Part 5: Fried fish heads and fate’s fickle finger
In part five of his story, Alister McDermott heads East in search of new opportunities and the promise of meeting a Hollywood producer who wants him to write a new screenplay. But what looks like a Thrilla in Manila ends up being wasted stay in Tagaytay – and California comes calling once again… I boarded the Air China plane to the Philippines brimming with enthusiasm for the opportunities that lay ahead. A Hollywood producer had read my stuff and planned to meet me in the Pearl of the Orient, Manila. My family contact had assured me many great things were in the offing, with the chance to help turn a published novel into a screenplay during my time in the Philippines. I was to stay on a pristine golf course in Tagaytay, a popular holiday town just south of Manila. Had I finally hit the jackpot? Unbeknown to me, Tagaytay is in the middle of absolutely nowhere. The house was near a golf course, which also happened to be at the bottom of a 45-degree-incline hill, with nothing around for miles. Thankfully there were a couple of live-in cooks, though the only cuisine that appeared to be available was deep-fried everything. The pungent aroma of frying fish heads awoke me every morning, leaving me with no other decision than to live on a rudimentary diet of ready-salted Pringles. I’d lived this culinary dream previously while travelling across Bolivia. When in doubt, eat things that are foil-wrapped. I was informed the … Continue reading Part 5: Fried fish heads and fate’s fickle finger
