The Ultimate in Nature Tripping @ Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park, Kodiak, Alaska

    

     In Kodiak, Alaska, Trina brought me to Miller Point in Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park. It is a good place for hiking, camping, bird watching and fishing. If you’re a nature junkie, you’re sure to get an ample dose of nature at Fort Abercrombie. In fact nature is considered ‘good’ as it promotes harmony, balance, timelessness and stability in a person.

Photo: Miller Point in Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park.

     Kodiak was a strategic location during World Wars I and II, specifically at Miller Point in Fort Abercrombie. Nowadays one can still see the remnants of the wars at this Historical Park. One of the naval guns is still on display where a splendid view of the Pacific Ocean may be enjoyed (below).

Photo: adventurous-Pinay beside a Naval Gun.

     This scenic location played a very important role in defending the US during World Wars I and II and the bunker, below,  is still around.

Photo: World War I and WW II Bunker.

      Today, while one is reminiscing about the wars, one can be peaceful and drink in the unobstructed views of the mountain cliffs and the sea. Notice the snow-capped mountains on the background. The weather was mild and lovely in this summer month of May.

Photo: Unobstructed views of the snow-capped mountains and the sea.

      As we walked down Miller Point, I was delighted to see this view, below. On the left is a fresh water lake (Lake Gertrude) and on the right is a salt water ocean (North Pacific Ocean). Trout fishing is usually recommended on Lake Gertrude. The North Pacific Ocean is common for whale watching.

 

Photo: Lake Gertrude (L); Pacific Ocean (R). 

     While in the area, we took some time to hike around and appreciate the seemingly virgin forest, which were, mostly, spruce trees (below). Notice the moss-covered trees, sign of non-disturbance for quite a long time.

Photo: Seemingly virgin forest with Spruce trees (Background).

     Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park was my first stop in Kodiak. Kodiak had a population of 6,130 (2010 census) this was why I did not see a lot of people and houses, there was no traffic and air pollution that highly populated areas usually suffered from. It was a very relaxing and refreshing adventure in this faraway place in North America. There were more things to do and places to see in Kodiak. And I anticipated every experience while I was there.

               

     How to go there:

     To reach the park from the ferry dock, go west on Center Street, and make a right onto Rezanof Drive. Follow Rezanof for 3.7 miles. Turn right onto Abercrombie Drive which leads to the park. If starting from the Kodiak State Airport, make a right onto Rezanof Drive. Follow Rezanof for 8.5 miles. Turn right onto Abercrombie Drive (http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/kodiak/ftaber.htm).

Discover Life During The Alaska Gold-Rush: Chena River Boat Cruise

     

     Coming from Seward to see the glaciers, Trina (my daughter) and I proceeded to Fairbanks. Our schedule permitted us to embark on the three-and-a-half-hour Riverboat Discovery Cruise. This cruise demonstrated the life in a native Alaskan village during the times of the gold-rush. Photos above and below show Discovery III, the boat that we used for the cruise.

Image: Discovery III, the boat used for the Riverboat Discovery Cruise.

      Discovery III (above), a sternwheeler boat, brings back passengers to the time of the gold-rush fever into the Alaskan wilderness through the Chena and Tanana Rivers.We chose the 1:15 pm Riverboat Discovery Cruise situated a few minutes away from the Fairbanks International Airport. We took a taxi that took us to Dale Road, the access road. The price for the cruise was $60/adult and $40/child. 

Image: Steamboat Landing, the take-off point for the cruise.

     Passengers were advised to arrive 30 minutes before departure, so we had time to rest at the pier landing for a souvenir photo.

Trina (L) and me (R) before departure.

     This Riverboat cruise has been managed by the Binkley family in Fairbanks since 1950. This cruise with third-and fourth-generation captains allowed the guests to experience the beauty and history of this native Alaskan community through a full narration during the cruise.                   

Image: Boarding Discovery III in this once-in-a-lifetime Alaskan river boat adventure.

     Not long into the cruise, we witnessed one of Alaska's bush pilots taking off right from the river. Most parts of Alaska may only be reached through one of these small planes (below).

Image: Alaska bush plane taking off right from the river.

     The riverbanks were dotted with adorable log cabins and houses (below). We were informed that an American president was once a visitor in one of these houses.

Image: Log cabins found along the Chena River.

      As we went further along the river, we stopped at the training camp for the Iditarod kennel, run by the family of the late four-time-champion Susan Butcher. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an annual long-distance sled dog race run in early March from Anchorage to Nome. Mushers and a team of 16 dogs, of which at least 6 must be on the towline at the finish line, cover the distance in 9–15 days or more (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iditarod_Trail_Sled_Dog_Race).

