The Case of Pancakes

This is The Pancake House I've always known:

Orange interiors, warm lighting, comfort food

For our non-Filipino readers, this is Pancake House in Manila. It serves mouthwatering plain and flavored pancakes and waffles. They're also the best in my book for comfort food. I long for their chicken, spaghetti, and taco combo we used to have for lunch in the old work place. When I received bad news in 2009, I remembered sitting in Pancake House, Pasong Tamo and munching on chocolate chip pancakes to tide away the sadness. It is the ultimate comfort food place!

I was overjoyed when I heard Pancake House is opening in Riyadh. The joy proved to be short-lived because it wasn't the Pancake House I was expecting. It was a different Pancake House but since it still serves pancakes, my friends and I decided to give it a try. We might discover another wonderful brunch place!

This is The Pancake House in Riyadh...
(disclaimer: it's NOT related to Pancake House in Manila)

Soft-hued walls, bright natural lighting, comfort food

Just a reminder before I go on: the entrance of the family section is at the back. It's not the door beside the entrance to the bachelor's. That's the door to the kitchen. I know because I made the mistake of opening it and coming face-to-face with the stunned chef and kitchen staff. LOL.

I love the simple and elegant scheme in this restaurant's interiors. Our welcome committee of enticing photos did not help our hunger... just look at that pancakes smeared with chocolate! How could you give us tooth ache just by looking at you?! Haha. We were surprised to find The Pancake House full in the morning. We nearly fought our way to a table that was already reserved to us but someone claimed as hers. Being the nice people that we are, we just gave way. We didn't want to ruin our morning for because of people who didn't know what a reservation is. Anyway, the glass walls that welcomed sun rays in the morning creating this very homey, sunny vibe helped in making us giddy and happy again. The well-lit dining place was perfect for my food photos! 

Natural lighting FTW!

The decorations are not that frivolous. The soft light blue wall and chair cushions contrast nicely with the browns and whites.

On to the food... a good thing is they serve breakfast all day long and they serve their non-breakfast items all day long too! All their dishes are available all day long! So, we got the following:

Stack 'em!

Of course, this is the pancake house so we ordered... pancakes! We expected more from this because well, this is the Pancake House. However, we were disappointed. The stack is fluffy and ample but they actually don't taste like buttermilk pancakes. Did our taste buds go wrong? It tasted more like bread. No amount of butter and maple syrup salvaged this. So we went to the next dish...

LOADED!

I can't finish an omelet by myself. I tend to share but since eating a piece of this omelet, I wanted to snatch this away from my friends and keep it. Yes, talk about being a generous friend. Haha. My friends didn't seem to mind because they were contemplating on ordering another one. The omelet was savory and had a serious amount of steak bits, unlike other omelets we've tried where the eggs took the center stage and back. This omelet is loaded with ingredients bursting the thin layer of fried egg wrapping it.

Mr. Smiley, I need to eat you. Sorrrrry!

How cute is this? If you have this smiling back at you, are you still willing to eat it? Do you have the heart to wolf it down? We did. Unfortunately, it's still food so we cut it up and took hearty bites (sorry smiley!). This waffle is thin, crispy, and light. It's not the usual waffle I know. I kindda thought waffles use the same batter of pancakes but are shaped differently, haha. It's good but I'm not really fond of airy waffles. And please, I want more bacon with this. :)

We wanted to try a non-breakfast food so we ordered their sampler consisting of quesadillas, onion rings, and calamari. 

Crunchy, saucy, lovely.

Our favorites!

We like everything on this plate. The rings are crispy and tasty; the quesadilla was savory.

A wonder-full cup of cappuccino.

Overall, I like the food and setting in The Pancake House. I wish it doesn't get too filled with people though so I can enjoy a quiet morning. (This is my selfish side speaking so please ignore.) I also wish they improve their pancakes after all, it is The Pancake House. (I just have to point out the obvious redundantly, haha!) It's nothing near Pancake House in Manila but it's all right. I think I can live with this version. Besides, I have yet to try a lot of items in the menu.And I want to take more photos. Their natural lighting is beautiful, did I tell you that already? :D

The Pancake House

King Fahd Road

(near NCB and Kingdom Tower)

T: 01-2016816

§undrenched

Top 5 Fitness Centers for Women in Riyadh

Who's raring to go to the gym these days? Did you know that according to Forbes, Saudi Arabia ranks 29th on a 2007 list of the fattest countries with 68.3% of its citizens being overweight? Yessir! It will probably go higher if you include The Pink Tarha ladies expats in those numbers. :P I think we were ones of the few expats who kept on complaining that there's no form of exercise that are available to us immediately. How come guys have many gyms at their disposal? 

