FRIDAY MARCH 22:, 2019
PORT 8, MANILA, PHILIPPINES
We had a terrific day, although I was so exhausted by the end of the day that I skipped dinner and was in bed by 7:30 and did not get out of bed until about 9 a.m. When I skip dinner, I am either in a coma or in that great courtroom in the sky.
I had hired Tour by Local for the entire day. We were joined by our friends Paul and Pat Farren. The deal was that the itinerary could be flexible so BGM, with input from everyone else put together a great itinerary.
Manila has a lot of traffic, but so we went first to the Ayala Museum over an hour from where we docked. It was actually a terrific place. BGM labeled it “spectacular”. The architecture was terrific, but was unique, in my view was (a) the display of pure gold objects; (b) the manner in which everything was displayed’; and (c) that we learned virtually the entire history of the Philippines in a most unusual way. The history was laid out in about 75 diaromas.
We saw a lot of Manila and learned a whole lot because our guide a 32 year old woman Serck Salinas was absolutely fabulous. We had a very comfortable van and an excellent driver.
Spent a lot of time in Chinatown which is the oldest Chinatown in the world outside of China. We took our guide to lunch, walked around a lot and went to an “in place” where they make the dumplings to order after arrival. Very inexpensive and very good.
There is a lot of poverty and it is incredibly hard to obtain visas to the United States. The government, including the judiciary, is corrupt. They do believe strongly in education and have a strong work ethic. The medical and dental care is excellent.
We were warned not to wear jewelry and to be very careful with our money.
Observed first hand, literally hundreds of people waiting in line to receive bowls for rice.
Went to a great store with some of the most beautiful wood objects I have ever seen including the more gorgeous huge salad bowls. BGM bought more coasters and place mats. Had I not already been exhausted, I might have more actively participated which would have been expensive. I am a buyer not a looker.
Fortunately, I exercise before getting off the ship. There would have been zero chance of my getting to the gym upon returning. BGM, however, went to the gym.
We give our experience in Manila an A
Michael Biullerey, Photographer (Upsplash)
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