Post: #501

You'd be fine, I've found I'm out of place wearing flip flops/shorts sometimes in Phil's, Manila atleast. No matter how fuckin hot they are going to be wearing pants and a shirt with a collar. Atleast the upper class guys, so weird.....

Post: #502

(02-07-2014 01:08 AM)Teddykgb Wrote:  Cockfights

Midget Boxing

Riding Jeepneys

Eating Balut

Visit Payatas

And of course visit the markets

Anything else you guys have done in Manila that you would suggest?

I'd suggest visiting Baguio... the "Summer Capital" of the Philippines. It's a city built on top of a plateau and so the weather is nice and cool. So cool in fact, that they're able to grow strawberries.

If you're into the Martial Arts, check out our very own Eskrima or as we more commonly call it, Arnis.

As for food, Lechon, Sisig, and Bistek are really good. Sinigang is a staple as well. San Miguel is our go to beer, but try Red Horse as well. Red Horse, unlike most beer, will make you hyper. Also, if you are lucky enough to find one, you can try Crazy Red Horse... The symbol of the horse on the bottle has this wicked smile and is four times more potent. There's probably one bottle in every four or five cases.

(02-07-2014 01:08 AM)Teddykgb Wrote:  Decided to be open minded and take some people up on their couchsurfing offers to host/hang out. I was reading one cute girls reviews and some of the reviewers use "her" and some use "him"....hmmmm

I wouldn't worry about this so much. In our language, we don't have pronouns that denote gender, as we do in English (he, she, him, her, his, hers.) We have siya (pronounced 'sha' which is what we use to indicate both he/she and him/her) and kanya (his/hers) so, it's common for Filipinos to mix up the English pronouns, by saying him when he means her. I've mastered English, and I still slip up every now and then.

That is, of course, unless the reviewers are not Filipinos... >.>

(02-07-2014 04:51 AM)RioNomad Wrote:  How is balut? Looks horrible.

It's... an acquired taste for sure. If you are brave enough to try it, I recommend lots of rock salt and vinegar to help it go down better.

Post: #503

I've tried quite a few Filipino dishes so far and I've found them all to be very good. I used to eat food from nationally (in the US) acclaimed chefs every day not too long ago so it's not like I'm talking out of my ass here. I even had a few things I don't usually care for like okra, squash, and eggplant and they were delicious. I just let the girls I'm with order whatever and haven't been disappointed yet. Even the plate presentation in the actual restaurants is pretty good.

The only two things I didn't care for were halo-halo, which is ice cream, jelly (it's like jello but really tough and chewy), shaved ice, beans, and corn all in a bowl, and something that the restaurant I ate at called ilocano (?) rice. It wasn't bad, just way too much rice and too little meat. Those are the only two things I tried ordering myself

I'm not a fan of the constant rice but it's understandable for a poorer country and it's not like they force you to eat it. I asked one chick what they eat for breakfast in the Phils and she said rice There's this stand in the mall that sells waffle sandwiches for a $1. It's like a homemade McGriddle. I don't think it's inherently Filipino but it's great.

I tried the step before balut...I could've sworn the girls I was with called it balut, too, or maybe baluta? It doesn't look like a chicken and it reminds me of oyster flavored mashed potatoes. Wasn't bad, actually. I hate Red Horse. But, then again, I'm a dark beer fan and hate most beers in general. It's kind of annoying though that most of the places I've been don't seem to understand the concept of a mixed drink.

Post: #504

@Scott Free: Are they pretty open to teaching white people Arnis?

I'm wondering the same thing about basketball, too. Can I just show up at a court and call next game like the US or is it different?

