Xintiandi, Shanghai

If you find yourself in Shanghai's Xintiandi, try the Fountain Bistro and Wine Bar. It is near the fountain (surprise!) and it serves beer, cocktails and wines. Food is great, too! Their Clam Chowder Soup is filling enough. For big eaters, add in an order of Fish and Chips or the Roasted Chicken.

It has a good selection of Tapas.

A mojito costs RMB60, affordable in the standards of Shanghai.

Fountain Bistro & Wine Bar
Lane 181, Taicang Road, North Block
Shanghai Xintiandi
Open until 2 am

Remembering Summer

So, I was commissioned to contribute for this article on www.spot.ph. It was a tough task but someone had to do it :) Read the entire article here.

Boat Ride and Sirocco

We boarded a Chinese junk (at Shangri-La, Silom) and sailed for a few hours along the Bangkok river. It would have been enjoyable had it not been for a headache I always seem to have in the afternoons when I am in Bangkok. The junk was specially rented. We had drinks and dinner on board.


Lucky we missed the rain!


It was a lovely ride!


Later, we went to Sirocco at Lebua Tower, said to be the "world's largest al fresco restaurant." Located on the 64th floor, the view was fantastic! I had a mojito for THB450. I would recommend one of the house specialties, however.



Sirocco
State Tower
1055/111 Silom Road
Bangkok, 10500, Thailand
02-6249555

In Dumaguete, Have Balut and Tanduay Ice

It was a long weekend in the Philippines so we went on a sort of spur of the moment trip to Dumaguete (we actually went to Siquijor and Apo islands, too)


Photo courtesy of Pauline Derige

Near the famed boulevard of Dumaguete City, we settled for a round of Tanduay Ice at this place called Blue Monkey Grill.

The next night, we had Julien, a French guy traveling with us experience balut! This delicacy is now part of the appetizers menu in restaurants and thus, make for unconventional pulutan.


UPDATE: Finally have a video of the balut-eating experience. Enjoy!

Thinking in Thailand

The photo was taken at Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, Mindanao, Philippines. But the thoughts came while drinking a glass of wine in Thailand. See the photo of the bottle below. Not exactly came but more of found. They are not mine but these words describe exactly how I have been these past few weeks.

If you like a mid-range place for a decent Thai meal and some beer, head to Cabbages and Condoms Restaurant on Sukhumvit Soi 12. It's walking distance from the Sheraton Hotel that is near the Asoke BTS/MRT station. It has amusing decor and an interesting story. Read about it here.

I Have Two Beers

Sure I went to Vegas but the only thing I drank there were Shirley Temples. That is something I just had to do. I mean, not drink in Vegas. You should try it once. It's funny how when I declared it over a round table that I am not going to drink in Vegas, everyone thought I won't be able not to drink but I did (yahoo!). The next time (well, if there is a next time), I will do the "standard" and that is to have an alcohol-infused nightout along the strip.

It's in Chicago where I finally got some bottles of beers and a couple of vodka tonics (I also had a glass of Yellow Tail Pinot Noir on one lazy evening). I loved the freshness of Corona with a slice of lime the first, the second, the third, ... well, until the last bottle. On Memorial Day Weekend, I crashed a children's party (yup, you read that right). And it was there that I got introduced to 312. And I so loved it!

That said...

Sagada is Ganduyan

The Lenten holiday brought a dozen (and then one, Jeff) of us to Sagada, with the main man behind http://www.visitsagada.com/ , Benj. I had a very nice time and the trip was very memorable (spelunking, taking the long walk to our inn with just one flashlight that really shone in the darkness, and a birthday celebration).

To cap off the evenings (and warm ourselves a bit), we drank The Bar, gin and a bottle of red wine.

Hanging coffins at Echo Valley, Sagada

Big Falls

If we weren't on a hurry, it would have been nice to stay longer at the Big Falls and have a couple of beers. Don't you think?

On our last night, we stayed at Residential Lodge. I had a massage and was able to find out why it was called Sagada that I later shared when we were having a few drinks at the cozy living/kitchen/dining area.

Guess what was on the table?

Benj accidentally left the bottle of Vodka Hanoi on the bus on our way home so we never got to try it.

La Pampa!

