Holiday in the Philippines!

**CDNSushi** · 18th August 11, 05:35 PM

I'm back! Had a fantastic holiday. I'll be posting pix as soon as things get sorted out around the house... I spent a bit of time kilted, and a LOT of time just sitting in my bathing suit with a San Miguel in my hand.

Next few days are likely going to be insane. We returned home to a horrible, horrible nightmare. No electricity + fridge/freezer full of meat + perishables + 9 days of 36C (98F) temps = GHHAAAACCCKK!!! I hope to have a guy come in today from a pro. cleaning company that specializes in dead body removals and "cat houses" to give me a price quote, as I can barely even sit in my own living room right now. I already cleaned out as much as I could, (emptying the entire contents of the fridge/freezer) but even hours of using bleach, baking soda solution, household cleaners, (not all at the same time though.. heh) even touched the smell, it seems. Think I'm going to need a new fridge.

SO anyway, once I get all that sorted away, I'll be posting some piccies of our trip! On the plus side, I brought back a lot of rum... 2 bottles of 15-year old, (both cost me $10), a bottle of 12-year old, and a bottle of rotgut for mixing into my coke (hey -- you can't argue with $1.00 for a 750mL bottle)...

Cheers all,

JD

**Downunder Kilt** · 18th August 11, 05:40 PM

Sounds like you guys had a great time CDNSushi, pity about the homecomming. Looking forwarded to the pictures mate and cheers re the duty free

**CDNSushi** · 18th August 11, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by azwildcat96

We were there during the dry season, so there were no mosquitoes.

Even during typhoon season we had very few. I was pleasantly surprised. But I still used copious quantities of DEET in the evenings, and all my clothes were pre-treated with permethrin before we left.

Originally Posted by azwildcat96

... we were told to use the nets and to place our shoes and other belongings under the nets while we slept. The first night, I woke up to use the restroom, switched on my flashlight, and instantly saw the spiders. They were not ordinary spiders, they were bird-eating spiders, about the size of dinner plates (named because they were known to literally chase down birds in the trees and catch and eat them before they could fly away.) The reason for tucking the mosquito nets under the mattress and having your things in bed with you was to keep these beasts from making a home in you shoe while you slept.

Didn't see any of those... But I DID get a large-ish brown spider crawling all over me as I was walking. He couldn't have been more than about 5-6 inches, but he got evicted from my person promptly.

Originally Posted by azwildcat96

Have a San Miguel (or six) for me.

Done.

**cruiser348** · 18th August 11, 06:16 PM

Glad the trip went well, and that you have such a nice haul of beverages to bring home and enjoy. Too bad about the little surprise at home though. Look forward to the pictures.

**azwildcat96** · 18th August 11, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by CDNSushi

Even during typhoon season we had very few. I was pleasantly surprised. But I still used copious quantities of DEET in the evenings, and all my clothes were pre-treated with permethrin before we left.

Didn't see any of those... But I DID get a large-ish brown spider crawling all over me as I was walking. He couldn't have been more than about 5-6 inches, but he got evicted from my person promptly.

Done.

Glad the trip went well.

**seanachie** · 18th August 11, 08:46 PM

You might enjoy this. I was in Manila about 6 years ago to train the new staff that replaced & made my entire department redundant. Anyway, there is a huge mall in Manila called MegaMall. It has an ice rink. All the lines are painted, goal creases etc BUT there is a cement column running, right smack into, if memory serves, the center ice redline. Gives new meaning to hit like a ton of bricks.

**CDNSushi** · 19th August 11, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by seanachie

It has an ice rink. All the lines are painted, goal creases etc BUT there is a cement column running, right smack into, if memory serves, the center ice redline. Gives new meaning to hit like a ton of bricks.

LOL! Geez! Maybe that should become standard in the NHL. May add an extra challenge to the game! :-D

**English Bloke** · 19th August 11, 09:35 AM

Ooooh Lordy! I'm not keen on creepy crawlies of any description... 5-6"? Phew! It's not that I'm scared of spiders it's just that they give me an incredible urge to walk briskly away.

Glad you had a good time, sounds like you needed it... and condolences for your dead fridge. I've experienced similar myself. My heart goes out to you.