Part 5: Fitness at the bay....*
The following morning at 5:30am I heard a gentle tap at my door.
I was in a semi awake kind of sleep after spending most of the night tossing and turning, the jet lag still had a grip on me.
With my hair sticking up, eyes squinted, still in my underpants, and with out a moments hesitation, I answered the door, ignoring my friends previous warnings to be security conscious, and vigilant at all times.
Luckily for me, it was only her - she looked at me and burst into laughter - I must have looked a state!!
'Come on, come on' she said.
Barely managing to contain her giggles.
I forgot that she arranged for an early morning fitness training at Moa on Manila bay. Realising I may have been a little hasty in arranging this session, especially since I had not slept properly - but then again how hard can It be I thought to myself. I'm in good shape, I've been boxing training in England for years.
So after a quick wash and a fresh Filipino orange, we were on our way, and in the car weaving through the early morning traffic. It was only a 20 minute drive before we reached the bay. Looking around me I saw modern architecture, concert arenas and shopping malls, Americanised chains and hotels, indeed it looked very affluent and Western here.
What a huge contrast to some of the fishing and suburban, rusty corrugated iron roofed shanty towns and slums we drove through only a few minutes earlier - that was shock to the system, especially snide I'd never witnessed anything like that before.
I learned that Philippines is one of Asia's fastest growing economies, but tragically many who live here are being left far behind in abject poverty.
Sadly these are some of Manilas most desperate people - the thousands of slum and shanty town dwellers forced to live in makeshift homes built from scrap in the areas most at risk from natural disaster knowing that in typhoon season, thousands of people here will be effected. The greatest threat is flooding, which occurs most years but they are vulnerable to powerful tropical storms too. It was very sad to see. Almost like they are just a forgotten after thought, so close to the world class malls all around the bay.
We parked up right on the sea front and there were already a few people jogging up the coastline and some of the fitness group were waiting in the shade.
They warmly greeted me and seemed genuinely excited at having me join them, then more people arrived with Alfred the coach - I liked him straight away. He had a positive, enthusiastic, infectious personality and seemed a thoroughly likeable chap.
He prepped the group and talked of the exercises we would be doing and in no time we were stretching and warming up. It was around 630am and the heat was beginning to take effect, even at this hour.
Less than half way through the intense drill sessions I definitely started to struggle, but no way was I going to show it.
Especially after my friend had previously talked me up to the group.
My competitive edge and pride kicked in so I dug deep and upped the pace, and It was not long before I started to build up a healthy lead over the rest of the group. I'll show these Filipinos how its done I thought. In truth the heat was killing me, but I was hiding the agony, so I wanted to finish as soon as quickly as possible. Alfred looked at me and Cy turned to him and said
'I told you he was strong'
He put his thumb up to acknowledge the effort I was putting in.
Then at that exact moment, disaster struck, my head started spinning and I couldn't get the oxygen in to slow my heart rate down.
Falling to my knees I was gasping and before I knew it, projectile vomited through my fingers!!
The whole group watched on in horror as did scores of other people near by.
Alfred rushed to my side checking if I was ok, pouring cold water on my head. After a few anxious moments I quickly recovered, nothing serious.
My pride was more hurt and I guess that would teach me to not pace myself in the tropical heat, and it rightly knocked me down a peg or two.
I'm not sure what possessed me to think this was going to be easy - I was so embarrassed but what struck me was how nice everyone was to me.
On the way home I didn't say a word.
I wouldn't take the heat and fitness sessions lightly again.
The rest of the day was spent nursing my damaged pride in the condo alone.