#Kape Neoncio

I love that my work is just 30 minutes away from home. I get to sleep as late and wake up late J, I don’t need to rush or fight my way into a public transport, no traffic (except Christmas season and road construction) and most important no pollution (a super plus for someone with asthma like me)

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But working outside the metro also means – less to non existing social life (since almost all employees are mostly BAHAY-TRABAHO-BAHAY) and less to none decent place to enjoy a cup of coffee.

Of course if I wanted a decent cup I could always go Starbucks – nearest store is  45 minutes away (SM Dasmariñas, Cavite) and is crowded on most days and if I really want quiet there’s Tagaytay but then I’ll have to travel longer and going home late can be a problem especially if you don’t have your own car.

So yes living and working in the south especially in the “non city” side has its disadvantages.

KAPE NEONCIO

Again the power of the internet. I was randomly browsing google for “coffe shop in G.M.A cavite” hoping to find something new, one hit caught my attention HEYPLACES. I was like a COFFEE SHOP in GMA cavite seriously? 

Wasting no time I went to their FB page to check out out the place – crossing my fingers  and hoping its not another tapsihan place. Their FB page look promising and I cant believe I missed it being only steps away from my Vet’s clinic!

The Place – located near UPHL (university of perpetual help) so unless you’re living near the area or you’re a student of the university one won’t probably know such place exist because there is no visible sign along the road (no  wonder I didn’t notice).

Interior is REAAALLY NICE! I love how well they decorated the place with bits of pieces (mismatch furniture actually) but manage to make the whole place cozy and homey (yes that’s how comfortable it gets).

my Lakwatsera buddies having fun with the reading materials

Choose from their variety of menu

memory wall (owner posted pictures of actual customers)

One major selling point for me was the fact that its not crowded – I usually came after office hours so I guess it’s a good time for me (cant say about the early morning to lunch hours but  I’ve heard they’re quite popular with the students also)

The Food – finally a decent cup of coffee to end my day. I don’t really have high expectation when it comes to local coffee shop but Kape Neoncio exceeded my expectation. I ordered caramel macchiato and honestly I  was expecting a “vending machine” kind of coffee but its surprisingly good :).

must try! canbonara and butter caramel frappe 

another favorite

Their pasta was more than okay. I personally like their Garlic and mushroom pasta. They also offered various Frappes – they even incorporated two of my favorite candies Butter caramel and Haw-haw into their drinks which makes it my favorite.

For a small resto/ café they offered variety of choices from pasta to sandwiches, dessert, tacos, rice/combo  meals the students can enjoy and afford.

The Price – I don’t know about the others but price is quite reasonable (personally speaking). Pasta dishes ranges from Php. 55 while coffee and frappe starts at Php. 75. They even have a budget lunch buffet during Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Besides they serve food in large portions. I ordered dinner one time and was surprise by the large serving.

The Service – ordering food can take some time. Crew is really friendly and accommodating.

Kape Neoncio offers a different dining experience from your usual over the counter food. A place where one can enjoy a good cup of coffee without going to the mall or travelling to Tagaytay, eat and bond with friends over dinner or if you just want a quiet ME time over coffee and dessert I think this is the perfect place to go. :) 

Love, Life & Laugh: "That special Someone"

"Running away from love? or Love just can't find you?"

Another good friend is about to get married and as usual I was again tapped to help out with the preparations. I love weddings and happy endings! I find it really brave for someone to want to spend the rest of their lives with another person. I imagine its not easy - scary even, but as they say if you really love a person you would want to "naturally" spend every minute of it with that person. sweet diba? Totoong may "FOREVER!"

And while I am soooo happy for them (honest!) I cant say I'm happy for myself because like every wedding planning, meeting, whining - whatever the bride feels like doing or feeling at the moment, somehow (every time) they manage to lecture me on why the earth I'm still single which will eventually leads to a matchmaking game! Seriously? I'm practically NBSB (no boyfriend since birth) a fact that I'm proud and not so proud of (depends on the situation). 

But since my friends feels so happy right now that she's marrying "the one" of course its natural that they want their remaining single friends to also find their "forever". And for that I'm will do my best to be sport about it. Hahaha.

