Dive-Monster Rhoody

Falling in line - Perfect demonstration

The “big” Robinsons Mall is open a few weeks now. It appeared before the opening that it is the reinvention of the wheel for Dumaguete. Unseen waves of excitement swapped through Dumaguete and I heard a lot of people talking bad about Lee Plaza and how great Robinson will be. This guys are exactly the same who are talking bad about Robinsons Place in Dumaguete.

So what is Robinsons Place in Dumaguete now… breathtaking, stunning, disappointing, a disaster? Ok let me get Rhoody’s opinion online. Robinsons is a perfect step in the right direction.  The Mall is simply a provincial Mall in a province-town.

Knowing some people I had the chance to enter Robinsons Place Dumaguete about one hour before the grand opening. I definitely like the place in general. The stores and shops are what had to be expected. Some local shops moved there and there is not a lot new. Like each Mall in the PI they have problems with stocking up for the opening and run out of stock after the first few hours.

Glamorous opening

That of course gave the “typical” complainer enough reasons to whine around again…. the traffic.. and the bike-turn-arounders at parking area, and it is too cold inside. Andandand…

My Rhoody-Award goes again to a part German – Speaking – Expat community here in Dumaguete for what I hear online and read on several blogs and internet-board. I really love Germany, but this “personalities” made me turn my back to the country, Rhoody can’t live with all that grumpiness. ood that their very limited English skills keeps them of Dumagueteinfo. I wouldn’t be a moderator for DI with those guys around…

Ok, here are my two cents. The traffic is less than before unless you go at 5 – 7 pm. But there is no way of going smooth in the city for the last 4 years and all this retired complainers can go there from 9 am – 4 pm, where there is absolutely no problem at all.

At present are 39 out of 100plus shops open and we are of course in the province and won’t have the shops many are dreaming of.

I have been there a few times now, alone, with Rechel, with the little one and never had a bad time. The little one has space, mama can look at shoes and high-heals and I go “talent-scouting”. We have a look at the Supermarket if they re-stocked (for all complainers, they had a lot of great stuff at the opening what you do not get anywhere else in Duma and it will come back.)

correct, keep Mall clean, but make trashcans bigger

Of course Robinson Place Dumaguete was a “Rush-Opening” and stores and shops are not finished, the staff is not very knowledgeable and things are out of stock , however there are already some new options for dining, shopping, watching a movie (81 Peso only !!!! ) or just roaming around, getting an overview and go to buy it somewhere else.

Listening to some people here in Dumaguete it seems they are “forced” to go there, bad luck to you !!! I am a kind of free and can decide where and when I wanna go. Having my little one Happy and smiling for some hours and seeing Rechel in different sexy high-heals (without buying them… hehe) makes me also happy and willing to pay 2 peso more for my coffee at Robinsons Place in Dumaguete City.

Cheers

Rhoody

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Neva’s Pizza and Pasta in Dumaguete is a great place I know since a long time, but for whatever reason never made it there. So 2 weeks ago a grasped my little one and Rechel and got into a trike to get there to check the place out for lunch.

It has been a hot morning and I actually was a bit afraid that I gonna sweat my big Lubot off as there is no aircon room there and with the location of Neva’s Pizza a kind of in the middle of the city it could get a sweaty affair for me. Surprisingly, I was OK there and the fan’s kept me on a level that I did not get soaky wet of sweat in a split-second and looking like the water-fountain in my garden…

Neva’s Pizza call them self also as the “Home of the Kuripot Pizza” in Dumaguete and after a quick look on the menu I could not agree more. The Pizza at Nevas in Dumaguete are available in the “Special” and “Kuripot” version, the “special” at Neva’s comes with Mozzarella while the “Kuripot”-version is with Cheddar cheese. Prices for a good sized Pizza at Neva’s are starting already at P 78 !!! The average “Special Pizza” is around 150 Peso, the “Kuripot” averaging at 100 Peso. Pasta and rice Meals from 47 Peso to 109 Peso.

Our order was the most expensive Pizza, the Neva’s Specialty with 218 Peso and my little one ordered chicken Milanese for 80 Peso, plus a pitcher of ice tea for the three of us.

The Pizza are prepared in a Wood Fired Brick Oven and it turned out to be pretty tasty. For that price you can’t expect imported stuff but there is another Pizza place (Italia Restaurant) in Dumaguete promoting imported ham, Mozzarella and Salami, but keep it in the fridge… at least I couldn’t find it on the Pizza at Italia… and that for a ridiculous high price.

My little ones chicken was also really good and I rarely saw her eating that much in that short time and she was excited that Neva’s was also not greedy with gravy.

Neva’s Pizza in Dumaguete seems to be a busy place (at least on that Sunday) and the reason is simple. Very good quality for that price, OK environment for being in that location, friendly staff (not like the grumpy Italia Restaurant Chef), definitely a place to go again.

