Author: 13thWiTCH

Dining at Forest House Bistro and Cafe, Baguio

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Located at 16 Loakan Rd. Baguio City, Benguet, FOREST HOUSE is just a little over inside Kennon Road. The bistro has this “middle in the nowhere” vibe. It is near Camp John Hay and a few hike trails. But really, it isn’t far. It is just abotut 10 minutes away from Burnham Park.

Forest house has been a Baguio staple since 1991.

It’s the only restaurant in Baguio recognized by Philippine Tatler as one of the best in the Philippines and Baguio’s best for 5 years now.

I ordered Black coffee to match the darkness of my soul. Forest Blend is P50. If you want bottomless, ask for their Benguet Blend, it’s only P65.

Decaf is P60. Although I would advise you not to order this here or anywhere. Coffee is about the caffeine kick, why drink one without it, is the question you should be asking yourself. If you find yourself wanting to order this, get yourself some water instead. Decaffeinated coffee is bad for your heart. Drinking it would spike a specific cholesterol (there are many kinds of cholesterol, yes) in your bloodstream and the beans they use has a higher fat content. And do you know how they take away 97% of the caffeine in the bean?! they soak it in carcinogens. So not only will this baby spike your cholesterol and make you fat, it will also give you cancer. STAY AWAY FROM DECAF. There are many beautiful ways to die.

Quesadillas – special Chicken, Tuna or Sausage with mushroom sauteed in butter with melted cheese filling in tortilla wrapper with red salsa (P255.00). This quesadilla plate does not come with sour cream :( I asked for some but their kitchen does not have any. Bring your own if you want one.

Forest House Bouillabaisse – seafood cream soup, served in a bread bowl (P110.00).

Steamed Fish with Ginger Spice – creamy Dory fillet steamed with precise ginger spice taste (P295.00).

Forest House Wine Sauced Chicken – Grilled chicken breast with rich creamy white wine sauce and mushroom (P 295.00).

Their menu is packed. From appetizers to desserts to drinks. Munch Punch has a copy of it posted if you want to check it out.

Forest House also has a bed and breakfast. If you want to stay, they have 5 rooms to choose from: Teddy, Chelsea, Khalil, Keanu, and Yuri. You may check their rooms’ availability online.

Lake Sebu Adventure: T’boli Dance

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T’boli dancers graced us after dinner.  The costumes as they swirl, the colors they emit—and the ring of bells in their belts and anklets is what I love the most.  Punta Isla Lake Resort does not only boast of good food (their tilapia chicharon is a must try!) but also of great dancing with the young T’boli artists.  Instruments vary from drums to kuluntang to flute.  A solemn prayer is being offered as a sign of permission and thanks to the spirits of instruments are being done everytime they use their preferred musical item.  In every dance, a cultural insight of the T’boli tribe are shared.  Continue reading →

at the corner

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Polysemic. Mutable. Contingent.

These three words were the first words I mentally recited in my mind this morning.  I was looking for our broom, you see.

The floor needs sweeping.

I’ve been absent-mindedly looking for it for three days now.  It seems to have vanished.  Not that those three words have anything to do with the missing broom.  But silently humming them while I search every corner of the flat made the chore less annoying.

It doesn’t make sense does it? The words I mean.  Why such strange words would comfort me.  Well so does the missing broom!  It doesn’t make sense for it to hide itself.  If this is a game of hide-and-seek, that plastic thing is winning.

The room feels abandoned without it.

 

nooks and crannies of Angkor Wat Temple

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Mandatory sunrise photo of the Angkor Wat Temple.

A perfect example of Khmer architecture—thus when in Siem Reap, one must always drop by Angkor Wat Temple.   Aside from being the King’s mausoleum, this temple was also constructed for the Hindu God, Vishnu .  I was here in 2010 and was in awe –and even now, years later, Angkor Wat Temple still amazes me.   Continue reading →