Trip to Taal Volcano and beyond...

With just about two weeks left to leave Manila and the MDM classes over, we decided to visit Tagaytay in the Batangas province. The place is well known for the Taal Lake & Volcano which happen to be one of southern Luzon’s centerpiece attractions.
We planned to visit the lake town on a Saturday with the Chisties. A day trip by some travel agency turned out to be too pricey and so we opted to hire a cab from Manila itself. The cab arrived at exactly 8in the morning. All of us hopped in and zoomed off to Tagaytay. The drive was a pleasant one as we travelled through SLEX (south Luzon Expressway) passing by smaller towns.
Around 9.30, we reached Tagaytay. Interestingly, the cab driver was quite raw with hardly any idea about the town. So we were the ones to guide him around!! With the help of the local traffic policemen, we arrived at a vista point from where we could get a beautiful view of the lake as well as the volcano. There we were hounded by tour agents asking us to take the boat ride to the volcanic mountain that stood in the middle of the lake. We got rid of them somehow and proceeded to Picnic Grove. It is basically a picnic spot with small hut-like sheds to sit & enjoy food. There are ropeway rides to add to the fun. We found locals thronging the place carrying food baskets & stuff, making the best of the Saturday morning with family and friends.
As we crossed the sheds and the fun rides, walking down the slope, we came to another fantastic view point of the lake. Known to be the smallest active volcano in the world, Taal volcano is surrounded by the lake on an 9km islet. Both the lake and the volcano are situated within the crater of an extinct volcano. So it is a haven for trekkers and nature lovers! Taking quite a few photographs, we slowly climbed up to the entrance again. Souvenir shops lined near the parking area and obviously, I took a quick tour of those as well. While the Chisties got busy selecting Tagaytay t-shirts for their relatives, I quickly grabbed a shot glass with a picture of the volcano & a t-shirt for Raheel.
Meanwhile, all of us felt our tummies growling. So we asked the driver to take us back to Tagaytay market. A number of food joints lined up the market area and we stopped at KFC for lunch. After a hearty meal, we decided to go near the lake which meant we had to go downhill (by the car, of course) a few kilometers from the main town. The driver looked a bit grumpy at the idea but he had no option! After about 2o minutes, we were very close to the Taal Lake. We looked for a good spot from where we could get a proper view. Tour guides chased us for a while but finally gave up. Finally, we found a nice spot and got down to take some snaps. The lake with the volcano in the middle was indeed a breath-taking sight. The light drizzle gave it a different look altogether.
Then we drove by the side of the lake for quite a while and came to another small town called Talisay. This place happens to be one of the major jump- off points to the volcano island. Thankfully, there were no tour guides to bother us there! Mifu had visited Talisay with his learning team before. So he could guide the driver to the lake shore for an awesome view of the volcano. The Talisay fish market is just beside the lake and the smell of freshly caught fish filled the air, much to the disappointment of the kids!! Bankas or native canoes were ferrying people to and from the volcano island. Shortage of time compelled us to sacrifice the tempting Banka ride on the lake. We hunted for hot coffee and finally found a small shop selling it. So, all of us sipped steaming coffee sitting by the lake shore, relishing the magnificent view.
On our way back to Manila, we stopped at the tiny hamlet of Tanuan. It is well known as the birthplace of Filipino revolutionary leader, Apolinario Mabini. The Mabini Shrine is a museum built in honour of the leader. Beautifully maintained, the Shrine houses the personal items that belonged to the Revolutionary. It also has the marble tomb of Mabini. Incidentally, the grand niece of the leader looks after the Shrine. The lady briefed us on the life of the great Filipino and informed that two days ago the 146th birthday of Mabini was observed. No wonder we saw so many beautiful bouquets adorning the place. One even came from the newly elected President, Noynoy Aquino! Having strolled the neat garden of the Shrine, we continued our drive back home.
Taal Volcano and Lake is truly a small yet magnificent wonder of Batangas province. A trip to remember for sure…

Indian Ship in Philippine Waters...

Come 1st June ’10 and we were ready to attend the reception organized by the Indian Embassy onboard INS Jyoti. The venue was Pier 13, South Harbour, Manila Port. The reception was scheduled at 6 in the evening. As soon as Mifu was over with his classes, we dressed up quickly and joined the Chisties who were also invited at the event. As the dress code had been mentioned on the invitation card, Mifu wore his black suit while I put on a salwar suit.
Hailing a cab, all of us headed for the port. It was a weekday & traffic was quite heavy. But the driver used some short cut routes and very soon we were driving through Roxas Boulevard towards Manila Port. Once we entered the port, we could see a number of passengers queuing up to buy tickets for the ferries that sail to the innumerable islands of the Philippines. Ferries are a popular mode of transport for the locals visiting different islands as air travel is unaffordable for many. We asked a security guard about Pier 13 and then proceeded in the direction he showed us. The port of Manila is a huge one. Finally, we reached the pier and saw an Indian naval officer t the check gate. The cab was not allowed beyond that point and so we alighted. The officer checked our names in the list of invitees. He then requested us to board a bus that would take us near the ship. In the next ten minutes, we were standing before the majestic INS Jyoti with the Indian Tricolor fluttering proudly in the Filipino wind. A couple of officers escorted us to the deck and as we moved up the stairs, young sailors welcomed us with a salute!!
Up we climbed to the upper deck where the reception would be held. A banquet table was already laid out with various snacks. Drinks were already pouring in for the guests when we arrived. We selected our choice of soft drinks and looked around to see any familiar face. Mifu spotted Mr. Gyan Singh who works at the Indian Embassy. Mr. Singh’s wife & daughter had accompanied him. Very soon we could see more Indians arriving at the reception. Most of the Indians were employees of the Embassy, besides a few prominent businessmen and a couple of doctors as well. It was nice to see the ladies dressed up in sarees or salwar suits for the occasion! We could see a number of officers from the Philippines Navy also. The ship’s captain gave a welcome address which was followed by the screening of a short film on the voyage of INS Jyoti. Next came a troupe of Chow dancers from West Bengal. The masked dancers with colorful costumes depicted the killing of Mahisasur by Goddess Durga through their performance. Meanwhile, we saw people enjoying the delicacies that were laid out & we joined in.
The food came from the ship’s kitchen, prepared by the resident cook. From mini idlis to crispy mendu vadas, mutton kebabs to chicken tandoori, frankies to fish fingers, there was everything to suit one’s palate. Not to mention the different sauces and chutneys. We ate heartily while enjoying the dance performance. Then a few young sailors belted out some old Hindi film melodies much to everyone’s delight. Interestingly, a naval officer who hailed from Manipur, Mr. Konkam, came forward & introduced himself to us. He said he heard us talking in Assamese and realized that we came from the north east! He was a polite gentleman and familiarized us about the activities that take place in the ship.
A couple of hours passed by and it was time to leave. The kids, Raheel & Zaina, struck poses in front of the tricolor. Both of them were quite excited to be on the massive vessel. We thanked the officers and slowly climbed down the rather steep steel stairs of the ship. Mr. Konkam was waiting for us to bid goodbye. He gave a rose bud to each of the ladies & the kids as we alighted from the deck.
INS Jyoti was supposed to sail from the Manila Port next morning. The experience onboard the ship was a truly memorable one…..

