A Dive at Aklan's Bagobos Resto Grill

Being stuck in an airport due to crappy airport schedule is one of the ugliest things that could happen to a backpacker-slash-budget traveler like me. But thank goodness, when that happened, I was here here in Kalibo, one of the world's best provinces, where the people are so nice and the airport, despite of being low class, is surrounded by promising restaurants.

Seeing and exploring this province is probably one of the best experiences I had in my life. With me, myself and I seeing and capturing all of those beauties, I can't help but to fall in love with this province and makes it as my second home in the country.

But those experiences were clouded when my airplane bound back to Manila was 4-hours late. I didn't have much food when I started my one-day journey here, so by the time I reached the Kalibo International Airport, I'm really starving and could really eat a horse. At first I just wanna go home, since I'm also craving for some home-cooked meal, but 4 hours is 4 hours, so I decided to do some researching and asking til I found this place that was said to be the best and nearest foodie spot around the airport - the Bagobos Resto Grill.

At first glance, you will consider the place as a typical eatery. But when I stepped in and find how homey and so Pinoy this whole place, I didn't think twice anymore. I'm really hungry, so I took a seat immediately and have myself settled.

RML Manokan Haus Kamayan: One of the Best in Panay Island

At one point of my vacation in Aklan, I can't stop myself to crave for some delectable and really good chicken inasal. And since travelling back to Iloilo or Bacolod would eat some of my precious leisure time and vacation money, I practiced my talent on Google Map and found this place named RML Manokan Haus Kamayan.

Derived from the term "kamayan" or eating by hands, this place, which is located at Mabini Street, a few step from Gaisano Mall in Kalibo, offers hundreds of local dishes that are perfect for individuals and large group of people.

The place was very spacious that I think can hold up to a hundred persons. And with the basic table and bench set-up, one can find a very home-y, rural-ish tummy-filling spot in here where most of the guests are eating with their hands.

I'm not a fan of eating by hands, seriously, because I don't like seeing my fingers on those weird-looking state. But when I saw some of the guests here at RML doing that, it was so enticing to see them, especially with those who are really enjoying doing it.

Anyways, since my photo session with the Ati tribes are not yet done, I convinced myself to eat with spoon and fork in my hands. Hehe. I know, I'm such a kill joy. Haha!

A Different Flavor of Aklan at Kitty's Kitchen

When I visited Kalibo, Aklan a few months ago for their annual Ati-atihan Festival, one of the restaurants that I visited and really filled my very hungry tummy was this place they call Kitty's Kitchen.

With a very modern Pinoy interior, I was really delighted to stumble upon this place. Kalibo was very crowded that time, and it was hard to find a decent place to eat, so despite of the place looking too chic (meaning prices may be over my meal allowance for that trip) I tough it out, take a seat and asked for their menu.

The place was kinda full that night, luckily there's a spare table at the corner that it is just perfect for the alone me. I'm honestly clueless as to what to order, so I just asked for their bestseller, which my usual request when I visited a new place. :-)

Their server, who was sweet and really approachable, just like the other Akleans that I've met during my visit here, told me that their bestseller and most ordered that night was their Original BBQ Ribs.

I turned my head to the other tables to check, and indeed, most of the guests that night have that meal on their tables. I'm just not that sure if they were tourists who are also clueless like me. Hehe.