The Big Manila Burger Run or the Hooters-Experience
That is the continuation of the IMAX – Experience story below and I admit that Manila Burger Run is a kind of strange title, but after reading it I am sure you will understand that there can’t be any different name for that article. So let’s start where the other one was ending…
So here they stand the 3.5 fat long-noses at 2pm on a Sunday afternoon holding tickets for “Avatar” in 3D at the IMAX for the next day at 4:50 pm. First thing was to find a Hotel what was not a big issue as the guys have countless connections and a few txt later all bookings were done. Time for lunch.
We decided to try Hooters which is actually not located in the Mall but a half marathon away from the Mall of Asia… Hooters is a well known Burgers Chain in the US, pretty famous for OK Burger but more famous for the waitresses with Bigger Boobs then Brains. That is actually identical with Hooters behind the Mall of Asia.
The small difference is that the Boobs of the local Hooters waitresses didn’t fill a Cup-A Bra, so don’t ask for the brain… Accordingly went our try to order… if there wouldn’t be typhoons and flooding in the Philippines, I would describe the “order and what got delivered”-procedure as a mild disaster. Well don’t blame the girls there, they just stick to the company – outlines, remember: “Bigger Boobs then Brains”. They still look better then the average burger sales lady in Germany.
So our first starter came of course together with the main course, the second starter did not show up, but after a reminder it was served when all other dishes were eaten, the side dishes came after that. That all would be normal in a low-standard restaurant in Dumaguete but not for that price-class…that is simply annoying.
What made the Hooters experience to a real unforgettable event was simply the quality of the dishes. I am not a gourmet but that was simply disgusting… the fried shrimps had still the shells on under the breading and after the first bite lead to a small cut my gums I skipped on that.. The Burger I ordered looked a kind of Yummy, but that is as far the culinary delight went. First bite and BLEHHHH … Filipino Sweet Burger Buns. What the F… is going on here. Ok I am hungry so somehow a Gallon Hot Sauce and Heinz fixed the weird taste.
To pretend staying a kind of healthy we also ordered some vegetable side dish, just to discover another outstanding surprise. Hooters must have an employee whose job is to soak carrots in old kitchen oil and/or somehow injects it also… I am very aware that this sounds a bit strange, as was my experience after 39 years wandering around on this planet eating minimum 3 times daily.
That I was only able to have my bottomless drink refilled once in about 1.5 hours was only another adding experience.
Well , the bill was just over 100 US$ !!!! for a pile of crappy burgers, boob-less waitresses and oily carrots. I definitely will put Hooters on my “been there, done that, but never again”-List.
So we were more than ready to leave that place and back to the mall, to buy some clothes and stuff needed for the unplanned overnight-stay in Manila.
Enough for now…. The Manila Burger Run continues…
cheers
Rhoody
Emergency Visit in Manila – The Hold-Up
When I arrived from Dumaguete to Manila, I catch taxi to drive me down to Parola compound Tondo Manila… I had terrible experience down there at the Delpan bridge going to pier 2 north area… just at the middle of the street under the bridge, the street going to Divisoria public market…
just in the middle of the traffic when the driver had to pull over and I got out from the taxi a young teenager came and grab my shoulder bag… I was so nervous and shock when I saw his sharp knife when he said “GIVE ME YOUR BAG NOW” STAY CLAM AND DON’T MAKE ANY SCANDAL S or ELSE I WILL KILL YOU WITH THIS” he want to hit me with his knife … I didn’t feel that he already hit and my left arm got slice by his knife, maybe while he was following me, just right after I went out from the taxi his knife has already hits my left arm… I was yelling and asking for help… when I saw my arm bleeding … some motor bike tricycle help me and some pedicab driver hold the young hold-upper …
The taxi driver went out from his car and hit the teenager boy… the police came and hold this teenager hold-upper.. But at that time I got already my wound in my left arm… its not a deep one, but it hurts and bleeding so much at that time… the police grab this boy and bring him to barangay hall. I file a case for what he did to me even he doesn’t get any of my bags….
This experience, happen to me is just terrible. This experience can be happen again and again in any of the those people living in this area… lucky for those who haven’t experience it yet..
This situations show that those guys doing bad things like this are desperate and they don’t care of there life’s for what ever happen… its sad that they have to do it just to survive and have food in there plates..
And it makes me more sad, if I think that the money they earn from this way is just wasted and used to support there bad habit like taking drugs , alcoholic drink and get drunk to death and more… ect…
It is sad to think that they loose there pride, confidence, good ability in earning clean money just to have enough money for their everyday living…
This happens at any places when young people are desperate and don’t have any options for the future… this guys don’t have dreams, inspirations and chance to improve them self and see the beauty of life to enjoy it… without hurting somebody else or to enjoy there life with out any victims just for there own interest.
It is a dream of no fear, no limits of being happy in this world…
that way we could do things with out second thought of what would happen … kids are safe and don’t get hurt buy this situations and don’t take revenge for the future… or they just doing this just because they are not contented for what they can do for living.. or its just really not enough money they can earn so they have to force them self to do this terrible way of their business or making money…
WHO IS TO BLAME ?????
The government?
The place where they are in?? or the situations????
The parents and the families they came from? ???
