Week 35 (Philippines (Boracay and Manila)

02/15

Woke up at 9. So, slept long. Did the media and Breakfasted at the ususal place (the
crepe caffee).

Went to the Kite surfers beach for a coffee. Met Julian there and chitchatted.
Walked all the way up the northern part of the island, for a stunning view. Back
along the other end ending up at white beach again. Thirsty!

Back to hotel to freshen up and a shower. Watched sports on the tv. Yes, I'm
ashamed (not). Now about to publish alst week on blog and see Milan And Julian for
a farewell evening (Milan will leave tomorrow). He may come back though (just like
I will after Japan). Laterz.

20.00H the three of us met at the Indian restaurant and ate there (expensively).
Had some good discussions about DJ's not being musicians. It will take then a few
more years to realize that i think ;-) . Last beer at the place where we got drunk
2 nights ago and then said goodbey to Milan. He may be back in two weeks, since he
got offered a job here. We'll see.
Now watching the tele: Ajax - Tente Live!! Can you believe it? Laterz.


02/16

Breakfast at the crepe place, coffee at a nice beach restaurant at the kite surf
beach. Strolled along that beach. Shopped, watched the news and did the media. To
the white beach (= the non kite beach) for a swim and a sudoku, ran for about 4k,
barefoot along the beach, cooled down in the sea. Sunset with a beer.
Showered in hotel. Met the two eglish blokes (Paul and Rob) again and saw that good
singer again. Early night, though ... watched a downloaded documentary of
Tegenlicht. Slept good as usual.


02/17

Rose late, did the media, ate a sandwich at the kite beach restaurant, strolled
along that beach again to find an even better and cheaper and cosier restaurant at
the kite beach.

Had a coffee there, strolled some more, napped in hotel, ran 4 K at
the kite surf beach (hard sand!), and ate at the new found restaurant. Chicken
teiyaki for 130 PHP (2,60 Euro). Showered, updating blog now. Take some pictures
tomorrow.
Laterz.


02/18

Basically the same day as yesterday. Only breakfasted at the even cheaper (and
cosier) kite surf beach restaurant. Sipped a few beers with Julian at night over a
nice conversation.


02/19

My Last day in Bocaray (for the time being). Breakfasted at the same place, strolled. Took some pictures:

Kite Surf Beach

Alley to Kite Surf Beach

Lane along White Beach

White Beach

Basically i found that the urge for exploring and dicovering has diminished. I find
myself settling and giving the days a regular pattern. Oh well, not so strange ...
after all, I'm almost 8 months on the road now, so...

Anyway, picked up my stuff at 14.00 H, took a mini van to the harbour, ferried
across to Caticlan, where i had to wait for 4 hours before we could enter the big
ferry boat to Batangas. Nice nightly boattrip again. Just like last time.

It's so much better (and cheaper) than flying. I would recommend it to anybody.
More fun, more adventurous, saves one night of accomodation ...


02/20

Arrived in Batangas at 7.00 AM, disembarked, and straight to the bus to Manila,
where i sat next to a very nice old islamic lady who fed me chocolat all the time.
Arrived in Manila at 9.00. Took the RLT to UN station. Felt like coming home a bit.

Sipped a coffee in Rizal park before i dropped off my stuff at the Slouch Hat
Hotel. Bought breakfast and ate it in the park. Shared my bread and banana with 2
street children, who recognized me from 2 weeks ago. Visisted the chinese garden to
kill the time. Updating blog now in the lobby of the hotel. Laterz.

13.00 Unpacked, installed in new 'old' room. Slept, shopped, found the public
transport way to the airport (try out tomorrow and see that part of town (ESDA)).
Little bite in the park (Kuwag, nice!), doing the media now and run in the park
later.

Spend the eveing with a stroll, a beer at a local eating place (with a nice band)
and FB-ing in the lounch of my hotel. Slept like an ox for more than 10 hours. The
boat trip turned out to be more tiring than i expected it to be.


