When in Baguio, eat local: Milkshakes and burgers at 50s Diner!

I like milkshakes and burgers. Growing up on Archie Comics, I've always wanted to eat at a diner ala Pop's. Here in the metro, we're stuck with Johnny Rockets and Mile-hi for that 50s diner vibe. I tend to stay away from overly commercialized places promising a certain experience and have never tried both.

We decided to finally check out 50's Diner while in Baguio to see why everyone makes a pit stop here. Personally, I liked the jukebox music vibe with the neon pink fluorescent lights and 50s decor. They had a SUPER cheap menu (burgers at less than P100!) with a wide variety of items from cheeseburgers to tempura (weird for a diner!).

Since I'm a very cliche person and hell bent on living Betty and Veronica's lives, I ordered the most cliche thing you can order in a diner: a milkshake and cheeseburger! Yes, sir!

Cotton On top, Dorothy Perkins knit semi-cardi, Debenhams scarf

We all ordered ice cream milkshakes even though it was around 18 degrees and raining outside. I went for vanilla since I was a bit sick of everything strawberry related. At only Php 75, it was creamy and smooth! The cheeseburger was nothing to rave about but I have to say that it was huge. In fact, I think all their servings are HUGE.

All in all, this is a great place to hang out and pig out! I'm happy to report that I've finally had my Pop's diner dream experience. Go figure.

I think there are two branches of Glenn 50s Diner in Baguio. We went to the one along Military Cut-off Road just right around the bend. It's hard to miss what with the parked cars on the side of the road. If you want huge meals at el cheapo prices, come here!

50s Diner
Military Cut-off Road
or
Upper Gen. Luna cor. Brent Road
Baguio

Baguio at a glance

My last trip to Baguio was back in grade school. So yes, I was beyond excited when my officemates and I went to the cool City of Pines last January. I was so excited that I downloaded and religiously followed Our Awesome's Planet guide to all the best spots and restaurants in Baguio. We managed to check out and try most of them and I'm already itching to head back!

Zara striped knitted top, Mango jeans, Rubi leopard flats, Debenhams scarf

First things first, we stayed at my boss's ginormous rest house. It is HUGE. And by huge I mean it had nine bedrooms and managed to house the ten of us with plenty of space to roll around.

While going to various places, I also kept wondering if I could ask my boss's driver to stop while driving along the roads since I thought these little flowers were sunflowers. I was literally pointing at every bend and curve, amazed that my favorite sunnies were in full bloom and, more importantly, free for picking!!! Imagine my disappointment when I saw a bunch up close while at Camp John Hay only to find out they were technically wildflowers or "weed". STILL PRETTY!!!!

 

This being Baguio, we were greeted by strawberries and strawberry-based products everywhere we went. We arrived at 4am in the morning and the first thing we bought was a strawberry taho from a street vendor. It was just like your ordinary taho but with strawberry syrup and bits. Yummy! We tried it again while pasalubong-shopping at Mines View.

And who cares if it's freezing? We couldn't resist getting some fresh strawberry shake! I asked them to put lots of milk so it was creamy and had strawberry bits. I didn't mind the brain freeze that came with it!

We also bought giant strawberries for pasalubong. We went to the public market along Session Road and haggled with the palengke vendors. We were told that the "shoga" variety is the best since they're big and don't get mushy right away. I lugged a kilo going home.

What else is there to do in Baguio besides sleep and eat strawberries? Pose with a pink unicorn horse! The men at Mines View literally counted how many shots were taken and billed me for each one. I was like, WHAAAAAT? You managed to count all that? I can only hope the moolah directly benefits the horses. Poor, cute things.

Forever 21 sweater, Zara floral skirt, Dorothy Perkins tights, Bass Mary Janes

There were also some cute and cuddly St. Bernards available for photo ops but I chose this pink thing. I have a weakness for horses. I'm a frustrated equestrienne, just ask my mom.

Hoarding organic goodies at Ilog Maria

Every year, I make it a point to hoard a list of essential items whenever I find myself going to Ilog Maria. It's such a hassle to go there from Tagaytay but the place is always worth a trip!

Ilog Maria Honeybee Farm has an awesome array of organic, au naturale products made from honey and bee propolis harvested straight from their farm. Since I'm into organic, paraben-free products now, this place is like a haven for me. What I love about Ilog Maria's products is that they smell good and last long, compared to other organic products that expire or melt easily.

Our favorites are the natural handmade lavender and spearmint soaps, honey propolis shampoo, lavender liquid soap, honey propolis throat spray (great for itchy throats!), and aromatherapy oils. We will basically hoard these items, especially the handmade soaps, to last us for a couple of months before heading back. There's nothing like the soothing scent of the lavender or spearmint soap during a hot shower before sleeping. It's my go-to de-stresser these days! 

I went with Jake, Mitch, and Dana on my last trip there last Christmas season. As I've said, it's really worth the drive from Tagaytay rotunda and the narrow forest-like alley just to see the bee farm. I can't wait to head back again when my supplies run low!

