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    • All Balot Bohol Boracay Cebu city El Nido Malapascua Manila Palawan Panglao Port Barton San Fernando
      El Nido

      El Nido and the Bacuit Bay

      March 26, 2009

      Port Barton

      Port Barton and the Pagdanan Bay

      November 8, 2008

      Palawan

      Coco Loco island and resort

      October 9, 2008

      Malapascua

      Malapascua island

      July 11, 2008

      San Fernando

      San Fernando Crucifixions 2008

      May 31, 2008

      Panglao

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      December 23, 2007

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      Cebu City

      November 19, 2007

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      November 8, 2007

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      Arriving in Manila

      November 1, 2007

      Balot

      Eating Balot

      October 28, 2007

      Philippines

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      October 28, 2007

      Balot

      Eating Balot

      October 28, 2007

      Bohol

      Bohol

      November 25, 2007

      Boracay

      Boracay island

      November 8, 2007

      Cebu city

      Cebu City

      November 19, 2007

      El Nido

      El Nido and the Bacuit Bay

      March 26, 2009

      Malapascua

      Malapascua island

      July 11, 2008

      Manila

      Arriving in Manila

      November 1, 2007

      Palawan

      El Nido and the Bacuit Bay

      March 26, 2009

      Palawan

      Coco Loco island and resort

      October 9, 2008

      Panglao

      Panglao

      December 23, 2007

      Port Barton

      Port Barton and the Pagdanan Bay

      November 8, 2008

      San Fernando

      San Fernando Crucifixions 2008

      May 31, 2008

  • Thailand
    • All Ao Nang Ko Phi Phi Ko Samet Koh Chang Koh Lanta Koh Lipe Koh Maak Koh Ngai Koh Phangan
      Ko Samet

      Revisiting Koh Samed: The easy island destination from…

      August 27, 2020

      Koh Kood

      Koh Kood: The ultimate island getaway

      June 9, 2020

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      April 22, 2020

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      Exploring beaches on the Northern coast of Koh…

      April 5, 2020

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      Beating the crowds in Koh Ngai

      March 27, 2020

      Koh Lanta

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      Koh Chang

      Koh Chang on the eastern Gulf coast of…

      March 12, 2020

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      May 16, 2010

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      February 17, 2010

      Ao Nang

      Railay

      March 22, 2020

      Ko Phi Phi

      Koh Phi Phi Islands

      February 17, 2010

      Ko Samet

      Revisiting Koh Samed: The easy island destination from…

      August 27, 2020

      Ko Samet

      Week-end in Ko Samet

      May 16, 2010

      Koh Chang

      Koh Chang on the eastern Gulf coast of…

      March 12, 2020

      Koh Lanta

      Two days stop on Koh Lanta

      March 23, 2020

      Koh Lipe

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      March 31, 2020

      Koh Maak

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      Exploring beaches on the Northern coast of Koh…

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      August 21, 2010

      Ho Chi Minh City

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      Cua Dai beach

      Cua Dai beach

      August 29, 2010

      Halong Bay

      Day trip to Halong Bay

      May 24, 2010

      Hanoi

      Hanging around Hanoi

      November 8, 2010

      Ho Chi Minh City

      Long week-end in Saigon

      June 7, 2010

      Hoi An

      The ancient town of Hoi An

      August 21, 2010

  • India
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      Goa

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      January 16, 2010

      Varanasi

      Varanasi

      December 8, 2009

      Delhi

      Old Delhi

      November 30, 2009

      Delhi

      Old Delhi

      November 30, 2009

      Goa

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      January 16, 2010

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Vincent Vanderveken.com

Take some time to see the world a bit before you leave it

Manila

Arriving in Manila

by Vincent November 1, 2007
by Vincent November 1, 2007 7 comments

My 1st ever stop in Asia starting with a five day exploration of the city of Manila…

makatibynight.jpg

It sure is different than anything else that I’ve experienced before but if you’re like me and only seen North America & Western Europe it’s quite understandable that you’ll be in for a surprise. At around 16 million inhabitant in the day time and countless undocumented residents Manila is the biggest city of South-East Asia and actually ranks 19 one the list of the world’s most populous metropolitan areas. So it’s not a small place to start off in Asia but the first thing that yo notice you as you get out is the boiling heat! Especially when arriving from a very chilly October Paris morning the day before as I embarked on this journey…

