Pricing and Packing: Philippines

Where have I found myself?

...Batad







A Taste, A Philipino Plate:

These are some of the things I've seen people consuming...have a go!

Balut: A boiled, fertilized duck egg (embryo inside) that usually has already developed down/feathers; they claim the best part is the serum...foul if you ask me.

Aso: Dog-meat stewed, supposed to be the most tender red meat.

Beetles: Fried or floating (soup) though it's easy to tell the vegies from the "meat", I couldn't put myself to it.

Pinikpikan: A chicken dish where the bird is beaten alive, so the blood coagulates, then killed.

Bopis: Pig lungs that have been chopped up and stir-fried till crispy.


So there's a lil' intro to the newest country to be under my feet and into my mouth; what are you kidding? Like I'd put any of that nasty in this speakerbox. You may have heard of a bitty (strength 4; max) typhoon that destroyed the southern part of Luzon (the main island which contains Manila) killing...2 many. Also, most recently the Marine who was found guilty of raping a girl and given 40 years...should've doubled it. This is probably the only thing you've heard about the Philis which is quite sad cuz the archipelago is awing and drawing me to stay.

Fortunately, I was in the Cordillera (N. Luzon) when the typhoon hit and only felt the effect of 3 days of cold, windy rain that's unusual for this time of year and the (what must be lost in translation) "brown-out" that deterred me from using all facilities involving electricity.

The arrival into Manila at 5am wasn't sketchy at all...I should say I've been thru much worse. The scariest thing that I came across in my first 24 hours was probably the Floridian (50+, fat, greasy, pale, balding) who told me that no "white 20 year old would marry me" and so after having come to Phili for years, pulled up a Phili dish of his own. She's terribly cute, super skinny, and yet I can only feel sadness for her state.

Unfortunately, I saw more than 5 examples of similar "relationships" before the sun would fall; and although there are some Euro Trash chippin' in to the pot, the majority our from the U.S. of A. I refuse to go to Angles, the city that boasts the worst reputation for the "sex tourism" industry. Destitute girl finds sad, sex-deprived paedophile with money and they both "profit" from personal prostitution.

Manila gave me a lot more than that though...the people speak English!!! I mean of course they have their National language (Tagalog) but almost everyone speaks my native tongue! I can't tell you the size of the smile I parted when I asked for directions/info and was answered in flawless English. Also, boys and girls were touching each other--no no, not like freaky frank of the 7th infantry--but just showing their affection. And to boot, they have this wickedly cool public transport called a jeepney that is probably the coolest vehicle to haul the public I've seen in all my travels...I wanna get one...oh please oh please santa!

However, in 3 days I ran thru the smoggy, sufficating streets of Manila long enough to get a headache that no amount of espresso would cure, and decided to board a bus and trek my tubby trunk around the terraces of North Luzon...what a sight to behold.




"Ampitheatre" (Batad)



"Ampitheatre"; Close-up



It was the best decision I made that day. Staying at Simon's Guesthouse was a blessing cuz Simon used to be a guide and opened up the book on trekking around the area of Batad. Not to mention the cheapest room (barring all my freebie scandaling) in the world, probably. Just $1US/night got this vagabond a clean, comfy room, soft bed, great view all to myself, yipppeeeeeeeeee!!!


I punished myself the next 3 days with hours and hours of up and down around the beautifully stone-walled terraces of the region. These people are amazing.


By far the best part of the trip up north was the trek I did from Batad over the mountain to Barlig. I did it partially to save some cash on the bus ride, but more because I had heard wonderful things about the walk...all of which I would find valid. Each town I arrived at was astounded that I didn't have a guide cuz "you must get lost". I didn't get lost...amazingly enough for my record...and found that even in the tiniest, most remote village the people could speak perfect English...I was baffled!







From Cambulo-to-Pula

Terraces To 'Ternity...I couldn't stop stopping.

