I got back from the Philippines last night after spending three weeks there. During that time, a couple typhoons ran through, but they didn't really affect us where we were (Floridablanca, Pampanga). There was a little flooding in our barrio the day before we got there, but it was all gone by the time we had arrived. All the major flooding was either north of us or south of us.
And yes, there was an absolute treasure-trove of Pajeros (all gens, J-tops, SWBs), Stradas (lots of lifted Stradas), Land Cruisers, Patrols, etc, etc, etc, that had my head on a swivel constantly. I could have spent the whole three weeks just checking those out. Also saw a lot of "Jeeps" - as in Mitsubishi, Toyota, Isuzu, Peugot, etc Jeep designs. They all looked to be only two-wheel-drive. A lot of them looked like they weren't of an officially licensed manufacture, but instead were probably fabricated somewhere locally. And of course, plenty of Jeepneys (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeepney) around.
We took a trip one day and went to Cubi Point, where I was when I was last there 25 years ago. I saw the quonset huts where I stayed, which have now been converted into air-conditioned admin offices. They sit right nearby the old survival school, which has been converted into a tree-top tourist attraction, where you ride on a seat slung from cables about 100 feet high up in the trees from one platform to another. I also did some Aussie-style rappeling while I was there this time.
We were also on TV in Manila, on an extremely popular Filipino show called Wowowee on October 1st (you can see it at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBOQ-U36Bws&feature=related in ten-minute segments...if you're so inclined to actually watch it, I'm the white guy in the audience wearing the blue polo shirt, and I was on camera actually quite a lot). It's a fun variety show and the women are HHHHHOTTTTT!!!.
We also went to the beach, of course. The water was every bit as warm and cosy as I'd remembered it.
I tried many exotic foods that I didn't try last time I was there (I think I've had my fill of rice for the year). Just my last day there, I had goat-intestine soup (I forget the name) for breakfest, chicken feet for lunch, and spaghetti for dinner, along with birthday cake (my birthday is this Tuesday) and a big birthday party. Then I topped-off the evening with Balut (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balut_(egg)) which seems quite disgusting, but after having had my first one, I actually liked it and went back for more. These are best washed down with San Miguel beer. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drunk.gif" alt="" />
Had a great time and I can't wait to go back! That'll probably be in early 2011 from the sound of it. I didn't take many pictures because the pocket-cam I took with me needs a new battery, but others took plenty of shots. When I get some, I'll post up.
