My Adidas KOTR 2013 Experience

After conquering Skyway, I found myself signing up for the 16.8K of the Adidas King of the Road 2013 last July 7, 2013. Another running bucket list entry crossed out. To run the Kalayaan Flyover and try to run this distance.

 

I must admit, I am a running enthusiast, but I am not the type who signs up in every run possible. I sign up for a run, which I feel meets my needs or self-challenge at that point in time. But as an enthusiast, I try my best to also train hard for the races I join.

 

The view going up the Kalayaan Flyover from the Gil Puyat

This is my first time to run this distance. I ran with my 2 long time friends, husband and wife, Mildred and Earl who also share the enthusiasm for running and met a new friend, Jeff. The goal for that we have in mind is just to finish the race and not for PR. Perfect interval pacing by Milds, I got to enjoy the run more. And I finished the race still with energy. Great advise as well given by Milds and Earl to bring energy gels. :)
 

  

 

Though I finished the race in more than 2 hours, I'm glad I did it. The blisters on my right foot and that ache on my left foot made it harder to really push hard in running, but it was really an experience that was worth it. Also a first time to experience both my legs cramping.

This was a fun day, since I get to enjoy a day of bonding with my friends on a different setting. I don't have very good photos while running. Haha! Thanks to Matt for meeting me this day and sharing the last kilometer with me. :p


With my friend Milds, who's really an inspiration. Doing a 21K again this coming month of Sept.

Overall, the race experience for me is okay. Nothing majorly disappointing or something. Pretty organized since I didn't stay for long to try the booths and line up for the other freebies. I didn't experience the hassle of getting my race kit since Matt got it for me. :p

Now looking for another race to sign up next. :)

Isabelo Garden Restaurant

For those who are in search of something quirky but sweet and somewhere private for a celebration, please try Gardens by Isabelo. I have heard of their breakfast cafe, Rustic Mornings from my officemate and it was something that's already part of our foodie list to go through.
 
This dinner was a pleasant surprise from Matt for our first month. Haha! An intimate dinner. This is a first! :p

 

 
The place is quirky, quiet and homey. Perfect for those ocassions where you just need to enjoy each others company with the addition of great food. Perfect venue also for people like us who enjoy good conversations. I appreciated that you can see a glimpse of the owners' family by just being here and looking at the artworks and interiors.
 
I think its mandatory to pre-order so that they can have your food ready and you don't have to wait for a long time for it to be ready. Reservations for dinner is also required plus, an initial deposit. Makes sense since they will be prepping your food in advance.


Spinach Artichoke Dip

Clam Chowder

Grilled Salmon Steak



4-Hour Pugon Baked Osso Bucco



Since this is Matt's idea, I was only required to show up and be girly. Haha! I have never been asked by a boy to a date and specifically asked me to be girly. That's also a first. :p He already ordered for us. I must say, I'm impressed with the choices he made. He ordered the Spinach Artichoke Dip (Php350) for appetizer and the Clam Chowder for soup. Then came the entrees, he got the 4-Hour Pugon-Baked Osso Bucco (Php750) and the Grilled Salmon Steak (Php350/steak).

Key Lime Pie

My personal favorite was the Spinach Artichoke Dip. I am actually plannin on replicating it. :)
The osso bucco, as I can remember it, was very tender, literally falling off the bone. Very rich and tasty! The fish, very fresh as should be. It was a hearty meal, finished with the perfect dessert. The Key Lime Pie is the perfect mix of sweet and tangy. A good way to cut the richness of all the food we ate.

 

 

I would rate this experience as a 10. Not even getting lost in Marikina finding this place dampened the experience. Great food by Chef Portia Dee Baluyut, whom I recognized from a TV show in Lifestyle Network. I would love to try the Rustic Mornings by Isabelo soon for brunch. Thanks to Matt, this has been very memorable for me.

 

 

For more information on this, you can check out their website. I highly recommend this place. Two thumbs up for great food and place that this family has.

 

http://www.isabelogarden.com

http://www.rusticmorningsbyisabelo.com/ 

Calaguas 2013

Yes! I came back. After two years, and its still the captivating place I came to know the first time I set foot on this island. The much awaited "huling hirit sa tag-init" finally came last May 25. And when we finally arrived at the island, all the long land trip-bored-are we there yet moments just went away, literally.

