Thursday, August 12, 2010

Tutti Frutti Yogurt Ice Cream

During one of my girl bonding dates with highschool girlfriends we passed through Tutti Frutti yogurt store at Megamall. We were looking for some after dinner ice cream and we decided to try yogurt, though I was not really a fan of it, I'm really not into eating yogurt, I don't like the sour taste, and so I tought having it as an ice cream would be the same too.

The store is not that spacious, just a few tables and a topping bar at the side. The crew was very friendly, and assist us on the self serving yogurt dispensing machines, which you have to pull the lever for the yogurt ice cream to come out. You can pick from 8 ice cream flavors, some of the flavors I remembered are banana, green apple, coconut, chocolate raspberry, mango, and taro. You can also have a free taste first before choosing your ice cream. And you can get all flavors you want, since the price would depend on the weight of your cup. (they charge 20php per ounce) So I decided to get taro and coconut, since these flavors are sweet apart from my knowledge that all yogurts are sour.

Tutti Frutti yogurt ice cream
Tutti Frutti yogurt ice crem

After getting our yogurts we proceeded on the toppings bar, where you can have many varieties of toppings to choose from. There are syrups(choco fudge, caramel, strawberry), fresh fruits(mango, peach, kiwi, blueberry, etc), nuts, candy sprinkles, wafers, oreo crumbs, cereals and lots more! After weighing my regular sized cup I paid for 160php, not bad for the cup size and all those toppings I got.

I would say you have to try this out if you have a sweet tooth like me. And enjoy healthy and yummy flavors of frozen yogurt at Tutti Frutti. ;)

Parvati (Bakeshop)

Parvati is a bakeshop/cafe that offers a unique way of selling products, and I can say their concept sure is brilliant. They've come up of getting all the best seller/masterpiece per se of each bakeshops, and offer it in their store. The store is not that spacious, few tables, all white and dainty, and a small counter at the back.

Parvati has varieties from pastries, cakes, cookies, desserts which customers with a sweet tooth will crave for. What's nice is that you can have a taste of every best selling product of different bakeshops all in one place. I was not familiar of this particular store nor their unique way of selling goods, we just happen to stroll along Trinoma one weekend with my friends when a girl approched us and give us a stub, which offers a choice of free cupcake or coffee in Parvati. We decided to try it out, and when we went inside we don't know on which to order with so many pastries to choose from and all of them looks delectable! We chose a free coffee for the stub, then decided to try out Choco Chip Oatmeal Cookies. One box contains 12pcs of those delicious oatmeal cookies, which costs 120php per box (not bad).
Parvati Oatmeal Cookies
Parvati Oatmeal Cookies
And the staff were nice. They were also kind enough to help us choose on what pastry to try. The other side of the wall consists of pictures of different pastries they offer, and I was surprised when the staff pulls it over, seems that those pictures in the wall are actually like drawers/storage where the pastries are kept, based on the picture. Cool huh.

I also wanted to try out their mochi ice cream, and had my friend to bought it last week. Mochi ice cream was originated in Japan. Its ice cream covered in soft sticky rice dough.  Parvati is selling 6pcs for 230php. There are 6 flavors; chocolate, coffee, mango, vanilla, strawberry and green tea. I tried coffee and vanilla and it was delicious!
So for those who are in crave for pastries, I suggest you try them. You can find it at the lower ground in Trinoma mall, just below National bookstore.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Underground River (Puerto Princesa, Palawan)

One of the most sought after place to visit when in Puerto Princesa is the famous Underground River. Many tourists visit Puerto Princesa for an experience inside the cave which is the official entry of the Philippines for the New 7 Wonders of the World. It's the longest navigable underground river in the world and the very minute I found out that we were going to Puerto Princesa I already made sure it's included in our itenerary list.

Going to Underground River is a bit long ride, but I assure you that you will enjoy the scenery. Truly Palaweños know how to take good care of their treasure. And I was impressed for their Mayor on good governance in the city. So we hired a van with a tourist on the way to Sabang River. The van costs 1500php, a ride to and from the hotel, and can accomodate up to 15 people.
Palawan Sabang Beach
Sabang Beach
The ride to Sabang beach was about an hour or more, but I would say you will not be bored. You will enjoy so many sceneries; hills, mountains and trees. Upon arriving at Sabang Beach, you will have to pay first for a boat ride going to the Underground River. The boat costs 600php and can accomodate up to 6 people. And of course Palawan will not disappoint you of a breathtaking scenery during the boat travel.
Palawan Underground tour
Boat ride to Underground River
When we arrived there, there were lots of people waiting in line for another boat ride, this time it's the ride inside the cave! I was immediately excited for our turn, while we were also interrupted by cute little monkeys enjoying a canister of Pringles. We were finally seated in a boat, and a lantern has to be lifted up by the one in front of the boat to be able to see inside the cave. The ride was exceptional, the boat ride will consume about 45 minutes to 1 hour. It was my first time inside a cave and there were lots of rock formations that you can see inside. The tour guide was a comic. I've never seen such masterpieces that's truly a work of nature. Surely, this should be number one in your list when you spend your vacation in Puerto Princesa.
Palawan Underground River
Underground River

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Kamarikutan Kape at Galeri (Coffee and Gallery) [Puerto Princesa, Palawan]


One of the restaurants we were able to visit when we were on a vacation in Puerto Princesa is Kamarikutan Kape at Galeri. But I would say going there at night was not a good idea, not if you want a creepy horror  film scenario (just kidding). We went there for an after dinner coffee. So we arrived there at about 9pm by a tricycle ride. When we went out I was surprised and was searching for a coffee house, but all we found was a wooden signboard that says "Kamarikutan Kape at Galeri" and a long dark (I mean totally dark) path with tall trees at the sides. We were fooling around and saying it looks like an abandoned place in a horror film, even so we proceed in walking inside, hoping that soon we could see lights and the coffee house.

Kamarikutan Entrance
Going inside Kamarikutan
After a while we saw a "nipa hut" ethnic style coffee house, it was an open space place, and the lights were dim. And to complete the creepy aura, there were no guests, we even couldn't see any of their crews. So when we went inside, the place was nice though, tables and chairs were made of bamboo. All you can hear is the sound of the rippling water coming out of the fountains at the side. To our surprise there was a crew at the corner, sitted behind the front desk. We were given menus for our orders, while others decided to look around the gallery. The place was nice, don't get me wrong, but the place just gives me a creepy feeling, and if you're like me who's not a fan of ethnic wooden anito sculptures and weird looking wooden masks, well I must say you must understand the feeling. LOL.

Kamarikutan Coffeehouse
Nipa hut style coffeehouse
Kamarikutan Gallery
The Gallery
For the food, I would say it's good and in affordable price too. I ordered french toast and a latte. The coffee was good. And the concept of their canisters for the condiments completed the ethnic motif. Too bad I wasn't able to find these at the gift shop before our flight home, I was planning to give it to my mom back at home.

kamarikutan coffee
Coffee
Kamarikutan Sugar
Sugar
 All in all our experience here in Kamarikutan is quite exceptional. Creepy, ethnic, but I would say I enjoyed it. I still think though that it would be best to visit here in the daytime. So you can see better of their surroundings, instead of just a pitch dark outside.