Video: Watching the Traffic Go By in Dumaguete

Last month, I published a post on what it's like to drive in Dumaguete. Today, while waiting in the car while my wife was on an errand, I videoed the traffic as it passed by.

What one sees in this two minutes is a relatively tame example. The traffic wasn't so heavy, so the driving wasn't horrible.

There are, of course, cars, buses, large trucks and small trucks. There are tricycles making u-turns, motorcyclists carrying umbrellas; some folks in shorts and others wearing hoodie jackets.

Maybe next time, I'll video the joys of driving near the downtown market during lunch. That will give an example of Dumaguete traffic at it's worse.

Tarbush Restaurant Dumaguete

Depending on the time of day that I'm driving into Dumaguete, if I believe the traffic might be to heavy going via North Rd/Real street, I'll take a left on E. Rovira Dr to Hibbard Ave into the city. One morning while taking this alternate route, I saw an eatery on the right, at the corner of Hibbard Ave and E.J.Blanco Dr., called Tarbush, claiming to be home of the original shawarma. I promised myself I would return one day to give them a try.

So, today after Mass (and after going to Lee Plaza to replace a broken mirror) we made our way to Tarbush.

I've had shawarmas prepared in three different eateries in Dumaguete and I must say the ones at Tarbush are the best I've tried so far. Personally, I prefer the chicken to the beef. Tarbush is also a bit more generous with the vegetables they put in the shawarma. Their shawarma cost a little more but you get what you pay for.

On the down side, we ordered multiple items and they did not arrive at the same time. Unfortunately, that's pretty much standard for Philippines. The same is true of every restaurant we've ever been to here.

Take Out Pastries from The Rollin' Pin

In August of last year, I posted a piece, onto my Dumaguete Website blog, about a little coffee shop near Silliman called The Rolling Pin. Since that time, I've returned a few times with my son; my wife hadn't been there until the three of us stopped by Saturday morning after picking up my son's report card.

My wife tried a Mango milkshake - my son having his favorite; the cookies and cream milkshake. I had a pastry and a latte. I had no complaints about the pastry; it was quite good, in fact. However, I was disappointed in the latte.



To make up for my disappointment, I bought 2 raisin pastries to take home and have with a coffee that I prepared myself.

Like all the pastries I've tried from The Rolling Pin, these were very good. The price of these particular pastries is 18 pesos each. Two raisin pastries, 36 pesos - that comes to about $0.75. That's about on par for the U.S., although, I'd say that's a little high by Philippine standards.