Review : Boufe Boutique Cafe

Tucked somewhere in Phoenix Park is a beautiful cafe painted in white and black. I've always wanted to come visit and the IG photos of this cafe lured me to set our next Lifegroup break at Boufe Boutique cafe. The staunch minimalist in me couldn't contain my excitement. I may sound biased because I've always loved the idea of black and white walls mixed with white interiors. Okay I'm sounding like a broken record here but feast your eyes at the photos below and you'll understand why I can't refrain from raving.



Accessibility - We took a cab from Orchard MRT which cost us around S$10 since "gothere" took us to Ridley Park instead. There are buses which can take you but would entail a 10 minute walk to the property.


Food - I'll give this a 4.5 since I enjoyed the french toast and its presentation. We all tried Chef's recommendation - Eggs Benedict and Salted Egg Crayfish. My friend didn't like the salted egg because of the smell and the taste came in too strong for her taste buds. The eggs Benedict were quite an average. Matcha green tea was a sure win, I just wish it's served in a bigger cup for my indulgence though.


Price - It's within the same price range as most cafes in Singapore. We each had to pay around S$27 for per plate and beverage. This includes GST and service charge

Ambiance - I'd give this a 4.8 because I'd wish they have added more chairs or tables in the outdoor area. I love the swing adorned with grass vines, the simplicity of the walls where they hung the menu. The inspiration wall for photo op and the overall minimalist interiors. Everything is picture worthy and when you post processed your photos i.e overexposed it a bit; you'll end up with a stunning photo like the one below. #bragging.



Overall it was a good dining experience. The staff was kind, welcoming and willing to take a few snaps per our request. Boufe Boutique cafe should be on the top of your list if you want good food, beautiful ambiance and a worthy gastonomical experience. Unfortunately,they don't accept reservations during brunch. I would strongly recommend making a reservation if you intend to have dinner plans as they easily get packed on weekends.

xoxo,

Jhesy 

Before Sunrise @ Kiltepan

The much talked about Viewpoint has been getting a handful of attention. Thanks to Angelica's emotional scene, screaming at the top of her lungs hoping in doing so, it will take the pain away ( That Thing Called Tadhana ). But let's not get overly dramatic. Kiltepan Viewpoint is actually a perfect spot to watch the sun rise on the east. It's a place to gather your thoughts, commune with nature, find serenity and just be content at the stillness of surrounding. Now, there's a disclaimer to this - Should you attempt to go there at 5:00 am during peak season, then tough luck. Chances are, you'll only being seeing heads, tripods and iphones up in the air, blocking the majestic sight of sunrise.


It was our last stop in Sagada before we head off to Baguio. Our Van pulled in at around 05:00 am and much to our surprise, the place was already jammed with tourists with their hi tech gadgets in tow,  trying to secure this spot to capture the perfect photograph of the Sunrise. I felt discouraged as I tried to squeeze myself in the crowd. It was hopeless to even raise my camera up to get a good glance of what about to transpire. We saw people going in a different direction and so we decided to follow them as they climbed to what seemed like a hill. There were already a group of people in the forefront but fortunately, we found a spot enough to see the sun as it breaks the dawn. We stood there, waiting patiently as more and more people gathered at the point. After a few more minutes, the fog cleared up and soon it was bright, golden and warm. Sunrise will always be one of the most beautiful showcase of God's magnificent creation. It was beautiful and no filter can ever do justice to the magical experience you'll have as you watch the sun comes out and breaks the darkness.



After 15 minutes or so, we decided to wander around and saw these giant pine trees - light bulb comes on. Backdrop! It felt like Autumn in NYC with all the browns, rust and vermillion colors around us. The sun streaks were peeping its way in through the branches of the trees, touching the amples of our cheeks. It was certainly a good, reassuring morning. We event witnessed a proposal which I found to be slightly cliche considering Kiltepan Viewpoint was considered the Brokenhearted's Solace. I lost count at the number of photos we took with us leaning on the trunk of the tree. A cameraman passed by and asked if he can take the photo of our friend. He asked him to move away from the trees a bit and angle himself partly facing the sun and the camera. The photo came out excellent and one thing we learned that day was, subjects should move away from the background as they will appear as false attachments resulting to a confusing photograph. Thank you Mr Cameraman! Photography 101.





As we make our descent to Baguio which was a sign that it's indeed the end of our Sagada stint, I felt a sense of unexplained happiness and peace. Yes, it was a series of sleep-deprived and exhausting itinerary but the adventures, memories and bond we created during this strip will be the stories we would tell to our children and grandchildren. It was one of those precious things you will save to your core memory and one that you'll unlock whenever the itch of wanderlust kicks in. Sagada was one of the first few places I had a chance of visiting when it was still unknown to many and it has been kind enough to still offer the same sense of serenity and beauty as it did back then.

Xo,

Jhesy 

Surviving Sagada : Cave Connection & Sumaguing Cave

I was told not to leave Sagada without checking off Cave Connection on my list of must-do in the province. It's not part of our the tour itinerary but TBH I had no idea what to expect but from the name itself, it does sound like a series of caves. I'd been to Sumaguing Cave and I seriously enjoyed it more than Palawan Underground river which of course is also exceptionally beautiful hence securing its spot on the Wonders of the world. But Sagada is immensely unique and the experience I've had 10 years ago is exponentially different from what I've seen/encountered during this trip. 

Truth be told, Cave connection requires endurance and physicality. It can post real life danger hence caution is advised. Now don't get discouraged and dismiss this activity from your itinerary. Had I known this 10 years ago, I would have tried it and emerged as a bad ass right after ( I was probably more fit and have had high tolerance for exhaustion). 

