FOOD TRIP @ PHUKET, THAILAND

What excites me most visiting Thailand is the idea of smorgasbord Thai food infused of exotic flavors and fragrances; profusion of curry, chilies, coconut milk, sweet and sour marks Thailand food in the International Cuisine. I maybe a broke backpacker on streets of Phuket but decided to loosened budget restrictions as I tried to satisfy myself of Thai food, which spans from staple backpacker favorites to Thai classic.  

BUDGET: 100 BAHT and Below

Pad Thai ( Thai style Fried Noodles)

Outside Wat Chalong Temple, I spotted our driver on street enjoying his meal. He offered us to try Pad Thai for 50 Baht only. Pad Thai is a classic dish – traditional fried rice-noodle with shrimp and crispy wanton. Small amount of thin noodles was placed in a searing hot wok, added with crunchy beansprouts, onion, egg and seasoned with fish sauce, sugar, chili and finely ground peanuts.

Finished Product - Pad Thai

Impromptu Pad Thai Cooking by local Vendor 

Kao Souy

Steamed Jasmine rice – 1 cup and/or serving cost 20 Baht.  This long grained steamed rice is perfect for curry dishes.

20 baht for a cup of Kao Souy

Kiwi and Caramel Frappuccino

Part of Phuket city tour is to drop visitors / tourists to their colonial inspired Duty Free Shop for coffee break. It’s a marketing strategy that frustrates us for tourists are force to spend time window shopping accompanied by well-dressed personnel. Good thing they have this coffee shop that serves Frappuccino in reasonable price (Kiwi 55 Baht; Caramel Frappuccino 60 Baht).

Street Foods

On street you will find dim sum, sausages, dried fish and array of ready-to-cook food on sticks that is much resemblance to our fish balls and siomai carts in the Philippines; the twist is that it offers different flavors that brings freshness to one’s pallet. Price ranges from 40 to 80 Baht.

Thai’s Ice Cream

With Thailand’s unbeatable hot weather, tourist can’t resist to grab an ice cream be it on streets, on boat and sand. There was Magnun ice cream (40 Baht) but you may want to try Paddle Pop infused with dragon fruit flavor or coconut and Pandan for your Popsicle.

Drinks

Bottled water priced at 10 Baht (250 ml); soft drinks in can for 50 Baht; Fresh Coconut Juice for 50 Baht; Fresh tropical shakes for 60 Baht

7 11 Convenient Store

Convenient stores are everywhere in Phuket for a quick bite, midnight snacks and budget friendly fun snacks, 7 11 offers anything and everything to satisfy your hunger.

BUDGET: 140 BAHT and Above

Khao Ob-Sabparod

Seafood fried-rice baked in pineapple. Khao Ob-Sabparod can stand alone as meal for it consists of fried rice, egg, herbs and pineapples. This fried rice has sweetness form pineapples that best compliments and creates balance with viands that are infused with curry and chilies (Priced at 140 Baht good for 2 persons).

Gaeng Neue Mussaman

Named as “The most favorite food for world tourist 2011” Gaeng Neue Mussaman is beef curry that is slightly sweet and hint of spiciness from curry and incorporated herbs ( Priced at 160 Baht per serving).

Tom Kha Kai

Tom Kha Kai is chicken strips in coconut soup – infused with fiery chilies, thinly sliced young galangal, crushed shallots, stalks of lemongrass and topped with fresh lime leaves. This dish exhibits creamy, meaty, spice and sweet smelling concoction (160 Baht).

Kai Med Ma Muang

Is chicken with cashew nuts is a dish with celebration of flavor and texture. Sautéed chicken alongside roasted cashews, sweet soy sauce, onions, chilies, peppercorn and mushrooms speaks of authentic Thai food (200 Baht).

Spicy Shrimp in Stir Fried Vegetable

This dis was literally marked as “spicy” but you can request to adjust degree of spiciness depending on preference. For spicy and seafood lovers this is a must try dish. Freshness of sautéed shrimp with chunks of red chilies on bed of stir fried veggies was a courageous experiment I had tried in Thailand (160 Baht per serving).

Bottled Beer

Quite expensive for 150 Baht/bottle, but who can resist a cold bottle of beer with great food in Phuket Thailand?

