So background. The folks from work wanted to go on a Team building weekend away to the coast. So I of course was asked to go along. I jumped at the chance. They were going to Zambales which is a norther province in the Philippines. They were going to a conference and resort center right on the west coast on the beach. I was looking forward to this.. but knowing who was going and all the things that could happen.. I joked once that we have to be careful so we don't end up on CNN with Wolf Blitzer and the Situation Room.. Because the heading would be "Some incident involving 14 Filipinos, 2 Indians and a 51 yr American Businessman. Well that just stuck and so it came a few times that weekend.. which we all laughed about.
Now the story.. We got off work on Saturday AM at 6:00.. and then we all went downstairs to the mall where we waited. Some folks went home to get their things and or showered. We all got back together around 7:30. The plan was to take 2 vans which was going to carry all of us plus a few other folks as well as our bags, our food along with the pots and pans and all items that we were going to need for the weekend. The trip was to take about 4 to 5 hours by transport to get up to the resort. I was looking forward to this trip just to get out of Manila, to see some of the provinces not to mention to be at the beach relaxing, having fun, and experiencing new things.
We started out ok.. 2 vans, 14 Filipinos, 2 Indians and me... One of my folks that I work with arranged most of this trip and she did a great job. Her father is/was associated with the conference center which probably gave us a cut price not to mention he was the one that drove one of the vans and also coordinated all transportation. Love's younger sister came along as well as Ian's girlfriend and her best friend. Those folks didn't consist of the 14 Filipinos.. which were just from the office. We get loaded, and we are on our way. We had air conditioning and it was just a lot of fun. We stopped about an hour out of the city at a big stop to get gas and food. It was basically just like our highway stops.. even had a Cinnabon place which I DIDN'T get any. A standard bag of miniature Reeses which would cost us about 3.50 us dollars was approximately around 12.00 us dollars. needless to say we didn't get them either. It was warm but good in the van on the road. Well about 40 mins later we are beginning to have engine problems. The van was making weird noises and we were in the worst traffic.. mostly people getting away to the beach for the weekend.. That being said, the roads are only 2 lane.. 1 lane for each direction which we all share. WE being cars, vans, buses, jeepneys, tricycles, motorcycles and bikes. So constantly you are hearing horns, and constantly the van has been passing everything and everyone .... I think Love's dad was just hellbent on getting us there which is a good thing. There were some points I just had to stop looking.. I mean we came REAL close more than a few times from hitting a bus head on at 70 mph... Again.. we could see the headline.. "Bus Accident in the Philippines 17 killed.. 14 Filipinos, 2 Indians and 1 51 yr American businessman.. ".
Well finally in this little town with LOTS of people and just shops of all kinds in the middle of nowhere... we finally pull into this furniture parking lot next door to this motorcycle shop and a car wash... which probably hasn't seen water in YEARS!!!! Luckily Love's dad knows how to work on car / van engines... The issue is he needed parts and all we could find were motorcycle shops.. We all got out to stretch our legs.. and it was now HOT and SUNNY!!!! which means just hotter. Again remember we had worked all night and not it was around noon on Saturday.. normally the time I am in bed for my day's allotment of sleep. We were walking around the nearby shops, and of course I don't think there had been an American walking around there in a long time. EVERYONE just stared at me like i was an alien from mars which happens a lot when in areas that Americans don't normally go.
Well after an hour and 1/2 or so, we decided that this was going to take longer than we would like. Since we only had the weekend time was a wasting. So the decision was made that we would pile all of us in the one van. Love and her younger sister was the only ones that didn't come along. They were going to stay with their Dad and his companion and get the van fixed and come along later on.
So here we go.. we load in this van 14 Filipinos, 2 Indians, the 1 51 yr American businessman, their bags, the food (which was fish that was thawing at this point not to mention the pork and EVERYTHING else.) and the pots and pans and utensils.. into one van. we were more than like sardines in that van. A jeepney ride would have been more comfortable. We had to turn off the AC since it wasn't keeping up anyway and we opened the windows.. more heat not to mention the exhaust from outside. Our tires could barely take the double load of weight.. and we all were silently praying that we were going to make it. The terrain was mountainous.. we had to go up and over to get to the other side on the west coast. I had one point was trying to teach the 14 Filipinos and the 2 Indians the song Kumbaya.. we thought anything that helps us get there would be worth it. The ride was in the long run successful.. and part of the weekend stories... we made it in one piece.. no breakdowns, no flats and no run ins with any other vehicle including the buses.. :)
We get there about 4:30 Saturday afternoon. We peel out of this van one by one.. no one looking pretty or smelling too awful. We walked around to get our legs from uncramping and to find our accommodations. We started out on a 3rd floor dormitory on the beach.. but then due to finances.. and they didn't want the 3rd floor and there was no cooking area.. we downgraded to a first floor dormitory with cooking facilities and outdoor sinks and a patio which we took over for our dining/living space.
