Sunday 12 February 2017
Tuesday 12 January 2016
The Pleasures of Modern Air Travel
After a great holiday in South Africa my flight home to Cebu was a 30 hour nightmare!!
Traveling premium economy with no upgrade to business class, an absolutely full plane, sitting next to a sniffing, coughing Chinaman who I think also had ADHD (up and down, up and down and muttering to himself). So why don't these people select aisle seats? And a child just behind who communicated by screaming!!
As we left Joburg the captain announced that due to some wind hassle we would have to refuel in Bangkok. This didn’t sound too bad as I had about a two and a half hour changeover in Hong Kong.
We landed in Bangkok and all was going to plan when there was an announcement that there was an ill passenger and requesting a doctor. After about 30 minutes another announcement that there was some doubt whether the ill passenger was in a condition to continue to Hong Kong.
30 minutes later … she couldn’t continue and she shuffled slowly off the plane with about 3 of her family.
The next problem. Find the luggage that was located in 3 out of the 7 large, full baggage bins … another 45 minutes. By the time we took off our scheduled arrival in Hong Kong was 2 hours after my departure time to Cebu.
Nothing else to do except stuff down a very unappealing breakfast (the fruit and yogurt weren’t too bad) and see what flight I could get to Cebu.
On arrival the ground crew area was organised chaos. With crowds of passengers having connecting flights anywhere from northern China to Sydney. Not surprisingly I was the only person going to Cebu and I was offered a boarding pass on a flight late on the following afternoon. I "politely" refused and said that I would be going to Cebu today however I had to go!!
Finally I was booked on Philippines Air flights going to Cebu via Manila – eventually arriving in Cebu at about 8pm – 9 hours later than planned.
Monday 11 January 2016
South African Holiday - Christmas 2015
A Christmas first.
Carol headed to Dubai to be with her children and for the 1st birthday of her granddaughter, Kaylee, and I headed off to South Africa.
After arriving in Joburg I spent a few days “couch surfing” from place to place. Waiting for the arrival of Mark from San Diego. Four nights and 4 different beds. All accompanied by great friends and family, hospitality ... and much appreciated.
Another great feature of my South African holiday was the quiet nights ... a big change from the barking dogs, crowing cockerels and noisy neighbours of Mactan!!
Another great feature of my South African holiday was the quiet nights ... a big change from the barking dogs, crowing cockerels and noisy neighbours of Mactan!!
After the arrival of Mark it was off to Kenton to spend a few days with Andrew and family at his in-laws, Hugh and Ruth. We flew from Joburg to East London and hired a car.
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| Jan and Josh on our walk |
After leaving Kenton Mark and I drove up through the Transkei to Durban and I dropped him off with his good friend Emile. They were heading to his home in Kwabonombi. Then a few days in Zululand. Tiger fishing and game watching.
I stayed in Durban with my sister, Pam. It was also my annual visit to see my mother, who at age 91 is not in a great state either physically or mentally. Visiting her at the old age home made me seriously reconsider about living a long life and the quality of life. For many of the people I saw (mainly women0 it is not living but merely existing … not a pleasant situation.
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| New Years Eve fireworks over Durban |
I then went down the Natal South Coast for 2 days. Staying in number 14 Trevi took me back to the years we lived in number 13. At Trevi I saw Vera and Desi and reflected on the days of Vera’s cooking!
The annual meet up with Paul, Bill and Roger was a dinner in Westville. We originally met at Whiteheads in the mid 70’s so have over 40 years of shared experiences. With Paul turning 73 this year, Bill 72, and Roger 71 I was the youngest at 68!! It was a pleasant and very sedate evening with delicious dinner ay Chez Nous. Everyone is very conscious of drinking and driving. Not quite the same consideration in the 70’s.
I experienced the mob visits to the beach on the 1st of January. Both Margate and St Michaels were places where you wouldn’t want to be!!
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| Shelly Beach |
Pam came with me to collect Mark in Kwabonombi and I was surprised by how easy the drive was, both there and back the traffic was a breeze.
