Maginhawa St.

I need to see Ms. Tech before she leaves for Seoul, hence, the date today. We are going to explore Maginhawa St. on a weekend... *thrilled*

First stop for lunch is at Friulli Trattoria for pasta and pizza. Don't expect something fancy of the place, it is small pizza place and is presenting a very casual dining experience. Great for comfy hanging out with friends for the afternoon I think. Somewhere you can eat good food without the hassle of the need to look very much presentable. I like that its ambiance is so comfortable that if I live nearby I feel like I can drop by any time of  the day there even without taking a shower! lol We had an all meat pizza and a plate of pesto pasta. Awesome! Well done pizza and al dente pasta. It's affordable and worth every penny.

Full from lunch, we looked for a dessert place. Walking along the street almost all of the establishments were closed for the day. Then we spotted Sancho Churreria.

Truth is we came in to try the Frozen Brazo de Mercedes it was just unfortunate that the said cake ran out of stock. The staff said the owner only bake one whole cake for a day and that's it. So sad. We just tried their churros then some cold refreshments for them and coffee for me.

We stayed for a bit then walked again.. we spent the afternoon eating, walking, eating and now walking once again. We really don't know where to head next because it seem that most of the restaurants were closed on weekends. Really unlucky!

We're not ready to end the day yet then Tech and Mariel thought of Gayuma ni Maria.. and off we go!

This one really intrigued me. We came in and I did not expect the interiors to be so interesting.

혼자 여자 - pose
(translates as single woman or alone girl)

It's really interesting how the place was put together. And really, not everything is in order which gives it a different appeal. It's like a restaurant and kinky shop all in one. Well, you'll only notice the kinky stuffs if you'll take a look at that specific corner. =P

We're not really here to eat, we're here to talk some more and laugh some more. But we needed to order something so we can stay. We don't want to be rude you know.

And I forgot to take a photo of Tuliro (nachos mixed with lettuce, fruits, meat and cheese) we had and was only able to take a snapshot at the Lumpiang Barako (dynamite in some other restaurant, if you're familiar).

We sat around, talk as much as we want, laugh at everything we can think of and more photos...

It was a nice day.. and I'll surely miss Ms. Tech badly. She'll be taking up her masters in Seoul and it'll take her two years at the least. Anyhow, at least we had this day. It was a fun one and something I'd love to do again once she's back.

Au revoir Labs! see you in Seoul as soon as I can fly there! xxoo

With love~ ♥A

Saturday Hungry

back to food tripping... *oink oink* lol

I am not really familiar around Makati City and today I am to explore a bit. I will be meeting my KCC friends for lunch at Shin Dang Dong Korean restaurant. And since I am getting off from work early in the morning I have few more hours to myself.

I left the office at around 7 am because I can't take it anymore! Fridays always feel like that, too lazy for work or too tired of it for the week. I called on a cab, which I don't normally do, but since I am at risk of losing my way again and I am tired from working to walk back and forth and back and forth a couple of times so I gave in to it. And I failed! I still did the walking before I found A. Venue Mall.

While waiting I  decided to grab a cup and wait myself inside Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf because I'm too early for lunch and while waiting I logged in for a little bit of work. I can't believe I did that! I was just ranting about it a few sec ago and now I'm working on remote access. Humor me!

I'm nursing a cup of cappuccino and bran muffin while working and waiting until Christine-unni saw me, then Jo-unni came in as well and then all of them. We then walked to Shin Dang Dong along the other side of the mall, or maybe not the accurate side I might be referring to, still it is on the side of the mall.

We ordered two kinds of Ddeokbokki.. yum! one has cheese in it and the other was somewhat like a concoction of jajangmyeon + Ddeokbokki = Jajang Ddeokbokki. *incredible huh?*

Jajang Ddeokbokki | Ddeokbokki + cheese

We ate heartily and felt so full. It is close enough to what I had back in Korea and I still dislike vegetables. We stayed for a bit, then I pushed them to order a bottle of soju to toast for today. Yey! The food was great and the service was good and the staff are kind. And since at that time the place was not busy we had all their attention. As for the price, 500 pesos for this huge pot was worth it! You can share it with a group and still it's worth it. Well, there's nothing wrong with being selfish and eating it by yourself, just saying.

 The interior is so cute! I want the wall of pictures, somehow we thought of how to get our pictures included in the wall. And it remained like that, just a thought. =P

We stick around until my sister came and settled for a bit. She and family is going around malls for Ate's last minute packing for her work-related trip to Sydney. And Aya is not happy about the shopping thingy knowing Ate.. I'll feel the same I was just lucky to be meeting up with KCC friends today.

