You know, over the past couple of years that I’ve been writing on this site, I have commented many times that living in the Philippines requires adjustments. Not everything is the same here as it was “back home,” so you have to make changes in the way you live.
Before you’ve made the changes in your life you tend to get upset or annoyed because things aren’t going just the way that you like. Over time, though, you will find that those annoyances become fewer.
Let’s look at a few things that I can definitely say that I’ve made the adjustment on:
Showering. You know, living in the Philippines there are plenty of times when there is no water coming from the pipes! Why? I can’t say for sure, but either the water pressure is very low, or none at all. It happens pretty regularly, although a lot less these days compared to years past. For this reason, many people in the Philippines will have a big bucket full of water in their bathroom, for use when water is not available from the tap. You also have a little tool called a “tabo” which is a small “scoop bucket” with a handle. You use this tabo to take water from the big bucket and pour it over yourself. When we first moved here, we had a big bucket of water that was probably around 20 gallons or so, I would guess. That amount of water was not enough for me to take a good shower, though. I’d need two of those, so I needed around 40 gallons of water all together. The other day when I needed to take a shower there was no water, and I had to resort to the tabo again (it had been quite a while). Currently, we have a small bucket that is only 10 gallons for our reserve water. You know what? I took a complete shower with only about 1/4 of that small bucket! Wow! So, I only used 2 1/2 to 3 gallons of water to complete my shower! Now, that is progress! I’d say that I’ve successfully made the adjustment when it comes to water use!
Crowded stores. When we first moved to the Philippines, if I went to the store and there were ten people waiting in line to pay for their goods, I’d think to myself: “oh my, there are a lot of people waiting in line! I think I’ll come back another time.” Of course, that “other time” never came, because there are always a lot of people in lines here! Now, when I walk in the store and see ten people waiting to pay for their purchase, I think to myself “Wow, only ten people in line! What a blessing!” Ha ha… things have changed in that respect. I’ve made the adjustment!
Driving. Driving is an area where big adjustment is needed. If the road has two lanes, you can bet that there will be four real lanes of traffic squeezed in! If there is a lot of traffic clogging up the road in front of you, just use the other side of the road, even if there is oncoming traffic! Worry about those oncoming cars when you get to them, in the meantime you can get an extra 50 feet by using the other side of the road! Now, that took adjustment! You know what, now, when I am in clogged up traffic and I see that there is a space ahead that I can squeeze into, I go for it! No thinking about it and letting somebody else grab it ahead of me, I just take it! Check this one off… I’m adjusted!
Mealtime. You know, in the Philippines the food you eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner doesn’t really matter. In other words, in the States you would not eat a hot dog for breakfast, that simply is not a “breakfast food” after all. Here, people eat anything for breakfast. Spaghetti left over from the night before? Hey, that’s a great breakfast! Well, I’m not there yet where I eat hot dogs or spaghetti for breakfast, but I am noticing a shift. A few weeks ago, I found these “Spicy Chicken Patties” at our local butcher shop. They are pre-seasoned spicy hamburger patties made with ground chicken. Normally, I don’t go for these “prepared foods,” but Feyma was out of town, and I was kind of fending for myself on this particular weekend, so I thought these would be easy to prepare – no hassles, so I bought some. I liked them so much that I am having Feyma buy them now. You know what… I’ve been eating them for breakfast quite a bit too! Can hot dogs and spaghetti be much further down the road? Well, I’m not quite adjusted all the way yet, but it seems that I am on the road.
Durian. The King of Fruits. They say it “Smells like hell, but it tastes like heaven.” When I first moved here, I gagged every time I was around Durian, I hated the smell! The taste? Don’t even ask, because the smell was revolting enough, how could anybody eat it? Well… I’ve been here 8 years now and now, when I am driving past a fruit stand, I roll my windows down so that I can savor the fragrance of the Durian (notice, it used to be the “smell” of durian, now it is a “fragrance”). Do I eat it? I love the stuff! Just this past weekend I was out for Coffee with John Grant and enjoyed a delicious Grande Durian Gatchpuccinno coffee! Big pieces of durian fruit awaited me at the bottom of the cup, which I gladly savored as I ate it after the coffee was gone! Nothing is better. Yep, I’m fully adjusted here.
