Yoki's Farm

Eccentricity at its finest. 

Somewhere in Mendez, Cavite we found a hydrophonics farm, an aviary and a collection of the most exquisite knickknacks- from Venus de Milo to Genghis Khan all in one garden. It was supposed to be just a pre-birthday treat for my father but this turned out really really goood!

was he a Pharaoh?

the Lotus position

How to get there:

Yoki’s Farm

Tabluan Road, Barangay Palocpoc 1, Mendez, Cavite

Tel: +63-922-8014220

Hours: 8:00-11:00am, 1:00-4:00pm

Entrance fee: Php100/person, small children come in free

Coming from Manila, look out for the following landmarks:

 1 .Mushroom Burger

2. Bag of Beans

3. Turn right at the block immediately after Bag of Beans(where you’ll see a sign directing you to turn right to Hacienda Isabella.) It’s around 15 to 20 minutes straight going down the hill. Soon, you’ll spot a sharp U-turn. Take the u-turn and continue on that road. Once you see a small intersection, turn left and then soon enough, another left. You’ll know you’re close when you reach Tabluan Road. You’ll see a big black gate with “YOKI” emblazoned on it. The farm doesn’t have a sign so be careful or you’ll miss it.

the freshest lettuce and more!

exquisite!

lush greens

QWERTY pad

slowly but surely

a Roman gladiator guarding the HUGE Buddha?

alien life in Jade

follow the light

still, another unlikely pair

Palawan is World's Best Island

Palawan was voted as Travel+Leisure's World's Best Island for 2013. I was recently in Coron, Busuanga- one of the many islands in Palawan with some of my best friends from Pagcor and with my best brother, Mark. Because anything less than the best is a felony. (Even if it was Vanilla Ice who sang that.)

ah Coron! Magnifique!

Clarity!

Bulungan Beach. They say that a witchdoctor still lives here.

ofcourse you know where it's at - Kayangan Lake!

the mountain ranges surrounding Mt. Tapyas

mangroves at the Coron Youth Club

There’s more to it than being the country’s last ecological frontier or the Underground River making it to the elite Wonders of Nature list. For instance, Busuanga Airport, the gateway to Coron is smacked in the mountain ranges of the Yulo King Ranch. It was actually a cattle ranch/reserve named after one of former President Marcos’ closest friends, Mr. Yulo. It was put up in 1976 and cows were placed for dispersal in the 140,000 sqms piece of land.

stalled by the cows at the Yulo King Ranch

at the Coron Youth Club, yes it's an island

Mt. Tapyas sunset

just enjoying the view at the Mt. Tapyas deck

docked at the Bulungan Beach for Lunch

here's what you'll see when you reach the deck

approaching Kayangan Lake

waiting for our late lunch at the Coron Edge Bar & Restaurant

In Black and White

I fell in love with photography long before printing or publishing photos in black and white was just an artsy choice but was a necessity. In fact it was the only way to pass my Photography 101 and Photojournalism classes. During the late 90’s (when I was still a freshman at the College of Mass Communication (CMC) in UP,) the use of digital cameras were discouraged. We had to do it the old-fashioned way: load our manual SLR cameras with black & white film, process the negative, project the image on the light sensitive photo paper and finally process and print that projected image. And yes, I have spent a chunk of my time in the dark room and have crashed into someone a couple of times.

Like most film students, Necopan too was one of my favorite brands.

Philippine Post Office, Liwasang Bonifacio, 1998

heavily guarded

The Oblation, University of the Philippines (2001)

I heard the people roar at the Senate grounds (Jericho March, 2001)

Deposed President Erap effigy way back in 2001 at Mendiola.
 But people have short memories--- he is now elected Mayor of Manila 

 It was definitely in my college soundtrack.

The truth shall set you free

Woe to those who rob the poor

we all wanted to change the world

A boy named Jao at the Jericho March (2001)
He'd be around 15yrs.old now if he was 3 then

Living the Legend of Amansinaya

This is one of my favorite spots in my hometown-Batangas. Amansinaya Mountain Resort is at San Gabriel, Laurel, Batangas. Laurel also has an excellent view of Taal Volcano which is the world’s smallest active volcano.

Legend has it that Bathala stood against the great love of Amansinaya (the goddess of the sea) and Kalangitan (god of the heavens.) But according to the myth, love indeed conquered all as Amansinaya tried to reach the heavens for Kalangitan and built her own water kingdom on top of the mountains. Amansinaya Mountain Resort is truly a place where the water kisses the sky. 
Located in the elevated gardens of Hacienda Cascada, surrounded by lush green landscape, it is a getaway hidden in the mountains. The Amansinaya experience is a magical escape reliving the tale of the two star-crossed lovers beckoning all to indulge in the richness of the mountains, water and sky.

