Do you like Japanese Food?

I used to do the photos above because of the Long Distance Relationship but Taku was re-assigned in Manila and of course, hello happy days for me!  

But… I am not spoiled.

I still smell good and look good. Haha. I know, I don’t think I’m gifted with humour (sigh). Kidding aside, I don’t think Takuya’s spoiling me.

        Or maybe, yes! But I spoil him too… and I think it’s normal to treat someone special to you very nice and make his/her day extra-ordinary special, every day. The truth is, at this very moment, I feel like our relationship is old because we seem to know each other very well and our values are so much alike despite of the cultural difference, but I also feel like our relationship is new (just months together!) because we always have new things to try and places to go! 


         Ordinary lazy weekends and busy weekdays seem very interesting, simply because HE FEEDS ME VERY WELL.

…then he’ll look at my fat arms, which he calls as “marshmallows,” and will say, “I think I’m feeding you very well” followed by touching them. The saying "a way to a man's heart is through his stomach" is not applicable for me but eating Taku's Spaghetti and other food that he'd prepared, I realized that the saying is true. 

         I thought I’m not really into cooking (but yes in eating!) but lately, I find myself excitedly thinking about what to cook and learn to cook soon. 

this was taken during Sake Night, the house party that he hosted.

I think I was inspired by Taku. He’s very passionate in cooking that he even dreamt about having a cooking show! And I think the reason why we’re working hard and saving money now is for us to be able to produce a Cooking Show with a Japanese Guy with the big butt as a host! That would be cool-- Japanese Jollibee. Haha. (Joke Taba!)

Look at all those things on the table! I don't understand! Haha.

He loves cooking like crazy! His kitchen is full of seasonings and ingredients that make me crave and just think about what he’ll cook next during lunch break on weekdays!

               

            Yes, I like Japanese Food but not to the point that I’ll get used to it so much and feel like I am just eating Adobo like what I’m feeling now! I find myself so familiar with the Japanese taste that I crave for it a lot. I even got interested in learning how to cook Okonomiyaki, Taku’s favourite, Osaka/ Kansai Prefecture’s famous food that I always crave. 

I love Okonomiyaki Boy!

                 We love good food and it’s so fulfilling that now, we cook our own pancake, French toast, lunch, dinner and even merienda! For sure, we’ll be able to save money for our upcoming trips, future businesses and cooking show! Haha. But seriously, it’s very rewarding to eat food that you know was carefully prepared and cooked and it’s even more rewarding to cook for someone that you care for, I like the feeling that I know that he’s eating something healthy. We’re on our 6^th month and knowing him more each day makes me realise how lucky I am to have this small-eyed chef.

                I know now why his pick-up line was “Do you like Japanese Food?” 

               Fine Dining, Izakaya or simply at home, he delivers.

I crave for KOREAN. Haha.

           Koreans are everywhere in the Philippines, even in television. Filipinos are so much into Korean Culture that upon riding a cab, you’ll hear Korean songs being played on the local radio and hear people talking about Korean dramas or Korean Novelas when you pass by the Filipino Sari-Sari store!

         There was a time that I had a business trip in Cebu and I was astonished upon noticing that almost 80% of the hotel and resort guests in Mactan and Cebu City were Koreans! English tutorials and schools are everywhere catering to the growing market of Koreans considering the cheap and effective way of learning English. 

          Philippine Primer, a monthly Japanese Magazine with a readership of 40,000, that promotes the Philippines to the Japanese community, even took a step last year to support the growing market of Koreans in the Philippines by introducing Korean restaurants, spas, performing arts schools, and other businesses in the country to supply everyone’s craving for the taste of the culture!

         Six months ago, I thought I wasn’t influenced by anything about Korea but I realised that I was craving a lot for Kimchi and Bibimbop! I even spent 24 hours watching a Korean drama Personal Preference or known in the Philippines as Perfect Match, and spent the next day dreaming of finding my “Gino” (Lee Min Ho)! (Well, not a long time but I actually found my Gino. Wohoo!)

      Anyway, I spent a day in Tagaytay to have a taste of the famous Raja- Korean supermarket, internet café, spa, and AUTHENTIC KOREAN RESTAURANT! Yehey!

with Ms. Helena Kim of Raja Tagaytay and  Ms. Mimi Endo.

          The owner and General Manager of Raja, Ms. Helena Kim, is so accommodating and fun. She even have this special pool villa in Puerto Azul that you can rent for a getaway and she’s into golf too so you can ask for her assistance in Golf Booking anytime at +63.917.880.0917.

          What I love about Korean restaurants is the unlimited side dishes that are served before the main dish, I swear I can request for the waitress to get me 5 sets of side dishes the whole time I’m eating! Haha.

This is actually the “BEFORE” when my Japanese friend, Mimi, and me ate at Raja:

Mimi san posed in her before pig-out moment. haha.

And here’s what happened after…

the lighting is crazy! haha.

In the city, I love Bada Korean Restaurant and Song Do Korean Restaurant at the 2^nd Level of El Pueblo Real, ADB Avenue cor Julia Vargas St. Ortigas Center, Pasig City. You can always call them at +63.2.636.4821 or +63.2.636.3626. I love their Bibimbop and yakiniku.

with the ever-friendly Song Do staffs

ARA Korean Restaurant in Malugay St. Brgy Bel Air, Makati, is a very nice Korean Restaurant also that offers not just good food, but also a very classy and gorgeous venue for your special occasions!

