Thriller in Manila

The call came on the thursday - was i busy at work? Well yes - I am always busy (just in case the bosses read this). But did i have time to fit in a trip to Manila, Philippines for a last minute remediation job. Errrrr, yes. I think so. So Sunday 4th June I was on my way.

The flight was epic. Long and boring. But the views were amazing - flying over Indonesia dodging thunder storms - wow it was impressive. I hate thunder - but there was something truely fascinating about seeing clouds totally lit up with pink and gold fork lighning. Clouds that are at 35,000ft. Wow.

I arrived in Manila. And the heat hit me. My god it was hot. Oppressive muggy heat. Horrible. Mid Thirties and very very humid. Thank the lord for air con.

So what was i doing there? Well i was offering technical advice to a company that was cleaning up a contaminated site. Easy peasy. I was hoping to get involved with some of the actual field work - sadly due to delays that was not to be so i was mainly involved in the kicking off stage.

But thats enough about work. More about the Philippines. Sadly photos are somewhat lacking, but i am hoping to go back and i will definately get some then.

I wasn't really sure what to expect of Manila. It turned out to tbe a very westernised city. A huge city - 6 cities rolled into one. High rise glass clad buildings looked like something out of New York rather than a Pacific nation. But the slums were very obvious - and very close to the city. There seemed to be no real middle ground or inner city - high rise wealth to slums pretty much straight away.

Everybody drives in Manila - and nobody gives way. Totally manic. Yet i saw suprisingly few incidents. Perhaps it was due to the fact that the trafic doesn't seem to go above 40 km/h. I thought Auckland drivers were bad but the Filipinos are totally sadistic when it comes to piloting a vehicle. Traffic lights don't seem to register and the favourite past time of a driver is to lean on the horn until it wears out. And if you get pulled over by the police, if oyu buy him his lunch then everything is sweet. Corrupt? Never. Haha.

The nightlife. Well, it was errrr, interesting. The beer was certainly cheap. And there was alot more on offer than beer. Whether it was men or women offering the extras is anyones guess. I stuck to the San Miguel - the Philippines own lager beer. And it was mighty nice too. Really refreshing served just above freezing.

The food is also interesting. A mix of Thai and Pacific flavours I guess. Personally i found it all a bit bland. But then maybe i just wasn't eating the right stuff. Don't get me wrong - it was nice, but lacked a bit of something or other. One interesting dish i tried was called Sissig. Hmmmmm, i wish i had asked what it was afetr i had finished eating it. Basically it is mashed up deep fried pig head. Like all of the head - snout, ears, tongue, the lot. Tastes like pork scratchings in mayonnaise. Yum - sort of.

Anyway, thats about it for the Philippines - i hope to go back and next time i am going to escape the city and see the countryside. It is supposed to be stunning......Watch this space.

HOUSE PARTY - Friday 19th May

We thought it was about time for a good old fashioned house party. Belated housewarming, birthdays (Johnny and Lucy), Hiedi going away and well, just for the sake of a party really. Boy oh boy, what a cracker it was too.

We started in the pub to watch the rugby then moved back to my gaff where the party was in full swing.

I think i lasted until about 5am on Saturday morning. But i am not really sure. I did however wake at about nine on the saturday to find our sofa on the front lawn with people still merrily drinking away. How the sofa got there is anybodies guess - ah well. I was off back to bed until the evening nursing the mother of all hangovers. What a night.