antoniele's VirtualTourist Home Page

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The view from my office in Ortigas, Pasig

Hip, Young Manila

Browsing through VT pages about Manila you get the same staple tourist destinations. Being born and raised in this city of contrasts, let me give you a personal tour - not necessarily "off the beaten path" but more of the places, events and everyday encounters of twenty-something upper and middle class Manilenos.

True, traffic is unlike any other in the world but that's not the only thing Manila has to offer. Packed with beautiful people (everyone seems to be a mix of Malay, Spanish, Chinese, American, Indian, Japanese and/or European), some of the best restaurants, bars and clubs, and bargain shopping at any one of the malls that abound the city, whether you fancy some Gucci and LV or kitchy offerings of local, independent designers.

Come to Manila - definitely an experience!

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Typical beach party at sunset, Boracay

Boracay, or as we like to call it, Eastern Ibiza

What will a page about the Philippines like without Boracay? Hands down the most popular beach in the country (and in the region), this is a tourist trap for foreigners and Manilenos alike. I have developed a love-hate relationship with this island.

I love how it is the most cosmopolitan beach I've ever been to (that is miles away from the city). Powder white sand, clear blue water, thousands of gorgeous, tanned people bask in the sun in designer swimsuits and designer bodies. Every weekend during the peak season, internationally renowed DJs from the UK, US and Europe spin for parties right smack on the beach. The party scene is comaprable to Cancun or South Beach on spring break. There are tons of accomodations from 5 star luxury to backpackers' inns. Every imaginable water sport from wakeboarding to skimboarding to jetskiing to paragliding is easily accessible.

Those are also the reasons why I hate the so-called "Bora" party scene. Thankfully you can take a short boat ride to other remote islands that pepper the Negros province. Great for escaping it all.

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Me and my cousin at Baguio Country Club

Baguio: the closest you can get to "winter"

... Winter without the snow, that is. Manilenos (and Filipinos in general) adore going up to the mountains where the weather is at 10 degrees Celcius on the average. That is cold for tropical standards. Western people are not allowed to laugh at this statement.

I was never a fan of Baguio until my last trip in December 2005. The whole clan spent the holidays there and discovered the one thing everyone in Manila was raving about: ukay-ukay. A colloquial term commonly known as flea markets, these fashion gems are made up of dingy and smelly stalls that house second-hand treasures from Europe, Japan and the US as well as factory reruns. Pre-owned (I say vintage) Dior and Hermes purses with serial numbers for less than USD 30!

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Hyde Park sandwiched b/w old buildings & the city

City I Love: Sydney

My first trip to Australia this year took me to Sydney and I fell in love.

I took my sister along on a part-business, part-pleasure trip to the land of kangaroos and koalas and we stayed at the Intercontinental. Fantastic location, we were literally steps away from Circular Quay, the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. The city itself was a surreal blend of 19th century architecture mixed with the most modern of skyscrapers. I spent the day getting lost in Hyde Park and ended up shopping in Oxford! Bondi, Manly, I can go on and on.

Another important facet to Sydney is the diversity in musical tastes. Home to Home and other electronica clubs, you can also find the best indie rock at underground clubs such as Spectrum. Turn the corner and you can find an emcee beatboxing and freestyling.

And yes, tons of good-lookin' blokes in Sydney as well!

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The view of the suburbs and the city in Singapore

Swingapore - the safest place in Asia

Singapore. You can sleep on a bench on a sidewalk and not care about pickpockets or smelling like smog. This is exactly what my dad did on a business trip a decade or so ago. (Don't ask.)

Ten years after it still is the safest place in Asia. The people are very friendly and speak English (hallelujia!) and it's a nice melting pot of races and cultures, predominantly Chinese, Malay, Indian and Caucasian expats that are more often than not Australian. A shopping mecca, every building on Orchard Road is a shopping mall and each mall houses hundreds of fashion and electronics stalls sure to satisfy any shopaholic's craving. The transport system is so efficient Singaporeans have never heard of the word late. Or maybe they have from the Pinoy that live here. Hehehe.

Singapore is more than that though, as I took a guidebook and ventured to find culture on my own with my E-Z link card. Temples, art galleries and independent cafes catering to any kind of cuisine imaginable CAN be found in a bustling metropolis. My favorite spot in Singapore is Kampong Glam, where you can sit drinking Morrocan mint tea, inhaling East Indian incense and listening to the chants of the nearby mosque.

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My friends in the Dusit Thani gardens

Bangkok, a dream destination

I was fortunate enough to go on my first trip to the City of Angels last Feburary. Unfortunately it was only for 2 full days and it was dedicated to the Bangkok 100 Rock Festival at Lakeside Muangthongthani near Don Muang International Airport (when i say near, it's still pretty far - Bangkok is one HUGE city!). All I saw were hotel lobbies for press junkets, the traffic worse than Manila (dotted with elephants! JOY!), sidewalks almost IDENTICAL to Manila, except that people barely spoke English. Booo.

Thailand has always been a dream destination, together with Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia. I will definitely come back and spend at least 2 weeks visiting temples, beaches and the legendary Pat Phong!