Heavy traffic, pollution, too much people, lack of green spaces, and having almost just the mall for leisure activities: these are just some of the reasons for a quick escape from Manila. Given these daily hassles and chaos, an easy weekend getaway to relax before another work week starts is not a bad idea. Here are some trips you can choose from depending on the type of activities and landscape you are looking for. 1) Hit the Talipanan beach Located at the far left end side facing the sea, this is the more hidden beach along that side of Puerto Galera. It is ideal for those who prefer tranquility, e.g., instead of staying in the busier White Beach. While it is isolated, there are small resorts for accommodations and dining. You can ask them to call a masseuse if you feel like having a massage by the beach. Try Luca's Pizzeria down the end of the beach. Wake up early to see the beautiful sunrise. Why it is easy: You can drive or take a bus from Manila (e.g., the bus stations beside LRT Buendia) and in more or less three hours you will already be in Batangas Port (there is a parking area for cars). Take a boat to get to White Beach and from there take a tricycle to Talipanan. 2) Dive in Anilao, Batangas It is not necessary to take a flight to have a good dive. All it takes is a three-hour drive to enjoy a rich marine life. This makes Anilao a popular weekend destination for Manileños who love to dive and snorkel. Being a certified diver is not necessary: some offer the easy introduction dive accompanied by a professional. Why it is easy: Aside from being close to Manila, there are a number of resorts (like Planet Dive) to choose from that offer everything you may need: equipment, lessons, lodging and food. You can go for a day or overnight trip that usually includes meals. Ask about their menu before you book as some packages strictly cover all meals. It is also possible to get there using public transportation. 3) Appreciate Filipino Heritage and Art in Rizal province For those who have no time for an overnight trip, this is one option you should consider. A whole day is enough to savor Rizal's several treasures. Make a stop at each city's nineteenth-century-old church, the Pinto Art Gallery, and end your day with a drink and some FIlipino food in one of the restaurants along Sumulong Highway in Antipolo with a view of Manila. Why it is easy: While it is more convenient to do this trip with a private vehicle, the route is simple for everybody. Get a map and mark the the places of interest before hand: they are all easy to locate and directions are nothing complicated. Watch out for traffic near some of the churches on Sundays due to the volume of people attending the mass. 4) Relax in Tagaytay Weekenders visit Tagaytay for different reasons: its churches, garden restaurants, nature spas, bed and breakfast and hotels, and of course, the picturesque view of Mt. Taal with the surrounding lake that you can contemplate from any cafe along the main road or hike up to its crater. While you have the usual favorites like Bag of Beans, Leslie's Sonia's Garden and Rowena's, there is always something new to find in every visit. Check out the hidden Chateau Hestia garden restaurant and deli for their savory dishes and charming ambiance. Why it is easy: Approximately two hours from Manila (depend on traffic), Tagaytay itself is small so it is easy to move around. Most places of interest are along Tagaytay Road: its main highway that stretches from Sta. Rosa to Calamba and Nasugbu. Pasalubongs can be bought everywhere - from tarts (e.g., Rowenas), pineapples, buko (coconut) pie, or even plants. 5) Explore Baler Though it is famous for surfing at Sabang Beach, you do not need to like it to appreciate Baler. You can rent a motorbike or tricycle or use your private vehicle to see the historical town center, its waterfalls, hills and other beaches. It has a lot of restaurants and cafes where you can simply hangout, too. (See: The Ultimate Guide for Traveler Foodies: Baler Aurora Restaurants). Why it is easy: The bus company Genesis runs trips from Cubao in Quezon City to Baler. If you prefer to ride their Joy Bus (with couch seats) and go for a night trip to Baler and the last trip coming back to Manila, make sure to buy your tickets in advance. It is possible to do it via internet but has to be at least three days before your trip. You can also join a tour offered by travel companies. 6) Discover Las Casas de Acuzar Popular among couples as a prenuptial shoot backdrop, this private resort showcases transplanted heritage houses recreating a colonial village. For example, Paseo de Escolta is a replica of a popular hotel in Manila back in the 1900s which is among the overnight accommodations you can choose from if you prefer to stay overnight in this resort. There are several day tour options to choose from depending on your budget, i.e., ones that include the entrance fee, set meal or buffet lunch, snacks, use of the beach area. You can also opt to stay overnight either in Why it is easy: Simply take a bus (for an approximately three-hour trip) from Genesis in Cubao in Quezon City to Balanga, Bataan (PhP200). From there, a jeepney or tricycle can bring you to the main road of the resort. 7) Hike the Mt. Pinatubo Famous for its eruption in 1991 which is the second largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century, it is possible to trek the mountain to admire the surreal landscape on its crater. Why it is easy: A lot of travel companies offer a day trip to Mt. Pinatubo which includes transfers from Manila, the 4x4 ride to and from the trek start point, and a free shower after the hike. They will meet you at a meeting point and drop you off there as well when you come back to Manila. You can also organize a do-it-yourself trip. 8) Go back in time in Corregidor Island
An island located at the entrance of Manila Bay, it played an important role in our defense against the Japanese forces during the WWII. Heavily bombarded, it now serves as a memorial for the Filipino, Japanese and American soldiers who died during the war. Why it is easy: You can take a ferry from the terminal in CCP to Corregidor. There are also tours that you can buy online - try to search for offers. Check the weather forecast when you plan your trip as there are possible cancellations of trips (e.g., coming back to Manila) if the sea is rough and bring some snacks and water. (For more travel tips, see: 12 Practical Tips for Traveling Smart)
