🍓 Candied Fruits – Taiwan’s Sweet & Shiny Street Snack

Wait — if you still have a little space left after all that savory street food, make sure to try Taiwan’s famous Candied Strawberry (糖葫蘆, táng hú lu). These shiny, sugar-coated strawberries are hard to miss in Ximending Night Market — glistening under the neon lights like tiny edible jewels on a stick! 🍭

They looked so irresistible that we just had to buy one — even though we were already completely stuffed from fried chicken, beef cubes, and milk tea. We picked the candied strawberry skewer, thinking it would be the perfect sweet ending to our night. Since we were too full to eat right away, we decided to take it to go and save it for later. Spoiler alert: that didn’t go as planned. 😅

🩷 First Time Mom at 44 – My Journey of Faith, Miracles, and Motherhood

🌸 A Long Overdue Story

I know it’s long overdue, but I still want to share how it is for me for becoming a first-time mom at 43.

It took me years to finally sit down and write this — not because I didn’t want to, but because I wanted to relive every memory and emotion that came with it. Becoming a mother at my age wasn’t part of my plan, but it turned out to be God’s greatest surprise for me.

💉 Affordable Pregnancy & Baby Vaccination Tips in Metro Manila – 2025 Guide

🩺 My Journey to Finding Affordable Vaccinations

When my OB-Gyn first told me I needed to get vaccinated during pregnancy, my initial thought was, “Oh no, another hospital expense!” 😅

I knew how important vaccinations were — both for me and my baby — but the prices at hospitals were too much for my budget.

That’s when I started doing my own research. I checked online, asked around, and visited a few clinics. After several calls and price comparisons, I found a much more affordable option through Hi-Precision Diagnostics (HPD).

🚩 How to Get to Mercado del Lago & TLC Village (C6 Taguig) — 2025 Guide, Fares & Tips

Practical steps, real costs, and honest tips so you can plan a stress-free lakeside food + lights outing.

Mercado del Lago (a.k.a. “Mercato de Bay C6”) and TLC Village (Taguig Lakefront Community Park) sit side-by-side along Laguna Lake Highway (C6), Lower Bicutan. They make a perfect combo: eat at the floating nipa huts of Mercado del Lago, then stroll to TLC Village for lights, a playground, or an evening concert.

Below is a detailed, personalized travel guide with multiple ways to get there, estimated fares, timing, and practical tips — written to be copy-paste ready for your blog.

💖 TLC Village Taguig – A Lakeside Park with Lights, Food, and Love by the Lake (2025 Guide)

 💖 TLC Village Taguig – Lights, Love, and Lakeside Strolls

🌆 A Spontaneous Stop on Our Way Home

We discovered TLC Village purely by accident. It was Valentine’s Day, and we had just finished eating at Mercado del Lago nearby. On our way home using our e-bikes, we noticed a lively crowd across the road — lights, laughter, and the sound of music filling the air.

Curiosity got the best of us. We parked our e-bikes at the free parking area and decided to check it out. What we thought would be a quick look-around turned into a lovely, unplanned date night. ❤️

🥘 Mercado del Lago (Mercato de Bay C6 Taguig) – Floating Food Park with Nipa Huts & Lakeside Dining (2025)

🌱 A Personal Restart, A Local Discovery

Hi there. It’s been a while.

This was supposed to be my first post after a long break. I’ve been quietly dealing with a few personal battles — and though I’m not completely okay yet, I’m slowly finding my way back. ✨

In between moments of stillness, I found myself revisiting old travel memories, sorting through photos, and slowly reigniting that familiar spark for writing again.

We had this simple local adventure while we were still busy with our bazaar. One long holiday gave us the perfect chance to explore — and it led us to a peaceful lakeside food park I’d never been to before, right here in Taguig.

🏝️ Anawangin & Capones Islands: DIY Budget Camping Guide 2025

Updated 2025 • Compare DIY vs group tour for Anawangin & Capones Islands. See real costs, sample itineraries, and travel tips for your perfect weekend island escape.

💡Quick Answer:

“If you’re traveling with friends (2–6 people), DIY is the best way to explore Anawangin and Capones — it’s cheaper, more flexible, and gives you that raw island vibe that makes Zambales unforgettable.”

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🌅 Why I Wrote This: My Anawangin & Capones Adventures

My first trip to Anawangin Cove and Capones Island was with a group of mountaineers years ago — back when there were no resorts, no cottages, and just pure wilderness. We pitched tents, cooked over charcoal, and watched the stars with the sound of the waves crashing nearby.

I loved it so much that I went back — this time DIY style with two of my closest friends. No tour groups, no fancy setup — just us, a rented boat, and our weekend backpacks.

Anawangin’s pine-framed beach and Capones’ historic lighthouse still have that rustic charm, even in 2025.

🌴 Calaguas & Bagasbas on a Budget: DIY vs. Travel Tour (Complete 2025 Guide)

Updated 2025 • Practical steps, real costs, and honest pros & cons so you can choose the best way for your island escape.

 

💡Quick Answer:

“If you can join a small shared DIY group (4–6 people) — your cost will be similar (or lower) than a joiner tour. If you’re traveling alone and have to rent the whole boat, the group tour is usually more budget-friendly and far less hassle.”

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🌅 Why I wrote this: DIY vs Group Tour

Calaguas Island is paradise — white sand, turquoise water, and quiet nights under the stars. Bagasbas Beach adds surf vibes. 

The biggest question: Do you DIY and handle logistics yourself, or join a joiner tour and let someone else manage the details? Below is a clear, side-by-side breakdown so you can choose. 

🌙Ximending Night Market Taipei 2025 – Best Street Food & Travel Guide🍡

🌙 Exploring Ximending Night Market — A Feast for the Senses 🍡

One of the things I was most excited about during our Taiwan trip was visiting their famous night markets. Taiwan is known for its vibrant evening scene — streets filled with delicious food, trendy shops, and a lively mix of locals and tourists. Compared to the ones in Manila, Taiwan’s night markets are cleaner, more organized, and packed with unique, mouthwatering street food.

🏞️ Exploring Xinshe Castle, Lavender Cottage & Sea of Flowers – A Fairytale Escape in Taiwan

There’s something truly enchanting about Xinshe, Taichung — a place where misty mountains meet endless gardens, and fairytale-like spots seem to appear around every curve of the road. During our trip, we spent a full day exploring three of Xinshe’s most magical destinations: Lavender Cottage, Xinshe Castle (The Summit Resort), and the colorful Sea of Flowers Festival. 🌸🏰🌺