Camiguin, Philippines - Live In A Treehouse

Enigmata Ecolodoge and Sculpture Garden

Accomodation

Literally... It's a Treehouse. I know, it sparked questions about what and how that bothered me till I finally visited... 

It's a treehouse, with room suites on different levels of the Acacia Tree it's built on. 

Infact the suite is equipped with a kitchen, a full bathroom (with shower), a living room, a dining room, a view deck, 

a bedroom under a mosquito net (very romantic- wink wink), a den for extra overnight guests, and a fire exit "drop the ladder!"

Rates

Visit their website, as many times they are fully booked. An average of PHP 1050 per room per two guests 

Meet Ros

Ros... Ahhh... This young lady is One of the founders, creators and the current owner of Enigmata. Several articles have been published all over the world about this lady's community work and she is known as one of the "61 artists who will change the world." you will recognize her by her laugh, smile, and strong spirit. She speaks in sing song a lot... Random Ros observation:) 

Do A Class

Art Classes, Sculpture Classes, Theatre, Fitness. Or teach a class of your specialty to kids on retreat and summer camp. This opportunity is dependent on the time of year.

Do the Maze Ritual

Ros is awesome about teaching cleansing rituals in her garden, an experience that must be on your list while there. 

Get A Massage At Night

350-400 for treehouse service massage. This needs to be booked ahead.

Just stepping into this place is cathartic...  A must do a must stay a must repeat activity. 

Cebu, Philippines - Cheese Under "Cherry Blossoms"

La Vie Parisienne @ Gorordo

A memorable experience if done right...

Cellar, Deli, Oven

Get fascinated by their quaint deli stuffed with bread, wine, cheese and meats... The interior is captivating, real tiny, and you feel like you're in a modern day hobbit hole.

Brie and Danish Salami

It gets Very tricky to ask for the "Best Seller" suggestions at any given place in the Philippines. as what may be the favorite of the local may be otherwise to the palate of another. I took a survey... the Europeans that frequented this spot, stuck with the Brie. I'm not European but I'll to say this was my favorite with Danish Salami. Not the best Salami in the world but great to pair with their smooth
Brie.

Croissants

Sometimes there is a 45minute wait for these fresh babies. Unfortunately patience is a virtue worth practicing in this case. Reserve your batch of croissants (i can finish 2 large ones) while you get drunk outside and wait for them to serve it hot and straight from the oven.

Pressac

Another tricky feat is picking good wine. Order the Pressac, It's a Vintage Wine from France. The older the better... and the closer to 2000PHP the better your chances are of NOT going wrong. Don't waste your time with 300 Peso wines no matter how pretty the covers are, unless you want a less than average or worse... Just an average taste and feel. Ugh!

Servers

Here is the secret of it all. In the Philippines, many times you have to put your foot down and demand good service. The service here is, so-so, in fact I had to chase several servers just to finish asking my question about the Blue Cheese right  in front of me. Eh! typical for Cebu right? However there are two ladies whom I found minutes later, who are extraordinary at what they do and they just slam dunk it as far as customer service. Order from and only from these ladies, Jay-Ann and Erica. They go beyond the extra mile and are truly world class in their PR. With them You'll feel like your eating at Epcot (See Epcot Blog)

Seating

Two options; Outdoor, sit under the fake but very pretty lit cherry blossom trees, and enjoy the bustling aura of everyone else there enjoying their own time. The disadvantage is the cigarette smoke. They really should come up with that "no smoking law" here in the Philippines. 

2nd op., Indoor. sit inside the cellar a top a high narrow long table, and bring a jacket cause it's a few degrees below comfortable for human. Very Romantic.

Cebu, Philippines - The Perfect Tea Shop

The Chocolate Chamber (TCC) @ Behind Sarrosa Hotel

Chocolate

Raquel Choa, a Cebuana, fell in love with the idea of chocolate and decided one day to become a chocolate connoisseur... out of the blue, or so I heard. This place however does chocolate a little different than one would expect. It gives you that "Well Hello Dahlin' would you like to grab some afta-noon Tea... I've actually got some scones and some choh-kuh-late and stuff" feel.

Bakes and Spreads

The aforementioned chocolate at her shop is best paired with the soft breads they so freshly bake and serve with their own home made mix of PBJ, chocolate butter, and yes... cookie butter. 

Exquisite China

If you're lucky and you often are, they ask you when they take your order for a hot beverage, what color China you want it served in... Every piece of serving-ware from their 3-inch water glasses, their pearl clad teaspoons, to their adorable "I wanna take you home" teacups, boasts class.

Chocolate Infused Brewed Tea

The best part of it all is their novel idea of brewed tea infused with chocolate. Go down their list of 30 something (maybe more) teas and pick any which one to infuse with the good ol' Cacao. I did the Chocolate Infused Lavender one and my friend did the Chocolate Infused Hibiscus Tea. It's an interesting taste!

