My vacation mode is full-on. The guest room has a built-in alarm clock that strikes at 6.25 am… it is the sunrise peeking through the clerestory windows above the bed. Some of you may think this time of day is unreasonable during a holiday break. But a beaming sunlight is a blessing compared to a buzzing, jarring alarm clock at 9am. The smell of local *Barako beans linger in the kitchen as I wander the grounds.
Images K R i S P I N T E R I O R
*Barako beans are indigenous to Batangas, Philippines where my forefathers originated. It belongs to the species coffea liberica. The first Barako tree was a cutting from Brazil, and later planted in the regions of Batangas in the 1800s near my father's hometown. It has a distinct flavour and pungent aroma which I have never experienced from other coffee varieties. Growing up I had watched the brewing of this bean with brown sugar in the pot. Also it was not served with milk.
