Saturday, January 14, 2017
Spontaneous Eat Out at Ramen-Yah
Happy new year guys! This is my first post of this year and it's about.... Yes, food.
I never expected that my ECE blockmates are the one who suggested to still go to the restaurant at 7PM. It was also raining but they were still up for it! Oh my, new year, new blockmates? Haha. They're slowly being the badass kids already, ditching their 52-week challenge promise just to spend their savings for this "spontaneous" outing.
I never expected that my ECE blockmates are the one who suggested to still go to the restaurant at 7PM. It was also raining but they were still up for it! Oh my, new year, new blockmates? Haha. They're slowly being the badass kids already, ditching their 52-week challenge promise just to spend their savings for this "spontaneous" outing.
RAMEN-YAH is located at Tambo Highway, Hinaplanon, Iligan City, in front of Latter-Day Saints Church. It was my second time to visit the place. First, I was still a highschooler then, and the place was still not that developed.
They have really improved and stepped up their Japanese gaming. There is a separate room where customers can eat and sit like Japanese. I was really thrilled of how different the place is already!! The walls were painted with bamboos and sakura so that you can quite feel what's like to be in Japan. And their doors!! Japanese sliding doors, Ramen-yah have them! (I want one in our house.)
Even just with the place, it was comfy and bright and heartwarming. How much more if you taste their Japanese cuisine?! There are a lot of choices on their menu, but with just a budget of Php200, you can already go home with a satisfied stomach.
I couldn't attest though if their food really tasted like the food in Japan, since I haven't tasted such ever in my life. We couldn't be sure that their menu's close to the taste of real Japan food. Maybe, it's just a Japanese recipe but in Filipino style. Haha.
Anyway, the food is really tasty! The flavors have really improved since the last time I was here. I've ordered ramen since I was in the mood of warm food. And my friends ordered bentos.
Ramen is just like our noodles here in Filipino recipes, but with lots of toppings and ingredients, such as pork/beef, leafy vegetables, egg and etc, depending on the type of ramen. I chose the Tonkotsu ramen, a safe choice for me since it only has the common ingredients I eat often.
Bento, on the other hand, is a lunch box of goodies. It will contain rice, the main course, and some salad. The dressing was really tasty, too!
I've done a lot of shoots with my friends that night since that was such a rare event for them. We've savored the place and never cared if we looked stupid posing and taking pictures in different versions as possible. The dinner we had was also costly for us since we're just students that's why we took the chances where we can take pictures of ourselves. It was really a fun night, especially my friends support my fun shoots and just laugh and cooperate on my directions.
Ramen-yah is one of Iligan City's fine restaurants. It is also one of the few fancy shops that I've gone to. This year 2017, I plan to explore more of them! There are two more Japanese restaurants in our city, I-chang and Tadakuma. I hope I could visit them sooner so that I could compare them all and decide what's the tastiest Japanese resto in Iligan City!
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Oh, Christmas Lights and Hogwarts!!
I did my waiting.. in seven years!! In Azkaban!!
Lol, at Azkaban. But I really did wait for 7 years to finally come back in Tangub City. I never expected for it to be this grand and beautiful already!! So much has changed! From the area size of displays to amount of Christmas lights used, I am really awed by the effort of the contenders in this showcase of art.
Now the displays extend to the city's Hall of Justice and I think the City Hall, consuming a really huge space in the heart of the city. Before, I considered Tangub as a small city, not yet widely and fully urbanized and having more provincial life feels. It's completely different now!
The Christmas Symbols displays cannot only be seen in the said plaza and in the center of the city, but it is widely spread even in deepest parts of city. Each baranggay had actively made and propped up an arch entrance to represent their baranggay, each of which have different themes.
You can really feel the spirit of Christmas in this place. I really appreciate their warm welcome to the people who came from distant places and traveled hours just to see this wonderful city by having the decorated arch entrances as teasers for the bigger thing.
The number of people or tourists gathered in the city was astounding! The place was really spotless! Before, it couldn't even reach hundreds of people a day. But now, thousands of people visit it everyday. There are people EVERYWHERE. Lots of people were sitting on the benches or on the sides of the building, some were sight-seeing, others were eating (yes, restaurants and street vendors eventually found a way to get in), and most of the people were holding their cameras and smartphones above their heads to capture the impeccable place.
One thing to point out to is that before, there wasn't even a gate to enter the place neither there was an entrance fee. But of course, as the years pass by, the more they upgrade the more costly it would be. I think there's an entrance fee of Php60. Guys, I promise you, it's still worth it!! You'll never regret the coins you've spent.
