It’s been YEARS since I wanted to go to Cambodia.  Angkor Wat is one destination I’ve been dreaming of going.  Finally, that dream is within reach next week.  Flying to Vietnam via PAL on April 6 to touch down in Ho Chi Minh City.  Tuesday starts the trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia.

We’ve just been to Bangkok 3 weeks ago and I haven’t even posted an entry about that trip or even our trip to Macau, which was in August of 2008.  Too many travel backlogs on my back.  And I told myself that I would finish those entries first before planning another one. 

It’s been 2 years that I’ve spent Holy Week in Manila.  One of my goals this year is to spend Holy Week anywhere BUT Manila.  I’ve seen Manila at its peace long enough without the usual traffic and crowd ruckus.  It’s about time to miss Manila during Holy Week.  After all the emails, asking friends, forums, and research, I finally finished the itinerary last week (Thanks so much to Garry Garcia for all the info!  Sorry I was such a bug-a-boo with all the email exchanges ).  It was supposed to be only until Friday but we had to rebook our return flight to Saturday to be able to enjoy Cambodia for an extra day.

I’m really uber excited!!!  Let’s walk the world.

How are you spending Holy Week?

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Hong Kong Day 2 Ocean Park 

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January 8 is National Chris Day

http://www.janedchua.com/2009/01/15/cw-birthday-dinner-cafe-juanita/

Ortigas, more than a bustling business center Northern part of the Metro, hides the only night market I have heard in town.  Like Cinderella, Ortigas has a witching hour.  The stretch of Emerald Avenue transforms to a totally different environment around midnight.  Many BPO agents and employees who work in the area frequent the one stop shop for a smorgasbord of food.  There’s definitely something to look forward to at the crack of Saturday morning.  That is, Banchetto.

It was a Friday night and Banchetto, which translates to feast in Italian, was our destination right after the Playboy party at Source Bar.  We arrived in the area, 20 minutes before midnight or even before we wanted to go (that’s for another story about Source Bar).  The tents were all set up at this time, but nobody is selling yet.  At the strike of 12 as if on cue, the vendors started moving towards their designated stall.  It’s quite interesting to see the actual transformation.  Within a matter of minutes, the much talked about night market is unveiled right before our eyes.  Soon after, people started flocking the stalls and before we knew it, huge groups were swarming around.  The once calm evening air is suddenly filled with a bit of chatter and excited clatter.

Banchetto delightful feast used to stretch farther, the night market reaches as far as the Wynsum Building.  I cannot imagine it being any bigger since it’s already quite a stretch of food as it is, from the PLDT building to the Ortigas Park.  It opens at midnight until 6-8 in the morning.

What I like about Banchetto is, it feels Filipino to me.  The prices are mid-range compared to its counterpart of weekend markets in Makati.  There is no uppity ambience and you can get a full belly under a P100.

09 0320 Events This Weekend Album

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It opened on the week of Valentine’s Day, I Love You Because is a modern-day musical re-telling of Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice with the genders reversed.  It is a modern day musical love story that gets you feeling all fuzzy inside but snickering in your seats.

Featuring
Harold Cruz – Caisa Borromeo

Gabs Santos – Kyla Rivera

Onyl Torres – Anna Santamaria

Directed by Robbie Guevara

Choreographed by Francis Matheu

Set Design by Mio Infante

Lighting Design by Martin Esteva

When:

February 13 to March 8, 2009

Fridays & Saturdays 8pm

Saturdays & Sundays 3:30pm

Where:
Onstage Greenbelt 1, Makati City

It was only a 6-man play with Harold Cruz playing as Austin Bennet, a greeting card writer who is always in a proper corporate suit in search of rekindling his love with an ex-girlfriend he found sleeping with another guy.  He is in search of finding true love in this urbanized ideal-less world.

Kyla Rivera plays Diana Bingley, who has fallen in love with a dorky Austin Bennet.  Caisa Borromeo plays the best friend of Diana, Marcy Fitzwilliams, who is a very straightforward formula-eccentric office girl.

Gabs Santos plays Jeff Bennet, the clueless brother of Austin, who is the typical boy next door but with issues.

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March 21, 2009, Uno Magazine welcomes RJ Ledesma as the new editor-in-chief of the celebrated glossy magazine in an induction celebration at the Martini Bar of Mandarin Oriental Hotel.  March cover girl Karen Pamintuan and Heart Evangelista were also spotted at the event. 

09 0320 Events This Weekend Album