Business Trip in Philippines

05 April 2006

Early in the morning at 9am, took KLIA Limo to airport from my house alone. Since I was the first customer to the LIMO driver, so end up I pay RM62 + RM4.40 (all in coins). Who cares since he was fine with it.

Got down from the LIMO, passed by the moneychanger and tell you what, KLIA RHB bank can get better rate (RM7.52 for 100 Peso) as compare with moneychanger in KLIA. A bit sad cause already changed in Ampang Park with rate RM7.55 (After bargaining with the boss).

Today consider lucky, can have window view seat, so when the flight took off, I can see a nice view of Selangor, all the palm oil farm looks different front top. Another nice view was the flight in the middle of the cloud, I really felt like floating on wool world, if can I want to feel the feeling of hugging it, must be fantastic (if possible la:p). From KLIA (1215) to Manila airport (1600) is around 4 hours with Boeing 737 (small and sempit plane.. haha), everything seems fine. But trying to land that time, the plane like tergesa-gesa mao landing and hit the lane and tak sempat break, YO!!!! Like riding roller coaster in Genting, I heard a girl screams also..kaka. Hmm, when the moment I stepped in Manila airport, the thing appeared in my mind was “HAH, SO ULU, not even can compete with our old Subang airport. Then of course we went to look for our Mandarin Oriental Hotel Taxi, again the waiting room do not have air-con and outside weather is hitting 34 Celsius, what the heck!!! HOT AHH!!!!


Finally check-in to our hotel in Makati city, not as bad as kok wooi mentioned, overall is quite good but the spa service is super expensive man, cheapest is 1600 peso for 30 minutes body scrubs, so still thinking want to have a try on it or not before we back to Malaysia. Just rest for a while, me and christabel ran out for shopping at near by mall, Henry even though was tired but terpaksa ikut la. Actually we planed to go Glorietta but end up we went to Landmark (Macam old Giant Hypermarket) cause sesat. HAHA… Weird thing happen, how come has male & female entrance one aiyoyo which just next to each other but will come out at the same place…. Since we were in Landmark, we fast fast went to find snack to feed our stomach while waiting for Henry’s friend (Maria) come to meet us at 2030 in GreenBelt. Guess what we have?? Jollibee.. akekekeke… this is so called best fast food in Phillipines and some said USA.
Hahahaha…. After that we ma go to get some dry mango for all the monkeys in company lo hoh, wah really have in landmark, me and christabel so damn the happy & count how many we need to buy. 5 for me, 5 for her, 5 for Henry, 5 for Yeekin already 20 packets. Then we decided to have 5 also for company, happy happy put 25 packets in a baskets like so poh then end up Henry said buy one first la for tonight .. tomorrow only come to buy again. So we ma leave the basket over there without putting it back:p. We also seeing salted egg in the market, which Malaysia one is black in color but Phillipines one is purple.

We round and round and round to find the way to Greenbelt. For your information, all the shopping malls here are linked with sky bridge like our SG.Wang area but here of course nicer. But the air pollution here is quite serious, as well as sound pollutions. They fully utilize their horn one, suka suka horn suka suka horn, damn noisy & make you scared if you not Filipino, if you were the driver (Left side) I think you will damn frustrated. We able to meet Maria at Sentro Restaurant in GreenBelt3 for dinner. After the dinner she took us for a ride in Manila. She accidentally took the wrong turn so we have chance to have a look in real Manila or old Manila, is really ulu like 30-40yrs back punya Malaysia. No street light, old building, a lot of samseng berkeliaran there, scary lo. Then we saw a haunted sign everywhere in that area which is a lady in black showing a silence sign. Just for our curiosity, we asked Maria what is that sign for. She said is a place like hostel but not meant for sleeping only (Smart smart la hah, know what she trying to say la hah). So next time you see this sign, is up to you to go in or leave the place. Heeee… But Makati City is totally much more modern like what we have in KL even though is just next to Manila. Another nice place to hang out in Makati is Bay Walk. In there, there are a lot of local famous live bands having their concert near by the seaside. Oh ya, Maria did bought us Filipino famous food called “Balot” which is unborn duck egg. Dare not to try at all, even when open that time already feel want to vomit. Wonder how come Filipino like it so much. Ok time to bed. –end-



06 April 2006

Went for breakfast in PesoUno restaurant in hotel then departs to meet Globe people in Mandaluyong city (Commercial city) at 0945 (Hotel Taxi Fare = 500P because is out of Makati, if is within Makati is 165P). Around 1200 the driver fetched us to Barrio Fiesta for local food.


We ordered Sinalab (Sizzling seafood platter), Sigang (Pork Sour Sup), Seafood Butter Rice, Adobong Kangkong (Siu Yuk fried Bayam) and gulaman sago (local drink). The Sinalab is decorated with cute seaweed look like transparent green grapes. After that of course need to work again la, so we went to meet lawyer Jimenez in Legaspi village, Makati at 1430.Surprisingly we finish early at 1545, so we have an excellent spa massage in The Oriental SPA for 90 minutes that cost us 3000P per person. Is super tupper expensive and going to eat bread liao when back to KL. The spa package including body scrub with chocolate and coconut follow by body massage with essential oil. This time I really go for “whole body” massage, no more shy shy. Akekekeke…
Dinnertime we picked Masas in GreenBelt that recommended by Maria. Liquor in Manila is cheaper than in KL. So I ordered one cocktail called frozen kamikaze, taste so so only but able to make you pening pening ler. Full already we rush to get dry mango as at Landmark but unfortunately all shopping mall close at 9 o’clock. So we back to hotel with empty hand tonight. Hope to get it tomorrow afternoon.

Tomorrow is time to back to Malaysia after meeting SMART people, no more time to explore Makati City in Manila. But basically nothing much you can do here except shopping. Everywhere is stuffy, air and sound pollution, a lot of Chinese restaurant here, Korean karaoke and strict security as you go anywhere also need to being check even in shopping mall, every taxi want to enter to hotel lobby also need to check car boot. They have one special small bus called “Jeepney”, you may see most of the gal wear same pearl earrings, all taxi driver are F1 drivers here, damn scary & their car also tampal sini, tampal sana. One last thing is, I think they like bee one lo, most of their shops also ade bee one.

07 April 2006

Ai… how come every time I overseas sure got something funny happen in Airport one. Last time is could not meet my friend in Bangkok airport and now is nearly miss the plane back to Malaysia. We reached airport at 1450 and our plane will leave at 1520. 30 minutes left and MAS counter already closed. Not able to check in & we seek help from the officer there, they all very kind & rush here and there to make sure we get into the plane. All the way we just run to this counter that counter and terminal by cutting people queue. Damn cemas. Actually is the officer there make us cemas if not we won’t run.