Not that it matters, but you know the drill by now. I’ll try not to waste much of your time with another meaningless post. So, here’s the down and dirty:
Decay Dance.
The kids were happy to see us again after our hiatus.It’s harvest time in the rice fields.Taking care of business.
Beer o’clock.
WTF! They’ve fenced off the shortcut out of Alta Vista that I take into Barretto almost every day. Tear down that wall!First stop, Cheap Charlies. New signage since our last visit.That gal who puts up with me most of the time.My hero. I occasionally see this old guy hobbling along the highway. I bitch and moan about the aches and pains that come with age. This guy just keeps on going.
Here, let me show you what I mean:
You’re an inspiration!
Dinner from Foodies downstairs.
Kare-kare for Swan.Sweet and sour pork for me.And that famous CR view from Cheap Charlies.
Next stop, Gold Bar. Deader than I’ve ever seen it. Nightcap at Queen Victoria, only slightly better. Called it a night at 8 pm and triked back home. As we passed through the Alta Vista gate, the guard handed me a bag with my name on it.
A gift from Dr. Jo in celebration of the grand opening of her husband’s brewery on Siargao Island. Congrats to you, Chris!
And that’s all I have to say about yesterday.
Facebook memories reminded me that it was five years ago that I rented a room for my homeless friend “Mama.” I took her to dinner at DaKudo’s, then showed her the room (also on Baloy). She took a look around, handed me the key, and said, “No, thank you.” It seems strange that she prefers living on the street, but it just goes to show you can find happiness in whatever the circumstances may be.
That’s Mama five years ago. I saw her this morning on my walk and gave her the usual 100 pesos. She thanked me and said, “I love you, Papa.”
From the September 2017 LTG archives, I’m still carrying on with my WWBD (working, walking, biking, drinking) lifestyle in Pyeongtaek. I was very unhappy with my empty life, but looking back now, I should have let myself enjoy it. The pictures in the post make it seem almost like paradise. Silly me.
Today’s YouTube video claims that the aches and pains in my legs mean my time is almost up. That may or may not be true, but I’m going to keep pushing the envelope. That guy I posted about above sure as hell isn’t letting being crippled stop him from getting out and about. Shit, it won’t let me embed the video for some reason. It’s only six minutes long; give it a watch and see if you agree with what it says.
And now for those “funny” memes:
Swan has been immersed in “The Walking Dead” series lately.I guess it makes it easier to see me moving around.That’s true love.All my old pickup lines are rusty for disuse.
“Like sands through an hourglass, so are the days of our lives.” Here’s what yesterday’s pebble looked like:
It being Friday, the group hikers gathered at the appointed hour.
Some visitors from Thailand and Norway joined in the fun.
I had considered taking them up to Black Rock for the views, but not knowing their capabilities and fearing that steep descent might prove hazardous, I decided to play it safe and introduce them to My Bitch instead. I’ve done that trail so often it’s a little boring now, but for newcomers it offers a relatively easy and scenic hike.
Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.Doing some grass along the way.Introducing the newbies to Easter Mountain.One of Mountain Mama Onelia’s cocks.We dicked around for 5K or so.
My afternoon delight included practicing darts at home. I threw marginally better than before, but was still way too inconsistent. The dartbot on my app beat me twice again. Then it was off to Alley Cats to see if the Friday tournament was in my future. One of the waitresses, Mengie, volunteered to help me warm up with a practice match. She won. I wasn’t feeling very confident (or competent), but when only five other players showed up, I was up for participating in a singles tournament. At least no one would get stuck with having me for a partner.
In the first round, I drew a guy named Tobias, who had just beaten Mengie. It took him three legs (I won in cricket) to drop me to the losers’ bracket. I won my next two matches there, then faced Tobias again in the finals. Now, here’s the strange part: the tourney had been going on for over two hours at this point. Naturally, I’d been drinking beer throughout, and it seemed the more I drank, the better I threw. We darters jokingly refer to our alcoholic beverages as “aiming fluid,” but that proved to be the case for me last night.
So, the match began with 501, and I won that leg. Then it was cricket, and I won that as well. Since Tobias was previously undefeated, I had to win another match to win the tournament. And thanks to those San Mig Lights, good luck, or suddenly remembering how to throw darts again, I pulled off the victory.
The tournament brackets tell the story.I are the champion, my friend.
Maybe I should quit while I’m ahead. It was nice to win, of course, but damn, I was feeling my age by the time it was over. So, we arrived at Alley Cats around 4:30. The tournament started at 5, and it was close to 8:30 before it was all said and done. And I hadn’t had anything to eat yet. Everything seemed a little off-kilter, I mean, it was practically my bedtime!
I needed some food, so we crossed the highway and popped into Mango’s.
That’s what time it was when I placed my order.Naturally, it was grilled pork chops for us.
And when dinner was over and done with, so were we. Grabbed a trike and headed on home.
The time on my phone when I finally hit the sheets.
I may need to incorporate pizza delivery into my dart tourney routine. Or quit playing again. We shall see.
It is now September 2017 in the LTG archives. I have to say, reliving the depression I was experiencing while living in Pyeongtaek has been painful. Oh, the photos from my bike rides and hikes are nice. Lots of time spent in the bars as well. But my mindset was almost pure misery. So, this post, where I share the story of Loraine, the gal I had hired in advance to take care of me when I moved to the Philippines, was refreshingly upbeat. Of course, I haven’t forgotten what was to come, but that’s still a month away.
For today’s YouTube video, let’s see what the Filipina Pea has to share about ten funny Filipino traits that most foreigners don’t grasp.
Humor time:
Unless it is a Zippopotamus.Our future president? And to be fair, I’ve seen this meme done with Trump in the photo.And check your privilege, white buoy!
Sorry for all the lameness. It’s bound to get better. Or not.
Ironically, I found this looking back through the LTG archives. As true as it ever was, though.
I wasn’t feeling well yesterday, not really sick or anything, just a tad lethargic. Luckily, my lifestyle doesn’t require much energy, and I made it through the day without incident, aside from an extra nap.
The only item on my “must-do” list was getting a visa extension at the immigration office in Olongapo. That meant getting there via public transport. Morning rush hour going to the city includes crowded Jeepneys with traffic delays compounding the discomfort. So, we waited until 10:30 to depart, then walked down to the highway and squeezed into the first Jeepney that came by. We got off at the Kalaklan gate to SBMA, then crossed the river onto the old Navy base. There’s a taxi stand right at the entrance, and I had Swan walk ahead of me in order to avoid the cursed skin tax applied to foreigners. I was prepared to pay up to 100 pesos for the short ride (less than 2K), but when Swan asked how much, she was told it would be 150 pesos. Bullshit! I’d rather walk than be scammed, and that’s just what we did.
Coincidentally, later in the afternoon, SBMA posted on Facebook in response to complaints about taxis overcharging customers. So, they shared the approved fare chart that drivers must adhere to.
All those 150-peso fares were at least twice as far as our destination, and our fare should have been in the 50-peso range.
Yeah, I can afford to be overcharged, but my pride will not allow it. Anyway, I needed to get some steps in anyway. Things went without a hitch at immigration, and my tourist visa was extended until March 23 for “only” 4100 pesos (you only get 30 days for the first extension after entering the country). Then we caught a metered taxi (which aren’t allowed on SBMA) for the ride back to Barretto. It’s about 8K and thirty minutes, and the fare was just shy of 200 pesos. I knew the driver had a slim chance of finding a fare back to Olongapo City (we don’t even have a taxi stand in Barretto), so I gladly tipped him 100 pesos and wished him well.
Exciting shit, eh? Well, when beer o’clock rolled around, we made Sloppy Joe’s our first stop. I had beers, Swan had a glass of wine, and we sat and watched the world go by until hunger prompted us to change our venue.
Next stop, the seldom-visited Myleen’s. After perusing the menu, we agreed we’d share an order of chicken quesadillas and birria tacos.
I told Swan that these are the best birria tacos in town. She said she still likes John’s better. I told her John’s gone, and these are the ONLY birrias in town. And that, my friends, is how you win an argument.
I had another coupon for “buy a lady drink, get a free customer drink,” good for one night at both Green Room and Wet Spot, and we didn’t let it go to waste. Two lady drinks in each bar meant four free beers for me. Of course, when you do the math, it would have been cheaper for me to just pay for my beers. On the other hand, I always buy two lady drinks when I visit these bars, so it is still a win.
And that, dear readers, is how I quenched my Thirstday.
I’ve moved on to August 2017 in the LTG archives, and in this “ketchup” post, I share the happenings of my work life along with some photographs from my adventures hiking and biking in Pyeongtaek. I also reveal that I won’t be re-retiring in September after all. Too hard to let go of the gravy train that comes with a six-figure salary with free housing in addition to my monthly pension check. Talk about living large!