Trip to the Island of Corregidor...

The tiny island of Corregidor lies across the entrance of Manila Bay, located some 25 miles west of Manila. Corregidor served as one of the most vital harbor defenses of Manila. It was also the last place to fall into Japanese hands during the 2nd World War. Although a small island, Corregidor is a storehouse of significant historical events.
To visit the island, tourists have to board a 100-150 seater ferry for a 1 hour trip. We selected the Sun Cruises as recommended by my Filipino friend Ambel for our visit. The ticket per adult cost 1,999 pesos which included day tour and lunch. There is provision for overnight stay at the hotel on the island which includes a night tour as well. At 7.30 on the morning of 11th April, we reported at the office of Sun Cruises located near the CCP complex in Manila. There were quite a few foreign tourists as well as some locals waiting at the lounge. Around 8 o’clock, we were asked to get into a jeepney that would take us to the ferry. We arrived at the pier within 5 minutes and found a lovely ferry waiting for us! Tashmiya took some quick snaps as always before we boarded. The interior of the ferry was quite inviting with rows of comfortable seats and a TV set in front. Since it was centrally air conditioned, we were saved from the scorching heat outside.
As the ferry set sail around 8.30, one of the tour guides welcomed the passengers and then gave a briefing about the island’s history. Later there was a short film about Corregidor and its main places of interest. Meanwhile, we enjoyed the breakfast which Simi & I had carried with us. After food, we went to the deck of the ferry and took photos. The sun was strong yet the sea breeze was cool & relaxing. By 9.30am, we could see the island at a distance. It looked pristine and green. The guide instructed all the English speaking visitors to board tramcars number 4 or 6, while the Japanese group was asked to board a different tramcar.
As we disembarked from the ferry, we saw colorful Tranvias (pre-war tramcars) waiting for us. We got into no. 6 and were welcomed by a cheerful tour guide. Once everyone settled in, the tranvia took us to the important spots inside Corregidor. Our guide carried on his running commentary which was peppered with humor and kept us in good spirits. Soon we arrived at the famous Malinta Tunnel where the Americans had taken shelter during the Japanese attack on the island. The light & sound multi-vision show inside the tunnel was an enlightening experience as we could get an idea of the pain and frustration faced by the soldiers who were hiding there. Interestingly, there was even a hospital inside the tunnel to treat the wounded soldiers. The life led by the men during the war almost came alive through the light & sound show.
Our next stop was the Corregidor Inn Hotel for an early lunch to avoid the rush of the other visitors. The hotel was an old bungalow built in English style and was on top of a hillock. So we could catch a breathtaking view of the sea & some parts of the island from there. Cool Gulaman juice welcomed us to the hotel. Lunch was a hearty one with corn soup, Pancit Canton (noodles with seafood), Chicken Adobo, stir- fried vegetables, green salad with different dressings, and fruit salad to serve our palate!!
Though we wanted to relax on the balcony of the hotel and enjoy the lovely view, the tranvia’s horn made us rush back to it. From the hotel we went to see the various gun batteries scattered along the island. The guns that still stood there were indeed massive and powerful. The brutally damaged walls of the shell storage rooms bore testimony to the ravages that the war created. There were even graffiti on some of the walls. “Keep the Japs out of here” caught my attention! Next we came to the Mile-Long barracks which had housed hundreds of American soldiers. Though partially damaged by the war, it told its own story. Near the barracks was the school where children of American military officers had studied. The official residences of the officers were also close to the barracks.
The Lighthouse is another attraction of the island. We were allowed to climb up to a certain point of the lighthouse from where we could get a clear view of the tail end of Corregidor. The island of Bataan could be also seen from the lighthouse. Several souvenir shops lined at the entrance of the lighthouse complex. Next we went to the Pacific War Memorial & Museum which is indeed a landmark of the island. The marble dome of the memorial was massive and beautiful. The museum housed arms and ammunition of the war, uniforms of soldiers, utensils, stationary used by the war officials among other items. The American flag which was hoisted on Corregidor after the defeat of the Japanese army was kept securely in a glass box. A short walk from the museum brought us to a vista point from where the Malinta tunnel and the tail of the island could be perfectly viewed.
The heat however was taking its toll on some of the people and they volunteered to stay behind on the tranvia while we came to our last spot for the day. It was the Japanese Garden with neatly trimmed trees and hedges, and a few guns as well. A unique Buddha statue with a female body (a combination of Buddha & Mother Mary, it is said) stood on one end of the garden. Taking a quick walk across the Japanese Garden, we returned to our tranvia and were taken straight back to where the ferry waited.
On boarding the ferry, we found respite in its cool air conditioned interior. We bid farewell to the beautiful the island of Corregidor as the ferry began its journey back to Manila. Truly, Corregidor is a rich storehouse of history and the visit was an enriching one for us.

