Want some fresh buko juice?

In case you start thinking that Tacloban is all Greek-looking buildings and monuments, let me start showing you the real side now.

After all that sightseeing, you might want to stop by for some fresh buko juice. Buko in any Philippine language (we have more than 100 languages, did you know?) means 'young' and is mostly used to describe young coconuts, not persons. Lined on the side of the street on your way to McArthur Park (just a few yards from there), you will see these small bamboo kiosks with buko piled high on tables or on the ground. You drink and eat a buko without any utensils while you try to sit back on the creaky bamboo benches and look out to the sea which is just across the street. Cars rarely pass here, so the sea breeze is not polluted. One buko costs P10-12 (about $0.25 each), it's very refreshing and better-tasting than a soda. Best time to come here.. around 3 in the afternoon, when the sun is not hot anymore. Place is the locals' secret. I never see a tourist here, they're probably thinking 'is it safe? is it clean?'. Haha.. (Note: buko is rich in fat, so if you're dieting don't do this everyday.)