Post: #505

(02-11-2014 01:24 AM)Enigma Wrote:  The only two things I didn't care for were halo-halo, which is ice cream, jelly (it's like jello but really tough and chewy), shaved ice, beans, and corn all in a bowl, and something that the restaurant I ate at called ilocano (?) rice. It wasn't bad, just way too much rice and too little meat. Those are the only two things I tried ordering myself
.
.
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I tried the step before balut...I could've sworn the girls I was with called it balut, too, or maybe baluta? It doesn't look like a chicken and it reminds me of oyster flavored mashed potatoes. Wasn't bad, actually. I hate Red Horse. But, then again, I'm a dark beer fan and hate most beers in general. It's kind of annoying though that most of the places I've been don't seem to understand the concept of a mixed drink.

I'm glad you're enjoying our food! Some tourists say that Filipino food thrives in extremes. That when we make sweet food, it is extremely sweet; sour food, extremely sour; etc.

Halo-halo literally translates to Mix-mix, I'm sure you can imagine why. Two common ingredients in it that you missed though are Leche Flan (caramelized custard, which is another desert you guys over there should try!) and evaporated milk. This is probably the national desert. I've seen Filipinos throw tantrums when they run out of halo-halo at the Jollibee here in San Francisco... I shit you not...

Dark beer eh? Have you tried San Miguel's Cerveza Negra? It's decent. Of course nothing comes close to St. Norbert's special brew in Prague... Sweetest damn dark beer I have ever tried in my life... and the best so far.

(02-11-2014 01:43 AM)Enigma Wrote:  @Scott Free: Are they pretty open to teaching white people Arnis?

I'm wondering the same thing about basketball, too. Can I just show up at a court and call next game like the US or is it different?

Filipinos are very warm and hospitable and the more you show enthusiasm about learning the local culture, the more they will be happy to accommodate you. This goes for Arnis as well... but you have to respect it and show that you are dedicated to learn from which ever school/style you choose to learn it from. Every school has an "inner circle" reserved for members who have proven themselves. It's the inner circle that teaches you the serious moves that kill. The fancy and flashy stuff is just meant to segregate the beginners just trying things out from the dedicated. I studied under Lightning Scientific (LSAI) but I have a friend who went to Def-Tac and would highly recommend that school, based on what I've seen. Stick fighting and knife fighting are culturally ingrained arts. Eskrima, Arnis or Kali, which ever you choose to call it, was born when the Spanish outlawed Filipinos from carrying bladed weapons. They traded their bolos and machetes or itak for sticks and practiced an art wherein the two are interchangeable. Today, it is not uncommon for Filipino men to carry around a butterfly knife (called balisong) in their back pockets.

For the most part, if you show up at a court especially on Sundays, you could definitely get into a game. Just watch out, Filipino Basketball might be a little rougher and has it's own idiosyncratic rules you have to pick up on. Also, don't be so quick or vocal on calling out a foul (too often) in instances like if the guy has his elbow on your rib cage or something. It's looked down upon as a sign of weakness. They will mutter na-na (sounds like: "Na-NUH") to each other. What it transliterates to is that pus that sometimes forms on the soft tissue of your mouth or lips that is very sensitive and painful when it touches against your gums or teeth. What they mean is that a player is too sensitive while playing a rough contact sport. Show no weakness, but at the same time, show no arrogance. Arrogance is the top trait that Filipinos despise. I'm no expert in Basketball (not my thing) but if anyone is really interested, there's a lot of insight in this book.

Post: #506

@Scott Free: Great, great info as usual. I really appreciate it.

I'll have to try San Miguel's Cerveza Negra, all I've had so far is lots of Red Horse. I'm actually a Guinness guy, I like it dark and bitter. I got a bottle of Stolichnaya for only 500 pesos in the supermarket so that has kept me pretty content.

I'm glad to hear that about Arnis. I think it's a really interesting martial art, I actually posted that Human Weapon episode somewhere else on the forum previously.

As for the basketball, I grew up playing street ball and most of that stuff is second nature to me. I've actually played with some Filipinos in the States. They and Latinos definitely play a scrappier version of basketball but they're less likely to start an actual fight over every little thing like many Americans, which is one of the reasons I hadn't played much there recently before leaving. They also tend to be more team oriented and less flashy which I really enjoy.

