Local Expert
Knox Balbastro
Having grown up outside the Philippines, Knox was raised on a diet of Macaulay Culkin movies, Barbie dreams, and the sounds of MTV. When she returned to the Philippines during her teens, she began to…
Having grown up outside the Philippines, Knox was raised on a diet of Macaulay Culkin movies, Barbie dreams, and the sounds of MTV. When she returned to the Philippines during her teens, she began to seek out a distinctly Pinoy culture. So far, she loves what she’s seeing. Manila for her is a fertile ground for art, music, fashion, and fun. Living in a little known, third world country definitely has its perks. Adventures are affordable and discovery doesn’t come in the usual package.
Her best advice for travellers new to the Philippines is to go out on the streets where faces, traffic, and landscape can create a collage of experiences that’s gritty and real.
Knox is a 24 year-old dreamer who also happens to be an advertising copywriter. She loves to travel and dreams of bag packing throughout the entire Philippine Archipelago. She hopes that through this blog, people all over the world will find a reason to drop by.
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Swagat. A Spicy Welcome.
Indian food because of its inherent spiciness is always fun. It’s nice to have those pauses when you realize that you underestimated the spiciness of a dish and are now trying to overcompensate with long breaths or large gulps of water. If you find a meal where you get licked by flames and keep coming back for more as amusing as I do, then welcome to Swagat.
Coincidentally, Swagat already means welcome as told to me by the sari-clothed Filipina waitress. Their garb is a little comical but nonetheless endearing, just like the constant Indian movies playing on the flat screen. The explosively colored Indian inspired motif is a little forced on a space that’s obviously meant for an office, but it adds to the place’s kitsch quality.
But back to the thing that matters most, the food. Famous for their Biryani, you’ll no doubt find one that’s apt to your liking. I ordered the Sangan Biryani, a chicken and lamb dish cooked with fresh ground herbs in cream mughlai sauce with Indian rice. I also tried the Anda Paratha which is basically naan (Indian pita bread) stuffed with eggs and spices.
Be prepared though, the level of spiciness in Swagat has not been properly calibrated for those who, like me, are just recent converts to spicy food. I found out the hard way… after two orders of yogurt, a glass of mango lassi, and two glasses of water later. So for those who don’t dare, best stick to mild.
119 FCC Building Rada St. Legaspi Village
Makati City
Tel: 752-5669