Xcited in the Philippines

[Jeff S]

Come on over Dave - got a fresh jar of squid shiokara and a bottle of Suntory Yamazaki to wash it down with. Goooooooooodddd stuff!

[Dave H]

Come on over Dave - got a fresh jar of squid shiokara and a bottle of Suntory Yamazaki to wash it down with. Goooooooooodddd stuff!

OK Jeff,

But would it be alright if I break with tradition and drink the bottle of Suntory Yamazaki first?

Dave

[Marshall K]

When I asked Yali if she had ever eaten dog, she made a classic Asian frown, mouth in an upside down U, and said never.  Her mother, the Buddhist thought it was barbaric and instilled in her an appreciation for the higher animals like dogs and cats. 
I do occasionally remind my dog that he could be barbecue if he doesn't straighten up, but he knows I don't mean it. 

[leather neck]

Dave,

Is she preparing to serve what I think she is preparing to serve??

YUK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leatherneck

[Dave H]

Hey Leather Neck,

Yep it is dog. It is not a regular menu item in the Philippines. My wife would never eat it! It is usually eaten by drunken men who get the munchies. I guess it tastes good, but sure stinks when they burn the hair off of it! Many of the dogs seem to have mange or skin diseases, I think I will stick with my pork chicharon (crispy roasted pork skin). 

Dave

[xcited]

Day 3

We took a boat across the water to the Taal volcano.  As soon as we hit the shores we were basically attacked by vendors – this is a recurring theme on this part of the trip.  My GF went to the counter in order to pay for the horse ride up to the top.  The girl behind the counter first asked if she was Korean and was not happy to find out that she was a Filipina.  We paid then went over to the horses.  To call them horses is difficult – they were old and I really do believe that I have owned dogs bigger than these things.  No they were not donkeys.

The saddle was just a carved piece of wood with blankets on either side.  The stirrups were nothing more than bungee cord material that were set for extremely short people.  So we get on the “horses” and start up the hill.  The saddles were not very stable while riding and each of us had a guide who was leading the horse.  We had barely started When my GF said she wanted to get down because she didn’t feel safe.  Of course, this meant I had to get down too so I did.  While attempting to get down, my foot stuck in the tiny stirrup and I fell the last foot or so on the way down.  We then started to walk up the hill – it was a total of about 3-4 miles up.  Fortunately, my GF’s guide convinced her to get back on the horse and she would sit behind her to make her comfortable.  She agreed and they started up the hill at a good pace.  I got back on my tiny horse and labored up the hill.  About ¾ of the way up, I figured I would have to carry the thing.

At the top there were little huts where vendors were selling coconuts with straws to drink the milk.  Then off to the side there was a hut that said “police outpost”.  I’m not really sure what they were there to protect – coconuts and a big crater?  Basically, they would relax in hammocks, try to rip of the Korean tourists, and offer people the opportunity to shoot their M-16’s (4 bullets for the equivalent of $10).  It was fun thing to see the water-filled crater and take pictures there, but once you have seen it, it’s done.  We hopped on the “horses” and went back down the hill.  Of course my GF was moving at a much faster pace, so she got to the bottom ahead of me.  Once at the bottom I was immediately hit up for “tips” by the owner of the “horse”, the guide, and finally a lady selling bottled water.  Luckily, I only had a few pesos on me and told them that my GF would to take care of the rest.  She took care of the tips and made sure they knew that was ‘all they would get”.

We took the boat back, but the water had become rough.  When the boat hit a wave we got splashed pretty good.  I laughed, then she laughed too – it was nice to see that she could laugh about it.  Many girls I know would have acted like they were going to melt.  When we got back we took a few more pictures then got in the trike to go back to the hotel and get our bags.  The driver took a “shortcut” back to the hotel.  We are packed like sardines in this little trike side car and he takes us up the hill on what I can only describe as a goat path.  The few parts which were paved had more potholes than road.  My backside and neck felt like they had been smashed with a sledge hammer.  When we finally got back, we had a nice lunch at the hotel then grabbed a bus back to Manila.

Overall a great trip and I learned a lot about my GF.  She is able to handle herself well and doesn’t take things too seriously.  She is a great travel companion and is willing to be spontaneous.
 

[Dave H]

Hi Xcited,

That was an interesting story! I bet the view was great! You are lucky that horse wasn't more energetic and didn't take off and drag you! BTDT! 

Dave

[Ray]

Oh yes, the old pothole-infested goat path short cut... LOL!

