Up and over

The Friday hikers tackled the Kalaklan Ridge this week. Given my physical limitations of late, I had doubts, but what the hell, do it or die trying, right? I didn’t die, but I suffered throughout the climb, taking it ever so slowly and breathing hard until the objective was achieved. I did feel good about that because I’m not ready to give up my walkaholism just yet. Our path up was one we hadn’t used in a long time, so it was nice to see the views from there again. Here, have a look and see what I mean:

Where it began. We took a Jeepney ride about 3K out of Barretto to Barangay Lower Kalaklan.
Probably the most dangerous part of the hike was crossing the highway after exiting the Jeepney.
Steppin’ on up
We were still climbing even after the steps were done.
If you could read my mind here, it would be saying, “Fuck this, I should turn around and just walk back to town.” You’d also hear me saying, “Shut the fuck up, you can do this.”
A view of the hood we walked through
My first cookie recipients of the day
Oh shit, more steps
There go those voices in my head again
The view from here
I foolishly thought this was the top.
Another view from on-high
A C-130 cargo plane passed by overhead. I guess the sound of those mighty engines are the modern-day equivalent to the drums of war.
A tree I liked
We continued to gain elevation, although in a less steep fashion
A little shade is always nice
Something seems missing in this message
We overcame some fencing issues and got back on the right side of this one.
That village down there looks familiar
My favorite spot to rest on this trail
If there was easier access, I’d love to spend some time up here camping out.
I need to talk Elon Musk into building a tram here like the one that goes to Namsan in Seoul.
A ballsy goat
And now for the journey back down
A little steep in places, but it wasn’t too slippery
On down. Anyone recognize that mountain in the distance?
Cookie time
My regulars. Even though I only see them three or four times a year, they never forget me. On our Hash maps, this location is called “Cookie Stop.”
Back on solid ground
And another successful Friday hike is in the books!

After some rest and recovery at home, it was time to head out for the SOB dance competition. This week, the venue was Voodoo, which is probably the smallest dancing bar in town. I left home early so I could arrive when the doors opened and secure decent seating for me and Swan. And sure enough, the place was packed by the time the show started. I obviously had to share our table with some late-arriving guests, but they turned out to be friendly tourists (a Brit and an Aussie who lives in Thailand), and we all got along just fine.

The competitors gather on stage at the start of the show. I was a judge once again.
In the end, my fellow judges agreed that the Voodoo team gave the best performance.

After the show, Swan and I were ready for the sweet confines of home, so off we went. And tonight, my plan is to stay home and enjoy the ambiance of The Rite Spot On The Roof. Although the distant rumbling of thunder I hear as I write this may have some impact on that. We shall see.

Facebook memories took me back to a Hash four years ago in the midst of the scamdemic. During the lockdown, the brave Hashers would meet on the mountain and start from there. We’d conduct the On-Home at a private residence, like Derelict’s house on Rizal Extension. Even got raided by the cops once when some Nazi-like neighbors reported us.

That’s Derelict on the left, Bush Diver on the right, and Pubic Head in the middle. Pubic Head is still with us, but sadly, the other two have now departed to Hash Heaven. Rest in Peace!

This made me think of my introvert friend, Kevin Kim:

I’m actually not real comfortable around people I don’t know, but I do go to the bars to feel like I’m socializing.

Today’s YouTube video comes from Craig in Asia. I’m a new subscriber, and I liked this short six-minute take on his experience after six months in the PI. I thought his assessments were pretty much spot on (living in Manila is more expensive budget-wise, though). I also feel safer here than I would in most parts of the USA. His point about not offending people unnecessarily is also good advice. Causing a Filipino to lose face carries the potential for violence. Anyway, it’s worth a watch.

To the humor then:

Short and sweet
Why do you think they call it dope?
That’s my plan, too!

A regular commenter, Thompson, frequently mentions his affection for a band called Uriah Heep. Of course, I’d heard of them but was never a big fan. In fact, I was wracking my brain trying to remember any of their hits, and then found this one from my high school days that I do kinda like:

5 thoughts on “Up and over

  1. A tree I liked

    It seems there are many trees to like in your part of the world!

    Something seems missing in this message

    Trespassing is the fastest
    a. way to die.
    b. way to get laid.
    c. way outta here.
    d. way to learn about our dog.

    My favorite spot to rest on this trail

    In YouTube “fail” compilations, chairs like that always break, or a random dog leaps at the person from off-camera.