Seasons. When you first come to the Philippines (this would apply to any country in the tropics) it is hard to adjust to the fact that there really are no seasons (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall). In some parts of the Philippines they have the dry season and the wet season, but down here in Mindanao where I live our weather is fairly constant throughout the year. It gets slightly warmer during the “summer” months of March through May, but not too much difference. It’s hard to adjust to. However, I find that after a while of living in this type of climate, you tend to just forget what part of the year it is. As a matter of fact, I didn’t even plan to include this topic in my column today, but when I went to set the date that it would be posted to the Internet, I noticed that it is June already. When I saw “June” in the control panel for this site, I though, “Oh my, it’s June.” Actually, before seeing that, what part of the year it was is something that I hadn’t even thought about. June? August? December? Heck, they are all the same anyway. I often find that it’s hard to keep up with what month it is, unless I stop and think about it!
Well, these are just a few examples of how I’ve adjusted to living in the Philippines. How about you, have you made the adjustment yet? Or, if you don’t live here yet, how do you think you’ll do on adjusting to life in the Islands?
hello bob
i have spent 2 months in mindanao and surely i havent experienced all the changes yet but i did notice a few for sure.i would have to say the roosters crowing at 3 am every morning i didnt like at all.even at samal island i was surprised to hear the roosters everywhere. i would have to also comment on dogs barking alot in our neighborhood.on a hot day these boys allways wanting to say hello to me and i brought them juice and ice so again the next day the same boys returned and i give them water and ice.these children were so mad they started to destroy the flowers and plants outside our fence.i was kind of upset to them for this.i asked them to stop and i had to ask my fiancee to make them go away.the next day they returned again and banging on the fence.so each day after that i would just go inside the house so they would leave.i wondered why the landlord asked me not to give to them and i guess i found out the hard way.so i did see alot of different things there and im sure when i retire i will learn more.
thanks bob
Hi Ron W – Wow… that was not very nice of those kids to be like that. One thing that I have noticed in the Philippines is that there is a certain "sense of entitlement" that happens. If you help somebody a little bit, suddenly, they become entitled to it, and you need to help tomorrow, next week and next year, if you know what I mean. Sad. 😥
I have gotten used to the roosters. Dogs barking are OK too, if it is within reason. If the dog barking is too much, it does bother me a lot, though….
Very good insights. I had to print them for my husband to read so it will save me from explaining to him that this is how it is in the Philippines 😀 We are finding more to get used to ourselves!
Regarding Ron W's comments: We have sailed through several countries in the Pacific and have learned the hard way that sometimes it is not a good idea to hand out gifts. As much as you want to help out the poor villagers, it is sometimes not a good practice. It is not only us they will end up "bothering and pestering", but it sets out a precedent for them to pester the following sailors cruising through their area. They are smarter than we think and can quickly become an entrepreneurial system for them.
Bob:
I've been exposed to durian for years and still can't stomach the stuff… Always wondered how hungry the first person to try and eat a durian had to be."Hey, heres this thing that's really stinky… Lets eat it!!!"
One thing that doesn't bother me so much but drives Rebecca nuts is when I am charged the foreigner price for everything. Doesn't really bother me too much, since I grew up from a very early age to think "time is money" and the haggling and games is sometimes more trouble than it's worth. She gets really angry at other Filipinos when they do it when I am with her, and she lets them know it! (How DARE you také advantage of a fellow Filipino!!???) I've especially seen it with taxi drivers and in the Quiapo market (How much is that Kankong? 5…they then notice me there… No…10!)
As to roosters, I asked Mama to cook a very specific one in the province… She said he'll be tough and stringy, but i think he may very well be the best adobo I've ever had. May tactic of waking his little feathered a** up when he was asleep was an abject failure in retaliation.
