Dive-Monster Rhoody

The Chocolate Hills of Negros ???

Well, now Rhoody is completely nuts, hey wait a second of course it is the first of April and he wanna fool us.

No, Rhoody does not fool you guys. Not many people know that Negros has its very own Chocolate Hills. They are not as many as the world famous chocolate Hills in Bohol. As a matter of fact it took me quite a while to discover them and even longer to write about them.

I saw the Chocolate Hills of Negros a long time ago on a trip to Bacolod and as I never heard about Chocolate Hills as a tourist attraction in Negros AND was a bit hang-overed, it could have been a bit of daydreaming. Well, I took my camera and took a quick snapshot of the Chocolate Hills. Falling asleep again I just downloaded some hundred pictures when back in Dumaguete and completely forgot about them.

By the way you can find the Chocolate Hills of Negros on a wonderful trip from San Carlos to Bacolod.

Now it is up to you to find out if Rhoody was to hang-overed, try to fool you or knows Negros better than most others.

Cheers and good luck in finding the truth

Rhoody

Tags:

So after this absolute bad Hooters Experience we walked through the Mall of Asia, bought our survival-kit (underwear, toothpaste etc.) jumped into a Taxi and drove to Malate where our Hotel – the Executive Plaza – was located.

The Hotel was 1.900 Peso what was actually a ok-deal compared to their published rates and or short-term booking. The room was OK, the water-pressure high so I took a loooong shower. One thing I did not like, there was almost no cell-signal in the room, well, there are worse things in the world, one of it are TV’s which show you after switching it on 98 channels to select from. I canned through the list and wanted to watch some news, when selecting the channel the only thing I saw was “snow”, well ok, let’s try another one. . . same snow just a different shade of gray…  at  the end I had about 13 available channels, 6 Filipino selling-whatever channels, one with showing a list 98 available channels and 4 with different cameras showing live the traffic on EDSA. …

Around 7:00pm  the 3.5 big long-noses met again in the lobby to head out for some cold beverages. Kim guided us to a place called “Blue Room”. The Blue Room is a great warm-up or hangout place. Nice seating, good snacks and relatively cheap drinks (considering the location).

They played very interesting (sometimes as bit disturbing) music. I would call it a kind of smooth Jazz and it was easy to listen and not too loud. The disturbing part was, that all songs were Jazzy versions of famous songs, and welcome to the Jungle by Gun ‘n Roses in smooth Jazz just sounds wrong. Still, the Blue Room was is a place I will go again when in Manila if I ever can find that again.

At around 11 we headed to the EDSA Entertainment Complex. First thing the guard took away my little camera as they have a no-photo policy. The EDSA Entertainment Complex houses several bars kept in different themes. We had about one drink in each Bar but didn’t get into a party mood. At around 3:00am we made our way back to the Hotel of course not without heading to McDonald’s first to have a small Take-out Snack existing of 2 Quarter Pounder Meals. Pretty much stuffed I felt asleep about 4 am.

Five hours later a woke up and it was impossible to go back to the land of dreams and the spy cams on EDSA-channels lost my interests after about 3,5 seconds, so I texted Kim from the Hotel-Lobby who was already out for Breakfast in Robinsons which is just located around the corner in 2 Minutes walking distance.

Breakfast with Kim and BigC at Burger King as Kim needed to charge his cellphone and this service is available in that fastfood chain… it turned out to be a bit bigger meal than planned. The original order was  Western – BBQ-Burger-double and while I was waiting Kim looked at his order to find out it was the wrong Burger so he gave it to me to shorten my waiting time. Well half way through that Burger Mine arrived. It was actually pretty good and it took about 60% of the burger to find out it is just a single and not double like ordered. So back to the counter complaining and waiting for my real order… It finally came correct and after 1,5 and a half burgers I was ready to roll to the Mall of Asia for some shopping before meeting the guys again for watching Avatar. Well, of course not without having “lunch” with another burger at Wendys…

Cheers

Rhoody

Tags:

That is the continuation of the IMAX – Experience story below and I admit that Manila Burger Run is a kind of strange title, but after reading it I am sure you will understand that there can’t be any different name for that article. So let’s start where the other one was ending…

So here they stand the 3.5 fat long-noses at 2pm on a Sunday afternoon holding tickets for “Avatar” in 3D at the IMAX for the next day at 4:50 pm. First thing was to find a Hotel what was not a big issue as the guys have countless connections and a few txt later all bookings were done. Time for lunch.

