Philippines!

[basilray]

So, here's the view from my hotel at about 6am this morning:

And here's a few things I picked up at a local market. I love that I can still get Red Bull (in a glass bottle no less!) and Coke Zero. Let's just say I don't feel the same way about the Spicy Prawn chips...

 

[UntamedRose]

haha this is kinda cool...

 

[autumnbreeze]

I'm glad you arrived safely and have an awesome view from your room! Have fun and enjoy your trip!

 

[WhatAClumsyGirl]

Wow..lovely photo's !! Have a wonderful trip !

 

[basilray]

I'll try and get some more photos out this morning. I forgot my camera when I went to the giant malls that are attached to my hotel building.

Funny story, there are security guards everywhere here! The hotel and the mall were pretty crazy. When you walk into the various mall wings, you pass through a metal detector. I figured my GLV was going to get me in trouble, but it didn't even set the detector off! One time it did, but I was definitely "profiled," as were my colleagues. They let us keep walking, since we clearly looked to be tourists!

I'm about to head out for dinner (well, since I'm working overnights, breakfast).

I bought some junk food to keep in my hotel:
6 - Bottles of Coke Zero
3 - Glass bottles of Red Bull
6 - Green apples
4 - Yogurts
6 - Bags of single serve chips
2 - Gallons of water

It ended up costing me about $13 USD. I was worried about my poorly calculated conversion when it came up to $635 Philippine Pesos!

So far so good! After I grab dinner, I'm off to my first day of work here!

 

[zbasspro]

Very cool Basil...good luck w/ work! and Dinner...thats kinda scary to me.. never been outta the country. have fun and be safe!

 

[basilray]

For those of you who didn't know it is the rainy season in the Philippines, here's a quick video of the current typhoon weather going on! They wouldn't even let me out of the office building!

YouTube - Typhoon!

I didn't have my camera on me the first time I went downstairs, but there were piece of sheet metal blowing across the street!

 

[tiburonfirst]

have a good time, basil, and return safely!

 

[seven]

on the weekend visit "Classmates" the taxi driver should know where that is if your in the city

 

[basilray]

on the weekend visit "Classmates" the taxi driver should know where that is if your in the city

Do I even want to know?

 

[ToniAnne]

awesome! Thanks for the pics and the video!! That is some crazy weather! How insanely cool that you can get red bull in a glass bottle!!! LOL I don't even like red bull (I like Monster-blue), lol, but I want a bottle! haha!

 

[basilray]

So...I actually brought my camera with me today...here's a few more shots of things:

Here's the training room I am working out of for the week:

Here's some aftermath of the high winds and rain right outside my hotel...you can see some fallen rubble where they are building something:

Jollibee! This is a fast food place. Apparently, it's the Philippino equivalent of McDonald's...which is everywhere. I think I've seen more McDonald's than Jollibee's.

And my interesting foods of the day...Golden Sweet Corn and Bacchus. Bacchus is basically a Red Bull drink, but it's not carbonated. Here, Red Bull comes in a 5oz Glass Bottle, but Bacchus comes in an 8oz can. The Golden Sweet Corn is WEIRD! It is like a cheese ball, but it's flavored like buttered and salted corn on the cob. It kind of tastes right, but then tastes almost like Captain Crunch, and leaves you with a bitter almost rotten corn aftertaste. But for 10 pesos (less than a quarter), I had to try it!

 

[DemonCowboy]

definately an interesting trip u'r having - even if it is business - make sure u live it up as best as u can (and don't forget u'r camera again...lol)

 

[basilray]

I had a "romantic" dinner with one of my colleagues tonight at the Pizza Hut Bistro. It's a bit fancier than I remember Pizza Hut being back home...you get served your first slice by a waiter, on a square plate, by candlelight. It was interesting.

I sampled the Chili Cheese Hot Dog Pizza. Wild stuff, I tell you! Traveling has caught up to me a bit, so I haven't been out and about much. I also have been without internet quite a bit, especially since the power has been off and on. It's funny, that even though it's been 85 degrees and sunny, electricity is still a problem. All three of the employees I am here to train were without power during the day yesterday, prior to our work day!

Here's the pizza:

 

[keyzygirl]

Sounds like your having fun,That pizza looks freaky.

 

[zbasspro]

OMG>>>>>>>>Thats Pizza!!!???WTF....Looks like octopus or sumfin..so was it yummy? Was the Reg pizza like home? And are trying to start up a long distance relationship?? LOL

 

[basilray]

No! It wasn't a real romantic dinner!!! One of the other trainers from back in MN is out here with me. He and I were going to grab dinner before we went to the office, and walked next door to the Pizza Hut Bistro, which was a little bit awckward. Two grown men should not be having a candlelit dinner together...ever.

Besides, I'm not "on the market." Just ask my g/f!

 

[mini_art]

Wow that is an interesting pizza. So was it good ??
Love the pictures! How long will you be gone Basil?

 

[basilray]

Wow that is an interesting pizza. So was it good ??
Love the pictures! How long will you be gone Basil?

I will be back in MN on the 25th...but only for two weeks. Then I'll be back in Manila roughly August 7.

The pizza was REALLY good. The crust was kind of like those pilsbury croissants you get at the grocery store. On top of that was basically a sloppy joe meat, covered with cheese, and then pickle relish, and peppers. At the end are pigs in a blanket, topped with CHEEZ WHIZ!

I had lunch at 7-Eleven today. I got a hot dog, 20oz bottle of soda, chips, and cookies for like 100 pesos...which is just under $2 US.

 

[Jules22871]

Two grown men should not be having a candlelit dinner together...ever.