Gensan Food Reco: Cruisechef Cafe

Published on June 3, 2025 by iamjosemanuelLeave a comment

A gem of a restaurant along Guinto Street, Purok Malakas (Brgy. San Isidro).
A family-run resto, CruiseChef Cafe offers fave Asian-fusion recipes in an intimate dining atmosphere.

I’ve ordered several food trays na here before, from Pasta to Biryani to Lo Mien noodles, and I am highly satisfied.
For this dinner, we ordered Filipino staples. See photos below.

Chef’s Own Chicken Inasal.
One of the best here in Gensan.
Not the usual inasal very tasty and fragrant.

Traditional Sotanghon. I like mine with Coriander\Yan Sui leaves with it. Very fragrant.

Mexican Nacho platter. Generous serving.

Pasta Fra Diablo. Tomato-based. Spicy. A personal fave.
It is usually topped with sauteed gambas but I like this set better with chicken fillet.

A must try. Pasta Fra Diablo. Tomato-based. Spicy. A personal fave.
It is usually topped with sauteed gambas but I like this set better with chicken fillet.

A must try.

Fried rice platter paired with grilled tuna panga. A Gensan staple.

Also commending the photo quality of TECNO Mobile Philippines Camon 40. Hawod by default. Video quality is superb, too.

Get in touch with Cruisechef Cafe on FB. E-Food tray\platter levels mo na. Pwede man pud yata arranged delivery via app. Try the Pasta Fra Diablo (Gambas,Tomato-based sauce, Linguine). I reco. Just let them know your preferred level of spicy.

GenSanCity #gensanfoodtrays #incrediblegym

Peru on a Plate

Published on September 8, 2024September 9, 2024 by iamjosemanuelLeave a comment

As a solo traveler, the goal was to eat local and eat cheap. In finding my meals, I usually check on Tripadvisor for recommendations. And often, I prefer dining at markets/food courts where I fully experience the local flair. Since I travel solo, I prefer eateries serving set meals over platters, since I have no one to share it with. On best days, I go to diners serving buffet style, so I can try more local dishes. Sadly in Cuzco or Ollan, buffet places are not a thing.

Here are some of the memorable Peruvian food and drinks I had during my stay.

Lomo Saltado. This is my first full meal in Peru. Stir fried beef strips marinated with salt, pepper and other local spices. A lunch set of this from a street-side eatery with fresh-squeezed passion fruit juice only cost me 10 soles, which is around 150 php. This meal is from Ollantaytambo. Pero not just in Peru ha, Lomo Saltado is quite common sa Latin. I had this also sa Honduras.

Lomo Saltado is also served with Quinoa Sopas. Originating from the Andes Regions of Latin America, quinoa is a common and cheap carb consumed in Peru. Meanwhile, quinoa is quite expensive here in Ph.

Trivia: You will see a lot of potatoes on Peruvian meals. Potato fries as sides is very common in Peru. In some restaurants, It is even refillable. Growing and consuming potato has always been a part of Peruvian culture since it is easier to grow on high elevations with minimal rainfall. Peru is also Latin America’s biggest potato producer, with a record harvest in 2007 of almost 3.4 million tonnes.

Trusca Frita – One of my fave set meals in Peru. trusca\trout is a local\Peruvian freshwater fish. Taste is very comparable to our local bangus, except that trout isn’t as boney. Best served with corn tortillas and guacamole (avocado spread).

And speaking of fish, Peruvians are also popular with their Ceviche (raw fish salad), but for this trip, I had to pass on it. I avoid raw fish dishes whenever I can.

Aji de Gallina – one of peru’s traditional meals. Marinated shredded chicken, cooked in milk-based sauce. Comparable to our chicken pastel. This one, i got from the public market in Aguas Callientes with complementary quinoa sopas.

Pachamanca – Traditional Peruvian BBQ Pork Rib (Costilar). Pork is not very common in LatAm. As I observed, it is quite expensive compared to beef meals.
Peruvian BBQ is good but is too simple for my tasting, as compared to Tangy and mildly-sweet Filipino BBQ. Their BBQ is served with steamed sweet potato\kamote.

Trivia: Rice is not native to Latin America. It was brought over in the 1500s from Asia by the Spaniards. Today though, rice is also a common carb consumed in LatAm, and Asian travelers are happy with this. 😅

This below is Afritada. Tastes almost exactly the same as what we have here in Ph; A proof of Spanish influence in our daily meals. This one, i got from a random Karinderia outside the train station. yes po, parang karinderiang pinas lang din, except that 2 to 3 lang ulam to choose.

