Being Filipino-Fire Cracker, Rain and Celebration

Fire Crackers
Day before yesterday, saw 1 guy selling fire crackers at Big La Laguna beach. When was having banana-caramel snacks near Pier, saw many vendors selling fire crackers, hat, horn and new year cake. Many restaurants preparing BBQ.Saw posters of buffet, new year eve special, of some restaurant.

Wife of Paddy said, be there at Floating bar to see fire works show.
Near of our hostel, saw a local band singing and collecting money for new year celebration.

Rain
Wake up and saw raining. When was going to Pier, many local wished for new year. Near pier many vendors were selling hat, fire crackers, cake! Butcher shop more pork meat, head of pork. And it was raining continuously.
Saw 1 guy roasting a big pig at La Laguna. Not many people were at Big La Laguna. Whole day raining and was snorkeling, with 1000s of fish, and live corals. Water is so pristine that though sky was cloudy still could see bottom of the see.

Met some Chinese guys, from Beijing, working as engineer, burning fire crackers at beach.
And was raining. When was coming back to Pier, at La Laguna, saw that guy still roasting pig (Lechon), he said takes 4 hours to roast a big pig.

Was hungry, had banana-caramel pancake near pier. Vendors were pushing for firecrackers, big box (Peso 1,000), small box(Peso 100), a set of 10 rocket(Peso 100). Vendors were pushing Horn, new year cake.
Met some local at Jetty, met 1 Filipino lady working as travel agent cum pimp.She said, in 1982, first tourists started coming to Sabang, most of them from Europe, and so she started working as travel agent and pimp.She said those girls working in different bar, disc or as prostitute are not from Sabang but came from different parts of Philippines, rented house in Sabang. She knows 5 lady (prostitutes). For 24 hours service they charge Peso 2,000 and she gets Peso 500 as commission. She has 8 children, elder daughter married and like her working as a travel agent cum pimp, none of her children working as prostitute.

Was raining and I was watching people near Pier, saw some girl whom I saw in different bar or disc with their new partner of the day. Some were buying firecracker, some cake, some food.  

Celebration
Today again found internet not working at hostel. Met 1 girl, 33 years old, mother of 3, wants to become mother again, this time wants to have children of some1 from Europe. Some time back met 1 guy from Israel, her 1st boy friend from Europe.
Saw many kids, many girls roaming around with hat or firecrackers, near Pier! Girls with their husband/boy friend of the day.  
Went to floating bar, tried to catch fish with 1 Chinese guy and able to catch 1 fish. Floating bar was full of old guys and their Filipino wife/girl friends. Some guys randomly burning firecrackers, kids of staffs sipping cola, Filipino girls eating lechon with a blank face and their much older drunk husband/boy friends were playing with them.
Midnight bar, other discs were closed early and so most of the shops and restaurants, to celebrate new year eve with their family members or temporary boy friend or to watch fire cracker show near Pier, infront of Big Apple restaurant.
At 11:55 PM, people started burning fire crackers like crazy, near Pier, at Floating bar. Filipino girls were hugging their much older boy friend of the day, older guys were kissing their much younger filipino girl friends/wife.

John, that guy from Marseille met again near Big Apple restaurant, said "Happy New Year".

