Back in the Philippines

I arrived here 10 days ago from the UK. First time in the country since November 2019 due to covid.

I had a few business meetings in Manila. Evenings were free so drifted into the Greenbelt area which is where I like to hang out and watch the world go by. Surprisingly there are many new restaurants which were quite busy but the number of foreigners is down as you would expect. The heart of Greenbelt 3 was always Café Havana, a salsa venue with extensive seating outside the main bar which many expats and foreigners were drawn to. This place has now closed - a victim of the pandemic.

There is now no regular venue in Makati that I'm aware of that one can meet fellow expats/foreigners which is a damming indictment of the (non hooker) bar scene. ( Yes there were a lot of hookers in CH but they on the whole did not bug you.)

There is a place opposite on the other side called Thai kitchen which has a sit up stool bar outside which I frequent for a quiet beer. Service is good as is the food. Problem is the place closes at 10pm.

One evening I headed for one of my favourite restaurants in Burgos, the Filling Station, but there was a big festival on, the street was packed out and it was a pleasant diversion. A mass of colour with live bands and some excellent gothic costumes.

I ended up eating at the Encima restaurant at the top of City Garden hotel (not City GardenGrand Hotel opposite). A regular haunt of mine with probably the best nighttime views of Makati Avenue all the way down to Ayala. Unfortunately the restaurant has changed hands and the pork chops which were to die for were sadly missing from the menu.

Another big disappointment was the G Point bar on Padre Faura in Malate. Sadly this Swedish owned eatery had been going down hill even before the pandemic - it has now hit rock bottom. I guess I was one of maybe 3 or 4 foreigners with a few hookers. That said they still do the best Tacos (in my humble opinion) in town which ameliorated my disappointment.

I am writing this at the Coco Beach Resort on Siquijor island - the place is stunning. I would say its in the top 5 hotel resorts I have stayed in anywhere in the world. Mark Thornton an American blogger based in Dumaguete (90 minute ferry ride away) was here a few weeks back. A delightful island which I toured by motorbike this morning: the views from the highway that cuts through the central part of the island are stunning.

I usually stay at the Atlantis Dive Resort about 10 miles south of Dumaguete but have always wanted to visit Siquijor - the island of witches Stayed at this hotels sister hotel the Coco Grande Hotel for one night in Dumaguete and checked out the Boulevard and the the two popular coffee shops where friend Paul Mcgill (the vlogger) conducts many of his excellent interviews namely Ground Zero & Tom Toms. Last Monday my ferry did not leave for Siquijor until 2pm so dropped by GZ for coffee and there were a bunch of regular expats gathered around a large table - I guess its a weekly meeting.

The night before I ate at a charming restaurant about half way along the Boulevard (sorry forgot the name!) and then had a couple of beers at a live band venue where there were a few expats in conversation with girlfriends (ex hookers).

So mixed experiences so far. Am meeting up with another vlogger in Dumaguete this coming Monday, A Russian guy called Alex Kosh. I am treating him to a restaurant meal as I have found his vlogs informative and dead pan - no humour but this guy interests me. If you get the chance check out one of his vlogs where he is seated on the Boulevard interviewing his Filipina girlfriend (type in Russia versus Philippines) about the lifestyle differences between Russia & the Philippines. I'm not at liberty to tell you how he met her but I've been coming to Philippines since 2001 and you know what? - she is priceless: well educated, attractive without make up, a natural and dressed in that understated stylish Filipina attire.