Philippine Pictures

[Zkribbler]

We also visited the older mall. The folks there were gathering to see . . .

[Zkribbler]

Michelle [Something-or-other].

I didn't pay too much attention when she was introduced. She is a contestant on their version of "American Idol" called "Pop Star."

Chauvanistically, I assumed she wasn't going to be very good...I mean, a hiccupped-sized high school girl from the sticks in the Philippines--what can you expect? But she was in[bleepin']credible!

[Zkribbler]

This is for reds4ever:

Part of fiesta was a beauty contest. We bought the really expensive $2 seats and were right behind the judges, guests and families of the contestants.

[Zkribbler]

Here's a tropical hut along side the road.

[Zkribbler]

Lance has suggested that I think of retiring over to the Philippines with him. We looked over some beachfront property on the far side of Tagbalaran. This shot is taken at a public beach nearby.

How'd you like to wake up to a sight like this every morning. "What's the weather supposed to be like today?" "Sunny, 77 degrees Fahrenheit." "What?? Again?!?"

[Zkribbler]

Oops, I almost forget these guys.

We were in a small open hut built by Dolores' brother Boni, when a group of kids came along to put on a fiesta show for us. As near as I can figure, the ones in gold are angels (note the crosses on the top of their headgear); the ones in red are demons.

Here, the forces of good and evil battle.

[Zkribbler]

And ending with another shot of the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu, where Dolores' cousin Daniel pulled some strings to get me a room for just $20.

[Japher]

What a hideous place...

[Winston]

If needed, we should all chip in and help Zkribbler retire to the Philippines, on the one condition that he keeps posting pictures like these on a daily basis.

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by Japher
What a hideous place...

Isn't it, if I can retire for $500 month to something like that.........

[Ted Striker]

Originally posted by Zkribbler
Here's a tropical hut along side the road.

Freakin paradise found!

Just get a broadband connection and a weight bench in there and I'm set!

[Lancer]

Zkrib, you made it! How was Shanghai?

Great pics btw. Dolores sometimes inerupts my game wanting to look at the relatives and you guys. We miss everybody...things are quiet now, which is nice too. Miss your humor guy.

Folks, Zkrib is a great writer, which is good, but I'm the only one that knows it, which is bad. He can teach the downside of dating a two headed girl. I laughed! I better not tell any more because someday someone is going to pay Zkrib big $ for those stories...

Ted, thanks for the link.

Ben & Oredin, check my post in the old thread.

[Zkribbler]

Here's what Lancer said in his Philippines-related-site thread:

That sign on the internet cafe that says it will open on the 7th is still there and the place hasn't opened. I think the sign will remain there, getting moldy in rainy season and sun bleached in dry. Eventually a typhoon will come and the wind will tear at it, until, in its weakened condition, it will be shredded and in tatters blown off the building.

So, no internet in Jagna and it's a two hour drive on a really bad road to Tagbilarin where I'm sitting.

So...

I'll likely be checking in about once a month when we come shopping.

So...if he's going to be here only once a month, why is he asking me questions?

I think I'll probably telephone him tonight. Anyone have any questions/comments they wish me to pass along?

To answer the question: Shanghai was okay...but not as much fun as the Phils, and more expensive. It wasn't Stalinistic, like I thought it would be. It's a much more modern city...people in jeans...some panache in their architecture. They just got their first open air mall, with a MacDonalds on every block. I thought about posting some pix, but I figured people must be starting to get pictorially overloaded.

[Timexwatch]

I'm curious, how well did you get around, language-wise? I'm assuming Tagalog is the primary language. Are Spanish or English widely spoken?

[Zkribbler]

Tagalog is spoken in Luzon in the north. There's some local language..or actually an local dialect of a local language.

If push came to shove, either Dolores or one of Dolores' relatives was around to translate.

But remember: the Philippines was once an American colony. English is widely spoken. It's just in the outlying, rural districts where people are uncomfortable speaking it.