Matcha Green Tea Review

When I'm traveling, I like trying different types of foods and drinks and even though I kinda am a picky eater, I end up liking some foods that I didn't think I would like. When I was in Singapore, I always went to a Sushi restaurant and they always served green tea. It's a staple in Japanese restaurants. To be honest, I don't really particularly like the flavor of green tea. That's why I don't really order it whenever I eat at a Japanese restaurant.

Then I met my husband who LOVES green tea. Actually he loves MATCHA green tea. What's the difference? With traditional green tea, leaves get infused in hot water, and then you usually discard the leaves after steeping it for a few minutes. With matcha, the leaves have been finely made into a powder, which means you’re drinking the actual leaves in the form of "powdered tea" mixed with water. And the good thing is, you can use Matcha not just for tea but also in smoothies, shakes, lattes, in baking, etc.

My husband would always encourage me to try it, and he would enumerate all the benefits that it gives, like how it boosts energy and memory and helps you focus. He says it's also a metabolic booster and fat burner. It lowers cholesterol and healthier than brewed green tea. I said, why not, I'll try it, so one day I received this Organic Matcha Green Tea for free for me to try in exchange for my honest review. I tried this recipe, and I actually liked it! Matcha is in fact starting to grow on me. I can tell it's made of Premium grade Matcha and I really like the color. Very smooth tasting. I prefer cold matcha recipes over hot teas and lattes.

I will continue to drink this brand of Matcha from now on so I can reap the benefits and make my body healthier so I can continue traveling in the years to come. I might bring Matcha with me in my travels. Have you tried Matcha, and did you like it?

My Travel Essentials

I'd like to share with you my list of travel essentials, whether I'm traveling local or out of the country, these are the things I absolutely must have with me. Of course, it varies depending on what type of trip you're going to embark on. Like if you're traveling as a tourist in a different country, or maybe you're going to a beach destination, or even on a hiking expedition. Your gear will change accordingly. But for basics, these are my must haves...

Macau Adventura Part 2

May 11, 2012 (Friday)

I left the house at around 10am today. I went to visit Lou Lim Loc Garden, coz I heard it's quite nice. It was very near where I stayed, so I just walked. It was a pleasant garden with nice views and I took quite a few pictures. Next, I went to Guia Fortress. I rode a cable car to take me to the top. It was cheap, I only paid 3 Patacas including a return ride. It was my first time riding a cable car, so I was excited but nervous at the same time. The moment the cable car started running, I was kind of freaking out, but it wasn't serious or anything. I'm scared of heights, so a little freaking out was in order. Hahaha.

Macau Adventura Part 1

May 9, 2012 (Wednesday)

I'm off to Macau! This is my first ever SOLO TRIP outside the Philippines, so I'm very excited. Thankfully, my 3:15pm flight to Manila wasn't delayed. I arrived in Manila NAIA Airport at 4:30pm and then I was to fly to Macau at 7:30pm. Our plane was on time, but it took a few minutes before we could fly off, so the whole flight was delayed and I arrived in Macau at approximately 10:30pm instead of 9:30. My cousin arranged for my accommodations in Macau, so someone from there was waiting for me at the airport to take me to the house. I exchanged some of my Hong Kong dollars to Macau Pataca at the airport and then we boarded Bus 26 to take us back to the city.

Day 3 & 4 In Siem Reap, Cambodia

April 25, 2012 (Wednesday)

We woke up late today. At 9:30am, John picked us up at the guesthouse. We went to Wat Preah Prom Rath, a temple in the middle of the city. It was nice, very visually appealing. We even met an Australian guy there who talked to us for a bit and we took a picture with him. Then we went to Old Market to buy some souvenirs and pasalubong. At around 12:30 nn we went for lunch in a nearby restaurant.

