I'm an eager trier. A foodie, in other words. While my palette isn't exactly very experienced or worldly, I'm often willing to try something new. So one time, I went ahead and tried Bubble Tea.
Their Royal Milk Tea actually tasted good for me. Not at all what I'm used to, it has a more milky texture but I didn't find their mixture "nakakaumay". I also love the mix of the medium and small sized pearls. At 80 pesos for their Large-sized drink (16oz), it was a bit pricier than the 40 pesos Ersao PMT which I'm used to, but I didn't mind.
A few months after my first taste of Bubble Tea, they announced a price increase. I was expecting maybe at the most, a 20-peso price increase, so I was shocked to learn that a 50% price increase was implemented! From 80 pesos, the royal milk tea is now 125 pesos! Which in my opinion, is way too much! After the price increase, I lost interest.
Weeks later, Awesome.ph had a deal. Pay only 99 pesos for 300 worth of GC. It was worth a try. Their food seemed good so I thought what the heck. So me and my sister bought 1 each.
The first GC, we used for drinks. The 2nd one, we used for dinner at a different time.
I ordered Yakiniku Beef Rice and my sister ordered Roasted Garlic Mushroom Cream Spaghetti. I also ordered Takoyaki.
Yakiniku Beef Rice
It wasn't bad actually. Just a little too sweet for me. Portions were enough too.
Roasted Garlic Mushroom Cream Spaghetti
Not bad either. But a bit on the nakakaumay side. Which can be expected from cream-based pastas.
Takoyaki
This tasted weird for me. And it was quite pricey too.
Overall, the eating experience itself wasn't bad. But the day after our dinner, I got sick. I kept feeling like I wanted to throw up. And I did, many times that night. My sister got an upset stomach too. So we concluded that it was probably because of the Bubble Tea dinner. Soon after, a friend and her husband told us that they ate at a different branch and they felt that the food served wasn't fresh! Tsk tsk tsk...
The two (2) surest ways to lose my business are:
1. bad service
2. bad food that makes me sick, literally!
So, Goodbye Bubble Tea!
June 17, 2011
The Search for the Best Milk Tea in Town
Yes. I have been on a search. I've tried most places that sell milk teas. And so far, only one has come close to the real thing.
My love affair with pearl milk teas (PMT) began many many years ago. I was in Taiwan for a study tour and an uncle introduced me to my very first Zhen Zhu Nai Cha or Pearl Milk Tea. I have to admit that I didn't like it at first. I found the combination of the tea and the milk unappealing. But it grew on me. It was definitely an acquired taste.
Soon after that, Easy Way made its way to Manila. So imagine my joy when I found out. It was the same store where I bought my PMTs from in Taiwan. It became an instant family favorite. We'd drive to the nearest Easy Way and drink to our hearts' content. And at P 25.00 per cup, it was a cheap treat. But sadly, just a few years after its first store opened, Easy Way would close its doors. :(
It wouldn't be until many years later that we would "discover" Ersao's PMT. It was definitely not the same thing. But since it was the only choice, we settled for it. And because of the lovely (not really) summery weather here, there were times when we'd order 3x a week! We were that crazy for milk tea!
On our last trip to HK, we discovered a milk tea place. Share Tea is the name. The taste is quite close to the "original". I was happy. During our 5-day stay, we had milk tea, everyday! Haha
To date: I have tried the following: Ersao, Meicha, Bubble Tea Boy, Fun Tea, Serenitea, Tea Cup, Cha Time, Cobo, Bubble Tea and last but definitely not least, Happy Lemon.
Ersao: they used to make better milk teas i think. the version now tastes "watered down" taste: 5
Mei Cha & Cha Time: they kinda have the same taste. A milky sort that overpowers the tea. On a scale of 1 to 10, i'd give it a 6.5.
Bubble Tea Boy: i'd give it a 7. taste is closer to what i've been looking for.
