~random scribbles of sulaiman zafir~

Hello cheery chums! It was full day for us exploring every nook and cranny of this amazing city called Manila. Our taxi driver, Leo, a middle-aged Pinoy full of humility and wisdom, was with us all the way.  By late evening, we made a stop at the “must see” place ~ Rizal Park.  Simply to me,  Rizal Park is to Manila what Hyde Park is to London and KLCC Park is to KL. It is situated at the northern end of Roxas Boulevard (the longest stretch of  main road in the entire city famed with endless hotels and fine dining ~ and of course, great sunset scene). I noticed a really tall flagpole with a Philippines flag on the left and Abah quickly diverted my attention to the adjacent monument, the Rizal monument. We took a few snapshots with it in the background and other tourists can be seen doing the same from all angles. Ninda who once visited the place like some 20 odd years ago also had a photo taken there and today again, with us. After that,we all crossed the 6-lane road (or could it be 8? ~ i can’t recall) back to our chauffeur of the day, Leo.

~random scribbles of sulaiman zafir~

Hello cheery chums! After the carousel ride at the Big Red Barn, little did I know Abah and Ummy was killing time to go on the Kalesa ride which begins at 4pm at Tiendesitas. I really felt bad for not wanting to get off those brightfully painted fake horsies when Abah announced the ride’s finally over. How could I leave behind what I believed to be the best entertainment a kid would be granted at 50pesos. Anyhow, once we crossed the street over to Tiendesitas, I saw the beautifully decorated horse carriage waiting to be ridden.  The kalesa is a horse-driven carriage that was introduced during the 18th century. It was used by Spanish officials and the nobles as a means of transportation. The Ilustrados, the rich Filipinos who had their own businesses, used the kalesa not only for traveling but as a means of transporting their goods as well. And yes, I was one lucky chap. ..a nobleman  that day for Abah quickly got the tix for all of us to ride the most spacious carriage there…I, for one, tried on all the seats available on the kalesa ~ the horizontal seat with Ninda, the vertical seat with Abah & Ummy, then the best seat of all was behind the rein.  It was an adrenaline pumping ride for me overall and I will always remember this experience as “the ride with a purple key-ed Pinoy”.

~random scribbles of sulaiman zafir~

Hello cheery chums! I get excited just telling you about this. You won’t imagine what it was like for me  when we ran into Pogee the chicken marionette maker. Abah and Ummy have always known my love for marionettes of any kind, especially the kinds that can do miraculous and ridiculous crazy dance moves . Pogee showed me how to animate the fluffy colorful creature ~ chicken feeding and chicken potty-ing acts. I really thought it was funny. I can’t stop laughing. Abah got me a pair, one big and another small.  Pogee told us that he has just finished creating the marionettes Abah chose to purchase the night before . He usually worked till the wee hours to create his marionette masterpieces. I thought Pogee has an interesting job and of course, one that requires an extraordinary skill and creativity to match. We got home right after and I continued to play at the hotel room till late that night.  By then, Pogee was probably in his own room, somewhere within the densely 12 million populated Metro Manila, creating more marionettes to excite kids like me.

~random scribbles of sulaiman zafir~

Hello cheery chums! We arrived Manila late afternoon, checked into the hotel and headed to Intramurous by the Pasig River.  What’s a better way to get acquainted with a city steeped in history than going back to where it all began. And my, the infamous Intramurous was not as I imagined. The place, walled city to be exact, is nothing short of spectacular. The old buildings, cobbled streets, open spaces come into existence unlike the maddening crowds in the big cities nowadays.  Time actually stood still.  I don’t think I’ve been anywhere similar before. Ummy told me “It feels like Spain”. We visited Fort Santiago first, checked out the dungeons-turned-speciality stores and took a stroll by a beautiful garden lit with light balls on frangipani trees.  Next stop was the Rizal Shrine, a historical site where Jose Rizal, the Philippines’ national hero, was imprisoned before his execution in 1896. I’ve proof i’ve trodded his final footsteps representing the walk from his cell to the location of the actual execution. And yes, we also witnessed the statue of Rajah Sulayman, the last king of Manila (hey, we share a name there). Definitely a walk to remember!

