Here’s the rare early morning post at LTG. The why for that is because I’m not sure what is in store come the afternoon, which is when I usually blog. The regular Friday group hike has been replaced today with the semi-annual 7-Eleven Hash run (which also takes place on July 11th).
Yeah, it’s a thing. I missed the July rendition this year because I was in Vietnam.
Anyway, we are leaving from the 7-Eleven in Barretto at 10:53 this morning (yeah, that’s seven till eleven), taking a Jeepney to Olongapo, and commencing our 7K journey, which will take us to seven 7-Elevens in the city and on SBMA (the old Navy base). We’ll travel back to Barretto when we are done and finish the Hash at Barretto’s other 7-Eleven market. I expect we will find a venue to celebrate this accomplishment, so it is unlikely that I’ll be in any condition to do my usual post about yesterday.
Which is the long way of saying, let’s get started with Thursday:
I woke up to this greeting from the full moon.
For our morning walk, I suggested to Swan that we pay a visit to the fishing village of Bantay Bayan and she agreed. After a 5K Jeepney ride, we began our exploration.
They’ve built a convenient new access road coming down from the highway since our last time walking here.The children of Bantay Bayan like cookies and lollipops, too.
I’ve always liked the vibe of this village and imagined what it might be like to live here. I was surprised yesterday when we encountered not one, but two, white guys living that dream.
A dead-end road led us to an angry bay. The high tide, coupled with the waves, dashed our hopes for a beach walk.Find your own place to pee, ladies!This abandoned beach resort always creeps me out in a Stephen King-like fashion.Our best (only) option was the highway walk back to Barretto.We haven’t been to Samba since the Kon-Tiki beach bar closed earlier this year.This pink house along the highway always catches my eye. Back in Barretto we are.It’s Fiesta time in Barretto! The big celebrations are on Saturday, but we’ll be out of town visiting a river resort in Botolon.The SOB is dead, but the Aftermath event has been reincarnated as the After Dark and debuts tonight at Wet Spot. The 8 pm start makes it pretty much a no-go for me.We finished our hike by grabbing some takeout food from Sit-n-Bull.The route we walked.
While we were at Sit-n-Bull, the manager told us that someone had died across the street earlier that morning.
At six floors, the Central Park Reef Hotel is the tallest building in town.It’s not the fall that kills you, it’s the sudden stop at the end.
Not many details have emerged as yet, but it was a 20-something young woman and likely a suicide. Sad to see a wasted life. I’m glad I changed my mind fifty years ago; I wouldn’t have missed this adventure since then for the world.
We started our evening out with dinner at Mango’s.
The bay was still in angry mode.I zoomed in on the village across the bay we’d visited during the morning, Bantay Bayan.My dinner date.The view from our table.The grilled pork chops on our table.That fireball in the sky.The end is nigh.
After dinner, we popped into the Outback Billabong bar. We usually frequent the pool bar when we are here, but since it was already dark, we sat inside with aircon and music. Met a friendly Aussie tourist and we had a nice chat. One of the topics we discussed was this:
A super typhoon is headed for Luzon. It looks like it will hit a bit north of where I am, but we will be feeling the impact of wind and rain regardless. Should make for a wild Sunday.
That’s the kind of excitement I don’t need or want in my life.
We did our nightcap at Queen Victoria bar last night and had an enjoyable time. It has a very unique vibe and the dancers are so energetic that they dance even when they are not on stage. The manager told me he has thirty dancers now, which is likely the most in town. Most of them are relatively attractive, especially when compared to the girls I’ve seen in other Barretto bars. I’d rate Queen Vic the best girly bar in these parts, if that’s your thing.
Still plowing through February 2015 in the LTG archives. Today’s share is a photo-laden post about a weekend in Busan, the ROK’s second city. I always enjoyed visiting there. One more place on my list of things I miss.
Today’s YouTube video is a walk through the streets of Bantay Bayan. My photos didn’t really capture the essence of the village like this does.
You know what comes next:
It’s funny even without the political implications. I mean, you could make the joke, “Trump wants a ballroom because he ain’t got any.”That really stinks.It’s good to expand your vocabulary…
Okay, it’s gonna be a busy weekend, it seems. The 7-Eleven walk this morning and whatever comes after, then an early morning departure for a day on the river in Botolon. And a blowjob from Uwan on Sunday. Good times!
I hear some people been talking me down Bring up my name, pass it 'round They don't mention the happy times They do their thing, I do mine
Ooh baby, that's hard to change I can't tell them how to feel Some get stoned, some get strange But sooner or later, it all gets real Walk on, walk on
Ain’t got much to say, so we’ll keep it short and sweet today. Fair enough?
The Wednesday Walkers, all three of us, took the longish Jeepney ride out to Castillejos and did a walkabout on the GOVIC bypass highway.
My fellow adventurers, George and Swan.On the road again.We don’t need no edukasyon, we don’t need no thought control. Teacher, leave them kids alone!Does Cass still lay hoes?A heavenly hike.Hell, Mary. Aren’t you worried that those three wise men will figure out what you and Joseph have been up to?A tree I fancied along the way.And then back on the National Highway for a bit.The route we took on our 6K journey.
Come evening, Swan and I kicked things off at Sloppy Joe’s and shared some quite good chicken wings with fries. Then we went next door to Green Room, where I put my “buy one, get one” coupon to good use. When I’d drunk my fill, we headed for home sweet home.
I told you it was a nothing day. But I liked it all the same.
From the February 2015 LTG archives comes a post about coffee shops on Itaewon’s main drag. I was never much of a coffee drinker, but curiosity got the best of me one day, so I counted how many steps there were between the multitude of coffee houses. And I took a photo of each and every one. Go have a look for yourself.
It’s been a while since we’ve checked in with Smart Girl Philippines. In today’s YouTube video, she provides the nine reasons a Filipina wants to fuck a foreigner.
And now for these:
Nothing like getting back to your roots.That’s a shortcut I’m not taking.Well, I’m a boomer, but I don’t like 3, 5, 16, 19, or 20.
I’ve mentioned before the struggles I’ve been undergoing as I continue my journey through the uncharted waters of my seventies. Usually, I can turn off my brain, or at least drown it out with copious amounts of San Miguel Zero. But then those nights I can’t sleep soundly come around.
Like last night.
Lying there in bed, my mind inevitably starts traveling back to the past, reminding me of what I had and what I lost. My preference is just to let it go, or sometimes fantasize about what I might do to change things should I be granted a “do-over life.” Yeah, that’s not going to happen. Anyway, last night the struggle with my brain revolved around how disconnected I’ve become. I rarely hear from my children, and it’s been years since I’ve had contact with my two brothers. Long-time friends have also disappeared. I guess this is one of the consequences for choosing to live out what remains of my life on the other side of the world, far away from friends and family.
But here’s the thing. I don’t miss the vanilla American lifestyle I left behind and can’t imagine living in the nation of my birth again. I miss the people I’ve loved, even if it feels like they no longer love me. They’ve chosen to go their own way, just as I have chosen to go mine. Life goes on until it doesn’t.
Somewhat coincidentally (I was checking to make sure I hadn’t used this post title before), I found something I had written in 2008 expressing sentiments similar to what I’ve been feeling now. Back then, I was reflecting on my life after three years in Korea, lamenting what that had cost me, yet I was still unwilling to change course. That’s where I’m at today as well. The mistake I want to avoid this time is getting trapped in regrets over what I’ve lost and forgetting to embrace the good in the life I have.
So, as unconnected as I might be, I have my routines to fill the hours. Yes, they are mostly mundane and meaningless, but I enjoy them and will do my best to continue living the best life an elderly man can hope for. Let’s see how that works out for me.
And there’s no going back, so I’m taking the future one day at a time.
