Expanding the Perimeter

We have an expression – “expanding the perimeter” – which refers to our daily exploration of something new. Finding a new shop, trying a new dish, going further out into the neighbourhood, getting lost in a new place… Last night we realized that it was four weeks ago since we arrived in Asia and just couldn’t believe it. Our days have been so full of so much that is new, it seems much longer indeed.

Most of the time in the evenings or on weekends we walk wherever we’re going – usually through this downtown network of malls or on the streets surrounding them. The mall network reminds me of downtown Montreal or parts of Toronto where you can get from here to there without going outside – very convenient in those cold winters. Here, it is also convenient for avoiding the heavy rains, the heat, or for the intense pollution (more about that another time). This past weekend we found ourselves doing something else.

On Friday afternoon I took a cab over to the office where I had to get my picture taken for the staff ID, the diplomatic card and who knows what else they wanted it for. We then went over to the mall in search of some DVD’s we were looking for and then to have an early dinner. Friday night is HUGE in downtown Makati and Ortegas. The malls are packed and the streets are jammed with cars. I keep talking about “the malls”. It seems that this is where the social life takes place – it’s not really all about the shopping, although that is part of it. It is also where there are children’s playgrounds, live entertainment, coffee shops, restaurants, movies, fashion shows – it’s where entire families and friends hang out. No doubt the fact that it is air conditioned is one huge attraction. I’ve noticed in restaurants that is very rare to see only two people sitting at a table – rather big tables of people is far more common, passing around platters of food family-style, lots of laughter and conversation (of which of course I understand nothing).

Anyway, after dinner it was still pretty early, about 7:30 or so, but the streets were still completely packed. We tried, but could not find a cab. So, we decided to take public transportation and walked half a block over and climbed twelve thousand stairs to reach the Manila Metro (photo: Pat Roque, AP) – a sky train similar to that of Bangkok. Sort of. Where the Bangkok sky train is clean and modern and uncrowded, with good signage, Manila’s is…not. However, knowing it would get us home quickly we paid our 11 pesos (about 20 cents I think) and climbed aboard. Or, perhaps, elbowed aboard is a better way to describe it. It was totally packed! A sardine has more room in its tin. You don’t really have to hold on to anything, as you can just be propped up by all the bodies around you. It was Hot. However, it was also fast, and before too long we were back home and no doubt we would still have been looking for a cab in the time it took us. My comment when we finally walked in and shut the door behind us - At least we are fortunate to be walking in to a home with air conditioning, which is probably more than many of our fellow travelers can say. Expanding the perimeter.

On Saturday we decided to explore what will be our new neighbourhood once we move into our new home next month, so took a cab over. It’s a new development with lots of wide-open space (for now). The air is noticeably better. Half a dozen or so high rise condos and more on the way, as well as low rise buildings and brand new shops and restaurants. (This was quite inadvertent, but if you look closely at the reflection in this restaurant's window, behind the bonsai, you will see our soon-to-be new home in the sky).
These shops are outdoors, built around courtyards of fountains and greenery. There are a couple of great bookstores, one with a Starbucks inside (sound familiar?) There is also, by another more established mall area, an outside market where we were delighted to find local, organic produce (including some things I actually recognized – asparagus and basil and such), as well as potted plants and a fantastic flower market. The pièce de resistance for me was when I found a nail salon that does acrylics – not common here I’ve found, and believe me I’ve been looking. Jackpot! I’m home.

Now in Week Three of living in Manila, after quite blissfully puttering around on my own, I’ve finally had to dust off my calendar book and acquiring a cell phone will probably be next. The social thing has begun and there are lots of invitations over the coming weeks. Monday night we went to a cocktail party at the Ambassador’s house – a farewell party as his term is up and he is leaving very soon. I met a few people, Canadians, who had arrived here on a three year contract and were still happily here – 15, 19, 20 years later. By contrast, I also met a couple of people who are now in year 2 and 3 and were looking forward to the end of their term, to put it delicately. Meeting new people was hugely fun and very fruitful. We got a lead on a driver whose former employer has just left – we are interviewing him on Saturday. Of course we don’t have a car, or a home, yet…details!

We take possession of the new place in mid-September. If our shipment isn’t here by then, perhaps we should move in anyway when we get back from Australia the following week. Just get a mattress, big screen TV, 2 plates, 2 knives, 2 forks, 2 spoons, 2 wine glasses, a flower vase and a bunch of hangars. What more do we need?