Born and raised in southern California. My career exodus has taken me to Arizona, Oklahoma, Arkansas, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, DC. And as of 23 January 2005, Seoul, Korea. Married with 6 grown children (blended family). First grandchild is in the oven! I created this blog to document my adventures as an expat living and working in Korea. I'm also pretty confident that I will on occasion feel the need to express my views on current events and other matters I find of interest.
I find all this “insurrection” talk from the Dems and big media (but I repeat myself) to be rather revolting. Keep it up and you’ll see what a real revolution looks like. But enough with American politics. I live here now and my shenanigans create more than enough drama to fill my days.
I had a nice 7.5K morning walk. Did a photo every ten minutes this time. I’ll add them at the end of this post. My anticipated afternoon delight was a visit from Joy.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect. It was her day off and her idea to come over. I was prepared to do the steak dinner thing, even had the potatoes baking in the oven when she arrived. “How long can you stay?” I asked. She replied that she needed to leave around 3:00. It was currently 2:00, so then I knew what she had come for. So, we took care of business, and it was time to go. I walked her out of the subdivision and invited her to join me at a new Korean place that just opened, but it was closed. So, I took her to Sit-n-Bull instead.
After the meal, we said our goodbyes. And there I stood on the highway in Barretto at 3:30 in the afternoon. I had no expectations about Joy and yet somehow I still felt a sense of disappointment. Nothing a few beers won’t cure I reasoned, so I headed over to the Mango’s beach bar for some solitary contemplation. Then I moved on to Outback for more beer and bargirl company. When I tired of that, I crossed the street to Queen Victoria for more of the same. Well, you get the picture. Just another night in paradise. It ended in a bizarre and unexpected way, copious amounts of beer will sometimes do that, but I’ll have to share that story another time. I’m not sure what I’m doing at this point.
Anyway, I have the Friday hike this morning, the annual Hash leadership meeting in the early afternoon, and then darts in the evening. Wanted to get this post up now as it is likely my only chance to do so.
Yesterday’s solitary hike:
One of my standard paths.0 minutes–leaving home.10 minutes–not far outside the entrance to Alta Vista.20 minutes–that ridiculous and pointless checkpoint on the highway. They didn’t stop me as a pedestrian though.30 minutes–highway walker.40 minutes–market street50 minutes–lazy dogs in front of a sari-sari store.60 minutes–Up to Govic Highway.80 minutes–hello Easter mountain.100 minutes–riverside living.120 minutes–the path to Alta Vista.139 minutes–Home again.
Relive the walk here if you want:
https://www.relive.cc/view/vE6Jpzypexv
It seems life just gets curiouser and curiouser. Stay tuned for whatever may be coming next.
If you're down and confused
And you don't remember who you're talking to
Concentration slip away
Because your baby is so far away
Well there's a rose in a fisted glove
And the eagle flies with the dove
And if you can't be with the one you love, honey
Love the one you're with
It turned out to be a pretty interesting Wednesday. Saw some new scenery with the Walkers group out on the far side of Subic town; that’s always nice. The hike was challenging, as much from the overgrown vegetation as was it from the hill climb. Still, a good group effort, and that made it worthwhile. Pictures from that trek are at the end of this post.
We had a different kind of challenge just getting to Subic. We had the good fortune to catch an empty Jeepney in Barretto so all seventeen of us hikers hopped in the back. We were stopped at the checkpoint as we entered Zambales province and asked for our quarantine cards. Yep, they’ve actually started that madness again. Actually, from what I read they are only supposed to be harassing folks from Manila, but there is no arguing with these petty tyrants. Hell, I technically live in San Isidro which is part of Zambales; am I not going to be allowed to go home without proof of quarantine? Bullshit! Anyway, we just played dumb and said “oh, we didn’t know we had to bring our card” and eventually the bureaucrat let us proceed with the admonishment to bring our cards next time. Yes, sir!
After the hike, some of us did lunch and beers at Dynamite Dick’s. We are between seasons in darts so I wasn’t in my usual big rush to get home. After Dick’s, Scott and I headed over to Hideaway for a couple of more beers. Naturally, I bought my waitress friend Joy a couple of lady drinks. She is going to be visiting me here this afternoon. I’m planning to grill up some steaks and fixin’s. Not sure what she has in mind since I’m no longer doing the FWB program. We’ll see how that goes.
After going home to shower up, I met up with “Bill” at Wet Spot. Bill’s live-in girlfriend has gone home to the province to spend a month or so with family. Bill is also the guy I mentioned that has made it his goal to find me a worthy girlfriend this year. I don’t usually hang with anyone when I hit the bars, but since we are both currently single I thought I’d share my company with him.
Bill was there when I arrived. As I sat down to join him, Aine, the waitress I spend my time with when I visit Wet Spot, came to join us. She wasn’t her usual friendly self though. Turns out she was pissed/hurt because I hadn’t been in to see her for over a week, including the holidays. Well, it wasn’t anything personal, I just don’t visit Wet Spot as frequently as other venues. So I bought her the first of several drinks and let her pout while I gave my attention to Bill. Later on, I bought some chocolates for her from a vendor and she seemed to cheer up some.
Meanwhile, Bill had spotted a hottie on stage and called her down to join us at our table. Twenty-one, dark-skinned, and huge natural tits. Yeah, looked even better close up. Named Barbie. I told her I was Ken, but she didn’t get the joke. Oh well. Bill started buying her some drinks and she loosened up quite a bit–became more talkative and took off her bra! Wowza! As I mentioned, Bill has a girlfriend that he adores, but I could tell he was really tempted to ask for a take-out. Well, I mean, I heard him ask if she was available and she answered affirmatively. Maybe to keep himself out of trouble, he started trying to get me interested in Barbie. Nope, not my thing. Besides, I had a gal next to me already and I’m pretty sure she would have not appreciated it if I started showing affection for another girl in the bar. I learned on my very first trip to the Philippines to never barfine two girls from the same bar. Once they’ve gone with you they consider you exclusively theirs. Bizarre I know, especially since they won’t hesitate to go with another customer who pays the price of admission.
I had originally thought we’d do a bar hop and have dinner somewhere but we wound up staying at Wet Spot and ordering some food from Sit-n-Bull for delivery to our table. When we did finally break free we crossed the street to Cheap Charlies. Bill switched to Cokes but I stuck with my low-alcohol beer. Alma, my favorite, wasn’t working but there were three girls surrounding me so I made do. Bill was working with two of his own and having a good time putting on some dirty dancing moves. I finally called it quits a little after 9:00 and headed on home. A good night overall.
As seen on my morning dog walk today. The beauty that surrounds me here is about the best anti-depressant I’ve ever experienced.
Alright then, let’s get to those pictures from the Wednesday Walkers hike, shall we?
A Jeepney to the start in Philseco, a hike up and over a mountain, and a finish in, hell, I don’t remember now. Caught a bus from there back to Barretto.Exiting the Jeepney……and hitting the road…The Wednesday Walkers. Well, except for the stragglers.Look at ’em go!As usual, the locals were very friendly.Marching on to the end of the neighborhood.Now what? It seems there is no trail over the mountain to be found.We sent Troy into the wild to see what he could find. And, Eureka! He found a path forward.It wasn’t much of a path though. Overgrown with thatch grass most of the way.Nothing to do but keep plodding forward.And there were some parts where it was worse than the grass. Bushes covered in thorns are no fun at all!A rest stop about halfway up.Let’s get this climb done!This rat gave up the fight.What goes up, must come down.Rural living is an understatement!So far, so good.In an ironic twist, the downside was much better than the upside.A village at the bottom.What do I have to complain about?Just passin’ through…A rice paddy…Or are you seeing a nice assy?I know I’m keeping my eyes straight ahead!Enjoy the flat ground while you can…One more hill to climb.On your mark, get set…GO!Looks like I’m gonna finish last. Again.A last look back from whence we came.Done with the hike and waiting on a bus back home.The first hiking post this year!
All in all, I’d call it a damn fine Wednesday.
