Unlock the Rainbow

Today marks the 6th year of my Tumblr blog and it really pains me to say goodbye... But even good things must come to an end to give way to greater ones.

I have now migrated to a better and bigger platform. For more of me, follow me on Wordpress and stalk me through my Facebook page. It was a wonderful ride, Tumblr. Adieu!

Four months have already passed since my husband and I got hitched yet people still do talk about our wedding. It’s unbelievable!

Up to now, we are still blown away by how well our wedding was received by family, friends and some random people on social media.

We are incredibly blessed to have worked with these suppliers. Thanks to them, we got featured on both Cherryblossoms and Faeriewings and Bride and Breakfast!!!

Yoradyl Dawn - Event Stylist Jai Villalon - Hair Stylist Jasper Cuizon - Photographer

Van Cabulong - Emcee

Maison de Bonbon - Catering and Venue  However, there is one thing that everyone should know... Facebook is only but a highlight reel and underneath our guise of smile is a story that has caused us severe stress-induced anxiety, emotional meltdowns and undue financial burden. Here’s how it all started...

When I was scouting for event stylists from CDO, I found Badz Castro on Facebook and I immediately fell in love with his work. After doing an obligatory background check, I discovered that he was hired by people we know and that he has already worked with some of the popular wedding suppliers in Northern Mindanao. On top of that, he was featured on Bride and Breakfast a couple of times. So it only made sense *at that time* to get him as our event stylist.

A few exchange of messages later, my husband and I traveled all the way to CDO to meet him at Maison de Bonbon on the 21st of September last year to discuss about important matters and for our contract signing.

On that day, we handed him 5000 PHP as our deposit to book him for our wedding day and signed the contract. We even treated him for lunch.

Weeks later after we met, we gave him another 5000 PHP purportedly to secure the flowers and foliage needed for our wedding. This time, we sent it to his Metrobank account on the 12th of October.

It wasn’t long after that we had a hard time trying to reach him. Either he won’t receive our calls or he deliberately turned his phone off. It’s also worth noting that he was online most of the time yet he still chose to ignore all of the messages I left on his inbox. 

In case you want to see our Facebook chat from beginning to end, as well as the contract, I have uploaded them on Dropbox. 

Unfortunately for us, when I was looking for reviews about him prior the contract signing, I haven’t found any negative feedback at all. Not one. 

Our traumatic experience has put such a huge weight on my shoulders to let other people know about him. I feel it’s my moral obligation to warn couples especially all the hands-on brides who are planning and coordinating their very own wedding like I did.

Apparently, ours is not an isolated case. I found a recent post about him on a Facebook group.

I sent Ghin Lubrino-Sermana a message to know more about her experience with Badz Castro and this is what she had to say:

I guess we got a little bit luckier that he only ran off 10000 PHP from us. But 10000 PHP is still nothing to be sneezed at.  We have already filed a police report in CDO but that didn’t do anything. We’ve also brought this issue up to NBI CDO yet they refused to cooperate. I think we need to pull some strings but we don’t have any strong connections in CDO sadly. Because of his fraudulent act, we lost sleep trying to find ways on how to bounce back from this ordeal. My husband and I ended up spending more money than we originally planned - money that we didn’t even have. But thankfully, God is good. After several emotional meltdowns, anxiety attacks and countless of prayers later, we found Ma’am Yoradyl Dawn on Facebook. She was such a blessing. Despite the 3-week notice, she was able to transform my vision into a reality. I’m so grateful that we were able to pull through it all in the end. 

Remember this face and name. May this post serve as a stern warning to everyone who’s getting married. 

RONNIE “BADZ” CASTRO

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/badz.castro Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badzcastro0388/ Gmail: [email protected] Update 1:  After I sent an email to Bride and Breakfast requesting to remove any mention of his name, he can no longer be found on their website.

Update 2: After interrogating a handful of people, I found out that he has been fooling clueless couples for awhile now. I am not writing this post in the hopes of getting our money back (although that would be great). All I want is for justice to be served. To all wedding suppliers, please warn your clients about him AND don’t work with him anymore because his scamming spree needs to be stopped. 

I urge everyone who featured him on any social media platform to remove his name so to avoid other people from falling prey to this fraud. If you have been a victim of this person and would want to take legal action against him, my husband and I are very much willing to cooperate.   

