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.