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Death by Alcohol

Boracay Series (Part 1) - Cocomangas' 15 Shots Challenge

CPK's National Pizza Day

For the pizza lover in you!

Mt. Pinatubo, Zambales

The rivers, the rocks, the hike... and the beautiful crater.

The Venetian Hotel, Macao

The Las Vegas of Asia

Monday, August 20, 2012

Death by Alcohol

[Boracay Series - Part 1]


Have you been to Boracay? If you answered NO, you should. You’re missing out half of your life. If YES, have you tried Cocomangas’ 15 Shots? If you answered NO, you’re a loser. If YES…. YOU’RE THE MAN!!

My friend’s bucket list includes trying out this unique challenge. We all agreed to accompany her and might as well do what Mr. Barney Stinson’s infamous line says: 

Here's a short history of Cocomangas' 15 shots:
"The shooter challenge, "Still Standing After 15...", has been a huge success story here at Cocomangas Shooter Bar on Boracay Island in the beautiful country of the Philippines.The infamous list of 15 shots, drank by thousands of holiday makers and locals, has helped to put Cocomangas on the map of things to do in Boracay .The scoreboard hanging on the bar wall has over 149 countries represented, as you score 1 number for your country for every 15 shots ordered.It all started way back in 1990.Here's how it went down:

The first bar drinking gimmick here at Cocomangas Shooter Bar was, who can drink thirteen lime Margarita's . Thirteen lime Margarita's is a nasty mix of thirteen shots of Jose Cuervo Tequilla , plus six and one half shots of Grand Marnier liquor, totaling almost twenty shots of booze..read more"


As we entered the bar, it's a typical shooter bar with a dance floor. You can also see the bar's Wall of Fame, which consist of names of people who opted to accept the challenge, surround its walls.



We noticed that not all the tourists came for the bar's famous challenge. Because of this, we felt the urge to face death by alcohol.

We placed our order and the waitress arrived with 15 shots for each of us. As she arranged the shot glasses, we can smell the terror and pain of each shot glass deepen in our souls. Just joking. But literally, you can smell the icky, disgusting smell of alcohol as if it's at the tip of your nose.
15 shots per person


Here's the list of the shots:
the menu



Do it for your country

It's more fun in the Philippines
As you take on the15 shots challenge, you also get a free shirt. 
Some of the shots are good, some are weird and most are disgusting. But overall, we are proud to be able to finish the challenge. I'm not going to tell you in detail what happened that night because some of us have weak stomachs and almost threw up his/her entire day's worth of food. Haha. We also vowed that "What happens in Boracay, stays in Boracay." but this ultimate experience doesn't count cause I'm sure blogging about this! 
The gang
 A bucket of shot glasses





At the end of the night and all the shots were consumed, I can say that:
"I'm still standing after 15.."

A round of applause and drum rolls please... my alcohol tolerance is incredibly increasing. Bragging rights, yeah! Til the next ultimate alcohol experience, ciao!


Cocomangas
Station 1
0609 Main Road
Boracay Island

- Arge

CPK's National Pizza Day

Hear ye, hear ye pizza-lovers, pizza-holics, pizza-fanatics and pizza-addicts out there.. California Pizza Kitchen declared its first National Pizza Day last 15th of August. 




And what kind of food connoisseur are we if we don't go there and have a taste of their remarkably sinful pizza. Chos! But kidding aside, we really wanted to avail their Buy 1, Take 1 promo. Though it's payday Wednesday, we're still frugal once in a while. You can choose from their wide variety of pizzas. 

Order any choice of pizza and you get a free one among these bestselling choices: BBQ Chicken Pizza, Pepperoni, Five Cheese and Fresh Tomato, Hawaiian Bacon Pizza or Traditional Cheese. 

For our choice of pizza, we ordered the White Pizza. Those who like the simple yet mild taste of pizza, the White Pizza is great for you. Ingredients like mozzarella, fontina, ricotta, parmesan and pecorino romano can make all cheese-lovers gaga over this pizza. Add to that some sauteed garlic spinach for additional tasteful experience.

