The betting is done with the bookies

The fight begins

Victor standing over vanquished, The Wala corner across from the Meron corner, Proud breeder

Philippines

Philippines consist of 7000+ islands, 100,000,000 people, 70% are below poverty line, 5% are very wealthy, 25% makeup the two middle classes (lower and middle), 10,000,000 are working abroad--just about every Filipino you talk to knows of  or has a friend or relative working overseas. The minimum wage in the rural areas is 250P ($6.75 CAD) per 8 hour day and 500P ($13.75 CAD) per 8 hour day in the cities.

15,000,000 people live in Manila.  It is made up of Metro Manila and several small Burroughs.  It is a city of polar extremes--dirty, smoggy, and smelly--but huge air conditioned malls (The Asia Mall would rival West Edmonton Mall.), nice homes next door to metal clad shacks, lots of people living on the streets (maybe an aftermath of Yolanda's damage in the southern Philippines).  This is similar to all large cities.  What you can't deny is the Filipinos resourcefulness and energy. They are friendly and helpful.  The tour guides tell us that when Filipinos talk about 'the little people', they are referring to the rural people and the small business owners/operators (trike operators).

The jeepney is the main mode of transportation in the cities, the villages, and between the villages.  After the war, a man was using a jeep to transport his family for shopping, school, etc.  As his family grew, he needed a larger vehicle.  He had his company stretch the jeep.  This became the first jeepney.  The name came from:  jeep for the vehicle and honey for his wife and family. The jeepneys are made at a plant in Manila.  They import rebuilt used motors (usually Isuzu) from Japan. The bodies are usually custom painted according to the owners' requirements.  He may list the names of his family, religious slogans,  etc.  

Other important methods of transportation consist of trikes (sidecars attached to small motorcycles), and buses.  In some instances the machine used to operate the paddle wheel for breaking up the rice paddies for planting was used to transport the family from Point A to Pint B in rural area. The paddle wheel had been taken off.

Touring around Marcos country for the next week with a couple of American families with ties to the Philippines is on the schedule.

Mall of Asia in Manilla (ice rink and a race registration), Amusement Park at Sunset

Balinese god of the ocean guarding Denpassar, Bali, Signs in a Restaurant

Island Paradise

A long van ride, a sleep on the ferry, David goes on the hunt for place to stay, I wait at the dock with the luggage and eat ice cream.  David arrives back at the dock with a horse and cart, and we proceed to our paradise on an island for the next week--Gili Air.

We felt used and abused after weeks of constant moving, and this week was meant for rest and recuperation.

As I walked from hotel to hostel looking for the best deal, I ran into a couple on the same quest. We found, generally, that the further away from the dock we walked, the cheaper the rate.  By the time we arrived at Salim Cottages, we had perfected our bargaining. Using the length of stay as our bargaining chip,we managed to get a room for $30.00 a night with breakfast included. We had heated showers, air con, wifi and a large superior room for so little. 

The locals are friendly, and hardworking.  As they are mostly Muslim, it is suggested that women tourists wear cover ups over bathing suits when not on the beach.  However, times are changing.  

There are three islands off the coast of Lombok--Gili Trewangan (party island), Gili Air (family oriented, and some party atmosphere), and Gili Meno (more relaxed).  Patt and Craig quite liked Gili Air. 

On this island, there are three modes of travel for most people--horse and cart, bicycle, feet. Some of the locals do have small electric motorbikes.  A person can walk around the island in an hour and half. The  path around the island runs just inside a row of restaurants which front the hotels. 

The horse and cart is a people mover, a cargo mover, a garbage collection vehicle, a material's mover as in lumber, cement bags, tools, etc.  The cart is built according to its use.

Most local people own boats.  Because they are made of wood, they are in constant need of attention.  At this time of the year, they are often beached on their side while being worked on to get them ready for the coming summer (high season).