BROOKLYN TO BROOKLYN: 2013

I didn't get to go to nearly as many places as I wanted to in the Philippines, mostly because it rained everyday, my bike got pretty rusty, and I spent most of my 2 months playing pool in Manila (the Mecca of pocket billiards).

MANILA
Manila is a pretty crazy place indeed, here were my first impressions:
-Filthy
-Homeless people everywhere, mostly children
-The majority of women seem to be prostitutes
-The food sucks

On my first night I went into a bar and was attacked by 'freelancers' (prostitutes who don't work for the bar, they just work for themselves and are usually older.) I met an American guy named James, he was a stocky ex-marine and he really played the part. He talked a lot, maybe a hundred words to my one, and he liked to tell me lots of stories, mostly about how many asses he has kicked or about prostitition. He would say things like: "It's like McDonalds bro, you look at the menu then order what you want, same thing with these girls, you discuss exactly what you want and how much it's gonna cost before you leave the bar."
James was not a very likable man, but interesting none the less and I quietly listened to his crazy ass stories at various bars till about 3am when I decided to call it a night and head home. As I was leaving he gave me one last little gem for me to contemplate on my long walk home through Manlis's backstreets and alleys: "Be careful walking home bro, if they're this big (he held his hand to his waist) then they're beggers, don't worry about them. If they're this big (hand at his belly button) then they're pick pockets and if they get to close just give 'em a little smack in the back of the head. And if they're this big (hand at his chest) these are little fuckers you really gotta watch out for, 12-14 year olds are addicted to crystal meth and they make guns out of rat traps and 22 bullets and POP! (jamming 2 fingers into my kidney) and thats it bro, you will watch them run off with your backpack while your bleeding in the gutter"
"Okay thanks" I said, "I'll keep an eye out for the rat trap ones." I put on my backpack and left.

Fried tofu was one of my favorite things to eat

Pork Sisig was also pretty good, it's a hash with a fried egg. I asked the guy what the meat was and he said 'The pig face'

Getting my bike fixed, it got pretty beat up on the flight from Japan

Jeepneys and pedicabs are the main forms of transportation in Manila

Pretty sweet bike

Jeepneys are covered in shiny metals and usually lights and loud shitty music

A pedicab driver

No jeepney would be complete without a reference to 'god' or 'jesus'

A little girl who lives on the street and carries around her little brother asking for money

One of thousands of brothels

SOUTH THROUGH LUZON
Luzon is the main island in the Philippines and after a couple weeks in Manila I was keen to get out and see some of the nicer parts of the island...

Mountains...

A lazy afternoon near Lucena

A sweet rice cake steamed in banana leaves

I assumed the elevated roads through the villages were designed for flooding

Everytime I want to get a photo of some nice power lines there always seems to be a volcano ruining the shot

A typical meal in the countryside is rice with liver or kidney in a tasty sauce

MASBATE - CEBU
The island of Masbate was pretty cool, no tourism and pretty laid back...

Pork belly marinated and spit roasted with crispy skin, oh yeah!

Bohol - Siquijor
I had some pretty close calls going through security check points as I took ferrys from island to island. Going from Cibu to Bohol I was putting my bags throught the x-ray when I noticed the 2 police dogs waiting for me inside the gate. I was nervous because of the ounce of grass riding shotgun next to my manhood in my bicycle shorts, luckily they were bomb dogs! whewwwwwwww!