Manila for beginners...
This weekend I played host (briefly) and tour guide for a day to a friend of mine over from HKG for an interview.
I've learnt in the past that showing off Manila for a first time visitor means drawing a very fine line between the reality and the glossy sheen that can fool people into thinking that Manila is clean, organised and sophisticated...which can happen if visitors glide around Makati shuttling between their nice hotel, Greenbelt and Glorietta for shopping, nightlife and dining.
Given my visitor was here for an interview I also had to make sure she knew what the basics for shopping were like, supermarkets, chemists and bookstores being the priority....however, at one stage we did seem to get rather immersed in shoe shopping - which given where we were is probably entirely appropriate!
The day tour of Manila that transpired went something like this....Breakfast at the Philippine Plaza, Glorietta & SM Makati, Greenbelt, with lunch at the Museum Cafe, a quick stroll from the Philippine Plaza past the Coconut Palace, the Folk Theatre and the CCP (aka a whistle stop tour of Imelda's edifice complex, followed by a quick whip around Fort Santiago and Intramuros, a gander at the Manila Hotel, drinks at Cafe Ad, a gentle stroll through Malate (past the Hobbit House) to the Hyatt Casino for dinner at the Fireplace...
Fortunately for everyone, traffic was minimal (except for my trip from home to the Philippine Plaza..what the hell are all those road works on EDSA - it took about 45 minutes from my house to Makati!), taxis were all well behaved and weather was glorious....
And a few photos from the Philippine Plaza...
the ill-fated Manila Film Centre
Makati
Mall of Asia
The Manila Hotel
I've learnt in the past that showing off Manila for a first time visitor means drawing a very fine line between the reality and the glossy sheen that can fool people into thinking that Manila is clean, organised and sophisticated...which can happen if visitors glide around Makati shuttling between their nice hotel, Greenbelt and Glorietta for shopping, nightlife and dining.
Given my visitor was here for an interview I also had to make sure she knew what the basics for shopping were like, supermarkets, chemists and bookstores being the priority....however, at one stage we did seem to get rather immersed in shoe shopping - which given where we were is probably entirely appropriate!
The day tour of Manila that transpired went something like this....Breakfast at the Philippine Plaza, Glorietta & SM Makati, Greenbelt, with lunch at the Museum Cafe, a quick stroll from the Philippine Plaza past the Coconut Palace, the Folk Theatre and the CCP (aka a whistle stop tour of Imelda's edifice complex, followed by a quick whip around Fort Santiago and Intramuros, a gander at the Manila Hotel, drinks at Cafe Ad, a gentle stroll through Malate (past the Hobbit House) to the Hyatt Casino for dinner at the Fireplace...
Fortunately for everyone, traffic was minimal (except for my trip from home to the Philippine Plaza..what the hell are all those road works on EDSA - it took about 45 minutes from my house to Makati!), taxis were all well behaved and weather was glorious....
And a few photos from the Philippine Plaza...
the ill-fated Manila Film Centre
Makati
Mall of Asia
The Manila Hotel
Labels: hotels, Imelda Marcos, Manila
posted by Madame Chiang at 8:00 am
2 Comments:
Apparently one can never have too many pairs of (silver) shoes. :)
And I'm still dreaming of that steak.
You could have brought her to Quiapo.
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