JUNE 15-22, 2014: MANILA, PHILLIPINES Part 2

MANILA, PHILLIPINES Part 2

JUNE 15-22, 2014

We arrived in Manila at about 3:30am Monday morning.  We went through immigration, Amy got her stamp, we claimed our luggage, and walked through customs.  We came out into this one room area that was old, decrepit, and just had a few people sitting with their carts of luggage.  We had no money.  We had forgotten to get our paper printed maps from Vernon so we just had our maps on the laptop.  I then realized I didn’t even know the exchange rate or what the currency was called here.  Sort of forgot to look up that detail.

We found a foreigner and casually asked the exchange rate.

We found an ATM and figured it out and got out money with I hope only a $2 charge.  We had a security guy who kept trying to help us and tried to offer us a ride for $1500 pesos (Philippine Pesos) but we didn’t take it.   

We went outside because we had a map that we thought would help us find the subway so we could get ourselves to the hotel, but we just were in a hole and couldn’t figure out how to get out.  We finally went to the metered taxi station and took a taxi to the hotel.  We decided that if we could get there for $20 or less, then we at least didn’t spend as much as the security guy tried to sell us.

We did arrive at the hotel safely and for about $600 Pesos.  I hope we did OK.  Sort of stressful.  I don’t like being taken advantage of and getting ripped off.

We checked into our hotel and took showers and went to sleep. 

 Our "door key" or rather a "door stick", sets in a slot to turn on 

the electricity in the room.

 About 1pm we got up and got ready for the day. 

We checked email and I found out that Dad sliced his finger pretty good this morning.  He went to have it checked but they didn’t give him stiches so they just cleaned it up good and there was no cost!!!  Dad was a happy camper.

We signed up to take a free hotel shuttle to the mega mall and then walked up the street a bit as we waited.  We found an ice cream cone at 7-11.

 The mega mall is huge!   

We walked around a lot and found a nail salon that has big fluffy bright pink chairs in it that we think would be fun to 

visit on a “Pamper Self” day.  

This dental clinic had te most clever door handles!!!

 We found an atrium area with lots of people gathered and figured out some sort of celebrity was coming.   

At the top of the mall, in the midst of all the noise and "hub-bub" is this chapel.

We ate dinner at a Japanese restaurant called Teriyaki Boy.   

Amy had Sushi and I had Teriyaki chicken.  It was good and we were both happy.   

 Amy's meal was a piece of art.  The sushi were lines up like a dragon's body with a cray fish head and tail at each appropriate end.  It was fun!

 We saw the singing star, Shane Falin, as we left and he was signing autographs.   

 

We grabbed a few snacks and microwave popcorn at a grocery store before we caught the shuttle back.

We relaxed in the hotel room, ate popcorn and watched “The Magic of Ordinary Days.”

 The bag from the grocery store!