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Published: January 25th 2007
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Garden of Fr. Bonifacio
At the Manila Cathedral Kamusta ka itong umaga? In other words, how are you this morning. I think we have overcome jetlag. Our long flight from LAX to HKG was just demanding, of course, I slept maybe 2 hours and Sylvain had, at least, 5-6 hrs. I sure wanted to wake him up!!! Otherwise, the flight was completely fine including cup o'nooddles for a midmorning snack!
We were in HKG airport for 2 hours but its size was more than any other airport I had ever been to. It was modern and just huge! It seemed like each area was the size of an airport hanger but with Prada, Hermes Lancel etc. all within reach.
We arrived into Manila and it was time to take the layers off and switch to tropics mode because it was surely the begining of sweating. The airport was the complete opposite of HKG; it was small and completely unsophisticated. So this is it. My first time to the Philippines. We were luckily whisked away through customs by a friend of my dad's ( thanks dad). That VIP treatment was very nice. Auntie Andy met us outside with our driver for Manila. After a quick shower we were
out in walking in Makati, Manila. It is one of the major financial centers of Manila and it also houses a myriad of MALLS. And when I say malls, it will put all of LA shopping and NYC shopping to shame! Its like they live to go to the malls. First, there is A/C, but all these shoppping malls are interconnected by bridges above the street (very smart for traffic) and you can find everything and anything you want from, of course, Gucci, Prada etc to rinky dink stores/chotskies (how do you spell that word???) The malls spanned blocks and blocks. We were walking out around 7pm and hoardes of people were still wandering into the malls on a Tuesday. We just couldn't unerstand it.
So far, what has struck me by far are the smells. Exhaust, you cannot escape it. Its even in the daily newspaper. I picked it up and couldn't pinpoint it until I smelled my hands; it was like asphalt. People ride around either on bikes or the jeepneys with bandanas across their face. Transportation is chaos nothing like NYC driving at all; thats childs play here. They have lines on the road designating a
St. Agustin
Inside Intramuros- old Manila lane, but why bother when you can drive any which way you can. sometimes, I just close my eyes! You can come around a roundabout and you are just jockeying for a position to get through. Especially, scary when there are 4 of you on a carriage being pulled by the lamest looking horse you've ever seen, and you've got 4 jeepneys coming at you and motorbikes creeping to your side, of course, not to mention the exhaust you pick up as they speed up in front of you. Sylvain, my film documentor (word?), has caught it all on tape. They suggested we see Intramuros and Rizal Park and then a walk through Bay Walk, which is along the Manila Bay. As our feet literally dragged across this promenade our noses were invaded buy the smell of SHIT. As we continued, I kept thinking how could you enjoy the famous sunset from here when it smells like the bathroom???? Apparently, sewage gets dumped into the bay and we must have passed through the piped area. It was completely appalling! A hundred yards later it disappeared. We enjoyed the walk, but apparently, I underestimated the distance to our destination. Lets say
Seafood galore
seafood marketplace where we picked our fish and told them how to cook it. served with rice and lots of vinegar! yummy! my cousins wanted to kill me, hell, my feet wanted to kill me.
We have been eating Filipino food galore and its all been amazing. We went to a seafood market where we picked out lapu-lapu ( snapper-ish), tuna belly, squid, oysters, giant shrimps, and the sweetest mangoes you will ever taste in your life! Then we brought it to a restaurant next door and our friend told them how to cook it and then voila... they served it on the table. They deep fried the lapu-lapu and grilled the tuna belly which had the most amazing texture and sweetness which you dipped into a soy, vinegar, sauce. It is by far, the best meal I've ever had. I think it cost maybe $25.00 for 5 people!!!!!
Its an odd feeling to be visiting a place where you look like everyone else, but you really have little connection except your features and a diminishing sense of being Filipino. Its a cultural experience I am going to embrace. I am definitely practicing my Tagalog here, but really, there is no need because everyone speaks English here. In fuct (Pinoys will get that one), their fluency is amazing. Everyone is
New friend
Wen ( center) Dean of Telecommunications Colegio de San Juan de Letran. completely helpful and extremely polite. Everything ends with either Sir or Mum (ma'am). And when they say yes, you definitely, have to clarify what you said because they will NEVER say no to your face. All to save from being impolite. A somewhat endearing quality.
Ok... now that I've written your eyes off. I will make every attempt to add some photos here, but if not I'll send it on the next blog.
We are off to Chinatown, Quiapo and hopefully, Divisario, one of the best outdoor markets/bazaar to bargain for everyone Christmas gifts this year 😊 Also, more gastronomic adventures including the best hopia in the world!
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Auntie Dollie
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Enjoy!
I'm glad you seem to be enjoying your trip. Try to remember everything as this is something you'll need to tell your child(ren) Yes Manila is not the best place but it's "home" to some of us. Take care all three of you. love you.