Deep dip.

We don't have a pool; of course not, we can't afford to have one built.  I googled and found out that in P.I. it costs around half a mil to construct a pool.

So I googled more and found these inflatable pools, ranging from 2.000 pesos for the kiddie pool to about 13,000 for a used pool that can accommodate adults. The kiddie pools you can purchase at any SM department store but the U.S. - type adult pool is rare to come by.

I found at least 2 U.S-type adult pool at sulit.com. Both were previously owned.

There's enough space in our backyard for a small adult inflatable pool.  But the problem would be the pebbles and stones. Previously, I tried to plant "carabao grass" but due to heavy rains last year, the grass didn't grow well and I decided to replace them with stones. 

A contractor-nephew suggested to build a deck at the back.  We are not keen on it, because that will entail cementing the soil and that would mean a hotter surface. 

As it is, our backyard is a cool respite from the horrendous heat wave Manila is experiencing. Even at the hottest hour of the day, there's cool breeze out there, thanks to the plants and several trees.  Of course, we cut down two old trees already - the alatrez and the banaba.  I felt like a criminal when these two trees were chopped down because they'd stood there for several years. But these two trees were destroying the property.

The alatrez was such a fertile tree - it was bearing fruits almost year round and destroying the galvanized roofing of the laundry room.  And the banaba, a medicinal tree, had its egg-sized fruits dumped daily, and its roots wrecking havoc on the concrete flooring of the added bedroom.

With the demise of these two trees, we lost much of the shade at the backyard. When the new mango tree matures, we hope to recover the lost shade and gain the fruits of labour - Indian mangoes.

About five years ago, we had a mango tree chopped down because a twelve year old nephew who climbed the "hitik na  hitik na puno" fell and had to be hospitalized.  This was like a neighbour in Sta. Ana who had their swimming pool entombed with sand when a toddler son almost drowned. 

Cutting down stable and well entrenched trees is a crime in Canada.  You will be fined.  Here in the Philippines, people get away with such a rotten chore. Look at us.

Which reminds me of the pine trees in Baguio being hewed by the SM conglomerate.  What a sorry news.  If these pine trees were to be cut, Baguio will lose oxygen.

In the U.S.,  inflatable pool comes in various sizes, with some almost like a built in ground pool. 

Years ago, there was this acquaintance who had her home turned into a summer haven, with a pool, deck and barbecue.

With the summer heat at its height, private pools and resorts are hard to find.  I've called several to have a May booking but no luck.

Boracay sortie

Again, my mind is going to the deep end.  A backyard with a deck, barbecue and a pool. Then sibs and nephews and nieces and their kids can drop by anytime.

San Mig, anyone?

No public pool for me, if that were the case, I'd rather be in the ocean.