    If there was easier access, I’d love to spend some time up here camping out.

    If the Korean shwimteo/쉼터 is the rough equivalent of one of those structures (i.e., roof, no walls), I’ve seen bikers set up camp under those. Not exactly roughing it, but from a pragmatic perspective, the shelter’s roof keeps the rain mostly off you. Unless it’s super-windy.

    A ballsy goat

    I could see the scrote well enough, but making out the face was an exercise.

    Cookie time

    Kid on the right looks deadly serious. These are the solemn-ritual cookies.

    My regulars. Even though I only see them three or four times a year, they never forget me.

    Must be interesting to watch them grow up, a snapshot at a time.

    Even got raided by the cops once when some Nazi-like neighbors reported us.

    Those neighbors should be dragged out and shot. And yes, I’m aware of the irony in saying that. Still—fuck Nazi-like neighbors.

    I’m actually not real comfortable around people I don’t know, but I do go to the bars to feel like I’m socializing.

    I chuckled at the pic. Introvert’s nightmare. As for you and your discomfort, I’m sure the alcohol artificially lubricates social interactions.

    I also feel safer here than I would in most parts of the USA.

    By which you mean the urban parts. Horror movies, all made by Hollywood people who have no idea what they’re talking about, would have you believe that anything outside of a city is full of ravenous mutants, the angry products of incest, and torture dungeons.

    May you not get rained on during your Rite Spotting.

  2. Unfortunately, where there is joy, bad news lurks not far behind. I didn’t listen to Uriah Heep today, John, instead going for the American Black Sabbath. If these riffs don’t rock your boat then I am afraid nothing will:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0C_W2h0y30&ab_channel=Pentagram-Topic

    It’s hard making musical choices sometimes, especially with a “woman” snoring her pimply ass off on the couch. Sometimes I’ll agonize for hours or days over whether I can stretch my scant coins to get lubed for a while and I dither so much cut off time has come and gone so I just try to put it from my mind. Other times I quite literally go through the motions; it’s like I’m not really ‘present’, not really thinking about it. I just slip on my socks and shoes, slip my wallet in my ass pocket, keys in my front pocket, double check I’ve locked the door on the way out…and then I’m just around the corner to the liquor store and I haven’t really been in my own head for the walk.

    Bear in mind beer in Antiquity and the Middle Ages was weaker than today. When you hear of medieval folk drinking beer all the time, every day, we’re not talking Natty Daddy strength, but much weaker, like 2% or something.

    Also, in Ancient Greece and Rome it was considered uncouth to drink your wine neat, and they watered that shit down. So while you might hear of Alexander the Great & co. drinking wine with breakfast, it would have been pretty weak.

    And I think that’s why the Romans looked down on the Celts and Gauls and considered them barbarians; they drank their wine straight up, and so do I! Cheers!

  3. Thompson, thanks for the song links. I was never much into heavy metal as we called it back in those days, but I can usually find a song or two that I like from most groups.

    I drink San Mig Zero beer, and it is only 3% alcohol. People say drinking Zero is like making love in a canoe–they are both fucking close to water. I don’t do the hard stuff, and only occasionally drink wine, but when I do, it is always straight up.

    “On some nights, I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio.”
    Hunter S. Thompson

  4. Kev, Trees are nature’s poems, right?

    Re: trespassing. The one I remember seeing was along the lines of, “Prayer leads to God. Trespassing is fastest.” I like your suggestions better.

    Yeah, the thought about the swing breaking did occur to me, especially after Scott joined me. Funnily enough, we shared a bench on a recent hike, and it collapsed from our combined weight. I reminded him of that incident while we were swinging.

    I did notice that those cookies kids are getting older. It’s kind of sweet to see.

    Seeing folks reveal their true nature was perhaps the only benefit of the scamdemic. It is scary to know that the Nazi spirit does live on amongst us.

    Indeed, I only drink beer for medicinal purposes, like minimizing my personality disorders.

    Yes, I was talking about crime-ridden American cities. There are places in Manila I wouldn’t want to walk through, even in daylight. And I’ve heard of some streets in Barretto where drug addicts live are not safe for your wallet after dark. You may recall I got burgled at my first house in Alta Vista. Still, when I’m walking alone through poverty-stricken slums on my hikes, I only encounter friendly locals. You just don’t see things like gang violence in these parts.

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