Image: Iditarod kennel training camp run by the family of Susan Butcher.

     Along the river, we also stopped by a riverside fish camp and learned how Alaska natives traditionally prepared salmon for smoking and drying. Smoked salmon is a gourmet food, native to Alaska.

Image: Smoked salmon being prepared by an Alaska native. 

     We had the opportunity to observe a native Alaskan community as we stopped for one hour at the Chena Indian village. The native Alaskan guides gave us insight in to the rich culture of their Athabascan village.The pretty girl below, wearing the beautiful dress made of animal fur, is of native Alaskan heritage and studies at the University of Alaska, while working part-time as guide. 

Image: Native Alaskan girl briefing the guests
on the traditional way of life of her ancestors. 

     During the tour of the village, we learned about the villagers’ connection to the land and the animals.

Image: Animal hide that they later turn into clothing.

     We also had a close-up view of the animals commonly found in the village.

Image: (L-R) Sitka deer and Alaska moose.

     The cruise offered doughnuts and coffee for free to the guests. Upon our return, we passed by this trading post (below) and bought some souvenir items found in the store.

     This Riverboat cruise is a showcase of the life, specifically, the food and clothing sources of a native Alaskan village during earlier times. This unforgettable experience is recommended to reminisce about the past and appreciate how the people managed to tame the Alaskan wild 

This Valentine's Day, Bring the Family to Uncle Cheffy: The Best Brick Oven BBQ and Panizza

     My sister and I always look for reasons to bond together, sometimes we invent these reasons. This time, it was Pre-Valentine’s Day. So, together with our co-conspirator, my daughter Tisa, off we went to SM Megamall, our usual hang out.

     

Tisa (L) and Ate Nette (R) at the Prestige Lounge.

     Because we came early, we went to the Prestige Lounge of SM Megmall to rest, freshen up and most importantly, keep each other updated on the latest ‘issues’ of the day.

Image: Uncle Cheffy @ SM Megamall (Background).

     After the much-anticipated sister-mother-and-daughter tête-à-tête, we proceeded to Uncle Cheffy: The Best Brick Oven BBQ and Panizza, our restaurant of choice for lunch. Uncle Cheffy specializes in brick-oven global cuisine. They serve brick oven panizza, grilled, roasted and barbecued foods, soups, salads, and desserts.

Image: Uncle Cheffy Menu.

     The dishes here are slow-cooked, so I think it was after 30 minutes that our first order arrived. For starters, we ordered the Uncle Cheffy Favorites Panizza, with oven dried tomatoes, mushroom, garlic, anchovy, chili flakes, basil and 3 cheeses. The cost for a family size was ₱395.00. You’re supposed to take a piece of panizza, roll and stuff with arugula, alfalfa sprouts, and fresh tomato salsa (below). Aside from coming as a square pizza, the not-your-ordinary-toppings made this special. I could have finished the whole serving, except that I was on my pizza-diet-mode.

Image: Uncle Cheffy Favorites Panizza.

     For our main dish, we ordered from their Uncle Cheffy Platter, the Surf and Turf, a combination of Chicken, Leg, Lamb Breast, Beef and Pork Ribs, Cream Dory, Salmon, Tuna Belly and Garoupa priced at ₱880.00.  Good for 4-5 persons, the platter was served with baby potatoes, a salad, and a bowl of rice. There were four dressings, pesto, tomato, mayo, and ‘house sauce’ (which I could not identify). The meats were soft except for the lamb, which we had difficulty chewing. Besides, I am never a fan of lamb meat because of its after taste. The rest were made more flavorful because of the dressings.

Image: Surf and Turf Platter.

     The dessert came next. We had chocolate roulade because it just looked mouth-watering. The cost was ₱150/serving. This was topped by a cherry and whipped cream, dusted with confectioner’s sugar. The filling was light and creamy and the chocolate taste was dense. The flavor and texture were just right and not overpowering. I could have seconds of this. But I was so full by this time so I finished the meal with a glass or two of water.

Image: Chocolate Roulade.

     Our food adventure at Uncle Cheffy was another successful lunch date with my sister and daughter. The foods tasted great and different than the usual bbq restaurant. The square panizza is worth coming back for. Uncle Cheffy, however, is not for those who are strict with their budget. Be prepared to shell out more than your average budget for your family outing.

Image: Inside Uncle Cheffy. 

   Uncle Cheffy is at the 3^rd floor of SM Megamall, Julia Vargas Avenue, Wack Wack, Mandaluyong with tel.no. (02) 401-3658.