More diving, Singapore, and a visit from Hong Kong

Scuba diving in Anilao, Batangas

One week ago, I could spend a very nice week-end in Anilao with some friends. We went for 4 dives.

By the way: My dive computer automatically uploads the dive profiles to MoveScout. Check them out:
http://www.movescount.com/moves/move7440616

Thanks to Sherry Ann, who was taking those pictures of me. Finally I have some pictures showing me. Usually I am the one taking the pictures myself.

[picture removed :-)]

Thanks also to the team of the Anilao Beach Club. They have a superb scuba base. Only one hint for them: Label your air refreshener as such. Each westerner will mistake it as a hand soap and will use it to clean his hands. :-)

Avaloq After Work Party in Singapore

For the Avaloq After Work Party, I was given the chance to fly over from Manila and stay for 2 nights. It was nice to meet the staff of the Singapore office for once. And the city looks nice and certainly offers a lot of convenience and nice food options.
This was the view from the terrace of the Esplanade, where the party took place:

Visit of Sumi

Last week-end Sumi paid me a visit from Hong Kong respectively from England. We had not met for a long time, and it was nice to freshen up that friendship again and showing her around in Manila.
On this picture we are on a food tasting event called "Hungry Games" with Christian.

Funny things

In the Philippines, pay-day is twice a month. Usually 14th or 15th of every month, and 30th. This is how ATMs look on such pay-days:

What I don't understand is: It seems to be hip to show a German car registration plate underneath the Filipino registration plate. I have no idea where that comes from, or what the motivation behind is. This is how it looks:

Fitness First (or rather "worst")

If you see the Fitness First logo on a gym, better keep distance. This place is really something to get annoyed. I made the experience myself at the Fitness First Platin at the RCBC Plaza in Manila (Makati City):

• Their personal trainers seem to be working on their own bill. That means they are very agressive in offering their services. And if you indicate to one of them that you are not interested, the next one will still give it a try as well and bother you. They even call you up on your private mobile phone if they feel like it.
• If you just want to know the price a membership costs, you need to register first (including your phone number, which is definitely a dangerous thing over here, if you don't want to get spammed with advertisement by text message). Without it, they wouldn't tell you any price. Not even on their web-site. They really seem to fear price transparency. And that can only mean something bad. Yesterday we tried to find out the membership price for a friend of mine, but they preferred to let us leave again without telling us the price, than to let us know without registering first.

This blog I found seems to confirm my bad impression (that guy even worked there himself):
http://www.brunosfitness.com/the-truth-about-fitness-first-and-there-personal-trainers/

This week-end I am planning to go scuba diving in Anilao (Batangas) again. I am already excited about it.