Just remember if something bad like this happens to you, it doesn’t mean you’re bad person. As long as we are in this fallen word, there will always be people who are waiting to take advantage of us and we can be victims of their sins. In every bad situation, let us rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer (Romans 12:12 ESV). 

A five-time awarded Michelin-star restaurant, Din Tai Fung is internationally known for their outstanding xiao long bao  (小籠包 soup dumplings).

A mecca for foodies, no trip to Taipei is ever complete without making a stop here. It is located at the base of Taipei 101, a prime multi-level shopping center that features an observatory deck where visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Taipei’s cityscape.    

With over 40 branches all over the world (there’s one here in the Philippines), customers wait in long queues just to have a taste of one of the world’s top ten gourmet restaurants as rated by The New York Times. Diners can stroll around shops in Taipei 101 while waiting to be seated.

Thankfully, with their fast service, it didn’t take too long to get our queue number. 

Jude is so “gigil” and can’t contain her excitement! 

Curious dine-in guests can peer through the glass-fronted open kitchen and watch the cooks prepare the food right before their eyes.

Food gets expedited quickly here so no diner will ever be “hangry”. 

If you’re someone like me who has never heard of xiao long bao before, these are steamed buns that have a delicate handmade dough with a savory meaty soup filling. 

Photo credit: http://thesmartlocal.com/ It is a culinary wonder how these magical buns are engineered in a way that it is able to hold the soup and meat with its thin, pillowy soft dough. Eating these dumplings do require patience, restraint and maybe a wee bit of practice because you don’t want to get your tongue scalded with the piping hot soup. 

Here’s an instruction card on how to eat it:

Photo credit: https://www.jeffersonscher.com/    Besides xiao long bao, Din Tai Fung serves many other delicious Taiwanese dishes from appetizers to side dishes to desserts.

With dishes averaging around NT$200 (approximately 300 PHP), Din Tai Fung gives a dining experience worth more than what you pay for. Definitely worth the long queue!

Open hours: Sunday - Thursday: 11:00 A.M. to 9:30 P.M. Friday - Saturday: 11:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.

Thanks Jude Bacalso as well for introducing me to this place and to Taiwan Leisure Farms Development Association and Ma’am Jane Syjuco of Everbright Travel Agency for my memorable trip to Taiwan! Also, special thanks to Sir Allan Sze of Goldlink Travel and Tours for treating us to this gourmet dim sum on his birthday.

On my fourth day in Taiwan, we were off to Miaoli County to visit Zheng Hsiung Organic Grape Farm.

Started around 1950′s, viticulture is relatively new in Taiwan. Vineyards are scattered around Taiwan but about one-third of the grape production comes from Miaoli County. Just like the pears in Dong Rong Farm, the grapes are sealed with waxed bags to protect them from the elements.     

Picking grapes is easy peasy. Just open the bag to check if the grapes are ready for harvest. Once they are, just snip the bunch off the vine. 

The grape variety grown in Zheng Hsiung Grape Farm is known as Kyoho. It was first cultivated in Japan and was later on brought in Taiwan during the 1960′s.   Kyoho, literally meaning giant mountain grapes, was named after Mount Fuji because of its size. It is a crossbreed of two grape species namely the American Ishiharawase (Vitis labrusca) and European Centennial (Vitis vinifera). The Taiwanese farmers retained its Japanese name in Chinese characters and pronounce it as Chufeng. 

Garnering awards for being the best grapes in Miaoli County for 3 consecutive years, these are hands down the best grapes I’ve had in my life! They have a thick, smooth, blackish-purple peel with a soft, sweet, succulent pulp. These enormous grapes are known to have great health benefits. 

Situated in the cool mountains of Dongshi District in Taichung, Dong Rong Farm is known for their mouthwatering organic pears.

Pear trees can produce fruit for up to 100 years. Did you know that pears have been cultivated for over 4000 years and they are actually related to apples, strawberries, apricots and peaches? Amazing, isn’t it?

For our D.I.Y. activity in this Taiwanese pear farm, we harvested grafted pears. 

In Dong Rong Farm, pear fruits are carefully wrapped in waxed paper bags which acts as a natural barrier to protect them pests and diseases - a labor-intensive yet cost-effective solution that keeps the fruits free from chemicals.