02/21

Woke up with pain in my stomac (started already yesterday). slept for more than 10
hours! Hmmm ... something wrong? Doubts in my mind. Anyway, bought a small
breakfast at 7 eleven and ate it in the park (daily routine by now). Then ... took
the LRT to EDSA and from there the bus to terminal 2 of the airport. Just as a try
and to explore that area of town. The bus part was  awfull ... complete chaos and
completely struck in traffic. Stood still for over 45 minutes. So ... when i leave
for Tokyo on Wednesday ... leave in time!
Drank a coffee at the airport and took a jeepnay back to the LRT station. There i
met a Japanese guy who desperately needed directions to his hotel. So, i took him
to Ermita, to my hotel and used the wifi to find out where his hotel was... luckily
it was close to Ermita (Malate to be precise). Took him there and walked back to
eat a little in Rizal Park.
Stayed there, coz i knew the jazz pianist Claude Diallo would be at the open air
auditorium (part of the park) for a free concert. It was great. I loved it. After
the pianist however there was a band, formed around a diplomat (yes, a diplomat!!)
of the swiss embassy (Raoul and the Wild Tortillas) who did some lame songs. Really
pathatic. And so i left.

Went to the bay in an attempt to meet Milan. There would be a great firework.
Couldn't find him but the firework was great. But not in the middle of the bay,
where i thought it would be. Saw it from a distance, but still... great!

Walked back. Did a San Miguell Light (stomac problems just cleared) at a local
restaurant. Now sipping one more in the lounch of the hotel, while Eric Clapton and
Paul McCartney play live (on video). Laterz.

Watched a downloaded documentary about quntum mechanics, then slept (long again).

Week 34 (Philippines (Batangas and Boracay))

02/08

Woke up at 8, rose at 9. Breakfasted in my room (bought bread and cheese
yesterday). To the bank. Got my 10.000 PHP without a problem. Now here at the
neighbours coffee cafe on their wifi doing the media. Laterz.

Strolled to another part of town, where I hadn't been yet. Walked through the Super
Mall for more than 3 hours. 3 music stores and i played guitar at one of them. Felt
good and got a lot of attention. Back in the hotel i did a nap, watched a
basketball game. Out again to take some pictures.

Showered and back in coffee cafe now to publish week 33 of my blog (and eat a pasta carbonara).

Tomorrow the ferry to Caticlan and Bocaray. Im curious about it. Need some
relaxation. Noise and smell of cities starts to annoy me.

Sipped some beers and slept ok.


02/09

Woke up late, showered, ate, watched the tele, all very slowly since i had time to
kill. Did the media in the canteen and in the coffee cafe and slowly walked to the
pier. Showed my ticket, bought a ferry ticket (everything has to be bought twice
or three times here) and the wwaiting begun.
Met some nice guys (Julian and Milan from Holland and Thomas from Germany) to pass
the time (Julian even brought a guitar!) and then at 7.15 we boarded the ferry.

Me, Milan, Julian, all from Holland.

What a surprise! It looked like a partyboat. Live music, bar on the deck.  It was
great. We celebrated obviously and had a great evening. I went to sleep around
midnight, the rest (lot younger) partied on. I switched sleeping rooms, since the
aircon was turned on so high, that it was freezing. Slept very well.

02/10

Woke up at seven, just before we entered the harbour of Caticlan. The other three
had gone on drinking all night, so they were completely pissed when i met them.
Anyway, we disembarked, went to the next ferry (3 tickets again, for a 10 minutes
boattrip) and went accros to Barocay. Took a tricycle to the mainroad in station 2
(= part of the island) and we dropped at my hotel. Since i had booked a room for
two i decided to share it with Julian.

Unpacked and ... off to the beach (one of the many) it was. Spend all afternoon
there swimming, sleeping and laying in the shadow. Got sun burned though.

Now a shower and to find a supermarket for some water and cookies and softdrinks.

Laterz.

No supermarket, but had diner with Julian. Back at the hotel now to do the media.
Then out for a last one. Good night sleep is needed here.

Went to the station 3 direction on the beach to find a lot of bars and nice little
live music places. Back at 11. Facebooked and fell asleep for a long night.

02/11

Woke up at 7, rose at 9. Did the media in between. Now out for breakfast. Laterz.

After breakfast i met Milan again. I took tea (and he a beer) and catched up. Then
a coke at his place (where i would like to go next month (yes i will go here again
in March after Tokyo i think)). Back to the beach, where we met Julian. We did a long stroll to
the northern point of the island, where went up with an elevator to a high
restaurant for a beer. Great place, great view, great walk.

