Manila

We had a full day to spend in Manila, so we made the most of our visit by taking a cyclo tour round the old citadel with a friendly guide, Bon. This part of the city is in surprisingly good condition, considering the huge amount of destruction it has faced over the years due to wars and typhoons.

The San Augustin Church was very unique compared to other churches we have seen due to it’s clever paint work. All the walls are in fact a smooth plaster, but they have been painted to give the impression of intricate carving, and expensive materials such as marble. Fort Santiago also had impressive grounds, and housed the Rizal museum which explained who this prominent Filipino figure was.

In the search for some cashew nuts, we also ended up in a shopping mall, which of course, was hosting a music event with live singing and rapping performances. It also had a doughnut store with a twenty meter queue outside – the Filipinos really like their doughnuts!

To end our day, we watched the sun set over the sea, then strolled along the Baywalk, which was full of people. Manila left us with mixed feelings. Admittedly we didn’t see much of the city, but we did see an awful lot of poverty. We took an early flight, and as our taxi drove us out of town at 4am, there were more homeless families on the streets than we had ever seen before. It was a stark contrast to the shiny shopping malls full of expensive international brands and pop star wannabes.

Riverside block of flats.

St Augustine fully painted renderings on the ceiling and walls.

Rizal just before his execution.

Tuk-Tuk driver patiently waiting for some custom.

Façade of a ruined building…one of many in the city.

Manila Baywalk at night.