KIKULAS CAFE: A COFFEE SHOP ON THE HILL

NAG DULOG PARA MANGAPE

Location: Tigbon, Calatrava, Negros Occidental

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All photos by Henry Libo-on, Touristang Pobre. 

Introduction 

I have a long journey from New York to Cebu via Taipei, and one of the places that I had planned to visit during my Balikbayan is the town of Calatrava. I have not visited this town for the past 36 years and I felt the necessity to go there just to see for myself how the town has developed since then. 

One morning, I packed my things for this whole day trip. I left my home in Bacolod City at around six in the morning. It was early because I planned to meet up with my high school classmates at Cafe K.M. 41 in Salvador Benedicto. 

Upon reaching kilometers 41, I had coffee with fried eggs, hot dogs, and fried rice. I was lucky to meet the manager/owner of Cafe K.M. 41, Sir Ken and we had a good conversation about how they started and developed their beautiful Cafe K.M. 41. 

I was about to finish my breakfast when a classmate who lives in Barangay Bunga, Salvador Benedicto arrived and so, the two of us waited for the rest of the classmates who were scheduled to have breakfast at the cafe. 

They finally arrived and the noise of our conversations reverberated in this hillside Cafe'. We had selfies, and "picture2", so to speak. 

Finally, they settled down and ordered their breakfast.  I had been in this Cafe' for almost two hours, and while they were waiting for their breakfast, I took this opportunity to say, "bye bye" and told them that I had to be in Calatrava for photography session in the town's Palau Resort. 

Driving from Salvador Benedicto to the township of Calatrava, a traveler will never miss this hillside portion of Barangay Tigbon, one of the 40 Barangays of the town. I think we traveled slow because I have to stop once in a while to take photos and talk to the local residents about their village, their farm produce, and their way of life for the past 30 or more years. 

I observed that the road network has, indeed, helped these farmers and villagers, to market their produce to the towns of Calatrava and Salvador Benedicto. The farmers also put up a roadside hut where they display/sell their agricultural products like ginger, pineapple, bananas, and others.

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Then, we reached Barangay Tigbon. In one of the hills, I saw a white wooden house or structure that I was interested to discover. I asked Pareng Leo to stop by the opened fence with a sign board - Kikulas Hill Cafe'. 

 While reading this sign board, a car was maneuvering out of the property and the lady yelled - "Sir, you can go up!". 

And we did. I talked to Pareng Leo, "kapehan gali, let's go up and see what we can drink, ay cape gali ei, haha..."

NAG PA HANGIN-HANGIN SA BUNGYOD

This spot is really good to have coffee. It is overlooking the sea and the lowland, and the nearby "katubigan" can be seen from here. It looked like a fishpond to me. 

Perfect Life

performed by Twin Tacoma 

Source: YouTube by Good Songs. 

Since we just had breakfast and seemed too early for lunch, "nag order kami" Leche Con Hielo" for me, and Coffee for Pareng Leo. 

First to come out from the kitchen, I think, was my leche con hielo. I savored it and said to Pareng Leo, "nami man ah, ka bugnaw man." I was smiling when I realized what I said, haha...

Then, I asked Pareng Leo how his Coffee was. He was quick to reply, "Daw indi ko masagamsaman ang cape. Daw cape gid sa sachet."  

I said, "ha? bakit?", and we ended up laughing at this time. 

 

"Feeling ko ma isog gid ya nga templa sang cape ang gusto ni Pareng Leo. Indi sya pwede sa coffee in sachets kay gamay."

The past weeks, "gin tahi-tahi namon ang" Lantawan, Sum-ag-Murcia and Ma-ao Road, and La Castellana-Masulog Canlaon Road, including Bacolod-Don Salvador highway, where plenty of coffee shops lined up the long stretch of these roads. 

"Daw gin acid na gani tyan ko sang sobra nga pangape", for the sake of coffee adventures, haha. That's why nag change gear ako to - Leche Kon Hielo, haha." 

"Skip ko anay ang mga flavors sang Kanlaon Robusta, Arabica, Liberica or Barako, and Excelsa." 

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For me, my leche con hielo was really good "kay tugnaw man"...haha...but the real great experience here in Kikulas Hill Cafe' was the view, the breathtaking view of the lowlands. I even imagined holding my birthday, for example, here. I want a lunchtime event. So that my guests will enjoy the view, camaraderie and fellowship on the breezy day here on the hilltop of Tigbon. 

While paying the bill, I engaged in a tete-a-tete with the lady in the counter. If I remember it right, she is one of the sisters or cousins of the owners. Ahh, a family member to be exact, yes!  

She talked to me about how they started Kikulas, what their menu are, and the other activities during the day and evening. The place is a nice one to have a dinner, or party with a "banda". 

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When I moved around the coffee house, I saw the Calatrava Solid Waste Management Ecopark nearby. There are houses and big structures along the road too. Kikulas Hill Cafe is not alone on this part of Tigbon. 

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In the final analysis, it is nice to have a coffee and fast-food shop along this tourism highway, I guess. Visitors who are tired of driving and want to relax a bit before proceeding to their next itinerary, can stop by and grab a sandwich and a drink. Their "short orders" like sandwiches, burgers, chips or fries if you want to call it that way, drinks, and menu for lunch, are to me, affordable. 

KIKULAS HILL CAFE'. I will remember this place. 

Along the Calatrava-Don Salvador Benedicto Road strip at Barangay Tigbon. 

***Please click the link hereunder if Google Maps can show you the road where Kikulas Hill Cafe is located. 

Calatrava, Western Visayas - Google Maps

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Now, it is time to drive to the town center of Calatrava but before we do that, we have to visit first the popular PALAU Beach Resort. There, we will have our Lunch, before we continue on driving towards the township of Toboso. 

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All photos by Touristang Pobre. 

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As of press time, it means - while I am writing this Blog, Kikulas Hill Cafe just celebrated their 2nd Anniversary. They had an evening celebration with live band.  

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This is not a paid review. 

Touristang Pobre is a travel and adventure blog organized and/or started on April 9, 2013, at Philadelphia, U.S.A.

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At the Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, California

On my way to Malapascua Island, Northern Cebu. 

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November 19, 2022

A Traveling Spirit 

By Daniel Kadawatha 

Source: 360 Music Lyrics at Youtube.