Blogs from Manila, Metromanila, Philippines, Asia

Week 12 : Thesis and thesis again but a "shopping break" Comme le titre l’indique, cette semaine ce fut mémoire et encore mémoire. J’ai même refusé une invitation pour passer le week-end en dehors de Manille, c’est dire… Et oui, il faut bien travailler à un moment. Je me suis quand même octroyée une petite pause le samedi pour me faire une journée « shopping ». Une des choses à faire à Manille est d’expérimenter Greenhills : le célèbre shopping Mall in Metro Manila où l’on peut acheter des bijoux et surtout des perles, des porte-monnaie, des montres, de la nourriture, des vêtements, des baskets, des téléphones, des dvd… En fait, il y a une zone dédiée à tous ces objets, tout l’étage étant consacré à l’électronique. C’est le lieu idéal pour trouver des petits souvenirs ... read more

We know Manila as the Capital of the Philippines, an overpopulated, toxically polluted and congested traffic Metropolitan where numerous of bad things have already happened and are still happening every single day. From Natural Disasters like Ondoy who stole many lives in just a few hours to regular thieves and other cons doing multiple crimes to People residing within the Metro. You need to have a tough gut to be able to survive in this Chaotically Urbanized Jungle… However, Manila is not all that, there has to be something good amidst all the negativities brought about by this place. As I was researching regarding the unique things to do in Manila, not just shopping and night life, I discovered a feel good romantic experience – the one you’ve watched on the television, where the lead actors ... read more

DAY 1- 1/4/12 Just Landed in Manila Airport...its 5:45pm, so tired even though its the same time-zone as perth, must be just from flying all day. the airport is pretty small and smells weird, like old people, now i have to grab a taxi and check into the Hotel, the hotel i booked into is the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel, its 4 and a half stars. the total amount i have to pay is PHP 5,160 thats like $144.44 australian dollars thats really cheap! while i was checking in i couldn't help but notice the beautiful greenery outside the hotel's garden, so i went to show the bell-hops my room number 123 and while they organised my luggage i wnet to explore the hotel... then i went down stairs to the lobby to check out the ... read more

I'm feeling pretty tired now after the last two days of 'getting my bearings'. On Friday night I was invited out for a meal by my new boss and the team. When I was asked I didn't feel like it because I was so tired but I'm so glad I went. It was a great chance to meet most of the people I would be working with and to eat some Filipino food. Everyone was really nice and they were all welcoming which has put some of my fears to rest. Although they said they wouldn't bully me too much, which I found concerning. Luckily we didn't talk 'shop' for too long as my brain was in no fit state after 36 hours without sleep. I just hope I can remember all their names for my ... read more

While its Asian neighbors have temples and pagodas, the Philippine landscape is dotted with heritage Churches. A legacy from its Spanish colonizers for nearly 400 years. Indeed, much of the history of the Philippines can be gleaned from the Catholic Churches spread all over the archipelago, many dating back to the 16th - 18th century. If you are spending a couple of days in Manila before heading off to a beach destination, you may want to spend some time visiting a few of these churches. Intramuros The highlight of a trip to Intramuros would be Fort Santiago. A fellow Filipino earlier blogged about this, and I think his write-up serves as a good guide in exploring Intramuros, especially Fort Santiago. Directions on how to get to Intramuros are also outlined in his blog. I included a ... read more