Blogger's Best Vacations, Places and Food Trips: October 2011

Friday, October 28, 2011

Canyon Woods Residential Resort, Tagaytay Philippines blog

After our lunch at RSM Tagaytay Seafoods Garden Restaurant, we excitedly drive our way to Canyon Woods Residential Resort. The kids can barely contain their excitement. The atmosphere inside the car was definitely electric.

Finally, we arrived at the entrance.

Canyon Woods Residential Resort entrance

Canyon Woods Residential Resort is a hotel mountain resort that provides a cool upland environment. Fresh scent of pine trees gives us a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. It offers the cool fresh air that we are so longingly looking for in the city. It also offers spectacular views like the Taal Volcano and the Taal Lake, but you have to find the exact spot to view this because the resort is so vast, sometimes you get lost in it.

It offers various amenities for you to enjoy and choose from. It has a 9-hole par-34 challenging golf course, fitness gym, indoor heated pool and jacuzzi, outdoor pool, spa and Thai massage room, salon for men and women, indoor courts, bowling center, mini theatre, conference / function rooms, business center, coffee shop and restaurant, clinic, library and gift shop. Basically a mini community that you don't want to leave the comfort of. From my experience you will never be able to enjoy all these amenities in a day maybe just 1 or 2 at the most. You have to stay longer to be able to really enjoy each and every facilities they offer.

Weaving our way through its well maintained roads, we need to check-in first at the lobby which is a part of the clubhouse.

Main entrance of Canyon Woods Residential Resort lobby

This picturesque pond, a wishing pond of sort greeted us before the lobby's entrance

The resort's facilities directory


Canyon Woods brochure

A preview of the content of Canyon Woods brochure

As we were waiting for our accommodation to be assigned to us, I was curious with the Canyon Woods brochure. As you can see, I couldn't help but bring home the brochure. I will do another detailed blog about it. Then finally, we were given our accommodation place. We are to stay at Fairview.

Canyon Woods - Fairview map

We were given the map to Fairview. Can't really understand it since it seems not in the map at all. =) See the white arrow pointing to the neon green "x" on the lower right side of the map? That's where Fairview is. Somehow I really wonder how we were able to find it. =) Wait for my upcoming blog on Fairview.

Weekend vendors outside the lobby

Weekend vendors greeted us outside the clubhouse lobby. Where array of local fruits and vegetables and local produce like honey are available for sale. It was quiet a feast for me. I love these kind of "farmer's market" type of vendors. Even though, these vendors are only a few. Maybe 5 or 6 only. Nevertheless, I had fun looking around the produce they offer.

Canyon Wood's brief and precise map

So how do you get to Canyon Woods? Here's a brief and precise map for expert drivers to understand. Really, between you and me, I'm one of those amateur drivers that gets lost with this kind of map. That's why I need someone with much greater know how on road directions to be able to arrive at my destination. But really, they say that Canyon Woods Residential Resort is just 60 kilometers away from the international airport.

It is a resort that is near enough, with only a few hours drive ahead of you and yet it makes you feels so far from the noise and grit of Metro Manila. A destination for busy-stressed-freaked people of the city!

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Monday, October 24, 2011

SCAM, BEWARE: Philippine Electronic Assessment Company

With the rise of technology and internet, we have the chance to surf things by just opening our computer and by just clicking the mouse. But what if you are one of those who are still not into this internet thing? What I mean is, you don't really have a penchant for it or you are one of those non-techie people. Because I was one of these non-techie people before I had my blog. I don't really hover the computer 24/7 all the time. There are just some people like me still; and more or less we are more prone to these phone scams.

My blogs are supposed to be about my best vacations and food trips. Something light and good. I really want to write about the good stuffs in life, but these scams really bugged me. It's something that I cannot ignore. And thanks to the internet, I can write about it and share it to people who needs information about these things.

Just a few hours ago our home phone number rang, and a lady sales agent with a provincial twang-accent greeted me and was looking for my husband. She doesn't even sound like a trained sales agent which by the way, she's trying very hard to be, speaking in English the whole time. She said she is from the Philippine Electronic Assessment Company, their telephone landline is 310-9760. Then I asked, what is this all about? She asked me if I'm the wife, I said yes.

Note: She knows the name of my husband which is the account name of our phone landline. They are getting good at this please be careful and beware guys!

