Comments Posted By John McCrarey
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Brian, yep, I’m looking forward to my return visit and hopefully some new stories to tell. Good stories, not the being mugged kind. 🙂
Stay tuned!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/November/2022 @ 1:38 pm
Kev, that’s right. It’s not as much about where you are in the world but more about what you’re doing. I sent that link to my friend living in Phnom Penh, and he said it was exaggerated bullshit. He’s been living there for several years and visiting prior to that and says PP was never “edgy” to begin with and he’s not noticed an increase in crime post-COVID. He takes common-sense precautions and has never felt threatened or in danger. I’ll take his word for it.
Actually, the blue house does have a generator, just another plus. I can handle an occasional brownout, even if it lasts several hours. But almost three days this time was almost unbearable. By the way, with no power, I have no water pump. No water pump means no showers or flushing toilets. It’s an f’n nightmare.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/November/2022 @ 7:33 am
Dan, thanks for your support. I have every intention of continuing my daily drivel from Cambodia. Unless they break my fingers and steal my laptop…
» Posted By John McCrarey On 01/November/2022 @ 7:24 am
Kev, Ha! Yes, the creepy girl doesn’t miss many meals; whatever it is she might be eating. She just had a look about her that conveyed that putting on the mask was taking off the one that hides her true nature. Or something like that.
Yep, that’s Lydell in the foreground scratching her head with the “WTF?” look on her face. I got a picture of them both together last night that I’ll post later.
Regarding the mamasan, (a) is what I was trying to say. I don’t know much about her, though, so maybe both are true.
I guess, in hindsight, you could have had the police attempt to disperse the crowd, but that may have triggered a similar stampede. For me, the Sewol disaster was the direct result of the Captain’s incompetence, and the only fault of the passengers was in being good little sheep and following orders. I don’t think anyone foresaw their peril in Itaewon until it was too late. I recall walking through those crowds and being annoyed at the inconvenience but never considering the potential for a stampede.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/October/2022 @ 7:02 am
Dan. I guess I have a way with words–a bad way! 🙂 What I meant by “my Whiskey Girl girl” was the gal I usually drink with when I’m there, Jen. Definitely not a tranny!
Halloween was never that big a deal to me once I outgrew the trick-or-treating stage. Dressing up as an adult is something I rarely do. In the photo of Eun Oke and me, that was all her doing–she came over with costumes she had purchased and left me no other option. I guess when I was back in the states, the pumpkin carving ritual was my favorite part. I’ll have to read up on the history of the holiday, but it really does seem to be a big deal here. And, of course, you saw the tragic enthusiasm back in Seoul.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 31/October/2022 @ 6:40 am
Well, the last time I wore a suit as a costume was three years ago. Thought maybe that “dressed up for Halloween” line might have renewed itself by now, but no, not when your detail-oriented memory is around. I walked to Wet Spot on the back streets like I always do, and the stares and comments were hilarious (usually, I’m just ignored). Good times indeed!
Yeah, the one-eyed homeless Jack was one of the best (and most realistic) costumes I’ve seen. He really played the part well, too, walking around with his hand out.
Wet Spot and Alaska had great costumes, and both groups did a dance that seemed to tell a story. Wet Spot featured two “normal” girls in pajamas minding their own business at home when they get accosted by the masked monsters. It was pretty impressive; when the videos get posted, I’ll share them.
That exit clearance is basically a check to ensure you have no outstanding wants or warrants pending. Why they make that such a paper-intensive process is beyond me.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 30/October/2022 @ 8:13 am
Ha! I actually thought to myself when I mixed the time styles, “Kevin won’t like that.” As to the why, mostly just laziness. I did the 0800 because it is easier to type, and everyone knows what it means. Using 1600, maybe not so much. But when I saw that using two versions of writing the time looked weird, I couldn’t be bothered to go back and fix it. Of course, I’ve spent much more time and effort on this lame explanation than doing it right would have entailed, so I have been sufficiently chastened and will refrain from that particular faux pas in the future.
There’s really not much here that reminds me of the USA, so I can’t say I’ve had that feeling you describe. Maybe the closest I’ve come is parts of the old Navy base that remind me of Yongsan, which was like a piece of America in the middle of Seoul. That said, places like that cashew grove are so different from what I normally see on my hikes that it feels like I’m a long way from home.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/October/2022 @ 7:29 am
Derek, Enjoy your stay at Kokomo’s. I’m friends with Aussie owner Steve and his wife, I’m sure they will take good care of you.
Treasure Island is a nice place to chill. I never go to Barefoot Bar because I refuse to pay 150 pesos for a beer. Another venue you might try is up the beach from Kokomo’s, called Kim’s Place, and is a nice place on the sand to hangout.
