It was hinted more than 6 months ago, and the prospect was dangling like a sweet carrot in front of me, without real dates and details. Then suddenly it was confirmed for a duration of 2 months!! A travel duty in Manila!
I had about a month to get used to the idea, do the necessary paperwork (security training, plane tickets, visas) and prepare the logistics of my absence. Add in the stress of looking like a local, but not knowing the language, not knowing anyone locally and not being able to establish any social circle before landing, and I became a bundle of knots and nerves.
On D-day, I managed not to be too stressed and forgot only my eyeglasses, unwilling to face reality yet. Checking the weather at destination revealed typhoon Karen was about to make its landing and affect the Manila area. Nothing was mentioned at the airport so I blindly trusted the pilot and air controllers and boarded the plane. After an uneventful 5h flight to Doha, I then walked the long shopping corridor of duty-free shops in Doha to board the 8h30 flight to Manila, stuck between 2 big men, one with questionable odor, and the other with a passion reciting religious verses out loud...Luckily there were good movies to distract me from my neighbors.
I was wearing my winter coat in the plane, and it quickly became cumbersome upon landing in Manila. The heat and humidity did not surprise me so much as it was 5PM and the sky was cloudy. After a health control checkpoint (filling in a form and giving it to a lady), the queue through immigration was fast despite being very crowded. I finally realized that my visa stated I would be in the country as 'foreign government official'...not sure I like the sound of that!
With my 2 suitcases, big cabin luggage and winter coat on a trolley, I eagerly exited the airport looking for my taxi booth. I crossed back and forth the road in front of the main exit, looking for the booth, to eventaully find it and able to dry my sweaty t-shirt in the comfort of aircon.
Airport transfer to the hotel had been arranged and paid for. All I needed to do was see a strangely familiar landscape of shacks, traffic jams (on a Sunday afternoon), followed by luxurious high rises. Local colours were added by colourful Jeepneys, and sidecar motorbikes that can rival any rickshaw in other parts of the world. It took about 30-40min drive to the hotel. And I was greeted by a big German shepherd and its handler, sniffing me and my luggage (the dog, not the handler), discharged of all my luggage and accompanied to reception to fill in all the information that one uses on the internet. The young receptionist then guided me to the elevator to bring me to my room and home of the next 2 months. I then realized the common areas, except the lobby, did not have AC.
So when this young man opened the door to the serviced room, a breath of very fresh air welcomed me into a very big 1-bedroom flat (double the size of my rented studio). I was way above ground, too high according to the security recommendation of 2 to 7th floor, but the feeling of height was grand.
I could get used to this..Mabuhay indeed.
I had about a month to get used to the idea, do the necessary paperwork (security training, plane tickets, visas) and prepare the logistics of my absence. Add in the stress of looking like a local, but not knowing the language, not knowing anyone locally and not being able to establish any social circle before landing, and I became a bundle of knots and nerves.
On D-day, I managed not to be too stressed and forgot only my eyeglasses, unwilling to face reality yet. Checking the weather at destination revealed typhoon Karen was about to make its landing and affect the Manila area. Nothing was mentioned at the airport so I blindly trusted the pilot and air controllers and boarded the plane. After an uneventful 5h flight to Doha, I then walked the long shopping corridor of duty-free shops in Doha to board the 8h30 flight to Manila, stuck between 2 big men, one with questionable odor, and the other with a passion reciting religious verses out loud...Luckily there were good movies to distract me from my neighbors.
I was wearing my winter coat in the plane, and it quickly became cumbersome upon landing in Manila. The heat and humidity did not surprise me so much as it was 5PM and the sky was cloudy. After a health control checkpoint (filling in a form and giving it to a lady), the queue through immigration was fast despite being very crowded. I finally realized that my visa stated I would be in the country as 'foreign government official'...not sure I like the sound of that!
With my 2 suitcases, big cabin luggage and winter coat on a trolley, I eagerly exited the airport looking for my taxi booth. I crossed back and forth the road in front of the main exit, looking for the booth, to eventaully find it and able to dry my sweaty t-shirt in the comfort of aircon.
Airport transfer to the hotel had been arranged and paid for. All I needed to do was see a strangely familiar landscape of shacks, traffic jams (on a Sunday afternoon), followed by luxurious high rises. Local colours were added by colourful Jeepneys, and sidecar motorbikes that can rival any rickshaw in other parts of the world. It took about 30-40min drive to the hotel. And I was greeted by a big German shepherd and its handler, sniffing me and my luggage (the dog, not the handler), discharged of all my luggage and accompanied to reception to fill in all the information that one uses on the internet. The young receptionist then guided me to the elevator to bring me to my room and home of the next 2 months. I then realized the common areas, except the lobby, did not have AC.
So when this young man opened the door to the serviced room, a breath of very fresh air welcomed me into a very big 1-bedroom flat (double the size of my rented studio). I was way above ground, too high according to the security recommendation of 2 to 7th floor, but the feeling of height was grand.
I could get used to this..Mabuhay indeed.
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