a sad coffee experience

the heat in davao is unbearable and one particularly hot afternoon, just the other day, as a matter of fact,  as i was leaving SM to claim my car from the 'in-house' carwash... he he, that was a very good example of a run on sentence, a really bad one. Lol, anyways, on with my story.

i espied the hot sun as i was about to leave SM and to delay my encounter with a blast of hot air, i decided to arm myself with a cold coffee.  i  dropped in on Karl's Koffee Korner and ordered a really cold and really strong frapp.  i was not familiar with the menu, so i asked help from the server.  he told me that their coffee frappe was the strongest, given that it is made purely of coffee, no chocolate or ice cream to tone it down.  i paid a hundred bucks for their coffee frappe and eagerly waited for my respite from the heat.

when the barista gave me my order i noticed that the color of the concoction seemed suspiciously pale, i took a sip and to my dismay, i tasted sweet and creamy with just a hint of coffee.  i told her that i asked for a really strong one and she answered me with 'but all our frappes are made from light coffee' [whatever that means].  i repeated that i ordered strong coffee. of course, she just repeated what she first said.

i asked why the other server said that it was a strong blend.  she countered me with, 'ah, among the 3 frappe flavors, that was the strongest, but it is made of light coffee.'  i was contemplating on just accepting my plight, i was too lazy to argue, when she [the barista] said, if i wanted it strong they can add espresso, but i have to pay an additional 60 pesos.  stupefied from the confusion, i agreed, paid the additional charge, and waited again.

after a few moments, my order was ready and looked slightly darker than what i was first served with.  thinking that i got what i paid for, a whopping P160.00 for a frappe, i accepted the coffee, stood up and left Karl's.  as i sipped it on my way to the car wash, i noticed that the thing was not as heavy as the original version they first gave me. my mouth then met a tepid, watery, and slightly bitter excuse of a coffee frapp.  and after a few sips, there was no more liquid left  the cup was still more than half full, of whipped cream that is.

let's just say that, the sun, and time, were on their side.  i had no intentions of marching back to Karl's and extending my 'fun' in the sun.  and i had to rush to the airport besides.  i muttered to myself why i didn't just accept the order as is.  cold, thick, creamy and sweet was definitely better than lukewarm, watery, and almost tasteless coffee.

lessons learned from the experience:

1. leave well enough alone
2. never go back to Karl's Koffee Korner

starting from the core

it's going to be my fifth session tomorrow.  and so far, i'm loving every minute of it.  i first got introduced to Pilates more than five years ago.  i was in cebu and one of my friends there asked me if i wanted to try a new fitness work-out she recently started.  one thing i couldn't forget about that session was the fact that it sapped out your energy, even if you hardly moved with your back flat on a mat 99% of the time.  it was one calorie-burning session indeed.  i never tried it again though, as i was in my active phase then, i preferred the usual weights and cardio exercises you usually get in gyms.

this time though, since i wanted something new and not so hard on the joints, i decided to try pilates again.  i checked out Coreworks Pilates, as recommended by my sister and some friends.  Conveniently located on my way to work, it was not difficult to decide on the place.

One big plus is the fact that your work-out sessions are done one-on-one with a certified instructor, i need all the pressure i can get.  my main goal is to lose weight but i soon learned that i could do that and so much more. I happily discovered that Pilates can do wonders for my posture and i'll dare hope a little bit more, i might even learn to move with more grace.  But the best thing about it is, it's one of the best exercises for scoliotics like me.

on the first meeting i was told that it was going to be a mental and physical exercise.  i soon learned what Marie, my instructor, meant as she started spewing out instructions for each and every movement you were supposed to make.  Focus is vital to execute a movement correctly.  Lose concentration for a moment and you suddenly have no idea what it is you are supposed to do.  in a way, it is a chance to forget about everything else.  forget about the work waiting for you in the office.  forget about what to prepare for dinner, forget about the errands you still have to do.  instead, you think about each flex and point you make, how you are supposed to keep your back flat while doing the leg movements, and making sure you are getting all the force and energy from your core [which simply means your abdomen].  if you manage to execute even just a few perfect moves, you are rewarded with a sore core the day after. =D

so if you are looking for that new thing that will drive you out of the gym rut, the ennui to get fit, try out the sessions at Coreworks Pilates.  They are one of only two centers in the Philippines who have authentic equipment and certified staff.  Yes the session rates are pricey but definitely worth every peso.

this picture from here.