One of the reasons I chose the Phils as my first destination in Asia is because of basketball. I was pretty thrilled to find out they have an entire channel that plays nothing but basketball all day.

Post: #507

(12-28-2013 08:36 AM)LeightonBlackstock Wrote:  I see TaipeiHighLife got banned.

He had some great information to add to the forum, in my opinion. It would have been interesting to see an ABC-datasheet on Taipei.

But he had such a huge chip on his shoulder and kept insulting everyone.

Why won't some people understand that we're a team here at RVF?

Keep on trucking, Team Asia.

There are actually quite a few decent threads about taiwan(including taipei), that pretty much have all of that information.

Post: #508

Hi guys, new member here. I just got back from an awesome 2-week trip to the Phils (my first time in Asia) and am hoping to go there again in the near future. (I wanted to post beforehand but couldn't get signed up on the forum in time.) I wanted to say thanks for this great thread and also have a few Qs.

1) Has anyone stayed in the rooms advertised on tourist-rooms.com? They seem like a good deal but they price for a minimum 10-day stay. Also, I think it's bogus that they require a P1000 fee just to view the rooms.

2) One thing that bothered me about Manila was the smell of the air. At first it wasn't a big deal but I started getting headaches after a few days. I assume it's from the jeepney fumes. Are there parts of town/times of day/seasons where it isn't as bad? I did see a few people wearing dust masks.

3) What's the deal with eating fresh produce there? Is it safe? I got a shot for Hepatitis A, is there anything else to be careful about?

4) What about bugs in the hotel rooms? My first hotel was a pretty nice place just east of Taft Ave. but I saw one too many insects and decided to leave after two nights. Can you get permission to spray-bomb the rooms or do you just have to go elsewhere?

5) And roosters-- they seem to be everywhere in the Phils, and it was annoying trying to sleep with those things going ca-ca-CAAA-ca all night. Are there areas (other than Makati, I guess) where they're not allowed or they don't have as many?

6) Has anyone else studied Tagalog in depth? Any books/tutors/classes you can recommend? I'm trying to learn the nuts and bolts of the grammar and it would help to find someone who can explain when to use Object Focus/Actor Focus and when to use Direct/Indirect/Oblique case, etc.

Thanks in advance. Hope I can contact or meet up with some of you guys next time.

Post: #509

Another Q: Why do the cities seem to get cleaner as you head north on the NLEX? E.g., I enjoyed Olongapo except for all the trash around the streets and sidewalks, but it was cleaner in places like Tarlac and Baguio.

Post: #510

(02-12-2014 06:00 PM)Vanthassel Wrote:  Hi guys, new member here. I just got back from an awesome 2-week trip to the Phils (my first time in Asia) and am hoping to go there again in the near future. (I wanted to post beforehand but couldn't get signed up on the forum in time.) I wanted to say thanks for this great thread and also have a few Qs.

1) Has anyone stayed in the rooms advertised on tourist-rooms.com? They seem like a good deal but they price for a minimum 10-day stay. Also, I think it's bogus that they require a P1000 fee just to view the rooms.

Welcome! (Mabuhay!)

Definitely bogus. I haven't tried using that site, but the fee to view a room is BS. I would recommend you do this through a local friend acting as a middleman. Most people over there have enough street-smarts to pad up the price or quote you more or even add surprise fees out of nowhere when dealing with a foreigner (ESPECIALLY if you are white.) Lighter skin, in our mind, equates to more wealth almost automatically. Be prepared to walk away and definitely don't be afraid to bargain. In fact, spin your own BS, pull out your acting skills and look as if you are visibly hesitating/disapproving of the product or service. Say that some other guy offered you the same thing for [amount] x [15% to 20%] less.

(02-12-2014 06:00 PM)Vanthassel Wrote:  2) One thing that bothered me about Manila was the smell of the air. At first it wasn't a big deal but I started getting headaches after a few days. I assume it's from the jeepney fumes. Are there parts of town/times of day/seasons where it isn't as bad? I did see a few people wearing dust masks.

