On Teaching

Wikipedia defines a teacher as a person who provides education for pupils or students, often in a formal and ongoing manner, carried out at a school or another place for formal education. (I know, you may cringe at the Wikipedia citation.)

I've never really regarded myself as a teacher as the job description seems to entail massive responsibility -- to educate, at a formal institution at that. Yet since 2009, I've been a lecturer at one of the premier universities in the Philippines at its European Studies Program. Lecturer refers more to an academic rank -- an entry level designation among those who could eventually become professors. I initially handled a class on cross-cultural communications but more recently, I have been handling the political economic and business relations of Asia and Europe.

Moon Boutique Hotel, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Yahoo weather says it's 34C outside in Manila today. It's just so hot! Makes me want to hie away somewhere cool and shaded like a pool with trees. Forgive me for dreaming of a holiday amidst this concrete jungle. I stayed  on during our four-day Easter break (mission to Beijing was postponed) and I haven't been away for leisure since December 2011.

So please allow me to dwell on a very good memory of my brief stay at Moon Boutique Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia. My friend S and I made a last minute decision to travel early December and we decided to visit Cambodia for the Angkor Wat. We were sure we did not want to stay in  a hostel and with the plurality of boutique hotels in Siem Reap, we were determined to choose one to our liking.

We initially wanted a centrally located one so we can just walk to the neighboring restaurants, cafes, galleries or get a tuk-tuk and explore. We happened to be there during Person with Disability (PWD) marathon so most of the hotels were booked. By chance or circumstance, we ended up with Moon Boutique Hotel.

And that's one occasion where not getting what you want and getting something else was a blessing in disguise. The hotel seemed far but the pictures from its website said it only had about 15 rooms, just opened 3 months prior, had a pool, had a tub, roundtrip airport transfers and provided free Tuktuk service and mobile phone to their guests. All that for about $30 per room!

Eggs Benedict at Yalumba, Le Meridien in Dubai

The origins of Eggs Benedict is still disputed (Lemuel Benedict, a retired stock broker from New York or from a banker and yachtsman, Commodore E.C. Benedict) based on who requested the combination of poached eggs, English muffins, bacon or ham and Hollandaise sauce, which is now a brunch classic. I can't remember how I ended up liking Eggs Benedict but for some reason, I try to order it when I can when I eat out. To date, I still can't do poached eggs to my liking.

After visiting a hospital last week when the rest of the country was on national holiday, I dragged my mother to nearby Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf for brunch. She ordered a tomato-based ravioli while I opted for the Eggs Benedict. Suffice to say, the actual version did not live up to the pretty picture in the menu.

Apart from the usual muffin, ham and egg, CBTL's version came with extra bread, dried fruits, butter and jam. Although it may look appetizing, the dish came lukewarm, like it had been sitting at the counter for an hour. It was rubbery and the flavors did not blend either. I certainly ate it for nourishment and not for enjoyment. I was very disappointed.

While staying at the InterContinental Hotel in Bangkok last year, I requested their waitstaff for some Eggs Benedict as well. Service is impeccable at this hotel, which complements its 5-star facilities and perfect location. But once again, I was disappointed with the Eggs Benedict.

Greyhound Cafe in Bangkok

While on mission in Bangkok last year, two "aunts" from UNESCAP invited me to dinner since that was the only common time we had (unless it was prior to office hours). I stayed at the InterContinental Hotel then and it was right at the center of shopping and dining. But to avoid the crowds, my hosts directed me to the nearby Central Chidlom Mall along Ploenchit Road.

We ended up eating at Greyhound Cafe and it's one of those eating experiences in Bangkok that one will always remember. I don't know if it was the ambiance, the array of food choices, the presentation, or the flavor. It was a just a perfect blend of modern and classic Thai food presented in a minimalist chic way.

For starters, we ordered the Caesar Salad with Country Style Dressing. And this one is divine with thick slivers of cheese!

We also ordered the popular Greyhound Famous Fried Chicken Wings. With a hint of fish sauce and something else, it had a the taste of chicken cooked from home that you just want to eat and eat! Really good.

We mostly ordered appetizers that it seemed we had a "tapas" spread of Asian food on the table. On a healthier note, we also had the Pomelo Salad and Fried Vietnamese Spring Rolls. 

Beijing Mission - Postponed By Request

Visa and tickets were already issued. Our hotel was booked, and I already reserved a room at a quaint hostel called Red Lantern House at the Xicheng District (I was advised to avoid central Wangfujing if I wanted real Beijing) so I could extend and see the Forbidden City and hike to the Great Wall of China. Then four working days  before departure, the meeting was postponed.

Thankfully, I didn't make any other preparations aside from the ones above. I knew who to ask about a good operator but didn't make the effort to ask. The only thing I read was a page from a Turkish Airline booklet that featured their destinations all over the world.

I've never been interested to go. This time, I bothered because it was work, and more than $2,000 was going to spent on me for five days just to be there. So why not?

