A Cyclist’s Essentials

A Cyclist’s Essentials.

Spyder Winners

it has been two weeks since the launch of the blog giveaway, i – along with my partner spyder have selected the winners via rafflecopter today.

 

two winners have emanated from the pool of supporters and love that we received during the promo period! thank you everyone for participating in our little giveaway, should reason permit us to host another one! you guys will be the first to know!

…..and the winners are…..

TADA!!!! Congratulations Khim (who won the Spyder Nixon) and Alex (who won the Spyder Fuel)! expect an email from me asap!

the third, optional winner (from the comment pool) shall be deliberated today.

thanks for all the support y’all!

 

Blog Integration!

HI ALL! 🙂 starting today, i will be integrating the stories of this blog to my new address.. and future .com/.ph site. since the events yesterday, i have decided to further accelerate my pacing in terms of writing, but since BTFG is a travel and food niche (and slowly gearing away from it) http://franventures.wordpress.com will be branded as lifestyle (but also containing posts re: travel and food).

Thank you for supporting BTFG up to today. i hope you would continue to read my stories and follow my adventures!

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Bisita Iglesia with Ventus – My Holy Week Bike Pilgrimage

Most Filipinos i know are planning to hit the beaches, resorts, or any other vacation hotspot this coming holy week. there are a few that wants to take this opportunity to catch up on sleep and rest.

I, on the other hand would want to journey with my Ventus and do a Bisita Iglesia whilst riding a bike. it has been done before, and i have been reading some bike blogs just to study their route, and get tips on how to go about this bike pilgrimage.

 Many of you know that i have started biking last october, and have taken it seriously than i anticipated. i currently bike to work and back, or bike to some malls and to my friends’ places when we meet for socials or dinner. during the coming holy days, i am very much dedicated to bike and visit several churches down south.

here are some of the churches that i plan to visit this thursday (the list is still growing. i plan to visit 7-9 churches!)

1. St. Joseph Parish – Las Pinas – Home of the Las Pinas Bamboo Organ

2. Mary Immaculate Parish – Las Pinas – Natures Church

3. St Mary Magdalene Church – Laguna

any more suggestions on churches down south?  i dont think i can go as far as batangas.

Chapter XVIII : Manang’s Chicken

Love is seldom sweeter the second time around.. but such doesnt hold true to my romance with manang’s chicken. our love story started 2 years ago, when me and my best girl friend (notice the space between girl and friend) discovered this chicken wonder near our office. i remembered us having to eat there nearly every day of every week when we discovered it at ACI towers in Ortigas Center. i remembered the first smell, bite, and giddy reaction i had with my first ever Manang’s Chicken. Time sure do pass by so fast.

(L) Coleslaw and Macaroni Salad Side Dishes, (R) Manang’s Chips and Dips (Creamy Cheese, Garlic Mayo, and Spicy Ketchup)

But here i am, once again, within the fortress of Manang’s, waiting to taste the latest addition to their food line up! we started the night with the side dishes (i am a coleslaw person – so perfect lang!). part of our menu was their coleslaw and macaroni salad which i have always found to be simple and satisfying, (i really hate complicated salads as each ingredient contributes to the overall taste. Therefore the many ingredients  present, the less overall satisfying it is for me!). following our appetizer round was the Manang’s potato chips with 4 different dips (including the latest spicy ketchup dip – which i found to be awesome! (i love ketchup, and i love spicy food – – therefore this combination was a palate-gasmic experience).

i found the main entree to be delicious yet was a bit wondering regarding the price. the garlic pork rice was a unique experience for me! a pork slab perfected with garlic bits and accompanied by a very weird yet addicting vinegar. i have heard of reviews toward this meal, but all that shattered when i tasted it myself. i still found the magic of manangs chicken in it, the same magic that captivated my heart and stomach 2 years ago. yet i was a bit hesitant regarding it being a budget meal and it being 100+ pesos.

In Totality, my love for manangs remains (if not, have strengthened!). the explanation to why i do can be stemmed from the satisfaction i get everytime i eat at Manang’s Chicken. up to this day, i have many friends that loves manang’s chicken because they love how big, how budgeted, and how delicious every food selection is at this store.