A bad photo of a very good wine. This was taken at La Pampa, apparently the first Argentinian Steak House in Hong Kong. If you are not sure what to order, the manager can always recommend what is best with either your food or your wine. If a bottle of red is your bet, Trapiche Malbec is a very nice one.

It is located on Staunton St, Soho, Hong Kong.

The Bar at Nagsasa Cove, Zambales

It was an awesome Full Moon Weekend at Nagsasa Cove last January 30-31. Our itinerary was simple:

3:00 a.m. Meet at Victory Liner Caloocan (across Grand
Central Mall, near Monumento Rotonda)
*the bus leaves at 4:30 a.m. for San Antonio, Zambales

4:30 a.m. Bus from Manila to San Antonio, Zambales (3
hours)

7:30 a.m. ETA in San Antonio. Buy food in market. Take
tricycle to Pundaquit.

8:30 a.m. Pundaquit. From there, take boat to Nagsasa. Enjoy!

It was the first time I was introduced to The Bar Apple. And it was really good! See how many bottles we finished? (Well, some of these were Orange flavor).

Coron, Palawan

It was a busy half day. I am just too tired to write about it but Palawan is one of the places one should go to once in your life. At least. Beer in a remote island. Lukewarm beer, maybe. But the beautiful scenery, cool breeze and blue waters make up for it.

7107 Islands Cruise

Beach. Sunrise. Sunset. Onboard party. Really. Check out http://www.7107islandscruise.net/

Vivere Azure

A deluxe resort hotel south of Metro Manila (Anilao, Mabini, Batangas), a glass or more of good wine is perfect when enjoyed near its inifinity pool.

Club 1911 and more

Dinner and wine at Club 1911 at Soho, Hong Kong. Quaint, charming and very Chinese/Hong Kong feel.

Shek O Country Club -- beautiful scenery. An exclusive golf club and country club, they serve good food and good wine. (No denim jeans allowed!)

Lamma Island, Hong Kong

The pier


Fu Kee Seafood Restaurant (okay, don't laugh)



Our boat...

Last October 31, we sailed to Lamma Island, ate a feast and had a nice time.

Fu Kee has good food, cold beer, nice wine. All you need is company you like and you're set.

Kuching's Rice Wine

At the Bidayuh (land dayak) long house, you are greeted with rice wine. Our guide, Cornelia Dien told us that the right (and polite) way of saying you don't or won't drink it is to touch the glass and just say "Thank you."

Went to Kuching, Malaysia for the Sarawak Rainforest World Music Festival. The wet and muddy opening night had people (like moi) stuck in the Tourism Malaysia booth have a sake festival of our own (to keep us warm while we watch from the huge projector screen). The next day we went to the Semenggoh Wildlife Center to see orangutans and then to Annah Rais Bidayuh (Bidayuh is the second largest ethnic group in Sarawak)Longhouse. Rice wine, locally called tuak, greeted us.

Good morning, sake's kin!

Island of Wet Rice (and beer for RM4)

In Langkawi, Malaysia last Friday.

I have friends whose idea of a perfect vacation is drinking ice-cold beer on the beach. I miss these guys and they would have made this quick island stop merrier. and noisier

Anyway, while here, I remember how beautiful Bora and Palawan islands are and I felt that the Philippines has much to learn of how Malaysia does its tourism promotion programs. And I made a resolution that if I were ever going to work for the government again, it would have to be with DOT.

El Capitan, Club Noah Isabelle

Found on Apulit Island, Palawan, Club Noah Isabelle is the only resort being served by a small airport. Seair is the only plane you can ride to get here. From the airport, you ride a chartered jeepney and then ride a small boat that brings you to a bigger boat that takes you to the island (this takes about 40 minutes). But if you didn't get any sleep, this is the perfect time to catch some Zzzs. If you don't need the power nap, stay on top of the boat and enjoy the cruise (but be prepared to get wet when the sea gets rough).



Left is a day shot of El Capitan at daybreak which I took before we left the island. At night, it looks like what you see on the right.





Beer is $1.50 which is not bad considering it is an island resort. Must-try is Club Noah Special (rhum-based with four seasons) $5 because it's only here one finds it (I guess you can always mix your own but unless you drink it here, it's not qualified as "Club Noah Special"). The margarita, I think costs $4.50.

At El Kapitan, there is a pool table, a dart board and a nearby tabletennis table. You can also jam with an acoustic and tambol duo whose songs are mostly classics.