 |
| Jack Russell stumbled out of the Manila Bay Bar, turned down an alley he'd never noticed before. And was quickly surrounded by Oddkins....... |
"Like the sands of time, Manila is running through the fingers of the turgid traveler. When you're a short-timer in a dangerous locale: You need eyes in the back, front and side of your head." Steve Cartwright, author of I Dream of Oddkins.
Like the sands of time, Manila is running through my fingers.
I can't catch the grains.
I can't stop the marching of time.
All I can say is that the place has been kind to me.
It's opened my eyes, in so many ways.
The fear of fear has been replaced with fascination.
I'm barricading myself in my room.
Chris the Butcher, the massage guy down at Manila Bay, did me in good.
'Only listen to Chris.'
I hold him no grudges.
Not roaming far has been a blessing.
I'm barricading myself in my room.
Chris the Butcher, the massage guy down at Manila Bay, did me in good.
'Only listen to Chris.'
I hold him no grudges.
Not roaming far has been a blessing.
Manila isn't the most friendly city for walking.
I've nearly been hit a few times by cars.
People won't think twice about nudging you towards the center of the road, bringing you closer the incoming Jeepney that rule the roads. They are built like tanks and I don't want to end up on a roadkill menu.
I've nearly been hit a few times by cars.
People won't think twice about nudging you towards the center of the road, bringing you closer the incoming Jeepney that rule the roads. They are built like tanks and I don't want to end up on a roadkill menu.
I've had to restain pushing a few locals into the middle of the road myself. Better them dead than me. It's not conscious that they are luring you to your death, but it's so easy to become a statistic if you aren't conscious of your surroundings.
It's a bit like that. You need eyes in the back, front and side of your heads.
Sure I'm over the humbuggers.
The security guards all have a story.
They aren't shy about annoying guests and see if they can get something out of them.
I'll buy a few rounds of Sprite or Seven Up.
But I say fuck to the humbugging. These guards are being paid twice the rate guards are paid in Indonesia.
The economy is booming and the receptionists get paid double what a receptionist would get paid in Malaysia.
These are sobering thoughts.
It's a bit like that. You need eyes in the back, front and side of your heads.
Sure I'm over the humbuggers.
The security guards all have a story.
They aren't shy about annoying guests and see if they can get something out of them.
I'll buy a few rounds of Sprite or Seven Up.
But I say fuck to the humbugging. These guards are being paid twice the rate guards are paid in Indonesia.
The economy is booming and the receptionists get paid double what a receptionist would get paid in Malaysia.
These are sobering thoughts.
The Philipines isn't a poor third world shit hole anymore.
If only the people would head that advice and start acting proudly of an economy that is overtaking countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
This could be the start of a new Philipines. Everyone I know has the option of working double shifts and they hold second jobs.
This could be the start of a new Philipines. Everyone I know has the option of working double shifts and they hold second jobs.
This country is booming.
Crime is at its all-time low.
It's just that the people aren't adjusting to the new economic climate.
Their old Mafiosa ways have been too entrenched for them to see the miracle that's happening before their eyes.
It's just that the people aren't adjusting to the new economic climate.
Their old Mafiosa ways have been too entrenched for them to see the miracle that's happening before their eyes.
Everyone has a spiel, even the beggars.
The trickle-down effect is amazing.
One old bag who collects plastic received a twenty peso note from a female office worker. Not content, she was begging for more.
Its a moving and shifting economy.
The dwarf who walks with the aid of his wheelchair to the ice truck transforms himself into a composed cyclist. Straight back, aloof and totally confident.
When he's not begging, he's a proud owner of a bicycle attached to a yellow sidecar, used to transport recyclables to the depots.
He is no different to the other thousands of tricycle cabbies who choke the streets of Manila.
You'll do a triple take and marvel at the midget's makeover.
Manila is playing magician. What you see is an illusion.
And if you want to know what's really going on in the background operating system, dig a little deeper, and all will be revealed.
'Manila has the highest commercial rentals in Asia,' says Aron the seaman who runs a restaurant on
The trickle-down effect is amazing.
One old bag who collects plastic received a twenty peso note from a female office worker. Not content, she was begging for more.
Its a moving and shifting economy.
The dwarf who walks with the aid of his wheelchair to the ice truck transforms himself into a composed cyclist. Straight back, aloof and totally confident.
When he's not begging, he's a proud owner of a bicycle attached to a yellow sidecar, used to transport recyclables to the depots.
He is no different to the other thousands of tricycle cabbies who choke the streets of Manila.
You'll do a triple take and marvel at the midget's makeover.
Manila is playing magician. What you see is an illusion.
And if you want to know what's really going on in the background operating system, dig a little deeper, and all will be revealed.
'Manila has the highest commercial rentals in Asia,' says Aron the seaman who runs a restaurant on
Mabini street.
He crunches the figures. Even I'm starting to faint.
It's a tale-tale sign that money is flowing.
'Into the government's hands.'
He crunches the figures. Even I'm starting to faint.
It's a tale-tale sign that money is flowing.
'Into the government's hands.'
Aron can't wait to retire in the provinces.
'I'm only here to make the money.'
'I'm only here to make the money.'
And so is everyone else, I say.
