• Makati

    A Farewell To Mandarin Oriental

    Truth be told, this has been originally an entry long overdue of a write-up on this site since last year. For some reason, I never got around it for that long. While I have now gotten around doing this entry, I feel bad that I am writing about this storied hotel in the most unfortunate of circumstances as the news broke out recently that Mandarin Oriental is closing down its operations later this year. This puts an end to the hotel’s 38 years or so of operation in the city that began with the opening of its iconic hotel building in 1976, housed in a uniquely-designed concrete edifice courtesy of no less…

  • Roamer's Roundup

    Fare Hike!

    Classes in a number of elementary and secondary schools have opened this week, so traffic is beginning to be at bit more unbearable than it already is. Expect it to worsen in the coming weeks once classes resume in different colleges (unless you’re studying in one of those colleges who have recently made a shift in their academic calendar that classes would now begin in July or August…but that’s another story) But there’s something else for the metropolitan commuter to brace for that is certain to make impact on the wallet: a fare hike.

  • Checked Out

    Dining and Partying Like A Viking

    It is the Urban Roamer’s birthday month. well it’s June 2 to be precise. And like what a growing number of denizens have been doing as of late, I have chosen to spend my birthday at one of country’s most popular (if not the most popular) buffet restaurant: Vikings Luxury Buffet Restaurant.