High Tea

But wait there's more... They also serve "Tea Sets" AKA, "Tea Pairings", you know... like Wine Pairings... or Champagne Pairings... but instead of that it's... Tea Pairings; with chocolate tea, baked goods, spreads, salads, sandwiches a top a three tier dining set?... something like that.

I spent hours at this tea shop convinced I had nothing better to do and for some reason, it seems to have that effect on it's other consumer's as well. I spoke with Anthony Choa, Raquel's son who was just perfect enough to schedule a tour of their chocolate process. What I got back was, organic, cacao, rocks... SOLD!

Sri Lanka - Must Do's

I shall move here!

Everyone develops the Lankan fever from the Lankan hospitality... My favorite place in the world!

Ok so here we go:

Tea

Anywhere you can get it, hot and with warm milk

Galle

for surfing! Book with Cantaloupe Hotels 

House of Fashion Outlet Mall

The dollar won't be to 136 SL-Rupees forever so hit this high quality outlet mall that is one of the most economical in the world

Kama  

A bar with great pop music of the last few generations and the good songs actually last more than 10 seconds

Hilton Colombo Residences 

This hotel is for bigger groups and longer stays... But it won't stop me from listing it as my favorite for it's ridiculously awesome service and the best Sri Lankan food I've tasted (way to go Chef Sesha) okay!!! judge me, as this may be one of the few touristy-like places I recommend, nevertheless best experience at this hotel.

Help The Charity Committee 

A group of five ladies very active with humanitarian work. This is a great foundation and if you have time it never fails to make you feel helpful to get to know a group like this. Give them a call see what their facing, ask if you can help for a day or two or just learn about what is going on.

Adam's Peak 

See trip advisor for this. Always wanted to do it, never did, but I hear it's one of the funner things to do. Need to be physical fit for this

Waterfalls at Horton Plaines/Ella 

Just fall in love... Just do it... Right now! Right now!!

Raja Bojun Restaurant 

So there were a couple places on trip advisor, lonely planet that suggested and re suggested the same other places, however this place not on the trip guides is ranked #1 by locals... It did not disappoint. Be prepped for real Sri Lankan food and real Sri Lankan spice.

For a tempting guide pick up the #1 travel magazine called, Tripin Sri Lanka (edited by my darling cousin, Amrita Advani)

ABOUT ME AND MY TASTE

25% Tourist 25% Local 50% Traveler

The blog leaves out the SO-SO's, in-betweens, and the GOOD places. I blog only the BEST, places I would do again and again, crave repeatedly, and places I would feel bad having to leave.

I value time as a busy person, and I want to impart that others should too, 4 Hour Work Week Style, and Paretto's Principle Style of only choosing what absoultely matters.

• I bullet point for easy reading

I've done OCD research on  THE TOP PLACES rated by many, blogged by many and tried by many, I then try them out for myself if it is deemed worthy and then further limit the selection. I find that many times there is really only ONE or TWO top places instead of 10... and so I opt for the few.

Yes I did mention tourist above, however my main frequency is that of a traveler, who looks for experiences and not so much sites.

I like doing, learning, eating, singing, dancing, experiencing more than just looking

I enjoy luxury... but i can be happy underneath a banana tree in the pouring rain on top of a mountain

I like to take my time but can improvise with a hectic schedule

I love convenience and peace of mind

I value safety

My favorite area of the home is the bathroom... so i pick places that are clean ...and conducive :)

Im a picky eater, but I try everything (except shrimp, I'm allergic to that.. who am i kidding ill still try it anyway)

Incase of an emergency like one mentioned above, I have a medical background... a strong one, so Im well regulated when it comes to keeping healthy on trips

I enjoy life

I actually am an actress/singer/dancer/TV Anchor with a propensity towards comedy, but what the heck does that have to do with anything here (... I thought it might be cool to mention)

I try to say it all... honestly (ie. "yes that was a little wet," " I like it that way," "it's that tiny??!!".. you get the picture...)

... Sometimes I like to cuss, i know not very ladylike... When I'm happy I cuss, when I'm disappointed I cuss, when I ... I should really stop cussing...

In Conclusion

If you only have 1 day to be in a city, theres no sense in trying everything... you only have to try the best that that city offers. That will give you enough time to take it easy in between these top choice activities, versus if you tried everything rated high on travel sites and blogs. If you do the latter you are less likely to enjoy everything you do and you may not have time to absorb everything or time for relaxation or more urgently, contingencies. 

If you have several days in the city, you would, with this blog, at least check off the best things off the list and then proceed to the others, other sites recommend. 

