It’s weird to pack your things not for vacation but hospitalization. I won’t tell when or why but I was. It wasn’t my first time to be but the last time I did was which I considered my “turning point.”

Turning point to a healthier lifestyle! And if we are going to talk about healthfulness it would also means Ima’s Vegetarian House! Feel its native like home ambiance perfect place for tyros like vegetarians and people on diet.  

It was like twice a first time for me to be here and I took shots and shots of their stuff that I find so cool, and some of it are these (see collage below); The open window where one could see who’s arriving, I remember old time movies from 20th centuries ago and history when I saw it. The friendly smoking reminders!!! Tell me about it when I am still struggling to quit it. Haha!!! Their so cool Vitamin C in pink paint displayed on the wall. The minimal area where you can easily jive in & start up a conversation with others. Their mini book shelve where I’ve found one of the books that I badly and painfully been wanting to read, The Compleat Courtship by Nancy Van Pelt. 

Healthfulness starts from choosing what to eat. One of the best things about places like Ima’s is that you don’t have to worry no more what to choose from the menu because everything is goodly! We’ve checked out their Puttanesca Pasta x Spicy Okra & Mango Pasta x Stir-fried Mushroom, Baby Corn and Tofu x Hawaiian Pizza x Marku’s Favorite Pizza. 

Their drinks are without Milk and Sugar, surreal you can count on that. We’ve tried Hot Carob x Lemon Grass x Hot Soya Milk x Imas Blend.

And out of all these slavering dishes, their Tostados was superb!!! I can’t tell enough how this dish have won our tongues and our hearts!!! You guys should definitely try `cause I strongly recommend it.

If not pictures, it’s their signature book that has laid down our table. Look how cute that even their pen has to be veggie!!! Ima’s Vegetarian House is one of the top ten Vegetarian House in the Philippines under Peta Asia Pacific. I’m proud and blessed to have this place within my reach.

One rainy afternoon, just in time to match the cold season with a cuppa` coffee with friends, a perfect time to put on a good schmooze to make up for the times we couldn’t much talk because of our busy schedules, there we were, spotted at Crossing Bridges.

It was my first time to dine in here, I think most of us do. I couldn’t get my eyes off of their wall with pictures of different “crossing bridges” from different places all over the world!!! I would like to have a wall like that when I get to have my own house, of course aside from the big map I was as well ever dreaming about. Hahaha! Dream on surreal, YogsC! I’ve also noticed alongside of these pictures on the wall the four clocks time zoning New York, Tokyo, Paris and Manila. It was so cute!

Just about how they name the place with “bridge” right after the gate at their entrance is a bridge you’ll walk by to get to the dining place. I really like how they keep the distance of one coffee table to another, I think when a couple, friends, or group of friends even business meetings gathers for even a simple coffee, conversation always goes with it weather be it a private one or not, we all have different purposes of picking a place, different reasons to sit there for an hour or more, which is why for me privacy through distance is really very important!

The Bar where coffees and other drinks are being made is located at the center of the dining, great area to over see all the customers dining in as well as the walk ins, rest assured that you will be served well while the dirty kitchen was detached from the dining area. 

Of course, you’ve never been real to a place if you wouldn’t try out their food, right?! RIGHT!!! so these are the mouthwatering dishes that filled us to satisfaction; A shot of Espresso x A cup of Cafe Latte x Brooklyn Beef Burger x French Fries x Palawan Pesto x Monte Cristo = Allofussofullandbloated x funnight!

Crossing Bridges is located just about 5-10mins walking distance alongside from Puerto Princesa City Airport to grab your take out or dine in before your flight and you’re good aboard!

I unquestionably won’t forget that 14th day of November, Year 2010. That day was the first time I encountered the gentle giants - the whale sharks!!!

I’ve never thought of doing a once in a lifetime experience like this here in my hometown. These whale sharks were founded in 2010 by Mr. Angelo “Toto” Cayabo, Founder of Dolphins & Whale Sharks and Manager of Dolphin & Whale Shark Travel & Tours. It was year 2007, I was still in College when our tourism class had our Dolphin Watching when I first met Kuya Toto. Our paths have crossed again, and for the second time it was for the Whale Sharks!!!

