Things I like about the Philippines, #9

Filipinos are generally wonderfully creative and artistic.  One of my favorite things about living here is their love of music and their lack of inhibitions when it comes to singing.

There are two sides to this coin (think karaoke at midnight) but the part that I love and would like to emphasize is that it is perfectly acceptable to sing out loud almost anywhere.  One time I was riding along on a jeepney when suddenly the guy sitting across from me burst out into song.  Loudly.  I was the only one who looked twice.  

Many times I've been shopping in a store and a sales person in the same aisle as me suddenly chimes in with the music playing on the loud speaker system.  They have no qualms about that at all. 

I decided to experiment with this.  I was curious what people would do if a foreigner, who already sticks out like a sore thumb, burst out into song in the grocery store.  The answer?  Nothing!  They didn't even look twice.  I love that!  Now I don't have to feel weird about humming along to the radio or singing a song of my own.  

Now, isn't that refreshing?  Who cares what other people think?  Enjoy life a little!  If your heart feels like singing, then sing!  We should all learn a lesson from the Filipinos on this one.

You may be wondering what happens if the person who is singing along can't carry a tune.  Nothing.  They are welcome to sing too (think karaoke at midnight).  :D

Things I like about the Philippines, #8

I took this picture a long time ago knowing that if I ever blogged about things I like in the Philippines this would have to take place among them.

There are many varieties of bananas available here in the Philippines and they are all are quite flavorful and delicious- very sweet and just the perfect amount of tang.  Even a very ripe, brown-turning-almost-black banana is quite good (according to Dennis and others anyway, I don't really eat brown bananas no matter where I am, banana-snob that I am...).

If you try to eat a banana here when it is too green you will know it right away!  There is a Tagalog word for "unripe fruit taste" that is especially appropriate when eating a green banana.  It is super dry and pithy tasting and almost turns your tongue inside out.

I know ripe bananas are good here, but who better to tell you the difference than someone who recently went from 'here to there'?  Bee, my sister-in-law, lived with us here in the Philippines for two years and has now returned to Canada.  When she ate her first banana back in Canada she couldn't believe the difference.

Here's what she had to say: "Eating a banana that was yellow here tasted something like a green banana there... kinda pasty and a bit bland."  She said it would take her awhile to want to try a North American banana again.

Things I like about the Philippines, #7

This is something that definitely had to grow on me, but now I really just can't imagine life without it.

This, my friends, is halo-halo; a yummy dessert concoction made with evaporated or condensed milk poured over shaved ice and colorful ingredients including, but not limited to, a few different kinds of "dessert" beans (did you know there was such a thing?), gelatin, tapioca, sweetened fruits, pinipig (like crispy rice), leche flan (like custard), sweetened banana, chick peas, etc., topped with ube (purple yam) ice cream.

Take my word for it, it is delicious and everybody should at least try it once before they die.  It should go in one of those "1,000 Things to Try Before You Die" books.  I hope to try it 1,000 times before I die...  :D

Things I like about the Philippines, #6

Another thing I love about living in the Philippines?  Year-round flip flop wearing!

That's right!

Flip flops on Christmas.  Flip flops on Thanksgiving.  Flip flops to church *gasp*.  Flip flops to the mall.  Flip flops to the beach.  Oh, the ease of getting a family out of the door now compared to the snowsuit and boot-wearing chaos of yester-year....

Ah, this is bliss... 

Not to mention how cute they are on even the smallest of feet:  :)

Things I like about the Philippines, #5

Back in Canada I made all my girls birthday cakes.  It was fun and even though it sometimes was a little difficult for non-creative me, I usually managed to put together something presentable.

I've tried to remain creative here too... but the humidity and heat has gotten the better of me a few times and although I've had a few successes, the failures have been epic. For my sister-in-law's birthday I decided to just stick with a basic cake without any fancy shape cutting or tower building.

Yes, that is supposed to say 'Happy Birthday'.  Fail.

Anyway, I am happy to tell you about my discovery that for between $5-10 dollars I can purchase a beautifully personalized non-melted cake, and I don't even have to plan ahead.  I just pop into the local bakery and they hand over the personalized cake right on the spot.  Goodbye, cake anxiety!

This is perfect for the times when I don't have the time or energy to wrestle the tropical heat.  Yay!

P.S.  I did do a castle cake and a snowman cake for two birthdays this past April.  They turned out ok, but there was some stress and melting involved... and nothing looks nearly as nice as the cakes I used to do in cooler climates.  :(

Things I like about the Philippines, #4

This, my friends, is a stroke of genius.

These are small sample-sized packets of shampoo and conditioner sold individually or in strips.  Check out the picture of the sari-sari (road-side convenience store) below.

All those strips hanging from the line above the counter are small packets of shampoo, conditioner, dish soap, laundry soap, and even tiny boxes of just a few bouillon cubes.  Toothpaste comes in packages like that as well, and you can buy tiny sizes of deodorant, cologne, lotion, baby wash, vitamins... almost everything, just like the package of four diapers I wrote about earlier.  Most items here are available this way and it isn't expensive like the trial and travel sizes we used to buy in Canada or the U.S.

You can even go to the drug store and buy just one or two tylenol.  It is perfect for those headaches that suddenly hit and you don't really want to buy a whole bottle of medicine since you already have three at home!  :)

These packages are great for everybody- those who can't afford to buy a lot and also for those who don't really need a whole bottle of shampoo.  They are perfect for travelling, for sampling different kinds until you find something you like, or to get you by if you are in a pinch.  I love it!

Things I like about the Philippines, #3

Here's another thing I love about the Philippines.

You know those large plastic mascots and larger-than-life toys outside of fast food restaurants, toy stores or movie theaters?

Those are not just advertisements here or gimmicks to get children to beg their parents for a product!  Those are photo ops!

Gone are the days of quickly snapping a picture of the large plastic lego guy before someone sees me take a picture of something so childish and embarrassing.  Do you remember ever furtively looking around before posing with Ronald McDonald or that purple McDonald's guy (what's his name?)?  In my mind those things were always embarrassing.  Or maybe it was just me?

Anyway, I do not need to worry about that anymore.  Here in the Philippines it is A-OK to have your picture taken with any old statue, larger than life toy, advertisement on the wall, movie poster or large cardboard cut out.  That is not embarrassing at all, even for adults.  And if your kids are cute enough, you may not be the only one snapping a photo either!  Not sure what to think about that part of it, but I do love that it is ok to enjoy the more childish things of life, no matter what age you are.  

 

Just look at the cute little "wanted"

I honestly had no idea that I had so many pictures of my kids with these sorts of things until I dug through the archives looking for pictures to go with this post!  Wow- not exactly practical or anything, but they do underscore my point.  :)