Barcino: Fave Wine Bar, Bar None

If you're tired of the usual bar beer-bump-and-grind scene or the annoyingly snotty vodka tonic groupies (watch out, that's just cossack!), try visiting Barcino for a change.

Gay people are known to be pioneers in a lot of things. I'm sure when Columbus wagered that he can sail to the other side of India from Europe, his motivation did not only include God, gold and glory. He also imagined G-strings. Men in G-strings. That's why when you're a yummy mestizo guy (The owner of Barcino is Spanish mestizo) opening up a relatively new concept, expect the gay guys to be in line outside your door on Day One.

Barcino, a Spanish wine bar, has been there for quite a while when we first visited it. It's located on the second floor or the City Golf Arcade, Julia Vargas Avenue, Pasig City. As you noticed, we love this place. This is the same place where you can grab a shawarma at Uncle Moe's or New York pizza at Brooklyn's or Halo-Halo at Razon's.

The ambiance is fit for an out-of-the-way bar. It looks like an air-conditioned, glamorized cellar. No, it actually IS one. There's a smoking and a non-smoking side with around five table setups each, each setup sitting two to ten people, depending on the configuration. Jake and I had our pre-anniversary drinks here. We shared a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and boy were we smashed!

They serve Spanish dishes, from appetizers to main courses to desserts. The desserts are not to die for, so don't bother, except maybe if you're ordering dessert wine. The tapas are a bit pricey for the serving size but they taste great.

They have a good selection of Spanish wines and a sprinkling of old world and new world wines, but let's just say that Spanish wines are the main thing. Spain's not exactly well know for their wines but that doesn't mean they can't make good ones! The important thing is that you get really really smashed! After all, that's the objective of drinking and we achieved that in Barcino.

I forgot how we got home - I think we took a cab back - but I'm sure we didn't have sex that night! We didn't even have time to undress!

That Special Day

After spending a weekend in Shanghai without Jake around, I felt guilty that he was sulking here in Manila, with tons of school work and rehearsals to attend. So on our special day of the month (nope, we don't have periods. LOL) I decided to check-in with him at Holiday Inn. It's not the most luxurious of all hotels but at least we get to spend time with each other, just the two of us. Plus, the buffet breakfast is a good deal! (And I also get discounts from the hotel, hihihi.)

The last time we did this, he had rehearsal for most of the day and I ended up window shopping in Galleria waiting for him. This time, we really spent quality time sleeping with each other (in the literal and the naughty sense of the expression). Sometimes you really just need a nice sleep, in a tight embrace, to reconnect. It always works for me.

The next day, we had a really good breakfast, even if we woke up quite late for it (less than 30 minutes before the closed the buffet).

D.tour Blue Lounge

On a lazy Sunday afternoon, Jake and I decided to head out and have late lunch, merienda and a quick dinner. Sundays in Ortigas are a bore. There's usually nothing open. Even McDonald's is closed sometimes. The only interesting thing that we did that day aside from having sundaes at Icebergs was a trip to D.tour Blue Lounge.

I've heard about this for quite some time and Jake was kinda curious about the place. Since we didn't have anything better to do, we just decided to go and check it out.

It's right along Shaw Boulevard near JRU. The place looks more like a house than a lounge. But someone opened the gates for us. We were then escorted to the lobby where they gave us membership forms - the lounge is for members only - and then we had to pay our membership fees. Another guy then gave us a tour of the lounge. It's actually a big property and they created "themed" rooms for "certain" activities. One fine example is the "viewing room". I had a different idea when I heard the name of the room being said. But it's still not as innocent as you'd think it is.

For a lounge, having an orientation on the house rules is a bit weird and unnerving. But that's exactly what they did. They're actually a lot of common sense but maybe they just need to repeat it in case people are too stupid to know.

After that orientation, we explored the lounge on our own. There was pretty much no one indoors except for a couple or three guys. Many were in the outdoor area, smoking. The "viewing room" had an immediate effect on us and since the coast was clear, Jake and I had a go at it. Ha Ha Ha. That was fun!

The place feels homey and is quite different from the usual haunts in the Metro which are either noisy or sleazy. This place is very discreet. And it feels very exclusive. I wouldn't going back here. With Jake of course. And I don't mind having a go with him here either. He He he.

Let's just say that there's a thrill in the possibility of getting caught.

Weekend at the Holiday Inn

I just received my Intercontinental Group Priority Privilege card last week so I wanted to try it out. Jake and I badly needed some time together since my work has been very demanding recently and Jake's been spending a lot of time in training over the week. So we checked in Sunday night at the Holiday Inn Galleria Manila for some de luxe "us" time.

We arranged to meet at two but I was late (and was profusely sorry to be, believe me babe). I've been in this hotel before when it was still Manila Galleria Suites. It's quite improved as a Holiday Inn but it's very casual. We had a corner room with windows facing the Wack-Wack Golf & Country Club, Greenhills and a sunset view. We can even see the Bataan Peninsula from our room. My account manager originally booked for a twin bed room but I told her to get me a king-size bed for obvious reasons, but she was all oblivious to it.

