The rain didn’t stop the Wednesday Walkers. At least it didn’t stop the three of us who showed up for an “umbrella walk.” Turns out, we didn’t need an umbrella after all, thanks to a break in the storm. Everything was wet, though, so we decided a street hike was the prudent course of action. Walked from Barretto to Subic town the back way through Naugsol, a 7.5K jaunt. I’ve got a slew of pics I’ll share at the end of this post.
Before I headed out for the walk, I threw the ingredients for a batch of chili in the crockpot. When I got back home, I also baked some cornbread muffins. I added a can of corn to the batter, and that proved to be a tasty addition.
It was feeding the girls at Hideaway bar night, so I baked up some brownies for their dessert.
I took a small container of chili and a couple of muffins along for Joy’s enjoyment but didn’t have enough to share with all the girls.
After completing my duty at Hideaway, I headed out with the intention of using my drink voucher at Whiskey Girl. It’s on the other side of town, and about halfway there, rain began falling again. I thought the storm was done, so hadn’t brought my umbrella. I needed to find shelter from the storm, and Voodoo was the closest venue available. I hadn’t been in there since the SOB last month, but the girl I sat with that night was quick to latch on to me again.
When the rain finally relented, I made it at last to Whiskey Girl. I was the only customer on this wet night and had a lot of female company at my table. I was also drunk enough to go a little bit crazy buying lady drinks for them all. Well, they have to make a living, and my jokes were all new there, so I guess that’s a win-win. And I STILL have that 500 peso voucher to use (it wasn’t good for lady drinks, and I was too far gone to even attempt to drink 500 pesos worth of gin at that point). It expires today, so perhaps I’ll give it one more try tonight.
Alright, that was the night. Here’s the morning:
And so it goes, and so it went.
a. Coming into Naugsal.
b. Leaving Naugsol behind.
One of these spellings is correct. I’m guessing (b), based on past posts.
Chili looks good… except for those onion-looking bits. Grrr. Muffins and brownies also look good. I’m reminded of the old riddle: When does a Cub Scout become a Boy Scout? When he eats his first Brownie.
Every time you say it’s “feeding time” for the girls, it always feels to me as if you’re tossing bloody flesh to ravenous lions or vampires chained up in a dungeon. There’s something animalistic about saying that someone or something “feeds.” That said, since I like that gory image, please do continue to say “feeding time.”
The walks through town showcase the local poverty, but those spaces are also very colorful—an interesting mix of bright and depressing.
Yeah, that was a spelling fuck up, and b. is indeed correct.
HaHa, yes, I do put some onions in my chili. I actually thought of you when I noticed they were visible in the picture. Sorry! Love the boy scout joke!
I’ll definitely continue my feeding program. A hungry (or thirsty) bargirl can be quite dangerous! Once I have them tamed, I might consider feeding my favorites some sausage. (ahem)
You know, you become so accustomed to seeing the poverty that after a while, you don’t consciously notice it that much. I’m still impressed that people living in those shacks are usually friendly and smiling. It’s just the way life is here for so many, and they have come to accept their circumstances. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the litter, though.
Your comment about the poverty is similar to my experience when I first went to India. It took me a month or two to see past the extreme poverty. During my initial month or two there, it was quite jarring and really bothered me.
Honestly, when I was a tourist here, I would start getting depressed after a week or so. That’s one of the reasons I made it a goal to try and help a few people have a little easier life. I call it selfish charity–I give to ease my conscience about living a rich life when so many have so little. But the other thing is that despite the poverty, Filipinos are the happiest people I’ve ever seen. They take joy in the love of family, help each other, and make the most of what they have. I’m glad to be here among them.