Turn your heartache right into joy
'Cause she's a girl and you're a boy
Get it together come on make it nice
You ain't gonna need any more advice
Well there's a rose in a fisted glove
And the eagle flies with the dove
And if you can't be with the one you love, honey
Love the one you're with
Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone?
I didn’t engage in the formal New Year’s resolution game. That said, I do have good intentions about changing some of my outlooks and perspectives on life. Might as well emphasize the positives rather than lament the losses. And when I take a step back and look at what I have, well, there’s a helluva lot to be thankful for. It’s not always easy to escape the trap of thinking in terms of what you want and don’t have or to focus on what you had and lost, but really those issues are trivial in the grand scheme of things. Or so I keep telling myself.
Anyway, I have my life. 66 years old and still hitting the hiking trails, dart boards, and bars. That I’m still healthy enough to do the things I most enjoy is a blessing beyond measure.
A second-place finish last night, but there was enjoyment in the competition and camaraderie.And the memories of the glory days of my darting life also bring a measure of satisfaction.
I had another nice hike today with the Wednesday Walkers. The social aspects of the group treks are perhaps the best part of the journey. Getting out and exploring new territory, enjoying the beauty that surrounds us, and sharing in the sense of adventure as we make our way is truly something special.
And then there’s my drinking life. I’m actually a lonely guy most of the time, so spending time in the bars with my bar “friends” and acquaintances more or less fills that void. I’m not foolish enough to believe that the gals I ply with drinks actually care about me, but that doesn’t stop us from having a good time either. I’m not even sure what is real anymore. I thought the love I briefly shared with XXXX was something special and amazing. But even in my disappointment in discovering that her version of love was unworthy of mine, I was reminded of an important lesson: people will reveal to you the true nature of their character if you keep your wits about you and your eyes wide open.
Another side benefit to my nightly bar excursions is eating out.
Last night it was chicken parmigiana at The Pub. A dish I very infrequently eat, but I enjoyed it as a nice change from the usual fare.
Anyway, if there is a point to this pointless post it is that I’m doing alright. I guess some of my posts on Facebook have made some people concerned about the state of my emotional health. One friend has committed to finding me a girlfriend to start the new year. HaHa, I don’t think that’s the kind of help I need, but I do appreciate the sentiment. Sometimes the pain and disappointment you encounter in life lead you to realize what is most important. I’m doing alright with the things that matter most. As long as I hold on to that foundation, I’ll be just fine. As they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!
As I’ve gone through this period of reflection I have rediscovered one of the things that bring me comfort during times of emotional turmoil–poetry. In particular, one of my favorites, James Kavanaugh. I lost almost all of my library when I moved to Korea and wife #3 divorced me. I did manage to salvage a few of my poetry books, including this one:
First published in 1970. I didn’t discover him until the 80s though.
This is from the introduction to the book:
I am one of the searchers. There are, I believe, millions of us. We are not unhappy, but neither are we really content. We continue to explore life, hoping to uncover its ultimate secret. We continue to explore ourselves, hoping to understand. We like to walk along the beach, we are drawn by the ocean, taken by its power, its unceasing motion, its mystery and unspeakable beauty. We like forests and mountains, deserts and hidden rivers, and the lonely cities as well. Our sadness is as much a part of our lives as is our laughter. To share our sadness with one we love is perhaps as great a joy as we can know–unless it be to share our laughter.
We searchers are ambitious only for life itself, for everything beautiful it can provide. Most of all we want to love and be loved. We want to live in a relationship that will not impede our wandering, nor prevent our search, nor lock us in prison walls; that will take us for what little we have to give. We do not want to prove ourselves to another or to compete for love.
This is a book for wanderers, dreamers and lovers, for lonely men and women who dare to ask of life everything good and beautiful. If is for those who are too gentle to live among wolves.
A good reminder to not settle for less than you desire. There are worse things than being alone.
I began my Hash career at the beginning of 2018 and look at me now–still alive! Just been looking at the Hash stats I see I’m in the top fifteen of active participants in the SBH3.
178 total runs, and the current leader in consecutive runs at 113.
Good times!
Yesterday’s Hash was a little different in that the trail started a good way up Rizal Extension. I had a long forty-minute walk (including an up and down on My Bitch) just to get there. Made for a longer hike than the 6.5K that the Hare laid out for us. It wasn’t a bad trail though; the climb to the top of Kalaklan was as hard as ever, but pretty much smooth sailing after that. I did “shortcut” one down and up loop, but the route I took was not much shorter overall. Anyway, it was definitely the best Hash trail I’ve seen this year!
The trail had its ups and downs.It was a well-marked trail though–beyond a shadow of a doubt.Let’s go up!Off the pavement.Bathing at the water well. Look at the old guy go!Cookie time!Hello daddy!About halfway up now.Cum In My Basement and Captain Prickhard.18 Kilo Ass and his gal. She got named last week but I can’t remember what it is at the moment.Nosey Bastard and what’s her name.Gordon Heights in Olongapo City.Life ain’t always easy.Heading back down to Barretto.Cum In My Basement, What’s Up Doc, and Black And Dick Her.Watch your steps!Safely On-Home at Blue Butterfly.
I started a little earlier yesterday afternoon, as much out of boredom as anything. I thought having a beer and watching the beach action would be more entertaining than YouTube videos at home. So I headed out to Mango’s.
The view from my stool.
The problem with Mango’s at this time of day is the sun. It was at an angle where the roof did not provide any shade at all. And it got real hot, real quick. I finally had to move to the inside bar to finish my beer.
It was a little after four now, and that meant the rooftop area of the Central Park Reef hotel was open for business. I hadn’t been there since before the pandemic so I decided it was a good time to go and check it out again.
That’s Central Park Reef as seen from Cheap Charlies. The largest hotel and the tallest building in Barretto (six floors).
I have a friend who is a waitress there (one of the Treasure Island gals I partied with last week).
Dig those 1950s style waitress uniforms.
Anyway, as you might imagine, the best part of the Central Park rooftop bar/restaurant/pool is the views. The menu looked good, although it was too early for me to eat. Beer was cold and at 100 pesos wasn’t even the most expensive in town. I was the only foreigner there–it was a Filipino family crowd enjoying a beachy weekend.
The beach where I was in front of Mango’s.The beach on the other side.Barretto town and the Kalaklan ridge where we’ll be Hashing later this afternoon.And this must be the coolest infinity pool I ever did see.
Anyway, it was good to see Kat and also enjoy some different vistas. I promised to sponsor the next get-together with the TI girls up here on the roof.
Since Cheap Charlies is practically next door and I hadn’t been there since last year, I figured a visit was in order. As usual, I enjoyed Alma’s company. I also wound up spending over thirty bucks buying food for all the girls. Chicken wings, chicken fingers, chicken quesadillas, and a large meat lovers pizza, if you are keeping score. Also, my recounting the menu here proves I made a sober decision (but not necessarily a smart one) when I purchased the meal.
Once the food was done, so was I. Except after I was downstairs on the street I decided I should check in on Roan at It Doesn’t Matter. She’s doing fine. Sat at the owner’s table and had a nice chat with the boss men, Cliff and Bob. Even shared my bar rankings. They were of course pleased to be currently at the top of the heap. Martin (18 Kilo Ass) and his gal were there too and it was nice to socialize with the group for a bit.
Entertaining to watch Lovely doing her handy-work with a customer massage. She’s actually quite good at it. I had one back when she was working at Dive In. No one will touch me now when Roan’s around though.
I made it an early night. Need to get back into my rhythm of early to bed, early to rise.
Have a Hash run to complete in a couple of hours. I expect it will be challenging because Leech My Nuggets is the Hare and the start point indicates a climb to the top of Kalaklan ridge. That’s never easy.
I’m doing better every day, but I still have “those” thoughts. For whatever reason, I remembered this poem last night and actually looked it up on the internet while I was at the bar. I refrained from sending it to you know who though. I’d call that progress.
“Where are you hiding my love?
Each day without you will never come again.
Even today you missed a sunset on the ocean,
A silver shadow on yellow rocks I saved for you,
A squirrel that ran across the road,
A duck diving for dinner.
