After a brief rest in the morning, I had originally planned to just do some exploring of the immediate area of Makati. However, when I requested a map from the front desk asking how to get to different parts of town, they suggested that I do a three-hour tour where I could see the highlights of Manila for about 56USD. So, I thought it was probably a better idea to spend the money than to try traipsing around on my own in the very warm and humid temps of a seemingly harmless yet busy large city.
Here are the pics:
Delta Economy Comfort meal…not so tasty
Delta Economy Comfort meal…not so tasty13-Jul-2011 15:43, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.625 sec, ISO 400
Delta Economy Comfort seats on Delta flight from PDX to NRT – not bad
Delta Economy Comfort seats on Delta flight from PDX to NRT – not bad13-Jul-2011 15:56, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 1 sec, ISO 640
Sunset reflection in window and rising moon in the sky as I waited to take off from NRT to MNL
Sunset reflection in window and rising moon in the sky as I waited to take off from NRT to MNL14-Jul-2011 03:05, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 4.2, 18.9mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 200
Welcome to Manila traffic!
Welcome to Manila traffic!14-Jul-2011 20:22, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 6.6, 6.3mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 100
Rizal Park – monument in honor of killed president
Rizal Park – monument in honor of killed president14-Jul-2011 20:26, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
Fire station
Fire station14-Jul-2011 20:36, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
This is located in Intramuros
This is located in Intramuros14-Jul-2011 20:38, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.8, 12.6mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 100
Used to be old prison cells in Fort Santiago
Used to be old prison cells in Fort Santiago14-Jul-2011 20:42, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 200
Now they serve as stores/galleries
Now they serve as stores/galleries14-Jul-2011 20:42, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 200
Lovely garden in the middle of the fort
Lovely garden in the middle of the fort14-Jul-2011 20:42, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.7, 11.0mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 20:43, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 20:43, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 100
Original gate edifice
Original gate edifice14-Jul-2011 20:45, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 20:45, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 20:46, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 20:46, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 20:46, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 160
14-Jul-2011 20:47, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 20:48, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 20:49, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 20:49, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 200
14-Jul-2011 20:50, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 160
Pasay River – slums to the left
Pasay River – slums to the left14-Jul-2011 20:53, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.7, 11.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 20:53, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 20:53, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100
Cathedral
Cathedral14-Jul-2011 20:59, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 4.2, 18.9mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 21:06, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 125
14-Jul-2011 21:06, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 21:07, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.8, 12.6mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 21:07, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 21:08, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.25 sec, ISO 400
14-Jul-2011 21:08, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.5 sec, ISO 400
14-Jul-2011 21:09, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
San Augustin Cathedral – World Heritage Site as the oldest wooden cathedral still standing
San Augustin Cathedral – World Heritage Site as the oldest wooden cathedral still standing14-Jul-2011 21:13, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 21:13, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 21:13, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 21:13, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 21:16, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 100
Monastery with underground tunnel to the nunnery across the street to the left of the pic. ;P
Monastery with underground tunnel to the nunnery across the street to the left of the pic. ;P14-Jul-2011 21:16, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100
Another cathedral
Another cathedral14-Jul-2011 21:29, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 200
Entering Chinatown with the trikes
Entering Chinatown with the trikes14-Jul-2011 21:29, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.6, 9.4mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 21:37, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.8, 12.6mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 100
Jeepneys, trikes, bikes, cars = crazy driving in Manila
Jeepneys, trikes, bikes, cars = crazy driving in Manila14-Jul-2011 21:37, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 21:37, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 100
Fountain at roundabout – notice nutty pedestrians just walking through traffic (this is how you cross streets…)
Fountain at roundabout – notice nutty pedestrians just walking through traffic (this is how you cross streets…)14-Jul-2011 21:37, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 21:40, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 100
Famous people have stayed at the Manila Hotel
Famous people have stayed at the Manila Hotel14-Jul-2011 21:47, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
Bay walk stretch overlooking Manila Bay
Bay walk stretch overlooking Manila Bay14-Jul-2011 21:53, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
14-Jul-2011 21:54, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.4, 7.9mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
Good name for a pet store? hm…
Good name for a pet store? hm…15-Jul-2011 06:33, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.2 sec, ISO 400
The first area we went to was the Rizal Park just outside of Intramuros. I didn’t feel like walking around the park much as it was quite warm, but it looked pretty and serves as a constant reminder of President Rizal who was held captive and killed – don’t ask me the detailed history, because I lost interest quickly…. π Anyway, Intramuros is the old Manila and is walled in. The sea used to go up to the walls of the city and Manila stood within, but a lot of land reclamation and spreading of the city has made it what it is today.
In Intramuros, we stopped at Fort Santiago which was heavily damaged by the Japanese in World War II and also the place where President Rizal was kept captive. From there, the Manila Cathedral stands close by, which was lovely inside. We drove a bit more within the city walls and then headed out towards Chinatown since I wanted to have a looksy.
It is quite amazing to me that anywhere you go in the world, all Chinatowns can look the same and they all look like Hong Kong, China (as I can’t say anything about mainland). So, we drove through and saw the stores, wares, etc.
The really amazing part of the whole trip was the traffic and crazy driving methods. Being mostly used to driving in Abu Dhabi, I wasn’t nearly as phased as I might have been otherwise, but it was still a crazy experience. The driver offered a tour for the next day to see the volcano and falls which are famous around here, but the thought of about 5 hours in the car facing any kind of traffic just doesn’t seem appealing….
The best news of the day was that R was meeting up sooner than we had planned. So, he got in evening-ish and then we went out for dinner and caught up. π
More to come…
-T
Locals market perhaps?
Friendly geckos
Dessert at Cafe del Sol
