Just came back from Manila from a business trip. Our SG traffic congestion is considered a non-event when you compare to theirs. For a short 15km, can take as long as 2 hours to go there. a long distance runner can cover that distance in less than an hour
Seriously, I visited a couple of places to give talks and nearly left my heart there. Among the crowd always got some chio Filipino girl. They are very sweet. The kind you want to bring home to your mother to see.
My impression on their counter security guard also good. Every where I went, the counter security is always a female in uniform. All look very fit and tough. Not the old ones but the young ones. Usually tanned and armed to the teeth. Pistol and baton. But there was one though not so chio but she looks very healthy and fit. I think can tackle me down and beat me to pulp.
When it was time to leave I was at the airport counter and there was served by this Filipino PAL crew. She was also rather chio. She asked if I had anything fragile in the bag, I said "My heart". She was flattered and laughed.
But seriously, the airport really CMI lah. Good thing the new terminal coming up. The aircon not working well and it was very hot. I took PAL. I think it is the airport management and not so much the problem with PAL. I took the morning flight from SG to NAIA T2. No problem because plane is already sitting in Changi waiting to fly. At NAIA T2 for the return, from 6:30pm, flight got rescheduled to 7:35pm and then there I changed gates three times and then finally boarded at 8:00pm but the plane didn't take off until near 9:00pm.
What the press reported is the T1 which Jetstar and I think Air Asia uses. So the immigration queue is very long. T2 which PAL uses is much faster since it is their national carrier. All the baggage must be X-rayed before entering the airport. So got a long line before entering. Then your carry on is X-rayed before entering to the transit area. Oh yah, forgot to add. They got a terminal tax of PHP550. Must pay before getting to the immigration counter.
Manila there is nothing much and I don't recommend anyone going unless on business or you just want to experience the city. The traffic jams are really crazy and it is not their normal roads that just have the jams. It is their highway even! However for internal transfers because you are heading to Boracay or some idyllic beach locations that The Philippines offers, I suggest taking PAL even though there are delays. At least they connect you better to the final destination.
I came back with something yummy and it is their buko pie. Buko is coconut and yes it is a coconut pie. The brand I got is the Orient Bakeshop which is located in Los Baños, Laguna which is pretty far away from Metro Manila.
Orient-The Original Buko Pie Bakeshop Menu - Los Banos, Laguna - Foodspotting
It's along the highway. My host recommended me this because it is the most naturally flavored and least sugared. There is Lety's and Colette's Buko Pie as well but these are very heavily sugared. Verdict of the pie? Really to die for if you like coconut flesh.
I went to lots of places to eat. Jollibee there is a no brainer but over there, Jollibee is a BIG FOOD EMPIRE called Jollibee Food Corporation. They have 4 fast food restaurants under their name. Chow King (fast food chinese), Greenwich (pizza), Jollibee, and Red Ribbon Bake Shop. I stayed at this boutique hotel called the Sulo Riviera Hotel along Matalino St. At the corner of East Ave and Matalino is the cluster of all four of these restaurants.
The thing about the Filipinos is their love for music. I went to a hospital (St Luke's Medical Center), there is a grand piano sitting on the waiting area and this customer just walks up there and starts playing a beautiful number. I went to the Alabang Town Center Mall at Makati, there is also a grand piano outside a cluster of restaurants and this old balding geezer with grey hair just sat down and started playing energetically. After the first number some lady walks up to him, makes a request, he plays and then she sings hitting all these high notes!
Bottom line:
If you are there for business, OK. I don't recommend Manila to anyone. Use Manila as a connection to somewhere else in The Philippines like an idyllic beach location.
Seriously, I visited a couple of places to give talks and nearly left my heart there. Among the crowd always got some chio Filipino girl. They are very sweet. The kind you want to bring home to your mother to see.
My impression on their counter security guard also good. Every where I went, the counter security is always a female in uniform. All look very fit and tough. Not the old ones but the young ones. Usually tanned and armed to the teeth. Pistol and baton. But there was one though not so chio but she looks very healthy and fit. I think can tackle me down and beat me to pulp.
When it was time to leave I was at the airport counter and there was served by this Filipino PAL crew. She was also rather chio. She asked if I had anything fragile in the bag, I said "My heart". She was flattered and laughed.
But seriously, the airport really CMI lah. Good thing the new terminal coming up. The aircon not working well and it was very hot. I took PAL. I think it is the airport management and not so much the problem with PAL. I took the morning flight from SG to NAIA T2. No problem because plane is already sitting in Changi waiting to fly. At NAIA T2 for the return, from 6:30pm, flight got rescheduled to 7:35pm and then there I changed gates three times and then finally boarded at 8:00pm but the plane didn't take off until near 9:00pm.
What the press reported is the T1 which Jetstar and I think Air Asia uses. So the immigration queue is very long. T2 which PAL uses is much faster since it is their national carrier. All the baggage must be X-rayed before entering the airport. So got a long line before entering. Then your carry on is X-rayed before entering to the transit area. Oh yah, forgot to add. They got a terminal tax of PHP550. Must pay before getting to the immigration counter.
Manila there is nothing much and I don't recommend anyone going unless on business or you just want to experience the city. The traffic jams are really crazy and it is not their normal roads that just have the jams. It is their highway even! However for internal transfers because you are heading to Boracay or some idyllic beach locations that The Philippines offers, I suggest taking PAL even though there are delays. At least they connect you better to the final destination.
I came back with something yummy and it is their buko pie. Buko is coconut and yes it is a coconut pie. The brand I got is the Orient Bakeshop which is located in Los Baños, Laguna which is pretty far away from Metro Manila.
Orient-The Original Buko Pie Bakeshop Menu - Los Banos, Laguna - Foodspotting
It's along the highway. My host recommended me this because it is the most naturally flavored and least sugared. There is Lety's and Colette's Buko Pie as well but these are very heavily sugared. Verdict of the pie? Really to die for if you like coconut flesh.
I went to lots of places to eat. Jollibee there is a no brainer but over there, Jollibee is a BIG FOOD EMPIRE called Jollibee Food Corporation. They have 4 fast food restaurants under their name. Chow King (fast food chinese), Greenwich (pizza), Jollibee, and Red Ribbon Bake Shop. I stayed at this boutique hotel called the Sulo Riviera Hotel along Matalino St. At the corner of East Ave and Matalino is the cluster of all four of these restaurants.
The thing about the Filipinos is their love for music. I went to a hospital (St Luke's Medical Center), there is a grand piano sitting on the waiting area and this customer just walks up there and starts playing a beautiful number. I went to the Alabang Town Center Mall at Makati, there is also a grand piano outside a cluster of restaurants and this old balding geezer with grey hair just sat down and started playing energetically. After the first number some lady walks up to him, makes a request, he plays and then she sings hitting all these high notes!
Bottom line:
If you are there for business, OK. I don't recommend Manila to anyone. Use Manila as a connection to somewhere else in The Philippines like an idyllic beach location.
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The gahment I think knew this will happen or rather the car dealers might have paid the politicians to put this policy in place.