Anyway, we eat a lot but we don't move around a lot because our jobs consist of being glued in front of the computer 8 hours a day. But who are we kidding? It's our fault that we're not into physical activities mostly. Well, we did try. A few months ago (or years pa yata), we were going to the gym in the workplace but we got busy with other things (including eating Riyadh). So, for those who don't have gyms in their workplaces and are willing to shed moolah to become fit, healthy, and fabulous, we scouted Riyadh for gyms and fitness centers for women. Admittedly, we're not the best persons around to advise you on fitness so let these professionals be your guide.

Here's the top 5 fitness centers for women in Riyadh (in no particular order because we don't have the right and capacity to rate them; we haven't tried them personally).

1. KINETICO 
Kinetiko is a one-stop center. We haven't seen the place but according to their website, they offer wellness training programs and performing arts. They also have a cafeteria that caters nutritious and healthy dishes that are fit for their patrons. They also have an internet access and a sportswear boutique. Their Fitness Klub has a lot of classes that focuses on what you want to improve on: BodyBalance, a yoga-taichi-pilates program that helps build strength and flexibility, KardioKombat, an intensive body workout using boxing and kickboxing moves, Triskel, a strength training class using the Lotte Berk method, and the new trend in fitness, Zumba which combines mambo, reggae, and merengue. And there are more types and other formats of classes that suits what you want and need. The Fitopia Akademy  uses dance to make you fit. Classes include the Classic (barre exercises), Fame (hip-hop), and Latino'd (rhythms). If you want to get the best value then the Smartpack which combines more than one type of class, is for you. Kinetico has different membership packages ranging from one month to a year. We asked via email and their one-month membership known as the Kinteco Klub Basic is worth SR1,200 (all-inclusive). It's a little steep compared to what we pay for in our workplace's gyms but our gym doesn't offer all these different classes and more. Contact them here.

2. CURVES 
Curves is one of the newest fitness centers in Riyadh and Sundrenched recently visited the branch in Panorama Mall to know more about it. One thing that is noticeable in Curves is the lack of the usual gym equipment and machines like the treadmill or the elliptical. Curves offers a 30-minute workout through an interactive circuit that has 8 machines using hydraulic resistance targeting specific areas of the body and in between the machines are recovery boards that lets you walk, run, jump, and jog in place. To see what we're saying here, click this link.  

The 30-minute workout

Curves in Panorama is a little bit smaller than most gyms but since you'll only need the circuit, then it's fine. They have lockers and changing rooms too. The advantage of going here, aside of course from becoming fit, is that it's located in Panorama's Ladies Section where a beauty salon, coffee shop, and fashion boutiques and stores are within reach. This program will be more fun if you do it with your friends. When S went there, she noticed that most patrons are young ladies. Of course, women of all ages are welcome. A 3-month membership is SR2,700. But the more than SR5,000 annual membership is said to be the best plan with its various benefits and perks. Contact Curves here. 

3. YIBREEN 
Yibreen is said to be the ultimate indulgent experience as it combines the relaxing benefits of a spa and salon and the rejuvenating benefits of a gym all in one place. Yibreen, a name referring to a lush desert oasis in the heart of Saudi Arabia, has a lot of fitness programs and classes. Programs include fitness evaluation, personal training, nutritional therapy program, and swimming lessons. Classes include Kick Aerobics, Funky Step, Mat Pilates, Ashtanga Yoga, Liquid Bliss (aquacise), Body Blitz (circuit training), Arabian Belly Dancing, and Kick Boxing. Combining all of Yibreen's services, you have to shell our SR9,500 for their annual membership package which gives you a personalized fitness evaluation and program, 20% discounts on all spa and salon services, 6 guest passes, 3 personal training sessions, and 1 nutrition consultation. If you want lesser on the three latter benefits, then membership fee is down to SR7,000. Contact Yibreen here.