To harvest these grafted pears, bags are simply untied to reveal the fruits inside. You know these pears are of the highest quality because they are smooth, vibrant in color, have no sunburn injury and are in perfect condition.

A perfect day starter, it is said that "a pear a day keeps the pounds away”.  Pears are a good source of dietary fiber and contain vital vitamins and minerals.

These fresh organic pears are the most luscious pears I’ve had in my life! These sweet, crunchy and juicy pears are best eaten when chilled. As the Greek poet Homer called it, indeed, pears are “a gift from the gods”. 

Thanks Taiwan Leisure Farms Development Association and Ma’am Jane Syjuco of Everbright Travel Agency for this fun and educational experience!

Forest 18 is home to over 800 eucalyptus trees in 4000 hectares of land - making it the largest eucalyptus forest park in Taiwan.

Situated 400 meters above sea level, it lies somewhere in the mountains of Nantou County and has a stunning view of the Baguashan Drought Irrigation Reservoir which locals fondly call "Mingjian Shangri-La" or "Little Sun Moon Lake".   

Nature lovers will surely enjoy here just by walking around and basking in the greenery of the forest. The subtle sound and refreshing scent of the cool air will leave you feeling relaxed and invigorated.

Shinrin-yoku   is a Japanese practice which means walking in the woods and immersing oneself in nature or simply “forest bathing”. Benefits of forest bathing include reduced stress, improved mood, increased energy level, improved sleep, boosted immune system and more.

And in case you’re wondering what’s behind the name of Forest 18, the Chinese word for “eighteen” is 十八 (shí bā) which sounds like spa. So Forest 18 just means Forest Spa which, if you ask me, is a very fitting name.

Koalas typically live in eucalyptus woodlands so it should be no surprise to find the place decorated with these cuddly, tree-hugging marsupials.

Forest 18 has a restaurant that serves delicious Muslim-friendly dishes using the freshest organic ingredients cooked with no oil and little to no salt. 

Hot Pot

Steamed Fish

Fruit Salad

Sweet Potato Casserole 

Forest 18 also offers fun D.I.Y. activities for all ages. When we were there, we made mosquito repellent!

Each of us was handed with an empty pump bottle, a Popsicle stick, 4 bottles of essential oils, stickers and measuring cups filled with water and emulsifier.

Here’s their very own recipe for mosquito repellent: 6 drops of eucalyptus essential oil 6 drops of mint essential oil 6 drops of lemon grass essential oil 2 drops of tea tree oil 10 ml of sweet almond oil as emulsifier 80ml of water First, add 30ml of water to the emulsifier. Stir while gradually adding another 30ml and then 20ml of water. Just keep stirring until its color turns opaque white and its texture becomes thick and smooth like that of a lotion. Once the desired consistency is achieved, add all the essential oils and stir once again until everything is well-combined. Transfer the mosquito repellent lotion to the empty pump bottle and place the stickers.

This all-natural, non-toxic mosquito repellent moisturizes your skin while keeping you protected from those nasty bites which can lead to life-threatening diseases such as dengue. Reapply as needed.

Thanks Taiwan Leisure Farms Development Association and Ma’am Jane Syjuco of Everbright Travel Agency for this fun and educational experience!

On the second day of my leisure farm tour, we traveled all the way to the fourth smallest county in Taiwan to visit Xing Ke Dragon Fruit Farm. Just located alongside of Douyuan Road, Erlin Township in Changhua County...

Xing Ke Dragon Fruit Farm is probably the smallest one in size among the organic farms that I’ve visited in Taiwan. With only about half a hectare to work with, it’s incredible how they managed to fully utilized every square foot of this land to produce different dragon fruit varieties.

Did you know that dragon fruit is actually a fruit of a climbing cactus plant that is native to Central America? Dragon fruit plants have fleshy stems which can grow up to 20 feet long. Since its discovery it has made its way to Asia and other parts of the world.   Harvesting them is very easy. Once they’re ripe and ready for harvest, they can be removed from the plant by cutting them off with the use of garden shears or by just simply twisting them off.

This beautiful exotic fruit got its name after its outer skin which resembles dragon scales.