Here's how our conversation goes as I remembered it:

lady agent: We are from the Philippine Electronic Assessment Company. We are assessing your phone landline and as our way of saying thank you for patronizing this line in PLDT we are giving you a free gift or freebie which is sponsored by Household Advertising Corporation. It is free, you don't have to pay anything. The only thing that you have to do is avail of it at our location.

When I heard her trying so hard to speak in English, the light bulb of suspicion is already blinking in my head. But I said, give her a chance, I might be bias just because of her accent, I'm already judging her. But when I heard about the company name, and their purpose of "assessing and giving a freebie" because we are loyal customers; the light bulb went flashing even harder. And when she said the "free" punchline. The light bulb went on flashing harder and harder. Nevertheless, I asked what we always ask if there is something free.

me: What are the free gifts you are giving away?

lady agent: Since we are sponsored by Household Advertising Corporation, we are giving you one of the 6 household appliances. It might be an induction cooker, water purifier...

She went on with the 6 lists of appliances. But what really struck me was the first freebie "induction cooker". My mom was scammed a few years back by Aowa in Tutuban Mall just because of a freebie. And one of the appliances that was offered was an induction cooker. The scam was still fresh even after all these years because we really went back to reverse that transaction. Now, I am 100% sure that this is a scam again. But I went on with her.

me: So, what appliance did we won ?

lady agent: We don't have the item description of what you won, it is only when you avail it at our designated location that you will know what the item is.

OMG, I thought, what company will tell you, if this is real, that they don't know what you have won? Only when you avail of it, that's the only time you will know? Fishy fishy fishy... But I still went on with her.

me: So, where am I going to avail this item?

lady agent: Saan po ba kayo malapit ma'am? (What place are you near?) We have a location at Harrison Plaza Shopping Mall or Isetann Recto.

me: Maybe Isetann Recto.

lady agent: We have just rented a place there at the 2nd floor, "I Home", near Jollibee. All you need to do is bring 2 valid IDs.

What? Just rented? They have made so many word mistakes that makes you suspicious. Still we kept on talking.

me: Where are you at Harrison Plaza Shopping Mall?

lady agent: Also at the second floor ma'am.

At the second floor also? Why is it that they are staying away from the main floor where all the action is? Seems like they don't want to be seen? Only people or company with a suspicious goal would do this. So, I went on.

me: I'm not sure yet if I'm going to avail it at Harrison Plaza Shopping Mall or Isetann Recto.

lady agent: We need to know where you will avail it so that we can inform our personnel on that said location.

What? See their tactics?

me: Does PLDT knows about this free gift? Are you an affiliate of PLDT?

lady agent: Ma'am, we are not an affiliate of any telephone company. We are assessing all the telephone companies landline like PLDT, Bayantel...

She told me all the other telephone companies. But none really sink in anymore. What's foremost in my mind is how to just end this. Have you ever heard a company assessing all other big companies? Hmmp... Really shame on them. I said to myself, I think this has gone long enough, so I ask a few more questions for the record because I did not clearly get the whole name the first time she went ranting on with her little speech.

me: What is your company's name again?

lady agent: We are from Philippine Electronic Assessment Company.

me: What about the name of your other company?

I was asking about the name of the company sponsoring them. Which I didn't quiet grasped the first few times around.

lady agent: Philippine Electronic Assessment Company nga po ma'am. (It is Philippine Electronic Assessment Company ma'am).

me: No, the other company you said that's giving away these free gifts.

lady agent: Ah, we are sponsored by Household Advertising Corporation.

My goodness, is this a tape recorder? It's like it's pre-recorded in their mind what to say to potential people that they are going to scam. And then here goes my surprise to her.

me: Baka bogus to ha? (Is this bogus?)

Then I was the one surprised by her answer because I was expecting a denial and ranting ons about their company. That they are real. You know what she said?

lady agent: Thank you ma'am. We understand your concern.

My goodness, she was already going to hang up. I was really expecting some fight over their company's reputation. Giving up so easily huh!

me: See, then this is really bogus!

Then she hung up. Oh my, oh my... I am really concerned about all those people who don't have the real incling of what these scammers are capable of. I had a lot of hands on experience with these scams. I have one coming up, but still putting it on hold because of some negotiations.

