Kuya J's Delectable Crispy Pata

My first visit in Kuya J Restaurant was at their SM Sta. Mesa Branch, a place I rarely visit. I was trying to catch a movie that wasn't being shown elsewhere. I ordered kare kareng bagnet (PhP399), with their reinvented peanut sauce. It was okay, but nothing particularly worth a second trip. I've forgotten about it and never returned. Since then, Kuya J has sprouted all over the country, I even saw a branch in SM Seaside in Cebu City. 

About a year ago, I gave the restaurant another try - and ordered their crispy pata. The rest is history. I've been to several branches ever since. Occasionally, kang kong (water spinach) or gambas as appetizer would get in the meal. Their other dishes have small servings, and mostly unimpressive, but their crispy pata is one I'd come back for. An order has 2 sizes: a medium sized (for 2-3 persons) and a large one (for a company of 4 or 5). The skin crackles and the meat tender so when I feel like splurging a wee bit (the small order costs P500+ after all), Kuya J is an easy choice.

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Gambas

Water spinach salad

Characteristic interiors of Kuya J restaurants: shelves with books render the place a homey ambiance.

The View from the Hills of Sagaing (Myanmar)

I crossed Ayeyarwaddy River to get to Sagaing. Like Bagan, I could see several Buddhist structures rising from the hill and down below. Unlike Bagan, these structures were white pagodas, were newer, and were mostly white with golden peaks. An old kingdom, Sagaing has had 7 kings during the reign of the Sagaing Kingdom: from Sawyun of 1315 to Minbyauk Thihapate of 1364. And then there was King Naungdawgyi who reigned in 1760.

While riding my "tuktuk", I was in awe of the gorgeous queue of pagodas from the hill. It was something you don't see everyday in your short life span - and it was beautiful. Like a very fast slideshow that displayed magic. I was on my way to a couple of pagodas - the U Min Thonze Pagoda and U Pon Nya Shin Pagoda accessible through a covered staircase that ran up the 240 meter (787 feet) hill. It would be a harrowing climb if you think about it, but the ascent is gradual, and you can take your sweet time to get there. From the top, I could see Ava Bridge crossing Ayeyarwaddy.

Sagaing is located 20 kilometers southwest of Mandalay. It is 566 kilometers north of Yangon, roughly a 7-hour bus ride from Mandalay.

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A Corner of Bali in Davao City

Bali? Nu-uh. It's an odd fountain-cum-pond standing in front of a chapel at the GAP Farm Resort in Davao City. Located along the Diversion Road (a few kilometers from D' Japanese Tunnel), the place is a recreational and leisure center with agriculture and Philippine History as its theme.

The air in this little corner is fresh. I could sit on a bench and allow my mind to wander. This is a great place for that. There's a parade of busts of Philippine presidents and heroes. Gabriela Silang lead the pack; her bolo waved on the air as she mounts an emaciated horse. Elsewhere, there's a fascinating, albeit comprehensive list of Mindanao's indigenous tribes and their corresponding statues and costumes - and to my knowledge, no other place has done this.

But let me get back to my peaceful Balinese corner, standing awkwardly in front of a chapel. Here, my mind can travel farther than any distance.

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