Calaguas is one of the remote islands with the most pristine beach that the Bicol Region has to offer. It's located in Camarines Norte. No phone and mobile signal. So you really feel disconnected to the rest of civilization it you can say that. I have been to several places in the region, being half Bicolana myself and just because I love travelling in the region as I always believe that there's so much to see. But this island, has its own charm that makes you fall in love with it, all over again. :)

                         

The long land and sea travel going to Calaguas is all worth it. That's what we're telling our friends prior to booking this trip with Byahe Adventours. Princess, my officemate who's also a Calaguas addict (she's been going there for 2 consecutive years already, with different set of friends everytime), was the one who arranged our trip with the organizer. Thanks Cess! :) She need not insist on the activities and inclusions that this trip organizer has, I was sold when I saw her past photos. Plus, I really wanted to go back. With us is my long time friend from gradeschool, now turned travel buddy, Jean. My teammates Ghelai and Fin, then Princess' friends, Jhoms and Ace.

So you ask, what to do in Calaguas? Chill. Drink. Swim. Get a tan. Be merry and make new friends. Yes, network and make new friends. At this beach, you do whatever you want and meet whoever you want too. Talk to everyone if you wish. That's Calaguas for you, that is why I think a lot of people love to come back here.

Usual suspects on all my beach trips -- booze, tanning lotion, sunblock lotion, after sun lotion and junk food. Swimming, drinking, sunbathing and taking photos right after lunch until sundown was the main order of the day. So it's not really surprising how tan I am now. :p

New friends! Mountaineer and adventure seekers! Group Marco! hehe Thanks for the red wine guys!

We literally started drinking after lunch. Cess and Fin bought 2 bottles of Captain Morgan, me and Jean bought a bottle of Jack Daniels. After a bottle of Captain Morgan and a lot of swimming, napping and underwater shots, we decided to get henna tattooed.

And there we met other people from other companies, shared some booze and got acquainted. Others went on to try poi dancing. I like talking to people. It just not expands my network, it also gives me different perspectives on a lot of things, be it with work or not, plus giving me a chance to polish my interpersonal skills.

 

Photos above: underwater kulitan/selfie shots

Joining group tours like this, I discovered is a good way to meet new friends. The beach is the perfect way  for conversations, I also realized. It's unassuming and easy. People are very loose and outgoing. Conversations has so much energy. I love that vibe.

After swimming, drinking and tanning the whole day, Byahe Adventours prepared a very good meal for dinner. Plus, Star, and Aaron, the facilitators showcased their fire dancing skills to the group.

After dinner, we swam some more, drank some more under the moonlight. I haven't done night swimming since Boracay last year. I forgot how different the water feels at night. It's refreshing.. Plus, with the full moon above us.. Hmm you get the picture.

 

It was an early lights out for me, Jean and Cess. I guess we were pretty much hammered and tired from all the travelling, booze, wine, food and swimming we did. Ghelai and the others went on exploring the other activites for the night. I really don't like sleeping in tents. It's hot. Haha, but, who am I to complain. That's just one of the things to experience with this trip, plus atleast going back to the basics of the basic bathroom. :)

Early to rise the next day! Before sunrise. So that we can maximize the remaining time we have in the island. Took some photos of sunrise.. Then I decided to go for a run. It was so much fun to run on the beach. That was my first time. Barefoot, fine sand, cool breeze and water, a slight overcast. Perfect! It was a perfect run. So perfect that I ripped the side of my boardshorts. :p

Our stay was extended! Because of the low tide situation, we were forced to stay until 2pm. Which means, more time for swimming and lounging. And finally we will get to open the bottle of Jack, after breakfast, at 9 in the morning. Haha! That was a first! But enjoyable. :) We shared the drink with our new friends as well. Who thought we were crazy drinking very early in the morning. But what to do? Haha!

Well, I can go on and on and on about all the things we did in Calaguas and how much fun we all had and how much we want to go back immediately after leaving, but I think I will stop now. This has been a very long post already.

Let me just say, just like any other things that gives me most comfort in this world, the beach gives me the rest, healing and good perspective that I need at some low points in my life. As one quote I saw somewhere, "Salt water heals anything". That's true, well atleast for me. Calaguas is one of those places that is very familiar yet still excites the hell out of me. Haha! Just thinking about it, makes me so giddy. 

And, I am now more excited to have more memories at this beach. :) I will definitely come back again and again. 

Photo credits to Cess, Jhoms, and Ace. Thanks to Byahe Adventours for this organized trip. Till next time!