This below is one of several chicken bbq meals I had in Peru, because i seriously like their chicken BBQ. Chicken is laid flat\butterflied, char-grilling both sides. Meat is marinated in vinegar and spices. I believe this is the secret to “fall off the bones” Peruvian bbq. They also have thr mildly-hot, creamy green sauce made of Japapeño and aji amarillo pepper (local\mild). Gusto ko to. Quite comparable to peri peri. This huge quarter set came with unlimited salad and fries, tapos 14 soles lang. Jusko! That’s less than 250 php.

Arrozcaldo – it’s weird to find that their arrozcado is actually steam-cooked rice soaked in chicken soup. Very different from our Pinoy arrozcado where we boil the rice grain with the stock to make a porridge\lugaw. Peruvian arrozcaldo also had potato and carrots and no ginger.

This below was such a memorable dining experience. I had one of the best pork broth soup from a random street-side stall in San Pedro Market,Cuzco. They call the dish Adobo, which intrigued me so much, as it is totally different from our version of the said dish. Our adobo is sauteed, not a sabaw/broth-type. Tbh, this pork broth soup is more comparable to Kansi, like the ilonggo pork soup na medyo sour.

Peru also has Lechon, as introduced to them by the Spanish. History wise, Lechon was a spanish term which meant “suckling pig” which Spaniards would once roast a piglet for special occasions.

I had a free taste of the Peruvian lechon, and I felt it lacked the lemongrass flavour. Philippine lechon is way better. Lemongrass is native to Southeast Asia, btw.

The Peruvian corn tamale. I’ll make a separate post on tamales from different LatAm countries. This dish is quite interesting.

Cheese and cinnamon flavoured Ice-cream. They say this recipe won recognitions. But to me, cinnamon flavoured ice-cream was a No. 😅

Random streetside skewers, Alpaca meat and beef, for only 3-5 soles. They also use charcoal din pero ang griller ni ate kay flat metal bars.

Closing the dinner with a glass of Emoliente – Traditional Peruvian Herbal Tea. Helps in digestion as well as altitude sickness.

One Day Siem Reap City Centre

Published on June 23, 2019November 6, 2022 by iamjosemanuel2 Comments

How millennials do “Last day in Siem Reap”:
✔See the town on foot
✔Check out the Art scene
✔Starbucks Afternoon
✔Visit local markets (bargain!bargain!)
✔Local Cuisine
✔Angkor beer
✔Pub Street the night away

CEB Wi-Fi Kit Easy Share. Be fully prepared before flying to a new international destination with the CEB Wi-Fi Kit (pocket wifi). -unlimited 4G LTE Connection -upto 5 devices per kit -doubles as powerbank -starts at P 450 per day of rental (Depending on the destination). Pay upon claiming of Unit at NAIA T3. I am actually connected to the unit right now.It works well here in Cambodia.😊 This kit will be fully launched online this June 2019. More details on https://www.cebupacificair.com/p…/plan-trip/add-ons/wifi-kit or message Cebu Pacific Air for clarifications.

Note: Millennial years start at 1981. DBS blogger @iamjosemanuel qualifies as one.
😋😬

Cebu Pacific Air flies Manila to Siem Reap 3x weekly. check schedule and ticket cost here http://bit.ly/CEB_SiemReap8

One Day Binge Eating Around Puerto Princesa (with Prices and Menu)

Published on April 10, 2018June 17, 2018 by iamjosemanuelLeave a comment

During my recent trip to Puerto Princesa, Palawan, I had one spare-chill day to explore the local food scene of the lovely city. I tried to avoid famous touristy restaurants and preferred to check on hole in the walls where locals usually dine. Walkable restaurants lang within the city centre, particularly near Rizal Avenue where I stayed. Here’s how my day went.

Breakfast:

I was on my leisurely 7 am walk from the city cathedral to Baywalk when I passed by this quaint food kiosk serving lomi near Balayong Pension House. Madami na’ng tao that early, and looking at their hefty serving, I already felt that I am at the right place to have breakfast. Huge bowl with egg and meat slices, meatballs, lumpia and chicharon topping with a load of garlic bits. Ala Eh’ Lomi is worthy of a recommendation.

Lunch:

For lunch, local friends recommended Itoy’s Coffee Haus. Itoy’s is said to be the first legit coffee shop in PP, which also offers a lot of food choices on their menu. I tried the Sizzling Bulalo, which is said to be the house specialty; and it did not disappoint. Tender beef, marrow and a hefty creamy sauce to complete the set. 200 Pesos per serve, good for 2 pax.

Noon Snack:

Reef Hotdog; A small hotdog stand near the provincial capitol with very high ratings on tripadvisor. I was intrigued with the reviews so I made time to check it out and it did not disappoint. The kiosk basically serves gourmet European style sausages with a great deal of sauces and toppings to choose from. I had pineapple curry sauce with caramelised onion for my cheesy Hungarian. Awesome!

The place is run by a German and his filipino wife. No wonder this is a to go place for foreigners. Buns range from 120 to 200 Pesos.

