Mishelley Gee

     Saturday. The time of the week when I get to wake up late and enjoy every waking moment of this short life a bit more . And by moment I mean typically the simple things that most people just fly by without savoring...including the slow sipping your morning cup of heaven.      As I was about to put my usual grind, that is Vietnamese coffee, into the machine, I noticed the bag of Sumatra Mandailing on the counter and had a quick change of heart. I tore the top gently and smelt the oh so good aroma it gave out. Bliss. Ah how joyful was I!      Sumatra is one of the three islands of the Malay Archipelago in Indonesia, including Java and Sulawesi. A number of Indonesian islands were formed by volcanoes ( fact of the day !). I think the nutrients from the soil makes it super ideal to grow coffee! The name Mandailing is an ethnic group in Indonesia and are found in the northern part of the island of Sumatra. It is not a place gu...

     Flores is a part of Eastern Indonesia and one of the areas in Flores which is famous for producing a distinct kind of coffee is Bajawa. Have you ever wondered what Bajawa means? This word is actually derived from two different words. Bha for plate and Java which means peace.      The coffee plantations in Bajawa are situated 1300 meters above sea level and the coffee here is grown organically. That probably is the reason behind the fragrant aroma and the extra kick it gives! Generally speaking though, the higher the coffee plantation, the better.      And so, months ago Lawrence went to Indonesia and got me bags and bags of coffee that made me tear up with incomprehensible joy! Like you, I'm also a coffee addict. I can't say lover because it's more of an addiction! One of the many was this, Flores Bajawa and I only found the strength to rip the package open because it pains me to do so. The packaging is just too pretty! ...

     Kopi Temulawak (Curcuma) Lawrence got me this from Bali, Indonesia and my taste buds were jumping with joy. This is Arabica coffee + ginger  + curcuma (turmeric) +  cocoa. The blend is quite unique and interesting. I've never tried anything like it! It took me a while to get accustomed to the taste but it was pleasing to the senses as a whole. To give you an idea, just think - the bitter taste of coffee plus the rich taste of coca infused with ginger and turmeric. This one will give you a different kind of coffee experience for sure! ❤ Michelle  ❤

Anomali Coffee: Sumatra Mandailing and Flores Bajawa

     A couple of weeks ago, Lawrence traveled to Indonesia and before he did, he asked me what I wanted. I seriously couldn't think of anything so he told me he'd bring me some good ol' coffee and boy was I happy!!! Take a look at these!

     The weekend was drawing near and as always, trying out a new coffee shop was going to be the highlight of it all. I initially planned on going to a cafe in Banilad since I've been eyeing it for months now but my colleague ( hi Jet! ) told me about this cafe and the name just caught my attention.      Hello everyone. Meet Devil's Coffee . Yes, you heard the name right!   A cafe that doesn't portray all cutesy and innocence. ಠoಠ We braced through the crazy weekend traffic and excitedly jumped off the car. The place was quite one-of-a-kind as it had a beach house-kind of feel The bright red color brought life to the plain, unvarnished wooden floors and dark mahogany sliding glass doors. I liked because it looked modern and refreshing(◣∀◢)ψ    If you don't want to have coffee then have some beer! You can choose among Brew Kettle, San Miguel Pilsen and San Miguel Light. They also have fresh fruit shakes, j...

     Coffee is an essential part of my daily life. In other words, I absolutely cannot do without coffee. We have all experienced days wherein even our coffee---needs coffee. Especially on Mondays when everything feels like a drag!      Let's talk about instant coffee. Don't get me wrong...instant coffee is good when you need a temporary mood lifter. The problem here is that when your caffeine tolerance reaches a certain high, you simply cannot settle for less because, in my case, I have noticed that whenever I do, I get headaches, I get sluggish and it's like I have a huge boulder over my shoulders. To cut it short, I'm already dependent of coffee. On a scale of 1 -10, I'd probably say that I'm on an 8. I like my coffee black but I haven't reached the point wherein espressos and free flow coffee have become a thing.      So during my lunch break last week, I stopped by Family Mart and saw Kratos . The cans somehow reminded me of Mon...

     Hanoi, Vietnam - This tantalizing city is a must-go for people who thirst culture, tradition and undeniably delicious food.      Working 9-5 everyday, I'd say traveling is one of the best, well I bet, the best   way to break the hard ice. I absolutely dread routine. And wow oh wow this trip spiked the energy and excitement within me!      A week after Lawrence's birthday, we were all ready for Hanoi! It was winter and superrr freezing at about four to eight degrees. This place is wet and humid on most days but temperatures drop drastically come January! What a big struggle it was at the beginning for someone who was so used to tropical weather! But why let the weather get in the way of an awesome adventure, right? That was the least of my concerns! It's time to set forth and just get lost in this city whose history is ever living. Hello from Lawrence and I!

Hello I'm back! It's been forever, right? I'm still working on the Hanoi post (for five months??lol)  ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ  and while I'm on that, I just want to share this lovely new cafe that made rounds online a early this year. Only about two weeks ago did we decide to try it out! In the outskirts of Cebu City lies this humble cafe. Crate Cafe. As you know, a lot of cute artsy coffee shops have been sprouting here and there. I've noticed they more or less have similar themes. Big teddy bears, double deck beds, pink and baby blue walls and the like. Personally, I don't want that kind of atmosphere. I prefer one that's like breath of fresh air, new and interesting! So, thank God for this! It's not that far from Lahug. It'll probably take you around 10 minutes to get to this place. It might be a little bit of a struggle if you don't have your own means of transpo. But cabs and motorcycles can get you here minus the stress. No worries! ...

