BACK IN MANILA

 19th - 22nd Dec 2025

Little Venice in Manila. Taguig City. South of Makati.

The flight back to Manila from Bohol was another rather chaotic and tedious exercise in queuing at a crowded airport with few decent 'facilities'. Just a small café and some cake stalls. I was again stung for another 1,400 Pesos for my cabin bag! Not only that but the 8.00pm flight was delayed (for unknown reason) until 10.00pm and I eventually arrived in Manila at midnight. 

Then a Grab taxi to another small hotel (Artemis Place Hotel in east Makati)......which, incidentally, proved to be another cheap (£25pn), comfortable and excellent little place with delightful and helpful reception staff. Left: One of the hotel staff and Christmas tree....they were everywhere! They all seem to provide cheap and efficient same-day laundry service (essential to me with my small 'wardrobe').

A few more street scenes from the traffic jam of Manila to follow. Right: There were these 'officials' in varying forms of dress standing at street junctions waving their hands at the traffic to absolutely no effect.

Left: Many were armed (armed 'police' and guards were everywhere). This chap is wielding a shotgun. I actually asked him what it was and he politely told me it was an American Remington 12 bore 6 shot pump action weapon. I asked him if he had ever had to use it. I got a rather vague reply to that question.

Right: Scraggy, mangy feral cats were much in evidence on the pavements. 

I'm not sure what the locals' attitude to pets is. As previously mentioned (with photos) I saw many smallish mongrel looking dogs, some feral and some pets, and some fluffy cuddly ones which were either carried in arms by doting ladies or pushed around in buggies like this (left).

Whatever, there were dozens of Pet Infirmaries and smart Pet Clinics/shops in the town such as this (right). You don't see these in UK. They must make a good profit from loving pet owners!

Left: A rather curious decoration on the rear windscreen of a car. 'Panty Dropper'??!!

Right: ....and more beggars......

Left: .....on many litter strewn streets.

Right: I took a long walk to the amusement park on the Bay. It features a large Ferris Wheel (the SM MOA Eye). 

Left: I had to take a ride.

Right: The view from the top over the Bay area and amusement park.

The park features all the usual 'entertainments' such as these dodgems (left).

.....and (below) this popular machine...with lots of screaming passengers.

Left: Opposite the park was yet another vast SM 'mall'. They are everywhere! Selling all the same sort of (unnecessary) 'luxury' items such as handbags, shoes, electronic gizmos, clothes, smart motorbike helmets etc.

Right: ....and always these characters dressed up to have their photo taken with you for a small tip.

Left: The next day a trip to 'Little Venice' in the south of the city area; McKinley Hill in Taguig District . This mini-reconstruction of the Venetian canals is surrounded by another enormous shopping complex called the Venice Grand Canal Mall'. 6 floors of tat and a multitude of Italian themed restaurants (most featuring chicken on their menus. Chicken seems to be the most popular food in this city.

Right: There are gondolas, with (I was told) singing gondoliers and smaller 'swan' boats. It was pouring with rain when I arrived and therefore all these were moored up.

So I went on a tour of the 'Mall' and even had a decent meal in one of the Italiano restaurants. Left: There is a chapel, St. Raphael the Archangel Chapel, on one of the floors....not well attended but someone was playing the organ.

Right: ....and believe it or not a 'feeding area for cats' with instructions on what to give them, or not! I give up!

Left: Little trains to take you around.

Right: ...and amusing 'monster' transport for children.

Left: I'm not sure what this emporium featured but I decided I could do without 'body sugaring'. For the time being anyway.

Right: And of course there were the ubiquitous 'photo op' characters.

Left: Signs to the various 'Venetian' locations.

Right: There was even an imitation 'St Mark's Square' with a replica of the St Marks Campanile tower. The square was home to a colony of pigeons which you were encouraged to feed!

Left: More canal which ran around the inner part of the Mall complex and was crossed by several pretty 'Italianate' bridges. Not sure if they had a Bridge of Sighs, but similar.

Right: The rain stopped in the late afternoon and the gondolas began to make an appearance. I didn't hear any gondolier singing. They charge for a minimum of 3 passengers (I think), so a bit expensive for just one. Anyway, I am prone to sea-sickness even in calm conditions, so I didn't partake.

....and then back to Makati.

Left: My favoured 'watering hole', the Tiabuela in Makati. Good food at very reasonable prices, a pleasant covered outside patio and good staff. These sort of 'homely' places seemed not too common in the city (or I didn't find any better). There were a plethora of 'plastic' food joints (MacDonalds, Jollibees etc.) and some expensive hotel top-floor restaurants but few like this.

I think that just about covers my Philippine adventure. I may add a post-script if I remember anything else. It was all most interesting and generally most enjoyable. The locals (that I met) were unfailingly pleasant and there was a very diverse range of sights to see and things to do. 

On the 23rd Dec I flew on to Saigon, Vietnam, for my annual 'festive' break and to meet a few ex-colleagues and friends. I don't think I will report from there as I have done so many 'blogs' from Vietnam previously and would probably only be repeating myself. Just a vid of the New Year's Eve fireworks in Saigon (below).