Author Archives: sheg4184

Cooking up a Storm in Saigon

Posted on 15 October 2011 by sheg4184

Our day started at dawn. We were to meet Chef Bao from the Vietnam Cookery Centre at the Ben Thanh Market in downtown Saigon. Chef Bao proved hard to miss. Dressed in his white chef’s jacket, he was shaped just … Continue reading →

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Sailing across Lake Ta’al

Posted on 12 October 2011 by sheg4184

As a relative newcomer to Manila, I have been trawling the guide books and the memories of long term residents for good day or weekend trips out of Manila.  I quickly discovered that Tagatay and Lake Ta’al tend to be … Continue reading →

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Housekeeping in Tondo

Posted on 9 October 2011 by sheg4184

Brigada Eskwala is an initiative designed by the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) and organized by the Head teachers, to clean up and refurbish schools for the beginning of the school year. As part of a nationwide effort to raise … Continue reading →

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Lu’s

Posted on 4 October 2011 by sheg4184

We found Lu’s on a busy, wet Friday night after a string of unexpected turns. Firstly, the rain had prevented us walking to our intended destination, and it apparently prevented the taxis coming our way, too. We ended up walking … Continue reading →

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Messing About in Boats

Posted on 3 October 2011 by sheg4184

There are few holidays as peaceful as drifting down a river in a boat. Or as Ratty puts it so blithely in Wind in the Willows, ’there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply … Continue reading →

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Kapampangan Food Safari

Posted on 2 October 2011 by sheg4184

Last weekend I joined a convoy of cars and a small coach bound for Pampanga. It was my first trip further north than Quezon City, and I was wide-eyed with curiosity like Alice down the rabbit hole. As we left … Continue reading →

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Skipping the Light Fandango!

Posted on 28 September 2011 by sheg4184

I recently spent a delightful evening with a friend at the newly refurbished Diamond Hotel on Manila Bay for The Ambassadors Spouses Fashion Show and Charity Gala. Barely through the front door, we were swept up and delivered to the … Continue reading →

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A Bridge to the Future: The Tulay Ng Kabataan Foundation

Posted on 27 September 2011 by sheg4184

“There are thousands of children living in the streets of Manila who have broken all bonds with their families. Victims of violence and of drugs, they survive by begging, by stealing, by prostitution… living totally in the margins of society.” … Continue reading →

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‘Walk this Way’ through Intramuros

Posted on 27 September 2011 by sheg4184

As the title suggests, this is a walking tour. But for those of you who fear a long hot trudge through the streets of Intramuros, rest assured, your guide and entertainer Carlos Celdran is not so masochistic. This three hour … Continue reading →

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Chinese New Year in Binondo

Posted on 26 September 2011 by sheg4184

Our special Chinese New Year Edition will begin at 8am on the dot from the Binondo church on the edge of Chinatown. We reach the purple fire truck at 8:02am but can’t see a tour group anywhere ~ they weren’t … Continue reading →

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