Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Part of the Malaysia trip is a free day tour around Kuala Lumpur and visiting the Petronas Towers is part of the itinerary. We also had lunch inside Suria KLCC and just window shopped inside Uniqlo.

We weren’t able to go to the skybridge though, and even if they go there, I’m too afraid to go up. Reminds me of the 911 event, I got scared that planes might crash on these towers too but tour guide assured us that planes are equipped with state-of-the-art aviation GPS.

And please forgive my crappy photo, this is one thing I miss when traveling with my husband, I don’t have a photographer…

We flew to Malaysia via Air Asia at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport at Clark. Very long bus ride to Clark and another 3-hour flight to Malaysia. After that, we have to prep ourselves for the awards night.

grand lobby of Marriot Putrajaya

rooms at the executive floor

Of course, I have to take a photo….

Childhood 101 won the Best Parenting Blog Award, second time and a well deserved one.

But Team Philippines bagged four awards that night, and I’m proud to be part of them.

Team PH NAPBAS

Jayvee for Best Geek Blog (www.geekout.ph), Tippy Go & Anthony Go for Best Hidden Gem (www.googlygooeys.com), Jenni Epperson for Best Lifestyle Blog (www.jenniepperson.com) and my roomie Nina for Best Travel Blog (www.justwandering.org).

Did you know that Erwan Heussaff has a food blog (www.thefatkidinside.com)? His food blog was a finalist too but he didn’t win… Oh well, he has me, lol!

If you’re a beach person, Aklan has plenty of shorelines and beaches that you can enjoy. New Washington in Kalibo and Navitas in Numancia has some resorts for you to stay. But the best beach to visit when in Aklan is Jawili Beach in Tangalan, Aklan.

Jawili beach in Tangalan is about 30 km from Kalibo, the place is reachable by any public transportation, vans, cars and tricycles.

I was able to swim in Jawili beach years ago and I recalled a quiet, clean and fine sand beach. Good thing that commercialization hasn’t reached Jawili beach yet, unlike in Boracay. There are a number of resorts in the area but the peace and quiet is still maintained.

Jawili beach boasts of wide and undisturbed shoreline, a vast space that is conducive for a walk or a jog in the morning. Unlike in Boracay, the shoreline is devoid of structures, lounges and people offering massages, water activities and other wares. It is just you, the sun, the sand and the beach.

Shown above is a fishing boat docked at the beach. We were told that it catches “dilis”, a small fish, hence the number of lights at the boat’s front.

A few minutes from the beach is also a hidden gem, Jawili Falls, till my next post.

We already knew that the ribs are a must-try so we ordered it the moment we sat down.

Baby Back Ribs, Half (good for 2-3 persons) - Php 450; Full - Php 700

Indeed, they have the right to be famous because of their lip-smacking ribs. Just the right tenderness and grilled just to have a smoky flavor. I like it because the servings are just right for 3-4 persons. You can also ask for extra barbecue sauce without charge.

We also had grilled eggplant with bagoong as a side dish for Php 80. The bagoong is so addicting because it has the right combination of sweet and salty.

Next time, we’ll try their other grilled offerings like the Korean liempo.

PS: if you have time, I hope you can drop by my health and beauty blog (link is at the left sidebar) for beauty products reviews such as bb creams, eyelash growth products, foundations, etc…

look out for this sign just near the Havaianas store in Station 1

When we get there, tables were already full at around 10 am. Real Coffee is open as early as 7 am by the way. I immediately asked for their calamansi muffins, of course! But the staff said that they already ran out of calamansi muffins and they’re just about to bake. So I got their Ultimate Muffin instead and Jeff ordered their pancakes with two eggs.

Pancake with Two Eggs, Php 140

Eggs are cooked just the way I like it, runny yolk. But the pancakes are just your ordinary pancakes, nothing special. This came with a cup of coffee, which tasted good.

Ultimate Muffin (carrot, pineapple, banana, walnut & raisins), Php 60

Reading all that comes in this muffin, this is indeed the ultimate muffin! And it also packs a lot of yumminess!

super moist!

Real Coffee’s Ultimate Muffin is my fave! Super moist and doesn’t scrimp on ingredients, you can actually taste all of the fruits and walnuts plus the cinnamon.

