Back From Manila

Just came back from Manila... no it wasn't a holiday, damn work trip. And I had the worst time there. Sure we stayed in a nice hotel, had the usual bodyguards stalking us wherever we went, we were driven around in one of those delegate cars (full with blinking lights and accompanying riders), had good food to eat peppered with the occassional shopping and sight seeing trips, but all things considered, I would have much rather just stayed home. Here are some of my gripes about the whole trip:


1) Work wise it was horrible. Had to mingle and schmoose with people I'd much rather not get my nose too close too... just thinking about me makes me want to barf... suffice to say work wise... bad.  Had to actually make a speech in front of all these people who are generations older than me.  Why the hell would they want to hear it from a 25 year old?  Right, apparently, they didn't and they certainly weren't afraid to show it.  


2) Traffic was absolutely horrendous. I was fearing for my life half the time. I never knew how close you could cut things... until there's a car so close you could literally play patty cake with the guy next to you... and for me, a bit of a scaredy cat sorta driver, I'm glad I live here in Singapore.


3) Everywhere I went, people called me "Mum"! I know I know, its just their way of calling you Mdm, a mark of courtesy but dear god, I felt like I had aged 30 years just being there...


4) Yes we had one of those delegate nights and yes I had to wear an ethnic costume and sit through one of those very many ethnic cultural performances AND at the same time keep my yawning in.


5) Was treated like a delegate at some points and then coffee girl the next by you know who.