Women Inspirations

Recently I’m hooked with this new found scent that I definitely love to wear all the time. It’s the Country Chic from ‘Bath & Body Works’ American retail store.

I found the name intriguing because of the word country (I love country music so I tried it) haha what a shallow reason. Right then I knew this is the scent that I’m looking for. I immediately noticed the powdery feel of the fragrance and the calmness.  Such a good treat for a simple chic on the go but tries to maintain a fab outlook in life.

Buy this product here.

In Surigao del Sur, you will find a deep blue lagoon/river known as Enchanted River. Most tourists would drop by or visit the place after having fun at Tinuy-an Falls. I guess these two spots are perfect pair for nature tripping in Bislig City Surigao del Sur. Though they are quite far from each other, there are things that connects them. First, they are bodies of water, secondly they give similar joy to people wanting to escape from the buzzling streets of the city.

And so behold, the rich lush bordering the river…and the great landscape that mount beside it.

Here’s a preview of behaved people observing the serenity during the fish feeding session. Everyone pays respect for this important time for the creatures in the lagoon. They do this every 12:00 in the afternoon where they play a music to inform people of this local tradition.

And so after that everyone can go back to swimming and jumping!

Thank you God for providing Surigao del Sur a bountiful of seafoods. We indulged into calamares and grilled fish that you can smell the salt from the sea. It’s very fresh and engaging. We only paid P400 for a delightful meal, just wow! How I love the provincial feeling! Simplicity at its best.

We had much energy after lunch so we went back to the river, the water is very cold as expected. And yeah you are literally swimming with the fish. I lost my ring while swimming (it jumped out) but because the sun beams brightly and the water is crystal clear, we found it in less than 5 min! This is not polluted because its protected, I just hope it remains like that in hundred years maybe? This water is going to a bay that’s why there are fish living in the lagoon.

Enchanted River is quite crowded of tourists coming from different parts of Mindanao including me and him. Bryan was the one who enjoyed it a lot because he loves to swim in deep surfaces. He should thank me because I braved to do this for him lol!

And to complete our team of exploratory is Rhea.

Enchanted River entrance fee: P30.00
Address: Talisay, Hinatuan Surigaon del Sur
Ask locals for directions
Expect a roller coaster of ride

Dear Cagay-anons, you don’t need to travel to Manila anymore to taste Tokyo Tokyo Japanese dishes because they are finally here in Cagayan de Oro! Isn’t that a wonderful news? We will have the opportunity to bring our family and friends to something new and Japanese oriented fast food in the city. Tokyo Tokyo is conveniently located at 2nd floor Limketkai Mall. Brace yourself for affordable bento meals and sumo meals (which is good for 2). Imagine in less than 300 pesos you can already share this to your date! Plus with a twist of Japanese culture! Yay your date will definitely melt. So if you want to experience a bit of Japanese culture, hop in to the latest food indulgence in the city – Tokyo Tokyo.

I dined in Tokyo Tokyo in Manila when we had a short vacation there last May so when the news came out that Tokyo Tokyo is opening in Limketkai I was thrilled because we will finally have this store near to us Mindanaoans. Simply wow! The Limketkai branch is 2nd in Mindanao (first in Davao last September).

The food chain is in 30 years of business and after 30 long years they finally opened its doors in Mindanao. What? we have to wait for 30 years before it came over here? hehe. Lucky us! They have over 50 branches all over the Philippines particularly in National Capital Region.

Sumo meals includes pork tunkatso, prawn tempura, beef misono and read iced tea and unlimited rice you can eat (good for 2 persons). On the other hand, the bento meal offers different dishes you can choose and customize. Choose among the bestseller meals combined with miso soup, veggies, dessert in one meal with red iced tea and rice all you can.

November 29, 2012 is the date for its grand opening in CDO.  Cdobloggers was chosen as one of media partners in launching the branch. We are happy to be among the first people to went inside the store to experience their cuisine and making Maki.