Back to our place, another beer, see the sunset. Then Julian went to his new house
(he rented it for a month (fraction of the price i pay)). I went with him to see if
there's anything for me next month (don't know yet). Showered, updated blog and out
now for a late diner. Laterz.

Small snack (2 actually) was enough. Met Julian on a terrace near the sea. Walked
to the south end of the beach, sipped a beer and went to sleep. Got my own privacy
again, since he moved to a house, he rented for a month. Star trekked and slept
well.


02/12

Woke up at 7, bacause Milan was at my door. (He had no idea of the time). So, told
him i needed some more sleep and would meet him at 10 at the Indian restaurant
(that's the place were we meet every day at 20.00h). And so i did. Went for
breakfast at the pancake place (just like yesterday), booked a nice hotel for the
10-25 March, here on Boracay again (with sea view for 400,- for 15 nights
(expensive for here, but hey...)), moved to another room in my current hotel again.

Sitting there now, updating my blog and about to book the ticket for the ferry back
to Manila again and a reservation in The Slouch Hat. Laterz.

Did all my administration (ticket booking and so on) and went to the beach for a
swim at 16.30 or so. Swam, sunbathed, swam, sppped a beer at "our" meeting point
and indeed ... Julian turned up, so.. chatted and beered some more.

Now back in the hotel. Showered and update blog. See what my FB friends have gone
through and back to the beach again i think. Laterz.

Spend the evening alone at the beach. Couldn't find Milan and Julian. Listened to
somelive music, sipped a beer, strolled, but did not get the right mood.
At 11 PM went back to my hotel for some media. Slept good though.


02/13

Woke up at 8, rose at 9. Breakfasted at 10 (at the "routine" Crepe place). Then
made a long walk to the harbour. Away from all the tourist things. Saw the locals.
Drank a 5 pesos coffee and went the other way back. Loved it. Did some shopping.

Back at the hotel I ate a bun. at 4 PM did some running. Just 30 mins at a slow
pace.
Went for s swim after wards at the Indian place. Back in hotel: showered, did
laundry. Laterz.

Met Milan and Julian round 20.30. They were already pissed. I just started ... We
sipped one at the Indian restaurant, then visited Milans place for a second one.

Then off to the beach with a bag full of beers and snacks. Met two nice english
blokes there too and two other musicians who had played there. Paul and Raymond (?)
and ... and .... Paul had a guitar and so... it became quit cosy. Was not able to
play that well anymore, but ... it ws appreciated anyway. Went back late (round 3
AM or so). They other dutchies were asleep already. On the beach that is. All in
all a great, but unhealthy night.


02/14

Woke up at 9, 10, 11 and rose at 12. Hung over. Breakfasted, strolled to Milan's,
but he was still asleep (as was to be expected). Arranged an extra night in the
hotel here, shopped, banked, slept on the beach and saw the sunset.

Showered, ate and met the two english blokes again. Chatted the evening away with them at the same place where we met last night. The same musicians as last night played there live. Back at 11 PM.

Time to recover. Laterz. Going for a star trek now... zzzz....

Week 33 (Philippines (Manila and Batangas))

02/01

Woke up late (9 or so), chatted with Mariya, showered and went ut for breakfast:
cheap one at the 7 Eleven, that i ate in Rizal Park.
Made a long walk to the slumbs near the southern harbour. Man, need i say it again?
We are so privileged! We really are, all of us.

Came back and... unfortunately my Aircon had been repaired, so back to my normal
room (which is not bad either, don't get me wrong).
Picked up my laundry and update blog. Will publish week 32 asap, but first a bite.
Laterz.

At 5 we switched on the Tv for the mens finals of the ozzie grand slam. As to be
expected Djokovic won the first set. So ... I went to the park for a 4K run (in
these temps it's enough), showered, and ... to my surprise Murray had won the 2nd.
And so i decided to eat here in the hotel to watch the end of the game. Djok still
won easily though.

Went out to see Arsenal - Ashton Villa. Saw 1 half in a bar, surrounded by
prostitutes again. Since Arsenal was the better team, decided to go back for the
last beer.
The other hotel guests (i more or less know them by now) were still there chatting.
1 Ozzie bloke was drunk as hell, so i didn't interfere in the conversation.