But years before, even before I started this blog, we had a hands on experience with Aowa. It was really distasteful. I want to write about it, but am not really sure if they are still there. And I cannot remember all the details of the events so I decided not to. But this recent one, I cannot really let this off the hook.

What I see about this is that their working tactics is to lure you to their locations, since nobody is patronizing their products; and when you are there they will bombard you with sales agents full of sweet talks to buy their products at a very very high price. Saying that you have won not only one freebie but still a lot more. That's how the tactics of Aowa before, and I think this company is not far from that. Don't be fooled by 5 - 6 pcs. of freebies when the money you will cash out is in the 5 digits! They are just tricks working on our minds.

TIPS before you decide anything that you might regret:

When something too good to be true is offered to you. Something free and very beautiful and eye or ear catching... BEWARE! Stop first and think.

Google google and google. But sometimes, you googled right? And you didn't find anything pertinent or bad. My suggestion. Try all the names. Like this one, try:

1. Philippine Electronic Assessment Company or

      2. Household Advertising Corporation or

      3. I Home or even phone numbers

      4. 310-9760


          One way or the other something might come up. Don't be just content in clicking the first information you see. Scroll down. Then when you see SCAM or BEWARE on some of the blogs; read about it. And you might be surprised! But if nothing really comes up. There should be some blogs that say something good about it.   The plenty the good comments the better. Because some of these companies write their own blogs. Of course what else would they write but only good things about themselves.

If you feel that something is not right deep inside. Then you might be right. Research about it. There's too much evil people in this world that wants to prey on innocent people.

If you got scammed the first time or maybe the second time. Don't be too hard on yourself. You are definitely not alone. Find solutions and write it off as an experience you need to remember always so as not to let it happen again.

Please spread this around so as to inform our other fellow citizens of these scams. Hope when any of you read this, it had prevented you one way or the other of taking a step in being conned into these scams.

Friday, October 21, 2011

RSM Tagaytay Seafoods Garden Restaurant - Philippines blog

We had a short trip to Tagaytay during one of the holidays. It was one of those trips practically squeezed into our hectic schedules. But I'm really glad we did! It gave us time for ourselves and a breather from the demanding routines of our daily lives.

Our target? Canyon Woods Residential Resort (see more on my next blog). On our way, we passed by vast lands on our left side and store sellers of pineapples and flowers on our right side. It reminds me of the typical scenery of the provincial cities we passed by during our other provincial trips.

Scenery we passed by on our way to Tagaytay

The mountain slopes, giving us an idea that we are on our way up the mountain top.

Along the way, we found these tent like stores of fruits and flowers. Definitely a must have for some fresh pineapples on the way back to the city. And some lovely flowers for home decor.

Pineapples! Pineapples! Pineapples!

Kaleidoscope of flowers

Flowers, hanging plants and potted plants for home. Something we rarely find in the bustling city of Metro Manila.

On our way to Tagaytay, we had to pull over because it was lunch time already. We had our lunch at RSM Tagaytay Seafoods Garden Restaurant.

RSM Tagaytay Seafoods Garden Restaurant or RSM Lutong Bahay's name speaks for itself. It is a restaurant that specializes in "lutong bahay" or home cooked Filipino dishes. The usual dishes that's popular are the grilled dishes or inihaw, sisig, bulalo, crispy pata, adobo, sinigang na hipon and a lot more.

The restaurant is rustic in design and boast of the typical Filipino interior that makes you feel at home. Ceilings, tables and chairs are all wooden design, making it all the more authentic. It also has a band that will serenade you with Filipino songs while you eat. If you like the feel of it, why not? But I personally don't really like the feeling of somebody hovering around even if they are singing, while I'm eating. =)

RSM Lutong Bahay interior

The long wooden table for family dining and the serenading band

There are two (2) ways to order food. You have the choice to order a la carte by their menu or by falling in line through their fast food lane.

Personally, no pun intended, choose your food via the fast food lane. It's much quicker. We ordered via fast food lane and choosing by menu, the food we ordered took a long time to be served that we already finished the other dishes that there's really no point eating what's being recently served.

Service is really not that great. Asking for a spoon or fork or just an additional bowl for the soup took a long time that sometimes they even forgot you asked one. The fact that they served their food so long is quiet a no - no already.