It’s been a while since we’ve checked in with Reekay, and in today’s YouTube video, he talks about what your goals in life should be after you turn sixty. I’ve been well aware that my timeline is shrinking, and I’ve noticed a drop in my energy levels as well. But I’ve been focused on living comfortably for a long time now, and I think I’m prepared for the inevitable declines to come. I’m sure my routines seem boring and redundant, but they’re certainly better than playing cards in an old-age home somewhere. I’m still actively hiking, and I schedule at least one out-of-town trip each month to liven things up a bit. Swan is a certified caregiver and has promised to stay with me for the rest of my ride. I’m providing her a monthly stipend so she can prepare for a life when I’m gone. I’d say I’ve followed Reekay’s advice before I even heard it.
Swan’s future home is a work in progress. I’m hoping it remains empty for years to come.
To the humor, then.
Sounds like one of your test questions, Kevin.But watch out for cracks!What about the guy from Busan?
A very nice hike yesterday at the Cubi Point area on SBMA. I hadn’t been up that way in years, and we walked through a place I’d never seen before: the JEST Camp.
JEST Camp, or Jungle Environment Survival Training Camp, was a training facility at Subic Bay Naval Base that provided a five-day course on jungle survival skills, primarily for military personnel. After the U.S. Navy left, the camp was transformed into an adventure camp for tourists.
The camp is closed to tourists now, and the security guard aborted our efforts to do a walk-through, but it is still an interesting area to see, even from afar. Here’s a video about the history of JEST Camp.
I recall visiting the Cubi area during pre-move reconnaissance, scouting potential places to live. Despite the area’s beauty, it just felt a little too isolated and a little too much like Americanized suburbia for me. And so I made Barretto my home instead.
Here are a few photos from the journey:
There were only four of us, which is why we were able to have Scott drive us to a place we can’t otherwise access.A bay view from the early part of our hike. It was uphill for the first kilometer or so, but not crazy steep like I experienced on the Valentine’s Hash.A cafe in the middle of nowhere. We passed lots of abandoned Quonset huts from the old Navy days.The path not taken.Still going strong.More mysterious Quonsets.A view from on high.Sadly, this was the closest thing to a monkey I encountered.An example of the upscale housing at Cubi Point.These were former US Marine barracks.Another nice neighborhood.It doesn’t even look like the Philippines up here.Still beautiful though.Hmm, if I had a car, maybe living here in isolation wouldn’t be such a bad thing.That’s Olongapo City across the bay.
And then something weird happened. We came upon a series of signs, each bearing a line from a poem, every twenty yards or so. Since we were coming down, we saw them in reverse order. Let me fix that for you:
Thanks for that!
One of several places on SBMA where tankers offload refined oil and gasoline.The route of our scenic 5.5K loop.
One of the nicer hikes I’ve experienced here. Next up, our weekly visit to Baloy Beach.
Swan in her happy place.My offshore happy place.Sharing the joy.We’ll be keeping an eye on you.I couldn’t help but notice this couple strolling down the beach, so I zoomed in and took a shot.Yep, we are in the Philippines!Lizza, wife of Kokomo’s owner Steve, joined us for a glass of wine. Steve is currently home in Australia.Are you ready?Let’s go!Until we meet again.See you next week, Kokomo’s.
Next stop, Treasure Island.
The beef enchiladas hit the spot.What’s that you’re making, Arlene?Oh my goodness, thank you!
A sweet ending to our Thursday at the beach.
Still in the July 2017 LTG archives, and in this post, I recount the only time in history that three McCrareys were in the city of Pyeongtaek at the same time (the other two were my nephews Josh and Justin). There were pictures from our barhop, including one of my friend, Mi Young. Alas, she was not interested in anything more at the time, but we remain friends to this day.
Today’s YouTube video was a tad disconcerting in that it is a reminder that life is indeed fleeting. I try not to overthink it, but since turning 70, I’ve not been able to shake the feeling of impending doom. It might come in ten years, ten months, ten days, or ten minutes. But it is coming. And there ain’t a damn thing I can do about it, so I’ll just keep on keepin’ on as best as I am able. Unlike the story this vlogger tells, I don’t regret my time in the Philippines, and I have nothing to go back to in the USA. He made his mistakes and will die feeling the consequences. That’s just the way it works. I have a lifetime of sad memories and “what if” thoughts, but the past doesn’t dictate the future, however short it may be, unless you let it. It’s sometimes a struggle, but I’m going to pack as much happiness into each day as I can. And when it is done, it is done. As much as I like to fantasize about a “do-over,” there is no going back.
Let’s try and lighten the mood:
Hold that thought.It’s called afterbirth.Take it to the Lord in prayer.
I’ve been feeling off the mark all day today. Here’s hoping for a better tomorrow.
I’m happy to report that I AM NOT peeing the bed. Yet.
Tuesday’s are rarely the best day of the week for me, but that doesn’t mean they are bad. Yesterday wasn’t anything terrible, but it wasn’t quite right somehow either. The good news is it won’t take long to tell you about it. Here goes:
So, I had marked my calendar to remind myself I needed to renew my tourist visa. I always go on grocery shopping day because the immigration office is nearby the Royal supermarket. I got dropped off at SM Mall as usual, and walked to the door where the elevators are located (immigration is on the 6th floor). The security guard asked where I was going, and when I told her, she said, “Immigration is closed today.” I asked why, and she responded, “Chinese New Year.” Oh shit, I had forgotten about that. I honestly didn’t even know it was a government holiday in the Philippines. And now I do. Plan B is to go back on Thursday for my extension.
The other big supermarket on SBMA is Puregold. I stop in there every couple of months to see if they have anything in stock I can’t get a Royal. Yesterday wasn’t worth the trip because there was almost nothing there that I wanted or needed. Well, they did have something I hadn’t seen since I left Korea nearly eight years ago:
How could I resist?
Then it was on to Royal for the usual weekly grocery cart fill. I usually keep an eye on items being rung up to ensure nothing untoward is taking place. Usually, it isn’t, although I’ve learned that if something is on sale, you need to watch to make sure you are getting the lower price. Cashiers normally count when you have multiple units of the same item, and then enter that number before scanning the item. Swan had four bottles of soju on the counter, and when the cashier entered the number and scanned it, a weirdly long number popped up. Before I could say anything, she had moved on to the next item, so I made a mental note and let it go. But when the last of the groceries were scanned, and she totaled my bill, it was a multimillion amount (my weekly shopping at Royal is usually around 10000 to 15000 pesos). She called the manager over to enter the correction, and then things got weird. I told them the soju was the problem, but it felt like I was being ignored. And then they started searching through all my boxed and bagged groceries, looking for something. I repeated that it was the soju, and Swan told me to calm down. Finally, after several minutes, they pulled out some tuna cans and rang them up again. As best as I can understand things, she had entered the multiple tuna numbers, but failed to scan. Then she entered multiple soju numbers, and the scanner spat out a wild number when the soju bottle was scanned. Oh well, it was only ten minutes of what is left of my life. I did feel bad for the customers in line behind me, most of whom bailed in disgust.
Back home, I did my nap and blogging thing, then headed to my dartboard for some practice. I warmed up pretty well, but then the bot on my darts app kicked my ass twice. I was not feeling confident as we headed out to the Alley Cats tournament. Upon arrival, I did my warmup throws and wasn’t pleased with my inability to hit the target. I would hate to draw someone who throws like me as a partner, so when I was told it would be a doubles tourney, I declined to participate. See, I have moments of unselfishness.
As we left Alley Cats, Swan told me she was hungry. Welp, it just so happened that I had a 15% discount coupon for Sit-n-Bull in my wallet.
Swan had a Filipino shrimp soup dish, and I enjoyed my submarine sandwich with a side of baked beans.
We paid a visit to Green Room after dinner, then did our nightcap next door at Wet Spot. As we departed for home, I met the new owner, a guy named Philip. We’ll see what changes may be in store in the days to come.
And that’s the story of my Tuesday.
Continuing with the journey through the July 2017 LTG archives, I found this post of interest (to me). It’s about a bank teller I was crushing on in Prescott, Arizona, but I didn’t have the balls to tell her until I was leaving for a new job in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She looked at me sadly and said, “I wish you had let me know.” Another road in life not taken.
Today’s YouTube video is a bit out of the ordinary. I had never heard of Frederick Wiseman (or at least I don’t remember hearing of him) until I saw a post on the Althouse blog this morning about his recent passing away at age 96. He was a documentary filmmaker, and Althouse included this clip from his 1968 “High School” film. Well, I did high school from 1969 to 1973, and the clip really resonated with me. I thought of myself as something of a poet back then, and wish I’d had a teacher like the one portrayed. I’m also a big Simon and Garfunkel fan, so hearing “Dangling Conversation” recited was nice as well.
