/**/ March 2014 - Travel + Decor + DIY

Travel Blog: Golden Gate Bridge And A Little Scoops of Mitchells

San Francisco The Traveling Journal Project Golden Gate Bridge


No one can argue that a trip to the Golden Gate Bridge will be the highlight of every San Francisco trip! The bay area will not be complete without this iconic architectural piece. 


For our main tour of the city, before heading to Napa Valley, we planned to cross the Golden Gate Bridge and walk from one end to another. 


On our way to the bridge, we first passed by a famous ice cream parlor called Mitchells. 


"Established in 1953, Mitchell’s is a family-owned business located in San Francisco’s Mission District", they are famous for their handmade ice creams which they are producing daily. 


My friend was really excited to show us some of their flavors which includes Filipino favorites like Halo-Halo, Ube and Macapuno.


According to their website: http://mitchellsicecream.com/


"They continued to add flavors as their store became more popular and in the early 1960’s they were the first to introduce Mango ice cream to the Bay Area.  Mango quickly became (and remains to this day) their number one seller.  As the neighborhood changed and became more diverse, they increased the number of tropical flavors that they manufactured by importing a variety of exotic fruit from the Philippines. ”


this is the reason why people in the bay area can enjoy these delicious flavors.


mitchells ice cream san francisco california usa



mitchells ice cream san francisco california usa


mitchells ice cream san francisco california usa


I ordered ube and macapuno scoops


golden gate bridge san francisco


On our way to the bridge, we realized that the fog was starting to creep in, so in order to get a full view of the bridge from the Ridge Battery (trust me you want to see it from this view), we need to be there quickly. 


golden gate bridge san francisco


Instead of walking/biking, we all decided that driving will be our best option. We drove our way towards the Ridge Battery. 


It is a (not so) secret viewing point. It’s not so crowded because normally tour buses do not go here. Mostly those who are being toured by local friends and also bike trekkers go to this place. 


golden gate bridge san francisco


golden gate bridge san francisco


It was very cold and windy. I think all year round it’s like this (just assuming—don’t trust my word on this one). But aside from the wind and weather, it looks amazing. You can see the whole bay area and the massive stretch of the Golden Gate bridge is just overwhelming. 


golden gate bridge san francisco


golden gate bridge san francisco


golden gate bridge san francisco


golden gate bridge san francisco




After a few minutes, the bridge was slowly being covered by the fog, when we left you can only see half of it. It would have been nice to have walked along the bridge but it was better to have seen it in its full glory.


If you have time, do try to rent a bike. A Norwegian and German traveler ( now my friends) I met in Los Angeles did it and they said it was a great experience.


kenneth surat dubai travel blogger


the traveling journal project



Travel Blog: Golden Gate Bridge And A Little Scoops of Mitchells


Tag: San Francisco Trip


Tag: Golden Gate Bridge


Tag: Mitchells Ice Cream San Francisco

My Dubai Blog: Betawi Indonesian Restaurant - Peanut Sauce And All That Spice

I was so happy that along with my fellow Filipino bloggers in Dubai, we have decided to meet up in a little Indonesian Restaurant called Betawi. 


It is located along a (semi) hidden street in Karama. Just at the back of Park Regis Hotel. If you are not familiar around Karama, better get hold of a map ( yey for google map!). 


I have tried Betawi once after reading a lot of great reviews about it. To be honest, the first time I tried it, it didn’t catch my taste so I was excited to give it a second go. 


betawi indonesian food restaurant dubai karama


betawi indonesian food restaurant dubai karama


It is a small and humble restaurant but boasting on its reputation as one of the best South East Asian Restaurants in Dubai. In fact, it was honored last 2011 by Time Out Dubai as a “Highly Recommended South East Asian Restaurant”. 


With its authentic Indonesian menu selections, it attracts not only Indonesian expats but also a lot of different nationalities (including Filipinos like us).


betawi indonesian food restaurant dubai karama


betawi indonesian food restaurant dubai karama


betawi indonesian food restaurant dubai karama


With my renewed hope, I asked the one million dollar question—-what is you specialty? The waitress, a Filipina, immediately recommended the Nasi Padang. A plain rice based meal topped with vegetable curry and sided with egg bolado (hard boiled egg with chilli sauce)and with your choice of either grilled chicken or beef rendang (caramelized beef curry). 


betawi indonesian food restaurant dubai karama



Aside from this, other specialties include the famous Nasi Goreng (no brainer, we ordered this of course!) and the beautifully presented Pecel Timbel.