Dragon fruit is a tropical superfood that is rich in phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals. It is said to boost the immune system, lower blood glucose levels, prevent cancer and among others.

The flesh of the dragon fruit comes in a spectrum of colors that ranges from white, pink, bright magenta to dark purple.

Dragon fruit is quite bland actually but it does have a hint of sweetness. Its texture is quite similar to that of a kiwi. I love the crunch that comes from the seeds and it is really good to eat when chilled.

Thanks Taiwan Leisure Farms Development Association for this fun and educational experience!

Thanks Taiwan Leisure Farms Development Association and Ma’am Jane Syjuco of Everbright Travel Agency for this fun and educational experience!

Fairy Story Village Organic Farm is a certified organic farm-stay bed and breakfast surrounded by pastoral landscape in Yilan County. 

Photo courtesy of http://nickhow.pixnet.net/

They offer a rejuvenating escape in a bucolic setting and is an ideal getaway spot for families, health conscious travelers and for all those who just want to experience a rural lifestyle.

Photo courtesy of http://www.camemberu.com/ Fairy Story Village Organic Farm is run and managed by the warm and hospitable owners, Wu Li Chu and her daughter Shandy. This mother-daughter pair grow rice, mulberry, roselle, various seasonal fruits and vegetables in their 5-hectare farm located near Meihua Lake Scenic Area and is only a 10-minute drive from Luodung Night Market.

Photo courtesy of http://taiwan.zizaike.com/h/1600 Guests who want a taste of organic food can enjoy a farm-to-table dining experience at their restaurant which features a relaxing view of the garden. 

Their specialties include handmade mulberry pasta and hot pot all made with fresh ingredients handpicked from the farm.

Photo courtesy of http://taiwan.zizaike.com/h/1600 They have 6 charming wooden cabins surrounded by trees that help you connect with nature and enjoy the fresh air at the shared courtyard. 

Photo courtesy of Jude Bacalso

Accommodating up to 4 people, each cabin is fully air-conditioned, has WiFi access and comes with a 32-inch LCD TV, bath tub and small fridge. 

The place is clean and cozy. I am particularly in love with the loft bed! #iwokeuplikethis LOL

Photos courtesy of Jude Bacalso

They have fun D.I.Y. activities such as scallion pancake making, fish feeding and rice harvesting. But in order to appreciate and experience the beauty of harvest, we tried the traditional method of harvesting rice. Each of us was handed a conical hat for sun protection and a small scythe to cut the ripe rice.

I was immediately reminded of a traditional Filipino song entitled “Magtanim ay Di Biro" that describes the difficulties of the life of a farmer. In case you want to listen to the English version, watch this video:

And just before we left Fairy Story Village Organic Farm each of us came home with a box of organic rice!

Thanks Taiwan Leisure Farms Development Association and Ma’am Jane Syjuco of Everbright Travel Agency for this fun and educational experience!

During my 5-day tour in Taiwan, I was able to visit three leisure farms in Yilan County and one of them is Tea and Rice Resort.

Photo courtesy of http://young100.ilc.edu.tw/

Located at No. 48, Section 2, Yongxing Road in Dongshan Township, Tea and Rice Resort was once a warehouse that has been partly converted into a museum that serves as a learning center for kids and even for adults! 

Tea and Rice Resort offers fun interactive activities such as mushroom planting, bento making and rice puff making to promote agricultural awareness and to achieve a better understanding about the importance of agriculture in the community.

They also offer a farm-to-table organic dining experience at their restaurant to showcase their farm fresh produce.   

They have a wide range of tea, rice and other agricultural products available at their shopping center. 

We were given a brief tour of their museum and had an introductory course on rice processing before we proceeded to making our very own rice puffs.

The first step of processing rice is to feed the grains of unhusked rice into a rice huller to remove the chaff. Here, Jaison Yang of Travel Warehouse volunteered to load the rough rice into the rice huller. Once turned on, the two abrasive rollers turn at different speeds to remove the chaff before it passes through the machine as brown rice.

The brown rice is later fed into a rice miller to remove the bran layer turning it into white rice. The whole process surprisingly took little time. 