Shooting the rapids! The trip to Pagsanjan

Before the arrival of our niece, Tashmiya, to Manila, we had already planned a trip to the famed Pagsanjan Falls in Laguna. On the 4th of April, we started out quite early, around 6.30 in the morning. Mifu’s classmate, Gucci was kind enough to send his van which would take us and the Chistie family to Laguna. The van being a spacious one all of us settled comfortably in it and drove off.
It took us nearly an hour and a half to reach the Riverview Resort in Pagsanjan town. Gucci’s driver had actually used a shorter route to get us there early. The staff at the resort was aware of our visit and so they immediately came to our assistance. We were told to keep our bags in the lockers and proceed to the bankas (local canoes) waiting for us. One of the resort’s staff helped us with the life vests and the helmets. It was a very sunny day & we were worried about the bad tan we would get during the banka ride. But there was no way out!
There were three bankas waiting for us and we settled into them. Mifu, Raheel & the driver were on the first boat, the Chisties on the next while Tashmiya & I sat on the last one. Most of us being non-swimmers, I whispered a silent prayer for everyone’s safety. As the boatmen oared the bankas forward, we found ourselves moving through the Pagsanjan River. There were other resorts that lined up on one side of the river while private residences lined on the opposite bank. Since it was a Sunday, many locals were also travelling across the river in private bankas. In fact, almost every family owned at least one boat. The river was an intimate part of their life as it seemed to me. As we moved further upstream, we encountered several picnic revelers enjoying themselves in the water or simply relaxing by the small bamboo sheds that stood on stilts above the water. Some of them waved at us as we passed by them. Tashmiya was busy taking pictures of the new sights that caught her attention.
Gradually, we could feel the boatmen’s struggle as they pushed the bankas through narrow passes in between huge rocks on the river. The ride now was getting more adventurous! Having left behind the picnic spots, we found ourselves amidst the green forest on both sides of the river. It was a breathtaking landscape. It was absolutely quiet except for the occasional chirping of some wild bird or the cry of a local gibbon. Interestingly, The Hollywood movie named Apocalypse Now was shot in these very locales.
We reached a resting point where our exhausted boatmen caught their breath. There was a small café that stood on a huge rock, selling soft drinks & snacks. After ten minutes or so, we got into the bankas again and were heading towards the bigger rapids near the falls. The boatmen kept telling us to hold on tightly to the sides of the boat and stay still as they heaved & pushed the bankas through the rapids. Finally, after almost an hour, we reached the actual falls.
It was a beautiful place indeed. There were already several tourists present. People can even take a raft and go directly under the cascading waters of the falls. The raft men were calling out to the tourists and soon I found Mifu & Tashmiya jumping into a raft. I watched the raft move slowly towards the falls and then it just disappeared for a few seconds. It emerged from the thunderous waters with excited shouts from the people on it. Once they were back, Mifu & Tashmiya coaxed me to experience the raft ride. After some resistance, I gave in and got into the next raft along with Raheel, Simi & Zaina. There were a couple of other ladies with kids. Raheel was looking pale with fright & I tried to make it light by showing him the other children on the raft. As we neared the water thundering down, I tightly caught hold of Raheel and asked him to keep his eyes shut and also keep his head low. I felt my breath stop for a second as we passed down the force of the pouring waters. Everyone screamed out of fright or excitement. Raheel was in tears and I wondered why I had brought him along. Before we knew it, the raft was again heading towards the falls; maybe someone wanted a second thrill. I just wished it would be over soon.
What a breath stopping experience it was! Raheel was quite amazed by where he had been since he has a fear of water. After taking some photos, we got back to our bankas. The ride on the way back was equally thrilling. The bankas moved in great speed through the rapids. However, it wasn’t very hard for the boatmen as we were going downstream. The sun meanwhile had done the damage on our exposed skin. By the time we reached the resort, we were all badly tanned.
Having taken quick showers, we headed for the lunch which was laid out nicely on the outdoor eating area of the resort. The lunch was filling and we felt quite exhausted after eating. The kids played for a while we simply lazed around before driving back to Manila.
Pagsanjan Falls, a must-see for all who visit Manila. It’s a haven for the adventurous at heart!!

PANAGBENGA 2010- BAGUIO

The city of Baguio is touted as the summer capital of the Philippines. It is located in the Benguet region of North Luzon; about 7 hours drive from Manila. Known for its cool climate, Baguio is indeed a nice getaway for those living in South Luzon which has a purely tropical weather.
Penagbenga, the annual flower festival of Philippines is held every year in Baguio throughout the month of February. People throng there from all parts of the island nation. We too decided to get a feel of the flower festival and took a trip to the country’s summer getaway.
To save time, we took an overnight journey from Manila on 5th March and reached Baguio on the morning of the 6th. It also happened to be the second last day of the festival. One of the AIM students from Baguio had made arrangements of our stay there. From the bus terminal, we headed for the Girls’ Scouts guest house where we were to put up. The lady who manages the guest house was a friendly person and saw to it that we are comfortable.
The climate of Baguio brought to mind the cool weather of Shillong! Having had a sleepless night journey, we decided to take a nap before exploring the place. It was just 7 in the morning and so the three of us dozed off in no time. By 9am, we were up and ready to take on Baguio. The SM mall was just a 5 minute walk away & we headed for it to have breakfast. Tourists were all over the place. The ambience was really festive. In front of SM, there stood a huge tiger made from flowers. Other floral floats lined up on the side of the Session Road. It was the main hub of Baguio city.
‘Session Road in Bloom’ read the signboards all over the city. That actually referred to the lines of make shift shops on Session road selling local products from various parts of Philippines. Since it was quite sunny, we decided to explore the shops in the evening. Taking a cab, we moved on to see the other tourist spots around Baguio.
The Mansion, the Presidential palace, was an impressive structure. In front were lined up a number of vintage cars – mostly mini cars like that of Mr. Bean’s! On the opposite side of the Mansion was the Wright Park. There people could wear tribal dress of the mountain province & take photos. We joined in too. Interestingly, the dress was quite similar to our Naga costumes!!
Our next destination was the Mines View Park. It was the site of ancient gold mines and one gets a breathtaking view of Baguio from there. Very much like Laitkor Peak in upper Shillong. There were souvenir shops lining up the steps of the park. Baguio t-shirts, strawberry jams, peanut butter & brittles etc. were selling like hot cakes.
The cab driver insisted that we visit the weaving factory of Baguio. So we arrived at the Easter Weaving Room which also had a big showroom besides the actual factory in the basement area. Beautiful hand woven items lay displayed but it was too pricey. I got a couple of coaster sets for some MDM friends as souvenirs from Baguio. As it was almost 2pm, we asked the driver to drop us at SM mall. There we took a quick lunch & headed back to the guest house for an afternoon siesta. The weather was too tempting to avoid that!
In the evening, the weather cooled down a lot and we made our way to Session road. A fashion show was in progress and the crowd was unbelievable. One could easily get lost in that sea of tourists. The shops seemed endless as we walked down the road. It was indeed a good chance to buy items produced in different parts of the Philippines. Since it was the last day of the festival, the shop owners were selling things at give away prices. The famous Baguio brooms, hand woven products, Benguet coffee, various edible goods (cashew & peanut brittles, jams & preserves, coco jelly, choco flakes), honey, fresh fruit – you name it, you found it there! Having strolled all the way to the other end of Session road, we decided that it would be wise to take dinner before it gets too late. So back to SM & dinner at Chowking. Some contest for ladies was going on outside the mall & there was quite a lot of noise. We walked back to the guest house around 10 o’clock.
On the morning of the 7th, we dressed up for the day and rushed to SM for breakfast. We had asked the cab driver who took us around the previous day to meet us at 9. Gulping down coffee & pancakes at Mac Donald’s, we walked back to the guest house to find the driver already there. He suggested that we see the strawberry farm at La Trinidad. So we drove off to the farm through heavy traffic. Almost 45 minutes later we were in La Trinidad. The farm was full with tourists who had a nice time plucking fresh strawberries! We joined in and Raheel really enjoyed it. Having bought some strawberries, I checked out the small souvenir shops that lined up the street.
Next we headed for PMA which took us almost an hour. The campus was a huge one and we were lucky enough to watch cadets performing the regular drills. It was surprising that so many tourists were allowed inside the campus. We walked about the place, took photos and then drove back to Baguio city. It was already 1pm and we had to catch a bus to Manila at 3.30. We left the cab near Session Road and looked for a restaurant to take lunch. The place was crowded like the previous day. Having eaten at Andok’s, we rushed back to pack our bags and get to the bus terminal in time.
The bus departed on time and then it was a tiring 7 hours journey back home. While Mifu managed to watch two movies that were played in the bus, Raheel & I tried to sleep as much as possible! Baguio during the flower festival is indeed worth a visit…

Up in the Air!