We chose BBQ Chicken Pizza as our second choice. We love BBQ, we also love pizza. So why not combine it?

What I really liked about this pizza is its playful taste. The BBQ sauce compliments the mild taste of the chicken, cheese and red onions. It's not so bland, yet so distinctive.




Left to Right: White Pizza, BBQ Chicken Pizza

The Verdict
My judgement for these two pizzas are: 9/10 for BBQ Chicken Pizza and 8/10 for White Pizza. I really love the simple yet delightful taste of this pizza - far from the classic and traditional variety of pizzas we're accustomed of. 

For this pizza night-out, we only bought the White Pizza, and chose the BBQ Chicken Pizza as our free pizza. A total of 312php plus the service charge is our accumulated bill. A budget-wise and fulfilling food trip. Ciao!


California Pizza Kitchen
Greenbelt 5
Level 2
Legazpi St., Makati City

- Arge

Mt. Pinatubo, Zambales

Most of us are familiar with the tragic eruption that cost the lives of more that 800 people and affected at least more than 500,000 people living in Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanaga. However, after a decade, the aftermath of the 1991 eruption turned into one of nature's miracles. Now, who would miss the Mt. Pinatubo challenge... not us!


The Crater. The breathtaking view of Mt. Pinatubo's crater.

The Cost
Bus from Cubao to Capas, Tarlac: Php 172
Transfer from Capas to Mt. Pinatubo base: Php 300
Government fee for Mt. Pinatubo: Php 300
Tourist Guide and 4x4 service: Php 900 - Php 1500
Lunch: Bring your own

The Experience
The adventure starts once you're on the 4x4 Jeep. It is an hour and a half rough ride since you would be going through raging the rivers and rocks of the volcano's base. There's really nothing to see while you're inside the 4x4 jeep other than rocks.

After the ride, the trekking starts. For most first time trekkers, it would take at least 2-3 hours for one way. Climbing up to the crater isn't easy, there are plenty of rocks! It is advisable that you wear something really comfy and something you wouldn't mind getting wet since the trail requires you to cross the river. Some of my friends recommended Crocs while some said slippers. I used a pair of rubber shoes because it's what I only had at the moment. I would also recommend you to be aware of your surroundings. While I was trekking, a snake appeared out of nowhere. I didn't notice it until the tour guide hit it with a stick. 

The path. In order to get to the top, you have to go through this raging river.

The path. Not only do you have to go through the river, you also have to walk on rocks.

After 2 hours of walking, we finally arrived at the crater. I couldn't really believe it yet because I was so tired. But as I walked closer to the crater, all my exhaustion disappeared. The water's color was green and wasn't as hot as one would expect. Since we arrived on time for lunch, we ate and took pictures in the crater. After an hour, we head back down and traveled for at least 2 hours.

The Verdict
I wasn't this enthusiastic about nature before until I started hiking in Hong Kong. I get tired easily and I always have the urge to use the restroom. (I drink more than 8 glasses of water a day), but I have no regrets in buying this coupon for Mt. Pinatubo. At first I thought the trail would be challenging and all, turns out it wasn't that bad. As long as you rest every 30 minutes, you're good to go.

 The View of the Crater. Isn't it beautiful?

Remember when they said "It's not the destination, it's the journey"? This time it's both. The journey to the top was tiring, yes but it was a lot of fun. My friends and I kept talking and laughing so we wouldn't feel our sore feet. We were so tired that all we could do about it was laugh. And the destination, the crater, is so beautiful. Period.

See for yourself.


"I'll be part of something big. It's gonna be Legen! Wait for it!"
(Clare)



The Venetian Hotel, Macao

The Venetian Macao was modeled after The Venetian Las Vegas by Las Vegas Sands Corporation. It has an overwhelming - 3000 suites. According to sources, The Venetian is the "largest single structure hotel building in Asia, the sixth-largest building in the world by area and the largest casino in the world. " (source: Wikipedia)



The Cost
Being a 5-star hotel, expect the rates to be high. Depending on the room, the price could range from Php 8,000 - Php 15,000 per night. Yes, you might say it is too expensive but sometimes they offer discounts for early booking. Since The Venetian is known to be one of Macau's best hotels, the place itself is already one of the favourite spots of tourists. 

