Day One - Manila

After a short night's fitful sleep we awoke to a warm sunny day and a sumptuous breakfast provided by our lovely hosts Bella and Toni. We were really spoilt with rice, omelette's, milk fish, dried beef, fried banana, fresh mangoes, guava and fresh calamansi juice - a Philippine cross between a lime and a lemon. We also had a chance to take a good look at the lovely open, Spanish style house, which makes the most of the warm weather.

Then we had a quick run into the local town for some cash and to try the halo-halo, a iced mix of fruit, milk and sugar and a topping of leche flan - quite delicious!

The driver then took us to Makati where George's family still have their cafe. Here we met Luis, Eric and Gerry - more of George's old friends. We had a lovely lunch, of rice, sweet and sour fish, mixed veg and more fresh juice. This was followed by a great desert of Bibingka , a rice flour, sugar, cheese and butter, with salted eggs, baked in a leaf on hot clay brazier. It is served with freshly grated coconut and is really popular here as a snack!

We walked through the business area of Makati and onto Luis apartment in the centre overlooking the park. After a brief stay our new lift arrived with even more of George's friends, Rene and Ramon. Again we were driven by their air-conditioned vehicle and driver to Intramurous - the original walled Spanish city. Here we went into the only surviving original church - San Agustin and a wonderful colonial house The Plaza San Luis, with a very opulent wooden interior.

It was by now time for something more to eat and drink! So we went to a shopping mall, right on Manila Bay and took in some coffee and coconut deserts - Clare had a really great fresh mango juice. After a brief stroll along the front we hopped into our transport and went to the Sofitel Hotel to get a cocktail and watch the sun set. It was wonderful, with a warm ocean breeze and a great sunset, not to mention the excellent rum based cocktail.

Of course it was now time for dinner!!! So we went to a local eatery called Savory - which is owed by Georg's friend Ramon. Again we had a really good chicken dinner, with fish, pork and spring rolls, washed down by a four season juice - excellent!

We were by no quite sleepy - not to mention full, so we headed back to Toni and Bella's, to be greeted by Bella with a bowl of ice cream! We certainly are going to well fed and watered this trip! It's now 10.20 pm and it's still about 20 degrees and very pleasant as I sit in the courtyard and write this. Tomorrow we are off to Laguna De Bay about two hours outside Manila with Toni, Bella and Bobot - George's youngest nephew!