Greenbelt

Best of the Philippines Part 2: Travel and Experiences

by Sarah Novak on March 29, 2011

Bohol Beach Club

This is my second and final installation of ‘Best of the Philippines’ where I sum up all I’ve learned in the last 21 months of living here.  I know you’ll put it to good use and I encourage you to pass it along to other ‘newbies’ in town.  Click here if you missed the first installment, Best of the Philippines Part 1: Food and Services.  Thanks for your continued readership – I love writing for you!

Enjoy, Sarah

Travel

Best 3 Day Weekend Getaway = Bohol (Must Sees: Bee Farm, Chocolate Hills)

CLICK HERE FOR MY BOHOL PHOTO GALLERIES: Gallery 1, Gallery 2

 

Batanes

Most Undiscovered Gem = Batanes

CLICK HERE FOR MY BATANES PHOTO GALLERY

 

Boracay

Most Beautiful Beach = Boracay

CLICK HERE FOR MY BORACAY PHOTO GALLERIES: Gallery 1, Gallery 2

 

Swimming with the Whale Sharks at Donsol

Most Unique Experience = Swimming with the Whale Sharks, Donsol

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A VIDEO OF US SWIMMING WITH THE WHALE SHARKS

CLICK HERE FOR MY DONSOL PHOTO GALLERY

 

Swimming with the Dolphins at Subic's Ocean Adventure

Best Experience with Animals = Ocean Adventure in Subic

CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS OF US SWIMMING WITH THE DOLPHINS AT OCEAN ADVENTURE PARK

 

Hidden Valley Springs Laguna

Best Day Trip = Hidden Valley Springs

 

Sanctuario de San Pablo

Best Overnight Trip = San Pablo (Villa Escudero, Sanctuario de San Pablo, Ugu Bigyan’s Pottery Garden, Sulyap Cafe)

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF SAN PABLO

 

Coco Beach Resort

Best First Trip (Before You have a Car) = Coco Beach (They will pick you up at the Diamond Hotel by van)

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF COCO BEACH

Best Historical Site = Corregidor

Best Food Excursion = Tagaytay (Antonio’s, Sonia’s Garden, Bag of Beans)

 

Tondo Dump Manila

Most Life-changing Experience: Tour of Tondo with the Philippine Community Fund

CLICK HERE TO SEE MY PHOTOS OF THE TONDO TRASH DUMP WHERE 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE LIVE

Products & Experiences

Best Place to Buy Pearls = Greenhills/Dam Good Stuff

 

Pearls from Jawahir's Shop at Greenhills

Favorite Greenhills Pearl Vendors =

  • Jawahir (stand 71) for strings of pearls
  • Taslimah (stall H) for pearls combined with silver

 

My Custom Chaise from CMG Rattan

Favorite Chaise Lounge Maker = CMG Rattan

3rd Floor Furniture Bazaar, Market Market.  Good for custom made rattan and abaca furniture.  Reliable and reasonable, Tel (+632)3850654 Mobile: (+63)09157570022

 

Market Shopping at Divisoria

Best Bargains = Divisoria (Note: Take a veteran with you – lots of pickpockets and hard to navigate)

 

AWCP Bazaar

Best Bazaar = USEC Bazaar AND the AWCP Bazaar

Best Place to Get Filipino Handicrafts = Kultura

 

Ugu Bigyan's Pottery Garden

Best Pottery = Ugu Bigyan’s Pottery Garden

 

Graduation from Basic Photography

Best Photography Class for Beginners = PhotoWorld Manila’s Basic Photography

Best Photoshop Class for Beginners = De La Salle’s Photoshop Short Course

 

Live Karaoke at Nicotina's

Best LIVE Karaoke with a Band = Nicotina’s Garden Pavilion

Best Videoke = Redbox

Best Sunset = Roxas Boulevard Boardwalk

Best Calm Oasis Where You Can Forget You’re in Manila = The American Cemetery

Most Unique Golf Course = Intramuros Golf Course

 