The price, I think is a bit on the expensive side. I cannot particularly remember the exact price, but we ordered I think about 6 dishes in the fast food lane and it costs us more than P2,000.00. And the meal we ordered a la carte is not included yet.

Nevertheless, if you like the authentic "lutong bahay" meals, this is one of the places to go. But they do need to speed up their service and maybe tweak their price range a bit.

RSM Lutong Bahay Menu

Beyond, the restaurant offers a garden for diners who want to have a dining experience overlooking the Taal Lake and the Taal Volcano.

This is definitely a lovely view. One that you should explore just by walking along their pebbled paths and pausing for awhile and looking over at the Taal Volcano. It is also an educational experience for your kids. Knowing that they have seen the Taal Volcano in reality and not just in books or postcards.

The garden located at the back of the restaurant

This lovely miniature bridge leads to the open gazebo (see picture above)

And of course, the magnificent Taal Volcano captured our attention the minute we set our eyes on it. It's really as picturesque as all those books and postcards that shows it in its glory state.

The picturesque Taal Volcano

Maybe the service and food price didn't quiet satisfy us, but this scenery is worth the trip. =)

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Hong Kong: Ocean Park - The Grand Aquarium

The day at Hong Kong Ocean Park was almost at its end. We passed by this huge dome with octopus-like-tentacles design surrounding it. Curious, we decided to have our last stop here before heading home. We ride up the escalator and found "The Grand Aquarium".

The Grand Aquarium

Upon entering the Grand Aquarium, at first I really didn't make out what this is. But after awhile I realized it's like a big pond or the aquarium itself for these sea creatures. Amazing how they made this and maintain it so excellently!

The big pond or the huge aquarium thus the name Grand Aquarium

Inside the Grand Aquarium are huge sculptures of these sea creatures. Can't help but ponder how long the artist made this. =)


Huge sculptures

Here are some of the sea creatures that you are going to see and discover...

Is it Nemo? The clown fish? =)

The Great Sea Star or the Stars of the Sea

The caption says:

The Sea stars of the ocean are famed for their distinctive shape, bright colours and the capability of growing back their limbs! In some extreme cases, sea stars can grow back a whole new body from a limb! Scientists are studying their limb regeneration to see if it can apply to humans! ;)

Here are some of the actual photos taken of the sea stars...

You can actually touch these sea stars, if you are brave enough. These sea stars are inside a different shallow pond.

One of the fascinating creatures of the sea is the octopus!

While walking and watching at all these fascinating creatures, the Grand Aquarium made sure that the little kiddies won't be left out. They have their own Kid's Discovery Tunnel! =)

The Grand Aquarium's Kid's Discovery Tunnel

Here are some of what we have discovered inside the tunnel. Sort of a continuation of what's outside the tunnel.

These lovely corrals are pleasing to the eyes.

This Giant Octopus just can't help to show itself up among the corrals

Here come the Giant Crab!

What amazes me are the seahorses. Do you know there are different types?

The caption says:

Seahorses are unusual fish! Often a symbol of love, they pair up and stay together all their lives! These peaceful and charming creatures have amazed the world, but they are also prized for use in traditional medicines, as pets and as decorations. Don't consume seahorses! It is the only way we can continue to enjoy this symbol of love.

I have this particular seahorse that so amazed me that I want you guys to see for yourself why it amazes me so.

Normal sea weeds?

Look again! Now can you see? How many are there?

Amazing species of seahorses, aren't they? =)

Finally, at the bottom of the aquarium, we can see how some of these big sea creatures move under water.

And what else do you think we saw? The shark! =)

The Shark

The aquarium is really huge that if you are to pry each creature one by one, you'll take hours and hours before you'll be able to finish. But if you are a nature or sea lover, I think this place is a haven of sort for you. =)

Whatever our interest maybe. Hope this blog find you smiling 'till the end. It's a fun fishy experience indeed! =)

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Express by Holiday Inn Hotel Hong Kong

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Express by Holiday Inn Hotel Hong Kong

After our magical stay at Disneyland Hollywood Hotel in Hong Kong, it's back to the real world and what else? Sightseeing and shopping in Hong Kong!

With soaring prices in hotel accommodation, we had to plan out where to stay after Disneyland Hollywood Hotel. Of course, as a traveler if its affordable and comfortable; why not? right? So, we asked around and a friend told us that we can try Express by Holiday Inn Hotel. And so we did!

