Manila, a city full of contrasts, from the rich beautiful buildings of its colonial past to the present day corrugated roofed patched wooden dwellings. Where child beggars turn up their dirty palms to shiny black Mercedes benz cars waiting at the traffic lights.Where it takes six months to get a phone line but one day to make a best friend. This is Manila, the capital city of the Philippines located on the island of Luzon.
No review of Manila is complete without mention of Manila's traffic jams. If you think you have seen the worst of jams, visit Manila and you will change your mind. The city has had to come up with ingenious ways of reducing traffic, including barring odd and even numbered registered vehicles from entering the city on different days of the week. So, if your car registration began with a '6' for instance, you might not be allowed to drive in the city on a Wednesday.
Shopping is good in Manila and cheaper than Singapore or Malaysia for instance, especially for well known brands. Among the city Malls that could hold an attraction for the visitor are Glorietta and Gaisano Mall.
Above all, the best thing about Manila or even the Philippines are its people, they are the friendliest, most easy-going people in the region, even though deeply religious. Nearly all taxis are adorned with a Jesus o Mary figurine and sermons and prayer groups regularly take place in city parks.
Remember to have a nick name ready for yourself when you visit the Philippines, you will definitely be asked to give one. If your name is John, you'll probably get called Johnny or Jo-Jo or something equally cutesy. Its a sign of the trust and friendship that they have for visitors to their country
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
SALAMAT - Thank you! For readers of comments: Pinoys (Filipinos) always have a lot of questions to Expats (Foreigners). BALIK BALIK - Come again! Alfred N. Bruckner, Cebu City.
willow 18.05.2001 18:17
Thank you all, for your comments, they are greatly appreciated.
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
very helpful by (91%):
helpful by (9%):
