A Guide to Taboan Public Market - The Dried Fish Capital of Cebu

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Danggit, a thin kind of salted dried fish, is one of Cebu City’s most famous ‘pasalubongs’. Various places in the city sell dried fish, but none is as popular as Taboan Public Market, also known as the Dried Fish Center of Cebu. The choices and variety of dried fish you can buy here is far wider than all other store in Cebu, that is why a visit to Cebu isn’t complete without going to Taboan. Continue reading below for some things you need to know about Taboan Public Market.

How to Get To Taboan Public Market?

If you’re a traveler, the best way to get to Taboan Market is through a taxi. Taxi drivers are very familiar with this place. It’s not too far off from key locations in the city too, so you don’t have to worry about your taxi bill being too expensive. However, if you want to go for a more ‘local’ route, you can easily ride a jeepney. Jeepneys marked with 04D, 08G, 17B, 17D will pass by here. If you’re not familiar with the place, talk to the driver or the conductor to drop you off at Taboan Market. Jeepney drivers and conductors are very helpful to tourists.

Things to Know About Taboan Public Market

1. One kilo of dried fish usually costs around 350-750 pesos, depending on quality.

Since there is a wide array of choices, prices vary as well. Some of the more expensive kinds are marinated with garlic or other flavors, referred to as ‘special’, for a more mouth watering taste.

2. You can haggle.

Like all other markets, you can always haggle with the market vendors to buy any product at a lower price. Be sure to haggle reasonably also. The vendors are earning money through honest and hard work. Don’t expect them to give you a price that’s too low that they’re basically giving away their products for free. That’s not fair to the vendors and is bad for the overall health of the market as well.

You can find all sorts of Cebu delicacies in Taboan Market also!

3. Other Cebu Delicacies are also sold here.

When visiting Tabaon Public Market, you won’t just see dried fish for sale. There are also other famous Cebu delicacies available here such as dried mangoes, chicharon, otap, chorizo de Cebu and many more.

4. Danggit is just one of the many dried seafood displayed in Taboan.

Some of the other seafood sold in Tabaon are dried shrimp, dried squid, fish tapa, fish tocino and other types of dried fish.

5. Be sure to compare prices before buying anything.

Prices offered by shops inside the market are cheaper than those of the stores near the entrance. To make sure you are getting the best prices, look around the market first before making a purchase.

6. It is not as busy as other markets.

If you’re a bit hesitant to visit Taboan because you think it’d be too crowded like other markets in the Philippines, then worry not. Taboan is very quiet and low key, unlike the bigger Carbon Public Market. It is also surprisingly clean. You surely will not be uncomfortable.

7. The smell of dried fish is strong enough to stick onto your clothes.

Yes, when visiting Taboan Market, expect that you will be smelling like dried fish afterwards. Make sure to schedule your visit accordingly. Plan your clothes as well, you wouldn’t want your fave outfits smelling like dried fish. If you have somewhere to go after, a bath or a change in clothes would be a good idea.

8. You can ask vendors to pack your purchases in small sizes.

On a budget? You can still get everyone on your list a pack of Cebu’s danggit. You can ask the seller to pack your purchases into smaller sizes (1/8 kilo) for it to be ‘pasalubong’ ready. Smaller packs can be easily distributed to your friends and it is usually enough for one meal.

9. Dried fish can be placed on your carry-on.

If you’re a budget traveler and you don’t have baggage allowance, you can still take these smelly delicacies home. You can bring dried fish from Taboan Market on your carry-on baggage. Just make sure to tell the vendor to pack it to be hand carry friendly. They will already know what to do.

10. Taboan Public Market is open as early as 4am and as late as 8pm.

Although at the earlier and later hours, fewer stalls are open. Schedule your trip accordingly.

There you have it, the important things you need to know about Taboan Market. I hope that this has been helpful to you. If you ever find yourself in Cebu, a visit to Taboan Market is always a good idea. Also, don’t forget to enjoy your dried fish with some hot rice and spicy vinegar!

A Guide to Traveling on a Budget

Thursday, January 31, 2019

featured

Traveling on a budget can be hard, but not with these tips!

So, you’ve booked a flight from a seat sale, and you’re about to get jet set? Not so fast! Traveling on a budget requires careful planning both before and during the trip. Read on for some of our favorite tips here for seeing the world, without breaking the bank.

1. Travel Outside of Peak Season

It is tempting to travel during festivals and holidays, but these are also the times when airlines and accommodations post higher prices. Traveling outside of these busy times allows you to avail of special travel promos that can cut your costs considerably.

