I Made It To The Pi's!

[Tukaram (Tim)]

Well I have tried to post this a couple times already.  I am typing
on my little pos Nokia.  I type out a nice post and hit "submit" and
when the page refreshes there is no post - and everything I've written 
is gone.  So I gave up.  Now I am on my laptop and will just copy/paste
this into a thread when I get to  the internet cafe. 

 

To sum up:

I made it!  Been here a week and loving it.

A little more detail:

I arrived on14FEB13 at 0545 in Iloilo.  My girlfriend is going to
meet me, and bring a big car because I brought too much stuff.  Three
suitcases and a carry-on!  I never travel this heavy but it is
retirement, not a vacation so it is ok.   I don't know the job title but
you know the hustlers at every airport in the  world, trying to get you
a taxi or stay at certain hotels?  Well by 0700 this one lady was
frantic with worry for me being stranded at the airport... "get a hotel
and use the wifi to contact your girlfriend" she says. She is only
watching out for my best interests, you know.  I keep telling her that
it is not

that late - I will not worry until lunch, I understand Filipino time,
and have traveled alone too much to get worried easily.  And I already
spotted a hotdog vendor in case I was there for lunch ha ha.  About 0745
they get there.  They brought a pickup truck. And with usual Filipino
logic they filled it with  family!  Nah... there was room for luggage,
there were only 8 people.

 

Welcome to the Philippines!

 

I am out in the Province.  You know the routine, cement hut,
tin roof, squat toilet, and a bucket for a shower.  It is not so bad
really :)  Aircon and plumbing are over-rated.

 

I am going to ramble so don't worry there is no way this thread can go off topic.... there is no real  topic. 

 

The 3 hour drive from Iloilo to Antique took about 5 hours. 
We had to stop and meet her whole family (or so I thought!).  Then they
want to stop at a mall....  I keep mumbling about 2 straight days of
travel.... I'm tired.... but we keep going.   Finally get to the house
and pass out.  The next day we took the bus to town, about an hour'ish
ride to San Jose.  Nice little place.  I buy a phone.  Glad I did not
buy one before going.  They all said the Android won't work this far out
in the boonies except on wifi - and there is none near the house.  I
have to run on just loads and every store said not to try an Android....
poor me.... I miss my Android OS.  So here I am on a piece of S#!^
Nokia and a lousy connection.  Good thing the beach is nearby, who needs
the internet!

Next day we hop on the motorcycles and go to the waterfall.  I
of course pay everyone's way into the park but the  entire day didn't
cost ₱1,000.  It was a lot of fun!  We hiked 1.5K up a mountain to a
series of waterfalls.  The water was freaking cold!!  The girls had some
barbecue pork kabobs to cook (we don't need refrigeration out here) and
I bought chips and fruit juice at the store - conveniently located at
the top of the mountain.  Swimming, climbing up the falls with a rope,
hanging on to the back of a bike... on about 9 hours sleep in the last 4
days. 

 

This is not in any kind of order, just things we've done this
week.  We went to the wet market, walked to the beach, laid in bed all
day listening to the rain on the tin roof, went to Brgy Tibiao for a
festival and to use the free wifi in their town square.  I couldn't get
it to connect for some reason so we went to an internet cafe down the
road.  I found a new hangout!  Good lunch and cheap wifi (₱50 for all
day - and an extra 20 if you use their electricity).   We go take a walk
one night for exercise and everywhere we go we run into more family.
And as I am trying to exercise with a walk all I hear is "eat! eat!" 
The Filipino's are a hospitable people I will grant you that.   We have
had numerous family visitors come by to meet me.   One brought a gift of
2 ducks, so I provided the brandy for the nights drinking on the
patio.   I have had rice at almost every meal and I am ok with that. 
The bait fish they fry and eat are actually ok.  Especially considering I
am  not a seafood fan.  I did turn down some  balut but tried
everything else offered.    If you do not know what balut is - Google it
and get back with  me ha ha.

Big problem coming soon.
I sent 11 boxes of goods ahead of me.  They should be here in about 6
weeks and I have nowhere to put any of it!   I am living out of my
suitcases because I have nowhere to unpack my clothes even.  We need to
find our own house anyway, I think. 

We are going to Iloilo next week for my first visa extension
and check out the city.  She has family there too.  I'm pretty happy in
the barangay but Melane thinks I will get bored soon.  We will look 
around Iloilo while there and see what we think about it.  

I have not been on a computer in a week and my shoulders are cramping up already... back to  lounging around! 

See you later   :tiphat:

 

 

~Edit~ I have tried posting this thing twice already.... I corrected the format but did not save it.... post did not post... not correcting it again.  Sorry.   Somewhere between Word and here the word wrap got F'ed up.

[lyno 47]

Good luck tuka sounds like so far so good keep us posted when you can cheers

[Dave Hounddriver]

I'm pretty happy in the barangay but Melane thinks I will get bored soon

 

She's a wise girl.  Enjoy it while it is new.

[Tukaram (Tim)]

So far the barangay is alright.  Lots of friends and family for her.   But maybe the city is good for me... we will go next week and see.  But everyone here is very nice.  I have to go extend my visa anyway. 

[jpbago]

Welcome to the PI. Interesting post. As they say "It is the Filipino way." 

[ibemarshall]

Excellent report...thanks for the multiple attempts in getting it posted. It was great to read and know you are now one of the guys with "flip flops on the ground"!

 

Cheers~~

[earthdome]

Sounds like you just dived into the deep end of the pool and the water felt fine. Congrats.

[Jollygoodfellow]

Somewhere between Word and here the word wrap got F'ed up.

 

Not sure if you mean posting from a microsoft word document but maybe try this.

 

 

[Will]

Glad to hear you finally made it, Tuka! Enjoy yourself.... This ain't Texas no more! Keep us updated on how things are going for you.

[SNIXX]

Glad to hear you finally made it, Tuka! Enjoy yourself.... This ain't Texas no more! Keep us updated on how things are going for you.

 

Talk about a great summation! I don't think I'll ever forget visits to West Texas. Anyway this is about Tuka's new life. Congrats!!