Day 2 In Siem Reap, Cambodia

April 24, 2012 (Tuesday)

We woke up really early today to catch the sunrise in Angkor Wat. We woke up at 4:30 in the morning, got ready, and left the guesthouse on John's tuktuk again. We also arranged for Sameath to meet us at Angkor Wat. We needed another day of his guidance, not to mention his photography skills. Hahaha.

Arrival And Day 1 In Siem Reap, Cambodia

April 22, 2012 (Sunday)

I've always wanted to go see Angkor Wat, so when I learned that Cebu Pacific now has a direct flight to Siem Reap, I didn't hesitate to book. I'm glad I was able to convince my father (along with my brother) to go with me on this trip. We got a roundtrip ticket to Siem Reap for less than 7,000 pesos. Great deal, right? This is the 2nd time I'm going out of the country with my dad and bro, so I'm really excited.

Touring Cebu And Bohol

March 23, 2012 – Friday

I woke up really early, excited for my flight to Cebu. It was a clear day, perfect weather; I ate a quick breakfast consisting of hash browns and chicken nuggets then got ready to go to SM City to catch a van to the Iloilo airport. I arrived at 6:45am in SM City, by then the van was not yet full, so I hitched a ride in another van which was also on its way to the airport. When I got to the airport, I checked in, and then proceeded to the departure area. The plane arrived early, so instead of my 8:10am flight, we were off to Cebu at 7:50am.

Amazing Bohol Countryside Tour

March 24, 2012

Before the sun was up, we were already at the Cebu pier waiting for our 6:00am OceanJet ferry to Bohol. We were still yawning when we boarded the ferry at 5:30am. It was a 2-hour ride to Bohol, and during that time, I remember dozing off several times in my seat. Beside me, my friends’ heads were lolling, obviously still very sleepy and lacking sleep. Not even the movie “Drumline”, which was shown during the trip, was interesting enough to keep us awake. Though we would have liked to sleep all day, the lack of sleep wasn’t about to hinder us from enjoying a full day of Bohol countryside exploration.

Sky Experience Adventure In Cebu

Long before I planned my trip to Cebu, I've heard of the famous Sky Experience Adventure being offered at Crown Regency Hotel, Cebu. I read a few blog entries by people who have tried it before. So when I was finally inside the Crown Hotel, I couldn't wait to experience my own adventure. We arrived at around 1:30pm in Crown Regency on March 23, 2012. We got the Sky Day Tour for Php 888.

Review: Palazzo Pensionne in Cebu

When I was searching for Cebu hotels, there were a lot to choose from. It took me a while to settle on Palazzo Pensionne located in 49 Sepulveda St., Brgy. Zapatera, Cebu City. I picked it mainly because it has high reviews and ranked #2 of 39 Cebu City B&B and Inns in TripAdvisor.com. It also has an 88.7% rating in Hostelbookers.com. At first sight, it isn't much to look at, but the inside was okay. I'm a budget traveler, so I don't really expect first class accommodations.

I Missed My Flight!

There's always a first time for everything. It was my first time to tour Cebu, my first time to tour Bohol, and my first time to miss a flight. We had such a good weekend touring Cebu and Bohol, the last thing I expected was to miss my flight going home!

Cebu - Bohol Tour Expenses

Here's a breakdown of my total expenses in my Cebu/Bohol Tour last March 23-26, 2012. I toured with 2 other friends, so the total cost for most of the tours is divided into 3 pax. Rates are in Philippine Peso.


