Our trip to Manila was planned at short notice, after we received an invitation from my brother who was temporarily stationed there. We had a stopover in Hong Kong and then a short flight to Manila. On arrival at the airport, I was impressed at how well their pick-up locations were divided into alphabetical sections. The throng of arrivals dispersed quickly instead of congregating in one area for taxis and cars.
Greenbelt
We stayed in Makati Manila’s Greenbelt which is a business centre and shopping complex with landscaped gardens, an oasis in this busy city. Walkways connect the shopping hub soit’s Easy to move from one building to another. There is a whole building solely for footwear (pardon the pun)! Plenty of choice if your shoe size is 7 or under.
The entertainment precinct with bars and restaurants comes alive at night. It is a popular hangout for Westerners. We tended to have “progressive” dinners. Starting with drinks at one of the bars, we made our way to a nearby restaurant for a meal. The Banana Leaf Curry House was our favourite for Asian cuisine. We ended the evening with dessert at Café Breton where they served the most delicious crepes and fillings.
Be prepared for rain! Heavy downpours occasionally catch you unawares, causing a mini flood on the streets but the skies clear up quickly.
Walking tour of Intramuros
I’m enthusiastic about walking as it is a good way to observe a city and its residents. We signed up for Carlos’ walking tour of Intramuros, the walled city. We got a good look at Fort Santiago, with its walls made from volcanic ash. Further on, we enjoyed the beauty of the Chinese and Japanese gardens in Rizal Park. We stopped to admire the San Agustin Church. Fire, earthquakes and shelling affected it at various periods in its 400-year history but they rebuilt it every time. The morning passed quickly with Carlos’ entertaining dialogue of history mixed with a dash of humour.
The Jeepney is a unique mode of transport in this city. Previously used as military vehicles (Jeeps), they have been painted and remodelled as public transport. They’re not very comfortable to sit in, low in height and with closely-fitted seats. However, they do serve a purpose as efficient people-movers.
Corregidor Island
If you are a history buff, you will enjoy a day trip to Corregidor Island in Manila Bay, about an hour away by boat. Strategically positioned to protect the mainland from an invasion by sea, it was a military base during WWII. Buses drive around the island, stopping at various locations to view artillery and military buildings. From the hilltop, you can get a bird’s eye view of the bay. A video presentation depicting a military attack, is screened inside the Malinga Tunnel. It’s sobering to sit in the dark tunnel and hear the sound of gunfire and shelling, knowing there is no escape.
Manila was not very high on my travel list but I thoroughly enjoyed my brief sojourn. I would love to come back for a longer stay and to enjoy some other sights we missed.
Short trips you can undertake:
- Visit some of the lovely islands, like Boracay, an hour’s flight away.
- Adventurous travellers might like to take a trip to Lake Pinatubo, a crater lake formed after a volcanic eruption. It’s about 100kms north of Manila. Getting up and down in a four-wheel drive is a mission but it’s worth the trek. Avoid doing it in the rainy season due to risk of mudslides.
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