Shangri-La la la la

To continue the Truman Show theme here in Manila, we've moved on from our 'business hotel' (we're still trying to work out how) in Makati to hang out for a couple of days at one of the Shangri-La hotels here. We or rather I opted for their original one in EDSA Quezon City because a) they were doing a good deal. b) Andy Murray & a bunch of other tennis players stayed here for a tennis tournament. c) I'm easily impressed.
d) I wanted to be somewhere nice for New Year given that most of 2015 will be fairly shit.

As expected this place is wonderful with lots of well fed guests enjoying the superb amenities on offer. I, of course, am loving the people watching and have already noted the numerous beautiful, well kept, well botoxed and surgically enhanced women here. I fit right in me!?!

The hotel is situated next to a 'mega mall' with this particular one so 'mega' , amongst other things it's got a bowling alley and a 'One Direction' world in it. Mat won't let me go in to say hello to Zayn or Harry but maybe after breakfast I'll sneak in....

Yesterday afternoon was spent breaking my cousins with a climbing session. We found a climbing wall nearby and as they had never done it before they were raring to go. It was very, very funny and Mat even got invited tojoin a bunch of hard core climbers for an outdoor climb which he had to decline as our schedule wouldn't allow it.

Our evening dinner was at an amazing restaurant called 'Cafe Juanita' where the food was incredible and the decor even more so and super crazy!  It was as if an eclectic hoarder had taken acid and decided to display everything they ever possessed. From dolls, chandeliers, lampshades, cuddly toys, rocking horse (?!) to interesting suitcases and boxes they were all on show.

Today, New Year's Eve should be fun. Due to not having enough space in our luggage for my ballgown or Mat his tuxedo (as one does), we are having to decline tonight's Venetian Ball complete with masks here at the Shangri-La. Instead we are keeping it real and heading over to Subic Bay by the sea for some fun and fireworks shenanigans. Having seen the fireworks public safety announcements on TV here I'm hoping it's not going to be too out of control.

Happy New Year's Eve all!

Manila mall-ing

I read somewhere that the words 'the mall' comes from the words 'them all' because you don't just have one shop, you have 'them all' hence 'the mall'.

Not sure how true this is but this is certainly the case for Manila where I don't even know how many malls exist here there are so many. You name any well known store or brand and they have a presence here. From high end Bulgari, Rolex, Cartier, to everyday M&S, Body Shop and Top Shop they literally all have an outlet. In addition, there are floors full of haberdashery, craft stuff, sweets, food etc. It will never cease to amaze me how much a country of contrasts the Philippines is given how much poverty exists but I suppose you could say that about any country and it is what it is.

Most of yesterday was spent exploring around said malls and in the evening we met up with a couple of our cousins and their girlfriends for a Thai food extravaganza at a restaurant called People's Palace. The food was incredible but the service could have been a LOT better.

Afterwards we got to have abit of a wander hanging out with Manila's beautiful elite in the Makati district. I felt like I was in the Truman Show where everything & everyone is perfect, poised, posing or pristine. A bit like Essex on a night out you could say. If only 'real life' were like this!

Lowlands heat

Sun 28th Dec

To avoid getting caught up in yet another traffic snarl up as experienced yesterday we departed at the ridiculously early time of 6am for my familial hometown. Well away from the cool uplands and definitely way, way hotter. We are definitely in the tropics here.

Right now it's just gone 10.30pm and the noise of cicada is all I can hear.... and a remix of 'Bang Bang' featuring Jessie J, Arianna Grande and Nicki Minaj. There's a festive party of some description in the next village, the DJ's speakers are turned up and they are going for it!

It's been a good opportunity to just chill out today, have a laugh with my cousins, eat 'palabok' and get myself a home pedicure complete with nail polish for the princely sum of 90p. Mat got a full shave to remove his beard for about 50p. Amazing! We are Manila bound tomorrow where I suspect prices are not going to be as favourable.

Baguio Traffic Blues

Following the excesses of the three day festive period, we thought a stroll around 'Burnham Park' and a visit to 'Mansion House' would be great to blow the cobwebs except we couldn't. Or rather the crazy traffic prevented us from doing so!