Then the airport itself. Arrivals are sealed off from any visitors by the police. You actually have to cross the street from it to where the greeting sections is to meet family or friends which is split by last names alphabetical order. After that came my first taste of the local police “customs”. My flight was 30 minutes early and none was there to pick me up as planned. To make things worst my cell phone didn’t work in the Philippines and after waiting waiting a while a cop noticed me and asked me if I needed help. He was kind enough to have one of them keep my luggage while he took me to a sari-sari and help me buy and get my a new local SIM card activated & working on my cell. How nice of him I though taking all that time to help me get things done but of course after that he was quite adamant about wanting a tip. Estimations put the figure of their income as 10% of their official salary & 90% of bribes and other extras. This is the one of the few downsides of the Philippines but hey don’t get me wrong in their vast majority it is hard to find people as hospitable and nice as the Filipinos. Besides two or three of these sorts of encounters with the police and a few cab drivers that refuse to put on meters there’s been nothing but kindness.

Also be prepared with the idea of seeing guns everywhere as armed security guards are in front of virtually any restaurant, shop, bar, bank, gas station, etc. Further more you will be frisked & your bags checked whenever entering a mall.

security.jpg

So don’t worry if a pistol-grip shotguns armed security guard opens you the door of a Mc Donald’s, at least you’ll know your safe from the threat of the Hamburgler coming to rob the joint!

Anyways to get back to my arrival story… Two hundred pesos lighter I was able to reach Leif on his cell who was stuck in a more than usual heavy traffic and had been for on his way for about 2 hours already. They soon arrived and offered me my 1st San Miguel for the long trip back to our hotel that would take another 2+ hours.

We eventually took a break and went for some food in the middle of that as we weren’t getting anywhere and the heat and pollution was slowly wearing us down.

The other thing to get used to in Manila is the way of driving where red lights are considered as suggestions and lanes there for mere decoration. I was surprised to see my Norwegian friend take the wheel sometimes and master quite well the whole driving concept of the Philippines.

Finally arriving at the Camelot hotel of Quezon City (one of the sixteen cities that compose the Municipality of Manila) and well greeted by the staff. My 10% rebate for being a friend of ‘Sir Leif’ was effective immediately. The good thing about the Camelot is it’s Dungeon bar downstairs that has some excellent live music. Making it a great place to start your evening or otherwise just have a calm night without having to go very far.

And now for a few snapshots of inside my room

The price is around 1300 Philippines Pesos per day (30$ or 20€) you can BOOK HERE

Quick view outside the room’s window

A little view of the city of Makati taken from the Conway’s bar outside terrace

Another picture this time facing the other side of Makati the rich financial & commercial hub of Manila

Shangri-La hotel and its bar with all u can drink beer/cocktail/wine for 500 pesos (7euros) from 5 to 9pm (very pricey by Filipino standards)

Not a bad looking is it the Shangri-La Hotel Makati (prices for rooms start at about 12 times what I paid at my hotel)

After a first night in the center of Manila we headed for a more relaxed evening in the Marikina valley which is on the outskirts of Manila

A little fresh air and a bucket of 6 San Miguel light what can you ask more for 200 or so pesos ($4.60 or 3.20€)

Not always easy to follow those Viking drinking habits for a week ( 6 days on, 1 off). Leif-Gunnar’s trademark expression: “Vince, this is no f****** vacation colony” slowly but surely took all its meaning as the days went on…

Don’t these two make a nice couple! An ecstatic Leif showing his is true blue love for San Mig Light!

and now me getting explained the basics in Filipino food

Back in our hotel with Leif’s friend who plays in a band downstairs our hotel at the dungeon bar that has some awesome music. I was extremely surprised with the quality of the bands that played in Manila. Actually of all the Philippines.. Awesome rock cover bands.Reminds me the good old 80’s ( I know I’m getting old 😉 ) where is was all about live music and not some lame boom-boom/DJ music like its mostly all over now.

The famous Jeepneys of the Manila ! The local public transportation buses. A modified longer version of the world war II American military jeep with lots of flashy colors added. Each has its own specific name on the front and the routes they take is written on the sides. So just hail one as it passes by to hop on the 12 pesos fare shouldn’t ruin too much your budget.

Another cheap alternative (15-20 pesos) to the Jeepney is the Filipino tricycle which is simply is a motorcycle with a sidecar.