We then spent the last few days at Pam’s and visited mom every day. Some days she seemed quite aware and on others quite confused. For her time has become meaningless and the only highlights are tea and meals.
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| Visiting mom and gran
My final thoughts on leaving South Africa were how much "good" different country’s leave on the table.
How much a country can offer and how little is offered, the failure of democracy for the average person, how warped views of race and religion can cloud rationality. There are so many parallels between the Philippines and South Africa.
Both countries have lots of potential but for different reasons. But both countries are going down the tubes because of short-term thinking, poor (actually non existent) leadership, compliant manipulated populations and endemic corruption … very sad.
However there is so much to be grateful for. We I am so fortunate in so many ways. There are billions worse off, suffering poverty, disease and wars. The frustrating thing is that so much potential is being wasted.
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Monday 28 April 2014
Garbage and Cleanliness
As we sat having lunch the other day I am struck by the contrasts that exist side by side in every part of Mactan Island. Fabulous resorts and filth and poverty are bed fellows here.
We recently arrived at a rather empty Japanese restaurant in a new, small mall just off the famous Quezon Highway. Travelling there by way of a nine peso (US$0.20) tricycle trip we set off on our short walk along the dusty, dirty, muddy edge of the road. No pavements here.
The path was uneven and bumpy and we had to pick our way around garbage, the odd dog, a motor bike or tricycle parked half on and half off the road. People milling around and offering a variety of products from grubby, barred windows. Jeepneys and tricycles belching their way around the road diversion.
Just a few meters off this road the small mall is an absolute contrast. Spotless new buildings, an efficient security guard controlling the traffic and neat clean shops.
After sitting in the restaurant for about half an hour I became aware of a man moving along the passage sweeping. I remembered seeing him not 15 minutes ago sweeping in the opposite direction. As we sat there for lunch he moved along slowly from one side of the mall to the other.
As I looked out not 20 metres away there was garbage lying along the dusty, litter ridden roadside.
Two countries in one. Living side by side. Poverty and wealth are close neighbours but living in harmony. In a country I've heard called, by a young man born and bred Africa, "the most Third World country I've ever been to".
But it all seems to work despite the uncontrolled population of humans and dogs and cats!!!
We recently arrived at a rather empty Japanese restaurant in a new, small mall just off the famous Quezon Highway. Travelling there by way of a nine peso (US$0.20) tricycle trip we set off on our short walk along the dusty, dirty, muddy edge of the road. No pavements here.
The path was uneven and bumpy and we had to pick our way around garbage, the odd dog, a motor bike or tricycle parked half on and half off the road. People milling around and offering a variety of products from grubby, barred windows. Jeepneys and tricycles belching their way around the road diversion.
Just a few meters off this road the small mall is an absolute contrast. Spotless new buildings, an efficient security guard controlling the traffic and neat clean shops.
After sitting in the restaurant for about half an hour I became aware of a man moving along the passage sweeping. I remembered seeing him not 15 minutes ago sweeping in the opposite direction. As we sat there for lunch he moved along slowly from one side of the mall to the other.
As I looked out not 20 metres away there was garbage lying along the dusty, litter ridden roadside.
Two countries in one. Living side by side. Poverty and wealth are close neighbours but living in harmony. In a country I've heard called, by a young man born and bred Africa, "the most Third World country I've ever been to".
But it all seems to work despite the uncontrolled population of humans and dogs and cats!!!
My First brush With A Filipino Law Enforcer
Enforcer - in the Philippines they are a person employed by the state to enforce the local laws. In most other countries they would be called a policeman.
Like in most developing (3rd World) countries they are severely underpaid and have a strong incentive to subsidize their meager pay at every opportunity.
Last week I took a friend to the airport for an early flight ... very early, as we dropped him off at about 04:15. The airport at this time was hectic with taxis and departing passengers everywhere. So as we left the airport area we were in a stream of traffic ... made up mainly of taxis.
One fantastic feature of Mactan island, which derives a large proportion of income from foreign holiday makers, is that they either don't have too many road signs, or they are so old and faded you can't read them, or they are "disguised" by a myriad of other signs or overgrown foliage. This guarantees that the odds are well stacked against you as a foreigner. The chances are stacked that at some time you are going to transgress (or violate) some traffic law.
