Philippines, Subic Bay

Balanga

Balanga is the capital of Bataan Province and Carol wanted to see what was there. Maybe because it was Sunday and a holiday weekend too, most shops were closed up, so there wasn’t much going on to see.  She had also asked the driver to suggest a place for lunch since there would be more choices here rather than outside Balanga.    Although it was a bit early and we said we weren’t so very hungry, after our order the waiter suggested we move to a larger table because a table for 4 was too small for the food we had ordered! 

clip_image001  Here is where we started out

clip_image002 They made us move here.  We didn’t really order that much food, but things come in separate serving dishes and you put them onto your plate which can turn into lots of plates.  Rice has its own dish, meats have their own dish, etc.  Our waiter took the photo.

clip_image003 The Crown Royal Hotel and Restaurant

clip_image004  This was interesting.  You know those rather dry, crispy puffy things you get at Chinese restaurants?  Well, they start our like tiny pieces of plastic.  Carol asked the waiter to bring some so we could see it and even take a few home to “blow up” which I haven’t done yet.  We dipped the cooked ones into vinegar and they sizzled and tasted much better than just eating them straight.  Try it.

clip_image005  The hotel lobby.  I really liked the mural.  C.C.

clip_image006  This section of the mural shows Mt. Samat and Balanga.  I’m not sure if the ships represent the coast of Bataan or if that is Manila.

clip_image007  There was a piano in the lobby of the hotel. 

I tried to play Greensleeves which I have known by heart till I tried to play it here.  I couldn’t get past the first 5 notes and decided a public forum wasn’t the place to try.

Then we were off to Orani to visit Carol’s aunt.

Ruth Johnson

DoraMac

I am signing the emails this way so if blogs disappear, maybe they can just be googled and we can find them again.  Oddgamer may come back, hopefully.    http://www.tabblo.com/studio/person/DoraMac has lots of the photos from mid-2007, but not much text.  http://oddgamer.wordpress.com/  has most of the old emails minus the photos.  One day it will get straightened out.