Arrived in Bacolod on Negros island in the Philippines

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It’s been a while since I last wrote and it will be another while until I am properly able to blog all the adventures I had in Manila as I don’t have time right now and I am unable to upload the photos.

A very short into to Manila: it is a dingy dirty city, there are many shanty towns and slums full of people who see a white person and immediately think of how much money they can make after steeling their possessions, and many people (eg taxi drivers) try to rip you off cause if you are white you are obviously rich. But if you look past the beggars and people sleeping rough on every corner there are some nice places. We strolled around Intramuros looking at buildings billed as spectacular but in reality were a bit shabby (more on that in another post), we had a fantastic time at the Hobbit House – a bar managed and staffed entirely by people of short stature, we watched a beautiful sunset from Manila bay and went on two fantastic trips to beautiful places just outside of Manila (one of which was the Taal volcano mentioned in my last post).

Emily and I are now in Bacolod on the island of Negros staying with my cousin, Brian, his wife, Fatima, their son Joshua, and Fatima’s family. After the hustle and scary people in Manila I am somewhat relieved to have left it behind and be in a place where I feel much safer and have Filipinos to show me around.

Emily and I arrived on Monday night and were immediately shocked by just how basic things are. The airport was little more than a hut. We got off the plane and walked under a building resembling a large bus stop, on the other side of the bus stop was a railing behind which crowds of people were waiting for those getting off the plane. Just as I spotted Fatima a man came and asked if we had any luggage. He took a piece of paper that had been stapled to one of our boarding passes then disappeared. I had already spotted Fatima (my cousin’s wife) and was saying hello as he interrupted us. He took the piece of paper and went to get our bags while Fatima took us back to the Jeep saying he would bring the luggage to us.

As we disembarked the plane and walked to the jeep small children surrounded us with their hands out begging for money. It’s been hard but we are getting better at ignoring them and walking on by.

At the jeep we met Fatima’s mother and father for the first time, then made ourselves comfortable and sat chatting in the back of the jeep while we waited for our luggage.

As soon as our bags arrived we began the half hour drive from the airport back to the village where Fatima lives. It was really nice sitting in the back of the jeep watching the countryside go by with people who could tell us where we were going and what we were seeing.

We arrived at the house and Joshua who had been excitable since we met him at the airport couldn’t wait to show off his white friends to the myriad of people living in his house. Before I could hoist my bag onto my back he had grabbed my arm and dragged me out the back of the jeep and through the front gate. There we met the three girls who help around the house and with the running of the small shop in front the house. They all share one room in the house and Fatima’s brother and cousin sleep in a bamboo outhouse in the garden (which they built for Joshua’s birthday party last year).

Inside the main house we were shown to our room – the master bedroom. Fatima had kindly given us her room so we didn’t have to share with Joshua, who was getting more excitable and full of beans by the second.

Once we’d acquainted ourselves with the inside of the house and eaten some delicious BBQ chicken and rice Fatima took us to the outhouse where her brother and cousin sleep. There were in there eating mango in hot source and drinking rum. After the introductions Fatima left to put Josh to bed. But conversation was a bit difficult as we didn’t speak any Filipino or ilonggo (the local language) and they spoke very heavily accented English. After an hour of uneasy conversation punctuated with “sorry?” and “I don’t understand” we made our excuses and went for a much needed sleep in a comfortable king size bed in an air conditioned room.

Yesterday we woke late after an incredibly restful nights sleep, dressed and were cooked breakfast by the girls who help out in the house. It is very strange to have someone cook for you but when tried to help we just seemed to get in the way! Whilst we were eating Fatima explained that they usually eat lunch around that time (11am) as Joshua leaves for school at 12:30.

We went with Fatima to take Joshua to school, he was very excited to show us off and insisted we walk him all the way to his classroom. Joshua goes to one of the most expensive private schools in Bacolod where the kids are all from well to do families. Inside the school was very light and airy – unlike what I was used to in Korea. However, in Korea I used to hate that the walls between to rooms were so thin but in this school the classrooms didn’t have any walls just bars separating the classrooms.

After we left him in the classroom and said hello to his teacher Fatima took us to a new shopping centre in Bacolod city. Inside was full of branded clothing at incredibly cheap prices. Levis jean were 20 quid. We looked around for some shorts – I’ve worn the same shorts every day since leaving Korea- and eventually found some Filipino branded ones at an acceptable eight quid.

Once we’d shopped we went to a Filipino fast food place called Greenwhich and had a very tasty lasagna before heading back to the house for a “little sleep” before going out for a few drinks with Fatima, her brother and cousin.

We caught the jeepney into Bacolod then went to a bar called Chicken Alley that was done up in the style of an old castle. We listened to the live band and had a couple of beers and some snacks before moving onto another bar just down the road.

The second bar was a bit quieter and we were able to have a conversation. Not wanting to drink any more we opted for a mango juice and sat outside with the music in the background chatting.

This morning Emily and I were once again enjoying the comfort of our air conditioned bedroom when there was a massive knock at the door. Assuming it was Joshua wanting us to wake up and see something  – it was almost 10am – I shouted “Hello Joshua”. But was answered by Brian shouting: “Get up you lazy girls!” He’d arrived back from England a day early, much to every-one’s surprise.

Joshua was uncontrollably excited at the arrival of his daddy especially as more and more treats emerged from his suitcase.

Once the excitement had died down it was time for Joshua to do his homework – something met with much protest – eat his lunch and get ready for school.

Once we’d dropped Joshua at school we headed for the PC room where I now sit writing this. So you are now up to date on the latest news from Bacolod. I’d love to get chance to write about all the happenings in Manila but right now I don’t have time. It’s all in my diary so I’ll try and catch up soon.

Tomorrow Emily and I plan to be the first ever white girls joining Fatima for her early morning (5am) aerobics session in the park, then I think the weekend is going to be spent site seeing with Brian, Fatima and Joshua.

I’ll try to check in again soon, hopefully with some pictures. But these computers have an interface that doesn’t offer the my computer function so I have no clue how to upload anything. Photos of my adventures may need to wait a while.

For now – over and out.

* Posted by j150vsc on 20/06/2007.
* 1 comment

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