Lokal guavas and peanuts.*
Taking my cue from my intergenerational Japanese gumshoe duo Hayao and Kaori, I have toned down inquiries into the root of Boracay's rush to pave over paradise.
It has been typhoon weather here, so the airplanes stopped running (I think). Thankfully quiet and less full of groups of package tourists. Today I learned at canteens and over beers:
The government in the Philippines is very corrupt. Boracay is no different. A little different maybe, because of the example of early enlightend-ish travelers, but ultimately no different.
The Philippine people are friendly and knowledgable.
Development is proceeding on the "NewCoast" of Boracay. This is supposedly an eco-sensitive major new resort. Oh whoops, they forgot to mention... it comes with a full on MALL 1 km interior, at Fairways. That means they are attempting to create a city on Boracay. A sinking island threatened by global warming, where a double-beached sand spit guarantees catastrophe if and when a major tsunami or typhoon hits. I was here during Yolanda, two years ago, I have some stories from that near miss....
In the face of this, Boracay has DOUBLED its tourist capacity in the past three years and now attracts a couple MILLION visitors annually. Probably 70 percent are from Taiwan, Korea, China. I have lived in Japan, I know the urban aspects of Northeast Asia intimately––no wonder the paradise vibe is being lost. The concept is not paradise, it is quick & cheap getaway. The equivalent of Atlantic City in the making.**
I am more interested in launching Fabric here than ever, but realize that I must tread very carefully. The steps that lead to eco-conscious development are never obvious, because the real benefits are a generation removed and there are hungry mouths to be fed, deposits in foreign banks to be made.
The issues we feel most passionate about can easily turn astray and be considered elitist, NIMBYist. As a native Northern California I feel acutely dismayed by how everyone who is not a workaholic, trustafarian, or tax-supported snoozer is driven out to Vacaville, Rohnert Park, San Leandro, and points further from grace.
Thanks for listening, I'm grooving out to Radiohead's Karma Police.*** A very deep song that involves the sense of corporations and those who are destroying the Earth in the service of money getting their just desserts. Played it at Lokal Bar with Danielle from Italy a couple days ago––flute and acoustic guitar--my old favorite karaoke song in Tokyo, along with Stevie Wonder's All in Love is Fair.
Cowachunga 3.3 coming mañana! No good title yet, the action is subtle.
* A far cry from my Soylent diet of September, but with a similar aim. Unfortunately Pale Pilsen undoes all the hard work.
**For comedic reference, see Boracay Buzzkill.
*** Just discovered that another Radiohead favorite, Pyramid Song became an epic Sigur Ros-esque soundtrip slowed down 800 percent. Apparently if you want the version deluxe you can "Put this on and around 12:30 seconds in, play the original unslowed in a new tab while putting this at about half or a third volume. Epic doesn't cover it." Thanks Youtube.
SEO alert - Endurance Writer, aka Damon D. Dawson of Bandito College.
It has been typhoon weather here, so the airplanes stopped running (I think). Thankfully quiet and less full of groups of package tourists. Today I learned at canteens and over beers:
The government in the Philippines is very corrupt. Boracay is no different. A little different maybe, because of the example of early enlightend-ish travelers, but ultimately no different.
The Philippine people are friendly and knowledgable.
Development is proceeding on the "NewCoast" of Boracay. This is supposedly an eco-sensitive major new resort. Oh whoops, they forgot to mention... it comes with a full on MALL 1 km interior, at Fairways. That means they are attempting to create a city on Boracay. A sinking island threatened by global warming, where a double-beached sand spit guarantees catastrophe if and when a major tsunami or typhoon hits. I was here during Yolanda, two years ago, I have some stories from that near miss....
In the face of this, Boracay has DOUBLED its tourist capacity in the past three years and now attracts a couple MILLION visitors annually. Probably 70 percent are from Taiwan, Korea, China. I have lived in Japan, I know the urban aspects of Northeast Asia intimately––no wonder the paradise vibe is being lost. The concept is not paradise, it is quick & cheap getaway. The equivalent of Atlantic City in the making.**
I am more interested in launching Fabric here than ever, but realize that I must tread very carefully. The steps that lead to eco-conscious development are never obvious, because the real benefits are a generation removed and there are hungry mouths to be fed, deposits in foreign banks to be made.
The issues we feel most passionate about can easily turn astray and be considered elitist, NIMBYist. As a native Northern California I feel acutely dismayed by how everyone who is not a workaholic, trustafarian, or tax-supported snoozer is driven out to Vacaville, Rohnert Park, San Leandro, and points further from grace.
Thanks for listening, I'm grooving out to Radiohead's Karma Police.*** A very deep song that involves the sense of corporations and those who are destroying the Earth in the service of money getting their just desserts. Played it at Lokal Bar with Danielle from Italy a couple days ago––flute and acoustic guitar--my old favorite karaoke song in Tokyo, along with Stevie Wonder's All in Love is Fair.
Cowachunga 3.3 coming mañana! No good title yet, the action is subtle.
* A far cry from my Soylent diet of September, but with a similar aim. Unfortunately Pale Pilsen undoes all the hard work.
**For comedic reference, see Boracay Buzzkill.
*** Just discovered that another Radiohead favorite, Pyramid Song became an epic Sigur Ros-esque soundtrip slowed down 800 percent. Apparently if you want the version deluxe you can "Put this on and around 12:30 seconds in, play the original unslowed in a new tab while putting this at about half or a third volume. Epic doesn't cover it." Thanks Youtube.
SEO alert - Endurance Writer, aka Damon D. Dawson of Bandito College.
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