Philippine House Lizard Learns to Eat Rice Lightning-Fast

We all know that house lizards eat insects, and house lizards in The Philippines (known as butiki) are no exception. But there was this particular lizard that we had at the old house we used to stay in that preferred rice. We had noticed how it would linger be our table after having a meal and then right afterwards, it would scour the table for scraps of food, often rice and would grab what it can with lightning speed and then hide behind the oven toaster. It would then stealthily peek out again for another bite. It was a good thing it made a habit of waiting at the table to get his share of our meal because it was such a fascinating thing to witness.

So we thought it would be great if we could capture what it does on video and that's exactly what we did using an old Samsung digital camera. We were amazed at how the lizard, which we had named "Bart" was able to "stalk" a clump of steamed rice and grab a few grains with lightning speed. He was so fast that the frame rate of the camera was unable to capture the exact moment it bit into the rice! It was like he had the super speed of a biting snake (maybe even faster) You can watch the video and see for yourself how it played out. I hope you enjoy it.

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Alamat Ng Butiki - The Legend of the House Lizard (Modernong Alamat - Modern Legend) Paperback by Rene O. Villanueva; illustrated by Joel O. Chua

Playing in the Sand with Toys at the Beach - Madz and Cools Resort - Real, Quezon, Philippines

VIDEO: Beach sand play in Real, Quezon, The Philippines (Madz and Cools Resort)

The Philippines is made up of over 7,000 islands and beach life is a way of life for most Filipinos. Every summer, families from all over the country flock to popular beaches in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Most would have already heard about Boracay Island and El Nido in Palawan, but there are other places, like Real in Quezon province, which offer more humble environs which locals would still find enjoyable.

This video was taken at the Madz and Cools resort along the Famy-Real-Infanta Road. It's a private resort house which can be booked, when available, for special family and other small-scale gatherings. As of this writing, the resort isn't even on Google Maps. The beach sand is grey with an underlying bluish-green clay layer, so it's not really for building sand castles. Also, there are plenty of old coral rock formations which do not contribute to much of a beachfront and can make swimming a tricky business. Still, in spite of the limitations, this beach can still offer perks such as spectacular sunsets, great seafood and a great bonding place for the family.

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Strawberry Farm Market Stalls of La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines

WATCH THE VIDEO. SEE WHAT YOU CAN BUY AT THE STRAWBERRY FARM

One of the often-visited tourist spots in the mountain province of La Trinidad, Benguet in The Philippines is the Strawberry Farm. There you can pay to harvest strawberries just like the locals. But if baking under the hot high-altitude sun isn't your cup of tea, then you can check out the market stalls that sell souvenirs and stuff you won't easily find anywhere else, like snake liquor and phallic ashtrays. Of course there are the ever-present strawberries.

If you will be buying raw strawberries, make sure that you get those that are not yet ripe so they can last a few days. They rot quickly and if you do not consume them on time, you'd end up with a lot of moldy lumps you wouldn't even care to look at. If you'll be traveling more after your visit, and would still like to buy souvenir strawberries, then get the jams and preserves.

To have an idea of what you can expect to buy there, watch the video (taken in 2016). Just pause it when you see something interesting so you can get a good look at the item.

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Batchoy Noodle Soup Is for Tourists to Taste in The Philippines

American and British tourists should get a taste of batchoy in the Philippines.

One of the noodle soup dishes popular in the Philippines as a merienda meal is batchoy, a noodle soup which includes slivers of braised pork meat with crunchy skin, liver, and shrimp steeped in a salt, pepper and egg noodle broth flavored with sauteed garlic and onions. It's simple but flavorful with a perfect blend of ingredients that tease the taste buds with every sip of the hot broth. It's an oriental in style but distinctly Filipino. Batchoy, is a dish that Western tourists (Americans, British, etc.) should taste and experience because it's unlike the usual noodle dishes from other Asian countries.

Batchoy originated in the Visayas region. According to Wikipedia, it was first made in La Paz in the province of Iloilo by someone named Federico Guillergan, Sr. in 1938. Whether he's the sole originator, it's hard to say, but what did happen was batchoy became Iloilo's signature dish and is now popular all over the country. It's particularly more enjoyable during the rainy season when piping hot batchoy can be a warm companion.

