Did the hike today and it felt good to be back on trail again. The back was still a little sore this morning, but not painfully so. I’ll share some photos of the adventure tomorrow, right now I’m pressed for time because I have to shower up and head out for my dart league match. I hate feeling rushed on Wednesdays. If I play next season it will have to be as an extra player. With only three on the team, I have to arrive no later than 2 p.m. or we forfeit.
Speaking of darts, I played the tourney last night and failed to reach the money round. Can’t blame my back for that. I actually threw pretty much my normal game, my opponents just threw better. No defense against that.
After darts, I visited Pearl’s food stand and had a couple of beers there. Pearl wasn’t there when I arrived, but her mother came out and we had a nice chat. Like any good mother, she doesn’t want to see her daughter hurt or mistreated. I assured her of my good intentions. It did occur to me that this might be the first time I’ve met the mother of a woman I’m dating and I’m older than the mother. Who’d a thunk it? Pearl arrived shortly thereafter.
Ain’t we sweet?
Finished my lunch, now to get ready to go. Thanks for giving me your time. Let’s do it again tomorrow!
I only did a small portion of yesterday’s Hash trail in deference to my ailing back. The pain is not quite as sharp today and as of now, I intend to do the group hike tomorrow, even if that means gritting my teeth in agony while I walk. I hope it doesn’t come to that.
So, in COVID prevention news, we no longer have to wear those dumbass face shields in the supermarket. I was so pleased heading out to Royal for my shopping excursion this morning without one. Imagine my surprise and disappointment when I was asked for my vaccination card by the security guard at the entrance. WTF? I ain’t go one. It was right at opening time and the guard indicated the vaccine requirement wasn’t in effect yet, so I was able to enter the store. I was pissed because it is a stupid policy and especially because there had been absolutely no forewarning. Idiots.
At the checkout stand, I cashed in the points on my Royal rewards card figuring I might not be back anytime soon. That was good for twenty bucks off my groceries. As I was leaving I went to the customer service desk to get clarification on the vax policy–specifically, I wanted to know if applied to all the stores on SBMA (the old Navy base) or only Royal. I didn’t get a clear answer on that, but I suspected it will be SBMA-wide. All the manager could tell me was they were waiting for “the memo”. Well, I just saw on Facebook that people have been turned away this afternoon from both Royal stores. And someone posted this showing that the restriction is indeed SBMA-wide:
Let freedom ring. Not.
So, I’ll be doing my shopping elsewhere for the foreseeable future. You know, I’m actually not anti-vaccination. I just don’t need one since I’ve already had COVID. And if this shit they are forcing on people actually worked, those of us who are unvaccinated wouldn’t pose a threat. And the more they try and force me into getting jabbed, the more I’m inclined to resist. I’ll make up my own mind about when or if I want to be shot. Honestly, it won’t surprise me if immigration starts requiring proof of vaccination to renew your visa. What a crock this all is. I think only about 35% of the general population has been vaccinated, I guess they can eat cake.
This was me four years ago today in Korea. Probably the last winter I’ll ever experience. Unless I get deported.
Alright, let me share some photos from my abbreviated Hash yesterday:
Gathering up at the VFW. There were three trails as I understand it…long, medium, and short. Make that four trails–I did my own version.And we are off! I did the first couple of blocks then veered off on a detour to Pearl’s food place. Alas, she wasn’t there so I had a couple of beers then moved on.This is some of what I missed out on. My back just wasn’t up for a climb.This place is on the main drag in Barretto but I had never even heard of it. The beach is at the end of a long driveway off the highway. Never had a reason to walk down that way until yesterday. It was near the end of the official Hash trail, so I was once again “On-On!”The Hares had provided a “beer stop” here, so I stopped and had one. I actually really liked this place. A bit rustic and intended to cater to a Filipino crowd, but I would consider renting one of those Nipa huts for a beach party.The two female Hares, Dumbass and Dripping Pussy, are on the beach.And the two male Hares, Yogini and Leaking Willy, are showing the way to the wet portion of the trail. Yep, there was a walk through the bay water between Barretto and Baloy for those willing to do so. I wasn’t one of them.There goes one now. I understand the water got waist deep in places.Some Gash at the beer stop. That Nipa hut behind them is the one I’d like to rent.I walked the dry road to Baloy for the On-Home at Da’ Kudos. There I encountered these Hashers speaking to each other in German. I loudly proclaimed, “you’re in the Philippines, damn it! Speak English!” I was joking, of course. Only two of them are German, there’s an Austrian and a Dutchman as well.A nice day on Baloy beach.The Hash circle in motion.And the sun goes down on another Hash Monday.
Now to find out if my bad back will impact my ability to throw darts. Well, at least I’ll have an excuse if I play poorly, legitimate or not. I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow.
Well, I know what's right
I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin' me around
But I'll stand my ground
And I won't back down
I debated whether to include Mango’s in this list. I’m generally not doing hotel restaurant bars, but have made exceptions (see Palm Tree). Mango’s has its own stand-alone bar as well (see Rock Lobster). But I spend a lot of time at this bar on the beach and so I think it warrants inclusion.Besides, since Mango’s calls it a bar, who am I to argue?
The above photo is from the front of the bar looking towards the water. There are dining tables in addition to the bar stools.
A view from the back to the front.
I don’t spend much time at the actual bar though.
This is my spot on the patio facing the beach.Back when I was a more frequent visitor, they actually put a “reserved” sign up so I always had my seat.Honestly, I enjoy looking at views like this as much as I do bargirls…well, almost as much.
Speaking of which, this is one of the few places in town where you can’t buy the attention of a waitress for the price of a lady drink. This is not to say the staff isn’t friendly. In fact, I’m Facebook friends with at least three of them. I’m always made to feel like an honored guest when I arrive, which is nice.
So, a seat with a view, cold beer, kindly folks to serve me; what else could I ask for? Well, Mango’s is also one of my favorite restaurants. I love the grilled pork chops especially, although lately they frequently haven’t been available. Like on this visit. Oh well, just give me a roast chicken salad then.
Yummy!
Regular readers may recall that during the early days of the lockdown last year a certain bar on the beach continued serving their regular customers in the manner of a speakeasy. I’m not saying where that was, but I always appreciated their trust and I’ve tried to repay it with my loyalty.
