Paradise Redux

Monday morning Philippine time I will head off with my friend Mira to Club Serena.  It will be our second visit to the Club.  I talked about this place in a previous blog. This time I'm heading to this little piece of paradise with rod, reel, and lures.  I keep closing my eyes, and I can see myself standing in waist deep sea water, warm as bath, the drag on the reel screeching as a Trevally has taken my lure and turned his shoulders,  heading for the place he calls home.  I keep the rod high trying to keep this predator from taking me to the razor sharp coral that will surely mean a quick release.  That screeching drag that only a fisherman knows, makes my heart pound in my chest!  Then the reel stops, I reel hard hoping there is still something there;  reeling, reeling, reeling and that dream is over!! Still I smile from my dream, even without the fish!   Part of the area that I will be fishing is a fish sanctuary. When I was last there the locals were netting fish left and right in front of our beach.  I kicked myself  at the thought of what a fun place it would be to just throw a lure.  Even to not catch anything would still be fun.  

I'll leave this blog without an ending.  So hopefully I can tell you how that fish really fought.  Or how all those fish fought.  

I have reserved the beach house.  It's not really a beach house because it's not on the beach, you have to actually walk ten feet to get to the sand.  But then it's all beach and ocean.  The pool is close, the bar is even closer.  If it sounds nice it is!!

A First For Everything

Thursday night schools were canceled for the Level 1 storm. I made sure my sliding door leading to the patio was greased and ready to open to get outside quickly, not that I wanted to escape, but I wanted to feel the force of the "Big" storm. It was my first Level 1 Tropical Storm. As I have mentioned before I am a big fan of big rain. I will have to wait patiently again for that first. Nothing more than a few drops.

Thursday afternoon I had invited some friends over for dinner. It was about 10 people. Here's the breakdown of who was here. I was here, I think, my friend Mira, her t

wo nieces Rose who is 10 and Nikki who is 8, her teenage nephew Katrina who is 16, a 8 year old cousin of Mira named Jeff. Then 2 teenage siblings brother and sister Harme 15 and Harmin 16. Harme and Harmin have younger brothers, one that is 2 whose name is Harvin, another

brother that is 4 whose name is Harold. Also three sisters all over 20. Harold and Harvin didn't stay. There mother is 44. A woman named Anna who is one of the 3 sisters over 20.

When the Level 1 storm was declared all my guests asked if they could stay

the night.(All the kids) Sure why not. Let me say that kids didn't leave till late Saturday night. I think that was the plan from the beginning. Nikki and Rose had never been in air conditioning and had never taken a real shower. They were very cute girls. One speaking great English the other not a word. I had brought a few children's books for the kids, and they all loved to read to me.

Friday was a wash out with a steady rain, no where to go and also one person feeling under the weather so we decided to just hang around the house. The kids woke about 5am running around singing "Fruit Salad Yummy Yummy"(The Wiggles) which I had introduced via Itunes last night while gulping down a Philippine favorite Fruit Salad. The kids all thought my singing was funny, so I had to prove it was a real song.

After a 5am wake up I thought by lunch the kids would be climbing the walls. I had seen on the Internet and in the paper an add for Jolibee delivery. Jolibee is the Philippine equivalent of Kentucky Fried Chicken dropped 10 levels. The options are chicken, spaghetti and burgers. We called to find out about delivery; need a minimum delivery of 200 pesos we were told. That is about $4.00 USA. Upon it's delivery and my immediate stomach ache the kids were clapping to me, it seems again it was the first time to have this delicacy for some of them, and the last time for others. They were all happy, and so was I!!Feeling a bit under the weather on Friday night I headed off for an early slumber. The kids were advised to be quite and they were exceptionally well behaved. During the night I did open an eye to the sound of a pretty heavy downpour, but that was it, just an eye and back to dreamland. The next thing I heard was "Fruit Salad Yummy Yummy" coming from outside. It's 6:30am. This time I did get up and went out on the balcony. All my guests were in there skivvies running around in the still pouring rain. They were having a ball, and it did bring a smile to my face.

They even had soap. When a rain like this comes it means it's shower time. Most bathing for these kids is filling a big bucket and using a ladle. It's effective but surely not as easy and comforting as a hot shower. But the downpour is also a great and fun way for the kids to bathe.

