Philippine Travel Notes

I have lately been passing by this rather new restaurant, so I had to check it out. Nothing much to shout-to-the-whole-world-about , I guess. I didn't hear it being hyped-up nor did/do I hear it in the Taclobanons' daily buzz . But for you and me who do not cook, yet already (virtually) a resident, any new resto or eatery is worth a peep, right? So, in I went on a Friday night, primarily just curious, though also looking for dinner. Well hmmm, the son-of-a-beach in me got somehow titillated by those waverunners and speedboats parked by the entrance path. Conversely, my driver didn't like it as it meant that he had to park our vehicle on the busy streetside of Real St. (Sagkahan)! In fairness to my driver, Real St. (Sagkahan), is (was?) part of the National Highway, and parking is not even supposed to be allowed on either side. But, this is Pilipinas! You park outside that fence, by the roadside! Anyway... I see that this restaurant is a dainty little place ...

This is not uncommon: caught (again!) in lengthy 'strategizing' meetings with offices along Magsaysay Blvd. of Tacloban. Lunch came, where do I go? That, is not a joke ! Restaurants are far. The few little carenderias (karehan) in the area get really packed to the roof (if they have) at 12NN! So.., default.., ang walang kamatayang Leyte Park! Leyte Park Hotel? Yes gad! Not that I/we dislike the food. How can I frequent the hotel if I don't like them, right? What I do know is: you can't do a "hit-and-run" or quick lunch exactly just 12-to-1PM. A waiter once jokingly told me "diri kami fastfood". Da! Slow food sila! Eh meeting resumes at exactly 1PM - as requested by me, myself and I. I-it na man! But... when there's a will... kung me gusto... maraming dahilan hahaha! Like this: on arrival at their Veranda Restaurant, I wasn't seated yet, I told the waiter: "prito isda, lapu-lapu kung meron, just fry it walang arte, prit...

This is still Holiday Inn Bangkok Silom . We earlier talked about window views from my room. This time, let us look around my room and the hotel which is nothing new! My Room Oh yes, my room! I need to tell you about it, right? Well, to make the long story short, my room was mainly like other Holiday Inns I've stayed at. Their brand is consistent! That's how my room looked like, as I stood by the famed, iconic, protruding window ! Amenities Very IHG , very Holiday Inn: furnishings, amenities are generally the same anywhere . Syempre nag-iiba ng konti sa ashtray (minsan ceramic, minsan glass) ; sa prutas (kasi baka mas matamis ang fruits sa ibang lugar) ; at sa tubig (depende sa available brand)! But the gadgets and peripheral access points are generally the same everywhere. Oh yes, desk lamps, alarm clocks, telephones, writing pads & pens, sometimes even their desks are similar - not just at Holiday Inn facilities but in many of IHG's brands. Syempre ...

Wasn't I lucky again that my party was happening here? Yes I was, so I booked here. But let me tell you first, "little some things" that I know, about how this hotel started! Historical and still in business ! It's been a hotel for decades now, starting as Rama Tower Hotel (1970s) owned by a local operator/s, becoming a Crowne Plaza in the 1980s and as Holiday Inn in 2003. Hindi ko inabot lahat ng iyan ha, huwag kang ano! I do remember, in the '90s it was already named Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza . I think the Holiday Inn part of the name was chosen to remain (in 2003) because Crowne Plazas at that time, were being re-positioned by IHG as their higher-end or upscale product. Remember the Pan Pacific Hotel at the other end of Silom (Rama IV Road), which is 2kms away from here? It became Crowne Plaza Lumpini Park in 2011. Timely di ba? I am mentioning these, so you don't get confused, because this is different from the 'Holiday Inn Bangkok...

Happy New Year 2019! While most of Bangkok were at the Chao Phraya River for the 'midnight countdown', I was "embroiled" in a little partying of our own. Unfortunately, we weren't outdoors. We were at one of the 2 nd floor function halls of Holiday Inn Silom. And, I so wanted to at least peep at the much-touted IconSiam fireworks display on the Chao Phraya. Two colleagues also yearned to do so. Pinoy ang isa! So, abili bad summoned, I said I could see part of the river from my room on the 26 th floor! We schemed. Alams na! I only said "me Family Mart sa baba, me 7-Eleven sa kanto" di pa ako tapos magsalita hiniram ang susi ko, at tumalilis si Pinoy friend, 'kala ko e-ebak sya! Dinner time yun. We knew our party would be 'forever' anyway, so at 2355H, we went up to my room, and I think I somehow expected this: my little fridge was unsurprisingly full of these: We knew 'di kami hahanapin sa baba since there was also a coun...