A Year Overdue: Lee Boutique Hotel and Agoda.com

Believe it or not, it was my first time to stay in Tagaytay. The first time I reached the city was after one of our batch outings in Batangas more than 5 years ago which led us to have lunch at Leslie's before heading back to the metro. Anyway, because it was a very quick and unplanned trip for our 3rd wedding anniversary, the only touristy thing that we were able to do was check out the People's Park. hehe.

With that, the 2 things that I want to share in this post are:
1. Agoda.com and its mobile app
2. Lee Boutique hotel
 

photo credits

We were supposed to go to Cebu but since it didn't push through, the closest thing that we could have for an unplanned  "travel" on a budget was Tagaytay. I've always seen agoda.com but never really paid attention until my cousin shared to me that she booked a hotel in Boracay for a much lower price, even lower than their published rates on their official website. So when we started thinking of what to do, I downloaded their app for android, searched for affordable hotel rates in Tagaytay and booked through my mobile using my mastercard. Nakakakaba nga kasi baka hindi i-acknowledge sa hotel pero tinanggap naman. lol. So, two thumbs up for agoda.com! If you're looking for competitive rates, go check out their site. Of course, you have to review the rate inclusions. Like for 5-start hotels, some rates don't include breakfast that's why they're really cheap. Who wouldn't want a 5-star hotel breakfast? So before paying, doublecheck.

Now to the hotel.

boutique hotel 
A boutique hotel is one that is generally not chain-affiliated, features an intimate and stylish appearance, and provides impeccable amenities.

clockwise from left: No frills reception | sliding door towards the lobby |
hallway leading to the rooms on the ground floor | couch in the lobby  

me ready to sleep! | just-right tub | big TV | the view when you look at the window, lol. | Roy checking out the safe | twin beds. wala na raw room with a single bed. So much for an anniversary getaway huh?  

breakfast options | Roy's meal | the dining area | complimentary coffee and bottled water plus my fruits for the rest of our stay. Spartans can't go hungry! | My breakfast

tourists we met on our way up to the People's Park | lab na lab :) |
solong turista | couple tourist shot, wehehe

bag of beans tourist shot | my lunch, galit sa carb? |
pantanggal-umay | alam na kung sinong di Spartan. Roy's lechon kawali

Overall, we had a great stay except for the booboos along the way which led us to arriving in Tagaytay at 11pm instead of 2pm. This is a another story which will never get posted in my blog. haha! Grateful for ate Jo, my mother-in-law's kasambahay for staying with Isay and Amymy during our overnight getaway. Despite arriving late in Tagaytay, settling for sleeping in separate beds and not being able to do more touristy stuff, it was still a couple moment that I enjoyed with ze husband. Grabe, we're nearing our 4th anniversary at ngayon ko lang ito naipost. So yesterday ha.

Not Impressed: Our Version

So here's one fun post to document our summer shorts pictorial last Saturday. We know how hot it is nowadays so I wasn't surprised to see 2 other coaches wearing dressed-up shorts to cope with the intense heat. We were running out of wacky poses when Mars suggested that we do the "not impressed" face of US gymnast McKayla Maroney. To know the context behind the face, read this article.

Without having any background or seeing the photos above, here's how it turned out:
 

 

Haha! I think we gave justice to the expression. I imagine us having this face when checking Spartan meals online. lol. Speaking of Spartan Transformation, let me share how I captioned our summer shorts photo on my FB timeline:

05.04.2013

Dress Code: Summer Shorts!

Had a fun pictorial with fellow Spartan coaches Trimtab Marsel and Jennylyn after our business training last night. Dati, ayaw na ayaw kong tumatabi sa mga ito pag picture-taking kasi ang papayat tapos ang puti pa ni Jenny. lol. The Spartan Transformation program taught me not to compare (lalo pa't weight gain ang program nilang dalawa) and of course, the program also gave me the space to be in my healthiest version as well.

Have a great summer week ahead! =)

 

Weight Loss Insight

Grateful for starting May with a Spartan introduction to a woman who's rebuilding herself. It may seem like people simply want to lose weight but with the many conversations that I had, losing weight goes beyond just seeing their numbers go down. Sometimes it's an attempt to be good in something when all other things have gone out of control. It's about regaining confidence and having a tangible proof of self-worth.

Opa! (Gangnam Style) at Cyma

Haha! Sorry for the corny title. Roy and I just couldn't help saying "Gangnam Style" after the servers in Cyma deliver their signature "woooOpah!" each time they serve a flaming dish. So anyway, for our 46th wedding monthsary, we chose to eat at Cyma Shangri-la Plaza branch. We didn't take photos nor checked in through our phones because we just wanted to eat and it was a great experience because we weren't so attached to updating the whole world about it. Roy was even in his pambahay. haha! Kaya pala walang photos no? lol. Here's what we had:

photo credit: http://newsph.nowplanet.tv/?p=85377
ROKA SALATA

photo credit: http://www.blogalag.com/blog/2008/05/opa-at-cyma.html
PAIDAKIA

photo credit: foodspotting.com
GREEK ONION SOUP

photo credit: foodspotting.com
CHICKEN AND SEAFOOD YIOUVETSI

Roka Salata is my favorite and there was even one time when we ate at Cyma Shang and we just ordered that salad. It makes me happy. hihi. Do you get that feeling with a salad? People usually get it from pastries, sweets or salty junk but for me I get that kilig factor from this heavenly salad. The soury sweet sundried tomatoes, the candied walnuts, the crisp lettuce, bitter-y arugula and the dressing. Hay grabe, naglalaway ako ngayon. haha!

Then we ordered something new called Paidakia. After that meal, I was officially NOT a fan of lamb. Perhaps other restaurants could give justice to it or other customers like it but not me. It felt like eating gum, meat flavor. The rice-stuffed grilled bell pepper that came with it was yummy though.

We're set to just order two dishes because the Paidakia was kinda pricey. But due to my disappointment, we resorted to something familiar and what we knew was good, the Chicken and Seafood Yiouvetsi. It tastes like Marinara with several twists here and there. Basta, masarap s'ya. I asked for extra lemon slices for that added contrast.

And just to try something new, we ordered soup. It's a very comforting soup. Makes you feel warm and fuzzy. :)

So that's it! Happy 46th to us!

Family Friday: Lab na Lab (Love na Love)!

I think it was through one of the speakers in a business seminar where I learned about the "signature pose." As jet setters, he and his wife would document the landmarks that they visit through one pose and I found it cute. Of course, I'd also want to have that for my family. Hence the lab-na-lab-shot. It is a pose for 3 people where the one in the middle would be the receiver of a big (and ideally wet) kiss on both her cheeks from two people who love him/her so much. Of course, Isay would be the one in the middle. We have yet to figure out how we'll make it work when we become more than three in the family. #ingodsperfecttime :)

I was all set last week to have the first 2 lab na lab photos printed and as if the Universe is reminding me to handle that, I saw this super cute photo on Facebook. 

Get the concept?

Presenting to you our lab na lab shots. :)

Isay's 1st Birthday

Isay's 2nd Birthday

Masuki Date
October 13, 2012

When she was first confined in the hospital
September 2012

How about you, do you have a signature family shot or a version of the lab na lab shot?