As our group all agreed to do Cave Connection - Sumaguing Cave ( not realizing what we're getting ourselves into ) and even signed up for the Certification ( yes we want our bragging rights); we were told that it may take 4-5 hours to traverse inside the cave and exit at Sumaguing. It was about 2:00 pm when we started our descent. I have been inside big caves before but this is the longest I've been and the most difficult one I must say. We entered Lumiang Cave with 3 of our travel guides and their lamps in tow. The cold breeze started to creep in. It was sort of easy at first then it became more and more difficult as we get deeper inside the cave. You literally have to squeeze and slide yourself in small openings which I thought was amazing. How on earth did we manage to fit in?  The guides know the caves too well and they will be the one lift you at times and pull you up. You will be stepping on their legs, shoulders and back every once in a while and trust me they know when it is time to take a photo. Your Life is in their hands. I lost count at the number of times I slipped and bumped my knees, elbow and thighs. Landed on my bum more than 6 times and I resorted to taking my slippers off out of fear that the next time I slip, I may never make it out of the cave alive. If you're claustrophobic, it is imperative to check whether you are up to this challenge. The are a lot of small openings and most often than not, you'll find yourself squeezed in between rocks.The water inside the cave can be very cold ( between 5-7C) but you can opt to take a dip if you can stand the cold temperature.

All of the scrapes, bruises and exhaustion paid off when we gazed at the rock formation. The cave is filled with stalagmites and stalactites beautifully shaped by nature itself. 

Here are some of my travel tips for a safe cave exploration

1. Get a tour guide

While being adventurous does sound crazy fun, it is of utmost importance that you get a guide. Get yourself registered at the tourism office. No matter how good you are at spelunking, I wouldn't suggest traversing the cave by yourself. The guides are well trained and they will also share tidbits of stories while injecting humor to their anecdotes.

2. Wear appropriate Outfit 

The rocks can be slippery hence wearing flip flops or rubber sandals are encouraged. You will be asked to remove them and you'll definitely get wet at some point. Make sure that you are wearing either workout leggings or shorts. Wear anything comfortable and not necessarily fashionable. Err, you can color coordinate if you can't resist.

3.Ziplock Your Gadgets

I didn't bring my phone and my camera inside the cave. But of course you want to capture those IG worthy shots of the rock formation so I'd suggest you place them in zip locks or life proof. My friends had their Go Pro so I just relied on them for the photo op. Hang them on your neck or place them in your back pack. You need your hands free during the hike.

4. Patience Is a Virtue

At some point you'll ask. "are we there yet?" It's pitch black inside the cave and everyone is advised to take precautionary steps. No pushing or horse playing. You'll have to wait for people to finish climbing the rope, you'll have to wait for others to finish making their way inside a small opening. There will be a lot of waiting so yes, you really need to work on that patience.

5. Have Fun and respect nature

It's an incredible experience to successfully complete Cave Connection and the opportunity to marvel at God's creation. No matter how tiring and difficult it may seem; remember to have fun. You made the decision to go there and what better way to admire nature's treasure than to enjoy every opportunity we get to commune with it. Leave nothing but memories and cherish the time you spent. At the end of it, you have a story to tell and a certificate to boot :)

Cave Connection + Sumaguing Cave + Certificate = 450PHP

Don't forget to give tip because the tour guides deserve them. The effort they put in to ensure our safety, is priceless compared to the small amount you can bless them with.

Love,

Jhesy 

Travel Diary : Sagada

Looks like the charm of the Mountain province has rubbed it's magic on me leading me to head up North again with just two weeks in between trips. 

I didn't intend to come to Sagada anytime soon since it's been alluded as a refuge for people who are nursing a broken heart and for those who are keen to meet "carrot man." And while my heart is perfectly intact nor I have any hopes of joining the hype, my close friends have decided to take our annual getaway to the highlands. Prior reservations crumbled when I imagined the epic adventure I'm bound to have with these crazy bunch.

We booked our trip with Travel Ventours. 12 of us signed up but due to unexpected events or should I say "blessing", only 7 of us pushed through. Our van left Manila around 10:00 pm; we knew it'll be a long ride to get  to Sagada, 12 hours to be exact so we positioned ourselves comfortably and dozed off until we reached the first stop. Four stops and 8 hours later, we reached the province of Banaue. This is part of the itinerary and most tourist would stall here for a good 30 minutes for photo op and marvel the beauty of Banaue Rice Terraces.

It's been a decade since I first went to Sagada and walking along its now cemented roads and seeing the establishments ( guest inns, cafes and souvenir shops ) lined up along the serene streets of Sagada made me feel like I was seeing it for this first time. A lot has changed in 10 years and I know it shouldn't be a surprise yet I kept looking in trying to find the sense of serenity, that familiar feeling of calmness though it failed me. True enough, tourists have put this majestic province to the map of the must-visit destination in the country. But don't fret, despite the crowd and hype about this town; Sagada has retained its beauty with so much to offer to anyone who opt to experience its distinct appeal.

Situated 1500 above sea-level, this remote town promises an unforgettable experience. With its lush mountains, majestic waterfalls, lofty terraces, cool weather, caves, cliffs and fresh produce; a week is certainly not enough. The warm hospitality of its locals complement with the beauty of the surrounding. Whether you're an adventurous traveler or simply want to escape the city and commune with nature; Sagada is a favored destination to anyone who thrive for remarkable experience and adventure. 




Love.
Jhesy