Early dinner:

Puerto Princesa Baywalk Park. For early dinner, I met up with a friend to share a hefty meat, steamed vegetable and seafood boodle set with. 300 pesos lang for two pax, but seriously, this could feed more! Beachfront ambiance is also a plus plus plus for this place.

Late night eats:

I had a hearty bowl of chao long noodles at Thalia’s to close off this binge eating. Chao long is basically Palawan’s version of the Vietnamese Pho. Palawan has strong ties with the vietnamese immigrants since the WW2. As such, Pho noodles, spring rolls and Bhan Me’s are common sight around the city.

Chao long, however, is really a rice and pork porridge dish in Vietnam, I don’t know why that name was given to a noodle dish when it arrived in Palawan. They must have had some translation issues in the past. But whatever! Bala sila dyan.

So there, I ordered beef stew chao long at Thalia’s. It was good. filling. broth is more on the sweet side with a kick of hot spice. There’s another more famous chao long in PP called Bona’s, but a local told me it is super MSG. As such, I opted to settle for Thalia’s. It did not disappoint.

So there you go, that is how Jose Manuel overeats. Sabayan nyo na ako next time. ‘Til then =)

So We’re Here in Baguio. San Tayo Kakain?

Published on October 15, 2017October 15, 2017 by iamjosemanuelLeave a comment

Lamon! Lamon! Lamon! It’s that part of the laag that I look forward the most. Sino ayaw mabusog?

So last month, our travel group (char!) got invited once again by Azalea Hotels and Residences. This time, we visited the ever charming Baguio City. We did a lot of sight seeing. We visited BenCab Museum. We saw horses with pink hair. Quite a short trip, yet super fun. Baguio is lovely, as always. And the best part? Food trip! =D Here are some of the foodie highlights that we enjoyed during our stay.

FILIPINO COMFORT FOOD. Tradisyon Restaurant is Azalea Hotels and Residences’ in-house restaurant. The restaurant serves well-loved and familiar local and international food. The hotel chef dished up all his best entries during our stay. Here are some of the highlights.

IMG20170918122639_Fotor — Beef Tripe Kare-kare FTW!

All of Baguio’s freshest vegetables in one platter.

IMG20170919071418_Fotor — Tuyong Espada (Included with the hotel’s breakfast buffet)

IMG20170918195149_Fotor — Staple Pinoy Pinakbet

IMG20170919203845_Fotor — **Bulasing** . Chef’s own fusion of Pinoy bulalo and sinigang. Quite a unique blend of taste.

Tradisyon Restaurant is located at the Azalea Hotels and Residences Baguio, Leonard Wood Loop, Brgy. M. Roxas. Price range 150 to 400 Pesos. servings to share.

TRADITIONAL AND AUTHENTIC. A visit to Baguio is an opportunity to experience authentic Cordilleran food. The Farmer’s Daughter is one of the noted restaurants in Baguio that serve pure Cordilleran dishes. Most of the dishes here are of Ibaloi cuisine.

IMG20170919124100_Fotor — *Pinikpikan*. Soup-based chicken dish. Traditionally prepared wherein a live chicken is beaten to death with a stick.

*Pinuneg*. an Ibaloi version blood sausage. with a dip of chili alamang with soy and squeeze of calamansi.

*Kinuday*. traditional – smoked pork meat.

Lots of fresh and sauted vegetables to fill up the table.

Experiencing native dishes is a way of appreciating and giving respect to the Ibaloi tradition.

Dishes are good for sharing and ranges from Php100 to Php200. The Farmer’s Daughter is located in Awan, Baguio City, just beside the Tam-Awan Village.

A TASTE OF THE EXOTIC. Bar-B-que baby chicken. I didn’t eat this. Lol. But my friends enjoyed their piece. This street food is everywhere in Baguio. As such, sali ko nalang din sa list. Baka bet nyo to look forward. hehe

STRAWBERRY HEAVEN. Baguio and it’s region is blessed with year-long cool weather; thus, the abundance of different kinds of berries. Probably the most popular is their luscious and bright red strawberries that they generously put on almost all kind of pastries and desserts I can imagine. Here are some.

Strawberry Taho is virtually everywhere in Baguio

IMG20170918201909_Fotor — Chocolate cupcakes with strawberry topping. Tradisyon Restaurant

IMG20170918203836_Fotor — Tres Leches. Super milky and creamy cake bites. Tradisyon Restaurant’s best seller. Also with strawberry topping.

IMG20170918125035_Fotor — Choco-Banana Cupcake. by Tradisyon Restaurant

IMG20170918190749_Fotor — Dark Chocolate dipped Strawberry Kisses. Chocolates are also locally sourced. This set shown is a gift from Azalea. Similar gift sets are available on many places in Baguio.

