Oh It's Cold in the Philippines

Yes, you read that right. I just got home from my first travel in 2022 when I started writing this! No I am not freezing because we don't have snow. And I don't live in Baguio City or Tagaytay as well so let's not get too excited. 😆

If you don't live in the Philippines you might think it's weird to have cold weather here if we're not in the mountains. After all we live in a tropical country. But thanks to hanging Amihan (cool Northeast monsoon wind) it's always cold during -Ber months until January.

When I was a kid it would get cold even before December. These days it's only really cold during December to January. (Blame it on global warming and all the pollution we've been doing.) By cold I mean maybe around 22°C? I'd love to say it's colder but our weather bureau says otherwise. 😆

See the pic? Only 22.4°C and that was early this morning. Well hey tonight it feels like it's colder. Felt like I was inside an airconditioned place while I was on my bike.

What was I doing outside today? Well since mid-December I rarely go far from home. I think I've only commuted to farther places around 5 times since I came back here in Metro Manila.

Of course I went out maybe around 10 times or so in total if I add going to the nearby sari-sari (variety) stores. No need to go far for food when I can buy rice, egg and some canned goods nearby. Hehe.

So today I used my bike again only for the 2nd or 3rd time since I came back. (I love how cycling saves me fare money. Haha. I can exercise too!) Went to buy a tablet cord, went to mass and also had a massage! Oh yeah. ❤

My first travel of the year went really well except for the cold weather. Huhu. It was bearable though. Felt like when I went to that property development in Batangas last month. That area is supposed to really be a bit cold because it is near Tagaytay, the second coldest place in the country. I can imagine how it must be colder there now. 😅

At home I have been wearing my jacket almost all day everyday since I came back. It's only natural to wear one inside the house when feeling cold you know. I don't like the cold unless it's summer.

Ok so I went out around 5 pm so it wouldn't be hot outside. I knew the sun would still be up because it's early in the year. Oh I was clearly not thinking of the right weather even if I thought of the longer daylight. Hello self, it's not summer! 😂

Forgetting it is still the cold and rainy season in my country, I went out without a jacket. Makes me laugh now. I have been wearing one at home but I went outside and didn't think of using one. 😂 (Somebody bring back my brain! 😂)

I didn't feel the cold until I was pedaling. Goodness gracious. I didn't think of going back home even if I was still nearby. So I went all the way to the electronics store and bought the cord.

Thought I wouldn't sweat at all but I got a few drops running down my cheeks and neck. Good enough for me. Usually when it's summer I'd be soaked. I love this kind of weather only if I would be doing physical exertions like exercise. Hahaha.

After I bought what I needed I went to the church for the 6 pm mass. This time there was a bit more sweat but still my hair wasn't dripping so bad at all. Yay for cold weather! 😄

I was 15 minutes early but I forgot to go and have some mass intentions done. Ugh. Blame it on me despairing over my back phone cam issue instead. I mean, the interior of the church looks wonderful because of the Christmas decor and I couldn't even take a proper picture of it. No thanks to Instagram Reels! 🙊😖

That's the only new thing I've been doing on my phone the past week. It actually caused overheating several times but I thought nothing of it. And then suddenly when I tried using the back camera all I could see was a black screen. Huhu.

Y u do this to me Instagram? Y u do this HTC U11, Android 9? 😖 I already updated my phone but still the back camera doesn't work. HTC online support doesn't even reply at all. I even contacted Android by Google. Haven't told Instagram about it though. Hmmm must inform them what happened.

This phone situation is just terrible! Why not when it means I have to buy a new phone again just after 2 years! What the f---. I can use the front cam but the back is useless! 😣

Maybe I will just buy a DSLR instead. Would probably spend the same amount of money anyway, or maybe half. I haven't checked yet. Ah well...

Here's that crappy front camera photo of the church altar and its decorations. Didn't feel like looking very silly in front of other people when taking a picture using the front camera so, voila!

Anyway thank God for the new year. Even if last year I wasn't at a good place financially at least I was able to travel to 3 provinces! Hurray!!! 👏👏👏 (Batangas, La Union and Cebu) I was even able to go on a plane again after less than a decade! Hahaha. I love it.

After the mass I felt the cold air once more. Still I am thankful because I didn't sweat that much while biking all the way to the spa. Woohoo! That was about less than a km away from the church. It's a new place I tried for the first time because I wanted a dry massage.

Of course no picture again because of my busted phone cam. Place didn't look Instagrammable anyway. Even the interior was just so-so. The aircon is too weak. Not that I want it very cold but without it the air was kinda stale. Told the massage personnel that it was kinda hot so she went and told the management. After a few minutes the air was finally cooler and better.

I got the Shiatsu massage and boy did it feel real good. Haven't experienced Shiatsu in years! Haha. My back and neck has been hurting since I came back so it's definitely good I finally got that much needed full body massage.

The experience was top notch! Wow. My body was happy the whole time, especially my back and lower legs. Haha. Didn't think I'd enjoy it that much. Next time I might go back but I just don't like the ambience of the place. Not sure when I'll get to travel again after today's trip.

Oh and guess what, despite the cold I bought some local ice cream along the way! Dang. Haha. My favorite flavor was sold out so had to resort to the second best one. Mango Pili by Papa Didi's! (Sorry no pics again because I still hate my phone cam. 😅) After I paid for it I went straight home, took off my pedal pants, wore a jacket, put on my shorts and used a blanket as skirt! Ah finally I was warm. 😆

The only reason I went out today was because of the roving barangay (village/district) vehicle that made a megaphone announcement: Stricter quarantine is back in Metro Manila. Yeah starting tomorrow, January 3, it will be Alert Level 3 again. It made me think of doing everything I did today before most businesses close once more. That means just going out of the house qualifies as kinda major traveling since the pandemic started. 😂

Still got some food from New Year's Eve so might as well stay home until it's all gone. 😆 Meaning I won't be going out again for several days. I am still not safe from the cold weather though. 😂

Hope you're feeling the cool Amihan too! Despite whatever bad thing might be happening to anyone, at least the weather is not hot at all. It's just the right temperature imho. Oh yes indeed. ❤

Now where's that healthy superfoods coffee of mine? Forgot to buy some to keep me warm. 😂

XOXO,

@LucyStephanie

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Lead image from Unsplash.

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