TO Manila We arrived without expecting much, a huge city, one of the most populated in all of Asia, with much poverty and not much to visit. However, Manila was considered “pearl of Asia”, That was some centuries ago… things have changed, will there be anything left of that shining city?
The first impressions could not be worse, already in the subway on the way to the hotel we noticed a girl “much eye with the Filipinos, don't trust anyone”… 2 minutes later on the street, at the first crosswalk we crossed Lety is the object of a robbery attempt... when he noticed a tug in his backpack and looked back and there was a ladyboy hiding whistling and looking away. That bad! We were invaded by feeling of insecurity We had never had in these 8 months of travel. And it didn't help to realize that our hotel was above a somewhat suspicious bar, at least the bed was super comfortable!
We wanted to get away from the whole mess a little and take a walk around the boardwalk and central park, although not even here the omnipresent jeepneys were not seen, almost always full of people (another thing not, but the Filipinos are in continuous movement). In the park we visit the Rizal's gallows, which pays tribute to this national hero writer, who was killed by the Spaniards, acojonaitos for what he could write (come on that Thursday would not have lasted even two numbers here).
Another alternative to the mess of the streets are the shopping centers! What a novelty! At least here if we did something different, we took advantage of the fact that Lety's favorite director has released a new movie and that they put them here in the original version (although I don't help too much either: P) and we went to the cinema! After so much time! Although we could not do those double sessions of Barcelona.
But by the end of our stay, Manila had a big surprise ready for us: Intramuros. It is the walled historic area that preserves buildings from the Spanish colonial era, and although some of them were destroyed by the Japanese after the Second GM, they still retain that Castilian touch that led us to believe walking through the streets of Zamora, only Cousin Shuli was missing posing for the photos.
It's like a different country, the chaos gives way to tranquility, clean streets, Castilian buildings, cobbled streets, small squares at the crossroads, churches, the cathedral ... and in the end a fort rises on the sidewalk of the river, at times I seemed to be in front of the Duero.
Transportation How to get to Manila?
We arrived by plane from Puerto Princesa. To get to the area of Malate-Hermitage We first took a bus at the exit of the airport that leaves at ESDA (it is a bus station), it costs 20 P. There, we get on the LRT by the stairs next to the McDonald and we get off at the Pedro Gil stop, it cost us 15 P. To return to the airport we took a taxi on Av. Roxas (they go faster) for 140 P, about 20 minutes.
Accommodation Where to sleep in Manila?
In this area there are several options, although all quite expensive. We stay in the hotel Amazonia, on Santa Monica street number 470 by 765 P per night, room with fan, bathroom, wifi and TV. Although it was on top of a bar it was quite quiet, maybe some heel noise at 3 in the morning something suspicious. In the area there are other GH with cheaper rooms but much more shabby.