The music is low-key, happy hour beers are 70 pesos, and 90 pesos thereafter. No extra charge for the beach views. I like this place. A lot.
Another Hash Monday so just a quick post before I head out. My back still ain’t right–maybe a bit less pain or maybe I’m just getting used to it–but I’m not thinking doing the trail today is in my future. The 43-year-old offered to come give me a massage, but now that I have a girlfriend I decided that wasn’t a good idea. I figure I’ll walk to the VFW for the start, then walk out to Baloy Beach for the On-Home. Hey, that’s part of the trail at least.
Sorry to say, that’s all I’ve got. I went straight home after my visit to Finger Monkeys last night and haven’t done shit since. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day. We’ll see.
Welcome to the newest bar in Barretto. The grand opening was last night and I was there!
To begin, I hate the name. Finger Monkeys Ready To Race. What does that even mean? If I were compiling a list of worst bar names ever, this one would be near the top. Okay, rant over. It’s not the name outside that matters, it is what goes on inside that makes a bar fun.
On the right is the owner, Marick. Sweet Joy is in the middle, and Jen is on the left. Joy and Jen are the waitresses I buy drinks for.
Until a couple of weeks ago, Marick ran a closet-sized bar named Marick’s Bar and Grill. I have no idea why she didn’t bring that name to the new place. She did bring Joy and Jen, so at least I could enjoy some familiar faces in the new place. Finger Monkeys is small but twice as large as Marick’s, so there that is an improvement comfort-wise.
That’s pretty much the extent of the place. One large table in the middle of a small room. There is also a little counter in the corner where I was seated (and from whence I took this photo).There is no actual bar in this bar, but this is the area where drinks are concocted.I thought the artwork on the ceiling was really cool.
It was opening night and the place got really packed by the time I left. The first beer was on the house and free finger foods were provided.
It was a nice touch.
So, obviously, you can’t judge what a bar is going to be like after the first night, but I haven’t let that stop me from doing so for some other bars in this series. If they carry over the friendly, small bar vibe that I experienced at Marick’s, I’ll like it. If they go the rumored Resto-Bar (karaoke with food) route, I won’t be participating. I enjoy the company of Marick and her staff in the bar and it is more conveniently located now near my other frequent haunts. I’m sure I’ll be popping in on at least a semi-regular basis.
I’m going to rank Finger Monkeys on the assumption it will have the same atmosphere as its predecessor. If that proves not to be the case, I’ll adjust the ranking accordingly.
I don’t know what the hell is going on but I’ve just about had enough, thank you very much. Yesterday morning my right foot big toe was hurting like hell, enough to wake me up early and make walking the dog unpleasant. Closer inspection revealed that the bitchy pedicurist had cut the nail way too short and an ingrown toenail was the result. I silently prayed for the Lord to make me forget about the toe pain and my prayers were answered. Later that morning when I got up out of my chair it felt like someone had stabbed me in the back. No idea where that came from, I didn’t slip, trip, or fall. I took some aspirin and went about my day, albeit uncomfortably. My back feels fine when I am sitting or laying down. Getting into those positions, or anything that involves bending over is borderline excruciating. It’s a dull pain when I stand or walk, which is at least bearable.
So, as you saw in the previous post, I did my bar review at Voodoo. Then I tried to dull the pain with more beers at It Doesn’t Matter. That didn’t work, so I figured a good back rub from my favorite at Cheap Charlies might do the trick. It did feel great and seemed to help. Until I walked down the stairs to head home. I popped into her place on the way to say goodnight and wound up confirming a “date” to go hiking this morning and have lunch afterward.
It was a painful night getting up to pee as often as I do. When I rolled out of bed at 0400 I was glad to see Buddy at least was sleeping peacefully.
Lucky bastard.
After the morning dog walk, I knew I was in no condition to do the planned hike.
Even the beauty of Easter mountain failed to ease my pain.
When I got back home I sent her a message saying I couldn’t walk but lunch was still a go if she were up for it. She was. So, I plopped some pork chops and cream of mushroom soup in the crockpot and awaited her arrival.
She is a real sweetheart. She brought along some remedies for my aching back.
Starting with buko (coconut) juice, which is according to Filipino culture a cure-all for pretty much everything. It was my first time drinking the milk and it wasn’t bad.And she also had these more medically approved treatments to share with me as well.
I had everything for lunch just about ready to go when she arrived. Put it on a plate and served it up.
Where’s the garlic bread you ask? Still in the oven, I somehow forgot about it until after it had baked to a crispy black. Let’s go, Brandon!Oh, well. She professed to enjoy the meal even without bread.
After we ate, we retreated to the bedroom where Pearl used her magic hands to rub my back and spread the medications around. One of them, I think it was the menthol, almost felt like it was burning me, but in a weird way, it also felt good. After the treatment, we cuddled and kissed and decided to take our relationship to the next level. Yep, here I go again. Wish me luck!
Later in the afternoon, She needed to return to her place of business. I walked with her there and felt less pain than I had on my morning walk. I also brought along some of the brownies I had made for dessert to share with her workers. Had a couple of beers while I was there and enjoyed spending a little more time with her.
Ain’t she sweet?
I know better than to speculate too much on what lies ahead. Que sera, sera, and all that. I’ll be happy if my back has improved enough to do the Hash run tomorrow.
Voodoo is the first old-school classic “girly bar” in Barretto. I define a girly bar as one that has a stage where scantily clad women dance for your entertainment. Alas, although the dance stage remains, dancing is currently forbidden in any bar. It seems sexy women moving to the beat of the music attracts the COVID virus. The science on that is settled according to the powers that be.
I’m going to start this review with a disclaimer. Voodoo is one of the Dryden group of bars and I’m on friendly terms with the owner. I won’t intentionally let that dissuade me from giving my honest impressions of the bar, but I wanted to be upfront about that relationship. The owner is also the leader of the local business association and regularly interacts with city and barangay leadership on issues that impact the expat community. I don’t want to cause any trouble by inadvertently saying or showing things that may or may not comport with current restrictions and requirements. I tried to be discreet in my photography for that reason. With that said, here we go:
Instead of dancing on the stage, the gals sit around tables waiting for a customer to make their day by calling them down for a lady drink.
