Weekend Getaway: The Luzon Invasion, Part 2 of 3 - Isdaan with Erap and Coy

Trip to Hermosa, Bataan was a productive one that after changing ideas and requirements with the client we're ready to vacate the place. It was already half an hour past one o'clock and we were all starving. We decided to visit Manaoag and climb Baguio afterwards.

That was the original plan.

It was a long journey going back to Sta. Rita to find our way to Tarlac. We were tired, so the mood was in total silence as each of us having our own ways of taking a nap. Then out of the blue, the girls requested for a stop to the nearest gasoline station. They need to release something but abandoned immediately upon the sight of the CR. Que horror, the gestures would tell, lol.

We continued driving and a Jollibee sign was a relief to the girls and so to our delight, we were all starving. But one suggested, what we prefer for lunch - a Jollibee or in Isdaan. We unanimously picked the latter. After half an hour more, we're in Isdaan. The guard greeted us with his big umbrella all over us as we enter the place, lol.

Isdaan is a floating restaurant located along the highway of Gerona, Tarlac, and the restaurant is being managed by Barrio Fiesta that's according to my friend. It was a unique and lovely place, with a combination of native Pinoy atmosphere and at the same time it's as if you're in Thailand with all the smiling Buddha's decorated around the ponds. Upon entering, you will be greeted by a sitting ERAP. Yes, Erap was there, he got a lifesize figurine all smiling to all the visitors coming in.

My friend can't help but to hug him while other took a shot of them hugging as if ERAP was her Lolo (Grandpa). And as we walked the aisle, she screamed because the aisle suddenly moved, the aisle was actually a balsa (raft).

This floating restaurant is actually a fish pond that housed thousands of coy fishes. Everywhere you point your sight; schools of coy were merrily going to and fro. Coy Fish is derived from Koi, the Japanese name for carp. Coy fish originated from Eastern Asia, Aral Sea, Black Sea and the Caspian Sea and are widely cultivated in China and Japan. Coy is a cold water fish and are therefore advised to keep in a pond within a minimum of 1.5 meters in diameter and 4 and a half feet deep in areas that are harshly cold and a meter more of depth in areas that are hot.

Breeding of Coy first became popular in Japan in 19^th century when farmers accidentally discovered these brightly colored creatures and started to raise them. Now, Coy fishes are popular that it can be found in most of the pet stores all over the world.

In Japan, Coy symbolizes LOVE and FRIENDSHIP.

While taking pictures of these beautiful creatures we were served with a big bowl of Tinolang Manok and Sinigang na Baboy with a small kaldero (boiler) of rice that is good for two persons. Immediately we abandoned the Coy and proceed to a more pressing task at hand, eating, lol.

From time to time, different groups of singers dressed in baro't saya would come to our table and offer to sing but we do not mind them, we just continue eating until we were full.

It was half an hour past three in the afternoon.

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