putograb

Ambos Mundos--a week before Christmas

2010-01-02T23:03:00.000-08:00

Ambos Mundos, located at 750 Florentino Torres St., Sta. Cruz, Manila, is probably the oldest restaurant in Metro Manila. Established in 1888--or so the story goes--it continues to thrive amidst changes in both eating habits and gastronomic preferences among Filipinos.

My advice, however, is to visit the place without harboring grand expectations. The place is actually owned by the Wah Sun Cantonese Panciteria. You heard it right, it is actually just a panciteria (though pancit is not necessarily their bestseller). It is located in Sta. Cruz, Manila--not exactly the sort of place you would want to find yourself alone.

Also, if you are looking for a fine dining experience, this is not the right place. As for the food, I must admit, I was not so impressed--but that is just me so please do not take my word for it. I also find the price a bit hefty considering the actual nature of the business and its location. My guess is that the restaurant's management is capitalizing on the establishment's historical value. Service is good, though. The paella (shown below) is also good. If you are a foodie and into Manila's culinary history, this is the place to be.

Some of the gastronomic delights you can order at the restaurant. The menu is written on the board, as is typical in a carinderia. I heard this is how it was done in the past. And the place does have that blast from the past feel.

Paella Ambos, one of their bestsellers. It has everything--crab, pork, chicken, clams, tahong, eggs. You may be wondering what the calamansi is for. I am not really a fan of paella, neither do I know the right way of eating this dish. We figured the calamansi has to be mixed with chili sauce and the mixture to go with this rice dish. Who would have thought paella can be very good when eaten like pancit palabok.

Here is purple piglette immediately after the nice waiter served our order.

Here is her awestruck accomplice.

Here is purple piglette sentencing the poor paella to a lifetime of digestive confinement.

The poor paella, after purple piglette's verdict.

Dessert--leche flan. There is no camera trick here. That is not an oversized spoon. But, to be fair, the leche flan was good.

Evidence of the onslaught--exhibit 1.

Evidence of the onslaught--Exhibit 2.

Evidence of the onslaught--exhibit 3.

Vigan

2009-12-18T19:33:00.001-08:00

A street lighted by small lanterns (parol), a few minutes before daybreak

Vigan, according to the UNESCO, is the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Established in the early 16th century, it is also among the most preserved vestiges of early European city planning. The structures--scenic and well-preserved--reflect an architecture that fuses cultural elements from indigenous Philippines, China and Europe, resulting in a culture and townscape that, according to UNESCO, have no parallel anywhere in East and South-East Asia.

Postcard pretty, black and white rendition of a street corner

In black and white, fountain fronting the municipal hall

The buildings are not only well-preserved, they are habitable. In fact, some residents actually live and do business in these very houses.

Bolinao Part 1

2009-12-11T08:38:00.000-08:00

Bolinao is a third class municipality in Pangasinan, located about 80 kilometers away from Lingayen. The municipality boasts of powder white beaches, such as that in the photos. Bolinao is also home to one of the UP Marine Science Institute's research laboratories--and, I think, a marine sanctuary.

Some years ago, Bolinao was at the center of a historical controversy when some people claimed that it actually was the site of the first Christian mass in the Philippines, and not Limasawa as history books have long held. As to the veracity of this claim, no one can tell for sure. Perhaps only time (and scholarship) can shed light on the issue.

Nevertheless, enjoy the photos.

A great euphonious in every box

Bohol part 3

2009-09-04T21:45:00.000-07:00

Bohol (part 2)

2009-09-04T10:57:00.001-07:00

No Bohol trip is complete without having one's picture taken beside the wide-eyed tarsier (the world's smallest primate. Unfortunately for these creatures, some visitors are not satisfied with just taking their pictures. Strictly speaking though, even the supposedly harmless act of taking their photos is stressful for these poor creatures. Tarsiers are supposed to be nocturnal animals. Say you work at night and sleep by day, would you want to be disturbed just to have your photo taken? Poor creatures.

