One day in MANILA, PHILIPPINES
DAY 56 – DEC 10 - UBUD, BALI – INDONESIA TO MANILA, PHILIPPINES
From the start of this trip, I was dreading this day. We had a flight at 1am leaving Denpasar, Bali to Manila, Philippines arrival 5am or so. As expected, I didn’t sleep a wink. I did however, catch incredible island views as we flew over amazing places. When I saw new lights / island in the dark, I would try to figure out where we were.
We cabbed to our hotel by the Bay Walk, and to check in we paid half a night’s rate. Our room was 26th floor overlooking the city AND the ocean. It was a killer view. As well, it was a 5-star American-like hotel with all the amenities. OH MY!!!! It was heaven. We slept from 7am till noon. About 1pm we wandered out. I had 4 things on my must do list, plus Intramuros.
We walked around, ended up hiring a tricycle driver for 2 hours to take us through Intramuros. It was absolutely incredible, we learned all the history. We were dropped at a big mall. Grabbed some food, looked around and walked home. Chilled for the night, watched America’s got Talent. I had a long bath, first bath of the trip!
I had a 10pm business work zoom.
Manila has wide streets, and of all the negative comments I received before I got here, I was pleasantly very surprised. So much cleaner than I expected! Though admittedly, within the first hour of walking we witnessed one woman crouched over shaving her bum – naked. And another woman putting on a clean big diaper, wearing only that with a shirt.
What I learned is that the Filipino people cannot get ahead…. Really they cannot. Their government is corrupt to the core. Our driver explained that their police kill 30-40,000 of their own people every single year. Anybody who displays any signs of doing any type of drugs is immediately killed, all ages.
The government taxes their people at random rates to the point where nobody can ever get ahead even if they are doing ok. They end up paying everything in tax.
The Chinese own everything in the Philippines, including the shanty type housing. We saw neighbourhoods where rent for a family is $100 Canadian per month. It is run-down and crowded. Once it gets too crowded, they come along and demolish the homes and the people are put on the street, homeless.
It seems the Filipino people have been through one trauma after another. The little children come with their hands out, nothing to sell – just asking for money.
Generally, the streets seem happy. People are smiling. The hearts of the people are wonderful.
Manila, I enjoyed so much about your city. Short and sweet! From what I saw, I give you an 8/10.
PICS BELOW:
squished in a super low to the ground tricycle - wow in with all the fumes and no space!!
Every machine has numbers in a different order out here, so confusing!!
in a catherdral
fruit cart low to the ground
cathedral
these people chatted w us for a long time, they worked in the casino in our hotel. beautiful place!!
inside the walls of Intramural in Manila
street food. people use the same bowls over and over with plastic bag folded over the bowl so only the plastic is disposable
kids in intramuras
that’s one way to keep your kid safe on a tricycle
this little business attached to this woman’s bicycle, she got off to sell, then keep cycling until another sale
guns everywhere in this city, in mall stores too
monument, super sad !!
read this to understand #13
St. Austin chapel which was on my list, but we could not go in since we stumbled across a wedding going on
wedding
wedding in St. Augstin
$100 per month for a bedroom, all owned and controlled by Chinese business people
streets in intramuras
beautiful areas for social events in intramuras
intramuras
street food walking on our way home to the hotel, popular one!
Jollibee super popular fast food here
jollibee!
part of a buffet all you can eat yum ugh
baby in a crib on the street
surrounded by this 7-11 and another one across the street, they are everywhere!!!
these buses are called Jeepneys
-31. the view from our hotel room to downtown Manila and the ocean bay
