Everything and Anything Con-Con

Spain 2 (Barcelona)

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:50:00 +0000

I dig Barcelona. I dig the Spaniards (or is it the Catalans?). They’re relaxed, their living and breathing areas are not cramped, they enjoy life, they have it good. Theirs is a very livable city.

We started the long day with a trip up Tibidabo, a church perched high in the mountains. I joined Arnel (VC Armand’s brother) Mean (a family friend and long-time local resident) and Arnel’s mom in going up one of the highest points in the city. It was very windy and very cold up there, and at one point I was frightened both by the height up the church tower and the strong gusts of wind.

This is the topmost part of the church tower visitors can reach, just at the foot of the huge statue of Christ. You literally hold on to dear life here. The wind is insanely strong and cold, and there are no high and reassuring barriers that offer assurance on not falling.

Arnel was very kind to accompany me the rest of the day along Las Ramblas and the nearby Boqueria.

The Boqueria was a prime example of why I enjoy traveling. It’s been able to see the variety of the local produce. Various hams, meats and cheeses are Spanish specialties. Not-too-common delicacies such as rabbit’s head and (I think) bull’s testicles can be bought at the market.

Ambling past the Plaza Catalunya brought us to two famous Gaudi Buildings, Casa Batllo and La Pedrera. To say that Gaudi was an unconventional builder is a gross understatement.

A fitting end to the day was Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia. It’s an eye-popping spectacle that still intrigues because it’s still unfinished after a hundred years. And the design is just so – well, different may be too tame and insufficient a word. It’s a very emotional structure, in an insanely unconventional, playful and outrageously imaginative way. One marvels at the kind of mind that conjures such a creation.

Barcelona’s own Arc de Triompf. Not at spectacular as the one in Paris, but an imposing structure nonetheless.

Spain 1 (Barcelona)

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:43:00 +0000

First, this leg of the trip would not be so enjoyable and worry-free without the graciousness and hospitality of Vice Consul Armand Talbo of our Department of Foreign Affairs office in Barcelona, and his loving family. For their kindness, I’ll forever be grateful. Their residence was a source of warmth and comforting Pinoy food.

Barcelona is more relaxed and laid back. Shops are mostly closed on Sundays. There is a sizable Filipino presence here, evidenced by plaques, stores and restaurants, and kababayans you meet in the streets greeting you “Hola!” The “double beso” is the standard greeting here.

A plaque signifying the Spanish tobacco monopoly in the Philippines in the 1800s.

A plaque in Hotel Espana, where Philippine national hero Jose Rizal stayed likewise in the 1800s.

There was a residential part of the central city area that hosted many Filipinos, evident in store signs. Former Filipina actress Tina Paner owned a travel agency in the area.

Had thick hot choco and olives at the Filipino-owned MyraMar restaurant. It packed locals and Pinoys alike.

Some other Barcelona scenes:

To Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity Brod and VC Armand, my eternal thanks.

Leaving Paris

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:20:00 +0000

I’ll be boarding a train to Barcelona in about an hour and a half. I know I’m in the right station (Paris Austerlitz) because I hear Spanish being spoken. Hope to arrive in Barcelona early morning.

Spent the last day touring the Louvre again. Again, it’s just so massive. And again, people flocked to see the most famous painting in the world.

Some other museum scenes (which doesn’t represent at all even a fraction of the collection housed within. It has three wings – Denon, Sully and Richieleu. Denon is the most famous because it contains the smiling lady.

Different interpretations of the Last Supper. Hope to see the most famous in Milan in the coming days.

There was a street market near Crimee Station, maybe because it was a Saturday.

The St. Christopher’s Inn, where I stayed, is a “super hostel” in terms of size. Young people populated it as usual. The basic plus extra services were there – clean beds and rooms (depending on one’s roommates), free wifi internet, a filling breakfast, a bar even.

Backtracking (Netherlands 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:05:00 +0000

The Anne Frank House tour was intimate, personal and interactive, but not as moving as my other Nazi-Jew historical experience, Washington DC’s Holocaust Memorial more than a decade ago. Still, the tour was quite emotional, knowing Anne Frank didn’t survive the Holocaust, but her words and memories have lived on.

