Manila, Philippines - September 25, 2001
Manila!! I'm back! It hasn't changed unfortunately. One other observation I wanted to note of the place was that nearly every convenience store, restaurant, hotel, every place of business has one heavily armed guard at its door. It appears they also have bullet-proof vests and some kind of sawed of shotgun or some sort. Nearly every single place of business has this, and the banks usually have a couple of these guys. So that gives you a sense of the place.
Still, however, there is a good liveliness about Manila and all of the Philippines. There are quite a few bars and clubs and live music venues. Whenever I'm actually in some kind of establishment (rather bar or restaurant or anywhere), Manila and Filipino people is actually quite nice and friendly. But its when you walk through the streets that you get the constant wearing attention. Alot of the people on the streets just hold out their hands in front of you expecting you to drop cash in their palms. Most are trying to sell something or another. It gets exhausting. If not for them, Philippines would be good place I think. The great sense of English and the beauty of what I've seen is quite nice.
Anyhow, time to leave this country behind and get back to Korea once again among my good friends and such.
Continued journal entries in Korea:
September 27, 2001
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Wintermoon2@yahoo.com