Being Filipino-Love, Lust and Loss

Love
On Monday, the day I came here in Sabang, Lorenzo, the guy of Paddy, owner of our hostel, first took me to floating bar and then with couple of guyz staying in the hostel to all dics and pubs near Pier. He took me to Midnight bar, for him a decent bar, where his crush, a filipino girl performs Salsa, every night. All middle aged guys were drinking beer like that day was there last day of life and playing with girls working in that bar. Some girls pitching, their madam wanted to know who want to take which girl.
I did not drink beer, drinking cold mineral water from bottle, talking with Lorenzo and his friends and was watching Salsa performance of all girls.
I saw 1 girl seating on a chair, in front of me and watching me and smiling. Then that girl was showing her tatoo to 1 of her colleague, a performer  in that bar, then that girl was trying to perform Salsa, every time she was falling down or missing step, I was laughing, then she asked me why I am laughing.
Yesterday evening, when I was coming back after snorkeling at Big La Laguna, I saw that girl on a bike, going to Pier, she was watching, she turned back and watching me.
Paddy and one his friend, again took me to Midnight bar and other bar and discs neat Pier. I didn't drink beer. Not liked the way middle aged and old guys treating teen girls working in bar/dics.
Like day before yesterday, again started walking to Big La Laguna, after having barbecue porn (Peso 120) and Chicken Spring Roll(Peso 8). At Big La Laguna met 1 filipiono guy catching fish with harpoon. When was walking back to Pier, met that Midnight bar girl, who was watching me, she started talking with me, like she met 1 lost friend after an eon.

Lust
Near pier, in all bar, dics, karaoke bar, full of old and middle aged guys from Australia or any European Country play with filipino girls, aged from 12 years to 50+.
All guys live with 1 filipino girl, drink 1 bottle bear in almost all bar and disc near pier, love spending more money on young thin girls, younger the girl, get more attention and tip. Filipino girls, takes Peso 1,500 a night to 4,000 a night. Some guys pay Euro 100 every month to his filipino girlfriend/wife.

Loss
I met 1 guy in Paddy's floating bar on Monday, staying in the same hostel, from Germany, working in Australia, not love talking much, writes travelogue in a small diary. Again yesterday met that guy, when I was having pork sausage (Peso 30) and cola(Peso 15, 300ml). He was saying, 3 types of filipino girls can find or 3 types of relationship can have here. 1st type, a Filipino girl looking for boy friend, a guy from Europe who can marry her and take her to his country, they not ask for money but commitment. 2nd type, a filipino girl, stay with you for couple of months and you can give some money to her. This type of girls can have this type of relationship with 4-5 guys every year.3rd type, a Filipino girl, a prostitute, take Peso 1,500 to 4,000, and spend 1 night with you.
I asked him why only middle aged and old guys are here? He said back home they dont have any1.
We were eating chicken spring roll and met 1 French guy, 58 years old, working in canteen of a school near Marsei, where 2,000 stuends study, lived with 1 girl in France, who left him couple of years back, lives with 2 Filipino girl, 1 in Cebu, 50 years old filipino girl, lives in his house with her 2 children, whom he pays Euro 100 every month, and living with her for last 15 years. Another girl, 38 years old, has 3 children, with whom he lives in Sabang. He not likes his job in France, misses his girl whith whom he lived many years in France, he misses France but his monthly income Euro 1,700 not enough to lead a good life or the way he drinks beer and spends money in Sabang, not possible.
This morning I met 1 guy ar Big La Lagua beach, living with 1 Filipino girl in a small room in Sabang, pays Peso 3,000 rent every month. He is from Netherlands, ran flower processing business with his wife but after divorce lost everything, now not have any source of steady income, lives in a forest in Belgium as in Netherlands rent of house very high, 6 months live with his Filipino girl in Sabang, whom he took 4 times to Netherlands and 6 months he sells Marijuana in Belgium to earn money.
Met 1 couple, whom I saw Tuesday evening near Pier, from St Petersburg, guy not has any work, loves reading Shantaram, and girl, working in a travel agency in Russia. Guy tried money laundering but not got success. 

Being Filipino-I am in heaven

Yesterday 1st tiny beach full of dead corals pissed me, then found internet not working at room, bar full of prostitutes and so all pubs and discs near Pier, was thinking should I pack and catch ferry to Batangas and from there another ferry to Boracay(takes 24 hour).
Food very very expensive near Pier. Met 1 nice girl in a disc and gave her candy, she became happy!
Woke up late, started walking to Pier. Had plan to travel in a Jeepney to Puerto Galera(5.5 km,Peso 20). From Puerto Galera travel in a Jeepney to White beach(6.5 km, Peso 50) and spent whole day there, swim and snorkel.
Was waiting in a Jeepney near Pier, asked 1 guy, is there any good beach here, near and good point for snorkeling? He said go to Big Laguna beach, 15 minutes walking distance from Pier.

