Macau City and Taipa, Macau Tour (Part 2) – Ni Hao Macau!

Having beer stirred our tired bodies to sleep and readying up for another walking adventure in Macau City. Our plan is to check out the following:

• Have a taste of Macau by eating and drinking in one of their common and local diner.
• Ruins of St. Paul (Ruinas de S. Paulo
• Buy some souvenirs
• See the view at Wynn hotel in day time
• Fisherman’s Wharf
• Taipa Ferry Terminal
• See Venetian Hotel and other Hotels in Taipa or Cotai Strip

We did tour Macau, we didn’t play in their casino. That’s going to be my next target when I come back <hehehe… $$$>. So we listed most of the must see places and tourists spots of Macau. Waking up having a hangover due to the drinking session with our Kababayans, I walked down to the shower lazily. I had the coldest waters running to get rid of my headache. After preparing we lead our way out of the hotel and walked toward 7Eleven where we get some not so cold water and find our way to the Market Place which our Kababayans informed us where we can get some good Macau food. Shockingly the market place was just around Senado Square so we saw Senado Square in the morning and also the church which is under construction at the rear part. Facing the yellow church, to the left is where we came from looking for the market place. The market place was a sheathed in a building, you would only know it’s a market because of some fruit stand and durian’s smell <it stinks and it smells like market when you get in> we headed to the lift and found ourselves at the 3^rd floor. The whole floor of the market place was all food stands or somewhat karenderya and they serve foods that are staple to Macau people. We looked around and found some Filipino who works at Grand Lisboa and they told us to get food on the food stand in front of the escalator and so we did getting ourselves rice meals, a plate of fried curry noodles, a soya tea drink, and a coffee latte drink. The food was good but the drinks and the curry noodles were bests. We rested a bit and walked in a few towards the street signs pointing RUINAS DE S.PAULO. Along the walk we found some meat jerky or commonly known in Macau as bakkwa stores and had tasted a few and they are all mouth-watering. I saw PIGLET was Filleted <sad… L> and I love the spicy pork and spicy pepper beef. We asked information about the souvenirs such as refrigerator magnets, key chains, poker chips, packed bakkwas, etc. but we did not buy anything yet. We were informed that there were some souvenir shops at the Ruins of St. Paul so we walked to the Ruins of St. Paul which our Kababayan call it “Simbahang Putol”. Literally it was named putol because the Ruins of St. Paul has the front wall of the church remained and a little part on the sides. The front wall serves like an arch which was designed with religious icons. At the back part of the ruins there is a staircase going down a crypt where remains of the priors were kept in a stack of glass and wood while a solemn church song was played as a back ground. Once you left the room another door will lead you to the museum which caters numbers of religious figures such as Christ on a cross, the Virgin Mary, some relics, murals, and other religious artefacts. Going out of the museum is a staircase leading you back to the Ruins of St. Paul’s supposedly church’s inner area where you will find on the side a little gallery of the ruins. We left the ruins where we exactly entered and panned left to check the museum. We did not get inside the museum because we no longer have time left to roam before we check out in our hotel. We came across two (2) souvenir stores where we got cheap prices for our key chains, chips, refrigerator magnets, door hangers, car decors, etc.

We went back to hotel and get our stuff then checked out. Our plan was ruined by an unexpected rain. It lasted for about an hour keeping us inside the hotel’s lounge and so we decided to walk under the drizzles as the rain subside and planned to take a bus to the Taipa Ferry but failed not to take a bus because the bus do not accept bills and change for payments just their bus card or whatever it was called. This happens if you have not properly researched the country you are visiting. It ended us taking a cab instead and the driver took us to the Ferry Terminal which was the Maritimo not the Taipa Ferry. We passed through Fisherman’s Wharf as well which was really ruined as what our Kababayan who informed us during our lunch time. Our taxi fare went up to 95MOP and we were able to get to Taipa Ferry safe and sound with no rain clouds above anymore. We bought a 5:30PM trip to Hong Kong. We’ve also found out that there is no waiting area in the terminal so we decided to take the free bus ride of Venetian Hotel and decided to follow through what has been scheduled.

