Even in another country.....

...I can get pissed off about the falling billboards...allbeit this time in Cebu....

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However, we're not back for long!

Off to sunnier climes tomorrow night...a week in Cebu, with a few days in Bohol (apparently, allegedly!) seeing the chocolate hills and stroking tarsiers (at least that's what I'm telling you!!!).

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'cause they really sound similar!

And this news from Cebu....

....Brionne claimed the cabin crew misheard him when he said there was a "bunch of flowers," not a bomb, inside his bag.

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How not to treat your first ever tourist....

On my many (and climbing) visits to Cebu I try to make it to at least one historic/cultural/educational location each time...this trip I finally (and I emphasis finally, because this place is just at the end of the road where I normally stay!) made it to Magellan's Shrine...








So this is where, the first man to circumnavigate the globe (albeit not all at once) met an untimely end....it's rather unfortunate really....here is the first real tourist that the Philippines has ever had...and they finish him off in a rather gruesome way. Not really something you can use for the DOT's next advertising campaign! But the guy responsible for killing Magellan has been honoured with city being named after him...and it seems a fish!!!




Past the shrine was something else I wanted to see up close and personal....about 7 or 8 months back the Big Foot studios put in an ostrich run.... with 5 ostriches....it really is quite cruel to put so many big birds in such a small enclosure...but they seem happy enough and almost tame - although I won't be sticking my fingers anywhere near the wire, any time soon!! They really are quite the strangest birds!!





Although I was down there for four days this time, I really didn't do anything too stressful other than read copious amounts and periodically move from the apartment to the pool and back again! Saturday night was the 'late night' out...going back to this grill restaurant I really like; Koana Grill.... a friend's son's 16th birthday party...how old did that make me feel....unfortunately by 2am I had been so badly bitten by something hanging around my left ankle I was scratching furiously and decided it was time to leave....so on to almost my favourite part of all trips to Cebu now...a late night visit to Abuhan restaurant..... Now the thing is here, I don't really eat the food, I just scoop up all the gravy from the sizzling pochero....I can't even begin to tell you how good it is....as soon as anyone mentions Cebu I can almost taste this gravy.... Addictive? I think so!!!! In my considered opinion the gravy at the first Abuhan is better than Abuhan Dos....but I'll need to go back and keep assessing it!

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Once more with feeling....

So, we now have a second shot at hosting the ASEAN Summit. Obviously it is not so exciting the second time around as the PDI hasn't even come up with its special ASEAN section with the links to all the relevant news articles!

Along with street lights that cost millions and work rather sporadically, there is also the weather and security to be concerned about.

And just to add to the joys of hosting all these VIPs, one of the hotels also has a wedding to contend with! But, all things considered these sorts of events are good for localbusiness and for spotlighting areas of the country that may otherwise be forgotten.

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I'm back...and so is the internet - nominally!

Cebu was lovely...as always...weather on Saturday was crap though...was like being in England so the day was spent indoors watching TV and reading...fortunately Sunday was nicer so a nice relaxed day around Cebu...

and as an added bonus the Island Boy is making a flying visit to Manila tonight....

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I say a little prayer for you.....

The ASEAN summit kicks off in Cebu on Sunday....personally I think this event has been challenged in the 'luck' department since the beginning....first all the issues over the new Convention Centre..will it be finished? Yes, it will, no it won't, yes it will, no it won't...ok well maybe parts of it will be finished....plus a liberal dose of criticism for the 'Imeldific' renovations (I've been wanting to use that word for a while!!)

And now...multiple terror threat warnings, and if that's not enough...a possible storm.....

And just to add to my personal concerns, my two favourite men in the Philippines will both be there for the next week....


Friday afternoon:
610 kms east of Southern Leyte
Saturday afternoon:
190 kms southeast of Guian, Eastern Samar
Sunday afternoon:
it will be in the vicinity of Mactan, Cebu

PDI's ASEAN updates
PAGASA

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Coffee, Tea or me...??!!!

I'm back! As always it was too short...you just start to wind down and breathe and then its time to come back...anyway, I guess it was better than nothing...

A slightly different Cebu weekend to the norm, due to a few "official" engagements that my travelling companion had to show face at, he's good at that kind of thing...I'm terrible; and as a consequence try as much as possible to fade into the background, however I am learning to plaster a fairly convincing smile on my face, nod when required and say very, very little!!! Going to these sort of events with my friend always reminds me of that line the Neil Diamond movie 'The Jazz Singer'...when his wife says to the agent..."What was I supposed to do...follow him around from city to city saying 'Wow'?".

The weekend started with a flying visit to the Lapu-Lapu city tourism night...meeting all the 'right' people, the Mayor's wife and many others...then onto the Marco Polo to drop into the Pool side Chill out party...Skippy, I did try to take pictures of the models in their bikinis frolicking in the pool, but, unfortunately they didn't come out very well...I'm sorry!

Other than a spot of shopping and a whole lot of lying on the beach, Sunday saw us going to see Casino Royale...it was excellent..Daniel Craig does 007 proud. The two best quotes of the movie...

Bartender: Shaken or stirred?
James Bond: Does it look like I give a damn?

and my all time favourite line...

Vesper to Bond: You take the next one, there's not enough room in here for me and your ego

Monday saw more lazing by the beach...a bit of activity in feeding the fishes and then into Cebu City for a spot of sightseeing..namely the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño...and Magellan's Cross. The evening was a little stressful...the traffic was so bad it took us over an hour and half to get from Cebu City back to Mactan...quite horrific..Dinner was at the Mayor's house - unfortunately due to timing constraints we turned up in what can only be described as beach wear...I was mortified! and then a real rush to catch the last flight...I'm surprised they let us board...surprised, but very grateful!!

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What again...??!!!

Ok boys and girls...am going out of town for a few days...no prizes for guessing where...and definitely no prizes for guessing with whom! - A small hint..it isn't the owner of the underpants!!!

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