Cela roams around: farang

Boracay is famous for its white beaches. I was not aware of that but it’s first tourist destination in Philippines. What’s more not only for foreigners but also for local people. Actually it’s full of Filipinos, what’s really nice. I must admit that I enjoy it so much more this way than the other like in Thailand and Vietnam where beaches were full of farangs.

Filipinos are the most friendly people that I’ve met. They always smile, speak decent English, help you. This is how I got place where I’m staying right now. We were in Caticlan, arrived there quite late, when there were no more boats to Boracay and we met those local girls who were trying to arrange transportation to Boracay and did all the good job to get it. One of them was renting rooms and as her place was full showed us house next door where a family is renting rooms, so we got one.

Traditionally during holidays I’m sick. Sore throat, fever, runny nose, so most of the time I spend either walking along the beach or sitting and reading. I must admit that I even go into the water as it’s so warm that it can’t make me any harm. I was told that it’s 28 degrees (sic!).

When I thought I’m already better I went to kite surfing classes and in fact got worse again. Damn it! I’ve even spent all weekend evenings in bed, not going out to party and it did not help. Maybe I should have gone yesterday, as when we went for a dinner to very local place there was that bunch of Filipinos and when we got up to pay they’ve asked us if we wanna give it a try. But a try to what? I’ve found out only when two guys took me by the hand and lead me to the long table.

Apparently they were a crew of a Dragonboat (there was dragonboat competition taking place last two days) celebrating their victory (3rd place if I got it right) and drinking. But how where they drinking! There were three tables connected together. There was a line of 15 different bottles with booze and there was a shot glass with each bottle, sometimes there was also a bottle of coke in between. And what you were supposed to do was to get one shot after another.

I was the first one to try, but I knew I’m not gonna make it till the end as I was taking medicines to get me going and mixing it with booze was not a good idea, so after four shots I gave up. But John feeling the pressure made it till the end. That event made us forget to pay our dinner. So we had to go back there in the night to pay.

I was not planning it but in the end I’ve decided to stay here till the end. Especially that I don’t feel like traveling when I’m sick and bearing in mind that way home will be tough. Four flights in a row, transferring between terminals in Manila and Dubai, 17 hours of flights plus some additional waiting times. One needs to be fit for that.

Boracay sun set

Dragonboat warrior

Dragonboats ready to take off

Dragonboats with their crews

Filipino party people

John is taking shots

Very romantic, ain't it?

Coconut tree climber

Jump up

Shadows in Bangkok

I've come back to Bangkok, as I always do and as always I've went to Phiman Water View Guest House. It feels like home already. As soon as I got there I went to meet a friend who I've met during one of my previous visits in this city. We went to get some food, quite far away from "our district", so we took ferry, than Skytrain and we got to Sukhumvit. Plan was to go eat and next I was promised to see the best view of Bangkok and to see the coolest spot in there. And I must agree, that promise become true and indeed I saw what I did not expect to see. I was not at all expecting to stand on the helipad of the 35 storey building. Stand, sit, lay down and look into the sky, take shadow photos and just have so much fun. Of course it was illegal, but that made it even more fun. This feeling of uncertainty and slight fear that someone comes... Yeah comes and what? What could the do? Nothing really, just kick us out.
Next day I've spent on shopping. Oh yes, for those who know how much I love shopping, they will know that it could not have been my perfect day. But as I wanted to bring gifts and Christmas presents I had to do that. It was even more challenging as I had no clue what could I bring to some people and if I knew what I want I did not know where to get it (like some spices). But after 4 hours of walking there and back I've managed to get let's call it everything. And in the end I've treated myself with Thai massage.
In the evening I've met with Nico again and we did some party, sitting on a roof but this time only on the 4th floor of his guest house. This time view was different - river and surrounding. That was nice and interesting too. As time flew and when we relised it was about 5 in the morning we've decided to go and see food market, but the problem was that I did not know which one he means and he did not remember the name of the market. What we knew was that it opens about 3 a.m., closes about 8 a.m. and there are only local peoples, tourists usually do not visit it and you can buy any kind of food you like (snakes, cockroaches, larvas, fish, shrimps, just everything) and it is rather big. So we were trying to explain it to taxi drivers, tuk-tuk drivers, shop assistants in 7 eleven. To everyone, but they did not know. In the end when we thought that we got it and went there it was not what Nico meant. It was market, but not the one that he's seen before. It was good, but small. But that's true we were the only farangs there. It was cool cause they allowed me to try sweet sticky rice from a huge bowl, where they were preparing it. Sweet ;-)
After food market we went to see flower market. That involved taking ferry, which made me a little bit sick. River was too choppy for me. Luckily after a short while I got ok again so we could wander around flower market, which in fact was not only flower market, but also fruit and vegetable market. I loved this one. We got some flowers from the sales man. They were really beautiful. Later on I was told that in Thai they are called butterfly flowers, as when they are in bloom they look like butterflies, which is true. From Nico I also got other flowers which I was told later are usually bought for Buddha. Interesting.
We've finished whole trip about 10 in the morning. And that was so surprising, I should be tired after 24 hours of no sleep, but I was not at all. I've tried to sleep, but I was not able. I dunno if it was some kind of excitement or feeling that it's my last day and I just cannot sleep not to waste it. So I was wandering around, took foot massage, manicure and pedicure, got myself a piercing, did last shopping, went for a party and in the end I went to bed around 3 in the morning. So I had something like 42 hours without sleep. Quite impressive.

Workers in a truck on Sam Sen Road. They saw me taking this picture and some of them were smiling.

Traffic on Sam Sen Road: motorbikes, tuk-tuks and cars

Food

Khao San Road. This will definitelly be one of the things that I'll miss back home. Fresh fruits, chopped and peeled. You can buy half of a pineapple for 10B which is little bit less than 25 euro cents.

Rene Restaurant - they had delicious baguets.

Maybe some shades? Or sunnies? Or just simple sunglasses?

Maybe bracelet?

Or a new pearcing? In the shape of syrgine.

Syrgine was only temporary ;-)

These are the flowers that I got at flower market. Photo was taken from Phiman Water View. In the background is Rama IX Bridge.

Rama IX Bridge (or maybe Rama VIII?)

Khao San Road by night

On the way to Phiman. I was playing with the local girsl. A little bit of jumping was cool.

One, two, three... and so one till ten. It was like english lesson.

In Phiman

With Kuni, my Japanese friend.

Kuni was working on his first leather wallet. Classes were given by Otto. I was too lazy to learn. I also do not have any manual skils, so that would make no sense anyway.