But I'm still thankful it got postponed, to at least July this year. I would rather go to Taipei. No, I would really like to go to Taipei!

This is not the first trip this year not to have pushed through. There was a meeting in Bangkok last February to negotiate a cross-border agreement that included Afghanistan, and there was a a trip to Donsol last March, which was my 3rd attempt since last year to see the sharks. This meeting should have happened this week. I could have said tonight, I just came from the Great Wall of China! 

Sometimes, you never know it is for real until you're already on the plane. 

Foreign Language # 4

In college, I took up basic Spanish and followed up with a module with Instituto Cervantes when I came back to Manila after a year spent abroad. I stopped because our teacher spoke with Guatemalan Spanish instead of Castillian. And while lost in San Sebastian a few years later, I still managed to find my way around to the best restaurants without a word in English.

After University, I moved to the Czech Republic to primarily learn Czech. About 35 hours a week of intensive Czech. Cviceni a tak dale. Years later and without practice, it's still useful when I haggle when shopping in Prague, especially when a local tries to rip me off.

About three years ago, I also completed two modules of French at Alliance Francaise de Manille. I decided to take up French not because I was fond of it but because it is the language of diplomacy (international relations), development (majority of the poor countries in Africa and Greater Mekong Subregion are French speaking), and of course, the kitchen. Gastronomy is just simply French. Although I love to cook and eat, I don't remember a single french word, except oui but that does not count.

So the fourth language is German. Although the language seems easier than the above three combined, the learning method seems to be challenging me. My ancient brain seems to be rattled with the combination of books, CDs, interactive online modules with forums, chats, videos, matching exercises etc. It's only day 2 and my brain is fried. 23 more months to go!

Women and Afghanistan

I blame my dad for influencing my fascination for spy, investigative, suspense shows shot all over the world or at least, have a cross-border twist. In the past few years, we've been hooked on NCIS. It's one of our bonding sessions.

On this steady Saturday morning, we saw an NCIS episode from Season 9. It was set in Afghanistan (AFG), to rescue a Marine held hostage by an impostor teacher who was actually a terrorist who believes that the proliferation of American ways, especially the freedom of learning and how it is empowering for women and children, should be limited.

It was quite an appropriate episode to watch this March, women's month. Even more appropriate to watch as I saw an opportunity this morning that could further a dream in the form of funding and mentorship.

I am no stranger to AFG although I will not say I am an expert on it. I have not even been there. But I have been schoolmates with one when I was in the Czech Republic, and more recently, I have been working with Afghans on cross-border transport and trade facilitation. The more people, goods, and services traverse territories safely, the more development is likely. The more opportunities for an improved way of life is possible.

My Microblog: World Bistro at Tumblr

This is the reason I have been quiet a bit:

http://worldbistro.tumblr.com/

Yamazaki Grocery and Restaurant

Was at my favorite hole-in-the-wall value for money Japanese eatery at Little Tokyo -- Yamazaki.

I discovered it through a high school friend who lived in the area a few years ago. It's a great place for the happy tummy, happy wallet combo, with take home groceries too.

Tonight, service was even better than the last few times I was there. I had dinner with two friends who haven't eaten there before and the waitstaff were very patient in explaining all the dishes and inclusions. They usually give a menu in Japanese and just provide the menu with pictures when requested.

As usual, I ordered my favorite grilled salmon, which came with miso soup, rice, tofu, cabbage and pickled chicken and root vegetables. All of that for 195p. I also couldn't skip the gyoza (75p) and all three of us shared a cup of green tea ice cream (95p) from the grocery.

My friends are definitely coming back!

Ma Maison in Manila

Ever since I saw construction begin at Greenbelt 2, I've been looking forward to the opening of Ma Maison. It claims to be a western Japanese restaurant.

The entree usually featured in their posters is the Tonkatsu, which is a breaded pork cutlet. It is traditionally served with brown sauce and a cabbage salad with sesame dressing.

I've always liked Tonkatsu. As a child who treated Sanrio as a saint, my parents often took me to Tokyo, Tokyo, where I had my favorite triple T: Tonkatsu, tempura and tofu.

As I got older, I ate healthier and forgot about Tonkatsu until I ate at Saboten in Bangkok recently. Saboten specializes in cutlets but serve more than just pork. They had several pork cuts and even had salmon and beef if I remember correctly. If there's salmon, I forget everything.

What set Saboten different from Ma Maison is that the former had unlimited cabbage salad, miso soup, rice and tea together with the cutlet. At Ma Maison, there was no soup, they only had one kind of pork cutlet with a literal siding of cabbage and potato salad. Yes, the drink is separate too. All of that for less than 500p.

What's good about Ma Maison is the size of the cutlet. It's huge. Think serving size of Italliani's or Krazy Garlik since they are all part of one company. Taste is fine. If you haven't tried Saboten, you'll like this one.

There are lots of other interesting dishes that do not seem French nor Japanese to me but are worth coming back for.