So, the plan for the Wednesday Walkers was to go up and over Kalaklan Ridge, then down into Olongapo City for a street walk before catching a Jeepney back to Barretto. It didn’t work out that way. The climb up was more than a little challenging, and then, about three-quarters of the way up, we encountered a carabao tied to a tree and blocking our path. We give those creatures a wide berth these days after learning about the damage one did to some Hashers in Angeles City. Anyway, as our frontrunners looked for a way around the mad cow, Scott and I were looking at the trail ahead. It appeared to be a lot steeper than I remembered it, and it was very much overgrown in the tall grasses that dominate the hillsides at this time of year. Ultimately, we decided it wasn’t worth the effort, so we retreated and took a different way back down. As fate would have it, the path we chose to descend was one of the more difficult downs we’ve ever taken from Kalaklan. Oh well, I made it to the bottom by the skin of my knees.
When beer o’clock arrived, I made my way to BarCelona. Swan was visiting a friend in Olongapo and joined me there later.
And then a scene played out in front of me that was unexpected.
Well, there are a couple of homeless folks living on the sidewalk. One of them is a tall, bearded guy who looks a bit like Jesus. I see this guy all over town, picking up recyclables from the trash to sell at the junk shops. He never begs, though.
So, the guy in the wheelchair has his gal roll him up to the homeless man. Then he holds out a one hundred peso bill for the homeless fella to take. And the homeless Jesus waved him off! I’ve never seen that before. He rejected more cash than he made collecting trash and walking around all day. Maybe pride does goeth before a fall. But what impressed the most was that cripple I was feeling sorry for going out of his way to help someone he viewed as less fortunate. Good for him!
Swan arrived shortly after the abovementioned event and enjoyed a glass of wine. I, of course, didn’t make her drink alone.
When we left BarCelona, I was ready for some dinner, and Myleen’s was practically right across the street. So, off we went.
We did our nightcap at Green Room—wine, beer, lady drinks, and watching some pretty good pool players. Oh, and I brought Choco Pies to share with the girls. Also, some lollipops so they’d have something to suck on. Home again by 7:30 for the second night in a row. I must be slowing down in my old age.
Finally, a day under 5000 pesos!
- Prescription Meds: 1400 pesos
- Alcohol: 1070 pesos
- Dinner: 720 pesos
- Lady Drinks: 370 pesos
- Tips: 320 pesos
- Trike: 200 pesos
- Total for October 9: 4080 pesos
Ah, those Facebook memories. Twelve years ago, my wife Jee Yeun and I had a visit with Dr. Yoo at his Soonchunhwang Hospital clinic, and this happened:
Jee Yeun and I had our doctor appointment with Dr. Yoo today. Jee Yeun’s doing great and I’m still fat. And we also got our flu shots.
Anyway, after Dr. Yoo finished checking Jee Yeun I said “Doctor, Jee Yeun’s always complaining about being bored. Can you prescribe something for that”? Without missing a beat he said “Viagra”.
Everyone’s a comedian these days.
Eight years ago, I was exploring Bangkok:
Today’s YouTube video from Reekay attempts to explain why so many of us baby boomers are choosing to retire in the Philippines. When I moved here, my homeland wasn’t the total fucked up mess it is today. I never intend to live there again. There are options other than the Philippines, of course. I like Asia, so my alternatives include Cambodia and Vietnam. I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about the Dominican Republic, but at this stage of my life, that’s just a bridge too far.
Things I find kinda sorta funny:
Today, I’ll visit both the pulmonary doctor and the cardiologist (one after the other). I’m hopeful the news will be mostly good. And I’m overdue for spending some time at The Rite Spot, so I’ll be coming home after the docs are done with me and staying here for a change. I’ll share what I find out here tomorrow.
I barely see any knee injuries in that first photo!
It appeared to be a lot steeper than I remembered it, and it was very much overgrown in the tall grasses that dominate the hillsides at this time of year.
For the third time, get a fucking machete!
