Adora's Move to Educate Everyone about the RH Bill

I know you guys have probably walked by Adora in Greenbelt 5 numerous times and have seen the new window display. I've done this a hundred times already. But I just really wanted to blog about it and one particular experience I had when I passed by the display a few days ago.

The New Display

Entrance to Adora

Adora in Greenbelt 5

I really like it that Adora is making an effort in letting people know about the RH Bill. I am PRO RH Bill because I believe education is the answer to our population problem. We just have to wake up and accept change. Like in Bangkok, they are supportive of their movement against AIDS and their population problem. They even have a restaurant that serves as a venue to let tourists know about the cause. Known as the Population and Community Development Association, they have the ever so famous Cabbages and Condoms Resort and Restaurant, which I was able to visit last 2009.

Me and Sam outside Cabbages & Condoms

Mannequins dressed up with condoms

What? No mint? Take a condom instead
Posing with Angel

Anyway, going back to the topic... I've seen a number of cars with bumper stickers for "Anti RH Bill." Whenever I'm driving, I just really want to bump my car into them because I am so shocked to see that there are still so many people who have a closed mind. But because I've always been trying to keep myself in the middle of things, I behave and keep my thoughts to myself.

These stickers are posted on several cars in the metro

But when I first saw the new window display of Adora, I was very pleased that this luxury brand was not oblivious to the developments in our country. I am very pleased with their decision to choose this as their new campaign. It really goes to show that they are not just a fashion brand.

The Shocker


On a normal Sunday a few weeks ago, I was passing by Adora and admiring the window display when I happened to overhear someone talk about the display. As pretty, tall and skinny that she was, I could not help but frown at disbelief. While passing by the store, she asked her friend: "Ano yung RH bill?" It was a huge shock for me because I reckoned she was someone who studied in an expensive university and she did not look young not to understand it. She was probably around 19 years old and was in college already. I was just really shocked that she did not know what the RH bill is. Amidst all the fuss about the RH Bill, where has this girl been?! Whether she's pro or against it, I think she needs to know what it truly is.

Makes me wonder... what do colleges teach kids these days? hmm....

A Taste of Thai at Silk

The other night, my dad and I were invited my an aunt to have dinner with them. We were supposed to eat at Dampa sa Libis, but since we got stuck in traffic, we settled with Serendra. Having too many restrictions on his diet, my dad decided we should eat at Thai at Silk.

The Menu

We got there early since my aunt and uncle were still en route from C5. Because my dad got hungry, we decided to order an appetizer dish while waiting for our dinner companions. We got the Paw Pla Thawt (Spring Rolls) because we wanted to make sure he would not eat any dish that consisted of sugar. A single order of this consisted of 8 pieces of Spring Rolls. True enough, it was not sweet but it did contain small bits of shrimp. So I decided to take my allergy meds after a few minutes because I started to itch. I found it a bit too oily so I settled with just one roll. Diebetics should be careful though as the sauce is sweet chili.

Paw Pla Thawt (P310)
Deep Fried Spring Rolls

Considering it was a Thursday, my aunt and uncle were stuck in traffic and had a difficult time waiting for parking. For this, they told us to order food already.

We got the Yam Plaa Dook Foo (Crispy Catfish Salad) because it was one of my dad's favorite Thai dishes.  Again, I tested the sauce. This was my big mistake. I dipped my spoon into it and when I tasted it, I immediately hated it (the sauce)! It was horrible, spicy and annoying! The salad would have been better with a sauce but the taste of its accompanying sauce stuck to my tongue and my spoon that my dad told me to swap with him.

Yam Plaa Dook Foo (P345)
Crispy Catfish with Mango Julienne Salad

The next order that arrived was very disappointing. 

I am a huge fan of Tom Kha Kai (Chicken Galangal in Coconut Creme Soup) so much that I make it a point to order the dish whenever I'm in a Thai restaurant. I even found a recipe for this and tried it one time. I really love this dish because I enjoy eating it spicy. In Thai at Silk, we asked it to be spicy. But when I tasted the dish, I did not savor any spice! It was just soup. Nothing special about it. To add to that, there were only a few pieces of chicken and no mushrooms!

Tom Kha Kai (P290)
Chicken Galangal in Coconut Creme Soup

We also ordered the Kai Phat Met Mamuang Himmapaan (Stir Fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts). I only got to taste a few servings of this dish because I did not like it also. It did not have a particular flavor that played with my taste buds. 

Kai Phat Met Mamuang Himmapaan (P345)Stir Fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts

To be fair, I did like their Khao Khluk Kapi (Fried Rice with Shrimp Paste served with Sweet Pork and Mango Julienne). Out of the dishes I tried in this restaurant, this was the only one I enjoyed. However, I still did not eat a lot because I was afraid I would have an allergy due to the bagoong (shrimp paste). I liked this dish because it was a symphony of flavors: sweet, sour and a little spicy.

