Philippines! - prrrrl

My entourage

prrrrl — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A head cold [that made me the most avoided passenger on the airplane] was keeping me out of deep waters. With a stuffy nose one cannot equalize pressure in one's ears. Snort! So I snorkeled instead. The guest House was offering a trip to a local island and I signed up. We had two guides from the guest House, both men. We were a group of 5 of which I was the only female.

:-D

Not here, not now!

prrrrl — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

I was the passenger every one hated: opening my barf bag to have at the ready. But not for upchucking into - for sneezing into. I wouldn't have wanted to sit next to me.

This flight is sponsered by...

prrrrl — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

They managed to serve beverages and sell snacks despite the non-stop ads over the plane's speakers. And then they announced a contest! I remember friends telling how they onced vied for a bottle of wine offered by flight attendants pre-takeoff. Cool! The first question i don't remember. "Can you show us a family photo with all your family members?" To the second question my hand shot up. The flight attendant saw me first! I pulled out my iPhone, tap open the photo icon and voilà, I'm a Winner! Bottle of wine? Free snack? No. Two multi-vitamins and a seven day pill dispenser. Just another ad.

This flight is sponsered by...

prrrrl — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

But equal?

prrrrl — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Did you know that there are two lines for security screening at the Manila Airport? One for men and one for women. I did not notice until I told a man that 'last call' for my flight had been announced and could I cut in the block long line to the metal detector. He directed me to the women's line. All were very polite and understanding of my rush.

Slow down!

prrrrl — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

One often sees cautionary road signs. "Slow down, construction zone." "Slow down, school zone." "Slow down, congested area ahead." But, "Slow down, fish vendor ahead?" We were traveling too fast for me to snap a photo of it but it was there, trust me.

My First Pedicure!

prrrrl — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

There's a salon in town that caters to locals, not tourists. I enjoyed their $4, one hour massage the other day. Yesterday I went back for the $2 pedicure, my very first. My toe nails are now a strong tangerine orange.

They took forever to dry I had a nice conversation with my pedicurist. She is almost 29 and not married. I showed her pictures of my travels in her country, I showed her pictures of my family. Unlike locals I met in Jordan and Madagascar, she did not ask me to bring her to the States.

Dive! Dive! Dive!

prrrrl — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

I did my first negative buoyancy dive from a boat today. Scary in that I did not drop like a stone as I was suppose to. I drifted into the boat. The boats are well designed, fortunately, with the propeller at the back and the dive platform at the front. The dive master grabbed me and helped me start my descent.

The current was very strong - great if you know where you are going and want to get there fast. Bad if you're a new-again diver and have never seen the route before. I just kept a close eye on the dive master.

In my three dives I saw wiggling fish [more than just a general observation - it was two particular fish and it was probably a communication behavior], zig-zag gaping clams [a personal favorite of mine], spiraling yellow 'Christmas tree' coral filtering mouths pull in quickly to their rock like base when I passed over, a large polka dot fish that had small polka dots in the large polka dots, zig-zag topped fish, one highly venomous [making rattle snakes seem like wimps] sea snake, shrimp smaller than a pea. Some fish were super bright; others were highly camouflaged. All were very interesting.

Rhymes with 'new spagetti.'

prrrrl — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

I passed through Manila briefly and have spent an entire week in Dumaguete City, Negros Island. [For pronunciation, see title of this entry!] Been a little bit lazy but not enough. Been a little bit adventurous and it's been great. This place makes Beijing look expensive!

Too hot to stay in this internet cafe!! Later!