Shopping and Malling, Manila

Favorite thing: God, I have never met a race who enjoyed shopping so much. Men & women; young & old. Bring on the word "Sale!" and see the many gigantic malls flood with an avalanche of people, jostling and being jostled for an item of desire. And the malls - they bring new meaning to big and plenty. Manila is simply a city of shopping malls!

Favorite thing: go to the malls. This is the best place to do some people-watching. You can also escape the heat and dust in the mall because of the airconditioning. Some of the Manilenos even take their jackets with them when going to mall!! An artificial world, but at least you're comfortable. The best malls are the Shangrila Mall, Rockwell Power Plant Mall and the brand new Greenbelt Mall. These ones are definitely world class.

Fondest memory: The numerous pubs and restaurants.

Favorite thing: See something outside Manila - then at least you will get a taste of what the Philippines is really like. It's not all skyscrapers and jeepneys. (ok it is all jeepneys but not the skyscrapers bit).

Fondest memory: All that cheap shopping - legit cd's for half the price back home and countless other stuff that never makes it to Finlands rocky shores. Crikey they even have marks and spencer in manila !

Favorite thing: I guess Manila/Quezon City is a place where every corner you turn to now, is a mall. I will even dare and call it the 'city of malls'.
As far as food is concerned, I would probably try the eateries in the malls then venture out eventually. I think even though 1/3 of my life was spent in this city, after half a decade of being away, I will need someone to guide me and take me around. It seems the city is much more crowded both with people and cars than 10 years ago. Anyone who has not been in the city for a while will surely get lost, confused and frustrated. Gone are the spacious areas and old landmarks along EDSA.

Fondest memory: I have been away from the Philippines for almost 12 years now. But I really miss the turo-turo places in Chinatown. I did not get a chance to visit it last time I was there and for all I know it may not exist anymore.
UP Diliman is also very close to my heart. I would suggest for anyone visiting for the first time to give this place a peek. I guess since the city has been turned into a concrete urban jungle, UP Diliman seemed untouched. There are still trees and lots of greeneries in the campus.

Favorite thing: It's a mall somewhere in the city which has a fun entertaining room on the third and forth floor where you can play latest video games.