Category Archives: Travel

Florentina Homes, Dumaguete

By | Accomodations, Proud to be Pinoy!, Travel | 3 Comments

Mig has been inviting us to come over but just have not had the chance to go to Dumaguete.  But we will one day Mig! Meantime, I told Mig I will post about his place so in case you are looking for a place to go to in the Philippines, I heard Dumaguete is nice! dumaguetamap_philippines.jpg

 And stay here at Migs’ family’s place

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 It looks so nice and cozy! 

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Come home to one of Dumaguete’s finest hotels…

Florentina Homes

“a happy place”

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Florentina Homes is your home away from home. It is an apartment-style hotel that is tucked away in quiet, residential area in Dumaguete City. It gives you the perfect accommodation in Dumaguete, and you’re guaranteed of a relaxed, worry-free stay. You can look forward to the perfect escape everytime. It is one of the homiest hotels in Dumaguete, so your stay is bound to be a cozy one – whether you’re looking for a quick weekend getaway, or you need a place to stay and bond with your family, or even if you’re traveling with a group.

This fine hotel in Dumaguete is composed of 3 European-themed stand-alone buildings (Swiss, Spanish-Mediterranean, English Tudor), housing 9 apartment units that suit the discriminating tastes of travelers. Get transported to the world’s favorite destinations without having to leave the country, and without having to pay for exorbitant fares.  

Mimic the feeling of being in a cozy cabin in the Alps. This Dumaguete hotel has units that have a Swiss motiff. Swiss units have crisp, clean furnishings and have light-colored interiors.

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Or if you’re after old-world charm with a twist, you can stay in the Spanish-Mediterranean themed units. These charming units are colorful, and with red bricks and tiles, a spacious balcony and romantic lighting. You’d instantly feel like a dashing matador, or a beautiful senorita.

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Bask in the simplicity and homey atmosphere of the Tudor units, reminiscent of home furnishings in England.

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One cannot help but notice the lush greenery, of tropical plants growing, framing and accentuating the building frames and adorning every corner of the establishment.

All 9 units are fully-furnished, with 2 bedrooms each, enough to accommodate 4 occupants comfortably. They also have a service area that has a toilet and bath, as well as spacious laundry space. Being an apartment hotel, daily clean-up service is available. A perfect accommodation for young families and groups seeking short or medium term stay in the city.

Units also have living rooms, where you can lounge and relax, telephones, as well as cable TV, so you never miss out on your favorite shows. And free Wi-Fi to keep you in touch with the world. Invite a few friends over and meet at the apartment. It would be very hard for you to resist the inviting couches in the living room – you simply cannot help but get de-stressed. Truly, this accommodation has nothing but the visitors’ well-being and relaxation in mind.

Setting it apart from most of the hotels in Dumaguete, Florentina Homes is equipped with all the comforts of home. It has airconditioned rooms, so you’re assured of a restful sleep. And handpainted overhead fans if you choose natural air. If you’re trying to save, or if you’d rather not eat out, or if you bought local produce and fresh meat and fish from the local market, each unit is equipped with a fully-furnished kitchen, and dining table, so you can cook your own meals.

Feeling lazy and would rather relax?.. you can order room service from the in-house restaurant, Gabby’s Bistro. You don’t need to travel far for great-tasting, reasonably-priced meals. Aside from offering delectable comfort cuisine, the in-house restaurant, Gabby’s Bistro, also has wireless Internet, so you can catch up on work, or simply surf the Internet. Enjoy the unique colorful and cozy ambiance of a Swiss restaurant, with different nooks and corners, each spot offering its own special feel, with personal hand painted artwork and tasteful design evident from all angles. And you can choose to dine in the air-conditioned interior or feel the tropical breeze in the charming al-fresco area, with acoustic band music playing on selected nights, guaranteed to make your dining experience enjoyable and memorable.

