Chilling in the Philippines-- The Smella in Manila

December 08, 2013

Good day, everyone!

We have been focused on sights and tastes here in Quezon City. There are a ton of them. Things to do, places to see, food and drink to taste. Today we are going to focus on another sense.  The Smells.  Suzy and I have been brainstorming this one and she is going to give her take first. Instead of describing the sights as one would leave our condo, she will describe the smells.

"Shutting the door and walking into the hallway of the 7th floor, it stinks.  Hit the down button and board the elevator. As the door closes, the elevator stinks. Door opens on the ground floor and that doesn't stink that bad. Heading past the front desk, still doesn't stink that bad, until...  the doorman opens the door.  A whiff of the outdoor air, and its the sweet smell of hamburger and heat.

We will then step to the street so the fun can begin! First, I do not think there are any emissions standards. The exhaust is suffocating. . .and it stinks.  Lets take a left and head the block towards Robinson's Supermarket.  Ahh a sewer vent.  It really, really stinks. then a few feet past is a different kind of stink. Its more of a canal, rotten, rancid water stink.  We will walk a little faster past that one and ahhh, the side street adjacent to Robinson's. It is more of a rotten fish stink.

What is interesting, is that Eastwood City is tremendously clean.  It is pristine. There are always crews sweeping and cleaning. These smells sneak in from the outside. Manila is dirty. Eastwood City is clean, yet smelly. Taxi cabs-- they all smell basically the same, with a twinge of personal aromas."

All I would add is that there is a fire stairwell. I thought I could walk it instead of the elevator, but all of the doors are locked from the stairwell for safety.  Too bad I found that out on the 7th floor. so the stairwell has an oppressive odor and its 120 degrees.

Later tonight, we are going to a nice restaurant with Rolf and his wife. within the confines of a restaurant we should tease our senses with great sights, sounds and tastes.

Take care of yourselves everyone...

Chuck and Suzy U.