If you ever have a chance to make it to Camiguin Island some day, you can try some REAL potholes. Cars and multicabs have fallen into those potholes never to be seen again. Some of the potholes are bigger than the volcano craters at the end of the road 

And then there was the road to Malimono, one of the bumpiest roads on the planet no doubt. Surigao Ken can vouch for that. (Where the heck is Surigao Ken anyway?)

Enjoying your travel adventures...

Ray

[Dave H]

If you ever have a chance to make it to Camiguin Island some day, you can try some REAL potholes. Cars and multicabs have fallen into those potholes never to be seen again.

 (Where the heck is Surigao Ken anyway?)

Ray

Hey Ray,

That is like Florida, you wake up one morning in the middle of a sinkhole. 

I was wondering what happened to Surigao Ken...and Jimbo. Jimbo really liked Camiguin Island and was planning on buying land there at one time. I think that was before Sallie's relatives had to run into the sea to escape a mud slide!

Dave

[Bear]

My wife rode the horses at a little theme park near the Volcano.  I kid you not the one she rode was PINK!  They wanted me to ride also but I told then I was against cruelty to animals (I weighed about 2003 then).  I did ride horses in Baguio though that were standard sizes.

I didn't go to the volcano but I did enjoy that little zoo.

The Bear Family

[Dave H]

Yeah, the wife always brings back a bunch of those little cans of Holiday Beef Loaf, which can’t be found here in the States, and of course a bunch of that stupid polvoron candy, which tastes like chalk… YUK!

I think our wives must be related... 

Ray

Hey Ray,

I think our wives are related too!  My wife is related to Jimbo's father-in-law (Sallie's step father).

We will have to do a little 'family' research together the next time we are in the Philippines. A San Miguel doctor owes me (utang na loob) a free tour of the San Miguel brewery. We can start out research there ! 

My wife's mother is coming next week and bring a suitcase full of Holiday Beef Loaf. When my wife was a kid, sho only got one slice. Now she eats a whole can. I think I'd better buy a large bottle of antacid!   Her mom will bring me my favorite homemade peanut butter. It is ground and blended by our neighbor who is the 'Grand Master of  Peanut Butter!' He has been doing it for about 70 years. It is the best I've ever eaten!

Dave

[Dave H]

Hey Ray,

I mentioned "stupid polvoron candy" to my wife, so now she is having her mother bring that to! I guess she forgot.  My sister-in-law makes great puto  which I love!  The LA guys will think that is a 'manho!' One time she made me 3 dozen for my trip to the states. I brought the puto in my carry-on bag and happily munched away on the flight. As I got closer to the US, I started to get worried that the US DOA might make me dispose of the remainder of my puto. I couldn't bring myself to do that, so I began to devour them like Joey "Jaws" Chestnut  and Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi in a Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. I finished the puto and was still chewing as we disembarked the plane in LA. My stomach was very swollen and hurt badly. If I was coming from Colombia, customs might have suspected that my stomach was full of condoms filled with cocaine! I asked the DOA inspector if I could have brought them in and they told me since it was cooked, it was considered processed and OK. I almost vomited on his shiny black shoes!

Dave

[Ray]

Hey Dave,

I barely survived the last free San Miguel brewery tour! Holy crap! What a day that was! Another story for another day…

Why don’t you suggest to Nanay that she dump some of that Holiday Beef Loaf and replace it with a few bottles of fine rum…



About the puto…when I was living in Olongapo, I used to get a kick out of those neighborhood puto salesmen. It’s usually a toss up on who will wake you up first in the morning…a rooster, a tricycle, or a puto seller. The first time I heard some guy shouting “PUTO” at the top of his lungs at 5 a.m., I thought “gee, these benny boys sure start early over here"… 

Does your wife use the White King Puto Mix in the box?

Ray

[Dave H]

Hey Ray,




I always feel bad for the puto kutchinta (puto kutsina) and taho vendors. They are up so early and the taho is very heavy to carry!

I have a bottle or two of the good Tanduay coming..none of that 6 month old stuff for me! 

My wife's sister, makes me the puto from scratch. My wife just told me that they misplaced the recipe!    I guess she will have to use the White King Puto Mix...is it any good?

Dave

[Ray]

Dave,

That White King puto is pretty good, but of course I'm really no authority on fine puto.

You can make it yourself if you can find the mix in your local Filipino store. It's imported from the PI. About all you need is a mini muffin pan and a steamer or rice cooker. But I wouldn't ask your Latino neighbors if they would like some hot puto... 

White King also makes a pretty good bibingka mix.