Alright, enough about food. Move on tayo. Here is me strutting my best pose in front of Azalea Hotels and Residences, where we stayed for two nights. Azalea Residences is Baguio’s first and only 4-star serviced apartment hotel. (http://www.azaleabaguio.com/)

All shots included in this post were taken using OPPO Mobile Phone, The Selfie Expert. No filter. All Natural light. ‘Til then. =)

Yolk’s Cafe & Cupcakery : Pastry, Pasta & Other Awesome Things

Published on September 25, 2017September 23, 2017 by iamjosemanuelLeave a comment

Yolk’s Cafe along Circumferential Road has been around for more than a year already. Many recent dining places have been sprouting everywhere in Davao, yet Yolk’s is still among my top recommendations when asked of staple comfort food. Good Pizza, pasta, staple filipino dishes in shareable serving, wide choices of frappes. Awesome! Not to mention the super instagrammable interiors. Kudos to the designer, if I may mention.

Price range: Set meals at 150 to 250 Pesos. Ala carte dining, Say 200 to 250 Pesos/pax on shared orders. Majority of the dishes on the menu are good to share.

Location: Marfori. Near Seekhana, Caitlyns, Taco Loco and Mercury Marfori.

My Personal Faves

**Crab Fat Pasta.** A Top fave at Yolk’s. Whenever I dine in, I usually advance order this entry and eat it last, because I like my Crab Fat Pasta at room temperature. I find the sauce more flavourful that way.

Seafood Black Pasta. Still with crab fat =)

Chicken Casserole. Like Afritada-ish. Simple, yet filling.

They also serve crispy pata, grilled pork belly, buttered shrimps and several salad sets to share

The Frappes

Mango Cream Cake. They have a lot of cake style, but this is a personal fave.

Yolk’s also serves several sets for breakfast. They open early.

Get in touch with them through facebook. Yolk’s Flower Cafe and Cupcakery

Jose’s 10 Favourite Cakes Around Davao City

Published on September 24, 2017June 20, 2021 by iamjosemanuel3 Comments

Hi Guys! It’s almost 2 am on a Saturday night, and I am still freaking alive, alert and awake because of that Old Town Hazelnut Coffee I had kaninang 6 pm, which I should have just passed. So since lurat pa mata ko, naisip ko lang to finally return to my long overdue blogs on list of favourite things sa buhay, like anything and everything I enjoy under the sun. And since nagpapa yummy ako ngayon and iwas sweets, let us start this series with my list of 10 personal favourite cakes and pies from different cafes around Davao City. This has no particular order bes ha, kasi the list is composed of variety of flavours and cake compositions. Therefore, I am not ranking one entry to the other. Karamihan nito, naging fave ko na kasi may kwentong unforgettable. Phak! Di, joke lang, gusto ko lang tologoh lumamons. Anyways, here’s the list. Hope you enjoy this.1. Banana Mckintosh – Basti’s Brew, Victoria Plaza. Yes guys, old school muna keyyy! Tayong mga taga Davao, alam naman nating institution na ang Basti’s brew nun college tayo (Haha, wala pa tayong pera nun mga bes, kaya happy bonus tologoh makapag Basti’s lang). Masaya talaga ako sa B.M. nila. Crumbly crust, caramelized banana filling, cream top, chocolate drizzle. Simple, spot on. Walang kyeme. Yung tipong parang Tita mo lang ang nag prepare? Ganun ka comforting ang Banana Mckintosh for me. Sadly di na to masyado naseserve ng Basti’s nun recent visits ko. Kung kilala nyo ang may ari, paki tanong naman.

2. Mango Charlotte. Bistro Rosario. Torres St. Yes guys, another old school Davao pastry. Sobrang deserving ng slot sa list ko, and I guess most Davao people naman my age would agree. Madaming childhood memories dala-dala si Mango Charlotte with its spongy chiffon, light cream and bold mango toppings. Saktong tamis lang. Simple. Spot on. Though there are some who say na medyo commercial na daw ang MC ngayon, pero kebs. Natutunan ko na siyang mahalin through the years, tatalikod pa ba ako?

3. Carrot Cream Cake – Basti’s Brew. Di naman ako masyadong fan ng Old school Davao noh? Chot. But personally, gusto ko talaga ang carrot cake basta freshly baked. Probably because it is not super common, and umay na din palaging mag chocolate. Basti’s version is slightly moist, which I like. Sakto lang din ang Tamis ng cream.