In my experience a smart traveler chooses to enjoy a limited number of really cool activities/restos which gives him time to relax, reflect, absorb and even stay safe and healthy and be able to think and plan better, as oppose to smash 10 top picks off other sites, not all of which may really garner the same amount of fun, because of a hectic schedule, or they just simply are not really all that fun.

So Read and Enjoy at your own Risk, and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to write to and for you!

Cebu, Philippines - Dance Classes

Among my number one must do's in Asia, are dance lessons at 

The Dancesports Team Cebu City Studio.

Who Are They:

Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, Empire State Competitions, all the other fad shows pale in comparison to the beginners, intermediates and the pros at this school. Their instructors are the same instructors of Blackpool's champions Leunis and Malitowski. Other prolific instructors also fly in to witness and teach at this studio, as it is really one of a kind in the world of dance.

What They Do:

Sometimes their students train 10 hours straight 7 days a week, and more impressively when flown to compete against the pros in other countries, pros who have slaved through years of kiss ass tug of war with judges and coaches just to move to the next round, or win gold, these out of town "newbies" sweep 90% of the gold medals right off their hands and are never shamed to be seen with silver or bronze.

One of A Kind:

They are the only dance school in the world who teach in cascade, which means they recruit hundreds several times a year, (most kids from the streets, or of low socio-economic status), and their students eventually become teachers within a short span of time, and then teach the new students who become teachers and so on. Their size and foundation is formidable. They won the Guinness record back in 2007 for the largest dance class in the world (7000+)

How To Schedule:

To schedule a class call or visit DTCC (Kevin, Eo, Roi, Jeff, Wilbert - are my teachers - but they have a good group of females and other male instructors also very good)

Choose between Cha Cha, Rumba, Jive, Samba, Paso Doble, Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Argentine Tango and so on.

Be prepped to learn stretching and work out techniques, basic steps, then an open routine and all the way up to highlights right in your first session

Very Nice.. How Much:

Prices are competitive for the local Filipino, however for the tourist, its a steal at Php 300 or USD7 for one hour of a real challenging class (not the "rip off" $65- $100 deal you would get at many schools in the US, who will only stick to a syllabus, then talk your precious time through the class to use up the time of the class so you won't learn enough and be compelled to buy more classes)

Wear comfy shoes, gym shoes or heels with straps if you don't have dance shoes, and then if you like it, contemplate having them make you shoes for cheap, ready in a week.

Here's A Sneak Peak of Yours Truly and DTCC!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaE1l752k2Y

merd!

Buenos Aires - Must Do's

Parilla Pena - Empanadas, Steak and Wine
I still have dreams of this place, and I swear one day soon I will buy a ticket just to fly in and out of BA to satisfy this craving. The best steak and empanadas I have tried among all the other Trip Advisor Steak places in BA.

El Cuartito - Pizza and Pepsi
Pizza here is good, what makes it special is that you are eating it in a 1930's cafe, that is packed with Argentinians and tourists alike (meaning hungry) and the energy of the place is bustling. Its a good stop for hangovers, actual meals, or an afternoon snack. It's a historic spot so it just makes you feel trendy and cultured when you have pizza here. Ask for their best seller. 

Volta - Ice Cream and Coffee
I stumbled in this cafe because they were the only ones on the block that offered me "En Chofe" an adopter extension cord for my laptop. I tried their coffee and I went from a 0% caffeine lady to an "Oh My God I gotta have that Argentinian Cafe-addict" Their Ice cream is also pretty good. In fact It's so good it's like Sensodyne to the Whitener's teeth. I know that reference didn't sound delicious... It's really good you'll sacrifice the pain... Better?

Take Wooden Train (Line A, Buenos Aires Metro, Between San Pedrito and Plaza de Mayo)
This trip just makes me giddy. I know I know, Im not the girl who takes wooden transpo on a day to day basis, no rickshaws, horse drawn carriages lately.. but a wooden train ... come on! The Hong Kong transit system has a lot to learn about keeping it full of character. (if you aren't aware of the HK Transit system, it is one of the most efficient and state of the art communes of metal in the world moving people to and fro, in and around that very colorful city)

Cocina Sunae

Advanced reservations only! But a must do!!! This chick Sunae is a mom, blogger, grocecrier and chef from NYC who married an Argentinean. At the beginning of the week, She writes about her upcoming menu to be served only to ten or so exclusive tables. The next few days is grocery and prep for the big night. She continues to post TID bits and photos online about the surprises you as the guest of this feast will be up for, then finally D day arrives. The big Dine in day, where you get to try what you've read about throughout the week. This is Genuis!

www.cocinasunae.com

Cabana Las Lilas

On the pricier end, but actually very tasty pricey... For the love of money and for the love of food. Try coming with a big group so you an try course after course and possibly split the bill later. Order limoncello shots in between courses and finish with Dolce De Leche. Good place to get full and drunk! I spent three hours here ... Eating, Drinking... This is the life!