Made famous in Pulp Fiction by Vincent Vega, John Travolta’s character, the Dutch fries with mayo. Lots of mayo. I never put ketchup in fries, so this is quite preferable to me. Not as scandalous as this may seem to most fries eaters. Febo stores are scattered all over the city. Bought my fries at the Leidseplein entertainment district.

Almost everyone owns and rides a bike.

Flower Market. Not the best season to see the tulips though.

Scenes from the perfunctory Amsterdam canal ride. The "captain" tried to infuse deadpan humor into his narrative, which went flat mostly with the wooden audience. The ride was normally 12.50 euro for a ride that lasted 45 minutes. Got mine for 9 euro by chance inside the Central Station. The price difference means a bag of chips and some bread so it's a good discount.

The infamous sex museum. Most pictures are just plain unbloggable without offending someone so here are the “tamest”.

All in all, the best deal I got in the Amsterdam leg was the day pass, which meant unlimited rail rides for 7 euro. Maxed it out each day I got it. The worst deals were the 2.50 euro Amsterdam map from the Tourist Office no less, and the 50 cents I paid just to take a piss at a KFC store.

Paris 2

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:30:00 +0000

It’s my third full day here and I’ve done the rounds of all the must-dos basically. The Louvre and Musee d’ Orsay, Notre Dame, the Palace of Versailles, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, St. Chapelle. Paris is a walking city. Though the Metro is very extensive, you can’t get away from all the walking.

I guess any trip to the great cities requires one to be fit. The spiral steps leading to the towers of the Notre Dame Cathedral or the Arc require real stamina. It it weren’t for the biting cold, I’d be sweating like a pig.

Louis XIV’s palace retreat is vast and majestic. The nagging thought that hounds me every time I see wonders like these (and there are many in Paris) is: How did they do that? Notre Dame was built I think in the 12th and 13th centuries, it boggles the mind how they were able to make a structure that tall at that time? Or the Eiffel Tower for that matter in the 1800s. Amazing really. There was a hall inside the Versailles palace that celebrated major victorious French battles throughout their history, starting with the Carolingian Kings in the 400s. No Waterloo there for sure.

Paris is just so alive. The Metro passageways and the Parisian streets house all kinds of beggars, musicians, random performers.

Where else can you find a mini orchestra playing Pachelbel’s Canon in the middle of a busy underground Metro corner?

Curious finds at the Champs Elysees last night: a Mercedes Benz folding bicycle (would drive status-crazy Pinoys crazy) and a Benz umbrella, a steal at a mere 49 euro (I'm of course being sarcastic here).

Made the mistake of getting off at Pigalle instead of Anvers for the Sacre Coeur visit first thing in the morning today, and had to climb a steeper slope. I know someone from Pinas who proposed to his wife at the church grounds. No way he could have been rejected.

Just at the foot of Montmarte is Pigalle, an area supposedly known for its sex shops. Not as sleazy and open as Amsterdam for sure, but the place might be totally different at night.

The Pere Lachaise cemetery is a tourist haunt as well. Chopin, Jim Morrison and some other personalities are buried there. The eeriness of the place is compounded by some leafless tress and the fallen autumn leaves. Makes the vibe quite cinematic.

Some other Parisian scenes and sights:

Paris 1

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:49:00 +0000

The numbers after the place name do not necessarily refer to a particular day, as in “Paris Day 1.” They might be, but it’s more like “Paris Post 1.”

Been walking like crazy the past days and my feet already have slight blisters. But I don’t mind. I’m having a grand time. Paris is bigger and less intimate than Amsterdam, and the infectious love vibe affects both locals and tourists here. I’ve seen about 4 couples kiss in public places in a day, and that’s not counting the short buss on the lips or cheeks many others do.

Just too tired to write long. The Metro rail service is fast and efficient, and quite intimidating. You really need to plot your route before hand. Been to the Louvre, Notre Dame, St. Chapelle, Musee d’ Orsay and the Eiffel Tower today.

I guess no visit to Paris would be complete without pictures like this. Again, very thankful for powerful camera optical zoom.

Full moon over the River Seine, with the Tower just a glance away. This is what makes traveling, though very tiring, really memorable.

