Fabulous photos and write up, Graham! Thanks for taking the time to share with us
Fabulous photos and write up, Graham! Thanks for taking the time to share with us
sorry Graham i would rather see pictures of the bedsOriginally Posted by grahamw48
Meanwhile...night had fallen, and we took ourselves off up to a bar in the local 'entertainment ' strip, where I decided (after consuming a number of Tanduays and San Miguels) to entertain the motley crew of staff and customers...mainly consisting of transvestites and prostitutes, with a particularly soporific version of 'Feelings'.
Please don't feel obliged to hear it all the way through.
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So, my earlier rendition of Satisfaction may also fail to impress Steve ?
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Oh, and of course the 'Wild Thing !' virtuoso performance...
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wow , to early for me , back to no sound
yes they are edible we had one of those trees in my last place and the kids scramble up the trees all the time to grab some fruit ,never tasted them but they look like the colour of a spud inside with similar texture
Forgot to add...while we were in Ermita, we also took the opportunity to pop into 'Calle 5', a live music venue where they always have a lineup of talented Filipino bands. We weren't disappointed.
One of the bands had a particularly brilliant blues guitarist who played some excellent renditions by one of my favourite's...Gary Moore. Superb !
Calle 5 is on Mabini St, near the United Nations end, and I can thoroughly recommend the place. (Been going there for 23 years now).
So, back to Subic:
We changed hotels, finding another one next to the beach, which not only was cheaper, but also had a nice peaceful well-equipped room, with excellent wi-fi and friendly staff. (Kokomos).
We also found a lovely place to eat, just a couple of hundred yards away - 'Lucky Mike's', which served delicious food at bargain prices. It almost became a home from home for us. The proprietor (an American-Filipino) and his family being very welcoming. Here's a picture of him and his establishment:
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Great pictures once again Graham. Looks like you had a ball!
I can actually remember Calle5 opening day.. We used to go there quite often.
Some more to come Fred.
Off to bed now...pissed on the Tanduay I brought back.
Been to calle 5 in numerous occassions graham more so when i was with my first filipino wife always have a fantastic live music there
AN HAPPY WIFE IS A HAPPY LIFE
Feel as though I've been on holiday with you Graham, Very good!
Woow Nice pictures Graham
...please throw us some ''macopa'' when u get back
''Don't be serious..Be Sincere''
Great photos Graham
No, I didn't want to leave (never do !), and yes I'm already planning my next trip...in another 2 or 3 months.
So anyway....
I had decided it would be really nice if I could take Merly up to Pangasinan to visit her mum, whom she hadn't seen for almost 2 years, as well as giving me the opportunity to meet the family and see something of Merly's home province.
We took the Victory Liner bus from Olongapo, changing at Dau, and then on up to Dagupan...the nearest large town to Merly's home, also handy for some nice beaches.
All these buses have wi-fi, so it was nice to be able to pass the time surfing the net, inbetween admiring the scenery, on what is quite a long journey (about 6 hours altogether). I always bag the back seat, because there is plenty of legroom, plus you can put all your bags behind you instead of having them stowed in the bus lockers underneath.
Here is a fascinating picture of Graham, sitting in the back seat of a Victory Liner bus:
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I had already decided to stay at the Lenox Hotel in Dagupan, as it looked nice on the Agoda site, so off to it we whizzed in the trike.
Well, it was certainly a posh-looking place, and rather dearer than I normally like, but we booked a room anyway, as we'd been travelling for most of the day.
The room/suite could only be described as 'palatial'. Here's one or two pics...
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Just a couple of problems...no (working) wi-fi in the room...which we'd been led to believe it HAD, and next morning NOISY, because the room was actually what I described later to the manager as a 'pig with lipstick'. Behind the smart curtains was a loose and rusty old window frame, with a gap an inch wide around it. Same with the aircon unit...hence letting in all the crowing rooster and barking dog sound effects.
I was NOT happy...and soon reception were made aware of this...