Here’s more on Wiseman and the “High School” documentary. Fascinating.
Now for the funny business:
You should ask Barack Obama about that.He was probably drunk when he got swallowed.I’ve been Jonesing for some Kool-Aid.
It’s weird getting old. My brain ain’t what it used to be, but the things it forgets and the things it remembers seem strange. There was a girl I dated when I was living in Oklahoma. She was the last one ever to give me her virginity. That’s a pretty big deal. And now, try as I might, I can’t remember her name. Then, last night at Green Room, they played Don McLean’s “American Pie,” a song that runs over eight minutes. And I remembered every damn word in the lyrics. Go figure.
The scene of the crime(s).Tropical Garden, Treasure Island, Viking, Snack Bar, Sloppy Joe’s, Cheap Charlies, Red Bar, then On-Home at It Doesn’t Matter.
The Hashers gathered at the Tropical Garden on Baloy Beach at 2 pm to kick off the Red Dress Hash Run. I’d never visited Tropical Garden before and had my first beer of the day there. It’s a nice place.
Sir Clitoris at the Tropical Garden.My red “dress” was a hooded cloak.Hashers on the beach, going to the first stop on the bar crawl, Treasure Island.Dressed for suck cess.Our Hash Grandmaster, Buddy Fucker, hails from Montana.Making our way to our second stop, Viking Resort.At Viking.The third venue, SnackBar.That would be Tiny Cunt, looking like, well…Stop #4, Sloppy Joe’s.What’s a Hash without a climb?The 5th venue, Cheap Charlies.The Hash Gash at Cheap Charlies.Red Bar was the last stop on the bar crawl.Then we moved on to It Doesn’t Matter for the Hash Circle.Who’s the breast one?I prefer the real thing.Cums Alone receiving recognition for her 69th Run with the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers.Slippery When Wet got the Hashit this week.It’s nice on ice! Or so the saying goes.
And that’s the way my first Red Dress Hash Run went down. The beers also went down. Seven (one at each stop on the bar crawl) before I got to the On-Home venue. Four more or so during the Hash Circle. And probably three beers at the after-Hash gathering. You can do the math, but that total exceeds my consumption limit. Especially when San Miguel Zero is no longer available. Suffice to say, by the time I got home, I was floored. Or so Swan says. I don’t remember a thing.
Practice, practice, practice.
From the July 2017 LTG archives: I’m back in Korea after my visit to Barretto, reflecting on how I hope to be living after making the move. Two lines in that post that stood out:
“I am so glad that my future will not include being a lonely old man looking for love in all the wrong places.”
“As the prophet has said, man does not live by bars alone.”
Oh, well. The best laid plans don’t always turn out the way you intended.
In today’s YouTube video, the vlogger discusses how breaking the expat rules can lead to a better life. Well, I’d say to each his own, and some things depend on the lifestyle and location you prefer. I remember as a tourist here, I’d frequently get sick after a couple of days, and I suspected it was the water. These days, I still drink bottled water, but I cook and brush my teeth with tap water. I probably have acquired immunity by now. As for living with relatives, my new live-in housekeeper is Swan’s niece. I’ve agreed to allow her husband and two kids to join her in the basement (it’s a fully equipped, separate living area). I don’t expect there will be any problems with that. As for his other points, I’m following my own rules that work for me. So yeah, I live in a subdivision, but I can still hear the Philippines from here. I’ve not immersed myself in the local culture; I hang out with other expats and dine on the foods I like in nice restaurants. I can afford this lifestyle, and for the most part, I’m happy with it.
And now for today’s lame humor attempts:
She gets all his Woody.But at least there are no breakfast dishes to wash.I didn’t check the math…
I wrote about the Valentine’s Hash yesterday. Tomorrow I’ll be writing about today’s Subic Red Dress Hash. So, I guess that makes this post a Hash sandwich. Not a lot of meat, but better than nothing. Let’s get to it, then.
Filling in some gaps from my time with the La Union Hash in the mountains near Baguio with photos I didn’t take:
The pizza we had for lunch on Saturday.
After the Hash Run, we had a shooting contest:
It’s been many years since I’ve shouldered a rifle. This was an air-fired pellet gun. Three shots at the target (water bottles). I missed all three.Dining on my hot-off-the-grill hamburger.And speaking on behalf of the Subic Bay Hash at the Circle.
Another Hash event, another Hash shirt to wear:
The front……and the back.
We got back home to Barretto around noon on Sunday, tired from a difficult night’s sleep in the kubo room. Took a nap, but still wasn’t feeling up to speed when beer o’clock arrived. We decided to pass on our Sunday visit to the Arizona floating bar and went for dinner at Jewel Cafe instead.
Jewel had updated their menu since our last visit, and that tiny little filet mignon steak I usually enjoy has gone up from 599 pesos to 690 pesos. Hmm, nope, there’s not enough meat for that money.
So, it was baby back ribs for me last night. Yeah, not much volume, but they tasted good.
We popped into Red Bar for a couple of drinks, then visited Jumpin’ Jacks for our nightcap. Then it was back home for a quiet night’s sleep.
Swan had a breakfast surprise for me this morning:
She made me a Monte Cristo sandwich. Yum!
Are any of you old enough to remember Rod Serling and The Twilight Zone?
Does anyone know which party he is talking about?
Continuing on with the July 2017 LTG archives, I’m halfway through a visit to Subic Bay with my travel companion/caregiver, Loraine. And then my step-daughter, Avery, and her partner, who were touring Asia, decided to come join in the fun. It was a pleasant surprise to see Avery again. She’s the only one of my kids who visited me since I left the USA. She’s ghosted me since then.
Today’s YouTube video is about monitoring your resting heart rate. That’s one of the daily stats I track. I used to be consistently in the mid-50s, but it has been creeping up to the low-60s lately. I sounds like as long as I stay under 70, I should be okay.
Have you been missing these?
Sounds like God is damned.You’re done, Gladys!These are important things to keep in mind.
And on that note, we’ll give this post a rest. I’ve never participated in a Red Dress Hash Run before, but there is a first time for everything, I suppose. Basically, everyone wears a red outfit and does a bar crawl. I’m not exactly looking forward to it, but I’ll try to make it through. Details and photos tomorrow.
The long day’s journey into night began with a 7 a.m. pickup by our driver, Bong. The first stop was the gas station to fill up with 2500 pesos’ worth of fuel for the trip. Then we met fellow Hasher Beth (BF’s Wet Spot), loaded her camping gear into the car, and were ready to hit the road. I put the destination into my Google Maps app, and we were on our way.
It was an uneventful drive until we reached the end of the expressway. Google told us to go one way and driver Bong wanted to take the route to Baguio he was familiar with. I told him, “up to you,” and we proceeded his way. Normally, the map apps recalibrate to follow the chosen road. Not this time. The Google voice kept telling us to turn around, so I knew something was wrong. I advised Bong that since we weren’t technically going to Baguio City (the venue is actually in Tuba, Benguet), we should go the way Google wants us to. That turned out to be the right call. I spoke with a Hasher who went the other way, and it took him an additional 2.5 hours due to heavy traffic in Baguio.
I’ve always been fond of mountain drives and enjoyed many journeys in the Rockies and Sierras when I lived in the USA. That said, I don’t recall a more narrow, twisty-turny, steep route than the one that took us to our final destination. The excitement was heightened by blind-corner passing, necessitated by idiots who parked and blocked one of the two lanes. It was both a beautiful and a scary ride, but Bong got us there alive.
There were also a couple of impressive tunnels we passed through on the way up, including this one-lane version.Destination achived!We arrived at 11:30 and things were still being prepared for the afternoon Hash gathering.We pitched a tent for Beth and one for Bong.
I opted to stay in a kubo instead of a tent.
My lodging for the night. Don’t let looks deceive you.
That’s kubo #2 (out of three units). Inside, there are FOUR separate rooms, two down and two up.
Looking through the kubo’s front door, you can see two of the rooms. I was thankful to be in the lower room, but later, maybe not so much.Inside our “room.” I’ve seen bigger walk-in closets. And that thin mattress pad was better than sleeping on the ground, but not much.I can’t say we weren’t warned.
Oh, there were two toilets behind our kubo, shared by the four guest rooms. The toilets didn’t flush, so you scooped buckets of water into them until the nastiness went away.
Also, the kubos weren’t at the campsite; you had to walk down quite a few steps to get to them. I didn’t count how many, but I was sweating bad when I walked back up to camp.
This photo is from the campsite. That red car down there is parked across the road from the kubos.