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And right across Gabby’s Bistro is the Rana Verde Coffee shop and Mini Plaza, a complimentary addition to the whole development, with a rustic Mexican motif, further adding to the international flavor of the complex. Rana Verde houses a completely enchanting coffee shop, with its cute and cozy interiors artfully decorated and handpainted, unmatched in its uniqueness and charm. We also have a little Boutique there where you can bring home a couple of souvenirs of your stay in Florentina Homes and Dumaguete. Fruits in Ice Cream is now in Dumaguete so grab a cup and experience real ice cream!

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For a bit of exercise and a feel of the tropics, guests can lounge around and swim in The Oasis swimming pool. Superbly designed with fun, recreation, relaxation, and restful ambiance in mind, all rolled into one gorgeous little tropical paradise tucked away in a quiet private corner of the hotel compound, inviting one and all to unwind and free their minds and bodies of worries and stress. The pool has its own swim up bar, a slide for the young-at-heart, lots of in-pool benches to sit around, and from a minimum of 1 ft depth to its deepest point of 4ft, the pool is clearly designed to be very friendly for all to enjoy.

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Want to celebrate an occasion at The Oasis? Small parties with complete catering can be arranged at the hotel. The Oasis ambiance is unmatched, especially in the evenings, when the soft lighting brings a soothing glow to the senses.

You also don’t have to worry about your vehicle’s security – Florentina Homes has ample parking space within the compound right across the apartment units.

This accommodation in Dumaguete is easily accessible too – it’s only 5 minutes away from the airport, and 5 minutes away from the city proper. The hotel has a service van that can pick up guests to and from the airport, as well as offer transportation to local destination points.

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Next time you find yourself in Dumaguete, come home to Florentina Homes. Theres no place like it!

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      Internationally themed apartment hotel complex with in-house restaurant, coffee shop, & swimming pool

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      Ideal for family and group travelers

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Fully furnished 2 bedroom apartment units, good for 4 occupants* Service area with toilet, bath, and laundry space*Cable TV*Safety deposit box in every unit*Wireless Internet*Living room*Spacious balcony* Telephone*Complete kitchen*Air conditioned rooms*Ample parking space*5 minutes from airport*5 minutes to city proper

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 Click below to go to their website:

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ION Orchard, Singapore

By | Shopping, Travel | No Comments

This was one of our favorite malls this trip, aside from it being near the hotel, it’s a mall with all kinds of shops! 

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The highest floors are the high end brands, and as you go lower and lower, the prices go lower as well. 🙂 There is even a Daiso in this mall!! So you can imagine from a Prada to a Daiso all in one mall 🙂

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Again, love the escalators leading to the MTR or the underground 

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This is the lower floors 🙂 

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Click to go to the website:ion-orchard-where-it-all-comes-together-20110511.jpg

In Singapore, you will see signs like this in many locations, it tells you how many available parking slots there are in each mall nearest the sign or in the vicinty. How efficient can they be! 

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Candylicious

By | Travel, Yummy! | No Comments

After Universal Studios, Don’t forget to stop by Hershey’s Chocolate World!  It’s right outside Universal Studios   

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While Hershey’s seems to be known, Heart2Heart was so happy to cross the street because no one ever mentioned this to me.  There is an even bigger candy store!!!  You cannot miss this! It’s an attraction in itself! 

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Ready….Get set…..

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Go!!! COOKIE & CANDY MONSTER!

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Photos are not allowed so these are all sneak photos 🙂 

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For more information, click below to go to the website of Candylicious:

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Right beside candylicious is Baits where you can have Din Tai Fung food!!! So while the kids are in Candylicious, parents can relax and have some yummy xiao long baos in Baits 🙂

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Universal Studios Singapore

By | Entertainment, Travel | No Comments

The latest attraction in Sentosa.  We bought our tickets online to be sure we had guaranteed access since we were in Singapore for a limited time only.  They say that they only sell a certain number of tickets in  day. So it is good to buy in advance.  We also invested in FAST PASSES to avoid long lines which was a good decision because the lines were very very long

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It was very very hot in Singapore.  They said we we were at the height of summer so it was really really hot.  Good thing I brought my umbrella 🙂  Needed to drink many liquids to rehydrate.  I think when in an amusement park, better to be in COLD weather than HOT!  Personally, Universal Studios Osaka was much more pleasant because of the weather

Previous entry:  Universal Studios Japan Jan 26, 2009 

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The first ride which I did not ride 🙂   There are two colors of rails for the coaster – red and blue

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So there are two entrances – The red is called HUMAN – apparently this is for those who just want to ride a roller coaster without the loop 

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Cyclon – the blue one – is for the adventurous ones! 

