Post-covid Manila - Sofitel Manila

Manila - It has been 2 1/2 years since I am back in Manila - with the airports opening up and making travel to Manila easier if you are fully vaccinated with a booster jab. Prior to my trip, I took a 2nd booster just to be on the safe side.

I flew Scoot to manila as the price on SQ was more than twice and for the price of SGD 400+, I had meals and a chosen seat closer to the exit door. My colleagues Willy and Edmund were on the same flight as me. It was full flight and it was packed and it was minimalist flight. The seat distance seems shorter than on SQ, there were no inflight entertainment, and the food trolleys were to serve chargeable meals and drinks. I order food prior to boarding as it is much cheaper and you had a wider selection - it tasted good too.

Beef Kway Teow, chocolate biscuit and a bottle of water

When the plane landed I was taken a back with the utter disorderly the passengers were. The stewardess were no where in sight, all the passengers were shoving to standup and take their bags. I am not sure that they know the passengers cannot alight all at once and all the shoving and standing up first does not make difference <sarcasm intended>.

After we exited the plane all the passengers were stopped by airport authorities with no explanation given - I notice that other passengers from other planes were allowed to passed by us. After waiting for a while, we decided to join the passengers from another plane had overtaken us - we were stopped by airport authorities and asked whether we had e-travel done - we had it completed prior to arrival and we were shown to another queue. This led us into another queue to verify our vaccination status and after that immigration. There was no system to simplify the process.

We turned on the e-sim purchased in Singapore and it worked like a breeze and booked our grab to Sofitel Manila.

Sofitel Manila pool deck

Kid's pool

Chill zone to lie down and relax

Jogging path

There is a jogging path around the Hotel - one round is 500m. Some mornings, Edmund and I took a morning brisk walk around the hotel many times for exercise.

Comments

Calesa around Intramuros

Manila - Together with Albert, we took a calesa (horse drawn carriage used in Philippines) around Intramuros. Albert and Lesley Albert and I Intramuros is the oldest district and historic core of Manila. The walled part of Manila was called intramuros, which is Latin for "within the walls"; districts beyond the walls are known as extramuros meaning outside the walls. Construction of the defensive walls was started by the Spaniards in the late 16th century to protect the city from foreign invasions. Guarding the old city is Fortaiago wich is located at the mouth of the river. Gallery of Philippines past and present presidents General MacArthur Battle HQ Entrance of General MacArthur HQ Manila Hotel Manila Hotel in the distance Manila hotel is the oldest hotel in the Philippines and the most well known icon. Baluarte De San Andres Cannons lined in a semi-circle Colegio de San Juan de Letran was founded in...

Cheong Guk Jang - fermented bean soup

Seoul - Lunch with Youngjin was at a traditional soup restaurant and it was crowded. Youngjin asked me many times Cheonggukjang "ok", I said ok not knowing what to expect. I have tried many weird and smelly good in Seoul, so I was very prepared. My first time tasting Cheonggukjang and I like it. CheongGukJang 청국장 is fermented soybean soup aka Stinky soup. Actually, I like fermented food and the smell does not put me off. I like fermented food because of the many health benefits and also we have them here in Singapore - tempe, belachan, fermented bean curd (which I love with my porridge), chincaluk, etc.. very hot Cheonggukjang I always buy danjang paste and bring home to make soup. I understand that they are the same but the difference is Cheonggukjang beans are uncrushed and are fermented for a longer period of time.

Temple Street Night Market

Kowloon - This flea market is full of quirky, Hong Kong souvenirs and t-shirts to take home. The actual market on Temple Street is in the Yau Ma Tei and Jordan sections of Temple Street. The flea market starts in the late afternoon every day and continues throughout the evening. You can find fake’designer' handbags, sunglasses, clothes, and electronic gadgets. The atmosphere was filled with many tourist of different nationalities. Along the sides were many seafood restaurants, mostly crowded. You will also find fortuner teller stalls plying their trade.

Travelogue around Asia Pacific Part II

Search This Blog