Korean Food Challenge | 먹방

I love food! I don't think there was ever a time I said no to food or purposely wasted food. I feel like food feels sad when they don't get eaten so I always try to eat as much as I can. hehe

One of my favorites is Korean Food! I guess it's like a domino effect. Once you get onto the Korean band wagon, you start liking their dramas, then their actors, then their music, then their singers/idols, then their language, then their food. Or maybe, food comes first! hehe I decided to film a "Korean Food Eating Challenge" with my friend Andy from shimmerjjang.com. 

In South Korea, there's a thing going on now called " 먹방 " (MokBang) where someone would put lots of food on the table, set a camera in front of her/him then film the entire eating time. Initially, this was for people who don't have anyone to dine with. So if you don't like eating alone, you just turn on the internet and search for these videos. You'd then instantly feel like you are eating with someone. These days, this has also become a channel for people to know reviews about certain food or maybe by companies to promote their food/product. Oh sorry, did I talk a lot? hehe 

Here's our video! Enjoy! ^^

WHAT WE ATE :

Sesame Ramen | 라면 

Where : Amateur Restaurant (Yes, it really is named Amateur! hehe) in Garnet Road in Ortigas, Pasig
Php 99 per bowl. 

Gimbap | 김밥 

Where : Amateur Restaurant in Garnet Road in Ortigas, Pasig
Php 100 per dish.

Patbingsu  | 팥빙수 

Where : Mr. Parks Bread and Cake in Garnet Road, Ortigas, Pasig City
Php 180 per bowl.

You may think we only had 3 kinds of food but we really were so full that I felt like a pregnant toad that afternoon. A cute pregnant toad, though! hehe

After that, Andy gave me some gifts! These books are interesting so I'll surely read them when I go back to Tarlac. It's always nice to read books under a tree while sipping a cool and fresh fruit drink! Ahh, can't wait! You guys know how much I love my province Tarlac. She also gave me this interesting lip tint in a really cute packaging! Can't wait to try it as well. Thank you, Andy! ^^

That's our food challenge! Later on, we dissed the challenge and just proceeded to enjoying the food and our time together.  

Let me know if you enjoy videos like this so I could try other cuisines, as well! I'm thinking Japanese food next! What do you think?

♥

Kristine

Sitio La Presa (Forever More Shooting Location) + Strawberry Farm in Baguio (Baguio Vlog Day 2)

Hello, everyone! Happy first day of February! How are you guys feeling? I am so happy that the weather is still cool here in Manila, especially today! The weather feels like I never left Baguio. Cool and breezy wind that would just make you want to wear a sweater and sip a cup of warm chocolate. hehe

Anyway, here is the part 2 of my recent trip to Baguio!

Started the day with a cup of yummy goodness Strawberry Taho! Taho is a Philippine snack made of fresh, silken tofu with some pearls (similar to tapioca) and sweet syrup. In Manila we normally have the regular caramelized syrup. But in Baguio they mix strawberry syrup with real strawberries in the taho! O. M. G!! (Php 40 per cup ~ $1)

Our first destination was the Sitio La Presa. I don't watch Filipino dramas anymore but this place is quite famous these days because it is the shooting location of one of the dramas we have right now - Forever More. It is an hour away from the main city but the drive and the wait are totally worth it!

If you go there on weekdays, you will be able to watch them shoot the drama. If you go there on a weekend, you'll be able to go near the set and take pictures with the bench, the house, the plantation, etc. You just pick which one you'd like to experience the most.

Quiet on the set!

I went with my Uncle and with my Aunt.

It was so windy that day! hehe It could be because La Presa is on top of the mountain so you'd expect the place to be a lot cooler and windier than the other places in Baguio.

Be safe and take the straight path or be adventurous and take the zig-zag road?

We then went to the P.M.A. The first spot was the Korean War Memorial.