After a while, I heard a group of new diners came and ordered the famed calamansi muffins, and they now have freshly baked calamansi muffins. I’m already finished with my Ultimate Muffin so I asked for their calamansi muffin.

calamansi muffin, Php 45

Honestly, after tasting the calamansi muffin, I don’t get it why this is so hyped up. Perhaps those who raved about the calamansi muffin didn’t taste the Ultimate Muffin. Because for me, Ultimate Muffin is better than this one. It’s packed and filling alright, but it’s a bit dry. The tart taste from the calamansi is only present from the outside part of the muffin.

So it’s the Ultimate Muffin for me on my next visit but go ahead and order the calamansi muffins just for curiosity’s sake.

Southwest Tours Boracay

You can easily spot Southwest Tours at the arrival gates of Kalibo International Airport. I highly recommend riding a coaster instead of the vans especially if traveling with an infant like us. Lots of legroom, air-conditioned and safe ride to Caticlan. At the Caticlan jetty port, someone from Southwest Tours will line up for you for the environmental and terminal fee. They also have their own boats going to Boracay.

As for our family, we are Aklan and Boracay-bound! I am looking forward for a weekend of beach, sun (I hope!) and sand!

see you in Boracay!

I’m 3 months pregnant when we had our company outing last year, this time, it’ll be just our family, with our 10-month-old Gwen! I’m pretty excited because I’ll be spending my birthday in the island plus we’re planning on participating in their Trick or Treat.

But first, I must search for an updated recommended hotels/accommodations in Boracay because my Boracay blog posts were 3 years ago. So the rates might be higher and there might be new recommended accommodations.  As usual, we’re not choosy when it comes to hotels, as long as it’s clean, affordable, air-conditioned and secured, we’re fine.

Some Boracay hotels I’m considering:

• Tans Guesthouse – recommended hotel based on PEX and Girltalk forum.
• Island Nook – a boutique hotel located near D’Mall. However, it’s not beachfront.
• MGB Cottages – rates are cheap (Php 2,000 for 3-4 pax) and my officemate was there last weekend.

View of 32 Rue du Four, a luxury villa in Paris, France

Located in the very heart of France, 32 Rue du Four is a pleasant villa located only minutes away from a number of Paris’ top attractions, rendering it an accessible base from which to explore this famous city. There’s no need to rent a taxi for half an hour to get close enough to see the sights! The primary bedroom features a King-size bed along with an en-suite bathroom, and a dressing room to provide the parents with the space and comfort they’re used to. The remaining two bedrooms offer enough space for three children to settle in and get comfortable. Air Conditioning services the entire apartment, allowing everyone to relax at a temperature they’re used to, and the multiple bathrooms ensure that nobody will be left waiting for too long. Satellite TV, free long-distance calls to 49 countries, and internet access also help keep you in touch with the rest of the world, rendering this delightful apartment a top contender for families.

View of Mas de L’ Esperance, a luxury villa in Provence, France

Beautiful and cultured though it is, Paris is not the only place that exists in France, and villa rentals serve other parts of the country as well. Situated in the friendly Provence region, Mas de L’ Esperance is a family-friendly villa built to accommodate a slightly larger group in elegance and comfort. The four bedrooms of this villa are each equipped with their own bathroom, and three Queen-sized mattresses help to provide room for everyone while a fourth, Single-size bed is suitable for a young member of the family. Enjoy the on-site swimming pool, or take a short drive to the beach for some summer fun. Laundry facilities, outdoor cooking, and a secure entryway help make this villa safe, scenic, and a great way to visit the southern areas of France.

View of Maison De La Treille, a luxury villa in Provence, France

However, of all the French villas, the most family-friendly locale is undoubtedly Maison De La Treille. Despite featuring five bedrooms to divvy up among the members of the household, a very respectable number, this villa is actually one of the least expensive locations in all of France. The fun doesn’t stop there, though; for families of four or fewer people, Maison De La Treille offers the opportunity to rent only one of the two buildings that make up this villa, reducing the cost even further and helping make this villa a budget-saving destination for enjoying France. Adding in all of the other features, such as the swimming pool, security, temperature control, and convenient location, Maison De La Treille is a great choice for any family looking to experience the hospitality and culture of France.

Ikea Chocolates

We love the Dark Chocolate and Hazelnut variant. They are just SGD 1.80 (Php 63.05) each. They can serve as pasalubong too if you’re tired of giving Merlion chocolates, magnets and key chains.