My Tamilok Experience

Only for the brave and adventurous. Sabi nila.

The tamilok or 'woodworm' thrives on rotten mangroves. They grow to more than a foot long and are a delicacy in Palawan. Although it looks like a worm, it is actually a mollusk-- like a long, - very looong oyster. At Kinabuch's, in Pto. Princesa, this is one of the best-selling and highly sought after pulutan. After Lola's 89th birthday celebration yesterday, the young 'uns (kami yon), me, my cousins Ian and Lala, her boyfriend Johann, and my Tito Dante headed over to this famous watering hole.  Tamilok is best eaten fresh, according to our family's tamilok-expert Lala, straight from the rotten mangroves, cleaned, then dipped in vinegar-- the ultimate gastronomical experience especially when on island hopping, or on trips to Sabang or the Underground River. Some restaurants here serve it kilawin style-- with vinegar, chilies, onions, and calamansi (that, I definitely know I can handle!).

Lala would take nearly a foot-long tamilok and eat it. Her boyfriend Johann, who is half-Filipino, half-Belgian, would take a long one and chew it first. "Does it break down to pieces when you chew it?" I asked. "Hindi," he says. "Buo pa rin siya". OMG. Parang rubber pa ata. I could imagine why others would just swallow it in one gulp followed by gin or tuba. They pushed the plate in front of me--took a picture of it, photogenic siya! Reminds me of regular oysters lang. Taking a closer look, it does have those two whachamacallit eyes like that of an oyster or a scallop/mussel. Kaya ko ito.

For photo-op, I took a long one-- all smiles pa ako. Panay kantiaw na ng mga pinsan ko. Summoning all my strength didn't do me any good. Despite the eyes, it still looks like a worm.

I settled for a two-inch long instead. But what happens next is priceless---. When it touches your tongue, it does have a feel and texture of an oyster-- but the difference is that it's slimy and you'd immediately taste the smell of seaweeds and mud (that's my opinion).  There's a feeling of gag-reflex (if you'd term it that way), which may be one reason why tomadors wash it down with gin.  It's like eating a very, very slimy, and thickier fetuccini and it gets stuck half down your throat. And to think I just tried a measely two-inch one. If you like oysters, then you'll love these! :-)

Sun-Fun-Tan at Camayan Resort

It's fun-sun-tan at the Camayan Beach Resort in Subic for our team's nth team building activity yesterday after shift. Left the office at around 8:15am and arrived noontime. Subic on a Saturday was like a ghost town. The only vehicles noticeable are those en route to the beaches. It was soo tempting to visit Zoobic, since we passed by their signboard, as well as Ocean Adventure, just near Camayan.

The resort is clean and the water, cool and clear. The sand is fine with a few pebbles and shells. We started off firing the grill to cook our baon-- liempo and barbque. Food can be brought in but make sure to bring enough ice for your drinks. Charcoal grills are for rent and they have uling also. We stayed until around 6pm before we headed of to Duty Free.

The picture below was taken using my beloved SE W810i -- a panoramic view from the cottage we rented:-)

A Crescent Moon Cafe birthday

Abner brought me over to Crescent Moon Cafe in Antipolo for a post-birthday celebration. It's like a mini Sonya's Garden experience. That's how I'd be able to describe the ambiance and the way food is served. The place is easy to find if you are coming from Sumulong Highway. I've read in several blogs na medyo frustrating daw hanapin but then it's fairly easy pala.

In front of the cafe is a koi pond, and what a sight to see. I never saw kois as big as those before! (If you decide to stay a bit longer after lunch, you'll get that chance to feed them.)

The cafe is cool and quaint, country-like feel-at-home almost similar to Sonya's. Their food is unique as well. For starters, an ala prepare-it-yourself-fresh-lumpia, sans the lumpia wrapper and ubod, or veggies. They use alagao leaves as wrappers. You'll mix and whiff up your own conconction with the following: minced ginger, minced red onions, jalapenos, kamias, sweet arnibal-like peanut paste, dessicated coconut and crunchy alamang. You'll find an interesting blend and medley of flavors there.

You'll see how I did. I placed all the ingredients on the alagao leaf and it'll look something like this:

Soup followed and this was my winner (Sorry, no picture. Natakam kasi!) Hands down. Thick cream of pumpkin soup with coconut meat. Yummy. You can taste kalabasa in there and a hint of coconut too! The main course included crunchy noodles with chicken curry, grilled fish (tanigue ata yun) and chopsuey. Dessert is riped mango and their delicious suman! Wonderful place for just talking and eating especially if you prefer garden-like settings. Like I do. At Php350/person, swack na swack!

You'll also notice a mini showroom of handmade ceramics by Antipolo's premiere potter, Lanelle Abueva-Fernando! I also heard that there classes for those who want to try their hand in pottery.

Around the garden, with my trusted Ericsson W810, I also took pictures of the plants and flowers there:

Directions: From Marcos Highway, you turn right at Sumulong Highway when you get to the Masinag Market intersection. Just go straight up Antipolo, passing Dencio's; etc. etc. You'll be passing Assumption Antipolo signboard to the left, and Banker's Village to the right. Watch out for those fruit stands at the left side of the road -- you'll get to an intersection with a signboard-- (arrow going straight: To church; Arrow right: To Hinulugang TakTak; and Arrow left: To Teresa). Turn left to Teresa. Here you'll take probably 15-20 minutes drive. You'll be passing the Antipolo National Police at the right. At the end of the road you'll get a rotonda with a Flying V gasoline station at the left. You'll be doing a left here, halos parang u-turn at the Flying V. The road is now smaller. This is Brg. Dalig. Watch out for the corner Barugan hardware to your right. You will see the Crescent Moon signage there. (You'll know you've missed it if you reached Robinson's Homes na) Turn right here. Crescent Moon is about 1-2 minutes to your left. Hehe sorry, not familiar with meters eh.

Oh, and it's better also if you call for reservations 630-5854 so that food can be prepared. If not daw, you'll be waiting 30-45 minutes.