Eating at Buddys in Lucban, buying lucban longganisa

Our second trip to Lucban Quezon! It was all because of our craving for their original longanisa. During our first trip, we were more focused on the sights that we'd see. This time, our goal is solely to have another bite of their local delicacy. Maybe it"s the garlic flavor in it, could've been the spices that go with it. Either way, it was an unplanned ride that we're glad we took.

So, our feet took us to Buddy's restaurant. It was the spacious one we found so far in the area and a lot of people lined up for their seats; a sign that they serve good food! Our first choice is of course the classic longanisa, a dozen of it (you can actually order uncooked longanisa as well, for pasalubong). Next was the habanera, a combination of menudo flavored ground pork with potatoes and egg. I can't quite distinguished the exact taste lolz but it"s delicious! We also treated ourselves with their Pancit Habab. It's like pancit canton with a twist as you pour some vinegar on the noodles when you eat it. It was a bit odd for me at first but it surely blended well with the habab taste! Lastly, we were so thirsty and chose the pandan cucumber juice as its refreshing green color caught our eye. Verdict? Everything they served tasted heavenly! 

After a well deserved lunch, we found this other restaurant that sells Longanisa  as pasalubong. They have this really nice mini bayongs to put your orders in to. The longanisas were sold by the dozens, choose for the standard size priced at 80 pesos or the jumbo size at 180 pesos. We chose the latter and we're glad we did. That ended up our Quezon adventure, at the moment at least. For I know that we will be regulars of this place. 

Padi's Point Antipolo

I remember Padi's Point as elevated huts where my friends and I can unwind, drink, enjoy the view and savor the cold gusts of wind. Well, that's how I pictured it in my mind more than 30 years ago, it was an awesome place even back then!

This is how it looks like at present. It had gone massive changes from how I imagined it to be but the changes are so apt to the millennials of today.

Wide elevated restaurant with a view to behold! At first, we thought we could  readily sit in these situated tables as soon as the last customers finish their meals or had enough selfie pics and relax time; it turned out that other customers are lined up before us so they can have that coveted seat as well, whew!

They have great menus, comparable with the other shops you'd usually go for a night out. They have festive menus and we indulged ourselves in plates of crispy pata, tofu with onion leeks and oyster like sauce, and rice to match our appetite.

What do we think? Well, my honest review would be: the place is fantastic because of the amazing view but it could've been better. The coveted tables are so few and a lot of customers want to experience having those seats as they eat and take selfies with their families and friends. Maybe they could come up with a better strategy than lining up the customers (like in their mind? lol!) in such a way where you won't know when your turn will come. Most of us ended giving up the idea and just ate our bitterness away. The food was superb so that's a substantial enough consolation for others who want to visit the place. They have seats outdoors as well to cater to either smoking customers or big groups that can't be accommodated in their indoor space due to space. Verdict? recommending mainly because of the view. The food is comparable with the nearby shops along the area so you have other choices if view ain't in your number 1 curiosity. 

Crepeman in Lilac

After a satisfying dinner at Padi's Point Antipolo, (I had this trip included also in a separate blog, go check it out.) Lou has been complaining of a dessert to complete her meal.I felt obliged as she's gonna be here for just a week and I've been curious of a shop along Lilac in Marikina that seems to have delectable crepe menus. And off we went to Crepeman Marikina branch.

It was a neat shop that could serve around 8-9 small groups or couples. They also have a seat outside for customers who smoke.

It was surprising to find out that their crepes are not solely the dessert-type sweet ones. They have crepe menus similar to a sandwich meal, it's just that they make use of crepe and not breads (imagine the image of shawarma or the Nan that they serve in Indian curry, or clubhouse served in Nan not white bread.) They also offer breakfast menus served in rice and filipino traditional dishes such as longanisa, hotdogs, ham and eggs among others.

I'm fascinated with antiques and old memorabilias. And their display caught my eye; an old radio, polaroid camera neatly mixed with the modern displays in their shop.