Hi Bob – Tabo is a way of life for me whenever I've been back home. So much so that I find a need to stay in a Manila hotel overnight before the outgoing flight just to reintroduce myself to that funny thing squirting adjustable hot & cold water with considerable force that is hanging on the wall in the cr. Want to make sure I "fit in" when I'm in the States! 😆
Hi Ellen – Good idea on offering these as a few ideas for your husband! I would have loved to have had such a list when I moved here! 😆
Hi John Miele – For me, I find that as I have lived here a longer time, the "foreigner price" thing tends to go away. As vendors get to know you and realize that you live locally, and also if you can speak to them in their native tongue a bit, they will tend to give you a lower price. Maybe not quite as low as they give your wife, but pretty close!
Hi Paul – Ha ha… I hope that the hotels in Manila get you all prepared for going back to the States! Maybe they should charge extra for that? 😆
Hi Bob ,
for me , coming to iligan several times now ,
i have to agree with all the things you mensioned.
I had the same experience with the shopping , allways in line.
the first years i visited , had to shower in the backgarden ,
it did not matter to me.
But untill now i did not eat the Durian.
A cousin of my went to Indonesia and he tells me that he likes them very much.
Allso you write often about it.
So next week when we go visit the PASAR MALAM [ asian market ] here
in Den HAAG i will allso try one.
Hope i like them too.
Gr. Anton
Hi Anton – Personally, I would recommend waiting to try the durian until you are in the Philippines. Right now is not the proper season anyway, so what you get will probably not be so good. If you are in Mindanao between August to November or so, give one a try then and see how you like it!
Good luck! 😆
Hi Bob,
Funny you should do this column; having been to the Phils. a few times now, I have got used to some of the things that used to bother me first time around, and find myself actually looking forward to them.
The most entertaining thing for me was the extremely small supermarket trolleys, the kind old age pensioners use here in the UK. For a decent shop, you need three or four!
When I first stayed at my in-laws, I was shocked, nay apalled, at the single tap at the kitchen sinks. What….no hot water….the dishes will never be properly clean!!!! Then I went to take a shower later…..in their very modern freshly built and installed en-suite shower room. Shown proudly to me, I was impressed…very impressed…at the quality of the tiling etc. Then I went to take the shower and noticed only one knob. What? Yep, you got it, standard temperature water only. We travelled a lot that trip, only staying at their house maybe two or three days at a time…and oh gosh, what a luxury was the Waterfront Insular showers. Next trip, however, I had myself fully psyched up for it, and know what…at the end of the trip I had less pimples, clearer skin, softer hair etc.etc.
Durian…smells like hell, tastes like….well…hell as well!
Roosters? Love em. Dogs barking….scrawny filthy flea infested mongrels most of them. People only keep them to act as a stranger warning I think! Personally, I'd shoot em…but u get used to it.
Oh God, even writing this in my dining room at home in Scotland right now…I feel homesick for the Phils. Can't wait for the next trip.
Hi Jim Hannah – Ha ha… we have hot water in our house! Most modern houses do actually.
Durian- I love the smell and the taste! 😯
When are you buying your ticket, Jim? 😆
hi bob,
I think the lack of hot water shower in the philippines is due to the fact that most filipino want a refreshing bath, most of them really likes the cold water, and a lot of them doesn't want to lose hair or dry skin. from where i am now, every house is fitted with hot shower but i rarely use them, i only use them if the weather is extremely cold and just to kill the coldness of the water. did you know that hot shower really makes you bald or turn your hair gray?? plus, the dryness of the skin, i don't use much lotion if i use cold water and i do if i take the hot shower..
durian? i'm a filipino but i never liked it, the smell doesn't bother me, i just simply don't like the taste.
2 /14 gallons of water for a complete bath?? that is amazing, that is what i call a real "water conservation system"… hahaha i think other nation should follow the use of it to conserve water.
i think there is no such thing as breakfast in the philippines, as long as the food will fill the pinoys stomach, it doesnt matter what kind of food they eat in the morning, afternoon or at night. i'd like to call it the "recyled food" the left-over at night can be eaten for morning as a breakfast., don't you like that idea?? hahaha.. you can actually save money for food..
nice article.