It is a very small bar, but not uncomfortable. People come here to enjoy the company of the dancers waitresses–no pool, no darts, just the ladies. Well, if you look closely at the photo above, there is a small curtained alcove in the back (you can see a young woman sitting there). I was told that it is a karaoke room. That sucks.
My crappy pic of the bar. Customers almost always sit at the tables to facilitate interaction with the staff. Just in case you forget where you are on one of those drunken nights…Ring the Bell and enjoy having your name emblazoned on the Wall of Fame for posterity.
The bell ring is one of the traditions of the girly bar genre. A bell ring costs 2900 pesos ($60.) at Voodoo and all the girls working get a lady drink. It is a quick way to popularity. It’s not my thing, but I’ve seen some guys, usually tourists, go nuts with the bell rings–in some cases spending over a thousand bucks. That’s why the bars need the tourist trade, us expats tend to be cheap bastards.
The Voodoo bell remained unrung during my visit. I was also the only customer at the time.
So, here’s the deal. The girly bar format is really not my thing. Even when the girls could dance around on the stage, it just wasn’t much of an attraction for me. So take what I say with a grain of salt, some guys love this type of bar. The girls in these places tend to be more aggressive than in “normal” bars, although last night I wasn’t pestered much for lady drinks. One gal joined me at my table uninvited when I first sat down, but after I told the waitress “no” when she asked if I was going to buy a lady drink, I wasn’t asked again. The girl stayed at my table anyway, and I did eventually buy her a drink.
The attractiveness of the staff covered the spectrum, but no one stood out enough for me to be tempted. Service was fine. Beers were 90 pesos at Happy Hour and then are 110 pesos normally. The lady drink was 185 pesos. Prices tend to be a bit higher in girly bars for what I presume is the overhead expenses of employing so many women.
My “it’s a nice bar, but not my thing” face.
So, a cozy bar to sit and watch or chat with the women. I kind of liked the ambiance of feeling close to everyone surrounding me, almost like being at a party. If I were into the girly bar scene I might prefer a small bar like this one. And since I was the only guy in the place, I’m pretty sure I was the most handsome man around. I didn’t specifically ask about “take out”, but I’m pretty sure the girls are free to leave with a customer if they desire to do so. Bringing people together is what this bar format is all about.
An unusual and interesting hike with the Friday group yesterday. For one thing, we had 17 hikers in attendance–that’s a record for our group. The other thing we did was rent one-way transport to Tibag, a trip that wound up taking about 45 minutes. Part of the problem was the road was in poor condition which made for slow going. We were also stopped at two different checkpoints along the way. Why they are still doing that at this stage (no new COVID cases in Zambales for weeks) is beyond me. They asked some questions of the Filipinos with us, checked some IDs, and eventually let us proceed to our destination. I’ve done some hiking in and around Tibag before and like the area, but this time we were going to walk from our drop-off point all the way to Subic town on a trail none of us had ever actually traveled. What could go wrong?
The road to Tibag ends at a newly opened landfill. The trail as we understood it started on the other side of the dump. We found a trail there and took it all the way up near the top of the mountain. And then the trail ended at a creek. Well, we ain’t much for backtracking and figured if we walked downstream we’d eventually find a trail, if not the trail. I hate hiking creekbeds, but at least this one didn’t have a bunch of large boulders to climb over. Water was flowing, but the rocks weren’t all that slippery. At first, we attempted to hop, skip, and jump over the water along the banks, but eventually, we gave up and just splashed our way downstream. After an hour or so of creek walking, we found ourselves back near where we had started. There were two paths to choose from and luckily a friendly farmer pointed us to the trail that led in the direction of Subic. Once on the proper trail, our march was almost pleasant, but it was still a long way to go and our detour had left us somewhat exhausted. But in the end, we reached our intended goal with no casualties.
Here are some photos from the adventure:
The way we rolled. That big loop on the right was our wrong turn.Getting 15 people in the back of that white van was an uncomfortable endeavor. Luckily for me, I was riding up front in the cab. And we are off!A trashy start to the hike…I suppose it is better to have all the litter gathered in one place than to be scattered around the countryside.I’m sure there must be worse jobs than this, but not many. Ah, the life of a trash collector “recycling engineer.”Leaving the garbage behind, we took a time-out for a group photo.Little did we know where our chosen path was leading us.People do live up here…Although it must be a real pain in the ass.Marching towards a dead end.Heading down to the creek...Hey, what happened to our trail?Kate doing her creekside rock dance.Are we having fun yet?There are a lot more options once you are resigned to having wet feet.Come on in, the water’s fine!That’s my sweetie Pearl behind her friend, Kathryn.Wet trail!My beer belly is ridiculous. I wonder what causes it?Almost back to where we started. Now to find the REAL trail.Watch your step going down, Scott…Now that’s my kinda girl, er, I mean trail.A mountain view.Time for a headcount. Everyone is here except the old slow fuckers.Aren’t they lovely? The flowers I mean…Onward!I’ve seen worse…Now we are getting somewhere.Subic lies on the far side of this harvested rice paddy…Getting there.Almost to our destination.On the other side of this bridge is Subic town and our transportation back to Barretto. That’s Pearl walking behind me. She has a fear of heights and held onto my hand as we crossed. Isn’t that sweet?Arriving at the Jeepney stand at Waltermart. It was already 1:30 (we started at 0900) and I was bushed, so took a trike home as soon as we hit pavement.
Although the hike didn’t go as planned, it was good to be out and seeing some new scenery. I rather enjoyed it. My day was far from over though, I still had a dart tournament to compete in.
I went undefeated through the winner’s bracket. Billy came back up through the loser’s bracket to face me in the finals. As is my custom, I offered a tie and split of 1st and 2nd place money. Billy accepted my offer and we both went home winners.
After darts, I went to visit Pearl at her food stand. Had some sweet and sour chicken for dinner there. Pearl sat with me and we had a nice long chat. Interesting gal and nothing like I’m used to. I told her that I’d be taking things slowly with her, but I’m definitely ready to try one more time. It should be interesting.