My God! There may be nothing left to show you
Save wounds and weariness
And hopes grown dead,
And wilted flowers I picked for you a lifetime ago,
Or feeble steps that cannot run to hold you,
Arms too tired to offer you to a roaring wind,
A face too wrinkled to feel the ocean's spray.”
― James Kavanaugh
Ah, well. Life’s a beach sometimes.
And I took a morning stroll on Baloy today.
And here’s my Lucky boy just now:
It’s a dog’s life.
Alright, time for my pre-Hash nap. Let me leave you with my new favorite t-shirt:
It would mean the same in any language though. We are screwed.
Oh, and it seems that things are back to normal around here at LTG:
Still treasure the few, the proud, and the brave who keep coming for more!
So, yeah. I made up a new word to describe a cultural phenomenon prevalent here in the Philippines and exacerbated at the end of every year–noise. This is a loud country. For whatever reason, people prefer max volume. Every morning I can hear music blaring from a house two streets down from me. Karaoke is even worse–bad singing amplified to ear-splitting levels. Motorbikes with modified mufflers to increase noise. The loudest car horns I’ve ever heard. And don’t get me started on the roosters. The locals just take it all in stride, but going on four years here and I still can’t get used to it. That’s one advantage to living in Alta Vista, a lot of the regular everyday neighborhood noise is not present. And roosters are not allowed.
Anyway, this New Year’s season has been especially bad. The firecrackers sound like gunshots and make your ears ring and windows rattle. The noisemakers and airhorns are also very irritating. I saw one guy stick an airhorn in his motorbike exhaust pipe to exacerbate the loudness. Anyway, as I said, it is all very annoising. Rant over.
There are nicer traditions for the holiday here as well. It’s a family time and gathering for meals with the clan is a big deal. I was surprised at how many bars were closed last night for New Year’s Day even though it was a Saturday night. I speculate they couldn’t get their staff to come in and miss out on the family feast. My regular beggars were asking for money to fund the big meal and I even accommodated a few of them.
Of course, I don’t have family here. I don’t even have a girlfriend. But that didn’t stop me from cooking like I had loved ones to serve.
The steaks were high. Right at 1000 pesos ($20) each. Purchased these USDA ribeyes from John Kim at The Pub. It had been a while since I fired up the grill, but I managed to cook these up pretty close to perfection. Well, some of the fat got blackened by flame flareups, but the meat wasn’t damaged much.What’s a steak dinner without corn and baked potatoes?Broccoli with cheese is also a favorite of mine.It had been almost a year since Royal had Texas toast garlic bread in the frozen foods section. I took that as a sign to buy some.Off the grill and onto a plate. Hopefully, this gives some scale to illustrate how massive these steaks were.And banana nut muffins for dessert.Hey, lonely people gotta eat too! The steaks were thick, tender, and juicy. Honestly, it was the best ribeye meat I’ve ever cooked.
My hunger satiated, it was time to get out and fulfill another tradition of mine–drinking beer on Saturday night. I changed things up a little bit by starting out at Queen Victoria, a bar I hadn’t bothered visiting since I did the review back in October. It was early and I was the only customer. Despite the infrequency of my visits, all the girls greeted me by name. One, in particular, seemed especially happy to see me. She kept asking if I remembered her and I finally had to admit I did not. She seemed very disappointed in me. Turns out she used to work at Alaska Club. She also reminded me of the occasion I had bar fined her (paid to take her out of the bar), something I very rarely do, maybe once or twice a year. Then she rubbed some salt in the wound by telling me how quickly I came. I guess that’s a good thing for a prostitute though. Anyway, she’s pretty funny and gives a good massage so maybe someday I’ll try to make it last longer and get my money’s worth. I bought her a lady drink and had a couple of beers, then moved on.
Next stop was Outback to visit my pal Bhel. She seems completely recovered from her surgery, which is a good way to start a new year. Actually, she had invited me to a gathering at her house on New Year’s Eve, but I wasn’t comfortable with being the only white guy there. Things can go south in a hurry when people you don’t know get drunk. After a pleasant visit, I headed out for my next destination.
Hmm. BarCelona and Cheap Charlie’s were closed. Thought about Wet Spot, but decided to hit it on the way back home. It Doesn’t Matter was open, so I figured I’d check in with Roan. Turns out, she had called in sick. Too much to drink the night before. That was my fault because I was buying her drinks. Oh well. I shared drinks with another waitress and a fellow Hasher, Leech My Nuggets, came in so I wound up staying at IDM longer than expected. After two straight late nights though I was ready to head home at 9:00.
And that’s how I spent the first day of the new year. Seems an awful lot like all my other days, doesn’t it?
Welcome to 2022! Here’s hoping it doesn’t become 2020 II…
Made it through another year, not completely unscathed, but why should 2021 be different than all those other years? A nice hike out in San Antonio during the morning hours. I’ll cover that event at the end of this post. Let’s start out with a recap of the nighttime New Year’s Eve adventures.
I did have an invite to a dinner party out on Baloy beach but I just wasn’t feeling all that sociable. I’d done the late (for me) night on Thursday and after the travel for the hike, I was ready to chill. And yeah, not having a date for what I expected would be a couples event curbed my enthusiasm as well. In fact, as I set out on my planned bar crawl I was in a foul mood and feeling somewhat used and abused. Or maybe just lonely. Well, I figured I could fix that by spending time with some of my favorite bargirls. So I started my evening at Hideaway bar sharing drinks and company with Joy and Jen.
Except it didn’t work. If anything, the shallowness of the interactions just made me feel worse. Clearly, this was the wrong medicine for whatever it was that was ailing me. Finished my beer, said my goodbyes and found myself out on the bustling streets of Barretto once again. Now what? I thought maybe something new was in order and figured that if nothing else, the views from the rooftop bar/restaurant at Central Park Reef hotel would boost my spirits, so I headed off in that direction.
Along the way, I saw that a brand new bar had just opened. I decided to pop in and give it a look-see. It was just me, one waitress, and what I learned later was the owner. I ordered a beer and decided to drink it at the outside table.
It somehow seemed appropriate to my mood.
The waitress did stand outside with me as I sat and drank my beer. She told me they are going to hire more waitresses and also have karaoke both inside and out. Ah, one of THOSE kinds of bars. No thanks! Too soon to review though. I’ll give it another look when it is fully operational. Finished my beer and departed.
Back on the highway and with the Central Park hotel in view, I changed my mind. I decided to go somewhere more familiar and comfortable. I’d just been to Cheap Charlies the night before, so I decided to climb the steps up to BarCelona. I knew my favorite there, Novi, was no longer working and I had lost interest in the hottie I’d seen there in the red dress upon observing how mercenary she appears to be. Nope, I’d just get my seat with a view and be a solitary drinker. I smiled to myself when the hottie turned out to be my waitress. I could almost see the expectation in her eyes that I’d ask her to join me. Instead, I thanked her, turned my back, and proceeded to enjoy my cold San Miguel Light.
It turned out to be my one and only beer there. When I attempted to order my second SML the hottie returned and said they were sold out. WTF? SML is a local brew that is popular with expats, and I’ve never seen any bar run out. Especially on a Friday night that is also New Year’s frickin’ eve! It wasn’t even 7 o’clock yet. Now, if I was managing the bar, I’d fire the person responsible for keeping beer in stock. And I’d also send one of the waitresses to 7/11 to bring back all the SML she could carry. Instead, they chose to lose a customer. Needless to say, this did not improve my mood.
Back out on the street yet again and needing a new venue to find some holiday spirit. Although I was a little reluctant because of my recent disappointment with Roan, I chose It Doesn’t Matter as my best remaining option. And at least it was nearby. It turned out to be the right call I suppose. Roan was her friendly self and the place started filling up with people I know from the Hash and hikes, so a party-like vibe took hold.
Jim bummed a cigar from Martin and tried to remember that you are not supposed to inhale the smoke. The hiker’s table.The owner’s table.My dinner, barbeque chicken wings.My companion for the evening.My companion’s sexy legs.
At the beginning of the night, I had no expectation that I’d be around come midnight. But having other people I know there with me made it a matter of pride to not bail out before the arrival of the new year. It was a challenge, but I succeeded. Barely.