Inside the Eskina batchoy restaurant in the Sta. Lucia mall.

Pictured here are bowls of hot batchoy served at the Eskina Ilonggo Manukan Seafoods at Batchoy restaurant at the Sta. Lucia mall along Marcos Highway in Cainta, Rizal. Since opening, this restaurant has become one of the more popular merienda or mid-afternoon snack establishments to go to when people are craving for a fix of batchoy noodle soup. If you're an American or British tourist, looking to experience Filipino cuisine, don't forget to get a taste of batchoy. This is just one of the restaurants that specializes in batchoy.

Lucky Me Supreme Instant Noodles La Paz Batchoy 65g Pack of 8

Balaw Balaw Exotic Food Restaurant Art Gallery in Angono, Rizal

The Balaw Balaw restaurant welcome sign

Welcome to Balaw Balaw

Balaw Balaw is a native specialty restaurant in Angono, Rizal in the Philippines that doubles as an art gallery. Established by local artist and crafstman, Perdigon Vocalan and his wife, Luzvimin in 1982, Balaw Balaw became known for its menu which includes adobo crickets and timber grubs. If you're a tourist looking to experience a new and challenging culinary adventure in the Philippines, then this is the place to go to. You can find Balaw Balaw restaurant along the Manila East Road near the corner of Doña Aurora Street in Doña Justa Village in Angono, 

Looking down from the 2nd floor

There are plenty of the surprises inside the Balaw Balaw restaurant. There are several floors and rooms that are open to guests where they'll find all sorts of wood and paper sculptures and also paintings depicting local culture. The house itself is a wonder to behold with it's winding staircases and local antique charm. You can start your exploration in the dining area where there are already plenty of installation art and sculptures from local festivals on display. The ground floor is bisected by an artificial creek that's obviously been sitting there untended for a very long time. You'll find a little bridge of rocks that you can cross to get to the other side where the art gallery actually begins. The sculptures there appear old and untouched so don't be surprised to find huge cobwebs and a spider or two staring back at you. But it's all part of the thrill of the old house. 

The Balaw Balaw dining area

A roomful of paintings

There are lots of very old things to discover inside Balaw Balaw restaurant and if you go visit when few people are around, like two in the afternoon, it can feel like you're exploring an abandoned house. You might get an eerie feeling when looking at the many sculptures with faces and religious iconography, and at times you might feel like you're being watched from a dark corner. A section of the house is actually occupied and the rooms are connected by obscured passages, so you might get startled when someone suddenly appears when it seems you are alone in a room. Just hide your surprise by pretending to admire your surroundings or by asking if the piece of art you're looking at is for sale.

Head up to Balaw Balaw restaurant

A partly hidden room

At the roof deck, there's a quaint garden of potted plants and a shed where paper mâché masks used in the local Higantes (Giants) festival held in November are displayed. Be careful going in there because there's likely a guard dog in a corner of the room (another one of the little surprises of Balaw Balaw). It's actually where the art workshops are held. 

So, if you love adventure when it comes to eating exotic food and exploring old art houses, why not get a taste of Balaw Balaw restaurant? It might not be the kind of place for a first date, but if you are into art, antiques, strange food, eerie things and a meditative state, this is highly recommended. Go to Balaw Balaw for the experience. The memories will stay with your for a long time and enough for you to take a few friends or tourists along so that they can also experience it with you as their guide. 

What does balaw balaw mean? The term refers to a local delicacy in Rizal made from fermented shrimp paste and rice. 

The grand room of driftwood sculptures

Join the Last Supper of Balaw Balaw Restaurant

The wooden spiral staircase of the Balaw Balaw house

The art workshop

Balaw Balaw Restaurant house facade

The Philippines and International Restaurants Food Recipes

The Mighty Ton Giant Hamburger at The Porch

Giant Hamburger of The Porch.

If you like hamburgers, a normal-size bun might not be enough for you to feel full. So this giant hamburger called The Mighty Ton from The Porch long Anonas Street Extension in Quezon City may just be what you need to be satisfied. Of course, if you're ordering for yourself, you'll likely only finish just an eighth of this monster, so be prepared beforehand to be intimidated by the sight of this hamburger and it's weight! It's called The Mighty Ton for a good reason.

