The Copa Businessmans Hotel Makati

We've made it back to Manila after our trip to the US but it wasn't without a little suspense on the side. Unlike the trip to the US we didn't have the 3-5 hour layovers between flights; however we weren't entirely sure if we were going to get out of Japan. Why? you might ask; it all has to do with the H1N1 virus "spreading" throughout the world. As we were starting our descend into Japan a stewardess announced that they ...

... non-guests can use?" "a pool", "yes, can I use it?" "Its on the second floor", "Yes, but can I use it, I am not staying here?", "Yes there is a pool".  So we donned swimsuits and beach towels and rocked up.  Greeted by the 'concierge' who looked quite preturbed and said "yes we have a pool, but for guests only".  Jason asserted that the security guard said we could 'definately use it', and the manager was called and we were sent to sit at the manager's desk to ...

... hair dryer, and no matter how much product I put there, I still end up looking like a fuzzy-wuzzy angel from PNG. Never mind. Filipinos are a pretty cool bunch of people. A little more western, and a little more laid back than other SEAsian countries. Even the beggars don't try it on too much (and yes, there is loads of poverty). People seem to have an "oh well" attitude to things. Although, just like other parts of SEAsia, everyone drinks beer from about 9am.

... and as a person, to the point that he came at 1 AM just to make sure that I got the right bus, also Didi the owner of the house were I stayed waited with me for over an hour, I am telling you Filipino people are very special!!!!! That might be the reason why the owners of the SBDR treated their staff so poorly, always with an air of superiority and making sure everybody is afraid, Jobs are hard to find in this part of the world, so who cares that the ...

... the accounting department across the city. We were very much down in the dumps before we even started. We had no arrangements for after we landed and had a flight to Hon Kong in five days that we didn't want. I got pro-active and we went to the domestic terminal to buy tickets to an island called Boracay. Along with that return ticket we also bought our ticket to Kota Kinabalu which is in Sabah ...

Tonight is the Rihanna/Chris Brown concert in the open field next to Bonifacio High Street. From our balcony we can't quite see the concert but we can hear it and we can watch the commotion as people try to scramble for the last minute parking spaces. The concert officially started at 7pm and there is still a long line of traffic trying to find a place to park. Fortunately for the people still in the cars, the concert hasn't actually started ...

... back to the pop music of the 60's. Maybe that explains why you can go to see Petula Clark or Paul Anka, here in concert. But the music today was just a bit different, you'll have to read my next blog "My how time flies" to see just what I mean. So anyway, it's to the clinic where he signs in and I wait to pay. Finally that's over, I pay and Fher heads to get his physical. Hopefully 2-3 days from now we'll have our own driver.

... involved chocolate. But wait! Is ensaymada really a dessert? The ensaymada I just bought at Goldilocks had ham in it. Ham??? I guess that explains what the word hamonado on the wrapper stands for. This is good news. Ham in my ensaymada means I can eat them for lunch guilt free, right? Now if I can just find one that is chocolate filled, life will be perfect.

... is owned by a former co-employee of mine who is happily retired from government service.It is a modest home just beside the house of a well known Senator of the country. After unpacking our things, we're off to our first tourist spot which is the official residence of the President.The Mansion seems the same as ever with not much changes from its old features but the kids were excited to take their picture ...

... York. But of course, that's considered expensive if you lived and worked here unless you're rich and famous. Later I found out that 1000 pesos can feed a whole family for a week. Only lawyers, doctors, famous celebrities, rich people go to places like these and squander money like a person who has a dollars to spend. Little by little, I'm learning more and more about the value of pesos in the Philippines without thinking about how much it cost in dollars. Ratsky is a very ...