Yesterday’s big adventure was taking a trip out to the mall in Olongapo. My main mission was to get my eyes examined. I’ve been having trouble of late reading text on the monitor (sometimes having to close one eye to focus) so I knew something wasn’t right. I also wanted to find a different optometrist. I’ve been going to the same shop since getting new glasses while here as a tourist in 2017. My last examination was a year or more ago and at that time I was told my eyesight hadn’t changed since the previous exam. I don’t know, but this last pair of glasses has never seemed quite right.
Anyway, I liked the optometrist this time who seemed much more thorough and organized. I didn’t like hearing that my right eye had a “growth” that needs to be removed. I guess a cataract isn’t unusual at my age but I’m loathe to have someone at a third rate clinic operating on my eyes. We’ll see. Or maybe we won’t.
My new progressive lenses might take up to three weeks to arrive I’m told. This prescription is stronger than the last one, at least for that troublesome right eye.
Once I arrived back in Barretto, I popped into Cheap Charlies for some liquid refreshment. Once again, I was besieged by thirsty bargirls. That’s getting pretty irritating and I left sooner than I normally would have as a result. Moved up the road to Mango’s where they don’t have drinky and desperate waitresses.
Another benefit to Mango’s is I like the food a lot better. Had my favorite again last night.
This is an abbreviated post because I have a meeting to attend this afternoon. No idea how this is going to play out, but you can read all about it here tomorrow.
In the meantime, I was stunned, startled, aghast, taken aback, stupefied, confused, shocked, rattled, paralyzed, dazed, bewildered, mixed up, surprised, awed, dumbfounded, nonplussed, flabbergasted, astounded, amazed, confounded, astonished, overwhelmed, horrified, numbed, speechless, and perplexed when I saw this cartoon:
Sorry to hear about the eye problem. This is where health care becomes an issue when you’re in a country where you can’t necessarily trust the quality of the care you might receive. Of course, to be fair, there are plenty of nightmare stories that come out of the States, e.g., getting the wrong foot amputated, etc.
Cheap Charlies is sounding more and more like a no-go. Those bar girls strike me as utterly parasitic. Sure, they get my sympathy because they’re just trying to do their job, but it’s the job itself that’s the problem, and the whole “bargirl” drinking culture really needs to be thrown out the window. That’s not going to happen anytime soon, so it’s up to you to maintain your own peace of mind. Stay away from parasites. They suck your money and your soul.
Good luck with your mysterious meeting.
Oddly enough, days before his stroke the owner of CC’s implemented a policy of “no ladies drinks”. It didn’t bother me, but lots of customers were upset with the change. The new management went back to the old way of doing things.
Most of the bars here have waitresses you can drink with, the only exceptions being hotel bars like Mango’s and Palm Tree. Smart management has rules that don’t permit the gals to ask for a drink or otherwise harass the customer in pursuit of a commission. I honestly don’t mind buying the occasional drink, but only on my terms–I like to sit down and enjoy my first beer in peace. If I order a second beer, and I feel like chatting with my server, I’ll get her a drink as well. I expect her to make it last–one drink for every two beers I order.
It’s tough times now with no big-spending tourists in the bars. Salaries have been reduced, I’ve heard as low as 150 pesos ($3.) a day, and that barely covers transportation to/from work for some of these girls. I understand their desperation to earn drink commissions, but when it stops being fun for the customer everyone loses.
Man, I am waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay behind on my LTG read! Yeah, the cataracts come with age. even the doggies get em. little korea story involving cataracts. there was a particular convenience store i liked in Anjung-Ri. Elderly woman ran it and spoke decent english, although with an accent of course. one day while i was in there she told me she had a cadillac. i responded that was great. at which point she spat and cussed me out. i think you know where this is headed. she told me she had a cataract which sounded like cadillac. BTW, you should get the glasses that tint when you head into the sun. sunlight helps to cause cataracts. also read that alcohol consumption does as well, ouch! Peace Out!
Wondered where you’ve been Soju, welcome back!
Hilarious story about the cadillac. Had something similar happen when I was trying to buy a pack of smokes once. “Dongbe Marlboro Silver, chuseyo”. Guy kept handing me the wrong ones. Finally pointed at the silver pack. He slams it on the counter, points at the word, and instructs me, “Silbuh! Silbuh!”
Damn, sunshine and alcohol? I’m going to be blind for sure.