The resort was beautiful. The resort was located on the west coast of Zambales in a town I have no idea what it was called. The body of water was the China Sea... The sand is black due to the ore but still fine and in its own way beautiful. It kind of reminded me of the black pearls vs the traditional sea water pearls. Beautiful in its own right. The accommodations were one dormitory ... bunk beds, with the bottom bunk being more of a full size and the top one being more of a single size. We had 17 people with I believe bed space for 18. So being the Philippines and very open society.. everyone just picked a spot.. and I got a spot with Donald. We had one bathroom consisting of a shower and toilet and a sink.. and a drain for both that didn't do a very good job. We had one light bulb to light the whole room which at night when it got DARK!!!!! we had to leave it on so we could maneuver. Yes Virginia.. it was on all night and people were coming and going constantly.
We unpacked our belongs, the food staples and utensils etc..., everything, we got tables and chairs from where ever we could and set up camp. We started making food ( a good tasting stew for a better word consisting of pigs feet, pigs brain, vegetables and seasoning which tasted good) and snacks etc, and walked around to get the lay of the land. We walked down to the beach. They had volleyball nets set up, 2 basketball courts, a trampoline to mention a few. There was a high school reunion going on with about 100 people. We were going to crash it and tell them that the Prashant and Diwaker (the 2 Indians) and I had been foreign exchange students at their school. but thought they wouldn't buy it... :).
This resort was basically nice but yet a 3rd world resort. It is not the same as in America but I have learned basically the Filipino way.... and once I understand it, I am flexible to be able to live the way and be grateful for the experience to learn and live the culture of the land.
I finally had to get some rest around 6 PM Saturday.. since I had no been up 24 hours, worked 11 of them and spent the rest of the day just getting there. I crawled over Donald put the sheet on me.. and I was so tired.. that the light and the moving around of people even a little bit didn't do a thing for me ... I was OUT to the world in about 3 seconds.. I work up later not knowing what time it was, what day it was, what country I was in.. to see some people sleeping, some outside with the background of music and singing in the distant background.
A note on the music.. Karaoke is BIG here... and everyone in the younger ages do it. constantly everywhere ... in public, or private. The resort rented the machines out and they also have a spot where you could pay 5 pesos a song. They always have video to match. A note of the VideoKareoke here.. unlike the places I know in Amerca, we get up on stage, look out on to the crowd while singing reading the words on monitors... and no video. Here you basically don't get up in front of the crowd, but just look at the monitor up front with the video and sing. Now no matter what the song is, American or Filipino, the genre of music, the video's are always girls in either cheer leading costumes or swimsuits.. moving around and have NOTHING to do with the song. It is kind of weird at first.. but then just a difference in culture. So different but not weird.
So I get up, go outside. I am s sleep stupor.. There are about 7 folks up eating, drinking, and talking having a good time. I join in the fun, the food and the drinking.. I only had 2 beers... we sat and talked til about 2 AM which upon they were headed to the beach. The sky was as dark as could be except for some stars.. but no moon. The reunion folks were the ones that were singing outside under a big tent which they were using. The good thing was at least the songs there were singing at 2 AM were ballads and somewhat quiet and nice to listen to as the sounds of the night came through the air. I was exhausted and there was no way I was going to the beach in the dark at that time. One of the rare moments my age difference was showing. I had to go back to bed. Donald was one that was out and not sleeping. he had walked off and no one knew quite where he was. He ended up singing with the folks from the reunion for a few hours. I went back to bed alone this time but yet on my side since I didn't know if Donald was coming back or not. I got a few more hours of sleep and woke up around 5:15. Daylight was coming, the crescent moon now out and shining, the the morning hue awakening the west coast of Zambales over the China Sea.. was just a feeling I will never forget in my life. By the time 15 minutes transpired.. Everyone was waking up or returning from the beach or in Donald's case from singing all night.
The day started early.. we had the charcoal pits getting hot, food reheated from the day/night before, new food started and all talking about the plans of the day. Everyone walking around looking like we had been up all night and no one cared. So when you see some of the pics it is not like we all look pretty or anything .. and it didn't matter to them.. nor to me. Also a note of reference for the folks that are friends on facebook.. I have downloaded the whole album of 175 pics of the weekend. The pics I downloaded here are just a few of the better moments.
