How to Make the Perfect Tropical Mocktail - sprinkleofvanillasugar.wordpress.com

Today's Food Friday feature is How to Make the Perfect Tropical Mocktail  by Zoe and Mia of Sprinkle of Vanilla Sugar. I love fruit mocktails! They're delicious and refreshing. And because fresh fruits are used, they have natural sugars and flavors, making these fruit mocktails extremely healthy too!

Hibiscus Popsicles - www.sewhistorically.com

Today's Food Friday feature is Hibiscus Popsicles  by Lina of Sew historically. Haven’t tasted hibiscus flavored treats yet, but this looks yummy! It's vivid red color looks so gorgeous too!

Aside from the rides and shops for souvenirs and refreshments, a number of restaurants are also housed at Ocean Park Hong Kong. One of which is The Bayview Restaurant where we chose to have our lunch as we were waiting for the rain to stop.


The place was packed when we arrived. We were in the waiting queue but not for long. We got to score a table for 3 at the far end of the restaurant. It would have been more fun though if we were seated near the windows so we can indulge with the awe-inspiring view of the sea. But it was a bit foggy as it was still raining, so I didn't mind. :p
The Bayview Restaurant is a self-service type, so we immediately checked out their dishes in the ordering area situated near the entrance once we got our table settled.

We headed next to Ocean Park Hong Kong after our morning city tour. Just like during our Disneyland tour, my excitement got higher and higher as we were nearing Ocean Park, but not until the rain started to pour. :(


Yup, it was raining hard when we arrived at the Ocean Park which is why I only got to take this photo of the welcome arch at the end of our tour.


I even thought that the park's operation was put to a halt because there were barely some guests and most of them were already leaving the park.


With the rain seeming to last for the rest of the afternoon, I already convinced myself that we'd have to call it a day and just get back to our hotel. But Mark, being the ever positive guy that he is, insisted that we still go on with the tour. We bought some disposable raincoats and secured our things in the lockers at the main entrance and then started off with our tour.

Date of visit: April 8, 2014

Read full story HERE :)

After our breakfast, we went back to our room to gear up for our day activities and then went to the hotel's lobby to wait for our bus and tour guide.


The weather was a little gloomy when we left the hotel and then it started to rain on our way. I was just not sure if it was because of the weather, but we just stayed on the bus while it roamed around Hong Kong.

It was also a bit foggy which is why we weren't able to get a nice view of the surroundings while we were on the bus. Good thing I was able to take note of a few destinations which I thought we can go to on our own. These were the shopping areas in Tsim Sha Tsui and Kowloon, and the night market in Mongkok. Thanks to our tour guide, Kristi, for the info. :D

Kristi, Our Tour Guide

Date of visit: April 8, 2014

Read full story HERE :)

We had our dinner the night before at Cafe de Coral. And because I enjoyed our dinner and I already knew that we'd also be having our breakfast there, I somehow scouted the menu and took note of what I'd be having for breakfast. Haha! Apparently, they serve different sets of dishes for breakfast, just like what most restaurants do. And why haven't I thought of that? Haha!

Bun with Butter, Twisty Macaroni in Oxtail Soup, and Scrambled Egg with Milk - HK$ 22.00
with Freshly-brewed Coffee,  Tea, or Soda - additional HK$ 3.00

Our hotel accommodation in Hong Kong came with free breakfast for each guest...or so we thought. Well yeah, the breakfast wasn't totally for free unlike what usual hotel accommodations offer. We were just given HK$ 20.00 coupons per person per day which we may use in Cafe de Coral for breakfast on each morning of our stay.

We all got tired from our Disneyland adventure so we just had our dinner right after we dozed off at our hotel room.

It was already late and our feet were already begging off for another long walk, so we decided to dine at Cafe de Coral in Rambler Plaza which is just next to our hotel.


It was already nearing closing time when we got to the restaurant, but there were still a number of diners in sight.

We got back to our hotel after a whole day of fun at Hong Kong Disneyland.

Rambler Garden Hotel was where Missy Diva Travels booked a room for three for our stay in Hong Kong. Although our hotel was not located at the heart of the city, it is overlooking the Rambler Channel waterfront and is just a few minutes away from the airport and very near the MTR.


After confirming our reservation, we then went up to our room. Upon seeing the hotel's receiving area, which was just plain-looking, I somehow had an idea on what to expect in our Superior room.

After our breakfast at the airport, we met with our guide who accompanied us to our hotel. But because we were still too early for check-in, we just had our luggage secured and then we went off to enjoy our free time.


And because we got the whole day all to ourselves (our scheduled tours starts on the second day), we decided to make the most out of our free time in Disneyland!

Date of visit: April 7, 2014

Read full story HERE :)

Since Mark came home a few months back for his month-long vacation, he would tell me every now and then about how he wants us to go on an out of the country vacation, to Hong Kong specifically. I of course didn't take that seriously because 1) he has already been to Hong Kong in 2012 and 2) going out of the country entails a lot of planning and preparation and I guess you know by now that we both suck at that. Haha! I know I told you that I always want everything planned but I just don't know how to do the planning haha! Well yeah I'm weird like that! Hahaha! :p

With Mark's Mom at the Hong Kong International Airport

So the days passed and we already got to enjoy different getaways (which were all unplanned) and everything turned out to be so much fun. And although I was also hoping that we'll push through with the Hong Kong trip, we still got no specific plans so I just told myself to not entertain the thought. It was just after our Anilao getaway, barely a week before Mark gets back to UAE, when I finally knew that he was serious with the out of the country vacation.

Mark and I were at our house one Tuesday afternoon when he suddenly felt the urge to hit the beach. Being someone who always wants to plan things, I initially wanted to beg off, but since I also didn't want to get into an argument with Mark (and I was also excited to hit the beach), I just gave in. :p


We were choosing between Subic and Batangas, but because we've been to Subic countless of times already, we both agreed on the latter. After searching the net for some resorts, we booked and paid online and then found ourselves all set to head to Eagle Point Resort in Batangas the day after.

Date of visit: April 2-3, 2014

Read full story HERE :)

After visiting Regina RICA, we went on a 15-minute drive on the main road and about 5 to 10-minute drive into the mountain side until we reached Daranak Falls.


We all were excited as this would be our first time to swim into fresh water.  We pulled in into the parking lot and the lush greens surrounding the place added up to the excitement. After paying for the entrance fee and picnic shed, we walked onto the bridge leading to the falls right after the entrance.

Date of visit: March 28, 2014

Read full story HERE :)

It was just an ordinary day when Mark suddenly thought of heading out for another adventure. My dad, who's fond of asking our whereabouts from time to time (yeah he's sweet like that :D), did his morning routine of asking what we (Mark and I) plan to do for the day, so I told him that Mark wanted to visit JE Camp in Tanay, Rizal. I guess my dad was also up for an adventure that time that he thought of going there too with the whole family.


And so there, after breakfast, we found ourselves all packed up and set for a family bonding. :D We arrived at JE Camp in Tanay, Rizal, after around an hour-long drive from our house.

Mark accompanied me to my cake deliveries in Manila one Sunday morning. We didn't have any plans for the day so we immediately drove back home after. It was a hot Sunday and we were already on our way home, when Mark suddenly thought of heading straight to Tagaytay. But because it was already past lunch time and considering the traffic that we'd have to brave, I just had to burst his bubble and discourage the idea. :p


I guess the summer heat flamed up Mark's urge for a weekend getaway that he again thought of another idea. He thought that it was a perfect time for an afternoon dip at Club Manila East in Taytay, Rizal. And because it's just near Antipolo, I gave his idea a chance. :)