On the pre launching night (Nov. 28, 2012), the chef presented this demo:

We enjoyed rice meals and Japanese dishes, my personal favorite is the one with rainbow color Maki. And the beef misono that I tried first in Manila. Well, I haven’t forget why its my favorite. It’s tender and saucy

Prawn tempura

Authentic Milk tea at P60 only, yey! A new addition to faves.

Yokoso to Cagayan de Oro Tokyo Tokyo and D?mo arigatogozaimashita for the invitation

Soon this store will be full of customers….

Hey guys, I bet you are already aware of the opening of Centrio’s Ayala Mall in Cagayan de Oro City this coming Nov 9, 2012! I can sense the excitement in your head To add the thrill, our 2 favorite food chain is offering something to its consumers for their branch opening at Centrio. Brace yourself for this exciting news!

Come home to Bigby’s – This is the latest tagline of Bigby’s cafe and Restaurant, wondered why? Because we will be welcomed with a homey interior and ambiance where they will offer sala sets (like in a house) and other stuff in their new branch at the Centrio mall so we better watch out for that. What’s more interesting is they will give Go Lite Rack-a-bye-baby ribs to the first 100 who will win in their investigative test entitled ‘Who ate my ribs’. Join this contest to win this tasty ribs on the opening in Centrio Ayala by following the story in their fb page. Get ideas and follow the mystery there! But first see the slideshow below.

As for Missy Bon bon, the home of gelato goodies, is also offering a challenge yet wonderful experience because of the prices you can win. Missy bon bon lovers and gelato funk here is your chance to get a one year supply of gelato (*drooling*). Run and become the first customer of Missy Bon Bon on the opening on Nov 9 at Centrio Ayala. Yes, that simple hehe. Make a plan starting now to become the first one. Don’t worry if you become the second customer you will get a 6 month supply of gelato ( I know you’re thinking already how to win) The 3rd one will get 1 month supply of gelato, awww great deal!

So on Nov. 9, you already know where to go

On the launching of these promos, CDObloggers enjoyed a sumptuous dinner at Bigby’s Cafe and Restaurant last October 12, 2012. I’ve always been a fan of Bigby’s and Missy Bon Bon, I’ve blogged them before so when there’s an invite from Bigby’s I needed not to think twice, I joined.

Here’s the happening and the announcement during the promo launching at Bigby’s cafe and restaurant Limketkai. Fed with food and laughter I had a great time. The baby back ribs haven’t lost the rich flavor through the years teehee. Our 4th plate of baby back ribs on the table, that is how big our appetite was:

We also had these mouthwatering dishes:

Cookies and Cream Cheesecake (for our dessert). Yeah I break rules, I ate cakes again. I was tempted

Midnight Dream cake (2nd dessert)

Quesadillas This one is filled with yummy cheese, I can’t get enough.

Super Duper Spaghetti!

Yay I got me a gift certificate! Excited to use this for my next visit. Thank you Bigby’s

Random pictures below during the event.

CDObloggers with Bigby’s President

With my date

Don’t forget to mark your calendar. Join now!

So you heard about the Niagara falls of the Philippines? Yes, Tinuy-an falls is dubbed as the famous Niagara falls in the Philippines because of its wide and long water cascades. It is hidden in the peaceful community of Bislig City. The exact address is Brgy Borboanan, Bislig City. Tinuy-an literally means ‘you will frequently visit it after the first one because of its beauty’.

How do we reach the place? If you are from Manila or any part from Luzon, you can travel via airbus to Butuan City or Cagayan de Oro City. Once you reach Butuan, ride a bus going to Bislig City/Mangagoy (these are same place, Mangagoy is the Capital of Bislig). Because we traveled from Cagayan de Oro City, we have to stopped over at Butuan City and stayed overnight. The next morning we had a tour at Butuan and continued our journey to Bislig City riding Bachelor express bus. Take note that from Butuan it will take approximately 5 and a half hours to reach Bislig City. It was a bumpy ride but I like seeing the rural areas as I feel the breeze caressing my face (no air-conditioned bus teehee). We were sitting next to the driver so I had the chance to take full view of the surroundings.