And I’ve got the fireworks to prove it!
Right at the stroke of midnight, I got a “Happy New Year!” message from Pearl. That was surprising. I wished her a happy one as well and mentioned how strange it felt to be in San Antonio again without her. That earned me a heart emoji.
What he said.
Facebook memories were also powerful reminders of days gone by when I didn’t welcome the new year alone.
Like 2014 with Jee Yeun.2017 with Loraine.And 2018 with Gem, losing our Hash virgin status together.“Drink it down, down, down, down. What doesn’t go in you, goes on you! Just like a blowjob!”
So, home by 12:30 and in bed shortly thereafter. It was one of those years, wasn’t it?
To the hike pictures, then.
The part of San Antonio we visited was all flat. We’ll save the mountains for another day. About 8.5K, some rural backstreets, some open countryside, and some beer and eats afterward.We used two private vehicles, my driver and Shyrel’s driver, to make the journey to our starting point.Let’s go!My last hike of the year.Photographing the photographers...We saw mountains but we didn’t climb them. Thankfully.Wide-open spaces.Reentering civilization.The town market.We came. We saw. We conquered. Back off the beaten path.Sexy Helen…Martin and his gal marching along.A simple life illustrated.Agriculture.A water crossing.The locals were very friendly. This woman in pink led us for some distance to ensure we got on the right path. I gave her some cookies and I saw others slip her some cash as a thank you.Getting there…And here is there, the FRA. Like a VFW for Navy types. Cold beer, hot food!The waitresses were cute too!Gathering around our outdoor seating area. Very nice.The after-hike refurbishment.My lunch is served.
And now for what I’m sure you’ve all been waiting for:
The last post of the year!
Happy New Year, everyone! Thanks for coming here and sharing the tidbits of my so-called life. It’s great to have y’all along for the ride! Let’s see where 2022 takes us.
Another year draws to a close. Good riddance to this one! I’ll be spending the final day of the year hiking in San Antonio. Looking forward to some new scenery.
Life can be a beach sometimes. Yesterday turned out to be that way.
I did my morning walk out on Baloy beach.
Nothing all that special. Although as I made my way back home walking past the 7/11 I saw Pearl and Dick sitting side-by-side. I just kept on going without looking back. Don’t know if they saw me or not.
I didn’t let that image linger too long in my mind. Got home and set about my normal routines. Then I received a message from Jessa inviting me to join her and the old Treasure Island crew for an end-of-the-year party. Hell, I didn’t have anything better to do so I said “sure!”
Now, Jessa and I had a thing going for a while but it didn’t work out for us. She’s engaged to a Yank who seems like a good guy and it looks like she will have all of her dreams fulfilled in the near future (house being built, daddy for her daughter, stable married life). I’m truly happy for her. I first met the Treasure Island gals when I was briefly living in Baloy. In fact, I took Jessa and the girls out to dinner for Jessa’s 30th birthday back in 2018.
That’s how we all looked back then.
Last night’s get-together was on the beach in Barretto. One of those Filipino-style “cottages”, basically a table with a canvas cover, Right next door to Palm Tree. I recalled many times watching the parties taking place there and thinking “that looks like fun”. I’m glad I finally got to experience it first hand.
How we looked last night.
I’m an in bed by nine o’clock kind of guy these days, but Jessa challenged me to make it until 11:00. It was a struggle and took me nine beers to get there, but I made it!
Barely.
Anyway, it meant a lot to me to get the invite and be included. I admit that I wish I hadn’t blown it with Jessa way back when. Oh well, she’s probably better off without me.
Okay, I’m off for San Antonio. Wanted to get some kind of post up now because I’m not sure when I’ll be back tonight. Who knows what this New Year’s Eve holds in store for me? Only way to find out is to live it. Let’s go!
A challenging but beautiful hike with the Wednesday Walkers. A bar review at The Green Room. A visit to the Hideaway bar to deliver some financial assistance to Joy (has a sick kid). An impromptu drop in to It Doesn’t Matter to clear the air with Roan about Tuesday’s broken “date”. Dinner to go from The Pub (it was Wingsday). Then home for the peace that comes with sleep. Just another day in the life.
Turns out the thing with Roan wasn’t an intentional snub, although it was certainly inconsiderate on her part. I guess it is all about priorities and I wasn’t hers. She says she wants to make it up to me next week. I’m not so sure that I want to bother again. The real point of the date was to help her out with an eye examination and new glasses. I’m not going to beg someone to accept a gift from me.
I volunteered to help Joy because her daughter has had stomach issues for several days and needs to see a doctor, something Joy couldn’t afford. An example of how a little money ($30) can make a big difference. I was the only customer at the bar so I bought the girls some food (roast chicken) while I was there. A couple of lady drinks for Joy and her friend Jen. Then I was back out on the highway.
After a brief stop at It Doesn’t Matter to see Roan, I was on to The Pub to get my fix of Korean-style wings satisfied. A fellow Hasher, Sean, was there watching his girl play pool so we had a nice chat. I showed him my bar review rankings and his opinion of the bars varied from mine significantly. Just goes to show that tastes and wants in a bar venue are individualized preferences. I did note that a lot of his reasons for not liking a particular bar were as much about not liking the bar manager as it was about the bar. I could relate.
Alright then, to the Wednesday Walkers adventure. We took a Jeepney out to Kale beach (about 4K from Barretto) to begin our hike. It wasn’t a beach walk though, we hoofed it up Coral street, then headed for the hills. A long, hard slog to the top of Kalaklan ridge. As tough as it was, it was still enjoyable. A beautiful day to be on a trek with other like-minded folks.
As usual, we’ll tell the story with photographs. The pics are also a group effort–this collection comes from several different hikers.
Our route.Riding the Jeep to the starting point.The gathering spot.Heading up Coral Street.The end of the road.Let the climbing begin!Scott the mountain man.Shyrel is between a rock and a hard place.Up, up and away.Group shot.Rest stop. Well, not for that poor guy having to carry big ass bottles of water up the mountain.Almost to the top.That girl in the white Red Cross hat is one of our newest Wednesday Walkers…name is Julie. I’m crushing on her.That’s her on the left…Thus far, she has given absolutely no indication that she has any interest in me whatsoever. Well, I do love a challenge! Actually, she did accept my Facebook friend request, so there’s that. And no, I’m not stalking her with these photos…I didn’t take them.Heading for the ridgeline road…A nice view from the top…And another.I’ve grown rather fond of my little town.Time to start heading down.And for you Easter mountain lovers…A decent descent.I’m coming!A long way up means a long way down.Watch your step!My cookie kids…I only pass this way every couple of months, but they are always waiting when I pass by.I’m such a poser.Safely down the mountain and ensconced at Dynamite Dick’s. Thanks for having us, Dick!
Let me leave you this sad story of a tragedy in the wild.
And here it is, the last bar in town. Well, the last bar to be reviewed. Rumor has it a couple of new bars are slated to open early next year. We shall see.
UPDATE: I have been visiting the Green Room much more frequently of late, in large part because I’ve been winning discount coupons at the SOB events. Having now experienced the ambiance of this bar with some regularity, I have gotten better in tune with the friendly vibe that exists here. There are a lot of familiar faces, so it seems to be a favorite of the local expats. There are still as many Guest Relations Officers (GROs) as I’ve seen anywhere in town, and the ones I’ve met recently are attractive and friendly. My usual practice is to drink with the waitresses (had three at my table last night), and I always enjoy their company. I’m sure I’ll be coming back more often, with or without those discounts. I still prefer the outdoor venues, but the Green Room atmosphere makes it worth the visit.
The Green Room transitioned from the former girly bar named Rum Jungle last year. Same ownership, though, just a new concept: the sports bar. And just to clarify my definitions–a girly bar has a dance stage and scantily clad gals dancing for the entertainment of the customers. At least back when dancing was allowed in the bars, and presumably, it will be again at some point in the future. A sports bar, as the name implies, has large screen televisions where you can watch the big game, along with a pool table and sometimes a dartboard. The Green Room ticks all those boxes.
That is not to say that there aren’t any girls in a sports bar. The Green Room had what appeared to be twenty or thirty present during my visit. Shortly after I’d taken my seat, two of them came over to greet me.