I would have given you all of my heart
But there's someone who's torn it apart
And she's taken just all that I had
But if you want, I'll try to love again
Baby, I'll try to love again but I know
The first cut is the deepest
Baby, I know, the first cut is the deepest
When it come to being lucky, she's cursed
When it come to loving me, she's worst
Well, I'm a-running down the road
Tryin' to loosen my load
I've got seven women on my mind
Four that wanna own me
Two that wanna stone me
One says she's a friend of mine
Another day in the life yesterday, with a couple of unusual twists and turns. Here’s the recap:
I visited my dentist, Dr. Barrera, to see if he could re-insert my crown. We both had our doubts, but he did his magic with the glue and the crown is back where it belongs. For now anyway. He said it is likely that I’ll need to construct a new crown if and when this one falls off again. He also told me I’m long overdue for a cleaning. He might be right, I don’t think I’ve had one since moving here.
After the dentist, I crossed the highway in search of a salon that could give me a foot spa and pedicure. Found one, and was serviced by an obese woman who was as unfriendly as she was fat. Oh well, I got what I needed even if it wasn’t a pleasant experience.
My plan was to do a bar review of Voodoo, but since it was only 4:30 I figured I’d kill a little time right around the corner at It Doesn’t Matter. While enjoying my first beer of the day in the friendly company of Roan, I checked my phone and saw a post indicating it was P’s birthday. She’s the cutie I met on a Wednesday walk and wrote about most recently here. The birthday was being celebrated at a food stand she recently opened (yeah, the irony, I know) up the highway a kilometer or so. It seemed weird to go without a gift, so I finished my beer and crossed the street to the 7/11. I didn’t want to buy cheap convenience store chocolate but I recalled the ease of gift-giving in my Korean days.
This is the closest I could find to the traditional “white envelope”.for monetary gift-giving.
So, I put a 1000 peso note inside, wrote a birthday greeting on outside, and headed for her as yet unnamed food place. She seemed genuinely happy to see me and was touched by mygift. She lived in Japan for a number of years and I asked if the gift envelope was also done there. She said “sometimes”. Anyway, it is the thought that counts.
Happy 28th, P!
I stayed long enough for a couple of beers and some chicken fingers. We talked some and she pretty much told me straight out that she was interested in giving me a try. Wow, wasn’t really expecting that. I went as far as inviting her to hike with me on Sunday and she agreed, provided I cook for her afterward. So, I think we have a deal. She also surprised me by showing up for today’s group hike even though she had planned to work. It seems she is serious. I might be too because those old feelings of fear are returning. Stay tuned.
So, it seems that the Gods might be calling my bluff about wanting a woman to love. Do I have seven on my mind yet? Let’s see:
P
Joy (the 23-year-old)
Reggie (the 43-year-old)
Maricel (a girl I haven’t met yet, but am supposed to meet for lunch tomorrow)
Roan (the sweet IDM waitress)
MJ (my massuse)
Alma (the Muslim girl from Cheap Charlies)
Well, if I’m fit to be tied to one gal, P feels like the best fit so far. I’m just going to take things slowly and try to get it right this time. Whatever right is.
Well, I'm running down the road
Trying to loosen my load
Gota world of trouble on my mind
Lookin' for a lover
Who won't blow my cover
She's so hard to find
Take it easy, take it easy
Don't let the sound of your own wheels make you crazy
Come on, baby
Don't say "Maybe"
I gotta know
If your sweet love
Is gonna save me
Rock Lobster is the stand-alone bar at Mango’s. Not to be confused with the beach bar/resto that I usually frequent.
Although I’m in Mango’s a couple of times a week, it’s been well over a year since I last visited Rock Lobster. Nothing wrong with the inside bar, I just prefer sitting beachside.
It features a nice pool table, but no darts. They do a weekly pool tournament. The only other customer last night was playing with one of the bargirls. To be clear, he was playing POOL.They also have a quiz night if that’s your kind of thing.It’s a spacious bar, with several of these cable spools converted into tables.It is also very well appointed. I liked the convenience of the urinal behind that swinging door…The actual bar itself was fully occupied by bored bargirls…But Marj and I kept one another entertained.
Actually, Marj knew me from the time she used to work at It Doesn’t Matter. My Biden-like brain didn’t really remember her though. She was also quite sweet and I enjoyed chatting with her. Only 20-years-old which surprised me. Smart and savvy, too. No kids and no intentions of ever being an unwed mother (that is something quite rare in this country). I teasingly asked if she wanted to come home with me on a barfine (paying the girl so she can leave work early) and she laughed and said no. She told me some girls do, but she is just here to waitress.
A nice and comfortable bar and a good place to hang out. Except the WiFi sucks. I do not understand how any hospitality business can not have good internet service this far into the twenty-first century. For some reason, even my data would not connect inside the bar (the WiFi in Mango’s beachside bar is also no good, but outdoors my data connects with no problem). Marj wanted to become FB friends but alas, we weren’t able to make a connection. Story of my life.
Otherwise, nothing bad to say about Rock Lobster. I still prefer beachside at Mango’s though.
Something a little different for the Wednesday Walkers yesterday. Took a Jeepney out to the Kalaklan area of Olongapo, then climbed some stairs, well, lots of stairs, and wound up leaving the land of the living. Heh, all in a day’s hike. Let’s get to the photos:
It was not a really long trail, with only one big climb up to the ridge. But I hadn’t been in such a dead zone since 2018.Riding the Jeepney. Not very comfortable and I don’t even let myself think (much) about how unsafe it is…Let the climb to Kalaklan ridge begin…Taking it one stairstep at a time…On and on it goes…People do live up here and making this climb is just another part of what appears to be a hard life.Have a cookie and hang in there, kid.It wasn’t the stairway to heaven.But it did lead us to the graveyard.The view is so nice people are dying to get in here.I see dead people.Leaving the graveyard behind us at last…Shyrel was pooped out after the climb…On the ridgeline road.Looking back down on Olongapo City.Keep on truckin’!Troy waiting for the slowpokes to catch up…Here comes one now. Sorry for the trashy environment. I guess when you are poor disposing of your garbage properly isn’t as high a priority as feeding your kids. I don’t like the litter, but I try not to judge.Crossing the creek. This is where the locals bathe and do laundry.That’s more like it.Time to head back down.The crossover.Friendly locals.Almost down.Back on the flat ground of Barretto.And safely ensconced in Dynamite Dick’s.
I couldn’t stay long at Dick’s because I had a dart league match to attend.
