Coron - Stop! It's Hammock Time

Sat 3rd & Sun 4th Jan

This whole area was over-run by the Japanese during WW2 and as a consequence of American bombings, there are several shipwrecks in the sea now covered in coral & other marine life, therefore a big draw for divers. Mat came back from one such dive having ticked off a diving wish & was raving about having seen a huge tanker/frigate/HMS Belfast size ship thingy under the sea.

While this was going on, I was busy making friends with the hammock & with the staff specifically the cleaners. I tried helping them 'walis' (sweep) our deck area but they told me off for doing 'their job' and through broken English/Tagalog we somehow communicated. For some reason, they think I'm Japanese! I think there IS Japanese in my heritage, possibly even Chinese but in the end it was just easier to agree rather than going through my family history via Essex. We stuck to conversations about hair as this was far simpler in terms of words.

In the afternoon, we went kayaking. The last time Mat & I did this was about 5yrs ago in Thailand and the bloody thing capsized because there was a crack in it! Persuaded by a much newer kayak and the fact it matched my life vest (it's the little tjings) off we paddled.

We didn't capsize and we did reach our destination but I did get scared! It was all very well paddling further out to get a better view of the sunset (beautiful) but there was the small matter of the open ocean and its strong currents which I had a problem with so we didn't stay out for as long as Mat would have preferred.

It's bloody hard work controlling a kayak and the whole left/right opposite rowing action to steer, gave us a full arms and abs workout.  I would post pics but wifi signal is very rubbish so I'm likely to break it for other guests if I did this so will post when we return.

It's very easy to forget reality here. The hardest thing that's happened is sunburn after snorkelling in an area where the sun doesn't usually shine. I'm genuinely now in search of a 'burkini' to prevent my arse area from future burnings.  We get to see the most amazing sunsets and play as little or as hard as we want here.

The beautiful surroundings encourage you to forget all your troubles or how hard your struggles may be. If only real life were that easy.

Coron ron-ron, Palawan

Thurs 1st & Fri 2nd Jan 2015

Most of our New Year's Day was spent travelling to Palawan specifically Coron. We fell in love with Palawan the last time we were here over at El Nido and this time round we thought we would venture further up north to Coron and its bay.

Wow! What a contrast to Manila with its hustle and bustle, noise and general big Asian city madness. Everything is so laid back here with its pristine beaches and easy living. Everything here is just on a different pace - slow. I think the only thing similar that our resort has with the Shangri-La hotel is the fact that there are Filipino workers. It's lovely here but there is definitely no pillow menu on offer!

Mat has already done a couple of dives and I have done my version of snorkelling resplendent in my lime green life vest bobbing about on the ocean blue. It's never been a style statement but I get to see lots of marine life while wearing it safe in the knowledge that should I feel nervous, all Mat needs to do is haul me in. Bit like Moby Dick!?!

The clientele here is mostly European and I have yet to see signs of botox or plastic surgery. Everyone seems to keep it real & people are friendly. Lots of local ladies in mini sarongs and I get a hint of misogony but that's a whole different blog post. Hmmm. 

Otherwise, we have done bugger all!
Rest & relaxation is the order of the day for us.

New Year's Eve, Manila

New Year's Eve in Manila was interesting to say the least. After having my photo taken in the Shangri-La gingerbread house, we headed off to MOA (Mall of Asia) by Subic Bay for some food & fireworks and judging from the crowds so did half of Manila. It was crazy! Very much like the taxi driver who took us there. Christ on a bike he was weaving in and out of traffic so fast we might as well have been filming another 'Fast and the Furious'. It was terrifying! I think Mat secretly enjoyed it although for me, a little bit of wee did come out!

At MOA, there were revellers of all variety ranging from whole families with babies and grandparents, teenagers, wannabes & tourists all taking advantage of the New Year entertainment. There was a stage for Filipino celebrities to sing and dance on as well as a fun fair, mini Segway track & zip wire. There was lots of 'One Direction' levels screaming going on but all the good looking talent on stage was lost on us. We didn't have a clue who they were!

We managed to get a table at a Thai restaurant with a verandah overlooking the bay for the fireworks. We did venture down into the crowds by the bay but I found it all to be a little overwhelming. There were quite a few families just sitting down amongst the crowds so it made walking difficult. At times, I wasn't quite sure whether I was treading on someone's head or not, so it was all a little tricksy!

We headed back to the balcony area where it was a little calmer. The fireworks when they came were spectacular. They even had a couple of giant remote controlled planes covered in lights 'flying' amongst them for interest. It was all very cool! We had the perfect view as we were on the balcony directly opposite.

The return back to the hotel could have been a lot worse given the number of people all wanting a taxi home. Some of the taxi drivers were being a tad wanky by either not stopping or pushing their prices sky high knowing that desperate people will pay whatever to get home.

We were lucky enough to find a 'taxi' although I'm pretty sure he wasn't an official one as his taxi sign was of the Blue Peter variety and he took us to the other Shangri-La before taking us back to this one! He was very friendly however and clearly out to make hay while the crowds shone so we weren't too annoyed with him.

We didn't do anything too crazy after this as we had an early-ish flight to Palawan for some fun in the sun.

Happy New Year 2015 ...

... from Manila, EDSA Shangri-La.

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.