So, I got to go to a country club in the Philippines. It was NIIIICE. I dodn't chill at country clubs at home, unless its a work event. We had a 3 hour breakfast buffet with all kinds of Pinoy foods, American foods, and even Chinese food. And Barako coffee, which made me feel completely wired for a few hours, despite rising at 5 am for the drive to Tagaytay! Mr. Santos was in a golf tournament, and he WON within his class! Yay- go Mr. Santos!
I had several hours to read my book- the book called "Video Night in Kathmandu", which was a gift from my boss before my trip. So awesome! I took a stroll. I chatted and had another cup of coffee with an elderly ex-pat who has lived in Asia for 35 years. He had man boobs- big ones! And then took a "Funicular" from the Highlands to the Midlands. The country club spralls a whole mountain side. The funicular connects both sides and looks like a roller coaster, but goes reallllllly slooooooow. We had lunch at a vista with a view of Tagaytay lake.
Then massages. And a pedicure. Yay! I got a combination Shiatsu/ Swedish massage from a Filipina lady that was hands down the BEST massge of my life! She did a combo of stretching, and massage work that I've never felt before. For less than $20/ hr. And I got a pedicure, which only offered 80 shades of pink, so my toes look like Barbie's now! For less than $10.
I forced Cheapskate Jon to buy a gift certificate to treat both Mr. & Mrs. Santos to massges, b/c they treated us to everything. I also made him cough up the money to pay for his massage, which he would have happily accepted for free, along with all of his meals and the hotel room. That's not right!
We ate a big pot of shabu shabu for dinnner, followed by a retreat to a beautiful chic room on the side of a mountain with a "queer eye for the straight guy" flair. Really nice. I watched a movie and relaxed to my core. Gourmet breakfast with a fab view the next morning. I NEED to post photos....
What an overnight trip! I am amazed and floored by the generosity and kindness of the Santos family. I felt like I was staying with my Aunt and Uncle and Cousins. And I hardly know them. What an awesome family! By the end of the trip, me and Tintin were finishing each others sentences and had inside jokes and lots of fun memories. I miss them already!
