January 1, 2010
Firecrackers are big here in the Philippines. Very popular with kids and adults alike. I took a trip to Lignon Park, a
hilltop with an unobstructed view of Mount Mayon. You could hear occasional bangs from firecrackers throughout
the region all afternoon, but it was last evening when things really got cracking.
My second story hotel balcony overlooks a residence with some interesting enterprises. Part of the back yard
appears to be a Japanese bonsai garden. Or maybe they grow them for sale. Right next to it is a series of cages where
they keep some very large dogs. Pets or a kennel? Who knows? On the other side of the dogs is what appears to be
a small car restoration area. Like I said, kind of strange. Anything to make a peso, I suppose.
Anyway, about 10:30 PM rolls around and my strange neighbors begin an eardrum-splitting New Year's firecracker
extravaganza that lasted more than two hours! Not an occasional pop-pop, mind you. I'm talking about a full on
barrage. It sounded like Normandy Beach on D-Day, except the D-Day survivors still had their hearing intact.
Mercifully, a truce was signed and the bombardment ceased around 12:30. Less than four hours later, I awoke to a
rooster doing what roosters do, which is to make a nuisance of himself for no earthly reason. Couldn't this obnoxious
animal at least wait until sunrise to do his thing? Not to be outdone, the dogs started yelping about 5:30.
With sleep out of the question, I got dressed and went for a jog around Legazpi. About half way along the route, the
skies opened up and I got positively drenched. The locals looked at me as if I were totally nuts. I wanted to tell them,
"If you think I'm crazy, you should meet my neighbors!"
Well, the nonsense ends tomorrow morning, as I begin my visits. In addition to meeting 3 children of other sponsors,
I'll meet Maila for the first time. Stay tuned for more on Maila in an upcoming report.
Until then, so long from Legazpi and Happy 2010!
Firecrackers are big here in the Philippines. Very popular with kids and adults alike. I took a trip to Lignon Park, a
hilltop with an unobstructed view of Mount Mayon. You could hear occasional bangs from firecrackers throughout
the region all afternoon, but it was last evening when things really got cracking.
My second story hotel balcony overlooks a residence with some interesting enterprises. Part of the back yard
appears to be a Japanese bonsai garden. Or maybe they grow them for sale. Right next to it is a series of cages where
they keep some very large dogs. Pets or a kennel? Who knows? On the other side of the dogs is what appears to be
a small car restoration area. Like I said, kind of strange. Anything to make a peso, I suppose.
Anyway, about 10:30 PM rolls around and my strange neighbors begin an eardrum-splitting New Year's firecracker
extravaganza that lasted more than two hours! Not an occasional pop-pop, mind you. I'm talking about a full on
barrage. It sounded like Normandy Beach on D-Day, except the D-Day survivors still had their hearing intact.
Mercifully, a truce was signed and the bombardment ceased around 12:30. Less than four hours later, I awoke to a
rooster doing what roosters do, which is to make a nuisance of himself for no earthly reason. Couldn't this obnoxious
animal at least wait until sunrise to do his thing? Not to be outdone, the dogs started yelping about 5:30.
With sleep out of the question, I got dressed and went for a jog around Legazpi. About half way along the route, the
skies opened up and I got positively drenched. The locals looked at me as if I were totally nuts. I wanted to tell them,
"If you think I'm crazy, you should meet my neighbors!"
Well, the nonsense ends tomorrow morning, as I begin my visits. In addition to meeting 3 children of other sponsors,
I'll meet Maila for the first time. Stay tuned for more on Maila in an upcoming report.
Until then, so long from Legazpi and Happy 2010!