I told them to take a hot shower when they came back in and they looked at me like I had three heads. Who am I!!
When I traveled into the mountains recently I kept seeing all these plastic barrels along the sides of the roads. In many countries where rain falls hard, there are deep channels along the sides of the roads. The channels are to catch the water that is coming off the side of the mountains, and divert it before it cause flooding and land damage, and with the way it rains here it can be a lot of rain at once. Anyway the plastic barrels are to collect water from the rain to wash clothes. That was my first discovery of the uses of mountain rain. Still traveling along the mountain roads I came to and discovered something interesting.

It was actual cement tanks or catch basins, that caught the heavy rain. But these tanks acted as holding tanks for shower stations. People were lined up, bathing themselves in there clothes. We passed several stations and it was the same at all. People soaping up in there clothes and showering next to the road. I thought to stop for pictures, but I also thought a good way to get beat up. Off we went!!!
So after the kids came in and dried themselves from there rain showers, and declared they were all hungry, I announced that they would be going to the movies and to the mall. It is barely $2.00 per person to go to a first run movie here. 3 of the 5 kids had never been to a movie, and the one little girl Nikki almost cried as the lights dimmed in the theatre. It was her first movie, and the dark was a new concept also. After the movie I asked how they had liked it, and if they had a good time? "It was like watching a huge TV in the mall" Jeff said. "I didn't understand it, but it was really fun eating popcorn, and fun to watch the other people laughing."

Reading my blog back to myself today, I kept thinking that this is a boring addition. Is this it, don't I have anything more exciting? I thought. Maybe I should wait till tomorrow, I haven't been sleeping well and I am particularly tired, almost asleep as I write. But then I thought about this past weekend and how all the kids are already asking/expecting to return this coming weekend. It was kept from me until today that the kids cried all the way home. Rose cried because she had so much fun, and now she had to go back and take care of her sister.

These simple little activities that these kids experienced this weekend were what was fun for all of us 35 years ago or before. This weekend was a step back in time, running around in a rain storm, watching old Superman episodes on the "computer", playing cops and robbers, even eating popcorn and going to the movies.

Even in my thought of all this being boring, and maybe this has been boring to read, the idea that such little things can make these kids so happy. I learned a lot through this last weekend. It's amazing what kids can teach you. But like anything you have to be willing to listen to the silence!!

I Went Down To The Crossroads

Now that the election is history, the celebration of the First Black President continues. 
The world is celebrating the victory of all victories.  Now the next step for all of us, I hope, is that at some point very soon we can start referring to Barack Obama as the New President of The United States, and not the first Black President of the United States.  The USA has turned a corner of history.  Now hopefully each and every one of us that feel it so easy to use racial, social, and religious slang will some how find a way to cease and desist and finally leave our ignorant prejudices behind. Please it's enough.  No more racial/religious slurs it's ignorant and it's offensive to every one of us that lives and breathes.  Good luck to Barack Obama..

Today I took a friend to the dentist.  I noticed she kept covering her mouth when she spoke and finally I asked what was wrong.  She said she had a toothache.  I gave her some Tylenol which at first she was scared to take.  Two hours later

she came over to say she was feeling better.  The next day I saw her from a distance, and saw her holding her hand to her mouth again.  I waited to see if she would approach me.  People are very shy here!  Very timidly, she asked? "can I have some more of your pills?"  I was happy to give as many as she needed.  I asked about her tooth. "Can I see it?" I asked?  I only needed one quick look.  "That tooth is broken, you need a dentist!" I said.  She laughed.  I knew from her laugh, who was I kidding.  She had no money.

This tooth would just get worse and worse, until who knows what happens when this type of thing is left alone.    I heard after the fact that a woman had gone to a local medicine man for a tooth extraction, she went directly back to work, because she was afraid of losing her job, and died a few days later. 

 

Sorry not sure of the exact reason of her early demise.  I sent a text to my landlady, and she advised me of a dentist, and off we went.  I new the pain that this girl was having, and I couldn't consciously look at her when she was in pain. Because I called the landlady, and she was more of someone with some connections, she sent me to a dentist that hopefully had a little more than most of the other dentists around here. From some experiences of people needing dental care here it seems a little rough.  You go the Dentist, sit down in the chair, describe your ailment, and the Doc will send you to the drugstore with the list of medicines you will need.  The quantity and the importance listed in order.  If he tells you you need four injections of Novocaine and you only have enough for one, well that's just the way it goes.  You can take care of it with one, and the Doc will do whatever you want.  Luckily I didn't witness this treatment, but it is the precedent here.