This is compounded by another two factors. The first is that the laws for locals are different from those for foreigners ... so don't use a local as the basis for application of a law. The second is that as a foreigner you are a target. Immediately identified as an easy mark.
You don't know or understand the law and when you are stopped there is a veiled threat that the legal process to pay the fine and collect your confiscated license will be very inconvenient and time consuming. So if you are on holiday, where are you going to find the place where you have been told they will be taking your license? How much will it cost to get there? How long will it take to pay the fine?
So there is a very, very strong incentive to finalize the minor "violation" as quickly as possible. This is done by means of a negotiated "spot fine". There is no receipt and the matter is over.
As we left the airport I was in a stream of taxis and didn't notice that there was a feint sign at the beginning of some concrete bollards indicating that I was in the "taxi" lane and I should have been in the other lane. I wasn't concerned as it seemed to be inconsequential. Not true.
As I lowered the window the enforcer requested my license and after taking it and studying it and me, advised me that I had violated some traffic law. So what now. I was holding up a long stream of taxis so was instructed to pull over to the side of the road. My mind immediately went into 3rd world negotiating mode.
As he sauntered (in a manner which traffic police internationally have perfected) across to the car he was fingering his ticketing book. However 3rd world police are very easy to read. They don't start writing the ticket but start telling you about the consequences if they start writing as they flip the pages of the book.
What follows is a short and sweet negotiation. You handing over of a small amount of money for the "spot fine", your licence being handed back and both of you going on your way as if nothing happened.
However that is not quite the end for me. I have now vowed that I'll never again be part of this problem.
Corruption requires cooperation - there are two parties who must agree to be dishonest ... I'm not going to be one of them.
Like in most developing (3rd World) countries they are severely underpaid and have a strong incentive to subsidize their meager pay at every opportunity.
Last week I took a friend to the airport for an early flight ... very early, as we dropped him off at about 04:15. The airport at this time was hectic with taxis and departing passengers everywhere. So as we left the airport area we were in a stream of traffic ... made up mainly of taxis.
One fantastic feature of Mactan island, which derives a large proportion of income from foreign holiday makers, is that they either don't have too many road signs, or they are so old and faded you can't read them, or they are "disguised" by a myriad of other signs or overgrown foliage. This guarantees that the odds are well stacked against you as a foreigner. The chances are stacked that at some time you are going to transgress (or violate) some traffic law.
This is compounded by another two factors. The first is that the laws for locals are different from those for foreigners ... so don't use a local as the basis for application of a law. The second is that as a foreigner you are a target. Immediately identified as an easy mark.
You don't know or understand the law and when you are stopped there is a veiled threat that the legal process to pay the fine and collect your confiscated license will be very inconvenient and time consuming. So if you are on holiday, where are you going to find the place where you have been told they will be taking your license? How much will it cost to get there? How long will it take to pay the fine?
So there is a very, very strong incentive to finalize the minor "violation" as quickly as possible. This is done by means of a negotiated "spot fine". There is no receipt and the matter is over.
As we left the airport I was in a stream of taxis and didn't notice that there was a feint sign at the beginning of some concrete bollards indicating that I was in the "taxi" lane and I should have been in the other lane. I wasn't concerned as it seemed to be inconsequential. Not true.
As I lowered the window the enforcer requested my license and after taking it and studying it and me, advised me that I had violated some traffic law. So what now. I was holding up a long stream of taxis so was instructed to pull over to the side of the road. My mind immediately went into 3rd world negotiating mode.
As he sauntered (in a manner which traffic police internationally have perfected) across to the car he was fingering his ticketing book. However 3rd world police are very easy to read. They don't start writing the ticket but start telling you about the consequences if they start writing as they flip the pages of the book.
What follows is a short and sweet negotiation. You handing over of a small amount of money for the "spot fine", your licence being handed back and both of you going on your way as if nothing happened.
However that is not quite the end for me. I have now vowed that I'll never again be part of this problem.