Bubble Tea: this is probably the most different of the bunch because it's from tokyo. it's actually not bad. but the price hike from 80 to 125 was a total turn-off. i've never bought since. taste: 8
Serenitea: this is probably the one with the most "tea" taste. and the lingering taste of tea isn't exactly pleasant for me. service has always been a downer too. taste: 7
Tea Cup: i vaguely remember how this tastes like. probably because i only had a sip. and if i don't remember, it only means it wasn't good. taste: 4
Fun Tea: this is tricky. the first time i tried it. i felt it was good. then the next few times, it was way off! the last time i bought a milk tea from them, the drink tasted like 80% milk + 20% tea! taste: 6
Cobo: i only tried this place one time. it's not bad actually. but still not what i've been looking for. taste: 7.5
Happy Lemon: ahh... happy lemon, just the thought of this place brings a smile to my face. i've heard of this place from friends. so naturally, i anticipated its coming after the announcement. the first time i visited, i was with my sister (which happens a lot, because we're both milk tea addicts). i got there first, and ordered my drink. after the first sip, i was elated. this is it, i told myself. and it was the same thing i told my sister as soon as she got there. one sip and she agreed. finally, after a long wait. i wouldn't have to wait until the next vacation to HK or taiwan to have a taste of my beloved milk tea! it has that perfect balance of milk and tea and the yummy pearls of course! taste: 10 (even if i didn't score, i think it was obvious from my narrative :P)
I heard Gong Cha has opened a branch in MOA and is opening a branch soon in North Edsa. I wonder when I'd be able to try that. Haha
Yes I am an addict. A milk tea addict that is! :D
What I Won't Let Go
While it may not be a "healthy" practice, I would have to admit that I am not someone who forgets. It isn't done intentionally though. Perhaps you could just say that I was "built" that way.
I could narrate to you many instances from the past which a "normal" person usually tends to forget. How I manage to remember details including conversations is a mystery to me, because frankly, there are chunks of my past that I'd rather forget.
However, the things that I choose to hold on to, that's a different thing altogether. There are friendships I've kept because of history, even if things aren't the same anymore. There are tokens, little things that I can't seem to give up, even if to others they seem like junk.
How about people then? When we lose someone dear to us, we are often told to just let it go, to move on. I don't mean losing as in ending a relationship, i mean losing as in someone dying. It seems to me that, while time has managed to make the pain better, it hasn't managed to truly heal. When I think about people I've lost, the sting is still there. Somehow, there's still a little part of me that is in disbelief. That they have gone forever.
There are just some things you can't get over.
I could narrate to you many instances from the past which a "normal" person usually tends to forget. How I manage to remember details including conversations is a mystery to me, because frankly, there are chunks of my past that I'd rather forget.
However, the things that I choose to hold on to, that's a different thing altogether. There are friendships I've kept because of history, even if things aren't the same anymore. There are tokens, little things that I can't seem to give up, even if to others they seem like junk.
How about people then? When we lose someone dear to us, we are often told to just let it go, to move on. I don't mean losing as in ending a relationship, i mean losing as in someone dying. It seems to me that, while time has managed to make the pain better, it hasn't managed to truly heal. When I think about people I've lost, the sting is still there. Somehow, there's still a little part of me that is in disbelief. That they have gone forever.
There are just some things you can't get over.
values system
in the past years, i've been told that i was either naive or self-righteous about certain things. during the time that those were said to me, not only was i offended, but the comments cast some doubt in my mind about my own beliefs and convictions.
fast forward to today, i've finally made a realization. it is not my beliefs system that is flawed. i'm not saying theirs are wrong. but if you think about it, each person has their own set of values. what i believe to be right might not apply to the next person. but just because everybody else does it, does not, ever make it right or even okay.
it's odd that these days, sometimes i feel like the exception rather than the rule because there are things that i won't stand for. i don't know how it came to be that way. has the human race come this far only to let their humanity suffer this way?