We decided to try Hooters which is actually not located in the Mall but a half marathon away from the Mall of Asia… Hooters is a well known Burgers Chain in the US, pretty famous for OK Burger but more famous for the waitresses with Bigger Boobs then Brains. That is actually identical with Hooters behind the Mall of Asia.

The small difference is that the Boobs of the local Hooters waitresses didn’t fill a Cup-A Bra, so don’t ask for the brain…  Accordingly went our try to order… if there wouldn’t be typhoons and flooding in the Philippines, I would describe the “order and what got delivered”-procedure as a mild disaster. Well don’t blame the girls there, they just stick to the company – outlines, remember: “Bigger Boobs then Brains”. They still look better then the average burger sales lady in Germany.

So our first starter came of course together with the main course, the second starter did not show up, but after a reminder it was served when all other dishes were eaten,  the side dishes came after that. That all would be normal in a low-standard restaurant in Dumaguete but not for that price-class…that is simply annoying.

What made the Hooters experience to a real unforgettable event was simply the quality of the dishes. I am not a gourmet but that was simply disgusting… the fried shrimps had still the shells on under the breading and after the first bite lead to a small cut my gums I skipped on that.. The Burger I ordered looked a kind of Yummy, but that is as far the culinary delight went. First bite and BLEHHHH … Filipino Sweet Burger Buns. What the F… is going on here. Ok I am hungry so somehow a Gallon Hot Sauce and Heinz fixed the weird taste.

To pretend staying a kind of healthy we also ordered some vegetable side dish, just to discover another outstanding surprise. Hooters must have an employee whose job is to soak carrots in old kitchen oil and/or somehow injects it also… I am very aware that this sounds a bit strange, as was my experience after 39 years wandering around on this planet eating minimum 3 times daily.

That I was only able to have my bottomless drink refilled once in about 1.5 hours was only another adding experience.

Well , the bill was just over 100 US$ !!!! for a pile of  crappy  burgers, boob-less waitresses and oily carrots. I definitely will put Hooters on my “been there, done that, but never again”-List.

So we were more than ready to leave that place and back to the mall, to buy some clothes and stuff needed for the unplanned overnight-stay in Manila.

Enough for now…. The Manila Burger Run continues…

cheers

Rhoody

Tags:

Part of my “goals” here in the Philippines is to explore these wonderful Islands. I have several travel guides at home, of course the lonely Planet is a must have. My big problem with Lonely Planet or the “Jens Peters”  travel guides is simply that there are only a few pages about the destinations I plan to visit. On my research for a travel guide to Bohol, I came across a guide called Bohol Insider written by Jack Sterling.

Well, I live in Dumaguete and have been to Bohol a few times –it is only a short Ferryride away- so I was very interested what “insider knowledge” Bohol Insider has to offer. Bohol Insider is an e-book what is absolute perfect for me as I always travel with my notebook anyway, so I don’t need to carry around a 500+ paper-book, where there are only some pages about the area I plan to visit.

The purchase was done via Paypal for US$ 9,95 and after a minute or so I got my download-links. The purchase included also a free Tagalog phrasebook. The download took about 3-4 minutes as 12MB is a huge file in Dumaguete-Broadband-Speed. Bohol Insider is a travel guide with more than 150 pages full of information and great illustrations.

The first thing which I recognized was that the book had my email-address on each page, a small thing but I like that personal touch. After scanning through the first few chapters it is pretty obvious that Jack Sterling is obviously living in the Philippines and is not just a student send from the well known Travel Guides to write short paragraphs about some Hotels and tourist attractions.

