Cheesy feet. That's what it said. If you have them, you can get rid of them. So said the ad in the Philippine Star. Not the sort of thing I'd expect to see on page 3 of the Daily Mail.
Jeepneys are odd things. Half jeep, half bus. It's the favoured mode of transport in Manila. Cheap and effective. It seems the Americans left loads of them over here and the ever resourceful Filipinos have been using them ever since.
The Americans have reinvaded via Starbucks. In Makati, the business district, they are everywhere. Good to know I can get my tall, skinny decaf latte fix out here.
Ever seen Lost in Translation ? Bill Murray and Scarlett Big Lips ? In Japan ? Well, I got a glimpse of what that movie was all about being driven through the morning rush hour to a meeting in a cab. The driver thought he was Senna reincarnated and whilst he was weaving in and out of the traffic I was 'treated' to a steady stream of 80's classics (?) from Bananarama, Joe Jackson and Luther Vandross. What a 3 in a row. Haven't heard a segueway like that since listening to Century on the Princess Parkway in Manchester (which seems like a million miles and years away at the moment).
The other thing I noticed whilst I was being wafted through the streets of Manila to the muffled drone of the Thompson Twins was that virtually every car (including some private ones ?) has a painted sign on the boot lid which asks 'How is My Driving ?'. Frankly, the only possible answer to that is shite. I resisted the urge to make a call on the basis that I would have to phone a lot.
As a place though, I love it. The people are warm, friendly and fun. Can't wait to come back again soon, preferably when I'm not doing a pitch so I can actually get to see a bit more of the place.
Steve Blakeman
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Member since: 03 Jun 2008
Last login: 27 Oct 2008
Total Posts: 59
