Sidelights

The Laguna loop tour, as I have established in a previous blog (http://startledcat.blogspot.com/2012/02/loop.html), is a rich cultural exercise.  But aside from the diversely beautiful churches, there are so many other things that complete the entire experience.

And for an obsessively compulsive person such as myself, I try to design my trips to be thematic, consistent and holistic.  Which means I am so not eating in Jollibee.

Because I have done the Loop with different sets of friends, I learned a thing or two which I lay down for you to make the most of your tour around this wonderful part of the archipelago.


FOR BREAKFAST...


This should set the mood for the entire trip.  And because this is a heritage tour, the best place to kick it off is in any place in the mold of...

PAN DE AMERIKANA in SSS Village Marikina

The rustic beauty of the place is an experience in itself.  It is sure to fire the shutterbug in you.

Make sure to have a Filipino breakfast such as the Something-Si-Log...

to go with the freshly brewed coffee.

And you're prepped for the day in colonial Philippines.

In Baras Church...

Go up the choir deck to have a picture in this pensive balcony...

or see the bats up close.  Just mind the guanos, you don't wanna stink from there on.

In Tanay Church...

check out the twin Acacia trees...

that are century old.

In Pakil Church...

Enter the parochial office by the side of the church's main door...

and marvel at the really old wood flooring of the second floor or go upstairs...

and check out the wardrobe of the Lady of Turumba...

or be amazed with the details of the altar of...

the Lady of Sorrows.  We were told that this ordinary-sized painting was found hundreds of years ago ashore the Laguna de Bay, but it was so heavy that a couple of fishermen were needed to bring it to the nearest church which is the Pakil Church.

A few minutes walk from the church is the natural spring resort which my cousins and I used to frequent as kids.

Cold, fresh spring water run through the pool, you can actually soap in it.

FOR LUNCH...


You can try Vista's Art Space and Cafe which is a few steps to the right if your facing the Pakil Church.  It also serves as a showroom for the artworks of the owners and other local artists.

My personal favorite!

Try the Adobo-Si-Log and fresh fruit shakes.

Or if you're still not hungry, wait till you get to Paete, and since it is known for wood carving...

feel free to walk around to see the stretch of shops ...

and you might find something for souvenir...

and stop by this particular shop...

not only for the awesome masks...

real-looking carvings, but also for the...

freshly brewed coffee...

for a little relax-and-chat time with friends.

And at this point of the tour, you might already be starving to death, so by all means, walk across the street and eat at...

Thai Tsin, for great food in really huge servings @ very affordable  prices.

Szechuan Rice

Teriyaki Beef

Fried Chicken

Chicken in Oyster Sauce

Fish Fillet in Lemon Sauce

Iced Tea

So, after a couple of churches from there, you will get to Liliw Laguna which is known for its footwear industry.  Outside the church, check out the strip of stores and go find that perfect pair for you.

Your now on the homestretch and I suppose very hungry at this point, so drop by San Pablo City...

and be captivated by the dusk in one of the seven lakes in the city...

and dine in one of the lakeside restaurants which you're sure to offer fresh seafood dishes...

such as the spicy buttered prawns...

or tilapia in coconut milk...

with banana-leaf-wrapped steamed rice...

in a very Filipino setting.

And if that does not convince you to do the Loop, I don't know what will.

Bull's Eye

It was Day 12 of our rigorous fitness regimen, that is jogging till kingdom come.  As usual, it was just Goddess, in her only-missing-are-the-stilletos-party-outfit-turned-jogging attire, and I, in my usual black boring ensemble.

Monochromatic for the night.

Despite both of us feeling a little off, we couldn't veer from schedule.  We couldn't lose focus.  We have a target, and we are going to hit it, bull's eye.


So after 2 inches and 2 pounds off our waists, we were done and ready for a light meal as always.  But we're so over with the usual green salad or chicken nuggets so we decided we would try something else.


We wanted a taste of Thailand.

Krung Thai is located right at the Marikina Public Market.  Almost at the corner of the market's main road and J.P. Rizal Street.

It's been a while since I last dined there so I was pleasantly surprised that it has done some improvements...

especially on the lighting.  It's no longer dark sad with a lot of this kind of aesthetic lighting.  It's got better ambiance now.

And I love the food as usual, the Binagoongan rice with adobo, scrambled egg, sliced cucumber and green mango salad (super yum this one)!

We also tried this delectable Chicken Noodles Soup that's good for 2 or 3!

Although we both agreed that we should have just ordered the  noodle soup because we were stuffed as a pig ready for the slaughter.

We walked around a kilometer to get a cab home.  So much for keeping focused.  Darn!