Don’t recall her name, but said she was 24 years old. She had a nice personality.No name for this one, either. She told me she was 18. Braces on her teeth and a tattoo on her chest. A little scary in a way–if I saw her on the street I’d assume she was underage and keep on walking. But I have always thought you have to be at least 18 to get a tattoo. Apparently not, she told me she got hers at 17. This is another reason that it is much safer to take a girl out of the bar rather than pick up a freelancer on the street or online. In addition to health checks, bars require proof of age when they make a hire.
Naturally, I bought them both a lady drink, a bottled beer for 185 pesos (mixed drinks are 170). My beer was 110 pesos.
I don’t play pool myself, but the table looked good to me.The rest of the bar as seen from my vantage point.A ceiling decorated with flags was a nice touch.
This bar is also located in The Maze complex. Back in the day, you could walk through a rear door to visit two other bars–Rapscallion and Man Cave. Sadly, both of those bars were killed by COVID. Through another door, you could get to Wet Spot and Lollipop bars. Wet Spot is still going strong and Lollipop is now home to one of the best food places in Barretto, Sit-n-Bull. The SnB menu is available for order in The Green Room as well.
The doorway to Wet Spot.
So, how does The Green Room stack up? The sports bar genre is very competitive and there is just not much that makes this particular venue stand out in my opinion. I think yesterday’s visit was only my third since last year’s grand opening. This is not to say there is anything wrong with the place, I just don’t watch televised sports or play pool. It is simply a matter of other places suiting my likes better.
And I think this final review is a good time to remind just how subjective my opinions and rankings truly are. I showed the list to a friend last night and he disagreed with my assessments in about half the cases. Just a matter of different strokes for different folks. I have also noticed that over the course of this series of reviews as I’ve made subsequent visits to some of these bars my assessment has changed, in most cases for the better. So the rankings are not necessarily a valid reflection of my current preferences. Perhaps I’ll need to periodically do an update. With new bars on the horizon, I’ll need to incorporate them into the rankings anyway. So be on the lookout for that.
Twenty-six currently active bars in Barretto (again, excluding most of the hotel lounges and Filipino-style videoke bars). Here is how I personally prefer them:
Every time when I look in the mirror All these lines on my face getting clearer The past is gone It went by, like dusk to dawn Isn’t that the way Everybody’s got the dues in life to pay
Let me tell you about how my Tuesday went down. It’s shopping day, but this one was going to be special. Roan was coming with me. After the groceries were bought and paid for the driver and my helper would take them home. Meanwhile, Roan and I would head over to the Harbor Point mall and get our heads examined. Well, our eyes anyway. I figured we’d do a little shopping after that, then go for some lunch at my favorite Korean restaurant, Seoul. Alas, she stood me up. She didn’t respond to any of my messages, and when I went by her place at the appointed hour, she wasn’t outside waiting. She messaged me last night with an apology saying her failure to show wasn’t about me but offering no real explanation as to what happened. Lesson learned, don’t try and take a bar “relationship” out of the bar. Still, it was quite disappointing.
I brooded at home the rest of the morning and into the afternoon, then it was time to head out for darts. My goal was to just keep it fun, and it turns out that I threw better than I have in quite some time. Maybe there is some correlation between those things.
Undefeated on the night.It was the best of times…
After the tournament, I visited The Pub for a little nourishment. Kept it simple with a Philly cheesesteak sandwich.
It really hit the spot. Loved those fried taters too.
Did a nightcap at Outback then headed on home to my boys.
Buddy looks drunker than I was.I get a kick out of watching Lucky and Buddy roughhousing around.Buddy’s bigger, but Lucky doesn’t back down.Even on the mornings when I’m feeling down, a walk through the ‘hood lifts my spirits.Especially when I’m out with my good Buddy.
So, if yesterday qualifies as a bad day, I’m pretty damn lucky, don’t you think?
Let’s go, Brandon!
Sing with me, sing for the year Sing for the laughter, sing for the tear Sing with me, if it’s just for today Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away
Dream on Dream on Dream on Dream until your dreams come true
A long and flat trail, just the way I like it. The only downside was there was nothing new about it for me, been there and done that hike before; several times actually. Still nice countryside though, and we had some overcast skies and breeze to keep things almost comfortable. My group came in a tad under 9K, and that includes our shortcut negating a climb up Black Rock mountain near the end of the trail. We did some steps instead, so we weren’t totally flatliners. To the photos then:
The tale of our trail.A smaller than usual group of “sane” Hashers this week. That carabao didn’t hike with us, but the little girl did. Impressively, she didn’t complain until we were 2/3 done with the hike. And even then, it was because her feet hurt from not having proper footwear. Well done, child!We basically did a circumnavigation of Easter mountain.Let’s get this done!Bypassing the little Grand Canyon.Time out for a cookie delivery.18 Kilo Ass successfully traversed another rickety bridge without destroying it (or himself).Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow Easter, I will fear no Filipina…They’ve subdivided some lots at the far end of the valley, but there may be a flaw in their planning…This bridge is the only access across the river. You can barely fit a trike on here. Perhaps they intend to build another bridge for automobiles.The river in question. It is much more substantial during rainy season.Deep in the jungle.A banana plantation.A bridgeless creek crossing…just a hop, skip, and a heck of a jump to get over…Made it!On the road again.Up ahead you can see that burning season is in full flower.Hello, children. Don’t look at me like that, Christmas is over!Steppin’ it up near the end of our journey.Almost to the top, Bum Burglar!Jesus Christo! And during the Hash circle, we did sing the irreverent song about why Jesus can’t go Hashing, which includes a verse that “Jesus can’t go Hashing ’cause He’s hanging on a cross…Steppin’ on down to the highway and our On-Home venue……at Smoke and Bottles. I really like the picnic ground atmosphere here for some reason.Cooling those hot Filipina asses on the ice.
And that was the way Run #1477 of the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers went down. Thanks for joining me!
“Human beings are remarkable – at what we can learn to live with. If we couldn’t get strong from what we lose, and what we miss, and what we want and can’t have, then we couldn’t ever get strong enough, could we? What else makes us strong?”
–John Irving
Welp, it’s been one week since xxxxx walked out of my life. And while I still think of her frequently, I’ve come to accept the fact that she ultimately did me a favor by revealing the true nature of her character. The fact that I fell in love with her is on me, though, and I still hope she finds peace and contentment in her life.
You take a risk giving your heart to anybody. But every time your heart gets stomped on, you pick it up, brush it off, and start looking for somebody else to give it to. You know the risk and you accept it, gladly, because the payoff is worth it. And any love that qualifies itself, any ‘I love her but I don’t trust her’ love, isn’t really love. If you’re not risking everything you have, it’s not love. Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances.
–Steve Rosse
My first tentative steps into the land of moving on are safely within my comfort zone–the sweet ladies I meet in the bars I frequent. Here’s the report from last night’s quest.
I went back to BarCelona hoping to meet this cutie pie.
And as fate would have it, Jo served me my first beer. But before I could ask her to sit down and join me, she was off again. I saw then that she was already enjoying a drink with another customer. And not five minutes after that customer left, she was drinking with someone else. Well, that’s the biz, and she’s good at it. Being the hottest gal in the bar helps too. Oh well, I’m not the type who waits in line.
And wouldn’t you know it, right about the time I lost interest in Jo, I happened to notice another waitress sitting a couple of stools down from me. Not nearly as sexy as Jo, but she had a sweet “girl next door” vibe about her. So, I decided to chat her up some.
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, W, X, Y, Z
Or you can call her Novi for short. Sorry the photo quality is so poor, I was trying to be discrete. I hadn’t asked her permission and a sign in the CR says photography is not allowed in the bar.
That’s Novi’s cover photo from Facebook.
Anyway, first impressions were all very positive. We had a nice chat, punctuated with some laughs, and I left hoping to get to know her better. Yep, looks like BarCelona will be in my regular rotation for the foreseeable future.
