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| Manila |
Exploring Manila in the Philippines: Manila is a booming metropolis and a great place for budget travellers and families alike. Steeped in rich history Manila offers a great mix of old and modern. Stay at Makati or Bonaficio City to enjoy a modern side of Manila. Explore Intramuros to find 500 years of history preserved in amazing architecture.
My first visit to Manilas in late 2018. I booked a flight impulsively while I was holidaying in Kuala Lumpur and hopped on an Air Asia flight to Manila. The trip does not take very long before you find yourself at Ninoy Aquino International Hospital.
I rented a GRAB taxi and made it to my hotel in 15 minutes using the expressway. I was told that the arterial roads would take over an hour as Manila's traffic is really bad.
Staying at MAKATI in Manila
Makati is definitely a great place to stay in Manila. I booked a hotel online through the HotelsCombined network. After doing a bit of research I found a 3-star hotel in Makati with great reviews. Prince Plaza ll Contadel Hotel ideally located adjacent to Greenbelts Malls.
The hotel is well managed and quite popular with tour operators as you would see a number of people checking in the reception that seemed busy all the time. The property is a bit old but well-maintained. There is s rooftop pool commanding amazing views of Manila Skyline.
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| Views of Makati from the rooftop of the hotel |
As I walked out of the hotel Greenbelts Mall was located just across the road. The popular Havana Cafe and People Palace Restaurant are 2 minutes walk from the hotel. I really enjoyed the comfort of easy walking to Glorietta Malls and Greenbelts Mall for Shopping and lunch.
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| Foodcourt at Glorietta Mall |
The food court at Glorietta Mall is a great place to enjoy local cuisine at a very affordable price.
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| Street of Makati |
In the next two days, I explored the area on food and loved the noise and commotion on the street. Jeepneys are a popular mode of transport and connect various district in town. Manila is quite spread out and catching a GRAB is the best way to move around.
Exploring the Walled City of Intramuros
The next day I booked a GRAB driver for a day and planned to explore most of Manila. My list included Intramuros, Chinatown and the Mall of Asia.
Intramuros is a must-visit location if you are interested in the culture and history of the Philippines. A number of licenced bike-rickshaw tour operators are available near the gate of Intramuros. Waling is not a great option as a number of location within the walled city are quite far from each other.
I rented a bike rickshaw for 3 hours. The driver gave me a brief overview of moats and massive fortress-like wall structures surrounding Intramuros. The walled city through centuries has been the centre of administrative function and line of defence against foreign invasions.
St.Augustin is a must-visit place of interest in Manila. The cathedral was built by early Christian who settled in the Philippines in 16the century. The structure somehow captures the historical timelines of the spread of Christianity in the Philippines through centuries. The museum inside the premises is well-maintained keep a catalogue of historical events and memorabilia brought from the other part of the world. I love this building and plan to visit again in future.
The structure of the building is an amazing piece of historical architecture with a beautiful quadrangle and a fountain in the middle of the structure. St. Augustin Church is a great place to meditate and enjoy the calmness of the beautiful surroundings.
Visiting Mall of Asia in Manila
Mall of Asia is probably the largest shopping malls in Asia in terms of covered area. Once I reached the I realized the spread of the building into various section and you need to be in good shape to explore all the sections of the mall in one day.
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| Outside Mall of Asia in Manila |
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| MOA Manila The Mall is divided into the various section with basic clothing stores and electronic markets, food courts and kids play area. The Mall is a great place for a day of shopping in Manila as you find plenty of shopping options. There are a number of food chains, cafes and coffee shops located near the entrance. After a full day of shopping, I returned to the hotel to take a dip in the roof-top pool and go for a massage at a massage parlour located on the ground floor. Greenbelts Mall is a great place for dinner. I reserved a table at People's Palace, a very trendy Thai restaurant in Greenbelts.   |
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