I only thought about doing it in Donsol but no, whale sharks were here! About 10minutes ride from a tricycle, 15-30minutes ride from the boat and I could see them right in front of my eyes. Which is why when Kuya Toto spoke about this water activity and that whale sharks often visits, I didn’t think twice no more of going for it!

And because I’m so sure that it’s going to be fun, I invited friends!!!
L-R: Johnny, (Me), Inno, Daniel & more…

This was the required position to swim best with the gentle giants, with flippers and snorkel mask ready, so when the spotter signals that there are whale sharks near, it’s easier for us to discreetly jump in without shocking them to go deep away.

Photo from Mr. Angelo “Toto” Cayabo

The feeling was indescribably amazing!!! It was incomparable!!! It still feels like yesterday when I think about it, how scared, nervous and excited I was all in one mixed emotion. I can still remember exactly how one of the whale shark’s tale pass through me, it was really huge, gigantic I must say!!! Their mouths are like caves, their fins are like windows with little fishes swimming side with them. It’s fantastic!!!

Photo from Aaron Loos

These are some of the shots taken that day. The whale sharks were so much in the mood swimming with and accommodating us whole heartily, and to our surprise, Kuya Toto declared that day was the best encountered they’ve had since it started that year and I’m proud that I was part of it.

If I would have more time, I’d love to do it again! (:

Most travelers especially the backpackers like I do still wants to feel the spirit of being home away from home, which is why I wished to find a place like this every where, every time I plan on traveling.

Let me welcomes you to Banwa Guest House & Art Cafe.

These friendly reminders are what going to welcomes you when you enter the door. (: Well, if you’re thinking that this one is cool, you haven’t checked out the other crafts yet.

This was me during work, as far as I could still remember it, the guests were at their tours that time so I took the little privilege of reading one of the best books from one of the guests who did the book swapped (yes we do swap books) and just as I started reading, an old colleague, Diosanie took a picture of me! I liked the shot and find it really awesome that the veranda could be seen with me, turned out to be a good remembrance as well. YES! I’ve worked in this beautiful backpackers house, my first job as a matter of fact. I can honestly say that I did enjoyed the 7months of working as a Front Desk Clerk, meeting people from different side of the world, every. single. day.

And if there’s one thing I’d miss about this place, it would be the memories that I spent together with my colleagues and some guests turned into friends that already took a part of my heart.

Meet some of them…

The German Carpus Gang
L-R: (Norman), Patrick, Marius, (Me), Fronzi, David & Jen
How could I ever forget these five?! They were the first group I ever served when I was still on training. Dealing with their needs and answering to their queries has been my food for thought of the day and that lasts almost a month. Through them I’ve learned so much beyond what I was expecting, not just that it hones my skills in dealing with people and good management under pressure, I also learned about lives, their culture, the inspiring things they do and friendship. It’s fascinating how they do the best of both worlds together. I’m so thankful that they’ve given me the chance to become a part of their lives and I will definitely cherish that. Ich hoffe, euch alle wieder zu sehen . (:

Spencer Leung
Photo sent from Spencer
Spencer is from Beijing, China. And in all honesty, he was one of those Chinese people and the first that I have encountered who speaks very well in English. I couldn’t believe I didn’t had to do extra effort of waving my hands and do some signs of language to be understood because the conversations I had with him was smooth sailing. I adore him for getting his feet to places having the chances of discovering and making adventures at his young age. I will surely miss playing cards with this guy together with the others. 我希望再次見到你。多保重！(:

Karen Giron
Photo from Karen’s Facebook
Karen is from Guatemala City. She’s beautiful, gorgeous and funny like EXTREMELY funny type of girl (shows in the pic thou) and man I tell you she so much loves to eat! She went to the market and tried out our Local-Filipino meriendas and she liked it so much but if there’s a certain food Karen won’t forget, it’s our Halo-halo!!! She even calls us Halo-halo people(: I sincerely enjoyed our conversations, she’s very open-minded towards things and shared us a lot of funny experiences she had while traveling, she didn’t even mind how many hours we’ve just met. This girl here rocks! Estancia niña rockin! Te echaré de menos!