The Red Light District

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:25:00 +0000

It was drizzling. And the slight rain made the outlines of the red light district's structures seem slightly like carefree watercolor paintings. Then the rain stopped, and everything was clear again. Pubs lined up Amsterdam's the so-called sin area. Men were singing what sounded like football chants from the bars and beer halls. Police cars drove by once in a while (I saw two pass by) but the sex continued. You see the neon signs of the shops and some of the girls in glass casings, but you of course do not see what happens beyond the front facades.

I put myself in a particular state of mind. Grolsch (1.90 euro at a convenience store) was my companion tonight. I drank from the tall can as I walked the breadth and width of the area. Curiously, there were mallards and swans in the canal. Not so surprisingly, there were sexy girls in the displays. Photos are prohibited, and I'm not ready to get into trouble with the girls or their handlers by taking a nearby shot. So I'm very much thankful for 20x optical zoom - I can shoot from a safe distance at the other side of the canal.

So this is what Amsterdam is famous for. Frankly, I've seen seedier and less touristy spots back home. This area may just be famous because of its sheer openness. For me, after a relaxed saunter in the district (the guidebooks strongly advise the traveler against going there at night, which I found too paranoid), I just walk a few meters along the narrow Barndesteeg street and go to my temporary home in Amsterdam - a Christian hostel, of all places, right in the infamous red light district.

Netherlands 1

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:51:00 +0000

First full day here in Amsterdam. Had a very productive morning, going through the Rijks Museum, then a big park, then the Heineken Museum. I slept a bit longer previously for the night, which is a big improvement. Maybe I was just too tired – finished the meeting in Frankfurt, then a four-hour train ride to Amsterdam, then walking several blocks to the hostel, then finding out that the quarters are really cramped – these all contributed to the relatively comfy sleep.

Shelter City is located in the red light district, but the irony of it is this is a Christian hostel – no drugs and alcohol allowed inside, while there are all sorts of indulgences just outside its doors.

The free breakfast was very basic. I got the pancakes.

It was a Sunday and Amsterdam is still asleep at 8 a.m.

The tram line 2 or 5 brought tourists to the Museumplein where the museums were clustered, including the Rijks and Van Gogh. Van Gogh is slated for tomorrow. It’s comforting to know that there are many clueless travelers like me who ask around for directions both in the streets and on the trains. No pictures were allowed inside the National Museum, but I found the works of the Dutch masters Rembrandt and Vermeer to be the highlights. There were numerous artifacts as well of the Netherlands’ colonial past, being a maritime superpower that controlled much of world trade in the 17th century through the Dutch East Indies Company.

As I was taking pictures in the park just off the Rijks, I heard some ladies speaking Tagalog. I approached them and introduced myself. They were working as au pairs in Danish households. They seemed to be happy here.

I just walked several blocks to the Heineken Museum. It wasn’t much really attraction-wise. But it was a must-see for a beer lover (like me).

It started raining on my way back to Central Station. I milled around a bit inside station itself, hoping the drizzle would stop but it didn’t. I pondered on what to do next, and decided to just let the rain pass as I update my blog entries in the hostel. I passed by the red light district and saw the girls in lingerie inside the glass compartments, acting like live mannequins. Pictures are prohibited but I’ll try to sneak a photo or two when I get the chance next time.

Deutschland 3 & 4

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:39:00 +0000

I'm at the Frankfurt Main Rail Station now, waiting for the 4:30 p.m. train to Amsterdam. I left the representatives' meeting early because I had to check out of the hotel. Good thing the service vehicle brought me here. Had my Eurail pass validated, and was advised what platform the train would be boarding. I'm all set. I found a free wifi-spot and was able to upload earlier entries written using LiveWriter. Ther formatting isn't perfect, but I've no time to reformat.

This is a vast rail station. Two vagrants asking for money or food had already approached us passengers seated here, but we all ignored them. One even tried to kick a walking pigeon in disgust. My first real negative European experience.

Grabe. Umihi lang magbabayad ka pa ng 70 cents.

Still have one and a half hours to wait. I'll just be updating this later (hopefully) with the rest of the Germany experiences. But by mid-evening I'll be farther north in the Netherlands.

***

The ICE train arrived, the 4-hour trip north to the Netherlands was fuss free. I had to walk to the hostel, good thing people were friendly and readily gave directions.

