Cafe Bialetti near the University of the Philippines: Quaint Alternative to Starbucks

This is the Bialetti Cafe somewhere in UP or Teacher's Village in Quezon City. It's just a small establishment that's big enough for small groups of people who just want to chill out with friends and hang out. It's right inside the village near the University of the Philippines (UP) and the Ateneo University where students and teachers alike live and breathe so it's an easy place to visit. Businesspeople and office employees find this establishment to be a fine place to relax or to have small casual meetings.

The price of coffee offerings of Bialetti are competitive yet still reasonably cheap, which makes it a second favorite to Starbucks which has a branch in nearby Matalino St. It's a franchise, so you can expect a lot of fine coffee products here. The staff of Bialetti is small which may require waiting for an order to arrive, but hey, it's a cafe! You're expected to hang around a bit to talk or do whatever it is you do while in a cafe. You'll find the water served at Bialetti fragrant with flower petals. It may not be the kind of water kids will enjoy, but it's a real treat apart form the usual fare of coffee!

What are tabliya balls?

So you're a fan of coffee and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, eh? Here's one mug you can combine the two. It's the Wizard of Oz "It's All about the Shoes" mug. It's fine piece with a classic appeal featuring the emerald shoes in the story! Order the Wizard of Oz mug here.

Cheap Visitors? Get into it!

Longganisa of Taal, Batangas in the Philippines

Pictured here are longganisa, a native sausage from Taal, Batangas in the Philippines. Here they are as they appear after cooking. Stir-fried, they serve as a satisfying meal, especially when served with rice. Different regions in the Philippines are known for their own version of longganisa, which originated from Spain centuries ago. As a former Spanish colony for 300 years, the Philippines adopted Spanish cuisine and longganisa is one prepared food that's kept its popularity over the centuries.

Longganisa is basically ground meat which may be pork, beef, or chicken stuffed inside intestines which are tied at the ends with a piece of string or reed. The size of the longganisa depends on the kind of animal intestine used. Tradition dictates whether each will be long, short, or balled. In Taal, Batangas, the longganisa sold in markets are dry, chunky, and meaty. They are sought by people from all over the Philippines for the distinct sweetness.

This is a t-shirt inspired by Abe Froman Sausage King of Chicago, from the classic movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. If you're a fan of sausages, hotdogs and Ferris Bueller, then order this fine cotton shirt here!

How to cook Ilocano Lauya beef broth dish

Cheap Visitors will get you more web sales!

Fantasy World Castle in Lemery Batangas - Diokno Road Landmark

Cars coming to and from Tagaytay City that pass along Diokno Highway in Lemery Batangas can't fail but notice a fantasy Medieval castle standing majestically by the road. Travelers who see it for the first time blink and say, “I didn't know there was a Disneyland in the Philippines!” Well, they are correct! There is no Disneyland in the Philippines, but there is the Fantasy World Castle, which is a kind of exclusive amusement park generally for members and condominium owners within the facility.

Taal Volcano Tagaytay - 42"W x 28"H - Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys 

 Tourists who aren't members of Fantasy World are said to be able to enter by paying a fee for a minimum of 10 persons. It used to be P1000 but you never know how much the fee is now unless you go there. You can of course, ask a member to accompany you inside for free. It's a common error to say that the Fantasy World Castle is in Tagaytay City. The truth is that it's in Lemery, Batangas.

Philippines, Tagaytay Mouse Pad

The Fantasy World Castle is something of a curiosity for many people since it's not really open to the public, and yet it's a known landmark along Diokno highway. Strangely, it always seems to be empty. Unlike other amusement parks, you will see no rides around the castle (at least not yet as of this writing) and no stores that sell anything. There's just the castle which always seems to have its doors closed. Because of this fact, people - kids mostly - wonder what's inside. Is there a lovely princess in one of the towers waiting to be rescued by a handsome prince? Unlikely, but few people know that the Fantasy World Castle was used before as a set for a local film based on the classic 1904 children's novel, A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It's also been used for shoots of several fantasy television series, like Majika.

The Rough Guide to the Philippines