2011 - H & A WORLD CRUISE - MANILLA

BY-PASSING PULAO, WE PULL UP TO MANILA WHERE THE RECEPTION IS AMAZING,

LOTS OF PEOPLE ON SHORE. BANDS PLAYING. NOISE LIKE CRAZY.

THIS IS THE PHILIPPINES - WHERE A LARGE CHUNK OF CRUISE EMPLOYEES ARE FROM.

HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR CRUISE SHIPS, TODAY, FAMILIES OF CREW MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED ON BOARD. PARENTS, GRAND-PARENTS, CHILDREN SIBLINGS.. THE SHIP IS ALIVE WITH PEOPLE WHO WOULD NOT EXPECT TO GET ON A CRUISE SHIP. SEEING WHERE THERE RELATIONS WORK.

I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE INTRODUCED TO SOME.

IT WAS QUITE SOMETHING.

MY OWN TOUR WAS TO TAGAYTAY. A VOLCANO INSIDE A LAKE, INSIDE A VOLCANO. A COUPLE OF HUNDRED KILOMETERS AWAY FROM MANILLA.

I AM IN A VAN WITH MAYBE 10 PEOPLE. WE HAVE TWO MOTORCYCLE POLICE OUTRIDERS. THROUGH THE CRUSH OF MANILLA TRAFFIC, WE CRASH RED LIGHTS. CARS ARE FORCED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO LET US BY. IT IS LIKE BEING IN A PRESIDENTIAL MOTORCADE. SOMEWHAT EMBARRASSING BUT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE SITUATION & SIT BACK & ENJOY THE SHOW.

WE STOP AT A CHURCH WHERE THERE IS A BAMBOO ORGAN....

AND A FANCY RESORT..

HERE'S THE COPS TAKING A BREAK...

AND THE LAKE.. A POPULAR WEDDING RECEPTION SPOT....

SOME SORT OF FISH OR SHRIMP FARMING IN THE LAKE....

BACK TO THE SHIP AFTER 6 HOURS OR SO & THE BAND'S STILL PLAYING. THE GIRLS STILL TWIRLING THEIR BATONS.

WE PASSED SOME INCREDIBLY POOR SHANTY TOWN AREAS AROUND MANILLA BUT THE PEOPLE STILL MANAGE TO SMILE.

NEXT DAY I JUST WALKED AROUND CLOSE TO THE SHIP. DID NOT TAKE MY CAMERA. NOT THE BEST PART OF THE TOWN TO WALK AROUND BUT NO ONE PAID ME ANY MIND.