Finally, a comprehensive map of Manila’s Chinatown! I remember my first trip to Binondo (the one that I can remember anyway). It was late at night and we were driving around this strange new place, guided by friend’s boyfriend who live in the neighborhood. I have absolutely no idea where we are, except that we were in Chinatown. The second time I went to Chinatown was when I joined Ivan Man Dy’s Big Binondo Food Wok tour.

The Big Binondo Food Wok Map and Ang Tunay Beefhouse’s mixed beef soup

He led us through Ongpin, Binondo’s main street, and down other smaller streets like Nueva and Salazar. He took us to the best places to dine in Chinatown, but I wasn’t really familiar enough with the place to remember where most of the places are.
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I’ve just left the CCP Complex, after Carlos Celdran’s Livin’ la vida Imelda walking tour.

I’ve been meaning to take his tour for the longest time, and it’s only now that I finally decided to go for it. All it took is to NOT plan for it at all.

It couldn’t be at a better time, too. Since I’ve started traveling out of the country again, I’ve been neglecting Manila. While I go off to explore other cities, I’ve forgotten to explore my own turf.

I’ll blog about the tour in detail later, but I’ll say this: it was a great start to re-acquainting myself with this lovely city I call home.

* This was supposed to be a mobile-blog, but for some reason, the photo only made it to flickr and not this blog. Hmp.

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Warning: Girly post ahead.

One of the things I’m kinda regretting not doing while overseas is to get a haircut. To be honest, I’m wary of getting my hair cut by someone who can’t understand English. Then I realize, that’s the novelty; you either walk away with a fabulous new ‘do or sporting a hairstyle you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. Besides, it’s just hair, and up until a couple of days ago, I have more than enough that if one hair-dresser botch up my hair cut, there would still be enough for another.
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On a sunny Saturday afternoon, I, along with Eric, Ferdz, Oggie, Dong and Omar found ourselves inside La Cocina de Tita Moning. We were there upon Ivan Man Dy’s invitation to get a taste of his relaunched Palace, Power and a shot of beer walking tour of the Malacañang Palace.

The Philippine flag in the palace grounds

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Though iBlog is at its 5th year, this is actually just my 2nd time to attend. Started in 2005, iBlog is a whole-day affair of talks about what else? Blogging. Through the years, iBlog has covered a wide spectrum of topics, from personal blogging to blogging professionally. This year’s blogging summit still covers varied topics, but with the addition of blogging about the upcoming 2010 presidential elections and blog advertising in the Philippines.

So what does the iBlog blogging summit have to do with travel? Nothing really, except that the idea of starting Justwandering.org was formulated while I was right smack in the middle of the Professional Blogging Panel during iBlog2. (Yes, I just had to say that.)

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Mabuhay Guides is another one of Tourism Secretary Ace Durano’s project to “produce young men and women who will guide DOT visitors to the Philippines, presenting the country in the best possible light in an interesting, intelligent & engaging manner, even as they represent the best the Philippines has to offer.” (from the Mabuhay Guides website)

Not the best thing to wear that Sunday. It was one of the hottest days of summer!

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This coming Friday and Saturday, the Aliwan Fiesta is in town once again, featuring the festivals from around the Philippines. What can you expect from this festival? Colorful costumes, heart-thumping beats and performances fueled by passion and Lipovitan.

Aliwan Fiesta 2008

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While everyone went out of town for Lent, I opted to stay in Manila for Holy Week. Unlike most, I don’t have Thursday and Friday off, so I really had to stay in the city to work. Besides, the usual places will be full of people, so I thought it’s better to stay in Manila and just go out of town on another weekend.

Manila Chinese Cemetery

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