The Double Hut Burger and Masala Chips

Location: Burger Hut, Nairobi, Kenya, in the area of Westlands

Cost: Burger with Chips- 240 KES Kenya Shilling ($3.11 USD)

Burger Hut Nairobi Kenya

This is NOT an ordinary burger.  This is the ultimate African answer to all Western food that is an oozing masterpiece of success.  Growing up in Nairobi, the Double Hut had come to my rescue on more than a few occasions.  Returning to Nairobi 4 years later, I headed directly to Burger Hut to order the pilgrimage worthy item.  “I’m surry, sar (sir), we arre outt ove beefs.”  How could a restaurant named Burger Hut be out of BEEF, I was outraged!!!  I returned the following day to experience a burger that simply out tasted all others in the world.  Starting from the top, a sesame bun, unkown whitish pink sauce,  fried egg, Kenyan cheese, lucsious beef, pickles, tomato, more sauce, lettuce, bun, beef, cheese, more sauce, lettuce, bun, and maybe a little extra grease and special sauce thrown in randomly for just a few extra added calories.  The result is an ultra greasy burger explosion that nonchalantly takes the world’s best burger award!

This is the Part 2 of Voluntouring in the Bicol Region of the Philippines: Part 1

At the Base of Mt. Mayon

In July 2009, I ventured to the Bicol Region in the Philippines to check out some Gawad Kalinga villages (Building Houses with Hope), see some local attractions, eat some chili peppers and bicol express, meet some people, and have more valuable adventures with Gawad Kalinga.  I was on assignment as a volunteer with Gawad Kalinga and the newly developed voluntourism program for students from Ateneo de Manila University.  GK builds homes in the Philippines, aiming to create sustainable villages, form safe communities, and transform danger and poverty into nation building and lifting each other up.

Iriga City: GK Character Village

Though the rain disrupted much of the hiking and outdoor adventures that I had anticipated, there were still a few worthwhile options that I can suggest while visiting Bicol.

Cagsawa Ruins

Train of Tricycles near Iriga City

I stayed in Iriga City at the GK Character village which has an excellent guest house (it’s easiest to arrive in Iriga City and have a tricycle take you to the village, the people will be more than happy to see you).  I awoke one morning at the crack of dawn, and along with a homeowner from the village (he offered to be my guide), we made our way to Cagsawa, a quaint town on the slopes of the lethal Mt. Mayon.  Though the volcano was covered in thick clouds this day, I was still able to see the church ruins at the base, and able to feel the true eeriness at the hands of the evident destruction of the volcano from previous eruptions.  Mt. Mayon stands at 7,946 feet high and stands out with its nearly perfect cone shape as an incredible sight to see.

Close to Naga City are the beautiful Paniuason hot springs.  The warm pools of water are situated in a lush volcano valley, next to a gorgeous roaring river.  I would say they are some of the most lovely hot springs I’ve seen and very necessary for the soaking of an aching body (which is just about always for me).

Camsur Watersport Complex, which I mentioned in Voluntouring in Bicol is also one of the main attractions that Bicol and Naga City have to offer, ranking as one of the best man made water sports parks.

In the right season (usually February through May) there is the brilliant opportunity to swim and view whale sharks, explore islands (one where Survivor was filmed), and go to beaches for surfing, all the in the Bicol region.  Swimming with whale sharks is near the town of Donsol, Sorsogon which is close to Legazpi City.

When I was in Bicol the weather was dreary and cloudy, so for the most part I remained quite low key, visiting some people and conversing.  Allow me to visit with a local community, eat Bicolano food (bicol express, laing, pili tarts), and take an afternoon siesta (nap), and I find myself quite satisfied.  Bicol is a great place to pursue environmental adventures as well as simple relaxation.

My time in Bicol was limited but I was there long enough to conclude that the region is a wonderful area to visit by way of relaxing attractions and the people are warm, friendly, and very generous.

-Migration Mark

Related:

• Volunteering in the Bicol Region of the Philippines
• The World’s Smallest Active Volcano
• Building Houses with Hope, Gawad Kalinga
• Valuable Adventures With Gawad Kalinga

My first day walking around Manila, the Philippines and I happen to stumble upon a food item that I simply could not possibly pass by.  I took one look at the pile of “1 day old” chickens and decided I had to partake of them.

I ordered as the chef quickly threw one of the baby chickens into the boiling oil to reheat it.  He then poked it with a stick and pulled something very small out the mid section of the bird to discard (no idea what it was, but apparently its not eaten).  The cook then served the chicken to me on a stick with a sour vinaigrette sauce.

I began with the head, munching the neck and beak in a unifed bite.  The little guy went down rather easily.  It tasted like chicken except with an extra crunch, as well as a rather bitter gamy taste to it that really crept in as the eating continued.

1 day old fried chickens really are an exquisite and wonderful snack.  At only 2 to 3 bites, they are also perfect to be eaten off a stick.

After eating one it was only right that I also munch his sibling, and went ahead and ordered up a second round of 1 day old fried chickens.  Luckily each chick will only set you back 6 pesos or about $0.12, so an all out day old chicken buffet might only cost a few bucks.  In my opinion, that’s a great deal for a protein rich treat.

I was pulling a combination of beak and chicken feet out of my teeth for the next couple of hours.

After devouring 3 meals I asked a lady what the name of this magnificent two story buffet mall was named.  “Oden hawker center,” she replied, and briskly walked away.  I wasn’t satisfied.  I walked around, circulating the premises a number of times, before I saw the sign, “Golden Mile Food Center.”  Without realizing it, I had stuffed myself at the golden mile, what a “golden” stumble upon it was.

