Getting around town in Metro Manila can be a challenge when the sun is up. If you are a first time visitor don’t think that you are going to rent a car and go sightseeing. I have noticed that the countries traffic laws are suggestions not mandatory, as it seems no one follows them. If you need to squeeze in to traffic from anywhere just blow your horn and make your move, most all drivers will accommodate you. If there is the slightest hole that you think you can fit, stick a wheel there and see if you can. If you need to make a U-Turn from the right hand lane across 4 lanes of traffic, no problem, blow your horn and get going.
Renting a car, I don’t think so.
Monday, February 28, 2005
Ayala Park from the top...
Although the malls are big inside, designers make sure that the outside of the buildings is taken care of too. Because the malls are places to take family trips and gather to see your friends they offer parks, such as this one outside of the Glorietta Mall in Makati. These parks are used for a variety of things such as concerts, artistic visual displays and showcases for corporations.
Metro Manila
Being a small nation doesn’t stop this country from being rich in architecture. In Makati City there are literally dozens of tall buildings. Some that rivals New York. Most are state of the art with atriums and elevators that feel like they are moving at the speed of light. It is also has it pitfalls as walking around to photograph these building can be hazardous to your health as with cities the traffic and smog in the air can be quite bad for you.
Sunday, February 20, 2005
The Gruper - served with head intact...
The restaurants in along the bay in Manila, called Harbor View. It is near the US Embassy. The eatery is one of many that are located on a pier that extends out into the bay. You dine on the pier. The atmosphere is great. As you enter the restaurant that food is showcased in fish tanks and you can pick directly from there or have the waiter pick for you.
Before cooking
Tiger Lobster. These can reach in sizes of 1kg or 3 to 4 pounds. This one is about 900grams. Brought to your table so you can tell the waiter ok enough parading, go cook it.
After cooking - yummy
Before coming to the country I was never a big lobster fan. I think the only reason was the size they were at local restaurants in northern California. I come to this country and the seafood choices are plenty. The size of these creatures is great. This one shown is 900kg or about 2lbs.
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Roadside Convienence
If you are in the US and you were on the freeway and need to use the restroom, you find the next exit and hope you had a gas station to fill your needs. If it was an emergency you would just pull over and relieve yourself there. Well in the Manila for the guys at least along the EDSA highway there are portable facilities for them to use. They units really stand out with their pink color. The only people that really notice they exist are tourist. Sorry ladies this was not designed to be unisex. There is a pipe in the back for the guys only.
Monday, February 07, 2005
After trip through the falls
A local tribe has been making money for years by faring tourist on a bamboo raft under to and through the falls. They would stop for at least 10 minutes under the falls giving you a very invigorating natural massage.
One thing that stood out as we were there is the Japanese tourist that would take this trip in street clothes and take on the falls ride fully clothed. Everyone else wore swim clothes.
Some history:
Pagsanjan is most famous for its falls. The town itself dates from early Spanish times and lies at the confluence of two rivers, the Balanac and the Bumbungan. Indeed legend has it that the name of the town derives from the Tagalog word "Pinagsangahan" meaning 'juncture.'
Founded in 1578 by a Spanish Franciscan friar, the town quickly became a center for local trade because of its strategic location. In 1668 the Governor of the Philippines formalized the status of "town" and the newly created parish chose Mexico's Our Lady of Guadeloupe as the town's patroness. It must be remembered that Governance of the Philippines by Spain was indirect and in fact the local Spanish authorities reported to Mexico, which was the principal trade route to Europe at that time.
One thing that stood out as we were there is the Japanese tourist that would take this trip in street clothes and take on the falls ride fully clothed. Everyone else wore swim clothes.
Some history:
Pagsanjan is most famous for its falls. The town itself dates from early Spanish times and lies at the confluence of two rivers, the Balanac and the Bumbungan. Indeed legend has it that the name of the town derives from the Tagalog word "Pinagsangahan" meaning 'juncture.'
Founded in 1578 by a Spanish Franciscan friar, the town quickly became a center for local trade because of its strategic location. In 1668 the Governor of the Philippines formalized the status of "town" and the newly created parish chose Mexico's Our Lady of Guadeloupe as the town's patroness. It must be remembered that Governance of the Philippines by Spain was indirect and in fact the local Spanish authorities reported to Mexico, which was the principal trade route to Europe at that time.
Pagsanjan WaterFall
When we reached the falls it was one of the best sites I had seen in this country. The water was just pure. The return trip was less exciting as the rapids were real easy to traverse.
This was a trip that I truly enjoyed and hope to do it again soon.
This was a trip that I truly enjoyed and hope to do it again soon.
Pagsanjan WaterFall
When we reached the falls it was one of the best sites I had seen in this country. The water was just pure. The return trip was less exciting as the rapids were real easy to traverse.
This was a trip that I truly enjoyed and hope to do it again soon.
This was a trip that I truly enjoyed and hope to do it again soon.
Up and down the river...
Going up the river was easy at first, as boats all were lashed together with rope and pulled by another motorized canoe. Once we reached the rapids it became hard on the boatmen, as they were our only source of. Put they took it in stride, as this is what they had been doing all of their life. When we reached the first rapid it became evident that this river was special. The river is in the middle of deep cliffs on both sides that stretch almost half mile up, covered in vines as if we were in a jungle. Later I found out that this river was famous. It had been featured in the movies, Apocalypse Now, and a couple of the Chuck Norris movies Missing in Action. At each of the 13 rapids the oars men would drag the boat the across the rocks to get us up river. Twice during the trip up stream we had to exit the boat as they couldn’t lift my boat mate and myself without damaging the boat. Which was hard to do as the back of the boat was splitting anyway. During the whole trip we were taking on water. The oarsmen were constantly bailing out the boat.
