Back from Manila

It's been a week since I came back from Manila and still, the red luggage I used for the trip is not fully unpacked and definitely not stowed yet. Yes, what a lazy bum, huh?

My defence is that I will be packing in a few days again for that 5-day R&R trip to Hong Kong with the husband. We are leaving this Saturday, yippee! We've had these tickets since May when Jetstar had a sale and by golly, I got them really cheap - S$240 each, return, inclusive of all taxes and charges. Great price, no?

The return Manila ticket I bought for this last trip (Aug 25-Sept 2) was a bargain too at S$245 net, courtesy of PAL. I got that ticket sometime in May too and when I did, I must have specified that I wanted a special meal because on both flights, I was served ahead of everyone and given a low-fat, low-carb meal. Surprised on both occasions, my first instinct upon being handed the meal was to check that it wasn't all a mistake. But lo and behold, the foil lid of the main dish always had my full name scribbled on it.

The 'surprise' factor even extended to my seatmate on the return flight who couldn't help but exclaim, 'Wow, a special meal! May I see what a special meal is like?' and she promptly wrinkled her nose when I showed her the boiled chicken breasts and mushy, overcooked vegetables which all tasted like paper pulp. Eww.

I was feeling so at-home at home that I didn't take any pictures of where I went and what I did. Suffice it to say that I topped up on my happiness bank by spending time with my dad, my siblings and their small families. I was a happy aunt for a whole week to my 2 nephews and one so adorable, pretty niece. Ah, what bliss!

Some highlights:

1) Had my first-ever gimmick at the Rockwell area, in this place called Cantinette ba? Arrgh. Basta, its the one just beside Starbucks and Good Earth. Lovely area, Rockwell. It's one of those places in Manila where you could almost convince yourself that the Philippines is not a third-world country.

2) In contrast, I saw more poor and downtrodden families sleeping off their hunger and despair right on the side streets of Malate -- a place I navigate by everytime I am in Manila as my sis lives in the area. Normal sidewalks in the day transform into stretches of sleeping quarters at night for families, many with little children. They just really lay neatly on the sidewalk, their heads to the walls, their legs towards the street, with only an open umbrella over the child for protection. Honestly, I don't know how to describe my feelings when I see these scenes: it's a mixture of shock, pity, outrage for them, anger at them too, despair, helplessness and an overwhelming sense of guilt for not doing anything to help them.

3) I was unknowingly parted with my ATM card for a couple of hours in Greenbelt before I realised what had happened. With thoughts of online theft and monetary catastrophe in my mind, I darted off immediately to the customer service bay on the ground floor for help. Lo and behold, they had my card! They said they had been paging for me a few times already but I of course remained stupidly impervious. Whew! Close call there.

4) Finally got to see the Serendra scene after reading so much about it online. The place is very nice, so abuzz with energy and so crowded too. We had dinner at Larry's bar (their salpicao is muy delicioso!) and then bought 10 cupcakes at Sonja's to share between 8 people. My so uninformed take on it? They all look so pretty and would rather use them as centerpieces instead. The taste? It tastes like any cupcake with very sweet icing. (I told you I am uninformed about these things.)

Will add to these when I remember more. For now, let me go pack for HK! (Boohoo, there will be no Lester to show us around town during this trip. He'll be in Japan then, is why.)

:)