Philippines Vacation Blog

Not So Friendly Skies

We got to the NAIA with plenty of time to spare. Compared to my previous departures from Manila, the lines weren't as long and things were a little bit more organized and systematic. I did notice a few changes on how the airport operates especially when going through security checks. It was not as time consuming and irritating as it used to be. Kudos to them for the improvement.

The flight from Manila to Taipei   was uneventful as it only lasted about 2 hours. The next leg of the trip was the killer of all. The plane was fairly new with all the entertainment (your own TV screen, movies and music on demand, games) that could make the long flight tolerable. The only and biggest problem was the insufficient leg room and cramped seats. We were unable to obtain seats with enough leg room for the guys so it was quite a pain for them to sit there for hours. We would gladly trade in the in-flight entertainment with better seats. I didn't get any sleep at all.

The layover at LAX was a lot longer than expected. The AA plane had some engine trouble and was being checked on. If I wasn't too tired and sleepy, I probably would have been too scared to board that plane. I was finally able to catch a nap on our way to Chicago. I think I'm going to stay away from planes for a long time ;-)

The Day Before Take-Off

I struggled getting up this morning. I only had about 5 hours of sleep after I finished packing up for our flight to Manila. Mariah's mother came with us to the airport to send us off. I wished my family were there too. I promised Mama I will give her a call once we get to Manila and also before leaving for the US.

We got checked in at the Mandarin Oriental and got upgrades in our room accommodations. We had a late lunch at their restaurant, the Paseo Uno, after which we decided to buy some souvenirs at the nearby mall, Glorietta. One thing I didn't like about shopping in the Philippines was the tendency of sales clerks to hover while you're browsing around. I appreciate the assistance but it could get really annoying and obtrusive for me who's not used to it anymore. It took away a lot of the enjoyment when I felt pressured and watched. Kenny felt the same way too. For some reason, sales people swarmed down on him when we were out shopping for shoes for him last weekend. Some really got embarrassingly pushy and downright rude. Whenever we were inside a store, he avoided them like plague.

I highly recommended the Oriental Spa at the Mandarin Oriental. It is located on top of the hotel. A short flight of stairs leads to an Oriental-style landscaped garden and relaxation area where the four private rooms are located. One of these rooms is specially designed for couples. There's also a relaxation lounge - perfect for drifting slowly back to the real world.

This was my main reason in rallying to stay here for the night. We all got a late night schedule for our massages so it was even better. Mariah and I got ours together in the couple's room while the guys got theirs in individual rooms. We were so lethargic after the treatments that we can hardly keep our eyes open on our way back to our rooms. The guys apparently experienced the same. When asked, they admitted that the Oriental Spa was a tad better than the one at Plantation Bay. The tranquil and healing experience will hopefully prepare us for the long journey ahead.

Up and Away

It was a pretty hot and humid day so we decided to stay away from the morning sun. We signed up to take another snorkeling trip in the afternoon and scheduled  parasailing at a later time. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do the later but I'll try to muster enough courage to do that. Unfortunately, Mariah wasn't able to join us as she had an appointment at the salon for about 5 hours! Also, her mother will be coming back and will be checking in at the resort as well.

Our boat trip was a bit delayed and it was only the three of us who were booked to go.  It was kinda nice to feel like we chartered our own boat or something. Anyway, we were soaking up the experience for the last time.  Everything seemed okay until Kenny and I came back up on the boat for a quick break.  There were a few men who boarded the boat while we were out on the water. Some of them started asking us seemingly harmless curious questions but as the exchange went on, a few of them started selling us their wares. They were showing us jewelries and accessories and at the same time dropping not so subtle hints that this was their means of livelihood. We felt a little intimidated and pressured into buying and when I asked about the prices, they quoted some ridiculous amount for stuff that we can buy dime a dozen somewhere else. They were not menacing but I didn't feel comfortable turning them away. Kenny invited me to go back snorkeling with him again as he sensed the uneasiness in me. The men were still there when we finally got back on the boat so I just blurted apologetically that I wasn't interested to buy and practically urged the boat operator to start heading back ASAP as we had the parasailing scheduled at a certain time.