Take yesterday, for example. My new driver, Bong, who is a friend of Swans, arrived promptly at eight in the morning for my weekly grocery shopping excursion. There was an additional stop at the immigration office to extend my visa, and that went without issue. Then it was on to the Filipino supermarket, YBC, to stock up on the week’s candies and treats. Checking out can be a very frustrating experience, as I was reminded once again. It seemed to take forever for the woman in front of me to get her groceries squared away and paid for (she had them in three piles to be rung up separately. And then it took a long time for her card payment to go through. I stood by patiently, reciting my mantra, “take a deep breath, relax, and accept the Filipino way.” It’s not vanilla here; sometimes it’s a rocky road.
Royal is a comparatively American shopping experience, so there is usually nothing much to get upset about. My only issue was at checkout, when the cashier tried to entice me to buy eco-bags for my groceries instead of the cardboard boxes that are the usual method. When I declined the bags, she said the boxes were unavailable. I responded by pointing to the customer who was ringing out several aisles away, using boxes. Then the cashier disappeared for several minutes, presumably in search of boxes. Meanwhile, one of the baggers came by with boxes sufficient for my grocery load. The cashier eventually returned and began ringing up my purchases. Maybe it was my imagination, or perhaps she is just incompetent, but damn, it seemed like she was moving in slow motion. Anyway, if that’s all I have to complain about, I’m living a charmed life indeed.
Back home, I was feeling lazy and skipped the usual afternoon neighborhood hike. At beer o’clock, Swan and I made our way to Barretto and paid our monthly visit to my old darts bar, Alley Cats. I was reminded of how disconnected I’ve become from my former darting life. It’s still nice to see the familiar faces occasionally, though.
After Alley Cats, we crossed the highway for some dinner at the Outback Fish and Chips diner. We’ve had takeout from there in the past, but this is the first time we’ve actually sat down to eat there.
It’s an open-air joint, which I like. This is the view from our table.I’d been craving fish and chips for some reason. This is the mahi-mahi version, which I prefer to the standard dory variety. I wasn’t disappointed.
I had a 500 peso voucher from the final SOB for Whiskey Girl, so that’s where we headed next. At first, they declined to accept the voucher, saying they were no longer a member of the SOB. I was livid, saying this prize was given to me at the last event, and their refusal to honor it was tantamount to fraud. I was ready to walk out without paying for the drinks I had ordered when manager Mick interceded, saying he would accept the coupon but still claimed it should not have been given. So, I had four beers for free (one glass of wine I paid for) and left.
Then, we once again crossed the highway and popped into the newest bar in town, Gold Bar. We were warmly greeted by the manager and took our seats. I was a little surprised to see that I knew our waitress, Lydell, whom I first met at Snackbar several years ago. A little later, neighbors Jeff and Davina joined us. I didn’t take any photos, but Gold Bar is a clean, well-lit place —the kind I appreciate when I’m drinking inside. There is a pool table in the back and a small stage where four dancers were performing their swaying routine last night. They were attractive (i.e., not fat) by Barretto standards. It was a pleasant enough nightcap venue, and on those occasions we are visiting this side of town, we’ll pay them another visit.
Not bad for a Tuesday, eh? Except for the part about not being able to get a good night’s sleep.
Oh, I’ve often wondered why Filipinos don’t speak Spanish, despite being under Spain’s rule for four hundred years. This article explains what happened.
Moving on to February 2015 in the LTG archives, and this post about one of my best days as a darter brought back some nice memories.
A fifteen dart out in 501, the best I’ve ever thrown. The pros can do it in twelve, but they don’t use aiming fluid (beer).
Three years ago, I was still enjoying my visit to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
What’s not to like?
In today’s YouTube video, a white girl (or, more likely, an AI-generated image of one) shares her first experience in a Manila grocery store. She encounters the variety of snacks and flavors the locals enjoy. It is short, so bite your tongue and try to enjoy it.
And now let’s move on to the funny business:
Don’t ask me, I’m just a grammar spammer.IOU for this one.Puns can be killers.
That’s all I’ve got. Sorry for going a tad off the rails today, but that’s what happens sometimes.
Here’s the down and dirty on how I spent what the locals call All Souls’ Day.
As is our custom, we kicked off our Sunday with a Sweets Stroll.
Damn, dying at forty is sad. Filling the void with some sweet goodness.
Speaking of goodness, Swan made me a meat pie for lunch:
She’s a natural in the kitchen, and being with a Brit for many years expanded her repertoire.
But the feeding wasn’t over, I still had the Hideaway gals to tend to.
You are welcome!Down the hatch!
But wait, there’s more. At John’s place across the highway, I rendezvoused with Swan, who had just returned from family time at the cemetery in remembrance of her mother.
The dinnertime sky view from John’s.This should come as no surprise to regular readers.Bulgogi hit the spot for me.
After our meal, we ventured out to Red Bar and met up with the neighbors.
We usually sit outside, but Jeff was craving the aircon.
Swan said she saw on Facebook that there was live music at Jumpin’ Jacks starting at 7 pm. So, off we went. When the music didn’t start as scheduled, Davina graciously helped fill the void.
Thanks for that performance!It was almost eight before the scheduled act took the stage. That’s awfully close to my bedtime, so we didn’t stay for much of the show.
And that’s all there was to the day, but it was still blessed. I hope there are many more to come.
From the January 2015 LTG archives is a tribute to my mother on the fourth anniversary of her passing. Gone but never forgotten.
Mom’s life was not an easy one, but in the end, her thoughts were only about the power of love. She urged us to love and to be loved because that was all that really mattered.
And Facebook also flooded me with memories from this day in 2018, during my last visit to the USA. We rented a place for the weekend at Seven Devils, North Carolina, nestled in the Appalachian Mountains.
It was the last time I experienced snowfall.And the sunsets were amazing.It was also the last time I saw my children.Nothing lasts forever.
Life doesn’t always go the way we planned. You just live the life you have and make the best of it. Looking back still makes me sad sometimes.
Speaking of looking back, today’s YouTube video is about growing up in the baby boom generation. Those were some sweet memories. I’m glad I got to experience life the way it was. I’m also happy to be living life the way it is, but the clock is ticking for us boomers.
And now let me offer you these tidbits of wisdom that may be worthy of a smile or two:
What did she say?I’m fucking trying to get it write.Who gives a shit?
There you go. I hope you got what you came for. It’s Hash Monday and I’ll be hitting the trail again this afternoon. When I say “the trail,” I mean “my trail.” I’ve decided that making the effort to reach the official start at the end of Rizal Extension isn’t worth the hassle, especially since I’m not a fan of the previous trails by today’s Hare. Damn, the older I get, the more inclined I am to say, “Fuck it. I’ll do it my way.”
I heard this song as background music last night. It had been a long time since the last time it tickled my senses. In my old-man style, I sent myself a message with the song’s name so I’d remember it today.
This is the day Of the expanding man That shape is my shade There where I used to stand It seems like only yesterday I gazed through the glass At ramblers Wild gamblers That's all in the past
You call me a fool You say it's a crazy scheme This one's for real I already bought the dream So useless to ask me why Throw a kiss and say goodbye I'll make it this time I'm ready to cross that fine line
I’m glad I don’t live in NYC. They are fixin’ to find out what comes with being stupid.
Don’t worry, I’m not going there. Arguing politics online never changes any minds, mine included. Just glad I’m watching from a safe distance.
Here in my world, I had a mix of the same and something a bit different.
The dawning of another day as seen from my balcony.
Then it was time for the weekly Decay Dance.
How now brown cow?Litter here takes many forms. The locals don’t give a crap. What a pisser.There’s something you don’t see every day on the streets of San Isidro.Restocking the candy bag.I liked the juxtaposition of this dead tree and Easter Mountain.Doing her duty…those teeth ain’t gonna rot themselves, you know.5K of sweetness delivered.
Neighbors Jeff and Davina invited us to join them in the afternoon at Treasure Island on Baloy Beach. Sure, why not?
Kids enjoying the pool.Gals enjoying their card games.And at 4:30, the live music, featuring Engine Band, kicked off.Then the sun did its thing.
No Zero available, so I enjoyed a bucket of San Mig Light (six beers for the price of five). I guess you could say I kicked the bucket!
And as long as you are being bad, you might as well go all in. Damn, that banana split was delicious!
