TravelswithCharie

Sunrise on Pismo Beach California's Central Coast has some of the most breathtaking views in the world. Driving south on 101 from the San Francisco Bay Area, I passed rich farmlands and vineyards crawling up the hillsides. And halfway down to Santa Barbara, the beach towns of San Luis Obispo County are the hottest spots for sun worshippers. The outdoor tables at the Marisol at the Cliffs Resort on Pismo Beach offer premium seats for watching the fiery descent of the sun into the Pacific Ocean. Yes, it calls for a toast! It's always a treat to eat breakfast at Stearn's Wharf in Santa Barbara. Seacraft of all sizes ply the Channel in the early morning hours. A walk on the pier is a must with a full stomach. Camera at the ready, I spied a sailboat coming into the harbor. Ahhh, beautiful mornings are made of these. Santa Barbara Channel from Stearn's Wharf *  *  * Images by Charie

A short 15 minute hop in a motorized outrigger from Ortiz Port in Iloilo City and we were on Guimaras Island . (The fare is P14.00 each way.) We could see the island from the dock in Iloilo . It was a fun ride with water splashing into the outrigger when the waves were particularly high. I got slightly wet as I was sitting right by the porthole. When we arrived at the Jordan pier, we made arrangements for a jeepney to take us to our hotel through the tourism desk which is a few steps from the waterfront. It costs P400.00 for the ride to Nueva Valencia with a stop at the Trappist Monastery along the way. We visited the church inside the monastery grounds before we approached a monk to pray over us. It was a calming experience and so glad we did this. Then we shopped at the in-house gift shop where they sold everything with mango in it: mango tart, mango polvoron, mango jam, mango flavored biscotti, mango piaya, and dried mangoes. Mango is of course the prime commodity of Guimaras

Sautéed Eggplant and partial menu I was impressed with the food at Ponsyon from my very first dinner with cousins a year ago. I specifically remember the native chicken inasal and how tasty it was. I can also picture in my mind the big plate of oysters on our table. And so many other savory dishes. So before cruising off to Guimaras, my friends and I paid a visit to my new favorite restaurant in Iloilo. My first order was the ginisa nga talong or sautéed eggplant. I'm enamored with eggplants and love to try different ways of preparing it. This particular dish is served without meat so the flavor of the eggplant has no competition in the palate. Ensalada nga Puso ng Saging My friends went for the ensalada nga puso ng saging (salad with banana heart or banana blossoms) which is a little exotic for me. But they loved it as much as they enjoyed the eggplant. Sizzling crab The sizzling crab meat was totally good. Every bite, a delight. But the sizzling tangigue was un

Carlos "Botong" Francisco, FILIPINO STRUGGLES THROUGH HISTORY   Oil on canvas, 1964, (located at Manila City Hall ) A National Cultural Treasure owned by the City of Manila Carlos Botong Francisco: A Nation Imagined is the latest art installation at the Ayala Museum in Makati to celebrate the 100th birthday anniversary of Carlos “Botong” Francisco (1912-1969), a Philippine National Artist. Forty paintings and lithographs were culled from various private collections to form this exhibition. Of the large scale paintings on display, Maria Makiling and Fiesta , both oil on canvas, are representative of the indigenous genre which Botong loved to portray. In Maria Makiling, Botong reveals a relaxed and recumbent woman with her legs dangling in the cool waters of the stream and playing with an exotic deer by her side. Fiesta is about how the Filipino people gather to celebrate an important occasion, be that a religious feast or a wedding. The central figures are dancin

TWG Tea Salon and Boutique at Greenbelt 5 in Makati is a glass and glitz citadel with some of the finest collection of teas in the world. The Wellness Group (TWG) has its origins in Singapore and today has branches in many countries in Asia, The Middle East, UK, and the United States. I didn't come for afternoon tea. I was famished after a morning admiring the works of Carlos Botong Francisco at the Ayala Museum and TWG was in the neighborhood. I was torn between the salmon entreé and the chicken skewer with rice. I chose the latter. A meal would not be complete without tea, as my late grandfather used to say. While perusing the tea menu, I was overwhelmed by the number of tea selections. In fact, they have over 200 teas to choose from so I thought it best to ask my server for help. What I wanted to try was a combination of green tea and chamomile. It was siesta time after all and I needed a transition tea. My server didn't hesitate at all to recommend the Sweet France

Antonio's Restaurant is located in Tagaytay City which is a popular weekend destination and a short ride from Metro Manila. Taal Volcano rises from the waters of Taal Lake. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines. The second Antonio's restaurant (called Breakfast at Antonio's) has a commanding view of the lake and also serves lunch and dinner from the breakfast menu. This foyer impresses from the outset. Red paint on the walls provide a warm setting for the personal photos and antique "santos". This room evokes old world charm. The lower dining room is a spacious and elegant room, perfect for large parties. The black and white tiles spell classic! I dined alfresco beside the carp pond. It was a delicious visual treat to be surrounded by overgrown ferns and tropical flora. While the ambiance was casual and relaxed, this restaurant is home to fine dining and guests behaved accordingly. Hence the conversations around me were hush hush

This floral path leads to the dining room. One of three gardens, the scented garden is a joy to explore. So many special touches, it's a pleasure to linger and dream of my own garden. At Sonya's Garden, I've learned to expect beautiful things and attention to detail like this crisp, white tablecloth with minute embroidery and elegant dinnerware. Pickings from the vegetable garden. Iceberg lettuce, oregano, arugula, cherry tomato, Roma tomato, tarragon, and this butter scented flower called butterbush. There's always fresh ingredients from the gardens for all the meals served at Sonya's. And after a most fulfilling dinner, tarragon tea will gently ease your digestive tract. Romance comes into play when evening falls upon the gardens. You can always find a little nook to while the time away with a good book. Wish I could have stayed longer. Sonya's Garden Barangay Buck Estate Alfonso, Cavite info@sonyasgarden.com http://sonyasgarden.co