Nokinoc: Dining Spot in Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan

So, this is one of my Palawan Treasures segment. Situated in Palawan's center (beside Corazon Tourist Inn) is Noki Noc.

Noki Noc Savoury House

A Palawan staple whenever I'm at Puerto Princesa because the food is affordable, relatively cheap and good. 

When I say cheap, I mean fastfood cheap. The prices are fair in relation to its bountiful serving.

Chicken and Palabok combo for 99 pesos.

You get a quarter of a chicken (e.g. an entire leg), some atsara, and a cup of rice for 99php. Fried chicken combo with Palabok also cost 99php. Not bad, right? 

And--not that it matters--water is free.

Water's free...

Oh, just a word of caution while eating their liempo meal: get a knife. I had a hard time slicing through the piggy portion when I ordered it (along with baked mac).

If I remember correctly, this probably cost between 99 php to 129 php

Mmmm... Baked Mac.

If there's one thing I didn't like while eating at Noki Noc, it's the Chocolate Mousse (95 php). It was just too rich and too sweet for me. I could barely finish half the cup.

It's a little too sweet for my taste, but I'm sure couples and groups of three would be fine finishing this large cup of Chocolate Mousse.

This said, I wouldn't mind gorging up a dozen Silvanas (35 php) because they got it made just right.

My favorite Noki Noc dessert cost 35 pesos and is worth every penny!

Bottom Line

Noki Noc is definitely a nice and convenient place to eat at. Sure, it's no Kah Lui or Kinabuch's, but the wide viand selection should put the pickiest eater at ease. It's cheap. It's bountiful, and the food's not bad.

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The Lotus Garden Suites in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

Well, this is the second time I've stayed in the place. This time, I'd probably rate it Above Average. It's not perfect, but it's still the best place I've ever stayed at. Also, it's a few meters away from the airport. 

The Lotus Garden's top view from the tree house.

Personal Experience Staying in Lotus Garden Suites

1. Staff. The staff are extremely nice and friendly. All of them were courteous and cheery. To compensate for the mishap in the rooms, they upped my free breakfast meal to be served with garlic rice rather than bread.

The Lotus Garden Suites' huge pond at the entrance.

2. Food. I'm a so-and-so on this one. Breakfast was okay. I love that they always have fruits on the plate. Their coffee is pretty good, too. Instead of the instant creamer, it's served with evaporated milk. I have yet to try to their Japanese cuisines, but I intend to do so another time.

Brewed coffee, brown sugar, and milk in the morning

3. Room. I just love the Okisaki room. It has always been my favorite place to crash. The bathroom in it is roofed (unlike the other bathrooms), and it's situated above the pond with floating lilies and swimming kois. It's also probably the only room with decent cellular reception if your network is SUN cellular.

Lotus Garden Suites' Mikado Room

Sensei Bedroom

The Sensei room would be my next pick because the bathroom (bathed in sunlight or moonlight) has the best water pressure. They also have a bidet beside the toilet, which is an added plus. But compared to Mikado, the floor is tiled rather than wooden. Expect it to get pretty cold when you wake up in the morning for a quick bahtroom break.

Lotus Garden Suites Sensei Room Open-roof Garden Bathroom

Mikado Bathroom at Night

Nature-inspired Open-roof Shower

Yes, it can get pretty cool at night, so expect to end up with a cold after taking a nice bath.

4. Lounge Area. Now, this is where Lotus Garden will always one of the best inns to book a room in. Their lounge area is Japanese-themed and nature-rich. Their restaurant/ reception areaOn one side, books are rowed in wooden shelves.  Not only is it surrounded with plants, the ponds filled with floating flora and fauna. They have a swimming turtle in the pond beside the Sensei room. 

Lounge Area and Restobar

Another Lounge Area

5. Price. The price is just about right. In comparison, the room in Corazon Tourist Inn was 180 php more expensive than a room in Lotus Garden Suites.

The tree house looks nice too.

I think that wraps up my experience for the Lotus Garden Suites.