The big cities over there will always have pollution problems. As you go towards the provinces the air gets considerably fresher. I've heard it's much worse in Beijing where the sun is barely visible through the smog... I will have to go there and see for myself.

(02-12-2014 06:00 PM)Vanthassel Wrote:  3) What's the deal with eating fresh produce there? Is it safe? I got a shot for Hepatitis A, is there anything else to be careful about?

It should be safe. There are no issues that I have ever heard about regarding this.

(02-12-2014 06:00 PM)Vanthassel Wrote:  4) What about bugs in the hotel rooms? My first hotel was a pretty nice place just east of Taft Ave. but I saw one too many insects and decided to leave after two nights. Can you get permission to spray-bomb the rooms or do you just have to go elsewhere?

Listen, in a tropical Third World country such as this, bugs are inevitably a part of life there. It will be difficult to avoid them. You simply have to learn to adapt... To minimize infestation, you can rent air-conditioned rooms and keep the temperature low, deploy a mosquito net (more commonly called kulambo (Koo-lam-BO)) over your bed, and refrain from keeping food outside your fridge. Roaches and flies inhabit the locale and spray-bombing is not cost effective for most of the populace.

(02-12-2014 06:00 PM)Vanthassel Wrote:  5) And roosters-- they seem to be everywhere in the Phils, and it was annoying trying to sleep with those things going ca-ca-CAAA-ca all night. Are there areas (other than Makati, I guess) where they're not allowed or they don't have as many?

More metropolitan areas will have less of them. Otherwise, it's another part of the culture. The best way to avoid these quirks would be to find a room in a high-rise somewhere. A friend of mine rents out The Penthouse, which is great for short stays and will provide you with excellent logistics and will exponentially excel your endeavors in smashing once you get your girl back there. She last quoted me 2500 Php a night. Feel free to contact her directly and negotiate a better rate if you are staying longer.

(02-12-2014 06:00 PM)Vanthassel Wrote:  6) Has anyone else studied Tagalog in depth? Any books/tutors/classes you can recommend? I'm trying to learn the nuts and bolts of the grammar and it would help to find someone who can explain when to use Object Focus/Actor Focus and when to use Direct/Indirect/Oblique case, etc.

I was about 5 years old when we moved to the Philippines from the chaos of Tehran. Learning Tagalog was challenging at first and I really didn't do too well in the formal Filipino classes during elementary and high school. It was my least favorite subject, so I wouldn't be able to teach you much about the grammatical rules. However, I do speak it fluently so if you need anything interpreted or transliterated, I can help you. Feel free to PM.

(02-12-2014 06:00 PM)Vanthassel Wrote:  Thanks in advance. Hope I can contact or meet up with some of you guys next time.

(02-12-2014 06:55 PM)Vanthassel Wrote:  Another Q: Why do the cities seem to get cleaner as you head north on the NLEX? E.g., I enjoyed Olongapo except for all the trash around the streets and sidewalks, but it was cleaner in places like Tarlac and Baguio.

The same is true when you head south on SLEX. The common denominator is that you are heading away from Metro Manila where the pollution is at its worst.

The provinces tend to be more disciplined and the people, more honest. For the most part, islands that are harder to get to tend to be like that as well. For instance, in Palawan there is no illegal fishing or illegal logging that occurs and in certain cities on that island smoking is illegal. There is virtually no theft and very little waste and pollution.

That actually reminds me, Olongapo is where Subic Naval Base was located before the US shut it down because of the volcanic activity. Subic has since been turned into an airport and is very clean and tourist friendly. US traffic rules apply here! You guys in Manila should try to get a weekend off and visit JEST. When I was in highschool, our class went there one summer and we took the Jungle Survival course, a three-day trek through the jungles where we learned survival skills like how to make fire from the bamboo; where to find sweet, clean water; which leaves are edible; how to make utensils from the surrounding natural environment... It was loads of fun! Bring your girl... girls love outings.

