A Day in the Life of Manila [true story]

Just another day in Manila: Novita took the car so I grabbed a taxi home from work. Traffic in Manila was so obscenely terrible that I decided to get out and walk. Only after exiting the car did I realize the entire street was lined with gates – meaning it was completely illegal to be on the busy street vs the sidewalk. (Ayala Ave / Paseo) Nice of the taxi driver to mention that. WTF? So just as I’m ready toRead more

Two typhoons hit Manila in less than a week

In less than 6 days, two separate typhoons have rolled through Manila. These hit almost exactly two years after Ondoy ripped through killing many and leaving devastation and horrendous flooding in its wake. Fortunately these have been relatively mild in Manila compared to Ondoy, but with heavy flooding occurring in some areas nonetheless. My neighbor and coworker had a massive tree get ripped out of the ground during the heavy winds. I believe it knocked out his power for a few days.Read more

Post about Indonesian women and expat men has reached 221 comments

This post from nearly 5 years ago has certainly received a lot of feedback – currently at 221 comments. And there were many more comments not approved or moderated for various reasons (and I’m very lenient). It appears the nature of relationships between Asian women and foreigners is a hot topic. Unfortunately, the discussion also seems to breed hate, blatant racism, extreme generalizations, and the other crap that comes with the telling of peoples’ personal history. Each of these delicatelyRead more

Photographing Manila as an expat

Took a stroll the other day with a fellow photography enthusiast and Novita through a part of Manila most expats would never dare explore. Between that area and the area we live in, “Fort Bonifacio”, there’s a massive, imposing wall reaching 5 meters in some places. I wasn’t sure if it was keeping them out, or keeping us walled in. The security guards near one entrance just smiled and said there’s no way we could enter. Of course that didn’tRead more

Earning supplemental income: How to make money in your spare time?

Money. As much as I strive to enjoy life without focusing on it, I’m beginning to feel that it’s time to seek out more financial security. The global recession, New Year’s resolutions, and the very lucid realization that I’m now in my 30’s has been the cause of such thinking. For the past seven years, I’ve lived in Jakarta on a decent salary, with sufficient housing provided, a car that’s paid off, maids that have cooked and cleaned, and haveRead more

Job opportunity: we're hiring ASAP

My employer is currently seeking to hire someone as soon as possible. I believe it’s preferable to have an expat, or an Indonesian fluent in English. The package is good, salary good, and many perks. It’s a great place to work; but I believe they’re keen to fill the position this week. I will remove this post after the position is filled. Please contact me directly for more information if interested. *UPDATE* – Post filled. Thank you for your interest!Read more