Well, I spent the week in the Philippines, it was a great time. Very different atmosphere than Tokyo, so that was nice. Warm, for one. Also, lots of poverty. It was kind of refreshing actually to be in a country again where everything isn’t so perfectly run. The driving was pretty nuts (and I got to drive once)! Lots of jeep-ne’s or however you spell it, which are like the Philippine trademark. Lots of non-functioning traffic lights (it’s awesome, sometimes it goes from green to NOTHING), and suicidal jay-walkers. I remember it was such a change, even though I knew what to expect. But Tokyo made it seem even crazier. The few gunshots I heard helped. And the little kids with guns (which I hope were fake, but who knows).
Also, it seems like most people who aren’t poor have servants, which was crazy.
One of the main highlights was all the SHOPPING. Amazing prices. I bought 7 DVDs and 4 video games for 20 dollars in one go, and then next time I bought 5 TV seasons for a dollar each. You could kind of tell that they weren’t REAL DVD sets (the random people on the covers helped, like for Ugly Betty they had some people from High School Musical, and another show they didn’t even get the main character right). But I can deal with that, it’s still a really good deal. And the movies work perfectly. So I bought a lot of souvenirs, gifts, clothing, DVDs, games, etc. Also, I got the R4 card for the DS, which is AMAZING. Never again do I have to buy a game. And they put 15 games on the card for me as I bought it, which I’m pretty sure is a service not offered many other places. Other highlights include – tour of old Manila with super energetic and gay tour guide, an amazing ballet production, Christmas mass (it was quite the anthropological experience for me, I’ve never really been to a religious ceremony, due to being a heretic), and also watching the director’s cut of the Exorcist right AFTER Christmas.
My arrival in Japan was pretty awful. Firstly, my phone completely died, so I couldn’t let my host family know where I was, so they were really worried. Secondly, The rum-ish drink that I brought from Manila which is like the strongest booze they have, broke in my suitcase and created the most RANCID ass smell. Oh god. When I got on the bus from the airport (which is like 2 hours), it had just enough time to seep into everyone elses’ bags, and also my sweater (the guy next to me looked unpleased). Then I had to take the train from Shinjuku, where people were staring at me because it smelled so bad, and then I had to take another bus to my house. A few people actually fished through their stuff and put on their surgeon masks. I was like “OH NO YOU DIDN’T.” But they did. Then I got home and broke a door.
I just fail at life today.
Photo: Kid with gun, oh snap!
5 comments:
I can't believe that kids are allowed to carry guns. I would've been worried if I'd known this before you went to Manila. I am very happy that you enjoyed yourself and got to see Sabrina.
Hugs and kisses
I don't know if they were real, they could have been toy guns. I saw them loading them up though, so that's not very encouraging.
Oh Ilya, you poor thing! Glad to know, Mrs. Lincoln, that the show was good anyway! XXOO
Ilya, its Martin. The picture of the kid with the piece is both hilarious and deeply, deeply disturbing. are you back in Japan? You pa showed me the video of the people getting pushed into the train by the dudes with the white gloves, absolutley hysterical. I was freaked out in a way, however, when I started to think about what happens when a patron has to take a dump??? haha, keep these posts coming, and lemme know when a good time to visit you would be! Saki!!!!!
Hey Martin! Yeah, I'm back in Japan now, just finishing up the semester. I'm sure there have been emergency bathroom instances, but luckily I haven't been anywhere near them as of yet. Or drunk vomiting businessmen.
You are welcome any time! I'll probably be at home sometime between February and March, but I'll come back to Japan until early August when the second semester finishes.
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