I’m not as slow as molasses because molasses can’t flow uphill. I do so at a snail’s pace.
And I recall that you beat the snail last time.
There was a time in my life when I got high on grass. These days, the grass is high on me.
Sigh…
Taking a rest before the final push up
How has Scott’s ankle been since that fall? He holding up?
We rarely see snakes on our hikes, and when we do, it is nice to see them dead.
And it looks to have been cleft in two by a _____ . Please buy one.
Stepping carefully on slick steps
Yeah, that would turn me off right there.
Then back on the street
A pretty and colorful picture.
Enchiladas for me. Spicy they were!
Nice, Yoda. Good, they look, but no veggies?
I like Asia, so my alternatives include Cambodia and Vietnam.
You gonna try to survive on English? I guess that means sticking to the expat hangouts. I have a vague sense of how Vietnam has changed since the war, but with Cambodia, I don’t know much at all aside from the old “killing fields” vibe. How much has it changed, and in what direction?
The real reason all those boomers are moving here.
For the white women! Yay!
Good luck with your docs today. May it be nothing but good news.
Thailand has lots of places other than Bangkok and Pattaya for an expat. For example, Chiang Rai is a semi-sleepy city in the far north. Chiang Mai is a relatively big city with a large expat population in the north. Laos is probably the cheapest option in SE Asia, but not much of an expat haven yet.
Hope the news is good from your docs.
Brian, I like visiting Thailand, but I don’t know about living there. During my first trip, the King died and I was shocked at the police state tactics used to shut everything down. I never forgot that vibe. My plan B is Cambodia right now. Never been to Laos, but I always wondered why it wasn’t on the expat map.
Doctor news wasn’t that bad, I’ll share in today’s post.
Kev, the knees are fine; there are just some scratches. It’s pretty great when that’s the worst that happens to you after a fall!
Some of the Hares use a machete to bushwhack a trail before the Hash. Too much like work for me. I can barely climb those hills, no way I’d have the strength to mow the grass on the way up.
No repercussions with Scott’s ankle that I know of. Hot days and hard climbs stress his heart rate, but he seems to do fine.
Myleen’s offers an enchilada plate with Spanish rice and refried beans, but I wasn’t feeling that hungry.
The Cambodian people I met were friendly and welcoming. I’ve got a friend who lives there and likes it better than the Philippines (he used to live here). There doesn’t seem to be any of the commie vibes from the Pol Pot days. I made the mistake of visiting the killing fields, and it was traumatic. Hard to believe that human beings can be that cruel. I chose the PI because of the lessor language barrier. No regrets so far.
HaHa! That’s not what I meant, but white women in these parts are very scarce indeed. That’s one of the differences between here and Thailand, Vietnam, etc. You see a lot of Western couples and families visiting as tourists. For some reason, this isn’t a couple’s destination. Go figure. I always remember when I brought Eun Oke here from Korea. We are waiting in the immigration queue, and she says, “John, there are a hundred people in this line, and only two of us are women. Why?”
The doctor’s news wasn’t terrible. I’ll post about that today.
Re: Laos – I just think it is pretty underdeveloped. Exaggerating just a bit, but Vientiane, the capital, has just one stoplight. Very sleepy.
The Chinese have built a gambling enclave in the far northwest of the country, but it is a mini China that is run by gangsters, so not a place I would want to set down roots.
Another thing is that sex with a local is a crime, unless the two of you are married to each other. Doesnt matter if you are living together in a monogamous relationship, both single, etc. Not sure how much that is enforced, but the law is there.
On the positive side, it could make Barretto look expensive.
I think it is worth a visit – another place to add to your travel list. LOL
Hmm, I’ve heard of another country where unmarried sex is a crime but don’t recall where now. But that law in Laos does explain why it has become a haven for lonely old white men like here in the PI.
It’s funny how time changes perspectives. Six years ago when I first moved from Korea, Barretto was cheap by comparison. Beers were half what I had been paying and rent seemed like a bargain. I’m far from being a cheap Charlie, but I do find myself paying more attention to prices these days.