earthdome Posted November 10, 2018 Posted November 10, 2018 On my current 7 week visit back to the Philippines it occurred to me that expats here are exposed to many new experiences. Some of those may justify rewarding of a merit badge or be a right of passage. What things do you consider to justify a merit badge or is a right of passage. Here is the one that sparked this post. 1. Driving on EDSA, or any of the really congested streets in Manila during rush hour traffic. This is you actually driving the car. Bonus points if this is a rental car you are not familiar with driving. Additional bonus points if it is a manual transmission. I did this for the first time this visit. Nothing like getting squeezed by a jeepney on each side within inches of the sides of your rented car. Or have the GPS on your phone go wacky while Waze is routing you around traffic jams on side streets. And a another to get the list started. 2. Eating Balut I have never ate balut and have no plans to start. I would likely have to be black out drunk to try it and then of course I wouldn't remember. What experiences have you had which you consider merit badge worthy? 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Posted November 10, 2018 Posted November 10, 2018 No Balut here either. I've ridden a motorcycle on EDSA many times so I guess that deserves a Merit badge with an oak leaf cluster! 3. Riding on the LRT or MRT and surviving. I've done this many times too. 4. Living in a hut in the province with no toilet, refrigerator, AC or running water for 2 weeks. Been there, done that! 5. rode out a typhoon. Keep em coming! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post GeoffH Posted November 10, 2018 Popular Post Posted November 10, 2018 I don’t think I’m eligible for any of those because I don’t live in Manila but one of my more interesting experiences was riding (driving) one of the family ‘motocabs’ (Motorbike with passenger sidecar) in peak hour traffic with the owner (cousin of SWMBO) and 2 of the family children in the sidecar. The expressions on the faces of the locals when they realised a foreigner was driving a moto cab had all of us laughing. 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post OnMyWay Posted November 10, 2018 Popular Post Posted November 10, 2018 I have done a few of those mentioned but my proudest achievement recently was shooting a big male monkey right in the gonads with a non-lethal weapon! He was sitting on my fence facing away from me, at about 20 feet. He hasn't been bring the family around so much since then! 1 1 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonjack2847 Posted November 10, 2018 Posted November 10, 2018 Going to the Dumaguete monthly meeting 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foreigner Posted November 10, 2018 Posted November 10, 2018 Having the patience to wait for an actual drivers license and conduction plate from the LTO 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post virginprune Posted November 10, 2018 Popular Post Posted November 10, 2018 Putting up with cold hot food and karaoke at parties 3 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum Support scott h Posted November 13, 2018 Forum Support Posted November 13, 2018 When asked by a stranger "where are you going?" you don't scream "NONE OF YOUR FREAKING BUISNESS" Watch an entire telesyrie and not tell you wife the plot 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Posted November 13, 2018 Posted November 13, 2018 1 hour ago, scott h said: When asked by a stranger "where are you going?" you don't scream "NONE OF YOUR FREAKING BUISNESS" Watch an entire telesyrie and not tell you wife the plot OMG, I forgot that one as I haven't heard it in a while, I don't know why? I used to always say while pointing "that way" and just kept walking! It used to drive me nuts too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Posted November 13, 2018 Posted November 13, 2018 Getting Hey Joe'd and then asked what's your name? Joe of course, my name is Joe! 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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