In some areas in Metro Manila, spiderfights along a quite street are done by grown up men who do it not for the sake of having fun or reliving childhood memories, but more as another way to gamble and lose or win money.

I have heard about the goat’s eye and its uses in the nether regions. But haven’t actually seen it until I was walking along Juan Luna St. in Cebu City. Mere mention would be enough to make some men make a devilish smile or women go giggling.

I really never tire of Mt. Mayon. I’ve seen her with her lava flows, or from the beautiful vantage point at the Embarcadero. Heck, I even consider Legazpi City airport as the airport with the best view in the world because of her! But never have I gone this close!

I just miss this place. Flower Island, a beautiful resort place a few hours from the coastal town of Taytay in northern Palawan was just unforgettable despite the rough seas and huge waves that seemed to test our mettle.

It was the pizza baked in Olive’s wood fired oven that I can not forget. Thin crust, savory and just memorable. The Quattro Stagioni was perfect and so is the Pizza Ilokano.

It was ubiquitous as the blue domed white structure got visible from the distance. Thunderbird Resorts sits, ensconced at the tongue of land that is the peninsula of Poro Point in La Union, the only five star resort in Northern Luzon.

High seated, the pedicab driver called on passengers unloading from a bus at the San Carlos City terminal in Negros Occidental, motioning them to come near him. Some just walked past but I approached and after telling the driver to take me to the pier, I was off in a jiffy.

The best lechon (roast pig) in the Philippines is found in Cebu. And the best one in Cebu is traditionally from Talisay City. Twelve kilometers south of Cebu City and facing the rising sun, it is where my roots are from. My hometown.

There are so many things in Macau that for the uninitiated, will be surprised by the variety this small territory has to offer. It’s not at all a sin city that is governed by the roll of a dice, the flash of cards, or the turn of the roulette at the casino. Macau is one interesting enclave that is a blend of the old and the new, the exotic and the familiar.

Little Turtle’s cantonese dishes wowed us when we tried it. But discovering other aspects of Macau cuisine was a pleasant discovery that have parallels with our own. These three restaurants showcase what Macau food is all about, with a bent on Portuguese and Macanese.

It was enough to make me close my eyes in ecstasy, savoring the succulent and tender meat of Norwegian salmon loin while I was trying to think of adjectives to describe that piece of heaven.

I will be eating lechon, with its crispy and succulent skin; artery clogging and crunchy ginabot as well as melt in your mouth humba. And not to be forgotten, overpriced pungko-pungko (roadside eatery of mostly deep fried fare), plastic gloved and eating in Larsian for barbecue, and just sumptuous siomai. Cebu, here I come!

You will better know a country and its people through their food and Macau is one destination that a gourmand should never miss. Like Filipino cuisine, it’s good fusion food, a beautiful marriage of the orient and the occident plus modern international dishes.

The surroundings were luxurious with opulent decors. Nothing has been spared: thick carpeting, expensive dinner ware, large tables with immaculate white covers and plush seats. Couple this with stunning views of Cotai Strip. And of course, good food.