I also saw two delivery – trikes in Front of Neva’s Pizza in Dumaguete, so we asked the Staff how much and where they deliver. If I understood correct, Neva’s delivers for free in Dumaguete when ordering a minimum of 150 Peso.

Call me Kuripot, but they can count me in as a steady customer. All thumbs up for Neva’s Pizza and Pasta in Dumaguete.

cheers

Rhoody

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Mikes Beach Resort in Dumaguete or better in Dauin is soon to open its gates. The Beach and Dive Resort had a tough head to head fight with Robinsons Dumaguete but finally made it and opens earlier.

Everybody who knows Mike from the Adventure Dive Shop in Dumaguete knows that his Beach and Dive Resort in Dauin was a big dream which finally comes true. As I am working as a freelancing dive instructor for the Adventure Dive Shop, I saw the growth and progress of the Dive Resort construction site in Dauin and know some of the troubles Mike went through.

Sometimes I still wonder how he can keep his great attitude with all that crap. Well I guess seeing the dream grow helps a lot.

Mikes Dauin Beach Resort will be a great place for guys who want to relax and having a great  time in a family atmosphere. With only 8 rooms and the huge pool it is designed very spacious and won’t get crowded.

The rooms of Mikes Beach and Dive Resort in Dauin have 2 categories and are priced with 2000 and 2500 peso. With that prices he will cover a market for guests and travelers which don’t or can’t stay in other Beach and Dive resorts in Dauin which charge over 100$ and more than 100 peso for a local beer.

But relaxing and Diving is not all Mike offers in his new Beach Resort 15 kilometer south of Dumaguete. He will tailor you a customized program for your non diving days whether you want some adventures or just a city trip to buy some souvenirs.

The kitchen of Mikes Beach Resort will have extended menu of his Waterfront Café in Dumaguete which is well known for its Mexican delights and burger. Well my favorite is still the breakfast until closing time.

So from my side all the best to Mike, Joan and his team of the Dumaguete Beach Resort in Dauin.

Cheers

Rhoody

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Sometimes things are happening where you just don’t calculate with. So it was last week… Due to some family issues Rechel needed to fly to Manila and left me alone with the little one. So here Rhoody sits with a 8 year old Makulit girl in his house in Batinguel and wonders what to do with her. Not that she is a big issue, she is a gorgeous kid and 99% of the time happy.

The week started with a school-holiday on Monday what seems to be great … for her only of course… for me it means I can’t do any work as she needs attention. Fair enough, it was my choice 3 years ago to bring the little one down to Dumaguete.

It is also my choice NOT to have a maid who takes care of the kid. I am the absolute opinion that a mother who can produce kids also should be able to take care of them. Well, here in the Philippines it is different…

As soon as the mama pops the kid out it goes to a Yaya who has the exciting job to sit with the Kid the whole day in front of stupid TV-Programs to make sure the Kid learns nothing during the early years of living on this planet…

It is the tiny stuff what brought me the problems… My diet exists of food based on a strong mix of garlic, onions and chili, well not exactly what is on the top 10 list of an 8 year old kid. The first dinner was easy, we just went to a restaurant… hehe. The second day it was my duty to prepare breakfast…

Pancit, a local noodle dish … boil water, noodles in it, take noodles out after 5 minutes, “ready to eat mix” on top, done ? no problem for Papa Rhoody… To make it special a sunny side up egg on top. The little one loved it… at least when I presented it.

After the first try he said: Papa, it is very salty!!! Hmmm, she eats that a lot and I did not put any additional salt or spices on it. Looking again at the plastic sachet of the “dish” I saw that I did not prepare Pancit, I used a Noodle soup mix, just without water… no wonder that it is salty. Being a smart-ass I had some back-up cup-cakes in the Ref, as I planned in advanced and knew things will not run smoothly.

Messing up the Breakfast, my pride was tickled and I swore myself to prepare a great dinner for her after school. When I picked her up she asked me excited where we go for dinner. I told her that I will cook and the excitement dropped out of her face in lightening speed…

While Daisy was doing her assignment Rhoody was standing desperately in the kitchen, looking at philippine-typical tiny plastics where is nothing written on it and where I have absolutely no clue what is in there… If you look at the picture, you see almost similar powders one is cinnamon, one is pepper and 2 are something which I definitely could not identify… well, I guess there is no law that pancakes have to be sweet … hehe

Backup plan was Pizza delivery from Shakey’s, but HELL NO (I said to myself), Rhoody, give the little one some homemade food, show some creativity and make it yummy … I won’t write what I made but it looked great and she loved it !!!

