En Route to Manila

Manila - Joe and I had to do a transit in Singapore en-route to Manila - waited 2 hrs before our flight departed on time at 2:10pm and arrived at 3:45pm.   Get the taxi from the taxi counter just outside the airport - because I carried a hard case suitcase, Joe will sit with this 'passenger' at the back seat.

Our Hotel was Mandarin Oriental Manila - a 5-star hotel located in Makati.  There was the usual baggage checks and metal detectors in front of the hotel.   What upset me was that Joe had an upgraded room to the Executive floor whilst I was relegated to the 7th floor.  The executive floors starts from 15th floor and above and the lounge was at 17th floor.   When I reached the 17th floor, I complaint of the mistreatment and was given an executive floor on the 15th floor.   Both of us were reminded that no executive floor privileges will be accorded to us just the special room at the executive floors.   But this was subsequently revised with full privileges accorded to us - which in actual fact - we did not step into the executive floor throughout our stay there.

We went to Green Belt for dinner.   Green Belt is an area in Makati for Shopping and good class dinning.   There were many restaurants to choose from and we finally chose a restaurant on the 3rd Floor @ Greenbelt 3 - W The Big Grill.  As the weather was hot, and sitting outside is also smoking area, we decided to sit inside but Oh! no...the music was so loud.   It is like a disco and you have to shout to each other, so we decided to move outside to dine.

We ordered
- Baby Back Ribs and was expected Tony Romas type of baby back ribs but out came a thick slab of ribs with fats making half of the Baby Back Ribs.   It was tasty but I had to throw away all the fats.  
- Lamb Shoulder Steak - It was just a thin slice of mutton steak - tasty but simple.
- Tokwat Lechon - Toh Fu with fried Pork (Lechon) - a nice dish.

They also had a mechanised rodeo inside the restaurant but you had to sign a letter that relinquish the restaurant of all responsibilities.

Verdict:  No worth a second visit.

We walk to Havana Cafe for some snacks and drinks...