A2 RESORT - PHUKET, THAILAND

Traveling backpacker at Phuket, Thailand for 4 days and 3 nights, my companion and I had settled to book accommodation in a 3 star hotel that is cheaper yet had great considerations with our safety. Thus, we had checked on A2 Resort – Inspired Modern Contemporary Living In “Pool Access” style. A2 Resort is conveniently located on Phuket Town area on by pass road. According to their website (www.a2resortphuket.com) it offers 52 tastefully decorated “Pool Access” rooms, suites and cottages, all of which are equipped with modern amenities to provide guests with the maximum comforts. Since advertisement sometimes can be deceiving, we further read reviews on A2 and majority had poured out compliments and positive feedbacks, which made us, feel at ease booking a Deluxe Pool Access room.

We arrived at Phuket International Airport quarter past 9 and upon arrival assistance to arrange transportation was on cue. A2 Resort was easily recognized by our Thai transportation fixer and issued trip ticket with agreed 650 Baht one way (airport to A2 Resort, 100 Baht lower for what I had read) fee. Arriving late at A2 Resort, we encountered slight problem checking-in as proper endorsement of arrival and reservation was not forwarded. Our reserved Deluxe Pool Access Room was cancelled off to accommodate great volume of guests. Despite no confirmation, the receptionist was apologetic and had upgraded our room to Deluxe Pool Access Suite “free of extra charges”. In addition, the receptionist had become a big help in confirming our scheduled island tour for the following morning and guided us for valued dinner meal.

Nawadi is A2's most hospitable and efficient personnel with Janssen

A2 Resort by Night

A2 Resort by Morning

Where continental buffet breakfast is served :D

Our Deluxe Pool Access Suite was indeed tastefully decorated in mixture on contemporary and Thailand culture inspiration, equipped with modern amenities that include 32” LCD TV with cable and satellite programmes, controlled air-condition unit, personal refrigerator with daily refilling of complimentary bottled water, safety vault for our valuables, private en-suite facilities including both shower and bath tub, and everything we need to cater maximum comfort and security. 

As our vacation trip ended, we had no regrets spending USD 257.00 for our 4 days and 3 nights stay at A2 Resort as we enjoyed our free continental buffet breakfast, 90 meters U shape outdoor swimming pool, computers with internet access and guest services that includes: 24 – hour security, free wireless internet access, smoke detectors, tour/excursion booking, laundry and dry cleaning, free parking, limousine taxi, airport transfer ,free shuttle bus to Phuket Shopping Malls (Central Department Store, Big C, Tesco Lotus) and accessibility to Bangkok Phuket Hospital, Cabaret Shows, The Siam Niramitre and 30 minutes from Phuket International Airport. The most important things is the we felt secured, at peace and at home with service provided. Thank you A2 Resort!

     

MARINE TURTLE HATCHERY - NAIC, CAVITE

I had this fascination with turtles and even tried to keep one as pet but my grandmother persuaded me for as old saying goes “it’s a Jinx” and “Bad Luck”; though I never understand the logic behind it, I still abide and let go of my turtle and replace it with mutant ninja turtle action figures. 

The Pawikans have become highly threatened for extinction, due to poaching and hunting – numbers are alarmingly dwindling. During my works for my thesis proposal, a classmate who works in Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had my full attention with her study of Pawikan Conservation. Intrigued with her site for study of Pawikan, I inquired and learned that there was a hatchery in Cena St. Labac, Naic, Cavite. It was an odd site but theories had it that Pawikan had existence in Naic, Cavite 25 – 30 years ago, since these beautiful sea animals returns after 3 decades and go back to where they were hatched to lay eggs. Interestingly, I further learned that Pawikans are reptiles related to snakes, lizards and dinosaurs; that gender is determined through body temperature – female marine turtles are much warmer compared to male. Being cold-blooded creatures, their body temperatures fluctuate with the environment and they have a pair of lungs that need to breathe every few minutes while swimming unknown distances in the vast sea. 

Olive Ridley Turtle

200 hatchlings for Release

Marine turtles nest during the coldest months of the year to lay their eggs. According to my colleague Olive Ridley turtle sightings at Naic, Cavite was recorded as early October and November. To protect clutch off eggs, the volunteers and DENR will trace hatching site mark with disarray flipper marks on sand to collect leathery ping pong balls like eggs and transfer to hatchery center protected from predators (crabs, lizards) and poachers. After 40 – 60 days depending on sand temperature, they will hatch and subsequently released back to the sea as patrolled and guided by DENR and PAWB. Last December 16, 2012 first batch of 200 hatchlings were released and last January 18, 2013 I was able to volunteer and participated in sending of new hatched marine turtles back to their natural habitat. 

