Last Friday night at Dionnes we met an interesting Scottish expat, Alan, who was managing the restaurant before it is taken over by a South African woman. Her name is Adele, who he told us is married to a Filipino.
Carol was very happy to hear that news, as around here there is a serious lack of non Filipino women. There are a number of older white guys ... many with a much younger Filipino woman in tow. Also a lot of granddad looking guys with very young children.
Dionnes is about a kilometre or so from here and we had walked there.
He has been here about 16 years and had a number of stories about where to go and what to do. He told us that to walk back home after 10 was not a good idea as it wasn't very safe. Funny how as we made our way back at just after 09h30 we managed to then see a few shady looking characters!! Imagination or what?
However there is traffic along there day and night and the risk is probably pretty low. We don't carry phones or wallets... one PHP1 000 (a thousand Philippine Pesos, or R250) note is more than enough for a good night out.
He also warned us that all foreigners are fair game to be ripped off by everyone from the motor cycle drivers to the policeman, which actually made me feel quite at home. Apparently if you have an accident you are to blame ... whatever the circumstances!! "Spot fines" are also apparently a common solution to minor traffic violations (so its advisable to keep a few PHP100 notes handy).
He seemed to spend his days having a pretty jelled time, swimming, having breakfast at one of the resorts and drifting around for the rest of the day.
Not the life for me but everyone to their own.
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