As for after 10 p.m. places with cheap beer, I’m never out that late, but you’ll likely need to venture into Barretto to find something to your liking. Sloppy Joe’s (same owner at Treasure Island) is open 24 hours, and the other usual bars are around to quench your thirst. The only way off Baloy is going to be a trike or walking. Jeepneys are available on the highway if needed. There are no taxi stands in Barretto, but from Olongapo (SM Mall) and SBMA (the old Navy base) you can catch a ride into town. You can also get a phone number and try to call one, but I’ve never done that myself.
The floating bars are gone for the season, won’t be back until November. Treasure Island is probably the closet thing to a “swim up” bar, but the Outback Resort in Barretto has a very nice pool bar that is open 24 hours. Your best bet will be just to explore the bars and see what you like. Beers will be around 100 pesos a pop, and if you specify SINGLE lady drink, they are normally 200 or less.
Good luck on your adventure. Give me a holler when you are here and I’ll show you my favorite spots.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 16/June/2025 @ 10:50 am
Yeah, it seems almost disrespectful to the performer to not at least give them your attention. On the other hand, the dancers aren’t very energized when the bar is devoid of customers.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 29/October/2022 @ 3:43 pm
You are quite the observer of photo details. But I’m sure they are both real girls. News of a bakla working in a bar spreads fast, and I’m quite sure if Whiskey Girl had a Whiskey Girl-with-something-extra, I’d have heard about it by now. I didn’t pick up that vibe from her in person, either.
Yeah, I couldn’t find the link you sent me on adding text/graphics to a Google map, so I just made due the best I could. The crazy map I don’t understand–what would make GPS readings go crazy like that?
The bar crawl was one of the surprises; the other was the impromptu journey by bus out to San Marcelino and the longish (for me) 10K walk we did out there. The brownout was scheduled, so that wasn’t really a surprise.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/October/2022 @ 4:34 pm
Yes, we had a power outage all day while repairs were made to the transmission lines. Scott and I decided that rather than suffer the inconvenience, we’d catch a bus to San Marcelino and take a hike out there. By the time we got back, I was two hours behind my normal schedule.
I definitely want to go back to Pugon Corner again soon. It’s about a 15-minute walk from the area I normally hang out in, but I reckon it’s worth it.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 28/October/2022 @ 6:38 am
Brian, yeah, instead of gratitude, you just get expectations for more from a lot of these “friends.” I used to keep my FB friends list at 500, which required doing periodic purges. That got to be a pain in the ass after a while. I don’t accept new friends unless there is some connection, but it’s still hit-and-miss regarding their intentions.
I’m a lot more selective about who I actually give money to these days. That’s why it is so disappointing when they try and take advantage. There are others I never hear from except when they need my “help.” Those are very easy to reject.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/October/2022 @ 10:02 am
Kev, Actually, being able to stay for three years on a tourist visa is one of the more liberal immigration policies in Asia. After my first retirement in Korea, I was on a tourist visa and had to leave every six months. No big deal, I’d catch a plane to Osaka, hang out in the airport until my return flight departed, and get another six months when I landed back in Seoul.
Yes, that whole “you support me, you support my family” thing seems to be ingrained in Filipino culture. Even before I moved here, I had heard stories similar to your friend’s. If I ever wind up with a steady relationship, my plan is to give my gal a monthly allowance to do with as she pleases, with the caveat that she is responsible for all family “emergencies”, not me.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/October/2022 @ 6:34 am
Yes, I’ve already got the photos. Hopefully, I can get it done online. I honestly don’t remember the photo requirement from my first (and only) visit. Then again, that was six years ago, and everything is fuzzy these days.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 27/October/2022 @ 6:25 am
Justin must be done, haven’t seen any more Relive videos posted.
It’s pronounced “Yoh”, Swedish owner.
Yes, that was a very full moon for sure!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 26/October/2022 @ 7:13 am
Kev, I like to think I’m reasonably savvy and can sense when something “just ain’t right.”
So, I was shocked and disappointed by my gullibility in this instance. Looking back, there were lots of red flags, and it would have been very easy to determine this was illegitimate. Lesson learned, and yeah, I got off cheap–losing some pride but not any cash. Let’s hope I can maintain some common sense in my golden years.» Posted By John McCrarey On 25/October/2022 @ 6:21 am
Mikey, I had considered a longer trip, including travel to other places in Cambodia, but in the end, went the short route. Actually, even before the scamdemic, I was inclined to take several short trips versus a couple of long ones. Some of that is logistics, and some is having things I want to do here (taking care of my dogs, the Hash, etc.) Since I’ve been to PP before, I think I’ll be able to do and see what I want in a week.
I’ll be missing the pool party because it is on a Monday. The Hash is having an outstation event in Pundaquit I’ve been looking forward to attending on that date.