Hi Bob,
Nice article. I know that we Americians are just a bunch of whinny crybabbies, but it has given us some improvements we now take for granted, ie: hot water, short lines at the market. this begs the question: are the filippino people happy with there standard of living? complacent? or just don't want to rock the boat?
On the food note, I was talking to my girlfriend last night about food. There are several things I would like to try like lumpia, and kwek kwek. Not sure if I will be brave enough to try a balut. Thanks for the heads up about the durian. I was also suprised to learn about donuts are just a snack, and not a meal 😆
I will be there in Davao on the 20th, hope to see you
Mike
Hi Hudson – Lumpia is GREAT! You have to try that one! I'm with you on the Balut, though! I don't touch the stuff!
I have to say… I'd never consider donuts to be a meal! 😆
Give me a shout when you are in town!
hi bob-
i think there are couple of valid reasons why hot water is not popular with filipinos, one i can think of is, the -cost- you know how expensive the electricity is for a common pinoy, another reason is, philippine is a tropical place, most filipinos want to have a refreshing bath, one last reason is, a lot of pinoy don't want to lose hair or have a dried skin, taking a hot shower can really make you bald and can turn your hair gray. from where i am now, everyhouse has a hot shower/water, but i rarely use it, simply because the end result it will produce on me. hahaha getting bald and dried skin!.
for the food thing, i don't think there is such thing as "breakfast" in the philippines, i mean the food that a pinoy should eat for breakfast??, i'd like to call it a "recyled food" hahah, a left-over from last night's dinner can be eatern as a breakfast, what a saving don't you think??
2 1/2 gallons for a complete bath?? that is what i call a real "water conservation system" hahaha other nations should follow it a pinoy version of "bat-tab" as in "batya" and "Tabo. nice article.
Hi dans – I'm glad you enjoyed the article! Ha ha… I never heard that hot water could cause gray hair, falling hair or dandruff, but hey, anything is possible! I had not heard of it causing dry skin either, but that would tend to make sense to me.
No breakfast in the Philippines? Hmm… At every hotel I go to they offer "Filipino Breakfast" – funny, though.. I was just thinking, I never saw spaghetti on the Filipino Breakfast! 😆
Thanks dans,
Now I know why I'm bald 😆
Hi Hudson – I think that dans needs to get a patent on his idea about hot water causing baldness! He can make a fortune by making people take cold showers! 😆
hahaha.. the bald thing is a myth which a lot of filipinos tend to believe..
hahaha. seriously, i don't take hot shower just because the place i am in right now is soo damn hot and dry. and taking a hot shower will just make it worst!.
hahaha… of course the bald thing is just a myth which most filipino believes, ask your wife and see if they have the same belief. hahaha.. seriously, i don't take hot shower simply because i am already in a very hot, humid, dry place on earth, and taking a hot shower will just make it worst..
hey, that's a good idea, i will patent it *only in the philippines*, that can make me a fortune!. hahaha..
The first time I was in the Philippines to meet my fiancee's family, they asked me if I was tired of rice, and asked if there was any American food they could prepare for me while I was there. I said a nice plate of Italian spaghetti would nice. I was shocked when they woke me up at 6AM the next morning, and offered me a big bowl of Italian spaghetti mixed with small hot dogs. I acted like I enjoyed it of course, because I didn't want to offend them. From my numerous trips to the Philippines I've kind of gotten used to their eating habits now.
Hi Bob,My family and friends are amazed at the fact we plan to have no hot water heater.Some say you will get sick from dirty dishes.Its funny to think that not so long ago many parts of the US did not have running water and forget hot running water.Personaly a cold shower in the Philippines is a pleasure.Im going to spend the money on a ceiling fan.
