A day gone by

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Despite not being 100% healthy, I managed to step it up some.

The sinus congestion is mostly gone, but that damn cough still isn’t done with me. Making the hacking and hocking worse is the feeling that I’m being stabbed in my lower abdomen with each cough. I have no idea what’s causing it, but perhaps I strained those weak stomach muscles by coughing so much. The coughing doesn’t seem quite as frequent today, so maybe I’ve turned the corner.

For Friday’s group hike, we took the long jeepney ride out to Castillejos and walked along the bypass highway. We only do that hike a couple of times a year, so it feels fresh. However, we noticed a lot more traffic than usual yesterday, which took some of the fun out of it.

Just the three of us turned out for the adventure.
We walked towards the Light.
And then kept right on going.
We walked a mile for a Camel. Is anyone else old enough to remember televised cigarette commercials? I recall a teacher telling us, “Winston doesn’t taste good like a cigarette should. It tastes good as a cigarette should.”
Trekking on.
Govic Highway, let me slip away on you…
Some nice wall art.
We don’t need no education. Swan assures me that’s a proper rendering in Tagalog.
Is there a message there?
It was nice to get off the highway.
Until it wasn’t.
The ducks seemed happy, though.
Seeing those coconut skulls brought back memories of my visit to Cambodia’s killing fields. They had the human version there.
Bob Marley would be pleased his memory lives on here in the Philippines.
Still going.
A haunted mansion. I’d love to know the story behind this abandoned castle.
And it is for sale.
The route of our 8K journey.

Timed passed, and then it was once again beer o’clock. Started off at It Doesn’t Matter and witnessed some drama between a couple I know. Sad to see and hope things work out for the best.

At sundown, we hoofed it up the highway for dinner at Mango’s.
The view from our table.
On the beach.
And on the bay.

We enjoyed our usual grilled pork chop dinner, then moved on to Queen Victoria. In happy news, San Miguel delivered some Extra Light to restock the coolers. ’Bout damn time. I had a pleasant chat with Manager Jake and was prepared to wrap things up at the usual witching hour of 8 p.m. But Swan’s girlfriend, part of the couple drama I mentioned earlier, messaged that she wanted to have some girl talk at Red Bar. So, we triked over. The gals sat together, while I took a table in the corner. An hour later, Swan’s friend duty was complete, and we headed home. Maybe I’ll try to start staying out a little later from now on.

From the April 2022 LTG archives comes a post about the climb to the top of Easter Mountain. I don’t recall whether that was the last time I made it to the top, but I fear that kind of climb is beyond my elderly capabilities now. So, I thought the post was worthy of inclusion in The Story of My Life.

In today’s YouTube video, the vlogger complains that foreign tourists aren’t helping the economy. Maybe that’s somewhat true in places like Siargao, where the tourists are almost exclusively foreigners. It’s the opposite here in my little town. The hotels fill up every weekend with Filipino families escaping Manila, but non-expat foreign tourists are few and far between. And the bars here are desperate for customers. It’s only a little over three minutes long, so see what you think.

Maybe we all just need a reason to smile:

I see, the blind man said, as he picked up the hammer and saw.
Yeah, this one threw me for a loop at first too.
Been there, done that.

And now you know all about the day that was yesterday. Meanwhile, today has arrived.

I woke up to a red moon this morning.
I zoomed in for a closer look, and I swear, the moon was laughing at me!

And so it goes.

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