***

The second day of the conference was held at the Frankfurt Opera House. I was late because I met Consul General Manalo of the Philippine Embassy over breakfast plus a lady secretariat officer from the Senate who had attended the Interparliamentary Union in Prague I think, and her son.

On my way back to the hotel to the conference, I passed by a grocery store at a mall's basement. A German attendee pointed the place out to me when I said I had difficulty finding a convenience store in the area (there were no such things, he said. No 7-11s in the entire country). When I travel, I like going to these grocery stores (like I did in Tokyo last year) to get a feel of the range of products available. And what a range they have.

***

The evening's affair was held at the Eberback monastery, which was not a monastery anymore but a winery producing German rieslings. It was ideally located in the Rhine valley and I was told the region itself produced good sparkling wine.

It was another heady evening with new friends. I was made to sit at the presidential table, sitting beside the national federation president of German lawyers. Dinner itself was tuna and veal. The raspberry sorbet was distinctively sour. My tastebuds were not too used to sour dessert.

The wine and conversations went into the night, to almost close to midnight. It's cliched, I know, but it was another memorable evening.

Deutschland 2

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:11:00 +0000

Woke up very early to make last minute revisions to the speech. And following the typical German practice of utmost precision, I timed it – 22 minutes. Just enough.

Was too occupied thinking about the presentation to take pictures of the reception areas in our first day venue. We started on time – this was Germany after all.

The bad thing about speaking in front of people was you can’t take pictures of yourself when it’s your own turn to be the photo subject. Which is exactly what happened. There were video cameras set up , but curiously, no intrusive hired photographers who milled around.

I was the day’s 4th speaker, coming after Japan’s Tanaka-san, who spoke perfect German. I went to the podium, delivered my piece, and in less than half an hour, it was over.

People immediately approached when the speaker who came after me, a member of the Russian Orthodox Church, finished his own presentation. A German man who stayed in Manila for six months in 1976 shared his thoughts about how true the things I said were, about the influence of the Catholic Church in people’s lives. An Indian lawyer made his comments as well. Then there was this lady from a local radio station who taped a short interview for a public information show.

The rest of the day was spent listening to the other lectures. A person from the Philippine consulate left a message. There were notes as well at my hotel room doorstep. I’d be meeting with the Philippine consul general tomorrow for breakfast.

The evening program was held at the St. Paul’s Church. The highlight was the awarding of a human rights prize to a lady Kenyan rights advocate – she gave a very moving speech about how she dreamed about democracy in Kenya. It seemed that the creme of Frankfurt’s social and legal community was there. The deputy mayor also gave a message. Was impressed with the topnotch level of detail and attention – the texts of all the speeches were already printed in the souvenir program, down to twin printings in both German and English.

Dinner was at some sort of hall nearby. Food and drinks flowed. Of course I had my beer. I sat with a group of lawyers from Austria, Poland and Germany. It seemed that the message I wanted to deliver in my speech came across well. People actually recalled what I said and made comments and compliments. It was a heady evening of intelligent and eclectic conversation about Austrian law practice, meats and potatoes in German food, the weather, Lech Walesa, Polish religion and history, Eastern Europe, communism and the former USSR, among many other things.

I walked back to the hotel a bit tipsy, not getting lost, smiling by myself and totally satisfied at what happened today.

Deutschland 1

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:09:00 +0000

It’s cold here, I don’t know the exact temperature, but the moment I got out the airplane door at Frankfurt Airport, I spewed foggy breath.

Frankfurt Hilton is located at the central downtown area. My room was standard business accommodation. No free breakfasts, no free internet (no way I’m paying 22 euro for wifi), but the basic comfort conveniences were there. Instead of lowering the room temperature, I increased it. There’s not much sun today. I’m in a totally different world indeed.

I tried finalizing tomorrow’s speech. When I got bored, I went out. There was a park at the back of the hotel, and lots of shops and restaurants in the area. Seems like Goethe was born, or lived here. There’s a statue of him in the platz.

Someone’s idea of a joke - graffiti moustache of you-know-who.

Good thing I was able to take an afternoon nap. Body clock hasn’t fully adjusted yet. I spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening in front of the laptop. Then went out again for a stroll. Frankfurt is a modern, rich and industrial city. Not much clichéd Euro culture here, I suppose, except for a few sculptures here and there.

