Soi, eat thai, love thai
That’s their motto. Can they live up to that? Well we will see.
This was after lunch time so it was quiet and peaceful here
Eat thai, love thai is their motto
Soi Thai Restaurant
Soi Thai Restaurant is located inside the The Robinson Place mall in Ermita. When I am there and craving for Thai food I usually go to Soi Thai. Last time I was here was one year ago and since then they had changed the furnishing. New tables and chairs. The big question, was the food also changed?
Menu
They offer a variety of typical Thai dishes. For some that might be good not to have to choose between too much but for me I wish they could have broaden their menu. You can find chicken, pork, fish, seafood and veggies cooked Thai style. They have vegetarian dishes without any kind of meat but they are probably not vegan. Notice that the pictures below just showing a sample of their menu.
As a starter I chose the Papaya Salad which is among my favorites
Prawns in Basil & Chilies for P 368 became my choice here
Chicken, pork and squid fresh from the grill
My beloved Papaya salad. Spicy, sweet, salty and with crispy unripe papaya.
Prawns with basil. Even though the portion was not huge there were plenty of prawns.
Conclusion
Yes the furnishing was changed but the food still remaine untouched. Thanks for that! You always get a complimentary snack, like spicy peanuts as a small starter before you order which is nice. The food is tasty and well cooked and they offer complimentary service water with ice. That’s not bottled water but tastes the same and is perfectly safe to drink. The portions are not huge but still enough for me, so if you are not a really big eater it’s probably enough for you as well. You don’t have to wait long for your food and the staff is nice and friendly. The prices are low to medium range so it’s very reasonable. In my opinion you can’t go wrong here at the Soi Thai Restaurant.
Other links related to Manila >>>
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I guess it’s roughly 30 years between these pictures
And off she went to a better universe!
My mom was clearly the strong and independent type of woman. She always chose her own path in life no matter what.
At the time when she was young it wasn’t that common for girls to strive for a proper education. But she did. She realized in order to be independent she needed to educate herself. So she went to Anders Beckman’s school and became a fashion illustrator. In the end of the 40:es and beginning of the 50:es it wasn’t that common to travel abroad. Probably under wild and loudly protests from her parents she did travel in early age. One of the first trips she did was hitchhiking from Sweden to France, through a war-torn Europe. By this time the ideal here in Sweden was to have a secure source of income at a good stable employer. But not my mom. Once again she chose her independence over a stable and secure life. She became her own boss in the competitive and tough but on the other hand, highly creative fashion industry. 
Mother and son
An unusual mom compared to others...
Against all odds she bought a house and raised her only spoiled son (me) to be a good boy. She did this all by herself since my dad died way too early. She was a good mom but a bit unusual compared to other moms. She made me open my eyes with the wonderful to travel and also never to say no to new exciting dishes to eat.
In later years she was diagnosed with the Alzheimer’s disease. She really hated what that this terrible sickness did to her independence and integrity. When the years passed by and the sickness relentlessly got worse she got more and more dependent of help. She hated it by all her heart. She made the life a hell for all the helpers including her only spoiled son (me) who was coming there trying to do their best helping her. It was not that she was evil but she wanted her independency back and to take control of her own life again. Fuck this world!
I know she hated the thought of moving to the home for elderly. I deliberately waited as long as possible but the inevitable came and I had to take the decision for her to move. I like to think she made up her mind there. “Fuck this world, I am 92 years old and this is enough!” So maybe she did the only thing she had control over, stopped eating and drinking so she could make her last trip as soon as possible. So at 12.40 PM today she peacefully transferrd to a better universe.
Good bye mom
Mukut, the local favorite
Long time no see. So finally it was time to revisit Mukut which claims they are the local favorite in the hood. Mukut has been here as long as I remember. I live in the area so I should know. Not long ago they opened a new branch called New Mukut (Nya Mukut) on Sankt Eriksgatan 110, it’s walking distance 5-10 min from this place.
The food
Mukut offers a wide variety of Indian dishes with beef, chicken and lamb and also vegetarian. I was interested in the spicy section of the menu so I ordered the king of all spiciness, Chicken Vindaloo for 160 SKR. Rice and salad was included but the Sada Nan bread 20 SKR wasn’t. My dinner companion ordered the Mixed Thali with king prawns. Garlic Nan bread and one Samosa was included in this dish for 199 SKR. To be honest the Mixed Thali dish looked much more tempting than my Chicken Vindaloo...
Conclusion
My Chicken Vindaloo was an orgy in rich taste and spiciness exactly as I want it to be, specially since I added a little bit squeezed lemon on top. The portion was big enough for me which definitely is a plus. I tasted one of the king prawns from the Thali dish and it tasted really delicious. We were both surprised of how big and many the prawns were. This was one of the better Thali dishes my friend had tasted. Mukut is a nice and friendly place with a pleasant atmosphere so the conclusion is I will definitely come back here soon!
