first visit it's booked !

[les_taxi]

I stepped out of the airport and looked anxiously towards the waiting area, instantly I recognised my girl and waved enthusiastically towards her. She seemed to set off towards me then appeared to stop. I quickly moved towards her and was struck by her beauty and warm friendly smile (phew I’m a lucky guy I thought).I kissed her on the cheek did I shake her hand? I can’t remember it’s a blur! I think I mumbled about not having suitcase and climbed into her brother’s works van. She handed me bottle of cold water and small towel which was greatly appreciated and introduced me to her brother and niece. wow here I am speeding along chaotic traffic where the traffic laws clearly don’t exist! Hey we have just gone over a painted crossing while people were still using it wow! Omg we nearly got side swiped by another van. I was reassured this was normal!!! Hmm will I get to the hotel in 1 piece! Needless to say we reached the Marco polo in good health. Now this is where my girl really took over.im standing there like a redundant extra in a Michael palin adventure while my girl is filling in registration and generally looking after me I kept looking at her and thinking wow she is so pretty and confident and made me feel totally at ease. In fact after 30 seconds of first meeting her I felt completely at ease with her and I knew all the months of conversation and closeness we experienced was real and true. My first impressions of Davao was wonderment so many people, so busy, noisy, crazy but I loved it! So different from Harrogate where I live. So we checked into our room which was really nice and open the patio doors to see the inviting swimming pool. This is going to be a great holiday I thought looking at my girl’s gorgeous figure and dark hair! .... tbc

[Les_lady888]

Looking back, I cant help but feel somehow guilty that in just a matter of seconds, I doubted Les. Although in my heart I always believe he is true to me. That very moment when I saw the woman heading towards his direction, I felt like a cold water was poured on me and my heart seemed to stop for just a second.....but when I saw him coming to me with a very nice smile, embraced me and kissed me on cheek.....I instantly forgot about the woman lol

In just a couple of minutes, we already felt the bond the we always have for each other. I got completely at ease with him, no fear, no worries at all. It felt like we've known each other for a long time already....Oh yes right!!! We've been communicating online for 22 months already

And after he embraced and kissed me on cheek, he smiled then said to me: "Oh dear, I lost my suitcase!" Oh, isn't he so sweet?

[maharlika]

I stepped out of the airport and looked anxiously towards the waiting area, instantly I recognised my girl and waved enthusiastically towards her. She seemed to set off towards me then appeared to stop. I quickly moved towards her and was struck by her beauty and warm friendly smile (phew I’m a lucky guy I thought).I kissed her on the cheek did I shake her hand? I can’t remember it’s a blur! I think I mumbled about not having suitcase and climbed into her brother’s works van. She handed me bottle of cold water and small towel which was greatly appreciated and introduced me to her brother and niece. wow here I am speeding along chaotic traffic where the traffic laws clearly don’t exist! Hey we have just gone over a painted crossing while people were still using it wow! Omg we nearly got side swiped by another van. I was reassured this was normal!!! Hmm will I get to the hotel in 1 piece!....

Drivers are always kings of the road here "Basta driver great lover"

[les_taxi]

So I’m still looking at my girls figure and deep brown eyes! OK fast forward to next day and time to explore a bit. while I was still asleep maricel had checked that my suitcase had arrived phew I can change clothes and hand out presents. So now traveling in taxis noticing that everyone has Speed o disconnected or maybe broken, hmm don’t think Harrogate council would let me get away with that! But I liked the taxi fares.
My first trip on a jeepney! Now I’m only 5’9” but a giant in Philippines lol I hit my head on jeepney roof many times. I noticed to everywhere I went people were staring at me I felt like a celebrity I quite enjoyed it to tell the truth lol. On to the shopping malls where a security guard pokes around your bags with a drumstick! Now the shopping experience while waiting for my girl to buy a swimsuit suddenly the female shop assistants stopped serving, lined up and started to dance!!
Wow amazing it’s sad that it would never happen in UK people would just not tolerate it as we are always in such a rush. I really was enjoying Davao and now was treated to the 3 people to do one persons job routine when paying for goods in the mall. I tried the famous halo halo and was enjoying it but still wondering why it had jelly beans in it without the coating-was someone employed to suck the sugar off!!.
Back at the Marco polo maricel’s family arrived and I really felt welcomed and one of the family in no time, some of the younger ones went in the pool while my girls brother and wife came with us for a drink or 2 in the hotel bar. While drinking in bar a young attractive local girl was catching the eye of 2 westerners and I thought how lucky I was already with my girl and her lovely family.
Once everyone had gone it’s back to our lovely room and plan for the next day and what wonderful adventures it would bring. tbc

