Philippines
Around Manila
October 29, 2012
Transportation: MRT/ LRT, jeepney, tricycles, and taxi. The price depends on the distances. For the MRT/LRT/jeepney as I remembered, the price for the longest distance is around 20-25 peso. For tricycles, just around 15peso-20peso for less than 5 km, and you can bargain.
Maps: Unfortunately, you can't get free maps of Manila at the airport. However, you can buy it in any ministop or Seven Eleven shops w/ the prices range from 50-100 peso. I recommend you just go to google maps, find the directions, write or draw it down. No need to spend money for the maps.
What to eat? You can find the fast-food restaurants almost everywhere in Manila such as KFC, Mc Donald, Wendy's, Jollie Bee, and Burger King. For people who wanna try Filipino food, just go to SM, Land Mart food courts, or any markets. The popular Filipino which I tried is Sisig.
Where to stay: there are a lot of hotels and hostel in Manila, especially in Makati. To get a free place to stay for some days, you can go to couchsurfing.org and find a host there. Couchsurfing is very popular in Philippines, so you don't need to be worried.
Where to visit? If you are interested in historical places, you can go to Intramuros, Paco Park, Manila-American Cemetery and Memorial, or Rizal Park. For sightseeing and entertainment, you can visit Ocean Park, Manila Zoo, Avilon Zoo, or Mind Museum. Love night activities/ shopping? Go to Greenbelts which belongs to Ayala Malls, or visit other malls like Megamall, Trinoma, and so on which are located right on the MRT stations. If you still have time and feel bored w/ Manila, you can spend one or two days to travel to Tagaytay or Batangas w/ only 2-3 hours from Manila.
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| San Agustin Museum Near Chinatown. Take MRT to Taft Avenue, then transfer to LRT at EDSA to Carriedo Station (Chinatown), ask anyone there where to take a jeepney to Intramuros, or take a taxi from Chinatown w/ the price around 60 peso |
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| Manila American Cemetery and Memorial If you go with your friends, I think you better take a taxi. For public transportation, you can go by MRT to Ayala Station and take a jeepney there. |
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| Fort Santiago Near Chinatown. Take MRT to Taft Avenue, then transfer to LRT at EDSA to Carriedo Station (Chinatown), ask anyone there where to take a jeepney to Intramuros, or take a taxi from Chinatown w/ the price around 60 peso. You can get a free map of Intramuros at the front gate where the taxi driver will drop you off or you can go directly to Fort Santiago, then get the maps from Information room. Fort Santiago ticket is 75peso. |
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| Manila Cathedral in Intramuros If you decide to go around Intramuros by tricycles which will cost you 80 peso/ 2 ppl , the driver will drop you in front of the church and give you some time to take pictures. |
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| Paco Park- Ticket: 5peso Take MRT to Taft Ave., then LRT from EDSA to U.N Station and finally take a tricycle which cost you around 17 peso/2ppl. |
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| The mind museum is in Taguig. You can take a taxi from Makati or bus there. I don't remember exactly how much the ticket costs. You can check on the website of Mind Museum. |
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| Manila Zoo, the oldest zoo in Asia. How to go to Manila Zoo: MRT to Taft Ave, around 10 peso, then you walke to LRT Line 1 EDSA station right besides the MRT Taft Ave. station, buy a ticket around 12 peso to Quirino Station, and walk along the Quirino Ave. for about 10-15 mins. You should ask ppl there the direction. The zoo is very near the LRT station, so never ride a tricycles. |
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| Avilon zoo. It's quite far, you better ask a Filipino friend to take you by public transportation there. The entrance ticket is 400 peso. |
Alright, enjoy your trip in Manila :).
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