Philippines

I ventured out to the Philippines. There was even a typhoon a couple days before my departure, but that didn't stop my friends and me. We had our tickets, and it was going to take a little more than a typhoon to set us back. So, with adventuresome spirits and visions of mangoes in our heads, we headed out to find what else the world had to offer.

I was very blessed this trip because I went with two friends that grew up in the Philippines. So, they could guide us around Manila, and they made everything quite comfortable for us. I didn't have to do any planning, I just showed up with a little money.

We spent some wonderful time in Boaracy. This is a beach resort area. The sand is white, and the water is clear blue-green. The palm trees danced in the wind, and the reefs were filled with tropical fish. The snorkeling was truly amazing.

The rest of the trip was spent in Manila. We toured the city, and we headed for every snack food vendor we could find. It was amazing how many mango shakes and hala halas we consumed. A hala hala is an ice drink where you mix a lot of different things in the ice. You can find beans, cheese, flan, jellies, cornflakes, and lots more of mysteries. They are really quite good, but you have to have an adventuresome spirit to give it a go. In Manila I ate my first whole fish. I'm not a seafood person, but I went ahead and took the plunge and ate a Bangus, a milk fish. This fish is very popular in the Philippines, and it actually, was pretty good. I'm changing in more ways than one!

It was a great trip, and I got to form stronger friendships. Life is so much greater with good friends.

Buying a Bangus

On my last night on the tropical island of the Philippines, I decided to be very adventuresome. I decided after years and years of refusing to eat a certain animal I would dive in to the experience head on. Well, actually, once in a while, I would pick at this food, but I never was excited about eating it. All of that was about to change as I entered the Bangus restaurant. I glanced at the menu, and then I studied it a little longer. This was my last night in the Philippines. So, I needed to make this night extra special. Our waiter came to the table, then I heard my voice say that I wanted a sizzling boneless Bangus. Was that possible? Was that really my voice ordering a whole fish? My heart began to flutter in a panic. I can’t believe I just ordered a sizzling fish. Was this really happening?

Oh yes, this was really happening. A few minutes later my anticipation ended. The sizzling fish was on a platter in front of my very own eyes. The fish was butterfly cut, and I could see the tantalizing meat, but I also could see the fish’s eye sockets, and I could tell this fish was once happy swimming in the beautiful free waters. He was definitely not happy any longer as he waited to be picked and scrapped with my own fork and spoon. The time had come. After a picture of a smiling me and the sizzling Bangus, I began my feast. I began tentaviley, but as time progressed, I became braver and braver. I stopped thinking about the fish’s eye sockets and the fish’s past life. My focus was on savoring the flavor of every morsel.

Soon I could see the fish’s skin clearly. I had scrapped and picked the fish clean. There was little meat left of that poor Bangus fish. Now that fish was resting in my expanded belly. I looked at my fish with pride, and I thought to myself, Yes, I did it. I ate that fish, and overall, I enjoyed it. Of course, I would remember this moment forever, but I had to take one last picture to commemorate it. A picture showing a full and pleased Alicia with a bare and helpless Bangus.