So yes, I'm here... in Philippines... 16 hours on plane excluding 3 hrs of waiting in Kuala Lumpur. Feel a bit awkward.. Why are everybody looking at me? It's weird when I'm with my girlfriend walking around in the shopping centre and everybody's eyes look at us... I'm at eurotel makati. Very noisy outside, easy to be run over by a car or jeep (btw what are they, haven't seen any bus here).. And those people who know exactly how to get a tip... hmmm Well it is my first day and I don't like what's happening around the hotel... My mahal got plans to go somewhere else, where I will enjoy. Well, she's gone home now....
Well.... You are there, and that's what counts... Crickey... 16 hours only...??? Do what you need to do, there in Makati and then take yourselves somewhere nicer for a spot of sightseeing... All the best... Kuya is getting sopliced tomorrow.... BTW
12 hours from heathrow to kuala lumpur and 3 hrs 15 minutes from kuala lumpur to manila.. 3 hrs stop over in Malaysia.. Well... it feels a bit down, that parents have such influence on my mahal despite her being a woman already. She explained to me that as long as she lives with them and we are not engaged she has to follow the rules... OMG... that only shows how liberal I am.. We will have to go somewhere furhter coz I don't like surroundings of this hotel.. And the security in the shopping centre next to eurotel.. I wish it was like that in the uk.. hmmm
hi there, well your adventure begins, everybody looking at you, well thats normal you being a westerner there makes you feel like a celebrity dont it the noise ,thats normal also morse so in manila takes a little getting use to, buses? dont hold your breath waiting for one, the jeepney is your best form of transport there and very cheap, wats happening around the hotel? apart from the sellers trying to sell you things when you venture out,im sure everything is fine, just all strange to you right? well try not to worry there your first visit to the philippines you need to relax and take it all in maybe rest for a day get over the travel and your first thoughts, then go with the flow, manila is an exciting place lots happening there, and im sure your girlfreind will make you feel comfortable there and see your safe, enjoy the rest of your stay and like the don says go site seeing and get out and about after a few days you wont wanna come home, wish i was there,now, although i only got back to england on jan 25th after a month stay, enjoy
She said here are many foreigners.. well yes... were... on the plane only... hmmm Noise, I meant even in the middle of the night I have to listen to the horns, loud engines, shoutings even my room is on 7th floor.. I moan a lot but it is my first day... hope tomorrow will be better.. she knows we have to go somewhere coz otherwise i go mental hehehe Like you said... it's all very strange to me.. it is my first time in philippines and being that far from home
The first time incountry is always a bit of an experience.... But don't let the noises and the hustle and bustle frighten you, it is part and parcel of the Philippines, and your girlfriends culture. Give her some rein, let her show you the sights, the parents are rightly worried and so they might have someone chaperoning her while you are there. But don't let that get you down, it is normal, and I suppose you would do exactly the same to protect your daughter, given half a chance. ask her to book somewhere in Boracay for a few days, and enjoy the life.
They are ok with us being alone for the whole day... they are worried that something might happen during night So she has rules to be back home @9-10 ish pm... The same rules I had when I was 17, 18.... My parents after that have never bothered when I come back as long as I was studying well
get use to the noise mate thats manila for you, try inviting your girlfreinds family along for a treat maybe a meal somewhere, filipinos sure like to eat and it will help to give her parents peace of mind once meeting you, its normal for the parents to worry more so with girls, just treat her and them with the respect you would expect that goes along way, have fun , and if you take the dons advice about going to borocay you wont be disapointed its great there good luck
I would go as far as booking a room for her and one for the parents, for an all inclusive week-end at the beach. So you can meet them properly, break the ice and do some bonding, without having to compete with uncles, aunts, nephews, cousins and partridges on the family pear tree. Besides they will be grateful, and may leave you alone with the daughter... So you can whisper sweet nothings...
