Please turn over 'Sir'

I've never been called 'sir' so much in my life. Normally I'd feel old but in Fliplandia it's a sign of respect and politeness. Every server, every door person (and there's one on every door), and every massage therapist (yes we're on our 3rd session)..."Please turn over sir". The women workers in Manila and Boracay are all so petite, beautiful and soft spoken, but their hands...DEAR GOD! The grip and poke and squeeze of a big man!

Let's see other DEEP THOUGHS BY JACK HANDY (or Pinoy observations by Scooter Handy):

CHINA: The island of Boracay has been taken over by Chinese nationals. Watch out Seattle, we could be next. There has seriously been an invasion in the last 24 hours of Cantonese speaking packs of 30 plowing through the beaches and shops. Their tour guides are translating everything from restaurant menus, to what a 'I heart Boracay' t-shirt means. It's like those annoying tour groups in a museum that block a painting you want to see, but you're in a swimming suit instead just trying to get passed.

US POP: The Pinoy love Rihanna and Gaga and most anything from the states to Taylor Swift (who was just in Manila last week) to Kayne. But they REALLY love Rihanna...she's in the malls, the restaurants, the beaches and the bars. Hmmm.

CHEAP: I want to live in a world where the taxis are 100 PH pesos across town ($2 US), and the vodka drinks are 120 PH pesos ($3 US), and the liter bottled water is 35 PH pesos (70 cents US). Our huge plate of sizing huge prawns on the touristy beach last night were 500 PH pesos... Where in Seattle can you get something in as close for $8 US?

BILINGUAL: I decided that the way the Philippines are set up with signage/marketing/tv all in English but the spoken language most all Tagalog that the Pinoy aren't necessarily bilingual like I thought but instead they just speak and learn and know both in tandem to communicate. So its kind of all one language, they just know to switch only to English when they need to (like when they see me).

XOXO from Sir Scooter.