It was a short ride going to the hotel and we were informed that the bus going back to Taipa Ferry is at the west wing so I abruptly get inside the hotel with my luggage and took some pictures inside the hotel then proceed to the information counter where I spoke with another Kababayan named Joven at the front desk and asked where we can leave our baggage for the mean time and pick them up at the west wing before 5 PM. Joven pointed me to the baggage service on the opposite side of their desk and talked to the baggage counter personnel <I think I spoke with their supervisor because he does not want us to leave our baggage there instead proceed to the west wing to leave our stuff.> I went back to Joven and informed him what their personnel told us and he gave us confirmation that we can now leave our stuff on the same desk. I just informed the personnel that we will pick up our baggage at the west wing and they serviced us appropriately then asked what time we will pick our baggage up. Gave him about 4 PM just to be ready then we started roaming outside Venetian Hotel up to the Conrad’s after we got our baggage counter stickers.

It was passed 4 when we decided to go and get our stuff on the west wing which was really a long walk from the main entrance. We passed through the hotel’s casino area and the dinosaur exhibit showing a huge T-Rex skeleton standing under the chandelier. The walk made us hungry so we decided to look for something to eat and drink which lead us to getting a Pepper Sausage at 10MOP and a coffee for me at 12MOP while Ikay and Kambal shared over a Coke at 16MOP. After stuffing our stomachs we took our baggage and went to the bus going to Taipa Ferry. We arrived 30 minutes early at the terminal and waited more outside before we were advised to get in and ready for boarding.

Upon boarding ends our short but fun and full of surprised Macau Trip. Thanks for following and reading this article. Just leave a comment or email me whenever you have any question about my trips such as budget, where to go, and the likes. Please visit my blogsites http://travelingwithyu.blogspot.com or http://travelingwithyu.wordpress.com, like my page at www.facebook.com/travelingwithyu , and/or follow me in twitter @travelingwithyu.

Have a great day!  

Macau - Asia's Vegas (Part 1) - Ni Hao Macau City!

Known as the Vegas of Asia, Macau came to my list as a must see out-of-the-country trips. Doing my research about Macau, I came across about traveling the whole Macau City and Taipa within a day, therefore going on a short vacation is not as cost effective as my travel budget logs shows. So we (Rica “Ikay” P., Jonathan “Kambal” R. and I) added Hong Kong to the trip list.

Things I have noted when I get to Macau:

• Their money is called Macanese Pataca or Pataca (MOP).
• Pataca and Hong Kong dollars are almost the same in value 1 MOP = 1.01 HKD.
• Services and products are higher if purchased at night. They have night rates.
• There are 2 main islands in Macau, including their wildlife reserve, Macau City and Taipa.
• Most of the tourist spots and main casino were in Macau City.
• Venetian Hotel is in Taipa.
• There are 2 ferry stations in Macau, the Ferry Terminal in Macau City and the Taipa Ferry in Taipa. Both have trips through and from Hong Kong and China.
• We stayed in an area they call villas which shows old Chinese like district.
• Macau Mandarin is not exactly the same as Hong Kong Mandarin.
• Do not ride a bus if you don’t have a ticket. <the driver will scream at you in Mandarin that you don’t totally understand unless you have learned the language>
• I love their Beef Bakkwa especially the spicy pepper. <yum yum>
• Touring in Macau City is all good by walking. <it’s not to get some exercise too… hehehe>
• Transportations are bus and taxi.
• Taxi plug down rate is at 15 MOP.
• Driving wheels are at the right side like Thailand. <as people leaving in a left driving wheel, you might get disoriented for a bit and worry not seeing any person on the left side of the cars, it was not just the car driving. J>

We left Manila around 9 PM <our flight was late> and arrived at Macau International Airport around 11 PM. Our hotel (Man Va Hotel) is located 7 km away from the airport so we took a cab costing us about 90 MOP because of the added tax at night. <so this tells you that there is an addition to you cab rate at night, even the food>. Most of the streets were named in Portuguese but most Macau people understood the Chinese writings faster and know exactly where it is.