That's my uncle behind me! hehe Their daughters, Em and Anna, are my closest cousins in my father's side. I always go with their whole family on trips but this was the first time I went with them without the 2 cousins. It was actually fun to be with them! Normally you'd think it would be boring and awkward to travel with only your cousin's parents but the case with them was different. They kept on laughing.. and eating(lol) that I forgot I was with elders and not my cousins!

Courage. Integrity. Loyalty. Plus Flowers, Clouds and Me. hehe

A quick OOTD, anyone? hehe This is why you don't take high-angle shots of people that are already short in real life. Low-angle shot is the key to perfect OOTD's! 

We then went to the Strawberry Farm! OMG, I found Kambal Na Strawberry! hehe (Twin Strawberries) Last December I caught my cousin's bouquet at the wedding. Now, January, I found twin strawberries. Are these my signs finally?! #foreveralone 

Sweet strawberries are sweet! 

Before going back to Tarlac the next day, we ate breakfast first! I love that all the food tasted so fresh, especially the vegetables and the fruits! Add to that the feeling of sipping hot coffee on a cool and breezy morning! Ahh, Baguio! 

And that concludes our short trip to Baguio! Have you guys been to Baguio? I've been there 4 or 5 times and I have nothing but fun and happy memories of all those times! Baguio may be a long way drive from home but it's always worth the effort and time. 

I posted this photo on Instagram! hehe What do you think? 
Oh, please follow me on Instagram if you're not following me yet. It's @RealAsianBeauty. 

Good morning, Baguio!! ♡🍓 #Baguio #LaPresa #StrawberryFarm #ForeverMore

A photo posted by Kristine (@realasianbeauty) on Jan 12, 2015 at 5:55pm PST

♥

Kristine

Let's Tour Baguio! : Botanical Garden and Mines View Park (Day 1)

Last weekend, I went to Tarlac to visit my Grandfather again. I went with my uncle and with my aunt. Since Baguio is just a few hours away from Tarlac, my uncle decided to take a short trip to Baguio as well. We left Tarlac at 6:30 in the morning and took the bus going to Baguio. We got there at 9:30 A.M. The weather was so nice! These days, Manila is a bit cool but Baguio is much more cooler, it's cool throughout the day!

The last time I was in Baguio was about 10 years ago when my friend, Marby, invited me to tag along with her family when they went there. It was nice to see that Baguio is still a very nice place to relax and enjoy. And the best part is that people are free to wear sweater, jacket, boots, bonnet and scarf anytime they want! 

Our first stop was the Botanical Garden. There were lots of trees and greens. There were also some gardens like the Taebaek Garden.

There were also some huge statues to take pictures with.

Key chains are one of the most common "pasalubong" that you could get from Baguio.

Then we went to The Mansion. It is the official summer residence of the president of the Philippines. 

Please watch the video below for the Baguio Day 1 Vlog :

My aunt and my uncle are from the U.S. so each time we would eat, they would always crave for Filipino foods and snacks. Like these Banana-q (Sugar coated banana on stick) and Corn on stick. 

A trip to Baguio is never complete without taking a photo with the St. Bernard Dogs in Mines View Park. This one in the photo is just 10 months old!

And of course, gotta take pictures with the horses! Each time I would go to Baguio, I'd always take a picture with the Pink horse! It's pink or never! hehe

Also gotta buy the family and the friends some sweets and delicacies from Baguio!

And. And. AND! My favorite of all is THIS! Coco jam inside small shells that we call as "Sundot Kulangot". It's gross but the loose translation for that is "Pick A Booger" because you literally pick the jam out of the shell. hehe The name of it may not be nice but it's my favorite ever! 

We ended the night with a bowl of hot and delicious Lomi! So yummy!

That's our Baguio Day 1! I hope you enjoyed this post! 

Please stay tuned for Day 2 video and blog post. 