The Experience
Every summer back in college, my siblings and I used to go to our birthplace to have a short vacation with our family. Yes, "short" because I was in the trimester system.

Starting 2010, we have been visiting Macau yearly and stayed at different hotels. But I cannot deny that my favorite is..  (Drum roll please!) The Venetian. We always stayed in the Bella. Although I have only stayed in this hotel twice, I can already say that the experience was amazing.

When you arrive at the Macau Airport/Ferry Station, a shuttle bus will pick you up and take you to the hotel lobby. The interior is wonderful! The ceiling gives you a similar vibe to St. Peter's Cathedral.


The Lobby. This the the view from the counter where
we checked in. 

The Gondola. One of the hotel's main attraction is the Gondola that takes you around the shops while rowers sing, giving you a Venice vibe.


The Bathroom. The bath is huge and spotless. It has a tub and a transparent glass shower that could fit at least 2 persons. However, be sure to tell your rommie to knock before entering since the bathroom has no locks. 
.

The Bedroom. Our room contains two beds similar to this. Each bed can accommodate at least 3 persons. 


The Pool. This is the main pool. The hotel has 4 pools and one spa pool. 


The Shops. The hotel contains tons of boutiques. Take note that most of the shops in the hotel are mostly luxury brands.


The Verdict
I am not really a fan of 5 star hotels. I mean, I would rather stay in a low-budget hotel and use the extra money for shopping. However, I would make an exception. Although I have only stayed twice in The Venetian, it is my favourite pick. (I'm still looking forward to trying the new Galaxy Macau) I know I haven't really explored other options but staying here was never a mistake. Yeah, there's one tiny bit problem. At the casino, you can clearly distinguish prostitutes. I mean, I know that this is not the hotel's fault but I still feel I had to mention it. Maybe to at least warn you readers to wear something decent while visiting The Venetian. But other than that, I'd still give it a 5/5 rating for the service and the comfort of staying here.

The Venetian Macao
Cotai Strip
Visit Official Site

I'll be part of something big. It's gonna be Legen... wait for it!
(Clare)

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Bite Me

As far as I know, Bite Club originated in Katipunan. I’ve never been to Katipunan.. and when I said “I’ve never been to Katipunan..” what I meant was I’ve NEVER tried going to Katipunan for the sole purpose of foodtrip-ing (if it’s a word or not). Though I’m familiar with this burger joint, cause my brother keeps nagging me to try it, I never had the guts to go up North. But when I saw this restaurant in Boracay, hesitation is the last thing that came to my mind: I really, really want to try out this Boracay-branch burger place located at D’Mall.


As we went inside, the ambience is very beach-y. Sands serve as their floor, there are wooden tables and chairs and you’ll know right away that you need to get a taste of their humble burgers. Haha. As you can see in their menu, the prices are affordable. They also offer Chicken sandwich for vegetarians, which my brother (not a vegetarian, though) really liked.


Battling our empty stomachs, we immediately ordered Burgerella. Buger with cheese is one of my all-time favorites. I can't have a burger without a cheese. After the first bite, there’s nothing fancy about the taste. You can vividly see the mozzarella melted inside the burger patty but with my critic tongue, there’s really nothing special about it. Maybe I’m very hard to please or I expected too much from it, but there’s more mouthwatering burgers out there. I give the burger a 7 out of 10 score.

Half of the Burgerella burger

We also ordered potato wedges. Burger + potato is a perfect combination. I like their potato wedges, it reminded me of KFC’s fries but the servings are very short.

Potato Wedges

The Verdict

All in all, I give this restaurant a 7/10. Yes yes, I’m a heartless foodtaster for all the Bite Club fans out there, but I promise to visit their Katipunan branch very soon to give it another try. Ciao!

Bite Club
D'Mall Plaza
Boracay Island
Boracay, Aklan

- Arge