Mr Jolly Travels

Mr Jolly Travels Sometimes you get tired of beating a dead horse. It's time for a change. This is my time, and it's time to be honest and brutally selfish.

It's my time, and it's now or never, because Ole Jolly won't be alive forever.

25/12/2025

Christmas Eve 2025

I've never experienced anything that resembles the Christmas holiday season in the Philippines.
I had gone shopping for my own Christmas meal. My neighbor, Terrance, stopped me and asked why I went shopping. Thirty minutes later I found out what he meant. Everything was food, fun, music, singing, family, friendships, and community coming together with the fireworks at the end.
Filipino Christmas spans September to January, blending faith, vibrant traditions like dawn masses (Simbang Gabi), star-shaped lanterns (Parols), Noche Buena feast, and gift exchanges (Monito Monita, Pamasko). Celebrations center on family, community, and food, featuring caroling, nativity plays, and decorations rooted in Catholic heritage. Key highlights include the 'Ber' Months' festive buildup, nine mornings of Simbang Gabi, iconic Parols, street pageants like Panunuluyan, and Christmas feasts. Delicacies such as bibingka and p**o bumbong are enjoyed post-mass, with house-to-house caroling, secret gift exchanges, and children’s gift-giving from relatives, all fostering a joyful, family-focused atmosphere enhanced by colorful decorations and nativity scenes.


22/12/2025

YOU WANT THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH? Lately, I've been slacking on content creation and editing, and let's face it, my social media output has been subpar, so I sought out someone who'd give it to me straight without the fluff. I needed an expert who's informative, knowledgeable, and opinionated - someone who'd tell me the brutal truth. Where did I turn? A Filipina, of course! They've got honesty in spades, and if you've got questions, opinions, or need the unspoken truth, just ask a Filipina. Lucky for me, this little person has spilled the tea without fail - so far!


Expat life is pretty sweet, with awesome weather, gorgeous beaches, affordable living, reliable public transport, lovely...
21/12/2025

Expat life is pretty sweet, with awesome weather, gorgeous beaches, affordable living, reliable public transport, lovely locals, and fantastic friends. Yet, despite the distance, some things stay stubbornly the same - like my Cleveland Browns' ability to make me question life choices at 5:00 a.m. sharp, watching them sn**ch defeat from the
Jaws of victory.

20/12/2025

Our trip to the Internationally know Entoy's Bakasihan for some breakfast


Good afternoon, Philippines! Maayong hapon! It's already 12:45p.m. on a Wednesday, and I'm pumped to admit that I'm so o...
17/12/2025

Good afternoon, Philippines! Maayong hapon! It's already 12:45p.m. on a Wednesday, and I'm pumped to admit that I'm so over being responsible as I dive into this new chapter of my life, where every moment is a chance to procrastinate and every experience is a fresh opportunity to try new things. Ever since the move, I've been jamming to a new beat, where the days blur together in a funky mix of freedom and adventure. Life feels ridiculously new, and I'm loving every second without bothering to check the clock. I owe a huge thank you to those who haven't given up on me for updates – the past month has been a crazy ride, and I've got a mountain of content ready to go. My plan is to start editing soon and spilling the beans on Wednesdays or Thursdays. To all the cool new friends checking in, welcome to my page! I'm stoked to share my daily shenanigans and adventures with you, and I'm inviting you to tag along by following and liking my page.

I feel legit now with my own Karaoke speaker and microphone at home. Karaoke is very popular in the Philippines, and you...
10/12/2025

I feel legit now with my own Karaoke speaker and microphone at home. Karaoke is very popular in the Philippines, and you hear music and singing almost every day, any time. I love it because everyone keeps the volume past 10 without complaints to the police. Filipinos enjoy karaoke because it's a core part of their culture for bonding, celebrating, and expressing feelings. It’s a social equalizer that unites people with music, laughter, and fun, regardless of age or singing skill. It's common at gatherings, an emotional outlet, and a stage for aspiring singers, offering stress relief and confidence-building in a supportive environment.


At the beach, my friend was totally jonesing for some sea urchins, but we had to wait until 10:00 a.m. to score some fro...
10/12/2025

At the beach, my friend was totally jonesing for some sea urchins, but we had to wait until 10:00 a.m. to score some from her favorite food stand. So I grabbed some coffee and my friend got some hot chocolate. Yeah, I know, we were at the beach and we're drinking coffee and hot chocolate, but it was 6:30 a.m., so don't judge us. Now, this woman vendor was trying to sell me something, and I had no idea what was in these bags, but the first time she asked, I just smiled and looked at my friend. See, here in the Philippines, everyone's always smiling and friendly, and saying no isn't really an option. As we sat down to enjoy our drinks, my friend got up and came back with the vendor woman and two of those weird baggies. I listened to them chatting away in Bisaya, and from my limited vocab, I knew she was getting ready to chow down on whatever was in those bags. At this point, I asked what it was, and she laughed and said 'seaweed, the p**p from the fish in the sea 😀😮😄.' Actually, it's called Lukot. Lukot comes in strands, often olive green, yellow, or brown, and it looks like green noodles or 'sea spaghetti.' This delicacy comes from a sea slug called 'Dunsol' in the local dialect, and its scientific name is Dolabella Auricularia, which lives in sea grass beds and the reef. You can find the eggs during low tide or you can dive in the grass beds to gather them, just like many people did that morning, collecting all sorts of edible sea goodies. I know you're wondering, so here's the deal. My friend handed me a plate, and like with most things, we added some vinegar and dug in. I gotta say, after being a bit skeptical at first, it was actually delicious, and I'll probably have some again next time we hit the beach.


Today marks the end of a 3-day weekend as we celebrate the Immaculate Conception. ( I said Conception, not Reception to...
08/12/2025

Today marks the end of a 3-day weekend as we celebrate the Immaculate Conception. ( I said Conception, not Reception to all the slow Pittsburgh Steelers fans 😉) I got to the beach by 6:00 a.m. this morning and am now having breakfast at Jollibee. Coffee, tea, bacon, egg sandwich, and fries.Just waiting for the Gaisano Grand Malls to open and buy some Christmas stuff for home. It's only been a few hours but so far, today is a good day! Shout out to Ice Cube


DecisionsLife is often unpredictable, filled with challenges, joys, sadness, love, and happiness. The choices we make ca...
23/11/2025

Decisions

Life is often unpredictable, filled with challenges, joys, sadness, love, and happiness. The choices we make can influence all these emotions, sometimes shifting in an instant. Our decisions affect our thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and they can shape both our present and future. That’s why it’s important to make wise choices. Recently, I faced some difficult decisions—not all of them were mine, but they still impacted my life deeply. When making tough choices, ensure they are truly yours and that you can live with the consequences. One wrong decision can cause you to lose something precious in life.

Decisions...Decisions

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