Spanish Canon

Rizal Shrine

Rajah Sulayman

Fort Santiago

Baluarte De Santa Barbara

~random scribbles of sulaiman zafir~

Hello cheery chums! I have always played pretend to be on the train and pushed around carriages many a tracks for as long as I know. The last thing I thought I would do is to RIDE ON ONE. But Abah and Ummy made it happen and I’m ecstatic they did. Abah was the one who made this brilliant decision to take us all on the Langkawi Express. I’ve always thought long distances were best reached by airplanes…and I was proved wrong. We were Northbound, Penang to be exact…and I was told we’d onley be there in nothing less than 9 solid hours.  Will I survive? I thot at first but even when the train hasn’t actually started move, I’ve spotted things I might like on the train…1)there’s a bunk-side collapsible table which I turned into my own Sodor island 2)the double decker bunk which made my bed at home looked so boring 3) and of course, I get treated to a piece of banana cake and a bottle of mineral bottle for riding First Class (which we never did with the airlines). How’s that for starters? Okay let’s sit back and enjoy…and oh one more thing on trains we don’t need to strap ourselves to the seat..which is THE other great thing I liked! Choo..choo…

~random scribbles of sulaiman zafir~

Hello cheery chums! I’m back and this time around my mood’s affected too but in a positive way. Abah and Ummy (accompanied by honorable Ninda) brought me over to the Mines Riding School to check on the horsies. I was a lil apprehensive at the start as it was my first time there.   We walked into the administrator’s office just to say that we’re going around the stables and Ummy discovered that her ex-instructor Lorna is no longer there. A lady there suggested that I should take the pony ride lessons~  well, I think NOT!. Thank you but not for now, ok. I’m fine on my own two feet. Really, I still have mixed feelings about them horsies.

It was a great pity I didn’t stock up carrots and apples before coming. It would have been great to able to feed them. Maybe next time..(Abah & Ummy pls read me). Well, Ninda for sure seemed to delight in patting and caressing the horses there. She must be reminiscing her good ol’ riding days, I supposed. Perhaps I should take up riding soon…so I can ride with Ninda-girl. We’ll see what the near future brings Yee-haaa.

~random scribbles of sulaiman zafir~

Hello cheery chums! This will be my first emotional entry.  My reputation could be at stake by the end of this entry but what the heck! The pix above is self-explanatory, and I’m not a bit proud of it. Anyway, yes! it was my 2nd ever haircut session (during my lifetime, thus far) and I freaked out.  Abah virtually gave up, even the hair stylist too. But Ummy insisted and kept on reassuring about how we should all believe in the calm after each storm.  Ummy practically wrapped me tight in her arms the whole time and I, gone berserk as soon as the pair of  scissors neared me, imagining they were some kind of bush hog or rotary cutter or even the shredder, mercilessly working above my head.  I shrieked! and i did not stop. The saloon assistants tried to avert my attention by bringing out those iconic cheeky monkeys…well, it worked but only for a tad while. I wasn’t easily duped. My scream pierced through the building walls once more. It went on for as long as the stylist took to get her job done. Then I’m off! I was so relieved and I know the people there were too.

~random scribbles of sulaiman zafir~

Hello cheery chums! It was a great day for splish-splashing and so we went down to the pool to get a cool dip. Abah and Ummy said that I deserved the treat since I had been a good boy that day ( I want to believe that I’m good everyday and not just anyday). Anyway, I’m glad the cast of a thousands joined in…they were Ninda-girl, Imran, Ibrahim, Yusuf, Maryam and of course Aunty Mummy and Uncle Daddy too. We started off by wading in the baby pool and posed for a few photos. Enjoy my smile . Then, ohhh NO! Ummy spotted the Nihon-jin swimming coach and inquired if she could take me in for a proper coaching. I cringed cos she looked really stern. Then I overheard her asking my age to which Ummy replied, “He’s barely two”. She then commented, “Just take it easy, I see he’s doing fine the way he is now. I think he’s quite ahead of his age and moreover, my schedule is already full”. Boy, was I relieved…aahh! Ummy took it as a rejection but I thought it was actually a compliment . Abah, being Abah, just quipped “Whatever!”. And so I continued to perfect my stroke, even sans a perfect coach. It felt good.

~random scribbles of sulaiman zafir~

Hello cheery chums! My new year started with a Bang!. No, nobody was shot but abah and ummy let me witness the fireworks display from The Curve’s skyline. Totally awesome. I’m sure you waited for midnite that day too. I loved the shower-like effect of fuchsia and deep purple sparks the most. But that’s a different story altogether.

In the morning, abah and ummy made me get off from under the sheets rather early.  Said they had plans. Do you where we went? Just look at the pix above. Taa-daa..we were at the National Monument.

The weather was great and abah got me ice-cream before we went in. Look at me. I was ecstatic. Even the ice-cream seller wouldn’t take money cos we were his first customers for the New Year. Things definitely can’t get any better!

Here’s more pix of us while we were there.  Salute to the unsung heroes!