Hi dans – are you taking any stockholders for your anti-baldness solution? Sign me up, my friend! 😆
Hi Joe Parisi – Yeah, where did those hot dogs in the spaghetti ever come from? 😆 I never saw that anywhere but in the Philippines!
Hi Jim – I highly recommend ceiling fans – I have one in my office and one in our bedroom. They are great!
In our subdivision, where the home owner's association supplies their own water from a deep well and a central water tower, we only have water three times a day … 0500-0700, 1130-1230 and 1800-1930. Seems to work pretty well. Our house along with many others has our own water storage tank, so our water management consists of making sure the inlet valve is open and the subdivision water fills the house tank. I do all the laundry (we have a big US washer) at 0500 because there's lots of extra water pressure available then to fill the machine. You get throughly used to it.
Our house has a massive, near-infallible water heater, it's called the sun. You fill a 200gallong tank at sinrise and see what temperature it is when it comes out in the evening. There are actually many times I yearn for cold water.
We heat water in a kettle on rare occasions to wash dishes or potas that are expcially dirty or stained … I*'ve heard the 'you'll die without hot water to wash dishes' prediction also, bt no one in our house, my in-laws or any of out neighbors has ever suffered. Ther's this thing called germicidal dish soap that seems to keep us healthy.
All in all I am pretty well adjusted … just have to get next to a durian … expect I will someday, perhaps with a few Red Horses to pave the way first. Not enough beer in the Philippines, though, to get me to eat a balut … even my 4-yo nephew who thrives on fish eyes and other such delicacies couldn't get past the amniotic fluid in one a few days ago … I patted him on the head and told him his uncle thought he was a pretty smart boy 😉
This topic brings back memories!
I've been to the Philippines 7 times over the years for stays of 2-7 weeks. I find each time I go, I begin with a sense of 'adventure' in experiencing the differences from the U.S. (we stay with my wife's family in an inner city area of Tondo, Manila). Since I've not ever stayed for an extened period, I have to confess I don't always get through the fully adapted phase of living there.
Regarding breakfast, I personally (as do my wife and kids for the most part) have a breakfast style meal. When I get up, I go for a short walk down the street to a local bakery and pick up a bag of pandesol (spelling?). On the way back, I'll get a newspaper and go back to the house and make a cup of instant coffee. I'll put either peanut butter or butter on the still-warm pandesol and enjoy my coffee and newspaper.
I'm generally pretty patient with waiting in lines if they're fairly orderly. I've had a harder time adjusting to the sometimes chaotic approach to lines, where first-com, first serve isn't always the rule. I know I'd adapt if I was there for a longer term.
The driving 'rules' I generally find kind of exciting (I'm always the passenger) … the Manila traffic and pollution are tougher to adjust to … if I ever spent longer stays in the Philippines, I think I'd look into some place slower paced and less hectic.
My wife's family just has the single spout water supply … a little harder to get used to in December than in June, but nothing that can't be adapted to (btw, when visiting family in Illocos Norte years ago, I retrieved not much more than a gallon of water from their well and, using a half-coconut, shell took my bath – definitely could solve some water shortage problems if we all took that approach!) … I also have pictures of my now-18 year old as a toddler sitting in a bright red bucket getting his bath – we're holding it as a form of blackmail.
One little nit I have to re-adapt to is having the toilet and shower in the same room … have to leave my flipflops outside and the floor tends to often be wet when you need to do anything and, the toilet seat is often wet when you … well, that's enough for this one.
It takes some getting used to 'foreigner prices' but I understand the perspective that someone from the west is better able to pay a higher price for local goods … I don't really like it (and my wife generally doesn't take me shopping!) but I do understand.
There's more, but I've rambled enough! Thanks for the post.
Hi Bob- Here you go again talking about the things we hate to admit annoys us, well at first that is.
The dogs barking, cocks crowing, horns honking, vehicles reving, water stopping and brown-outs. Fortunately I have always been a good sleeper and a pipe band could play at the bottom of my bed and I would not hear it. In fact Marilou says I can compete with most external noises with my snoring consequently when I'm in residence in Talakag all the wild life disappears so they can get a good nights sleep.