But to be honest, what I anticipated the most in this trip is to have a glimpse of the HOGWARTS CASTLE!!
In case you don't know, but I am a hardcore fan of Harry Potter and this sight before my eyes, IT'S LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE. I know it's not even near to that of Universal Studios's replica of Wizarding World of Harry Potter but this is something!! I don't care but I am so happy just seeing it! My heart really flutters. Kudos to the people who got the idea to make this happen!!
Not only that! The propos were really realistic! There was a room which looks like a common room, and you could reenact there. Then there was this library filled with Harry Potter elements!! The Mirror of Erised was present! There were snitches above your head. You could wear the Sorting Hat if you want to be sorted, uhm, but it doesn't talk though. And then there's a wand! Too bad there's only one. And then there are lots of books. I haven't noticed a broom though, they couldn't have overlooked that. Maybe I just haven't seen it because it's dark.
P.S. There's a Hogwarts Express too! Toot! Toot!
One really downside of the building is its poor lighting. Also, during our stay in the Hogwarts Castle, outside, the whole plaza was showcasing its Dancing Lights, so the lights inside the castle were shut off and the main line of lights were the only ones blinking synchronically and simultaneously. The Dancing Lights was beautiful and was blinking rhythmically with the enchanting music. You can see it in the video below.
I was ecstatic the whole time, that I was worried that I might not enjoy the whole place, missing out some things. My cousins were also excited in this Hogwarts Castle. We were really having fun!! Even my mom. The whole family was really enjoying it! Even though, my little cousins and my mom didn't know much about Harry Potter, they were still having fun. I am really inlove with the place. If only we had enough time, but we're rushing since we were already way behind the time range contract of the rental van.
And we were so damn hungry already because we chose to go to Hogwarts first before having dinner!! By the way, there's an entrance fee in the Hogwarts Castle. For just Php5, you can now enter the castle. Add Php5 and you can wear a cloak of your choice!! If you want to ride the Hogwarts Express, you'll only need to pay Php10. So guys! Imagine. You only need Php20 to have a magical experience once and for all! (We didn't try the Express though because it's so tiny, only small kids will fit.)
Watch the video below for the summary of my Tangub Experience. The pictures above were crappy and pixelated, I know. My apologies. Also sorry, for the shaky video below, I got too excited. Hihi.
Merry Christmas, loves!
Happy New Year, too!
Monday, November 21, 2016
What Excites Me Lately
It has now convinced me that November will always be a great month. Not to mention legends were born at this time (well, like me) but also wonderful things happen on November!! From Pacquiao's matches to most-awaited movie premieres plus the birthdays of legends that were made during Valentines' Day!
What excites me this November involves a lot of things, not just my birthday, but it includes the following! Also they were happening on my birthday week! How did I possibly managed and handled them well? Actually, I just barely survived. I am really in the surge of feelings this week and I'm still holding them delicately. But why?
1. COLDPLAY ANNOUNCED THEIR CONCERT ON TUESDAY
Imagine me studying for an exam the next day on a Monday night, and this news broke out. PROMISE. I literally let go of it all. I just can't huhu. This long time dream of mine, I just can't afford to not see it. I am so determined to go. I couldn't concentrate with my studies from then on, good thing our exam was postponed. I immediately made plans with my friend, a fellow Coldplayer, to go to the concert! And then the dates and ticket prices were announced the following days, which made our Hope level depressed a bit.
The concert is on a WEEKDAY (April 4, 2017, Tuesday) and the tickets, wow, so costly! We can only afford Bronze (Php3500) but adding the plane ticket cost to get to Manila... I can only cry. *dasal nalang talaga* Quite mad at the organizers for the overpricing (SoKor's VIP just costs Php6k plus?! Imagine) and the for their decision to have the concert held at MOA Concert Grounds. My friend and I was like "our heights". *jaw drops* And Bronze is already really far from the stage! And I really don't think grounds is a convenient place for Coldplay concert considering the raising-Xylobands part, it will just be.. flat.
As if all of these were still not enough for giving our hopes up, we weren't able to reserve a ticket in the Globe pre-sale even though my friend sent it exactly 9AM! Now bitter with all the people who posted their tickets in Twitter. Hayy. Send help.
