One Week In Manila

Its been exactly a month since my last posting and I do have a good reason. I was travelling and was preparing for my travels. Although my job does require me to travel, it sometimes intrudes in somethings that you feel like doing. Like taking a girl out for dinner, or hang out with friends. But then the wisdom of the age is "No work, no pay, no play". Therefore, you have no choice but to endure the trails and tribulations of working.

I have been to Manila on a fairly regular basis. Its such a contrasting place. The people are warm, and friendly. The girls are gorgeous and friendly. The service at restaurants are superb and the best part! A beer in a fancy joint is just 6 SGD. And a regular place! I can get 3 beers for 10 dollars and this not even happy hour.

Filipino food is very unusual. They are rice eaters. But they have lots of sea food in the cuisine. Not for me, as I am extremely allergic to shell fish. But some of the fish dishes looked and smelt great. Imagine to my surprise, I found an Indian restuarant that was so good, that I dont think I could find a match in Singapore. Honest to god! I am not joking. I was wandering around Greenbelt and I came across this restaurant called Bollywood. Ok! My mind into a series of curses generally berating mankind for making a mockery of Bollywood. Do you know that the people in the Bollywood hate to be called that? But then who the fuck cares! right! RIGHT!

So back to Bollywood restaurant. I walk in to blazing plasma TV's with Indian MTV songs and dances. The staff dressed up in traditional indian kurta and salwar's. With a sing-song "namaste" in their filipino accent. I proceeded to get a seat right in front of the plasma TV with hindi songs. The channel was the MTV Indian broadcast feed. The patrons of the restaurant! I was the only Indian there. HA!HA!HA! I know it cracked me up too. There was a huge contigent of Japanese girls (tourists). Some koreans, lots of local filipinos, a few ang-moh's scattered around. Bottom line! I was the only Indian out there.

I kept my dinner simple. naans, chiken tikka, paneer (cottage cheese) masala. I swear to god. The chicken was tender and the right DONE factor for a chicken tikka and the paneer. Instant flashback to Bombay! Same taste and texture. A very thoroughly enjoyable meal. A must go for anyone who goes there.

I found that they actually make menus catering for atkin's diet. WOW! I found sections on the steak or beef with a comment (can prepare for Atkins type 2 or 1). No wonder the babes look pretty good there.

Cafe Havana in Greenbelt always reminds of Brannigan's (the place before Brix). Great band, great atmosphere, and a major pickup joint. 2 out of 3 is perfectly acceptable in my books. If you are a whiskey & wine drinker, then I strongly recommend the Kipling's bar at the Mandarin Oriental. They have the best cigar and wine collection. But its their single malts that take the top spot. You can get a 1812 single malt which is like 50 SGD for a snifter. Phew! but worth it as it will last you for a while.