Sometimes, I go Korean at home by ordering the healthiest Kimchi in town (I think! Haha) but be careful because they deliver by bulk! Haha. I had to eat various Kimchi for a week last month because I ordered a lot, at Royal Palace Kimchi! Call them at +63.2.836.8282 or at +63.915.888.3333! I personally recommend the Cucumber and Spring Onion Kimchi though Youlmoo, pogi, cabbage and kaktugi are good also.

I love Kimchi! Thank you, bow.

A Healing Journey.

Seeing the photos of last year’s visit at The Farm at San Benito made my Saturday so serene and hopeful. Known for its Detoxification Retreats and Wellness Programs, The Farm at San Benito, in Lipa, Batangas, Philippines is an award-winning health resort located an easy 90-minute drive south of Manila.

the serene area where they hold yoga classes

It was a wonderful Saturday when I went there. As a yoga-lover, I felt the sense of belongingness in the place. The peace seemed to be from within; I breathed carelessly feeling that no polluted air will ever enter in my system.

this is the only thing I was seeing during the spa very relaxing treatment.

Spa and massage is part of my month! I’m having it twice a month and experiencing the spa treatment at The Farm was a very overwhelming experience. Everything that they used in my body was “edible” because they believe that we should be fair to our skin, being the biggest organ of our body, and give what it deserves with the same vitamins and minerals that we give to the rest of our body!

kids will definitely learn the art of flower arrangement and decoration!

Am I just pasted? or just completely wasted?

I had their Alive! Vegetarian 5-course Lunch.

I wasn’t able to talk the whole time I was eating. I was the best Zucchini with Basil Soup ever!

Everything was so lip-smacking and thinking about how they grew every ingredient of what I was eating and what they used in my body for massage was so astonishing and admirable.

All of us should realize The Farm at San Benito's Philosophy:

"We believe in the body’s inherent ability to heal and maintain a healthy functioning state.
We believe disease is preventable and curable, naturally. We provide the environment, guidance and support you need to realize your maximum human potential. We believe detoxification regiments are highly effective tools in restoring health. We believe good nutrition is enhanced by increasing the intake of raw or “living” food, and may or may not include cooked foods and animal protein. We believe an investment in health will be one of your wisest decisions."

Having won 18 international spa industry awards since 2004, The Farm has served as an inspiration to the Philippine tourism industry and benchmark for local spas in the country. It was awarded with the prestigious Asia Spa Award for Best Cuisine of the Year 2010. In 2009, CNN Traveller showcased the resort as one of the world’s best green places to stay in CNN Traveller’s list of Six Best Environmentally Friendly Hotels in the world. Its experienced team of integrated medical doctors, nurturing spa therapists, body-mind-spirit activity consultants, and “living food” chefs together with holistic approach to health has made The Farm one of the leading wellness destinations in the region.

Don't forget to visit The Farm at San Benito when you visit The Philippines and have a healing journey!

At any time, you may request assistance for transportation or any other by calling the following numbers: 02-884-8074 (as to be dialed within the Philippines) +63-2-884-8074 (as to be dialed from outside the Philippines).

   You can also ask for assistance from iMarketing Japan, Inc & Philippine Primer Magazine at 7^th Flr. Maripola Bldg. 109 Perea St. Legaspi Village, Makati City, or call +63.2.836.8381/ +63.2.808.2163.

The Farm at San Benito

119 Barangay Tipakan

4217 Lipa City, Batangas

 Philippines

Reservations: +63 2 884 8074

Cell (6am - 10pm):+63 918 884 8078

Fax: +63 2 889 1150 

Email: reservations@thefarm.com.ph/ info@thefarm.com.ph 

Skype: reservations.thefarm/ medical.thefarm

Gmail: reservations.thefarm@gmail.com  

Sundays should be just like this.

Sunday is Church and Family day for a normal Filipino family and usually, it is my “me” time as well. I’ve spent this morning attending the Mass and reading at Starbucks. And because time flies so fast, my thoughts fly as well, that Sundays should be just like this…

image from rajatandena.wordpress.com

It’s a Sunday and I am reading my favourite book as the hammock swings while I let the lukewarm wind touch my sun-burned skin and listen to the waves as they break and reach the shore. The breaking is always music to my ears, knowing that just like me; they’re part of the bigger body of water, the ocean, and me, the world. My hair is still wet because of the usual morning clean-up dive and I can hear the funniest-man-with-biggest-heart-on-earth call my name as he excitedly talks about the healthiest food he ever tasted in Krabi and how he missed my laugh in his last trip. He has a soft spot for children and I advocate environmental preservation so we always make it a point to support less fortunate kids and do efforts to preserve the environment from the returns of our café in the midst of the city and other businesses. I’m thrilled of his reaction as I plan to surprise him about the news that we’ll be having an addition to our fun life after my doctor happily confirmed it yesterday. (I can’t stop myself from smiling.) My mom and dad will be throwing a beach party for my 29^th birthday tonight as they invited my dearest friends and kin as a treat for me as we also celebrate the growth of our flower farm in the Philippines. I am searching for inspiration from simple things because I will be finishing a book at the end of this month that is expected to be published before 2015 ends. Our successful branding and advertising campaign in Asia caused me to plan a Europe trip and finally make it to eat pizza at the fountain in Italy with my best man.

It’s Sunday, lazy weekend will be over really soon but I’m glad that I learned how to appreciate every moment of this good life through the years. No regrets. Good life.

I know my Sundays will be just like this.