Second Day in Manila

Second day in Manila and already been to two shopping malls, two cafes, a couple of restaurants, and averaging on 6 hours of sleep each night. My holidays "back" home have always been more of jam-packed days with series of appointments and engagements strung up... oh I do enjoy the high and fast life, and exhausting as it may be I just wouldn't feel satisfaction without having caught up with everyone important. And oh we're just starting... Since it is almost always around December when we come home, the holiday becomes an even more elaborate one because of the festive season. Family lunches, dinners, and Christmas functions are all part of the show. Despite of the whole holiday rush, I especially love this time of the year because of how special people really make it to be. One good way of distinguishing the Philippines' unique celebration of Christmas would probably be taking some comments from someone not raised here because they just have a fresher and different perspective. A's words when he first came to visit last year: "wow, this is really different, it's amazing!"

Random bits of these two days... Yesterday was salon day for my mom, as well as A who came again with me. His first time to have his hair cut in the country and I couldn't be prouder that he felt the "workmanship" is impressive. I still am not ready to take him to the local barbershop, so his first induction was in a higher-end Makati salon... we take baby steps; the next time it will be with Mang Rodel just around the block. Ha ha! We had a walk around the new Greenbelt (man, they've changed a lot from before!!!) and had afternoon tea at Bizu - recommended by buddy Char. Today's another day exploring stores and good buys, with reliable merchandise-hunter Char and another good friend Arls. This is like letting loose of some of the self-restraint imposed on "self" in terms of shopping, for now I could at least justify the worthiness of stuff I'm buying relative to price. And these friends of mine have the best retail information as well as sharp eyes and superb taste. Don't you agree that one always needs another who would honestly tell you if your ass looks fat in the shimmery skirt you're trying on, or if you'd better leave a dress on the rack lest you risk looking like a piece of sausage uncomfortable in its wrapping. Ayayayyyy I realised that I've missed my friends so much.

Okay, we've done this last year but almost did it again this year... roam around Malate pointing our real women vs. not-real women to A. He couldn't tell the difference... honestly!?!!! Thanks to Char's uber-cool uber-hip parents who treated us to dinner at Aristocrat where the chicken bbq is most famous (restaurant trivia: they serve an average of 30,000 of the bbq chicken in a month!). That area near the bay has changed quite a bit as well... some of us say that there's not much improvement in the country, but in some ways or another there are bits and pieces of good changes. There are more lights now, the area's livelier with food stalls/kiosks around. It's visibly cleaner but true, needs a bit more push for better. I was cautious walking around with my bag and all, but I didn't feel unsafe.

Just totally enjoying this. For the meantime, there'll be random updates here but perhap not as structured. I'm in holiday high.