I had been watching the ads of the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon fiesta on local TV channels. It was scheduled to be held from 11 to 14 February ’10. The clips on TV were quite tempting & made me wonder if Mifu could spare time from his hectic schedule to visit Clark, the venue of the event. The airfield at Clark was the former American airbase. The place was a 2 & half hour drive from Makati.
Luckily, the class coordinator of MDM, Lyndon, decided to visit Clark for the balloon fiesta. So Mifu planned that we go with him as he knew the place well. Another lady working at AIM joined us for the trip. On the morning of 13th Feb, we met Lyndon at the lobby of AIM at 10.30. We took a cab to the Victory Liner bus terminal at Pasay. The buses ply to different places from Manila every half hour. We boarded a bus to Pampanga at around 11.30.
By 1.15pm, we were at Pampanga. I bought a burger for Raheel at the bus terminal as we weren’t sure about food at the venue. Next we took a 10 minute tricycle ride to the jeepney stand of Clark. A crowded jeepney drove us to the International airport complex of Clark.
The ambience outside the airfield was a festive one. The entry fee was a reasonable 150 pesos. Once we walked in through the crowded main gate, we got the real feel of the event. On one side of the field, fighter jets, army helicopters, combat jeeps, micro light aircrafts and even a few tanks were put on display for public. Raheel was very excited to see all the army stuff! We saw people getting into the tanks and we decided to try it too. Though I and Raheel did climb on to a tank, it was quite cramped inside with hardly enough space to move!
Soon a loudspeaker blared about the start of balloon bursting competition. We moved ahead to a spot from where we could a better view of the event. Interestingly many locals had set up portable tents all over the field. The place looked more like a huge picnic ground!!
The balloon bursting show was fun. The light aircrafts were used for this and most of the pilots could hit their targets. Next was the civilian sky diving event. Since it was quite an expensive affair, only a few foreigners participated in it. The hot air balloons were supposed to appear only at 5.30 in the evening and so we decided to explore the place for the time being. There were stalls selling everything from souvenirs to t-shirts to kites, etc. The sky looked brilliant as people flew kites of various colors and shapes. We discovered a KFC stall and took a quick lunch.
Having taken a full round of the field, we moved back to our original spot to witness the ultra light & micro light aircraft formations. The dare devil formations in the air delighted all. Next in line was the aerobatic show. Planes going topsy-turvy in the sky were fun to watch!
I was surprised to see Capt. Joy Roa moving about the airfield. I had seen him on Philippine TV a few times where he anchors an Asian travel show. Being a veteran pilot, Roa was an active organizer of the balloon fiesta. He was busy giving instructions to the pilots of the hot air balloons. As evening gradually approached, a colorful group of tribal dancers appeared on the ground. Capt. Roa announced that the hot air balloons were about to follow shortly. The local troupe of dancers was, in fact, escorting the pilots who had come from different countries. A few paragliders meanwhile moved about above us. Soon big jeeps pulled in the balloons as the people cheered. However, Roa announced that due to very high speed of wind, the balloons may not be able to float up. This dampened our spirits but we still waited & watched. The pilots were trying their best to inflate the balloons. Finally, after almost half an hour, one balloon was fully inflated and everyone cheered again. Camera flashes went on in frenzy as people captured the sight. Soon another balloon came up and then a few more! Capt. Roa said that we were lucky that the balloons could at least be inflated. A blue balloon with red hearts came up, reminding all about Valentine’s Day which incidentally falls on the next day!
Though the wind obstructed the balloons from actually rising up, yet the pilots’ efforts to inflate them for the enthusiastic spectators delighted all. As for us, it was indeed an experience to cherish….

AIM - A Melting Pot of Asian Cultures...

23rd and 24th of February 2010 marked the International Flag Raising Day and the International Cultural Nite at AIM. Early in the morning of 23rd, Mifu & Raheel went to AIM to witness the flag raising ceremony. Student representing nearly 15 countries participated. Donned in their traditional best, the flag bearers looked dignified and proud to represent their respective nations.
A band played the national anthems of each country as the flags were being hoisted. Since most of Mifu’s classmates were from various Asian countries besides the Philippines, Raheel got a chance to take photos with them in their traditional attires!
On the evening of 24th Feb, the Zen Garden at AIM wore a different look. A brightly lit up stage welcomes all for the International Cultural Nite. We reached the venue at around 6.15pm and found the last minute preparations going on the stage. Some boys in martial arts uniform moved about near the stage rehearsing their steps & Raheel was excited to see them.
The anchors for the evening were an Indian named Pritish & a Filipino girl, Kat. Both of them are MBA students and smoothly conducted the show without any hitch. In a quick welcome address, one of the professors humorously said that no one should expect cancellation of classes on the next day!
The show finally kicked off with a Judo demonstration by some students from a martial arts academy. Next came a Taekwondo demo by an AIM student. He delighted the gathering with some impressive kicks.
Once the martial arts segment was over, it was time for the Indian segment of the evening. Amidst applause & whistles (majority of AIM’s students are Indians) two sisters doing their MBA took their places on the stage for a classical dance performance. They did a Kathak recital from the movie ‘Taal’. Then followed a dance medley from Bollywood movies, old & new. The Indian students did quite a good job as they grooved to the popular filmy numbers! A Marathi folk dance as well a Bhangra dance added to the festive mood. A couple of wannabe singers belted out few Hindi songs while we helped ourselves to dinner. The Indian segment closed with a performance on A.R. Rehman’s Vande Mataram. The Indians at AIM did an impressive job indeed.
Next in line was Indonesia. There was a graceful dance recital by two MBA students which was followed songs by another two Indonesians. The anchor announced that a Pakistani item follow soon. All eyes fixed on the stage as Hafeez, Mifu’s classmate from Peshawar, moved forward. He sang a Pashtun folk song and soon most of the people were dancing to it! The MDM batch cheered Hafeez throughout since he is the only student from Pakistan. A Vietnamese song followed next and the singer was dressed in a gorgeous costume.
The Filipino segment began with one student in traditional Igorot costume sang a local number. Then entered a colorful troupe of Filipino dancers and musicians. The tribal dances that were performed resembled the Naga & Mizo dances of NE India! The musicians played melodious Spanish tunes while the female dancers in beautiful costumes moved gracefully. We got a chance to experience the diverse culture within the Philippines through the various dance performances.
Much to everyone’s surprise, the finale of the evening turned out to a fashion show! The first student-model was an Indian with a well toned body carrying a bamboo torch and wearing a silk dhoti and a silk stole. He was followed by a train of other models dressed in traditional costumes. All posed elegantly on stage and looked very much professional! After the traditional round, came the western wear. It was quite impressive as well. A stylish way to conclude the cultural nite indeed.
The event was memorable for all the students at AIM, I guess. The evening of 24th Feb brought alive the amazing cultural diversity of Asia under a single roof.

Hen. Pio del Pilar School...