So while hanging out on my newly found favorite local cafe, looking for inspiration on how to help them make their wedding extra special, I actually get to think what she said about "me running and hiding from love" that she wants me to be happy - and to be so I'll have to try to mellow down a little, be still a little and yes be nice a little... I've had this conversation with her before (its a favorite topic really) and normally I would just laugh and shrugged my shoulders at her but with her fiance (who is a pastor by the way) double tagging me. I, of course had to give sensible and acceptable answer: that I'm not running or hiding from it, it just that maybe its not my time. That while I'd love to be in love I cant just make my self feel and pretend to be just so they would stop worrying about me. That whether or not I will find love I'll happy :)

So while having my yummy HAW HAW frappe suddenly words are playing - juggling inside my head that I just had to write it down and came up with this:

Dance in the rain with someone you love,walk under the moonlight,

play under the sun, dream under the stars.

I'd like someone who'll say I love you too and mean it.

To have someone watch over me, not because I am weak

but because he cared.

I'd like to be the source of someone's smile.

the reason he believes in life.

I know that there will always be a rough time...

But I'd like to be someone,who can make the fight worthwhile.

If not make it easier.

The cause of someone's happiness.

To be able to speak in silence, know that he will never leave.

Be the woman who brings out the best in him.

even tho I am at my worst.

Be more than a friend but not less than a woman.

I know life is hardly perfect. I know I'm not!

I pray for someone who will show me the real him,

who would accept me for who I am and for what I choose to be.

I pray for someone who respects life.

Someone who will put God between us to keep us strong.

And I hope to be that person he prays for.

Hulugan Falls (Daytrip)

I’ve been browsing my facebook news feed when I saw a video post about Hulugan Falls, and because I don’t get to see that body of water often I was pretty smitten so I shared it on my wall for my friends to see.

I should have known better. Because with the kind of friends I have sharing that on my wall is as good as inviting them to go. So a week after, my Lakwatsera Buddies (Marie, Kina, Tin-tin) as I call them are off to go see that Falls up close.

Hulugan Falls is a new and fast growing attraction, thanks to social media, Located in Brgy. San Salvador, Liusiana (pronounced as Lu-sha-na) Laguna. Since its new I could not find relevant blogs as reference as to what to expect how to get there etc. I had to back read all the comments from the FB post in hope to find atleast one blog link, luckily there’s one that even contains the Brgy. Captain number.

And because I was the one who “shared” the link it mean I get to make the IT for our daytrip. Though I’ve been to other places several times already commuting was never on my list of talents so I was like how do I get ourselves there? Bur with patience and literally going to the jepneey and fx terminal I ws able to get info on how and where to get there.

Our IT is very simple. Leave early (just in case we got lost at least we still have time to adjust), and get there.

We agreed to meet at 5am so we can catch the first trip to calamba and from there a bus ride to sta. cruz then another jeepney ride to san Salvador. We arrive at 8am (I think). You have to register twice 1 at the Brgy. Tanod station (no fee just sign your name and you’re good) 2^nd is at Cap. Which you will pay 10 pesos for the registration fee (cheapest I have encountered), all visitors I required to get themselves a guide (no shortage of guide here – the guide can even choose who they want). There is no fix rate for the guide – so pls. be considerate.

Just Got Here 

Registration

Cath with the yummy bibingka!

Hulugan falls from Cap's House is probably 45 mins to an one and a half walk first 30 mins is a road construction (fyi.. I talked to another guide and he said the gov’t city or whatever plans to make the area a park ergo the road construction so it will be vehicle friendly and visitors won’t have walk very far to reach the falls) the rest is a pretty much easy trek through the Forrest.

We reach our destination around 10am ( I think) and yes it was a sight! The tallest falls I’ve seen so far – I’ve been to two: Kabigan Falls in Ilocos and Nagsasa Falls in Zambales. Mist surrounded the whole place which makes it somewhat “magical” for me, there’s rainbow everywhere! Thus, the photo ops begins. We couldn’t even care less if our camera is not water proof!

After two hours or so of photo ops and swimming we decided to head back and see if we can visit Talong Aliw (which we didnt). Alvin the guide asked us which way we wanted to go; Go back to the same way we got here via forrest trail which will take us more or less one and a half hour or the 30 minute but "delikado" way. Not wanting to waste time we chose the "delikado way" which turns out out to be a hell of a climb! The trail is so narrow and not stable, all ascend with more or less 45 degree which means we literally had to crawl up.

had to crawl - my knees are hurting already