Post: #511

(02-11-2014 02:42 AM)Scott Free Wrote:  I'm glad you're enjoying our food! Some tourists say that Filipino food thrives in extremes. That when we make sweet food, it is extremely sweet; sour food, extremely sour; etc.

Very encouraging info! I hear so many bad things about Filipino food, and I'm huge on food when traveling, so that's been a bit of a bummer to hear. I often like things other foreigners don't, and I especially like extremes, so I'm thinking it might agree with me after all.

Quote:Filipinos are very warm and hospitable and the more you show enthusiasm about learning the local culture, the more they will be happy to accommodate you. This goes for Arnis as well... but you have to respect it and show that you are dedicated to learn from which ever school/style you choose to learn it from. Every school has an "inner circle" reserved for members who have proven themselves. It's the inner circle that teaches you the serious moves that kill. The fancy and flashy stuff is just meant to segregate the beginners just trying things out from the dedicated. I studied under Lightning Scientific (LSAI) but I have a friend who went to Def-Tac and would highly recommend that school, based on what I've seen. Stick fighting and knife fighting are culturally ingrained arts. Eskrima, Arnis or Kali, which ever you choose to call it, was born when the Spanish outlawed Filipinos from carrying bladed weapons. They traded their bolos and machetes or itak for sticks and practiced an art wherein the two are interchangeable. Today, it is not uncommon for Filipino men to carry around a butterfly knife (called balisong) in their back pockets.

Always thought it would be cool to learn Eskrima.

Great contributions, Scot Free!

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Rudyard Kipling

Post: #512

I think you'd be cool with the food, BB. I know you're the kind of guy who is willing to mingle with the locals and try new things.

A couple of girls took me to eat street food yesterday and the stall vendors all loved me because they said most foreigners aren't really willing to dig in and try everything. I know Scotian said he enjoyed the food, too. No offense to other guys but I think maybe they're expecting Michelin starred restaurants or simply just like certain kinds of food. Granted, I grew up in the South so fried chicken intestines is nothing new to me. A lot of the food reminds me of the Southeastern US, really. I even grabbed some frozen sisig and chicken lumpia for the crib.

I will say that the food selection isn't quite as diverse as I've read about Thailand or other places being. I haven't been able to find authentic style Mexican food and all of the girls I've asked are clueless. The pizza doesn't even come close to the US. I did eat at a dope Korean BBQ spot yesterday though. Plus, I'm in Davao, I'm sure Manila has a wider selection to cater to the larger number of foreigners.

I had balut last night also. It was...interesting. I didn't like it but I didn't hate it either. It just tastes like an overcooked egg, honestly. Topped it all off with some "dirty" ice cream and a jeepney ride

Post: #513

(02-13-2014 12:33 AM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  Very encouraging info! I hear so many bad things about Filipino food, and I'm huge on food when traveling, so that's been a bit of a bummer to hear. I often like things other foreigners don't, and I especially like extremes, so I'm thinking it might agree with me after all.

Two words for ya! Crocodile Sisig! I tried it during this last trip to Palawan. It was an unbelievably delectable, gastric experience.



If you are into the wild side, I would definitely recommend Exotik Garden Restaurant. They serve monitor lizards, snakes, frogs and wild boar for lunch. It's in the province of Laguna, a couple of hours outside of Metro Manila.

For deserts, try our Leche Flan, Halo-halo and Ube (One of the few naturally purple food.) Our Ice cream flavors are pretty unique too... Try Mais con Queso (Corn and cheese), Macapuno (A variety of the coconut), Pinipig (Immature rice, roasted and pounded) and... well... Ube (Purple yam)

(02-13-2014 12:33 AM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  Always thought it would be cool to learn more Eskrima.

Great contributions, Scot Free!

Thanks man! And yes, Eskrima has a lot more practical application and is taught with the assumption that you can get into a fight having a single stick, two sticks (doble-baston), a stick and a dagger (espada y daga), just a knife, a small piece of wood or a kubaton or surprisingly, even empty handed.

