Mon 10th Aug - After a couple of days around the house just ambling along with stuff
it was time to venture out somewhere. Didn't sound too exciting, but decided on
Mahogany market in Tagaytay. On the
way there dropped into the Taal Vista hotel,
which overlooks the Taal volcano. The first hotel here with the most
prestigious location, but to be honest a rather square and plain atmosphere.
The food supposed to be the best in Tagaytay, so will try it one day when I
feel like a splurge.
Was going to
try out a horse riding centre near by, but it didn't do any more than a short
run around a flat compound for 250 pesos and didn't think it was good value for
money, so walked on to the market. Mahogany market is renouned locally for the
quality of its Beef, and justifiably so. After a cheap lunch at one of the
eateries there, we checked out each section. As usual, the meat section of the
market has an overpowering aroma that could turn a sensitive stomach. Bits of
animals hung up to become prey to the flies isn't something that makes you
reach for your wallet to start buying. But it has a great choice of good
quality and so I indulged in some great steaks at 200 pesos for about 4 meals
worth of Beef. Now that is cheap.
The fruit
section is excellent
Mon 17th Aug – Recent days have been a bit humdrum and blurred into one
a bit. A bit of gardening, sleeping, and spending time sorting out my
photographs and playing with Photoshop a lot, so not very exciting. Some great
cooking though. Between Shiera and me we cook up some awesome spontaneous
meals. She happens to be a super cook, especially the local dishes.
Had
to go out to pala-pala on Saturday to visit a guitar shop. Crazy as expected
with ten times the normal level of people around. The SM mall was hosting a
musical event which sort of overpowered the place with noise. Took respite in
the French Baker for a coffee and got chatting to a group of girls interested
in speaking English. Turned out that one of them had married a Welsh guy a
couple of months ago. He was back in the UK working and she was stuck here for
many months until he returns. On the return trip to Silang in the Jeepney I got
talking to a guy who was Filipino. He was nearing the end of a 1 month break
from his work as a civil engineer in Western Australia. In his second year
there, his company pays for him to come home once a year to visit his wife and
family. That cannot be pleasant to be separated from your wife for so long.
After 2 years he can become an Australian resident and bring his family over to
stay for good. These two stories reflect a concern I have about Asia. The
Philippines happens to be one of the most awkward countries for its residents
to escape from. Trying to get a visa to visit some countries is a nightmare. For
example, I will have a major job on my hands to take Shiera to the UK, even if
we were married. As we are not it is even more hassle. The immigration bureau
don't trust the situation and think they will disappear into the dark when they
arrive, and never leave, so put them through a lengthy interrogation process
taking months. I come across so many situations where the husband and wife
spend so much time apart because the wife cannot travel with him. This is the
reality though of a relationship between a foreigner and a Filipino.
It
is back to raining heavily again after a couple of days or so break from it. I
wanted desperately to go out last night for some entertainment, but that got
scrapped due to the transport problem. After 10pm it is almost impossible to
get home from some places as the Jeepneys stop. If you haven't got your own
transport then you are stuffed. Of course, if you want entertainment then it is
likely to be a late night, and so a catch 22 situation. I love to go out at
night and watch live music but there isn't any at all here in Silang. Have to
go at least to Tagaytay or even as far as Manila for that, so without our own
transport we don't go out at all. It gets to me after a while and I begin to
get that urge to move on, as this place is dead and boredom soon sets in. If
you aren't the sort of person who needs a social life or any form of live
entertainment then Silang would be ok, otherwise it is off the radar as far as
an active life is concerned.
Nothing
much happened over the next few days apart from just living, eating and
domestics.
Thu 20th Aug - Went to Manila to see the 'Coconut Palace', but got the
timing wrong as it closes at 3pm and arrived too late, so checked into a Sogo
hotel and then went for a walk.
We
learnt that tomorrow is a National Holiday and so plans would be affected due
to many things being closed.
The
evening was fun. I had read about a great transvestite show at www.Clubmwah.com
In Mandaluyong, so bought tickets over the phone. Currently on discount until
October at only 600 Pesos each. The show was to start at 9:30pm with doors open
at 7:30pm. The traffic getting across Manila was chaotic as usual, and so
abandoned the idea of getting a taxi there, and got a taxi to the LRT only.