2. Book a Hostel Early

That suite at a 4-star hotel with room service and an in-house spa may offer the best in rest and relaxation, but these luxuries come at a high price. Most hostels offer comfortable rooms with amenities such as internet, cable TV, and a solo bathroom, but all at lower costs. Book a hostel room early to avail of lower rates and get that massage elsewhere.

3. Plan Your Itinerary Smartly

Every destination has its “must-see” sights, but these mandatory stops come with a caveat. Some places are also known as “tourist traps”, wherein less savvy travelers may end up shelling out on unnecessary services, tours, and the bane of everyone’s budget—souvenirs! Search online, read reviews, and ask seasoned travelers for recommendations that are off the beaten track, or for how to cut costs at the more touristy places. Look up museums, cultural festivals, outdoor shows, and other experiential attractions with free entrance or minimal door charges.

Utilizing public transportation can reduce travel costs dramatically!

4. Take Public Transportation

Booking taxis or transport network services may be the fastest way to get you across a busy city. However, these trips can add up significantly even over a stay of a few days. Allot more time for travel, familiarize yourself with bus and train routes, and get walking! Acquiring passes or multi-use tickets upon arrival will help make your public transport experience more convenient.

5. Get Local Food Recommendations

Venture beyond eating solely at fast-food restaurants or worse, at convenience stores (even if those microwavable meals and instant noodles are cute). Ask friends residing at your destination or even friendly faces such as your hostel concierge for their food recommendations. Not only will you cut costs significantly, but you will have the opportunity to be acquainted with a hallmark of another place’s culture: its cuisine.

6. Watch Out for ATM Fees

Traveling without cash is very convenient, but there’s a drawback to relying on ATM withdrawals or debit especially for overseas travel. ATM withdrawals at your destination may have additional fees especially for cards issued at your point of origin. Make such transactions sparingly, and make sure to carry just enough of the local currency, always secured on your person!

7. Be Haggle Savvy

It’s a common enough scenario at the market: you are offered an outlandish price for a beautiful trinket or rare good, but you are given the opportunity to haggle. Before springing for your “lowered” price, make sure that you have compared selling prices for similar items from different sellers. You might be paying for a seemingly marked down curio, only to find that you could have bought it for less just down the road! As with all bargain finds, check the quality of your purchases to make sure you are getting the best value for your money.

8. Consider the Overnight Train

Traveling over land? Taking the night train is an efficient option to get you from Destination A to Destination B, without the added hassle of paying for an additional night at your accommodations. Just make sure to secure your belongings if you must snooze en route.

9. Limit Pasalubong

Lastly, keep the excess weight off your baggage by buying ‘pasalubong’ smartly. Don’t buy heavy and fragile items or anything that can lead to unexpected overweight baggage charges.

Having limited funds does not mean a damper on enjoyment. In fact, travelers regard a budget as an additional motivation to get the best value for their money when having a trip like no other. We hope these tips will be helpful to you, and bon voyage!

Note: This is a sponsored post.

Review: Heimish Bulgarian Rose Water Hydrogel Eye Patches - A Bouquet For Your Undereyes

Sunday, January 27, 2019

beauty

Over about month ago, the Heimish Bulgarian Rose Water Hydrogel Eye Patch was all over Instagram, with all its glittering pinkish glory. The Barbie girl vibes in combination with the Bulgarian Rose Water factor earned it a place on my beauty product envy list. Luckily, Go Bloom and Glow was kind enough to send a tub for me to try. Proceed below to read my review.

Heimish Bulgarian Rose Water Hydrogel Eye Patches

So pretty, right?

About the Product

Perfect for tired eyes, this multi-functional Heimish Bulgarian Rose Water Hydrogel Eye Patch not only brightens dark circles under eyes, but also helps skin stay firm and bouncy. With Bulgarian rose water as its star ingredient, each patch is full of skin-benefiting vitamins and minerals, plus ultra-hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties. Made with unique highly elastic hydro-gel material that allows essence to fully absorb into skin for maximum benefits, the Heimish Bulgarian Rose Water Hydrogel Eye Patch can also be used anywhere on your skin that needs extra care such as your forehead and cheeks.

Ingredients:

Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Butylene Glycol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Sucrose, Potassium Chloride, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba (Guar) Gum, Calcium Chloride, Allantoin, Tripropylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Cellulose Gum, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Tin Oxide, Carmine, Calcium Lactate, Adenosine, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Titanium Dioxide, Disodium EDTA, Ethyl Hexanidiol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chlorphenesin, Arginine, Fragrance

How to Use:

After cleansing and toning, place the eye patch on the desired facial area using the enclosed spatula. Remove after 20-30mins.

