Las Palmas Resort wingding!!!! June 2011

Place:  Las Palmas Resort. A mountain View Resort and Restaurant

           Tala, Barangay Boalan, Zamboanga City

Date: June 25, 2011

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Approximately about 10 kilometers from downtown Zamboanga and another 3 kilometers from the national highway is the resort named, Las Palmas Resort. This resort is located uphill of Barangay Boalan and I believe you won’t get lost as signage’s were seen along the road.  A budding resort that has just recently opened early this year and me and my friends went out and tried to check out their amenities that day. Evidently, the resort has just started its operation because a few constructions of additional facilities were seen around. As told, the zipline will be operational next month and it would cost you Php150. It was like maybe roughly around 50 meters stretch from the top. Exciting it may seem but I think it would be too brief that I will start to feel the thrill of the ride after I reached the ground.

On the entrance, guests will be notified of few restrictions by the on-guard and the entrance fee. They prohibit use of liquors inside and bringing of outside foods. Php 20 for the entrance and additional Php50 for use of swimming pool for adults and if ever you brought along your kids, they will be charged php30.  But entrance will be picked out from the charges if you dined in their restaurant no less than Php1000. 

On their pool. Nothing exciting seen with the pool as what my friends have said. It was just a plain simple swimming pool like the usual resort we visited with a depth variation (2ft, 3ft, 4ft, and 5ft). But the water was clear and clean and what I love was the fact that it has no strong chlorine smell. They do also have a kiddie pool adjacent to the main pool. 

Main Pool

What I love about this resort is their breath taking view of the mountain ridges north of Barangay Boalan. The viewing deck on the upper portion of the restaurant had a picturesque scene of the place. The place was cool and serene, perfect for an escape from hassle city life. I also love the site of birds (Kingfisher as what Mae said) diving with us on the pool.

Inside the restaurant

On their restaurant. Their restaurant is clean and screened. Free wifi can be access inside and commendable nice furniture. The food was served hot but waiting time is way too long. Maybe a tip to those who want to be here, place your order as soon as you arrived or give them a call so by the time you arrived, foods are ready. The taste was good and I love the chicken Kare-Kare and pancit canton for a substantial reasonable amount.

Time to eat

Bilao

screened restaurant

panoramic view of the restaurant from above

On their comfort room. Their comfort rooms were clean and a commendable good supply of water.

There were other attractions noted in the resort. One is the tennis court adjoining the restaurant. You can also opt for renting their mountain bike. Or maybe just relax and hear the water flowing from their man made mini pond near their gazebo. Kids can also have their swing and seesaw seen near the entrance. You can also opt for an overnight stay on their rooms or rent an exclusive lodge inside the resort.

Main drawback. I did not only notice this but we all did notice the fact that flies were everywhere. Probably because of proximity with the chicken poultry south and a considerable distance from the lumbangan dumpsite north.

Recommendation. It is still worth to revisit especially if their zipline is operational. Ciao!!!

Till next tripping!!!!
Photo courtesy by co-FB users : Ibk khasan, Emmie Suriaga

Red Riding Hood....

my

Favorite Line  "Oh grandma, what big eyes you have?"
                      "To better see you with my dear..."
                      "Oh what big ears you have?"
                      "To better hear you with my dear..."
                      "Oh what big teeth you have?
                      "To better eat with you my dear..."

It was a bit boring that at some point especially on the first part, I almost slept. When the movie started its way to the peak, I started to get interested and try to understand. 

In a nutshell.

1.  It turned out to be that his father has a secret of having a bloodline of wolf. 

2. That Valerie's mother confessed that her father was not her original love interest, but he married her husband (the true wolf) and learned to love him. It was also found out that their elder sister was not their true daughter. 

3. The true reason why her elder sister got killed was in fact killed by his father (the true wolf) which he knew then that this is not his true daughter (that her wife has been lying that his elder daughter is the son of his rival, his wife true love) during which he tried to influence his elder daughter to follow his bloodline. 

4. That the father (the true wolf) knew then that Valerie (Red Riding hood) is his true daughter because she is able to comprehended the wolf's language which heard as growl by a common citizen. 