[Les_lady888]

So now traveling in taxis noticing that everyone has Speed o disconnected or maybe broken, hmm don’t think Harrogate council would let me get away with that!

While we were on a taxi or on my brother's car, it seems to me that it was Les' first time to ride on a car coz he often hold tight or seemingly like to scream: OH NO!!...Oh Gosh! crazy driver!!!.....HEY!!....OOPs! Watch out!!!.....Then he wud say wooh! "drivers here are insanely good!!!".....It is already a normal scenario here that drivers overtake each other, blow their horns every now and then and pedestrians crossing the street as they wish..........and Les seemed to nervously enjoyed all of this lol .....and I often told him: "This is nothing compared to Manila traffic!"

My first trip on a jeepney! Now I’m only 5’9” but a giant in Philippines lol I hit my head on jeepney roof many times.

Some of you might question why I allowed Les to ride on a jeepney...Well, he wanted to experience it and I wanted him to experience it too. We also rode a pedicab The poor pedicab driver had to paddle his bike slowly coz 3 of us were on his pedicab (me, Les & my son)...but of course we paid him more than what he should have. Les was amused but didn't want to ride on a pedicab again ...I wonder why

[Les_lady888]

....Now the shopping experience while waiting for my girl to buy a swimsuit suddenly the female shop assistants stopped serving, lined up and started to dance!!
Wow amazing it’s sad that it would never happen in UK people would just not tolerate it as we are always in such a rush.

NCCC Mall and Victoria Plaza have this dance intermission every hour for just a few minutes as part of their marketing strategy to entertain their customers.....Im not sure if SM mall is already doing this too....

When I came back from the fitting room I found Les so amused and a little shocked that all of a sudden the salesgirls lined up and started to dance!...I told him you should have danced with them too!!

Maybe UK malls should do this too....They can always hire the Davao girls

[vbkelly]

NCCC Mall and Victoria Plaza have this dance intermission every hour for just a few minutes as part of their marketing strategy to entertain their customers.....Im not sure if SM mall is already doing this too....

When I came back from the fitting room I found Les so amused and a little shocked that all of a sudden the salesgirls lined up and started to dance!...I told him you should have danced with them too!!

Maybe UK malls should do this too....They can always hire the Davao girls

yes your rights sis les_lady i went in victoria plaza and timing i was in a counter to pay my stuff the ladies said to me sorry ma'm its time to dance lol quite good actually and have a prayer aswell every 3pm and 6pm

[PeterB]

While we were on a taxi or on my brother's car, it seems to me that it was Les' first time to ride on a car coz he often hold tight or seemingly like to scream: OH NO!!...Oh Gosh! crazy driver!!!.....HEY!!....OOPs! Watch out!!!.....

My first ride from airport to Tagum reduced me to a giggling wreck - I think that it was just a nervous response.

Some of you might question why I allowed Les to ride on a jeepney...Well, he wanted to experience it and I wanted him to experience it too. We also rode a pedicab The poor pedicab driver had to paddle his bike slowly coz 3 of us were on his pedicab (me, Les & my son)...but of course we paid him more than what he should have. Les was amused but didn't want to ride on a pedicab again ...I wonder why

We regularly rode pedicabs, motors (bikes) and jeepneys on all of my visits.

