Baguio, Philippines - September 16, 2001
Arrived in Manila recently. The airports are tough. It was difficult to get out of Hong Kong - so many people were having carry-on luggage checked. Also this weird tension I noticed. I wonder what everyone else is thinking. There is sober mood, and watching more footage of the plane hijackings while waiting for my airplane. Arrival in Manila wasn't any better, as I was detained at immigration for a couple hours because I didn't have an onward ticket. It was finally resolved when I went with airline attendent to purchase return ticket back to Hong Kong through the same airliner. Kind of mess. Then it took forever to get out of the airport as well, as there arent' many taxis taking people out. Much different than I expected, actually I thought there would be tons of dishonest taxis waiting. But instead its very official, and you have to be licensed in a certain way and pre-pay your taxi fair and then wait for a taxi that comes from the particular company you bought it from upon exit of the airport. In short, complicated.
I arrived in Manila and went to the International Youth Hostel within the city. Surprisingly I met a really cool Korean guy who had just come back from 10 months in Australia. He was having a hard time as he just brokeup with his Japanese girlfriend who his parents would never approve of. He was avoiding going back to Korea, and kind of overwhelmed and dismayed at his own culture and the restrictions they put on him - for example, no dating or falling in love with Japanese girls, etc.
Anyhow, he is good person to be with in Manila because even though I've spent alot of time in Korea, he actually looks alot like Filipino guy! Everyone speaks to him in Tagalog, and no one at all suspects he is anything otherwise. So its great for me, because they think I'm with local and I'm relatively free of any harassment or any of the other constant attention I'd otherwise be subject to if I was by myself or with other obvious looking foreigners.
But now I find myself high in the mountains of Baguio about six hours north of Manila. Its chilly and rainy here. I wish I could say more about it, but I've just been catching up on all of my journal entries today. Its raining too much to really enjoy and see this little mountain city.
The best thing about Philippines though is they have lots of internet cafes eveywhere!!! All over the place, you can't walk 5 minutes without seeing one! Not quite as thick with them as Korea, but pretty close! So relieved to finally be able to walk down the street and at any moment be able to relatively easily check my email within 5 minutes of an urge. Oh, and also they have some great live music here! everywhere! not too bad of a place!
Continued journal entries in the Philippines:
September 19, 2001
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