Chad Is Everywhere

Subic Bay was my introduction to the Philippines. On reflection starting here gave me time to adjust. This was an introduction to the Philippine office environment, and a snapshot into what it is like to be living in the Philippines. By day I was busy into the depths of completing our Australian engagements. Only I was now doing this so from the office with my colleagues physically in the room. Finally I could just walk over and ask for their assistance and tell them the underlying background stories of clients as they called. It was an underrated joy to not have to wait for a weekly "Teams meeting". To see how they even had a food truck arrive daily at the office as an option for staff to purchase lunch as opposed to walking out to get food was interesting. In Australia we'd only associate food trucks with construction sites but to staff here this was their normal. The office was just a bit away from other places and I could see how in wet season this would mean staying ...

Now in the past I have only done a few hop on hop off type buses. I generally find they are a waste of money. Taking you from B grade attraction to the next. But I decided to give the Penang one a chance. After all I was staying at the Four Points Hotel. It's more fitting of a 4 star tourist. Yes a step up from my usual 2 star hostel or hotel. I had my reasons. I'm not a sell out.  Anyway it's a sure sign of padding the itinerary with sponsorship when highlight for stop 18 is only the hotel. And the next 3 stops are the same. Anyway I digress... The hop on hop off buses are ok... If you can find one.  This morning I got lucky. Walked to the stop waited 5 minutes. Since then though it's been 40mins each time. The brochure says every 20mins as there are 5 buses doing the 1.5hr Beach route. Bus drivers say every 30min. But it doesn't compute unless all 4 other buses are directly behind the bus I get. It's so bad this afternoon I'm about to mutte...