TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE DIARIES

Staying 8 days in this island has made Dutchman and I so exasperated. Life’s poignant reality really exist. Here are the three main depressing subjects that we noticed. Lack of Business Initiative It is quite noticeable that a number of the local owned resorts and bar-restaurants are lacking in lustre and ingenuity. They are left standing stationary with none or very little maintenance and some even looked deadbeat to me. It is such a pity when you look at the pristine nature cascading right in front of these establishments... crystal-like blue waters... and the chaste white sand... what a waste. Moreover, these businesses can easily increase their profit by utilizing the extra mile effort at a very low cost. How? Well create an ambience to attract customers! For many foreigners and local tourists, ambience is the come on signal. “ …clean the beach regularly from debris, rake the sand, bring out the sun beds and place them by the beach, arrange and decorate the tables and chairs of the...

Ah, where Dutchman and I are right now on the face of the earth. In Panglao Island, Bohol...

Ever since we arrived in hot sunny Philippines, the earth’s axis was probably not in a harmonious sync with the rest of the solar system. Toilet Relations Part 1 and The Car Ride On our 2nd day in Manila, I suffered stomach pains. Luckily the LBM - Loose Bowel Movement (sort of slight Diarrhea) wheeled only into semblance just after my brother’s wedding, which was on the 3rd day. Foto from vilpponen.net Thinking about it, I was glad as I simply cannot handle re-visiting the toilet every dang 30 minutes during the wedding nor would I want to cry wolf while I am on stage adorning my brother and my now sister in law with the chord of love. Worse, I can’t call myself to imagine making a public spectacle, squirting the superfluous filthy matter on the wedding stage! (such horrible thoughts) That would be the end of my untarnished reputation! The thought actually makes me sick to my nerves, aaaaaahh... One of the nightmares of any tourist, expat or balikbayan (returning Filipino resident):...

Hey everyone! I am finally in busy and polluted Manila! Oh God, it's terrible... the maniacal traffic and unadulterated pollution is driving us nuts, lol. But, but I am absolutely happy to be finally back HOME. Before I further jump into my culture shock litany of entries, I have some really spicy news to share: Cafe HAVANA in Greenbelt Makati, the meeting point to watch, a MUST. The place is screaming and flying with hookers!!!! In the mornings the place is usually quiet. Innocent and scrupulous under the tropical sun. The metamorphosis begins around 7PM, right after dinner when guests, mostly foreigners flock. The cafe-retaurant turns into bar in the evening. Aliens in all ages, colours, sizes and what have you, frolic openly with these notorious creatures. If we scaled these women from 1 to 10 on beauty, body and personality, many are between 0 and 6. (edit: although recently you can see really good looking ones) I guess I am in shock state... to see the meat trade u...

So off we go tonight to the Philippines! I am not yet in the travel mode since, a. we have yet to pack, a daunting task that I love and hate b. I still have no pasalubongs (the “ you owe them gifts ”). Maybe I buy some Gouda cheese? I also brought with me the Da Vinci Code book that I bought 2 weeks ago. Thanks to both ladies with initials C-K for the tip. I managed to control the urge not to even take a peek. I will start reading the book during the flight and will give a review about it here after. What’s waiting for us in the Philippines, 26C-30C temperature! Eat your 'jasjes' (coats) out! Dutchman is also bringing his back-up tool/s for work emergencies and for my vanity too. I am just wondering how many people have unsecured wireless connections so I can surf freely, although wireless would be an issue in the Philippines. But anyways, I plan to spend spend some time on the thing that I promised myself to write almost a year ago. I will not be on AWOL (absence without ...

In June of this year I bought a teak dressoir (buffet table) as a birthday present for myself, in effect it was also a gift for the flat. The design was in the lines of minimalism – modern, simple, functional, yet aesthetically with a streak of sophistication. I complemented it with a 2-meter mirror, it's 2.5 inch framework exquisitely done in silver. Massive! The idea was to create an atmosphere of tranquility, space and co-habitation with nature in our living room. Walls are immaculate off-white, which I would hate to taint them with reckless paintings and knick-knacks. So, the 2-meter mirror is supposed to capture the breathing nature outside due to the fact that it faces the window wall, which by the way displays a spectacular view in the evening with all the lined up buildings across the highway. The city lights make me alive, it makes me - ME. I don´t think I can ever live in a normal house. I have always lived high up and intend to live the same. If I win the lotto (reminds...

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is flying direct non-stop to and fro Manila! Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij (don't bother to pronounce it) otherwise known as -Royal Dutch Airlines- began this new route offer last November, flying 7x a week from Amsterdam’s Schiphol to Manila’s NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport). The one and only daily and direct non-stop flight, Manila - Europe brags an approximate 13 hours travel time. A huge difference compared to the normal 1 stop over flight of approximately 19 to 22 hours travel time. That’s more than 6 hours saved. KLM has also recently upgraded their airline fleet to Boeing 777-200ER . The new KLM Boeing 777-200ER (extended range) flying direct non-stop from Amsterdam to Manila 7x a week. KLM was one of the last few airlines to upgrade their fleet, probably because of the very simple reason - they are Dutch, thus they are naturally "zuinig" (thrifty - kuripot po!) Well I am really to the fore for this Saturday’s flight but ...

The title describes how I feel this weekend. I didn't even had the time to do my favorite chore - BLOGGING. Maybe I should just starting posting every 2 to 3 days? Busy-Busy-Busy From the great Sinterklaas event last Saturday at my schoonouders (in laws), aahh that was refreshing childhood de ja vu's ...... to grocery shopping with Dutchman and letting him wait endlessly with the cart, in a corner, while I hop and tinker around from one store to the other hehe - don't they the men just hate that?...... to Sunday shopping (again) in Amsterdam with a friend, scoured the city for that wanted ensemble and got it...... starving, we ordered this Chinese menu "E" and they rationed us with food that can last us for a week!...... and the final stop, Utrecht, showed my friend the famous Oudegracht (Old Canal) and the Dom Toren (Dom Tower) and we proceeded home for dinner. Soooo... I will have to gather back my brains before I can pull up an entry about Sinterklaas and Zw...

After a glass of Bacardi at work (yeah did I told you we have a pub at work), I went to Amsterdam to do my last minute shopping for the greatest Dutch event of the year --- Sinterklaas. I also need to start hunting for the frock to wear to my brothers wedding. The Amsterdam Grand Central Station, where I alighted. I actually felt a release of exhilarants when I stepped into the cobbled and bricked roads of Amsterdam Centrum. The feeling is quite familiar to me... kind of like the feeling I experience everytime I set foot back in Manila. The throng of crowds, the energetic and cosmopolitan feel, the rustic architecture ambience, the multi-cultural backdrop, the assemblage of old and new... the city, uninhibited and preposterous to the outside world - that’s Amsterdam. Once the Post Office of Amsterdam, this beautiful building is now a commercial center called Magna Plaza. I was here earlier shopping! Shopping is really nice in Amsterdam because the main shops are clustered together. It...

Use me! Use me! Please! Trust me, I won't fail you!!! So if you get sex-lucky today, DO NOT forget to pick any of the following palatable choices: the Creme -brulee addiction on the left or the Chocolate -mousse delight on the right. Which one is it you like? Or do you want the cherry and strawberry flavors? The message of the day: Be safe. Be responsible. World AIDS Awareness Day