Where I are.
Started the morning with a beach side stroll. The beach runs out at Blue Rock resort, so we popped in for breakfast.
Loraine went Filipino style…
…while I opted for a traditional ham, cheese, and mushroom omelette.
Beach side living does come with its rules though.
Rules? We don’t need your stinkin’ rules. Although as rules go, these ain’t bad.
Checked out of Treasure Island and moved up the road to the Blue Rock.
Featuring a much enhanced view from the room.
Once we were all settled in it was time to hit the road to Olongapo City.
We traveled via Jeepney, low on price, low on comfort. The most common form of mass transit in the PI.
In case you are wondering, this is what a Jeepney looks like…
We didn’t know exactly where to get dropped, so wound up away from the downtown area.
But got to explore the old city market which was interesting in a chaotic kind of way…
So, we hailed a trike and had him take us to SM Mall, the center of action in just about every Filipino city.
A trike ride is even more uncomfortable and dangerous than the Jeepney, but what are you gonna do?
Safely at the mall, my first stop was the bank, BDO (Banco de Oro), where I hoped to open up a foreigner bank account. No dice without an Alien Certificate of Registration card. Which I can’t get until I’ve been in country continuously for 59 days. I can deal with it, it will just be a pain in the ass for those first two months wiring myself money from the USA. Oh well.
Next stop was an eyeglasses store. Got a new exam, a new prescription, and a new pair of glasses on the way. Not really any cheaper than I would have paid in the States and probably more expensive than in Korea. Live and learn.
Left the mall and grabbed a taxi across town to visit an orphanage I’d found on the internet.
The Kings Fil-Am Home is small, currently serving just 9 children. I asked the Director what they needed and she said “rice”.
Let’s see if I can make their world a little better.
After another Jeepney ride back to Barretto, took a nap and headed out for dinner.
It was steak night at the Arizona resort, they were big and juicy.
And served up with a side or mariachi band music. Actually, these folks were pretty damn entertaining.
Stopped in the Alaska Club for a nightcap on the way home and got reacquainted with the owner, Jerry. I’d known him back in his Angeles City days. Hoofed it back to my lodging and decided it was time to split.
Banana that is.
And so ends another day in paradise.