China Travel Forum

[novaldy]

Plas advice to on 1 Oct i will go Philipine, Manila around 3 days what is the most interesting place that 1st i should visit and do...and please advice to us place to stay and how's about the food...

[kamal]

Intramuros Start your tour early in the morning when it is fairly cool and quiet, and make the Intramuros Visitors Center your first stop. The Visitors Center is located at the entrance to Fort Santiago, the seat of Spanish colonial power. Having paid the admission fee, you may then proceed to explore this centuries-old citadel.
From the Visitors Center.
Fort Santiago is steeped in history and contains within its inner sanctum the ruins of military barracks which have been converted into an open-air theater--Dulaang Rajah Sulayman. If you happen to be in town during the annual season of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), it is certainly worth coming back in the evening to watch one of the dramatic company's memorable productions.
you will come to some steps that will take you up to Baluarte de Santa Barbara.From here you can discern the mouth of the Pasig River as it spills into the Manila Bay.
the Rizal Shrine Located right beside Baluarte de Santa Barbara will give you a further taste of the injustices of colonial rule. Dr. Jose Rizal.
Just outside Fort Santiago, you will see the dome of the Manila Cathedral. As you enter the peaceful nave, take special note of the beautiful stained glass windows. The rosette stonework came from the fifth previous church, which was bombed in World War II.
In front of the Cathedral lies Plaza de Roma, the scene of raucous bullfights until it was converted into a garden in 1797. Two structures flank the square--the ruins of the Ayuntamiento and an eight-story building housing the Intramuros Administration. the Ayuntamiento, Administration building , however, noteworthy as it stands on the site of the Palacio del Gobernador (Palace of the Governor)
About two blocks south, you will come to a cluster of historic sites, including Casa Manila Museum, San Agustin Church and San Agustin Museum. Casa Manila is part of the Plaza San Luis Complex, along with the Teatrillo San Luis (a small theater used for Intramuros Evenings and other cultural shows), antique and curios shops such as Galeria Andrea, Barbara's Restaurant and Hotel Intramuros de Manila. San Agustin Church and Museum are in a courtyard of their own across the street. It will take you at least an hour to tour Casa Manila and another hour, maybe more, to cover San Agustin. These places are major destinations, particularly if you are interested in history, art and culture.
At this point you might want to stop for lunch at Barbara's or Ilustrado, which is further down Calle Real (Gen. Luna Street). But if you can bear those hunger pangs, try completing your tour of Intramuros first. The Silahis Arts and Artifacts center, situated in front of Ilustrado, merits a visit for its wide display of native arts and crafts. In the same building you can find books and magazines related to the Philippines at Tradewinds Books, as well as antique prints at Chang Rong Gallery.
Continue along Calle Real until you hit the walls of Intramuros. One last stop is recommended at this junction: Puerta Real Gardens and Acuario de Manila. Visit the latter to observe some fascinating marine life displays and the interior of another Intramuros fortification. In the gardens you can see Puerta Real--the royal gate reserved for the governors use--and go up a section of the massive ramparts.
From here it is just a three-minute walk to the Manila Hotel along Padre Burgos Street, which becomes Katigbak Drive after traversing Roxas Boulevard. Turn left at Parade Avenue and go past the Quirino Grandstand. Soon you will arrive at the corner of South Boulevard. Here you have three choices for lunch, each one offering a refreshing view of Manila Bay: Harbor View, Tropical Forest and Sea Food Wharf.
The rest of the afternoon can be devoted to museums, starting with the Museo ng Maynila and Children's Museum (Museo Pambata), both located next to the restaurants. A stroll through Rizal Park, which encompasses the restaurants and museums, will take you to other points of interest such as the Rizal Monument, the Site of Rizal's Execution, The Chinese Garden, The Japanese Garden and the National Museum. A look at Juan Luna's award-winning painting Spoliarium at the National Museum (Old Congress Building) presents a good way to cap your tour.
that shouldn't be very much!
have fun