I can officially call myself a jet setter now! Not that I am complaining...but my next assignment within the current work that I do with Project Kerang had brought me to the land with the "Happiest People in the World"! What better way to add on to my fav month of the year!!
Where else can you find people who sing / hum to songs while they work (and we all know they can ALL sing!), have a local donut store named "Go-Nuts Donuts" and selling balud (THAT delicacy which you can only find here, the half formed chicken/duck in an egg) in a little store called "Dr Qwek Qwek, the Egg specialist"!
And I find Tagalog to be extremely exotic...not that I didnt before. Before this the only Pinoys that I know off was of Jennie's, Liv's and Amy's, even with these 3 their accents are sooo captivating and catchy! (as I type I am saying my words similar to how a Pinoy would!)
So, to begin with I have already been mistaken for looking like a Pinoy in the home office (my surname did confuse people apparently). You would think thats just a one off! No way!
As you embark in the Manila airport, every non-Pinoy will be issued an embarkation form. As for me, I only knew of this form ONLY WHEN I was at the immigration counter...after queueing up one bloody long line!
So you would think I may need a different approach when it comes to meeting the Philippina's (of which I vouch they are the prettiest girls in South East Asia, not withanding the Thai girls who are a close-shave second!).
Thus, in a Salsa club...and trying my best to look unPinoy.
me: Hey there, you know you look very much like a Chinese Malaysian? (I was standing next to a pretty thing in the bar)
PT: (balked at the thought of looking Chinese, perhaps insulted...then fakes a laugh) No...really?
me: Yeah...but judging from your accent, you re definitely not. By ppl here think I look like a Philippino...
PT: (giggle)... No you dont! But what are you?
Success...
Anyways, location wise I am far away from where a coup recently happened. Quite unfortunate really as that is the central business part of Manila. Was soo looking forward to another possible tank crashing into a hotel or office building! So where do we have to be based?? Now think of central Manila as KL. Where I am based, Alabang...which is a satelite city, is your Msian version of Kajang/Cheras in terms of development and distance! Why am I refraining from using Klang...hey, we ve got the worlds largest Jusco for a shopping mall up at High Hills (Bukit Tinggi). Here...well, nvm.
But the best view is from the highest point of the hotel I am staying, right at the 31st floor where you oversee Alabang and the rest of Manila central, surrounded by the sea and few more small islands. Its definitely a view I wouldnt mind having dinner at hotels na (the Pinoy's version of Lah)!
1 comment:
well, at least you enjoyed the few nights you were here... especially the one in the Salsa bar. was there a follow up at least? :p anyway, you are always welcome here... next time a bit longer so it wont have to be after office hours. ;)
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