Green Hills, 14.06.2007

I went to Green Hills shopping centre with 2 of my housemates on a Sunday morning .We took a taxi to reach there and noticed that the driver used a longer way to send us there.

We saw a large sign board near Green Hills shopping centre's entrance. Actually most of the rich people live at this area. I saw many guarded bungalows nearby.

Took a photo outside a toy stop. WWE wrestling action figures are sold in this shop.

The photo above shows the view inside the shopping mall. There are a variety of shops available in it, such as toys, IT gadgets, mobile phones, clothes and shoes, restaurants, entertainment, etc.

It is hard to find Chinese restaurant in Manila. However, I never have my meal at this restaurant. Just wanted to take a photo for myself, so next time will know some of the Chinese restaurants available in Manila.

Married men who do not like shopping, can take a rest and escape from the pressures of modern living at a garden here while waiting for their family members to complete their shopping. This garden is near to a church and planted with many attractive trees.

I bought a shirt for myself while my housemates did not buy anything.

On that night, colleagues who stay at another apartment had a steamboat dinner and invited 3 of us to join. However, we refused to join because we were so tired. We planned to take a little meal for dinner and early sleep.

We had a tea time meal at a restaurant named "Penang Hill" after our long walk. My housemate wanted to has a drink over there, at the same time we could take a short break too. I took a photo on the menu cover of this restaurant. We were glad that they named this restaurant with "Penang Hill" and thought that the owner maybe is a Malaysian. Anyway, it is a good news for local citizens because they have a chance to taste Malaysian foods.

SM Mall of Asia, 24.05.2007

A beautiful globe model is built in front of the SM Mall. That day, colleague and I take a taxi to reach there. I am attracted by it from far away before we reach our destination.

By the time I visit SM Mall in year 2007, it is the most largest shopping mall in Philippines and seventh largest mall in the world. I am proud to visit it before. However, now it has become second largest mall in Philippines. This is a good news for Philippines because new shopping malls can attract more tourists to visit the country. Thus, increase the income of that country.

My colleague hold the camera for me, I guess he is not shooting photo for me. He tell me that he just wants to take photo of this local fast food restaurant, Jollibee. My manager tell me before that this local fast food restaurant has more business than McDonald's and KFC.

The view inside the mall after I walk in by main entrance.


There are some open air restaurants facing Manila Bay.


An indoor playground for kids.




Mini ferris wheel is available in the mall for all the kids.




Cinema for those movie lovers.


It is quite relaxing to have a cup of coffee here while enjoying the wind blow from the sea.


Take a picture to get a complete view outside of SM mall.


The mall is so large and you definitely need to look for directory board for information.


A buddhist statue is placed outside one of the shop, so I quickly take a photo for it.




I just have lunch with my colleague at a Chinese restaurant. I don't buy anything for myself.

Take a photo outside of the building before leaving back to my apartment. I only go there once during my stay in Manila.

Makati City, Manila 2007

1. Had pork ribs in Tory Roma's restaurant located at Glorietta with 2 colleagues. One of my colleague was excited and wanted to try it out while travel to Manila, so we join him for the dinner. In addition, I never try it in Malaysia.

2. Most of the apartments nearby are occupied by foreigners. Only rich local family affords to stay in such residence unit because the price of the house, electricity & water bills can cut off their pay every month. Last time, the electricity and water bill for my unit was twenty thousand Peso per month. Not easy to live in Makati city because the price not yet include other bills. How much a household should earn in order to stay in such places?

3. An old tree planted in front of my apartment.

4. An office building with modern design near my apartment.

5. It is hard for you to look for such tall buildings outside the city.

6. Rebels were cowing at The Peninsula Hotel in November 2007. At least two people were injured in this incident. Most of the hotel guests and staffs had been evacuated. A senator, a former vice president, a Catholic bishop and several journalists were arrested after a seven-hour standoff.

7. Street view in the city, you can see various luxurious cars on the road. At every traffic light, you will see some young kids or old folks request donations from you while others may offering sale of low quality goods, such as newspaper, cigarette, hat, flowers, toys, etc.

8. It is not a good experience to drive in Manila and the roads in the city need to be repaired.

9. Some of the buildings had become well-known landmark in Makati City. I always told taxi driver that I wanted to go home near Citibank Tower, Paseo de Roxas.

10. Took a photo outside my apartment. You can find many taxis in Manila, quite convenient but they will ask for tips for the days before & after Christmas. It was hard for me to get a taxi after work few days before Christmas 2007. I tried to take few buses and then walked back to my apartment. My client place was near Magallanes Village, quite far from my apartment, so I had to take taxi every morning to reach their office.

11. This was the apartment that I stayed for half year.　There are small swimming pool and gym room at the top floor in this building. I often went to exercise in gym room in the morning and swim at evening every weekend. This was the way I spent my spare time over there.

Greenbelt, Manila (24.07.2007)

1 My apartment was decorated for the Halloween Day. Scary or creative?

2 Quite relaxing while shopping or dining at this place because it was surrounded by plants and beautiful scenery.

3 Greenbelt is located in Makati city, Metro Manila, thus we can see high building in the picture.

4 The trees grow so high, I was standing at first floor. Can you estimate how many years the trees had been planted there? No prize for the answer, hehe..

5 You can find plenty of colorful plants in a small garden here, which provide an attractive view in Greenbelt.

6 My colleague wanted to join me for the photo shooting. Finally he was in the picture.