Even while I was getting ready for my trip to Manila, Mifu had been contemplating about enrolling Raheel in a school there. Luckily, one of Mifu’s MDM classmates has some connections at the Makati DepEd (Education Department) and she helped us. She recommended an elementary school where it was possible to enroll Raheel.
I brought all the necessary certificates of Raheel from Guwahati. Just before the Christmas break, we visited the Pio Del Pilar School to meet the Principal. The ride took us nearly 10 to 15 minutes by a jeepney. It was quite convenient and the jeepney stops right in front of the school! No problem with the communication, I thought.
The Principal, Dr. Leticia Rosales gave us a warm reception. She showed keen interest in enrolling Raheel as a guest pupil in the kindergarten section of her school. Since Christmas was round the corner, Dr. Rosales asked us to meet her in the first week of January when the school would re-open after the holidays. She suggested that an approval letter from the Makati DepEd would make things more official. So the next day, Mifu accompanied his classmate Ms. Dals to get an approval from the secretary of Education for the enrollment of Raheel in a local school.
Classes at Pio Del Pilar resumed on 4th Jan 2010. We reached school around 11.45 and went to see the Principal. She called one of her Kindergarten teacher Ms. Luciano. Raheel is to be accommodated in her class as a guest pupil. At 12.30pm, the afternoon session began and all of us walked to Raheel’s new class. There were about 20 children between 5 – 6 years. The Principal explained to the kids that they would have a new friend from India in the class.
Raheel said a shy’ hello’ to his new classmates and they replied “hi Raheel” in chorus. We came out of the room while Ms. Luciano began to sing some rhymes to the children. Though we didn’t eat our lunch before leaving for school, I had packed tiffin for Raheel just to be on the safe side. And it worked! Both Mifu & I roamed about within the school premises, exploring the surrounding. What struck us was that despite being a government run school, each classroom had an AC. The building is a four storied one with an assembly area on the ground floor, equipped with announcement room and everything. Raheel’s class is on the ground floor. Moreover, meals (soups, macaroni or noodles), dry snack & fruit juices make rounds in all the rooms daily. Students can buy these at subsidized rates.
The Principal’s office surprised us. It is quite luxurious so to speak. Plush sofas with satin cushions, a huge dining table and expensive decorative pieces adorned the room! Impressive indeed!! We wondered about the dilapidated situation of govt. schools of Axom. Lessons to be learnt from here. Another interesting thing is that the teachers have different colored uniforms for the six days of the week! That made teaching more fun, I guess.
So began Raheel’s new learning experience in the Philippines.

Fireworks bring in 2010!!

On the last day of 2009, we decided to visit the Chinatown of Manila. The place is known as Binondo and is almost 45 minutes drive from Makati. The Chisti family also accompanied us. On reaching Binondo, the first thing which struck us was the crowded street! Leaving the cab, we walked through the narrow lanes of Chinatown. There were many shops that lined up on the pavement of Ongpi Street selling Chinese toys, electronic goods & feng shui items. The bigger shops sold beautiful Chinese crockery, towels, blankets, etc. The prices were quite high though and so I dropped the idea of shopping!
Our next stop was the old church dedicated to the first Philippine saint, Lorenzo Ruiz. It was a massive structure with beautiful paintings adorning the domed ceiling. There was even a wedding in progress when we went inside.
We headed for a restaurant as it was already lunch hour. I ordered Pancit Canton (noodles) with beef satay while Mifu opted for Beef ampalaya with rice. When we enquired about ampalaya, the waitress informed that it’s a green vegetable. Mifu looked awful when his dish was finally served. It turned out to be a preparation of beef in ampalaya (bitter gourd or karela) gravy!! So I had to share my pancit canton with Mifu since he detested karela. When I tasted it, it wasn’t all that bad.
After lunch, we drove down to the Manila Zoo as the kids were showing signs of boredom in Chinatown. Interestingly, there weren’t too many animals there. An elephant, a couple of huge pythons, some colorful macaws, monkeys and different species of birds were all that made up Manila zoo! The kids enjoyed the play area more than watching the few animals while we sipped coffee near the artificial lake at the zoo. By 6 o’clock, we rode a jeepney back home. We already had a plan to meet the Chistis for dinner at their place.
Having enjoyed a hearty meal, not to forget the ready- to- eat turkey which Zahid ka had bought, all of us took a walk towards the Greenbelt complex to find out if any special New Year programme was on. To our surprise, the place looked deserted except for a few young people loitering about. Mifu suggested that we go back to our building as we were told that there would be fireworks at midnight. The Chistis came along as well & all of us moved up to the terrace garden on the 30th floor! Many people living in our building were already at the terrace waiting for the firework display. And what a sight it was. Simply brilliant! The Manila sky lit up with amazing displays of crackling firework exactly as the clock struck 12 & it went on for almost an hour. People on the terrace cheered and greeted each other. Later we came back to our unit and Mifu logged on Skype to wish folks in Guwahati.. Though this New Year eve was a different experience, yet we did miss the family get together, Ma’s pulao and the bonfire back home!!

INCREDIBLE INTRAMUROS...

As the Christmas vacation was on & the AIM classes were off, we tried to make the most of it. On 27th Dec, we and the Chisti family visited Intramuros in old Manila. Intramuros is a Spanish word meaning a city inside walls (intra=within & muros=murals or walls).It is the ancient ‘Walled City’ of Manila!
Legend has it that Raja Sulayman, a native chieftain, ruled over the Filipino communities who lived along the banks of the Pasig River. The settlement was protected by palisades and forts. One of those was called Maynilad (later known as Manila). The place became a busy trade centre for Asian goods. However, the Spanish invasion shattered the settlement. The fort was burnt twice, once by the Spaniards & later by the natives before they left the area to the foreigners. In 1571, the Spanish conqueror Miguel Lopez di Legazpi founded the city of Manila on the site of the old settlement. High stone walls & bulwarks were constructed to defend the city from the Chinese & the Japanese pirates. The walls enclosed a pentagonal area of nearly 64 hectares. There were residences, churches, palaces schools & govt. buildings within the walled city. Entry could be made only through gates with drawbridges that were closed before midnight.
Intramuros thus became the political, cultural, educational, religious as well as commercial centre of Spain in the Far East. Several other European powers were driven off Philippine waters while the walls protected the city. In 1762, the British invasion of Intramuros damaged the walls and valuable properties were looted. In 1898, the Americans arrived in the Philippines and the Spanish surrendered Intramuros after a mock battle. The Filipinos began a new lifestyle under the new colonial rulers. A major portion of the walls including two gates were destroyed to make way for roads in Intramuros.
With the outbreak of WW II, Intramuros fell into Japanese hands. Fort Santiago became a terror chamber where Japanese army tortured & killed hundreds of innocent civilians. For three years, fear & death loomed over Intramuros. In 1945, the Americans liberated the Philippines from the Japs. During the 8 day siege, thousands lost their lives & Intramuros too received its death blow. Artillery shells reduced most of the buildings & walls into ashes.
The USA recognized Philippines as an independent nation in 1946, but Intramuros was already a dead city. It became a wasteland occupied by squatters & warehouse owners. The city never sprung back to life. In 1979, a Presidential decree created the Intramuros Administration to restore &develop the walled city as a historic site & tourist destination.
The major attractions inside Intramuros include the San Augustine Church & Convent (oldest in Philippines), the Manila cathedral, Fort Santiago (site of the original settlement of Raja Sulaiman), Plaza de Roma, Plaza San Luis complex among others. The Casa Manila Museum takes one back to the Spanish era. The museum depicts the interior décor, furniture & clothes used by Filipinos during the Spanish period. The luxurious Filipino lifestyle in Intramuros between the 17th and 19th centuries is well preserved in Casa Manila Museum.
Having walked back in time through the cobbled streets of the amazing walled city, we tried a Calesa ride. The Calesa is a horse drawn carriage like a Tonga, and was a common mode of transport in Intramuros during the olden days. A half hour Calesa ride helped us to see most parts of Intramuros which would not have been possible by taking a walk! The visit was a memorable experience. Intramuros is, indeed, a priceless treasure of the Filipino people.