Dig into this giant burger!

Apart from its huge size, it's not your usual hamburger because it does not use a typical patty. Instead of a hefty patty in the middle of those bun slices, you get beef flakes which remind you of tapas. If you choose to take on this burger, make sure you have at least 5 to 10 other people along with you. Otherwise you will have no choice but to ask for a takeout bag when you realize you just can't finish it. As a party burger, it's perfect for some fun eating with friends and family, especially with a hefty dose of French fries! The Porch is a restaurant by Casa Verde.

Wow! Works Hamburger Adult Beanbag chair

Summer Fun at Club Serene Resort in Rizal, Philippines

View of the entrance of Club Serene Resort from the inside.

Club Serene Resort in Taytay, Rizal is one of many basic resorts with pools that are common destinations of local day trippers who are looking for a resort in Rizal for some simple summer fun with family or friends. It has five swimming pools, cottages, and picnic tables.

For only 130 pesos (as of this writing), you can enter and spend an entire day enjoying the pools. For a little extra, you can belt out songs using the videoke machines available for general use. At Club Serene Resort, you cannot expect to experience more than what you'd expect for that amount, which is really for locals who just wish to have a summer diversion in a resort with pools. Resorts that offer affordable rates equates to more local visitors who look beyond quality sought by foreign tourists and actually expect nothing of the sort in favor of spartan facilities that serves their purposes.

Like other resorts in Rizal, Club Serene Resort overlooks the skyline of Metro Manila and is a short distance from SM Mall in Taytay. If you and your family live in the Antipolo, Taytay, or Cainta area, Club Serene is one option if you are looking for an affordable escape even for just one day, just to have fun with family and friends. Based on resort reviews of locals and visitors who've been to Club Serene, in this resort, it's not the ambiance, the facilities, or the scenery that's important or what you'd care to go to; it's really more about the time you spend with the people you care about.

The main patio of Club Serene Resort with a tamarind tree as a centerpiece.

Club Serene Resort with pools is located along Cabrera Road, Barangay Dolores, Taytay, Rizal. You can check out more of the resort on the official Club Serene Resort website.

Coconut Harvesting in The Philippines

Here's how trees with coconuts are harvested in a palm tree plantation cum resort in Quezon province in the Philippines. Among the recreational facilities like tennis and basketball courts, swimming pools and gazebos are these tall palm trees which are regularly harvested for their glorious fruit. Coconut nuts from Quezon get to reach places as far as Manila, perhaps even the United States for their coconut water, now touted as the new vitality drink. If you've ever wondered how palm coconut trees are harvested of their coconut nuts, then here are pictures that will be of interest to you.



First, the trees with coconuts (the coco fruit of the coco tree of the coco palm family) are harvested with the use of a very long harvester made from bamboo. At the tip of this palm coconut harvester is a sharp-toothed iron cutter which is used to saw through the stalk that bears the coconuts. The cut palm tree coconut nuts fall, are gathered on the ground, and are husked on the spot. The naked coconuts are then placed in baskets often called kaing slung on the back of a horse. The coconuts are then taken to a storage area prior to distribution to buyers.

TRIVIA: How do I open a coconut? First remove the husk. Use a sharp, pointed object that stays in place and just hammer the side of the coconut on it to strip the husk. When all the husk is removed, place the coconut on one hand and use a wedge-shaped tool to strike the side of the coconut (not the part with the eyes) repeatedly with a hammering force, rolling the coconut along as it cracks.

Shih-Tzu Dog Planking on a Giant Chess Board

A Shi Tzu dog does planking on a giant chess board.

Planking dog

Have you ever seen dogs for planking? You know - that craz-e planking thing wherein you lie flat and make your body rigid like a plank with your face on the ground? Yup, that kind of planking. Well, this dog, which appears to be a Shih Tzu, is one of the dog pets that are cute and happens to be also one of the great dogs for planking. It's a resident pet of a Christian retreat resort at the foot of Mt. San Cristobal in Quezon (Rizal Re-Creation Center) in the Philippines and one of its favorite lounging areas is this giant chess board in one of the gazebos.