But the worst part of the kubo experience was the noise. I swear, every time the person sleeping upstairs from us rolled over on the bed, we could hear the bamboo loudly creaking through the floor. And whoever it was did a lot of tossing and turning throughout the night. All in all, a tent with an air mattress would have been preferable.
Oh, and speaking of noise, someone at the campsite was doing karaoke until one in the morning or so. Luckily, we were far enough away that it didn’t bother us much. I mean, it couldn’t drown out the creaking floor from upstairs. Bong, in his nearby tent, said it kept him awake.
I guess this rule doesn’t apply when the Hash has rented all the space.
Anyway, enough bitching about the minor shit like accommodations, we came for the Hash! We were checked into our room a little after twelve. A Hash lunch was scheduled for 1:30 with the trail due to begin at 2:30. So we had some time to look around.
Loved the signage on the bar.Swan had a swingin’ good time.A little bit further up the hill was an actual motel-like room. Wish I’d known about that beforehand. It was already booked by a LUH3 Hasher, of course.Looking back down at the campground.Hey, good lookin’!Beth, Swan, and Bong at the campsite. Bong wasn’t a Hash participant, but we’d packed plenty of food and beers for him to help pass the time.Other arriving Hashers setting up camp. I understand there were thirty tents, all told.
I was surprised to see that food delivery was available up here (presumably from Baguio), but at the appointed time, a motorcycle rider pulled up with twenty boxes of pizza. Each Hasher was afforded two slices, and I ate mine in due course.
And then right before the Hash run was set to begin, this happened. Yep, those clouds are full of raindrops.
I was really on the fence about the Hash trail. There was no “easy” trail available, and the Hare assured me that shortcutting wasn’t possible either. On the plus side, the trail wasn’t long (around 5K), but on the flip side, it was steep downs and ups the entire length.
Last-minute guidance from the Hare, Booked Up.Well, fuck it. I came to Hash. Let’s go!We began by going down the super steep road leading to the campground. With each step, I was dreading the thought of hoofing it back up here at the end of the trail.And oh yeah, it was still raining.The view from here.Time for a pee break.After a kilometer or so on the highway we came in on (all downhill), we got off the pavement and continued our downward journey. You don’t see any other Hashers because we were bringing up the rear by a long shot.That path took us through this pigsty, and then into the jungle.Damn, this down was a lot more difficult than I’d bargained for.But the up was so much worse!
And then, when we got to the top, the trail almost immediately headed back down through the jungle. Fuck that! I could see some nice houses and figured there must be a road to reach them, so the search was on. And by golly, we found not only a road, but the actual highway leading back to the On-Home campground. Better yet, it was part of the Hash trail. I consulted Google Maps just to make sure, but we were on the road to success. Which, of course, is always uphill. Also, I’m a master shortcutter!
And then we got passed by the female Hasher known as Front Running Bitch (I don’t think that’s her actual Hash name, but she is consistently the first LUH3 Hasher to finish the trail.That relentless uphill highway walk totally kicked my ass. And when I was faced with that long, hard climb back up to the campground, I had to sit down and contemplate options.
And I decided to call Bong to come down and pick me up. Yeah, I’m not proud of it, but I was wiped out.
Much harder than it looks. At least it was for me
Back in the safe confines of the Hash On-Home, I do what most Hashers do after a grueling trail: I opened a bottle of beer, sat down, and waited for dinner to be served.
The burgers hot off the grill were muy bien!Hungry (and thirsty) Hashers filling the void.The rain stopped, but then the fog rolled in. I figured the sunset I was hoping to enjoy was doomed.But the horizon did clear up some a bit later.And we got to see some color.I was seeing red by the time it was done.
La Union Hash Circles are much more mellow than the ones in Subic, and that’s fine with me. We all pulled up our chairs around the bonfire and enjoyed the comraderie.
Flame on!
I stuck around later than usual, hoping the beers would help me sleep through the night. As I mentioned earlier, they didn’t. I slept in bits and pieces, eventually giving up around 6 am. We packed our gear and headed up the stairs to the campsite.
The morning view from in front of our kubo.And a morning campsite view. You can barely make it out on the mountainside, but that’s as close as we got to Baguio this trip.Here, let me zoom in on it for you. Of course, that’s only a small portion of the large city of Baguio.
Bong and Beth were up and about shortly after we got to the campsite. The Hash breakfast wasn’t scheduled until 9, so we packed up our gear, said our goodbyes and thank-yous, and headed for home. Google Maps unsurprisingly took us back the same way we came.
Going down the mountain, I thought to myself, those rock retaining walls wouldn’t keep a vehicle from plummeting over the edge into nothingness.
And if that happened, you would never land.We were above the clouds.
And now I’m back in Barretto safe and sound. Feeling tired, though, for some reason.
So, dear readers, I’ll leave it up to you: Did I rough it, or am I a pussy? At least I lived to tell about it.
I’ll get back to the usual posting BS tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by.
Just a quick post before I head for the mountain city Baguio to take part in the La Union Valentine’s Day Hash. The event includes an overnight campout at a place called The Green Narra. I’m a tad nervous about how this adventure might play out for me, but you only live once.
It’s been a long time since I’ve roughed it.
It gets chilly up in the mountains, so hopefully the sweatshirt I bought in Vietnam will keep me warm during the Hash Circle. I’m pretty sure trekking up and down the surrounding hills will have me huffing and puffing up a good sweat.
Here’s a walkabout video showing what the camping area looks like.
I’ll be back tomorrow to tell you how it went. Wish me luck!
I made the most of my Thirstday this week. Even stayed out past 9 pm, as hard as that may be to believe. Swan and I kicked things off with a pleasant walk through the Naugsol valley. Then I got the good news from Dr. Jo that my blood work was negative for pancreatic cancer. An overdue foot spa to scrape away the dead skin from my feet, followed by beers at Red Bar, Jumpin’ Jacks, and It Doesn’t Matter, before we joined the fifth anniversary celebration at Smokes and Bottles. That’s what I call pushing the boundaries, but then again, you only live once.
Heading out for the valley.Down in the valley.The valley view of Easter Mountain.This used to be a bustling little livestock farm. No idea what happened since my last time out this way.Kids playing at the riverside. Looks a tad dangerous to me now, but that’s how I rolled as a child, too.The Matain River in low season.A rickety bridge too far. Nope, didn’t even consider crossing this one.The way we strolled.
At Dr. Jo’s, she reviewed the ultrasound results and found no issues of concern. I honestly hadn’t considered that cancer might be causing my urination issues, so I was equally surprised and relieved to be told I’m clean. My blood pressure has slowly been coming back down to my normal range (123/73 this morning). So, the meds seem to be working, and I might just keep on keepin’ on for a while longer. Thanks for that!
Scrapping bottom.
After Red Bar, the plan was to grab dinner at Jewel Cafe. When we arrived, the place was packed, so I suggested we check out the menu for the newly opened kitchen at Jumpin’ Jacks.
Calamari rings……and chickenfingers with fries.
Not bad for pub grub.
The view from my barstool at Jumpin’ Jacks.
Next, we crossed the highway for what I thought would be our nightcap at It Doesn’t Matter.
I guess it doesn’t matter that it didn’t work out that way.
Swan got a message from her girlfriend group that they were all at Smokes and Bottles for the fifth anniversary event. She wanted to go, so I tagged along.
Have fun, ladies. I’ll be at the bar.The Smokes and Bottles bar view.
It was past my bedtime, and I was over my beer intake limit, so we didn’t stay long. It was a nice night on the town, though.
It is now July 2017 in the LTG archives. In this post from Angeles City, I share some observations and perspectives on the grind of daily living in a city I never much cared for. But whatever life you are living, the only real option is to make the best of what you have.
We haven’t checked in with the Filipina Pea in a while, and in today’s YouTube video, she asks her fellow citizens whether they want to become the 51st American state. It’s a mixed bag, but I sure as hell don’t want the USA to follow me here. However, historically, when the PI was a US colony, the people may have been better off. I think the dumbest move the Philippines made was kicking us out of our military bases here. Now that China is threatening, they want us back. We’ll see how things play out.
Time for a smile or three:
Praise the Lord!You’ve got to laugh at ignorance.Slip slidin’ away…
Early tomorrow morning, we are heading up to Baguio to participate in the La Union Valentine’s Day Hash. I’ve got some mixed feelings about this going in. We’ll be Hashing from a campground on the outskirts of Baguio, and most of the Hashers will be staying in tents. I reserved a Kubo hut, so at least I won’t be sleeping on the ground. I spoke with one of the Hares who was in town for the Beach Bash last weekend, and he told me the trail was short but had a couple of tough ups and downs. Not surprising given that Baguio sits on top of a mountain. I guess we’ll see if I’m up to the challenge.
