Konted's Make My Day 2: 2021

Thursday 30 December 2021

The Town Of Real In Quezon

The Town Of Real In Quezon

Sometimes, it is good to veer off the beaten path. And take the road less traveled.

Which we did one Tuesday morning, not too long ago.

Taking the Manila East Road from Ortigas Avenue Extension, and passing through the towns of Morong, Tanay, Pililla, Jala Jala and Mabitac, we turned left at the junction of Famy and Siniloan in Laguna Province.

With no traffic and no hassle, it was an easy uphill drive to the mountainous part of Siniloan town and a smooth descent to the town of Real in Quezon Province.

Real is a laid back town that faces the Pacific Ocean. Able-bodied men are engaged in deep sea fishing. There are stalls along the highway selling Yellow Fin Tuna, Snapper, Squid and many more.

Most resorts in Real offer no frills, with only the simple nipa hut style of board and lodging. You may buy from the stalls outside and cook them without additional charges.

Or you may simply park your car under the shade of a tree with a good view of the sea, listen to retro music and let the rest of the world go by.

- KONTED ☺

Good road condition all the way to Real, Quezon

There are stalls along the highway selling Dapo (Bird's Nest Ferns).

Real, Quezon is about 262 kms. from Metro Manila. Next to it is the town of Infanta.

The town of Real faces the Pacific Ocean.

Fishing boats docked at the shores of Tignoan in Real, Quezon

Part of the declared Fish Sanctuary in Real, Quezon

View of the sea from the highway

Yellow Fin Tuna, Pompano, etc.

Gentle breeze at the seashore

Souvenir items for sale along the national road of Laguna

Sweet lanzones @ P90 per kilo

Rambutan @ P40 per kilo

You can haggle with the vendor.

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Thursday 9 December 2021

Missing Baguio's Food Delights

Missing Baguio's Food Delights

**when will the lockdowns end?

**when will we see better days?

**pictures taken before pandemic days

Along that stretch of Outlook Drive, where big beautiful houses can be seen, is a restaurant serving good Baguio native dishes.

  The restaurant, in its early days, used to be an English grammar school for young sons and daughters of prominent businessmen. When the school closed for good, and ownership changed several times, the present owners decided to turn it into a restaurant.

  The resto serves good food such as Crispy Pork Kare Kare with Strawberry Alamang, Pinakbet with Crispy Pork Belly, Pork Dinakdakan, Salmon with Aligue. Beef Shanks, Mountain Rice, etc.

  You dine with a good view of tall Benguet Pines and the smell of Rosemary.

  Pray tell, is there anything else better than that ?

  Oh, the resto's name is DECADES.

DECADES

20 Outlook Drive

South Baguio

- KONTED 🖋️

Regular diners of Decades

This lady vouches for the goodness of food served at Decades.

Crispy Pork Kare Kare with Strawberry Alamang

Tender meat is served at Decades.

Pinakbet with Crispy Pork Belly

Beef Shanks

Salmon with Aligue, Vegetable Salad and Mountain Rice. Aligue is crab fat/

Yummy

View of tall Benguet Pines from the dining area

Fully satisfied customers

The place exudes the scent of the Old Baguio.

Good view as the resto stands on a ridge

Decades is near Baguio Country Club and Mines View Park.

Strolling down Session Road

Cold and foggy

Late snacks at Session Road

At Session Road

The famous Vizco;s strawberry cakes at Session Road

Descending Marcos Highway at mid-afternoon

Fog envelopes a wide area of Marcos Highway.

Almost zero visibility

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Tuesday 30 November 2021

Resto By The Lighthouse

Resto By The Lighthouse

**Pictures taken before pandemic days...

There is a restaurant near the lighthouse of Laguna de Bay in Tanay, Rizal that serves delicious fresh water fish specialty dishes.

The resto's name is Kainan Sa Tabing Lawa located at a place which local residents refer to as Parola.

Kainan Sa Tabing Lawa offers mouth-watering items such as Hito sa Miso, Hipon sa Gata, Crispy Dalag and Pesang Dalag, among others.

Hito sa Miso is catfish mixed with fermented seasoning paste of soybeans and, adding mustasa leaves, lemon grass, ginger, finger chili, tamarind puree and radish, it has that unique taste loved by many.

Crispy Dalag is mud fish that is split open and is deep fried till it is golden brown. It is crunchy.

Pesang Dalag is mud fish mixed with potatoes, vegetables and ginger-flavored broth.

Hipon sa Gata is shrimps cooked in coconut milk. The milk used comes from newly grated ones that enhances that satisfying taste.

All food items served at Kainan sa Tabing Lawa are freshly hauled from the lake and freshly cooked. You don't wait long for food to be served.

So what are you waiting for? Drive to the lake shore town of Tanay in Rizal province and find out for yourselves. You won't regret it.

- KONTED

The New Road To Baguio City

The New Road To Baguio City

Kennon Road, most of the time, is closed to traffic. Marcos Highway, during weekends and long holidays, is clogged with buses, trucks, vans and other types of vehicles. Naguilian Road in Bauang, La Union is still many kilometers away.

Taking all the above into consideration, the DPWH constructed a new road to Baguio City, which is officially called San Pascual- Nangalisan- Asin Road.

To get there, at the Pugo Junction, instead of turning right at Marcos Highway for Baguio City, turn left, and, after a few kilometers, there is a diversionary road leading to the much-talked about San Pascual--Nangalisan--Asin Road. You will not get lost as there are enough signages to guide you.

Landmarks/ structures/ sceneries that are noticeable along the way are: steel and concrete bridges, hanging bridges, free-flowing river, waterfalls, one public c.r., man-made tunnels, hot springs resorts, Bencab museum, etc.

Exit point is at Naguilian Road near the Coyeesan Gym and Lourdes Grotto. Estimated travel time is 1 1/2 hours.

WARNING: EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN TRAVERSING THE SAN PASCUAL-NANGALISAN-ASIN ROAD. THERE ARE STEEP INCLINES, DEEP DESCENT AND NARROW PORTIONS. BE SURE YOUR VEHICLE IS IN TIP TOP CONDITION.

- KONTED

San Pascual-Nangalisan-Asin Road.
The 3 -- San Pascual, Nangalisan and Tadiangan -- are barangays of Tuba, Benguet that have been there since the time of the Americans.