Jake had to run to an audition for a musical and I was left in the room all by myself. So what's a guy to do with a hotel room all by himself? Play Sponge Bob Collapse of course! I went for a bit of grocery shopping, too. We discovered that at Mickey's Deli in Robinson's Galleria, they had gourmet sandwiches at 50% after 7pm. It was a neat deal, I bagged four sandwiches for us for less than 200 pesos.

Jake wasn't back until around 9pm. At least his dance company made it. He was also set for another audition for a TV ad the next day. The sandwiches didn't seem to be enough for the hungry Jake (who also ate my sandwich) so we ordered pizza. After some pizza and a hot bubble bath (which didn't have enough bubbles), you know how the night ended. And yes, in full view of Mandaluyong, Quezon City and San Juan.

We checked out the pool but it's not a welcoming sight. Could've been better. The breakfast was good though. I've tried better buffet breakfasts before (like Shangri-la in Mactan. Yum!) but this breakfast was not bad. And Jake and I are both breakfast people, but we take it at a different time. Like 12 noon. We really struggled to make it to the resto before 10 am. There were quite a handful of people for a Monday morning.

In the end it was a nice way of spending some time together. We really had a nice sleep. Next time we'll try to crash in earlier so that we'll get a longer sleep.

Boyd and Jake go on a road trip

Yey! It was a long overdue vacation for the both of us. We haven't gone out on holidays together for quite some time. The last was when I visited Jake in Baguio last year.

This time we went northwest to Zambales! It was one of the best trips I've made. Not only because I was with Jake but also because it was so worth the trip. Although the traffic was bad when we left Manila, it was smooth sailing on the SCTEx and beyond. I never knew Zambales was that beautiful. We went to San Antonio town, in a beach called Pundaquit/Pundakit. All the resorts were fully booked but it was a good thing that we found a cozy little cottage just for the two of us.

We went to Camara and Capones Island, which are just across the beach, maybe 20 minutes away. And we camped out in Anawangin Beach. It's this cove which you access by boat and there are pine trees everywhere! It was soooo beautiful. The best part about it is that Jake was with me and there couldn't be any man in the world happier than I was :)

Exclusive Lounge for PLU?

I was surprised to come across this D.tour Blue Lounge on the Pink Pages (www.pink-pages.biz). What surprised me is that I only found out about it now. They're policy of "exclusivity" must be really working then.

According to their website (dtourbluelounge.multiply.com), they're located along Shaw Boulevard near JRU. I'm not very sure about the choice of location. The neighborhoods certainly don't shout exclusivity. But I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. I'm checking it out with Jake as soon as I've told him about it and he agrees to go. And usually he agrees anyway. Most of the time, he even leads the way. And I gladly follow, of course. :)

Anyway, if anyone of you has heard about D.tour or has been to the place, do share with me some of your experiences. I would appreciate it! If you haven't gone to the place, which is apparently members-only, check out their website for the address and the location map and directions on how to get there. And if you've decided to go, we'll see you there soon. :)

Club Mafia Manila

Orosa Courtyard, M. Orosa cor. J. Nakpil Sts., Malate, Manila

It's nice to know that the monopoly on the gay club scene is slowly and successfully being challenged. After Bed and Club Government comes Club Mafia Manila, which took over the location of The Rainbow Project (right beside Bed!). Aiko Melendez is apparently part-owner of the club. I don't know if she knows that part of the marketing strategy is to cater it to the gay population. But maybe she knows.

It looks like Bed and Government, interior-wise. But the drinks, I think, are more expensive. They charge you a door charge of 200 pesos after 12mn. And they also have go-go boys. One of the go-go boys was cute (the leaner one)... which reminds me of... the masseur... at Asian Massage. haha.

They have a "weird" mix of music. It's like a Confused House R&B Fiesta. But nevertheless, it's danceable. The people don't dance though. And they gawk at you like they've never seen a gay couple before.

The thing with Malate is that people gawk. Or stare. Especially at that corner bar (O Bar) on Orosa and Nakpil. I'm sure it's harmless flirting. But they didn't have to be that obvious.

Anyway, would I recommend Club Mafia? For the experience, yes. It needs some more time though. I don't know exactly how I feel about knowing that Aiko Melendez partly owns it. I feel... uhm... cheap? Anyway, just go there and experience the place. It's not half bad. But I'm sticking to Club Government. The people look better there anyway.

Manila's Best Shawarma

According to Boyd and Jake, Manila's best shawarma can be found not in Mister Kebab's but in Uncle Moe's Shawarma Hub.

This little restaurant in the City Golf arcade has maintained a faithful following because of their damn good tasting Beef and Chicken Shawarma. Best eaten with a bottle of Coors Light.