Post: #514

(02-13-2014 12:51 AM)Enigma Wrote:  I think you'd be cool with the food, BB. I know you're the kind of guy who is willing to mingle with the locals and try new things.

A couple of girls took me to eat street food yesterday and the stall vendors all loved me because they said most foreigners aren't really willing to dig in and try everything. I know Scotian said he enjoyed the food, too. No offense to other guys but I think maybe they're expecting Michelin starred restaurants or simply just like certain kinds of food. Granted, I grew up in the South so fried chicken intestines is nothing new to me. A lot of the food reminds me of the Southeastern US, really. I even grabbed some frozen sisig and chicken lumpia for the crib.

I will say that the food selection isn't quite as diverse as I've read about Thailand or other places being. I haven't been able to find authentic style Mexican food and all of the girls I've asked are clueless. The pizza doesn't even come close to the US. I did eat at a dope Korean BBQ spot yesterday though. Plus, I'm in Davao, I'm sure Manila has a wider selection to cater to the larger number of foreigners.

I had balut last night also. It was...interesting. I didn't like it but I didn't hate it either. It just tastes like an overcooked egg, honestly. Topped it all off with some "dirty" ice cream and a jeepney ride

My hat's off to you, Enigma! Hahaha!

Post: #515

I love alligator meat, I'll have to track down some crocodile here in Davao.

Post: #516

(02-13-2014 12:51 AM)Enigma Wrote:  I think you'd be cool with the food, BB. I know you're the kind of guy who is willing to mingle with the locals and try new things.

A couple of girls took me to eat street food yesterday and the stall vendors all loved me because they said most foreigners aren't really willing to dig in and try everything.

Yeah, I've actually managed to find a lot of good food in Cambodia, and it's not a place known for good cuisines. I suspect you're right. I remember watching Bourdain's visit to Phils and it looked delicious to me.

Quote:I had balut last night also. It was...interesting. I didn't like it but I didn't hate it either. It just tastes like an overcooked egg, honestly. Topped it all off with some "dirty" ice cream and a jeepney ride

I've had something similar to balut here in Cambodia. I don't think the bird is quite as developed, but they do serve those eggs here with a partly developed chicken or whatever inside. Was a bit of a challenge but mostly mental.

What's "dirty" ice cream?

(02-13-2014 12:57 AM)Scott Free Wrote:  

(02-13-2014 12:33 AM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  Always thought it would be cool to learn more Eskrima.

Great contributions, Scot Free!

Thanks man! And yes, Eskrima has a lot more practical application and is taught with the assumption that you can get into a fight having a single stick, two sticks (doble-baston), a stick and a dagger (espada y daga), just a knife, a small piece of wood or a kubaton or surprisingly, even empty handed.

I don't know why I said "more" Eskrima. Typo. I've never studied it at all.

Always thought it looked interesting though.

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Rudyard Kipling

Post: #517

(02-13-2014 01:32 AM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  I've had something similar to balut here in Cambodia. I don't think the bird is quite as developed, but they do serve those eggs here with a partly developed chicken or whatever inside. Was a bit of a challenge but mostly mental.

What's "dirty" ice cream?

They have different stages of balut here, I guess you could say. First, I had some that was essentially just an egg with a little discoloration inside, it didn't have any features of an actual chicken. The one I had last night was similar to what you're describing, it has a few features but it doesn't really look like a chicken yet. Then, they have something that actually has feathers and everything which I haven't had yet and I'm not sure I will haha.

From what I could understand, dirty ice cream is just homemade ice cream that they sell out of a little street cart. They had a lot of interesting flavors like avocado and durian but it just tasted like regular ice cream. My theory about the name relates to when you have a homemade style ice cream in the US, especially vanilla, it has those black speckles in it but the girls I was with weren't really sure.

Post: #518

(02-13-2014 01:47 AM)Enigma Wrote:  From what I could understand, dirty ice cream is just homemade ice cream that they sell out of a little street cart. They had a lot of interesting flavors like avocado and durian but it just tasted like regular ice cream. My theory about the name relates to when you have a homemade style ice cream in the US, especially vanilla, it has those black speckles in it but the girls I was with weren't really sure.

