Chateau Hestia, Tagaytay

For our anniversary, my boyfriend and I decided to go to Tagaytay for change, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.  I wanted something new, a change in scenery, and a different ambiance so I searched the internet for a new restaurant in Tagaytay.  I came across Chateau Hestia, a garden restaurant that promises a european experience.  The menu seemed okay and the price was not expensive, so off we went.

It wasn't very hard to find when you're familiar with Tagaytay, just make sure to look at the map in their website so you have a guide. We got to the place in time for dinner and it was so dark!  We were not able to explore the place, and sad to say, no pictures. I'll just be giving a review of the food.

We availed of their set menu at P700 per person. All I can say is, you get what you pay for. 

Here are the pics!
   

Freshly baked bread with eggplant spread

Minestrone Soup

Chateau Hestia's Salad

Beef Stroganoff

Mango Panna Cotta

Chateau Hestia

Wine shop inside Chateau Hestia

Check out the place during the day so you won't miss the experience.  As for the food, sad to say, its not worth the drive.  I loved the Minestrone soup though. :)

Palawan

Palawan is known for having one of the best beaches in the country.  Unlike the famous Boracay, which through the years have gotten really crowded and urbanized, Palawan is its opposite.  You can enjoy not only its white sand beaches but also its lush forests, caves and exceptional scenery without a huge crowd to bother you.  Perfect for a private escapade.

There are a lot of things you can do in Palawan and there are several tours you can choose from.  My first visit to this paradise was last August with a few of my good friends.  We signed-up for the City Tour, Underground River Tour and the Honda Bay Tour.  It was 3 days of adventure!  Let me share with you my whole experience.

City Tour

We visited the Puerto Princessa Baywalk, Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral, souvenir shops and the Crocodile Farm.

There was nothing to see in the Puerto Princessa Baywalk.  Its almost the same as Manila Bay and Roxas Boulevard.  I recommend that to be skipped!  Next, was the Immaculate Concepcion Church.  Now, that was worth visiting.  Make sure you visit famous churches in your travels.  They're always a sight to see.  The Crocodile Farm had a lot of crocodiles(obviously).  Its nothing to be exccited about unless you're 5 years old.  There was also a small forest there that you can trek but there's not much to see.  Only some good spots for your emo moments and snapshots.  Oh and a squirrel roaming around! Skip, Skip.  Last but not the least, one of the best stops of them all, the souvenir shop!  You can find a lot of very cheap accessories and wooden ornaments for your home.  I bought pearl earrings worth only 10 pesos for pasalubong!

Underground River Tour

This is supposed to be Jesus This tour cannot be missed!  Its just recently that the Underground River won a spot in the list of the 7 wonders of the world.  It’s a 1 and a half ride from the city plus 1 very brief short ride and youre there!  Make sure you get a good boatman with you 'cause he will be talking during the whole tour inside the cave.  The cave is A-MAZING!  You gotta see the one they call "The Cathedral"!  If you're scared of bats, there are only a few and they don't really fly around.  They're just clustered together, hanging from the ceiling of the cave.  Tip: Make sure to bring your own flashlight!

Honda Bay Tour

Starfish Island The Honda Bay Tour was fun!  We visited a few islands and did some snorkeling hear and there.  It was one whole day of island hopping!  My favorite was the Starship Island.  You can snorkle even in the shallow part of the water and still see some amazing sea creatures!  I wish I had an underwater camera!  Tip: If you have youre snorkling gear, better bring it so you won't have to rent.  Oh and don't forget your underwater camera!

Ugong Cave

One of the side trips after the Underground River Tour is the Ugong Cave.  Its called Ugong because your hear a churchbell kind of sound when you tap the rocks.  A certain ugong sound.  This one I enjoyed too.  We had to trek inside the cave to reach the top and I'm telling you its not easy.  Just check out our pictures.

You have to zipline going down. Whew! (way easier!) I still recommend people to try this one because though it’s a bit of a challenge, the fee here is for the livelihood income of the people in this place.  The staff and tour guides here are old women, old enough to be our grandmothers.  During our trekking, after just a short while the old lady who was guiding us was trying to catch her breath.  I really felt bad for her.  So i'm really promoting this one to help the residents of this place.  A little help and some sweat could go a long way.

Restaurants (two of the most famous in Palawan)

A trip is not complete without trying their famous restaurants and delicacies.  Since we were all feeling adventurous, we tried their Tamilok!  People say the tamilok is a type of worm, but its really not.  It’s a Shipworm, from the family of mollusks.  You get it from mangroves.  It tastes like a mollusk too.  Just like your usual oyster in vinegar.  Oh it looks like raw intestine by the way(isaw!).

Ka Lui's

Another must-try.  They have a very unique concept: you only get to choose from the catch of the day!  Of course, it means seafood.  They only serve seafood, but really fresh seafood.  And they give a free soup and free fruits after your meal.  Check out these photos!

Kinabuchs

Known for their crocodile dishes.  I recommend this for dinner and for drinking sessions.  This restaurant is comparable to Dencio's and Gerry's but I must say, their crocodile sisig is really good!  Plus, the place looks better in the evening with the capiz lanterns turned on.

Overall, I had a great time in Palawan.  I feel bad for missing the trip to Mitra's Ranch and Baker's Hill.  But oh well, I would definitely come back for some R&R. =)