Manila Cathedral - amazing story, rebuilt 8 times due to being destroyed by earthquake 7 times, burnt down once, destroyed in WWII, and numerous other times by tyohoons etc
Destination – Philippines
– Manila – Part II – Shopping madness!
We decide to
leave Bohol a day early as our ferry to Manila leaves early next morning. We
take a tricycle, a ferry and a taxi and overnight on Cebu, at the Cebu Century
Hotel, very basic but clean. Good enough for one night and very close to the
pier. As we are here, we go and check out the oldest church in the Philippines
then off to lunch at Chowking to curb our “siomao” (dumpling) addiction. Next
morning, Super Ferry back to Manila. We get a big and bright cabin for 4 with
private bathroom for only the two of us, what luxury! The trip back is
absolutely amazing, so quiet, great weather and tons of 2 minute noodles. Arriving in Manila the next morning, we check
in to the Eurotel, small room, crappy buffet breakfast and unfriendly front
desk staff. But it is near our friends’
place and in the evening we catch up with them over a lovely chicken curry and
red wine evening. The next day we hit
the Mall of Asia. The biggest mall in
the world, the second biggest, one of the biggest, who cares, it’s massive and so
are the after-Christmas sales! We also do a bit of sightseeing, Intramuros and
around Manila and we find out how many times heritage attractions in this
country have had to be rebuilt over and over again, braving wars and the
elements. Resilience, respect!
Obviously,
we change hotels and move to the “Las Palmas” in Malate. It is really nice and the area is more tourist
friendly, with lots of shopping centres, restaurants and of course tourists around.
And shopping we go as we again find ourselves in “killing time mode”, 5 more days
to go until our flight to Singapore. We go out with our friends for dinner and then
a few beers at a local traditional bar, frequented by both locals and tourists
alike. It’s a fun night however the
always present prostitution of young women and the extreme poverty of the
street people cast a sad shadow over the night though. Anyway, it’s time to
leave the Philippines, the country that is certainly so beautiful and diverse. A country that has been so kind to us and yet
can be so unkind to its own friendly and warm people. Lets
just hope those in charge spend their time and resources restoring more than
just churches. Anyway, time to say
goodbye!