Last Day in Manila -- Part 2

We took showers and a short nap then headed out for dinner on the coast. Did some more sightseeing from the car with Nimrod.  As we arrived at the coast we noticed palm trees lining the streets.  The differences in these were the 2x4’s supporting them from the base of the fronds to the ground. It took is a minute then we all kind of said it over one another. Tsunami  - Hurricane type storms. BIG difference compared to our coastal landscape.

We walked on the boardwalk while we were searching for some food and there were tons of people sitting on the wall separating the sidewalk from the beach. Walking down the center towards us were advertisers handing out menus from the different establishments.  Advertisers aka Transvestites. Now, we are extremely liberal.  The whole family actually.  And we were open to new experiences being in a foreign country. Not one of our friends, family members, tourist books, NO ONE told us that this was a special job for super manly looking women wearing platforms and mini-skirts. Nope, we were not prepared.  So not only were we feeling like the center of attention as we walked down the sidewalk while the wall of locals watched us, but we were also so confused to as where we really were.

We Headed over to the Mall of Asia. Huge mall again! So many corridors to visit we didn’t get to one. Would have been fun to check it out being more rested. We were looking for a decent restaurant with AC.  The humidity lever must have snapped off cuz it was in full sweaty affect! Dad decided on a Claim Jumpers type eatery. Ethan was ready for some prime rib!  I was ready for a coke! I haven’t had any because you can’t have a coke with ice. No ice! Anyway, I digress. The restaurant was very nice and cool. I was looking forward to a nice steak and the kids were starting to get a bit tired. We had a little live music from a Filipino man who didn’t sound Filipino when he was singing American songs.  We all ordered bottled water. I forgot about my Coke.  That was a different thing for me. To have a bottled water in a restaurant. I never quite got used to asking for that and then seeing the table lined with them. Honestly I kind of felt bad. It was like I was insulting them by asking for water that they were not responsible for. Too much thinking? Amy’s my name and thinking’s my game!

Directly behind us was a cooler, like a fridge they would put bottles of, let’s say… Coke.  But instead was Haagen Daaz! Oh ya baby! Bars and little individual cups. Too bad I don’t like eating dessert right after eating a meal.  The kids were excited as was Dad. I think this is our new favorite treat. I wonder why it’s everywhere? Dove doesn’t seem to have a market there yet.  I think Dove is American?  Germany is closer.  Hmmm… Oh ya, so as the dessert was being enjoyed the sky outside the window was lit up by fireworks. What the heck? Philippines Independence Day was the very next day.  June 13^th. Ahhh… tons of locals on the beach wall? Explained.  Transvestites handing out menus? Still a mystery!

Drinks Please

Ed and Ritche were headed to the empty bar on the other side of the pool and before they left us they took orders. Blended margarita for me please. Oh I can’t wait to get this tropical drink by the tropical poolside in this tropical world. When I say the bar was empty, I mean the bar was empty! There was no  one else there. Drinks should come fast riht? WRONG! About 25 minutes later the guys come back with the drinks. My margarita was HUGE! Find by me! I know there is someone to press my elevator floor #. There has to be someone to carry me there rifht? Duh! My drink was overflowing cuz the heat was in full affect. Oh well. This is how we do it ! Erwin got some kind of big boy drink and it was half full. Hmmm…really? The drink was approx. 9 US dollars and it’s half full. Cynthia’s cran and vodka was soooo red! Any Vodka? Nope. And Ed’s big boy drink looked weird too. This doesn’t happen at a 5 star resort!? Seroiusly they no clue how to make any of the drinks Ed aslked for. Ya know, margarita? Not a clue. It was the weirdest part of our stay there. We didn’t ask for crazy “Sex on the Beach”. Can you imagine how they would have handled that one? Needless to say, my margaroita could have had 1 tsp of alcohol or 1 cup and I would have felt just as good  as I did after drinking ¾ of it. (light-weight doesn’t even begin to describe!)

Last Day in Manila -- to the Pool

It’s Saturday and Mom and Dad went into town to grab some things for the house in Sta. Maria, Laguna. This gave us some downtime to enjoy the amazing amenities of our hotel. The pool was picture perfect and the weather made it even more inviting. Lucky for us, today the sun was covered by some light clouds.  Still humid like no other but we didn't have to deal with the torching sun. Now I like to swim just as much as the next person. I just prefer warm water. Hubby and kids don’t understand that if it’s warm outside why would you want warm water? Well, we all know that feeling of trying to get in gracefully with cold pool water. No one can have a graceful pool entering face when that temperature of the water is completely opposite than the air temperature.  When our kids jump in no holds barred we are not looking at their faces. We are making sure they don’t drown or land on someone else.  We all make that ridiculous face thinking the same thing,”I can do this, OMG, I can do this! FRICK it’s COOOLD I can do this. If I just walk in super slow, I won’t cause any AHHH!!” Yep, you know that’s what you are thinking! And guys… you get in as fast as you can so no one notices your brain telling your nether-regions that it’s TOO COLD!! I just hate it! So give me warm water. I can walk right in the pool and be a swimmin’ fool!  For me, I was going to be a resort diva with a margarita in one hand and a magazine in the other.  Sunglasses on, covered in sunblock lounging away! I did just that and enjoyed every second of it.

Give the kids any pool and they will swim for days. They both love it!! They are fish, thanks to Ms.  Yvonne!  The kids had lessons with another mommy when Ethan was 5 and Abby was 3. We usually need a brush up on skills, but they remember quite quickly! Pencils were being preformed and laps were being completed in no time. This pool experience was a little different. The kids got to swim with their Uncles!  They tasted another piece of heaven pie. Uncle Ritche was right there to play the splashing wars and had no hesitation when Abby wanted to climb all over him! Adding Uncle Ed just through it over the edge! Both Uncles?! Heaven! The 3 brothers took turns entertaining the kids in the water, which I was infatuated with watching.  I love my family and so does Erwin. It means the world to us both.  So watching our kids show their affections to their Uncles and receive it back 10 fold was a treat.