Chateau 1771, El Pueblo, Mandaluyong City Manila

A rainy night in El Pueblo, Mandaluyong City Manila. The building is Chateau 1771, a famous restaurant.  The rain and the black and white photograph make it look like Paris, rather than Asia. 

I lived almost next door, and behind 1771 was the Sidebar.....

Some quotes of the internet about 1771:

"This famed restaurant is known for its "no borders" cuisine: mouthwatering innovations on well-loved Swiss, Italian, and French culinary concoctions that are simply divine on the taste buds".

"What I admire most about Chateau is that it has maintained itself as an edgy and elegant, tasteful and tasty restaurant. With food this good, I would follow this restaurant to L.A. (just like Posh has followed Beckham!). As long as they continue serving their Ivory Chocolate Ice Cream and Coffee Pie!"

"I have been eating, drinking coffee and lounging around Chateau 1771 since 1996. I have spent significant time in Chicago and New York and now live in Upstate New York. One of the things I miss most about home is this restaurant. Trust me! Try to dine on an evening where they have live musicians. Food, atmosphere and people are perfect. Feels exactly like home".

Discovery Apartments

Me outside "home" in Manila, the Discovery Apartments.....

From the internet:

Combining the warm comforts of home and the modern conveniences of a luxury serviced residence, Discovery Suites is the preferred address of business travelers, expatriates and long-staying guests in the Ortigas Business District. Situated right at the center of a smorgasbord of shopping and dining destinations , this 220-suite property offers easy, efficient access to both business and pleasure.

Banchetto Night Food Market, Manila

(Notice the huge reflection of the morning sun on the buildings....)

These photographs are from my Manila apartment bedroom window looking back to Emerald Avenue.

Every friday at midnight until 11am Saturday morning, this is the site for a slightly bizarre and somewhat unique event - the Banchetto Night food Market.   Reputedly started to service the thousands of call center workers who would change shift on a Friday at midnight, this has gown into a massive food festival.

In the first photo you can see Emerald Avenue on a normal 6am morning, in the other you can see it on a saturday. Living so close to such good food made breakfast on a Saturday an easy choice.

The market stretches for a long way down Emerald Avenue, the food is cheap, varied and delicious.  The crowds are fun loving  as party-goers and clubbers mix with call centre workers on a break, and families arriving for an early breakfast.

It really is an event not to be missed, and stands out as one of my best memories of Manila.

Two articles about the markets and with some great photos, are here:

http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/awesome/2010/07/banchetto-love-friday-night-foodie-market-feast.html

http://pinoyfood.nimrodel.net/cakes/banchetto-street-fiesta-at-ortigas-center/

Manila Bay Sunsets

One of my favorite pastimes in Manila was to head over to the big, cool Mall of Asia near the bay, and spend sunday afternoon browsing the shops, watching the ice-skaters on the indoor rink, or watching the performances in the auditoriums. The Mall of Asia is reputedly the third largest mall in the world. 

Around dusk I like many others, would walk outside and watch the sun set into Manila Bay.  I didn't see a single sunset that was not spectacular.   These are two of many.

Sidebar, Manila

Me, outside one of my favorite bars in Manila,  the Sidebar at Ortigas. 

And inside the bar:

Asian Development Bank, Manila

Despite its somewhat low key entrance the Asian Development Bank head office in Manila is huge. 

Once through the endless security checks, visitors pass into a large courtyard with a huge fountain, and then into a network of large corridors. There is a distinct impression of a cross between a British Army Officers mess at the turn of the century, and a refined gentlemen's club at its opulent best.

The walls are decorated with antiques and display pieces, the floors are marble, the walls are wooden panels, and the chairs are leather. 

There are even uniformed waiters to bring you morning tea.

The library is so large that it has a Starbucks art one end and an LA Cafe at the other.

Coffee on ADB Avenue

In 2010 I started working for the Asian Development Bank,  based in Manila. The bank building can be seen on the left, on the other side of the road.  I think this was my first day, and I was having a coffee is Starbucks across the road before work. 

The road is ADB Avenue, and the bank is located at Ortegas, the business and financial centre of Manila.  I enjoyed working there, and living in Manila. 

Manila Bay sunset

Late afternoon on Manila Bay, and a sailing boat slides past. I was at the San Miguel park, just behind the Mall of Asia, the third largest shopping mall in the world....

Manila Skyline

Manila is notorious for its pollution, which hangs across the city in a broad bluish tinge.  Metro Manila  is huge, encompassing 16 cities and containing around 28 million people.

This is the view from Mandaluyong looking south towards Makarti.  The struggling MRT railway line can be seen in the lower right corner. Always packed, I avoided it whenever possible.

Manila 2011

In late 2010 I found myself living and working in the Mandaluyong suburb of Manila, for the Asian Development Bank.

Manila is one of my all time favorite cities. big and exciting, and in some ways slightly dangerous, it has a charm of its own.