Thai Traditional Massage at Ton Ton

I'm a big fan of massages. Being awake for almost 24 hours a day, having dual jobs, attending to my home-based accessory business, taking care of my family (lolo, sister and nephew) and going gaga over a budding relationship can be very BAD for my back.  When I feel that I can no longer breathe and every inch of bone and muscle in my back aches, that's a sign that I need to have someone "rub" my body - specifically my back.

I got a free voucher at Ton Ton Thai Massage Center (c/o Ms. JunJun. Thanks! =) which ends today so I invited my friend, Val, to come with me since I do have an extra voucher that she could use.   Ton-Ton Thai Massage has many branches not only in Metro Manila but also in provinces like Subic and Cebu.  But since I live in Makati, I decided to have my massage at Ton Ton Salcedo Village branch.

We arrived at the center and was asked to fill up some forms.  Then the guy at the reception area asked us if we want body, back or foot massage.  Since Val and I were both stressed, we decided to try the one hour-back massage.

Ambiance: The rooms are divided by curtains and you get your massage on a thin mattress on the floor. You have to wear a pajama that they provide.  The rooms are dimly lit and the temperature is kinda' okay.  Aesthetically, the place doesn’t look appealing but it was okay considering the cost of their services – P300 per hour for all the massages, may it be back, body or foot.

Service: Ton Ton Massage uses the Thai Massage technique which is very much like Shiatsu.  There's a lot of stretching involved plus pressing of pressure points which can be very relaxing.  You'll be wearing your pajamas all the time (Thank God!) and they don't use any lotion or oil (Thank God again!).  I've always liked dry massages over the use of oil and other massage chuvaness! =)  Since we got the back massage, we thought that concentration will just be on our backs. But fortunately, our masseuse touched other areas as well such as my legs and my head. I super loved the way "Aya" rubbed my nape.  It was so relaxing =)

The experience was okay but I felt a bit sore when I got home.  I guess it's because of the way the masseuse used her elbow to rub all the "lamigs" in my back =) tsk. tsk. tsk.  But hey! It was a free massage afterall so I guess I just have to endure the pain =)

My Favorite MJ song

Since the day Michael Jackson died, I was in deep thought of what my favorite MJ song is.  Songs like Gone Too Soon and Man in the Mirror are definitely in my list but my most favorite of all is the song Ben.

Ben is a pet rat.  This song is one of Michael Jackson's favorites too, and it was his first #1 hit as a solo artist.  It doesn't speak of  cheese, garbage and rodents.  It's a beautiful song that speaks about friendship.

I don't know about you but I usually get teary-eyed when I hear this song. The pureness of MJ's voice (he was 14 when he recorded this song) and the heartfelt lyrics will make you feel all the sentiments you have for your best friend.

***

[caption id="attachment_455" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Michael Jackson - Ben"][/caption]

Ben, the two of us need look no more
We both found what we were looking for
With a friend to call my own
I'll never be alone
And you, my friend, will see
You've got a friend in me
(you've got a friend in me)

Ben, you're always running here and there
You feel you're not wanted anywhere
If you ever look behind
And don't like what you find
There's something you should know
You've got a place to go
(you've got a place to go)

I used to say "I" and "me"
Now it's "us", now it's "we"
I used to say "I" and "me"
Now it's "us", now it's "we"
Ben, most people would turn you away
I don't listen to a word they say
They don't see you as I do
I wish they would try to
I'm sure they'd think again
If they had a friend like Ben
(a friend) Like Ben
(like Ben) Like Ben

***

Moon Cafe

I read a lot of blogs about the restaurants in Cebu as soon as I found out that I'll be going there with my friends.  One name that has been in almost all the blogs that I've read is Moon Cafe.  It's a mexican restaurant which offers great tasting mexican food at a very affordable price.

Since my friends and I stayed at Marriott Hotel, we decided to try the Moon Cafe restaurant in Ayala Center Cebu (which happens to be beside the hotel =)

We loved everything about the place.  The interiors, the menu,  food and the fan! =)





The price of their food is very affordable.  A chimichanga costs P80 and a family pizza costs only P250!

[caption id="attachment_447" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Chimichanga"][/caption]



[caption id="attachment_449" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Carbonara"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_450" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Shrimp Pasta (I forgot the name =)"][/caption]

The Shrimp Pasta was so good! We almost finished the serving when I remembered to take a picture of it =)

[caption id="attachment_451" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Pizza Margharita"][/caption]

We had a great time at Moon Cafe! It was the perfect ending to our 2-day trip in Cebu.

I just had to take a picture of this very pretty fan =)

Larsian Barbecue

My recent trip to Cebu made me realize how popular barbecue is.  My friend suggested that we should eat at Larsian Barbecue, located at B. Rodriguez St. near Vicente Sotto Hospital.  I wasn't ecstatic when I saw the place as it looked like a wet market with lots of "ihaw-ihaw."  But since I read in most of the blogs that trip in Cebu won't be the same without trying this out, I told my friend "cge na, try na nga natin..."

[caption id="attachment_437" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Larsian Barbecue (dining area)"][/caption]

We didn't walk inside anymore as the floors are wet and sticky so we ordered from the first store near the entrance.

[caption id="attachment_438" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Jane getting our sticks =)"][/caption]

The barbecue is so mura.  It costs P5 per stick so we got 20 sticks of pork barbecue.  Jane got some isaw also and balunbalunan. We also tried their chicken barbecue.  Our tour guide said that a lot of people dine in this place at night especially foreigners.

[caption id="attachment_439" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Lots of sticks waiting to be grilled =)"][/caption]

I really like how their order of rice looks like.  They call this "puso" - rice wrapped in banana leaves (not sure if banana leaves. hehe. basta leaves un =)

[caption id="attachment_440" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption=""Puto" "][/caption]

The serving is so small. It's like 1/4 of our 1 cup of rice here in Manila.  So I had 4 servings of this.  Wahahaha! =)

[caption id="attachment_441" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Sherry enjoying our lunch"][/caption]

Ooops! Just a reminder, the manongs there will give you a roll of plastic for you to use when you eat with your hands =)  Even the plates are wrapped with plastic - so that they don't have to wash the used plates. Hmmm...

[caption id="attachment_442" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Happy People =)"][/caption]

Over-all dining experience - Good! =) Yum! =) Now I know why it's a must to eat in this place.