Philippine Travels

Going to give these guys a plug on the blog too, as its always cool to have a great place to hang at  the beach. We have had a few good nights here, all good.. Food, Music and Drinks.. what more could you want on a hot Philippines beach night. Flotsam and Jetsam hostel website https://www.facebook.com/flotsamandjetsamhostel Post by Flotsam and Jetsam Hostel . Flotsam Fun at La Union from Justine Galvez on Vimeo .

 All credit goes to Scott Ruffenr for this Classic handcrafted piece of writing Nick the young MD from California just checked into the hotel across the driveway from my apartment. We had met just a week ago, so I hailed him from across the way and invited him in for a drink. He drives a big van that he says he needs to haul “the gang” around with, presumably the family of his wife, as he had told me he was married to a Filipina. We share the same mechanic for our vehicles, and in my first conversation with him had garnered the fact that he was married , and was planning on building a house or estate down on the very remote island of Negros. I guess every place one has not visited in a third world country seems “remote” and therefore only worth visiting; and not taken seriously as a place to reside for a westerner. He disagreed in my assessment of the area being remote, and extolled the virtues of his chosen place, assuring me there were plenty of retired foreigner...

 All credit goes to Scott Ruffenr for this Classic handcrafted piece of writing Jazzy hasn’t got an ounce of fat on him. There he sits on that injection molded plastic chair, next to a gray plastic stack table; a picture of true Malay genetics. Even an untraveled westerner would never mistake him for Chinese or Japanese. High cheekbones and a longish jaw form a triangular face on a sort of flat plane. It’s as if his facial bones and skull are trying to force their way to the surface from under his exceedingly lean skin. The only hair on his face is a dozen or so whiskers protruding from his chin about 3 inches down towards his chest. Small brown almond shaped eyes angle upwards toward his temples. Long tombstone shaped teeth dangle at odd angles from his bluish- black receding gums. He is wearing a knitted beanie cap with Jamaican national colors, although his somewhat curly, shoulder length hair is too thin for proper dreadlocks. His brother Josh sits at the same table...

 All credit goes to Scott Ruffenr for this Classic handcrafted piece of writing The surfboard shapers have arrived today. A large gray van is parked in the entrance to the driveway, and our landlord Bill is greeting the occupants. “Hey Mate! How ya goin’? Are you ready for a beer?” chirps Bill. “Bloody Oath” is the reply from the occupants. Trevor, one of the shapers, exits the van first. A smallish man, the first impression one has is the contradictory features of his physical appearance. He has a ruddy complexion, cadaverous cheeks, a pointed nose, and smallish mouth. His skin is of the Irish- English type with lots of freckles, and the years he has spent in the sun have weathered his hands, arms, and particularly the back of his neck; which is deeply furrowed like a cracked old red leather catcher’s mitt. His fingers are of average length, but the ends of each appendage are bulbous and calloused. He looks as if he could crawl on ceilings just like geckos do. Doubtles...

All credit goes to Scott Ruffenr for this Classic handcrafted piece of writing Neddy -  The Filipina Wife Chubby brown cheeks behind a toothy smile, her broad flat nose features two flared nostrils that bear a striking resemblance to the business end of a double-barreled ,12 gauge shotgun. She ties her short, black hair up behind her head housemaid style. Prodigious and pendulous breasts hang unencumbered by any sort of brassiere under her oversize t-shirts. Happy and talkative, she is a cheerful ball of fat dragging her slippers as she walks across the driveway, chattering to the workers and her children. One of her favorite pastimes is sitting on the terrace while one of the many women who help with cleaning the building, pick her scalp for white hairs. I sometimes think they are really looking for lice. This scene can go for a couple of hours some afternoons, with the chatter between the women never seeming to ebb. What do they talk about? Family, friends, and money ar...