mabuhay manila!:p
back in january, there was a sale for flight ticket going to manila at MAS with only RM367 return ticket. jack persuaded me to come along with him & eddie and i persuaded sally to come too. so, i said yes. that was way before H1N1 became a pandemic. came the travel date, sally back off. i don't blame her. it was scary. even i wanted to back off, but i guess i don't want to waste the amount i have paid for. jack, eddie & i proceeded with the plan.
the flight was at 12pm from KLIA to Ninoy Aquino Airport, in manila. arrived around 3.15pm. headed straight to malate area. this area is the like of bukit bintang in KL but not as happening or as big. around this area, we searched for hostel that cost the least. i know, it was way tiring and with my backpack full as well as my camera on hand, and after only a few rounds, i gave up. we took malate pensionne. i took a bedroom with shared bathroom cost PHP 750 pesos (RM 50) per night per room. it was expensive for a shared bathroom and with only fan, bed & mirror table. jack & eddie took the deluxe room, cost PHP 1400, equipped with private bath, aircon, tv and bed.
we went sightseeing around that area, specifically, manila bay. it was nice. the thing that i hate most is that too many homeless people. you would see them sleeping around, just about anywhere. i pitied the little kids. you would see them begging on the street just to have a drink! i would love to give them, but i can't. if you're traveling in such area, please do not give anything. it will leads to more kids will come to you begging harshly at you.
went for diner at the restaurant/foodcourt just opposite the manila bay. it was hard for me when it came to food in foreign country. i'm VERY choosy. it won't ate anything unless it felt right. and being a muslim, it was way harder. i tried to find something like a vege food or even seafood. but yet, i just couldn't swallow it. just forget about it. after diner, we went to see a talent show. mister lady. the tittle should be enough for you to guess. good lord, all the men has become real women. if i don't see it closely, it would definitely thought they were real women.
the next day, we went to check out the shopping area. went to the mall of asia and makate area. makate is very much known as business street. went to rizal park to do some sight seeing. then, back to malate area to check out the painting & souvenir.
bought a few oil paintings & key chains. regretted it later on. i bought 20 pieces. way too much! this area was where we found a halal restaurant. serving nasi beriani. and almost everyday, we ate here. i'm not a big fan of nasi beriani, but there was nothing else i can eat over here. but, the beriani was nice. the curry chicken was way better than KL.
on sunday, we headed to tagaytay. it's where the famous taal lake is located. it was 2 hours drive. we rented the hostel car + driver. cost PHP 3500 = RM 200+ for a day trip. it was hard to find other alternatives. before that, we stopped at people's park in the sky. nothing much there, only a view of the lake from up high. then, we had to take a boat to bring us to taal volcano, cost another PHP1500 and then a guide to guide the climb, another PHP 500. climbing up was hard. it was hot, hot, & HOT. i almost gave up. but, it was worth it. the view was spectacular. alternatively, you can ride a horse, cost PHP 600 per horse.
on the way back, it was raining and i'm too damn tired. my body was all aching from the climb and dirty! went to hostel to take shower and take a quick break/sleep :p at night, i'm too tired to walk, we just went for diner, and i headed back to sleep.
then come monday. it was all market area. the thing is, i hate market. be it night, wet or dry or anything in between, i hate them. it was way too crowded, dirty & smelly. we went to balikbayan handicraft, quinta, tatuban and 198 mall. here you can find almost anything with a cheaper price. i don't know why i don't see any tourist around these area. jack & eddie enjoyed it, and bought plenty of things. these guys are crazy! i almost felt sick!
the last day, we did nothing much. we checked out around 12pm and headed to the airport. this airport has many check points! maybe they took security too seriously. the first check is when you wants to check in flight. you need to have a valid passport and flight ticket. because i didn't print my e-ticket, i need to go to MAS office to print it. going to the airlines offices would need to declare and scanned. even if you want to go to the restaurant, you'll also be scanned!!
tips when you're traveling to manila. don't ever get taxi without meter. they charged you more! tried to find taxi with meter. it cost us PHP 250 from mall of asia to makate! it only cost not even PHP 100.
