Palm reader in Manila

People in Manila mostly associate palm reading, tarot card reading and so on to a place called Quiapo, but for me it is so cliche and they charge people a hundred pesos and more, they also force people to buy their products and tell the people to make money sacrifices so that they can offer prayers for them. Besides Quiapo is not a really good place in manila, lots of bargains alright but you have to be really extra careful here with your personal belongings. 

When I was still small my mom would often go to Quiapo and have her palm read, sometimes she would also have mine read. My mom would also go to chinese palm readers/fortune tellers? which costs higher than the traditional filipino type. 

Anywhooo, as I was growing up my mom eventually stopped going to those palm readers/ fortune tellers. I don't enjoy having my palm read by those strangers I feel like they suck the good vibes in me haha =P

Now I just have my palm read for a little guidance and for fun, so let me just share this to you guys. There is this manong (how we call a much older man here in manila) who was discovered by my aunt to be a good and kind palm reader. He stays near robinson's place ermita near Phil General Hospital (PGH), he always sits under this big tree with his umbrella. You can easily identify him he always wears a cap and a white polo-shirt. 

Before, this manong doesn't charge people who comes to have their palm reading, so it's up to the person if he/she is willing to give any amount. But now he charges Php50, well it's still reasonable because a man has got to eat and live right? He looks at your palms and he also asks you for your birthdate.

I had my palm read by this manong for four times already, I started way back in 2007 when I asked if my US visa will be granted and he said much likely it will be, it would be better if I wear blue on my interview date. And so I did, no harm done right? And yup, what he said did happen. So after a few more years I went back to him, have my palm read just for a little guidance and entertainment coz it's fun to hear about your personality from this manong.

Cebu City

Upon arriving at the Mactan International airport you can opt to ride the yellow metered taxi located just outside the exit (by my previous experience it costs me around Php 320-moderate traffic from the airport to Ayala) or you can choose to ride the ordinary metered taxis you just have to cross the road to the arrival waiting area and walk up the ramp (it costs me Php 210.00-no traffic from the airport to Fuente Osmena Circle).

There are a lot of pension house in Cebu, some of them are old so you better check trip advisor so you can see some pictures. The pension house or low-cost hotels (Verbena, Gran Tierra) that I got to check out was within the area of Fuente Osmena they costs Php700-1500 per night, most of them have hot-cold showers, cabled TV, two towels, tissue paper and a tiny medicine smelling soap but no toiletries. Check-in 2pm and check-out at 12pm. Early check in is allowed prior room availability. Plated breakfast are sometimes included, you may choose from Filipino or Continental breakfast.

I only got to visit Ayala mall, Casa Gorordo, Yap-Sandiego Ancestral house, Fort San Pedro, Philippine Taoist Temple and a public bearch resort in Mactan.

I would like to stay in Be-hotel at Mactan which is near the beach and has a pool, they got this chic modern rooms around Php6,000 per night, sadly I'm on a tight budget so I chose to stay at Parkhill hotel which cost Php1,200 per night with plated breakfast, a comfy quiet room. It's a five minute walk away from the main road but the location was just ok for me. What i dislike about this hotel is the front desk service, only one attendant who entertains phone calls while checking us in the hotel so it took time for us to be checked into our room. When the morning comes the front desk kept calling our room while we are still sleeping, picture this scenario phone ring twice then silence....rings again then silence...rings three times and I picked up but no answer....I called the front desk frustrated by the calls just to find out that she wants to know what time we will be having our breakfast. You can also check out Islands hotel if you don't mind the little space, this hotel brand is well known for it's T-shirt souvenirs.

Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House PHP 50.00 entrance fee

*No picture taking allowed in Casa Gorordo, entrance fee is PHP 40.00

Fort San Pedro PHP 30.00 entrance fee

Philippine Taoist Temple Church

The tourist/ guest car park is located at the (bottom) main entrance, if you can walk up hill you may do so I prefer this because the view is better and you can pass by the park view. Just be sure to wear your most comfortable shoes =) No entrance fee, but no picture taking of the Saints inside the temple.

Mactan beach during a cloudy day, not so enjoyable I prefer the beach at Boracay fine white sands and clean water. 

Entrance fee for beach swimming is only PHP100.00, additional PHP 100.00 for pool swimming. You can also rent cabanas, tables and chairs. No corkage fees. Water activities are also available.

If you are not the nature loving type of person you won't enjoy the place. I like nature, I do, I enjoy the serene view, fresh air but just not the add-ons like creepy worms that fall down the leaves to my bag, big ants marching around the barks of the tree, tiny insects that feast on my arms and legs, SEEing dogs swim in the water =P I know the water is not perfectly clean, but still I acknowledge that people are still way clean than animals may it be a pet or wanderer.

Still I can say its worth the experience but not something I would pay a huge amount for (^^,)

Beauty Tip #2

Beauty Tip #1

Everything veggie

My own pesto pasta: Bell pepper, veggie meat, pasta, mcormick pesto powder

 CAFE DOLCE: located at Banawe cor Del Monte just opposite Figaro coffee shop

Strawberry Milk Shake

Passion Fruit 

Curry Omelet shrimps

Steak Panini

They also sell these artificial flowers