Geckos & Rainfall Warnings

Slight delay in posting an update, so I do hope any of my committed readers will forgive me...

We are all getting over a cold. We have a lingering cough, which is not too surprising, therefore we've been maintaining a low profile. I suspect that one of our visits to one fo the local malls, restaurants or grocery stores played a key role. Then self-isolating in an air conditioned space, thus eliminating access to the warm, humid island air, likely prolonged our recovery.

On a positive note, being in the city has provided access to grocery delivery services, which are very affordable and convenient. We’ve recently learned that the pepper steak in addition to being very... peppery – has a salt content so high that it will make your eyes water. MSG is also a very common ingredient in seasonings & sauces, so trying to avoid that has been a bit tricky. We've tried numerous brands, but the aforementioned issues have remained an ongoing problem. So now we have reverted back to basic with simple flavouring that is easily accessible here – garlic, lemon, lime, coconut milk, soy sauce, basil, cilantro etc. Fortunately the meat is high quality and low cost, so perhaps spices and seasoning packets are currently overrated. The fruit / vegetables are a bit limited (from what I can see the selection is much broader in Manila or Davao, as those cities have better access to the agriculture regions). It will be interesting to see how the availability changes as we move from island to island. We anticipate remaining in Cebu for the remainder of the year.

We have a new roommate! He forced his way inside one night when I checking to see if the door was locked. Before I could grab him he hid under the washer machine. This was about a week ago, and he still refuses to leave. Every once in a while, usually in the evenings, we will see him run across the roof. He has even fallen onto Liam’s leg, before quickly running away in search of a new hiding place. In case you haven't guessed, our new roommate is an adorable, little gecko. (I’ve been told that I don’t have to worry about him dying from malnutrition, as the resident apartment bugs will keep him well fed and hydrated.) Between spiders / mosquitoes vs geckos, I will always choose the latter!

And the gecko stories continue...

During one of our recent ride share trips, I noticed a fellow traveller on the exterior window. He did a commendable job hanging on throughout the entire ride, so I felt obligated to relocate him to a safer location upon arrival. He nearly escaped inside the vehicle, but I was able to reclaim my grip. Upon exiting the vehicle he manged to escape my grasp (again), at which point he ran along my arm and across my shoulders, before leaping to safety. Our driver thought the whole situation was very amusing and just shook his head – likely thinking “crazy foreigners.”

As most everyone reading this is currently dealing with snowfall chaos, the Philippines is presently expecting 2 more tropical cyclones for the remainder of the year, Rosal and Samuel. We received an Orange Rainfall Warning text alert at 11:30 last night, which signifies intense rains and possible flooding. (In contrast, shortly after we arrived we were under Red Rainfall Warning which translates to serious flooding / residents should be prepared to evacuate.) We are not too concerned at the moment, given our current location. We had some rain last night, which has now been replaced with heavy, grey clouds. It is quite pleasant walking outside right now (in between the rainy periods), as the +31 degree temperature is nearly perfect with the cloud cover and the breeze. The trick is timing it right to ensure that you do not get drenched!

Until next time...