I’m sure I must have mentioned the unruly dogs down the street from me. It got to the point where I’ve been forced to carry a stick with me to fend them off as I pass by. Swan and some of the neighbors even filed a complaint with the Barangay to no avail. The owner has a fenced yard, but more often than not, left the dogs outside to harass passersby. Honestly, I had seriously considered paying someone to poison the dogs because they were a danger to others (at least two neighbors have been bitten in the past). I never followed through on that plan because I didn’t want to risk running afoul of the law or being deported. So, I was surprised to see this when walking by yesterday morning:
For my Thursday walk, I joined Swan on an excursion to the Subic market. Naturally, we brought some sweets to hand out along the way.
I knew Swan would be wanting to get her beach fixation satiated, so I offered her the choice of Baloy or Kon-Tiki. She chose Baloy, but as we were walking, she changed her mind. We’d usually take a Jeepney to get to Kon-Tiki, but a trike driver called out as we approached the highway, offering us a ride. Hell, why not? We get in and start on our way, and I see Mama, the homeless umbrella lady I’ve been helping some since before I moved here. I had the driver stop, reached for my wallet, and it wasn’t in my pocket. Swan had a hundred pesos and gave it to my Mama. I knew I had refilled my wallet after my shower, so I figured I must have left it on the dresser. So, we had the trike driver take us back to the house. On the way, I checked my other pocket (one I never use), and I’ll be damned, but there was my wallet. Fuck, I should be President! So, we had the driver turn around once more, and we completed our journey to Samba Resort without further incident.
We both ordered the fajitas for our evening meal…chicken for me, shrimp for Swan.
When we arrived, the chef greeted us and said he had seen us hiking on the highway that morning. Ah, life in a small town, even when you are out of town.
We did our nightcap at The Green Room. Lady drinks for Chu and Sally, a wine for Swan, and some more beers for me. Headed for home around eight after a full and satisfying day in the life.
Here is what the day cost me:
- Charity: 2300 pesos (candy for the Sunday Candy Walk)
- Alcohol: 1425 pesos (my beer, Swan’s wine)
- Dinner: 675 pesos
- Trike Fare: 450 pesos
- Lady Drinks: 370 pesos
- Tips: 325 pesos
- Total for October 3: 5545 pesos
I also received the results of my echocardiogram. Obviously, I’m not qualified to interpret them, but I’m seeing the word “mild” a lot, and I hope that’s a good sign. I’ll be going back to the referring cardiologist next week to see what it all means.
Twelve years ago, I was living my darting life in Columbia, South Carolina:
It’s always amazing to me to look back at what I thought would be my life until, suddenly, it wasn’t. I guess that’s a lot like dying.
Today’s YouTube video is from a vlogger I don’t normally follow, but the title of this one caught my eye. Koreans have pretty much taken over the bar scene in Angeles City, and a lot of the Western expats there don’t like that fact. Here in Barretto, the only Koreans I see are the occasional tourists. They seem to be generous and popular with the girls. Now, that said, when I lived in Korea, I met Filipinas who worked for assholes, or worse, married them. I’d also occasionally encounter the “Koreans Only” signage at nightspots. Didn’t bother me much; I don’t want to go where I’m not wanted. I will always remember my girlfriend Eun Oke ending our relationship because I wanted to retire and move to a “poor country.” I’m not sure that qualifies as “looking down” on Filipinos, though. I have no other data points to consider, so I’m going to just say that some Koreans may think Filipinos are inferior, but no more so than other nationalities. Assholes abound, but the good outweighs the bad.
Hopefully, here’s something you can smile about:
I’m going to skip the SOB this week. Instead, I’ll check out what’s happening on Baloy Beach. It’s been a while since my last visit. See you here tomorrow.
The last time we were here, the inflatable island had been deflated and beached. Now, it’s back once more in all its view-disrupting glory.
The same inflatable island that’s always appearing on your maps?
re: Koreans vs. the PI
There’s plenty of East Asian arrogance to explain the attitude. It’s this side of the world’s version of the “ugly American”—loud, insisting on speaking only in English, generally uninterested in local customs and thinking, looking only to find islands of his own native culture, and acting as if he owns the place.
re: the dead dawg
Good riddance. Can’t say I have any sympathy even if the dog did come from a bad household. Would’ve been better to put it down much earlier than to let it terrorize people for as long as it did. And there’s still another, isn’t there?
Good luck getting rid of all that candy.
A shame about the dog. People who celebrate the deaths of animals will find themselves fast burning for all eternity in HELL.
Speaking of bad doggy behavior, I’ll again humbly suggest giving Lucky the big bootsky. Biting the hand that feeds is a serious violation of Pet Rule No. One. Drawing blood in the process carries strict liability in my book. Your mileage may vary. But just think if he bit a kid, or Swan’s face, or your nut sack, or….
That’s one lucky mutt. So far.
I find carrying a handful of small stones in one’s pocket, and lobbing even just one or two at the most aggressive soi dogs , will send them all scurrying. Take care always.
Digory, yeah, rocks work most of the time, but not with these two. They’d back off, then come back for more. When I came after them with the stick, yelling and screaming like a madman, “ONE OF US IS GOING TO DIE TODAY!” they’d flee. Now that his partner in crime isn’t around, the other dog is much less aggressive. He still barks but doesn’t try and approach me. I no longer need my stick!
Drain, it’s been a year since the bite, and Lucky is still on probation. He’s lost my trust, but not his life. So far. Swan’s family visits frequently and he is never aggressive around them, so hopefully there will be no future incidents. He’s a good watchdog, barking at anyone who approaches the front gate, so there’s that.
Beckerson, Bad dogs are the result of bad owners. Death for that dog was probably a blessing, but the way he died was pitiful.
No, the one on the map is in Barretto. The one we see at Samba Resort is 3K further down the highway in Lower Kalaklan.
Hmm, I don’t fit all of your definition of “ugly American.” I guess I’m just unattractive.
I am glad the dog will no longer terrorize the neighborhood, that’s for sure. His partner in crime was never as aggressive, and now that he is on his own, he still barks but doesn’t go into attack mode. I don’t bother carrying a stick now.
All that candy will be gone at the end of Sunday’s walk. The challenge is finding a way to carry enough so we don’t run out before the end of our regular route.
John,.
I’d never accuse you of acting as if you owned the place.