EATING PINOY ISHTYLE !!

The trip to Calapan introduced Mifu & me to authentic Filipino cuisine. Breakfast at both the resorts where we had stayed consisted of a choice between hot fluffy pancakes served with honey & butter or the local favorite, Daing na Bangus. The second option is a typical Filipino breakfast meal that has garlic rice, a fried bangus (sea fish) and a poached egg. It is quite filling and we that was our breakfast for most of the days. Of course, the pancakes were yummy as well!
Though I’m known for my dislike of fish back home, yet I relished most of the fish preparations which I tasted at Calapan. Maybe the taste of the sea fish made all the difference! The Tilapia (another sea fish) was a popular one among the team members. It’s usually fried whole & garnished with stir fried vegetables.
While dining at a local eating joint in Calapan, I got adventurous and tried crispy squid rings which weren’t bad. Having caught a glimpse of squids at a supermarket in Makati (they look like tiny octopuses!) I tried not to think of them as it would have certainly spoiled my dinner.
Garlic rice is a hot favorite of the Filipino people. After tasting it, both I & Mifu began to relish it. So it’s always garlic rice that we order whenever we eat out! An interesting Pinoy delicacy is the Balut. It is basically boiled duck egg with a half developed embryo inside. The locals say that the embryo made the egg all the tastier!! Except Chola, Hafeez and the two of us, the rest of the gang relished the Balut at the resort.
We also tasted Bibingka which is a local rice cake baked with milk and topped with butter & grated coconut. Sweet banana chips are another popular snack & Calapan produces a lot of these. When we returned, all of us brought back many packets of the chips made in Calapan.
While Mifu & I experimented with the various Pinoy delicacies, Raheel, as always, stuck to his rice, bread & Maggie noodles menu!!

JINGLE BELLS IN MAKATI

On the 9th of Dec’09, Christmas was celebrated at AIM’s Zen Garden. We went there in the evening dressed very casually. However, most people were well attired for the occasion. There was even a DJ playing foot tapping numbers and set the mood for the Christmas party. Soon someone announced that a traditional costume competition would take place. All those who dressed in their traditional attire were called upon stage. Had I known earlier, I could have put on my mekhela-chadar and joined the contest! Interestingly both the male as well as the female winners were Indians. The beautifully draped sari of the Indian lady & the Barong worn by an Indian student must have impressed the judges.
One Indian student belted out ‘Musu musu hasee....’ to everyone’s delight. Later a Filipino band kept the crowd entertained with popular English numbers.
Christmas is beautiful in Makati. All shops & malls were lit up for the occasion. The Greenbelt mall complex was decked up with white Christmas trees. There were fireworks every Friday at Greenbelt 3 park throughout December. The mad rush of Christmas shoppers kept me amused! The Filipinos spent money like there’s no tomorrow!! After all it’s a Catholic country & X-mas is the main festival.
We went to the Mall of Asia at Pasay city with the Chisti family on 23rd Dec. MoA is one of Asia’s biggest malls & it really is huge. It was bedecked beautifully for Christmas too. A big C’mas tree stood outside, near the ocean walkway. The ocean drive near the mall makes the place even nicer. We spent a long time there and came home late, having taken dinner at the mall’s food court.
On 24th, we invited the Chisti family over for dinner. It was to celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary which was on 25th Dec. Simi presented me a lovely Chinese tea set which was a nice surprise! After dinner, we decided to take a walk hoping to catch a glimpse of midnight mass going on at the nearby chapel in Greenbelt 3. To our surprise the streets of Makati wore a deserted look. A couple of security guards informed us that the C’mas mass would take place the next morning and not midnight as we expected. So we returned home quite dejected.
A yummy chocolate mousse cake from hubby dear greeted me on 25th morning! Later in the day, few phone calls came from folks back home to wish us. We had a Skype contact with Ma who happened to be at Mumbai during that time. In the evening we headed to SM mall as Raheel was promised that we would take him to Toy Kingdom. Having spent quite some time at the mall, we ended the day with a delicious dinner at the Persian Grill restaurant!

RO-RO TO CALAPAN !!