I won’t be able to post from the wilds of Baguio, but I will try to update you when I get back home on Sunday. Assuming I survive.
It was a wonderful Wednesday as I partook in my wanderings. Starting with the Wednesday Walkers outing.
Only three of us this week: George, Erik, and yours truly.
George is from a small town in British Columbia named Tumbler Ridge. His wife is still there working. George told us we’d be hearing about what happened there yesterday, and now we have. Sad for sure, but as more details emerge, it was another case of trans insanity. Time to wake up and get them help, not encourage their madness through mind and body-altering drugs. Condolences to all the victims.
We started our trek with a steep climb and we were rewarded with this view when we achieved the summit.
It had been a while since I’ve been up here, so it was good look down on Barretto again.A tree I liked.That mountain I like.The other side of town.Marching onward.Mountain Mama Onelia’s place.A cookie-and-lollipop delivery earned some smiles.My fantasy shack.A view as we began our descent.Fuck that Bitch.
Swan told me she was craving my beef stew. What’s a good boyfriend to do?
Fire up the crockpot, of course!And now I can truthfully say that I satisfied Swan’s desires.
But that’s not all she wanted, so then we did this:
Some toes in the sand time.Which led us here.We’ll be keeping an eye on you, Mr. Sun.Frank the Frenchman stopped by the floating bar in his watercraft for some liquid refreshments.What are you looking at, Swan?Oh, I see.That sinking feeling.See you next time!
Having gotten what we came for, we headed ashore and paid a visit to Treasure Island.
The view from our TI perch.
Owner Bert was there, so it was nice to see him again. He even bought me a beer. We weren’t very hungry after our earlier beef stew indulgence, so we decided we’d just share some chicken quesadillas.
I must have been distracted because I forgot to get a photo before they were gone. Still, this shot confirms that the quesadillas were quite tasty.
And then it was time to wander back home via a tricycle. And I made it through the whole day without Swan calling me out even once for being “arte.”
Today’s YouTube video is about a joint US-PI military exercise. Getting some practice offloading America’s tools of war here in Subic. Don’t FAFO China!
Humor me this:
Ain’t that the naked truth?Keep your eyes closed and suck it, bitch!She reminds me of my Aunt Flo from Redlands.
And so goes another circle on the carousel of time. I’m scheduled to see Dr. Jo this afternoon so she can review my ultrasound results. I’m hoping for an all-clear to continue this life of leisure indefinitely.
Well, when I say double trouble, I’m talking about darts. But I’ll get to that in a minute. I like to keep things chronological around here; that’s what comes with being old and set in your ways.
So, let’s start with the shopping. No incidents or issues, and I came up with a new way to pay for my groceries without a credit card. I transferred money into the local BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) account Swan set up for me. That’s cheaper than ATM cash withdrawals and also more convenient. Then I used the debit card tied to the account to pay the cashier at Royal. Easy peasy. Once my new credit card arrives, I’ll just keep it in a safe place for emergencies. Oh, I just now thought of something: the debit card has Swan’s name on it. When I paid, I followed the standard procedure and handed the cashier my card and ID. She glanced at the ID and processed the transaction without comment. Hmm, I thought the purpose of checking the ID was to ensure the card belonged to me. I wonder how often I’ll get away with the name discrepancy. Not that it matters as long as Swan is with me.
Back at the house after shopping, I headed out to do my 4+K neighborhood walk. Nothing new or even worthy of a photo. Then it was the usual routines of a nap and a blog post. With those tasks completed, I broke out my darts and commenced to practice.
I used my DARTCOUNTER app to make it a little more interesting.
I’m not saying I threw all that great, but I beat the Dartbot twice (501 and Cricket). Last time the bot kicked my ass, so there’s that. Then it was time to head out to Alley Cats for the Tuesday dart tournament. And that’s where the troubles began.
Billy, the tourney organizer, told me it would be doubles and asked if I still wanted to play. Well, I had to break that ice eventually, so I agreed to join despite feeling bad for whoever drew me as a partner. When the numbers were drawn, I got paired with a woman I’d never seen before. When we shook hands, she apologized, saying she was new to the game. I also apologized in advance for not being very good at the game. We were the perfect pair for my return to doubles! No pressure, no expectations, no disappointment!
Our first game of the night was 501. We didn’t play well, but we were decent enough to keep it close, and we had a couple of shots at the double-out, which we failed to execute. The second leg was cricket, and I played embarrassingly badly. So, two games, two losses, and down to the losers’ bracket.
When our turn came to play again, things hadn’t improved much. A loss in 501 followed by another beating in cricket. I did manage to hit the double bullseye twice, but that wasn’t enough make up for the otherwise shitty darts I threw.
So, it was two and out, and my doubles debut was a double dose of bad darts. I’m not giving up. Yet. I will try again on Friday.
There was a time when I could hit what I was aiming at. Let’s see if I can find my way back to those good ol’ days.
After darts, we stayed on the same side of town and popped into Gold Bar. There were no dancers on stage, and I wondered why. Then I saw a “two-week millionaire” had them all tabled. That’s a dream come true for the gals, and I’m happy for them. When he got up to go to the CR, I noticed the shirt he was wearing had a Kern River logo on the back. Wow! I spent many happy times camping there when I was growing up. When the stranger returned, I mentioned how much I’d enjoyed my time on the Kern. We introduced ourselves, and he told me he lives in Bakersfield, the nearest city to Kernville, and that he visits often. He hopes to retire and move to Barretto within a year or two. Nice to meet you, Jeff. Thanks for the memories and good luck with your Philippine dreams.
The Kern River.
We did our nightcap at Queen Victoria.
The Queen Vic view from our table.And the view of us at our table.
We triked home, and then things got a little heated when I looked out the bedroom window.
That’s on the hillside we call Black Rock.And it was spreading fast.A zoom-view of fire on the mountain.
Anyway, the fires never seem to burn out of control as they do in California. This morning, I could see the blackened landscape but no apparent collateral damage.
The aftermath view.
So, I took a stroll through my photo albums and enjoyed the memories of happy times on the Kern.
We were working-class poor, so it was always camping vacations for our family. You could catch fish fairly easily in the river, and I recallfresh trout on the grill almost every night.It didn’t seem like roughing it back then.Thanks for the memories, Mom and Dad.That’s me rafting the Kern with my older brother back in 1959.
And now to the more recent past, but still feeling like a lifetime ago, a post from the June 2017 LTG archives where I write about becoming a biker again after the move to Pyeongtaek.
Today’s YouTube video discusses “bitter expat syndrome.” I suffer from occasional grumpiness, but I’m not bitter about it. Life in the Philippines is the best life I currently have.
Maybe these will dissolve bitterness:
No bitterness there!IDK about that.Did he hold you in contempt?
Not bad for a Tuesday, eh? We’ll try to keep the joy alive with a visit to Kokomo’s floating bar later today. Lord, keep these days coming!
Oh, and at Queen Victoria last night, the girls were “dancing” to their kind of music. Then, a customer wanted to pick a song for them, and it was some hip-hop crap. Well, I figured if he can pick a song for the gals to dance to, so can I. I don’t think they were expecting this:
Yeah, I know I just posted that song on Monday, but it is worth hearing again. I even did some swing dancing with Swan when it played at Queen Vic last night.
I’m not against descending; it’s the ups I find difficult.
Yesterday’s Hash trail was almost completely flat. Well, to clarify, the “cripples” trail had no hills. I’ve now deemed Leech My Nuggets to be the overall best Hare in the Subic Hash. His trails are always well-marked and easy to follow. And Mr. Leech always offers an option for those Hashers who are no longer up for the challenge of a long, hard climb. I enjoyed the 5K version of the trail very much, as it took me through areas I hadn’t seen before. In fact, I’ll be adding this hike to my repertoire and revisiting it in the future. Our On-Home venue was at a Hasher’s house in Calapadayan, which we’d never been to before. It’s situated right on the edge of the bay and was a very pleasant hangout for our Circle. Overall, it was one of my better Hash experiences.