At 11 i called it a night, went to bed, did the media, 1 star trek episode and
slept. Good as usual (especially with a good aircon).


02/02

Woke up at 9 (!!). Went online and finally ... a response from the hotel i booked
in Batangas. Sorted out (i hope). Chatted on line with M again. Went for breakfast
in the park (bought at 7 Eleven), coffee and a long stroll in an unknown area,
where i visited a huge mall.
Back to the hotel, i checked for flights to Tokyo, where i want to spend a week
with M. Found a real cheap one, asked M if it would fit her and... went for another
stroll.
Back at 6, went online to find out that M was ok, booked the flight (cheap one was
sold out, but hey ... it's M you know) and went for a run. 4K again. Sat down in
the Rizal park again to enjoy the laser show in the fountains (as i have done
almost every night so far). Sipped a beer in the Bay View bar. Updating blog now
and about to publish week 32.
Slept good and long.

02/03

Woke up at 9, but spend a lot of time on line, so... left the hotel round 11 for
breakfast in the park. Then went for a long walk.
Came back. Booked the ferry ticket to Boracay.
Ran in the park again.
Days become the same. it's about time i leave the place. Well the planning is: 5+6
in Batangas, 7+8: back in MNL, 9+10: bus to Batangas again+ overnight ferry to
Bocaray. Then 8 days of beach. So there is some planning ahead.
Now updating blog in the lounge of the hotel.
Think i go out for a short while after this.
Laterz.
Still in the hotel. No going out. We're watching music video's... oh wait, we're
back to All star wrestling... eeuuww.
Anyway... getting some sleep soon. Or ... a double episode of star trek?  Hmmm ..
tempting too. We'll see.
Must make pictures tomorrow. And get new batteries for my camera.

Slept well, double episode indeed, no photos, got the batteries though.

02/04

Woke up at 9, ate breakfast in my room (bought bread yesterday), coffee and media
in hotel lounge, printwork in Internet cafe (across the street.. excellent quality,
super cheap).
Then a long walk along Manila Bay, ending up in the zoo.

Poor animals .... they're not happy.

Ate a cheap bite in Rizal Park, Went to hotel to .... watch the tele. Hmpfff...
really? Yes, really.

Did my daily 4 K run, showered, ate (the rest of the bread), watched a live band in
the lounge of the hotel, updated blog, downloading episodes of ... yes? ... Guess
... Start trek season 7).

Last beer now. Tomorrow explore Batangas. See you when i get there ... tralalala..
Did see a double episode of ST. Slept good.


02/05

Woke up at 8.30. Ate my two preprepared sandwiches (with chocolate butter).
Showered, packed and on the road to Batangas. LRT (Light Rial Transport), then the
bus (had to wait 40 minutes (in the bus (airconned, so... no big deal))) to
Batangas. Went all the way up to the pier, to investigate the situation there (have
to leave there on Monday (ferry to caticlan and Bocaray)). From i had to go back to
Batangas City. It's just 1 KM, but a tricycle driver tried to charge me 300 PHP (I
payed 160 for 100 KM's from MNL to here, so... I thought from not). The jeepnay
that brought me here costed only 8 PHP (PHilippine Pesos). Dig that.

Checked in my hotel (Alpa Hotel, nice, clean, but old). My home for the next 4
days.

Walked to the center of town. Nice! After Manila, it's great to explore a
city and get to know it all in 2 hours. Ate old fashioned at the (only!) McDonalds.
Shopped a little (bought some maps and a great coffee). Back to the hotel.

1 beer, media, local food (Mami beef), another beer in ... a karaoke bar in the
neighbourhood, now updating blog on the (big!) balcony of the Alpa hotel. Going to
FB now. See what you guys have been up to. Laterz.

Slept well in a comfortable bed after a star trek episode.


02/06

Woke up at 8, snoozed for an hour and rose at 9. Did the media over a cupof coffee
on the balcony of my hotel.

Went for a long walk. First got a cheaper hotel, closer to the pier, got info about
a refund for a ferry tiket, walked all the way up to the beach (10 K), back to
hotel to eat a sandwich, FB-ed, now about to run in the park. Busy day!

The run was over 5K. Felt exhausted though. I have overdone it a bit i think.
Walked for more than 12K, than run for more than 5K ... Nowonder i felt a bit
dizzy. Air is horrible here too. Exhaust fumes. You breath them all day long. May
just as well start smoking again (No, i won't!).

After running i showered, did the media, ate (spaghetti and meatballs (lots of
american influences here)) and back to the hotel. On the balcony again. Playing
some music on my earphones and see FB. Need a good night of sleep. Laterz.


02/07

Slept like a log! Felt a lot better when i woke up. Had to check out by 12.00, so
lots of time to start the day relaxing (something i shoulfd do more often). Ate 2
slices of bread (with chocopasta! ; find out what it means). Did the media over a
(last) cup of coffee on the balcony of the hotel. Packed and moved to my new (and
cheaper) hotel at the other end of town (closer to the pier (harbour) as well).

Had a huge coffee at the mall (nice break on my walk to the new hotel).
Checked in in my new hotel at 1 PM, shopped, strolled around. Nothing too special.

Now having beers with a few Nigerian Maritime students here at the hotel. Nice
guys, good times. They brought a lady ( I think it's Ekechukwu's gf) as well.

The little open air Cabins, where you can wifi and have a beer at night. Met the Nigerian fellows here as well.

Laterz.

Listened to music in my room and tried to do a star trek episode, but was too tired
to finish it. Oh well. Slept good as you can imagine.

Week 32 (Australia (Brisbane) and Philippines (Manila))

01/25


Rose at at 8.45, breakfasted, did the media. Now going out to take some pictures. Laterz.

Nice day. Strolled to the South Bank of Brisbane river,
First cooled down in the Science museum.

Then found a very relaxing concert for Australia day.

Did some other pics as well...

City Beach

Roof terace Hostel

George St.

Goodwill Bridge (ot the other one?)

Went back to the hostel at 3.30, to have an early diner. Watched a tennis game, fell asleep as usual, showered and went back to the south bank of the river. A brilliant firework! Loved it.
Had a last Coopers Pale Ale at the British pub. Did the media, e-mail and the news. Watch Murray now... Ozzie open tennis that is.
Fly to Manila tomorrow. Have a weird feeling about it. Don't know why. Laterz.

Oh, here's how the floor of the elevator in the hostel looked like ... Step in there...

01/26

Rose at 8.45. Breakfasted, packed, checked out and got a daypass for the rest of the day. Stored my lugage. In a cool room now, using my last hour of wifi.
Still have unrelaxed feel about my stay in Philippines .... why?

Anyway, had a last day (partly) in Brissy: went to the open air music festival again. Nice close harmony band. Last walk back through the (by now familiar) centre of town. Watched the movie "Rabit proof fench" in the hostel, made the last slices of bread, drank the last coffee. Too bad i leave on Australia day, coz there was so much to be seen. Not smart Jan.
Left the hostel at 5, took the 5.30 train to the Int. airport, where i'm way too early as usual. The waiting has begun. Lets see if there's any free wifi...
Laterz...

There was free wifi, so.. i chatted with Mariya and updated by blog. Sipped a very expensive beer and then flew to KL overnight for the stopover to Manila. All went well, even arrived too early.


01/27

Went straight (well, straight ... needed a night train, but fair enough ... reasonably straight) to my gate where my flight to Manila was to leave from and slept there for an hour or so. Arrived in Manila too early too. Found a nice and reliable taxi, that drove me to this cheap, but shitty hostel, where i am now.
Spend the rest of the afternoon, shopping and exploring the environment. Tomorrow i'm going to find emirate (backpackers area) for a more permanent location to stay. (Though here is not as bad as i had thought; still pretty bad though.) Laterz...

Ate and made a long stroll through the neighbourhood. Not very nice. Threatening and very uncomfortable. Few people already warned me about going out at night... Will go to Lamate or Ermita the day after tomorrow.
Now, have a beer at the hostel and update blog. Wifi is fine here.

The beer became three beers. All shared with Drake, a very nice guy from Papoea Nieuw Guinea. Finsished his studies, but could not get a job, so... now he studies again in Manila, to become a pilot. We talked about anything, but mostly about the unbalanced division of welfare in this world. He knows about that, as you can guess. Good evening though. Drake, thanks dude. you turned a lousy stay in a shitty hostel into a nice and pleasant time.


