Marvel Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 4:00 a.m. ... it was a short night, didn't get to bed until midnight. We got bags packed and had a Grab (like Uber) pick us up at 5:00. Once again head to the airport, 1 1/2 hours away. The city is already busy, with folks heading off to jobs or whatever, from teens to seniors. Metro Manila is actually made up of 16 cities (around 240 sq. miles), adding up to over 13 million people. Headed to Cebu, in central Visayas. It's another 1 1/2 hr flight. We are staying in Mandaue, one of the cities that makes up Cebu City. What a treat! Hardly any visible trash to be seen. After getting settled at the hotel, we head to another huge mall, about 2-3 blocks away. Pics follow... the large multi story structure is classy. Didn't get a pic, but there are terraces where you can be outside, but under cover. A large grassy playground in the middle about the size of a football field, for kids to play. There's an indoor playground as well. Our lunch was 3/4 kilo of lechon (roast pig), with requisite rice. A couple other dishes I don't remember. I had a soup with noodles, shrimp, squid rings, crab and fish, as well as some veggies. The Coke was good, made with real sugar, not hfc. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybob Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 You may have missed your calling Bruce. More educational, with a touch of the personal experience included. As good or better than pro globetrekkers have seen. Kudos... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted July 26, 2023 Share Posted July 26, 2023 Very nice! How long have you been vacationing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted July 26, 2023 Author Share Posted July 26, 2023 Got here on 7/11, but we only have three weeks off, so back on 7/31. Spent the a.m. at the dr's and hospital. Wife's having a reaction to something... Dr visit cost $14, eecg and blood work about $40. A bit better than at home. We're headed back out for site seeing. The hospital is beautiful. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted July 26, 2023 Author Share Posted July 26, 2023 The Spanish were doing their thing in the Philippines. This was built in the early 1700s. The first two burned... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the real Duke Spinner Posted July 26, 2023 Share Posted July 26, 2023 On 7/25/2023 at 6:15 AM, Marvel said: 4:00 a.m. ... it was a short night, didn't get to bed until midnight. We got bags packed and had a Grab (like Uber) pick us up at 5:00. Once again head to the airport, 1 1/2 hours away. The city is already busy, with folks heading off to jobs or whatever, from teens to seniors. Metro Manila is actually made up of 16 cities (around 240 sq. miles), adding up to over 13 million people. Headed to Cebu, in central Visayas. It's another 1 1/2 hr flight. We are staying in Mandaue, one of the cities that makes up Cebu City. What a treat! Hardly any visible trash to be seen. After getting settled at the hotel, we head to another huge mall, about 2-3 blocks away. Pics follow... the large multi story structure is classy. Didn't get a pic, but there are terraces where you can be outside, but under cover. A large grassy playground in the middle about the size of a football field, for kids to play. There's an indoor playground as well. Our lunch was 3/4 kilo of lechon (roast pig), with requisite rice. A couple other dishes I don't remember. I had a soup with noodles, shrimp, squid rings, crab and fish, as well as some veggies. The Coke was good, made with real sugar, not hfc. Not a very efficient use of Space That would never fly in New York with property taxes here. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted July 27, 2023 Author Share Posted July 27, 2023 Took a ferry from Cebu down to Tagbilaran, Bohol, around 1 1/2 hrs (again). Twin 1,800 + HP Cummins diesels move you along. Got to see the Chocolate Hills, a geographic formation caused by limestone and coral beds being pushed up. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted July 27, 2023 Author Share Posted July 27, 2023 Also so got to see Tarsiers, an endangered species of primates. Amazing little creatures, up to 15cm... superb hearing up to 91khz. Have a pic on separate phone... it will come along. They had staff who would take your phone to get close ups. We were still only about 5 feet away. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted July 27, 2023 Author Share Posted July 27, 2023 Trees, just trees. Billed as a man-made forest, this was a specific forestation project started over 50 yrs ago. Red and white mahogany trees grow tall and straight. Temps in the dense forest are cooler, with a fairly high canopy. No vendors around, but we did stop for a quick pic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted July 28, 2023 Author Share Posted July 28, 2023 Had lunch on a floating restaurant... up a small river and back. Buffet food was great... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted July 28, 2023 Author Share Posted July 28, 2023 Although famous for Philippine Mahogany, a wood used for furniture, and famous the world over, the wood folks like to use for flooring, furniture, boat building, all for its durability, is Narra. In the west it is used for certain guitar parts - and is called Padauk. It's a very hard, heavy wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the real Duke Spinner Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 I made a guitar from Paduak onetine in the 1970s Not remembering why I sold it, but I surmise it was not memorable. 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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