Personal Ratings

1. Staff: 5/5

2. Food: 3/5 (I have yet to taste their sushi)

3. Room: 4/5 (My first pick is Okisaki. Sensei would be next among the standard/regular rooms).

4. Lounge: 5/5 (Travelers get to enjoy well-thought landscaping and beautiful greenery simply by hanging-out on their restaurant.

5. Price: 5/5

The Lotus Garden Suites Information

Address: 371 Rizal Ave. Puerto Princesa City, Palawan PH 5300
Phone: (048) 434 11 32

Website: http://www.lotusgardenph.com/

Next stop, Ardent Suites in Puerto Princesa, Palawan... 

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The Lotus Garden Suite: One of the Prettiest Hotels in Palawan

It's not the best suite, neither is it the cheapest one. Still, the coziness of this Palawan hotel is just unbelievable. I stayed in The Lotus Garden Suite for two nights. 

First thing's first, why should I stay at the Lotus Garden Suite in Palawan

1. Great Location. The Lotus Garden is a cozy refuge that's situated between the airport and Puerto Princesa City Proper. It's about a 3-5 minute ride (or even less) from the airport. 

The best view to welcome your morning

This Palawan hotel is beside the famous Kalui's, and Kinabuch's Bar and Grill is within walking distance . Those two restos are a must-visit for people who enjoy great seafood and great ambiance,

2. The Lotus Garden is breathtakingly beautiful. Sure, the white silk cotton tree (known as Buboi or Doldol) sometimes kills the beauty of their ponds, but their landscaping is definitely one of a kind, paved in artfully-placed cracked tiles. 

This is one of their lounge areas. The stairwell beside it is a mosaic of broken tiles.

I bet it's the only hotel/suite in Palawan that has a treehouse, three ponds, and beautiful lotus flowers.

Beautiful, beautiful lotus flowers

3. Nature-friendly all the way. I stayed in the Okisaki room. It was built like a wooden cabin. Beneath my room was a fish pond with kois swimming beneath the lily pads. The man-made falls beside adds to the naturalistic vibe.

Best room in The Lotus Garden Suite. Paid 1,300 php for a night.

4. They have a cat mascot. Okay, this was definitely something I just had to mention. The funny gal is just lounging about reception area. She's often caught stretching out on their plush purple seat.

Mascot Cat on Purple Couch

5. Friendly hotel staff. It's so adorable that their staff is hospitable, accommodating, and very eager to help.

6. Great ambiance and set-up. I did mention this awhile ago. It felt like I owned the place because they barely had customers (probably because it's not peak season yet). My driver mentioned that he thought the place only had Asian fine dining.

Romantic lighting crafted with bamboo

They have seashell tables and a whole book collection beside their bar.

This has rocks on it. The other table has seashells beneath the glass pane.

Celebrities who have gone there include Mark Nelson (I'm not sure about this), Pokwang, Renee Salud, Ai-Ai delas Alas and Aljur Abrenica. I know there's another actor model who's gone there... but seriously, I'm not really familiar with celebrities.

Here's a Japanese-themed pavilion surrounded by lush greenery and a beautiful lotus pond.

Of course, there are some downsides about the hotel.

1. 24-hour front desk wasn't 24 hour at all. I could perfectly understand this because it's not peak season yet. Logic dictates that there's practically no guest in their right mind who would leave the suite at 3 in the morning except me.

2. Hot water is extremely hot. I couldn't adjust it to warm even if my life depended on it. Hahaha. 

It's like bathing in hot brewed coffee!

3. Continental breakfast portions are a little too small.

Two continental breakfasts combined. I missed my first breakfast so I asked them to combine both meals into one large morning feast.

4. Okisaki Room--the room with the best view-- doesn't have a canopy bed. I can deal with that, too. I love that the room was cozy, but some customers have expected this beforehand...especially with the pictures on their site.

On the bright side, I admire their effort in renovating the place. During my stay, they were working on improving their dining area.

Front desk is on the left. The shell table above is the center piece in this photo.

