Midnight Mercato
Boyps and I don’t usually go on a night out. Nine o’clock in the evening is already late for us because we always want to catch the last train of LRT. Hihi. Our usual dinner out is always with friends, like get together / monthly dinner. And whenever we failed to catch the last train, I ended up sleeping in his apartment. So when I told my mother that I will stay at Boyps after the Pyro at MOA, I asked Boyps to make the most out of that night.
I have been to Salcedo weekend market and never to any night markets. So that night, I asked Boyps if we can go to Taguig to try Mercato Centrale.
We rode a cab from Buendia – Taft going to Mercato Centrale in Bonifacio Global City. The place was packed with lots of food trippers like us. There’s a huge area that holds the tables and chairs but it was full and even those monoblocks are occupied.
There were lots of stalls selling a variety of food – from rice with viands, pastas, sausages and bread, soups, appetizers and desserts. Of course, there are also stalls selling drinks like juices and milk teas.
The first stall that caught our attention was Tacklings – mini tacos wrap ala dumpling style. But while we are on queue, I saw a familiar face and I still don't know his name. Hihi
Anyways, we immediately bought a dozen and enjoyed every piece of it. I wish they could add more meat and salsa to make it more flavorful and sulit. J I guess this is the only food we bought that we really enjoyed. The rest that we had were just okay – as in casualan lang.
Boyps got curious with these Potato Croquettes so we bought one. According to the poster, it has bacon and cheese but it wasn’t generous enough. Maxadong nakakabusog at may umay factor pag madami ng nakain.
Every time I see Takoyaki, I always make sure to try it. This one is no different from the others I have tried. It wasn’t bad but not good enough. 
I can’t let that night pass without trying sausages. The price is P150 – buy 1, take 1. But I ask the vendor, what if I only want to buy one, the guy said, “naku pag isa lang Php 75 po”. I find it weird, because I should only be paying P75 and get two sausages. That’s how I understand it. P75 isang sausage, so if buy 1 take 1, P75 lang dapat, free yung isa. :p
Food trip won't be complete without drinks. The juice was okay, the milk tea was super sweet.
This is where I had my first Mochiko experience. I really got curious after seeing it. I bought a lot of mochi when I was in Taiwan and I really loved it. So I got excited after knowing that there’s a mochi filled with ice cream. I bought cookies n cream since the lady said that it is one of their bestseller. The ice cream is really hard after purchased so I had to wait for 2-3 minutes before I take a bite. I enjoyed the experience but I don’t find it yummy. Keri lang, Maxadong mahal para sa P70 tapos ung cookie isa lang, nasa gitna ng ice cream. :p
I'm not sure if the schedule is still the same as shown in my picture below.
Every food market I visit is a good and fun experience. I got to enjoy different foods while still spending less. Masaya may ka share. J I hope my next is Bancheto. J open pa ba yun? =))



Mercato Centrale
30th Avenue and 9th Street
http://www.midnightmercato.com/

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MARU

I've wanted to try this restaurant for months already and that craving level has increased after seeing it being featured in a local TV show (can't remember what) and the host just kept on saying that it was the best Korean restaurant (for her) so far. I've been to Yedang and Kogi Bulgogi already and I can say that I'm really enjoying Korean dishes because of the free appetizers (appetizers pa lang, busog ka na) and Korean paste. Hihi
Upon arriving at the place, I was surprise that it wasn't packed yet. I even thought that I have to wait for a staff to direct us to our seats but I was wrong. Anyone is free to choose where to seat. I asked the staff if we can occupy one of the vacant "korean- style tables" – no chairs, guests will seat on a pillow and gladly, he said yes. Pero nangawit talaga ako dun.
My dear companions were late because of heavy traffic so it was just me and Boyps who took care of the orders.  While waiting for them, we were served with house tea and lots of appetizers - all for free. It was so many that I can only name a few - tofu, spicy anchovies, kimchi, potatoes and five more. Hihi
 Appetizers can be refilled!
As well as this - house tea unlimited!
Just after one of the main dish was served, Je and Boyet arrived! So here's what we have shared for dinner:
Dakdori - Tang (Php 850) is a chicken soup with lots of potatoes. I love the soup but not the chicken. The spiciness of the soup was tolerable and there's really this "hagod-thing" that I like. I would love this dish even more if it was served with noodles than chicken. :p
Boyps says: "I really thought that this is not a soup dish. Usual lang din ung anghang nung sabaw"
Dolsot Bibimbap (Php 350) Bibimbap is a famous Korean dish – Korean rice topped with veggies, sunny side up egg and ground beef.  It was served with Korean paste and another sauce that I don't know. Haha. But it was good! I first find it bland but after adding some paste in it, it became delicious.
Boyps says: "casualan"
We also got two sets of thinly sliced beef with petchay Baguio. We fry it without putting oil. We were wondering why the staff did not drizzle the pan with oil and just immediately place the sliced meat on it. Until we we're halfway and notice a lot of oil is spilling from the pan. Hihi.  Our beef was really tender and flavorful. I tried eating this with the Bibimbap and petchay dipped in their super yummy Korean paste (I'm not sure if it's a soybean paste). Heaven.
Note: If you wanna experience the "cook-it-yourself" food, a minimum of two sets should be ordered, otherwise, your ordered meat will be cooked by their chef and later, served.
Boyps says: kala ko madami yung meat, hindi pala :p
After that sumptuous dinner, we continue chatting at Seattle's Best coffee shop in Taft avenue. I ordered the Heavenly Cheesecake (super sarap but sad to say, this is only available for a limited time) while Boyps had Avocado Milkshake (rich and creamy!).
It was such a fun night even if we are only four. And I'm really looking forward to have more dinner / lunch out / and simple get together with them. Inferness, sarap ng may friend na may car. :p Bwaha

