Looking for Instruments

Some of us who are still reeling from the wonderfully amazing Aerosmith concert (oh Stevie, you're so fine, you blew our minds, yes Stevie!) last week must be feeling a need to rekindle music lessons and fascinations. Those looking for guitars might want to check out Sta. Cruz (Manila) or Cebu... and those looking for electric ones would do well to visit RJ stores (they offer lessons too). Ebay sellers and other online shops can also provide complete drum sets, jet tone mouthpieces as well as unique, indigenous instruments.

We surely live in happy, opportunity-allowing times.

Countries with Tough Visa Applications

Getting a permit to enter or visa to other countries can be a breeze, although in some cases it depends on your country of origin. However, there are some countries where getting a visa is complicated no matter the color of your passport. This is why most people prefer to engage the services of immigration and visa consultancy companies such as Global Visas which know the ins and outs of the visa application process of most countries. Before you give in to the lure of cheap accommodations or decide that travel to exotic places is just the right move for you at this particular juncture, find out first what you’re getting, or not getting, into.

The visa application process differs from country to country. In some, such as Angola and Russia, th process requires a multitude of documents, such as medical tests, letters of invitation, financial sureties, educational background, or employment history. Small mistakes in the application form can mean a rejection, and in the case of Angola, approval takes a long time.


Cuba is off-limits to most Americans, especially if the passport is stamped by a Cuban Embassy. Most Americans may also be denied entry into North Korea, which doesn’t even have an embassy in the US. Getting a visa for Saudi Arabia is not difficult, but chances are if you don’t know what you are doing you are applying for the wrong kind. They have very specific visas for different types of visitors, and women especially will be subject to close scrutiny.


Iran has no embassies of its own, so visa applications are handled by other countries such as Pakistan in the US and Switzerland in Tehran. To get a visa, you must have an Iranian sponsor, and if you are not careful, you could end up in prison for any number of violations. The case for Brazil is that their visa application process can change from day to day, and there is no fixed timetable and if you are smiling in your passport photo, you can kiss your chances of approval goodbye.


It is expensive to enter China; the visa costs $140 for a single entry if you apply yourself. Additional fees apply if you send a representative, but they do process quickly. However, if your medical history indicates you have suffered from a contagious or mental disease, you will probably be denied a visa.
The US and the UK are very difficult you get a visa for because they have strict security measures in place. Even if you do get a visa, you may still be turned away if they find any reason to suspect you are
not what you represent yourself to be, especially in post 9/11 US. Students are particularly given a hard time; in the UK, foreign students must have employment waiting for him or her at the end of their studies coming with a government-registered employer.


If you like to travel to other countries, getting a visa is a crucial step in the process. Most people do not have extensive experience in applying for visas, so doing it yourself is probably not going to end well for you. At the very least, you will have wasted your time and money, at the worst you could be turned away at the airport or detained. If you are considering taking the plunge, consult with professional visa assistance companies like Global Visas and avoid headaches and problems when you travel.


Global Visas has won for its clients the most difficult battles as far as visa facilitation is concerned, such as immigration to Australia. The expertise of the Global Visas team allows it to deliver the best quality service in the lodgment of spousal, fiancée, tourist and working visas. The company holds the distinct advantage of having personnel in destination countries as well as constant updating of visa regulations in these areas: the USA, Canada, UK and other parts of Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asian territories. Visit http://www.globalvisas.com/ for more information.

Cool Yourself Through Food

The summer heat is harsh and upon us... but instead of making ourselves prisoners of electric fans and air conditioners, how about cooling ourselves naturally through food?

First, drink plenty of water, preferably room temperature (or just slightly cool). See, the closer your inner body temperature is to the temperature outside, the more comfortable you will be.

Next, partake of food and drinks that are known for their cooling effect on the body. First on the list is buko juice/young coconut water. Eat lots of watery fruits like watermelon, melon and most citrus ones. Check out what's in season during summer and also enjoy bananas and plantain. Cook viands with extra helpings of onions and enjoy broths with ginger. All these will help cool your body.

Avoid diuretics like coffee.

One other way is to eat less meat and dairy, as these are harder to digest and makes our body burn more.

Yet another way, which is ideal for those of who are overweight, is to actually just eat less, as digestion also burns up the body. Just eat light meals and drink a beverage made from water with some calamansi/lemon squeezed in it. It helps make you feel full longer without the calories.

Where to Get Musical Instruments in Manila

For those who don't want to be bothered by actually going somewhere, there is always Sulit for you. Some musical instruments there, I hear, are sold cheaper than what you usually see at music stores in malls.

However, if you're adamant that you must test your guitar's  cool xlr to 1/4 or want to be taught to tune your new violin, then here are some areas/shops you may want to visit:

Go to the vicinity of Raon in Quiapo (or you can start from the Sta. Cruz area going to Quiapo). Just ask whoever to direct you to the streets where music stores selling musical instruments, accessories, amps and speakers are. My relatives even buy their flutes and saxophone from there because it is cheaper.

Basements of malls usually house the music stores selling instruments and accessories.

Sta. Mesa in Quezon City is also popular for having many stores that sell musical instruments.

And then there are RJ stores that are sure to offer the best of quality you can buy.

