Month: November 2009

Halibut on Creek Street

Scenic Sunday

What caught my eye when we got to town from Saxman Village was a lovely row of wooden buildings resting on pilings above Ketchikan creek.   Guess where we headed after the lumberjack show?

Once an infamous “red light district”, the heart of downtown Ketchikan has today turned into galleries and restaurants, mostly original buildings with lots of stories to tell.

One such is Dolly’s House catering once to “gentlemen seeking the company of women”.   😉

Known to sport anglers as a busy place year round for fishing for wild trout, Pacific salmon, and halibut (my favorite).

So, when we spotted Halibut Hole while browsing through shops along the boardwalk, we did not hesitate and went right in for a taste of their famous fish and chips before heading back to our ship.

The halibut, which of course came most highly recommended, was what we had.  We were not disappointed.

Fish so juicy and tender deep-fried in delicious crispy batter.  That + a bowl of clam chowder, and we were a happy pair walking back to the pier.

They also serve salmon, clams and shrimp in the same crispy batter

It was a good “first day” off shore and I can tell you that it just gets better.  So stay tuned!

To see more beautiful scenes from around the world, go to Scenic Sunday.

Halibut Hole
7 Creek St.
(907)225-6152
Posted on by Jenn 1

The Great Alaskan Lumberjacks

Credits:  Frame from House of 3 digital kit by The Design District (Ornate Frame 3); Kraft Paper by JSprague

Lumberjacks are usually referred to loggers from a bygone era before the advent of modern logging equipments.  The inception of the modern lumberjacks started as a competition in old lumber camps to see who the best lumberjacks were.  Today these competitions continue, keeping traditions alive.

Southeast Alaska’s rich logging history comes to life in a thrilling display of nimbleness, energy and power.  A must see when in Ketchikan, we walked a short distance from the pier to a covered grandstand where rugged professional timber athletes competed head to head in events such as speed climbing, ax throwing, chopping and sawing.  Hosted by a very engaging host who referees this riotous competition.  She splits the group in half and assigns each group a team to root for, adding excitement and entertainment to the show.

Watching th0se cute hunks alone make the show worth its US$36.   😛  tee hee!

Head over to The Little Red House for more photo mosaics from all over.

Posted on by Jenn 5

Saxman Village

Scenic Sunday

Credits:  Sunshine Artz template 04, Grand Intention Kit: JSprague Type Red and Yellow Solid papers

The Southernmost sizable city in the state of Alaska is Ketchikan, also known as the salmon capital of the world.  Its economy thrives on tourism and fishing and in the native village of Saxman, tourists flock to view a strand of totem poles some 30-40 feet tall.   Its totem pole park boasts of the single largest collection of totems.

Totem Poles are like billboards, signposts or tombstones, telling stories and honoring heritage.  They used to be mistakenly thought as religious symbols of worships and many were burned as a result.

Good thing original carvers of totem poles still live in the area now known as Alaska’s “Inside Passage” and are members of the Tlingit , Haida and other clans.

In a shed near the village is Tlingit’s famous carver Nathan Jackson.  We got to see his workstation sans the carver.  He is normally there carving but unfortunate for us, he was unavailable at the time of visit.

Posted on by Jenn 7

A Taste of Filipino Hospitality on the High Seas

mwtwhite

“Ay Pilipino pala kayo!” (Oh you’re Filipinos!).  A reaction we’d get all the time when A and I would start conversing in Filipino.  You see, A can pass for a Latino and I any Asian origin (Koreans, Japanese or Chinese), thus the reaction.  Always excited to meet “kababayans” (fellow Filipinos or countrymen), I gather owing to homesickness as they have been away from their country for 6 months at the least to up to 2 years, depending on their contract.  They are called Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), our country’s new heroes.

Waiters-in-BanffA photo with our servers in Banff

OFWs are Filipinos who are employed in foreign countries to seek better opportunities out of a desire to earn better wages.  The National Statistic Office estimates that the number of Filipinos working abroad has increased by 15% from same period last year.  About 3/4 of OFWs are land based laborers and unskilled workers, which includes domestic helpers, cleaners and manufacturing laborers.  Seafarers (or sea based workers) on the other hand, make up 24% of total OFW deployment and they account for some 20-25% of the world’s seafarers.

“Filipinos are in demand to man ships from luxury cruise ships to giant tankers and container ships.  They are known to exhibit a great ability to learn, to be hardworking and loyal”, according to Pier Luigi Foschi, President and Chief Executive of Costa Crociere Cruises.  “They set a good example for other employees and crew.  They sign up for months at a time and have very little free time”.