Just part of the walk







In large part, this language capability is due to the American "take-over" or "occupation" from the Spanish over a century ago, but is also a HUGE credit to all the Peace Corp. volunteers that flock this island nation...all of you rock and almost negate the negative of Chubby Cpl. Colander. Apart from that the U.S. has a huge influence on this country; you hear it in the accent, you see it in the style, and you feel it in everything experienced.

Shortly after the trek over, I found myself in the slow-paced stopover of Sagada. Slow isn't accurate...the people walk backwards here, and I loved it. It's much more tourist oriented, but it was still a great little mountain village with fresh, crisp air, loads of hiking ops, and to my delight a delectable eatery that serves up the best banana pancake in the world! I roamed about here for 5 days and became more of a local curiosity than most white wanderers.

Sagada has so much to do, and I did it all. Waterfalls, caves, mountains, coffins (hanging), Echo Valley playin', river runnin' thru a cave, a lake and visiting some of the nearby villages. I met up with a Swiss-German dude who was a total trip.

This guy Andy is 42, and after having drunk 5 cups of coffee with him in a restaurant on one of the dodgy days in the effect of the typhoon about life, "god", astronomy, and most of it not really related as you'd guess; he tells me, "You learn me a lot." He's 42 and this is his first trip away from home/work...he was a real wonder for me to see, and it's ironic that he should've claimed so much about me when it was me that had my pen out in intriguing enjoyment.

I also met Kats and Mike who are part of University of Philippines Mountaineering group that is hosting a concert in Manila...tomorrow. My plans have changed considerably; though I've seen all I intended to see or wanted to see so it's not like I'm sacrificing anything at all. But Mike and Kats R Mad Kool! I'll prob benefit from meeting some of the members and end up trekkin' more than I had imagined...hopefully. M,K, and I went caving which was so much better than I had thought. Of course caves are cool and what not, but this was enormous, with so many structures, and pools...loads of fun. After the "2 hour" cave jaunt, swimming about, and gripping barefoot the limestone rock, I left Mike and Wilbur and ran up Mt. Ampacao for a little exercise and some views...but my camera pooped out.






Guide Wilbur descending to the entrance
















Big Rice Terraces and 3 happy travellers






Just 2weeks in and I'm in love with this country, the people, the lifestyle, and the whole show. I'm movin' down to where there was the massive damage from Typhoon Durian which should not make for pretty diving/snorkeling, etc...but I'm sure the 1000+ people dead and/or missing aren't really concerned with that. My most sincere to them.



I know you're dying to know what it costs over here so you can come see how "life" is really experienced. Here's just a sample:


Room: $1US (north, unheard of) to $10US; obviously it goes way up, but I'm gone b4 that.
Meal: No probs to get a good meal for $1.5, though for $5US I ate all I could eat...3.5 norm.
Fruit Shake: $1.5US
Coffee: (I Luv the question, "Brewed or Instant?"...Brewed being cheaper/better) $.30US
Taxi: All the way across Manila (huge area) no more than $6US
Beer: Like I'd leave out the most important...a cool $.40US...that's 40 cents! What the hell RU still doing reading this? Come join the fun

Some of the other messings...

Books: "The Importance of Living" Yin Lutang. It sounds really cheesy, but 500 pages of Chinese ideas and an apt read for my chill time in Sagada. Also, loads of the LP Philippines...ugh...wanted to cut weight for my trekking and left 10kilos of books and stuff back in Manila which left me with THAT to read.

Film: Borat!!! Sweet Sap of Shit you...Aussie, Slov., Dane, and I all shared good laughs at this piss-taking of America in one of the many MegaMalls of Manila.

Music: Silvio Rodriguez, current fave track..."Ojala"; great to hear some Spanish guitar with the plea of a Cuban songwriter bellowing out.

Lingering Lyrics: Good Ol' Tom Waits, new song called "Bottom of the World".

"My daddy told me lookin' back...
the best friend you'll have, is a railroad track."




The only pic I managed on Mt. Ampacao;
looking down at Sagada










Some more terraces and what not in my North Luzon folder.

I'm serious...get over here!