We head our own way at around 4 in the afternoon and while waiting to be fetch by mom and dad with Ate we tried to look for another place to camp out. And that's where we found Focaccia Italian Restaurant! I love Italian and Aya love pizza and we saw the salted caramel ice cream display, so in we go. Again, we're just one of the two other couples who're dining in at the time. Seems like it's a slow day today.

They served Focaccia with dip for starters. It's on the house but then seeing how pricey the food were... you know what to think. =D

Yes it's expensive for me. It's not that the food was not superb but then my sister and I were not really impressed by it. When our Panizza came we also had our ice cream served as well.

Tartufo al Funghi

We took a bite then just ate our ice cream. I can't help but compare so biased of me. Anyway, the ice cream for me is a bit on the sweeter side. It's too sweet for my sweet tooth I guess or maybe because I came from a cleansing diet that my taste-buds were overacting on me.

Once done with the ice cream, we had our panizza wrapped up..

Now I think I'm obsessing over walls and wall arts! I like Focaccia's stained glassed wall with sort of short messages / notes in it. It looks pretty cool. Ambiance wise, it feels more like  a casual dining.

And we still have to wait. The parents texted and said they're starved from searching for Ate's trip necessities. She needs quite a lot of things for the trip because it is currently winter in Australia at this time. That's when Aya thought of another restaurant she saw on TV the other day that she really wanted to try. She remembered reading somewhere that the restaurant has a chain in Makati and luckily it was just across from the mall.

It is the Tex-Mex restaurant Chihuahua Mexican Grill. Perfect! Not an hour from eating and we're eating again for the nth time. I think I need a few minutes to digest all the food I'm taking in, not that I am complaining. =D

The wall design described it all. What they offer and what they have.

I like the fact that you get to choose what you like to put in your burrito. They have the step by step guide by the counter to get you through it. At first we were confused on how to order and even mom didn't want to ask and would just concede with what they have readily. lol Thank goodness to the lovely cashier, she helped us through it and explained how to do it. We ordered a couple of burritos and bowl of nachos and chips.

They have this corner that Aya loved! See why...

It housed different sauces and condiments. She likes sauces and condiments such as these especially the spicy ones.

After a while our food was served.

chips and dips

bowl of nachos

burrito

It was more than what we expected, truly a generous serving. I can't finish mine even if Aya and I just shared. I am too full to eat more and burritos are not my favorite, beans and all turns my tummy a bit upset. Nonetheless, I would love to come here again and try the other food in their menu. It's a self-service restaurant so you do get your own stuff but they do set the tables for you. I'd like to believe you get back the what your money deserved. Awesome interiors too. Hip!

We're now heading home! Finally, I'll get my deserved sleep. But then we passed through the parking lot and there were a couple of thrift shops. And since Ate likes to look, we then took a look and I got this. er... just a cute purchase for 50 pesos. I hope I'll be able to use it.

Mashimaro

Anyway, finally.. signing off... with lalalalalooovee! ♥A

bonne nuit!

December dondate

And still I have a date. Home from PEO christmas party, sleepless, with headache and all, I just took a shower to freshen up and I am all up for another round of date. So I head on to Trinoma to meet Joanne-unni. She'll be picking me up there. I was a bit early so I stopped by Starbucks to grab some hot thing called coffee!

Flushed and groggy from all night drinking, I was still able to make it! It was the thing I can't miss at all. Fun talks and catch up, quality time it is with my unni-deul! We are reminiscing our past date at around the same time from last year, the planning-date on our Seoul - Busan trip. How we miss it! Why so fast time?

 Unlimited samgyupsal! Great for the starved me! I had no nothing after Jack, Jose and vodka all night, just water to re-hydrate and that's it. And now I'm hungry! hahaha.. I'll love anybody who'll serve me food at this time! And it's this time that I appreciate buffet and endless meat servings! Donday restaurant is yet to fail us! We love the place and we felt it to be cheaper than some other Korean restaurant in the area. The table is always full with food and the staff is commendable. I have acquired a bit of the taste of kimchi but not entirely all of it. Still, I am a meat lover and not a vegetarian. So off you go veggies, I can't love you.

We broken off at around 2pm? Joanne unni needs to be somewhere else and I need to be home or maybe head to the mall for some Christmas shopping.. *sigh* and I thought, I need rest too, eh?

