Ok one last one ... Manila!!

I'm staying in the red light district in Manila. Of course. The sign posted below my hostel is a tempting offer ... I do have a good personality ..., but alas I need to get home. Ordering food tonight was not necessarily easy ... I don't know a lot about the the Philipphines, but what I DO know is they eat pork ... All of it ... So I knew I better ask what I'm about to eat before I choose. So ... I say, this pork dish, what part of the pig is this? Ah, it's pork. Yes, but what part? Ah, it's part of the face. Ok, thank you, I'll choose a different part. I met some really lovely Filipinos who invited me to join them - and had varying opinions on my aloneness. My favourite was one of the ladies who said, it's been so nice to meet such a brave lady.  Aww! Thanks! I also met a nice German at the night market and we had a few San Miguel and enjoyed listening to some local karaoke. One night in Manila but memorable in a chilling way. In the morning I really got a sense of the red light district. I went for breakfast and I was the only woman other than the young girls being called off the street by ugly fat old men or those leaving the adjoining hotel leaving ugly fat old men. Initially I was so disgusted I took some pictures and thought I'm going to share your disgusting faces so people can see you. But then I just decided to stare, and exert my own power. And I could feel their discomfort with me. One 60 year old white loser in particular was very uncomfortable, squirming in his chair, as I stared him down with two 17 year olds at his table. I made a point of walking around him, buying a few things sold  there next to him, all the while throwing him looks of disgust. He didn't like that. When my breakfast came out with an American flag in it, I felt so angry by that symbol of capitalism and inequality, that I grabbed it and ripped it up in my own silent protest. And then I laughed at how crazy I seemed. That experience was an eye opener to the Asian sex trade, and reminded me of  things I saw and experienced in Cambodia 11 years ago, reminding me yet again that we are a long way from equality for women. I hope there is power in this work for the women, and if possible the girls. I hope they use those assholes, make their money, and are able to take care of themselves in the future.