Kalui Restaurant: Oriental Dining at its Best!

I always think of a good place to eat. I guess it's human nature. But sometimes we get to the point that we have budget constraints  We always look for good food but we always wish that it must not be so expensive. We want food that is satisfying but won't leave a hole to our pockets.

During my planning phase to Puerto Princesa, a good friend of mine, Ep (I mentioned her from my previous  blog and it looked like she's more of my travel advisor), talked about this beautiful restaurant located along Rizal Avenue. The name of the more-of-an-Asian themed resto is Kalui.

I wonder where it got its name. For me, this must be a name of a person--might have been the founder or something. But never mind. All I know, this place has a really good ambiance--quite, kind of sensual, romantic, and very 'Asian'--showcasing a combination of Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian and Filipino interior art. It's a good spot if you want to date someone or maybe if you really want to persuade the girl that you are courting to say "yes" to you unconsciously. But this place is not just lovers-friendly, but this is for anyone who likes to eat good but affordable food, those who are tired from touring Puerto Princesa on their Day 1, and to those people who just want to chill out and relax.

It's 6:30PM when Ara and I reached the place. We rode a trike (read: tricycle) to get there. Barefootedly (as part of the restaurant policy), we were guided to our reserved table. Upon sitting, we immediately ordered our dish for dinner. 

I was fascinated how affordable their menu is!

http://www.kaluirestaurant.com/menus

And so I tried their Day's Catch Blue Marlin:

Mixed vegetables, green caviar (locally known as ar-arosep), pickled unripe papaya (locally known as atchara), brown rice and a big roasted chunk of Blue Marlin. 

Oh man, this one is good! The food was freshly prepared and I just couldn't wait to take a bite on this roasted fish. But before anything else, I should have a good photo of this menu so I can share it to you and to everybody out there.

But it's not just the food that amused me. The very good lighting and ambiance makes my Kalui experience more fulfilling and worth remembering too: 

I apologize, my photos are limited. I ran out of batteries that time which I really felt so bad =(

But anyways, my dinner with Kalui was one of the most unforgettable experiences I ever had. It's unique and I loved it. 

Tamilok: Uncovering Palawan's Extreme Food

I was kind of curious when I was looking at this tiny creatures: Tamilok. Yeah, upon seeing it, we might have the same thing in mind. You might have been asking if this is really edible, or might somewhat be disgusted with it's slimy appearance.

I can remember Ep, a good friend of mine told me that a Puerto Princesa experience would never be fulfilling without trying this so-called extreme local food--the Tamilok.

Tamilok or Shipworms are not really 'worms' but it is a group of uncommon clams "with long, soft, naked bodies; they are marine bivalvemolluscs in the family Teredinidae. They are notorious for boring into (and commonly eventually destroying) wood that is immersed in sea water, including such structures as wooden piers, docks and ships. Sometimes called "termites of the sea". (Wikipedia)


Scientifically, this is how a Tamilok looks like, 

image courtesy of wikipedia.org

But once it is prepared as food, here we go:

Commonly prepared with Calamansi and Coconut Vinegar--it is called kinilaw.

Yeah, I know. This never looked so enticing. But I believe on what William Safire and Leonard Safir have quoted in their book Good Advice (1982): "If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home". I always keep that in mind when I'm travelling. 

And so I did it--I tried and adventurously tasted Tamilok. It didn't went all bad but you know what, I loved its unique seafood taste! For me, it feels like eating oysters, but just imagine a more stronger oyster taste exploding in your mouth. This made Tamilok a thumbs up for me. 

You gotta try it too!

The Puerto Princesa's New 'Cadillacs'

Like jeepneys, tricycles have been known as a trademark of Philippine folk arts. They are also considered as one of the most common transportation that links every small town and even provide ease travelling rugged roads to the barrios.

The fascinating thing about tricycles is that they have the same function but their designs are intricately unique—these crafts are really indeed a sort of an artwork! The artistry of the country’s craftsmen are showcased every time I see a tricycle that was meticulously designed with contemporary artistic themes, stickers and sometimes with phrases that could tickle my funny bone.  

When I arrived in Puerto Princesa, the first thing that I have noticed was not the weather but their tricycles.  I have not seen one like these before. Their tricycles are more compared to an art-deco-inspired 1941 Cadillac.

Balay Inato Pension: Your Home in Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan

Visiting Puerto Princesa would never be satisfying without a comfortable, yet cheap accommodation and a nice place to chill out.

When I started planning my trip to what they claim as the greenest city in the Philippines, I began searching the web for some tips—what to eat, where to go and where to stay.

I have four different prospects on where to stay (I rather not to mention the names of these few that have reached my standards).

When that day came that I need to decide where to stay in Puerto Princesa, I did some quick web search again. I stared collating all the pictures and feedback about available accommodations.

I have heard and read good feedback on Balay Inato Pension from a friend and from the web as well. I was kind of hesitant at first on choosing it because this place might be far from the city proper. But when I got there, I found out that it was just a surprisingly 3-minute drive away from the airport!

Now, let me give you a quick tour at Balay Inato’s highlights and you might consider this as your home ground as you navigate the City in the Forest.

Lets see how these pictures speak.

 The Inside

(sorry for our bags.. =0)

The Outside

Where to Eat: Haim Chicken Inato

The chicken house is just few meters away from your doorstep. So every time you feel like eating a satisfying meal, their unique chicken recipe is just a minute away.

  

Breakfast is FREE once you checked in and the cool thing; you could always choose what to eat--from fried eggs, hot dogs to ham. 

Free Breakfast--Served with juice, iced tea or coffee.

At Night: Chill Out!

During my stay at Balay Inato, I never had a bad time. The staffs are very courteous and accommodating. They always welcome you with a warm smile and they are always ready to serve. If I am going to be given a chance to visit Puerto Princesa again, I won't think twice to book my stay on this beautiful spot again.

So if you are planning to visit Puerto Princesa, why not try to spend a night or two here? There is always a quite place for you rather than staying in those 3-storey Inns along the streets of the busy city.