I think its true to say that the unheated water is good for you although not at 6am in the morning lol.
To be truthful as long as I'm happy I will live with what ever life throws at me as there is always someone some where worse off than you.
Hi Dave Starr – Oh yes… I've heard about those places up in Manila where the water is only available certain hours. My brother in law lives in Paranaque and they have a similar setup. I never heard of a system like that outside the Metro Manila area, though. I don't know if I could really get used to that or not. Although, as this column is all about, changes can be adjusted to, and you say that such a system works… so I suppose with time, I'd adjust!
Hi Dennis F. – Welcome to my site! It's always nice to have a new commenter! Very interesting comments about the life of a tourist staying here for a short to mid-term amount of time. Your little adventures to buy pandesol and a newspaper just sound so typically "life in the Philippines" – I enjoyed hearing about your coconut shell showers too! Great comment, Dennis! Keep them coming, we want to hear more about your times in the Philippines!
Hi Jim Cunningham – A couple of months ago when you were in Davao, I was wondering what that sound was that I kept hearing every night! So, it was your snoring! 😆 Hmm…. I'm glad to get that one answered!
Just kidding, Jim… You're right, all of the little hassles that pop up like brownouts, no water, etc. tend to get us westerners a little tense, but if you kick back and think about it, they all add to the quaint life here in the Philippines. These things actually enhance our experience, I'd say.
Actually, heating water makes bacteria and germs grow faster! You need to heat it to above 120 F to start killing them and then keep it hot. I agree that cool water is probably healthier and it doesn't wash away the natual oils in your skin.
I've always prefered Tabo-Tabo on a hot humid day!
Mark C.
Hi Mark C. – Thanks for stopping by and commenting! Yeah, I also hear the comments from people who say that our dishes and clothes can't possibly be very clean with cold water. I just blow it off… we've been living here for over 8 years now, and so far we are all healthy!
I read your site all the time. I enjoy the information and hope to be a full time resident someday.
Hi Mark C – Let me know anytime that I can assist you with anything over here. I'd be happy to do so.
All it takes in our case is one simple stainless steel tank … our water flows 24×7 then, no matter what the home owners association tries to do … and, if there's a power outage or serious water problem we at least have a few day's supply 'already in reserve', so the tank is a small price to pay. (plus the advanatge of free hot water as a bonus ;-))
Hi Dave Starr – Oh yes… I forgot about the tank. That makes it all good. I read your comment, then read several others too. By the time I responded, I had forgotten that you had your own storage tank. I was thinking that you had water only during those certain hours, which would be a real hassle! 😆
I really enjoyed hanging out in the pines I know i have adjusted to some of them but not the shower one yet ..when I was there my wife would heat a bowl of water [ about 2 gal.] and give me a hot sponge bath every night when I was at our home ,but it was lukewarm water at the hotels ,brrrrrrrrrrr ….i had 2 eggs every morning with dried fish and rice .sometimes toast too .and a cup of hot coco drink .i like noodles and chicken ..i really like the little fish mixed about 2 1/2 cm long mixed with eggs and fried crispy for lunch ,I had a raw fish dish my father-in-law made with hot peppers and lemons ..Boy that was something ,,, ooh so good ..and when we go to the market I show her what to look for in fresh produce , as a hobby i grow organic veg.. has any one eaten a veg. called . Leo of Women . 😀 .? i will eat spaghetti and cold pizza and chase it with a warm beer, and I love the durian .coconuts fresh off the tree. and who cares what month it is, I'm having fun ..if only they would turn off the karaoke singers everything else i can sleep with .and we have crowed stores here too so i wait like everyone else .? nope i don't drive in the Pines yet .. 😆
An Australian who stayed here in the philippines for 3 years+ once told us that he had fungus problems (on skin?) all the time here and he finally managed or cured? that problem by taking very hot showers everyday. I've never heard of this before, and I am just repeating what he told us since this thread is referring to hot vs cold showers a bit.