I went with Ate Heidz and Karen unni on the way home. Endless talk about Rourouni Kenshin movie *swoon* it was so awesomely done we can't believe it! Yes! Yes! We fancy anime.

out of the way

I was feeling a little burnt out from work this week.. and a little post in Facebook like this "cheesecake pleaseee..." means a lot! I've got a few perceptive friends and I'd love to keep 'em! And I think one of them is Joanne-unni, guess she knew it very well. Few minutes past and I have a date! A little invitation to meet is all I need and at times like this I'll never argue no matter where it is you'd like to meet.

I met them in KCC after class. Oh it feels nice to drop by. Sonsaengnim was also there, Aiza and another teacher I've yet to know. Anyway, I was to dropped by the classroom to pay respect to Noh Sonsaengnim but she's already walking our way so I met her half way instead and a little hug and a peck in the cheeks was how we greeted each other. A bit surprised I was. She felt familiar and.. Oh! she's so like motherly. Quite a shock with the hug and peck but then I guess it goes off as something normal. Now I long to attend her classes. She's strict but then she means us well, which is really nice. I've also wanted to meet Kang Sonsaengnim but then she doesn't have a scheduled class for today. We did a little chat by the lobby and I was surprised myself I could still understand a few. It just feels different to speak the language again. Then again, practice is what I needed.

We head out the building together and talked our way to wherever. We're undecided where to have dinner. Then thought of JT's Manukan. Their chicken inasal was fantastic! Like it a lot! It's not my first time to taste their chicken but it's my first time to dine in. The restaurant was a bit full tonight and the actor owner was there. Service was okay. People are polite and friendly but a little less attentive, maybe because it was a busy time and it is cramming with people.

We grabbed a bottle of Tanduay Ice (Whoops! alcohol before work is a no-no... I know.. but.. just one won't hurt!) I and Karen-dongsaeng. And since Kenny will be driving home, he passed same with Joanne-unni with low tolerance on alcoholic beverages. Stories about Bacolod, my recent trip to Boracay, future plans, their class, Korean dramas, recent Bigbang concert and a lot more were endless. Two hours felt so short with them, but we need to go. Kenny dropped us off on his way.

Happy thoughts before I start my night at work.. ^-^ something refreshing before another loooong day.. talking about my job like this seemed like I don't really like it. Well it isn't really that.. It's just... It's not something I dreamed to be my daily business. As I said it many times before.. i don't like it nor hate it, it is just as it is, bearable.

a brief meeting

Korean classes has begun days ago and I suddenly feel sentimental and once again feeling tired of work. A short trip to KCC and a brief meeting with friends may do something good for me. hahaha.. so I've arranged a date with Joanne-unni. So excited to see them. Small things make me so giddy! I love time spent with friends.. and family of course.

Mini adventure to KCC at night. Well, I was wondering how to go there at night since I'm not used to the other route going there when night falls, and we'll be meeting after their class so that rules it out. So I need to find another way. I could take the train to Ayala and look for the shuttle going to the Fort but then I chose to try my luck in hailing a ride in Buendia. Er, and I ended up in a cab. Anyhow, I was able to get there. A bit late, I was. So unlucky me with the traffic and now I learned it is difficult to find a ride in Buendia.

They met me in front of Jollibee and we walked our way to Bubble Tea for some drinks and food. I intended to have dinner but I am not hungry so I shared my food with Ms. Tech. We shared a chicken teriyaki doria which is really good by me. ^.^ I heard from them that the concoctions of milk teas are a must try. Too bad I don't drink milk teas. Check them out, branches are all over the city! That fast! =)

Few happy snaps and a bunch of crazy stories from Ms. Tech's Cambodia trip and Joanne-unni & Karen-dongsaeng's classes. I saw their book.. and Wow! Intermediate class was...I think.. Thank goodness it was unfortunate that I wasn't able to register cause it's a handful plus work. I don't think I can commit to it.

with Ms. Tech "KCC's Madame principal" lol

Karen-dongsaeng & Joanne-unni

As always a little diversion makes life easier! I had a great time with them. It's so sad we need to part ways soon because of my work and it's getting late for them to go home.. Missed them a bunch!! xxoo

dondate, no more?

A day with Ms. Tech!