My kind of shop.

The view from my room.

Finally finished the speech close to midnight, and had it printed at the business center. For free, thankfully. I surfed the TV channels and chanced upon a game show of sorts. Wonder when we will have this kind of entertainment in the Philippines. More importantly, wonder who would host? This is surely post-modern.

More Than Halfway There

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:32:00 +0000

I’m a Doha International Airport. Local time is 11 p.m or so. Philippine time is 5 hours advanced, so it’s supposed to be 4 a.m. back home. Haven’t had any sleep. The connecting flight to Frankfurt is two hours away, and that’s another 7 hour flight. I’m plastered. Need to get a nap.

Airline food bordered on the disappointing. But the personal (and touchscreen) video screens with lots of on-demand movies made the long trip less punishing. And I tried both the French and Chilean whites.

Through the Lens of a Visitor

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:08:00 +0000

Vincent took better pics of the Beers Paradise meet-up. And his Facebook album of his recent Pinas visit is awesome. Suddenly you lose your jadedness, and get excited at how visitors see your own country. Thanks, Vince! (and sorry for the "unauthorized" use of your valuable pics :p)
.

Beers Paradise!

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:41:00 +0000

About time I met someone face to face I could discuss beer intelligently with. No holds barred talk about the magic brew -- range of flavors, beer types, the best beer places, everything -- over, what else, bottles of beer.

Vincent Lim, beer lover and blogger from Malaysia, came over to Pinas for a week. On his last night in Manila, we visited Beers Paradise in Polaris St., Makati. My first time there. And it was...paradise. Took me this long to visit, but the timing couldn't be more apt. Vincent was impressed as well. No place like it in Kuala Lumpur, he said.

Not all brews in the menu were available, but who were we to complain? We tried and shared a bottle each of an Australian ale, a German pilsner and an American wheat beer. I brought a large bottle of Belgian lambic beer, paying a hefty corkage fine but boy oh boy was it worth every peso.

The ale was a good beginner ale, lacking in overpowering bitterness. The pilsner screamed grain and malts, the better for it. The wheat beer was creamy and had a welcoming smell of bananas. But the last beer was really something else. The lambic was more winelike than beerlike. First, it came with a cork. And the raspberry aromas just plain exploded on the nose. Vincent was the first one to mention it -- it was like drinking a real fruity bubbly wine.

Which made me comment -- beer indeed is the ultimate drink. Beer can aspire to be like good wine, but wine cannot aspire to be good beer. That's how good and adaptable this ancient drink is.

Awesome night with a fellow beer junkie. This is how two tipsy but happy guys look like. Cheers!

Weekend Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 06:41:00 +0000

I’m experimenting with Windows LiveWriter, an offline blogging tool, and I find it to be very easy and straightforward to use. Based on personal experience, Windows is way better at blogging than the Mac OS. I tried a Macbook for about a year and was frustrated to high heavens with its inexplicable lack of free, intuitive and convenient blogging tools. Qumana for Mac was hopeless. And for an operating system that prided itself with graphical ease, I wasn’t able to find a free program that did the simple task of batch pic resizing. So for all the vaunted advantages of the Mac, my short stint with it was disappointing.

Busy Sunday, and I needed a hearty meal to compensate. I overgrilled the meat a bit, a bit drier than I wanted. The thick slab is a bit tricky to cook.

Just Getting Ready

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:58:00 +0000

Never been a boots person, never will be. But I’m expecting some real, heavy duty walking, so now’s the time to give this old pair some serious mileage.

I’ve prebooked my Eurail train rides, down to the departure and arrival times. The past week I’ve been trying to book some museum visits online. Uffizi is already okay, but there’s no November sked yet for the Doge’s Secret Itineraries English tour. The Last Supper visit is particularly frustrating. My booking was rejected by two companies already – no tickets available, they emailed. Tried calling long distance yesterday 3 times just to reach the ticket call center. Busy. Will try again in the coming week, but things look bleak.

At Last!

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:45:00 +0000

Got the Schengen visa at the Italian embassy this afternoon.

Main reason for application: attending a conference (World Religions and their Influence on Legal Systems) in Frankfurt at the end of the month as one of the invited speakers.