A Mausoleum at the Chinese Cemetery

Most Fascinating Outing = The Chinoy Cemetery Tour

Best Gym = Fitness First

 

Greenbelt Mall

Best Mall = Greenbelt

 

Friendship Home

Favorite Places to Volunteer:

Best Movie Theatre: IMAX Mall of Asia

 

Director's Club at Mall of Asia

Most Unique Movie Experience: Director’s Club Mall of Asia

Best Hospital Ambiance = St. Luke’s

Best Hospital Care = Makati Med

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Best of the Philippines Part 1: Food and Services

by Sarah Novak on March 28, 2011

It’s hard to believe, but it’s T-minus 3 months until I leave Manila for good.  As one of my parting gifts to you, my loyal blog readers, I’d like to bestow upon you a list of my Manila faves.  You never know when you’ll be moving to or visiting the Philippines!  I hope you find it helpful.  Be sure to leave any follow-up questions in the comments so that I can answer them…

PS – stay tuned for Part 2 which will include my favorite travel opportunities and experiences in the Philippines!

Food

Best Overall/Best Thai/Best Ambiance = People’s Palace

Best American Breakfast = Apartment 1B

Best Sunday Buffet = Spiral at Sofitel (12 to 2 PM on Sundays, around P2500 per person, includes champagne)

Best Unique Buffet = Sunday Crossover Brunch at the Dusit Thani (11:30 to 3 PM on Sundays, around P1500 per person, includes champagne)

M Cafe in Greenbelt 4

Best Place to enjoy a Glass of Wine Outside = M Café

Best Special Occasion Place = Nuvo

Best Gelato = Gelatissimo

Best Indian Cuisine = Queens at Bollywood

Best Mediterranean Cuisine = Cyma

Best Mexican = Ristras (They serve a Chipotle-like Burrito that’s quite good)

Best Casual American Cuisine = Chelsea

 

High Tea at the Makati Shangri-La

Best High Tea = Shangri-la Makati (High Tea everyday from 2-5 PM)

Best Pizza = Yellow Cab

Best Latte = Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Best Vegetarian = Corner Tree Cafe

Services

 

Ron at Henri Calayag

Best Hair Cut = Ron Galvez at Henri Calayag Salon Makati

Address: G/F The Residences at Greenbelt (TRAG), Esperanza Street, Ayala Center, Makati City.  Contact: 799-1495/491-4596; (0920) 918-1880; henricalayag_salon@yahoo.com.  Operating Hours: Daily from 10AM to 8PM (except holidays).  Women’s cut and blowdry starts at P700, Men’s at P600; color starts at P2,000++

Best Eyebrow Threading = Grace at the Greenbelt 5 Browhaus

Best Massage Therapists = Neo Spa (Favorite Massages, in order: 1. Lymphatic Drainage, 2. Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, 3. Seashell Massage)

Best Spa Ambiance = The Spa in Greenbelt 1 (Favorite Massages, in order: 1. Twin Massage, 2. Hilot Massage, 3. Shiatsu Massage)

Best Facial = Coras Derm Centre

Address: 111 Paseo de Roxas, Legaspi Village, Makati City.  Contact: 02 893 6786 or Mobile: 0917 544 4561

I recommend: A package that includes a Facial, Diamond-Hydra Peel and Lasering to remove redness.  Price: Around P1,500.

 

My Shirt was created by Carmen for the AWCP Hoedown

Best Tailor/Dressmaker for alterations and Everyday Clothing = Carmen Buniel

Contact: 0918 934 4540.  Email: carmen_buniel@operamail.com.

Best Ball Gown Designer = Frankie

Contact: 0917 399 9828

 

Mita's Slipcovers

Best Slipcover Maker = Mita

Contact: 0918 911 9090

Best Newcomer Services = InTouch Community Services

Address: #48 McKinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati City.  Contact: 02 893 1893 or 02 810 6233.

