Sights: A Stunning Adventure in CAGAYAN DE ORO - BUKIDNON

For those who seeks both nature and adventure, the place to go to is Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon.

Cagayan de Oro or CDO is the country's whitewater rafting capital. Tourists and locals flock to Cagayan de Oro River all year round to experience a one of a kind adventure. I've done it twice and I wouldn't mind doing it all over again.

On the raft with German Friends

There are a lot of operators for the whitewater rafting adventure, I suggest you contact Kagay. The last time I went there they charge P1000 per head. The good thing about them is that they'll pick you up and take you back to wherever you are staying. Also, some operators would fit eight people in one raft, with Kagay the maximum number of people in one raft is six. With only six people, everyone will get to experience the thrill of paddling the river waters.

The complete Rafting Get -Up

The guides were knowledgeable and fun to be with at the same time, they even taught us some tricks while rafting. All gears are provided, just make sure to bring an extra set of clothes and do wear sandals with straps or booties. Wearing Flip-flops is not advisable though you can always choose to go barefoot.


The jeep piked us up at 6 am then after around 45 mins to an hour, we arrived at the starting point. One can choose from basic, advance or extreme level rafting. On both occasions, I did the advance level.
Everyone would then have to go through basic orientation and safety precautions tips before hitting the waters.

Rafting Orientation

Then its off to the river....

The view is incredible as you descend through the center of the mountain.

A Stunning View

Enjoying the View

The best part of the ride is of course conquering the rapid. As you approach one, the heart beats faster as the adrenalin rushes through your system. You tuck your feet in, grab the rope on the side and hold your breath as you get tumbled around the rapids.

Just One of the Incredible Rapids

After the group conquers the rapid, everyone would raise and touch their paddles high up and shout in jubilation.

Paddles Up

During the descent, there are areas on which you can jump in and enjoy the cool refreshing river water. Though the water might look murky, the guide assures us that it is clean. The water is basically has soil and minerals in it due to the river's strong current.


The 3 JS Bros jumping off the raft.....

Enjoying the cool waters...

Lounging Around the River

A three hour rafting trip would seem to be a long time but it left us wanting for more. I enjoyed 'nature' and had a rush, I'll definitely be back to try out the extreme level.


The next day we were off to Bukidnon. We rented a van for P3000 for 10 hours, we asked the driver to take us to Dahiliyan Adventure Park. The drive would take around 2 hours as you make your way through rough roads when you reach the Dole Pineapple Plantation Area.

Dahilayan Adventure Park in Bukidnon

As you reached this area, I suggest you roll down the window marvel at the vast acres of pineapple plants and enjoy the cool breeze.

The Vast Pineapple Plantation Fields

I've also been here twice but unluckily it was foggy and raining hard during the second trip.

Raining and All Fogged Up

It was chilly and biting cold..

When we reached the top, I was stunned when I saw how beautiful the whole areas was. The weather was also nice and cool, a perfect place to recharge and relax.

The view from the top

 There were huge Pine Trees and different flowers around the whole area.

Pine Trees

Beautiful flowers around the Area

After absorbing the views and enjoying the weather, it was time for some action..

You can either rent an ATV for Php500

All Terrain Vehicle

Or Go Horseback Riding for Php300

Meet Apo the Horse

I'm always fascinated with horses and whenever I get a chance to ride one, I'll go for it. When I mounted Apo(the horse's name), it gave a little shrug like it was feigning to go. I gave him a a little squeeze on the sides and like a freight train he ran like there was no tomorrow. He ran and even jumped over a motorcycle, I was tugging hard on the rope but he was not stopping. Eventually when his handler caught up and called out..."Apo HO HO...", that was the only time he slowed down. It was one scary ride but the thrill of it was just awesome.

We entered Dahilayan Adventure Park to experience Asia's Longest Dual Zipline. For Php600, you'll get to ride three ziplines.

The first two of which are in a seated position.

Seated Zip Line

The last and the best ride is in the 'superman' position.