below is some nice shots of the manila :)
back in january, there was a sale for flight ticket going to manila at MAS with only RM367 return ticket. jack persuaded me to come along with him & eddie and i persuaded sally to come too. so, i said yes. that was way before H1N1 became a pandemic. came the travel date, sally back off. i don't blame her. it was scary. even i wanted to back off, but i guess i don't want to waste the amount i have paid for. jack, eddie & i proceeded with the plan.
the flight was at 12pm from KLIA to Ninoy Aquino Airport, in manila. arrived around 3.15pm. headed straight to malate area. this area is the like of bukit bintang in KL but not as happening or as big. around this area, we searched for hostel that cost the least. i know, it was way tiring and with my backpack full as well as my camera on hand, and after only a few rounds, i gave up. we took malate pensionne. i took a bedroom with shared bathroom cost PHP 750 pesos (RM 50) per night per room. it was expensive for a shared bathroom and with only fan, bed & mirror table. jack & eddie took the deluxe room, cost PHP 1400, equipped with private bath, aircon, tv and bed.
we went sightseeing around that area, specifically, manila bay. it was nice. the thing that i hate most is that too many homeless people. you would see them sleeping around, just about anywhere. i pitied the little kids. you would see them begging on the street just to have a drink! i would love to give them, but i can't. if you're traveling in such area, please do not give anything. it will leads to more kids will come to you begging harshly at you.
went for diner at the restaurant/foodcourt just opposite the manila bay. it was hard for me when it came to food in foreign country. i'm VERY choosy. it won't ate anything unless it felt right. and being a muslim, it was way harder. i tried to find something like a vege food or even seafood. but yet, i just couldn't swallow it. just forget about it. after diner, we went to see a talent show. mister lady. the tittle should be enough for you to guess. good lord, all the men has become real women. if i don't see it closely, it would definitely thought they were real women. the next day, we went to check out the shopping area. went to the mall of asia and makate area. makate is very much known as business street. went to rizal park to do some sight seeing. then, back to malate area to check out the painting & souvenir.
bought a few oil paintings & key chains. regretted it later on. i bought 20 pieces. way too much! this area was where we found a halal restaurant. serving nasi beriani. and almost everyday, we ate here. i'm not a big fan of nasi beriani, but there was nothing else i can eat over here. but, the beriani was nice. the curry chicken was way better than KL. on sunday, we headed to tagaytay. it's where the famous taal lake is located. it was 2 hours drive. we rented the hostel car + driver. cost PHP 3500 = RM 200+ for a day trip. it was hard to find other alternatives. before that, we stopped at people's park in the sky. nothing much there, only a view of the lake from up high. then, we had to take a boat to bring us to taal volcano, cost another PHP1500 and then a guide to guide the climb, another PHP 500. climbing up was hard. it was hot, hot, & HOT. i almost gave up. but, it was worth it. the view was spectacular. alternatively, you can ride a horse, cost PHP 600 per horse.
on the way back, it was raining and i'm too damn tired. my body was all aching from the climb and dirty! went to hostel to take shower and take a quick break/sleep :p at night, i'm too tired to walk, we just went for diner, and i headed back to sleep. then come monday. it was all market area. the thing is, i hate market. be it night, wet or dry or anything in between, i hate them. it was way too crowded, dirty & smelly. we went to balikbayan handicraft, quinta, tatuban and 198 mall. here you can find almost anything with a cheaper price. i don't know why i don't see any tourist around these area. jack & eddie enjoyed it, and bought plenty of things. these guys are crazy! i almost felt sick!
the last day, we did nothing much. we checked out around 12pm and headed to the airport. this airport has many check points! maybe they took security too seriously. the first check is when you wants to check in flight. you need to have a valid passport and flight ticket. because i didn't print my e-ticket, i need to go to MAS office to print it. going to the airlines offices would need to declare and scanned. even if you want to go to the restaurant, you'll also be scanned!!tips when you're traveling to manila. don't ever get taxi without meter. they charged you more! tried to find taxi with meter. it cost us PHP 250 from mall of asia to makate! it only cost not even PHP 100.
below is some nice shots of the manila :)
