Inspection tour of the Philippine Islands

[pony express]

For most of the month of January, I will be travelling in the Philippines. So for my first official act since Colonel Pitspitr asked me to take over from Captain Little as commander of the division of the Missouri, I am appointing Col Drydock in charge until my return.

Before you ask, Col, I still haven't got the key to the Liquor storage from Capt. Little.

[Capt.Virgil Russo]

You could always shoot the lock off!!! 

[Drydock]

Nothing a .45 Colt round can't take care of!

[cpt dan blodgett]

If the lock does defeat the Colt, one could always unleash the trap door, use a carbine on a small lock, the longer infantry rifle and cartridge on bigguns.

[Trailrider]

Have a safe trip, sir! Should your travels take you to the southern islands, watch your six! Things haven't changed that much in the last century or so with regard to guerrillas coming out of the brush!

Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year to all!

Your obedient servant,

[Guns Garrett]

If you get the chance, visit Corregidor.  The most fun way from Marviles on the souther tip of Bataan, thence by banca boat to the island.  A banca is basically a outrigger canoe with a lawnmower engine...exhilarating.

The buildings are in terrible shape, and you cant enter most.  They are HUGE.  Messengers in the building used bicycles to get around.  Many of the tunnels are in good repair, and some have even been restored (MacArthur's HQ, Hospital).  It's a full day outing.

Send me some San Miguel!!!

[pony express]

Well, due to a ticketing snafu, still here tonight, had to reschedual for leaving tomorrow morning.

Drydock, I don't want to have a bunch of bullet holes in the office, maybe better just get the key from Cpt Little.

Trailrider: Won't be going to Mindanau or the other southern islands, wife's family is from central islands , Cebu and Bohol, no muslim problems there.There are some of the Communist rebels(NPA, or New Philippines Army) but kidnapping foriegners isn't their thing, as it is with the Abu Sayef (the muslim group).

Guns: I hope to get to Corregidore sometime, but since we won't be flying through Manila, probably won't happen this trip. We looked it to it on a previous trip, but the only way we couuld find to get there was through a local travel agent, paying "tourist trap" prices. Someday perhaps we'll try the way you did. Never been on one of those motor bancas before, they sail those silly things EVERYWHERE though. Always reading in the papers when we are there how they get capsized when a big wave breaks off the outrigger. The outriggers are just a couple of large bamboo poles for the beams, with a bundle of bamboo for the actual outrigger float.

[Charles Isaac]

Bet you can't wait to get some balut!

[pony express]

Bet you can't wait to get some balut!

Uhhhh.....will pass on the balut....and also no bagoong(kind of a fish paste that smells rotten to me) and dangit(dried small fish that are then fried to death)

However, I won't pass up a chance at any lechon baboy(whole pig roasted) or manok(chicken) adobo.

[Charles Isaac]

Uhhhh.....will pass on the balut....

HaHa! Almost ate some once 'till I cracked that mother open-I'm not that hard core!!

[Delmonico]

HaHa! Almost ate some once 'till I cracked that mother open-I'm not that hard core!!

Sounds just ducky.  

The fish paste is not rotten, it is fermented like sauerkraut or kim chee.   The fermented fish paste/sauce crosses many cultures including the Romans and the Greeks.  Worcestershire sauce includes a bit of it since one of the ingredients are anchovy paste. 

Wonder if I could safely transport a batch of homemade kim chee from Lincoln Nebraska to Sargent Nebraska in July.   Could be a risky venture although I might as well live dangerously since I'm also going to attempt to bring up sourdough starter if the weather looks some what mild, Farmers Almanac says it should be.   

[Charles Isaac]

Just like one man's patina is another man's rust, one man's fermented is another man's rotten! I do keep a bottle of fish sauce in the fridge. If you ever saw them make it, well, nevermind that!

Now that Thai shrimp paste-that brings fermented to a new level!

However, I won't pass up a chance at any lechon baboy(whole pig roasted) or manok(chicken) adobo.

Then there's the mystery meat-like that extra long legged chicken I tried.

[Niederlander]

"Fermented fish paste"........aaaaaaaaaaaaccccckkkk!!!!!!

[cpt dan blodgett]

Accross the ocean to the east a bit nukmam or something like that is what the fish sauce is called.  Passing a place where it was made, was a real treat to the nose - oh the bouquet

[pony express]

Just checking in , still all in one piece, haven't encountered any angry moros with bolos. Sitting in the bar with a nice cold San Miguel at our hotel in Cebu, after being out in the country at wife's hometown for a week. Am confident that all is running smoothly under Col Drydock's supervision.

[Charles Isaac]

Am confident that all is running smoothly under Col Drydock's supervision.

Yeah that's right! I heard the boys downed two barrels of a fine dark amber and he was none the wiser!

[pony express]

Returned home this evening from the trip. Hope the rumor isn't true about Drydock using his new Hotchkiss Gun he's been working on to shoot the lock off the liquor cabinet! It will just have to wait, though, untill tomorrow to go check it out. No hostiles encountered, unless you count the ones waiting outside the port to "help" you with your luggage(I.E., grab out of your hand and carry to a waiting taxi, probably driven by his cousin or whatever), then expect a generous tip for their services.

[Drydock]

We put a new lock back on it after creating more storage space within!  Some tester stripes got earned!

[litl rooster]

If the lock does defeat the Colt, one could always unleash the trap door, use a carbine on a small lock, the longer infantry rifle and cartridge on bigguns.

couldn't just pry the hinges off with a bowie knife?

[pony express]

couldn't just pry the hinges off with a bowie knife?


We're talking about Drydock here......Artillery man.....why do it the easy way when there's a howitzer at your disposal?