It was already dark when we arrived at Mangagoy, about 8pm, the bus was parked when a kind lady approached and asked where we are going. Rhea told her about our short trip and that we are on our own to discover the place. Good thing she is a government officer and was concerned. She took us to the motorcycle and instruct the driver to send us to the newest inn in the City. The inn just opened tonight Sept 1, 2012 and we were the first customer! Wow we are so lucky. We had free dinner and discounts for our room! This trip got even better. We only paid freaking P750 for the room! Really a good deal. They are so warm and friendly to welcome us not to mention I hungrily indulge with their feast lol. So guys if you go there, I can recommend Tffany’s Inn. It’s near in the bus terminal and accessible (Too bad some of my pics are corrupted so the photos when I ate was gone boohoo).

Tfanny’s alley going to the room

I’m so noob I didn’t get a picture of the room, gaaah! But it’s like you are in your bed at home. It’s very comfy!

The next morning, we woke up early at 6:00 and had a phenomenal ‘breakfast at Tiffany’s’. Song or movie we did it! hehe. We already hired a habal2 or motorbike driver last night, the same person who took us to the inn was the one we hired the next day. It was a breeze transaction. At 7:30am we are ready to ride the motorbike to Tinuy-an falls.

I think it took 1 and a half hour until we see the Tinuy-an falls. We passed by villages, wide farms, a peaceful lake, we crossed two weak bridges. And the most challenging one is staying our butt in the motorbike seat as we hurdle the rocky roads. We moved up and climb the hill and the next minute we are moving downward. It was like riding a roller coaster hehe.

But behind the road adventure is pleasing to the eyes. You’ll be able to feed your eyes with landscapes such as the wide green rice fields which I usually see in paintings, the triangular position of the birds flying, the blue sky. A cool breeze! It was spectacular and totally a nature trip!

The arrival

It was really wide water falls with several levels. From the entrance, you’ll be able to see a rainbow below the longest level between the hours of 8:00am and 10:00am. Well that’s what they said – the guide.

The entrance fee is P50.00 only. Enjoy the cold water and the breeze and let the moist touch your skin. The cascade is in fast movement and as expected, its kinda noisy! Jungle feeling it is! hehe. We chose not to bath as we have to travel to Enchanted River. We might catch colds if we travel wet plus would require an hour to dress up again

Noticed the rainbow at our back?

Not sure though if the raft is to be rented when you ride it near to the actual falling water.  Life vest can be rented at Php15.00.

There’s a rainbow, there’s a rainbow! Shouting like a child! Haha not up in the sky but below the falls. Now tell me if its not awesome.

After we enjoyed the lower part of the falls, we climb the stairs going up to the higher level. The levels up there is shorter and must have geographical figure that is both pleasing and amazing.

At the upper part, water is moving fast.

Dipping our feet in the water and observing the sounds of the nature.

In general I enjoyed the nature trip together with Rhea and Bryan. I am glad I was able to witness this kind of nature. We were very blessed because it was sunny and fair-weathered! We traveled to our next destination – Enchanted river around 10:00am. But before that we bought some souvenirs like this mouse pad and key chains.

Better than any other! Yes this is the famous tagline of Greenwich as they introduced to us their latest addition of pizza in the market. It’s bigger, yummier, flavorful as it is loaded with veggies, meatier, and better! Pizza lovers like me is tickled with this great news. Much more that I got freebies during the launching. We received notebooks and greencards that let’s you order Greenwich items in discounts. Isn’t that awesome? You can purchase this card for P200 but they give it to us for FREE

My first part of Greenwich better than any other pizza, how do you eat a loaded pizza like that? Appetizing!

While they (fellow bloggers) are discussing at the back, here I am at peace and enjoying my piece of heaven, pizza More more more! Better pizza is understatement, goodness graces this has the best toppings yet!

Next stop:

I was shocked with the goodness of glazed chicken! It was juicy and tender in one. You should really try this huhu (hayy me drooling remembering the launching)

The appearance alone makes you grab it instantly. Can I take this home?

The staff were accommodating and shows their side of wackiness.  Thank you Greenwich for the invitation and the experience, best regards to John Lloyd, lel!