The combination of starting early and drinking beer with 5% alcohol content (versus the 3% I’m accustomed to) inevitably brought the evening to an early end.
Once home, Swan lit candles in remembrance of the dead, including two for my parents. They probably didn’t notice, but they weren’t forgotten.
This may well be a record for me:
Nine hours of sleep is a lot for me, but damn, I fell asleep at 7:24 p.m. I’ve got to build up some endurance for chrissakes.
It wasn’t a long day, but it was a good one.
Back to the January 2015 LTG archives, where I write about moving into a new high-rise apartment building and my commute to work in Seoul. Ah, to be young and in my sixties again.
Lots of Facebook memories from this day in my history:
Eleven years ago, I was darting with one of my best friends, Duke Gates. And now he’s disappeared himself from social media and doesn’t respond to emails. No one knows what happened or what is up with him.Seven years ago, I visited the USA for the last time. It was nice to see my mailman jacket still fit me. It wouldn’t now.Three years ago, I was in Cambodia and saw my good friend Dennis McPeters for the last time. I fear the worst in his case.I’d almost forgotten how cute those Cambodian gals are.A bar zone right across the street from my hotel. Phnom Penh had several streets lined with girly bars like these.The beer was good too!
Today’s YouTube video is from my pal Jambo. I promise this is the last time I’ll post a video from the SOB.
It’s a holiday weekend here in the Philippines. Yesterday was Halloween, today is All Saints Day, and tomorrow is All Souls Day. It’s a big deal here, and the cemeteries will be packed on Sunday with family gatherings and celebrations to remember those who have passed. Where I grew up, it was only about the trick-or-treating. Today’s YouTube from the Pea explains the Filipino traditions in more detail.
So, my Halloween this year consisted of an 8K street walk from the Subic marketplace back to Barretto. Then I attended the funeral for the SOB dance contest. It was a rather sad affair. I’ll get to that later in this post, but to keep things sequential, we’ll start with the walk.
My fellow Friday hikers, Swan and Gary.There’s no trick to handing out candy on Halloween.I ain’t afraid of that rickety bridge.Not exactly a walk in the park, but no complaints.Gary didn’t get board.There’s something haunting about this abandoned subdivision.
I walked through the gate for the first time yesterday. Big, wide streets, paved in concrete and tree-lined. Very nice despite the ghostly vibe. It felt a little like being in a Stephen King novel.
As we passed the graveyard, there were many people busy cleaning and painting in preparation for the coming All Souls Day.Spooky decorations at this beach resort.A brief interlude on the highway heading back towards Barretto.This loosely translates to: Fuck off! Don’t leave your trash here.Waterlines line our path.Oh look! You can see Alta Vista from here.That’s where I live.A nice Halloween stroll.
Next on the day’s agenda was attending the final SOB, held at Wet Spot.
Swan dressed up for the occasion. My costume was invisible.Neighbor and fellow WHS alumnus, Mike, was our tablemate at the SOB.The stage was nicely decorated for the event.And Wet Spot was jam-packed with attendees.I apologize for failing to get many good pictures from where I was sitting last night.
Only three bars competed last night, another reason the SOB has been on life support for quite some time now. All participating teams had nice costumes and put some effort into their performances. Creepy Halloween gear and sexy dancing seem to me to be incompatible, but I guess monsters need love, too.
Wet Spot finished first, followed by Queen Victoria and Green Room.That’s the scary manager from Queen Vic.I added all the teams I used to enjoy watching to my scorecard. Thanks for the memories!
And then it was all over and done with after more than twenty years of weekly competitions. Things change, and life goes on.
My final coupons from the SOB. I don’t like Whiskey Girl, but I might enjoy drinking 500 pesos worth at their expense. The Green Room coupon will be easy to use.
So, after making sure I had drunk enough to cover my 750 peso SOB entrance fee, I was ready to head home when the show ended at 8 pm. And that’s just what I did.
Back in January 2015, I linked to a post of mine written on New Year’s Day 2005 from Oklahoma, where I was visiting my parents as I looked towards an unknown future in Korea. Here’s what I had to say back then:
And that leads to my current insight on this New Year’s morning. I never really had a plan for life; I just reacted to it. Whenever I reached a crossroad, I chose a direction and followed the road without a clue as to where it might take me. I guess it is natural to wonder about the paths that would have led to a different life, but you only get to live the life you chose. No mulligans. But I have been extremely fortunate and blessed. Good people got hurt along the way, and for that I am truly sorry. But the roads I have taken have led to some great adventures and life-altering experiences. A fool’s luck, perhaps, but even though I could never have imagined what my life would turn out to be, it has been a very nice ride.
So it is time to look forward again. This year brings a new road in Seoul, Korea. And it will be an adventure with an uncertain outcome for sure. My point (if there is one) is just to say that I have discovered it is important to take the time to enjoy the life you are living, even as you chase rainbows. I think I missed the best part of Oklahoma, and it is only in looking back that I realize that I should have allowed myself to be happy there.
Reading the above this morning had me shaking my head, realizing I never truly learned that lesson. I spent a year in Pyeongtaek, missing the life I’d left behind in Seoul and looking ahead to my upcoming life in the Philippines. I was too foolish to appreciate all the good things that surrounded me back then, and it is only in looking back sadly at what should have been an enjoyable chapter in my life if I’d only allowed myself to live in the moment. So, for better or worse, I’m embracing this life of mine in the Philippines, warts and all.
Today’s post from the January 2015 LTG archives is a tribute I wrote to my friend and workmate, Dennis McPeters, upon his retirement from government service. I met him back in our Postal Service days, and he had become one of my best friends over the years. I last saw him three years ago in Cambodia, where he was living. He hasn’t responded to my emails for over a year now, and I fear the worst. I sent him another today, just in case they have Gmail in heaven.
Here’s the YouTube video from the Filipina Pea I mentioned earlier in this post:
Smile while you can in life:
What’s up, Doc?Bada boom.If you say so, but it didn’t take me long to fnid it.
That’s enough for today, don’t you think?
It is hard to believe that this song is fifty years old now. Where does the time go?
It being Halloween and all, I suppose getting haunted by the past is par for the course. Earlier today, I posted something I had written back in April 2017. Yesterday was the eighth anniversary of how that “Brand New Plan” worked out for me. I wrote about that failure in a post called “FUCK ME!” Of course, looking back, it is easy to see now that I was lucky to get screwed over before I wasted more time and money on someone of such low character. Life’s best lessons are the hard ones, which is not to say that I’ve been all that successful learning from them. But here I am, still in the game. It’s late in the game, but I’ve got a good woman to see me through to the end this time.
Even one of my normal nothing days is better than a stab in the heart. Boring doesn’t hurt nearly that bad. Swan and I took a beach walk, then crossed the river for a street walk in Matain.
At the top of Baloy Beach.And near the bottom of Baloy.Where the Matain River meets the bay.Our ride across the river.Not so easy for a big guy like me to crawl in and out of the little boat. I managed somehow.On the Matain side of the river.A tad over 7K start-to-finish.
Swan wanted some “me” time at home, so at beer o’clock, I ventured out into Barretto on my own. I made Cheap Charlie’s my first stop.
The view from my perch.
I was surprised to be the only customer in the bar for most of my visit. Cheap Charlies used to have an early crowd, but the girls say it’s been slow lately. Speaking of the girls, there were a couple back to work that I knew from those long-ago days when I was a regular here. A lot has changed since then, including Cheap Charlie’s raising the price of a single lady drink to 250 pesos. That’s one of the most expensive in town. I’m not a cheap Charlie by any means, but as I explained to the girls, I won’t pay more than 200 pesos for a lady drink as a matter of principle. While I’m sure they were disappointed, they seemed to understand. They cheered up when I handed out some cookies and lollipops, then I ordered the gals some chicken fingers and lumpia from the restaurant downstairs. Coincidentally, the price of the food was the equivalent of two lady drinks. So, win-win.
I’m not sure what this church procession was all about. Is All Hallows Eve-eve a religious holiday?