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| From Google Images. |
I'm just praying now that there'd be a miracle huhu. P.S. I am really a Coldplay fan. Not that I still have to explain it to anyone, but I am just clearing this out since nonsense arguments are everywhere: hardcore fans berating just-now-proclaimed-fans and etc. I just roll my eyes. Why does it have to resort to hateful ways? Coldplay actually promotes peace and harmony and hope to everyone. People should ought to apply that on their lives, or should listen to Coldplay more hahaha. [P.P.S. I listen to Coldplay almost everyday, than most people. (omg why am i explaining again)]
2. FANTASTIC BEASTS PREMIERE ON MY BIRTHDAY
Not exactly my birthday because it was released on some countries on November 16, but duhh. HUHU have I mentioned that I am a Potterhead?! And this new movie has really lightened up my pottersoul since the last Harry Potter movie franchise, way back 2011. Plus Eddie-freaking gorgeous-Redmayne is portraying Newt Scamander. Already watched it in theaters this afternoon! My friends urged me that we'll just wait for a DVDrip and download it someday, but idk why I feel it violates my Potterhead self. For the case of Harry Potter movies, I want to see them in big screens as much as I can, as a compensation on not being able to watch the first seven movies in cinemas.
*spoiler alert*
GUYS, THE MOVIE WAS BREATHTAKING. AND AWESOME. AND FANTASTIC INDEED. Though, it wasn't that mind-blowing and mind-racking, but it was relaxing! The movie was made for you to chill. The graphics and the effects were superb! They made you want a 'beast' as a pet. Also, I loved Newt's advocacy and Eddie has portrayed his role amazingly (as always). He was perfect. Promise. I also encountered lots of new wizarding world terms like Muggles in UK were called No-Majs in America, plus the new set of magical creatures, like the Swooping Evil and Erumpent. You'd also get to know with an Obscurus, a dark magic beast that will occupy a body of a child if his magical powers were suppressed and not used. The conflicts revolve around an Anti-Maj organization, sometimes the MACUSA, the Obscurial, and then Grindelwald. And tenenen, JOHNNY DEPP IS GRINDELWALD.
Such great casting. If you were expecting that this movie will teach you where to find the beasts, I think that's the only downside of it because the movie did not focus mainly on that, lol. (Just buy the book, then.) JK Rowling has totally written a new story that will still give you a hint of the journey. Excited for the sequel!!! ♥
3. LEGEND OF THE BLUE SEA PILOT EPISODE
Who's a fan of Kdramas?! Well, I'm not really a diehard fan but I usually squeeze some episodes during my free time or when there are no exams coming up, which hardly happens.
After I watched Uncontrollably Fond last September, I promised myself to not watch any kdrama until the end of semester to avoid distractions, but LEGEND OF THE BLUE SEA IS AN EXCEPTION BECAUSE LEE MIN HO.
Finally, my bae is coming back to the TV screens together with sassy girl Jun Ji Hyun. The drama is a fictional magical story, with JiHyun as a mermaid. It's also a romantic comedy that's why I'm looking forward to it even though I don't think MinHo and JiHyun has chemistry with each other. Nevertheless, I'm still supporting my 'husband' all the way!!
4. A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS OFFICIAL TRAILER
This Lemony Snicket series is part of my childhood and I was fond of reading it, though I am still stuck on book 5, giving me horrors and thrills of Count Olaf. After how many years of waiting for a sequel on the movie, which I really find amazing and the adaptation's not so far from the book, finally a TV series has come to suffice my cravings.
But honestly, on the release of the trailer, I was quite disappointed since it has not given me thrills already. :( Neil Patrick Harris is a great Count Olaf but the aura of the setting and the series itself is quite... cheery and colorful and vibrant. Not the usual dark feels you get when you read the books or the first time you watched the movie, that brought you to the edge of your seat. It somehow does not give me a fear of getting found by Count Olaf. But I'm still giving an open mind to this since it's Netflix's, which also owns Stranger Things, to which many of my friends had praised. Kudos also for finding a very close replacement for Violet Baudelaire.
Still excited for this, this coming January together with a new season of Sherlock!!! 2017 is gonna be full of surprises.
So far, these are hot issues that kept me occupied lately, aside from the political hot topic of #MarcosNotAHero and the 'Libingan ng mga Bayani'. Good thing, these great news are relaxing me away from the stress we call acads. A lover of November forever~
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Embracing XIX
Oh, how fast time flies. I'm nineteen alreadyyy!! Turned last November 17. I still can clearly remember how I turned 18 last year, and how I had the time of my life with my friends, with me, having the simplest debut. And now, twelve months had quickly passed by.