It took 2 HOURS to move approximately 3 miles so after a pitstop of a mango smoothie we returned home. Ridiculous but apparently because most of Manila seems to be here in the cooler uplands for the Christmas period and there is limited road access here, it was no big surprise. Just very frustrating!

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & Boxing Day 2014

Aside from when I was very small and still believed in Santa Claus, I've never really been one for Christmas and all its related commercialness. It all seems a bit too much and forced jollity to me although I do appreciate the tinsel and baubles or bubbles in my case.

What I do love about it is the chance to catch up with family and friends over good food, drink & general merriment which we certainly got to do these last three days.

The main event chez my Filipino family during this festive period is Christmas Eve where a big party took place full of said good food & drink & general merriment.

Most of the day was spent welcoming various guests and helping prepare for the evening meal. Well, I say 'helping' but it was probably more getting in the way!

No expectation or pressure of major Christmas gifts either. Everyone is asked to contribute a small unisex gift as part of a 'secret Santa' type gift exchange & games are played afterwards. What brilliant fun! We had such a laugh & got to make ridiculously strong mojitos for all. The wifi also wasn't working at this point so everyone was forced to interact with each other and not just sit there staring at a small screen social media-ing.

Christmas Day was more of the same with an added visit to 'Camp John Hay', essentially a large park with various entertainment facilities. It was full to bursting with people & at one point as a result of overcrowding, confusion & general d*ckhead behaviour from one entitled other customer in a posh cake shop we were in, there was nearly a full blown Christmas Day argument! You can take the girl out of Essex... Honestly, it would have made a good film scene!!
Christmas Day evening was spent playing cards ('Shithead') & consuming vast amounts of booze till the early hours. Good times!

Boxing Day was again more of the same but this time, Mat and I treated everyone to his legendary coconut curry for dinner (made by us whilst listening to the Bee Gees) followed by a visit to 'Baguio Craft Beer' to yet again corrupt my cousins, this time with strange tasting beer. Of all the places, in all the world, a craft beer place!

Headed east and it's not Upminster

Tues 23rd Dec

So as mentioned previously, we've headed to the far east for Christmas and New Year to visit the mothership that is the Philippines. Previously, heading east would have meant Essex although Philippines isn't so different what with the prevalence of dressed up good looking people, big houses and the liking of bling here.

The flight over on Asiana Air was fairly non-eventful helped by the use of business lounges which made the whole experience *that* bit more civilised. The highlight for me was the self cleaning heated toilet at Incheon Airport in Seoul which as cultural highlights go is up there.

Having left our lively hotel (another word for noisy) in Manila, we've ventured north to Baguio to get over jet lag, celebrate Christmas and meet and greet about 50 relatives of varying degrees of cousins. It's lovely up here but wifi is patchy and telephone signal even patchier so blog posts is problematic.

Current highlight seen so far is  giant statues of superheroes such as the Hulk, Superman, Spiderman, Shrek etc and many more next to a giant statue of the Virgin Mary. It was all very odd but really well done! We were going too fast in the car for me to take a photo but will definitely get one. Seeing is believing.

Black Friday

Last Friday, while everyone else was fighting over a television and/or debating what colour shoes to get, I was told my cancer is back.

Obviously, as bad news go I would have preferred being told "the 50% off promo code is no longer valid for your purchase" but the shoe range at UCH is none existent so this wasn't to be.

It turns out that the rib pain I have been experiencing on my left side recently is a small tumour and there are spots on my thigh bones, sternum and lower back. Oh the wonders of an MRI scan! Lots of tests still to be done but my treatment is likely to start in January.

Because this time around the tumour isn't on anything major such as my spine like last time (consultant's words not mine) my treatment isn't so immediate. I therefore have December off from major medical procedures so life at least continues as normal for now. I'm still going to work and Mat and I are currently planning some R&R in the Philippines sun for New Year as it will be some time before I can go anywhere tropical again.

I'm a little nervous and scared of my upcoming treatments but only because I now know about the unpleasantness that is to come. I have even cut my hair short again in anticipation!

Mostly however, I'm very pissed off, truly vexed in fact. F-ck you cancer. Battle lines are drawn and I'm ready for another fight. Rocky did beat Apollo Creed in the re-match after all.

See you at ringside.