Frankfurt is in Deutschland, so why apply at the Ambasciata d' Italia? Apparently, you need to secure a visa from the country you plan to stay longest. If all goes according to plan, I'll be spending 8 days or so in Italy, when the 3-day conference is over and I'm making my first tour of the Old World.

I'm excited. But I need to focus on making a good presentation first. Have to make myself and my country worthy of the invitation to address religious and legal scholars from all over.

Persian Delight

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:02:00 +0000

It's been a while since my last blog entry. Not that I'm way too busy to write, but there was this uneasiness and anxiety caused by the agonizing wait for something, which is forthcoming early in the coming week. I'll write about that soon.

***

My sister Nene and cousin Lei needed to talk, and Lei directed us to Persian Square at Ortigas Home Depot. I later discovered it has created quite a buzz in the local restaurant blogging scene, and even has a website.

They ordered the Mirza Ghasemi for appetizers. It was a paste of grilled eggplant, tomato sauce and several exotic spices which you scooped with oven-baked pita bread. Tasty. Garlic and spicy sauces complemented the already-flavorful mix.

My Chelo Joojeh Kabab entree was delicious. It's described as "a skewer of charbroiled slices of chicken fillet marinated in saffron, onions and lime juice. Served with basmati rice topped with saffron, butter and two grilled tomatoes on the side." The chicken strips were tender and full of flavor, and the bed of basmati rice was very generous. I even took some more rice from Lei's plate for seconds. Haven't had that much rice for dinner in a long time. San Miguel Pale Pilsen complemented the meal.

The only complaint Nene had was the lack of a wine list. She's a wine drinker through and through, and the servers had to buy a bottle of red outside just to satisfy her drink request. But otherwise, the food was great. Nothing fancy, just solid food -- the way I like it.

There were a handful of other customers, but the place was quiet that early Friday night. Expect to pay a little over 500 pesos minimum (close to $11) for a visit to this good Persian restaurant.

Small, Cheap Pleasures

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:16:00 +0000

This has got to be one of the best buys in the city -- Ministop's choco ice cream on a sweet cone. Instant gratification for just 15 pesos (US 30 cents).

I bought "dirty" cheese ice cream when I visited a friend in a hospital over the weekend, and I paid 10 pesos for a paltry cup. Comparing that one with this Ministop treat in size and smile factor, they're not even in the same universe (okay, stress causes exaggeration and hyperbole).

A Silky Irish Beer

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:20:00 +0000

Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale
Brewed in Ireland
Smooth & Distinguished

A very pleasant discovery, this beer type. Ales are supposed to be bitter and quite challenging to the uninitiated, but this "cream" ale is smooth. The hops aren't grabby and don't bombard you with bitterness. They introduce themselves to the palate quite subtly and gently. This is a good counterpoint to any India Pale Ale (strong American IPAs come to mind).

The color is a rusty amber, and the froth is quite tenacious. I was expecting more creaminess with the mouthfeel, which wasn't forthcoming even after several sips, but unmistakably, this is one smooth beer. This beer is an eye opener. I've come to know Ireland for its stouts (the ales are more associated with England, if I'm not mistaken) but this brew adds good beer points to the rich Irish beer culture.

Distinguished indeed, as the can advertises.

Con-Con Rating System: F=forgettable; G=good and will drink if available; D=desirable, will opt for seconds or more; and W=wow, would go places just to seek out this beer

The verdict:

Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale: D, alcohol 4.3%

*click on the label "beer philippines" below to see other beer reviews

Mobile Adevertising

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:24:00 +0000

People used to just hand out flyers to passersby and pedestrians to advertise their products.

Lately in the Ortigas commercial area, these guys have been roaming around and placing themselves in conspicuous places.

Novel, but may be backbreaking. And I wonder how much they're being paid for being walking billboards.

Long Weekend, Long Entry

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:45:00 +0000

My sister Eileen (Nene to all of us) celebrated her birthday with family and friends yesterday at Madison Grill in Greenbelt 5, Makati. The guests, me included, went there just to greet and eat free food, so I have all the reason to be thankful and no reason at all to grumble and be ungrateful.

In fairness to the restaurant, it looked classy/expensive. There was a even a celebrity with his dolled-up date at another table. But Madison epitomizes what I think afflicts most of the so-called fined dining scene in the Philippines. All form and fluff, not much substance.

