People say the best meals come from the finest restaurants—beautifully plated, perfectly seasoned, and served with polished cutlery in an elegant setting. But out in the mountains, the best meals come from a scratched-up pot on a butane stove, eaten with a spork, and occasionally, retrieved from the ground (because out here, if you can blow off the dirt, it’s still good to eat). In a restaurant, dropping food is a disaster—gasps from nearby tables, waiters rushing in, and the people judging you from everywhere. But in the wild? Even if it's already covered in ants the next morning, it’s still good for eating!

There’s something about eating after a long hike, when exhaustion makes even the simplest meals taste like a feast. A stew made from dehydrated meat and vegetables, a can of sardines heated over a small flame, crispy dried fish (buwad; tuyo), a humble hotdog, pork adobo simmering in a tiny pot, or even cheap instant noodles—these meals don’t just fill the stomach; they fuel the soul.

 

And then, there’s coffee. A warm cup at the summit, with the world still half-asleep beneath a sea of clouds, is more than just a drink—it’s a ritual. The aroma mixing with the cold mountain air, the first sip warming the body after a long ascent, and the silence of the moment, interrupted only by the wind—it’s a kind of peace no café can offer.

 

It’s not about fancy ingredients or expensive cooking recipes. It’s about the experience. Cooking in the wild teaches patience—waiting for the stew to rehydrate, keeping the fire at the right temperature, or sharing limited resources with friends. It’s about creativity—making the most of what’s in your backpack and turning basic ingredients into something comforting. And most of all, it’s about connection—sharing meals under the stars, telling stories around a makeshift dining table of rocks, logs, earth, and enjoying the simplicity of life away from the noise of the world.

 

The best seasoning? It’s the cold mountain air, the sound of rustling leaves, the warmth of friendship, and the satisfaction of knowing that, for a moment, life is as simple as it should be (plus, don't forget the dirt!).

 

So no, the best meals don’t always come from the best restaurants. Sometimes, they come from a small pot on a butane stove, in the middle of nowhere, with a cup of coffee at the summit—where every bite and every sip is seasoned with adventure  (and maybe just a tiny bit of dirt).

#SakaHangtudKayaPa

#CampfireMeals #ButaneStoveCooking #CoffeeAtTheSummit #FoodTastesBetterOutdoors

 

ORMOC TRILOGY

(Lake Janagdan, Mt. Malingatong, Mt. Aminduen)

Ormoc City/Jaro Leyte

February 15-16, 2025

 

ADVENTURER: Kumbati Supertiks

#LifeIsNotARace #SakaHangtudKayaPa #BurgerAndBones #ProofOfLife