4:00 in the morning responses

Hey everybody, it's 4:00 in the morning and I'm wide awake so I'll take just a couple of minutes to answer some of the questions that you've had for me so far about the trip. I'll try to keep doing this during the trip so that you can have an idea about what it is really like over here and you can decide if you ever want to come visit. And what else would I do at 4:00 am anyway?

1st question: Deidi asks "Have you taken a ride on the Jeepneys?"

Answer: Good question Deidi, I can totally understand why an adventurous wife as yourself would consider taking a ride in one of Manila's cultural inequities (actually I don't even know if I'm using that word right so don't judge me on it). With that being said you will NEVER see me taking a ride in one. Why? You have to understand that here in the Philippine people steer at you 24/7. Everywhere I go people are watching/looking at me like I'm a sort of science experiment. So the idea of being crammed into a small hybrid bus/coke can with about 50 people all steering at you constantly (stop, imagine it for a second), it just doesn't seem that enjoyable. Don't get me wrong attention is always nice, and I'm a gringo in a Spanish congregation so I'm used to being different, but sometimes people steer and then laugh at you and you think that your fly is down or something but really your just weird to them. Also, there is allot of pickpocketing on the Jeepneys as well. There's that also. Good question.

2nd question: Danielle V. asks "Sounds a bit like the amazing race.....Have you seen Phil over there?"

Answer: Good question Danielle. I've only seen bits and pieces of the amazing race so I don't know who Phil is. But from what I have seen, the people on the show are running around, constantly lost, and doing crazy challenges, all while being film or watched by thousands of people.........And that is an extremely accurate description of how I feel so far on my trip here in the Philippines. But as far as Phil, he could have been the guy in the Karaoke Bar singing because that guy was extremely accurate in his rendition of Cindy Loopers "Time after Time". It's possible. Good question.

3rd question: Lenny V. asks "Are there any Yankee fans over there?"

Answer: Excellent question Lenny. As you know the Yankees have an influence all over the world, extending their "Evil Empire" to the far reaches of the earth. I believe I did see at least one guy with a Yankee's hat on but he was peeing on the side of the road at the time, so I couldn't really take the time to make sure. But to answer your question "yes, there are" and they seem to be a very proud people.

Thanks for your questions and I'll try to get back soon with a post about my ride to Batangas, the next city on my adventure.

Philippine Marc