Pinoy Travel Gypsy goes to the safari...

Just got back from a week of adventure and bliss in lovely Sri Lanka, with the boyfriend.
So many stories to tell . . . so many pictures / videos to share . . . and so many lovely memories to recall.

But for now, hope you enjoy this quick home-made video of our Yala Safari experience.
10 hours on a Range Rover jeep . . . a lot of waiting, and enduring the crazy heat . . . waking up at 4AM . . . but every minute is worth it!!!

More to come, my loves!

Or click on my youtube site...

Traveling is about sharing and paying the good vibes forward. 

So feel free to email me if you want to know about great deals, got questions + need help on your travel plans, or you just want some travel inspiration. 

- Pinoy Travel Gypsy

One fine dinner @ CUT by Wolfgang Puck

Since the world-famous master chef and restaurateur Wolfgang Puck opened CUT at the Marina Bay Sands, I have been meaning to go. But I always thought that a meal in this fabulous restaurant somehow needs a special celebration.

So when one of my best friends visited me, I knew that this is more than enough reason to finally check out the third installment of this critically-acclaimed, award-winning steakhouse of the same name in Beverly Wilshire.

And the place just lived up to all my expectations. Deo and I had such a wonderful experience - the modern and sleek aesthetic, friendly and warm staff, fabulous and cozy ambience...and of course, the contemporary and delectable menu. Everything was just pure divine.

Definitely, that one fine dinner at CUT won't be my last...
Photo Credits: Amadeus Baraan, http://www.thegrandeurtraveler.com/


The restaurant has a contemporary twist on the classic steakhouse menu.
They have a good slelection of steaks, including the Australian Angus 
45-day dryaged steaks and of course, the Japanese Wagyu meat. They 
also have a good range of house-made sauces such as their 
signature - Argentinan Chimichurri.

Waiting made more fun...The menu, just like the rest of place, features portrait 
shots of celebrities like Brad Pitt,Denzel Washington, Jack Nicholson, etc. 
I got Helen Mirren on my menu!

Terrence Howard, my date for the night. :)) 

The array of bread was just soooo good. But I had to be careful with this...needed to have enough room for my beautiful steak!

They have a good selection of red wine. Deo settled with good ol' 
Merlot,and I "experimented" with a choice of red from Italy.

Deo's Merlot!

 Maple Glazed Pork Belly, Fuji Apple-Yali Pear Salad, Sesame-Orange Dressing. 
This appetizer was so so sogood! I would go back to CUT just for this! :))

A closer look at this beautiful appetizer. This is only for those with
high tolerance for cholesterol!!! Definitely not for the faint hearted.

I like CUT's sleek and contemporary setting...and cozy ambience!

Check out the extensive international wine choices!

Deo's steak! U.S.D.A. PRIME, Illinois Corn Fed, Aged 21 Days. New York Sirloin 340g.

CUT's steak is grilled over hard wood & charcoal. Then finished under a 1200-degree broiler…

My steak! Australian Angus, 300+ Days Grain Fed, Rangers Valley, Dry Aged 45 Days.
New York Sirloin 340g.

With Deo, one of my bestfriends. We've come a long way since our uni days! :))

CUT is a perfect venue for a lovely dinner with a group of friends, or just with your date!

The fruits were flown all the way from a California market! Just what we needed - 
a light dessert - after sucha big meal.

Macarons - a special treat from the Chef. Merci!

This is the bar right by the entrance of the restaurant. So while waiting 
for your food, you can have a cocktail or two. Tried their cocktails 
on a previous visit, and it's worth a try. Kind pricey, but then again, 
this is Wolfang Puck's restaurant in Singapore.

CUT by Wolfgang Puck

2 Bayfront Avenue The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands (Basement Level)
Singapore 018956

+65 6688 8517

http://www.wolfgangpuck.com/

Traveling is about sharing and paying the good vibes forward. 

So feel free to email me if you want to know about great deals, got questions + need help on your travel plans, or you just want some travel inspiration. 

- Pinoy Travel Gypsy

My Mt Kinabalu Adventure - Making it to the Peak!!!

I can still vividly remember the day that I made it to the Peak of Mt Kota Kinabalu. October 28, 2011.

I remember waking up at 130AM, after just four hours of sleep (that was interrupted every now and then by someone's snore concert! hahaha), and asking myself if I should continue with the climb. Not only was I  worried about my altitude sickness (thinking of not properly breathing in the middle of nowhere scared the hell out of me).

But also because I have never such thing (or anything close to it) in my entire life.
Plus it didn't help that I had no idea what to expect - except that I would be walking and climbing in the dark.

So I just prayed, and tried to remain calm and strong. Deep in my heart, I really wanted to finish what I started. There was no way I would just stop after accomplishing so much...nowhere to go but up!!!

Photo credits: Rob MacDonald

It was freezing!!! This made the climb definitely more challenging...and worse for
my altitude sickness. A lot of times, I had a hard time breathing and had to stop + recover.

It is important to do the climb with a strong support group...when I was having a hard time,
Brad's encouragement and cheers helped a lot. Oh! And of course, because of all the climbing
stress, it's perfectly normal to turn into a screaming and whining little monster. So you and your 
companions should be prepared for this "transformation". Lol.

We had a lot of breaks...though we could not really take our time as we only had 3-4 hours
to make it to the top. Otherwise, we would miss the sunrise and delay our trek back. 

We finally made it!!! I cannot explain how tough it was for me to do the morning climb with
my altitude sickness. But nothing could stop me...my strong mind and determined spirit
pushed me to the top!

Nature at its best. Definitely one adventure I will never forget. It was such an amazing feeling
to have conquered KK!

The KK Crew, with our awesome guides. Being on top at 4,095m (13,435ft) above sea level, 
was one of the most amazing experiences I could ever have in this lifetime. But I must admit 
that without my crew, and especially my guide, there was no way that I could have made it. 
So yes, please don't think twice about giving extra cash to these hard working 
guides!!! Their encouragement and strength (to carry your bag! lol)
would make a huge difference!

We had to rappel down. A bit scary at first but such an awesome experience.

I remember asking myself how I managed to climb that spot a few hours earlier - in the dark!!!

The view was breathtaking. The whole experience was amazing.
Definitely worth every step, sweat and pain! Would I do it again? Nah, once is enough! :))

Our view on our way back to the base camp!

Traveling is about sharing and paying the good vibes forward. 

So feel free to email me if you want to know about great deals, got questions + need help on your travel plans, or you just want some travel inspiration. 

- Pinoy Travel Gypsy