Khao Khluk Kapi (P380) Fried Rice with Shrimp Paste served with Sweet Pork and Mango Julienne

Overall, I don't think Thai at Silk was worth the hype and the overpriced dishes. If it were any other Thai restaurant, I would have gladly paid that much for the dishes we ordered. Needless to say, this is the first Thai restaurant that I was disappointed with the food. I do like their interiors and their wait staff though.

the wall behind me was covered with this

I liked the dim light of the restaurant

Reading Anton's blog, I think the restaurant has not been able to improve their dishes. And considering that Anton ate there in 2006, they should have improved already! But well, we can't all be happy. I would return for the service and the ambiance. As for the food, I'll head over to Oody's, Banana Leaf and Jatujak any day!

Remembering My 2009 Bangkok Trip (Part 1)

A few years ago, my friends and I planned to go out of town for a weekend; but since we didn’t want to end up having a long road trip we opted to go out of the country. Since my other two companions have been in and out the country for more than three times, I suggested we go somewhere we all have never been in. Thus—Bangkok was our chosen destination.

Our original flight date was supposed to be on the last weekend of May 2009 since the two girls had to take exams—Foreign Civil Service and Engineering Board. But because of the bad news about the cancellation of flights in Thailand (November 2008), our parents were hesitant to let us go. My dad, for instance, wanted me to go to Vietnam instead. After that incident, we decided to let it rest for a bit and wait till it was alright to go.

By the start of 2009, my friends asked me again regarding new updates of our flight plans. I checked with PAL and found cheap flights for May. But since I was thinking of going to Culinary school, I looked for a different date. Luckily, I found $142/pax roundtrip tickets for Feb. 13- Feb. 16, 2009. After checking with my friends, we immediately booked the flight online and paid with my card.

At first, my dad did not have any idea that I was set for to go to Bangkok. Instead, I told him I was going to Vietnam—just as he suggested. I bought a travel book to study where to go and what to avoid—it was very helpful considering it was our first time in Bangkok and on our own (we didn’t get a travel package since it was more expensive that way).

Every weekend since January 16 (the date when we booked our tickets), my friends and I would get together and plan what to bring, where to go and how much money to bring. In the end, we decided to bring $ 150.00 each (excluding airport fees and our plane ticket). In the end, my dad finally agreed to me going to Bangkok.

February 13 came and we met at the airport at 7 am. Our flight was scheduled to depart 10:30 am and we would arrive around 12:30 but we boarded 30 minutes late and arrived in Bangkok around 2 pm Manila time (Bangkok is one hour late).

waiting for our plane

breakfast: Cupcakes via Mom & Tina

Econolight = no meals

Suvarnabhumi International Airport

Upon arrival, we headed to the money exchange and had our money converted to Baht. The rate was $1.00- THB 35.70. My dad gave me extra money (to buy shirts for my siblings) and I ended up with THB 8,440.00. After converting our money, we headed to the immigration line. It took us a while because all the lines were very long but we made it through without any hassle. We then got our bags and headed straight to the Departure area (to get a taxi) as suggested by the Hostel we had a reservation with. We avoided the “nice” people who offered us a ride to Sukhumvit Soi 1 (the street of our hostel) for 500 THB and proceeded to a cab which was a passenger was getting off from. We told him to turn on the meter and showed him a copy of the Thai script directions to our hostel. He said yes and we got in the car. The hostel, Soi 1 Guesthouse, advised that we would pay around 300-350 THB for the taxi but luck was on our side—we only paid 260 THB for the ride to our hostel.


At our hostel, we checked in and paid 1,050 THB each for 3 nights stay in a triple bed private ensuite plus a deposit of 200 THB for the room key. 

Soi 1 Guesthouse, our accommodation

When we got inside the room, I was a bit shocked since it looked like an ordinary dorm room with a double deck bed and a shower and only a curtain as a door. But considering we only paid 350 THB each per night, I’d say it was an okay rate. 

Sam & I, deciding who gets to sleep where

Our very own shower

After settling in, we got out of the room and faced the hostel owner, David and asked directions to Cabbages and Condoms.It’s a condom decorated restaurant that has movements to stop sexually transmitted diseases and population control in Thailand. 

A major part of our trip involved walking to our next destination

at Cabbages & Condoms

My next superhero costume?

We ordered the Moo Dad Diew, Kratung Thong and fruit shakes. 

Moo Dad Diew

Kratong Thong

Try their Banana shake! The banana alone is a real treat! 

after our late lunch

what? no mints???

After our late lunch, we rode the skytrain (Asok to Chit Lom) to go to Erawan Shrine. We saw some dancers doing a ritual prayer dance but were too shy to take their picture since the dance was paid by a local offering a prayer. 

the view of Siam from Erawan Shrine

Erawan Shrine

After Erawan, we walked to Siam Paragon and took a stroll, took pictures before calling it a day and headed to our hostel via the skytrain (Siam to Phloen Chit). We didn’t have any trouble looking for the hostel at all.

Siam Paragon Mall

are we lost??

the outside part of Siam Paragon Mall

Ocean World (just below Siam Paragon Mall)

that's Sawatdee-ka! the end of our day one in Bangkok