JOIN BC BLOGGERS

It is October 1, 2012. 

I am now entering a new phase as a blogger… my joining the BC Bloggers as in “busy” bloggers and Blog exChange as founded by Paula of http://www.mommydiary.net!

I heard about this from my friend, Charm, who also encouraged me to start blogging actually!

She told me it increased her network, thus, her stats and most of all, she found bloggers with like-minds and who she developed friendships with!

I just had to find out about this… and indeed, I found BC Bloggers!

I am not exactly a real foodie but now, I couldn't resist taking pictures of food, drinks, restaurants and the like and just want to share my experience through the photos I got. 

Want to have more links? Let’s all join BC Bloggers!!!

COCA COLA: IN DIFFERENT SIZE, SHAPE AND ORIGIN

Coca Cola has always had the trademark soft drink bottle, wherein others use the term "Coca-Cola body" to mean a sexy lady!

We are so used to the usual 8 oz. and 12 oz. bottles and later the "Litro" (I L bottle) , then the 1.5 L and even the 1.25 L ones!

In the recent years, the Coke in Can has also made its mark.

So whenever, we see an unusual size, shape or label, it easily catches my attention, and of course, my lens!

In Davao, the smaller version of Coke, the Coke Sakto (200 ml!) and the small Royal Tru-orange bottle.

compared to the 12-oz. Mountain Dew

237 ml Royal Tru-orange and 200 ml Coke Sakto

237 ml Royal and Coke Sakto 

We used to have the Coke Sakto in Zamboanga and eventually no longer distributed in ZC, thus, looks unusual for me again! 

They said, maybe, the Zamboangueños are Coke drinkers and the Coke Sakto is not "sakto" since too small to satisfy! (hahaha, just a thought!)

Other Cokes in Can and Bottles!

Coke bottles in Thailand.

Coke in can in Thailand.

Coke bottle in Paris.

Coke bottle in Rome.

the Coke bottle is just in the background.

Coke in can in Rome.

in support of Italia and the soccer cup!

Coke bottle in Korea.

I didn't realize I had all these pictures of Cokes of varying sizes and shapes and from which countries.

What may seem unusual to us is actually, quite normal to others!!!

TASTE OF MINDANAO: RAMBUTAN

I visited Sr. Dilla and Sr. Gloria on the day of Mama Mary's feast day and they offered to me the red rambutan!

I was "shy" at first, but since I remembered I just blogged about the durian, I thought it was also timely to introduce the Rambutan.

So, I couldn't help but take the picture of the vibrant rambutan. I guess it is the color of this fruit that makes me feel this fruit is "vibrant".

I took a few fruits just so I also have pictures of the opened Rambutan.

Unlike the durian, the rambutan spikes are soft and not prickly, so it is easy to open with the fingers.

It isn't so messy although slightly sticky and a bit juicy.

I like this fruit, which is a relative of the longan and the lychees.

I feel it is cool to the palate and just a bit sweet, so it feels refreshing to eat this fruit.

This is what I googled about RAMBUTAN! from Wikipedia.

The rambutan ( /ræmˈbuːtən/; taxonomic name: Nephelium lappaceum) is a medium-sized tropical tree in the familySapindaceae. The fruit produced by the tree is also known as "rambutan." The name rambutan is derived from the Malay wordrambutan, meaning "hairy": rambut the Malay word for "hair", a reference to the numerous hairy protuberances of the fruit, together with the noun-building suffix -an.  Rambutan trees also found growing naturally in Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and elsewhere in Southeast Asia, although its precise natural distribution is unknown.^[3] It is closely related to several other edible tropical fruits including the lychee, longan, and mamoncillo.

From: http://www.cookingmail.com/rambutan/

Health Benefits of Rambutan

Rambutan fruit contains carbohydrate, protein, fat, phosphorus, iron, calcium and vitamin C. Skin tanin and fruits contain saponin. The seeds contain fat and polifenol. The leaves contain tannin and saponin. Skin stem contains tannin, saponin, flavonida, pectic substances, and iron.

There are usually a light brown seeds are high in some Fats and oils (mainly oleic acid and eicosanoic acid) valuable to industry, and is used in cooking and the manufacture of soap. Rambutans roots, bark, and leaves have various uses in the production of dyes and drugs.

I am actually wondering if this fruit is really common to other areas in the Philippines or in other parts of the world. 

Does this fruit have any other name in the English language?

I know it is seen in Zamboanga City (not necessarily very common) but I don't think it is as commonly available in Cebu.

Anyway, I hope that at one time in your life, you can also try the RAMBUTAN.

TASTE OF DAVAO: THE DURIAN FRUIT

As soon as we step outside the Davao City airport, we immediately get a view of a gigantic durian monument!

I saw lots of durian for sale along the road!

When we went as far as Tagum City, I saw that they welcomed everyone to their Durian Festival.

Then, I am now in Mabini, Compostela Valley Province and previously, part of Davao Del Norte.

Finally, here we have the Durian in front of our eyes and served to us.

I thought that the Durian is uniformly spiky but it is not.

 

 

I thought the spikes are soft, but it is not...Oh, it is so painful to touch and in fact, they used the kitchen pads to hold it!!!

This is about the DURIAN in Wikipedia!

The durian  /ˈdjʊriən/)^[2] is the fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus Durio and the Malvaceae family^[1][3](although some taxonomists place Durio in a distinct family, Durionaceae^[1]).

Widely known and revered in southeast Asia as the "king of fruits", the durian is distinctive for its large size, unique odour, and formidable thorn-covered husk. The fruit can grow as large as 30 centimetres (12 in) long and 15 centimetres (6 in) in diameter, and it typically weighs one to three kilograms (2 to 7 lb). Its shape ranges from oblong to round, the colour of its husk green to brown, and its flesh pale yellow to red, depending on the species.

The edible flesh emits a distinctive odour, strong and penetrating even when the husk is intact. Some people regard the durian as fragrant; others find the aroma overpowering and revolting. The smell evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense disgust, and has been described variously as almonds, rotten onions, turpentine and gym socks. The odour has led to the fruit's banishment from certain hotels and public transportation in southeast Asia.

And when opened, this is how it looks!

 

And this is how everyone loves it!!!

Everyone of all ages enjoy it!!!

Actually, the taste really takes getting used to.

In the ComVal area, they say it cost P30 to 40 per kilo and maybe about P45 per kilo in Tagum. 
I still have to find out how much it is in Davao City and Zamboanga City!

Even in Davao, they refuse the Durian into some  (or is most?) hotels.

I asked the lady and she was about to give me a litany of reasons... of course, she didn't have to say that it was because of the strong distinct odor... not fragrance to most!

Well, the durian sweets and confections are fine with me - less hassle and all!!!