♥

Kristine

The Wedding - Province Vlog 2

One of the greatest things in being a woman is getting married to the man that she loves. When I was young, I used to think that finding the right guy was so easy... These days, however, I have come to realize that it was the other way around so walking down the aisle to meet your man is like winning the lottery already. There are some women, though, that are lucky enough to meet the right guy at the right time at the right age. (I can't believe I'm actually talking about age now. lol)

One of those lucky women is my cousin in Tarlac that recently got married. 

I can't believe she's actually married now. She's one of the cousins that I used to climb trees with and run around under the sun in the province. We also made a promise to attend each other's wedding come the right time. 

Here's how her gown looks!

Watch the video here so see more things that happened at the wedding.

The theme of the wedding was "vintage". Her wedding looked like those wedding photos and ideas that I see on Pinterest and other lifestyle blogs. So beautiful!

Her groom waiting for her down the aisle.

The place was very beautiful! It was funny because it was located in the suburb area of our province so one wouldn't really expect to see a place as beautiful as that there. The sound of the birds, tree branches and cool breeze made the wedding even more perfect!

I like the outfit of these cute kids, Gabriel and David! (With my cousin, Marita, too!)

My cousin, the beautiful bride, walking down the aisle as slowly as possible. Each time I attend a wedding, I don't know why I tear up when the bride walks down the aisle.

Finally, Mr. and Mrs. Castillo!

The reception was intimate and was so fun! Also, instead of releasing 2 doves, they handed us papers with butterflies inside. The bad thing was that we didn't know that a butterfly was inside it, so we shook it/pressed it...

So when it was time to release the butterfly, mine didn't fly and went straight down to the floor. I felt so bad for the butterfly. :(

Other than the butterfly not flying, everything else was perfect! I have attended a lot of weddings and have participated a lot of times in the games. But never have I gotten/caught the bride's bouquet, until that day!

It was so fun because the game was not conventional but my partner was somehow gentleman and didn't take advantage of the game. (That or maybe he just didn't find me pretty at all. lol) 

The bouquet was sooo beautiful, but not as beautiful as the bride. hehe I would have brought the bouquet back home to Manila but I had to travel 3-4 hours so I just left it at my grandfather's home. 

It was really a fun wedding and I was so happy for my cousin that she finally tied the knot with a very good man. 

I just wish it's me SOON. :)

♥

Kristine

Vlog : Life in the Province Part 1

Most of the time, I get so busy with the fast-paced life here in the metro that I forget I have people waiting for me back in the province. Tarlac, though hours away, have become my second home. Like an escape haven for me. I love going there and just relax and spend time with people I love.

I recently went there to visit my grandparents and to attend my second cousin's wedding.

From Manila, I have to travel 3-4 hours away by bus. The bus ride is not that long but it always seems too long for me because I am always excited to get to my destination.

I have also seen people get older, grow up, get married, change and leave here. My first cousins, who I used to stay there with, are all now in the USA. My second cousins who live there are mostly married and have moved to another country. The people left still available to "play" with me are the younger ones. Is it weird, though, that I still hang out with the kids? hehe

Please watch the video here :)

The moon that night seemed happy for me as well. 

I wish I could just stay there forever... but I can't. I have so much good memories and experiences in Tarlac that I will be sad one day when I can't visit anymore. Why? Okay, quick story! All of my aunts and uncles and my father and cousins are in the USA. The only ROCES in our family left here in the Philippines are my grandparents and I. My grandfather is currently bed ridden. My grandmother said that when my grandfathers goes, she'd rather be sent to a home for the aged somewhere in Manila than to stay in the province alone. That's going to be so sad... The thought of my grandfather leaving... and the thought of not being able to go back to my second home... But that is life, yes? They say the only thing permanent in this life is CHANGE. 

That was a sad way to end a blog post. hehe I cut all the Tarlac vlogs in 4 parts so please stay tuned for the other 3 episodes. ^^

How about you, where is your province and what are your good memories from there?

♥

Kristine