Wednesday, 5 May 2010

Another Day,

so a walk around town, towards the middle of Walking Street there is this imposing building, the Royal Amsterdam, we had a quick look at the menu and decided to eat there in the evening,
Royal Amsterdam on the right looking along Walking Street, but all of that walking was so dehydrating we just had to stop for some refreshments, where better than Garfields?
followed by Peanuts,
which was close to the Perimeter bar, P45 for a beer? bargain!
the Bare Assets was also quite alluring,
then a quick one or two in the Sunshine bar and it was time to head back to the hotel, (we would have stayed longer but we had a combined wealth of 19 pesos!),
the hotel pool in daylight,
note to hotel house keeping services, 'do not put a hot iron on a nylon carpet!' speaking of notes to the wise, almost every bar out here puts up the name and message of some one that rings the bell (buys a drink for all of the staff, 4-7,000 pesos), some of the messages are helpful tips, 'do not skate with hot blades on thin ice' well yes a good tip, 'look both ways before crossing a one way street' that one is a life saver over here and in Thailand, but this one had me guessing 'do not pet a burning dog' I am still trying to think of the circumstances where that one will come in handy,
on to our evening meal at the Royal Amsterdam, Glen had already started a bottle of laughing lizard,
starters had arrived,
for us it was up to the well stocked salad bar,
followed by beef and onion soup,
breaded prawns with a seafood dip,
by now we had run out of wine so a bottle of Hardy's was next on the list,
'Cheers!' from all of us,
the girls had a buko pandan each for dessert,
after my steak I fancied a banana split, it was delicious, diet starts soon!
then, yep, you guessed it another round of bar hopping, starting with Bed Rock,
Joe was in full party mode, over in the Philippines you can buy these tubes that when twisted using compressed air blow out confetti, as a way of giving the dancers some money Joe folded 5 20 peso notes and put them in the tube, so it was then a money shower,
another strange looking step through machine,
a real hole in the wall bar, The One Eyed Wench, a sort of nautical turn,
Eager Beavers was a huge bar,
for some reason just as Diana was taking this picture Joe decided that my nipple needed a pinch,
the next day and it was breakfast in another of Diana's favorite restaurants, KFC, for me the chicken but with out the skin, I seem to remember that some one told me that chicken skin was very fattening,
next to the cigar store, Owen had asked me to pick up some Tabaclera Robustos cigars for him, I almost fancied one myself!
then Diana showed me how strong she was by hanging over the side of a building!
time for our final meal we went to Margeritavile, but whilst waiting I spotted this guy over the road with 4 kids on his bike, you would have thought he would have had a 3 wheeler, I mean where does her indoors sit if they are all going out?
the food arrives, spring rolls for Diana, two pork chops for me,
Glen's food has yet to arrive,
clam chowder for Joe, then it is time for us to go, but first a piece of good news for Diana's sister Donna, having just graduated we heard that she the next day is starting work as an accountant in one of the hotels, so we wished her every success, now for a bit of a coincidence Damon was in the Philippines in Sabang island in Mindoro but he decided to pop up to Angeles for a couple of days, we had not been in touch but as we were waiting for our taxi who should walk in but Damon! how strange, we were in the same out of town hotel, 5 minutes earlier or later we would have missed each other,
then to the airport, Joe decided to do an impromptual trick, which went disastrously wrong, the result you can see!
we soon arrived home, although there is a little upset out here the only difference we noticed was an armed soldier at the pay booths on the toll way, of course Diana was in a rush to see her welcome home presents,
first some earrings,
then a few more,
a dress,
and of course some chocalate!
some just had to be tried on,
sparkling silver, well now the blog is almost up to date and it is time for us to go to bed, we had a wonderful time in the Philippines, it was so nice for Diana to see her family and friends out there, we will try to go again next year, I just hope the exchange rate for the baht and peso is better though!

We Are Back!

but first a look at what Diana and the family have been up to,
Hi! from little sis, Dioshane,
and of course Diana and cousin Risha ann Diana's niece Daisy
Diana's mum Sandra and Daisy
little bro Sandio
Diana with younger sister Donna in her graduation dress, Diana had left for the Philippines a few days before Joe and myself so she could attend Donna's graduation,
Diana's older sister Diosalyn and her baby girl Daisy
Mum having a little make up applied by Donna, the ceremony begins outside the university,
Donna and Diana,
Donna and Mum all set to go,
the award ceremony,
Donna pose by a sculpture,
Donna and her friend,
then it is fun time in the pool,
outside seating for later when the food arrives,
but meanwhile keeping cool is the order of the day!
Donna with Risha, Ivan,Gab and Isabel,
Diana with baby Risha one thing out here is that on a day like this everyone helps in,
so when the food is prepared,
in this case a bar-b-q,
it comes as no surprise to see Diana's Mum helping out,
some of Donna's friends,
Espi and Arsy both friends of the family,
'Cheers!' from some of Diana's relatives,
some more school friends,
of course Donna received some graduation gifts from her friends and family,
Donna's proud father and mother Dado and Sandra,
another present to open,
her graduation photos,
and some clothes,
a happy little sis with a very happy niece Daisy
Ces and Joy were also at Diana's house for a celebration,
along with Risha's mother,Rona and Joy,
no family get together would be complete with out a meal at Jollibees, this one is in the SM mall,
every time we go there a different attraction is on display, this time the Hulk,
and a chance to hang on for your life! Dioshane and Donna
again there were these walking rickshaws, I have mentioned them the last time we were here,
they somehow looked scary, especially when they walked towards you, I do not have a clue why, maybe it was just me,
also although difficult to see a static bungee jump,
and a merry go round, which Daisy enjoyed
a very pround Dad,
Donna, Dioshane and Diana,
who were later joined by Sandio all in all Diana said she had a nice time with her family and friends, then it was time for Joe and myself to arrive.