When I finished the last San Mig Zero in the Cheap Charlies fridge (yes, once again, bars all over town have run out, and the supplier says it is unavailable), I crossed the highway and found a seat at a rather busy Green Room. Then it was next door to Wet Spot for my nightcap, before grabbing a trike for home.
I guess that proves that I only drink when I’m alone or with someone.
It is now January 2015 in the LTG archives, and the new year began with a life-changing event: my wife told me she was unhappy in our marriage. I asked if she was willing to work on improving things, and she responded, “Not really.” I tried for a year to change her mind without success. It still hurts, and I still don’t understand it.
Today’s YouTube video features Reekay talking about the perils and joys of building relationships within the expat community. From my perspective, friendships come naturally, but as an introvert, making them can be difficult. I have lots more acquaintances than friends, but the friends are people I share common interests and socialize with, like my neighbors and fellow Hashers.
Let’s try to bury the sad days in the past with some humor:
Feedback is a gift, and I appreciate it. Not always a gift I can use, mind you, but it’s the thought that counts.I may not be good at punctuation, but I’m never late, so I’m punctual.Does that make Travis a dick or a butthole? Or both?
A journey through the past, like I’ve been doing over the past couple of days, can be exhausting. As I’ve always said, it only hurts until the pain goes away. Tonight is the final edition of the SOB dance competition, and I’ll be there to add it to my memory box. I’m sure it will be a bittersweet experience.
As is my custom, yesterday I joined the Wednesday Walkers for a healthy adventure in the hills. Well, maybe it was more lucky than healthy, because none of us got hurt. I had the bright idea of doing the portion of Monday’s Hash trail I had elected to skip. So, we did a street walk to where the mystery trail I didn’t take began its ascent. It’s surprising this far into my Barretto hiking life to find a trail I haven’t traveled before, but that’s what happened yesterday. We hadn’t gone far before I realized two things: I made the right call on Monday by skipping this portion of the Hash trail, and I will never voluntarily take this route again. It was an ass-kicking bitch, at least for me. So, as much as I enjoy trying a new path, once was more than enough for this one.
Fellow sufferers: Swan, George, and Gary.The easy part.No paddle required.The path that led to hell.It’s hard to capture the steepness of the climb in a photograph, but when it takes hands and feet to claw your way up, it sucks big time.Another thing on our shitty trail to overcome was barbed-wire fences.This one required an underwire breach. Picture my fat body trying to squirm under that fucker. It wasn’t pretty, but I made it without a scratch this time.We’ll end the hike on a high note.The route of our 6K trail from hell.
I’m not going to say it was the worst Hash trail ever, but it was in the top ten.
Things got better as the day went on. Since we had skipped our Tuesday visit to Baloy Beach, we went yesterday. Started out at Champs Sports Bar at the Baywatch Resort.
A Champs view.Swan enjoying the Champs view.What’s going on? When we weren’t watching the beach, the music videos were entertaining.Good music at a reasonable volume is one thing Champs gets right.Sun, clouds, and mountains. What’s not to like?We always enjoy the show at sundown.
Then it was time to mosey on up the beach.
Toes in the sand time.Dusk descends.Dinner time at Treasure Island.Who’s the lucky one?
After our meal, we had the trike drop us off at the 7-Eleven, and we visited Snackbar for our nightcap.
Nice to see you again.
And so another day in the life came to an end.
From the December 2014 LTG archives comes the story of the consequences of an altercation my friend Jeremy engaged in that resulted in the death of a Korean man. Jeremy spent 5 years in a Korean prison for his crime. He’s back home in the USA these days, and we still engage occasionally on Facebook. He is suffering from a severe case of TDS, and sometimes my posts trigger a typical lefty reaction.
Facebook memories were full of women from the past today:
From six years ago, Ilene with her then boyfriend. I dated her briefly a couple of years later. And I just saw on Facebook the other day a post about her getting married. Congrats and good luck to you both!Six years ago, I was dating Marissa. She must have been feeling horny that day.Fourteen years ago, I was in South Carolina with the Korean woman who would become my wife.Eighteen years ago, in Itaewon, with that girl who moved to New York to make her dreams come true.
What a long, strange trip it’s been.
Today’s YouTube video says if you are still doing these things at 70, you are doing it right. I guess that’s half-right in my case. It has that crappy AI narration, so enter at your own risk.
At least I haven’t lost my sense of humor (if you can call it that):
I wouldn’t mind being a judge.Give credit where credit is due.Don’t swallow the P!
Sometimes it feels like I’m only forgetting the good parts.
One of those days yesterday where everything just felt a little bit off. I’ve struggled with bouts of depression throughout my life, and thankfully, my black thoughts have not reached that level yet. Still, another night of little sleep set the tone for the day. My f’n brain just won’t shut up and let me rest sometimes. The transition to my elderly seventies continues to be a struggle, the hardest part being acceptance that the end is coming, ready or not. That, coupled with the realization that dreams of the future are a thing of the past, enhances the reality that, like it or not, what I have is what it will be until it is gone. I do take some comfort in knowing it could be a hell of a lot worse.
My driver, Danny, who has been with me since I first moved to the Philippines, told me on the way to the grocery store that he was resigning. That was more than a little surprising. We stopped at the ATM, and when I got back in the car, Danny and Swan were arguing loudly in Tagalog. I told them I didn’t want to hear it. Later, I tried to get Danny to explain to me why he was quitting, but all he would say was that he didn’t get along with my girlfriend. Later, I got a message from Danny’s son, reiterating that the problem was his relationship with Swan. Yeah, Swan has been interjecting herself in the price negotiations over what Danny charges me. Danny asked for 20,000 pesos to drive us to La Union and back. Swan said that was too much, and she did the car rental route with driver, gas, and tolls, and it cost us 16,500 pesos. Apparently, that was the final straw for Danny. Oh, well. I don’t need the drama, and if he isn’t happy, by all means, he should find a new client to overcharge.
My legs were stiff in the lower calf area, which is unusual for me. Must have been stress from those ups and downs on Monday’s Hash. It made walking painful, but I forced myself to go out and hike the neighborhood after grocery shopping. It was good to ease my mind with music from my Spotify playlist filling my earbuds. My legs felt better when I was done, too.
An Alta Vista view.
Swan needed to go to the drugstore to refill my prescriptions, so we skipped Baloy Beach and did our evening out in Barretto. I took my usual perch at Sloppy Joe’s and watched the world pass by outside. Swan did her shopping and, when she returned, said she wasn’t hungry. I was, and ordered a pulled pork sandwich, which was pretty good for pub fare. Next, we paid a rare visit to the Alaska Club and enjoyed the music and company of our waitress, Alex. She got two lady drinks, and the five dancers each received a 50-peso tip in appreciation of their efforts. We did our nightcap at Cloud 69, and also had a nice time there.
The only occupied table at Cloud 69. I guess that makes us their best customers.
And the sands in the hourglass of life finished with another day.
The dollar continues to grow stronger against the peso. It’s actually over 59 pesos to the dollar this morning, about the highest I’ve seen it. Conversely, I noted in buying my imported foods at Royal yesterday that the prices have gone up considerably. For example, Betty Crocker brownie mix is $5.90 a box, up from $5.30. I guess it all evens out.
From the December 2014 LTG archives, this post commemorates the tenth anniversary of Long Time Gone. Time flies, and I enjoyed reading my reflections on my life since moving to Korea. More changes were on the horizon — painful ones — but I survived and here I am. I also quoted one of my favorite Sara Teasdale poems:
It was a night of early spring, The winter-sleep was scarcely broken; Around us shadows and the wind Listened for what was never spoken.
Though half a score of years are gone, Spring comes as sharply now as then— But if we had it all to do It would be done the same again.
It was a spring that never came; But we have lived enough to know That what we never have, remains; It is the things we have that go.
Truer words were never spoken.
Eight years ago, I was walking the straight and narrow path towards the future in the Pyeongtaek chapter of my life.
Today’s YouTube video says the science is settled on these twelve myths. I don’t believe it.
