Day 9 - Manila (Sunday)

There's hot, Vegas hot and now I've become familiar with Manila hot. Holy heck I fully understand why people here are on the petite side. They're living in an eternal sauna. When they're use to that level of hot, they still have to cope with even hotter summer heat. I am experiencing, after all, winter.

Today was "mild" - only in the mid 90s with upper 70% humidity. Upon stepping outside the boat is a local xylophone band. Of all songs, they're playing "Have a holly jolly Christmas".  In a nearby local square plays "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas". I bet everyone that lives here is dreaming of snow (or at least temperatures in the 70s). Random deep thought - how many people that I pass by today have no idea what it feels like to step deep into fresh snow.



Each day we're in a new city outside the West I am more appreciative of the clean air and sanitation laws we have. This city is second-world meaning they have structure but suffer from some basic cleanliness opportunities.

Fish are so abundant you can hand fish the waters and catch lots	Morning exercise	Apparently it sucked to have rooms on the port side as a drumming band and the xylophone band started playing loudly beginning at 6:15am and never stopped
Our little ship	Taxi anyone?	City bus (left) and a "taxi"

One of the options available here was a ship sponsored cultural tour of the city. So glad I didn't do that as people paid $100US to get on a charter bus, drive maybe 30 blocks total, walk around a few spots, then returned to the ship. I walked the same route.

From what I saw randomly getting lost down streets my mom would have freaked to know I walked down I see a lot of poverty. It's surprising given all the new modern high rise construction that appears to be going on throughout the skyline. Some people were living in cardboard houses that were no more than 4'x6' on a city sidewalk.

Contrast that living to the parks that are maybe 100 yards away. Beautiful, lush, well maintained. One interesting observation, whether it be the school age kids arriving on charter bus to visit the sites or the people in the cardboard homes, EVERYONE has a smartphone. Not a flip phone or 1990's push button phone, they've got fairly new Android or iPhones.

Trees growing in and through buildings	Homeless camps
Homeless camps	Mini van	More homes

Lost to me while trying to find my way through these small streets and around various historical sites was that though I was in a white shirt and straw large brim had I was starting to exhibit signs of a mild heat stroke. Kinda figured that fact out towards the end of my hike around the city. Nothing that another 64oz of water and a cold shower can't resolve. This weather isn't something that should be easily dismissed for anyone coming from fairly dry climates. Hire one of the guys riding bikes for tourists instead of doing the 3mile walk like I did.

	Not a bad golf course

As smelly and nasty as smog is it does make for some great sunsets.

There have been many a pool / under the stars dance party I've enjoyed on a ship. Tonight was the first time it really was a pool party where the party really ended up in the pool. It all started off so innocent, just people dancing on the deck. Then it was announced our cruise director was celebrating his 18th year working for Royal. Next people were dancing on the ledge of the pool then more were then it just ended up in the water.



Too much fun! Must rest now. Tomorrow, sea day.