Friday musings: Pagbabalik Manila

It's undeniable. 

I know I'm back in Manila, because: 

1. I'm in the office by 7am on a Friday because it's my coding day!!! Note to self: thou shall not get a new car with plate numbers that will code me on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday. 

2. Pinagpapawisan ako (I sweat). Indonesia is also a tropical country, but with the Philippines being nearer the equator, it is hotter and more humid here. Never did I sweat by walking in Jakarta. I only sweat when I work out in the gym. 

3. Naglalakad na ako (I walk). Armed with my ballet flats, I have to walk from my parking to my building. With the cobblestones and all, my Carrie Bradshaw shoes will not last for a month, regardless of how expensive they are. 

4. I drive. No more Pak Karman driving me around. In Jakarta, I just call and say, "Let's go, Pak" and voila, my driver will be there in 5-10 minutes. I don't mind driving. I love driving. Parking and getting the car washed and cleaned are the car duties that are not exactly my favorite. 

5. There is pork everywhere. At walang konsepto ng halal ang mga tao. Veggies with pork, munggo and lechon kawali on Fridays, chicken-pork adobo. Lahat na lang ng ulam, may pork! 

6. I can drink tap water. I got used to ordering bottled water in restaurants because in Indonesia, lest you want to be befallen of typhoid fever, you gotta order bottled water. In Manila, I can drink water without my tummy getting sick. Woohoo!

7. Spice is not a default. This, to me, is more of a disadvantage. I LOVE spicy food. 

8. Friends and family are within reach. Isang tawag lang, inuman na. Dinner with friends are not so difficult to schedule. Pati breakfast and lunch, fully booked. In fact, uso na naman ang double booking, which I don't really want to do. And I hope, I don't take this "abot-kamay lang ang people reality"  for granted.

9. Wine and alcohol are cheap. DIRT CHEAP. At nabibili sa suking tindahan o Shopwise. Claudia Vallformosa for P495 in Shopwise. Enough said. 

10.  There are sooooooooo many things to do. Sorry naman. Pero believer ako ng "It's more fun in the Philippines." 

The Philippines has a lot of quirks. Either you love it or you hate it. For someone like me who's been out and about everywhere, though, I find my heart leading me back home.

I love to travel, no doubt about it! But to me, kahit anong hirap, kahit anong calamity-stricken, there is definitely no place like home.