Random photos

I couldn't think of a way to insert these pictures into the existing posts so I thought a new post, consisting only of photos would be nice.

The photo on the left shows part of the OMF Mission home in Calapan on the island of Mindoro. We stayed there for a weekend while visiting a 20th anniversary of a church started by one of the OMF'ers.

This photo was taken at a nice little 'restaurant' while we were visiting Intramuros, a town surrounded by stone walls. Visiting there was part of our historical education.

Anyway, this restaurant served the food wrapped in banana leaves. We were suitably impressed, having been in the Philippines for less than a week.

I think I recall trying some intestines. It turned out to be quite nice, albeit with some crunchy tough bits. I was later told that ordering food with intestines can be very dicey at times because of the kinds of diseases that can be transmitted. I'm still alive. So that's a good thing.

This is a view from our balcony. We are on the third floor of an apartment block (commonly simply called 'The Condos') surrounded by green-ness, overlooking a golf course.

It's a strange place, because it feels so far removed from the rest of what Manila is like. We only have to drive two minutes down the road and there are roads which are busy 24 hours a day, shops lining the streets only to be broken up by the squatter settlements resided in by the urban poor.

It is a nice place, with a nice pool, for which we will be very thankful when the hot season comes. It's hard to believe that we're not in it already!

The last photo shows that some good does come out of lots of pollution - awesome sunsets! The colours are really striking. For you Australians reading this, the colour of the sun every day is like that when there are far too many bush fires creating too much smoke. The sun shines through and it's a brilliant red. Thats what we see every day. Already we've taken too many photos, trying to capture it perfectly. But our camera just can't do it justice. So you will all have to settle for second best. Unless you come over here, then we can show you personally - any takers? :)

Beer, here, from an Australian POV

From the outset, let me say that I am not an expert on this topic and am still learning more.

Being an Australian, who likes the occasional beer, I was most impressed that beer in the Philippines is actually quite cheap. I happened to mention this interesting fact to some of people I work with and what followed was an interesting insight into more of the Filipino culture.

Bisyo. It's a Tagalog word that is commonly associated with alcohol. It's roots are in Spanish and it can be translated as 'vice'. That's how the people here see alcohol - as a vice.

However, from what little I have seen so far, the place where it is drunk plays an important part in determining whether it is 'bisyo' or not. For example, we went out last Saturday night to a fairly nice area where people were drinking beer with their meal.

Is this an example of 'bisyo'? Or is it socially appropriate?

Having one beer with a group of people down the road. Is it 'bisyo'? Or a way to mingle and converse with the local Filipinos?

Drinking a beer in the heat of the afternoon because I like the taste. 'Bisyo'? Or acceptable? Or maybe our house-helper (another topic to write about, actually) will see the empty bottles and her impression of me will become tainted?

There are many questions and not many answers.....yet. However, I am leaning towards not drinking alcohol so that I may be 'above reproach'.