Thank god, I listened him, water pristine, not rough, white sand, not much dead coral, full of live coral, 1000s of fish,sea horse!Felt like I am in heaven!Wonder why people go and waste time in Gili?
Everyday, till I am here, snorkel whole day there.
Was hungry, had ham-cheese burger this morning(Peso 16), walked back to Pier and had cheese roll(Peso 10),pork roll(Peso 10),fish nugget(Peso 2),banana fry(Peso 3),banana roll with caramel(Peso 5),chili-pork roll(Peso 10) and fried egg(Peso 10).

And again snorkeled in the water near big Laguna beach.
Met 2 nice girl there, love to spend new year eve with any of them, 1 of them from USA.

Being Filipino-Unpleasant surprises in Sabang

Best beach only 5 minutes from our hostel, located in a top of a small hill, that 1 guy from Germany said. Was excited, wanted to swim and snorkel, climbed down hill to beach, walked through village and forest to tiny beach full of local kids, and my poor excitement, tiny beach full of dead coral, not even can swim how can snorkel?
This morning woke up, filled bottle with mineral water (Peso 5 for 1 litre), checked email and saw email from my colleague based in Dubai, with whom I supposed to have skype call yesterday but she was not online. Wanted to start pitching in Nigeria, 2weeks back but still all co laterals with me and not with our prospective clients. But as my colleague based in Dubai will lead that initiative and she is traveling for work last 2 weeks, so things still not moving forward.
Came down, went to Buendia MRT to catch TAFT MRT bound train, from there EDSA LRT to catch Gil Puyat bound train.
No scanner present in any metro station in Manila, only metal detector. So every time go inside of any metro station with any luggage, have to open it and 1 security guard will check inside of that luggage with metal detector or wooden stick. Some time, specially when you are in a hurry or carrying more than one or heavy luggage, opening and closing luggage, in front of security guard is irritating.
Got down at Gil Puyat station, out side of station found many buses lined up. Was looking for Batangas bound bus of JAM Transit but infront of station was only of DLTB bus, their service very very expensive.
Asked people and found 1 local AC bus (Peso 166) to Batangas Pier(Port). Journey took 2.5 hours, got down near Batangas Port, went to 3rd terminal and bought ticket for Sabang, operator Father & Sons (Peso 230), and paid Peso 30 for terminal fee.

Yesterday ate many local snacks, this morning also and when was waiting for Sabang bound ferry. Rice flour based snacks, use peanuts or chocolate or caramel or banana or coconut cream.
In 1 hour reached Sabang Pier from Batangas pier in a wooden boat. At Batangas pier when was waiting in boat, saw some kid begging, collecting food from passengers and storing a tiny boat, where their, guess, father was there.
Met 1 nice guy from Cape Town, South Africa, in boat. Worked in Oil&Gas industry for many years, traveled and worked in many countries in Asia and Europe. Last 4 years living in Sabang with 1 filipino girl and spending all his savings, thats what he said.
Had nice rice cake near Sabang Pier(Peso 2). From Pier to our hostel, traveled in a bike (Peso 20).
Our hostel full of middle aged guys from Australia and different European countries, living here for months with their filipino partner.
After dead coral full tiny beach broke my heart and dream of my snorkel, went to Pier, to floating bar with 1 guy of our hostel on his bike.
To Floating bar, same owner that of our hostel, can go on a boat of that bar. Drink expensive but near that floating bar water is pristine, perfect for snorkeling, saw many diver doing night diving with search light.
No 7x11, no mini store here in Sabang. Can fill water in your bottle (Peso 5 for 1 litre), buy cheap drink or expensive wine from a store near Pier.
Had fried food, taste plain, so had to eat many green chili and kalamansi. Here people can use Kalamansi like Thai people use lime in food. Possible taste of food will be bit better then.
Internet not working at room, at bar working, where 1 guy from Denmark running a Pizzeria, pizza bit expensive.
Dont know how much able to work next 6 days.
Tomorrow will go to White Beach, hope get a proper sand beach, and clean water for swimming and hope for snorkeling.
P.S. In Philippines Electrical Outlet Plugs are of two pin Type A, like USA or most of the European Countries and not like India. Thank god carrying Adapter that last year bought from a store near Duomo, Milan.
 