4. Fruity Cheesecake – Cafe de Flore, Torres St. Pasok na tayo sa mga recently opened cafes. Yes po, this one is from the cafe fronting Angel in Torres =D. Pretty to look at, and quality din. Gusto ko ung honest to goodness cheesecake center nila; non gelatinous, thus medyo brittle sya. Ganito ung nasubukan kong cheesecake sa Brussels. Chot. Pero di nga, try nyo. The Cafe is owned and operated by a French National. Though I only had this cake twice, and wasn’t able to visit na the recent months. I hope they were able to keep up. Di rin kasi mura this. nasa 180 Pesos to per slice. but it’s a large piece and I liked it.
5. Chocopology – Alor’s/Yummy Chicken, Torres Street. By now, you may have noticed, di ako masyadong mahilig sa chocolate cakes. However, This entry is an exemption. Probably kasi mestisa lang sya. lol. Layers of semi moist chocolate chiffon base, light cream, mocha and chocolate mousse. Probably because malawak yung layer ng cream that is why I didn’t find it too sweet. Sakto lang. Highly recommended this .

6. Matcha Cheesecake – Katsu Country, Jacinto Extension. Mahilig ako sa Matcha. Probably because mahilig sa matcha si crush so I have to cope. Chot! But seriously, Matcha flavour is exotic. Acquired taste bale, it’s not for everyone. Katsu Country is only months old, pero I must commend the quality of this featured cheesecake. Texture. consistency. Good! Again, non gelatinous. honest to goodness cheesecake lang on a plate. Super turned off ako sa cheesecake na parang jelly.

7. Nutty Matcha Cheesecake-Cuppycakes Boulangerie,Marfori Subd. A proof na mahilig ako sa Matcha. I can’t choose between this and the previous so I’m including both. But unlike the honest, unembellished composition of item 6, this matcha cheesecake is a bit fancy, with walnuts and caramel drizzle . And if I am not mistaken, the crust is semi carrot-ish.

8. Durian Cheesecake Mini – Lachi’s Marfori. No need to argue guys, Lachi’s is a dessert institution. Everything there is good. Sansrival, pecan pie, french cake. Lahat. But for this list, I am including the Durian Mini since ito naman madalas kong ma order.

9. Cheesecake Roulette – Park Inn Hotel, Lanang. All 6 varieties of good cheesecake on a platter. Perfect for presents on Christmas, kaya I included this para mag bigay ng gift idea. On this set, pinaka gusto ko yung cheesecake with caramel candy topping.

10. Banana Walnut Torte, Saging Repablik, Tiongko Street. This may come as a surprise to some, pero swear, on my list, this is on top! Saktong layers of sansrival-like crust, caramelized banana, dark chocolate layer and loads of crushed walnut. Pile up two sets of that goodness and cover with chilled cream. Comfort entry ko to. Simple, honest ingredients. may play of texture and flavours which I find exciting.
Ilang dates na ba naisama ko sa Saging repablik for this? Raise your hands. lol. Also factor din na malapit lang to sa bahay.

When I have visitors asking for dessert recommendations, I usually mention this Banana Walnut Torte. It’s a local recipe using local resources; the Davao banana to be specific. Local flair is key! But for those who love durian flavour, definitely there’s Lachi’s cheesecake.

So there goes my list. And let me just note that this is not a paid post or whatever. FYI. Consider me as a satisfied – Paying Customer that enjoyed eating his cake in peace and without counting the calories habang stable the blood sugar count.

As a good friend quoteed: ” Bahalag Tambok, basta lipay”! ’til the next blog.

Eat responsibly.=)

Perfect Ribs and Sirloin Steak by Marco Polo Davao

Published on January 7, 2017September 23, 2017 by iamjosemanuelLeave a comment

As part of the Davao Food Appreciation Tour (DFAT 2015), Marco Polo Hotel Davao has invited Food and Travel Bloggers to sample their a la carte items over a sumptuous lunch by the pool.

Here are the best entries served by Marco Polo Davao for DFAT 2015 participants:

As a certified BBQ lover, Marco Polo’s Baby Back Ribs won my taste buds above everything else. The ribs has the satisfying blend of sweet, spicy, smoky flavour, grilled to just the right tenderness.

20150502_115408_Fotor — Marco Polo’s Baby Back Ribs has that satisfying blend of sweet, spicy, smoky flavour, grilled to just the right tenderness.

Marco Polo Davao’s Sirloin Steak was also a winner. Consistently tender and flavourful. Perfect with Quinoa.

Marco Polo Davao's Sirloin Steak, consistently tender and flavourful. — Marco Polo Davao’s Sirloin Steak, consistently tender and flavourful.

Here are some other entries served for lunch:

20150502_115344_Fotor — Quinoa Salad with Smoked Salmon and Green Asparagus

20150502_114220_Fotor — Fried Mozarella Cheese Sticks with Marinara Sauce

Perfectly prepared desserts have always been a staple on every Marco Polo dining experience. For DFAT 2015, the hotel has prepared Pandan and Jackfruit Parfait, and Mangosteen Mousse as a closing treat.