So we ate and got ready. The day consisted of playing volleyball on the sand, going out on a banana boat snorkeling and just playing in the water, water polo in the pool, jumping on the trampoline (and stopping once when I almost flew off on to the ground... ok.. I was trying to get height so I could show them things I had done when I was a kid).... again.. Craig you are NOT 21 years old any longer. We had such fun the entire morning and afternoon. We just enjoyed each others company playing sports. Towards the middle of the afternoon we were just at the beach laying in the sand relaxing and thinking that at some point we have to get cleaned up and get packed up and then get back in the 2 vans (Love's dad got it fixed) and get back to the city.
So here we go, 14 Filipinos, 2 Indians and the 51 yr American business man trying to get ready with 1 shower. Some of them used the outdoor kitchen sinks to baths (Grace and Ria actually sat in them and Donald stood up at the sink... all clothed but yet using soap and shampoo). I was amazed at the ability to do that.. but when all was said and one.. everyone looked like they had their own bathroom. I took a quick cold shower in the bathroom. We get in the van to go home. Now at least it was just the 10 of us in the bigger van... but it was so cold. the AC was kind of stuck. So i was sucked up to Donald for body heat and we had his serape for a blanket on our legs. Unlike the trip there in the heat and sardine effect, i wasn't wearing the jeans like I had. So jeans up sweating like a stuck pig and shorts on the way home in the AC freezing my ass off. Sleeping in a van attached to the person next to you for heat is not the best sleep one will get. We arrived back into Manila at 10 PM Sunday night.. and i took a taxi home to the hotel and was in bed by 10:45. I took a hot shower and got into bed knowing I had one of the best weekends of my life. One weekend that I will remember, for so many things that I can't even begin to explain or tell here. Again feeling so fortunate to have such a life that...
The bad thing is on timing.. usually on Sunday nights (like now.. local time is 3:15 AM) I am up all night so I can sleep on Monday day and be fresh for the first day of work on Monday night. This week was to be different. I slept all Sunday night, got up at 6 AM, went and ate... took a sleeping pill and then slept all day and went to work. I didn't get my normal things done to prepare for my week, my exercise etc. I knew that it would be a rough start to a busy hectic week. We got into work quickly since Monday was a holiday here (All Souls Day). I walked in at 7:15 to a call going on with one of the order specialists and a customer with an out of service. Got on the phone and got yelled at by the customer about the issue I knew nothing about. I got it all figured out, calmed them down, and eventually got my week started with of course the out of service being the first thing on the agenda.
This week was one of the most hectic we have had with more to follow. I am expecting this week to be as busy but as least I am on schedule tonight to be more organized .
This past weekend was one of sleep, rest and organization. It was also my last weekend I think for my Manila ritual of going to the spa on Sunday afternoons. Today after an ok night of sleep, I got up and had breakfast. Today was one of the nicest days with the sun out and the blue skies. Monsoon season and the air quality of Manila does not do much for blue skies. So I took advantage and spent 2 hours in the sun and pool of the hotel. I then went to The Spa for my last time at least for this trip. I had my normal, sea salt scrub with the botanical wrap, a massage, a men's facial, a manicure and a pedicure. Again all items including tips only cost me about $150.00. I was there for about 4 hours. I usually fall asleep at some point of my 1/2 day o beauty ..... it is my precursor of sleeping on Sunday evenings early.
As I was leaving tho I did schedule something for next Saturday at noon... it will take me off schedule but that is going to be ok. I am going home at that point in one week.. and my schedule will be off anyway trying to get last minute personal desire things done. So hopefully I can make it. I am invited to Ria's family for some gathering sometime on Saturday which I think will be in the evening. Next Sunday we are doing a 2nd Team Building day at the Enchanted Kingdom which is an amusement park about 2 hours away. They want to do something again before I leave which I was honored. So I can't wait for next weekend.. new things new places, more people and for me more stories. Just can't do it all yet.. still waiting for cloning that works..
As I sat here this morning the guys started doing the new flower arrangement not to mention a Christmas tree. The Philippines celebrate Christmas like no other country. They have had music up playing since the end of September and decorations out everywhere at the malls not to mention the lights all around the trees.... even the palm trees. So we now have an xmas tree in the lobby.. but won't have pics until tomorrow. It will be hours before they are done.. and I will be out of here in just a couple.
So that is my update for now.. Life is good.. better than good... miss my life, Tim, Molly and Bellaluna, neighbors, all my friends.. chorus etc. I have 2 more weeks to go.. and between work being crazy and time flying, time will fly because i will be trying to get all the last minute things done. It appears that I will be back in the new year.. possibly for a total of 90 more days.... so we will see. I know that 2010 has been like none other.. one I will always remember, cherish, and be thankful for.
Until next week.. live life to the fullest every day... and have fun..
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