Jude Bacalso, Cebu Daily News editor, placed a kilo of white rice into the rice puffing machine which was then sealed tightly so pressure can build up inside. As the machine was heating up to puff up the rice, we were all asked to stand back and cover our ears. Just right before the machine released all the pressure, the guides shouted “BE PO NGA!” which is a warning that something will explode. Sure enough, we heard a loud bang that sounded like a gunshot. 

The rice puffs were gathered and transferred into a ginormous mixing bowl... 

and brown sugar syrup was added to make it sweet and sticky.

Photo Courtesy of Jude Bacalso

We then popped them into heart-shaped pans and let them sit for a couple of minutes to cool and...

Ta-dah! This crunchy snack reminded me so much of a Cebuano treat called ampao that I wanted to take it home with me to show family and friends. But alas, I wasn’t able to because I devoured it immediately. It was irresistibly good. 

Although it is impossible for me to sample everything that Taiwan has to offer in a span of 5 days, these are my favorites out of everything that I tried when I was there.

Hot Pot A notable Japanese influence on the Taiwanese cuisine, hot pot dishes are sometimes called shabu-shabu in Taiwan and they are very popular throughout the country. Literally a hot pot filled with water, ingredients are cooked by placing them into the pot piece by piece as the water boils. Because Taiwan has an abundant array of the freshest, organic ingredients, this dish requires no condiments as it already possesses natural flavors that would make it delicious as it is.

Taiwanese Tempura Photo credit: Jude Bacalso Another Japanese-influenced grub is the Taiwanese tempura. Although it is more of an oden than it is tempura, these ready-to-eat steamed fish cakes are available in most Taiwanese 7/11 branches. They come in different variants and are served with sweet sauce or hot sauce. Lobster roll and fish tofu are not to be missed.

Bubble Milk Tea 

Taiwan is the birth place of bubble milk tea so it only makes sense to have it when you are there. Although I have not tried it at some artsy cafe, I did grab a bottle of bubble milk tea from a convenience store and it was really good.

Oolong Tea

A soothing cup of oolong tea is must when visiting Taiwan. Very similar to green tea, it has a rich fragrance with smooth and refreshing finish. There are several varieties of oolong tea and depending on how it was crafted, it can taste light, robust, fruity, floral, earthy, and/or smokey. 

Another reason to drink oolong tea apart from its taste is its health benefits. Oolong tea is not only rich in anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals; it is said to reduce obesity and stress, boost the immune system, control diabetes, improve mental health performance, reduce high blood pressure, lower the risk of getting cancer and promote healthy bone, skin and dental health.

Marigold Infused Water

I’ve always thought that marigolds are merely ornamental plants that repel mosquitoes and other garden pests. Turns out it’s more than that. Marigold has been highly valued for its therapeutic uses. It has antibacterial, antibiotic, antidepressant, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and antiseptic properties which make it a very useful plant. It is also rich in antioxidants that help fight and prevent cancer. At Forest 18 Farm, they infuse their water with marigold leaves and it tastes so refreshing! Taiwan Beer Taiwan Beer is an award-winning pale lager that has its distinctive flavor coming from the best locally grown Formosa rice. Its mild and smooth taste makes it pretty wonderful on its own or a good accompaniment to any kind of food. 

Gao Jha Photo credit: Jude Bacalso

Unique to Yilan County, gao jha is a specialty street food sold at Luo Dong Night Market. This seemingly plain, unpretentious snack is anything but simple. It is made up of minced chicken, pork, and shrimp meat which is simmered in chicken stock for several hours until it forms into a paste. Once cooled, it is cut into squares, dipped in cornstarch and then deep fried until golden and crispy.  Gao jha has a crunchy crust with a soft and gooey inside that is bursting with exquisite, complex flavor. Be careful though as you bite into these tasty treats because they are served scalding hot!

Mulberry Pasta A signature dish of Fairy Story Village Organic Farm in Yilan County, this savory pasta is made with organic mulberry sauce then topped with crunchy pork floss and chopped spring onions. Definitely one-of-a-kind!