Arriving at our hotel, I did not expect more for a 2 star Man Va Hotel, it is an old hotel which nestled at the Villas area near the Senado Square. After putting our bags we did not waste any time and we went out to see the lights of Macau. Why we did so, because we will be leaving to Hong Kong the next day around 7 PM. Our taxi driver before getting to Man Vah Hotel was talking in Chinese about the LISBOA which we don’t understand and just said “so this is one of the well-known casino in Macau, yes we will go to that later… :D”. It seems that we understood each other. <hehehe> So after unpacking and freshening up, we walked towards Avenida de Almeida where we saw a plaza with a huge Chinese lantern that looks like a house. We really did not know that we were in the Senado Square by those times we just saw the big lantern and it’s a good scene to capture. There are old buildings around the plaza including halls, church, and the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macau City just across the street. After taking numbers of pictures, we walked down southeast trailing Avenida de Almeida before the roundabout. Grand Lisboa is noticeable due to it lights and a humongous tulip like structure. The big bulb shows moving ads if you wanted to get a bigger view. You also know that you are in Grand Lisboa if you have seen most of the flickering lights just like Vegas. Then we moved towards the rotunda and saw Wynn and MGM on the left side and took a picturesque view of their bridge going to Taipa. After which we retreat to our hotel where we met our Kababayan’s, Kuya Robin, Kuya Aries, and Kuya Ronald whom we asked where we can buy some bottled water and when we got back to where they are drinking, they invited us for few drinks. I just knocked down 3 Tsingtao cans. This is going to be good for a first in Macau. Ikay and Kambal had their cans too and it was fun talking to our kababayan abroad especially the new heroes of our country, the OFW’s. We heard some of their stories, like Kuya Ronald have his daughter finished college and now working. Story about Kuya Robin’s experience about getting pirated AUTOCAD software installed in his machine and him being an Architect working as a driver in Macau. While Kuya Aries who is working as a supervisor in a hotel we went to take photos earlier. They all did. It was fun and sad to know this things and how our New Heroes feels every time Filipino tourist come to Macau and careless about them.

I’ll discuss about our Day 2 in Macau on the next post. Let me know if you have any question and hope to be of any help.

Please check my blogsites at http://travelingwithyu.blogspot.com or http://travelingwithyu.wordpress.com or like my page at www.facebook.com/travelingwithyu and follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/travelingwithyu.

I Ain’t Rich… I’m just thrifty…

“Money are just numbers, if you know how to count and play with the numbers then you should be able to outwit the costs.” To simplify this – no poor people is poor unless they know how to be thrifty and use their money wisely.

 

I’ve heard people telling me that I’ve gone rich and they can no longer reach me. I always tell them, I’m the same old me. Never been rich just got mature.  I have my simple formula for my trips which I wanted to share to those who really want to travel.

Travel Savings = Unnecessary Expenses per Pay Period

The equation is to literally translate the Unnecessary Expense into a travel savings (TS). You can get the variation of percentages from the regular bills you take out of your salary like utility bills, rent, etc. then put a certain percentage for your Travel Savings. Start doing it after getting your 13th month bonus. After which recalculate your savings and eye for a good flight date and as well as places by then you will get the chance to travel.

Here’s what I do as an example:

Let us say that my Christmas bonus is paid at the 2nd week of December 2013.

December 10, 2013 – I put about Php 2000 on my TS and will eye for an April or May vacation to Palawan approximately 3-5 days and start looking for flight promos, hotels, and trip details. Better do some little research as part of your planning.