The Bohol Insider Travel Guide covers a lot of interesting areas way beyond the typical “where to go – what to eat – what to see “ – questions. The book covers many details like money changing, dealing with vendors, historical back-grounds, diving info and and and… just a lot of stuff I could not find in any other guide and I caught myself a few times thinking “Yeah, Rhoody, you messed that up on your last trip”

The Travel guide has a nice format with great pictures. One thing I really like is a kind of funny cartoon-mascot which goes through different situations typical for the Philippines I made some screenshots and posted them below. They made me smile numerous times and I saw myself many times in that situations.

One thing I actually miss is a kind of index, where I could go faster to the section I look for with a single “click” and not scrolling, well I am lazy… hehe

Jack Sterling’s Bohol Insider Travel Guide offers free updates and since I bought the book a month ago it extended from 145 to 156 pages and I am almost sure that index for lazy Rhoodys will come one of the next updates.

All in all Jack Sterling’s Bohol Insider is in my opinion by far the best Travel Guide about the beautiful Island of Bohol and helped even me… and I am living since 8 years in this lovely country. For US$ 9.95 free updates and the free Phrasebook, Bohol Insider is a total no-brainer and of great value, no matter if you are an experienced Philippines traveler or a first-timer in Bohol.

cheers

Rhoody

Tags:

Hello readers… it been long time again that I don’t post any news  for this site… and like always… we keep saying we continue it… ..

Here is some story that maybe you guys don’t know yet…. As of mine before  I also don’t know it, but I read some history of where Tacloban City get that name from… and why and some of it is my grand mother told me.

In the barrio of Basay Samar, there is a place name Kankabato its  developed from a small fishing village. The word Tacloban evolved from the word “Taklub“, it look like a basket but its a contraption for catching fish and crabs…. When people ask  the fisher man, where he is going… the fisher man answer “in Tarakluban” mean in Kankabato using his “Taklub” to catch some fish…. Later on the word express in shorter way… “Tacloban”

Tacloban city has the final approval   came on February 16, 1830 as a capital of the province of Leyte.

Tacloban city is where our former first lady Mrs: Imelda  Romualdez  Marcos from..  and now form Rumualdez clan, the  Tacloan city mayor  is Mr: Alfred Romualdez.

There has a lot of changing in this place… new public market and bus terminals…. And new department stores… not like before when I was  little Rechel…  here is a short story about Tacloban City..

With  in the time of their term.. The 20 years in service as a President  of the Philippines  the legend and   hero Mr:Ferdinand Marcos  and  his wife Mrs Imelda Romualdez  Marcos plan to connect  Leyte and Samar…  one of the place where people of Leyte and Samar  proud of..

The San Juanico bridge was constructed in 1973 during the administration of the late President  Mr:Ferdinand Marcos, the bridge is supported by 43 spans that rise 41 meters above the sea. Its also the longest  bridge in the Philippines. One of the spots people want to see when they visit the city of Tacloban.

This  city is well-known also for its role in Word war II, being a major base for the US forces and the first town liberated by  Douglas MacArthur’s  forces from the Japanese Imperial Forces, and its serve as a capital of the Philippines… because for  in that time Manila was under Japanese control. its happen late 18 century. When peace finally,… Mr: Rojas was designated chief of Police of Tacloban and a company of American soldiers was placed under his command..

In February 1901, the first American military governor of Leyte is   name  Col. Murray, assumed in his office… He had only one aim in mind: “gain the friendship of the people by getting their confidence”..

Tacloban awakened to see Japanese imperial forces in its midst On May 24, 1942. For little more than two years, it suffered from hunger, terror and brutalities of the invaders as because the ugliness of war.

But people never forgot to pay homage to their Patron saint, Sr. Santo Niño, by celebrating the town fiesta and  One such big commemoration was on the fiesta of 1843, on June 30 where an industrial and agricultural fair was held in the old Leyte park…  Because this celebration the hate and sorrow of war were forgotten, so that’s way its became one of the most remembered carnivals in town ever held.