Xiao Long Bao Xiao long bao are steamed buns that have a delicate handmade dough with a savory meaty soup filling. It is a culinary wonder how these magical buns are engineered in a way that it is able to hold the soup and meat with its thin, pillowy soft dough. Eating these dumplings do require patience, restraint and maybe a wee bit of practice because you don’t want to get your tongue scalded with the piping hot soup. I got lucky to have had them at Din Tai Fung, a Michelin star awarded restaurant famous for their xiao long bao. This deserves its own post (link to follow). Thanks Taiwan Leisure Farms Development Association and Ma’am Jane Syjuco of Everbright Travel Agency for this fun and educational experience!

Lemme tell you a secret: Whenever I scout for trendy yet affordable apparel, I always make sure to swing by at Xina Maldita first. As a loyalista for more than a couple of years now, I’m proud to say that I’ve partnered with them for a giveaway! Are you excited?

On me is a one of a kind gray Xina Maldita sweater with a cute owl print design that’s bound to make someone take a second look. It’s so comfy I don’t wanna take it off!

I’ve paired it with a skater skirt I got several moons ago from Gaisano Mall, a studded backpack with angel wings flapping on the side from SM CDO and a pair of skeleton ankle-cut sneakers that I got from a thrift shop. Who said fashion needs to be expensive?  

Taiwan is a small island nation that lies off the southeastern coast of Mainland China. Its capital, Taipei, serves as the economic and technological center of the country. Although this vibrant urbanscape is the face of Taiwan, there is more to see outside of the bustling metropolis. Once baptized by Portuguese sailors “Ilha Formosa”, meaning beautiful island, Taiwan is worth visiting for its natural scenery.

Thanks to Taiwan Leisure Farms Development Association, I was able to behold the beauty of the Taiwanese countryside and experience its serenity.

Photo credit: Xtreme Photos Taiwan is blessed with several scenic mountain ranges and spectacular landscapes. Many of the visit-worthy rural destinations there are leisure farms. These hidden wonders await for those who seek an authentic country lifestyle. They serve the freshest food and offer fun recreational activities that will give you a deeper appreciation for nature and agricultural life. 

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS FOR TAIWAN TOUR

If you want to explore and experience Taiwan, you will need the following: Valid Philippine Passport Your passport must have at least 6 months remaining validity.  For Philippine passport holders with valid US, UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and/or Schengen visas, you can enter Taiwan visa free. All you have to do is to fill up the form on this website and print it out. You will be granted multiple entry within 90 days and the duration of stay is 30 days which will start the next day upon arrival in Taiwan. For Philippine passport holders that do not have any of the visas mentioned above, you will be granted single entry within 9 days and the duration of stay is 14 days which will start next day upon arrival in Taiwan should your visa be approved. For those who don’t hold a passport yet, you can go to the DFA website to see the full list of requirements.

NSO Certified Birth Certificate The birth certificate must be issued within a year ago. NSO Certified Marriage Contract This is for married applicants only. Supporting Documents Round trip airline tickets, Itinerary, Bank certificates, Income Tax Return Form, Certificate of Employment, Photocopy of Company ID and/or Certificate of Business Registration 2 Recent Passport Photos Your photo should be taken with a white background. The photo dimensions must be 1.5 x 2 inches.   Completed Travel Visa Application Form Fill up the form on the official website, print it out and sign it. Attach one of the passport photos on the form and submit it along with your passport and other supporting documents within 15 days to Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.  TAIPEI ECONOMIC & CULTURAL OFFICE IN THE PHILIPPINES 41F, Tower 1, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati Tel: (+632) 887-6688 Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:45AM-4:45PM Applications: Mon-Fri, 8:45AM-11:45PM Releasing: Mon-Fri, 1:45PM-4:45PM Website: taiwanembassy.org Email: [email protected] A receipt will be given which you or a representative need to present in order to claim your passport. For fees and processing time, please refer to Visa Application Fees.

Once your visa application is approved, you will receive your passport with your visa stamped inside. For hassle-free visa application, I suggest you file your application through an accredited travel agency. Do note that you will have to shell out a little more money for the convenience. I recommend Ma’am Jane Syjuco of Everbright Travel Agency. She is amazing! She made sure everything is organized and that all my needs are taken care of. 

CURRENCY, EXCHANGE RATE, FEES AND TAXES

Currency The currency of Taiwan is Taiwan New Dollar. The currency code is TWD and the currency symbol is NT$. Exchange Rate

Currency Converter

Travel Tax

Upon departure from the Philippines, all Philippine nationals are expected to pay 1620 PHP for the travel tax.

