Manilan, Philippines observations.

A Philippine shop worker/sales assistant in Manila earns around 50 peso and hour and works 8-10hrs a day, 6 days a week making a gross income of around 12000 peso a month or 150 UK pounds.

A four station trip on the Manila MRT will cost around 10peso. A taxi ride for a foreigner for a similar length trip is likely to cost around 200 peso.

Taxi's use a meter system that appear to be operational most of the time, however be prepared for the taxi driver to ask for the meter plus 50 peso in heavy traffic which is most of the time in Manila.

San Miguel Pale Pilsen beer costs less than 30 peso for a 320ml bottle in the supermarket. The same size bottle will sell for double that price in an average bar/restaurant. Still good value and a third to half of the cost of a similar amount in Malaysia.

Air pollution in Manila is high. There are no vehicle exhaust regulations applied that I know of. Grey sticky bogies testify.

Manila weather in June is variable with frequent high winds and heavy rain. June is the middle of the three or four month typhoon season. I recall visiting via a flight from Malaysia at this time of the year a few years back and feeling increasingly nervous as the pilot saw fit to abort not one landing attempt but two due to high winds and torrential rain at the airport.

The people are vibrant, energetic and happy. There is a clear live for today and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow mentality.

There is a strong Latino element in their inherited character producing much musical talent and dance desire and ability.

There are over 7100 islands. If the question of precisely how many islands make up the Philippines is asked of locals one will often receive the reply of.. 'when the tide is in or out?'

The food grows on you and deposits itself within you being wrought with saturated fats due to pork and pork skin and fat content. Pinakbet, sizzling sisig and adobo dishes are musts.

Rice is the backbone of the Philippinos basic diet.

Alcohol consumption is unlimited.

Philippine Shopping Mall mentality leads Asian Shopping Mall mentality. Operations like the SM Megamall in Ortigas and the Roxas Boulevard Mall of Asia are pristinely presented and attract huge numbers of people.

Walled and guarded communities are a way of life. Poverty and city 'street people' are also a way of life hence the walled and guarded communities.

The many beautiful locations away from Manila are not easy to get to requiring many hours of overland and ferry travel even after internal flights of which there is a wide selection. A natural deterrent for the foreign short break tourist and a natural aid in maintaining the final frontier feeling of many of the locations.

The US occupation of the country has helped to create the most ‘English’ speaking nation in the region.