The so-called man-made forest started as a tree-planting project initiated by students in a nearby school somewhere in the thicket. Eventually, the project became an annual event until the students were able to repopulate the area with trees.

In Dauis, stories were told about a natural fresh-water spring that just popped out of nowhere. Dauis is located in Panglao Island. The story grew into a folk legend, bolstered by the fact that even dug up freshwater resources in the island can taste a little salty.

The Baclayon Church is the oldest church in the province and possibly among the oldest vestiges of Spanish colonization in the Philippines. Too bad my camera's battery got drained and all it could spare was this single shot.

Bohol (part 1)

2009-09-04T10:37:00.000-07:00

The Loboc Church of San Pedro is the second oldest Church in this part of the Philippines. It was supposedly built in 1602 but much of the original was reduced to ashes (the present structure is purportedly a reconstruction made in 1638).

Loboc River runs just behind the famous church. The Loboc River cruise, of course, is popular for its floating restaurants (the cruise takes about an hour or so). The food, frankly speaking, is not that impressive but the view is great. Plus, there are song and dance performances, courtesy of the locals.

Japan: Kamakura

2009-04-25T19:38:00.000-07:00

Kamakura is a small coastal city in Kanagawa Prefecture, about an hour and a half from Tokyo by train.

Kamakura’s Daibatsu or great buddha is among this ancient capital’s main tourist attractions

The serenity of the sitting bronze buddha has mesmerized thousands, including the so-called Lady of Nijo, and English poet Sir Rudyard Kipling.

One of Japan’s favorite hiking spots, Kamakura is small and may be covered by foot in less than a day. In the olden days, however, it served as the de facto capital of Japan as the seat of the Shogunate (Bakufu). I think this was during the reign of Minamoto Yoritomo in 1192. In fact, by 1250 AD, Kamakura became the 4th largest city in the world, a thriving community of 200,000 people.

Dining places near the pier

Kamakura is often referred to as the Kyoto of eastern Japan because of its well-preserved shrines, temples and monuments. It has also become a favorite surfing site among Tokyo residents.

Kamakura’s dark sands and wavy shores for some reasons are becoming a come-on for Tokyo’s surfing enthusiasts

More of those quaint dining places near the pier

Looking down, it is as if this red torii was built to invoke the gods’ protection from giant waves. The temple where the daibatsu was said to be housed originally was purportedly swept away by a tsunami. With the temple this close from the shore, there is practically no need for explanation.

More Cebu Photos

2009-04-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

Fort San Pedro
Fort San Pedro is probably the Philippines' oldest and smallest fort. Named after one of Miguel Legazpi's ships (San Pedro) it was purportedly built to repel attacks from natives yet to be subjugated, Muslim pirates and other hostile elements. As the Spaniards consolidated their territorial presence in Cebu, the fort assumed various uses other than being a stronghold. It even served as a prison camp for Filipino insurgents waging a revolt against Spain. Of course, the fort had long been decommissioned for military purposes and has now become one of Cebu's popular historical landmarks.

More photos of Cebu Beach Club

Study on fruits 2

2009-04-20T20:01:00.001-07:00

I just love fruits, especially as photography subjects. I had wanted to include more fruits to add more color but in Japan bananas and oranges are the most common (read: cheapest, ideal for a ryuugakusei running on a budget).

Hong Kong

2009-04-15T18:29:00.001-07:00

The popular tourist destination known as Hong Kong--home to many popular Chinese A-listers--used to be a significant trading port under the control of the British. After its transfer to the People's Republic of China in 1997, Hong Kong became one of the two special administrative regions (the other one is Macau) under the special administrative "one country two systems" policy. This means Hong Kong is to be left largely autonomous, with its own currency and political system even though it is technically part of mainland China. This would explain also why Hong Kong residents generally do not consider themselves as Chinese and tend to look down on their counterparts from the mainland. This also explains why those in the mainland generally despise Hong Kong residents. So, no, Hong Kong Chinese are not particularly racist against Filipinos (who mostly work as maids, do their laundry and tend to their kids); they are racist even against their own kind.

