At eye level, one basks in the solace of the lagoon that winds its way here and there, with little waterfalls and fountains to break the monotony. Its sides are choked with bushes, orchids, stands of palms and other trees and a seemingly haphazard collection of brown rock.
Living in Manila is famously relaxed and easy, compared to those hives of workaholics in Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Where else can you see white-collar workers strolling Glorietta or the shops of Makati, self-styled “Wall Street of the Philippines”, still on extended “lunch break” at mid-afternoon every single weekday?
True, globalization and the great waves of outsourcing from America and Europe have instilled a sharper work ethic and made “24/7” accessibility a reality for many businesses. Still, expats and locals alike are obviously grateful to escape for a while from the gray concrete canyons of Makati and have a breather (or a tall cappuccino) in the pocket-size Greenbelt Park.
Given the cosmopolitan culture of the people, it is not at all surprising to walk a few steps from raw, moss-covered rock to a Starbucks, Seattle's Best, Louis Vuitton, Escada, Bally, Hans Brumann, Marithe et Francois Girbaud, Gucci, Guess, Prada and the Ayala Museum, all tenants of the brand-new Greenbelt 4 Mall.
Living in Manila is famously relaxed and easy, compared to those hives of workaholics in Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Where else can you see white-collar workers strolling Glorietta or the shops of Makati, self-styled “Wall Street of the Philippines”, still on extended “lunch break” at mid-afternoon every single weekday?
True, globalization and the great waves of outsourcing from America and Europe have instilled a sharper work ethic and made “24/7” accessibility a reality for many businesses. Still, expats and locals alike are obviously grateful to escape for a while from the gray concrete canyons of Makati and have a breather (or a tall cappuccino) in the pocket-size Greenbelt Park.
Given the cosmopolitan culture of the people, it is not at all surprising to walk a few steps from raw, moss-covered rock to a Starbucks, Seattle's Best, Louis Vuitton, Escada, Bally, Hans Brumann, Marithe et Francois Girbaud, Gucci, Guess, Prada and the Ayala Museum, all tenants of the brand-new Greenbelt 4 Mall.