My teammates Kevin and Mark. Collectively, we beat our opponent from Adam’s bar 11-2. I’d deem that a successful afternoon of darts.
After the match at our home bar, Lagoon, I stayed on in Baloy for a while. A couple of beers at Johan’s and dinner at Da’ Kudos. I went home early feeling no pain. I guess that’s gonna be the way of Wednesdays for the foreseeable future.
One of the Angeles Hashers posted a graphic from his fitness app showing that he has averaged over 5K daily for the past year. He said he doubted anyone could top that. I said hold my beer:
I’m up over 11K on average per day. I’m not bragging though, that is well short of my daily goal. I actually measure my walks in steps, with a target of 20K a day. I’m averaging just shy of 17,000 for the past year.
Still, maybe I need to get a life. Or a girlfriend.
Darts night at Alley Cats. We haven’t had enough for doubles in quite a while, but last night we drew partners. It’s called “the luck of the draw” and the consensus was I drew lucky when I got Nancy as my partner. That was certainly my view as well. Nancy has been playing great darts and is certainly all I can handle when we meet face-to-face. So, on paper at least, we were the team to beat.
There’s a reason we play the games though. In our first match on the night, we got knocked into the loser’s bracket. I played my usual roller coaster game and I don’t recall ever seeing Nancy throw so poorly. Hey, it happens. Sometimes when you are expected to win it creates a kind of pressure to perform that can be detrimental to the quality of your game. Conversely, when no one thinks you have a chance there is a calming effect where you just let the darts fly without a care or worry. I know I tend to throw better when I don’t give a shit about the outcome.
Anyway, we fought our way back through the loser’s bracket, defeated the team that put us there, and made it to the finals. Nancy started throwing better and I did my share of positive contributions along the way, so we were primed and ready. To win we had to beat Kevin and Dorie twice. We took the first match 2-0. They won the first leg of the second match, we won the second leg, so it all came down to one last game. They won the coin toss and chose 501. I prefer cricket which is probably why they picked 501. We played it out in a back and forth battle, but in the end, we hit the outshot and took home first place money.
Good times!
Wednesday Walkers group hike this morning and dart league this afternoon. Another busy day which is why I’m doing this post now. I don’t like having to rush around after the hike, but that’s the story of my Wednesday life since I agreed to join the dart league.
I am happy to report that everyone survived yesterday’s Hash. No one was injured or irretrievably lost. That’s always been my goal as a Hare. As expected, the feedback from many of the Hashers was they were surprised the trail was so difficult with a couple of notorious shortcutters serving as Hares. Mission accomplished in that regard as well!
Having marked the trail on Sunday, all that was left for us to do yesterday was to give the last-minute instructions to the Hashers and send them on their way, then wait for their return. Pubic Head (Scott) and I hung out at the Hideaway bar for a couple of beers to kill the time. The place was almost full on an early Monday afternoon. Griff, the new owner, even bought us a beer, which was nice. Scott (a Navy vet) told me a little of the history of the bar and I was surprised to learn it existed back in the old days when the Navy was here, albeit with several different names/owners over the years. Anyway, it was a nice way to spend an hour. I’ll factor this recent experience into my bar rankings next time I update.
Our On-Home was at Blue Butterfly. When we arrived some Hashers were already there, although none of them had done the whole trail. Leech My Nuggets was the first runner to complete the entire course, which is not unusual. It wasn’t a long trail (just under 6K) but those two big climbs took some time. The last person back was in at around the two-hour mark.
I also had a fine time at Blue Butterfly. The gals were all looking good, and I latched on to Joean (her spelling, not mine) who was friendly and sweet and who kept my beer bottles full. I’m going to maybe have to start visiting BB more often.
Here are some more pictures from the trail and On-Home:
Best trail ever! Well, this week anyway.The first mark is done.My fellow Hares, Pubic Head and Blow My Pipe, are NOT rummaging through roadside trash…they are drawing an arrow…Working it! I was the paper boy.Marking some barbed wire with toilet tissue to make it more visible…Pubic Head taking a breather after the second climb…Some last-minute guidance before sending them out on trail.And they’re off!Leech My Nuggets is one of the few Hashers in our kennel who actually runs the trail…Lovely Filipinas in the wild.What goes up must come down.So sweet. That’s Rona upfront in the white t-shirt. She was a Hash virgin yesterday, but I took part in the defloration ritual. She’s a real cutie, that’s for sure.Hash maniacs. Leech My Nuggets, Bum Burgler, Blow My Pipe, and Vienna Sausage.Well, our large gathering in the outdoor area of Blue Butterfly attracted the attention of the city health authorities. I’m not sure what they told the owner, but she moved us all inside. Typical non-sense, it was safer for everyone outdoors, but I guess the appearance is the main thing.During the Hash circle all the waitresses were given a drink…provided they took a seat on the ice! Another Hash birthday cake.
Anyway, it was a good Hash day. Started drinking early though and after the Hash had a couple of more at It Doesn’t Matter. Then on the way home had the trike driver take me to Jollibee for a burger and a sundae. Fuck the diet!
I stole this quote from the internet.But this one works too!
Yep, I lost my crown. Technically it’s not lost, I have it in a plastic baggie. I’ll see if my dentist can reinsert it in my tooth, but I’m not hopeful. Probably will have to have the tooth pulled and create yet another hole in my head. Ah, the joys of aging.
Speaking of aging, my Palm Tree post this morning was the four thousandth time I’ve written something on the blog since LTG was created nearly seventeen years ago. How many of those were worth reading is an entirely different matter.
I had a little trouble on Quora this morning. Several months ago I answered the question: “Am I lucky living in the Philippines?” I gave a positive response because I do feel lucky to live here. It’s gotten a lot more views than it warrants, but over 1,600 people have given it an upvote. I’ve also gotten quite a few comments, the vast majority being positive. Anyway, yesterday some dickhead took me to task for being a privileged white American living among the poverty-stricken Filipino people who are still suffering from past American and Spanish colonialism. On and on about how oppressed the people here are and implying I’m contributing to their misery. He then took me to task for asking and answering my own question. Well, that’s not how Quora works–someone else asked and I answered. Anyway, this is how I responded:
Sorry for you and your comprehension issues. I don’t think there are any meds for that. You see, I didn’t POSE the question, I answered it. That’s the way Quora works. Good luck to you, though. I know you must be a happy guy—ignorance being bliss and all.