Hi Phil R. – I have visited some hotels with heavenly hot water! So, they do exist. I've also been at some hotels with no hot water at all! So, you get all kinds!
I'm glad that we finally have another durian eater on the site! 😆
Hi Ellen – Thanks for sharing about that.
hi bob
my sister is a medical technologist, you know the person that disect and deals with all kinds of bacteria, germs, etc..etc.. she actually told me that the water we shower is not hot enough to kill the bacteria, instead it actually help the growth of the bacteria, she said the cholorine helps to kill the bacteria but if the cholorine is not strong enough it won't kill it, her personal recommendation was, take a cold shower and clean yourself thoroughly to remove all the bacteria in your body then you can have your hot shower afterwards. oh.. she also recommened that if you have a fungus or bacteria in your feet which cause a foul odor, do not use hot water to cleant it as it will increase the growth rate of the fungus/bacteria.
Hi Bob – whatever is your topic: I am sure i adjusted very well here. I love the Philippines and i never regretted to move here for good in 1999. There is no perfect place in the world. It would be unfair to talk negative about my home country Germany: but i love to stay in the philippines and with me my wife and mother. Cheers!!! 😆 😆 😆
Prior to my recent first visit to the Philippines I learned that not all hotels had hot water and showers. I made sure the hotel I booked had hot and cold water and showers. When I arrived at the hotel and first used the CR in my room I noticed a plastic pail and what I called a Ladel in the pail in the shower. I thought one of the housekeeping staff left it there while cleaning the room. It was partially full of wter. It wasn't in my way so I just left it thinking the housekeeper would remove it the next day. A couple of days later it was still there. One morning one of my filipino friends called on the phone and asked if he could use my shower as there was no water that morning where he was, in another part of town. I had learned of the water situation there so I said sure come on over. The next time I used the CR in my room, I noticed the pail had been moved, the " ladel " was in a different position and the water level in the pail had changed. I never said anything to my Filipino friend but I just put 2 and 2 together and figured that is what a Filipino Shower is. Thanks for confirming that on this blog Bob.
In my own home here in New York, I have my own water system consisting of a well, submersable water pump, and water storage tank. Naturally at times probems do occour and I have had to shut off my water until repairs return the system to normal.
In my visits to the UK, I learned how my British friends " have a wash " which I have had to do here when I have water problems. Now I have learned about the Filipino Shower, a great alternative which I shall remember next time I have a problem with my water !
The next time I visit the Philippines, I think I'll buy a few of those " Ladels ?? " to bring home as souveniers so if needed, I'll have the real thing !
Bob New York- I have never heard anyone other than a Scots man use the term pail for bucked and ladel for scoop so whats the connection? Surely thats not American slang?
Jim,
I guess those were the first words that came to my mind when I saw those things in the shower. I had never seen something like that before and wondered who had left it there and why. Now, I am glad I didn't open my mouth about it to the hotel and call the front desk and tell them someone left their cleaning bucket in the shower LOL. I really learned many things while I was there. By the way, I am not a Scotsman although I have been to Scotland, maybe some of it rubbed off on me ! I was further surprised when I found that the hand washing of clothes there is rather commonplace although washing machines are available. I understand now how most people can not afford to have them which is a real shame.
Speaking of washing machines, I was quite fascinated by those plastic ones I saw in several appliance stores I went to, I'd someday like to take a closer look and see what is inside of them. I did some websurfing on those when I returned home and found that Sears has them on their website. I had never seen them with a plastic housing before.
Whenever I have been somewhere with things that seem strange to me or vastly different to what I am acoustomed to here in the USA, I become curious as to the reson that it is different and not to have an attitude that things here are better or worse, but why certain things may be different. Well, now I know and understand about the Filipino Shower, one of these days I am going to try it myself !
Hi dans – That's quite interesting!
Hi Klaus – Glad that you've made the adjustment too!
Hi Bob New York – Thanks for sharing your trip experiences! That ladle is called a tabo here. Sounds like you are going to be a real pro with the tabo!