Not one for waiting in long lines or doctors offices, we dropped our patient off and sojourned to the local yacht club for some refreshments.  The yacht club is run by a guy named Steve.  He is from England and has the exact same accent of Cary Grant.  He sat with us the last time we were there, and drank red wine and smoked Marlboro Reds.  I couldn't place his accent at first, and then I said, "you sound like Cary Grant."  He laughed.  "Where you from?"  I asked.  

"England" He said.

"I know, but where."

"Town called Bristol."  He said.

"I don't have the best memory but I would almost bet that Cary Grant is from Bristol."  I said.

Doing a little fact checking as I write this, because I certainly don't want to let any of you astray, I have discovered and just patted myself on the back, that Cary Grant and Steve the Proprietor of the Cebu Yacht Club are indeed cut from the same cloth. 

  

The Cebu Yacht Club is not what you envision, but a very laid back bar and restaurant of particularly not the greatest food, and actually limited alcohol.  It is one of the only cheap places around that sits near the sea, and I'm particularly fond of that. The clientele is a bunch of scruffy and unshaven American, British and Aussie men, usually but not always with there Filipino girlfriends.

  

The other day we walked into "the yacht club" and two as I described above scruffy and unshaven men sat opposite each other.  At first glance I didn't take much notice of them, but something made me look again and immediately the first man looked familiar.  When I rounded the other side of the table, the other man also looked slightly familiar also.  Not like I ever met either one of them before, but just looked familiar. Cebu, Philippines is a place you can get lost, or hide or just disappear from the world if you want too.  I wasn't about to disturb there peace.

As our meal continued I kept hearing bits and pieces from these two men conversation.

  The one looked liked Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics, and the other was a Bob Geldoff twin.  The one part of the conversation I did distinctly hear was "that was after my first Emmy nomination."  I didn't think much of any of it, because it really wasn't much, but just funny when you have those brushes with nothing.

Meanwhile the young lady that had that nasty tooth ripped from her head, was no worse for ware except now where that tooth lived there a was a big gaping bloody wound.  

It's been awhile since I punished myself with a tooth extraction, and I may be completely wrong, but I think the last time they pulled my teeth they packed the gaping wound with something.  Not this one, just blood and raw flesh... 

It's a Family Affair

Today I met with a woman(call her Barb) and her four beautiful children.  I have been speaking to Barb on the Internet on and off for almost three years.  I was unsure if I wanted to meet her today.  Barb is unmarried and trying hard to raise four children.  This woman, as so many others in the Philippines our, is very poor.    The reason I was unsure if I wanted to meet Barb was that for much of the time I knew her she has continually told "sob stories" of her life. 

 She then asks, pleads and begs for money to help her through her current woes.  I have heard many stories from many people, and I'll be honest it's very hard to believe them all. Barb has told me everything from her house blowing away, to cancer, to a story 

of the death of close family member, and many more tails. Many times I would not respond to this woman's initializing a conversation with me online because I just didn't and couldn't face another story of woe, and then a barrage of asking for money.  Many people ask for "help", many have stories, most go away after I refuse to help.  But this woman was persistent and very compelling.  She would make a great lawyer.

The last couple of weekends I have been inviting  people I know to bring there children here for swimming and food on Sunday's.   It was very hard to say no to Barb when she knew other's were already coming.

Barb arrived with her four children.  As you can see from there pictures these children are very cute, they are also incredibly well behaved, funny, affectionate, and respectful. What you can't see from the picture is that these children are incredibly hungry.   I had worried and made myself a little uncomfortable thinking of there arrival.  That feeling was washed away like a roaring river as I saw these children.

As I write this now and try to get across the feelings that I had as I saw these children eating, I have my own empty pit in my stomach.  I had been giving the kids candy as we waited for a few others to arrive.  The kids were all smiles as I played with them.  I had downloaded some superman episodes on the computer and turned that on for the kids,  John the six year old was mesmerized.  He had never heard of Superman, but the cartoon was perfect.  He stared at the screen for the twenty minute episode, when it was over he found me and took my arm so I       could start another episode for him.  Sydney the youngest was just four years old, she kept reaching in my shirt pocket for another chocolate candy kiss.