Honestly, I quite regretted that I haven't thought of a Harry Potter-themed birthday last year. Not wanting it to be very grand, but just a bit of decorations to feels of the ambiance of Hogwarts and eerie aura in the HP books/movies. But damn, I failed to plan it, that's why I imagined it to be this year, turning nineteen, the age where wizards and witches students of Hogwarts get to enjoy their last year. I really searched some tips on how to come up with a Harry Potter birthday party, adding "cheap and simple" description on the google search.
Unfortunately, I had lots of exams this week, not to mention they're the subjects that were not discussed properly by our professors. So, I really can't manage to plan and handle such party alone. I still have to study. Because of that, I wasn't thinking of my birthday then, accepting the fact that that's what happens when you get older, everything seems to be now less exciting-- thinking that there are more things that are practical and important. *I sound like an adult omg*
So, why is it still one of the best birthdays in my life? That's because I feel loved and valued on that very day, by my friends and family. Starting from my bestfriend in highschool who surprised me 5 days early!! (She forgot the date of my birthday, and assumed it was November 13. LOL.)
Sha and I had been partners-in-crime in highschool, but when college came, we are now in a long distance relationship since she transferred to another university in Cagayan de Oro City. It was really rare now to see each other and bond together. So when she contacted me on November 12, that she'd be visiting Iligan, I took the chance to spend the time with her, and I was planning to surprise and treat her somewhere, as since the beginning of time, she was always the one who pays for me when we eat together so now it's payback time!!
But the tables have turned! We were in the sidewalk, cars on our side, when she randomly greeted me "Happy birthday gii!" and I just replied "Kita lang gani ka ug balloon, ayha paka migreet!" and just laughed. But she just laughed harder when I didn't realize that those balloons were actually for me! I was really surprised and touched because no matter where she is, she never forgot about me. Huhu. Who am I to deserve such a dear friend? *grabs tissue* Anyway, she also prepared a very big and yummy cake. In the end, she was the one who treated me at D-Dhons Bistro. Really, my plan above was well, 'ruined'? I owe her so much.
Let us cherish this moment with the delicious food in the picture above. D-Dhon's Diner & Bistro is really 5/5!! The prices of the food weren't that high, and they are all worth it once you'd get to taste the food. All made with effort and love. The ambiance of the place is really superb too. I recommend this place.
Again, I am so happy that day. I am so forever thankful for Sha. I am happy that we spent sometime chatting and checking with our lives. I wish we could do it again someday, sooner. ♥
On the birthday proper, I assured myself already that it's okay to not have a celebration. Plus, I don't think I would be that very happy on my birthday when my mom wasn't even at home to celebrate it together. (I cried days before, missing her.) So, when my dad asked what I want to be prepared on my birthday, I just let them decide it for me. All I wanted was just a cake and some candles to blow onto. That's kinda important tradition to me. A birthday is never complete without that. We would just be ordering food since my mom wasn't there to cook some.
I had an exam on my birthday on subject Physical Chemistry and I haven't started a bit that time so I had no time to enjoy my day because I need to study.
I didn't thought that something extraordinary would happen that day, not until my ChE blockmates surprised me with a cake and some balloons! Huhu.
Imagine, they still had time to buy and prepare and plan those things when we must use every minute left to study for PhyChem. Guys, I am so blessed and thankful. These people, honestly, I thought I could never go close with because I was so attached with my past blockmates. But these people, because of them, life in ChE is so much easier, and they make it easy for me to adjust in the block.
I really appreciate their effort. Love you guys. I really look forward to making memories with them till I graduate. Huhu.
I went home satisfied that day because even if I had little time to study, I was able to answer all the questions (but that doesn't mean they're right). I don't know what's waiting for me in the house. But indeed they had prepared something for me. My relatives were also present, which I expected the least since I really thought there's gonna be no celebration. I was really really happy.
The greetings from my friends in the social media, to all the people who gave some effort and time just to type a greeting, really THANK YOU. Those from-the-heart messages really had a special place in my heart. (Plus, if it's your birthday you get to have your crush greet you. Such a tricky way to finally have a conversation.)
Thank you for making me feel special even just for a day. And lastly, thank You so much for the Great Provider and our Father above, for being so generous and patient and loving with me despite my imperfections and shortcomings. Thank You always, Father God! So beyond thankful right now, still. Indeed, things that you less anticipated are things that are much more memorable. It may not be the grandest birthday I had, but it is one of the bests.
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