The week continued with minor Hick-up’s like Rhoody teaches Filipino, Rhoody in the Kids department at Lee Plaza, Rhoody and the laundry and quite some more funny stuff…

All together Daisy and I had a great week, we both worked out as a great team and didn’t burn down the house… But finally we are happy that Mama is back…

cheers

Rhoody

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Just finished another great week of diving and teaching. While my friends in Luzon complained about bad weather, it couldn’t be much better here in Dumaguete.  Blue Sky, flat water and great visibility in the whole area.

Mike from the Adventure Dive Shop called me up last Sunday to teach some classes for him so I started Linda from Australia and Nicky from England to teach them the Open Water course.

The whole week together was just a blast and I had so much fun with that lovely couple. They were well prepared and paid attention to everything. I am sure the great conditions and the turtles on their very first open water dive was also encouraging them to run through the theory and skills with flying colors.

Midweek Dave from England joined them to do a refresher after some years of being out of the water. The week ended with a great trip to Apo Island. We were guided by some dolphins on our way to Apo Island, were the two finished their last course dive at chapel point, a nice wall with wonderful coral-gardens on top to do the safety stop.

So it was time for the first real fun-dive. I decided to go with them on a drift-dive, as they I was sure they are confident in the water and stay close to me. When we came to the huge school of Jackfish, I grasped both at the tank-valve and pulled them into the middle of thousands of Mamsa (Local term for Jackfish). Nose in the current and hard fining we spend a couple of minutes in the middle of these beautiful creatures.

The third dive on Rock Point was relaxing and just before we went on the boat to head back to Dauin, a turtle passed and waved us bye-bye.

Well, back at Mikes Diveshop we finished the paperwork and I signed the log-books. Here is where things started to become a bit weird.  I am really not sure what made Linda and Nicky drawing that stuff in their Log-book, but I guess they will have to answer this question each time they enter a Diveshop…

Hope you two guys have a great time in Palawan…. and don’t forget body position and exhaling are the secrets of diving… Thanks for diving with me… I had a great week with you two

Cheers

Rhoody

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My daughter is so exited to her back to school and its her first day… as a kid she is happy that she have will meet again her old classmates and new friends as well….. We woke up very early, as we know the roads are broken and many under constructions… and that the main reason also that the start of this years class  is delayed and the vacations for students are extended.

Not only that is the problem, also the tricycle driver’s here in Dumaguete are taking advantage of these situations…

As the road is broken some of this tricycle driver’s ask for more rates of fare.., complaining, and just leave with out saying anything, and some of those are just run away… as long as they don’t like the price you offer for them ….

It’s sad … but it’s happening right now in the city of gentle people…

My daughter   is sad, that maybe she get late in her school… and being exited to this first day of school her excitement turn out to become sadness, disappointment,  and then she cries….

I talk to my daughter and explain, that not all tricycle driver are like that and some of those are honest even we experience to be being ignored of this crazy driver’s and to be not lucky to catch a honest, responsible driver and most of all a friendly and gentle man.. as we are in a city of gentle people… or maybe not …

Maldita

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I am on my way to Cebu where I meet up with my friend Kim to head for some dives to Malapascua.  After packing my stuff I headed to the Dumaguete Airport and after 100 plus one promises to my girls that I will take care and to be a “good boy” I went to the check in to find out that my luggage doubled my ticket-price.  I wonder if it’s possible to buy 2 tickets and fly alone, but having 30 Kilogram free luggage. They charge 100 peso per Kilo, so with a ticket-price of 700 Peso  and 1200 Peso for exceeding by 12 Kilo it would make sense and safe a lot to buy 2 tickets for one person.

The rebuild terminal of the Dumaguete Airport has at least a working Aircon. And after sweating my ass of while falling in line and checking in I was freezing in the waiting area. The flight with a brand-new propeller machine of Cebu Pacific left the Dumaguete Airport at 7:20 in the morning and was actually very convenient and about 20 minutes in the air … only.

Kim booked for us “Eddies Hotel” and the taxi from Mactan to the Hotel in Cebu City was 150 Peso (Taximeter).

Mission of the day  was do get to the immigration in Cebu and to run to Asia Divers to get some Spare-parts for my regulators. About 9:30 I got into a Taxi and headed towards Mandaue, where the immigration office is located. Even there were many people there it worked pretty fast and with less costs I was expecting. After only 1.5 hours I was done and on the way to Asia Divers.

A quick lunch at a Thai place at the SM Mall I went back to Eddies Place where I needed a rest. Now it’s about 7 :pm and my friend Km is soon to arrive. I am pretty hungry and I am sure we gonna have one or two cold ones later.

Just while typing that Kim txt me that his Cebu Pacific flight is delayed…  new departure now 21:30. He won’t be here before 11:30. I guess he isn’t in a good mod, like always when he gotta fly with Cebu Pathetic.

So I will have my dinner alone now in the Hotel Restaurant and have a cold one afterwards…

So business is done and tomorrow the fun hopefully starts with our trip to Malapascua.

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