Vikings Luxury Buffet has been around for quite some time now.  I've been to the Mall of Asia branch once.  They now have branches at SM Marikina, SM City Davao and have announced expansions in Makati and SM Aura.

I'm not really a fan of buffets as I'm not a big eater.  I just wanted to try it so that I could try the different dishes in their buffet.  Anyway, since most of the buffets nowadays have the birthday treat, I took advantage of this promo.  My Mom and I share the same birthday so that means we could get free dinner if we bring along 2 regular paying adults.  I reserved for our seats through their Facebook page and got confirmation.  The reservation holds from 5:30PM - 7:00PM.  After that, they could be giving away the slots to walk-ins.

I had thought that we would be paying for PhP1088/adult for a Friday, but they still consider it as weekday and the rate is still PhP888/adult.  Great!

We also got two kids with us (between 3 and 4 feet) and it's a good thing they've recently lowered the kid's rate to PhP288/kid (I think that's from PhP388/kid, weekday rate).

The table reserved for our group is by the window, with a view of Manila Bay... at least for some moments until it became dark. 

The Food.  They have variety of food laid out so that it's not just in one place and accessible to every part of the restaurant.  They have salads, pastas, variety of rice dishes, veggies and meat viands, soups, grilled meat, seafoods, dimsum, and a lot more.  Here are some pictures of the food they serve.

Tacos

Salad

Seafoods for grilling

Tempura!  Oh I love shrimps.  I just need to make some room for the other dishes so I only got 3.

Chicken Lollipop and some barbecues in the background

A reminder for Vikings... so just get what you can finish.

I hadn't gotten a picture of the meat section but here's a sampler from my nephew's plate... liempo, sausage (they have different kinds), barbecue, grilled lamb, lengua to name a few

Hotdog on sticks for the kids

Pizza

Sushi... there are also different kinds of maki on the side of this "boat"

Bibingka, Puto Bumbong and Crepe Station

Got some Puto Bumbong

Desserts (fruits, marshmallows, chocolate and strawberry fondue, moon cakes, other cake slices, bibingka and other Filipino favorites... and, of course, there's ice cream)

Mooncakes... It's the last day of the Mooncake Festival

Got my dessert (Black Forest, Chocolate-coated marshmallow and Tiramisu)

And last but not the least... our birthday cake (one for each celebrant)!  We were not able to wait for the team singing some songs to the celebrants as the kids are getting sleepy.

Drinks are also included in the rate.  One can enjoy unlimited soda, fruit juices, coffee and beer.

Thank you Vikings!

Petroglyphs (also called rock engravings) are pictogram and logogram images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, and abrading. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions of the technique to refer to such images. Petroglyphs are found world-wide, and are often associated with prehistoric peoples. The word comes from the Greek words petro-, theme of the word "petra" meaning "stone", and glyphein meaning "to carve", and was originally coined in French as pétroglyphe. [Source: Wikipedia]

After a hearthy lunch, we proceeded to Angono Petroglyphs.  Again, we followed the signs to Thunderbird Resort.  The road here is uphill.  When we got there, instead of taking a right to Thunderbird, we continued on the main road, passing a firing range and a botanical garden/restaurant on the left side.  The entrance is on an alley on the left, right after the garden/restaurant, be on the lookout for a tunnel.

Road to the direction of East Ridge Golf Club/Thunderbird Resort

Sign to the site

Man-made Tunnel to the site

Passing through the tunnel

Light at the end of the tunnel

The other side of the tunnel

Going out of the tunnel, we followed the path and it led us to the site museum.

The Angono Petroglyphs Site Museum is situated at the municipality of Binangonan, province of Rizal, three and a half kilometers southeast of the town of Angono. It was discovered in 1965 by National Artist, Carlos “Botong” Francisco during a field trip with a troop of boy scouts. He reported to the National Museum the existence of a cave with drawings of a primitive quality. [Source]

They've placed a small museum here that contains some "artifacts" and information about the petroglyphs and the place.  This is also where paid for the entrance fee (PhP20.00 for adults; PhP10.00 for students).

National Museum (Angono Petroglyphs, Binangonan, Rizal)

The "cave" is a few steps up from the museum.  They've already placed a platform so that it can be saved from vandals.

I think we stayed here for 30 minutes (or maybe less) but it was worth it.  It's a unique experience not far from the city.  However, I guess for now, only those with private transportation have access to it.

Angono's Balaw Balaw Restaurant: Art and Good Food in One Roof

Angono is a first class urban municipality in the province of Rizal.  It is known as "Arts Capital of the Philippines", and located 30 kilometres (19 mi) east of Manila. (Source: Wikipedia).  In fact, it is the hometown of two national artists, Lucio San Pedro for music and Carlos "Botong" Francisco for arts.

Angono Tourist's Landmarks

From our area in Taguig, it's just a 30-40 minute ride via C6 road.  We got there just before lunch so we decided to go to Balaw Balaw first.  It's a restaurant and art gallery in one.  It offers exotic dishes, as well as traditional Filipino dishes.

What is Balaw Balaw? It is a delectable appetizer and sauce the Tagalogs serve together with sinigang. It is made from small shrimps mixed with rice gruel and “angkak”, an herb that gives reddish coloring. The mixture is preserved and fermented in earthen jar for 3 days. After this, Balaw Balaw is ready to eat of sautéed with young bamboo shoots. (source)

Address:	#16 Doña Justa St., Doña Subd., PH1, Angono, Rizal
Contact Number:	+63 2 651-0110
Email Add:	balaw2x@yahoo.com

 Facebook Page

To get there, follow the signs to Thunderbird Resort.  The restaurant is one house/establishment from the main road (left side when coming from Manila), a block (or was it blocks) before a 7-11 convenience store where one turns left for Thunderbird Resort/East Ridge Golf Club.

Balaw Balaw (the sign can be seen from the main road)

Facade of the restaurant

While waiting for our order, we looked around at the art pieces in the restaurant.

 

There's an eerie feeling about this room.
It might be these big heads which might have been
used during the Higantes Festival,
or it's something else...

Artworks from floor to ceiling

Sculptures and Paintings

View from the 2nd floor

Faucet

Restroom

At last, our food was served.

Nilasing na hipon for PhP130.00

Minaluto for PhP970.00 (Medium size good for 3-4persons)
Consists of steamed rice, mussels, prawn, crab, water spinach, eggplant, okra, pork adobo, tomato and salted red egg

Bucoroco for PhP130.00
Young coconut with halo-halo & ice cream

Next Stop: Angono Petroglyphs