Smile for me:
T-t-to-too bad f-f-fo-for you.Better a Reaper than a Raper, I suppose.Any cock will do, Susan.
On and on it goes. Today’s hike with the Wednesday Walkers was an ass-kicker, I’ll tell you about that tomorrow. Now it’s time to find out what Wednesday evening has in mind for me.
135 kilometers and three and a half hours, door-to-door.
Arrived safely in the lovely town of Bauang in La Union after a long drive. Today’s Hash starts at 10, so I’ve got to dash out a quick update before heading out. Regular posting will resume tomorrow.
Some scenes from along the road:
The old Spanish gate on SBMA.Rolling down the expressway.Mount Arayat, an extinct volcano in Pampanga.On the MacArthur highway in the province of La Union.Entering Bauang.Checking into our room at the Go Resort. We wound up in the same room we had last year.
The Hash festivities began with a gathering at the Blue Cat bar, one of my favorite venues in Bauang.
The view from Blue Cat.The view inside Blue Cat.My table at Blue CatHash Gash on the beach.
Sunset on the ocean is a different look than the ones I see back home.
The clouds added some color.I like it!Thanks for the show!
At the conclusion of the Blue Cat Hash gathering, the male Hashers were invited to gather at the only girly bar in town, Footloose.
Who am I to say no to such an invite?I had to be discreet with my photography, but there was a lot more to see later in the performance, if you get my meaning.
So, no one has Zero beer in Bauang, and a long night of drinking SML left me somewhat out of sorts. It’s all a little fuzzy after that, but I did wake up in my bed this morning, so I guess things ended well, even if I don’t recall how I got there.
We’ll leave it at that for now. Gotta run, well walk, to the Hash meet-up.
The world leader in litter. From what I’ve seen, it is a nationwide effort.
I’m off to Bauang, La Union, this morning for a Hashy weekend. I’ll dash off a quick post before I go.
I had the bright idea to trike out to Naugsol yesterday morning for a hike with Swan. It didn’t go as planned because once we were on the scene, neither of us wanted to fuck around with wading across the river. So, we did a 4K street walk instead. We brought along lots of candy bags, but soon realized that with school in session, we wouldn’t be seeing many youngins.
A bridge that was too dicey to cross. I’ve gone across it in the past, but wasn’t feeling so brave yesterday.A candy delivery for a kidtaking a river bath.The kids at this school came out for some treats. And the teacher didn’t complain about tooth decay.That mountain named after Easter.Twin peaks are the breast!It wasn’t much, but what there was wasn’t bad.
The visit to the pulmonologist went well. She listened to me breathe and heard no obstructions. My blood oxygen level was within the normal range. She gave me something that dissolves in water to drink before bedtime, which might help me clear the phlegm I hock up with some regularity. Otherwise, it doesn’t look like a lack of lung capacity will lead to my demise. We’ll see if I survive tomorrow’s Hash.
After the doctor visit, I got a haircut, then we had dinner at Jewel Cafe.
I did the filet mignon, as usual. A little bigger this time.
Then we finished our evening at Green Room. I sponsored a match (100 pesos to the winner, 50 to the loser) between a couple of the girls and enjoyed watching the action. Dropped some coin on lady drinks as is my custom, then we headed on home to rest up for our trip today.
Back to October 2014 in the LTG archives. It’s funny to be reminded of things you thought were important at the time, but have no recollection of until you read about them again. That happens more frequently the older I get. Anyway, this post recounts me losing it over some darts drama.
Here’s a bonus entry from the archives you may find funny: Are you coming?
Fifteen years ago, I shared this account of a bad morning I experienced:
Death to Aria! I was attacked in my sleep last night. The battle raged from 0200 to 0300. I was unable to digest why it was happening and was in danger of being completely liquefied. I retreated from the bedroom and eventually purged the intruder. When I awoke a few hours later, I found myself on more solid ground. I’m just glad the attack didn’t occur on the subway, or I would have been in deep doo-doo.
And twelve years ago, I posted this music video to my Facebook page:
Today’s YouTube video is about a vlogger’s bad week in Angeles City. It is good to keep things in perspective. My bad days aren’t this bad.
And now to bring things to a close:
If you say so.You got me goin’ in circles…The old dirt road.
Almost time to hit the highway. I’ll check in from up north in the morning.
Any of those is better than the crap playing too loudly in many bars.
I’m running a bit late today, so I’ll make the catch-up post as short and sweet as possible. Typical Tuesday for the most part, so not a lot to say about it anyway. When we finished grocery shopping, I sent my driver and helper home to unload, and Swan and I walked the half-kilometer or so to the mall to restock my wardrobe. It was only 9:30, and the mall doesn’t open until ten. Perhaps it was coincidental, but I remembered this place that was perfectly suited to satisfy my sudden craving for a waffle.
Not as good as the Waffle House back home, but good enough.Something pleasant to look at while waiting to be served.What I came for…that waffle is topped with banana and walnuts.
Then it was on to the SM Mall next door, and the department store happened to have the cargo shorts I needed on sale for 500 pesos a pair. That’s less than half price, so instead of buying the three pairs I intended, I bought seven. Should be enough to last a lifetime.
The bounty I brought home: Shorts, a wallet, six pairs of socks, a swimsuit, three underwear, and two shirts. That’ll keep me dressed between laundry days.
As we made our Tuesday pilgrimage to Baloy Beach, we decided to change things up some and dine at Harley’s instead of our usual Treasure Island.
The view from our table.You can see Barretto from here.We shared the mixed grill platter and a shrimp cocktail.Cheers to another day with my love.Harley’s faces the wrong direction to see the sunset, so this will have to suffice.We don’t visit Harley’s that often, but always enjoy it when we do.
After dinner, we walked back to Barretto and paid a rare visit to Nipsey’s Bar. That meme I posted above applies…crap music at a loud volume. We asked that something more appropriate be played (we were the only customers), and they put on some classic rock, but didn’t turn it down. Even good music played at a distortion level is hard on the ears. We didn’t stay long and likely won’t be back.
We did our nightcap at Nipsey’s sister bar, Cloud 69, and it was fine. We shared drinks and chatted with our regular waitress, Sheryl, and one of the friendly baklas.
So, I wouldn’t call it a diamond of a Tuesday, but it was at least a ruby.
In this post from the September 2014 LTG archives, I write about settling back into my American lifestyle. One big difference between living in Seoul and Columbia, South Carolina, is the lack of public transportation. I could drink like a fish in Korea, then catch the subway home. As much as I like drinking, I don’t believe in drinking to excess and driving, so I needed to ensure I was always under the legal limit after playing darts. I bought a breathalyzer and always gave it a blow before starting the car. I was never over the limit and learned that three low-alcohol beers an hour kept me in the safe zone. Of course, nowadays I don’t drive at all, so I just have to worry that the drunks driving here don’t run into the trike I’m riding on the way home.
Today’s YouTube video is once again from Reekay—this time, he addresses expat burnout. It’s going on eight years for me now, and I still have no issues or regrets about the move. Of course, many irritations come with living here, but you either learn to accept them or let them drive you crazy. I’m blessed to have the resources not to have to reside in the midst of the worst of it. And the mantra still applies: “Take a deep breath. Relax. Accept the Filipino way.”
A little humor helps, too.
Yeah, that does sound shitty.The bars here in Barretto all have music boxes with that issue.Do you have a date for All Saints Eve?
And on we go from here. An exciting hike today in a not-so-good way. I’ll share the gruesome details tomorrow.
Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.Wait a minute, that Stephen King guy is still around.
To be clear, I hate King’s politics but love his writing. I’ve read most of his books, my favorite being The Stand.
So, to explain the title of this post: Nothing is something because without nothing, you would not appreciate the something in your life. My yesterday was a great example of that. Even by my low standards, it was a nothing day. They call it a “tropical depression” for a reason, I guess. Suffice to say, because of the rain, I never left the house until beer o’clock. As I departed the neighborhood under the protection of an umbrella, a passing trike driver asked if I wanted a ride. Usually, I walk into town, but this time I accepted the offer. The driver asked me where I was going, and I responded honestly, “It Doesn’t Matter.” He knew the way. The Hash barhop was scheduled to begin at five p.m., and I arrived thirty minutes early. The rain continued, and by six, only a handful of hardy Subic Hashers were in attendance, so the barhop plan was canceled.
