Awesome Ramen at Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen

A few weeks back, I was invited to Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen to sample their dishes. Ikkoryu, located at the East Wing of Shangri-la Plaza, specializes in Tonkotsu ramen. It is one of the more popular restaurants in the mall - the waiting list gets crazy during peak hours. When I first tried out Ikkoryu with my family, we waited for half an hour for a table.

Chic, modern, and trendy are the words that best describe the restaurant. You will be greeted by striking red chairs and wood panels hand-painted with writings in Japanese. The place is quite compact but it didn't feel cramped.

Sweet Staycation and Spiral Feast at Sofitel

One of things that I have been longing to do is to have a staycation. Technically speaking, a staycation is defined as staying home and doing leisurely activities. The scope of the word has widened though, going beyond the walls of one's house.

Just recently, I had my first staycation experience at Sofitel Philippine Plaza. It is a five-star luxury hotel in the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex and is popular for its highly-regarded Spiral buffet.

Two beautiful ladies clad in traditional terno greeted me as I entered the property.

Grand. That was my initial reaction when I first saw the hotel's lobby. It was not the in-your-face luxury kind of ambiance, it was understated and elegant. The atmosphere reminded me of the Four Seasons Hotel and Resort in Bangkok which I loved.