Being Filipino-Forest "Anna" Gump, Eating Balut and Manila Hotchpoch

Forest "Anna" Gump
Yesterday evening I saw that girl in roof top restaurant, seating alone, smoking and playing with her smart phone. Only girl from Europe in our hostel.
In our hostel internet only works in roof top restaurant. I was working with my laptop and mail not going out from outlook, tried many things, sent some email from webmail and then gave up.
I saw that girl buying beer can and drinking, in 30 minutes 3 beer can.
I went to her, saw seating in the same chair in roof top restaurant, where I saw her 1st, and drinking beer and smoking. I asked her from which country and she said, Moscow, Russia. I asked, "Kakdela" and she replied, "Khorosho", I asked "what?" and she replied "Khoroso is good in Russian".
I sat next to her chair and started talking. Anna, her name, is an Architect, worked in different parts of the world, even in Texas USA for 1 month, talks like Forest Gump, and also watched that movie. She liked trailer of  "Serendipity", for her a fairy tell, and wants to watch that movie.
She asked why I am not in Goa? She wants to travel in India, not wants to go those places where get snow, as she gets that in Russia and she not likes cold weather. From Manila, she is going to Boracay for 7 days, she does not know from there where she'll go, this time she'll  travel 2 months.
This morning I wake up and went to  Buendia MRT station, nearest metro station from our hostel, was waiting for Taft Avenue bound metro, was waiting and saw Anna again. I asked her where she is going and said in 2 hour will catch flight for Boracay. I said I am going to Carriedo to have chinese food/breakfast at China town and from there will go to Pedro Gil for money exchange. She changed her plan and went with me to Carriedo LRT station. But after reaching there she started saying instead of Pedro Gil why she is here in Carriedo? I said lets have breakfast and then go there. I was having pork-chicken curry and rice (Peso 60) and she said wants to drink sparkling water and I said ok. Then she said leaving for Airport, with her small back pack, with only 2 dress and 1 swimwear, and I said yes.

Manila Hotchpotch
After having break fast, asked some people for way to China town, which is only 5 minutes walking distance from Carriedo LRT station. I wanted to have Lumpia, Chinese spring roll or Lumpia(Peso 40), found 1 nice restaurant, ordered, sat, talking with 1 Chinese Guy and had.

Then bought small Chinese calendar (Peso 10). Then caught metro for Pedro Gil, yesterday I read in internet, many money changers are located at Mabini Street in Malate where can get better exchange rate and that area is 900 mtr from Pedro Gil LRT station according to google map, but when I walked from LRT station to that area, distance not less than 2 km. Some were offering Peso 46, some 46.80, but my expectation was atleast Peso 47.30 for USD 1. Later had to happy with Peso 47 for 1 USD, same rate got at Airport.
From there caught Jeepney to Intramuros (Peso 8). Manila Cathedral, biggest cathedral in Manila, 10 minutes walking distance. Was hungry and had nice cream bun (Peso 6) and 2 bottle local cold drinks (Peso 10 each) at a bakery near Manila cathedral.

At Manila cathedral, local vendors were pitching for straw hat, inside saw marriage ceremony of local couple, 1st time in my life and liked, was thinking about Forest "Gump" Anna.

