Makati City, Philippines

[slang]

Originally Posted by glatt

I only see one uncovered dish. The rest are under lids or behind sneeze guards. It's a very hygienic place.

In that way it is hygenic Glatt, but you have to know about how the meats are prepared. How they are cut and cooked.

In the lower level of this commerical plaza is the meat cutters area. You can smell the meats well before you arrive there. There are no freezers or refridgorators there. The flies are waved off with swatters that dont stop moving.

After several long discussions with my wife I've decided to eat some of the same foods that she and family does here.

Some of those meats from that exact shop has ended up on our table.

This is not my preference but given that the better butchers are so far away out in the country areas, I've taken my chances.

Just like sausage and laws, the less you know the better.

As for the food court itself? The sneeze guards are nice and most all foods are covered, but where are the dishes washed and is hot water used?

I didnt see any active sinks.

Wish me luck buddy.

[slang]

Originally Posted by slang

There are no freezers or refridgorators there. The flies are waved off with swatters that dont stop moving.

Just ran across this. It shows the flyswatters there.

This is a friend's bbq shop that's very popular and profitable. The meats are partially cooked then put in the (unsanitary) racks on the table, then someone buys the meat and it's cooked completely and heated up, ready to eat.

Pretty effing scary, huh?

Something I forgot to describe here.

At the end of the night the foods that did not sell DO go into cold storage. They do have a fridge there but it's not used in the prep and display of the foods.

An important point that I left out

[xoxoxoBruce]

Everything that doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. By this time next year, you should be immune to everything.

[slang]

Yeah, by this time next year I should be able to digest roadkill if necessary

I'm hoping never to need that ability though.


My illnesses are all but cured now so it seems that I'm developing resistance to other funk not in the foods too.

[slang]

Ok, it's 4am and I'm bored out of my mind.

What do I miss about living in the USA?

1. The seasons. It's hot all the effing time here. Sure, sometimes it's less hot than other times and there is a regular rain to bring some uncomfortable humidity to the air.

2. People that are of a similar background as me. Everytime I start talking about this cool thing or that thing that I went to see or do everyone here is like deer caught in the headlights. They're all disadvantaged and from a very poor background. Fun was not a big part of their lives here.

3. Sleeping with a handgun. Even when you do not use your pillow hand cannon, just knowing that you could step outside and euthanize that effing dog that barks all night would be a good thing.

4. People that know they are not good singers don't sing, muchless sing with an amplifier that announces to the world that you can't carry a tune in a bucket. People here rent those videokey machines and sing like a dying mule...at very high volume, every weekend.



What do I not miss about living in the USA?

1. The fast pace of everything . Get up early, go to work, work late, get home late, have an hour to yourself and then go directly to sleep. That part I don't miss at all. If I sleep all day, there's no negative consequences. My schedule is completely my own.

2. Millions of restrictions, regulations and worries to do most anything. It's pretty wide open here. Not heaps of laws regulating what you can and cannot do. Very free (for those that have the money to do things).

3. The high cost of nearly everything. Gas, foods, fun stuff...everything.

4. Widescale lack of respect. People here surely show respect in the way that people in the US did in the 50s.

5. In the US, I'm a complete nobody. I move all over the US and work for all sorts of BIG companys doing some pretty cool stuff but no one outside of those that I work with have any idea that I might be able to find my ass with both hands. Here, I'm that American guy that likes to drink beer and have a good time. The guy that designs airliner components, cars, boats and all sorts of other cool stuff.

6. A significant attraction for living abroad for me is experiencing something different. It's so effing boring in many ways in the US. It's the same GD thing regardless of where you are.

7. NOT DRIVING. Sure when we're all 17, it's a big deal. Now after 20+ years of driving, it's not. The public rail system is comfortable and cheap here. The taxis are cheap ( although often beat up ). The trycycles are small and uncomfortable but very cheap. I effing LOVE NOT buying GAS!!

8. Here if you are family, you can stay with almost all other relatives! When we travel long distance, we call those who are living there and are in the famliy. Why pay for a hotel? Many of them have some decent places to stay too....with AC. What would my relatives in the US do if I came to visit them for a week or more? Kill me, most likely.


I'll surely be back to the US but there are some things about being here that I enjoy very much.