788 replies to this topic

[rxpharm]

Have a great trip! The crime increase is worrying - some advice - make yourself and Angel a lower visibility target - ie: don't wear/carry anything that looks pricey. Keep alert for signs of being followed or your house being surveyed, etc.

The worsening economy cause crime rates to increase in any country.

I really appreciate your slice of life reporting - and by the way, my Thai lb girlfriend also drives in a heart stopping style!

[kliome]

I never feel as safe in the Philippines as in say Thailand or Cambodia, rightly or wrongly I've wandered about in quite a few Thai cities, ending up in tghe wrong part of town. In the PI I have stuck strictly to the beaten tracks and tourist zones so far, and when someone says 'don't go down that street' you know they mean it.

You know they are serious when 7/11s in the tourist areas have a full time secuirty guard packing a semi automatic!


Enjoy Hong Kong.

[Macman]

Thanks, RX and Kliome. Good advice, RX, on the low profile. Angel has some knockoff stuff that looks pretty genuine. I'm going to tell her to cool it with that. Kliome, I know what you mean. The funny thing is that this was a very, very safe city just one year ago. As RX says, the bad economy is changing how we live even if we're not directly affected by the hard times.

[slappy111]

Hey Macman. I've been reading and enjoying this thread for months now. This is the first time I really noticed the title of the thread and I only have one question; what's a "relation-a-hip"?

Freudian maybe

[Legend]

[quote name="slappy111"; what's a "relation-a-hip"?

Freudian maybe [/quote]

well spotted.
although you may not be unindated with replies macman, please know this thread never goes unread by anyone.
rather you than me over there though, the shine is wearing off with this danger stuff.

[Macman]

I'm killing time, waiting for Angel to wake up so we can get started on our trip.

Slappy, when I read your post, I thought, "Naaahhh. I couldn't have written that." Then I scrolled up. Doh! All these months, and you are the only one who spotted it.

Thanks, Ant. Yeah, sure does take some of the pleasure off. I find myself looking over my shoulder all the time now. For my cell phone calls home I use Sun as the carrier because it's almost 4 times cheaper than the competitors, but the signal is very weak in the apartment. I go outside, and stand on the corner to call. I never gave it a thought before, but now I'm very uncomfortable standing out there alone at 10:00 PM. Oh, my landlord's son says he's so nervous he's going to buy some guns. Buy another f$%&#h' lock and chain.

[Macman]

Okay, now I know. They're all friggin' nuts. I know this is a Roman Catholic country. I know they're very religious. I know that sometimes in the department stores prayers are said over the loudspeakers. I know that radio stations interrupt music to say prayers. But this? 5:26 AM, right outside my place, a LOUD fife and drum band was warming up LOUDFUCKINGLY. Why? So they could march a few hundred meters up the street to kick off the "Run for Mama Mary" at 6:00 AM with LOUD fucking music. It's an event to raise money for the addition to the church, and is being held in September because that's the month in which the birthday of the Virgin Mary is celebrated. Okay, that's nice; good cause and all. But 5fucking30 in the morning. That coupled with the Christmas music that was being played over the loudspeakers in front of the church last night.

Excuse me for now. I'm going to go and pray that I get some sleep tonight.

[thailover57]

Thailand has its own style. One of the condo villages I stayed at in Phatum Thani a couple of years ago had loudspeakers on every street in the village and they played a Thai radio talk station at 6:00 AM every day. And just as you said F-LOUD!!! Never did get used to it.

[Macman]

I don't think I will either, TL. It's damn rude, and I hated that kind of rudeness even at home in NY, but that was never as blatant as this.

[dixon cox]

It's damn rude.

Same occured daily for months in Cambodia for me earlier this year.

I stayed opposite a government building in Phnom Penh which put out a 30 minute radio broadcast every morning at full-blast which included the 'pips' at 6am. I just got used to it, I had to.

Those responsible for loud broadcasts such as these in Asia believe they are doing us a favour by sharing their message or happiness (with regard to a party). In the western world it would be considered a noise-nuisance and they'd likely be fined.

There was also a sweet-peanut seller (amongst others) who rolled up his little mobile stall outside the apartment periodically and the noise emanating from his little box-on-wheels was incredible, he did requests too, mine was always to fuck off. But it just became part of life and something which one needs to accept.

Like many in-country nuances you'll never change or stop them, it's just a case of getting used to it and accepting the way they live in their country.

Nevertheless, great tales from PI Mac.. Keep them up

[jayarr]

how's the driving?

[Legend]

is it fair to say you didnt donate as generously as you would have to the church addition then.?

even where i live, i get woken regular by the scrap metal collectors, playing a trumpet over the loudspeaker with " old irooooonnnnnnnn..."

sound like you need some xanax for the nights after these noisy ones.