It was a really bed weather I mean bad weather! I'm not sure if we're going to push through with the plan  today as everything seems to be not sure. With the rain and all the hassle that comes with it when going out.. hmm.. I don't know if it will be just the two of us seeing each other, the 'two' meaning Joanne-unni and I. From our conversation in facebook, looks like we are the only two who keeps on updating about it. But then again, glad we ended up more than two! =D

I was a bit late looking for my way to SM the Block. Great thanks to Ken, he spotted me going the wrong way! I saved a few minutes more looking for our meeting place.. ^_^ When we arrived, Christine-unni and Joanne-unni is already standing in front of Tous Les Jours. Always on time! We have not decided where to eat yet, so we tried to look around first while waiting for the others, we are still expecting and hoping for more of them to come. We settled in Almon Marina just across Tous Les Jours, how far we've come? just across! They had an array of sandwiches and set meals to choose from. I ordered Bruschetta with prosciutto and mushrooms topped with Gruyere cheese. Love toast! then unni-deul had soup, salad and iced tea while Ken had the pasta set, 6inch sandwich and carbonara, i think or so it seem. Then Niño-oppa had a sandwich too. The ambience and music is very english. From Italian to French, quite cute and affordable. ^_^

Still waiting for Ms. Tech and Mariel... We looked around for a bit. I am eyeing Aldo for some time now because of my crush pairs!! er.. Those neon heels I saw in Seoul! How I regret I didn't buy it that time. Now it's out of stock! sad. Then we dropped by Guess, F21, and head back to TLJ to meet Ms. Tech. We didn't notice her texts and calls. *Sorry bout that Ms. Tech* (By the way, Ms. Tech is the Admin in KCC. i forgot to mention =P) She is already eating a bread when we saw her, guess we made her wait for quite a while. We meet and greet and bought breads too then head to bubble tea for something nice to eat the breads with. I like Bubble Tea, their menu is so cute and neat. But I don't drink milk tea! toinks! so I just ordered a cappucino. We stayed there from 1pm until at least 5pm I think. Just talking., laughing and chatting! It was ohhh sooo Fun! Laughing my arse off with Ms. Tech's stories, 애교 (aegyo) and 'oppa-lization skills and tactics'. add it with Ken's never failing segways and counters. It is fun just to be with them then add up Ms. Tech, it's like leveling it at another notch up. We talked endlessly and laugh as loud as it is until it looks like some of the customers were living because of our noise, but who cares! it's raining and we are competing with it!

Photo by Joanne-unni

After the long hours in Bubble Tea, where half way through Mariel arrived, we head to the cinema. Ms. Tech  asked me the night before if we could watch the Dark Knight Rises, and knowing myself, I simply said 'Ok lang'.. But I'm not a fan of such movies and having the opportunity to pass it out, we teased her to ask her 'special' friend to see it with. She texted right away and asked him because we would also want to meet him. He was the same person from Elementary 1 class of Kang-sonsaengnim's student they are having a crush on. The 'Barong-입은 남자' (Barong-ibeun namja) in translation, 'the guy in Barong' or 'the guy wearing Barong'. And so while waiting for him, we ended up in Yogiberry's. I am not a fan of frozen yogurt but I don't hate it. *er.. see how unhealthy I am!* We stayed there til Barong-ibeun namja arrive. More stories again while waiting and more aegyo from the guru (Ms. Tech) plus something more personal about her ex-almost-oppa-lover. We ought to be home in the afternoon as we thought but we ended up staying longer because we are having a blast and enjoying each other's company. =D

Photo by Niño-oppa; from Kenny's Samsung Galaxy handphone.lol

Aigoo!! KCC will be offering an intermediate class! I'm interested! but.. I'm not sure..Anyway when Barong-입은 남자 arrived, we head on to our separate ways, except for us four, him, Ms. Tech, Ken and I. We stayed for the movie. er.. It wasn't bad at all, but it bored me at first. At the end, it was just a so-so movie for me, because it's not my kind of movie. I'm all about hearts and flowers, romantic comedy, chick flicks, and anything cute but action figures! You can ask me to see it but don't expect that I will love it. I might enjoy though.. ^_^

When we head out the cinema looking for the exit out of the mall, it was only the three of us, Barong-입은 남자  / QC Hunter, already left. And I was once again laughing my butt off! Imagining the characters in the movie doing a typical Aegyo with Ms. Tech and Kenny's enactment of what it would possibly look like! It was still raining but who cares! We were a bit scared because it's already late and raining heavily but we did go home anyway.

It was a whole lot of fun! amusingly enjoying for me, cause I'm a sucker for laughs! ^_^ had an overdose of happiness in a day of gloominess! =)

Dondate and more!!

Another date with my former classmates at KCC..

Again, sleepless and worthy of it. I met Joanne-unni with Kenny-ssi and Mariel-dongsaeng in Trinoma. I went over the top with the over time! er.. screw that product certification! I need to retake it again once I'm back from Boracay.. Anyway.. focus self! I shouldn't divert my energy to unhappy and stressful thoughts!  I had my day today. Really fun!! as in literally endless of laughter with them. I died laughing hours ago! *exaggerated eh?*

We arrived first in Donday.. As in we, four, were the first people there.. We're famished.. and helped ourselves in the buffet table and messaged the others that we are already in the restaurant.