betawi indonesian food restaurant dubai karama


Nasi Padang with Beef Randang - 28 dhs


I ordered this. As mentioned, it was highly recommended by our waitress. It’s full of flavor but blended together by a strong curry taste. If you like flavors and spices, this is the dish for you. 


betawi indonesian food restaurant dubai karama


Nasi Padang with Grilled Chicken - 28 dhs


betawi indonesian food restaurant dubai karama


Siomay - 25 dhs


I love siomai (dumplings) but this particular Indonesian version is very different. This tangy appetizer is a set of steamed fish dumplings topped with unsweetened peanut sauce.  


betawi indonesian food restaurant dubai karama


Sate Ayam with Rice - 25 dhs


This is a marinated chicken satay topped with peanut sauce (the love curry and peanut sauce — don’t you think?)


betawi indonesian food restaurant dubai karama


 Nasi Goreng - 25 dhs


This famous rice based meal (Nasi - means rice) has been a popular choice for many in any South East Asian Restaurant — well, why won’t you? It is a very heavy meal packed with spices, meat and perfectly crisped sunny side up egg.


betawi indonesian food restaurant dubai karama


Pecel Timbel - 30 dhs


When I saw this, I told myself..ooh I should have ordered this one! Aside from its presentation, it is a full packed meal. You have soup, garlic rice, sticky rice cake, fish crackers, grilled chicken —- and of course PEANUT SAUCE! 


betawi indonesian food restaurant dubai karama


For drinks, aside from the usual iced tea and soft drinks, they have specialty drinks such as Es Teller (fruit cocktail, coconut, milk and grass jelly mix - 15 dhs) and the Es Campur (fruit cocktail, jackfruit, avocado, coconut, grass jelly and Indonesian syrup mix - 15 dhs). These are sweet drinks but totally refreshing.


betawi indonesian food restaurant dubai karama


All in all, I really liked it! Very affordable and flavorful. This is not a posh place which is very much ideal if you are looking for comfort food or just a place to satisfy those Asian food cravings. 


South East Asian food are known for being spicy, full of flavors and at times very sweet, so if you are salivating for this kind of meals, Betawi is highly recommendable. 


kenneth surat travel blogger dubai





My Dubai Blog: Betawi Indonesian Restaurant - Peanut Sauce And All That Spices


Betawi Restaurant: Affordable Indonesian Food in Dubai


Betawi Restaurant: Indonesian Comfort Food in Dubai

Travel Blog: Our San Francisco Itinerary Copy

As mentioned in my previous travel blog about San Francisco (Travel Blog: I LOVE SAN FRANCISCO!!! An Intro to the City!), here’s our complete itinerary prepared by my friend Clarie.


This is a very detailed list which can be a helpful guide if you are thinking of visiting San Francisco and will tour the city for 4-5 days. It’s too good not to share ^^. Also, please bear in mind that this itinerary was based on the fact that our tour guide will be working  during days 3 and 4 (so we were on our own). 



San Francisco 4 days Itinerary 


San Francisco 4 days Itinerary 



As most of you (probably) experienced before, itinerary are guides to know how to maximize your trip but it can change if needed (or if the situation calls for it), we’ve changed a couple from our list and decided to enjoy the moment. 


Kenneth Surat Dubai Travel Blogger


Travel Blog: Our San Francisco Itinerary Copy

Travel Blog: San Francisco ARTS And Some Catching Up With FRIENDS

Continuing my little adventure in San Francisco (Travel Blog: I LOVE SAN FRANCISCO!!! An Intro to the City!) we headed off to my friend Clarie’s house in Bay Point. This was our resting stop—our place of refuge (ooh I want them to adopt me). 


With all my stay in the United States, this is the only place where I will be living with an old friend (well,actually the only place where I will not pay to have a roof over my head)—-and it is by far the BEST.


San Franciso Travel Blog California Art Academy


I was transported to the set of Desperate Housewives (Wisteria Lane). The quiet suburbs was really quiet…peaceful and totally different from the city life. As someone who lives in Dubai this place can be considered as a retreat camp site —as what I say initially —- it is a place of refuge ^^.


Aside from that, let us add my friend in the picture! She is the mother of everything creatively hospitable. I remember when we were in college, we always admire her creative skills in making her own invitation and greeting cards cards, table presentations,..arts and crafts —and living in San Francisco only honed her passion and believe it or not (but really believe it) most the pottery works (aside from the white ones from IKEA) she made them all. Whew!! (again—-adopt me please).


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We were welcomed with a “thanksgiving-ish” dinner. Truly a great feast with great friends. We just sat around the table and catch up for the whole 7 years that we haven’t seen one another. To top it all, we got a whole set of toiletry basket waiting for us on our bed (whew).


