We have moved to our flat at Salcedo park on 22nd Oct, the day of Dewali. Its been very busy with all sort of cartons, unpacking them. Its also coping with lot of discomforture moving from the best serviced apartment in Manila to a place of our own.
Best thing is the park in front of our building. We try to go there at least once a day. There is a flea market there every saturday.
The cost of living is so very high in Manila. Its allmost double of that in Mumbai. Yet, Manila has lot more poor than that in Mumbai. Wonder how they survive here.
I made some money out of a Tshirt I got free from my office. Well, it got damaged wile given for laundry and they paid around 2000peso for it. Its amaging feeling. Later found another trouser damaged but we have moved out by then.
We love eating out and Manila is the place to eat out.
Surprisingly, Im yet to sample the famous Manila night life.
My Childhood
Baruipur, 24 Paraganas, West Bengal, India. That's where I was born towwards the end of 70's. son of a factory working father and a mother, very caring and concerned. Idelic days. fields were ye to get filled with houses and bunds were meant for flying kites, when dry. There was a rail track and a lake beside. Used to be rich harvest for waterchestnut. The wishtel from the 9pm tarin every saturday would tell arrival of baba from Kolkata. long wait near the window. No electricity those days. Shadow of father would make the boy annouce arrival for his father for weekend.
Trips to market with his baba every sunday. Hard life for his baba on summer days. He would sweat profusely once back from Bazar.
Grandma was there to pamper him. He used to live with her and ma for whole of the week. Used to be very dark outdoor and he used to scared of thief. Afternoon nap with Ma and then fooling around with friends. Ma wouldnt open the door if he arrived home late.
Dinner by the lantern. Ma would make wheat cakes at night, he would paly with the dough.
Thats used to be my life till 25th Dec, 1978.
Trips to market with his baba every sunday. Hard life for his baba on summer days. He would sweat profusely once back from Bazar.
Grandma was there to pamper him. He used to live with her and ma for whole of the week. Used to be very dark outdoor and he used to scared of thief. Afternoon nap with Ma and then fooling around with friends. Ma wouldnt open the door if he arrived home late.
Dinner by the lantern. Ma would make wheat cakes at night, he would paly with the dough.
Thats used to be my life till 25th Dec, 1978.
Driving licence in Manila
I got my driving licence in Manila in 45 minutes flat.
My driver friend had friend who knew someone in the LTO in Pasay city. That was the key.
Went there at 10am. I was cordially offered a chair, smoke and tea. The inspector was sitting there in his undershirt and his shirt was hanging in the window. There was a huge sign saying 'No smoking'. Yet, he was smoking.
He joked with me and asked if I liked chicks. He offered help in getting chicks.
Very businesslike, he took me to meet his boss. She was very friendly and asked if I could find a job for her son in my office. I asked her to send his resume to me.
The inspector then quickly chatted with my driver and he told me that I will have to give 3000 peso. I gave and everything was just a breeze since then.
They took my urin for blood test and I also signed a paper saying I accept the test results. Few photos were then taken. There were lot of people around who were glaring at me as I didnt have to wait for anything. He joked that money enabled it, such is the power of money.
I waited again in his room, discussed chicks. Businesslike, he left after 10mins to follow up and came back immidiately with my driving licence. Thanks him & left. Have been there for just 45 mins.
I hated doing it but ddont have any regret. Such is life and time in Asia.
My driver friend had friend who knew someone in the LTO in Pasay city. That was the key.
Went there at 10am. I was cordially offered a chair, smoke and tea. The inspector was sitting there in his undershirt and his shirt was hanging in the window. There was a huge sign saying 'No smoking'. Yet, he was smoking.
He joked with me and asked if I liked chicks. He offered help in getting chicks.
Very businesslike, he took me to meet his boss. She was very friendly and asked if I could find a job for her son in my office. I asked her to send his resume to me.
The inspector then quickly chatted with my driver and he told me that I will have to give 3000 peso. I gave and everything was just a breeze since then.
They took my urin for blood test and I also signed a paper saying I accept the test results. Few photos were then taken. There were lot of people around who were glaring at me as I didnt have to wait for anything. He joked that money enabled it, such is the power of money.
I waited again in his room, discussed chicks. Businesslike, he left after 10mins to follow up and came back immidiately with my driving licence. Thanks him & left. Have been there for just 45 mins.
I hated doing it but ddont have any regret. Such is life and time in Asia.
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