Express by Holiday Inn Hotel main lobby and reception counter

Express by Holiday Inn Hotel, is aptly described by its name - Express ! Which means fast. If you want a no fuss stay and is always on the go and doesn't need bell service; this hotel is the one for you. Though it doesn't mean they don't have bell service, they just don't bother you that much when you don't need it.

When going to Hong Kong, I was usually asked where am I going to stay? Hong Kong side or Kowloon side? I never really value the question, not until I went to Hong Kong a few more times that I began to understand. By Hong Kong side, they mean Hong Kong Island; where the heart of the city is! Business, entertainment, shopping and commercial areas are found. It is where you want to be in. And by Kowloon side, they mean Kowloon Island. This is another side where all the high end stores are found. Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci... to name a few. If this is what you have in mind, this maybe the wrong side of the island for you. But nevertheless, MTR is always a convenient tool of transportation in Hong Kong.

Express by Holiday Inn Hotel is inconspicuously found in the heart of Hong Kong Island. Inconspicuous? Why? Because it's not like the usual hotel where, the front door leads to the main lobby. You have to step on an escalator which then brings you up the lobby. The escalator itself is not readily noticeable, it is partly hidden by the wall, but it doesn't mean that you'll get lost. It's just a bit puzzling! NOTE: Big luggages may seem hard to pull up the escalator. You may need bell service assistance for the elevator, which is also inconspicuously hidden at the back. =)

So you might now ask, where am I exactly if I am to stay here?

You are next to these well-known areas in Hong Kong which are:

Causeway Bay
Times Square Mall
Causeway Bay MTR station - a few minutes walk from the hotel
10-minute taxi ride from Ocean Park
15 minutes taxi ride from Lan Kwai Fong
40 minutes ride from Hong Kong International Airport via shuttle bus or the Airport Express rail service.

But believe me, you'll never be able to finish them all not unless you plan to stay longer than a few days. The amusement park and Times Square Mall only; will keep you busy that you have no time to even consider other options. =)

Express by Holiday Inn Hotel's directory

Express by Holiday Inn Hotel's rooms are fairly clean and comfortable. Though they are not as spacious as compared to Disneyland's Hollywood Hotel's rooms. It is more or less only 3/4 of that space. But it didn't really bother us at all. We were more on looking forward to the day ahead of us.

Express by Holiday Inn's rooms

The extra bed near the window means extra charge.

Our rooms hallway and door. The door on the left leads to the bathroom.

Our bathroom

Our bathroom's shower

The outside hallway

Only kids can share the room with their parents for free. Adults with extra bed entails extra charge.

What are the other benefits?

Complimentary set breakfast - you have choices to choose from. Not really sure if I remembered correctly; the choices were English breakfast, Chinese breakfast, Locals breakfast. =)
Complimentary internet access at the "Business Center / Internet Corner" - located near the lobby

It was quiet accessible and convenient for us. All in all, when its time for us to leave for home; while waiting for our bus ride to the airport, we were able to have a little tour at Time Square Mall. That's how short the distance is from the hotel. A little time for some leisure walk.

What else can I say, a vacation this short always leaves you feeling and wanting for more! But that means all the more better because you have something to look forward to the next time. =)

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Monday, October 3, 2011

Hong Kong: Ocean Park - Ocean Theatre's Dolphin Show

The main attraction of Ocean Park Hong Kong is the dolphin show in Ocean Theatre. It showcase dolphins and seals doing their famous stunts for the audience. It never fails to bring out smiles in everyone's lips. "Oohs" and "aahhs" will be the common language each onlooker will utter during the show.

Ocean theatre

I'll be posting detailed pictures of the Dolphins doing their stunts. Please embrace yourselves for quite a number of pictures! =)

These performers start off the program!

Drum rolls please...

Dolphins communicating with their trainors

And there he goes!

Twist...

and twist some more...

Another star of the show, the seal !

The seal, pausing before going down the slide.

But then again, these dolphins steal the show once more!

Dolphins - the graceful acrobats! . . . going up...

Ready for the dive . . .

There goes their coordinated stunt! =)

Still want some more ?. . . of course there's more! I call this their symphony of movement!

I wont' be adding anymore captions, the pictures speak for itself!