Above it all

Hell, even I don’t understand my life sometimes.

Keeping it simple and more of the same ain’t so bad if the same is what you enjoy. And so on it goes.

On Thursdays, Swan and I walk by ourselves. I asked her where she wanted to go, and I was a little surprised when she said, “Let’s do your Bitch trail.” Sure, why not?

Can you spot the Bitch through the tall grass? Yes, that’s what Swan is walking on.
Posing with Easter Mountain.
Mountain Mama Onelia was busy raking and burning leaves.
Back on flat ground in Barretto.
From my house to the end of the My Bitch trail is 3.2 kilometers (the blue arrow marks the end). And from the end of the trail back to the highway in Barretto is another 3.2K.

Seeing this journey on the map makes me smile because it has a dick-like appearance. But it really isn’t that hard.

Oh, and we cleared the trail of Hash mark litter in the form of ribbons tied to tree branches.

I mentioned earlier about the sameness of most of my days, but I do look for ways to tweak things a tad now and then. Last evening, I surprised Swan by starting things off with a drink on the rooftop of the seldom-visited Central Park Reef Hotel.

Barretto Beach as seen from the tallest building in Barretto.
The rooftop view looking towards Baloy Beach (on the other side of that peninsula).
You can see Easter Mountain from here.
That highway that runs through town.
The Kalaklan Ridge side of town.
Swan and her wine.
The table view.

We only come to Central Park Reef three or four times a year, so it has a fresh and new feel about it when we visit. It’s a high-end hotel and priced accordingly. No San Mig Zero, and my Light was 140 pesos (versus an average of 80 at the other bars I frequent). We didn’t stay for dinner as we weren’t that hungry, and nothing on the menu called for us to reconsider.

A parting shot as we headed for the elevator.

We didn’t have a plan as to where to go next. Cheap Charlies is practically next door, and I asked Swan if she wanted to give them another chance. She hesitated at first, but then agreed to do so. The offending bartender wasn’t working, and they had wine in stock, so it worked out fine. As we sat on our perch, taking in the highway view, Swan commented that she enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere and music mix and admitted she had missed coming here.

A view of the Maze bar complex from Cheap Charlies.
That’s the Central Park Reef Hotel as seen from Cheap Charlies.

Lady drinks at Cheap Charlies are 250 pesos each. The max I’ll pay anywhere is 200 pesos. It’s not that I’m a cheap Charlie, I often will buy two drinks at the lower price, but more than 200 pesos feels like a scam. When we ordered chicken wings to snack on, I bought the girls some chicken fingers (240 pesos) to share. So, win-win.

The sun’s goodbye gift.

We did our nightcap at Wet Spot. It’s always quiet there when we arrive shortly after opening, and I had our waitress acknowledge that we were the best customers. Also, coincidentally, the only customers. Others did arrive during our visit, but I failed to re-ask the who’s best question.

Wet Spot had a full stage of dancers despite the early hour. Not that they were actually dancing.
Friend and head waitress Beth took good care of us and earned two 180-peso lady drinks.
Oh, and San Miguel Zero was back in stock, although it wasn’t cold yet. So I drank it on ice.
Beth also gifted us this lovely miniature Christmas tree.

I deem it was not bad for a Thursday.

I’m now in the August 2014 archives of LTG, and I’ve revisited the rare post with substance where I talk about religion. One thing that struck me was how little things have changed in the intervening eleven years. People are, of course, free to believe what they choose, unless they choose to believe that killing folks who believe otherwise is justified.

Today’s YouTube video is from a vlogger I’ve never seen before. The video caught my eye because it purports to be about living off-grid in the Philippines. I’ve fantasized about what life must be like for those people living out in the wilds I hike through with no roads, power, or running water. I wouldn’t last twenty-four hours in that lifestyle. Of course, what this guy calls roughing it is, in reality, a life of luxury compared to his neighbors’. Off-grid, my ass.

I liked them, maybe you will too:

Wow, what a way to go. Sorry, Kevin!
That’s why HR says not to dip your pen in company ink.
Trick or treat!

Time to find out what’s going to happen next. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.

4 thoughts on “Above it all

  1. Re: Central Park hotel
    I am assuming that the hotel does not have GRO’s? So you pay 60 pesos more for a beer (what is that, a $1?) and save 200 pesos on a lady drink. Seems like you would be coming out ahead. LOL

    Re: mountain mama burning leaves
    I am sure that some people burn plastic waste also, though probably the majority just toss it. Anyway, there is a video floating around of a group intentionally capturing the smoke emitted from a (small) burning pile of plastic trash. Nasty nasty stuff. Not sure it is worse than just tossing it to the side. Both are bad and it boggles my mind that people (not just in the PI) dont give a shit.

    Re: your comment from a couple of days ago about being called out for being loud in Korea
    I agree with what you said in your original blog post. Hearing people speaking in a foreign language almost always sounds louder. For whatever reason, when you cannot understand what is being said, it seems like the decibel level is increased by X amount.

  2. Brian, nope, no lady drinks at Central Park, but I don’t consider those as an expense; it’s a form of charity. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

    Yeah, I hate inhaling smoke from a leaf pile; burning garbage is infinitely worse. And then the sky reminds me of growing up in the smog of Southern Cal. Of course, what they don’t burn winds up in the river, and then on the beach. And as you say, the locals don’t care.

    Well, I was arguing with the nephew about politics, so that sucks in any language. I’m a lot calmer these days.

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