… But it won’t hurt if you enjoy your parfait first. Marco Polo’s sweet treats are always blissful =)

20150502_115153_Fotor — Marco Polo Davao’s Pandan and Jackfruit Parfait in Bamboo Tubes and the sweet tangy Mangosteen Mousse

20150502_115840_Fotor — Sample of Davao’s bounty is also served. Pomelo and sweet mango for the win !

20150502_115903_Fotor — Davao grown Mangosteen Fruit to balance out the meaty lunch.

For Dining Reservations and Inquiry, contact Tel. (63 82) 221-0888 , Fax. (63 82) 225-0111

Website: http://www.marcopolohotels.com/…/marco_polo_davao/index.html
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/marcopolodavaohotel
Twitter: @MarcoPoloDavao
Instagram: @MarcoPoloDavao

P.O. Box 81540 CM Recto Street
Davao City 8000, Philippines

Favorite Eats, Favorite Places (Balik tanaw sa mga nakaraang laag, Session II)

Published on October 23, 2016September 23, 2017 by iamjosemanuel5 Comments

Chill Sunday it is. Careerin muna natin ang day off and lets loosen up a bit. With that, I thought of sharing on my blog, some ganaps and personal faves and experiences from my travels so far. Nakaka tuwa ito, promise. Dami pictures.

First foreign city visited: Bangkok, Thailand(2010). Well, di un backpacking talaga. It was more of a touristic vacation. Sobrang takot pa ako nun mag travel. Dikit ng dikit lang ako sa kaklase ko. Tsaka first time ko mag immigration noon, sobrang praning lang baka mapag trippan. As expected, dami tanong ung immigration ng Manila. But in Bangkok, super swift. We stayed in Pratunam, near Platinum Mall, so alam na ang purpose. haha. We booked our room at Tango Vibrant Living Place, a boutique hotel costing around 1,100/pax/night with buffet breakfast. We also joined an arranged tour to Ayutthaya, which is very nice. And the best part of the trip for me is experiencing Chatuchak weekend market for the first time, and watching the SIAM NIRAMIT show/Cultural stage play. Though mahal ang ticket but it was really entertaining.

I feel na Bangkok is always a good option to go to for first timers. It is inexpensive. It is near, yet there is so much uniqueness in Thai food, culture and architecture, that is totally different from ours.

ayutthaya — Copyright 2013 iamjosemanuel

Most recent foreign city visited: If based on the most recent stamp I got, then it is Singapore for Transit. But for backpacking, it’s Oslo Norway(2016), just this month, actually; and I fell in love with the City’s Beautiful mix of Classic and Modern Contemporary Architecture. Sobrang instagram-worthy at every corner. Will post a separate entry on Oslo soon.

Most Expensive city/town visited based on personal spending: Within the backpacking standards, definitely Reykjavik,Iceland(2016). It’s kinda expected actually. No secret naman na almost everything in Iceland are either imported, or grown from a greenhouse. Will post a separate entry on Reykjavik soon. But just an Idea, Iceland has the most expensive Airport transfer I experienced so far, at 1250 Pesos per way, for a 45 minute bus ride. Dine in and take away meals fall at an average of 600 to 800 pesos. Cheaper if you buy at the grocery and cook at the Hostel. In addition, visiting tourist spots around the island would be impossible with public transportation. Either you join the tour or rent a vehicle.

Cheapest City/town visited based on personal spending: Vang Vieng, Laos (2013), definitely!!! A guesthouse room (not shared) with a good view costs only around 450 Pesos. A whole day Kayaking, Caving and Tubing down the Mekong costs only around 500 Pesos with lunch. Food may not be the cheapest there but still, the average daily cost is super low. Kathmandu, Nepal(2014) came close din. My dorm bed there cost only 180 Pesos. I swear, and it is actually OK!

Most Beautiful City: Venice (2015) definitely, with its rustic Baroque-Renaissance Architecture and incomparable old world charm. Going around rustic, stone paved streets of Venice is like conquering a maze city; Definitely you’ll experience getting lost, which adds more to the enchantment. And given so much things to experience, Venice is actually not that expensive. Some Euro cities are far more demanding.

Most Beautiful Classical Building I’ve Visited: In terms of grandness, and proportion in relation to the setting, The Parliamentary Building, Budapest (2015)

Most Beautiful Modern Building I’ve Visited : For the Exterior, Astrup Fernley Museum (2016) by Architect Renzo Piano. For the interior, the Oslo Opera House (2016)

Most Beautiful Church I’ve visited: Florence Cathedral (2015) in Renaissance Style and Saint Mark’s Cathedral,Venice (2015) in ‘Baroque-Ottoman/Middle East influence’ Style.

Most Romantic City Visited: None. I did not feel anything.