From Manila cathedral, Fort Santiago (Entry fee Peso 75) 5 minutes walking distance, which is located on the bank of Pasig river. The fort, converted into a museum, a very historical piece of landmark where almost all the who's who of Philippine colonial resistance - Spanish, American, & Japanese were incarcerated.

Again walk, nearest LRT station, Central Terminal, 15 minutes walking distance, on my way saw, City Hall and building of Manila University. In front of City hall saw some Korean students giving free food to beggars.

Had local drinks with jelly, chilled coconut water and caught EDSA bound LRT from Central Terminal (Peso 20).
Eating Balut
Area near EDSA LRT station/TAFT MRT station, always crowded and congested. 100s of street vendors selling fried chicken intestine, fried beef, chicken, different fruits, boiled Quail Egg, fried Atay, Balun-Balunan, Puso, and famous/infamous Balut, boiled duck embryo (Peso 15). Gathered courage and had 1, added vinegar and salt. Taste like hard boiled egg but not liked feather of the embryo. Then had 1 Quail egg (Peso 2), taste like any egg and liked.

Exhausted and have conf-call with 1 of my colleague based in Dubai for Nigeria initiative at 7 PM Dubai time.

Being Filipino-Crowded Manila

I asked from where can get EDSA LRT Station bound Jeepney? Filipino lady in money changer (Exchange rate, 1 USD=47 Peso) smiled and said, go out side of airport.
Jeepneys are the most popular means of public transportation in the Philippines. Jeepneys were originally made from U.S. military jeeps left over from World War II. The word jeepney is a portmanteau word – some sources consider it a combination of "jeep" and "jitney", while other sources say "jeep" and "knee", because the passengers sit in very close proximity to each other.
Saw 2 Jeepney, pilot of both said not Jeepney take shuttle bus, was standing next to Jeepneys.
Again another polite Filipino, bus conductor helped me to stack my suitcase inside of shuttle bus.
From Airport Terminal 2 to EDSA LRT, costs me Peso 12.

Manila is crowded, traffic, narrow road, every where only jeepneys, roads not clean and slums.
Manila can be anything but not a tourist destination.
Caught Buendia bound metro, Yellow line, from Taft Avenue MRT station (Ticket Peso 16), 2 minutes walking distance from EDSA LRT station.
Taft Avenue station was crowded, ticket vending machine not working.
Our hostel 5 minutes walking distance from Buendia MRT station.
Here everything very very expensive.
Most of the shop close shutter by 5 PM, that includes money exchanger. Most of the restaurant stop serving food after 6:30 PM.
Every where only fried chicken or fried pork or fried egg, and fied peanuts with fried garlic.
No veg food. Pitched to owner cum cook of 1 restaurant, another polite Filipino. located near our hostel and she cooked and served cucumber curry (Peso 20) and rice (Peso 10) and Calamansi juice.
Calamansi looks like lemon, tastes like mix of orange (sweet) and lemon(sour).

Being Filipino-Polite Filipino

Wake up and we'll compensate for the delay, go and collect boarding pass, boarding time 12:30 PM, thats what 1 Philippines Airlines Staff said to me in Hong Kong Airport.
And ran to collect boarding pass, I and 1 of my fellow passenger. Certainly inside of airport became chilly and I had to wrap my body with a shawl!
Philippines Airlines staffs smiled and showed us way for security check in.
Found many Filipino, Russians waiting to board Manila bound flight.
Talked with some filipino, working in Hong Kong or Moscow or Doha and visiting home country, 1 lady after 5 long years.
Good leg space, no in flight entertainment but polite and always ready to help cabin staffs!
I wanted to have veg meal, 1st got sea food meal then when cabin staffs saw I not ate anything, they gave their food to me, bread and salad. Thanks to those polite cabin staffs, I was hungry.
Some of my fellow Filipino passengers were offering me chewing gum, some food!
Met 1 nice Chinese girl, from Sichuan. I was reading local English news paper, certainly from my back 1 girl said help her to fill up immigration, customs declaration and health report (for SARS) form as her English not good. That girl working in a manufacturing company in Sichuan, China, already traveled Malaysia, Indonesia etc country.  