Best Airline = Cebu Pacific

 

Carlos Celdran's Intramuros Tour

Best Tour = Carlos Celdran’s Intramuros Tour

Best OBGYN = Dr. Henson

Dr. Henson sees patients at Makati Med and St. Luke’s Monday-Saturday.  Office visit is P800.  Contact: 02 818 1125

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A Neighborhood Shoot-out!

by Sarah Novak on October 20, 2009

greenbelt

This weekend brought excitement a little bit too close to home.  Our beloved Greenbelt 5, which is a 2 minute walk from our place, was subject to an armed robbery.  The 7 person team of robbers were dressed in police uniforms and arrived in the mall’s basement parking lot at noon Sunday.  They leaped out of a van and bypassed a security guard (even though they were clearly armed) by telling him that they were being called in to investigate a bomb threat.  The armed robbers then proceeded up to the main level and attempted to rob the Rolex store.

Thankfully, two bodyguards of a local mayor were nearby and ran to the scene with their guns drawn. One of the robbers was shot dead and the group changed course.  Before they left the building though, they shot off several rounds of bullets.  I’m pleased to say that very few were injured though!  This hits just a little bit too close to home, as I literally pass by this Rolex store an average of 3 times a week.  Not good, especially since only 2 years before there was a bomb that went off in Glorietta Mall, just a few blocks away.

It’s a good reminder that there are inherent dangers no matter where you live and it’s always important to be aware.  That being said, I plan to take extra precautions these next few months, as I’ve been warned that the level of crime rises in proportion to the closer we are to Christmas, as desperate people need money to buy Christmas presents for their loved ones.

Today I’m giving thanks that Nick and I are safe.  I wouldn’t mind though if the neighborhood quieted down a bit.  First typhoons and now gunshots!  Makes me miss the days when blizzards were the scariest thing that could impact me…

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Greenbelt Mall, my beloved second home…

by Sarah Novak on August 6, 2009

greenbelt mall

Since my posting got a bit wordy yesterday, I’ll keep it more succinct today.  Just wanted to introduce you to my second home (AND NO, it’s not Starbucks)!  I am priveledged enough to live right next to a fantastic mall called Greenbelt.  Being that I visit her religiously EVERY DAY, I thought it’s about time that you met.  I’ll just highlight her best features and leave the SMUGMUG gallery to show the rest!

There are 5 parts to Greenbelt (GB 1, 2,3, 4, and 5 – very creative, I know!).  The Ayala mall is adjacent and has 100′s more stores but I never venture there because Greenbelt has met all of my needs thus far.  GB 1 has a movie theater, a regular perfomance theatre, a hardware store, internet cafe, grocery store, spa and drug store.  It’s main focus is on household and electronic goods.  It’s my practical go-to stop.  GB2 is all clothes and since I stocked up so much before coming, I’ve spent hardly any time there.  Same with GB4, which features all of the high-end places like Louis Vuitton and Burberry.  Too expensive, even for Manila… GB3 is the main restaurant hub, with equal numbers indoors and out.  It also has a brand new movie theater and 30-40 stores.  Finally, GB5 is the most recent addition.  This one is the most like a traditional mall, with equal amounts of food places and retail outlets.  It’s organized by floor, so clothes are on 1st and 2nd, Kids and electronics on 3rd and beauty places on 4th floor.  This is my second-most visited one, next to GB1.  All 3 pictures are in Greenbelt 5.

greenbelt mall

Here’s a summation of my favorite things about Greenbelt (besides the fact that it’s in my backyard):

  • There are easily 75-100 restaurant choices
  • At the center of the 5 complexes is a nicely wooded park
  • The customary Catholic church is also located in the middle of the park and offers 5 masses a day (makes it much easier to do the church/shopping combo date)
  • You can find anything you’re looking for due to the wide variety of types of shops available: hardware, electronics, drug store, clothes, etc.
  • Most of the restaurants have outdoor seating.  Each has a really unique look with cute furniture and nice place settings.  There are very few chains other than American ones.  The picture below is from a restaurant in GB5.
  • It gives me an excuse to get out of the house!

greenbelt mall

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