5. That the grandmother who is living outside the village never knew that his husband is a wolf but towards the end of the movie, she found out that the allegation of Henry (Peter's rival for Valerie) was true after all after she smelled the clothes of his husband and she was killed by her son (Valerie's father) to maintain the secrecy. 6. That all I thought that it was Peter who is the wolf turned out to be the good guy but because he tried to save Valerie against her father at the end of the movie, he was bitten and became a wolf.

7. That the wolf can not touch the holy grounds of the church and made it the weapon used by Valerie to kill the wolf (Valerie's father).

Chinitos' Chocolate mousse cake and Carbonara

Place: Chinitos Restaurant, Southway 2nd Floor Branch
Date: June 12, 2011

Actually I have a bias opinion with regards to carbonara because the first time that I tasted such recipe, it gave me a horrible reputation. So that's why when I went with Aldrin for our food tripping, I chose the other serving but because of persuasion I gave in and the next thing that happened, the Carbonara was on my table. 

With Chinitos, it gave me a total knocked out and I enjoyed this delicacy and was just cheap, worth Php60. It had a thick creamy real meaty sauce. The pasta was cooked well, the sauce was thick and nice and there was plenty of meat throughout. 

Carbonara

This cake caught my eye when we were ordering for pasta along the display near the counter. I love chocolates (that's where I got my name 'Crazy over chocolate' Chokoloko) and I was tempted to try this Chocolate Mousse cake from this restaurant. And it even look amazing when it was already brought to our table, I cant help but fall in love with this recipe. It retailed Php75 and was very cheap but with superb taste, PROMISE!!! 

The cake was made with real cream and real chocolate, quite heavy, but lightly whipped and fresh milky chocolatey taste. I will buy this mousse more often and recommend really to my fellow food trippers and critiques.

Chocolate Mousse Cake

Allow me to say...OH EM GEE!!
Where has this treasure been all my life and why have I ignored this before? I must mention that I ate this delicacies slowly, eaten piece by piece, to savor each nibble. Not just it's taste but I love as well how it satisfied our sweet tooth. Truly a Knock out!!!

Xmen First Class!!!! my thoughts...

Movie: Xmen First Class
Date: June 4, 2011

I really like this movie, Xmen First Class where it tells us as to how Magneto and Professor X got into this duel amongst each other, a brilliant pre-history movie.The first scene was set in a Nazi Camp where Erik (Magneto) was forcefully agitated that his mother got killed in front of him just to show his control over magnets. While (Professor X) is a rich kid who lives with Raven (Mystique), a mutant that he brought up like his sister. He is famous for his thesis work on genetics that made him a member for the Central Intelligence Office, recruited by a certain agent in an attempt to stop Sebastian Shaw, the villain of the movie. Shaw's ultimate dream is to conquer world domination by misleading the leaders and projecting the missiles of these two countries (United States and Russia) during the cold war. To combat Shaw's team, Professor X, teamed up with Magneto recruited several young mutants (through the Mental telepathy machine that looks like a golf ball created by Beast). But they were too young and needed practice and mastery of their powers that is why they were easily engulf during the surprised attack of Shaw.

The best part of the movie was when Magneto finally got his revenge and killed Shaw that changed his mind to plot against human (soldiers in the warships). Missiles were launched to the island where a bunch of mutants were present but Magneto controlled these missiles and changed its target to the warships. Professor X attempted to stop Magneto but wasn't able to, until this agent girl (i forgot the name) threw bullets that it accidentally hit Professor X's spine that was the major reason he got limp. Due to this incidence, Magneto parted ways and made his own group to protect their selves being mutant while Professor X stayed with his principle.

The reason as well why Magneto got that crazy metal in his head was, originally, t'was used by Shaw to block the Mental Telepathy power of Professor X. And when he killed him, Magneto used this as a protection against his former team mate. Accordingly it was created by a certain German scientist.

The reason, as well why Beast got his blue skin color was the fact that he tried experimenting Mystique's blood to avert the effects of mutation but he failed and got his skin blue.

Overall rating, a must see movie before ending this summer!!! Triple AAA+++ rating. Believe me, as soon as you finished the movie, you are going to wish for the next sequel right after. Superb effects, costumes and story....