Well, I was very surprised when Quora deleted my comment as a violation of their rules. It was mild compared to what the loser had said about me. I appealed the ruling and before long I got a message that my comment had been restored. Then an hour later, it was deleted again. I told them to make up their mind one way or the other. Then the dickhead got the final word by leaving this gem:
Glad you deleted your comment. Your insults aren’t clever nor offensive just shows what you’re insecure about. You use a photo from maybe 50 years ago and spend most your time online because you don’t get enough attention in the real world. You moved to the Philippines because you were poor in America even with your government pension. You are just like every other loser from America that comes here because the 100s of years of colonization has brainwashed Filipinos into thinking anyone white is special, but you are not. Go back to America and you will find out in 1 day you are not special. You are a loser. You need to know at least that all the Filipinos that are nice to you, only care about your money nothing else. They gossip and talk shit on you behind your back. If you knew anything about the culture you would know that.
Maybe he’s right. Racist pricks sometimes are. Just like a stopped clock. Oh well, that’s the internet for you.
Moving on to happier topics about my life here in the Philippines. Like beer drinking for example. After I left Palm Tree last night I went next door to Mango’s. Took up my regular seat on the patio, started downing San Miguel Zero beers, and watched people on the crowded beach enjoying the late Sunday afternoon.
And I always enjoy watching the sunset.
Once the sun went down there was nothing left to see so I decided to move on. Wasn’t sure where to go next, but once I was out on the highway I decided It Doesn’t Matter. So that’s where I went. Had a nice chat with owner Cliff and of course Roan joined me so she could enjoy my wit and witticisms the commissions from the lady drinks I purchased. She asked me what I planned to do for dinner and I said I hadn’t made up my mind yet. She pointed at the Daily Special sign featuring chicken parmigiana with pasta for only 280 pesos. I told Roan I wasn’t big on pasta, then I saw the hunger in her eyes and asked if she wanted to share one with me. I got an “I thought you’d never ask” look and the order was placed.
It’s the first time I’ve eaten at It Doesn’t Matter. The meal was surprisingly tasty. I ate half the chicken breast and Roan devoured the rest. Win-Win!
Home early and up early again this morning. Walked the dogs, then walked myself to Baloy Beach.
Sun of a beach.
Hash is coming up, but I did the trail work yesterday. Will help send the group on their way from VFW and then will meet them later at the Blue Butterfly On-Home.
Glad I don’t have to climb that hill again this afternoon.We worked hard to leave our Hashers a well-marked trail.I’ll post about the feedback on our trail tomorrow.
I debated whether to include Palm Tree in this series of reviews, but in the end, I decided it does qualify as a bar. I used to visit here semi-regularly, but for reasons unrelated to the bar, I stopped coming. Alright, a guy I know who worked there got fucked by management and as a result, I chose not to continue to be a patron of Palm Tree. Last night was the first time in months I’d been there. Stayed for one beer and left. No plans to return. But to be clear, there is nothing wrong with the bar itself. In fact, it is usually a nice place to hang out.
The lobby entrance. Once inside, you climb a flight of stairs, walk down a long hallway past hotel rooms, and then enter the bar/restaurant area.It is a very large circular bar. Comfortable seating and lots of large-screen TVs showing sporting events.Very nicely decorated too.On Saturday nights they have a live band. Loud and annoying enough that I stopped coming on Saturdays even before my current boycott.As nice as the bar is, my favorite spot was always out on the back deck enjoying views like this one.
Palm Tree seems popular with the European expat crowd, perhaps because of the sports on TV. I used to see the German Hashers in there quite frequently, and the former manager was an Englishman.
It’s also home to the RSL, the Aussie version of the VFW. They pack the place during their meetings.
Service is generally good. The waitresses are strictly waitresses. Food is available and usually nicely done. My beer last night was 85 pesos, which is on the high end. So, as noted above, I don’t come here for personal reasons, but the bar itself is normally quite enjoyable.
Accordingly, I am going to rank Palm Tree without regard for my non-bar issues.
I’m one of the Hare’s for tomorrow’s Hash, so I was out with Scott and Jim this morning, marking our trail with powder, paper, and chalk. Naturally, we had a rain shower this afternoon, so hopefully, there is still a trail to follow. Folks are going to be surprised, I think. Two challenging and steep climbs are in store for my fellow Hashers. What were us old farts thinking? I’ll post up some photos tomorrow.
After the work was done, we went to Sit-n-Bull for some lunch. All I can say is that we are never going to eat there again. In that location, I mean. They are closing up at Del Pilar street and moving up on the highway where the old Lollipop bar was located. The menu and current staff are moving too, so it will be more of the same, just in a better venue. Well, I actually liked the old place but owner Ron feels being on the main road across the street from two major hotels will be a boon for business. Looking forward to giving it a try in the new venue.
See you gals at the grand reopening in a week or so.My last daily special for a while.I honestly can’t remember the last time I had roast beef. Damn, it was delicious!
That’s my Sunday so far. I’m thinking I’ll do another bar visit this evening. It’s a good excuse to go out and drink some beers. I know my readers are looking forward to the next installment and I don’t want to let you down.
I’ll be back tomorrow. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with a little poem:
Now while my lips are living
Their words must stay unsaid,
And will my soul remember
To speak when I am dead?
Yet if my soul remembered
You would not heed it, dear
For now you must not listen,
And then you could not hear.
--Sara Teasdale
About midway on the National Highway is Annex Bar.
Yesterday was my first visit to this iteration of Annex. It was previously known as Sit-n-Bull Annex prior to being sold last year. I was a very infrequent visitor before the sale as well.
One of the attractions for me previously was an outdoor table. I had planned to review Annex on Thursday but there was construction taking place at the entrance. They installed these nice new doors, but alas, the outside seating has been eliminated.I did arrive during the afternoon Happy Hour and a 55 peso beer is quite the bargain these days.
So, I stepped inside to see what there was to see. Not a lot as it turns out. The smallest bar I’ve reviewed thus far. No pool, no darts. A bar with several stools and two tables. That’s it. I took a seat midway on the empty bar.
Looking to my left……and to my right. I did note that even though the outside table is no more, the view from inside is just about as good.The walls were decorated in old-style memorabilia which is interesting enough to look at.
