Makati City, Philippines

[glatt]

Originally Posted by slang

Ok, Glatt. This is surely not how it's done in the US ( and I'm sure that we're all thankful for that ) but this is how it's done here in the Philippines.

This is not something that you want to watch if you're not comfortable with blood and guts.

Listen to the end of the audio. Rain says that Alex, the butcher should put on a black mask when cutting up the pig.

When I was listening to the audio, the thing that struck me was how loud the traffic noise was, even inside the shop. Then in a few posts you talk about wishing you had brought hearing protection. The place sounds like hustle and bustle to me.

That butcher is skilled with his very sharp knife. He's so fast and confident with his cuts. Amazing.

[glatt]

I just watched the other few clips too. There really is a lot of traffic noise, isn't there? I guess in person it seems less obvious than when you are watching on a computer screen inside a quiet house like I am. The constant stream of motor bikes is remarkable.

[slang]

Yes. It's not just the traffic noise here either. The vehicle noise is probably the biggest part of it but there is a lot more.

The honda mini scooter/ motorcyles are very popular here. These bikes are normally 100-150cc and are the new design. They are quiet.

What does a kid or young adult do when he buys one of these bikes?

He puts a louder exhaust on it. There are many aftermarket exhaust shops here. They must be cheap too becuase so many people have them on their bikes. Not just the new bikes either.

Then what? Some type of stereo that everyone can hear. Not something that plays inside ear buds, something that everyone can hear blasting on the street.

The street noise is so constant that I don't even notice it.

Our apartment is away from the street with another apartment between ours and the noise of the cars. I thought this would surely keep our place very quiet. I was wrong.

The construction continues even today and I don't know which noise pollution is worse, traffic or construction.

This whole building is concrete which tends to deaden most external noise. When there is pounding on the concrete structure however, that noise is transmitted though the whole building. At the height of construction next door there were 10 workers.

That's 10 tappers of my walls, 10 big noise makers. From effing sun up to sun down, people were tapping and pounding. JFCA, I'm sure glad that there aren't 10 of them anymore.

Now there are 2 or 3.

Take a listen to the chopper passing overhead clip posted previously. That's another big source. Not just chopper but airliner noise too.

This is a very noisy place.

[slang]

Originally Posted by glatt

That butcher is skilled with his very sharp knife. He's so fast and confident with his cuts. Amazing.

Yes, that's Alex. Like many others here, he understands English more than he can speak it.

I ask a lot of questions about his work. He's been doing that for over 10 years now. The first thing I looked for was missing fingers or scars on his hands. Everything is intact and unscarred.

Think about it though, he does the exact same thing every day. Early morning brings 2 pigs. Every day.

Every day those pigs are the same size and weight. Every day he cuts the heads off and guts them out. Every day.

Everyday he cuts the legs off and digs the bones out. It's so much the same thing every day that it must get boring.

He should be good. He should be able to do this job in his sleep.

One thing that he does that I think is funny. He's constantly changing knives as he's working. When he picks up a knife, he will rub it twice against the sharpener two times. It's always two times.

That must be some kind of ritual for him. It doesn't sharpen the knives one bit.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Found on the net;

[xoxoxoBruce]

Also;

[slang]

I'd love to get some pics of a Tarsier but they don't live here on Luzon.

They'd be extinct if they did. Someone would capture and sell them for beer or gin.

[slang]

Here are some pics from today.

This is Pateros, the balut capital of the universe. It's also the duck egg capital of the universe.

Pateros just had a festival day and this big duck was left over from the celebrations.

I don't eat the salted duck eggs or the balut....or the monkey on a stick....or the pig's ears....or a whole lot of other things here.

[slang]

Looking for a place to hide away to do something naughty without it costing you a lot of pesos?

You're in luck.

There are a number of these "hide away" types of bars here that all have regular transportation to the SOGO hotel for a little bang bang ala native style.

Or so I've heard.

[slang]

Originally Posted by glatt

That butcher is skilled with his very sharp knife. He's so fast and confident with his cuts. Amazing.

That guy was Alex. He was fired from the shop for taking the meat money that goes to the wholesaler.

The owner was out for a day and returned minus the money and a butcher. He was out gambling and drinking with the money from the shop.

What a shame. He was a good worker and a likable guy.

[xoxoxoBruce]

But, but, it was the perfect plan. Pay off the wholesaler, pay off the boss, and pocket the winnings... what could go wrong?

[slang]

Yes, with a plan like that who would have been any wiser?

It was a shock to me but also a learning experience at my buddy's expense. Don't trust anyone with money.

That seems to be the reality there.

[slang]

It's getting warmer here in Indiana but it's been beautiful here at the beach.

This is the South China Sea. I'd like to be in that photo. Will be shortly.

[slang]

Just a few more weeks to "no pants day(s)".

[slang]

I've made it safely back. There are some internet connection issues then I should be able to post some photos.

And my pants are still on.