Welcome to Manila

Ah Manila. My only previous experience with Asia was a trip to China almost a dozen years ago. Although I wasn't surprised by what I saw of the traffic and the over the top signage, it still hits you pretty hard. When you walk out of the airport the humidity begins to saturate your shirt and the air is heavy, and the smell of diesel and concrete fill you nostrils. There is a sudden shift, an instant desire to see more while at the same time wondering what your in for.

The initial cab ride from the airport was enough to explain in 20 minutes what kind of stimuli the city had to offer. The oversized billboards advertising American style fashion and cosmetics, the crumbling concrete architecture and banged up jeepnies and motorcycles vying for space and more or less disregarding the somewhat pointless yellow lines painted on the asphalt. Every sign in Manila is over the top. There are more fast food restaurants here than you will see anywhere else in the world. There is a fleet of motorbike delivery boys couriering everything from McDonald's to Jollybee to...well, you name it. Many signs are hand painted with great craftsmanship, while to the trained eye most have been whipped up on cheap home software that many small businesses at home are forced to use from lack of capital to hire a designer. (see more photos)

Welcome to the Philippines

Welcome to the first entry to the blog of my three month Philippines internship to Puerto Princesa City, in the province of Palawan. To be honest, I am writing about my first days in the country after having been here for two weeks. There has been so much to take in that I am just now getting to this record of my experiences. Hopefully this will enlighten those interested in my project to my daily experiences. It will also give me a channel to output all of the craziness that is currently floating around my mind. (see photos)