Aaronny (Aaron & Johnny)
L-R: (Norman), Johnny, (Me), Aaron & (Inno)
Here comes these cool dudes!!! How am I gonna forget them?! They were there when I first encountered the gentle giants!!! These two are personally my favorites!!! (: I had this typical feeling like I already knew them for so long while in fact we’ve just met an hour ago. I could feel how good nature men these two are! They’re nice, funny and so easy to be with. I won’t trade for anything the experiences I had with them and I believe the same with the others. I won’t stop wishing to visit their beautiful city in Melbourne and see them again someday.

The Colleagues!

Norman
He was “the Manager” during my time. We would always get this certain compliments from the guests if we two have lived in the United States ‘cause we’ve got American accents or if we two are lovers!!! So funny!!! And how I would always bug him off telling the guests if they knew who was that Year’s Mr. Puerto Princesa. HAHA!!! He was. He even had this tarpaulin across the Main St. of our city and I’d always tell the guests to check it out when they get to that street. Norman turns red and got shy every time I do that.

Ate Divine
Our “Mommy D. little Chef” of the house. She’s maybe tall than taller but she can definitely handle as much pax as Banwa could accommodate. She’s the reason why other of our guests preferred staying in than having their dinners out.

Ate My
She takes good care of our guest’s comforts. What I miss about her is the regular merienda she personally makes every afternoon. She never fails to remind me about my meals no matter how busy the day was and of my diet. (:

Diosanie
She’s almost my age but act way out her age. She’s the one we call on every time we’re having hard time talking to guests like Chinese or Japanese, not because she speaks their language but the other way around. It’s like magic how these type of guests could understand hers.

Kuya Edwin, Ace & Ronnie (not on the pictures)
They maintain whatever has to be maintained all around the house. They were also the house’ safety security porters and run errands when needed.

Without even planning, we randomly bumped into each other, we ate, had coffee, talked and that afternoon reunion bringing back the old times was filled with reminisces and laughs. And thou we have separate lives now, what we have from those times of working as team will be still.

And as time passes, so as the innovation of Banwa…

Welcome to its new face (: A little more spacious veranda to enjoy your drink, your book and your company without feeling like away from home.

Here are some of the artworks that I personally love. They’re playing cool on the walls of the rooms, little hallway and spot-lighted in the veranda. These artworks were made of different unique beads and were made by Nanay Rocelli Orcullo together with her team. I’ve never seen an artwork like this before thus I was astonished when I’ve seen one. They also have pillow cases, couch covers and bags designed in crazy cat. These are for sale and perfect as souvenir.

Banwa Guest House & Art Cafe is definitely a perfect home when on vacation.

Hi! My name is Cristina best known as YogsC. 21. I’m just another person celebrating life at the end of the day, adding years to my life every 27th March of every year, making the most of what I have and of what I can do.

I love traveling. It makes me sane. I guess I fell in love with it even before I was born. I’m the type of person who would always want myself on the go. Saving money for travel every once in a while is just one out of the hundred ways for someone to make it. And I can definitely assure that it’s going to be worth it! It does every time.

Every place has a story, and I want to be part of it. And as much as I love discovering new things; culture, lifestyle, places & cuisine through traveling, what goes on top of it is that I’m blessed and proud living in a gorgeous, aesthetic place of nature, the City in a Forest, Puerto Princesa, where travelers from different parts of the world sees it as number one! (:

I know I can’t definitely thank these people enough but from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU SO MUCH for being part of our heaven’s history. (:

And to further express my gratitude … I made this blog to share my travel experiences and to bring everyone an overlook on how my City and the Island of Palawan looks like.