March 16, 2011
going digital vs pen-and-paper
as hi-tech as the world has become, there is just something about writing things down. to date: i have a stack of planners collecting dust on a shelf. one per year since 2004 and three just for last year. (it wasn't intentional!) more than planners/organizers, some of them have become part journals as well. i've written down personal thoughts, events and so much more in them.
you'd think that in this day and age, things such as planners/organizers would become obsolete, but for someone like me, that won't be anytime soon. i used to have a pda, my current mobile phone has pda-like capabilities and i currently own an ipad. all these gadgets have not made my planner obsolete in any way. because if you ask me, they're just different.
perhaps i am like what most people are. caught between the digital age and the old-fashioned world. but i don't really mind. both present their own merits. and i get to have both.
you'd think that in this day and age, things such as planners/organizers would become obsolete, but for someone like me, that won't be anytime soon. i used to have a pda, my current mobile phone has pda-like capabilities and i currently own an ipad. all these gadgets have not made my planner obsolete in any way. because if you ask me, they're just different.
perhaps i am like what most people are. caught between the digital age and the old-fashioned world. but i don't really mind. both present their own merits. and i get to have both.
March 10, 2011
A Shopaholic's Confession
I am impulsive. I admit to that. And most of the time, it results in bought items that I later on regret buying. The items range from clothes to shoes to gadgets and even some little useless thing that I thought was cute. Bags are no exception by the way.
My sister, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. She could wait a year before buying something that she really wants. One time, there was a pair of shoes that she liked. Being the stingy person that she is (even she would admit to that), she decided to wait until they were on sale. After a few months, she tried looking for the pair in the stores. But unfortunately, we couldn't find a single pair. And so I thought she finally learned her lesson. That sometimes, when you want something and you can very well afford it (the shoes weren't expensive), you should just get it. A few months passed, while strolling along in a mall. We found the shoes. And it had a 10% discount. So my sister tried them on and they fit nicely and she said they seemed comfy too. So naturally, I assumed that she would buy them already. But no, she said that maybe they'd be on sale soon. I told her, sige ka baka mawala na uli yan magsisi ka! It was only then that she decided to finally buy the shoes.
Over the years, chalk it up to the fact that we were together most of the time, we kinda rubbed off on each other. For the most part, I benefited more because my purchases were thought of more carefully. I literally could hear her voice in my head telling me that I shouldn't be buying something useless or something, that in her opinion, I either have enough of or have too much of already.
Last Sunday, I saw a cute pair of swimsuit in Marks & Spencer. To date, I have 5 pairs of swimsuits. I actually don't use the oldest pair anymore. So that brings the number down to 4. One of those 4, in my opinion, isn't as "nice-looking" as the others are. So I don't use it as much. I use it more for doing laps when I get the chance. This is me "justifying" the want to buy the new swimsuit. My usual "justification" process would involve discussion with my abovementioned sister, visualization in my part on how the targeted purchase would be useful for me and of course, how big of a dent would it make on my wallet. But because we had to leave the mall soon, I didn't even have enough time to try the swimsuit on and see how it fits. But I promised I would be back. I would come back for it, even if it was just to try it on.
Monday came and a friend asked me if I wanted to accompany her to go shopping. I asked her where, and of course she said Megamall. Exactly the place where I wanted to go and try on the lovely swimsuit that I can't seem to get off my mind. Not to mention the skirts I've been looking for in Forever 21. But as luck would have it, I couldn't make it. She was already done shopping while I was just about to get home. I thought to myself, don't worry, you'll get your chance. And that chance came the next day. As my sister and constant companion and I were talking, she asked me, just how many swimsuits do you need?! After booking a trip earlier in the day to my favorite beach, Boracay, I was almost sure I was going to buy that swimsuit.
It was of course our first stop. I made a beeline for the suits and found the right sizes for me. Someone assisted us and we made our way to the fitting room. As if it were destined, the suit fit me well. Even my sister agreed that it hid the bulges that needed to be hidden and didn't show as much cleavage as some other suits do. It was for me. There was no doubt about that. Swimsuits aren't like normal clothes. You can't always find something you like and fits you nicely as well.
And so I went home a happy camper. As I got home, I promptly took out my new suit and a blouse bought from Forever 21. I cut the tag from the blouse and put it in the hamper. The swimsuit is folded carefully and put in the closet. I will wait until the chance to use it comes before I will have it washed.
