Lakwatserang Bulakenya: April 2014

Saturday, April 26, 2014

My First Contact Lenses

I'm afraid to get contact lenses since I'm not comfortable poking my eyes. But I really really want to try it so as they say, 'tiis ganda'. I first went to Executive Optical at SM North. They used the machine to get my eye grades L 400 R 250. I was surprised how they have gotten worse. Two years ago my grades were L 150 R 100 and now they're more than double! But the attendant told me maybe I was just lacking sleep because it can affect the measurement.

So the next day I made sure I had enough sleep and went to Executive Optical at Robinsons Malolos. They measured my grades at L 175 R 125 which was a lot lower than the first reading. They also checked the grade of my eye glasses and made me test the funny looking glasses they use to test the lens grades on you. They let me pick the color I would like for my contact lenses. I heard it's easier to use colored contact lenses since it's easier to find when you drop it plus they look cool. They gave me contact lenses with L 150 and R 100.

Executive Optical has the cheapest contact lenses and they come in a variety of colors, they are called flexware. They have contact lenses that lasts for 3 months, 6 months or 1 year. And they have discounts when you buy 2 pairs.

I chose the adore ocean blue which was already good for 1 year. It costs PHP690 for a pair of contact lenses, lens case and a small bottle of solution.

Now wearing the contact lens was a big question since it was my first time. The attendant was more than helpful to me even if it took so many tries. I was nervous and I was shaking and I kept closing my eyes and the contacts won't stick to my eyes. But after 10 years she was finally successful on putting it on me.

I have dark brown eyes so this is what I get when I had the contacts on. It looks black from afar and you wouldn't really notice it's blue if you wouldn't look closer which is good since it wouldn't attract too much attention.
It feels weird at first but feels more natural the longer it stays in my eyes. Removing it was easier than putting it on.
Tips:
Contact lenses will stick more to your fingers if your fingers are wetter than your eyes.
For colored contact lenses, the darker side should be facing out.
People with astigmatism would need torric lenses. They have limited grades with color for torric lenses. My friend bought clear ones at EO for PHP790 for a single pair which is already good for a year.
You can check out other colors here:
http://www.eo-executiveoptical.com/product-category/contact-lenses/

UPDATE:
Forgot to mention they come in sizes. The one I bought was doll eyes which was a bit bigger than your normal iris. Most of my friends say its quite creepy the first time they look. So ask first if you want the regular ones or the doll eyes thingy.

Ideal Vision: Fresh Look Contact Lenses

Clear Contact Lenses

Friday, April 18, 2014

Home made MAKI \(^_^)/

I've been craving for sashimi and maki since we last ate at Vikings. I don't know how to make either but thanks to Google I was able to search some recipes.

What you need:

     2 cups Japanese Rice (can be replaced by ordinary rice)
     4 tablespoons Mirin Japanese Rice Wine PHP134 for small bottle (can be replaced by vinegar)
     1 pinch Ground White Pepper

     Nori PHP90 for 10 sheets
     Ripe Mango
     Cucumber
     Crab Stick PHP142 for 1 pack
     Japanese Mayonaise (can be replaced by ordinary mayonaise)

     Soy Sauce
     Wasabi

   Bamboo Sushi Mat
   Wooden Spoon Paddle

How to prepare the rice:

1. Cook 2 cups of Japanese Rice. I wasn't able to find Japanese Rice so I replaced this with ordinary rice.
2. Put 4 tablespoons of Mirin (Japanese Rice Wine) on the rice. I was able to buy this at Robinsons' Supermarket. I was told it can be replaced by Vinegar but I'm not sure on the measurements though
3. Put a pinch (or 2) of Ground White Pepper.
4. Mix it well with the wooden spoon paddle.

Preparing the Maki:

1. Slice the cucumber, mango and crab stick into strips.

2. I cut the Nori in half because I wanted it just bite sized. Nori is also available on supermarkets.
3. Put the Nori on the edge of the mat shiny side down. There's a cute bamboo mat and paddle set we saw at Daiso for PHP99 but we actually used a place mat PHP40 instead ehehe.
4. Put a thin layer of rice on top of the Nori.

5. Put some mayonaise. I used ordinary mayonaise.
6. Put the mango cucumber and crabstick strips on the middle.

7. Roll it into a cylinder using the bamboo mat.

8. Slice the maki roll.
9. Serve with a mixture of wasabi and soy sauce for seasoning.

From step 4 you can flip the Nori so that the layer of rice is facing the mat but you'll need to put cling wraps on the mat so that the rice won't stick. This is one of the distinguishing characteristic of California Maki (rice outside and nori inside). Put the fillings then roll. Sprinkle roasted sesame seeds if you want. You can also experiment on the filling. You can replace mango with avocado or pretty much anything you like. The second batch I made, I replaced the Ripe Mango with Green Mango and it was also good. In fact I liked it better.

As you probably noticed most ingredients were improvised to the ones you can easily find in your kitchen but hey It tastes good, I learned how to make maki and my craving was satisfied. :)

Reference:
http://www.yummy.ph/yummy-lessons/prepping/details/how-to-make-california-maki

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Isdaan Floating Restaurant: Laguna

Isdaan Floating Restaurant has 2 branches. One at Tarlac and the other in Calauan Laguna were we went.

The place was nice and really unique. Good for taking pictures.

You can rent a boat to go around the place for PHP20 for 3 persons.

There were musicians going around serenading you with folk songs while you eat. You have to tip them PHP20.

There were mascots going around too. You have to tip them as well.

Donald Duck

We weren't sure if he was Mickey or Mighty Mouse ahaha

Boodle feasts are available on the menu but there were only certain areas where you can eat them. We were already settled and the place was nice so we didn't feel like moving.

So we ordered separate dishes. Cheapest boodle was around 4k for 8persons. Our bill was only around 3k for 8 persons.

4 na kalderong kanin

Sinigang na baboy

Inihaw na Isda

Tinupig na manok

Hipong luto sa gata

Bicol Express

Mango Shake

The food was all good specially the Bicol Express and Tinupig na Manok but the servings were small and the price was expensive.

One of the highlights of going here is the Tacsiyapo wall. You can buy plates (PHP20) or mugs (PHP20) or even a TV Set (PHP2000) to throw on the wall.

I thought it would be easier to throw a mug since it was smaller but it didn't even reach the wall. Although it felt really good when I threw the mug and it shattered (evil laugh). So I tried it again this time with a plate which was much easier and I was able to hit something on the wall. It's a really good stress reliever.

We were already tired from the long trip so we didn't get the chance to tour the whole place. The ambiance was nice, the food though expensive was good. And of course I was able to experience throwing plates at the Tacsiyapo wall. :)

Related Blogs:

Isdaan Floating Restaurant: Tarlac

Vikings: SM North

On your marks! Set! Go! Haha It was fun racing with people on the escalator. We wanted to dine at Vikings for my friends' birthday but it was already fully booked at their SM North branch. I managed to book for seats at SM Marikina but it was too far from the office that they dont want to go. So we took our chance and decided to come as walk in customers. I was the first one to arrive 5minutes before 10am and the escalator was still closed. People where pooling waiting for it to open. At exactly 10am the guard whistled which signalled the opening of the escalator. I felt like a tribute waiting for the signal to grab my items at the Cornucopia (which is the wait listing at Vikings).