Our Philippines Adventure: Shopping, Robots and Balut

Thursday, 15th September 2011

Matt had another sleep in – still feeling very exhausted. Last night we put the mosquito nets up again, and Eden decided she didn't like hers this time, and whimpered throughout the night until in desperation we took the mosquito net down for her, and let her suffer the consequences, so we could get back to sleep.

Jinky was already gone when we woke up this morning, and Tina was not feeling well, so we got our own breakfast, Weetbix and toast (with Vegemite) while discussing our plans for the day.

Soon after breakfast Matt and I went out to catch a bus to Dagupan to do the grocery shopping. Not sure how many kms away it is, but it takes about 45mins on the bus. When we got there only the supermarket was open, and Matt was hoping for more shops as he just loves shopping!, and was just deciding to head elsewhere when they opened up the doors to the department store and in the far distance we could see more shops, so we abandoned our shopping trolley (actually we were hoping it would still be there when we came back) and went through the department store and out the other side to find....more shops, lots of shops, shops galore, heaven for shoppers. Anyway, we had a lovely time shopping for clothes for me, and some sunglasses for Matt, and then had lunch at Shakey's Pizza Bar at about 11.00am. Great pizza and salad.

Are you game girls?

Street views from the bus

Passing scenery

More passing scenery

After lunch we went back to the Supermarket and did our shopping. Was planning on having Caesar Salad for dinner tonight, but couldn't find any cos lettuce, so gave up on that idea, and with our trolley overflowing went to the checkout. The checkout operator and the bag filler enjoyed laughing at our expense, and were amazed at the amount of shopping we had – so were we, we were wondering how we were going to get them all home on the bus with just the two of us to carry them, so off we marched out of the shop with our trolley, out of the carpark, and across to the bus shelter (Matt was a bit concerned about taking the trolley out of the shopping centre, but I assured him I had done it before). When we got to the bus shelter there were lots of empty shopping trolleys, as everyone catching buses and jeepneys after shopping does the same thing. We were approached by two beggar children, whom we declined to give anything to (you can't tell who the genuine ones are and nobody else gave them anything either), and eventually the right bus came along, so on we got with all our bags and boxes (and the meat – chicken, beef & pork – in it's well insulated plastic bag, we hoped that the sheer content of meat would keep it all cool). It was very fortunate that we could catch a bus direct to the hall. We had seven plastic bags, two boxes, a back pack, a box with a custard tart and two loaves of bread in total to get onto the bus.

You can catch Air-Con or Ordinary Buses

This is our ordinary Ordinary

Still it was fun

The windows of our bus

The ceiling...

Natural airconditioning

Taken for especially for James

Taken especially for Micah

When we got back to the hall, Mum and Silas were in the kitchen, and Eden and Noah were sleeping. We unpacked everything and put it away, and then Silas made a “broken robot” with the cardboard boxes.

Silas helping carry one of the boxes of shopping in

The "broken" robot

Robot Silas

Jinky and Tina arrived to take Mum into Lingayen to have a haircut. Jinky was going to have her hair cut too, so we are still waiting for them to return and see the beautiful new image they both have.

Once Eden and Noah were awake, the fun started again. After giving them snacks they made there way over to Aunty Laida's house (to watch TV). I went to check that it was ok, and am now back typing up the days events, sitting in front of the fan at the kitchen table while Matt has a rest and the flies buzz around me.

Jonathan, Jodel and Joel have joined us for tea (along with Jinky and Tina). It was good timing on Sarah's part to buy a custard tart for desert. Jonathan and Joel each ate balut, this is the first time that Sarah and the children have seen it – quite gross actually. For those who don't know what balut is, it is a fertilised egg (duck in this case) that has been boiled. You eat it similar to a normal egg, it's just that you have to swallow the little duck (complete with beak, legs etc...) as well.