Goat Hangouts - Part 1

Goats are known to have a bit of a herd mentality of course but can also be known  to "roam" . How far the goat tends to roam will of course depend a great deal on it's age and infirmity . The goats known as "kids" will tend to roam more frequently and engage in a greater range of activities of course so one hoof size does not fit all goats .

Think of Iponan as a small part of the pasture and Cagayan de Oro and vicinity as the pasture proper . As such , favourite spots for this "old goat" to roam will not be mistaken for the larger herd mentality . With that in mind goat 68.7 will share some of his "hangouts" as well as mention a few others .

Pasture roaming will commence in the section of the city known as Divisoria . For goats that like roaming around at night this is as good a place to start as any on weekends .

Divisoria Night Cafe    

If ye be looking to roam around looking for bargains of a shopping nature with pit stops along the way then this be the place on weekends . Several blocks of vendors selling every imaginable trinket one can ogle over and lots of eats and drinks to be had it is especially a place to see and be seen as evidenced by the goats of all ages roaming around looking for a place to park it .

Broken Chicken (Perlas Videoke)

Unfortunately , i think a goat got hold of the map posted above but this coop is not hard to find . Just a block over to the Night Cafe from the red letter C just go up Tiano Brothers Street to Taal and turn left at the Allied Bank . Half block down on left you are there . If in a taxi just tell the driver to drop you at the McDonald’s and look around the corner and you will see the Allied . Be advised , however , there is not a chicken or a Broken Chicken sign .

As for how the chicken got it's urban legend  name guess it depends on whose tale you hear . Simplest explanation would probably be that when the ownership first opened they didn't have a lot to work with . The male chicken ( the cook ) would grill chicken and ? on a small grill in front of the establishment and i suspect this is where the reference started .

Do remember when there was only one fridge or cooler and when you wanted a cold one staff just ran around the corner to the all night store . Come to think of it , they still do for certain selections some of the goats prefer for which the Chicken does not get delivery . But , that is one of the goat friendly services provided by the ownership who have become dear friends through the years .

Their primary focus is food of course as they have a steady clientele of near by office and shop workers . Always a treat in itself to watch the various unis show up which can be walking ads for their employers . I especially like asking the Catherine Bakery gals if the French Bread is ready or if the Crown paper store has any paper .   Goats can be ornery .   :-)

If you are looking for the air-con and fancy it ain't here but if you just want to kick cans with the street you can't beat this place . Beers are some of the coldest in town and always at prices even an "old goat" can handle . Ruminating and problem solving is the order of the day and will depend of course on how many old goats are present .

Flamenco

Around the corner and down the lane a bit from the Chicken is another watering hole and eating establishment where expat "old Goats" are also known to graze on occasion . In goat lingo around the corner and down the lane means within walking distance unless your lameness has set in .  :-)

 There is a Wednesday meet up here for goats  that might be in the area as well . Them goats start grazing about 10am or so if memory serves as i ain't been by to graze that pasture lately . Definitely  an oversight on my part that will have to be remedied .

A link is given to this pastures web site but don't be mistaken that this would not be a place for " old goats " to congregate based on the ambiance displayed on their web page . They do offer a cozy retreat for goats more inclined to evening grazing but daytime grazers will find plenty to chew on as well .

Flamenco Web Site

Flamenco Addendum

Had the opportunity to stop by this pasture last evening for a bit of a birthday bash and while there ran into the unexpected . Turns out there was a gent there making music the old fashioned way .  He only needed two instruments , a voice and an old fashioned 6 stringed guitar .

Mention this only because in the 10 years plus i have been roaming the Philippine pastures it was the first time i ever run across a Filipino playing what the Yanks (Americans) call " Folk Music ' or if from the southern US pastures " Mountain Music " . As in Bob Dillon , John Denver , Pete Seger stuff with an occasional " American Pie " style tune mixed in .

