Manila, Philippines

When we left Hong Kong last Saturday, 2 Feb, it was cold and raining. As you can imagine we were glad to leave that weather behind.Just 2 hours later here in Manila it was 23ºC - lovely and warm.

After clearing Immigration, collecting our luggage and Customs we got a taxi to our hotel in the Makati City area of Manila, arriving about 3pm in the afternoon.Hercie (Neil's girlfriend) had gone to meet us at the airport but as I had been unable to get a signal on the mobile we did not know and missed her but she soon arrived at our hotel.After unpacking we went out for a walk and then went to Manila Bay and an area called Intramuros (an old city area which is walled), stopping for dinner whilst we were out.

On Sunday Hercie, Liah (her sister-in-law), Liah's son, Justin and Liah's sister, Lala collected us in Liah's car and we all went to Taal Volcano in the Tagaytay area.It took about 2 hours to get there.We took a boat across Taal Lake and then walked, or should I say hiked, to the top of the crater which took about 50 mins.It was very hot.There were horses to hire if we had not wanted to walk.Liah was the only one who rode part of the way up and down, changing part of the way back again letting Justine and Lala ride.At the top of the Volcano, which was still smoking in parts, there was a large lake in the crater.Hercie bought us a coconut, the liquid was lovely and cool and then we ate the flesh, delicious.After Taal we went to a seafood restaurant called RSM in Tagaytay for lunch and then on the the People's Park Palace.This was built originally by President Markos and must have been some place when it was built but unfortunately it is just a ruin now.However the views from the top were fantastic.

Liah had some trouble with her car overheating and we had to keep stopping to let it cool down and put water in the radiator.As it was a long way back to Manila we stoppedon the way back at Hercie's home.Her mother was surprised to see us there when she came in (she had not been expecting to meet us until Tuesday afternoon when we were going over for dinner), but made us very welcome insisting on making us a meal before we continued back to our hotel when Liah's car had cooled down again.

On Monday we had intended to go to Corregidor Island in Bataan to see the runs of WW11 but unfortunately it was fully booked all week, so instead we visited the Mall of Asia. This is an extremely large shopping mall that has only been opened about 18 months and is the largest Mall in Asia.In the centre of the Mall is an Ice Skating Rink and we watched a young girl practising.

On Tuesday morning we set off to go on a boat trip around Manila Bay but when we got to the ferry terminal they informed us that the trip was not running that morning due to a harbour inspection. (We seemed doomed not to do the trips we had planned). However they said we could go over Cavite on the 11 am ferry and return at 1.30 pm.The ferry crossing was about 50 mins each way.We decided to do this.Cavitewas very poor and we just walked a little way into the area around the port - it was extremely hot and we were glad to get back to the air conditioning.

Hercie came to collect us from our hotel about 4 pm and took us to her home where we had a very nice meal.

On Wednesday we had arranged a car and driver to take us to Pagsanjan Falls in Laguna.Hercie was about to come with us.It took about 2 hrs to drive to the falls.We then got into wooden canoes with 2 boatmen.They took us up over about 10 lots of rapids, some of which they dragged the boats up over steel rollers.It took about an hour to reach the falls which were fabulous.The scenery was amazing, we went through a deep gorge which must have been at least 300ft high.We saw a monkey high up in the trees and lots of dragonflys.After spending some time at the falls we drove up to Lake Caliray in Lumban and then also saw Lake Laguna (the largest lake in the Philippines).The scenery was beautiful.We returned to our hotel about 5pm after a truly amazing day.

Today, Thursday, we walked to the local Shopping Malls, some of which are still being extended.Hercie came over this afternoon about 4pm and we went for a ride in the Jeepney (local transport).We had previously rode on a Tricycle on our return from Hercie's home on Tuesday.

We went over to another Mall called Greenhills where they have the largest Jewellery Market for mainly pearls we have ever seen.Here we tried our hand at bartering which was good fun and bought one or two items.We then went back to Makati and had a meal before Hercie left us to return home and we walked back to our hotel.

Tomorrow we return to Hong Kong for another week.