Corework Pilates Rehab and Fitness Center

Patio Valencia Corporate Center, Jacinto-Mapa Sts.

Davao City, Philippines, 8000

Phone: 082-3008838

Open Mon - Sat: 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

going nuts over donut...

... boxes, that is.

wel, im sorry if my 'come back' post is more of a rant but i just can't help it.

why is it such a big deal for dunkin donuts [nccc mall branch]???  why is the friggin box such a big deal??? what am i saying?  they refuse to put the donuts i want to buy in a box if i don't stick to their prescribed combos.  i don't get it.  even if i buy the ones that are more expensive than what they are offering me they insist that they can't give me one measly box.

if my daughter wasn't such a donut freak, i wouldn't waste a second trying to talk sense to these unreasonable dunkin donuts personnel.  i don't know why i need to explain to them why donuts should be sold in boxes not in cellophane bags.  they should know this, for goodness sakes, without the box the donuts will be crushed, mushed-up, soggy and simply yucky looking by the time i arrive home.  who will want to eat them?  who wants to eat a donut that looks like it's been trampled on.

i initially had the same problem with the 24-hour Duterte St. branch but after saying i was gonna order more than the actual value of their original promo, they gave in.

alas, this nccc mall branch staff looked like he was about to throw a tantrum as he was punching on the cash register.  of course he relented, i glared at him and almost threw a tantrum myself.

it was well worth the stress in the end.  my little girl was ecstatic when i arrived home with a box full of fresh donuts, and she had plenty of chocolate varieties to choose from.

i wonder when the dunkin donut gods will get it.  donuts belong in boxes, not in cellophane bags! sheesh!
 --------------------------------------------------------
postscript:  i finally raised my dilemma to the Supervisor at the SM branch and she graciously assured me that she will communicate with the other branches.  i was so happy albeit perplexed as to why the crew at the SM branch made no fuss at my request.  all they said was, 'ah, free box ma'am?, sure!'  Now that's what i call really good customer service!  hurrah for people behind the counter who know how to listen and understand simple logic!

in search of a favorite noodle dish

i used to work for Malaysia Airlines and yes i had a couple of opportunities to go to Kuala Lumpur [KL] on work assignment.  It was there where i discovered what i consider to be one of the best noodle dishes in the world. Char Kway Teow.  In KL, this fantastic fare is sold in hawker stalls.  i would go out and look for a stall during mealtimes.  the preparation alone is an interesting and entertaining experience, and it makes you hungrier as you wait for your order to be ready.

a friend used to bring me or send me a serving of Char Kway Teow via the flight crew whenever the craving striked.  it was one of the best things about being an employee of MH.

fast forward to more than 10 years later, meaning 2009, i discovered another noodle dish, this time vietnamese, Nam Thit Heo.  it reminded me a lot of my beloved Char Kway Teow that i searched it on the net to try replicating it.  MH has not been in davao for the longest time now and the friend is no longer a friend. =P

i was so craving it that i asked a friend who just came back from singapore if she ever came across this dish over there, and she simply said, but they serve it in Banana Leaf Asian Cafe. HWAT???

i go to Sales St.  atleast once a week and not once did i even think of checking out this Asian fusion restaurant.  How was i to know that they served Char Kway Teow?

The next day, i invited the parents to have an asian fusion lunch with me.


The verdict:  their version looked different from what i remember.  it had too much brown sauce and the noodles were a lot fatter than the ones they served in KL's hawker stalls.  and sadly, it did not taste the same. Our other choices tasted a lot better.

oh well, i guess, i'll never find it here in davao.  anyone, wanna prove me wrong on this one?

