Fun Overnight at Amana Waterpark

Amana Waterpark is appealing because of it's theme. The whole resort was designed with reminders of our favorite cartoon characters, superheroes and celebrities. The resort is located in Bulacan, few hours drive from Manila.
Tip1: When taking public transportation, it is likely that few more peso will be spent for vehicle to the resort.

It is quite a big resort, I like vast resorts because they are never crowded. The gate is few meters away from the pools and the rooms. It is ideal for family get-togethers, kids and kids at heart will surely enjoy the place.

We occupied the VIP room, it's affordable and the room is cozy. A loft-style bedroom complete with shower room and dining room.

Tip2: Bring potable water and snacks because resort's restaurant are only operating at certain hours.
Tip3: The resort's resto offers native dishes.

Tip4: If staying overnight, it is advisable to bring mosquito repellants as well.

The children would surely run around the resort because of the human-size characters, it's like cartoon overload. They got Dragonball characters, Mickey Mouse, The Hulk, Ironman, Spiderman, Batman and a lot lot more.

They also have wave pool, pool with slide and children's pool, during our visit they are still expanding. The price is affordable and the family would definitely enjoy the resort because of it's variety.

So, if you're looking for an affordable beach get-away? Go try Amana Waterpark, you will not be disappointed.

Isdaan: Filipino Dishes Bazarre

Visit to Our Lady of Manaoag led me and my family to try Isdaan. It has been a yearly tradition to visit Our Lady as a thanksgiving for all the blessings our family received for the year.

Tip1: Our Lady of Manaoag Shrine is always full of devotees and pilgrims specially during weekends and holidays.
Tip2: It's difficult to get parking areas, please be aware of some people who takes advantage of other guests' innocence. It's still best to park your cars inside the church's parking lot.

There are restaurants around the area but my family chose to have lunch at Isdaan in Gerona, Tarlac.

Tip3: Isdaan is popular for the native Filipino dishes. Often crowded, it's advised to have a lot of patience and never choose this place when you're starving.

It is one compound of restaurants with oriental and fancy landscape.

They have floating cottages for the guests, they offer quite a variety of menu to accommodate small and big families.

Tip4: Our family chose "boodle fight" menu, since we are 7 persons this is the best choice. Must have a lot of patience because the food preparation takes at least 30 minutes.

Here are the dishes included in the boodle fight  menu:

                                      

                                            

                                      

                                                                         

                                                           

These Filipino dishes are literally delicious and all good for sharing.
The whole family tried our very first boodle-fight adventure, yummy food on banana leaves left our tummies full.

 

After a sumptous meal and not in a rush to drive home, Isdaan is worth the stroll. 

Isdaan is commendable for preserving Filipino dishes and for continously providing adventures to our Filipino tastes and interests.

Christmas Day at Antipolo

Our family spent Christmas Day at Loreland Farm Resort in Antipolo.
Few hours drive away from Manila, Antipolo is a good alternative to the usual "Christmas getaway" Tagaytay.

Tip1: Better to drive early, avoid traffic. Because usually on holidays, North-bound traffic is heavy.
Tip2: To Loreland it is important for the driver to familiarize the place, although there are signages it is still tricky to see the resort.

The farm resort occupied a vast land, they live up to the "farm" description.

 The weather is a little cold in the morning but can still allow guests to have a dip.

Tip3: The resthouses that they offer for families are not bad. Our reserved resthouse is overlooking a mini-pool.

Tip4: The resort has an in-house restaurant but the food is quite pricey. They don't allow cooking in the resthouse, though they allow barbeque-ing. It's allowed to bring outside food and water for the family.

Tip5: I mentioned water because it's essential to buy mineral water for the family since there is no potable water in the resthouse.
Tip6: Bring warmers, the nights are colder but very relaxing.

The family enjoyed a quiet day in this farm resort.

Italian Delish in Capricciosa

If you're looking for a mouth watering italian food adventure, Capricciosa is a must-try.

I like this resto's cozy ambiance and tasty foods, pasta, pizza, seafood, desserts and a lot more. Also their prices are just proportional with their servings.

The resto is located at Greenbelt 3, after hearing mass at Greenbelt church and watching the kois it is nice to give yourselves a treat.

 During our visit, we had baked mussels with cheese as appetizer.

Seafood pizza and bolognese spaghetti for the main course.

It's a tummy-filling meal, but an italian food fan will always be satisfied.

After a heavy meal, foodies can have a good coffee at Figaro ( just adjacent Capricciosa ).

Find a good company, share laughters and try Capricciosa, you'll get what your money's worth.

Christmas Eve in Kleve

Kleve, Germany is near Holland's border. Together with friends we went there to shop on Christmas eve, none of us imagined that this trip will give us a mini-adventure.

As residents of Nijmegen, Netherlands, it's convenient for us to shop for groceries in Kleve. It's just a bus -ride away, approximately 1 hour travel. It was Christmas eve, the city was nicely decorated.

We decided to go to Edeka, a big shopping mall to shop for goodies for the holidays.

 I shopped for our favorite, pasta!

It's an avenue of shopping malls, comparing the price to Nijmegen it's cheaper in Kleve.

Together with friends we enjoyed strolling around the city, taking photographs and playing as kids until we decided to go home.

 

    

  We waited for hours until we learned that there is no bus travelling back to Nijmegen anymore because it's Christmas. Our mini-adventure started, we need to re-route and try hard to communicate with a German taxi driver. Spent more euros for the taxi and try as fast as we can to reach a train station.

Catching our breath and trying hard not to panic, we were lucky enough to catch a train from Emmerich to Nijmegen.

Thank God because we reached home just in time to prepare for our very first Noche Buena together as a couple in Holland.