I am aimlessly walking around (one of my favorite activities) Singapore with no map, no idea of where I am going, but one thing on my mind, obviously food.

Let me start off saying that there is no shortage of eateries in Singapore and it surely does not disappoint the hungry wanderer.  Most of the best food in my opinion is located in hawker food court centers where there is an abundance of all wonderful Singapore style delicacies conveniently arranged in neat rows.  The stalls in Singapore are clean, moderately priced, and always delicious.

Choosing what to eat can be the hardest process.  The bright lights with pictures of amazing prepared plates dazzles you, and one is faced with an unfortunate decision dealing with the size of the stomach to how many plates of food can be fit inside.

I walked around inside and outside, contemplating my options by observing and smelling everything.  Due to the difficulty of the decision, I began first with an iced cup of fresh squeezed lemon lime juice, tart and sweet, to ease the stress of having to “choose something.”

I began with a plate of neatly spiced vegetables on top of rice with curry sauce poured all over…scrumptious.

I walked a little further, and found something that seemed to be quite popular, Teochew Fishball noodles.  Due to the amount of people eating this, I decided it was a must.  It was good, however, not quite as spice-elicious as I would have preferred.  Would have been great to ease an aching stomach.

I next smelled out the most comforting plate of “Singapore chicken rice,” I have ever had.  A perfect blend of aromatic rice, boiled chicken, and a hot sauce to die for.

By this time, I made the executive decision (against my inner will and gut feeling) to roll out without another plate.  I left the Golden Mile slightly euphoric, knowing that in Singapore, “there’s always another meal”

Check this out for directions to the Golden Mile Food Center.

Makan Time has some wonderful edible suggestions for Singapore.

-Migration Mark

This is a list of my top 8 reasons to travel or migrate.  They are by no means set in concrete and could probably change as travel takes place.

1.  Meet New People

A great thing about traveling is the people that are always, without a doubt met along the way. Could be people you meet who are fellow travelers or local citizens who reside there. Either way, there is always an opportunity to meet extraordinary folks with extraordinary stories.

2.  Get a Broader Perspective

Traveling opens your eyes to changes and differences in the ways things get done or the way people live. Observing differences can increase your experience and positively change the way you think about things.

3.  Jobs (maybe later)

We have reached a point in this world where multinational corporations and businesses are thriving. Many look for well cultured, well traveled, and diverse individuals, who have experience in multiple countries.

4.  Building Character

Nothing builds character as fast as having to be patient, having to do things that are not like they use to be, or having to do things in a way never attempted before. Traveling can lay a foundation for building better character.

5.  Observing

A great thing to do when traveling is just to observe and analyze everything about the other place.  From the people, to the music, to the food, to the lifestyle, there is always time to observe other cultures in different places.

6.  Beautiful Natural Environments

There are thousands of amazingly beautiful places to see in this world, from mountains and beaches, to glaciers and waterfalls, all of them being unique. There are countless wonderfully created environments that are just far too beautiful to miss.

7.  Amazing Manmade Structures

From the ancient Mayan civilization to the modern construction boom in the Middle East, humans have been building for thousands of years. Often we see pictures, read about, or hear stories of these feats. Why not visit them, breath the air around them, and analyze them for yourself.

8.  Food

Of course, since this is Mark Wiens writing, it could be one of my personal favorite activities, which combined with traveling, multiplies its significance. There is no substitute, we all need food. Traveling opens up doors to eat and drink what locals eat and drink. I believe food is one of the best ways to tap into a culture as well as to get to know and meet people.

If you have any other great reasons to travel, please leave a comment!

The best pizza in the nation, homemade mozzarella, homegrown herbs, vine ripe organic tomatoes, these were just a few of the phrases I heard floating around circles of various foodies when chatting about Pizzeria Bianco.

It took four hours before we were seated in the small restaurant with around 30 other hungry, eager, and glossy eyed guests.  The menu was small, precise, and completely sufficient.  Two appetizers, three salads, and six pizzas.  We began the eating with an extraordinarily fresh, plate of vine ripened, blood red tomatoes, topped with thick slices of creamy, lightly salted, handmade mozzarella, homegrown fresh leaves of potent basil, and then drizzled with olive oil, salt, and pepper.  That was devoured in a couple of seconds.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkvNYKh8QlA

We then ordered two pizzas, the “Sonny Boy” and the “Wiseguy”.  Each was uniquely stunning, but the Sonny Boy really stood out.  When it arrived before us, I knew it was going to be the best pizza I had ever partaken.  The slices of salami shimmered in the dim lit restaurant as the black olives and mozzarella contrasted with each other, creating a truly magnificent work of art.  Immediately as I took my first bite the ripened tomatoes exploded with juiciness and the cheese and salami burst with complimentary gusto.  The crunchy, chewy, crust, cradled the salty, greasy toppings in an award winning medley of astonishing delightfulness.  The pizzas were each baked to perfection, as if they were the chef’s own children, and he had nurtured them from birth.

Chris Bianco has truly taken pizzas to a level that I personally didn’t feel they could reach, until eating at Pizzeria Bianco.  His pizzas are flawless creations of stimulating tastes that awaken the senses and amuse the intakers. No longer will the likes of bread, sauce, pepperoni, and cheese, from Dominoes, Pizza Hut, or Papa Johns ever satisfy my palette again.

This is my first test post!