Lou ordered caramel banana crepe in whipped cream plus a coffee to balance the sweets she'll indulge herself in.

Lou loved the sweet blend of caramel, banana and whipped cream filling in her crunchy-prepared crepe served in metal stands. I think we would definitely visit it again when we can. The place is small but cozy, and the ambience is homey, I recommend it to small groups or couples looking for a sweet bite or for simply famished groups who likes homey atmospheres in their dining destinations.

Calinawan cave

Located in Tandang Katyo of Tanay, Rizal Calinawan Cave is a natural multi-layered cave that was said to have been discovered in 1901. It had served as a shelter of guerilla warriors during the Philippine-American War and the Japanese during World War II. 

The passageway through the cave was narrow and the caving system has 7 layers. The first 2 layers is the "Easy Trail", a 150 meter walk while the 3-5 layers, are the "Hard Trail", and will involve a lot of crawling. The 6-7 layers would be difficult to traverse, and takes about 7 days to finish; they are permanently inaccessible, from when the tunnels were bombed by Japanese soldiers. These trails lead to Montalban, Rizal. Its name is derived from the word "linaw", meaning clear, as apt as to what took place in history because it's the place where the Japanese and the Americans settled their disputes. 

The entrance fee costs 40 pesos while it will take another 200 pesos for tour guide. It was a challenge to take a hike on these trails, the sight of the stalactites and stalagmites are something to look forward to; Having a tour guide is also helpful as it will give you a deeper insights on the rich history that happened in this cave. They also explained how the stalactites and stalagmites are formed. The natural reserve and the mystery inside a cave as enormous are one of the wonders in the history of our country that has left a trail that we can take a peek to from time to time. 

La Mesa Eco Park

     

          

It's a date with nature, our weekend theme as we visited the La Mesa Eco Park located right in the heart of the city. In spite of the insanely polluted environment of the city, there's this place were you can be surrounded by tall trees and breathe fresh air! Eco Park is located in Quezon City with its aim to promote the greens even in the busiest parts of the country. 

Butterfly Haven

Swimming pool

                     

Souvenir Shops

                         

                               

Bike rentals

Amphitheater

As you can see the above above pictures, there are tons of activities to do in La Mesa Park. They also have zip lining, boating and a place for picnics to enjoy with your friends and family. We mostly did the walking though because what I really wanted was just to enjoy it as organic as it is; to walk its pavements, breathe fresh air, indulge in the sights around me in a relaxed state. And boy, the simplest things indeed are the best things.

Miniforest

Games

Foods

Foods are available for cheap yet it will definitely satisfy your tastebuds! We had a simple barbecue rice served on top of a banana leaf. My friend had lomi as we were rained over during our visit. Both priced for less than a hundred pesos, it had made our tummies full and happy. 

Going to the water reserve

This is the stairs that leads you to the La Mesa Dam Reservoir. Taking pictures ain't allowed in this area so just look forward to your actual visit for the grand sight of the dam. 

We were rained on

As I enjoyed our walk in Eco Park, I can"t help but wonder how it will be had we preserved the greens around the busy cities as well. Had we planted more trees, we could have been having the best of both worlds; Nature and technology combined.

Antipolo Cathedral

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Antipolo, commonly called as Antipolo Cathedral, had been our next itinerary in our road adventure in Rizal. Clad with its rich heritage, this church is more than 450 years old!

What makes it so special is that it is the first church erected in Antipolo, it is also the home of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage; the reason why Antipolo has been known as the pilgrimage city. They say the virgin mother blesses you with safe travels. OFW's and tourists as well as locals take time to pay a visit, specially during Christmas, where you can totally feel the holiday spirit during the mass.  

You will be left mesmerized by the  history of place. Try and climb the stairs at the back to reach the statue of Our Lady, it brings total peace and serenity to every pilgrim. And as you back home, never forget to buy their delicacies!  Talk about suman, kasoy, and kalamay, all available in the small stores nearby. This church is a must visit every time in this city.  A place of meditation, reflection and offered prayers for guidance and safety, if you're going on a long trip!