So, the trail began at Subic High School near Waltermart, a 7K Jeepney ride from Barretto. Here’s some of what I saw during the Hash:
Off we go!Only a month younger than me. RIP Rodolfo.The first of several bridges we crossed on our journey. Also, the sturdiest.The early portion of the trail ran along the banks of the Magnan-Vaca River.Where the long and short trails diverged. Except Leech My Nuggets doesn’t use the term “short.”I’d never been this far down the river before.A new way to go is always nice to find.And here’s another place to go.But I’m not ready to go there yet.The biggest challenge we faced was a series of rickety bridges.Like this one……and that one.I’m happy to report that they all carried the load.The path ahead.A gathering of “cripples.”Sweets for the sweet.Riverboats.I’ve learned to deal with a fork in the road, but what do you do when you encounter two?That old gal doing her laundry is one of my charity projects.We don’t run into her that often, but on the occasions when we do, we slip her 500 pesos. She is raising her deceased daughter’s kids, and it’s a struggle, I’m sure.Now we are on the home stretch.Arriving at Sully’s place.The purple “cripple” trail bypassed the hill climbbefore rejoining the main trail. I enjoyed the riverwalk.Our host for the evening, Sully.Hanging out at Sully’s place.Some Hash Gash.I enjoyed the trail so much that I voluntarily joined the Hare (Leech is on the right) on the ice.It’s nice on ice!And then it was time for the sun to go down……and another Hash came to an end.
Some of the usual after-Hash fun (and beer) at It Doesn’t Matter, then we headed home, thankful for another fine day in paradise.
It’s still May 2017 in the LTG archives, and in this post, I share photos from my first week after moving to Pyeongtaek. It was quite an adjustment. As a bonus, here’s a tour of my “Palace,” two stories, four bedrooms, and four baths. It was like an exclamation point on my loneliness.
Today’s YouTube video is one I made thirteen years ago as I prepared to depart Korea for some USA time. It depicts how I filled the months I spent in Korea with the woman I so dearly loved. I didn’t know then what was just around the corner, and that the life I was living and loving would soon come to an end.
Time to cheer myself up:
I never saw such a bad pun.That stinks.And why is it a crime?
Another day, another post. Now it’s time to practice my darts in preparation for the tournament this evening. I’m eating before I go this time to take the edge off my grumpiness. I’ll let you know how that works out for me.
A bump in the road can be a good thing. It reminds you to watch your speed, maintain situational awareness, and accept the reality that there is no such thing as perfect. Then you leave the bump behind and get on with enjoying the life you’ve chosen. And so it goes.
A much quieter than usual Decay Dance, but we didn’t make the children suffer due to tampo.
There is always peace to be found if you seek it.Don’t let misunderstandings get your goat.Sometimes things get hot, other times, not.It’s the mission that matters.Isn’t that right, Jesus?
Anyway, after the candy mission was completed, Swan warmed up the birria tacos I’d brought home for her the night before. She enjoyed them and decided to accept my intended peace offering. We talked through the incident that happened on Friday from both our perspectives — my temper was the trigger, her reaction to my wrongness was overblown, and we both committed to doing better in the future.
So, with that behind us, we were ready to attend the annual VFW Beach Bash at the Outback Resort together. I arrived around 4 pm, and the beauty pageant was scheduled to begin at 6 pm. How to fill the time? Well, with beers, of course. And this:
That’s the double cheeseburger. I wanted mahi-mahi fish and chips, but all they had was dory. Nope, bring me the beef then. The burger was very good.
Beer cards were 500 pesos for six bottles, so that was a fair price. No Zero available, of course. Then I was asked to be a judge for the pageant, which is an honor, but I didn’t want to commit to staying through the end of the contest. See, I know my limitations!
It turns out, I made the right call. I don’t like to be critical of what is the local VFW Chapter’s main fundraising event, but damn, it was a disorganized mess. The singing contest, slated to begin at 5 p.m., was still being sound checked at 5:30. They eventually decided to split the eight competitors into two groups of four, with the first four performing before the beauty pageant and the second group during an intermission while the contestants changed into bathing suits. The performers sounded like the usual karaoke singers to me, and some of the contestants were men, including a bakla (transgender). It was painful to listen to. But hey, maybe that’s just the grumpy old man that I am speaking.
And then, when the beauty pageant was supposed to finally begin, it was announced that the “girls weren’t ready yet.” What the hell, starting late and STILL not ready? Okay, I’ll shut up about it now. When my beer card was full, I’d had enough of both beer and the pageant. I left halfway through the bikini contest.
The view from my seat upon arrival.And when the show finally began. As you can see, they filled all the seats.The contestants.A bikini shot.
And that’s all I got photo-wise. Jay, the owner of Hot Zone, posted this photo:
So, I assume one of his girls won.
Oh, and I got gifted this shirt:
It’s from last year’s event, but still…
Sorry I didn’t do a better job covering the event. If I had more patience, I could have been a doctor.
It’s May Day 2017 in the LTG archives, and I’m saying goodbye to my Itaewon life as I prepare for the move to Pyeongtaek.
My dear friend Sohee (on the right) took her life two years later.
Today’s YouTube video is from a new (to me) vlogger, Maya Life. She could have titled this one, “don’t be stupid,” but I’m guilty of a couple of these transgressions. I sometimes raise my voice, which is frowned upon in this culture (ironically, other forms of noise are welcomed, like bad singing at high volume). I also haven’t accepted invites to Swan’s family gatherings. I do have some of her relatives working for me, and have had her family over for rooftop fun at The Rite Spot. I’m not saying I’ll never go to a family function, but it’s just not my thing.
And now let me throw these at you:
Better snatch him up!Tall tales from the crypt.May the fork be with you! When I first moved to Korea and had a problem with those metal chopsticks.
There you have the current state of my affairs. And now for the Hash run. The Hare, Leech My Nuggets, has prepared a “cripple trail” for us old farts, so I should be good to go. Tell you all about it tomorrow.
I still have this hanging on my wall. A good reminder that the cheese is always on the move.
Sorry for the lack of a post yesterday. The fact of the matter is that I was in the hospital, although that’s no excuse. Things went south for me on Friday night, and I was in a dark place all day Saturday. Truth be told, I still am hurting from the PTSD, but I’m making progress at accepting the reality of how things are. I’ll leave it at that for now.
For those who like condiments, let’s ketchup:
The Friday group hike participants.It’s always nice to know there’s a toilet when you need one.A low tide made this Calapacuan beach walk possible.A dog on a wall.And a timely reminder that I’m lucky to be alive at my ripe old age.A tad shy of 7K on our hike.
After the walk, I practiced darts at home using an app on my phone called “DARTCOUNTER”. It helps track your performance and even has a bot you can play against. I played the bot at level 5 out of 10 in cricket, and it kicked my ass and pointed like a motherfucker. If someone threw unneeded points like that in a real game, I’d call them out for being an asshole. Oh, well. It beats just throwing randomly for practice.
At the appointed time, we headed to Alley Cats to play in the Friday night tournament there. I was happy that it was a singles tourney because I’m not comfortable dragging a partner down to my level.
Me getting in some warmup shots prior to the tournament.
So, I lost my first match in the winner’s bracket, then won once in the loser’s bracket before I was eliminated. For me, it’s not about winning or losing, it’s how you play the game. And I sucked. Oh well, I ain’t giving up yet.
So, I’d had a few beers and no food, and I was hungry. As we made our way up the highway, something triggered the tampo that is still going on. I’m still not sure how it will all play out. Stay tuned.
Which brings us to Saturday. I was an emotional trainwreck all morning, but had an “appointment” for an ultrasound at the local hospital in the afternoon. The way it works is that the doctor is scheduled to be there at 1:30 and sees patients on a “first-come, first-served” basis. I arrived at 1 pm and was number seven in line. Hurry up and wait.
We also had to wear a f’n facemask.I misread this at first as being a urinal for the “well hung.”
Anyway, it took only an hour for my turn to come, and I paid 2300 pesos for a “full abdomen” ultrasound. Given the size of my belly, that’s a bargain! I’ll share the results with Dr. Jo, but aside from a small cyst on the left kidney, everything appears normal.
Six hours of fasting were required before the ultrasound, and I left the hospital hungry. As I walked up the highway in a light rain, the first restaurant I came to was the seldom-visited Coffee Shop. I climbed the stairs and grabbed a table on the open-air patio.
As seen from my perch.Traffic to Olongapo on the National Highway was at a standstill. I knew that must mean there was an accident somewhere up ahead.And sure enough, it wasn’t long before this photo appeared in my Facebook feed. All lanes were blocked in Barangay Kalaklan.I saw this youngster standing by the side of the road and thought to myself, WTF do you know about getting old?My sweet and sour pork lunch. I didn’t eat the rice, but ordered a baked potato on the side. The buko salad was a pleasant surprise.
Since I was right across the street from the Arizona Resort, I headed for the floating bar.
The earlier rainfall hadn’t dissuaded these beachgoers.But this wayward banca boat was blocking the path of the raft from the floating bar. The raft driver caught the boat owner’s attention, and he pulled it out of the way.Too cloudy for any sun shots, but here’s a Barretto Beach view.
Some other customers came and went during my visit to the floater, including a “two-week millionaire” who bought all the gals a drink. Good for you!
