Metro Manila is getting really hotter and hotter. With the recorded high temperature in the past few days, it seems that there is no place to hide and no place to feel cold except in the malls where air conditioning is available. Take last last weekend for example. We went to Sierra Madre mountain range somewhere in the eastern side of the metro in the hope that we could feel the Baguio-like temperature but instead, my cousin got sun burn as it was not spared from the terrible heat.

I wish we could have a trip outside the country praying that some day we could have things like orlando timeshare at least we could have discounted trip every time we travel.

It has been my dream to have at least once a year out of the country trip together with my family. How I wish this year we could see the beauty and cleanliness of Singapore, Disneyland and metal buildings of Hong Kong, either to see my friends in the United States or United Kingdom but most of all maybe to see my sister in law again in Belgium and to have a tour of all of Europe.

I hope we could have this dream coming true before the end of 2010.

It is summer time now in the Philippines and temperature is raised to more than 37 degrees. Sometimes it can be dangerous not only to our skin but also because of the possibility of heat stroke. Last Sunday I brought my cousin to Sierra Madre resort where I thought we could have a cool place but instead it caused her sun burn on her neck area. Just an advise to those who have plan to go swimming in the country beach resort: make sure to use only trusted brands of sun screens or sun block and also to drink much liquid.

How I wish we could have out of the country trips during this period at least maybe in some places where we will use heated mattress pads . Not like this were aside from the El Nino phenomenon causing too much heat we were experiencing and rotating brown outs too which added to hotter temperature inside the house.

Sierra Madre Mountain Range

How can I get rid of belly fat of mine if you happen to try the foods of Franjetto Hills inBarangay Sampaloc in Tanay, Rizal? Last weekend we decided to bring our Belgian friend to Sierra Madre Resort in Tanay when we happened to pass by Franjetto Hills Hotel and Conference Center on our way to Sierra Madre. We took the other roads from Antipolo instead of the usual road in Cogeo since we heard that the bridge were damaged by Typhoon Ondoy last year. After a visit in Sierra Madre resort we decided to look at Franjetto and maybe to have coffee there since my brother in-law always have coffee there. He is a regular visitor of the place.

Since it was already getting dark, we decided to have our dinner there. We were all shocked after having a try of their tapsilog, chicken adobo and their bulalo. They are all winners in terms of price and taste. A P200 bulalo for me is the best compared to those “bulalos” I have tried in Tagaytay.  I never thought a small area beside its restaurant  can produce the best food for road trippers in Rizal. I thought all the while that it’s just “Mang Vic’s Bulalo” who is also famous in this area in terms of “bulalo.” Now I know where to have a lunch or dinner when I visit Tanay Rizal again.

As the election campaigns are at their full blast and printing of election posters and paraphernalia are now o-going, Anilox roll cleaner is now in use to cope with the mess. We are hoping that politicians will police themselves in using their posters to avoid cluttering the surrounding and ensure that our country still have its positive impressions as tourism destination.

Today as we were on our way to Sierra Madre with our Belgian friend, we wanted him to see some of the beautiful places in Rizal, but along with these are politicians’ banners and posters all over the place. You could find them in electric posts, road side rails and some are nailed on the trees and some on road signs. The last time we visited Belgium was during their national parliament election also. You could not see any poster anywhere except in those designated posters area.

I love to see places with important historical background attached to it. Lately we happened to pass by the Rizal Park in the city of Manila and I noticed that my son was  happy that he saw Rizal’s monument whereas before, he would only see it in school, books and internet photos. That’s why I promised him that after my DSLR camera is fixed, I will bring him to some places and monuments he once saw in pictures.

I remember having let him ride in some vintage tank located in Lingayen Pangasinan, and am also able to bring him there since he loves planes. He also likes air museum in Clark. I love to visit someday the General Douglas Mc Arthur monument in Leyte holding his famous tobacco and not just an electronic cigarette.

How I wish the government will put importance to historical places and landmarks in the country as this could help our tourism industry. I hope that they could value the historical buildings and former tourist destinations in the country. Hopefully future politicians will also have the urge to include this in this platform.

I once said that if I’d have a chance to visit Bacolod again, I will not let my vacation pass without visiting one of my favorite and memorable places to eat during my college years and even after graduation.

When it comes to fresh sea foods and newly cooked foods, Pala-Pala is one of the places in Bacolod that you will really miss.

Pala-pala is like Dampa here in Metro Manila where you can market fresh fish and sea foods and have it cooked the way you liked but what nice in Bacolod Pala-pala is that the prices of fish are comparable to the wet markets unlike here in Metro Manila. I think there’s an additional cost in some fish displayed.

That’s why we decided to have our college reunion last December in Pala-pala before settling to the house of one of our batchmates. We reunited again in Pala-pala with all the finest foods in Negros. I gained weight during my visit that’s why I am now on a diets for quick weight loss.