Kimberly Hotel, Tagaytay

I spent three days in Kimberly Hotel in Tagaytay for a business trip last month and although it was mostly work and very minimal play, I am thankful for a change of scenery.

We arrived in the afternoon but only started taking photos at night. This is what it looks like:

Pardon the lazy blogger in me, but let me have the pictures do the talking instead.  

I enjoyed the first day of the breakfast buffet. The following morning, its just blah.

This way to the organic farm:

Now for the room rates:

Superior (Single/Twin) – Php 5,500.00

Deluxe (Single/Twin) – Php 6,500.00

Premiere Suite (Single to Quadruple) – 7,700.00

Kimberly Suite Php 12,000.00

Extra person/bed – Php 1,200.00

Other add ons and my reviews:

Complimentary Wifi Internet access throughout the hotel

Very poor wifi, strong access only when you are in your individual rooms. When the hotel is fully packed, very poor signal in the conference area where you need to get out just to check something.

Rates are inclusive of breakfast

I experienced two breakfast buffets, and the first one is good, because...how can you go wrong with breakfast food. The rest of the food, (next day breakfast, lunch and dinner) were nothing special.

Daily housekeeping

They immediately clean your room which is good but there's something wrong with the "lock of the doors"that you need to slam it in order for it to lock. Housekeeping left our room open at one point because it did not really connect with keycard's lock.

Daily local newspaper

The newspaper you need to request and they offer one broadsheet only, and I think it's Manila Bulletin. (Not sure)

Massage services

They have services advertised in each room but I did not try one.

DVD Library

You can borrow DVD from the reception, you just need to leave a valid ID. Each room is equipped with a DVD player.

Safety deposit box

I only saw one in the Quadruple room where I stayed on my first night.

Business center services, gift shop, and hotel clinic

They sell plants from the organic farm that they have. You may request for details at the reception.

Check in time in 2:00, Check out time is at 12:00nn

If you still have a conference ending at 5pm and you need to check out, they offer a luggage area to store your luggage. But in our case we kept it with us in the conference room, better safe than sorry.

Other stuff: 

Tour assistance

Laundry services

Kids 12 years old below stay for free with parents when using extra bedding

More details at: www.hotelkimberly.com

Honest take on @iamsuperbianca's book "Paano ba 'to?!"

When I first learned and read about Bianca Gonzalez 's book "Paano ba 'to?! How to survive growing up", I initially thought: Would it still be applicable to me? After all, Bianca and I were of the same age, only she's older by more than eight months I think. Little did I know that I've got a friends who are wondering about the same thing.

I have been waiting to get my hands on this book and its always, always, out of stock. Laging available ang mga books about lovelife effect, eh aanhin ko naman yun?! So imagine my delight when I got this as a gift! Thank you Kat!!! Excited na akong basahin to and @iamsuperbianca has always been one of my favorite bloggers. Thank you Louie too, may kinalaman ka din ata dito! :)

I really do not know how to give a proper book review, but I'm not going to bore you with texts. But just as promised, here's my promised take on Bianca's book, and why you should get one too.

1. She is a work in progress and her stories/sharing are relatable.
2. She's not afraid to write about her past mistakes and how she learned from it.
3. She sought inputs from life coaches and credible sources to share advice in a Q&A form.
4. She gives honest answers and straight to the point. (No BS answers.)
5. The book is an easy read, written in English and Tagalog and the answers were as if you are talking to your best friend. Coffee na lang kulang.
6. She covered the following topics: Family, Friendship, Love, Career & Money, Failures, Fashion and Beauty, Purpose and Self. If you make a quick browse of the book, you will know she got your money's worth, content-wise.
7. The book was meant to be interactive with stickers and section where you can write on.I personally liked it because the book was also filled with beautiful quotes, space for vision board, space for writing, cute little doodles, and positivity. 
8. Some questions/topics seemeed generic at first...but little did you know it will still be applicable in your 30s. A friend asked me would it still be applicable to her (she's a few years older than me) I said yes, because all of us do not work on the same template. Some are late bloomers, some are advanced when it comes to life experiences.
9. The range of topic of the book cover issues of college kids, concerns of those in their twenties and taking the current and even future dilemmas of those in the 30s. (I think, bilang I'm only 31)
10. Each section flawlessly transitioned from one topic to another.

Reading her book actually made me feel better about my self and my life, because it made me feel that I am not the only one going through some phase. I wish I could've gotten this one when I was in my twenties, but then, the wise Bianca was still in progress at that time. I highly recommend this to my friends in their twenties, the money's totally worth it. So worth it that no wonder it's been out of stock. That's why I am super grateful that my friends Kat and Louie got it for me as a very belated birthday present...3 months later!!! Can you believe it took them three major malls from North to South just to get this book! Super thank youuuu!!! I really have the sweetest friends!

I don't usually admit it, but I tend to be a little bit snobbish about who to get advice from. In fact, when I was on a spiritual journey in 2013, I was introduced to a spiritual leader who's my age, and though I was grateful, I knew I needed more from someone a lot older, so I changed advisers.

My friend Paolo used to tell me "If you want to get rich, don't ask tips from the basurero." It means get advice from someone who actually walks the talk. But in this case, if Bianca's got her stuff together, so can I! She's giving me hope. I like her book so much that even though I am in the middle of a very busy week, I finished the book in two sittings and I just got it yesterday morning. (I hardly get to finish a book these days).

I can't wait to share this book with my sister.