First Time Visitor Guide to Manila
Manila, the capital of the Philippines, can be seen as a microcosm of the whole nation, due to the huge amount of different adjectives that one could use to describe it. In some parts it is dirty, poverty stricken and corrupt, but more than this the city is vibrant, friendly, cheap and hugely hectic! It can seem like a daunting place for the first time traveler in this city, but once one understands where to go and what to see, it really is a delightful place to visit.
The first thing that anyone will notice on their first day in Manila is just how disorganized it is - something that actually adds to the charm of this city. All of the roads seem to lead new and distinct areas, while the city itself just seems to spread out forever. As a tourist though there is not much chance of wanting to visit the outskirts, due to the fact these are generally residential areas where the poorest citizens in this city live. Safety-wise, it is also best to stick to the center of town.
When it comes to food, the tastiest meals are to be found on every street corner throughout the city, as they are being sold by street vendors from carts. These are typically traditional foodstuffs and should be tried at least once on the trip. Not only are they cheap and tasty, buying this food also goes a long way to helping the poorest of citizens who rely on tourists to survive.
Probably the most exciting area of Manila is Chinatown. Although most cities have an area called this, Manilaís Chinatown is something else, with a huge market where the tourist can buy virtually anything that they want. Exploring this whole area would take at least a day, but it is a day that every tourist would remember forever.
If a tourist is not feeling comfortable about heading into the city on their own, then there is always the option to join one of the many tours that walk around Manila and show off all of the different sights and sounds of this city. Generally these tours are very cheap, but to ensure that the best one is picked, most tourists look at the brochures that can be found in most hotels in the city. Hopefully the lone traveler will also make some friends on this tour as well, which will make the whole vacation a lot more enjoyable.
For nightlife, the hub of Manila is definitely Malate, which boasts a huge number of different bars and clubs that play modern music and give the tourist a chance to mingle with both locals and visitors. The prices for drinks are cheap here and the clubs are open until the early hours of the morning, meaning that Manila is perfect for those that love to party!
Manila is quite a distance from the United States, but flights to Manila are still not as expensive as one might think. There is also always the option to incorporate this vibrant city into a whole tour of South East Asia - something that more and more people are starting to do.
Travel to Manila
Manila is the capital city of the Philippines and is located in Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines. Many airlines have flights to Manila from London Heathrow including discount airlines. The flights all land at Ninoy Aquito International Airport and take at least 16 hours. With all of the flights to Manila from London, you will find that the prices vary considerably. When deciding when to go to Manila, know that the Philippines Islands have wet and dry seasons. The best time to visit Manila is in the dry season which is from March to May. Even though that is the best time, remember that the Philippine Islands have a tropical climate so it will still be warm and humid during your visit.
In Manila, you should visit Intramuros which is the Walled City of Manila constructed by the Spanish in 1571. There you can see Fort Santiago, the Manila Cathedral, the San Agustin Church (the oldest stone church in the city) and a large statue of Dr. Jose Rizal, their national hero. You can also see Barrio San Luis which has reconstructions of colonial dwellings representing different periods of colonial architecture. Visiting the National Museum of the Philippines is interesting and well worthwhile. The visit to Manila American Cemetery and Memorial is sobering as it holds the remains of the Filipinos as well as the remains of those from many allied nations who were slain during World War 2. It is well done and reminds you of the great heroes from that war. You will also want to visit Makati, the financial and commercial hub of Manila to see the modern city Manila has become.
The favorite activity of Filipinos is shopping and as a visitor, you will find that true for you as well. There is the huge Mall of Asia which is the biggest mall in Asia. You will find malls everywhere in Manila and all of them are busy with shoppers. Greenhill Mall combines both upscale and mass market shops. In the mass market part, you can barter and get some real deals. Some of the popular items to buy are beautiful pearl necklaces of various colors, sizes, and shapes as well as coral necklaces that are reasonable and make great souvenirs or gifts. You can also buy clothes, sandals, dried mangos, and knockoff purses and watches. Shopping is an experience not to be missed.
Doing some visiting outside of Manila is worthwhile. You can take a tour, drive a rented car, or get a reasonable car and driver to take you to a few sights outside of Manila. You might want to take time to visit Tagaytay to see the smallest volcano in the world. This is about an hour and a half drive south of Manila and is in the mountains. Try to schedule a visit to Corregidor War Memorial on the island of Corregidor where the combination American and Filipino soldiers defended the country against invading Japanese troops during World War Two. This includes a ferry ride to island, a bus trip that takes you around the island, as well as a light show in a tunnel.
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