[Les_lady888]

We regularly rode pedicabs, motors (bikes) and jeepneys on all of my visits.

How did you feel riding on pedicabs and "habal-habal" (motors) Peter? Les was amused and took pity of the driver of the pedicab we rode on coz that time 3 of us were riding on same pedicab

[PeterB]

Haha ... I have no problem - these guys need customers to provide their income!

We once had ten in a motor trike!

[les_taxi]

Hello everybody sorry for the delay in continuing my blog but with Christmas coming up like a lot of people I am having to work very hard at the moment!

Well so now I'm very settled in davao and I'm enjoying every minute of it it's a crazy busy place but I really enjoy the atmosphere. Now it's time to explore a little trip to Eden Park was very enjoyable even though we had to wait a while as the rainstorm from hell arrived! I even got my girl and her family to ride on the assault course style skytrain ! I didn't expect her to go on it but she did and I was very proud of her(even if her screams could be heard in Manila!)

We had a short journey by boat to the blue Jazz resort, this is a relatively new resort and is still being completed it shows lots of promise and we did enjoy our time there but the food was quite expensive and in rather small quantities(too little for this greedy westerner)

the accommodation was very good and the staff although helpful were not very knowledgeable when it came to explaining the foods on offer! My question what is the difference between the red curry and a green curry was answered with the colour!! Silly me I should have known that.

A few days at this result was certainly relaxing and a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of davao and I really did enjoy my time there.

Back in Davao it was time for the famous karaoke night! maricel insisted that I would have to sing I thought to myself no way you will soon ask me not to sing rest assured. We were to meet the rest of the family at the videokaroke venue and begin to torture each other. Due to error in finding the venue most of the family arrived late.

We had a themed room of a jungle or forest once everybody had arrived the party began. After 20 minutes no one could get the microphone off me! I thought it am going to embarrass myself let me do it in style. Then why we're all happy singing various items of food and drink arrived this I was extremely pleased to see especially the drink.

The time by and everyone had a good time taking it in turns although some had more turns than others. I Even attempted to sing in tagalog and I must have got it right initially as everyone looked at me in amazement thinking I had suddenly learnt the language! It was just a fluke.

The karaoke went far too fast we really enjoyed it and managed to gain a bit of extended time but then it was time to leave I could have stayed there are a few more hours I think and initially I wasn't sure about this proposition at all, and in the end I thoroughly enjoyed it. To be continued.....

[Jay&Zobel]

Just give him a 20 second kiss, that will really shock him
Only joking
I am sure you will both have a great time together.
One thing that I have had to learn since I met Rochelyn is how little Filipinas kiss in public, I mean "No way Jose"
A traditional Filipina, even if she is a wife, will not kiss in public.
We have had lots of laughs about it
It was such a shock to me especially as we held hands all the time and the feeling of being touchy-feely was so reassuring and comforting.
But kissing is something that is out of bounds
However, a Filipina is very warm and affectionate in private
It is something for the men who are newly arriving in Phils to know about.

inlab!!! (in love)

coz he often hold tight or seemingly like to scream: OH NO!!...Oh Gosh! crazy driver!!!.....HEY!!....OOPs! Watch out!!!...............and Les seemed to nervously enjoyed all of this lol .....and I often told him: "This is nothing compared to Manila traffic!"

Some of you might question why I allowed Les to ride on a jeepney...Well, he wanted to experience it and I wanted him to experience it too. We also rode a pedicab The poor pedicab driver had to paddle his bike slowly coz 3 of us were on his pedicab (me, Les & my son)...but of course we paid him more than what he should have. Les was amused but didn't want to ride on a pedicab again ...I wonder why

WELCOME TO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS WITH FILIPINO CRAZY DRIVERS HEHEHE... they should be part of promoting PI tourism hhehe
a real asset!!! hehe


yep, that is why we should not treat them as prince(s) hehe they need to experience the real joys of life hehe.. pedicab, jeepneys, tricycle, skates-riles and a lot more hehhee... how about propeller airplanes like asianpacific airlines? hehe