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.