Philippines, traveling to Baguio and seeing the Rice Fields

We are on the way up to Ilocos Norte for a beach holiday. Ilocos Norte is, as it says, all the way to the north, so we have quite a way to drive, but we said that we take it easy and not the direct route. We will drive to Baguio, the Summer Capital of the Philippines and then through the mountain province and the rice fields.

Starting very early in the morning we drove off just before 6 AM to get through Manila before the traffic starts and we got wonderfully though this usually totally congested city. Then we went straight on the Luzon North Highway towards Bagio. Of course we needed to have a quick coffee stop in one of the great petrol stations along the highway. One finds everything there, from restaurants to shops, anything one needs.

As soon as the highway is finished one needs to be patient. The road, even so a very good one, is going through one town after the other, so the drive is slowing down very much, but is is still a lovely drive. One needs to know that the road goes on like this all the way up to the very north. But we turned off at the sign up to Baguio.

The road is getting smaller and very windy and of course, only uphill. If one enjoys driving in the mountains, this is a great way to drive, just be aware, it will continue like this for hours. So we drove up to Baguio, a lovely town in the mountains. It is a big town and the houses are glued to the steep slopes, all the valleys are full of houses.

Of course we stopped and had a look around. The temperature is a couple of degrees colder than on the coast so it is really very nice up here and I think we are definitely coming back here.

And now the big drive started, we went into the mountain province towards Benguet in search of the famous Rice Fields of Benguet. Now, the drive is scenic and beautiful, but you need to know that the road is windy and there is literally one curve after the other, up and down, nonstop. I love driving in the mountains and so does Poala, my Girl friend, so it was no problem, but I am just saying that for the next 5 to 6 hours at least, there is no straight stretch. But we found the rice fields, it is not exactly the right season, but we still saw quite a few of them nice and green, others were full of water and some dry and getting prepared for the next crop.

We went up to the highest point of the Philippine road system at 7700 feet, not knowing before of course, but yes I must say that we had an incredible drive. We actually drove that day from before the sun rose till after the sun set, I know we are mad, but that is us. Mountain Province is lovely and again here we will be back one day to explore more, we will spend more time in Benguet, the center of the Rice Fields were the terraces date back over 1000 years, incredible isn’t it? There are more roads and different ways one can go, so Mountain Province, we will be back.

Tocino, Quatar Airways and going back to the Philippines

Again I am flying, this time so I am happy as I am going back to Philippines to see my girl friend and we will spend three wonderful weeks together. So there will be more nice recipes and some photos from the stunning nature here in Philippines

As usual when I have to pay for my flights, I fly Qatar Airways, not because they are my preferred airline, but as I am on a tight budget I have to shop around and get the cheapest way from A to B. But I have to say that one gets really good value for money. Plenty of movies in a easy to use system, the service is extremely friendly and of course the part that is very important; the food is generally very good and tasty. There is plenty of leg space which is important for me, not that I am overly tall or big, but I am not the smallest person, so the space is highly appreciated.

I got fetched from the airport in Manila and we went first quick to Pampangas Region, north of Manila, to visit some family before going home which is close to Tagaytay and the Taal Volcano. From here we planned our little trip to Ilocos Norte, but more about that in the next Blog.

Now I have to give you another of my favorite Philippine Recipes, it is actually mostly eaten for breakfast, but I think one can eat it all day long. It is called Tocino, it is really something I can not stop eating1 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup soy sauce
2 cups Brown Sugar
1 cup Honey
3 Tablespoons salt
2 Tablespoons ground pepper
1 Tablespoon garlic finely chopped

Mix all the ingredients with about 4 lbs finely sliced Pork (2 kg and marinate it for one day.

Then fry in in a very hot skillet with a bit of the marinade, till the meat browns and is dry

Holiday in Langebaan, South African West Coast

I have spent the first 10 days of my holiday in the Western Cape, up in Langebaan. Langebaan is a lovely small town directly at the beach, great for kite surfing as there is plenty of wind. We stayed in self catering accommodation on the golf course. that I play golf, but the accommodation is really great, it is called Ellefsen Golf Suites  Not that I play golf, but the accomodation is fantastic and good value for money. We had two bedrooms, a nice lounge and kitchenette, ensuite bath room for the main bedroom and then another big bathroom, there is a BBQ (or Braai in South Africa) on the terrace, parking, swimming pool, children facilities with play room and jumping castle and loads more. It is safe and secure, new and clean and spacious one could not wish for more. I got the website on my sidebar, so have a look for photos and more information, it is very nice here and I feel the price is really value for money.

So you can imagine, every afternoon we went to the swimming pool as the weather was hot and sunny and had a great time. The drive to the beach is less than 10 minutes and there are a couple of nice restaurants there too.

Another thing one can do is to go to the National Park, especially during flower season (August and September) it is absolutely amazing with all the wild flowers and there is as well the West Coast Fossil Park, a lovely outing not too far from Langebaan with a really amazing found of bones. The photos are all from the Fossil Park. If the weather turns bad one can take it then even further and drive to Cape Town where one can find a great Museum with Dinosaurs.

Swiss Rӧsti

Hello everybody

As you can see, the blogs are slowly coming in again, and there is more to come, especially about Philippines. But right now I am just burning to give you a recipe. A very, very simple recipe I made when I was now in Switzerland. It is a national dish made out of Potatoes. It is the famous Rӧsti.