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Manila, being the entry or transit point for most flights, is visited by most tourists coming to the Philippines. While it does not boast a beach or beautiful mountains of which the country is known for, there are a number of places and things to do here that teach us about Filipino culture and heritage. Whether you are a foreign tourist or a Filipino who wants to explore Manila, here are activities you should include in your itinerary. 1. Enter the Walled City. Intramuros, the old center of Manila, is a must-see. Make sure to enter the San Agustin Church, Casa Manila, Manila Cathedral, Fort Santiago and Rizal Museum. You can go around by foot, in a kalesa (a horse-drawn calash typical during the Spanish colonial times; look for a Samahan ng Magkakalesa sa Intramuros member: a 30-minute ride for three people costs PhP350) or by bicycle (bamboo bikes are available for rental: PhP300/hr; check their Intramuros itinerary at: http://bambike.com/itinerary). A major rehabilitation plan is said to be in the works for Intramuros. 2. Admire the only church built like the Eiffel Tower. The church was designed by Spanish architect Genaro Palacios who was said to be inspired by the gothic cathedral of Burgos, Spain. The prefabricated steel sections that compose the church were shipped all the way from Belgium, a construction method of which is similar to that when the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty were built. It is the only steel church in Asia. 3. Explore the rich neighborhood of Quiapo. This area is very rich in terms of Philippine heritage. Aside from the Quiapo Church with the famous Black Nazarene believed to be miraculous among devotees, the adjacent market with everything from amulets to Filipino native products under the Quezon Bridge, and the Muslim mosque, it is also home for several Filipino colonial houses. Some are well-preserved, such as the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista which is open for visits (http://bahaynakpil.org). 4. Learn about Filipino contemporary art. Located at the Bangko Central ng Pilipinas, it is the Philippine's premier museum of modern and contemporary art including works by Felix Resurreccion-Hidalgo (1855-1913), one of the great Filipino painters of the late 19th century, and portraits and landscape paintings by Fernando Amorsolo. 5. Relax at the Paco Park. Built by the Dominicans and inagurated in 1822, it used to be Manila's municipal cemetery during the Spanish colonial period. The remains of Jose Rizal (the Philippines' National Hero) used to rest prior to its transfer to the Rizal Park. At present, it is a quaint recreational garden worth visiting, and is also a favorite venue for concerts, weddings, etc. 6. Eat at Dampa Seafood Paluto in Macapagal Road If you like seafood and you are with a group (as minimum that the y cook per dish is 1/2 kilo) then this is the place for you. This is already in Pasay City, though very close to Manila so it is recommended that you go here if you are in the area. Dampa is a wet seafood market where you will first have to buy raw seafood. Make sure to put your negotiation skills into use. (*Tip: Haggle 50% of their original price as a starting point. If you are foreign, say anyway that you have live in Manila and you know the prices - this work in other situations too. Shrimps and prawns areat around Php400-450 per kilo, clams around Php120. Buy crabs claws only for more meat.) Once you are done shopping, go to a restaurant where they can cook what you bought for you. If you don' like doing the shopping yourself, they can do it for you. My favorite is Lola Ina's at the far end of road and seafood market. Try having the abs cooked in sweet chili sauce, clams in oyster sauce and garlic, steamed lapu-lapu (a type of fish) in soy sauce, shrimps in chili butter or singang (a typical Filipino soup similar to Tom yum but not spicy), and grilled tuna or blue marlin. Depends how big your group, how much food and how many types of dishes you want, price can start at $10 per head but that already means at least 3 types of food. 7. Buy yourself a book in Solidaridad. Owned by National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose, this 50-year-old quaint bookstore has the widest selection of Filipiniana in the country, including hard-to-find titles, aside from their Western and Eastern nonfiction books and documentaries personally hand-picked by the proprietor himself. For those who are looking for their first Philippine studies and Filipino literature acquisition, check out William Henry-Scott's Philippine history books, Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere, or any of the bookshop owner's or Nick Joaquin's works. It can found along Padre Faura Street in Ermita near the University of the Philippines Manila (open from Mondays to Saturdays, 9am - 6pm.) 8. Contemplate the Manila Bay sunset. This is the best taste of nature one can get out of Manila and there is no discussion on how beautiful the sunset gets here. Try to catch it with ice-cold beer or cocktails from the Bayleaf Hotel's roof deck cafe in Intramuros. White Moon Bar's lounge in Manila Ocean Park also has a picturesque view. 9. Experience night life in Malate. An evening walk around Malate opens one’s eyes when it comes to realities in the metro. A red-light district, families living in the streets, food vendors, high-rise condominiums and restaurants of different cuisines all in one neighborhood. Try Filipino dishes at Cafe Adriatico or Bistro Remediosin Adriatico Street. If yo want to witness a different kind of atmosphere that is only in Malate and have cheap beer, sit for a short while in Erras also in Adriatico Street. Finish the night with a massage at Lucky Massage (starts at PhP300) in Bocobo Street near Robinson's Ermita in Pedro Gil. 10. Discover Chinatown and Binondo.
The Philippines has a long history with he Chinese, one proof of which is Chinatown in the district of Binondo "created by the Spanish Governor Luis Perez Dasmariñas as a permanent settlement for Chinese immigrants who converted to Catholicism during the Spanish colonial times". The area is currently most popular for its old restaurants such as Toho Antigua Panciteria (since 1888) and dumpling hubs as well as several cultural buildings along Escolta Street like the El Hogar which is currently under controversy. |
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