Banana farming

One feet deep hole enough for planting sagin or bananas, they said. We had lakatan or yellow banana before. Now we found new kinds of; tundan or small yellow, fit for kids; kardaba or cooking banana; balangan or green; salibagyo or small. Still I want to find amorado or red banana. Have to hit the mountains to get one.

Word of the day: sagin = banana

Fly on the wall

Mayor built a nice park at seaside downtown. Tax money well spent. Restaurant in compound has become popular amongst local and kano. Separating the park from market stands a wall painted with marine motives. Really impressive actually.

They were in a hurry to make it ready before governer coming for inauguration ceremony. No time to let the concrete dry upp means it is cracking and the painting falling apart. So pitty.

Word of the day: pintura = paint

Ukay-ukay

Everywhere You see them, clothes, shoes, bags for sale. Price is reaaly cheap, from 5 p up. Second-hand is big business. Little they know, well meaning aunties in 1st world who donate clothes and things to various organisations who say they will hand over everything to the poor in 3rd world. Little they know that nothing is free.

Also this business has made local cloth industry to collapse 'cause they cannot compete with "free" clothes. Free trade. Not fair trade.

Word of the day: ukay = stir, move (here: dig in a pile of clothes)

Tropical paradise

Night temp is freezing +26 C! Cats always find the place to warm up.

We have three cats and two dogs. Dogs are to guard the house. They are still puppies but alarm good, too soft to attack. Expect the white one to grow up as a good guard. The bitch welcomes anyone; take a number, one by one boys...

Word of the day: bugnao = cold, init = hot

American standard

Once again my ISP is failing, going two weeks with bad, cutting connection. They have a customer service, always very polite, and imbecill, same standard procedure Yes, Sir. Connection comes when it comes. Annoying? Yes. First world guy in third world. Get a life.

Major companies brag with American standard. Well, we in Europe dont buy Made in US 'cause of bad quality. A long way to go.

Lot of old bikes, Honda Cup and other ancient models, nicely kept and still rolling strong. Also many 'homemade' bikes. How they can drive of police. No plates either. This is a free country.

Word of the day: wallako kabalo = I dont know

Gung Hay Fat Choy

Chinese community keeps low profile here 'cause of bad experience before. The leading class is however of Chinese origin which You can see during Chinese New Year. Many shops closed on January 23, and those open, like Metro, show up typical Chinese pling-pling. Hmm, much more fun where big China towns, like in Krung Thep or Singhapura -  a Chinese state.

New Year greeting is the south Chinese: Gung Hay Fat Choy - prosperous new year. In mainland China, the real China, they say: Xin Nian Kuai Le - happy new year. It is Year of the dragon.

Gaisano South in Colon burnt down. It was already old so good to make a new with insurance money LOL

Word of the day: mongo = bean, also bean brain

Butong and buko

Young coconut is full coco water which is refreshing to enjoy when weather hot. It is also believed to heal Your kidneys. Folks believe when drink buko, You can drink more alcohol. Many also believe it is aphrodisiac. Whatever, I sometimes drink it. It is a little sweet but mostly fresh. I also know how to open butong, that is not to spill all over but a clean cut. Butong has only little coco flesh inside, which is a favorite candy for all and sister. Coco flakes to make coco milk, are made of mature coconut or lubi.

Butong is also called a firm buttom of a young girl. To all You feminazi, this is a big compliment.

Word of the day: butong = young coconut, buko = coco water/juice