Showing posts with label Manila. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Manila. Show all posts

March 5, 2010

Philippines - 10 Fun Things to Do in Metro Manila

The Philippines is a beautiful country with it's many wonderful things to explore. Tourists and travelers from around the globe loves to visit the Philippines regularly to get the chance to see the beauty of this country and get along with the friendly and very welcoming Pinoys.

Manila, being the Philippine Islands' capital is the most visited and the first stop for many tourists where the International airport is located. There are many fascinating places to see in Manila, and surely have lots of things to do. Everyone will definitely enjoy their trip to the Philippines and they'll s certainly be back for more. Though there are so many things one can do in Manila, here are the top ten things one cannot resist to do while in the country's capital:

1. Sightseeing - there are many well-known places such as Manila historical sights. There is the Intramuros, meaning "inside the walls", for it is a walled city. The place has a fort which is built by the Spaniards in the late 1500's during their reign to the Philippines. Though the fort was destroyed during the American-Japanese war in the year 1945, it is now renovated and was now turned into a museum. Another must-see place in Manila is the Luneta Park, or the Rizal Park. This is the monument of the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. The park was built in honor of Rizal. This is also the place where he was killed the Spaniards in the late 1800's. The park is crowded almost everyday especially during holidays and Sundays where Filipino families gather together to have picnics along the park.

2. Shopping - there are lots of shopping stores in Manila that sell many different kinds of items. One can find almost everything while strolling around the area. There are also easy to find bargain chains located just by the sidewalks like "ukay-ukay", where they sell variety of items with the cheapest prices.

3. Riding on amusement parks - Manila has famous amusement parks that are mostly visited by locals and tourists where children and also adults enjoy the fun rides and have a lively night out. There are the Enchanted Kingdom, the Philippine's version of Disney Land and the Star City where mostly crowded every night with families especially during weekends.

4. Relaxing - there are plenty of places in manila where one can enjoy relaxing activities like the spa, massage centers, and several hotels that offer relaxing services and other pleasant commodities.

5. Enjoy a bubbly night life - Manila has many bars and cafes where you along with your friends can jam and watch band gigs all night long. There is the Jazz Rhythms bar and the all famous Hard Rock Café where one can watch local and foreign bands perform live on stage.

6. Celebrating Christmas - Filipinos celebrate Christmas in a very special way. People attend the evening masses within the nine evenings before the Christmas Eve with the whole family going to the church. Filipinos celebrate Christmas in a very practical way and the most valuable thing for them during Christmas is being their family.

7. Sunbathing - Philippines having its many beaches is being visited mostly by people around the world to do sunbathing. With the country's tropical weathers making it a perfect to tan the skin.

8. Swimming - there are many resorts located around Manila where families can enjoy swimming without going out of town. The resorts are designed with the taste of nature, so one will always feel a nature paradise inside the city.

9. Roller Skating - families together with their children can enjoy roller skating within the many parks of Manila. There are really spacious parks where families can have their quiet family day out and even enjoy picnics and others.

10. Visiting Churches - there are many famous churches in Manila like the Manila Cathedral which are mostly visited by tourists and locals everyday. There are also the San Agustin Church and the Quiapo Church that are well known churches in the Philippines.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pinky_Mcbanon

Additional:

And who could ever forget Edsa Manila? This is the bastion of Filipino democarcy from the hands of the Marcos regime. This is where political miracle, if there is ever such a word, happened in 1986. It was an event that the entire world stand to appreciate in awe! A political struggle that ended peacefully and without bloodshed that toppled more than 20 years of dictatorship. Up to now this place is still being regarded as the seat of peaceful democratic protest against tyranny and political suppression. Come to think of it, it just a long and trafficked highway especially to daily Filipino commuters passing by this route in going to and from their jobs. But to what it has symbolized to the Filipinos and to the rest of the world.....Edsa Manila will forever be remembered for what it stands for...DEMOCRACY.

March 4, 2010

Vibrant and Cosmopolitan City of Manila

The City of Manila is the thriving capital of the Philippines. The city is also part of Metro Manila together with the other 17 cities and municipalities. The city is the second most populous city in the world, next to Quezon City which is its neighbor. The whole metropolitan area is the second most populous in Southeast Asia. Metro Manila is home to around 14 million people, and the city of Manila is home to 1.6 million people. Manila is nearest Hong Kong which is around 950 kilometers and the city is around 2,400 kilometers northeast of Singapore. The city is located in the west coast of Luzon and the city is surrounded by the fertile plains. There are around 897 barangays in the city and the city is also subdivided into six Congressional Districts.

Manila is a famous player too based on some records. It was said that the city was famous during the Manila-Acapulco trade and this trade lasted for three centuries. In this trade, goods from as far as Mexico were brought to the Southeast including Manila. As a city, Manila is often described as fascinating and a cosmopolitan city and rightfully so. The city of Manila is a lively place that commands an excellent view of the world-famous Manila Bay and its sunset. First time visitors of the city should not miss the well-known Manila bay sunset; a beautiful scene as if straight from the postcards. Another label that can be said of the city is historic- and rightfully so since the city traces a long history in the hands of many colonizers. The city blends the cultures and flavors of its colonizers to bring up a unique Manila experience for the first time travelers and the visitors.

Intramuros: Walled City and Heart of Manila

Intramuros was considered as one of the world's best preserved medieval cities. The interested travelers and tourists will see here some dungeons and old churches and these buildings share space with art galleries and parks in the area. Just south of the walled city is the Rizal Park. This is considered as the country's most significant park. This is also known as Luneta, which stands in Stands in Spanish as 'crescent-shaped'. This is a 53-hectare park and this was the site where the national hero of the Philippines was executed by the Spaniards. Monument in memory of Jose Rizal stands in the park and there is also a towering flagpole to the west of the monument. The park is also the location of Kilometer Zero for road distances on Luzon and the rest of the country.

Rizal Park is also home to many points and places of interest that the traveler will surely like:
? Chinese and Japanese Gardens
? Department of Tourism Building
? National Museum of the Philippines
? The National Library of the Philippines
? Planetarium
? Orchidarium
? Butterfly Pavilion
? Relief Map of the Philippines
? Fountain area
? Children's lagoon
? Chess Plaza
? Quirino Grandstand
The city is highly urban and a fast-developing city, but still the city of Manila has a number of open public places. The list of open public places and parks include:
? Rajah Sulayman Park
? Mehan Garden
? Paco Park
? Remedios Circle
? Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden
? Malakanyang Garden
And just recently, Manila Ocean Park opened in the city. The city of Manila is also home to the seat of power- the Malaca?ang Palace. This is the official residence of the chief executive of the country. Travelers and tourists will not be lost and feel tired in the city since Manila also offers a wide range of hotel accommodations, from deluxe hotels to the high-end five star hotels. A number of these accommodations are situated in Roxas Boulevard, near world-renowned Manila Bay. Other well-known hotels in the city are located in the districts of Malate and Manila. One popular hotel in the city of Manila is the Manila Hotel.

Source: http://www.owntravel.com/city-guides/4295-vibrant-and-cosmopolitan-city-of-manila.html
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...