|
Traveling around the Philippines and living the life... my way
|
Saturday, April 26, 2003
I love Davao. Can I just say that again? Even with the bomb threats and all that, I feel safer there than I do here in Manila.
In Davao, taxi drivers are courteous and you don't have to fear of being mugged or being brought to someplace where you don't want to go. You can also choose between aircon and non-aircon vehicles (which I prefer more because it is way cheaper). They also give you your exact change.
Unlike here in Manila where there are so many tales of horrendous taxi drivers that have weird gas in their air-cons, those who work with robbers, those that cheat the meters... so many taxi driver stories. Before ten pm, you already fear them for their possible evil schemes. After ten, your fear doubles because there are more things they can do to you at night.
In Davao, you'd be scared to jay walk or violate traffic because the police will catch you and fine you. You'd be scared to attempt bribery because you will fear for your license if they won't accept and you would fear for the cop's life if they do (strict mayor. hurrah!).
In Davao, everything is at most two rides away. While here in Manila I have to ride FX-MRT-FX-trike to get to work. Yuck. The stress of commuting is absent in Davao. But traffic has caught up with them already.
Hay.
More I love Davao moments in the next blogs.
Right now, I just want to fill up my blog page with things that don't make sense. Hehe! Or at least nonsense.
posted by cross eyed bear at 10:31 AM
For the past two nights, I have been going to Intramuros. I recommend that anyone who reads this blog to go there and check the place out. Dick Gordon has done a good job in making the Philippines look like a haven for tourists. For one thing, they have been featuring regions in the Philippines for the month. This month, it was Northern Mindanao which was good because my heart is close to Cagayan de Oro. Though Bukidnon is really Central Mindanao, they included the province due to its proximity to CDO. It felt like going back to a familiar place as the costumes and the crafts reminded me of my year in Bukidnon.
At the same time, there were different bands and musicians per section of intramuros. One side was the live band performers. Another section featured acoustic performances. And still another was dedicated to jazz music. All these for free! Galing talaga. People from all walks of life having fun together. It felt exactly like the whole of the Philippines. Nothing heterogenous about the crowd at all... Saya-saya!
Basta. It's early in the morning and there are a lot of things on my mind do I can't make a decent description. When I have more time I can give details. But for now, highly recommended place to go to is Intramuros. Free and freeing!
posted by cross eyed bear at 10:11 AM
Hmmm... my other blog really refuses to publish what I post. So here I go again, making a new blog. There has just been so many interesting stuff happening in the past few days that I would just love to post. I would again need the assistance of friends to add a comments section. Hope they can do so!
posted by cross eyed bear at 9:46 AM
|
|