By the time I got to try this, a lot of people here were already discussing the proper way on how to position and use eye patches. They said that if your concern is mainly eye bags then you should place the wider part of the patch under your eye. If your concern is wrinkles/crow’s feet, then apply it the other way around.

Price/Where to Buy:

PHP 1200; currently on sale for at Go Bloom and Glow for PHP 841 (buy now!)

My Experience

Packaging:

The hydrogel patches come in a tub that contains 60pcs of product. Patches are packaged this way to reduce the price of selling them individually. The tub is sturdy and has a pink chrome matte lid, which makes it a minimalist yet elegant design.

Upon opening the tub, you can see a plastic cover that houses a spatula. I find this especially effective because you don't run the risk of losing/misplacing your spatula. Packaging is not only pretty, but it also protects the product from drying out due to its security.

The packaging has an expiration date indicated. However, it doesn't specify how long after opening it will last. For previous eye patches I've used, they typically indicate a 2 month period after opening.

Scent:

I'm kinda biased with the scent. Although I am not very fond of fragrance in my products, I am a sucker for all things rose scented. So the product smelling like rose water doesn't bother me at all. It's not so strong anyway so I doubt it would be enough to bother anybody.

Look at that glittery beauty!

Texture:

The Heimish Bulgarian Rose Water Hydrogel Eye Patches are practically transparent, except for the glittery effect. They are the most gorgeous looking skincare product I have ever seen, like somehow it was conceptualized having Instagrammable goals in mind. They are also slippery and delicately soft but once you position it on your skin, it sticks very well. Essence is generous but never did I feel that it got drippy.

Application:

Using the spatula to take out the eye patches from the tub, honestly, was pretty challenging. The purpose of the spatula is that you don't need to use your hands anymore, so it doesn't get messy. However, I still find that I have to use my hands in conjunction with the spatula, careful not to touch the remaining patches inside the tub. The patches were way too slippery and I wished they used tweezers (but that would probably damage the patches, no?)

These eye patches are very cooling upon application. I opt to put this in the fridge before using to amp up the cooling sensation, great for relaxing the eye area. After 20-30 minutes, the patches are still moist, but noticeably smaller. This means that product has been absorbed by your skin. You can also reuse it on other parts of your face, talk about multi-functional.

Heimish Bulgarian Rose Water Hydrogel Eye Patches when worn.

I initially thought that these patches don't adhere very well. They tended to slip down and move out of place when I wear it. However, I realized that when you don't adjust it anymore after it has reached contact with your skin, the adherence is amazing.

Also, it did not fit my eye shape well enough. I think it was made having those with chinita eye shapes in mind. I have big almond shaped eyes. However, it did fit better than any eye patch I have ever tried. No eye poking problems too, yey for that.

If you don't want to use it as a patch, don't worry. It is water soluble and will melt in water, resulting in a beautiful sparkly serum.

Results:

I definitely did notice an effect on my under eye area. They were brighter, less puffy, moisturized, and less tired. Skin looks plumped and refreshed as well. I feel that it has given me the hydration my eye area needed. When I started using this, I didn't have any eye care products so it was glad that it was finally getting some love. Under eye circles are not fully gone but at least there is a noticeable improvement. Hydration didn't last as long as I would have wanted to though. I didn't see any effect of wrinkles. Brightening effect was not long lasting either.

I didn't have any problems with stinging nor did it made my eyes tear up.

My Thoughts

PROS:

Packaging is minimalist yet feminine.
Has a plastic over within the tub which holds an included spatula.
Water-soluble so it is eco-friendly because it contains no waste.
Can be used for other areas of the face that needs extra care.
I found that it adheres well and easily hugs skin, including its contours.
No harmful ingredients and parabens.
Noticeable de-pufffing and brightening effect.
Lovely rose scent.
Essence left is not tacky once patch is removed.
Good price for a hydrogel eye patch. Especially now that it is on sale at Go Bloom and Glow.
Glitters makes me feel like a princess!

CONS:

Spatula is hard to use to separate the patches.
No visible effect on wrinkles.
Scent can be negative for people who don’t like rose scents in their products.
Hydration and brightening effects are not long lasting.
Did not fit my eye shape well enough.

Final Thoughts:

I loved using the Heimish Bulgarian Rose Water Hydrogel Eye Patch. Why? First and foremost, every time I use it, the glittery aesthetic makes me feel like a princess. That to me is important enough. Haha. Every girl deserves to feel like one.

The cooling sensation it provides is also so refreshing and relaxing. Love the rose scent too! Definitely a great way to end a tiring day of looking at my computer screen. For a more cooling effect, try putting it inside your refrigerator.