1st Cut off of December – I will allot 12% of my Salary on my TS

- If I have not seen any flight promos yet then I will keep checking the fares and see if it is on the budget. I will put at least Php 8,000 – 10,000 on the flight and Php 800-2500 per night on the hotel. Always book the flight first before the hotel.

2nd Cut off of December – I will allot 15% of my Salary on my TS.

I saw a promo for flights on April and it’s a great deal for Php 5,000 and I have enough savings for it <BOOK IT! And don’t look at the flight fares again, why? Cause you don’t want to give yourself a heartache.> and decide to get a 5 day leave. Take note of the booking and the flight details then scout for the hotel. You can book your hotels as early as match but you may want to consider your trip itinerary.

1st Cut off of January – I will allot 12% of my Salary on my TS.

Get my hotel booked.

2nd Cut off of January – I will allot 15% of my Salary on my TS.

I will start creating my luggage list and start filling the roster.

1st Cut off of February – I will allot 12% of my Salary on my TS.

2nd Cut off of February – I will allot 15% of my Salary on my TS.

1st Cut off of March – I will allot 12% of my Salary on my TS.

Revisit your itinerary. Double check your flights if there are any changes only, flight change issues, etc.

2nd Cut off of March – I will allot 15% of my Salary on my TS.

Never been bad not to do the same thing you did from the last cut off. This time call your hotel too. Asses as well if your pocket money will be enough for the whole trip.

On the Day before your Flight make sure all things are packed and all papers needed are in a pouch or an envelope. After which enjoy the rest of your vacation! Just make sure you don’t over spend. 

Just say you already enjoyed your vacation and went home happily, it just don’t stop there. You better plan ahead where your next vacation. Start banking on your Travel Savings and you’re up for the next trip.

To summarize:

1. Plan your vacation.
2. Save for your vacation.
3. Book flights, hotels, etc. ahead of time. The earlier the better but PROMO’s are the best.
4. Prepare a list of stuff you will bring (toiletries, meds, etc.), you might always pack light especially on 2 nights 3 days trip.
5. Review your bookings the week or at least 2 days before your flight or trip.
6. Go to the airport on required hours before departure. Domestic will be at least 1 hour while International flights at least 2 hours. The earlier the better to get a better seat unless your purchased one.
7. Enjoy!

Hope this helps. I’ll give you more the next time. Write your request and questions to me so I can be of any help. Have a good one! 

Like me at www.facebook.com/travelingwithyu and follow my blogsite at http://travelingwithyu.blogspot.com and http://travelingwithyu.wordpress.com or follow me at twitter @travelingwithyu

Philippines Sweet View and its Jewel Down South – Bohol’s Chocolate Hills

To my dear friend Janice, who requested about this amazing place – south part of the Philippines, hope you like the article.

An island splendid of endangered flora and fauna lying as the Jewel of the Philippines which can provide scenic view of a natural wonder; Bohol got a place on the postcards. Boholanos, as a typical for Filipinos, cater hospitality and numbers of delicacies on the table. Like what I’ve written on my soon to be printed coffee table magazine <Kate, it will come your way soon!>, Bohol was just a mere picture that came to life this last summer of 2013. This is one of Philippines natural wonders and picturesque view on my Philippines Postcards List. You can see lots of pictures of this hilly terrain from postcards around Philippines’ local bookstores. I remember as a grade school student, we often discuss about Bohol and its majestic Chocolate Hills in Sibika at Kultura subjects. My teacher discusses Bohol like a paradise composed of plants and endangered species. Let me stop on my school days stories and head on the topic. Bohol is an island located in Kipot ng Cebu or Cebu Strait with a rolling terrain and mountainous interior, mostly covered with limestone, and 10th largest island of the Philippines.