4. AL-MANAHIL 
Al-Manahil is more known for their spa and salon services but they also have a sports complex that caters to women's fitness and health needs. They've undergone renovations recently and has upgraded their services and facilities. Like the other fitness centers, Al-Manahil's staff are ready to assist you in losing weight, toning up, and making you feel good. Fitness classes include Step for agility and stamina, Step N Tone for firming, Cardio Combo for aerobics, Retro (a combination of dances like hip-hop, jazz, salsa, and more), Tae Bo, Oriental ( a combination of hip-hop and belly dancing), and Spin (indoor cycling). They also have the Walking Club which lets you burn calories and enjoy the sceneries in and around the Diplomatic Quarters. Al Manahil also offers swimming, tennis, and taekwondo classes. A 1-month membership is SR1,900 while a 3-month membership is SR2,500, which is a better value for your buck. Contact Al-Manahil here. 

5. ELLE ET VOUS
We don't know much about Elle et Vous because there's little info on their Facebook page. All we know is that it's also primarily a beauty salon with a gym inside. We do think that it's a good idea to combine a beauty salon and gym. In that way, women can find every thing they need to remain beautiful and healthy. Elle et Vous boasts of a professionally-trained staff and state-of-the-art tools and equipment. According to their site, they just opened fitness classes so that's a good thing.

There's one called the Al-Multaqa Centre for Women in Riyadh but we haven't found any extensive info on it and it's not located in the city center so we'll just add any thing once we learn more. We heard Luthan Hotel and Spa might also have a gym as most hotels have in-house gyms but we doubt if they have fitness classes.

We want to go to the gym and enroll in fitness classes but looking at the prices, they're a little bit more expensive than what we imagined. Some of you might find the prices steep too so we have other "free" fitness ideas for you... WALKING! Walk around King Fahd Medical City or the bigger Prince Sultan University. You can ask your friends to come with you and after a round or two, you can go to Mama Noura for some shawarma fix. Kidding! Have a healthy fruit juice instead! You can also join a hash (walking/running/traveling in the desert organized by a club) or the Riyadh Road Runners.

Okay ladies, let's get physical! And a-one, a-two, a-three...

The Joys of Jordan: Petra, The Dead Sea and Mt. Nebo

And so the Part 2 to Part 1 finally finds the light of day...

Last May I went to visit the bustling country of Jordan for the District Toastmasters Annual Conference, part of which was to receive the many awards our Toastmasters Club (PICPA Riyadh Toastmasters Club) garnered over the last program year. The gala night gave all Toastmasters from the Gulf region a chance to reap the fruits of their labor and enjoy a night of good food, good company, and most of all, dancing! 

It was an honor to accept these in behalf of PRTC.

During gala night, with equally fashion-forward Filipino Toastmasters from Riyadh.

After the glitz and glamor of the conference, my friends and I spent the last two days of our stay in Jordan touring the highlights: Petra and the Dead Sea. I was told to prepare myself for the long walk that it entailed, but boy oh boy, did I underestimate what the words "long walk" truly meant. Here I am still all smiles as we left the apartment early that morning: 

Sunblock is on and the necessary heat protection.

We even filled up our stomachs before the heading to Petra. Shawarma, anyone?

Our ticket to Petra. Roughly around 265 SR.

In case you haven't heard of Petra before, Petra is one of the most unique ancient cities in the world having been mostly carved out of rocks (Al Batra is the Arabic for "rocks") and the whole city is made up of red-rose colored rocks (sometimes pink-like) most obvious especially during sunset. 

It has been a World Heritage Site since 1985 and was also shortlisted in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World. A little trivia: this site has been featured in numerous Hollywood blockbuster movies including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. ;) Cool ei!? 

Every journey begins with a single step.

Given that we were on our last days of the vacation, our funds were running low. So, we couldn't afford renting the horses and donkeys being offered upon our entry of our Petra tour. I didn't mind because though the sun was high, the wind was cool - perfectly conducive for a day out in Petra, walking and sightseeing (at least, what I first thought).