Important notice! The restaurant is closed until further notice!
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This is actually the chef coming out of the restaurant
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The ground floor where the buffet is. There are more seats in the upper floor available.
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Vegan and vegetarian dishes
There were many vegan and vegetarian dishes including pizza, lasagna and dessert. By the time we were there we didn't see the dessert though except for some sweet cookies. The lentil soup was extremely delicious especially if you spiced it up a bit with chili flakes. Lemonade and coffee were included in the price of 110 SEK which is around 10 EUR.
Soup, lemonade and coffee was included in the price
My favorits among the cold dishes were the potato sallad, hummus, red cabbage salad and the parsley salad with onions.
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Among the warm dishes I can recommend the lasagna, moussaka and the super delicious sheep cheese rolls. We missed the pizza though...
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I usually always eat too much at buffets but this time I manage to downsize my portion to somewhat more "normal" proportions.
You can't go wrong here
Bella Vegetarian Restaurant is easy to find, price worthy and have many vegan and vegetarian options. The staff was welcoming and the comfort room was clean and fresh. If you are hungry and you are after some healthy veggies and stuff you can't go wrong here!
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Rating:
1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent 4 Food 4 Service 4 Value 4 Atmosphere |
Bella Vegetarisk Restaurang
Odengatan 87, 113 22 Stockholm Sweden Phone: +46 8 30 08 81 |
Every other day weather
Winter in Stockholm is considered to be roughly between November until March. Probably due to the climate change the winters have been warmer than they used to be decades ago. But still, a couple of weeks every year it can actually look like a real winter with lot's of snow here in Stockholm. But usually, unfortunately, it's every other day weather. One day snowfall but the next day it's raining.
When the weather is good, it's perfect for walking especially in such a beautiful place as this, the Haga Park in Stockholm.
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Here is the Haga Echo Temple which was built in 1790 as a summer dining room for the King Gustav III who loved to dine outdoors.
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A couple and their dog are going for a brisk walk in the park.
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It darkens quickly here in Sweden in the winter, sunset is just after 3 pm.
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An abandoned bicycle... waiting for better times I guess.
A lonely wanderer is heading somewhere.
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This is a tough job, cleaning the streets from all the snow.
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Night view of the obelisk located at Sergels torg which is the most central public square in Stockholm.
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Even Friday's in Kungsträdgården was closed this evening.
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Two lonely ladies, dressed in warm coats were wandering around in the Old Town.
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Thank you streetlights for spreading light over Stockholm.
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This streetlight is actually located just outside my flat.
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Shining bright in the night...
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Last but not least... a link:
Mismukuno, a Japanese in Ayala center
Teppanyaki is a style of Japanese cuisine that uses an iron griddle to cook food. But that's not all this place has to offer, Mismukuno has a wide selection of Japanese dishes like maki, sushi, sashimi, ramen, tempura etc etc. It's a little bit for everyone here if you are in to Japanese food.
The wall was extremely colourful
Popular place
I have been here a couple times before, around lunch and it has been relatively crowded every time. That must be sign for good food, right? Anyway this time I ordered the Platter special which they advertised about at the entrance. Sashimi, sushi and maki in a nice combination.
A lite bit of what they have to offer
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I took the Platter Special
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Platter special
Platter special offered 9 maki rolls, 3 pieces of sushi and 6 slices of sashimi (salmon and tuna) for 510 PHP. Miso soup was not included. Everything was more than ok but a little bit less than delicious. For example the meat of the tuna was slightly too fibrous for me to be perfect.
This is how the Platter special looked in real life
Sorry to say the tuna meat was a little bit too fibrous for my taste
Conclusion
Mismukono Teppanyaki gave a clean and fresh impression together with a nice hardworking staff. They have lot's to offer on the menu that I would like to try. For example I am curious about their teppanyaki which should be their specialty I guess. So the conclusion is I will come back for more.
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Rating:
1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent 4 Food 3 Service 4 Value 3 Atmosphere |
Mismukuno Teppanyaki
Fourth Floor, The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu City, Philippines Phone: +63 32 238 7880 |
Last but not least... a link:
The house of Vietnamese noodle soups
A Vietnamese kitchen in Ayala center
If you are craving for Thai papaya salad, Som Tam, and you are in the Philippines and you are tired of Filipino Thai restaurants what do you do then? I went to Phat Pho, a Vietnamese restaurant instead. Yes, I know there seems to be no logic in that at all, I know. But before you cry out loud, please read this review to the end!
The ambience was relaxed with a modern style
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It's nice with an overlooking view
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Modern style
Phat Pho had a nice interior and when I was there it was not crowded. My impression was a modern style mixed with warm ambience and quality. I got my table on the upper deck with a nice overlooking view.