So, first impressions of this new (to me) bar. It’s small but cozy. It was comfortable enough and offered up most of what I want in a bar, primarily cold beer and a pleasant atmosphere. During my visit, there were two bartenders. I assume they would accept a lady drink, but this is one of the few places in town where it doesn’t appear that staff is hired to entertain customers. Nothing wrong with that. On the other hand, I didn’t find the bartenders particularly friendly or welcoming. They took my order, served my beer, and ignored me while carrying on a conversation with each other in Tagalog. Maybe I’m spoiled, but most bar staff will at least ask you your name. I did note that when the other two customers departed, the girls thanked them by name. I guess I just haven’t achieved “regular” status so as to warrant time and attention.
I also thought it was interesting that smoking was allowed inside. Now, that doesn’t bother me but I know lots of folks who are very much opposed to secondhand smoke exposure. Hell, there are people who don’t like secondhand water vapor which is why I started gravitating to outside bars. Of course, I gave up vaping a month ago so it doesn’t matter to me now either way.
Anyway, nothing much else stands out about Annex. The bartenders were attractive but I felt invisible to them. It was a very small bar, but nicely decorated and comfortable. It would probably be better to come with a friend or two to keep you company though. The bottom line for me: I liked it okay but found no compelling reason to make it a regular stop, even though I pass by frequently on my way to other places.
An interesting night of darts yesterday, all the more so because we played a singles tournament and all the matches were competitive. Oh yeah, I went undefeated which is always special. I like playing the Tuesday and Friday tourneys because the format includes cricket–my favorite dart game. What I like about cricket is that it is more strategic than other games, like 501. Playing a smart game of cricket can result in victory even if your opponent is throwing better than you. Way back in 2012 I wrote about this phenomenon in a post called “Pointing is Cricket”. The pointing strategies I outlined there came into play last night and ultimately led to my victory.
A brief recap: I was playing against Billy, always a tough competitor. It was the third and deciding leg of our match. Billy had all her numbers closed and was up on points. All she needed was three bulls to win. I still had my 15s open, but since I was behind on points, I needed to score some bullseyes to get ahead. Now, rather than close her bulls, Billy kept throwing for more points at my open 15. I’m not sure what triggered it, but all of the sudden I was hitting bulls like crazy. I hit 4 bulls on one throw, good for 100 points, which closed the point deficit Billy had created. Even when Billy just needed one more bull to win, she kept throwing at the 15. She’d hit a triple 15 for 45 points, I’d answer with a double bull for 50. This went on and on until finally she missed and I didn’t. A bull for points and then I closed the 15 for the victory. I was shaking my head at the outcome and afterward asked Billy why she didn’t close her bulls? She responded, “I wasn’t feeling it.” What? You know you can’t win until you do. A blank stare was her response. Oh well, worked out fine for me.
I beat Gerlie earlier, and she came up through the loser’s bracket to face me in the finals. As is my custom, I offered her the option of splitting first and second place money 50-50 and calling it a tie. She gladly accepted.
I had a good morning as well. The usual leaders of the Friday hike were absent, so it fell upon me to pick the trail. I opted to do an end-to-end trek on My Bitch, then come down into the valley, and walking back to Barretto from there. Made for a nice 8K hike. Here are some photos from the journey:
The route we walked.It’s always exciting to have someone new join the group, especially a hottie like Rona (in the black pants). She gave precisely zero indication that the feeling was mutual, however.A group shot as we begin our climb.Up we go!Leaving the uncivilized world behind us…This was Betty’s last hike with the group before returning home to Belgium. You’ll be missed!The biggest challenge on trail was navigating through the thatch grass…Barretto and the bay.High grass.I wouldn’t want to buy the lot of them, but there’s at least one I like…Dan in the grass…Grass without Dan.A rest stop with Olivia and her mountain family.Always nice to see them.Back in the woods.Not as fun walking through this shit as it looks…Watch your step!Remnants from the Hash trail two weeks ago (the part my group shortcutted).A valley view.Down in the valley. Yep, that’s Easter mountain in the background.A valley carabao guarding the path.Preparing the field for planting.That ass.A couple of us joined Betty at Harley’s for some farewell beers.I had a chef salad for lunch.
You can Relive the hike here:
I forgot to turn on my tracker until we were a kilometer or so into the hike…This was a beery good post!
That’s all for today’s installment. Thanks for dropping in!
If it is really true that it is better to give than receive, I had a pretty good day yesterday.
I started with breakfast at Arizona. On the way, I successfully withdrew some pesos from the only BPI ATM in town. Turns out I was going to need them.
The view from my breakfast table.
It has been quite some time since I’ve had a meal at Arizona. It’s a long way from home with lots of other options in between. I ordered a sausage and egg muffin. My date ordered lasagna. It took 45 minutes and we were the only customers. I asked my waitress what was going on and she just shrugged and said something about “chef issues”. Oh well. As I said, I have many other dining options for the future.
At least my date was easy on the eyes.
She was the reason I was there. Turns out yesterday was her brother’s birthday and she needed money for a cake. Since she lives nearby Arizona, I suggested we meet there. She was late, but not as late as the food. After we ate, I gave her 1000 pesos and wished her well.
While waiting for breakfast I received a frantic message from Maris at the Kitchenette. First time I’ve heard from her in a couple of weeks. She was in distress because the canteen was out of food stock and she had no money to buy more. She says she wants to stay open until she can find someone to take it over. I told her I’d stop by later after breakfast. Maris was alone when I arrived. I told her if she sold out of food and had no money to replace it, her prices were obviously too low. She started crying. I gave her 10,000 pesos and left. I don’t need that drama in my life. I gave her the opportunity, what she does with it is up to her. So far, I’m not impressed.
There was some good news when I got back home. My friend Bhel was finally being released from the hospital after an eight-day confinement. Seven of which were apparently unnecessary–she had the surgery the previous day.
The nightmare is finally over.