'Superman' Position

I have a fear of rollercoaster, I dont like the g-force pressure on my chest. I didnt know what to expect but still i braved my way through the platform. Since it was only on my 2nd time in Dahilayan Park that I got to ride the 'superman position', the weather was not at its best mood. It was raining hard, the whole place was fogged up and it was biting cold.

Jim gliding his way through

As I was proped up and was hanging, the gate was opened. The attendant told me to spread my arms and enjoy the ride. The feeling was incredible as I breezed my way through. For a couple of minutes, it felt like you were a bird scouring above the beautiful plants and greeneries.

Jon hanging on the End Zone

As the zipline hits the endzone, it made me want to do it again and again and again....

Though I've been here twice, I will definitely be back again for more exhilarating adventures and sights to see.

Spices: L 'Atelier de Robuchon (Hong Kong) - Dining at Asia's Best Restaurant for 2010

 Joel Robuchon...to foodies like me, it's impossible not to know him. A celebrated chef who has written several cookbooks, has hosted cooking shows, he owns different restaurants all around the world which has earned him Michelin stars. To top it all off, he is considered France's top chef of the century.

L'Atelier de Joel Rocuchon is a french resto located at The Landmark Hong Kong. It was named Asia's Best Restaurant for 2009-2010 by The Miele Guide (http://mieleguide.com).

It started out as a casual joke that I never thought would actually happen but thanks to my cousin Achi Leslie, (www.shootfirsteatlater.com) one of my dreams came true. Thanks to her and Ms.EMC for making it a reality. I hope I'll be able to return the favor soon. I apologize for the poor photos, there was poor lighting and I had a hard time with the point and shoot camera I used.

Entering the restaurant, the first thing that you would notice is Black, everything is in black.The walls, tables, chairs and the uniform of the servers. It exudes a very elegant, chic and elite vibe. Upon being seated at the bar, different kinds of complimentary bread with a block of rich and silky butter is served.

The breads were a treat. Dinner roll was soft and moist, croissant was flaky, sour dough has the perfect balance of sourness and sweetness but the one thing i fancied the most was the bread shaped like a wreath. As you pull out each leaf and take a crunchy bite, the surprise was inside..there was a piece of bacon in each leaf.

Different Breads

You can choose from two menus, the menu bar or the main dining room menu. We were treated to the menu bar, a person would have to shell out HK$ 390. It was a four course meal that includes an amuse bouche, an apertiff, a main course and a dessert. One can select different choices from the menu and pair your courses to your hearts desire...

The Amuse Bouche was presented in a nice glass plate with a cracked egg shaped bowl on top. It was a carrot soup with mango puree and foie gras custard at the bottom.

Amuse Bouche - Carrot Soup with Mango Puree and Foie Gras Custard

The initial thing that hits me was an amuse bouche was supposed to be eaten in one bite and this course was just supposed to tingle or amuse your palete.. The combination of all the ingredients in this dish was so rich and flavorful that this definitely cannot be considered as an amuse bouche. I'm not complaining though, it tasted great. The saltiness and richness of the foie gras compliments the sweetness of the carrots and mangoes. It leaves you begging for more. A glass of Chardonnay would be the perfect match, the sweetness of the soup would compliment the dryness of the wine.

The scallop tartar dish came out literally smoking, it was cleverly presented on a plate of dry ice depicting an impression of freshness. The scallops were indeed so fresh, it was juicy and sweet. The dish tasted pleasantly simple. Using Bergamot made the dish taste just right, it didn't leave a piercing sour after taste. A nice glass of Zinfandel or a sweet Sauv Blanc would be the perfect match for the tartar.

Scallop Tartar with Red Peppers and Bergamot

Dining in a French resto wouldn't be complete without eating foie gras. Since the foie gras was already mixed with the terrine, it didn't really give you a melt in your mouth butter feel. Though this was the case, it still tasted superb. The duck liver delicately tasted sweet, salty and bitter. An Australian Shiraz is the perfect match for the dish.

Duck Foie Gras Terrine with Toast

Veloute is one of the four basic sauces in French, Its made up of equal parts of flour and butter with a light soup stock. The word Veloute means velvety, the dish tasted light and fluffy making it indeed taste like velvet. Together with the sweet fillet chunks of Alaskan King Crab, a nice bottle of Sauv Blanc is the perfect company for this dish.