Plane Ticket, Terminal Fees, Lodging, Tours, Activities

1,779.68	Airplane Ticket (Roundtrip)
400	Terminal Fee (Roundtrip)
1,750	Accommodation (3 nights)
888	Sky Day Tour @ Crowne Regency
500	Island Hopping (4 hours)
100	Marine Sanctuary Entrance Fee
1,100	Ferry Transfer (Cebu-Bohol-Cebu)
1,405	Bohol Countryside Tour (10 hours)
250	Cebu Heritage City Tour (3 hours)
400	MO2 KTV Room (3 hours)
P 8,572.68	TOTAL

Land Transportation, Food, Souvenirs, Miscellaneous

759	Land Transportation
545	Pasalubong
777	Food
842	Souvenirs
731	Misc
P 3,654.00	TOTAL

Summary

8,572.68	Plane Ticket, Terminal Fees, Lodging, Tours, Activities
3,654.00	Land Transportation, Food, Souvenirs, Miscellaneous
P 12,226.68	Total Expenses

A total of Php 12,226.68 for a Cebu/Bohol tour (3 days, 3 nights). This does not include the additional plane ticket expense that I was forced to shell out because I MISSED MY FLIGHT home. :( I bought a new ticket to return home which cost me an extra, Php 2,479.68. Which makes it a total of Php 14,706.36.

10 Reasons Why I Love Singapore

Before I ever stepped foot in Singapore, I heard and read a lot of things about it. For one thing, they say it's a "FINE" city, which implies that one wrong move, and you get fined. And I've heard stories about people getting publicly whipped for various offenses. Even though there are a lot of stories circulating from all kinds of sources, one thing I've learned, you really can't be too sure about a place, or truly get to know a place, unless you experience it for yourself.

My Top 10 Favorite Food In Singapore

Singapore is a food haven. They offer a wide variety of cuisines, from all parts of the world. If you're on a diet, you can't be in Singapore, because I'm pretty sure you will forget all about your diet when you see all the food Singapore has to offer. Food is practically everywhere, and you will undoubtedly be tempted anywhere you go. If you're the disciplined kind and you stick to your diet while in Singapore, then you won't be able to experience and enjoy the mouth-watering, scrumptious delicacies of Singapore. If you have money to burn, you can sample the food in high-end restaurants in hotels and branded food establishments. But if you're on a budget, worry not, because Singapore caters to all. You can also find affordable and cheap foodstuffs everywhere in the city. For food enthusiasts, you will have the time of your life in Singapore. Trust me on that.

Indulge In Retail Therapy At Bugis Street

A visit in Singapore won't be complete without checking out the bustling Bugis Street. It's the best place to get some retail therapy. With over 800 shops, you'll be sure to find what you need. Ranging from cheap, trendy clothing, to all kinds of foods, bags, accessories, watches, souvenirs, you name it, Bugis Street has it.

A Trip To The Maritime Experiential Museum & Aquarium (MEMA) in Singapore

During my 9-month stay in Singapore, I vowed to myself to visit a lot of tourist spots in the country. The Maritime Experiential Museum & Aquarium (MEMA) is definitely included in my list of places to visit. It just opened in October 15, 2011.

Johor Bahru Horse Riding Adventure

I've always wanted to try horseback riding. One day, I saw this great deal in Groupon.sg: $88 per pax for 1 Day Johor Bahru Horse Riding Adventure with Return Transport and Lunch (Worth $208) courtesy of Constantine Adventure & Travel. I didn't hesitate, I immediately bought the groupon and booked my trip.

Pizza... Pizza... Pizza...

I stuffed myself with pizza today. I wanted to indulge myself a bit and decided to visit a couple of pizza parlors. I was in the mood for some thin crust goodness, sprinkled with cheese, meat and hot sauce. I love pizza, it's one of my all-time favorite food. But the thing is, I can't eat every time I crave for it (which is pretty often), because I have to watch my weight. But since I'm in Singapore, I really didn't want to deprive myself of the opportunity to do some real pizza food trip, Singaporean style. So what the heck, I'll do it anyway.

Chinese Garden in Singapore: A Peaceful Refuge In The City

We had an afternoon to ourselves in Sunny Singapore, and what better way to spend it than to explore another tourist spot! It was around 5pm when we decided to visit the famed Chinese Garden in Jurong East. We've heard some nice things about this place, so we thought we'd see it for ourselves. I've already visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens, so it's time to check out the Chinese Garden.