Rear view

Here’s a look closer look at what a tricycle looks like from the inside & out

The staff from the hotel bar who invited us for an afternoon BBQ at their home that went on into the evening… I got to say it’s hard to find people as hospitable and nice as the Filipinos. That evening was one of the best.

lovely little shrine right next to our hosts home

Four cases of San Miguel later the discussion went on strong about Stewart’s experience about his ongoing year and a half off world trip around the world

Here comes the Balot!

Balot eating techniques explained by a professional (read my previous post if you have no clue of what’s going on)

Pictures of trendy greenbelt of Makati. Nice to see with all the nice bars, restaurants, etc. but too much like US/European of a place. Here are some of the restaurants of greenbelt: Sentro

Ebun…

& Portico

PS: a suspected car bomb exploded the day of my arrival to Cebu next to it in the Glorietta mall parking. 8 dead few hundred wounded.


Bubba Gump shrimp co. Another themed bar ( Filipinos love them) from the Forest Gump movie


The hobbit house is a Lord of the ring themed bar on Mabini Street. What makes this bar special is that all the staff & even the owner that runs the joint are midgets which makes its theme of a fantasy hobbit tavern even more real… A must see. Added to that there’s also live acts playing there daily that range from folk music to stand up comedy depending on the evening.

Here is a friend Sheila who was nice enough to come along with us twice. Oh what a pretty sight she was….

Guard at intramuros the oldest part of Manila with fortress and buildings dating from the Spanish era

Here is the San Augustin church in intramuros

Goodbye Manila for now… Time to embark on our journey to the tropical Island of Boracay!

AsiaBeach of the PhilippinesCityconway'scowboy grillHobbits houseIntramurosIsland of the PhilippinesLuzonmakatimanilaPhilippinesSoutheast Asia
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Vincent

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Eating Balot
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Boracay island

7 comments

John Stap November 4, 2007 - 5:26 pm

Hi Vincent,

Congratulations! It really takes shape!

I was wondering, you show a photo of the awfull balot eating dare and in the text you say something like : If you don’t know what I’m talking about, see the last post.

Is it possible to insert a hyperlink to that article?

For the rest, I would have loved to be there with you, except for the balot dare….

John

Reply
montse March 26, 2008 - 9:58 pm

Hola Vicente :
me ha gustado mucho tu reportaje, y ver fotos que yo he vivido , mi marido
no se atravio a comer un balut.
nosotros estuvimos en Cebu city viviendo 4 meses.
salamat thakns

Reply
Renay Brousseau May 30, 2008 - 4:25 am

Vincent , i liked all the taken pics i saw. i was at Malina for 3 weeks and for sure i am going back there. i have some pics also. I did like to stay there and if i was able to stay there always, i like all the people i meet overthere, every body ( mostly ) are smilling and nice also easy to talk with.

If everything is fine i should be back overthere by June 2008 or latest July and i will marry my love one,, and after we will see or i stay there if i can i would it…

Everybody should once in their life visit these countries, full of colors all around us.

Thanks and continue to place pics.

P.S”: sorry for my english because i am from Québec.

Reply
Greg Bernacchi December 17, 2008 - 7:42 pm

It’s been many years, but I’ve seen a significant part of SE Asia…and the author is right, it’s hard to think of any other country (anywhere!) where the people are more friendly or hospitable.

Reply
blazepsi July 14, 2009 - 11:43 am

Really nice pics… love the Port Barton Pics. Spent my childhood life in Pagdanan.i use to go to the islands u go to. theres not much link related to pagdanan beaches. glad i found in in yours. keep it up…THANKS…MISS to go HOME already…SUNSETS aahhh… :'(

P.S. hey i wonder what camera u r using. spectacular detail and color. maybe NIKON or CANON SLR. ill be suprice if sumthin elese…let me know…THANKS…

MORE POWER…

Reply
Vincent July 14, 2009 - 12:04 pm

Hello Blazepsi,

Thanks for the nice comments. I am simply using a Digital IXUS/IXY 800 IS compact camera. With proper sunlight any picture looks great in Palawan due not to the photograph but the stunning beauty of the region.. 🙂

Regards,

Vincent

Reply
Emthrees November 22, 2015 - 7:03 pm

I really enjoyed your pics of the city. Phillipines is one of those countries I may never get to visit though.

Reply

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Vincent Vanderveken

Make sure to take some time to see the world a bit before you leave it

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