3rd Balik Bukid on April 28

As if the last Balik Bukid wasn't fun enough, they are now offering a Mud Dash and Up Dharma Down concert as well :)

And just in case you need extra incentive... I'd like to remind everyone that the kiddie zipline rocks!

Going to Marinduque the Door to Door Way

Right now, the airport in Marinduque is still being expanded and improved. Hopefully, it will be done soon so flights can resume. Trust me, you will always prefer the 30-minute flight over the road/RoRo trip.... unless maybe you're with a group of friends who like roughing it and intend on bringing  A LOT of stuff.

Those who don't have cars can also opt to just board buses at Buendia... but I am not so familiar with the fares for that option.

What we did last Holy Week was go via what they call door-to-door, wherein a van fetches you from your home and delivers you to your accommodations in Marinduque (those going to Bellaroca are probably fetched at a certain jump off point).

A usual door-to-door van's maximum capacity is 16. They insist on 4 persons occupying the three rows of seats while 2 people sit with the driver in front. The one we used charged P800/passenger. You can also rent their van for P11,000 for an exclusive trip (say, you don't want other passengers coming with your group... or your cargo will occupy the space of the entire van).

For those with private cars, the charge per car at the RoRo ferry is P2,900 (with 2 passengers free, the rest will pay P220 if Balanacan port bound and P340 if Cawit bound). Cawit port is currently closed though so all ferries dock at Balanacan.

Now, for those who want to hire a van for a day tour in Marinduque... it will cost P2,500. Boat hire to Tres Reyes Islands is P1,500 (or P300/day depending on the season).

*~*

Going to Marinduque and coming from Manila meant that we were among those who were picked up first (around 4 PM). Unfortunately, at 10 PM, we were still fetching passengers from Laguna! This isn't always the case, it will depend on where the passengers are coming from and if the driver will be fetching many passengers from one place or just one to two passengers from each point. Sometimes, you'll be lucky... sometimes, you'll want to just go back home.

Usually, the door-to-door travels at night and catches the 12 midnight ferry in Quezon, and you will be in your destination in Marinduque between 3-5 AM.

Going back to Manila immediately after Holy Week proved a bad idea for us... because there were so many vehicles waiting to be ferried that we were stranded in the passenger terminal building for over 12 hours. We were fetched at past 2 PM and were in queue at 5... but got to board a ferry at almost 9 AM the following day. Talk about hassle! :)  And since we're from Manila, we had to be patient as the driver dropped off half of the passenger load which can prove exhausting to ones already so tired (and with kids too).

*~*

There's now a park and sail option at the Quezon port. You can leave your car, board the ferry and just ride a jeep at the port to your destination.

Others coming from Marinduque also have the option to just ride the jeep to Balanacan and then board a door to door van there which will bring them to their doorsteps in Manila. Just not sure how much the fare is for that setup.

*~*

Come to Marinduque so you'll know how wonderful the springs and lakes and mountains and beach strips that await you :)

Tramway Bayview Buffet

I forgot already when the Tramway Bayview Buffet opened along Roxas Boulevard (but I'm pretty sure it was after I had my second-born christened in 2010, because we still inquired from the Chinese restaurant that occupied that building then but opted for the cheaper Aristocrat packages). Hubby and I have always wanted to try going there and compare if it offered the affordable but quality buffet (like the one we enjoyed from Tramway Garden Buffet) but we realized we couldn't do buffets anymore. Haha.

But FIL chose the restaurant for his birthday dinner, and so we found ourselves revisiting old Tramway favorites.

I guess the cash only payment option would deter some people but hubs and I decided that this is a great option for celebrations like christenings because it's so cheap :)

I think there are slightly more options now (like, two kinds of soup, a salad bar, a pasta/noodle bar etc)

but the old favorites are there (unfortunately for me, I also can't eat a lot of pork anymore so I feasted on their pancit more, instead of the sweet and sour pork)

and yes, more dimsum!

Anyway... try Tramway Bayview Buffet if you want to be filled to bursting without making a huge dent on your wallets.

Tramway Bayview Buffet
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM / 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
1600 Roxas Blvd. cor Layug St., Pasay City
536-0401 / 536-0402
roxas at tramwaybuffet dot com

Possible Father's Day Gifts

I know that Mother's Day will be happening first before we celebrate our dads, but women generally have a harder time shopping for men because they are less vocal and specific about such things.

So, what are some great ideas for our beloved fathers and husbands?

For the working men, you can check out mens briefcase>
, belts and wallets aside from a wardrobe overhaul. Let's help them look snappy.
For the couch potato, you can get them external hard drives or cloud accounts to store all those movies in.

For the geeks, maybe a trip to the Dinosaur Island in Clark, Pampanga will tickle their fancy and re-awaken the child in them. That or a trip to the Mind Museum (who cares if you don't have kids).

For the hearty eaters, get them Groupon deals in the many buffet offerings in the city. Or take cooking classes and surprise him instead.

For the hubbies who have really been working so hard... and you feel they need a break... get him and one or two buds an overnight trip. A Pinatubo trek or wakeboarding stint at CamSur are sure to refresh.

Just steer clear of tools and mugs this coming Father's Day (not that there's anything wrong with those). Let's be more thoughtful for the men we love.