When I’d had my fill of beer on the bay, I headed ashore and hiked up the highway to Cheap Charlies.
Two hours later, the traffic was still jammed, but at least moving forward at a snail’s pace.My sunset shot from the pisser at Cheap Charlies.
As is my custom, I bought some food for the girls in lieu of the overpriced lady drinks at Cheap Charlies. And while I was at it, I ordered a Philly cheesesteak for myself.
It was very good, but since I’d had that late lunch, I could only eat half of it. My waitress seemed happy with her windfall.
There’s a big VFW event in town this weekend, the annual Beach Bash, and quite a few of the folks from out of town popped into Cheap Charlies.
Busier than I’ve seen it in a long time.
Early to start, early to finish. I bought some take-out birria tacos from Mylene’s and brought them home for Swan. But she was still at a friend’s birthday party at Treasure Island. Put the tacos in the fridge, made me a smoothie, then went to bed before eight o’clock. Yeah, that’s me these days.
From the LTG April 2017 archives, a post about my exploration of the Pyeongtaek bar scene before my move there. I wound up spending a year down there, but it never had that Itaewon vibe I had come to know and love. Of course, looking back now, it was because I was living in the past and dreaming of the future instead of just enjoying the moment for what it was worth.
Today’s YouTube video explores the concepts from the book “Who Moved My Cheese?” When I first read the book way back when, I was really impressed by the ideas expressed. I recall that on my last day at work before I retired the first time, I used the story in my farewell remarks to my staff. And I also had those quotes framed and hung on the wall, where they remain to this day.
Something smells wrong about this one.Hmm, I’ve also been ghosted.Nothing like a good back-and-forth conversation.
So, today is the last day of the Beach Bash I mentioned, and I’ll be attending the beauty pageant this evening at the Outback Resort. I might even take some photos if I manage to get a good seat. We shall see tomorrow.
No complaints about my Thirstday, but not much occurred that warrants inclusion in a blog post. Well, that’s never stopped me before, but at least this one will be short.
We hadn’t seen the homeless umbrella lady I call “Mama” for over a week, and I was actually worried about her well-being. We did a boring Barretto street walk that included walking the length of the National Highway through town, and we didn’t see her at any of the usual spots where she hangs out. Then we turned down one of the side roads, and lo and behold, there Mama was at a sari-sari store having a soda. It was a relief to know she is still okay. I’ve been tossing her some pesos whenever I see her since I was a tourist here. Someday one of us will be gone forever, and the other will never know what happened. Such is life.
After we got home, Swan showered and headed out to spend some time celebrating a friend’s birthday. I took care of my blogging chore, then got in a little darts practice (I’m still way too inconsistent to be competitive). Then it was time to get ready to head into town on my own.
The beer o’clock view from Alta Vista.
I parked myself at Sloppy Joe’s and ordered my first beer of the day. San Miguel Zero is no longer available, so I’m back on the Light. Oh, well. I’ll adjust. I messaged Swan to see if she would be joining, and she told me not for another hour. She suggested I eat something because she had already had dinner with her friends.
The Sloppy Joe’s wings are excellent and are served with a barbecue dipping sauce. They come eight to an order; those three are my leftovers.My waitress was happy to eat them on my behalf.
When Swan arrived, she was on the back of a motor scooter with her niece Jane and Jane’s husband Mike (Jane is also my new housekeeper). We invited them to join us next door at The Green Room for drinks. After a round, Jane and Mike departed for home, and Swan and I went next door to Wet Spot for our nightcap. As is my custom, I bought lady drinks for Irene and Beth. A bit later, a “two-week millionaire” arrived and bought all the girls a drink. Irene and Beth asked to be excused so they could partake, and naturally, I agreed. I’m always happy for someone to buy the drinks so I don’t have to. I do appreciate when the gals ask permission instead of just disappearing.
The Wet Spot ladies surrounded the most popular wallet guy in Barretto.
I’d had my fill by then anyway, so we said our goodnights and triked on home. Even a blah day in the life ain’t so bad.
Still seeing lots of funny memes about that “stolen land” idea the left keeps pushing.
Here’s a Tolkien of my appreciation.
It is now April 2017 in the LTG archives. In this post, I’m still wallowing in self-pity, but I’m moving forward in the process of moving on. I began preparations for my move down south to Pyeongtaek and was still planning to re-retire in September. I also spent some time in Busan and at the DMZ. It’s been said that when one door closes, another door opens. That doesn’t mean the new door leads to a better place, but that’s life.
A pretty accurate depiction of where I was back then.
Today’s YouTube video warns against moving to the Philippines for the wrong reasons or in the wrong mindset. Yeah, I was running away from a painful past and looking for a fresh start. It took a while to find my way, but here I am, almost eight years later, and I have no regrets about my decision.
Are these what you’ve been waiting for?
I’m glad you got a cash withdrawal instead of a bunch of shit.No more turning a blind eye, eh?You can’t win, so why bother trying?
Now it is on with the rest of my Friday. I’m going to chuck some arrows for practice. Later, I’ll hit Alley Cats and see if tonight’s tourney will be singles or doubles. I still don’t feel that confident in my game to avoid disappointing a partner, but we’ll see how I feel when I get there.
I don’t have a car anymore, and sometimes I still get a zit, but otherwise, yeah, livin’ the dream.
Welp, I walked myself through another Wednesday. Here’s some of what I saw along the way:
There were only three of us out for the Wednesday Walkers group hike. A space in time.WTF is ICE doing in the Philippines?Over the rickety bridge. And yes, it held me too.Something to ponder.Don’t get bamboozled, Swan!Walkin’ the plank.We only pass this way four or five times a year, but this woman is always delighted to see us. She’s raising her deceased daughter’s kids, and we help out with some pesos when we run into her.We popped in to check out a new resort called Costa Subic. Some great views from there.Saw this butterfly there, or is that an angel?A nice, flat 7K walk…just the way I like ’em.
But the walkin’ wasn’t over, Christopher. At beer o’clock, we hoofed it out to Baloy Beach for some time on the Kokomo’s floating bar.
A Swan on the beach.The view from the floater upon our arrival.Swan on a stool.The other side of the bay.A zoom shot of Bantay Bayan, a little village on the bay that I adore.I like the looks of this.Good job, Mr. Sun.A happy ending.See you next week, Kokomo’s.Then it was time to grab some grub at Treasure Island.I was surprised to see this lass tending bar. Last week, she was our waitress at Jewel Cafe.I went with my old favorite, the pulled pork sandwich.
After our meal, we called it a day. I was tired, and it wasn’t even 7:30 yet.
Still, not a bad day’s walk for an old, fat dude.
Sixteen years ago, I was also steppin’ it up:
Climbing the steps on Namsan.Looking down on Seoul.
Alright, indulge me once again as I cross the political divide:
Nothing makes me laugh more than hearing that “stolen land” stupidity. To the victor go the spoils.
Still in the March 2017 LTG archives, and in this post, I reflect on my life of solitude in Seoul. Of course, that was nothing compared to what I would experience after the move to Pyeongtaek. Even now, my friend circle is shrinking. That’s okay, I’ll just play it out and see where I wind up, friendless or dead.
Today’s YouTube video is from Reekay. I was honestly surprised when I saw him discussing the concept of what I call a “do-over” life. Yeah, let me go back to being an 18-year-old taking everything with me that I’ve learned over these past fifty-two years. I know, be careful what you wish for. Beyond the impossibility of time travel is the reality that the different roads I’d like to explore would mean missing out on all the good things I’ve experienced on this version of life’s journey. It’s only a dream.
As Tuesdays go, yesterday broke the routine. Or maybe it was the beginning of a new routine. I reckon time will tell.
Did the grocery shopping as usual, but once again paid in cash. Not having a credit card has changed the way I move money around. I used to make two withdrawals of 20,000 pesos each week with my US bank debit card (which charged a 500-peso fee). Now, I move the money to a Philippine account via a wire service (Wise), which costs less and gives me easier (and cheaper) access for ATM withdrawals. I still need the credit card (it’s in the mail) because that’s my health insurance. Private hospitals won’t admit patients if they can’t pay in advance, and public hospitals are where people go to die. My credit card allows me to pay medical expenses should they arise. I have a credit limit of $17,000, and if that’s not enough, I’d probably die anyway.
After returning from the shopping excursion, Swan went out for a tutoring session with a neighbor’s child, and I engaged in some darts practice. My plan was to participate in the Alley Cats tourney after my doctor’s appointment. I wound up spending more time with Dr. Jo than I anticipated, though, and when we arrived at Alley, the place was packed. I’m still not ready to disappoint a partner in a doubles tournament, so I opted out.
