Happy New Year from Pondicherry

Pondicerry, India, December 2015.

Let it roll, let it roll, let it roll...

Malibalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India, December 2015.

Nightlife in Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India, December 2015.

Playing cards

... and keeping a few more.

Mahabalipuram, India, December 2015.

What is the difference between a beach and an Indian beach?

Mahabalipuram, India, December 2015.

very fresh Xmas dinner

Pondicerry, India, December 2015.

Christmas in Tamil Nadu

Pondicerry, India, December 2015.

Shopping Mall Christmas

Yes, Merry Christmas!!

Manila, December 2015.

Star Wars reached Manila

Manila, December 2015.

first breakfast after the move

Manila, December 2014.

Weihnachtslieder

Manila, Philippines, December 2015.

screw without driver

Last day in our AirB&B apartment.

Manila, Philippines, December 2015.

Marvellous day for moving into a new apartment

Manila, December 2015.
 

apartment with a view

Manila, December 2014.

That Manila has the worst traffic on Earth has a name: MMDA

That Manila has the worst traffic on Earth has a name: MMDA = Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

 

In Manila owners of cars rarely drive, they are being driven and usually sit or sleep in the back of the car. Decision makers in the MMDA can't be drivers as they fashion barricades that do not make sense and only lead to further congestion. BTW, the lane on the right is a bus lane. Most times the barricades are not in line as busses and cars often run into them.

 

Manila, Philippines, December 2015.

  

The driver, the car owner, and a polluting engine

This morning I had to bring our suit cases and other stuff down to my car as it was time to leave our AirB&B apartment in One Rockwell, Manila. What I saw was just one of these normal daily procedures…

A noisy motor bike entered the basement parking and stopped in front of a van. The bike driver opened the car, started the car’s engine and left with his bike to get it parked nearby. This is normal procedure as a driver never knows when the car owner, here called the boss, wants to be picked up. If it is too hot inside a car the boss will not be happy. Therefore, this procedure.

After 20 minutes, as I came back to bring more stuff to our car, the driver was at least close to the car but the engine still running.

Like in all more up-scale buildings there is an armada of guards but nobody cares about regulations. Leaving a car engine running without anybody in side is prohibited and leaving an engine running while waiting in a basement parking is also prohibited. More important is personal comfort and what the boss wants as the later pays the salary. That a car pollutes and disturbs others is way beyond imagination.

Manila, December 2015.

A bit of Brazilian Copacabana touch

Manila, Philippines, December 2015.

Ice skating in the tropical winter

Manila, Philippines, December 2015.

Rita and Marilyn

Manila, Philippines, December 2015.

Colorful Manila ride

Manila, December 2015.

Ortigas

View from Rockwell onto Ortigas

Manila, Philippines, December 2015.

Pasig river during Christmas season

Manila, Philippines, December 2015.

Roof top pool

Manila, December 2015.

Xmas Rockwell

Manila, December 2015.

Back to Manila

Last Saturday, the following happened to Pascale on her walk back from Salcedo market to Rockwell:
 

- Hi Ma'am, how are you?

- I am fine, thank you (pause - surprise)

- Ma'am you, don't recognize me, I am Joel!

- (smile - pause - still surprise)

- Driver Joel from Pacific Plaza, Sir gave me his bicycle in 2006, look, I still have it, I still use it and my children too!!
 

We never had a driver but Joel was washing our car once in a while. As a farewell gift (we left for Indonesia) he got my bike. Feels good that the bike is in very good hands. 
 

Manila, Philippines, December 2015.

Makati sunset

Manila, December 2015.

another airport

Doha, Qatar, November 2015.

Stranded in Doha

Missed our connection because of the APEC summit in Manila.

Doha, Qatar, November 2015.

Beware of closed violating restaurants in Doha

Doha, Qatar, November 2015.

Insane and dangerous roads

Can you imagine you drive at night here?

Manila, December 2015.

How to make a road smaller?

Manila, December 2015.