This is a guest post by Anil from foXnoMad

For the past 2 weeks, Priyank and I have exchanged imaginary posts about St. Petersburg and Manila. I have never been to St. Petersburg and he to Manila. We wanted to write about what a trip there might be like. I’m helping to break down his trip from perception into reality while he does the same for me about St. Petersburg. You can read Manila Part 1 of 1 here.

manila bay at sunset

A Tour of the City

Priyank and I could have been walking around Manila side-by-side and he hit many of the major points that you shouldn’t miss if you’re planning a trip there. Taking a tour of the city is one of the best ways to capture the high points, especially if you have limited time. Manila isn’t the easiest city to navigate on your own and tours within the city are cheap and informative. Also, aside from some mild requests, you won’t be hit up to purchase extras or souvenirs excessively, an annoying aspect I’ve encountered in many other cities in the region.

Fort Santiago

Located inside Intramuros, this former Spanish fort built in the late 1500s has a backdrop of a modern city behind it and is one of the many instances where old meets new in the city. One of the views overlooking the walls is that of a pristine golf course right next door that seems out of place.

fort santiago

St. Agustin Church

As I mentioned last week, religion is prominent in Manila and there is a strong Catholic influence that permeates everything there. There are several churches worth seeing and discovering in Manila and St. Agustin Church is certainly a must. Generally free to the public, make sure you are dressed appropriately.

st agustin church manila

Balut

One of the Philippine delicacies that Priyank missed out on in his post about Manila was balut. While halo-halo is a refreshing a sweet desert, balut is an adventure that most don’t brave in Manila. (I missed my chance, but won’t the next time I’m there.) Balut is the fertilized egg of a duck that is eaten straight from the shell. This food you can find from street vendors isn’t for the faint of heart…or stomach. You can try your eyes first.

chicken in an egg

Variety and…Contrast

Manila is an eclectic city and only one stop you should make if you have time in the Philippines. Manila is a great city to explore and launch many more excursions to see the natural beauty the island nation has to offer. It will overwhelm your senses, both imaginary and real.

Any questions or observations? Feel free to ask. I’ll be listening to the comments all day and look forward to hearing from you. Thanks again for making this series as wonderful as it’s turned out, I really enjoyed writing these posts and reading yours.

[photos by: Andrew Hux (Manila Bay at sunset), Frisno (Fort Santiago), JPhilipson (chicken in egg)]
Anil Polat, a traveler and travel enthusiast who has spent his entire life traveling, studying cultures, and picking up tricks along the way. He writes foXnoMad to help you travel smarter.

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Perceptions and Realities in Manila: [Part 2 of 2]

This is a guest post by Anil from foXnoMad For the past 2 weeks, Priyank and I have exchanged imaginary posts about St. Petersburg and Manila. I have never been to St. Petersburg and he to Manila. We wanted to write about what a trip there might be like. I’m helping to break down his [...]


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