After leaving BarCelona, I walked the block to It Doesn’t Matter so I could visit Roan, who hadn’t been working when I stopped in yesterday. More beers and pleasant chat. Bought her the IDM daily special for dinner–bacon-wrapped chicken breast with steamed veggies.
Always good company.
I’m taking Roan to the optometrist tomorrow for an examination and new glasses. A belated Christmas gift. After that, I’m going to treat her to a Korean meal at the Seoul restaurant. I don’t know if that qualifies as a “date” or not. We’ll see how it goes.
I popped into Wet Spot to check on Aine before heading home. She was pleased to see me again and snuggled up right next to me.
Naturally, I bought her a drink.
I wasn’t hungry, but I asked Aine if she wanted to eat. She did, and preferred to eat at the bar instead of next door at Sit-n-Bull. No problem, they deliver. She had chicken fingers and I ordered a pizza for the other girls.
Filipinas love pizza with pineapple. Not my favorite, but it doesn’t bother me. It wasn’t for me anyway.
I stayed until 9:30, which is past my bedtime. Aine hinted a bit like she wanted to go with me, but I wasn’t ready to take that step just yet.
I also have Alma at Cheap Charlies in the queue of women I hope to get to know better. One thing all of them have in common is that they are older–mid-30s. I’m not sure how much that impacts the generation gap issues, but I do find that I’m more comfortable with them than the 20-somethings.
Alright, it’s Hash Monday so I’ll be giving the ladies a break today. Stay tuned.
My Christmas was unusual in the sense that it was basically like every other day in my life here. I had considered taking part in one of the fancy meals or buffets several of the resorts were offering, but in the end, I just couldn’t be bothered. Yeah, I’m still not quite right in my head, but I’m making progress at regaining perspective.
Here’s what Christmas day looked like in my neighborhood.
So, I did the bar review at BarCelona to kick off my holiday evening. I rather enjoyed myself, even though I was drinking alone. The one girl who caught my eye was already occupied. I’ll be back to try again. Maybe even tonight.
That’s BarCelona as seen from my vantage point at Cheap Charlies.
I popped into It Doesn’t Matter hoping to visit with Roan. She wasn’t working though, but Troy from the Hash was there soloing through Christmas as well. Next, I was off to see my pal Alma at Cheap Charlies. I was the only customer and so naturally I found myself surrounded by the five bargirls who were working. I actually normally find that behavior irritating. Well, it was Christmas, so I bought them all a drink. Enjoyed some snuggling and rubbing (all above the waist of course) with Alma. She told me she saw me walking back from Subic earlier when she was on her way to work. I jokingly harangued her for not offering me a ride in her trike. I’ve never actually seen her outside of work. Might be time to rectify that with a lunch date. Stay tuned.
I hadn’t eaten yet so I figured on crossing the street and dining at Sit-n-Bull. But as I passed by Wet Spot I figured no harm in having one more beer first. The backslapper’s table was full again, so I took a nearby seat. I was immediately joined by Aine, looking every bit as lovely as she did on Thursday. Naturally, I bought her a drink. I asked if she were allowed to join me at Sit-n-Bull for dinner (it’s in the same complex (The Maze) and with the same ownership. Turns out she is indeed allowed to eat with a customer so I said let’s finish our drinks and go. Alas, we were informed that Sit-n-Bull had closed early for the holiday. Oh well, next time.
Then I was surprised to see Max, a member of our hiking groups and a Hasher, come in. He was surprised to see me as well. Turns out that Wet Spot is his regular hangout and he hadn’t seen me there before. Yeah, but I’ll be back more often. Max is a very interesting guy, a journalist by trade, and he’s from the Netherlands. So, I got to recount stories from my visit to his beautiful country back in 2002. I had a high old time there for sure. I also reminded Max that he had likely given me the COVID back in April when we traveled to and from Angeles City in the same vehicle. Max (and another passenger) actually got diagnosed, I never bothered, just suffered through my comparatively mild symptoms.
That’s Max holding court at Wet Spot.
Oh, and it turns out that Max has been a reader here at LTG. I asked him how he came about finding my humble blog and he said it was simple–after we had met he just Googled my name and LTG was the first result. Glad to have you along for the ride, Max. And that’s one less person I can talk about negatively! I’m joking, of course. Max is one of the good guys in our little town.
I did, however, come across this image of the Philippines libel law. It was rather sobering, actually. I’m going to need to be more careful henceforth.
Even the truth is no defense.
I stayed longer at Wet Spot than I intended, as I was enjoying the company of both Max and Aine. In different ways, of course. I told Aine I owe her a dinner soon.
Sometime during the course of the evening for some bizarre reason, I remembered one of the first posts I had ever read on Kevin Kim’s Big Hominid blog. I did a search, found it, and gave it a read again. It’s called Arbor Day meditation and it really resonated with my current state of mind. Give it a look, it is well worth your time.
And that was my Christmas…a worthless walk to Subic, some quality beer drinking time, and no supper. I could have done worse I suppose.
I really don’t know why I don’t visit BarCelona more often. It’s the type of place I gravitate to; open-air, nice views and a neighborhood bar feel about it. The infrequency of my visits was made clear when all of the waitresses who served me had to ask my name. Ah well, you can’t be a regular in EVERY bar in town, although lord knows I’m trying! Truth be told, I used to come here more often but had a couple of service-related issues that were off-putting. They were long ago now and I doubt the staff involved are still working now. Time to forgive and forget because I really enjoy the ambiance of this place.
You climb three flights of stairs to reach the bar.An example of the nifty decorations throughout the bar.The view from my stool. That yellow building across the highway is one of my regular haunts, Cheap Charlies.What really makes BarCelona unique amongst the bars of Barretto is this giant outdoor seating area. It is especially nice if you come with a large group of friends.A view from the roof. Those are two of the nicer hotels in Barretto, By the Sea, and Central Park Reef.Another view of the wide-open spaces on the roof.Back inside the bar. Those big TVs were playing music videos, which I find entertaining. The music itself was varied and not too loud. I understand they also show televised sporting events.BarCelona also features this pool table and sponsors a couple of popular tournaments each week.But this waitress was the finest thing I saw at the bar yesterday!A look up Del Pilar street…Hey, wait a minute! There’s mama! Actually, I saw here earlier when I was walking back from Subic. That old gal gets around!
I enjoyed my brief visit to BarCelona and I’m going to make it a point to be a more frequent visitor in the futre. It’s high time everyone knows my name here. Cheers!
I’ve been busier than usual playing Santa Claus, but what the hell, it’s only money and it makes me feel good. I did some donations so some local kids could have a Christmas dinner, and also sponsored meals for some families in Bohol. One of my former FWB messaged me yesterday that she needed to buy food for Nochebuena, which is apparently a traditional Christmas Eve dinner. She pleaded that I let her come massage me. What the hell, I had an hour before darts and she sounded desperate, so why not? I also prepared a bag with the canned ham, cheese, and cookies my landlord had given me for Christmas. There was a knock on the door and there she stood. With her young child beside her. What the hell? Obviously, she had no intention of “working” for the money. I was not pleased, but in the spirit of the season, I gave her the gift bag and 1000 pesos. She told me she was sorry and gave me a hug goodbye. Oh well.
I took third in darts last night. Well, I settled for third place rather than play the match to determine who would play in the finals. My Filipina opponent needed the money more than I did, so let her compete for the championship. I just didn’t care either way. Bought all the Alley Cats girls a drink and said goodnight.
I wasn’t done with my Saint Nicolas impersonation just yet though. I wandered up the street to Alaska Club to spread some more joy. As usual, I was given a warm welcome in the nearly deserted bar. There was one other customer, but he was back in the pool table area. I asked how many girls were working, “ten, sir”, and how much are lady drinks, “150 pesos only”. Okay, a drink for everyone then!
Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho, and Ho!
And right about the time the drinks were served, a delivery of several pizzas arrived. The other customer had ordered them earlier. So, a little impromptu party broke out. That was nice. When I departed I gave each of the girls a 100 peso tip, thereby nearly doubling their salary for the night. Yep, I was full of beer Christmas spirit by this point.
This morning, Facebook memories reminded me of the life I was living ten years ago.
