Written By Kevin Clare
The festive season is many things. To start with, there is shopping, and purchasing presents. Then there is a holiday somewhere and a seasonal rush of travellers, and to throw complications in, there is inclement weather once in a while to make things all the more interesting. There is also a lot of sweet food, heavy food, various beverages and the ubiquitous Christmas caroling! So, I count myself lucky…I got into the festive mode in October. I went to the Philippines for the Chinese National Day Holiday, and ticked all the festive boxes listed above, except, I did not wrap any presents. And it didn’t snow, but I am a Southern Hemispherean, so snowy Christmases are unnatural and gloomy in my mind.
The rush of travellers is obvious, as any expat in China would know: If there is a long enough holiday, the expats and well-heeled locals flee the mainland and go all over. Hong Kong Airport was bustling. Inclement weather came in the form of a lingering Typhoon season which kindly delayed flights and made the airports just a little more cosy to add to the festive mood.
Adobo picture The food was festive indeed. Upon asking what the national dish of the Philippines is, I was given “Adobo” as a normal response. It is like any other stew from South East Asia, and sometimes can be jolly nice…but then Sprite, or even Coca Cola is added to the mixture and this lends a rather overpowering sweetness. I did go all out on some Greek food however, and had some shocked expressions from my friends when they saw what happens to a South African boy when he is surrounded by food he last had at home! Greek food picture
Various beverages: it is a well-known fact that the Hong Kong brewed San Miguel is Tsingdao in a gold can, so the San Miguel there is actually quite a hoppy, fruity and delicious Pilsner which slides down very easily on a hot tropical day! Added to this, the favourable Yuan to Philippine Pesos rate makes it a very good destination for the cocktail swiller.
The shopping was what is to be expected really. Souvenir stalls selling various trinkets. I got to add a few items to my bizarre display cabinet in my lounge when I got back. And then there was the Mall of Asia, which is spacious, but there is a lot more to see in Grandview.
And now to the major hallmark of the approaching festive season: Christmas Carols. It commenced on October the First, upon boarding my Cebu Pacific Flight to Manila, I heard the unmistakable syrupy melody of Boney M blasting out her festive gloop. I thought this was a bit odd, but I had not arrived in Manila yet, where at the airport, they had several different kinds of caroling going in in different sections of the airport. I usually take it for granted that I never have to hear Little Drummer Boy in Panpipe until November at the very earliest.
When I mentioned this worry to a local friend, he remarked: “but it’s a happy time, and we’re happy people, so just get into it.” I must admit, I did like the “Jingle Bell Rock” which was the in between song during a Karaoke Competition I saw there.
And I got into it…well the country. It’s marvelous, and I will go again even if they play nothing but panpipe!
Want to see more and experience more? please visit: http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-14/now!
