Just came back from Davao and General Santos, both urban areas... Yet not quite Manila. And I'm not sure whether that's good or bad. While on vacation, the most frequent phrase I heard was "Di tulad sa Maynila" (Unlike in Manila).
This was said in the context of traffic (or lack thereof), prices of food, pollution (again, lack of it), and the quality of life (ie, not as hectic and hurried). Apparently, Manila has quite a bad reptutation. Ouch. I'm an urbanite, accustomed to bad traffic, steep prices, polluted air, and a frentic lifestyle. And while I saw the benefits of a less urban life, I couldn't help but miss the comforts and pleasures of Manila --easy access to entertainment, a reliable internet connection, tap water (hard water wrecked havoc on my hair!), huge shopping malls, good nightouts (as opposed to bands and videoke), etc. It seems shallow and I feel like I'm a kid whining about candy (or a toy) but I sorely missed these urban comforts.
Come to think of it, it's strange since I always dream of travels to escape this urban life yet the minute I'm away I seek out the very things I wish to escape from. Maybe I'm not cut out for living outside the city. Or is there such a thing as urban withdrawal? Sounds loko. In my perfect (dream) world, I'd merge the comforts of city life with the pleasures of probinsya (rural) lifestyle --and even more strangely, I can't define that.
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