Looks like I will be spending a good two weeks there in the new year. So, besides from sitting in a cool mall all day long, what can I do to keep myself and Joy occupied? Keep it clean......
Wish I was over at the same time Sean, we could have fun showing you around, Makati has lots of things going on but it's expensive compared to other places, the best times are to be had in company. Lots of good food, lot's of good malls, lots of dodgy entertainment too, you got to remember it's business city and as such is focused on that. Greenbelt is probably the most upmarket mall and Cafe Havana in Greenbelt is nice, good music at night and a nice atmosphere, not too expensive either but not ultra cheap. You are better off down near the bay in Malate, taxi should be at most 100 peso. We have simple tastes, there is a great pool hall in Malate that is very close to our favourite Korean restaurant, all the malls have cinema's and a wide variety of food, you should not miss Star City on the Pasay Malate border, it's not anywhere near a western a amusement park but the denizens of Manila love it and it's just a fun experience, be warned the queues are enormous almost all year long. There is a carting track near Star City, never tried it but it looks fun. There are loads of Museums in Metro Manila but in Makati I only know of http://www.ayalamuseum.org/ you should definitely visit Intramuros "The walled city" in Manila proper one of the places that was ruined by the Japs and Americans in WWII, lots of fighting there you can still see the bullet damage on the walls of buildings. In that historic vein you should also take a boat trip over to Corregidor island, the contrast is huge, you are suddenly after 20 minutes on this island in the middle of Manila bay with huge mountains covered in trees and no people and very very poignant ruins from WWII. Also check carefully in advance what is on at Araneta Coliseum in Quezon as sometimes there are major acts doing concerts there. Last time I was over Kylie was there but we were skint so could not go, not that I am in slightest a fan of Kylie but I would have gone just for the experience. I will try to remember some other places we have been to but as I said Makati for me equals work as that is mostly what I have been doing whenever I was there, it's clean (ish) modern and very western and some bits are genuinely pretty but is is a business city.
Oh I forgot to mention Corregidor has clean air for the most part the pollution is missing and skies are blue
I would agree 100% with oss. But also just for fun try a stroll down Ayala Avenue. Experience the different feel of the Central Business District. Do some people watching. The Makati Stock Exchange is just at the end of the Avenue. See the movers and shakers rushing around and marvel at those beautiful people. It's a very different perspective of Metro-Manila. Another very different experience can be had at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial What a beautiful and serene place. You'll be amazed. Promise
well, well, well.. everytime I'm in Makati I just go shopping and eating as OSS said you can go Star City, Ocean Adventure and Manila Zoo since it's not far from makati anyway And if you love seafood you can go near mall of Asia or star city where you will find fresh seafood market and on the side are many restaurants. First you select and buy your fish or seafood, then select a restaurant where they can prepare your just bought ingredients the way you like it. They only charge you for the cooking, rice and drinks Oh I miss going there!
Oss is that in adriatico the korean restaurant you were saying.. I forgot the name of the restaurant though.. prince/palace??? oh can't remeber it
Oh, nearly forgot a treasure. The Pasig River Ferry. It is really a great way to spend an hour or so just cruising going to Intramuros. Some very eye-catching and memorable photo opportunities to be had, including Malacañang Palace, shanty towns and the ever present kids jumping and swimming in the river. Well worth the trip. Fantastic
Yeah the one right on the corner sa circle, I can never remember the name either, there is another one a couple of doors down which I think is the 'Korean Palace' but I have not tried that one, the restaurant on the corner is great Cafe Adriatico which is a lovely European restaurant is only 20 metres away, but it burned down a few months ago very sad as they had been there since 1976 but they are rebuilding The old Library which was just a few yards down the road is now gone because they are building a new tower block, still not finished, but the Library itself has moved to new premises just off Nakpil street, still a great place for a good laugh .
I forgot the zoo I was there a few weeks ago Ocean Park the Aquarium is not bad either, but it is western prices, really not cheap for anything.
The zoo Yaosha, Ana, Janna, James, Orub, and Yobin, sadly I have forgotten the name of the lovely wee lassie in the pink top, she is yet another of Ana's niece's, Nene's daughter but totally forgotten her name (they are calling her something different now to what her name was 5 years ago, very confusing ) All family
The actual zoo I worked out that if they really wanted to the Tigers could get out, it was a bit scary really look at the trees and the back wall.
Thanks guys... Suddenly I am looking forward to Makati and Manila in general more and more... Well, I will no doubt be taking tons of pictures.. Hopefully from there too. And... Nice pictures oss
You should take Joy to Baclaran Cathedral as well Sean but be careful it is a dodgy area, I know you are an Atheist but these places should be seen for many reasons, Baclaran is a huge concrete church that is often full, I estimate capacity around 3000 maybe 4000 people, it was so similar to St Mirin's Cathedral back home but just scaled up 3 or 4 times, really huge place. The odd thing is the contradictions of the street retail palace that surrounds it, it leads one to think so much of the story of Christ getting angry at the money lenders and hawkers in the temple, wild place but very interesting. Floods in front of the cathedral. (these are all just snaps not up to my proper standards ) Artisans of Baclaran Bits of the market
Guns of Corregidor. Sleep my sons........ (broke my heart being there and thinking of all the war stories of my father, although he did not fight in the east, but it was still such a connection to the calamity of WWII) Corregidor is the tadpole shaped island group Don't want to spoil it for you so no more pics it is a spectacular island Sean.
Agreed worth a walk even in the heat of summer which is what Sean will be experiencing next Feb-March
You'll be fine I got trapped there April 2010 because of the Iceland volcano, loved every minute of it. We've also been in Boracay in (Phils summer) April back in 2007 I think, now that was hot but wonderful