This Leyte Park is also a nice place in Tacloban City…

Leyte was the first in the itinerary of MacArthur’s return route to the Philippines.. its October 20, 1944. People in Leyte celebrate this day too. People  are Chewing gun, cigarettes, chocolates , candy’s and wide American smiles its symbolize of friendship and freedom. According to My grand mother story as this is long time ago.  And Now this place called MacArthur Park. And Every October 20 people celebrates, the landing of MacArthur.its also  cold the place Leyte Gulf landing. As  it’s the place itinerary of MacArthur’s return route to the Philippines and this place is one on the list of the parks in Leyte.

The fiesta in Tacloban is every June 30 its calld The Patron saint, Sr. Santo Niño. This Festival called Pentadus  festival… some small municipalities join the parade and street dancing. The leader of each participants gracefully dancing with the image Sr. Santo Niño … its colorful festival… people are using paint for decors and paint them self too… and even the audience and local putting paint to other audience… as a remembrance of the celebrations.

Have a nice Day

Maldita

Tags:

After my Malapascua adventure The Dane, Mike their Girls an I were flying back to Angeles City where we stood 2 days before Kim and me were heading for a Visa Run from Clark to Singapore.

The Dane found a flight for around 100 Dollar with Tiger Air to Singapore. It is very convenient to fly from the Clark Airport and it seems that there is still some american influence as the whole procedure from arriving to departure runs way smoother than in most other destinations in the Philippines.

We had the pleasure to stay in an apartment of Kims friend (who also picked us up at the airport), where (for what ever reason ) I had the room with the only working Aircon. Of course I offered my big danish friend to change the rooms, but he rejected my offer.

After a quick shower we headed to the next MRT Station, bought a 3-day-tourist ticket and drove down to little India to have a snack. I love Indian food and my friend the Dane knew his way around in that area. I can die for all this dips, breads and variety of tastes. Our snack turned out to be bigger than I usually eat in one day and while Kim and Tic Tac were on the way to fulfill a Filipina-dream (Malling in a real country and real Mall abroad) I went back to the apartment to have a rest.

On that evening we went with our host to a wonderful seafood restaurant named Jumbo and had a dinner. That dinner was just like the Indian stuff absolutely gorgeous and I just could not stop eating.

After that feast, we rolled back to the car to hit some Singaporean Nightspots. One very good thing about that dinner was, that I  was so stuffed that there was not much space for beer. So I went almost sober through the night and had a good rest for the next day. Our plan was to hit Santosa Island, a whole Island with several attractions and a great location to spend a whole day of fun and enjoyment… more about my Visa Run from Clark to Singapore the next days…

cheers

Rhoody

Tags:

There is nobody really willing to work on Malapascua as it is the day of the local Fiesta. That might be also the reason why we had a tiny rental boat instead of one of the big boats from the Resort.

We met about 6pm in the Restaurant of Exotic Dive Resort and filled in the usual paperwork. Zoe the manager the dive-shop welcomed us and asked about our dive-plans. Of course we wanted to dive Monad Shoal for the Tresher Sharks and Mantas. Mike is an Open Water Diver and she explained us that the shop-policy does not allow OW divers there as it is a deep dive with 24 meters.

Being an SCUBA PADI Instructor and knowing the business I do agree to a certain point. I certainly would not take Open Water Divers to 24 meters on their first dive with me. And that is also the perfect Scenario to sell an Advanced Open Water course.

Even I wanted to be the Instructor for his AOW, I recommended to go for it with Exotic Dive Resort. Diving Monad Shoal to see Mantas and Thresher Sharks is the whole point of this trip. So Mike signed up for the Advanced Open Water course and got the manual to do his homework. As we can’t go tomorrow to Monad Shoal we signed up for a daytrip with 2 dives at Gato Island where Mike can go for his fish ID and the navigation part of the course. The Trip leaves at 9 pm and we go for 2 dives.

After all is done we finally can start our family reunion and order some cold beverages. The Menu for our dinner included some curry, sweet sour chicken, Sinigang, no salad as they were out of stock and a lot of rice. About 9:30 pm we needed to sign our bill as the restaurant want to close… hmm ok, still strange to kick out 5 people willing to spend money but not allowed to.  At least when they claim themselves to have a high standard.

off for holiday… cheers

Rhoody

Tags: