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.