The Story So Far (2) - The first days

So we left you, in the last post, as we retired to our hotel for our first night in the Philippines.

We had been informed that ,contrary to what we expected, the apartment that was proposed for us was not in good condition. When we left, we expected to be in our own place 2 days later, but now we were booked for a week in the hotel, with apartment (called condominiums here) visits in the next few days.

[click image to see larger]

Hotel room with a view

We settled in to the hotel which is a serviced apartment hotel with two rooms, a tiny kitchen alcove and the very bare necessities of kitchenware. Our room was on the 22nd floor and the hotel was in walking distance to Soph's Office.

As the days went by we got used to the ever present cheerful "Morning Maam/Sir!"s of the hotel personnel or even just "Maam/Sir!"

We slept well despite the jet lag, and on the Monday morning rose early and I accompanied Soph to her office on the 32nd floor of one of the tallest highrises in Makati just around the corner from our hotel.

The task of the day was setting up the office space for the team which would arrive for work a few days later.

[click image to see larger]

What had to be done was set up the computer profiles for each computer, distribute office essentials - pens paper and such - each place would receive copies of previous editions of the publications (sent by Soph) to which they were going to contribute. A small IHL and Red Cross reference library was also compiled.

With litle surprise the computer environment was not extremely functional and necessitated many operations and dialogues with the IT contact in Geneva. Of course the contacts could only occur in the afternoons because of the time difference. Pete's role was limited to moral support and distributing equipment and publications to each desk, the rest was managed by Soph with assistance from the Centre staff.

§§§

In the next few days we visited some apartments and eventually approved one of them. For many days we thought it was a done thing, but differences between the owner and ICRC concerning the contract were not able to be resolved despite more than a week of  back and forth negotiation.

At one point we were so sure that we would be moving in, that we subscribed for a year to the gym club of the nearby Mandarin Hotel. This included access to the hotel swimming pool and discounts in the hotel restaurants and spa. Cycling in Manila is a perilous activity and the gym was to compensate for the exercise we were accustomed to in Geneva where we essentially moved around by bicycle.

§§§

When Soph's team arrived on the Friday of the first week, a delightful welcome ceremony followed by drinks and snacks had been organized by the Shared Service Centre - With welcome banner and ribbon cutting and speeches! An example of Filipino hospitality and team spirit.

 The next week we were invited by some of Soph's team to a what was termed a "secret" Chinese restaurant. It was a place with no outer markings or indication that a restaurant inside, a place that you had to know about to find. They insisted on offering us the meal - again, Filipino hospitality.
The place was very simply furnished, but the food was excellent. Many of us washed it down with Qing Dao Chinese beer.




Stay tuned...
 

The Story so Far (1) - Getting there

So we left Carouge on the 26th of May. We had a last drink of wine at the Carouge Market, where some of you were able to join us, on the morning of our flight out.

As we were finishing our wine, Joelle offered to take us to the airport and drink a glass of champagne with us after checking our bags. We accepted with great pleasure and so it was done.

We took off at 19:30 and had 18 hours of travel on the way out - two changes in Frankfurt and Bangkok. We had no time to spend our money during the changes as things were fairly close considering the distances needed to walk, the inevitable security checks each time and in one case the late arrival of a flight.

We arrived at 19: something, local time, at Manila airport - 24 subjective hours after we left. With the almost physical blow of tropical air that most of you will be familiar with.

Pete decided not to buy some favorite single malts at the duty free in Geneva, arguing that with two stopovers it was foolish to carry them all the way. Something he was to regret later.

[click on image to see larger]

 We were, to our delight, kindly met in the baggage collection area by Nick, head of the Manila Shared Service Centre, where Soph was going to be setting up her team. He guided us smoothly through the arrival process and got us loaded up in the appropriate type of taxi to house our copious luggage. We agreed to meet a a short time later in the lobby of our hotel. And so we set out along the Skyway to our destination in the city night that had just fallen.

Going for a drink with Nick after meeting in the Lobby we selected a bar close by and on entering we were greeted by loud Sunday evening Karaoke which incited us to go to the first floor to able to talk, where, however, the music was scarcely quieter. We ordered two whiskies (with ice)  and a bottle of wine which turned up at room temperature ( about 26°c degrees) and asked if they had anything cooler. The response was to bring an ice bucket in which the wine was placed with little effect.

We also ordered a few snacks ( the theme of the bar was New Orleans ) and sat around chatting, drinking and eating for an hour or so and then bid good night to Nick and repaired to our hotel... but that is the beginning of the next post.

Internet Arrives with the Monsoons

[click to see larger image]

Finally, Internet (and fixed phone) has arrived in our new home in Makati. We now no longer have an excuse not to start our blog.


For the cruciverbistes among you there is a little anagram in the title of the blog. No prizes for getting this one.

We created this Blog to keep our friends and family up to date on our year in the Phillipines.


There will be a few posts to catch up on what has happened since we left Carouge on the 26th of May and then we will try to post regularly as things occur. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------
On a more technical  note comments are open and public once approved.