Or them self that they cant take this kind of life anymore…
That way they waste their life while enjoying the money they earn in bad way???
Is this the life we can be proud of to our kids, to our families, to our government, to out country???
I DON’T THINK SO….
WAKE UP EVERY ONE AND START THE DAY DOING THINGS WITH OUT HURTING ANYBODY AND BE FAIR..
MAKE UP YOUR MIND, LIVE WITH DIGNITY, PRIDE, HONESTY, and DO SOMETHING GOOD for your SELF your kids, family, community, and in our country… even in our small little way…
It’s for the next generations; it’s for our lives and for yourself too…
All the best
Rechel
Emergency Visit in Manila – The News
I was so busy in the preparation of my daughters first periodic exam in her school, when I receive a call that my grand father is in the hospital… he had a high blood pressure and got stroke.. a month after he got bitten my wild street dog, in the slum area… Parola – Tondo, Manila..
He need attentions and care from his family , this grand father is no relative, but we treat him as our own grandfather… this old man is my mother’s aunties husband, we respect him so much as our mother treat this old man as her own father… This old guy take care of me since I am little girl… he treat me as his own daughter…. This old man treat me as his grand daughter and his own daughter too… he called me “Anak” means “son for a boy and daughter for a girl”
My love and respect for a father is what I feel for him… because of this emergency situations I have to leave my little princess and my great papa take caring of my little girl Daisy… I am so thankful that my boyfriend respect and understand me… I also thank him that he support me just to help and see this grand father even in the last time,,, as we both don’t know if he will stay longer here in his critical condition and situation as he is so old seek and so weak… this old man can’t even move his left arm and help him self to go to the rest room or taking shower by his self… even when he is eating he need somebody to take care of him because he can’t even hold the spoon and focus to his food on his plate ….
“What I can help for this old man?..” is the first question I ask to my self…
“What I should do to help him?”.. is my second question to my self…
That time I’m in the middle of situation that I have to choose what to do and where to go… I talk to my boyfriend and he understand me … after 4 days of planning and getting ready, he booked my flight to Manila.
Rechel
Hello Diving World
Welcome to my Diving Blog about the Philippines. As most of my friends call me Dive-Monster I thought this is a good idea for a Blog-name. I wish you a lot of fun on my page and I hope you enjoy the stay on my site.
Here are some Information in what country I am.
The Philippines are with their 7.107 Islands still non of the classical dive destinations, but is already well known as a paradise for divers. Because of the long distance from Europe or the United States the archipelago is still a relaxing place unlike most dive-destinations in Thailand, the Red Sea or around Cozumel.
The Philippinesare a dream for divers and not many wishes stay open. You want to see Pygmy-Seahorses, Mandarin fish, Nudibranches Ghostpipefish or love to submerge into untouched coral-garden? Walls going down into the Abyss, hunting Barracudas and big Tunas make the heart of each diver beat faster. If you want to go Wreck-diving you can find two great destinations. One fleet lays in Coron, the other in Subic Bayin diveable depth. Also don’t forget the Walesharks in Donsol or you join a dive-trip to the Tubbataha Reef.
The tropical climate is basically ruled by two seasons. The north-east-monsun (Amihan) and southwest-monsun (Habagat).
Diving is all around the year possible and only a few regions are limited to several month of the year. If Beginner, professional photographer or Tec-diver, the opportunities are almost endless. The water temperature rarely drops below 25C/65F and the visibility can reach up to 50 meter (160 ft). Even in bad conditions you will have 5meter/16feet.
Many divesites in the Philippines are protected areas, so called:`Marine Sanctuaries‘. The known reefs in the Philippines are covering an area of more then 34.000 km2 and the variety of the underwater species is known as the largest in the world. the philippine government and the local communities running different programs to protect the reefs and aquatic life.
There are four main regions (group of Islands) in the Philippines. Luzon in the north with the capital Manilais the starting point for many vacations. From here you reach easily the well known divespots of Puerto Galera, Anilao or Subic Bay.
If you arrive in Cebu you are in the Visayas, the central groups of Islands in the Philippines. Usually you need another short transfer (organized by your Resort or Hotel) to reach your final destination like the well known diving areas of Dumaguete, Moalboal, Apo Island or Bohol with Balicasag Island
Mindanao and Palawan in the south and west, are still a kind of blank spots on the diving maps, but enthusiastic international investors are building an infrastructure to get around easily. Places like El Nido, the Coron Wrecks and Puerto Princesa as a starting point for live abroad trips to the Tubbataha Reef making Palawan worth to visit.
If you plan your trip independently you will find out that the watches in the Philippines run a bit slower. Everything takes a bit more time, but you will reach your destination without any troubles in a safe way. Philippinosare very proud but also very friendly people. Almost everybody speaks english and is happy to help a “long-nose”
Don’t miss one of the countless Fiestas. If you are invited to a family-reunion, don’t hesitate to follow the invitation. There is only one thing we need to warn you:
ATTENTION, don’t get addicted to the Philippines
Captain Ribbers - Dumaguete
Vegetarian Chicharon
Dumaguete Airport
Singapore Zoo – Visa Run Part IV
Sentosa Island - Visa Run Part III
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