to be like Hot Pot. Still! I really am not the cooking type because I'm impatient. It gets quite hot in the kitchen and I sweat fast. Unlike others, I don't like to work for my food.Ö I just like to enjoy mine. But since we were not in Manila, I couldn't use my 'I don't like to work for my food' card. Lol.




My Steamboat Strategy
I knew there was going to be several batches because Eugene had so many guests that night. His future in-laws were there, his friends, and Kayee's ( Eugene's fiancée ) friends too. I had to make sure that I'd be part of either the second or third batch of guests who'd dine, but I did watch how the first set of guests did their bowls and all. P and Euguene will probably laugh at me if they read this.

We toured Eugene's flat first and played NBA before we ate. By the time that we were back at the dining table, most of the guests were done eating and were either chilling out or playing. I stopped worrying and I was able to enjoy the feast that Eugene and Kayee ( meet our hosts, see photo below ▼ ) prepared for us. My strategy worked :)


We miss you @dhang1506 and Eisa + Tyrone & Yayang. This calls for a reunion! #russgirltravels

A photo posted by R U S S (@ruussso) on



Dinner tonight :) #russgirltravels #steamboat #vscomalaysia #vscotravel #foodtrip

A photo posted by R U S S (@ruussso) on



The Ingredients
I see why Steamboat is pretty popular in Malaysia and in other South-East Asian countries. While it requires a lot of ingredients ( but guests can bring something to add, perfect for pot luck ), it's really easy-to-prepare. Aside from that, it makes an awesome conversation starter. It lightens the mood and it makes people sit longer on the dining table, encouraging happy discussions whilst waiting for the food to be cooked.

Lastly, it's healthy. The broth was clear, home-brewed, and not oily. Eugene is Chinese and his MIL, who helped prepare the Steamboat, is also Chinese so there weren't much meat in the ingredients. The Vienna Sausage was the only meat-ish ingredient that I saw. There were a lot of seafood. I remember having dory, red snapper, a fish that I don't know what it's called, lobster balls, prawns, mussels, clams, bamboo clams, squid, crab sticks, seafood dumpling, crab cake, and cuttlefish.

And if you're a veggie person, there's a variety of vegetables that you can have. Some of the veggie choices that I remember from that night were shiitake mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, taro, cabbage, bean sprouts, bok choy, carrots, broccoli, spring onions, cauliflower, kelp, oyster mushrooms, etc.

A Steamboat ain't complete without a bit of carbs, so this has to have some noodles. Mind you, it's a mortal sin to cut the noodles. In the Chinese culture, noodles symbolize longevity and they're a huge part of birthdays and Chinese New Year celebrations. Our choices that evening were udon, soba, and vermicelli noodles.



Steamboat is a good meal to share with family and friends. Cooking, even if it stressed me out at first, was fun and I totally dig the experience. What makes it more enjoyable is that you don't have to do everything alone — cooking together, if you ask me, is a key ingredient in steamboat get-togethers. Lastly, it's Russ-friendly because it requires you to have a leisurely slow meal with great company. Now all you'll need to do is to bring out the wine.Ü

Have you ever tried steamboat?
☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Happy Travel Vibes. RUSS.


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25 January, 2016

Lucky 25. #VisitSingapore #SingaporeInvites

In my November 2015 post, The Build Up of Anticipation, I made a big reveal about a photo contest that I participated in. If we're friends in Facebook, you already know what I'm talking about.Ü Over 2 months ago, I submitted an entry to Singapore Invites. This, by the way, is the first photo contest that I ever joined. If you're one of the lovelies that I asked to help me out with the blue heart, thank you — bloggers unite! Well guess what? Someone's getting ready to do her happy dance again. I got super lucky!

Participants were from different parts of the world and each one shared a photo plus a caption that best capture and describe the Singapore experience with a reunion that they would want to share with family, loved ones, or friends. Words aren't enough to describe how excited I am. I have been to Singapore, but there many things about this country that I have to yet to discover. I am beyond thrilled that I won and I am counting the days until my friends and I fly out for our SG gastro-adventures.

Singapore Invites Winners

My friends have not stopped thinking about where we think they'd take us. Would it be dining with a view from one of SG's skyscrapers? Or would it be something with a bit of Singapore's night scene? I can go on all day with my my would it be's. I know. I know. I'm stopping right now.Ü The last time I was in Singapore was in 2014 with friends from Brunei and Malaysia. They were gamers who met with SG gamers. Cool, huh? We stayed in the bustling and busy but very Russ-friendly district of Orchard. I liked that this area was accessible, was close to a lot of malls with tons of nice dining options. The guys also took me to my first-ever hawker experience — I forgot where it was but it wasn't in Orchard.