GrillingFilipino cooks grilling salmon at the poolside

One feels at home right away at the Ryndam.  From the boiler to the front desk, the poolside to the pantry and the bar to fine dining are Filipinos always ready to serve with a smile.

Roger-at-the-barThat’s Roger, one of the bartenders with his shaker

Hanging out at Crow’s Nest almost every single day of our 7 day stay was made unforgettable due to the many stories told and friendships developed.

bartendersAlways the happy bunch at the Crow’s Nest Bar

The Filipinos comprise perhaps about 30% of the crew at The Ryndam.  Being so much an entertainer at heart, they were given the privilege to entertain the passengers by way of a Filipino Night.

chef-singingHead Chef of the Lido Restaurat by day, singer by night

No longer the cooks, waiters and boiler men, here on stage, they transform into entertainers, well known for their singing prowess and their knack for humor.

tiniklingOur National Dance (I think), the Tinikling

planting-riceDoing the “planting rice” dance

goofingYes… look again… they’re all guys!

Filipino snacks were served right after the show, because I think all the cooks are Filipinos. Tee hee!   🙂  In my opinion, Filipino Night is the Cruise line’s way of honoring the well-loved Filipinos as employee, crew and servers.  And they make me proud to be one of perhaps 6 Filipino passengers aboard The Ryndam at the time.  Mabuhay!

ice-carvingAnd the finale… a demonstration of ice carving… again a Pinoy!

To join in the fun and get to know more worlds, click here.

Posted on by Jenn 6

M/S Ryndam

ryndam-chair

Our means of transport around the inner passages of Alaska and where we were billeted for 7 nights.  It was smooth sailing all the way from Vancouver to Seward.

ms-ryndam

A moderately sized ship that feels cozy and homey.  Far from the humongous cruise ships that looked more like a structure than a ship.

celebretuty-cruise

I however will not comment until I have been in one lest I eat my words.  I never thought I’d be raving, never thought they were my thing but it seemed like the most economical way to get around Alaska.   So I decided to keep an open mind and I’m happy I did.  A wonderful surprise, I’ll say.

deck-6

The Ryndam appealed to me because this 720feet vessel is designed to carry fewer guests and being so provided more space yet cozy enough to get to know some fellow traveller either at the bar or on shore excursions.

foie-grasYes… that’s sinful!

An experience I wouldn’t mind repeating.  I vividly remember an overflow of food at any given time, impressive amenities, enjoyed especially the wet floor where they had a heated lounge chair which never fails to drift me off to dreamland.

mojitoMy Mojoto!

Crow’s Nest bar was where we spent a lot of our time on board not only because of the booze and great bunch of people but also

view

because it is indoors and had an almost panoramic view… well, of mostly the ocean but when we approached each town,

mountain-view

we’d get great views of mountains,

waterfalls

waterfalls,

islands-2

islands

whale

and sometimes we’d catch a few dolphins and whales riding with the ship.  I’d say it is the best place to hang out and get the best of both worlds.

sunset-2

Oh, the sunsets were spectacular too and the service – impeccable.

Allow me to show you around.

bowThe bow

crow's-nest-barCrow’s Nest Bar

deck-at-sunsetWalking around the deck at sunset

float-planesFloat planes at the Vancouver Pier

lifeboatOur Lifeboat Station (very important information)

Ocean View StateroomOur Ocean View Stateroom

RotterdamRotterdam Dining Room features impeccable service.  Five course menus includes continental cuisine, vegetarian and low carb option.

starter at rotterdamMy starter of seafood cocktail at The Rotterdam

And more of the view!

islands

mountain-view-2

mountains-and-islands

And some fabulous sunsets!

sunset-3

sunset-4

sunset-5

M/S Ryndam is part of Holland America Lines.

Posted on by Jenn 0

Small Treats: Halo-halo!

mwtwhitekabigting'sCredits to LivE‘s Sing for Spring Kit:  Papers- PP3-PP7; Elements- Birdoodle, Twill2_delight and Twill2_enjoy.

A popular Filipino dessert that is a mixture of shaved ice and milk to which are added various cooked beans and fruits.  My all-time favorite!  Kabigting’s halo-halo is Arayat’s pride; its unassuming façade (which even looked closed) reveals nothing of this sweet delight.  After breakfast at Abe’s Farm, we headed towards the town of Arayat, further away but we just had to have our halo-halo fix.  Who says dessert has to come after meals?  If I have my way, dessert comes first.