It's not that the food isn't good, but dining at this level for me should meet two criteria. One, you should feel what the late and pioneering food critic Doreen Fernandez (she who came out with regular restaurant reviews way back in the late 80s and early 90s) calls the "I hear trumpets" sensation when tasting a delectable meal. Two, the "true dining out experience" feeling. Service should be impeccable. And the dishes shouldn't be something I can prepare myself at home. If I can do better than the resto itself and prepare the meat, fish or vegetables more tastefully with minimal cost to boot, why dine out at a fancy restaurant?

The french onion soup was advertised as having truffles, one of the most expensive ingredients in any meal. I couldn't find any of those precious mushrooms. I couldn't see a hint of crab as well in the "crab cesar salad." Maybe it was a crab reduction in the dressing, maybe it was just a playful ploy in the name, or maybe I'm too hoi-polloi to notice that there was actually crab among the greens and my proletariat eyes and tastebuds were just too untrained to notice. Oh, maybe the crab was supposed to be those three very thin sliced pieces of something salty. The pan fried dory main dish was criminally ordinary as well.

Not the first thing this happened. A great event gathering very special people and loved ones, a promising venue, and food that may be hard to justify at the price.

***

Devoured (yes, this is the proper word) all 50 episodes of Code Geass from Friday to Sunday morning. With sufficient breaks of course.

As I said before, I'm amazed at how the Japanese manage to tug at your emotions with striking visuals and music in a medium that's supposed to be kids' stuff. There's a certain melancholia, a finished yet-unresolved ethos in good anime that hooks you. Anime has become my refuge from increasingly predictable Hollywood fare.

The ending theme, "Continued Story," is even very Enya-esque.

***

Lastly, I'm in an upsurge as far as figure collecting is concerned. The more uncommon the figure, the more I want it. This Queen's Gate Alice "Akatsuki version" is rare even in Japan nowadays. The "normal" version is hard-to-find as it is, but this Akatsuki is being hunted down.

Philippines 21 Batch 2009 Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 03:17:00 +0000

The sudden and very heavy downpour notwithstanding, I arrived just in time for the opening cocktails of the Asia Society event at the Tower Club in Makati. The lower part of my pants and my shoes were soaking wet.

About the same time last year, we had our own dinner and testimonials as the ten Fellows of Philippines 21 Batch 2008. Last night it was the older batches' turn to welcome the new group of emerging leaders.

It was nice to see old faces from the organization and meet the new set of young awardees.

Of last year's batch, me, Ching, Ivan and Mark attended the event.

Angel's Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:58:00 +0000

I Googled the restaurant name and apparently, bloggers have been raving about this Connecticut, Greenhills place for some time now. I wouldn't have known this place existed were it not for a change of venue for a meeting. We were supposed to meet at the nearby UCC cafe.

I ordered the "blooming tea." The presentation was impressive. The glass container held an actual blooming flower / plant bulb of some sort, and was constantly heated by a burning wick attached to a small aluminum container. The tea was tea-tasting, nothing special about it, but the presentation made this one a first for me.

The Chocolate Lava cake really hit the spot. The ice cream topping (vanilla?) complemented the moist chocolate slice well.

There were numerous other items on the menu, but we were there not to enjoy a meal, ironically -- we were there to discuss. A future visit is a must.

Belgian Blah

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver Bautista San Antonio) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:41:00 +0000

Leffe Brown
Abaye de Abdij van
Belgisch Bier

I just had my favorite local brew, Cerveza Negra, last night to accompany a meal of tender spicy squid, and this Belgian caused deja vu. But in a negative way.

This beer strikes me as hollow. There's a heaviness in carbonation that defeats any attempt at flavor penetration. I'm belching now at Homer Simpson levels. Flavors? Not sweet enough, not bitter enough. You get confused what this beer is attempting at, what flavor profile it's aspiring for. Everything about this beverage is "minimum compliance."

This is the weakest dark beer I've had so far. A disappointing Belgian.

Con-Con Rating System: F=forgettable; G=good and will drink if available; D=desirable, will opt for seconds or more; and W=wow, would go places just to seek out this beer

The verdict:

Leffe Brown: F, alcohol 6.5%

*click on the label "beer philippines" below to see other beer reviews