The million-dollar question? Will I stay at The Lotus Garden Suites again? HELL YES!!! It's affordable, beautiful, and nature-rific. I got the Okisaki room for 1,300 php!

The Lotus Garden Suites Information

Address:371 Rizal Ave. Puerto Princesa City, Palawan PH 5300

Phone:(048) 434 11 32

Tip: Rather than booking it through their site, give them a call! If it's not peak season, you'll most likely get the room at a cheaper price. You should check Agoda or Tripadvisor rates too.

Check out our most recent post (with more pictures) on the Lotus Garden Suites. Here

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Marikina Sports Center Rates, Schedules, and Brochure

In my opinion, Marikina has one of the best sports center in the Philippines. It has well-kept facilities, and most of it are open 24/7. So the swimming pool is closed during Mondays, and only during summers do they allow night swimming, it's not that bad when the rates are affordable.

Marikina Sports Center's Soccer Field.

Given the government's average budget, the sports area and its staff is proof to where the citizen's taxes go. 

Marikina Sports Center contact number, information, and rates.

Postscript: 

MARIKINA SPORTS CENTER

Administrator: Dr. Angelito A. Llabres 

Bookings/ Reservations or Inquiries (02) 682-9573

Administration Office (02) 646-1635

Visit us: www.marikina.gov.ph

But let's not talk about that. I didn't put this post up to review the place.

And if all Badminton Courts are fully-booked, where better than to play beside the track oval.

Beside the veteran chess players...

Honestly, I just wanted to post some pictures and information the Marikina Sports Center rates.

Multicolored bleachers surrounding both sides. Entrance fee is 10 pesos per person.

To make things easier, I took the liberty of posting the Sports Center's brochure.

Marikina Sports Center Brochure
Just click on the image to enlarge it.

Marikina Sports Center Brochure
Just click on the image to enlarge it.

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Where to Buy Cakes and Pastries in Marikina? Wolly Winkle

Now, before anything else, I have to say that this was not paid nor endorsed by the owner. I simply came across the tiny patisserie while waiting for our car to get upholstered, which took about 3-4 hours!

To make a long story short, I got hungry and checked what was in the Wolly Winkle Cakes and Cafe shop.

Don't let appearances deceive you.

Wolly Winkle is located near MG Square Upholstery at G. Fernando Ave., Corner Dragon Street, Marikina City. It's directly beside the newly-opened, awesome-looking Car Wash and Restobar whose name I have not taken note of.

The Wolly Winkle Cakes and Cafe's atmosphere suggest a cozy and welcoming vibe.

So I entered the establishment with sky blue metallic sticker plastered all over its front display. I'm not sure why the owner chose to do this with the cake shop as you could barely see through it during afternoons.

This cake shop may look barren in the outside, but once you've entered, you'll certainly appreciate the thematic choice of blue and Alice in Wonderland artwork hung throughout the small room. 

I especially love that their service water is served in a wine glass instead of a regular cylindrical one.

There aren't that many tables, which makes sense since it's not an ideal place to eat dinner in. 

However, if you're going to hang out with a friend and just want to try some cakes, it's definitely a place to consider (especially if you're near Sta. Lucia Grand East Mall).

A slice of cake cost within 100 php range. The portions are smaller than what I expected, but I won't judge this yet since I haven't tried any of it.

Cake pricing is as follows:

(Cake - Slice/Whole)

Blueberry - 125 / 1000

Oreo Cheesecake - 125 / 1000

Classic Sans Rival - 105 / 840

Chocolate Dream Cake - 95 / 760

Chocolate Paradise -  95 / 760

Unfortunately, I forgot to name of their best-seller... It had something to do with Marshmallow; it's the one located at the upper right corner of the picture directly above. 

I ordered their Mac and Cheese (95 php) and Revel Bar (45 php). 

The bread was a little chewy (perhaps from having been refrigerated). Nevertheless, the Mac & Cheese was real good.

Okay, so the price is a little steep compared to mainstream restaurants and fastfood joints. After all, Goldilocks' Baked Mac cost about 65 - 75 php. 

