My Asian Adventure, Day 9/10
I'm combining two days again since not much happened on day 9. I got up late, went down to write the postcards and was invited to lunch once more. this time, besides pork there was something fishy and red on the menu, which apparenty contained tiny shrimp... The menu here does seem to contain everything... Starch (rice or pansit, a noodle dish), fish, vegetables and meat.
On to day 10: it started earlier, as I really wanted to go to that beach. I asked whether the hostel staff could post those cards for me, but they pointed me to the post office for stamps. The post office is near the "Santo Niño" cathedral, so I guess I will have to visit that too...
But first, I go to the beach.
Because the entrance to the beach would cost me money, I went to the mall first, to get money. to my surprise the mall opened not @ 9am, but only @ 10. So I had to wait. I did make a few pictures of the waiting peop/e, and I got rid of the tissues I had been collecting in my pockets.
@ 10 I got into the mall, got the money, and got out. I grabbed a cab and @ 10:15 I was on my way to the beach.
On my way the driver stopped to get some gas, and apparently only had php500 in change. We swapped, and were back on our way. After approx. 45 minutes I reached the hotel, paid for the "day splash" and headed to the beach. I swam a (or is that two?) lap, put my towel on a chair and relaxed. Then I was told I should have left my towel @ home and to take a complimentary one.
After some more relaxing and another lap, I went to the "bar" and ordered a mango juice. I tried to compliment the woman serving on the care she took making it, but it sounded as if I thought it took too long...
After the lovely mango juice I had two glasses of icetea before going for the included lunch.
I had gado gado in a way that didn't drown everything in satay sauce, Thai chicken and a small bretzel. As well as two more glasses of icetea.
It might be called ''iced tea", but it's still not cold, iced tea, but rather a softdrink made from powder, and way too sweet.
After more swimming in the *very* clear ocean/sea and having answered some texts, I put my phone in my back pocket and went for a swim in the pool. After this I relaxed some more, watched other people swim and... remembered my phone!
The phone looked drowned and everything. I went to the front desk, and a concierge tried for 2 hours to get the phone dry...
I gave up on the high tea that was also included, and after gettíng internet acces, letting people know my phone died I took the long journey back to the hostel.
5pm on a friday is the same here as anywhere else: traffic jam time. The difference is that normally a car does not make a U-turn to get out of the jam... My cabby did. 75 minutes after leaving the hotel I was back at the hostel.
A quick change of clothes and off to the mall I went to get a new phone.
The woman @ Nokia care thought I was Santa when I said she could just repair the phone for someone else. Chances are it won't be fixed before I go to Butuan, and warranty is valid here anyway.
After getting a new phone and SIM, I went on the hunt for (postage) stamps. I did not catch any...
Time for some food and home. I settled for lasagne and fried chicken.
The taxi ride home was different... The hostel on a looong street which also has many clubs a kilometer or so away. The taxi driver could not find the hostel, because he was at the wrong part of the street.
I got out and walked in the direction I thought would get me to the hostel.
On my way, and with 120 pesos in my pocket, I was chased by begging kids and waved down by "club pullers". I just wanted to go to bed...
Getting home I craved a juice but settled for cold, delicious water.
On to day 10: it started earlier, as I really wanted to go to that beach. I asked whether the hostel staff could post those cards for me, but they pointed me to the post office for stamps. The post office is near the "Santo Niño" cathedral, so I guess I will have to visit that too...
But first, I go to the beach.
Because the entrance to the beach would cost me money, I went to the mall first, to get money. to my surprise the mall opened not @ 9am, but only @ 10. So I had to wait. I did make a few pictures of the waiting peop/e, and I got rid of the tissues I had been collecting in my pockets.
@ 10 I got into the mall, got the money, and got out. I grabbed a cab and @ 10:15 I was on my way to the beach.
On my way the driver stopped to get some gas, and apparently only had php500 in change. We swapped, and were back on our way. After approx. 45 minutes I reached the hotel, paid for the "day splash" and headed to the beach. I swam a (or is that two?) lap, put my towel on a chair and relaxed. Then I was told I should have left my towel @ home and to take a complimentary one.
After some more relaxing and another lap, I went to the "bar" and ordered a mango juice. I tried to compliment the woman serving on the care she took making it, but it sounded as if I thought it took too long...
After the lovely mango juice I had two glasses of icetea before going for the included lunch.
I had gado gado in a way that didn't drown everything in satay sauce, Thai chicken and a small bretzel. As well as two more glasses of icetea.
It might be called ''iced tea", but it's still not cold, iced tea, but rather a softdrink made from powder, and way too sweet.
After more swimming in the *very* clear ocean/sea and having answered some texts, I put my phone in my back pocket and went for a swim in the pool. After this I relaxed some more, watched other people swim and... remembered my phone!
The phone looked drowned and everything. I went to the front desk, and a concierge tried for 2 hours to get the phone dry...
I gave up on the high tea that was also included, and after gettíng internet acces, letting people know my phone died I took the long journey back to the hostel.
5pm on a friday is the same here as anywhere else: traffic jam time. The difference is that normally a car does not make a U-turn to get out of the jam... My cabby did. 75 minutes after leaving the hotel I was back at the hostel.
A quick change of clothes and off to the mall I went to get a new phone.
The woman @ Nokia care thought I was Santa when I said she could just repair the phone for someone else. Chances are it won't be fixed before I go to Butuan, and warranty is valid here anyway.
After getting a new phone and SIM, I went on the hunt for (postage) stamps. I did not catch any...
Time for some food and home. I settled for lasagne and fried chicken.
The taxi ride home was different... The hostel on a looong street which also has many clubs a kilometer or so away. The taxi driver could not find the hostel, because he was at the wrong part of the street.
I got out and walked in the direction I thought would get me to the hostel.
On my way, and with 120 pesos in my pocket, I was chased by begging kids and waved down by "club pullers". I just wanted to go to bed...
Getting home I craved a juice but settled for cold, delicious water.