Makati City, Philippines

[SparkStalker]

Originally Posted by slang

And you're not expecting me to ask for more details?

Actually there aren't too many. My wife went on a business trip over there last year, and I went along for the (long-ass, cramped plane) ride.

You were probably not all rolling in the grass and climbing the banana trees, chasing the lemurs through the jungle, wading through crystal clear streams, and drinking alcoholic beverages to capacity either.....were you?

Unfortunately, because of the nature of the call centers over there, and the development team being over here, she still worked EST. So I got to see a lot of overnight Filipino TV while waiting for her to get back to the hotel. We had a couple of days at the end of the trip where we got to explore some (down to Intramuros and around Metro Manila one day, and out to Tagaytay and Lake Taal the next), but we were so beat by the overnight schedule that we didn't have the energy to do everything we wanted.

And on another note, I noticed when we were walking around in Glorietta and the Landmark, that some stores had employees hovering right over us. Not watching from a distance, but brazenly just standing next to us and following us wherever we went. Have you experienced this, or did I just look like a shady character to them?

[slang]

Originally Posted by SparkStalker

And on another note, I noticed when we were walking around in Glorietta and the Landmark, that some stores had employees hovering right over us. Not watching from a distance, but brazenly just standing next to us and following us wherever we went. Have you experienced this, or did I just look like a shady character to them?

I know so very little about you but I'm guessing that they're curious and or wanting to practice their English OR that they just want to have sex with you but were too shy to ask.

I'm a white man, 6-2 260 and I'm friendly to the locals. My wife's a local here and most of the people that I am with are pinoys.

If there was a young uniformed man following me in the Glorietta mall carrying an M4 and not smiling, I'd be nervous. Anything short of that I personally would just start talking to them.

Pinoys love foreigners and they love Americans the best. Assuming that YOU are not carrying an M4 around with you, they're most likely just wanting to speak to you.

Unless of course they say that aweful phrase...."you buy now"

[SparkStalker]

Originally Posted by slang

I know so very little about you but I'm guessing that they're curious and or wanting to practice their English OR that they just want to have sex with you but were too shy to ask.

I hope that wasn't it...it was always guys.

I'm a white man, 6-2 260 and I'm friendly to the locals. My wife's a local here and most of the people that I am with are pinoys.

If there was a young uniformed man following me in the Glorietta mall carrying an M4 and not smiling, I'd be nervous. Anything short of that I personally would just start talking to them.

Pinoys love foreigners and they love Americans the best. Assuming that YOU are not carrying an M4 around with you, they're most likely just wanting to speak to you.

Unless of course they say that aweful phrase...."you buy now"

It could very well have been. It was just a bit off-putting...and when I did speak to them, they seemed really nervous. I'm not a big guy by any means, so I doubt it was my intimidating physical presence. :p

Originally Posted by slang

Was the overall experience positive?

It was an interesting place. I probably would have enjoyed it more had it been at a different time in life. But unfortunately, it came up shortly after my mother had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. That really put a damper on my excitement to be there.

I've heard that the call centers here are a great deal for the locals here and the clients. We have someone working in one and is quite happy. Win win situations are so rare nowdays it's a good thing to see.

It's definitely good for the people there. Apparently, a degree is required to work in the call centers that my wife visited. It's a strange thought...over here, the call centers are usually staffed by the people not quite cut out for higher education.

[slang]

Originally Posted by SparkStalker

Unfortunately, because of the nature of the call centers over there, and the development team being over here, she still worked EST.

Was the overall experience positive? I've heard that the call centers here are a great deal for the locals here and the clients.

We have someone working in one and is quite happy. Win win situations are so rare nowdays it's a good thing to see.

[wolf]

Getting sick in what is essentially a third world country is not smart.

[slang]

Originally Posted by wolf

Getting sick in what is essentially a third world country is not smart.

This is not news to me.

On the upside, the medicines are effective and cheap.

I'm taking medicines for one ailment or another about every two hours. Sometimes taking doeses for more than one ailment.

I'm not allowed out of the yard and have been prohibition-ized until the battles(s) have been won.

Was it worth it?

If it doesnt get any worse, yes. My adventures cannot be fully experienced in a body condom or some other form of western style safety net.

I kill the chickens and goats, clean them out, cook them and eat them like a crazy man.

I drink till I'm the only man standing and go pee in the middle of the road. Pinoy style.

Until I'm wasted or taken out by some SE Asian funk, I'm living a bit more wildly than my American self.

At least, when I'm allowed to leave the yard I am.

Oh, and I've been banned from operating any motorized transport device.

[slang]

Ok, let's talk food for a bit.

This is siopao (show-pow ) . It's rubbery bread steam cooked with a little pocket of meat inside it.

You can get the siopao at Chowking and most other Chinese food outlets in the Philippines.

This siopao cost P25 at Chowking or about half a buck US.

No, I've not verified the source of the meat. Some things are better left unasked.

[slang]

This is Puto. I bought it from a native Filipino for 12 pesos each bag ( the white man price...a bit high )

Me and several others Filipinos gobbled these things up in a minute.

The second shot is the puto shown on the presentation platter, the banana leaf.

[slang]

These are of the Jeepnys out in the provinces. There are far fewer Jeepnys away from the city and so more people ride each one than in the city.

It's very common for them to ride on the roof. I would normally call these people organ donars but since we're in the Phils maybe statistics might be better.

One wrong move and......you know the result.

[zippyt]

Damn !!
I wish I was there with ya Slang !!!!

Oh That would be a BLAST !!!

[slang]

Originally Posted by zippyt

I wish I was there with ya Slang !!!!

When you are ready to come visit again, this time as a civilian....let me know.


Yes, we would have a great time here Zip. I hope someday you take a few weeks to visit here again.


Subic is an "economic" zone now.

[slang]

It's always interesting to me to see what things sell here.

This shop in is San Fernando and I stopped in because I saw the Stressmas decorations in Oct.

Take a little walk through this place with me. From the flowers just outside the door to the toy guns and Barbie dolls inside, it's worth a peek.

[slang]

These are the decorations that first caught my attention. Once inside there were also many variations of Santa Claus.

People here have a fascination with Santa Claus and snowy, cold weather. Reindeer too I suppose.

[slang]

Girl gifts are traditional here as well as the boys. There arent a large number of girls running around with the toy guns and not a huge number of boys holding a baby doll.

From the girls side of the isle.....

[zippyt]

Verry cool !!

Uh hate to be a Rice Nazi about it ,
but those guys with the green stalks seem to be planting ,
not harvesting ,
Mature rice is ( generly) tall and brown , they grow LOTS of it here !!!!