I forgot to tell you yesterday how I chanced upon that little internet cafe I mentioned. Well, I went to the local LTO (Land Transportation Office) to renew my drivers license. Owing to my habit of sleeping late, we got there by 10 am.

I was forced out of bed by my wife at around 8am, breakfast waiting for me downstairs. The yummy pancakes topped with blueberry preserve did lift my spirits somewhat. As I showered, I rehearsed our itenerary for the day. LTO, Doctor, Robinson's. I've never set foot in Robinson's. So we planned to spend some time together malling. After all, it was my birthday last Sunday. My driver's license incidentally expired the day of my birthday. So I figured why not fit a trip to LTO in our schedule. My trip to the doctor has been overdue by about a week, owing to the fact that it's been rather difficult to get vacation time lately.

After a shower that failed to wake up my senses, we were off. We got to the LTO branch in Angeles City around 10-ish. I surrendered my old license, submitted myself to a drug test and a medical exam, filled out a form, and got my picture taken in about an hour's time. (The drug test set me back 300 pesos, almost just as much as the actual cost of renewing my license! Damn vultures!). Then came the hard part. We waited our turn at the cashier. We waited, and waited, and waited... We waited for my name to be called for what seemed like a finite eternity. Then the announcement came. Lunch break. We were asked to come back by 1pm. My wife and I decided to eat lunch at a nearby carinderia. After lunch, we still had around 30 minutes to kill. In the intense summer heat, it was hard to think of something to do. While walking back, we saw a sign that said "Internet." We went in. The internet cafe was a wonderful compromise. I got to blog, my wife got to lounge in airconditioned comfort. We found respite from the harsh killer heat of the mid-day Philippine sun. Nevermind that the owner of the place was so comfy he didn't wear a shirt over his basketball shorts. Actually, his Calvin Klein briefs were showing - ugggggggghhhhhhhhhh! But I got to blog, so to each his own.

By 1pm we went back to the LTO office, where we waited, and waited, and waited... Fortunately, I took college in a state university. I'm a veteran of long lines and slow cashiers. I eventually got my chance to pay by 3:45pm. I paid and I got my temp license in just 5 minutes. We were on a jeep bound for downtown Angeles by 3:55pm. I missed my doctor's appointment. He was long-gone by the time we got there.

So we boarded a jeep bound for Robinson's Starmills. We milled around the mall for about 4 hours before the fatigue began to set in. We really didn't set off to buy anything. That's why I only brought along 300 in cash, and my wife 200 in her wallet. We spent that on food -- LOL. Not all of it, obviously. Otherwise, I'd be back in the hospital.

We surveyed the whole darn stretch of the mall first. Then we sat down for meryenda in a quiet corner of the food court. We talked a lot and watched the sun faded slowly in the horizon. This mall incidentally has a nice skylight view. We then went to the department store and milled around the houseware and toys sections. Bought a couple of things. We then bought a T-shirt at UnionBay before we had dinner at Chowking. What can I say? I can't resist their siopao and beef mami. Their siopao's one fo the best I've tasted so far. The bun is slightly sweet, slightly glutinous. Great dough makes a great siopao, I say. I was so elated I brought home siopao for my mom. What a long day.