The trip to Tagbilaran airport <Tagbilaran City is Bohol’s capital> is about an hour from Manila. Like any ordinary city in the Philippines, Tagbilaran have good deal of establishments around the area, which we have not really roamed, have malls and dining areas <yey! Food!> too. I’m not a shopper so I do not know if they are as good as the malls you may have went shopping to and like what I’ve written we did not went around Tagbilaran that much. The only place I remember we went to was the historic blood compact statue or Sandugo nested along coast of Barangay Bool wherein their native chieftain Datu Sikatuna and the Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, tying their treaty of friendship. Then we drove to see the largest python Prony in Albur or Alburquerque, it was the reputed longest and heaviest python in captivity at the Python Sanctuary. There are some other animals there like owls, birds, and flying lemurs too. If you’re a PETA fan I assume you don’t want to get in here.

It has been 30 minutes past 12 and the tour have a great plan ahead. What else to expect in a trip? Food! Yes, this one of the things you like on your list when you are touring. It’s different, relaxing, and delectable lunch along the Bohol’s infamous LOBOC River. Arriving at the Putol na Tulay area, is where our lunch awaits. Entering the boat docking area, we were serenaded with Boholanos’ Rondalla group or people playing difference string instruments. This is excitingly fun! We stepped on the boat with a buffet table in the middle with main courses, appetizers, and DESSERTS! While the boat cruises the river, a man with a guitar sings for us while eating our lunch. I ordered buko(fresh coconut) juice <let me inform you that this is not included in the package you paid for the whole meal. Only sodas where unlimited and free.> and zipped to it while enjoying the river view. You will see some mountain walls whites which tell you that the area is made out of lime. Along the river there were kids swinging on a tree and jumps to the waters with all pleasures you can hear their laughs and see their smiles.

After passing those kids, we found ourselves in front of a float nipa hut where a group of children and elderlies were dancing and singing folk songs. We stayed there for quite a bit and let the production finish. Then we cruised till the end of the river showing as small falls and it was breath taking. Sadly, it was really short and the captain pulls us back to the dock station.

Our next stop is a PETA friendly environment. The Tarsier Conservatory area located in Bohol is a preservation area that Boholanos provide for the endangered Tarsius Syrichta which got the smallest primate tag in the Philippines which is named by the tarsier man Carlito Pizarras. This is in accordance Republic Act No. 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1991. These endangered species are nocturnal and are sensitive to light and noise. Tarsiers eat insects and are great-fast leaper. The conservatory guides gave us livener and reminder before entering the sanctuary. First, is to turn off all camera flashes. Second, is to keep our noises at a minimum. Third, DO NOT touch the tarsiers <these are sensitive species; they also have separation anxiety which leads them to hitting their heads if you have them fed and carried then leave them. So fragile.>

It was a steep walk around the forested area but worth walking after seeing those little Yoda looking creatures. I want to touch them and bring them home unfortunately I cannot.  Bringing home of tarsiers will be sanctioned based on Republic Act No. 9147, also known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.

Last spot in our Bohol tour is Bohol’s main attraction – the grand Chocolate Hills. One of Philippines’ nature wonders. When I was a grade schooler I remember asking my teacher “Can I eat those Chocolate Hills?”. When I turned high school I asked “Are Chocolate Hills planted with cacao tree that’s why it was called as such?”. Then I learned that Chocolate Hills are not of the first two ideas. In reality Chocolate Hills took its name from the grass that grows on it. The hills were covered with grass that were so green on rainy days while turns to brown or chocolate colours on summer. It was so amazing how God have created this picturesque view and its mystery.

To look at the vast of Carmen, Batuan, and Sagbayan’s hilly inland structure you need to climb up the view deck where you can take pictures of it magnificence. There are about 214 steps to the observatory. Yes! It was tiring yet rewarding staircase. Stories were told that these hills came into existence when two giants fought by throwing stones and sands to each other until they get tired and became friends after which then left the island. Another lover’s tale about its existence is the love of a giant Arogo to an ordinary mortal girl Aloya. In the tale Aloya died which Arogo grieved with tears. His tears turned into hills as his lasting proof of his grievance.