Yeah, can’t argue that my limited social circle compounds the small-town episodes, but honestly speaking, I have a comfort level being part of the expat community here–I guess it is a sense of belonging. I think the positives outweigh the negatives anyway. And I think you are right about most people maintaining similar small networks. Thinking back to my working days in Korea, I was part of the Itaewon/dart league/works on base crowd and rarely stepped outside those boundaries.
I won’t be attending the pool party. It’s on a Monday, and I’ve got a special Hash event I’ve been looking forward to doing in Pundaquit that day. It’s nice to have options, even in my little town! 🙂
» Posted By John McCrarey On 24/October/2022 @ 6:50 am
Actually, that’s my hope too. I also want to set a Guinness record for the longest rental tenant in history… 🙂
» Posted By John McCrarey On 22/October/2022 @ 3:39 pm
If I knew you were coming I’d have baked a cake
I’d prefer to make the Sloppy Joe gal my private dancer! 🙂
Yeah, I’m sure it was squatter rights the woman was defending…we stole this land first; now leave! They did have several pigs living with them.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/October/2022 @ 8:08 am
Kev, In the universe of grammatical errors, that was a relatively minor mistake, whoever it was. Especially for me. I read right over “whomever,” and Grammarly didn’t catch it either for some reason.
Well, I’m not a biologist, but that tree has balls, even if it does identify as female.
Oh, and thanks for the tip on using the countdown timer…I honestly was not aware of that option previously. Yeah, that will work much better for me.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/October/2022 @ 6:55 am
Dan, I have no idea of how they met or the circumstances of their online relationship; she just said he was an Instagram “friend.” I was a little surprised by her gullibility as well, but I guess she’s the type who assumes people she meets have good intentions. I hadn’t heard from her in months, so it was strange that she came to me with this, but I’m glad she did. I hate scammers with a passion.
As Kevin noted, she is technically not my ex-wife in a legal sense, but we’ve been apart for over six years now and I don’t consider myself married.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/October/2022 @ 6:43 am
Yes, in a strictly legal sense, I’m married to a woman who ended our relationship six years ago. She is the one who wanted the divorce, so to my mind, she’s the one who should file the papers. I have no motivation to do so at this point in time, but should my circumstances change, I’ll get a divorce back in the USA, where the marriage took place. I don’t consider myself to be married by any definition other than the government’s imposition. How does a Muslim divorce work? You just say, “I divorce you, I divorce you, I divorce you.” Okay, I repeated that out loud as I typed it, so now I self-identify as a divorced Muslim. Praise be to Allah!
But seriously, my legally married state has had no impact on my finding a partner here. I don’t expect I’ll ever feel the need to marry again, and certainly have not met any Filipina woman who had any desire to spend her life with me. If I ever find myself in that kind of relationship, my marriage will be the least of my worries.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 21/October/2022 @ 6:36 am
What? Are you mansplaining, Mr. Misogynist?
You are correct, of course. They even have a word for it here when a Filipina gets upset about something but won’t talk about what it is–tampo. The standard period of silence runs three days, I’m told, then hell breaks loose. A lot of guys say that the lengthy period of not talking is more of a feature than a bug.
It will be interesting to watch and see what, if anything, happens to all that beachfront property. I feel sorry for the former residents, I used to walk through there quite often, and it always seemed like a friendly and happy community.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/October/2022 @ 5:46 am
Teddy, she’s a hottie, that’s for sure. Newest member of the crew, and to be honest, I can’t recall her name at the moment. There are a couple of other “old timers” there that I’m fond of giving my attention. They do tend to be young at Snackbar, early 20s for the most part.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 20/October/2022 @ 5:39 am
Well, it’s paper, so it is biodegradable. I’ve seen tying plastic or ribbons, and that seems to never go away. But yeah, I guess living in a litter culture has desensitized me some. Ideally, the Hares would go back out the next day and undecorate the trees.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 19/October/2022 @ 5:49 am
It felt like deja vu all over again
That’s true. The terrain was the same, but the vegetation I saw in March was much different in October. Lots more tall grass, for one thing.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/October/2022 @ 6:46 am
Yeah, I do have a small cadre of local readers, so I try to avoid invading someone’s privacy unnecessarily.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 18/October/2022 @ 6:44 am
What!? The stripper DOESN’T really like me? Oh, shit!
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/October/2022 @ 10:05 am
Kev, well, my eyes are wide open, and my expectations are low. That should help alleviate the potential for disaster somewhat. I don’t want to become so cynical that I never even give it a shot, though. I plan to test the waters a bit more and then maybe ask her out to dinner. We’ll see.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/October/2022 @ 6:36 am
«« Back To Stats PageJimmy, none of them are girlfriends. Just people to help me pass the time.
» Posted By John McCrarey On 17/October/2022 @ 6:33 am