ROLLING ALONG

There's really not much to report, so I just decided to update the gallery a little bit. I made it past the ordeal and finally got a decent gig to work on, and some money to go with it, but I wouldn't say I'm exactly out of the woods yet. I have other clients in the queue and so if I reel them in all will be a well for a while. I have been working on my own original projects, but they have to be completed and put out for sale for anything to become of them. In the meantime, I am mainly working and relaxing with Alona. This time we decided to go shopping.

It's amazing what a shopping experience can be in the Philippines, even at a supposedly "expensive" place like Ayala Mall. Still, you're looking at getting a nice designed t-shirt for $2.00 or so. While looking around, I found Alona a nice t-shirt of her favorite singer, Avril Lavinge. A nice pair of jeans might cost $5.00. Don't get me wrong, they do also bring in the high price American brands like Lee and Levi's but even they cost maybe $25 for a pair of jeans which would surely be $50.00 or more in the states. In the end, I got Alona 2 pairs of jeans, a blouse, an Avril t-shirt, and two sets of bra and panties for about $20.00 total. You'd be lucky to walk out of a mall with one item for that price in California.



I still want to keep up with getting out and seeing the real Philippines, and meeting more new and interesting people. I read a lot of internet sites and forums about Cebu City and the Philippines and many foreigners claim that Ayala is actually a difficult place to meet folks. Must because it is somewhat high class. According to them a better place to go would be SM Mall or something called Calendarias (spelling?) or something. I don't know if that is a restaurant, coffee shop or what, but I guess it is near the University. I'll have to look into it. So for my next outing I think I will actually spend some time in SM and just see who I meet.

The real way to see the real Philippines, though, and meet interesting people, is to hit the streets. That means just go for a nice long walk. Malls are always going to be malls. By hitting the streets and just walking you run into little pockets you can't even imagine and meet the real people living their real lives, and likely those who have no reason to be in any mall. There is also the jeepney, a local mode of transportation popular here. It's like a small bus made by putting a large back onto an old jeep. It's extremely cheap, around 10 peso to ride compared to taking a taxi everywhere, and they are everywhere. I have yet to ride one but many foreigners say it is the way to go. One day I was going to Ayala and I saw a white guy walking out of the building where I stay. I got into a taxi, but he went walking down the street. When I got to Ayala, that guy was there. I am guess he walked out to the main road and hopped on a jeepney. It's definitely something I will have to try.