Alaskan King Crab Meat in Fennel Veloute

Among all the main courses we had, this one was my least favorite. I felt the risotto was not cooked to my liking, it wasn't creamy enough just like how I want my risotto to be. Though the flavor was delectable, the strong scent and taste of cheese was in the dish. I'm not sure what cheese they used but my guess would be Gorgonzola and Parmesan. I would pick a fruity semi-sweet Sauv Blanc to pair up with the dish to balance the saltiness of the risotto.

Risotto with Cheese, Spring Vegetables and Olive Oil

Upon researching what verjus is, i was surprise to find out that the major component of the sauce was grapes, initially I thought the flavor came from sweet vinegar and lemons. Though verjus has lemon in it, the grapes' sweet and sour components gave the sauce its major character. The sauce was just splendid, it tasted divine with the cod fish which was cooked to perfection, moist and tender to the last morsel. A bottle of Sauv Blanc Semillon is the recommended pairing for this dish. The dryness and saltiness of the wine will bring out the sweetness of the verjus sauce.

Cod Fillet with Eggplant and Aromatic Verjus

 
This dish brought the house down, it was everybody's "guilty" favorite. The dish was so rich and succulent, shreds of flavorful braised duck meat layered with butter-rich mashed potato and top with Comte cheese. Just imagine chewing and tasting everything at the same time, the flavor and richness of the dish bursting in your mouth, it was absolutely heavenly. Two kinds of wine comes to my mind in pairing up with this dish. Its either a Pinot Noir or a Shiraz. Both wines are flavorful that enough to compliment the richness of the dish.

  Duck Confit Over-Grilled with Mashed Potatoes and Comte Cheese

I'm not really a dessert person but just looking at the 3 dessert, it was hard to resist such an artwork. It tasted just like how it looks, grand and magnificent. Choosing the lychee sorbet and strawberry compote was the perfect way to cleanse your palete, it was refreshing, simple and light.

Lychee Sorbet with Grapefruit and Dita Jelly

The Strawberry Compote with the aged Balsamic tasted interesting. It tasted pleasantly sweet, salty and sour at the same time. I'm pretty sure that they let the aged balsamic reduced in a pan to bring out the sweetness of the vinegar. The Lavender ice cream tasted floral and fruity, the dairy ice cream complemented the Strawberry Compote really well.

 Fresh Strawberry Compote with Aged Balsamic, Mascarpone and Lavender Honey Ice Cream

For chocolate lovers, it will be hard to snub the brownie. For a non-chocolate lover like me, I absolutely adore the brownie, if there would be more of it I'll gladly partake on eating it again and again. As Achi Leslie pointed out, anything chocolate that Robuchon serves, it is absolutely a spectacle to the taste buds. Among the three desserts, it's also the one that is perfect for the espresso.

Almond Ice Cream on a Brownie with Glanduja cream

Upon seeing my espresso, my eyes widened and I started to salivate. The first sign of a great cup of espresso is the crema on top, the crema was so thick and frothy. As I took a whiff of the hypnotizing smell and have my first sip, i heard a voice in my head saying "OH YES! this is the best espresso you ever had." The Espresso also came with Petite Fours. Macaroons, Fruit Pastilles and Chocolate covered Corn Flakes.

Espresso

Petite Fours

Even after emptying my cup, the crema was still as thick and frothy as ever, now that's an excellent cup! I asked the server from where the coffee beans are, expecting to hear him say something Italian, I was surprised to find out that they use 3 kinds of beans. A Kenyan bean, a Sumatran bean and a Japanese bean. He also added that Joel Robuchon is very picky about his coffee, it's no surprise at all.

Empty Coffee Cup with Crema

Dining at Robuchon is something that you'll never forget. The food was absolutely top notch, ingredients was fresh and the flavors was exquisite. Imagine a full band of orchestra playing in your mouth, the string section provides the soothing taste of sweet, the horn section provides the exciting taste of sour and bitter and the percussion section gives you the thumping feel of texture. Till my next meal...bon apetite!