Right on. I love all the street cart ice cream in Thailand and Cambodia. Haven't seen avocado (stoked on avocado shakes though) but they have durian and all the other exotic flavors.

I like that one where they take coconut ice cream and sandwich it in white bread with sticky rice, then drizzle sweet condensed milk over it.

Sold.

Ice cream is one of my biggest weaknesses when it comes to food. I'm like a little kid with this shit. haha

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Rudyard Kipling

Post: #519

Haha I'm pretty bad with sweets in general but ice cream is probably at the top of the list. I'm not big on coconut personally but it's really popular here. They sold coconut water and milk at many of the carts...it's a good way to rinse down fried chicken asophagus on a stick dipped in hot sauce and vinegar

Post: #520

Fuck, I'm getting hungry now.

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Rudyard Kipling

Post: #521

(02-13-2014 01:47 AM)Enigma Wrote:  

(02-13-2014 01:32 AM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  I've had something similar to balut here in Cambodia. I don't think the bird is quite as developed, but they do serve those eggs here with a partly developed chicken or whatever inside. Was a bit of a challenge but mostly mental.

What's "dirty" ice cream?

From what I could understand, dirty ice cream is just homemade ice cream that they sell out of a little street cart. They had a lot of interesting flavors like avocado and durian but it just tasted like regular ice cream. My theory about the name relates to when you have a homemade style ice cream in the US, especially vanilla, it has those black speckles in it but the girls I was with weren't really sure.

When the US introduced us to refrigeration and ice cream became all the rage, Filipinos found ways to make ice cream less expensive. Instead of using cow's milk, we used Carabao milk (A Carabao is our water buffalo, the 'workhorse' of rice farms) thus being able to make ice cream cheaper. The enterprising local, would sell this 'Dirty' ice cream in sets of three tin cans, surrounded by shaved ice to keep it cold within a colorfully painted wooden cart. There are a variety of flavors to go crazy on, BB!

Post: #522

(02-13-2014 01:58 AM)Enigma Wrote:  coconut water and milk at many of the carts...it's a good way to rinse down fried chicken asophagus on a stick dipped in hot sauce and vinegar

Sounds like there are some interesting Filipino foods, especially the sweets. May not be the best or healthiest cuisine in the world but I'm sure there are some gems if you are adventurous.

Post: #523

Scott Free, what city are you from? Where in the PI do you live?

Post: #524

(02-13-2014 01:50 AM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  Ice cream is one of my biggest weaknesses when it comes to food. I'm like a little kid with this shit. haha

In Taipei you can get Mr Whippy ice cream from the 7-11's. Used to buy one on the walk to work. All I needed was a propeller cap and a Gameboy to complete the look.

I think people should eat more ice cream. Have you ever seen anyone miserable eating ice cream?

The 7-11 woman use to always smile when she handed me the ice cream. I used to smile too, and other people sat down would smile whilst they enjoyed their messy ice cream.

Seriously though, ice cream is a really happy food! ice cream can cheer any miserable old bugger up!

In my home town the ice cream man was a transvestite.

One time I went to Blackpool and a man dropped an ice cream on my head and I had chocolate sauce in my hair for the rest of the day.

The worst moments of my childhood were when I dropped my ice cream on the floor. My father was nice, always gave me his instead.

I like Dairy Queen here, it's good relief after a spicy meal. Water doesn't do anything. Instant relief, recommend it to anyone. Just shove it on your tongue.

Anyway, Manila:

Post: #525

^ I remember one time I was buying a pint of Ben & Jerry's in Safeway and this tiny old lady was standing next time in line. She had a couple pints in her hands too.

Looks up at me and says in her rickety old voice, "I'm 80-whatever (don't remember exactly) years old and have eaten ice cream every day for as long as I can remember. Don't let anyone tell you it's bad for you."

Sweet old lady. I thought about knocking the dust. haha

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Rudyard Kipling