A CAPTIVATING CEILING AND HISTORY ON THE WALLS
My stay in Cagayan de Oro City was coming to an end. On the last night of that solo trip, I decided to have dinner at a popular restaurant called High Ridge. People go there for their food and the view. The restaurant is located in the mountainous part of the city, overlooking the cityscape below.
I had just come from a solo ride to Bukidnon and stopped by a sunflower farm before heading to this restaurant. I drove through pitch-black roads, trusting Google Maps with each turn that I took. As I was nearing the place, I passed a road that was completely dark. Trees covered the night sky. The headlight of my motorcycle was the only source of illumination. I was convinced I was going the wrong way because I thought there was no way that the road to a popular restaurant was this scary. It felt like I was going to a witch's lair.
My fears were dispelled when I saw some lights at the end of the road. I had arrived at High Ridge! The place looked like a mountain resort. There were a lot of vehicles parked outside, and I was worried that the place would be packed.
I went inside, and I was caught off-guard by the ceiling. I'm not familiar with architecture or interior design terms, so I don't know what they're called. They were these thin wooden strips hanging from the ceiling. They were really interesting and mesmerizing. If they weren't too high up, I would have run my hand through them just to see them move around.
After ogling at the ceiling, the walls of the foyer caught my attention next. On one side was a mural of a tree. Framed pictures filled the entire walls on both sides, which were illuminated by gallery lights. I felt like I was in a museum or an art gallery. Looking closer at the photos and the captions revealed some historical details of the city. There were photos of churches, people, old streets, and buildings. I would have stayed longer to learn more about history, but I had to make sure that I would still be seated inside the restaurant.
ALONE IN A FAMILY RESTAURANT
I walked past the restaurant's foyer into their receiving area. "Table for how many, Sir?" a staff asked me. Of course, I told her that it was just me alone. I thought I saw a hint of confusion and then relief on her face. I realized she didn't have to worry about which table to assign me. She told me that they had an entrance fee of 100 pesos (less than 2 USD) and that the amount was consumable by ordering food. I thought that was smart and practical.
After paying, I went inside the restaurant. It was huge. They had lots of tables. There were gardens on both sides and a play area for kids. The place was made for families. I felt a bit out of place because I was alone. I roamed around looking for a good table where I could enjoy some peace while having a good view of the city lights.
THE CITY LIGHTS
I walked over to the veranda and saw the city lights. The city below glowed in bluish light along what I thought was the busy highway. I could see skyscrapers and the bright downtown. I thought about taking a table on the veranda, but there were too many people taking pictures, and it was pretty loud there.
I walked to the edge of the viewing deck to have a better view of the city below. Seeing the city lights from such a high place reminded me of Tops in Cebu City, which offered a similar view of the city. I was going home the next day. I've been traveling a lot this year, and many times I find myself wanting to go home after feeling quite tired from all the activities. Rarely do I think about not wanting to go home yet and enjoy the vacation more.
DINING WITH CITY LIGHTS
After finding a good seat, I ordered my dinner. I had nachos and Lechon Kawali. I wasn't particularly hungry, but I was looking forward to enjoying good food while having a nice view of the city. I didn't really enjoy the nachos. They were hard and not crispy. I was having trouble finishing them.
My main course was Lechon Kawali, which is deep-fried pork belly. They served the rice in a pointy shape, which I think resembled a mountain. There was also astsara on the side and a soy sauce dip. The pork was crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. I finished my meal right away. I picked at my nachos for a bit, but I just couldn't bring myself to continue eating them. I have soft gums, and I could feel the hard nachos scratching against the roof of my mouth.
I wanted to have a few drinks on my last night at CdO, but I didn't want to drink far from my hotel. So, I made my way back to the city center. Again, I passed by the really dark road, and it was still scary going through it the second time.
I made it back to my hotel in time for an acoustic band playing. I had a few drinks and sang along to the songs. I felt lonely while enjoying my drinks by myself. I was antsy to get home already and spend time with my girlfriend or my friends.
That is it! This travel series is almost over. The next post will be the last one. Thank you for coming along with me to relive my journey in Cagayan de Oro City.
Stay safe. See you in the next post. cheers!
