Pen Pals on a Hot Summer Day

It has been hot in the city these past days since I've been back. I was not able to bring the kids (my siblings) anything much from my recent trip because there wasn’t anything much to buy anyway. I decided to make up for it. How?

I've heard about the sundaes being served by The Peninsula Manila long time ago. It was only a few days before I left that I recalled since some colleagues invited me out for some ice cream. However, it was past 10pm and so the hotel was not serving it anymore.

I was hesitant to even try this out because I was thinking, I can go ahead and order a gallon of ice cream from a grocery store, instead of it being whipped up into something fancy in some hotel's lobby. When I came back, it was only then that I learned that Pen Pals (the name of the sundae) consists of 19 scoops of ice cream resting on a bed of fruits topped with waffle sticks, marshmallows, maraschino cherries, mango and strawberry sorbet, chocolate sauce and whipped cream. It looked very intimidating because it was really huge. The dessert is good for 6 to 8 people.

The moment I heard that it had 19 scoops of ice cream in it, for the price of Php990++ (a little bit over Php50/scoop), I decided to try it out. Besides, you get to eat a beautifully garnished sundae in a very relaxed ambiance. It was Sunday afternoon when we went so it was really fitting.

It was so long ago (when was that typhoon where it wiped out electrical posts all over Metro Manila that it took a week for the electricity to be completely restored?) since the seven of us bonded. No nanny, no parents, just us. This is recommended for those who have kids, think like kids, act like kids... (you get the idea :P). Couple that with some stories and you’ll surely have fun.

I almost forgot, the ice creams used were from Selecta, and the taste doesn’t change once it’s arranged like the way Peninsula does. To all ice cream lovers, this won’t matter as you will enjoy the experience anyway.

Tip: Use your Gold Citibank Credit Card and get 15% off (I assume they offer this to the Platinum users too).

Geography of Bliss

Two words: I WANT =P

It’s just sad that I read about this book a day too late. I ordered stuff from Amazon just this Monday and I read about this book only yesterday. Surprisingly, it seems to be available in National Bookstore (according to their website). Problems are, I couldn’t find a copy in Fully Booked nor in Power Books and it sells for Php629.00 (approximately US$13) which I find expensive for a book I don’t even know if I’ll like. I know the price isn’t so bad because had I ordered it from Amazon, I would’ve paid US$10.77.

It looks like a good read. It appeals to me as something that is a good book to bring while traveling. Shall I give in? Maybe I’ll just wait for National Bookstore to go on sale.

*photo taken from the author's website

My perfect travel companion

There was only once that I have traveled alone. Even then, it was not even considered being alone as I had friends picked me up from the airport, adopted me to the houses of their relatives (their sisters specifically [shout out to Achi Irene and Ate Jenny]) and showed me around the city.

That experience was so much fun. It was very spontaneous and liberating. I was in total control of the places I wanted to go. I loved it (I love power! Kidding). I had a list of places to go, activities to do and things to buy. I must say, in that trip, I was able to do them all (except for that one side-trip because my friend Ira got scared of riding the bus all the way there. I love her though and we’ll be back to do that) and more!

During this time, as well as all of the other vacations that I’ve had (so as long as it was more than an overnight), I was with a company of my favorite stuffed toy. Meet OINK, my micro-beaded, pig-shaped pillow.

Naturally, I cannot bring it when I’m exploring whichever city I’m in. I use it mostly during flights (because I’m almost always asleep) and when I am elsewhere and ready to call it a night.

The little thing may be a form of safety blanket for me. I easily miss home when I’m away, and when I have a thing from my house that stays with me wherever I am, it comforts me and reminds me that I’ll be coming back and that I’m not too far away.

What OINK is to me may be in a different form as yours. But I think it’s safe to say that there is always something from home that we bring wherever we go.

Side note: In that trip, there was only this one day that I was totally alone in a city full of strangers (because some person went back to Manila ahead of me! Haha). I just roamed around and tested myself if I could in fact go from one place to another by not mixing up the messed up trains in the city. I was proud of myself that day that I rewarded myself by buying Godiva’s triple chocolate drink that was oh so good ($5 per 12oz., but who’s counting? Haha).

Why I hate flying

It is in my lifelong list to one day ride first class in a long haul flight (no, not business class… first class indeed, dream big right?). While I haven’t, I’m going to share with you my pain when flying since I fly coach, every single time.

I’m the type of passenger who is already asleep even before the plane takes off. Something in the ambiance of an airplane sedates me. Most of the time, I fly long haul, so it’s an advantage that I actually am able to doze off because it shortens my waiting time. There are just some things I really don’t like in my waking moments during a flight.

1. Airplane food – I don’t know how delicious the food are of the business and first class passengers (but I have talked to a few and they say the food isn’t any better) but for me, no matter what airline I take, I just can’t appreciate the food. There’s something in a pressured cabin that makes the taste of the food as if it wasn’t fresh or that it has been sitting around for too long but was just reheated. So for me, airplane food = not food.

2. Lavatories - I know space is an issue but the area of the toilets couldn’t be larger than 1 square meter! It’s insane. I can hardly move, and I’m not even big! The sink is tiny that it’s difficult to even wash your hands let alone your face and the way you’ll throw your tissues is just unhygienic. Also, I would prefer some showers installed because some people are in transit for more than 24 hours and I think it’s just good sense to keep yourself clean. Calling interior designers, can somebody please conceptualize the designs of the washrooms?

3. Pesky little kids directly at the back of your seat – I know this wouldn’t happen to the non-coach passengers. Don’t get me wrong, I adore kids. I have 6 younger siblings. It can get frustrating because there is always something that the parent/s can do about this. The sad thing is, some won’t even try. It pushes me off the edge.

Normally I would confront the parent about it. When that doesn’t work, I would talk to the stewards about it. But in a recent trip that I just came back from, the mother was totally asleep, unaware of the kicking and banging that her kids (yep, there were even 2 of them!) were doing… almost all throughout the flight. I wanted to be the one to tell them off (or tie them down to their seats). You may call me a bitch but I like my seat not to move one bit, especially when I’m sleeping, thank you very much.

4. Smell – there’s a scent that goes (and stays) with you when you are in a plane. Sort of like when you enter a hospital, you can also smell something different (or is it just me?). I don’t like it. Some air-freshener might help (just none of those scents that can irritate the noses of the passengers).

5. Water – or the lack of it. I appreciate the fact that whichever airline I fly with, stewards roam around ever so often to offer water for the passengers to be hydrated. Problem is, I’m not a fan of drinking cold water (as I am usually cold during flights). I’ll have to ask the stewards for a warm water when they finish their rounds. May I suggest that planes have water dispensers so I can just get some water myself? And provide for hot/cold options so I can keep myself warm and comfortable?

The rants here are only those things that someone can do something about (because I don’t like static electricity, but what is anyone going to do about that? ) Also, it’s not going to help in anyway.

Still I engage myself to flying. And why is that? Because it’s the only way to go to the places I love to explore.

And so here we go...

Hey guys,

I'm going to try to blog, every now and then, about my travels, expeditions, trips, and what have you. I do quite a lot of stuff and I am passionate about quite a number of things (travel, food, photography, surfing, books, music, arts, theater, etc.). It's just going to be an expression and an outlet. I will try my best to keep this thing up and running.

x,
Kristel