It’s nice how the same old, same old can be made to feel new again with just a tweak or two. Yesterday was a good example of that. Yeah, I did the group hike with the Wednesday Walkers and later in the day had dinner and drinks in Barretto as usual, but it was different enough to seem fresh. So, I report, you decide:

We’ll start with the walk. Only four of us turned out for the trek, and as we discussed where we might go, I realized I wanted to go somewhere I hadn’t been for a while. The problem is that without our trail master Scott along, it’s hard to have confidence that we’ll be able to find our way in unfamiliar territory. Sometimes you just gotta roll the dice and hope for the best. On the other side of Subic town is a subdivision named St. Theodore. I only recall walking through there twice in all the time I’ve lived here, and it has been two or three years since the last time. I vaguely remembered that on the development’s backside was a trail going up and over the hills. Could I find it again, and if so, would I know where it would take us? Only one way to find out. We loaded into a passing Jeepney and took the long ride to the St. Theodore entrance.

We spotted a trail heading up to the hills, and it looked vaguely familiar. As we began the climb, we came to a junction and were unsure which path to take. We spotted an older local walking our way, and Swan used her Tagalog skills to ask him how we should proceed. The man responded that the path we were on did not continue beyond his shanty. What about the other one? He shook his head and claimed it was also a dead end. Hmm, I was sure we’d been up this way before, and I suspected he just didn’t want us passing through the land he was likely squatting on. So, we turned back to the junction and took the path that allegedly led to nowhere. Well, it did lead to another shack, and the woman living there told us to stay on the trail, and it would lead over the hill and down to the other side. We rewarded her kindness with a bag of cookies, and she seemed pleasantly surprised.

Did we walk 10K on yesterday’s hike?

Anyway, it was a good hike; some new, some familiar, but done in a different manner and direction. And the fun had just begun! I enjoy my nights on the town, but sometimes crave new venues. That’s why I’ve designated Wednesday as my “seldom visited bars” night. There’s a place in Barretto I almost never go to, and it had been so long that I couldn’t remember why. So, I told Swan she was in for a surprise. She kept asking as we made our way into town, so I finally told her we were going to the only topless bar in Barretto.

We very much enjoyed our visit and meal at Central Park Reef and agreed that we will try to come here more often.

Next stop was our old favorite, the Green Room. I had a “buy one, take one” coupon to use.

We did our nightcap next door at Wet Spot, then headed home at the appointed hour (8 p.m.) And so ended yet another day in paradise, this one with a twist or two.

Wednesday’s report card: 21,582 steps, 16.6 kilometers walked, 3,982 calories burned.

Today’s LTG archive find was a post from March 2009 where I provided my insights regarding Korean women. At the time, I found them to be the most attractive women in Asia. Since then, my heart has warmed to the Filipina look and attitude. Your mileage may vary.

Today’s YouTube video is from that sweet Smart Girl Philippines, and she explains in her unique fashion why Filipinas reject feminism. Hard to argue with her logic. See for yourself:

Today’s Zen moment:

Depression Is Merely Anger Without Enthusiasm.

Humor me this:

And we’ll leave it at that for today.