  

Someone said the kids were hungry and they hadn't eaten breakfast.  I quickly got up and took out leftovers from dinner the night before.  Rice is a standard at all three meals and someone plated a big pile of rice for 

the kids and there mother.  I went to get a glass of water for them as the four were sharing one glass, and when I came to the table they were polishing off most of the food we had given them.  When rice is the only option in a household, in the morning it is served with sugar, and in the evening with salt. 

A little while later the rest of the folks showed up and I called everyone in to sit and eat.  I told Barb to sit with us and eat and try what I had made.  She was shy to eat again as she had tried some of the food with her kids.   Barb took very little and I spooned more onto her plate. Everyone here seems to eat quickly, I think that is because there is never that much food for most meals and you eat fast when you can get it.

  As soon as people were done they got up and washed there plate.  I noticed Barbs kids sitting close.  "If there still hungry?"  I said. Motioning to the food on the table.  She called John to come over.  She put a plate of rice in front of him and he ate it by the handful.  Silverware is not used in many households either. John sang and giggled under his breath as I fooled with him as he ate.  The brightness of his eyes and the smile on his face as he ate that plate of rice was so awakening.  I sat and just started to wonder what a life these children must have. 

 

The other part of coming over was to go swimming.  I went in the other room and started pushing people to go swimming.  Barb had not brought swimsuits, and the truth

 was she nor her kids owned them.  We put our

 heads together and came up with enough swimming attire for the five of them to swim.  What a rag tag group I sent over to the swimming pool.  Swimming cost around 150 pesos per person.

When the kids came back, Barb told me her oldest daughter Lanny had asked? "Is it really cost 150 pesos to swim for one 

time, we can buy a lot of rice?"  I didn't ask how Barb responded to her, but I did feel a little perplexed, and said "maybe this will be a special time she remembers for a long time, that's important." I don't think my answer was very good, but I didn't know what else to say.

As everyone left my friend Mira asked me what I thought of Barb.  It wasn't an easy question to answer.  I had hard feelings to start with Barb because of the past things she had told me. After I thought about her situation I realized this was real, and Barb is in a fight everyday when she wakes to somehow put food in those beautiful children's mouth.

To think that there are nights that children go to sleep hungry. No one reading this knows this feeling.  To see it close up is quite extreme.  If I think of my niece and nephew, or any of my friends children, or hell any child in the world, and the thought of trying to find food for them on a daily basis, or even one child going to bed hungry is incomprehensible to imagine.  The limits that Barb goes to everyday are to say the least extreme.  But are these limits unrealistic for survival? Of course no one wants to be lied to about anything, and I certainly don't condone the actions that Barb or any other person feels they need to take to survive.    Before I came here I often mentioned and talked about seeing the children, trying to give back, to do something while here.  It was easy to talk about, but I never in a million years thought a child that I would know would be so hungry that he hadn't had food in a day. 

How ignorant of me.  I knew coming here, that there were people who were hungry!  But the level of poverty here is as bad as any poverty stricken country in the world.  You pass by poverty every time you leave your house.  A beautiful house sits with gates, green grass, a gleaming swimming pool, and shrubs manicured for every leaf or needle, and immediately next to the house and of course blocked by a big fence si

ts a house wired together with bamboo sheeting.  Garbage, clothes, weeds, tires, all manner of garbage is strewn everywhere around the house. People sit on porches with no job, no money, and not much hope.  

To realize what life brings to some of us, is an awakening  in itself.   These people and these woman who I speak about above would love nothing more than a job to support themselves. They are all smart, hard working and 

love there children.  Most will wash clothes for a few peso's, but they are lucky to even find this job.  If you talk of any hardship's with Filipino's, they will often offer these words, and I have heard it several times, "We are Filipino, we are strong when pushed, and even stronger when down!"

A few days after my first meeting with Barb and her children, and after I had wrote most of the blog above, Barb called me on the computer.  She told me that the kids had really loved me, and she wondered if I would think about adopting Sydney the littlest daughter.  The thought floored me, and I kind of laughed it off.   Her daughter told her "she wouldn't cry if she went away, and when she was older she would come back and get her mother." 

 I asked Barb "how she could even think such a thing?"  I wasn't sure what response I would get to my question but the one I got really punched me in the gut.  Barb said "I know you would give her a great life, and I can't even give her three meals a day."  If there was ever a time to shed a tear that was it.  

Paradise Found!!!

