From Dubai to Manila? Really?

Everyone expressed surprise when we announced that we were moving to Manila after 8 years in Dubai. Everyone felt that we were actually moving to the USA but were trying to pull one last prank. They forgot the Paapi pet and other stories, ('you go where work takes you', for those who don't speak Hindi), and the fact that no one is independent of that effect.

Well, it has been almost 3 months in Manila and we have more or less settled down, with the exception of something to keep me gainfully employed. That too shall happen...soon I hope.

Here are some of the things that I miss from my home of 8 years, and yet others that I am happy for in my new home:

1. Laban...For those who have not had the pleasure of this simple yet highly addictive beverage, Laban is nothing but 'buttermilk' or 'lassi'. Funnily the best buttermilk in a bottle I have had the opportunity to copiously consume is available on supermarket shelves in a region where few areas host cows other than the Sultanate of Oman...Yet bottles and tetra packs of laban are as ubiquitous as the sun. Any friends visiting Manila may please carry a few bottles of laban...I am yet to discover my benign addiction in Manila - suggestions are invited.
2. The roads and the lane discipline in Dubai...6 years and ~125,000Km in my Mitsubishi Pajero were an absolute pleasure thanks to the fantastic roads in Dubai and the other Emirates. Drivers across the board were polite and gave way to fellow riders, rarely honked, and broke rules on an even lower incidence...It was de rigueur to hit the nearest highway and then accelerate to the permitted 20Km above the speed limit, till one reached the exit close to the destination. One literally cruised on the roads, except during the rare dust storm. Manila roads have been just the opposite, the traffic crawls in direct proportion to the urgency of travel. I must admit that people are fairly disciplined on the road and do not merely tolerate the lines and rules like in saddi Dilli.
3. Tea shops owned by the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Mallu, aka the first citizen of the UAE...Whatever the time of day, whichever the Emirate, your friendly neighbourhood Mallu is always available with a steaming cup of Karak. As a member of the squad of driver-father's who ferried our budding cricketers to games and coaching sessions across Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman, we were sustained by the ready service of chai and shwarma rolls. I do not hold Manila to task here as I am yet to explore the street food that the city offers...In fact, I am yet to step into a Jollibee, the McDonalds of the island nation and the biggest purveyor of fried chicken and I promise to remedy the situation really soon.
4. Dry fruits...High-quality dates and other dry fruits were readily available at every supermarket, grocery, and even convenience store in the UAE. These were the easiest exports apart from Turkish bowls and saffron when we made a trip back home. My father will miss our presence in Dubai once he runs out of his copious stocks and will have to resort to the Afghan dates that are available in India. Manila offers a lot in terms of local and global produce but I am yet to see a well-stocked roastery in any of the retail chains...I am sure no one even knows what a roastery is...I learned the word after landing in Dubai.
5. Desi (Indian) stuff, especially Madrasi (South Indian) stuff...I never missed Indian food and could feed all my cravings for the traditional cuisine from Palakkad (Palaghat), a district in Kerala (a state in South India). Pretty much everything was available, raw mangoes, banana flowers and stems, drumsticks and leaves, curry leaves, small onions (shallots for the evolved or the trained)...I better stop, my mouth will start drooling and I will start planning a menu...Leave the South Indian stuff, even Haldiram and Bikarnerwala bhujias are in short supply in Manila. There are some lifesavers who import from Singapore and sell, but not enough Indians I guess to warrant a separate aisle to satisfy our cravings. The biggest plus on the credit side in Manila's favour are the luscious mangoes that are available all year around...I will be ready with mambhazha kuzhambu and mambazha morkuzhambi on demand...Who wants some?
6. Everything Po...One thing that is common between Dubai and Manila is the warmth and helpfulness of the average Filipino. Every customer-facing role in Dubai was manned or woman-ned (is there a gender-neutral term?) by a smiling Filipino who would calmly handle everything and let nothing escalate to the senior level or to anger. The warmth is multiplied in my new city a million-fold and one hears Po appended to everything from good morning to thank you! Sure, they might not be as fluent in English as their Dubai cousins but the readiness to help is even stronger. Unlike Dubai where I never progressed beyond the mandatory 5-7 words in Arabic, I have a feeling that I will end up speaking (and possibly reading) Tagalog somewhat like a Kabayan before we leave. I have made a small beginning with salamat po, kuya, and aatey :)
7. The rains in Spain are nothing like the rains in Manila...We have seen more rain in 11 weeks in Manila, than in 8 years in Dubai. With the monsoons stretching from June to November, I am sure one needs to check a seed or ten here and there and wait till they take root. We experienced our first cyclone weather and were in awe of how much water the heavens seemed to release in a seemingly unending torrent, only matched by the magnificent gusts of wind that carried the clouds on their merry wings. We have not needed to water our garden in so many days and the gardener laughingly confirmed that we need engage the hose pipe twice a week after the monsoon recedes!
8. Nary a beach in sight, but a million beautiful islands...The Philippines seem to have a problem of plenty in the number of islands that offer a ring-side view of the beauty of nature. Thankfully we have a long stay here to explore them slowly, many times over, and learn to enjoy the wide array of seafood and local cuisine. Funnily, Manila, despite being on the coast does not have a single beach within easy driving distance...the nearest 'good' one is about 2 hours away...worth the trip I am sure.

More when they come to mind. Till then Paalam Po!