Being Filipino-Air India Chaos

Was waiting and waiting!fellow passengers, crew not had any idea when boarding will start. Finally gate opened at 8:45 PM and after boarding flight at Mumbai again waiting start. Was hungry, I and my fellow passengers, 2 entrepreneurs running embroidery machine trading business in Surat for last 8 years, 1 Mishra from Patna and other Mishra from Haryana, they import cheap textile (embroidery) machines from China and sell in India. After diploma engineering were working in Gujarat, servicing textile machinery, saved some money and started own venture. Couple of years back started manufacturing but for them it was not a profit making venture so back to trading.
We were hungry and thirsty, in flight entertainment system not working, no cabin crew knew when flight will take off. Pitched to cabin staffs and got zira biscuit and small bottle of water.
Then 1 cabin crew said captain now doing custom checking, and after some time said just reached cockpit and soon flight will take off.
Captain Ms.Kohli, announced, she came from Rajkot, her flight got delayed and so all passengers had to wait.
Finally at 10:20 PM flight took off from Mumbai Airport. No in flight entertainment system was working and so AC.
Woke up and heard announcement, be ready for landing in Delhi, out side temperature 7* C.
After reaching Delhi airport started running to catch Hong Kong bound connecting flight, all ground staffs were saying last boarding call announced and so hurry, run.
Again security checked in and walked more than 1 km to reach Gate number 13.
Reached  Hong Kong at 8:10 AM, out side temperature 15*C and missed connecting Philippines Airlines flight for Manila, I and 1 of my fellow passenger. Next flight at 1 PM thought still not confirmed get boarding pass for that flight or not. Philippines Airlines staffs at Hong Kong Airport dont know what have to do.
Hong Kong Airport is a true international airport. From the terminal where we landed to transfer desk, traveled in a metro. Food and drink expensive.
I asked Philippines Airlines staffs, will get free food or drink for delay and they say get basic meal in flight.
So again start of wait for connecting flight to Manila.
Air India rather 1 Air India staff, Ms.Kohli, started this chaos and still in that unknown loop.

Being Filipino-Waiting at Mumbai Airport

Bought air-ticket to Manila via Hong Kong, 5 months back!
Wanted to see whole Philippines, wanted to dive like a crazy, wanted to travel to Cebu in a Ship.
But today I am different from what I was 5 months  back.
2 months back was thinking should I cancel trip or go elsewhere?1 month back was also thinking to postpone trip and then thought why not? Why not see Manila, why not try to meet many companies in Macati, why not taste famous or infamous Balut , why not visit Sabang- birth place of Scuba Diving?
And then thought what about work?how can follow up with prospects in India or co-ordinate with my colleagues in India and those based in different parts of the world?
So though not official business trip but carrying my laptop!so can continue pitching to companies, can have skype call with my colleagues or prospects!
Woke up early, had 2 conf-call, talked with my colleagues, took print out of Manila Metro Rail map,  packed suitcase and back pack and left my flat for Airport.
After an eon traveled in a local train to Andheri. From Andheri to Airport Road Metro Station and from there Auto, only 1.1 km, walking distance but still traveled in an Auto!
Checked in early, got window seat, flight already late by 45 minutes, hope not miss connecting flight for Manila in Hong Kong!
At airport, every where Santa and xmas tree!

Feeling hungry though stuffed my stomach at lunch/brunch(?).
Yesterday found, transit time in Hong Kong, 6 hours and in Hong Kong can get free visa for 14 days, thought why not see Hong Kong Central and if possible meet couple of companies there and street food?
So, apart from Philippines, able to see another country, China, now Hong Kong part of China.
First time in China.
Soon 1 guy based in Guangzhou start working with us and want to visit many more times in future.
Shoulder and back paining, dont know how able to seat 5-6 hours?