One of the highlights of this trip for me was catching up with some of my high school friends who are now based in the Lion City. It was such a delight to hang with them. We have not gone out in ages so it was super fun spending an evening of awesome food and experiencing a bit of the city life in Singapore. They took me to Clarke Quay to try the Craft Beer at Brewerkz, which a pilot friend of ours frequent each time he flies to Singapore. Then, another friend of mine was such an angel and was kind enough to grant my request to see Bugis. I was curious of what I'd see here because of a mini foodie place that I used to go to in PH. It was called Bugis Singaporean Street Food and each time I'd check-in on Foursquare, people always told me to have a blast in SG. Lol.


I am a little skittish but I know that we will be in good hands.Ü If you are curious about my entry, it's still  here . I have 15 minutes left for lunch which means that I need to head out now to grab something to munch. Stay tuned for stories of our adventures and lots of Singapore food photos in the next couple of weeks. This is going to be a different ( in various levels of beautiful ) travel experience for me. Singapore, I'm excited to see you soon!

Have you been to Singapore? If you had the chance to join the SingaporeInvites contest, what Singapore experience would you like to share with your loved ones?  ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Spreading' the Travel Vibes. RUSS.

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31 December, 2015

Pushed past my limits in 2015


In one word, I would describe my 2015 as   purposeful  . I had my fair share of bumps and as beauty queen-ish as this sounds, I used them to get myself to move out of my comfort zone. It made taking risks easier. I remember telling myself several times this year, "If not now, when?" Tough, grown-up calls made sense. I was taking on greater responsibilities, both at work and in the family. I had no trouble at all with the former. It's the latter that I found emotionally draining but I took on whatever it was being put on my plate.

On days when I felt like bitchin' out ( we all have these moments, right? ) and giving up, purpose always made me tread on. In the process, it has taught me to be selfless. It does a huge difference when you have self-discipline and when you put the interest of others first before yours. Telling myself A LITTLE BIT MORE always went a long way — I am beyond grateful that 2015 brought me opportunities that changed my perspective in a lot of things and at the same time, this year made me a more tenacious yet a more compassionate version of myself.

Let's timehop a bit and see how 2015 has been for me.



First Selfie. Blurred Me. Nope, we're not in Japan but we wish with all hearts that we are.

A photo posted by R U S S (@ruussso) on


Wishing and hoping that we're in Japan. We did go back to Japan - 10 mos. after this.


This sarong was for rent ( RM 5.00 ) at Batu Caves.

A photo posted by R U S S (@ruussso) on


Celebrated my 23rd birthday ( again ) in KL


My little cousins are not-so-little anymore 💚💙💜 #FamilyIsLove

A photo posted by R U S S (@ruussso) on


My grandmother joined her Creator in March,
but it gave the family some time to re-connect.


Hong Kong. ✈️

A photo posted by R U S S (@ruussso) on


Taking on bigger roles at work


Felt like Circa 2011. More get-togethers please ☺️ #GoodTimes

A photo posted by R U S S (@ruussso) on


One of my super good friends, B starts his journey to forever


Love. Love. Love. #Weddings #WeddingsPH #Manila #ManilaSunset #BTS

A photo posted by R U S S (@ruussso) on


And we got another wedding here ...



Did a lot of new projects and firsts with these two.
I tell you guys, it's good to get out of your comfort zone.



Made new friends co-organizing my first-ever 4 x 4 off-road challenge


Grateful and blessed for the 28 years of friendship ( and counting ) with this funny girl 💜💜

A photo posted by R U S S (@ruussso) on


I dunno how long it has been since she was last here in Manila
but it's great how we just picked up from where we left off,
as if we just saw each other the other day — the only diff now
is that she now has a kid and is enjoying every minute of it.


Got close to the little dude – wasn't as scary as I thought 👍

A photo posted by R U S S (@ruussso) on


Got extremely lucky to have been allowed to have some days off
to travel ( again ) to one of my favorite countries — JAPAN.
Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara took my breath away. Can't wait to be back!
See photos from my trip in my VSCO page.



I joined an international photo contest for the first time.
Read about it here.



Ended the year on a very happy note. Good times.





I end 2015 and this post the same way as I did last year and previous years before that — I'm taking a minute to not ask for anything but to continue to be grateful for the opportunities, for all the blessings, and for everything that has been given to me. Despite challenges, 2015 has still been good to my family and I. Sometimes, life does get hard and the process can be painful, but each time I look at the bigger picture, I still say that I have no reason to complain. I promise to always do my best to be a good person even if others are not.Ü

To YOU ( the person reading this post ), I am happy that we counted another year of being virtually together. I genuinely hope to meet you in person in one of my future travels. From my blog to yours, may you have a blessed, peaceful, and love-filled 2016 ahead. Happy blogging in 2016 and keep on smiling!  ☮ Peace + ❥ Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

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