Week 40 (Philippies (Boracay and Manila))

03/22

Last full week. Hmmm, am I happy to go home? Yes and no. The comfort of my house ... great. Friends and family: yes!. But i know myself. It will last for just a few days, .. weeks perhaps. Anyway, ASML already said they would like to have me back there. That's good, since I love working there. Will miss M terribly. Hope to see her in the summer, me in Japan in the autumn and celebrate new year here again. Wishful thinking? Who knows ...

Anyway. It was a warm, warm windless day. Did the laundry, brunched at the kite surf beach, chatted with Jason, chatted on line with M, shopped, i think the dutch word to summarize it is: "sleur". It is time to go home ...

Sunset as usual, saw the first half of MNU - LIV in a bar, but had to stand (no seats that is), so will see the summary tomorrow (some anti social British annoyed me to the extreme; that too). Walked home, had a last one at the neighbors and updating blog now  ....  guess where? On my balcony indeed. Laterz.

03/23

Slept well. I sleep almost too well. Feel tired all the time. The heat? Anyway, breakfasted at the Happy Home, shopped, watched the news and sport over a siesta, sunset as usual, did laundry, now updating blog. Gonna eat a pizza i think. Laterz...

And a nic pizza it was. For 2,50 (Euro). Beered on the beach, updated blog on balcony. See a pattern? I do. Laterz...



03/24

Woke up early (8.00). Media, and breakfast at the crepe place. Nice for a change huh? Coffee, sudoku's and a good book on the beach in front of my hotel. Siesta, Run on the kite surf beach (strong wind, nice and cool, so ... 6 KM), sunset at my place as usual, showered, watched the news (plane crash in the French Alps), Mcdonald, beer at Andok's (local cheap restaurant), updating blog on balcony. About to have a early night. Will do some star trek or tegenlicht documentary though. Laterz....

PS: 1 week to go. Unimaginable when sitting here in the tropics ...


03/25

Woke up several times last night ... ??? No idea why. Unconscious tension for the travel home? Who knows. Anyway, woke at 8, rose at 10. Breakfast at the Happy Home, coffee on the nearby beach. Lost of reading and sudokuing. Siesta. Now updating blog and publishing week 39. Later on do the last sunset on Boracay, since i will take the night ferry to Manila tomorrow. See you there. Laterz...

Spend the evening eating pizza and sipping one last beer in the front of my hotel. When i came back i (almost) had a little argument, since my next door neighbor (way in his 50-ies)'s gf (18 at the most) was sitting on my balcony again (i had said that i did not want that), staring at her phone. I told her in to leave and not be there again ... Feels rude on one hand, still found not other way to make myself clear on that subject. Anyway, over and out!
Updating blog on balcony for the last time.
Neighbour is back now, giving me angry looks ... so afraid ... not.


What a lousy last night here ... neighbor is threatening me. Not a very smart man though: f*ck you, f*ck you, nothing else he could say. It's still bothering ... We're up 3 floors high on a small balcony with a low fence, and i get the impression he's drunk, so ... better not take any chances. It ruins my last memories of Boracay a little bit though.


03/26

So, i slept bad. Nevertheless, packed at 10, left the hotel at 11. Stored my luggage temporarily in the hotel. Last breakfast at the kite surf beach. They said they'll miss me ... *boohoo ... Still best place to have breakfast. So harmonious.

Strolled back along the beach. Last coffee at the hotels beach, took a tricycle to the harbor, and the small ferry to the mainland (Caticlan that is). Long wait, but... a nice couple from Norway and a very friendly family from Iran made the time pass by quick over a very good conversation, which brings me once more to the conclusion that normal, sensible people live all over the world. No matter religions, cultural difference or skin color. It's the insane extremists that that ruin a complete religions reputation by acting violent. Unfortunately, the stupid among us don't realize that. OK, other subject.

The ferry left far too late (1 truck could not get aboard, so they kept on trying and trying and ... then they did succeed ... 3 hours later). Nobody gives a damn. That's they Filipino way. Relaxed? Lazy? In efficient? Give it a name, but at midnight we left. Rough sea, so everybody seemed drunk. Slept well.


03/27

Woke up several times during the night. Rose at 8, returned the linnen, packed, got myself a coffee and went on deck. Arrived at 8.30 (at the harbour of Batangas that is ... not the deck). Took the bus to Manila at 9.30 and arrived there at 11.30. Felt (already!) a bit like coming home(ish). Took the LRT to UN Ave. Had a little lunch at the 7 eleven. Walked to the "Slouch Hat" (my home-hotel in MNL). Warm welcome!

Cought up some sleep, had a spaghetti lunch at the Jolly Bee, walked to the Super Mall, to see what movies were playing. Came back, slept again. Did a 4K run in Rizal park. Man, felt good! Showered and ate at the local food plaza (two good live bands and a fantastic seafood topped rice). Back to the hotel. Now updating blog. Still feeling strange that my last "traveling weekend" just started. Anyway, talk to you laterz... Gonna watch  rugby now. Aussie rules rugby of course. Is there any other?

03/28

Fukkerdefukfuk!!!! I have been robbed! And i knew the trick, but they are so good at it. Streetkids! 4 of them. Begging (happens all the time, so no alarmbells yet). Then they become physical, touching you while begging. The moment you push one them (gently!) away, your hands are away from your pocket... 700 PHP gone. And then there is a full grown guy, standing nearby, with a baby in his arms. He collects the money and since he carries a baby in his arms, you don't suspect him. So ... chase the kids (they're fast!) and meanwhile the guy walks off. Ok, it's only 15 euro or so, but still ... In all my years of traveling i have never been robbed (oh wait, once a traveler cheque has been stolen in Equador). Gives a shit feeling, two days before turning home... OK, there's worse things in life , but ... grrrr ... being outsmarted by 4 streetkids ... grrr once more ... If i had just given it to them i would feel a lot better.

Had to get that off my chest. How was the day?

Woke up at 8, Rose at 10. Coffee here (hotel). Slow walk to the SM (Super Mall). There's a Terry Gilliam (Monthy Phyton) movie (The zero theorem), and it only shows at 14.00h. Nice (but strange) movie. Went back to hotel. Did the media, watched the news, showered and went out again, to eat in the park. Got robbed (see above), went back to the hotel to get new money, ate a very nice chicken and rice. Sipped a beer a the local food/music place (meanwhile feeling stressed about the robbery). Back to hotel now. Watching rugby again and updating blog. Laterz ...