TravelswithCharie

TWG Tea Salon and Boutique at Greenbelt 5 in Makati is a glass and glitz citadel with some of the finest collection of teas in the world. The Wellness Group (TWG) has its origins in Singapore and today has branches in many countries in Asia, The Middle East, UK, and the United States. I didn't come for afternoon tea. I was famished after a morning admiring the works of Carlos Botong Francisco at the Ayala Museum and TWG was in the neighborhood. I was torn between the salmon entreé and the chicken skewer with rice. I chose the latter. A meal would not be complete without tea, as my late grandfather used to say. While perusing the tea menu, I was overwhelmed by the number of tea selections. In fact, they have over 200 teas to choose from so I thought it best to ask my server for help. What I wanted to try was a combination of green tea and chamomile. It was siesta time after all and I needed a transition tea. My server didn't hesitate at all to recommend the Sweet France

Antonio's Restaurant is located in Tagaytay City which is a popular weekend destination and a short ride from Metro Manila. Taal Volcano rises from the waters of Taal Lake. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines. The second Antonio's restaurant (called Breakfast at Antonio's) has a commanding view of the lake and also serves lunch and dinner from the breakfast menu. This foyer impresses from the outset. Red paint on the walls provide a warm setting for the personal photos and antique "santos". This room evokes old world charm. The lower dining room is a spacious and elegant room, perfect for large parties. The black and white tiles spell classic! I dined alfresco beside the carp pond. It was a delicious visual treat to be surrounded by overgrown ferns and tropical flora. While the ambiance was casual and relaxed, this restaurant is home to fine dining and guests behaved accordingly. Hence the conversations around me were hush hush

This floral path leads to the dining room. One of three gardens, the scented garden is a joy to explore. So many special touches, it's a pleasure to linger and dream of my own garden. At Sonya's Garden, I've learned to expect beautiful things and attention to detail like this crisp, white tablecloth with minute embroidery and elegant dinnerware. Pickings from the vegetable garden. Iceberg lettuce, oregano, arugula, cherry tomato, Roma tomato, tarragon, and this butter scented flower called butterbush. There's always fresh ingredients from the gardens for all the meals served at Sonya's. And after a most fulfilling dinner, tarragon tea will gently ease your digestive tract. Romance comes into play when evening falls upon the gardens. You can always find a little nook to while the time away with a good book. Wish I could have stayed longer. Sonya's Garden Barangay Buck Estate Alfonso, Cavite info@sonyasgarden.com http://sonyasgarden.co

Only a couple of hours from Metro Manila, this bed and breakfast beckons weary city dwellers for some r&r and organic cuisine. I had resolved to go to Sonya's for mind and body rejuvenation. Instead I experienced a culinary epiphany. I had to ask the waiter if all the good food he spread out on my beautifully set table was for me. And he affirmed. So I slowly made my way through breakfast starting with my eggplant omelette, chicken adobo, mango salad, boneless milkfish, garlic rice and slices of papaya and mango. My stomach whispered "enough, please". Had to forego the egg omelette. Here's the breakfast of champions.

Monastery of the Holy Eucharist The Monastery of the Holy Eucharist or "Birhen sa Simala" as it is locally known is a 2 hour drive south from Cebu City through narrow roads and lush countryside. It's a slow ride considering tricycles ply the roads between the small towns along the way and occasionally, a fiesta or a school celebration may result in traffic jams. In the barangay of Lindogon, the road leads uphill. My first impression when I saw the Monastery was that it seemed out of place in these rustic surroundings. The architectural style is more aligned with European cathedrals. There's no semblance at all to Spanish colonial churches which are predominant in the Philippines. That said, the interior of the church follows the traditional colonial Baroque style. I was caught by surprise when a security guard stopped me from entering the Monastery grounds. He told me that sleeveless dresses were not allowed inside the Monastery.  I wasn't aware of any

Zion National Park, Utah        Poulnabrone, Western Ireland                                                         City Center, Las Vegas  In 2010 I traveled to (what for me) were uncharted territories like Western Ireland, El Nido Resorts, Palawan, and Zion National Park. I was awed by the incredible natural scenery of these places. In Roxas City, I was moved by the schoolchildren at Conrado Barrios Elementary School who were wonderfully responsive during our impromptu Q&A and how happy they were with the prizes they received for giving the correct answer to our math and history questions. We marveled at the works of art at the Aria Hotel and City Center in Las Vegas. In Tokyo, I learned to go around town by using the subway system and it felt terrific to explore confidently and have no worries about getting lost in this mega city. And in Ko Olina and Lake Tahoe, I understood what it means to slow down and take notice of the beauty and serenity

Mantalinga Island in the distance The best time to take a walk along BayBay Beach in Roxas City is early morning when the rest of the city is still fast asleep. Except for annoying stray dogs, the beach is yours to enjoy. (The city really needs to address the burgeoning population of stray dogs as they often scare away would be strollers.) Low tide. No fishing today? *  *  * Photos by Charie View Larger Map