H&M top, F21 skirt, H&M gladiators

To head to Ilog Maria, turn right at the Tagaytay Rotunda (where you can see Chowking and Jollibee) and go straight all the way down to Silang until you see a Petron station on the left side--make sure to watch out for the big blue sign on your right because that's your cue to turn right into the leafy narrow alley going all the way to the farm. The place is closed on Mondays and holidays so it's best to head there during weekdays or first thing in the morning if on weekends. Go early 'cause sometimes there are vans of people visiting and you might have to wait for a fresh batch if they run out of stocks.

Tori Box and La Creperie cafes for a cozy date

Tucked in a quiet side street along Abad Santos in Little Baguio are side by side cafes and restaurants reminiscent of a quaint Parisian street. There are fairy lights, French windows, and the feeling that you're in a different place away from the busy streets of Greenhills. I still get a happy feeling whenever I think of our date here!!!

Topshop blazer, top, and daisy dukes. Aerosoles gladiators

Jake and I love to look for date places within Little Baguio. First, it's near his house; second, the place is yet to be discovered by the mainstream crowd. It's the next hip happening foodie place. Think, Maginhawa! We went to Tori Box to check out their katsus!

After our date, I realized that it's the same forever jampacked place at Little Archers in La Salle. The one in Little Baguio has a cafe style compared to the fast-food vibe in La Salle. Ambiance-wise, Tori Box Cafe is perfect for dates. It's homey, comfy, and has an intimate set-up since they have a limited space for diners. The warm lights and plush couches are also a big plus.

We ordered the cheesy mayo gyoza for starters. It was creamy and didn't have the pasty quality I hate in gyozas. For a cheap Php 120, we had a semi-huge serving of gyoza!

I really liked our drinks since I'm a big fan of Slurpees! I ordered the calamansi slush and Jake had the iced tea. 

I had the cheese chicken katsudon which I really liked! I'm a sucker for all things dripping with cheese. I think this was only Php 185 and came with a bowl of rice. Cheap thrill!!! It's no Yabu katsu but it'll do for such a cheap dish! The serving was also huge and not kuripot for such an affordable price.

Jake ordered the curry katsu which also did not disappoint. I actually prefer their katsus over Crazy Katsu in Maginhawa. The sauce was a real winner here and carried the whole dish. This is a place where everything is worth its price--and then some!

The problem about a cheap thrill date is that we don't feel that much full after a complete meal. For desserts, we just trekked over next door to La Creperie for our favorite crepes! This is probably the prettiest branch of La Creperie I've seen so far. It's all dainty couches, twinkling lights, and art deco. 

Right beside La Creperie are three other restaurants that we'd like to try in the future. I think I spotted a Spanish place and a buffalo wings place. I love this area!

Tori Box and La CreperieCalderon St. corner J. Abad SantosLittle Baguio(turn left from Wilson, it's near Ristras and Piandre)

All things yummy and whimsy at Cafe 1771!

Cafe 1771 will always be one of my happy places for dates and celebrations. I'm a sucker for French architecture, whimsical furniture, and themed rooms. Aside from the dainty interiors, the food never disappoints.

When we last went there, we chose to sit in The Whimsy part where I requested for my favorite spot by the French windows. I always get a kick out of sitting on the hot pink suede chairs contrasting the robin's egg blue walls. 

Topshop blouse and shorts, Aerosoles wedge

For starters we had the fried squash flowers. I can munch on these all day! It sounds like a boring dish but these babies are stuffed with anchovies and kesong puti and did I mention it's deep-fried? You can't go wrong with that!

I also called ahead to reserve our ever-reliable organic chicken in potato crust. We didn't want to risk not being able to order it, as they are prone to running out of chickens by 1pm due to the popularity of this dish. I have never been able to find a close competitor for this juicy slow-baked chicken.

Since we are prone to over-ordering, we also had the Salbacho pizza with Napolitaine sauce, salami, bacon and chorizo. As usual, it was perfectly done in thin crust.

We settled for the chorizo pasta when they ran out of our favorite vegetable lasagna. I must really reserve ahead of time for our perennial faves. Jake's a chorizo lover so this was a nice alternative.

See the happy boy?

For desserts, I was hankering for their Valrhona chocolate caramel mousse cake but they only had a few cakes on the dessert menu of the day. We order the chewy lemon tart for Jake. I used to hate lemon-based desserts, but almost seven years with a lemon-squares-loving boyfriend has acquainted my taste buds to all things lemony for sweets. I loved that it wasn't too tart nor too sweet--anything more would have ruined it for me.

I decided to have the coffee pie which looked too pretty to eat. I loved the chocolate-cashew crust even though normally I have an aversion to coffee fillings. They balanced it well with the toffee and cashew tart. 

Lately, I've noticed that all my Cafe 1771 posts all feature more or less the same food. We hardly deviate from our tried and tested dishes and that's what makes it a fail-proof date place. I'd eat here everyday if I had the moolah!

Cafe 1771

El Pueblo, J. Vargas Avenue

Ortigas

Colorful Clarke Quay and the Marina

On my first trip to Singapore, we stayed at the Bugis area where we were within walking distance of Bencoolen and Bugis market. For my second trip there, I decided we should stay in the Clarke Quay area so we're near Chinatown and the Marina Bay Sands loop for easy sightseeing.