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Love seeing these characters on stilts walking around  

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This ride was right beside the roller coaster – for those who didnt ride the roller coaster…..like me! 🙂 

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The Mummy which everyone seemed to enjoy…again EXCEPT ME 🙂  Roller coaster in the dark!  I guess it is their version of space mountain where you don’t know where the coaster will take you! 

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A mummy on stilts 🙂 

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Then the other major ride was Jurassic park where you can get wet. Make sure you have extra clothes or else you will spend $50 for a tshirt from the shops 🙂  Since I was with the older group- we did not get to ride the kiddie rides which I would actually have enjoyed over the coasters 🙂  We ate lunch before 12 noon to avoid the crowds or else you will also be lining up just to get food.  It’s always best to dine during non peak times, then maybe ride when everyone is eating!! We went out by 2pm because it was just too hot.

Click below to go to the website for more information

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Resorts World Sentosa Singapore

By | Accomodations, Travel | No Comments

Sentosa is the place to be if you want to be entertained in Singapore!

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Since Resorts World has almost everything you need to be entertained, it might be a good base when you are on a vacation in Singapore 

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There is circus

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Click below to get more info for Voyage de La Vie

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Gambling?  Foreigners enter free you just have to show your passport.  Locals have to pay $ 100.00 entrance fee.

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There are 6 hotels in Sentosa

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 Click on photo below to get more information

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There is of course shopping  

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Click below for more info on shopping at Resorts World Sentosa 

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Dining!  

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Click below to get more info on dining 

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even when you are just riding the escalator- it was like an aquarium with matching lights and sounds! love it 🙂 

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Click below to go to the website for more information 

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Chatterbox, Singapore

By | Foodie, Travel | One Comment

I am not a Hainanese Chicken eater and even if everybody ordered Hainanese chicken, I ordered a Wagyu burger!  🙂 

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But when I tasted this….wow!  I left the burger and started eating this! YUM!!   Many say Chatterbox is the original and the BEST….wondering if there are other good Hainanese Chicken in Singapore

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You can ask for brown meat if you want 

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 And this Sago Gula Melaka was so so good!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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This was the Mandarin Coconut ice cream – but preferred the Gula Melaka!!

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 Click to go to website for more information:  Chatterbox

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Din Tai Fung Singapore

By | Foodie, Travel | One Comment

Of course!!!!!! So far, we have been to:

Din Tai Fung April 16, 2010

Din Tai Fung Hong Kong June 29, 2010

The Best Xiao Long Baos December 24, 2010 

Heart2Heart has featured this many many times already..and we have been eating the same xiao long baos 🙂 As long as there is one, my boys will always go here! breakfast, lunch, merienda and/or dinner!  3 of them can finish 50 xiao long baos! 

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I on the other hand, like this 🙂 and the pork with crab roe 

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pork chop, vegetable, rice – all good side dishes!!! 

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This is a hot dessert – steamed dumpling ( siopao ) with something sweet inside 

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There is one in Ion Mall and also in Resorts World Sentosa 

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Ippudo, Singapore

By | Foodie, Travel | 4 Comments

Heart2Heart is not a ramen eater so I would not know at all whether the ramen here was good or not.  The ramen eaters said it was good but still preferred Ukokkei Ramen Ron 🙂  But Ukokkei has only one branch in the entire world?? 🙂

Previous entry:  Ukokkei Ramen Ron March 18, 2009 

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Our Filipino server 🙂 You will always meet atleast one in every restaurant in Singapore!!

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Dad and Mom’s friends, Bjosta and Lissa, joined us for lunch 🙂

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Bakuretsu Curry Tofu- I ordered this because I saw it had cheese 🙂  But I could not really taste the cheese

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For the non ramen eaters, fried chicken:-)

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Ramen 

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Click below to go to the website

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