Annapurna 'fishtail' mountain,  a section of the Himalayas

took this while on the bus heading to Pokhara, such an awesome sight!

We finally arrived at Chitwan, after a 6-hour travel by bus from the capital city of Nepal which is Kathmandu. Chitwan is the greener side of Nepal which boasts of its rich flora and fauna. The main attraction from this place is Nepal's first national park, the Chitwan National Park. 


We paid for a Safari Jeep Tour to the park that was scheduled first thing in the morning, the next day. We couldn't help our excitement as we were going to see nature face to face. What if a lion or tiger climbs up our jeep? Shucks! My buddy Joy even told me (almost jokingly, though) not to wear my shawl with animal prints so as not to catch the attention of these wild animals we might meet along the way. Zzzzz... so much for overthinking!

posing on a lake across Chitwan National Park.

the 'sexy boats' that would bring you near the Chitwan National Park

The hours went fast and we were getting ready for our activity in the morning. The safari guide picked us up early at 7am at the hotel. Off to the meet up point we went. We need to cross a lake and ride a wooden boat to reach the entrance of Chitwan National Park. It was just slim wooden boat that can accommodate about 8-10 passengers, and I really needed to be extra careful with my steps as one heavy thud would tilt the boat! My balancing skills were definitely on a test!

Selfies even on a 'swingy' ride

Cacao Davao's premium chocolate products:  only from the finest Davao cacao, a source of the world’s best chocolates.

As a child, I remember Saturday and Sunday mornings  enjoying the rich and sweet Champorado prepared by my father. The tableas (pure cacao beans that are dried, roasted, ground and then formed into chocolate tablets) were made by my grandmother who planted Cacao at her backyard.

See, he was the self proclaimed cook at home, while my mom only cooked during special occasions like birthdays, Christmas, fiesta, etc. And like my papa, I learned to cook this hearty breakfast dish until now that I have my own family. As the years go by, the tableas being sold at the market are not as rich and pure as we had before, and if they are, they come with a hefty price. Then one Sunday, my husband found Cacao de Davao's exhibit booth at the mall and told me they are selling chocolate callets. This made me happy because finally I can now have my dependable supply for our favorite Champorado.

And guess what? During the Davao Food Appreciation Tour 2014 (DFAT ) last May 15-19, Cacao de Davao was one of the sponsors.  They gave us samples of their products, and as someone born and raised in Davao, I am proud to say that their chocolate is one of the best I've tasted and affordable too.  Now, many restaurants and cafes not only here in the city, but around the Philippines use Cacao De Davao premium chocolates for their recipes.

You may visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/cacaodedavao or contact them via the following details:

Cacao de Davao
San Pedro Extension, 8000 Davao City
Mobile: +62 943-728-7763 / +63 917 250 2226
email: cacaodedavao@yahoo.com

samplers of fudgy brownies, dark chocolate and chocolate callets

Sikwate (hot chocolate drink) made from rich and premium Davao chocolate

my version of the Champorado (chocolate rice)

It is my first time to be away from home to travel for 2 weeks. Normally, it would just be 3-4 days. I consider this is a special trip because it is not the typical destination people take for shopping and seeing fancy commercial districts. For me, it is the road less travelled to Nepal, a country situated between China and India. It's also my passport's first time to be stamped with a visa.

The word spa and massage are like magic words that perk up my face. For a busy woman like most of us, I always look forward to having a facial or massage together with my friends as a breather from mommy and work duties.

Everyone would sure agree with me that nothing beats the feeling of being pampered, just relaxing on soft and crisp white sheets of a spa bed, and forgetting all the cares in the world for at least a couple of hours.

So how would think I felt when I was given a complimentary facial courtesy of My Skin Facial and Skin Care Center? Heaven. And it wasn't just an ordinary facial that you experience in other spa centers. This one is called, Diamond Microdermabrasion Premium. Aside from diamond Microdermabrasion and facial, this package includes Collagen mask with Collagen infusion using Galvanic facial machine administered by their well-trained staff. A galvanic facial makes use of subtle electric currents of positive and negative ions to give you a refreshing experience while stimulates and rejuvenates the skin.

For me, a good facial such as this renews your energy to face another working day, making you even more productive. Come to think of it, if we feel good about ourselves, we can share more positivity to others. I definitely was happy to have this premium service from My Skin!

My Skin Facial and Skin Care Center offers Facial services, Diamond microdermabrasion, Body/specialized treatments (stretch marks/warts/Syringoma removal, eye collagen infusion, Milia extraction); and Waxing and Advanced services (Gluthatione, Placenta and Collagen injections)

My Skin Essentials Facial and Skin Care Center uses only natural skincare products from My Skin Essentials, Inc.

Great tasting Japanese, Filipino and Italian Cuisine : All in one roof

Your tummy wants to have a food feast but can't decide whether to go Japanese, Italian or dine at a Filipino resto instead? Here's an awesome deal for you: Enjoy these dishes at the same time in one sitting, in one of the latest addition to the growing number of dining places here in Davao City.

Located at Hai Global Bldg (fronting Landco building) along Pryce Business Park, J.P. Laurel Avenue, these three gastronimic eating havens housed in one cozy place: Sushi Dito, Klasikos and ilForno surely give you a wide variety of options to make your dining experience more diverse, reflecting your own food favorites from 3 distinct cultures.