Pan de sal and mamon are my favorites Sinigang and ginisa mix for that special flavor Red egg with tomatoes and onions, yum! Time for a little chit chat Sorbete, ice cream, ice drop - there he goes Nothing like a camera to bring out that smile! Thanks, guys. Tricycles are so handy Colorful outdoor stalls Fresh produce and my favorite, melanzane (eggplant)   *  *  * Images by Charie

Lagen Island When choosing an island getaway, the best options (in my opinion) are in the Philippines. Why do I say this? There are 7,107 islands in the archipelago and not all are created equal. So if you visit Batanes islands in the north, you will find a landscape of green, rolling hills like that of Ireland. Or get a taste of Santorini at Bellaroca in Marinduque. At El Nido Resorts in Palawan, the bay is dotted with limestone karsts similar to the backdrop in the photo above. Miniloc Island If your ideal getaway is to do absolutely nothing but sit by the pool and read a book, then this is the place to do it. But if you feel like indulging in various adventures out at sea, there are a number of possibilities. Island hopping is de rigueur here. For starters, we took a short motorized outrigger ride to Miniloc Island for buffet breakfast before feeding the jackfishes in the protected area right in front of the restaurant. We also had the option of snorkeling (equipment provided fre

Gawad Kalinga homes in Bacolod I don't know much about Gawad Kalinga (GK) but I've seen tangible results of their works. My masseuse first told me about GK in 2006 and I was impressed that she was able to get a house through the GK organization. She showed me her home in the outskirts of Roxas City.  It has two tiny bedrooms, a living room, a toilet with shower. The dining room and kitchen share the same space. Her house was built with the help of other GK residents which is a requirement in the construction of these homes. Anyone with a GK home must put in his time to help build his own house and those of others in the neighborhood. The property is usually donated as are the materials used in the construction. My masseuse's only complaint was that the title to her property had not been transferred to her name because there was a problem with the payment of real estate taxes pertaining to the entire GK project in her neighborhood and at the time we spoke, it had not been a

The Philippines has the longest Christmas season in the world. It begins the end of September and lasts through January 6 (the feast of the Three Kings in the old calendar). Christmas songs are played over the airwaves and in malls and restaurants. Television shows remind viewers how many days are left till Christmas. On December 16 "simbang gabi" starts. People would rise in the early hours to attend mass at five in the morning. While it's warm in the Philippines, it gets slightly cooler in December. Outside the church vendors sell freshly made bibingka and puto bumbong *, perfect handwarmers unless you can't wait to eat these till you get home. Two of the most enduring symbols of Christmas in the islands are the nativity crèche and the parol (Christmas lantern). Many homes display their colorful parols outside their windows so passersby can admire the play of lights. In the old days, the parol was lighted by a candle. Churches have beautiful nativity scenes b

Photos by TravelswithCharie

Can't say enough good things about Bohol. It's hard to ignore its natural beauty, colonial history, lush tropical landscape, uncrowded beaches, all packaged in rustic simplicity. In short, this island will not remain below the radar screen for much longer. It was wise to hire a guide who drove us to the places we wanted to see. The roads to touristic spots were well paved and traveling was comfortable in the airconditioned Combi. From Tagbilaran City we went inland to gape at the Chocolate Hills. On the way we stopped at the monument of the historic blood compact between the Spaniard, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and local leader, Datu Sikatuna. So much for pacts of friendship! History can attest to that. The man made mahogany forest is the work of one leader, a former Governor of Bohol, who cared enough about his province and his people to initiate the planting of mahogany trees covering an area that spans 2 kilometers. It's taken 40 years for these trees to mature and the area

In Iloilo recently, we had the opportunity to check out Breakthrough in the neighborhood of Villa. Breakthrough is a restaurant on the beach with a view of Guimaras Island (which is famous for its sweet mangos). While the sand is a pearly grey, the beach is as inviting as that of Boracay's White Beach. No crowds and quite clean. We ate our lunch in one of the palapas rather than in the main restaurant hall. It was relaxing to sit there and watch the calm sea. We ordered sizzling crab, fish sinigang, prawns, sea weed gel, and pinakbet. My friends loved the seaweed and ordered more to take home. I enjoyed the sizzling crab though it wasn't really sizzling. We washed it all down with a mango shake. This is our favorite drink, especially on a hot day. Is there ever a day when it's not hot in the islands? * * * Photos by Rosario Charie Albar

Glorietta Mall, Makati It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas with temperatures dipping to the low 30's. I'm all bundled up. At this time last year I was in tank tops and pareo walking along Baybay Beach. In the greater metropolitan area of Manila and Makati with a population of roughly 10 million, the malls are a favorite destination on Christmas day. Why not? They are airconditioned, decorated with Christmas finery, offer lots of entertainment, choice of restaurants or food courts, and shops galore. And in a predominantly Catholic country, you can hear mass at the mall. Unthinkable, you say, to spend Christmas day at the mall. But that is exactly where I was on Christmas day last year having lunch with my childhood friend and exchanging gifts. We were vastly entertained and distracted by the noise and hoopla around us. Yes, it was a Maligayang Pasko . May you be blessed with a colorful and lively Christmas day. * * * Photo by Rosario Charie Albar