I'm sitting at the dinner table with my friend Mira; we are waiting for our dinner to be served. Ten feet from where we sit there is a small sea wall made from volcanic rock.  Below the wall is a small white sand beach, and a few feet from there the waves of the Tanon Strait rhythmically lap there way up the sandy beach.  Looking out from our table it's a bit cloudy, and I would say no more than 2 miles across the strait is the Island of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental.  From where I sit the island looks to be all mountains.  As the sun sets, lights become visible like stars all along the dark distant shoreline. I learn that for miles along that far coast there are towns and a highway that follow the shore for most of the island.  

Our waiter Roland is from that island that I am presently mesmerized by, but he i

s from the far side of the island which is called Negros Occidental.  At one time the island was called just Negros but it seems there was an argument over some sugarcane or a virgin's virtue, and it was thus split into two.Roland told us he is one of ten children.  One girl and nine boys, he being the ninth boy born and number ten was his sister.  He told us his mother just wanted a girl and when that day came she would stop having babies.  Can you imagine another boy, nine times?  Ten children and barely a year skipped between ages. Roland's mother made it through all ten, but his father expired just after the tenth child was born.  Roland is now twenty-four and his mother is still doing fine.

Roland just informed us that they rang the bell in the kitchen to tell him our meal was ready. Ummmm.  He had advised us to get the sizzling prawns.  Said it was a favorate of the guests. We order our meals ahead of time so 

there's no waiting, and the chef has plenty of time to prepare everything.  Whatever works, and all this was really working for us.

Roland put down the sizzling platter, piled with prawns.  They were the biggest shrimp I had ever seen.  As the sizzle of the platter died down and the aroma of the dish filled our heads, we smiled and couldn't wait to rip those huge babies apart.  They were served head and all, and boy were they amazing.

As we were enjoying our sumptuous meal, Roland came over and pointed to the approaching clouds.  We hadn't noticed that off in the distance the lighting was starting to dance across the sky, and thunder was making itself heard.  A storm was coming. I had been waiting for a Philippine storm since my arrival, I had heard they can be quite intense.  As we waited for the lighting to light the sky again, the wind suddenly picked up and in one cool gust, blew all the flowers that Roland had decorated our table with.  Roland had went all out to make that table look so nice. Roland ran to close the doors facing the sea, and just at the same time the sky erupted in a very heavy rain.  It was coming down "in buckets!"

Outside the bar/restaurant where we were having dinner was a beautiful pool, next to the pool the sea wall extended out past the bar, next to the wall were these little raised decks/platforms that were covered with the local Philippine style of grass roofs.  On the deck was a mattress and pillows, the structure was decorated with soft curtains and shell chimes.

I thought what a great place to watch the storm. Two steps out of the bar and we were under the overhang for the first platform.  There was wind but barely a drop hit us as we watched the most incredible storm over the Tanon Strait.  I have always loved rain storms, but lying here next to the sea, listening to the waves, hearing the rain hitting the roof of the platform, even the shell chimes that decorated the platform had a very magical sound.  I was in a very special place, at a very special time.

The last couple of mornings I have made it a point to wake up early and watch the sun come up, and I have been close, within and hour, that's kind of close!  When I do get down to the beach there are many locals "combing" the beach for anything they can find.

Shells to sell, fish, crabs, clams, even coins or jewelry anything that may provide even a tiny bit of sustenance for the day.

The man in the picture with the sea creature, that is a squid.

The man asked me if I would like to buy it.  "No Thanks! But can I take a picture?"  I asked.  Everyone that I have approached to take a  picture has been more than happy to pose for the camera, the little kids sometimes run or hide or giggle, but when I show them there image they all want to see more.  No

one has turned away or refused my camera. Today is the last day at Club Serena in Moabal, Cebu.  An incredible place, next time I will stay longer!!!

Temple On The Mountain

I visited this beautiful Taoist Temple property the other day.  It was perched on the side of a mountain overlooking the sea.   From each individual Temple the view of the surrounding area was just amazing.

All over Cebu and the surrounding areas, business's are guarded by very armed guards.  I mention this, because here in this beautiful, tranquil compound a very armed guard made a very big presence. 

 Most guards are carrying a pistol on 

there waste, but many are carrying a sawed off shot gun with a pistol trigger. Even with the presence of this gun-toting guard, these grounds were still incredibly spiritual.  Once I got back into the car for the drive home I realized to myself that the guard was not there to tell me not to take pictures, but for the real threat that we deal with today in our society. 

