more pix

p.s. these are some snaps from my cell fone

p.p.s. that's a cell fone charging station and the Manila domestic airport terminal. Melbourne airport should get one, I had to loaf around in some dank corner where there was a wall plug to charge mine before leaving for Fili.

Urdaneta is basically built on the highway and that's how it feels too, just a massive road with a market and mall and truck pit stops everyhere. It's a small city along the way to Baguio which is a much bigger and more popular city. The street scenes here are basically out our front door, and I recall when I first arrived in Urdaneta as an adult, I thought it was the nosiest place I'd ever experienced, even noisier than all those noise gigs we used to go to.

As much as I love the industriousness of this place, and the smog, dust, filth, smells, and small businesses and hustlers and the noise etc but I have to admit that I'm looking forward to busting a move to a quiet baranguy down south to where I spent my AYAD year and enjoying my last days diving/snorkelling at a cushy resort. Also, the grandparents are basically preoccupied with their own diminishing heath (which has been a worry and the reason for visiting) to be worried about my welfare at the moment, and this has meant no chaparaoning an easier exit. Sad to say goodbye, it was good to see them.

The papaya lady loves me as I basically buy all her stock - it's been the only thing to do on my to do list for days.

Oh, that's my mum in the tricycle side car. And, my mum with her brother Cesar in the water.

Day three rhymes with ce la vie

The puppies are my lolas, they have a lot of them but have only named two - McD and Jollybee - which are their two favourite fast food joints (god bless). The dogs don't get played with, I'm not sure why they have dogs, or birds or any of the animals that they have - they won't even eat these ones. Anyhow, I remember on my 1st visit to Philippines when I was 3ish they had plenty of dashhounds then too.
That's me with my Uncle Cesar and my mum, I insisted on the photo as we had a photo taken in this exact place in October 2003 when Uncle Cesar took mum, Sean and I to San Fabien beach, which is what we did again today, minus Sean.
The other two are unusual plant decorations in the restaurant - eggshells and yakult bottles - they looked surreal, but have I seen something similar at TCB gallery?
And mandatory pictures of Jeeps - I'm looking out for everyone's names. I found a Qunito - close to Clinton eh? Actually, I missed my chance to photograph that Quinto jeep.

Urdanetta City

Lola's (grandmas) bday today (82). Uncle let me drive the car to the church which was a buzz....crazy shit driving on these roads. Found out that you can just drive over the drying rice on the road, jesus.

The other guy is my lolo (grandpa, hes 86). The burger i front of him is a McDonald's McRice burger, hte bun is made out of sticky rice no shit, only in the Philippines.

I knew I was in fili as soon as I served it, and also cos Lola keeps telling me to "open the light" and "close the light". Also because I had fried chicken with papaya, mango and banana for dinner with a coke....oh, and also because I am suposed to atten 6am church.....

counting down the minutes

Tomorrow I'm off to Philippines, this will be an adventure! This is the only picture I have on me at work of Philippines for now, it's a picture taken my mate Leharne of a storm, it's not far from the feeling I have brewing inside me right now, in anticipation of the joy/confusion/anxiety/angst/pain/fun to come in a short adventure to the mother country.