Dear Abby

Sorry for the confusion. Please read the adventure "A story instead of a dollar". This (mis)adventure was followed up with an email from my perps entitled "Hello Hello." I, of course, could not resist but to reply in a manner to garner a bit of guilt and ill will as a way to 'get back' at being drugged. My reply below is a fabrication and I am fine. Here is my response to "my friend's" email:

Hello Abby,

How are you my friend?

Yes I made it home. It was a bit of a struggle though. Somewhere during my day I let my guard down and found myself vulnerable and unable to protect myself from life's dangers.

This was a terribly frightening situation as a traveller. Travellers are often only too happy to embrace new adventures, happy to bask in new friendships, and only wish to soak up the wonderful culture and festivities a place has to offer. To lose control and to be unable to defend oneself in a strange place is the most terrifying experience to have as a visitor.

This was the circumstance I found myself in. It was not much after we parted that things went badly for me. I was accosted by four youths who were determined to hurt me and I was unable to resist them sufficiently. In the struggle which followed I suffered a broken nose and two broken fingers. I lost all of my money (it was less than 200 pesos), but more importantly I lost my sunglasses and my camera. While the loss of my goods is frustrating and disheartening, it was the loss of my pictures which are irreplacable.

Now I will be more careful in how I travel, and how I approach new friendships. This is a disappointing lesson for me because I believe that the world is a good place. If everyone treated people with dignity and good faith, we could make a better world. As a result, I will lose the opportunity to meet new and wonderful people, be known and share stories.

It is indeed a typical story one hears about Manila. It is unfortunate that I have had to learn to be more cautious. It is not a lesson I accept easily. I like to "get underground" and feel the "essence" of a place. This will cut off my efforts in this regard.

Had I been a smaller person, or a woman I would have been in much greater trouble. As it was I was only a bit on the "drunk" side and so I couldn't move and function normally. While the details of my going home are vague, I am remembering.

We parted so fast after returning to Intramuros that it surprised me. I didn't get a chance to fully thank you and the others for your friendship, hospitality and guiding services. Spending our afternoon together was the only highlight to my horrible day.

I hope you are having a good day at work. We are busy here at my work trying to put together a nation-wide Exposition on good governance.

Peace and Love,
Chris.