Manila

So I'm in Manila right now. I didn't really choose to come here, but here I am. Actually thats not quite true. I'm only really here because nobody else wanted to come, but I was kinda relishing the oppurtunity while at the same time cautious about why nobody else in the team wanted to come.

Yes, its actually just for work, for the new job. I won't go over what I'm actually do, but more about the city.

The Phillipines is technically still a developing country, so I think there are quite a few similarities to the other many and varied developing countries I've visited (read: China and Thailand, no I'm really not THAT well travelled). So theres this big contrast between the poor and the rich part of the city. The modern shopping malls with the luxury goods from Europe are around, but if you drive 10 minutes down the road, its a very different picture. Slums are plentiful. There does seem to be a middle class though, which is nice too.

Theres not much to do in the capital either, a bit like Bangkok. Well theres the nightlife, but thats about it. Its not really in the centre of the city either, you kinda have to know where to go. Lucky I had a wannabe local (I have a workmate who gets taken advantage of by Philo girls wayyy to easily) to take me around. I'm also told that the beach and tourist places are kinda the same as Thailand too - Really nice but just around the tourist area.

I went to this 'dance club' which was kinda weird. A bit different from what I'm used to, but yeah. Oh well.

What Ez has been up to

Wow its been quite a while huh?

Well, now that I'm spending less time DOTARing, and more time well, doing house work, it gives me more of a reason to procrastinate, and, well, blog.

So, apart from DOTARing, what else has Ez been up to?

Well, actually quite a lot. I actually started to drink a lot less, and play a lot more sport. That was actually quite good until I stopped - We'll get to the reasons behind why later. I started playing soccer for a couple of teams, and there was also regular badminton involved somewhere too. So that was my whole Sundays taken up and also some Wednesday nights.

Drinking less was a big thing too. Well, not really. I had excuses to go home and do stuff. Some of the classics were: haircuts and dinner.

Oh, and I also went to Italy. That was fun.

Other significant events include (but are not limited to) quitting my job, moving to Singapore, and getting a new job. Hence, I've stopped played sport for the time being until I can find a new group to hang out with that also play at more or less my level. That'll be hard.

Also implied is that I've moved out of 'home'. That is, away from family and things. So here comes housework and other associated activities that I normally don't do.

So its a big change, a brave new world, and we'll see where life takes me from here.