After a long tour is a place to rest. Our company lead us to Amorita where we stayed for 2 nights and 3 days. Enjoyed the infinity pool, beach, sea, and barrels of booze. It was indeed a great Rave Party they gave us with the title – One Advent!

You’ve seen the land tour. What else you want to visit in the Philippines but to cruise and tour its vast ocean. Undeniably, Philippines have one of the best marine biodiversity in the world. Till next article.

Like me at www.facebook.com/travelingwithyu and follow my blogsite at http://travelingwithyu.blogspot.com and http://travelingwithyu.wordpress.com or follow me at twitter @travelingwithyu

I love to hear your thoughts. I placed a poll on my blog site of which international country I have travelled you like me to write up. You can vote to which country I will write first.

Thank you and Happy Weekend!

Other links you can visit:

http://www.bohol.ph/article6.html

Filipino’s Fried

Food what most of us loves to talk about and sometimes we are on our way of finding what best suits us and what is good for our health.  If you are looking for a healthy diet, I want you to skip reading this article. If you just want to read it for fun and some trivia, you can go ahead read at your own pleasure. For those who want to try out some Filipino cuisines, you can get some feedback on this must try list.

There is no easy way to prepare your food but frying. Buy a processed food out in the market then fry it and whoosh you already have a good meal for lunch, dinner, or even for snack and breakfast. I have heard from my friends who are taking up medicine that “Only palm or coconut oil is good for cooking, the rest just produce toxins which are bad for our health” <you see me here nodding my head with eyes wide open while listening>. If you want to research about it click the links I left below this article. So fellow fried eaters, be very careful which oil you are going to use when you cook.

Yes, I am talking about fried dishes which are really good either with rice or just as is. List get down to our list:

Danggit – What stinks does not mean it is not good? You will know if someone eats or cookingDanggit by its smell. I have written it correctly as it describes Danggit or sun dried Rabbitfish or Spinefoot or Siganid fish. This local delicacy is as smelly as a fish but it’s all flavourful too. This easy to cook meal is best served with vinegar, garlic, and pepper dip or fresh cut tomatoes. Best danggit’s are found in Cebu and common to all fishing villages in the Philippines. You can buy Danggit at the Tabo-an Market in Cebu. Danggit is one of the staple breakfast meals around the Philippines and it is prepared by simply deep frying it. Before it became a ready to cook meal, danggit is prepared by rinsing a Siganid fish and butterfly filleting it then dry it under the sun. Production of danggit happens over summer and if the fish was dried properly it will last for a year.

Smelley yet lovely

Tuyo – Another stinky yet delicious Filipino food, the tuyo. It came from the word tuyo in Filipino which means dry.  Just like Danggit, tuyo isalso a sun dried salted Herring fish or Stockfish. As pungent as Danggit, it is best with the same exact dips <I like it more with tomato and salted egg> and as delicious too.

Mouth-watering Tuyo

Tinapa – Smokey delicious as a variety of smoked fish fried after the smoking process is calledTinapa. This meal is as mouth-watering as the first 2 fish dishes on the list. Commonly, bangus(milkfish) and galunggong (mackerel scad), it is served during breakfast.  You can add it on your cheap list like tuyo and most on this list.

Smokey yummy treat.

Crispy Pata – deep fried pork knuckles or trotter which is best dipped in soy sauce mixed withkalamansi (Asian Lemon), onion chops, and garlic or soy sauce and vinegar. This all-time favourite dish is served during parties or special occasions. There were restaurant around metro and near cities or provinces that serves this dish typically in bars and drinking areas. Tagaytay’s Leslie’s, is a place where you can enjoy the said dish while overlooking at the Taal volcano’s crater and the cold breeze of the area. It may not be cold for foreigners but for Filipinos it is.