 

When I first stepped through the main gate sparks were flying inside of me with the anticipation of entering this sacred place. Maybe it was just the whole moment of traveling and everything just feeling so good that hit me at that time.  

I remember feeling this way in Costa Rica years ago, when I was on a boat tour through the jungle.  Animals, birds, reptiles were everywhere.  It was a euphoric feeling.  It just felt really right!!

As I went into the big temple, I looked around and tried to take it all in.  I lit a stick of incense and set it in the pot with the other already burnt pieces.  How many dreams, prayers, thoughts had come before me.  I stood in silence as the smoke danced a wild dance, caused by the changing breezes that blew through the temple.

I stared through the rising smoke.  I have read books of Asian religions.  But this was all different.  It was real.  The temples may have only been built within the last forty years, but the ideas, the wisdom, and the presence of something there was no mistake this was very real.  No talking, no photo's just silence, so you can hear your heart beat.  Admire al

l th

is, and take it away, to remember in your own special way.  

Dragons hold a huge presence in the Taoist religion.   Also there were many pools of live turtles.  The turtle has many references in the Taoist religion.  Most that the turtle holds wisdom.  I looked down to  what I thought was just a little overflow of rain water, but it was a little tended to turtle pond.  No bigger than a goldfish bowl.  

There was no explanation to anything, and 

no one to ask.

  But as you continue to think of this most sacred place, even days after your visit it makes sense as to why there is no explanation.  This is a place for reflection,  for thinking, for just sitting, for anything that you want from your time here.  In whatever you believe I don't think there is place that makes a better place to believe.  There are places such as this Taoist Temple that may wake you up from a long sleep, or kick you a little bit, but there is nothing better than just here!!  

                                      

                     

It's like a Frikin Oven Out There

The Heat continues!!  You can be fine sitting in the shade having lunch, but the moment you step into that sun, it feels like your standing next to a vat of molten steel.  Took a long drive north today, up the Eastern Coast of Cebu.  I had read a review when I was home about a German guy who had married a Philly girl and opened a German restaurant.  The place had been in Cebu when I read the article a few months ago but has since moved to a little coastal town called Sogod.  I called to find out directions and how long to get there, and heard what I suspected "without traffic one hour and with, who knows."  Albert the man who answered the phone told me.  

We set out and made it out of Cebu fairly quickly, then started hitting all the little towns.  It turned out the be a beautiful drive.  Beautiful scenery and beautiful views of the water, boats, and just one of those days where everything turned out to be really nice.  When you stop for traffic, or a goat, or sometimes a cow who thought the middle of the road was a great place to lay down, everyone looks.  I'll usually roll my window down to maybe get a picture.  I always smile, and always say hello.  99.9% of people smile back, wave, make there children wave.  All are interested to meet and ask if I'm English.  Meaning English speaking, not British.  

So Borussia Restaurant is set on a little property next to the ocean or sea as they call it here. The name Borussia is a German football team.  The owner is a fanatic from what i heard.  

They have pens with geese, turkeys, ducks and rabbits.  All of which can end up on your plate on any given day.  The owner makes an amazing Bunny stew around Christmas.  " I can't wait."  I said.  

German food is from what I have always thought HEAVY.  Description sounded heavy.  Anticipated heavy, but it was great.  It didn't feel like I was sitting in the middle of the Philippines eati

ng lunch.  I ordered for the three of us to make things easy.  Pork something, German meatball, Rolled beef with cabbage, my friends found it amazing.  When I saw there faces as they opened the menu, it was a Kodak moment.  They have learned to already trust me at least with food, as I have cooked a couple of great meals.  They offered German Chocolate Cake for dessert but I declined for all of us.  The bill was under twenty USA for all.  We walked down to the Sea for a minute while the car was cooling, and off we went back home.

It was a really nice day.  One that you remember. And describe on your blog.  LOL

   

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The ATM

This is hard to believe!!  I told the driver to pull over at BigFoot Studios, by the ATM.  Bigfoot Studios is described as a premier Film and Television studio in Asia.  I needed cash and this ATM location was in a very secure and nice area.  I went in and took out my money.  The ATM was in a little air conditioned brick vestibule, designed for just one.  I turned and was counting my money as I opened the door, and looked up and a girl with blonde hair was grabbing for the door.  I said "Hello" and smiled.  I listened for an accent.  My first thought was going to be British. Didn't notice anything.  "Do you work here"? I asked.