Welcome!

The first grand sight to behold is The Siq, which is a steep and narrow gorge which serves as a waterway for the Nabateans who inhabited the city of Petra in ancient times. Just look at how huge those sandstone rocks are!

See how tiny humans are compared to those rocks! We're practically ant-like! 

This part is sooo cool - as in literally. You don't need an A/C.

The next attraction is coming up!

Towards the end of the Siq, you can slowly start seeing The Al Khazneh, or "The Treasury." It is an architectural wonder in the sense that this facade was built purely out of the rocks that it stands on (as most of the amazing sites to be found in Petra) and the details carved unto them are truly remarkable for having been done in a time and place as ancient as Petra.

With fellow tourists from India and USA.

The Colonnaded Street

Halfway through our climb headed to the most coveted spot in Petra, which is the "Ad Deir" or The Monastery, I was already feeling the strain of walking (two hours in). But luckily, the sights were still keeping me amused - like the Colonnaded Street. I imagined how many feet have traversed these sand-laden ruins and how native Nabateans must have come to and fro this area to attend events in the amphitheater or even en route to bury their dead.

At this point, I was already growing envious of the people riding camels instead of walking. 

Here I am, headed UP to the monastery! Exhausted na!

From the base of the mountain (if I may call it that), it took us another approximately one hour and a half to finally reach the top where the monastery stands. Now it was a grueling climb - especially for me. The farthest I walk to on a regular basis here in Riyadh is from my office to the bathroom. And there in Petra, I think I walked enough office-bathroom routes to last me five years! Plus, the only real workout I more than often engage myself with in Riyadh is "malling" but in Petra, mahn oh mahn, do they mean the real deal. I should've known so that I could have trained for this kind of climbing before coming here - heck, I've never officially hiked in my life until that day in Petra. On one hand, it was a once in a lifetime experience, and I can truly say that I reached the Monastery, drenched in sweat and tears by merely using my God-given gams. But on the other hand, I couldn't help but think that I had could have saved myself the torture by riding a donkey on the way up instead (which wouldn't be as rewarding but less tiring, nonetheless). 

The things I'd do to proudly wave this pink scarf on this site!

And there you see it, The Monastery of ancient Petra. One would wonder (such as myself), why in the world was this monastery built so far away from the city center? And why oh why would they make it so hard for their people to reach the top?! One of my friends answered, "Para daw mapagbayaran mo na yung mga kasalanan mo on the way up." (So you can pay for your sins and repent on your way up). Tiring as it may have been, a little further away from the facade is a resting spot - rightly deserved by those who have braved the heights and a little shack that sells drinks and snacks. I think I gulped two bottles of ice cold water by the time I got there as I was panting breaths. Sitting by the rest area, with my two feet up the seat, I took some photos and in true 21st century fashion, claimed to the world that I was in the middle of an ancient wonder -- by posting it on my Facebook. Yes, there is a 3G signal there and you can Facebook atop a world wonder. 

One of the many steps going back down. See how rose red the rocks are?

We stayed at the Monastery for a good thirty minutes or so to regain our strengths (or what was left of it).  Until it was about time to head back. It was already around quarter to four and we needed to start walking since the Petra site is closed by sundown. 

You would think that heading down would be easier, but the fact is, it couldn't be any more different on the way up. The walkways are steep and if you are not careful, you can easily trip and break your skull on the rocks. My thighs were slowly surrendering. Then my knees. Followed by my ankles. It took me a full two hours to walk (nay, drag) my body towards the end and really, I was like a snail - honest to goodness, no  kidding you here! Two of my friends were already in the car and it took me a good twenty minutes to follow suit. By the end of the trail, I wanted to literally kiss the gravel road (I settled for a hug) - and thanked the heavens for whoever invented flat, gravel-laden surfaces. I have never appreciated a piece of street as much as I did that day. Really. 

Petra was amazing. But I can only do that walk once. If I ever go back there, I will load up on cash and have a freakkin' carriage to take me wherever I wanna go. 

--

On our last day in Jordan, the group and I went to a place one must also not dare miss while in Jordan: The Dead Sea. As early as 7 a.m., we were already at one of the resorts, ready to experience what the Dead Sea had to offer.

