Ish Meets World

After travelling around the world, I noticed that Filipinos and the Philippines in general are quite misunderstood. Granted, this is mostly because of the fact that there are Filipinos all over the world and their interaction with the local population has caused a stereotype to form. Let me take this opportunity to shoot down some common misconceptions and tell you more about our country and our people. 1. We speak English- Many new acquaintances seem surprised when they find out I’m from the Philippines because they say I sound American. Most educated people in the Philippines speak very good English. Not everyone pronounces fifty-five as pipty payb. Really. 2. Yes, most of us will in fact die or at least faint if we are unable to eat rice for an extended period. OK, at the very least we will throw a tantrum. 3. Metro Manila is the capital, not just Manila. Don’t get scared to go to Pasig, Makati, Quezon City, Mandaluyong or any of the other cities inside Metro Manila. You ...

What do I love about Madrid? Its culture. It restores my faith in humanity.  Here, people stop for street musicians. People still play the violin and museums get sold out Many other cosmopolitan cities have been caught up with the hustle and bustle of modern life. No one stops to smell the roses. Here, the people who appreciate the culture are not limited to tourists. even the locals are still in touch with their roots. 

One of the first things that I learned when I first came to Spain several years ago really shocked me. I always thought that the food preparation and over-all health code implementation in the Philippines was questionable in a lot of places but at least we make an effort to keep the restaurants clean at all times. In Spain, tapas bars, cafes and restaurants like it when you throw your rubbish on the floor. Apparently, this shows your appreciation of the place. Therefore, if an establishment has a lot of tissues and other debris on the floor, this indicates that it’s a great place to grab a bite or a drink! Next time, don’t let the rubbish on the floor bother you, the messier it is, the better it is! (at least that’s the idea!)

I’ve decided to start a series about the different traditions or customs around the world which are very different from what we have in the Philippines. These are just little ways in which we can get to learn more about the world and the people in it. Enjoy the first entry about wedding traditions: In Russia and in various parts of Europe, newlyweds leave padlocks in certain iconic bridges and railings in the city to secure their bond. These photos were taken in Gorky Park, Moscow. This custom was popularized by the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris. Lovers from all over the world fly to Paris to seal their everlasting love with a heavy padlock along the railings. Any couple in a relationship can do this in Paris but it seems that in Russia, they wait util they have sealed the deal by actually getting married. That probably explains why there are fewer locks in Gorky Park. This tradition was never part of the Filipino wedding culture but the trend has been catching on. Some commercial...

I normally try to post useful things here for travelers. But hey, I suppose the existence of giant food can prove useful. In a recent trip to Norway, I found the largest bananas I have ever seen. I suppose they are not really outrageous but coming from a tropical country where we have about 20 varieties, I have never seen this one before and it fascinates me to no end. 🙂 Italy also has Lemons the size of your head. 🙂 Enjoy!

After over a month touring Europe and visiting 12 cities in eight countries,I just wanted to share the most important discoveries, lessons and other tidbits I picked up along the way. 1. The place where you can find the most number of good-looking men per square kilometer is in Italy 🙂 Girls, get your sexy asses over there! This is a well-researched fact! 2. No, you can’t find them near the usual tourist traps because those are full of foreigners like yourself. Get off the beaten track. This means forget Florence and Rome. Yes, this deserves two entries. 3. Russia is NOT a cold, dreary place. In fact, I got my nose fairly burnt up there. And they make great beer, not just Vodka. 4. Russia has giant soupy dumplings. Yum. (Yes, that deserves an entry.). Imagine a giant Xiao Long Bao. They are called Xinkali or Khinkali over there. Oh, and Italy has giant lemons and Norway has giant bananas….. 5. The friendliest people are the Irish. However, pubs close early for some reason. ...