"Yes."

"What do they do here?"  I asked.

"We make movies and television show."

"What do you do here?"

"I'm a set designer."  

"Where you from?" I asked.  

"LA, what about you? She asked.

"I'm from Buffalo."  I said.  She laughed.  Oh no, what was the reason for that giggle.  Actually this happens to me alot.  I knew what was about to be said.

"I'm from Buffalo."  She said.

Now I laughed.  "Where in Buffalo?"  I asked.

"I was born on Dan Troy."  She said.

"You went to East?"  I asked.

"No I moved to LA before high school, I would have though."

She ran into the ATM machine and i said, "Areverderchi!"

Man that was that the weirdest most surreal thing in the world.  Halfway around the world. Still run into someone you could easily, within three people known her whole family. I left that game back in Buffalo. 

Bobby Blah Blog

My Blog today was more to get something off my chest for myself.  I pass it  along and warn you now it isn't  so cherry.  It may not actually make any sense, and forgive me if i have taken up your valuable time.

 I read an interesting article in the English version of a Philly (Philippine) newspaper the other day and it has struck in my "craw" the last couple of days.  "Incidentally does anyone really know what a craw really is?" A.R.  I will pass on the idea of the article because it makes you think/understand, and I sincerely hope I understand his point of the USA being such a great country.

The article's title, remember this is by a newspaper writer who is Philippine, was titled "Why I think America is still great!!"  He started to write about some of the recent failur

es of the USA under the Bush

administration, and I thought this should be interesting.  He quickly turned the tide to the embarrassing  

differences in the way tax money  in the USA and Philly are used for.  He said what makes the USA a great country is that tax money is to help directly and indirectly the people and the infrastructure of the country.  Schools, roads, elderly, the needy, medical care, all are accepted and expected uses of taxpayers taxes.  He pointed out of course, as we all know there are failures to all of this but in most cases tax money is used for the "good of the people".

In the Philippines, you don't know that the continued economic failure, (Philippines was the only Asian country that did not experience a recent period of growth, i.e. Korea, Viet Nam , China) as I have learned, heard and read in numerous places, is due to the excepted corruption of the economic system

from the President down to the local street cop conducting routine traffic stops.  If you don't put 40 or 50 bucks with your license when presenting it to a cop for a routine stop, don't expect it back till you show at the police station.  To wait in line for six or seven hours to retrieve your license is common practice.

In the article the writer said that politicians in the Philippines feel that tax money allocated to them is there money and there god given right to do with it as they wish.  Anyone sent to investigate allegations of wrong doing quickly report back all is Kosher.  

Millions of children are starving in the Philippines.  Millions of children go with out medicine and many die from what are common very treatable ailments.  A twenty-six year old woman told me she has a very painful cyst in her breast, that her Dr. advised her to have it removed.  I asked her what he will do?  She said, "I just won't think about it, I'm not going to die tomorrow, and all the money that I have, I need to feed my family."  

Average Joe and Josephine

The area that I am living in now is called Vista Mar.  Yes very close to Vista Del Mar, or Vista Del Vista.  I think at one time this was proposed or someday still might be an area of big nice homes.  Today there are three houses, a new hotel, and there is a small resort about 100 yards down the street.  The swimming pool at the resort is open to the people who are living/staying here in the community.   I am in a duplex. Nothing fancy, just the necessities that are close to my heart, very clean and well air conditioned.  

Outside of my air conditioned lodgings I have tried to stay as average as possible.  Meeting and talking with all that are willing to speak to me.  Shopping at the local grocery store.  Eating from the street when told its safe to eat.(Avoiding Dog and Cat)  Average Joe and Josephi

ne are always a little surprised when I say hello to them, or even more surprised when i give a big smile and come over and shake there hand, and say good day!  Many here have never met or even seen an American. Especially one as "Pink" as me.  A lady asked in the native tongue why I was so "pink"?  

So the pictures that I posted today are just some common average things here in the Philippines or more specifically in Cebu.  I'm not sure if the rest of the country is cooking in a kitchen such as the

 one shown here, but I would bet most are.  The fuel for cooking is wood, many people sell the small bundles of dried wood along the side of the road.  I have not had the opportunity to eat from this kitchen yet, but I do look forward to this 

coming Sunday, where a celebration will take place.  And to all you "foodies" out there, I have heard from many that some of the most delicious food comes out of this kitchen.  Lick your lips.....