Some Manang’s Chicken Facts and Tips:
1. Manang’s Chicken is Owned and Operated by Giabella Foods Corporation.
2. Manang’s Chicken was first offered December of 2012 at a public stall in Mercato Centrale
3. By June 2011, the first Manang’s Chicken store opened in Ortigas Center Pasay (here was where i discovered my love for the manang’s chicken)
4. The President and CEO, Jill Borja is a lawyer by profession, and selling fried chicken in weekend markets was only a hobby at first (INSPIRATION TO!)
5. Manang’s Chicken current stores: 1. Ortigas Center, 2. Katipunan, 3. Taft (Vito Cruz are), 4. SM Mega Mall , 5. Sm North Branch, 6. Glorietta 4 Food Choices, 7. Tomas Morato, 8. BF Homes, 9. Wilcon City Center, Visayas Ave
6. Mix and Match the chicken sauces to match your tastes (so that your food wont be too spicy, or too mild — Personal recommendation)
7. Order the Large Manang’s Chips and Dips and share with your friend, date, or family
8. Manang’s Chicken gets better with repetition! (TRUST ME ON THIS!)

so with that, ill just end with.. Thank you Manang’s Chicken for existing, and being part of my life!

— Behind Thick Framed Notes
1. Visit the Manang’s Chicken Website at http://www.manangschicken.com
2. Like them on Facebook : Manang’s Chicken
3. Follow them on Twitter and Instagram :  @manangschicken
4. Visit them now, and try their latest and old food selection so you can relate to my feeling!
5. Thank you Manang’s Chicken for making me try your latest food selection!

Chapter XVII : The Circle Hostel

After an amazing time at san fernando, we (Karyl, Aris and Myself) arrived in San Juan La Union to start our one and a half day vacation. we have a whole sunday planned ever since this trip was conceived – our plan to go surfing and be at the beach the entire day dominated our list.  in order to achieve our goals (since surfing costs approximately 400/hour), we agreed to look for a place to stay that is well within our budget and is a place wherein we can be comfortable, and not too ashamed to talk about or tell our friends about.

The first i’ve heard of the Circle Hostel was when i attended an event our company sponsored (Travel Massive Manila). For quite some time i have been really curious on what can be seen, or what is special about the place. My officemate Karyl then told me that she stayed at the circle hostel during one of her surf trips and further reinforced the curiosity as she found it to be an amazing place to stay at. lo and behold, the night of saturday (January 26) welcomed us with an amazing discovery – an environmentally attuned haven – and a place that i concluded to be ripped out of a page from a fantasy game (think Kilika of Final Fantasy X , or Destiny Islands from Kingdom Hearts).

Upon entering you’ll notice that the Circle Hostel is composed of different structures made entirely of wood (which i later found out to be the common area, the restroom/showers, and the sleeping quarters). for 400 pesos, you can enjoy a bed that is very much social friendly and environmentally sustainable (no rooms, just a personal space for you) – the sea breeze makes it impractical to wish for aircon even, the only thing that you may actually wish for is an additional blanket. for those more adventurous travelers who wish to be like cocoons whilst asleep, a 350 peso hammock rental can also be availed in Circle Hostel. (considering my size, and my sleep moves,  getting a hammock is a no-no!).

Why i fell in love with Circle Hostel

1. It is Affordable – in places like san juan, visitors are expected to be away from the hotel/inn/hostel for the entire day. why pay 1k plus for a room that you would barely use anyway? pay 400 for a bed, bring a padlock for the locker, and prepare to meet new friends, – as this hostel is a place where walls does not exist.. you are bound to make friends – making 400 pesos a cheap investment for comfort, fun, and socials.

(L) Stairway to the bunk beds, (R) my bed and personal space during the 27th

2. It is Eyegasmic!- appealing to the visuals. upon entering the area, colorful tiles surrounded by neautral colored pebbles will capture your attention. quotes and markings have been left by guests, hostel admins, to make the place more homy. every area is photo op worthy!

(L) View from the common area, (R) me playing around the common area outside grounds

(L) view from the gate (reception, residential, comfort room zone) (R)shot of me in the common area

3. Promotes Interaction – this is the place to be when you want to meet new people – – new friends guaranteed! when we were there last sat- sun, i felt i know the guests staying there at that time. heck, we even spent the entire afternoon together at bacnotan beach to surf, and was united when we opted to stay for more than two hours (more on this on my surf post soon!). i loved that all outlets are located at the common area, to increase the chances of making new friends, or hearing other people’s stories!

(L) at Bacnotan beach with friends we met at Circle Hostel, (R) common area shot

Circle Hostel does not only offer residential answers, it offers opportunities! opportunity to meet new people, to experience freedom and the feeling of not being confined by solid blocks, opportunity to escape the normal and relax. definitely the place ill return to when i have the urge to surf at la union again!

–Behind Thick Framed Notes

1. Follow the Circle Hostel in Facebook 🙂 –> Circle Hostel Main Facebook Page
2. Check out Circle Hostel’s Website –> www.thecirclehostel.com
3. Some photos by Me, and some by my ever present and loyal personal photographer Aris Suarez, check his blog out –> Aris’ Narcissus Chronicles