CRISTY IN THE CITY

Sunday, July 8, 2018

Nice, cushy interiors and cute decor

When I visited Taipei last month, I made Rilakkuma Cafe in Da'an District one of my must-visit food places. Aside from the fact that I'm a huge fan of this cute San-X character, I love visiting theme cafes or cat cafes wherever I get to travel.

After visiting the iconic Taipei 101 observatory and quick lunch at Mos Burger at the Taipei food hall, me and my friend checked our Google maps on how to get to Rilakkuma Cafe by foot. The summer weather was quite pleasant for walking and we welcomed the opportunity to check out random little shops along the way. On the map, it seemed like Rilakkuma Cafe was a short walk from Xinyi District but it turned out to be almost a one hour walk! We arrived 30 minutes early for our restaurant reservation (conveniently done via EZ Table). Instead of coffee and cake, we decided to go for an early dinner since there were a lots of fabulous main dishes on the menu. Due to the popularity of this cafe as a family and romantic date restaurant, guests can only stay for 1.5 hours.

I had a hearty and very tasty Beef Bourguignon dish and cheesecake for dessert while my friend had Pasta Carbonara and cheesecake too. I had the mistake of ordering a really sweet peach raspberry fizz. Aww, I should have ordered coffee instead! Over-all, it was a surprisingly satisfying meal. Rilakkuma Cafe ( and all other theme cafes for that matter) is quite pricey but then at least the food looks and tastes great. I loved the charming and relaxing ambiance too. Very kawaii!

Take your favourite seat

Dessert comes first hehe

Rilakkuma cheesecake with coffee walnut cream

Pasta please! (Excuse the blurry pics)

Raspberry and peach fizz. Too sweet for my liking though.

Cute facade! No wonder visitors young and old troop to this theme cafe

Coffee? Sweet or bitter?

Rilakumma's sweet goodies

How about some Rilakkuma merch on the way out?

Till next time, Rilakkuma Cafe!

Sunday, May 27, 2018

Sun and Surf in Siargao

Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte, Philippines has been on my travel radar for the longest time. Finally this year, I made it into a summer getaway project, bringing two other desk chained friends with me. For three days we did nothing but sleep, eat and bask in the island's lush landscapes and scenic ocean views. Flanked by the Pacific Ocean on the west, Siargao Island is unbelievably pristine and wild. The whole island is covered with incredibly thick coconut rainforest canopy and seductive surf coastlines. Like any other idyllic tropical island, Siargao is blessed with crystalline waters in various permutations of blue.

Siargao is ideal for surfers but for non-surfers like me, the activities to enjoy are limited to island hopping, hanging out at the Boardwalk, sunset watching, sleeping in and exploring random shops and eateries. It's easy to get bored after a couple of days. The island is not that commercially infiltrated so the choices in retail, cuisine and activities are quite limited. The accommodations are simple and humble, true to the island's primitive, laidback vibe. Overall I had an enjoyable stay and I forgot my cares and worries for a while.

In the meantime, stay green and wild Siargao!

Hop aboard my tiny boat

Crystalline waters of the purest hues surround Siargao's most popular island hopping destinations- Naked, Dako and Guyam Islands.

Docking in Guyam Island's craggy shores

Island kids rollin' in the biggest sandbox of them all

The best vantage point to feel like a real islander is in Guyam Island

Warm tidal pools in Guyam Island to wade and soak in

Stopping by Naked Island for a quick dip. Living up to its name, the island (more like an exposed sandbar walkable in 5 minutes) is tiny, pristine and comically bare. Some enterprising people have planted a baby palm tree in the middle of the island. It's not so naked after all, haha.

Wallowing in pure bliss in Naked Island

A fiery sunset caps a surfing session at Cloud 9, Siargao

The surfing tower at Boardwalk, Cloud 9 in General Luna is Siargao's iconic structure. Recently closed for maintenance, the tower is a gateway to the island's best waves. Made of old, decaying wood, the structure can only acommodate a maximum of 100 people at a given time.

Riding out into the sunset

Waves are calling like a siren's song

Exposed coral beds during low tide

Non-surfers can enjoy a panoramic view of advanced surfing action during from the 3-storey platform. The area is characteristically dotted with coral beds, making it a challenging surfing area for beginners.

Surfers heading home before the platform closes at 6pm.

The signature Siargao sunset

Siargao's culinary secret spot. The food is good and memorable.

Kermit's Napolitana pizza with DIY toppings

Kermit's fresh salad

Authentic Indonesian breakfast fare at Warung

Super filling and annoyingly healthy Cloud 9 Kook smoothie bowl and coffee combo at Shaka Siargao Cafe Gallery

Plenty of coconut juice for sure

A magnificent view of Pilar's coconut plantations en route to Mapupungko tidal pools

Hey, look up and watch out for falling coconuts!

It's best to visit Mapupungko tidal pools during low tide (usually between 12nn-3 pm). It's an hour away from General Luna.

Enchanting, ethereal, mysterious natural bathtubs that appear and disappear in the ebb and flow

Cliff diving, anyone?

That Dave Matthews Band song playing in my head

Eat, sleep, surf. Repeat.

Golden hour in Siargao

Japanese cruiser bicycles are a cheap mode of transport. One can rent a bike for Php 150 good for one day.

The friendliest dogs can be found in Siargao Island

Habal habal (single motorcycle) and tricycle (motorcycle with sidecar) are the only modes of transport in Siargao. The island is also best explored on a bicycle since there are practically no rough roads.