We were the first customers that day!

The Dead Sea is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Jordan. It is famous for its Biblical references and for being one of the saltiest bodies of water in the whole world. Fact: It is 8.6 times saltier than the ocean. 

First natural body of water I have seen in three years!

By the shore of the Dead Sea. 

Now, they ain't kidding when they said you can't swim in the Dead Sea. You simply float. That's because the density due to the saltiness is so high, the water will simply push you up - no matter how heavy or light you are. Hmmm...does that mean one cannot drown in the Dead Sea? Well, I sure did not try to (Tanong ko, sagot ko). But I will say this, follow the rules very carefully - and you'll live.

Typos aside, they ARE helpful warnings. 

The Pink Tarha at the Dead Sea.

We immersed ourselves for a while in the waters, and yes, it was deadly salty. My friend just got one drop, one single drop of the water in his eyes and it had him running to the swimming pool to wash it off with some fresh, chlorine-induced water. We all laughed at him but sooner or later, all of us suffered the same fate.

We were hoping to try out the mud thing (the one where you're supposed to rub mud all over your body before hitting the sea) - but since it was way too early in the morning, the resort staff said they haven't prepared the mud yet. Hm, I had no idea mud was that hard to prepare. Anyway...

If you see the background of the picture above, that on the farthest side is already Israel. We were kidding that "Hey, why not we all float towards Israel?" -- and then my friend answered that within line of sight, we would already be shot at by the soldiers manning the shore. 

After our the Dead Sea visit, we decided to drop by Mt. Nebo, which is a holy site. Stories have it that when Moses was looking for the Promised Land, he stood upon those very same grounds. 

Pope John Paul the 2nd once visited here as well.

The place where Moses stood. Of course, the map wasn't there that time. 

Atop Mt. Nebo, they are currently in the middle of building a Franciscan church - which will hopefully allow Christian/Catholic followers to pray and gather in mass. It was a very solemn site up there and I lit a candle in one of the rooms and said a little prayer for my family and friends. 

Pink really goes well with the dessert, don't you think?

That afternoon, on the ride back to the airport, I can't help but be amazed by how wonderful Jordan is, especially culturally. I love how the old and new lives and thrives at this time and even how the people - Muslims and Christians alike, live in harmony and in respect of one another. I ended up thinking, why can't the same thing happen in Saudi Arabia? (Well, that's another story).

Thank you Jordan!

I love Royal Jordanian Airlines! Especially because of their logo, which resembles the symbol of my name. The flight back was quite heartwarming, armed with the stories and experiences I've gathered in my week-stay there. I would be more than happy to come back Jordan! (If you will have me :P).

Next up, I'll tell you all about my vacation in the Philippines.





To more travels!
Eyecandy

Eyecandy Day!

Today is October 5, guess who just turned a year older, wiser and prettier? None other than the Queen of food, fashion and eloquence, EYECANDY!

E, sans make-up... still beautiful.

She was my first friend in Saudi Arabia. We met 18 years ago in grade school. At an early age, Eyecandy loved to meet people and make new friends. Perhaps a tell tale sign of her PR-savvy skills later in life. 

Who says she looks like a guy? Shame on you! :P

Eyecandy is a wonderful friend, a loving daughter, a caring sister, a great mentor, a patient and hardworking colleague and most importantly, a beautiful person with a big heart.

She may not be perfect but she makes every day as perfect as can be, not just for herself but for the people she cares about.

E, thank you for being your fabulous self! We love you!  

Ready to face the world, always!

Happy Birthday, Eyecandy!

Where Their Hearts Are

The scores are in and even if it took us a while to deliberate, the winners of the PEBA 2011 "Where The Heart Is" Photo Contest is here!

Open publication - Free publishing - More contest

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

It's been a very fulfilling experience for The Pink Tarha to "chair" this project. We received numerous beautiful entries that gave meaning to the catch phrase "where the heart is." Their interpretation and execution of photos are amazing. Thank you very much to all participants and their family and friends who supported them. Thank you to the PEBA, Inc. officers and volunteers who made this project possible and giving their full trust to these four ladies right here. Thank you to all sponsors who provided help and prizes