Tag Archives: Philippines

5 Things I Love about the Philippines

Posted on 18 March 2012 by sheg4184

A moment of reflection on a quiet Sunday afternoon led to five things I love about the Philippines… 1. Security In the malls, hotels, schools and apartment buildings of Manila, I love being met by security guards who scan under … Continue reading →

Posted in Local Culture, Philippines | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on 5 Things I Love about the Philippines

A Tropical Christmas

Posted on 15 November 2011 by sheg4184

Is it a little early for Christmas tales? Not in Manila, where the scent of Christmas has been in the air since late September. My guidebook says Filipinos pride themselves on having the longest Christmas in the world, and so … Continue reading →

Posted in Food & Wine, Local Culture, Philippines | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Tropical Christmas

Manila: City of Contrasts

Posted on 5 November 2011 by sheg4184

An oxymoron is something that consists of incongruous, disparate or contradictory elements. For me, the word oxymoron describes Manila perfectly. And the first jarring disparity struck me almost the minute I stepped off the plane at Ninoy Aquino International Airport: … Continue reading →

Posted in Local Culture, Philippines | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Manila: City of Contrasts

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 →

Posted in Philippines, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

‘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 →

Posted in Philippines, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Walk this Way’ through Intramuros

Downtown Manila

Posted on 26 September 2011 by sheg4184

It was my first adventure into the wilds of Divisoria. Wide, tree lined boulevards along Manila Bay suddenly narrowed into streets choc-a-block with pedestrians and push carts. The car was forced to a slow crawl, and eventually to a standstill, … Continue reading →

Posted in Food & Wine, Philippines, Travel | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Downtown Manila

Tea with a Twist

Posted on 12 September 2011 by sheg4184

The first bowl washed the cobwebs from my mind – the whole world seemed to sparkle A second cleansed my spirit like purifying showers of rain A third and I was one with the immortals. Chao Jen, The Way of … Continue reading →

Posted in Food & Wine, Philippines | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Tea with a Twist

Travels with My Daughter

Posted on 12 September 2011 by sheg4184

‘Gorgonians, black coral, shells, turtles, rays, grunts, jacks, snappers, and… soft corals.’ Luscious names that rolled off the tongue and tempted us to dessert the shopping malls of Metro Manila, rest our blistered feet and explore further afield. My husband … Continue reading →

Posted in Philippines, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Travels with My Daughter