Casualties: 2 hatchlings and 3 eggs

The Author with PAWB and DENR officials

I took the opportunity to talk with PAWB and DENR representative and learned the sad truth that to date that killing of marine turtles are rampant for its meat. Likewise, the shells and skins have been used for many illegal by-products like combs, guitars and other ornaments. There are also reports of illegal poaching by neighboring countries such as Taiwan, Vietnam and Taiwan which reminded me of news report of sequestered boatloads of Pawikan (100% dead) from Chinese Fishermen from UNESCO World Heritage – Tubbataha Reef without anyone being punished despite our laws governing Philippine Sea. 

Hatchlings needs to create footprints as mark for returning home

Through this page, I would like to share important reminders from PAWB-PCP and DENR:

• Killing, inflicting injury, trading, exporting, transporting, gathering or destroying their nest, collecting, hunting or possessing of marine turtles or dugong, their meat, by-products and derivatives is punishable under Republic Act 9147.
• Use of dynamite or cyanide for fishing is strictly prohibited pursuant to Republic Act 8550.
• Do not throw garbage in rivers and seas.

• Do not remove tags (local or foreign) attached to tutrles. Copy serial number, species, when and where turtle was encountered. Send this information to PCP-PAWB or nearest local DENR office.

Contact information:
Pawikan Conservation Project (PCP)
Tel. Nos. (632)925-8946; 924-6031 to 35 local 223
Fax Nos. (02)925-8953; 924-0109
Email: pcp@pawb.gov.ph ; pawbpcp@yahoo.com

DANTON R. REMOTO: Modern Hero

I was introduced to Danton Remoto through his works which had been a staple along my shelves of Chemistry textbooks. Last saw him on primetime news all smiles welcoming Ricky Martin to the club, a frequent visitor of his blog and now one of his thousands Facebook friends.

Neither brethren nor acquaintance, I had no reason to campaign this man but the respect he attached to his name deserves a recognition.  Raised from a conservative and catholic family, Danton was told never to carry his books close to his chest. Books must be held horizontally against ones thighs. He must never walk with fluid movements; the spine should be straight, the chest held out, and the face a hard mask against the world. Despite sense of difference and struggle to conform to norms, Danton did well in school and was in track in field team and ran like a gazelle.

Described like Apolinario Mabini as “sublime paralytic”, Danton looks physically weak but his intellectual ability is divine. His talents in literature and scriptwriting was recognized by prestige Palanca, National Commission on Culture and the Arts, Philippines Free Press and even impressed international Procyon and Sterling Awards. Currently as acting chairman of “Ang Ladlad”, the national organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Filipinos that was labeled “abnormal” and “immoral” by the Second Division of the Commission on Election. Out of sentimental issues he defended condemnation and discrimination against homosexual of the 21^st century. Like modern Jose Rizal he fought equipped with his broad education and use of pen to erase friars’ notion on homosexuals during Spanish colony as mental illness. If situation calls, Danton reveals his possible bloodline with Andres Bonifacio. His petite frame transforms into fearless tigress on demonstration clawing megaphone on right hand and placard on left. His civic-mindedness reminds me of Tandang Sora of how he catered to wounded souls victimized by all sorts of abuses. He is every where and does anything, lecturer with the rank of Associate Professor of English, writer, editor, member of Manila Critics Circle, Fulbright Alumni Association, and the Philippine Literacy Arts Council, Had been scholar for various international foundation, established a name with the Office of Media Affairs, Batasang Pambansa (Interim National Assembly), the Senate and the United Nations Development Programme which counts Danton Remoto as Superman! Typically clad in jeans, polo and reading glasses that depict simplicity, I guess Danto prefers to be labeled as ordinary human less the publicity.

I’m far writer compared to Mr. Danton but with pride I dedicate this piece to a MAN who best defined as Icon and unsung hero. Your pen had reached to thousands that made betterment of their lives, you inspired us to pursue education as this will lead us afar, patriotism can be exhibited in many ways, encouraged to voice out what is right and RESPECT is something you earn. You stood and represented a community of gazelles that now freely ran in this track in field of life.