Just another manic Monday...in Divisoria

Once upon a Monday in May I awoke in a small room in Makati, road noise outside the window. It was already hot, the air conditioning unit having turned off on its timer. The TV was going out in the hall, a five-year-old boy watching cartoons. Ina's uncle and aunt greeted me with smiles, directed me to where and how to wash myself and a few clothes, and fed me some of the best Spanish bread I've had yet. Each bakery, I think has a specialty.

Then it was time to take a walk. I was delighted to find a small patch of green among the steel and glass.

And a bit of history waiting to be explored at the Yuchengco Museum.

But that bit of history will have to wait for another day to be explored. I had to head for Greenbelt to meet Carol for a bit of Retail Therapy - it was Divisoria Day! En route, I was momentarily distracted by Black House designer Vic Barba's store in Greenbelt 5. It held a black tailored shirt - with a twist, waiting just for me. I wore it to death from that moment on and am still in the process of wearing it to shreds.

Carol's driver took us as far as Roxas Boulevard where first we partook of Chow King, my staple food source in Manila: tofu, bucchi, chicharap and that green stuff - without the bacon bits, thanks much! Then a Jeepney took us directly to our destination. But first, a quick stop at the soul-soothing cathedral on the corner: the Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, first Filipino saint.

Then, time to SHOP...

and SHOP...

and finally rest our feet while indulging in Starbuck's...malamig (cold)...

or ma-init (hot)...

I learned how to haggle, this time, and how to ask "Magka-ano, po?" (how much, please?) and "Bayad po", (here's my payment - usually said when handing over the Jeepney fare). Seems like the sellers quote a top price and you work them down to 'last price.' But don't push them too far or they return to the top price and won't work down again!

So many shiny things, so little time. I try to find something for everyone back home but there's only so much you can carry and you have to limit yourself to what cash you have on hand. When the pesos run out, that's a good time to cut yourself off. Favourite purchase: a necklace of hammered metal tree leaves of different sizes, bronze, silver and copper coloured, each with a rhinestone raindrop on the end. Reminded me of fall forest leaves in rain. I never wear jewelry but this I'll wear till it falls apart.

Next...a trip to an actual forest...and memories of last moments in Manila.