Sunset over the Pasig River.
I've almost never heard anything good about Manila. In fact, many years ago I used to work with someone who went there for three days, but paid to come back early after one night, because she hated it so much. Short of discovering you had ended up in a war zone, I can't imagine why anyone would do that. Could a city really be so bad? I had often wondered and it seemed there was only one way to find out.
So Peter and I decided to book a few days in Manila. It's not our first trip to The Philippines. We have been to Puerto Galera on Oriental Mindoro and Cebu Island many years ago. Both were very enjoyable and relaxing trips. Actually, on our first trip here we landed in Manila and our transfer driver drove us through the city, but I don't remember the city at all.
I did make my usual mistake of doing a bit of research and all the negativity I came across really freaked me out. I thought: "How am I going to cope with such a dangerous, traffic ridden city on my own?" Peter can't traipse around with me any more. For him a holiday is a good hotel with a lovely pool. I was getting myself into such a worried state before departure that Peter was getting really angry with me. Anyway, on the sixteenth of January, it was finally time to go.
We flew out to Manila on Cathay Pacific. From Hong Kong the flight is less than two hours long. At Hong Kong Airport I took some photos of the artificial waterfall.
Artificial waterfall.
Artificial waterfall.
The flight was ok. I had insisted we pre-booked a transfer to our first hotel. Peter wanted to get a Grab, which would have been cheaper and I would have done that if I had been more familiar with the destination. Anyway our transfer driver was very good. He had already contacted us before we even landed and we were able to work out exactly where to find each other and when. The drive through Manila indicated that the information online about terrible traffic was probably true.
Cloud picture.
Cloud picture.
Landing in Manila.
Landing in Manila.
Landing in Manila.
Our first hotel was The Novotel at Acqua Suites in Mandaluyong. It's across the Pasig River from Makati City, which is one of the more modern areas of Manila.
Terrible traffic.
Train on the LRT line.
Long queues for a bus.
At the hotel we were taken to the twenty-first floor for check in. From the window I could see a beautiful sunset over the Pasig River. There was a rather large teddy bear on one of the reception chairs.
Sunset over the Pasig River.
Looking towards Makati.
Sunset over the river.
Relaxed looking teddy.
We were given a room on the seventeenth floor. It was very nice and comfortable. It had a safe, a fridge and a microwave. I unpacked and we settled in.
Peter in the room.
Peter in the room.
There was also a beautiful view over the river from our room.
The Pasig River from the room after the sun went down.
That evening we went to the sixth floor of the hotel. This is where the pool is. We had a look at the pool and could have gone swimming as it stayed open until ten pm, but we decided just to swim the next day.
Play area for kids in the hotel.
The pool at night.
The pool at night.
The pool at night.
The pool at night.
We ate in the hotel restaurant. I had chicken and pork adobo and Peter had chicken strips with fries. I chose chicken and pork adobo because it is the signature dish of The Philippines. Adobo dishes are marinated in vinegar, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Actually it was very tasty.
Peter with a beer.
Hotel Restaurant.
Us in the restaurant.
My chicken and pork adobo.
Chicken strips and fries.
After dinner we just went up to our room to relax. I read that Manila means the place where indigo is found. It's called this from the kinds of plants that were once in abundance here. That certainly sounded beautiful. So far I had actually been fairly happy with Manila, but what would the next day bring when I ventured out alone?
This featured blog entry was written by irenevt from the blog Where Indigo Is Found..
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