Noodle soups
So what can you expect of Phat Pho á vietnamese kitchen? Since Pho in Vietnamese means noodle soup you obviously can expect they will serve noodle soups. Actually I would say, that's their specialty. Most of the guests when I was there ate different kinds of noodle soups. But they had other things on the menu as well.
Phat Pho had many tempting dishes on their menu
Shrimp & sour mango salad
Since I was craving for Thai papaya salad, Som Tam, I was obviously looking for something similar. So what couldn't be better than try the Shrimp & sour mango salad with rice. At least it looked a bit similar to the Thai papaya salad. So I did! I got a big portion of salad rich in flavour and spiciness. Not same as Som Tam but that was of course not expected. The Shrimp & Mango salad was unique in its own way and it felt as an excellent choice!
Shrimp & sour mango salad with rice
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The salad was fresh with many rich flavours in a nice combination
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Conclusion
Phat Poh lighted up my appetite for Vietnamese food and I will certainly come back. Everything was fresh and clean and the staff was nice and friendly. Next time for sure, I will try the their Poh, aka noodle soup.
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Rating:
1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent 4 Food 4 Service 4 Value 4 Atmosphere |
Phat Poh á vietnamese kitchen
Ayala Terraces Ayala Center, Cebu City, Philippines Phone: +63 32 410 9687 |
And finally a link that might interest you:
Yes, there are sunsets here at Punta Ballo Beach
The main entrance to Easy Diving Resort
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Down at the beachfront
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Come as guest leave as friend
Come as guest leave as friend, is Easy Diving's motto. And yes, I think so. I made some friends here. Easy Diving and Beach Resort is beautifully located on Punta Ballo Beach around 15 minutes from downtown Sipalay. Expect to pay around 200-250 PHP to the tricycle driver. The Resort has 20 air-conditioned bungalows plus 2 bungalows with fan.
It was very quiet here
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The restaurant comes with sea breeze and ocean view
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The bungalow was very fresh
Since I don't like air-condition I booked my bungalow with fan instead, actually there were two fans. Everything was very fresh and clean. The bungalow had a nice little porch with two chairs and a table where you could sit in the evenings and enjoy the quietness and practice stargazing. A so called free WiFi was included as a pocket WiFi. As far as I remember you had 3 GB of load for free. When you had consumed that you had to pay extra to get an additional 3 GB load. I was told this was only temporary until they had fixed a more permanent WiFi solution. I hope they did.
I really like the idea of bedside tables with lamps
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The bungalow had no AC instead it had two fans which suited me much better!
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It was very clean everywhere
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To fight the plastic pollution you could buy an aluminum bottle for 500 PHP with free refill of service water
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The restaurant where you could enjoy Easy Diving's delicious food. They also accept walk in guests.
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In the evenings they had mosquito coils so I was spared from mosquito bites
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The food heaven
In the restaurant they served excellent food, both Filipino and European style. The tuna steaks became quickly my favourites. Not to mention the delicious pancake with fresh mango and ice cream which was really addictive! In the evenings the atmosphere was really cozy in the restaurant. I was just sitting there inhaling the sea breeze and watched the sunset and contemplated about how good life was.
Oh my! I could die for this tuna steak with spicy wasabi sauce and garlic rice
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My second love, tuna steak with creamy yellow curry sauce...
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My secret lover forever! Pancake filled with fresh mango served with ice cream and chocolate sauce
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Bicol Express, a famous spicy dish from the region of eastern Philippines, Bicol
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As delicious as it looks, the crispy bangus (fish) with rice and egg. So so Philippines!
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After a night of stargazing you need a real breakfast, so what can be better than hash browns with bacon and egg??
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A delicasy for the most demanding taste, spicy shrimps fried with chilli and garlic
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Easy Diving has lots to offer
Easy Diving offers a lot, specially for those who are divers and I was told there are some really good diving spots just near. But even snorkelling was good if you swam enough out from the shore line. All the staff, from the owner to the room service were all very friendly and helpful. My highlights were the food, the quietness and beautiful location by the sea and not to mention my stargazing moments from my porch.
One of the many stairs at Easy Diving
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The friendly hotel dog taking a nap in the reception
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Video clip
The video shows a bit of what to expect from the stairs and the snorkeling near the beach.
Conclusions about Easy Diving Resort
I paid 2300 PHP per night for the bungalow with fan and breakfast included. That was competitive when I compared with other resorts in the same area at Punta Ballo Beach. The location of Easy Diving is more convenient than those resorts at the famous Sugar Beach which is only accessible by boat. But be aware of the stairs, if you can't or don't like to walk in stairs then Easy Diving might not be for you. There are many stairs to walk when moving around in the resort. Aside from that, the food, the friendliness of the staff, the cleanliness in the bungalow were excellent.