Vietnamese coffee is meant to be relished and enjoyed to the fullest.  If you're the person who can't always afford a moment to sit back and chill, then maybe you can enjoy this kind of cup some other time. Vietnamese coffee is not to be rushed for brewing it takes time. A month ago, Lawrence and I went on a trip to Vietnam and returned with some goodies, a Phin and coffee beans of different varieties  Phin is the metal filter they use for brewing. I looked this up online and it costs around USD 7.00 - USD 10.00. That's around PhP 315 to 450. I bet costs cheaper in Vietnam (well of course!). You can try this with other brands. The process is basically the same. :) Today I'm going to show you how to make black Vietnamese coffee! Hurrah! There's some sort of science behind this so just read on my dears. (char!)

Hello friends! It's me again! I just want to share this photo with you. :) With me in this picture are Myrtle, Nilay and Lawrence. Nilay showed us how to make Turkish coffee and I'm very excited to tell you about it!  ♥ ❣  ❦ ❧   Posting real soon.  ❣  ❦ ❧ -Michelle

Nothing like having a date with the one you love in a far away place. hihihi :)

September 25, 2015 The day we said good bye to amazing Phuket.      Our flight was still late in the evening. We got up a bit earlier than usual, had breakfast at No. 6 (a recommended restaurant by trip advisor) and went for a morning dip at the beach.The backwashing of the water left fine, white bubbles on my feet as they rolled back. The water was restless (just as our feelings were!). Running merrily to crash against the water and letting the waves wipe us onto the light copper colored sand, we did nothing but kill time. Chillin' in our room :)

Tick tock.          It was Friday, the 18th of September. After 10 years, this was going to be my first trip outside the Philippines. Last time it was with my mom, now it's with Lawrence. In a nutshell, this trip is extra-extra-extra-super-duper special for me as I 've been longing to visit Thailand ever since FOREVER. Whew.      To kick off this upcoming trip, we bought beer and vodka and merrily drank our sans souci Saturday away. By the way, this was my first real vacation. In the hospital, seniority complex was a common thing that we had to cut vacations short. I've always despised it. Checklist please: 1. monopod (Now I know why people are raving over this thing. It was so useful!) 2. Swim wear (I ordered one online. Yep, I was THAT excited. LOL ) 3. Money (We saved a couple of thousands in exchange for USD. We should have bought some when the exchange rate was low. Lesson learned.) 4. Sunblock 5. An adventurous heart (tri...

Hello folks! Long time no...write. Heehee! When you juggle so may things it's hard to let your imagination tick. Now let's all get back to the main point of this super late post. I'm just going to make this short and quick! Barako Haus. Location: Maria Cristina Ext.. , Cebu City Open from 7:00 a.m - 12:00 mn Wi-Fi: available Landmark: Beside Baseline Residences and next to a salon near Sacred Heart School- Hijas de Jesus I had been eyeing this cafe countless times. Everytime I passed by (it's just a five minute walk from my place), it always aroused my caffeine curiosity.

     Right in the middle of bustling Cebu lies a coffee shop that is a secret hideaway from it all. Just at the corner of Elizabeth Pond is Bintana.  Bintana   means window in Filipino language. Compared with other contemporary cafes here in Cebu, this place offers more of a shabby chic and homey atmosphere that's sure to give you a good warm snug. The entrance

     Rain drops keep falling on my head!      It was a cold and rainy Saturday here in supposedly sunny Cebu. The wind was blowing so heavily that it seemed like I got a completely different hair do each time it gusted! (lol) Briefly speaking, there was a typhoon. :)      We went to SM to check out some accessories for our babies Kiki and Kit aka Isuzu and Kia. As we were casually strolling, we felt out caffeine levels slowly dropping. (pahkkk!) I felt a wee bit drowsy and a headache was underway. So to The Ridges we left!      We usually would have coffee time at a Off Roads but The Ridges had a lot of new interesting shops and cafes that we decided to try out a different chill out this time - for a change. Walking around this small commercial complex, we stumbled upon Beanleaf. Now, I've gotten a taste of their coffee a few months back but I guess I was way too drowsy to enjoy and savor my cup (as I had it late at...

     The first thing that pops in my actively imaginative mind when my hear about Manila is.. .grim, traffic, and duping taxi drivers. So when we went on quite an unforeseen business trip to the metro, I wasn't too excited for it but I pinned my hopes for the best, always!       Our flight was at 4:30 in the morning. We booked tickets and a room a week before. It wasn't entirely a vacation as we were set to go back to Cebu the next day. We landed before 6:00 a.m at NAIA Terminal 3. NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) T3 was way different from the last one in terms of size and cleanliness. Terminals 1 and 2 were a little congested. T3 was capacious and clean as a whistle. Sleepy faces at MCIA.      We were not in favor of riding a taxi ( ala budget traveling style ) so we took the bus. Lawrence suggested we visit Baclaran church before breakfast. I felt thrilled because it was going to be my first time visiting su...

     Weekends are very much awaited especially if one has had a high pressure and rough week. The busy-week aftermath usually compels me to just sit back and take a few moments to breathe! In this case, for as long as I wish. Saturdays and Sundays mean no dirty, ink-stained fingers, no lessons to prepare, no waking up early and no rushing to finish my jolting cup of joe. In a nutshell, the weekend defines relaxation.      Resting at the corner of E-Park Building in Talamban is Oxford Brewing Co. This secluded and nonchalant cafe is the perfect place to do away from the tumult of the city. It is far enough from the main road to give you that coffee ambience feel but not very distant so you can easily spot it the moment you pass by.