Pastillas.  That’s what makes their halo-halo different from the rest.  A different version from different towns and regions makes this Filipino dessert interesting.  One can use anything under the sun (that’s edible, of course), from fancy ones with tons of ingredients to something as simple as pastillas, mashed beans and corn.   The sweetness of the milk candy contrasts well with the saltiness of the corn.  The mashed beans add the texture and the result?  Delightfully refreshing.

Ice.  Ice is important too.  What always ruin my halo-halo experience are big chunks of ice.  Their smooth-shaved ice blends perfectly with all the other ingredients.

So if you find yourself in Magalang, make the effort to drive further and enjoy a serving of their simple yet excellent halo-halo.  It will make your day.

For more awesome worlds, go to That’s My World.

Posted on by Jenn 6

Chillin’ at Abe’s Farm

mwtwhite

A spur of the moment road trip had me thanking my lucky stars for that long weekend initially unwelcomed.  It was a hectic past few months with our planning season up in full steam and planning for any long weekend was not part of it.  But at the last minute, my friends and I decided to make the most of the long weekend and a trip to Abe’s Farm ensued.  Chillin’ at Abe’s was just what I needed to recharge for more slaving away to come.

A “no pressure-whatever” kinda weekend kicked off with a leisurely drive to Pampanga, stopping along the way for a relaxed breakfast,

Cottage-Kitchen

followed by a delectable Cajun lunch at Cottage Kitchen before finally arriving at our destination where we had our dessert or shall we say mid-afternoon snack.

abe-dessertClockwise:  Turon with langka and ube (banana roll with jackfruit and yam); Sticky rice with mango and ice cream; Tsokolate Eh (native chocolate); pepper lights that added charm to the dining area.

Yes it was mid-afternoon when we got to Abe’s Farm… I told you, no pressure.

abe-exterior

What used to be the private rest house of Larry J. Cruz is now a resort (of some sort) albeit with limited accommodation.

abe-dining-room

The house, built using a lot of indigenous materials, holds many of LJC’s personal belongings.  In fact, the rooms in the house are off-limits.  “It is only for family when they come visit”, we were told.

abe-inside

We felt so at home, watching TV at the “sala” while waiting for dinner as if it were our own home.  When it was ready, we were ushered to the dining room.  Yes, pampered in the truest sense of the word.

Abe’s Farm opened its doors to the public just before his passing a few years ago.  I remember the first time I set foot on this beautiful rustic house nestled at the foothills of Mt. Arayat was during one of his birthday celebration – no I do not know him personally then but my friend G does.  I tagged along.  Last year, I unwittingly found myself there again, this time a less private affair.  While in Magalang (looking for another restaurant), we noticed several “Abe’s Farm” road signs, we were curious – could it really be the same Abe’s Farm?  We decided to follow the signs and yes, it is one and the same.  We ended up having lunch there but couldn’t stay the night.

Ifugao-ulog

This time around, I made sure we spent the night — in an Ifugao hut, no less.  A real hut transported from Banaue but with modern amenities such as airconditioning and lights.  A nice compromise considering Pampanga is not exactly Banaue, temperature-wise.

pool

We spent the rest of the afternoon at the poolside reading, chatting and chilling out, away from the hustle and bustle of the metro.

relaxClockwise:  Sungka – a natve boardgame; where I spent the afternoon reading; my tamarind juice – yum!; what’s left of our wine after dinner.

And best of all, we booked ourselves a massage at Nurture Spa at the other end of the lot.  After dinner we trekked to the other side for that blissful massage which sent us to dreamland in no time.

nurture-spaNuture Spa in daytime

If only we didn’t have to trek back to our hut… it was nice to know that they do have rooms available as well.  So does it merit a next time?  How can I say no to that?

Please do check out more wonderful worlds here.

Abe’s Farm
Barangay Ayala, Magalang, Pampanga
+63(45)865-1930
+63(915)592-5501
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nuture Spa
+63(918)8888SPA
 

Getting there:

From Manila, take the Angeles Exit on the NLEX (45 minutes from Balintawak tollgate). Follow the Magalang Road leading to the town plaza (15 minutes).  From there ask directions to Barangay Ayala (less than 10 minutes).  In Ayala, go past a resort n the left, proceed to Livestock Village (2 minutes) and you will see the Abe’s Farm sign on the corner.

Posted on by Jenn 17