Maru
HK Sun Plaza
Macapagal Ave.
Pasay City

Seattle's Best Coffee
Taft Avenue
Manila
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Singapore Day 3: Orchard Road, Glutton's Bay, City at Night

After our tour at Singapore Zoo, we went to Orchard road for some window shopping. Orchard road is known as the shopping destination in Singapore for people who can really afford. The place is surrounded with lots of shopping malls but I can say that there are still some malls / areas that sell affordable items for people like us. Hihi. May pera kami pero di kami rich. :p
Boyps brought us to the Lucky Plaza Mall. Entering at this mall gave me a feeling that it was as if I’m in SM supermalls, lakas maka-pinas. Haha. There were lots of Filipino vendors / helpers and restaurants selling Filipino foods. We brought our Merlion chocolates here for a cheaper price. Souvenir shirts were quite pricey but the quality was not that good. I still find the souvenir items in China town nicer and much cheaper.
I also tried asking some stalls selling sunglasses and watches. During our visit, I really find them cheap compare here in Manila, specially their watches - super sarap mag shopping kung may pera. I’m just not sure if they are all original. While roaming around, I saw this Yakult with packaging different from what we have here so I bought one. Iba lasa, mas gusto ko yung satin.
Orchard tour for me is over because I need to meet my friend, Diane. She is working in Singapore and she told me that we need to meet before I leave the country. So Boyps and I left Je and hubby (nakiki hubby ako?) at Orchard road and decided to meet again for dinner.  
Diane toured me in two of the tourists’ favorite spots – The Esplanade and Merlion Park. Walking along the area made me try their 1-dollar ice cream.
Hello again, Merlion!
 It was past 6 when Diane brought us to Glutton’s bay to have dinner. Presenting her treats! Super dami, super sarap, super busog. My favorite among all these was the cereal prawns – the cereals were crispy, its saltiness was so unique, the shrimp was flavorful and their combination was just perfect! By the way, I don't know the price because it was my friend who paid everything. J
I enjoyed so much the dinner that Boyps and I were almost an hour late to meet my travel buddies. Bilang ganti, I treated them a dollar ice cream and the cereal prawn. Hihi.
Here a sight of Singapore at night: 

Next day was our flight back to Manila. We went to Suntec City to buy my Ray-ray, do last minute shopping for pasalubong and had breakfast in one of the mall's fastfood chain.
 I’ve been to SG thrice and I would still want to go back to explore more places, eat more food and do a lot more of adventure. Hope to see you again very soon, Singapore. J
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Singapore Day 3: Singapore Zoo

Hello friends! Happy New Year. I hope you guys had a fun filled vacation this holiday season. I’ve been busy with so many things that I totally forgot to blog. J Anyways, just a reminder that this SG trip happened last February 2012. Bwaha
Our 3rd day at Singapore was spent at the famous Singapore Zoo. The first time I visited this country, my family and I went to the Night Safari. I could say that I enjoyed the zoo more than the safari and that's maybe because I can clearly see the animals and take tons of pictures with them.
We had a hard time locating the zoo. From our hotel, we went to Bugis MRT station; board the train, alight at Central station. From there, transfer to Jurong East line; board the train, alight at Ang Mo Kio station. Take Exit B and go to Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8 then wait for Bus 138. The bus will take you to the Singapore Zoo. The bus ride takes about an hour so it was such a long trip from Bugis to the Zoo.
Upon arriving at the zoo, there were already visitors on queue. I don’t know how much we paid for our tickets but I remembered that we got a discount just by presenting our passports (based on my friend’s blog, we paid SGD25 each). The zoo is really big that’s why they offer guest a tram ride but that incurs additional cost. At dahil sa tindi ng init at pagod, nag avail kami. But sad to say, the tram ride was not worth it because we had to walk back to where it passes so we can pictures with the animals. 
There were really a lot of animals along the trail (zoo nga e). The first sightings were these birds. I thought they are plastics but they were real. Hihi
I’ll try to bring you to the zoo by showing you this pictures.
 
it's been a while since the last time I saw giraffes and
zebras
 
 
 
Pagod din kayo?
 
Visitors can ride elephants too.
There were a lot of monkeys! As in super.. na kahit san ka lumingon may unggoy.
aga aga kung ano ano ginagawa
But this one is the cutest:
I also enjoyed the views – very pleasing to the eyes because of the sun, water and colors.
 

The last animal we saw were penguins. I really thought that their cuteness is to the highest level but nooooo. L ang papaya nila e, ang layo sa happy feet. K bwaha
It was so hot that we need something to hydrate us. Then I saw this guy selling fruit slush. Jerellt and I bought Mango slush – so yummy and refreshing.
We also had lunch so if you plan to eat there, be sure to be early because seats are quite limited and the queue gets too long.
Before leaving the place, we had the chance to watch an animal show. The zoo offers a lot of animal shows so better grab the schedules before roaming around the place.
By the way, here’s the reason why I joined the magnum craze when I heard that it will be brought here in the Philippines – Magnum Double Caramel Ice Cream. It was really creamy and caramelly. I was just disappointed that the flavor I love was not here. So now I’m out of the craze. Hihi.
SGD 3+
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