Stares, Traffic and being a VVIP

...so right now Matt and I are in Iloilo, Philippines enjoying the provincial life. We arrived here yesterday after spending four frantic days in Manila. We had originally planned to only spend a couple of days in Manila, but we extended it 'coz we were having such a great time - thanks to our amazing hosts Coco & Pat. Just some thoughts on the Philippines:

- We get stared at. A lot. All. The. Time. The funny thing is, I'm the one with the problem with it and not Matt. Go figure. I also particularly dislike the point-and-stare combo (which is usually employed by a group of giggling girls working at a department store).
- It's all about who you know. Matt and I really lucked out by staying with friends (the afore-mentioned Coco & Pat) in Makati. They took us to amazing restaurants, introduced us to a whole bunch of people who subsequently got us into the VVIP (that's right, two V's baby) rooms at the hottest clubs. As those of you who may know me, I quite like being a VVIP. I could definitely get used to that.
- I could not, however, get used to the traffic. It astounds me that a 5 minute trip from Salcedo to Greenbelt (which would take 15 minutes to walk) takes an hour in traffic. Before the choruses of "Why didn't you walk you lazy bastard?" start, Pat is nine months pregnant so we couldn't walk. Nyaah nyaah to you.
- I love filipino breakfasts. I love filipino breakfasts even more when you don't have to cook it yourself. Ahhh the advantages of a maid. There's nothing like starting your day with garlic rice, fried egg, longanisa, crispy bacon and lechon paksiw.
- We've been going to the Fitness First here every day (something has to counter all the calories we eat for breakfast) and you know what? The Philippines is a pretty obese country for all the poverty that abounds. There are also 25 "personal trainers" for each person working out. I use the term "personal trainer" loosely because I look fitter than most of them.
- Getting an outside table at a Starbucks after 5pm is more difficult than getting into a VVIP room. There are people lined up for them for crying out loud. People who have finished their drink should also vacate their table. Don't they know who I am??? *throws tsinelas in disgust*
- The VVIP rooms (and the nightclubs in general) are like model catalogues exploded in the place. The clubs are probably the only place we don't get stared at. *sigh*

Tomorrow we're off to a private beach resort on a little island off the coast of Iloilo called Guimaras. Gotta work on that tan before Malaysia next week!

Oh! ...and happy belated birthday to Ed for last week! May 2007 bring you an abundance of mint green pashminas.

Song of the Day: "Hala bira Iloilo" - TV commercial here that drives me crazy.

The 100th!

...so this is my 100th post! *fan fare* Not that that's newsworthy or anything. I've finally gotten around to posting pics from all the events of the past few weeks. Check out the links below when you have nothing to do at work:

Pre-Rhandy & Maria's Wedding - The stress and the release before the big day
Rhandy & Maria's Wedding - The Big Day. 'Nuff said.
Maria's 30th Birthday Dinner - Yum. The food AND Maria.

There ARE photos from the Bucks Day/Night (bachelor party for you Americans), BUT I have to filter them before posting them up. To uhhhm...protect the innocent. Here's a teaser though...


Above: Can you tell Steve's been working out?

On another note, Maria moved out last week which is a bummer. We've been living together for (almost) three years and seeing her room (almost) empty is like when Rachel moved out of her and Monica's apartment in Friends. "It's the end of an era!" - that is if you define an era as "a significant period of time which was fuelled by laughter, crying-over-Amazing-Race, singing, hiding-and-scaring, teasing-ugly-people-on-TV, pot-plant-death, expired-food and many, MANY bottles of wine". We miss you, Maria! *single tear*

Matt and I are off to Singapore, Philippines and Malaysia next week to visit our roots. By 'roots' I mean "Stay in luxury hotels and private beach resorts". This trip happily co-incides with Matt's 32nd (!) birthday on February 3rd, so don't forget to wish him a happy birthday while we're gone! :)

Song of the Day: "How Many Licks" - Lil Kim. I was on the treadmill today at the gym listening to that song and I *SO* wanted to pole dance.

Boo to Philippine Airlines

...so Matt and I are flying to Philippines and Malaysia the week after next and I have to vent about the Philippine Airlines booking experience. They SUCK.

1. The website times out after I press the 'Submit' button with all my credit card details
2. I email them to let them know what happened and receive no response in four days.
3. When I book the same flights again, the price has gone up 2000 pesos.
4. I call up Philippine Airlines in Manila and they have no knowledge of my reservation.
5. I check my credit card bill and I got charged for the first booking, which they cancelled anyway.
6. I called the Philippine Airlines office in Sydney and they can't access the records because it was booked online.
7. They then proceed to tell me "I should've just booked it here". Uhhh...why have a website then, bitches?
8. When they DO finally find the reservation, the "system" has put my first name as my surname and vice versa. Hence the reason why they couldn't find my reservation.

Dealing with Philippine Airlines makes me realise what a bloody great airline QANTAS is. *deep breath* OK, I have to refocus and go to my happy place before I punch the next filipino with an accent I see.

Song of the Day: "Supersonic" - JJ Fad