Casino Royale ..the new Bond

not only did I get to see it in Manila, but was also on one of those free pass. i want one of them!!! and to those complaining about Criag Daniels...I think he makes a pretty good Bond...leaving out the pretty bit :)
back in Bangkok on the weekend...and what awaits me on cable? a weekend filled Bond marathon movies on Cinemax :p saw a little bit of the Man with the golden gun (the one that was filmed in thailand years n years ago) gave me a chance to see what my neighbourhood looked like in those days :) BUT at the same time made me realise how clueless about thailand the hollywood types were in those days. the scene with 2 girls in the car? one of them says sawaddee kha, while the second goes on to speak chinese!!! not to mention that martial arts school in what looks to be a thai temple setting...hmmmmm
oh and my other evenings in manila....one night a drive around the old manila area....more reminders of India waybackwhen...although the walled city area is ofcourse what remains of the spanish era....and then theres the Bay area..not half bad. sorry no pics to share...too lazy...didnt even get one at Max Brenner afterall. although I did make another trip back there :)

Guess what I found in Manila!!!!

got to Manila on Sunday...and my first and general impression of Manila was this feeling of a busy, but old city...almost an air of depression in fact. got to my hotel....definitely not impressed...was old and damp, almost moldy....but then they moved me to a different floor which was slightly better
so as you can see my first impression of Manila was not all that appealing.
went out, walked about in the area nearby...the Greenbelt which is this strip of posh restaurants. looks good, and definitely much different to the other part of Manila we drove past in the taxi coming in from the taxi. oh yeah...I almost forgot to mention that arriving at the airport and the drive in reminded me so much of India ...new delhi...or atleast what it looked like when I was last there....that was ofcourse 16 years ago!! cant say how much it has changed since though

anyway, back to Manila...so Im walking around....get some dinner at a chinese place....pop into the drug store (the only place still opened after 9pm where I could get some sugar-dose to take back with me for my night time snack!) that done...I start to walk back to hotel...taking the footbridge leading back towards greenbelt.......just as Im walking on the 2nd floor...my eyes wandering......it struck on this sign on wall in front of me. and GUESS WHAT Ive stumbled on!!!!
the Chocolate Bar by the Bald Man!!!!! the most amazing chocolate bar I know...and for those of you not from Sydney or the US...or even Isreal......check out .....http://www.maxbrenner.com
be sure to also watch some of the promo videos.
it was a very very pleasant surprise....as I had no clue they also have a branch in Manila!!!
the next day I dutifully report it to Siggi....who in his very sweet nature....did what? OFCOURSE took me and Narwin there for a really nice chocolaty evening. my day has been made. infact this trip to Manila has been more than worth it!!! I was in a state of bliss for the rest of the night last night. might have to drop by for another visit before the week ends..... mmmmm
no pics yet though.....maybe on my next visit :)

Further news about protesting taxi driver

I would rather this news didnt exist for me to report...but here it is.... :(
if you read my earlier post about the taxi driver who drove his car into army tank to protest againt the coup....
well to demonstrate his point further....in an even more dramatic way....he committed suicide last week :(
he left a note saying that this was to show the army, particularly some comments made after his action that said it could not have been done in the name of protest, and that no one would give up their life for a cause. so he decided he need to prove his point :(
it is all so sad...I cant bring myself to comment further on this.