Dr. Jo tweaked my daily blood pressure meds a bit and also ordered some tests to check my lungs and bladder. Regarding the bladder, she seemed concerned when I told her how frequently I urinate (every two hours or so when sleeping), and that I’m having some bladder control issues (when I gotta go, I can’t hold it. Even peed my pants once in Vietnam). Anyway, I’ll be back next week when the results are in, and we’ll see where things go from there.
After the doctor’s visit, we hung out in Alley Cats for an hour or so, then crossed the highway for some dinner at Mango’s.
The view from our Mango’s table.The view at our table.The sun doing its thing.The grilled pork chops are what we come for.
After another satisfying dining experience, we headed out to see what was happening on the side of town we don’t frequently visit. The Hangout bar is now closed, with a “for sale” banner out front. The new Adam’s Bar doesn’t serve wine, so we just kept on walking. Across the highway, Gold Bar beckoned to us, and we heeded the call. I had my darts with me and had a hankering to try out the dartboard there.
A gwapo guy tossin’ the arrows.Hitting the target. Perhaps I’ll be ready for doubles come Friday.The Gold Bar dancers had no customers to entertain.But they eventually got up and strutted their stuff anyway.
We did our nightcap at Queen Victoria, and then we were done with Tuesday.
I try so hard to avoid politics here, but sometimes I can’t resist:
The people have spoken; get over it.
On to March 2017 in the LTG archives, where I recount the confirmation that my lungs were shit, but at least it wasn’t cancer. They are still shit almost nine years later, but the good news is they have not deteriorated to the extent that they might have had I not begun my daily inhaler meds regimen.
Today’s YouTube video is a short telling (four minutes) of what to consider when choosing where in the Philippines to live. It resonated with me because I had just read my posts from February 2017 as I explored Barretto as a potential retirement destination. The vlogger is correct that everyone is different, and knowing what matters to you is key to making the right choice. I wouldn’t be comfortable with a rural provincial life, that’s for sure. Barretto has a small-town vibe, but also a friendly expat community, the Hash, beaches and mountains, and, of course, some nice bars to hang out at. I have to hand it to me, I found my glove. *ahem*
And now for your daily dose of cringe:
I have a nephew like that.And shut up to the shut-ins.That sounds oddly familiar.
I’m planning to visit the Kokomo’s floating bar later today since we missed out on the Baloy experience yesterday. A new Wednesday routine is in the making!
Here’s the lowdown on yesterday’s Hash run. I joined a rather large group of shortcutters who avoided the Kalaklan Ridge climb and did the second part of the trail. Including the 2K walk from my house to where we started, I had a satisfying 6K hike with one hill. That’s enough for me these days.
I’m pretty sure the shortcutters outnumbered the Hashers who did the whole trail.Off we go, headed up Rizal Extension.Heading for the hills.Upsy daisy.Splendor in the grass.A woodsy vibe.Does anyone remember postcards?Homemade shade.Out of the hills in Marian Hills (yeah, the village itself is flat).Anal Receptive was the first long-trail runner to pass our group.Getting it done. A climb into Alta Vista, then onward to the On-Home at Cyclone Bar.Some Hash Gash at Cyclone.It’s nice on ice!The old farts at the Circle.That’s the trail I did half of…My trail looked like this.
I guess I’m doing alright for a fat seventy-year-old. Some more after-Hash beers at It Doesn’t Matter, then home for some restless sleep.
That’s one of my lowest sleep scores ever.
Who’d a thunk I’d be one of those Woke bastards?
It’s still February 2017 in the LTG archives, and I’m in Barretto scoping out the possibilities of retiring there (spoiler alert: I did). Anyway, lots of pictures and memories. You can check out the post for yourself, but here are a couple:
It was over a year later when I made the move, but this house in Alta Vista was still available, so I signed a lease and lived there for three years.One of the first friends I made in the PI was with a vlogger named John Brant. A couple of years after I moved here, John was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. No one ever hears from him these days, but I’m told he lives in the province with his wife and her family taking care of him. A good guy who is missed.That would be Loraine. I met her online, hired her as a tour guide, then sent her to caregiver school. I planned to have her take care of me without all the emotional attachments that come with love. I’m sure you can guess how that worked out for me.And I also discovered the Alley Cats darts bar.
It’s interesting to look back on those days when I had one foot in the future and the other stuck in the past. That’s a good way to fall flat on your face.
Today’s YouTube video is about the mountain city of Baguio. I’m sharing it as a prelude to my upcoming excursion there for a Valentine’s Hash. I’ve been to Baguio a few times, and it is a nice place to visit, but I don’t think I would enjoy living there.
Humor me:
There’s dumb, and then there is AOC dumb.Was Doc related to AOC?And Picard might be my father…
Anyway, I’m off to see Dr. Jo this afternoon. My self-diagnosis is that I’m old, but I want a second opinion. My current symptoms include coughing up phlegm, high blood pressure, stiff and sore lower legs, and some lethargy. And I don’t want to sound morbid or anything, but I can’t help shaking the feeling that the end of my time is nearer than I’d hoped for. I can’t really explain these feelings, but maybe the brain knows when the body has reached its expiry date. I hope I’m wrong, but just in case, you heard it here first.
Here we go again, with another episode in the life I’m living now, starting with the Sunday Sweets Stroll:
The guys who are usually roasting pigs were making pancit yesterday.That wood-fired stove they built is quite impressive.Taking care of business.Hadn’t done the Sweets Stroll for over a month, and I think we were missed.The view from here. That’s as close to Easter Mountain as we got.See you next time.That Sweet gal of mine.5K of sweetness.
Then, at the appointed time, we headed out for the rest of our Sunday routine.
We saw this along the way. Someone put some time and effort into creating this sign which I trust was meant to be funny, although from what I’ve read, the Nipah virus is no laughing matter.We made it to the Arizona Floating Bar alive. A lot busier on board than last week.Even had the crew of that sailboat join in the fun. They just parked their dinghy alongside and climbed aboard.I suspected those clouds would ruin the upcoming sunset view.A passing dragon with a full load of beachgoers.And that’s as good as it got at sundown time.
And then it was time for Sunday dinner. The new routine is to visit a place we haven’t tried for a while.
This week, that meant Playa Papagayo.The view from our table.Papagayo celebrates the 72nd anniversary of its founding this month.
I used to visit here more frequently, but the combination of higher prices, reduced quality, and better options keeps me away these days. My San Miguel Light was 140 pesos last night. The average price around town is less than 100 pesos.
Are you looking at me? That’s my chicken enchilada. It was tasty enough, but it could have been warmer inside.Swan had pancit, which she said was okay but not great.
Next stop for us was Red Bar. Cliff and Ashley have moved over from It Doesn’t Matter, and from what I’ve seen, they have brought a lot of their regular customers with them. I still enjoy IDM, and it has a kitchen, so I’ll keep both bars in my rotation.
Nice to see you guys again.
We did our nightcap at Jumpin’ Jacks and enjoyed the vibe and music as usual. And then we called it a night and made our way home. I did make a batch of strawberry-banana smoothies for our bedtime treat. Life is good, enjoy it while you can.
Today my younger brother Gregory celebrates his 69th birthday. Keep ’em coming!
That’s us sixty-six years ago.
Indulge me while I indulge my fetish of mocking the loony left:
From the February 2017 LTG archives, I share my Valentine’s Day reflections. I include a post I made on a Philippine forum back in 2009, where I struggled with the decision to choose the love of a Korean woman (Jee Yeun) or the life I had dreamed of in the PI. I chose love back then, but in my 2017 post, I swore I would never love again. Well, look at me now. Hopefully, I got it right this time. There is also a YouTube video I made with photos from the years I shared with Jee Yeun. I tried to watch it this morning, but it proved to be too painful. I guess some wounds truly never do heal.
For today’s YouTube video, I’ll share something you never see on TV anymore, but I saw all the time growing up: cigarette commercials. Despite my fleeting memory, I still recall several of the jingles (Winston tastes good like a cigarette should). The stupid thing is, I never smoked as a teen (well, cigarettes, I mean) but started puffing tobacco at around 30. Twenty years later, the damage was done, and I still live with it today. I definitely will not smoke in my do-over life.
Ready for some humor?
Was his name Macro?I have a different kind of fun where I live. Or at least I used to.Heroes like Frank are all too rare these days. Same with those mechanical horses. And blondes, for that matter.
Here’s an added bonus for my loyal readers. Since I couldn’t get any sunset shots yesterday, let me share what I saw this morning:
I woke up to this at 0500 this morning.That’s the view from my desk window as I was trolling the internet.Getting down!The lightening sky makes the moon fade.Have fun on the other side!
You are welcome. Now, it’s time to prepare for the Hash. Already have my shortcut plotted.