The attendees at the first and last stop of our Hash barhop.
Swan and I did a nightcap at Green Room, then called it a night.
Some other tidbits from yesterday: I had a total of 4079 steps, by far the lowest of the year. My “sleep score” as measured by Fitbit was 52 for the second day in a row. That’s rated ‘poor’.
I blame it on my brain. Sometimes it won’t shut the fuck up!
I don’t remember much about my sleep cycle, but last night there was a song I don’t remember playing over and over in my head. And then I’d awake from some dream fragment, and my brain insisted on analyzing it for hidden meaning. Plus, I have to get up and pee every hour or so, so that doesn’t help a good night’s sleep.
It’s not all bad news; my blood pressure this morning was 119/75. My average over the past ten days is 128/73. Anything under 130 I consider a good indicator, given my high blood pressure history.
I’ve scheduled an appointment with the pulmonary doctor on Thursday. Coincidentally, it was exactly one year ago that I saw her for the first time. Back then, I was having difficulty breathing, and my blood oxygen levels were in the dangerously low range (I checked just now, and I’m at a healthy 98). I’ve not used my oxygen tank or nebulizer for months, and I’m happy about that. So, why the appointment? I’m still hacking up phlegm, and I’ve noticed that hill climbs are getting a tad more tiring lately. I’m hoping to keep from deteriorating to where I was last year or at least get some reassurance that I’ve got nothing to be concerned about. Other than old age.
I’ve been reading a weekly blog about Thailand called StickmanBangkok for several years now. I was sad to see his post this morning saying that he is giving it up to focus on his life in New Zealand (Stick moved back to the homeland five years ago). Even though I rarely visit Thailand these days (I like Vietnam better now), it was good to read about what is happening there. Stick also includes links to local news stories, and these two caught my eye today:
Elderly American falls to death in Pattaya. He was 72 years old and jumped from the roof of his apartment building. I guess I’m technically elderly too, but that ain’t the way I want to go
BLIND GERMAN MAN UNAWARE OF THAI WIFE’S DEATH INSIDE THEIR HOME. The German man was 69 (they didn’t call him elderly, at least), and he was waiting for his wife to come home from her taxi driving job. Turns out, she had hung herself. She was his only means of support, so he is especially fucked now.
So, I’ll take my nothing day over what those two had to deal with. And by golly, I can even turn a nothing day into a post here at LTG. You are welcome!
Speaking of LTG posts, back in August 2014, I made a visa run to Osaka, Japan, and wrote a play-by-play account of the experience. Those were the days!
Today’s YouTube video is from another new vlogger I found. Here she offers her insights on the “poverty trap” that keeps Filipinos poor. Obviously, I’m no expert, but I have seen some of this in my time here. The video is only five minutes long, so it’s an easy watch. Make sure the cc captions are on, though, because she throws out some Tagalog phrases now and then.
Lame is as lame does:
Sounds like you got burned, Captain.She sounds like a keeper to me. I just hope they always see eye-to-eye.I know the most religious vegetable because at church the pastor always says, “Lettuce pray.”
It’s another Hash Monday, and today we celebrate the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers’ 32nd Anniversary. There are three trail options: 12K, 7K, and 5K. I was thinking of the midrange option, which involves being transported to Gordon Heights in Olongapo City, then a trek up, over, and back down the Kalaklan Ridge. I saw the map and was a little concerned about the steep descent, and asked the Hare about it. He told me the up is a killer and suggested I’d be wise to stick to the short trail. Well, if the Hare says it, it must be so. 5K for me it is! At least the sun is shining again today, and I’ll find out if something really is better than nothing.
Remembering one of my favorites, Keith Whitley, who departed this life at thirty-four years old.
What have I got that’s newsworthy today? Um, this is me we are talking about, remember? Well, there is this:
Another tropical storm is blowing through. Hopefully, this will be the last one of the season.
San Miguel Zero is back in stock all over town. Hooray!
As if Trump wasn’t enough, now the leftards are trying to say JRR Tolkien was a racist who demonized “people of color.” Um, Orcs aren’t people. And actually, if you read the books, you’d know that most of Sauron’s minions were redeemed after the dark lord’s demise. Anyway, the link above totally destroys the idiotic narrative and redeems the honor of my favorite author.
The Subic Bay Hash is celebrating its 32nd Anniversary tomorrow. Hopefully, this rain is gone by then. As a prelude, there will be a Hash barhop this evening, starting at five p.m. Of course, I’ll be there to support my Mother Hash and welcome our out-of-town visitors.
And now for the old news about yesterday. We did our weekly Decay Dance. Due to the conflict with today’s barhop, I conducted the Hideaway feeding a day early. Afterward, I dined with Swan at John’s place. Then we stopped by Red Bar and Jumpin’ Jacks before heading home. Yeah, exciting stuff, I know.
That air ain’t gonna pollute itself, you know.
Swan asked the woman raking the leaves into piles why she even bothered. The woman responded that mosquitoes live among the leaves, so they burn the leaves to kill the biters. I guess when I see smoke in the air from now on, I’ll say that at least it is better than dengue.
Doing our duty.
There were two incidents of a kid trying to sneak a second bag of goodies by hiding the first handout. That irked Swan, but she didn’t let it ruin the overall experience.
A river runs through it.The feeding.Pounding it down.The view from John’s place.The owner and waitress were both there last night, so things seemed back to normal. The tacos were good as usual.Saturday evening on the highway in front of Red Bar.
And that’s the way it was. Speaking of which, it’s my birthday in the August 2014 LTG archives, the year I turned 59. Here’s what I was feeling back then:
I’ve gotten older but I can’t say I’m all that much wiser. No great insights as I enter the last year of my fifties. Truth is, I’m feeling a little melancholy. It’s not just that with each passing year mortality looms ever larger, it’s more that what once were limitless possibilities and opportunities have been reduced to an uncomfortable understanding that this is what I’ve become, and it is all that I will ever be.
Those feelings have been amplified significantly at 70 years old. I lost a lot over the intervening eleven years…a wife I loved dearly, my American life, including a paid-for house, and I’ve become estranged from my family. So, the endgame I thought about back then was nothing compared to the reality of what my life has become. But I’ll keep holding on to what I have; it’s way better than the alternative.
For today’s YouTube video, you can’t go wrong with the Filipina Pea, especially when she is responding to questions from her viewers. Enjoy her unique insights:
The jokes are on me:
Pretty much like me taking a Big Hominid grammar test.Especially in the dawn’s early light.Another benefit of being retired, I suppose.
Sometimes I think I might be portraying my life as an endless, meaningless grind. From the drivel I post here, that might appear to be the case. The reality for me is that I’m elderly now, and dreams die before we do. But keeping things in perspective, I’m living the dream in my retirement community. I’ve got similar oldsters who enjoy getting together for a hike, and plenty of places to go in the evening for socializing and liquid refreshments. And, of course, I’ve found a wonderful woman to share it all with, who genuinely wants to take care of me in my dotage. I am blessed.
I’m not going to waste a lot of your time today telling you about my yesterday. That’s what the pictures are for.
The Friday hikers took a Jeepney ride to Subic town and then walked the back streets home.Off we go through the Earth Homes subdivision.Getting off the pavement and onto a rickety bridge.Through the fields we go.Whoopie tie yi yo, get along little girlysThat “house” is a special stop for me.
Here’s the story behind the shack. Now, we only walk this way once a month or so. Kids are living there, so we’d do our cookie delivery thing. One day, we noticed the young mother wasn’t around, and the lola (grandmother) told us the mom had died and she was now taking care of the kids. She was very grateful for the cookies and didn’t ask for anything else, but it somehow didn’t seem like enough. I had a 500 peso note in my wallet, so I gave it to her. She almost burst into tears expressing her gratitude. Now, whenever we pass by and she is home, we make her day with a 500 peso gift.