Looks like Mike doesn't shirk when it comes to sampling his food
We also found a lovely place to eat, just a couple of hundred yards away - 'Lucky Mike's', which served delicious food at bargain prices. It almost became a home from home for us. The proprietor (an American-Filipino) and his family being very welcoming. Here's a picture of him and his establishment:
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Compared to some of the beer-guts wandering around Subic, he's almost 'trim'.
A very pleasant and genuine gentleman though.
Again great pictures and some good tips too
After complaining to reception about the shortcomings of our room, there was a knock on the door and a Filipino lady, who I think said she was customer relations officer or some similar title, invited herself in.
I then proceeded to parry aside her gushing apologies, whilst pointing out the various inadequacies of our supposed 'luxury' accommodation.
Merly was very impressed with my performance (she told me later), but nevertheless, apparently felt safer hiding under the blankets, while her man did his duty.
The manager lady seemed quite overcome by this torrent of 'customer-feedback', but eventually managed to ask what they could do to save the day.
In for a penny in for a pound... I said " give me 1,000 pesos".
She offered us a better room, this, that and the other, during her subsequent 3 or 4 additional visits to our room (which did nothing for my mood !) . We were also sent complimentary iced teas.
I had already decided to move hotels, but was quite enjoying the drama.
So, leaving behind the cheery posse of hotel staff, bowing, curtseying and waving us off....we did.
Next stop...the Value Star Inn...Dagupan.
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That gap in my teeth is getting wider.
Compared to some of the beer-guts wandering around Subic, he's almost 'trim'.
A very pleasant and genuine gentleman though.
I can imagine the sweaty bloaters stalking about
What a total contrast !
Half the price, nice room with working everything....including wi-fi, and peaceful too.
Lovely staff and great service.
We even got serenaded (well, we just happened to be there at the time
Here's a pic of them just before getting into their performance.
Merly made a lovely video of it, but we can't seem to get the file sent to my PC, so I'll try to post it later.
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There was a particularly attractive and TALL young lady on reception duties. We fell into conversation...as one does, with beautiful young ladies,and it seems that she is 5'7" tall, 24 yrs old and SINGLE.
The photo doesn't do her justice, to be honest, but she IS willing to consider dating a Brit...if there are any lonely (tall?) guys out there.
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Ah...managed to get the video of our hotel welcoming committee.
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That gap in my teeth is getting wider.
Signature smile ?
Getting that way (one of my favourite character actors too. lol)
Would teeth braces look odd on an old bloke ?
Probably not as 'bad' as trouser bracesGetting that way (one of my favourite character actors too. lol)
Would teeth braces look odd on an old bloke ?
.Interesting scenery in the Philippines...on our way to Dagupan, from the bus. The volcano Mt.Arayat (near Angeles City). 3,366ft high doesn't sound that much, but when it just sticks up out of a flat plain, in isolation...pretty impressive !
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Snap, Graham
Same route Alan.
You used the zoom though.
The main reason that we went up to Dagupan was to meet up with Merly's family, so she arranged to rent a cottage at San Fabian beach for an afternoon, complete with karaoke machine, where we could have a bit of family bonding and a good sing-song.
We decided to take a trike there, rather than the Jeepney (because Graham had assumed it was a couple of miles to the beach from our hotel).
The obliging trike driver agreed on p200, and off we went.
After about 10 miles, even tightwad me began to feel a bit guilty.
After what seemed about 15 miles we finally arrived and I gave the nice man a p50 tip .
The cottage was ready, weather nice and sunny, and we awaited the arrival of Merly's mother, brothers and little niece (?).
What lovely shy and humble people they were. Beer and food was bought, some enthusiastic singing done, and generally a good time was had by all. I was so happy that Merly was able to see her family after such a long time too.
Here are some pictures from the day:
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All in all, a lovely day.
Mercedes has a beautiful sweet singing voice, but was too shy to be videoed. Just managed a snippet...
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(click on this)
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