Corruption requires cooperation - there are two parties who must agree to be dishonest ... I'm not going to be one of them.
Wednesday 9 April 2014
The Death of the Fast Food Worker
The rise of machines to replace the fast food worker. Is this a possibility? Is it feasible?
A company in San Francisco has developed a machine that replaces people in vending hamburgers and the technology is in its infancy.
Click on this article. It may sound like something like science fiction ... but it is already a reality.
Just another step in feeding decreasing employment, in a growing world population, faced with ever increasing unemployment.
Unemployment among the young is a dire growing problem throughout the world. This one source of employment for unskilled, young people will slowly be destroyed.
Government interference into the free market has increased the incentive to replace people with machines. Governments don't realise that ill-considered (may I call them dumb?) decisions often have unintended consequences. Their relentless grasp for power through handing out favours and entitlements has generated legislation that works directly against the people it was supposed to help.
There will be consequences to their short term decisions. This is one of them ... what will the others be?
A company in San Francisco has developed a machine that replaces people in vending hamburgers and the technology is in its infancy.
Click on this article. It may sound like something like science fiction ... but it is already a reality.
Just another step in feeding decreasing employment, in a growing world population, faced with ever increasing unemployment.
Unemployment among the young is a dire growing problem throughout the world. This one source of employment for unskilled, young people will slowly be destroyed.
Government interference into the free market has increased the incentive to replace people with machines. Governments don't realise that ill-considered (may I call them dumb?) decisions often have unintended consequences. Their relentless grasp for power through handing out favours and entitlements has generated legislation that works directly against the people it was supposed to help.
There will be consequences to their short term decisions. This is one of them ... what will the others be?
Saturday 29 March 2014
Kopico is So Good
Since arriving in the Philippines I have become a fan of the premix sachets of a wide variety of hot drinks ... and especially Kopico and all its derivatives and competitors.
A simple blend of coffee, creamer and sugar in a one cup sachet. Goes so well with my hot water on tap water cooler and heater. What could be easier to produce an instant hot cup of coffee ... or chocolate (some are really excellent) or Milo or Ovaltine?
They are really delicious (as long as you enjoy a two spoon helping of sugar) and I've completely gone off traditional instant coffee and will choose a cup of Kopico over brewed coffee any time.
Now available in various combinations including cappucino. It appears to be a very competitive market space with many other options including Nestle available. In what is a very lucrative, growing market. Added to my collection is now a variety of Swiss Miss chocolate drinks and Milo. A concentrated cup of Milo is my choice before my morning walk ... so no wonder they were a sponsor of Comrades Marathon for so many years!!
I just wonder why these are not available in South Africa as they are delicious, cheap and so easy to prepare. They are in sealed sachets so have a long shelf life and are available at every convenience store.
The only negative I can see is that there is probably an excess amount of packaging ... a negative both on the price and the growing piles of waste packaging. So hopefully it is biodegradeable.
Please let me know what you think of them or what you prefer?
A simple blend of coffee, creamer and sugar in a one cup sachet. Goes so well with my hot water on tap water cooler and heater. What could be easier to produce an instant hot cup of coffee ... or chocolate (some are really excellent) or Milo or Ovaltine?
They are really delicious (as long as you enjoy a two spoon helping of sugar) and I've completely gone off traditional instant coffee and will choose a cup of Kopico over brewed coffee any time.
Now available in various combinations including cappucino. It appears to be a very competitive market space with many other options including Nestle available. In what is a very lucrative, growing market. Added to my collection is now a variety of Swiss Miss chocolate drinks and Milo. A concentrated cup of Milo is my choice before my morning walk ... so no wonder they were a sponsor of Comrades Marathon for so many years!!
I just wonder why these are not available in South Africa as they are delicious, cheap and so easy to prepare. They are in sealed sachets so have a long shelf life and are available at every convenience store.
The only negative I can see is that there is probably an excess amount of packaging ... a negative both on the price and the growing piles of waste packaging. So hopefully it is biodegradeable.
Please let me know what you think of them or what you prefer?
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