01/28

Slept like a baby (no wonder: beers and 24 hours of flying and moving from hotel to another hotel). Forgot to breakfast and started walking straight away to Ermita, the backpackers area. It's about 5 km away,so it took me quit a while, also because i also wanted to see the bayside. But... i think i found a nice hotel there (Aircon, private room, fridge, own bathroom: all for less then 20 Euro/night). Think i'll be there for a while. Go there tomorrow, since i still have one night left here (in the dangerzone... ;-) )
Walked back and did a little nap in my room here. Walked some more (to the busterminal, just in case i want to go somewhere by bus). Now updating blog. KFC it will be tonight. Laterz.

No KFC, since they provided diner in the hostel as well, so... Chicken fried rice it was.
It's still so hot... showering does not help. Beer does though! Thanks Drake!
Had a nice chat with Drake and "Seagull" (The only way i can remember his name, nice bloke from India, also studying here). Slept good again.


01/29

Slept until 9 (!!) (again!!). Still a bit jetlegged i think.
Ran to the 24h convenience store for a ham&cheese sandwhich ad a coffee.
Packed, checked out, and walked .... walked and ... walked untill i was in my "new" hotel.The Slouch Hat, an Aussie style bar/restaurant/guesthouse. Relatively expensive, but quit a bit more comfortable as well. Friendley staff, although hard to negociate with about prices and so on. Oh, well... we'll see how much i like it here. Fist impression is a positive one anyway. Now, lets check the wifi... Laterz.

Made long walks (even more!), sipped a beer at the harbour view restaurant, bought a map of metro maila (man, it's huge!!), did some shoppings at the 7 Eleven, walked through the nearby park (also huge, with beautiful fountains), ate, watched the tennismatch between Murray and <...>, ate real chinese food, updating blog now and do the media in the "lounge" of my little ozzie inspired hotel in the centre of Ermita.

Sipped another beer here and slept well, despite a bad functioning AirCon.


01/30

Woke up at 8, rose at 9. Went to the 7 Eleven for a drink and some breakfast. Lots to do today and so i did: found out where to extend my visa, found out where the bus to Batangas goes from, found out how to get there, found a bar where they display Premier League football, found a bank where i could get at least 10.000 PHP at once, ran 4 KM in the park (which made me feel sooo good) and in between made some walks in the neighbourhood. Lots of poverty though. Can't get used to the view of moms with little kids, sleeping on the pavement ... makes me (want to) cry.

Even seeing them eat on the street ... man, we are so privileged...

After running i showered, shaved and felt like reborn. Went out for some cheap, but good food, had a beer in a bar where they showed tennis (and wher a lot of prostitutes where (man, did i feel popular)), and finalized the evening with a drink in my little hotel (alone).


01/31

Woke up at 8, but did the media for a long time, so went out of my room at 10.30 - ish. Breakfasted (well ... 2 toasts and jam) in the hotel over a big mug of coffee. Brought my laundrey next door (there's a laundrette).
Then ... tried the LRT (public transport) to Putay station. Worked well, found out how and where to obtain tickets and the bus station. Since i was there: explored that part of town.
Feels ok i know my way around now and can deal with most kinds of public transport here. It complex though: There's LRT, Jeepnay (kind of long, extended jeeps), ...

... taxis, city buses, trains, (kind of) bycicle driven riksjas, FX-es, interstate buses and international and domestic airplanes. All do different distances, so you always have to do a combination of public transport means. But... i get to know it by now (more or less).

Went back (by LRT again obviously), walked through the park here, went back to hotel, where the aircon still had not been repaired, so... i got a new room (more luxury for the same price... ). Updating blog now. About to look at the womans finals of the Ozzie open tennis grand slam. Laterz.

So, Sarena won!
Went for a cheap meal and a walk along the bay, back through the red light district (well, there's hardly any none red light district here ...)

Freshened up and went for New castle - Hull City (Premier League football that is). In another bar... with lots of girls with a doubtfull reputation again (I could be married by now three times at least). After the first half i returned to my hotel, where I'm updating my blog now. Laterz.

Slept wonderfully in my luxury room. Did a star trek episode first though.