Hi Jim Cunningham – Those words are also commonly used in the States!
I am as Scottish as they come without being born there and I always thought pail and bucket were interchangeable …being raised in the US I guess I never learned the finer points as to which is which.
Funny how thta tabo is another of those same-same Tagalog/Bisayan words ..I was raised with pails (or buckets) the house I grew up in in New jersey had only a hand pumped well, outside … but the thing we dipped the water with wasn't a ladle or a ladel, it was a _dipper_.. One of my first (illehagaklly) paid jobs was as a free lance "dipper boy", which every construction crew would have … I was 6 years old and men were working on the road near our house and my mother let me use the enameled bucket we used for drinling water and the long-handled enameled dipper to carry back and forth to the men to keep them 'watered'. The foreman gave me a buck for the morning and a buck for the afternoon … unheard of wealth. And I learned a huge number of new vocabulary words from the woekers as well 😉
One of my dream sports I'd like to see here in the Philippines would be a 'cheap' cointest between a Filipino and a Scots team … I'd probably learn a hting or two 😉
Hi Dave – You've been an entrepreneur for a long, long time! 😆
Hi again Bob New York and Dave Starr- The reason why I asked about pail was you only hear that word used in Scotland or Ireland but in England its a bucket.
Dave don't believe all you hear about the Scots being mean with money as the Welsh can beat us all.
My wife took me to a 'supermarket' in Agoo. I thought we'd walked into the storeroom by mistake!
Hi Laurence – I can believe that!
Laurence,
I believe I had a similar experience when I was taken by my Filipino friends to a social affair at what they called a " Resort ". Knowing that the same word can conjure up different thoughts and impressions depending on what you are accoustomed to, naturally I was expecting something a lot different than what I found when we arrived at this " resort ". I don't want to get into any detail on the place and I did " endure " my stay at this resort, at times I had to remind myself that " I am not at home here " LOL. Despite the condition of the place as compared to my definition of the word " resort ", I did have an enjoyable time at the social event and that overshadowed anything else.
The scoop, scoop shower is a good philippine experience, i was warned in advance and so i pass on this advice……..
hold your breath as the first scoop will take your breat away and if not holding breath may make you sqeal like aschool girl. Anyway once first scoop is navigated, quickly follow up with second and third, by the 4th, you start to enjoy it, really you do, it turns from torture to pleasure, especially if you are in the outside air……
well it worked for me, good luck to you
Hi rick b – Let's see… torture that becomes pleasurable? Isn't there a name for that kind of thing? This is a family site, though… so I'm not even going to go there! 😆
Bob New York,
Yes I've seen some of those. I believe the word "Last" has been dropped from the names of these "resorts".
Hi Bob,
I can see where you’re coming from. I’ve only been to the Philippines twice and things are so different but I love it there. Cant wait to move there and live with my girlfriend. Lots of things to get used to though. The food is fine and so is breakfast as I kind of live that type of lifestyle in England anyway. Cold water doesn’t bother me although first thing in the morning is a bit of a shock. In Mabilao near San Fabian where I stay the thing I find hard to get used to is foreigner prices as I’m not rich by anyone’s standards. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to not being able to drink tea with cow’s milk. I’m almost addicted to it in the UK hahaha. I only ride a motorcycle so I think it will take some time to get used to traffic in the Philippines especially in Manila. Absolutely crazy but no road rage like in the UK. Not sure about the hand washing clothes bit as I tend to be a bit lazy that way. Only use a machine in the UK and never buy clothes that are hand wash only lol. All things considered though I would rather be in the Philippines than here in the UK. The people I’ve met tend to be less greedy and share more, although time will tell if this opinion changes. I think I will adapt to more things as time goes by.
Hi David – Living here is a lot different than vacationing here. Things that don’t bother you when visiting will still need adjustment. Like foods.. while you may find that you really like the food here, when you are here permanently you will find that you miss your foods from back home, etc. All in all, I really love it here, but it’s not an easy adjustment to make. Good luck to you.