Isdaan Floating Restaurant, just when you're halfway through

Welcome to ISDAAN!The Halfway to the North -- as it was conveniently tagged, is arguably half way through the North.

In three points it may go halfway. Let me map it out:

1. By virtue of hunger: If you only ate breakfast at home (assuming you're from Manila) or (give or take at Mcdonalds Munoz) from there to Bulacan, to Pampanga, and finally to TARLAC it may be assumed that you are quite hungry and spotting the 7am to 10am breakfast buffet may be deemed "halfwayable by virtue of hunger pangs"

2. By virtue of time: From the aformentioned provinces down to Tarlac, time may lapse in a 2 to 3 hour interval depending on traffic and since a bus ride to Baguio lasts for about 5 and a half hours. Yeah, halfway by virtue of time is acceptable.

3. Lastly, by virtue of province statistics: Okay this is were it gets tricky. Since North is very arbitrary, let us presume that North is Baguio (since I'm clannish and I'm from Baguio). That would mean among Bulacan, Pampanga, TARLAC, Pangasinan, La Union, obvious enough, Tarlac equally divides the provincial equation into two parts thus becoming the provincial map statistical median.

Halfway definition LAWYERED.

Moving on, Isdaan, which meant fishery in English, is a sister company of Barrio Fiesta, the other restaurant known for its gargantuan statues of presidents, everyday people and the like. For almost five years now, I've always wanted to make a pitstop at Gerona, Tarlac to take photos of the enormously, larger-than-life obviously extremely BIIIGGGG (and all other superlatives apt for bigtitude) statues of primates, what I can only assume as Mangyan-inspired fishermen, and fishes. Finally, it was not the short pitstop I was hoping for, but better. Luckily, a planned road trip for my brother's MD boards celebration series I of August 2010 was what brought us there!(Lol) Thank you, brother for being so smart. HAHA.

As for the food, the restaurant caters to traditional Filipino cuisine served in banana leaves and a small kaldero or pot for your rice eating convenience. It was so cute, I could get one and carry it in my hand bag. Best in their menu, the lechon baboy. Oddly enough, it was the best dish I tasted. I'm not a big lechon eater but the Tagalog saying "nag-aagaw ang lambot at lutong" succinctly describes how it tickled my taste bud fancies. It's not one of those must-try restos, the value for your money is up-ed by the fact that the place is an eye-candy for photography.

Here's an estimated budget: (hope it helps)

Round trip Manila/Baguio to Gerona (via Victory Bus lines): 500 pesos (US $10)

Menu for 2 people: 1000 pesos (US $20)

Tacsiapo wall: 15 pesos (US 30 cents to 1200 pesos (US $24)

Suggested Singers/Dancers tip: 20 pesos (US 40 cents)

As always photos are the best story tellers so here are the highlights:

Namaste :) Hold the Buddha's right hand, make a wish then ring the bell.

Brother one!Ring it not eat it. Boo. Brother one and two.

View from the Buddha wishing bell, Isdaan Floating Restaurant is a hectare-wide facility with overwhelming number of white elephant statues.

TACSIAPO WALL

Opt to let off steam or let out your inner hulk at the famous Tacsiapo Wall. Target the best suited wall of rage to tickle your anger buds. Smash your boss, your neighbor, or that little gossip-hungry lurking goffer who always manages to tick you off. Let it all out by throwing either a saucer (16pesos = US 32 cents), a plate (20 pesos = US 40 cents), a mug or cup (15 pesos = US 30 cents) or even...wait for it...

yes! A 14inch TV at your own will but of course, only when the price is right at 1,200 pesos (US $60). Imagine that. Wrecking havoc and going amok is legal in this place.

TRIVIA: "Tacsiapo" is a local expression close to the point of swearing abominable profanity.

Here's me trying my luck at calling my inner FIERCE! but I was kinda too happy I projected the face of a cutie-patutsie toddler with brother three.

And then I did look kinda nangigigil which is waaay less monotonous with matching flailing nose pa at that. Roar.

Fishes gone awry! Feeding fishes food bring out their inner hulk and not the Tacsiapo wall.

But please don't cook them :) Yo Pogi Kuya Chefman, smile for the camera! (click) and he did. Pinoys are such camera whores. Be it men or women.

Lamb Ride: One of the free kiddy rides, which my brother did not fail to try (hard as he did) to get into.

FAUCET FRENZY

A bike made of some fifty faucets which, suprisingly work among many other weird-enough attractions.

FREE FISH CHALLENGE

Unggoy-ungguyan and the other floating kubos or huts is connected by a 6 to 9 foot deep lake where an 8inch bridge lies. The challenge? Cross the bridge while carrying two buckets full of water from one end of the bridge to the other. The Prize? A kilo of fresh fish of your choice. :) However, we were at Isdaan around lunchtime and they say the games begin later at night since the resto is open from 7am to 12mn. It's a good publicity stunt since it'll make comers and goers to Manila stop by and have not-that-ordinary floating restaurant experience. Add to that another challenge. The Isdaan Idol challenge. Sing with or without a group and win another kilo of fresh fish. Doesn't get any better than this.

Here's an Isdaan rendition of the reknowned "Bulag, Pipi at Bingi" (Blind, Mute and Deaf).

And then here's our rendition. Who belongs best? Hmm...

And so as the above photo shows the thumbs up! kingkongs. I bid adieu! It was one of the nicest trips that is bound to become another Garcia tradition. The Long Weekend Road trip!!!