MIKE TOLD US TO PUT THE LETTER ON THE WEBSITE TO BRING
PEOPLE UP TO DATE REGARDING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SKIP HAS BEEN DOING IN
SOUTHEAST ASIA.
THIS LETTER IS INCLUDED ONLY FOR THOSE WHO KNOW
SKIP PERSONALLY (FRIENDS, FORMER STUDENTS, ETC.), AND WOULD THEREFORE BE
INTERESTED.
Dear Mike,
Thanks for the kind words you wrote about me on the website. Where in the
hell did you dig up all of that background information on me? Maybe you're
having me followed… It just goes to show you that a guy ain't safe no-place
these days.
Hopefully, people will feel welcome to call us with their questions about
"log home building." As I previously told you, I am always happy
to answer specific questions by phone when I am in America -- or by e-mail when
I am here in Asia.
However, as we have often discussed, most people know so little about log houses (the
many variables, etc.) that they don't even know what questions to ask --
which can be frustrating at times.
In fact, the average person doesn't even know how to "buy"
a log home -- not to mention "build" one.
At least, via e-mail, I can continue to volunteer for the
hot-line even when I am in Southeast Asia. At this time, I have a bunch
of new computer equipment that I don't know how to use.
For example, I
have a scanner that will do photographs (even negatives and slides), a
program that will draw blue-prints and floor-plans, a microphone that will
enable us to talk to each other via Internet, and a camera that will actually
let us see each other as we are talking. Of course, all of this is contingent
upon me learning how to wind this stuff up and make it go. So far, I don't
have a clue.
Sometimes I think life is just one big IQ test – and I am flunking.
During our brief telephone conversation, I promised that I would write
and tell you a few things about my life here in Asia, and perhaps this would be
a good time to do so. However, there is so much to tell that I hardly know where
to begin. It would be best if you came to visit me, and checked it out for
yourself. If you come for a visit, I promise to meet you in Manila with my boat
(with an all-woman crew ???), so we can
"tour" our way slooooooowly back to my island.
The tourist brochures all say "there are 7,200 islands in the Philippines,
and over half of them are not inhabited." At first, I thought they
were kidding about the number of islands that are not inhabited. However,
now that I have traveled through this "country-of-islands," mostly
by small boat, I realize that they are telling the truth.
On the average, these uninhabited islands have beautiful sandy beaches,
coconut trees, and everything one needs to build a small grass shack. There
is an abundance of fish, crabs, shrimp, lobster, edible sea-weed, and fruit.
Many of these small tropical islands are like "paradise."
In the Philippines I purchased (and re-built) a 37' boat, and I now spend
a lot of time island-hopping with my amigos. The boat is "native-style,"
with outriggers on both sides. It has an 85 HP inboard Toyota engine, and
it is very fast. Two people can water-ski behind it at the same time. Also,
it has three masts -- so we can gaff-rig some sails in case there is a
mechanical breakdown. The boat is called The Sulu Queen.
SKIP'S BOAT -- THE SULU QUEEN
Our house in the city is located 1 ½ blocks from the Camotes
Sea -- which is within "easy" cruising distance of the Visayan Sea, the Sea of
Bohol, the Mindanao Sea, the Sulu Sea, and the South China Sea.
SKIP STAYS HERE A LOT
The above house is located in the middle of the Sea
of Bohol, in the Visayan area of the Philippines. When the tide is high,
there is no island at all -- only this house. When the tide is low, there is an
island approximately the size of a football field. This island-house is open for
anyone to use, so I often stay there for several days at a time. Other people
often stop by (sometimes speaking dialects that I don’t understand) – and
we share accommodations, food, beverages, etc. So far… no pirates.
Ironically, in spite of the poverty that exists in the Philippines, the Filipinos are the friendliest and most hospitable
people in the world. When I am walking in the countryside, I am always
invited into the homes of poor farmers. They almost always invite me to eat with
them and stay with them. They are eager to buy me a Coke -- even if they have to borrow money
from a neighbor to do so. These generous and hospitable people almost always
refuse to accept money from me for food and/or lodging. In order to "pay"
these people, I must leave the money where they will find it after I leave.
If they find the money after I leave, they will sometimes even follow me
to the next village to return it.
Filipinos who live on the small islands have a "annual-cost-of-living"
that is almost "zero." They are among the most self-sufficient
people on earth. They hunt-and-gather their own food (fish, lobster, shrimp,
crabs, clams, coconuts, mangos, jack-fruit, star-fruit, pineapple, guava,
papayas, etc.), build their own houses (using bamboo and Nipa leaves), build
their own dug-out canoes, make their own clothes, pull their own teeth, set
their own bones, deliver their own babies, settle their own disputes (often with
machetes), etc.
A "middle-class" white boy from America can get a
serious INFERIORITY COMPLEX living with these very capable people. Fortunately,
they are eager to share their knowledge – even with an inferior white dude.
My wife, Elvie Chiong, is what they call a "provincial"
girl. Her family home is reached by parking on a dirt road and walking
20 minutes into the jungle on a small path. The "native style" house is located in a jungle
clearing, and it is very beautiful. The house is surrounded by coconut
trees, mango trees, banana "trees," guava trees, jack-fruit trees,
star-fruit trees, etc.
The women in this area are small, and quite attractive. Elvie is
4'10" tall, and she weighs 85 pounds. She has long hair that
goes clear down to here. It's a trip, man !!!
I told Elvie that you might be coming to visit us, and she is anxious
to introduce you to a few of her girl-friends. Some of these girls are
TOTALLY gorgeous. We have photos of a few of these girls -- and I will
send you a few (photos, not girls) -- if I can find them before mailing
this to you.
The bad news is... dealing with the "country" girls of
the Philippines can be quite frustrating, because they are not permitted
to be alone with a man until after marriage. It is generally estimated
that 85% of the unmarried country girls have never been alone with a man.
Elvie’s parents wouldn’t even let me take her to a movie without a chaperone.
Another strange thing...
the average age difference between a white dude and his Filipina wife is 35
years. Asian women revere age, and therefore many of them prefer to marry older
men. More on that later…
I will write again soon and tell you more about Elvie and our son,
Chip -- born on May 4, 1995.
I will stop typing now, Mike, so I can get this in the mail to you.
Please drop me a note and tell me what’s been happening back in the
States.
