I had a chance to make a few days trip to Manila in the end of Sep.
Manila is the capital city of Philippines, also known as the most densely populated city in the world.
"Jeepney", important public transportation for local Filipinos
The trip schedule has been changed at last minute and I had to take a business class flight.
The flights between Taipei and Manila only takes less than 2hours.
So, it didn't have much difference on the seating of the actual flight but I enjoyed the in-flight meal and the access to the Executive lounge (China Airlines' lounge) at Tapei Taoyuan airport!
Small snack buffet with all different types of beverage and alcohol at the lounge
Lunch menu from Taipei-Manila
I also have enjoyed the nice service and food from the Philippine airlines' business class.
By the way, I chose the Filipino dish for the main course.
"Rellenong Sugpo in Sweet and Sour Sauce" with lemon grass scented steamed rice
A room of the Best Western Premier F1 Hotel
(Official website →http://www.bestwesternpremierf1hotel.com/)
I stayed in the Best Western Premier F1 Hotel, located in Bonifacio Global City (or Fort Bonifacio) which is a clean and safe community.
It's a nice boutique hotel, not too expensive, located in a newly developed commercial district which was used be the part of Philippine Amy camp.
The quality of breakfast buffet was very high
but too many people in the restaurant and had to wait for a while to find a table!
View over the Fort from the hotel. Many buildings are under constructions.
3rd Shangri-la in Manila is planned to open in 2014 in the right middle of Fort district
(Official website →Shangri-La At The Fort, Manila Will Open In 2014 In Fort Bonifacio)
Just a few minutes walk from the hotel, there is a very nice street only for pedestrian, called "Bonifacio High Street". It's a commercial and business complex with low-rise buildings houses restaurants, cafe and boutiques.
"Market Market" which is another complex of a huge local market and shopping mall next to it.
Local market with lots of vegetable, fruit, souvenirs with food court
Entrance of "Market! Market" at night (top left), Variety of local food at food court (top right),
Grilled local seafood at one of the shop(bottom left), Grilled fish set 85peso = 2USD! (bottom right)
I saw Manila is growing. Lots of new buildings, hotels and shopping malls keep opening.
Things are still cheap, many nice fruit and seafood are there and majority of Filipino people speak very good English too!
Of course, there are still issues, such as the income gap between rich and poor, development of infrastructure and so on...
Even then, I think Philippine has a very high potential of economic growth...
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