2014
I’m a bit behind, but here is a visual snapshot of our 2014.
Manila
WHO’s vaccinations?
Just before we left Manila Eilidh had her 4-month-vaccinations. Our pediatrician noted that Eilidh’s next round of vaccinations was due at the end of July, when she would be 6 months old. At that point we would be in Spain. Just. So one of the first things I needed to do, when we arrived in …
What if it rains?
You park your car. You pay your fee to park your car. You go and do whatever it is that you need to do. You’re a bit longer than you thought you would be. You go back to where your car was parked. And there is no car. All there is, is a note on …
Easter in the Philippines
Easter, or Holy Week, is a big thing in the Philippines. So big that even all the shops and most restaurants close. For 2 whole days.Greenbelt is a big mall near to where we live. It is a mixture of buildings and green space, with a large semi-open-air chapel in the middle of it. On …
Christmas in Manila
When we first arrived in Manila, back in the first week of January 2013, we noticed that there were still some Christmas trees up around where we lived. 2 thoughts crossed my mind; either Filipinos love Christmas, or it’s like I’ve seen in other Asian countries where the Christmas decorations just stay up all year …
Bringing in 2014, Manila style
We are led to believe that, most years, there is a big fireworks display in Makati to mark the end of one year and the start of another. This year it was cancelled, and the money saved was being donated to victims of Typhoon Haiyan. We weren’t sure, then, what to expect in terms of …
I just want to get a refund
Maybe we are a little spoiled living in the UK – with the mostly flexible refund policies on bought goods. Or maybe it’s just a more customer-focused economy. The policies here in the Philippines don’t seem to be so flexible. Or customer friendly. In normal situations, you’d probably be a little ticked off if you …
Intramuros
Manila doesn’t have a huge number of tourist attractions. One of the most famous, if not the most famous, is Intramuros. It is a citadel built by the Spanish in the late 16th Century, to protect the city from foreign invasions. It was badly damaged during the Second World War, but restoration work began in …
Haggis, kilts, ceilidh dancing & free flowing whisky… and we’re still in Manila!
An annual event in Manila is the St Andrews ball, organised by the Manila St Andrews Society. Ostensibly it’s to celebrate St Andrews Day (30 November), but really I think it’s just an excuse for a good knees up. And a good knees up it was. The ball was held at the Manila Polo Club. …
Haggis, kilts, ceilidh dancing & free flowing whisky… and we’re still in Manila! Read More »