A small thing for me means a lot to her. It’s my pleasure.Walking by the dead.That’s the top of Easter Mountain off in the distance.Over the river.Here comes that old fat guy.Sweetness is goodness.The last time we passed this way, we had to walk the wall because the path was two feet deep in water.Local yokels.The beginning of the only climb on our hike.The view from the top. (Yeah, it wasn’t much of a climb.)Nearing the end of our trek, we took a stroll through the Santa Monica subdivision.Our 6.5-kilometer journey.
It was nice to have Scott along with us once again, helping me take these photos. (That’s a nice way of saying I stole some of these from his post.)
Our abbreviated Friday evening on the town looked like this:
A visit to the poolside bar at the Outback Resort. Busiest I’ve seen themin quite a while.The view from our perch.This sailboat cruised by, then dropped anchor. I assume they went ashore at Harley’s.It must be dinner time, so we headed to Mango’s.The view from our table at Mango’s. We did the pork chops again.
Swan has a friend visiting from Baguio, and they wanted to meet up with us in Barretto. The arrangement was to gather at Queen Victoria.
The Queen Vic lineup.
A busy night in the bar. Maybe the low season is finally coming to an end. Swan’s friend messaged that they had decided to go out to dinner instead of joining us. No big deal, I’m an early bird anyway, so we headed home a bit before eight.
I trust that recap wasn’t too painful for y’all.
Back to the August 2014 LTG archives, when some days were a little more interesting, like that time JR Pub in Itaewon banned “Africans” to stop the spread of the Ebola virus. As you might expect, all hell broke loose. It wasn’t one of my regular hangouts, but I weighed in on the controversy. I just checked out their Facebook page, and they are still in business.
Today’s YouTube video talks about what happens when you die. It doesn’t sound all that bad the way they tell it, but I’m in no hurry to find out if they are right.
And now for the cringe:
I guess the cat’s out of the bag now.Might be time to get a newer model.I see, the blind man said, as he picked up the hammer and saw.
Oh, well. It is what it is. And more is on the way.
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.
Greetings from my little retirement community in paradise. Some days are better than others here, but I’m happy to keep taking them as they come. Yesterday was typical of my walkaholic/alcoholic lifestyle, and that suits me just fine. Here, see for yourself:
The morning view from my patio.
Later, the Wednesday Walkers convened:
That’s the largest gathering we’ve had in a very long time.And look who’s back! This is Scott’s first outing with the group since his mini-stroke. Spoiler alert: he made it the whole 7K!And we are off.
That guy above in sandals is visiting from the States without proper hiking footwear. By the end of the hike, his feet were bleeding. Still, he told me it was the best time he’s had in the Philippines. I guess you can take that one way or another, but he seemed to enjoy himself despite the foot pain.
Leaving the pavement behind for a bit.First cookie delivery of the day.A fork in the road or a battle of the bellies?Sweets for the sweet.Show us the way, Chris.Another encounter with the Naugsol Falls.A leap of faith for Swan.Trekking through the valley.Over the river on Bridge #4.The river under the bridge.Damn, the best was yet to come. Rest in Peace.(I just now noticed how poorly written the sentiments on that banner are.)Back in streetwalking mode.Saying goodbye to the rest of the group in Alta Vista and shortcutting up the hill to my house.An enjoyable 7K adventure.
For my after-hike lunch, Swan surprised me with this:
My first egg-a-burger in the Philippines.
At beer o’clock, we made our way to Sloppy Joe’s. Took our usual seats facing the street and settled in to enjoy the view.
The dregs drinker was busy quenching his thirst again.
As I watched him salvage the remains from the bottom of beer bottles, I was tempted to send him over a fresh one, but then I figured it might spoil the taste he’s grown accustomed to. So, we both sat across the street from one another, enjoying the beverages of our choice. I had to pay for mine, though.
We visited Green Room for the first time in over a week. Manager Jim has now left the job, although the circumstances of his departure are unclear. Owner Dave continues to recover, or maybe it is more like improve, from the ailments that had him on his deathbed recently. I’m told he’s out of the hospital at least. The pending sale of Green Room and Wet Spot is apparently still in process. Sorry to see Dave go, but there is more to life than bar ownership, and he should enjoy the time he has left as best as he is able.
I also had a chat with the mamasan about an issue a customer complained about on one of the internet forums I frequent. The guy said a girl he had taken out from the Green Room stole money and food from his apartment, and when he complained, the issue was ignored by the bar. There are two sides (at least) to every story, and the mamasan said his story didn’t add up. Anyway, if you are a purveyor of bar prostitutes, you are bound to be disappointed with your rental occasionally.
We headed for home after our time at the Green Room. And so another daily grain of sand dropped from the hourglass of life.
Today’s post from the July 2014 LTG archives recounts the tale of how I ran into an old friend and blog reader, Neil, aka Thirsty, at Dolce Vita in Itaewon. I haven’t heard from Neil in the comments for a while, but I hope all is well with him and his family.
Reekay responds to some viewer questions in today’s YouTube video. As usual, he’s full of good advice. My daughter-in-law no longer speaks to me because she disapproves of my lifestyle in the Philippines. I rarely hear from my son as well, but that might be about politics. Maybe one of the blessings of being elderly is not giving a shit anymore. If people choose not to be a part of my life, I’ll live whatever is left without them. It’s their loss, and once I’m gone, it ain’t gonna matter anyway.
Now for the funny business:
That’s some heavy lifting.Yeah, we are all going to hell.So many lonely housewives will be disappointed once the door is closed.
Some more earthquakes here in my province this morning, but I slept right through them.
Nothing to get shook up about.
Onward with my Thursday, then. Thanks for stopping by.
Acceptance is the first step to recovery. But being delusional was a lot more fun.
Meanwhile, life goes on. Tuesdays feel like that day of the week when there is nothing new to say: grocery shopping, neighborhood walk, Baloy Beach. Been there, done that. Over and over. Rinse and repeat. So, we’ll skip most of that nonsense and keep this post blessedly short.
I do want to share about our first time visit to a new venue: Champs Sports Bar. Well, more accurately, a newly named venue formerly known as the Drunken Sailor at the Baywatch Resort on Baloy Beach. We had gone to Drunken Sailor twice before, and it sucked so bad that we never went back. The owner, who also owns MacArthur’s in Barretto) has been posting on Facebook about Champs, so I thought I’d go see for myself. It’s been redecorated with wall murals of sports stars instead of drunk sailors, so that’s an improvement. They had a couple of cute waitresses, and service was good. Wine by the glass was available, which hadn’t been the case previously. The music was too loud and not to our liking when we arrived, but they turned it down and changed the genre when we asked. We were the only customers during our short visit.
Swan at the entrance to Champs.Two pool tables, but for some insane reason, they charge 200 pesos per hour to play. I seldom play myself, but when I do, I just play a game or two for fun. I’ve never seen any bar charge an hourly rate before. I do recall back in the long-ago stateside days, some pool tables had a coin slot where you paid a quarter every time you racked the balls.We didn’t come for the pool; we wanted the beach view vibes.And our desires in that regard were for the most part satisfied.Swan taking it all in.And they might be the only bar in town that has San Miguel Zero in stock (I’m pretty sure that is a vestige of their lack of customers, but still…).It’s been a while since we’ve watched the sun do that thing it does.Not bad, not bad at all.
Swan still needed to get her toes in the sand, so we paid our tab and hit the beach.
She’s happy now!
Our beach walk took us past Kokomo’s, and once again, it was closed. So, as far as beach bars go, Champs doesn’t have any competition. We may make Champs a weekly stop, at least until the floating bar returns to service.
Then we did our Tuesday routine of dining at Treasure Island.
TI is by far the best venue on Baloy.Beef enchiladas for me.And a beef quesadilla for Swan.
We decided to do our nightcap at Snackbar and enjoy its unique view of the 7-Eleven parking lot. There was a big, big-spending customer there, treating the team to lady drinks, and he had a pizza delivered for them all to enjoy. I’ve seen him there before, back in the days when I used to frequent this venue more often, and he seems like a nice guy.
