Takaw Manila Walks

I love walking. Anyone who knows me from way back in highschool and college would know that. I also have this thing about not knowing the word "malayo"-- everything to me can be reached by foot.

I walk even at noon when the sun's freakingly at its hottest. So what if I become nognog? I don't like being bond paper white anyway. Oh and one time, I came from a long walk then my AS crush saw me (clue: tiga Alpha Sigma siya ahahaha) and said, "Uy Tin, rosy cheeks ka ah!" Ahh...bliss!

I haven't gone walking that much since we get to bring the car or I take the cab most of the time. But I do miss the sun, the filth and all that kalyos that come with the walking. Last Friday, as I mentioned in my previous entry, I got to use my walking powers again but it was in the evening and most of the walking was done inside the mall. Somehow, I like walking under the sun better.

Upon checking my calendar, I noticed that this coming weekend, I'm scheduled to attend a workshop by the Endodontic Society of the Philippines and I needed to get teeth for some exercise on Sunday. Good thing Gio from Endo 31 gave me an upper molar (thank goodness there's no MB2 canal!) and an incisor, but I still need a premolar to complete the teeth I need. I also need to get new endo SS files since what Dr. C's said in her lectures to use files extravagantly was ringing in my head and my #15s are saying "mahiya ka naman, palitan mo na kami" so that prompted me to go to Recto, the dental student & practitioner's haven.

First stop: That Green Building in front of CEU....

It was 2 Fridays ago when Dr. B & Dr. Z are reminiscing their dental student days where they need to go to cemeteries to buy natural teeth. Dr. B even mused that a sepulturero (gravedigger) showed her an entire dead man's head when she asked for a complete set of teeth. Nowadays, it's too convenient to just buy an entire set of complete dentition in these dental supply stores, plus, they even bleach them for you! Woohooo! Fast forward to today: I just need 1 tooth more, a premolar, and a couple of extras just in case. The store where I usually buy teeth for Oral Anatomy days don't sell individual teeth anymore. The girl offered me the entire set which costs...janjaran....1 thousand pesos! No deal!!!

Off to the second store, they don't sell individually either but the lady was kind enough to point me where I can buy some...in that green building in front of CEU nga daw. True enough, a store in that building sells teeth at P40 each. Hmmm. Still expensive but I guess I have no choice. 

From U-Belt area, I need to buy ortho stuff for my cousin who's my partner in the clinic. She wants branded Power-O or was that O-Power whatever and it's available in our suki New Victory in Paterno Street.

As expected, I walked from CEU, along CM Recto Ave, looking for any used Pathways of the Pulp being sold along the way. Don't ask me how far is P. Paterno from CEU, I would say "Kayang lakarin!"

P.Paterno street is quite near Quiapo church ("quite near," eto na naman ako). You'd know you're in the right track if you see a Chowking at the corner and and stalls selling "pamparegla" and other questionable stuff claiming to do the medically impossible along with pampalaki, pangpakinis, pangpaganda--lalo na kung dati kang gwapo.

P. Paterno is my favorite place in Quiapo area. One time, the Congressman went with me here to pick up my order from New Victory:

KGW: Joanne, meron ka na pa lang miracle mix, pabili ng 1 box! Tsaka etong goat's hair polishing brush! Uy...tingi na ribbond! Pakisama na rin ng taxi solution!

Congressman: (looks at his pocket) Wala akong pang-abono ha? Yosi muna ako dito sa labas.

Hmp! He would never understand the euphoria of being surrounded by lots of dental supplies! That's the 2nd and last time I had him come with me to buy dental stuff. The first one was when he wasn't my boyfriend yet. Nagoyo ako, kala ko matiyaga magbitbit ng plastic ng stone at plaster...

But there's one thing that lights up the Congressman's face whenever we're in Paterno. No it's not the matang baka! It's Globe Lumpia House!

Pardon me if I post pictures taken from other blogsites. I would risk having my camera phone snatched. The Congressmant made me swear that I won't ask for a replacement should I lose my phone.

Globe Lumpia House is not exactly in Paterno street but on the street next to it which is G. Puyat formerly Raon. It's near the stores which sell videoke machines, Sunny dvd players and porno vcds.

During my tipid days while reviewing for the dental board exams, Val and I would have 2 lumpia and 1 bottle of Sarsi (or RC cola since those are the only ones they sell) for lunch. Viola, a lunch below P50!!!

A Globe lumpia would cost P16 each and the cola, around P5.50. 2 lumpias would do for my breakfast. Some things never change: the lumpia is still siksik, sauce is just right--not too sweet unlike Goldilocks', oh and their forks still have holes on them.

There's another dent review find (thanks to Val Bading) but pass muna ako since I'm already full with the 2 lumpias. However, their fried chicken's soooo good that it's worth mentioning.

Ramon Lee Fried Chicken is a must-try for Savory chicken fans. Val Bading was craving for chicken mami, so bad was her craving that we opted not to attend review class. I'm not a fan of mami but when I smelled the fried chicken from another table, I knew I had to try it. What's wrong with a snack of half fried chicken? I was a growing girl back then! I don't really remember where exactly Ramon Lee is but for dent people, I think it's near Medsurdent. A site says it's in Ronquillo Street and a gave a very useful trivia: Dito nagshoot si Ate Vi at si Piolo ng eksena nila sa "Dekada 70". :-)

After Quiapo, I had to stop by Gilmore to hoard blank DVDs from CDR-King. Thank you for LRT-3, a usual 1 hour ride (yes, it was that loooong) now takes 5 minutes (matagal pa ang pahihintay sa tren) from Quaipo to Gilmore Ave. Gilmore is a haven for techie people on a lookout on cheap computer stuff. It also houses my other favorite food place in the planet: The Big Little Store on Gilmore.

I used to go all the way Little Baguio in San Juan where the first Little Store on a Hill resides. Their siomai, kikiam and crab rice are my ultimate favorite. I love their Asian store too! I was there for the DVDs but upon seeing the sign of The Big Little store, my tummy grumbled again. Mussst eaaat crrrrabbbb riiiiiice!

This time, my excuse for not taking a picture of my order of kikiam and crab rice is sheer gluttony. I haven't eaten here for a long time that parang sininghot ko ang crab rice hehehe. Their crab rice is a bit expensive, P70 for just a bit more than a cup of rice. It has real crab meat, carrots, ginger and topped with peanuts. Their kikiam is a real steal at P40.

I always order from their carinderia-style counter since I like to see what I'm supposed to eat rather than look at the menu. Plus, it's cheaper that ways since you are not expected to give a tip to the waiter hehehe (kuripot!).

I also bought dried shiitake mushrooms (for my own version of Yellow Cab's Charlie Chan pasta), mooncake with 1 egg (another favorite!) and a box of mango pudding. At least I have dessert on after Friday's lunch in case Dr. Z failed to bring her Oishi caramel popcorn.

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I would like to acknowledge the following: 

http://senorenrique.blogspot.com for the Globe Lumpia pictures

baratillo.net for the Ramon Lee picture

Crocs Prima, the official shoes of  Takaw Manila Walks