But putting aside the economic consideration (which is why mothers and sisters would sacrifice their families to work in Hong Kong in the first place), would anybody really want to be in Hong Kong? The city is nothing but skyscrapers, vehicles and thoroughfares. If you think there is no slum in Hong Kong, try passing through the alleys hidden behind the tall buildings (I know any budget traveller knows this; this is where transients usually go for cheap room rates)

Temples, a giant buddha, parks frequented by domestic workers and old monuments--vestiges of Hong Kong's past--serve as respite to the city's lifeless urbanity.

In fact, were it not for Disneyland, Chip Tsao's city would be nothing but a wad of concrete emptiness.

Baguio

2009-04-13T06:23:00.000-07:00

A beautiful cathedral at the heart of the city of pines whose name now eludes me (is it St. Mary's?)

Baguio is known as the Philippines' summer capital because its geographic altitude gives the city a cool almost springlike feel all year round. It is important to remember, however, that pollution, waste management problems and a giant mall at the heart of the city has altered its atmosphere somehow--in both literary and literal sense. Here are a few pictures of Baguio I took before my poor Olympus' battery ran out.

If you're planning to visit the city, do check out these gastronomic samplers from Zola (open 24 hours).

Samurai crepe (left); Mango crepe (right)

Sweet and sour pork (top); Beef and mushroom (bottom)

Study on fruits

2009-04-10T06:42:00.000-07:00

Fruits make for a perfect study in digital photography. Bananas, which are widely available anywhere in the Philippines, combine perfectly with other seasonal fruits to create vibrant colors in photos.

I bet you know now where the idea for the banner came from.

Study on cats

2009-04-09T21:26:00.000-07:00

Common domestic felines, your typical house cats, make for an excellent study in basic photography. Meet Kiko (the masked one) and Budoy (the striped "ipis" predator).

Sagada: rice terraces

2009-04-09T18:08:00.000-07:00

Sagada is a 5th class municipality in Mountain Province--which means that there is nothing much in terms of economic activity and development. However, it is an excellent destination for those looking for adventure; the geography offers caves ideal for spelunking even by amateur cave explorers, as well as several scenic hiking trails.

Typical mountail trail

Hanging coffins (apparently the traditional burial practice is still being observed but limited to members of the ruling clans).

St. Mary's Cathedral

Some must-try gastronomic delights at Yoghurt House

Cebu: Magellan's Cross

2009-04-08T19:56:00.000-07:00

When the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan landed in Cebu in 1521, he purportedly planted this cross as a symbol of the conquest of the islands under the Spanish crown. Although Portuguese (and Portugal was at that time Spain's competitor in the divide and conquer contest), Magellan's promise to find a westward route to travel to the East so enthralled the Escoreal that the latter willingly financed his voyage.

Cebu

2009-03-27T09:51:00.000-07:00

Jiji pondering over the immensity of the vast ocean behind her. Is that a storm coming? (Cebu Beach Club)

That really looks like a nasty storm coming

Wait a minute, I am not supposed to be in the photo. Those clouds look kinda heavy don't you think so.

It could have been postcard perfect...

You won’t believe what a low-tech camera can do

2009-03-26T08:31:00.000-07:00

The most advanced digital camera soon to come out in the market, according to one popular gadget magazine, will have 13 megapixels of solid high definition, image recording capability. Of course, with such capability, no doubt it will not come out cheap. If it is any consolation, however, manufacturers are trying their best to make these high performance products more accessible to a wider range of consumers.

I do not believe though that people should go about buying these high tech tools just because they have become more affordable. Price should not be the only consideration, lest one ends up not being able to maximize the capability of the gadget. It is interesting to note, for example, how high tech phones have become a fad in the Philippines even though its most common usage has not really gone beyond texting and picture taking. Seriously, how many can actually program their symbian phones to work like a pocket computer?

This is going back to basics, so to speak. I bet you won’t believe what small wonders a low-tech 1.3-megapixel camera can do.

By the way, these photos are for viewing, not for borrowing. If you must borrow them, at least give credit where credit is due.