New friends and old

Pasay City is unbelievably busy.yesterday was a case of Dorothy finding she was not in Kansas anymore! One day it's -9 in an empty prairie city, the next, +27 in wall to wall people, cars, Jeepneys (mini busses that go shorter routes), taxis, side car bikes, buses, in streets lined with fruit stall, shops, and construction. It's nonstop busy. Bricks in sidewalks are worn down to nothing. 80's architecture blends with what could be from 1930s or earlier.

After an exhausting flight of 18 hrs in the air and at least another 8 or 9 sitting around in airports, we landed and found Alfie's parents who kindly met us with a hired driver.

Alfie's mom meets us at the airport.

Children begging for money surrounded us. One persistent 10 year old girl practically climbed into the car with us, tugging at Alfie's sleeve so he finally gave her some change. We landed without Pesos so it was all borrowed from Tito Ed, Alfie's dad. Everyone stayed at Alfie's brother-in-law and sister's (Ramil & Lovelle) place. We slept until quite early and had breakfast prepared by Melanie, a hired girl who also looks after the children.

Ramil and Lovelle's terrace overlooking Facundo Street.

Getting money exchanged is not great. You have to use an ATM on the street. Risky but better for exchange rate is to bring cash and exchange it at Marcello Exchange. I got a decent rate out of the machine but exchanging at airports is a better guarantee of having cash on hand when you land although the change rate is terrible and there's a service fee.

We ate at a fast food place where service was great and dishes were reuseable. The food was also healthy-ish. Back home we slept off our jet lag until 7pm, then scrambled to get ready for the reunion dinner. Alf, Inna and I caught a taxi to the mall. Note: ensure the driver starts his fare meter as soon as you start. Of course he ended up over-charging and dropped us off at the wrong side of the huge mall we needed to be. Greenbelt mall is in Makati, the business district. Everyone is ridiculously well dressed and the crowds were huge even at 9 p.m. on a Monday night.

At first we couldn't find anyone at the meeting place but then they wandered back. Finally I got to meet the original members of Half Life Half Death. Carol, singer, Joel, guitar, Ramil, bass, Casper, drums, and Pet, guitar. Later Rain, guitar, and his wife Pink joined us and at our final meeting place, the band's silent member and photographer, Norman.

The gang (L-R): Coy, Rain, Pink, Carol, Joel, Omai, Ramil, Pet, Me, Alfie. Missing: Bebet, Aldrin and percussionist Jesus.

It was a great experience sitting in the midst of a group of old friends who hadn't seen eachother in many years. It was like they picked up where they left off. Once friend, always friends. Though much of the conversation was in Filipino, they kept me up to speed with translative asides.

My new friend Rupert: adventures to follow!

We got home at 2am and finally sleep.