April 30,

Up and about by 0600!! So we went out and about, walking/exploring our new place. Our condo is close to the ocean. We can see it from our window, but the waterside is not readily available and there is not a beach – which we knew. But we have a sunset view from our place. The sun actually sets on an island which may be the island of Iloilo where we started our venture here in the Philippines. Our walk about – even though, so early was still pretty warm. The sun had already come up and was getting toasty. The lowest temperature is only around ten degrees different from the hottest.

Anyway, we tried to go to the Bacolod Baywalk Recreational Park, but it does not open until 1300, and charges an entry fee. We moved on. The area around us is near a port area for Bacolod and very humble living. We came across the San Sebastian Cathedral of Bacolod, built in 1876, but there a mass going on that had just started at 0700. So we did not go inside, but will have to come back, looks amazing. From here we pretty much went back to our place. After we cooled down, I had a Coke, not my coffee. Well, I had not cooled down enough!😁  Jeff hadn’t either and went with chocolate milk. Breakfast was Muesli and yogurt. We then went to the mall across the street to finish getting our steps in. Then back to our place – we just took it easy, did a load of laundry, and I blogged as Jeff read.

At lunchtime around 1330, we went to Aida’s Chicken- “D Best in Bacolod City”. This place was recommended to us by a church member from Dumaguete. I had a thigh and leg, Jeff had half a breast with the wing. We split an order of garlic rice. I had a Sprite and Jeff had a beer. The chicken was very tasty and good. It only cost us 420 PHP, which is $7.52. Back at our place, afternoon turned into evening and we had a decent sunset again – pretty much the same as last night, lots of clouds. We had blue cheese or PB on ‘camp-toasted’ bread. Then we watched a movie.

     May 1,

We were both awake early again, which means I awoke early as well.😏  So we went out again. We took the opposite way to explore, in the hopes of getting to the waterfront… but we failed again. It is still shack type living – hard living. We were again asked for handouts. This is always so hard to deal with for me emotionally. I wish I could help every single one… Anyway, we found a nice park area that many come to get in some exercise. After we found the entry gate – we went in and did a lap. The parks all seem to have fences around them and it is often hard to find the way in. Don’t know why, it’s a question.

Anyway, we went back to our place and cooled off. I had an Iced coffee and Jeff had Juice. We have found 4Season  juice of pineapple, orange, guava, and mango. We made French toast for breakfast, after having found some eggs at a local stand (the big grocery store hasn’t had any for two days – again, don’t know why – another question). We also had some pretty good watermelon. Then Jeff worked on getting a scooter, which proved to be a challenge. He found two or three places, but they were pricey. He finally found one and they responded, so we caught a grab to get the scooter. It is a white Honda Click. Jeff realized he did not have his driver’s license. But the guy was okay seeing his Passport copy and International Driver’s License, which we thankfully had. (Actually a bunch of places Jeff has rented from never asked for any ID, which is still alien to us.) We were driving back and I decided to call the scooter “Lauren’ – as in Lauren Bacall. I thought of this because her name is how I remember to the pronunciation of Bacolod – “Bacall”-ed. We arrived back at our place, Jeff went and got his license, and we took back out. We went by where our GCI church meets here in a resort and then to tried and find the elusive beach here in Bacolod!

But, alas, “the beach” was not really a beach – how we think of a beach. It was not a wide swath of white sand with umbrellas dotting along the way. It was all semi-resorts built on the beach, but a few locals were taking in the last beach remnants. We moved on and just tootled about, tried to go to the Baywalk, but it was still too early. So we went to a different mall and found a medical supply place. They did not have replacement equipment for my CPAP… striking out! We had lunch in this mall at a Vietnamese place in the food court. I had a Fish fillet Banh Mi and Jeff had a Crispy Pork Banh Mi- we both had a fresh lemonade also. Then we tried to find couple of other medical places. Again it was not happening! We went back to our place and cooled off. We have pretty much decided Bacolod may not be the place for us, but not completely closed off yet.

We spent the rest of the afternoon, chilling. For supper we went over to the mall across the street and had Yellow Cab pizza and pasta takeaway. We had a Chilean Cab. Sav. with our half meat lovers – half veggie lovers pizza; a chicken Alfredo pasta; and a Charlie Chan pasta. It was very good and cost us basically 1200 PHP, which is $21.48. Sunset was very similar to the ones we have seen – cloud shrouded. The sunsets are kinda bittersweet since we can’t seem to get to the waterfront. Anyway… it is what it is.