Generally a very lazy and quiet day. I walk around Greenhills Mall. What an interesting place! There are regular retailers--clothing, food, restaurants; and there are flea market type vendors--lots of athletic style shoes, watches, handbags; there is an entire section of cell phone and computer shops; there are Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and an internet caf?e; and there is a movie theatre. It seems as if the mall has grown slowly over the years. It is not a regular or easy design, and they are still adding new stores and remodeling some areas. One of the shops sells software for 50P per CD (about 92 cents US). There selection is very good. Hmmmmm.
Later in the afternoon I go up to the roof and enjoy a swim in the pool. The water is surprisingly cool, but after a minute it just feels refreshing! It is very nice on the roof. The view is pretty good, there is a nice breeze. I look down on the nearby highway. Traffic is stop and go. The buses blow their horns. From the distance it sounds like cattle mooing! Later that evening I am at Starbucks where I meet A. She is a professional dog breeder--she breeds Dobermans. Perhaps the security situation here in Manila may be good for her business!
Day 109; Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2004
I take a taxi to the home of J, a lawyer here in Manila who lives near to Greenhills. She lives in a fairly new home with her 3 year old son, K, who is very cute and sweet. J's maid, G, has cooked breakfast and so we sit down and eat right away. J has spent a lot of time in the Bay area of California, and is thinking of moving there later this year to study for the bar exam in July. We talk about law and the law business and whether she should move now or later. All in all a very interesting morning. She then has to go to the office, so we share a taxi back to my apartment and she then continues on.
That afternoon I spend some more time at the pool, and at about 6:00 J and I meet at the movie theatre where we see Lord of the Rings part 3. The last movie I saw was also here in Manila back in November. It is nice to go the movies here--the cost is very reasonable. This time the cost was 150P, about $2.80US. The popcorn was only 50P! The movie was interesting, and long, very very long.
Day 110; Wednesday; Jan. 14, 2004
I get up at 7:00, and by 7:45 I am in a taxi to meet E at the Alabang Town Center. With morning traffic it takes us just over an hour to get there. E is waiting for me at Starbucks, along with her friend E, a realtor, and E's driver, J. We are taking a trip to Tagaytay, and to some resort developments near Tagaytay which E is considering buying property in. We get some coffee and pastry at Starbucks and start our trip. Tagaytay is about 45 km south of Alabang, and is the site of an extinct volcano and the lake that has formed in the crater of the volcano. Except, that it is a double volcano, and there is a small one (with its own small lake) inside the large one.
The scenery and geography in Tagaytay is breathtakingly beautiful, and the temperature is very mild, much nicer than Manila! We stop at a restaurant high on the ridge overlooking the lake and eat breakfast on the deck. What a pleasant place! And, the omelet was very good!
We then drive on to Terraces of Punta del Fuego, and from there to the main Punta del Fuego development, which are located on the ocean about 45 minutes past Tagaytay The Terraces are a new portion of Punta del Fuego, with over 300 lots (none have yet been built on), and amenities (pool, clubhouse, beach cabanas, etc.). It is a very nice and beautiful place. The main portion of Punta del Fuego is about 10 years old and is almost fully developed. There are only a few vacant lots left. Here they have a 9 hold golf course, and the usual resort amenities. Also very nice, and we have lunch at the restaurant at the clubhouse.
We then head back towards Tagaytay but stop at Canyon Woods, another resort development that also has a golf course. Yes, E's passion is golf. Canyon Woods does not have any beach, but it does have nicer weather--it is cooler here high on the ridge--and it is closer to Manila.
We then drive back to Alabang. It is about 5:30 when I get in a taxi, and it is about 7:15 when I arrive back in Greenhills! Yes, Manila traffic is incredible! I get a bite to eat at the mall and then go back to the apartment, where I pack-up for my trip tomorrow to Bangkok.
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