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Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
5 Location 5 Sleep Quality 5 Rooms 5 Service 5 Value for the money 5 Cleanliness |
Go Hotels in Dumaguete, surprisingly good!
I spent one night at Go Hotels in Dumaguete and it was surprisingly good. I usually have other options in Dumaguete but they were fully booked. I kind of hesitated when I arrived there coz at this time they were renovating the place so I was worried it might be very noisy. The receptionist promised me that it wouldn't be any problem with noise and it turned that she was right.
The lobby at Go Hotels
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The lobby area was large and spacious
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Convenient location
Go Hotels is nothing for the one who is looking for a beach resort near the sea with amazing sunsets and a white sand beaches. Aside from that Go Hotels has a very convenient location. It's 2 minutes walking distance from Robinson mall with shopping and restaurants. It's 5 minutes walking distance from the Ceres bus terminal. It's 10-15 minutes walking distance from downtown and the famous Rizal Bouleward (Or just the Boulevard) where you have everything you can wish for.
The adjacent coffee shop
The room but no breakfast
The room came with a private shower and CR and it was nice and clean. The AC was quiet and easy adjustable. The TV was working with all the channels that you ever want. The bed was fresh and of good quality so I had a good night's sleep. I paid 1500 PHP for one night and the breakfast not included.
The room had a good, quiet, and easy adjustable air condition
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I love to have a window in my room!
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Breakfast in the coffee shop. Nothing out of the ordinary, a traditional beef tapas with coffee stick and creamer. The breakfast was not included in the room price.
Conclusion
If you are not looking for a beach resort or that cozy little family owned hotel with personal service and home cooked food... well then Go Hotels can be an alternative. Competitive price, good location, nice and clean room make Go Hotels to an excellent choice to stay for a couple of days.
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Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
5 Location 5 Sleep Quality 5 Rooms 4 Service 4 Value for the money 5 Cleanliness |
Go Hotels Dumaguete
Calindagan Rd, Dumaguete 6200 Negros Oriental Philippines Phone: +63 35 522 1100 |
Related posts to Negros >>>
The prayer room at the highest peak of the complex.
Cebu Taoist Temple and a date with the dragon
Cebu Taoist Temple is located in Beverly Hills Subdivision of Cebu City, Philippines. The temple is built by Cebu's substantial Chinese community in 1972.
One of the many dragons which are protecting the area
Pray and make a wish
The Taoist temple is open to the worshipers and non-worshipers alike. A ritual among devotees is where one prays to the gods to grant one's wish. The ritual includes washing of hands, going inside the chapel barefoot and dropping two blocks of wood. If the blocks of wood are both face up then one could make a wish. If not then it is not yet the time for one's wish to be granted and one has to come to the temple some other time.
The entrance to the temple is a replica of the Great Wall of China. ( This is not the entrance though )
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The temple includes a chapel, a library, a souvenir shop and a wishing well.
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Amazing view from here
On a clear day you can spot the islands of Mactan and Bohol from here.
Unwind for a while
The Taoist temple is easy accessible from downtown Cebu. We took a taxi from Ayala center and paid around 150 PHP. The view from here is amazing and the surroundings are relaxing for a busy mind. To come here was like to unwind from the hectic and busy city life down town Cebu. I really liked the place for its quietness and beautiful view!
There are 81 steps in the stair... (representing the 81 chapters of Taoism scriptures)
My friends were enjoying the visit to the Taoist temple
A friendly fisherman. You were not allowed to throw coins in this pond.
Any place is good for taking a selfie!
The wishing well
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The view is spectacular
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The dragons
Chinese dragons are legendary creatures in Chinese mythology. Chinese dragons have many animal-like forms such as turtles and fish, but are most commonly depicted as snake-like with four legs. They traditionally symbolize potent and auspicious powers, particularly control over water, rainfall, typhoons, and floods. The dragon is also a symbol of power, strength, and good luck for people who are worthy of it in East Asian culture.
Chinese dragons stand on the temple’s roofs like protectors and sentinels of the site
The dragon is a symbol of power, strength, and good luck for people
Reminders
Even if you don’t share their faith, you must always keep in mind that it’s a sacred site for Taoist worshipers and is a place originally intended for meditation and prayer.
- Don’t wear sleeveless or shorts if you wish to enter it’s altar
- Don’t snap photos inside the prayers and temples (you can allowed to take photographs of every other part of the temple complex)
- Stay in the temple for just 30 minutes to an hour
- Observe silence
Going back to downtown
When time to go back downtown again there are numerous options, taxi, habal habal or jeepney. But we chose to walk. Actually it's not far from Ayala center only about 30-40 min of easy walking. And... yes it's no problem, it's perfectly safe to walk here at least in day time.
A short video clip of our walk back downtown. My friend was also in a desperate need of a cigarette!
Related links to Cebu island >>>
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