It was truly such a delight that i had to hang around a bit longer and kick a few more cans twas enjoying the picking so much . Just wanted to pass this along to my fellow " old goats " that in particular might be of the Yank variety though i must say even the Philippine variety of goat was also seen doing a fair amount of toe taping .

 Bottom line - well worth a visit on a Wendsday or Friday evening , starting about 7pm . 

The Goat Farm Location

For those who might drop by for a visit that have never been to this part of the planet Cagayan de Oro is located on the southern most island in the Philippines called Mindanao . This " old goat " currently resides in a pasture called Iponan which lies about 10 kilometres southwest of CDO proper but is essentially a burb of Cagayan de Oro .

Iponan is not a town per say but basically a dot on the map along a main highway heading towards the southwestern area of the Philippines sometimes called "no man's land" . In fact in the two years this goat has been in this pasture it doesn't recall ever having seen a sign anywhere saying Iponan . In other words , think rural .  :-)

Now , having gotten you to the left hand side of the world as some call it and in the proper country we can proceed to clarify just a bit the breed of goat that roams here . According to a newspaper article published just today there are 203,753 foreigners with registered visas in the entire country . That would be the number of goats authorized to reside here on a permanent basis .

Of the above number Chinese nationals comprise the largest % at 59,000 followed by the Koreans at 31,000 and the "yanks" or Americans at 26,000 . There are many other foreigners residing in the Philippines on tourist visa extensions or just come for a visit of course so don't think anyone really knows how many foreign goats are roaming these parts .

Goats are of course of many different breeds and bloodlines with "blokes", canucks",  "mates"and "yanks" being some of the more common variety this old goat is familiar with . Goats , are of course notorious for consuming just about anything that appeals to their appetites though chocolate does seem to be a favourite in this part of the world .  :-)

Anyhow , if you happen to be or have an interest in goats feel free to kick a can around and say what's on your mind . Just remember , goats need love too .     

Dear Uncle Sam

Well , received  Uncle's  ss statement today so as i could file my taxes but i won't be filing not because i am a Tea Party member but because i ain't making more than  $ 110,000 a year . Jiminy Cricket , if i was making that kind of dough i would be the owner of the bakery and not sweeping the floors .  :-)

Come to think of it ain't it just dandy those representatives of ours sitting up on Capitol Hill ( or out playing golf ) want to do away with the COLA ( cost of living ) increase for seniors based on inflation while they get an automatic 10 % cost of living every year .

I mean i sincerely do appreciate the 1.7 % increase starting in Jan. as i am certain that's going to add immensely to my purchasing power .  :-) Now , how it is that the Bureau of Labor Statistics  determined that a 1.7 % increase would cover additional inflation i am still trying to figure out .

Last i checked inflation numbers do not include oil and food prices . Well , the oil ain't my issue since i don't burn it for fuel or getting from point a to point b by way of personal vehicle . I do , however , need to eat and anybody that says food prices aren't up world wide just ain't smelling the dung .

Now , the inflation rate here in the Philippines , where i live is said to be 3 % . Not counting tobacco and alcohol " sin taxes " does anyone really believe that other costs in the land of smiles have only increased 3 % . If you do , stop by cause i got one of them guaranteed investment deals that can't be beat .   :-)

+

Old Goats Need A Pasture Too

Being 68.7 and advancing i do consider myself as being a member of that well known cultural grouping labelled as seniors from a politically correct perspective . Not giving much of a hoot for political correctness as it is constituted these days i will simply refer to myself in the street vernacular as an ” old goat ” .

Becoming a member of the ” old goat ” sub-set is not economically , racially, or culturally distinct and membership is open , free of dues , to any and all that spend at least a portion of their day being cranky , cantankerous , obstinate ( politically correct ) or set in their ways ( street version ) .

If you have an inclination to moan , groan , grump and complain while reminiscing about the " good old days " when the world wasn't going to hell in a hand basket feel free to drop by and  sit a spell . Goats of all ages are welcome to visit the pasture and chew on a can or two while butting heads .