Peace. This reminds me of yoga's gentle flow.

this cave gives an excellent view of the Ambon-ambon waterfalls

loving him was red

manna from heaven

the sharp rock formations guard the waterfall

perpetually stained

Singapore Indie-sling Stopovers

The most whopping antithesis to visiting one of Asia’s most modern metropolis is to simply go mainstream. Sayang naman.

Alright, the typical tourist trail is great too but I declare! that an ‘indier’ travel itinerary bids a fresher perspective and is therefore more fitting for cosmopolitan destinations like Singapore. An ‘indie’ itinerary as in indie music or in indie art is something more original and forward-thinking. It is more obscure, low-budget, creative, unique, may appeal only to a small, niche audience but definitely more fun and exciting. You can experiment, be original and be a little weird. The best part is that you can cater to your own inner travel persona: as a shutterbug, as a nature-lover, as an artsy Museum-goer, as a foodie and even as a queen-of-cheap shopaholic. Or are you a little bit of everything? Sling thru these SG destinations:

MINT Museum Of Toys 

(Moment of Imagination & Nostalgia with Toys)

26 Seah St (behind Raffles Hotel), ☎ +65-63390660 (9:30AM-6:30PM daily) 

Guided tours (45 min) available and recommended. S$15/7.50 adult/child (under 12).

take a stroll at Singapore's Art & Heritage  district

Definitely better than any throwback Thursdays. The best of your childhood memories will rush in because this five-storey building houses some 50,000 pieces of toys! This is the collection of local enthusiast Chang Yang Fa. His world-class toy collection is consolidated from over 25 countries.

the Fab Four!

It has everything from wind-up toys to Darth Vader masks. Also on display:

crossing over the lighter side

Astro!

"You need not be an avid toy fan to revel in the nostalgia of childhood memorabilia"

saddle up

It's a TOY Wonderland!

hey Mickey!

Mr. Punch Café 

1920’s inspired Resto/Café at the rooftop of Mint Museum of Toys 

Cap off your vintage inspired visit with a meal at Mr. Punch Cafe

Haw Par Villa

262 Pasir Panjang Road

How to get there: Take the MRT Circle Line (yellow) alight at Haw Par Villa Station (CC25)

“The park features more than a thousand statues and life-size dioramas depicting Chinese legends which also showcase Confucian beliefs. While most of the statues are gruesome and bloody, some of them are really quirky and well…interesting.”

colorful and kitschy

one of the punishers

hope floats

Are casino dealers accessories to the crime?
I think  I'm feeling the chill...

really ouch!

the perfect backdrop for one quirky holiday

40 Hands Coffee

Blk. 78 Yong Siak Street near Tiong Bahru Market

(Alight at Tiong Bahru Station (EW17) after Redhill Station.Then walk at Tiong Bahru Road –going to Outram Station then right turn at Kim Pong Road where Tiong Bahru Market is, pass by Moh Guan Terrace (pass by Hua Bee Resto & Open Door Policy Resto) then Yong Siak Street!)

photo credit: 40 hands coffee

A low-key coffeeshop in a charming neighborhood offering the creamiest latte! Forty Hands is rumored to serve the best coffee in Singapore. Level of difficulty in finding this place is a notch higher but definitely worth it. Enjoy Tiong Bahru Estate neighborhood as well while sipping your coffee.

photo credit: 40 hands coffee. 40 hands ultimate latte art battle :)

“An average of 40 HANDS are required in the production of coffee, from plant to cup.

40 Hands Coffee was created by several individuals with a passion not only for outstanding coffee but a desire to make a positive impact on the lives of the millions of coffee growers in poor and developing countries.”

Books Actually 

9 Yong Siak Street,Tiong Bahru Estate

(for an unforgettable literary fix)

This is right in front of Forty Hands on the other side of the street. 

exercise your mind. read!

“An independent bookstore founded by a couple of booklovers, Books Actually could be quite a romantic and charming place, far from the madding crowd. Channel your inner bookworm!”

Lau Pa Sat

18 Raffles Quay (near Raffles Place MRT). Open 24 hours.

It is a nicely done up Victorian-style hawker centre, but a little pricier and hence quieter than most. The satay here is famous though, and there's a long row of outdoor stalls on the south side (open only in the evening), with Fatman Satay (Stall #1) generally getting the best reviews.

nom nom nom 

Chinatown

Alight at Chinatown Station and exit at Pagoda Street.

http://milaniemonic.blogspot.com/2013/05/temple-run-singapore-sling-day-3.html#links

go temple-running or shopping at Chinatown

Cavenagh Bridge, Raffles Statue and the Merlion Park

Merlion Park 
(Raffles Place MRT exit H, off Fullerton Rd).

photo credit: worldtoptop.com

Cavenagh Bridge
(next to Fullerton Hotel. Singapore's oldest bridge and its only suspension bridge, constructed in 1869, now a pedestrian walkway across the mouth of the Singapore River.)

photo credit: www.victorianweb.org

Raffles Statue 
1 Empress Place (next to Asian Civilisations Museum). This statue of Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore

the Riverside at Clark Quay