Still, it's definitely a place I would consider visiting again. I wasn't able to taste their cakes, but their revel bar sufficed to tell me that its preparation was home-made.. and I just love home-made cooking.

To sum it all up:

***** Ambiance/ Atmosphere - cozy, thematic and just great for friends who want to hang out.

****   Food - Good enough. I haven't tasted the cakes yet, but their Revel Bar was OK! It's not too sweet or too jam-packed with flavor.

***     Price - A little steep in comparison to Banapple (my favorite cake place), but all the well good. Can we go back to the ambiance? It was really cute and adorable.  On the other hand, the pricing just sounds about right if you were to go to a cafe to hang out. It's cheaper than Starbucks albeit the lack of specialized  coffee blends.

Will I go back there to try their cakes? Definitely!

Wolly Winkle Cakes & Cafe is located at #32 Gil Fernando Ave., San Roque, Marikina City

Tel No. 631-76-44

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Angry Birds Themed Birthday Party

So I decided to post this Angry Bird Themed Birthday Party which was held last June (or was it early July???). I helped my sister in preparing it for her son's 7th birthday. Let's start with the content of the Angry Bird gift bags which were distributed in the party.

Planning an Angry Birds Themed Party

• Angry Birds Message Bracelet costing 10 php ea.
• Angry Birds Snap Wrap which cost us about 50 php per 20 pcs.
• Angry Birds "LED" finger rings with projector-like function at 20 php/pack. We placed each one in small plastic bags and made use of it as part of the "pabitin" prizes.
• Angry Birds Keychain that were 50% discounted costing us 7.50 php/piece instead of its original 15 php price.
• Lastly, Angry Birds Capsule Ballpen which cost 20 php ea.

As for the game prizes... these were the emcee's picks. The ones inside the carton bags are probably Angry Birds mugs.

And what's a party without a cake...

If my memory serves me right, my sister paid the caterer 7,000 php for this Angry Birds Cake.

As mentioned above, each gift bag contained an Angry Bird snap wrap and message bracelet. It also had candies selected by the party favors provider.

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What is there to talk about?

So at this moment, I'm just enjoying one of my nights typing useless bickering on my phone.

Blogging may be a thing of the past, but it is definitely still alive.

True, forums are what's currently in, but the upkeep is also expensive during its early phases.

Unfortunately, if you aren't a celebrity blogger, traffic is scarce which makes income generation pretty difficult. One of the important things to consider in blogging is networking. Sigh, that I lack of.

Just a piece of my mind. Good night!

posted from Bloggeroid

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Iloilo Site: Plazuela de Iloilo

Sometime during the Christmas, I went to the mall and passed through Plazuela de Iloilo. It was well-lit during that time and I had to take a pretty picture of it. 

Unfortunately, even with the three shots I've taken, they were all dim. Sigh, I guess I'll eventually need to get myself a nice camera. 

Plazuela de Iloilo at Night

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Site Updates

After making use of Blogger for some time, I’ve decided to try WordPress as well. It’s driving me crazy not knowing the basic customization. I hope this is all worth it for the sake of being able to use Commentluv.

I’ve spent practically the entire day editing my posts to make it look simpler and better in WordPress. Since I have approximately 89 posts at the moment, I still have a long way to go.I’m hungry at the moment. See you at table. If you come, I’ll give you a slice of chocolate cake.

News Flash: I just went back begging to Google. Haha!

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Legalizing Abortion: YES or NO?

So my boyfriend is a big fan of Thunderfoot because of his educated insights and justifications to his belief. To point out one thing, he is an atheist, which is a VERY VERY big deal to religious fanatics and fundamentalists. What's the point of explaining to a person when they themselves have no whatsoever intentions of listening? One of the comments read:

"Ray comfort has the answers before he has the questions, why bother man?"

In a part of this segment, they were discussing about abortion as being considered murder or killing a human- which is of course, a mortal sin according to the ten commandments.