My sister, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. She could wait a year before buying something that she really wants. One time, there was a pair of shoes that she liked. Being the stingy person that she is (even she would admit to that), she decided to wait until they were on sale. After a few months, she tried looking for the pair in the stores. But unfortunately, we couldn't find a single pair. And so I thought she finally learned her lesson. That sometimes, when you want something and you can very well afford it (the shoes weren't expensive), you should just get it. A few months passed, while strolling along in a mall. We found the shoes. And it had a 10% discount. So my sister tried them on and they fit nicely and she said they seemed comfy too. So naturally, I assumed that she would buy them already. But no, she said that maybe they'd be on sale soon. I told her, sige ka baka mawala na uli yan magsisi ka! It was only then that she decided to finally buy the shoes.
Over the years, chalk it up to the fact that we were together most of the time, we kinda rubbed off on each other. For the most part, I benefited more because my purchases were thought of more carefully. I literally could hear her voice in my head telling me that I shouldn't be buying something useless or something, that in her opinion, I either have enough of or have too much of already.
Last Sunday, I saw a cute pair of swimsuit in Marks & Spencer. To date, I have 5 pairs of swimsuits. I actually don't use the oldest pair anymore. So that brings the number down to 4. One of those 4, in my opinion, isn't as "nice-looking" as the others are. So I don't use it as much. I use it more for doing laps when I get the chance. This is me "justifying" the want to buy the new swimsuit. My usual "justification" process would involve discussion with my abovementioned sister, visualization in my part on how the targeted purchase would be useful for me and of course, how big of a dent would it make on my wallet. But because we had to leave the mall soon, I didn't even have enough time to try the swimsuit on and see how it fits. But I promised I would be back. I would come back for it, even if it was just to try it on.
Monday came and a friend asked me if I wanted to accompany her to go shopping. I asked her where, and of course she said Megamall. Exactly the place where I wanted to go and try on the lovely swimsuit that I can't seem to get off my mind. Not to mention the skirts I've been looking for in Forever 21. But as luck would have it, I couldn't make it. She was already done shopping while I was just about to get home. I thought to myself, don't worry, you'll get your chance. And that chance came the next day. As my sister and constant companion and I were talking, she asked me, just how many swimsuits do you need?! After booking a trip earlier in the day to my favorite beach, Boracay, I was almost sure I was going to buy that swimsuit.
It was of course our first stop. I made a beeline for the suits and found the right sizes for me. Someone assisted us and we made our way to the fitting room. As if it were destined, the suit fit me well. Even my sister agreed that it hid the bulges that needed to be hidden and didn't show as much cleavage as some other suits do. It was for me. There was no doubt about that. Swimsuits aren't like normal clothes. You can't always find something you like and fits you nicely as well.
And so I went home a happy camper. As I got home, I promptly took out my new suit and a blouse bought from Forever 21. I cut the tag from the blouse and put it in the hamper. The swimsuit is folded carefully and put in the closet. I will wait until the chance to use it comes before I will have it washed.
personal space
this is probably one of my biggest pet peeves. personal space. two simple words that a lot of people seem to fail to understand. it really isn't too much to ask is it? if you're standing less than a feet from me, then you are just a bit too close for comfort.
of course there are exceptions, there always is. but what i'm talking about are the regular ones, from lines in supermarkets, to lining up for communion or just any public place. if i don't know you, and you're not marc nelson, perhaps you could give me a little more breathing space.
of course there are exceptions, there always is. but what i'm talking about are the regular ones, from lines in supermarkets, to lining up for communion or just any public place. if i don't know you, and you're not marc nelson, perhaps you could give me a little more breathing space.
March 2, 2011
Perspective
Stop. Take a breath. Look around you.
You just might find someone who is worse off than you are. Have you ever considered that maybe you are part of the problem? Rather than keep blaming everybody else, perhaps it would be a better use of your time to find solutions to your problems.
Honestly, it's getting to be tiring. It's all just too much. You complain too much and yet you refuse to acknowledge your faults. Own up to the mistakes that you made, and maybe life will get easier after that.
It doesn't help anyone. Stop playing the victim.
You just might find someone who is worse off than you are. Have you ever considered that maybe you are part of the problem? Rather than keep blaming everybody else, perhaps it would be a better use of your time to find solutions to your problems.
Honestly, it's getting to be tiring. It's all just too much. You complain too much and yet you refuse to acknowledge your faults. Own up to the mistakes that you made, and maybe life will get easier after that.
It doesn't help anyone. Stop playing the victim.
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