SOMA FM

Got our water bottle from SOMA FM in the mail. Supporting Groove Salad 🙂 x

Mactan Island

December 5, 2014 Cebu Mactan Island October Philippines Shangrila Hotel Mactan Snorkelling Travels

Last couple of days in the Philippines 🙁

We checked-in at one of the Ocean Club rooms for a few days & went snorkeling most days – which was one of the free water activities to do at the hotel… 🙂

Mactan Shangrila Ocean Club — Mactan Island

10487468_10202316658958026_4655625680768546720_n — Happy Hour

Tarsier Conservation Area Bohol

December 2, 2014 Bohol Philippines Tarsier Tarsier Coonservation Area

The Philippine Tarsier is an endangered species and is one of the world’s smallest primates.

The ones we saw had the height that spans an adult hand, with eyes that look like it was occupying half of its head. It had a really long tail, bony hands and feet. It looked less like a monkey and more like a cross between E.T, a marsupial and a rat (because of the tail, though Kangaroos have long tails too). We tried to be really quiet and to walk around as softly as possible as we were told that they are incredibly shy and solitary creatures.

Broken Churches of Bohol

December 1, 2014 Bohol Broken Churches Churches Eartthquake

#EarlMia2014

September 28, 2014 Cebu EarlMia2014 Philippines Weddings

One of the main reasons for our trip to the Philippines was to attend the wedding of my cousin Earl and his fiancee Mia, especially as my mother was too ill to attend the wedding at the time. We arrived in Cebu from Palawan at lunch time on September 24, with just enough time to drop off our bags and freshen-up for the Soltera that night.

The wedding, attended by some 420+ guests a few days later on September 27, was an opulent affair designed/organised by Earl’s eldest sister Abigail (who we affectionately call BomBom).

Congratulations to the happy couple! x

Out about before the big night at Pino Restaurant — Not the Soltera – out about before the big night at Pino Restaurant

1661773_951690254841101_4349310725377792728_n — #EarlMia2014

My glamorous cousin BomBom, informal wedding planner & stylist extraordinaire — The very glamorous BomBom, informal wedding planner & stylist extraordinaire

Earl & Mia from A City Without Art on Vimeo.

150782_955012274508899_5657331727150156765_n — #EarlMia2014

Picture Perfect Palawan

September 20, 2014

Day 1: Island Hopping

We finally made it to Puerto Princesa, Palawan. One of my maternal grandmothers live there with her husband and their young children – so we were very lucky, as we had a very knowledgeable local to show us around 🙂

In front of lola's grotto — In front of lola’s grotto

They take eco-tourism very seriously in Palawan, so there are lots of bicycles and pedicab bikes available for hire. This is at the Baywalk. It’s a bit like an Ai Wei Wei installation… 🙂

Island hopping - on the way to Cowrie Island — Island hopping – on the way to Pambato Reef and Cowrie Island

Lola brought some snacks - Boiled Camote & Saba Bananas — Lola brought some snacks – Boiled Camote & Saba Bananas

Eat all you can seafood buffet for $A 5.00

Airport Chaos

September 20, 2014 aiports airports of the world Manila manila airport typhoon season

On our way to Palawan. Airport after Typhoon Mario 🙁

Suki Suling at Manila Domestic Airport — Suki Sulking at Manila Domestic Airport

Manila Manila – Postcard from Vienna

September 17, 2014 Carlos Celdran Fort Santiago Greenhills Old Manila Philippines WakWak Walk This Way

We’re only here 4 days but what can we say, Manila is full on. Here is the view from our balcony from WakWak in Greenhills. Not many hills and only a little green…

Except for the exclusive golf course to the right for the lucky few. Everywhere else, as far as the eye can see, are built-up.

Wack Wack Greenhills in Manila. Thank you to Dominic Hing & Maan Ngo for looking after us. — Wack Wack Greenhills in Manila. Thank you to Dominic Hing & Maan Ngo-Hing for looking after us.

Craig (my partner) wanted to see something historical and somehow came across a walking tour online called “Walk this Way“. It was being run by an artist called Carlos Celdran at Fort Santiago in Old Manila. I didn’t really know what to expect, as I didn’t know the artist (only what Craig and I read together online); nor much about Fort Santiago- despite the fact that my father’s family used to live in and had businesses (which all had fallen into disrepair and sold over the decades) in a nearby place called Ermita (some 2 kms away). So being the clueless Filipino coupled to the even more clueless foreigner, I tagged along.

It was a very powerful show, despite the simple production values (one man with a few props) and we learnt something about Philippine history too. I’d say this tour is definitely a better way to see Manila, and worth the effort to go to, even if you are short on time. It gave humanity and context to what seemed like a chaotic city on steroids.

The Crowd at Walk this Way — The crowd at Walk this Way

Walk this Way Walking Tour by artist Carlos Celdran

Part of the show was a ride on a Kalesa (a horse drawn carriage) through Old Manila, with the Kalesa driver (in costume) acting as a guide as well. It was a really fun way to get around – to be out in the fresh air, with the feint scent of the horses and hearing the musical clip-clopping of their shoes. I’m not really sure if I’ve ridden in one before or not. My mom told me in passing once, that my maternal great great grand-father composed a song about Kalesas before I was born (I never had a chance to meet him). So I’ve always had a soft spot for one because of that. Also I was born in the Year of the Horse 🙂