I absolutely loved the Five Stones Hostel since it's within walking distance of Clarke Quay, Chinatown, MBS, and a bus ride away from Bencoolen and Orchard. It was my first time to stay at a hostel and our private bunk bed room was clean, well-furnished, roomy, and comfortable. The place is also welcoming and colorful. I could have stayed there all day to watch FRIENDS if I had the chance.

On our last trip, I only got to see Clarke Quay in the twilight and evening. It was particularly nice when we walked here at dusk on the way to Jake's grandparents' anniversary celebration. I realized it was even more beautiful in the morning!

Not to mention the funny bar signs all around!

Hooters! I miss our night out here with my officemates and Jake!

Mango cardigan, Topshop tube, Cotton On polka skirt, H&M gladiators

I especially love this building with the colorful windows. I think this is the office building of their version of Department of Communications and I can just imagine going here for work everyday. Such a whimsical place!

Fort Canning Park is also just around the corner! It's also in front of the reverse bungee jumping site which is closed during mornings.

We also took the MTR to Marina Bay Sands for some sightseeing and to drop off some Dolor's sapin-sapin for my cousin. We got to see the whole complex from the top of Marina Bay Sands with an awesome breathtaking view!

Mom and I went inside the huge flagship store of Louis Vuitton and pretended we're serious shoppers. All I wanted was the mini-carousel key chain.

I was frustrated that we didn't get to catch the Harry Potter exhibit tour at the museum. Talk about wrong timing!!!

Maybe next time?

Second time's a charm at Universal Studios Singapore!

My first time at Universal Studios Singapore last 2011 felt bitin. We only rode a couple of rides because we had too much fun at The Revenge of the Mummy and proceeded to ride it six times in a row just to get a perfect shot from the hidden cameras so we can buy the souvenir afterwards. Before we knew it, it was time to head home. For my second time there last November, I managed to convince everyone to RIDE ALL THE RIDES!

Yes, including my poor mom who failed to disclose the fact that she has vertigo. After riding BOTH Battlestar Galactica's Cylon and Human rollercoasters, the Transformers, and The Mummy, she ended up at the infirmary where the nice Pinay nurse made her rest for two hours before giving her an express pass to all the rides. Talk about lucky!

As for me, it was my first time to ride the Cylon coaster 'cause I was too chicken to try it after riding the Human version last time. The Cylon coaster is the one where your legs are suspended in the air. Let me just say that I am never riding one after the other again for the foreseeable future.

This time also, the Transformers ride is finally open to the public! The hour-long wait was worth it! For a non-fan like me, I enjoyed the exhilarating 3D ride where it felt like you're a robot fighting off the Decepticons. Worth the hype!

Add caption

The Revenge of the Mummy also never gets old. Even though I've practically memorized all the turns and freaky surprises, I still get a kick out of riding it.

We also endured the hour-long wait for The Lost World ride. It was definitely NOT worth the wait. I don't understand why people line up for this. It was boring--just a cruise around a river with a supposedly exciting ending which did not amuse me. Other than the fact that I got my clothes wet with all the splashing around, I'm not sorry that I didn't get to ride this last year.

Because I'm a sucker for unicorns and dragons, I dragged my sister to ride the Enchanted Airways kiddie coaster. How can I resist this sign?? Take me to Unicorn Pass, please!!! We still freaked out a little, though. The coaster had sharp and steep turns that we were totally not prepared for.

More than anything, I love theme parks for the magical feeling of having your favorite scenes and characters come alive. My favorite part of the park has always been Far, Far Away with the castle and Fairy Godmother's famous potions shop. Happy place!!!

wearing Topshop scalloped top, vintage trousers, FitFlop

Bernice, my sister, is a sucker for collectible mugs. She bought two here: one Shrek and one Gingy mug to commemorate our visit. I wanted a Gingy doll but was saving my moolah for H&M and Orchard road shenanigans.

Half the fun of walking around Universal is meeting the characters in person and seeing their wacky poses. We met a few including:

Beetlejuice who scared the crap out of me. He was in character the whole time and kept muttering like a crazy person.

Betty Boop! Another favorite! Too bad Cleopatra didn't show up.

And Miz Marilyn Monroe! She instructed us to pose behind her so she can swoop down like this.

My sister also finally got to see her beloved Madagascar penguins in person. 

We didn't get to check out the Sesame Street area since it's closed yet. I wanted to meet Cookie Monster and Elmo. :-(

When walking around the park, it's best to rest and hydrate every once in a while. With Singapore right smack in the equator, the sun gets really nasty. But no, we're not resting here; we just wanted a Gossip Girl on-the-steps-of-the-Met (in this case, the New York public library) shot.

And the very emotera sister feeling like a villain.

After recovering from her rollercoaster-induced vertigo, my chocoholic mom had the best time of her life at.... where else? Hershey's Chocolate World!!! I practically had to drag her out!

I bought our Universal Studios tickets online using my Mastercard which gave us a $10 discount plus free access to the Maritime Experiential Museum. We went there after Universal and also checked out the Sentosa beaches. More on those later!!!