Favorite City na masarap balikan. Seoul (2012,2015) Pretty in Spring, pretty in Autumn. Relatively cheap. Relatively near. Amazing Food. Beautiful and highly fashionable people sitting beside you on the train. Streets are bursting with vibrant color. Fun and quirky cafe interiors. A lot of cute abubots and butingtings for sale that you might find useless, but are just to lovely not to buy. I rest my case.

Pinaka malayong napuntahan so far: Reyjavik, Iceland (2016) . 8 hours time difference from the Philippines.Fave Street Food Session: New Delhi, India (2014). Bias because I love Indian Food. The taste and smell of curry and other spices excite me. When I went there, I tried my best to find the pagkain na featured ni Migrationology.com (one of my travel idols). There’s this Curry Lamb Stew in Baphe da Hotel, Delhi na hinanap ko tlga. Well, its a sit down type of street food, and it was amazing!!! Plus the Samosa, Biryani, the lamb kebabs, the masala omelette, the Gulab Jamun you find sa street… amazing!!!!

Curried Lamb Stew from Baphe da hotel , as featured by Migrationology.com . I had time looking for this in Connaught place, New Delhi . But indeed it was worth the task ! this dish is unforgettably delicious !

My First Street Food , some fried roti and Kari

Masala Egg Omelette Sandwich . A cheap street food , prepared while you wait. Which was is good because you get to see how its done. (think fairly clean street food)

Jamun Balls. deep fried sweet dough with caramel sauce. Yummy ! 15 INR for 2 piece !

the super yummy Kusum Mutton Roll in park street Kolkatta, mentioned by Migrationology.com as one of his 25 best street food in the world worthy of travel. and indeed it is.

Yummy Kebab along MG Road , Jaipur

Some lunch – curried Fresh Water Fish and Pita Bread

Fave Authentic Food worth Craving: Andami Syet! hmmm ok, after a bit of contemplation just now.. I’d say, Beef Rendang paired with Nasi Lemak. Malaysia (2013,2014,2015,2016) Syet, every year pala ako nakaka tungtong ng Malaysia, mostly for transit. Gustong gusto ko mga pagkain sa Malaysia kasi aside sa traditional Malay food which is either coconut based o spicy (Sambal), wide din ang choices dun ng Indian and Arab food, as well as Chinese food. Saya lang diba?

City where I splurged on food the most: Barcelona (2015) Cheap food! A lot of buffet options(lunch buffet for only 45o Pesos, sobrang dami na. free flowing pa beverages and beer also. And food scene is not super far from ours. They also have adobo and other ma-sarsa cuisines, super different from neighboring gourmet France o Germany. Also, it was my second to the last stop last year during my first Eurotrip… so maluwag na ako sa budget.

Best Pastries: Paris (2015) Pastries and breads there are of the highest quality. Pero di ako expert with pastries, actually madami din masarap sa Seoul, and are very pretty.

Best Beer: Tyskie of Poland (2015) Have I ever got sick during travel? Sickness from food, yes, in Siem Reap, Cambodia (2013). I went to a public market with a local whom I met there. He introduced me to a certain local cold noodle dish. His Treat! I was a bit hesitant because it is a cold dish but I was just too shy to refuse, kasi her was very accommodating. The food, I think it is called Khmer Noodles; Though it was good and peanut-ish, turned out,na I was right. My tummy wasn’t able to handle the rawness of the dish. I had recurring stomach pain that lasted for 3 days, pero tolerable naman. Moral lesson, never trust dishes that are not cooked on fire.

Worst Airport : Tinatanong pa ba yan?! Duh.. Broken walkalator, busted bulbs, no bidet spray, scammers, abusive custom officers, noisy, and worst of all, difficult terminal transfers. Madami fill up. may health card pa which I find useless. My custom declaration paper pa. ewan! samok. too much drama everywhere.

Best Airport: I lost track of my count but among them, Changi, Singapore is still the best. Yung pagpasok mo pa lang sa tube, amoy mo na ang linis at bangong kaakit akit. Seoul’s International Airport came close. Kasi may indoor pool, sauna and spa/lounge where you can stay overnight. Dubai International Airport is also OK for providing inclined chairs and functional shower rooms, not just toilets.

Minsan na ba akong na Scam? None so far. The worse na siguro is my tripod got stolen sa Agra, India. So far di pa din ako nawalan ng money o things sa dorm. Careful ako. Dito sa Philippines, yes minsan na ako na hold up ng badjao, and nawalan na din ng cellphone.

Minsan naba ako naiwan ng plane o train? Muntik na. sa flight to from Kota Kinabalu pauwi ng Manila. haha. Pero usually I prepare tlga some hours before departure. In cases na early morning flight, I sleep na sa airport. Ilang beses ko na yan nagawa sa Europe nung 2015. para maka tipid ng Hostel expense. Dinamay ko pa si Annilou Bravo nun sa Paris. haha.