Of course, she couldn’t actually leave the hospital until her account had been settled. That’s where I come in. Now, when I had first volunteered to provide the financial means for this surgery (and I did volunteer, she didn’t ask) it was supposed to be an in and out procedure, with at most an overnight stay. I committed to 35,000 pesos ($700.) provided I could pay via credit card. Things changed, and instead of the private hospital and doctor, she wound up at Gordon hospital in Olongapo, which is known as “the place where people go to die” in the expat community. Her stories of seeming incompetence and uncaring attitudes from the staff were frankly shocking. I figured they were unnecessarily extending her stay just to run up the bill. I was almost afraid to ask how much she needed to buy her freedom. She sent me the bill and I was pleasantly surprised to discover you can be tortured for eight days for just under 30,000 pesos. Since Gordon doesn’t accept credit card payments, I wired the money via Western Union, and her freedom was secured. I had given 10,000 when she checked in for meds and tests, so all in was close to what I had originally agreed to fund. Here’s to wishing Bhel a full and complete recovery.
Jane needed parts for her motor scooter and food for her kids and pleaded with me to let her give me a massage. I guess I was in a giving mood, so she came over and rubbed me the right way. She’s actually a nice woman and doesn’t go overboard with her requests, so I don’t really mind helping her out occasionally. She left my house with 3500 pesos and a bag of cookies.
I had planned to do another bar review yesterday evening, but when I walked by, that bar was under renovation. I’ll try again tomorrow. Since I was in the neighborhood, I popped into It Doesn’t Matter. Had some beers and bought some lady drink beers (3 at 200 pesos each) for my bar sweetheart, Roan. I also gave her a 100 peso tip when I left.
It was still a little before 8:00 and I wasn’t sure what to do next. I hadn’t had dinner but I also wasn’t feeling hungry. I thought about just taking a trike back home, but then decided I’d have another beer at Barcelona. It’s been ages since I’ve been there. I was surprised when the door girl greeted me by name. Remembering names seems to be a special talent for Filipinas in the service industry. It always makes me feel welcome even though I have no clue who it is that is speaking to me. I had a couple more beers and for some reason, I was in a shitty mood at the end of my long day. I even felt compelled to take a selfie to document those feelings:
If I look old and tired it’s only because I am.
Oh well, today’s another day. Led the group hike this morning and I’ll post about that tomorrow. I’ve got the Friday darts tourney at Alley Cats on tap a bit later. Hmm, might need to hit that ATM again too.
At least I’m not shitting my pants when I fart. Much.
I’m not sure this is correct, but I guess it illustrates how a comma can make a difference.
Don’t worry, we aren’t going far, seems like only yesterday. Oh wait, it was only yesterday. Let’s start at the end and go from there.
It was Wingsday so I had me some from the pub. Brought them home to eat as usual.
Leftovers. Or should I say, the remains of the day?
Prior to The Pub, I visited Adam’s Sports Bar for the first time in quite a while. My purpose in doing so was to knock out another bar review, but I wound up having a pretty good time while I was there. You can see my review in the post previous to this one.
My afternoon was spent at Alley Cats where I played dart league with my teammates from Lagoon. The ‘cats are a strong team, in fact, they were undefeated coming into yesterday’s match. I had very little expectation that we would actually win so my attitude was let’s just have a good time, chuck some darts, and drink some drinks. Speaking of drinks, I’m cutting back on beer in an effort to trim away some of my big ol’ belly. I’m drinking gin and soda instead because it’s lower in carbs and calories. It is also higher in alcohol, so I was buzzing more than usual. I was engaging in friendly banter with our opponents and I guess I pissed off their captain who admonished me to throw more and talk less. I guess (s)he (yeah, it was Billy) wasn’t happy that we were winning the match. When it was all said and done, Lagoon came out on top 8-5. I bought Billy a beer as a conciliatory gesture and (s)he accepted, so it’s all good.
Getting to the match on time proved to be more challenging than I expected. Well, when I heard the Wednesday Walkers were hiking to Tralala I knew it was going to be tough. In fact, I considered bailing out, but damn, I didn’t want to miss out on the annual trek to the mountaintop. It took us until 11:00 to reach the summit, darts started at 2:00, and we were a long way from Barretto. Jim graciously agreed to lead me back down and estimated we’d be off the mountain by noon. We left the rest of the group behind and I hoofed it as fast as these tired old legs of mine can move, but my actual arrival on the pavement in Barretto was 12:20 I immediately caught a trike for home which was on the opposite side of town. Hit the shower, changed clothes, and hoofed it back to Alley Cats with enough time to get some warm-up throws in.
And that leaves the hike to Tralala itself. The starting point is in the Gordon Heights part of Olongapo. We hired a van-like vehicle to take us there, a 30-minute ride. Then we did the long climb up to the top, consisting of seemingly endless steps, and then a winding upward path to the small village. We don’t do this hike very often because it’s challenging for us old folks, but I really enjoy the unique views and scenery along the way. Once a year is just about right. Surprisingly, this time the hike up didn’t totally kick my ass. Hard, but not exhausting like it was in the past. Felt good about that. I wish I didn’t have to be in such a rush to get back to Barretto.
Here are some photos from the hike:
Our path. My Fitbit says I did 187 floors yesterday.In the van…more comfy than a Jeepney at least.Our group of climbers (minus Scott who took the photo). We had two new guys along. Not sure if they’ll be back for more. I told them it was the hardest trail of the year, we are usually more sane. We’ll see.Let the climbing begin...Still a LONG way to go…Cookie time!Just take one step at a time and don’t look up…Yeah, that’s why I warned you…Catching our wind at the end of the stairs.Getting closer.A handsome goat.This cracked me up. “Let’s go, Brandon!”Yeah, people actually live up here. I can’t imagine making this trek as a normal daily thing, let alone hauling up groceries and supplies.These kind folks offered coffee as we passed by. No thanks, but have some cookies with yours!The old Tralala school house. Objective achieved!Damn it, Kate (on the right), stop being so cute! (she has a boyfriend, although he didn’t join us for this hike).These kids seemed really excited to see us…And that was before they got the cookies…A view from the top…And another.We came. We saw. We conquered!Filipinas in the wild…I gotta go to darts, let’s roll!Damn thatch grass was out of control along the ridgeline.Heading home.This house is about halfway back to Barretto–literally in the middle of nowhere. Very nice house though, but who could live there?The view can’t be beat though…My destination awaits.Hope you enjoyed this timeless post.
As days go, this was a good one. Thanks for taking a step back in time to enjoy it with me.