Pork knuckles fried deeply to its perfection.

Bagnet – one of the best Ilocano-culinary price is the bagnet or commonly called pork bellychicharon(pork cracklings or pork rind). Cooked the same way as the Crispy Pata, the only difference is which part of pork is used for the said cooking, also, this dish is best dipped on the same dips you can use for Crispy Pata or just as is. I remember how delicious this simple dish is cooked with the local pinakbet at Java Hotel’s restaurant in La Union.

Crispy treat from the North.

Lechong Kawali – a common Filipino dish served with liver sauce or vinegar, crushed garlic, and pepper sauce. It is a slab of pork’s belly that was boiled and then deep-fried until crispy and golden. Mama cooked this food typically when Lolo ask his “glassmates” or his drinking buddies at home in Bolinao, Pangasinan.

An all time favorite.

Tapa – this delicacy which may be mistaken as tapas as Spanish cuisine’s wide variety of appetizers but it is the counterpart or resembles Beef Jerky. The word tapa is more related to Sanskrit term tapas which mean “heat”. This beef sirloin strips were marinated/cured with salt, sugar, soy, garlic, and ground black pepper or saltpetre then dried is made perfectly to form a delightful and mouth-watering breakfast. Over the years tapa has been served as meal not only in breakfast but also lunch and dinner.  It is best partnered with garlic rice, fried egg, and atsara (pickled papaya) or commonly called TAPSILOG with a spicy vinegar or soy sauce andcalamansi as a dip.

Meaty flavor you will always look for.

Tocino – is a barrowed word from Spanish which describes bacon, is some Carribean countries Tocino is actually bacon made out of pork fatback but instead of cured or smoked it is fried until crunchy and were used as additives like lardons in French. Philippino Tocino is prepared by mixing Anise wine, annatto, water, salt, sugar, and saltpetre then sprinkling this mixture on pork strips and stacked in a container which is covered and kept refrigerated for about 2 to 3 days. This sweetened pork recipe is very delicious when fried until the sugar caramelizes and the pork reddened which completes a very good breakfast. Just like Tapa, this has been commonly served as meals all through-out the day with rice, fried egg, and tomato. Our Cabalens or locals of Pampanga have a special way to marinate their tocino, adding pineapple juice in the mixture to have a slightly tart flavour which they call “burong babi” (fermented pork).

An Asian way of sweetened pork.

Longganisa – it is a barrowed dish from Spanish Longaniza but with the Filipino twist. There has been variety of so called Filipino sausages all throughout Luzon. Lucban have this garlicky and peppery longganisa which you can easily get from Buddy’s together with the pansit habhab. Vigan’s longganisa is also famous because of the distinct garlic taste of Iloco’s garlic. Guagua’s salty and soury longganisa which is by contrast of the regular longganisa that is sweet in taste. Like tapa, it is also served best with rice and fried egg.

A pouch of meaty surprises.

Fish Balls – this maybe one of the most popular street food in the Philippines but the fish balls that comes to my memory is the homemade fish balls. Most of Bolinaonon make their own fish balls out of fish meat, pepper, garlic, onion, and some carrot mixture. These will then made into balls and deep fried giving you delightful taste of the ocean and earthy taste of the spices. Typically they use triggerfish or the papakol as the main ingredient. The distinctive taste and softness of the meat makes the different flavour of this fish ball. Best when dipped in all sorts of vinegar mixtures and it eaten as a snack like your regular fish ball.

Snack time for fish balls with sweet chili sauce on the side.

I have been listing all this food and it made me really hungry. It’s time to park the pen and get my fingers working on some food and eat.

Enjoy everyone! Have a happy and cravingly reading.

You can now follow me in twitter @travelingwithyu and visit my facebook pagewww.facebook.com/travelingwithyu. For any questions and suggestions just shoot me a message and I will get back to you.