Ah, well. Dreams die and life goes on. I sent Jee Yeun, who is working as a waitress in a Korean restaurant, $300. for Christmas. All these years later it still makes me sad.
Speaking of Facebook, I also had to block the ex from my newsfeed. I couldn’t stand seeing the photos of her loving it up with Dick. Jesus, what a fool I was believing in her.
I did an 11K hike to Subic town and back this morning.
I zipped along at 5K an hour.
The purpose of the hike was not just exercise, I needed to hit the ATM again. All my Christmas generosity has depleted the funds I extracted on Thursday. Alas, the trip was in vain because the ATM was devoid of money to dispense. And so it goes. I’ve got enough left to get me through tonight. If necessary, I’ll wire myself some cash via Western Union.
So, that leaves my gift for all my faithful readers–photos from yesterday’s hike! You are welcome.
Our group of Christmas Eve participants. It wasn’t a hard hike, especially for my break-off group that bypassed the second climb. Short and sweet!We’re off!Follow the smoke signal!It wouldn’t be a hiking post without a shot of Easter mountain, now would it?A thatch grass escapade!A woodsy pathLooking down on Rizal Extension…Another nice view!Country living.Swinging!
Here’s how I spent a loveless first day of the rest of my life yesterday.
To begin, I had this idea that I ought to shift my focus outward instead of inward. It being the Christmas season and all, the were lots of opportunities to do so. For example, I needed to go to Subic to get some cash from an ATM. Yeah, the only BPI machine in Barretto works less the half the time. It seems it is always out of money. People need cash for shopping, I suppose. Anyway, since I was making the trip to Subic anyway, I invited Joy to join me at Waltermart so she could do a little Christmas shopping for her kids. It was kind of nice watching her pick out some clothes. I suggested she get them a toy too. Joy asked if she could also get something for Jen (her co-worker, friend, and neighbor) and I told her go ahead. Ho! Ho! Ho! It’s fun to be Santa Claus.
The checkout line was massive but I somehow managed to keep my cool through that ordeal. After paying, when I went to the BPI ATM in the mall it was also out of money. So disappointing! I needed to restock my cash supply, so we caught a trike to the BPI branch office in Subic town I use. After we arrived I was disappointed to note that one of the two ATMs was not working and there were several people in line to use the remaining machine that was functioning.
Watching Filipinos use an ATM is as fascinating as it is frustrating. With one exception, everyone in front of me went through this process. Insert card, check balance, print receipt showing balance, end transaction. Re-insert the card, make a cash withdrawal, take the money and put it in a billfold, take out ANOTHER bank card, and repeat the above process. After watching this insanity several times I thought my head was going to explode. I also figured that at this rate by the time my turn came this machine too would run out of cash.
Joy waiting patiently by my side in the ATM line.
When my turn finally arrived, I gave the now even longer line behind me a demonstration in proper ATM etiquette. Had my card in hand as I approached the machine. Inserted the card. Entered my PIN. Selected withdrawal from checking. Requested P20,000. The machine whirred, spit out my card, and released forty P500 notes into my waiting hand. Took less than a minute. I didn’t get the expected round of applause, but maybe the crowd was dumbfounded by my expertise. Anyway, mission accomplished.
We took a Jeepney back to Barretto and I asked Joy if she were hungry. She was, so I called out “para po” as we approached Mango’s. We sat down at a table in the back and waited. And waited. Save for one customer, the place was deserted. That customer told us the waitress was making a room service delivery. So we waited some more. Then my already strained patience ran out, and I lold Joy, “let’s go.”
As we were leaving, we ran into the waitress doing something at the front desk. “John, why you leave?” she called out. I told her tired of waiting and she apologized, explaining she was the only one on duty. I told her it is not her fault, I’ll talk to Gie (the manager) about inadequate staffing the next time I see her. Merry Christmas!
We walked the block to Sit-n-Bull and as usual, I was greeted warmly by the waitresses. Later, the owner Ron came by the table for a brief chat. Ah, the joys of being a regular! We ordered our food and while I was eating, I got a message that both hurt my feelings and distressed me. Didn’t even finish my burger. I told Joy I needed to go and gave her some transportation money and a 500 peso gift.
When I got home, I set about changing the status of all my posts involving the woman who claimed to love me, to “private”. That made them invisible to you, my readers. I got an email later from Kevin Kim asking what happened, and when I explained he suggested making them password protected and providing the password to trusted readers. So, that’s what I wound up doing. I’m using the same password for all my protected posts. Email me if you would like that password. I don’t intend to make a habit of making my posts difficult to access, but the unique circumstance of small-town gossip and veiled threats made it prudent to do so for those few posts. Sorry for the inconvenience.
While all this was going on, I got a message from Martha, begging me to let her give me a massage so she could buy shoes for her child. Damn. I wasn’t even sure who she was, but we were Facebook friends and had chatted a few times previously. She said she lived nearby, so I told her fine, come on over. In my mind, I thought she was a girl I had met at Thumbstar during my bar review. But when Martha arrived I didn’t remember ever seeing her before.
Sorry, I’m trying to be more discrete and respectful of privacy these days. She was cute enough, just not who I was expecting.
So, I stripped to my underwear, handed her a bottle of baby oil, and laid down on the bed. She proceeded to give me a decent enough massage. When I rolled over onto my back, she looked at me expectantly, and then gestured if I wanted her to undress. Sure, why not. And so that’s how the massage ended. Honestly, I didn’t enjoy it much. No emotional connection to her whatsoever, and she wasn’t nearly as talented as my ex. I gave her the expected amount for her services, walked her to a shortcut exit from the neighborhood, and said goodbye. I have no intention of seeing her again in the future.
Alright, and for the record, I didn’t have bad intentions. It wasn’t like my now-defunct “FWB” program. This gal contacted me and offered massage services. She also indicated that she was willing and wanting to provide the happy ending. I didn’t ask her for anything and paid her a more than fair amount for her service. And now her kid will have shoes for Christmas.
I make that disclaimer above because I don’t want to get back into a completely transactional mode with whatever women I encounter on my journey to the future. Yes, there will be women, hopefully sex, and probably no love, but I’m going to be more in a dating mode than a buying one. We’ll see how that works out for me. Call it a New Year’s resolution.
So, I was overdue for another bar review and Wet Spot was next up in the queue. If you read that post you’ll recall I spent time with this lovely lady there:
Nice to see you again, Aine.
Thirty-five and no kids. Long-time bar worker. Good conversationalist. Nice sense of humor (as measured by her capacity to laugh at my jokes). At one point I broached going on a date and she seemed excited about the idea. I asked her what was her day off and she said Monday. Oh, I Hash on Mondays, do you like to hike? “No.” Okay then, looks like it will be a lunch date before work one day. Or maybe nothing at all. I gifted her 500 pesos and headed over to Cheap Charlies.
Alma hadn’t been there during my visit on Sunday, so she’d missed out on the Christmas bounty. That may or may not be why she had messaged me for the first time in forever. Still, it was good to hear from her and she is a sweet woman, so I wanted to see her before Christmas (even if she is a Muslim). She actually popped up in my Facebook memories the other day. I’ve been knowing her for over three years now.
That’s her back then. Looks pretty much the same to me now.
Anyway, she was happy to see me. Got the usual shoulder rub and for the first time got to give her something in return.
She put her feet up on my lap and I gave her a foot massage…
We shared some drinks and chat and I gave her 1000 pesos for the holiday cheer. I’d consider dating her as well.
While I was at Cheap Charlies I got a message from Bhel, the bartender at Outback. She’s the one I helped with surgery expenses. Anyway, she asked me if I would please come by the bar. Why not? So, I finished my beer and headed up the highway.
When I arrived, Bhel handed me this bag:
What a surprise!A brand new ballcap, just what I needed. Thanks, Bhel!
Of course, I gifted her with 500 pesos. A nice way to end the night.
Maybe my bar relationships aren’t as meaningless as I make out. Just another set of friends to make this life’s journey of mine a little more pleasant. That’s enough for now!