From there a quick trip on the LRT followed by the MRT got us close according
to the map. What I hadn't realized was that it was going to be a further 2km
walk from there....maps are so deceiving sometimes...and Shiera was in high
heels..and complaining all the way! Anyway, the club is cool and the show
really good. I have to say that it wasn't as good as the Calypso show in
Bangkok. What was good was the finale, as the musical director and producer did
a closing speech and the party began. Up with the dancers to boogie and have
photos taken with them. They do constantly harass for tips, which was
frustrating, but they were good sports.
Fri 21st Aug - Coconut palace was closed as national holiday 'Ninoy
Aquino day'.
Folk
music Competition at Cultural Centre of the Philippines (CCP Complex). 150
pesos for a 4 hour concert showcasing choral talent from around the country.
This was superb. So many wonderful voices and pretty traditional costumes. No
photography allowed during the contest, but a real buzz after the show as the
groups vyed for attention to have their photos taken.
Sun 23rd Aug - Today was decision day for some future stuff. The reason
as usual is visa related. Tomorrow my usual 21 day tourist visa expires and as
part of the entry requirements into the Philippines, I had to buy an onward
flight, which happens to be back to Thailand. I can extend as usual for 38 days
to the maximum 59 days allowable, but I also have the house to consider. I came
to the conclusion a long time ago that where I am living is totally wrong for
what I want. Anyway, without going int further details, there are things to
resolve.
Mon 24th Aug – Visa was due to expire today so had to make a trip to
Intramuros in Manila to extend it at a cost of 3030 pesos. That will take me up
to October 1st and the 59 day limit as a normal tourist. After that
I will have to apply for the usual Alien certificate of Registration, which
costs nearly 5000 pesos. More on that another time.
Arrived
at the Bureau of Immigration at shortly after 11am and it closes for lunch at
noon, so rushed around getting the paperwork done..copy of passport pages and
the extension form to fill in and then the cashier after having it entered on
the system. Got it all done in around 15 minutes and then out the door, needing
to return after 1:30pm to collect my passport. With a couple of hours to kill
we decided on heading for Chinatown, across the Pasig river. That river always
makes me puke as it gives off a nasty niff most of the time. China town is an
interesting area, easily navigable on foot, although there are Calesa
(horse-drawn carriage) and pedicabs available for the foot weary. The first
thing I noticed when we went wandering down a market stall street was the
quality of the fruit. Perfect plums (20 pesos each), kiwi fruit (20 pesos
each), oranges, bananas, grapes (180 to 200 pesos per kilo), mangos, Atis (aka
Custard apple), pears, apples etc. Plus some strange stuff as expected in a
chinese area....the hair from sweetcorn, which is used as a medicine; sea slugs
in three different varieties, some quite large; weird and wonderful mushrooms;
lots of shrimps...although I wouldn't eat anything that came from the waters
around here. A regular sight was some pale cream coloured grass-like stalks that
were tied in bundles and used for making tea - like Ginseng I gather.
Bought
some fruit for snacks as we walked.
There
is a nice church in the centre which we had been in before, but revisited again
and also had lunch at a Chinese soup restaurant. An interesting side note
here…if you are in for a challenge in a bowl…ask for ‘Special soup No.5! No
picture to explain what that is….now what happened to Specials soups no.1 to 4?
Anyway, what you will get is Bull’s Penis soup! Why on earth would you want to
eat that then? Well, it is mainly for men as it is supposed to give you extra
virility. There was one old guy, maybe late 60’s into 70’s, eating a bowl of
it…disgusting looking it was too as he spat some of the too chewy bits out onto
the table next to his bowl. At his age, I wonder what he was hoping for? A
miracle I think!
We
stuck with something more traditional as we were hungry and didn’t fancy taking
the risk. Suitably fed and back at the Immigration to collect my visa and then
walked off along the waterfront road before aiming to catching the bus back to
Silang. Well, we were queuing for the bus, my stomach decided to play up and I
had to rush to a toilet. Bad timing and not sure what caused it, but it was
sufficient unpleasant to not want to mention it any more.
Managed
to make it home without too much trouble and kept near a toilet for the rest of
the evening.
And that's it for now...Bye...