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I stayed in the study room while my friend DF took the guest room. Inside my room, you can never deny that an architect is living in this house. I told myself “so this is what an architect’s room should look like”…nothing like my room, that is for sure (for a moment there, I doubted my chosen profession).


As part of our catching up series (^^), on our trip the following day, our first stop was the art school where Clarie took her Masters in Architecture. The California College of Art.


I’ve been dreaming of getting in one of the arts school in San Francisco. When I was in my university, I have a lot of brochures of different academies and programs for the arts (in San Francisco)


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This campus is really what I am expecting an art college should be. I think this is what my college (UP College of Architecture) wants to achieve. The moment you stepped inside the campus, you can feel the creativity oozing —— at times very intimidating, but I pretended not intimidated and just keepin’ it cool, well, this is my element after all.  


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Several sculptural pieces hanging by the roof surrounded the place, creating a modern museum like environment. There were also a lot of student projects displayed in open areas which made it very interesting. I just imagine how crazy busy the campus can be on a regular day. 


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All in all, I was so amazed on how my friend blended in San Francisco. It clearly shows that this city is a city for artists like us. This particular reason made me chose San Francisco as my favorite city in the US. I feel at home here (the weather is terrible though).


This was just the beginning of our San Francisco trip. We’ve gone to a lot of places which I am excited to share to everyone in the next blog.



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Travel Blog: San Francisco ARTS And Some Catching Up With FRIENDS

Travel Blog: Loving The Stressful Season of Travel Planning! YEY

It is the time of the year again when I start on (semi) deciding my travel plans. Day dreaming is now part of my everyday tasks, thinking of places I want to explore, praying and wishful to experience those adventures that I have been reading in travel blogs and travel magazines (and travel youtube channels).


At first, I didn’t realize that planning for a trip will take a lot of my time (and energy). I thought It was just all fun hahaha. From the time that I started planning for my Euro backpacking trip, I knew already that every year there will be a period that this dreadful season will come (something that I will never complain about).  My internet browser is now full of opened tabs that I need to read in order to weigh destination reviews and tips (thank you internet and friends).


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This year, I have a few places that I am thinking for visiting. As my leave will be divided within the year (same that previous ones) I have been talking to my travel friends on the possibility of visiting them. South America and another European trip are on top of my list…..and this month I am actually embarking on my first weekend trip to Sri Lanka.


Planning, saving, reading and actual decision making is very stressful but at the same time exciting! I love it!….and I love my new camera. ^^


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Travel Blog: Loving The Stressful Season of Travel Planning! YEY

My Dubai Blog: Beach Canteen, The Dubai Food Festival

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Last week, I was invited to attend the grand launch of The Beach Canteen in Kite Beach. This project is part of The Dubai Food Festival which will run for 10 days starting last 27th of February.


At first, I thought I will not be able to make it to the event cause I will be leaving work at around 7pm and the event will run from 5pm to 8pm. I decided to try to catch up, at least to see the full set-up of these pop up food stalls.


I have made a few concepts based on refurbished cargo container before and it will be interesting to see how this was implements.


I love how Dubai is now exploring different avenues which can cater to a diverse set of people. This particular venue will surely attract those beach bums and hungry tourists ready to grab a quick bite and also those who just want to chill and enjoy the Dubai Sunset.


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The Beach Canteen in Kite Beach offers nine food stalls. These are:


 Bikers Cafe - International Cuisine


Loca - Mexican Contemporary


Saladicious - International Cuisine


Giolitti - Italian


Coffeol - Gourmet Coffee and Light Fare


Extreme Shawarma - Arabic


Power Burger - American Cuisine


Hadoota Masreya - Traditional Egyptian Cuisine


Seaview - Seafood


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Aside from the Kite Beach, there are 2 other venues where you can find  the Beach Canteen,Jumeirah Open Beach and Sunset Beach.


You can find the following stalls in Jumeirah Open Beach


Cafe2Go - Coffee and Light Bites


Lebaneesh - Maneesh with a Twist


La Creparis - French Crepes & Waffles


Roti Mum Cafe - Roti Buns and International Dishes



Here are the list of food stalls in the Sunset Beach


Kyo Cafe - Contemporary Japanese


La Provence - French Cuisine


Ines Paris - French Patisserie


The Beach Canteen will be in these areas on a limited time only. If you think you are in the mood to bathe under the sun and be refreshed while enjoying the view of the wide horizon, visit The Beach Canteen. ^^



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Kite Beach Location


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My Dubai Blog: Beach Canteen, The Dubai Food Festival