Like I said we are staying alone for the whole day.. from early morning till late evening. Parents don't mind whether we are in the hotel, going out, etc... But on night she has to go home... Hmmm.. For me it doesn't make sense anymore as we are not accompanied by chaperon at all.. So for me being overprotective is kinda strange.... Today my mahal dragged me to the shopping centre.. I admire the security here.. I wish it was like that in the UK.. At least I feel more comfortable being a "celebrity", I've learnt value of each coin.. Then we decided to eat in the Mcdonald and I forgot my souvenir i bought myself. I dont have to type in my mahal's reaction.. hmmm.. hehe We'll come back there tomorrow to find out whether staff has found and kept it.. Taxis are so cheap when converted to gbp.. and all with aircon We haven't had a opportunity to ride in the jeepney. She didnt want me to use them. We're staying too much in the hotel which I really like but on the other side I would like to go explore Manila too. She wants to stay more in the hotel.. I must think how to make her go out Overall as much as I don't like surroundings of Eurotel, I start enjoying Manila..
Me, I don't care for the jeepneys. It's OK just once for the experience, but that's it. Tricycle is OK for short trips or same as you take a taxi. Why not make a visit to Manila Ocean Park? That's a nice place to go. Also after mooching about they have a Gerry's Grill located there, wow, wonderful romantic dinner overlooking the ocean. MMmm Don't stay in the hotel, infuse the excitment of SE Asia and Manila.
Peter, you share my dream of living there one day, Jeepneys are practical, when I have 7 or 8 people in tow I don't want to pay for two taxis and when I just have the kids and Ana, if it is something simple like going to church I'd rather take a Jeepney, even coming back from the mall if I have had to wait for a taxi because we are in a bad spot then I would much prefer to take a jeepney, I love them. Pic in a jeepney My daughter Janna.
Ocean park is nice but expensive. Is this the restaurant you meant Peter? I am not good at names of places
I have always wanted to see as much as possible when travelling. I like to do all the things that the people of the country do. Travelling on jeepneys and buses will give you a real connection with Filipinos. You will be able to chat, smile with them and see the life that is always there, even when you are back in the UK. Get out there and enjoy the wonderful Filipino people - they are very friendly and curious about you. They will also ask you questions of a personal nature: "Are you married?" "Do you have kids?" "Why don't you have kids?" "Do you want a girlfriend?" The list goes on, it is all very enjoyable, so enjoy, enjoy, enjoy The more you get out, the better you will understand the world of your mahal
Yep, nice photo's oss I'm not in that's the restaurant or not. We sat right by the large windows overlooking the ocean. Gerry's Grill is a chain but always nice quality food and nicely cooked. Not so cheap if I remember. Mind you in typical groups nothing is so cheap I guess from a practical cost perspective with those family groups then the jeepney may offer a benefit. But I'm still not fond of them. If it's just a short hop or just for fun then it's OK, but you really need to be wary and keep a hand on you wallet/phone/etc Most the times I've used jeepney is in Manila, I find it too hot, too noisy, too crowded, too polluted etc etc etc. Outside of Manila I never yet took a real jeepney. Just my feeling. Oh, by the way oss, when I do finally live out in Philippines, there will be very few large family outings. Those are just for holidays
ad4ms3 you should make a point of going out to Mall of Asia take your girlfriend to the cinema that is an inexpensive treat, Ocean Park as Peter says is well worth a visit too. Try and visit Intramuros too, the oldest part of the city in Manila very historic worth a visit.
The worst I ever had was when we had to hire two Jeepney's to take 40 odd family members for a day out at the beach that was 6 years ago, a bit of family bonding never done that since and never will again but they have all been nice to me ever since Often though we have the two kids, Dhang to help look after them, me, Ana, Nanay and possibly one of the kids cousins as a playmate so the jeepney is the most practical thing for us, longer journeys well Carlotta's husband is working as a contract taxi driver and has a big Mitsubishi thing that we can all fit in which is really handy. Ana always worries about my camera and stuff when we travel in the jeepney but I don't, one it's so heavy it's a deadly weapon and two the strap has a steel cable running through it to minimise the chances of it being cut quickly or easily