However, I did have trouble committing to using it on a regular basis because it does take a long time (20-30mins) to be especially dedicated to it. I don’t want to use it under my sheet mask because that would be a waste of product. Also, I am someone who is impatient in my routine so waiting times are my enemy. I like doing my routine and then dozing off to dreamland right after, so in other words, I usually fall asleep while wearing these patches. Is that bad? ??

If you are like me and can't commit to using it full-time, I recommend that you use it before a special occasion or alternatively instead of adding it as another step in your routine.

Overall, I enjoyed these eye patches and would recommend it to anyone looking for hydrogel eye patches to try. If you’re up for a princess-y experience, then don’t, I repeat, DON’T skip these Heimish Bulgarian Rose Water Hydrogel Eye Patches.

Wow. Those are a lot of words. Didn't realize this review got way too long. Thanks for sticking with me.

Have you tried any hydrogel mask? Let me know in the comments section!

Note: Product was provided by Go Bloom and Glow. All thoughts are my own. Your product experience might be completely different from mine.

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5 Trendy Two Piece Prom Dresses Under $150

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

fashion

To say that every girl looks forward to their Prom is an understatement. We all want to look perfect on the most significant day of our high school lives. With the yearning for everything to be perfect, choosing a great prom dress is on top of your priority list. These trendy two piece prom dresses under $150 will surely be good choices for that special day.

Prom Dresses 2019

Trendy Two Piece Prom Dresses Under $150

This Popular Black Tulle Two Piece Off-the-shoulder Long Prom Dress is as hot as it gets. With its off-the-shoulder look, you'll be the center of attention with a dress as gorgeous as this.

With this A-line Off-the-shoulder Tulle Sweep Train Prom Dress ($139.99), you can't go wrong. Simplicity is elegance and you'll be the spitting image of elegance with this dress which is also available in a wide variety of colors.

Give off Arabian princess vibes with this gorgeous Nice Princess Halter Tulle Floor-length Beading Two Piece Prom Dress ($146.99). You'll look like the princess that you are on your special day.

Are you the school sweetheart? This A-line Scoop Neck Lace Chiffon Floor-length with Pockets Prom Dress is perfect for you! If you're not feeling the candy pink color, you can choose from the various shades this gorgeous dress is available in.

Elegance is always key to catch everyone's eye. Consider something like this A-Line Scoop Neck Satin Asymmetrical with Pocket Prom Dress that's both trendy and elegant.

MillyBridal has been around since 2007 and is now one of the most acclaimed online stores for dresses, not only for prom but for other special occasions too. They provide cutting-edge fashion with some of the lowest prices in the industry. MillyBridal continually conducts market studies to make you sure they bring you nothing but the latest and hottest looks for prom. Their dresses are designed with the intention of making memories last a lifetime by helping women feel confident, beautiful and the best they can on their special night.

For more prom dresses 2019, visit MillyBridal. Their website offers the largest selection of dresses, ensuring you that you will always find the perfect dress. Find the dress of your dreams at MillyBridal.

I'm From Mugwort Mask Review, Is Mugwort The New IT Ingredient?

Saturday, January 19, 2019

beauty

2018 was definitely the year of Cica (Centella Asiatica, see my highlight review on Rovectin's Cica Care Sleeping Pack). However, during the later part of the year, we have seen an unlikely contender ready to launch and reign over 2019. That ingredient is no other than Mugwort. So what is Mugwort and why is it suddenly popping out in our beauty products ingredients lists? I've been sent I'm From's Mugwort Mask from Wishtrend, proceed below to know more about Mugwort and a review of this trending product.

I'm From Mugwort Mask - 30ml Sample Size

What is Mugwort?

Mugwort is a plant that is native to Asia, North America and Northern Europe but is also found globally. It is an herb in the daisy family (artemesia) which can grow up to 6ft tall during the summer season. It is commonly used for medicinal purposes, insect repellent and even as a food ingredient. For more information, read about it in WebMD.

As an herb that grows naturally in Korea, Mugwort (also called 'tea tree' in Korea) has been widely known for treatments and detoxing effect. This is effective for treating acne, troubled, irritated skin and also well regarded for its soothing and cleansing properties.

Mugwort Skin Benefits:

Antibacterial
Antifungal
Anesthetic
Skin Calming
Prevents/Stops rashes, itching and irritation
Anti-inflammatory

Note: Mugwort can cause allergic reactions leading to sneezing and sinus-related symptoms, and can cause contact dermatitis and/or rashes in some people. People allergic to peaches, apples, celery, carrots, sunflower and other plants should avoid it.