During the last part of November Mifu’s study team consisting of 7 members were supposed to visit for their RAA (rapid area analysis). The place chosen for the study was Calapan city. It’s a sea-side town located in Oriental Mindoro. The study tour was for 1 week.
Mifu wasn’t sure if I & Raheel could accompany the team. After consulting the team members it was decided that I could join the trip! I was delighted as it would be my first visit to a Filipino city outside Manila. Since Calapan is situated on a different island, we had to travel by the ferry as well. Early on the morning of 30th Nov, the team members met at the lobby of AIM. Chola & Gucci (Mifu’s team mates) brought their SUVs that would take us to Calapan. The group split into two & got into the vehicles. While Gucci had a driver, Chola car was driven by Titan (another Filipino team mate). We were in Chola’s Land Rover.
The drive to the port of Batangas took about 2 ½ hours. By 11.30 we reached Batangas & all agreed to have an early lunch before boarding the ferry. After a hearty meal in a Max’s Burger outlet, we were on our way to the port. Incidentally, Batangas port is one of the busiest in the Phils. Very soon we boarded a Ro-Ro for a 2 ½ hour sail to Calapan city! RO-RO is short for Roll on-Roll off. It’s basically a big ferry which can carry cars & small trucks as well. The upper deck has a spacious AC passenger lounge with television and even a mini snack bar.
The RO-RO lifted anchor at 2pm from Batangas. We made ourselves comfortable in the lounge. But as the ferry began its smooth sail, none of us could resist the temptation of climbing up to the second level of the ferry to get a feel of the cool sea breeze. Pictures were taken and video recordings were done by most of the team members to capture the lovely seascape of the Phils! Margaret, the 1year old daughter of Gucci, became the star attraction of our journey. She was accompanying her dad to Calapan which happens to be her grandparents’ home. Little Margaret moved about fearlessly & kept all of us in amusement. The sea wind soon made everyone sleepy & so most of us tried to doze off for a while.
After almost 2 hours, we caught the first glimpse of Calapan at a distance. As the RO-RO made its way towards the port, we noticed small boys not more than 11 or 12 years swimming near the ferry. They called upon the passengers who were looking down at the waters to throw coins. The boys were quite expert divers & had the swiftness to search the coins from under water in no time!! However, once the coins are thrown those become the property of the young divers! Chola almost emptied her coin purse to relish the expertise of those amazing boys.
We headed for the Anahaw Island Resort after disembarking. The resort was located in the outskirts of Calapan city. There was a private beach & the atmosphere was serene. Both Raheel & I were excited as we could enjoy the beach which was so close by! Having checked in at the cozy bamboo cottages of Anahaw, we took an early dinner. The resort’s restaurant was just by the sea & one gets a real feel of the waves lashing so close.
The next seven days were grueling for the study team. They left for work after an early breakfast and returned late in the evenings. Raheel & I had a good time at the beach meanwhile. Though Raheel wasn’t too enthusiastic to get into the water yet he gradually went ahead on seeing the other kids having such a great time. I enquired about the city market from the hotel staff & was informed that it was only a 10 minute drive by a tricycle. So we called a tricycle (remember the one used in the movie Sholay?) and soon we headed for downtown Calapan. Raheel was too amused to ride the tricycle. It is the most convenient way to move around the place & is also quite cheap! The market place was big considering the size of the city. There were roadside vendors selling local products, even Chinese toys & accessories. We discovered the only department store of Calapan & did some window shopping! There were wholesale shops selling toys, bags & even casual wear. In fact the place turned out to be quite a less expensive shopping delight.
Near the market stood the majestic Calapan Cathedral. A short walk took us to the City Plaza. It has a nice park with a small fort & a fountain. The park is dedicated to Jose Rizal, one of Philippines’ national heroes. Moving around Calapan city market was fun & all for just 10 pesos to reach there!
Having stayed at Anahaw for 4 nights, it was decided that we shift to another resort called Parang Beach Resort. So we moved to Parang on day 5. The independent cottages of the resort are neat & cozy. Here too there’s a provision to dine outside while enjoying the sea breeze & the lashing of the waves. This resort, however, is a little farther from downtown Calapan & it cost me 20 pesos to ride a tricycle from there.
Ms. Remi, mom-in-law of Gucci, invited all of us for dinner at her farmhouse while at Calapan. Her late husband was the ex- governor of Calapan. The farmhouse is a sprawling one with many fruit trees & a big vegetable garden as well. The food was obviously lip-smacking! Gucci’s wife is a chef at a hotel in Manila & she took the pain of coming to Calapan especially for the dinner hosted by her mother.
The day 7, being a Sunday, the team decided to take a trip to Puerto Galera. It is a two hour drive from Calapan. Puerto Galera is a beautiful town with lovely white sand beaches. After arriving there we met the members of another MDM team who were doing their RAA in Puerto Galera. We headed for the famous white beach at once & had a good time there. Later lunch was served at the guest house where the other team had put up. Chicken Adobo & sea fish were devoured hungrily by all!! Having relaxed for a while, our team thought of taking a boat ride in the sea. It was indeed an awesome experience. The breeze was strong & the landscape breathtaking! Taking us at a great speed for almost half an hour, the boat slowed down as it approached a small island. In fact it was a perfect spot for snorkeling & diving. The swimmers in the team volunteered to get a view of the marine life & put on the snorkeling gear quickly. The non-swimmers like me & some others remained on the boat & admired the beauty around us. Some 20 minutes later the swimmers were back & said that the underwater view was simply amazing with coral reefs, colorful fish & marine vegetation. The non-swimmers sulked as a life time chance was missed! We got back to the white beach by 4.30pm & went to the guest house to freshen up. By 5pm, we were heading back to Calapan as the next was going to the last day of work for the team.
In the afternoon of 8th Dec, we bid goodbye to the little city of Calapan. Boarding the RO-RO from the port we sailed back to Batangas & reached Manila around 7.30 in the evening. A memorable trip to a beautiful island city of the Philippines!

KUYA RAHEEL......

He's chubby, he's adorable, he's hyper active& he's a brat! That sums up Andreas (Andy) for you. He's Raheel's new buddy in Makati :) We discovered Andy one afternoon on the terrace play area a few days after our arrival at Makati. The moment he saw Raheel, he wanted to be friends. Raheel was a bit hesitant as Andy speaks fluent English while Raheel knew only little! But as days went by, they grew more friendly. We found out that Andy also lives on the 24th floor of our building.
Within a few days, Raheel became Kuya ('brother' in filipino) for Andy, who is 1 year younger to Raheel. Since both his parents work,Andy stays with his nanny most of the time. She's a nice lady who takes good care of him. She brings him to the terrace every evening to play with Raheel.Andy gets realy excited when he sees Raheel & often hugs him tight out of affection! Raheel was uneasy with this excitement of Andy initially but he got used to it soon.
There's one toy or the other that Andy would bring with him to play on the terrace. He gets quite possessive at times when Raheel tries to play with it. His nanny keeps telling him to share the toys with Kuya(Raheel) & Andy gradually started sharing his play things.
There's always a race between the two as they pretend to be race cars on the track! Andy, who is much heavier than Raheel, gets breathless soon as they race around the jogging track. Another thing that they both enjoy playing is the slide. After the racing is done& someone wins, its over to the slide. Raheel however misses Andy in the weekends as he goes to live with his grandparents in another place near Manila.
A few days before Christmas, Raheel received a packet of nice chocolates from Andy. Since Andy would visit his grandparents during Christmas, Raheel& I went to a gift shop to get something for him. We bought a puzzle& some candies. I took Raheel to Andy's apartment to give his X-mas gift. when the doorbell rang, it was answered by a naked Andy who had actually run from the bathroom in the middle of his shower to see who was at the door!! Raheel couldnt stop laughing at Andy's activity! Nanny was running about behind him with a towel just to dry him up.It was realy a funny sight. I left Raheel there saying I would be back after half an hour. When I went to fetch Raheel almost 45 minutes later, I found him enjoying some juice&cookies. Andy was taking porridge for lunch at that time. His father informed that since Andy's getting overweight, they've reduced his intake of rice&meat. Poor Andreas!
We met Andy only after new year as he was away to visit his relatives. its realy nice that Raheel got a playmate who loves being with him. Of course, there are times when they get mad with each other while playing, but that's part of growing up. The playtime still continues on the terrace every evening. Although Raheel misses Tirus & his close buddy Rayan back home, he's got Andy to give him company here. Cheers to this friendship :)

MABUHAY...MAKATI !!