TIMEZONE, WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Did you know that Taiwan has four seasons? Spring (March – May) << rainy Summer (June – August) << hot and humid Fall (September – November) << believed to be the perfect time to visit Winter (December – February) << snows in the mountains! The weather and climate vary from one part of the country to another. This is due to its topography and the fact that it belongs to both tropical and subtropical climate zones. It is best to check the forecast before visiting the country so you can dress appropriately.

LANGUAGE

Although the official language of Taiwan is Standard Chinese Mandarin, most natives speak Hokkien Chinese or Hakka Chinese. English is not widely spoken unless you’re in the capital. So it’s important to have translator or, better yet, just learn a few key Chinese phrases when visiting the country. Here are a few examples: Ni hao - Hello Xiexie or To sia - Thank you Ho Jia - Delicious Duo Shao? - How Much? 

HOW TO GET THERE

Take a direct flight from Manila to Taipei with Philippine Airlines, China Airlines, or Eva Airlines. Travel time is 3 hours. You can also take an indirect flight from Cebu or Davao to Taipei with Cebu Pacific Air.  You can check the flight schedules on Skyscanner here. Please note that the rates and schedules are subject to change without prior notice.

WHERE TO STAY

There are many easy-to-use and secure websites that can help you choose your accommodation based on your personal preferences and budget.

Agoda I’ve booked hotels through Agoda a couple of times and I love it. They have a great network of hotels to choose from at competitive prices. AirBNB I’ve also booked through AirBNB and this is a personal favorite. AirBNB offers the most unique travel experiences that can perfectly suit your budget and needs. Booking, Trivago & Hostelworld I personally haven’t used Booking, Trivago and Hostelworld before but they also have good deals and a wide selection of hotels to choose from. But here are my personal favorite places to stay when in Taiwan:

Fairy Story Village Organic Farm in Yilan  Photo credit:  童話村親子有機農場民宿

Tai-yi Red Maple Resort in Nantou  Photo credit: 楓樺台一渡假村 

Hua Lu Flower Leisure Farm in Maioli Photo credit: 花露休閒農場  

Roll In Farm in Taichung  Photo credit: Hotels.com

WHAT TO DO

Tedts Cafe and Bakery (formerly Tedts Diner) is an Iligan-based family enterprise that has been long known for their delicious selection of artisan cupcakes, designer cakes and other confectionery goodies. Over the years, they have constantly stretched their boundaries by innovating and yielding new treats that leave us wanting for more. Presenting the latest addition to their menu...  their very own ice cream!

Photo credit: Tedts Cafe and Bakery

Proudly homegrown, Tedts Cafe and Bakery now serves specialty handmade ice cream in mouthwatering flavors that you really can’t resist.

Smooth, creamy, luscious home made frozen delight that will surely satisfy your sweet-tooth craving.

Definitely better than most store bought ice cream! 

Available in flavors Matcha Oreo, Salted Caramel, Strawberry Cheesecake and Red Velvet, how can you say no to these decadent and delightful treats?

Tedts’ ice cream makes for an indulgent treat on a hot summer day or just whenever you feel like it. Make sure to try their ice cream if you haven’t already because it certainly lives up to the hype. Price starts at 80 PHP.

Here in Iligan, there’s always something to look forward to. Cafes and restaurants have been popping up lately and one of them is Ichang.

Found at a prime location in Iligan where a sea of restaurants are located, Ichang stands out with its distinctive Japanese aesthetic and colorful noren hanging right in front of their doors.

Ichang is named after the owner, Ichang Hayakawa, a Japanese national hailing from Shizuoka prefecture. He runs this restaurant together with his Filipina wife, Cherryl who happens to be one of the chefs manning the kitchen. 

Already on its dry run, Ichang is set to launch on the 8th of September this year. 

Thanks to Dan, a common friend I share with the owners of this restaurant, I received an invitation to sample some of their dishes (my boyfriend tagged along hehe).    

Kani Salad Served on a cold plate, this light salad composed of imitation crab meat, ripe mangoes, cucumber, lettuce served with a creamy roasted sesame dressing. A favorite!

Yaki Udon Thick Japanese noodles stir-fried with veggies and meat. Bound to please the Filipino palate. 