If you happen to be looking to get dogs for pets that are cute, then the Shih Tzu is a nice choice. But this particular Shih Tzu is more cat in how it behaves, preferring to keep to itself and not mind you even if you try to get its attention. It goes where it pleases, ignoring the resort guests even when they come in droves. Once it lies down on the giant chessboard, it stretches out its hind legs flat on the floor like a plank. In this planking position, it's hard to tell the front from the rear of the dog even if you look closely. It's a good thing that this Shih Tzu's companion, a huge St. Bernard dog, doesn't mistake his little friend for a rag and sits on it.

Shih Tzu (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)

Spooky Chapel on Haloween Night

Every year, on the first day of November, known as undas locally, people in the Philippines flock to cemeteries to visit their dead. At this time of year, all roads lead to memorial parks and public cemeteries. Where there's a cemetery, there's traffic and people - lots of them. Thus, all other places are left almost empty. The roadside Catholic chapel pictured here is one of them.

Locked securely behind an iron gate, it sits mute, silent but still inviting in its call to the spiritual and religious in Catholics. The lights left switched on at night gives the small interior an eerie auria, making the statues of the saints shadowy and gloomy. Nevertheless, the open bars of the gate still permit devout Catholics to pray. They just have to stay outside by the road. This chapel is in Hagonoy, Bulacan.

Read about Ghosts in the Philippines and other supernatural stuff - Supernatural Philippines

Thatched Roof House in the Philippines

Nipa hut by Alexcooper1. WIkipedia

Thatched roofs used to be the traditional roof construction norm in the Philippines. There are now few homes left that use natural dried leaves or grass to shed rain. Typically, roof thatching is used on nipa huts, the traditional-style house of Filipinos of old.

Through the centuries, the thatched roof never lost its popularity, though it became rare to see them used in houses, even the old ones from the early 20th century which are made of wood and stone. These days, old houses are stll found standing in heritage places like Vigan, Batangas, and Bulacan, but the roofs of most of them now use modern sheet iron.

Fortunately, there are still houses in the Philippines which use roof thatching. The house pictured here is found in Bulacan province. Notice that it also uses the traditional capiz shell sliding windows. Though the roof of the small garage is corrugated iron, the house is still a quaint picture  reminiscent of how all houses used to look in the country.

Mutant Featherless Chicken in the Philippines

Unique, mutant featherless chicken found in Iriga, Bicol.

Featherless chicken shown off.

Have you ever seen a featherless chicken? Of course we always see them when the chicken is ready to be sold as food, but how about a real live chicken that's practically without feathers? Yes, a bald chicken. KFC new chicken, anyone? Well, there's one found in the province of Iriga in the Bicol region in the Philippines. Except for a few small tufts of down on it's wings, this chicken is categorically naked. It's one of a kind and is the "ugly duckling" of a brood. The other chickens don't seem to like it as they pick on it whenever it gets near them, but then again, most of them are roosters.

How to Cook Chicken Adobo in a Pan (Adobong Kawali Philippine Dish)

Anyway, this featherless chicken just goes about its daily business pecking at the ground in and around a compound. Anybody who sees it would think, "Hey, look. A defeathered chicken's escaped from the pot!" They wouldn't think that the chicken was born that way and that it was not tortured or maltreated in any way. It's come to be a popular mascot in the local neighborhood. The owners didn't have a name for it, so let's let's just name it Mystique, a name inspired by the naked blue lady from The X-Men movies.

The bald chicken of Iriga in Bicol, The Philippines

     Recipe for Filipino Style Chicken and Potato Salad

Can you imagine the possibilities of having featherless chickens around? That would lessen the cost of poultry products as there will no longer be a need to defeather or pluck chickens during processing. They'd be next to ready for the cooking pot. It could be the new chicken at KFC and other chicken restaurants or they can be exotic pets! Scientists have already produced genetically-modified chickens without feathers, but this one is different because it's naturally featherless. Watch this mutant featherless chicken on video.

Best Chicken Breeds: 12 Types of Hens that Lay Lots of Eggs, Make Good Pets, and Fit in Small Yards (36-page Booklet)

If you ever need a rubber chicken quickly, then this Emergency Inflatable Rubber Chicken is the answer. Click here to order your own emergency inflatable rubber chicken.