City Golf arcade can be found along Julia Vargas Avenue, across Valle Verde III and beside Ortigas Home Depot. There's also a Brooklyn's Pizza, a Domino's Pizza and a Razon's of Guagua (for the best halo-halo's) in the same arcade.

Weird Massage

On one of our wanderlust weekends, Jake and I decided to head out to Malate, a.k.a. Manila's gay mecca. I like having Jake as a backride on my motorcycle especially when he hugs me tight when he gets cold with the breeze or when he rests his chin on my shoulders when we're on stoplights.

After browsing through the video collection of Top & Bottom and getting a couple of DVD's, we didn't have anything to do anymore. The people at O bar were being weird and they were staring at us. I doubt if it was because we were holding hands because for RuPaul's sake, this is Malate. So we walked to the far end of Nakpil and back and decided to get a massage instead from Asian Massage.

They have the least helpful attendants, even rude at some point. They were good in massages though. The funny thing was that they were inconsistent with their routine. My therapist was massaging my member. Of course I had an erection since he kept at it for a while. And he was also tickling my tummy and flicking my nipples, which of course hardened with the stimulation. Is this really how they do Swedish massages these days? Oh, in case you need the name of that excellent masseur, just ask me.

Valentine's Day, Anniversary and Welcome-Back Date of Sorts

As I have already mentioned, I was elsewhere in Asia for the past two weeks and I didn't get to spend Valentine's Day with Jake. People say it's cliché (they're usually single when they say so) but it would have been nice to take Jake out for dinner like all couples in love do. So that's exactly what we did when I got back yesterday. And guess what; it was also our anniversary! So it was a triple celebration that deserved special arrangements.

Although I was tired from my trip and Jake had training in the evening, I managed to convince him to skip training and spend the rest of his day with me. We spent the later part of the afternoon doing something that I missed doing during the past two weeks. You know what that is.

And then we went out for dinner. Jake and I are big gourmands (but we're very much fit) and we enjoy eating at good restaurants, fine dining if we have the resources, and this is something that we like doing together. We also don't mind hole in the wall restaurants as long as they come recommended. That night we were choosing between Crustasia and all time favorite Cyma. In the end, both of us were craving for salad and Cyma won.

We had their much hyped spinach and potato (or was it cheese) fondue which the waitress famously recommended. I'd say it wasn't really exquisite but it was great tasting nonetheless.

And then we shared a solo serving of Roka Salata which is officially Boyd and Jake's Favorite Salad Dish Ever. The dressing was fantastic.

Jake got Bifteka a.k.a. Greek wagyu beef hamburger. The beef was good. The feta cheese with basil was divinely inspired. Anything with feta for me is delicious.

I got the "Greek Chicken Adobo". It didn't start out well but when you get to the center of this half-a-chicken, it was yummy. But really, I expected more oomph out of it. Next time I'll stick to Moussaka.

We dropped by Secret Recipes to check out the cake. It was funny because I was just in KL the day before and we saw about half a dozen Secret Recipes stores and we didn't even bother checking them out. Well they're in Manila anyway!

It was a fun night and I'm happy to be able to spend time with Jake again. And since I'm getting a raise, a bonus and a promotion, there's another reason to celebrate this weekend! Maybe a relaxing massage for two? :)

Manila on a Rainy Lovers' Night

Who would want to go out when it's raining outside? Crazy lovers, maybe.

Or a guy dying to see his boyfriend who can't really say no because (aside from being hot) his boyfriend sounded really desperate to go out.

I was actually thinking more of a night-in. But as you all know, Kat's in the picture. So we decided to venture out into the rain. Our first idea was to go to Next Door on Makati Avenue because Jake was craving Chinese. But there were no available parking slots. And Jake suddenly decided that he wanted to go to Manila! Which was exactly what I was thinking. So we decided that it was a great idea and headed off to Malate.

We drove past Orosa and Nakpil and headed first to Hap Chang on Padre Faura. Did you know that Hap Chang has the second best siomai in Manila, after the Shangri-La Hotels? Yes! If you don't believe me, visit their restaurant and look on the walls. I'm not telling you what to look for though.

I was feeling like having coffee and right across was Midtown, my favorite mall in Manila (as if you'd have any choice), with a Starbucks and a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf beckoning. Unfortunately, there wasn't any parking, so off we went to Nakpil cor. Orosa.

We're not really planning to party since it was raining. But it waned a bit while we were eating inside Hap Chang. So we just went to the stores, Top & Bottom and Pride Exchange. Or was it Pride Exchange and the Rainbow Project? I dunno. Basta, we were there for porn and for sex toys.

Little Jake was sleepy by 2:00 a.m. so we decided to go home instead. I didn't sleep in because of the Kat factor but at least I got to see him today. Meanwhile, I leave you with this pretty picture of my favorite mall in Manila, Midtown at Robinson's Place Ermita, from Top Dog (http://iamthetopdog.blogspot.com)