Gaint billboards flashed the word 'mabuhay' (greetings) as we drove down from the airport to our condo at Dela Rosa st. in Makati city.The condo was on the 24th floor much to Raheel's amusement. He was excited as we would have to use the elevator often to go down or up from our floor! I was pleased to find that mot of the staff in the building could speak good English. It was a relief since we faced quite a problem while we were in Bangkok in 2008. The hotel attendents hardly spoke any English.
24th floor gave me creepy feeling in the beginning since Manila is famous or rather infamous for its typhoons and earthquakes! I just prayed that no calamity hits the city while we are there!! The view from our unit(2403) was of course really fabulous. We can see the skyline of Makati from the glass wall once the blinds are pulled.
Having taken a qiuck snack(maggi noodles) I& Raheel slept like logs till it was evening. Mifu then took us to a supermarket where I did some grocery shopping. We headed to AIM next. The campus looked deserted as it was a sunday. Once we went in, I was amazed to see many Indian students lazying around in the lobby. I met a few of Mifu's classmates who were living in the dorm. Mifu suggested that we get dinner from the filipino lady(Jessica) who caters for the Indian students at AIM. Having taken dinner back at the condo, we decided to retire early since both Mifu & I had a busy day ahead.
Incidentally, Makati happens to be the business hub of Manila. So it has mainly corporate offices, banks, many condominiums & of course, plenty of shopping malls. I noticed that the people are all well dressed as most work in the corporate offices. There were hardly any shabby looking person around.
The first week went by in a busy way as I settled down in our new home(though temporary!) Fortunately there is a nice terrace with a green patch & jogging track on the rooftop of Asian Mansion 2 (our building). There are also swimming pools(one for the kids) on 28th floor. So Imade it a point to go up tp the terrace every evening to get some fresh air(its very breezy up there) and also do some walking at the same time. Raheel was happy to run about on the grass& play on the slide.
So began a new phase of life in Makati, far,far away from home!

New Home&New Friends....

The drive from the airport to our condo at the Asian Mansion 2, Dela Rosa st. in Makati, took about 20 minutes. Incidentally, Makati happens to be the business ditrict of Manila. So there's plenty of high rise structures all around.

Our condo(2403) was on the 24th floor much to my terror! I dreaded the thought of living so high up in a place known for its typhoons&earthquakes. On the contrary, Raheel was very excited as he knew that we would be using the lift each time we need to go down or up! However once I entered the condo, I was thrilled to see the Makati skyline from one of the walls which is all glass. Poor Mifu had tried to set up the basic things before we arrived.The owner was kind enough to provide all cooking utensils,crockery,etc. So we didnt need to buy any kitchen ware.I only carried a small pressure cooker with me. So I was all set to start a new home all by myself for the 1st time after we got married. Excited I surely was!

In the evening of 15th Nov, Mifu took us to a dept. store where I did some grocery shopping.Then we walked to Aim. Being a sunday, the campus looked deserted. When we went in, I was amazed to see many Indians lazying around in the lobby. Interestingly the maximum number of students in AIM are desis!! I met couple of Mifu's MDM classmates who stayed in the dorm. We bought dinner from the Filipino lady,Jessie, who caters for the Indians living in the dorm. We retired to bed early that night as Mifu had a busy day ahead&I had to unpack my luggage& set everything in place!

I felt that living here on our own gave a good scope to sharpen my culinary skills.I began trying out different preparations & much to my delight Mifu complimented on them. While I got busy with the household chores, Irealised that Raheel was getting restless& bored. Thankfully he soon met Andy, a 4yr old who also lives on the 24th floor.They became friends soon and Andy calls Raheel as 'Quiya' which means brother. Every evening we go to the rooftop gargen where they can play in the slide or run about on the green patch.

About a week after we arrived, Zahid Ka( Mr. Zahid Chistie) who is also doing his MDM, invited us for dinner. The Chisties live in another condo about 5 mins walk from ours. I was glad to meet Simi (Mrs. Chistie) who is almost of my age. Their 6yr old girl, Zaina, became friends with Raheel soon. Since Simi had come to Manila in Sept with her husband, she had a good idea about the prices in the different shops. So she gave me some useful tips. So there was Raheel & I getting new friends and settling down in the new home high up in floor 24 !

Flight SQ 910,Destination Manila!

The date 14th Nov '09 kept ringing constantly at the back of my mind since Mifu's departure to Manila for his MDM program in Sep'09.On 14th Nov,I and Raheel were to fly to the Philippines tp join Mifu.
There was just 2 months left and loads of work to complete!To make things systematic, I prepared a things-to-do list and put it up near my study table. Thankfully our visa formalities got over together with Mifu in September. I had to slog hard to complete my tutorial classes.My students looked worried fearing that I may not finish the syllabus in time.On top was my writing assignments with Bookland Publishers.Phew! I was tired. Every evening when I drove back home after a tiring day, I could see the worry in Ma's eyes. Time was flying by and still there was a lot to do! Mifu mailed me another long list of important tasks to be completed before I came. I followed everything accurately lest something is missed out.
Raheel was both excited&sad.Excited because he would meet Mifu after a long break,sad as he would leave behind his Aita&lil'brother Tirus. Rayan, Raheel's best friend, was quite upset to hear about Raheel's long absence.Things were getting pretty emotional on the home front.Ma would shed tears every time the topic of Philippines came up.I knew she would miss Raheel terribly.I was nervous too as it would be my first trip abroad with Raheel alone.However I tried to keep cool&concentrate on the more important tasks.I was sorry to leave behind Ma as I knew she was already missing Mifu and we were to leave soon. And of course, I felt really bad to be away from Baity & Saru for so long.I was given a few goodbye lunch&dinners from the dear mahis & pehi as I geared up for d-day!
The flight from Kolkata to Singapore was scheduled as 11.45pm on 14th Nov.Having checked in early, Raheel & I tried to catch some sleep in the waiting lounge.The departure was announced on time & we boarded a Singapore Airlines aircraft at midnight. I made Raheel comfortable in his seat with the pillows & blanket. He dozed off within minutes of our take off. I tried the late dinner served in the flight but couldn't enjoy it. I was too exhausted!
Around 6am Singapore time(3.30am in India) we landed at Changi Int'nl Airport. I had a difficult time to wake Raheel up. After much struggle he woke up with a grumpy face.But once we were inside the arrival terminal, he cheered up.The interior was really amazing. We freshened up in the clean rest rooms and then walked about in the spacious transit area. It was more like taking a walk in a mall with branded labels alluring the tired travellers!! Raheel was excited to find a shop displaying a model F1 race car and even posed for a photo with it. I sent a quick mail to Mifu from the free internet facility in the airport about our arrival at S'pore.
Around 8am, we moved towards the departure gate for the next flight to Manila. When security & customs clearances were over, we finally boarded Flt. SQ 910 to the Phils! Raheel was glad to know that we need not change more planes & will land directly at Manila. The flight took nearly 3 hours. I hungrily devoured breakfast, having eaten nothing much since the previous night. While Raheel dozed off again, I tried to take a bird's eye view from the window.The captain announced that we were flying over the Manila Bay. Indeed it was a beautiful sight from above! Once we touched down at the Ninoy Aquino Int'nl Airport, the customs clearance went by smoothly,although I was worried about it.After retrieving our baggage we walked excitedly towards the exit. Soon we saw Mifu standing outside with a big grin on his face!! Destination Manila accomplished.