He’s one of the biggest guys I’ve ever seen, and Snackbar graciously provides him with his own bench for seating comfort.
Just prior to our departure, the MacArthur’s/Champs owner came by and went inside with the Snackbar owner. As usual, they both ignored me. Not that I care, it just seems that being friendly is a good business tactic.
And that’s how another Tuesday came to a close.
It’s now July 2014 in my journey through the LTG archives. This post had me shaking my head as it recounted the time I was admonished in Korea for being too loud. And here I am in the Philippines, where one of my top complaints is about how noisy everyone around me seems to be. Is that what they mean by Karma?
Changing things up a little for today’s YouTube video. It’s a quiz to see if you recognize songs from the 1960s. As bad as my brain is, I still managed to score 100% correct. How about you? (It’s only a three-minute effort.)
And you knew these were coming for you:
Except all those songs from the 1960s…That would be wicked.Are you looking at me?
I’m not sure what’s going on, but almost all the bars in town are out of Zero. There was none at last week’s Hash either. The San Miguel distributor says it is “not available,” but I have no idea why that might be. Oh well, desperate times call for desperate measures, so San Mig Light it is for now. I just need to adjust my consumption level to compensate for the higher alcohol content (5% versus 3%). Wish me luck with that. Queen Victoria didn’t have Zero at the RSL event last night, and this was the result:
Yeah, the joke was on me.
Oh well, at least we haven’t been hit by a killer quake. Yet. I’m seeing a lot of posts on Facebook claiming we are overdue for a massive earthquake on the fault line that runs through the Philippines. The scattered ones we’ve experienced these past two weeks are a precursor of what’s to come, and we should prepare accordingly. Yeah, right. I’m not going to start sleeping under the bed. Unless, of course, I have too many Lights.
Living on the edge.
Life goes on. Until it doesn’t. In the meantime, here’s how I’ve been filling the hours. We kicked off Sunday morning with the Sweets Stroll.
Lovebirds on a wire and a Swan in the street.Taking care of business.For some reason, this is my least favorite part of the Sunday Sweets Stroll.And this walking through the woods portion is my favorite.A sweet 5K stroll.
Next on the Sunday agenda was attending the Returned Services League (RSL) charity raffle held at Queen Victoria Bar. I arrived at four p.m. and things went on until 7:30. I didn’t take it Light-ly, and invested 2000 pesos in drawing tickets. At the end of the night, all I had to show for it was a pretty good buzz. Still, it was for a good cause, so no complaints.
The big event was the Reverse Draw. They sell 120 tickets at 1000 pesos each, then start drawing numbers. The last ticket drawn is the big winner. My ticket got drawn amongst the first forty. Oh well, at least the suspense was over relatively quickly.My losing ticket and RSL ID.That’s Swan’s sister on the right. I don’t remember who the guy is.The house was packed for the raffle.Me and that girl who lives at my house.I treated our table to a pizza from the joint across the street. Yeah, that’s pineapple on top. That’s how we roll in the Philippines.
By the end of the event, I didn’t have anything left, so we were homeward bound. It’s good to know your limits, otherwise I might have gone to the karaoke joint next door.
Moving forward through June 2014 in the LTG archives, I pay a Father’s Day tribute of sorts to my dad in this post.
“Papa writes to Johnny, but Johnny can’t come home.”
My dad made it to 83 despite his lifetime of beer drinking and smoking. Ever since I turned 70, I’ve been feeling like it could all end tomorrow. Today’s YouTube video explains why fools like me don’t last long past the seventy-year milestone.
‘Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.’
–Mark Twain
On now to what I call humor:
It took me a minute to get this, I guess I had my head up my ass.This isn’t a masterpiece of good humor; it’s about as bad as a pun gets.That’s more like it!
And here we are again on the cusp of another Hash Monday. No idea what the Hare, Demolition Derby, has in store, but I’ll bring my shortcutting tools just in case. The On-Home is at It Doesn’t Matter, so that will make the after-Hash easy to get to at least. Check here tomorrow to see how it went.
Freedom is worth fighting for, and it is better to be armed than not.
I’m not allowed to own a weapon in the Philippines since I’m not a citizen. Same with property. Not that it matters, if I don’t like it, I’ll just leave. There has been a whole lot of shaking going on around here of late:
Three earthquakes this month. The only one on Luzon (my island) was way up in Baguio, and I didn’t feel a thing. Let’s see if all thesequakes trigger any volcanoes.
Otherwise, life goes on pretty much as it always does. My big accomplishment yesterday was making the climb up to the Kalaklan Ridge, something I hadn’t done for a while. I chose the easiest route I knew, but we were stymied by a newly constructed fence blocking our path. So we made a new way up that was steeper, but shorter. So, it all worked out. It was great to be on top of my world once again.
The hardy souls who joined me for the Kalaklan adventure.Making our way up. Trail? We don’t need no stinkin’ trail!It was nice getting back to my roots.Construction on a road up to the ridge from Olongapo continues at a snail’s pace. Rumor has it that the road will be part of the bypass road being built from Naugsol. I doubt it will be completed in my lifetime, however.Olongapo CityThat girl is in over her head.Walking the ridge.Making our way back down to Barretto.Easter Mountain in the distance.Cookie stop.
It was good to get some elevation on a hike again. Speaking of getting high, Swan came along for my beer o’clock trek to Barretto. We had a pre-dinner drink at the seldom-visited Hangout Bar, then moved on to Mango’s for dinner.
The beach in front of Mango’s.The gal beside me at Mango’s.The view from our table at Mango’s.Our pork chop dinner at Mango’s.
After our meal, we ventured up the highway to Queen Victoria for our nightcap.
I’d judge Queen Vic to have the best lineup in town.
I had a nice chat with the manager at Queen Victoria, and we talked about some of the current issues around town, including the demise of the SOB. The final show is now slated for Halloween night. Queen Victoria also participates in a monthly event with Red Bar and Thumbstar called “The Battle of the Bars.” They are looking to expand the number of participants, and it may one day be what the SOB no longer is. I intend to check out the next battle later this month.
On to June 2014 in the LTG archives. In a post called “Ebb and Flow,” I wrote about the changes taking place in the Itaewon bar scene as the old familiar faces left and were replaced with new ones. It was definitely a transient lifestyle back in those days. I got a chuckle out of this line in my post: “I can’t help but wonder how much longer I can live the lifestyle I’ve come to know and love. Somehow I don’t see myself climbing those notorious steps up to the bar (and drunkenly navigating my way back down) in another ten years when I’m pushing 70.” And yet, here I am still climbing the stairs to bars in Barretto. The more things change, the more they remain the same.
At least I’m not in jail. In today’s YouTube video, the Filipina Pea talks about the trouble a vindictive Filipina can cause an expat if she feels he’s done her wrong. It reminded me of how I came to discover Barretto. Back in my tourist days, I had rented an AC bargirl for a night of debauchery. We went out for dinner and a show, but when we got back to the room, she didn’t want to do the deed I’d paid for. So, I told her to leave. She said, “What about my tip?” I responded that she hadn’t earned a tip. Then she picked up the phone and said, “I’ll call the police and say you took advantage of me.” I called her bluff, and she left. Later, I posted on one of the nightlife forums about what happened, named her and the bar, and warned others not to waste their money. Well, her boss saw my post and fired her. Then my phone blew up with messages about how I ruined her life and she was going to make me pay for what I did. I had images of cops breaking down my door or maybe getting shot by helmeted riders on a motorbike. So, I checked out of my hotel and caught a taxi to Barretto. I wound up liking it a lot more than AC, and the rest is history.
Humor time:
Better insert a plug while you’re at it.I’ve got to hand it to her…It took me a minute to get this one.
Speaking of changing things up, we have alternative plans for Sunday, so we will do our Sunday routines today. So, I’ve got the Hideaway feeding, dinner at John’s place, and some beverage consumption at Red Bar and Jumpin’ Jacks on the horizon. Ain’t life grand?