Worst night in a Hostel: Yes Boss Hostel, Pajar Ganj,New Delhi (2014) There was tae in the bowl pa of my room. Owner didn’t like Filipino guests because sabi ng staff nya, his ex girlfriend was a Filipina and apparently, the girl took a lot of money daw from him. Cost of a night/250 Pesos.

Hotel Yes Boss’ Cheap Non air Bedroom for only 250 INR . around 4-5 usd , the cheapest Ive found along Main Bazaar, PajarGanj

The comfort room you get for the cheap room. The bowl was dirty.

Best Night in a Hostel: Buntang Guesthouse, Vangvieng, Laos (2013) I got a room all to myself with a balcony and an amazing view of the foggy valley. Cost of room, 450 Pesos.

SAM_1192 — The view from the Balcony of Buntang Guesthouse. Splendid

Souvenir things that I collect: Ceramic, porcelain or resin type 3D-Ref magnets of significant architectural masterpieces that I have personally visited. Items should be of the best quality that I can find, and should be personally bought by me.

Most Memorable Moments: Dami eh. Medyo mahilig ako sa History channel so basically, dream come true tlga sa akin makatungtong sa mga historic UNESCO protected places na minsan ko lang napapanood; Lalo na’t enjoy ako mag drawing noon ng ancient buildings for our history of architecture subject. Ask me now, first thing naisip ko was ung moment I set foot on the grounds of Angkor Wat (2013) and I was just in time for sunrise. Grabe. Surreal. Same feeling din nung nahawakan ko na ang marble walls and minarets ng Taj Majal (2014), at ung una ko nasilayan from afar ang Parthenon sa Athens (2015),oa, pero naging emotional ako nun ng light.

A view of the Agora (Ancient site of Athen’s Marketplace) with the Parthenon from afar

Memorable din sa akin nung free day ko sa Venice (2015), and I just walked around the city endlessly, hanggang sa naabutan ako ng ulan so nakisilong ako sa isang waterfront building na inaayos that time. 1 hour din ako nag antay. walang gawa. observe2x lang ng palibot, pero masaya ung feeling, kasi yung thought na minsan ko lang pinangarap mag Venice, and there I was, actually feeling the cool breeze and the rain in a historic city I once just dreamed of visiting.

Current Dream Destination: Istanbul, Cairo, Alexandria, Petra, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Colombo, Bhutan, Rio de Janeiro, Sau Paolo, Lima, Mexico City.

Luang Prabang, Yogyakarta, Tokyo and Osaka are nearby dream destinations that I purposely reserve, on the hopes na baka meron ako pwede kasama dun na someone special. Pero atik lang =)

Top 5 European Beers ni Jose(My favourites so far)

Published on February 14, 2016 by iamjosemanuelLeave a comment

Dahil Valentine’s at napapanahong maglasing, I am posting my top 5 favourite beers, from the countries I’ve visited in Europe. I love beer, particularly the mildly sweet brew. I am an avid beer drinker, but I am not an expert of beer science or anything. The list is basically on my personal preference with taste, crispness, and partially with the packaging. hihi

There are different types of beer based on how it is prepared and stored. Personally, I like Draft beer. These are stored and served from a barrel (or pressurized keg) rather than from a bottle or can. Regardless of the type of beer, the container, the handling and exposure to the elements may actually affect the taste. Kaya nga if you noticed, minsan di consistent ang lasa ng bottled. I find draft beers more preserved, better tasting, consistent and more flavourful. But this is just a thought of mine. Nothing super fancy.

And I don’t like putting ice on my beer. Zzz.

So, here goes my list… =)

#1 Tyskie Beer from Poland. 5.6% alcohol and up. Tyskie is actually a bit fruity-ish. And I love mildly sweet beer, that is why it stood on top of the list. Taste is light malty and honey sweet with pretty much no bitterness, which is just perfect for me. And as per the bar tender, Tyskie is consistently good. #2 Soproni Beer of Budapest. 6% , 8%, 12% Alcohol. One of Hungary’s favourite.The taste is light, mildly sweet at the start, followed by a mild bitterness to the finish.#3 Hansy Beer of Vienna, Austria. Concocted by a local Viennese restaurant Gasthaus Hansy that brews their own beer, this lager beer is surely served fresh and crisp. Tripadvisor has good rating for this restaurant, and the beer as well.#4 Mythos Beer of Greece. 4.7% to 5% Alcohol. As per some reviews, some find it too mild. But I find it good actually. Perfect to pair with meaty street food around Athens.#5 Staropramen Beer of Prague Czech Republic. This is among Prague’s Decent Bohemian Pilsen, that is balanced to the milder side

Other Runner Ups: Arany Beer of BudapestG Menabrea Beer of ItalyKronenbourg of FrancePilsner Urquell of Czech RepublicThis list is really just a fraction of Beer names around Europe. Will I be updating the list on my next visit? We’ll see. =)