The parasailing was quite an experience.  I was definitely anxious and my stomach was in knots when we got on the speed boat. Kenny and I went up together at 150 feet. He admitted he was scared of heights but was more excited to go for it. It was indeed a very exhilarating experience and I wouldn't mind doing it again. I was apprehensive when we first went up but once there, I was astounded at how peaceful and beautiful it was, being able to look over the breathtaking panoramic view before us. It was definitely a moment to cherish, more so because I shared it with Kenny.

Tom went up next at 250 feet and was joined by another Fil-American girl named Genevieve. They looked like they had a great time out there too. I gave her my email address so she can email me and I could send her the pictures we took.

It was another afternoon full of fun. I wish we have another day to spend on more water sports activities, but alas! We're due to leave for Manila tomorrow then back to the states on Monday. We went back to our rooms to clean up and made plans for dinner. Kenny asked if we could eat at the Italian restaurant, the Palermo. The food was well prepared and the ambiance was likable. There was even a pianist playing while we were dining. Mariah's mother was definitely digging the vibe and was perhaps a little tipsy from her drink. Can't blame her since I felt a little buzzed from the white wine myself.

We made our hotel reservations at Mandarin Oriental for tomorrow and beelined to the Savannah Lounge for a night cap. There was a lounge singer there but we didn't stay long as we had some packing up to finish. I was also not feeling too well from my PMS. Kenny and I had a bit more heartfelt talk about how things were somehow difficult at times during this trip. We finally opened up on a lot of issues and resolved to sort them out so we can enjoy whatever remained of our vacation.   

Waves R'Us

I overslept and woke up with a foul mood. I didn't feel like talking and Kenny wasn't too happy about that considering the fiasco from yesterday. We finally talked about a lot of misconceptions and after apologies were offered and accepted, we agreed to enjoy the rest of the day with Mariah and Tom. 

We called the Dive Shop to reserve waverunners for the afternoon. We each had our own to ride and it was a lot of fun! We were out there for half an hour but what a blast! I guess it was a good way to blow off steam and let some of the aggression out in a more constructive manner. For me, I just love the feeling of utter freedom in being able to soar above the waves and crashing back into them with much gusto. Thank goodness for the life jacket or I won't have that much courage since I can't swim. Kenny apparently got himself thrown out of his waverunner and was raving about it. He even lost his sunglasses in the process and didn't mind it at all.

We spent more time at the lagoon and explored some areas of the resort we haven't been to.  It's really a very spacious place and not so crowded or touristy. The environment feels a little contrived and artificial but the over-all impression is clean and safe. We revisited the Firing Range and the guys got to shoot different guns this time around. It was quite a novelty for them to be able to fire those guns as it will be more difficult to do so back in the states.

        

We decided to have dinner at the resort's Kilimanjaro Restaurant as we had a taste for familiar American cuisine. I guess we finally had a fill of native Filipino dishes by now. All three of them ordered steaks and I opted for lobster instead. I still like my seafood, I guess. It was a good meal and the company and conversation was mellow. You wouldn't know that the day started kinda shaky by the looks of things.  I sure hope there won't be any of those spats for the rest of our vacation.

We all agreed that we wanted a taste of the Cebu nightlife. A staff from the resort recommended a club called Vudo so we decided to scope it out. We found the club to be playing mostly  R & B music and the clientele of a younger set who were probably there to see and be seen. It's the kind of club where you don't see a lot of dancing but mostly people lounging around. A bit too standoffish for our taste and we never liked those type of clubs even in the states. We went to another area in Cebu where there were apparently some clubs with live music playing. The first one we got in played slow tunes and ballads which was okay but still too sedate for us. Somebody else directed us to a club nearby and we got lucky. The band that was playing then was pretty good. The energy was high and the type of music was more to our taste. Unfortunately, they were on their last set but they did whet our appetite for more. Thirty minutes later, another band performed and it was quite amazing how talented they were. Kenny, who never liked going to these type of events was admittedly impressed. This band played hip-hop and pop music but really made it sound better and new again. We were almost hesitant to leave and even made tentative plans on coming back tomorrow night. Over-all, I have to be honest and say that it was a good night but could have been better if we had more choices of places to go.