This morning, I left my very comfortable hotel in Manila to go explore the capital of the Philippines. What can I say... huh... it's an immense city. There, that's not judgmental, is it? Ok, what else... The air is, huh, breathable? Yeah, I can breathe it, and when it triggers a coughing fit, that is a good thing - it rids my lungs of phlegm. And the smog helps to filter the sun too, so, less need for sunblock. See, positive me! I've had to deal with much worse air, like that time when I lived in Moscow and a huge truck discharged the black soot of its exhaust pipe right into the open window of my car. That was worse...
Ok, what else. Huh, 1970's cement architecture is good. The buildings do stay up, mostly. And I'm sure there is a logic to traffic here, I'm just not smart enough to understand it.
Oh, and the people here make me feel pretty too. Especially the good dozen lady-boys who followed me around today, not all at once of course, but there always seemed to be one around. They were saying nice thing to me, while adjusting their breasts - how nice I look, how they want me to marry them, to bring them back to America. From a distance they were giving me come-hither looks with eyes that had been colored with a spatula and cake frosting (or maybe it was thick make-up, I dunno).
But, as always, the people were very friendly, I never felt threatened, and the Filipino were eager to have their picture taken. I had read, or seen on TV, many horror stories about tourists getting in trouble in Manila, but today, I never encountered any danger, just smiling people saluting me with great enthusiasm.
To be fair, I am certain that Manila has some nice corners and pleasant locations, I just did not come across them today. In only one day, there is only so much I can see in one of the world's largest cities. One thing is certain though... I much much prefered Dumaguete City...
Here are a few scenes from Manila:
Going back to DC tomorrow, see you there - Gaston
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