They were a bit late.. but still they came.. It's better late than never.. ^_^

Our side of the table, meaning I, Kenni, Ate Heidz and Ate Karen, tops the most plates of meat served! I think more than 8 plates were served on our side of the table.. My... Did we eat as much? I didn't notice.. I missed them in the brief time we've been together in KCC. Kenni is forever the funniest in our bunch! love him!!! And then there's my mentors in Fangirling, which until now I still don't understand how is it done.. Maybe because I haven't gone gaga over any Korean star. And Niño-oppa, our kuya in the group. He gave us a ride to NiceMart around the corner or so.. and treat us to ice cream! yay!! Gomawo oppa! ^_^

It has been great as always! I just love updating my circles! another bubble added in my bunch.. I'm tired but very happy and well entertained! wish next date will be soon! I won't care if it is Donday yet again..

♥

Dondate!

just a week after comin' back home.. time to update my social life!!! and today is a date with my KCC classmates! I missed them a lot! hmm.. almost but not quite late.. I met Jo-unni in Trinoma and we waited there for Mariel dongsaeng.. She was a bit late. While Karen unni is already in Donday waiting for us. hmmm.. We were already hungry but we still need to wait. and then yey!!! after a I think more or less 40 minutes she arrived!!! finally! We had lunch. Met Karen dongsaeng there with her friends.. She was like switching tables from time to time. Like that of a host in a party!

We spent lunch til around 4pm waiting for Jessica dongsaeng to arrive, we have her shoes and clothes she ordered back in Seoul also one of the reason why we had this date.

Then we walked to Nicemart for some ice cream and more tambay before going home.. hehe.. the weather was unbearably hot!!!!! er.. where's the winter cold.. T.T

딸기 밤 (strawberry night!)

Before going back, we dropped by the grocery around the corner and bought drinks and food for our night session. We asked oppa to order some jjajjangmyeon for tonight’s dinner. Exactly the one that we saw in Korean drama’s being delivered with side dishes! The black noodles!

The delivery came in and it’s time to start the night!!!! We had two bottles of soju for the unnideul and two bottles of cass for me and Ate Heidz plus the pretty strawberries!! What else do we need? We have food, drinks, and good company. ^_^

We ate, watched TV, drank and fool around. Lots of laugh and kinky stunts to be kept and left in Busan! but I must say, nothing wild.

Well, something more than the norms that we did?? Hmm.. Ran around the streets to the grocery to buy some more CASS!!! No tights, no coats! Just plain clothes, shoes and a regular jacket, it was fun! Then we bought something like a Japanese cake, but with chestnut in the inside instead of cheese. We were curious that’s why we buy some and after we buy a lot of people came buying! Nice one on that. Then we ran again, bottles of Cass inside our jackets and the warm chestnut thingy we bought. adrenaline and tipsy-ness it is!

Up for the second round..

After a while, Ate Heidz and I went out for a walk and check out the streets at night! It was a busy night.. lots of people outside on a weekend! Stalls all around the strip, food, clothes, stuffed toys, and one of the strips lined with tarot cards readers (fortune telling stuffs), then pubs with blasting sounds all over the place, tents like those in the dramas, and suleul jib.

We walked fondly around in the winter night in the crowd. Then I suddenly wanted a nice photo with Ate Heidz, and here goes me again, approaching a stranger to take our picture. Lol. We bump into this nice looking guy so I did what I do best, ask to have our photo taken.. I asked him in Korean and he looked like in shock and not sure what to do. Unconsciously, I had already put my camera in his right hand without waiting for his response. (waaah!! now that I think about it, it is quite embarrassing!) He looks funny with that reaction of not knowing what to do and it was nice of him to still take our photo and not run away. 

After a while of walking, we went back to our room to get some money and ask our eonni to join us out! It is a pleasant night, Jo-unni is busy drying clothes so she didn’t bother to come, while Karen-unni came with us for the walk! And off we go again!

Karen-unni and I bought some chicken barbeque. Yum! Ajhuma complimented may speaking skills, she thought I live in Korea too.. hihi..*blushing* fine! I was flattered! ^.^

We dropped by tous les jour, cause I craved for a cheesecake. Yay! Good thing shops were still open til late night! Super like! And that’s when we end our day. We went back to our room and behave because tomorrow we’ll need to be up early to catch the morning bus to Suncheon, however, Jo-unni will be leaving earlier to catch the train back to Seoul to meet her sister.