*hawker stall picture from here

chinese comfort food

chinese fastfood outlets are a dime a dozen here in davao city.  From dimsum stands to noodle houses to restaurant-style set-ups, you are sure to find one in every street. but only one stands out the most because there is not one time that their branches are not busy and bustling with hungry customers.  Mandarin Tea Garden

whenever i am out on solo flight at meal times, i look for the nearest Mandarin Tea Garden outlet.  i can enumerate a string of their reliably delicious offerings but i almost always end up asking for the same thing: Ravioli Noodle Soup and Fresh Fruit Salad.  the combination doesn't sound so great but i tell you, the first one makes up for the fact that i'm eating out alone and the latter is a very healthy dessert choice, just try not to devour all that yummy cream.

so, the next time you catch yourself out on the street and hungry, head to the nearest Mandarin Tea Garden.  Try out my favorites and experience the satisfaction only comfort food can bring.  Slurp!

happy feet

my feet are smiling again. well, they would if they could. after two weeks of looking like they belong in the dark ages i finally had the time to go to the salon and have them scrubbed, massaged and pedicured to perfection. don't get me wrong, my feet aren't pretty. i would have posted a picture of them if they were. but at least now, they look like they are appreciated and loved.

back when i was still on solo flight, i brought my feet to my favorite manicurista, Ate Celia, at least once every 2 weeks. foot spas are my thing. all that scrubbing, foot and leg masks, yummy smelling creams being massaged into my skin and the icing on the cake, a great pedicure, just simply feels like heaven on earth.

i love foot spas so much i even opened a day spa [along with other spa-lover-family and friends] once upon a time. our foot spa was i think the best in the city. not only did you get well deserved indulgence from your knees to your toes but you were assured of the most hygienic treatments in town. at the start, your feet are washed with soap and running water, not the typical soak-in-the basin washing, but heated water from the tap. all our instruments were sterilized after each use. the scrubs, masks, and creams were slathered on generously, and the nail colors were of good, mostly imported, brands. plus the ambiance was very cozy and restful. too bad we had to close it down last year. the really bad location took a toll on it and after much denial i finally had the heart to let it go.

so now i'm on the hunt for a spa or a salon that could match the kind of service we gave. so far i've visited ELEMENTS salon at the Holiday Gym and Spa twice. Fe, was my manicurista again today. I give her an 8 [rating from 1-10, with 10 being the highest], the salon was clean enough, and the chair i sat on was also comfy. they did not have the same hygiene policy as we did though. and their towels looked like they should already be turned into rags, blecch =P. next time, i'll go back to Ate Celia over at HairStudio in SM. they should have services which might make my feet happy again. i'm hoping that someday i won't miss our beloved Spa anymore.

virtually losing weight

since eating is a major part of my happiness, i have had to try all kinds of diets back when having a great body mattered. from the three day diet, to the cabbage soup diet, to the no rice diet. all these diets had one common thing in particular. they all drove me to such anger, i was ready to kill anybody who crossed me. so i decided to count calories one day and wrote everything i ate in a notebook. i managed to fill up 3 notebooks [i think] but it was the best thing i ever did for my body. i finally achieved a dream: look fit and trim and wear the clothes i wanted to wear.

after my first baby, i did not try to get back to the pre-baby body. nothing motivated me, not even the sight of all those women who so have-it-together. you know, the ones who have toddlers in tow but still look like they came right out of a fashion magazine page. i saw one such 'hot momma' in my little girl's school today, i wanted to rip her head right off. =P

anyway, a few days ago, while i was reading a blog i happened to click on, it was about grungy mommies [ this one got my radar blinking on overdrive], i came accross a link about tracking your calories. and since then i was hooked. it's precisely the reason why i have not been blogging.

fitday.com, i was happy to discover did not only automatically compute my calorie intake but it showed me graphs of my nutrition or the lack of it, activity level and calories burned, and more. call me weird but i finally found something to motivate me to lose all the weight and get moving.

so i'm on my 5th day today, and so far, i am happy with what i've been posting. i'm taking it slow but with direction. and i'm being realistic. there is a downside though, it takes a while for each entry to be uploaded. and not all the food i eat is in its database. but tonight i found redemption. i was able to finish with my inputs faster by opening multiple tabs and working on the different pages one after the other. and checking out calorie equivalents is a breeze if i just google the ones they don't have.

so if you are like me, a person who finds satisfaction and motivation in a planned, methodical, and detailed weight-loss regimen, fitday.com is for you. i'm sure the simple, clean and straightforward interface will excite you. do i hear "obsessive-compulsive" just yet? =P

here's to finally finding my motivation! bottoms-up the diet cola!