Vegan Beatin' in the Philippines, day 4: Waterfalls, cows, and rice patties, part 1

     While wrapping up a day of sun-soaked hair and fruit-bellied body's, we let the streaks of light dance on our skin while drinking iced tea and Tanduay rum. I wanted a Philippines drink and our hosts at our Port Barton home mixed a simple batch of rum and iced tea.
     "When we were young, this is what we drank. Now we're older...it's still what we drink."

     Strong, light, and flirty~ An easy and satisfying drink that welcomed the evening, and brought out some planning. One of the workers and I started chatting and we started talking about checking out the waterfalls in the area, and my genuine love for cows~
     Within the hour, our next day's plan was set...waterfall playing~ and maybe seeing some bovine buddies!
Like a lot of traveling, let the visuals and tastebuds do the sharing, I can't do much for the savory jams and sweetness...but here are some pictures of what my eyes got to feast on (visually not gastronomically of course)

drying fish~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     From boat to small tree-nuzzled island, we walked down a quiet path (with hidden people) to the said destination...

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

to the falls~ photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

     I could here the water crashing, and while watching every step, my heart was bouncing with eagerness....or it could be the prior Iced tea and rum...

photo taken by VeganBeats

waterfall~ photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

    The flowers that guided our twisted path were so bright, loud, and sweet-scented...got me thinking of mamabeats!

RED~ photo taken by VeganBeats

YELLOW~ photo taken by VeganBeats

bananas~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     After swimming around, as promised...we rode the waves to check out rice patties...and snuggle bugs!

COW~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     The next little critter really upset me, she was a tied up pig...happy and chatting and rolling around in cool mud! She got me so upset because the rope tied around her neck was too tightly done and her skinw as actually growing over it. Now I understand that I've lived a very fortunate life where I can choose this vegan lifestyle, while many others do not have the freedom of culinary/ethical decisions. (I do hope this doesn't come off as ignorant). Living on an island with your neighbors and kids, this happy pig will feed you for some time, keep bellies full, and get a bit of stress off your shoulders. It's just this rope...loosen it up a bit, or make a harness...

how happy is she? photo taken by VeganBeats

    I kept my sadness to myself, why offend, and how dare I judge others on their food choices...I played with her a bit and left soon after...leaving a lot of love and thought with her...

pretty pig~ photo taken by VeganBeats

Vegan Beatin' in the Philippines, day 3: Island Hopping part 2

...and more pictures~

our boat~ photo taken by VeganBeats

captain and guide~  photo taken by VeganBeats

chickens rocking out of German Island~  photo taken by VeganBeats 

Scotty Soul swinging~  photo taken by VeganBeats

beachin it on German island~  photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

reflection~  photo taken by VeganBeats

     Turns out a family lives on German Island and they were making brooms from the coconut tree leaves...while kicking it with their army of pups~

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

     They had puppies~ Which I got to play with....they stole my heart...then they offered one to me...aiii

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

squeee~  photo taken by VeganBeats

meltinnnngg~  photo taken by VeganBeats

Vegan Beatin' in the Philippines, day 3: Island Hopping part 1

     The Philippines is a massive collection of islands, most of which you can't squeeze into a short week long period. But kicking it on some sandy and beachy dunes while soaking in the sun and reefs doesn't hurt, at all!!
     The third day in the 'Pines was a day set for island hopping, I'll write a bit, but let the mediocre iphone pics do the jabbering~

photo taken by VeganBeats

captain! photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

     We snorkeled around the reefs for a couple hours, I never thought in my life I'd have this opportunity. Swimming with the fishes has always been left to the mob bosses and National Geographic folk in my head. But here I was, gliding around and playing tag with all sorts of sea life. I had a hard time with the goggles, I would get so stressed out and mentally close off my air source...a bit pathetic right?
     After spoiling my eyes with the vibrancy of the giggly fish and swaying coral, we were off to Exotic beach, where a meal of fresh coconut, fruits, and chicken (for Scotty Soul) was about to be thrown down...into our bellies~

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

     While drinking up fresh coconut water, my eyes darted around, trying as hard as they can to capture everything that was sorrounding me...impossible. Even now, I can't believe I was here~

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

     This is how you get all the goodies inside...pinatas got nothing on the coconut~

photo taken by VeganBets

     Ahh, some vegan meat?!~

coconut meat~ photo taken by VeganBeats

fruits~~photo taken by VeganBeats

    My fruit spread was overwhelmingly filling, and beyond healthy...I couldn't fit much more in my gut but fresh local papaya?!~ Baby sweet watermelon?!~....how can you stop?

Scotty Soul's chicken made for him~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     After snorkeling a bit more, filling bellies, we were off to another island~ more eyefuls of beauty and now a little vodka~

photo taken by VeganBeats

coconut trees~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     There are more pics to come~

VeganBeats in Groove Magazine!

     There's an article in this month's edition of Groove Magazine!

illustration by Adela Ordonez~ Article by Rob York

Ahh yea~ SWANK!
Read it online via page 54!

Vegan Beatin' in the Philippines, day 2: Exploring Port Barton and the first meal

paradise~ photo taken by VeganBeats

      Getting into Port Barton, we had to check ourselves in and find a place to crash. We met a friend on our jeepney that recommended Summer Homes Resort. The rooms were affordable, electricity was on for two four hours blocks throughout the day, there's wifi, a restaurant, and it's right on the beach! (It's genuinely hard not to be really) We spent 750p a night (20,000원, about $18.00) for a room with a clean bathroom, huge sun-welcoming window, a fan, and a big double bed! (the staff is awesome, kick it here.)
     After throwing our bags and jugs of water down our tummies started grumbling (so beer, nuts, and bread isn't the way of the game, eh?) Our friend who mentioned our new home (!!!) highly recommended a restaurant! But before I get into the noms...here's my cat (he stayed with us often) Mingming!!!

pretty sleepy kitty~ photo taken by VeganBeats

      Now...the restaurant is called Jumbalayas, ...

answers? photo taken by VeganBeats

     It's right off the beach front, houses the coldest beer on the island (no really, it does) and offers a lot of vegan yumms!

     The drinks menu boasts of ginger infused jams, coconut milk pina coladas, etc...what did I go for?

photo taken by VeganBeats

     For a main meal, I went with the stir fried veggies with a bed of steaming rice. The veggies were not the usual peppers, potatoes, and slobs of onions...I got carrots, zucchinis, pumpkin, cabbage, sweet onions, garlic, and mushrooms!! It was light, flavorful, and more than generous portion-wise.

yum~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     While sipping on cold flavor-filled drinks, filling my tummy with nutritious food, and setting sights on the crashing waves...the lounge-loving life was embracing me...

ginger jams and beachy spoilings'~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     I wasn't alone in the chill jam...kitties snuggling in the sun~

loungin love~photo taken by VeganBeats~

sleepy kitty~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     The beach was glorious, and being that it was a temporary home, my heart was dancing in glory....soaking in the vitamin D, eating up the sun, stretching my feet in the sand and bathing in cool salt water, the adventures were waiting around the corner...

photo taken by VegnBeats

     Glory is soon approaching~

coconut pup~ photo taken by VeganBeats

Summer Homes Resort:
e-mail: summerhomes@vconn.net.ph
phone number: +63 (0) 9285944484, +63(0) 9214016906

Jumbalayas myspace