A little background for you out-of-towners: The Maze is a large building at the intersection of the National Highway and Del Pilar street. Pre-pandemic it was home to five bars with dancers on stage, a large open-air bar upstairs, a restaurant, and a boutique hotel. Lollipop is the new location of Sit-n-Bull restaurant, Rum Jungle was replaced by a sports bar called The Green Room, Rapscallion and Man Cave, have both been permanently closed. BarCelona still operates on the rooftop.
I’m friends with the owner of Wet Spot (he operates The Green Room and Voodoo bars as well). He’s also a reader and commenter here on the blog. I’ll try not to let that impact my review. Much.
Actually, when it comes to Wet Spot, what’s not to like? The girly bar format may not be my personal favorite, but it is a well-run bar in all aspects–staff, women, decor, and tidiness are all top-notch. Back in the good old days, I was here at least weekly and I always enjoyed myself. I’m here less frequently now but still have a good time and am welcomed warmly.
Dancing on stage is still not allowed by the powers that be for some inexplicable reason. The former dancing girls sit or mill about on stage and customers who are so inclined can pick one (or more) to join them for drinks. If things click, “take out” can be arranged.You can also choose from probably the largest cadre of waitresses and GROs (Guest Relations Officers) in town for female companionship.This is one of those bars where you don’t actually sit at the bar, it’s more of a waitress station.The manager’s table. When I first arrived it was full of VIP customers, so I sat elsewhere. The manager did send me over a complimentary beer. When I thanked him I noted that his timing was exquisite–with another beer to consume I felt obligated to purchase another lady drink for my companion. Good job!
Speaking of my companion, meet Aine:
Those must be some of the nicest breasts in town.
When I first arrived and was preparing to sit down, Aine greeted me by name and asked if I remembered her. Well, I’m more Biden-like every day, plus the bar was dark, but I had to confess that I did not. She told me that until recently she had worked at Blue Butterfly and we had shared drinks and conversation on my infrequent visits there. Oh yeah! Actually, it was nice to get reacquainted with Aine. Smart and witty and a pleasure to spend the evening with. I promised I’d be back for more.
My beers were 110 pesos, lady drinks 170 each. That’s at the higher end of the pricing spectrum, but having all those women employed does create some overhead.
So what you see is what you get at Wet Spot. A fine bar holding on for the return of sanity and tourists. Good music played at a reasonable volume (even had a set of country songs which I enjoyed). I almost always have a good time here, I need to get back more often!
Still trying to rest my weary mind, but a good hard walk tends to dull the senses. The Wednesday Walkers did a trail up to Kalaklan ridge that was new to most of us. It was hard and steep, but we made it safely to the top. Once there, the more hardy hikers split off to do another down and up. The rest of us took the steps down to Olongapo and caught a Jeep back to Barretto. Hey, I had to get ready for darts.
Speaking of darts, we won our season finale 11-2. I was responsible for one of those failures in my singles cricket match. Had the game in hand until I lost the ability to throw a bullseye. Oh well, that’s the way it goes. At the end of the match, my teammates made a pitch to retain me on the team next season. I decided to accept the offer. Hey, at least somebody wants me!
Had dinner on Baloy after the match, then took a trike back into town and camped out at It Doesn’t Matter. Dinner and drinks for a couple of the gals, including Roan. After several more beers I was sufficiently numb so I triked back home and went to bed.
Yeah, I need to do better.at dealing with disappointment. I’ll get there.
The gathering.The beginning of the climb.Even the steps were a challenge.Now without the steps.In the jungle, the peaceful jungle…A wing a whack, a wing a whack…A rest about halfway up.Looking back from whence we came.March on!At the Great Wall of BarrettoWhat a nice view!Into the great wide open.Deciding to go on different paths.Our path led down to Olongapo.Dwellers near the hilltop.Steppin’ on down.And down some more.
Just a quick update from my current “life goes on” adventure. I miss Pamela but I expect she is much further down the moving on road than I am. Walked by her place yesterday on my way to darts. I was on the opposite side of the highway, but I refrained from looking as I passed. Not ready to witness her new life just yet.
As to insights I might have gained, nothing significant to report at this time. I think we were just in different places, a “right love at the wrong time” kind of situation perhaps. Maybe the generational gap played a part in that as well. I don’t think we truly understood each other. And she was just as likely to get pissed by my humorous takes on things as she was to laugh. This breakup has not triggered a bout of depression, but I do carry the burden of sadness. That will pass in time. My takeaway is that our unhappy ending was for the best, perhaps inevitable, especially given her unwillingness to try and talk through and resolve our issues.
But, there are some good things to embrace as well. I’ve already mentioned how much I appreciate the comments and insights my readers here have provided. And I was touched to see that my failures in love inspired a poem called ode to a man who keeps losingwomen:
you can stick a penis in it
but that doesn't mean you win it
you can get in bed and rock it
but her love ain't in your pocket
you can make her sing a high note
but her foot is still in your scrote
what's the use?
what's the use?
what's the use?
Speaking of Kevin, I came across a post I wrote after the 2017 heartbreak rendered unto me by Loraine. In the comments, Kevin offered up this gem of wisdom:
The Hindu concept of life is that it’s a painful wheel of existence called samsara. We’re chained to this repetitive, revolving wheel through our actions (karma). The object of the game is to gain enough wisdom about the nature of things so as to escape an eternity of repeating the wheel of life-events, again and again, all thanks to our accidental or deliberate unwisdom. Good luck as you examine deep causes and do your best to find liberation from the wheel (moksha) and bliss in your life (ananda). Every day is a new chance to walk a different path!
Yes, indeed! I will definitely seek out a different path. But it won’t be a quest for love. If love is my destiny, it is going to have to find me. I can, and will, be happy without it.
I made a drunken post on Facebook Monday saying “I wasn’t expecting a broken heart for Christmas this year.” Well, that got some reactions and hug emojis, but my favorite comment was from Carol, aka, ex-wife #3:
Carol: get a doll
Me: haha. A living doll?
Carol: if it’s living it will leave too.
Me: yeah. Sad but true.
Carol: it’s ok. I think the part you like is the falling “in love”. As long as they keep leaving you get to keep falling over and over. Win-win.
Me: wow. That’s a good way to look at it. Thanks!
Me: I think I love you!
Carol: You’ll get over it.
Funny shit. On a more serious note, Carol also said the root of my failures is: “because he keeps dating out of his age group and has nothing in common with them socially, economically, religiously, etc.” Yeah, some of my commenters have said the same.
Anyway, my Day 2 Without Her was pretty much like my days were before her.
I got a haircut. Went to a new barber and told him/her (a ladyboy) “just a trim”. Came out looking like I had joined the Army. Oh well, it will grow back. Oddly enough, the bargirls seemed to all like it, saying I look younger. Hmm.
After the barber, I visited Hideaway bar to see Joy (the cute 23-year-old from Finger Monkey). Bought her a couple of drinks and slipped her some Christmas money so she can buy presents for her kids. She was looking pretty cute, perhaps a sign that my recovery is in progress.
Next stop was Alley Cats for the darts tournament.
A first-place finish gave me something to smile about.
While I was at Alley Cats I got a message from someone named Ricardo saying he was coming to my house at 5:00 and would I be home. I said no, I have darts. And who are you? Duh, it was my landlord. Wasn’t expecting a visit from him because he lives in Singapore. Home for the holidays and he wanted to do a meet and greet with me. Sorry!
But he left this bounty of a Christmas gift with my helper. Yeah, I’m impressed. Much nicer than my former landlord, that’s for sure!
After darts, my pal Kevin joined me for dinner and more beer at the Outback. Had some good Fish and Chips and chatted with the bartender, Bhel. She is the one I helped out with with surgery expenses. It was good to see her recovered and back at work.
And oh yeah, shopping at Royal. I’ve been hearing about the inflation spiral in the USA and got to witness it first hand in the cheese section:
Those prices are 50% higher than they were a year ago. Now, you do pay a premium for imported products, but this is ridiculous. Let’s go, Brandon!
Alright, this is my Wacky Wednesday. Need to head out for my hike with the Walkers, then rush home, shower up, and head to Baloy for dart league. It’s our last match of the season, thankfully. I hate having to rush around.
That’s where I’m at at the moment. Forward! No more looking back!