There are two ways on how to make a really good Rӧsti one is with pre-cooked potatoes and the other one is with raw potatoes. Both ways give you an excellent result, but you need to take care of this dish to have really good results. I usually make the Rӧsti with raw potatoes but like both ways the same.

Just a short story about the Rӧsti. In Switzerland are two main types of Rӧsti, the one made in Zurich (where I am from) and the one in Berne. Both counties say that they are doing the original and there is a constant quarrel about whose is the original one. I don’t really care but I want to tell you the difference. The one from Zurich you have to add Onions and Bacon to the potatoes and for the one from Berne Bacon and onions........get the hint? They are actually both the same and don’t forget, we don’t have potatoes since such a long time in Switzerland. The potato came to Switzerland about the same time the rest of Europe introduced this Central American Tuber......

But now to the recipe, don’t forget, it is such an easy dish to prepare, but you need to give it time and love!

1500 G Potatoes

150 G Butter clarified Peel the potatoes and let them cool down completely

200 G Onions Grate them in a Rösti grater

100 G Bacon, smoked Cut onions in a fine julienne

Salt, pepper Cut bacon in a fine julienne

Saute onions and bacon in the butter
Add the potatoes, mix everything carefully
Season to taste
Press the potatoes slightly down
Fry the Rösti on slow heat till golden brown, about 15 minutes
Turn the Rösti and fry the other side till golden brown

Serves 10 people

Flying KLM again

Amsterdam Airport is one of the great airports; good shopping and plenty of restaurants. I have raved about this airport before and still think it is a great one. I walked just briefly through it as I had not too much time till my next flight and yes, the flight on KLM was exactly as I hexpected it. I had a great flight last time and again this time I was pampered. Plenty of leg room in the tourist class, movies were the latest and the food.....was great again

The presentation of the food was already great, modern, simple and then of course the taste, I have to say, was superb. The dessert tasted like home made, everything was fresh, the bread rolls were warm and crispy, but soft inside, what a treat! Yes I like flying KLM they are way up on my favourite and I can only recommend them. (No I am not getting paid to say that, I really like them)

I think on the food side it very much depends from where one flies and not just with which airline. On some airports they are not so good in cooking (like Washington) and some are great ( Amsterdam, Cape Town, Singapore) so even when the airline has specific guidlines, I think it istill very much depends from where one starts the journey.

So finally the flying is over again, at least for the next ten days before going to Philippines, I know I will enjoy my time here in South Africa, always have and I can't wait to see my boys again.

Flying Air France, the holiday begins

OK, it is a while ago, but I still need to tell you how my vacation started.

I was supposed to fly in the evening with Delta from Washington to Amsterdam and then with KLM to Cape Town.Unfortunately the first flight was already delayed by the time I checked in, so the lady at the counter looked for a new connection and luckily found one immediately, flying with Air France to Paris, then change planes and then I would still be able to catch the original flight to Cape Town.

I needed someone to accompany me to the plane in Washington as time for a normal check in was too tight. Did you know that this way within 10 minutes I was from the check in counter to actually sitting in the plane? I do like to shop a bit at airports, or at least look around a bit and usually have plenty of time to do so, so this time I missed out on it, please don't ask me how the airport in Washington is, I have no idea!

The flight was OK, the on board entertainment system didn't work for the first 2 hours and then the movies weren't new, what a bummer. The highlight of the first flight was a glass of Canard Duchene Champagne....yes the rest was not that exciting, service was friendly but food was bad.I have to say bad even so I don't like to be negative. I had a lovely sounding "Beef Parmentier" which is usually a tender beef stew with potatoes. What we got served is a tiny layer of mince meat topped with mash potatoes made out of powder, I could not eat it so the only thing what I did on the flight was sleeping.

The Airport in Paris (Charles de Gaulle) is very good, easy to find everything a bit weak in shops where I was but by good chance I met Cem, an Assistant Maitre'd from Mercury, he was actually on the same flight like me, but we didn't see each other. He was now on the way to Montpellier in the same part of the airport, so we had a cup of coffee together for about half an hour before we parted again to catch our flights. Was really nice to see him again and catch up a little bit.

The next Air France Flight was really good, just a short jump to Amsterdam, had a quick snack and we were ready for landing again. Overall I have to say that I was not overly impressed with Air France, very little leg space, disappointing movies, service friendly but not wowing me away, I am glad the next flight is KLM, I hope it is as good as last time.

Online again

Hello everybody

Just a very quick one to say that I am back online. I have a new laptop as the old one was beyond repair, lucky it was still under warranty.

There are plenty of notes and recipes waiting, so stay tuned I will start writing very soon with all the travel experiences, new foods and recipes

Glad to be back

Off Line

Hello everybody

no I haven't forgotten to write, but I have to say that it is difficult at the moment as my laptop is in for repairs, lucky still under warranty, but I have to live a bit without it and have to use Internet cafes to check my mail. Not funny, so please be patient till the next Blog comes.

I have so much I want to write, I am off to Philippines in a weeks, so more recipes from there and then I will be off to Switzerland, plenty recipes to come, so stick around and see the nice goods we will be cooking.

At the moment I am in South Africa in the beautiful town of Langebaan, a great seaside resort, will tell you about that one a well.

So see you all soon!!!!