My thoughts about legalizing abortion is, although I come from a strong family background of God-Fearing people, on a practical and realistic side, it not being a wrong. As much as I want to say "depending on the situation", I will just stick with my former statement. The problem is that some people just want a Yes or No answer. They ask IF questions but when you give them situations to present your point, they avoid answering or tell you that your question is ridiculous. Well, scientist used to think the world wasn't round, but now it is fact.I think it's absurd to require someone to reply with a single word for a complex issue. Why?

First of all, who in the world would want to put themselves in a life-risking situation just to kill for no significant reason. Legalizing abortion will mean more babies/fetuses will never see the light of day, is a cruel thought. But that's a person's opinion. Did that person have experience as a rape victim or someone close to them? Did that person experience the life of a pregnant mother who has eclampsia (or any life-threatening gynecological condition)? Did that person consider a family's impoverish state? If that person's opinion would say, that's a different situation, then he/she has no right to impose his or her opinion without basis because the world has a variety of societies and an abundance of complex situations that no single person or sect can fathom. And even if he/she has had these experiences, who are they to impose their will to the majority of the people.

The fact of the matter is, out-dated rules and laws may no longer apply to present situations. And the problem being, religious fanatics will impose these rules making them feel they have a right to judge someone or impose their own opinion.

I'm not an atheist but I'm not religious either. I strongly believe that everybody is entitled to their own experience based opinions. Fishing for the masses' say is not an assurance that it's right. Furthermore, should the masses' opinions weigh more than those who've had experience?

Doesn't the mother have a right to decide for her own body? As for religious fanatics, here is what I have to say to them. "If God gave us choices, why won't you allow people to decide for themselves and leave them be with their decisions. Who are you to impose your moral standing and religion based opinion?"

Abortion, euthanasia and homosexuality are still moral issues that are being debated. Galileo once defended heliocentrism as the Scripture passages had stated differently. He was even suspected of heresy. But now this theory is widely accepted.

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McDonald's Coke Glasses

Ronald McDonald and Jollibee by ~ViperXtreme. Sorry for murdering your DA, Viper.

I've always favored McDonald's over Jollibee mainly because of the cheese they use on their burgers. Aside from caffeine and sugar, cheese is also one my favorite "condiments". When my taste buds are lonely- cheese on pasta, cheese on cake, cheese on rice... coffee on cake, coffee in my cup with cold/ hot water, coffee blended with my frappe.

The reason why I started this article is because I used to dream of completing at least one McDonald's Happy Meals toy collection. There's a large difference in the toys manufactured for McDo and it's famous Filipino couterpart .

Recently, McDonald's is promoting the sale of the CocaCola "CAN" glasses which cost 25php for every combo meal the customer purchases and I couldn't help but get one for my self.

I bought not 1, not 2 but 3 pretty new glasses to be added to our glass collection which consist of generic looking ones handed down by my brother as the previous occupant of my mother's house and a Magnolia Fresh Milk Freebie Glass which has a sticker that turns dark green when exposed to cold temperature.

Unfortunately, according to Supersize Me host/ test subject, eating at McDo everyday for a whole month dramatically raises ones' proneness to diabetes and obesity related problems.

Moral of the story, there is no moral. Just don't eat too many unhealthy foods.

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Writing

"Optimist Mouse by John Su": I found this hilariously cute picture while browsing the web.

My definition of writers are the following : the talented ones, the blogging ones, the lazy ones and the grammatically incorrect ones. What kind of writer are you?

[ ] Some love to write yet they have a hard time picking out a topic.

[ ] Some have so many ideas that one day of blogging isn't enough to write all of them.

[/] Some have a specific idea to write about but are too lazy to begin writing it.

[ ] Some have the talent, and enjoys writing to earn their living.

[/] Some have no talent but still writes just to kill time or to express their thoughts.

I've placed a check mark on where I feel I belong.

I'm just bored and I ran out of ideas. Most of the time, I have topics I want to tackle but my laptop's position is either too far, too uncomfortable or too unattractive at that the moment making my bed a welcoming haven beckoning me to lie down on it and wallow around like a hippopotamus

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