Rafts, yeah right!
Pagsanjan, Laguna PHILIPPINES
This trip was sold to me as a rafting trip on a level 1 river. So I am thinking the American River and a big raft. To my surprise after the 2-hour drive from Makati City was that there were no rafts.
Our mode of transportation would be real skinny wooden boats controlled by 2 oarsmen who would traverse upstream along this river. The boats were not built for people my size. As I sat down in the boat, the water was well below what it would normally be, We were given what the Filipino boatman called a life vest, which consisted of several pieces of Styrofoam in orange fabric. I figure if we capsized I would get rid of mine as it would more than likely drown me. As we went up the river you could see families who used the river as a source of recreation and to make a living. Kids were playing in the deep channel and women could be seen washing clothes.
This trip was sold to me as a rafting trip on a level 1 river. So I am thinking the American River and a big raft. To my surprise after the 2-hour drive from Makati City was that there were no rafts.
Our mode of transportation would be real skinny wooden boats controlled by 2 oarsmen who would traverse upstream along this river. The boats were not built for people my size. As I sat down in the boat, the water was well below what it would normally be, We were given what the Filipino boatman called a life vest, which consisted of several pieces of Styrofoam in orange fabric. I figure if we capsized I would get rid of mine as it would more than likely drown me. As we went up the river you could see families who used the river as a source of recreation and to make a living. Kids were playing in the deep channel and women could be seen washing clothes.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Which way do I go
The children’s playground is the tomb where they hop from one tomb to the next. It is just a big concrete park to them. This is where they grow up and learn the names of the dead and help those like my friend find love ones after years of being away.
A place for the living?
In most big cemeteries in the Philippines they are not only occupied by the dead, but by also families that live there. Some are paid by the families to take of the tomb or mausoleums. And some are just squatter that claim a spot of land and set up their home. This spot of land is usually in a mausoleum or near it. During bad weather they take shelter inside the bigger enclosures.
Tomb hopping
Last weekend I had an interesting experience, A friend of mine wanted to go visit her father who has been buried in one of Manila’s best know cemeteries, North GreenHills.
From the Makati city to Mandaluyong City it took most of 90 minutes to traverse the Friday morning traffic. Upon arrival you are greeted with vendors selling everything from candles to flowers.
We eventually found the road that her father is supposed to be buried near. This is where it gets interesting.
Her father is in a tomb that is considered a condominium. In the Philippines space is at a premium so the dead are stacked on top of each other if you don’t have enough money to actually buy a plot of land.
To get to the tomb we had to walk a distance. This included something I and most westerners have never done, walk between tombs and if necessary on top of them to get to a stairway that allows you to get to the tombs that are stacked on top of each other.
From the Makati city to Mandaluyong City it took most of 90 minutes to traverse the Friday morning traffic. Upon arrival you are greeted with vendors selling everything from candles to flowers.
We eventually found the road that her father is supposed to be buried near. This is where it gets interesting.
Her father is in a tomb that is considered a condominium. In the Philippines space is at a premium so the dead are stacked on top of each other if you don’t have enough money to actually buy a plot of land.
To get to the tomb we had to walk a distance. This included something I and most westerners have never done, walk between tombs and if necessary on top of them to get to a stairway that allows you to get to the tombs that are stacked on top of each other.
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Leg room???
The truck is powered by a 3-cylinder engine and even has air conditioner. The legroom for us that are a little taller is not much. Not much head room either. the truck runs a total of $7K US. The dealer was happy to let me try it out. Even took pictures to show the general manager.
Not my size
To all my friends that know me, I am not a small guy. But this is definitely a one size does not fit all issue. This 2005 Yamaha made pickup truck was being showcased at one of the malls in Manila. I figured why not try it out.
Monday, January 10, 2005
Caddy and Umbrella girl
Being an avid golfer in the US I have never played where someone else carried my clubs or catered to me while I was on the course. But low and behold at every course here a caddy is a requirement. And because of the temperatures in the country a umbrella girl is a good idea. Meet Fernando and April. They are the people that help me navigate one of my favorite courses in Manila, Villamour GC. This is a course that is located on a Philippine air base and is open to the public. The sole reason for the umbrella girl to is to keep the sun off of you. Regardless of what time you tee off it is hot and humid, usually around 85 to 90 degrees with 65 to 80 percent humidity, more so as it gets to be around 10AM until dark. So if you want to experience the feeling of being on tour and having someone give you the yardage, knows every break in the greens as well as speed then you should make a trip here.
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Driving range ball boy
I am an avid golfer. I will play and practice every chance that I get. In the Philippines as in most Far East countries golf is considered a rich mans sport. As such every amenity is afforded to the player. This includes the driving range. At the range you arrive and a range boy comes over and gets your clubs. You choose your practice stall and then he will go and get the balls for you. In the US on the range you go get your own balls and place the bucket next to you and tee them up yourself. In the Philippines the range boy sits inside of your stall and tees the ball up for you. When I first encountered this he made me nervous the first couple of swings, because I kept thinking I was going to hit him. After a while you get used to his presence and continue on with your practice. Most practice facilities have clay as the base of the stall instead of a mat. This makes it difficult to work on shots that you are trying to shape or check your divot for as it pertains to your line up.
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