Futo Maki Literally meaning “fat rolled sushi”, this sweet hand-rolled Japanese sushi is filled with tamagoyaki, oboro, sliced cucumber and shrimp. Another favorite!

Tonkotsu Ramen Made with a rich pork broth, this delicious noodle soup dish is topped with tender pork slices, boiled eggs, naruto and a handful of thinly sliced green onions. A must try for ramen lovers! Yes, yet again, another favorite!  i don’t know if you can tell but so far I’m absolutely loving their dishes!

Yexel’s Toy Museum is a four-story house turned museum in Las Piñas City that showcases thousands of toys and other pop culture memorabilia. 

Photo credit: Yexel Museum The museum resembles gigantic Lego bricks stacked together -- making it distinct and hard to miss. Owned by Yexel Sebastian, an avid toy collector and curator of the museum, he started collecting toys since 1989 and hasn’t stopped since. Trivia: Yexel is the older brother of now deceased Jam Sebastian, one-half of the Philippine YouTube sensation JaMich. For 300 PHP, you get to see his eclectic toy collection that would instantly send you on a nostalgia trip back to your childhood.

If I were to take a photo a day of each toy in this imeldific collection, it would literally take me ages to complete. You just have to go here and see them for yourself.

Aside from various toys, each room of the museum displays a different diorama with life-size figures which are built and created by Yexel himself and his team.

Anime/Manga Room Get a chance to stand right next to your favorite anime/manga characters in real life. I don’t know what Jack Skellington is doing here though. He seems a little lost. Hehe.

Disney Room Looks like they added a new character to The Incredibles... Introducing Mr. Inedible. LOL!

Super Mario Room Sharing the same room with Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Princess Peach, and Bowser makes me feel like I just stepped into the video game of my childhood!

Star Wars Room I was disappointed that Star Wars got the smallest room of the museum and that a life-size Darth Vader figure was not anywhere in sight at all. 

Movies Room 

Iron Man Room The hall containing stunning replicas of the various Iron Man suits is popular among the crowd. 

Transformers Room Standing 18 feet tall, it is the largest Optimus Prime bust in Asia. I read from a blog post that its construction cost 2 million pesos and it took 2 years to build. This incredibly detailed Transformers robot replica features light-up components complete with background music for a dramatic effect.

Westgate Center is a lifestyle district in Alabang where a number of casual restaurants and cafes are located - one of them is Cafe Breton.

Serving breakfast as early as 7 in the morning, Cafe Breton is a place where expats and locals come together for their gourmet crepes, exquisite coffee and all-day breakfast. 

The contrasting wall colors, wooden furniture and unique accent pieces add a country rustic charm that makes the cafe look timeless and inviting.

The focal point of this cafe is the kitchen where you can watch them prepare your food right in front of your very eyes.

True to their claim, they do have excellent coffee! Their cappuccino is rich in flavor with a smooth, velvety foam on top. I think it’s the ultimate morning pick-me-up.

Their menu has an extensive breakfast selection that includes crepes, galettes, sandwiches, desserts, coffee and many more. Price ranges between 150 to 300 PHP per dish.

La Primavera Veggie Scramble A creamy omelette with a medley of tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, and gruyere cheese served with buttered toast.

Adam and Eve A delicate crepe stuffed with soft, stewed apples topped with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and a dash of cinnamon.

Many moons ago, my boyfriend and I had to go to Manila to attend a friend’s wedding held at Palazzo Verde (formerly Fernbrook Gardens). 

While I was looking for the perfect compromise between convenience, comfort, and affordability, I stumbled upon Studio City on Airbnb. Only a 5-minute walk away from 7-Eleven, a laundry shop and several shopping centers, I knew I found a winner! 

For only 845 PHP a night, this fully furnished condominium unit for two comes with air-conditioning, WiFi and cable TV.

It also has a cozy kitchen space where you can make your own coffee, cook food and stash some goodies in the fridge.

Although they don’t have a heater (a minor turnoff), the shower and toilet room is squeaky clean and that’s all that really matters.

While I was prepping to get settled in, someone already felt right at home.

Oh, did i mention Studio City has an outdoor pool? Awesome, innit? For the health buffs, they have a gym and basketball court too.